law the vassall could not do it without the leaue of the chiefe Lord and that the same did preiudice those of Bolognia his subiects threatning him if he did not take away those imposts to make war vpon him The King heereby found himselfe greatly perplexed for on the one side it greeued him to make warre on the Pope and on the other hee would not forsake his friend the Duke of Ferrara beeing obliged to maintaiâ—… and defend him and the more the Pope did vrge him to forsake him the more constant he was in his defence After diuers reasons alleaged on either side that the King had propounded conditions whereby for the most part he should bee satisfied for those losses which hee should pretend to haue sustained by the Duke hee was moreouer content to bee bound according to the Popes request made vnto him that his army should not passe ouer the Riuer Po vnlesse it were to protect the Florentines and to molest Pandolpho Petrucci and Iohn Paul Baillon During all these differences the Lord of Chaumont had taken without any impediment with fifteene hundred Launces and tenne thousand footmen with great store of Ordnance followed by three thousand Pioners the Pollesin of Rouigo which the Venetians had abandoned and the tower Marquisana the Duke of Ferrara beeing ioyned with him with two hundred men at armes fiue hundred light horse and two thousand footmen Then he came to Castelbaldo and from thence to Montagnane and Este which he tooke at the first summons and gaue them to the Duke The Prince of Anhalt the Emperours Lieutenant came forth of Verona with three hundred French Launces two hundred men at armes and three thousand Lansquenets and following the Lord of Chaumont they came both together towards the Vincentine territory where the whole country did forthwith yeeld vnto them the Venetian army being retired into a place of safety by meanes whereof the Vincentines perceiuing themselues to be wholy forsaken hauing of themselues no meanes of defence had none other hope left but only in the victors mercy the which they did hope to obtaine by the meanes of the Lord of Chaumont of whom hauing gotten passe-port they came to the Campe in wretched habit where one of their number hauing with great humillity declared to the Prince of Anhalt the infinite and intollerable losses that they had susteined and the misery and calamity whereto they were brought to the end to mooue him to some compassion and to appease his wrath they receiued but a very vnpleasing and vngentle answere which in effect was to haue their liues goods and honours at his owne discretion The Vincentines being daunted with so cruell an answere remained for a certaine space like men without any motion or feeling and not knowing what to answere or thinke they at last by the Lord of Chaumonts councell fell downe prostrate on the earth and did absolutely referre themselues and their city into the conquerors hands But the Lord of Chaumont making intercession for them with diuers others the matter was so handled as the Prince of Anhalt was content to promise them that their persons should haue no harme but the disposing of their goods should be absolutely referred to his will and pleasure After the taking of Vincenza al be-it the Emperour did in no sort stirre against the Venetians as hee had promised hee would but on the contrary his companies decreasing dayly for want of pay the Lord of Chaumont neuerthelesse perceiuing that whatsoeuer had beene done till then was to no purpose vnlesse Legnaga were taken hee determined to goe and encampe before it where hauing ouercome the difficulties of the waters which the Venetians had in such sort let forth as the whole country was drowned therewith he wanne Porto which is a part of Legnaga and hauing caused foure thousand French foot and sixe peeces of ordnance to crosse ouer to the farther side of the Riuer Adicé hee beganne to batter the Bastion on both sides the Riuer part whereof being beaten downe the Prouidator who was within it al-be-it his souldiers did what they could to rampire it vp againe being danâ—…ed with feare retired on a sodaine the night following into the castle with certaine Venetian Gentlemen This retreat beeing knowne by daie breake the captaine of the footmen which were in the Bastion did yeeld on condition of safetie of liues and goods The Towne was forth-with sackt and they who kept the other Bastion fled thorow the Marshes The castle yeelded soone after on this condition that the Venetian Gentlemen should remaine prisoners and the souldiers should depart with white wands in their hands There did the Lord of Chaumontreceiue newes of the death of the Cardinall of Amboise his vncle whereat the Pope made great shew of contentation thinking that so long as he liued he shold euer haue an enemy And so much he told the Venetian Ambassador discoursing with him concerning other occurrents The Lord of Chaumont hauing left for the gard of Legnaga an hundred Launces with a thousand footmen determined to returne into the Dutchy of Milan according to the Kings command but by the Emperours entreaty he was countermanded till the month of Iune were ended by which time the Emperour promised to come into Italy and to the end his comming downe might bee more easie the Almaines desiring to recouer Marostic Ciuitella Basciana and other places neere about the Lord of Chaumont came and encamped with his army at Longare to keepe the Venetians troupes from entring into Vincenza wher was a weak Garrison but the Venetian army was retired to Padua The Almaines who were ioyned with the Lord of Chaumont went to Torricelles then to Ciuitella which soone yeelded the like did Marostic Basciana and other places not farre from thence which were abandoned by the Venetians From thence they marched towards Escalla which the Almaines did much desire to take because it was a commodious passage for those companies which were to come forth of Germany but they could not passe forward for the peasants wonderfully affecting the Venetians had possessed diuers places in the mountaine so that hauing taken Castel-noua by composition which is likewise a passage in that mountaine they returned to the Brente where they had formerly beene quartered From thence the Prince of Anhalt did by an other way send diuers foot-companies towards Escalla who passing by Feltre did spoile and burne it then being come to the place of Escalla they found it wholly abandoned and Couola likewise The Country of Friul was no lesse ruined and assaulted on euery side now by the Venetians and then by the Almaines now defended by some then spoiled by others There was nothing to be seene euery where but dead bodies and burnt and sackt places The time drawing neere that the French army was to depart the Emperour and the French King made new couenants together That the army should remaine there the next whole moneth
of most importance till such time as those great nombers of Suisses should be wasted or else some fresh supplies might come to them from France to make head against them Wherevpon he did put into Bressia two thousand foote one hundred and fiftie lances and a hundred men at armes of the Florentines into Crema fiftie lances and a thousand foote and into Bergamo a thousand foote and a hundred Florentine men at armes he brought the residew of the army to Pontuico which consisted of six hundred lances two thousand French foot and foure thousand Lansquenets But the next day letters came from the Emperour who commanded the Lansquenets forthwith to abandon the French Kings seruice they not daring to disobey departed the very same day because they were all his subiects La Palisse despayring by reason of the Lansquenets departure of beeing able any longer to defend the Dutchy of Milan did in great hast retire to Pisquetona The Venetians in the meane time hauing already taken Valegia and Piscara did still with that Army winne the Contrey as they went along Those of Cremona being wholly forsaken did yeeld to the Cardinall of Syon and gaue him a good somme of money to the end that the Suisses should not enter into their Citty The like did Carauagio and Soncino wherein the Cardinall of Syon placed his owne people in Garrison in steed of deliuering it to the Venetians as it was mentioned in the treaty of the League All other townes neere to the riuer Adda did yeeld to the Venetians the like did Bergamo with her territory by reason that La Palisse had recalled his companies which lay there to ioyne them to the army La Palisse forsooke Pisquetona and went and crossed the Riuer Adda hoping to keepe the enemies from passing the riuer if the footmen which they made account to leauy had arriued But through want of money to pay them none were raised wherevpon he retired to Saint Angello and the day following to Pauia determining to stay there But after that Triuulcio came thither to him and had shewed him the vanity of his opinion and how that it was impossible to hould back so great a ruine seeing there were no footmen in the Army nor meanes to wage new as well for the shortnesse of the time as for that there was no money to pay them he went and made a bridge ouer the Po at a place where it is most narrow to the end that the companies might more commodiously passe holding on their way towards Ast. So soone as the French had passed the Riuer Adda Loda yeelded to the confederates who being come to Pauia beganne to batter the Castle The French like-wise did soone abandon it and came to the stone bridge which is ouer the riuer Thesin fearing least it should be surprised hauing but that place alone whereby to escape from Pauia All the French men with certaine Lancequenets who were not departed with the rest being come forth of Pauia the Cittâ—… promised to pay a great summe of mony to auoyde the sack thereof Milan had already done the like compounding for a great summe and all other townes Bi essia and Coma excepted did with great desire doe the same All matters were gouerned in the name of the holy league for so all men called it and all the profit fell to the Swisses which caused many more of that nation to come downe into Lombardy and to vnite them-selues with the first In this change Parma and Placentia were giuen to the Pope The Swisses â—…eazed on Lucarna and the Grisons on Voltolina and Chiauenna Iano Fregossa by the Venetians aide in whose army he serued went to Genoa and so handled the matter as the French gouernor being expelled it reuolted and created him Duke In the like manner all the townes and Castles of Romagnia did returne to the Pope Bolognia like-wise yeelded to his officers after the Bentiuoles being depriued of all hope had forsaken it The Cardinall of Medicis had already before then escaped by meanes of some stirre which hapned of purpose as hee entred into a boate at the passage of the Po wherevpon hee was taken from the French who kept him who intended flight rather then resistance The Senate in the meane time being desirous to recouer Bressia and Coma solicited the Cardinall of Syon to come with his troupes and their army to beseege those townes who making no hast beeing loth to encrease the Venetians greatnesse came in the end and encamped before Bressia neere to Saint Iohns gate battering at one time both the towne and Castle whether the Viceroy came to them with the Spanish army The Lord of Aubigni who was within it perceiuing that in the end he could not choose but deliuer it thought it best to yeeld it together with the Castle rather to the Viceroy then to the Venetians compounding with him that all the souldiors within should depart with liues and goods The French that were at Legnaga followed the same councell Crema did other-wise which was beseeged by Ranze de la Cere with a part of the Venetians forces vnto whome Benedict Cribario being corrupted by guifts and vpon promise to be made a gentleman of Venice did yeeld the towne by the consent of the Lord De Duras gouernor of the Castle the which he would not doe to Octanian Sforza Bishop of Lodi for in the name of the future Duke Maximilian Sforza being come thither for that purpose with foure thousand Swisses In these interims the Bishop of Gurcia as Lieutenant to the Emperor went to Rome who being receiued with all honor they beganne to treat of the establishment of the common businesse and how to root out particular strife and contentions to the end that Italy being vnited together might resist the French King and the hardest matter of all this was the agreement so often treated of betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians For the Bishoppe of Gurcia demanded to haue Verona and Vincenza to remaine to the Emperor and the other townes to the Venetians for which they should presently pay to Maximilian two hundred thousand florins of the Rhyne and thirty thou sand for euer after yearely in manner of rent The Venetians would not pay rent for those townes which they had enioyed for so many yeares as belonging vnto them nor consent to giue mony and much lesse to deliuer Vincenza for diuers reasons by them alleadged The Pope did what he could to attone them now inciting the Venetians then entreating them sometimes threatning The King of Arragons Ambassadors did all they could the like also did the Swisses In the end the Bishop of Gurcia persisting in his demand and the Venetians in their refusall as well of Vincenza as of the summe of mony the Pope forsooke them protesting to their Ambassadors that he should be enforced to pursue their Republick with spirituall and temporall armes and made a league with the Emperor
neuerthelesse forthwith put on their Armor made ready their horses and all other things needfull for a battaile then hauing taken courage they placed themselues vnder their enseignes and opened them-selues more at large Their whole Army was deuided into three parts The Duke of Bourbon lead the Vant-gard accompanied by the Lord of Talamont sonne to Trimouille Iohn Iacomo Triuulcio Pedro of Nauarre and other famous Captaines with all the Almaines Gascons and French In the battaile was the King about whom were the greatest part of the men at armes and a choyce troope of Almaine souldiers with the Dukes of Lorraine and Albany the Lord Trimouille Francis of Bourbon Count of Saint Paul Odet of Foix Lord of Lautrech and diuerse others The Duke of Alançon conducted the rere-ward with the Lords La Palisse and Aubigni and the residue of the Cauallery The Suisses in the meane time hauing left certaine companies of Soldiers vpon the rere-ward had made of their whole Army but one body which was very strong and beeing well closed together they went on furiously that they might the better seaze on the Artillery and gaue in vpon the Lansqnenets who were at the front of the French Armie These men suspecting that the French according to the common report were agreed with the Suisses and that they came only to assaile them in regard of the deadly hatred betwixt these two Nations opened them-selues and suffered the first charge of the Suisses who came furioufly vpon them to passe on where-vpon they went directly towards the Artillery which beeing perceiued by Pedro of Nauarre hee on a sodaine called vp his troopes and caused them to keepe the place appointed to the Lansque nets whereby the enemies passage was soone closed The Cauallery on the other side and the King himselfe who was enuironed with a valiant troope of Gentlemen comming against them their great fury was in some sort cooled and a very cruell battaile beganne the which with diuers euents continewed till fower howers within night certaine French Captaines being already slaine and the King himselfe stricken with diuers pushes of Pikes at the last both sides being so weary as they were able to doe no more did seperate themselues and retired forth of the throng without any commandement or sound of drumme or trompet The Suisses lodged in the very same place expecting day and they suffered one an other on both sides to rest that night as if they had taken truce The King in the meane time did not spend the remainder of the night vnproffitably but assembled his councell to determine what was to be done the day following hee caused the Artillery to be drawne backe and planted in more commodious places hee did reordaine the battaillons of the Lancequenets who promised to