comming by the way of Trent into Italy they quickly sent four Embassadours to him Iovan Antonio Veniero Nicolo Tiepolo Mark Antonio Contarini and Vicenzo Grimani who going to meet him upon the confines of Verona received him with much honour and waited upon him whilst he passed through the State which was but onely for two daies for going to Peschiera he entred into the Mantuan Territories from whence he went to Millan from thence to Genua and then to Luca to meet the Pope with whom having tarried a while he pursued his journey towards Algiers But his advice proved bad as was foreseen for having landed his men on the shore of Algiers and meeting with more resolution and worth in the Inhabitants of that City then he expected but chiefly receiving very great losse by the Arabian Horse raised by the Turks of the neighbouring Country who with great speed and with a new and unknown way of fighting to our Souldiers disturbed their works The time was so spun on as way was made to great ruine for a horrible tempest arising at Sea which made the Ships Anchors come home some were driven upon the shore others carried into the high and boisterous seas Insomuch as having lost many of his ships and the rest being much torn the Emperour was forc'd to quit the enterprise having onely purchased this praise That he was never in the least dismai'd amidst so many adversities and dangers Many chief personages who followed the Court perished by the distemper of the aire and sufferings amongst the rest Marino Iustiniano Embassadour from the Common-wealth who by orders from the Senate had alwaies accompanied the Emperour and Nicolo da Ponte who was then Lieutenant at Udine was chosen in his steed This so great losse was interpreted by some to redound much to the advantages of the Italian Princes since thereby Caesar's forces were weakned and his minde began to droop who having alwaies promised unto himself prosperous successe in all things was thought did aspire at the soveraignty of all Italy Notwithstanding others out of serious considerations were of another 〈◊〉 thinking this to be a common losse and inconvenience to Christians in generall and particularly to the Common-wealth of Venice For the Turkish Fleet being counterpoised by his Forces at sea that ceasing these more formidable Enemies grew almost insuperable and all things were exposed to their discretion and fury Whilst these things were done by Caesar the King of France his thoughts were not quiet who being highly incens'd against Caesar studied by all means possible to revenge the injuries he had received therefore he had by his Embassadors whom he had sent before to Luca to meet the Pope press'd hard that his Holinesse would declare that the Truce made formerly at Neece by his procurement and authority the more to honest his cause was broken by Fregoso's and Rincone's death But resolving howsoever to use Force and hoping to out-do Caesar by the friendship and assistance of the Turks and Venetians he resolved to send Paulino Embassadour to Constantinople to treat of the particulars touching the Fleet 's putting forth to prejudice Caesar and tryed again to get the Venetians to joyne with him On which Paulino having discoursed much before he parted from Constantinople he had obtained as hath been said that Ianusby should be commissioned to enterpose Soliman's authority with the Venetians to encline them to listen to his proposalls touching making War with Cesar. Paulino being then come to Venice as he returned to Constantinople he together with the Bishop of Monpelliers who was there Embassadour in ordinary for the King had private audience in the Colledge before the chief of the Councell of Ten where he delivered what they were ordered to do by the King Paulino in a long Oration perswaded the Senators to a new confederacy with the King What the ends were said he of the King my Master and what those of the Emperour may now be so plainly discerned by their actions as their ends and designes are no longer concealed The King of France at the Popes perswasion laid down his Arms in Piemont and stopt the course of his almost assured victories out of a good inclination which he alwaies had to concord so far as his honour might not be thereby prejudiced And the Emperour who first seemed so desirous of peace refusing Articles of a fair Agreement entred himself in person with an Army into France That the King was contented to accept of the Dukedom of Millan not to unite it to the Crown of France that so the Princes of Italy might not by reason of his greatnesse grow jealous of him but to make one of his sons Lord thereof And the Emperour being resolved to keep that Dukedom in himself had often deluded his King and the Princes of Italy with vain hopes especially the Venetians who desired alwaies more then others to haâ—e a new Duke and particular Lord in that State That the King had of late nobly refused the offers of those of Guant who rebelling against Cesar had recourse to him for protection Nay he had readily given way to Cesar 's men and for himself to passe through France for Flanders to appease the tumults of that Province from whence if he had been so minded he might have reaped advantage That he had several other waies witnessed his goodwill to Cesar having received him with incomparable honour throughout his 〈◊〉 â—ingdome in the very City of Paris and in his own Palace treating with him still with singular civility That on the other side as sooâ—â—s his businesse was done the Emperour had not onely not corresponded any waies with him openly denying what he had promised but being full of implacable anger against the King had treacherously and spitefully caused his servants to be slain when by the Truce renued at Paris all his affairs should have been secure That these and many other things which lay open to the eyes of all men might witnesse what the endeavours ends and natures of these two Princes were by which might be well considered whether of these ought to be chosen for a friend and confederate to the Common-wealth in whether she might repose more faith friendship gratitude equity and modesty in all proceedings That it ought also to be particularly considered how great Cesar 's power would be when he should together with the Kingdom of Naples securely possesse the State of Millan the French being excluded Italy and all allayes ceasing which might curb his desires bent undoubtedly to be Lord of all Italy That it was to be had in consideration what good might be got by keeping friendship with Cesar and what they could promise unto themselves from the King of France That Cesar promis'd onely in gratification to the Common-wealth to put a Duke into the State of Millan not intending as might be seen by his actions to do as he said That what his King's gratitude would be and the fruits of this new conjunction
store of Gallies There were eleven Governours chosen of the greater Gallies and Francesco Duodo was made their Captain one highly esteemed for his valour and knowledge in Sea Discipine and eighty were chosen to be Governours of the lesser Gallies who were all of them chief Gentlemen of the City and such as were best experienced in Sea affairs Pietro Trono was made Captain of the Frigats and they resolved to arm a Gallioune very artificially built before by Vittore Fausto a learned man and who had a particular excellency in composing Sea-Engines Girolimo Contarino was made Captain thereof but Girolomo Zane Procurator of St. Mark was to have the supream Authority over the whole Fleet He was held to be very fortunate both in his own private condition and in the publick imployments who had alwaies govern'd himselfe therein with much integrity and wisdome These things being thus ordered they apply'd themselves diligently to see them performed and all provisions were so easily and readily had as exceeded expectation Concerning the using of these Forces some propounded that forty Gallies should speedily be sent towards the Levant who keeping in Candia should be ready to make use of such occasions as time and the Enemies proceeding should offer They considered that to shew this courage at the first would adde comfort to the subjects and reputation to their affairs and on the other side would infuse doubts and confusion into the Enemy and retard their expedition For it was likely they would not venture to come forth of the Strait of Galipoli without their intire strength when they knew they should meet with such resistance The which was known would be of so much the greater help for that they understood afterwards that the Turks feared this more then any thing else and that therefore they had been extraordinarily diligent in sending out 25 Gallies that they might carry the Ammunition which was prepared for the enterprise of Cyprus early from Allessandria which if they should be intercepted by our Gallies they knew their whole design would be lost To this it was objected that it might prove to be of greater danger then security for that the Turks did alwaies keep so many Gallies ready for the usuall guard of some of their places as that many Pirats Vessels being added thereunto as was usually done in time of War they might trouble our Gallies and perchance endanger them which they thought was the rather to be shun'd for that they had great hopes to do some remarkable action by using all their forces joyntly together Therefore laying all other thoughts aside for the present they seemed all of them to be chiefly troubled how to put sufficient Garrisons into the Forts of Cyprus Some were for the furnishing them so with men as if they were never to be relieved and for providing to relieve them so as if they had never been Garrisonized But as the one was variously incommodiated by the shortnesse of time by want of vessells and by fear that the enemy would be out very strong and very betimes so they thought they could not repose any certain hopes in the other by reason of the enemies powerfull forces and out of the various events of war and of actions at Sea This mean while whilst they were treating whom they should send to bear chief sway in Cyprus together with succour Eugenio Singlitico Count di Rocas a noble Cyprian who at this time discharged the office of Lieutenant Generall of the Militia by Terra Ferma and was for the most part resident at Venice readily offered himself to relieve his Country at this her so great need and to serve his Prince And being speedily dispatcht went his way in a ship with a 1000 Foot and was by the Senate made chief Commander of all the Cavalry of that Kingdom Girollimo Martiningo conductor of the Gens d' Armes readily and generously offered himself to raise 2000 Foot within a few daies in the States of other Princes and to go with them himself to the relife of Famagosta and to stay there to defend that City Thus having in a very short space much to his praise put all his men in order and brought them to Venice to embarque both them and himself in ships destined to that purpose he would shew himself with all his souldiers to the City appearing in a military habit in the Piazza of St. Mark a thing well worth the seeing for the sight of so proper men adorned with bright Arms and variety of other noble ornaments did much delight the unskilfull multitude who being pleased with the novelty of the spectacle considered not what the progresse and end of war might prove For these so many and so valiant men did all perish in a short time some by suffering some by the sword of the enemy and Martiningo's self falling grievously sick through the inconveniencies of Navigation dyed before he could arrive at Cyprus being herein the lâ—sse fortunate that he did not die in Battle and crown his glory with a more noble death He was much praised for his loyalty and for the service he shewed to his Prince The Senate when they were certain of these the Turks designes and preparations made an account be given thereof by their Legier Embassadors to almost all the Princes of Christendom wherein the Venetians were the more solicitous being moved thereunto not so much out of hope of getting them to joyne in their defence as that they might not seem to scorn the help of others and that confiding too presumptuously on their own strength the event of that War wherein the common cause of Christendom was concern'd might be the more endangered They therefore acquainted them with the weight of what War the Common-wealth was to sustain and with the dangers wherewith at the present they were threatned but wherein all Christendom would in time be concerned So as some Senators were not listned unto who advised to do what they were able speedily and of themselves lest by relying upon the uncertain hopes of others they might either slacken their own provisions or being allured by the no-certain promises of Princes quite give over all thought of any treaty of peace Pope Pius Quintus sat then in St. Peters Chair who being but of a mean extract and exalted to that Supream dignity out of the fame of his integrity made good the opinion of his worth and his so great authority Wherfore the Venetians addrest themselves to him as to the chief head of Christendom and as to a person of singular goodnesse intreating his assistance and that he would perswade other Christian Princes to embrace the common cause Michielle Suriano was at this time Embassadour for the Common-wealth at Rome whose experience in State-affairs was the more set off by his learning He adding to the Pope's already good inclination many weighty perswasions did continually excite him to take to heart the Common-wealth's cause in this time of so great danger He
Cardinalls imagining that by so doing they might please both the Pope and the Spaniards for which they daily expected thanks and remuneration would aggravate the businesse more then they themselves believed it deserved to be But the Catholick King who was accustomed to govern and knew by experience how very rationall it is in Princes to desire that their Dominions may be preserved by wisdom and moderation not being at all troubled at the newes that peace was concluded seemed not to be displeased with what the Common-wealth had done for her own interests saying That assuredly they must be weighty and important occasions which had moved the Venetians to put on such a resolution And that as he had been ready to lend his forces to the service of Christendome and particularly to the good of the Common-wealth so he did assure himself that they being sensible of his good-will by his actions would do the like to him when occasion should require it And the Spaniards generally both in the Court of Rome and in Spain using much moderation made no outward shew either of dislike nor resentment Some said They were rather sorry for the occasion which had necessitated the making peace then for the peace it self They confest that those respects which had perswaded to this resolution must have been very great but not so well known to them by reason of the distance of their Dominions and of their Kings power And the Spanish Embassadour who was at Rome understanding that the Embassadour who was chosen to go to Constantinople to confirm the Capitulations was not yet gone from Venice propounded new endeavours to enliven the League This way of proceeding regulated by the reason of interest not of affection was much wondered at as a thing but little known or practised by Italians Wherefore some said that the Spaniards were thus moderate lest by blaming the Venetians they might provoke them to justifie themselves by complaining of the actions of the Colleagues the last years past Others said That though they had lost the advantage of the League for that time they would not forego the friendship of the Common-wealth for ever which they might make use of upon other occasions But it may be the truest cause was that following therein their naturall custom of maintaining their dignity it became them not to value much the dissolution of the League as if they were not sufficient of themselves to give a just counterpoise to the Turkish forces But the Pope continued still unsatisfied Wherefore the Venetians not being willing to be held contumacious resolved to send an expresse Embassadour to Rome that the Pope might be the more easily pacified and admit of their true justifications by this signe of their reverence and respect Nicolo da Ponte was chosen for this employment a man of reverend years and of great esteem and authority in the Common-wealth being a Procurator of St. Marks This man going speedily to Rome and having obtained audience of the Pope shewed him that the Common-wealth had just cause to accept of the peace which was offered by the Turks That all their territories by sea were exposed to very great danger by reason of the enemies many preparations made to offend them and through the slow proceedings of their friends and confederates to defend them That the weight