indignation and many slaunders and especially in Germanie where were detected many of his ministers selling for a small price or set vpon a game at tables in a Tauerne the power to redeeme the soules of dead men out of Purgatorie This indignacion tooke also increasing by an other degree of abuse in the Pope who for the facilitie of his nature managing in many things the office of Pope with verye litle maiestie made donacion to his sister Magdalene of the profite and exaction of the indulgences in many quarters of Germanie and she assigned her commissarie Bishoppe Arembauld a minister worthy suche a commission which he executed with no litle auarice and extorcion And forasmuche as it was knowne notoriously through all Germanie that the money that was drawen by these indulgences were not payed ouer to the Pope nor the Apostolike chamber who happlye might haue exspended some parte of it in good vses but was transferred indirectly to satisfie the infinite couetousnesse of a frayle woman not onely the exaction became detestable and the officers of the same but also the name and authoritie of him who with so little discression graunted it Vnder this occasion Luther entred into his controuersie and beganne not onely to contemne those indulgences but also in them to taxe and reprehende the authoritie of the Pope and drawing to him euery daye greate numbers of Auditors who ranne to heare a matter so well receyued of the eares of the people he beganne to denie and quarrell more openly the authoritie of the Pope Of these beginninges happlye honest of them selues or at least excusable in the greatest parte he nourished his occasion and auowed it to be iuste And beeing further caryed with ambicion and popular inclinacion ioyned to the speciall fauour of the Duke of Saxon he went on not onely to taxe the power of the Popes and the authoritie of the Churche of Rome but also standing styll vppon the errours of the Bohemiens he beganne with tyme to batter the Images of Churches to depriue places Ecclesiastike of their goodes and to permit mariages to Monkes and Nunnes professed confirming his opinion not onely with authoritie and with argumentes but also with the example of him selfe He denyed that the power of the Pope was extended out of the Bishopricke of Rome and maynteined that euerye other Bishoppe had as muche authoritie and power in his particular Diocesse as the Pope had within the Bishopricke of Rome He reiected all matters determined in Councells all traditions written by those that are called Doctors of the Church and all Cannons and decrees of Popes and reduced him selfe onely to the olde Testament to the booke of the Gospels to the Actes of the Apostles to all that is comprehended vnder the name of the newe Testament and to the Epistles of Saint Paule Onely he gaue to all these a newe sence and interpretacion doubtfull suche as neuer had beene hearde of before But the follye of Luther and hys adherentes stayed not onely there but beeing in effecte followed of all Germanie and running dayly into errours more detestable and daungerous he came at last to deale with the Sacramentes of the Church and to despise fastings penances and confessions yea some of his followers suche as some waye differed from his opinion spake matter of blasphemie agaynst the Eucharist All which thinges being originally reproued by the authoritie of councels and holy doctors haue giuen an entry to all newe and peruerse inuencions and interpretations and going on encreasing and amplifying in many places out of the bounds of Germanie for that they conteine such propertie of doctrine that deliuering men from many cōmaundementes established for their safety by the generall Councels of the Church by the decrees of Popes by thauthoritie of Cannons and by the sound interpretations of holy doctors they bring men backe to a maner of lyfe more full of libertie yea euen according to their owne fancie and luste The Pope laboured in the beginning to quench this pestiferous doctrine and yet he forbare to vse remedies and medicines proper and conuenient to cure so great a maladie for he cited to Rome Martin Luther he forbad him to preache and afterwardes for his disobedience he imposed vpon him the censures of the Church But he absteined not from the action of many things of yll example and suche as beeing reasonably reproued and blamed by Luther became very intollerable to all men for proceding agaynst him in his intemperancie with armes spirituall and ecclesiastike muche lesse that he did diminishe but did augment in the mindes of the people the reputacion of Martin as though those persecutions had taken their beginning of the innocencie of his lyfe and of his sounde doctrine rather then vpon any other occasion The Pope sent into Germanie many religious men to preache agaynst him and countenanced them with many letters writtes of credence to princes and prelates But neither that course nor any other meanes which he vsed to represse him serued to nothing by reason of the vniuersall inclination of the people and the speciall protection and fauor of the Duke of Saxon being within his iurisdiction In so muche as the cause of Luther began to seeme euery day in the court of Rome to carye greater importaunce and to augment a feare amongest them that there grewe not of it some great domage touching the greatnesse of Popes the profites of the Court of Rome and the vnion of Christian religion for which occasion in that yere were sommoned many consistories at Rome and many consultations assembled in the chamber of the Pope and many disputacions amongest the Cardinalls and diuines specially deputed to deuise a remedie for suche an euill whiche tooke increasing dayly And albeit there were some amongst thē in this solemne Councell that failed not to reduce to the Popes memorie that the persecutions whiche had bene executed agaynst Luther since they were not accompanied with a correction of things damnable in them selues had increased his reputation and goodwill with the people and that it had beene a lesse euill to dissemble the knowledge of suche a matter whiche perhaps woulde haue dissolued of it selfe then by blowing at the brande to make the fyre burne more and caste a greater flame yet suche is the nature of mortall men to proceede with remedies fierce and violent the persecutions were not only redoubled agaynst him and his followers commonly called Lutherans but also a wonderfull writte of threatning monicion thundred oute agaynst the Duke of Saxon by the whiche being so muche the more incensed and kindled he became with a greater affection the protector of his cause whiche for the space of many yeares went multiplying so farre that there was great daunger least the residue of Christendome were not infected with the contagion But there is nothing that so muche hath restrayned his course as the knowledge that men tooke that the followers of his doctrine did no lesse impugne the imperie and
of his three sonnes who as well for his age being yet younge as also for his other qualities was not fitte for the gouernment of so heauie a charge and lesse capable to manage the affayres with that moderacion which his father was wont to vse in busines both forreyn and domesticall and knowing discreetely how to temporise betwene Princes confederate he had whilest he liued augmented greatly the condicions and facultyes both publike and priuate and at his death left vnto euery one a firme opinion that the peace of Italy was principally preserued by his meanes Peter was no sooner succeeded to thadministracion of the common weale then with a course directly contrary to the councells of his father not communicating with those auncient citisens which were wont to be called to the deliberacion of busines of importance he ioyned him selfe so straitly with Ferdinand and Alphonso perhaps by the perswacion of Virginio Vrsin his parent depending wholy vppon them that Lodovvyk Sforce had iust occasion to feare that as often as the Aragons would annoy him they should be ayded by thauthoritie of Peter de medicis with the forces of the common weale of Florence This intelligence seminary and originall of all the troubles albeit at the beginning was debated with no lesse iudgement and wisedome then the resolucion secrete and priuate yet by certeine obscure coniectures it beganne euen in the beginning to be suspected by Lodovvyk a Prince very watchfull and of right suttle vnderstanding for as it hath bene an auncient custome in Christendome to sende Embassadors to congratulate with the newe Pope as Christes vicar on earth and to offer him obedience So Lodovvyk Sforce who appropriated to him self this peculiar custome to study to shew him selfe more wise then the rest and of inuentions straunge and vnaduised to others had giuen counsell that thembassadors of the confederats should all enter Rome in one day and presenting them selues altogither in the publike consistorie afore the Pope the oration should be expressed by one of them onely in the name of them all for that by that forme and order of doing besides thencrease of their common reputation it should appeare to all Italy that there was amongest them not onely a good will and confederation but rather so great a coniunction that they seemed as one body one Prince and one inuested corporation To this he adioyned that as touching the vtilitie of this councell it was not onely expressed with the discourse of reason but iustified with a late and familiar example for that as was beleued the last Pope taking argument of the disunion of the confederates in that at seuerall seasons and with councells separate they had done him obedience he was the more ready to inuade the kingdom of Naples Ferdinand approued easily the aduise of Lodovvyk the Florentines allowed it for thauthoritie of the one and other and Peter de medicis was not against it in open councell albeit in particular the deuise was nothing agreeable to him for that being one of the elect Embassadors for that common weale hauing an intention to make his legacion glorious with proud and gorgeous demonstrations he feared that if he should make his entry into the citie and the Popes presence amongest the other Embassadors of the confederats the magnificencie of his trayne would not be seene no more then a litle candle amidd a choyse sort of greater lights This vanitie of the yong man was confirmed by the ambicious councell of Gentyll Byshop of Arze the other coembassador for Florence to him belonged the authoritie of the oration in the name of the Florentines by reason of his dignitie and profession in the studies of humanitie And seeing by this maner no lesse vnlooked for then alwayes vnaccustomed he saw him selfe depriued of thoccasion to publish his eloquence in an assemblie so honorable and solemne he complayned as if he had suffered wrong in his perpetuall reputation For this reason Peter de medicis pushed on partly by his proper vanitie and lightnes and partely by the pompe and ambicion of the other required the king of Naples albeit with this caution to keepe from Lodovvyk that he did impugne his councell to consider that that forme of legacion could not be executed in common without great confusion and therefore that he would take vpon him to perswade that thexpedicion might be separat and passe according to the examples passed The king of Naples desiring to gratifie him in his demaund but yet not without the displeasure of Lodovvyk satisfied him in theffect but not in the maner plainly declaring to Lodovvyk that he did not discondescend from the first plott and resolucion for thembassadors for other occasion then at the instance and solicitation of Peter de medicis Lodovvyk for this suddein mutacion declared more perplexitie and trouble of mind then the nature and importance of the thing could deserue and amydd his complaintes he impropriated to him selfe this degree of iniurie that to diminish his reputation they reuoked the first deuise wherof he was author and already had communicated it with the Pope and the whole court of Rome But the point wherein he felt his most trouble and trauell of mind was for that in this litle vayne accident he saw tokens argument and coniectures that Peter de medicis had secret intelligence with Ferdinand which by the euentes that followed he discouered dayly more apparantly Languilare Ceruetre and other small castells neare to Rome were in the possession of Francisquin Cibo a Genoway bastard sonne to Pope Innocent and he after the death of his father being gone to dwell at Florence perhaps vnder the fauour and societie of Peter de medicis brother to M. his wife solde immediatly after his comming thether to Virginio Vrsin by the negociation of Peter those castells for the price of forty thousand duckats A thing debated chiefly with Ferdinand who lent him most part of the money perswading him selfe that it could not but turne to his profite if the greatnes of Virginio who was his parent and in his pay should enlarge and stretch farre about the confins of Rome The king considered that the power of the Popes was an apt instrument to trouble the realme of Naples an auncient freeholder and chiefe of the church of Rome both for that it had large borders vpon thecclesiasticall territories and he had not yet forgotten what differences he and his father had with them and also he wisely foresaw that there is alwayes some occasion of newe contencions about the iurisdiction of Confins both for tributes and collacion of benefices and for regard of entercourse of barons with many other quarrels hapning many tymes amongest estates borderers and no lesse often betwene the vassall and the Lord Peramount for which reasons he held alwayes for one of the firme foundacions of his securitie that all or the greater part of the mightiest barons of the territory of Rome should depend vpon him A thing which