amend their former daies fault and to giue sufficient proofe of their faith and loyalty and sent word to Aluiana speedily to come and bring his forces to the battaill So soone as it was day the Swisses went and assailed the French with the selfe same fury of the day before who valliantly receuied them but with more discretion and better order where vpon the Swisses were beaten partly with the artillery and partly with the Gascon Crosbowes and by the horsemen so as they were beaten in Front and in Flanke at such time as Aluiana who was sent for as hath beene sayd arriued with his light horse and with part of his army in the greatest hast he could Hee arriued at such time as the battaile was most closed and most fierce and when matters were in greatest hazard and danger Hee gaue in with great fury vpon the Swisses backes who neuer-the-lesse did still fight valliantly But at last dispairing of the victory as well in regard of the great resistance made against them as by the arriuall of the Venetian army they sounded the retreat and retired with a soft pace towards Milan keeping still their vsuall order with such an amazement to the French army as there was neither horse nor foote-troupes that had the courage to follow them by reason they were much tyred in the battayle hauing fought without intermission from day-breake till none The end of the second Booke of the fifth Decade The Contents of the third Booke of the fifth Decade COntention among the Swisses being retired to Milan after the battaill Milan and the whole Dutchy is reduced vnder the French obedience The French Kings entry into Milan Aluiana his enterprise on the Citty of Bressia with the Venetian army alone The death of Aluiana and the establishment of Iohn Iames Triuulce in his place The Venetians take Pescara The French are present at the seege of Bressia The Pope maketh motion of peace Parma and Placencia are by the Pope yeelded vp to the French King The enteruiew of the Pope and the French King at Bolognia The Campe dislodgeth from before Bressia Triuulcio giues ouer his charge The Duke of Bourbon Viceroy in the Dutchy of Milan The Lord of Lautrec with the Venetian army comes againe before Bressia The Popes practises to breake the seege of Bressia The Emperor the King of England and the Pope band themselues against the French King Manfron and de Bue are defeated by the Imperialls The Lancequenets are defeated by Fregosa at the Castle of Ansa The Emperor commeth with great forces into Italy and beseegeth Asola The French and Venetian armies retyre to Milan The arriuall of the Swisses at Milan for the King The Emperors shamefull retreate into Almaine and the abandoning of his army King Francis his complaints against the Pope The Lord of Lautrec Gouernor of the Dutchy of Milan beseegeth Bressia the third time Bressiayeeldeth vpon composition Verona after diuers determinations being beseeged in two seuerall places is by the Almains freed from the seege The contents of the treaty of Noyon Verona by the same treaty is yeelded to the Venetians The great ioy of the Venetians together with the Veronois for that redition The Contents of the third Booke of the fifth Decade THE Swisses after the bataill being retired to Mylan a very great contention arose amongst them some of them being desirous to make an agreement with the French King and others to continue still for the defence of Milan Those who demanded the acord making another pretence craued mony of Maximilian Sforza the which they very well knew hee had no meanes to pay but it was onely by that refusall to take an occasion to leaue him the which they did by perswasion of Rost their Colonell leauing fifteene hundred of their countrymen with fiue hundred Italians for the gaâ—…d of the Castle promising Maximillian neuerthelesse to returne to the aide of their fellowes whome they left behind Vpon which promise Maximillian Sforza accompanied by Iohn of Gonzaga and Ieronimo Morone and by other Gentlemen of Milan shut himselfe vp in the Castle The French after the Victory remaining maisters of the field did
beginne the warre on that side seeing that the King of Arragon was dead and that Charles Duke of Burgondy hauing taken vpon him the name of Prince of Castile made himselfe terrible to all those who held any States in Italy and chiefly to himselfe But the Popes cunning being already knowne of a long time caused no great regard to be giuen to his speech The Venetians thus continuing the seege of Bressia without harkening to any truce resolued not to stirre from thence till it was either yeelded vp or taken by force The Emperour who had made warre but slowly the yeere before by his Lieutenants determined to goe thither in person sought all meanes to make new stirres in Italy assembled diuers Diets craued aide made great leauies of soulders and aboue all prouoked the Swisses to take armes to reuenge the death of so many braue men their companions offering to be their captaine and not to abandon them in any trauaile or danger whatsoeuer The King of England made the same request being iealous of the glory and reputation of the French and for that the French King also had taken vpon him the protection of the King of Scots The Pope did no lesse but in more secret manner And all three of them promised good pay to those Swisses that would come shewing them moreouer that the profit which would redound to them by that warre of Italy and by their alliance would bee much greater then their hire The Venetian captaines in the meane time after the arriuall of the Lord of Lautrec did often sit in councel where their opinions were very different saying That there was no great garrison within the towne and that it was besides destitute of all prouision making but small doubt of the seege But this opinion was not receiued by reason of the vnfitnesse of the time which was in the middest of winter when it is not good to discampe and to lead the souldiers to a new faction As also because they thought it meere follie to quit a certenty such as was the taking of Bressia for the vncertaine successe of that which would happen before Verona For they certainely knew that there was in Bressia such want of money corne and al other kind of victuals as it was of necessity soone to be theirs either by agreement or by force and this being verified by diuers it was concluded by a generall consent not to stirre from thence and that the City should be more streightlly looked to In the campe there was plenty of all things for the Senate was carefull to furnish it with all necessaries notwithstanding all the impediments which the enemies vsed against the purueyors which prooued vaine to none effect Marke Antonio Colonna was the man who being lodged at Verona vsed all meanes to cut off victuals from the army and to that end kept great numbers of Spaniards and horse-men at Legnaga which they then possessed so as by little and little the enemies waxed so bold as they came and scoured as farre as the Venetians campe whilest they were busied at their seege The Generall and the Prouidatori thinking if they should endure that indignity it would greatly blemish their reputation sent Iohn Paul Manfron and Marke Antonio Bue with foure hundred men at armes and foure hundred light horse to surprize them but the designe succeeded badly for Colonna being by his spies aduertized of their comming came forth of Verona with six hundred horse and fiue hundred foot and went speedily towards Valegia and met them in the field and comming to handy-stroakes he defeated them At this incounter Iulio son to Iohn Paul Manfron his horse being slaine vnder him in the fight was taken his father fled to Gueda A more prosperous issue had the enterprise of Iano Fregosa Iohn Corardo Visin marching with certaine companies as well of the one as other army to the castle of Anse to stoppe the passage of 3000. Lansequenets for they slue 800. of them and the residew escaped with the mony which they carried into Lodron All these exploits were great but not of any great consequence in comrison of the totall of the warre and of that which happened on report of the Emperors comming into Italy which dayly encreased whereby both the assallants and the beseeged were shaken with diuers hopes and feare The Emperor hauing assembled diuers foot and horse companies prouoked great numbers of Swisses to take armes was on his way to come into Italy intending to enter by the mountaines of Trent and to goe directly towards Verona then to Bressia and leauing strong garrison in both those Cities to passe on into the Dutchy of Milan to expell the French The Pope hauing notice of the Emperours entry into Italy the better to honour him and to acquaint him particularly with his loue towards him created Bernardo de Bibiena Cardinall of Saint Mary in Porticu Legat and sent him to him for that he was euer wont to shew himselfe on the Popes behalfe against the French and to hinder their proceedings But the Venetians beleeuing verily that the Emperour would come into Italy exhorted the French King to prouide for their common affaires and not to suffer the Emperour and the Swisses who enuyed his glory and greatnesse to enioy the fruit of his labour and trauaile and that therefore he should either in person returne againe into Italy with a mighty army or else augment that which he had here already according to the worthinesse of the cause promising for their parts to spare nothing that might auaile him The King knowing that what they said was most true tooke great care not only for the danger wherein he saw the Dutchy of Milan but because he should be enforced to put off his enterprize of Naples till some other time wherevnto he greatly inclined Resoluing neuerthelesse first of all to defend his owne Estates and those of his allies he propounded to the Venetians to wage at their common charge eight thousand Swisses because that he hauing at the same time very opportunely renued his alliance with them it was expresly agreed vpon that it should bee lawfull for the King to draw what number of souldiers he pleased forth of their country The Venetians soone agreed to giue pay to two thousand foot of that Nation and readily to furnish money necessary for other expences of warre And notwithstanding that the publike treasury was much exhausted and the whole City greatly afflicted with so long a warre Yet neuerthelesse there was no want seene in any prouision for the army nor in ought else that concerned the continuance of the warre They made a leauy of foure thousand Italian foot they did encrease their garrisons in the Cities and created two Prouidatori Paul Gradonico and Lodouico Barbaro In the Venetians campe were foure thousand Gascons and fiue hundred men at armes commanded by French captaines but amongst those souldiers
the euent thereof hearing that the enemies had entred did forth-with flie with diuers Cardinals and other Prelats to the castle Saint Angelo The Lords Rance de Cera and Langey hauing laboured in vaine to mooue the people to take armes for their owne defense and had sought valiantly with those few forces they could gather together and with them a long time kept the castle bridge were at last enforced to retire The City beeing thus abandoned and all the people in confusion and flight the enemies on all sides entredit and became Masters thereof without any difficulty Philippin Doria and Count Guy so soone as they perceiued the Duke of Bourbon to march towards Rome did on a sodaine without wayting for any other commandement set forwards to rescue the Pope with the forces of Ciuitauecchia and Oruietta but the Duke of Bourbon by his speed hauing preuented them and shut vp all the passages by which they were to follow him did enforce them to returne from whence they came Now the Duke of Vrbin hauing set forward to follow the enemies but very slowly by reason of the hindrances of his campe did at last with the whole army come as farre as Viterbo who finding all the country to be spoiled by the enemies hee was enforced by want of victuals to tarry there his army beeing by sundry accidents much diminished hauing in all but seuen thousand men in stead of thirty thousand appointed by the confederates The army lodging in that place the light horse and foot-men did oftentimes scoure the whole Country where meeting with the Imperiall souldiers that were laden with great spoile and disbanded comming from Rome they striped them of all they had Besides that at the taking of the City all manner of crueltie was vsed euery where infinite complaints were heard of those who were inhumanely tormented partly to enforce them to pay their ransom and partly to bewray the wealth that they had hidden The cries and pittifull lamentations were heard of Roman dames and Nunnes who the souldiers lead away in troupes to satisfie their Luxury All holy things the Sacraments and Relikes of Saints where-with the Churches were stored being despoiled of their ornaments were euery where trodden vnder foot wherevnto were added infinite vilanies of the barbarous Lansequenets The sacke and pillage lasted many monthes which according to the common report as well in ready money gold siluer and iewels amounted to more then a Million of Ducats and the ransomes that were paied did rise to a farre greater summe The end of the sixth Booke of the fifth Decade The Contents of the seuenth Booke of the fifth Decade THE Venetians sorrow and greefe for the taking of Rome and the Pope by the Imperialls The Cardinalls meete at Bolognia to treate of the Popes deliuerance The Venetians warlike preparations by Land and Sea to free the Pope from his imprisonment The Venetians seaze on Rauennato keepe it for the Holy Sea The Duke of Vrbin taketh Perugia to the same end The Duke of Vrbins resolution for the Popes deliuery The French King maketh great warlike prouisions to send into Italy Andre Doria in the seruice of the French King The army of the Confederats remaineth on the Confines of the Siennois The Popes agreement to come forth of prison The Venetians resolution vpon that agreement The Lord of Lautrec commeth into the state of Milan with great forces Bosco and Alexandria taken by him Pauia is taken and sackt by the French Genoa is reduced vnder the French Kings obedience The Turke being assailed by Marcello had soone after his reuenge The Lord Lautrec marcheth towards Rome The demands propounded by the French King in the motion of peace The Agreement whereby the Duke of Ferrara and the Marquis of Mantua enter into the league The entire enlargement of the Popes person The Venetians send an Ambassad to the Pope inuiting him to enter into the league The like Ambassade of the most Christian King to the same effect The Popes excuses not to enter into any new confederacy The Lord Lautrecs iourny into the Kingdome of Naples The Popes demand to the Venetians with their answer The Imperialls refuse to fight The Lord Lautrec encampeth before Naples The Duke of Brunswich commeth with great forces into Lombardy The Venetians preparations against the Duke of Brunswich He returneth into Germany The Imperialls are put to rout at Sea The arriuall of the Generall of the Venetian Army before Naples with the discommodities which it there endured Andre Doria reuolteth from the Kings seruice The Pope resolueth to remaine neuter The great wants of the Army before Naples And lastly the Lord Lautrecs Death The Seuenth Booke of the fifth Decade of the Historie of Uenice THE accident at Rome being knowne at Venice together with the Popes imprisonment did greatly afflict the Senate with griefe and compassion and with a disdaine for the wrong offered to the person of the holy Father wherevpon they not intending to suffer any longer the Emperors fortune to encrease to their owne perill determined to releeue the Pope with all their forces and therein to spare for no cost which caused them to write to the Duke of Vrbin their Generall and to Pisani and Vitturi the Prouidators to lay by all other deseignes and attempt onely if it were possible to free the Pope from his imprisonment and the better to effect it to come neere to the Castle wherein hee was shutte vp to seeke by all meanes to draw him thence and because no other matter might hinder this enterprize they forth-with made a new leuy of foote to encrease their forces to the number of ten thousand foot which lay on the confines of Crema and Lauda to resist Antonio de Leua who being come forth into the field and finding no opposition was likely euery day to grow more strong by the aid which he expected forth of Germany The Venetians were incited therevnto by the great preparations of the Kings of England and France who hauing notice of the great inhumanity vsed towards his Holinesse and the scandall giuen to the Church of Christendome by detayning the head thereof in prison determining to remedy it resolued betwixt themselues at their owne charges to send an army into Italy to free the Pope and to put him in possession of all the Churches lands and another mighty one into Flanders by assayling that country to enforce the Emperor to abandon Italy for the defence thereof These two Kings were very earnest in this businesse wherevpon the Cardinall of Yorke who could doe more then all men with the King of England came for the same purpose to Amiens to the French king to procure an enteruiew of those two kings to the end they might consult together more considerately concerning the Popes deliuery The most Christian King seemed to be no lesse willing therein who sent speedy word to his Captaines in Italy to procure by all meanes the Popes freedome from