of this war was become so grievous by reason of the expences which the Common-wealth had been at for the space of three years and through the many inconveniences whereby her subjects were prejudiced as it became now unsupportable That as long as the hopes of prosperous successe and of future quiet did keep up their hearts in the bitternesse of war and did a little consolate the present evills the Venetians had out-done what they were bound to by their Articles in providing for war â—nd exceeded their abilities But that the best occasions being now unseasonably let slip what reason had they to continue at such expences and dangers since it was now clearly known that the Common-wealth could not preserve her Dominions better then by peace That the Pope should be well pleased it being for the common service of Christendom that accommodating her self to the times she should temporise with so powerfull an enemy that she might employ the remainder of her forces upon some other seasonable occasion for the good of Christendom and of the Church as she had so often formerly done That in this respect Paul the third when he knew that it was in vain to take up arms against Soliman did himself exhort the Venetians to make peace though they had the same obligations of League upon them as they had now That the Senate did not communicate this their resolution to their considerates out of just and sitting respects governing it self by that rule by which all other States govern themselves and by which the Catholick King a powerfull Prince had walked For that he might not break the League unnecessitated if the condition of affairs should alter as they did and not to seem to distrust his forces whereby to encourage his enemies He did not acquaint the Venetians with the reasons which moved him to keep back his Fleet nor did any thing but the effect it self discover his intentions and the jealousies which he had of the French That it became the Venetians to do the like now who at the beginning of the treaty of peace which was as then doubtfull and uncertain basarded the losse of the uncertain advantage of the League and of encountring many inconveniences in following that advice which reason did dictate unto them or rather necessity though it might be more truly said that peace was much nearer being concluded then was imagined it being thought that an Embassadour was to be sent expresly for that end to Constantinople as had been done formerly and that such resolutions might be communicated in fitting time But that that which was much desired and much to be desired being proffer'd it ought not to be refused or deferred for any respect whatsoever the dammage not being to be repaired by any mediation which any delay though never so short might occasion in a businesse of such importance they being to treat with a barbarous Nation insolent and full of jealousies That they had also considered that to advise in a thing which was judged by those that demanded counsell not to be avoided seemed to be unseasonable and to no purpose the rather for that it would not have been lawfull for the Pope though he had known the true reasons which had caused the Venetians to make peace to disswade them from it or to hinder it nor would the place which he held permit him to advise or give way thereunto So as since their occasions forc'd them to act contrary to his declared will and not to be governed by his exhortations their offence would have been made the greater That lesser evill was occasioned hereby since he knew nothing of the treaty of peace before
too much trusting the Spaniards to put the whole Affairs of Italy into their hands that they had condescended that an Italian Duke should be Master of Millan because they knew he was rather to be a Prince in appearance than in effect whereby they hoped they might reduce that State upon the first occasion that should be offered under their Dominion That therefore moved by the same Interests they profess'd now to defend Maximillian Sforza that they might make use of the Millaneses and of the Switzers to drive the French out of Italy whom they thought they ought only to fear That it might clearly be seen the Spaniards did no less aspire to the Empire of Italy then did the French but whereas these made their way by open Force the others finding themselves to be too weak sought to work their ends by cunning and by cozenage and did under a colour of Friendship with the Italians undermine their Liberties That therefore it was very advantageous to suffer the Forces and Reputation of an other Forreign Prince to increase in Italy to obviate their Power since that the Italians who had been so long afflicted with War were not able of themselves to defend themselves against Forreign Nations The Venetians did by these reasons make good their Counsels and Actions but whilst these things were in Treaty with the Pope all sides made diligent preparations for War Nay Princes seemed to be the more set thereupon for that Leo by his various thoughts and promises made many of them hope to be able to maintain the War by his Help and Authority But the Venetians were more sollicitous in this business then the rest as those who found themselves most necessitated to continue the War therefore they raised men diligently in all parts to make up an Army They sollicited the King of France continually to come speedily into Italy shewing him that the Victory consisted chiefly in celerity That if such Cities as were not yet provided of Garrisons should be on the sudden assaulted they might be easily reduced into their Power But that if the business were spun out in length greater difficulties would daily arise King Lewis being moved by these Exhortations bent himself wholly upon this War and being desirous to imploy his whole Forces therein he agreed with Ferdinando to lay down Arms on the other side of the Mountains for a certain time This King was so carryed away with a vain glorious desire of recovering the State of Millan as he valued neither fear nor infamy So as not caring what blame he might incurre thereby he by this suspension of Arms gave over his Friends and Kinsmans Cause the King of Navarr who for having taken part with the French was a little before driven out of his Kingdom by the Spaniards and reduced to a miserable condition And being likewise advertised of great preparation for War made by Henry King of England a powerful Prince to assault France he contemn'd the Forces of that Kingdom though they had oft times made the French feel them to their Cost For having already in his mind taken in the whole state of Millan and taken the Victory for granted he thought he might bring back his victorious Army time enough to defend his own Kingdom before the English devested of all Military Preparations by reason of their long Peace could provide all things necessary for so great an Enterprize All the Kings men meâ— then according to Orders in the City of Susa that they might the more easily pass from thence into Italy Lewis Lord of Tremuglia a Personage very famous both for his Birth and for many places which he had discharged was made chief Commander of the Army Yet the War was for the most part govern'd according to the pleasure of Giovanni Giacomo Trivulcio who was at that time in great estimation for his great experience in Military Affairs 'T was said that the French Army consisted of about 20000 fighting men 〈…〉 muster'd 8000 choice Italian Foot to which were added 200 Câ—rassiers and 500 light Horse and a great Train of Artillery which did much strengthen the Army Two noble Venetians Domenico Contareno and Andrea Loredano were the Commissaries general whose particular care it is to provide Victuals Monies and all things requisite for the Army and then to be assistant in their Advice to the Captain General in all difficult businesses for the Venetians do themselves execute all the places of the Militia by Sea but in Terra firma by their ancient wont and the Custom of their Fore-fathers they manage their War by Forreigners At this time Bartholomeo Alviano was Captain General of the Venetian Army who being lately returned from France and Count Pitigliano being dead was chosen by the Senate to succeed in his place with the same Conditions which were granted formerly to Pitigliano His yearly pay was 50000 Duckets and he was bound to keep still on foot 300 Curassiers and 500 Cross-bow men on Horse-back to be ready upon any occasion to serve the Common-wealth This man when his place was conferr'd upon him went to the Army which was then upon the Banks of Adice and thinking it fit to be speedy in the business began forthwith to exhort the Senate that he might anticipate the time and that they would suffer him to march with his Army into the state of Millan whilst the Enemy were unprovided of aid and the Cities ungarrison'd That all other attempts would be in vain or to very little purpose that it was requisite that the Venetians should run the same fortune as did the French in 〈◊〉 War That if Affairs should go well with them it was no question but they were to share in the good Fortune but if otherwise they had no hope neither of getting any thing nor yet of keeping any thing that they had lately re-gained But the Senate after they had well and narrowly examined the business resolved that the Army should not pass the Rivers of Po and Ada for what remain'd they left the whole managing of the War free to Alviano with leave to direct his Forces and Designs whither he should be invited by the negligence of the Enemy or advised by his own Industry and Reason There was not as yet any certain News come that the French were past the Alpes therefore the Senate thought it a rash Counsel to leave their Countrey exposed to the Injuries of the Enemy and to send their Army to a place from whence in any case of adverse fortune they could not return But Alviano being very fervent in all he took in hand and very quick and bold thinking that the occasion and the present condition of Affairs invited him so to do resolved to advance immediately with his Army and took his way first towards Verona hoping to get that City Pandolfo Malatesta was taken into pay by Cesar at this time and made Governour of one of the Towers who allured by greater rewards had sided with the
signall Victory gotten by the Imperialists against the French was cause of much trouble to the Venetians knowing that a heavy load lay upon them for the Counterpoise of the French failing and all the other Princes of Italy being weak and full of Terrour by reason of this so mighty success they were almost of themselves alone to defend the liberty of Italy against the power of Cesar which was increased greatly by this his late good fortune nor could they hope that he would contain his Forces within the Confines of the State of Milan it was rather to be believed that his Army pursuing the victory would enter into the neighbouring States whereunto their being so unprovided to make any stout resistance might very well invite the Imperial commanders The Venetian Forces were onely of some consideration for they had 1000 Curassiers 600 Light-horse and 10000 foot they therefore resolved to make use of these forces and to increase them and to exhort the rest of the Princes of Italy to do the like and to arm themselves so strongly as they could But their chief study and care was to joyn themselves with the Pope for they believed that all the Potentates of Italy would finally depend upon his Authority and that there might be thereby some hopes of good They therefore solicited the Pope often Shewing him into what great dangers Italy was brought which if they should not receive some sudden and powerfull remedy they would increase so fast as all labour and industry and expence to prevent eminent ruine would be in vain That Cesar 's actions did clearly shew what his thoughts and intentions were since he had not assigned over the Dukedome of Milan to Francisco Sforza as by his Confederacy he was bound to do but that having defeated the French Army so as there was now no more fear of any enemy he did notwithstanding keep his souldiers still in that State placed Garrisons in the Cities and would have all things done by his authority and in his name and that certainly Cesar had so fair a way opened unto him of making himself master of Italy if the Italians would stand idle and leave their affairs to the discretion of others as one that were never so moderate having so fair an occasion could not abstain from turning his thoughts and Forces upon the taking of Territories so ill defended and that in such a case the State belonging to the Church would be no freer from offence then the like of their Commonwealth but would rather be in more danger because her weakness did the more expose her to injuries Nor did such thoughts and actions as these want several appearances of a fair collour far war Chiefly by reason of the League made by the Pope with the French which being come to the knowledg of the Imperialists they seemed to be more troubled thereat because it was made contrary to their opinion or sense they put him in mind that it became not a wise Prince to think upon giving satisfaction when he was able to take up armes and to depend upon himself and his own Forces and that truly the most expert men thought it a more easie thing far the Italian Princes to joyn together and being joyned to defend themselves against the Emperours Forces if the Pope would declare himself to be head and authour of such an Union For the Florentines were alwayes at his command and had now particularly signified their will and readiness to defend themselves by Francesco Vettori whom they had sent to Rome to that purpose thereby to invite him to take upon him the common defence That the Duke of Ferrara would be ready to do the like in consideration of his own State and to free himself from the contumacy which he was run into with the Church whereof he had already given sufficient signes he having sent an express messenger to Rome presently after the defeat of the French to offer the Pope 250 Curassiers 400 Light-horse and all his other Forces for the defence of the Apostolick Sea and for the welfare of Italy That the other lesser Princes could not nor would not sever themselves from the authority and from joyning with the forenamed with whose joint forces the Duke of Urbane did promise to defend all their States That it was to be considered the Cesarians wanted money and that the souldiers chiefly the Dutch being much behinde hand for pay â—ere readier to mutinie and to return home then to fall upon any other Enterprise without being paid their Arrears That the State of Milan was totally exhausted and unpeopled That the name of a Spanyard Emperour's Army was already much diminished and to conclude That part of his men were sent from Lombardy to resist the Duke of Albany These things though they were very punctually represented by the Venetians and diligently listned unto by the Pope yet were they not able to infuse any hope into him or to keep him from precipitating into an agreement and from thinking of securing his affairs rather unworthily by receiving any whatsoever condition from the Conquerours then by his own forces and by the aid of other Princes and Confederates so as without so much as expecting Cesar's will or any orders from him he had begun new Treaties with the Viceroy being hereunto induced by an immoderate fear that the Emperours army should be necessitated to pass thorough the state of the Church or else thorough Tuscany and to bring either the one or the other and peradventure both of them into great trouble and danger The Viceroy listned willingly to the Treaty of agreement promoted by the Pope knowing that peace and union with him did greatly concern confirming the Victory and freeing the Army of many necessities which it then suffered under whose Authority being as he believed to be followed by the other Princes of Italy the State that was won would be secured for the future from the French Forces who could not hope to do any good in Italy without the assistance of some Italian Prince These considerations being discovered by the Ventians who knew that such a security would at last cause more danger to them and could not notwithstanding keep the Pope from making this Agreement they proceeded slowly in their Councels not making the Imperialists dispair nor yet joyning in any streighter friendship or confederacy with them but they perswaded the Pope that to the end he might be provided for all events in case the agreement should not be made good he should forthwith send Monsignor Verulano who was long before destin'd thether into Switzerland to make 1000 Switzers come in presently to the defence of the Liberty of Italy the nation being greatly ambitious of the name of Liberty and that he should with the like diligence dispatch away a Nuntio to England whether the Common-wealth would at the same time send Lorenzo Orio whom they had chosen for their Embassadour to negotiate with the King thereof who was in great esteem
