Augniara Arona other landes vppon the lake Maior which he had taken from them And to Isabell of Aragon the wydowe of Duke Iohn Galeas hee gaue by reason of her dowrie the Duchie of Bary and the principallitie of Rossano for thirtie thousande Duckats notwithstanding she denied to trust him with the sonne of Iohn Galeas whom he desired to sende with his children into Iermany After he had established this forme of direction and in his owne seeming had set downe asmuch as might suffice for the suertie of things leauing the towne to the gouernment of it selfe he departed the second of September with his eyes ful of teares accompanied with the Cardinall of Este and Galeas S. Seueryn and for his safetie by the way he had Luke Maluezze with a good trowpe of men at armes and footemen And as he was issuing out of the Castle decay of fortune traynes with it all sortes of discomfort The Count Caiazze seeking to shadowe his disloyaltie with some cooller met him and sayde that seeing he abandoned his estate he helde himselfe acquited of the othe of warre which he had made to him and from thence forwarde to bee in full power to professe what seruice hee would And at thinstant the Count disclosed to him the titles names enseignes of the army of the frenche king into whose paie he entred immediatly with the self same regiment which he had leauied with the treasors of Lodovvyk who from Coma where he left the Castle in the power of the people wēt along the riuer to Belleasia from thence being set on lande he passed by Bormy all those places where at other times when he was in glory felicitie he had receiued Maximilian passing then into Italy rather as a Capteine to him the Venetians then with a maiestie estate of a king of Romains Betweene Coma Bormy he was pursued with bands of the french the companies of the Count Caiazzo frō which places leauing garrison within the Castle of Tyran occupied not many daies after by the Grisons he tooke his way towardes Spruch where he vnderstood was the person of Themprour After the seedes of aduersitie be sowen there is no long exspectatiō for the fruites which draw to their effects with a swift course euen as whē the cloude is gathered to his thicknes there is an apparāce of raine with a disposition ready to disperse the storme that lōg hath ben in breeding for Lodovvyk was no sooner departed thē the inhabitāts of Myllā dispatching Embassadors to the frēch Capteines approched with the whole army within six miles of the citie consented with ready frāke wils to receiue thē reseruing the cōdiciōs capitulaciōs till the kings cōming in whō they had many hopes to finde great fauours graces regard to particular profit preuailing more in thē thē any cōsideraciō or cōscience of obedience to their Lord Most of the other places of the duchie of Myllan made their example a sufficiēt occasiō to reuolt The citie of Cremona which was beset with bands of the Venetiās whose yoke the inhabitants abhorred wold also haue don the like if the frēch king that yet would not breake the cōtract made with the Venetians had not cōpelled the towne to be rēdred to thē And as in calamities general exāples induce wonderfully so the citie of Genes folowed this vniuersall reuolt the people the famuly of the Adorneys with Iohn Levvys de Fiesque striuing who shold giue vp the citie vnto the king And to th end that with so great sodem ruines against Lodovvyk losing in eight daies so mightie an estate the world might also discerne thexamples of ingratitude the Capteine of the Castle of Myllā chosē aboue al others for the reputaciō of his faith vertue not abiding so much as one boollet or any forme of assalt deliuered to the frēch king within twelue daies after the departure of Lodovvyk the Castle which was supposed to be impregnable And receiued in recōpēce of so great disloialtie a great proporciō of mony a company of an hūdred Laūces a perpetual pēsion with many other priuileges graces But with such infamy hate euē amōgst the frēch that being eschued reiected of euery one persecuted with skornes reproches he died of thought within few daies after tormēted belike with shame the spirit of his cōsciēce which are two mighty most assured skourges to vex traitors faithbreakers The Capteines assigned to him for the seruice of the castle did cōmunicate in that infamy but chiefly Philippin de Fiesque who trained vp aduaūced by the Duke left there for the credit opiniō of his faith ioined him self to the cōsēt of the castle keper to betray their charge being both made blind with one pouder of corrupt promises The king receiuing at Lyō the newes of so great a victory succeded with a speed swifter thē his exspectaciō made way with great diligence to Millā where being receiued with a ioye of the people equal to the fortune of his victorie he agreed to the deposing of diuers tributes and imposicions which as it is an action first requisite in Princes newly possessed of conquest and a fauour most plawsible to people altered So yet they of Myllan raysing their desires aboue reason or order were not fully satisfied for the opinion they had that the kinges liberalitie would make them free from all exemptions hee distributed honourable giftes of reuenues to many Gentlemen of Myllan and amongst other thinges gaue Vigeneua to Iohn Iacques Tryvulce in recompence of his merits In the selfe same seasons that the french king runne this fortune against the Duke of Myllan Pavvle Vitelly hauing now reassembled the bandes and prouisions of the Florentins to cary with more ease the victory of Pisa planted his Camp affore the towne of Cascina which notwithstanding it was sufficiently manned and vittelled with a wonderfull strength of trenches and Rampiers was taken after the sommonce of the artillerie within lesse then six and twentie houres for that the defendants beginning now to feare the great ruyne which the artillerie had made of their walles being of no strength ioyning with the forreine souldiours that were within rendred the place and compounded only for their lyues and goods leauing the Commissioners and souldiours of the Pisans wholly in the arbitracion of the Victors Immediatly after this one euill following an other the Towre builded to guarde the mouth of the Ryuer of Arne and the Bastilion of the poole being abandoned of the Pisans yelded at the sommonce of one only Trumpet The malice of fortune confounding the vallour and vertues of men So that the Pisans helde no other peeces within the whole countrey then the Castle of Verrucole and the little Towre Askanius which suffred no vexacion of thenemies both for thincommoditie of the Ryuer of Arne which hindred all actions of inuasions or assalt and also being so neare
the importance and daunger of the thing to handle so great an enterprise sought to communicate perswade all things with the Pope in whō he knew had most dominion two stirring humors ambicion disdayne he told him that not by the fauors of the Princes of Italy and much lesse by the meane of their armies and helpes he should be reuenged of Ferdinand nor haue hope to compasse estates worthy and honorable for th aduancement of his sonnes He found the Pope to beare a vehement and ready wil to the matter perhaps for a desire to innouate and alter thinges but more likely to constraine the Aragons by feare to come to that which by consent wil they would not accord to him After they had communicated their councells they dispatched secretly into Fraunce personages of trust to sound the will of the king such as gouerned him who shewing them selues not farre from their intencion Lodovvyk turning his whole witts to the deuise of this enterprise sent in the sight of all the world but shadowing it with other occasions one Charles Balbyan Earle of Belioyense who soliciting the king certeine dayes in priuate audience working particularly with sundry of his principal fauorits was at last introduced into open councell the king present where in a publike hearing of the Prince his Lordes and Prelates of the Court he deliuered this forme of discourse Most christian king Thexperiēce of the disposiciō of harts diuersly inclined ▪ makes me dowtful whether vnder a direct absolute forme I should begin my discours or vsing the custome of Orators bring into question such obiectiōs as may be opposed against the presēt matter for in causes of perswasion the one with the other must orderly cōcurre least for want of due office in the speaker the matter seeming to suffer imperfectiō error do not bring forth resolucion effect according to thexpectacion of the parties for whom he solicites And albeit the vniuersal coniecture opiniō of your maiesties many vertues the graue aspect face of your right wise coūcel here assēbled promise no lesse ready cōsent liking thē the matter is iust innocēt ▪ yet for your maiesties better inducemēt general satisfactiō of your Lordes Prelats assisting I wil ioyne my self to the refutaciō of that general dout which in negociaciōs of this nature are cōmonly obiected more by custō thē iust cause arising If therefore right Christian king any man for what occasion so euer will hold for suspected the integritie of mind and faith with the which Lodovvik Sforce comes to councel you to beare armes to cōquer the kingdom of Naples he may easily deliuer his mind of that ill grounded suspicion if he either loke into the offers offices cōdicions wherwith he doth accompany his perswasion councell offering you the cōmoditie of his treasors men all other oportunities or at least wil cal to his memory with what deuociō both he Galeas his brother originally Francis his father did honor the late king Levvys your father continued with no lesse constancie faith piety to the glorious name of your maiestie Let him consider also that by this enterprise Lodovvyk standes possible to many great daungers with a very naked hope of any profit yea in this is conteined the only benefit he shall haue to see a iust reuenge of the ambushes wronges done by them of Aragon where your maiestie by meane of the victory shal happily aspire to a most florishing kingdom bringing with it a greater glory oportunitie of farre more high and honorable merite an action wherunto the thoughts of mighty Princes ought to be fashioned And of the other part if it happen that you come not to the end of this enterprise yet your maiestie loseth no reputacion nor your greatnes the more diminished for that onely the fortunes of Princes are subiect to opiniōs but not their estate maiesty impaired But for Lodovvyk he is of nothing more sure then to suffer general ill wil contempt of nothing more vnsure then to find remedy in his perils for that in him would concurre all the displeasures slaunders which may concerne his estate life or reputacion And therfore I see not how should be suspected the councels of him whose cōdicions fortunes are so vnequal inferior to yours But there be reasons stirring you to this honorable expedicion which for the simplicity roundnes innocency they conteine will admitte no dowt for that in them are liberally concurrant all the groundes foundacions which inconsulting of enterprises merit chiefest consideracion that is to say the iustice of the cause the facilitie of the conquest the great frut of the victory it is manifest to all the world how resolute apparāt be the rights which the house of Aniovv to whom you are lawful inheritor hath to the realme of Naples how iust is the succession which this crowne pretendes to it by the yssues of Charles who first of the blood royall of Fraunce obteyned the same kingdom both with thauthoritie of the Pope and by his proper valour And it is no lesse easie to conquer it then the action is iust for who knowes not howe much the King of Naples is inferior in force authoritie and fortune to the most mightie King of all Christendom And no nation dowteth with what terrour and renowne the name of the french thundreth throughout the regions of the world neyther with what astonishment the brute of your armies keepeth other contreys in dread At no time did the inferior Dukes of Aniovv assaile the kingdom of Naples that they put it not in great hazard And it is to late to be forgotten how Iohn sonne of Rene had in his hand the victorie against Ferdinand now reigning if Pope Pius had not taken it from him but much more Francys Sforce who forbare as is well knowen to obey Levvys the xj your father If those small forces trained with thē so great fortunes what may be hoped for of the armies authoritie of so mighty a king all oportunities being increased and the difficulties obiected against Rene and Iohn diminished seeing the Princes of those estates which gaue impediments to their victories haue now vnitie confederacion with you in them be no small meanes to offend the kingdom of Naples for the Pope by lād by reason the territories of the church are frōtiers to Naples the Duke of Myllan by sea applying to you the cōmoditie seruice of Genes will be furtherers of your victorie with many helpes ▪ fauours and commodities besides these there is no potentacie or iurisdiction in Italy wil oppose against you for it can not be iudged of the Venetians that they will throwe them selues into expenses and daungers and much lesse depriue their estate of the amitie wherein so long time they haue bene interteyned with the kinges of Fraunce to preserue or protect Ferdinand an auncient
which is a practise very common and familiar in all partes of Italy but that the king and all his court besides the suspicion they had conceyued against the faith of Lodovvyk had his name in honor yea the king esteemed it an iniurie done to his owne honor and greatnes that he had solicited his comming into Italy to be the better able without daunger to execute an act so abominable yet in the ende the resolucion was to march on Lodovvyk continually laboring him thereunto with promise to returne and visit the king within few dayes for that both the kinges aboade in Lombardie his hastie returne into Fraunce were wholly contrary to his intencions The same day the king departed from Plaisance Lavvrence and Iohn de medicis came to him who being secretly fledd from their howses in the contrey made great instance that his maiestie would come neare Florence promising him much of the affections and goodwill of the people towardes the howse of Fraunce and no lesse of the hate against P. de medicis against whom the king was aggrauated by occasions new and greene for the king sent from Ast an Embassador to Florence to propound many offers if they would graunt him passage and absteyne hereafter from ayding of Alphonso and of the other side to pronounce threatnings to them if they perseuered in their former councell wherein to astonish them the more he gaue expresse charge to his Embassador to returne immediatly if they would not giue speedy resolucion he was aunswered with excuses to deferre and expect for that the chiefest Citisens of the gouernment being withdrawne to their howses of solace in the contrey ▪ according to the custom of the Florentyns in that season they could not with such speede giue him an aunswere certeine but would with all diligence aduertise the king of their intencion by a particular Embassador it is most certeine that it was agreed in the kinges councell without contradiction that the armie should rather take the way that leades thorow Tuskane and the territories of Rome directly to Naples then that which lying along Romania la marque passing the riuer of Troute entreth into Abruzze not for that they did distrust to giue the chase to the bandes of thAragons which with difficultie resisted Monsr D'Aubygny But for that it seemed a thing vnworthy of the greatnes of such a king and no lesse infamous to the glorie of his armies the Pope and Florentyns being declared against him to giue occasion to men to thinke that he eschewed the way for distrust that he was not able to force them But much more because they esteemed it daungerous to make warre in the realme of Naples and leaue as ennemies at their backes the state ecclesiastike and Tuskane And therefore the armie turning to the way of Tuskane it was determined to passe rather the Appenyn by the mountaine of Parme then to march the direct way to Bolonia This was Lodovvyks direction when he was at Ast for that he had a desire to make him selfe Lord of Pysa So that the vauntgard ouer whom was gouerner and leader Gilbert de Montpensier of the house of Burbon and Prince of the bludd And the king following with the residue of the armie passed to Pontreme a towne of the Duchie of Myllan sett at the foote of thAppenyn vpon the riuer of Magre which diuides the contrey of Genes aūciently called Liguria from Tuskane from Pontreme M. Montpensier entred the contrey of Lunigiana a part of which obeyd the Florentyns certeyne castells belonged to the Genovvays and the residue were subiect to the Marquis of Malespine who mainteyned their small estates vnder the protection sometimes of the Duke of Myllan sometimes of the Florentyns and sometimes of the Genovvays About those quarters ioyned with M. Mountpensier the Svvyzzers which had ben at the defence of Genovvay togither with thartillerie which was come by sea to Spetia And being come neare the towne of Finizana belonging at that time to the Florentyns whether they were guided by Gabriell Malespina Marquiss of Fodisnoue who was recommended to them they tooke it by force and sackt it making slaughter of al the souldiers straungers that were within and many of thinhabitants A maner of making warre very newe and so much the more terrible to all Italy accustomed for many yeares past to warres rather flourishing in pompes and fine furniture like to warres showed by maskers in a stage playes then to skirmishes bluddy and daungerous The Florentyns were determined to make their principall resistance at Serezana which they had greatly fortified but not with strength sufficient and necessary to resist so mighty an ennemie because they had not furnished it with any Capteine of warre that had authoritie to minister discipline nor yet souldiers neither resolute nor seruiceable other then such as lost hart at the first voyce of thapproch of the french armie yet they of Florence were of opinion that it coulde not be easiely taken specially the castell and much lesse the rocke Serazana both wel furnished and bearing his situacion vpon the hil aboue the towne Besides it was not possible that th armie should remeyne long time in those places the contrey being barreine and straite being inclosed betwene the sea and the mountaynes was not sufficient to nourish so great a multitude and their vittells comming farre of could not obserue such iust tyme oportunitie as to serue their present necessities by reason whereof it seemed the kinges affayres began to fall vpon hard tearmes and that his armie stoode possible to many daungers distresses for albeit he could not with conuenient impediments be let from assayling Pysa leauing behind him the towne and castell of Serazana and the rocke nor kept by the contrey of Lucques which citie by the working of the Duke of Myllan had secretly determined to receiue them that he entred not an other part of the territorie of Florence yet he could hardly be brought to that deliberacion and much lesse condescend to it because he had a perswacion in his secrete fancie that if he wonne not the first towne that resisted him it would diminish much his reputacion and leaue a daungerous example to others to vse insolencie against him But so it was ordeyned that eyther by the grace and blessing of fortune or by an ordenance of more high power if at the least thindiscressions and faults of men deserue such excuses to such an impediment hapned a suddeine remedie seeing that neither the courage nor constancie of P. de medicis were greater in his aduersities then had bene his modestie and discression in his prosperities By this must be vnderstanded that the displeasures which the citie of Florence had receiued from the beginning for thimpediments which were giuen to the king were continually multiplied both for a new chase and banishment of their marchauntes out of all partes of the realme of Fraunce and also for feare of the power of the
french which did so much the more grow rising in the harts of men by how much they heard that tharmy had begon to passe thAppenyn mountes but specially they fell all into dread and feare by the crueltie showed at the taking of Finizana for these causes euery one did publikly detest the rashnes of P. de medicis who without necessitie beleuing more in his owne weening the councels of certeine rash ministers men arrogant in times of peace and vnprofitable and cowardes in times of warre then following the directions of those Citisens that were friends to his father and had alwayes instructed him with no lesse graue councells had so indiscreetely prouoked the armes of so mightie a king assisted with the Duke of Myllan seeing withall he was ignorant in th affayres of warre leauing the citie and other places of their obedience not fortefied but ill furnished with souldiours and municions necessary to make defense against so great a force Besides that there had as yet appeared none of those Aragons for whom they had exposed themselues to so great daunger So that their cōtrey abandoned of euery one remained in the deepe hatred of so mighty a king and was ready to fall as a manifest pray to him who with so great instance had sought not to fall into occasion and necessitie to hurt it This disposicion which was almost in all those of the towne was further kindled by many noble Citisens much displeased with the present gouernment that one onely familie had risen so much in presuming as to appropriat to him selfe the rule of the whole common weale in so much as one increasing the feares of an other and all laboring in one common dreade and ministring stomacke and courage to such as desired new thinges they had so stirred the braynes spirites of the people that there was generall feare of some tumult in the towne whereunto the multitude was the rather prouoked by the pride immoderat behauiors of Peter who in many thinges forsaking the ciuil customs and modestie of his auncestors had bene followed from his infancie with a perpetuall hatred and ill wil by the generalitie of the Citisens his father seemed to haue a great speculacion in his vices and vile condicions for that he would often say to his secret friendes that thindiscression and arrogancie of his sonne would one day be the cause of the ruine of his house It is a good propertie of wisedom in fathers to find out the disposicions of their children but it is a principall effect of their iudgementes to cutte of with discipline all course of humors that feede and minister to their naturall corrupcions which is an office no lesse iust in parents then it belongeth to the art of the Phisicion first to seeke out the humor that offendes and then to apply the remedie proper to cure and not to leaue the body to a setled infection Peter being now amased with the peril which with rashnes he contemned afore and seeing he fayled of the succors and aydes which were promised by the Pope Alphonso who as well for the losse of Ostia seege of the port Neptune as for feare of the french armie by sea had euen their handes and heades full determined with a councell suddeine and particular to goe search of thennemie that safetie which he hoped no more to finde in his friendes following therein thexample of his father who in the yeare 1479. being brought to desperat tearmes of daunger by a warre which Pope Sixtus and Ferdinand king of Naples managed against the Florentyns went to seeke Ferdinand in the towne of Naples from whom he brought to Florence publike peace and priuat sewertie But it is a thing very daungerous for men to gouerne them selues by examples if there be not a concurrance of the selfe reasons not onely in generall but euen in all particularities and if thinges be not ruled with the same wisedom And if lastly ouer and besides all other foundacions the selfe same fortune haue not her part Being parted from Florence in this deliberacion not farre of his way he had aduertisement that the horsemen of Pavvle Vrsin and 3. hundreth footemen sent by the Florentyns to enter Serezana were broken by certein companies of the french which were come skowring euen on this side the riuer of Magre the most of them either slaine or made prisoners This made him tary for the kinges safe conduct at S. Peters whether went for his conduct and sewertie the Bishop of S. Mallo with certeine Lordes of the Court in whose companie he ariued at the campe the same day that the king with the residue of his strength ioyned him selfe to the vauntgard which incamping before Serazanella battred that rocke but not with such successe as there was hope to cary it After he was presented to the king who enterteyned him with good countenance but more in apparance then in affection he appaised immediatly all his displeasures in consenting to his whole demaundes which were great and immoderat namely that the forteresses and castells of S. Peter Serezana and Serezanella which were as it were the keyes of the dominions of Florence on that side and the fortresses of Pysa and the port of Lyuorne members principall of their estate should be all putte into the handes of the king who for his part should bind him selfe by promise and by his proper signiture to redeliuer them as soone as he had conquered the kingdom of Naples That Peter should do so much that the Florentyns should lende to the king two hundreth thowsand duckats and that then he would receiue them into his alliance and protection Touching the ratificacion of which promises made with simple wordes it was sayd there should be letters dispatched to Florence by the which the king ment to passe but the consignacion of the castells and fortresses was not deferred for Peter ioyning meaning to his wordes caused to be deliuered without tarying to the king those peeces Serezana S. Peter and Serezanella and not many dayes after according to the agreement the like was done of the peeces of Pysa and port of Lyuorne The french men wondred that Peter with so great facilitie accorded to thinges of so great importance for that there was no dowt but the king would haue bene contented with farre meaner condicions I will not let passe in this place without reapport that which was suttelly aunswered to P. de medicis by Lodovvyk Sforce arriuing the day following at the campe As Peter in going to meete him to doe him honour excused him selfe that he had miscaried for that Lodovvyk was some what gone out of the way he aunswered very properly That the one of them two went out of the way but perhaps sayth he it light vpon your selfe as reproching vnto him that he was falne into so great difficulties daungers for not giuing faith to his councells But the euents of thinges falling out afterwardes did well declare that they
present He sawe he was not hable in one tyme to susteine the hatred of the Colonnois and Vrsins and fearing least they should ioyne in conspiracie against him he resolued to reappose rather in those whom he had offended only in their goods then to trust to the behauiour of such as he had greeued both in their goods and persons And in that minde he procured readie reconcilement with the Colonnois and such of the Vale as folowed that faction he inuited them to returne eftsoones to their estates and made restitution of the Castles which Alexander with great expenses had fortefied and enlarged the alteration and feare of the tyme compelling him to doe more then any regarde to honour equitie conscience or religion All which notwithstanding sufficed not neither for his suertie nor to keepe the towne of Rome in peace wherein all thinges were full of suspicions and tumultes for that both Prosper Colonno was entred and all that faction had taken armes And also Fabio Vrsin comming euen to the houses of the famylie of Mont Iordan had with a great multitude of his partakers set a fire certeine marchands shoppes and the houses of many Spanish Courtiers a nation generally enuyed by the memorie of thinsolencies which they had done during the Popedom of Alexander Besides Fabio thirsting after the bloud of Valentynois made great leauies of forreine souldiours and solicited Bartlemevv Aluiano being then in the paie of the Venetians to ioyne with him and his house in the reuenge of so many wrongs as he had don them thinking it but iust to raise violence against him whose furie had not spared to persecute them and their friendes with all sortes of oppression and ruines The subburbes and meadowes so swarmed with the men of warre of Valentynois that the Cardinals seeing no reason of suertie to assemble at the Bishops Pallaice drewe together at the couent of the Church of Minerua at which place contrary to the auncient custome they began but farre later thē they were wont to doe the funerall of Alexander The trouble and mutinie of the tyme present not only deferring the celebration of the obsequies but also somewhat derogating the ceremonie detecting in those last actions the abhominable and infamous lyfe of him in whose regard they were done It was much feared least Consaluo would come to Rome specially for that Prosper Colonno had left at Marina a certeine number of Spanish soldiours and for the reconciliation of Valentynois with the Colonnois it was beleeued that he had an intention to folow the Spanish faction But greater were the feares of the comming of the french armie which had marched slowly till that day for that in the publike councelles of the Svvyzzers being not a litle amazed for the ill fortune of the French in the realme of Naples it was doubted affore the contract that the king could not make leauie of their men and all the Capteynes and footemen chosen together had refused for the same occasion the same being the cause that they were not so readie and that they made long aboade by the wayes But in respect of the Popes death the armie which was gouerned by the Marquis of Mantua with title of the kings Lieftenant and by the Baily of Caen Monsr de Sandricourt in whom except the name remeyned as much power as in the General for that Trimouille remeined sicke at Parma Was come without tarying for the Svvyzzers to the territories of Sienna with intencion to goe to Rome according to the direction of the king who also had commaunded the Nauie which was at Caietta to make saile to Ostia to giue impediment to Consaluo for going to Rome with his armie to compel the Cardinals to chuse a Pope at his deuotiō Notwithstanding the frēch armie remeined certeyne dayes betweene Boncouent and Viterbe for that the marchands making difficultie for the trobled tyme that was at Rome to accept the billes of exchaunge that were sent out of Fraunce the Svvyzzers now comē into the coūtrey of Sienna refused to march further if they were not paied In this tyme the tumultes were no lesse in the territorie of Rome with many other places through the estate of the Church and the landes of Valentynois for that the Vrsins and all the Romish Barons restored them selues to their estates The familie of Vitelli were returned to Cittade Castello Iohn Pavvle Baillon vnder hope of a certeine intelligence had assailed Perousa In which action albeit he was put to the chase by his enemies and constrained to go his way yet being refurnished with new bands and open succours of the Florentyns he entred the towne in a braue and resolute assalt not without the slaughter of his enemies and some losse of his owne companie The towne of Plombyn also tooke armes which albeit they of Sienna laboured to vsurp and occupie yet the auncient Lorde returned thether by the fauour of the Florentyns The Duke of Vrbyn the Lordes of Pesere of Camerin and Sini Gale did the lyke in theyr estates Only Romagnia notwithstanding they were not without suspicion of the Venetians who leauyed great bandes of men at Rauenna remeyned quiet and inclined to the deuotion of Valentynois knowing by experience howe much it was more tollerable and better for the weale of the countrey to serue one only and mightie Lord then to haue in euerie towne Lords perticular who neither for their weaknes could defende them nor for their pouertie were able to doe them good but rather when they founde their reuenues insufficient to enterteine them they would be constrained to oppresse them They considered also that for the authoritie and greatnes of the Valentynois and for the good iustice he ministred amongst them their countrey was not vexed with so many mutinies and tumults of factions as it was wont to bee bringing ordinarie slaughters to their friendes and cohabitants Besides they drew into consideration the benefites that he had done for many together with the great friendshippes he had gotten by enterteining and giuing paie to suche as had bene trained in armes by distributing offices to men able and sufficient and also by soliciting his father on the behalfe of Prelates and Church men touching the collation of benefices and spirituall dignities Out of these respectes they tooke occasion of firmnes that neither thexamples of others that reuolted nor the memorie of their auncient Lordes could not estraunge them from Valentynois Who albeit he stood oppressed with many difficulties lesse exspectation of habilitie in a state so pluckt and broken yet was he laboured vnto both by the French and Spanish with many offers and promises importunatly solicited to bee on their side For that besides the oportunitie of his forces and men of warre they hoped by this meane to winne the voyces of the Spanish Cardinals in the election to bee made But the Duke looking wisely into the state of his affaires tooke councel of the inclination of the time and refused to
of thexpences for three yeres Wherevpon the Genovvaies hauing a deliberation to embrace the offer notwithstanding Iohn Lovvis de Fiesquo with many others were agaynst it made an instance to the French king to suffer them without whose consent they had no power to execute any deliberation They debated with the king howe daungerous it woulde be that the Pisans excluded from this their last and almost only hope should come to offer them selues to the king of Spayne from whence would succeede to his great preiudice that both Genes should be in continuall trauell and danger and almost all Tuskane by compulsion followe the Spanish faction These reasons albeit at the beginning had so much wrought with the king that he was almost at a poynt to gratifie their demaundes yet his counsell considering that if the Genovvaies should beginne to accept warres of them selues and for a desire of imperie to haue confederation with other Potentates it would be the cause that comming afterwards to rayse their thoughts to greater things they would put their state into absolute libertie he forbad them expresly to accept the iurisdiction of Pisa but not that they should forbeare to ayde or succour them notwithstanding the Florentins had made great complaynts perticular respectes bearing more force in these matters then equitie conscience or compassion About this time the peace was earnestly laboured betweene the kings of Spayne and Fraunce who offred dissemblingly to render the realme of Naples to the king Federike or to the duke of Calabria his sonne to whom the French king should resigne and giue vp all his clayme so farrefoorth as the mariage were accomplished betwene the duke and the queene widowe Nece to the same king hauing afore bene wife to yong Ferdinand of Aragon king of Naples And it was without doubt that the French king had a mind so farre estranged from the affaires of the kingdome of Naples that for his owne regarde he had accepted all sorts of peace if it had not bin for these two difficulties that restrayned him the one of lesse moment with him then the other was the shame and reproches that would be thundred vpon him to leaue abandoned the barons who for that they folowed his faction had suffred priuation of their estates and to whom were offred conditions hard intollerable the other working somewhat more strongly with him was the doubt wherin he was least the king of Spayne hauing other intentions offred according to his accustomed suttleties this restitution for some ende that though his maiesties consenting yet the effect should not folow and that in the meane while the archduke were not estranged frō him who desiring to haue the kingdome of Naples for his sonne made instance that there should be cōtinuation of the peace which he had begon before Therfore he answered generally that he desired the peace but that he could not with honor giue vp to an Arragon the rights which he had in the same realme And on the other part he continued the auncient practises with the king of Romaines tharchduke wherin as he was almost certaine of the conclusion effect to th end they should not be cut of nor hindred by the incerteine practises of the king of Spayne he let call before him the Spanish embassadors making his colour for his greater honor that the respects interests of the barōs did chiefly moue him and being set in the chaire royal in the aspect presence of al the court with solēne ceremonies far aboue the vsage of times before he cōplained that their king expressed in words his desire and disposition to the peace hauing his intētions dissembled in which regard also for that it was not a thing worthy the vertue and honor of a king to consume the tyme in vayne practises he tolde them it were their best to depart out of the Realme of Fraunce After whose going away thembassadours of Maximilian and tharchduke came to giue perfection to that which had bene negociated In whiche action because there were plottes layed to greater purposes was assistant the Bishop of Sisteron the Popes ordinarie Nuncio in that Court and the Marquis of Finalo whome the Pope sent expresly in those affayres This peace hauing bene many times afore throughly debated for the profite which appeared very great to all those Princes was finally set downe vnder these conditions That the mariage of Lady Clauda the French kings daughter commoned vpon long time before should now grow to effect with Charles theldest sonne to tharchduke And for more firme confirmation of the same there shoulde be ioyned to the othe and subscription of the Frenche king the ratification of Frauncis Counte of Angulesme who issue male fayling in the king was next heire to the crown together with many of the principals of the kingdome That all thinuestitures of the state of Millan allowed till that day being razed and cancelled for iust and honest occasions Maximilian should transferre thinuestiture thereof to the French king for him selfe and heires males and for want of suche issue it shoulde be in fauour of the mariage conueyed to Madame Clauda and to Charles and if Charles shoulde dye before the consummation of the mariage then it to discende to Lady Clauda and to the seconde sonne of the Archduke if she maried with him That betweene the Pope the king of Romains the Frenche king and Tharchduke should be made a confederation for their common defence and to offende the Venetians from whome they all determined to withdrawe those places whiche they occupied of theirs That the king of Romains should passe in person into Italie agaynst the Venetians and afterwards go to Rome to take the crowne imperiall That the Frenche king assoone as the Charters shoulde be dispatched shoulde pay for thinuestiture threescore thousande florins of Rhein and threescore thousande others within six monthes and euery yeere a payre of spurres of golde vppon the day of the natiuitie of our Lorde That there shoulde be place left for the king of Spayne to enter into this confederation within foure monthes But it was not expressed that in case he did not enter it shoulde bee suffred to the Frenche king to inuade the kingdome of Naples That the Frenche king shoulde giue no more ayde nor succours to the Counte Palatine who stirred vp by him and enterteyned with hope of his succours was in great warre with the king of Romains That the Venetians shoulde be excluded out of this league notwithstanding that both the king had giuen willing eare to their Embassadours and also the Cardinall of Amboise to cleare them from all suspition had nourished them with assured promises and othes that the king would neuer go agaynst that confederation which he had with them These matters were conteyned in letters which were solemnly passed besides the which it was moued that the king Maximilian should speake together at an other time in some place conuenient The king also promised at
day the Marquis of Mantua to whom the king had committed an hundred Launces runne vp to Casalmaior which without resistance was rendred to him by the inhabitants together with Lovvis Bonne Magistrate for the Venetians The same day in like sort Rocabartin with an hundred and fiftie launces and three thousande footmen passing ouer a bridge made of boates vpon Adda as it entreth into Pavv made roades vpon the townes of Cremona as did also in an other part of the countrey the souldiours of the garrison of Lodi building a bridge vpon Adda besides all the paisantes of the Mountaine of Briansa made incursions euen to Bergama ioyning to so common a fauor of fortune an vniuersal readines and resolution of minde But this generall inuasion performed in one day and in fiue seuerall places the enemies presenting no resistaunce bare more brute than matter of effect both for that Monsr de Chaumont retyred immediatly to Millan to abide the kinges comming and also the Marquis of Mantua who after the enterprise of Casalmaior had executed a vayne attempt vpon Asola abandoned Casalmaior hearing that Aluiano was passed on this side the ryuer of Oglio at Pontmolaro The Pope seeing suche a beginning giuen to the warre published in forme of admonition a horrible Bull wherein were declared all the vsurpations made by the Venetians vpon the townes apperteining to the sea Apostolike and the authoritie which they had attributed to themselues to the preiudice of thecclesiastike libertie and iurisdiction of Popes both in disposing Bishoprikes and other benefices vacant in deducing in secular course causes spiritual apperteining to the iudgement of the Church and also all other natures of disobediences paste Amongst those declarations was not forgotten that not long since to the great trouble of thestate of Bolognia and preiudice of the Church they had called to Faenza the Bentyuoleis who being rebels to the Church were subiect aswell in themselues as in those that receiued them to great censures he admonished them to make restitution within xxiiij dayes next of all those townes of the Church which they occupied together with th accompt of the frutes they haue receyued since the time of their possession and that vnder payne in case of disobedience to incurre the paynes of cursings and interdictions not onely to the citie of Venice and all the townes of their obedience but also to all suche as being not subiect to their iurisdiction were yet receyuers or reskewers of the Venetians declaring them attainted of crimen laesae maiestatis defied as perpetual enemies to all Christians to whom he gaue full power to take their goods where they were found to make their persons slaues Agaynst this Bull not many dayes after was brought into the towne of Rome a writing by men vnknowen in the name of the Prince Magistrates of Venice wherin after a long bitter narration agaynst the Pope the French king was expressed an appeale from the admonition to the next Councell and for want of humaine iustice to the tribunall of Iesus Christ the most righteous and soueraigne iudge To these spirituall thunderboltes were ioyned temporall threates for that the Frenche Heralt arriuing at the same time at Venice and brought afore the presence of the Duke Senat denounced in the name of the Frenche king the warre already begonne charging them to haue giuen many occasions more apparant then true or iust The Duke after some consulting with the Senate answered the Heralt in fewe wordes that since the king his maister was determined to make warre vpon them in a time when they hoped most for thobseruation of thalliance whiche they had neuer violated and for not breaking of it had made Caesar their enemie they would stand vpon their defence which they hoped to be hable to do with their forces accompanied with the iustice of their cause This answere seemed to resemble more the dignitie of their cōmon weale then if they had vsed iustifications and complaintes to one that had alreadie assayled them with armes The Venetian armie was at laste assembled and mostered at Pontuiquo wherein were two thousande men at armes three thousande light horsemen and estradiots fiftene thousande footemen chosen and the very flower of souldiours in all the regions of Italie no lesse for their generall valour then for the experience of the leaders and fifteene thousande other footemen of choyse of the appoyntment of their countreys accompanied with great quantities of artillerie from thence the armie marched to Fonteuella a towne within six myles of Lodi and a retraite very commodious to succor Cremona Crema Carauaga and Bergama where iudging they should haue occasion for the retraite of Monsr Chaumont beyonde Adda to recouer Treuy the kings armie withall beeing not yet assembled they tooke the feelds folowing the deliberation of the Senate but agaynst the counsell of Aluiano who sayde they were counsels almost repugnant to forbidde to feight with the enemie and yet to draw so neare them seeing happly it might eyther not be in their power to retyre or if they did it would be with a diminution of reputation hurtfull to the substaunce of the whole warre In which regarde and for his particular honor and vniuersall respect of all the men of warre of Italie he had rather choose to commit his life to hazarde and fortune then giue his consent to so great an infamie The first towne the armie took was Riuolce where the French had left no garrison and hauing put into it fiftie horse and three hundred footemen they drewe neare to Treuy a towne very neare the ryuer of Adda hauing his situation somewhat high and bearing and wherin Monsr Chaumont had left fiftie launces and a thousande footemen vnder capteine Imbault Frontalle Gascon and the white Knight Thartilleries were planted on that side to Cascina where the wall was weakest making great execution such as were within yeelded the day following the souldiers saued but without armes the capteines remayning prisoners and the towne wholly at the discression of the victors The houses and ryches of the towne were put to present sacke but with greater domage to the victors then to those that were vanquished for that the Frenche king vnderstanding the campe of thenemie to be before Treui supposing that that place beeing lost almost in his sight would bring great diminution to his reputation he aduaunced his armie and with a speede according to the necessitie of the perill marched from Millan to reskew it and arriuing the day after th execution of Treuy at the ryuer neare Casciana where were made before for thoportunitie of Casciana without impediment three bridges of barkes he passed with his whole armie his enemies making no countenaunce to resist him A matter which made many men of experience to maruell that they ydely lost so fayre occasion to set vpon the former part of his armie which was passed and Triuulce enforcing the glory of that aduauntage seeing the whole
led by Charles d'Amboyse and I. Iacques Triuulce and the rearegard of the Venetians gouerned by Bar. Aluiano wherin were eight hundred men at armes with all the flower of the footemen of the army but they kept no good order in their marche Aluiano not thinking that the battell would be offred that day But when he saw himselfe in the face of his enemies what by the renouation of his auncient valour and that he was broughte into suche extremitie of place that he was compelled to fight he gaue present aduertisement to the Count Petillano leading thother part of th armie before his necessitie or els his resolution demaunding his succors The Counte returned aunswere that he should continue his marching and eschew the fight the reasons of warre so requiring and the resolution of the Senate agreeing But in the meane whyle Aluiano hauing bestowed his footemen with six peces of artillerie vpon a litle trench made to stop the furie of a lande flood which at that time beeing almost dry of water passed betwene both the armies charged thenemies with such corage and furie that he compelled them to giue ground wherein this ministred not a little helpe to him that the first charge was amongst certen vines where by reason of the hedges and intricat branches of the vines the French horsemen could execute litle neuertheles the battel of the French armie wherin was the kings person being aduaunced for that daunger the two first squadrons ioyned to charge the bandes of Aluiano who entring into a great hope of the victory for so happy a beginning was not ydle to labour to encourage the souldiours with vehement words The battell was furious on all sides the French receyuing corage and comfort by the succors of their companions and for that the battell was drawen into a place open and discouered where their horsemen had space and skoape to manage at pleasure besides the presence of the king did muche to stirre them who bearing no more respecte to his person then if he had beene a priuate souldiour refused not to stande in the daunger of the artillerie not ceassing where he sawe neede to commaunde to encourage and to threaten on the other side Thitallian footemen who were full of resolution for their first felicitie fought with great constancie of courage and valour Aluiano forgetting nothing that belonged to the office of an excellent captayne At last three howres beeing consumed in this execution the Venetian bandes receiuing by the playnnesse of the place great distresse by the French horsemen and not able withall to keepe firme footing for the rayne that fell during the battell whiche made the ground slippery but specially for that they were not succored by the residue of th armie began to fight with a great disaduauntage and yet made resistance with great vertue in so much as when they saw no hope to ouercome it was well expressed in the effects of their valour that more to winne glory then to saue them selues they labored to make the victorie bloudy to the French despising perills with the same minds wherwith they sought for glory monument And albeit they kept the battell a long time in suspension doubt yet at last being more depriued of strength then of courage without turning their backes to thenemie they passed almoste all vnder the sentence of the sworde leauing to the residue of the armie an example of right worthy imitation and to posteritie a perpetuall praise of their merite and vertue Amongest the rest that were slayne many lamentations were made for one of the Marquisses of the Mount S. Maria de Tuskana a captaine of great exercise in leading footmen in the warres of Pisa when he liued in the pay of the Florentins now one of the Colonels of the Venetian footmen The honorable resistance which this only one part of th armie made bred almost a generall opinion that if the whole Venetian campe had entred the battell they had eyther caried the victorie or at least past it to thenemie with greater perill and bloudshedding But the Count Petillano with whom was the greatest part of th armie abstayned from armes eyther for that thus he alleaged as he prepared to aduaunce to the battell he was yll aduertised by an esquadron that fledde away or rather suche was the brute standing in no hope or possibilitie of the victorie and no lesse disdayned that Aluiano contrarie to his direction had aduentured to feight he esteemed it a counsayle better assured to keepe that parte of th armie reserued then to referre the whole to hazarde for the rashnesse of an other thextremitie of the perill making him more carefull then honorable In this battell perished very fewe men at armes the whole slaughter falling vppon the Venetian footemen whereof dyed by good testimonie eyght thousande bodies notwithstanding some reapport that the number of the dead men on both partes could not passe six thousande men suche variation followeth brutes and rumors being for the most part ful of incertenties and errours Bartlemevv Aluiano remained prisoner who receiuing a hurt in his eye was by that misfortune half blinded with the blood of his wound and in that araye pitifull in a capteine of his merite was ledde to the kings pauillion The residue of th armie being not folowed in chase founde safetie in fleing loasing in all twentie peeces of great artillerie This was the notable battell of Guiaraddada or according to the opinion of some the victorie of Vaile which was fought the xiiij day of Maye and in monument of which the king caused to be edified in the very place where the battel was executed a chappell which he honored with the name of S. Maria de la victoria The king with the felicitie of this victorie not willing to corrupte by negligence the occasion that had bene wonne with valour and fortune marched the daye following to Carauage where the Towne beeing sodaynly rendred by composition he battered the Castell with artillerie which also within foure and twenty houres yeelded to discression The citie of Bergama gaue vp the day after without abiding the comming of th armie where after the king had left fyftie launces and a thousande footemen to batter the Castell he aduaunced to Bressia but before he arriued there the castel of Bergamo after the cannon had executed a whole day was rendred vpon condition that Marin Georgio with the other Venetian Magistrates shoulde be prisoners for that the king not so muche for hatred as for hope to drawe money had determined not to accept any composition of townes by the which the gentlemen of Venice should be saued seeking to make the benefite of his warres to beare out the greatest burden and expenses of his armie In all ages tyme hath carried a power to vary and alter the humors of men gouerning their inclinations according to occasions that happen the same beeing approued in the inhabitantes of Bressia in whom nowe remayned no
the oportunities of times other circumstances embrased for the French king within fiftene dayes after the battel had reconquered except the castel of Cremona all that apperteined to him by the diuision which was made at Cambray A conquest no lesse honorable for the king then of great commoditie for the Duchie of Millan and augmenting the reuenues of the king to more then two hundred thousande duckets by yeare About this tyme albeit the armies of the king of Romains had appeared yet in no place neither in action nor showe yet the Pope ioyning him selfe to the fauor of the tyme assayled the townes of Romagnia with foure hundred men at armes foure hundred light horsemen and eight thousande footemen with thartillerie of the Duke of Ferrara whom he had chosen Gonfalonier of the Churche which is a title according to the practise of our tymes that holdes more of dignitie then of authoritie he recommended the charge of this armie ioyntly to Francisco de Castello de Rie Cardinall of Pauia bearing the name of the Legate Apostolike and to Frauncis Maria de la Rouera sonne to Iohn his late brother who being adopted for sonne by Guid. Duke of Vrbin his vncle by the mother side the adoption also confirmed in the consistorie by the Popes authoritie had succeeded the yeare before in the Duchie the Duke of Vrbin beeing dead without other children They ronne with this armie from Cesena towardes Seruia and comming betweene Imola and Faenza they tooke the towne of Solarola and after they had beene certayne dayes at Bastida three myles from Faenza they drewe to Bresiquella whiche is the capitall towne of Val de Moue wherein was newely entred Iohn Paule Mansron with eyght hundred footemen and certayne horsemen who issuing out to feight were trayned into an ambushe and so hoatly charged by Iohn Paule Baillon and Lodovvike de la Mirandola Capteines of the Churche armie that as they woulde haue sought their safetie in the towne the enemie entred Pelmell with them and that with suche furie that Mansron beeing felled from his horse had scarse leasure to retyre to the Castell afore the whiche thartillerie beeing brought and planted the Munitions that were within were sette on fyre at the first blowe An accident that so terrified the defendauntes within that they rendred absolutely the place to the discression of the victor After the whole valley was taken the armie discended into the playne and tooke Garanarola with all the other townes of the countrey of Faenza and so went and encamped before Russi whiche is a borowe situate betweene Faenza and Rauenna but not easie to be taken for that besides it was enuironed with very large and deepe trenches it was defended with sixe hundred footemen forreiners But that which made more vneasie the action of that towne was that there was not in the Churche armie neither that counsell nor that concorde that was necessarie notwithstanding it abounded in strength and forces three thousande Svvyzzers payed by the Pope beeing there newely arryued for which cause albeit the Venetians were not strong in Romagnia yet thinges had no great aduauncement on that side onely Iohn Greeke capteine of thestradiots issuing out of Rauenna with his bands was broken and taken prisoner by Iohn Vitelli one of the Capteines of the Church Lastly after they had remayned ten daies afore Rossi they tooke it by cōposition And the victorie of the king hapning in the same time the citie of Faenza who stood now in her owne power for that the Venetian strēgth was now diminished agreed to acknowledge the Pope for their Lorde if they were not reskewed within fiftene daies by the benefite of which conuention there issued out of Faenza vnder the fayth of the Legate fiue hundred footmen of the Venetians who were stripped by commaundement of the Duke of Vrbin The Citie of Rauenna did the like assone as the armie approched Thus more by the reputation of the victorie of the French king then by his proper forces the Pope conquered in a litle time those townes which he had so long desired in Romagnia in the which as the Venetians helde no other peece then the castell of Rauenna so euer since the first ouerthrowing of their armie there disclosed dayly against them newe enemies for the Duke of Ferrara who till that day had not declared him selfe chased out of Ferrara the Visdomino a Magistrate which the Venetians kept resident there according to the auncient conuentions to minister equitie to their subiectes And taking armes he recouered without impediment Polesma and sonke with Artilleries the Venetian Nauies floating vpon the ryuer of Addice To the Marquis of Mantua were yeelded the townes of Asola and Lunato which the Venetians had taken in the warre they had agaynst Phillip M. Visconte vpon Iohn Frauncis de Gonsagua his great grandfather In Istria Christopher Frangipan occupied Pisinia and Diuinia and the Duke of Brunsvvike who by Caesars commaundement was entred into Friul with two thousande men trayned tooke Feltro and Bellona At his comming together with the brute of the victorie of the French Triesta with the other townes the conquest of which had bene the very welspring and beginning of all the aduersities to the Venetians returned vnder thobedience of Caesar In like sort the Counts of Lodron occupied certayne castels and borowes that were neare them and the Bishop of Trent vsurped Riua and Agresta But amid all these calamities and declinations of fortune there was nothing that so much amased the Venetians since the battell as the taking of the castell of Pesquiero whose strength and situation with other oportunities of the place they supposed would haue stayed the furie of the victor So weake is the holde of hope where is nothing but daunger on all sides that the Venetians standing amased amid so many perills were fearfull that the king would passe further And their condition being made so desperate that the feare that possest them left them no libertie of counsell together with their bandes whiche were retyred to Mestre amongst whom was neither obedience nor order beeing reduced to a very small number They determined and happly to soone to abandon the iurisdiction of the firme lande to th ende to haue no more enemies and no lesse to take from the French king all occasions to drawe neare to Venice for they were not without suspition that in that Citie would ryse some tumult eyther by the people that nowe were growen insolent or by thinnumerable multitude of strangers that dwelt there some for desire of pray and pillage which makes men mutinous and disordered and some for that they would not endure their depriuation of honors and in all things to beare suche a yoke of subiection to the Gentlemen seeing they were Citizens borne by long succession of times in libertie and freedome and most of them of the same bloud and families wherin in so great a dispaire and losse of courage this reason was alleaged in the Senate
of places of most importance hoping that by temporising so great a multitude and number of Svvyzzers would at last disperse and breake Wherein they were gouerned with this reason that the Pope no lesse cold to furnish the exspenses then hoat to further the warre was very slow in sending their payes being no more able to aduaunce the wages of so great a number The french men bestowed within Bressia two thowsand footemen an hundred fifty launces and an hundred men at armes of the Florentyns To Crema they sent fifty launces and a thowsand footemen And in Bergama they put a thowsand footemen and an hundred men at armes of the Florentyns The residue of th armie which conteyned six hundred launces two thowsand footemen french foure thowsand launceknightes was retyred to Pontuiqua A place very stronge by the benefit of his situacion and no lesse conuenient to succour Myllan Cremona Bressia and Bergama and there they hoped to be able to susteine thennemies But the day after came letters and commaundements from Caesar to the Almain footemen to depart immediatly from the pay of the french king And they being subiects of the contrey of Tyroll obeyed the letters the same day they receyued them as not to be disobedient to their natural Lord By reason of their departure no lesse suddeine and vnlooked for then most preiudiciall to the french affayres Palissa and his Capteines lost all hope to be able any longer to defend the Duchie of Myllan And in that passion of feare and dispaire they retyred in great haste from Pontuique to Pisqueton by whose departure they of Cremona being left abandoned gaue them selues vp to the armie of the confederats which was at hande binding them selues to paye to the Svvyzzers xl thowsand duckats But as amongest such varieties of nations nourishing not few differences of ambicion desire and opinion there was no certeintie in whose name the money should be receyued so after some disputacion the Venetians making great instance that it might be deliuered to them it was at last receiued the french men notwithstanding holding as yet the castell in the name of the league and of Maxymylian sonne to Lodovvyk Sforce on whose behalfe the Pope and the Svvyzzers pretended the conquest of the Duchie of Myllan At the same tyme the citie of Bergama fell into the power of the confederats the meane was this After Monsr Palissa had called backe the companies that were there to ioyne them to th armie certeine of the banished crewes who entred assoone as the other companies were departed procured them to reuolt it beeing no hard matter to alter a multitude that hath no heade to hold them from Pisqueton Monsr Palissa passed the riuer of Adda where the three hundred launces appoynted for the defence of Bolognia came to him hauing reuoked them to him for the greatnes of the perill There he hoped to be able to giue impediment to thennemie to passe ouer the riuer if the strength of footemen that were appoynted to be leauyed had come But it was in vayne for him to thinke vpon those things for that neyther was there present money to wage so many footemen neither could the generall of Normandye binding for securitie the kings demaine raise it by any deuise credit being wholly lost in so great daungers â–ª And therefore hauing remeyned therefoure dayes assoone as he saw thennemies approch the riuer three myles below Pisqueton he retyred to S. Ange to goe the day following to Pauia And so their daunger redoubling and no exspectacion of succours in a state so desperat both the hope to defend Myllan being taken away the contrey already drawing fast into tumult Ioh. Iacq Tryuulce the generall of Normandie Anth. Maria Paluoisin Gale as Visconte with many other gentlemen and all the kinges seruauntes and officers went from Myllan sought their sauetie in Piemont Not many dayes affore the Cardinalls fearing no lesse the people then thennemies were fled notwithstanding to showe that vallour in decrees which they durst not expresse in other actions they had at that tyme almost suspended the Pope from all administracion spirituall and temporall of the Church A degree to depriue him of the place which he helde These tumultes were much helping to the sauetie of the Cardinall Medicis whom it seemed God reserued to a greater happines for as they were leading him into Fraunce and the morning that he entred the barke at the passage of Pavv which is right ouer against Bassignany called in histories Angusta Bacienorum certeine paisants of the village beginning to murmure one Reignold de Lallo chiese of the conspiracie accompanied with certeine of the Cardinalls fauorits lodging there all night assembled a number and tooke him from the french men that garded him They whom other aduersities had made fearefull of all accidents hearing a noyse of a tumult which they durst not abide to suppresse were more carefull to flee then to fight losing their prisoner by cowardisse whome they had wonne in the daunger of a battel Palissa being entred into Pauia determined to stay there sending for Tryuulce and the generall to come to him thether Whereupon Tryuulce by thaduise of the general and principalls of the french side laied affore him the vanity of the councell and how vnpossible it was to abide so great a ruine the armie being vnmanned with footemen That the shortnes of the time suffered not to wage new companies And much lesse to drawe any but from places farre remoued and with great difficulties Lastly that though all these impediments were not yet there was no money to pay them all their reputacion being lost their friendes full of astonishment and the people puffed vp with incredible hatreds for the immoderat insolencies which the soldiours had vsed so long time Tryuulce applying this councell to the present necessitie of thinges wente and caused to caste a bridge where the riuer is straightest and furthest of from Valence towards Ast by the commoditie of which he ment to passe his companies ouer Pavv But by this the armie of the confederats to the which after the french men were retyred from Adda the citie of Lody was rendred together with the castell discamping from S. Ange was come neare to Pauia where the Venetian Capteines euen at the first arriuall began to batter the castell one part of the Svvyzzers to passe the riuer that ioyneth to the citie with boates The french men fearing they shoulde finde impediments to passe the stone bridge which is vppon the riuer of Tesin by the which onely they might saue them selues wonne the other bridge to be able to yssue out of Pauia But affore the rearegard was come forth wherein to susteine the horsemen certein footemen of the launceknightes which were not yssued out with the others were bestowed the last of all with whom the Svvyzzers yssuing out of the new gate and of the castell which was now abandoned went skirmishing all along Pauia and the bridge