the course of victorie he might easily haue oppressed in Italy whom he had listed all the potentates there standing more in feare of his power than any way prouided to resist perils But hauing regard to thestate of things and promise he had made he dissolued his armie the better to assure the Pope the king of Romains and the Venetians who were not without feareful suspitiōs that his descending into Italie was for some other cause then to range the Rebels of Genes reduce the towne to a policie But nothing could appease the fretting mind of the Pope who taking al things in the worst part complained eftsones not temperatly of the king as if it had bene by his meane that Anniball Bentiuole with six hundred footemen leauied in the duchie of Millan did assay in those times to enter Bolognia assuring that if he had preuailed in that action the king would yet haue declared him selfe more agaynst thestate ecclesiastick Wherwith the Pope being wroth notwithstanding he had before with great difficultie published Cardinals the bishops of Achx and Bayeux he refused to raise to that dignity the bishop of Alby complaining chiefly that by Monsr de Chaumont his brother the Bentyuoleis had suffrance to dwell in the duchie of Millan yea which was of greater consequence the Pope ouerruled indifferently with hate and suspition two violent passions in a minde placed in authoritie when the king first published that he would reduce the Genovvaies to obedience by armes signified by his Nuncioes peculiar letters to the king of Romains electors of thempire that the French king prepared to passe into Italie with a most mighty armie vnder cooller to reappease the tumultes of Genes which he might redresse with his authoritie his intention being to oppresse thestate of the Church and vsurpe the dignitie of the Empire The Venetians also ioyned with him in this certificat hauing the same feares of the cōming of the French into Italie with an armie so well addressed which aduertisements beeing cōmunicated with Maximilian whose inclination embrased naturally newe things and being at thinstant newly returned from Flanders where he had practised in vayne to take the gouernment of his litle sonne he assembled in the towne of Constāce the princes of Germany the free townes those are called the free cities which acknowledging by certen tributes determinate payments thauthoritie of thempire do gouerne thēselues notwithstanding in al things by their own lawes not seking to amplifie their territories but to preserue their libertie At this assembly appeared all the princes barons cōmunalties of Germany perhaps wyth more readynes in greater numbers thē had bin sene long time before in any dyot for thither resorted in person al the electors princes of Germany both ecclesiastike secular except such as were restrayned by lawfull impediments in whose places were sent either their sonnes their brethren or some very neare kinred to represent their personall presence All the free townes in like sort sent thither Embassadors In which generall assemblie aspect of thuniuersall body of Germany Caesar caused to be publikely read the Popes writ with many other letters significatorie from diuers places some of them expressing that the French kings intention was to aduaunce the Cardinall of Amboyse to the supreme sea of Rome and to receyue of him the imperiall crowne These aduertisementes breeding no small murmure in the minds of the audience ronne throwe the princes and barons with great varietie of iudgement some of thē fearing in dede thambition of the king but the most sort disdayning much so great an indignitie against the maiesty crowne imperial wherin as euery particular began to prepare himself to make knowne with words speches his opinion affection Caesar cutting of that inclination by his authority spake to them in this sort You see now my Lords what effects the long patience we haue hithervnto vsed hath brought forth what frutes are gathered of the smal reckoning that hath bene made of my former complaints expressed in so many diots And now your own eyes do behold that the French king who heretofore durst not offer him self against any thing that apperteined to the sacred empire but vpō occasiōs vrged and coollers very apparant is now in preparation with an open force not to protect our Rebels as he was wont not to vsurpe any particuler place which reasonably apperteineth to the Empire but taking the oportunitie of the tyme turning our patience into mockery and forming an aduantage and occasion vpon our long setled negligence he draweth his sworde to despoyle Germanie of th imperiall dignitie so honorably gotten and so long time continued by the vertue and vallor of our auncesters he is not entred into this boldnes by any coniecture or perswasion that eyther our forces are diminished or his powers encreased neither can he be ignorant by how much the region of Germanie is mightie aboue the nation of Fraunce both in maiestie of imperie in grauity of counsell in agillitie of bodies in multitude of Princes in obedience of subiects and generally without all comparison in valour of capteines and resolution of souldiours in moneys in munitions in disciplines and directions of warre with all other furnishmentes requisite to defende a violence and offende a proude enemie But he is caried into this ambicious enterprise onely by a hope that according to thexperience of things paste we will still dwell in securitie and negligence and that our proper dissentions and ciuill factions preuayle more with vs then the prouocations of glorie yea then the consideration of our particular safetie he thinketh that the same respects for the which we haue suffred him to our common shame to vsurpe the duchie of Millan that he hath nourished in our owne bosomes our ciuill quarrels and that he hath borne a defence and protection of our rebels of Thempire feeding vs lastly with vanities and errors as men gouerned by humours light and wandring he hopeth that the same suffraunce securitie solemne negligence will likewise keepe vs lulled asleepe to endure that by him shoulde be rauished from vs the dignitie of thempire and the glorie and felicitie of this Nation transported into Fraunce it woulde be a thing lesse infamous to our common name and to me in perticuler lesse greeuous and intollerable if it were knowen to the world that the power of Germanie were inferiour to the forces of Fraunce or that in the Almaines were not continued the same vertue whiche in all ages in all actions and in all fortunes was founde to beare reputation aboue the valour of the Frenche for the domage shoulde afflict me lesse then the infamie since at the least things shoulde not be imputed to our negligence and indiscretion whiche might proceede eyther of the condition of tymes or of the malice of fortune What greater calamitie can happen what miserie more then to be reduced to these tearmes eyther to wishe to be lesse mightie
ambition by so muche lesse is limited the desire of oppression which in mindes corruptly inclined holdes nothing vnlawfull that may serue to thaction pretended nor any thing vnreasonable that agreeth with the humor of their passion in whom this is one natural custome to conuert all things to his owne propertie working The Pope omitting neither meane nor matter that might giue furtherance to his purpose made secret solicitation to Henry the eight then king of Englande to rayse warre agaynst the French king wherein enforcing the memorie of thauncient emulations of those two kingdomes he ioyned to the facilitie of thenterprise this occasion of the felicitie and successe that if he would begin to leauie armes agaynst Fraunce thaction would take imitation in many others to whom the puissance and greatnes of that crowne was either suspected or hated he forgat not to encourage him to embrace with that deuotion which in other times had bin proper to the kings of Englande the glorie that was offred him to be protector and preseruer of the sea Apostolike which without the ayde of his authoritie and reskewe stoode in manifest daunger by thambition of the French king In this practise the king of Aragon did communicate with the Pope but secretly and not really vsing perhaps this moderation of minde not to suffer his desires to be greater then his fortunes But that which was of greatest importance the Pope enterteined still with the Svvizzers the negociations which were begonne by the Bishop of Syon by whose authoritie being great with that nation and perpetuall importunitie labouring their assemblies and councels and preaching in their Churches he obteined at last that the Svvizzers receiuing euery yere a thousande Florins of Rhein for euery Canton shoulde be bounde to the protection of him and the estate of the Churche with permission to the Pope for his defence agaynst all men that would vex him to leauie certayne proportions of footmen The occasion that moste helped forwarde this matter and made his request more easie and plausible was the disagreement that began to kindle betweene them and the Frenche king For the Svvizzers being of nature proude and weening became more raysed and lifted vp in minde by the estimation that others had of them and chalenging to them selues peculiarly the glorie of the French victories were caried into this presuming that all the conquests and honorable actions which eyther the king raigning or his predecessor had obteined in Italie proceeded principally of their valour and the feare of their armes And therevpon insisting vppon merites as though the crowne of Fraunce ought much to them they demaunded the French king soliciting to make renouation of thalliance that nowe was determined that he would augment their pensions being then threescore thousand frankes by yere ouer and aboue the mercenarie contributions which were secretly dispearsed amongst priuat persons pensions which had ben begon vnder Lovvis the eleuenth and continued vnto the present time But for that they accompanied their demaundes with a presumptuous audacitie which the king construed to manifest insolencie and for that of paisantes and mountayne men suche was his phrase they sought imperiously to impose and taxe him being a king he began so to shake them of with wordes and countenaunces that they