pretentions or so much as thoughts upon the affairs of Italy Which since it cannot be entirely effected by us answerable to our occasions and desires yet wee should indeavour as much as in us lies to keep their persons far from henâ—e for we may be sure that the sight of these noble provinces of Italy will kindle in them who are easie to take such Impressions a greater desire of possessing themselves thereof and that by their presence those things will be much increased which we would lessen For where a great prince is in person he aâ—ds much of reputation to his affairs and he may easily and by many wayes purchase unto himself favour authority and power Wherefore do we not think then of some other means of keeping Cesar out of Italy since there be others whereby we may much better effect our desires without these dangers For say the King should resolve to pass over the Mountains it is not likely that that would keep Cesar from coming also into Italy by sea nay it may be if â—e were less resolved to do so this would make him do it the sooner lest he might sâ—em to yield unto a Prince who is not only his rival in glory but his open and declared enemy as if he should confess that after he had divulged he would make such a voyage he had forborn doing so for fear of him leaving his Army and all that he is possest of in Italy a secure prey for others But if on the contrary the French will resolve to march with powerfull forces to the Confines of Spain and assault some of their Frontier Forts what reason is there to believe that when the Emperour shall be molested in his own Dominions he will abandon their defence to fall upon Italy a business of such difficulty and that he will leave his own affairs in apparent danger out of uncertain hopes of getting what belongs to others Hannibals example is very remarkable and may be very well paralel'd to this which we now treat of whom the Romans could never get out of Italy till they resolved to assault Affrica and so compel him to turn those forces which he had long made use of against them to defend his own Country Moreover it is an excellent rule when the fire of war cannot be totally extinguished to keep it as far from our own houses as we can and to carry it elswere and we who see that Italy is made the seat of war whereinto so many Transalpine Forces have had recourse to vent their fury and glut their wicked wills to the great prejudice and almost total ruine thereof shall we mediate the coming in of new forreigners thereinto so to continue those miseries and to make them more and to foment that fire in our bosomes which hath long burnt to our great cost and prejudice if the King of France shall come into Italy we are sure we shall rekindle a new and heavy war for either Cesar will resolve as I verily believe he will do to come in person with so much the greater forces for that he shall know he is to meet with so much the slouter resistance or else he will send the greater forces into Italy and will adde thereunto as much as he is able in the Kingdome of Naples and Dukedome of Milan for it is not to be imagined that whilest he shall be safe at whom and sufficiently powerfull and victorious in Italy he will abandon his fortune and forego the possession of so many places which he is master of in Italy for fear of the coming of the French And why should not we think that the king may be of himself well inclined thereunto whom we hear that moved thereunto by these reasons hath set his thoughts upon Spain and that he already begins to prepare for it So as the moving him to make war there will not oneâ—y be advantagious for us but we may the sooner obtain our desires I know not therefore what we have to commit unto our Embassadour Navagiero 's charge in this point since the Kings will and our advantage concur therein And certainly if we know how to use the time and occasion which is offered us we may hope that the King by the authority of this Senate and by Navagiero 's wisdome and eloquence may be perswaded to confirm his opinion in molesting the Emperours Dominions with new wars and with Forces befitting the cause and the grandure of his majesty and of his kingdome whereby we shall not onely attain unto our chief end of keeping the Emperour for the present out of Italy but we may hope to find him the easier to be brought hereafter to make a fair agreement Many were pleased herewith but it was opposed by many others particularly by Marc Antonio Cornaro who though by reason of his years he was of less Authority yet he was of great esteem for his eloquence This man in answer to what Mocenigo had said spoke thus If it were as easie to find out a remedy for the so many miseries of Italy and for our molestations and dangers as we have just cause to commiserate the condition of these unfortunate times I should very much approve that we should think of what might secure us not onely from our present dangâ—rs but from all those which may a long time hereafter befall us But I am shrewdly afraid that whilest by an immature cautiousness we fear every thing and would foreseâ— and provide against whatsoever accidents may occur we ruine our present condition and lose the opportunity of applying those remedies which doubtless may help us at this our present and greatest need Concerning Cesar 's coming into Italy as we may be sure thereof unless his way be stopped so is it for many reasons very much to be feared He is at the present possess'd of almost all the Kingdome of Naples and of a good part of the Dukedome of Milan he hath powerfull Armies in boâ—h thesâ— Countreys Genua also a city so opportunely situated for the affairs of Italy hath put it self into his protection If he settle himself in these several parts by his coming into Italy and by extinguishing the remainder of the French Army what hopes have we of ever driving him out he pretends to possess the Kingdom of Naples by right of Inheritance and by the investment of the Pope himself we may see how he means to behave himself concerning the Dutchie of Milan since making divers subterfuges he could never be brought to assign over the City of Milan to Francisco Sâ—orza as by agreement he was tied to do On the other side the King of France is not now possess'd of almost any thing in Italy He hath put the Towns of the Dukedome of Milan which he hath gotten by his forces into the hands of Francisco Sforza in the Kingdome of Naples he quits the Towns of Puglia to us and is content that a particular King be put over the rest He hath
make that City the Seat of the Empire to abound in all things and especially in Gold to which purpose he had forbidden men of all Nations to buy any Silks or Spices and had already bought a great quantity of these merchandize with his own monies that he might bring them to Constantinople The Venetians were much troubled at these proceedings for though the Turkish forces seemed to threaten other parts yet their power encreasing by the ruine of other Princes it would become likewise more formidable to them and the going out of the Fleet would alwaies be occasion of trouble and of expence to the Commonwealth especially if the Fleet should come as it was said it was to do into the Gulph of Venice where the Western Vessels came oftentimes to pillage with much insolency And the removing of Traffique from the usual places did much disturb their Merchandizing and the ancient Navigation of their Galeasses which were wont to go every year to Sâ—ria and Alexandria The Venetians thinking how to give a timely remedy to these things exhorted the King of Hungary who was found to have some inclination to make peace with the Archduke Ferdinand to pursue it and thereby to rid Christendom of so many occasions of danger and prejudice They likewise encouraged the King of Poland who had formerly interposed himself in this business to re-assume the Treaty of Agreement They sought by many endeavours with the Bashaws at Constantinople and especially with Luigi Gritti who grew daylie greater in favour and authority there to keep the Grand Seignior from sending forth his Fleet by shewing the care and diligence used by the Commonwealth in keeping the Sea open and free from Pyrats and likewise from his other intention of bringing the Merchandize of Soria and Alexandria to Constantinople shewing many inconveniences that would arise thereby so as without any considerable advantage to Constantinople and to the great prejudice of his other Provinces and of his Imposts traffique would lessen by leaving those of the Western parts no occasion of making those Voyages if they should not be permitted to send forth so many sorts of Merchandize which they vented in great quantities in those Countries and wherewith they contracted for Spices and other Merchandize more then with ready money But to take all occasion from the Turks of sending out Gallies and especially into the Gulph of Venice the Senate ordered the Commissary of their Fleet that he should warn the Gallies of Malta not to come into the Gulph nor to prejudice any Vessels which sailed into the Eastern Seas which were guarded by them which if they should deny to do that then he should endeavour to disarm them The Turks thought themselves very much inâ—ur'd hereby and complaining of the Venetians they said that it did not suit with the friendship which they profess'd to hold with the Grand Seignior to suffer that the Turks who were their friends should be so much prejudiced at their own homes and before their faces especially since their security was to rely upon the provisions and forces of the Commonwealth in which respect to preserve her jurisdiction and to shun occasion of disorder the Turks forbore sending any men of War into the Gulph At the same time Cesar having summoned a Diet of all the German Princes in Augusta many things appertaining to the State and to Religion were therein treated on The Protestants insisted chiefly in demanding a General Councel wherein their opinions concerning the points of faith might be examined and decided which they did not out of any desire of sifting ouâ— the truth but because they believed that the Pope would not give way thereunto lest they might enter into some other Treaties whereby his authority might be endangered so as they thought they might have good occasion thereby to foment their false opinions amongst the people The Emperour seeking how to appease so many humours and how to cut off this root of greater evils propounded the business to the Pope who looking for little good thereby nay rather occasion of greater disorders and yet being unwilling to seem to refuse it sought to spin out the business at length alledging many respects which gave just occasion of delay and chiefly the discords which were then on foot amongst Christian Princes to appease the which he said it would be best first to think how they might all concur joyntly to assist and favour the Counsel But the Protestants growing more earnest in this their desire and the Popes fear increasing he who greatly detested this sort of people began to propound that they might be prosecuted by temporal arms which he oftentimes mentioned not onely to Cesar but to the Venetian Senate also to whom be sent an express Nuntio to exhort them to use their Counsels authority and forces herein and to make Cesar undertake this business the more willingly he offered him a certain sum of money But the Senate were much of an other opinion and fought to disswade the Pope from it Whose piety when they had praised they shewed him afterwards that to take up arms at this time and without any pressing occasion was no better then to shew his fear the more is a just cause which he would go about to secure by preventing by way of Arms the power which the concourse and favour of the people might bring unto the adverse party Than it became those who sustained the cause of Religion to try all things especially by Scripture and by reason Moreover that the Protestant Princes would be necessitated to procure forces and more followers and their cause would be more favoured by the people and have some fair appearance since they were to withstand the violence of Enemies that the Princes of Italy were wholly exhausted by the so many wars That it was to be suspected to what party the Electors of the Empire would adhere in such a case they being more desirous of agreement then of war as appeared by their Embassadours who were sent to the Emperour at Brussels That the Hans Towns of Germany were resolved not to assist Cesar if he should go about to attempt any thing rather by power then by reason That Cesar was not able of himself to raise sufficient forces to oppress the Princes and people who were in commotion There appeared such reason in these things and the Authority of the Senate was so great from whose advice the Pope had very much differed as changing his opinion he forbore sending his Nuntio to Cesar as he had intended to do and suspended any such Treaty And truly it was thought to be a much wiser course and better becoming the condition of the present times to think rather of sustaining the Turkish Wars and to keep the forces of Christendom united as much as might be especially those of Germany who were to withstand the Turks first violence For it was held for certain that Soliman whose haughty mind must needs be scandalized for his being
at last obtained a subsidie of one hundred thousand Duckets to be raised from the Clergie a thing not of so much esteem in it self as that divers difficulties being thereby overcome it was thought the like might be come by the more easily afterwards as also that it argued the Popes good opinion of the Common-wealth Monies being raised by this means and by many other wayes the Senate minded the increase of their Galleys which were still commanded by General Capello and the sending of Foot into their Islands and Maritime Towns that their affairs might be safe and that they might expect what the Issue of so many Fleets would be The Turks ceased not whilest their Fleet was preparing to attempt the regaining of Corone by land Forces wherewith they did besiege it so closely as the Spanish Souldiers growing impatient and being almost desperate by reason of their so great sufferings in almost all things sallyed out to assault the Turkish Camp but succeeding ill therein for they were worsted by the enemy lost many of their men and were forc'd to retreat back into the Fort They found themselves by these losses and by the pestilence reduced to so small a number as when the ships arrived which brought relief from Cicily the Spanish Commanders despairing to be able to maintain the Fort any longer got into the same ships and left the Town in the power of the Turks Yet it was a common opinion and not unlikely that this was done by express order from the Emperour who knowing that he could not maintain that place which was environed by the enemies forces but by continuall great expence and with small hopes of further progress resolved to keep it no longer to but little purpose The loss of Corone proved grievous to the Venetians in one respect since they saw the little hopes which they and the other Christian Princes had of keeping the Turks under seeing they were not able to keep what they had got But on the other side finding that Corone though possess'd by the Christians not to be a situation sufficient to overcome so many difficulties nor to attempt any thing against the Turks with any hope of considerable profit and that on the contrary this place afforded occasion of many scandals and was apparently dangerous to draw them into another war the Imperiall Fleets being upon this occasion to frequent their seas which would cause great jealousies in the Turks this did a little allay their sorrow for the loss of that City Cariadino being this mean while put to Sea with an hundred sail and come very near the mouth of our Gulf the Venetian Generall who watched his wayes prepared according to the Senates former orders to draw more inward that he might not abandon the custody and safety of the Gulf But the Turkish Fleet steering its course towards the Tirrhen Sea made for the shore of Calavria and landing suddenly did not onely plunder the Country but took two Towns on the Sea side though of no great value great was the fear which possess'd the mindes of all that were in Naples and in Rome by the Fleets coming into these parts For had Cariadino pleased to bend his course towards these Cities the inhabitants wanting souldiers and being in great confusion had neither power nor will to withstand so unexpected an assault But the Turks taking many prizes went to the Iland of Ponts where taking in water for their occasions they went from thence to the Affrican rivers to effect their chief design which was to assault Amuleasses King