councells the peace would easily be preserued without violacion And there was not discerned any apparant cause why he should seeke to incense the warre both for that he had with yll speede broken out into armes before and withall considering the greatnesse of those two Princes it stoode him vpon to keepe an indifferent feare of the victorie of eyther of them since it was euidently seene into that whether of them soeuer preuayled in that warre could not be stayed from subduing and subiecting to his obedience all the regions of Italie The Pope possessed in peace and great obedience the large estate of the Churche and of Rome and his whole Court florished wonderfully vnder him in plentifull happines and felicitie He had full authoritie ouer the state of Florence which in those times was a state mightie in people policie and riches He was naturally inclined to ease and pleasures and therefore made it an offence to his libertie and greatnes to heare speake of sutes and affayres His custome was to consume the day in hearing of Musike in seeing stage playes and trifling with skoffers and iesters so that being more effeminate then was eyther conuenient or comely it seemed he should be altogether estraunged from the warre Besides as he was full of gracious liberalities and magnificencie suche as mighte bee tearmed wonderfull though he had discended by long succession from great kings so he had not onely by his incredible prodigalities and distribucions without discression or distinction consumed the treasors gathered by Iulio but also hauing exacted an infinite quantitie of money of thexpedicions of the Court and many newe sortes of offices inuented to rayse gayne he had wasted all so excessiuely that he was still constrayned to studie meanes and deuises to interteine those immoderate exspences which grewe increasing with the vanitie of his disposition He had no deuocion to rayse or make great any of his house or kinred and though he was possessed with a vehement desire to recouer Parma and Plaisanca and no lesse ambicion to reduce to him thestate of Ferrara yet he thought them not causes sufficient to remoue him from his pleasures nor to reuerse the peasible condition of things but in his delightes and securitie he helde it better to temporise and exspect oportunities and occasions But right truely is it spoken that there is no greater enemie to great men then too great prosperitie for that it takes from them all rule of them selues it makes them full of libertie it giues them boldnes to do euill aud it breedes in them a desire and aptnes to trouble their proper weale and benefite by innouacions and newe things Leo being thus lifted to so high estate suffred to be bred in him many considerations sometimes he sawe what infamie it brought to him to loase Parma and Plaisanca gotten by Iulio with so great glorie and to that moode was ioyned his burning desire to aduaunce thaction of Ferrara sometimes he seemed to see that if he dyed without doing some thing of importance the memorie of his pontificacie woulde remayne dishonored sometimes he feared least those two kings they both beeing excluded out of hope to haue him on their side and therefore lesse hable to offende one an other would grow at last to contract betwene them selues some league preiudiciall tending to the ruine of the Church and the residue of Italie sometimes he hoped as I haue heard the Cardinal de Medicis say who knew all his secrets that the frenchmen being chassed out of Genes and Millan he might the more easely expulse Caesar out of the kingdom of Naples and so appropriate to him selfe the glorie of the libertie of Italie to the which his predecessor had manifestly aspired An enterprise which by howe muche lesse he thought he was hable to accomplishe by his proper forces by so much more did he hope by appeasing somwhat the mind of the french king either by thelection of some Cardinall whom he would preferre or by his readines to gratifie him in some other matters to draw him to giue him succors against Caesar as though it were a satisfaction to the king to see that as muche was done to Caesar as to him These were his concepcions such were the discourses of his mind in these variacions did he fashion the image of things But which soeuer of these causes moued him whether one or more or all together he tooke vnto him newe impressions and turned all his thoughtes to the warre and to ioyne him selfe with one of these two Princes to th ende that being allied with the one he might moue warre in Italie against the other And for a declaracion of his readines to the matter as also not to be oppressed in the meane while by either of them whilest he negociated with them both but more straitly and particularly with the french king he sent into Svvizzerland Antho. Puccio Bishop of Pistoyo and afterwards Cardinal to leauie and lead to the seruice of the Church six thowsand Svvizzers An armie which being deliuered to him without difficultie by the Cantons vnder the fauor of the confederacion which since the warre of Vrbin he had renewed with them hauing likewise got libertie of passage through the estate of Millan was conducted vppon the lands and dominions of the Church where he enterteined them many moneths as well in Romagnia as in la Marqua Many were vncerteine to what endes he made so great chargeable a leauie of men and not to employ them seeing there was no stirre or alteracion in Italie And albeit he assured the regions and potentacies of the same that he had armed them for his proper suerty for that he knewe well that the rebells of the Church conspired some violent action against him yet the murmure of the people being not satisfied for that his reasons bare small resemblance with trueth men discoursed seuerally vppon it according to their seuerall fancies some supposed that he called in those forces for feare of the frenche king others beleued that he would employ them against Ferrara and some thought that he would turne them against Caesar to chasse him out of the kingdom of Naples But the practise that was secret betwene him the frēch king was that they should with their ioynt forces inuade the kingdom of Naples vnder this condicion that Caietta and all that stoode betwene the riuer of Garillan and the confines of thecclesiastike state should be for the Church the residue of the realme to reuert to the second sonne of Fraunce who vntill he came to the age of maiority should be gouerned together with the kingdom by a Legat Apostolicall that should lye resident at Naples Moreouer it was an article in the capitulacion that the king should aide him against the subiects and freholders of the sea Apostolike which was a condicion affixed for the better assuring of that which the Church helde already and no lesse tending to the desire which the Pope had to
Congnac betwene the kings Counsell deputies for the king on the one parte and the Agents of the Pope and Venetians on the other part That betwene the Pope the french king the Venetians and the Duke of Millan for whom the Pope and the Venetians assured the ratification should be a league and confederation perpetuall to th ende to repossesse Frauncis Sforce freely of the Duchie of Millan and restore to libertie the French kinges children That the League should be signified to the Emprour to whom was graunted power to enter into it within three monethes vpon condition to redeliuer the kings children receyuing a competent raunsome such as should be arbitrated by the king of England which condition also was extended to leaue wholly the duchy of Millan to Frauncis Sforce and the other potentates and estates of Italy as they were affore the laste warre began That for the deliuery of Frauncis Sforce nowe besieged within the Castell of Millan and for the recouery of that estate a present warre shoulde be made with eight hundred men at armes seuen hundred light horsemen and eight thousande footemen for the Popes parte and for the Venetians the warre to be furnished with eight hundred men at armes a thousande light horsemen and eight thousand footmen for the Duke of Millan foure hundred men at armes three hundred lighte horsemen and foure thousande footemen this proportion to be furnished assoone as he should be hable and in the meane tyme the Pope and Venetians to accomplish for him The French king to sende immediatly into Italy fiue hundred launces and so long as the warre should endure to paye to the Pope and to the Venetians fortie thousande crownes monthly whiche money was to be employed in the leauie of bandes of Svvizzers That the French king should immediately open the warre agaynst themprour beyonde the Mountes on what side he should thinke most conuenient and that with an army of two thousande launces and ten thousande footmen with sufficient numbers of artilleries That the French king should arme xij light gallies and the Venetians thirtene at their proper exspences That the Pope should ioyne to those gallies that proportion of Nauie with the which he had enterteyned into his paye Andrea Dore That the charges should runne in common touching necessary shippes for the sayde armie by sea with the which they should addresse their course to Genes That after themprours armie in Lombardie were eyther vanquished or weakned they should mightily inuade the kingdome of Naples aswell by lande as sea which being once conquered the possession and inuestiture should be transferred to which of the confederates it pleased the Pope And yet in an article seperate was set downe that the Pope could not dispose of it without the consent of the confederates only there was reseruation made of the tributes contributions which aunciently were vsed to be payed to the sea Apostolike together with one singular estate of forty thousande duckets of reuenue to gratifie whom it pleased the Pope That to thend the French king were certayne that by the victorie to be obteined in Italy and the conquest of Naples might be made easie the deliuery of his children that if the Emprour in that case would within foure monethes after the losse of that kingdome enter into the confederation vnder the conditions afforesayd the kingdome should be rendred to him but if he would not accept that power to reenter into the league then the french king should take and enioye the yerely and perpetuall rent of that realme That the french king should not at anye time nor for any cause molest Frauncis Sforce for the duchy of Millan but should be bound together with the others to defende him agaynst all men and to do what he could to introduce betwene him the Svvizzers a new confederation Onely the king should receiue of him yerely and perpetuall tribute such as should be set down by the arbitration of the Pope and Venetians and that not to be lesse then fiftie thousande duckets That Frauncis Sforce should take to wyse suche a Lady of the blood of Fraunce as it should please the king to prouide for him and should be bounde to enterteyne as apperteyned his brother Maximilian in place of the yearely pension which he receyued of the king That the king should reenter into the Earledome of Ast That if Genes were recouered the king to reteyne the same estate of superiority which he was wont to do in times past and that if anth Adorne who then was duke there would compounde with the league he should be receyued so farreforth as he woulde acknowledge the French king for superior in the same sorte and manner as Octauian Fregosa had done a fewe yeres before That all the confederates should demaunde of themprour the deliuerie of the children of Fraunce and if he refused to restore them that it should be denounced to him in the name of them all that the League would do all that they coulde to haue them agayne That assone as the warres of Italy were finished or at least the Realme of Naples taken and themperours armie so weakned as there was no feare of it all the confederates should be bounde to ayde the Frenche king agaynst themprour beyonde the Mountes with a thousande men at armes a thousande fiue hundred light horsemen and ten thousande footemen or else with money in place of men at the kinges choyse That not one of the confederates without the consent of the others might not contract with the Emperour to whom it should be permitted in case he would enter into the confederation to goe to Rome to take th imperiall Crowne with suche a trayne of men as shoulde not be feared the same to be rated by the Pope and Venetians That thoughe anye one of the confederates were taken awaye by death yet the league shoulde stande good and absolute That the kinge of Englande should be protector and defender of the league to whome was lefte power to enter into it And in case he woulde enter there shoulde bee giuen to hym in the Realme of Naples an estate of thirtie thousande duckets of reuenue and an other of tenne thousande to the Cardinall of Yorke and that to bee leauyed eyther in the same Realme or in some other parte of Italy The Pope woulde not suffer the Duke of Ferrara to be comprehended within the confederation notwithstanding the french king and the Venetians did greatly solicite it yea he procured that the confederation should beare though vnder generall words that the confederates shoulde be bound to ayde him to recouer those places for the whiche the sayde Duke was in contention with the Churche Touching the Florentins there was no doubt that they were not effectually comprehended in the confederation for that the Pope made his reckoning not onely to serue his turne with their men at armes and their forces but also to reduce them concurrant with him yea euen to make thē susteine the greatest
agaynst the Pope Fol. 463. After the taking of Bolognia the French armie returneth to the Duchie of Millan The Councell that vvas to be holden at Pisa agaynst the Pope is transferred to Millan vvhere many stirres happen The Popes armie besiegeth Bolognia The French men take Bressia The battell is giuen at Rauenna The Pope publisheth the Councell at Rome Aftervvardes the affayres of the French begin to decline Fol. 531. The Duke of Ferrara is in great trouble The Medicis returne to Florence The king of Romanes makes alliance vvith the Pope Maxymylian Sforce is put in the possession of the Duchie of Myllan The French king maketh his preparacion to recouer Myllan Pope Iulio dyeth Leo the tenth is created Pope The French men are ouerthrovven neare to Nouaro and the Venetians neare to Vincensa Fol. 602. The king of England makes vvarre vppon the Fr. king The Venetians recouer Fryull The Pope as Arbitrator pronovvnceth peace betvveene them and the king of Romaines king Lovvys the xij dyeth Frauncis the first commeth to the crovvne and discendeth into Italy to reconquer Myllan Fol. 660. The D. of Vrbyn makes an enterprise to recouer his estate out of the handes of Pope Leo The Fr. king makes a league vvith the Pope The conspiracie of Cardinall Petruccio against the Pope is discouered Charles king of Spayne is chosen Emprour Martyn Luther vvriteth against the Pope The Pope putteth to death Iohn Pavvle Baillon Fol. 729. Pope Leo is the cause that the peace continueth not in Italy He ioyneth in league vvith th Emprour against the French king The French king loseth the Duchie of Myllan Pope Leo dyeth Adrian the sixt is created Pope Frauncis Sforce reentreth vppon the Duchie of Myllan Vvarre is made in Tuskane by Ranso de Cero Fol. 777. Pope Adrian comes to Rome The Venetians make league vvith th Emprour The french men beseege Myllan and are constrayned to diuert from it Cardinall Medicis is created Pope King Frauncis discendeth into Italy he taketh Myllan and beseegeth Pauya Themprour sendeth out an army to succour Pauya vvhere a battell is fought and the French king taken prisoner Fol. 838. The Pope is accorded vvith th Emprour Many practises are made for the kings deliuerie Ierom Moron conspireth against the Emprour The fr. king is deliuered out of prison returneth into Fraunce Fol. 9004. The Pope the french king Venetians and Duke of Myllan dravve into league against th Emprour The Duke of Burbon comes co Myllan The army of the league breakes vp from before Myllan The castell of Myllan is rendred to th Imperialls Many enterprises are dressed against the Pope The confederats sende their armies by sea to Genes Rome is surprised by the Colonnois The Pope makes peace vvith th Imperialls vvhich hurteth the deuises of Lombardye The D. of Ferrara is confederat vvith the Emprour Fol. 967. The Duke of Burbon yssueth of Myllan The Viceroy and the Colonnois make vvarre vpon the Pope in the states of the Church The Marquis of Salussa entreth Bolognia The Pope maketh vvarre in the kingdom of Naples The Duke of Burbon leadeth his armie to Rome taketh the tovvne and sacketh it and is slayne in the action The Pope being abandoned of all hope accordeth vvith the Imperialls Amutinie in Florence The king of England against th Emprour The confederats doe many enterprises Fol. 1034. Lavvtrech beseegeth Naples In the meane vvhile Anth. de Leua taketh Pauya and beseegeth Loda Andre Dore leaueth the pay of the French Lavvtrech dyeth The french breake vp from before Naples Monsr Saint Pol reconquereth Pauya Andre Dore taketh Genovvay The Genovvaies take Sauona and put themselues in libertie Saint Pol is taken by Anth. de Leua Th Emprour falleth to accord vvith the Pope Peace is made at Cambray betvvene the Emprour and French king The Emprour passeth into Italy vvhere the vvarre goeth against the Florentyns and peace is solicited vvith all others Fol. 1103. The Emprour taketh th Imperiall crovvne at Bolognia and from thence passeth into Germany The famulies of Medicis by the ayde of th Emprours army returne to Florence Ferdinand is chosen king of Romaines The Pope vvill not barken to a counsell The French king stirreth vp the Turke against th Emprour hath conference vvith the Pope at Marseilles Fol. 1163. The ende of the contents of the bookes THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE LODOWYK SFORCE vncle and tutor to Iohn Galeas Duke of Myllan fearing least Ferdinand King of Naples would make warre vpon him breaketh of from the league that had bene renewed betwene the sayd Ferdinand Iohn Galeas and the common weale of Florence against the Venetians he procureth the French King Charles the viij to passe into Italy to conquer the kingdom of Naples Pope Alexander the vj. allieth himselfe with the King of Naples The French King hauing ordered th' affayres of the kingdom descendeth into Italy where he taketh many townes Diuerse emotion happen in the kingdom of Naples The Pope is in great perplexitie and trauell Pisa rebelleth against the Florentines The French King entreth into Florence and Rome and from thence passeth to Naples THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE historie and discoursse of Guicciardin HAVING in hand to write the affaires fortunes of Italie I iudged it cōuenient to drawe into discoursse those particularities that most nearest resemble our time and memorie yea euen since the selfe princes of that country calling in the armies of Fraunce gaue the first beginning to so great innouations A matter for the varietie greatnes and nature of suche thinges verie notable and well worthie of memorie and for the heauie accidents hatefull bluddie and horrible for that Italie for many yeres was trauelled with all those sortes of calamities with the which principalities countries and mortall men are wont to bee afflicted aswell by the iuste wroth and hand of God as through the impietie and wickednes of other nations The knowledge of these things so great and diuerse may minister many wholsome instructions aswell to all men generally as to euery one in particular considering that by the trial consent demonstration of so many examples all princes people and patrimonies may see as a sea driuen with diuerse windes to what inconstancie humane things are ordeined how harmefull are the ill measured counsells of princes many times preiudiciall to them selues but alwayes hurtefull to their people and subiects specially when they are vainelie caried awaye either with their singular errours or priuate couetousnes without hauing any impression or remembrance of the ordinary chaunges of fortune whereby turning to the domage and displeasure of others the power which is giuen them for the safetie protection pollicie of the whole they make them selues either by want of discression or too much ambition authours of innouations and new troubles But the better to make knowen the state and condition of Italie at that time together with the occasions of so many afflictions happening it is to be considered that
the importance and daunger of the thing to handle so great an enterprise sought to communicate perswade all things with the Pope in whō he knew had most dominion two stirring humors ambicion disdayne he told him that not by the fauors of the Princes of Italy and much lesse by the meane of their armies and helpes he should be reuenged of Ferdinand nor haue hope to compasse estates worthy and honorable for th aduancement of his sonnes He found the Pope to beare a vehement and ready wil to the matter perhaps for a desire to innouate and alter thinges but more likely to constraine the Aragons by feare to come to that which by consent wil they would not accord to him After they had communicated their councells they dispatched secretly into Fraunce personages of trust to sound the will of the king such as gouerned him who shewing them selues not farre from their intencion Lodovvyk turning his whole witts to the deuise of this enterprise sent in the sight of all the world but shadowing it with other occasions one Charles Balbyan Earle of Belioyense who soliciting the king certeine dayes in priuate audience working particularly with sundry of his principal fauorits was at last introduced into open councell the king present where in a publike hearing of the Prince his Lordes and Prelates of the Court he deliuered this forme of discourse Most christian king Thexperiēce of the disposiciō of harts diuersly inclined ▪ makes me dowtful whether vnder a direct absolute forme I should begin my discours or vsing the custome of Orators bring into question such obiectiōs as may be opposed against the presēt matter for in causes of perswasion the one with the other must orderly cōcurre least for want of due office in the speaker the matter seeming to suffer imperfectiō error do not bring forth resolucion effect according to thexpectacion of the parties for whom he solicites And albeit the vniuersal coniecture opiniō of your maiesties many vertues the graue aspect face of your right wise coūcel here assēbled promise no lesse ready cōsent liking thē the matter is iust innocēt ▪ yet for your maiesties better inducemēt general satisfactiō of your Lordes Prelats assisting I wil ioyne my self to the refutaciō of that general dout which in negociaciōs of this nature are cōmonly obiected more by custō thē iust cause arising If therefore right Christian king any man for what occasion so euer will hold for suspected the integritie of mind and faith with the which Lodovvik Sforce comes to councel you to beare armes to cōquer the kingdom of Naples he may easily deliuer his mind of that ill grounded suspicion if he either loke into the offers offices cōdicions wherwith he doth accompany his perswasion councell offering you the cōmoditie of his treasors men all other oportunities or at least wil cal to his memory with what deuociō both he Galeas his brother originally Francis his father did honor the late king Levvys your father continued with no lesse constancie faith piety to the glorious name of your maiestie Let him consider also that by this enterprise Lodovvyk standes possible to many great daungers with a very naked hope of any profit yea in this is conteined the only benefit he shall haue to see a iust reuenge of the ambushes wronges done by them of Aragon where your maiestie by meane of the victory shal happily aspire to a most florishing kingdom bringing with it a greater glory oportunitie of farre more high and honorable merite an action wherunto the thoughts of mighty Princes ought to be fashioned And of the other part if it happen that you come not to the end of this enterprise yet your maiestie loseth no reputacion nor your greatnes the more diminished for that onely the fortunes of Princes are subiect to opiniōs but not their estate maiesty impaired But for Lodovvyk he is of nothing more sure then to suffer general ill wil contempt of nothing more vnsure then to find remedy in his perils for that in him would concurre all the displeasures slaunders which may concerne his estate life or reputacion And therfore I see not how should be suspected the councels of him whose cōdicions fortunes are so vnequal inferior to yours But there be reasons stirring you to this honorable expedicion which for the simplicity roundnes innocency they conteine will admitte no dowt for that in them are liberally concurrant all the groundes foundacions which inconsulting of enterprises merit chiefest consideracion that is to say the iustice of the cause the facilitie of the conquest the great frut of the victory it is manifest to all the world how resolute apparāt be the rights which the house of Aniovv to whom you are lawful inheritor hath to the realme of Naples how iust is the succession which this crowne pretendes to it by the yssues of Charles who first of the blood royall of Fraunce obteyned the same kingdom both with thauthoritie of the Pope and by his proper valour And it is no lesse easie to conquer it then the action is iust for who knowes not howe much the King of Naples is inferior in force authoritie and fortune to the most mightie King of all Christendom And no nation dowteth with what terrour and renowne the name of the french thundreth throughout the regions of the world neyther with what astonishment the brute of your armies keepeth other contreys in dread At no time did the inferior Dukes of Aniovv assaile the kingdom of Naples that they put it not in great hazard And it is to late to be forgotten how Iohn sonne of Rene had in his hand the victorie against Ferdinand now reigning if Pope Pius had not taken it from him but much more Francys Sforce who forbare as is well knowen to obey Levvys the xj your father If those small forces trained with thē so great fortunes what may be hoped for of the armies authoritie of so mighty a king all oportunities being increased and the difficulties obiected against Rene and Iohn diminished seeing the Princes of those estates which gaue impediments to their victories haue now vnitie confederacion with you in them be no small meanes to offend the kingdom of Naples for the Pope by lād by reason the territories of the church are frōtiers to Naples the Duke of Myllan by sea applying to you the cōmoditie seruice of Genes will be furtherers of your victorie with many helpes ▪ fauours and commodities besides these there is no potentacie or iurisdiction in Italy wil oppose against you for it can not be iudged of the Venetians that they will throwe them selues into expenses and daungers and much lesse depriue their estate of the amitie wherein so long time they haue bene interteyned with the kinges of Fraunce to preserue or protect Ferdinand an auncient
he had so cowardly without the death of one man abandoned such a greatnes In this sort by the rashnes of one yong man did at that time fall the house of Medicis from that rule and power which vnder the name and apparance almost of a ciuill administracion it had obteyned in Florence lx yeares it began in Cosmo his great grandfather a citisen of singular wisedom infinit wealth and for those regardes very notable through all the parts of Europe But much more was he recommended for that with a wonderful magnificencie and hart truely royall regarding more theternitie of his name then the profit of his posteritie he employed more then fowre hundreth thowsand duckats in building of Churches erecting of Monasteries with other buildings of sumptuous costes not onely in his owne countrey but also in many partes of the world And his sonnes sonne Lavvrence a man for vnderstanding and iudgement excellent in councell graue and singular in liberalitie equall with his grandfather and for greatnes of hart nothing inferior for ministracion in the common weale of authoritie more absolute but for wealth of lesse abilitie and of life farre more short gat generall reputacion through out Italy with many straūg Princes which after his death was turned into a cleare monument and memorie for that it hath semed euer since that the concord and felicitie of Italy ended with his life The same day the state of Florence fell into chaunge the french king being in the citie of Pysa the townesmen in popular trowpes with cryes and showtinges ronne to him and demaunded libertie complayning greeuously of the oppressions and wrongs which they sayd they had receiued vnder the gouernment of the Florentyns certeyne of the kinges councell assisting assured him that their demaund was iust for that the Florentyns held them in to hard seruitude The king not seing into thimportance of their request nor how farre it was contrary to the contract of Serazane told them they should haue libertie with the which aunswere the Pysans ronne to armes and throwing downe to the earth all the enseignes and armories of the Florentyns they put them selues into an absolute libertie so long desired Notwithstanding the king contrary to him selfe and no lesse ignorant in the thinges he had accorded would that the Florentyn officers should still administer their accustomed iurisdictions and of the other part left the olde citadell in the handes of the Pysans and kept to him selfe the new of farre more importance In these accidents of Pysa and Florence may be wel discerned a true experience of the olde saying or common prouerbe as we call it That men when their aduersities approche lose chiefly that wisedom with the which they might haue hindred or auoyded the ills that happen And this is common to men and kingdoms that draw towardes their destinies that when their ill fortune comes it blyndes their eyes that they can not discerne it and bynds their hands that they can not help it making them instruments against them selues in thexecucion of their mishaps for both the Florentyns who in all tymes haue held the fidelitie of the Pysans suspected seeing so daungerous a warre at their gates forgat to reuoke to Florence the principall Citisens of Pysa as for their better sewertie they had wont to call home a great number of them vppon neuer so light occasions or litle accidents And P. de medicis seing a concurrance of so many great difficulties togither was to much ouerseene that he did not arme the place publike pallaice with such strength of straungers as he had often tymes done before in farre lesser suspicions That foresight had kept him stil in his estate and rule such prouisions had much hindred those great mutacions But touching the affayres of Pysa it is manifest that that which gaue them greatest incouragement to make this commocion naturally hating the name of the Florentyns was thauthoritie of Lodovvyk Sforce who to that ende had interteyned certeyne intelligences and practises with some Citisens of the place banished for priuat offences And the day present of the reuolt Galeas de S. Seueryn whom he had left to be alwayes about the king incensed the people to the tumult by which meane Lodovvyk perswaded him selfe that the dominion of Pysa would fall speedely into his handes not knowing that a litle after in such a matter was wrought the cause of all his miseries But it is also manifest that certeyne of the Citisens communicating the night before with the Cardinall S. P. ad vincla what they had desire and resolucion to doe The Cardinall who perhaps till that day had neuer bene author of peasible councells admonished them with wordes graue and well instructing that they should not consider onely the superficiall and beginning of thinges but see deepely that which with time and in tyme may happen he told them libertie was a thing precious and of very vehement desire well meriting that men should oppose them selues to all daungers hauing a true sensible hope to be able to defend it on all sides But as touching their citie naked of peoples and mearely drayned of wealth and substance he sawe very weake possibilities to iustefie it against the power of the Florentyns and to promise to them selues that thauthoritie of the french king should be turned to their protection were hopes deceitfull and an expectacion too full of incerteynties dowtes for that albeit the moneyes and treasors of Florence should doe litle with him as it is like they may preuayle a great deale specially looking into the contract of Serazana yet his armies would not be alwaies in Italy according to thexperience iudgement of examples past Besides it were too great an indiscression to bind them selues to a perpetuall perill vnder foundacions frayle and not perpetuall And for most vncerteyne hopes to leuye against ennemies farre more mighty then they a warre certeyne and absolute wherein they could promise them selues no succors seeing they depended vpon the will of an other and that which more is of very diuerse accidents yea be it they should obteyne succors much lesse were that to auoyde or shake of but rather to redouble and make greater the calamities of the warre being vexed at one tyme by the inuasions and souldiers of thennemie and tormented with thoppressions insolencies of the men of warre that come to their succors Which miseries he sayd would be so much the more greeuous to them to beare by how much in the ende they would come to see and know that it was not for their proper liberty they tooke armes but for thimperie of a straunger chaunging one seruitude for an other for that this is proper to all Princes not to enter into the trauells and expenses of a warre but to raigne ouer those for whom they fight And yet your warre sayth he seeing the great wealth and neighbourhedd of the Florentyns by whom you shall find many and perpetuall vexacions
of Tuskane next to Florence was gouerned by a peculiar pollecie proper particular to it selfe but so as it knew rather the name of libertie then theffects for that being diuided into many factions or members of Citisens which they cal orders it obeyde that part which according to the accidents of tymes and fauors of forreyne Potentates was more stronge then the others At that tyme helde most rule and authoritie the order of Mont None After the king had taried a very fewe dayes at Siena he planted a garrison there for that hauing bene alwaies at the deuocion of thempire he held it suspected tooke his way to Rome rising euery day more insolent then other for his successe and fortunes which were alwayes greater then euer were his hopes And being also fauored with the ayre and wether more then the natural temperature of that season had wont to show he determined to put diligence to his fortune and vse those prosperities not as terrible to his enemies manifest and professed but euen to those that were conioyned with him or at least had not prouoked him in any thing therefore the Senat of Venice and the Duke of Myllan no lesse astonished with these successes then dowtfull that the kinges thoughtes would not be at rest by the conquest of Naples specially seing him possest of the fortresses of the Florentyns and to leaue a garrison at Stena began for a remedie of their common daunger to common to make a new confederacion whereunto they had with more speede and ease giuen perfection if there had bene made that resistance to the king at Rome that was hoped for the intencion of the Duke of Calabria with whom were ioyned in one strength the bandes of the Pope and Virginio Vrsin with the residue of thAragons armie being to incampe at Vicerba to giue impediment to the king for passing further To this he was drawne besides many occasions by thopportunitie of the place inuironed with townes of the Church and neare the states of the Vrsins But all the circumference and contreyes about Rome drawing into tumult by thincursions which the Colonnoys made beyond the riuer of Tyber and for thimpediments of the vittells by meane of Ostia which should come to Rome by sea he durst not abide there he dowted with all of thintencion of the Pope for that since he vnderstoode that P. de medicis was turned he had begonne to open his eares to the demaundes of the french for the which and the reasons of them Cardinall Askanius went to him after in pledge of his sewertie the Cardinall of Valence was come to Marina a towne of the Colonnoys And albeit Askanius was gone without resolucion certeine for that Alexander distrusted much thintencion of the king and of the other side was in great feare of his forces which bredd no small torment and conflict in his hart yet after the king was parted from Florence they returned eftsoones to common of thaccord wherein for the more diligent accomplishment of thinges the Pople dispatched to the king the Bishops of Concorde and Terny and M. Gratian his confessor with commission that they should compownd aswell for the affayres of Alphonso as for his owne But the king was of a contrary meaning hauing setled his resolucion to accord onely and particularly with the Pope And for that cause he sent to him the L. de la Trimouille and the President of Ganuy being there also for the same occasion the Cardinal Askanius and Prosper Collonne who were no sooner come to Rome then the Pope for what cause I know not chaunging aduise bestowed the Duke of Calabria within Rome with all his armie he caused to be arested Askanius and Prosper restrayning them within the tower of Adrian of olde called the castell of Crescence and now named the castell S. Ange he demaunded of them restitucion of Ostia In this tumulte also the frenche Embassadors were made prisoners by the Aragons But the Pope caused them with a present speede to be redeliuered and within a few dayes after restored to libertie Askanius and Prosper constrayning them notwithstanding to depart suddenly out of Rome After this he sent to the french king lying then at Nepi Cardinall Federyk of S. Seuerin beginning to treate onely of his proper affayres and yet in great dowt and declyning of mind for that some times he determined to stand to the defence of Rome and therefore gaue sufferance to Ferdinand the capteines to looke to fortefie it in the partes most weake and earste againe he iudged greate hardnes and impossibilitie to defend it for thimpediments of vittells restrayned by those of Ostia In which respectes waighing also with the infinit numbers of straungers being of mindes and of wills different the diuersitie of factions euen amongest the Romaines he began to thinke to goe from Rome requiring in the colleage that euery Cardinal would promise by a writing subsigned to follow him And euen standing amased with the daungers and difficulties imminent vpon euery one of his deliberacions he turned his mind to accorde But whilest his minde wauered in these ambiguities the french men forbare not to ouerronne the whole contrey on this side Tyber making them selues Lordes of one towne after an other no place offering resistance to their incursiōs No not one peece or fort which gaue not place to their importunāt furie according to thexample of the others no not such as had good occasion to oppose them selues against them as Virginio Vrsin drawne by so many bondes of faith office and honor to the house of Aragon Capteine generall of th armie of Alphonso grand Constable of the realme of Naples and very neare parent to Alphonso for that Iohn Iordan his sonne had maried a bastard daughter to the late king Ferdinand But he turning all these thinges into forgetfulnes as vnthankfull for the states and fauors he had receiued in the kingdom of Naples as vnmindfull that the calamities of the Aragons were first kindled for his occasions and nourished chiefly in his particular interestes consented that his person continuing still in the pay of the king of Naples his children should compownd with the french and be bound to giue them passage and libertie of vittells and othet friendships through all the estates which he held of the dominions of the Churche leauing the french men not a litle amased with his example and forme of dealing being not acquainted with these sutle and vnaccustomed distinctions of the souldiers of Italy he suffered withall that Campagnane and certeine other places were put in deputacion into the handes of the Cardinall of Gurcy who promised to restore them so soone as the armie was out of the territories of Rome This forme of agreement was vsed also by the Count de Petillane with all the residue of the familie of the Vrsins immediatly vpon these accordes king Charles went from Nepi to Bracciane a chiefe towne of Virginio and sent to Ostia Lovvys