might discerne how muche he disdayned them more respecting hys dignitie royall then regarding the present vtilitie of things He was the more induced to this for that at the same season by the solicitation of George Sopressan the peoples of the valleys subiects of Sion who were gouerned in seuen communities which they call courtes being corrupted by publike promises and priuate pensions were not onely confederate with him but also bounde to giue passage to his people and refuse it to his enemies and withall to enter into his payes with such numbers of footmen as their forces were hable to beare In the same sort did enter confederacie with him the Lordes of the three leagues whom they call the Grisons and albeit one part of the men of the valley had not yet approued it the king was not without hope to induce them to ratification by the selfe same meanes In so muche as he began to perswade him selfe that the amitie of the Svvizzers was nowe no more necessarie to him hauing determination to supplye his warres with Almain footmen ouer and besides those proportions of souldiours whiche the valley men and Grisons should furnishe him of Besides he feared little their stirres or preparations and lesse exspectation that they were hable to assayle the duchie of Millan but by the straites of Ballinsona and other passages of great difficultie through the which if they should march in great trowpes and numbers he made his reckoning that they would be easily reduced into necessitie of vittels by a small armie And if they came but in small companies a slender strength woulde likewise suffice to make them retyre Wherein he made his coniectures at random and seemed to lymit the fortunes of them whose forces he yet knewe not flattering himselfe with his proper greatnes An humor preiudicially mouing in Princes in whom there ought to be no parcialitie of comparison when there is question of enterprise and action But because he stoode resolute not to graunt them augmentation of pensions he coulde not obteine in their councells a renouation of thalliance notwithstanding there were manye euen in the middest of them who did earnestly perswade it to whom in particular were retributed no small rewardes And for that cause they consented more easily to the confederation which was demaunded of them by the Pope By which newe confederation the Pope seeming to haue laied a great fundation for thaduauncing of his purposes and hauing a perpetuall nature to proceede in all thinges as supreme and soueraigne aboue all men and as though the whole world were in necessitie to receiue lawes of him he began to sowe seedes of newe controuersies with the Duke of Ferrara eyther pushed on by the cause that was in disputation betweene them or els by an auncient hatred for that hauing receiued of him so many honors benefites and gratifications he seemed neuerthelesse to depende more vpon the French king then vpon him A dealing whiche he construed preiudicially and farre contrarie to the recompence of his merites But whatsoeuer was the cause searching a beginning of the quarrell he commaunded imperiously Alfonso Duke of Ferrara to forbeare to continue the working of salt at Comacchio he alleaged that it was not reasonable that that which was not lawfull to him when the Venetians helde Ceruia should nowe haue suffraunce being possessed by the sea Apostolike to whom apperteined the absolute gouernment of Ferrara and Comacchio Besides it was a matter of great profite for that the working ceassing at Comacchio the saltpittes of Ceruia ministred traffike to all the townes thereaboutes But Duke Alphonso who reapposed more in the coniunction which he had with the French king and in his protection then he feared
estats patrimonial to debate in what maner in what place the coūcel should be celebrated But as he was of natural cōdition variable inconstant an enuior of the greatnes name of the French so making no lesse vayne his proper promises then thexspectation that others had of him he declined afterwardes to inconstancie and listned to the perswasions of the king of Aragon who considering that what by the vnitie of Caesar with the French king and the embasing of the Venetians by their common armies and withall the ruine of the Pope by meane of the Councell the French might rise into a greatnes too ielouse and suspected laboured to perswade him that an vniuersall peace woulde fall out better for his purposes so farreforth as by it he obteined eyther the whole or the greatest part of those peeces whiche the Venetians vsurped vpon him he aduised him to sende to this effect some notable personage to Mantia with full power and labouring to induce the Frenche king to do the like he promised that he would also sende thither by which examples he alleaged that the Pope could not refuse to ioyne in the action lastly that he would not go agaynst the will of so many great Princes he tolde him that vpon the resolution of the Pope depended all the deliberations of the Venetians in whom was a necessitie to followe his authoritie as not beeing hable to stande alone for which reasons it was to be hoped that Caesar without difficultie without armes and without increasing the reputation and might of the Frenche king should to his perpetuall prayse reobtayne his estate together with an vniuersall peace And be it that it brought not foorth that successe which reasonably may be expected yet he should not be depriued of meanes to moue the warre at the time appoynted and with the same commodities and hopes But beeing cheefe of all Christian princes and protector of the church his iustifications would be the more augmented as also by suche a Councell would come the exaltation of his glorie for that it woulde appeare to euery one that as he principally had sought and desyred the peace and vnitie of Christians so by the obstinacie and wicked counsels of others he was constrayned to make warre These reasons no lesse by the grauitie of matter they expressed then by thauthoritie of the personage from whom they came were right acceptable to Caesar who at the same instant addressed letters to the Pope and to the French king To the Pope that he had determined to sende the Bishop of Gurce into Italie for that as apperteined to a Prince religious being protector of the church and chiefe aboue Princes Christian he was resolued in all that he might to procure the tranquillitie of the sea Apostolike and the vniuersall peace of Christendome sommoning him bearing thoffice of the high vicare of Christ to ioyne and procede with him in the same intention and to do that which belonged to the place name of Pope to th ende he were not constrayned to haue recourse to other remedies to establishe the peace of Christendome That he did not allowe the practise that was made to depriue the Cardinalls that were absent ▪ of their holy dignitie for that being absent not to any euill ende nor for hatred they bare to him neither could they deserue so great a payne neither was the authoritie of the Pope onely hable to impose it vpon them He tolde him besides that it was a matter very vnworthy and vnprofitable in so great troubles to make creation of newe Cardinalls since he was specially forbidden by the capitulations which the Cardinalls made with him when he was elected Pope He desired him to reserue that office tyll times of better tranquillitie when he should either haue no necessitie or no cause to preferre to so great dignities none but persons well allowed of for their discression their doctrine and good life To the French king he wrote that according to his vertuous disposition alwayes inclined to embrace a good and assured peace he was resolued to sende to Mantua the Bishop of Gurce to solicite a peace vniuersall wherevnto he beleeued with reasons and fundations not light nor vayne that the Pope whose authoritie the Venetians were constrayned to followe would readily incline the Embassadors of the king of Aragon concurring in thaction and promising the like on the behalfe of their king Therfore he desired him to send thither likewise his Embassadors with full power and in the generall assembly the Bishop of Gurce should beseech the Pope to do the like wherevnto if he made refusall the Bishop should denounce the councell in the names of them all hauing also giuen order that to make their procedings more iustifiable and to put ende to all controuersies the Bishop of Gurce shoulde indifferently vnderstande the reasons of euery one onely in all accidentes that he should holde this for certayne neuer to make any agreement with the Venetians if at the same time were not resolued the controuersies which he had with the Pope This solicitation pleased well the Pope not for any desire he had to peace and concorde but for that he perswaded him selfe to be hable to dispose the Senate of Venice to compounde with Caesar and so deliuering him from necessitie to remayne vnited with the French king he supposed to seperate him from him and the same easily to be made a cause of confederation of many Princes agaynst him But the Frenche king stoode not a little discontented with these resolutions bothe newe and vnexspected for that nothing hoping that an vniuersall peace would proceede of them he iudged that the least euill that might happen would be a protracting and delaying of th execution of those things which he had agreed with Caesar he feared also that the Pope promising to helpe Caesar to reconquer the Duchie of Millan and to indue the Bishop of Gurce with the dignitie of Cardinall and other graces ecclesiastike would separate him from him or at least beeing the worker of the composition with the Venetians to the aduauntage of Caesar he might be put into necessitie to accept the peace with conditions dishonest wherein one thing also that encreased his suspicion was that Caesar was newely confedered with the Svvizzers notwithstanding for defence only Besides he occupied in himselfe this perswasion that the king Catholike had bene the author of this newe counsell of whose intention he doubted muche for many reasons for he was not ignorant that his Embassador resident with Caesar made open trauell and solicitation to establish an accorde betwene Caesar and the Venetians he beleeued that he gaue secrete encouragement to the Pope in whose armie his companies and bandes of souldiours had remayned a longer time then he was bound vnto by the capitulations made touching thinuestiture of the kingdome of Naples he was not ignorant that to giue impediment to his actions he obiected him selfe manifestly agaynst the conuocation of the