a tempest The Popes great resolution against the Duke of Ferrara The Popes preparations against the citty of Ferrara The Venetians intelligence vpon Bressia discouered The Ferrarois defeateth two â—…cetes of the Venetians The Pope exâ—… Alfonso of Este and all his adherents A Generall councel published at Lyons The Bishop of Gurcia commeth into France from the Emperor New confederacy betwixt the Emperor and the French King The French army marcheth toward Bolognia where the Pope lay The Earle of Mirandole sent from the Pope to the Lord of Chaumont The Pope takes courage at the comming of supplies The Lord of Chaumont distrusts the victory The Lord of Chaumont retireth from Bolognia The Pope returneth to his former wrâ—…h The Duke of Ferrara assaileth the Uenetians naual Army The Popes army taketh Saâ—…suala The Popes proposition to the Captains of his Army Concorda taken by the Popes Amy. The Cause of the Kings loosing of Mirandola Those of Mirandola yeeld vpon sâ—…fety of their liues and goods The different opinions of the French Captaines Triuulcio his oration in defence of his opinion The French Army marcheth towards Modena A great earthquake at Venice The Popes forces defeated before the Bastid Geniuola The EmperorMaximillian inclineth to peace The King displeased with this new deter mination The practises of the King of Arragons Abassador The King sendeth the Bishop of Paris to Mantâ—… Gaston of Foix his incursions The Popes great entertainment giuen to the Bishop of Gurcia at Bolognia Speech of agreement betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians The Pope breakes off the treaty 〈◊〉 â—…keth Concordia Iohn Paul Manfron taken prisoner by Gaston of Foix. Triuulcio draweth neere to Bolognia The Popes exhortation to the Bolognois The answer of the Balognois to the Pope Sundry thoughts of the Bolognois The flight of the Cardinal of Pauia The Bentiuolcs with the French are in Bolognia The flight of the Duke of Vrbin Iniury offered to the opes statue in Bolognia In what manner the Uenetians prouided for their Cities of the firme land The Cardinall of Pauia performeth bad offices in the duke of Vrbins beâ—…alse The Cardinall of Pauia slaiue by the Duke of Vrbin Libels set vp in diuers places against the Pope The French Kingâ—… great desire to bee at peace with the Pope The Emperors suÌ„dry thoughts The Venetian army retireth to Padua and Treuiso The Emperour changing his minde goeth back to Trent The Kings forces in the Dutchy of Milan The Venetians doâ—… stil maintaine their 〈◊〉 and greatnesse Confederacy betwixt the Pope the king of Arragon and the Venetians The number of the confederates army Gaston of Foix Lieutenant general for the King in the Dutchy of Milan The Swisses defie Gaston of Foix. The Swisses come down into the Dutchy of Milan The Swisses retuâ—…ne home 〈◊〉 The Bastide taken by the Spaniards The 〈◊〉 army marcheth towards Bolognia The forces that were iâ—… Bolognia The confederates smal progression before Bolognia A breach made at Bolognia A strang miracle in the mine Aide sent to the bâ—…seeged Gaston of Foix comes to the aide of Bolognia The consederates army dislodgeth from before Bolognia Gaston of Foix releeues the Castle of Bressia Andre Griul reâ—…ireth The Venetians returning to the assault of Bressia enter the City Bergamo expelleth the Frinch The speed of Gaston of Foix. Iohn Paul Baillon is broken and defcated by Gaston of Foiâ—… Gaston of Foix defeateth Meleager of Furli Gaston of Foix bauing entred the Castle of Bressia marcheth to the resâ—…ue of the 〈◊〉 The French after a long fight became masters of the City André Gritti and Antonio Iustiniano taken prisoners Count Lodowick Auogare beheaded The losse of Bressia troubleth the Venetians Truce agreed on betwixt the Emperor and the Venetianâ—… The number of Gaston of Foix his army Gaston of Foix his great desire to fight Gaston of Foix beseegeth Rauenna The resoâ—…ue to assaile the enemy and not the Citty The French are victors in the battaile of Rauenna Goston of Foix is slaine by the Spaniards Rauenna taken and spoiled by the French VVhat astonish nent the losse of the bataâ—…le brought to Rome The Popes perplexity The Pope will by no meanes haue peace with the French The Cardinall of Medicis prisoner at Milan The Swisses â—…atred to the French King The Suisses take the way towards the Dutchy of Milan La Palisse forsaketh the field and gardeth the towns The Lancequenets forsake the French King The Venetians great progression in the company of the Suisses Triuultio comming to the Army is of opinion to abandon the Dutchy of Milan Genoa reuolteth from the King Legnaga yeelded The treaty betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians handled Difficulties concerning the agreement League betwixt the Pope and the Emperor Maximillian Sforza in possession of the Dutchy of Milan The death oâ—… Pope Iulius the second A motion of agreemâ—…t betwixt the French King and the Uenetians The league concluded betwixt the King and the Venetians The Articles of the League The election of Pope Leo the tenth The new Pope is tâ—…ssed with sondry thoughts The Venetians constancy in maiâ—…tayning their alliance The King prepareth â—…or his returne into Italy The number of the French Army The number of the Ventian Army The enterprise on Uerona discouered The Venetians take Valegia and Pâ—…scara The Venetians take Creâ—…a The 〈◊〉 descate some of the Uenetian â—…orces The Lansqueâ—…ets enterprise vpon Vincenza broken All the Dutchâ—… of Milan iâ—…â—…proare Maximillian Sfoorza retireth to Nouara Milan reduced to the French gouernment Brâ—…ssia yeelded The Suisses Protectors of of the State of Milan The Suisses discontent make warre on the French king The French besiege Nouara in vaine The French retire from before Nouara The resolution of the Suisses The Suisses saâ—…ly foâ—…to to fight with the French The French Campe in feare and confusion at the Suisses 〈◊〉 The Suisses great boldnesse The Suisses victory at Noâ—… The whole Dutâ—…hy of Millan yeeldeth to 〈◊〉 Cremona taken and sackâ—… by the Spaniards Legnaga taken and dismantmantled by the Venetians The Venetians besiege 〈◊〉 Verona Aluiana raising his siege spoileth the Countrey The Castle of Legnaga taken by the Spaniards The Venetian Armie retireth to Padua and Treuiso The Pope reuiueth the agreement betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians The Venetianâ—… constancie The Venetians offers to the French King The French Kings anâ—…wer 〈◊〉 Venetians The Venetians 〈◊〉 the French King The Kings Submission to the Pope The Popes reproachful speeches of the Venetians The Pope sendeth forces to the Emperor against the Uenetians Prouisions made by the Venetians The 〈◊〉 Army on the bankes of Adissâ—… The 〈◊〉 of Rance de Cere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Crema The 〈◊〉 loose 〈◊〉 Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 portance the taking of 〈◊〉 duâ—… 〈◊〉 The Imperials resolution to 〈◊〉 Padua Padua furnished of all things necessary to susteine a siege The number of the enemies before Padua The Imperials raise their siege from before Padua The enemies spoile ruinâ—… Uincenza
of Hungarie as it was afterwards knowne made sodaine incursions vpon the very confines of Italy to surprise Porto-nouo a towne vpon the Riuer Lizonza The Hungarians made a stay vpon the Thryestines territorie But the Senate though it certainly knew that the same King made warre still vpon Frederick and that those troupes were expresly sent into Italy to surprize Porto-nouo and Tryeste which Frederick yet held yet because they were not well assured of the Kings intention they forthwith sent certaine troopes of horse which lay in Garrison betwixt Verona and Padua to the Carnons territories But the Hungarians passing quietly through the territorie of Vdina and frustrate of their hope to take the Citie which the Bandetti had assured them of left Italy and returned without any farther attempt The better part of Haruest was alreadie spent when Roberto Sanseuerino who notwithstanding the peace in Lombardie still remained in the Venetians pay earnestly solicited by Letters from Pope Innocent who succeeded Sixtus went without the Senates consent or knowledge who were then at peace by sea and land with his sonnes Fracasso and Galeas and two and thirtie companies of horse first into Faminia and afterwards to Rome in the middest of winter but hee arriued somewhat before his forces for the Pope being pressed by Alphonso hastened his comming The cause of this warre proceeded from the commotions of the Volaterrans and rebellion of certaine Princes who by a sodaine conspiracie reuolted from Ferdinand retiring to Pope Innocent requesting his aide against that King The Pope finding them not onely worthie to be protected by his authoritie but likewise to be freed from all wrong by the forces of the Church of Rome it fell out that Virgino Vrsino who as we haue elsewhere said besides sundry townes which hee possest neere Rome on this side and beyond Tiber had likewise diuers others in the Marshes as farre as the lake Fuscino in the confines of the Realme of Naples remained still loyall to the King At first he resolued as it is reported not wholly to abandon the King nor likewise in any sort to take Armes against the Pope but together with Ferdinand defending the Realmes frontiers following his Ancestors steps to make no attempt neere Rome In this maner he remained as it were neuter amidst these new garboiles of warre when after Sanseuerins arriual by the perswasion as it was thought of some chiefe Commanders of the contrarie faction the Pallace of the Vrsini vpon Mount Iordano which is the name of some part of the Citie was sodainly by the soldiers spoiled and burnt whereat Virginio being incensed did presently declare himselfe together with the other Lords of that familie an enemy to the Pope Alfonso strengthened by this mans power and hauing seized on certaine bridges neere Rome began after Sanseuerines arriuall to waste and spoile all places round about the Citie We onely mention this to acquaint the reader with the cause of the warre betwixt the Pope and King Ferdinand Now while these things were done neere Rome Prince Mocenigo died the seuenth yeere of his Gouernment ¶ MARCO BARBADICO the 73. Duke of Uenice MArco Barbadico a Senator of great wisdome and authoritie was by a generall consent chosen Prince in his stead This man the Common-wealth being quiet at home and abroad repaired the Ducall Pallace begunne a while before with such expedition as in a few moneths whilest he remained Prince all that part thereof towards the East was with stately Architecture almost finished The cold weather nothing abating the furie of the Pestilence it did greatly afflict the Citie Therefore three Senators were appointed who had ample commission to doe whatsoeuer they should finde necessarie to free it from that calamitie These men that they might the sooner take away the cause of the sicknesse in an open place for the purpose caused a great quantitie of infectious apparell which the couetous graue-makers had layed vp together to bee burned in one fire And because great numbers of people did surcharge the Citie they sent a great part of the vulgar to inhabit elswhere At the same time the great Chanell opposite to the great market-place was clensed the which by a decree of Senate though it were of great extent was in all places scoured They sent certaine foote companies according to their vsuall manner into Cyprus for to guard the Island In the meane time warre betwixt the Pope and the Vrsini who as hath beene said shewed themselues openly for Ferdinand brake forth into great flames after the arriuall of Sanseuerines forces For Pontenomentana being recouered which they had taken and Fracasso sonne to old Sanseuerino almost slaine with a bullet the whole burthen of the warre fellon Paulo Vrsino and other of Virginio's kinsmen For Nomentana being taken by force was sackt and ruined Sanseuerino marched towards Monterotonda when Cardinall Baptista Vrsino came to the Pope and assured him that himselfe and friends would be obedient to the holie Sea by meanes whereof there were none other attempts made neere Rome Virginio's troopes of horse did in the meane time waste the Roman territorie till Alphonso's returne from Tuscanie where according to their agreement they receiued a braue cauallery from the Florentines and Milaneses with which they made towards Rome Sanseuerino with farre fewer number went to incounter him neere Flisco there in skirmish the enemie lost certaine horse but this notwithstanding Alphonso presuming on his owne strength did in despight of Sanseuerino make furious incursions vpon the Romanesca The Pope who till then had constantly maintained this great warre though he alreadie before resolued as some say to craue aide from France hauing sent for Renatus Duke of Lorraine to come into Italy against Ferdinand and had likewise by his Nuncio Nicolao Franco elect Bishop of Treuiso requested the Venetians to associate him in that warre yet because supplies from France are accounted farre off and tedious and that the Venetians in respect of their league sworne in Lombardie at the finishing of the Ferrarois warre with Lodouico Sforza Alphonso and the Florentines would not take Armes hauing thereby lost all hope of aide from any other place and fearing to precipitate the State of Rome into greater dangers he did willingly incline to peace which the enemie offered him on honourable termes For though he was a great Protector of the papall dignitie yet he loued peace and quietnesse in concluding whereof he did as much as in him lay procure the wealth and aduancement of the Church of Rome together with that of his friends and confederates Sanseuerino presently after peace was made being casheerd and resoluing to carrie backe his troupes of horse into Lombardie did by letters and expresse messengers craue leaue of the Senate to retire with two thousand horse into some towne belonging to their territories But his demand not granted himselfe destitute of all counsell as a man forsaken hauing no safe place of retreate and Alphonso