the L. of Ligny and Yues L. of Alegre with fiue hundred launces two thowsand Svvyzzers to th ende that passing Tyber and ioyning with the Collonnoys they might make a strength to enter Rome and that so much the better by how much the Collonnoys by the meane of their factions and partakers within Rome had a resolute hope to make their entrey in what sort so euer it were notwithstanding by the season of the tyme being rough and stormie the difficulties were much increased By this tyme Ciuitaueche Cornette and in the ende almost all the territorie of Rome were brought to the deuocion of the frēch when a man might haue seene all the Court amased all the Cardinalls dowtfull and all the communaltie of the citie full of feares emocion demaunding vehemently peace in so much that the Pope driuen to daungerous tearmes seeing the foundacions which he had layd for his defence shaken on all sides was not reteyned with any other thing then with the remembrance that he was one of the first that stirred the french king to thenterprise of Naples And had since without occasion giuen obstinatly resisted him with authoritie with councells and with force the same making him iustly dowt that the faith which he should receiue of the king should be like to that the king had receiued of him To these feares he felte an other torment nothing inferior vnderstanding the Cardinall S. P. ad vincla was very gracious in the kinges sight with many other Cardinalls his ennemies bearing no litle authoritie and rule in the kinges doings By the perswasions of whom and for the regard of the title of right Christian which the kinges of Fraunce beare and for the auncient name which that nacion hath to be very religious and lastly for that in ill men the conscience giltie and infected suspecteth not onely the worst but also their mindes caried in shadowes they expect and dread great thinges of those that are knowne to them but by name onely he feared least the king would turne his witts according to a vayne brute to reforme the gouernment of the Church the same being a right trembling thought coniecture to him when he remēbred with what infamie he was come to the Popedom performing his ministracion with maners of life meanes not differing from so fowle and vile a beginning But he was cleared immediatly of these suspicions by the diligence and promises of the king full of efficacie and desire to aduaunce aboue all things his going to the realme of Naples And for that cause letting nothing passe that might take out of his way the blockes and impediments of the Pope sent to him eftsoones as Embassadors the Seneschall of Beucaire the Mareshall of Gie the sayd President of Gannay they labored to perswade the Pope that the kinges intencion was not to medle with any thing that apperteined to thauthoritie of Popes and that his demaundes stretched not but to thinges reasonable and necessary for the sewertie of his passage They required him instantly to agree with good will to the kinges entrey into Rome assuring him that it was a holy and peculiar desire in his maiestie Not that it was not in his power to make his entrey by armes but because he would not be constrayned to forbeare to vse those actions of reuerence which had bene alwayes done by his elders to the Popes of Rome They assured him that assoone as his maiesties person were possessed of the presence of the Pope within Rome all those quarells that had bene raysed betwene them would be conuerted into reconcilement vnitie and coniunction It seemed to the Pope a hard compulsion to despoyle him selfe afore all thinges of the ayde of his friendes and committing his estate and life into the power of an ennemie to receiue him within the walles of Rome afore he had compownded or assured his affayres Notwithstanding making election of the daunger that was of least qualitie he consented to all their demaūds and caused to depart out of Rome the Duke of Calabria for whom albeit he obteyned of the french king a safe conduit for his safe passage through all the dominions of the Church yet the Duke accompting it a diminucion of his reputacion and courage refused it and issued out of Rome by the gate S. Sebastian the last day of the yeare 1494. at the same hower that at the gate de S. Maria de Popolo entred with the armie of Fraunce the french king armed with his launce vppon his thigh as he entred Florence At the same tyme the Pope full of incredible feares and perplexities was withdrawne to the castell S. Ange and not accompanied with other Cardinalls then Baptista Vrsin and Oliuer Caraffe a Neapolitan But now began the Cardinalls ad vincla Askanius Collonne and Sauelle with many others to solicite the king with vehement instance that taking from the sea a Pope ful of vices and abominable to all the world he would create and set vp an other they told him it would be no lesse vertuous in him to deliuer the church of God from the tyrannie of a wicked Pope then it was great glorie to Pepin Charlemain his predecessors to take the Popes of holy life out of the persecucions of those that did vniustly oppresse them that the action was no lesse necessary for his securitie then greatly concurring for his glorie for there was no expectacion of faith or trust in the promises of the Pope being a man naturally full of fraude insatiable in ambicion shameles in all his doings and according to the testimonie of experience extremely hating the french with whom the reconciliacion that now he made was more by necessitie and feare then of inclinacion or good will partly by these perswacions and partly for that the Pope in the condicions that were debated refused to let the king haue the castell of S. Ange for the sewertie of those thinges he promised him thartilleries were drawne twise from the pallaice of S. Marke where the king was lodged to be planted before the castell But the king bearing no inclinacion to offend the Pope and the presentes and promises of Alexander working much with some of those that gouerned most the kings councells they fell to accord in this sort That the Pope should giue to the king to hold for his sewertie till he had conquered the kingdom of Naples the Cytadells of Ciuitauechia Terrachine and Spolete and yet this last was not put into his hands That the Pope should keepe no remembrance of any offence or iniurie of the Cardinalls or any Barons subiectes to the church that had followed the kinges partie That the Pope should inuest him in the kingdom of Naples That he should giue to the king Gemyn Ottoman brother to Baiazet who after the death of their father had bene persecuted by the sayd Baiazet according to the barbarous customes of the Ottomans seeking to establish their succession in the Empire with the bludd
of their brethren their nearest kinne and competytors In which perill for safetie of his life he was fledd to Rodes from whence he was brought into Fraunce lastly past ouer into the power and custodie of Pope Innocent By which occasion Baiazet seruing his turne of the couetousnes of the Vicaires of Christ as instrumentes to holde in peace the Empire ennemie to the Christian faith payed euery yeare vnder the name of allowance towardes his norriture and keeping forty thowsand duckats to the Popes to th ende they should be lesse ready to deliuer him into the handes of other Princes to serue their turnes against him The king was so much the more desirous to haue him by how much he supposed to turne him to many vses oportunities for thaduauncing of his pretended enterprise against the Turkes being greatly caried into glorie by the vayne flatteries of many of his fauorits which he ment to beginne as soone as he had accomplished the conquest of thAragons And because the last xl thowsand duckats sent by the Turke were taken at Sinigalle by the Prefect of Rome he required that the Pope would remitte both the punishment and restitucion To these capitulacions were added that the Cardinall of Valence should follow the king three monthes as Legat apostolike but in meaning it was to stande as ostage for the promises of his father The accord thus made and past the Pope returned to the Vatican where is his pallaice pontificall And after with pompes and ceremonies accustomed at the receiuing of great kinges he receiued the king in the Church of S. Peter and there according to the maner hauing kissed his feete kneeling was afterwards receiued to kisse his cheeke An other day he assisted in presence the Popes masse where he had his place the first after the first Bishop Cardinal and according to the auncient custom gaue water to the Pope celebrating masse which offices humilities ceremonies the Pope to continue the memorie to all posterities caused to be curiously drawn in a table purtraied honge vp in a gallerie of the castell S. Ange In this action the Pope to gratifie the king created published Cardinalls the Bishop of S Mallo the Bishop of Maus of the nation of Luxumburg forgetting nothing that might expresse how sincerely and vnfaynedly he was reconciled The king remeyning in Rome about a month forgat not to send bandes trowps of souldiers euen vppon the confins of the kingdom of Naples where was already such generall commotion that Aquila and almost all Abruzza displayed enseignes afore he parted from Rome as also Fabricius Collonne occupied the quarters of Albe Taille cosse The whole residue of the kingdom was almost in no more peasible estate for that as soone as Ferdinand was parted from Rome the frutes of the hatredes which the people had long borne to Alphonso began to appeare helping much the remembrance of many rigors which his father Ferdinand had vsed against them vpon these they raysed ready occasions to complayne vehemently of the iniquities of the gouernments passed togither with the cruelties and pride of Alphonso expressing in these humors apparant desire that the french might come and that in such sort as the contemplacion of the auncient relykes and monuments of such as held with the house of Aniovv albeit they were ioyned to the memorie of so many Barons as had bene chassed and emprisoned at sundry tymes by Ferdinand thinges of themselues of great consideracion and of no litle power to worke a chaunge did litle in this tyme in regarde of the other occasions so vehemently were the hartes of all the kingdom inflamed against Alphonso who for his part as soone as he vnderstood that his sonne was gon out of Rome entred into such present feares astonishmēts that turning all memorie or regard to the great renowme and glorie which with so long experience he had got in many warres in Italy into a present despaire not to be able to resist this fatall storme determined to abandon the kingdom and leaue to Ferdinand the name and authoritie royall In this deuise perhaps he had hope that taking away with him selfe the generall hatred and leauing to the people for their king a yong Prince of great expectacion not yet hauing offended any of them but gracious and plawsible to the vniuersall multitude he should make lesse in his subiectes their desire to haue the french which councell if it had bene sooner taken would happily haue wrought to better purpose but being differred till things were not onely in motion and shaking but euen beginning to fall it was not able to stay so great a ruine It was sayd also if it be lawfull not to despise such thinges altogither that the spirite of Ferdinand appeared three tymes in sundry nightes to Iames chiefe Surgeon of the Court charging him first with soft and mild words and after with many threatnings to warne Alphonso from him not to hope to be able to resist the french king because it was a resolucion in destinie that his race trauelled with infinit aduentures and fortunes and depriued at last of so large a kingdom shoulde now ende and determine he sayd their enormities began now to appeare in iustice and the many tyrannies by them committed were the causes but aboue all others that which by his perswasion he had done in the church of S. Leonard in Caiaia neare Naples comming from Pozzolo for that he expressed them no more particularly men supposed that Alphonso had in that place perswaded Ferdinand to put to death secretly many Barons whom he held prisoners long time before But of what nature so euer was thoccasion it is most certeine that Alphonso vexed with his proper conscience liued day and night in a discontented spirite for that in his sleepes the shadowes and Ghostes of those dead Lordes were liuely afore him and on the dayes he beheld the people prepard greatly to insurrections for reuenge of his rigorous dealinges In which perplexitie of mind applying his councells to his fortunes he communicated onely his intencion with the Queene his mother in law keeping it from his brother or his sonne and departed from Naples accompanied with fowre light gallies loaden with implements rich and precious he was so afflicted with dread confusion that at the earnest instance of his mother he would not stay two or three daies a time to ende the whole yeare of his reigne And at his departing expressing such tymerous disposicion of mind as if he had bene enuironed with the french mē he sayled to a towne in Sicile called Mazare which Ferdinand the king of Spayne had giuen him the yeare before but his feares left not to followe him no more then his fortunes showing at euery brute or small noyse no lesse perplexitie and terror then if the heauens and elements had conspired against him As the french king departed out of Rome he receiued aduertisement of the fleing of
nor faction of men sparing to ronne to behold him as if he had bene their patrone and first founder of the citie yea there was a plentifull and willing presence of those who either in them selues or in their auncestors had bene raysed to honors and estates by the house of Aragon with this affluence and concurse of people after he had visited the great Church he was ledd because new castell was yet to thennemies to be lodged in the castell Capua the auncient resort and residence of the kinges of Fraunce hauing with a wonderfull course of felicitie farre aboue the example of Iulius Caesar rather vanquished then seene his enemie and that with so ready fortune and facilitie that during the whole expedicion he neuer had neede to display one pauilion or tent much lesse to breake a launce And touching helpes and prouisions he had so great plenty and superfluitie that his armie at sea prepared with so great expenses being caried by violence of wether into the yle of Corse was so long in approching the shoares of the kingdom that the king had accomplished his conquest afore there was necessitie of their seruice Thus by ciuill discordes which so long hath blinded the Princes of Italy to the great dishonor and skorne of the men of warre of that nation and common daunger and ignominie of euery region of the same was transferred one of the most goodly and mighty partes of Italy and of the Empire of Italy to an Empire and gouernment of a nation beyond the mountes for albeit olde Ferdinand was borne in Spaine yet for that from his youth he had his trayning in Italy either king or the sonne of a king and holding no other principallitie in any region else where togither that his sonnes and sonnes sonnes were bredd vppe in Naples I may with good right appropper them to the contrey and call them Italyans The ende of the first booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE THE Pysans continue their rebellion against the Florentyns The french king takes the castells of Naples The Pope the Venettans and other Princes make league against the king who returning into Fraunce is fought withall neare the riuer Taro Ferdmand wynnes agayne Naples Nouarre is beseeged by the confederats The king makes peace with the Duke of Myllan and returnes into Fraunce THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE historie and discoursse of Guicciardin IN the booke before haue bene sett downe the foundacions of the french warres in Italy both out of what founteyne they spronge and with what course and mocions they had their proceedings euen to an action of conquest farre aboue the memorie and examples of all tymes and ages before But as in all powers and causes naturall this is a propertie infallible to haue their reuolucion by the same swift and violent returne where with they did rise to their exaltacion and fulnes So the french king rising with his felicitie into humors of securitie saw the declinacion of his fortune and great triumphes in the like measure and proporcion of tyme by the which he aspired to them And suffering togither the priuacion of the kingdom with the honor of his new cōquest he shewed him selfe more happy to get glorie then able to keepe it Then whilest thinges went in this course at Rome and the kingdom of Naples there kindled in an other parte of Italy sparkes of a litle fier wherein was nourished a smothering heate ordeyned to burst out to a great burning to the hurt of many but specially to the ruyne of him who by too great a desire of dominion and rule first kindled it and set it on slames for albeit the king was bownd by the contract of Florence that Pysa remeining in his handes till he had conquered the realme of Naples the iurisdiction reuenues should be administred by the Florentyns yet at his departure he had sett no order for thexecucion of his word and promise In so much that the Pysans presuming much of the Capteynes and souldiers left by the king for the gard of the citie did determine no more to returne to the obedience of Florence And therefore expulsing some of their officers and others that solicited there for the citie they made the residue prisonners with confiskacion of all their goods and confirmed wholly their rebellion both by demonstracions and actions In this reuolte to be the better able to continue it they dispatched not onely Embassadors to the king to pray him of defence and protection to their doings but also for their stay and strength more assured they recommended their cause vnder many argumentes of compassion to the cities of Syena and Lucques who being auncient ennemies to the name of Florence could heare of nothing more to their liking and gladnes then of the reuolt of the Pysans to whom in common they sent forthwith a proporcion of money and Syenna a part furnished them with an ayde of horsemen In like sort the Pysans sent Embassadors to Venice to sownde the wills of that Senat of whom albeit they were graciously receiued yet they brought away nothing but hopes dowtfull and incerteyne But they reapposed their chiefest confidence and soundacion in the Duke of Myllan for that as he was the first breeder of their rebellion so they hoped he would not fayle to support them with succors countenance and councell The Duke albeit he made other showes and demonstracions to the Florentyns yet he solicited secretly the confirmacion of this reuolt and breathing courage into them with many offers perswacions promises he communicated presently with the Genovvays to furnish the Pysans with armor and municions and to sende to them a commissioner with three hundred footemen There hath bene auncient quarell betwene the Florentyns and Genovvays rising at first by the conquest of Pysa and continued by many degrees of displeasures both for buying the port of Lyuorne of their Duke Tomasin Fregosa which they possessed and also the taking away of Pietra Santa and Serazena The memorie of these ioyned to thoccasion offered was sufficient to arme them with a wonderfull readines to doe all thinges that might annoy the Florentyns occupying euen already many of their places in the contrey of Lunigiane and were become Lords of the borders of Pietra Santa vnder cooller of a letter obteined from the french king for the restitucion of certein goods confisked The Florentyns complayning of these actions at Myllan were aunswered by the Duke that according to the contract and capitulacions which he had with them of Genes he could not well doe any thing to the restraint and impediment of them And laboring to content them with wordes and diuersitie of hopes he forbare not with a studie more secret and sutle to practise and execute the contrary as one that nourished an ambicious expectacion to draw Pysa to his obedience if the Florentyns did not eftsoones recouer it a thing much desired by him no lesse for the qualitie of the citie then
oportunitie of the scituacion Neither was this desire new but had bene nourished in him euer since he was expulsed Myllan a litle after the death of Galeas his brother for a ielowsie which the Ladye Bonne mother and tutur to the litle Duke had of him at what time soiorning many monthes vpon the borders of Pysa he cast many plotts deuises to get the rule and imperie of it wherein as touching the title he was holpen with a recorde and memorie that Pysa afore it came into the iurisdiction of the Florentyns had bene possessed by Iohn Galeas Viscounte first Duke of Myllan By reason whereof he thought it would be an increase of his glorie to recouer that which had beene possessed by his elders and seemed that he might pretende a cooller of right in not making lawfull that Iohn Galeas might leaue by testament to the preiudice of the Dukes of Myllan his successors to Gabriell Maria his bastard sonne the state of Pysa which he had gotten albeit with the treasors armies of the Duchie of Myllan The Pysans not content to haue drawne their citie from the obedience of the Florentyns sought to obtrude vppon all the places and peeces of the generall de Mayne all which for the most part in a generall sturre examples may doe muche following the authoritie of the citie receiued their commissioners euen in the first dayes of the rebellion the Florentyns making no resistance in the beginning for that they were otherwise busied in affaires of greater importance not hauing as yet composed with the french king and did perhaps expect that he would apply remedie to those harmes according to his bonde protested by publike and solemne othe But finding his order too slow and lingring happly aūswering the care he made they sent thether bandes and companies who eftsoones recouered partly by force and partly by composicion all that was occupied except Casine Buti and Vicopisan into which places the Pysans being not strong enough to make resistance against the whole had withdrawne their forces Touching the king the doinges of the Pysans did nothing displease him and much lesse was the maner of their proceedings disagreeing from the estate of his endes and purposes Their cause was apparantly fauored of many of his court induced perhaps by a compassion that they had bene straitely gouerned by the Florentyns the same notwithstanding being more in opinion then in truth But some of the chiefest both in his councells and of his court vnder thoccasion to pitie the Pysans obiected them selues against the Cardinall of S. Mallo being wholly for the Florentyns of these was principall the Seneshall of Beaucaire with whom the money of the Pysans had much preuailed but much more the discontentment he had of the greatnes of the Cardinall from whom according to the variations of Court he beganne to be estranged separate being moued with the selfe same ambicion to embase him with the which he had raysed him in the beginning These men not hauing respect to that which concerned the honor promised faith of so great a king perswaded that it agreed best with the profit and estate of his other enterprises to keepe the Florentyns in this necessitie and not to moderat the doings of the Pysans at the least til he had made perfect his expedicion vpon the realme of Naples The king caried with these perswasions framed him selfe to enterteyne both the one and other partie with seuerall hopes And therefore whilest he remeyned yet at Rome he called for thembassadors of Florence to heare in his presence the complaints made to him by the Pysans for whom spake Burgundio Loli Citisen of Pysa and aduocate of the consistorie in the Court of Rome he complayned bitterly that the Pysans had bene holden foureskore yeares in such an vniust and cruell seruitude that that citie which with many honorable victories heretofore had stretched out her iurisdiction euen to the partes of Leuant had bene alwayes one of the most mighty and glorious members of all Italy was now by the seueritie and couetousnes of the Florentyns come to her last desolacion That the towne of Pysa was almost made naked of inhabitants for that the most parte of the naturall and free borne Citisens not able to beare so heauy yokes had willingly abandoned the place of their patrimonie possessions and delites whose councell hath bene proued wise by the miseries of others whom the loue of their contrey hath made to abyde to serue as a wretched spectacle to all eyes of pitie conscience or humanitie That they for the great exactions of the Magistrates and insolent robberies of persons priuate were dispoyled almost of all their substance and yet in no libertie nor way to nourish their liues for that with a tyrannie and iniustice straunge and barbarous they were forbidden to manage trades of marchandise or to exercise any art except of the hande They had no accesse or function in any office of qualitie nor in the administracion of the gouernment of Florence no not in thinges which were transferred to persons straunge and forreine That the Florentyns by many arguments exercised all sortes of crueltie against the health and benefite of their liues And to haue a more ready way to their generall destruction they haue of late yeares shaked of an auncient and necessary care to preserue the bankes and cawsseyes of the contrey of Pysa menteyned alwayes from age to age by the Lordes of that contrey with no small studie for that otherwayes it was impossible seeing the shallownes of the contrey subiect to inundacions and water fludds that they should not be euery yere stricken with diuersitie of diseases That by this decay were made ruinat euen flat with the earth churches pallaices with many honorable buildings both publike priuate erected by their predecessors with no litle expense and charge That it was no shame to particular cities or townes if after the raigne and course of many worldes they fell into seruitude for that all mortall and earthly thinges beare their proper destinie and subiection to corruption But the memorie of their nobilitie greatnes alwaies disposed into the maiestie of a gouernment and common weale ought to breede in the spirites of conquerors more compassion then rigor chiefly euery one hauing to consider thatit is not onely in the power of time but also incident to the iust course and destinie of earthly thinges to bring vppon them the selfe same ende which is ordeyned to happen to all other cities and Empires That in the Pysans there rested no more wherein the inhumanitie and insatiable couetousnes of the Florentyns coulde be exercised with further skoape And therefore the yoke of those burdens bearing a waight aboue their strength the varietie of their miseries so infinit and intollerable they had with one minde determined rather to abandon their contrey to giue vp their liues and to forbeare the vse societie and delite of their
was no meane to suspect their inclinacion more to one partie then to an other They had for Embassadors with the king Anthony Loredan and Dominick Treuisan albeit they lingered so long to send them that the king was not onely passed the mountes but arriued at Florence afore they were presented to him But now looking with iudgement and studie into the violent course of so great felicities his armies ronning like a thunder without resistance thorow all Italy they beganne to esteeme as their owne the domage of their neighbours and to feare that in the ruine of others their destruction were not conspired But chiefly the king hauing made him selfe Lorde of Pysa and other fortresses of the Florentyns leauing garrison in Sienna and almost wonne the like imperie in the state of the Church they construed all to arguments absolute that the ambicion of his thoughtes was not limited within the realme and rule of Naples for these causes the Senat gaue willing eare to the perswasions of Lodovvyk Sforce who assoone as the Florentyns had yelded to the king had begonne to solicite them to ioyne with him in a common remedie against common daungers wherein it was beleued that if the french king had met with any impedimentes eyther at Rome or at his entrye into the realme of Naples they had together taken armes against him But the kinges fortune preuented their councells and in his victorie was more suddeinnes expedicion then in all thimpediments that could be obiected The king also dowting of the practises and factions of Lodovvyk had reteyned in his pay since the conquest of Naples Iohn Iacques Triuulce with an hundred launces vnder a pension worthy and honorable and ioyned vnto him with many promises the Cardinall Fregosa and Obietto de Fiesque the one for that they were mighty instruments to trouble and rayse emotions in the towne of Genes and the other for that being a chiefe leader of the Guelffes faction at Myllan caried a minde much deuided from Lodovvyk To whom as yet the king refused to giue the principallitie of Tarenta saying his bonde had no force till he had reduced into his power all the realme of Naples These thinges being bitterly displeasing to Lodovvyk he restrayned twelue gallyes which were armed for the king at Genes and denownced the appoynting of any more vessells there for the french seruice which the king complayned to be the cause that he did not eftsoones reassayle with a new supply the rocke of Yschia Thus suspicions and disdaynes growing on all partes and the suddeine conquest of Naples representing to the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan the present perill of their estates they were constrayned to ioyne vertue to their councells and deferre no longer to put their thoughtes in execucion wherein for the furthering of their resolucion courage they had the consideracion of the mighty companies of confederats for that to this the Pope was no lesse ready to whom the greatnes of the french was fearefull and suspicious then Maximylian king of Romaines wholly disposed to whome aboue all other for many occasions of hatred to the crowne of France and for the many iniuries receiued by the king raygning the prosperities of France were hatefull But the chiefe groundes and foundacions whereuppon the Venetians and Lodovvyk wrought were the King and Queene of Spayne who being a litle before bownd to the french king not for other respect then to draw from him the earledom of Rossillion not to hinder him in the conquest of Naples had conningly reserued to them selues till that tyme a free power to doe the contrary for if their brutes be true there was a clause annexed to the capitulacions made for the restitucion of the Earledom of Rossillion which bare that they should not be bownd to any thing that touched the preiudice of the Church of which exception they inferred that if the Pope for thinterest of his chiefe desired them to succor the realme of Naples they had good right to doe so without breaking their â—aith or corrupting their promises To this they added afterwards that by the same capitulacions they were forbidden to oppose them selues against king Charles in case it appeared that the same kingdom did iudicially apperteyne vnto him But what difference so euer was betwene the truth and their constructions of thinges it is certeyne that hauing got that they desired they beganne not onely to giue hope to the succors of them of Aragon and secretly to solicite the Pope not to abandon their cause but also as they had in the beginning exhorted the french king with wordes moderat as louers of his glory and zealous to religion to conuert his armies rather against Infidells then the Christian nations So they continued eftsoones that course but with so much more efficacie and wordes suspected by howe much the victorie of the king aduaunced and flourished And to th ende they might couer their doinges with more authoritie and to nourish in greater hopes the Pope and thAragons and of the other parte giuing out a brute that they had regard onely to the gard of Sicily they were ready to sende thether an armie by sea which arriued there after the losse of Naples but yet with an equipage and furniture more in demonstracions then in effectes for that it conteyned not aboue eight hundred horsemen mounted vpon iennets and a thowsand footemen Spanyards They vsed their apparances vntill the taking of Ostia by the Collonnoys and the threates of the french against the Pope gaue them a more honest occasion to aduaunce that which they had fashioned and resolued in their mindes And following their deuise to an action and beginning they protested openly to the king whilest he was at Florence by their Embassadors that according to the office of Princes Christian they would take the defence protection of the Pope and the realme of Naples A chief of the church of Rome wherein hauing already begonne assoone as they vnderstoode of the fleeing of the Aragons to negociat with the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan for confederacion they eftsoones solicited them with a new instance to communicat with them for their common sewertie against the french men So that aswell by the solicitacion of the king of Spayne as occasions of the tyme present threatning indifferent perills to all the principalities in Italy there was at length in the month of Aprill and in the citie of Venice where were thEmbassadors of all those Princes contracted a confederacion betwene the Pope the king of Romaines the king of Spayne the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan The title and publicacion of this league was onely for the defence of the states of one an other reseruing places to whosoeuer would enter it with condicions reasonable But they all being of opinion that it was necessary so to temper thinges as the french king might not holde Naples it was agreed in capitulacions more secrete that the bandes of Spanyardes arriued in Sicily should
be a succor for the recouering of that kingdom to Ferdinand of Aragon who with a great hope in the wills of the people labored to enter into Calabria That the Venetians at the same tyme with their armie by sea should assayle the sea coastes of the sayd kingdom That the Duke of Myllan to hinder succors that might come out of Fraunce should doe what he could to get the citie of Ast wherein was the Duke of Orleans with a very small strength That to the kings of Romaines and Spayne shoulde be contributed by the other confederats a certeine quantitie of money to th ende that either of them shoulde make warre vppon the realme of Fraunce with a puissant armie The confederats withall desiring that all Italy would be vnited in the same concorde of will made instance to the Florentyns and Duke of Ferrara to participat with this league But the Duke being delt withall afore the league was published refused to take armes against the french king and yet with an Italian suttlety he consented that Dom Alphonso his eldest sonne should take pay of the Duke of Myllan for clâ—men at armes with title of Liefetenant ouer all his companies But the cause of the Florentyns was otherwise hauing no lesse iust occasion to leaue the french king then allured to the confederacion with many great offers for that immediatly after the publicacion of the league Lodovvyk offered them in the name of all the confederats so that they would communicat in the league all their forces to resist the king if in his returne from Naples he would vexe them and to ioyne with them assoone as might be for the recouering of Pysa and Lyuorne And on thother side they sawe the kinge neither make reckoning of the promises he had giuen at Florence and much lesse had in the beginning restored them to the possession of their townes nor since the conquest of Naples redeliuered the castells of the same They sawe him make his fayth and othe inferior to the councells of those who fauoring the cause of the Pysans perswaded him that the Florentyns assoone as they were restored would vnite with the other Italians They saw also that notwithstanding the great summes of money other corrupcions which they had bestowed vpon the Cardinall S. Mallovv yet he resisted coldly such as incensed the king against them as one that would not for the loue of the Florentyns come to contencion with the greatones of the kinges court Aswell in these causes general as in matters more particular they found in the king by demonstracions manifest that to the violacion of his faith he had ioyned a careles estimacion of them their merits and amities in so much that one day their Embassadors complayning of the rebellion of Montpulcian and summoning him according to his bonde to compell them of Sienna to render it he aunswered in skorne what he had to doe if their subiectes rebelled because they were ill gouerned But all these notwithstanding the Florentyns framing their councells according to the termes and necessities of their affayres would not suffer disdayne to cary them against their propper profit esteeming it to agree best with their present fortune not to beare inclinacion to the requestes of the confederats aswell not to prouoke against them of new the armie of Fraunce in the kinges returne as for that they woulde yet expect and temporise and hope to haue restitucion of their places by such as kept them and lastly for that they reapposed litle in those promises knowing that they were hated of the Venetians for thimpediments which at sundry tymes they had giueÌ„ to their enterprises knowing manifestly that Lodovvyk aspired to the imperie of Pysa But nowe as all thinges earthly are subiect to their seasons of reuolucion and in mortall felicities can be no assurance nor perpetuitie So about these tymes the reputacion of the french began to diminish in the kingdom of Naples for that making their prosperities serue to their pleasures and gouerning thinges at aduenture they looked not to chase the ennemie out of these fewe places yet holden by them which they might easily haue done if they had followed their fortune They litle considered that armes doe litle aduaunce where pollicie is not concurrant and victory bringes a very short glorye where the gouernment is vnperfect But much more began they to decline in opinion affection and friendship for albeit the king expressed many honorable aspects and liberalities towards the people in graunting thorow out the realme so many priuileages and exempcions as they amounted to more then two hundreth thowsand duckatts by yeare yet other thinges were not redressed nor gouerned with that order and discression that apperteyned for that the king holding it an action inferior to his authoritie greatnes to heare the complaintes and sutes of men referred ouer the whole charge of th affayres to such as gouerned him selfe and they partly by incapacitie and partly by particular couetousnes confounded all thinges for the nobilitie were not embrased with that humanitie they looked for and much lesse had recompenses equall to their merits yea they founde many difficulties to enter into the chambers and audience of the king There was made no distinction of persons the merits and seruises of men were not considered but at aduenture The mindes of such as naturally were estraunged from the house of Aragon were not confirmed many delayes and difficulties were subborned touching the restitucion of the states and goods of those that were of the faction of Aniovv and of the other Barons that had bene banished by the olde Ferdinand fauors and graces were imparted to such as procured them by corrupcion meanes extraordinary from many they tooke without iustice or reason and to many they gaue without occasion or deseruing Almost all offices and dignities were transferred to the french in whom were also inuested to the great greefe of the naturall Lordes all the townes of the demayne such they call those that are wont to obey immediatly the king thinges so much the more greeuous by how much the king had promised there should be no alteracion of nature estate or possession of those gouernments The discontentment of these things was much increased by the insolencie and naturall arrogancie of the french aggrauated much by the facilitie of the victorie which caried them into those opinions and weenings that they estemed nothing of the whole Monarchie of Italy attributing that to their proper vertue and vallour which chaunced by their fortune and felicitie And these publike generall insolencies were made more intollerable by many priuat and inferior abuses as the armie being furried in many partes of the realme and the bandes dispersed more at aduenture then by discression liued in such vnbrideled incontinencie that those wiues and daughters that had escaped their dissolucion in the tyme of hostilitie were violently dishonored bearing the name of their hostes and friendes In so much as these doinges