of Tunis Cariadino was very well inform'd of all the affairs of that Countrey of the situations places the Prince his forces and how the people stood affected towards him Wherefore using both force and fraud he hoped to compass his end easily as he did He gave out that he brought along with him Rosette the Kings brother whose name he knew those people would be very well pleased with and falling upon the Enemy and upon the City where he knew they were weakest after some variety of fortune at last he took Tunis At this time the other Fleets did not any great matters but it hapned that it behoved the Venetians Commissary to proceed with violence against some Multa Vessels and to rebuke their Captains who was Phillippo Mazza Knight of Ierusalem who having rashly not only passed through the Eastern Seas with armed Vessels but even entred into the Gulf pillaging not only the Turkish Bottomes but those of the Christians also was taken by the Captain of the Gulf and sent to Venice where his cause being to be heard before the Consiglio di quaranta criminale to whom the business was by the Senate referr'd he who had his liberty upon Bail not waiting for his sentence fled away with three Pinnaces and with much arrogancy and neglect of the Commonwealth continued doing mischief Wherefore the Commissary who watch'd his ways narrowly lighting upon him at unawares caused his head to be cut off The Turkish staves were set at liberty and sent to Constantinople the Pinnace wherein Mazza was burnt the other two were soon after senâ— to the Emperour who desired them who seeming at first to be somewhat troubled at this accident because the Malteses had put themselves under his protection being better inform'd of the action and of the occasion thereof was pacified and the great Master of Malta blamed Mazza's action as done not only without his leave but contrary to his orders Whilst these things went thus the Pope had been troubled with long sickness whereof he dyed in the height of all his prosperity He was a Prince of high but unsettled thoughts addicted beyond measure to his own affections so as saffering himself to be master'd sometimes by fear sometimes by covetousness he appeared various and inconstant in his actions chiefly in his friendship with Princes and with the Common-wealth he preserved peace and union a long time more for his own interest then out of any good will and because the Senate according at the present condition of times required would not give him any the least cause of breaking with them by their being obedient to him in all things Alexander Fernese a Roman and an ancient Cardinal and one much esteemed in the Court succeeded him in the Popedome who took to him the name of Paul the Third Divers were the conceptions which were had of the new Pope but most were of opinion that continuing to keep neutral amongst Princes as he had done for fifty years together whilst he was Cardinal and which was no small cause of bringing him to this supream dignity he would only mind the common good without siding with my Prince that he might the better intend the peace and quiet of Italy Which the Venetians did not dislike who desired to see a fair settlement made of all things and perswaded themselves by reason of the good affection which he seemed always to bear to the Commonwealth before his
with their goods be set at liberty The Auditory was much in doubt what to do concerning these proposalls on the one side they had great hopes and large offers promised them but which would draw on sore wars and much trouble on the other side doubts of but small quiet and no lesser difficulties continuing still in the same danger which would be made the worse by the King of France his indignation if he should see his friendship refused and neglected after so large offers After long consultation it was proposed to the Senate by the joynt opinion of the Collegio de Savii That the same Rangone being desired to return many thanks to the King for his favour and for his so many and so loving offers he should tell his Majesty That as for the Union which was proposed the King might know what esteem the Common-wealth had of the Crown of France by what she had often done formerly and that as she had not been hitherto wanting so her actions should still be such when any occasion should be offered as might câ—â—firm the King and all others in a good opinion of her Mark Antonio Cornaro was the onely man that opposed this a man famous for eloquence and of great reputation though not very old and who was then Savio di Terra ferma he would have it freely told to Rangâ—ne That to keep promise was that which became a Prince and was the antient uninterrupted custom of the Common-wealth Wherefore being tyed by a new confederacy to Cesar they could not think of any other agreement contrary to it But that they were notwithstanding confident that the King as a wise Christian Prince and a friend would not give over the good offices which he had begun with the Turks He therefore spake thus He who will give his opinion in any weighty and important Affair must be so free from passion as his reason be not contaminated Hope and fear as evill consulâ—ors which keep truth concealed ought alwaies to be banished such resolutions These are the affections which I desire maybe chiefly driven from your bosomes most worthy and grave Senators that the resolution which shall this day be put on may be right and sincere agreeing with the publick good and with the opinion which the world hath of this Senate's wisdom The offers made unto us by the King of France to make us side with him and take up arms against our friend and confederate Cesar are very great and truly he ought to mention great things to make us by a new and detestable example break our publick faith without any just occasion and undertake a no lesse unjust then weighty and dangerous war Two things are at once propounded unto us to make war with the Emperour and the keeping peace with Soliman and this very cunningly to work upon us by these inventions to the end that some of us moved thereunto by our own strength and by his assistance and out of hopes of great acquisitions being allured by what is very usefull and desirable may forget what is honest and feasable and may easily enter into troubles which we shall not so easily get out of And others blinded by the desire of preservation from present dangers and of freeing themselves from the fear of war with the Turks without finding any better security for our present affairs We must look upon these things with eyes uncontaminated by these affections with the pure and sincere eyes of our soules and consider with what intention they are proposed for by so doing it will easily appear what we ought to do therein and by what answer we may free our selves from those snares which are covered over with an appearance of liberty and from that infamy which goes concealed under the cloak of glory It was the generosity of our fore-fathers readily to embrace any occasion of enlarging our confines whilst the condition of times advised thereunto It was the constancy of our fathers and hath been ours to seek to preserve things which were got by the worth of others not being overcome by the tedious troubles of war But certainly it was no lesse wisdom nor lesse praise-worthy to accommodate our selves to the present fortune of the Common-wealth to lay down Arms and to wait for better times when we had found all experience in vain We did then possesse the greatest part of thâ—se territories which now are promised us in reward of new troubles and dangers and notwithstanding because we knew that the keeping of them would nourish perpetuall discords we being desirous to purchase peace to the Common-wealth at last did resolve to quit them We parted willingly and by agreement with Ravenna and Cervia to the Pope and with many Towns in Puglia to the Emperour We should not now think of these things since it will be harder for us to repossesse our selves of those cities then it would have been to have kept them and for that Cesar 's power is much encreased and confirmed in Italy So as to change the present condition thereof is a thing rather to be desired than to be expected and if this be any waies to be hoped for past experience the same course which we still keep teacheth us that it may â—e had not by arms but by negotiation and dexâ—erity by insinuating our selves into Cesar 's favour and by keeping him in some jealousie of our friendship which he doth so highly value at this time by which means he may be brought as he hath been formerly and haâ—h now promised to yield that a particular Duke of Millan be named But certainly he who thinks there is any good grounds of joyning part of that State to our Dominions may be said to take pleasure in willingly deceiving himself It is too apparent that the bare newes of this confederacy with France or the discovery of any such thoughts in us would be sufficient to make all the Princes of Italy joyne against us nay the very King of France who is now so free of his promises would be hardlier perswaded to grant these things then others would be if there should be any occasion of doing it Is it possible that we can so soon forget what is past or if we remember them can we with patience give ear to these negotiations What counsell did ever prove more unfortunate to this Common-wealth then the thinking of getting of Cremona and Giaradada What but this was the first and true originall cause of making all the Princes of Christendom conspire against us to almost the totall ruine of our affairs And who was the first author of this conspiracy and of our so many mischiefs but that very King of France who assisted by our forces in his getting the Dukedom of Millan was bound to keep us in the possession of that part thereof which was given us in reward of our so much expence and labour And I pray you what was it that forced us to joyne at first in confederacy with
That Soliman 's anger would not be a little encreased by the refusing his offers who held himself scandalized by what the Fleet had done and as was said by the Grandees of that Court by the small account that was made of his person no Embassadour being sent to him when he came so near the States dominions as was usually done upon like occasions to other Princes Moreover this silence would make the Turks more diligent in making the greater preparation for war since they must needs finde we had no minde to have peace In fine that to advance so far in the treaty of League without proposing any thing of peace had no other aspect but of enforcing the Senate to embrace the resolution of continuing in war which if well weighed was of all things most to be abhorred But these things were thus answered by those who thought it the safer safer way to treat of League then of Peace That they were not alienated from the thought of peace but did endeavour to provide so for the emergencies of the present times as they might be able to sustain war That therefore they did not without just cause forbear writing at the present to Constantinople lest they might make the Christian Princes jealous whereby they might slacken their providing for war That there remained many things yet to be considered before the League could be concluded wherein time might be protracted and when things should be drawn nearer to a head they might have better occasion to know the Turks mindes and so bear both the League and Peace in hand at once and pitch upon what might be thought best for the Common-wealth That too much haste could onely discover their weaknesse the more unto the Turks and make them more insolent in their Articles of Agreement the which the more they should seem to desire it would be had upon the harder tearms That no matter of expence was to be had in consideration since howsoever they were to arm themselves and to treat of peace with their weapons in their hands not to prejudice the conditions of peace and not to commit themselves too rashly to the discretion and faith of their perfidious enemies These reasons were alleadged for the League and the businesse at Constantinople was deferr'd But at last many being desirous that somewhat should be written and that the businesse should not be totally given over it was proposed unto the Senate That the Consul might tell the Bashaw Aiace That the Common-wealth had great reason to complain of Soliman who unprovoked by any publick injury had broke the peace and sent his men in hostile manner to Corfu without expecting Orsino's return sent by his consent nay by his order to Venice and with promise not to attempt any novelty till by his return it might be known what the truth of those passages was which the Turks took ill and who was really in the fault That it had alwaies been the stedfast intention of the Senate to preserve peace and amity with that Empire and that upon occasion of so many wars made by Soliman they had never disturbed his enterprises but had alwaies kept their word inviolably and kept constant to their neutrality That at this very time Generall Pesaro dreamt of nothing lesse then of impeding his Captains designes no not of giving them any suspition but that he was come into the Gulph to joyne with the other sea-Captains and shun such accidents but that being driven by the winds he was forc'd to passe into the Rivers of Puglia where the Turkish Fleet lay That they did believe Soliman stood well affected to the Common-wealth as he was affirmed to do and well inclined to peace since being a just and a wise Prince he knew it became him to preserve friendship with the Venetians who had given him no occasion to the contrary Nor was it fitting that good intelligence between Princes should be broken by the inconsiderate actions of any particular Officers That therefore they were confident he would restore the goods of private Merchants which were detained who upon the faith of so great a Prince were perswaded to trade in his Dominions Their intention hereby was that the Consul seeking by such discourse as this to fift somewhat more particularly into the Turks thoughts should begin if he should find any good hopes to commence the Treaty of peace This proposall being made in the Senate three daies were spent about it which being over there wanted two votes to make the businesse be resolved upon so as there was nothing decided in the point though it had been long disputed by personages of great dignity and authority The promises of these Princes had made so great an impression in the minds of all men as confiding very much therein and being therefore desirous to shun any the least suspition that the League was not really intended by them they would listen to nothing which might perswade to the contrary Don Lopes the Cesarian Embassadour hearing of this irresolution he hoped that the Common-wealth might be brought to a nearer conjunction with Cesar He therefore renued the motion of uniting the Fleets which had formerly been made by him and Doria He appeared in the Colledge and laboured much to perswade that for the common service no longer delay should be made in giving order to our Generalls to go to Messina and joyne with Doria's Gallies who he said had sufficient commission from the Emperour in that point and that he should not be wanting in any thing which concerned the good and safety of Christendom and in particular that of the Common-wealth He shewed That the Emperour stood very well affected to the common good and that his forces should be answerable to this his affection for besides the Fleet now in being other ships of all sorts were arming in the Spanish Havens and great provisions of men and monies were raising throughout all his dominions That the Emperour Charles desired to justifie himself alwaies before both God and man that he had discharged his part gallantly not having spared either expence or labour to quell the pride of the enemies of Christendom That he had therefore at all times solicited other Princes whose interest was concern'd in this common cause to know the dangers which grew daily greater tending to the ruine of Christianity which he by reason of his greatnesse might live freer from then any other but that he did more value the common good then his own particular concernment That there needed no new examples to shew that the weaknesse of Christian Princes and the exaltation of their enemies proceeded from their own luke warmnesse That the last unfortunate successe of Rhodes might be considered which being assaulted by this very Soliman and not succoured by any Christian Prince fell miserably into the power of the Turks to the so much losse prejudice and shame of all Christendom But that there was some excuse for those successes then since those Princes
