of God his yonger sonne the Cardinal of Valence slue his elder brother duke of Candie as he rode alone one night in the citie of Rome for that he thought him to haue greater fauour of their sister Lucrece than himselfe in whom as it is thought the father had as good part as either of them both The French king made peace with Spain the Switchers ment to return into Italy but pleasures and the Cardinall of S. Malo detained him In the meane time he dieth and Lewis the xii duke of Orleans succeedeth At the same time Sauinorola was by the Pope put to death The fourth Booke LEwes the twelfth entituled himselfe king of Hierusalem Naples and Sicill and duke of Millaine entending to conquer the dukedome Lodouike Sforce being yet more iealous of the Venetians then of him aydeth the Florentines to recouer Pisa the Pope on the other side secretly bent to fauour the French king thinking thereby vnawares of the rest to gaine many things and in the end the kingdome of Naples practising in the meane time with Fredericke to marry his daughter to his sonne the Cardinall of Valence wherein Lodouike also played a part shewing him what a strengthening it should be to him and what a weakning to the French king but Fredericke trusting neither of both vtterly refused which bredde much trouble and practise The Florentines offer accord to the Venetians but it will not be receyued For still they defend Pisa The Cardinall of Valence before the Pope and his Cardinals renounceth his Cardinals hat and prepareth to go into France where he was from Cardinal of Valence made duke of Valence a citie in Daulphinoys by the French king for that the Pope had promised him to diuorce the French Queene for sterilitie which he performed Hauing this new souldier the king made peace with all his neighbours and bendeth towards Italie and requireth Pisa to be left in his hands The Venetians are in great doubt whether they may ioyne with the king or no. Grimanni and Treuisan make excellent orations to that purpose in the ende they ioyne and that in such a secrete and straight league as Lodouike could not sounde in a great while after but when hee vnderstood it he was greatly astonished at it and to draw the Venetians againe from the French he practised a reconcilement betwene the Florētines them In the end neither they nor the Pope nor the Swissers nor Maximiliā who he thought would neuer haue ioined league without comprehending him would succour him but all fayled him in the middest of his comming Then hee bent himselfe to the fortifying of his owne but putting such gouernours in trust as had more fauour then vertue a common fault in princes he lost one towne after another and was driuen to forsake Millaine himselfe and to fortifie the castell but the Towne within yeelded to the French which newes being brought to the king at Lyons himselfe passed the mounts in person and came to Millaine where he compounded with al the states of Italie except Fredericke In this meane space the newe duke Valentinois who troubled Romagna and the vicars thereof ioyned with the French And Baiazet Ottoman assayled such places as the Venetians held in Greece and with sixe hundred horse pilled the countrey of Friuly And after him the duke Valentinoys tooke the Countrey and a most valiant ladie of the place prisoner and fearing her valew sent her prisoner to Rome The French king after the taking of the Duchie of Millaine and that he had made truce with the king of Romanes he returned into France leauing sufficient force in Italie making the cardinal of Amboyse his lieutenant and Monsieur Tremouille Captaine Lodouike immediately recouered Como and the Gibellins thereupon in Millaine reuolted from the French and Trinulcio and the Frenchmen secretely stole away hee tooke also Vigenene and Nouaria but there was he betraid by the Swissers yet were they contented that he and his brothers Galeas de S. Seuerin la fracase Antonie Maria should steale away in the habite of Swissers but they were all discried and hee caried away into France and the cardinal Ascagnio who scaped was deliuered to the king by the Venetians contrarie to the olde dignitie of that state Lodouike was brought to Lyons whom the king would not vouchsafe to fee notwithstanding his late greatnesse and excellent wit but was committed there to close prison where after ten yeares hee miserably ended his life The Cardinall Ascagnio was imprisoned in the great tower at Burdeaux where the king himselfe that sent him thither was himselfe prisoner two yeares The fift Booke THis conquest of Millaine by the French made Maximilian bethinke himselfe what a shame it was to him to leese such a fee of the Empire and to suffer Lodouike thus to be caried away who had put himselfe into his protection whereuppon hee declared himselfe against the French king and the Venetians perswading the electours and states of Germanie in time to resist their ambition and violence The French king proceedeth further to succour the Florentines against Pisa taketh Bolognia into his protection and putteth garrison into Pietre Sancte but findeth such euill successe in his forces against Pisa that he