then for his proper vertue he assigned other Capteines in many partes of the realme on whom he had bestowed estates and reuenues of these the chief was M. D'aubygny whom he had made great Constable of the realme for Calabria In Caiette the Seneshall of Beaucaire whom he had raysed to thoffice of highe Chamberlaine And in Abruzze Gracian a valiant Capteine and of great reputacion promising them all in one generall faith and worde of a Prince to sende them speedy reskew of money and men But in the meane while to enterteyne the warre he left them no other prouicion thē the assignacion of those moneyes which should be dayly gathered of the reuenues of the realme which beganne already to wauer and shake for that the name of thAragons beganne to reuiue in many places For at the same tyme that the king would departe from Naples Ferdinand accompanied with the spanish armie that came by sea into the yle of Sicile was discended into Calabria to whom slocked with a swift readines many trowpes of the contreymen the citie of Regge rendring it selfe to him whose castell had bene alwayes kept in his name At the same tyme was discouered about the shoares of Pouylla the Venetian armie by sea ouer whom was Capteine Anthony Grymany a man in that common weale of great authoritie But neither for these nor many other signes of chaūges towardes the king did not forbeare no not once suspende or linger his deliberacion to goe his way for besides that happly they were driuen by necessitie the desire was incredible in the king and all his court to returne into Fraunce as though fortune that was sufficient to make them get so great a victorie had bene still so able to preserue it for them he did not remember that the getting of a victorie is referred to fortune but the losse of a kingdom is imputed to the king who standes then in most necessitie of councell and discression when fortune makes him beleue he is in most securitie it is familiar with fortune to doe more harme in one day then she doth good in many yeares vsing for her delite to rayse vp vayne men for her glory and suffer them eftsoones to fall with the waight of their propper vanitie and want of gouernment In this tyme also held good for Ferdinand the yles of Yschia and of Lipara which albeit were neare to Sicile yet they are members of the kingdom of Naples he held Reggi which he had newly recouered and euen in Calabria he commaunded Villenenfue with the castell and places about Brondusa where Federyk was retyred also Galipoli la Mantia and Turpia Before the king parted from Naples many thinges were innegociacion betwene him and the Pope not without great hope of concorde In which actions was sent from the Pope to the king and after returned to Rome the Cardinall S. Denys and for the french king M. Franci The king desired greatly thinuestiture of Naples and that the Pope if he would not ioyne with him at the least that he would not be for his enemies that he would receiue him into Rome as a friende To which demaundes albeit at the beginning the Pope bare some inclinaciō yet distrusting much in him selfe of the king and esteeming that to separate him selfe from the confederats and consent to thinuestiture would be supposed a meane sufficient to make a faithfull reconciliacion with him he obiected many difficulties to thother demaundes and to that of thinuestiture albeit the king would condiscende to take it vnder this condicion not to be preiudiciall to the rightes of an other he aunswered that he wished the lawes might be looked into afore to see to whom the right apperteyned And of the other side seeking to giue impediment by force to the kinges entrye into Rome he sent to the state of Venice and to the Duke of Myllan to refurnishe him with succors and strength of souldiers who immediatly sent him a thowsand light horsemen and two thowsand footemen with promise of an ayde of a thowsande men at armes with which bandes ioyned to his owne forces he hoped to be able to make resistance But the Venetians and Duke of Myllan considering afterwards that it was a thinge too daungerous to sende their strength and companies so farre from their owne estates seeing that neither the whole armie agreed vpon was yet in order and parte of their puoples occupied in thenterprise of Ast and ioyning withall to these dowtes thinfidelitie of the Pope remembred in a late experience when king Charles past that way he called Ferdinand into Rome with his armie suddeinly with a coūcell chaunged made him yssue forth againe They began to perswade him to withdrawe to some place of sewertie rather then to aduenture his person to so great a daunger in striuing to defende Rome These thinges increased the 〈…〉 nges hopes to come to composicion with the Pope The french king departed from Naples the xx day of May But for that he had not taken in the beginning with the ceremonies accustomed the titles enseignes regall of the kingdom A fewe dayes afore his departure he receiued solemnlie in the cathedrall Church with great pompe and celebracions the royall ornaments the honors othes and homages accustomed to be done to new kinges At this coronacion the oracion was pronounced in the name of the people of Naples by Iohn Iouian Pontan to whose prayses very cleare and shining for thexcellencie of his doctrine his life and ciuilitie of maners this action brought no smal stayne and a slaunder for that as he had bene of long a principal Secretorie to the kinges of Aragon of very priuate and familiar authoritie and the teacher and maister of Alphonso So whether it were to obserue iustly the partes proper to orators or to show his affection to the french he tooke too great a libertie to speake in the disprayses and derogacion of the kinges by whom he had bene so much aduaunced So hard it is sometymes for a man to keepe in him selfe that moderacion and those rules which he following with so great doctrine had taught to others writing of morall vertues by his wit and knowledge had made him selfe wonderfull to the world in all kindes of philosophie and learning The king ledd with him viij hundreth french launces two hundred gentlemen for his garde a hundreth launces vnder the Lord Triuulce three thowsand Svvyzzers footemen a thowsand frenchmen and a thowsand Gascoyns hauing ordeyned that in Tuskane Camylla Vitelli and his brother should ioyne with him with two hundreth and fiftie men at armes that the armie by sea should draw towards Lyuorne Virginio Vrsin and the Count Petillane followed the king without other garde or sewertie then their faith not to goe away without leaue Their cause for that they reasoned that they were not iustly made prisoners had bene disputed in the kinges councell afore whome they alleaged that at the tyme they yelded them selues
haue risen no small insurrections for that the losse of Nouare and the present face and consideracion of troubles towardes kindled in the Myllanoys a wonderfull inclinacion to reuolt and chaunge wherein Lodovvyk no lesse tymerous in aduersitie then insolent in prosperitie was seene with teares vnprofitable to acknowledge his cowardise for the most part is ioyned in one self subiect insolencie and tymerousnes they also that were with Galeas in whome onely consisted his defence remeyning behinde showed them selues in no place to his reskew but because the condicions and disorders of the ennemie are not alwayes knowne to the other Capteynes it hapneth often in warres that many goodly occasions are lost there being also no apparance that so suddeine a mutacion could succeede against so great a Prince seeing withall it is a principall pollicie in Princes in seasons daungerous and conspiring to make their strength at home free from feare ielowsie or suspicion The Duke of Orleans to assure the conquest of Nouare determined to haue the castell which the fift day accorded to yelde if within xxiiij howers they were not succored during which tyme Galeas de S. Seuerin had leasure to conuey his companies to Vigeneue and the Duke who the better to reconcile the minds of the people had by proclamacion called in many exactions imposed afore vpon the communaltie good respit to encrease and refurnish his armie All which notwithstanding the Duke of Orleans hauing ranged his bandes where the walls of Vigeneue offered battell to his enemies on whom fell so generall astonishment that they were vppon the poynt to abandon the towne and passe the riuer of Thesin by a bridge they had made vppon boates and other matter necessary to their succors in the passage Thennemie refusing to fight the Duke of Orleans retyred to Trecas from this time the affayres of Lodovvyk began to sayle with a better gale many supplyes of horsemen and footemen arriuing in his armie for the Venetians being content that the charge to meete the french king should be in effect to them alone consented that Lodovvyk should call backe parte of those bandes he had sent vppon the costes of Parmesan and with all they refurnished him with foure hundreth stradiots Insomuch as the meane to passe further was taken from the Duke of Orleans who making a roade with fiue hundreth horsemen euen to Vigeneue and the horsemen of thennemie encountring with them a great losse light vpon the D. of Orleans This encounter gaue courage to Galeas S. Seuerin both superior in forces and nothing inferior in fortune to present battell to the Duke at Trecas At length all the armie being assembled wherin besides thItalian souldiers was arriued a thowsand horsemen a thowsand footemen of Alemains incamped within a myle of Nouaro whether the D. of Orleans was retyred with all his regiments The newes of the reuolt of Nauaro procured the king being then at Syena to make way And therefore he auoyded all occasions that might make his departure slow or hinder his resolucion wherein being well aduertised that the Florentyns warned by the perills past and newly falne into suspicion for that Peter demedicis followed him albeit they had determined to receiue him into Florence with honors due to his greatnes yet for their more sewertie they filled their towne with men of armes and pyked bandes he drew to Pysa by the landes of the Florentyns leauing the citie on the right hand In the towne of Poggibonse met him Ieronimo Sauonarola who according to his custome vsing the name and authoritie of God to his purpose showed him vnder vehement inuectiues and gesture that he ought to restore to the Florentyns their townes ioyning to his perswasions threatnings absolute and terrible that if he obserued not that he had sworne with so great solemnitie and that vppon the holy Gospells yea almost afore the eyes and presence of God a punishment would follow equall to his infidelitie and periurie The king made him sundry aunsweres according to his inconstancie hauing as litle conscience to keepe his faith as he had regard to giue it sometymes he promised the frear to make restitucion assoone as he was come to Pysa and immediatly wresting his promise and othe he sayd he had sworne to the Pysans to protect their libertie afore he made any oth at Florence and yet he gaue hopes alwayes to their Embassadors for the restitucion of their peeces assoone as he was come to Pysa where being arriued the matter was eftsoones proponed in the kinges councell for that the preparacions vnitie and strength of the confederats about the borders of Parma increasing dayly they began to looke into the difficulties to passe thorow Lumbardye for which cause many desired the moneyes and other succors offered by the Florentyns But to these councells were contrary euen those Capteynes and gentlemen who had resisted them at Sienna They alleaged that albeit there hapned by the opposicion of the ennemie any disorder or difficultie to passe thorow Lumbardye yet it were better to haue in their power the citie of Pysa whether they might retyre then to leaue it in the handes of the Florentynes who hauing once reobteined the places they demaunded would be of no better faith then had bene the other Italyans They added that in comparison of commodities it was very conuenient for the sewertie of the kingdom of Naples to holde the port of Lyuorne for that the plot layd to alter the state of Genes succeeding well to the king wherof the hope could not be dowtefull he should be souereigne Lord almost of all the seas euen to the hauen of Naples sewer these reasons were able to doe much in the minde of the king as yet litle capable to chuse the best councell but of farre greater power were the peticions and teares of the Pysans who in great concurse of men women and children sometymes prostrate at the kinges feete and eftsoones recommending to euery one yea euen the least of his court and the souldiers with lamentable cryinges and complaintes bewayled their miseries and calamities to come the insatiable hatred of the Florentyns and the last desolacion of their contrey which should not haue cause to lament for any other thing then for that his maiestie had put them in libertie and promised to protect them in it In assurance whereof they beleuing the word of a right Christian king of Fraunce to be a word firme and resolute they had taken boldnes so much the more to prouoke the hatred of the Florentyns with these complaintes and exclamacions accompanied with the present aspect and view of their miseries they discended with such compassion into the hartes euen of the most simple men at armes the archers of the armie and many of the Svvyzzers that they went in great numbers and tumult to the king whom Salzart one of the Pensioners speaking in the name of them all they besought with instance vehement and humble that for the honor of his
rather to a power absolut then authoritie lymited or regulated for that besides that he had many yeares managed that dignitie with happy successe and besides his many excellent giftes graces of the minde he had so preuayled with singularitie of conning dealing that many Senators willingly opposed against such as in a name to be wise for long experience and for that they had obteyned supreme dignities were of greatest reputacion in that common weale linked to him and followed commonly his opinions rather in a manner of confederats and partakers then with that forme of grauitie integritie which duely is requisit in the office of Councellors He desirous to leaue with the increase of the state a worthy memorie of his name not putting any ende to his appetit after glorie and much lesse contented that during his rule the yle of Cypres failing the kinges of the house of Lusignian should be annexed to the Empire of Venice was importunat to embrase euery occasion to make great their estate In which inclinacion opposing him self against those who for the regard of Pysa councelled the contrary he showed with rounde discourse of wordes and reasons howe much it imported the Senat in vtilitie and conueniencie to haue Pysa how much it concerned them to represse by this meanes the arrogācie of the Florentyns who in the death of Phillipp Maria Visconte had made them lose thoccasion to be Lordes of the Duchie of Myllan of late in their action of loanes of money during the french warres had done more harme then any one of thother Potentats he declared that seldom are offered so goodly occasions what infamie to lose them and afterwardes what repentance would follow for not embrasing them That the condicions of Italy were not such that in the other Potentats was power of them selues to oppose against thenterprise and much lesse was their dowte that for this indignacion or feare they would haue recourse to the french king for that neither the Duke of Myllan hauing so highly offended him durst neuer eftsoones trust him neither such thoughtes moued the Pope And the king of Naples when he had recouered his kingdom would heare no more speaking of the french men Besides their entrie into Pysa albeit greeuous to others was not an accident so furious nor a perill so neare as in regard of that the other Potentats should runne rashly into those remedies which are vsed in the last dispaire no more then in sleight diseases the Phisicion makes no haste to giue stronge medicines esteeming that the patient hath time enough to take them That if in this weakenes and separacion of the other Italians they were fearfull to make reckoning of so goodly occasion it were an exspectacion vaine to tary to be able to doe it with more sewertie the other Potentats being returned into their former strēgths no lesse assured from the feare of them on thother side the Mountes That for a remedie of too great a feare they had to consider that all worldely actions were ordeyned to many perills But wise men knewe that there falles not alwayes in question all the ills that may happen for that either by the benefit of fortune or by aduenture many daungers are dissolued and many auoyded with industrie and helpe of the time And therefore it is no office in men deliberating vppon enterprises to confound as many affirme considering litle the proprietie of names and substance of thinges feare with discression and much lesse are to be reputed wise those sortes of people who making certeine all perills that are dowtfull and therefore haue feare of all doe rule their deliberacion as if they should all happen seeing in no manner can merit the name of wise or discreete such men as feare more then they ought thinges that are to fal That such title praise was farre more conuenient for men valiant and coragious for that looking into the state and nature of daungers and in that regard different from the rash sort in whom is no impression of sense or iudgement of perills they doe notwithstanding discouer how often men some time by aduenture and some times by vertue are deliuered from many difficulties So that those that in deliberating call not into councell aswell hope as feare doe most commonly iudge for certeine the euents that are vncerteine and reiect more easily then others occasions profitable and honorable In imitacion of whom and withall setting afore our eyes the weaknes and separacion of the other Potentats the great power and fortune of the common weale of Venice the magnanimitie and glorious examples of our elders we may embrase with a franke resolucion the protection of the Pysans by whose meane we may in short time see our selues absolut Lordes of that citie A ladder most conuenient to rayse vs to the Monarchie of all Italy Thus the Senat receiued the Pysans into protection by decree publike and speciall promise to defend their libertie which deliberacion was not in the beginning considered by the Duke of Myllan as was conuenient For by this meanes being excluded to enterteyne any bandes there he held it very acceptable to be deliuered of such expenses he esteemed it also not out of the way of his profit that Pysa at one time shoulde be thoccasion of great charges both to the Venetians and the Florentyns Lastly he perswaded him selfe that the Pysans for the greatnes and neighbourhood of his estate and for the memorie of thinges done by him for their deliuerie would be so dedicated to him that they would alwayes preferre him before all others He tooke delite to feede the humor of these deuises and deceitfull hopes with a perswacion wherewith litle remembring the ordinary inconstancie of humane thinges he nourished him selfe to haue as it were vnder his feete fortune whose sonne he would not stick with publike vaunting to say he was so much was he puffed vp with vayne glorie by the prosperous succeeding of his affayres and no lesseouerruled with singular weening for that by his meanes and his councells the french king first passed into Italy appropriating to him selfe the chasse giuen to Peter de medicis by the Florentyns with losse of his estate the rebellion of the Pysans and the fleing of thArragons from the realme of Naples And afterwards with a councel chaunged he was the cause by his deuises and authoritie of the confederacion of so many Potentats against the french king of the returne of Ferdinand into the kingdom of Naples of the departing of the french out of Italy with condicions vnworthy such a greatnes And lastly in the action of the Capteine who had in charge the citadell of Pysa wherein his industrie or his authoritie had more power then the wil commaundements of his king with which rules measuring thinges to come and iudging the wisedom and pollicie of all others to be farre inferior to the excellencie of his spirit he flattered him selfe to be alwayes able
Federyk succeeded him being the fift king seene to succeede in that kingdom in three yeares time Assoone as Federyk was aduertised of the death of his Nephew he leauied his seege from before Caietta and went to Naples where was the olde Queene his mother in law who put into his handes new castell albeit many were of opinion that she would reteyne it for her brother Ferdinand king of the Spanish In this accident were most singular towards Federyk not onely the wills of the peoples but also thinclinacions of the Princes of Salerne and of Bisignan together with the faith of the Count Capaccie all which were the first that pronownced his name within Naples going to meete him saluted him as king at his discending from the ship They were farre better content with him then with the last king no lesse for the mildenes and moderacion of his mind which they honored with great reuerence and humilitie then for the sewertie of their owne estates hauing no small suspicion that Ferdinand assoone as he had addressed his affayres had intencions to call to aunswere all those that in any sort had bene fauorers of the french But these alteracions and disorders hapning with so great dishonor and domage to the french faction had no power to giue a new life to the king much lesse hasten his prouisions who stāding intangled with the delites pleasures of the court made yt foure monethes afore he returned to Lyons And albeit in this amarous negligence he often times recommended to such as he had left there the solicitacion and dispatch of all prouisions aswel for sea as land and the Duke of Orleans was prepared to depart yet by the auncient connings of the Cardinall of S. Mallovv the men at armes which were slenderly payed marched as slowly towards Italy And the nauie by sea which was to be assembled at Marseilles aduaunced so slackly that the confederats had leasure enough to sende first to Ville franche a large hauen neare to Nice and afterwards euen to the roades of Marceilles an armie by sea leauied at their common charges at Genes to giue impediments to the vessells of Fraunce that were to goe to the realme of Naples And to these great and generall delayes proceeding principally from the Cardinall of S. Mallovv wise men dowted that there was ioyned some other cause more secret interteyned in the kinges mind with a singular art and diligence of such as with many reasons labored to turne him from the enterprises of Italy for that they thought that for his proper regard and interest he ought to beielous ouer the greatnes of the Duke of Orleans on whom if the victorie succeeded the Duchie of Myllan shoulde fall Besides they occupied with him this discourse of perswasions that it was farre from pollicie and his propper sewertie to goe out of Fraunce afore he had made some contract with the kinge of Spaine who expressing a desire to be reconciled had sent Embassadors to his Maiestie to induce a truce and insinuat an agreement Many councelled him to tary till the Queene was brought to bed for that it agreed not with his wisedom was contrary to the loue he ought to beare to his peoples to obiect his person to so many perills afore he had a sonne heire to receiue so great a succession A reason which made the deliuerie of the Queene more painefull and her frute more wretched vnfortunat seeing that not many dayes after the masculyn yssue which God had giuen him dyed So that partely by particular negligence in the king but more by the errours vices of his simple councell and partly by the difficulties which others suggested the prouisions waued so long in delayes that the ruine of his people and whole losse of the kingdom made lamentable vnto them the operacions of their owne indiscression yea the like had hapned to his frendes and confederats in Italy if of them selues they had not constantly defended their proper estates It hath bene set downe before how for feare of the french prouicions and more for the contentment of Lodovvyk Sforce then any thing agreeable to the Venetians there was a plot layd to make passe into Italy Maxymilian Caesar with whom whilest that feare indured it was agreed that the Venetians should giue him for three whole monethes twenty thowsande duckats for euery moneth to th ende he should bring with him a certeine proporcion of horsemen and footemen vpon the which passing of accord Lodovvyk accompanied with thEmbassadors of the confederats went to Manza a place on thother side the Mountes vpon the confyns of Almayne to communicat with his Maiestie where after they had vsed great conference Lodovvyk came backe againe the same day to Bormy A towne of the Duchie of Myllan on this side the Mountes whether came Maxymilian the day following vnder cooller of going on hunting And after in that enteruiewe of two dayes they had set downe the time and maner of his marching into Italy Maxymilian returned into Iermany to solicit thexecucion of thinges that were contracted But the brute of the prouisions of Fraunce inferior to all exspectacion growing now so cold that for that regard it semed not necessary that the king of Romaines should marche yet Lodovvyk determining to serue his ambicion of that which afore he had procured for his proper sewertie continued still to solicit him to descend into Italy wherein to remoue all impediments that might hinder his desire albeit the Venetians would not be concurrant in the promise of thirty thowsand duckats which he demaunded ouer and aboue the lx thowsand that were accorded to him yet he forbare not to binde him selfe alone to that demaund Inso much that in the ende Maxymilian marched and passed into Italy a litle afore the death of Ferdinand of the which when he was aduertised being neare to Myllan he entred into thoughts and deuises so to handle thinges as by his meane the kingdom of Naples might come to Iohn the only sonne of the king of Spaine and his sonne in law But that being farre from the purpose of Lodovvyk and his secrete ambicion he tolde him that in that action he should discontent and trouble all Italy and be the cause to dissolue the vnitie of the confederats and consequently to make easie the enterprises of the king of Fraunce occupying such other conning perswacions that his suttelties so vanquished all the intencions of Caesar as he did not onely giue ouer and denownce his first cogitacion but also fauored and ratified by letters the succession of Federyk he descended into Italy with a very small company of men but the brute ronne that there marched after euen to the proporcion and quantitie which he had promised And being come to Vigeneua where he soiorned Lodovvyk and the Cardinall of Santa Croce sent vnto him as Legat by the Pope together with the Embassadors of the confederats assembled with him in councell to resolue what were
yet he was not without his perplexities not onely by his frendes seeing Consaluo kept one part of Calabria in the name of the king of Spayne but also of his enemies reconciled for that the Prince of Bisignian being one euening sore hurt by a certeine Greeke as he went out of the new castell of Naples the Prince of Salerne was in such feare that the blow was giuen by the kings commaundement in reuenge of thoffences passed that immediatly not dissembling the cause of his suspicion he went from Naples to Salerna And albeit the king sent to vse at his will the Greeke deteyned in prison to iustifie as the truth was that he had giuen the blow for an iniurie to him done by the Prince of Bisignian in the honor and person of his wife yet in auncient great grudges it is hard to establish a faithfull reconciliacion for that it hath his propper impediments either by suspicion or desire of reuenge the Prince of Salerne coulde neuer after dispose him self to trust him which ielousie giuing yet some hope to the french keeping still the Mont S. Ange and other stronge places of some new innouacion or insurrection in the kingdom of Naples procured them with more constancie to stand to their defenses In these seasons were tokens and demonstracions of farre greater daungers in Lombardye by the emocions of the french assured for the present by the threatnings of the Spanish for that passing betwene them rather light incursions and apparances of warre then any thinge of notable action sauing that the french burned the towne of Sausses They had begon a parley of accord and for the more easie negociacion of it had made a surceasing of armes for two monethes By meane whereof the french king hauing a more facilitie to harken after the affayres of Genes and Sauona dispatched to Ast an armie of a thowsand launces three thowsand Svvyzzers and a like number of Gascoyns aduertising Tryuulso his Liefetenant in Italy to applye aydes to Baptistyn and the Cardinall of S. P. ad vincla his intencion was to send after the Duke of Orleans with a stronge armie to execute in his proper name thenterprise of the Duchie of Myllan And to make more easie thaccion of Genes he sent Octauyan Fregose to require the Florentyns to inuade at the same tyme Lunigana and the riuer of the East ordeyning also that the sowtherne riuers should be troubled by Pavvle Baptysta Fregose with seuen gallies This enterprise was begon with such astonishment to the Duke of Myllan not prepared sufficiently of him selfe and lesse sewertie of the aydes promised by the Venetians that if it had proceeded with the same directions and councells it coulde not but haue brought forth some effect of importance and more easily in the Duchie of Myllan then in Genes for at Genes Iohn Lovvys de fiesque the Adornes who were entred into reconcilement by the meane of Lodovvyk had leauyed many bandes of footemen and rigged at the charges of the Venetians and Lodovvyk an armie at sea to the which were ioyned six gallies sent by Federyk But the Pope interteyning the name of a confederat more in councells and demonstracions then in workes and meaninges woulde not in those daungers contribute to any exspenses neither by sea nor land The proceedings of this expedicion were that Baptistyn and with him Tryuulce marched to Nony of which towne Baptistyn had ben despoiled afore by the Duke of Myllan but not of the castell which he had alwayes kept and held yet But by reason of their comming in such stronge order the Count Caiezze which was there in garrison with threescore mē at armes two hundreth light horsemen and fiue hundred footemen distrusting muche to be able to defend it retyred to Sarauall The conquest of this towne augmented greatly the reputacion of the banished for besides that the towne is capable of many people it stoppes the passage from Myllan to Genes and by reason of thopportunitie and seate of the place it is very conuenient to endomage the contrey assisting After this Baptistyn made him selfe Lord of certeine other peeces neare to Nony and at the same tyme the Cardinall with two hundreth launces three thowsand footemen hauing taken Ventimille coasted ouer to Sauona where finding no insurrection by the inhabitants and hauing espiall that Iohn Adorne approched with a stronge bande of footemen he retyred to Altare A place of the Marquis of Montferat distant eyght myles from Sauone But Tryuulce in the beginning did an action of greater importance for that hauing a desire to giue occasion to kindle the warre in the Duchie of Myllan notwithstanding the kinges commission was to execut first the affayres of Genes and Sauone he tooke Bosco a borow of great importance in the contrey of Alexandria Wherein this was his pretext cooler that for the sewertie of the bands which were gone to the East riuers it was necessary to take from those of the Duke the meane to goe into Alexandria vpon the landes of the Genovvays But tempring his desire with regard to the kinges commaundement which he thought not reasonable to impugne manifestly he forbare to passe further losing a most fayre occasion for that all the contrey there about drew into great sturre and tumult for the taking of that place some for feare as the multitude popular some for desire of innouacion which commonly is familiar with the condicion of witts least moderat And of that side there was no greater strength for the Duke then fiue hundreth men at armes and six thowsand footemen besides Galeas de Saint Seuerin who was with in Alexandria began to distrust his defense without greater forces And Lodovvyk him selfe being vexed yet but with apparances and threatnings showing him selfe no more tymorous in this aduersitie then by the propertie of his nature he expressed in all other accidents solicited the Duke of Ferrara to worke some accorde betwene the french king and him But the soiorning of Tryuulce betwene Bosco Nony gaue sufficient tyme to Lodovvyk to furnish him selfe and good respit to the Venetians who seeming most ready and prepared for his defense had sent afore to Genes fifteene hundreth footemen to send into Alexandria bandes of men at armes light horsemen yea the Venetians appoynted the Count Petillane generall of their regimentes for that the Marquis of Mantua was withdrawne from their paye to marche with the moste parte of their companies to the succors of that state Thus thinges begon with so great hope now growing cold Baptistyn hauing nothing profited at Genes for the citie was quiet for the prouisions that were made returned to ioyne with Tryuulce publishing that his exployts brought forth no successe of seruice for that the riuer of the leuant was not assayled by the Florentyns who iudged it not a councell wise to enter into warre if first the thinges of Fraunce appeared not more prosperous and more puisant In like sort came and ioyned with Tryuulce