at last openly refuse it fearing by fauoring them to offend the Venetians with whom he was desirous to ioyne Moreouer Lodouico did draw Giouan Bentiuole with the State of Bolognia to his part and caused the Florentines to take his sonne Alessandro into their pay together with Octaniano de Riare Lord of Imola and Furli with an hundred and fifty men at armes He did in like manner cause the Lukeses to promise neuer more to fauour the Pisans The Florentines hauing in vaine attempted to draw the Geneuois and Sienois to their side went into the field vnder the command of Paulo Vitelli their General The Pisans vnderstanding that the Florentines were abroad raised their campe from before Ponte di Succo and went to Cascina where Vitelli placing an Ambuscado assailed them and slew many Stradiots and tooke Franco their captaine prisoner with an hundred horse In this manner did the Florentines annoy the city of Pisa hauing taken diuers townes round about it when they receiued some likely aduertizement from the Duke of Ferrara and others that the Venetians would be content to harken vnto peace prouided that they would proceed in the treaty not as with their equals but superiors They then sent Ambassadors to Venice to sound their meaning Guido Antonio Vespucâ—… and Bernardo Rucelli two of the honorablest Citizens went thither who after kinde entertainment beeing introduced to the Senate after long disputation concerning meanes to satisfie both parties neither the Venetians for Florentine Ambassadors would propound any referring themselues to the Spanish Ambassador who incited them to this accord But the Venetians distasting his opinion the Florentines returned back without any satisfaction This treaty broken the Venetians on the one side and Florentines on the other beganne to strengthen their party with new leagues and treaties the one with the Sienois and the other with Pietro de Medicis and the Lord of Faonza Lodouico still shewing himselfe very much affected to the Florentines The Venetians hope from Syenâ—…a and Perousa being by this meanes frustrate did by the assistance of Pietro de Medicis attempt to releeue Pisa on Romagnias side but in vaine In the meane time Paulo Vitelli Generall to the Florentines tooke the towne and castle of Librafaâ—…ta whereat the Venetians being incensed sought againe to draw the Marquis of Mantua to their pay whom not long before they had dismissed he leauing them by meanes of Alâ—…iana the Florentines army being turned from Pisa but so as the whole burthen of warre fell vpon the Venetians who wisely procured meanes of agreement For although the Florentine Ambassadors departed from Venice hopelesse of any accord yet at Ferrara a new treaty of composition was made propounded by the Duke at the Venetians intreaty During these troubles in Italy by reason of Pisa the new French King made preparations against the next yeere to inuade the Dutchy of Milan where he hoped to haue the Venetians on his side who mortally hating Lodouico did particularly negociate with him so did the Pope who sent his sonne which had cast of his Cardinals hat into France in secular habit to carry a dispensation to the King to repudiate his wife Ioanâ—… and to marry his Predecessors widdow Caesar Borgia came to the French Court in great pompe where the King very honorably entertained him giuing him a company of an hundred men at armes a yeerely pention of 20000. French pounds and made him Duke of Valence in Daulphine Then desirous to pursue his iourney into Italy hee made peace with all Princes his neighbours and especially with the Kings of Spaine who presently called home not only all their Ambassadors from Italy hee with the Pope excepted but Gonsaluo with all his forces The King likewise made an agreement with the Emperor vnto whom for his sonne the 〈◊〉 sake hee promised to surrender the townes in Artois Hee did moreouer confirme the peace made by his predecessor with the King of England Whilest the Senate was busied in prouiding for the releefe of Pisa newes came to Venice that the Turke prepared a great fleet which caused them to send an Ambassador to him for they were afraide that hee was offended with them because that toward the end of the precedent summer Nicolo Priuli Prouidator of their fleet had on the Aegean Sea sunke a great ship belonging to one of his Bashas which first assailed the Prouidator Zancani whom the Senate sent being come to Constantinople had notice of the great numbers of vessels which the Turke had caused to be armed The great Lord curteously entertained him shewing no signe of discontent He determined to assaile the Venetians whilest they should be busied in Lombardy with making head against Lodouicos forces who had promised to inuade them in those parts Zancani intreating him to renew the league with the Signory hee the better to deceiue him granted it giuing him the Articles of the league written in Latin Now their law saith that they are not bound to performe any thing vnlesse it be written in their owne language Zancani aduertized thereof by Andre Gritti a Venetian Gentleman skilfull in the Turkish lawes and customes and for his bounty and other good parts beloued of that nation hauing dwelt a long time at Constantinople was by him in some sort put in hope to haue them written in the Turkish tongue but not obtayning his desire Zancani returned with the Articles in Latin concealing what Gritti had told him because his iourney should not be thought vaine Now the French King so soone as he had made peace with his neighbour Princes and in his absence secured his Realme made a Confederacy with the Venetians not mentioning Pisa as heâ—… had done at the beginning wherein it was concluded that at the same time as he with a mighty army should inuade the Dutchy of Milan they on the other side from their frontiers should doe the like and the Dutchy being worâ—… 〈◊〉 with the country of Gyradade should remaine to the Venetians on this condition that after this conquest they should be bound to defend the King for a certaine time with certaine number of horse and foot the King being bound to do the like for Cremona and what soeuer they possessed in Lombardy This contract was so secretly made as Lodouico nor yet the Pope who was very inward with the King could but very late haue any certaine knowledge thereof The King not mentioning Pisa did afterwards propound conditions to the Florentines farre different from the former wherevpon they resolued to rely on the Duke of Milan by whose assistance their affaires prospered in the Casentine territory where they were Lords their enemies hauing beene inforced to abandon the townes by reason of great difficulties Lodouico who neuer imagined that the Venetians would haue leagued themselues with the French King who was greater nad more potent then they and least of all change his neighbourhood for that of the French was wonderfully danted
therevnto added very earnest speeches to winne their loues which were heard with more attention then profit that done hee enroled all those in the City that were able to beare armes The Venetian army in the meane time still preuailed and after the taking of the towne and â—…astle of Carauagia crossed the Riuer Adda on a bridge of boats and made incursions as farre as Lodi The French army on the other side beseeged Alexandria where Galleas Lodouicos sonne in law lay with twelue hundred men at armes twelue hundred light horse and three thousand foot who the third night after the seege acquainting none of his captains with his intent but only Maluezza did secretly flie from Alexandria to Milan with certaine light-horse His departure knowne in the city as many as tarried behind beganne in tumultuous manner some to flie others to hide themselues wherevpon the French army entring it by day breake did not only ransacke the souldiers but sack't the whole city The taking of Alexandria caused those of Placentia to send their Commissioners to Triuulcio with their Cities keyes the like did those of Pauia and all other townes round about There was the like confusion at Milan as in other places where the foot companies demanding pay Lodouico sent them to his cheefe Treasurer who giuing them no satisfaction was by them wounded and left for dead This accident did so terrifie Lodouico as he sent his children to Coma together his with mistris for his wife was dead Cardinall Ascanio his brother and Cardinal Sanseuerine brother to Galeas and from thence into Germany himselfe resoluing ere long to goe thither The Milaneses perceiuing Lodouico to destrust his owne forces made an assembly in their towne-house where they appointed foure of the chiefe among them to take order for their affaires These comming to Lodouico told him that they were resolued to yeeld to the French King seeing that in distrust he had sent his children and family forth of the City So soone as he heard this he caused pay to be giuen to fiue hundred light-horse and with teares in his eyes departed with them and Galeas of Sanseuerin his sonne in law towards Germany He was scarce gonne forth of the castle when Count Gayazza came to him and the better to collour his disloyalty told him that he now thought himselfe freed from the martiall oth which he had made him seeing that he abandoned his State and that he was now at liberty to goe whether it pleased him and at the very instant not tarrying for an answer went his way to serue the French King with the same company which he had leauied and entertained at Lodouicos cost Before his departure from Milan hee left Bernardin de Corte of Pauia whom he had brought vp of a child to gard the castle whereof he was then Gouernor with three thousand footmen vnder captaines whom he greatly trusted with prouision of victuals munition and money sufficient to defend it for a long time preferring this man before his brother Ascanio who had offered to take that charge vpon him Foure daies after his departure Triuulcio sent for by the Milaneses entred the City where he was receiued with great ioy reseruing the capitulations till the Kings comming all other townes of the Dutchy which yet held out yeelded on a sodaine The Venetians comming nere Cremona the townesmen sent to entreate them to grant them some respit to consider vpon their yeelding This granted they sent to Triuulcio to request him to receiue them for the King for they abhorted the Venetians gouernment but answered that by agreement made betwixt the King and them that city was theirs the chiefest Citizens with the Bishop and Clergy went to the Gates and there receiuing the Prouidators placed them vnder a Canopy and in this manner accompanied them through the City to their lodging where they intreated the Venetians to free them from the taxes and impositions where with Lodouico had opprest them the which was presently granted There is in that City a very strong castle which being well furnished with all necessaries it was a hard matter to take it Antonio Battaglione was Gouernor there vnto whom Lodouico had committed the guard of that place The next day the Prouidators sent to him willing him to yeeld vp the castle to the Venetian State at first he made refusall but after sundry messages too and fro the Prouidatorsâ—…ntred it by meanes of an hundred and fifty pounds of gold which they paied him some in hand and the rest by promise with letters of a Venetian Gentlemans place and an house in Venice and an other in the country neere to Padua with diuers other lands The same day that the Venetians entred the castle of Cremona Triuulcio did the like into that of Milan which was yeelded vnto him by Berdardino de Corte with al Lodouicos and Galleas ritch mouables in recompence of a certaine summe of money a company of an hundred Launces and a perpetuall pension Cremona obeying the Venetians the Senate sent two Presidents thither to gouerne it and to doe iustice Dominico Treuisan and Nicola Foscarinâ—… were sent thither and beside these two Ambassadors were chosen and all foure of them appointed to goe to Milan to receiue the King and in the States name to congratulate his new conquest so soone as he should ariue there The King receiuing newes at Lyons of such fortunate successe his expectatioon rode presently in post to Milan where receiued with in credible ioy hee granted to the people vnreasonable in their demands exemption from diuers tâ—…xes but not from all as they vainely presumed and gaue great rewards to many Milanese Gentlemen and among others to Triuulcio vnto whom he gaue Vigeua and other townes in acknowledgement of his desert All the Potentates of Italy went thither to him King Frederick excepted some personally and some by Ambassadors some to congratulate his happy successe and others to cleere themselues from imputation of inclyning to Lodouico Sforza more then to him and others likewise to secure their owne euer after The King gently receiued them all and compounded with them all but after different manner according to the diuersity of the conditions and greatnesse of the profit he expected from them But whilest these things were done in Lombardy the Senate hauing intelligence that Bajazeth armed by sea and land made Antonio Grimany Generall of their Naual army commanding him speedily to depart He vnwilling to prolong his iourney for want of money their treasure beeing much wasted by continuall warre lent the State foure score pounds of gold to pay the marriners and other officers of the fleet and promised to carry as much with him to Corfou and other places to supply the fleets want when need should be Those of Corfou vpon intelligence that the Turkish fleet was vnder saile and that the State was not able in a short space to set forth a Nauy able to
last extremity being out of hope of hauing any longer truce with the enemies it being almost expired expecting euery day when Prospero Colonna with new forces would come againe to beseege it They should likewise assure him that the Senate would neuer faile of their duty hauing already made new prouision of souldiers for the land army of armour and munition and giuen order to arme certaine Gallies to amuze the enemy as well by sea as land and that the King should for his part doe the like The Venetian Ambassadors hauing executed their commission with the King in the City of Paris went into England to finish the remainder of their Ambassage where being curteously enterteined they declared at their first audience the great sorrow and griefe that the Venetians had for the death of King Lewis his brother in law a very mighty Prince and a great friend to the Republike then they gaue him many thankes for the great correspondence betwixt them for that in the conclusions of peace as well with King Lewis as since then with King Francis he was euer desirous that their common-wealth as his good friend should be especially named and comprized And afterward the Ambassadours being in priuate with the King did earnestly entreate him that it might please him by his authority to perswade the French King according to the desire he had to harken to the affaires of Italy to giue aide and succour to the Venetians and incite him to put in practize his said desire That in the meane time the peace and alliance betwixt them might continue firme and inuiolable from which would proceed nothing but good to both partes and bee very commodious for all Christendome After both the Ambassadors had in this sort accomplished their charge Iustinian remained in England with King Henry and Paschalic returned into France to doe the like there who beeing come to Paris receiued letters from the Senate whereby he was commanded to goe with speed into the Low countries to the Arch-duke to congratulate him for his marriage and for the peace whereof the common-wealth was very glad which they would haue to be signified to him by their Ambassador After this manner did the Venetians striue to entertaine the friendship and alliance of fortaine Princes fitting themselues to the time But their greatest care was how to find meanes to draw the Pope to their side and to ioyne him with the French whereof they had some hope by reason that Iuliano de Medicis the Popes brother who could doe much with his Holinesse had married Philiberta sister to the Duke of Sauoy and a very neere kinsewoman to the French King by which they supposed that hee would fauour the French and that the Pope in time to come would more encline to them then he had hither vnto done perceiuing that the Realme of France beeing strengthened both by kindred and confederacy with England and the Arch-duke nothing was able to hinder King Francis from growing great in Italy and from being feared there Yet for all that the Pope being tossed to and fro with his accustomed doubts and difficulties had no firme or certaine resolution for now he tooke part with one and anon with an other sometimes being vanquished with feare he inclined to the friendship of the French but he did oftner and more willingly discourse with the Ambassadors of the Emperour and King Fernand and made answere to the Venetians who spake to him about it that they might draw some