councell and vnder cooller of modestie he blamed apparantly that with armed hand and in a time when Italie burned with an vniuersal fire of warre there should be such negociation of a matter which without the concorde and consent of all Princes could not bring forth but fruites full of venim and infection lastly he was well aduertised that he prepared a strong army by sea with the which albeit he published a brute that he would passe in person into Affrika yet it could not be decided whether he leauied that force for other endes Wherein he was so muche the more suspicious by howmuch his words were alwayes full of sweetnes and affabilitie for he alwayes besought the king as it were with a brotherly affection to make peace with the Pope forsaking if otherwise it coulde not be wrought some peece of his owne rightes both not to shewe himselfe a persecuter of the Churche contrarie to the auncient pietie and deuotion of the house of Fraunce and also not to turne him from the warre which he had determined to make vpon the Mores in Affrika for thexaltation of the name of Christ he added lastely that albeit it had beene a perpetuall custome amongest Christian Princes when they prepared armies agaynst infidells to demaunde succors of others in a cause so holy and honorable yet for his part it suffised him not to be hindred and was content to require no other ayde but that Italie might remayne in peace Whiche wordes notwithstanding they were caried to the Frenche king by his Embassadour and pronounced by his owne mouth to the Frenche Embassadour resident with him and that with great demonstration of amitie yet it seemed that they conteined a secret protestation to take armes in fauor of the Pope A matter which seemed not likely to the king that he durste do without hope to be hable to induce Caesar to the same These things troubled muche the kings mind filled him ful of many suspiciōs fearing that to work the peace by the meane of the Bishop of Gurce would be a thing no lesse vayne then preiudiciall vnto him And yet not to stirre vp Caesar he determined to sende to Mantua the Bishop of Paris a Prelate of great authoritie and deepe knowledge in the science of the Lawes These were the doubtes of the one king and the deceites of the other the one full of deuises and the other not voyde of distruste they both open in words and yet kept both their intentions dissembled A matter of familiar custome with Princes to interteine one an other with vayne hopes and artificiall feares All this whyle Iohn Iacques Triuulce remayned with th armie at Sermidi dispersed into many places thereaboutes for the better commoditie of lodging and vittelles And in this time he receyued signification from the king that it was his will that the warre should be administrated by him with this limitation that exspecting the comming of the Bishop of Gurce he shoulde abstayne from all violent action vpon the state ecclesiastike the hardnes of the season beeing also agaynst it by reason wherof it was impossible to incampe in the fielde notwithstanding Marche was nowe begonne Therefore Triuulce both for that he had no occasion to attempt any other enterprise and for that he was in places so very neare determined to deuise howe he might offende th armie of thennemies who being dispersed abroade when Monsr Chaumont returned from Sermidi to Carpy moste parte of their footemen were lodged at Bondin and the horsemen in the townes neare about Finale But assoone as he had receyued his commission from the king he marched the day after to Stellata and the day following somewhat further where he bestowed th armie abrode in the villages thereabouts and raysed a bridge of boates vpon the ryuer of Pavv betwene Stellata and Ficquerolla hauing giuen direction to the duke of Ferrara to make an other a myle lower at the place which is called the poynt beeing that breache or braunche of Pavv which goeth to Ferrara that also he should marche with thartillerie to the hospital a place right oueragainst Bondin In this meane while Triuulce was aduertised by his espials that many trowpes of light horsmen of that part of the Venetian armie which lay on the other side Pavv were the next night to approche Mirandola to dresse some ambushe Agaynst whome he sent out secretly certayne horsmen who being come vp to Belair a plaine house in the contrey of Mirandola found within it Leonard Napolitain capteine of the Venetian light horsmen a man of great place reputation in th armie he nothing doubting that his enemies would discend so farre as to that place was withdrawne thither onely with fiftie horse and there exspecting a greater strēgth that was to follow he with many of his were slain their vallour not being able to resist the malice of their fortune Alfonso d'Este came to the hospitall according to his direction beginning the night following to imploy his artillery against Bondin And at the same time not omitting thoportunity of their felicitie Triuulce sent Guaston lord of Foix the kings sisters sonne a man very young and newly come to the armie the yeare before to runne vp euen to the barres of thenemies campe with an hundred men at armes foure hundred light horsemen and fiue hundred footmen with whom he put to flight fiue hundred footmen appoynted to garde that front or parte of the campe By this example bringing distruste of greater perill all the residue leauing Bondin vnder good garde retyred into places of strength on the other side the Canall The counsayles of warre and enterprise carrie with them for the moste parte a successe variable and differing from exspectation for that no more in those actions then in any other mortall causes the deuises of man can not be separate from their imperfections not one of the plottes of Triuulce succeeded as was looked for for that thartillerie planted agaynst Bondin made little exployte both for the distance of the place Pavv being betweene them and also the ryuer beeing swelled and the rising parte cutte of by them of Bondin it so drowned the countrey that there was no possibilitie of passage from the front of the Frenche campe to Bondin but vpon barkes In so muche as the Captayne dispayring eftsoones to vse the commoditie of that waye to distresse the lodging of thennemies called from Verona two thousande Launceknightes giuing also direction to leauie three thousande Grisons the better to drawe neare them by the wayes of Saint Felix in case the peace proceeded not by the working of the Bishop of Gurce whose comming had bene made somewhat the more slowe and delitorie for that at Sale vppon the lake of Garde he had in vayne exspected aunswere from the Pope whome he had prayed by letters to sende Embassadours to negociate At laste he came to Mantua accompanied with Dom Peter de Vree ordinarily resident with Caesar for the king of Aragon not manye
dayes after arryued there the Bishoppe of Paris the Frenche kinge who to be more neare the solicitations of peace and the better to furnishe his prouisions for the warre was nowe come to Lyon perswading him selfe that the Pope woulde also sende thither and ioyne frankly in the action But suche was his obstinacie agaynst the deuoute willes of all these great Princes that he made greate instance to haue the Bishop of Gurce to come to him not so much that he thought it aunswered thexspectation of his dignitie Pontificall as for that he hoped that in loading him with honours ceremonies and promises ioyned to the efficacie and authoritie of his presence he might raunge him and make him conformable to his wyll beeing nowe more estraunged then euer from peace and agreement wherein to make the labour more easie and the successe agreable to hys desyre he solicited Hierome Vich whiche was of Valence and Embassadour resident for the king Catholike to goe on hys behalfe to the Bishop of Gurce The Bishoppe of Gurce refused not to condiscende to the Popes wyll but he obiected that it were good he woulde firste take order for that that was to be done afterwardes assuring that the difficulties woulde bee more easilye dissolued and decyded if the negociation were firste managed at Mantua with intention to goe afterwardes to the Pope with matters well debated and almoste resolued He alleaged that this course he was bounde to take no lesse for the necessitie then for the facilitie of thinges For as it coulde not bee conuenient for him to leaue alone the Bishoppe of Paris whome the Frenche king had sent to Mantua at the instance of Caesar so there was no hope he shoulde debate in th affayres of his king and no lesse inconuenient to require him to goe with him to the Pope seeing that neyther it aunswered his commission nor the dignitie of his king to goe to the house of thennemie affore their controuersies were accorded or at least very neare to bee resolued Of the contrarie the two Embassadors of Aragon declared that the whole hope of peace making depended vppon the agreement and composing of the affayres of Ferrara for that they beeing determined and no more cause remayning to the Pope to sustayne the Venetians they shoulde bee constrayned to yeelde to peace with suche lawes and conditions as Caesar woulde That the Pope pretended that the sea Apostolike had great and strong rightes ouer the citie of Ferrara and did esteeme Alfonso to haue vsed towards him a great ingratitude and had done him many vnworthy iniuries That to abate and qualifie the rigor of his minde whiche was nowe full of displeasure it was more conuenient that the subiect or vassall shoulde implore the clemencie of his Lorde then to come and dispute of his iustice For which reasons they perswaded that it was not only comely and honest but also conuenient and necessarie to go to him in which iuste humilitie and submission they doubted not but he woulde diminishe a great parte of his rigour They thought it not profitable that that diligence that industrie that authoritie whiche was to be imployed to dispose the Pope to peace shoulde be consumed in perswasions tending to endes doubtfull Lastely they added with very sweete wordes that neither could matters haue their full disputation nor the quarrells sufficiently searched into vnlesse all the parties were together in full assistance And that within Mantua was onely but one parte for that Caesar the French king and the king Catholike were in suche vnitie of leagues parentages and amities that in this action they were to be reputed as brethren thinterestes of euery particular beeing common to them all What by these perswasions and other respectes more speciall and priuate the Bishoppe of Gurce suffered him selfe to bee wonne to goe thither with intention that the Bishoppe of Paris shoulde exspect at Parma what woulde be the successe of his voyage During these actions the Pope notwithstanding all solicitation made apperteining to the peace had not yet altered his thoughtes from the warre interteyning the one with showes dissembled and embrasing the other with desires burning and importunat He supposed to surprise of newe the bastillion of Geniuola recommending the charge of that enterprise to Iohn Vitelli But aswell for the small and slowe paymentes that were made the numbers of footemen were farre inferiour to thappoyntment as also that all the countrey thereaboutes stoode ouerflowed bothe by the plentie of raynes that fell and by the cutting of the rysinges of the ryuer of Pavv there was nothing aduaunced Besides Alfonso d'Este was the stronger by water who with an armie of Gallies and Brigantins so charged the Venetian fleete neare S. Albert that what with the furie of that encounter and with the feare of an other fleete of lesser vesselles which they discerned sayling from Comaccho they retyred to the porte of Rauenna with the losse of two fustes two barbottes and more then fourtie smaller vesselles This accident disappoynted the Popes hope to take the Bastyllion and therefore he returned those companies to the campe whiche lodged at Finalo very muche weakened of the strength of footemen for that the paye was so small About this tyme the Pope created eyght Cardinalles partely to allure to him the myndes of Princes and partly to arme him agaynst the threatnings of the Councell Suche as he created were prelates learned and experienced and as they bare in the Court of Rome a greate authoritie so they were personages of speciall election suche as he reapposed moste suretie in Of the number of this creation was the Archbyshoppe of Yorke Embassadour for the kinge of Englande and the Byshoppe of Syon the one beeing a man of importaunce to stirre vppe the Svvizzers and the other beeing gracious with hys king whom he hoped to kindle agaynst the Frenchmen And to drawe on the Bishop of Gurce as it were with an earnest penny certayne of the same dignitie and with that hope to make him the more tractable to his desyre he reserued to him selfe with the consent of the Consistorie a power to name an other suche a one as he had fashioned already in his mynde After he vnderstoode that the Bishop of Gurce had consented to come to him he determined to receyue him with great honour wherein to expresse more office then thestate of a Bishop of Gurce coulde chalenge and lesse respect then apperteined to so supreme a dignitie as a high Bishop of Rome he went from Rauenna to Bolognia to th ende to ioyne the magnificence of the place to the residue of the honours he pretended There he receiued him with pompes and ceremonies equall to the estate and dignitie of any king the glory of his demonstrations and showes giuing great detection of his dissembled minde The Bishop also for his parte expressed no lesse pompe and magnificence for that discending into Italie with the title of Caesars liefetenant he came accompanied with a very great