aduenture of Prospero tooke occasion to recouer the rocke of Rubiero that had bene occupied by Guido Rangon for the which he payed him at laste two thousande duckets and consumed many dayes in the countrey of Modena and Reggia Moreouer the Pope hauing recourse to his accustomed practises dispatched very secretly to the French king Cintio his familiar friend both to excuse himselfe of things that had bene passed tyll that day and also to begin by the meane of the duke of Sauoy to solicite to compounde with him to th ende that by that beginning he might haue more facilitie to passe further if the defence of the duchie of Millan fell not out well But the Cardinall of Bibbieno with certayne others carryed more by their priuate passions then by the respectes and interestes of their prince induced him to take a counsell more constrayned and suddayne for they tolde him there was daunger for the reputation of the successe and fortunes of the Frenche and happly by the perswasions and ayde of the king the duke of Ferrara would not nowe stirre to recouer Modena and Reggia and also the Bentyuoleys to repossesse their estate in Bolognia And therefore as amyd so many other trauells and perplexities he should find it a very hard matter to contend against so great a number of enemies so it imported him much more both in sauetie and discression of councel to labor to winne them with some propertie of benefit and in all chaunces and chaunges to make them his assured friendes dissembling the remembrance of iniuries past till time brought about a better oportunitie to reuenge They aduised him to reestablish the famulie of the Bentyuoleys within Bolognia and to restore to the Duke of Ferrara Modena Reggia A councell which he had presently put in execucion had it not bene for the contrary working of Iulio de Medicis Cardinall and Legat of Bolognia whome the Pope had sent thether to th ende that in so great accidents he might susteine thinges on that side and remeine as it were a moderator and counsellor of the youth of Lavvrance he was touched with the displeasure of thinfamie that would haue falne vppon the Pope by a councell so full of cowardisse which no doubt would haue bene greater then had bene the glory of Iulio in getting to the Church so great a iurisdiction he was also moued with griefe that it would make infamous the memorie of his legacion wherein being skarcely in the first action he should restore Bolognia the principall citie of the whole Ecclesiastyke state into the power of her auncient tyrants abandoning to pray and spoyle so great a nobilitie which in fauor of the Apostolike sea had openly conspyred against them In these respects he dispatched an expresse Messenger to the Pope whom with reasons and with requests he brought againe to a councell more honorable and safe Notwithstanding this Iulio was a bastard yet he was made Cardinall by Leo in the first moneths of his pontificacie following thexample of Alexander the sixt in the effect but not in the manner for Alexander at such time as he created Cardinall Caesar Borgia his sonne made to be proued by witnesses that deposed the truth that his mother at the time that she was conceiued of him had a husband inferring therevpon according to the opinion of the lawes that the sonne was to be iudged to bee begotten rather of the husband then of thadulterer But touching Iulio the witnesses preferred the grace and fauor of men affore the truth for that it was deposed that the mother of whom he was begotten being yet a maide and not maried and affore she deuided her body to the deuocion of Iuliano had of him a secrete consent to be his wife These newe accidents were likewise the cause that the Viceroy behaued him selfe farre otherwayes then he would haue done for being not yet departed from Verona both for that he could not make his souldiers marche without money and also exspected newe companies promised by Caesar who was nowe come to Yspruch to thend to leaue sufficient garrison within Verona and Bressa as neede required he beganne with these and other excuses to temporise and deferre to see what might afterwards happen to the Duchie of Myllan These matters also moued the Svvyzzers who retyred to Pignorolo immediatly after the discending of the french armie And albeit vnderstanding afterwards that the king who was passed the mounts moostred his people at Thuryn they were gon to Cyuas and had taken it and sackt it onely for that they were refused vittells doing the like at Vercelli almost affore the kinges eyes beeing at Thuryn yet beeing at laste drawne into Nouaro those factions of them that were not so farre estraunged from the french amities taking courage and disclosing themselues more and more in their aduersities they began to treate of composicion with the king About this time those regiments of the french which marched by the waye of Genes with whom were ioyned foure thousande footmen waged by the Genovvaies by the working of Octauian Fregosa became lords on the whole contrey on this side Pavv seazing first vpon the towne of Castellaccio Alexandria Tortono And the king that by this time was come to Vercilly and had there the first aduertisement that the Pope was declared agaynst him which the duke of Sauoye signified in his name A matter which albeit did muche vexe and discontent the king yet not suffring counsell and iudgement to be troubled with anger or disdayne and because he would not kindle him to thuttermost he caused to be proclaymed publikely aswell through his army as amongst the regiments that had taken Alexandria that no man should molest or inuade in any sort the lands of the Church The king remained many dayes at Vercilly exspecting the issue of the parley with the Svvyzzers who though they enterteined the practise yet on the other side they shewed thēselues full of varictie and confusion for at Nouaro where they were they began to fall into tumult taking their occasion vpon the breach of the king of Aragon for that the payes he had promised were not yet come They tooke also by force from the officers of the Pope the money he had sent to be orderly distributed amongst them in the same fury they departed from Nouaro with intention to returne into their contries A matter whiche many sortes of them did require who hauing spent three monethes in the spoyles of Italy now laden with money booty desired to conuey in safety to their houses the riches they had gotten They were no sooner gone out of Nouaro then the mony which was due for the king of Aragons porcion was sent And albeit they rauished it from the officers by violence made them selues possessed of it yet wayghing the infamies that followed for the most part suche insolent and rashe dealings they eftsones turned their furie into discression and restored both the one the other sums
Levvys at an other tyme a sonnes sonne of the same name both stirred vp by the Popes being then in variance with the same kinges to make many inuasions vppon the kingdom of Naples but with great misfortune and preiudice Touching Charles Durazzo Ladislao his sonne succeeded him who dying without issue in the yeare 1414. the crowne diuolued to his sister Iohane the second A name much accursed for the kingdom of Naples and no lesse vnhappy to both the one and other of the women resembling one an other in dissolute gouernment and wanton customes of life for this Iohane putting the pollecie and direction of the Realme into the handes of those persons with whom she communicated vnchastly her body was immediatly brought into such straites and difficulties that being tormented with Levvys the third with the aide of Pope Martyn the v. she was at last constrayned for her last refuge to make her sonne by adopcion Alphonso king of Aragon Sicyle But entring soone after into contencion with him she brake that adopcion vnder colour of ingratitude made a new adopcion calling to her succours the selfe Levvys who persecuting her with warre compelled her by the necessities of warre to make the first adopcion In so much as hauing with force chassed Alphonso wholly out of the kingdom she enioyed it in peace all the residue of her life And dying without yssue she instituted for her heire as the brute went Rene Duke of Aniovv and Earle of Prouence brother to Levvys her sonne adoptyf who perhaps died the same yeare But the succession of Rene displeasing much the Barons of the realme besides a brute running that the testament was forged by them of Naples Alphonso was reuoked by a part of the Barons people And from thence kindled the fire of the warres betwene Alphonso Rene which by many yeres brought many afflictions to that noble realme yet the accidēts actions of the warre ▪ were more by the proper forces of the realme then by the strength of the parties In this sort the wills of men being different and contrary were kindled the factions not altogither in that time quenched betwene the Aragons and them of Aniovv their titles and coulers of rightes chaunging with the time for that the Popes following more their customs of couetousnes or the propertie of times then iustice or equitie cōsented diuersly to the inuestitures of them But touching the warres betwene Alphonso Rene the victory remained to Alphonso a Prince for his valer more renowmed for his power more mighty for his fortune better fauored who dying soone after without lawful heires without making any mēcion of Iohn his brother successor to the realme of Sicile Aragon bequeathed by testament the kingdom of Naples to Ferdinand his bastard sonne as a iust reward testimonie of his proper getting cōquest therfore he iudged it could not appertein to the crowne of Aragon This bastard notwithstanding he was immediatly after the death of his father inuaded by Iohn the sonne of Rene that by the supportacion of the principal barōs of the realme yet with his fortune vertue he mainteined not only good defēce but also so chassed his aduersaries that neuer after during the life of Rene suruiuing many yeares his sonne he neither had to debate with those of Aniovv nor yet stoode in feare of their inuacions In the end Rene died hauing no yssue male he established as heire ouer his whole estates Charles the sōne of his brother who dying soone after without childrē left by his wil his inheritāce to the frēch king Levvys the xj to whō did not only returne as to his Lord souereigne the Duchie of Aniovv which suffreth no capacity of succession in the women for that it is a mēber of the crowne but also he put him selfe in the possession of Prouence notwithstanding the Duke of Lorraine descending of one of the daughters of Rene iustified the inheritance of his estates to appertein vnto him And the sayd Levvys by iust vertue prerogatiue of the same testamēt had good power to pretend that the rightes which those of Aniovv had to the kingdom of Naples should be appropriated to him All which inheritāces being passed cōtinued after his death to the person of Charles the viij his sōne Ferdinand king of Naples began to haue a mighty enemy besides the oportunitie generally offring to who soeuer desired to annoy him For at that time this was the state of the realme of Fraunce it was very populous in multitudes of men for wealth riches euery particular region most fertill plētiful for glory in armes most florishing renowmed a pollicy wel directed discipline administred an authority dreadful in opinion hope most mighty lastly their generall condiciōs faculties so wel furnished as phaps it was not more happy in these mortal felicities since the daies of Charlemain It was newly amplified in euery one of the 3. parts wherein all Gavvle stoode deuided by the aūcients for xl yeares before vnder Charles the vij a Prince for his victories obteined with great daūgers called happy Normādie the Duchie of Guyen holden by the english were reduced to the obediēce of the frēch crowne And in the last daies of Levvys the xj the earldō of Prouence the dukdom of Burgondy almost all Picardy togither with the Duchie of Britaine were by a newe mariage inuested in the power of Charles the viij There was no wāt of inclinaciō in this king to aspire to conquer by warre and armes the kingdom of Naples as iustly apperteyning to him which continuing from his infancie by a certeine naturall instinct was enterteyned and nourished by such as were about him and for the conformetie of humors very agreeable with him they raised his thoughts into vaine regions and made him glorious aboue the triumphes of Caesar and Alexander they told him that with his heroicall minde vertues and disposition did concurre a present occasion to make him surmount the renowme of his predecessors for that in the conquest of Naples was a ready way for him to bring vnder his subiection thempire of the Turkes These things being knowne to many brought many hopes to Lodovvyk Sforce to perswade easily the thing he desired who also reapposed much in the frēdship familiaritie which the name of Sforce had in the french court ▪ for both in him in his brother Galeas afore him was continued by many demonstracions good offices the amitie begon by Francis Sforce their father who xxx yeares before hauing receiued in fee of Levvys the xj whose mind abhorred alwaies the things of Italy the city of Sauōe with the right which he pretēded to haue to Genes possessed aforetime by his father neuer failed him in his daūgers neither with coūcel succors nor affectiō But Lodovvik to solicite in Fraunce with more credit and authoritie and iudging him selfe vnable alone both for
xxx yeres sacked cōfisked at sundry times many of the Barōs had heaped togither no smal treasor on the behalf of the king they considered that his capacitie was to green to susteine alone so heauy a burdē for the direction of warres estats the councel weake thexperiēce lesse assured of such as he beleued most in To these they added the want of mony wherof they estemed to neede a great quātity They wished that the deceits suttleties of thitaliās might be depely loked into assuring them selues that it could not be pleasing neither to others nor to Lodovvik Sforce him selfe A man confessed by all the Italians to be of litle faith that the kingdom of Naples should passe into the power of a king of Fraunce they iudged it harde to winne and lesse easie to keepe those thinges that should be wonne For that reason sayd they Levvys father to Charles a Prince in all his actions following more the truth then the apparance of thinges would neuer accept the hopes which were offered him of the matters of Italy and much lesse make reckoning of the rightes falne to him in the Realme of Naples No he saw in his iudgement that to send armies beyond the mounteynes was no other thing then to search enemies and daungers with the wast of infinite treasor and blood of the realme of Fraunce They held it necessary afore all thinges if this expedicion should proceede to reunite controuersies with the kinges borderers for that with Ferdinand king of Spayne was no want of occasions of quarrells and suspicions and with Maximilyan king of Romaines and Philip Archduke of Austrich his sonne not onely many hartburnings and ielousies but also displeasures and iniuries whose minds albeit could not be reconciled without condescending to some things hurtfull to the crowne of Fraunce yet neuertheles such reconcilements would be more by demonstracions then effects for say they if any ill accident happen to the kinges armie in Italy what accord can be so well assured which will hold them from inuading the realme of Fraunce seeing this is familiar with Princes to hold for suspected the greatnes and fortunes of their neighbours and are ouer nothing so watchfull as ouer oportunities and occasions And touching the king of England Henry the vij it was not to be dowted that the naturall hate of thenglish toward the french had not more force then the peace made with him two monthes before for that it is manifest that no one thing brought him more to the composicion then that the preparacions of the king of Romaines aūswered not the promises wherwith he had induced him to lay seege to Bollogne Of this nature were the reasōs alleaged by the great Lordes partly debated amongest them selues and partly disputed in the presence of the king The chiefest of those that iustified these arguments afore the king was one Iames Grauille Admiral of Fraunce whose greatnes albeit was somewhat diminished yet his authoritie suffered no alteracion for the auncient name and credit of his wisdom rouing liberally thorow all the realme of Fraunce But the kinges minde with a wonderful gredines was wholly inclined to the cōtrary aduise what with the greennes of his yeares aspiring nowe to xxij and by his vnstayed nature not yet experienced in th affayres of the world he was caried into a wonderfull ambicion to enlarge his imperie following an appetite of glorie founded rather vpon a light will and furie of youth then vpon maturitie of councel seeing that either by his proper nature or rather thexamples and admonishments of his parents he reapposed litle faith in his Lordes and Nobles of his realme And since he came forth of the tutorship and iurisdiction of Anne Duchesse of Burbon his sister he bare no more care to the councells of thadmirall nor to others that had bene great in the gouernment But gaue him selfe ouer to the directions of certeine men of base condicion trained vp almost alwaies in the seruice of his person of these such as had most fauour and place with him perswaded him greatly to embrace the enterprise being partly corrupted for the councells of Princes are often times mercenarie with the promises and presents of Lodovvykes Embassador by whom was not forgotten any diligence or art to draw the fauours of such as might doe most in this action They were partly pushed on by certeine hopes either to be raysed to estates in the kingdom of Naples or to obteyne of the Pope dignities and pensions in the Church The principall of all these was one Stephen de Vers borne in Languedock of base place but bredd vp of long time with the king in whose chamber he vsed to lye and by the kings creacion made Seneshall of Beucaire with this man did communicate one VVilliam Briconnet who of a marchaunt created first generall of Fraunce and after made Bishop of S. Malo had not onely the charge and administracion of the kings reuenue which the french cal superintendant of the finances but also hauing confederacie with Stephen had by his meanes a great entry into all th affayres of importance albeit he had no great insight in the pollicie and gouernment of matters of estate To the helpe of this enterprise were adioyned the perswasions of Autouell of S. Seuerin Prince of Salerne and of Vernaedin of the same familie Prince of Bysignan togither with many other Barons banished the Realme of Naples who being withdrawne many yeares before into Fraunce had continually solicited the king to that enterprise laying before his eyes the great calamitie or rather generall despaire of the whole kingdom and the factions and many followers which they promised them selues to haue in the same In this diuersitie of perswasions the deliberacion remained suspended for certein dayes others being not onely in dowt what to determine but also the kings will vauering and vncerteine for that some times inclining to his ambicion and glory and some times restrained with feares and daungers he would often be irresolute estsones turne to the contrary of that which he had afore determined But in the ende his first inclinacion togither with the cursed destinie of Italy being of more force thē any thing that could be sayd to the contrary the well gouerned and peasible councells of his Nobles were altogither reiected and communicating onely with the bishop of S. Malo and the Seneshall of Beucaire and partaking nothing with the assent priuitie of all others there was a conuencion made with Lodovvyks Embassador whose condicions albeit were holden secrete for many monthes yet this is the capitulacion and summe of them That king Charles either going in person into Italy or sending thether any armie for the conquest of Naples the Duke of Myllan was bound to giue him passage thorow his iurisdictions To send thether with his men fiue hundreth men at armes paied To suffer him to arme at Genes so many vessells as he will And to lend him before he departed
was Fregosin sonne to the Cardinall Fregose and Orlandin of the same familie remeyned also prisoners This victorie assured altogither th affayres of Genes for that Dom Federyk who as soone as he had put his footemen on land spred him selfe vpon the mayne sea as not to be constrayned to fight with thennemie in the gulphe of Rapalle despairing to doe any profitable seruice at that time retyred his armie once againe to the port of Liuorne where albeit he refurnished his numbers with new souldiers had many plots to assayle the riuers in some other place yet by infortunate beginnings of enterprises often tymes men lose both courage councells he attempted no other action of consequence leauing a iust occasion to Lodovvyk to vaunt that with his industrie and his councells he had giuen the baye to his aduersaries seeing there was no other thing that saued the state of Genes but their too slow speede to depart whereof Lodovvyk was the cause by his conning and vayne hopes breeding their deceitfull securitie At this time went Lodovvyk Sforce to visit the king at Ast whether he caried with him Beatrix his wife followed with great pomp and a trayne of the most honorable and singular fayre Ladies within all the Duchie of Myllan he was also accompanied with Hercules Duke of Ferrara There they debated of their common affayres and by generall councell it was resolued that the armie should march with as much speede as was possible ▪ wherein for the more diligence and expedicion of things Lodovvyk who had not a litle feare that the hard season of the yeare hapning they would soiorne all the winter in the territories of his Duchie lent eftsones to the king a great quantitie of money wherof he had not a litle necessitie and want Notwithstanding the king falling into the disease which we call the small pockes he remeyned about a moneth within the towne of Ast the armie being dispersed into quarters and places thereabowts Touching the numbers of his armie as may be truely gathered out of so many diuersities it conteined besides the two hundreth gentlemen for his gard and reckoning the Svvyzers gone before to Genes and the companies interteyning the warre in Romania vnder Monsr D'aubygny xvj hundred men at armes allowing to euery of them according to the custom of Fraunce two Archers so that vnder euery launce for so they call their men at armes are comprehended vj. horses of the Svvyzzers vj. thowsand footemen and vj. thowsand of the realme of Fraunce whereof the one halfe were Gascoine souldiers for their furniture gallant and well appoynted and for their naturall aptnes to the warres a people aboue all others soonest traynd to seruice And to ioyne to this armie there was caried to Genes by sea a huge proporcion of artilleries of sundry natures both for batterie and seruice of the field but of such sortes as Italy neuer saw the like This hell or torment of artillerie being deuised many yeares since in Iermanie was brought first into Italy by the Venetians hauing warre about the yeare 1380. with the Genovvaies wherin the Venetians vanquished by sea and much afflicted by the losse of Chioze were ready to receiue such cōdicions as it pleased the victors if in so good an occasion there had not bene want of moderate councell The greatest sort was called bombardes which after the inuencion was spred thorow Italy were employed to the battering of townes some of them were of yron and some of brasse but conteyning such grosse and huge proporcion that for their waight and ignorance of men and instruments vnapt they were caried slowly and with great difficultie And being with intollerable trauels planted afore townes yet there was so much respitt betwene one shott and an other that in comparison of their vse at this day they gaue litle frute or successe to the seruice but left to the defenders leasure and oportunity at wil to reenforce their rampiers and fortifications And yet by the violence of the saltpeter with the which their powder had his mixture the bulletts flew into the ayre with such horrible noyse and furie that that instrument yea afore he had his perfection put to skorne and silence all those engynes and deuises wherewith the auncients were wont to pull downe townes to the great fame of Archymedes other notable enginistes But the frenchmen fordging peeces of farre greater facilitie and of no worse mettall then brasse which they called cannons vsing bulletts of yron in place of those of stone of the first inuencion vsed to drawe them vppon wheeles not with oxen as was the custom in Italy but with horses and with such agilitie of men instruments appointed to that seruice that they almost kept march with the armie And being brought afore townes or walls they were braked and planted with an incredible diligence and with a very small intermission betwene the shotts they battered with such violent furie that ▪ what before was wont to be done in Italy in many daies they dispatched it in few howers These deuillish instruments they vsed also in the field making some times the cannon seruiceable there sometimes peeces of lesser fordge haled according to their proporcion with the self same speede and nymblenes Those artilleries were the cause that all Italy stoode in great feare of the kinges armie which was also holden more redowted and dreadfull not by the numbers but for the valour of the souldiers for the men at armes being almost all of the kings subiectes gentlemen and not of the popular sort were not simply vnder the direction and discipline of capteynes nor payed by them but by the kinges officers by which meane companies and bandes had not onely their compleate numbers but they were men of choyce and in good point for horse and armor being well able to make their owne furnitures and contended in seruice aswell for the desire of honor which naturally is nourished in the hartes of men of noble race as also that by their actions in armes and fight they might aspire to recompense aswell out of warre as the warre during and by degrees rise worthely to the name and places of capteyns The same respectes pushed forward the capteines Barons and great Lordes or at least such as did communicat in honorable discent and bludd for the most part subiectes of the crowne of Fraunce who hauing their numbers set limited for according to the warres of that realme there is no companie aboue a hundreth launces had no other intencion then by seruice to meritt well of their king So that there was not amongest them any humor of inconstancie either by ambicion or couerousnes to chaunge their Lord or for enuie to exceede other Capteynes in numbers of men at armes customs meare contrary to the ordering of the men at armes in Italy where many of the men at armes are either peasantes or populars subiectes of an other Prince and depending wholy of their Capteines
camps were able to resist them which thinges with many others of other nature he would assure that he did not foretell by discourse humane or knowledge of the Scriptures but simply did foresee them by reuelacion diuine In these wonders warnings he would sometimes touch the mutacion of the state of Florence At that time he detested publikely the forme of gouernment agreed vpon in the parliament affirming that it was the will and pleasure of God that they did erect a pollicy mearely popular in sort that there should not be power in a few citisens to alter nether the sewertie nor the libertie of the residue inso much that for the reuerēce of one so great a name ioined to the desire of many such as were of thother opinion should not be able to resist so great an inclinacion Therfore this matter being many times propounded and debated it was lastly determined that there should be made a councel of all the citisens wherein should haue no accesse so it was spredd in many places in Italy the dreggs of the people but onely such as by the auncient lawes of the citie might participate in the gouernment In this councell should not be hādled nor they should not dispose of other things then of the election of all the Magistrates for the city for the demeane of the confirmacion of prouisions of money together with all the lawes ordeyned before by the Magistrates and other councells more priuat and straite And to th ende that thoccasions of ciuill discordes shoulde be taken away and the spiritts of euery one the more assured it was prohibited by decree publike according to thexample of thaueniens not to remember the errors and transgressions committed in the tymes past in th affayres of estate vpon which foundacions might perhapps haue bene constituted a gouernment well regulated and established if at the same time they had introduced all the ordenances which then came into the consideracion of wise men But such thinges being not able to be deliberated without the consent of many who for the memorie of thinges past were full of suspicions it was iudged and determined that for the present the grand councell shoulde be established as a ground and foundacion of the newe libertie referring to accomplish that which wanted vntill a better oportunitie of time and vntill by the meane of experience the publike vtilitie should be knowne of such as had no capacitie to knowe it by reason and iudgement This was the course condicion of th affayres of Tuskane But in this meane while the french king after he had with a ready fortune conquered the citie of Naples to giue a full perfection to his victorie he had principally to looke to remoue two impediments The one how he might get new castel and the castell of the egge which are two fortresses of Naples holding good yet for Ferdinand but for the towne of S. Vincent builded for the garde of the hauen he had it without much resistance his other consideracion was how he might reduce the whole kingdom to his obedience In which two thinges fortune still followed him with a full sayle of her fauors for new castel the habitacion of the kinges builded vpon the banke or shoares of the sea by the couetousnes and cowardise of fiue hundred launceknightes holding garrison there was rendred with condicion that they might departe in safetie with all the goods and moueables they were able to cary In this castell was founde great quantities of vittells whereof the king without consideracion to that might happen made prodigall liberalities to certeyne of his owne people And touching the castell called the egge built within the sea vpon a rocke afore tymes parcell of the firme lande but now deuided from it by the operacion of Lucullus was ioyned with a narrow bridge to the next brinkes or shoares of Naples they within the rocke seeing them selues battered without ceasing with a perpetuall furie of thartillerie which might well shake the walls but nothing moue the naturall rocke agreed to yeld vp the place if within viij dayes they were not succored The Barons also and gouernors of communalties would goe many dayes iorneyes to meete the french capteines and companies of souldiers sent into sundry partes of the realme whose example in yelding and the humanitie and inclinacion of the french in receiuing them bredd such a generall minde of reuolt in cities fortes and peeces particular that almost all the places of strength were rendred by those that kept them either with no resistance at all or at least without perill or difficultie yea the rocke of Caietta notwithstanding it was made stronge with men vittells municion and other thinges necessary for defence yet after a few light assaults it yelded to the discression of the victors This selicitie of the king followed with so full streame that within ▪ very few dayes and with a wonderfull facilitie all the kingdom was brought into his obedience except the yle of Yschia the castells of Brondusia and Galipoly in Povvylla and in Calabria the rocke of Regge scituate in the poynt of Italy right ouer against Sicile the citie holding for the king and except also Turpia and Mantia who in the beginning displayed the banners of Fraunce but refusing to liue vnder the subiection of others then the king who had already disposed them to certeyne of his fauorits they chaunged councell and returned to their first Lorde The like was done within a litle tyme after by the citie of Brondusa to the which the french king hauing sent no men but vsing negligence where was necessitie of care and councell did skarcely heare their Magistrates sent to him to Naples to capitulat by which occasion ioyning with thoportunitie offered those that kept the castells in the name of Ferdinand had good meane by perswasions to draw agayne the citie to the deuocion of the Aragons by which example also the citie of Otrante lately declared for the french no creature sent thether to receiue them continued not long in their affection All the Lordes and Barons of the realme except Alphonso Daualo Marquiss of Pisouire who left within new castell by Ferdinand was gone to him when he perceiued the inclinacion of the launceknightes to yeld and except two others who for that the french king had giuen away their estates were fled into Sicile came to doe homage to the new king who desiring to assure wholly so great a conquest by the way of concorde called afore him vnder safe conduit afore he had wonne the rocke of the egge Dom Federyk who aswell for that he had remeyned many yeares in the court of Fraunce in the tyme of the kinges father as also for that he touched his maiestie in parentage was much fauored of all the Lordes of Fraunce The king told him he would indue Ferdinand leauing all that was his in the realme of Naples with estates and large reuenues in Fraunce And touching him to recompense
was no meane to suspect their inclinacion more to one partie then to an other They had for Embassadors with the king Anthony Loredan and Dominick Treuisan albeit they lingered so long to send them that the king was not onely passed the mountes but arriued at Florence afore they were presented to him But now looking with iudgement and studie into the violent course of so great felicities his armies ronning like a thunder without resistance thorow all Italy they beganne to esteeme as their owne the domage of their neighbours and to feare that in the ruine of others their destruction were not conspired But chiefly the king hauing made him selfe Lorde of Pysa and other fortresses of the Florentyns leauing garrison in Sienna and almost wonne the like imperie in the state of the Church they construed all to arguments absolute that the ambicion of his thoughtes was not limited within the realme and rule of Naples for these causes the Senat gaue willing eare to the perswasions of Lodovvyk Sforce who assoone as the Florentyns had yelded to the king had begonne to solicite them to ioyne with him in a common remedie against common daungers wherein it was beleued that if the french king had met with any impedimentes eyther at Rome or at his entrye into the realme of Naples they had together taken armes against him But the kinges fortune preuented their councells and in his victorie was more suddeinnes expedicion then in all thimpediments that could be obiected The king also dowting of the practises and factions of Lodovvyk had reteyned in his pay since the conquest of Naples Iohn Iacques Triuulce with an hundred launces vnder a pension worthy and honorable and ioyned vnto him with many promises the Cardinall Fregosa and Obietto de Fiesque the one for that they were mighty instruments to trouble and rayse emotions in the towne of Genes and the other for that being a chiefe leader of the Guelffes faction at Myllan caried a minde much deuided from Lodovvyk To whom as yet the king refused to giue the principallitie of Tarenta saying his bonde had no force till he had reduced into his power all the realme of Naples These thinges being bitterly displeasing to Lodovvyk he restrayned twelue gallyes which were armed for the king at Genes and denownced the appoynting of any more vessells there for the french seruice which the king complayned to be the cause that he did not eftsoones reassayle with a new supply the rocke of Yschia Thus suspicions and disdaynes growing on all partes and the suddeine conquest of Naples representing to the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan the present perill of their estates they were constrayned to ioyne vertue to their councells and deferre no longer to put their thoughtes in execucion wherein for the furthering of their resolucion courage they had the consideracion of the mighty companies of confederats for that to this the Pope was no lesse ready to whom the greatnes of the french was fearefull and suspicious then Maximylian king of Romaines wholly disposed to whome aboue all other for many occasions of hatred to the crowne of France and for the many iniuries receiued by the king raygning the prosperities of France were hatefull But the chiefe groundes and foundacions whereuppon the Venetians and Lodovvyk wrought were the King and Queene of Spayne who being a litle before bownd to the french king not for other respect then to draw from him the earledom of Rossillion not to hinder him in the conquest of Naples had conningly reserued to them selues till that tyme a free power to doe the contrary for if their brutes be true there was a clause annexed to the capitulacions made for the restitucion of the Earledom of Rossillion which bare that they should not be bownd to any thing that touched the preiudice of the Church of which exception they inferred that if the Pope for thinterest of his chiefe desired them to succor the realme of Naples they had good right to doe so without breaking their â—aith or corrupting their promises To this they added afterwards that by the same capitulacions they were forbidden to oppose them selues against king Charles in case it appeared that the same kingdom did iudicially apperteyne vnto him But what difference so euer was betwene the truth and their constructions of thinges it is certeyne that hauing got that they desired they beganne not onely to giue hope to the succors of them of Aragon and secretly to solicite the Pope not to abandon their cause but also as they had in the beginning exhorted the french king with wordes moderat as louers of his glory and zealous to religion to conuert his armies rather against Infidells then the Christian nations So they continued eftsoones that course but with so much more efficacie and wordes suspected by howe much the victorie of the king aduaunced and flourished And to th ende they might couer their doinges with more authoritie and to nourish in greater hopes the Pope and thAragons and of the other parte giuing out a brute that they had regard onely to the gard of Sicily they were ready to sende thether an armie by sea which arriued there after the losse of Naples but yet with an equipage and furniture more in demonstracions then in effectes for that it conteyned not aboue eight hundred horsemen mounted vpon iennets and a thowsand footemen Spanyards They vsed their apparances vntill the taking of Ostia by the Collonnoys and the threates of the french against the Pope gaue them a more honest occasion to aduaunce that which they had fashioned and resolued in their mindes And following their deuise to an action and beginning they protested openly to the king whilest he was at Florence by their Embassadors that according to the office of Princes Christian they would take the defence protection of the Pope and the realme of Naples A chief of the church of Rome wherein hauing already begonne assoone as they vnderstoode of the fleeing of the Aragons to negociat with the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan for confederacion they eftsoones solicited them with a new instance to communicat with them for their common sewertie against the french men So that aswell by the solicitacion of the king of Spayne as occasions of the tyme present threatning indifferent perills to all the principalities in Italy there was at length in the month of Aprill and in the citie of Venice where were thEmbassadors of all those Princes contracted a confederacion betwene the Pope the king of Romaines the king of Spayne the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan The title and publicacion of this league was onely for the defence of the states of one an other reseruing places to whosoeuer would enter it with condicions reasonable But they all being of opinion that it was necessary so to temper thinges as the french king might not holde Naples it was agreed in capitulacions more secrete that the bandes of Spanyardes arriued in Sicily should
then for his proper vertue he assigned other Capteines in many partes of the realme on whom he had bestowed estates and reuenues of these the chief was M. D'aubygny whom he had made great Constable of the realme for Calabria In Caiette the Seneshall of Beaucaire whom he had raysed to thoffice of highe Chamberlaine And in Abruzze Gracian a valiant Capteine and of great reputacion promising them all in one generall faith and worde of a Prince to sende them speedy reskew of money and men But in the meane while to enterteyne the warre he left them no other prouicion thē the assignacion of those moneyes which should be dayly gathered of the reuenues of the realme which beganne already to wauer and shake for that the name of thAragons beganne to reuiue in many places For at the same tyme that the king would departe from Naples Ferdinand accompanied with the spanish armie that came by sea into the yle of Sicile was discended into Calabria to whom slocked with a swift readines many trowpes of the contreymen the citie of Regge rendring it selfe to him whose castell had bene alwayes kept in his name At the same tyme was discouered about the shoares of Pouylla the Venetian armie by sea ouer whom was Capteine Anthony Grymany a man in that common weale of great authoritie But neither for these nor many other signes of chaūges towardes the king did not forbeare no not once suspende or linger his deliberacion to goe his way for besides that happly they were driuen by necessitie the desire was incredible in the king and all his court to returne into Fraunce as though fortune that was sufficient to make them get so great a victorie had bene still so able to preserue it for them he did not remember that the getting of a victorie is referred to fortune but the losse of a kingdom is imputed to the king who standes then in most necessitie of councell and discression when fortune makes him beleue he is in most securitie it is familiar with fortune to doe more harme in one day then she doth good in many yeares vsing for her delite to rayse vp vayne men for her glory and suffer them eftsoones to fall with the waight of their propper vanitie and want of gouernment In this tyme also held good for Ferdinand the yles of Yschia and of Lipara which albeit were neare to Sicile yet they are members of the kingdom of Naples he held Reggi which he had newly recouered and euen in Calabria he commaunded Villenenfue with the castell and places about Brondusa where Federyk was retyred also Galipoli la Mantia and Turpia Before the king parted from Naples many thinges were innegociacion betwene him and the Pope not without great hope of concorde In which actions was sent from the Pope to the king and after returned to Rome the Cardinall S. Denys and for the french king M. Franci The king desired greatly thinuestiture of Naples and that the Pope if he would not ioyne with him at the least that he would not be for his enemies that he would receiue him into Rome as a friende To which demaundes albeit at the beginning the Pope bare some inclinaciō yet distrusting much in him selfe of the king and esteeming that to separate him selfe from the confederats and consent to thinuestiture would be supposed a meane sufficient to make a faithfull reconciliacion with him he obiected many difficulties to thother demaundes and to that of thinuestiture albeit the king would condiscende to take it vnder this condicion not to be preiudiciall to the rightes of an other he aunswered that he wished the lawes might be looked into afore to see to whom the right apperteyned And of the other side seeking to giue impediment by force to the kinges entrye into Rome he sent to the state of Venice and to the Duke of Myllan to refurnishe him with succors and strength of souldiers who immediatly sent him a thowsand light horsemen and two thowsand footemen with promise of an ayde of a thowsande men at armes with which bandes ioyned to his owne forces he hoped to be able to make resistance But the Venetians and Duke of Myllan considering afterwards that it was a thinge too daungerous to sende their strength and companies so farre from their owne estates seeing that neither the whole armie agreed vpon was yet in order and parte of their puoples occupied in thenterprise of Ast and ioyning withall to these dowtes thinfidelitie of the Pope remembred in a late experience when king Charles past that way he called Ferdinand into Rome with his armie suddeinly with a coūcell chaunged made him yssue forth againe They began to perswade him to withdrawe to some place of sewertie rather then to aduenture his person to so great a daunger in striuing to defende Rome These thinges increased the 〈…〉 nges hopes to come to composicion with the Pope The french king departed from Naples the xx day of May But for that he had not taken in the beginning with the ceremonies accustomed the titles enseignes regall of the kingdom A fewe dayes afore his departure he receiued solemnlie in the cathedrall Church with great pompe and celebracions the royall ornaments the honors othes and homages accustomed to be done to new kinges At this coronacion the oracion was pronounced in the name of the people of Naples by Iohn Iouian Pontan to whose prayses very cleare and shining for thexcellencie of his doctrine his life and ciuilitie of maners this action brought no smal stayne and a slaunder for that as he had bene of long a principal Secretorie to the kinges of Aragon of very priuate and familiar authoritie and the teacher and maister of Alphonso So whether it were to obserue iustly the partes proper to orators or to show his affection to the french he tooke too great a libertie to speake in the disprayses and derogacion of the kinges by whom he had bene so much aduaunced So hard it is sometymes for a man to keepe in him selfe that moderacion and those rules which he following with so great doctrine had taught to others writing of morall vertues by his wit and knowledge had made him selfe wonderfull to the world in all kindes of philosophie and learning The king ledd with him viij hundreth french launces two hundred gentlemen for his garde a hundreth launces vnder the Lord Triuulce three thowsand Svvyzzers footemen a thowsand frenchmen and a thowsand Gascoyns hauing ordeyned that in Tuskane Camylla Vitelli and his brother should ioyne with him with two hundreth and fiftie men at armes that the armie by sea should draw towards Lyuorne Virginio Vrsin and the Count Petillane followed the king without other garde or sewertie then their faith not to goe away without leaue Their cause for that they reasoned that they were not iustly made prisoners had bene disputed in the kinges councell afore whome they alleaged that at the tyme they yelded them selues
able to fight with all the men of warre in Italy knit in one strength M. de Pienes was a supporter of his opinion for that he thought the king would bestow vppon him the iurisdiction of Pysa and Lyuorne There was debating also at Siena of the gouernment of that citie for that many of the orders of the people and of the reformers to plucke downe the brotherhood of the order of Montenoue made instance that erecting a newe forme of gouernment the garde which they of Montenoue kept at the publike pallaice might be taken away and the place supplyed by a garde of french men vnder the leading of M. de Ligny And albeit this councell was reiected in the councell of the king as a thing of litle continuance and impertâ—â—ent to the time present yet M. de Ligny who had layed a vayne plott to make him selfe Lorde of it obteyned that the king woulde take into his protection that citie vnder certeine condicions binding him self to the defense of it and all the circumstances except Montpulcian which he sayd he would not intangle him selfe withall neyther for the Florentyns nor for the Sienoys The communaltie of Siena albeit no mencion was made in the capitulacion chused by the consent of the king M. de Ligny for their Capteine promising him twenty thowsand duckats by yeare vpon condicion that he would keepe there a Lieftenant with three hundreth footemen for the gard of the place which strength he left there coolled out of such as were of the frenche armie The vanitie of which deliberacions appeared immediatly for that the order of Montnoue hauing eftsoones reconquered with armes their authoritie accustomed chassed out of Siena the garde and gaue leaue to M. de Lysle whome the king had left there for his Embassador But there were now great stirres and emocions in Lombardye for the Venetians and Lodovvyk Sforce who had euen then receiued from thEmprour with much solemnitie the priuileages of inuestiture of the Duchie of Myllan and made publike homage and oth of fidelitie to thEmbassadors that brought them raysed great preparacions to stoppe the king that he should not returne into Fraunce or at least to assure the Duchie of Myllan to come to the which he must passe ouer so great a circuit and space of contreyes To these endes euery of them readdressed their forces and leauied of new partely in common and partly at expenses separat many men at armes obteyning after many difficulties that Iohn Bentyuole whome they had taken into their common pay should sticke to the league with the citie of Bolognia Lodovvyk armed at Genes for the garde of the same citie tenne gallyes at his owne charges and foure great shippes at the common expenses of the Pope the Venetians and him selfe And being at the poynt to execute that whereunto he was bownd by the couenants of the confederacion touching the towne of Ast he sent into Iermany to leauy two thowsande footemen and conuerted to that enterprise Galeas S. Seuerin with seuen hundred men at armes and three thowsand footemen in so much as assuring him of the taking of that towne and to achieue all thinges to his honor he was naturally very insolent in his prosperities he sent this message to the Duke of OrleaÌ„ce the more to terrifie him That hereafter he should for beare to vsurpe the title of Duke of Myllan which title Charles his father had taken since the death of Philipp Maria Visconte That he suffered not newe bandes to passe out of Fraunce into Italy That he caused to returne home againe such as were already within the towne of Ast And for th assurance of these things that he should put the towne of Ast into the haÌ„ds of Galeas S. Seuerin in whom the king might reappose trust aswel as in him hauing the yere before bene receiued by the king into the brotherhood order of S. Michell in Fraunce he vaunted much in the same kind of boasting of his forces of the prouisions the confederats made to make head against the king in Italy the great preparacions of the king of Romaines and the king of Spayne to moue warre beyonde the Mountes But the Duke of Orleance was made nothing affrayd with these vaine threates and being well assured that there was made a newe confederacion he studied to fortifie Ast and solicited with great instance to send out of Fraunce new supplies and companies who vnderstanding that they were to be imployed in the proper succors of the kinges person began with great diligence to passe the mountes By reason where of the Duke of Orleans not fearing his enemies marcheth into the fielde and takes in the Marquisdom of Saluce the towne castel of Galfinieres which Anthony Maria of S. Seuerin possessed which being knowen to Galeas who had a litle before taken certeine small villages retyred with his armie to Anon A towne of the Duchie of Myllan neare to Ast neither hauing hope to be able to offende nor feare to be offended But the nature of Lodovvyk alwayes inclining to entangle him selfe with enterprises which demaund great expenses and yet of a condicion to flee and feare yea euen in greatest necessities thinges that brought costes and charges was the cause to commit his estate into right great daungers for that by reason of his very spare and needy payments a very fewe footemen came out of Iermany and for the same nygardnes the bandes that were with Galeas were diminished euery day where of the contrary were increased continually the supplyes that came out of Fraunce who for that they were called to the reskew of the kinges person marched with such diligence that the Duke of Orleans had already assembled three hundreth launces three thowsand Svvyzzers footemen and three thowsande Gascoyns And albeit the king by a commaundement speciall and peremptory had aduertised him that absteyning from all enterprise he should stande vpon continuall readines and preparacion to meete his maiestie when so euer he should be sent for yet it is harde for a man not to make reckoning of his proper profit and to resist it he determined to accept thoccasion to possesse the citie of Nouare wherein he was offered to be put by two of the Opizins gentlemen of the same citie hating much the Duke of Myllan for that aswell vpon them as many others of the towne he had with vniust sentence and iudgement vsurped certeine condutes of waters and other possessions Thenterprise and the manner of it being resolued vpon the Duke of Orleans passed by night the riuer of Pavv at the bridge Sturo within the iurisdiction of the Marquis of Montferat hauing in his company the Marquis of Saluce he was receiued by the conspirators of thenterprise into the towne with all his forces and founde no resistance And from thence making suddeine incursions with parte of his horsemen eueÌ„ vntil Vigeneua it was beleued that if he had drawne his whole armie with speede towards Myllan there would
haue risen no small insurrections for that the losse of Nouare and the present face and consideracion of troubles towardes kindled in the Myllanoys a wonderfull inclinacion to reuolt and chaunge wherein Lodovvyk no lesse tymerous in aduersitie then insolent in prosperitie was seene with teares vnprofitable to acknowledge his cowardise for the most part is ioyned in one self subiect insolencie and tymerousnes they also that were with Galeas in whome onely consisted his defence remeyning behinde showed them selues in no place to his reskew but because the condicions and disorders of the ennemie are not alwayes knowne to the other Capteynes it hapneth often in warres that many goodly occasions are lost there being also no apparance that so suddeine a mutacion could succeede against so great a Prince seeing withall it is a principall pollicie in Princes in seasons daungerous and conspiring to make their strength at home free from feare ielowsie or suspicion The Duke of Orleans to assure the conquest of Nouare determined to haue the castell which the fift day accorded to yelde if within xxiiij howers they were not succored during which tyme Galeas de S. Seuerin had leasure to conuey his companies to Vigeneue and the Duke who the better to reconcile the minds of the people had by proclamacion called in many exactions imposed afore vpon the communaltie good respit to encrease and refurnish his armie All which notwithstanding the Duke of Orleans hauing ranged his bandes where the walls of Vigeneue offered battell to his enemies on whom fell so generall astonishment that they were vppon the poynt to abandon the towne and passe the riuer of Thesin by a bridge they had made vppon boates and other matter necessary to their succors in the passage Thennemie refusing to fight the Duke of Orleans retyred to Trecas from this time the affayres of Lodovvyk began to sayle with a better gale many supplyes of horsemen and footemen arriuing in his armie for the Venetians being content that the charge to meete the french king should be in effect to them alone consented that Lodovvyk should call backe parte of those bandes he had sent vppon the costes of Parmesan and with all they refurnished him with foure hundreth stradiots Insomuch as the meane to passe further was taken from the Duke of Orleans who making a roade with fiue hundreth horsemen euen to Vigeneue and the horsemen of thennemie encountring with them a great losse light vpon the D. of Orleans This encounter gaue courage to Galeas S. Seuerin both superior in forces and nothing inferior in fortune to present battell to the Duke at Trecas At length all the armie being assembled wherin besides thItalian souldiers was arriued a thowsand horsemen a thowsand footemen of Alemains incamped within a myle of Nouaro whether the D. of Orleans was retyred with all his regiments The newes of the reuolt of Nauaro procured the king being then at Syena to make way And therefore he auoyded all occasions that might make his departure slow or hinder his resolucion wherein being well aduertised that the Florentyns warned by the perills past and newly falne into suspicion for that Peter demedicis followed him albeit they had determined to receiue him into Florence with honors due to his greatnes yet for their more sewertie they filled their towne with men of armes and pyked bandes he drew to Pysa by the landes of the Florentyns leauing the citie on the right hand In the towne of Poggibonse met him Ieronimo Sauonarola who according to his custome vsing the name and authoritie of God to his purpose showed him vnder vehement inuectiues and gesture that he ought to restore to the Florentyns their townes ioyning to his perswasions threatnings absolute and terrible that if he obserued not that he had sworne with so great solemnitie and that vppon the holy Gospells yea almost afore the eyes and presence of God a punishment would follow equall to his infidelitie and periurie The king made him sundry aunsweres according to his inconstancie hauing as litle conscience to keepe his faith as he had regard to giue it sometymes he promised the frear to make restitucion assoone as he was come to Pysa and immediatly wresting his promise and othe he sayd he had sworne to the Pysans to protect their libertie afore he made any oth at Florence and yet he gaue hopes alwayes to their Embassadors for the restitucion of their peeces assoone as he was come to Pysa where being arriued the matter was eftsoones proponed in the kinges councell for that the preparacions vnitie and strength of the confederats about the borders of Parma increasing dayly they began to looke into the difficulties to passe thorow Lumbardye for which cause many desired the moneyes and other succors offered by the Florentyns But to these councells were contrary euen those Capteynes and gentlemen who had resisted them at Sienna They alleaged that albeit there hapned by the opposicion of the ennemie any disorder or difficultie to passe thorow Lumbardye yet it were better to haue in their power the citie of Pysa whether they might retyre then to leaue it in the handes of the Florentynes who hauing once reobteined the places they demaunded would be of no better faith then had bene the other Italyans They added that in comparison of commodities it was very conuenient for the sewertie of the kingdom of Naples to holde the port of Lyuorne for that the plot layd to alter the state of Genes succeeding well to the king wherof the hope could not be dowtefull he should be souereigne Lord almost of all the seas euen to the hauen of Naples sewer these reasons were able to doe much in the minde of the king as yet litle capable to chuse the best councell but of farre greater power were the peticions and teares of the Pysans who in great concurse of men women and children sometymes prostrate at the kinges feete and eftsoones recommending to euery one yea euen the least of his court and the souldiers with lamentable cryinges and complaintes bewayled their miseries and calamities to come the insatiable hatred of the Florentyns and the last desolacion of their contrey which should not haue cause to lament for any other thing then for that his maiestie had put them in libertie and promised to protect them in it In assurance whereof they beleuing the word of a right Christian king of Fraunce to be a word firme and resolute they had taken boldnes so much the more to prouoke the hatred of the Florentyns with these complaintes and exclamacions accompanied with the present aspect and view of their miseries they discended with such compassion into the hartes euen of the most simple men at armes the archers of the armie and many of the Svvyzzers that they went in great numbers and tumult to the king whom Salzart one of the Pensioners speaking in the name of them all they besought with instance vehement and humble that for the honor of his
Venice where Pisan and Treuisan now their deputie Commissioners perswaded him to dispose the kinges minde to peace to sende a trompet to the sayd Commissioners to let them vnderstand that he woulde common with them for the common benefit they accepted his desire and appointed the next morning to meete in a place conuenient betwene both the armies But the king either for that in that place he had want of vittells or for some other occasion chaunged aduise would not in that place attend the yssue of that meeting The front of the tents and trenches of the one and other armie was distant litle lesse then three myles stretched out along the right shore of the riuer of Taro which is rather a lande fludde then a riuer for that falling from the hill of Appenyn after it hath ronne thorow a litle valley inclosed with two banks it discendes into the large playnes of Lombardye and so falls into Pavv vppon one of these two bankes which was that of the right hand discending euen to the shoare of the riuer was lodged the armie of the confederats incamped by councell of the Capteines rather on that side then on the left shoare where must be the wayes of the ennemies to th ende they should not haue meane to turne to Parma of which citie for the diuersitie of factions the Duke of Myllan was not without suspicion the rather for that the frēch king had by the appoyntment of the Florentyns for his conduit to Ast Francis Secco whose daughter was maried into the house of Iorelli a famulie noble and mightie in the territorie of Parma The lodgings of the confederats were fortefied with ditches and rampiers well furnished with artillerie by the mouth of the which the french men going to Ast must of necessitie passe Taro on the side of Furnoue and marche no other thing remeyning betwene them and thItalians then the riuer All the night the french were in great trauell for the vexacions of thItalians who made their estradiots to make incursions euen to their campe which was so ready at euery brute as if there had bene a continuall alarme to this trouble and perplexitie of minde was ioyned a suddein and most thicke rayne mixed with lightnings and thunders fearefull with many horrible crackes and flashes that they tooke it as a foreshewing of some sorowfull accident a matter which did more amaze them then the armie of thItalians not onely for that being in the middest of mounteynes and ennemies in a place which if they preuailed not by fight fauored them with no hopes or meanes of safetie the consideracion of those great difficulties gaue them iust occasion of extreame feares But also to mindes fearfull al fancies and coniectures seeme thinges of truth they made constructions of the threatnings of the firmament not accustomed to show it selfe ill disposed but towards some great variacion the storme in their opinions raging most toward that parte where was the person of the king of so great maiestie and power The morning following being the sixt of Iuly the frenche armie beganne by the peepe of the day to passe the riuer Afore marched the most part of the artillerie being followed with the vauntgard wherin the king supposing that against it would be bent the greatest forces of the ennemic had put three hundreth and fiftie french launces Triuulce with his cōpanie of a hundreth launces three thowsand Svvyzzers which were the sinewes hope of that armie with them on foote Eugilbert brother to the Duke of Cleues the baylif of Dyon that had leauyed them to these the king adioyned three hundred archers and certeine crosbowmen on horsebacke of his gard whom he made alight on foote and almost all the footemen which he had with him After the vauntgard marched the battel in the middest whereof was the person of the king armed at all partes and mounted vppon a fierce courser and neare to him to gouerne with his councell and authoritie that parte of the armie was the lord of Trymouille a leader much renowmed in the realme of Fraunce Then followed the arearegarde guided by the Count de fois and in the last place was bestowed the baggage of the armie Notwithstanding this marching of the armie and the present readines to fight yet the king who could haue bene cōtented with some accord solicited Argenton to goe and negociate eftsoones with the Venetian Commissioners euen at the same time that the campe beganne to moue But the Venetian armie being all in armes and the Capteines determined to fight the shortnes of the time and nearenes of thennemie left no respitte or space of time to enterteyne Parley for now began the light horsemen on both sides to skyrmishe the artillerie from all quarters to shoote of with a noyse horrible and the Italians yssued out of their tentes had spred vpon the shoare of the riuer their esquadrons and rankes prepared to the battell These thinges notwithstanding the french men forbare not to march partly vpon the breache or greaue of the riuer partely by the skirtes or stretching out of the banke for that in so straite a plaine they could not display their ordenance And the vauntgard being now led to the right way of the campe of thennemies the Marquis of Mantua with an esquadron of six hundred men at armes of the gallantest of all the armie and with a great band of stradiots other light horsemen followed with fiue thowsand footemen passed the riuer at the backe of the arearegard of the french leauing vpon the banke on thother side Anthony of Montfeltre bastard to Federyk late Duke of Vrbyn with a great esquadrō to passe whē he should be called to refreshe the first battel he ordeyned besides that when the fight was begonne an other parte of the light horsemen should charge thennemie in flancke the residue of the estradiots passing the riuer at Furnoue to giue vpon the baggage of the french which either for want of men or as was bruted by the councell of Triuulce was left without garde to who woulde make pray of it of the other side the Count Caiazze with foure hundred men at armes amongest whom was the company of Dom Alphonso D'este come to the campe without his person for that his father would it so and with two thowsand footemen passed the riuer of Taro to assayle the french vauntgard hauing in like sort left on the banke on the other side Annyball Bentyuole with two hundred men at armes to giue reskew when he should be called And for the defence of their lodginges and tentes remeyned two great companies of men at armes and a thowsand footemen for that the Commissioners of Venice would reserue in all fortunes a whole succor for their safetie But the king seing that contrary to that his Capteines had perswaded him so great a strength came to charge the arearegard he turned his backe to the vauntgard began to draw neare to the
comming to the fight fortune would be so equall that the french king should neither be victor nor vanquished The morning following the king departed with his armie before day without sownd of trompets to couer his discamping as much as he could And for that day he was not followed by th armie of the confederats who though they had had will to haue pursued him yet they should haue found impediments in the waters of the riuer which were so much increased by raynes that fell in the night that there was no possibilitie of passage for the day following Only at the declining of the Sunne passed ouer not without daunger the Count Caiazze with two hundred light horsemen following the trace of the french men who marched the right way towards Plaisance he gaue them the day following many alarms and impediments And yet all wearied and trauelled as they were they kept their way without disorder the villages refreshing them with pleÌ„tie of vittells partly for feare to receiue hurt by them and partly by the meane of Triuulce who skouring before for the same effect with the light horsemen of th armie made perswasions to men sometimes by threates sometimes with his authoritie great in that Duchie with all sortes but more great with the famulie of the Guelffes The armie of the league which remoued the day after the discamping of the french and but litle disposed specially the prouisors of the Venetians to put them selues any more in the arbytrement of fortune came neuer so neare them as to annoy them with any litle discommoditie But being lodged the second day vpon the riuer of â—rebia a litle beyond Plaisance the Svvrzzers two hundreth launces and almost all the artillerie remeyning betwene the riuer the citie of Plaisance for the commoditie of incamping the sludds were so great by reason of the raines falling in the night that notwithstanding their extreame diligence it was impossible that either the footemen or horsemen coulde passe but at high daies and then with difficultie although the waters began to abate notwithstanding all which oportunities fauoring th armie of the league yet they neuer executed any action against the french but a farre of nor yet the Count de Caiazze who was entred within Plaisance for suspicion of reuolt or tumult which suspicion was not altogether without occasion for that it was beleeued that if the king according to the councell of Tryuulce had displaied his enseignes vnder the name of Frauncis the litle sonne of Iohn Galeas the Duchie would easily haue falne into some mutacion so plawsible was the name of him whom they held for their lawful Lord and so hatefull the remembrance of the vsurper and of speciall importance the credit and friendships of Triuulce But the king in whom was setled no other impression then to passe on would not be intangled with newe practises but followed his way with diligent and speedie marche finding great want of vittells after the first dayes trauel and in all places the sortes peeces well garded Lodovvyk hauing distributed what into Tortone vnder Iasper S. Seuerin surnamed Frecasse and what into Alexandria many horsemen with twelue hundred launceknightes which he had drawne from the campe of Nouaro After the king was passed Trebia his armie was alwayes vexed in the tayle by the Count Caiazze who had ioyned to his light horsemen siue hundreth launceknightes of the garrison of Plaisance not being able to obteine to be sent to him from the army all the residue of the light horsemen and foure hundreth men at armes for that the Venetian Commissioners warned by the perill at the battell of Taâ—o would giue no consent eftsoones to hazard their forces At last the french men taking when they were neare to Alexandria their way more high towards the mouÌ„taine where the riuer of Tanaro ronnes with shallowest water were brought without losse of men in eight remoues or soiornings of the campe afore the walls of Ast In which citie after the king was entred he dispersed his men of warre into the champion with intencion to encrease his armie and to abide in Italy vntill he had succored Nouaro And the campe of the league which had pursued him to the contrey of Tortone dispairing now to vexe him more went ioyned it selfe to the companies of Lodovvyk Sforce beseeging the sayd citie of Nouaro which euen nowe began to suffer great skarcetie of vittels for that by the Duke of Orleans nor his people had bene vsed any diligence for prouision which by reason of the fertilitie of the contrey they might haue done in great plentie and at easie rate but like men either blinded with securitie or else of litle pollecie they neuer considered of the dauÌ„gers till the meane of the remedie were past consuming without sparing all the store of vittells which they found there About this season returned to the king those Cardinals and capteines who with ill successe had bene at thenterprise of Genes for after the kinges armie by sea had taken the towne of Spetia it set vpon Rapalle and possessed it easily But there yssued out of the port of Genes a nauie of eight light gallies one carracke and two barkes of biskayes which by night put on lande seuen hundreth footemen who without any difficultie tooke the borow of Rapalle with the french garrison that were within and then accoasting the french nauie retired to the golffe after long fight they remeyned victors taking and burning all their vessells the Capteines made prisoners and the place by this victorie made more renowmed for that in they yeare before th Arragons were there defeated Neither was this aduersitie recompensed by the armie that went by land who guided by the east riuer to Valdibisague and so to the suburbs of Genes found them selues deceiued in their hopes that in Genes would rise tumults And therefore vnderstanding of the spoyle and losse of the nauie by sea they tooke way with no lesse speede then feare to the mounteyne sharpe and vneasie and from thence discended to the valley of Pozzeuere which is of the other part of the citie from whence notwithstanding their trowpes were stronge and great by the concurse of paysants and other populars whom the Duke of Sauoye had sent in their fauors they drew with the same diligence towards Pyemont In the action of this enterprise it is certeine that if they within the towne had not bene restrained from yssuing forth for dowt least the faction of Fregosa woulde make some innouacion they had wholly broken the french armie and put them to flight The horsemen also of Vitelli comen now to Chiauere vnderstanding the successe great disorder of those with whom they went to ioyne in strength retired with no lesse hast then daunger to Serezana In so much that except Spetia all the places of that riuer that had bene occupied by the banished reappealed or called againe forthwith the Genovvays as did in like sort