thing from him that hee would bee a looker on and see what the issue of the warre would bee intending to ioyne with the Conquerour But hee did not imagin in his heart that the French King would euer passe into Italy so as if King Francis had already passed the mounts with his army yet he would not beleeue it The Venetians beeing acquainted with his humour sent Marin Georgio their Ambassador to Rome with expresse commission to tell him That he was of necessity to shew himselfe otherwise then hithervnto hee had done and to doe his best to alter his former opinion and to that end he should make the French Kings forces to bee very great and giue him to vnderstand how that seeing his Realme was out of daunger of forraine warres he might without contradiction and on a sodaine turne towards Italy wherevnto he was much enclined in regard of his desire to conquer the State of Milan that there was nothing so hard or difficult that was able to diuert him from this deseigne That the Venetians had the same will to renue the warre and to ioyne themselues with the French That they euer desired as well in peace as warre to be vnited to the Sea Apostolike to runne the selfe same fortune with it and had greatly laboured to haue it so But not being able to obtaine it of his Holinesse and perceiuing the hope of the victory to be very great on the French side the Venetians were resolued not to abandon their friendship and aliance thinking that by so doing they had discreeâ—…ly prouided for their affaires The which he likewise ought to doe hauing first maturely considered whatsoeuer might hinder or delay the Kings intent and finding none at all to preserue by so doing the papall authority and Maiesty together with the possessions of the Church That there was but onely one remedy left in all this which was that the Pope would vnite himselfe with the French and Venetians because that the Swisses being forsaken by his Holinesse and by his succors would of a certaine giue ouer the defence of Maximilian Sforza and lay downe their armes which they had taken against the French so as the confederates being depriued of that aide should be enforced to change their mindes the Emperour would no more thinke on the affaires of Italy and Fernand would satisfie himselfe with his kingdome of Naples wherevpon others might recouer what belonged vnto them namely the French the State of Milan and the Venetians those Cities which had beene wrongfully taken from them and thereby a firme and sure peace might be established All these goodly discourses could smally preuaile with the Pope to make him alter his opinion but on the contrary continuing firme in his first determination he thought in himselfe that he might easily induce the Venetians to doe what he pleased But perceiuing that to deale with them by faire and gentle meanes hee should neuer obtaine his desire hee resolued to vse seuerity and rigor Hee caused to be published ouer all the Churches territories that no subiects or Vassals belonging to the holy sea should vpon paine of most greeuous censures beare arms vnder the Venetians pay commanding al Captaines as wel of foot as horse to come with al speed to the Spanish campe with their soldiors and horses going about by that meanes in such sort to diminish the Venetians forces and reputations as being encompassed with so many mischeefes they should
with ease reduce vnder their power all the townes of the Dutchy of Milan The Viceroy of Naples who all this while had not stird forth of the Placentyne Territory being out of hope to bee able any longer to gard and defend the state of Milan and fearing besides that the Pope had abandoned the league hee retired into Romagnia and from thence soone after brought backe his army into the realme of Naples The Cardinall of Syon perceiuing him-selfe to bee disgraced among his country-men for the bad successe of the battaill went to the Emperour to solicite aide the like did Francis Duke of Barri brother to Maximillian Sforza The Citty of Milan being thus abandoned gaue itselfe to the French King with entreaties that hee would forget what was past promising to bee euer after more loyall and obedient graunting to pay vnto him a very great summe of mony The King refused to enter into it so long as the enemies held the Castle but the Duke of Burbon came thither to receiue the Citty in the Kings name and gaue speedy charge to Pedro of Nauarre to attempt the taking of the Castle who promised contrary to the opinion of all-men to winne it within a moneth where-vpon hee beganne to batter it with the Canon certaine daies together then according to the vsuall manner hee made mines whereby hee blew vp the walls and towers which were of a wonderfull height Sforza being daunted when hee saw a Case-mate and a part of the wall flying in the aire and being besides ill disposed of his person making vse of the councell of some of his trustiest seruants hee determined to receiue into the Castle Antonio Bratan Doctor of the lawes to make a draught of the agreement and redition of that place which he was resolued to yeeld vp to the French King which imported that Maximilian Sforza should presently consigne to the French King the Castles of Milan and Cremona That he should giue ouer vnto him all his claime to that state and should receiue of the King a certaine somme of money for the paiment of his debts and that he should goe into France where the King should giue him a yeerely pension of thirty thousand Ducats or else should cause him to be made a Cardinall with the like reuenew There were besides diuers Suisses that were in the Castle who were all of them well satisfied and pleased These Articles being accomplished the King entred in great magnificence into the Citty of Milan enuironed with the greatest part of his cauallery Foure Ambassadors of the chiefest Senators of Venice came thither to him namely Vntonio Grâ—…mani Dominico Treuisan George Cornare and Andrew Gritti as well to congratulate him for his victory as to entreat him as hee was tyed by the capitulations of the confederacy to helpe them to recouer their Citties The King after that he had gratiously receiued and entertained them commanded speedily the bastard of Sauoy and Theodore Triuulcio to aid them with six dundred lances and seauen thousand Lancequenets But because they delayed their departure vntill they had seene what would become of the Castle of Milan or else because the King would send the same companies before that of Cremona Aluiana whom the Venetians would not suffer to follow the viceroy marched with his army towards Bressia to trie if he could take it by force according to the Senates direction who desired that all matters being laid aside he should seeke to recouer Bressia and Verona in regard whereof Aluiana hauing passed ouer the riuer Adda marched directly to Bressia the Citty of Bergamo beeing yeelded vnto him presently after the rout of the Suisses Now in the Venetians Campe there was diuersity of opinions among the Captaines some of them thinking it much better to goe first and beseege Verona for diuerse important reasons and cheefely because that beeing taken all the Townes and Castles of the Veronois would soone yeeld the which would not so fall out by the taking of Bressia The Senate at first was of this opinion but because they would not spend the time vainely in that determination they referred that businesse to Aluiana his discretion who because Bressia was neerer to the French Campe hee marched thither hoping to take it with ease for hee thought that Bressia had not so strong a garrison as Verona But Icaro the Spanish Captaine beeing wise and subtill who commanded Bressia hauing intelligence of Aluiana his deseigne had speedily caused a thousand footmen to come thither from Verona with store of victualls and other necessaries to sustaine a seege and had handled it so cunningly as Aluiana had no knowledge thereof who made account so soone as hee should approach the walles to giue an assault in diuers and sundry places But by the sodaine and vnexpected arriuall of the new ayde hee found more resistance there then hee look't for and hauing greatly laboured in his approaches a greeuous feeuer seazed on him which enforced him to leaue the Campe and to retire to Gueda in the Bressan Countrey where hee departed out of this world about the beginning of October in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and fifteene not beeing fully three score yeares of age wherewith the Venetians were greatly greeued but the souldiours much more who kept his body fiue and twenty dayes togeather in the Army carrying it with them when they marched in very great solemnity then it was brought to Venice where by a publique decree it was very honorably buried in Saint Steeuens Church where at this day his toombe is to be seene And because he had euer made more esteeme of honor and reputation then of wealth hauing left his wife and children poore the Senate in acknowledgement of his good seruice decreed that euery moneth three score Ducats should be paid to his widdow and as much to a sonne of his foorth of the publicke treasury so long as they should liue hauing giuen them a goodly house in the Citty with exemption from all taxes and impositions and that to euery of his three daughters should be giuen the somme of three thousand Ducats for their Dowry when time should serue After Aluiana his death George Eme the prouidator did for a while command the army The Venetians in the meane time entreated the King to giue them Iohn Iames Triuulce to be Generall of their forces as well in regard of his experience as for his renowne in martiall discipline as also because for the common inclination towards the Guelphe faction there had euer beene good wil and frendship betwixt them and the same Republick Whilest he prepared for his going to the army the Venetian companies tooke Pescara hauing not long before defeated certaine troopes of horse and three hundred Spanish footmen that went to releeue it then they recouered Asola and Lona which the Marquis of Mantua had abandoned Triuulce being arriued at the Venetian Army
Dominions to make a bodie of an army and to beseege it The Senate had giuen free passage through their State both to the one and other to shew that they had no hand in that businesse they were neuerthelesse displeased for that one Fust and two Brigantins had beene armed at Trieste which entring into the Hauen of Dignana had begunne streightly to shut in those of Maran on the sea side wherevpon to suffer them to stay their besides the drawing of many others thither would seeme greatly to preiudice the Republikes claime to that Hauen and shew some partiality by suffering them to offend Maran from that place the which they determyning not to suffer because they would proceed modestly therein did entreate Ferdinand and the Emperour likewise to cause those armed vessels to depart forth of the Hauen sending thither at the same time an armed galley to hinder their incursions till such time as they should receiue an answere During these treaties Iohn Francisco de Pacis a Florentine came to Venice to offer vnto the Senate in Strossi his name the fort of Maran for some honest recompence protesting that vpon their refusall he should be enforced to negociate with some other great Prince whom he knew would gladly accept it Strossi resoluing in no sort to render it to Ferdinand but rather to get some great summe of money for it by contracting with the Turke that the French King had left Maran to bee disposed of at Strossi his pleasure to make his profit thereof in recompence of the good seruices done by him to the crowne of France The Senate therevpon was greatly perplexed either to accept or refuse it It desired to auoide all occasions of contention with Ferdinand who might suspect that they had some intelligence with Strossi and to suffer that place so nere a neighbour to Venice to fall into the Turkes hands would be very dangerous not only for the Common-wealth but for all Christendome Being then mooued with feare of such a danger they resolued to harken to Pacis proposition and to that end two Senators were appointed Antonio Capello and Francesco Contaren to treat with him vpon the particularities of the agreement where after sundry contestations the composition was made in this manner that Strossi for consigning Maran into the Venetians hands should for recompence receiue fiue and thirty thousand Ducats at one entire payment This being thus concluded Alessandro Bondimiero was so dainely chosen Prouidator of that place who going along with Pacis with some few foot forces was brought into it and Strossi hauing consigned the towne to him the whole people with great ioy did forthwith take the oth of obedience to the Republike of Venice The Venetians did afterwards acquaint the Emperour and Ferdinand with the causes which had mooued them to embrace that necessary resolution that their actions in two yeeres space that the towne had beene offered vnto them could yeeld sufficient testimony of their integrity during which time they had not only refused to giue an eare to their often propounded offers but had giuen passage victuals and other commodities to Ferdinands troupes for to recouer it that they had likewise considered how that place was of no great importance to Ferdinand neither for the States confines nor reuenew there of but on the contrary of great expence accompanied with extreame danger for all his States if it should haue fallne into the Turkes hands as vndoubtedly it would haue so happened if they should haue refused Strossi his offer These reasons being cunningly deliuered to those Princes by Bernardo Nouagera and Marin de Canalis Ambassadours for the Signory the one with the Emperor and the other with King Ferdinand did in some sort appease them both of them hauing at first taken the treaty concerning that place in bad part and then the quallity of the times did greatly helpe to make those Princes capable of the reasons by them alleadged by reason that a Dyet had beene published at the beginning of the yeere 1544. Where all the chiefe Princes and Lords of Germany were to meet to treat of affaires of great consequence to make warre vpon the French and to resist the Turkes attempts for all the thoughts of the Emperour and the King of Romans tended only to those two ends hoping besides as a matter which they much desired that the Venetians perceiuing so many Princes and free townes of Germany leagued against the Turkes would enter into league with them and abandon that of the Turkes this was the vsuall talke among Courtiers Now the Emperor was greatly afraide least that the Venetians vpon the least discontent giuen vnto them from himselfe should quit his alliance and embrace that of the French King who had so often sought to them for it aud his feare was at the same time greater then euer in regard of his hope being ioyned to the King of England and the Suisses to molest France more then euer he had done perceiuing himselfe to be freed from the care of releeuing Italy which would be peaceable so long as the accord with the Venetians should last The French King on the contrary hauing the selfe same considerations did hope to defend his owne Realme by troubling Italy with the warres of Naples and the Dutchy of Milan to constraine the Emperour to diuide his forces and to send part of them to the aide of those countries and to that end did againe vse meanes to draw the Venetians to his party and supposing that the quallity and reputation of the man might greatly further the businesse he caused the Cardinall of Ferrara to goe to Venice to that end who was honourably entertained there and comming into the Senat in secret audience as he had desired he beganne in substance to declare vnto them what the Emperours deseignes were who only aspired to a sole Monarchy and especially to that of Italy the which he might with ease attaine to did not the French King counterpoise him who being their louing and trusty friend did by him entreat them to enter into league with him and speedily to send their nauall army into Puglia where they should finde the country disfurnished of Garrisons and all the people at their deuotion who did openly hold the Spaniards for their enemies and he in the meane time for the safety of their State offered alwaies to haue fifteene thousand men ready in Piedmont or in any other place that they should thinke fit The Senate according to the custome did not at that time giue the Cardinall any answere to his proposition but the businesse being afterwards debated in the councell they answered him That as the Republike did highly esteeme and deerely reckon of the French Kings friendship it did likewise determine still to embrace and cherish it but it neither could nor would being now at peace with other Princes and in want of diuers things by reasons of the last warres enter into trouble