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
Barons of Rome which were not of the conspiracie with the others He heard willingly the comfortes of the two Embassadors but so as oftentimes he aunswered them with words full of reproche and disdayne He dissembled alwayes in incertenties whiche for the moste parte deceiued the wisedomes of suche as gaue him counsell About this time came Iulio de Medicis knight of the Roades and afterwards Pope him the Cardinal Medicis vnder the leaue of the Cardinall S. Seuerin sent from th armie vnder cooller to recommende him selfe to him in so greate a calamitie but in dede to relate vnto him in what condition and state things stoode The Pope vnderstanding by him at large how much the Frenchmen were weakned of howe many capteines they were depriued and made naked and howe many valiaunt bodies of souldiours they had lost how many lay hurt and for many dayes would be vnprofitable what spoyle of horses they had suffred and howe one parte of the armie was dispersed abroade by reason of the sacke of Rauenna the Capteines vncertaine of the kings will and not at good agreement amongst them selues because Monsr Palissa refused to endure thinsolencie of the Cardinal S. Seuerin vsurping the office of a Legate and a capteine that there were secret murmures of a discending of Svvizzers and no apparant token sene that the armie could marche so soone This discourse recomforted muche the Pope who causing the reporter to be brought into the consistorie he willed him eftsones to relate them in the presence of the Cardinalls in the same forme of discourse which he had vsed to him apart To these was added the doing of the Duke of Vrbin who whatsoeuer moued him chaunged councel sent to offer the Pope two hundred men at armes and foure thousande footemen Notwithstanding these reapportes and all the comfortes they brought with them the Cardinalls continued to aduise him to peace A matter whiche albeit in wordes outward actions seemed not vnplausible to him yet in mind he was not resolued to accept it but for a last remedy yea albeit for the present there appeared no present cure or salue for the sore yet he would rather choose to go from Rome so farreforth as he were not out of all hope that his cause might be supported by the armies of princes and principally that the Svvizzers would stirre who showing great inclination to his desires had many dayes before forbidden the French kings Embassadors to be in the place wherein were assembled the deputies of all the Cantons to determine vpon the Popes demaundes In this estate of affayres there appeared some hope of peace for that before the battell of Rauenna the french king what with the consideration of the daungers that hong vpon him on all sides and what with the despite of thinconstancie of Caesar the hard conditions he proponed respects that much induced him to yeld rather to the Popes will in many things had secretly sent Fabricio Caietto brother to the Cardinall Finalo to the cardinalls of Nantes and Strigonia who had not yet altogether abandoned the negociations of peace his charge was to require thē to propound to the Pope that he was cōtent to render vp Bolognia to him That Alfonso d'Este should giue vp to him Lugo with the other townes that he held in Romagnia That he should be bounde to paye him his auncient tributes and to make no more salte vppon his grounds And that he would agree to thextinction of the councell he demaunded no other thing of the Pope thē to haue peace with him that Alfonso d'Este might be absolued of the paynes and restored to his auncient rightes priuiledges That to the family of Bentiuoleis who should remaine in exile their proper goodes should be reserued the dignities restored to the cardinals prelates which had folowed the councell Which conditions albeit the two cardinals feared that the king would no more consent vnto by reason of the victorie that had succeeded since yet they durst not propound them in other maner And the Pope seeing them so honorable for him not yet willing to manifest that which he had secretly determined in him selfe iudged not that the king could refuse them but peraduenture that it was more profitable with these enterspeeches to staye the kings armie to haue the better leasure to see what would be done by those in whom he had reaposed the residue of his hopes So that the Cardinalls still importuning him he subsigned those articles the ninth day after the battell of Rauenna giuing to the Cardinals his fayth promise to accept them if the king did confirme them He sent also by letters to the Cardinall Finale remaining in Fraunce but absented from the Court for feare to offende the Pope and to the Bishop of Tiuoli who kept the place of legate in Auignon that they should go to the king to debate of these things but he sent them no authoritie nor power to conclude them Vntill this time th affayres of the Pope went but in an euill course vntill this day was aduaunced the full of his calamities his daungers but after this day worldly affaires haue their ordinarie mutations his hopes began to appeare greater and the wheele of his fortune ceased not with an incredible swiftnes to turne to his greatnes The thing that gaue beginning to so great a mutation was the sodayne departing of Monsr Palissa out of Romagnia he was reuoked by the generall of Normandy for feare of the discending of the Svvizzers and for that cause he drewe his armie towards the duchie of Millan leauing in Romagnia vnder the Legate of the councell three hundred launces three hundred light horsemen and six thousande footemen with eight peeces of great artilleries The feare of the comming of the Svvizzers was made greater for that the same generall thinking to do a seruice more agreable to the king had vndiscretely dismissed the Italian footmen and parte of the French footemen immediately after the battell of Rauenna contrarie to all reason pollicie and that which the present affayres required By the departure of Monsr Palissa the Pope was deliuered of the feare that troubled him moste he was more confirmed in his obstinacie and it helped him greatly to assure the affaires of Rome for the better oportunitie whereof he had leauyed certayne Romaine Barons with three hundred men at armes and debated to make capteine generall Prosper Colonno the rather for that the courages of suche as desyred newe thinges beeing abated Pompey Colonno that made preparation at Montfortin consented by the working of Prosper to depose Montfortin into the handes of Marke Antho. Colonno for the Popes suretie reteyning basely in his handes the money he had receyued of the French king By this example also Robert Vrsin who was come affore from Petillano vppon the landes of the Colonnois to leauye armes keeping likewise in his handes the money he had receyued of the Frenche king was brought in afterwardes by
the meane of Iulio Vrsin receyuing of the Pope in recompence of his disloyaltie the Archbishoprike of Regge in Calabria Only Peter de Margana was ashamed to kepe the money he had receiued doing the same happly with a councell no lesse honorable then happy for that otherwayes he had iustly payed the merite and payne of his deceite beeing not long tyme after taken prisoner by the successor of the king raigning But nowe the Popes mynde beeing greately confirmed by reason of these thinges and hauing no more to feare eyther enemies forreine or domesticall the thirde daye of Maye in greate solemnitie he gaue beginning to the Councell in the Churche of Saint Iohn Latran beeing nowe assured that not onely the moste regions of Italie woulde come thither but also the Realmes of Spayne of Englande and of Hungary In this firste action he was in person in habite pontificall accompanied with the colledge of Cardinalls and great multitudes of Bishoppes where the Masse of the holy Ghost besides many other prayers being celebrated according to auncient custome and the fathers exhorted with a publike oration to inclined with all their hartes to the publike benefite dignitie of christian religion it was declared the better to lay fundatiōs for other matters that afterwards should be ordeined that the councel assembled was a true a lawfull holy councel that in the same remayned vndoubtedly all the authoritie and power of the vniuersall Churche Ceremonies assuredly both goodly and holy and hable to pearce euen into the heartes of men if it might haue bene beleued that the thoughtes and intentions of the authors had bene such as were their words In this sort did the Pope gouerne him selfe after the battell of Rauenna But the french king notwithstanding that after the death of Monsr de Foix which somewhat troubled the ioy of the victorie as one whom he loued dearely had commaunded Monsr de Palissa and the Legate to leade the armie vp to Rome assoone as they could yet he seemed to abate of that inclination and began to returne with all his deuises to the desire of peace fearing that at one tyme and from many places great stormes woulde thunder vpon him and trouble his affayres for notwithstanding Caesar diminished nothing of his promises that he would remayne firme with him assuring that the truce made with the Venetians in his name was concluded without his consent neither would he ratifie it yet besides the feare of thinconstancie of Caesar and doubt whether his promises were dissembled it seemed to the king that for the conditions which he demaunded he should haue a companion in time of warre chargefull to him and to the proceeding of the peace very preiudiciall and hurtfull fearing that by his interposing he should be constrained to consent to more vnworthy conditions Besides all these he had no more doubt that the Svvizzers would ioyne with them of the league And he was sure he should haue warre with the king of Englande who had already sent a Herald to signifie to him that he pretended to be ended all confederations and couenantes betwene them for that in them all was comprehended this exception that he should make no warre neither against the Church nor agaynst the king Catholike his father in lawe Therefore the king vnderstanding with a great pleasure that the Florentins were solicited to worke the peace he dispatched spedely to Florence the president of Grenoble with verye large commission to th ende matters might be debated more at hande and if neede were he might go vp to Rome And knowing afterwards by the subscription of the articles that the Popes inclination was more ready then he seemed he gaue him selfe ouer for his parte wholly to the peace And yet fearing least for the retyring of his armie the Pope would eftsones returne to his obstinacy he sent to Monsr Palissa lying then at Parma to marche agayne immediatly into Romagnia with part of his regimentes spreading a brute that it was to passe further It seemed to him a matter greuous to deliuer vp Bolognia not so much for the instance that Caesar made to the contrarie as for the feare he had that notwithstanding the peace the Pope woulde continue his euill minde towards him and therfore it could not but be an action preiudiciall to him to depriue him selfe of the towne of Bolognia which was as the fort and bulwark of the Duchie of Millan And besides the Cardinall Finalo and the Bishop of Tiuoly being come without expresse authoritie to conclude he interpreted that to an apparant signe that he had dissemblingly giuen his consent partly for the straytes and daungers wherewith he stoode enuironed Neuerthelesse at laste he determined to accept the sayde articles vnder certayne limitations and yet not such as by them the substance of things should be troubled or altered With which aunswere the Secretorie of the Bishop of Tiuoly went to Rome demaunding in the kings name that the Pope would sende authoritie to the Cardinall and the Bishoppe to conclude or els that he would call affore him the President of