and their present lackes greeuous Notwithstanding the Duke of Orleans somwhat to ease and fauour the hardnes of their condicion had ryd out of the towne all mouthes and members vnprofitable yet it was no remedie sufficient to so great a calamitie for that many souldiers of the french Svvyzzers not able to beare the fretting anguish of hunger and lesse enured to the other discommodities of a close seege began to languishe in diseases and sicknes By reason whereof the Duke being also troubled with a feuer quartyne made many solicitacions to the king by messengers letters not to deferre their succours which could not be aduaunced with such readines as might be able to minister to their generall necessities for that there was not assembled such sufficient strength as imported the estate of their daunger The french armie for their partes showing more forwardnes of action then able to doe good made many attempts to reuittell the towne by night vsing in that purpose the seruice both of horsemen and footemen But being alwayes discouered by thennemie there succeeded no other frutes of their enterprises then great harmes to them selues and no lesse disapoyntments to their friendes being made more wretched by their ill fortune But to stoppe altogether the passage of vittells into the towne the Marquis of Mantua assayled the monasterie of S. Frauncis standing neare to the wals of Nouaro and taking it he manned it forthwith with a garrison of two hundreth men at armes and three thowsand footemen of the Almaines By this meanes the armie confederat was discharged of a great care the way being nowe made sure by the which releeffe was brought into the towne the way also of the gate that leades to the mount Biandrane was stopped for that in it was most facilitie to enter Nouaro The day after he tooke also the bastylle made by the french vpon the poynt of the suburbes of S. Nazare and the night following were surprised the whole suburbes together with the other plotteformes neare to the gate wherein he bestowed a garde and fortefied the suburbes the Count Petillane whom the Venetians had taken into their pay with title of gouernor being hurt there with a small shott neare the girdle place and in great daunger of death For the successe of these places the Duke of Orleans distrusting to be able to defende any more the other suburbes which he had at his entrey into Nouaro he sette fire on them the night following drew all his strength to the defence garde of the city onely And touching the extremitie of famin he yet nourished him self with hopes of succors the rather for that the Svvyzzers beginning now to arriue at the campe the kinges armie passing the riuer of Stesia was marched out of Verceill a myle to lodge in the fielde and hauing bestowed a garde in Bolgare exspected the residue of the Svvyzzers who being once assembled the armie was resolued to minister succors to Nouaro an action notwithstanding full of many difficulties for that thItalian bandes were lodged in places of aduauntage well furnished and fortefied and the way from Verceill to Nouaro full of lakes and waters and very vneasie for horsemen almost impassible for the broade and deepe ditches thorow the whole contrey Besides betwene Bolgare holden by the french and the campes of thItalians was Camarian which the Italians garded In respect of these difficulties there appeared not in the mind of the king nor of the others a readines answering thexpectacion of those that attended in distresse And yet it was supposed that if the Svvyzzers had sooner arriued they had aduentured the fortune of battel the euent whereof could not but be doutfull to either of the armies And therefore they both hauing regarde to the daunger present there wanted no secret trauell to solicite an accorde betwene the king and the Duke of Myllan albeit it was with smal hope for the indifferent distrust that was betwene those two Princes and for that both the one and other for their greater reputacion made showes that they had no deuocion to peace But fortune layed open an other meane more expedient for so great a conclusion For about the same tymes the Lady Marquise of Montserat being dead and being in debate who ought to take the gouernment of a litle sonne whom she had left to which regentship aspired with one desire the Marquis of Saluzze and Constantyn brother to the sayd Lady decessed one of the auncient Lordes of Macodonia which Mahomet Ottoman had occupied many yeares before The frenche king fauoring much the tranquillitie of that estate sent Argenton to Caesar Ceruas to ordeyne and establishe a protectorship according to the consent of the subiectes and being gon thether also as a mourner for the death of the Ladie one of the principall officers of the Marquis of Mantua they two meeting vppon the way fell into discourse and deuises to haue a peace alleaging many benefits that would redownd to both parties This voluntary reasoning betwene them two succeeded to so good frute that the Lord of Argenton tooke occasion to write to the Venetian Commissioners reitterating the reasons and matters which had bene begon to be debated euer since they were at Taro they fauoring the mocion with very forward affections communicated immediatly with the Capteines of the Duke of Myllan and so with one agrement sent to require the french king nowe come to Verceill that he would assigne some of his councell to meete in some place conuenient to common with such as they should appoynt in deputacion for their part whereunto the king consenting with a readines equall to his desire there assembled the day following betwene Bolgare and Camarian for the Venetians the Marquis of Mantua and Bernard Contaryn gouernor of their estradiots for the Duke of Myllan was sent Frauncis Barnardin Viscounte for the french king the Cardinall of S. Mallovv the Prince of Orange to whome being newly come to the campe the king had giuen the principal charge ouer the whole armie the Mareshall of Gie Monsr de Pienes and Monsrd Argenton who making many meetings and certeine particulars of them making many iorneyes from the one armie to the other the differences and chiefe controuersies fell at last vppon the citie of Nouaro for that the french king making no difficulty in theffect of the restitucion but in the manner the lesse to offend his honor labored that it might be referred in the name of the king of Romaines direct Lord of the Duchie of Myllan into the handes of one of the Almaine Capteines which was in the campe of thItalians Of the contrary the confederats required that it might be left frankly These and other dowtes hapning not being able to be resolued with that speede which they that were within Nouaro required being now falne vpon such extremities that what by famine and other raging diseases rising by it there were dead of the Dukes companie aboue two thowsand bodies A truce
king had armed and manned the foure shippes and that he had furnished him of the two for the which he was bownd he wrought so with the Genovvays that making semblances of feare they gaue impediments that the kinges souldiers should not be armed if first they receiued not of him sufficient caution that he shoulde not employe them against them selues nor attempt with that force to chaunge the gouernment of Genes For these cauillacions the king complayned by men expresse to Lodovvyk who according to his custom in euasions aūswered him with exceptions sometimes that he had promised to furnish him with the shipps but without consent that they should be manned with french souldiers And sometymes he alleaged that the iurisdiction which he had of Genes was not absolut but limited and restrayned to such condicions as he had no power of compulsion and much lesse was his authoritie to enforce their wills to his desires specially in thinges which they pretended to be daungerous for their estate or to derogat the liberties of their citie wherein the better to iustifie his excuses he wrought so that the Pope commaunded the Genovvays and him vppon payne of the Church censures that they should not suffer to be drawne from Genes by the french king any vessells of no sort or nature In so much as the succors exspected with so great desire by the french which were wretched in the kingdom of Naples soarted to no comfort or releeffe to them No more did the aydes and moneyes promised by the Florentyns seeing after thaccord made at Thuryn Guind◠Anthoine Vespucci one of their Embassadors assistant at the conclusion departing immediatly with all the necessary dispatches and passing without suspicion thorow the Duchie of Myllan for that the common weale of Florence was not declared ennemie to eyther part he was reteyned in Alexandria by the Dukes commission And all his papers and dispatches taken from him he was led forthwith to Myllan where the capitulacion and promises of the Florentyns being bewraied the Venetians and the Duke tooke councell not to suffer the Pysans to perish who assoone as the french king was gone out of Italy had by newe Embassadors recommended their affayres to Venice and Myllan Their resolucion to reskew the Pysans was not without the consent of the Pope and thEmbassadors of the other confederats vnder pretence to hinder the money and aydes which the Florentyns reentring into Pysa and their other places were to sende to the realme of Naples And also for that being conioyned with the french king and by the recouering of that citie made more mighty they might in many sortes endomage the common safetie of Italy but the principall humor that sed that mocion was their ambicion great desire to make them selues Lords ouer Pysa A sweete pray to intyce ambicious mindes and as it had bene afore tyme vehemently aspired by Lodovvyk so the Venetians began nowe in like sort to looke into it with couetous eyes as people who seeing the auncient vnitie of other Potentats broken and one parte of those weakned which had wont to oppose against them embrased alreadye with thoughtes and hopes the Monarchie of all Italy Whereunto they esteemed the imperie of Pysa a very conuenient instrument to beginne with the commoditie of his hauen which they thought could not be long kept by Florence not holding Pysa to stretch out their lymits euen to the inferior sea hauing withall by thopportunitie of that citie an entrey of great importance into Tuskan The Duke of Myllan showed most readines to minister to their succors who interteyning at the same instant the Florentyns with diuerse practises had ordeyned that Fracasse vnder cooller of his priuat busines for he had possessions in that contrey should goe to Pysa and the Genovvays to refurnish them with newe supplies of footemen The Venetians also forgot not to nourish them with promises and comfortes of speedy succors and accordingly dispatched one of their Secretories to Genes to make a leauye of footemen and perswade the Genovvays not to abandon the Pysans yet they were long in sending their strength thether perhaps by this opinion that so long as the citadell was holden by the french king so long as he were in Italy it was not conuenient to lay any great foundacion of those thinges On the otherside the Florentyns aduertised of the newe couenants made with the king by their Embassadors at Thuryn had increased their armie to be the more able to constrayne the Pysans to receiue them assoone as they sawe the dispatches of the king And albeit as you haue heard they were restrayned together with their Embassador by the Duke of Myllan yet they forbare not to take the borow of Palay◠and so planted their campe afore Vicopisan the beseeging of which place was of no effect partely for that the Capteines either by ill councell or for that they iudged their strength not sufficient to bring their campe on that side towards Pysa the Pysans hauing erected a bastyllyon on a mount neare the towne encamped on that side vnderneath towardes Bientina A place of litle commoditie to hurt Vico and keeping it the way of Pysa and Casina lay open to those that were beseeged partely for that Pavvle Vitelli hauing receiued three thowsand duckats went thether to defend it entring with his companies and the bandes of his brethren vnder a fayned cooller to haue letters of the king commaundement from the generall of Languedok brother to the Cardinall of S. Mallovv remeyning sicke at Pietra Santa to protect Pysa and thappurtenance vntil other order were taken Certeinly it is a thing right wonderfull in reason and no lesse rare in experience and example that the Pysans were at one tyme defended by the souldiers of the french king and ayded by the succors of the Duke of Myllan and nourished also with hopes by the state of Venice notwithstanding that Senat the Duke of Myllan were in open warre with the french king But such is the rage of ambicion and so sweete thinsinuacion of rule and imperie that in whom they haue kindled their infection they cease not to inflame more and more their desires without respect to fidelitie conscience difficultie or common obseruancie holding all thinges lawful that make for their purpose and nothing vnsemely that may serue to satisfie their insatiable aspiring thoughts with the reskew that came with the bandes of Vitelli Vicopisan defended it selfe easily and gaue no litle domage to the campe of the Florentyns the same being pitched in a place so open and discouered that it receiued many harmes by the artilleries which the Pysans had caried within Vico In so much that hauing endured the harmes by many dayes the Capteines found it necessary to their safetie to leuye the seege to their reproch and shame After this the kinges dispatches being at last come which written into copies were secretly sent out by many wayes the towne castell and port of
contrey and led away almost lx thowsand head of cattell whereto Marian Sauella offering to make resistance and yssuing forth of Porcina they constrayned him to retyre with the losse of thirty men at armes This losse and shame procured Monsr Montpensier reassembling all his forces to march towardes Fogge for the recouery of the praye and honor lost where being fauored with a succor aboue his hopes or exspectation he encowntred betwene Nocere and Troye eyght hundreth launceknightes newly arriued by sea and entred into the pay of Ferdinand These launceknightes departing from Troye where they were incamped went to Fogge to ioyne with Ferdinand A iorney more vpon their owne braine and rashnes then by the kinges commaundement and altogether against the councell of Fabrice Colonne incamped likewise at Troye And albeit they saw by thextremitie of their perill and place that their fortune had left them no possibilitie of safetie either by fleing or by fighting yet they were obstinate and refused the libertie of the lawe of armes to be made prisonners but were killed euery creature of them exchaunginge their liues with a great deathe and slaughter of thennemie After this Montpensier presented him selfe before Fogge in aray of battell but Ferdinand not suffering others to goe out then light horsemen the french men went to incampe in the woode of Nicoronata where after they had remeyned two dayes with no small difficulties for vittels and hauing recouered the most part of the cattel they appeared eftsoones afore Fogge abiding there a whole night they returned the day following to S. Seuera but not with all the pray they had recouered for that in their retrait the light horsemen of Ferdinand tooke a great part from them In so much as the cattell being harried by the one and the other neither part drew any great profit of the reuenues of that tribute Not many dayes after the french men made weary with want of vittells went to Campobasso which was holden by them and tooke by force Coglionessa or Grigonessa A towne fast by where the Svvyzzers againste the will of the Capteines vsed such execucion and crueltie that albeit it brought great astonishment vpon the contrey yet it estraunged from them thaffections of many And Ferdinand laying to defende his estate aswell as he could whilest he yet exspected the Marquis of Mantua he reordeyned his bandes by the meane of sixteene thowsand duckatts which the Pope had sent him and with such other proporcions as he could leauy of him selfe About this time did ioyne with Montpensier the Svvyzzers and other footbands which were come by sea to Caietta as also on the other part the Marquis of Mantua now entred into the kingdom of Naples by the way of S. Germyn taking in his marching partly by force partely by composicion many places albeit of small importance about the beginning of Iune vnited his forces with the king at Nocere whether Caesar of Aragon led the bandes that had lyen vpon the borders of Tarenta And so by reason of the places the forces of both the factions being almost made neighbours the french more stronge in footemen and thItalians more mighty in horsemen the euent of thinges seemed very dowtfull being not possible to discerne to whether of the parties the victorie should incline In this meane while the french king made care for prouisions to reskew his people And vnderstanding of the losse of the castells of Naples and that his bands were not succored by the Florentyns neither with men nor money for that they had not restitucion of their fortresses seemed to draw to him a new spirit and awaking out of that slumber of negligence with the which he seemed to haue returned out of Fraunce he began eftsoones to turne his thoughtes to the actions of Italy wherein to be more at libertie from all thinges that might reteyne him and showing to acknowledge the benefits receiued in his daungers that he might with more cōfidēce haue recourse againe to the aydes celestial he takes a iorney in post to Tours after to Parys to satisfie to the vowes he made to S. Martyn S. Denys the day of the battell of Furnoua And returning from those places with the same diligence to Lyons he kindled more and more in those desires and thoughtes whereunto of his owne nature he was most inclined for he interpreted it as an action much to his reputacion and glorie to haue made a conquest of such a kingdom being the first of all the french kinges in whose person haue bene renewed in Italy these many worldes the memorie of the armies and victories of the french he made perswacion to him self that the difficulties which he encowntred in his return from Naples proceded more by his proper disorders then by the powers or vertue of thItalians whose name concerning the action of warre caried no reputacion with the french To his inclinacions to discēd eftsones into Italy were not a litle furthering thinticemēts of thEmbassadors of Florence of the Cardinall of S. Peter ad vincla and of Triuulce who was come to the Court for the same occasion with whom were assistant in that instance Vitellezze and Charles Vrsin together with the Count Montoire sent to his Maiestie in that negociacion by the Barons of Naples holding parte with the french as also there came to him at last by sea the Seneshall of Beaucaire by whom were declared many hopes of the victorie in case his Maiestie did not deferre to sende a sufficient succor as of the contrary to delay a releeffe so necessary were to abandon the kingdom and be giltie of the death of so many noble Capteines and souldiers To these were ioyned the fauorable perswacions of many the great Lordes of Fraunce euen such as afore had giuen councell against thenterprise of Italy they aduised the king to giue a new life to that expedicion to auoyd the dishonor that would fal vpon the crowne of Fraunce to lose by cowardisse that which they had conquered with so great felicitie and fortune but much more to preuent the spoyle of so great a part of the nobilitie as lay open to destruction in the realme of Naples Neither were these councells hindred by the emocions which the Kinge of the Spanishe made on the frontyer of Parpignian seeing the preparacions being greater in brute then in effect and the forces of that king more mighty to defend his proper realmes then meete for thinuasion of an other it was iudged sufficient to sende to Narbone and other townes vpon the frontyers of Spaine bandes of men at armes with conuenient companies of Svvyzzers So that in the presence of the councell of the kinge wherein were assembled all the Lordes and persons notable then at the Court it was determined that Tryuulce should returne to Ast with as much diligence as he could vnder the title of the kinges Lieftenant leading with him eyght hundreth launces two thowsand Svvyzzers and two thowsand Gascoyns That after
beginning of his raigne with forrein warres hauing first to looke with great study into the state of his owne gouernment at home which commonly to kinges newly inuested bringes many causes of new councells alteracions But the spirits of such as discoursed with iudgement vpon the trayne and euent of things nourished alwayes a secret suspicion that thafflictions that then were but defferred would with tyme redouble and rise growing to greater daungers and more generall harmes specially so great an Empire being falne vpon a king rype in age full of experience ruled in his councells resolut in action moderat in exspenses and in all things without comparison holding more of him selfe then did his predecessor and to whom withal did apperteyne as in the right of the crowne of Fraunce not onely the inheritance of the realme of Naples But also he menteyned that the Duchie of Myllan was his freehold by the succession of the Lady Valentina his grandmother who was maried by Iohn Galeas Visconte his father afore that of viccare of thEmpire he had obteyned the title of the Duke of Myllan to Lovvys Duke of Orleans brother to kinge Charles the sixt At which mariage there was added to the state of the dowrye which was the citie contrey of Ast with great summes of money an expresse condicion that as often and when so euer as the lyne masculyne of the sayde Galeas shoulde fayle the Lady Valentina should succeede to the Duchie of Myllan or she being dead her next heires and discendents which couenant albeit stronge enough of it selfe was confirmed if the frenche tradicions be true by the authoritie of the Pope th imperiall seate beinge voyd at that tyme for the Popes of Rome pretend that the administracion of thEmpire vacant belongeth to them by which meanes the blud male of Iohn Galeas determining afterwards by the death of Phillipp Maria Visconte Charles Duke of Orleans sonne to the Lady Valentina began to pretēd to the succession of the sayd dukedom But as thambicion of Princes is ready to helpe on their titles with euery apparant coler so there aspired at the same time to the sayd dukedom not only thEmprour Federyk alleaging that it was reuerted to the Empire for that the lyne nominated in thinuestiture made to Iohn Galeas by Vincislaus king of Romaines was extinct and dissolued But also Alphonso king of Aragon and Naples who was instituted heire by the Testament of Duke Phillipp And amongest the residue Frauncis Sforce with a fortune force and felicitie more fauorable then the others quarrelled the same title who to giue a better shadowe to the armies which he leuyed in that cause alleaged that his wife Blanche the onely daughter but a bastard of Phillipp had peculiar interest in that succession So that Charles Duke of Orleans who being taken prisoner at the battell of Agincourt in the warres betwene thenglish and french and remeyning restrayned in England xxv yeares was able to doe nothing by reason of his pouertie and hard fortunes to iustifie his title and much lesse could he obteyne ayde of king Lovvys the xj notwithstanding he was his nearest kinsman the reason was that the same king in the beginning of his raigne was much molested and manifestly inuaded in diuerse partes of his kingdom by the great Lordes and Barons of the same shadowing their conspiracies with a showe of publike profit But because the king saw that their intencions drew with them priuat regardes and particular interests he kept them alwayes in bridle and esteemed his estate and sewertie to consist in the embasing of the great ones of his realme but chiefly his nearest competitors And for that reason Lovvys Duke of Orleans sonne to Charles albeit he was his sonne in law could draw no fauors or succors from him the same driuing him after the death of his sayd father in law together with his impaciēce that the Lady Anne Duchesse of Burbon the kinges sister was preferred afore him to the gouernment of Charles the eyght then in minoritie to trouble Fraunce with a very slender successe and after retyred into Britain with a worse fortune for ioyning with those that were against thintencion of Charles to obteyne Brittain by marying with Anne heire of the state by the death of Frauncis her father leauing no yssue male yea aspiring secretly to the same mariage he was taken in an encownter betwene the french and the Brittons neare S. Aulbyn in that contrey from thence led prisoner into Fraunce where he remeyned two yeares In so much as fayling then of meanes and finding no succors in king Charles after he was out of prison he ioyned no further action to that enterprise but when the king left him within Ast he made him selfe Lord of Nouaro with a very litle profit But being now become king of Fraunce he held nothing of greater affection then to reconquer the Duchie of Myllan as a succession iustely apperteyning to him This desire planted in him from his youth was eftsones wonderfully increased and aduaunced by the successe he had at Nouaro and withall for that he greatly hated Lodovvyk Sforce by reason of the insolent demonstracions and behauiors which he vsed to him when he had the kings deputacion in Ast Therfore not long after the death of king Charles by resolucion set downe in his elect councel he intitled him self not only king of Fraunce and for the regard of the realme of Naples king of Ierusalem both the Cycillyes but also soueraigne Duke of Myllan And because he would make knowen to the world what was his inclinacion to the things of Italy he wrote letters full of amitie and congratulacion touching his ascending to the crowne to the Pope the Venetians and the Florentyns and withall dispatched mē of speciall credence to giue hopes of new enterprises but chiefly of his determinacion to conquer the Duchie of Myllan wherin the tyme running nourished for him many fauors and oportunities for that the death of his predecessor had innouated in the mindes of the Italians many new humors inclinacions much differing from the cogitacions purposes they had afore for the Pope whose ambicious thoughts could not be satisfied if Italy stoode in tranquillitie wished that thinges might grow to hurly burly seeking his peculiar aduauncement in the common diuision of principallities and states A desire not vnlikely to deriue from such a mind to whom all thinges were hatefull that held of equitie conscience or religion and nothing vnsauery that smelled of troubles innouacion and chaunge And the Venetians being now deliuered of the feare they had of king Charles for the wronges iniuries they had done him expressed manifestly that they had no distrust in the new king which disposicion increased dayly more and more for that Lodovvyk Sforce notwithstanding he knew that he had to doe with an ennemy more mighty and lesse plyable feding him selfe with this hope the same also beguiling Federyk of Aragon that the
frenche kinge coulde not with such expedicion execute any action on that side the Mountes forbare not to oppose him selfe against the Venetians in the quarrell of Pysa wherein his spyte present would not let him see the daunger that was to come an error familiar with Princes ambicious who measuring the euent of things more by their propper fancie and imaginacion then by any rule or comparison of tymes and reasons are often in that securitie caried to their vndoing as men that wander and beleue an eccho which beguiles them to their extreame ruine The Florentyns onely began to estraunge them selues in minde from the amitie of the french for albeit this new king had bene their protector afore yet now that he is made great with the estate dignitie of the crowne he had with them no league of amitie neither in regarde of faith giuen nor for benefitts receiued as his predecessor had by meane of those capitulacions which were made at Florence and Ast for regard of which they would alwayes lay them selues open to many perills and perplexities rather then to abandon his alliance Besides the discord which continually increased betwene the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan was the cause that the feare being ceased which they had of the forces of the confederats and withal hoping more in the fauors certeine and present of Lombardy then in the succors absent dowtfull of Fraunce they tooke occasion to hold lesse reckoning of his frendshippe or confederacion In this different disposicion of mindes were also no lesse diuerse thembassages that were sent for the Senat of Venice dispatched with great speede to the king one of their Secretories remeyning at that tyme in negociacion with the Duke of Sauoye And to establish with these beginnings the foundacions of a well assured alliance as the dayly affayres and occurrants of tymes required they made an election of three other Embassadors to goe to his Maiestie not onely to congratulat his right worthy ascending to the crowne but also to protest in forme of excuse that what they had done contrarye to the likinge of the late kinge Charles proceeded of no other mocion then of a tymerous suspicion confirmed by many apparant signes and demonstracions that not contented with the kingdom of Naples he would lift vp his mind to those meanes which might make him Lord ouer the whole Monarchie of Italy The Pope also whose deuocion had this determinacion sto appropriat to his sonne Caesar at that tyme Cardinall all temporall greatnes rayed his thoughtes to highe thinges and sending Embassadors to the french kinge was at a poynt to sell to his Maiestie spirituall graces receiuing in recompense possessions temporall for he was not ignorant that the french kinge had great desire to refuse Iane his wife both barrein deformed who was giuen to him almost by force by Lovvys the eleuenth And that he had no lesse liking to marie Anne now widowe by the death of the late king not so much for the auÌ„cient affection thatwas betwen theÌ„ afore the encownter of S. Aulbyn as that by the prorogatiue of that mariage he shoulde insinuate into the Duchie of Britain an estate great and very conuenient for the crowne of Fraunce this chaunge could not be done without the authoritie of the Pope The Florentyns in like sorte fayled not to sende Embassadors to the king aswel to testifie thauncient custom and deuocion of that citie to the crowne of Fraunce as to put his Maiestie in remembrance of their merits and the bondes and promises of the late king wherein they were much solicited by the Duke of Myllan hauing two intencions the one that by their meanes the practises of the Venetians might be hindered both the one and other common weale intreating of the affayres of Pysa and also that if they obteyned any credit amitie or authoritie they might vnder some occasion employ all to worke an accord betwene him and the french king A thing not a litle desired and sought by him All these Embassadors were well receiued of the kinge who began euen at the first to sownde euery one of them seuerally notwithstanding he had no meaning to put any thinge to action in Italy afore he had first assured the realme of Fraunce by newe leagues and confederacions with the Princes his neighbours and borderers But it was a thing fatal that the fire of Pysa to the which the Duke of Myllan gaue the first kindling nourished by an inflamed desire to assubiect it to him self should in the ende breake his brande vpon the heade of the author and consume him with his propper flame for that aswell by his naturall ielowsie which was infinit in him as for daunger of the greatnes of the Venetians which he saw to aspire not onely ouer him but also aboue the other Potentats of Italy he could not endure with reasonable patience that the frute of his deuises trauells should be gathered by them or transferred to the reputacion of their imperie wherein taking occasion vpon the disposicion of the Florentyns resolute to pursue in all accidents the quarrell of Pysa And seeming to him that by the death of Sauonarola and Frauncis Valory which were stronge parties against him he might now reappose moâ—e in that citie then he could doe in tymes past he determined to ayde the Florentyns in the recouery of Pysa with armes seeing neither with his practises authoritie nor the power and meanes of others he coulde hetherunto worke no good effect of that plott he perswaded him selfe vainely that either afore the french king could execute any action Pysa would be reduced by composicion or force to the iurisdiction of Florence or else the Senat of Venice guided by that wisedome which he woulde neuer suffer to gouerne him selfe would neuer desire either for enuie or other lesse occasion that to the common daunger of the whole the french armies shoulde eftsoones returne into Italy seeing it was an vniuersall trauell to chase them out so lately This indiscreete resolucion was furthered by a disorder which hapned against the Florentyns in the contrey of Pysa for their people which were at Pontadere hauing aduertisement by their espyals that a trowpe of seuen hundred horsemen a thowsand footemen of the Pysans were returning home with a great pray of cattell which they had taken in the fieldes of Voltere yssued out almost all vnder the conduite of the Count of Riuucce Guillaume of Pazzi Commissioner for the Florentyns to cut betwene them home for the recouery of the booty And encowntring with them in the valley of S. Reale and as they had almost put them to disorder and recouered the most part of the praye there ioyned to the Pysans an hundreth and fiftye men at armes sent out of Pysa to the succors of their fellowes who finding the Florentyn armie both weary and disordered with the trouble of the pillage and the authoritie of the Count not able to range the
least we ioyne with the french A feare which long tyme is not hable to conteyne him for who knoweth not that the king made frustrat of the hope which he hath that we wil ioyne with him will eyther attempt some other enterprise beyōd the mountes or at least ouercome with the perswacions offers of Lodovvyk by the meanes of his corruptions fauours he hath in the french court wil fall to some accord with him So that in the consideratiō and comparison of thinges necessitie to mainteyne our auncient dignitie and glory constraines vs to knit with the french king but much more are we compelled by the aspecte of the great and imminent daungers which can not bee auoyded by other meanes wherein it seemes that fortune followeth vs with a speciall fauour seeing she bringes to passe that wee are sought to by so great a king whom it is a iust office in vs to seeke and beseech with humilitie besides that hee offreth vs so great and honourable recompenses of the victorie as by those helpes and meanes this Senat may fashion great hopes and employe their conceyptes in the plott and compassing of great thinges specially the victorie being to bee gayned with so great facilitie and Lodovvyk so farre too weake to resist two powers so mightie and well vnited it is a vaine feare in my opinion to doubt that the neighbourhed of the french king when he shall haue conquered the Duchie of Millan wil be eyther suspicious or daungerous to vs for that in iudgement and forecast it may bee seene that many thinges which seeme nowe contrarie will then bee chaunged into fauours and good disposicion towardes vs seeing that suche an increase and amplitude of greatnes to the french Crowne will breede suspicion in the mindes of all the principallities of Italy and stir vp the king of Romains with the regions of Iermany to be discontented that a french king should occupie so noble a member of thempire In so much as euen those whom we feare to ioyne in vnitie with Lodovvyk to vexe vs would then desire for their proper interestes to preserue vs and bee conioyned with vs And my Lordes being great throughout the world the reputaciō of our dominions iurisdictions no lesse great the renowme of our riches and most great the opinion confirmed with so many honorable examples of our vnion and constancy to preserue our estate what meane what courage what oportunitie hath the french king to execute any invasion vpon vs vnles he haue coniunctiō with more or at the least with the king of Romains the vnitie agreement of whō seemes for many reasons so harde that it is too vayne to occupy our myndes either with the hope or feare of it Besides the peace which now he hopes to establishe with the princes his neyghbours beyond the mountes will not bee perpetuall seeing ielousie iniuries and feare of his greatnes will alwayes keepe wakyng all those that holde him in hatred or beare enuy to his glorie Lastly lookyng into the properties of the french natures we neede not doubt that they are not more ready to get and conquer then discreete to preserue and keepe yea it is annexed to their destiny to fall easely into the hatred of their subiectes by their pride and insolencies vppon which reasons I make this conclusion that after they haue got Myllan they will haue more neede to study howe to preserue it then any oportunitie at all to occupie their thoughtes with new enterprises for that a iurisdiction newly gotten fayling in order and wise gouerment doth rather weaken then make more mightie him that hath got it wherein we can not haue an example more freshe and notable then the victory of the late King Charles against whom were conuerted into extreame hatred the incredible desires and gladnes with the which hee was receyued into the kingdome of Naples So that the perils which may fall vppon vs at any tyme after the victorie of the French King are neyther so certeyne nor of such nature as for the auoyding of them wee neede to remayne in a daunger present and of great consequence And to reiect for feare of daungers to come and vncerteyne so large and conuenient a parte of the Duchie of Myllan could not but merit imputacion of pusillanimitie and faintnes of courage A thing reprochfull euen in men priuat but muche more infamous to a common weale more mightie in glorie riches and reputacion then euer was any except the Romaine state in any parte of the worlde There happen seldome so fauourable and fyt occasions which being transitorie fleeting it is an office in wisdom magnanimitie to embrase them when they be offred A wit to curious standing to long in considering of things to come is often hurtfull and reprouable for that the thinges of the world are subiect to so many and sundry accidentes that rarely doeth that come to passe which the wisdom of man seemes to haue foreseene imagined would happen and he that leaueth the benefit present for feare of the daūger to come if the peril be not certeine and neare at hande findes himselfe to haue lost oftentymes to his slaunder and displeasures occasions full of profit and glorie and all for standing in feare of daungers which afterwardes turne to nothing it is no great matter to suffer a mischiefe when wee are sure of the remedie and in this case if there bee anye mischiefe other then suche as wee may discerne before which is neuer so greeuous as when it chaunceth vppon the sodayne yet I haue borne alwayes this iudgement that that aduersitie is honourable whiche brynges with it prosperitie glory and reputation for these reasons my Lordes I wishe vs to accept the confederation against the Duke of Myllan for that it putts vs in suertie for the present protectes vs against all daungers to come breedes our credit with all other Potentates and offreth vs the possession of those great thinges which an other tyme we would be glad to get with intollerable expenses and trauels aswell for their proper importance as for that they be lynes to leade vs to high and honorable actions drawing with them a marueilous augmentation of the glory and empire of this florishing common weale This councell and four me of reasoning made no small impression in the myndes of the others who hard his reasons with iudgement fauoured his opiniō recommending much the lyuely valour of his spirit accompanied with a resolute loue to his countrey Against him stood vp and reasoned Melchior Treuisan singular for his wisdom and excellent in all graces and giftes of the mynde This hath bene alwayes touching offences and wronges a wise obseruation in countreys and common weales well gouerned to make true conference betweene the nature and estate of the iniuries and the oportunities to reuenge not that those wise men beheld altogether the propertie and manner of the wronges for that belonges to passion but withall they vsed
to foresee whether the hurt in reuenging would not exceed the harmes already hapned by the trespasse committed a forme of dealing which caried not their affections affore their wisdomes but bridling the readines of nature they oftentymes found more securitie to dissemble an iniurie thē to reuenge it And albeit it can not bee denied that the iniuries done by Lodovvyk Sforce to our common weale are not many and great and offende much our dignitie yet by how much they are great and by their propertie offende our reputation by so much more belonges it to our wisdom to moderate our iust anger with maturitie of iudgement cōsideration of the publyke interest benefit for that for men to commaund ouer themselues and vanquishe their proper passions is so much the more cōmendable by how much lesse often it hapneth in vse by how much more iust are the occasiōs that kyndle that anger or any other humain affectiō And therfore my Lords it apparteineth to this Senat to the which is ascribed of al other nations the true partes of wisdō discression who not lōg since made profession to haue deliuered Italy frō the frēch it is our office I say to cōsider wel not only of thinfamy that wil rise if now through our occasiō they prepare their returne but also to loke carefully into the daūgers that may threatē vs if the duchie of Myllā fal into the power of the french King perils which if we can not consider of our selues let vs call to memory what feares were brought vppon vs by the conquest which the late King Charles made of Naples of whom we held not our selues assured but when wee conspired against him almost with all princes Christians But in true comparison there is great difference betweene the one daunger and the other for the late king naked almost of all the vertues of a King was a Prince more in shadowe and showe then in body and substance and as the kingdome of Naples so farre remoued from Fraunce helde his forces so deuided that they weakened more then strengthned his power so that conquest for the feare of their estates so neare neighbours to the realme of Naples procured him two great enemies the Pope the King of Spaine in whom touching the one are occupied for the present many diuers intencions and the other made weary with the things of Italy will make himselfe no partie without very great necessitie But the new King both for his proper vertue is to be feared and for his wise proceeding in this action to be doubted as also the estate of Myllan bordreth so neare Fraunce that in respect of commoditie to succour or reskew it there is no hope to dryue him backe but by setting all the world in a stir In so much that we being neighbours to so great a power shal be sure to be exercised in trauels and perplexeties both in peace and warre In tymes of peace subiect to expenses and suspicions and during the warres so intangled with daungers that we shall fynde many difficulties to make our owne defence And sure I can not but maruell much at him that hath reasoned affore me who on the one side makes no feare of a king of Fraunce being Lord ouer the Duchie of Myllan and on the other side holdes for terrible Lodovvyk Sforce a Prince for power much inferior to vs and with whom this hath bene alwayes a custome eyther with fearfulnes or couetousnes to put in daūger all his enterprises he alledged feare of succours which others might make to him as though it were easie in so great diuersitie of spirits wills in so general varietie of condicions to make such an vnitie or rather as if the absolute cōcord vnion of a great and strong power were not more to be feared then the power of many which as it hath diuers endes mocions so doth it bring forth actions diuerse and discordant he seemes to haue a confidence that in those who for hate and many other reasons desire our embasement would be found that wisdom to vanquish disdaines couetousnes which we finde not in our selues to reteine his ambicious thoughts Besides I know not why we may make promise that the ielousies and new and auncient disdaines against the french king aspiring to the conquest of Myllan may doe more on the behalfe of the king of Romains the Almain nation then the rooted and setled hatred which both they beare to vs by reason of so many townes which wee hold apperteining to thempire house of Austriche Neither can I see vppon what ground or discourse of reason the king of Romains will more willingly ioyne with vs against the french then take part with the french quarrell against vs No rather the vnion of the barbarous and perpetual enemies to the name of Thitalians carieth a more likelehood of truth and seemes more propper to make a praye for that being vnited with him he may rather hope to bee victorious ouer vs then ouer him if he were knit with him Besides these such were his actions during the league past and when he came into Italie that he left no reason why we should so muche desire to haue him eftsones reunited with vs I deny not but Lodovvyk hath done vs many iniuries but euen so it is farre from councell and wisdom for a passionat desire of reuenge to put in perill the whole estate of things And seeing tymes keepe their certeine measure and course and euery tyme is enhabled to his propper function it is neither shame nor ill policie to exspect those accidentes and occasions to reuenge which a common weale may very wel attend and tarie for No rather it is infamous and meriteth imputation to be caryed with affection and prefer the suggestion of disdaine affore thoportunitie of the tyme and in matters of state it is no small slaunder when rashenes and indiscression are accompanied with domage and generall harmes No man will say that for such reasons we were mooued to make an enterprise so rashe but all the world will iudge that the desire to haue Cremona hath pushed vs forward the same giuing cause of question to euery one what is become of the auncient wisdom and grauitie of this Senat And iustly may all the world maruell that we are falne into the same rashenes to be guides to the french king into Italie into the which our selues wondred so much that Lodovvyk Sforce ranne so far Great is the profit of Cremona and the place very conuenient for many respectes But we ought to cōsider whether it be not a greater losse to haue a king of Fraunce Lord of the state of Millan yea we ought to consider whether our greatnes and reputation be stronger in Italie when of our selues we are chiefest and most absolute there or when there is in the hart of the same region a prince so mightie and so neare our neighbour we haue occupied at other tymes with
name of the Venetians and ielous of some greater deceipt assoone as they vnderstood the reapport of the sentence discharged their soldiours from the garde of the fortresses the gates And not suffring them any more to lodge in the citie they stoode many dayes in great variacion and doubt whether they should accept the condicions of the sentence or not On thoneside feare being the instrument of compulcion ouerruled their wills standing now abandoned of all comfort and councell And on the other side the generall hate they bare to the Florentyns made their passions redouble and kept them resolute But muche more did reteyne their inclination to constancy their desperate exspectacion to obteyne pardon for their heauy infinit transgressiōs whose qualitie they held so much the more great and intollerable by how much they had put the state of Florence to infinit expenses and harmes many times had brought into tearmes daungerous euen their proper libertie In these doubtes diuersities of myndes the Duke of Myllan councelled thē to giue place offring that he would worke so much with the Florentyns that the cōdiciōs of the sentēce should bee more in their fauors to their aduaūtages yet they to make trial if he remeined stil possessed with his aūcient couetousnes determining in this case to giue thēselues wholly to him they sent to him Embassadours But at last such are the destinies of minds drawne deuided after many thoughts variaciōs they determined rather to make trial of al extremeties thē to return vnder the yoke of the Florentyns wherunto as the Pisans had secret incitaciō to by the Genovvays Lucquoys Pādolffe Petrucci So also it was not doubted of the Florentyns but that the Duke of Myllan the truth being otherwayes had encoraged thē to that obstinat resoluciō so litle exspectacion is there of sinceritie and faithful actions in that man whom the world hath taken into opinion to be double and suttle Thus the Florentyns being out of hope to recōcile Pisa by accorde thought they had a great occasiō to vāquish force the citie And therfore causing Pavvle vitelli to returne eftsones into that coūtrey they leuied with ready diligence the prouisiōs demaunded by him But whilest that strength was assembled in preparing to action the daūgers of Lodovvyk Sforce encreased wonderfully for that his interposicion into thaccord had in no sort appaised the minds of the Venetians who for hate to the mā hope of their profit were wholly in desier to cōspire his ruine To these distresses of Lodovvyk was ioyned this further aduersitie that Maxymylian was nothing so ready to make warre on the french king as he was importunat in cōtinual demaūdes of mony of Lodovvyk yea cōtrary to his many promises he prolōged the trusse for the whole moneth of August next taking frō him at one time the hope that he had that his succors would stand him in more stead then had don his councell to diuert the warre Maxymylian also being vnited with the league of Svveaden began warre vppon the Svvyssers declared rebels of the Empire for many controuersies betwene them which warre cōtinuing on both sides in great fury with sundry accidents and fortunes on both partes Lodovvyk began to assure himselfe that in no necessitie he could hope for succours from Maxymylian vntill that warre against the Svvyssers tooke ende eyther by victorie or composicion And yet Maxymylian promising him that he would neuer accord with the french king or with the Svvyssers without comprehēding him in it Lodovvyk was stil cōstrained to refurnish thexpēses of that warre to enterteine Themperors prodigalities with new supplies of money This occasion was not vnknowen to the new king of Fraunce who cōsidering how much it imported him to haue the Pope the Venetians for him esteemed litle the persuasions of many of his councell that in regard he was newly ascended to the Crowne and his treasures very ill furnished hee might put of the warre till the yeare folowing But the king framing his hopes according to the importunities of his desire imagined a possibilitie to obteine the victory in fewe monethes And therefore casting in his coniecture that in suche a shortnes of tyme the seruice coulde not suffer great necessities of money entered into open preparacion for the warre alwayes furnishing the Svvyssers affore hande with some proporcion of money to th ende to keepe Maximilian in busines for which cause the Duke of Myllan discerning such manifest tokens of the warre laboured with a wonderfull diligence and care not to bee alone in so great daungers wherein hauing an absolute distrust in all possibilities and meanes of accord or reconciliacion with the Venetians fynding in the king of Spaine an inclinacion suspicious notwithstanding his many solicitacions a carelesse remembrance of his perils he turned his eyes to the contemplacion of other helpes and founding in one instant the willes almost of all other Potentates he sent Galeas Viscomte to Maxymylian and the Svvyssers to negociat an agreement betwene them And as aduersitie is mightie to make men search thoperacion of all councels So Lodovvyk knowing that according to the Popes desire the mariage of Charlotta with his sonne Caesar Vorgia could not well succeed for that the young Lady eyther mooued with the loue and authoritie of her house and parents or els gouerned by the persuasions of the french king in whom notwithstanding were expressed many faire apparances to the contrary refused with great constancy resolucion of mynd to make him her husband if with all he put not an end to the affaires of Federyk her father who offred to the french king yearely tribute with very large condicions Lodovvyk labouring vppon these occasions had hope to alyen and estrange him from the fauours he bare to thenterprises of Fraunce soliciting him with many importunities to draw him into cōsederaciō with him wherin he promised thassociacion of king Federyk and the Florentyns with many faire offers that aswell he as the confederates would contribute with him in a common succour against the Viccaires of the church indue him besides with a great quantitie of money to purchase some honorable estate for his sonne These offers as the Pope at the first mocion seemed to heare them with a dissembled eare so in the ende he was content to giue them leaue to vanishe and become mearely vaine for hoping to receiue by the societie and fauours of the french king benefittes and farre greater liberalities then those which hee looked to obteyne if Italy were not filled full of the forreine armies of Fraunce he consented that his sonne excluded alreadie from the maryage of Charlotte should take one of the doughters of the Lorde Albrett who for his affinitie with the bloud royall and for the greatnes of his estates and liuinges was one of the greatest in all the kingdome of Fraunce But Lodovvyk to whom appeared dayly more tokens and testimonies of the euill inclinacion
custome in things of importance he referred the councell and deliberation of all thinges to the Cardinall of Amboyse who was then at Myllan Affore whom notwithstanding the importunities labours of the states affore named did negociat with great diligeÌ„ce I. Iacques Tryvulce I. Lovvys de Fiesque they both norishing an equall desire to manage the iurisdiction of Pisa and in that respect offred to paâ—e to the king for the graunt a great proporcion of money alleaging withall that thoportunitie occasion concurring it was an actioÌ„ meete for his suertie to holde vnder the Florentyns and keepe in weaknes the other Potentates of Italie But the Cardinall preferring integritie affore perticular fauor ioyned to the fayth and promise giuen by the king the consideracion of the late merites of the Florentyns who expressing a liberal and readie ayde to his enterprise and conquest of Myllan conuerted at his request into bandes and strength of men the paimentes of money which they were bounde to paie in that case And therefore it was resolued to refurnishe the Florentyns for the recouerie of Pisa besides the restitucion of Pietrasanta and Mutron with a regiment of sixe hundred Launces paied by the king and fiue thousande Svvyssers vnder the Bayliffe of Dyon with a proporcion of Gascoins at their owne charges together with all suche sortes of Artilleryes and Municions as shoulde bee necessarye for that enterpryse They had also agaynste the Kynges will and theyr meanynges a strengthe of two thousand Svvyssers more suche is the custome of that nation of all which companies Monsr Beaumont had the charge for that the FloreÌ„tyns reteining a memorie of his auncient readines to render to them Lyuorna reapposed more in him then in any other and in that humor demaunded him for their Generall not considering that in matters of enterprise authoritie and knowledge in thinges of warre is no lesse necessarie in a leader of an armie then faith for that in warre neither the multitude of souldiours nor the puissance vnskilfull can so much auayle to the victorie as knowledge and exercise The king with a more sounde and better counsel had determined to giue them M. D'alegre a Capteine farre more experienced in warre and to whom for his noblenes of bloud and reputacion of vertue the armye would haue giuen a more readie and willing obedience But the troubles and difficulties which accompanied the succours of the french began euen now to appeare for that the payment of the footmen beginning from the first day of May they had spent all that moneth in Lombardie in the seruice of the king who desired by meane of that marching to draw money from the Marquis of Mantua the Lords of Carpy of Correge and Myrandola to punish them for that they had ministred ayde to Lodovvyk Sforce In so much that albeit the Florentyns holding for suspected their slowe proceeding that thintermission and discoÌ„tinuance gaue oportunitie to the Pisans to prepare prouide were at a resolutioÌ„ to abaÌ„doÌ„ theÌ„terprise yet looking better into the necessitie of their affaires they held it lesse hurtful to refurnish a second pay so make theÌ„ march on theÌ„ to let mony suppresse so fayre an occasioÌ„ At leÌ„gth the L. of Carpy of Myrandola of Correge for whoÌ„ the Duke of Ferrara made intercessioÌ„ coÌ„pouÌ„ded for tweÌ„ty thousaÌ„d duckats the labour being vaine to staie to force the Marquis of Mantua who on thoneside fortefied himselfe and on the other side alleged his pouertie and want of money and sending withall his Embassadours to the king to solicit his pardon the armie marched and encamped at Montchiarucola a village in the countrey of Parma apperteining to the famulie of the Torellys who had succoured Lodovvyk Sforce Not so muche for any desire the armie had to punishe them as to threaten Iohn Bentyuolle by drawing vppon the limits of Bolognia hauing amongest the residue borne fauors to the cause of Lodovvyk The peril of his condicion considered with the ill inclination of the time made him to compound paying the king fortie thousand Duckattes for the which his maiestie tooke him of new into his protection together with the Citie of Bolognia but with this expresse limitacion not to preiudice the prorogatiues or rightes which the church had there After the contract of Bolognia and Montchiarucola taken by force the armie returned backe to passe ouer Thappenyn by the way of Pontremo And as they entred the couÌ„trey of Lunigiana following more their profites and appetites then honour or equitie they runne into many insolences and at the instance of the Fregoses tooke the borowe of Massa and other landes from Aubry Malespina being vnder the protection of the Florentyns Passing further in this course of behauiour they of Lucqua notwithstanding they were in great strife for the matter the communaltie muche impugning it deliuered ouer Pietra Santa to Monsr Beaumont in the kinges name who leauing GarrisoÌ„ in the Castle tooke not away their officers of the town for that the Cardinall of Amboyse in whom remeyned small reckoning of the promises made to the Florentyns for that he had receiued a certeyne proporcion of money of the Lucquoys had receiued them into the protection of the king with conuencion that his maiestie should holde Pietra Santa in deputation vntil he had declared to whom the right did apperteine But in these seasons the Pisans seeing many intencions disclosed to their harmes and ruine became the more resolute obstinate in their defeÌ„ce and had by the helpe of Vitellozze with whom they were entred into great conjunction being also enemie to the Florentyns certeine ingenists to dresse their fortifications wherein might be discerned a wonderful trauell both of men women in great concursse and emulation who should labour most to set forwarde the workes And yet it is ordinarie with men in faction and enterprise to dissemble they forgot not to enterteine the french submitting with generall consent their whole towne to the king and in that regard sent instruments Autentike not only to Monsr BeaumoÌ„t but also to Phyllypp Rabestyn gouernor for the king at Genes who with a singuler rashnes accepted it in the kinges name And M. Beaumont sending a Heralt to Pisa to demaunde the towne they made answere with many humilities that they desired nothing with greater affection then to liue vnder the kinges obedience in that estate of loue and well meaning they were readie to giue them selues vp to his deuocion so that his maiestie would assure them vnder his honour and word of a Prince that he would not put them vnder the power of the Florentyns which protestation they followed with the teares and weepings of the Ladies with all other sortes of means wherein they thought was vertue to persuade the Heralde that their hartes willes and affections were wholly dedicated to the Crowne of Fraunce which had first put them in libertie These petitions were vaine to M. Beaumont who looking further into
the Lucquoys and the Siennoys beganne to minister openly to the Pisans both men and money And at Florence the diuisions so increased amongest the Citizens that they were not only in dishabilitie to recouer the thinges lost but also they prouided not in any sort for the disorders that were in their iurisdiction For some particular factions falling into open armes and priuate force there were done betweene them aswell in the towne as fieldes many hostilities and burninges proceeding sometymes with forreine ayde euen as if it were a warre ordeined and set To these insolent disorders they applied no order to the great reproche of their common weale In this tyme Caesar Borgia omitted no oportunitie to aduaunce his affaires And albeit the King was much discontented with the Pope for not ayding him to recouer his Duchie of Myllan the same being the cause why his maiestie had deferred to sende him bandes of men to prosecute thenterprise begun against the Viccaires of Romagnia Yet the desire he had to keepe amitie with him made him chaunge opinion for the feare he had of the descending of Thallemaines hauing no meane to establishe an accord with Themperour But much more was concurrant in that desire the authoritie of the Cardinal of Amboyse for thambiciō he had to obtein the legacion for the realme of Fraunce The Cardinall in this aspiring desire had litle remembraunce to the councell of Sainct Gregorie that he that seeketh authoritie let him consider howe he commeth to it and comming wel to it howe he ought to liue well in it and liuing well in it howe he must gouerne and gouerning wisely he must ofte call to memorie his owne infirmitie Ambicion is an humor verie vnmeete for Churchmen for that it hindreth to their humilitie and charitie and generally altereth the whole vertue of their profession It is hurtfull to raise a mynde ambicious into high authoritie for that he that is desirous of glorie is soone stirred to do things against equitie and to him that seeketh to be aboue all men it is harde to keepe alwayes equitie which is the chiefe parte of iustice The Pope eftsoones promised the King to ayde him with men and with the person of his sonne when soeuer he would aduaunce the enterprise of Naples to indue the Cardinall of Amboyse with the legacion of the realme of Fraunce for eightiene monethes which was esteemed a great matter aswell for that it was new and rare as for that it diminished muche the doinges and profites of the Court of Rome The King for his parte sent to him vnder the leading of Monsr D'alegre three hundred Launces and two thousand footmen making knowne to euerie one that what soule so euer would oppose agaynst the enterprise of the Pope he would take it to hart as if the iniurie were done to his proper person With which reputacion ioyned to his proper forces conteining six hundred men at armes and sixe thousand footemen the Duke Valentynois entred alreadie into Romagna tooke without resistance the Cities of Pesera and Rimini whose Lordes and owners fledde Afterwardes he turned his force to Faenza which had no other defence then of the people of the place For not only Iohn Bentyvolle vncle by the mother side to Astor a litle childe was made contented aswell for feare to stir vp the armes of the Pope and his sonne as to obey a commaundement he had receiued from the King The Florentyns and Duke of Ferrara doing the lyke for the same occasions But also the Venetians who were bound to defende him signified to him obseruing the request the King made to them that they had renounced the protection of him a thing which they had likewise done affore for the same occasion to Pandolfe Malateste Lord of Rimini And which more is to expresse with greater apparance that they fauoured the Pope they created at the same tyme the Duke Valentynois Gentleman of their Towne an action not accustomed to that common weale but for recompence of benefites receiued or in token of very deare straite amitie The Duke Valentynois enterteined in his Paye Dennis de Nalda Natyffe of Brisiquolle a man of great opinion in the vale of Lamona by his meanes hee tooke the Towne of Brisiquolle without daunger and with the same fortune brought vnder his commaundement almost the whole Vally He tooke the olde Citidell by force and caryed the newe Castle by accord made with the keeper He had also hope to enter into the Castle of Faenza by meane of a practise enterteyned by the sayde Dennis by the Castle keeper who was of the same Vallye had long tyme gouerned thestates of Astor But thintelligence being discouered he was made prisoner by the Faventyns who making their fortune no feare to them showed no signes of faint courage for that they were abandoned of euerie one and much lesse stood discomforted for the losse of the Valley which was of great importance But as people resolued to vanquishe their aduersities with their proper vertues They determined to passe vnder all perilles to continue their subiection to the famuly of the Manfredis vnder whose obediēce as they had liued in easie gouernment a long tyme so doubting the worst that might come by chaunge of Lordes they stood resolute in their faith and loyaltie and carefully strengthned their Citie against the present daungers From which disposition the Duke of Valentynois being not hable to turne them neither by promises nor threatninges he incamped neare the walles of their Citie betweene the Riuers of Lamona and Marsana and planted his artillerie on that side that is towardes Furly which albeit is incompassed with walles yet commonly it is called the Subburbes where the Fauentyns had erected a strong Bastillion He battered it with great furie together with that Iawme or corner that is betweene the Subburbes and the Towne the fift day he gaue the assalt But finding the resistance of the towne aboue his exspectation he sownded the retraite his souldiours bringing away many woundes and maymes and Honorius Sauella a principall man slaine in the action The Camp suffred litle rest all the residue of the dayes it remeyned there aswell by a continuall affliction of the artillerie from the Towne as also by the vallour of thinhabitantes who notwithstanding they had a verie slender strength by forreine souldiours yet they made many issues and sallies and skirmished with no lesse fortune then courage But aboue all other perplexeties albeit the moneth of Nouember was not yet finished the tyme which was more extreme then agreed with the custome and nature of that season troubled him much both for the Snowes that fell and the frosts that were intollerable greeuous impediments to the trauels of warre and also for that his lodging was naked and open to the ayre the Fauentyns affore the Camp came neare their walles hauing burned all their houses and cut downe all such wood and trees as might giue succours to their