together with the porcion which apperteyned to the king to pay By reason wherof the Venetians to expresse how much they congratulated his doings toke his sayd sonne into their pay with a hundred men at armes This restitucion made with no iustice albeit was of great importance against the kinges reputacion in Italy yet he dissembled the wronge and made no such apparance of disliking as was conuenient to the grauitie of the dishonor And that which more is the Duke of Ferrara excusing the action by an Embassador sent to his Maiestie that by reason of the neighbourhood of the Venetians and Duke of Myllan both prepared to pronownce warre against him he was constrayned to obey necessitie yet the king gaue as negligent eare as if the nature of the matter had bene light and trifling Wherein this might be one reason of the kinges negligence that besides he proceeded almost at auenture in all his actions yet he was ouerwearied with a continuall care and trauell of minde ioyned to his auncient deuocion to repasse into Italy hauing now greater occasions then euer for that he had made truce with the king of Spayne renewed thalliance with the Svvyzzers and many late causes of disagreement hapned amongest the confederats But as for the most part matters of enterprise do nourish their proper impediments and to Princes their desires doe seldom succeede when their negligence is more common then their resolucions certeine so the kinges disposicion was ouerruled with newe meanes subborned by suche as were in moste principall grace about him Wherof some set afore him his pleasures others encouraged him to embrase thenterprise but with so mighty preparacions both by sea and lande and with so great prouisions of money as could not be refurnished but with a long space and interposicion of tyme others made the action slowe impossible by many difficulties and obiections And the Cardinal of S. Mallovv forgat not his accustomed delayes in thexpedicion of money In so much that not onely the tyme to marche into Italy was more incerteine then euer but also many things were suffered to suspend and miscary which were almost brought to their perfection for the Florentyns continually incensing the king to marche had contracted with him to take armes on their sides assoone as the warre should begin by him and for that effect they did agree that Monsr d'Aubigny with an hundred and fifty french launces the hundred to be payed by the king and the fifty to be mercenary by them shoulde passe by sea into Tuskane to be generall of their armie And the Marquis of Mantua who when he returned victorious from the kingdom of Naples had bene dishonorably disappoynted of the pay of the Venetians for suspicion that he solicited to be mercenary to the french king did now with great diligence and in good earnest negociat with him to that ende The new Duke of Sauoye was confirmed in his good amitie and alliance Bentyuole promised to follow his authoritie assoone as he were come into Italy And the Pope dowting whether he should ioyne with him as he was continually labored determined at the least not to be against him But all exspectacions began nowe to dissolue and mens mocions and mindes to grow colde for the detraction and negligence which the king vsed for that neither his men of warre as was promised passed into Italy to reassemble at Ast neither was Monsr d'Aubigny dispatched and much lesse money sent to pay the Vrsins the Vitellis his souldiers A thing of no litle importance for the warre he ment to make By reason whereof the Vitellis inclining to enter pay with the Venetians the Florentyns who feared they shoulde not haue sufficient respit to giue aduertisement to the king kept them interteyned for one yeare in common for the seruice of the king them selues The king commended much these actions in them but he made no ratificacion nor prouision of payment for his part onely he sent Gemell to them to intreate them to lend him for the furniture of his enterprise an hundred fifty thowsand duckats Lastly the king as he did at other tymes measuring the wils of others by his owne left all thinges to confusion and departed almost vppon the suddeine from Lyon to goe to Tovvars and then to Amboyse with his accustomed promises to returne immediatly to Lyon. For which respects hope fayling in all those that followed his faction in Italy Baptistyn Fregose was the first that reconciled him selfe with the Duke of Myllan who taking courage by these good euentes and successes discouered euery day more and more the ill disposicion he bare towards the Venetians for the regard of Pysa soliciting with continuall importunities the Pope and the king of Spayne eftsoones to call into question but with more efficacie A parliament for the restoring of the same citie And the better to aduaunce the practise the Florentyns receiuing councell and direction from him dispatched an Embassador to Rome but with a commission quallified to proceede so aduisedly that the Pope the residue might perceiue that if Pysa were rendred to them they would ioyne in vnitie with the others for the defense of Italy against the french But in case the restitucion of the citie succeeded not to keepe all things from the knowledge of the french to whom they were carefull to giue any occasion to hold them dowtfull or suspected This conference continued many dayes at Rome wherein was omitted nothing by the Pope thEmbassadors Spanish the Duke of Myllan and the king of Naples that might reasonably induce the Venetian Embassador to hold it necessary for the common sewertie of Italy that by the redeliuery of that citie the Florentyns might participat in the generall league against the french They told him that the Senat of Venice ought to consent thereunto together with others to th ende that the rootes of all emotions and troubles being supplanted there should remeyne to no estate or degree in Italy any occasion to call eftsoones forreine armes ouer the Mountes They told him also that if in that regarde the vnitie of Italy suffered impediment there woulde perhaps be giuen matter occasion to others to take new councells by the which to the common preiudice might happen some alteracion of importance But to this was quite contrary the deliberacion of the Senat of Venice who couering their couetousnes with many coolers and no lesse perceiuing from whome proceeded principally so great an instance made aunswer by the same Embassador complayning not a litle that such a mocion proceeded not of a respectiue care to the â—niuersall benefit but of an ill tempered affection which some of the confederats bare to them for that sayth he the Florentyns hauing with the french men a secret affinitie and coniunction of minde and being perswaded that by their returning into Italy the most part of Tuskane woulde diuolue to their rule and iurisdiction it was without dowt that to reestablish them in
beginning of his raigne with forrein warres hauing first to looke with great study into the state of his owne gouernment at home which commonly to kinges newly inuested bringes many causes of new councells alteracions But the spirits of such as discoursed with iudgement vpon the trayne and euent of things nourished alwayes a secret suspicion that thafflictions that then were but defferred would with tyme redouble and rise growing to greater daungers and more generall harmes specially so great an Empire being falne vpon a king rype in age full of experience ruled in his councells resolut in action moderat in exspenses and in all things without comparison holding more of him selfe then did his predecessor and to whom withal did apperteyne as in the right of the crowne of Fraunce not onely the inheritance of the realme of Naples But also he menteyned that the Duchie of Myllan was his freehold by the succession of the Lady Valentina his grandmother who was maried by Iohn Galeas Visconte his father afore that of viccare of thEmpire he had obteyned the title of the Duke of Myllan to Lovvys Duke of Orleans brother to kinge Charles the sixt At which mariage there was added to the state of the dowrye which was the citie contrey of Ast with great summes of money an expresse condicion that as often and when so euer as the lyne masculyne of the sayde Galeas shoulde fayle the Lady Valentina should succeede to the Duchie of Myllan or she being dead her next heires and discendents which couenant albeit stronge enough of it selfe was confirmed if the frenche tradicions be true by the authoritie of the Pope th imperiall seate beinge voyd at that tyme for the Popes of Rome pretend that the administracion of thEmpire vacant belongeth to them by which meanes the blud male of Iohn Galeas determining afterwards by the death of Phillipp Maria Visconte Charles Duke of Orleans sonne to the Lady Valentina began to pretēd to the succession of the sayd dukedom But as thambicion of Princes is ready to helpe on their titles with euery apparant coler so there aspired at the same time to the sayd dukedom not only thEmprour Federyk alleaging that it was reuerted to the Empire for that the lyne nominated in thinuestiture made to Iohn Galeas by Vincislaus king of Romaines was extinct and dissolued But also Alphonso king of Aragon and Naples who was instituted heire by the Testament of Duke Phillipp And amongest the residue Frauncis Sforce with a fortune force and felicitie more fauorable then the others quarrelled the same title who to giue a better shadowe to the armies which he leuyed in that cause alleaged that his wife Blanche the onely daughter but a bastard of Phillipp had peculiar interest in that succession So that Charles Duke of Orleans who being taken prisoner at the battell of Agincourt in the warres betwene thenglish and french and remeyning restrayned in England xxv yeares was able to doe nothing by reason of his pouertie and hard fortunes to iustifie his title and much lesse could he obteyne ayde of king Lovvys the xj notwithstanding he was his nearest kinsman the reason was that the same king in the beginning of his raigne was much molested and manifestly inuaded in diuerse partes of his kingdom by the great Lordes and Barons of the same shadowing their conspiracies with a showe of publike profit But because the king saw that their intencions drew with them priuat regardes and particular interests he kept them alwayes in bridle and esteemed his estate and sewertie to consist in the embasing of the great ones of his realme but chiefly his nearest competitors And for that reason Lovvys Duke of Orleans sonne to Charles albeit he was his sonne in law could draw no fauors or succors from him the same driuing him after the death of his sayd father in law together with his impaciēce that the Lady Anne Duchesse of Burbon the kinges sister was preferred afore him to the gouernment of Charles the eyght then in minoritie to trouble Fraunce with a very slender successe and after retyred into Britain with a worse fortune for ioyning with those that were against thintencion of Charles to obteyne Brittain by marying with Anne heire of the state by the death of Frauncis her father leauing no yssue male yea aspiring secretly to the same mariage he was taken in an encownter betwene the french and the Brittons neare S. Aulbyn in that contrey from thence led prisoner into Fraunce where he remeyned two yeares In so much as fayling then of meanes and finding no succors in king Charles after he was out of prison he ioyned no further action to that enterprise but when the king left him within Ast he made him selfe Lord of Nouaro with a very litle profit But being now become king of Fraunce he held nothing of greater affection then to reconquer the Duchie of Myllan as a succession iustely apperteyning to him This desire planted in him from his youth was eftsones wonderfully increased and aduaunced by the successe he had at Nouaro and withall for that he greatly hated Lodovvyk Sforce by reason of the insolent demonstracions and behauiors which he vsed to him when he had the kings deputacion in Ast Therfore not long after the death of king Charles by resolucion set downe in his elect councel he intitled him self not only king of Fraunce and for the regard of the realme of Naples king of Ierusalem both the Cycillyes but also soueraigne Duke of Myllan And because he would make knowen to the world what was his inclinacion to the things of Italy he wrote letters full of amitie and congratulacion touching his ascending to the crowne to the Pope the Venetians and the Florentyns and withall dispatched mē of speciall credence to giue hopes of new enterprises but chiefly of his determinacion to conquer the Duchie of Myllan wherin the tyme running nourished for him many fauors and oportunities for that the death of his predecessor had innouated in the mindes of the Italians many new humors inclinacions much differing from the cogitacions purposes they had afore for the Pope whose ambicious thoughts could not be satisfied if Italy stoode in tranquillitie wished that thinges might grow to hurly burly seeking his peculiar aduauncement in the common diuision of principallities and states A desire not vnlikely to deriue from such a mind to whom all thinges were hatefull that held of equitie conscience or religion and nothing vnsauery that smelled of troubles innouacion and chaunge And the Venetians being now deliuered of the feare they had of king Charles for the wronges iniuries they had done him expressed manifestly that they had no distrust in the new king which disposicion increased dayly more and more for that Lodovvyk Sforce notwithstanding he knew that he had to doe with an ennemy more mighty and lesse plyable feding him selfe with this hope the same also beguiling Federyk of Aragon that the
possessed by the Viccairs of Romagna and withall to giue him presently thirtie thousand duckattes vnder this cooller that he was constrained to interteine a greater force for the gard of his person as though to knit himselfe with the French king were to stirre vp many of the Potentates in Italie to seeke to hurt and oppresse him For th execution of these couenantes both the king began to make payment of the money and the Pope committed the action of the diuorce to the bishop of Setto his Nuncio and to tharchbishops of Parys and Roan And albeit in the trauerse of the cause the kinges wyfe impugned the iudgement yet in the ende holding for no lesse suspected the consciences of the Iudges then the might and greatnes of her aduersarie she tooke comfort in her innocencie and disclaimed her suite receiuing for thinterteinment of her person the Duchie of Berry with thirtie thousande Frankes of Reuenue And so the diuorce confirmed by sentence of the Iudges there rested nothing els exspected for the dispensing and and accomplishing of the new mariage but the comming of Caesar Vorgia lately of a Cardinall and Archbishop of Valence become a soldiour and Duke of Valentinoys the king hauing giuen him a companie of a hundred Launces and twentie thousand Frankes pension and for his title of dukedome he indued him with Valence a Citie of Danphyne with twentie thousand Frankes of Reuenue he embarqued at Ostia vppon the Gallyes which the king sent him and arryued about the end of the same yeare at the french Court where he entred with a pomp and pride incredible and brought with him the Cardinalles hatt for George Amboise Archbishop of Roan Who hauing alwayes affore participated in the daungers and fortunes of the king helde with him great authoritie grace and reputation This new Duke albeit he was receiued of the king with great honour and all other offices of court yet his manner of dealing was not well lyked in the beginning for that according to the direction and councell of his father he denied that he had brought with him the bull of dispensacion hoping that the desire to obteine it would make the king more easie to assist his plottes and purposes then would do the remembrance that he had receiued it vsing this reason that there is nothing endureth so small a tyme as the memorie of benefittes receiued the more great they bee the more commonly are they recompenced with ingratitude But the bishop of Setto reueiling the truth secretly to the king who making it sufficient to godwarde that the bull was dispatched and ratified consommated the mariage openly with his new wyfe without making more demaundes for the bull the same being the cause that the Duke could no longer keepe from him the bull Authentyke and iustefied And finding out after by suttle inquirie that the bishop of Setto had reuealed the matter he caused him soone after by secret meanes to dye of poyson the vnfortunate bishop not remembring that in matters of estate betweene princes he that discloseth his secret to another worketh to himself the occasion of his death The king being now in some stabilitie of minde by his new mariage began to be carefull to renue leagues amities with his neighbours making presentlie a firme peace with the king of Spaine who bearing now no more regarde to the thinges of Italie called home all his Embassadours remayning there except him that laye resident with the Pope and readiourned Consaluo into Spaine with all his regiment leauing to Federick all those peeces in Calabria which he had holden till that day he had a great deale more trouble to accorde with the king of Romains who was newly discended into Burgongny by occasion of some commocions stirring there being for that expediciō ayded with a round summe of money by the Duke of Myllan in whom preuayled muche this kinde of persuacion that eyther the warre which hee should make vppon the french king would turne him from thenterprise of Italy or at least if any agreement succeeded betweene them he should be comprehēded in it as the king of Romains had assuredly promised him But at last after much discourse of reasonings and meetings the king made a new peace with Tharchduke by the which were to bee rendered vnto him the places of the countrey of Artoys a thing which to th ende it might bring effect and profit to his sonne the king of Romains consented to make truce with him for many monethes without making mencion of the Duke of Myllan against whom he seemed at that tyme much discontented for that he had not alwayes satisfied his infinit demaunds of money Lastly the french king ratifiyng the peace made with the king of Englande by his predecessor reiected all solicitacions and suites made to him to receiue the Duke of Myllan to any composicion who for his part albeit he protested large offers offices vsed no lesse corrupcions to induce him yet all his industries and practises were vaine in the kings sight who to lay a more sure foūdaciō of the warre pretended sought how he might at one time tie to him in suertie of amitie the Venetians Florentyns and therefore he required with great importunities that ceassing to vexe the Pisans the Venetians would put Pisa into his hands whereunto the rather to draw the Florentyns to consent he offred secretly to restore it to thē within a short tyme This practise being founde full of many difficulties and concurring in it diuers endes and intrestes was for many monethes debated with delayes for that the Florentyns holding it necessarie that in that case they should make aliance with the french king and fearing by the remembrance of thinfidelitie of Charles the present busines should suffer no lesse breach of promyse in the king raigning coulde not agree amongst themselues nor consent in vnitie of opinion and councell wherein one reason of their disagreement was that their citie was vnquietly tossed betweene thambicion of some of the greatest Rulers and the vnbridled libertie of the gouernment popular and being reapposed by reason of the warre of Pisa vppon the Duke of Myllan the whole citie was falne into such generall diuision that it was harde to deliberat in peace and quiet vppon matters of importance some of the principall citizens desiring the victorie to the french king and others of the contrary bearing their whole affections to the Duke of Myllan The Venetians also notwithstanding all other difficulties had bene ouercome which might hinder the accorde had yet determined not to consent to put Pisa into a third hande hoping that for the regarde of the repayment of their charges and to leaue Pisa with lesse dishonor they should obteine better condicions in the negociacion that was holden at Ferrara which was vehemently solicited by Lodovvyk both for feare least the deputacion of Pisa falling to the french both those common weales would knit with the king and also hoping that the
cōtrouersie being accorded for the profit of Italy the Venetians would shake of leaue there the malice they had to hurt him which respects cōsideraciō together with the practise that continued at Ferrara displeased not a litle the french king lyke as also the Pope to make his profit of the trauels of others sought indirectly to hinder it For that standing in great place of credit fauour with the king so far as concerned the affaires of Italy he hoped that making Pisa to diuolue by deputacion to the king hee should in some sort participate with a plentifull share But as in matters of enterpryse wyse men will debate all thinges at lardge and by howe muche the cause is wayghtie and maye nouryshe occasion of many accidentes and fortunes by so much it concerneth the reputacion of maiestrates and councellours not only to looke into the generall estate nature of the busines but to examine euerie particular circumstance with a full discourse of reason wisdome and foresight euen so in these actions of practise and intelligences they consulted at Venice whether if the king missed of his demaund for the deputacion whereunto they had determined neuer to consent they might enter confederation with him touching the warre against the Duke of Myllan as the king with great importunitie had solicited and offred them for the reward of the victory the citie of Cremona and all Guiaradadda an offer which albeit was greatly desired of them all with no smal ambiciō yet the deliberation seemed to some of them to cary so many respects cōsideracions of importance that the power of a french king in Italy could not but bring daūger to their estate that the matter was brought into the councell of the Pregati the chiefest assemblie amongst them there was disputed with no smal diuersitie of opinions reasons Amongst whom one day wherein the last resolucion should be set downe Anthony Grymany a man for his authoritie much reuerenced for his wisdom no lesse respected persuaded the residue of the Senat in this sort It is my Lords in the disposiciō of men a custome vile odious to forget what they haue receiued of their frendes euen whē they were at point to fal into their full ruine desolaciō But it is an vnthākfulnes too intollerable euē slaūderous to nature all natural office to requite benefits with iniuries make recompēce to the merits good wills of men with cōspiracies harmes stretching to the spoiles of those by whose helpes ministracions they were earst preserued And as in cases of harmes and domages there is no man that can tell how sweete is the passion of reuenge better then he that hath receiued the hurt So the dispite of the iniurie drawing with it a desire of reuenge I can not thinke that it is any iniustice to be reuēged of him that hath don the first wrōg if therfore my Lords you wel cōsider the greatnes of the good turnes which the Duke of Myllā hath receiued of our cōmon weale by the which in these latter yeares his whole estate hath receiued his whole protection and preseruacion and of the contrary looke thorowly into the parts of his ingratitude training many grosse iniuries don to vs to compel vs to abandon the defense of Pisa wherunto he gaue vs the first suggestion encouragemēt I doubt not but making a right collection of his dealings behauiors past you wil iudge against his corrupt properties condicions so not thinke it vnnecessary to be reuenged of him that hath not thought it dishonest to requite our frendships and well meaning with iniuries and actions of conspiracie There can not happen a greater infamy to this common weale then by the tolleracion of so many apparant wronges to expresse to all the worlde that we are come to degenerat from the magnanimitie of our elders with whom this was an auncient and setled custome that as often as they were discontented with offences they neuer refused to embrase any perill or daunger to preserue the dignitie reputacion and honour of the name of the Venetians and not without reason for that the deliberacions of common weales require not regardes and endes abiect and priuat and muche lesse that all their councelles and actions stande only vppon respectes to profite But it is also conuenient that they aspyre to endes more excellent and honourable by the which may bee increased their glorie and their reputacion preserued A matter which nothing makes so soone to be lost and defaced as when there is occasion giuen to the world to thinke that there is neither valour vertue nor habilitie to be touched with the remembrance of iniuries receiued nor no readines showed to be reuenged An action not a litle necessary not so much for the sweetnes and pleasure in the reuenge as for that the iustice and punishment of the offendor breedes suche example to others that they will haue lesse courage to attempt the lyke of suche consequence is that glorie which is founde to bee ioyned with vtilitie high and honorable deliberacions alwayes declaring themselues full of commodities and profits Thus one displeasure takes away from men many other and oftentymes by one only short punishment they are founde to bee deliuered from many and very long paynes And yet if wee consider the state of thaffaires of Italy and the disposicion of many great Princes against vs together with thambushes which Lodovvyk Sforce dresseth continually agaynst vs wee may knowe that wee are ledde to this deliberation no lesse by the necessitie present then in consideration of other things for Lodovvyk pushed on by his naturall ambicion equall with the hate he beares to this most excellent Senat hath nothing in more great care or study then to dispose the myndes of all the Potentates in Italy against vs to set the king of Romains in discontentment with vs to make vs hatefull to the whole nation of the Iermains and lastly he begins for the same effect to interteyne intelligence and practise with the Turke you see already with what difficulties by his meanes working yea almost without hope wee susteine the defence of Pisa and manage the warre in Casentyn which if it bee continued it can not bee without heaping greater effectes of daungers and disorders And if it be abandoned without laying other foundation to our affaires it can not bee but with so great a diminucion of reputacion that it ministreth a wonderfull courage to who so euer hereafter shall haue disposicion to oppresse vs and it can not bee vnknowen to all your wisdomes that it is more easie to oppresse him that beginnes to declyne then him that standes hable to iustefie himselfe in the full of his reputacion of which thinges the effectes would clearely appeare to vs and wee should also see our estate full of tumult and brutes of warre if Lodovvyk were not kept in suspence by the feare he hath
their weakenes and necessities then bearing any compassion to their calamities denied to accept the offers of their Embassadors sent to him and encamped before the towne the last day sauing one of Iune betweene the gate of Plages and the gate Calcesana right ouer against the quarter called Barbagianui he battered all that night with great furie and continued the action the most parte of the day following in which time the artillerie both good of itselfe and planted to all conueniencie had made euen with the earth threescore Cubits of the wall And assoone as the batterie ceassed to shoote the horsmen and footemen entermedled together runne without order or discipline to giue thassalte not considering in what sorte they might passe a deepe trenche which the Pisans had made betweene the wall that was battered and the Rampier that was within In so much as when they had discouered the greatnes of it and wondred much at his deapth they consumed the residue of the day rather as beholders of the difficultie then disposed to make good thassalt The fortune of this day ioyned to the consideration of the impediments disclosed made diminishe more and more the hopes of the frenchmen to cary Pisa partly for that they fainted in courage aswel for the qualitie of the Rampiers as resolucion of those in the towne and partly for that the Pisans renuing the practises and meanes which they were wont to vse the auncient inclination of the french began to take new lyfe and nourishe newe fauours towardes them In so muche as the frenchmen beginning to enterteine meetinges familiarities with those that were within the towne communicating together with a friendship and libertie not suspected and they for their partes recontinuing the same offers to resigne themselues wholly to the kings deuocion vppon condicion not to be eftsoones passed ouer to the oppression of the Florentyns The cause of the Pisans was fauored thorow the whole Camp and oftentimes defended with such declarations of good meaning euen affore the Captaines that the greatest part of the Camp gaue thē corage to meinteine their defēce wherin besides the incitation of the frenchmen they were specially incouraged by Fraūcis Tryvulce Lieftenant of the regiment of Iohn Iacques and by Galeas Paluoysin which ledde a band in the french Camp By thoportunitie of these disorders sufferance of the Camp Tarlatyn of the towne of Castello entred into Pisa on that side towards the sea with certeine olde souldiours which Vitellozze sent to the succours of Pisa A man at that tyme but darke and vnknowen but aspiring afterwardes to the place of Capteine he continued and followed the defence of that Citie to the ende to his great honour To this common inclination many bands of horsmen and footmen added many other insolencies for that desiring that the seege might beleauied they began to sacke and spoile the vittels that were brought to the Camp And so farre multiplied they in all disorders thauthoritie of the Generall being not sufficient to restraine them that the footbands of the Gascoines abandoned the armie in manner of tumult their example breeding the lyke mutinie in all the residue And at parting certeine footbandes of the Svvyssers which were come from Rome according to the kinges direction staide as prisoner Luke D'albisse Commissarie for Florence The occasion as they alleaged was for that their paies were deteined which were due for a seruice they had bene at affore tyme within Lyuorna The Camp dispersed by degrees for that the regiment of Svvyssers and other footebandes went awaye foorthwith Only the men at armes staied somewhat neare about Pisa where they had not spent many dayes in reapposing themselues but they returned into Lombardy without tarying till they knew the kinges wil and direction leauing the affaires of the Florentyns in great disorder for that they had dismissed all their footbandes to be more hable to furnishe the paies of the Svvyssers The Pisans turned these confusions into an occasion of exploit and enterprise and with an expedicion agreeable to the consent and oportunitie of the tyme they went and planted a Camp affore Librafatta which they tooke easely no lesse by thin discression of thennemie then by their proper strength The manner of that successe was this Whilest the assalt was in charging all the footemen that were within running to the breach some of those of the Camp by skaling Ladders entred by the highest Iawme of the Castle which was not garded Which surprise both sodeine and terrible so astonished the footemen that they yelded themselues And linking still their fortune with their victorie they drue their Camp with a present speede affore the Bastillion Ventura whilest thassalt was in action the footemen yelded either by faintnes of courage or by treason of the Capteine S. Brandano Cunstable of the Florentyns of nation a Luckoys and there remeining in Garrison But as the conquest of these places was verie profitable to the Pisans for that it had opened to them a larger skoape on that side towardes the Lucquoys and giuen elswhere almost a generall libertie So yet such successe of the thinges of Pisa troubled not a litle the minde of the french king who saw howe much it would diminish the reputation of his armie besides that he bare very impaciently that one perticular Citie supported only by her inhabitantes wherin was not only one Capteine of name shold resist the armies of Fraunce which had runne thorow all Italy to the generall terror feare of euen the chiefest Potentates wherein as men in thinges that be greeuous to them doe oftentimes beguile themselues he occupied in him selfe this persuasion that the aduersities of Pisa hapned by this defalt that the Florentyns had not made due prouisions of vittelles Pyonners and Munitions as his people assured him for their discharge beleeuing that all other thinges had rather failed in th armie then vallour he complained also that fauouring too much thimportunities of the Florentyns he yelded to commit so great an armie rather to M. Beaumont then to M. D'alegre by which indiscression those disorders were hapned And of the other parte desiring to recouer the reputacion lost he sent to Florence M. de Corocu his Chamberlaine not so muche to be informed if the reapportes of his Capteines were true as to practise with the Florentyns that not losing hope to haue hereafter a better successe they would consent that his men at armes might returne to soiorne in the countrey of Pisa the better to keepe that Citie for the winter following in continuall feare bridle with intencion in the spring tyme to recontinue the seege with an armie more reasonable compounded of Capteines better experienced and souldiours more obedient This offer was refused of the Florentyns as dispairing of any better issue by the ayde of the Frenche armies a matter which made worse their condicions for that a bruite running in all places that the King had left them the Genovvays
the Lucquoys and the Siennoys beganne to minister openly to the Pisans both men and money And at Florence the diuisions so increased amongest the Citizens that they were not only in dishabilitie to recouer the thinges lost but also they prouided not in any sort for the disorders that were in their iurisdiction For some particular factions falling into open armes and priuate force there were done betweene them aswell in the towne as fieldes many hostilities and burninges proceeding sometymes with forreine ayde euen as if it were a warre ordeined and set To these insolent disorders they applied no order to the great reproche of their common weale In this tyme Caesar Borgia omitted no oportunitie to aduaunce his affaires And albeit the King was much discontented with the Pope for not ayding him to recouer his Duchie of Myllan the same being the cause why his maiestie had deferred to sende him bandes of men to prosecute thenterprise begun against the Viccaires of Romagnia Yet the desire he had to keepe amitie with him made him chaunge opinion for the feare he had of the descending of Thallemaines hauing no meane to establishe an accord with Themperour But much more was concurrant in that desire the authoritie of the Cardinal of Amboyse for thambiciō he had to obtein the legacion for the realme of Fraunce The Cardinall in this aspiring desire had litle remembraunce to the councell of Sainct Gregorie that he that seeketh authoritie let him consider howe he commeth to it and comming wel to it howe he ought to liue well in it and liuing well in it howe he must gouerne and gouerning wisely he must ofte call to memorie his owne infirmitie Ambicion is an humor verie vnmeete for Churchmen for that it hindreth to their humilitie and charitie and generally altereth the whole vertue of their profession It is hurtfull to raise a mynde ambicious into high authoritie for that he that is desirous of glorie is soone stirred to do things against equitie and to him that seeketh to be aboue all men it is harde to keepe alwayes equitie which is the chiefe parte of iustice The Pope eftsoones promised the King to ayde him with men and with the person of his sonne when soeuer he would aduaunce the enterprise of Naples to indue the Cardinall of Amboyse with the legacion of the realme of Fraunce for eightiene monethes which was esteemed a great matter aswell for that it was new and rare as for that it diminished muche the doinges and profites of the Court of Rome The King for his parte sent to him vnder the leading of Monsr D'alegre three hundred Launces and two thousand footmen making knowne to euerie one that what soule so euer would oppose agaynst the enterprise of the Pope he would take it to hart as if the iniurie were done to his proper person With which reputacion ioyned to his proper forces conteining six hundred men at armes and sixe thousand footemen the Duke Valentynois entred alreadie into Romagna tooke without resistance the Cities of Pesera and Rimini whose Lordes and owners fledde Afterwardes he turned his force to Faenza which had no other defence then of the people of the place For not only Iohn Bentyvolle vncle by the mother side to Astor a litle childe was made contented aswell for feare to stir vp the armes of the Pope and his sonne as to obey a commaundement he had receiued from the King The Florentyns and Duke of Ferrara doing the lyke for the same occasions But also the Venetians who were bound to defende him signified to him obseruing the request the King made to them that they had renounced the protection of him a thing which they had likewise done affore for the same occasion to Pandolfe Malateste Lord of Rimini And which more is to expresse with greater apparance that they fauoured the Pope they created at the same tyme the Duke Valentynois Gentleman of their Towne an action not accustomed to that common weale but for recompence of benefites receiued or in token of very deare straite amitie The Duke Valentynois enterteined in his Paye Dennis de Nalda Natyffe of Brisiquolle a man of great opinion in the vale of Lamona by his meanes hee tooke the Towne of Brisiquolle without daunger and with the same fortune brought vnder his commaundement almost the whole Vally He tooke the olde Citidell by force and caryed the newe Castle by accord made with the keeper He had also hope to enter into the Castle of Faenza by meane of a practise enterteyned by the sayde Dennis by the Castle keeper who was of the same Vallye had long tyme gouerned thestates of Astor But thintelligence being discouered he was made prisoner by the Faventyns who making their fortune no feare to them showed no signes of faint courage for that they were abandoned of euerie one and much lesse stood discomforted for the losse of the Valley which was of great importance But as people resolued to vanquishe their aduersities with their proper vertues They determined to passe vnder all perilles to continue their subiection to the famuly of the Manfredis vnder whose obediēce as they had liued in easie gouernment a long tyme so doubting the worst that might come by chaunge of Lordes they stood resolute in their faith and loyaltie and carefully strengthned their Citie against the present daungers From which disposition the Duke of Valentynois being not hable to turne them neither by promises nor threatninges he incamped neare the walles of their Citie betweene the Riuers of Lamona and Marsana and planted his artillerie on that side that is towardes Furly which albeit is incompassed with walles yet commonly it is called the Subburbes where the Fauentyns had erected a strong Bastillion He battered it with great furie together with that Iawme or corner that is betweene the Subburbes and the Towne the fift day he gaue the assalt But finding the resistance of the towne aboue his exspectation he sownded the retraite his souldiours bringing away many woundes and maymes and Honorius Sauella a principall man slaine in the action The Camp suffred litle rest all the residue of the dayes it remeyned there aswell by a continuall affliction of the artillerie from the Towne as also by the vallour of thinhabitantes who notwithstanding they had a verie slender strength by forreine souldiours yet they made many issues and sallies and skirmished with no lesse fortune then courage But aboue all other perplexeties albeit the moneth of Nouember was not yet finished the tyme which was more extreme then agreed with the custome and nature of that season troubled him much both for the Snowes that fell and the frosts that were intollerable greeuous impediments to the trauels of warre and also for that his lodging was naked and open to the ayre the Fauentyns affore the Camp came neare their walles hauing burned all their houses and cut downe all such wood and trees as might giue succours to their