French king 37 Cause of the Venetians hatred to the Duke of Ferrara 25 Confederacie a new betwixt the Emperor the French King 37 Concorda takeÌ„ by the Popes army 39 Cardinall of Pauia dealeth badly with the Duke of Vrbine 45 Cardinall of Pauia slaine by the Duke ibid. Confederacy betwixt the Pope the king of Arragon and the Vene tians 47 Cardinall of Medicis prisoner at Milan 56 Cremona taken and sackt by the Spaniards 67 Constancie of the Venetian Senate 74 Compromise made by the Pope 75 Citie of Vdâ—…na abandoned to the enemies 79 Countrey of Frinl acquit by meanes of the taking of Frangipan 85 Cardinal of Syens Oration to the Suisses 95 Cardin. makes vse of false rumors 96 Charles king of Spaine chosen Emperour 118 Commissioners of the Emperour and the Venetians meet at Verona 120 Conditions of agreement betwxt the Pope and the Emperour 126 Colonna fortifieth Milan 130 Cremonia yeelded to the enemies 136 CreatioÌ„ of Pope Adrian the sixt 138 Creation of Pope Clement the seuenth 142 Cause of the French kings discontent with the Emperour 145 Conditions of peace propounded by the Pope 146 Children of France in hostage for the king their Father 156 Confederates send Commissioners to the king of England ibid. Capitulation of Cremona 161 Colonessi enter Rome violently ibi Chiefe Articles of the treatie 163 Confederates prouide to resist the Emperour ibid. Confederates consult about the siege of Naples 167 Confederates Armie still followes the Imperials 171 Cardinals meet at Bolognia to treate of the Popes deliuerie 177 Cause of Andrea Doria his reuolt 194 Capitulation about the yeelding of Auersa 198 Confederates take Pauia 200 Castle of Genoarased by the people 201 Citie of Cambray chosen for the treatie 212 Circumcision of Solimans children 226 Castle of Milan and the Citie of Coma renared to Duke Sforza 228 Coron Patras takâ—… by Doria 223 Cariadin Barbarossa his great experience at Sea 241 Cariadine taketh Thunis 244 Creation of Pope Paul the thiird ibid Cariadine his fleet 247 Confederacie confirmed betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians 249 Causes of the kings discontent with the Duke of Sauoy 250 Confusion of the Venetian Army seeing the Turks lie neere them 262 Canalis commanded by Soliman to send to the Venetian Senate ibid. Candiots preparations for their defence 280 Capello his answer to Doria 288 Capels speech to Doria to prouoke him to the battaile 290 Confederates Armie commeth to besiege Castelnouo 293 Castelnouo taken by Barbarossa 300 Cantelmo departeth from Venice without any commission 304 Cause of the warre of Hungary 312 Controuersie betwixt the Venetians and Ferdinand put to compromise 319 Cardinall of Ferrara exhorteth the Venetians in the French kings behalfe 324 Capitulations of the peace betwixt the Emperor the French king 325 Commissioners decide the controuersie betwixt Ferdinand and the Venetians 326 Contention betwixt the Venetians and the Turke 328 Cardinall Farnese commeth to Venice 334 Cardinall S. George sent Legate into France 336 ContentioÌ„ concerning the place where the Councell should be kept 340 Cardinall de Monte chosen Pope called by the name of Iulius 3. 341 Catherine Zeni sent Ambassador to the Turke 342 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the memorie and execution of the Last will of Cardinall Zem. 356 Creation of Pope Pius the fourth 363 Cardinall Caraffa and three of 〈◊〉 â—… 〈◊〉 are put to death 363 Charles the ninth French king ibid 〈◊〉 sent by the Pope to the 〈◊〉 ibid. 〈◊〉 of bringing Ambassa dors to the great Turke 368 Counsaile of Mahomet the Vizier 〈◊〉 371 Chancellor of Persia his answere Concerning the Emperours de 〈◊〉 378 Contents of Selims letters to the Venetians 380 Count Roccas slaine 391 Citie of Nicosia taken ibid. Cyprus yeeldeth to the Turkes 392 Colonna escapeth two great dangers in his returne homewards 397 Colonna his remonstrance to the Venetian Senate 4â—…0 Christians surprize the enemies by 〈◊〉 409 Care of those in Famagosta for their 〈◊〉 412 Cornia his speech confirming Barbarico 419 Catholicke kings resolution before the Ambassadors arriuall 458 Colonna his aduise ibid Colonna his opinion concerning 〈◊〉 setting forward towards the enemie 459 Christians dâ—…scrie the Turkish fleete 460 Christians discampe from before 〈◊〉 467 〈◊〉 mouing the Senate to embrace 〈◊〉 473 Charles of Lorraine Duke of Mayâ—…n 〈◊〉 the confederates flâ—…ete 465 Cause why Amaraâ—…h hated the Emperor 480 Contention betwixt the Venetians and the knights of Malta 485 〈◊〉 of Pope Sixtus the fift 486 Creation of Pope Gregorie the fourteenth 489 Creation and death of Pope Inâ—…o cent the ninth and the creation of Clement the seuenth 490 Cardinall of Florence Legate in France 492 Creation of Pope Paul the fift 495 Censures against the Venetians are publâ—…shed 496 Cardinall Perron conferres with the Pope 498 Commission is giuen to Cardinall Ioyeuse to reuoke the censures at Venice ibid. Cardinall Ioyeuse his reception at Venice 499 D DVke of Venice his answere to the French kings Herald 14 Duke of Ferrara declares himselfe against the Venetians 17 Duke of Ferrara defeateth the Venetians nauall Armie 26 Duke of Ferrara takes Loretta ibid. Difficulties concerning the agreement betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians 58 Diuers Venetian young Gentlemen sent to Padua and Treuiso 7â—… Death of Lewis the twelfth French king 88 Dissension among the Suisses in Milan after the battaile 99 Duke of Burbon Vice-Roy in the Dutchie of Milan 104 Demaunds of the Venetian Commissioners 120 Duke of Milan coÌ„meth to Pauia with sixe thousand Lansequentes 134 Different opinions in the Senate concerning their alliance with the Emperour 139 Duke of Vrbin Generall to the Venetians 1â—…0 Duke of Burbon forsaketh the French kings partie ibid. Duke of Vrbins difficultie to executâ—… the Senates command 142 Duke of Albany inuades Naples 146 Duke of Burbon commeth to Milan 157 Doria suspected to relieue Genoa 159 Duke of Vrbin brings supplies to the siege of Verona 161 Duke of Burbon marcheth into the field in dâ—…spite of all difficulties 189 Domnico Veniero put to his triall 172 Duke of Burbons speed in his march to Rome ibid. Duke of Burbon assaults the suburbs of Rome 173 Death of Duke of Burbon ibid. Duke of Vrbin taketh Perusa 178 Duke of Brunswich commeth into Italy with great forces 191 Duke of Brunswich ioyned with Anto nio de Leua besige Lauda ibid. Duke of Vrbin runneth to the defence of his owne state 208 Duke of Milans great humilitie to the Emperour 202 Doria his subtile meaning 233 Duke of Ferrara reconereth Modena and Regâ—…o by the Emperours sentence 234 Dandulo banished at his returne to Venice 239 Death of Pope Clement the 7. 244 Death of Francis Sforza Duke of Milan 248 Duke of Sauoy denieth the French king passage 249 Difficulties to accord the Emperour and the French 250 Doria his incursions causeth the Turks to suspect the Venetians 261 Doria his policy to enforce the Venetians to ioyne with him 262 Description of the Isle of Corfu 264
to Varesa against the French King 32 Speech of agrement betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians 43 Sundry thoughts of the 〈◊〉 44 Suisses defie Gaston of Foix 47 Suisses come into the Dutchie of Milan ibid. Suisses returne home againe 48 Strange miracle in amine 49 Suisses hatred to the French King 57 Suisses discontented make warre on the French 62 Suisses great boldnesse and their victorie at Nouara 64 Selim marcheth into Asiawith an Armie prepared for Europe 76 Strasoda and Montfalcon taken by Frangipan 78 Senate recompenceth Sauorgnane 80 Selims victorie against Ismael 85 Soliman entreth Hungarie ibid. Suisses determination in the streights of the mountaines 92 Suisses retire to Nouara 93 Suisses retire with soft pace to 〈◊〉 97 Siege of Bressia resolued on 100 Senates recompence to the widowe and children of Aluiana 101 Suisses nature 106 Senate disburdeneth the Common-wealth in time of peace 115 Selims victories 116 Selim takes Cà iro ibid. Selim graneth the Venetians demands ibid Soliman resolueth to inuade Hungarie 121 Suisses leaue the French Campe for want of pay 128 Sforza arriueth at Milan 134 Suisses boldnesse in assailing their enemies 136 Sundry opinions on the publication of the League 147 Senates answere to the Imperials ibid. Sorrow of all France for the kings captiuitie and the Councels resolution 152 Senates answere to the French Commissioner ibid. Senates answere to the Lord of Langi 159 Senate after the taking of Rome determine to oppose against the Emperour 176 Sundry opinions about the Popes deliuerie ibid. Strife betwixt the Confederates concerning the taking of Alexandria 181 Solimans liberalitie to the Venetians 183 Senates answere to the Pope 188 Sundry opinions of the Imperials Captaines ibid. Sixe Cities appointed to the Venetians by the agrement of the League 190 Secret practises betwixt the King and the Venetians 203 Senates suspition concerning the kings comming 207 Soliman taketh Buda 218 Sundry opinions in the Senate concerning the motion of peace with the Emperour 219 Soliman restoreth Iohn king of Hungarie to his Kingdome 223 Soliman suspecteth the Venetians 225 Solimans purpose to enrich Constantinople 226 Solimans designe against the Christians 229 Soliman with his Armie commeth into Hungarie 232 Sundry opinions in the Senate concerning Canalis cause 240 Senate acknowledge Canalis seruice by recompencing his sonne 241 Solimans great preparations for warre 242 Senates holy resolution 243 Senate sendeth eight Ambassadors to the Pope 245 Soliman aduertiseth the Venetians of what hee had done in Persia. 247 Soliman consenteth to make warre on the Emperour 253 Soliman aduertiseth the Venetians of his determination ibid. Sundry reports concerning the Turkish Armie 256 Senates care for meanes to discharge the expence of warre 257 Solimans discontent for two accidents 260 Soliman resolueth to warre on the Venetians 262 Senate determineth to fight with the enemie 264 Soliman dislodgeth from Corsou 267 Soliman determineth to assaile Naplesin Romagnia ibid. Scardona taken by the Venetians 269 Soliman seemeth to desire peace with the Venetians ibid. Senate determines warre against Soliman 274 Senate vseth meanes to get money to defray the expences of the warres 276 Succours sent to Antiuari 283 Sibensans braue resolution ibid. Sundry opâ—…nions of the Turkish Armie 286 Sundry opinionsin the Confederates Councell 293 Spaniards insolencie 294 Senate resolueth on peace with the Turke 295 Senates answere to the Emperours Ambassadour 296 Spaniards not being able to keepe Castel-nouo offer it to the Venetians 300 Senates answere to the Ambassadors of the Emperour and French king 305 Sorrow and griefe of those of Naples and Maluesia when they vnderstood the conditions of peace 309 Soliman incensed against Ferdinand determineth to make warre in Austria 312 Senate refuseth to haue the Councell held at Vincenza 314 Senate refuseth to make any new alliance 315 Senates answere to Polin 316 Senates answere to the French ambassadors and their answere to Ferdinand 318 Sharpe warre about Morea 322 Senates answere to the Cardinall of Ferrara 324 Soliman falsly informed of the Venetians 327 Senates answere to the Protestants 333 Siennois rise against the Spaniards 336 Solimans armie against the Persians 339 Soliman makes truce with Christian Princes ibid. Strife betwixt the Emperour and French King ibid. Soliman sendeth imperious letters to the Emperour 340 Senate sendeth Ambassadors to the Pope 341 Strossi his pollicie to victuall Parma 344 Senates answere to the Cardinall of Tournon 345 Senates answere to the Prince of Salerne 352 Spaniards demaunds vpon the Treatie of Peace with the Pope 360 Senate of Milans answere to the king of Spaine concerning the Inquisition 369 Selim resolueth to inuade the Isle of Cyprus 371 Senate aduertised of the Turkes enterprise 373 Supplies sent to Cyprus 375 Selim sendeth a defiance to Venice vnlesse they would surrender Cyprus 379 Senates answere to the Chiaus ibid Senates answere to Selims letters 380 Selim discontented for the small respect giuen his Chiaus 381 Situation of the Citie of Nicosia 387 Sundry opinions of the Captaines of the Christian Fleet. 393 Spaniards idle excuses 395 Sebastiano Venieri made Generall in Zanne his sted 397 Senates answere to Colonna 400 Sâ—…pplies sent to Famagosta 402 Small hope in the reuolt of the Turks subiects 449 Spaniards feare least the Veâ—…etians make Peace with the Turke 452 Souranza honourably entertained by D. Iohn at Messina 454 Spaniards iealous of the French mens actions 456 Senates resolution perceiuing the Spanish delaies 458 Situation of the Castle of Nâ—…uarin 466 Spaniards desirons to returne into the West 468 Spaniards conference with the Venetian Ambassador 471 Senates resolution to peace 473 Sundrie opinions concerning the Venetians peace 476 Sundrie prodigies seene in the ayre 483 Senates decree against the Cleargie 494 Senates answere to the Pope 496 T THe king of Arragon commeth into the Realme of Naples 5 The false reports which the Pope threw abroad against the French king 6 The Senates answer to the Emperors Ambassadors 9 Truce betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians 11 The Pope ratifieth the Treatie of Cambray 13 The Duke of Venice his answere to the French kings herald 14 The kings resolution to enforce the enemies to fight 15 The great progression of the French Armie 27 Treuiso continueth obedient to the Venetians 18 The Venetian Ambassadors come by night into Rome 22 Treatie of Truce betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians broken 26 The kings anger against the Suisses 28 Those of Mirandola yeeld vpon safetie of their liues and goods 39 Triuuleio his Oration in defence of his opinion 40 The king sendeth the Bishop of Paris to Mantua 42 Triuulcio taketh Concorda 43 Triuulcio draweth neere to Bolognia 44 The kings forces in the Dutchie of Milan 47 The Pope will by no means haue peace with the French 56 Triuulcio of opinion to abandon the Dutchie of Milan 57 The Treatie betwixt the Emperour and Venetians handled 58 The king prepareth for his returne into Italy 60 The whole Dutchie of Milan yeeldeth to Sforza 64 The French kings submission to the