Potentates But assone as the french army was arryued at Rome the world sawe easely into the vanitie of those discourses For that Thembassadors of Fraūce Spaine entring together into the cōsistorie made publicatiō affore the Pope Cardinals of the league made betweene their kings intēding chiefly as they said to an expediciō to be made against thennemies to Christiā religiō And demaūding thinuestiture of the kingdom according to the tenor of the cōuenciō made it was agreed vnto by the Pope with the same speed it was required thinking it but reasonable to performe that which he made no difficultie to graunt In so much as no man doubting now what would be the end of this warre the feares of men were conuerted into admiracion euery one wondring at the doings of the french king who by suffring the moietie of the realme to fall rather into the handes of the king of Spaine did as it were leade by the hande into Italy where before he only was the Arbitrator of all things an other king to whō such as might be discōtented with him might haue recourse was also straitly allied to the king of Romains by many bonds of affinitie Then to endure that king Federyk might remeine Lord of the whole acknowledging to holde it of him and yeld him tribute for it as by sundrie meanes he had sought to obteine it But the vniuersall concepcions of men were no lesse deuided touching thintegretie faith of Ferdinand who by an ambicious lust to occupie one part of the kingdome had conspired agaynst a king of his bloud and to drawe him the more easely to his ruine he had alwayes enterteined him with false promises to succor him Wherein he had not only defaced the reputacion of the title of King Catholyk which he and Queene Elizabeth his wife had obteined certeine yeares before of the Pope But also had stained that renowme and glorie which helde their names raised vp to the heauens for driuing the Moares out of the realme of Granado no lesse for the zeale they bare to religion then for regard of their proper interest To these imputacions or rather reproches imposed vppon both the one and other king there was answered no other thing for the french king but that his power was sufficient to remedie all those disorders in conuenient season not remembring that where thinges are deuided the suertie is intricate where there be competitors to one thing they no lesse equall instrength then all one in ambicion their distrustes are nourished and no part free from suspicion but all things intangled with confusion For Ferdinand it was saide that albeit king Federyk had giuen him iust occasion to be moued against him as knowing that he had long tyme before practised secretly with the french king to his preiudice yet that had not stirred him But the consideracion of the kings pretence determining in what sort so euer it were to performe an enterprise vppon the realme of Naples brought him to this necessitie either to defend it or abandō it In taking vppon him the defence he should kindle so great a fire that it could not but sende daungerous sparkes ouer all the common weale of Christendome chiefly the Turkes armies being so strong and mightie against the Venetians both by sea lande And if he shold abandon it he knewe his realme of Sicilia stoode in manifest peril and besides it was a thing that wrought too much to his detriment that the french king should occupie the realme of Naples which of right belonged to him might eftsoones reuert to him by new rightes if the lyne of Federyk should faile And therfore amyd so many difficulties he had chosen the way of deuiding with hope that by the ill gouernment of the french their moytie might also discend to him in tyme And that in this case as the regarde of publike vtilitie councelled him which he had alwayes more highly esteemed then his proper profit So he might eyther keepe it in himselfe or restore it to Federyk or rather leaue it to his issue and children holding his name almost in horror for that he knew that affore the french king did any action vppon the Duchie of Myllan he had practised with the Turkes These were the reasons generall alleaged on the behalfe of both the kinges supporting their actions more by strained coulers then equitie of title and applying to thaduersitie of the king of Naples their vniust ambicion they made litle care to keepe their particular moyties that had no conscience to euict the iust owner out of the whole The league of these two kinges brought such astonishment to Federyk that notwithstanding Consaluo seeming to reiect that which was published at Rome promised him with one constancie to come to his succours Yet he chaunged his first councelles and retyred from S. Germain towardes Capua where he exspected the effect of his direction for the bandes leauied by the Collonnoys Who leauing Garrison within Amyliā abādoned all the residue which they held in the territorie of Rome for that the Pope by the consent of the french king had taken armes to occupie their estates In which difficulties Consaluo being well aduertised that the french army was passed Rome discouered at last his commissions and sending to Naples sixe Gallies to bring away the two olde Queenes the one sister and the other neece to his king Prosper Colonne aduised king Federyk to reteyne the Gallies and drawing all his power into one strength to make resistance to thennemies in the fielde For that in making a tryall of fortune there would be some hope of victorie the issues of battelles being farre more in certeyne then all other humayne actions Otherwayes he saw nothing but manifest perill two so mighty kings ioyning against him he nothing strengthned from the forreyne and lesse assured amyd the treasons of his owne people He tolde him that in a daunger so present celeritie was more necessarie then councell and agaynst enemyes so neare approching his greatest suertie stoode in thexpedicion of the battell hauing no other meane to make head against two so mightie kings inuading him in diuers partes of his kingdom But Federyk whose mynde was wholly ouerruled with feares and doubtes founde litle hope in this councell and therefore determined to looke to the garde of his townes remembring that lesse in any other humaine action then in the successe of battell the innocencie of the cause getteth the vpper hande Therefore Sainct Germyn with other peeces neare about it being alreadie drawne into rebelliō yea euen before M. D'aubigny marched from Rome He determined to make the first defence in the towne of Capua wherin he bestowed Fabricio Collonne with three hundred men at armes certeine lyght horsmen and three thousand footmen and ioyned with him Rinucce de Marciano whom he had newly taken into his paye He left Prosper Colonne for the garde of Naples and himselfe with the residue of his companyes
naked of all comforte other then suche as men in miserie may hope for And therefore waighing with theyr wantes within the Castle the weakenes of the Florentyns to minister sufficient succours and in due season being come but to Quarate and durst not passe further they rendred by necessitie that which they could not holde by their vertue making only this agreement that the residue remeining in libertie the Bishop with eight others which they of Aretze would chuse shold abyde prisoners to exchaunge them for some of theyr Citizens which were prisoners at Florence The commons of Aretze dismantled the Citadell and the armie of the Florentyns fearing leaste Vitellozze and Iohn Pavvle who were farre stronger then they woulde charge them retyred to Monteuarcho leauyng to the discression of thennemyes all the places thereabout It was beleeued that this enterpryse was made without the priuitie or knowledge of the Pope and Duke Valentynois in whom was no contentment that Peter de Medicis shoulde returne to Florence for that hee was straitly allyed with Vitellozze and the Vrsins whom they had secretly determined to oppresse And yet hauing alwayes giuen them hope of the contrary they consented that Vitellozze Iohn Pavvlo and Fabio Mercinorie in theyr paye should prosecute thenterpryse Yea they did not dissemble that they were very glad of the rebellion of Aretze hoping that by those displeasures done to the Florentyns it might happen that eyther they might get some parte of their dominion or at least constrayne them for their profite to some harde condicion But the Florentyns not beleeuing but that they were the authours of the whole mischiefe were so muche the more terryfied and therefore reapposing little in the remedyes which of them selues they were hable to applie for that by the ill disposicion of the Citie they had in theyr paye but a verie small proporcion of men at armes and not hable to refurnyshe theyr power so soone as the necessitie of theyr daunger requyred They had speedie recourse to the frenche King Laying affore him not only that which they coulde challenge by his honour bynding him selfe so lately to their defence but also the apparant daunger to the Duchie of Myllan if the Pope and Duke Valentynois against whom was no little suspicion to bee the kyndlers of this commocion became Lordes ouer Tuskane They debated with him by lyuely reasons that the Pope and the Duke were mightie in armes hauing an armie compownded vppon excellent Capteynes and Souldiours of choyce and that by the declaracions they made neyther Romania nor Tuskane woulde suffice theyr infinite ambicion aspiryng to matters more ample and immoderate And lastly seeing they had offended the honour of the king by inuadyng suche as were in his protection necessetie nowe constrayned them to thynke no lesse vppon theyr owne suertie then to take from him the meane to bee reuenged of so great an iniurie These reasons moued not a litle the Kyng whoÌ„ had alreadie begunne to mislyke with the insolencie and ambicion of the Pope and his sonne And consideryng that the warre was begunne in the kyngdome of Naples betweene hym and the Spanishe and the negociacion of accorde with Maxymilian broken and lastly that hee was not for many reasons to trust the Venetians he began to doubt leaste the inuasion of Tuskane supported by some secrete councell of others turned not to his great disaduauntage In which opinion hee was confirmed greatly by certeyne aduertisementes from Charles D'amboâ—se the Cardinalles Nephew and Lieftenaunt to the King in all the Duchie of Myllan who suspecting suche innouacions perswaded the King to prouyde carefully for his proper daunger And therefore with a councell resolued and direction equall to the importunitie of the buisines determining to make marche into Italy with all speede his armie and to succour readily the Florentyns hee gaue charge in the meane while to the saide Lorde Charles to sende foorthwith to theyr reskewes foure hundred Launces and dispatched an Heralde in poste to commaunde not only Vitellozze Iohn Pavvle Pandolphe and the Vrsins but also the Duke Valentynois to forbeare to offende any more the Florentyns wherein him selfe made great instance to the Popes Embassadour and threatned with very sharpe words Iulian de Medicis and the Agentes of Pandolfe and Vitellozze which were in his Court. But in this tyme the Duke Valentynois who since the accident of Aretze was come out of Rome with his armie makyng semblance to take Cameryn whether he had sent before the Duke of Grauino Liuerot de Feruie with part of his bandes to make spoile and hold it beseeged but in true meaning to surprise vnder that semblance the Duchie of Vrbyn After he had resembled his armie vppon the confines of Perousa he demaunded of Guidobaldc Duke of Vrbyn money and artillerie Which was easily agreed to him for that it was neither for his suertie to refuse a Prince who had his strength so neare and also hauing a litle before compounded with the Pope touching the controuersie of a tribute he had no occasion to feare The Duke Valentynois hauing by this meane made the other lesse sufficient for his owne defence departing so deinly from Nocero marching with a diligence so well disposed as he would giue his men no leasure to reappose or bayte he arryued the same day at Cagly a towne of the Duchie The sodeinnes of whose comming and against a people vnprouided brought such a generall amaze that the Duke Frauncis Marta Rovvero prefect of Rome his Nephew had skarce leasure to finde safetie in fleeing Suche a passion is sodeine feare that it makes men runne not whether councell directes them but whether their fortune will leade them not suffring them to consider of their perill but makes them oftentimes to throw away their weapons and refuse the thing that should be their safegarde But the Duke Valentynois putting diligence to the disposicion of his fortune obteined in very few houres a victorie of all that state except the rocke of S. Leon and Manuiola to the great displeasure and feare of Pandolfe Vitellozze and the Vrsins who nowe began to discerne theyr proper perils by the harmes of an other After the conquest of the Duchie of Vrbyn the Duke Valentynois who iudged all adueÌ„tures inferior to his fortune was raised into diuers thoughts Somtymes he determined to make an end of the enterprise of Camerin and sometimes he resolued to inuade openly the Florentyns In which councell he had stand setled if the commauÌ„dement he receiued from the french king had not brideled his ambicion hauing assured knowledge that notwithstanding the Popes trauell to alter him his maiestie had sent men at armes in fauor of the Florentyns was resolutely determined to defende them and in that inclinacion he prepared to passe in person into Italy These doubtes drawing diuers reasons with no lesse variacion touching the end of things so incombred his thoughtes that he staied within Vrbyn to consider what he had
Valentynois hauing leaue of the king returned with no litle contentment into Romania notwithstanding the king affore had giuen hopes to such as feared his ambition that for the common suertie he would take him with him into Fraunce His returning touched not only the mindes of those against whom were kindled his former indignations but also it disordered the cogitations of many others for that the same feare occupied Pandolfe Petrucci and the Vrsins who were conioyned almost in one selfe cause with Vitellozze and Iohn Pavvle Baillon The Duke of Ferrara by how much more he helde for suspected his infidelitie and thambition of his father by so much lesse made he reckoning of any assurance in regarde of parentage or other cause conducible And touching the Florentyns notwithstanding they had recouered their places by the kings fauour yet they had no lesse feare then the others being ill prouided of men at armes for that the king reapposing not wholly in the Marquis of Mantua for thintelligences he had with Themprour at such tyme as he had feare of his armes and albeit at Myllan he receiued him to reconcilement and grace yet would he neuer consent that they should enterteine him as their Captein generall Knowing with all by many signes that the Pope and Duke Valentynois continued in the same will and inclination which they had against them and specially for that to keepe them in perpetuall suspition they reassembled and gathered together all the exiles of Aretze and the other townes And as feare bringes into the cogitation of the minde all thinges that may either be doubted or suspected so it increased so muche the more in these seuerall estates and men by howe muche they considered how mightie were such enemies in armes in money and in authoritie how much in all actions they had bene supported by the fauors of fortune and lastly that notwithstanding the glorie riches and greatnes they had gotten by theyr victories yet their ambition was neuer the more satisfied but their desires the lesse moderate according to the propertie of a fire whose rage becomes more infinit by the encrease of matter wherwith it is norished and fedde Besides it was feared least they abusing the respect the king bare them would rise into boldnes to attempt all thinges euen against his will wherein both the father and the sonne forgot not to publishe with open mouth that it repented them too much of the great regard and doubt they had vsed touching the action of Aretze being assured that the king according to the french nature and by the many fauours and meanes they had in his court would yelde tolleration to the things they should doe notwithstanding they were to his disliking And to those that were occupied with these feares this was one increase of calamitie that they were not assured vnder the warrātie of the kings protection for that of verie late and freshe memorie notwithstanding his word and promise of a Prince he had suffred the Lorde Plombyn to be dispoiled and muche lesse tooke to reuēge the outrage that was don to the Duke of Vrbyn whō he had taken into his defence with fiftie men at armes which he deliuered to his armie for his seruice in the warres against Naples But thexample of Iohn Bentyuolle beyng much more present was so much more agreeable to their terrors and feares For notwithstanding his maiestie in the yeares before had commaūded Valentynois not to molest those of Bollonnia alleaging that the bondes and couenants which he had with the Pope were not to be vnderstanded but touching the preeminence authoritie which the Church had there at that time that the confederation was made betweene them Yet in that verie season Bentyuolle hauing recourse to his maiestie for succours fearing the great preparations that were made against him the king chaunged thinterpretatiō of the words according to the diuersitie of his endes and intentions and making gloses vppon the capitulations past rather lyke a Lawyer then as a king He aunswered that the protection by the which he was bound to defende him hindred not the Popes enterprise but touching his person goods perticular For that notwithstanding the wordes were general yet they were expressed with this relation not to preiudice the rightes of the Churche to the which it could not bee denied that the Citie of Bollonia did not apperteyne And for that also in the confederation hee had made with the Pope which was the first which he contracted in Italy hee was bounde that what couenantes so euer hee should make with others they should be without construction of preiudice to the rightes of the Church He was so impudent in this deliberation seduced only by the Cardinall Amboyse contrary to all the residue of his councell that hee sent an expresse messenger to signifie at Bollonia that that Citie apperteyning to the Church he could not nor would not desist from fauouring thenterpryse of the Pope And that in vertue of his protection it should be suffred to the Bentyuolles to remeyne at Bollonia as personnes priuate enioying their perticular goods in libertie and peace Suche licence is taken by Princes oftentymes to dispense with theyr promyses expressing suertie in theyr wordes and keeping theyr intentions dissembled An order muche derogating the reputation and maiestie of a Prince whose honour and conscience are so muche the more guiltie and burdened by how much their protections are but baytes to bryng priuate men into peril and vnder a disguised assuraunce of theyr faythe to betraie thinnocencie of their friendes and subiectes euen to the extreame daunger of their life But this full prosperitie of Valentynois was not only suspected to those men but euen the Venetians began to enter into iealousie ouer his ambition ioyning to theyr indignitie this occasion that not many monethes affore hee had rauished the wyfe of Iohn Baptista Caraciolle the Generall of theyr footemen as shee passed thorowe Romania to seeke her husbande Therefore to induce occasion to the Kyng to proceede more moderately in his fauour showing that the respect that ledde them was the amitie they bare him and the iealousie of his honour they put him in remembraunce by theyr Embassadours with wordes worthie of the grauitie of suche a common weale That hee ought to consider howe deepely hee was charged to fauour so greatly Valentynois and howe ill it became the noblenes of the house of Fraunce and the glorious title of Christian King to support suche a tyrant seeking the ruyne of peoples and prouinces and thirsting so strongly after mans bloud that he stood to all the worlde an example of most horrible crueltie and infidelitie vnder whose faith as by a publyke theefe had bene slaughtered so many Lordes and Gentlemen And not absteyning from the bloud of his brethren and nearest kynred sometymes by the sworde and sometymes with poison he had stretched forth his crueltie euen ouer such ages qualities of persons as would haue moued the most barbarous hartes of
Valentynois too mightie And withall the Citie of Sienna together with the lyfe and whole estate of Pandolfe being vnder his protection and no member of the Church but an appurtenance of the Empire he thought he might with good equitie and reason oppose him selfe against the conquest A consideration necessary to the vertue of the french king hauing by the mouth and word of a Prince assured the protection of the Citie But farre more agreeable to the pollicie of his affaires which could not without perill suffer such an aspiring ambition in the Pope and his sonne He began to see that the mynde which he ment should clymbe no higher then his shoulders had intentions to aspire aboue the Crowne of his head and therefore he helde it a lesse transgression of honour and promise to restraine his supportation from one whom his authoritie and countenance only had aduaunced then to leaue to perill such as reapposed altogether in his faith honor and reputation of his promises The Pope and his sonne had hope that the remouing of Pandolfe would cause some confusion in the gouernment of that Citie and that by that meane tyme would breede occasion to giue some cooller to their enterprise But Pandolfe seeing more into their suttleties then hable to turne away his owne calamities departed so out of Sienna as he left the same garde and the same authoritie to his friendes and dependantes in so muche as it seemed that nothing was chaunged of the gouernment and lesse exspectation of their enterprise by his expulsion Valentynois according to the direction of the Pope tooke his way to Rome to make destructiō of the Vrsins who with the Sauellyes had wonne the bridge Lamentano and runne ouer the whole countrey But they staied from further action by tharriuall of the Duke Valentynois who expressed his first power and malice vppon the estates of Iohn Iordan without any regarde that he was not declared against him that he had the order of S. Michael that he was in the protection of the french king and at that tyme in the kingdome of Naples in his seruice Which oppression vniust and vnreasonable the Pope seeking to abuse the king with his iustifications alleaged that he was not moued by any desire to dispoile him of his estates but only for that he could not accompt him his assured neighbour so neare the great quarels and offences continuing betweene him and the famuly of the Vrsins and that therefore in recompense and consideration of his harmes he was content to giue him the principallitie of Squillace with other landes of the same vallue and reuenue But the french king not taking these reasons for paiment reteined a special memorie of that inuasion not for that the regarde to his protection preuailed more with him then of custome but because his affaires in the kingdom of Naples not drawing the same fortune and successe they had wont to doe he began to holde for suspected the pride and insolencie of the Pope and his sonne ioyning to this coniecture the remembrance of their oppressions in the yeare past both how they had assailed Tuskane and afterwardes assaied to inuade Sienna notwithstanding he had promised to protect it Wherein considering that by howe much they had alreadie obteined of him and for tyme to come should obteine By so much more was their ambicion growne greate and hereafter their pride would bee redoubled hee sent to commaund Valentynois with a sharpe message to forbeare to molest the state of Iohn Iordan who was come to Bracchiano by wayes vnknowne and not without his perill Besides this he considering how necessary it were to be assured that there shold ryse no commotion in Tuskane specially for that he vnderstood that in Sienna there was some beginning of ciuill discordes He ioyned him selfe to the councell of the Florentyns to solicit that Pandolfe Petrucci who was retyred to Pisa might returne eftsoones to Sienna That betweene the Florentyns Siennois and Bolonies might be contracted an vnitie for their common defence rendring Mont Pulcian to the Florentyns to take away all occasion of dissention And lastly that euery one of them according to his power should make prouision of men at armes for their common defence the better to cut of from the Pope and his sonne all meanes to stretch further their iurisdiction into Tuskane In this meane while the Duke Valentynois with one parte of his armie tooke Viconaro wherein were six hundred men for Iohn Iordan But hauing receiued commaundement from the french king he left to the great displeasing of the Pope and him thenterprise of Bracciano and went to incamp affore Ceri where with Iohn Vrsin Lorde of the place were Raufe his sonne with Iulio and Frauncis of the same famuly And to ioyne to the actions of the sonne the authoritie of the father the Pope proceeded at the same tyme by way iudicial against all the house of Vrsins except Iohn Iordan and the Count Petillano against whom the Venetians would not endure any such vniust violence Cery is a towne very auncient and no lesse notable for the strong scituation for that it is seated vppon a litle Rocke hewed out of one stone only whether the auncient Romaines in their perils against the frenchmen sent all their virgins vestalles and the most secret celebrate Images of their goddes with many other thinges sacred and religious as into a place of speciall suertie And for the same reason in the tymes folowing it was free from violation in the rage of the Barbarians at such tyme as by the declination of the Romain Empire they hauockt all Italy with wonderfull furies By meane whereof aswell by his naturall strength as for that it was manned with companies resolute the enterprise seemed harde to Valentynois who to aduaunce his vertue aboue their strength and power forgat no diligence nor industrie to win it vsing besides the ordinary engines of warre certeine instrumentes of wood to surmount the height of the walles But whilest hee was buisie in that action Frauncis Nardy sent to Sienna by the french king published his maiesties intention that Pandolfe should eftsoones returne hauing receiued his promise before to continue in his deuotion and for his suertie to send his eldest sonne into Fraunce To paie to him that which was due of the residue of the fortie thousande Duckats which had bene accorded and to restore Mont Pulcian to the Florentyns A resolucion plausible to them of Sienna who because there should be no impediment to the comming of Pandolfe ioyned to the reputation of the kinges name the open fauours of the Florentyns and the disposicion of those in the towne that were his friendes who drawing into armes and strength the night before hee should come held suppressed or at least kept in a compelled quietnes all such as supported the contrary opinion This hapned to the great displeasure of the Pope whose affaires in other places runne in a happie course for that Palombaro with other
the proper hande of Iohn Iordan it was an argumeÌ„t that in those things which were negociated at Maisons he had one self will and intelligeÌ„ce against him with the Vrsins In which thing the king more regarding profit theÌ„ honestie had proceeded diuersly according to the diuersitie of times somtimes expressing fauour to Iohn Iordan as before and sometimes inclining to satisfie the Pope in some degree And for that cause Iohn Iordan refusing to depose Bracciano into the hands of the French Embassador resident at Rome the king required that they should reappose vppoÌ„ him the resolution of the differeÌ„ce vnder coÌ„dition that Iohn Iordan should be coÌ„ueied into FrauÌ„ce within two moneths that things should remeine in that estate vntil he had determined Wherunto as Iohn Iordan consented by necessitie hoping through his owne merits thexspectatioÌ„ he had of his father and him to be fully deliuered from such vexations So also in the Pope appeared no resistaÌ„ce more for feare then otherwise for that the french king required such a matter in a time wheÌ„ Tharchduke coÌ„tracted the peace in the name of the kings of Spain But the condition of things being chaunged by the victorie of the Spanyardes and seeing with all that the french king had neede of him he demaunded all the states of Iohn Iordan offring the recompence that should be declared by the king who for the same occasioÌ„ induced Iohn Iordan to consent therunto to promise to deliuer in his sonne for the assurance of that which should bee determined A matter which the king did greatly against his wil for that he had no intentioÌ„ to deliuer vp those estates to the Pope if at the same instant he ioyned not with him opeÌ„ly in the warre of Naples holding it as reasonable for him as for the Pope to take the aduauÌ„tage of things and to serue his turne of controuersies But they of Petillano where the sonne of Iohn Iordan was refusing to deliuer him to the kinges Embassadour who was gone to Port Hercules to receiue him Iohn Iordan him selfe being then returned went to Thembassadour and to fulfill the promise of his faith offred him his proper person which Thembassadour accepted with litle reputation and with lesse discression bestowed him in a ship but assoone as the king knewe it he caused him to bee set at libertie esteeming it an iniurie dishonorable to doe iustice vppon him for the disobedience of others In this meane while there was vsed a generall diligence to leauie the preparations which the french king ment to emploie both on thisside beyond the mounts For the Lorde D'albert and the Mareshall of Gie were gone into Guien with foure hundred Launces and fiue thousande footemen aswell Svvyzzers as Gascoins to make warre on the part of Fontarabye And to stirre vp the Countie of Rossillion the Mareshall of Rieux was sent into Languedocke with eight hundred Launces and eight thousande footemen parte Svvyzzers and parte French And at the same time the Nauie by sea hoysed sayle to endomage the coastes of Catelogna and the realme of Valence Besides the king had dispatched for Italy with title of Capteine generall ouer his armie the Lorde Trymouille to whom was transferred by vniuersall opinion the whole merit and reputation for matters of warre within the realme of Fraunce and sent with the same expedition the Baily of Dyon to dispatche eight thousande Svvyzzers the men at armes also and the footmen making hast to marche notwithstanding the armie was not so strong as was determined in the beginning Perhaps the king would haue it so not for dishabilitie or for that he would spare but for that he desired that they might make the more expedition into the kingdome of Naples partly because Monsr D'alegro aduertising the king of the state of thaffaires there assured him that the remeynder of the armie was stronger then it was in deede both for that the townes and Barons remeined firme in his deuocion and also he had demaunded succours of all those in Italy which fauoured his faction By which meane and industrie the Florentyns had graunted him the Baily of Caen with the fiftie LauÌ„ces paied of their owne money and an hundred and fiftie other men at armes The Duke of Ferrara also and the Bollonoys with the Marquis of Mantua who for that the king sent to him went to him in person did refurnishe him euery one in perticular with an hundred men at armes and they of Sienna with an other hundred Which bandes ioyned to the eight hundred Launces fiue thousand Gascoins which Trymouille brought into Italy and to the eight thousand Svvyzzers which were exspected reckoning also those that remeined within Caietta made vp the number of a thousand eight hundred Launces French and Italian more then eightiene thousande footemen Besides these preparations for the warre by lande the armie by sea was departed a Nauie strong and glorious In so muche as all men confessed that there was no memorie that any Frenche king had euer made so huge and mightie preparations making distinction of the forces both by sea and by land gathered aswell on thisside as beyond the mountes But it was not thought good for the kings suertie to suffer his armie to passe by Rome if first his maiestie were not well assured of the Pope and Duke Valentynois for that he had iust occasion to doubt of them for many reasons and many demonstrations but specially by the testimonie of certeine letters from Valentynois to Consaluo newly surcepted wherein was debated betweene them that if Consaluo tooke Caietto in which case he should stande well assured of all the matters of the kingdome he should passe further with his armie and Valentynois should take vppon him the iurisdiction of Pisa and so they both to ioyne in one strength to assaile Tuskan In which respect the king his armie being alreadie passed into Lumbardy was very importunate that they should at last declare their vttermost intencion holding it better to know them as they were then to doubt them to bee more or lesse then he should finde them And for their partes albeit they listned to both partes and treated with euerie one yet iudging that the tyme was conuenient to make traffike of the trauelles of an other their desires caried them most to ioyne with the Spanyshe But they were restrained againe with the consideration of this manifest daunger least the frenche armie woulde begyn to inuade their estates in which case they should feele domage and displeasure where they hoped to reape rewardes and greatnes In this estate of doubt and incerteintie of inclination they suffred both partes to leauie apparantly bandes of footemen within Rome diferring as much as they could to declare them selues But being at last in tearmes resolute vâ—ged by the king they offred that the Duke should be ioyned to his armie with fiue hundred men at armes and two thousand footemen the king consenting not only to the occupying of the
before he departed from Ostia Consaluo excused him selfe vpon thauthoritie of his king who sending warrant to apprehende him prisoner his maiesties cōmaundement he sayd was of more force then his safeconduit for that thassuraunce that was giuen by the proper authoritie of a seruaunt was not auaylable if the will of his Lorde consented not Besides he occupied with him these rounde tearmes that it was necessarie to holde him restrayned for that not satisfied with so many sinister dealings done in times past he studyed still to chaunge the estates of others he deuised to innouate things he sewe vniust slaunders and cast to kindle a fyre through all Italie immediatly after he sent him in a light galley prisoner into Spayne leauing him of all his trayne but one page to serue him There he was imprisoned within the castle of Medino de campo hauing good oportunitie by the consideration of his iust punishment to enter into cōscience touching the harmes he had inflicted vpon diuers regions and men About this time truce was made both by sea and lande aswell for Italie as the nations beyonde the Mountes betweene the Frenche king and the king of Spayne which as the Frenche desired by necessitie so the Spanishe embraced it by iust reason for that he thought it was better to confirme by that meane with greater suretie and rest that which he had conquered then to referre all to hazarde by newe warres which beeing full of perill and expences bring forth oftentimes other issues then are hoped for The conditions were that euery one should reteyne that which he possessed That it should be suffred to the subiects of both parties to traffike through all their Realmes and estates except in the kingdome of Naples with the which exception the great Capteine obteyned indirectly that which was forbidden to him directly for in the frontiers of those places which the French helde which were onely Rossano in Calabria Oiro in the lande of Otranto and in Povvylla Venousa Conuersan and the Mount castle Consaluo bestowed men to giue impediment that not one of the souldiours or men of those townes should vse conuersation with any peece possessed by the Spanishe A deuise which brought them into suche necessitie that Lovvys d'ars with the other Barons and souldiours of those places went their way knowing that thinhabitantes not hable to endure so many discommodities were determined to yeelde them selues to the Spaniards So infinite is the malice of fortune that whom she hath resolued to roote vp she will not spare to persecute till his last desolation be come But for all this the kingdome of Naples notwithstanding thenemies were all expulsed enioyed not the fruites of the peace for that the Spanish souldiours to whom were due their paies for more then one yere not contented that the great capteine the better to conteine them till he had leuied prouisions for money had bestowed them in sundrie places where they liued vpon the people which men of warre call to liue by discretion breaking all bondes of discipline and obedience had entred Capua and the seacastle from whence they would not depart till they were satisfied of their paies And because the money could not be leauyed by conuenient meanes the summe being great without laying an excessiue taxation of the Realme the conditions of men were found so much the more miserable by howmuche the medicine was no lesse greeuous then the disease they went about to cure matters so muche the lesse easie or tollerable by howmuche they were practises newe and out of the examples passed for notwithstanding that since the auncient times wherein the discipline of warre was exercised with seueritie the souldiours were alwayes full of libertie and troublesome to the peoples yet things beeing as yet not wholly disordered they lyued for the moste parte of their paies and their libertie was not altogether intollerable But the Spaniards were the first that began in Italie to liue wholly vpon the substance of peoples the dishabilitie of their kings giuing them that occasion or happly their necessities muche enforcing beeing yll payde of which beginning disorders rysing alwayes in increasing for thimitation of an yll is greater for the most parte then the example euen the Spaniards themselues and Thitalians also whether they were payed or not payed haue euer since made suche custome of that example that to the great dishonour of the discipline of warre at this day the goods of good men and friends are no more assured from thinsolencie of souldiours then suche as belong to wicked people and the very enemie all things running in confusion without regarde to obedience conscience or honour as the horse when he hath broken his brydle forbeareth not in his libertie to spoyle the feeldes of his master as if he were a stranger What by the taking of Valentynois and this truce betweene the two kings with opinion that the peace would succeede immediatly Romania was put wholly in rest for Ymola was diuolued afore by the willes of the chieftaines of the Citie into the power of the Pope and not without the consent of Cardinall S. George whom the Pope enterteined with a vayne hope that he would render it eftsones to his nephews And about those seasons Lovvys his bastard brother being entred into Furly by the death of Anthony d'Ordelaffy that citie had falne into the hands of the Venetians to whom Lovvys offred it knowing he was not hable ynough to holde it sauing that the conditions of the present time made them feare to accept it least they should further incense the Pope who without any resistance obteined the towne abandoned by Lovvys and had likewise paying fifteene thousande duckets the Citadell A place which the keeper a faythfull seruaunt to Valentynois woulde neuer giue vp till he was assured of his imprisonment by men which he sent expresly to Naples holding it a iust office to reteyne to the last those things which his maister had recommended to his fidelitie Thus beeing a surceassing of armes in all other partes of Italie the Florentins only woulde not cease in the beginning of sommer to recontinue the warres vpon the Pisans according to their custome for hauing newly receyued into their pay Iohn Paule Baillon with other captaynes and men at armes of the Colonnois and Sauelleis and leauying withall farre greater forces then they were wont they sent an armie to giue the spoyle to the corne of the Pisans wherein they proceeded with greater corage for that they doubted no impediment by the Spaniarde not so muche for that the king of Spayne had not named the Pisans in the truce wherein both the kings had libertie to comprehende their freends and adherents as for that the great Captaine after his victorie vpon the Frenchmen notwithstanding from the beginning he had giuen great hopes to the Pisans had exercised gracious and sweete speches with the Florentins hoping at the least by his cunning to separate them from the French king wherein albeit he founde
that time that he would deliuer out of prison Lodovvyk Sforce and indue him with conuenient meane to liue in the realme of Fraunce The safetie of this man the king of Romaines had shame not to procure for that his conscience put him in remembrance that the promises he had made him and the hopes he had vaynly reapposed in him had bene causes to hasten his ruine In which considerations hauing no power to do what he would at least he expressed inclination to do what he could in so much as when the cardinall of Amboyse went to him at Trent he wrought so much as he should no more be so straightly kept as he had bin making now importunate instance that he might remeine at libertie in the court of Fraunce or in suche quarter of the realme as it pleased the king The king promised also at his request that the exiles of the duchie of Myllan should returne whervpon were many difficulties in the negociation of Trent it was beleeued that he would kepe this capitulation being so greatly to the aduantage of tharchduke and Maximilian notwithstāding his ordinarie variations the Pope being cōprehended and no lesse agreable to the French king not so much for the desire he had at that time to make newe enterprises as for an ambicious respect to obteine thinuestiture of the duchie of Millan and to be assured not to be molested neither by Caesar nor his sonne In these seasons dyed king Federyk beeing wholly depriued of hope to recouer by accorde the kingdome of Naples notwithstanding he was perswaded afore euery one naturally suffreth him selfe to be beguyled by desire that the king of Spayne had a better deuotion to it then the Frenche king he considered not that in that tyme it was a thing vayne to hope for the restitution of so noble a Realme the examples being very rare in times farre more auncient and before wherein men were mose disposed to actes of vertue and nobilitie then they were in the time running he saw not also that it was a thing out of all likelyhood that he which had vsed so many deceites to occupie the moytie of the kingdome would nowe that he hath wonne all depriue him selfe of the fruite glory of his victorie Besides in the common reason discourse of affaires he might haue perceiued that the one made no lesse difficultie then the other onely he had more reason to doubt that he that was already possessed would not restore then he which helde nothing in the kingdome would not consent In the end of this yere Elizabeth queene of Spayne exchanged this life for a better she was a Lady of most honest honorable conditions won in the opinion of her subiects a right worthy name of magnanimity modesty discretion to her did properly apperteine the kingdome of Castillo which is the greater part of Spayne to the which she succeeded after the death of Henry her brother but not without bloud warre for albeit it was beleeued for a long time that Henry by nature was vnhable to procreation and for that reason Beltramise could not be his daughter which was brought foorth by his wife and by him nourished many yeres as a frute of his owne feede And albeit for that occasion Elizabeth daughter of Henry was acknowledged for Princesse of Castill a title nearest to the succession yet many barons of the realme rising after his death in fauor of Beltramise the king of Portugall ministring succors by armes in the right of a friend alie and confederat the factions cōming at last to battel the cause of Elizabeth was approued most iust by the issue of the fielde Ferdinand of Aragon her husband leading tharmy who likewise was discēded of the house of the kings of Castill conioyned to Elizabeth in the third degree of cōsanguinitie and he afterwards succeding by the death of Iohn his father to the realme of Aragon they both tooke vpō them by one ioynt right the title of king queene of Spayne for that the kingdome of Valence being vnited to the crowne of Aragon together with the countrie of Catalogna they were Lords ouer al the prouince of Spayne whiche is conteined betwene the Mounts Pirenei the Occean sea the Middle earthsea And vnder this title for that that region hath bin occupied by many kings of the Mores the title of many kingdomes is cōprehended euery one of thē making a title separat by him selfe except notwithstanding the kingdome of Granado which being at that time possessed by the Mores was afterwards by the vertue of this king queene gloriously subdued to the empire of Castille together with the title kingdome of Portugall the realme of Nauarre much inferior al which had kings particular But the kingdome of Aragon with Cicilia Sardignia and other Ilands apperteining by inheritance to Ferdinand were gouerned by him only without interposing the name or authoritie of the queene contrarie to the policie and course of gouernment in Castille the reason was for that that kingdome belonging by lawe of succession to Elizabeth and standing in a state endowed to Ferdinand things were administred vnder their common name aswell in demonstrations as in effects nothing beeing executed which was not debated ordeined subscribed by them both The title of the king of Spayne was common their Embassadours dispatched in cōmon their armies leauyed in common their wars administred in cōmon and neither of them in particular appropriating more then the other in authoritie and gouernment of the kingdome But by the death of Elizabeth without issue males the succession of Castille by the laws of that kingdome which regarding more the proximitie then the sex exclude not the woman belonged to Iane the daughter of Ferdinand her and wife to tharchduke their eldest daughter which had ben maried to Emanuell king of Portugal together with her litle sonne being dead long time before By reason wherof thadministration of the realme dowager apperteining by the end of the mariage no more to Ferdinand he was eftsones to returne into his litle kingdome of Aragon litle in cōparison of the realme of Castill for the straitnes of the countrey smal◠es of the reuenues and for that also the kings of Aragon not hauing absolute regall authoritie in all things be in many poynts subiect to the constitutions and customes of the same prouinces which limit much the power of their kings But Elizabeth drawing towards hir latest time ordeined by hir testament that Ferdinand so long as he liued should be gouernor of Castillo aswel for that she desired it might be kept in his first greatnes for the amitie that had bene mutual betwene them as also for that she knewe it concerned the profite of hir subiects to be continued vnder the moderate gouernment of Ferdinand and imported no lesse the commoditie of hir sonne in law and daughter who seeing in the ende they should likewise succeede Ferdinand had
others consenting to this conspiracie The reason was that they had a hope that assayling it there would easily rise some mutation seing there was a slender strength of the men at armes of Fraunce many of the nobilitie were abroade the peoples much enclined to the name of Sforce and the French king on whom was falne a great maladie languishing in so dangerous extremitie that for many houres there was a generall dispaire of his health and though he should somewhat reuiue yet his disease had made him so yll disposed that there was no hope of lyfe and lesse expectation of action And such as looked into things with a deper counsell doubted least Askanius with whom at that time the Venetian Embassadour had familiar conuersation at Rome interteined a secret intelligence not onely with the great Capteine but also with the Venetians who had bene of late more ready and more bold to offende the French then in times past for that the French king who newly was entred into suspition and distrust of the king of Romaines his sonne seeing after the death of the Queene of Spayne what would be the greatnes of the Archduke forsooke apparantly their amitie and ayded agaynst Tharchduke the Duke of Gueldres his sharpe enemie and inclined to practise particular intelligence with the king of Spayne But as the thoughtes of men are deceitfull and their hopes full of infirmitie and frayltie so whylest these things were in solicitation the French king whose recouerie was holden desperate went dayly growing into health and Cardinall Askanius dyed sodenly at Rome of the plague By whose death albeit the dangers to the estate of Millan were cut of yet the plottes layed to molest the Florentins were not altogether remoued and therefore P. Petruccio Iohn Paule Baillon and Bartlemevv Aluiano assembled together in the borowe of Pregai vpon the confins of the Perusins and Siennois not with hope to be strong ynough to restore the Medicis into Florence but with this intention that Aluiano entring into Pisa with the wills of the Pisans should inuade for the suretie of that Citie the frontier of the Florentins with deuise to passe further as occasion would present These preparations smothered hithervnto beginning nowe to burst out into light the Florentins feared muche of the disposition of the great Capteine both for that they knewe that the time for the which Aluiano was interteined in the Spanish pay remeined yet till the next Nouember and also for that they could not beleeue that P. Petruccio would enter into newe enterprises without his consent seeing the said Petruccio neuer satisfying the French king of the summes of money which he promised and hauing often times abused him in other properties depended altogether of the king of Spayne Besides the suspition of the Florentins was augmented in this that fearing the Lorde of Plombin which vas vnder the protection of the Spanishe king to be assayled by the Genovvaies Consaluo had sent to Plombin for his suretie a thousand footemen vnder the charge of Nuguo de Campo and to the riuer of Plombin three ships two galleis with certeine other vessels which forces brought into a place so neare the Florentins gaue them great occasion to feare that they were not come to ioyne with Aluiano as he himselfe assured that they were promised But the truth was that the king of Spayne after the truce made with the French king gaue direction for diminution of thexpences that aswell the regiment of Aluiano as the bands of others which had bene limited should be reduced to a hundred launces Wherevpon he taking occasion to be greeued did not onely refuse to binde him selfe eftsones with newe othe but also meinteined that he was acquited of the first both for that he was not satisfied of his paies passed and also the great Capteine would not holde his promise to giue him after the conquest of Naples two thousande footemen to serue his turne agaynst the Florentins in fauor of the Medicis Lastly the minde of Aluiano was trauelling naturally desirous of new things and altogether impacient of thanquilitie and rest The Florentins for their defence agaynst so violent stormes had recourse to the French king who was bounde by the capitulations of protection to defende them with foure hundred launces they sent to him to refurnish them with two hundred but he beeing more caried with couetousnes of money then with regarde to the prayers of his friends or compassion of his auncient confederates aunswered that he would giue them no succours if first they made him not satisfied of the thirtie thousande duckets which were due to him by thobligation of protection And albeit the Florentins made many humble requests and suites that he would yet temporise and expect a litle alleaging how muche they were aggreeued with intollerable expences necessarie for their defence yet being more caried with couetousnes then with reason or indifferencie he perseuered obstinately in his deliberation in so muche as he whom they most suspected and had most offended ministred more to their helpe and safetie then he of whom they seemed to be best assured to whom they had done greatest pleasures finding least safetie where they reapposed moste confidence and greatest perill where they iustly expected their protection for the great Capteine desiring that the tranquilitie of Italie should not be troubled eyther because he would not should be broken the practises of peace begonne of newe betweene the two kings or for that he nourished some deuise to appropriate to him selfe the kingdome of Naples vsing thoccasion of the death of the Queene and the sedes of future discord betwene the father in lawe the sonne he vsed all diligence to induce Aluiano to reenter into the pay and commaunded him as a vassall souldiour of his king to make no further proceeding beeing nowe gone to Petillano to obey the Popes commaundement to dissolue his companies or rather to go out of the Churche dominions vpon payne of depriuation of thestates which he had in the kingdome of Naples bearing a value in yerely reuenue of seuen thousande duckets he signified to the Pisans whom a litle before he had secretly receiued into the protection of his king and also to the Lorde of Plombin that they should not receiue him And he caused to be tolde and offred to the Florentins that he was content they should haue the seruice of his footemen that were within Plombin whome he ordeined to be commaunded by M. Anthonio Colonno their capteine he sent also to P. Petruccio that he should in no wise support Aluiano forbidding to followe him Lovvys sonne of the Counte Petillano Frauncis Vrsin and Iohn de Cery who were in his pay But notwithstanding all these inhibitions Aluiano with whō were Iohn Levvys Vitelli Iohn Conrad Vrsin three hundred men at armes and fiue hundred footmen of good resolution passed alwayes further though slowly they of Sienna furnishing him with vittels he came at last by
least that he had inclinations to giue it rather to Philip then to him So ielouse is the condition of imperie and dignitie that agaynst those for the most part is most possibilitie of suspition whose vertue hath best deserued in confidence and fidelitie But by so muche lesse had the king of Aragon occasion to reappose in him by howmuche more he had founde him alwayes intractable to leaue Naples from whence as he had often sommoned him in vayne to returne into Spayne whiche he excused and delayed alleaging many impediments so he feared that if he went not thither in person he should not easily remoue him from the gouernment notwithstanding since the last contract king Philip had charged him to transferre wholly hereafter all his obedience to the king of Aragon In this time the French king beginning to ryse somewhat into health was trauelled with many diuers and contrarie thoughts for both he was discontented with the Venetians disdayning them since the times of the warre of Naples for the desire he had to recouer that whiche was of thauncient appurtenances of the duchie of Millan and for an opinion that through diuerse accidentes their power and greatnes might sometimes hurt him which among other respects had induced him to make confederation with the king of Romaines and Philip his sonne And on the other part the discending of the king of Romains into Italie was nothing agreable to him knowing that he prepared to furnishe his iourney with very strong forces A matter which he feared more then afore for the power which he might put to king Philip successour to suche a greatnes specially beeing in doubt that whilest he was in Englande he did not contract with the king there certayne newe and straite allyaunces And for that also one of the principall occasions for the which he had entred confederation with them was ceassed and cut off by the peace made with the king Catholike by reason of the which he had dissolued left there all his thoughts and impressions touching the kingdome of Naples But whilest he stoode wauering in this varietie and incertentie of minde thembassadours of themperour Maximilian came to signifie to him their maisters deliberation to passe into Italie and to sommon him to giue order for the fiue hundred launces which he had promised to furnishe in his fauour and to performe the residue of his worde touching the restoring of the banished men from the state of Millan and to put him in remembrance lastly to aduaunce payment of the money which should be due to him within fewe monethes To these demaundes albeit the French king had no great will to condisscende yet he made semblant of the contrarie neuerthelesse onely for the regarde of suche as for that time required but wordes expressing howe muche he desired that tharticles of accorde should be executed offering for his parte in due season a readie accomplishment of all thinges he was bounde vnto onely he refused with many excuses to aduaunce the money On the other parte themperour reapposing also as little in the will of the French king as he did in his and desiring vehemently to passe to Rome chiefly to take the crowne imperiall and to choose afterwards his sonne king of Romains studied in the same time by what other meanes he might atchieue theffect of his expectations Therefore both he solicited the Svvyzzers to knit with him who after wany councels and disputes among them selues determined to obserue thalliance which yet remayned two yeres with the French king And also he demaunded passage of the Venetians through their lands who beeing loath for their own particular to graunt him passage with an armie so mightie the offers also of the French king inciting thē to ioyne with him to let his passage tooke courage to aunswere him in tearmes generall and the French king showing himselfe openly estraunged from the confederation made with him and with Phillip gaue in mariage the Lady Clauda his daughter to Frauncis Lorde of Angulesme to whom belonged the succession of the Crowne after his death without issue male he made as though he had bene drawen to that action by the importunities of his subiects hauing aforehande ordeined for that effect that all the courts of Parliament and principall townes of his kingdome should sende Embassadours to beseeche him as in a matter most profitable to the Realme since the hope to haue issue male diminished in him dayly more and more This he signified with speede to king Phillip by expresse Embassadours excusing him selfe that he had no power to resist so great a desire of his whole realme and communitie of his subiects Besides these he had sent bandes of men to the succours of the duke of Gueldres to turne Maximilian from passing into Italie who of him selfe had left and giuen ouer those cogitations for that vnderstanding that Launcelet king of Hungarie was very sicke he drewe neare the confines of that kingdome according to an auncient desire of his father to make him selfe king for the right which he pretended to it for Launcelet otherwise called Ladislao king of Hungaria and of Boeme sonne of Albert which was brother to themperour Federik dying many yeres before without sonnes the peoples of Hungaria who pretended that their king dying without heire masculine the succession of the next in bloud could haue no place had chosen for their king hauing regarde to the merites and vertues of his father Mathyas he who afterwardes to the great reputation and glorie of so little a kingdome vexed oftentimes the mightie empire of the Turkes He to auoyde in the beginning of his reigne warre with Federike agreed with him to take no wife to th end that after his death the kingdome might diuolue to Federike or to his children which albeit he did not obserue yet he died without issue and for all that Federike had not thaccomplishment of his desire for that Thungarians chose of newe for their king Launcelet king of Polonia by occasion whereof newe warres being eftsones raysed agaynst them by Federike and Maximilian they agreed at last the Barons of the kingdome taking a solemne othe that whensoeuer Launcelet should dye without issue they shoulde receiue Maximilian for their king In so much as he then aspiring to this succession after he was aduertised of thinfirmitie of Launcelet he drewe neare to the borders of Hungaria leauing behinde him for that time all his thoughts for Italie But whylest those things were debated betweene the Princes of beyonde the Mountes with so great diuersitie the Pope knowing that without the aydes of the French king he could not molest the Venetians and hauing lesse patience that the yeres of his Pontificacie should so passe away and consume without profite or honour prayed the French king to helpe him to recouer to the obedience of the Church the cities of Bolognia and Perousa which belonging of antiquitie to the Sea Apostolike were nowe tirannised the one by Iohn Paule Baillon
the Bishoprikes vacant in their iurisdiction without any respect to the sea Apostolike and lastly did intrude them selues into many things apperteining to the lawful authoritie of the Church By reason whereof bearing a setled inclination to enterteine amitie with the king he solicited him to passe into Italie and to haue conference together whervnto the king consented the Pope hauing afore in gratification of the kings requests consecrated Cardinals the Bishops of Bayeux and Achx. But the affections of Princes suffer alterations according to times and occasions the Pope vnderstanding afterwards how the king had determined to take armes agaynst the commons of Genes in fauour of the gentlemen tooke it to great discontentment for that hauing of long time frowned vpon the gentlemen he had alwayes borne fauor to the dispositions of the people wherein he made great instance to the king to be contented without changing the state popular to haue that citie in his obedience and persuaded him as much as he could to absteine from armes alleaging many reasons but chiefly the danger least by that meane some great alteration kindling in Italie the warres which they had determined agaynst the Venetians were not cut off or hindred The king bearing no inclination to these demaundes the Pope eyther ouerruled with anger or sorowe or els for that the olde suspition of the aspiring minde of the Cardinall Amboyse did eftsones stirre in him either by the naturall operation of himselfe or by the subtill suggestion of others whiche made him feare that he were not reteyned by the king when they should meete in one place and perhaps aswell for the one as the other occasion he published vppon the sodayne in the beginning of the yeere 1507. agaynst thexpectation of euery one that he would eftsones returne to Rome not for other reason then that the ayre of Bolognia was contrarie to his health and that his reuenues were much diminished by his absence from Rome This alteration of counsell brought no little maruell to euery one but specially to the king for that without occasion he would leaue vnperfect the practises he had so much desired to aduaunce and breake of him selfe the enterviewe and conference which he had somuche required and therefore calling into consideration the estate and intricate disposition of things he labored what he coulde to draw him from that new counsell and make him change opinion wherein his paynes were more hurtfull to him then vayne for that the Pope entring into a greater suspition for the request the king made made eftsones an obstinate confirmation of his first counsel departing from Bolognia vpon the ende of February he expressed how litle he could dissemble the contempt he had conceiued agaynst the king Afore he issued out of the Citie he set with vnfortunate signes the first stone of the castle which was made there by his commaundement neare the gate which leades to Ferrara in the selfesame place where Phillip Maria Viscounte duke of Millan had aforetime erected another with no lesse yll fortune And his newe anger agaynst the Frenche king hauing in some sort qualified his auncient hatred agaynst the Venetians and not minding to turne out of his right way he determined to passe by the citie of Faenza new controuersies hapning from time to time betwene the French king and him both for that he required that the familie of the Bentyuoleis might be expulsed the duchie of Millan notwithstanding they were referred to that habitation by his consent and also for that he would not render to the pronoterie the possession of those benefices which he had promised by his proper accorde and consent so often preuayled more in him the contention of his minde his wilfull election then eyther reason or equitie Which disposition the king labored not to appease with any art or diligence but standing aggreued for so great a variation and entring withall into suspicion least as the trueth was he gaue secrete encouragement to the people of Genes he forbeare not to threaten him openly and to obiect with iniurious words his infamous place and birth the Pope beeing discended of a very base place and trayned for many yeres in very vile estate And resoluing more and more in his first deliberation touching the affayres of Genes he prepared his armie with great diligence to go thither in person hauing well experienced by his former successes in the kingdome of Naples what difference there is to administer a warre in proper person and to recommende it ouer to the doing of Capteines These preparations amased nothing the Genovvaies being busie to take Monaco about the which they kept employed many vessels and six thousande men leauyed of the communalties and general multitudes of the countreis of Genes These bands were ledde and commaunded by Tarlatin a capteine of the Pisans who together with Peter Shortlegge and certaine vniuersall souldiours had bene sent by them in fauor of the Genovvaies And at Genes as they perseuered in their first offences adding alwayes some newe transgression the capteine of the Castell who till then had expressed no action nor had not bene molested by the conspirators vpon the sodain made many of the commons prisoners and began to vexe the hauen and citie with his artilleries This was eyther by the kings commaundement or vpon his owne authoritie ioyned to a desire to make pillage by reason of which Roccabertin conferring with the common danger of the towne the priuate feare he had of his owne person went his way not whither he woulde for extremitie leaues no libertie but whither the necessitie of his fortune suffred him the footebandes of the Frenche which were set to guarde the publike pallace retyring into the Castell A litle after the siege which had remeined afore Monaco many monethes tooke ende and brake vp the reason was that suche as were encamped afore it vnderstanding that Yues d'Alegre and many gentlemen were at hande to succor it with a strength of three thousande footemen of their owne pay and certaine other bands which the duke of Sauoy had sent had leauyed the siege hauing no corage to abide the armie that marched Besides the brute ranne that the maine armie appoynted for the king passed continually into Lumberdie by reason whereof those men rising into encrease of furie who ought to haue bene the authors of better counsels the commons that till that day had dissembled with words the rebelliō which they had exercised in dedes and neither forbearing to call vpon the name of the French king nor once touching his Armes nor remouing his ensignes nor banners out of the publike places created Duke of Genes one Paule de Noue a silkedyer a man for his vertues of no merite and for his birth and discending of very base place and condition declaring themselues in this manifest rebels for that to the creation of Duke was ioyned a declaration that the citie of Genes should beare no subiection to any prince The same so stirring the