the proper hande of Iohn Iordan it was an argumeÌ„t that in those things which were negociated at Maisons he had one self will and intelligeÌ„ce against him with the Vrsins In which thing the king more regarding profit theÌ„ honestie had proceeded diuersly according to the diuersitie of times somtimes expressing fauour to Iohn Iordan as before and sometimes inclining to satisfie the Pope in some degree And for that cause Iohn Iordan refusing to depose Bracciano into the hands of the French Embassador resident at Rome the king required that they should reappose vppoÌ„ him the resolution of the differeÌ„ce vnder coÌ„dition that Iohn Iordan should be coÌ„ueied into FrauÌ„ce within two moneths that things should remeine in that estate vntil he had determined Wherunto as Iohn Iordan consented by necessitie hoping through his owne merits thexspectatioÌ„ he had of his father and him to be fully deliuered from such vexations So also in the Pope appeared no resistaÌ„ce more for feare then otherwise for that the french king required such a matter in a time wheÌ„ Tharchduke coÌ„tracted the peace in the name of the kings of Spain But the condition of things being chaunged by the victorie of the Spanyardes and seeing with all that the french king had neede of him he demaunded all the states of Iohn Iordan offring the recompence that should be declared by the king who for the same occasioÌ„ induced Iohn Iordan to consent therunto to promise to deliuer in his sonne for the assurance of that which should bee determined A matter which the king did greatly against his wil for that he had no intentioÌ„ to deliuer vp those estates to the Pope if at the same instant he ioyned not with him opeÌ„ly in the warre of Naples holding it as reasonable for him as for the Pope to take the aduauÌ„tage of things and to serue his turne of controuersies But they of Petillano where the sonne of Iohn Iordan was refusing to deliuer him to the kinges Embassadour who was gone to Port Hercules to receiue him Iohn Iordan him selfe being then returned went to Thembassadour and to fulfill the promise of his faith offred him his proper person which Thembassadour accepted with litle reputation and with lesse discression bestowed him in a ship but assoone as the king knewe it he caused him to bee set at libertie esteeming it an iniurie dishonorable to doe iustice vppon him for the disobedience of others In this meane while there was vsed a generall diligence to leauie the preparations which the french king ment to emploie both on thisside beyond the mounts For the Lorde D'albert and the Mareshall of Gie were gone into Guien with foure hundred Launces and fiue thousande footemen aswell Svvyzzers as Gascoins to make warre on the part of Fontarabye And to stirre vp the Countie of Rossillion the Mareshall of Rieux was sent into Languedocke with eight hundred Launces and eight thousande footemen parte Svvyzzers and parte French And at the same time the Nauie by sea hoysed sayle to endomage the coastes of Catelogna and the realme of Valence Besides the king had dispatched for Italy with title of Capteine generall ouer his armie the Lorde Trymouille to whom was transferred by vniuersall opinion the whole merit and reputation for matters of warre within the realme of Fraunce and sent with the same expedition the Baily of Dyon to dispatche eight thousande Svvyzzers the men at armes also and the footmen making hast to marche notwithstanding the armie was not so strong as was determined in the beginning Perhaps the king would haue it so not for dishabilitie or for that he would spare but for that he desired that they might make the more expedition into the kingdome of Naples partly because Monsr D'alegro aduertising the king of the state of thaffaires there assured him that the remeynder of the armie was stronger then it was in deede both for that the townes and Barons remeined firme in his deuocion and also he had demaunded succours of all those in Italy which fauoured his faction By which meane and industrie the Florentyns had graunted him the Baily of Caen with the fiftie LauÌ„ces paied of their owne money and an hundred and fiftie other men at armes The Duke of Ferrara also and the Bollonoys with the Marquis of Mantua who for that the king sent to him went to him in person did refurnishe him euery one in perticular with an hundred men at armes and they of Sienna with an other hundred Which bandes ioyned to the eight hundred Launces fiue thousand Gascoins which Trymouille brought into Italy and to the eight thousand Svvyzzers which were exspected reckoning also those that remeined within Caietta made vp the number of a thousand eight hundred Launces French and Italian more then eightiene thousande footemen Besides these preparations for the warre by lande the armie by sea was departed a Nauie strong and glorious In so muche as all men confessed that there was no memorie that any Frenche king had euer made so huge and mightie preparations making distinction of the forces both by sea and by land gathered aswell on thisside as beyond the mountes But it was not thought good for the kings suertie to suffer his armie to passe by Rome if first his maiestie were not well assured of the Pope and Duke Valentynois for that he had iust occasion to doubt of them for many reasons and many demonstrations but specially by the testimonie of certeine letters from Valentynois to Consaluo newly surcepted wherein was debated betweene them that if Consaluo tooke Caietto in which case he should stande well assured of all the matters of the kingdome he should passe further with his armie and Valentynois should take vppon him the iurisdiction of Pisa and so they both to ioyne in one strength to assaile Tuskan In which respect the king his armie being alreadie passed into Lumbardy was very importunate that they should at last declare their vttermost intencion holding it better to know them as they were then to doubt them to bee more or lesse then he should finde them And for their partes albeit they listned to both partes and treated with euerie one yet iudging that the tyme was conuenient to make traffike of the trauelles of an other their desires caried them most to ioyne with the Spanyshe But they were restrained againe with the consideration of this manifest daunger least the frenche armie woulde begyn to inuade their estates in which case they should feele domage and displeasure where they hoped to reape rewardes and greatnes In this estate of doubt and incerteintie of inclination they suffred both partes to leauie apparantly bandes of footemen within Rome diferring as much as they could to declare them selues But being at last in tearmes resolute vâ—ged by the king they offred that the Duke should be ioyned to his armie with fiue hundred men at armes and two thousand footemen the king consenting not only to the occupying of the
present He sawe he was not hable in one tyme to susteine the hatred of the Colonnois and Vrsins and fearing least they should ioyne in conspiracie against him he resolued to reappose rather in those whom he had offended only in their goods then to trust to the behauiour of such as he had greeued both in their goods and persons And in that minde he procured readie reconcilement with the Colonnois and such of the Vale as folowed that faction he inuited them to returne eftsoones to their estates and made restitution of the Castles which Alexander with great expenses had fortefied and enlarged the alteration and feare of the tyme compelling him to doe more then any regarde to honour equitie conscience or religion All which notwithstanding sufficed not neither for his suertie nor to keepe the towne of Rome in peace wherein all thinges were full of suspicions and tumultes for that both Prosper Colonno was entred and all that faction had taken armes And also Fabio Vrsin comming euen to the houses of the famylie of Mont Iordan had with a great multitude of his partakers set a fire certeine marchands shoppes and the houses of many Spanish Courtiers a nation generally enuyed by the memorie of thinsolencies which they had done during the Popedom of Alexander Besides Fabio thirsting after the bloud of Valentynois made great leauies of forreine souldiours and solicited Bartlemevv Aluiano being then in the paie of the Venetians to ioyne with him and his house in the reuenge of so many wrongs as he had don them thinking it but iust to raise violence against him whose furie had not spared to persecute them and their friendes with all sortes of oppression and ruines The subburbes and meadowes so swarmed with the men of warre of Valentynois that the Cardinals seeing no reason of suertie to assemble at the Bishops Pallaice drewe together at the couent of the Church of Minerua at which place contrary to the auncient custome they began but farre later thē they were wont to doe the funerall of Alexander The trouble and mutinie of the tyme present not only deferring the celebration of the obsequies but also somewhat derogating the ceremonie detecting in those last actions the abhominable and infamous lyfe of him in whose regard they were done It was much feared least Consaluo would come to Rome specially for that Prosper Colonno had left at Marina a certeine number of Spanish soldiours and for the reconciliation of Valentynois with the Colonnois it was beleeued that he had an intention to folow the Spanish faction But greater were the feares of the comming of the french armie which had marched slowly till that day for that in the publike councelles of the Svvyzzers being not a litle amazed for the ill fortune of the French in the realme of Naples it was doubted affore the contract that the king could not make leauie of their men and all the Capteynes and footemen chosen together had refused for the same occasion the same being the cause that they were not so readie and that they made long aboade by the wayes But in respect of the Popes death the armie which was gouerned by the Marquis of Mantua with title of the kings Lieftenant and by the Baily of Caen Monsr de Sandricourt in whom except the name remeyned as much power as in the General for that Trimouille remeined sicke at Parma Was come without tarying for the Svvyzzers to the territories of Sienna with intencion to goe to Rome according to the direction of the king who also had commaunded the Nauie which was at Caietta to make saile to Ostia to giue impediment to Consaluo for going to Rome with his armie to compel the Cardinals to chuse a Pope at his deuotiō Notwithstanding the frēch armie remeined certeyne dayes betweene Boncouent and Viterbe for that the marchands making difficultie for the trobled tyme that was at Rome to accept the billes of exchaunge that were sent out of Fraunce the Svvyzzers now comē into the coūtrey of Sienna refused to march further if they were not paied In this tyme the tumultes were no lesse in the territorie of Rome with many other places through the estate of the Church and the landes of Valentynois for that the Vrsins and all the Romish Barons restored them selues to their estates The familie of Vitelli were returned to Cittade Castello Iohn Pavvle Baillon vnder hope of a certeine intelligence had assailed Perousa In which action albeit he was put to the chase by his enemies and constrained to go his way yet being refurnished with new bands and open succours of the Florentyns he entred the towne in a braue and resolute assalt not without the slaughter of his enemies and some losse of his owne companie The towne of Plombyn also tooke armes which albeit they of Sienna laboured to vsurp and occupie yet the auncient Lorde returned thether by the fauour of the Florentyns The Duke of Vrbyn the Lordes of Pesere of Camerin and Sini Gale did the lyke in theyr estates Only Romagnia notwithstanding they were not without suspicion of the Venetians who leauyed great bandes of men at Rauenna remeyned quiet and inclined to the deuotion of Valentynois knowing by experience howe much it was more tollerable and better for the weale of the countrey to serue one only and mightie Lord then to haue in euerie towne Lords perticular who neither for their weaknes could defende them nor for their pouertie were able to doe them good but rather when they founde their reuenues insufficient to enterteine them they would be constrained to oppresse them They considered also that for the authoritie and greatnes of the Valentynois and for the good iustice he ministred amongst them their countrey was not vexed with so many mutinies and tumults of factions as it was wont to bee bringing ordinarie slaughters to their friendes and cohabitants Besides they drew into consideration the benefites that he had done for many together with the great friendshippes he had gotten by enterteining and giuing paie to suche as had bene trained in armes by distributing offices to men able and sufficient and also by soliciting his father on the behalfe of Prelates and Church men touching the collation of benefices and spirituall dignities Out of these respectes they tooke occasion of firmnes that neither thexamples of others that reuolted nor the memorie of their auncient Lordes could not estraunge them from Valentynois Who albeit he stood oppressed with many difficulties lesse exspectation of habilitie in a state so pluckt and broken yet was he laboured vnto both by the French and Spanish with many offers and promises importunatly solicited to bee on their side For that besides the oportunitie of his forces and men of warre they hoped by this meane to winne the voyces of the Spanish Cardinals in the election to bee made But the Duke looking wisely into the state of his affaires tooke councel of the inclination of the time and refused to
other gentlemen of marke in whom the maner of their death was no lesse lamentable then their fortune ouer besides that which by imputatiō may be imposed vpō the French captains for their disagrement negligent gouerument as also that that may be obiected to the iniury of the time that neither the French nor Svvizzers are not comparatiue with the Spaniards either with resolution of mind to temporise or expect or with their bodies to sustaine the trauels and incommodities that a warre draweth with it There are principally considered two things whiche hindered the Frenche king that he remained not victorious the one was the long aboade that th armie made vppon the territories of Rome for the Popes death the same beeing the cause that wynter came vppon them and that the Vrsins were practised withall by Consaluo afore they coulde enter into the kingdome where if they coulde haue made their entrie whilest the tyme was tollerable Consaluo farre inferiour to them in forces and not fauoured with thoportunitie and rigor of the time had bene constrayned to abandon the greatest part of the kingdome to seeke out the strong places for his succor or els suffer the authoritie of an enemie farre more mightie then him selfe The other consideration was the couetousnes of the officers treasorers who beguyling the king in the payes of the souldiers and lesse trustie in the prouision of vittayles furniments for the seruice made their thefts and negligences the principall cause of the diminution of that armie since the king had expressed such a prouision and care for all things necessarie that it is certayne by good credible testimonie that at the vnhappie time when the frenchmen were ouerthrowen there were within Rome by the kings direction great quantities of siluer and other releefes for warre but so violent was the destinie that ranne to the desolation and ruine of that armie that albeit at the laste after many complayntes of the Captaynes and the whole multitude of souldiours there was leauyed an abundant prouision of vittels yet they suffered suche a penurie and scarsity in the beginning that that disorder ioyned to the other discommodities was the breeder of infinite diseases of the absenting of many of the murmuring of many and that many seeing their fidelitie could finde no refuge in the armie sought their safetie in places thereabout matters which in the ende brought foorth the absolute ruine of so braue an armie for as for the nourishing of the body it is not ynough that the head be well disposed but it is also necessarie that the other members do their office euen so it sufficeth not that the Prince do his duetie if withall the diligence and vertue which ought to be in his ministers haue not equall action the one beeing necessarie to the other as the direction of the head and brayne of man auayleth little without the execution of the other inferior members to whom suche ministration is appoynted The selfe same yere wherin so great mutations hapned in Italie was made a peace betwene the Turke Baiazet Ottoman and the Venetians which both parties embrased with great affection for the Turke in whom was expressed a spirit of mekenes and disposed to learning and studie of the Scriptures of his religion had by the working of his owne inclination a nature farre estraunged from armes by reason whereof notwithstanding he had begonne the warre with great preparations both by sea and lande and occupied in Morea the two former yeares Naupanto nowe called Lepanto Modono Corono and Iunquo yet he folowed not nor continued the warres with so great affection beeing withdrawen eyther by the desire he had to tranquilitie and rest or at least by a suspicion of hys proper daunger least for religion sake the Princes of Christendome should drawe into conspiracie agaynst him for both Pope Alexander had sent certayne galliots to the succours of the Venetians and with money had also stirred vp Launcelot king of Bohemia and Hungaria to make warre vpon the Turkes frontiers the Frenche and Spanishe kinges sending but not at one tyme their seuerall armies to ioyne with the power of the Venetians But this peace was embraced by the state of Venice with a greater desire for that by thiniquitie of the warres and that to the common detriment of the Citie and perticuler losse to euery one in priuate the traffike of marchandise which they made in diuers regions of the Leuant was discontinued the Citie also of Venice whiche euery yeere was wonte to haue from certayne prouinces of the Turkes certayne quantities of corne did suffer many necessities for the depriuation of that reliefe And lastly where they had wont to amplifie their iurisdiction by the warres which they haue managed with other princes they feared nothing so muche as the power of the Turkes of whom they had bene alwayes beaten as often as they had had warres together for Amurathus grandfather to Baiazet had occupied the towne of Thessalonica nowe called Salonica parcell of the dominions of Venice And after him Mahomet his father mainteyning continuall warre agaynst him for sixteene yeres tooke from them the yle of Negroponto a great part of Peleponesso now named Morea Scutaro with many other towns in Macedonia Albania In so much as both for that they supported the war agaynst the Turks with right great difficulties and expences hauing no hope to breede any profite by them and also by how muche they doubted at the same time to be distressed by inuasion of other Christian princes the time beeing full of conspiracies by so muche was it reasonable that they desired to be at tranquilitie with the Turkishe regions It was suffered to Baiazet by the conditions of the peace to reteyne still all that he had occupied and the Venetians reseruing onely the I le of Cesalonia aunciently called Leucado were compelled to yeelde to him the proprietie of Nerita nowe named S. Mavvra But the warre of the Turkes brought not so many displeasures to the Venetians as they receyued harmes by the king of Portugall who had taken from them and appropriated to him selfe the traffike of spices whiche the Marchantes and shippes bringing out of Alexandria a noble Citie in Egypt to Venice they sent dispersed with a wonderfull profite through all the prouinces in Chrystendome The whiche alteration beeing a thing of the most merite and memorie of all others that haue hapned in the worlde since many ages and for the harmes which the Citie of Venice receyued by it hauing some affinitie with the matters of Italie it can not much alter the estate of our historie to speake somewhat of it at large Such men of spirite and science as by depe speculation and contemplation haue considered the wonderfull motions and dispositions of the heauen and haue left the knowledge thereof recommended to succession and posteritie haue figured a line running through the round circle of the heauen frō the west to the East and bearing an
of thexpences for three yeres Wherevpon the Genovvaies hauing a deliberation to embrace the offer notwithstanding Iohn Lovvis de Fiesquo with many others were agaynst it made an instance to the French king to suffer them without whose consent they had no power to execute any deliberation They debated with the king howe daungerous it woulde be that the Pisans excluded from this their last and almost only hope should come to offer them selues to the king of Spayne from whence would succeede to his great preiudice that both Genes should be in continuall trauell and danger and almost all Tuskane by compulsion followe the Spanish faction These reasons albeit at the beginning had so much wrought with the king that he was almost at a poynt to gratifie their demaundes yet his counsell considering that if the Genovvaies should beginne to accept warres of them selues and for a desire of imperie to haue confederation with other Potentates it would be the cause that comming afterwards to rayse their thoughts to greater things they would put their state into absolute libertie he forbad them expresly to accept the iurisdiction of Pisa but not that they should forbeare to ayde or succour them notwithstanding the Florentins had made great complaynts perticular respectes bearing more force in these matters then equitie conscience or compassion About this time the peace was earnestly laboured betweene the kings of Spayne and Fraunce who offred dissemblingly to render the realme of Naples to the king Federike or to the duke of Calabria his sonne to whom the French king should resigne and giue vp all his clayme so farrefoorth as the mariage were accomplished betwene the duke and the queene widowe Nece to the same king hauing afore bene wife to yong Ferdinand of Aragon king of Naples And it was without doubt that the French king had a mind so farre estranged from the affaires of the kingdome of Naples that for his owne regarde he had accepted all sorts of peace if it had not bin for these two difficulties that restrayned him the one of lesse moment with him then the other was the shame and reproches that would be thundred vpon him to leaue abandoned the barons who for that they folowed his faction had suffred priuation of their estates and to whom were offred conditions hard intollerable the other working somewhat more strongly with him was the doubt wherin he was least the king of Spayne hauing other intentions offred according to his accustomed suttleties this restitution for some ende that though his maiesties consenting yet the effect should not folow and that in the meane while the archduke were not estranged frō him who desiring to haue the kingdome of Naples for his sonne made instance that there should be cōtinuation of the peace which he had begon before Therfore he answered generally that he desired the peace but that he could not with honor giue vp to an Arragon the rights which he had in the same realme And on the other part he continued the auncient practises with the king of Romaines tharchduke wherin as he was almost certaine of the conclusion effect to th end they should not be cut of nor hindred by the incerteine practises of the king of Spayne he let call before him the Spanish embassadors making his colour for his greater honor that the respects interests of the barōs did chiefly moue him and being set in the chaire royal in the aspect presence of al the court with solēne ceremonies far aboue the vsage of times before he cōplained that their king expressed in words his desire and disposition to the peace hauing his intētions dissembled in which regard also for that it was not a thing worthy the vertue and honor of a king to consume the tyme in vayne practises he tolde them it were their best to depart out of the Realme of Fraunce After whose going away thembassadours of Maximilian and tharchduke came to giue perfection to that which had bene negociated In whiche action because there were plottes layed to greater purposes was assistant the Bishop of Sisteron the Popes ordinarie Nuncio in that Court and the Marquis of Finalo whome the Pope sent expresly in those affayres This peace hauing bene many times afore throughly debated for the profite which appeared very great to all those Princes was finally set downe vnder these conditions That the mariage of Lady Clauda the French kings daughter commoned vpon long time before should now grow to effect with Charles theldest sonne to tharchduke And for more firme confirmation of the same there shoulde be ioyned to the othe and subscription of the Frenche king the ratification of Frauncis Counte of Angulesme who issue male fayling in the king was next heire to the crown together with many of the principals of the kingdome That all thinuestitures of the state of Millan allowed till that day being razed and cancelled for iust and honest occasions Maximilian should transferre thinuestiture thereof to the French king for him selfe and heires males and for want of suche issue it shoulde be in fauour of the mariage conueyed to Madame Clauda and to Charles and if Charles shoulde dye before the consummation of the mariage then it to discende to Lady Clauda and to the seconde sonne of the Archduke if she maried with him That betweene the Pope the king of Romains the Frenche king and Tharchduke should be made a confederation for their common defence and to offende the Venetians from whome they all determined to withdrawe those places whiche they occupied of theirs That the king of Romains should passe in person into Italie agaynst the Venetians and afterwards go to Rome to take the crowne imperiall That the Frenche king assoone as the Charters shoulde be dispatched shoulde pay for thinuestiture threescore thousande florins of Rhein and threescore thousande others within six monthes and euery yeere a payre of spurres of golde vppon the day of the natiuitie of our Lorde That there shoulde be place left for the king of Spayne to enter into this confederation within foure monthes But it was not expressed that in case he did not enter it shoulde bee suffred to the Frenche king to inuade the kingdome of Naples That the Frenche king shoulde giue no more ayde nor succours to the Counte Palatine who stirred vp by him and enterteyned with hope of his succours was in great warre with the king of Romains That the Venetians shoulde be excluded out of this league notwithstanding that both the king had giuen willing eare to their Embassadours and also the Cardinall of Amboise to cleare them from all suspition had nourished them with assured promises and othes that the king would neuer go agaynst that confederation which he had with them These matters were conteyned in letters which were solemnly passed besides the which it was moued that the king Maximilian should speake together at an other time in some place conuenient The king also promised at
that time that he would deliuer out of prison Lodovvyk Sforce and indue him with conuenient meane to liue in the realme of Fraunce The safetie of this man the king of Romaines had shame not to procure for that his conscience put him in remembrance that the promises he had made him and the hopes he had vaynly reapposed in him had bene causes to hasten his ruine In which considerations hauing no power to do what he would at least he expressed inclination to do what he could in so much as when the cardinall of Amboyse went to him at Trent he wrought so much as he should no more be so straightly kept as he had bin making now importunate instance that he might remeine at libertie in the court of Fraunce or in suche quarter of the realme as it pleased the king The king promised also at his request that the exiles of the duchie of Myllan should returne whervpon were many difficulties in the negociation of Trent it was beleeued that he would kepe this capitulation being so greatly to the aduantage of tharchduke and Maximilian notwithstāding his ordinarie variations the Pope being cōprehended and no lesse agreable to the French king not so much for the desire he had at that time to make newe enterprises as for an ambicious respect to obteine thinuestiture of the duchie of Millan and to be assured not to be molested neither by Caesar nor his sonne In these seasons dyed king Federyk beeing wholly depriued of hope to recouer by accorde the kingdome of Naples notwithstanding he was perswaded afore euery one naturally suffreth him selfe to be beguyled by desire that the king of Spayne had a better deuotion to it then the Frenche king he considered not that in that tyme it was a thing vayne to hope for the restitution of so noble a Realme the examples being very rare in times farre more auncient and before wherein men were mose disposed to actes of vertue and nobilitie then they were in the time running he saw not also that it was a thing out of all likelyhood that he which had vsed so many deceites to occupie the moytie of the kingdome would nowe that he hath wonne all depriue him selfe of the fruite glory of his victorie Besides in the common reason discourse of affaires he might haue perceiued that the one made no lesse difficultie then the other onely he had more reason to doubt that he that was already possessed would not restore then he which helde nothing in the kingdome would not consent In the end of this yere Elizabeth queene of Spayne exchanged this life for a better she was a Lady of most honest honorable conditions won in the opinion of her subiects a right worthy name of magnanimity modesty discretion to her did properly apperteine the kingdome of Castillo which is the greater part of Spayne to the which she succeeded after the death of Henry her brother but not without bloud warre for albeit it was beleeued for a long time that Henry by nature was vnhable to procreation and for that reason Beltramise could not be his daughter which was brought foorth by his wife and by him nourished many yeres as a frute of his owne feede And albeit for that occasion Elizabeth daughter of Henry was acknowledged for Princesse of Castill a title nearest to the succession yet many barons of the realme rising after his death in fauor of Beltramise the king of Portugall ministring succors by armes in the right of a friend alie and confederat the factions cōming at last to battel the cause of Elizabeth was approued most iust by the issue of the fielde Ferdinand of Aragon her husband leading tharmy who likewise was discēded of the house of the kings of Castill conioyned to Elizabeth in the third degree of cōsanguinitie and he afterwards succeding by the death of Iohn his father to the realme of Aragon they both tooke vpō them by one ioynt right the title of king queene of Spayne for that the kingdome of Valence being vnited to the crowne of Aragon together with the countrie of Catalogna they were Lords ouer al the prouince of Spayne whiche is conteined betwene the Mounts Pirenei the Occean sea the Middle earthsea And vnder this title for that that region hath bin occupied by many kings of the Mores the title of many kingdomes is cōprehended euery one of thē making a title separat by him selfe except notwithstanding the kingdome of Granado which being at that time possessed by the Mores was afterwards by the vertue of this king queene gloriously subdued to the empire of Castille together with the title kingdome of Portugall the realme of Nauarre much inferior al which had kings particular But the kingdome of Aragon with Cicilia Sardignia and other Ilands apperteining by inheritance to Ferdinand were gouerned by him only without interposing the name or authoritie of the queene contrarie to the policie and course of gouernment in Castille the reason was for that that kingdome belonging by lawe of succession to Elizabeth and standing in a state endowed to Ferdinand things were administred vnder their common name aswell in demonstrations as in effects nothing beeing executed which was not debated ordeined subscribed by them both The title of the king of Spayne was common their Embassadours dispatched in cōmon their armies leauyed in common their wars administred in cōmon and neither of them in particular appropriating more then the other in authoritie and gouernment of the kingdome But by the death of Elizabeth without issue males the succession of Castille by the laws of that kingdome which regarding more the proximitie then the sex exclude not the woman belonged to Iane the daughter of Ferdinand her and wife to tharchduke their eldest daughter which had ben maried to Emanuell king of Portugal together with her litle sonne being dead long time before By reason wherof thadministration of the realme dowager apperteining by the end of the mariage no more to Ferdinand he was eftsones to returne into his litle kingdome of Aragon litle in cōparison of the realme of Castill for the straitnes of the countrey smal◠es of the reuenues and for that also the kings of Aragon not hauing absolute regall authoritie in all things be in many poynts subiect to the constitutions and customes of the same prouinces which limit much the power of their kings But Elizabeth drawing towards hir latest time ordeined by hir testament that Ferdinand so long as he liued should be gouernor of Castillo aswel for that she desired it might be kept in his first greatnes for the amitie that had bene mutual betwene them as also for that she knewe it concerned the profite of hir subiects to be continued vnder the moderate gouernment of Ferdinand and imported no lesse the commoditie of hir sonne in law and daughter who seeing in the ende they should likewise succeede Ferdinand had
place to the will of the greater parte And therefore there were present directions to make prouisions with a celeritie incredible euery one hauing desire to preuent no lesse th expected succours of the great Capteine then the daungers of the reynie seasons in so muche as the sixt day of September the armie approched the walles of Pisa with six hundred men at armes seuen thousande footemen and sixteene Canons with many other Artilleries of execution the campe beeing pitched betwene Santa Croce and San Michele in the selfe same place wherin the Frenchmen had encamped before And as the artilleries were sodenly planted in the night so they battered the day folowing in great furie all that was betweene the gate di Calci and the turret of S. Frauncis where the walles make within an angle and hauing from the sonne rysing when thartillerie beganne to playe tyll the xxj howre brought to the earth more then thirtie fadomes of wall there was enterteyned where the ruine was moste a hotte skirmishe but to very little profite for that there was not throwen downe so great a quantitie and space of wall as had beene necessarie in a towne where the men presented them selues to the defence with their auncient valour and hardynesse therefore the morning followng to th ende to make a greater opening of the wall they beganne another batterie in a place a little remoued that place of the wall which aforetymes had bene battred by the Frenche remeining betweene the one and other battrie and after they had caste downe so muche of the wall as was thought sufficient Hercules sought to aduance the footbands which were in battell to giue a rough assalt both to the one and other breach where the Pisans trauelling according to their customes the women no lesse venterous then the men resolute had during the batterie drawne a rampier with a ditche afore But there was not in Thitalian footebandes whiche had bene leauyed in haste neyther that action nor that spirite that was to force suche a resistaunce for that ensigne of footemen to whome by lotte apperteyned the firste assalte beginning to refuse through cowardise to go to the walles neyther thauthoritie of the Capteine nor presence of the superintendent of Florence neyther the regarde of their proper honour nor the honour common of the men of seruice of Italie were sufficient to vanquishe their feare nor to shewe valour in an action so muche importing thexample of whome finding imitation and place in the residue that shoulde haue followed them all the regimentes retyred to their lodginges hauing done no other thing then by leauing thinfanterie of Italie infamous through all Europe defyled the felicitie of the victorie obteined agaynst Aluiano and defaced the reputation of the Capteine and Campemaster whiche was greate on the behalfe of the Florentins if content with the glory they had gotten they coulde haue moderated their proper fortune When the souldiours were once retyred to their lodgings there was made no more doubt to leauie the campe chiefly for that the same day six hundred Spanishe footemen of those that were at Plombin were entred Pisa by direction from the great Capteine So that the day following the Florentine armie retyred to Cascina drawing with them more dishonour then eyther prayse or profite prouing in them selues that auncient tradition of the elders that follie and rashnes haue no societie with wisedome nor fortune or aduenture any communitie with good counsell since all those things are referred to a doubtfull issue that are done by will and not by reason Within fewe dayes after there entred into Pisa fifteene hundred spanish footmen who because the seruice had no necessitie of them after they had in vayne giuen an assault to the towne of Bientina at the incitation of the Pisans continued their nauigation into Spayne whither they were sent by the great Capteine for that the peace was already established betweene the Frenche king and Ferdinand king of Spayne to the which all difficulties that earst hindred it beeing nowe remoued as both the regarde of the honour of the Frenche king and the feare to make tharchduke his enemie the death of the Queene of Spayne had giuen perfection for that both the French king enuying muche suche a greatnesse of tharchduke desyred to disappoynt his purposes And also the king of Spayne beeing aduertised that tharchduke disdayning the last will of his mother in lawe had determined to take from him the gouernment of the kingdome of Castilla was constrayned to make his stay vppon newe alliaunces for this cause the mariage was agreed vpon betweene him and Lady Germana de Foix sisters daughter to the French king with condition that the king shoulde giue her in dowry that part of the kingdome of Naples that apperteined to him the king of Spayne bynding him selfe to paye him within ten yeeres seuen hundred thousande duckets in recompence of expences and to indue the newe maried Lady with three hundred thousande duckets This mariage beeing ratified and accompanied with the peace it was agreed that the barons of the faction of Aniovv and all suche as had followed the Frenche parte should be restored without any payment into their libertie countrie estates dignities and goods and reestablished in the same condition and degree that they were in the day that the warres beganne betweene the Frenche and Spanishe whiche they accompt to be the day that the Frenchemen ranne to Tripaldo That all confiscations made by the king of Spayne and by king Federik should be holden for cancelled and voyde That the prince of Rossana the Marquis of Bitonto and of Gesualdo Alphonso and Honorio of S. Seuerin with all the other barons which were prisoners to the Spanish in the kingdome of Naples should be deliuered That the French king should no more intitle him selfe king of Ierusalem and Naples That the homages and fealties of the barons should be made according to the conuentions aforesayde and that in the same maner thinuestiture should be demaunded of the Pope That in case the Queene Germana shoulde dye in mariage without issue her part of dowrie shoulde be transferred to Ferdinand but if he dyed first it shoulde reuert to the crowne of Fraunce That king Ferdinand should be bounde to ayde Gaston Earle of Foix and brother to his newe wife to conquere the kingdome of Nauarre which he pretended to apperteyne to him which was possessed with a title royal by Katthern de Foix by Iohn her husband sonne to Monsr d'Albert That the French king should constraine the widow of king Federik with her two children that were with him to go into Spayne where should be assigned to her a competent portion to liue And if she refused to depart then the king should commaund her to issue out of his realme without making any further allowance to her or to her children by way of pention or other meane to releeue them That neyther one of the parties should enterprise any thing