greatly stormeth at it and offereth further power which the Florentines in dispaire refuse finally though he were angrie with the Pope in that he fayled him at Millaine yet by the working of the duke Valentinois Caesar Borgeas he now accordeth with him The duke in the meane time taketh Pesara and Rimini and besiegeth Fauentia but was so mightily resisted by the inhabitants not inured to warre that considering his forces and excellent captaines he was almost mad and sware the next spring either to winne or to die The French king by meanes of the Archduke for whose young sonne Charles being then but three yeres old he offered his daughter Claude of the same age made a truce with Maximilian who most dishonourably made no mention of the king of Naples notwithstanding that he had receiued fortie thousand ducats and a bond for a pension to that end The French king thus being sure of the Germains and making no doubt to obtaine the inuestiture of Millaine by the helpe of the Archduke turned all his thoughtes vnto Naples and fearing least the kings of Spaine should oppose themselues and that the Pope and the Venetians should be iealous of his greatnesse he now began to think it the surest way to deuide it with Ferdinand king of Spaine who also pretended a certaine right to it so that the one not to be hindered in the whole the other to haue part of that hee had long desired they resolued at one time to set vppon it The French king hauing Naples Terra de lauaro and Abruzzo the Spanish king Puglia and Calabria but this should be kept secret vntill such time as the French armie were come to Rome The duke Valentinoys besiegeth againe Fauentia so forceth it that
TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull Sir Henrie Brooke Cobham Knight RIght Worshipful forasmuch as the historie of Guicchiardine hath wonne sufficient credite in mens opinions to coūtenance it selfe against the enuious I hope my boldnes may much the better bee excused presuming to publish in print this treatise containing all the notable and materiall things in that Hystorie whosoeuer hee was that hath bestowed his trauaile to reduce so great a volume into so small and necessarie a Booke though his name be suppressed hee may merit no doubt his due commendation I thought it a necessarie office for me to make shew of my good disposition in due consideration towards you whom I haue knowne of along time to be exercised in forraine affaires and imploied in matters of some weight for her Maiesties seruice and the estate Hauing thereon addicted my selfe to thinke you meete to receyue this little Booke into your protection which most affectionatly I recommend vnto you with my prayers vnto the eternall God for your worships health and long life From my house in the new rents in Saint Nicholas shambles this seuenth of December 1591. Your Worships most humbly at commaund T. P. A briefe collection or Epitomie of all the notable and material things contained in the hystorie of Guicchiardine being verie necessarie for Parliament councell treatises and negotiations LOdouike Sforce tutor and vncle to Iohn Galeas duke of Millaine fearing least Ferdinand king of Naples should make war vpon him departed from the league lately made betweene him the king the Florentines against the Venetians and closely procureth Charles the viii king of France to come to Italie to conquer the kingdome of Naples as due to the house of Aniow for that Pope Vrbin the fourth gaue Naples and Cicill being the olde fee of the Church vnto Charles Earle of Prouince and Aniow brother vnto Saint Lewis Ferdinand was verie secure as commonly men are in their woorst destinie knowing his strength both by sea and land and knowing withall that there was no great matter in his enemie but he remembred not the weakenesse and parcialities in Italie and that France was not since Charlemans time so great in circuite nor flourishing in souldiers Howbeit he treated with Lodouike for amitie who secretly promised him meaning nothing lesse and with Alexander the sixt lately chosen Pope by open symonie and by the meanes of Cardinall Ascanio Sforce in despite of the Cardinall of Saint Peters ad Vincula who before was secretly confederated with Lodouike and yet promised Ferdinand that he would defend Naples and Ferdinand should defend the Church Ferdinand further made peace with Maximilian king of Romans lately chosen Emperour Lodouike on the other side to winne the Emperour from him gaue in mariage to the Emperour Marie Blanche sister of Iohn Galeas with promise of foure hundred thousand ducats whereupon the Emperour more esteeming the mony then his new brother in law gaue the inuestiture of the duchie of Millain vnto Lodouike pretending that since the death of Philip Viscont Mary there had bene no lawfull duke thereof The French king hereupon sent Peron de la Bascha embassadour to the Pope the Florentines and the Venetians where albeit he receiued onely comforts in generalitie for that the warres were put off till the next yeare yet Ferdinand seeing all things now like to come to naught fel into pensiuenesse and so into an Apoplexie died whose sonne Alfonso