Grenoble who was at Florence to whom was recommended sufficient power to doe the like But the hopes of the Pope augmented daily and by consequent if he euer had had any inclinacion to the peace it was now diminished he being a man more disposed to obserue and followe tymes then to respect and imitate the qualitie of his calling About this time arriued the commission of the king of England by the which being dispatched since the moneth of Nouember he gaue power to the Cardinall of Yorke to enter into the league The reason why he was so long in comming was the longe course he had by sea hauing bene affore in Spayne Caesar also after very longe doubtes had newely ratified the league made with the Venetians beeing principally pushed on to that action for the hopes which the kinges Catholike and of England gaue to him of the Duchies of Myllan and of Burgondye In like sort the matter that much helped to confirme the Pope were the very great hopes which the king of Aragon put him in who hauing the first knowledge of the ouerthrow by letters from the french king written to the Queene expressing that Guaston de Foix her brother was dead with great glorie carying with him the reputacion of a famous victorie obteyned vpon his enemies And afterwards more perticularly by aduertisements of his owne people comming somewhat later for thimpediments of the sea And for that withall it seemed to him that greater perill would growe to the kingdom of Naples he had determined to sende into Italy the Great Capteine with a strength of new men A remedy which he was driuen to vse hauing almost no choyse of others for notwithstanding in outward show he semed to respect much the Great Capteine for his behauior in the kingdom of Naples yet he both suspected his greatnes and durst not trust him with authoritie The Pope then being
that he knewe well enough the estate of that daunger but on the other side was to be considered the perill that might breede of the disunion of those kings that in a matter of so greate importance it was harde to ballance things perfectly and to finde a councell that were wholly cleare from those daungers That in all euentes the Svvizzers woulde defende the duchie of Millan And lastly he answered that it was necessarie in deliberations so vncertayne and difficulte to referre one part to tharbitrement of aduenture and fortune What soeuer was the cause eyther for the authoritie of the Pope or by the proper inclination of the parties there began immediatly a practise of accorde betwene the king of Englande and the Frenche king The mocions and forespeeches of it were begon by the Pope with the Bishop of Yorke and were with diligence caryed into England whither for that busines the king sent the generall of Normandy but vnder culler to treate for the deliuery of the Marquis of Rhothelin Assone as he was come there was proclaymed a surceassing of armes by lande onely betweene the two Realmes so long as the generall remayned in Englande The king of Englandes inclination to peace was encreased by the occasion of newe iniuries for where Caesar had promised not to ratifie without him the truce made by the king Catholike he sent notwithstanding to the same king thinstrumente of ratification and by a letter whiche he wrote to the Frenche king he ratified in the name of Caesar but reteyned thinstrument the better to vse his artificiall semblaunces and demonstrations Assone as the negociation was begonne betweene the two kinges the Pope desirous to purchase grace with them bothe sente by poste into Fraunce the Byshoppe of Tricaro to offer him all his authoritie and facultie and to that ende he arryued in Englande by the suffraunce of the sayde king At the firste opening of this practise for peace there fell out manye difficulties for that the kinge of Englande demaunded Boleine in Pikardye wyth a greate summe of money But at laste all the differences fell vppon the towne of Tornaye the kinge of Englande stryuing to reteyne it and the French obiecting some difficultie In so muche as the king of Englande dispatched in poste to the Frenche kinge the Bishop of Tricaro whom he charged without imparting in what nature of particularitie consisted the difficultie to declare to the king from him that in regarde of so greate a benefite he shoulde not stande vppon so many suttle difficulties but to consider that in a Prince reason shoulde beare more imperie then passion The Frenche kinge because he woulde neither do wrong to his Crowne nor yll content hys people the towne of Tornay beeing verie noble and loyall to the Crowne of Fraunce caused the matter to be debated in full Councell wherein was an assistaunce of the principalles of his Courte who aduised him with one voyce to embrace peace yea vnder the condition offred And yet in that tyme the kinge Catholike dyd what he coulde to breake it offering the king manye plottes and deuises but specially to minister to hym all his meanes and fauours to conquer the duchie of Millan But the aunswere beeing returned into Englande that the Frenche king stoode contented with the resolution of Tornaye the peace succeeded and was concluded in the beginning of August betweene the two kings duryng theyr lyues and for one yeare after their death In the capitulation it was expressed that Tornay should remayne to the kinge of Englande to whome the Frenche kinge shoulde paye sixe hundred thowsande crownes and that in suche sorte of distribution that the Frenche kinge shoulde make payment of an hundred thousande frankes euery yeare till the full payment was satisfied That they shoulde bee bounde to defende their estates mutually and reciprocally with tenne thousande footemen if the warre wente by lande and with six thousande onely if the warre were made by sea That the french king should be bounde to serue the king of Englande in all hys affayres with twelue hundred launces and the king of Englande likewise to minister to his seruices with ten thousande footemen Thexpences to be defrayed by either of them that should haue nede of the men Both the one and other of them named the Skottishe king tharchduke and the Empire But Caesar and the king Catholike were not named The Svvizzers had a nomination but it bare a condition that who soeuer woulde defende agaynst the French king the estate of Millan Genes or Ast should be excluded out of the nomination This peace which was made with a wonderful readines was confirmed by the mariage of the kings sister of Englande with the Frenche king vnder condition that he should acknowledge to haue receiued foure hundred thousand crownes for her dowry The contract or handfestings were made in Englande where the king Catholikes embassador was not in presence for the great hatred the king of Englande bare to the king his maister And euen vpon the conclusion and resolution of this peace came to the Courte of Fraunce thinstrument of ratification which Caesar had made together with his commission and the king Catholikes for conclusion of the mariage that was solicited betwene Ferd. d'Austriche and the seconde daughter of Fraunce not yet foure yeares of age But the practise of that mariage vanished presently by reason of the peace that was now established And the Frenche king to satisfie better the king of England gaue order that the Duke of Suffolke Capteine generall of the Launceknightes that were in his pay should departe the dominions of Fraunce in whom the honors recompences that the king made to him ouercame all occasions of discontentment the bountie and liberalitie of the one being no greater then the affabilitie and disposition of the other The Pope had also in this time made new aliances for that according to his dissimulations he wished on the one side that the frēch king should not recouer the duchie of Millan and on the other side he sought to enterteine the king and the other princes as much as he could with sundry meanes And therfore he had delt with the king by the Cardinall S. Seuerin who managed his affayres in the court of Rome that seing the times suffred not to knit betwene them a more great and more discouered aliance that at least there might be layed a beginning fundation whervpon might be raysed a hope to accomplish at an other time a more straite intelligence to those ends he sent him the particularities of articles But the french king notwithstanding he made demonstration to like well of the motion did not answer so directly spedily as was looked for he was xv dayes in resoluing either for thimpedimēt of other affayres or that he exspected some answere from an other place to th ende to proceede according to the trayne of affayres By which delaying the Pope entred into newe capitulations for a
meane to execute against the parties so that dispatches went out according to the olde rates The king for his parte promised not to take into his protection any of the Cities of Tuskane And albeit afterwardes he required to haue libertie to protect the people of Lucqua who offered him fiue and twentie thowsande duckats saying he was bounde to that protection by thobligacion of his predecessor yet the Pope would giue no consent but promised for his parte that he woulde forbeare to molest them in any sorte Lastly they agreed by indifferent consent of them both to sende frear Giles Generall of the Augustins and an excellent preacher to Caesar in the Popes name to dispose him to render to the Venetians Bressa and Verona taking a recompense of money And so vppon the expedicion of these matters but not sette downe by wryting except tharticle for nominacion of benefices and payment of the Annats according to the true vallue the Pope in fauour of the king pronounced Cardinall Adrian de Boisy brother to the great Maister of Fraunce and of the greatest authoritie with the king and in the generall gouernment That the enteruiewe brake vppe the king departing from the Pope verie well contented and in great hope to haue him his perpetuall frende who for his parte expressed no lesse with all reasonable demonstracions but in his minde he nourished other impressions for that bothe it was a matter no lesse greeuous to him then affore that the Duchie of Myllan shoulde be possessed by the Frenche king and Parma and Plaisanca restored and also that the Duke of Ferrara should be eftsoones reinuested in Modena and Reggia And yet all these not long after turned to vanitie and smoake for that the Pope being gone from Bolognia to Florence remeining there about a moneth had receiued of the Duke promises of the money that should be payd assoone as he should enter into possession being there set down in writing by common consent thinstrumentes that were to passe betwene them the Pope neither denying nor accomplishing but interposing many delayes and excuses refused to giue perfection to things The king being returned to Myllan dismissed his armie except seuen hundred launces six thowsand launceknightes and foure thowsand frenchmen such as they caladuenturers whom he left for the gard of that estate And for his owne person he teturned into Fraunce with great speede about the first beginning of the yeare 1516. leauing behinde him as his Lieftenaunt Charles Duke of Burbon he thought he had left his affayres in Italie in good estate of sewertie both for the allyance newlie contracted with the Pope and also for that about that time he was newly compounded with the Svvyzzers who notwithstanding the perswasions of the king of England to haue them to reenter into armes against the frenche king renewed with him thalliance by the which they bound them selues to furnishe alwayes for his seruice and at his paye both in Italie and out of Italie for defense and offence and against all nations suche numbers of footemen as he would require and that vnder their vniuersall name and publike enfeignes onely they excepted to beare armes against the Pope the Empire and thEmperour And on the other side the king confirmed to them of newe their auncient pensions with promisse to paye them within a certaine time the six hundred thowsand duckats agreed vpon at Dyon with three hundred