to the peace of Italy and for that purpose he sent to Venice Petro Bembo his Secretary a Venetian Gentleman who beeing come thither spake to the Senate in this manner That Pope Leo his affection towards the Republike had euer beene sound That he was still greeued by their losses and afflictions as the care which he hath had of them might largely witnesse Besides there was nothing more sure then that his whole deseignes and ayme did euer tend to peace and if hee had at any time taken armes it was of necessity and by constraint That hee had euer embraced their common-wealth with a fatherly loue and had neuer ceassed to exhort admonish and entreat them to fit themselues to the time by which offices he thought that he had sufficiently discharged his duty and perceiuing that all which he had done was to no purpose he had determined to giue ouer the businesse and no more to talke of peace wherein hee had so often laboured in vaine Yet neuerthelesse hauing of late changed his minde and compared the time present with the antient affection which he had borne to the Republike he had now sent him to them to exhort them in his name to respect their owne liberty and the safety of all Italy and to embrace the best and wholesommest councell They should doe well to consider the manner of the French proceedings their great desire to command and their immeasurable cruelty towards the vanquished That King Lewis his great desire to recouer the Dutchy of Milan was only afterward to make himselfe Master of all Italy For hauing once ouercome Maximillian Sforza and wholy expulsed him from his fathers state hee beleeued that the way would bee easily opened to him for the attayning therevnto and for abusing by meanes of other Italians the Venetians liberty whereas they had in time past made alliance with the French enforced therevnto by great necessity they had done well in respect of those times But now to bee allied with them was most dangerous in regard that thinking to assure themselues it was to be feared that they would precipitate their common-wealth into ruine by the friendship of the French which is not wont to last long and therefore it were better to haue them farre off then nere at hand That diuers recent examples might teach them the fidelity and constancy of that Nation who had forsaken the King of Nauarre being driuen forth of his Realme for their seruice and because hee would not abandon their friendship with many others likewise who had well deserued of the Realme of France towards whom they haue vsed the like ingratitude and therefore they were not to hope since they had beene forgetfull of their neighbours that they would prooue more louing to the Venetians who are strangers and namely that the French had sworne the totall ruine of their Republike at such time chiefly as they had receiued infinite benefits of the Venetians and had beene in no sort offended by them and that they might with honour haue compounded with the Emperor They should doe well then to resolue to keepe the French armies farre from Italy That it was against reason to beleeue that the French hauing conquered the state of Milan would conteine themselues within their bounds not fly out vpon other mens confines That the Venetians being wearied with so many wars ought henceforth to embrace peace quiet to which their was nothing more contrary thē the comming of the French into Italy by which it was sure to susteine a cruell war where on the contrary if the commonwealth would agree with the Almains and Spaniards with al the Potentats of Italy to expel the French the only report of that alliance would be sufficient to make them to lay down their armes to change their present purpose to repasse the mounts and to come into Italy which by that meanes might become quiet and peaceable But if yee shall contemne this councell the Pope will take God and men to witnesse that he hath in no sort beene wanting to the common good of Christendome and to the particular proffit of the Venetian common-wealth That they were besides to beleeue that he could ere then haue embraced those parties which doe now presently offer themselues to his aduantage and perhaps he would accept them by allying himselfe with the Emperour and Spaniards to their hinderance of whom so often he hath had great care and yet to no purpose They had no need to craue any greater assurance of him for the interest of the Sea Apostolike and that of their Republike was all one so as both of them ranne one selfe same fortune being in a manner both the one and other subiect to like accidents That they were likewise to remember that men oftentimes are ruled by their owne particular passions rather then by reason as then when to be reuenged on Lewis Sforza they threw themselues headlong into manifest danger by associating for their fellow in armes a forraine King most mighty who was to be a neighbour to their state in stead of a weake Prince and their countryman Therefore they should doe well to aduise themselues how to reape some fruit by the Popes fauor and good will the which til then they had with great care sought to entertaine With these or such like speeches Bembo executed the tenor of his commission but the Senate the matter hauing beene determined thought it neither easie nor safe to allie themselues with the Emperor and Spaniards wherevpon with a generall consent it was concluded to continue in the friendship and alliance of the French and to make this answere to the Popes Ambassador That his Ambassador was greatly pleasing to the Senate as well in respect of himselfe whose vertue and particular affection towards their country was suffitienly knowne to all men as likewise in regard of the Prince that sent him seeing they had euer borne great honour and reuerence to the soueraigne Bishops of Rome and were particularly inclined to Pope Leo. That the Senate had euer highly esteemed his good and wholesome councell but the mischiefe was that by how much they aboue all others had desired his friendship and alliance in that vncertainty of all things by so much more were they continually kept from it And al-be-it their loue was neuer disioyned from him yet their forces were euer diuided As then they did humbly thanke the Pope and confessed themselues much bound vnto him in that hee had beene euer ready by diuers good offices to embrace and fauour their cause euen so likewise they were extreamely grieued that they could not follow his councell their antient custome not permitting to leaue an old alliance for a new especially not being prouoked therevnto by some wrong their antient fathers thinking that alone to bee profitable which was most honest and that therefore they could not without great blemish to their reputation breake and abandon the alliance which they had already
contracted with the French And if the Pope would call to minde the antient benifits of the French Kings not onely to the Venetian common-wealth but likewise to the Church and to consider the wealth and power of that Kingdome hee would not onely excuse but commend the Venetians councell and bee desirous himselfe to follow it because that beeing backed by the French forces and those of the Venetians there was likelihood that he should be able to lay surer foundations as well for the state of the Church as for the greatnesse and aduancement of his owne house This speech beeing pronounced by Prince Lauretan they made priuate remonstrance to Bembo how the Senate did greatly suspect that vnder that treaty of peace some deceit might lurke in regard it was practized by the Emperor by Ferdinand being assured that vnder collour of agreement they wold as at diuers other times practize some dangerous warre on the Venetians because that at the same time as the Spanish Ambassadour delt with the French King cōcerning the affaires of Italy Ferdinand had reuiued this treaty of peace to none other end but to cause the French King to suspect the Venetians friendship and thereby to separate himselfe from them the better afterwards to enforce them to agree with him to his owne great aduantage and that the same comming to passe the Venetians being so diuided from the French what should hinder Ferdinand to make himselfe master and quiet possessor of all Italy as long time before then he had aspired thereunto Bembo being returned to Rome reported all this to the Pope but before he left Venice he assured the Venetians that the Pope would neuer suffer any man to attempt against their State knowing very well that on them depended the liberty of Italy and that he was to rely on them for the greatnesse and maintenance of the house of Medicis The Venetians made declarations that they did not greatly care for that agreement for thereby they should be depriued of the richest and goodliest city belonging to their state which was Verona and that which maintained them therein was the hope which they had that the French King would shortly come into Italy For King Lewis being prouoked with a desire to recouer the Dutchy of Milan had made peace with Henry King of England and made preparations to repasse the mounts and to come into Lombardy with a mighty army wherevnto the Venetians being ioyned they hoped with ease to chace their enemies from their bounds and confines This hope caused them to send Ambassadors to the French King and to the King of England their friends for to continue them still in their affection towards them and to this end were appointed Francisco Donato and Petro Paschalic but in Donato his stead who fell sicke Sebastian Iustinian was sent thither Their chiefe commission was to congratulate both of them for the peace and alliance contracted betwixt them King Lewis hauing married King Henries sister and to thanke them for that in the treaty of agreement made betwixt them they had therein comprehended the Venetians by name as their friends and confederates That they should moreouer assure the French King that the Senate did beare the same loue-towards him as it had done in times past determining to preferre his friendship before any others resoluing to renue the warre if he so pleased and that to that end they should councell him to returne speedily into Italy where he should find the Venetian forces ready to ioyne with his Now whilest these Ambassadors were on their way King Lewis died for as hee ouer ardently tooke his pleasure on the excellent beauty of his new wife who was not aboue eighteene yeeres old not remembring his age nor the weakenesse of his complexion he was taken with a feuer beside which being troubled with a continuall flixe hee soone departed out of this present life and made the first day of the yeere 1515. famous by his death It was thought that his death would haue bread great alterations Yet for all that they did not call backe the Ambassadours but commanding them to goe forward on their iourney they were enioyned to stay at a certaine place to expect a new commission from the Senate King Lewis was a lust Prince and welbeloued of his subiects who neither before that hee was King nor afterward did euer finde either bad or good fortune firme and constant to him The ioy which they had of King Lewis his death who desired not the returne of the French into Italy lasted not long For Francis Duke of Angoulesme succeeded Lewis the twelfth as the next in ligne Masculine of the Royal bloud and of the very race of the Dukes of Orleance whose vertues and magnanimity was admired of all men who with the title of French King did likewise take that of Duke of Milan as belonging vnto him not only by the antient claime of the Dukes of Orleance but as being comprized in the inuestiture which the Emperour made according to the treaty of Cambray and besides he had the same desire to recouer it as his predecessor had The which he neuerthelesse dissembled for the present seeking first of all to practize the friendship of other Princes diuers of whose Ambassadors came forth-with to him whom hee graciously receiued and among others those of the Venetians hauing had new commissions sent vnto them to Lyons where they staied with whom he confirmed the league in the same forme as it had beene made with his predecessor and he caused the Bishop of Ast to doe the like in his name who being sent to Venice by King Lewis tarried still there The Venetians who already did make great account of the friendship of the French and had enioyned Marco Dandulo their Ambassador to sound what the new Kings minde was concerning their alliance and confederacy were exceeding glad when they receiued his letters and had seene the Bishop of Ast his commission praising his gentlenesse beeing desirous to shew how highly they esteemed his friendship and therefore they commanded their Ambassadors to giue him great thankes for the loue which he seemed to beare to their Republike and his desire to aide and succour them promising him to employ themselues with like affection in ought that should concerne his seruice and would vse meanes that the French might againe hold some dignity in Italy to the enemies feare and terror and to the maintenance and stay of the Republike their friend and confederate They should likewise perswade him to hasten his iourney and assure him that the chiefe point of victory consisted in speed and not to giue the enemies leisure who were now weake to strengthen themselues as also for feare least the City of Crema which did import much for the recouery of the State of Milan should incurre some danger in regard it had of a long time endured many discommodities of warre so as it was reduced to the
the accomplishing of the rest till their enteruiew which by their mutuall consent was concluded to bee at Bolognia The Pope for that purpose departed from Rome and the King from the City of Milan the Venetians Ambassadors did accompany his Maiesty all Italy receiued great contentation by that assembly hoping that it would produce an assured peace to the whole Prouince A legat was sent to the Emperour to treat of agreement betwixt him and the Venetians and to haue him to remit Bressia and Verona to them for a pecuniary recompence The Pope likewise sent a briefe to the Venetians exhorting them vnto peace The Pope and the King being come to Bolognia they couenanted together That the King should take vpon him the protection of the Popes person and the Churches State of Iuliano and Lorenzo de Medicis and the State of Florence That the Pope should cause his forces to leaue Verona and countermand those companies sent to the Emperors aide against the Venetians Diuers other Articles were concluded concerning onely the proffit of either of them In the which treaty hauing continued sixe daies together both of them departed from Bolognia the King thinking that he had done a great matter to haue drawne the Pope to his side and to haue disioyned him from his enemies The King being come to Milan beganne to thinke on his returne to France hauing nothing to detaine him but the desire he had to see the Venetians re-established in their Cities Therefore he commanded to re-enforce the Venetians army which lay before Bressia and had reduced the beseeged to that extremity as all men thought that they would soone yeeld for the Almaines and Spaniards that lay within it had resolued together that if within twenty daies they were not releeued they would yeeld vp the City to the Venetians on these conditions neuerthelesse to depart with displayed Enseignes the drumme beating with the artillery and all their baggage which was the selfe same composition which they had concluded with the Venetians Generall But the Almain succors came and entred the towne before the time agreed vpon was expired The report of the comming of this aide had caused sundry opinions in the army some of the being of opinion to continue the seege others to lead the army elsewhere but the report of the number of the Almaines being greater then the effect and for that they had notice by their spies that Marke Antonio Colonna who was come forth of Verona entred the Mantuā territory made preparations to come and assaile them caused the Venetian captaines who feared that by staying there the enemies might come and enclose them to determine wholy to dislodge and to bring the artillery to Crema and Cremona and the rest of the army to Castlenedulla six miles off from Bressia These newes being brought to Venice did greatly amaze the whole City because they expected rather to haue heard of the taking of the City then of any thing else The Generall and the Prouidatory had written that there was such strong Garrison at all passages as it was impossible that any aide could enter into it which might keepe them backe from obseruing the agreement which they had made and that which caused them most to beleeue it was that the French supplies which were to come to the campe being three thousand Almains and 400 horse were departed from Milan and were on their way towards their campe This did much blemish Triuulcio his reputation whereof he hauing notice craued leaue of the Signory That he might depart saying that the affaires of his owne house called him thence and that he could tarry no longer in their army But the Senate knowing that this mans experience was much important for their affaires vsed meanes to appease him by letters and did entreate the King to cause him to take that charge vpon him but he would by no meanes consent therevnto but returned to Milan Theodore Triuulcio tooke charge of the Venetian army and of the whole mannaging of the warre holding the same authority in the army as Iohn Iames Triuulcio had done al-be-it he had not the name nor degree of captaine Generall The King in the meane time hauing giuen order for his returne into