succeeded and entred league with Pope Alexander as his father did But discouering the trecheries of Lodouike he sent away his ambassadour he sequestred the reuenues of the duchie of Barrie and by all meanes endeuoured also to alienate from him the citie of Geane yea that which the deuil himself would scarcely haue done he sent to the Turke Baiazet Ottoman assuring him that Charles the French king after the conquest of Italie had a meaning to set vppon Greece and therefore he should helpe in this common case He sent his nephew forthwith to surprise Geane but Lois duke of Orleance preuented him Now began Italie to thinke of her weakenes the Pope commanded the king not to enter Peter de Medices and the Florentines who were euer French heretofore declared them selues against the king the Venecians were content to stande neuter Lodouike vpon better aduice began to feare that the conquering Naples would also swallow vp Millaine and therefore began now to cast how to make an accord as soone as the king were past the Alpes hoping to make Alphonso tributarie to France and thereby to assure his owne estate Now began prodigious sights to be seene as in Puglia three Sunnes enuironed with cloudes and horrible thundering In Arezzo armies of men and horses in the aire with drummes and trumpets and diuerse Images sweating The Colonoys ioine with the French Lodouike accompanieth them Peter de Medices becommeth his friend and the Pisans the Pope the Venecians and Lodouike in greater feare then euer tofore for that Charles passed like a thunder through Italie with great successe Charles entereth Rome kisseth the Popes feete and ioyneth with him in league defensiue the Cardinall of Valence sonne to the Pope is appointed three monethes to followe the king toward Naples The Neapolitans shew that they neither loued Ferdinand the father nor Alfonso the sonne which brought him in great perplexitie and so much the more for that the spirite of Ferdinand as it was thought appeared to his chiefe surgeon willing him to tell Alfonso that it was in vain for him to resist the French king it was determined their race should faile in respect of diuerse their great sinnes and especially for the thing that they resolued in Saint Leonards Church in Chiaie which was to put a number of the novilitie to death Hereupon Alfonso tormented in conscience priuily stole away into Sicilia with foure gallies whereby the French king with great ease got this noble kingdome as the Romane who said Veni vidi vici Howbeit Ferdinand sonne of Alfonso tooke on him the title of the king and defence of the kingdome But within short space hee was driuen to flie into Iskia At this time the noble captaine Iean Iaques de Trinulce of Capua gaue himselfe to the king and offered to bring Ferdinand to some good composition whereof the king willingly accepted so that hee woulde forgo Naples in respect whereof he offered to giue him other estates in Fraunce This was the fruite of discorde and ambition in the manie little estates of Italie whereof none was able to defende it selfe seuerally and ioyntly might haue done greater things The second Booke THe Pisans desire to cast off the yoke of the Florentines and submit themselues to the French the Florentines prepare to warre vpon them and in the meane time fall at difference among them selues for the forme of their owne gouernement touching the which Soderin and Vespucci made two excellent Orations one for Democratie the other for Aristocratie the which had preuailed had not
hopeth to winne the Venetians from the league and so with newe forces to recouer Millaine A better hope then all this was that Pope Iulius the second nowe died in the middest of his prosperitie and Iean Cardinall de Medici was chosen named Leo the tenth by which good accident he did the easilier make peace with the Catholique King and prepared for his purpose for albeit he could not well compasse a peace with the King of Englande yet for that the English were not well prouided of readie horsed although their value chiefly consisted in footemen yet nowe by long peace and lacke of vse being driuen to hyre Almaines hee thought manie things might be done before that warre came forwarde wherefore he sent power to Triuulcio who ioyning with Aluiano Captaine of his newe confederates the Venetians he setteth vpon the duchie of Millaine and recouereth Geane and after besiegeth Nouara where being resisted by the Swissers they retired seuen miles of but the Swissers to the ende that no succours or Nation might take the glorie from them like most valiaunt souldiours hauing neither horsemen nor artillarie followed Triuulcio and Monsieur de la Tremouille and fought a most braue battaile with them gayned their artillarie slue their men with it and put their gendarmerie to flight who beastlie demeaned themselues that day notwithstanding it may not bee forgotten that Robert de la March hauing his two sonnes most daungerously beset with Swissers rushed like a Tiger into the midst of them and fought so terribly that he amazed them and deliuered his sons Aluiano perceiuing the discomfiture of the French retired to Verona