to relieve those who should be in most need He ordered Antonio Doria who commanded the greater Vessels that going before the smaller gallies he should indeavour to get the winde of the Enemy to the end that he might fall upon them with a fore-wind and disordering them by his Artillery might weaken them and discourage them before they should come up to fight with our Gallies But the Turks on the other side indeavouring the same advantage laboured by all means possible to get before the Christian Fleet and by advantage of the winde to be the first that should fall on which Doria being early aware of made his Fleet bend towards land endeavouring to keep the enemy from getting that hand but the winde which had begun to blow soon failing it was very hard to observe these orders The smaller Gallies were imploy'd and much pestred in haling the greater Vessels yet they were all so fervent upon fighting as over coming all difficulties by their industry and labour the two greater Venetian Vessels the Gallioun commanded by Alessandro Bondulmiero and the Barza commanded by Nicolo Trivisavo were already got to the designed place which being excellently well provived of Artillery stood before all the squadrons like two strong Towers to sustain and break the first violence of the Enemy Barbarossa when he saw the ships make towards him before the winde slackned fearing lest he might be forc'd to fight with the great ships which was the thing he most desired to shun began as it is said to repent his being come out of the Gulph of Prevesa and there was so great a fear generally throughout the whole Turkish Fleet as many of the Turks began already to recommend themselves to the Christian slaves who were aboord their gallies Yet Barbarossa reassuming courage did whatsoever became a good Commander to do and thinking of nothing but battel sought to make what advantage he could both of time and place he labour'd chiefly to get to the head of the Island Santa Maura whereby shunning the incounter both of the ships and Galliouns he might wheel about and assault our Fleet on the back which being desirous to keep their greater and lesser Vessels joyn'd together had much adoe to change scituation without disorder He therefore ceased not to incourage his men both by perswasions and threats not to be affraid he laid before them the reward and punishment of their good and bad behaviours he told them there was no cause of fear that they were the same Musselmans who had ever been victorious in all Wars under the happy conduct of Soliman the Great and fortunate Prince against the Christians a people more wonted to wantonnesse than wars and to save themselves more by flight than by military valour that every mans last day of life was prefixt but the acquitting themselves thereof either with praise or dispraise depended upon their own wills that for his part he would not be wanting in any thing that belonged to a good Commander that the battel might be fought upon all advantage And truly all men thought that Barbarossa did that day whatsoever could be expected from a wise and valiant Commander and shewed himselfe greatly experienced in the Militia and at Sea For he did so dispose and order his Gallies as every one of their Captains knowing and observing his place as though the Fleet did many times wheel about in severall manners yet was it still well ordered and fitted for battels and ready to put on any whatsoever resolution The Turkish Fleet was divided into three parts Trabaâ—che commanded the right wing and Selecco the left both of them experienced and well reputed Commanders and who had carried themselves well in the late Wars in the middle was Barbarossa with the body of the Battle wherein were the greatest number of Gallies Traguti a famous Commander of the Pirats went before all the rest with a squadron of fly-boats some more nimble Gallies as it were to chalk out the way to the others and to begin first to molest the Enemy with his fleeter Vessels and therefore freeer from danger The Turks were it either by reason of the slow or irresolute advancing of our men or by their own diligence and good fortune the Sea being calm so as the greater Vessels could not make use of the wind did first possess the Land-shore which the Commanders of the League had first designed to do and being gotten into a very convenient station a good way off from our ships they stood a-front the Christian Fleet to observe her motions thinking themselves already safe since they saw the Confederates would not hazard a battle without the greater Vessels and to tow them further on being within sight of the Enemy was not without danger and required time and difficultie so as it seemed to be in their choice whether they would fight or no But Doria wheeling this mean while about the ships and being followed by all the fleeter Gallies kept not onely the Enemy but even his ovvn men long in doubt vvhat he vvould do Every one vvith their Provv turn'd upon the Enemy stood expecting when they should advance and begin the battel But through their so long delay and vvasting of time the Turks had leasure to retreat to an advantagious place and to avoid the battle Doria's design as he aftervvards affirmed vvas to deceive the Enemy who being doubtful vvhat he meant to doe he thought they would keep fast in that part of the Sea where they were and close together so as he having disposed of his Gallies in a long rank might take a larger bout and assault the Turkish Fleet on severall parts at one and the same time But Barbarossa being aware of his intention made more haste as hath been said to the Land-shore keeping the Prow or fore-Castle of his Gallies still turn'd upon our Fleet and still getting Rome-ward as far as he could from our greater ships During which time the Confederates Fleet to the wonder of all men standing as it were immovable idly looking upon the insulting Enemy and letting the opportunity slip Generall Capello and Grimani cry'd aloud Let us lose no more time let us not lose the hopes of a certain victory And Capello going about in a little Vessell incouraged to battel his words and courage were applauded by all and being come to the gallie where Doria was he said Sirs Let us charge the flying Enemies time occasion and the souldiers votes invite us thereunto the Victory is ours I will be the first that will fall on I expect nothing but command to begin the conflict Capello was an old man 73 years of age of a good aspect and comly personage stout minded and reverenced for his age and held to be very wise and well experienced in Sea-affairs which gave the greater authority to his advice and incouragement And truly all men were so very desirous to fight as nothing was heard but Fall on fall on Victory
that State wherein our proceedings have been so cool and so full of circumspection as we may partly blame our selves if we have not met our desires therein And if he had so great a mind to suppress the Common-wealth as is affirmed when could he have better done it then of late years when we have had our hands full of War with Soliman yet he hath rather indeavour'd our maintaining then our suppressing having sent his Fleet to assist us and he hath increased our honour and our Forces to defend our selves against so powerfull an Enemy by the new confederacy he made with us and if his provisions for War may seem to have been short and tardy in respect of our necessities and desires and that his actions have not been answerable to his promises we must be content to have received such usage as all men do receive by the Law of Nature that he minded more his own interest then that of others and if we measure this very thing more by affection then by true reason it is a usuall thing for humanity to doe so Caesar would assist us to such a degree but he did not think it became him to expose his Fleet to the same danger as we would do ours his cause not being the like to ours He would not sâ—e us fall yet he would not see us grow too powerfull lest he might have reason to apprehend our greatnesse as we now fear his These are passions common to all men and very usuall in Princes but if we weigh all things well we are not onely not necessitated but we have no reason to make Warre with Caesar neither for any injury we have received nor for any we are likely to receive These reasons were the more easily credited because they tended to the preservation of Peace to which every one was of himselfe well inclined and Cesar indeavour'd much to keep them in this mind promising faithfully to preserve Peace and Friendship with the Common-wealth The Pope's and King of France his desires were conformable but by several messengers thus answered That the Senate commended the care they took of the common good and for the defence of their own affairs that they would take example by them and watch the more narrowly over their State which they thought would prove a sufficient remedy at this time against such dangers as were to be feared wherefore they saw no reason of comming to a straicter and more particular union by which they might provoke such as went about to disturb the Peace Though the Pope nor King of France were not well satisfied with this answer yet they seemed to be so to keep from alienating the Venetians further from them hoping that they might at last be brought to alter their minds and adhere unto them therefore praysing the mature wisdom of that Senate they said that Cesars intentions which could no longer be concealed being now better discovered and the world believing no longer that they had ambitious ends they would speedily resolve upon assured and good grounds to secure the affairs of the Common-â—ealth and of all Italy But though the hopes of any good successe in their indeavours against the Emperour were lessened by this the Venetians resolution yet the Pope's and the King of France his desire of taking up Arms was not much lessened which they were kept from doing rather by the difficultie of the businesse then for any want of will But though they could not use open force the French and the Ferneses held private intelligence in divers Cities of Italy particularly in Genua Sienna and Millan Cities which were infected with humours of severall factions and therefore the more easie to mutiny for that upon finding a good Inclination to Novelties they might with the lesse forces compasse their designs It is certainly worth consideration to think how great human Imperfection is and into how many excesses they fall who give themselves over in prey to their own affections Pope Paul who was a very wise man so many years vers'd in the waightiest affairs of the World being by the unavoydable laws of nature brought to the extream period of life yet being carried away by vast designs and irregulate thoughts did not value the exposing Himselfe his Family the Church and all Italy to the greatest labours and dangers of eminent ruine by taking up Arms against Cesar so powerfull and so prosperous a Prince at a time when he had whole Germany to joyn with him which was implacably offended against the Pope and Court of Rome for the difference of Religion for the counsell given by the Pope to Cesar to wage War with them and for not being able to obtain that the Councill of Trent which they had so earnestly desired and which was now granted should be perfected and on the other side he being so ill provided of men monies and friends to withstand so great a force of War as he drew upon him and being bereft amongst those Hereticks of that sacerdotall Majesty and respect by which Popes have kept themselves free from injuries more then by forces which things being seen and well known by the Venetians they were much troubled at insomuch as though their Counsels were not listned too and suspected they forbare not notwithanding when they found the Pope after their answer still resolute in his former opinion modestly to represent unto him these things so worthy of consideration to which he had sometimes given ear when his reason prevailed over his sense wishing him therefore to be somewhat more circumspect in these his intentions and in delivering himselfe as it were a prey into the power of the French The next year 1548. was spent in almost the same Negotiations in indeavours of Leagues secret Treaties Princes machinations upon other mens estates preparations for Arms and in a desire of attempting novelties but without any great effect or commotion For though the King of France did very much desire to trouble the affairs of Italy so to keep Cesar's thoughts and forces busied there yet he thought his hopes in the Pope were but small who was already very old in almost a decrepit age having little mony and peradventure no constant resolution to maintain the war if any accommodation should at any time be proposed by the Emperour as might easily happen by his alliance with Octavio Fernese He saw the Venetians resolved though Arms should be taken up not onely to keep their neutrality but so joyned in amity by the friendship of so many years with Cesar as he thought it impossible to divide them He had also a minde and had already turned much of his forces to prosecute war against the English hoping by reason of many divisions risen between the Governours of the young King in point of religion and out of particular contentions not onely to defend Scotland by vertue of the marriage between the young Queen thereof and his eldest son who was destin'd to be her husband but
to increase some jealousies that were conceived of him that he as well as the other Italians did not approve of the Imperialists proceedings nor of Caesars own intentions Which suspicion was much increased by the new Fort which they built in Sienna which was commonly called the Ceppo or Stocks of Tuscany The Duke of Ferrara who as vassall to the Church ought to have proceeded with much circumspection following his own dependencies and passions did adhere sufficiently in his minde and in underhand-helps to the French faction Wherefore to keep those that were besieged in Parma from being relieved with victualls and other things from that side the Imperialists had taken Brisello and two other little Castles belonging to the Duke which stood upon those confines The Duke being much moved at these things sent his Embassadour Girolino Serofini to Venice to be advised by the Senate how to govern himself in these hard times and so sad occasions for he was resolved to walk in the same steps the Senate did and follow their wise counsels particularly in keeping himself Neuter but that he had not forces enough of himself to do so So as unlesse he should receive some assistance he feared he must be enforced for the preservation of his State to side with some one and to act contrary to his desire This was thought to be a piece of cunning whereby the French desired to spy into the Venetians intentions that they might draw them into some confederacy or at least discover somewhat more of their meanings Therefore the Senate thought fit to answer in very generall tearms That the Senate had ever desired above all things that the peace of Italy might be preserved to which purpose they had used severall endeavours both with the Pope and others as they saw needfull But since they could do no good thereby they would at least keep themselves in peace and in their former neutrality which that they might do with more honour and safety to the Common-wealth since the rest stood upon their Arms they were resolved to Arme also and by providing for their own affairs they would have respect to the preservation of the Duke's State out of the particular affection which they bore unto his person and for their own interest which by reason of the neighbourhood of their Dominions was almost inseparable from his The French not being satisfied with this answer thought to discover unto the Senate as it was already generally known their intentions of attempting some important novelty in Italy to which purpose the King had sent Luigi Alemanni to Genua to make that City upon severall pretences joyne with his faction and particularly that he might have the use of their Havens for his Fleet to put into and to land the men which he designed to send into Italy And Cardinall Tornone being then at Venice whither he had retired himself when together with the other French Cardinalls he was commanded by the Pope to depart from Rome he was ordered by King Henry to appear in the Colledge and in his name to acquaint the Doge and Senators With the condition of the affairs of Italy with the occasion which had moved him and with his intention to send his forces â—o assist Duke Octavio and to maintain his cause wherein he thought he did a generous act and what became a great Prince and which he thought would please all the Italian Princes since thereby he undertook the defence of a pettty Italian Prince who was unjustly oppress'd by others and who had had recourse to him for protection That he could not dream the Pope would have been displeased that a vassall of his should be preserved by the forces and assistance of another not being able of