thowsande if they gaue vp to him the villages and vallies apperteyning to his Duchy of Myllan A matter which the fiue Cantons that possessed those places refusing to do as also to ratifie the accord the king began to pay to the other eight Cantons that parte and porcion of the money that apperteined to them who accepted it but vnder this expresse condicion that they should not be bound to take his pay against the fiue Cantons About the beginning of this yeare the Bishoppe Petruccio an auncient seruant to the Pope chassed out of Siena by the Popes aide and some helpe from the Florentins Borgueso sonne to Pandolffe Petruccio his cossing and impatronised him selfe vpon the place the authority and gouernment remeining by equity in the possession of his said cossing the Pope had two respects inducing him to this actiō the one for that that citie standing betwene the estate of the Church and the dominion of the Florentins was gouerned by a man wholly at his deuocion the other was much more particular and mouing for that he hoped with the fauor of some good occasion to make it fall into the gouernment of his brother or his nephew wherein he douted nothing of the Bishops consent hauing already framed him tractable to all his desires and ambicions The warre continued kindeled betwene Caesar and the Venetians who for their partes desired to recouer by the aide of the frenche king Bressa and Verona But for other places and regions of Italie things seemed to stand in a peasible estate onely there beganne to burst out mocions of new stirres that were pushed on by the king of Aragon who fearing least the greatnesse of the frenche king would bring some aduersities to the realme of Naples delt with Caesar and the king of Englande to recontinewe the warre A matter not onely of no great difficultie and hardnesse to drawe Caesar vnto being both desirous of innouacion and newe thinges and also was not able easily to kepe the townes which he had takē from the Venetians But also it was fullie concluded and agreed vnto by the king of England The remembraunce of the late infidelitie and breache of promise of his father in lawe being of lesse power in him then either his present emulacion or auncient hatred against the crowne of Fraunce besides he was enuious that the Skottish king being in minoritie should be gouerned by people of his appoyntment or any waye depending on him These matters had bene followed both with better councell and greater forces if during the negociacion the death of the king of Aragon had not hapned who after he had bene vexed with a long indisposicion died in an inferior village called Madrigalege as he went to Seuile with his Court he was a king excellent in councell and so furnished with al other properties of vertue that he bare no occasion matter of reprehension if he had bene constant to keepe his promisses for touching thimputacion of nigardnes or the reapport that went of him to be straite in exspenses it was proued vntrue by the testimonie and discouerie of his estate after his death leauing behinde him no amasse of treasor notwithstanding he had reigned xlij yeares But it hapneth oftentymes by the corrupt iudgement of men that in a king prodigalitie is more praysed though the raking and oppression of subiects be ioyned to it then a sparing straitnes wherin is nourished an orderly absteyning from taxing the goods of others To thexcellent vertues of this Prince was ioyned a most rare and perpetuall felicitie
whose euill affection also appeared in other actions making many exceptions and difficulties to confirme vnto him the tenth of the benefices of the realme of Fraunce which he had promised him at Bolognia And yet so great is the respect and maiestie of a Pope the king so labored to appease him with offers offices that albeit after the departure of Caesar he had determined to molest Mirandula Carpy and Correge as townes imperiall to th ende to make some leauyes of money of them yet he forbare from all action in regarde of the complaynings of the Pope who had receyued affore into his protection the Lordes of those townes Moreouer the Mores of Affrica commaunding the sea inferior with many vessels he offred to sende him for the suretie of those seas his nauie of ships which Peter of Nauarre armed at Marseilles by his consent for thinuasion of the streames and creekes of Barbarie with a strength of six thousande footemen But notwithstanding all these offers obseruances the Pope perseuered in his opinion and as sometimes he would vse deniall sometimes occupie excuses yet he would neuer so muche as consent to that demaunde the king had made to him with great instance to call out of Svvizzerlande the Bishop of Verulo and much lesse would he remoue Mucio Colonno from the territories of Modona where he fained he remained of his owne authoritie vntill by the departure of Prospero from Bolognia and all that practise dissolued into smoke there was no more necessitie of his abiding there Only the breaking vp from thence was a matter of great aduersitie to Mutio for that entring afterwardes by night into the towne of Ferma with the forces of the Colonnois and with certayne bandes of footemen Spanish as he was busie in sacking the Citie he receyued a blowe whereof he dyed within fewe dayes after In this estate of affayres and the Senate of Venice making instance for the recouerie of Verona Monsr Lavvtrech with his armie of sixe thousand Launceknightes whome the Venetians agreed to paye for that enterprise came to the riuer of Adice to th ende to passe to Vsolinguo and so to encampe affore Verona together with the Venetian armie But what by the rumour of the comming of the Svvizzers nowe redoubled and the suspicion recontinued of the being of Prospero Colonno at Modona where also remayned the Cardinall of S. Maria in Portico he retyred to Pesquiero not without the complaintes of the Venetians making distribution of his bandes both on this side beyond the riuer of Mincia And notwithstanding the said suspicions were ceassed and that from a regiment of two thousand footmen both Spanish and Launceknightes were gone to the paye of the Venetians and more did go dayly yet he remayned in that place more then a moneth exspecting as was sayde bothe a newe prouision of money out of Fraunce and a greater proportion of artillerie municions and money from the Venetians But the true cause of his temporising was to obserue what would be the issue of the treatie betwene his king and the king Catholike for the Frenche king knowing howe muche and howe necessarily his amitie did import the king Catholike both to remoue the difficulties of his passage into Spayne and to assure him of thobedience and iurisdiction of his kingdomes he seemed not content with the matters that had bene agreed vpon affore at Paris but deuised both to impose vpon him more harder conditions and by his working to haue peace with Caesar which he could not bring to passe without rendring Verona to the Venetians And touching the Spanishe king whose minoritie hauing not aboue fyfteene yeares was wholly gouerned by Monsr de Cheures he refused not to applye his deliberations to the present time and necessitie of thinges By reason whereof on the parte of the Frenche king were sent to Noyon the Bishoppe of Paris the greate maister of Fraunce and the President of the Parliament of Paris And for the king Catholike were Monsr de Cheures and the great Chauncellor of Caesar In whiche respite or intermission the rigour of armes and hostilitie as is the custome of warfaring of our tyme was continually imployed agaynst the poore paisantes and countrey men Monsr de Lavvtrech lying still to see what woulde come of the negociation for by the benefite of a bridge which he had buylded at the village of Monzarban he beganne to cutte downe the corne of the countrey of Verona and gaue libertie to his light horsemen to make incursions in all places He sent also one parte of his armie to incampe vppon the landes of the Mantuans making hauocke of the commodities of that countrey with so vniuersall and generall domage that to redeeme their harmes together with the retyring of so daungerous an enemie the Marquis of Mantua was contented to contribute to him twelue thousande crownes And the souldiors of Verona executing dayly hostilities vppon the territories of Vincensa and Padoa put to sacke the wretched Citie of Vincensa Afterwardes Monsr de Lavvtrech bearing compassion to the great complayntes of the Venetians passed the ryuer of Adice by a bridge whiche he caused to be sette vp at Vsolingua and afterwardes hauing made a greate praye of the countrey for it was neuer thought that th armie would passe on that side he drewe neare to Verona to besiege it winning Chiusa in the meane whyle by the ayde of the countrey men to make more harde the passage of succours that were to come out of Germanie Neuerthelesse the same daye that he approched to Verona the regimentes of Launceknightes beeing nowe three monethes since they had bene enterteined with the money of the Venetians eyther of their voluntarie will and motion or by the secrete subornation of Caesar protested openly that they woulde not serue at the siege of a towne possessed by Caesar and wherein the Frenche kinge had no principall interest By whiche mutinie drawing with it a suspicion of greater conspiracies Monsr de Lavvtrech repassed Adice and incamped a myle from the walles of Verona to whome the Venetian armie wente to ioyne with him not supposing it sufficient for their suretie to remayne on the other side the ryuer thoughe their armie conteyned a strength of fiue hundred men at armes fiue hundred light horsemen and foure thousande footemen About this tyme the deputies of those two kinges passed capitulations in this sorte in the towne of Noyon That there shoulde be a perpetuall peace betweene the French king and the king of Spayne with the like confederation for the defence of their estates agaynst all the worlde That the French king should giue in mariage to the king Catholike his daughter being then but one yeare of age and he to indue her for dowry with the rightes whiche he pretended to apperteine to him in the kingdome of Naples according to the partition made afforetime betwene their predecessors but vnder this couenaunt that vntyll she bare an age hable to be maried the