Tribunes of the people These vnder this forme of pollicie or rather apparant mutinie occupied with armes the towne of Spetie with certayne other townes of the ryuer of Leuant whereof Iohn Levvys de Fiesquo was gouernour for the king This gouernour complayned to the king of those insolencies both in the name of the whole nobilitie and for his particular interest wherin he recommended to his maiestie the manifest danger to loase the iurisdiction of Genes seeing the insolent libertie of the commons had caried them so farre that besides other oppressions and harmes they aspired proceding directly agaynst thauthoritie of the king to manage the townes of the riuer That vsing expedition there might be raysed remedies conuenient to represse so great a furie seing it was as yet but in the nature of a popular warre without the protection of any greater prince where if he ioyned negligence to thopportunitie and became slowe in leauying the prouisions that were necessarie the euill would more and more resolue and take with tract of time more firme roote for that both thimportance of Genes was suche by sea and lande that it would easily allure some forreine Prince to nourishe such a diuision so hurtfull for his estate And also the commons comming to knowe that whiche at the beginning was perhaps but in the qualitie of sedition woulde in the ende chaunge habite and turne into rebellion and so become a pray to any that would giue hope to defende it But on the other parte thembassadours sent to the king from the Commons of Genes labored to iustifie the action and to make their cause be found good They declared that no other thing had disaltered the people but the pride of the gentlemen who not contented with the dignities and honours conuenient to nobilitie aspired to higher degrees seeking to be redowted as Lords and Princes That the people had long borne the yoke of their insolencies but at last feeling outrages not onely in their goods and generall callings but also in their persons estates most priuate their patience was nowe ouercome with the weight and violence of their pride And yet albeit by these compulsions they were no longer hable to conteine them selues they were not for all that proceded to any other actions then such as without the which their libertie could not be assured for seing the gentlemen communicated by equall part in the offices and iurisdictions there was no possibilitie by the meane of courts and iudgements to resist their tyrannie And Iohn Lovvys commaunding ouer the townes of the ryuers without the traffike whereof Genes stoode at it were besieged there was no safetie for the commons to enterteine traffike and conuersation there That the people had bene alwayes most deuout and faythfull to the kings maiestie and that the mutations of Genes had in al tymes more proceeded of the ambition of the gentlemen then infidelitie of the people That they besought the king to pardon those offences which during the heate of the contentions certayne particulars had committed agaynst thuniuersall will and consent and that he would confirme the lawe made for the distribution of offices and suffer the townes of the ryuers to be managed vnder the name publike Lastly that by that meane the Gentlemen enioying honorably their degrees and dignities and the populars also possessing their libertie with suretie and all things beeing reduced by his Maiesties authoritie into suche an estate of tranquilitie they shoulde be bounde to honor perpetually the clemencie goodnes and iustice of the king The king was muche troubled with these tumultes eyther for that the licentious behauiours of the commons were suspected to him or perhaps for the honorable inclination which the French do commonly beare to the name of gentlemen In so much that he could haue bene disposed to haue punished the authors of these insolencies and reduce all things to their first degree sauing that he feared least if he should vse sharpe remedies the Genovvaies would haue recourse to Caesar whose sonne was not yet dead For which cause making conference of things more according to the necessitie and consideration of the time then agreable to the estate and merite of their doings he determined to proceede with clemencie and tolleration and therefore called into pardon and forgiuenes all their offences they had cōmitted and ratified their newe lawe for disposing of offices so farrefoorth as they would put into his hands the townes of the ryuers which they occupied Wherein the better to incline and dispose the people he sent to Genes doctor Michaell Riccio a banished man to perswade the Commons that they were better to vse and embrace thoccasion of the kings clemencie then adding to their faltes contumacie and hardned obstinacie to driue him to proceede agaynst them with seueritie But discretion hauing no societie with rashnes nor follie any cōmunitie with wisdome their minds seemed to stande blinded with immoderate ambition and couetousnes for the people and tribunes notwithstanding the lawfull Magistrates were of the contrarie opinion would not onely not render the places they occupied not accepting the softnes and tractabilitie of the king but rising into thoughtes of worse nature they determined to assayle the borough of Monaco whiche Lucian Grimault possessed eyther in regarde of a common hatred borne against all gentlemen of Genes or els for that the borowe is of great importance for the citie hauing his situation vpon the sea in a place of great conueniencie or at least for certaine particular hatreds since he to whome falleth the power and gouernment of that place absteineth very hardly from pyracies and robbing by the sea the situation giuing fauour and oportunitie to suche actions or lastly because as they suggested that borough apperteined rightfully to the common weale In whiche regardes notwithstanding the importunities of the gouernour to the contrarie they sent thither many bands both by sea and lande to besiege it the same driuing Philip de Rauastin who knewe that he taryed there vnprofitably and by thaccidents that might happen not without suspition of daunger to departe and to leaue in his place Roccabertin The king for his parte dispayring that temperaunce was vnhable to range things to a better forme and iudging withall that if he should consent that they continued in that estate it might be preiudiciall to his dignitie and suretie and lastly fearing that if he gaue longer sufferance to things the danger would be so much the greater he began openly to make preparations both by sea and land to reduce the Genovvaies to his obedience which deliberation was the cause that matters which were negociated betwene the Pope and him agaynst the Venetians were dissolued and broken Enterprises muche desired by the king who for the death of king Phillip founde him selfe well deliuered of the suspitions which he had taken agaynst Maximilian But muche more wyshed for by the Pope by reason of the townes which they occupied in Romania and did dispose of
the course of victorie he might easily haue oppressed in Italy whom he had listed all the potentates there standing more in feare of his power than any way prouided to resist perils But hauing regard to thestate of things and promise he had made he dissolued his armie the better to assure the Pope the king of Romains and the Venetians who were not without feareful suspitiōs that his descending into Italie was for some other cause then to range the Rebels of Genes reduce the towne to a policie But nothing could appease the fretting mind of the Pope who taking al things in the worst part complained eftsones not temperatly of the king as if it had bene by his meane that Anniball Bentiuole with six hundred footemen leauied in the duchie of Millan did assay in those times to enter Bolognia assuring that if he had preuailed in that action the king would yet haue declared him selfe more agaynst thestate ecclesiastick Wherwith the Pope being wroth notwithstanding he had before with great difficultie published Cardinals the bishops of Achx and Bayeux he refused to raise to that dignity the bishop of Alby complaining chiefly that by Monsr de Chaumont his brother the Bentyuoleis had suffrance to dwell in the duchie of Millan yea which was of greater consequence the Pope ouerruled indifferently with hate and suspition two violent passions in a minde placed in authoritie when the king first published that he would reduce the Genovvaies to obedience by armes signified by his Nuncioes peculiar letters to the king of Romains electors of thempire that the French king prepared to passe into Italie with a most mighty armie vnder cooller to reappease the tumultes of Genes which he might redresse with his authoritie his intention being to oppresse thestate of the Church and vsurpe the dignitie of the Empire The Venetians also ioyned with him in this certificat hauing the same feares of the cōming of the French into Italie with an armie so well addressed which aduertisements beeing cōmunicated with Maximilian whose inclination embrased naturally newe things and being at thinstant newly returned from Flanders where he had practised in vayne to take the gouernment of his litle sonne he assembled in the towne of Constāce the princes of Germany the free townes those are called the free cities which acknowledging by certen tributes determinate payments thauthoritie of thempire do gouerne thēselues notwithstanding in al things by their own lawes not seking to amplifie their territories but to preserue their libertie At this assembly appeared all the princes barons cōmunalties of Germany perhaps wyth more readynes in greater numbers thē had bin sene long time before in any dyot for thither resorted in person al the electors princes of Germany both ecclesiastike secular except such as were restrayned by lawfull impediments in whose places were sent either their sonnes their brethren or some very neare kinred to represent their personall presence All the free townes in like sort sent thither Embassadors In which generall assemblie aspect of thuniuersall body of Germany Caesar caused to be publikely read the Popes writ with many other letters significatorie from diuers places some of them expressing that the French kings intention was to aduaunce the Cardinall of Amboyse to the supreme sea of Rome and to receyue of him the imperiall crowne These aduertisementes breeding no small murmure in the minds of the audience ronne throwe the princes and barons with great varietie of iudgement some of thē fearing in dede thambition of the king but the most sort disdayning much so great an indignitie against the maiesty crowne imperial wherin as euery particular began to prepare himself to make knowne with words speches his opinion affection Caesar cutting of that inclination by his authority spake to them in this sort You see now my Lords what effects the long patience we haue hithervnto vsed hath brought forth what frutes are gathered of the smal reckoning that hath bene made of my former complaints expressed in so many diots And now your own eyes do behold that the French king who heretofore durst not offer him self against any thing that apperteined to the sacred empire but vpō occasiōs vrged and coollers very apparant is now in preparation with an open force not to protect our Rebels as he was wont not to vsurpe any particuler place which reasonably apperteineth to the Empire but taking the oportunitie of the tyme turning our patience into mockery and forming an aduantage and occasion vpon our long setled negligence he draweth his sworde to despoyle Germanie of th imperiall dignitie so honorably gotten and so long time continued by the vertue and vallor of our auncesters he is not entred into this boldnes by any coniecture or perswasion that eyther our forces are diminished or his powers encreased neither can he be ignorant by how much the region of Germanie is mightie aboue the nation of Fraunce both in maiestie of imperie in grauity of counsell in agillitie of bodies in multitude of Princes in obedience of subiects and generally without all comparison in valour of capteines and resolution of souldiours in moneys in munitions in disciplines and directions of warre with all other furnishmentes requisite to defende a violence and offende a proude enemie But he is caried into this ambicious enterprise onely by a hope that according to thexperience of things paste we will still dwell in securitie and negligence and that our proper dissentions and ciuill factions preuayle more with vs then the prouocations of glorie yea then the consideration of our particular safetie he thinketh that the same respects for the which we haue suffred him to our common shame to vsurpe the duchie of Millan that he hath nourished in our owne bosomes our ciuill quarrels and that he hath borne a defence and protection of our rebels of Thempire feeding vs lastly with vanities and errors as men gouerned by humours light and wandring he hopeth that the same suffraunce securitie solemne negligence will likewise keepe vs lulled asleepe to endure that by him shoulde be rauished from vs the dignitie of thempire and the glorie and felicitie of this Nation transported into Fraunce it woulde be a thing lesse infamous to our common name and to me in perticuler lesse greeuous and intollerable if it were knowen to the world that the power of Germanie were inferiour to the forces of Fraunce or that in the Almaines were not continued the same vertue whiche in all ages in all actions and in all fortunes was founde to beare reputation aboue the valour of the Frenche for the domage shoulde afflict me lesse then the infamie since at the least things shoulde not be imputed to our negligence and indiscretion whiche might proceede eyther of the condition of tymes or of the malice of fortune What greater calamitie can happen what miserie more then to be reduced to these tearmes eyther to wishe to be lesse mightie
other worldes had made their auncestors terrible to all estates and principallities of men by the meane of whose vertue both there was diuolued in general to the nation of Germains a liberal glorie with the dignitie imperiall in part particular many noble personages had aspired to much greatnes and dominion many of the best houses in Italie hauing by long prescription raigned in estates gotten by their valor These things were begon to be debated with so great forwardnes and inclination that it is manyfest no dyot to haue assembled of long time wherein was exspectation of so great euentes the multitudes perswading them selues vniuersally that besides the strength of all the other reasons the Electors with the residue of the Princes expressed a more quicke readines to thenterprise for a hope they had that for the minoritie of the children of king Phillip the Imperiall dignitie which had successiuely continued in Albert Federike and Maximilian all three of the house of Austriche woulde at last be passed into an other familie By these resolutions and agreementes the Frenche king was induced to dissolue his armie immediatly after the action of Genes both to take away thoccasion of so great a suspition and to leaue euery partie satisfied of thintegritie of his intention yea his owne person had eftsones repassed ouer the Mountes had it not bene for a desire he had to speake with the king of Aragon who prepared to returne into Spaine altogether disposed to resume the gouernment of Castille for that Iane his daughter was vnhable to so great an administration not so muche for the imbecillitie of her sex as for that by a superabundance of melancolie growen since the death of her husbande she was become somewhat estranged from her vnderstanding and also for the minoritie of the children common betwene king Phillip and her wherof the eldest had not yet attayned ten yeres Besides he was pushed forwarde by the desires of many whiche called him to that gouernment by a remembraunce that they had bene iustly gouerned and that those kingdomes had florished vnder him by a long continuaunce of peace the diuisions already begon amongs the great Barons together with the manifest signes of troubles to come muche encreasing this desire But his comming was no lesse desired of his daughter who wandring in minde in all other actions was neuerthelesse constant in this that she desired the returne of her father refusing obstinately agaynst the perswasions and importunities of many to subscribe with her owne hande to any expedition without whiche subscription according to the custome of those realmes the affayres occurrant had not their perfection For these reasons the king of Aragon departed from Naples where he remeyned but seuen monthes leauing vnsatisfied the great expectation that was had on him not so muche for the shortnes of tyme whiche ronnes in a voluble motion without respect nor for that it is harde to answere the conceptions of men which for the most part are inconsiderate and not measured with due proportions â–ª as for the many difficulties impediments that opposed against him by reason wherof he did nothing deseruing memorie for thuniuersall benefit of Italie nor any thing worthy of monument for the particuler profit of the kingdome of Naples for suche was his desire to returne eftsones to the gouernment of Castillo the principall piller of his greatnes that he reserued no oportunitie to thinke of the affayres of Italie onely he turned all his studies to deuise to keepe himselfe in amitie with the king of Romains and the French king to th ende the one vnder cooller to be grandfather to the little children of the dead king and the other with thopportunitie of his power giuing corage to who woulde oppose agaynst him shoulde giue no impediments to his returne And the obligation wherein he was bounde by the treatie of peace made with the Frenche king to restore the estates that had bene taken from the Barons of Aniovv and distributed eyther by couenant or by recompence to suche as had followed his faction hindred him to redresse and gratifie the kingdome of Naples for seeking not to estraunge from him the mindes of his good seruauntes he was constrayned to recompence those of Aniovve either with estates of equall reuenue whiche he must buy of others or with readie money wherevnto his Courtes of faculties and treasures woulde not suffice in which respects he was compelled not onely to raise improuementes vppon his reuenues and to refuse according to the custome of newe kings to distribute grace and exemptions and exercise any sorte of liberalitie but also with the incredible complaynt of euery one to taxe his peoples who expected to be discharged of their intollerable burdens the complaintes made by the Barons of both the one and other parte were nothing inferiour for that to such as were possessed besides that they resigned their estates with yll will necessitie made their recompences short and limitted and touching others there was restrayned as muche as was possible the benefite of restitution in all things wherein hapned any difference for that howe muche lesse was restored to those by so muche lesse was the recompence of others The great Capteine departed with him leauing behinde him a good will incredible and a renowne nothing inferiour of whom besides his merites prayses in other times his present liberalities then were most notorious promising and disposing giftes of great vallour for the which he solde a great part of his owne estates caring lesse to make him selfe poore then to fayle in suche an action of honor But the king of Naples departed very yll contented with the Pope for that demaunding thinuestiture of the kingdome the pope refused to giue it him but with those taxations and tributes wherewith it had bene giuen afore times to the former kings he made instance that there might be made to hym the same diminution which had bene made to Ferdinand his cousin and to his sonnes and nephewes demaunding thinuestiture of the whole realme in his owne name as successor of tholde Alfonso in which forme whilest he was at Naples he had receyued othe and homage notwithstanding in the capitulations of peace made with the French king it was disposed that touching the lande of Lauora and Abruzza the name of the Queene should be ioyntly acknowledged It was thought that the refusall which the Pope made of the inuestiture was the cause that Ferdinand woulde not speake with the Pope who remeyning at the same time in the rocke of Ostia it was sayde he taryed there to expect his passage But how soeuer the truth was the king of Aragon tooke his course to Sauona where it was agreed that he should haue enterview and speache with the Frenche king who staying for that cause in Italie was come thither from Millan assone as he vnderstoode he had taken passage from Naples In this enterview and conference the demonstrations on all sides were manifest free and full of
of things worldly and transitorie so those were the latest triumphant dayes of the great Capteine for that departing no more out of the kingdome of Spayne he had afterwards no meane to exercise his vertue neither in warre nor in things memorable for peace The two kings had conuersation together for the space of two dayes wherein were holden betwene them many discourses both long and secrete and Cardinall de S. Prassida the Popes Legate not admitted to that conference nor honored but generally but by that that might be comprehended by generall coniecture and also by the manyfestation of things afterwards they passed a reciprocall promise the one to the other to enterteine together a ioynt and perpetuall amitie and intelligence and that Ferdinand should labor to reconcile Maximilian and the French king to th ende that being all reunited they might declare and protest quarrell agaynst the Venetians wherin to expresse that they were no lesse carefull for things cōmon then for such as concerned them selues in proper and particuler they published an intention to reforme the estate of the Church and to that ende to call a Councell Neuertheles Ferdinand proceeded not with sinceritie but seeking to nourishe in that hope the Cardinall of Amboyse who thirsted muche to be Pope he lulled him so muche by that abusing meane that with no litle domage to thaffaires of his king he perceyued too late and that by many signes and demonstrations what difference were betwene the words and works of that Prince and what suttleties and euasions were in his counsels They communed together touching the cause of the Pisans wherein the Florentins had enterteined negociation both with the one and other of them during the whole yere for when the Frenche king prepared his armie agaynst the Genovvaies beeing discontented that the Pisans bare fauor to the rebellions of that people and foresecing how muche it would be for the commoditie of his affaires to haue the Florentins to recouer that Citie he gaue them hope that assone as he had repressed the mutinies of Genes he would conuert his armie to the deuotion of their seruice expressing in that promise as also appeared in the generall inclination of the Court that the auncient good will which had bene aforetime borne to the Pisans was for this occasion turned into hate But as euen the counsels of princes haue their variations imperfections so in their promises oftentimes is found litle certentie bearing more regarde to the trayne and euent of tymes then to accomplishe the wordes they speake for the Frenche king hauing performed his enterprise vpon the Genovvaies chaunged his determination with the Florentins both for the same reasons whiche made him dismisse his armie and also for that he would not offende the minde of the king of Aragon who assured him that he would so dispose the Pisans that they should willingly returne to thobedience of the Florentins from whom the Frenche king hoped by that meane to drawe no small quantitie of money To this the king of Aragon disposed him selfe but for many sundry occasions and albeit it had bene more agreable to him that the Florentins should not recouer Pisa yet knowing that it coulde not be long kept without great expences and difficulties and fearing withall least they should obteine it by the Frenche kings working he hoped when he was at Naples to haue bene able to induce the Pisans by his authoritie to returne vnder honest conditions to the obedience of the Florentins who promised so farreforth as the action were accomplished to confederat with him and to giue him within a certaine time an hundred thousande duckets but not finding in the Pisans that conformitie and deuotion whiche he expected to let that the gratification and recompence should not remeine onely to the Frenche king he then protested openly to the Florentin Embassadors that if they should attempt in any sort to reconquer Pisa without his ayde he would manifestly obiect his power agaynst them And the French king to turne him from those thoughtes which he had to manage that enterprise by armes he enterteined cunningly with deuises full of varieties sometimes perswading that he hoped to drawe them in the ende to some composition and sometimes he iustified that the Pisans were vnder his protection A matter no lesse false and contrarie then his deuises were vayne and fabulous for albeit the Pisans had made many solicitations to him with offers to indue him with the absolute iurisdiction of their towne yet enterteyning their requests with hopes keping his intentions dissembled he alwayes forbare to accept them knowing what it was to take vpon him the protection of a warre populer and confused But this matter being more particulerly debated in Sauona they cōcluded that it were good necessarie the Pisans should returne vnder the iurisdiction of the Florentins so farforth as either of thē might tast of the profit the same being the cause that the Florentins fearing to stirre to much the minde of the king of Aragon forbare to giue the spoyle that yere to the haruest of the Pisans an action wherein they had reapposed a great hope for that what by the want of vittels and weaknes of forces in the towne the Florentin souldiours ouerranne the whole coūtrey euen to their gates And the peoples of the maine countrey more mightie in numbers within the towne then the proper Citizens greeuing muche to loase the fruite of their trauell for the whole yere began to abate muche of their accustomed obstinacie Besides their generall cause was no more succored by their neighbours as before for that the Genovvaies ouergreeued with so many calamities had no more the same thoughtes Pandolffe Petrucci made wearie betweene importunitie and suspition founde also the charges intollerable and they of Lucquois albeit they ministred secretly to their wantes yet their habilitie was no more sufficient to beare out so great a burden being for the present no lesse heauie and intollerable then in expectation ielouse and full of perill The two kinges departed from Sauona the fourth day with the same demonstrations of concorde and amitie the one tooke his course by sea to Barcelonia and the other returned by lande into Fraunce leauing the other affaires of Italie in the same degree but with a greater discontentment of the Pope who taking of newe his occasion vpon the stirre made by Annyball Bentyuole had made instance by Cardinal de S. Prassida to the king at Sauona to deliuer vp to him as prisoners Iohn Bentyuolo and Alexander his sonne whom he kept reteyned in the duchie of Millan he alleaged that since they had broken the contract made in Bolognia by thinterposing of Monsr de Chaumont the king was at libertie and no further bounde to keepe his fayth offring withall that if his maiestie would satisfie his desire he would sende the Cardinall cappe to the Bishop of Alby The king aunswered that albeit he coulde discerne in them no sufficient apparance of fault
or crime yet for that he would somewhat bridle and restrayne their dispositions he had kepte retayned many dayes in the Castell of Millan Iohn Bentyuolo but not finding good matter wherein they had offended he ought to haue no lesse regarde to thinnocencie of the parties then to his proper honour vnder the which he stoode bounde to keepe his fayth And yet to gratifie the Pope and leaue him satisfied of his inclination he sayde he was disposed to suffer him to proceede agaynst them with curses and paynes as agaynst the rebels of the Church euen as he had endured without complaint that in Bolognia in the heate of that stirre their Pallace was destroyed euen to the fundations The Dyot of Constance continued still with the same expectation of men wherewith it was begon which Caesar forgat not to nourish with diuerse sleightes and gallant wordes publishing that he would passe into Italie so accompanied that farre greater forces then the armies of Fraunce and all Italie ioyned together shoulde not be hable to resiste him And to geue greater value and authoritie to his cause alwayes protesting that he had onely fixed in his intention the protection of the Churche he aduertised the Pope and Colledge of Cardinalles that he had declared the Frenche king rebell and enemie to the sacred Empire for that he had descended into Italie to transferre into the person of the Cardinall of Amboyse the supreme dignitie pontificall and to set vppon hys owne head the Crowne Imperiall and lastly to dryue the whole Region of Italie into one seruile subiection That he prepared to come to Rome onely to take the Crowne and to establishe a common suretie and libertie And lastely that in regarde of hys Imperiall dignitie beeing protector of the Churche and for hys proper pietie verye deuoute and desyrous to aduaunce the Sea Apostolike it was not conuenient he shoulde tarie to be requyred or prayed knowing well ynoughe that the Pope for feare of perill and harmes was fledde from Bolognia and that the same feare kept restrayned both him and the religious Colledge from communicating their daungers or sending to demaunde succours Thus the matters whiche were treated in Germanie beeing by manye intelligences signified into Italie and the brute that was spredde surpassing the truth of thinges together with the generall preparations which the Frenche king made beeing causes enforcing more credite and testimonie of the publike rumours for that it was beleeued that he feared not without occasion These thinges I say moued muche the myndes of euery one some for desire of newe thinges some for hope some for feare some for respectes generall and some for their priuate and particuler interests In so much as the Pope fente as Legate to Maximilian the Cardinall of Saint Crosse and the Venetians the Florentins with all other Potentates in Italie excepte the Marquis of Mantua that were absolute and depended vppon them selues addressed to hym messaungers speciall eyther in the name of Embassadours or vnder some other nature euery one foreseeing for hys safetie according to the ielousie of the tyme These thinges troubled muche the mynde of the Frenche king being very doubtfull of the wyll of the Venetians and more vncertayne of the disposition of the Pope aswell for many reasons and experiences of things past as especially that he had elected to this legatiō cardinal S. Crosse in whom had remained an ancient and partiall inclination to further the greatnes of Maximilian But touching the will of the Pope muche lesse that it was manifest to others seeing it was scarsly knowen to him selfe for hauing his minde full of discontentmentes and suspitions agaynst the French king sometimes to be at libertie from those humors wandring and troublesome he desired the comming of Caesar and eftsones the memorie of auncient quarels betwene the Popes Emperours disaltered and amazed him the same occasions remayning and the same propertie of spirits working In which incertentie and frailty of minde he deferred to resolue himselfe expecting first what would be determined in the Dyot And therfore proceding in tearmes generall he had instructed the Legate to perswade Caesar in his name to passe into Italy without an army offring to him greater degrees and proportion of honors then euer had bin done by any Pope at the crowning of Emperors But a litle after the counsels of men obey occasions times thexpectations that were had of the resolutions in the Dyot began to diminish for when it was credibly vnderstand in Germanie that the Frenche king had dissolued his armie immediatly after the victorie of Genes his person also returning with the same fidelitie and obseruation of promise ouer the Mountes the heate of the Princes and peoples began to abate and their fiery inclinations to resolue to smoke and fume the feare beeing ceassed that he came not to vsurpe the Popedome and the Empire Besides as it often hapneth publike respects fell not so strongly in consideration but they were ouercaried with interests priuate for that besides all other reasons there was a generall and auncient desire in all Germanie that the greatnes of Emperours should not be so absolute as the other estates should be compelled to obey them And the French king omitted no diligence that might giue aduauncement to his cause for that he sent to Constance men expresse who forbearing all publike practise but working secretly laboured by the hydden fauours of the Princes that were his friendes to appease the mindes of the residue purging thinfamies that had bene imposed by testification and euidence of theffectes since assone as he had ranged Genes he did not onely disperse his armie but also returned in person into Fraunce with that speede that was agreable to a personage of his greatnes they affirmed besides that he had not onely abstayned in example and action from offending the Empire of Rome but also in all confederations contractes or bondes he did alwayes protest and except that he would be bounde to nothing that was contrarie to the rights of the sacred Empire wherein neuertheles they reapposed not so much in these iustificatiōs but that they labored with great diligence and many liberalities to abate the fierce mindes of the Almains with the engine of golde and siluer wherof that nation is not a litle couetous A batterie of no litle force to make breaches into the minds of most sortes and properties of men that beare more inclination to corruption then to vertue The Dyot at last determined and brake vp the twentith day of August in the which was agreed after many disputations that there should be deliuered to Cesar to followe him into Italy eight thousand horse xxij thousand footmen payed for six moneths and to furnish the expences of thartilleries with other charges extraordinary six thousand Florins of Rhein to be continued so long as the artillery was in seruice the bands and regiments to be in the fielde assemble neare Constance about the middest of October It