whole or parte when the waye shall be made open in Italie and the hope of pray and spoyle layde afore them And we haue well seene what feare he hath alwayes had of the discending of the Almains and the king of Romains howe poore and disordered soeuer he be who if he were in Italie it were not reasonable to thinke that he should haue with him any other thing then a warre full of perils and aduersities and a peace yll assured and yet dearely bought It maye be he thirsteth to recouer Cremona and happly all the other townes but there is no conformitie or likelyhood that he will embrace a great daunger to get a thing whose value is lesse then thaduenture No it is more credible that he will proceede in this case rather with discretion then rashnes seeing by the consideration of the errors heretofore imposed vpon that king we shall finde that they proceeded of no other infirmitie then of his great desire to make his enterprises with suretie wherein I referre you to his examples in the actions of Naples and Cremona being induced to make partition of that kingdome and to deliuer to vs the citie of Cremona for no other reason then to make more easie the victorie of those warres so that it is more credible that euen at this present he will rather follow his custome and wise counsels then be caried with aduises sodayne and rashe seeing withall he remaineth not altogether depriued of hope to accomplishe his expectations with the fauor of an other tyme in more suretie and with better occasion whiche is a thing whiche mortall men are wont to promise to them selues easily therror beeing lesse to promise a chaunge and reuolution of worldly affayres then to perswade that they are alwayes firme and stable neyther doth that much amaze me which is sayde those two kings haue treated so often amongest them selues for that it is a custome with the Princes of our time to entertaine one an other artificially with vayne hopes and dissembled practises which for that in so many yeeres they haue brought foorth no effect it can not be that they were other then fayre showes fictions and shadowes of things or els nourished in themselues suche difficulties as they coulde not be resolued the very nature of th affayres resisting to take away the distrustes that are betwene them without whiche fundation they haue no meane to come to that coniunction So that I can not feare that for the couetousnesse of our townes the Frenche king wyll throwe himselfe headlong into so indiscrete a deliberation and muche lesse will he attempt an action so casuall for any suspition he hath of vs for that besides the great knowledge and experience he hath of our intentions hauing no want of perswasions and occasions to leaue his alliance the same reasons by the which we are assured of him will enterchaungeably holde him assured of vs for nothing can be more preiudiciall to vs then the king of Romains to haue anye estate in Italie no lesse for thauthoritie of thempire ouer whose amplification and greatnes we ought alwayes to stande fearefull and ielouse then for the ambition of the house of Austria pretending interest to many of our townes but moste of all for the neighborhoode of Germanie whose innundations can not but be too perillous for vs and our dominion we bearing withall a brute to haue all our counsells rype and measured and to erre more in beeing too harde and slowe then to proceede with too much rashnes and credulitie I denie not but things maye fall out contrarie to thopinion of men for that worldly actions oftentimes drawe with them effects straunge and farre aboue thexpectations and wisdomes of mortall men and therefore who coulde set downe any warrant or suretie were not of the least merite or commendation but since that can not be done without entring into moste huge daungers and difficulties we muste consider that oftentimes vayne feares are no lesse hurtfull then too great confidence and credulitie if we enter confederation with the king of Romains agaynst the Frenche king the warre muste necessarily be begon and continued with our moneys which we must also aduaunce to furnish all his prodigalities and disorders otherwise he will eyther accorde with the enemie or retyre into Germanie leauing vpon our shoulders the whole burden and perill of the quarrell we muste susteine a warre agaynst a moste mightie king of Fraunce Duke of Millan Lorde of Genes a prince enuironed with many regimentes of men at armes no lesse mightie in artileries and prouisions and at the brute of whose payes and money will draw to him from all nations infinite bands of footemen Besides what hope of good successe can be nourished in this enterprise seeing we can not but feare that in all those of Italie which eyther pretende agaynst vs or that we holde any thing of theirs or at least stande ielouse ouer our greatnes will not be a disposition to drawe into conspiracie agaynst vs but especially the Pope to whom besides his disdaynes towards vs the power of the Emperour in Italie will neuer be acceptable for a naturall hatred that hath alwayes bene betwene the Church and thempire the same making the Popes to haue no lesse feare of themperours in things temporall then they haue of the Turkes in matters spirituall And this coniunction happly may be more dangerous to vs then the vnion which we feare betweene the king of Romaines and the French king for that where is societie of many princes which pretend to be equall there commonly do kindle suspitions and debates by which oftentimes it hapneth that those enterprises which haue bene begon with no small reputation slyde easily into many difficulties and lastly into dissolution and ruine neither ought wee to make this a last consideration that albeit the French king haue enterteined certeine practises contrarie to thalliance which we haue with him yet we haue seene no effectes by the which we may say he hath delte vniustly with vs and therefore to leauie warre agaynst him would be no other thing then to merite imputation of infidelitie and faythbreaking on the contrarie whereof this Senate ought to buylde his principall fundation aswell for the honor as profite of the affaires which we haue euery day to manage with other princes Neither can it be profitable to vs to nourish and continually augment this opinion to seeke to oppresse dayly all our neighbours and to aspire to the whole monarchie of Italie I woulde in God we had in times past proceeded more considerately for almoste all the suspitions that at this present are heaped agaynst vs haue no other beginning then that heretofore we haue too muche offended them and it will not be beleeued that feare draweth vs to a newe warre agaynst the French king our auncient confederate but rather that we are caried with certayne ambicious and couetous inclinations ioyning with vs the king of Romains to winne vpon him one parte of
bastillion that was on Ferrara side Affore this worke was accomplished the Duke deuised either to reuerse it or atleast to hinder it and with a councell happly more courageous then discreete he called together all the youth of the towne with such companies of souldiours as were come to his paye and sent them out to assaile the bastillion but it was an enterprise in vaine for that the defendants receiuing succors of their peoples which issued out of the vessells beganne to disorder the ennemie and put them to flight wherein albeit the Duke him selfe came to the medley with a fresh succor of horsemen and with his presence brought a newe hart to most of his people not trayned in warre yet such was the furie of the ennemie for whom the sewertie of the place fought being manned with many peeces of small shot that in the ende he was constrained to retyre leauing many of his people either deade or taken and that not so many of the inexperienced and base multitudes as of the most braue souldiours and nobility of Ferrara Amongest them was Herc. Cantelmo a younge man of greate hope and whose Auncestors affore tyme were Dukes of Sore in the kingdome of Naples The fortune of this man was more tragicall then of any of the residue for that as certaine Slauonian souldiours led him prisoner into a gallie and contending amongest them selues for the interest of his body there was one of them who with a new example of barbarous crueltie miserably stricke of his heade for these perills ioyned to the manifest apparance of extremity to the towne of Ferrara Monsr Chaumont sent to the succors of it the lord of Chastillion with an hundred and fifty french launces And the Pope being kindled against the Venetians for entring into that action without any regard to the superioritie which the Churche hath there appoynted the two hundred men at armes which he had sent to Caesar to be conuerted to the defence of Ferrara But it might haue hapned that these succors had bene to slow if the Venetians had not bene compelled to looke to the defence of their owne estate it hath bene declared before how the french King was not discontented with the difficulties of Maxymylian partly for the continuall feare he had of his prosperitie and partly for that burning in desire to make him selfe Lord of Verona he hoped by his necessities to haue it on him at last either by purchasse or by ingaging on the other side he was not a litle ielous ouer the Venetians and no lesse was his discontentment that their greatnes was eftsoones reestablished which would nourish continuall perill and perplexitie for his Duchie of Myllan And therefore Caesar not hauing sufficiently refurnished Verona for want of money the french king was constrained to enter into care of thinges and in sending new companies besides those men at armes which were entred there already to foreseethat that citie returned not to their obedience To this Monsr Chaumont gaue beginning who after the losse of Vincensa being drawne vpon the marches of Verona reteyned in the french Kinges pay two thowsande spanish footemen which were within Verona who beganne to draw into tumult for want of payment he sent thether for a greater sewertie other bandes of footemen according to the aduice of Tryuulce who for that Monsr Chaumont feared least the Kinge would be discontented with so great expenses made aunswer that it was a lesse euill that the King charged him with thexspenses of his money then by sparing his treasor to lose or put in daunger his estate the one bringing saffetie to the Kings thinges and in the other no honor nor reputacion to the place he held vnder the Kinge Besides this he lent to Caesar eyght thowsand duckats to pay the souldiours that were within Verona receiuing in pawne both for the repayment of that summe and others which hereafter he should aduaunce for his affayres the towne of Vallegge a place which the king esteemed muche for the sewertie of Bresse both for the nearenes beinge within six miles of Bresse and for thoportunitie of the passage ouer the riuer of Myncia which is alwaies commaunded by such as are Maisters of Valegge and Pesquiero The marching of Monsr de Chaumont being followed with the most part of the launces in the Duchie of Myllan together with the companies which he had put into Verona and the rumor that ronne of his preparacion to besege Vincensa were the causes that the Venetian armie leauing for the defence of Polisena and to succor their nauie foure hundred light horsemen and foure hundred footemen retyred from the contrey of Ferrara deuiding them selues into Leguago Soaue and Vincensa And being careful to assure Vincensa to prouide that the contrey there about were not distressed by the garrison of Verona they fortified it with a wonderfull trench full of water enuyroned with a rampier whereon were dispersed many bastillions it began from the foote of the mountaine which lieth aboue Soaue reaching about fiue miles along the plaine that leades from Rouigne to Montfort it ended at a corner of certain marishes which ioyne to the riuer of Adice They also fortefied Soaue and Leguague by which meane standing vpon their gard all the winter they assured the whole contrey And albeit by the retyring of the Venetian regiments the daunger of Ferrara was somewhat diminished yet it was not altogether taken away for that though they were acquited of all feare to be forced yet they were troubled with a suspicion least the people for the great harmes they receiued would decline to an vtter weakenes or els fall into the last despeire for the souldiours of the nauie and their followers ronne vp euery day euen to the gates of the towne and other vessells of the Venetians which had on an other side distressed the state of the Duke of Ferrara had taken Comache And putting diligence to their fortune they were troublers of those places in many sortes of afflictions About this time arriued the companies of the Pope the french king by whose coÌ„fort the Duke who being warned affore by the harmes receiued in thassalt of the bastillion was incamped in a strong place neare to Ferrara began to make many incursions proffers to draw thennemies to battel who hoping that their army would returne refused to feight before And as there can be no action of warre without his proper fortune calamity â—o in these entercourses of saillies skirmishes it hapned one day the Cardinal of Este hauing ronne vp neare to the bastillion as he returned backe a shot came out of one of the vessels of thennemies which caried away the head of the Count Lodovvyk de la Mirandola one of the Capteines of the Church none other in so great a multitude being hurt either with that or any other shot At last the knowledge experieÌ„ce of the coÌ„trey ioined to the nature oportunity of the riuer made easie
of Vincensa an example to all others of the clemencie of thAlmain empire Call to your honorable memories the pitie and magnanimitie of your renowmed elders who beeing victorious in Italie preserued the Cities that were vnited and confederate many of them choosing those seates for their proper dwellings and from thence to the singuler glorie of thAlmain race are discended so many noble houses in Italie as Gonsaguo Catraro and Escalo who sometimes were our Lordes Let Vincensa serue at one time for example both that the Venetians ayded and supported by vs in our lesser daungers haue cowardly and dishonorably left it abandoned in the greatest perills and necessitie of defence that euer coulde happen and on the other side that the Almains in whom was some reason to distresse vs haue ioyned remission to our offences and both frankely and gloriously preserued vs whome by due iustice they might haue put to punishment The punishment of one onely is not crueltie but the calamities of many That Prince that lookes stricktly vppon the offences of his people cannot be called mercifull but rigorous and hauing an example in the dealing of God with sinners if he looke straitely vpon offendors who can abyde it We appeale also to you oh inuincible Lorde Chaumont to take vs into your protection looke backe to thexample of your king whose clemencie was greater to them of Millan and Genovvay drawne into reuolte without necessitie then was their faulte which was both voluntarie and vaine but after they had found his clemencie greater then their transgression and that his pardon preuayling aboue their offences he had reclaymed them by so great a benefite as to gyue them lyfe he coulde neuer after finde any fault in their fidelitie and seruice Seueritie keepes men in obedience but it is by compulsion which is seruile but clemencie winneth the heart and affection whiche confirmeth the suretie of the Prince Oh Prince of Hanavv if the preseruation of Vincensa turne nothing to the profite of Caesar at the least it will bring him glorie remayning as a perpetuall example of his benignitie If he destroy it it can serue him to no vse and the seueritie whiche he vseth to vs will be greeuous to all Italie Clemencie will make acceptable to all men the name of Caesar and as in actions of warre and managing of an armie he is knowne to haue great affinitie with the auncient Caesar so in beeing easie to pardon where he hath power to punishe his clemencie will make him equall with Caesar in all those vertues which haue made his name perpetuall to all posterities Vincensa that flourishing and auncient Citie and heretofore the seate of nobilitie lyeth nowe prostrate at your feete she exspecteth from you eyther her preseruation or destruction her lyfe or death take pitie of so many innocent persons so many vnfortunate women and so many guiltles children who in that lamentable night full of folly and error medled with nothing and nowe with plaintes and waylings exspect your deliberation To pardon many for th offence of one is thoffice of a pitifull prince but to punish many for the fault of one can not but holde of tyrannie Consider that what is done by force and necessitie bringes with it a sufficient reason of excuse In which regarde we kisse your knees and aswell with the repentance of thoffendours as with the innocencie of the guiltles and lastly with the humilitie and submission of this whole afflicted state we beseche you pronounce at last that reuiuing voyce of mercie and clemencie through the whiche our wretched Citie comming to receiue a new life shall call you alwayes her right worthy preseruer and patron Suche is the obstinacie of a mynde once iustly iniuried that neither the pitifull phrase of this Oration nor the sorrowfull aspect of the speaker lying prostrate at his feete and muche lesse the compassion of so wretched a Citie coulde moderate the mynde of the Prince of Hanavv whose felicitie making him insolent and hys authoritie cruell he coulde not so muche commaunde ouer his passions as to make his words lesse cruell then his deedes making by the mouth of a Doctor this rigorous and vncomfortable aunswere Thinke not that eyther the power of your perswasions or other respect of your dissembled sorrowes can suffice to wipe out of memorie the faultes you haue committed agaynst the maiestie of the name of Caesar without any regarde to his greatnesse or dignitie and lesse respect to the honor wherein you were receiued by him you haue by common councell consent of the whole citie called into your towne the Venetian armie who forcing the suburbes with great difficultie distrusted to take it and beganne to go away you called them in agaynst the will of the Prince that represented the person of Caesar you constrayned that prince to retyre into the Castel in the furie of your rebellion haue sacked the artilleries and munitions of Caesar you haue torne in peeces his pauillions displayed in honor of his victories in so many warres and triumphes These insolencies were not done by the souldiours of the Venetians but the people of Vincensa haue defyled their loyaltie discouering their violent thirste after the blood of thAlmains It was not long of you that the Venetian armie tooke not Verona whiche they had done if knowing thoccasion they had followed the victorie This happned not by the counsayle or perswasion of Fracasso who abused by your slaunders hath expressed clearely hys innocencie it was an effect of your wicked mindes it moued by a poysoned impression of hatred which without cause you beare to the Almain name your offences are so haynous as there is no place lefte for pardon or merite the despite of the iniurie you haue done maketh double the desyre of reuenge it was not your errours that made you offende but your wicked inclinations and therefore to vse clemencie to you woulde bee both hurtefull and infamous for that you woulde returne to your vomite vppon euery occasion And the harmes you haue receiued haue not bene for a punishment and skourge of your faults but for that you would obstinately perseuer in rebellion And nowe that the Venetians haue abandoned you you haue no other remedie to defende you but to implore the pitie of Caesar whom you haue betrayed The Prince was determined not to heare you following thintention and commission of Caesar and yet he hath not denied you audience satisfying the will of the Lord Chaumont but he will not chaunge the sentence which since the first daye of your rebellion hath remayned fixed in the minde of Caesar he will not receyue you otherwise then to discression for your goodes your honours and your lyues And hope not that he will do that to showe you the more clemencie but the better to make you serue for example of punishment to such as accursedly breake their faith to their soueraigne Prince The seueritie of this aunswere dyd not a little amaze the aggreeued people
Venetian companies and the bandes of Rassotte which lay vppon the hill aboue S. Luke hauing but very late knowledge of the fleeing of the Duke of Vrbyn sought their saueties by the wayes of the mounteines by the which notwithstanding they receiued great harmes they got at last into Romagnia In this victorie wonne without fighting were taken fiueteene peeces of great artillerie and many of lesser sort belonging both to the Pope and to the Venetians certeine men at armes of the Church spoyled and stripped together with an hundred and fifty of the Venetians and almost all the footemen of both the one and the other armie dispersed There remeyned prisoners Vrsin de Mugnano Iulia Manfron with many other Capteines of meane condicion within Bolognia there was not a man slaine nor any violence done eyther to the Nobles or to the Commons only there were made prisoners the Bishop of Cluso together with many other Prelats Secretories and officers which were about the Cardinall and remeyned still in his pallaice for that he had kept from them his departing The same night the day following the people fell vpon an image of brasse being the Popes picture which they trayled along the market place in great skorne and mockerie vsing no more reuerence to the Image then they bare affection to the person that it represented the cause of this insolencie was referred either to the souldiours of Bentyuoley who could not be gouerned or else to the humor of the people who bearing a nature vnthankefull and desirous of new things and no lesse weary with the trauells and harmes of the warre bare hatred to the name and memorie of him that had bene the cause of the libertie and felicitie of their contrey The day after which was the xxij of Maye Triuulce stayed in his lodging and the day following leauing Bolognia behind him he drew to the riuer of Adice and afterward stayed at the borow of S. Peter which is a frontyer vpon the territories of Bolognia exspecting before he marched further what would be thintencion of the french king whether he would execute any further action vpon the state of the Pope or else contenting him selfe to haue reassured Ferrara and taken from the Church the citie of Bolognia which he had gotten by his meanes he would establish there the course of his victorie By reason of this temporising although Sassatella the Popes Capteine and who hauing chassed oute of Ymola the faction Gibeline commaunded that citie as chiefe of the Guelffes made him secret offers to put into his handes the citie of Ymola yet he refused to accept it till he had the kings aunswer There rested onely the Citadell of Bolognia wherein was the Bishop of Vitelli A Citadell large and stronge but manned and furnished according to the custom of the fortresses of the church conteining but a very slender strength of footemen very small prouision of vittells and almost no municions at all Whilest it was holden beseeged Vitfruch being certefied of the successe of Bolognia was come from Modona by night to perswade the Bishop with great promisses and offers to deliuer it to Caesar But the Bishop hauing the fift day compownded with them of Bolognia that the liues and goods of such as were within should be saued and receiued obligacion that within a time certeine they should pay him three thowsand duckats deliuered it vp into their handes And they were no sooner possessed of it then they ronne by heapes to dismantle and reuerse it the Bentyuoleis stirring them to thaction not so much to winne fauor with the citizens as for feare lest the french king would with hold it some of his Capteines being already of a councell to demaunde it But Tryuulce would neuer giue his consent for that he thought it would be a thing contrary to the kinges profit to giue occasion to thinke that he had desire to make him selfe Lord of Bolognia By the occasion of this victorie the Duke of Ferrara recouered besides Cento and Pieua Cotignuola Lugo and the other townes of Romagnia expulsing at the same time Albert Pie who possessed them in common with him It was reasonable that the Pope shoulde receiue greate discontentments for the losse of Bolognia not onely for that the citie of most importance through the whole state Ecclesiastike next to Rome was taken from him wherein he suffered priuacion of that glory which he had gottē in conquering it which was no lesse great towards men then most principall and great in his owne conceite but also for feare lest the same fortune and felicitie which in that action had made his enemie happy would not eftsoones allure him to pursue his victorie further such be the variacions of mindes possessed with dowtes and feare and such the mocions and suggestions of a conscience troubled and infected he knew if the armie should prosecute the course of their victorie there was in him no abilitie of resistance And seeking to remoue all occasions that might prouoke them to passe further he solicited that the remeinders of the Venetian souldiours already reuoked by the Senat should embarke at the port of Cesena and for the same cause he sent to haue restored to him the xx thowsand duckats which remeyned yet in Venice being sent thether affore to stirre vp the Svvyzzers Moreouer he gaue order that the Cardinall of Nantes A Britton by nation should as it were of him self solicit Tryuulce to peace perswading that the time was then conuenient to worke it But the Cardinall made aunswere that it was not conuenient to proceede in that generalitie but rather to come expressely to perticularities he told him that when the king desired peace he did offer the condicions and that it was now no lesse necessary for the Pope to doe the like the estate of the affayres so requiring and his present fortune nothing impugning The Pope vsed this maner of proceeding more to auoid the present daunger then for any desire he had to haue peace striuing in him at one time feare obstinacie hatred and disdaine And with these passions was concurrant at the same tyme an other accident that hapned redoubling in him his sorowes and making him suspect and feare further There were brought to him many accusacions against the Cardinall of Pauia some charged him with infidelitie some imposed vpon him cowardise and some blamed him of negligence euery one thinking to make his fault the greater by the varietie of their imputacions he came to Rauenna to make his owne iustificacion and sent to the Pope to signifie his comming and to haue assignacion for audience to whom the Pope whose gladnes for his comming was nothing inferior to the affection he bare him made aunswer that he should come to dine with him But as he was going to the Popes pallaice being accompanied with Guido Vaine the gard of his horsemen The Duke of Vrbyn both for an auncient hatred he bare him and also for a suspicion that the reuolt of
the Diuines then of the Cannonistes that the authoritie to call councells was inuested onely in the person of the Pope yea though he were infected with all vices if onely he were not suspected of heresies That if the holy authoritie were otherwayes interpreted it would rest in the power of a few eyther for ambicion or for perticuler hatreds couering their wicked intencions with false coolers to alter and chaunge dayly the peasible estate of the Church A matter which ought not to be consented no lesse for the preiudice then for the ill example it brought They alleaged that be it that all medicines were wholesome yet if they were not ministred with due proporcions and in tymes conuenient they bare more of poyson then of medicine By which reasons condemning all those that had other opinions they called this assemblie not a councell but matter to deuide and seperat the vnitie of the sea Apostolike A beginning of schisme in the Churche of God and a councelling of Deuills The ende of the nynth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE TENTH BOOKE AFter the taking of Bolognia the french armie returneth to the Duchie of Myllan The councell that was to be holden at Pysa against the Pope is transferred to Myllan where many stirs happen The Popes armie beseegeth Bolognia The french men take Bressia The battell is giuen at Rauenna The Pope publisheth the councell at Rome And afterwards the affayres of the french begin to decline THE TENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin THE successe of the victorie hapning vpon the french king drewe all Christendom but principally the vniuersall regions of Italy to exspect in greate dowt of minde what he would further deliberat of his fortune for euery one gaue this iudgement that it was in his power to make him selfe Lorde of Rome and the whole state Ecclesiastike both for that all the Popes regiments together with the Venetians were dispersed and almost dissolued and also there remeyned not in Italy other armies able to make resistance agaynst the furie of the Victor And as for the Pope seeming onely to be defended with the name Maiestie of the place he stoode in all other regardes reduced to the discression of fortune his resolucion of mind only remeining to support the aduersitye of his estate Neuerthelesse the french king eyther the reuerence which he bare to religion reteyning him or the feare to stirre vppe other Princes against him driuing him to vse a moderacion in his fortune determined not to vse thoccasion of his victorie but with a councell perhaps more religious then profitable he addressed his commaundements to Ioh. Iac. Tryuulce to returne with the armie to the Duchie of Myllan leauing Bolognia to the Bentyuoleis and making restitucion of all other peeces which he occupied of the Church To these actions so gracious and affable he added wordes and demonstracions no lesse acceptable and full of pietie for he forbad throughout his Realmes to make any publike signes of gladnes And protested oftentymes in the presence of many that notwithstanding he had nothing committed against the sea Apostolike nor against the person of the Pope And much lesse done any thing but by prouocacion and constraint yet he would come to humilitie with the Pope and for the reuerence and deuocion he bare to that sea he would sue for pardon where he had done no offence he perswaded him selfe that the Pope knowing by experience what were the difficulties of his conceites and being reassured of the suspiciō which he had of him without occasion would with all his hart come to desire peace the practise and negociacion whereof had not bene altogether giuen ouer seeing the Pope since he parted from affore Bolognia had for that occasion sent to the king thēbassador of the king of Skotland continuing to solicit the same points which by the same Bishop had bene begon to be debated with the Bishop of Gurce In this disposicion to peace ioyned also the famulie of the Bentyuoleis who notwithstanding they followed thauthoritie of the king yet they signified to the Pope that much lesse they would expresse contumacie and rebellion to the Churche seeing they layed them selues downe with ready and franke mindes to liue and dye in that subiection wherein their fathers had continued by so many yeares And in token thereof they did not onely sette at libertie the Bishop of Cluse but according to the auncient vsage they lodged him in the pallayce as Liefetenant to the sea Apostolike Tryuulce departed with th armie and drew neare to Mirandola to recouer it notwithstanding at the request of Iohan. Fran. Piqua Vitfruch was entred vnder cooller to hold it in the name of Caesar And by protestacion had sent to require Tryuulce that because it was of the iurisdiction of thEmpire he should absteine from all violent action But finding in the ende that his vayne authoritie was not sufficient he went his way Tryuulce giuing him onely certaine promisses more honorable for Caesar in shewe then in effect The like did Iohn Fran. after he had safeconduit for goods and life And Triuulce hauing to follow no other expedicion sent to the gard of Verona fiue hundred launces and a thowsand three hundred launceknights vnder Capteine Iacob And reseruing to him selfe two thowsand fiue hundred Gascoins vnder the regiment of Capteine Molard and Mangiron which with the companies of the men at armes he sent dispersed into the townes of the Duchie of Myllan he gaue leaue dismissed all the other bandes of footemen But to the desire and hope of the king was nothing agreeable the disposicion of the Pope who rising into a newe courage by the reuoking of the armie And being euery day made more hard and obstinat by the thinges that in deede should haue made him more easie and tractable seing withall that at Rymyny where he yet remeyned he laye tormented with the gowte In the middest of so many perplexeties he sette downe more in the personne of a Victor then one that was vanquished and that by the meane and working of the same Skottishe Embassador That the Duke of Ferrara shoulde paye to him hereafter the tributes which he was wont to paye before the diminucion whiche had bene made by Pope Alexander That the Churche shoulde holde a Visdomino in Ferrara as the Venetians dyd before And that there should bee rendered to him Lugo with the other townes which Alfonso d'Este possessed in Romagnia These condicions notwithstanding they seemed to the kinge no lesse greeuous then to holde too muche of iniquitie yet the desire to haue peace with the Pope preuailing aboue all other respectes he made aunswere that he was contented to consent to all those demaundes so farre forth as Caesar might also condiscend and concurre in them But the Pope being now returned to Rome seemed with the place to chaunge both councell and will the perswasions of the king of Aragon helping no lesse then his naturall lightnes and mutabilitie
that expedicion which the occasions required by reason of his nature estraunged from exspenses him selfe no lesse slow in many prouisions but specially to wage new soldiours he fell into new suspicions of the stirring of the Svvyzzers of which nation for that heretofore we haue sette downe some generall mention in sondry places it can not be inconuenient to the present purpose to deale somewhat more perticularly The Svvyzzers which are those peoples whom auncient histories cal Heluetians haue their habitations in the most high mounteins of Iura named S. Claudo S. Brigit S. Godat A race of men naturally valiant warlike and rude And for the sterilitie of the contrey more giuen to grazing then to tillage They haue bene in times past vnder the subiection of the Dukes of Austrich whose iurisdiction they shaked of by rebellion many yeares sithens They haue their pollicie gouernment of them selues without any signe of depēding or relation to either Emprours kings or other Princes They are diuided into xiij communalties which they call cantons euery of them seuerally are gouerned by Magistrates lawes ordenances proper perticular They hold their parliament or councel euery yeare or more often if occasion necessitie require wherein they dispute of vniuersal affaires their assemblies meetings being not subiect to certeinty of places but referred as best pleaseth the Deputies of euery canton They call those assemblies dyets or iorneyes imitating the phrase customs of the Germains In them they resolue vpon peace vpon warre vpon confederacions vpon legacions demaunds made to leauy soldiours eyther by publike decree or by permission in them also they set downe directions for al things that apperteyne to their common interest when they agree by publike decree to deliuer soldiours the cantons chuse amongest them selues a Capteine general to whō they giue the banner with the enseigne name publike Their vnitie agreement together with the glory of their armes hath made them very notable renowmed thorow the regions of the earth notwithstanding for their outward shape personage they beare a presence barbarous rude for their behauior conuersacion hold more of inciuilitie then of comlines By their natural vallour ioyned to due discipline order they haue not onely at all times made valiant defense at home for their owne contrey but also in forreine warres they haue performed singuler feates of armes to their perpetuall praise wherein sure their recommendacion and merit had bene farre greater if they had expressed such effects of vallour for their proper iurisdiction and imperie and not bene mercenarie to thappoyntments of others for th increasing of the dominion of straungers or if they had sette before theyr eyes an ende more worthy and noble then the desire of money by the loue and corrupcion whereof they haue lost thoccasion to be feared and redoubted in Italy for where they haue not come out of their contrey but as soldiours waged mercenary they haue not caried back a publike frute of their victories The desire of gayne makes them for the most part to follow armies besides their huge pensions to be troublesom by new demaundes of payes almost intollerable To such as wage pay them they are for the most part hard vneasy in conuersation obediēce In their houses apart the principalls of them forbeare not to receiue giftes pensions of Princes to follow and fauour their faction in their dyets and parlyaments By reason whereof thinges publike being referred to priuat profit and fauors and voyces being made vendible and corrupted discordes by litle and litle haue bene kindled amongst them selues the same beeing thoccasion that matters which haue ben approued in the parliaments by the moste parte of the Cantons beginning not to be embraced and followed of all they fell at laste not many yeeres affore that time to manifest warres amongst them selues muche to the diminution of the authoritie which they bare throughout the partes of the worlde Somewhat belowe these be certayne townes villages inhabited by a people called Valleymen as hauing their dwellings in valleys they are inferiour to the Svvizzers in number in authoritie in vallour and in euery other disposition And yet more lower then they is an other generation of men called Grisons which are gouerned by three Cantons and vppon that are called the Lordes of the three leagues the capitall towne of their countrey is called Coire they haue often societie and confederation with the Svvizzers and with them they go commonly to the warre they haue almoste the same policie the same lawes the same constitution of maners and customes In matters of armes and vallour they are preferred affore the valley men but they holde no comparison with the Svvizzers eyther in numbers in politie or in vertue The Svvizzers then who at that time were not so muche degenerate and corrupted as they haue beene since tooke incitation by the Pope and prepared to discende vpon the Duchie of Millan both dissembling that that leauie of armes proceeded of the vniuersitie of the Cantons and also spreading a brute that the Canton of Svvitz and Fribourg were the authors of the action ▪ of whom the first tooke his complaint and consideration of this that a post of theirs passing throwe the duchie of Millan was murdred by certayne French souldiours The other pretended a reuenge for certayne particular wronges that had bene done to them The Councells of these and generally the resolution of the whole nation albeit they were affore signified to the French king yet they coulde do nothing to drawe him to accorde with them notwithstanding the aduise and perswasions of his Lordes and wise men concurred in it and the friendes and fauourers which he had amongst them gaue him hope to be hable to obteine it He was stayed also by his accustomed difficulties to enlarge their auncient pensions with twentie thousande frankes which may be a little more or lesse then tenne thousande duckets So that he refused for a matter of small price and vallue the amitie which afterwardes he would haue bought with infinite treasurs He perswaded him selfe that eyther they would not stirre at all or if they did at least they could not muche hurt him for that beeing accustomed to go to the warre on foote their want of horse and artilleries would bring great impedimentes to their seruice Besides about that time nowe was Nouember begonne the ryuers were swelled and they had neither vesselles nor bridges The vittayles of the Duchie of Millan were restrayned into fortresses and places of strength the townes thereabout well garded and kept and in the playne the men at armes were hable to make head agaynst them By whiche impedimentes and necessities he presumed that if they did march they would be constrayned eftsones to retyre But the Svvizzers taking little amaze by these difficulties began to discende at Varesa at which place their numbers increased continually They
by desire to be Cardinall was appoynted in an assembly of all the states of that ylande where he shewed with equall fauor full testimonie what was the iustice of the Popes cause Vppon this both it was determined to send the Prelats to the councell of Latran in the name of the whole Realme And also thimportunities of the Popes Embassador concurring the king commaunded the french kings Embassador to depart out of the Realme he published this reason of his commaundement that it was not cōuenient to enterteine about the person of a king and in a kingdome so deuout to the Churche a man that represented a king so manifestly persecuting the sea Apostolike Now began to be discouered the secret resolucion wherein the king of England with his armie by sea should molest the shoares of Normandy and Britaine should send eyght thowsand footemen into Spaine to make warre vpon the Duchie of Guyenu together with the forces of the king of Aragon A suspicion which not a litle afflicted the french king both for that the memorie of the warres past had made the english name very terrible to those peoples and also he knewe the daunger woulde grow so much the greater by how much the spanish forces were ioyned with them He was fearefull also by the consideracion of his owne weakenes hauing sent into Italy all his companies of men at armes sauing two hundred launces which if he should call backe eyther in part or in all the Duchie of Myllan which he esteemed much should remeyne in manifest perill And if for his resupplie he should encrease the auncient band of eyght hundred launces he could reapose litle confidence and hope for lesse assurance amyd so great daungers in persons newly created and vnexperiēced he added to this the suspicion of thallienacion of Caesar which daily more and more encreased for notwithstanding Andrevv Burgos whom he had sent with so great exspectacion and being returned brought tydings that Caesar was disposed to abide in the confederacion yet he made offers of very harde condicions entermedling many cōplaints for he required of the king to assure him to recouer al that apperteyned to him by the capitulacions of Cambray alleaging that he could no more trust in simple promisses for that he hath alwayes knowen both from the beginning and since that it was a matter very greeuous to the king that he should conquer Padoa And that to consume and hold him in continuall trauels he had willingly wasted two hundred thowsand duckats euery yeare knowing that to him the spēding of l. thowsand was much more That he had refused the last yeare to deliuer to him the person of Tryuulce being a Capteine that had both the will and the experience to put a speedy ende to the warre he required that the kings second Daughter being but two yeares olde might be promised to his Nephew induing her for her dowrye with Burgonnye and that the Daughter might presently be deliuered to his handes Lastly that there should be left referred to him the quarrells of Ferrara of Bolognia and the controuersie of the councell forbidding the french armie to march towards Rome protesting that he was not to endure that the king should any way encrease his estate in Italy These condicions of them selues greeuous and almoste intollerable were yet made more heauy by the experience he had that notwithstāding he should accord to him so many thinges yet he could not be assured that he would not varye eyther according to occasions or according to his custome yea thiniquitie of the condicions offered serued almost as a certeine argument that being already alienated from the french king he sought thoccasion to put it to effect vnder some cooller seeing that aswell in words as in works he disclosed many signes of an ill will for both the Proctors which he had so many tymes promised to sende to the councell of Pysa were not come with Burgos and also the Prelats assembled at Auspurge had at last made aunswer by a publike decree that the councell of Pysa was schismatike and detestable but yet with this moderacion that they were ready to chaunge sentence if they might be resolued in the contrary by reasons more strong and auaileable And yet notwithstanding the king at a tyme when he stoode most neede to assemble his forces was constrayned to menteyne at the request of Caesar two hundred launces and three thowsand footemen in Verona a garde of a thowsand footemen in Leguague Moreouer the feare of the Svvyzzers vexed not a litle the kings mind for albeit he had obteyned to send to their parliaments the Bayliffe of Amyens to whom he had giuen very ample commissions and was nowe resolued by discreete councell if such may be called councells discreete as are taken when thoportunitie of helping is past to spare no liberalities nor offers of money to reduce them to his amitie yet what with the hatred of the Commons which in this respit was made greater and with thimportunate perswasions of the Cardinall of Syon preuailing aboue thauthoritie of those that from parliament to parliament had hindred all resolucions that were to be made against him it was discerned that they inclined to send 6. thowsand footemen to the pay of the confederats who made demaund of them to oppose against the firme squadrons of the launceknightes Besides all this the king found him selfe depriued of all hopes of peace and agreement notwithstanding during the heate of the warre there had bene great labor and solicitacion made by the Cardinall of Nantes and the Cardinall of Strigonia A mightie Prelate of the Realme of Hungria for the Pope had made this last and resolute aunswer that if they would be better heard then before they shoulde so bringe to passe that the diabolicall councel of Pysa might be reuersed see restored to the Church her cities of Bolognia and Ferrara Wherein expressing no lesse violence in effects then furie in wordes he had newly deposed from their dignities many of the french Prelats which were resorted to the councell together with Phillipp Dece one of the most excellent lawyers of that time both for that he had written and disputed in the iustice of their cause and did follow the Cardinalls to be at hand for direction when matters required aduise and interpretacion of law In all these difficulties daungers and aduersities which inuyroned the french king on all sides he had not one firme or certeine footing in any part of Italy The estates of Ferrara and Bolognia serued him as in times past more for vexacions and charges then for any other vse And touching the Florentyns to whom he made a new instance to ioyne with him in a warre against Romagnia he could not draw from them other then general aunswers No he rather held them suspected by reason of the Vicerois Embassador of Naples ordinarily remeining at Florence but much more for that they had sent thEmbassador to the king Catholike did
could suffer no delay of action went out and sette vppon them at the village of Paterna where they were constrayned to retyre within the towne with the losse of more then three hundred men Conquest draweth with it ambicion insolencies and couetousnes And with men of warre triumphing in the victorie all things seeme to hold of equitie that they do in their rage and couetousnes for the Svvyzzers remeyning alone in the Duchie of Myllan and Pyemont deuised how to taxe and rate the whole contrey being now wholly assured of the french men And albeit the french king for the great affection he bare to the Duchie of Myllan was hardly brought to abandon altogether the affayres of Italy yet necessitie compelled him to harken to the councells of such as aduised him to deferre those deuises to an other tyme and dispose his witts for that sommer to defende the Realme of Fraunce The rather for that the king of England according to the contract made with the king Catholike had sent by sea an armye of six thowsand footemen to Fontarabio A towne of the kingdome of Spayne standing vppon the Occean sea the chiefe ende of this iorney was that ioyning to the companies of the sayd king Catholike they might in one mayne force assayle the Duchie of Guihen he beganne also with an other nauie to skower all alonge the coasts of Normandye and Brittaine to the great astonishment of the peoples of those prouinces Moreouer the french king had no hope to drawe agayne Caesar into amitie with him for that he vnderstoode by the Bishop of Marseilles his last Embassador resident in his Court that he bare a minde farre estraunged he aduertised him also that Caesar had not enterteyned him with so many hopes nor for other regarde debated with him vppon so many matters with so fayre apparance then to wynne occasion to oppresse him when he thought least of it or at least to gyue him as it were some violent and deadely blowe as he gloried that he had done at such tyme as he reuoked the launceknightes Thus Italy being for this yeare assured from the armies of the french king whose souldiours notwithstanding helde as yet Bressia Crema Leguague the castell and lanterne of Genes the castell of Myllan the castell of Cremona with certeine other fortresses of that estate There were discerned amongest the confederats many signes of difference and disagreement for the diuersitie of their wills and their endes for as the Venetians desired to recouer Bressia and Crema as due to them by the articles of capitulacion for that they had borne out the daungers troubles of the warre A matter which the Pope desired likewise for them So on the other side Caesar from whose will the king of Aragon at last could not be seperat thought to appropriate them to him selfe and also to depriue the Venetians of all that had bene iudged to them by the league of Cambray Besides Caesar and the king of Aragon practised but very secretly to make to diuolue the Duchie of Myllan to one of their Nephewes A working quite contrary to the Pope and the Svvyzzers who labored apparantly as much as they could that according to the vniuersall resolucion and consent from the beginning Maxymylian sonne to Lodovvyk Sforce might be restored to the place of his father after whose fall he had remeyned alwayes in Germanye The matter that moued the Pope was a feare he had least Italy shoulde fall into a miserable seruitude of the Almaines and Spanyards And that which induced the Svvyzzers was a desire for their owne profit that that estate shoulde not bee brought into the power of so mightie Princes but rather to stande subiected to one that could not menteyne him selfe without their ayde and succours Which election as it depended almost wholly vppon those in whose power was that estate and for the feare of their forces so the Pope the more to confirme them in that wil and in all necessities to haue in his hande the bridle with the which he might moderate thambicion of Caesar and the kinge Catholike did all that he could to winne their amitie And for that cause besides the great account he made publikely of the nation of Svvyzzers raysing to the starres the actions they had done for the sauetie of the sea Apostolike he gaue them yet for their greater honor the banners of the Church with this glorious title to bee the Champions and defenders of the Ecclesiastike libertie Besides these diuersities the Viceroy had readdressed the spanish companies which after the battell were retyred with him into the kingdom of Naples And beginning eftsoones to march and to passe with them into Lombardye the Pope and the Venetians refused to recontinue the payes of forty thowsand duckats by the moneth which had bene discontinued since the ouerthrowe Their reason was that seeing the frenche armie was chassed home they stoode no more subiect to suche bonde for that it was to ceasse by the articles of the confederacion when soeuer the frenche were expulsed out of Italy Whereunto was replyed on the behalfe of the King of Aragon that it could not bee sayde that the Frenche King was dryuen out of Italy so long as Bressia Crema with other many stronge places stoode at his deuocion Moreouer the Kinge of Aragon together with Caesar complayned in that the Pope did appropriat to him selfe the profitts of the victorie that was common to them both And vsurped that which manifestly apperteyned to an other making him selfe Lorde vnder cooller of certeine reasons subborned or at least so olde and withered that their force was gonne vppon Parma and Plaisance cities which the Lordes of Myllan had holden so long tyme as freeholders of thEmpire The diuersitie was also expressed for matters that concerned the Duke of Ferrara for as the Pope on the one side nourished his auncient couetousnes to vsurpe that Dukedom so on the other side the king of Aragon who desired to preserue protect him stoode yet discontented with the iniurie that was offered to haue staied him at Rome contrary to the law of faith safeconduit giuen for these reasons the Pope deferred to vexe Ferrara exspecting perhaps the yssue of affayres of farre greater importance whereof Caesar not thinking good that any resolucion were made without him dispatched into Italy the Bishop of Gurcy whom he had appoynted to that expedicion euer since after the battell of Rauenna there was negociacion of peace betweene the Pope and the French king he appoynted to sende him then for the feare he had least they compownded amongest them selues without respecting him and his affayres but the mutacion of thinges hapning afterwards he still continued his deuise to sende him In like sorte fell into consideracion the affayres of the Florentyns who beeing filled full of suspicion began now to feele the frutes of the newtralitie which vndiscrâ—etely they had vsed finding with all that it was not sufficient to beare themselues vpon the
king of Nauarre being also not ignorant whither those demaundes tended chused rather to offer him selfe to a perill that was vncerteine then to accept a losse certeine hoping he should not faile of the succors promised by the french king for whose affayres it came well to passe that the warre begon in the Realme of Nauarre And at the same tyme eyther to giue more leasure to such as were appoynted to come to his succours or to deliuer him selfe if he could from those demaundes he treated with the king of Aragon who according to his custom proceeded in those conferences with great cunning But the industrie and warines of the king of Aragon hurt not more the king of Nauarre then the negligence of the french king who taking courage by the slownes of thEnglish armie that for many dayes since they were arriued at Fontarabye had done nothing And trusting withall that the king of Nauarre was able with his owne forces to defende him selfe for a tyme deferred very long to send him succours By the commoditie of which delayes the king of Aragon who had cunningly nourished and enterteyned the hopes of the king of Nauarre conuerted thether with great expedicion the bandes which he had prepared to ioyne with thEnglish So that the king of Nauarre both vnprepared of him selfe and by his priuacion of hope dispayring to be able to make resistance gaue place to his fortune and fled into Bearu beyond the Pyreney hils By which accident the Realme of Nauarre was left abandoned except certeine stronge places which yet held out for the king who in his feare was fled And so without any exspenses or difficultie and more for feare and reputacion of thEnglish that were at hand then by his owne forces that were farre of the king of Aragon made him selfe Lorde of that kingdom And because he could not affirme that he possessed it lawefully with any other title he alleaged that he was rightfully and iudicially impatronised of it by thauthoritie of the sea Apostolike for the Pope not satisfied for the happy successe of Italy had a litle before published a Bull against the french king wherein naming him no more Christianissimo but illustrissimo he subiected aswell his person as whosoeuer were his adherents to all the paynes of heretykes and schismatykes giuing sufferance to euery one to occupy their substances estates and all that apperteyned vnto them And in the same seueritie and rigour ioyned to an indignacion that the Cardinalls and other Prelats who were fled to Myllan had bene receiued into the towne of Lyon he commaunded vnder greeuous penalties and taxacions that the fayre or mart accustomed to be kept at Lyon foure tymes euery yeare the traffike of Marchantes beeing no lesse plentifull then the resort of straungers infinit shoulde bee hereafter transferred to the citie of Geneua from whence king Lovvys the eleuenth had taken it for the benefitte of his kingdome And lastly he had brought the whole Realme of Fraunce vnder thinterdiction Ecclesiasticall In his malice he omitted nothing that might apperteyne to seueritie or rigour But after the king of Aragon had conquered the kingdom of Nauarre which albeit is but of litle circuit and of lesse reuenue yet for the situacion it is very conuenient for the kingdom of Spayne and greatly auaileable to the sewertie of it he determined in him selfe to passe no further esteeming it no lesse against his profit then inconuenient for his sauetie to make warre against the french king beyond the Mountes In this respect as also euen from the beginning that thEnglishmen arriued he had beene dilatorie in bringing forth his forces rather temporising with euasions and deuises then aduauncing according to the true meaning of his promisse And after the conquest of Nauarre as the English solicited him to ioyne his forces with them to th ende to marche together and incampe affore Bayon A citie neare to Fontarabye and almoste standing vppon the Occean sea so he protracted thexpedicion they required and proponed other enterprises in places remoued from the sea alleaging that Bayonne was so manned and fortefied that there was no hope or possibilitie to cary it These reasons were aunswered and auoided by thenglishmen who without the towne of Bayonne esteemed nothing of all the other conquest of the Duchie of Guyhenno And therefore after thenglish armie had vainely spent much time to vrge the king that was altogether vnwilling they contemned his suttleties and delayes embarked to returne into England without commission or licēce of their Prince By the retyring of which armie the french king remeyned assured on that side And fearing no more thinuasions of thEnglish by sea for that at last he was become so stronge by sea that he commaunded all that part of the Occean from the coastes of Spayne to the shoares of England he determined to make tryall if he could reconquer the Realme of Nauarre To which expedicion he was encouraged besides the departing of thEnglish fleete for that by reason of his aduersities in Italy all his bandes of souldiours that remeyned were returned into Fraunce At the tyme that the king of Aragon gaue hope to thEnglishmen to enter into the warre the better to bring vnder him the whole iurisdiction of the Realme of Nauarre he had sent certeine regiments of men to S. Ioh. Pie de Porto which is the last place of that kingdom standing at the foote of the Pireney hills on that side towards Fraunce And afterwards as the french forces began to encrease thereabouts he had sent thether with the maine armie Federyk Duke of Alba capteine general of the warre But the french armie at laste beeing become farre more mightye by the presence of the Daulphin Charles Duke of Burbon and Monsr Longeville the very flowers of the Realme of Fraunce The Duke of Alba lying encamped in a stronge place betweene the plaine and the Mountaine held it an action very necessary to that seruice to let the french men for entring into the Realme of Nauarre The french men not able to force him out of that place for the strength of his situacion determined that the king of Nauarre with seuen thowsand footemen of his contrey and Monsr Palissa with his companie of three hundred launces remouing from Sauueterra neare to S. Ioh. Pie de Porto where the whole armie lay should passe the Pireney hils by the way of the vale of willowes And drawing neare to Pampelune the Capitall towne of the kingdom their deuise was to occupy the way of the willowes by the which were brought to the spanish armie vittells whereof the sterrilitie of the contrey had made them suffer great want In Pampeluna the peoples taking corage by the nearenes of the french men beganne already to draw to mutinie not otherwaies rebelling then to releeue their king for whose restoring they thought it good deuocion to aduenture their liues This was theffect of this deuise After the king of Nauarre and Monsr Palissa had wonne
to continue with him thamity begon with his predecessor the iniuries he had receiued frō the king Catholik being yet fresh in memory There came at the same tyme an embassage frō the duke of Austrich wherof the lord of Nausan was chief in this embassage for the regard of th erle of Flaūders wherof the kings of Fraūce are soueraignes were discerned demonstrations of great submission in acknowledging of superiority Both the one the other of these embassages had a ready happy expedition for touching the king of England the confederation betwene him the late king was cōfirmed vnder the same conditions so long as either of thē should liue reseruing a respite of iij. yeres for the Skottish king to enter in it And for tharchduke many differences ceassed which many men supposed would haue giuē great impediments to the action of the peace But the archduke being now in full maiority newly taken vpon him the gouernment of his estates was drawne to the peace for many causes first for thinstance of the peoples of Flaunders who would in no wise haue warre with the realme of Fraunce Secondly for a desire he had to be assured of such impediments as might be opposed against him by the French in the succession of the realme of Spayne when the death of his grandfather should happen And lastly for that he thought it to great a daunger to dwell without any league of amitie in the middest of the powers of England and Fraunce being conioyned together And on the other side the king desired greatly to take awaye all occasions that might restrayne him to be gouerned by thauthoritie counsell of his grandfather eyther by the fathers or mothers side So that at last there was enacted betwene them in the towne of Paris a perpetuall peace confederation reseruing facultie to Caesar the king Catholike without whose authorities tharchduke contracted to take their place in this peace within three monethes In this capitulation was promised thaccomplishment of the mariage betwene the Archduke and Lady Renee daughter to king Lovvis solicited so many times before and that the king should endue the mariage of Lady Renee with six hundred thousande crownes and the duchy of Berry in perpetuitie aswell for her children as for her This dowry in respect of her insufficient age at that time should be assigned to her assone as she should come to the age of ix yeres vnder this condition notwithstāding that she should renounce al rights of inheritance either by the father or mother namely such as might apperteine to her of the duchy of Millan Britaine That the king should be bounde to ayde the archduke with men ships to go to the kingdome of Spayne after the death of the king Catholike At the request of the king the duke of Gueldres was also named and as some write besides the matters afore rehearsed it was agreed that in bothe their names ioyntly embassadors should be sent to the king of Aragon to require him to publish tharchduke prince of the realmes of Spayne such is the title of him to whom the succession apperteineth That he would render the kingdome of Nauarre absteine from the defence of the duchie of Millan Here it is not to be doubted that both these two Princes making this confederation looked not more to the present cōmoditie that appeared then to thobseruatiō of the same in time to come for what fundation could be layde vpon the mariage that was promised the Lady Renee bearing as yet scarcely foure yeres And how could it please the Frenche king that that damsell should be the wife of tharchduke who her eldest sister being the kings wife had her action prepared vpō the duchy of Britaine for that the Britons desiring once to haue a particular duke at such time as Anne their Duchesse maryed the seconde time agreed that the dukedome should apperteine to the youngest of the children and discendantes of her if the eldest were preferred to the Crowne of Fraunce In like sort the French king treated with the king Catholike to prolong the truce made with his predecessor but to leaue out this condition not to molest the duchie of Millan during the truce he hoped he should afterwards compounde easily with Caesar By which reason he kept in suspence the Venetians who offred to renewe the league made with his predecessor wishing that he were in his liberty to accord with Caesar agaynst them But the king Catholike notwithstanding he stoode still possessed of his desire not to haue warre in the frontiers of Spayne considering how great suspicion the prolongation of the truce might giue to the Svvizzers which mighte also be the cause that the Pope who till then had bene in doubt might turne to the french amity refused at last to prolong the truce but vnder the same conditions it had bene renued with the last king So that the Pope shut out of that hope and lesse exspecting to contract with Caesar agaynst the will and councelles of that king reconfirmed with the Senate of Venice the league in the same fourme it had bene made with his predecessor Nowe there remayned the Pope and the Svvizzers Touching the Svvizzers he required that they woulde admitte his Embassadors but they refused to giue them saffe conduit vsing the same rudenes they had done before And for the Pope vpon whose will depended wholly the Florentyns herequired no other thing of him then that he would kepe him out of all bond to th end that when by the trayne of affaires he should be councelled to resolue it might be in his power to make choice of the better perswading him that he should neuer finde in any either for his owne perticular or for the aduauncement of his house a greater amitie A more assured faith or more honorable condicions After the king had layd these foundacions for his affayres he beganne with great care to leauie prouisions of money and to encrease the bandes of his men at armes to the number of foure thowsand he published that he made those preparacions not of intencion to make warre for that yeare but onely to make head against the Svvyzzers who threatned him to inuade Burgondy or Dauphine if he would not accomplish the couenants made at Dyon in the name of the late king Many beleeued him in the semblāces he made the rather for thexample of the kings of Fraunce who haue alwaies forborne to intangle the first yeare of their raigne with newe warres But that coniecture caried not such impression in the mindes of Caesar and the king of Aragon to whome the kinges youth was suspected and the facilitie he had more then other kinges to commaund all the forces of the kingdom of Fraunce and the loue of his people opening a way and readines to all that he would desire Besides they were not ignorant of the great preparacions that king Lovvys had left the same making demonstracion that seeing he was assured