tyme in matters of that nature for he woulde not suffer anye belles to be ronge nor bonfyres to be made nor anye other manner of publike demonstrations suche as are vsed for glorye or gladnesse alleaging wyth a mynde more vertuous then insolent that suche propertie of feasting and reioysing was due to victories obteyned agaynst Infidells but oughte to haue no showe where one Christian ouercame an other Neyther were the actions and gestures of hys personne and speeches differing from so greate a temperaunce and continencie of mynde whiche he well expressed in the aunsweres he made to the congratulations of thembassadours and greate men that were about him to whome he sayde he was not gladde of thaccident according to the glorious operation of fleshe and blood but his reioysing was in that God had so manifestly ayded him which he interpreted to an assured signe that he stoode in his grace and fauour though not through his owne merite yet by his celestiall election Both for that he hoped nowe to haue occasion to reduce Christendome to peace and to prepare warre against thinfidels and also to haue meane to do good to his friends and to pardon his enemies he sayde that albeit he might iustely appropriate to himselfe the whole victory for that the helpe of none of his friendes did concurre in the action yet he was contented so great a prosperitie should runne common to them all without any seperation of glory Wherein after he had heard thembassador of Venice who iustified affore him the seruices done by his common weale he said to such as stoode about him that though his reasons and iustifications were not true yet he woulde both accept them and repute them for true And after he had continued certayne dayes in these speeches and demonstrations full of wisedome and moderation he called his Counsayle together to th ende that according to his obseruation and custome nothing were proceeded in whiche were not well measured with maturitie of reasons and counsell He required them by a manner of proposicion to aduise him in what sorte he was to deale with the French king and to what endes he was to addresse and dispose his victorie commaunding them all to delyuer freely in his presence their seuerall opinions Amongest them the first place of speaking was referred to the Bishop of Osimo his Confessor who reasoned in this maner It is not vnknowen to your excellent Maiestie that God hath authoritie to dispose all thinges by the same power wherewith he hath created them of nothing And albeit all accidentes and mortall euentes what so euer falling in this inferiour worlde take their proceedinges and dayely mouinges of the prouidence of th eternall God yet we finde it oftentimes more especially declared in some nature of thinges then in others as manyfestly hath appeared vppon the successe of your present victorie for both for the greatnesse of the glorie gotten which is the most honorable ende and rewarde of warre and for the facilitie of the victorie which iustifieth the innocencie and goodnesse of your cause and also for your happines to haue subdued enemies moste puissant and better prepared for the warre then you by which your vallour and felicitie shyneth with a clearer lighte I thinke it can not bee denyed that in the action hath not beene expressed an especiall will of God drawing almoste to a myracle Therefore by howe muche the eternall God hath layde this greate blessing vppon you bothe manyfestly and publikely by so muche more stande you tyed in obligation and office bothe to acknowledge it with humilitie and submission and by demonstration to declare howe thankefull you are for it This is the sacrifice that God requireth at your handes and to this calleth you the consideration of the benefite and your christian pyetie The action whereof consisteth principally that you addresse your victorie to thexaltation of the seruice of God which is the ende for the which you ought to beleeue that he hath throwen it vppon you And for my parte when I looke into what tearmes and degrees the estate of Christendome is reduced I see no waye more holye more necessarie nor more agreable to God then to worke an vniuersall peace betweene the Princes of the imperie and regiment of Christendome Wherein I am so muche the more touched in conscience in office and in calling by howmuch I discerne by the generall face and showe of thinges that without peace both religion and all her lawes and rules and fayth whiche mortall men reappose in it together with all obseruation of the commaundementes of God which is the fundation of our Christianitie are slyding into manyfest ruine Your Maiestie is not ignorant howe on the one side we haue the nation of the Turkes who besides they haue wonne great things vppon the Christians by our owne discordes and diuisions do nowe manifestly threaten the kingdome of Hungarie which apperteineth to the husbande of your sister Their ambicion goeth on increasing by the degrees of our separations and disagreements And if God for our punishment suffer them to take Hungarie which assuredly they will take if the Christian Princes doo not drawe into one vnitie and amitie together the waye is made open to them to carie the whole Monarchy of Germanie and Italie A losse irreparable and no lesse tyed to a perpetuall infamie to the name of Christian Princes then the seruitude and yoke of barbarisme wyll be alwayes intollerable to the generall posteritie of all Christian sowles On the other side we haue the infection of Lutheranisme so slaunderous to those that haue power to oppresse it and so daungerous for the spreading it makes in all partes that if it be not restrayned the worlde is in hazarde to be replenished with Heretikes There is no other remedie for that euill then by your authoritie and puissance whiche yet you can not aduaunce for the cure of this maladie so long as you stande embarqued in other warres But be it that for the present there were neyther feare of the Turkes nor daunger of Heretikes yet to a Prince professing pyetie and charitie what can bee more fowle more sinnefull or more to bee abhorred then for our passions and emulation of ambition to lyue in the effusion of so muche Christian blood whiche eyther with greater glory might be spent in the quarrell of the fayth of Christe or at least with better oportunitie be reserued for tymes more necessarie The warres that you nowe prosecute drawe after them a bottomlesse gulfe of violations and whordomes an infinitie of sacrileges and blasphemies and a world of other impious and execrable deedes Suche as who so euer is a voluntary author of them can not but stande in a weake estate of grace or hope of pardon at Gods hande seeing that yf necessitie leade him into them he is without merite of excuse if at the least he proceede not to the remedie of so great euills so speedily as he hath the meane It is not good
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
his pretence was neyther knowen to the Cardinall nor communicated with others but when it beganne to burst out eyther into knowledge or into coniecture the Cardinall of Yorke that first insinnuated the mocion of diuorce had no meane to disswade him from it and lesse authoritie to leade him in an other counsell then suche as he had perswaded him before But the king seeking to establishe his conscience vppon good groundes searched out the opinions of Diuines Lawyers and men religious by whom he was aunswered that his first mariage was not sounde nor lawfull and vpon their learning iustefied it for such Therefore as soone as the Pope was deliuered out of prison he dispatched Embassadours to induce him to enter the league and to labour according to the ordenaunce giuen for the restitucion of Rauenna But the chiefest ende and industrie of these Embassadours consisted to obteyne facultie to proceede in the diuorce whiche he sought not by way of dispensacion but by declaracion that the mariage with Katherne was of noane effect The king beleued that the Pope for that his estate was weake in forces and his person voyde of reputacion and hauing no stay nor supporte vppon the puissance of other Princes And lastlie in recordacion of the greate fauours receiued of him for his deliuerie he woulde not be vneasie to consent to the thing whereunto he was deepelie bounde by so many obligacions To which the king adioyned the consideracion of the Cardinalls credit whom he knew for that he had alwayes fauoured his affaires and affore him the doings of Pope Leo he was verie gracious and mightie with the Pope And to cut of from the Pope all excuses of feare for any offence that might happen to him by thEmperour being sonne of the sister of Katherne and the better to allure him with suretie the king offered to wadge for his sauetie a garde of foure thowsande footemen An offer which the Pope harkened vnto and in that inclinacion though he considered the importaunce of the matter and the infamie that might redownde to him yet beeing at Orbietta and as yet in the condicion of a Newter betweene the Frenche king and thEmperour and of litle confidence with eyther of them And in that regarde esteeming muche to preserue the amitie of the king of Englande he had no stomacke to impugne the kinges demaunde And albeit he declared in showes and demonstracions a readie desire to be agreeable to the king yet holding thinges in suspense for the difficultie of the meanes that were proponed he kindled so much the more the hope and importunitie of the king and his Agents which wellspring or originall of many aduersities tooke augmentacion and increassing dayly Assoone as the Pope had geuen audience to Monsr Vavvdemont and Monsr Longeuille and aunswered them with wordes generall he dispatched to the king together with Longeuille the Bishoppe of Pistoya to signifie vnto him that beeing without money without force without authority and wretched by all other priuacions it could litle profit the confederates to haue him to declare That onely he might do a better office to sollicite a peace to which ende he had geuen him commission to goe to thEmprour to exhort him with wordes sharpe rigorous to embrase it A matter which the king would not consent vnto not for that he remained ill contented of the Popes newtrality but that he doubted the negociacion was extended to some further matter Neither did thEmprour complayne that the Pope in so great a dissension stoode indifferent But nowe at suche tyme as Monsr Lavvtrech marched and came on and direction geuen that the armies by sea shoulde doe the like there were founde many difficulties to geue impediment to thenterprise for the twelue gallies of the Venetians whiche before were reduced to Liuorna hauinge suffered many vexacions in thexployt of Sardignia both by the rage of the sea and for want of vittells departed the tenth of Februarie from Liuorna to goe to Corfu to readdresse and refurnishe their wantes Neuerthelesse the Venetians promised in their place to sende twelue other gallyes to ioyne with the Frenche armye by sea which was not without their difficulties for the perplexities they had passed and for the controuersies happened betwene Andre Dore and Ranso de Cere by reason of which accidentes albeit Ranso remayned sicke at Pysa yet it was sette downe that Andre Dore who with all the gallyes was come to the shoares of Liuorna shoulde with his fleete of gallyes sette his course for the Realme of Naples And Ranso with the other Frenche gallyes and the foure of Fryer Bernardyn together with the foure of the Venetians whiche were all assembled into one fleete shoulde prepare for thenterprise of Sicile But Andre Dore with his eyght gallyes accompanied with eyght other of the Frenche kinges crossed sayle and retyred to Genes taking this excuse that it was necessarie both for him and his gallyes to take some rest eyther for that suche was the true grounde and occasion or else the interestes of the affaires of Genes caried his minde with an inclinacion to newe thoughtes for where the Genovvaies had demaunded of the king to suffer them to gouerne freely of them selues and for that gifte of libertie did offer him two hundred thowsande duckats The king refusing to gratifie a demaund so farre from the common weale of his affayres it was beleeued that Andre Dore eyther the Author or at least the furtherer of these demaundes helde it not reasonable that the king should accomplishe the conquest of Sicilie if first he did not consent to the libertie of the Genovvaies There was also brought in question an other cause of controuersie which was of importance for the king hauing dismembred the Citie of Sauona from the Genovvaies it was doubted least most parte of thentercourse and trafficke of Marchaunts being transferred in short time to Sauona in fauour of the king and for the oportunitie and situacion of the place And that the king making there his staple and building vessells for his seruice the City of Genes would stand depriued of most part of her inhabitants and plenty of riches Andre Dore employed all the arte and industry he could to induce the king to restore Sauona to the auncient subiection of the Genovvaies But a farre better successe and felicitie followed the enterprise of Lavvtrech then the expedicions of the sea for that as soone as he was arriued at Askoly and had sent Peter Nauare with his footbands to Aquila Ieramo and Iulia Noua were rendred to him at the first brute of his comming The Marquis of Salusso by the same direction followed him with his regiments by the way of Lyonessa And last of all succeeded Horatio Baillon with an hundred and fiftye light horsemen and foure thowsand footemen Florentyns of the blacke bands The Venetians had also promised to send him without the person of the Duke of Vrbin foure hundred light horsemen and foure thowsand footemen of those bands which