behalfe of Maximilian should be named and holden as comprehended and nominated the Pope the king Catholike the king of Englande the king of Hungria and all the Princes and subiects of the sacred Empire in what place soeuer together with all the confederates of Maximilian and the sayde kings and states of thempire which should be named within three monethes And for the Venetians were named the French king the king Catholike with all the confederates and friendes of the Venetians of the French king and king Catholike in Italie onely whom they should likewise name within three moneths Thus was the truce accorded the xx day of Aprill and with no lesse expedition ratified by the Emperour and the Venetians by which meanes ceassed the warre with great hope that the regions of Italie shoulde nowe returne to a perpetuall concorde and peace After armes were layde aside by the resolution and couenantes of this peace it seemed to the Frenche king that the Florentins would haue declared themselues rather for Caesar then for him if Themperours affaires had had a more happie beginning and knowing withall that that disposition proceeded of no other thing then of a desire they had to recouer Pisa in what sorte they coulde and of a discontentment that without respecting they had bene alwayes at his deuotion and in the seruices they had done him he had not onely not fauoured them neither with authoritie countenance nor armes but also had suffred that the Pisans were succored by the Genovvaies that were his subiects he determined in these regardes to deuise howe by some honest meane they might obteine that they desired wherein for that for the benefite of his former purposes he woulde do it to his proper profite and that he thought that feare would be a better meane then hope to drawe from them a greater summe he dispatched M. Riccio to make complaint first that they had sent men expresse to accord with Caesar his enemie that vnder cooler to giue the spoile to the Pisans they had assembled a mightie armie without hauing regarde to the conditions of the time and his suspitions and daungers that in so great a stirre and commotion which was prepared they were neuer willing to expresse simply their intentions wherin they gaue him iust occasion to doubt to what ende tended those preparations And lastly that hauing desired them to ayde him with their armies in so great perils they refused it agaynst all confidence and expectation All whiche notwithstanding aswell for the perpetuall amitie which he had alwayes borne to their commonweale as for the memorie of the good offices and obseruaunces they had done in tymes past for his seruice he was very ready to pardon them all these newe iniuries so farrefoorth as to cut off all occasions that might eftsones trouble the tranquillitie of Italie they would not hereafter molest the Pisans without his consent To these complaynts the Florentins answered that necessitie had induced them to sende men to Caesar not with any intention to couenant with him agaynst the king but if he passed into Italie to assure their estate which the king in the capitulation made with them woulde not be bounde to defende agaynst Caesar according to the testimonie of an expresse clause bearing these wordes Sauing the rights of th' empire That he could not reasonably complayne of the armie leauied agaynst the Pisans for that it beeing no greater then of custome it ministred no iuste occasion of newe suspitions and beeing assembled for no other effectes then as in other times to giue impedimentes to the haruest of the Pisans there was no reasonable cause of doubt if mens iudgementes were as indifferent as the matter was innocent That for suche a matter and for the succors which the Genovvaies other neighbours gaue then to the Pisans it was not possible for them to sende their souldiours to the king wherevnto albeit they were not bounde yet for the deuotion they had alwayes borne to him they woulde not haue stucke to haue done it yea though they had not bene required That they marueiled greatly at the kings desire that the Pisans should not be molested whome he had no reason to esteeme or value with the Florentins if he had any impression of their actions agaynst him in the rebellion of Genes And that he could not iustly forbidde them to molest the Pisans for that the confederation which they had made with him did so import and beare it Vppon these beginnings they consulted afterwardes to reduce Pisa vnder thobedience of the Florentins wherevnto it seemed this did suffice if order were giuen that neither the Genovvaies nor Lucquois should succor it in suche a necessitie of vittels and forces that the Pisans durst no more issue out of their towne adioyning withall for the losse of the haruest the yll disposition of those of the playne countrey being in greater number then the Citizens In so muche as it was beleeued that they coulde not holde out if they receiued not from Genovvay and Lucqua certayne quantities of money by meane of which such as gouerned kept within Pisa certayne forreine souldiours and distributing the residue to the young men aswel of the towne as of the plaine countrey they astonished with the armes of those such as desired to accorde with the Florentins keeping by that meane the towne in peace and free from mutinie To this practise begon by the French king was added thauthoritie of the king Catholike ielouse belike that without him such a matter could worke no effect and therefore assone as he vnderstoode that M. Riccio was gone to Florence he dispatched also an Embassador who going first to Pisa encoraged them in the name of his king to take comfort and holde out not for other respect then that remayning wilfull and obstinate to yeelde to the Florentins they might be solde for a greater price A litle after these enterspeeches by consent of both kings were caried into the Court of the Frenche king where without any regarde to the protection so oftentimes promised the king Catholike solicited with great importunitie the resolution of that busines both for that he knewe that Pisa beeing not defended would necessarily fall into the power of the Florentins and also he had at that time no disposition to entangle him selfe with newe affayres and chiefly agaynst the will of the Frenche king for notwithstanding he had immediatly vpon his returning into Spayne resumed the gouernment of Castillo yet he stoode not well confirmed in it both for the separate wills and inclinations of the Barons and also they had not iustified his consent in the name of his nephew But after the cause of the Pisans had bene long debated in the court of Fraunce diuersitie of affections hindring the successe At last for many difficulties which hapned but principally for that both the kings sought to appropriate to themselues the price of the sale of it the practise was dissolued without any forme of conclusion
armes to be leauyed agaynst the Venetians troubled his minde and on the other he seemed fearefull to be constrayned to depende too muche of the greatnes of an other but muche more was he moued by an auncient ielousie he had taken agaynst the Cardinall of Amboyse in whose respect it seemed greeuous to him that the armies of the French king should passe into Italie Besides thaffaires of greatest importance were somewhat troubled by the late presumption of the Pope disposing a litle before without the kings knowledge the Byshoprikes of Ast and Plaisance and withall for that the king resisted the newe Cardinall of S. P. ad Vincla to whom by the death of thother the riche Abbey of Cleruault neere to Millan was transferred to take possession of it so irresolute was the Pope wandring betwene feare and ambition and so inconstant the Frenche king obseruing to make his profite on the trayne euent of things for albeit the Pope coulde not bee resolued amyd so many difficulties yet in the end the French king and Caesar both applying with the course and oportunities of times determined to communicate secretly together agaynst the Venetians wherein for the better countenance and coolour to the action and withall to giue perfection to those things that should be debated there assembled in the towne of Cambray for Caesar the Lady Margaret his daughter Regent of Flaunders and of those other estates which were discended to king Phillip by the mothers right assisted for the regarde of this action by Mathevve Longo a secretarie of great credite with Caesar And for the French king was sent the Cardinall of Amboyse followed with certayne other particulars rather to furnishe his trayne then to communicate in thaction They caused to publishe a brute that these estates assembled to solicit a peace betwene tharchduke duke of Gueldres betwene whom they had set downe a truce for fortie yeeres And keeping alwayes vnknowen from the Venetians the true occasion the Cardinal assured by great othes to their Embassador that his king would continue in the confederation he had with them wherein also the Embassador of the king of Aragon folowed him rather not denying then graunting for that albeit that king was the first mouer of these conferences betwene themperour and the French king yet hauing continuation afterwards without him both the one and other of them were perswaded that the prosperitie of the French king would be intollerable to him and as touching the gouernment of Castillo would holde for suspected the greatnes of Caesar and therefore his thoughtes in that action were not conformable to his words At Cambray things were resolued in very few dayes without cōmunicating with thembassador of the king Catholike till after the conclusion which the tenth daye of December was solemnly confirmed in the great Church with the othes of Lady Margaret the Cardinall of Amboyse and the Spanishe Embassador In this publication they expressed nothing but that there was established betwene the Pope and eyther of those Princes a perpetuall peace and confederation but in Articles more priuate and secrete were conteined clauses of right great importance which being full of ambition and wholly contrarie to the couenauntes whiche Caesar and the French king had with the Venetians were couered with a preamble full of great pietie and affection to religion as though the diuersitie of words were sufficient to alter and chaunge the effects of things It was expressed in that preamble that for a common desire to beginne a warre agaynst the enemies of the name of Christ and thimpedimentes which the Venetians had giuen occupying ambitiously the landes of the Church which nowe they ment to remoue to proceede with better consent and agreement to so holy and necessarie an expedition And by the perswasions and counsels of the Pope the Cardinall of Amboyse as his procurer and with his authoritie and as deputed and authorised by the French king and by the personall solicitation of Lady Margaret assigned and authorised by the king of Romains and as gouernes to tharchduke and thestates of Flaunders And lastly by the consent of thembassador of the king of Aragon as fully appoynted by his king they were resolued to make warre vpon the Venetians euery one in his owne right to recouer the thinges they had vsurped vpon them which for the Pope were Faenza Rimini Rauenna and Ceruia for the king of Romains Padua Vincensa and Verona apperteining to him in the name of Thempire and the places of Friul and Treuisan beeing percell of th inheritance of the house of Austria for the French king were Cremona Quiaradada Bresse Bergama and Crema and for the regarde of the king of Aragon were the townes and hauens which had bene morgaged by Ferdinand king of Naples Tharticles were these that the French king was bounde to the warre in person and to giue the first reall beginning the first day of the next Aprill at what tyme also the Pope and the king Catholike should enter into the action That to th ende the king of Romains should haue iust cause not to obserue the truce that was made the Pope should demaunde succors of him as of the protector of the Churche and that after that the king of Romains should sende to him at the least a Capteine and should be bounde fortie dayes after the French king had begonne the warre to inuade thestates of the Venetians in person That which soeuer of them should recouer that which apperteined to him should be bound to minister ayde to the others till they had made a full and sufficient recouerie That they were all bound to defende one another in case the Venetians offred to oppresse them for any places that were recouered and not one of them in particular should compoūd or agree with the Venetians without a common consent that the Duke of Ferrara and Marquis of Mantua and who els would pretend the Venetians to vsurpe any place of theirs had libertie to be named in the league within three moneths and being once named to enioy all the benefits and fauours of the confederation in as full power and nature as the principalles of the same communicating with the fulnesse of authoritie for the reconquering of those things that they had loste That the Pope should sommon the Venetians vnder great paynes and curses to make restitution of suche things as they occupied of the Church That he should be iudge betweene Bianca Maria the king of Romains wife and the Duke of Ferrara touching the contention for an inheritance and succession of Anna her sister and sometimes wife to the sayd Duke That Caesar should inuest the French king in the duchie of Millan for him selfe Frauncis d'Angoulesme and to their issue males for whiche inuestiture the Frenche should paye to him an hundred thousande duckets That Caesar and the Archduke should not during the warre and six monethes after make any innouation agaynst the king Catholike for any respect of the gouernment
an authentike register of all the iniuries which the French kings in times past had done to thempire and nation of Germanie confessing that since the king had accompanied his promise with suche honor and fidelitie that he could do no lesse in common office then for his part to dissolue all remēbrances of things that might minister occasions to be vnthankfull to so great an affection The Cardinall of Amboyse came to him to Trent the thirtenth day of Iune to communicate of their common affaires who beeing receyued with demonstrations well testifying the amitie he bare to his king promised him on the kings behalfe a succor of fiftie launces In so muche that after they had with great agreement giuen directions for other affayres it was resolued that Caesar and the king should speake together in plaine feeld neare the towne of Gard vpon the Marches of both the one and others countreys For which cause the Frenche king prepared to be there at the day appoynted and Caesar in the same regarde came to Riua de Trente bringing in neither of their mindes any suspition the one allured by good experience of benefite and fidelitie and the other assured by the consideration of the same But suche are the variations of Princes and their ordinarie subiection to suspitions and ielousies that themprour after he had bene there onely two houres returned immediatly to Trenta signifying to the French king that by occasion of new accidents hapned at Friul he was constrayned to departe sodenly desiring him to stay at Cremona till he returned to giue perfection to the enterview determined This varietie if notwithstanding it be possible in a Prince so inconstant to finde out the truth many attributed to his credulitie lightnes of belefe some men blowing into his eares something that made him enter into suspition Others made this thoccasion that hauing so small a Court accompanied with a trayne ill appoynted he thought he coulde not present himselfe with that dignitie and reputation as might holde comparison with the pompe and greatnes of the French king who for his part desiring to dissolue his armie to be deliuered of so great a burden no lesse to returne with spede into Fraunce tooke his way to Millan not tarying for themperours signification notwithstanding the bishop of Gurce whom themperour had sent for that effect following him euen to Cremona solicited him muche to tarrie making promise that without all exceptions themperour would returne The discamping of the armie and person of the French king from the confines of Caesar diminished greatly the reputation of his affayres And yet albeit he was accompanied with suche multitudes of men that he might easily refurnish Padoa and the other townes yet he sorbare to sende garrison thither either for thinconstancie of his nature or that he thoughte afore hande to sette vppon some other enterprise or lastely that he interpreted it more to hys honour to discende into Italie wyth a greater armie And whiche more is he pretended as thoughe the former actions had had their due perfection that together wyth the ioynt forces of the whole confederates they should assayle the Citie of Venice A matter very plausible to the French king but greeuous to the Pope and no lesse impugned with open reasons by the king of Aragon About this tyme the Florentins put their laste hande to the warres agaynst the Pisans for after they had cutte off all succours and entrie of graynes into Pisa they leauyed newe bandes to th ende by aduauncing all thindustrie they coulde to choake all their course of vittelles bothe by sea and lande A matter that was subiect to difficultie for the neighborhood of the countrey of the Lucquois who when they coulde secretly doo it obserued wyth a verye negligent fayth their accorde newly made with the Florentins the necessities of their neighbours preuayling aboue the bonde of their promise othe or fidelitie But notwithstanding the secrete succours of those good neighbours the wante of vittayles more and more encreased within Pisa an affliction aboue all others least tollerable and most contrarie to the kinde of man expressing in that aduersitie a peculiar frayltie The souldiours of the playne countrey could not endure it which made those principalls of the Citizens in whose handes rested al publike resolutions being folowed with the greatest part of the youth of the Citie the better to loll the countrey souldiours with deuises accustomed to introduce by the meane of the Lorde of Plombin a practise of accorde with the Florentins An action wherein were artificially consumed many dayes and for whiche the Florentins sent to Plombin Nicholas Machiauel their secretorie the Pisans electing for Embassadors both Citizens and countrey men It was very harde to enclose Pisa for that it stoode in a felden large and full of dytches and marris neyther coulde the entry of vittelles be hindred by any easie meane speciallye by nighte bothe for the faythfull industrie of the Lucquois to refurnishe them and the desperate myndes of the Pysans refusing no perill wherein was anye oportunitie of prouision But to ouercome those difficulties the Florentine Capteines determined to deuide their armie into three partes bestowing one parte at Messana withoute the gate of Plagei the seconde at Saint Peter de Rene and Saint Iames ouer agaynst the gate of Lucquay and the thirde was appoynted to the auncient Temple of Saint Peter d'ingrado standing betweene Pisa and the mouth of Arna In euery campe beeing well fortified they bestowed a thousande footemen with conuenient numbers of horsemen And to let that none shoulde passe ouer the mountaynes by the waye of the vale of Osola whiche leadeth to the mount Saint Iulian they buylded towardes the great hospitall a Bastillion capable of two hundred and fyftie footemen By these impedimentes the Pisans fell more and more into want of vittelles who seeking to gette by pollicie that whiche they dispayred to obtayne by force deuised that Alphonso Mutulo a young man of Pisa but of base condition who beeing aforetyme taken prisoner by the Florentin souldiours and receiuing many pleasures of his keeper shoulde offer to bee thinstrument to make them surprise the gate that goeth to Lucquay Their deuise bare this meaning that at the same tyme that the campe whiche was at Saint Iames shoulde go by nighte to execute thenterprise they woulde not onely oppresse it when one parte was entred but also woulde charge the other campes of the Florentines whiche according to the resolution were to approache more neare the Citie but for that they made not their approche rashely nor in disorder the Pisans wonne no other thing by this practise but the lyues of certayne particulars who at the signe giuen were come to the first gate thinking to enter the Citie amongst whom was slayne with a shotte Paule de Parana captayne of a companie of lighte horsemen to the Florentins and Canaio de Pratovechio to whome Alphonso Mutulo had bene prisoner and vnder his assuraunce
in Italie At Verona he receyued the othe of fidelitie in that citie Pe. Guicciardin father to the author of this booke with the other Florentin Embassadors couenanted with him in the name of the cōmon weale induced besides their owne respects by the perswasions of the French king to pay him in a short time xl thousande duckets for which promise they obteyned of him in most ample maner many priuileges for the confirmation aswell of the libertie of Florence as of the dominion and iurisdiction of the townes and estates which they helde together with remission and acquittance of all dueties and demaundes for times past Thus Caesar resting determined to returne into Germany to giue order as he sayde for the warres which he entended in the spring time sent for Monsr Chaumont to come and communicate with him of the present affayres he layed afore him by demonstration the perilles of the tyme and what daunger there were that the Venetians would recouer Citadella and Bassana places of greate importance which they prepared to assayle beeing made proude by the defence and successe of Padoa he feared the same opinion of their fortune would encorage them also to the like action agaynst Monselica Montagnana and Este the felicitie of victorie making men insolent and carying their mindes into enterprises aboue the proportion of their proper power and habilitie He alleaged howe necessarie it were to consider not onely of the protection of these places but also to enter into practise howe to recouer Leguague wherein being of himselfe not sufficient enough to leauie prouisions necessarie for suche effects it touched the king in good pollicie to minister ayde to him whose places were to fall into manyfest perill if the peces which he held were not supported To these demaunds Monsr Chaumont in whom was no power to make any certayne resolution gaue aunswere that he woulde see the king aduertised on whose behalfe he aduouched a minde conformable to his desires being all that apperteined to his place to promise well hauing no authoritie to assure After this conference Caesar went to Chiusa leauing the Marquis of Brandebourg for the garde of Verona And a little after Monsr de Palissa remayning with fiue hundred launces vpon the countrey of Verona alleaging the difficulties and incommodities of the place where he laye gate leaue with great importunities to retyre to the frontiers of the duchie of Millan for that the kings intention was that if his men of warre should remeine in garrison and do nothing they should not abide vpon his estate but should returne to the seruice of Maxymylian to exspect such enterprise as he would embrase but chiefly the action of Leguagua which notwithstanding it was much desired and solicited by him yet it was so long differred by his accustomed difficulties that the raines fell so fast by the propertie of the season that it was impossible to incampe in that contreye being for his lownes much subiect to waters for these impediments Caesar was driuen to desire truce for certaine moneths with the Venetians but they rising into courage by his disorders and seeing how slowly the confederats ministred to his ayde had more regard to the fortune that followed them then to the mocions he made iudging it not for their profite to consent to any ceassing of armes Amyd these suspicions and ielowsies of thinges thEmprour at last returned to Trente leauing those places that he held in great daunger and all the gouernments in Italy in generall dout for there began to appeare betwene the Pope the french king a new contencion the foundacion whereof albeit seemed to be layd vpon light occasions yet there was feare lest it was intangled with more secret practise causes of greater importance then such as were expressed The outward cause appearing was that a Bishoprik being void in Prouence by the death of thincumbent dying in the Court of Rome the Pope had disposed it against the wil of the frēch King who pretended such action to be contrary to the capitulacion which the Cardinal of Pauya had made betwene them wherein albeit the wordes bare not expresly that there should be equall respect and obseruacion touching the Bishoprikes falling in the Court of Rome as of such as fell vacant in other places yet he was assured no lesse by the mouth and promisse of the Cardinall which the Cardinall confessed not to be true more perhaps for feare then for other occasion The Pope affirmed the contrary alleaging that he tooke no knowledge of any thinge promised in priuitie and secret onely in the ratificacion he had regarde to that that appeared in the writing and particular articles wherein he had set downe distinctly all the contents of the capitulacion chapter by chapter And tharticle concerning the dying of the Byshops in the Court of Rome being not comprehended he was not bownde to thobseruation of that that was not expressed This did so much aggrauate the discontentement of them both that as the Kinge reiecting contrary to his custome the councells of the Cardinall Amboise who had alwayes aduised him to enterteyne agreement with the Pope made sequestracion of the frutes of all those benefices which the Churchmen resident in the Court of Rome held in the Duchie of Myllan So the Pope refused to indue the Bishop of Alby with the hat who according to the promisse made to the King was gone to Rome to receiue it And albeit the Pope ouerruled by the importunities of many friendes was brought in the ende to dispose of the Bishoprike of Prouence according to the Kinges minde And albeit there was eftsoones agreed betweene them a new forme of proceeding in benefices that hereafter shoulde fall in the Court of Rome and in that regarde the sequestracions to ceasse on the one side and on the other part the hat to be transferred to the Bishop of Alby yet these agreements sufficed not to moderat the minde of the Pope who was not a litle kindled for many reasons but specially for that hauing from the beginning of his Popedom transferred very vnwillingly the legacion of the Realme of Fraunce to the Cardinall of Amboise A matter hurtfull to the Court of Rome and bearing preiudice to his authoritie it was now most greeuous to him to be constrained to auoid displeasure with the french King to continue it to him he was ielous also that the same Cardinal aspired with all his thoughts meanes to the souereign seat therefore he stoode in feare dout of euery aduauncement and rising of the frenche These were the apparant causes of his discontentment but as farre as could be afterwards coniectured by his thoughts and disposicions he layed greater plots and aspired to farre greater endes desiring vehemently eyther for greedines of glorie or for some secret hatred against the french Kinge or atleast for the libertie of the Genovvais that the Kinge might lose all that he possessed in Italy iudging his greatnes a bridle to his
ambition by so muche lesse is limited the desire of oppression which in mindes corruptly inclined holdes nothing vnlawfull that may serue to thaction pretended nor any thing vnreasonable that agreeth with the humor of their passion in whom this is one natural custome to conuert all things to his owne propertie working The Pope omitting neither meane nor matter that might giue furtherance to his purpose made secret solicitation to Henry the eight then king of Englande to rayse warre agaynst the French king wherein enforcing the memorie of thauncient emulations of those two kingdomes he ioyned to the facilitie of thenterprise this occasion of the felicitie and successe that if he would begin to leauie armes agaynst Fraunce thaction would take imitation in many others to whom the puissance and greatnes of that crowne was either suspected or hated he forgat not to encourage him to embrace with that deuotion which in other times had bin proper to the kings of Englande the glorie that was offred him to be protector and preseruer of the sea Apostolike which without the ayde of his authoritie and reskewe stoode in manifest daunger by thambition of the French king In this practise the king of Aragon did communicate with the Pope but secretly and not really vsing perhaps this moderation of minde not to suffer his desires to be greater then his fortunes But that which was of greatest importance the Pope enterteined still with the Svvizzers the negociations which were begonne by the Bishop of Syon by whose authoritie being great with that nation and perpetuall importunitie labouring their assemblies and councels and preaching in their Churches he obteined at last that the Svvizzers receiuing euery yere a thousande Florins of Rhein for euery Canton shoulde be bounde to the protection of him and the estate of the Churche with permission to the Pope for his defence agaynst all men that would vex him to leauie certayne proportions of footmen The occasion that moste helped forwarde this matter and made his request more easie and plausible was the disagreement that began to kindle betweene them and the Frenche king For the Svvizzers being of nature proude and weening became more raysed and lifted vp in minde by the estimation that others had of them and chalenging to them selues peculiarly the glorie of the French victories were caried into this presuming that all the conquests and honorable actions which eyther the king raigning or his predecessor had obteined in Italie proceeded principally of their valour and the feare of their armes And therevpon insisting vppon merites as though the crowne of Fraunce ought much to them they demaunded the French king soliciting to make renouation of thalliance that nowe was determined that he would augment their pensions being then threescore thousand frankes by yere ouer and aboue the mercenarie contributions which were secretly dispearsed amongst priuat persons pensions which had ben begon vnder Lovvis the eleuenth and continued vnto the present time But for that they accompanied their demaundes with a presumptuous audacitie which the king construed to manifest insolencie and for that of paisantes and mountayne men suche was his phrase they sought imperiously to impose and taxe him being a king he began so to shake them of with wordes and countenaunces that they might discerne how muche he disdayned them more respecting hys dignitie royall then regarding the present vtilitie of things He was the more induced to this for that at the same season by the solicitation of George Sopressan the peoples of the valleys subiects of Sion who were gouerned in seuen communities which they call courtes being corrupted by publike promises and priuate pensions were not onely confederate with him but also bounde to giue passage to his people and refuse it to his enemies and withall to enter into his payes with such numbers of footmen as their forces were hable to beare In the same sort did enter confederacie with him the Lordes of the three leagues whom they call the Grisons and albeit one part of the men of the valley had not yet approued it the king was not without hope to induce them to ratification by the selfe same meanes In so muche as he began to perswade him selfe that the amitie of the Svvizzers was nowe no more necessarie to him hauing determination to supplye his warres with Almain footmen ouer and besides those proportions of souldiours whiche the valley men and Grisons should furnishe him of Besides he feared little their stirres or preparations and lesse exspectation that they were hable to assayle the duchie of Millan but by the straites of Ballinsona and other passages of great difficultie through the which if they should march in great trowpes and numbers he made his reckoning that they would be easily reduced into necessitie of vittels by a small armie And if they came but in small companies a slender strength woulde likewise suffice to make them retyre Wherein he made his coniectures at random and seemed to lymit the fortunes of them whose forces he yet knewe not flattering himselfe with his proper greatnes An humor preiudicially mouing in Princes in whom there ought to be no parcialitie of comparison when there is question of enterprise and action But because he stoode resolute not to graunt them augmentation of pensions he coulde not obteine in their councells a renouation of thalliance notwithstanding there were manye euen in the middest of them who did earnestly perswade it to whom in particular were retributed no small rewardes And for that cause they consented more easily to the confederation which was demaunded of them by the Pope By which newe confederation the Pope seeming to haue laied a great fundation for thaduauncing of his purposes and hauing a perpetuall nature to proceede in all thinges as supreme and soueraigne aboue all men and as though the whole world were in necessitie to receiue lawes of him he began to sowe seedes of newe controuersies with the Duke of Ferrara eyther pushed on by the cause that was in disputation betweene them or els by an auncient hatred for that hauing receiued of him so many honors benefites and gratifications he seemed neuerthelesse to depende more vpon the French king then vpon him A dealing whiche he construed preiudicially and farre contrarie to the recompence of his merites But whatsoeuer was the cause searching a beginning of the quarrell he commaunded imperiously Alfonso Duke of Ferrara to forbeare to continue the working of salt at Comacchio he alleaged that it was not reasonable that that which was not lawfull to him when the Venetians helde Ceruia should nowe haue suffraunce being possessed by the sea Apostolike to whom apperteined the absolute gouernment of Ferrara and Comacchio Besides it was a matter of great profite for that the working ceassing at Comacchio the saltpittes of Ceruia ministred traffike to all the townes thereaboutes But Duke Alphonso who reapposed more in the coniunction which he had with the French king and in his protection then he feared
he was not without hopes to procure the king of England to stirre But that which should most haue appeased him he made to serue most to stirre vp kindle his stomacke which was the knowledge he had that the frēch king hauing no disposicion to make warre against the church nourished a setled desire to haue peace In so much as it seemed that it would alwaies remeyne in his power to drawe him to peace yea though he had leauyed armes against him The reason of these matters making him rise dayly more insolent and redoubling openly his complayntes and threates agaynst the Frenche Kinge and Duke of Ferrara he refused in the feaste of the celebracion of S. Peter A day wherein accordinge to auncient custome are offered the tributes which are due to the seege Apostolyke to accept the tribute of the Duke of Ferrara saying that the euasion of Alexander the sixt who in marying his Daughter had from foure thowsande duckats reduced that offeringe to a hundred coulde not take example to the preiudice of that sea Besides he woulde not affore this tyme giue licence to the Cardinall of Achx and other frenche Cardinalls to returne into Fraunce and vnderstanding that daye that the Cardinall of Achx was gone to take the pleasure of the fieldes with certein greahowndes he entred into a vayne suspicion that he would secretly start away and therefore sent speedely after to take him and helde him prisoner in the castell S. Ange Thus disclosing openly his manifest contencion with the Frenche Kinge and for that cause seeing him selfe so much the more constrayned to laye great and assured foundacions he graunted to the King Catholike thinuestiture of the kingdome of Naples vnder condicion of the same tribute with the which the kings of Aragon had obteyned it notwithstanding he had refused affore to bestow it otherwaies then for forty thowsand duckats A rate affore time imposed vpon the french when he obteined it In this action the Pope respected not so much the bond which in other inuestitures of the same kingdom was wont to be made to him to enterteyne euery yeare for him as often as neede required 3. hundred men at armes for the defence of the Church as the desire he had to make him his friend ioyned to a hope that his aydes vpon occasion might doe much to leade him into open contencion with the french king Whereof were already discerned certeyne seedes and beginnings for that the king Catholike suspecting much the greatnes of the french and no lesse ielous of his ambicion for that not content with the limits of the league of Cambray he aspired to draw to his obedience the citie of Verona and besides all this being pushed on by the memorie of auncient quarrels desired greatly that there might be found some impediment in his affayres And therefore ceassed not to councell a peace betweene Caesar and the Venetians which was not a litle desired by the Pope And albeit he proceeded secretly in those actions yet he was not able altogether to couer his thoughtes In so much as his armie by sea beinge falne vpon Sicile which he sent to assayle the I le of Gerbes anyland aunciently called by the Lattins the great Sirta the king was entred into suspicion and the mindes of men that were well acquaynted with his suttletyes were occupied with many dowtes But as in worldely dealinges it often hapneth that the thinge that is feared least doth soonest chaunce and hurteth moste so troubles and perplexities beganne to rise to the Frenche Kinge from those partes which he dowted least and in a tyme wherein he had no exspectacion of any mouing of armes to be prepared agaynst him for the Pope betweene whose suttletye and secrecye was no difference working alwayes vnder hande solicited that at one tyme Genes might be assayled both by sea and lande That twelue thowsande Svvyzzers might discende vppon the Duchie of Myllan That the Venetians shoulde take the fielde to recouer their townes holden by Caesar And that his owne armie should enter vpon the contrey of Ferrara with intencion to passe afterwards into the Duchie of Myllan if things begā to succeede happely to the Svvyzzers he hoped that Genes being assailed vpon the suddein there would easily arise some mutacion or mutinie both for that there were many that bare no sownd affection to the french and also that the faction of Fregosa would minister ayde going thether vnder cooller to make Duke Octauian whose father and Vncle had possessed the same dignitie That the french men amased for the commocion of Genes and inuasion of the Svvyzzers woulde reuoke to the Duchie of Myllan all the bandes which they had with Caesar and the Duke of Ferrara which would be a cause that the Venetians should easily recouer Verona and afterwards set vpon the Duchie of Myllan lastly that his regiments shoulde doe the like after they had made an easie conquest of Ferrara beinge abandoned of the french making a iudgement vpon these computacions that the state of Myllan would haue no abilitie of defence against so many enemies and so suddeine a warre he began at one time the warre against Ferrara and against Genes And albeit the Duke of Ferrara against whom he proceeded the more to hasten thexecucion as against a notorious offender offered to giue him the saltes that were made at Comacho with obligacion that hereafter there shoulde be no more made yet nothinge can satisfie a mind possessed with malice after he had licensed his Embassadors he caused his armie to march against him which with the onely somonce of a trompet and no defence appearing obteined Cente Pieua Which borowes apperteining first to the bishoprike of Bolognia Pope Alexander in marying his Daughter had annexed them to the Duchie of Ferrara recompensing the bishoprike with other reuenues Against Genes were sent eleuen gallies of the Venetians guided by Grillo Conterin and one speciall gallie of the Popes carying Octauian Fregosa Ieronimo Dorea with many other of the banished men of that state And by land at the same time and for the same expedicion was dispatched M. Anth. Colonno with a hundred men at armes and seuen hundred footemen This Capteine hauing left the pay of the Florentyns and being interteyned by the Pope aboade vpon the territories of Lucqua vnder cooller to furnish his band giuing out a brute that he was afterwards to goe to Bolognia And albeit Monsr Chaumont entred into some suspicion of Genes by reason of his abiding yet not knowing that the armie by sea was to come and the Pope spreading a suttle and dissembling brute that the preparacions of the Svvyzzers and houering of M. Anth. were to execute some surprise vpon Ferrara Chaumont made no other prouision for Genes then a certeine smal crew of footemen whome he sent thether Marke Anth. marched with his companies vp to the vale of Visagna within a mile of the walls of Genes notwithstanding he was not receiued according to the Popes