defence or losse of the Duchie of Millan should be executed onely with the daunger and blood of the Svvizzers who not staying for any impediment or small quantitie of money in prest discended by such heapes and trowpes into the duchie of Millan that their armie there was aboue twentie thousande of whome ten thousande were drawne neare to the mountaynes It was a councell taken amongest them to keepe agaynst the French the strayte passages of those valleys which beeing at the foote of the Alpes that deuide Italie from Fraunce come to open them selues vpon the playnes of Lombardie This councel of the Svvizzers troubled greatly the minde of the king who afore had promised to himselfe an assured victorie by the greatnes of his forces not remēbring that the successe of warre respecteth other considerations then the multitudes of souldiors he had in his armie two thousande fiue hundred launces xxij thousande launceknightes ledde by the duke of Gueldres ten thousande footemen of Peter Nauarre eight thousande Frenchemen and three thousande laborers that were payed according to the rate of the other footemen The king considered with hys capteines that in regarde of the vallour of the Svvizzers it was impossible to driue them from those strayte and strong passages but with a farre greater number And yet considering the nature of those straites so great numbers could not be but hurtfull to the seruice and muche lesse in so litle tyme could they do any thing of consequence and least of all be hable to nourishe any long season so great an army in a contrey so barreine notwithstanding there was continuall traffike of vittels to the mountaynes Amid these difficulties some of the capteines that were of opinion rather to diuert and drawe them away then to set vpon them gaue counsell to sende out eight hundred launces through Prouince and Peter Nauarre by sea with his ten thousande contrey men which should all ioyne together at Sauonne Others were of aduise that to go so farre about were to loase too muche time that it would weaken th armie and increase too muche the reputation of thenemies who woulde not doubt to boast that they had not the corage to encounter with them So that it was resolued that not retyring so muche from that straite they should assay to passe by some other way that eyther was not kept by thenemies or at least not so strongly defended And that Emard de Prio with foure hundred launces and fiue thousande footemen should take the waye to Genes not in hope to drawe them downe from their mountaynes but to make warre vpon Alexandria and the other townes beyonde Pavv There be two wayes in the Alpes that leade ordinarily from Lyons into Italie the one is called Monsane a mountayne within the iurisdiction of the duke of Sauoy it is the shortest way the straightest way and most beaten way The other is called the mounte Geneure within the gouernment of Dauphine a way longer then the other and leades by crookings and turnings to Grenoble both the one and the other falleth into the way of Susa where the playne beginneth to enlarge But the French armies are alwaies wont to passe by the Mount Geneure notwithstanding it be a way somewhat longer because it hath a facilitie of passage more conuenient to draw thartillerie The Svvizzers that were carefull to keepe those two passages the other pathes thereaboutes were lodged at Susa the cause was that the passages which be lower drawing towards the sea were so streate and steepe that it seemed impossible to drawe any artillerie being verye harde to passe thither the horses of so great an armie On the other side Triuulco to whom the king had giuen that charge being followed with very many pyoners and hauing about him men paynefull and experienced to drawe artilleries whom he sent to searche the places that were there went sounding the passages if he could finde libertie of way without impediment of the Svvizzers By which occasion the armie that for the moste parte was dispersed betweene Grenoble and Brianson marched slowely exspecting what should be determined wherevnto there was a constraynt by a necessitie to abyde the prouisions of vittells About this time the king of Englande sent a gentleman to the French king who was nowe departed from Lyons to tell him on the behalfe of his king that he ought not to passe into Italie for feare to trouble the vniuersall peace of Christendome The cause of so great variation and chaunge of that king was that he was ielouse of the alliance betwene Fraunce and the Archduke fearing least the affayres of that Crowne would take a course too happy In which considerations he began afterwards to giue willing eare to thembassadors of the king Catholike who with continuall reasons put into his minde howe hurtefull the greatnes of the Frenche king would be to him in whom he coulde not hope for anye other affection then of an enemie aswell for the naturall hatred of that nation as for his late actions of warre and hostilitie done agaynst him But the thing that most moued him was the emulation and enuy of his glorie which he thought would be raysed to too high degrees if he wonne the victorie in the state of Millan he thought in himselfe that notwithstanding he found his kingdome in rest and very populous for the long peace it had lyued in together with a great masse of treasor which his father had gathered yet he neuer had the corage tyll within certayne yeres to inuade the realme of Fraunce alone and enuironed with so many enemies and broken with so many aduersities That nowe the Frenche king somewhat younger then he was at suche time as he came to the crowne albeit he founde his kingdome ouerwearyed and made poore with so many warres durst yet in the first monethes of his raigne go to an enterprise for the whiche so many princes were banded against him That touching him with all his huge preparations and so many occasions he had not brought into England any other profite then the citie of Tornay and that with expences intollerable and infinite But the Frenche king would returne with great glory into his kingdome bringing with him the conquest of so braue a duchie and would open the waye and happly take the occasion affore he retyred his armie out of Italie to inuade the realme of Naples These were the motions that easily renewed in his minde his auncient and naturall hatred But for that he was not at that time prepared to giue impediment to the Frenche king with armes wherein happly he sought some occasion and cooller he thought good to sende him this message The king nor his armie forbare not for all that to marche taking their waye from Lyon to Dauphine where met with the armie the Launceknightes otherwise called the blacke bandes guided by Robert de la Marche together with all the regimentes of lowe Almains so greatly esteemed for their vallour their
fayth and loyaltie which they had alwayes shewed in the French seruices At this time Iohn Ia. Triuulco aduertised the king that his artilleries might be caryed ouer the Mountes neare the Alpes of the sea discending towards the Marquisdome of Saluzze he wrote that the passage was full of many difficulties but yet the strength of men and instruments would make that easie which by nature was harde And because on that side neither on the toppes of the Mountaynes nor in the entry of the vallies there was no garde he perswaded the king that it was better to assaye to ouercome the difficulties of mountaynes and the straitnes of vallyes an action with payne but not with daunger of men then to aduenture to winne the passages from the Svvyzzers whose vallour was not more terrible then their obstinacie beeing desperate eyther to vanquishe or dye Besides the army coulde not staye there many dayes if any resistance were made for that no power or preparation was able to bring through places so impassible and barreine sufficient prouision of vittells to feede so many mouthes This counsell was allowed and followed and immediatly thartillerie that laye in a place conuenient to be turned on all partes began to marche that way And as Triuulco had aduertised the king that the difficultie to passe the artilleries was very great so also he sayde thexperience would be found harder when it was put to action and triall for first they must of necessitie mount vpon very high and sharpe mountaynes and that not without extreme difficultie bothe for that there was no oportunitie of pathes or wayes nor yet so muche largenesse of rometh as the artilleries conteined but suche as was made by the ayde of the pyoners from hande to hande There were many of those laborers that marched before whose seruice was ready sometimes to breake downe and enlarge the straites and sometimes to digge vp the hillockes and lumpes of earth that gaue impedimēt to the passage of thartilleries from the toppes of those mountaynes they discended by broken cliffes whose onely aspect gaue feare to the beholders into moste deepe vallies of the ryuer of Argentiero By the difficultie of these cliffes oftentimes thartilleries could not be susteined neither with the horses that drew them whose number was great nor with the shoulders of the laborers that guyded them and therefore very often they were driuen to dismount them and in fastning them to greate cables they founde a waye to make them discende by the handes of the footemen whose readynes in these paynefull actions was nothing inferior to the greatnes of their trauell The labour ceassed not when they had ouercome the first mountaynes and the first vallies for that they founde others which of necessitie they muste passe with the same difficulties At the last about the ende of fiue dayes the pollicie of the leaders and paynes of the labourers opened a waye for thartillerie through the mountaynes into the enlarged places of the Marquisdome of Salussa but with such hardnes and importunitie of trauell that if eyther they had encountred anye resistance or the Mountaynes had bene couered with snowes as they were wont to be the moste parte of the yere it is most certayne that they had taken in vayne so great trauell The matter that deliuered them from the resistance and impedimentes of men was thopinion and perswasion of the troublesome and impassible mountaines which abusing the Svvizzers with securitie made them to lodge without suspicion at Susa carefully garding and watching the places which of necessitie must be passed by suche as discende the mount Seni or Geneura or the mountaynes adioyning to them And the season of the yeare being then vpon the tenth of August had taken from them thimpediment of snowes which were already melted At the same time passed the men at armes and bandes of footemen not without the same difficulties some by that way and some by the passage called la Dragoniera the residue by the high toppes of the rocke Perotta and Cuny passages more lower towards Prouence By these passages Monsr Palissa passed to whome an occasion was offred to do an acte worthy of memory He departed from Singlaro with foure cornetts of lighte horsemen and after he had marched long with great diligence by the guiding of the countrey men he arriued without any suspicion at Villafranco a towne seuen myles from Salussa and of the which goeth a greater fame and reputation then the qualitie of the towne requireth for that the head of that notable ryuer of Pavv riseth out of a place very neare it In that towne laye lodged with his companies Prospero Colonno doubting no daunger by the farre distance of the enemies in whom he feared not that diligence and celeritie which him selfe beeing of nature slowe and heauy had not wont to vse some suppose that he ment the same day to depart and ioyne his strength with the Svvizzers ▪ A matter wherein he might in some sort abuse his carefulnesse But what propertie of destinie soeuer did guyde him it is sure that as he was set at the table at dinner the bands of souldiors of Palissa arriued being not discerned of any till the certentie of the perill tooke away all their pollicie to auoide it They were vpon the counterskarfes of his lodging affore he could be perswaded that they were come so profitable is celeritie in an enterprise and so effectuall is sodayne feare agaynst enemies surprised He was holpen in this action besides his industrie and speede by the townesmen with whom Palissa thirsting after so goodly a pray had first secretly conspired and by their aydes was seased vpon their skowtes and sentynells So that Prospero Colonno a capteine of so great name and in whome aswell for his authoritie in gouerning an armie as for the credite he had in the duchie of Millan rested no small importance for this warre was made prisoner the xv day of August farre otherwyse then apperteyned to his auncient glory Peter Margano a Romayne was companion with him in this fortune together with parte of his companies and the residue at the firste brute fledde in their feare to diuerse places The discending of the Frenche armie ouer those inuincible passages together with the calamitie of Prospero Colonno chaunged the counsels of euery one and confused wholly thestate of all affayres kindling new dispositions in the mindes of the Pope the Viceroy and the Svvizzers for the Pope who was constantly perswaded that the French king coulde not passe the Mountes for the impedimentes of the Svvizzers and reapposing no lesse in the vertue of Prospero Colonno was nowe galled and greeued in courage commaunding his nephew Laurence capteine generall of the Florentins to marche but slowely To him he had giuen charge to leade the armie into Lombardie for that Iulian his brother was constrayned to abyde at Florence by the occasion of a long and paynefull feuer This Laurence beeing come to Modena three dayes after the
reskew to the Castell of Millan notwithstanding they had abandoned the vallies and the townes of Bellinzone Lugarno but not the Castles Neuerthelesse the king obteined the Castell of Lugarno in corrupting the capteine with six thousande crownes onely the Grisons would not abandon Chiauanna At laste the Bishop of Tricaro laying afore him the daunger least the king would inuade Parma and Plaisanca and sende men of warre into Tuskane and making great terror of the harmes that the Svvizzers had receyued at the battell of Marignan the Pope was content to ratifie the peace albeit vnder this moderation that neyther he nor his Agentes should be bound to giue vp into the kings handes Parma and Plaisanca but by leauing them voyde of men and officers to giue libertie to the king to enter vppon them That the Pope shoulde not be bounde to leauie his people from Verona for that he woulde not commit suche a propertie of iniurie agaynst Caesar and yet he promised to do it vpon the next conuenient occasion Lastely that the Florentins should be holden absolued of the protended breaking of the league The accorde bare also that the king shoulde not take vpon him the protection of any vassall or subiect of thestate of the Church and that not onely he should not hinder the Pope as their supreme lorde to procede agaynst them with correction but also he should be bounde to minister ayde to him in that action when necessitie required Moreouer it was debated that the Pope and the French king should haue an enterview together in some place conuenient A matter offred by the king particularly but desired indifferently by them both The king sought it the better to establish that amity to assure thestates of such his friends as he had in Italie and lastly for that he hoped with his presence and offring great aduauncementes to the Popes brother nephew to winne of him his consent to inuade the realme of Naples A matter which was one of his greatest desires The Pope wished this enteruiew to th end that with that office and obseruance very proper to winne grace amitie with euery one to enterteine the king whilest he stoode in so great fortune and prosperitie Manye thought not well of this deliberation as an action vnworthy of the maiestie of a Pope and that it more apperteined to the king desiring to haue conference with him to go seeke him and do reuerence to him at Rome but the Pope gaue it out that he was so muche the more ready to condiscende to this meeting by how much he was desirous to induce the king not to molest the realme of Naples during the life of the king Catholik who to the iudgement of man could not liue long for that it was more then a yere since he was yll disposed In this meane while Peter of Nauarre was labouring to cary the Castel of Millan and hauing wonne a mordring house vpon the castell ditche whiche on the flanke side had his prospect vpon the gate of Coma and afterwards approching nearer the ditch and the castell wall by the helpe of pauisses and engines of wood be began to worke a myne within the sayd ditche And when he had remoued the defences he began to labor more mynes taking away with the helpe of his engines a great paue or space of the wall on the flanke of the Castell and applyed his hookes and Rammes to make it fall at the same instaunt that he put fyre to hys mynes Matters which albeit in cōmon iudgement seemed not sufficient to cary the castell but with great difficultie long time that there was good intelligence that the Svvizzers by the resolucion of Zurich prepared to succour it yet a practise being begon betwene Iohn Gonsago the duke of Millans capteine which was within the castel the Duke of Burbon his parent Ierome Morono with two other Svvizzer Capteines interposing also in the action the resolucion was concluded the fourth day of October not without a wonderfull maruell of all men Ierome Morono was specially blamed for this conclusion for that either through feare which was naturall in him or for want of faith which was neuer imputed to him he had vsed his authority to perswade the Duke to agreement Neuerthelesse he excused him selfe vppon certeine controuersies and mutinies hapned betwene the footmen of the Svvizzers and the Italians Tharticles of thaccord were that Maximilian Sforce should immediatly giue vp into the hands of the french king the castells of Millan and Cremona That he should depose him selfe of all rights interests which he had in that estate That he should receiue of the king a certeine proporcion of money to pay his dets That he should go into Fraunce where the king should indue him with a yearely pension of thirtie thowsande duckats or procure him to be made Cardinall with the same reuenue That the king should pardon Galeas Viscont with certeine other gentlemen of that Duchie who had followed the seruice of Maximilian That he should distribute amongst the Svvizzers that were within the castel six thousand crownes That he should confirme to Iohn Gonzago the goods that he held in thestate of Millan by the gift of the Duke and enlarge his liuing with some yearely pension That he should in like sorte ratifie to Morono as well the goods that apperteined to him in property as others that he had of the Dukes gift together with the offices he exercised and should make him Maister of requests of the court of Fraunce vpon the publicacion of this accord Maximilian surnamed the More according to the name of his father departed out of the castell and went into Fraunce he sayed it was a sweete aduersity that brought with it prosperitie for that by that exchaunge of fortune he was drawne out of the seruitude of the Svvizzers the ill dealings of Caesar and the deceits of the Spanyards In this alteracion also men seemed more to allowe of the working of fortune that she had so speedily deposed him from such a degree then that affore she had exalted a man who for his incapacity inconstant thoughts and most fowle maners of life was vnworthy of all greatnes Affore the castell of Millan was restored there were sent to the king as Embassadors from Venice these foure of the most principal and honorable of the Senate Antho Grimani Dominike Treuisan George Cornaro Andrevv Gritti Their comming was to congratulat with the king of his victorie and to beseech him by the vertue of the capitulacions of the league to ayde them to recouer their townes An enterprise wherein they had no other impediments then the forces of Caesar the Popes regiments that were within Verona vnder the charge of Marke Antho. Colonno for the Viceroy after he was gone from of the marches of Plaisanca and had reposed some fewe dayes vpon the frontiers of Modona exspecting the Popes ratification to thaccord with the french king he withdrew with all
hopes that had bene giuen and also for an exspectation of eyght thousande footemen to come out of Germanie whiche the Capteines that laye about Bressia had no confidence to be hable to hinder The Venetians to couer someway thignominie of their retrait were contented to agree with the defendauntes of Bressia that if they were not succoured within thirtie dayes they would abandon the Citie and go out of it with their ensignes displayed their artilleries and what else apperteined to them A promise whiche euery one knewe would serue to no purpose for th assurance they had of succours only it was a thing profitable to them of Bressia to be deliuered in the meane whyle from aduersities and afflictions Afterwardes the Venetians put eyght thousand footmen within Bre â–ª a towne subect to the Counts of Lodrono but assone as they heard the launceknights marched to whom the Castell of Auso was rendred they retyred cowardly to th armie The capteins themselues showed no greater resolution corage who fearing to be charged at one time both by those bands the defendantes of Bressia and also by Mark Antho â–ª Colonno with the regiments that were within Verona retired to Gueda whither they had sent afore being assured of that accident their greatest sortes of artillerie and almost all their baggage And the launceknights that entred into Verona without impediment returned into Germanie after they had refurnished it of vittells and reenforced the garrison During these accidents and enterchaunge of affayres the Pope and the French king had agreed vppon an enteruiewe at Bolognia A place which the king accepted affore Florence because he would not be farre remoued from the Duchie of Millan And chiefly for that the Duke of Sauoye managed continually the negociacion of accord betweene him and the Svvyzzers But some thought he made election of that place for that in passing into Tuskane he should be constrayned to leade with him a great trayne of souldiours to th ende he should not enter into Florence with a lesse pompe then did the late king Charles before him for dressing of which pomp it behoued him to spend certeine daies in deferring a matter by so much more grieuous and intollerable to the king by how much besides generall respects it would breede occasion to make him reteyne yet longer the whole armie whereof albeit the exspenses were great yet made he no reckoning nor resolucion to send away any parte of it so long as his person remeyned in Italy Thus the Pope entred into Bolognia the eyght daye of December and after him the king made his entry within two dayes and to receiue him were gone to the confyns of the contry of Reggia the Cardinalls Fiesquâ— and Medicis Legats Apostolyke The king entred without many bandes of souldiers and with no great trayne of Court and Courtyers And beeing conueyed according to the manner of kinges into the publike Consistorie affore the Popes presence he offered in his owne person his great Chauncellor deliuering the speech for him the obedience which till then he had not protested They were lodged three dayes together in one pallace showing one to another right great and manifest tokens of good will and amitie They confirmed at this meeting with wordes and promisses the obligacions and contracts passed affore and debated besides of many thinges touching the Realme of Naples which for that the king was in no readines to assayle at that tyme he contented him selfe with the great hope and assurances which the Pope gaue to fauor him in that enterprise eyther assoone as the king of Aragon should dye who in reasonable iudgement coulde not longe liue or when the confederacion which he had with him should be ended which yet had continuance of sixteene monethes The king also besought the Pope to render to the Duke of Ferrara Modono and Reggia whereunto he condiscended so farre forth as the Duke repaied xl thowsand duckats which he had giuen to Caesar for Modona withall make recompense for such summes of money as he had disbursed in exspenses for both the cities Lastly the king was a sutor for Frauncis Maria Duke of Vrbyn who beeing waged and interteyned by the Church with two hundred men at armes and appoynted with Iuliande Medicis to goe to th armie and afterwards that charge beeing transferred to Lavvrence by reason Iulian was sicke he refused to go thether alleaging he would not accord to Lavvrence that which against his dignitie he had suffered for friendships sake in Iulian to beare the place of a simple Capteine and subiect to thauthoritie of an other and that in the armie of the Church wherein he had ruled so oftentymes as generall and soueraigne Commaunder of all Moreouer he reuoked those souldiours in his paye that were on the way notwithstanding his promisse to sende them on to the seruice he had also secretly compownded or at least was in action of composicion with the french king like as also euer since the kinges victorie he had not ceassed by speciall working to kindle him against the Pope who taking thoceasion of those iniuries and casting by all his deuises to make fall to his house that Duchie refused to the kinge his demaunde reducinge to his remembraunce by sweete wordes of what consequence it woulde be for thaffaires of the Churche to giue boldnesse to his subiectes to rebell by so hurtefull an example These reasons induced the king to conforme him selfe to the Popes will notwithstandinge in regard of his honor he would gladly haue purchassed safetie for him that was falne into daunger for being faithfull to his seruice Wherunto he was perswaded by many of his councell and most of his Courte who vnder the example of the late king proued howe vnwise a councell it was to giue harte and countenaunce to the Duke Valentynois to oppresse the inferior Lordes of Italie a matter that made him rise into that estate of greatnesse that if God had giuen longer life to his father Pope Alexander his ambicion coulde not but haue bene verie preiudiciall to the affayres of Fraunce The Pope promised to giue the king power to leauie the tenth parte of the Churche reuenues of the realme of Fraunce for the arearing of an armie And gaue also his consent that the king should haue the nominacion of benefices which alwayes affore hath apperteyned to colledges and Chapters of Churches a matter that fell out muche to the profitte and purpose of the kings of Fraunce not only hauing by that meane the facultie to dispose at their owne arbitracion and will many riche benefices but also the annates of the frenche Churches shoulde afterwardes be payed to the Pope according to the true vallue and not as the auncient taxacions being farre lesse required Wherein the Pope found him selfe deceiued for when his Deputies and commissaries for the realme of Fraunce sought to proceede against those that conceiled the true vallue they coulde finde no proofe nor testimonie and muche lesse haue
those that were besieged that in the Citie so many monthes afflicted by thennemies that kepte it alwayes straytely enuironed the stoare of vittells beganne to diminishe and no hope to be resupplyed but in very small quantitie and that by stealth vsing the pathes of the mountaynes for the commoditie of that poore releefe But as the affaires of Verona stoode in these tearmes there came to the reskew of that Citie a regiment of nine thowsand launceknightes sent by Caesar who ariuing at Chiusa tooke it by composition and made them selues Lords of the castell of Coruaro which is a peece standing vpon the next hill to Adice drawing towards Trenta and cōmaunded many times by both the parties in the warre betwene Caesar the Venetians Monsr Lavvtrech either fearing in deede or dissembling to be amazed at the new supply of launceknights leauied his campe against the mindes of the Venetians and retyred his armie to Villefranche carying with him one parte of the Venetian regiments and the other parte vnder Iohn Pavvle Manfron withdrew to Boseto beyond the riuer of Adice by a bridge prepared for their passage Insomuch as the Venetians hauing nowe no further confidence to carie Verona sent all their great artilleries to Bressa And the launceknights without any impediment incamped at Tomba where the french army was lodged affore one part of them entring into the City the other parte remeyning without which returned after Verona was reuitteled There remeyned for the gard of Verona a strength of seuen or eight thowsand launceknights for that the most parte of the spanishe bandes that could holde no agreement with them were passed to the Venetian campe vnder Cronell Maldonato And in common iudgement that reskew or succours was of small momēt for that they brought not with them other stoare of money then xx thowsand Florins of the Rhein which the king of England had sent during the time of their tarying there they cōsumed so much vittells that it was almost equall to that quantitie which they had brought with them By reason of those bands that were retired to Villefranche from whence they committed manifest hauoke and spoyle vpon the partes of Verona and Mantua the Venetians were compelled least the frenchemen whome no commaundement that was made to them on the kings behalfe could make to stay should departe to their garrisons to take order that the Citie of Bressa should wholly furnish them of necessary vittells an exspence rising to aboue a thowsand crownes a day At last things beganne to incline manifestly to peace for that it was knowen that Caesar notwithstanding his former solicitacion to his sonne in law not to compound with the frenche king preferring the couetousnes of money affore the hate he bare naturally to the french also affore his auncient ambicion to make him selfe Lord of Italie had not only accepted and ratified the peace but also determined to render Verona according to the forme of those conuencions from this succeeded an other matter to the benefit of the frenche king that all the Cantons of Svvizzers seeing armes hostilitie deposed betwene Caesar the king were contented to compound with him as the Grisons had done before in which action Galeas Visconte did what he could who being banished and a rebell protested by the king wonne of him by this meane libertie to returne into his countrey restitucion to all his goods and recompense of many graces and honors The composicion was that the king should pay to the Svvizzers within three monethes an hundred fifty thowsand duckats and from thence forwarde an indument of perpetuall yearely pensions That the Svvizzers should be bounde to deliuer to his pay by publike decree so often as he should demaund a certaine number of footemen wherin notwithstanding the proceeding was diuerse for that the eight Cantons were bounde to furnishe that proporcion whensoeuer he should enter into any enterprise to offende the estates of an other and to the fiue Cantons the couenant bare no other obligacion then for the defence of his proper estates That it shoulde be in the power of the Svvizzers to render to the french king the castells of Lugan and Lugarno which bee passages of great strength and of no lesse importance for the sewertie of the Duchie of Myllan And in case they would make restitucion the king to paye to them three hundred thowsand duckats But they rased them to the ground immediatly vpon the making of the composicion This was the discourse of thinges in Italy in the yeare a thowsand fiue hundred and sixteene But in the beginning of the yeare following the Bishop of Trente who was come to Verona made offer to Monsr Lavvtrech to deliuer vp that citie to the french king within six moneths according to the contents of the capitulacion seeing he held it in the name of the king of Spaine But there remeyned this difficultie whether the tearme should begin from the day of the ratificacion of Caesar or from the time it was acknowledged that Verona was holden by the king catholike And vpon this albeit there passed a disputacion for certeine dayes yet for that the garrison of footemen that were within Verona drewe to mutinies vpon the demaund of money the Bishop of Trente was constrained to followe those affayres with a greater haste And therefore taking the beginning from the day that he had receiued commission from Caesar he agreed to deliuer vp Verona the fifteene daye of Ianuary At which daye he passed the assignement to Monsr de Lavvtrech who receiued it in the name of the french king the said Bishop receiuing of the Venetians the first fifty thowsand duckats together with the fifteene thowsand which by the capitulacion they were bound to pay to the garrison in Verona and also assured fidelitie and promisse of Monsr de Lavvtrech to see drawne to Trente the artilleries that were within Verona Monsr Lavvtrech at the same instant redeliuered the citie ouer in his kinges name to the Senat of Venice Andrevv Gritty standing then as Deputie and assigney to that state great was the gladnes of the nobilitie and whole communaltie of Venice for that after so long and daungerous a warre drawing with it so many calamities and exspenses they had reclaymed to the general body of their dominion so principal a member esteeming the reward of the warre farre aboue the burden and charges of the same although by the reapport of such as haue written of their doinges they consumed during all the warres they made since the league of Cambray fiue myllions of duckats whereof they leauyed fiue hundred thowsand of the sale of offices lastly the inhabitants of Verona reioysed no lesse then the residue together with all other cities and iurisdictions subiect to their common weale hoping now to be deliuered and dispensed withall from so many afflictions which so long a warre had throwen vpon them sometymes by the one armie and sometymes by the other The ende of the tvvelfth Booke
being made inferior in numbers by the diminucion of their footemen they had not the courage to susteine the fame of their enemies approching and much lesse to abide any other perill In which resolucion made according to the Popes mind they were confirmed by a hope of the comming of six thowsand Svvizzers whom the Pope by the councell of the french king had sent to leauy and wage for the french king after the confederacion made desired the victory of the Pope and yet at the same tyme he reteined the same suspicion of him that he did before he was continued in this suspicion by the relacions of Galeas Viscount and Mark. Anth. Colonno of whom the one being reuoked to his contry from banishment and the other not thinking his seruices and merits well recompensed by Caesar and both transferred with honorable condicions to the pay of the french king they had reaported that the Pope had cōspyred greatly with Caesar and the Svvyzzers against him But much more was the french king moued for that the Pope had contracted secretly a newe confederacion with Caesar with the king of Spayne and thEnglish which albeit was lawfull for him to doe for that it bare only for their defense yet both the matter maner of it troubled not a litle the thoughts of his mind he was induced through feare to be deliuered of the warrers least the Pope not finding his aydes and succours ready would not enter into a greater coniunction with other Princes against him And besides that he beganne to take greefe suspicion of the armie of Vrbyn whose strength was compownded of footemen spanish and launceknightes Therefore besides that he had aduised the Pope to make him selfe stronge with the footemen of Svvyzzers he offered to send him of new three hundred launces vnder Thomas de Foix brother to Odet alleaging that besides the reputacion and vallour of the man he would be a conuenient instrument to embeasell from the armie of Franciscomaria the bandes of Gascoins with whom those brothers and race of Foix beeing discended of the noblest blood in Gascoigne had great authoritie The Pope accepted this offer but with a minde very suspicious for that he stoode doubtfull as he did before of the kings will wherein he suffred his suspicion to take encreasing by the withdrawing of the Gascoins fearing least that action had priuily proceeded of the operation of Lavvtrech And he that in those times had made obseruation of the dooings of Princes might apparantly discerne that no benefite no office no coniunction was sufficient to remoue out of their heartes the distrustes and iealousies which they had one of an other for the suspicion was not onely reciprocall betwene the Pope and French king but also the king of Spayne hearing of the leauyes of the Svvizzers and the preparation of Thomas de Foix was not without his feare that the Pope and the French ioyned together would not deuise to dispoyle him of the kingdome of Naples These suspicions were thought to profite th affayres of the Pope since both of them least they should giue him cause or matter to estraunge himselfe from them labored to confirme him and assure him with benefites and with aydes Nowe Frantiscomaria departing from Corinaldo returned vpon the state of Vrbin to giue defence and protection to his people for the getting in of their haruest and reteyning with an encrease of ambition his auncient desire to get Pesero which was garded by the Count Potenza and his souldiors he brought his armie to the borders thereof and obiecting all impedimentes to cut off the resort of vittels he put to the sea certayne shippes But agaynst that force they of Rimini rigged out sixteene vessells some barkes and some brigantins and some of other nature agreable to the seruice of those times which being armed and manned and sent to accompanie and assure other shippes loaden with vittells for Pesero they encountred the nauie of Franciscomaria of whom they sunke to the bottome the Admirall and tooke all the residue by which accident dispayring of the enterprise of Pesero he leauied his forces and departed In this meane while Monsr de Foix aduaunced with his three hundred launces but the Svvizzers made slowe preparation for that the Cantons denyed their consent vnlesse they were first satisfied of their olde pensions from which obstinacie the king being not hable to remoue them and in the Pope no habilitie to make them satisfied for the intollerable defrayments he had exspended his Agentes hauing consumed in that solicitation many dayes enterteyned and waged without common priuitie two thousand particulars of that nation and foure thousande other Germains and Grisons whiche leauyes beeing discended and bestowed in the confines and suburbes of Rimini and they being deuided by the riuer from the residue of the Citie are enuironed and fetched in with walls Franciscomaria was entred by night by the valtes and arches of that notable bridge of Marble which tyeth the suburbes with the Citie but he could not passe ouer the ryuer being swelled by the inundation of the sea There grewe a strong feight betweene his souldiors and the foote bandes bestowed in the suburbes in whiche was slayne Iasper Capteine of the Popes garde who had conducted them thither But greater was the losse of thenemies by the death of Balastichino and Vinea Spanishe capteines and Federike Bossolo and Franciscomaria beeing wounded in the body with a bullet After this encounter he turned his army towards Tuskane being caryed more by necessitie then by hope for that in a region so muche consumed so great an army coulde not be norished He remayned certayne dayes in Tuskane amongs the populars of S. Stephano the borowe of S. Sepulchro and Angbiari townes of the dominion of Florence where he tooke Montedoglio a place very weake and of little importance he gaue a long assault to Anghiari a towne more strong by the fidelity and vallour of the inhabitants then by fortificacion of warres or other kindes of municions But being not hable for his owne weakenes and wantes to carie it he retyred his armie vnder the Appenin betwene S. Sepulchro and Ciuita di Castello and causing to be drawne thither frō Mercatello foure peeces of artilleries he incamped within lesse then halfe a myle of the towne vpon that way that leadeth to Vrbin There he seemed to stand irresolute and doutfull what course to take seeing that as his enemies were passed behind him into Tuskane and many Italian bands entred into S. Sepulchro and Vitello with a great strength was got into Citta di Castello So within Anghiari within the plaine of S. Stephano within the other townes conioyning were entred the bands of footemen of the Germaines the Grisons and the Svvizzers Lavvrence de Medicis came also from Florence but somwhtat late to S. Sepulchro where Franciscomaria had lyen with his campe many dayes idelly And for that he beganne to finde in these places many discommodities of vittells and
inuested in Charles nor so muche for his owne greatnes as for that by the oportunitie and neighborhood of the realme of Naples to thestate of the Churche and the adherencie of the Barons of the Gebelins he had a playne and open passage to ronne vp to the gates of Rome But in that discourse he considered not that the same reason whiche he iudged true agaynst Charles was also agaynst himselfe for that thempire being ioyned to his person he was no lesse to be feared of the Pope and all others then Charles for that though the one of them possessed happly more realmes and states yet the other was not to be lesse esteemed hauing his power not dispersed nor seperate in many places but was Prince of a realme entierly assembled and vnited where the obedience and fidelitie of his subiectes was no lesse wonderfull then his treasor and riches infinite Neuerthelesse not knowing in himselfe that which he considered in an other he had recourse to the Pope and implored his fauor vnder the offer and protestation of his person and kingdomes with all other deuotions of a louing sonne The matter of this election pressed muche the Pope to whom it was not a litle grieuous both for the suretie of the sea Apostolike and tranquillitie of Italie that eyther of those two kings should be elected Emperor And as his authoritie with the Electors was not suche as he might hope to drawe them muche to his purpose so he iudged it necessarie to take a wyse course and to vse industrie in a matter that drewe so great consequence He perswaded him selfe that the French king being abused by some of thelectors would haue litle part in thelection and that the corruptions in men salable would not be sufficient to transport thempire from the Germaine nation to the house of Fraunce But he supposed the action would be easie to the king of Spayne both for the conformitie of language and nation and for the practises and solicitations begon with Maximilian and for many other regards yea he thought he might easily leade on his intention if he obiected no impediment A matter which he sawe he could not worke in other sort then to labor the Frenche king to turne vpon the person of one of the selfe electors the same fauors and distributions of money which he aduaunced to procure his owne election But he esteemed it a matter impossible to induce the kings minde to take that course so long as he stoode caryed with the vehement humor of vayne hopes And as he hoped that by howe muche more earnestly he should embarke him selfe into that practise by so muche more easily should he drawe the French king to fauor the election of a third with no lesse affection then he had sought to aduaunce his owne so he doubted not that vnder that dealing he might not winne so muche with the king as to bring him to receyue and heare his authoritie and counsell especially hauing insinuated in him a credence certayne to be his friend and to haue with him the same desire to aduaunce his election Besides he thought that in fauoring at the beginning the affayres of the French king the king of Spayne finding difficultie to obteine his desire and fearing least the French would winne some aduauntage woulde in like sorte dispose him selfe to elect a thirde For which reasons he did not onely signifie to the French king with what affection he wished he were lifted to thempire but he counselled him with many reasons to proceede resolutely in thenterprise promising him vnder large wordes to fauor him with the whole authoritie of the sea Apostolike And as he thought he could not in better sort imprint in the kinges minde the sinceritie of his intention then to vse for that purpose an instrument whom the French king would thinke depended more vpon him then of any other he gaue present direction to his Nuncio in Germanie called Robert Vrsin Archbishop of Reggia and of great confidence with the king that both seuerally and ioyntly with the French Agents there he should make the best labor he could to solicite thelectors But he diminished the libertie of this commission by secrete aduertisement that the Nuncio should proceede eyther more or lesse moderately according as he founde in Germanie the Electors disposed and the affayres aduaunced These actions discretly discoursed by the Pope and no lesse couered with a wonderful simulation stoode in neede aswell for the person of the king as in his Agents in Germanie of a greater wisedome and secretie and in the Popes ministers a more fidelitie and grauitie But whylest these matters tooke their proceedings by practises and by armes the French king gaue direction to Peter of Nauarre to go to the sea with a Nauie of xx gallies and other vessells fraughted with a thousande souldiors his commission was to lye to impeache the piracies and inrodes of the Mores who hauing with their foystes ronne into oure seas without impediment became more harmefull this yeare then at anye time before His commission bare also to inuade the Mores of Affrika if the Pope thought it so good But the principall respect and intention of this expedition was to take away from the Pope who was wholly for him in the chalenge of thempire all occasion not to feare the forces of the king Catholike who more for feare to be troubled in his owne estates then for desire to vex any other leauyed with great preparations an army by sea to sende it out for the garding of the realme of Naples And yet notwithstanding amidde these distrustes and suspicions both the kings continuing in demonstrations and fayre semblances of amitie there was sent from them seuerally and in particular to Montpellier the greate maister of Fraunce the lorde of Cheures in the seuerall persons of whom consisted almoste all the counsells and intentions of their kinges Their negociation tended partly to confirme the mariage of the seconde daughter of Fraunce with the king of Spayne and partly to resolue the affayres of the kingdome of Naples the restitucion of which albeit being promised to thauncient king in thaccorde made at Noyon though much solicited by the French king was tyll that day deferred by the king of Spayne with diuerse cunning excuses But this entercouncell and meeting was dashed by the accident of death happning to the great Maister who was taken away affore they assembled In this time dyed Lavvrence Medicis who had languished in a continuall sicknes euer since his returne from Fraunce where he had consummated his mariage with a wretched prediction by the death of his wife who not many dayes before and after her deliuery of childe was reuoked out of this worlde leauing him behinde to take warning of his mortall ende by her going before to prepare his waye By the death of Lavvrence the Pope standing desirous to keepe conioyned so long as he lyued the power of the Florentins with the estate of the Churche
confederacion for their cōmon defence including also the famulie of Medicis and thestate of Florence This league was resolued without the priuitie of Monsr de Cheures who til that time had borne with him right great place and authoritie and dyed almost euen at the same time There were also these addicions to the contract that they should rayse warre agaynst the state of Millan at such time and in such maner as should be resolued vpon betwene them and if it were subdued and conquered then Parma and Plaisanca to reuert to the Church vnder the same rights and tytles with the which it had holden them before That Frauncis Sforce who had beene chased out of Millan and remayned then at Trente shoulde be eftsoones restored to the possession of that state as hauing righte therevnto by thinuestiture of his father and by the renunciation of his brother That the confederates shoulde bee bounde to defende hym in hys tytle That the Duchie of Millan shoulde vse no other Saltes nor Saltpittes then those of Ceruia That it shoulde not onely bee lawfull to the Pope to proceede agaynst hys subiectes and freeholders but also Caesar to be bound after the conquest of Millan to ioyne with him against them and namely for the recouerie of Ferrara The tribute of the realme of Naples was increased and there was promised to the Cardinall of Medicis a pension of ten thousande duckets out of the Archbishoprike of Tolledo which was newly voyde And to Alexander de Medicis bastard sonne to Lavvrence lately duke of Vrbin was promised an estate in the dominion of Naples of ten thousande duckets of reuenue For the more playne informacion opening of these things it is not out of purpose to set downe in briefe what were the rightes that Caesar pretended thempire to haue vpon the duchie of Millan in those times The Lawyers of thempire alleaged that the auncient rightes of the Dukes of Orleance were of no consideracion for that what soeuer had bene accorded touching the succession of Madame Valentina was not confirmed with thauthoritie imperiall And that for the present that Duchie apperteined immediatly to thempire because thinuestiture made to Lodovvike Sforce for him and his sonnes was reuoked by Maximilian grandfather to Charles that with so many ample clauses that the reuocacion had iudicially his effecte to the preiudice chiefly of his sonnes who neuer possessing it their right title was in hope and not in effect Therfore thinuestiture was auaylable that was made to king Lovvis for him and for his daughter Clavvda in case she were maried to Charles and with condition that the mariage not going forward without that there were fault in Charles it should be nothing and that the Duchie of Millan should passe directly to Charles who in that case was inuested of it in the presence of his father Phillip That it followed therevpon that the seconde inuestiture made to the same king Lovvis for him and for the same Lady Clavvda and for Frauncis Lorde of Angoulesine was nothing worthe as being made to the preiudice of Charles then an infante and vnder the tutorship of Maximilian So that as the king then reigning could make no fundacion of that so he could lesse alleage interest in that duchie by new rightes or titles for that much lesse that he had obteined inuestiture from themperour seeing he had not so muche as demaunded it as also it was manyfest that the cession made to him by Maximilian at suche time as he rendred to him the Castell of Millan could not helpe him for that a chiefe aliened of proper authoritie reuerteth immediatly to the supreame Lorde And lastely for that Maximilian Sforce notwithstanding he had bene admitted by the consent of themperor and dying in that estate without hauing euer receiued thinuestiture he coulde not transport to an other the rightes that apperteined not to him selfe Thus assone as the confederation was passed betwene the Pope Caesar against the french king that as secretly as might be they cōsulted together afore they entred publikely into armes to procede by ambushes practises by the meane of the exiles to assaile at one time by soden inuasion the duchie of Millan and Genes In which coūcel it was set down that Caesars gallies which were at Naples and the Popes gallies armed with 2000. Spanishe footemen should fal at vnwares into the port of Genes hauing with thē Iero. Adorno by whose authority and traine of folowers those of the riuers which were of their faction drawing into cōmocion they hoped that that citie would easily fall into tumult On the other side Frauncis Sforce Ier. Moron who was with him at Trent with many of the best sort of the exiles had consulted that the French bandes that were within Parma Plaisanca Cremona should be charged at vnwares That the like inuasion should be made at Millan by Manfrei Paluoisin Matto de Brinzi a chief cōmander in those moūtaines who should leade thither by the lake of Coma certein launceknights so to execute that city wher they were assured to haue secret intelligēce Moreouer if those enterprises tooke good successe or any of them being of most importance then thexiles of Myllan who were many gentlemē they to be conueyed secretly to Reggia where should meete them Ieronimo Moron at the day appoynted should draw into a strength and rise to enter into that state leauying with all possible diligence a campe of three thowsand footemen for the better effect and expedicion of those actions the Pope sent to Frauncis Guicciardin an auncient gouernor of Modona and Reggia ten thowsand duckats to be deliuered ouer to Moron for thinterteyning of footemen to be ready vpon the euent of thinges to whom Guicciardin was commaunded to shew fauor but secretly and in such manner that the French king should take no occasion either to complayne of the actions of his Officers or euill interpret the Pope But so vnperfect are the councells and deuises of man and so naturally subiected to a prouidence infallible and immutable that there is left no certeinty of their resolucions and lesse sewertie in their mortall doings them selues being no other thing then bodies compownded of imperfection errour and frailtie not one of these deuises succeded either to purpose or to profit for the army by sea that went to Genes which was compownded of seuen gallies foure Brigantyns and certein shippes of other nature made a vaine show affore the poart for that Duke Fregosa doubting belike of their comming had well manned and refurnished the towne Insomuch as they crossed sayle and retyred into the riuer of Leuant after they found no mutinies nor any other thing well disposed on their behalfe And touching Lombardye many of the exiles hauing speciall priuitie with the negociacion there together with the voice that Ierom Moron was to come to Reggia Federyk de Bossolo hauing intelligence of it went to Myllan to giue signification
that confederate that is slowe not of will but by impedimentes giues to his companion no iust cause to complayne nor any honest cooller to depart from his confederacion We ought in this case to iudge of the French king as in matters of amitie good men vse to measure friendship that he that maketh a promise albeit he performe late yet he breakes not the law of promise for that although he disappoynteth yet he fayleth not It is a great vnthankfulnes when we forget what we haue receiued of our friends and when they are slowe to performe but small things we are ready to rayse great complayntes agaynst them But touching this deliberacion if we looke well into thestate of our affayres we shall finde that if common honestie ioyned with the dignitie of our Senate call vs to it no lesse are we iustely prouoked by the regarde of our profite and proper safetie it is easie to be discerned from howe many daungers from how many suspicions and from how many afflictions we shal be deliuered if the French king recouer thestate of Millan and wise men with the same facilitie may finde out into what tranquility into what assurance and into what freedome of estate our affayres will fall for many yeres if he preuayle in that action wherin he hath cōcurring with his forces reason conscience and equitie Of this we are warned by thexamples of the yeres before for at suche time as the king that nowe is went about to recouer it it came to passe that we who affore with many daungers very great exspences were skarce hable to desende Padoa and Treuisa were made hable by his occasion to reconquer Bressia and Verona yea so long as he enioyed that Duchie in quietnes we possessed in peace and suretie all our dominious and iurisdictions and what else was of our imperie or our obedience Which are examples that muche more ought to moue vs then the auncient memorie of the league of Cambray for that the kings of Fraunce haue learned by experience that which they could neuer cōprehend by reason how preiudiciall it hath bene to them to depart out of our alliance A matter which without all comparison they may best discerne in the time present wherin this king hath for his aduersary competitor an emperour a prince whose amplitude of kingdomes and whose redoubted power will keepe him in necessitie to esteeme dearly our alliance But of the contrary who seeth not into what daungerous tearmes our affayres will be reduced when the French king shall finde him selfe merely excluded out of the enterprises of Italie for who can let themperour to appropriate to him selfe or to his brother the Duchie of Millan of the whiche he woulde neuer to this daye transferre thinuestiture to Frauncis Sforce And if he haue power to do so what is he that can assure his will who can staye the streame driuen by so violent a winde yea since the Duchie of Millan is so apte a ladder to lifte him to the Empire of all Italie who will take vpon him to promise that in themperour iustice and conscience will beare more swaigh then ambicion and couetousnes inclinacions naturall to all great Princes If any man take any suretie by the moderacion and temperance of his officers which he hath in Italie let him be aunswered that the moste of them are Spaniardes a nation vnfaythfull rauishing and aboue all others moste insatiable So that if themperour or his brother Ferdinand make Millan their owne and possesse it in what degree shall remayne our estate being enuironed by them bothe on the confines of Italie and Germanie what suretie what succours what exspectacion of remedie amidde so many daungers The kingdome of Naples is in his possession the Pope with all the other Potentates of Italie are at his deuocion and all our friendes being made naked of money and forces there remaynes to vs no hope of ayde or comfort and lesse possibilitie to finde fauour where fortune and so great diuision of minds contende agaynst vs But if the French king were lorde of the duchie of Millan then should things stande so euenly balanced betweene two so great Princes that who so euer stoode in feare of the power of the one of them shoulde finde peace and suretie by the might of the other for that bothe pollicie and their proper ambicion would make them iealouse one of an others greatnes yea the only feare of his comming assureth all his neighbours for that by it the Imperialles are restrayned from entring into armes or to intangle them selues with any enterprise By whiche reason is made more ridiculous then terrible the vanitie of their threatninges to turne th armie agaynst vs if we confederate with themperour as though it were an easie enterprise to moue warre agaynst the state of Venice and as thoughe there were present suretie of the victorie and lastely as thoughe that were the onely meane and remedie to keepe the Frenche king from passing and not rather the cause of the contrarie for who doubteth that beeing prouoked by them we would propound to the king by necessitie such conditions that though he bare no inclination to them yet they would induce him to passe The same hapned in the tyme of king Levvis when the iniuries and treasons that were done vnto vs by that nation enforced vs so to incense and stirre vp that king when of his prisoner I became your Embassadour that euen when he stoode in the greatest feare to be mightily inuaded in his kingdome of Fraunce euen then did he dispatch a strong armie into Italie though with very yll successe Let vs not beleeue that if thimperialls thought the waye to drawe vs to their amitie or to assure themselues of the Frenche king were to sette vppon vs that they had tyll this daye deferred th execution Perhappes their Capteines haue no desire to enriche themselues with the profites and spoyles of warre perhaps they haue had no necessitie in disburdening those countreys that were friendes to them to drawe money from them to nourishe th armie in the countrey of an other No rather they haue well founde oute that by reason of our power it is too harde a matter to force vs And muche lesse standes it with them hauing a continuall feare of the descending of the Frenche to intangle them selues with an other warre nor to giue occasion to a state so mightie in men money and opinion to allure with the greatnesse of offers the Frenche kinge to marche So longe as they are holden in these suspicions and in these doubtes they will not intrude for them selues vppon the Duchie of Myllan neither will they seeke to offende vs but with vaine threatninges Where if we assure them of that feare they will haue in their power to doe both the one and other And if they doe it as it is likely they will where is our remedie where are become our hopes our councells and our exspectacions yea of whome maye we complayne more
in chase amongest whom was a generall emulacion of hazarde and perill to kyll him that in so manyfest treason sought the lyfe of their maister but he founde more safetie in the swiftnesse of his horse then his followers founde remedie in their reuengefull desires And if fortune had aunswered the vallour and industrie of the man it might haue bene called one of the rarest most singular aduentures that euer was that one man without armor at noneday in a plaine way durst set vpon a great prince in the middest of his estate and enuironed with so great a strength of souldiors and men armed and yet to flee awaye in safetie The cause of this desperate resolucion of this gentleman was a malice that he had conceyued for the murder of Monseig Visconte who a fewe monthes affore had bene slayne in Millan by one Ierome Moron not without the Dukes will and priuitie as many supposed The Duke vpon his hurte withdrewe him selfe to Monce and for that he was ielouse that there were of the conspiracie within Millan the Bishoppe of Alexandria brother to Monseig that was slayne was apprehended by Moron and Prospero At the first rumor of the facte eyther to preuent the suspicion that might goe on him or to make his fauour the greater he put himselfe willingly into the handes of Prospero vppon his fayth and after he was sounded by examinacion they sent him prisoner to the Castell of Cremona some holding him guyltie and some speaking muche of his innocencie as the iudgementes of men were diuerse It happned almoste in the same seasons that Galeas Biraguo accompanied with thexiles of Millan and with the ayde of certayne French souldiors which were already in the countrey of Piemont was receiued into the towne of Valence by the capteine of the Castell who was a Sauoye man But Antho. de Leua lying within Ast with one part of the light horsmen and Spanish footemen being aduertised of thaccident went immediatly to incampe before it and taking the vauntage of the weaknes of the towne which thenemies had no time to reduce to fortification he planted his artilleries and tooke it the seconde daye and with the same successe battred the castell There died about foure hundred bodies aswel in the action of the towne as in th execution of the Castell besides many made prisoners amongest whom was Gale as principall leader of thenterprise According to the great preparations made in Fraunce for the warre the armie marched at laste and bandes of souldiors passed continually ouer the mountes After whome the person of the king prepared to passe whiche he had effectually accomplished had not the conspiracie of the Duke of Burbon which nowe beganne to come to lighte giuen impediment to his going he was of the blood royall and therfore his reputation more great generall for the dignitie of his office beeing great constable his authoritie was absolute ample by his large estates riches his credite was currant in Fraunce and by his naturall vallour he was mightie and stronge in the opinions of men But he had not bene of longe time in the grace and fauor of the king and in that abiection was not admitted to the secret affayres of the Realme nor respected according to the merit of his place and greatnes he was discontented with the oppression of the kinges mother who reuiuing certeine auncient rights made open clayme to the greatest part of his lands and dominions in the open parliament at Paris And for that he found in the king no disposicion to doe remedy to that griefe he suffred indignacion to enter into his hart in that discontentment admitted confederacion with thEmprour with the king of England solicited by Monsr de Beaurin of great confidēce with thEmprour his chief chamberlaine Betwene whom to assure things with a more faster and faithful knot it was agreed that thEmprour should giue him in mariage his sister Elenor the late widow of Emanuell king of the Portugalls Thexecucion of their councels was grounded vppon the french kings determinacion to goe in person to the warre In which resolucion to nourish him the more the king of England had giuen him conning hopes that he would not molest the realme of Fraunce for that yeare That the Duke of Burbon assoone as the king should be ouer the Mountes should enter Burgondy with an army of twelue thowsand footemen that were secretly leauied with the moneyes of thEmprour the king of England Wherein he doubted not well to acquite him self in that seruice both for the absence of the king for the vniuersall grace and opinion which he had through all the Realme of Fraunce And touching those thinges that should be conquered the Earledom of Prouence should remeine to him and in place of Earle he should put on the name title of king of Prouence chalenging that state to apperteine to him by the rights of the house of Aniovv And all the residue gotten by this warre to discend to the king of England The Duke of Burbon then abiding at Monlyns a principal towne of the Duchie of Burbon feyned him selfe to be sicke to haue the better excuse not to follow the king into Italy The king in his iorney to Lyons made Monlyns in his way where being already possessed of certeine light tokens of the Dukes conspiracie he gaue him an inkling that albeit many went about to bring him in distrust suspicion with him yet for his part he beleued lesse in the rumors informacions which might be full of incerteinty and errour then in his faith vallour whereof he had so good experience But the dissimulacion of the Duke exceded the roundnes plainnes of the king for keeping his intencions smothered he gaue thankes to God that had appointed him to liue vnder such a king affore whose equity grauity could not stand the false accusations imputacions of malicious men And in that cōpassion he promised the king to follow him wheresoeuer he would go so soone as he was deliuered of his malady which he said could not cōtinue long for that it drew with it no daūgerous accidēts But the king was no soner come to Lyons then he had aduertisement that many bands of laūceknights were mostred vpon the frōtiers of Burgondy which confirming the tokēs of suspicion that he had before together with certein letters surprised detecting more plainly the conspiracy he cōmitted to prison forthwith Monsr de S. Valier Monsr de Boisy brother to Monsr la Palisse the postmaster the Bishop of Autun all pertenors of the practise And thinking to make the action perfect by apprehēding the head he dispatched in great diligence to Monlyns the great maister with fiue hundred horse foure thowsand footemē to take the Duke of Burbon But his suspicion was swifter then their celerity for dowting no lesse the detectiō of things then fearing lest the passages would be stopped by his forecast he preuented
drawing thether with their forces The Viceroy was appointed to goe against the Marquis of Rothelin who was come ouer the Mounts with foure hundred launces Neuertheles assoone as he vnderstood of the fortune of the Admirall and that he was retyred he returned also into Fraunce holding it vaine for him to followe further thenterprise when the principall forces were dispersed Besides Monsr de Boysy and Iulio Saint Seuerin to whom was committed the gard of Alexandria made no resistance In like sort Federyk after he had demaunded respit of a fewe dayes to know if the Admirall were passed the Mountes compownded to yeeld vp Loda vppon the condicion that was accorded to them of Alexandria to leade into Fraunce the bands of Italian footemen who conteining a regiment of fiue thousande men did speciall seruice to the King afterwardes This was the end of the warre that was managed against the Duchie of Myllan vnder the gouernment of the Admiral of Fraunce By the which neither the kings power being much weakened nor the rootes of harmes remooued much lesse that so many calamities were cleane taken away seeing they were but deferred to an other season and Italy in the meane while remeining discharged of trobles present but not of suspicion of further aduersities to come And yet Themprour no lesse by the incitacion of the Duke of Burbon then by the hope that the authoritie and name of that man might serue him to speciall purpose Was of minde to transferre the warre into Fraunce to the which also the King of Englande showed a readines and disposicion In the beginning of this yeare Themprour had sent his Camp to Fontarabie a towne of verie smal circuit standing vppon the debatable lands that deuide Fraunce from Spaine And albeit the towne was very wel manned and furnished with artilleries and vittelles and leasure sufficient to them within to make it fortefied yet the fortifications being ill made through the ignorance of the Frenche men the towne laye open to the fury of thenemies who heaping vppon the defendants one necessitie after an other constrained them at last to giue it vp only with the safetie of their lyues He was not satisfied with the recouerie of this place but stretching his thoughtes further he made his ambicion no lesse then his fortune and in those conceites being raised to further enterprise he kept no reckoning of the comfortes and authoritie of the Pope who hauing sent in the beginning of the yeare to Themprour the Frenche King and to the King of Englande to solicit a peace or a truse he found their mindes very ill disposed to giue ouer the warre For the French king consenting to a truse for two yeares refused to make peace for the small hope he had to obteine thereby suche condicions as he desired And the Emprour reiecting the truse by the which was giuen good tyme to the Frenche King to reordeine his forces to folow a new warre desired to haue peace And touching the King of Englande any sort of composicion that was offred to be made by the Popes meanes was displeasing to him as in whom was alwayes a desire that the treatie of thaccorde might bee wholly referred to him To this he was induced by the ambicious counselles of the Cardinall of Yorke who seruing as a true example in our dayes of an immoderate pride notwithstanding he was of very base condicion and no lesse abiect for his parentes and discending yet he was risen to suche an estate of authoritie and grace with the King that in most of the actions of the realme the kings wil seemed nothing without thapprobacion of the Cardinall as of the contrary what so euer the Cardinall did deliberate was either absolute or at least had very great force But both the King and his Cardinall kept dissembled with the Emprour that thought by apparances showed a very forward inclination to moue warre against the realme of Fraunce which the King of Englande pretended lawfully to apperteyne to him He grounded his claime vppon these reasons King Edvvard the thirde after the death of the Frenche King Charles the fourth called the faire who dyed without issue male in the yeare of our saluacion 1328. and of whose sister the sayde King Edvvarde the third was borne Made instance to be declared King of Fraunce as next heire male to the French king deceassed Neuertheles he was put by by the generall Parliament of the realme wherein it was set downe that by vertue of the lawe Salyke an auncient lawe of that kingdome not only the persons of women were made vnable to the succession of the Crowne but also all suche as discended and came of the women line were excluded But he not satisfied with this order brought in to take away his right armed him selfe soone after and taking vpon him the title of the king of Fraunce he inuaded the realme with a mightie armie And as in that action he obteined many victories both agaynst Phillip de Valois published by vniuersall consent lawfull successor to Charles the fayre and also agaynst king Iohn his sonne who being ouerthrowne in battell was ledde prisoner into England So after long warres he forbare further to vex the realme and making peace with the sayde Iohn he reteined many prouinces and estates of the kingdome and renounced the title of king of Fraunce But after this composicion which was neither of long continuance nor of great effect the quarrell was eftsones renewed and sometimes followed with long warres and semetimes discontinued with tedious truces vntill at laste king Henry the fift entring confederacie with Phillip Duke of Burgondy who bare a minde estraunged from the Crowne of Fraunce for the murder done vpon Duke Iohn hys father preuayled so muche agaynst Charles the sixt somewhat simple of vnderstanding that he commaunded almost the whole kingdome together with the towne of Paris And finding in that Citie the French king accompanied with his wife and the Lady Katherine his daughter he tooke to wife the sayde Lady and brought the king to consent hauing no great vse of witte that after his death the kingdome shoulde apperteine to him and to his heires notwithstanding his sonne Charles did suruiue him By vertue of which title assone as he was dead his sonne king Henry the sixte was solemnly crowned at Paris and proclaymed king of Englande and Fraunce And albeit after the death of Charles the sixte his sonne Charles the seuenth by reason of great warres happning in Englande betweene the Lordes of the blood royall had chased thEnglishe out of all that they helde in Fraunce except the towne and territories of Callice yet the kinges of Englande dyd not leaue for all that to continue and vse the title of King of Fraunce These causes might happly moue king Henry the eyght to the warre the rather also for that he stoode more assured in his Realme then anye of his predecessours had done for that the kinges of the house of Yorke that was