and besieged it but preuayled not Padua is besieged by the Viceroy and the yong duke of Millaine taketh Pontuica by the helpe of Antonie de Leua and the Viceroy finding that he could not take Padua spoyleth the Countrey euen almost vnto Venice within two miles of Vincentia the Viceroy Prosper Celonna the Marques of Peskara gaue a great ouerthrow to the Venetians and Aluiano by the cowardise of their footmen of Romaigna At the length Caesar and the Venetians compromitted their differences to the Pope and the French king had now nothing left in Italie but the Lanterne of Geane which also was battered by sea and defended with sacks of wooll The twelfth Booke THe king of England was nowe readie both by sea and lande to war vpon the French king had also hyred the Emperor Maximilian with sixe score thousand ducats to enter al at one time into Burgundy hoping also that his father in law the Catholique king woulde ioyne with him The French king bestirred him to resist these great daungers and some what to appall the courage of the English king he allured into Fraunce the duke of Suffolke as a competitor of the crowne but he being nothing dismaied therewith in despite strake off the dukes brothers head whom he held before in prison by the king of Castiles means as you haue heard The French king farther to trouble him set Iames King of Scots the old enemie of England confederate of France to warre on that side the seas vppon him The English King was long in preparing his subiects being out of vse the maner of fight being chaunged the vse of their bowes being almost gone Neuerthelesse in Iuly being greatly furnished his armie camped neare Bullen and from thence besieged Terwin where at the first they answered not the renowne of their hardinesse in that they gaue no hardie assault but within a while after they ouerthrew three hundred men of armes The Marques of Rotelin called duke of Longuile Captaine Bayard Fayette were taken prisoners and monsieur de la Palisse escaped hardly wherewith the French king and all France were so amazed that if the English King had followed this good fortune it is thought the gappe was nowe open to take all Fraunce Terwin was raysed by the aduise of the Emperour for that the Archduke Charles pretended right vnto it and the Emperour departed the campe for that hee thought the Englishmen to be rash and without discipline King Henrie neuerthelesse passed towards Tornay and tooke it whereof the French were full glad fearing his comming farther into Fraunce with his terrible armie of fourescore thousand which perhaps hee had done if he had had experience or had beene truly aduertised of the disposition of France but he returned into England assuring the French that he would returne the next sommer At this time by chaunce of fire the richest part of all Venice was burnt and the Pope endeth the differences betweene Caesar and them The league was renued betweene the Spanish king and the French king which greatly displeased the king of England who sayde that this was the third time that his father in lawe had broken promise with him The French king practised with the Pope and the Pope with the Cardinal of Yorke to reconcile the French and English King which tooke place and the French king marieth the lady Mary the king of Englands sister This was vnpleasant both to the Emperour and the Spanish King and not pleasant to the Pope who was the procurer of it who albeit he loued with such cunning to gaine princes yet he liked not that this league shoulde helpe the French King againe to Millaine At this time King Emanuel of Portingale presented the Pope with two monstrous Elephants out of India and Lewis the xii dieth and Francis the first duke of Angolesme succeedeth taking the title of the duke of Millaine making peace with the King of England and the Archduke he meaneth to recouer the dukedome The Emperor the King of Aragon the duke of Millaine the Swissers doe league against him the King of England sendeth him word to Lyons not to passe into Italie to trouble Christendome the Swissers gard the foote straights of the Alpes against him But he like an industrious prince by the counsaile of Triuulcio leaueth the two ordinarie wayes of Mountsenis Mount Genewre and passeth by extreame toyle of Pioners nearer the sea by the Cortian Alpes by the Marquisate of Saluzzo and being passed before any man thought of him Monsieur de la Palisse tooke Colonna a noble Captaine prisoner at Villefrance as he sat at dinner which greatly astonished all Italie insomuch that the Pope vsed the duke of Sauoy to excuse him to the King forthwith The King taketh the Countreys of Alexandria and Tortona The Swissers are in diuersitie of opinions whether they shall hearken to any league with the French or farther withstand them At length the Bishop of Sion with a very perswasiue oration encouraged them to ioyne in one opinion agaynst the French and to fight with them neare vnto Marignian where the first day both they and the King fought so long as they could holde weapon in hand and departed on both sides as it were by agreement without sounde of trumpet The next day they rashly and furiously set on the French