himself to defend himself and that he did much lesse believe but that the other Italian Princes would be pleased that Cesar 's greatnesse might be moderated and some bounds put to his vast desires which were bent as was clearly seen to thrust the weakest to the wall and to enslave all Italy That the act it self might testifie that his thoughts were bent upon nothing else since he was in a condition as not needing the City of Parma by his being possest of so many Cities in Piâ—mont he had opened his way to what he designed to do against the State of Millan But that â—ince he now understood his actions were otherwise interpreted he had resolved to give it over Yet he could not be perswaded but that the Venetian Senate being so great and so wise a Potentate in Italy and upon whose authority the rest would finally depend would have that care and consideration of these commotions as many other of their important consequences did require That he did excuse what the Pope had done as actions rather of necessity then free-will being overcome with fear both by reason of Cesar 's so great power and of his so many armed men in Italy as also by the Councill already intimated out of weighty and dangerous designes the German Hereticks being to convene therein But that if he could be assured of the company and assistance of other Princes doubtlesly he would be of another minde for to sever himself from Cesar 's friendship in such a condition of affairs might be tearmed a regaining of his liberty The King was very much thank'd for these his overtures and counsells and his generosity in defending those that were the weakest and stood most in need of his assistance was commended and they hoped that by the Agreement wherein the Senate had already interceded with the Pope and which he seemed not to dissent from affairs might be quieted The King for all this did not forbear prosecuting the war though he could not according to his desire hope to meet with any that would receive or favour him therein in Italy except Duke Octavio Nay being now resolved to declare himself more openly against Cesar he sent more souldiers into Piemont and suddainly assaulted severall places that were guarded by Imperiall Garrisons some of which he quickly took and ordered that the Gallies which were forty in number commanded by the Prior of Capua brother to Pietro Strozzi and which roved upon the Seas might upon all occasions evill intreat the Imperiall vessells And it hapned soon after that Doria who as he was conveying Maximilian King of Bohemia and his wife in his Gallies past from Barcellona to Genua scaped narrowly being assaulted and fought with by the French Fleet whereof some Vessells which were behind were notwithstanding taken and carried to Marcelles But the League which the King of France negotiated with Duke Maurice of Saxony with Albertus Marquis of Brandenberg and with other Princes and Hans-Towns of Germany all of them unsatisfied though for differing occasions with Cesar was of much more moment some of them were highly incenst at the Lansgrave being detained prisoner contrary to Cesar's parole as some of those Princes affirmed and others were incited to novelties for fear
fear he should consume his men in vain by hardships and consequently reap rather blame and hatred from the Souldier then love and honour And by any bad accident he might fore-bode bad successe in the remainder of his Government And the recent example of the bad successe at Malta which was maintained by a few Knights of Ierusalem whose peculiar seat and habitation it is against a powerfull Turkish Fleet might better teach them upon what disadvantage war was waged in anothers Territories far distant from their own Dominions Whereas on the contrary a more assured victory and good reward was promised him by the enterprise of Cyprus a plentifull Country and environed on all sides by Rivers whereunto he had but a short passage of sixty miles for his men to make These things being maturely considered did at first produce great fears that Selino would war with the Venetians concerning the Kingdom of Cyprus But finding afterwards that he had very readily confirmed the same Articles of peace which had for many years been established and inviolably observed by his father and that he had given signes of long continuing his paternall affection to the Common-wealth by his handsome treating of the Venetian subjects and their affairs Moreover it being observed that no great preparation was made for the Sea and that severall Summer-seasons being past over one onely Fleet had put to Sea and that but a weak one All men were perswaded that what was formerly said of Selino's being naturally given to pleasure and not to military exercises degenerating therein from the Ottaman-race would prove true and that he would passe over his Government in delights and in idlenesse His having given over the enterprise of Hungary which was happily begun by his father his having made Truce for eight years with Maximilian the Emperour his not preparing to send out Fleets and other such like things would have made it be believed that all this had been done to confirm and to encrease his forces by some repose after the many past wars and that free from other impediments he would the better attend what he had proposed unto himself This opinion was likewise confirmed that Selino would continue peace and friendship with the Venetians for that Mehemet who was the first Bashaw and his son in Law was thought would be of great authority with him who as a wise man and well experienced in the management of many weighty worldly affairs would not advise him to make war with the Venetians knowing that it made not for their advantage to deprive themselves of the Venetians friendships and of the many commodities which were brought unto them by Venetian Merchants who trafficking much in those parts accommodate them with many things which they want and to the great advantage of those Inhabitants export many commodities wherewith they abound into other Countries To which the Prince his particular interest was likewise added whose customes and publick revenues were much encreased by Traffick with forraign Nations And if such a prejudice were not to be considered to try fortune rashly and unnecessitated unseasonably and without any cause affording thereby occasion to all Christian Princes to joyn in a League was judged to be a very considerable thing for when they should see their safeties undermined under the shaddow of a seeming peace and that a supream Monarchy was laboured to be grounded in the Ottoman-Empire they would be forced being thereunto moved by their own danger to take up Arms together with the Venetians to abate the power and daring of the common Enemy Which danger was not counterpoised by the hopes of getting a little Island which though it were a Noble one in it self yet was it but a small addition to so ample a Dominion To these so great interests both of Prince and subjects was Mehemet's own particular concernment added for he being in greatest honour and authority he might in peace enjoy his riches and his power whereas in war he was to run many hazards since he being to tarry at Constantinople when his Master should be in the wars he would be accused of negligence in making provisions by his Rivalls and if any ill luck should happen other mens bad counsels would be imputed to him or the main enterprise being committed to another this other man if things should succeed happily would be advanced in his Princes favour and esteem It was therefore believed that the wisdom and dexterity of Mehemet would much allay Selino's immoderate desires and that he would be a fit instrument to divert him from these thoughts Hence it was that many men beginning to fall off from their first suspicions the Venetian Merchants did not onely continue their former Traffick under the new Emperour but traffickt more then before striving who should send most gold and silver and other precious Merchandise into divers places belonging to the Turks whither people of severall Nations came every one beginning to promise peace unto himself out of the aforesaid considerations which were much credited out of hope of gain There is nothing more difficult then to penetrate into the inward counsells of Princes there is no more fallacious argument then that which is made upon their resolutions especially when their minds as for the most part they are are agitated by variety of reasons or disturbed by various affections Selino being in this height of greatnesse though of himself he was no great friend to Arms yet this his naturall defect being overcome by the orders and power of that Empire or being perswaded out of the aforesaid reasons he bent his minde to possesse himself of the Kingdom of Cyprus Thus in the third year of his reign in the month of November as he rid out with some of his chief Bashaws to hunt which the Turks call their Divano a cavallo he began to consult with them herein Mehemet the first Bashaw continuing in his former opinion out of the aforesaid reasons sought by all means possible to disswade him from it he shewed That whether it were Religion State-interest or Glory which moved Selino to make war he should do it to succour the Moors of Granado rather then for any other respect That it became the greatnesse wherein by the favour of the Prophet Mahomet the Ottaman Emperours were placed chiefly not to abandon them who with a pious and constant resolution had never abandoned the Mahometan religion and who whilst they suffered bodily slavery kept the liberty of their conscience unspotted by any superstition That it likewise became the power and safety of that Empire as also the glory which Selino seemed so desirous of not to permit any Potentate to grow too powerfull but to quell those first who might oppose the Ottaman grandezza as did the King of Spain and to undertake things which though they might peradventure prove difficult would notwithstanding merit praise and be of great expectation That therefore he should acknowledge and make use of so good an occasion
to Constantinople which is paid to the Turkish Emperours for the Kingdom of Hungary Wherefore the Senate used all the means they could by their Legier Embassadour that the Tribute might be kept unpaid till this Treaty were at an end which if it should be sent before the Treaty would be almost ruined before it was well begun and much prejudice would be done to the common cause of Christendom But notwithstanding the Emperour desired were it either by way of excuse or that he did really wish it that the Common-wealth would send an Embassador to be assistant to this purpose at the Dyet which was to be held at Spire by whose presence a businesse of that concernment might be therein treated of and concluded with more honour and safety wherein the contributions of the Princes and Hans-Towns of Germany was requisite without which Cesar could not resolve for certain to enter into the League nor expect any good thereby But no speech being had at the Court of Spain of the Confederacy which the King was contented should be treated of at Rome and had to that effect sent sufficient commission to his Embassador Iovan di Zuniga to Antonio Cardinall Gravella and Francisco Cardinall Pacecco the Popes Nuncio and the Venetian Embassador prest that Doria as soon as he should have got the Gallies of those Seas together which he had received orders to do might be commanded to joyn with the Venetian Fleet wherein the Kings Counsellors propounded severall doubts sometime alleadging that it was not fit that he who commanded the Kings Gallies should obey the Venetian Generall and that by the inferiority of his Forces he and his Fleet should be totally at anothers disposall sometimes seeming to believe that the Venetians would make use of this semblance and of the name of these Forces to treat with the Turks upon the better terms wherefore they affirmed that the Treaty and conclusion of the League was chiefly and primarily necessary But in Rome where the scene of the business lay the Pope knowing that to treat of every particular Article would draw to a necessary and very prejudiciall length proposed that since the King of Spain and the Venetians were already resolved to make this union the League should be publishâ— without any more delay as done in the same manner as was observed in the year 37 That the mean time those Forces which were in being should joyn to give more reputation to the common cause to invite the other Princes to declare themselves the sooner Companions and Confederates and to cause more fear in the Enemy and that the particulars of the agreement might commodiously be discust afterwards Whilst these things were a ripening thus the Generall Zanne was gone from Venice in the beginning of April and was come to Zara where the Rendesvouz of the whole Fleet of the people and provisions for War was to be that when all things should be ready prepared they might passe on into the Levant But the comming of some Gallies being delay'd as also Arms for the Souldiers and severall other instruments of War great store whereof were taken order for for Land enterprises and the design of using those Forces whereon great hopes were grounded by the conjunction of the Spanish Gallies being altered the Fleet was forced to tarry longer in that place then was thought for So as this long time of leisure which was for about two moneths began to be very prejudiciall to the Fleet for so many people being assembled together must needs suffer many inconveniencies which occasioned many maladies for that mens evill humours were not wasted by exercise which made many fall dayly very sick so as all the Gallies were but in ill order as concerning Souldiers and Marriners some desired for the incouraging of the Souldier whom they found to be miserably lost by idlenesse that they should make some attempt upon the neighbouring parts but this was gain said by many things for the Towns which the Turks are masters of upon those Confines are far from the shore so as there seemed to be much danger in attempting any thing with the foot alone and those most Italians most whereof were new men and â—nexperienced especially being unback'd by Horse the Enemies Country being full of Horsemen ready to go whithersoever there should be any occasion Moreover the places were such as there was no hopes of doing any good upon them by the sword and it was almost impossible to bring Artillery thither as well by reason of the mountainous wayes as for the want of Cattle It was likewise considered that to attempt any thing in the Gulph was not much to the purpose lest they might thereby draw either a great number of their Land men into those parts or perhaps their whole Fleet so as they must with more danger make War at home and excluding the Gallies which were in Candia and others at Corfu and likewise those of the Pope and of the Catholick King they must wrastle for the main businesse with but a part of their Forces Moreover it was not thought convenient for their businesse nor answerable to the opinion which the world had conceived of so great a strength to betake themselves to any slight imployment wherein if they should effect their desire the acquisition would not be a sufficient recompence for so great a preparation and if it should happen otherwise the reputation of the Fleet would be much lessened and the hopes of greater things But it being known from Rome by the Popes own words that Doria had orders from the King to joyn with the Venetian Fleet the Senate gave present command to their Generall that leaving four Gallies in the Gulph under one of the Governours he should go immediately with the rest of the Fleet to Corfu and there to expect news from the Spanish Gallies that he might go together with them to Messina and that when the Fleets should be joyn'd he should fall upon such enterprises as he should judge would make most for the Common-wealths advantage and whereunto God should open an occasion aiming chiefly at the beating of the Enemies Fleet but to be well advised in what he did and to proceed with maturity Wherefore Zanne going from Zara on the twelfth of Iuly he went towards Liessena where he met with six great Gallies and some Shipâ— which joyned with the Fleet. From Liessena he went to the mouth of Catharo and from thence straight to Corfu without making any attempt upon Castel Nuovo oâ— Durazzo for the fore-alleadged reason But before any news was heard at Venice of the Fleeâ—s being come to Corfu news came to Rome contrary to the former touching the joyning of the Fleets for Doria said that the orders he had received from the King were not such as that he was thereby to be gone with his Fleet and to joyn with the Venetians and though the Pope made his complaints thereof to the Kings Ministers of State and writ himselfe to