he sayde that albeit the Marquis of Pisquairo in counselling him to agreement had signified to him that in the campe were manye disorders and no lesse daunger to hys affayres yet he coulde not frame his minde to peace suche was his hope that through the vallour of his men he should carye the victorie if the armies came once to the triall of a battell All this whyle continued the siege of Pauia And yet for want of municions they had somewhat ceassed to molest it with their artilleries But to remedie that difficultie the king hauing newely receyued into his protection the Duke of Ferrara with obligacion to paye him threescore and tenne thousande duckets in ready money was content to accept twenty thousande of that summe in price and vallue of municions whiche he caused to be conueyed by Parma and Plaisanca vsing the seruice of the horses and cariages of the contrey men wherein the king was readily holpen by the commission and direction of the Pope not without the complayning of the Viceroy as though in that action he had ministred manyfestly to the ayde and succours of the king Who to th ende the municions might arriue in suretie had sent affore Iohn de Medicis with two hundred horse and fifteene hundred footemen This Medicis complayning in the beginning of the warre both of the seueritie of the Viceroy giuing him discountenance and also of his penurie of money not hauing sufficient to make the souldiors to marche was passed out of themperours paye to the interteinment of the Frenche kinge It seemed that these forces were sufficient to assure the municions the rather because the Duke of Albanie was at hande hauing passed at the same tyme the ryuer of Pavv And albeit the Viceroy and the Marquis of Pisquairo to stoppe their passage caste a bridge neare to Cremona and made their waye ouer Pavv with sixe hundred men at armes and eight thousande footemen lodging the first daye at Monticello yet they gaue ouer the enterprise and returned agayne ouer the ryuer beeing aduertised by credible espiall that the king had giuen charge to the Lord Thomas de Foix to go seeke them with one part of th armie Assoone as they were retyred the Duke of Albania passed thAppenine along the territories of Reggia and Garfagnana onely he marched slowely the same confirming thoppinion that was conceyued that the kinge embraced that enterprise more to induce with suche seare thEmperours Capteines eyther to accorde or at least to abandon th affayres of Lombardie then through hope to make anye greate aduauncement Ranse de Cere ioyned with him neare to Lucqua with a regiment of three thousande footemen who were come with the armie at sea This armie as they passed tooke by composicion Sauona and Varagina And the Nauie beeing eftsoones returned to the west ryuer of Genes helde in feare and bridle that Citie In the beginning of the yere a thousand fiue hundred twentie and fiue Dom Hugo de Moncado departing from Genes with the Nauie descended and tooke lande with three thousande footemen at Varagina where were left in garrison certayne bandes of French footmen But the French nauie that was then at sea being commaunded by the Marquis Salusse making to the succours of that place the other fleete retyred being naked of footemen when also the French regimentes of footemen discended and left their shippes and so fiersly charged their enemies that the whole armie being broken diuerse were miserably put to the sworde and the person of Dom Hugo vnfortunately taken prisoner In the beginning of the same yere the Duke of Albanie compelled the people of Lucqua to contribute to him twelue thousand duckets to lend him certeine peces of artilleries with which munitions and prouisions he marched further through the lands of the Florentins by whom he was receiued in amitie friendship And in that sort did he stay with his army neare to Siena at the Popes request who for that neyther by authority nor with armes he could not meete with all things that troubled him resorted to his naturall condicion began to manage his purposes with art industry It nothing displeased him that the french should get the duchy of Millan for that he made this coniecture that whilest themprour the french king abode in Italy both the sea apostolike his pontificacy should stand assured frō the ambicion greatnes of eyther of them because they would kepe ielous eyes the one ouer the other And yet by the same reason it was grieuous to him to see the French make a conquest of the kingdome of Naples for feare that at one time that kingdome the duchye of Millan were not reduced vnder the power commaundement of one so puissant a prince wherin to cast impediments against the doings fortunes of the king he sought occasions to stay the Duke of Albanie made instance to the king that as he passed he would readresse reorder the gouernment of Siena which the Pope for the oportunity seate of that citie standing in the midway betwene Rome and Florence desired greatly might fall into the hands of some of his friends like as was hapned not many monthes before by his meane working ▪ for as the cardinall Petruccio dying during the pontificacy of Adrian his nephew Frauncis pretended to succede him in the gouernmēt so by reason of his insolency the chieftayns of Montenouo being neuertheles of the same faction opposed vehemently agaynst him and made solicitacion to the Duke of Sesse themprours Embassadour and to Cardinall Medicis to giue them an other forme of gouernment as eyther to reduce it into libertie or else to referre the whole authoritie into the handes of Fabio sonne of Pandolffe Petruccio notwithstanding somewhat before he was secretely stolne away to Naples This matter was long debated and at laste when Clement was elected Pope the common consent of him and themperour concurring Fabio was eftesones reestablished in the place of his father But both for that he had not the full authoritie of his father and for the present inclination of the Citie bearing vniuersally to libertie and also because the famulie and faction of Montenouo was neyther firmely knitte with him nor of no assured agreement amongest them selues the estate of thinges drewe to other effectes then aunswered thexspectation for by the debilitie that was discerned to be in the power of one onely both hauing no fundacion vpon the affections and good willes of the Citisens and also holding no gouernment absolute and without regard to the course and maner of tyrantes there hapned one day by the incensing of his aduersaries a popular tumult by the which without the ayde of any forreiners he was easily driuen out of the city notwithstanding he had alwayes in the place a garde depending vpon him The Pope making his aduauntage of this diuision and reaposing no confidence neyther in the populars nor in any other faction determined to put the authoritie
his owne person should showe more feare then vallour and basely giue place to the comming of thennemies wherein he was also pushed on by this vaine suggestion that he was bownd to followe and performe with deedes the wordes that his rash tongue had vainely promised A resolucion most vndiscreete and dishonorable to a Capteine for both he had vnder protestacion assured all the world and many times signified by Messengers into Fraunce and all the partes of Italy that he would sooner chuse to sacrifice him selfe to death then to retyre from before Pauya without the victorie he stoode fixed vppon these hopes that in the place where he incamped he might easily fortefie him selfe to auoid all inconueniences by surprise That through want of money euery small delay or the least necessitie that might driue thennemies to temporise would put them into disorder And hauing no meane to get vittells but by rauyne and pillage they could not remainelong in one lodging Lastly he hoped to giue impediment to the vittells that were to come to their campe whereof he knew the greatest parte was appoynted from Cremona wherein he was furthered by this helpe that he had newly taken into his pay Iohn Lodovvyk Paluoysin either to th ende he shoulde impatronize him selfe vppon Cremona where was a very slender garrison or at least to lye to cut of the sewertie of vittels that had an ordinary traffike from that citie to their campe For these reasons the king stoode resolute not to leaue the seege of Pauya And to haue the better way to empeach that thennemies should not enter he dislodged in other manner and gaue an other forme to the incamping of his armie for the king was lodged before in thAbbay of S. Lanfrank situated about a mile and an halfe beyond Pauya beyond the way that leadeth from Pauya to Myllan And vppon the riuer of Thesin neare to that place where was proued the diuersion of the waters Monsr Palissa with the vauntgard the Svvyzzers lay within the subburbs neare S. Iustynes gate hauing fortefied him selfe in the Churches of S. Peter S. Apolyne and S. Ierome And Iohn de Medicis with his horsemen and regimentes of footemen was bestowed in the Church of S. Sauior But now the king hauing informacion that thennemies were departed from Loda he went incamped within the parke in the right sumptuous and stately house of Mirabell scituate on this side Pauia leuing at S. Lanfranke the Grisons footemen and yet chaunged not the lodging of the Vauntgard At last the person of the king was lodged in the monasteries of S. Pavvle S. Iames places besides other commodities very eminent and neare Pauia commaund the champion but are somewhat without the ring of the parke In the kinges place Monsr d'Alenson with the Arearegard went to incampe at Myrabell And as for their more conuenient succoring one an other they brake downe on that side the parke wall so they helde and commaunded betwene them all that space or circuit that stretcheth towards Thesin on that side below and vntill the way that leadeth to Millan towards aboue So that holding Pauia enuironned on all sides and hauing also at their deuocion the riuers of Grabalon Thesin and Touretta which is right against Darsina the Imperialls could not enter Pauia onlesse they passed the riuer of Thesin or else made their entrie by the parke The king for the managing of the armie reapposed him selfe wholly vpon the councells of thAdmirall he had singular confidence in his fidelitie and so absolutely referred things to his direction that he dispensed with him selfe and passed the most parte of his howers in idlenes and vaine pleasures without any study or care of his affaires or once to thinke vpon expedicions of importance wherin such was either his wilfull negligence or willing partiality that if at any time he sat in councell amongest them he would referre the sentence resolucion of all things to thAdmiral without accepting the aduise of other experienced Capteines By him were ordered all the kinges deliberacions though at times he suffered his eares to be gouerned by Anne Montmerancy and Philip Chabot Lord of Bryon personages verie agreable to him in his sportes but of slender experience touching matters of warre Moreouer the estate and numbers of his armie were not according to his desire and opinion and muche lesse aunswering to the brute that went for one parte of his horsemen being gone with the Duke of Albanie and an other parte left for the garde of Millan with Theodor Triuulce and many also being dispersed into seuerall villages and borowes thereabouts there was not found in the campe aboue eight hundred launces and touching the footemen the numbers were farre lesse then was supposed as wel by the negligence of the kings osficers as through the deceit of the Capteines of whom the greatest abusers were the Italians who notwithstanding they receiued payes for great numbers of footemen yet their bandes were farre from their full cooplements many of the french Capteines tooke counsell also by their corrupcions And lastly the regiment of two thowsande Valesiens that were bestowed at S. Sauior betwene S. Lanfranke Pauia being sodainly assaulted by those that were within were dispersed and broken In this estate of affaires the Capteines Imperiall hauing passed Lambray made their approches to the Castell S. Angeo which hauing his scituacion betwene Loda and Pauia would haue giuen great impediments to the course of vittels that were brought from Loda to their campe if it had not bene at their deuocion and in their power Pirrhus the brother of Federike de Bossolo laye there in garrison with two hundred horse and eight hundred footemen and the king not many dayes before to th end he woulde not rashly commit his people to daunger had sent to visite and consider the place the same Federike Iames Chabanes who brought reapport that that strength and garrison sufficed for the defense of the place But experience made it knowen immediatly after how farre they were deceiued in their reckoning for assoone as Ferdinand d Aualo made his approches with the regiments of spanish footmen and had cut of with his arulleries certeine defenses and resistances the feare of the defendants became greater then their vallour and in those humors of umerous cowardise they retyred the same day into the castell And not many howers after feare hath a vehement operacion in the mindes it possesseth they compownded that Pirrhus Emylio Coriano and the three sonnes of Phebus Gonsanguo should remein prisoners and all the residue depart the place without armor and horse And beeing sworne not to beare armes for one moneth against thEmprour In this time the king sent for from Sauona a regiment of two thowsand Italian footemen parcell of those companies that had bene at the seege of Marseilles But being come vpon the territories of Alexandria neare the riuer of Vrba Gaspar Mayne lying there in garrison with a regiment of seuen
his exclaiming others tooke courage to buyld new plotts Of which if themperour thought to proceede no further in the matters of Italie did ryse a iust occasion yea almost a necessicie to take other resolutions but if he stoode vpon endes and purposes ambicious he had meanes to couer them with the most honest occasion and fayrest cooller he coulde desire And seeing from thence was deryued the very beginning and cause of righte great stirres and alterations it is necessary we reduce it to some particular rehearsall The warre which in the lyfe of the late Pope Leo was begonne aswell by him as by themperour for the chasing of the Frenche king out of Italie was leanyed vnder cooller to reestablish Frauncis Sforce in the Duchie of Millan And albeit for th execution hereof after the victorie was obteined promise was made to transfer to him the obedience of that state together with the castell of Millan and the other places of strength when they should be recouered Yet such was the magnificencie and oportunitie of that Duchy that the former feare ceassed not which men had of themperours ambition to aspire to it They interpreted the impedimentes which he receiued by the french king to be the cause that he kept cloked as yet so great a thirst for that he had altered those peoples desyring vehemently to haue Frauncis Sforce for lorde and had stirred vp all Italie agaynst him being not content to suffer the French to ryse to suche a greatnes So that Frauncis Sforce helde that Duchie but with a harde yoke and subiection and tributes and charges intollerable for all the staye and fundation of his defence agaynst the French consisting in themperour and in his armie he was constrayned not onely to respect him as his prince but also to liue subiected to the will of his capteines By whom he was miserably compelled to enterteine his regimentes of men of warre not payed by themperour sometymes with money which he leauyed vpon his subiectes with grieuous impostes and great difficulties and sometimes in suffiring them licenciously to lyue vppon his people by diseression and that in all the seuerall partes of his estate except the Citie of Millan Oppressions which albeit of themselues were heauye and grieuous yet the nature of the Spaniarde being greedy and when he hath the meane to discouer his inclination very insolent made them intollerable Neuerthelesse the daunger which was had of the Frenche men to whom thinhabitantes were enemies and the hope that those vexations would one day drawe to ende wrought in the heartes of men a greater suffraunce then their forces or faculties could well beare But after the victorie of Pauia the people could no more endure seeing the same necessities no more continuing for that the king was prisoner yet their calamities continued notwithstanding and therefore they required to bee somewhat eased of their burdens by withdrawing from the Duchie eyther all or the moste parte of the armie The like instance was also made by the Duke hauing enioyed of the Dukedome no other thing till that day then the bare name and title he feared least themprour beeing nowe assured of the French king would occupie and reteine the Duchie to himself or at least bestowe it in donation vpon some of his followers and dependanciers In which feare and suspicion deriued of the very nature of th affayres occurrant he was specially nourished by the insolent words spoken by the Viceroy affore he conueyed the king into Spayne together with the demonstrations expressed by the other capteines wherein muche lesse that they published any reputation to be holden of the Duke seeing they desired openly that themperour woulde oppresse him Besides themperour after many delayes and deferring hauing sent to the Viceroy the expedition and priuileages of the inuestiture the Viceroy when he presented them to the Duke demaunded for recompence of charges for conquering and desending that state to paye to themperour within a certayne tearme the summe of twelue hundred thousande duckets A demaunde so excessiue and intollerable that the Duke was driuen to haue recourse to the Emperour to moderate and abate the summe But these difficulties drew a doubt least the demaundes so immoderate were not interposed to make the matter alwayes deferred Moreouer suche as sought to excuse the necessitie of Frauncis Sforce alleaged many other generall causes of his iust suspicion and particularly the knowledge he had that th imperiall Capteines were resolued to restrayne or retayne him In so muche as being sommoned by the Viceroy to a certayne councell or Dyet he refused to go fayning to be sicke couering himselfe with the like excuses in all places where they had power to do him violence He nourished this suspicion whether it were true or false and ioyned withall this consideration that the state of Millan was well disburdened of the regimentes of men of warre parte of the Spanishe footemen being gone into Spayne at seuerall times with the Viceroy and the Duke of Burbon and also diuerse bandes being made riche with pillage and pray were retyred by trowpes into sundrie places And considering also the great indignation that was showed to the Marquis of Pisquairo he deuised by these aduauntages to assure himselfe of the present daunger and entred into hope that th armie might be easily defeated vsing the consent and vallour of the Marquis The author of this deuise was Ierome Moron his Chauncellor a man of high authoritie and place with him and for the facultie of his spirite facilitie of inuention flowing eloquence familiar readynes and great experience and lastly for his resolution and magnanimitie hauing oftētimes made singuler resistance agaynst aduersities was in our age a personage of right worthy memorie Whiche partes or giftes had tyed vpon his name a perpetuall fame and honor if they had gone accompanied with suche sinceritie of minde suche care and zeale to integritie and with suche maturitie of iudgement as his counsels for the moste parte had not bene discerned to holde more of precipitation and impudencie then of circumspection or honestie This man sounding the intention of the Marquis made suche insinuation into his minde already deepely grieued that they began to common to cut in peeces the remaynder of the regimentes remayning within the Duchie of Millan and to make the Marquis king of Naples An enterprise whiche they helde of easie action if the Pope and Venetians woulde be concurrant with them And touching the Pope whose minde was drawen with suspicion and doubt after he was sounded by the aduise of Moron he showed him selfe no whit disagreeing to that counsell and yet he aduertised themprour vnder cooller of friendship to interteine his capteines in deuotion and well contented not that he ment to disclose the practise but to prepare to himselfe a refuge if the matter declined to some yll euent But the Venetians embrased the deuise with resolution and sincere affection perswading them selues that no lesse readinesse of minde and will woulde
humor of some Princes to be caried rather with consideracions of profit then with care of honestie Nowe after thEmperours mariage was consummated at Seuille in Spayne the commaundator Erraro arriued at the Court with the breuiat of tharticle concerning Frauncis Sforce which article the Pope had deduced at large in his fauor So that thEmperour being also assured that the Legat Saluiatio had no commission to conclude any thing but according to that article and his whole councell thinking it necessary to stoppe and hinder the league that was in hande and no lesse daungerous to haue to doe at one time with so greate a number of ennemies He sawe him selfe reduced to these tearmes either to content the Pope and the Venetians by restoring Frauncis Sforce to the Duchie of Millan or else to compounde with the Frenche king Who for his parte after long arguing and disputacion for the countrey of Burgongnie and finding that without the price of it he coulde not hope for his deliuerie by thEmperour offered to render it with all thappurtenaunces and dependancies and to renownce all titles and rightes which he had to the kingdome of Naples and Duchie of Millan and to assure the obseruacion of his promise by the ostage of two of his sonnes The disputacions were greate vppon the election of the one or the other waye wherein the Viceroy insisted more vehementlie then euer both for that he had the conduct of the Frenche king into Spayne and had nourrished him with many braue hopes of his deliuerie vnder easie conditions His authoritie was great with thEmperour and his reputacion nothing inferiour both for that thEmperour reapposed muche in his fidelitie and trusted him because he knewe he loued him But there opposed against him Mercurio Gattinaro a man of base discending in the contrie of Piedmont and by his vertue raised to the place of high Chauncellor to thEmprour for his experiēce credit had managed of long time all the affaires of the Court of most importaunce One day thEmperour sitting really in councell to resolue absolutely the matters that had bene discoursed so many monethes these two were also present of whom the Chaunceller tooke occasion to reason in this forte I haue alwayes feared least our too great greedinesse concurring with the immoderate ends we aspire vnto would not be the cause that of so singular and honorable a victory we reaped in the ende neither glory nor profit But I coulde neuer be induced by anye argument or reason that by your victorie oh gracious Emperour eyther your estate or your reputacion shoulde fall into daunger A matter whiche nowe appeareth manifestly since there is question to conclude an accorde by the which all the regions of Italie shall be reduced to a condicion desperate which can not but bring infamy to your name the french king deliuered vp to his liberty but vnder so vnequall condicions that he will continue a greater enemy to you then before though not of will which happily he may restraine and temper yet by necessitie which is alwaies a mighty mocion to moue men to reuenge for my parte I coulde wish with as great show of affectiō as others that at one time by one meane your Maiesty might recouer Bourgongny also establish fundacions of your imperie in Italie But vaine is the wit that aspireth to hold the thing which the hand is not hable to gripe and in the property of worldly things there is nothing more full of errour then that ambicion which goeth on working in the humor of wening only lookes not backe to order and reason which are the assured lines that laye out the infallible successe of euery mortall action I haue alwaies seene that that Prince who sodainly hath embrased many thinges hath gone on with perill to effect nothing for that all those things are put to aduenture that are guided by will not by reason That fire that is mightily kindled hath much a do to be quenched but when vpon one fire riseth many flames whose propertie is to flie with the winde into many places it can not be that the burning wil not be great yea oftentimes extended to the consuming of him that first kindled it I see no reason to induce vs to thinke that the french king being deliuered wil obserue the articles of so great importance since he is not ignorant that in making you Lord of Burgangny he layeth open such a gappe to lead you into the bowells of Fraunce that it will be alwayes in your election to runne vp euen to the gates of Paris And he knoweth well enough that when he hath once put into your hande the power to vex Fraunce in so many places he hath left to him selfe no possibility to make resistance against you doth not he know all the world see that to consent that you goe to Rome with an armie is no other thing then to giue you a raine with whose bridle you may checke all Italie authoritie to dispose according to your liking of thestate spirituall and temporall of the Church and by that meane your puisance being redoubled you shall for alwayes after neuer want money nor forces to offend him And who doubteth that of this greatnes he maketh this conclusion that he shall be constrained to accept all suche lawes as it shall please you to impose vpon him Is it then reasonable to beleue that he will obserue an accorde by the which he is made your slaue and you his Lorde Where is feruitude hatefull if not in the minde whome nature hath borne to soueraintie And howe can it bee thought that he will liue vnder the yoke of subiection whose ambicion coulde not hitherunto be conteyned within the large limites of Fraunce But be it that in the king will be founde no want of conscience to obferue the condicions of the contract yet he may be ouercaried by a naturall compassion by the complaintes and lamentacions of his kingdome and by the perswasions of the king of Englande accompanied with thincitacion of all Italie It may bee that by the lawe of amitie that is betweene you two he will reappose confidence in you or at least looke into the power you are of But was there euer two Princes betwene whome haue bene greater causes of hatred and contencion There is not onely betweene you a reciprocall ielousie of greatnes A matter apt to stirre vppe one brother agaynst an other but also your common emulacion is pushed on by many auncient and great quarrells begonne in the tymes of your fathers and great grandfathers many long warres betweene those two houses many peaces and accordes not obserued many harmes done and many iniuries receyued There is no quarrell more mortall then that which taketh his nurriture in tract and prescripcion of tyme nor any hatred so daungerous as that which lyeth smothered like fire couered with hoate ymbers by whome the heate is preserued to a greater power of burning To the mind
the number and noblenes of subiectes for the liberall and plentifull reuenues and for the oportunitie and sufficiencie to nourish all the armies of the world caryeth more value price then many kingdomes And yet besides the amplitude and puissance of it you haue to make a greater reckoning of the commodities that may reuert to you by conquering it then of the simple accompt and valuation of it selfe for Millan and Naples being at your deuotion it followeth by congruent necessitie that the Popes as aunciently they are wont muste depende vpon thauthoritie of Emprours That all the region of Tuskane the Duke of Ferrara and the Marquis of Mantua must be your subiectes And the Venetians beeing enuironed with Lombardy and Germany stande in case to accept lawes at your hande And so not with force and armes displayed but with a glorious reputation of your name with the onely sommonce of a Herald and with the enseignes of the Empire you shall commaunde absolutely ouer all Italy Lift but vp your Maiesties minde to the consideration of Italy and you shall finde it with great right esteemed the supreme seate of all other prouinces both for the oportunitie of situation for temperature of ayre and Climate for thexcellencie of wittes inclined to all honorable enterprises for the fertilitie of all things necessary to the lyfe of man for the stately representation of so many noble Cities for the soueraigne seate of religon and for the auncient glory of thempire To which prayses as I may aptely adioyne the commoditie of imperie which it brings extending so farre in your person that if you commaunde ouer it the sounde of your name and authoritie runneth fearefull in the eares of other Princes So it can not but belong to your greatnes and to your glory to rayse your thoughtes to this which is an action more agreable to the bones of your elders seeing they are brought into counsell who for their bounty and pietie we are not to beleeue do desire any other thing then what is most conuenient and agreable to the glory of your name So that according to the counsell of the Lord Chauncellor we shall loase a matter of great price and value for a thing of righte smal conquest and yet wrapt in many vncerteinties wherein we ought to stand warned by that which was like to happen certeine moneths past Doe we not remember the great griefe that sell amongest vs when the French king laye in daunger of death which griefe proceeded of no other humor then a knowledge we had that with his life we should lose the frute we hoped for by the victory And who can now assure vs that the like accident will no more reuert vpon him yea who feareth not the relaps with more facilitie both for that the reliques of his maladie doe yet possesse him and also the hope which till now hath supported him being taken away who doubteth not but his grieued mind will heape vpon him greater fits of sorowe and discontentment the onely cause of his sicknes especially newe condicions and assurances being interposed it can not be that for their hardnes they make not the negociacion long and tedious A matter subiect to the former accident and happly to others both more great and daungerous We are not ignorant that nothing hath so long reteyned the gouernment and councell of Fraunce as an opinion they haue had of the speedy deliuery of their king In which humor of exspectacion the Nobles and Chieftaines of that Realme haue remayned peasible and conformable to the Lady Regent But when they finde the foundacions of this hope to fayle who doubteth not that the Barons of that Realme will not easily enter into mindes of despite and reuenge and with an vniuersall conformetie chaunge the coursse of the gouernment stronge is the operacion of ambicion and no lesse violent the passion and thirst after imperie and souereintie specially where is seene no meane to make resistance against so mighty mocions which I allude to the disposicion of Fraunce where if the greatnes of the kingdome get once the bridle in their hand much lesse that they will be carefull ouer the deliuerie of their king seeing of the contrary their ambicion will cary them to meinteyne an estate of libertie and aspyring to establish supremacie in them selues what will it offend them to suffer the captiuitie of their king And so in place to get Burgongnie and so many other great conquests what other thing doe we reteyne then a desperat hope both by his imprisonment and by his deliuerie But this further question may be asked of the Lord Chauncellor whether thEmprour in this resolucion ought to regard the reckoning and reputacion of his dignitie and his maiestie Then what greater infamie or what more diminucion of his honor can he receiue then to haue his clemencie forced and constrayned to pardon Frauncis Sforce he who lately being halfe dead detected of manifest rebellion and a singuler example of ingratitude not comming to humilitie nor imploring your mercy but running betwene the armes of your enemies to seeke to force you to render to him the estate which so iustly hath bene taken from him and compell you to take lawes of him who by equitie of condēnation ought to beare subiection to your imperial name It were better for your maiestie more agreable to the dignitie of thEmpire and more worthy your greatnes and puissance to laye out your selfe to a newe fortune and to referre eftsoones all thinges to hazard and daunger then in blemishing thauthoritie of the Prince soueraigne ouer all Princes and the name of thEmprour and hauing so oftentymes vanquished so mighty a king To receiue at the hands of Preestes and Marchaunts such condicions as if you had bene ouerthrowen there could not haue beene offered to you either more vniust or more vnworthy honor and dignitie are the gifts of God which by how much they are basely esteemed of those to whome they are transferred by so much more is highly offended the eternall goodnes that gaue them who will eftsoones reuoke them with no small indignation That man can not be accompted worthy of honor that declareth himselfe not hable to vse it since honor is a rewarde or effect of vertue who enhableth to honor and dignitie those persons to whom her selfe is conioyned So that moste gracious Emprour calling eftsones into consideration all these reasons both howe litle profite may resort to you by thaccorde with thItalians and by how many accidentes it maye easily slide out of your handes howe litle assurance or showe of fidelitie is in them and howe vnworthy a thing it is to leaue thestate of Millan And lastely that it is necessary for vs to soart at last to a resolution and that the imprisonment of the king profiteth vs not but in regarde of the frutes that maye be drawen of his deliuery I stande firme and conclude vppon this aduise that wee compounde rather with the king then accorde with
thItalians A matter which can not be denyed to be more glorious more reasonable and more profitable so farrefoorth as we may be assured of thobseruation Wherein I discerne some good fundation in this that for a more thankfull acknowledging of your benefite he offreth to take to wife your sister a Lady for her vertue and stayed condition very well able and conuenient to enterteine you in amitie Besides thoblation of two of his sonnes of whom one to be theldest which is suche a propertie of pawne and ostage as amongest worldly men and to assure worldly things there can not be offred nor receiued a more worthy nor more important And seeing our necessitie driueth vs to determine some thing it is more reasonable we reappose confidence in a Frenche king vnder suche nature of ostages then in a nation of Italians of no lesse infidelitie then without gage and rather to trust the worde and fayth of so great a king then to be caryed with the immoderate couetousnes of priestes and suspicious basenesse and bartring of Marchantes And lastly according to thexample of our auncestors we may with more facilitie kepe amitie for a tyme with the Crowne of Fraunce honorable for his proper dignitie then with a confused people of Italians our naturall and perpetuall enemies Taking this course I do not onely discerne a greater hope of obseruancie and due keeping of fayth but also a lesse estate of daunger in case of promise breaking seeing if the king refuse to render to vs Burgongnie at least he will not dare his children remayning ostages to ryse vp to offende vs agayne but will labour by solicitation and sute to moderate the rigour of thaccorde and being but as it were yesterday vanquished by you he will retayne a working feare of your forces and armes and being likewise this day deliuered out of prison he will not be so hardie to make a newe proofe of your fortune And if he take no armes agaynst you you neede not doubt of the mouing of others since vpon his example dependeth ordinarily the vallour of the residue By which meane you shall haue good oportunitie to conquer the Castell of Millan and so to establishe your suretie in that estate that hereafter you shall not neede to feare the malice of any man But if you come nowe to accorde with thItalians and they in their infidelitie come to double with you I see remayning no bridle hable to reteyne them and as their power encreaseth to vex you so looke that their will will likewise ryse greater to conspire and their handes more free to execute So that I can not but interprete it to tymerousnesse and want of counsell that for an humor of too great suspicion and incredulitie we should loase the benefite of an accord so full of glory and many aduauntages and no lesse accompanied with sufficient suretie following in place of it a resolution no lesse daungerous in the effecte and substance then ielouse in all hys partes and circumstances This Oration of the Viceroy drew the residue of the counsel into diuersitie of opinion It seemed to suche as were of iudgement sounde and vpright that to accorde with the French king according to the maner declared could not be but full of danger And yet such was the parcialitie of the Flemings desyring to recouer agayne Burgongnie the auncient patrimonie and tytle of their Princes that their affection would not suffer them to discerne the truth besides it was sayde that the giftes and great promises made by the French men wrought not a little to corrupt and carry many But themprour aboue all the residue eyther for that suche was his first inclination or for that thauthoritie of the Viceroy could do much with him hauing concurrancy with thopinion of the Count Nausan or haply because he held it too great indignity to pardon by cōpulsion Frauncis Sforce who had offended him by so great malice seemed to heare with ready and willing eares all suche as counselled him to compound with the French king So that after he had caused to be sounded agayne the Legate Saluiatio to knowe if he would consent that thestate of Millan shoulde be transported to the person of the Duke of Burbon And that the Legate had certefied him that he had no commission to allowe that drifte and therewithall had made offer to hym of the Popes amitie he determined to goe on with thaccorde with the Frenche king with whom things hauing already paste many disputations and acts he grew in very fewe dayes to conclusion not respecting at all the cōmunitie or interposing of the Popes Legat And for the better perfection and stability of the accorde themperour had obteyned before the Duke of Burbons consent to giue in mariage to the French king his sister whom he had promised to him The Duke was driuen to passe this consent not so muche for a desire he had to carye the Duchy of Millan which was promised him contrary to the authority of the Chauncellor and Viceroy vnder obligation notwithstanding to pay a great summe of money as for the necessitie of his affayres which were reduced to those tearmes that neyther hauing nor could not haue any other piller or stay then themprour he was constrayned to accommodate his condition to themprours will And assoone as he had in all things accomplished this consent to take him out of the presence of the Court in a tyme so vnconuenient he departed foorthwith by themprours order taking his waye by Barselonia whither was appoynted to be sente to him necessary prouisions to passe into Italy which for want of mony and lacke of vessels had slow proceding for that in Spayne were but three gallies at that tyme. The solicitation of the peace which was resolued the fourtenth of February 1526. conteyned these couenantes That betwene themprour and the french king should be a peace perpetuall in which should be comprehended all such as should be named by their common consent That the French king by the sixt daye of the next moneth of Marche shoulde be set at libertie vppon the marches in the coaste of Fontarabie That within sixe wekes after he should consigne to themprour the Duchie of Burgongnie the Countie of Charrolois the iurisdiction of Noyers the Castell Chaynro dependancies of the sayde Duchie the Vicountie of Flussona the resorte of S. Lavvrence de la Roche a dependant of Franche Countie together with all the appurtenances aswell of the sayd Duchy as Vicountie all whiche for hereafter should be seperate and exempted from the soueraigntie of the Realme of Fraunce That at the same and very instant that the king should be deliuered there should be put into themprours hands the Daulphin of Fraunce with him eyther the Duke of Orleance the kings second sonne or else xij principall Lords of Fraunce whō themprour dyd name It was left to thelection of the Lady Regent either to deliuer the kings secōd sonne or the xij barons they to remayne as ostages
of footmen well disciplined of good trainâ—ur in warre Besides albeit they coulde not make their approaches to Millan without daunger yet to draw neare it was not without hope to carie the victory for that the subburbes of Millan being not fortified but by negligence left open in many parts it semed not credible that thimperials would stand to defend so great a circuit of place Of this were discerned already many manifest tokens for that thimperials vsing smal care to reenforce their subburbes had turned all their industry to the fortificacion of the towne Insomuch that if they once abandoned the subburbs gaue place to the army to lodge there it could not be reasonable that the towne could long hold out Not so much for the wants of vittells money which afflicted their whole army as for that Prospero Colonno with the other Capteines of knowledge and iudgement had bene alwaies of this opinion that with great difficulty could the towne of Millan be kept against an army that was Lord of the subburbes both for that the Citie is verie weake in walls the houses of certeine particulars seruing for want of wall in many places as for that the subburbes haue a great aduantage coÌ„maundement ouer the City To these reasons lastly was added that they had the castel at deuocion But not only the estate of this direction or deliberacioÌ„ but also the absolute resolucion of the whole body of the warre depended chiefly vpon the Duke of Vrbin for that albeit he was but only Capteine ouer the Venetians yet the Ecclesiastikes to auoyde contencions had determined to referre themselues ouer to him as to the Capteine generall of the army Neuertheles notwithstanding these reasons had no power to stirre him to aduance passe further nor the vehement instancâ—â— â–ª which by order froÌ„ their superiors the Popes Lieutenant the Treasorer of Venice vrged with whom did concurre many other Capteines yet in the end he considered that if he made any long abode in that place without a better certeintie of the comming of the Svvizzers it would not be but to his great infamy challenge â–ª therfore after the army had rested two daies at Marignan he remoued it the third of Iune to S. Donato within fiue miles of Millan from whence he determined to passe further though more to satisfie the desire and iudgement of others then of his proper inclinacion or councells and he reserued to him selfe this order and intencion to put alwayes one day betwene the remouing of the cainpe to thend to giue time to the comming of the Svvizzers of whom a thowsand discending by Bergama were ariued at th armie and for the others according to their custome they sent euerie day messengers to enterteine thexspectacion of their comming and to signifie that their absence should not be long In this sort the fift of Iuly â–ª the army passing froÌ„ S. Martin which is out of the high way on the right hand marched on to incampe within iij. miles of Millan in a place of good strength and surety where the same day was executed some light action of warre against certeine harquebuziers of the Spanyards who were fortified within a house the day following the campe being at the same place executed some other small exploit of warre immediatly after ariued at the campe fiue hundred Svvizzers led by Caesar Gaulois heare the Capteines fell againe to councell of the maner of passing further albeit the first intention was to march directly to succor the castell of Millan whose trenches that were cut round about without were not so strong but that there was great hope to win them yet by the authoritie of the Duke of Vrbin whose aduise was at last approued of all the others not altogether for the sufficiency soundnes but partly for the priuiledge and prerogatiue of his place which caried him to expresse his opinion in councel either not to attend the answers of others or at least in their answers the Capteines durst not impugne his reasons The armies tooke the way that leadeth directly to the subburbes of Millan and he alleaged that for the making plaine of the waies which of necessity must be done by reason of the naturall impediments of the contry it would be a labor long not without daunger of some disorder to lead the armie out of the high way to the reskew of the castell Both for that they were to show themselues too neare in flanke to thenemies also it was to giue thenemy meane to make a greater resistaÌ„ce because they would rauÌ„ge all their forces on that side towards the castell where otherwise they should be constrained to remeine deuided for the better resistaÌ„ce of thenemies not to abandon the gard of the castell drawing to the gate of Rome it would be alwaies in the power of the Capteines of the league to turne easilie on what side they would according as occasions called theÌ„ According to this councell it was resolued that the seuenth day the campe should lodge at Vnfaletto and Pillastrello which are crokings or turnings aloÌ„g the high way within shot of cannon there to take that course which occasion and proceeding of thenemies should minister Many were of opinion that thenemies wheÌ„ they should see the campe so neare them would not specially in the night embrase the hazard to defend the subburbs both for that the ditches were filled vp in many places the rampartes cast downe made plaine in some places so open discouered that very hardly could they preserue their bodies which they brought to defend the place But the night before the day wherein the army was to aduance the Duke of Burbon being ariued a few daies before at Genes with six gallies bringing bills of exchaunge for an hundred thowsand duckats entred into Millan accompanied with viij hundred spanish footmen whom he had brought with him his comming in such a time of perill after so long exspectacion for succour gaue a new corage to the souldiors that so desperatly lay exposed to the daunger of their liues By his coÌ„ming being vehemently solicited by the Marquis of Guast Anth. de Leua may be easily coÌ„prehended the affected negligence or rather cold disposicion which the french king had to the warre for where the Pope in the beginning when he interteined into his pay Andrea Dore had consulted with him with what forces preparacions thenterprise of Genes should be executed he tolde him it would be an action very easie so farre forth as it were put to execucion at the time that the warre should be begon in the Duchy of Millan that to his eight gallies should be ioyned the kinges gallies riding in the port of Marceilles or at least that they might be emploied to stop the comming of the gallies of the Duke of Burbon wherein his reason was that remeining in that sort Lord of the sea with his eight gallies the
thowsande footemen aduaunced not In the meane while the affaires of Italie proceeded coldly for the armie that was before Millan wherein was greatly diminished the numbers of such Svvizzers as were not payed lay with an idle campe without doing any other action then enterchaunge of light skirmishes according to custome But an other humor raigned in the Spaniards that lay within Carpy who forbare not to do the worst they could being secretly aduertised by their espialls taking withall the commodity to withdraw themselues vpon the lands of the Duke of Ferrara they gaue many impediments to the Corriers and other persons going to th armie In which libertie running ouer all the contrie therabouts euen vpon the confines of the Bolonnois and Mantuans they committed very many insolencies harmes but not to any others then the subiects of the Church At last the Marquis of Salussa passed the mounts with fiue hundred french launces by reason of whose comming Fabricio Maramo who battered the towne of Valence and lay incamped before it Iohn Biragno lying there in garrison retyred him selfe to Bassignan But the Marquis refused to passe further onlesse a regiment of foure thowsand footemen whom he had led out of Fraunce for that intencion were payed by the confederats by equall porcion which in the end by necessitie was consented vnto the rather for the instance and importunitie of the king who solicited it vehemently for the surety of his men at armes and to raise into greater degrees the reputacion of the Marquis In this time Synybald Fiesque made him selfe Lorde of the towne of Pontriemoli which Sforzino helde but it was eftsoones recouered with the same facilitie by the meane of the castell within Millan was great want of money since both there was none receiued from thEmperour and thinhabitantes within were so impouerished by their intollerable defrayments that skarcely could they furnish the thirtie thowsand duckats promised to the Duke of Burbon who had receiued into his pay Galeaz Biragne and Lodovvike Belioyense who till that day had alwayes followed the frenche parte The reason was for that the confederates could not accept them for the intollerable burdens of charges which they susteyned About this time Iohn Biragno got Nony During these stirres the state of the Marquis of Mantua stoode almost indifferent and common to all sides wherein he excused him selfe for that he was in the pay of the Pope and a freeholder of thEmperour And to hold still his estate of indifferencie when the end of the tearme of his pay drew neare he put him selfe of new into the pay of the Pope and the Florentins for foure yeres more with this expresse condicion that neither in his person nor with his estate he should be boūd to any thing against thEmperour And yet in the beginning of the warre he desired to go in person to the armie which being not agreeable to the Pope as hauing no confidence in his gouernment he was aunswered that in regard he was a freeholder of thEmperour he would not bring him so farre in daunger This was the estate of affaires in Lombardy at that time In Tuskane albeit the Florentins had neither armies nor armes vpon their landes and confines yet were they not without their parte of the burdens of the warre for the contribucions that were imposed vpon them for the Pope who had no money by meanes ordinarie and would not make any leauies or collections extraordinarie layed vpon their shoulders with a great impietie almost the whole waight charge of the exspences of Lombardie The Siennois also were not without their vexacion on the sea side for that Andrea Dore commaunding Talamone and Portherculo made them stand continuallie vpon their gard notwithstanding not long after Talamone was restored to the Siennois by the infidelitie of a Capteine that was appointed to keepe it Their aduersitie also was increased by the vexacion of thexiles of Sienna who hauing supportacion by the Pope molested them in the partes of Maremma Where Iohn Pavvle the sonne of Ranso de Cero who was enterteined by the Pope made him selfe Lord of Orbatella by a surprise that was made by certeine horsemen of the gate of the towne which he followed forthwith with his companies But at Rome the alteracion was great and drew after it effectes of right great consequence such as tooke not their beginning of armes open warre but were bred in the bosome of conspiracies and ambush They brought no lesse infamie slaunder to the Pope then confusion and disorder to the affaires of Lombardie where by reason of the conquest of Cremona was hoped a good issue of thenterprise of Genes and also to be hable to dispose the campe in two partes before Millan according to the plots set downe at the first for like as since the chase giuen to thEcclesiastikes before Sienna the Pope hauing no hope to do any great action vpon the familie of the Colonnoy continued his inclinacion altogether to inuade the realme of Naples with greater forces So on the other side the Colonnois and thEmperours Agentes finding by the disposicion of their owne affaires that they were hable to doe no notable matter against him and desiring to keepe him still amused to take time from him vntill the Viceroy were come out of Spaine with the nauie They sent to Rome Vespasian Colonne in whose fidelity the Pope reapposed much by whose meanes they fell to capitulat together the two and twentie of August That the Colonnois should render Auaguo with other places which they had taken That they should withdraw their power to the kingdom of Naples and enterteine no more bands of souldiors in the townes which they possessed in the dominion of the Church That they might freely serue thEmprour against al men for the defense of the kingdom of Naples and on the Popes side it was agreed that he should pardon all offences past and reuoke and abolish the bull published against the Cardinall Colonno That he should not inuade their estates nor suffer them to be endomaged by the Vrsins By reason of this reconciliacion the Pope who verie vndiscretly reapposed too much in the fidelitie of Vespasian dismissed almost all his horsemen and footemen which he had waged and those bands that remeined he dispersed them in seueral townes about Rome and from thenceforth seemed to grow cold in all things that concerned the plot of inuading the kingdom of Naples for as by the complaints and protestacions which ordinarily came from Millan and Genes to thEmperours officers resident in the realme of Naples it was discerned that those Cities woulde holde out no lenger onlesse the confederates were turned from the pursute of their enterprise with a mightie diuersion So thEmperours Capteines and officers there hauing no meane to make openly a strong warre such as was hable to administer a speedie remedie tooke an other course and disposed immediatlie all their thoughts and spirites to oppresse the Pope with ambushes
an yll counsel of the Pope wrote to him that the Viceroy reiecting all motions to truce was contented to make peace with the Pope onely or with the Pope and Venetians ioyntly so farreforth as they would make payment of money to thend to mainteine the army for assurance of the peace and afterwards to debate in the matter of the truce with the others An alteration mouing eyther by the variation or chaunge of the Viceroy or happly by the perswasions of tharchbishop as many suspected At which time Paule d'Arezze being come to themprours Court with authoritie from the Pope the Venetians and Frauncis Sforce whither also went by the motiō of the king of England for the negociation of peace the Auditor of the Chamber the rather for that before were come thither full commissions from the french king He found themprour wholy chaunged both in minde will taking the reason of his alteration vpon an aduertisement he had receiued of the army of the launceknightes and of his Nauy in Italy In so much as enforcing the fauor of that good aduauntage he fled from all the conditions that were set downe before and vrged vehemently that the French king should obserue absolutely thaccord of Madrill to haue the cause of Frauncis Sforce heard by law before Iudges assigned by himselfe Thus did both the will and intention of themprour vary according to the successe of affayres like as also his commissions which he sent to his Agentes in Italy bare alwayes by reason of the distance of the place eyther an expresse or silent condition to gouerne themselues according to the variation of times and occasions Therfore the Viceroy after he had many dayes abused the Pope with vayne practises and would not so muche as consent to a surceance of armes for a few daies till the negociation might soart to some issue brake vp from Naples the xx of December to goe into thestates of the Church In which wilfulnesse he offred many new and very straunge conditions of accorde But to returne to the laste daye of the yeare wherein the Launceknightes as we haue sayde passed the ryuer of Nure The same day also the Duke of Ferrara by the meane of his Embassador capitulated with the Viceroy and Don Hugo who had commission from themprour Neuertheles the capitulation was made with a very small liking of that Embassador for that he was almoste constrayned to consent by the threates and rude words of the Viceroy Tharticles of the capitulation were these That the duke of Ferrara should be bounde aswell in his person as in his estates to serue themprour agaynst all his enemies That he should be capteine generall for themprour in Italy with a company of an hundred men at armes and two hundred light horsemen onely he should assemble and leauy them at his owne charges and receyue agayne allowance in his accountes That he should presently receyue the towne of Carpy and the Castell of Nouy which had apperteined to Albert Pio for the dowry of themprours bastard daughter promised to his sonne onely the reuenues should be aunswered in account of the souldiors a compensation to be made vntill the consummation of the mariage And that Vespatian Colonno and the Marquis of Guast should disclayme and renounce the rightes which they pretended to them That he should pay the summe of two hundred thousand duckets when he had recouered Modena but out of that should be deducted that which he had giuen to the Viceroy since the battell of Pauia That if he did not recouer Modena all the summes of money which he had before disbursed should be eftsones repayed to him That themprour should be bound to his protection not to make peace without comprehending him and not without obteining for him of the Pope absolution of the paynes and censures which he had incurred euer since he was declared confederate to themprour And lastly that he should vse all his meanes and authoritie to the Pope to absolue him of all those penalties and transgressions which he had runne into before Thus in the ende of the yere a thousande fiue hundred and sixe twentie all things prepared and tended to a manyfest and open warre The ende of the seuenteenth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE EIGHTENTH BOOKE THe Duke of Burbonissueth out of Millan The Viceroy and Colonnois make vvarre agaynst the Pope in thestate of the Churche The Marquis of Salussa entreth vvithin Bolognia The Pope maketh vvarre in the kingdome of Naples The Duke of Burbon leadeth his armie to Rome taketh the tovvne and sacketh it and is slayne in the action The Pope beeing abandoned of all hope accordeth vvith thimperialls Amutinie in Florence The king of Englande is declared agaynst themprour The confederates do many enterprises THE EIGHTEENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin NOW ensueth the yeare of our Lorde a thousande fiue hundred and seuen and twenty A yeare prepared to many harde euentes and accidentes suche as for their crueltie were full of feare and daunger and for their straungenes had no example or experience with the worldes and ages before For in the predictions of this yeare was expressed an vniuersall face of troubles and confusion of mutation of estates of captiuitie of princes of desolation of Cities of dearth of vittelles and of a generall visitation of the plague yea through all the regions and climates of Italy there was no apparance nor contemplation of other thing then of blood death famine and fleeing A condition lamentable euen to forreiners and straungers that dyd but heare of it but moste intollerable to those miserable wretches vpon whose neckes the lawe of destenie had drawne so grieuous a yoke To these calamities there was no other thing that stayed the action of beginning and execution but the difficulties whiche the Duke of Burbon founde to make the regimentes of Spanishe footemen to departe out of Millan for where he had determined that Anthony de Leua shoulde abide there for the defence of the whole Duchie and reteyne with him all those bands of Launceknightes which were there before for whose enterteinmentes and payes were consumed bothe all the moneyes exacted at tymes vppon the Millannois and also suche other summes as were leauyed by the billes of exchaunge which the Duke of Burbon brought from Spayne And where he had also appoynted to remayne with the sayd Leua for the seruice of the Duchie a strength of twelue hundred footemen Spaniardes together with some bandes of Italian footemen vnder the leading of Lodovvike Belliense and other commaunders So likewise by their example all the other bandes and regimentes of souldiors for that they had in pray the houses the wyues and daughters of thinhabitantes of Millan were not discontented to liue still in that estate of licentious libertie But for that both for the necessitie of the present seruice and regarde of their proper honor and lastely for the awe and authoritie of the Duke of Burbon they
the castell S. Angelo The Pope was al this while in no smal thought to make prouision of money wherin imploring the ayde of other princes he receiued of new from the king of England a supply of thirty thousand duckets which the lord Russell his Chamberlaine brought to him And with him came Monsr de Rabandanges with ten thousande crownes sent to him by the french king vpon the benefit of the tenthes which the Pope had accorded to him by necessitie compulsion vnder this promise notwithstāding that besides the payments of the forty thousand crownes which he gaue to the league and twenty thousand which he contributed to the Pope for euery moneth he should presently minister to him thirty thousand duckets within a moneth thirty thousand more The king of Englande gaue commission also to the Lorde Russell to signifie to the Viceroy and the Duke of Burbon a surseance of armes to th end to giue sufferance and tyme to treate a peace the practise and negociation whereof according to themprours will was holden in Englande And if the Viceroy would not condiscend to it then to denounce agaynst him warre It seemed by this readynes and many other apparances that the king of Englande vnder a desire to marry his daughter with the Frenche king was well inclined to the confederates and fauoured their cause And in that good inclination he promised that assoone as the mariage were established to enter into the league and beginne the warre in Flaunders It seemed also he was particularly disposed to do pleasure to the Pope But there could be no great exspectation of ready remedies from a prince who both measured not well the present conditions of Italy nor stoode firme and resolute in his purposes beeing styll labored and retyred by the hope which themprour gaue him to commit to him the working and arbitration of the peace notwithstanding theffectes were in nothing correspondant to the semblances and showes he made for when the Auditor of the Chamber was with him for that matter albeit themprour did what he could to perswade him in many sortes that such was his intention yet for that he exspected some euentes from Italy since the discending of the launceknightes and the aryuall of his Nauy at sea wherof he had receiued some aduertisement he forbare to giue him an aunswere assured and certayne taking his excuse vppon the warrantes and commissions of the confederates as though they were not sufficient But thaccorde whiche the Pope solicited continually with the Viceroy hurt him not a little with the Confederates both for that they stoode alwayes in feare least he woulde resolue and compound with him And also the French king and the Venetians made this iudgement that all the exspences and defraymentes whiche they should make to support him would be almost vnprofitable This iudgement and suspicion tooke encreasing by certayne degrees of vehement feares whiche were discerned in him together with the lamentable protestations he made dayly that he was no more hable to susteine the warre Wherein agaynst hys ordinarye meane and remedy in that case he opposed wilfully his naturall obstinacy would not make Cardinalls for money nor releeue himselfe in so great necessities amid so many daungers of the Church with those meanes which other Popes had wont to vse yea euen in thatchieuing of their vniust and ambicious enterprises In which regarde the French king and the Venetians to be the better prepared and ready in all accidents were eftsones particularly bound to make no accord with themprour the one without the other And the French king for that cause and for the great hope which the king of Englande gaue to rayse together with him in case the mariage went forwarde great emotions in the spring following became more negligent and lesse carefull of the daungers of Italy In this time the Viceroy who solicited an inuasion vpon the Churche states dispatched a regiment of two thousande Spanish footemen to assault a small Castell of Stephen Colonno where the vallour of the defendantes made that enterprise in vayne And because the Viceroy came on and aduaunced thecclesiastikes referred to an other time to execute the resolution taken to batter the Popes rocke the garrisons of which place had surprised the Castell Gandolffo but weakly manned and at that tyme holden by the Cardinall de Monte At last the Viceroy after he had assembled into one strength twelue thousande footemen all bodyes commaunded and trayned sauing the Spaniards and Launceknights that were come with him by sea encamped with his whole armie the xxix of Ianuary before Frusolone a towne weake and without walles sauing that the howses of some particulars serue as a wall and within the which the capteines of the Church had bestowed garrison because they would leaue him no footing nor entrie into Campagnia to the weaknes of this place was ioyned a great necessitie and want of vittells and yet the situation of the towne standing vpon a hill giueth alwayes to the inhabitantes good meane and oportunitie to saue them selues of one side for that it beareth a certaine benesite of reskew and backing A matter which gaue a great resolution to the garrison within to defende it besides that they were of the best choyse of Italians whiche at that time tooke paye Moreouer the height of the mountayne was no litle impediment to thenemies to do any action vpon their artilleries of which they had planted three demy Cannons and foure Coluerines Onely the greatest care of thenemies was to stoppe as muche as they could the entry of vittells into the towne On the other side the Pope who albeit was muche impouerished for money and was more apt to suffer indignitie to desire others to releeue him then to furnishe himselfe by meanes extraordinary encreased his campe as muche as he could with bandes of footemen payed and trayned And in that incertentie of minde and dealing he had newly taken into his paye Horacio Baillon without keeping memorie or obseruation of the iniuries which he had done before to his father and afterwardes to him whom he had of long holden prisoner within the Castell of S. Angelo as a troubler of the quiet of Perousa With these supplies of souldiours his armie went on alwayes drawing neare to Ferentin to make there his generall moosters and to giue hope of succours to those that were besieged The batterye of Frusolona was reduced to perfection the xxiiij day but because it was not suche as to giue hope to cary the place there was no assault performed Onely capteine Alarcon trauelling about the walles was hurt with the blowe of a harquebuse and likewise Maria Vrsin was wounded One of the principall grounds and hopes of the Viceroy was that he was not ignorant that the souldiors within suffred great scarcitie of vittells as also the armie that moostred at Ferentin was in the same extremitie for the souldiours of the Colonnois whiche laye within Palicina Montfortin and the Popes Rocke the