out of Englande which both they failed of they thought it folly to go any farther or to abide til the king with his whole power and six thousand Swissers should come vpon them and therefore with speede returned into Italy wherewith the king being in heart followed as fast al in one day the king came to Verceil and the Marques of Pescara albeit forthwith it was agreed by the Viceroy and the rest that Antonio de Leua should defend Pauia and the other Millaine which was sore infected with the plague that they durst scarcely furnish it insomuch that the maine armie of Fraunce being at hand ere they could well prouide the captaine Alarcon was faine to leaue it and the King tooke it vsing al clemencie notwithstanding he knewe the French to be there hated From thence he besiegeth Pauia but could not take it and sendeth Stuart duke of Albany in Scotlant with a power to Naples The pope perswadeth them to peace The duke of Ferrara being come into the French kings protection helpeth him against Pauia but it is succored by the Emperials The pope the French captaines perswade the king to desist but he sayth he will either win or die At the length on S. Mathias day on which the Emperor was borne the Viceroy and the Marques of Pescara in well ordered battell ioyned with the King who fought nobly being hurt in the face and in the hand vntill his horse was slain vnder him and after was taken by fiue common souldiours that knew him not but in the end he discouered himselfe to the Viceroy who receyued him as prisoner to the Emperour Antonie de Leua in the meane time throwing downe so much of the wall of Pauia as an hundreth horses abrest might come through issued out and set on their backe spoiling and putting to flight all sauing the rereward of the duke of Alanson taking prisoner the king of Nauarre the bastard of Sauoy Montmorancie and others and manie of the Nobles and best captaines were there slaine The xvi Booke ALl the Potentates of Italie were nowe greatly dismaied with this taking of the king prisoner fearing the greatnes of the Emperour sepecially the Pope and next him the Venetians who treated a league with the Pope offering to ioyne in these common dangers to leuy ten thousand Swissers and a sufficient band of Italians not doubting the forwardnesse of my Ladie Regent of France to send the duke of Albany with sufficient succors and making sure account of the duke of Ferrara The viceroy on the other side was carefull to conuey the kings person into some place of suretie to make all sure to ioyne in amitie with the pope The Pope bit at the baite immediatly was full glad and treated to bring in the Venetians also but that would hardly be for that they would not drop so much money as the Viceroy demaunded The Pope sendeth the Bishop of Pistoia to visite comfort the French king The Emperour being in Spaine receyueth the newes of this victorie his confessour the Bishop of Oisme maketh an eloquent oration perswading him franckly and freely to deliuer the French king and that to be the most profitable honourable and sure way Fredericke duke of Alba spake to the contrarie with great vehemencie saying that to let him go were dangerous and to let him go most honorably were nothing to the Frenchmen who were insolent and light and made no regard of honour and therefore to make profite of him were the best way In fine the Emperour sent vnto him his great chamberlaine Monsieur de Beaucain to Pisqueton to comfort him to tell him that these were his conditions hee should depart with the soueraigntie of the dukedome of Burgundie to him he should depart with Prouance to the duke of Burbon with many other great things both for him and for the king of England The French king answered constantly that he would die in prison before he would diminish the crowne of Fraunce for all other things he would satisfie the Emperour with reason In the meane time the Ladie Regent of Fraunce employed all meanes possible and especially the Cardinall of Yorke to winne the king of England where all the feare was The Emperour on the other side sollicited the King of Englande to ioyne with him to conquer Fraunce but the King demaunded the whole kingdome in effect if it were conquered some other such conditions as gaue them cause to breake off The Imperials become insolent in Italie the French king is conueyed into Spaine imprisoned at Madril the duke of Burbon is sent for without whom the Emperor will make no agreement and being placed in the house of a great barron at the Emperors request he answered that he would obey for that he and all was at his commaundement But so soone as the duke were gone he would set it on fire with his owne hands least it should smell of the infection of a traitor There is now a conspiracie against the Emperour in Italy wherein the Marques of Pescara plaid a part at the first and after accused the rest dishonourably and shortly after died In the meane time the French king falleth extreamly sicke at Madril insomuch that the Emperor in person would haue visited him but his Chauncelor would not suffer him Within a while after the Emperour