whilst vainly relying upon far distant and fallacious treaties of peace we will bereave our selves of the assistance of other mens forces and of our selves onely withstand the violence of such insolent enemies I must oppose what is propounded and speak my contrary opinion For I think it very pernicious to resolve upon nothing and to spend our time onely in speakingâ— for by so doing we shall at last be deprived of those helps which we have for some months past sought towards the conclusion of this League though the Colleagues were not unwilling to assist us Most illustrious Senators I finde that our mindes are rather altered by this deliberation then the condition of affairs Did not we know that we had to deal with a powerfull enemy when with such zeal and generall consent we resolved upon this war when we refused all treaty of agreement whereunto we were invited by the comming of the Chiaus and readily entertained the confederacy which the Pope offered us Were we not acquainted with the uncertainty of war and with the usuall difficulties met withall in the colleagueing of Princes Yet since we saw no trust could secure us from these barbarous Infidells whose power and ambition doth daily increase and that the delaying of war did not free us from danger but did rather encrease it for we hoped that the honesty and justice of our cause might at last after severall both good and bad adventures prevail and make us victorious since we intended by our dexterity and patience to purchase the good-will of other Princes and making them sensible that their interests were concerned in ours draw them to a reall and firm confederacy that the common cause might be agitated by joynt forces and advice It was these reasons and not chance that moved our Senate to take up Arms and to undergo the hasard and expence of war and to treat upon the speedy conclusion of the League And shall we now suffer the first unfortunate successe in war the first difficulties arising amongst the confederates as if all our generousnesse and constancy were past not onely cool our former fervour and make us forgoe our former resolves but so to bereave us of all counsell as involved in ambiguity we shall not know what to pitch upon which whilst we do not having neither peace nor league suffer all conditions to be uncertain every thing suspected and all businesses to go backward When if we shall duly consider things as they are in themselves uninvelloped in our own affections we shal find it evident what we are to do For all respects concur in prosecuting and in stipulating a speedy confederacy Advantage and Honour advise unto it our security is great and great the glory which we may hope for thereby And if there shall ever be a time to think upon this union certainly the occasion is now offered us not onely out of necessity to oppose the formidable greatnesse of the Turks but by reason of the opportunity we have now to do it Certainly this is the time since we finde all Princes not onely willing but in a posture of power to undertake it Who finds not an ardent zeal in the Pope of exalting Christianity Do not all the King of Spain 's actions shew how great a lover he is of peace how well content he is with what is his own and onely desirous to abase the Turkish power that they may not molest his Dominions nor disquiet his peace It cannot be denyed but that the Emperour is sufficiently desirous of glory and of recovering the Kingdom of Hungary whereof he is for the greatest part at this time deprived by these common enemies which he hath witnessed by his late taking up Arms against Soliman And if these do not readily satisfie our desires we may be sure the hinderance proceeds from necessity and not from want of good-will The Pope's Exchequer is exhausted he hath been forced to impose taxes upon the Ecclesiasticks to procure mony for this war nay by the contribution of Monks in our State wherefore he must proceed more reservedly in granting Tenths and other aids The King of Spain is so oppress'd by the burthen of governing so many Dominions as he must manage his affairs by the hands of severall Ministers and by the advice of many which sometimes retards maturity and is the reason why his intentions are not so easily made known nor produce not conâ—ormable effects so soon The Emperour hath not forces enough of himself and cannot dispose of the German forces without the consent of the Princes and Hans-towns therefore he is slow in resolving upon what both his words and reason shews he is willing to do But certainly the death of the Transilvanian is luckily hapned at this time which will necessitate Germany to take up Arms and to embrace this occasion unlesse she will suffer that Province to fall under the obedience of the Turks and thereby encrease her dangers These hinderances then which arise from usuall difficulties which are inseparable from such businesses nay from all weighty affairs ought not to beget difficulties or jealousies in us nor alienate us from the friendship of those Princes in whom we finde no ill towards us but rather many signes of good-wishes towards the welfare of our Common-wealth Whereunto if we were to be perswaded by no other reason nor arguments we cannot certainly fail if we measure the mindes of those Princes but by their own interests wherein how much the neerer they are concerned in this war and in our behalf we ought to rest the more assured that they will not abandon us and with us themselves Does not the Pope see that the ruine of this Common-wealth would draw along with it the ruine of all Christendom and that neither his Court nor he should be secure in Rome Does not the Catholick King know that if Candia Corfu and the other Islands be lost Cicily and Calabria will be the frontiers against the Turks that if the enemy grow stronger by the ruine of others his danger will be the greater and that by how much the forces of this Common-wealth are weakened the withstanding the Turkish Fleets will light the more heavy upon him The Emperour can never be sure to have his Dominions safe whilst he hath so potent a neighbour and must know that how much the later other Princes are in lending us their assistance and how much the lesse they shall be we shall be the sooner perswaded to accept of any agreement which will be nothing else but to afford time and convenience to this Common enemy to turn his Arms against Hungary and against the Empire Wherefore shall we then admit of doubts without reason and let slip those things which are in our own power to rely upon what depends upon the will of others and chiefly of those whom we have great reason to suspect by reason of their accustomed cunning and of their late deceits The conclusion of the League is certain the
place and Iacopo Foscarini was made Commissary Generall of Dalmatia Luigi Georgio went to Corfu and Marino de Cavalli to Candia the former in the place of Venierâ— who was chosen to be Generall of the Fleet and the latter in Mula's place who could no longer attend that charge by reason of sicknesse By reason of these extraordinary expences which amounted to 300000 Duckets a month it became them to use all means possible for the raising of monies wherefore the number of Procurators were again encreased sale was made of other publick goods and monies by severall bargains brought into the Exchequer wherein to make the Citisens more willing and ready Doge Mocinego encouraged them all he could and was still the more carefull and diligent in making all sorts of provisions as being very ambitious of glory He was much afflicted that his government should begin with the losse of so noble a Kingdom Wherefore the great Councill being one day assembled the Doge standing up spoke thus If ever citisens of any Common-wealth had a noble occasion to shew their generosity their desire of glory and of the common good you now have it to shew your worth in preserving the splendour and dignity of this your noble Country which the industry and perpetuall labours of our Ancestors hath to their immortall glory purchased We through their deserts and as the reward of their wisdom do now enjoy a Common-wealth which for excellency of government exceeds all the most antient and modern Common-wealths and is not much inferiour to any of the famousest for Forces and Empire And since the condition of times and place will not permit that greater perfection can be added to it in civill affairs nor perhaps that her antient glory may be increased by military actions by enlarging our confines which are every where environed by powerfull neighbours yet ought we with like endeavour and vigilancy minde the preservation of so miraculous a work recommended to our care to the end that we may leave it such to others as we have received it from our fore-fathers whereby we shall purchase no small praise We being now to govern our selves in a heavy war against the fury of so powerfull an enemy whose forces I confesse are to be feared but with wisdom not pusillanimity but so as fear may make us more diligent more joynt constant and firm in all labour and danger and not to slacken that fervour wherewith we undertooke the war nor to take us off from our noble and generous resolution of defending our Dominions against the unjust forces of those that seek to oppresse them Let us call to minde with how much praise and wonder to other Nations our fathers and grandfathers withstood the violence of almost all the Princes of Christendom who joyntly conspired the ruine of our Empire so as finally by their worth the fortune of the vanquishing enemy was overcome and by adversity the Common-wealth wone more glory and honour And if the losse of all our Dominions by Terra Ferma the having so many and so potent enemies and so neer at hand could not prevail over our noble Ancestors certainly if we will imitate their domestick worth the first frowns of fortune will not at all prevail over us nor not onely not discourage us but not make us forego any thing of our former hopes The losse of Nicossia is assuredly very sore but not such as may not be repaired The fortune of war at first is very uncertain and various but at last she associates with true worth and the most valiant are at the last the most glorious Our forces God be praised are yet safe and entire and such as had it not been for want of diligence and good advice in our Commanders or it may be for want of better fortune the enemies might have had no cause to rejoyce Our Common-wealth could at one and the same time make war in severall Countries nor did her being assaulted by Bajazet Prince of the Turks make her lay down the Arms which she had taken up against Lodowick Sforza Duke of Millan fighting on the one side for their own defence and safety on the other for the honour of the Venetian name and out of a desire of making new acquisitions Nor are these things so far out of our memory as that we not rather say we have seen them than heard of them We may hope for these and greater things if there be in us the like worth agreement and readinesse to maintain and defend the publick safety and dignity Wherefore though we may assure our selves that all other Christian Princes will for their own interests favour and assist our cause against the common enemy who is now become so formidable to them all yet we must repose our chiefest defence in our selves constantly believing that every ones particular good is inseparably annext to the preservation of the liberty and prosperity of this Common-wealth which being safe and powerfull whatsoever else is most dear unto us wives children friends and goods will be the more safely preserved from injuries and we shall have great rewards of honours and many other things reserved for us Therefore as the charity we bear to our Country comprehends all other loves to whatsoever we esteem dearest so he who is truly set on fire therewithall knows no danger shuns no inconvenience values no expence but freely sacrificeth himself and all that is his to this his true Mother and Nurse from whence he must acknowledge he hath received all things Then you Gentlemen who have still agreed in all things else must vâ—â— and contend onely in this generous emulation who shal contribute most and readilieâ—â— to the service of this his Country in this her so great necessity Let those who for their age or experience in the Militia or Sea-affairs are able to serve in person either by way of command or as private persons put themselves into the Fleet and such as are fitter for counsell let them busie themselves in thinking upon in minding and in providing for all such things as may secure the present dangers and may make way for better fortune In this the thoughts of all true Venetians ought to be busied this ought to be the true and onely â—ime and end of all their discourses and actions in these so dangerous times But above all things let every man according to his ability contribute monies to the Common-wealth which is the very â—inews of war assuring himself he can put it forth to no better advantage the little that he laies out hereupon preserves all the rest not onely his estate but his honour children and life none of which will be safe from the injuries of the insolent victorious enemy nor can any thing be dear or delightfull to him the prosperity and pristine greatnesse of this city being lesâ— We see how wonderfull readily noâ— onely thâ—se who live under the wings and protection of this Dominion who may be perswaded to
that King much moved at all this nor could he be brought to promise any thing save that he would furnish out 4000 Foot for the service of the League the next year and add some of his ships to the confederate's Fleet which he said he was not able to do at the present by reason of the French Hugenotes of Rochells incursions against whom he was forc'd to keep many armed vessells to secure his Rivers and the navigation of those seas As also by reason of the Moors insurrection in the Kingdom of Fez which he was first to suppresse And hereof he gave an account by his Letters to the Senate witnessing the affection and great esteem he had for the Common-wealth But Tiepolo that he might do some good by his endeavours shewed him That he might assist the cause of Christendom against the Infidells some other way without inconveniencing himself to wit by making his Officers in the Indies hold some intelligence with the Persians who are naturally enemies to the Turks by informing them particularly of the union and forces of the Christian Princes of the victory which they had gotten and with their designes And then by furnishing them with some Portugesse Harchebugiers who getting into the Turkish Empire by the Red-sea might raise some commotion whereby the Turkish forces might be kept employ'd in severall parts or whereby they might at least be made jealous Which the King readily promised he would do adding that he would hinder the Turks commerce at Ormus and Bazzana and keep them from bringing the great store of Mettle which they were furnish'd with from China through the Persian sea The King likewise assisted the Legat Alessandrino in sending certain Briefs from the Pope to the King of Persia to Prester Iohn and to some Arabick Kings exhorting them to take up Arms against the Turks of which there never came any answer nor did there any good come thereof But these uncertain and far remote things were not much considered as being able to do but little good at the present to the conceived hopes The Pope did likewise renue his desires to the King of Poland with whom Cardinall Commendone was at the present hoping to make him take up Arms not onely in respect of the Victory but for that other accidents had also occur'd which was thought might work upon the King and the Barons of that Kingdom For the Turks being jealous that the Polanders had favoured the Wallachians in prejudice of the Ottaman Empire that he might revenge the injury entered at unawares into the Country that was subject to that Crown and having made severall incursions into Prussia Podolia and Russia threatned greater mischief But the King was unseasonably saln dangerously sick when he should have been treated with touching this businesse So as the affair being to be negotiated in the Kings absence with other Lords of the Kingdom not well inclined to this war that they might not contrary to their customes contribute to any expence of war out of their Kingdom and they having had advertisment at the same time that a Chiaus was upon his way from Constantinople sent thither to accommodate the differences the Popes authority nor endeavours could not work such effects as were hoped for Thus went affairs in the Courts of Christian Princes and the first so exalted hopes began to grow lesse For sea-forces were not sufficient to suppresse the power of the Turks powerfull land-Armies being likewise thereunto requisite which the Christian Princes might at this time have made good use of taking advantage of the Turks maritime forces being