of the deathe of the Duke of Burbon And lastly the Frenche kinge not holding it good pollicye to suffer the thinges of Italy so to declyne he contracted the fiftenth daye of Maye with the Venetians that they shoulde wage in common tenne thowsande Svvyzzers he to furnishe the first paye and the Venetians the seconde and so forwarde according to that rule That he shoulde sende into Italy tenne thowsande Frenche men vnder Peter Nauarre That in lyke sorte the Venetians ioyntly with the Duke of Myllan shoulde wage tenne thowsande footemen Italyans That he shoulde fende thether a newe supplye of fiue hundred launces and eyghteene peeces of artilleries And bicause the king of England notwithstanding tharticles of the contract shewed no greate readines to make warre beyonde the Mountes A dealing which was not very agreable to the French king They dispensed with that obligacion and in place of that they couenanted That the king of England to furnishe the warre of Italy shoulde defraye the paye of tenne thowsande footemen for six monethes full And at the speciall instance of the sayde kinge of England Monsr de Lavvtrech almoste agaynst his will was declared Capteine generall of the whole armye during whose preparacion to marche and passe with conuenient prouisions of money and other thinges necessarye there was nothinge done in Italy that was of any consequence for bothe thEmprours armye styrred not out of Rome notwithstanding that many perished dayly by the rage of the plague which at that tyme ranne also with greate mortalitye in Florence and through many partes of Italy And also the armye of the league into which at thinstance of the Marquis of Salusso and the Venetians the Florentyns were entred of newe with obligacion to defraye fiue thowsande footemen wherewith thEmprour felt him selfe greeuously offended for that hauing at their instance giuen to the Duke of Ferrara authoritie to compownd in his name was almost assoone aduertised of their contrary deliberacion This armye beeing greatly diminished in numbers for that the regiments of the Venetians of the Marquis and the Svvyzzers were yll payed was retyred towardes Viterba And looking altogether to temporise and enterteyne they labored to holde in the deuocion of the league Perousa Orbieta Spoleto with other places thereabowts And afterwardes hauing vnderstandinge in that place that one parte of thEmprours armye was yssued out of Rome somewhat to take breathe with the largenes and skoape of ayre fearing least the residue shoulde doe the lyke after the first payments were made they retyred to Orbietta and afterwardes neare to the borowe of Pyeua And in that inclinacion they had retyred vppon the landes of the Florentyns if they would haue giuen consent In this rage of the plague the castell of Saint Angeo was visited to the great daunger of the life of the Pope abowt whom dyed certeine speciall men that did seruice to his person who amyd so many afflictions and aduersities and no other hope remeyning to him then in the clemencie of thEmprour appoynted for Legat with the consent of the Capteines Cardinall Alexander of Farneso who notwithstanding being yssued out of the castell and Rome refused vnder that occasion to goe in the sayd legacion The Capteines desired to cary the person of the Pope with the thirteene Cardinals that were with him to Caietto but he labored against that resolucion with greate diligence peticions and arte At last Monsr de Lavvtrech after he had giuen order to thinges necessary departed from the Court the last of Iune with eyght hundred launces and honored with the title of Capteine generall of the whole league And the king of England in place to present tenne thowsand footemen was taxed to paye in money for euery moneth beginning the first of Iune the summe of xxx thowsand duckats Which money should be conuerted to the payment of tenne thowsand launceknights vnder Monsr Vavvdemont which was a regiment of very good exercise and practise for that they had many times broken the bands of the Lutherans The French king tooke also to his paye Andre Dore with eyght gallyes and xxxvj crownes for euery yeare But before Monsr Lavvtrech was past the Mounts the regiments of the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan ioyned together marched to Marignan whome Antho. de Leua yssuing out of Myllan with eyght hundred Spanyards and the like number of Italyans together with a very fewe horsemen constrayned them to retyre About which tyme Iohn Iames de Medicis Captaine of Mus who was in pay with the French king and exspected vppon the lake the comming of the Svvyzzers made him selfe Lord by suttle meanes vppon the castell of Monguzzo seated betwene Lecqua and Coma wherein dwelt Alexander Bentyuolo as in his owne house for the recouering of it Antho. de Leua sent thether Lodovvyk de Belioyense who hauing assalted it in vaine turned to Monceo But afterwards Antho. de Leua hauing espiall that the sayd Capteine Mus with two thowsand fiue hundred footemen was come to the village of Carato foureteene myles from Myllan returned to Myllan where leauing onely two hundred men notwithstanding the Venetians were almost ten thowsand and yssuing out by night with the rest of the armye he charged suddeinly vppon the rising of the Sunne the bands of Capteine Mus who at the alarme leauing their houses wherein they were lodged they retyred into a playne place enuyroned with hedges not farre from the village not thinking that all the bands were there And albeit they cast them selues into order yet by the disaduauntage of the place beeing lowe and strayted as a prison they fell all without any resistance into the calamitye of the sworde or prisoners except many who in the beginning sought their sauetye by fleeing taking their example of the Capteine In this meane while ThEmprour had aduertisement of the Popes captiuitie by letters which his high Chauncellor wrote to him from Monaco as he went into Italy whether he was sent by his authoritie And albeit by his speeches and outward forme of behauior he expressed how greeuous that accident was to him yet it was discerned by his secrete mocions and affections that he was not muche discontented with it which he well declared in publike demonstracions not forbearing to followe the feastes and torneyes begonne before for the byrthe of his Sonne But as the deliuerie of the Pope was vehemently desired by the king of England and Cardinall of Yorke and for their authoritie no lesse displeasing to the French kinge who in case he coulde otherwayes haue recouered his children woulde haue taken litle care and greefe for the calamities of the Pope and vniuersall domages of all Italy So in a cause so generally inducing to compassion bothe the one and the other king sent Embassadors to thEmprour to demaunde the deliuerance of the Pope as a matter apperteyning in common to all the Princes Christian and particularly due by the Emprour vnder whose faith he had beene reduced to that estate of miserye by his
Capteynes and by his armye Abowt this tyme the Cardinalls that were in Italy made a mocion that aswell they as the other Cardinalls beyonde the Mountes might assemble together at Auignion to take councell in so troublesom a tyme what coursse to holde for the stabilitie of the Church But because they woulde not all at one tyme raunge them selues vnder the power of so mightye Princes they refused to goe thether though with diuerse excuses By whose example also the Cardinall Saluiatio Legat in the Frenche Court beeing required by the Pope to goe to thEmprour to helpe his affayres at the comming of Don Hugo who according to the capitulacion was to go vp to thEmprour refused to accomplish that legacion as though it had beene a matter hurtfull to deliuer vppe to the power of thEmprour at one tyme so many Cardinalls Onely he sent by one of his seruaunts of credit thinstructions he had receyued from Rome to thAuditor of the chamber resident with thEmprour to th ende he might negociat with him who brought from him very gracious wordes but such as promised a diuerse and vncerteine resolucion And albeit thEmprour could haue desired that the Pope had beene ledde into Spayne yet for that it was a matter full of infamye and greatly tending to incense the king of England And withall for that all the Potentates and prouinces of Spayne and principally the Prelats and Lordes detested not a litle that an Emprour of Rome Protector and Aduocat of the Church should with so great indignitie to all Christendom holde in prison the man in whome was represented the person of Iesus Christ in earth In those regardes he made gracious aunswers to all thEmbassadors which occupied his presence there At whose instance also to goe thorowe with a peace he sayde he was content to referre the action of it to the king of England which was accepted by them And seeming to confirme this good inclinacion with corespondencye of effects he dispatched into Italy the thirde daye of August the generall of the Graye Frears and foure dayes after him Veri de Miglian enhabling both the one and other with commissions sufficient to the Viceroy for the deliuery of the Pope and restitucion of all such townes and castells as had bene taken from him he consented also for the better releeuing of the Pope that his Nuncio should send him a certeine summe of money exacted vppon the collection of his Realmes who in their Courts and parlyaments had refused to contribute money to thEmprour In this time about the ende of Iuly the Cardinall of Yorke passed the sea to Callyce with twelue hundred horse The French king who had great desire to receyue him with all showes of honor sent to meete him at his landing the Cardinal of Lorraine and went afterwardes in personne to Amyens where the Cardinall of Yorke made his entrey the daye after with very greate pompe Wherein one thinge that muche augmented his glorye and reputacion was the treasor he had brought with him amownting to three hundred thowsande crownes bothe to furnishe thexspenses occurringe and to imparte it with the Frenche Kinge by waye of loane if neede were They debated betwene them aswel of matters apperteyning to the peace as of occasions tending to nourish the warre Wherein albeit the ends and intencions of the French king were different from the purposes of the king of England for that to haue his children restored he cared not to leaue abandoned to manifest praye both the Pope and all the state of Italy yet what by the authoritie of the king of England and necessitie of his owne affayres he was driuen to promisse to make no accord with thEmprour without the deliuery of the Pope And therefore thEmprour hauing sent to the king of England the articles of the peace aunswer was made to him by both the kings that they woulde accept the peace vnder condicions of restitucion of the children of Fraunce receyuing for raunsom of them two millions of duckats within a certeine tyme and deliuerye of the Popes person with the state Ecclesiastike together with the conseruacion of all the gouernments and estates of Italy as they were at that present and lastly vnder condicion of an vniuersall and generall peace And bicause the mariage of the French king with the Emprours sister should still continue there was set downe a speciall couenant that thEmprour accepting these articles the Daughter of the king of England should be maryed to the Duke of Orleans But in case the peace succeeded not the king him selfe should take her to wife After these articles were sent they refused to giue safe conduit to a man whome the Emprour required to send into Fraunce aunswering that they had done enough to send him the articles of their resolucion Which being not accepted by thEmprour the peace and confederacion betweene the two kings was sworne and published solemnly the eyght day of August They determined to employ all their forces in the warre of Italy hauing for their principall obiect the deliuerye of the Pope And touching the manner to proceede in that warre they reapposed them selues vppon Monsr Lavvtrech to whome according to the confidence they had in him they gaue absolute power and before he tooke his leaue to depart with his expedicion they suffered him to obteyne of the French king all his demaundes for that the king ment in that warre to set vppe his last rest The Cardinall of Yorke would also that the knight Casalo shoulde goe to the campe on the behalfe of his king and that the thirty thowsande duckats which were his monthly contribucion should be deliuered to him to th ende to be assured if the nūber of Almaines were compleate Thus after the resolucions and directions of the warre were established the Cardinall of Yorke returned and at his departure he dispatched the pronotorye Gambaro to the Pope to induce him to make him his Viccaire generall in England in Fraunce and in Germanye so longe as he was in prison Whereunto though the French king seemed by demonstracions to consent yet secretly and in effect he did impugne so great an ambicion In this meane whyle there passed but very fewe actions and exploytes of warre in Italy thexspectacion of the comming of Lavvtrech being very great The reason was that as the Imperiall armye full of disorder and disobedience to their Capteynes and no lesse chargeable to their friendes and townes that were rendred made no greate mouing and gaue no feare at all to their enemyes so the footebandes of Spanyardes and Italyans fleeing from the infection of the plague laye dispearsed and wandring abowt the confynes of Rome And the Prince of Orenge with an hundred and fiftye horsemen was gonne vppe to Syenna aswell to eschewe the daunger of the plague as to keepe that citie in the deuocion of thEmperour And for the better conteyning the Citie in fidelitie and order he had sent thyther before certeyne bandes of footemen the rather for that
whollie to giue ouer all that they helde in the Duchie of Millan he required thirtie thowsande duckats of the Florentins in recompense of the defrayments and exspenses made and for domages receiued by reason of their inobseruancie He consented that the Frenche king shoulde pay for him to the king of England a dette of foure hundred and fiftie thowsande duckats and for the residue amounting to two millions he required ostages he required to be prouided for him the twelue gallies of the Frenche king for the conuey of his person into Italie onely he cut of all proporcions of horsemen and footemen Lastlie he demaunded that as soone as thaccorde were resolued all the Frenche regimentes should issue out of Italie an article which the Frenche king refused onlesse his children were first restored to him Yea when it was hoped that he would mitigate these demaundes for the losse of Alexandria and Pauia it was then he showed him selfe more firme and resolute following his custome which was not to yeelde to difficulties In so muche as when the Auditor of the Chamber came to him out of Englande the fifteenth of October to solicite the Popes deliuerie in the name of the king of Englande he aunswered that he had taken order for that by the Generall And that touching the accorde he woulde not eyther for loue or by force alter the condicions he had established before But assuredlie it was discerned manifestlie that thEmperour bare no great inclinacion to the peace for that many thinges gaue him corage against the puissance of his ennemies for he called into consideracion that in Italy he might make resistance through the vertue of his armie and for the facilitie to defende townes That he coulde alwayes with small difficultie make passe newe supplies of Launceknightes That the long tract of exspenses had drayned of money and treasor the Frenche king and the Venetians That according to the custome of leagues their prouisions were defectiue and diminished he had confidence to draw out of Spaine sufficient store of money seeing he bare out the warre with farre lesser exspenses then did the confederates being much impouerished by the pillage and robberie of souldiers and also for that he hoped by seperating the confederates to make them more weake or negligent Lastlye he promised much to himselfe of his great felicitie both approoued by thexperience of so many yeeres and had bene assured from his infancie by manye predictions But in this time Monsr Lavvtrech solicited that the armies by sea prepared to inuade either Cicilia or the Realme of Naples shoulde aduaunce and come on of which the fleete of the Venetians whose prouisions eyther by sea or lande aunswered nothing thobligations was at Corfon and sixteene gallies were to ioyne with Andre Dore who exspected in the ryuer of Genes Ransode Cero appoynted to the footemen of that enterprise After Lavvtreth sent backe agayne into Fraunce foure hundred launces and three thousande footemen and contracted with the Venetians whom he counselled to render Rauenna to the colleage of Cardinals and with the Duke of Millan that to defende that which hadde bene conquered they shoulde reteyne their bands with whom were Ianus Fregosa and Count Caiesse in a place well fortified at Landriano which is a village within two miles of Millan By reason of whose neighbourhead for that the companies that were within Millan coulde not goe abroade it was supposed an easyer gard woulde be made of Pauia Moncia Biagrassa Marignan Binasquo Vigeuena and Alexandria After he hadde established these thinges the eighteene of October he marched with fifteene hundred Svvizzers the like nomber of Launceknightes and sixe thowsande aswell Frenche as Gascons And with this strength he passed the ryuer of Pavv right ouer agaynst the Borowe of Saint Iohn with intention to abide there the comming of the Launceknightes of whom till then was arriued but a very slender nomber and also an other regiment of footemen of the same nation which the French king had sent to leuye of newe in place of the Svvizzers who were almost gone away But from this place he was driuen to sende backe agayne beyonde Pavv Peter Nauarre with the bands of footemen Gascons and Italians to the succours of Biagrassa before which towne garded by the Duke of Millan Antho. de Leua was gone to incampe the xxviij of October with foure thowsande footemen and seuen peeces of artilleries taking his reason of that enterprise vpon the wantes and ill prouisions of the towne which being yelded to him the second day by accorde he prepared to passe into Lomelino to the ende to reconquer Vigeuena and Nouaro But being aduertised by good espiall that Peter Nauare was come with a greater supplie of forces he returned backe againe to Millan By which retyring he made easie to Peter Nauare to get againe Biagressa in whiche Frauncis Sforce bestowed better prouisions It was nowe discerned that Monsr Lavvtrech deferred with great industrie and art to depart Wherein albeit he alleaged that the thing that reteyned him was the tarying of the Launceknightes of whom one band being at last arriued vnder the charge of Monsr Vaudemont he abode the comming of the others And albeit he cunningly accompanied that excuse with a complaint of the slender prouisions of the Venetians yet it was supposed that the onely cause that helde him in deferring and lingring was the money which he exspected out of Fraunce But the true and most stronge reason was that the French king hoping much in the peace the negotiacion whereof was stil continued with themperour he gaue direction to Lavvtrech to dissemble vnderslowe proceedings his aduauncing on whereupon also it came to passe that the kyng was not readie to satisfie his part of the pay of those Almains which were leauyed in place of the Svvizzers and much lesse the other bands that were before reserued to go with Monsr Vavvdemont With these necessities or rather excuses Monsr Lavvtrech soiourning at Plaisanca and his companies being bestowed betwene Plaisanca and Parma the difficultie which before was had of the duke of Ferrara was nowe taken awaye This Duke like as Monsr Lavvtrech assone as he was entred into Italy had solicited to enter into the league which was a matter desired of th one side by the Duke in respect of thalliance that was offred to him with the French king and on the other side the same reteining him both for a distrust he had of the vallour of the French and for a suspicion he had least the king for the recouery of his children would not at last accord with themprour So neuertheles fearing the threats of Lavvtrech he was reduced conformable to the will of the French demaunding only that the negociatiō of those affayres might be performed at Ferrara for that he would in his owne person manage a cause that imported him so muche So that thembassadours of the whole confederates went vp to Ferrara together with Cardinall Cibo in the name of those Cardinalls that were
giue occasion to thenemies to make head at Sienna or in any other place hauing a speciall desire to make his entrye into the kingdome of Naples before he should encounter any impediment And assone as he was departed from Bolognia Iohn Sassatello rendred to the Pope the rocke of Ymola of which he had made himselfe lorde in the time of his imprisonment And drawing neare afterwards to Rimini Sigismond Malatesta sonne to Pandolffo contracted with him to giue vp that Citie to the Pope vpon condition that he should be bound to suffer his mother to enioy her dowry to giue to his sister who was not maryed sixe thousande duckets and to assigne for his father and for him two thousand duckets of reuenue That Sigismond should depard immediatly out of Rimini and his father to remayne there vntill the Pope had sent the ratification And that in the meane while the rocke should abide in the handes of Guido Rangon his cousin who being in the pay of the French king followed Monsr Lavvtrech to the warre But the Pope deferring to accomplishe these promises Sigismond repossessed and occupied agayne the rocke though not without a great complaynt of the Pope agaynst Guido Rangon as though he had secretly suffred him and not without suspicion that Lavvtrech and the Venetians had consented seeming they had desired to kepe him in continuall difficulties The suspicion of the Venetians grewe vpon the cause of Rauenna which the Pope assone as he was deliuered out of the Castell hauing sent to sommon and demaunde it of the Senate by the Archbishop of Siponto he was aunswered with words generall referring the matter to the arbitration of Iasper Contarin Embassadour elect resident with him for notwithstanding they had giuen assurance before that they reteyned it for the sea Apostolike yet they had no desire to restore it Wherein they were moued aswell by interests publike as priuate for the commoditie of that Citie to augment their iurisdiction in Romagnia fertill of it selfe in grayne and for the plentie of the countreys adioyning of great oportunitie to draw to Venice euery yere good quantities of corne Besides many of the citie of Venice had in that territorie great and goodly possessions And touching Monsr Lavvtrech the Pope doubted no lesse of him for that besides many instances which had bin made to him before Lavvtrech notwithstanding he had sent to him after he was come from Bolognia Monsr Vavvdemont capteine generall of the Launceknightes together with Monsr Longeuille whome the king sente to solicite him earnestlye to declare agaynst thEmperour could not obteine so muche of him the Pope not refusing expresly but vnder delayes and excuses And in that cunning he had offred to the french king to giue his consent but vnder this condition that the Venetians should render to him Rauenna A condition which he knew could not take effect both for that it behoued not the Venetians to be induced to it by the kings perswasions neither was it agreable to the time that the king should make them his enemies to satisfie the Pope Moreouer he gaue no inclination to thinstance which Lavvtrech made to him to ratifie the accorde made with the Duke of Ferrara alleaging that it was a matter farre vnworthye of him to approue in his life time conditions made in his name whylest he was dead and yet he alleaged that he woulde not refuse to contracte with him By reason whereof the duke of Ferrara taking that occasion made difficultie notwithstanding the king and the Venetians had receyued him into their protection to sende to Monsr Lavvtrech the hundred men at armes and the money which he had promised Wherin he stoode vpon this obseruation that doubting the issue of affayres he would not be so much for the French king as not to reserue place and meane to appease in all euentes the minde of themprour to whom he had excused himselfe by his necessitie Besides he enterteined cōtinually at Ferrara George Fronspergh and Andrevv de Burgo Neuerthelesse the armie for all this ceassed not to aduaunce which vnder the leading of Monsr de Lavvtrech aryued the tenth of February vpon the ryuer of Tronto which seperateth the estate ecclesiastike from the kingdome of Naples But in Fraunce after aduertisement was brought that themprour had reteined the kings Embassadour by his example the king caused themprours Agentes to be restrayned within the Castell of Paris and all Marchantes subiects to him to be stayed throughout all the regions of Fraunce The king of Englande did the like by themprours Embassadour resident with him whom he eftsones redeliuered after he was made to vnderstande that no restraynt was made vpon his And as the warre was nowe published in Fraunce in Englande and in Spayne so the French king stoode vppon this request that the first action might begin ioyntly in Flaunders in which resolution he sent certayne bands of souldiours to make incursions into that contrey Neuertheles the Flemings for all those prouocations made no emotion nor rising vnlesse to defende them selues for that the Lady Margaret of Austria laboring to auoyde all occasions to enter warre with the French king would not suffer her people to issue out of their boundes and confines But it was a matter grieuous to the king of Englande to haue warre with the people of Flaunders for that notwithstanding there were to be confined to him assone as they should be conquered certaine townes promised before by themprour for assurance of the mony he had lent him yet he helde it also a matter no lesse preiudiciall aswell for his particular reuenues as for the generall interest and benefite of his realme to breake the trade and entercourse of his Marchantes with those prouinces Neuerthelesse according to thobligations of the contract as he could not apparantly refuse it so yet he temporised deferred it asmuch as he could taking thaduauntage of the capitulacions by the which it was lawfull for him to linger fortie daies after sommonce made to th ende to giue time to the marchants to retire themselues This excuse of his and inclinacion being both well knowen approued by the french king he solicited him that in place to make warre in Flaunders he would with an armie by sea inuade the sea coastes of Spayne where he assured him he had right good intelligence By which alteracion of councells it hapned at last that as the king sending to the french king a bishop to perswade him to giue ouer thenterprise of beyonde the mountes and to encrease and make stronge the warre of Italy so by his perswasions and his authoritie there was an order established that for the space of eight monethes next ensuing there should be done no vexacions nor harmes by the french and english vppon the contreys of Flaunders nor any of the estates or subiects of themprour confyning vpon those prouinces Wherein for the more easie induction of the french king to condiscend to this order the king of England was bound
office of seruice by the mutinie of the paysants which still redoubled into worse degrees they abandoned the defense of the place Insomuch as the whole campe entring where no resistance was made they turned their felicitie into blood slaying in their furie all the paysants men of the towne Onely the souldiers retyred into the castell together with the Prince who not long after yeelded simply as was sayde to discression notwithstanding they pretended that their liues were excepted The Prince was saued with a very fewe of his followers all the others were put to the sword conteyning three thowsand bodies the towne deliuered vp to sacking In the towne was foūd great store of vittells to the great commoditie and comforting of the French men who for their hard prouision suffred no small wants in Povvylla The xxiiij day the Spanyards departed from Ariano and incamped at Tripaldo which is xxv myles from Naples vppon the high waye and xl myles from Ofanto with whome ioyned the Viceroy the Prince of Salerno and Fabricio Maramo with a regiment of three thowsand footemen and twelue peeces of artilleries it was thought also that Captaine Alarson yssued out of Naples with two thowsand footemen to succour Dogania But Lavvtrech stayed vpon the territories of Ofanto to make great prouisions of money had all his cōpanies incamped betwene Ascalo Melffe And since the accident of Melffe were rendred to him Barletto Trany and all the townes thereabouts except Manfredonia wherein was a strength of a thowsand footemen In this successe and rendring of townes he sent out Peter Nauare with foure thowsand footemen to take the rock of Venosa which being garded valliantly defended by ij hundred fifty spanish footemen he tooke it at last to discression reteyning the Capteines prisoners he sent away the others without weapōs And there he had giuen order that the reuenue of the tribute of Povvilla should be receyued for him which for the troubles impediments which the warre brought aūswered not the value price that were wont to rise by it In this place the commissarie Pisano with the Venetian regimentes conteining about two thousande footemen came to Monsr Lavvtrech who in this sorte was busied to assure him selfe of vittells and prouisions A matter which was made more easie to him after he had got into his power Ascoly by the meane of the Venetian regimentes And at this tyme rising into courage by the happy euent of his affayres he vrged the Pope with hawty wordes to declare him selfe for the league Who notwithstanding they of Viterbo would not before receyue him for their gouernour of which Octauian Spirito was the cause yet beeing afterwardes raunged and made plyable through feare he had transported his Court to Viterba And Vespasian Colonno being dead at the same time who ordeyned by his testament that Isabell his onely daughter shoulde be maryed to Hipolito de Medicis the Pope vnder that cooller gatte possession of all those places which he helde in the territories of Rome notwithstanding Askanio pretended that they apperteyned to him by the ceassing of the line masculine of Prospero Colonno About this time Monopoly was rendred to the Venetians for whome and to whose vse according to the laste couenauntes made with the French king were gotten all those portes of the realme of Naples which they possessed before they were ouerthrowen by king Lovvis the xij in Guiaradada By reason of these prosperities of the French the Duke of Ferrara was induced to sende his sonne into Fraunce to accomplish and giue perfection to the mariage A matter which he had deferred before by great industrie refusing with the same pollicie to be Capteine of the League But themprour who sent no men out of Spayne to releeue the daungers of the kingdome of Naples had giuen ordenance that the Duke of Brunsvvich should passe out of Germanie into Italy with new supplies of Launceknights for the succour of that kingdome These supplies were prepared with so muche the more care and diligence by how muche they vnderstoode the necessitie to reskew it was great for the comming on of Monsr Lavvtrech But to th ende the aduauncing of those supplyes should not trouble the hope of the victorie it was agreed by the consent of the king of Englande the French king and the Venetians that the Lorde Frauncis of Saint Poll discended of the house of Burbon should passe into Italy with foure hundred launces fiue hundred light horsmen fiue thousande footemen Frenche two thousande Svvizzers and two thousande Launceknightes This armie was appoynted to followe them if they passed to Naples and otherwise to make warre vppon the Duchie of Millan adioyning to them the regimentes of the Venetians and the bandes of Frauncis Sforce For the defrayment of this armie was set downe a paye of threescore thousande duckets monthly of which the king of Englande was to contribute euery moneth thirtie thousand And the Venetians had resolued in the counsell of Pregati to wage ten thousande footemen In this time the inhabitants of Millan were reduced to an extreme and miserable subiection for the intollerable exactions imposed by Antho. de Leua who the better to prouide for the payes of his souldiours had drawne into his owne handes all the vittells of the Citye and hauing bestowed them in publike storehouses and Garniers he solde them in his owne name at what rate or prise he would the inhabitantes beeing driuen to buy them according to his lawe or else to dye for hunger And yet the money raysed vppon that extreme meane beeing not sufficient to pay the Launceknightes that were lodged in houses they were suffred to make dayly raunsomes of the maisters and owners of whome suche as woulde yeelde no money were kept in chaynes and yrons And because to auoyde so great cruelties and intollerable impostes many dyd flee continually out of the Citie notwithstanding the rigour of the commaundementes and diligence of the warders there was confiscation of goodes published agaynst suche as were absent who were so many in number that to auoyde the trouble to sette them downe in writing they caused them to be putte in print The Nobles and best sorte of Citizens suche as remayned there were seene in their garmentes poore and ragged and in their countenances astonished and desolate expressing by a lamentable compassion the calamities they endured And their pallaces and places of best frequentation were reduced to ruines and rubbege suche as were heauye testimonies of the crueltie of the Spaniardes And yet all thinges succeeded happely to hym that was the causer of all these miseries For where Capteine Mus laye incamped at Lecqua with sixe hundred footemen as a souldiour of the League and hauing taken awaye the barkes to th ende the Spaniardes that were within Coma could not reskew it by the waye of the lake Antho. de Leua with the bandes of footemen that were within Nouaro issued out of Millan and incamped fifteene
at Marignan from that place the Duke of Vrbin sent to Saint Angeo a strength of three thowsand footmen and three hundred light horsemen with six cannons vnder the conduit of Iohn Naldo who as he was in camping was slaine with a bollet from the artilleries for reuenge of whose death the Duke went thither in person and caried the towne The fiue and twentie of August the armie of the confederats lodged at Saint Zenon vppon the riuer of Ambra which is within two myles and an halfe of Marignan The seuen and twentie day they passed ouer Ambra and drewe neare to Marignan The Spanyards at their approaching retyred within Marignan to an olde rampart and after they had skirmished many howers they issued and spredde them selues at large making as though they would either giue or take the battell But after thartilleries had played on both sides the space of an hower by which time the night drew on they retyred within Marignan Riozzo and at the lodging or planting of the campe they assaulted it brauely The day after Antho. de Leua made his retraite with all his companies to Millan and the confederates went to Landriano There they tooke councell whether they should attempt to force Millan during the action of that consultacion the armie marched with intencion to enter the towne of Myllan by surprise which enterprise was broken by a great abundance of raine which making the wayes heauy and troublesom stopped them for going to the gate of Verceill where they should haue entred But seeing that exployt frustrat and the deuise disapoynted wherein they were more confirmed of the impossibility of the action by the relacion of a gentleman whome they sent to take a viewe of Myllan they determined to goe incampe before Pauya by the way of Biagrassa Both for that there remeyned no other nature of action for the armie also for the hope they had to cary it easily hauing no greater a strength to defende it then two hundred launceknights and eyght hundred Italyans Thus keeping that waye they sent out beyond the ryuer of Thesin certeine bands of footemen which tooke Vigeuena And the nynth of September Monsr Saint Pol arriued at Saint Alexis within three myles of Pauya where both the armies approching neare together there came an aduertisement that put them in a greater astonishment for the plague being great in Genes for feare of whose infection the towne being almost left abandoned of inhabitants and souldiers in which generall confusion Theoder Tryuulco gouernor of the towne being retyred into the castell Andre Dore tooke the aduauntage of that occasion and drew neare the towne with certeine gallies hauing neuerthelesse a very slender hope to force it for that he had with him but fiue hundred footemen But as where the feare is generall there the mindes and corages are least assured so the French nauy that roade in the hauen fearing least their way to returne into Fraunce would be cloased vp left without care or gard the matters of Genes and hoyssed faile to goe to Sauona the first vessell that arriued there being the gallye of Monsr Barbesieux So that both for the weake forces of souldiours that were within the citie notwithstanding Theoder was returned to keepe the pallaice And for that the people and commons for the iniurie of the libertie done to the towne of Sauona were becomen ennemies to the name of the Frenche Andre Dore made his entry into the towne finding made against him no great resistance Suche was his ambicion and so stronge and violent his appetit of dominion that the plague which forced the naturall inhabitants to leaue their patrimonye and place of abiding had not power to make him tymerous to enter where the others in their feare fled from thinfection But this fowle losse of the citie hapned chiefly by the negligence and too much securitie of the French king for both not looking that the matters of Naples would so speedily fall to ruyne and also beeing perswaded that in all accidents the retrait of the nauye to Genes and the neighbourhood of Monsr Saint Pol would suffice eyther to saue or reskewe he omitted to make necessarye prouisions Theoder who was retyred within the castell demaunded succours of Saint Pol whome he put in hope to reconquer the towne if there were sent to him forthwith a strength of three thowsand footemen which demaund being consulted vppon amongest the Capteines confederat the French men shewed a disposicion to goe thether presently with the whole campe But the Duke of Vrbyn proued that to prouide boates to make a bridge vppon Pavv and to leauye necessarye proporcions of vittells was a matter which woulde drawe a longer tract of tyme then the present busines required So that according to his councell it was determined that Monsr MontiIan should turne from Alexandria to Genes A regimēt of three thowsand launceknights and Svvyzzers who were come out of Fraunce to the armye of Saint Pol and were arriued at Alexandria But in case they would not be led thether then the resolucion boare that they should be led to the campe in their places should be dispatched and bestowed a colonie of three thowsand others and that as in the meane while there should be made labor and practise to presse Pauya So the Venetians promised that if thenterprise of Pauya fayled they would conuert to the succours of Genes all their companies so farre forth as they might dwel assured of the affaires on that side Thus was resolued and continued the seege of Pauya the better to aduaunce it to a good end yssue there were planted the xiiij day on this side the riuer of Thesin in the plaine there below nyne cannons which executed vpon a bastillion adioyning to the arsenack or storehouse for municions which in fewe howers was reduced almost to ruine And beyond the riuer of Thesin were braked three cannons to beate when the assalt should be giuen a flanke that aunswered the arsenack And vppon a litle hill side on this side Thesin were bestowed fiue cannons which cōmaunded two other bastillions And vpon the point of the said litle hill were bestowed three other cannons which plaied vppon the wal Al which fury of artilleries belōged to the Venetians reseruing the great shot of Monsr Saint Pol to beate vpon the defenses By the day following Annyball Capteine of Cremona was come with a trench as farre as the ditch of the bastilliō on that side of the arsenack of which two parts were already so reuersed to the earth that the soldiers that were within had almost abādoned it This day was slain with a bollet frō the artilleries Malatesta Sogliano one of the capteines of the Venetians And after the artilleries had plaied with a cōtinual execution al the day night following the army was raūged prepared to giue the assalt most part of the wall on all sides of the three bastillions being made euen with the earth But when
a cāpe they would driue the ennemies through difficulties to dissolue the warre which they durst not resist by their vallor Neuertheles either to auoid these difficulties or to prepare a remedy the prince of Orenge had sent out xv hundred footemen iiij hūdred horsemen with iiij peces of artilleries to take Lastra wherin were three enseignes of footemē of whom was passed to the sword two hundred bodies and the towne taken before the reskewes of Florence could ariue it hapned also that in the night of the xj of December Stephen Colonno with a thowsand harquebuziers and iiij hundred halberdiers and partisanes all armed with corselets and cassakins after the maner of camisado of Spaine set vpon the regiment of Sero Colonno lying in the houses neare to the Church of Saint Margaret de Monticio and in that surprise they slew and wounded many soldiours without the losse of one person of theirs About that time were slaine with the bollette within the gardin of Saint Mymato Maria Vrsin and Iulio saint Crosse And in the like fortune Pirrhus going to Saint Peters Borovv to take Montopoly which is a towne of the contrey of Pisa he was cut of by the footemen that were within Employ and being defeated in the waie betwene Palaia Montopoly many of his companies fell into the fortune of prisoners The Florentyns sent to the borow of Saint Sepulchro Napolion Vrsin with an hundred fiftie horsemen to encounter Alexander Vitelly who was sent to destroie the contrey all a long the saied borow and Anguiaro But now the warre beginning to fall into action of terror and astonishment after the regimēts newly sent by themprour were passed the Alpes the townes of Pistoya and Prato being abandoned of the Florentyn garrisons were yeelded vp to the Pope By reason whereof the armie that had left behind them no impediment marched not to ioine with the others but remaining incamped on the other side of Arno they went to lodge at Peretola neare the walls of the citie vnder the authoritie gouernment of the Marquis of Guast though the prince of Orenge was alwaies superior and absolute aboue all By which disposing of the armie apart and separate things were rather reduced to the forme of a seege then to an action of oppugnacion At this time also Pietrasanta was rendred to the Pope And as the Pope labored with a perpetuall studie and care of minde to leade to perfection the purposes he had pretended to reestablish and sette vp his house in Florence so towardes the ende of this yeare partly at the request of Malatesta Baillon who gaue him hope of accord he sent to Florence directly to him Rodolffo Pio bishop of Faensa with whom were debated diuerse and sundrie thinges some with the priuitie of the citie and for their profitte and some in secrecie by Malatesta against the weale of the citie matters which much lesse that they soarted to any effect seeing it was discerned that Malatesta who was now come to the expiracion and full time of his paie had enterteined them with art conning to th end that the Florentins fearing to be abandoned of him would estsones reteine him into their pay with title of capteine general of the warre which in th end he obteined This enterprise of Florence continued also the yeare a thowsand fiue hundred and thirtie and albeit the prince of Orenge in beginning to make new caualiers cast new trenches made demonstraciō to batter vehemently the bastillions but chefly the bastillion of Saint George which was very strong yet what thorow his ignorance which could not be without his ignominie and what for the difficultie in the action wherein his errour was nothing lesse not one deuise was put in execucion the garde of the whole Mount apparteining to Stephen Colonno In the beginning of this yeare the Florentins taking hope in the matters of negociacion with the bishoppe of Faensa sent of newe other embassadours to the Pope and to themprour but with expresse commission to innouate nothing nor harken to any mocion by the which the gouernment might be altered or the generall iurisdiction diminished So that as they were repugnant in the principall article so they could neuer obteine audience of themprour but according to the vanitie of their commission they retorned to Florence without any conclusion There were within Florence nyne or tenne thowsande footemen strong but payed according to the number of foureteene thowsande And as the souldiours were resolute to defende the Citie with a great affection and readynes of fayth So to confirme them the more all the Capteines being assembled in the Church of Saint Nicholas after the celebration of the Masse and in the presence of Malatesta they made a solemne othe to stande against the iniuries and inuasions offred agaynst the Citie vntill the laste man Onely in this vniuersall constancie was founde vnconstant Napoleon Vrsin who notwithstanding he professed him selfe assured to the Florentins by receyuing their money and imprest yet he became a reuolte and returning to Bracciano compounded his affayres with thEmperour and the Pope and reuoked from the seruice of Florence certaine capteines whom he had sent thither before But the Pope omitted no diligence wherein he thought was any meane to aduaunce his intention Wherein he so wrought with the French king that he sent Monsr Cleremont to excuse thaccorde he had made by necessitie to redeme his children And where he alleaged how impossible it was to comprehend that state in thaccorde he counselled them with reasons inducements to lay themselues downe to the necessitie of the time and take suche conditions as they might so farreforth as they were conducible to the profit and conseruation of their liberty In which good inclination to helpe to raunge the issue of things to their weale and benefite he offred as it were to interpose in the action He also commaunded by publike protestation Malatesta and Stephen Colonno being of the kings creation and dependancy to depart from Florence notwithstanding a part and seuerally he gaue them comfort to the contrary But the thing that imported moste to staye his reputation and astonishe the people was that to satisfie the Pope and the Emprour he retyred his ordinarie Embassador resident at Florence leauing there notwithstanding as a person priuate Emilio Ferier by whom for that he woulde not vtterly leaue them desperate he made secret promise to ayde thē assone as he had recouered his children Such was the Popes ambition in this action and so suttle was his humor to serue his turne of all meanes that eyther art or industrie could insinuate that he had almoste brought the Frenche king to make retyre from his Court thembassadour resident for Florence Wherein to drawe better fauour to his purposes he sent by the Bishop of Tarby the Cardinalls Hatte to the Lorde Chauncellor and not long after he gratified him with the legation of the realme of Fraunce And by him
all that to consigne vnto the Duke of Ferrara Modena which he had deteyned in deputacion till that daye leauing them to decyde afterwards the differences betweene them So that by reason of that dealing there was not for many moneths betwene the Pope and the Duke of Ferrara neither an open warre nor an assured peace the Popelying alwayes in watche to oppresse him with conspiracies and surprise or els to exspect the occasion to heape against him an open warre with the supportacion of greater Princes This yeare of 1531. brought forth no other accidents and the tranquillitie also went on continuing for the yeare following A yeare more daungerous for forreine warres then for the emocions of Italy for the Turke beeing kindled with the ignominie of his repulse at Vienna and no lesse vnderstanding howe thEmprour was intangled in Germany prepared a right huge and great armye wherein boasting insolently of his forces he let not to publish that his intencion was to constraine thEmprour to come to battell with him By the rumor and renowme of which preparacions both the Emprour put him selfe in as good order as he could reuoking into Germany the Marquis of Guast with his Spanish regiments and a great band of horsemen and footemen Italyans And the Pope promised to contribute to him a defraiment of forty thowsand duckats for euery moneth sending for the same expedicion as Legat Apostolike his Nephew the Cardinall of Medicis And lastly the Princes and free townes of Germany prepared in fauor of thEmprour and for the common defense of Germany A very huge and mighty army But the effects aunswered nothing the renowme and the feare for Solyman who for the greatnes of his preparacions and difficultie and distance of the way could not enter into Hungarie but verie late did not drawe directlie with his armie where thEmperour was but exhibiting onely a show of warre together with certeine bragging Caualcadoes and braueries of horsemen he returned to Constantinople leauing the enterprise vnperfect for want of vallour which he had induced and managed with so mightie preparacions Neither did thEmperour shew any greater deuocion or readines seeing that when he vnderstood the Turkes drew neare much lesse that he made out to meete them seeing vppon their retyring he omitted to pursue with all his forces the faire occasion that was offered him to reconquer Hungarie for his brother Onely yeelding to his importunate desire to go into Spaine he gaue order that certeine bands of Spanish footemen some regiments of Launceknightes should be conuerted to thenterprise of Hungarie But that order was immediatlie disordered by the insolent behauiours of thItalians who pushed on by certeine their Captaines disdaining that the authority and conduit of the enterprise was giuen to others and not to them so mutined That hauing no reason to alleage for their tumult and the presence of the Emperour who went thither to appease them being not sufficient to conteine them They tooke resolutely and vniuersally their way into Italie in which disorder they marched with great hast for feare to be followed and in their way with minds malicious they burned many villages and houses in reuenge as they said of the burnings wasting committed in many places in Italie by the Launceknights ThEmperour also returned by the way of Italie and where he had set downe in what order and by what places should passe his Court and all his trayne The Cardinall Medicis caried with humors and passions of youth would not obey the order generallie giuen to all the traine but in his insolencie respecting lesse the Emperours order then his owne ambicious will he aduaunced and gotte before together with Peter Maria Rossa vppon whom chiefly was layed the fault of that sedicion This bred no litle indignacion in thEmperour either for that he imputed the beginning and discourse of the matter to the Cardinall or else he feared least the Cardinall standing ill contented that Alexander his cossin was preferred to the administracion of thestate of Florence would goe after the bandes of Italians to lead them to trouble the affaires of Tuskane In which regard he caused to be apprehended by the way the Cardinall and with him Peter Maria Rossa But after he had better considered of thimportaunce of the matter he wrote letters for the redeliuerie of the Cardinall to whome as well as to the Pope he protested many excuses Onely Peter Maria remeyned prisoner though not long after he was released working greatlie for him with thEmperour the iniurie which it seemed he had done to the Cardinall The retyring of the Turke deliuered the regions of Italie of a great warre that threatned to fall vpon them for where the Frenche king and king of England with mindes full of emulacion against thEmperour had an enteruiewe and conference together betwene Calice and Bolleyne where taking their groundes that the Turke would abide that winter in Hungarie and hold intangled the forces of thEmperour They consulted that the French king vnder that oportunitie should inuade the Duchie of Millan and hauing a disposicion to draw the Pope to their parte by violence and astonishment whom they could neuer allure by other meanes they deuised to take from him the obedience of their kingdoms in case he would not cōsent to that which they desired of him which was for the action of Millan for the French king for the king of England to giue sentence on his side in the cause of diuorce And to relate their intencions they were determined to sende to him with sharpe commissions the Cardinalls of Tournon and Tarbes both which bare no small authoritie with the Frenche king But the newes which they receiued of the retyring of the Turke before the time of their enteruiew was determined did not onely well moderate those deuises and their seuerities but were also the cause that the king of England would not suffer to passe to Calyce the Lady Anne Bulleine to celebrate mariage with her publikely in that assembly Notwithstanding that both the cause was hanging in the Court of Rome also he was forbidden by writs Apostolike vnder paine of very great iudgements to innouate nothing to the preiudice of the first mariage ▪ But so deepe did the French king dissemble that albeit to confirme the minde of the king of England that he would be against the Pope he imposed by his owne authoritie vppon the Clergie of his Realme a taxe of tenthes dispatched the two Cardinalls to the Pope yet not obseruing the fidelitie of his word and promisse he sent them furnished with commissions farre differing from the resolucion of the two kings in the beginning The Emprour being comen into Italy with a desire to speake with the Pope the place of their meeting and enteruiewe was eftsoones assigned at Bolognia A place which the Pope accepted willingly the rather for that he would giue no occasion to thEmprour to goe to the Realme of Naples and by that occasion to make
succession of thirteene Popes a Pope of blood and nation a Romaine and of language and education of one familiaritie with themselues it standeth in the testimonie and relation of those who are to write of the accidents hapning in Italy since his election So is to be verified the sentence of the prouerbe that The office setteth out the dignitie of the person that manageth it The ende of the tvventeeth and last Booke Intention of the authour The estate wherein Italie was anno 1490. The good estate of Italy afore the troubles Laurence de medicis Ferdinand King of Aragon A league for 20 yeares betwen the king of Naples Duke of Myllan and the Venetians Laurence de medicis dyeth 1492. Pope InnoceÌ„t the viij dieth Creation of Pope Alexander 6. Corrupcion of Cardinalls in thelection of the Pope Pope Alexander the sixt stayâ—â—d with man â—â—â—es Peter de medicis heire to Laurence Lod. Sforce iâ— ielous oâ—â—â— the amities betwene â— de medicis the Aragons Lodo. Sforce insinuateth enuy into the Pope against the Aragons and Medicis Thimpudency of the Pope to iustifie his children Confederacion betwene the Pope the Venetians the Duke of Myllan The title of the house of Aniow to the kingdom of Naples 1264. The name of Iohane a name vnhappy for the kingdom of Naples The state of the Realme of Fraunce vnder Charles the viij Lodo. Sforce seeketh to draw the pope to his purpose Thembassador of Myllan perswades the french king to the voyage of Naples Confederacion betwene the kinge of Fraunce and Lodo. Sforce The thoughts of Ferdinand King of Naples The suttleties of Lod. Sforce Preparacions in Fraunce for the warres of Italy The Duchie of Brittain inuested in the crowne of Fraunce Mariage of Blanche Mary Sforce with themprour Maximylian Death of Ferdinand king of Aragon Confederacion betwene the Pope and Alphonso k â–ª of Naples The french k. sendeth Embassadors to the Pope Florentins and Venice â—4â—â— The Florentyns aunswere the french Embassadors The french king angry with the Florentyns aunswere The french king prayeth amitie of the Venetians The aunswer of the Venetians The king of Naples sendeth out his forces The beginning of the warre The king of Naples sendeth out an armie to take the citie of Genes Lowys Duke of Orleans entreth Genes and preserues it The Duke of Calabria marcheth towards Calabria The 〈…〉 The Veretians 〈…〉 rs Coniectures against the suttelties of Lodowyk Sforce Foreshowes of the calamities of Italy The 〈…〉 king 〈…〉 full to g 〈…〉 with th 〈…〉 pri 〈…〉 Naples Cardinal S. P. ad 〈…〉 la giues a new life to th 〈…〉 pedicion The french king in Ast The french king discribed Lodo. Sforce goeth to visit the french king in Ast The number of the 〈…〉 h kings armie How when great shot came first into Italy The ColoÌ„noys for the french king The french king visites Iohn Galeas duke of Myllan The death of Iohn Galeas The manifest aspiring of Lo dowrk Sforce to the duke doÌ„ Lodo. Sforce Duke of Mylâ—an by vsurpacion The french king in mind to returne into Fraunce Laurence and Iohn de medicis with the french king The way that the french armie tooke to Naples M. Montpensier leader of the vauÌ„tgard P. de medicis comes to the french king Peter de med 〈…〉 accordeâ— with the fâ—â—ch king The â—lâ—renâ—â—ns discontented with P. de medicis A â—umulâ— in Florence P. de medicis fleeth out of Florence The Pysanâ— offer to reuolt Cardinal S. P. ad vincla per swades the Pysans not to reuolt The french king draweâ— toward Florence The french king entreth Florence A resolut part of a Coi 〈…〉 er Capitulacion betwene the french king and the â—â—â—â—rentynes The french king at Siena The Pope is ielous of his 〈…〉 The french king entreth Rome 1494. Perswasions of some Cardinalls to the french king to depose the Pope Capitulacions betwene the Pope and the french king Cardinall Valence the Popes sonne The french king kisseth the Popes feete The king parteth from Rome and draweth towards Naples The kingdom of Naples beginneth to conspire Iohn Iacques Triuulce goeth to the french king The yong king Ferdinand speakes in great sorow to the multitude The french king entreth Naples Beginning of the warres of Pysa 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 The pretended â—aâ—â— of the Duke of Myllanâ—â— Pysa The complaintes of the Pysans afore the french king ThEmbassador of Florëce confuteth those complaintes P. Anth. Soderin reasoneth touching a forme of gouernment for Florence Against this opinion reasoneth Guido Anth. Vespucci Iero. Sauonarola esteemed for a prophet in Florence The french king makes offers to Dom Federyk Dom Federyk aunswereth the king The french king sendes an armie to inuade Yschia The death of Ge. Ottâ—a Tinke and kept in refuge by the Pope Lodo. Sforce beginneth too late to feare the greatnes of the french A confederat league against the french king The french king vseth negligence in ordering the thinges of Naples The french king taketh councell of his Lordes a hat to dâ—e against the league of Consederatâ— Gil. Burbon Dâ—s Montpensier the kinges Lieftenant in Naples The realme of Naples beginneth to reclayme the name of thAragons The french king crowned king of Naples Virginio Vrsin and the Count Petillane being the kings prisoners show reasons to be redeliuered Their reasons are disproued by Monsr de Ligny The Venetians and 〈…〉 prepare the french 〈…〉 Fraunce 〈…〉 An attempt vpon the owne of Nouare Ier. Sauonarola a freas preacher in Florence The king aspireth to the surprising of Genes The armie of the confederats The battell of Taro. The french kinges atteÌ„pt vpon Genes spedd euill Ferdinand to reconquer his kingdom of Naples The citie of Naples riseth to let in Ferdinand Marquis 〈…〉 Pis 〈…〉 Monsr M 〈…〉 from N 〈…〉 Alphonso king of 〈…〉 th The seege of Nouaro The Pope commaundes the french king to goe out of Italy Capitulacion betwene the french king and the Florentyns Peace betwene the french king and the Confederats Monsr Trymouille◠〈…〉 The Prince of Orange speaketh The french poâ—ks their beginning Lodowyk sutle in dissembling Shiftes of Lod. Sforce to breake the peace The Venetians in mind to 〈…〉 the Pysans Peter de medicis at the instigation of the Confederate determineth to returne to Florence A 〈…〉 mi 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 enterprise 〈…〉 insurrections Virgini Vrsin with the french king 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 The Venetians in minde to take vpon them the defence of Pysa The Senat of Venice debateth vpon the action of Pysa The Duke of Veniâ—e reasoneth in fauâ—r of the Pâ—sans and preuaileth Pysa in the protection of Venice Lodowyk vauntes him selfe to be the sonne of fortune Couenants be to â—ne Ferdinand king of Naples and the Venetians The hencâ— nauie 〈…〉 at Caâ—e â—a The Marquis of Mantua for the Venetians in the kingdom of Naples The french king makes a pâ—sting pugrimage to T 〈…〉 rs and S. 〈…〉 The french king determineth to send Triuulce into
withdrew him from the thing whereunto his will did driue him so amyd so many variacions of mind he deferred as much as he could to declare his intencion giuing to euery one words and aunsweres generall But being continually importuned by the Frenche king at last he made him this aunswere that there was no person that knew better then him selfe how much he was inclined to his affaires being not ignoraunt with what affection he perswaded him to passe into Italy at a time when he might haue victorie without daunger or great effusion of blood That his perswasions for that thinges were not kept secret as he had oftentimes required him were now come to the knowledge of others to the common detriment of them both for that for his parte he saw him selfe in daunger to be assailed by others that the difficulties were become the greater for the enterprise of the king since others had giuen such order to their affaires that he could no more enter into the victorie but with manifest perill and lamentable slaughter of men That the power and glory of the Turkes being newly increased by so great a victorie successe it was neither conuenient to his condicion nor conformable to thoffice of a Pope either to giue fauor or counsel to Princes christened to make warre amongest them selues And that therefore he could not otherwise aduise him then to temporise surcease exspecting some other facilitie better occasion which when it hapned he shoulde finde in him the same disposition to his glory greatnes which he hath so well discerned certaine monethes passed An answere which albeit it did not in other sorte expresse his conception if it had come to the knowledge of the king it had not onely depriued him of all hope of the Popes fauor but also haue certified him that the Pope would haue ioyned and banded against him both with counsel with armes These were the accidents of the yeare 1514. But death who bringeth with him this law authority to cut of the vaine councells of men euen in their greatest hopes was the cause that the warre so forward in apparaunce burst not out to action with that speede that was exspected for whilest the French king gaue him selfe ouer to behold too much the excellent bewty of his new wife bearing then but eighteene yeres of age nothing considering the proporcion of his owne yeares nor his decayed complexion he fell into the rage of a feauer which drawing to it a suddeine flux ouercame in one instant the life that nature gaue ouer to preserue any longer he dyed the first day of the yeare 1515. a day of memorie for the death of so great a Prince he was a king iust much beloued of his peoples but touching his condicion neither asfore he was king nor after he had the crowne he neuer found constancy or stability in either fortune for rising from a small Duke of Orleance with great happines to the crowne and that by the death of Charles younger then he and two of his sonnes he conquered with a very great facility the Duchie of Millan and the kingdom of Naples and almost all the residue of the regions of Italy being gouerned for many yeares by his direction he recouered with a very great prosperity the state of Genes that was in rebellion vanquished with no lesse glory the armies of the Venetians being in person at both those victories But on the other side euen when he was in youth and best disposicion of body he was constrained by king Lovvys the eleuenth to mary his daughter that was both barren deformed and yet could neuer get the good will nor countenaunce of his father in law And aster his death such was the greatnes of the Lady of Burbon that he could neuer get the institucion of the newe king being then in minoritie being almost compelled to retyre him selfe into Brittaine where being taken in the battell of S. Aubyn he liued two yeares in the calamity of a prisoner To these afflictions may be added the siege and famin of Nouaro the many discomfits he had in the realme of Naples the losse of thestate of Millan Genes and all the townes which he had taken from the Venetians And lastely the grieuous warre he had in Fraunce agaynst very mightie enemies his eyes beholding into what lamentable perils his realme was brought Neuerthelesse afore he died it semed he had conquered al his aduersities fortune shewed good tokens of her reconcilement both for that he had defended his kingdome agaynst mighty enemies also established a perpetuall peace alliance with the king of Englande with whom by howmuche his amitie was great and assured by so muche it gaue him hope to be hable to reconquer the duchie of Millan After Lovvis the xij ascended to the Crowne Frauncis d'Angoulesme who was the next heire male of the blood royall of the same line of the Dukes of Orleance ▪ he was preferred to the successiō of the kingdom before the daughters of the dead king by the vertue disposition of the lawe Salike a lawe very auncient in the realme of Fraunce which excludeth from the royall dignitie all women so long as there is any issue male of the same line The world had such a hope in his vertues and suche an opinion of his magnanimitie such a conceite of his iudgement wit that euery one consessed that of very long time there was none raysed vp to the Crowne with a greator exspectation he was made the more agreable to the fancies of men by the consideration of his age bearing then but xxij yeres his excellent feiture proporcion of body his great liberality general humanity together with the rype knowledge he had in many things But specially he pleased greatly the nobilitie to whom he transferred many singuler great fauors He tooke vpon him together with the title of the french king the name of the duke of Millan A dignitie which he sayd apperteined to him not only by the auncient rights of the dukes of Orleance but also as cōprehended in the inuestiture that was made by Caesar in the treaty of Cambray Besides there liued in him the same desire to recouer it that dyed with his predecessor whervnto not only the working of his owne inclination but the perswasions of al the noble yong gentlemē of Fraunce did induce him no lesse by the memory of the glory of Gaston de Foix thē for the monumēt of so many victories as the kings raigning next afore had obteined in Italie And yet not to warne others afore the time not to prepare to resist him he dissembled his desires by thaduise of his graue counselors in the meane while sell to practise the amities of other princes frō whom were sent to congratulate with him many embassadors whō he receiued with countenaunce affable gracious but specially the embassadors of the king of England who desired