espouseth the infant of Portingale the French king recouereth health the Pope treateth for his deliuerance touching the which the great Chancellor and the Viceroy make two excellent orations After this shortly ensueth the treatise of Madril for the kings deliueraunce wherin was yeelded Burgūdie Charelois and so many other Countreys as they that heard it did thinke it would neuer be kept for assurance hereof the king was affianced to the Emperours sister Elconor and the Dolphin of Fraunce and the duke of Orleans were brought in a boat to the midst of the riuer that deuideth Spaine Fraunce and the king in another boate and at one instant they chaunged boates and the king hasted to land and had a Turkish horse readie with whom he rid in post to Bayon and there met with a messenger from the king of England which greatly comforted him vnto whom he confessed that he acknowledged the greatest cause of his deliuery to proceed from him and therfore he was for euer the English kings The xvii Booke ALthough both the Emperour and the King had sworne to the conditions set downe betweene them for his deliuerie and that the king farther sware to ratifie them so soone as he came into a place of libertie Neuerthelesse as soone as hee came to Bayon he answered the messenger that attended the ratification that he durst not performe such things as were preiudiciall to the crowne of France vntill he had wonne the minds of his subiects vnto it After that hee highly complained himselfe to all princes and estates of the Emperours seueritie as well touching the hard conditions as that hee
Lewis the xii is promised to his sonne Hercules and after the Marques of Mantua entred into the same league The treatise of peace seemed vaine betweene the Emperour and the king for the Emperor sayd he could not trust the king that had once deceiued him The Kings ambassadors replied that for asmuch as he tooke himselfe to be deceyued the King might the lesse trust him In the ende the ambassadours of Fraunce and England denounced war agaynst him and many hot speeches breeding hot choler the Emperor chalenging the combat of the French king said he was a false forsworn king The French king on the other side gaue him the lie The king of England embraceth the religion of Luther and by the perswasion of the Cardinall of Yorke deuorceth his wife Katherin of Arragon Monsieur de Lautrech entreth the kingdome of Naples and Andro Dore being at the sould of the king with his gallies returneth to Geane diuerse places yeeld vnto Lautreck and by him Naples it selfe is besieged The xix Booke MOnsieur de Lautreck finding the value of the defendants of Naples to be great purposed to continue the siege hoping that though vertue fayled not yet want of money and victuall would make vertue yeeld to necessitie In the meane time Phillippin Dore with his gallies and Geneuois who were not able sea-men did sinke diuerse shippes Imperiall vpon the sea sleaing the viceroy Don Hugues di Moncada Fieramosque with diuers other to the number of a thousand taking prisoners the Marques of Guast Ascagnio Colōna the prince of Salerne and diues others This conquest of the sea would not make Naples yeeld for Phillippin Dore tooke such direction of Andro Dore to retire to Pozzouolo that Naples was oft vittailed the Venetian fleet after they had gotten Ottranto staied in hope to win the castell of Brundusium so that the defendants were encouraged and the assailants for lacke of water and other necessaries fainted and in the meane time Antonio de Leua perceyuing that Pauia was negligentlie kept assaulted it by night and tooke it and had the Captains prisoners before the souldiers were awares The Pope continued his newtrality betweene the two princes and so was neither trusted of the French king nor of the Emperour who the more suspected him for that he had sent Cardinall Campeius into England to diuorce his kinswoman Queene Katherin daughter of Aragon Now doth Andro Dore leaue the sould of the king and entreth sould with the emperor vpon conditions the french army before Naples is full of diseases Monsieur de Vaudemont almost dead Monsieur de Lautreck very sicke and shortly after dieth so that the Marques of Saluzzo is driuen to capitulate with the prince of Orange who is now viceroy Monsieur de S. Poll gained certaine townes in Lombardy for the French in the meane time Andro Dore taketh Geane for the emperials through the grosse negligence of the French king Monsieur de S. Poll marcheth on stil through Lombardy comming within xii miles of Pauia Antonio de Leua who had beene long sicke causeth himselfe to be caryed in a chayre and all his men to put on white shirtes and stealeth without noyse one night towardes the French within two miles of Ladriane vnawares setteth on Monsieur de S. Poll who albeit he fought valiantly trusting to his Lance-knights yet they ranne away and he remained prisoner with Castillon Claude Rangin and diuerse others to Antonio de Leua Now beginneth the Pope to treate a peace at Barcelone with the Emperour greatly to the Popes aduauntage both for that he should forget iniuries past be no hinderance to the Emperour