divided whereby and by their losse of reputation in the Battle at Lepanto they were become weaker then formerly and easier to be overcome But to this it was primarily necessary that Cesar should declare for the League it being the common opinion that Poland Muscovy and the other Northern Countries which were apt to take up Arms against the Turks would follow the example of the Empire Which being very well known unto the Turks they sought by all possible means to preserve friendship with the Emperour Maximilian at this time thinking their danger very great if the German forces had moved against them Wherefore Bashaw Mehemet had writ to Cesar and given him an account of the successe of the Battle lessening very much the losse which they had received exalting the power of the Ottaman Empire and exhorting him not to break the Truce for any vain designes of others but to keep inviolably his friendship with Selino wherein if his faith should now be seen it should for ever be perpetuated The Turks were so jealous and apprehensive of the commotions which Germany might be able to make as that when it was after known that the Emperour would send the Tribute to Constantinople that souldiers reward was encreased who was the first bringer of so welcome newes But that which did most trouble the Pope and the Venetians and which made all men not well know what to hope or fear was a doubt which was begun to be conceived that the Spaniards were not so forward to pursue the victory as the present occasion required whereby the enemy might have means afforded him of becomming more powerfull than ever for it was given out that Don Iohn was blamed by severall chief personages of the Catholick Court for hasarding the Kings forces to such danger of Battle wherein the Kings interest and that of the Venetians were not alike and that therefore that businesse ought to have been otherwise handled by him and by counsells apart And afterwards it was known that the Duke of Lesse a man of much maturity and esteem and who had been verst in very important employments was sent to the Fleet in the place of the Commendadore Generall who was gone to be Governour of Millan From whence it was infer'd that the King's pleasure was that Don Iohn being very well informed by the Duke of Lesse and by his Councill in all things should not suffer himself to be so far carried on in point of glory with any thing as might in the least part exceed his directions But the greatest impediment which was thought would befall the fervent prosecution of the war in the Levant was the bad successe of the affairs in Flaunders which grew every day worse and worse it being somewhat suspected that the Protestants of Germany England and France did favour that insurrection and assist those that rebelled against the King Which being added to a certain naturall slownesse in the Spaniards and to other more cautious circumspections it was feared that it would either altogether hinder the proceedings of the League or occasion some important delay at this time to the businesse of the Levant whereof many apparent signes were seen For the proper time for actions at sea appearing and wherein the Fleet were of right to joyne there was but little care taken to put the Fleet in order And though the Venetians did mightily mediate it
being so closely pursued by our men as comming very near the Town of Modone they made many shot even to within the walles But the Gallies which fought the Spanish ship having got the start much and meeting every where with friendly acception escaped all of them except one that was commanded by the St. Iacco of Metiline Nephew to the famous Ariadeno Barbarossa which being the last that tarryed to fight the ship and for that the slaves hoping to get liberty slackned their rowing was taken by the Marquiss of Santa Croce These actions continued so long till the night came on which bereft our men of making any other attempts against the Enemy Wherefore Don Iohn gave order that the whole Fleet should return to the Haven of Navarino being unwilling to abandon the Engine of 4 gallies which might afford occasion to the Enemy to turn his departure flight if he should leave his Instrument of war behind him But the great ships being also out of the Haven and a favourable winde blowing a little at the South-east he ordered the ships to go presently towards Zante and he the next morning went with the whole Fleet the same way being so desirous to return speedily as steering his course through the Channel of Viscardo contrary to the opinion of his most skilfull Marriners who advised him to go to Cefalonia the Fleet run a great hazard about the gulf of Lartâ— and one of the Popes gallies was split against the shelves of Paru Uluzzali when the Leagues Fleet was gone being free from fear of meeting any impediment in his voyage went with all his gallies carelesly without any order to Câ—pe Malio where by reason of a contrary North-winde he staid some dayes but afterwards the winde turning fair he came with 100 gallies to Constantinople and was received with much joy and honour the Turks holding themselves absolutely to be conquerors because they had defended Morea and all their other Dominions having offered battel severall times as they said to the Christians and at last chas'd them from their Territories and made the Sea safe and open But the same difficulties and desires continued still in the Christian Fleet which came on the 20 of Octob. to Corfu though their forces were increased by the Duke of Sesse's comming to them with 13 gallies and Iohn Andrea Doria with some ships laden with Corn. Severall undertakings were daily propounded in Councill but none approv'd of The Enterprise of Santa Maura was chiefly had in consideration whereunto Don Iohn seemed to be well inclined yet it was hindred by the Duke of Sesse who being of a contrary opinion did absolutely oppose it affirming it was not time now to beleaguer Forts without Tents nor to cross the Sea with numerous Vessels and in an Enemies Country All designs being therefore laid aside the Spaniards resolved to turn West-ward the Leagues Fleet having been but 50 dayes together Don Iohn went first to Messina where leaving part of his gallies he returned to Naples with the rest and dismissing the Italian foot he sent the Spanish and Dutch foot to their Garrisons But Colonna by Commission from the Pope went to the Court of Spain to give the King an account of what had been done and to treat how the War was to be carryed on the next year and what provisions would be requisite thereunto Colonna was very glad of this occasion that he might satisfie the King of some doubts which he feared might have some impression in him by the relation of those who envying his glory and seeking out some occasion to blame his actions and of putting the King in an ill opinion of him had accused him for having gone into the Levant before Don Iohns arrival though it was very clear that those things could not be done which were ordered by Don Iohns selfe without the Fleets departure from Corfu Colonna having dispatcht the publick business and justified himselfe very well went from the Court and returned to his imployment with increase of honour and merit The Spanish Gallies and those of the Church being gone onely the Venetians remained and they almost idle at Corfu where they lay armed all the Winter that they might go out to prejudice the enemy very early the next spring These were the successes of the year 1572. wherein Christendom had good hope to repair her selfe in part for the so many mischiefs she had received from the Turks and to recover her pristine dignity since the so famous victory which God had miraculously granted her seemed to have made way for other noble Achievements and that they might have so quel'd the forces of the Ottaman Empire as that the Christian Princes might have been free from fear of being injur'd by them a long time But really our posterity may have just cause to blame the Princes of this Age for not knowing how to make use of the opportunity which was offered them of suppressing the insolency of the common Enemy which was grown so formidable to them all and all future Ages will grieve for the misfortune of this our time wherein to the greater infamy thereof the occasion of so much hoped for happinesse was lost The Leagues Fleet being departed those of Morea and of Brazzo di Maina who were risen up in favour of the Christians and who waiting for the successe of the Fleets as neither having field forces nor strong holds to defend themselves were retired to the mountains to save themselves from the violence of the Turks were forced to surrender to their power and to return to greater slavery being deprived of all hopes of ever getting quit of it The Venetians complained grievously to the Pope by their Embassadors who at this time were sent upon a solemn Embassy according to custome to render obedience to his Holinesse in the name of the Common-wealth of these irresolute Counsels and of the Spaniards slack provisions and chiefly of the departing from Navarino so much and so unseasonably at this time prest by them wherefore to gratifie them the Pope sent his Chamberlain Iovanni Claudio Gonsaga forthwith to Don Iohn to perswade him to tarry where he was in expectation of receiving orders from Spain to winter in the Levant which resolution they hoped the King had already put on being perswaded thereunto joyntly both by the Pope and the Venetians and the affairs in Flanders having had prosperous successe to facilitate the which in case the King should not be already resolved thereupon the Pope sent Monsignor di Lanzano speedily away to Spain But all these indeavours proved to no purpose for having already given a positive answer to the Popes and the Venetians other Embassadors that he would not keep his Fleet so far from his Dominions he would not be brought to alter his minde and Don Iohn not valuing the Popes desire as knowing peradventure the Kings and his Counsellors minde pursued his voyage as hath been said to the West and in the interim Generall
sometimes urged the examples of other Popes who had at other times readily assisted the Venetians against these enemies to the faith of Christ sometimes he remembered the services done by the Common-wealth to that See for which she had alwaies so readily exposed her forces against powerful Princes But he oftest mentioned the great eminent danger of the other Christian Kingdoms and chiefly of the Church-Dominions if the Common-wealth of Venice should be weakened which was held by all men to be the surest Bulwork of Christendom The Pope being by these perswasions wrought upon very much to defend the Venetians shewed a very great zeal to the common good and an ardent desire to provide for what was needfull for this War and to assist and sustain the Common-wealth that her dignity might not be supprest by so potent an enemy nor her dominions and forces weakened Yet calling to minde what had been done formerly upon like occasions by other Popes and lately by Paul the third in the League made against Soliman he desired to be pardoned if he did not all he desired to do deploring the condition of his times wherein the monies of that See were much exhausted and also by reason of the commotions in France wherein the City of Avignon was much indangered being put to great expence and trouble Therefore though he often moved in the Consistory that the defence of the Venetians might be embraced that they might be assisted in this their necessity and though their cause was approv'd of in the Colledge of Cardinalls and generally favoured yet they came to no particular declaring what they would do onely it was granted at the first that they might raise 100000 Duckets for the maintenance of that war by a generall tax upon the Venetian Clergy from which no Prelate of what condition soever should be exempted The Pope propounded afterwards that the King of Spain's Gallies might speedily joyn with those of the Venetians whereby to make a powerfull Fleet to oppose the Turks and to disturb these their first designes And that in the mean time a League might be treated of with the said King and the other Princes of Christendom whereby their forces might for a long while be established to oppose the Turks And having made this be signified to the Senate by the Embassadour Suriano exhorting them to assent to this proposition and to put this businesse into his hands who as the common Father would be very zealous of the good of Christendom and would have a particular care of the good of the Common-wealth He found them all very well inclined to follow his authority and advice He resolved at the same time likewise to send Ludovico de Torres Clark of the Apostolick Chamber into Spain to Philip of Austria the Catholick King to exhort him to assist Christendom readily against Selino Ottaman enemy to himself and to the Catholick Faith which he did particularly professe to protect as by the glorious name acquired by the pious and generous actions of his Ancestors he was bound to do He therefore laid before him the great danger wherewith divers States of Christian Princes were threatned by the Turkish Fleets which though it was given out they were intended against Cyprus yet was it not certain but that they might easily and speedily fall upon his Dominions which though they were not for the present molested with war yet were they in the future the more exposed to the incursions and assaults of the Turkish Fleets when the Venetians should be weakened in their Maritime forces and the Turks Empire encreased So as he was to esteem the interests of that Common-wealth inseparably joyned with his own That the Ottaman Empire was a common enemy to all the Potentates of Christendom and more strong and powerfull then any one of them apart But that if all or most of the Christian Princes would joyne together they would exceed the Turks in power and might hope not onely to resist them but perhaps to beat and conquer them That the King was to consider that if he should not aid the Venetians at this their so great need he would lose much honour amongst the Turks making either his weaknesse clearly appear as if the Moors insurrections were sufficient to keep him so employed as that he could not make use of his forces elsewhere or else that he held but bad intelligence with the Common-wealth or with other Christian Princes by not moving against his enemy being invited by so fair an occasion but abandoning the common cause That he had used the same endeavours to the Venetians who had readily referred all things to him promising to stand to all that he should decree nor was their truth herein to be doubted since they knew by experience they could not ground any safety to themselves by peace with the Turks Moreover that great respect would be given to his authority since he had the spirituall arms in his hands and did declare himself to be the head and manager of all this businesse These things were prudently and effectually represented to the King of Spain in the Pope's name by Torres who presented him likewise with a Brief wherein the Pope did much deplore the miseries of the present times remembring therein particularly the many mischiefs which Christendom had suffered in severall parts through the wicked conspiracies of men branded with heresie and severall infamous vices who rebelling against God and against their Princes had with much audaciousnesse and fury shaken severall whole Provinces of Christendom and sought to corrupt the into grâ—ty of the Catholick Faith To which inward grievances other mischiefs and greater dangers were added by forrain enemies Soliman having attempted by great forces to bereave Maximilian Cesar of the remainders of the Kingdom of Hungary which fire of war was likely to have burnâ— forth throughout all Germany had it not been extinguished by Soliman 's death But that now new combustions and calamities did seem to threaten Christendom that therefore he knew it became him to have an eye to these commotions and to denounce so great dangers to Princes wherein he was to addresse himselfe chiefly to the Catholick King and to excite him to be the first that should embrace the defence of Christendome since God had endowed him to that purpose with greatest power and command That for what concerned himself he would not be failing in any thing that lay in him nor in pouring forth prayers continually to God that he would look with the eyes of mercy upon our actions These were the endeavours used by the Pope to the Catholick King who listning thereunto with much benignity and attention seemed to be very much rejoyced thereat shewing a very good inclination to the common welfare and to put an high esteem upon the Pope's authority and advice But because the King was then in Cordua and was to expedite the affairs in the Courts of Castile he excused himself that he could not give a positive