France left the Duke of Burbon for viceroy in the Dutchy of Milan and before his departure he commanded Odet of Foix Lord of Lautrec to carry speedily greater aide to the Venetians and generally to doe all matters for them as if it were for his owne seruice shewing thereby his great affection to the Republike as in all other his speeches and discourses not letting to say that if the Venetians were not wholy restored to their Cities he would returne into Italy with greater forces then before The King being gonne forth of Italy and the Duke of Bourbon tarrying there to command the Dutchy of Milan the Venetians still kept an Ambassador nere to him to sollicite whatsoeuer was needfull for their affaires Andrew Treuisan was sent thither who being come to Milan Andrè Gritti who had remained there after the Kings departure to hasten the supplies went to the army to be Prouidator there in stead of Dominico Contaren that fell sicke and was brought home to Venice At the very same time the Lord of Lautrec came to the army with great forces which did much encrease it so as it seemed that there was no doubt but that Bressia would be taken Now the Pope supposing that this successe did greatly crosse his deseignes sought all meanes to hinder it He propounded truce to draw the matter forth at length hoping to cause the Venetians to condescend to some agreement though it were to their disaduantage by reason of the difficulty to take that City And because he knew that himselfe could doe no good in that businesse for the small credit which the Venetians did giue to his words he determined to make vse of the King of Polands authority whose Ambassador hauing intelligences likewise at Venice he perswaded to reuiue the treaty of peace and to propound to the Venetians that if they would disioyne themselues from the French and allie themselues to the Emperor they might add two goodly Cities to their State Lodi and Cremona because that with the Popes armes the Emperours and their owne being vnited together they might easily expell the French and afterwards by the King of Polands authority obtaine them of the Emperour in guift so as being thus separated from the State of Milan they might for euer after be incorporated to the Venetians demaines Besides this proposition the Pope hoping that by the Generals absence the seege of Bressia might be prolonged wrote to King Francis that it might please him to command the Lord of Lautrec to goe to Rome being desirous to confer with such a man about diuers matters concerning the affaires of Naples to which he knew the King enclined wherevpon he exhorted him to make hast to
determined to inuade who for that purpose was come to Lyons from whencehe had sent before him into Italy fifteene thousand Almaine and Gascon footmen whervpon the Emperor to diuert these deseines râ—…ised in his Cuntrey of Flanders an army of twenty thousand footmen and eight thousand horse to enter vppon the Frontiers of France Now that which most hindered them from prouiding for the imminent dangers threatened by the Turkes were the rumors which were spred abroad how that the French had an enterprize vppon Genoa where the Genowaies being affâ—…ighted did boldly tell Doria that they could not suffer him to abandon his cuntrey nor to carry the Galleys from thence which were the sinewes of the Imperiall army because that the two and twenty spanish Galleies that lay at Barcelona were in bad equipage to put to Sea During these contentions betwixt the Princes of Christendome the Turke taking his aduantage thereby as hee had done at sundry times to molest Christendome departed with his land army about the begining of March and came to Andrinople where hauing remained a while and spent some small time in hunting whilest other prouisions were made for his iourney he went from thence about the laâ—…er end of Iune and came to Scopia a Citty of Macedon and then tooke his way through the confines of Albania His naual army departed at the same time forth of the Streight of Galipolis to the number of more then three hundred saile as hath beene said whereof two hundred were Galleis and the residue Galeoâ—…s Fusts and other lesser vessells vnder the command of Lufti Bascha Captaine Generall who represented the great Turkes person it was not certainely knowne what commission he had nor whither he would bend his course some said that hee was commanded to assaile the Venetians if occasions were offerd others affirmed the contrary saying That hee was commanded in no sort to touch any thing that belonged vnto them but the common report was that he went to inuade Puglia Doria in the meane time being come to Ciuitauechia and finding the Popes Gallies to be ready there wen to the Far of Messina there to make a fleet of the Gallies of Naples Sicill and other places and perceiuing that when they were all ioyned together they were to weake to resist the Turkish forces determined after that he had left the greatest part of the Gallies in places of safety to saile towards the Leuant with a few light Gallies which he made choyse of to molest in some fort occasion being offered any thing that did belong to the Turkes auoyding by all meanes to meet with their fleet The Venetians hauing notice of the arriuall of the Turkish fleet at Modon being yet vncertaine whither or with what commission it sailed did not without great doubt consult in the Senate what the Generall Pesare were best to doe who was already arriued at Corfou with threescore and tenne Gallies The Generall had not till then receiued any other commissions then generall and comformable to the Senates intention still to remaine neuter namely to hold amity with the Imperialls and with the Turkes to preserue whatsoeuer did belong to the Common-wealth from wrong to giue victualls freely to both of them to auoyd all occasions of suspition and to keepe themselues farre off from the Fleets wherevnto they added that he should still keepe his fleet together and not if it were possible leaâ—…e the Gulph to the discretion of the Turkes least they should hinder the Dalmatian Gallies and others which were making ready at Venice from ioyning with them if need should bee The opinions in this Councell were very different as it often happeneth in such consultations what he had more to doe but at last they resolued to referre the whole matter to the dilligence and discretion of the Generall because it was an hard matter well to prouide for the sundry accidents which might happen according to which Captaines did for the most part vse to gouerne themselues They only concluded to diuide the Army and to create another Generall of lesse authority then Pessare so as both of them beeing together Pessare should haue the sole command and the other was to remaine in the Gulph whilest Pessare should be at Corfou or any where else Giouan Vituri was by the common consent of euery one appointed for this place who was in great account both for his wisdome and valour This man hauing taken speedy order for his voyage departed from Venice with some armed Gallies of the latter Gouernours and sailed into Dalmatia where there came vnto him Francesco Pascalic the Prouidator with certaine Gallies which were at Corfou Nicholao Bondimiero Captaine of the Gulph and Dominico Contaren Captaine of the Fusts so that Vituri had six and forty Galleis vnder his command besides six Fusts and the Generall Pessare had foure and fifty Galleis one Gallion commanded by Bertâ—…ci Contaren and a great shippe of warre gouerned by Iacomo Armiero Now within a while after there arose among the Senators a doubt almost like the former by reason of the report that was spred abroad how that the Turkish Fleet was comming into the I le of Corfou and that they had already descried it from the I le of Zante sailing thitherwards amayne some thinking it fit thereupon to keep the fleet diuided others refuting this opinion sâ—…id that they ought to permit the Generall Pessare if he should find it expedient for the Common-wealth to make a fleet of all the Gallies and to Command Vituri that if Pessare should send to him for that purpose to obey him without expecting any other expresse commandement from the Senate Diuers did likewise reiect this opinion for many reasons and propounded for the safest course if that the peace with Soliman were broken to ioyne their forces with the Imperials who had already sought it at their hands and that as soone as might bee for the more easie defense of Corfoù This proposition being reiected like the rest they at last concluded to referre the whole matter to Pesare who might ioyne with Doria if need should be The French being aduertized of all these difficulties and hoping to be able by new practizes to induce the Venetians to consent to that wherevnto till then they would â—…euer harken did forthwith send the Count Guy de Rangone to Venice who being brought in before the councell of Tenne the French Ambassadour not being present who afterwards did the like a part by himselfe hauing presented his letters of credit from the King beganne with great eloquence to declare the great good will which King Fraâ—…cis did beare to their Republike and how highly he did esteeme it then he did put them in minde of diuers and sundry things which the French Kings had done for the maintenance and stay of that common wealth from thence falling vpon the sundry and particular accidents of those times he did perswade them to abandon
the Emperours alliance and to embrace that of the French King offering them from him and by his commandement the city of Cremona and all the country of Gyradade so as by their common armies the State of Milan might be conquered promising them besides all aide and assistance to reduce the Cities of Rauenna and Ceruia vnder their obedience with the territories of Puglia Ottranto Brundusium Monopoli Polignan and Trani by which meanes they should be restored to all that which they had enioyed before the last warres But hee did especially insist very much vpon the miserable condition of the time which was to bee considered promising to defend and shield them by his Kings meanes and authority from all those perills and dangers which threatned them from the Turkes to their owne honour and reputation This proposition being vttered with great vehemency did greatly trouble the mindes of the Auditors for on the one side great and faire hopeâ—… were propounded with equall recompences and yet not with out warre and great trauaile on the other side an incertenty of peace with as many difficulties did present it selfe before them the selfe same dangers remay ning stil in force made far greater by the French Kings indignation if he should perceiue his friendship with such goodly offers to be so often contemned and set at nought The Senate being assembled therevpon the Collodge of the wise men hauing determined to tell the Count Rangon that the Senate did first of all thanke him for his great and notable offers made vnto them then concerning the vinon which he propounded that the King might haue perceiued by their actions past what account they had euer made and now more then euer of the Councell of France to the which they had neuer beene wanting nor would euer faile when occasion should be offered earnestly requesting the King so to hold and beleeue it one onely person Marke Antonio Cornare a man at that time highly esteemed for his eloquence and great reputation though he were not very old being of a contrary opinion would haue them freely to answere the Count Rangon That the common-wealth had euer vsed to keepe her promise inuiolably which was a matter worthy and beseeming a Prince and that therefore the same being vnited with the Emperour by a new confederacy could not harken to any other contrary therevnto but they did hope that the King as a wise and most Christian Prince and their friend would not for all that discontinue the good offices which he â—…ad already begunne in their behalfe towards the Turke and he did constantly maintaine this opinion by a vehement and perswasiue oâ—…ation wherevpon he was attentiuely heard and commended of all men So soone as he had ended Leonardo Eme one of the wise men of the councel a man of authority and well experienced in matters of importance both at home and abroad rose vp and began to answer to euery point of Cornares speech But neither his authority nor al the reasons which he all eadged to the contrary could keepe them from answering Rangon in the same manner as Cornare had propounded In the meane time newes were brought to Venice how that the Turkish fleet was arriued at Valona and that passing along thorow the Channel of Corfoù it had saluted the castle with ordnance shot in signe oâ—… friendship according to the vse and manner of warre that the castle had in friendly sort giuen them the like salutation and how that Solimon had neither in that Island nor else-where committed any hostile action but that certaine things being forcibly taken from some of the Republikes subiects had beene restored to them and the Robbers for terrot to the rest had beene hanged vpon the saile yardes of his galley Some Senators were of opinion that the Generall Pesare in acknowledgement thereof and vnder pretence of peace and friendship should send some captaine of his Gallies to Soliman to vse meanes to discouer some of his deseignes but it was reiected for feare least the Turkes would interpret it sinisterly to their aduantage and least the reputation of the Venetian forces should therby be diminished with them or else giue them some occasion to make some great and vnreasonable demand but they were within a while after freed of that care by newes that they receiued how that Iacomo Canalis going to Constantinople to execute the office of Baily in steed of Nicola Iustinian and being come to Nouobazar was by Solimans commandment brought backe to the campe who could satisfie them in all things At this stay stood the Venetians affaires at that time neither at open warre nor assured peace all matters being full of feare and suspition when as vnluckily and vnlooked for three sundry accidents happened which did cast the Republike head-long into warre with Soliman The first was that of Simon Nassi the Zaratin who commanding a Dalmatian Galley did vnfortunately meet with a small Turkish vesselladen with victuals which was going to Valona against which because it would not obey a certaine signall according to the manner of nauigation nor strike her sailes he discharged a cannon and sunke it Although this fact did greatly trouble Solimans haughty courage and all his Bashas yet neuerthelesse making shew to beare it patiently because he would not perhaps at that time interrupt his other deseignes he determined to send Ianusbei the Dragoman to Corfou to complain to the Generall Pesare how that thorow the insolency of a meane captaine of a Galley the peace betwixt them had beene violated and infringed and to demand to haue the author therof punished and the dammages amounting to more then thirty thousand Ducats to be repaired Vpon the neck thereof the second accident happened There were foure captains of gallies at the same time at the gard of the channel of Corfou to wit Iusto Gradonico Micaele Grimani Iacomo de Mezze and Ieromino Micaele these men so soone as they perceiued those armed vessels to come towards them which were two Gallies and one Fust conducting the Turkish Ambassador without taking any farther notice of them they fiercely charged them so as the Turkes being amazed betooke themselues to flight and supposing that they could not soone enough escape from them sailed as fast as they could to Cimera a barbarous nation and enemy to the Turkes wherevpon they were badly entreated there and al of them committed to prison and among the rest this Ianusbei This exploit did greatly discontent the Generall Pesare who in some sort to moderate the fact did sodainely send Francisco Zene captaine of a Galley to Cimera to vse meanes with a good sum of money to redeeme Ianusbei the which for the Republiks sake he soone obtained without mony This being likewise brought to Solimans knowledge he was prouoked by some of his seruants to take speedy reuenge thereof yet neuerthelesse hee would not for that time harken thereunto but sent for the Baily Canalis to