who ment personally to make a voyage into Italy The like was treated betweene the French King and the Emperour at Cambray a place destinied to such great treatises being there present the two ladie Regents for the two princes the Ambassadours of the confederates and the duke of Suffolke and the Bishop of London for the King of England The French King being somewhat ashamed of this act for certaine dayes kept himselfe close and would not be seene of the ambassadours of his confederates in the ende he gaue them sweet wordes comforts and promises excusing himselfe that otherwise hee could not haue his children The Emperour after this commandeth the prince of Orange to assaile the Florentines and himselfe in royal person commeth to Geane where the princes of Italy do salute him by their Ambassadours The King and the Pope talked togither at Bolognia the pope entring first as the greater princes vse The Turke left off besieging Vienna the Emperour is inclined to capitulate with the Venetians and Francis Sforce to whom he restored the dukedome of Millaine and the Venetians to the Church that they held in Romagnia and to the Emperor that which they held in Puglia The xx Booke THese late leagues seemed nowe to establish peace each where sauing only to the poore Florentines who often had helped others to make their peace and now the peace of others drew them to a daungerous warre with the Emperour who now sent against them foure thousand Lanceknights and three thousande Spaniards and Italians vnder the prince of Orange which maketh Piscara and Prato yeeld of themselues to the Pope and the souldiours of France being well payd defended themselues valiantly In the meane time the Pope causeth the French king to send Monsieur de Cleremont to Florence to excuse himselfe for not comprehending them in the league vpon necessitie of recouering his children wishing them to take such conditions as they could get in so hard a case wherein himselfe would be a dealer for them The Emperour meaning to go to Rome to be crowned being letted with certaine importunate affaires of Germanie and chiefly to elect his brother Ferdinand king of Romanes was faine to be crowned at Bolognia Anno 1530 on his birth day of S. Matthias which was his fortunate day and there the Pope and the duke of Ferrara compromitted all their differences vnto him The Florentines being often skirmished withall and often battered though they valiantly defended after the death of the prince of Orange and departure af the Marques of Guast were yet for verie hunger and diuersitie of opinions driuen to offer to Gonsague the Captaine of the Imperials that Caesar himselfe and the Pope shoulde determine their conditions and gouernment their life and libertie saued Ferdinand is now chosen King of Romanes at a decree in Ausbourge and there is treatise agaynst the Lutherians of whom the great princes beganne to be afrayde and at the instant request of the Germaines the Emperour summoned the Pope to call a Councell the Pope vtterly misliked it as preiudiciall to his Court and abuses and yet dissembled it cunningly The French would neuer bee long quiet but the King turneth to his olde emulation of the greatnesse of the Emperour and perswadeth with the Pope and states of Italie to take heed of it To the states of Germanie he affirmeth that the Emperour ment to make it a Monarchie The King of England he pricketh forwarde in recounting vnto him how angrie the Emperour was for the diuorce of his mothers sister and last of all that which euill beseemed the most Christian King he stirreth vp the Turke who indeede was alreadie iealous of his greatnesse and hated him also in respect of his brother with whom he was at oddes for Hungarie The Emperour still calleth vpon the Councell he desireth now to renue the league of Bolognia and to comprehende in it all Italie making contribution for their common defence agaynst the French The Pope lyked not to be of any side remembring the daungers past so often as the sides were ouerthrowne but being of that calling he liked neutralitie better as the surest way The Emperour returneth into Spaine and the Pope and the French king talke at Marseilles of great matters vnder pretence of dealing against the Turke and the King of Englands diuorce To ratifie their matters Katherin of Medices the Popes neece was married to Henry the second sonne of Fraunce whome nowe the Pope woulde faine make duke of Millaine forthwith for he foreknewe as it seemed that he should shortly die in that he made his Ring and all other habiliaments and indeed died in whose place was chosen Alexander Farnese called Paule the third The duke of Wittemberg by ayde of the Lantgraue of Hesse and the French Kings money recouered the dukedome from Ferdinand and great troubles were toward but the matter was compounded without the French kings consent who in the meane time hoped to get Millaine At this time also Barbarossa Bascha generall by sea to Soliman passing to the conquest of Thunis scoured the riuers of Calabria and passed Caiette and put all Italie in such a feare as he might easily haue taken Rome if he had come forward FINIS