hopes either into Serezana or into the towne of Spetia and at the same time the armie by sea which had occupied Sestria and Chiauara was come from Rapalo to the mouth of the riuer Entelle which falleth into the sea neare the porte of Genes But there were entred into Genes for the french kinge at the first brute that thennemies approached the sonnes of Io. Lovvys de fiesquo with eight hundred mē of the contrey with whom was ioyned the Catdinalls Nephew of Finalo with an equal proporcion of souldiours which both assured the towne and kept suppressed all sturres commocions By this succor and prouidence the Pope and the exiles being deceiued of their principall hope seeing besides a continuall flocking and concursse of people out of Lombardye and the riuer of Ponaut together with six great gallies entring the hauen guided by Pressan they thought that to tary longer there could not but bringe more perill then profit And therefore both the nauie by sea and th armie by lande returned to Rapalle where in assaying to take Portofino dyed Francisco Bolani a patron of one of the Venetian gallies from thence their armie by sea hoyssing sayle to goe to Ciuita uechia M. Anth. Colonno dowting his sewertie to passe by land for the commocions of the contrey men and popular furie alwayes raging against souldiours that retyre in disfauour embarked him self in the gallies with three score of the best horsemen sending the residue by lande to Spetia who were all stript aswell vpon the contrey of Genes as vppon the marches of Lucqua and frontyers of the Florentyns This attempt was done with very small honor to Grillo and Octauyan for that of feare they absteyned to charge the vessells of Preian who being inferior it was beleeued that before he entred the hauen they would haue set vpon him with a great aduauntage Assoone as they had weied anker and gone Preian issued out of the hauen with seuen gallies foure ships taking his course to pursue the Venetian nauie which was stronger then he in gallies but weaker in number of ships Both the one and other fell with the I le of Elbo the Venetians in the port of Lungano and the french men in the hauen of Ferrat who returned eftsoones to Genes after they had accoasted thennemy to the Mount Argentaro About this time the Popes souldiours were entred into Romana vnder the Duke of Vrbyn against the Duke of Ferrara where hauing taken the towne of Lugo Vaguacaual and all the residue that the Duke held on this side Pavv they held the castell of Lugo beseeged And whilest they lay there both in disorder and without effect being suddeinly aduertised that the Duke of Ferrara with the french bands a hundred fifty men at armes of his owne with many trowpes of light horsemen was marching to the reskewe of it they leauied their seege and leauing in praye to the enemie 3. peeces of artillerie they retyred to Ymola nothing being able to assure them whom feare had compelled to flee Alfonso taking thaduauntage of this occasion recouered with a wonderful facilitical that they had takē from him in Romagnia But the campe Ecclesiastike being eftsoones reassembled reassured reconquered eftsoones the selfe same places and immediatly after forced the castel of Lugo hauing battred it many dayes And after the taking of it their fortune presented to them an occasion of greater successe for being no garrison in Modona for that the Duke being occupied in defending other places where the daūger was nearest was not able to refurnish it of him selfe nor obteine of Monsr Chaumont to send thether two hundred launces The Cardinal of Pauya passing with tharmy to Frank castell obteined by composicion that citie whether he was inuited to come by Gerrard and Frauncis Maria Rargons gentlemen of Modona whose authoritie was so great as they were able to dispose of it as best liked them And in this action it was beleued that they were pushed on more by ambicion and desire of innouacion then by any other occasion The losse of Modona was a warning to the Duke against other harmes who fearing lest the like would happen to Regge bestowed present garrison there as also Chaumont doing after the hurt receiued that which woulde haue profited more in the beginning sent thether two hundred launces notwithstanding he had many impediments for the discending of the Svvyzzers The confederacion betwene the french king and the Svvyzzers was determined many moneths before the king continuing his resolucion not to augmēt their pensions contrary to the coūcel of al his Nobles who aduised him to cōsider of what importāce it would be to make those armies his enemies with the which he had before achieued his greatest fortunes And they already drawn into armes vnder thauthority of the Popes promises but specially made angry with the kings obstinacy in denying their demaundes were resolued by an vniuersal consent of the Communalties in an assembly holden at Lucerna to conspire against him But Monsr Chaumont looking into the perill of these leauies and stirs set good gard vpon the passages towards Coma tooke away from the riuers all boates barkes withdrew into places of strength all vittels and prouicions and lastly cut from the mylles their instruments to grinde by leauing nothing that might be imployed to the seruice of thennemie but the riuers and lande which he coulde not remoue And being vncerteyne whether the Svvyzzers would make their discending vpon the Duchie of Myllan or els passing the Mount S. Barnard to enter into Pyemont by the vale of Augusto and so goe to Sauona with intencion to endomage Genes or els from thence passing the Appenin to make inuasions vpon the Duke of Ferrara he had also induced the Duke of Sauoy to deny them passage and for their more impediment he sent with his consent fiue hundred laūces to Yurea not ceassing neuerthelesse to do all that he could to corrupt with presents promisses the chiefe cōmaunders of that nation to draw them from their rising holding it but iust to obiect practise against them in whom was so great lightnes to stirre vpon so smal occasion But in vaine did he labor and solicite those communalties whose mindes did not reteyne any thing more willingly then the memory of the kings denial being growne from a hatred to a violent desire to be reuenged of the french nation In so much as the Commons thinking it to be their proper cause notwithstanding the difficulties that were in the Pope to send thē money for that the Fookers bankiers of Germanye who had promised to defraye it for him shronke backe for feare to offend Caesar 6. thowsand of them leauyed by the Pope entred really into thaction in the beginning of September Amongest whom were 4. hundred horsemen halfe armed with shot 2. thowsand fiue hundred footemen with halfacques fifty harquebusiers without artillerie or other prouision of bridges or vessels In this forniture they marched turning
tenne myles from Bolognia with intention to present them selues the day after affore the gates of the Citie wherin what by the comming of th armie and what by the reapport that the Bentiuoleis were in it all things were full of confusion and tumult and the Nobles no lesse then the Cōmons expressed an vniuersall disposition to change the one parte fearing and the other parte desyring the returne of the familie of Bentiuoley But greater confusions and feares occupied the myndes of the Prelates and Courtiers better acquaynted with the delightes of Rome then accustomed to the daungers of warre The Cardinalls full of tymerous passions ranne to the Pope complayning that he had put him selfe the sea Apostolike and them in so great perill their tymerous condition tooke away the reason that in cases of daunger is wont to rule wise men and the same feare that moued their confusion suppressed in them all respect and reuerence to the dignitie of the place and person but pushed on with those passions whiche they were not hable to moderate they besought him with great importunities eyther to make some sufficient prouision for their defence whiche in suche a shortnesse of tyme they helde impossible or at least to seeke to appease and reassure thinges by composition vnder suche conditions as the necessitie of their estate required wherevnto they supposed thenemie woulde incline or at least that he woulde make his departure out of Bolognia together with them and to consider that if his particuler daunger touched him not of what importance it woulde be for the sea Apostolike and for all Christian religion if there happned any inconuenience to his person His dearest fouourits and most acceptable ministers and seruantes did communicate in these complaintes and hauing all one feare they followed all one sute like men that neuer feling but securitie had least rule ouer their passions when they sawe perill and danger at hande But he onely amidde so great a tumult disorder of things no lesse vncertayne of the fidelitie of the people then yll contented with the slowe comming on of the Venetians made obstinate resistance agaynst all these aduersities neither amased with the perills that he sawe nor once moued with the perplexities of his Cardinals ioyning to these afflictions the maladie that had muche weakned his body they had all no habilitie to bende the greatnes of his minde At the beginning he had caused to come thither M. Anth. Colonno with one part of the souldiours that were within Modona and likewise had sent for Ierome d'Onato Embassador to the Venetians to whom he complayned with bitter exclamations that for the long delaying of the aydes which had bene so many times promised him his person and his estate were in manyfest daunger not onely with an ingratitude abhominable towardes him that had begonne the warre chiefly for their safetie and who with his great expences and daungers hauing brought the whole empire and the french king to be his enemies had bene the cause of the preseruation of their libertie till that daye but also with an incredible indiscression for the regarde of themselues seeing if he shoulde eyther be vanquished or constrayned to yeelde to any composition there coulde be no hope of their safetie and lesse exspectation of good degree for their common weale he lastly protested with wordes and action full of furie and resolution that he would fall to agreement with the frenche if the next day past ouer and no succours of their people which lay at Stellata entred into Bolognia hauing this difficultie to builde a bridge and to passe the ryuer vppon barkes and other vesselles He assembled the gouernment and Colleages of Bolognia with whome he occupied perswasions of great grauitie that remembring the myseries of their tyrannie paste and howe hurtfull and daungerous woulde be the returne of tyrantes after they were expulsed they would lifte vp themselues to the defence of the iurisdiction of the Church whiche they had founde so easie and tractable And to induce them to a more readines besides the fauors he had graunted them before he gaue thē exemption of the moytie of al the imposts exacted vpō the vittels that entred into Bolognia for the vse of man with promise to gratifie them hereafter in greater benefites he caused to publishe these fauours by proclamation the better to moue the people to take armes for the defence of thestate ecclesiastick But as his purpose was corrupt so his labour was without frute for that not one body stirred not one hande was holden vp nor any signe made in his fauor These cold affections of the people considered with other causes and showes brought him at last to looke into the daunger wherin he stood and pitying withal the importunities plaints of so many peoples ioyned to the perpetuall intercession and labor of thembassadors of Caesar the king Catholike and the king of England set on by the Cardinalls he consented to send to Monsr Chaumont to suffer Iohn Fran. Piqua Count of Mirandola to go to him in safety in the Popes name And not many houres after he dispatched to him one of his chāber to require him to send to him Albert de Carpy not knowing but that he was in the army And in the action of these things to th end that in al aduētures the most precious Reliques of the Pontificacie might be in safetie he sent Laur. Pucci his Datario with the Regno so they cal the principal Myter wōderfully garnished with precious stones to be kept in the famous Monastery of the Murato of Florence Chaumont by cōsideration of the requests that were made to him hoped that the Pope would incline to peace which he did so much the more desire by how much he knew it was agreable to thintention minde of the king and therfore not to trouble such a disposition the day following he retayned the armie in their lodgings suffring notwithstanding the Bentiuoleis with many horsmen of their friends followers to run euen to the walls of Bolognia hauing marching a good space after thē an hundred fifty french launces At whose cōming notwithstanding Hermes one of the brothers both youngest most resolute presented himselfe on that side of the gate yet there was no mutinie made within thexpectation of peace that was then in action preuayling more to contayne the people then any affection or obedience they bare to the Pope Chaumont gaue gracious audience to Fran. de Mirandola and returned him the same day to Bolognia to signifie to the Pope the conditions wherein he was content to accorde That the Pope should absolue Alfonso d'Este of all accursings and paynes together with all those whosoeuer which for any occasion were parties to the defending or offending of thestate ecclesiasticke that likewise he should acquite the Bentiuoleis of all paynes and censures and make them repossessed of the goods which manifestly apperteined to them referring to arbitration and iudgement suche as they
estats patrimonial to debate in what maner in what place the coūcel should be celebrated But as he was of natural cōdition variable inconstant an enuior of the greatnes name of the French so making no lesse vayne his proper promises then thexspectation that others had of him he declined afterwardes to inconstancie and listned to the perswasions of the king of Aragon who considering that what by the vnitie of Caesar with the French king and the embasing of the Venetians by their common armies and withall the ruine of the Pope by meane of the Councell the French might rise into a greatnes too ielouse and suspected laboured to perswade him that an vniuersall peace woulde fall out better for his purposes so farreforth as by it he obteined eyther the whole or the greatest part of those peeces whiche the Venetians vsurped vpon him he aduised him to sende to this effect some notable personage to Mantia with full power and labouring to induce the Frenche king to do the like he promised that he would also sende thither by which examples he alleaged that the Pope could not refuse to ioyne in the action lastly that he would not go agaynst the will of so many great Princes he tolde him that vpon the resolution of the Pope depended all the deliberations of the Venetians in whom was a necessitie to followe his authoritie as not beeing hable to stande alone for which reasons it was to be hoped that Caesar without difficultie without armes and without increasing the reputation and might of the Frenche king should to his perpetuall prayse reobtayne his estate together with an vniuersall peace And be it that it brought not foorth that successe which reasonably may be expected yet he should not be depriued of meanes to moue the warre at the time appoynted and with the same commodities and hopes But beeing cheefe of all Christian princes and protector of the church his iustifications would be the more augmented as also by suche a Councell would come the exaltation of his glorie for that it woulde appeare to euery one that as he principally had sought and desyred the peace and vnitie of Christians so by the obstinacie and wicked counsels of others he was constrayned to make warre These reasons no lesse by the grauitie of matter they expressed then by thauthoritie of the personage from whom they came were right acceptable to Caesar who at the same instant addressed letters to the Pope and to the French king To the Pope that he had determined to sende the Bishop of Gurce into Italie for that as apperteined to a Prince religious being protector of the church and chiefe aboue Princes Christian he was resolued in all that he might to procure the tranquillitie of the sea Apostolike and the vniuersall peace of Christendome sommoning him bearing thoffice of the high vicare of Christ to ioyne and procede with him in the same intention and to do that which belonged to the place name of Pope to th ende he were not constrayned to haue recourse to other remedies to establishe the peace of Christendome That he did not allowe the practise that was made to depriue the Cardinalls that were absent ▪ of their holy dignitie for that being absent not to any euill ende nor for hatred they bare to him neither could they deserue so great a payne neither was the authoritie of the Pope onely hable to impose it vpon them He tolde him besides that it was a matter very vnworthy and vnprofitable in so great troubles to make creation of newe Cardinalls since he was specially forbidden by the capitulations which the Cardinalls made with him when he was elected Pope He desired him to reserue that office tyll times of better tranquillitie when he should either haue no necessitie or no cause to preferre to so great dignities none but persons well allowed of for their discression their doctrine and good life To the French king he wrote that according to his vertuous disposition alwayes inclined to embrace a good and assured peace he was resolued to sende to Mantua the Bishop of Gurce to solicite a peace vniuersall wherevnto he beleeued with reasons and fundations not light nor vayne that the Pope whose authoritie the Venetians were constrayned to followe would readily incline the Embassadors of the king of Aragon concurring in thaction and promising the like on the behalfe of their king Therfore he desired him to send thither likewise his Embassadors with full power and in the generall assembly the Bishop of Gurce should beseech the Pope to do the like wherevnto if he made refusall the Bishop should denounce the councell in the names of them all hauing also giuen order that to make their procedings more iustifiable and to put ende to all controuersies the Bishop of Gurce shoulde indifferently vnderstande the reasons of euery one onely in all accidentes that he should holde this for certayne neuer to make any agreement with the Venetians if at the same time were not resolued the controuersies which he had with the Pope This solicitation pleased well the Pope not for any desire he had to peace and concorde but for that he perswaded him selfe to be hable to dispose the Senate of Venice to compounde with Caesar and so deliuering him from necessitie to remayne vnited with the French king he supposed to seperate him from him and the same easily to be made a cause of confederation of many Princes agaynst him But the Frenche king stoode not a little discontented with these resolutions bothe newe and vnexspected for that nothing hoping that an vniuersall peace would proceede of them he iudged that the least euill that might happen would be a protracting and delaying of th execution of those things which he had agreed with Caesar he feared also that the Pope promising to helpe Caesar to reconquer the Duchie of Millan and to indue the Bishop of Gurce with the dignitie of Cardinall and other graces ecclesiastike would separate him from him or at least beeing the worker of the composition with the Venetians to the aduauntage of Caesar he might be put into necessitie to accept the peace with conditions dishonest wherein one thing also that encreased his suspicion was that Caesar was newely confedered with the Svvizzers notwithstanding for defence only Besides he occupied in himselfe this perswasion that the king Catholike had bene the author of this newe counsell of whose intention he doubted muche for many reasons for he was not ignorant that his Embassador resident with Caesar made open trauell and solicitation to establish an accorde betwene Caesar and the Venetians he beleeued that he gaue secrete encouragement to the Pope in whose armie his companies and bandes of souldiours had remayned a longer time then he was bound vnto by the capitulations made touching thinuestiture of the kingdome of Naples he was not ignorant that to giue impediment to his actions he obiected him selfe manifestly agaynst the conuocation of the
other thing in secret with the Pope for that hauing prouoked the French king by new offences and in the same giuen a new memorie to auncient wrongs it seemed he ought to feare least the peace with all others came not to be the cause of great perills agaynst him the Venetians remayning weakned of estate of money and of reputation and Caesar no more mightie in Italie and more variable and prodigall then euer Others that discoursed more suttelly and deepely of things made this interpretation that notwithstanding al protestations that the king Catholike made to abandon the Pope yea though he reuoked his bandes yet the Pope dwelt firmely in this confidence that he would alwayes support and defende him in his greatest necessities considering that the embasing of him could not but be preiudiciall to the king Within foure dayes after the departing of the Bishop of Gurce the Pope sent after him the Scottish Embassador to debate of the peace with the french king wherin theffect was no lesse frustrate then the deuise and hope of the Pope were vayne And as by his departing the hopes of the peace were left troubled and lesse exspectation of agreement in so great a discorde of willes so by his going away also did ceasse the causes that had so long lingred Iohn Iacques Triuulce who thirsted in an honest ambition to do something worthy his vertue and auncient glory and by the which he might induce the king to knowe howe hurtfull it is to recommende the gouernment of warres a matter aboue all other humaine actions moste paynefull and harde and most requiring discression and experience not to captaynes hable and trayned but to young men vnexperienced and of whose vertue there is none other thing to giue testimonie then fauour and countenance Therfore continuing in his first resolutions notwithstanding the foote bandes of the Grisons were not yet arriued for the generall of Normandy vpon whome depended thexpeditions had deferred to sende men to leauie them both hoping that the peace woulde go forwarde and also seeking to auoyde expences to the king he brought the campe affore Concorda in the beginning of May conteining a thousande two hundred launces and seuen thousande footmen he tooke it the same day he presented his campe affore it wherein the securitie of the townesmen helped no lesse then his owne vallour for that being made feareful with the first execution of thartillerie whilest they sent Embassadors to make their composition with him the footemen of his armie entred the towne and sacked it the townes men beeing negligent in their garde by the hope they had in their Embassadors that were sent out to capitulat for their safeties After the taking of Concorda to th ende to giue no occasion to suche as enuyed him to charge him with partialitie as respecting more his proper profite then the kings seruice he left Mirandola behinde him and drewe towards Bonport a village vpon the ryuer of Panaro to approche so neare thenemie as eyther to constrayne them to dislodge or to fight out of their strength and by the same meane to cut off their vittels and prouisions As he was entred into the countrey of Modena and lodged in the village of Cauesse he sent Gaston de Foix with three hundred footmen and fiue hundred horsmen to do an enterprise vpon Iohn Paule Manfron that lay at Massa neare to Finale with three hundred light horsemen of the Venetians who hearing of their comming put himselfe in battayle aray vpon a bridge but the vallour of hys souldiours not answering his vertue and corage he was made prisoner being abandoned both of his fortune and fayth of his people After this th armie drawing neare to Bonport Tryuulce had an intencion to cast a bridge there where the channel which is drawne from aboue Modena out of the riuer of Panaro entreth into the riuer But thennemie to giue impediment to his passage ouer the riuer was already incamped in a place so neare that they distressed him with their artilleries wherwith Capteine Perault a Spanyard commaunder within the Church armie was killed as he walked along the rising of the riuer In that place the banke is very high by which help as it was easie to thennemie to distresse him so Tryuulce meeting with these impediments by a new councell cast his bridge somewhat higher A myle onely aboue the channel And hauing passed the channell he drewe towards Modena marching along the rising of Panaro and seeking out a place where he might more easily cast his bridge But because he saw alwayes affore him bands of horsemen and footemen of his enemies who were incamped neare to Frankcastell vpon the way of Romagna but their lodgings all enuironed with bankes and waters he came by the same way to the bridge of Fossalto two myles neare to Modona and there turning on the left hand towards the mounteine he passed without impediment the foard of Panaro which in that place hath his channell very large and without bankes from thence he encamped in a place called the beache of Panaro three myles from the armie Ecclesiastike The day after he drew towards Plumacce being refurnished with vittells from them of Modona by the consent of Vitfruch And likewise the same day the armie Ecclesiastike which durst not present them selues in plaine field supposing it very necessary to draw neare to Bolognia the better to preuent all mutinies and stirres in that citie the rather for that the famulie of the Bentyuoleis followed the french armie went and incamped at the bridge of Casalecquo three miles aboue Bolognia A place very strong and sure hauing his situacion betwene the riuer of Rene and the channel And by the commoditie of the mounteine at his backe it defendes Bolognia from all priuacion of the releeffe of the channell which comming from the riuer passeth into that citie This is that place wherein in the dayes of our Auncestors Ioh. Galeas Viscounte the mighty Duke of Myllan obteyned a most great victorie against the Florentyns the Bolognians and other states confedered his numbers farre exceeding the ennemies The day following Frankcastell was rendred to Tryuulce who after he had remeyned three dayes in the lodging of Plumacce both for thimpediment of the raines that fell and also to reuittell his people being then in great necessitie he came to incampe vpon the high way betwene Samoggia and Frankcastell where he stoode in great dout what he were best to doe for many difficulties that appeared to him in all deliberacions for he knew well enough that it would be to no purpose to execute any thing against Bolognia if the people made no tumult within And if he shoulde draw neare to it vnder hope of popular emotions he feared he should be compelled to retyre as Chaumont did not without diminucion of his reputacion And he knew that it would be a matter of greater perill and indiscression to go â—ight with thennemies encamped in places of strength and of aduauntage
our necessitie is so great and our daunger so manifest not standing subiect to any thing that may more preiudice vs that it is suffered not onely to serue our turnes with that part of those reuenues which is not conuerted into workes of pietie and charitie but also it is lawfull to lay handes euen vpon the thinges sacred for that according to the lawe of nature the defense and resisting of iniuries is common to all men allowed of God and approued of all nations A perpetuall rule to men engendred together with the world it will laste as longe as the worlde and is not subiect to derogacion by any of the lawes ciuill or cannon grounded vpon the wills and tradicions of men which being not otherwayes recorded then in paper or other matter fraile and declyning haue no power to derogat a perpetuall law not made by men or their councells but engraued by nature her selfe in the spirits and hartes of all mankind we must not exspect and temporise till we be brought into the last extremitie for that being once enuyroned with oppressions our recoursse to remedies woulde be too late and we should stand to lament the harmes which we might haue auoyded it is too late to prouoke to vomit when the poyson hath pearsed to the bones the soldiour serueth no turne that beginneth to march when the battell is done Besides all this how can it be denied that the state and multitude of priuat persons shall suffer great distresse by it seeing that by thimpostes that are layed vpon them the greatest part of them are constrayned to cut of some of those exspenses without the which they can not liue but with great incommoditie diminucion of things necessary to their degree That is the necessitie which hath bene considered vppon by such as haue made the lawes by which we are forbidden to exspect till our Citisens be brought to the daūger offamine and no longer able to susteyne their famulies On the other part by this taxacion there is no incōmoditie imposed vpon the Churchmen for that they doe onely disfurnish them selues of that parte of their reuenues which either they kepe vnprofitable in their coffers or reserue to exspend in prodigalities superfluous or perhaps some of them I speake vnder pardon would lashe out in pleasures dishonest This is a perpetuall resolucion of all wise men that the libertie of cities and common weales is acceptable to God for that in them more then in any other sort of gouernment is preserued the common benefit iustice administred without acception of persons the minde of Citisens raysed more and more to workes of vertue and honor and more respect and reuerence borne to religion And yet you beleeue it is an action not a litle displeasing to God that to defend a thing so precious for the which who sheds his proper blood winneth greatest merit and prayse you employ a litle part of the frutes and reuenues of temporall thinges which notwithstanding they are dedicated to Churches yet they are all discended vnto them by almes by donations and by inducements of laye men our elders They are to be no lesse employed for the preseruacion and sauetie of Churches subiect and exposed in a time of warre then thinges secular which are layed downe to the crueltie and couetousnes of soldiours neyther are they more to be respected in a warre made by the Pope then if there were a persecution by the Turkes or the greatest tyrants of the worlde forbeare not whilest you haue tyme to prouide for the sauetie of your contrey be not curious in conscience to defend your libertie then the which you can not offer to God a temporall sacrifice more acceptable or worthy Thinke that to chasse the warre from your houses from your temples from your Monasteries and from your possessions there is no better remedie then to make knowne to him that is risen to offende you that you are determined to forget nothing that may serue to your defense That force is iust that is raysed in a necessary cause and where you want secular meanes to warrant your liues to apply the goods of the Church in this proporcion can be no breache of equitie nor conscience nature by prerogatiue makes things lawfull for defence which the law ceremonially reserueth for other respects The discoursse of this graue Magistrat no lesse reasonable in it selfe then necessary for their common sauetie wrought such impression in the mindes of the hearers that the law proponed was without any difficultie approued by the great councell By reason whereof notwithstanding the displeasure and discontentment of the Pope increased more and more taking more hoat occasion to dispose the confederats to begin warre with the Florentyns yet the perswasions of Pandolffo Petruccio had power to turne from that opinion aswell the Pope as the Deputies that solicited in Italy for the king of Aragon for Pandolffo giuing councell to assaile Bolognia blamed much all deuises and enterprises to bring the warre into Tuskane alleaging that Bolognia being vnable for her proper weakenes to defend her selfe should be enforced to call in the forces of the french king And for the Florentyns what with their own power concurring also the proper profit of the king he would no lesse see to their defence then to Bolognia That albeit the Florentyns bare a certeine inclinacion of minde to the french king yet neuerthelesse they were wise and stoode alwayes ielous of the preseruacion of their estate neuer hauing at his instance offended any with armes during so great stirs yea they had not ministred to him in any other sort of seruice but onely furnished him for the defense of the state of Lombardy with two hundred men at armes according to the bondes of the capitulacion made in common betwene him and the king Catholike he sayd there could not be done to the french king a thing more agreeable or profitable then to constraine the Florentyns to giue ouer to be Newters and to ioyne their cause with his That it would be a matter of great indiscression if his enemies were the cause to make him obteyne that which he could neuer bring to passe by his authoritie the king hauing in vaine solicited by many prayers and promisses to declare them selues for him That it was discerned of many by many signes and by him comprehended by most certeine knowledge how greeuous it was to the Florentyns that the councell should be celebrated at Pysa whereunto they had not consented for other respect then that they durst not gainesay the french kings demaundes made immediatly after the rebellion of Bolognia A tyme when in Italy was not seene any armie to oppose against him Besides it was a thing certeine that thauthoritie of Caesar was concurrant in the councell accompanied also with the consent of the king Catholike That likewise he knew that the Florentyns were not to suffer the french soldiours to stay vpon their landes And that it was a matter daungerous
that the Authors and workers of the same were pushed on with endes ambicious They were all caried with couetous desires of temporall thinges and vnder the shadowe of the weale and benefit vniuersall they respected their perticular interests making holines and pietie a couer to their greatnes and glorie And yet which of them should be raysed to the Popedome stoode in no lesse necessitie to be reformed then others that they went about to compell to reformacion Moreouer it was seene of many that besides the ambicion of Preestes the quarrells of Princes and questions of estates had stirred vp and nourished this councell That respect had moued the french king to procure it the king of Romaines to consent to it and the king of Aragon to desire it So that it being clearely deserned that vnder the cause of the councell was comprehended the quarrel of armes and Empires the people expressed an vniuersall horror that vnder deuout shadowes of spirituall thinges instruments of warres and troubles men should thirst and aspire to matters temporal And therefore not onely at the entrey of the Cardinalls into Pysa the common disdayne and hatred of people was disclosed but also euen in the actes of the councel their grudge and discontentment burst out more manifest for albeit they summoned the Cleargie to be in the Cathedrall church at the first session yet much lesse that any of them respected the summonce seeing the very Preests of the Church refused to lend their ornaments and vestures when according to their custome they meant to haue celebrated the Masse for thimploracion of the ayde light of the holy spirit yea the Prestes iustifying their contēpt with actes of greater insolēcie forbare not to shut the dores of their church would not suffer them to enter The Cardinals compleyned of these contempts at Florence where was commaunded that neyther the vse of Churches nor the seruice of instrumēts ordeyned for diuine office should be denied thē but as touching the Cleargie there was no compulsion eyther to be at the Church or to assist the action These directions almost repugnant in them selues as they proceded of the diuision of the Citisens by meane of them on the one side the coūcel was receiued into their dominiō on the other side followed with contēpt reiection brought at one time offence to the Pope and discontentment to the french king In regarde whereof the Cardinalls seeing howe daungerous it was to remeine in Pisa without armes no lesse considering that it would bring diminucion to thauthority of their councell to celebrat in a citie that obeyed not their decrees were vpon tearmes to depart assoone as they should haue accomplished thaffaires of the councell wherein their resolucion was further compelled and hastned by an accident hapning suddeinely which albeit was by chaunce tooke notwithstanding his foundacion of the wicked disposicion of mē for a french soldiour in a publike place committing some insolēcy vpon a strompet and such as saw it raising a present outery many soldiours aswell french as of the Cardinalls traine and other Prelats prepared in armes to the place where the brute was on the other side likewise many trowpes of the people of Pisa of the Florentyn bands flockt thether to behold the accident And as for the most part popular tumults are full of faction and varietie of affection so the alarme being sownded some cryed vpon the name of Fraunce and some vppon the title of Morzocco the signe enseigne of the common weale of Florence occupying amōgest them daūgerous fight wherin their furie made them feare nothing lesse thē the hazard of their liues which at other tymes they would seeke to preserue with no litle care ielousie But the Capteines and chieftaines of the french and commaunders of the Florentyns ioyning discression to vallour and authoritie abated the sury of the fight their diligence doing much to restrayne thintemperance on all sides In the ende the tumult was appaysed many on both partes bearing away no small hurtes amongst whom fell into that fortune the Lord Chastyllion the Lord of Lavvtrich notwithstanding neither the one nor the other bare away any wounds of peril This accident brought such astonishment to the Cardinals happly at that hower assembled in the Church of S. Michaell which is there ioyning that they made the day after the second session wherein they ordeined that the councel should be transferred to Myllan not holding thopportunitie of that place conuenient for the actes of the councel which gaue no sewertie for the sauetie of their liues And therefore before the xv day of their arriual they departed in great diligence from Pisa greatly to the reioycing of the Florentyns Pisans no lesse to the contentment and liking of the Prelats that followed the councel whom it did not a litle discontent to be come into a place which what for the incommodity of lodging what for the incōueniency of other wants growen by the long warrs that were passed did not minister to them that fulnes of helps means to liue delicatly prodigally which the Prests frēch men are wont to find in the like actions They murmured also being come thether by the kings cōmaūdement against their wils they desired chaūg of place all other accidents that might bring difficulty prolongation or dissoluciō of the coūcel But such was the vniuersal contempt of this councel that the hatred grudging of peoples following the Cardinalls to Myllan they founde there euen the like despising farre greater difficulties for the cleargie of Myllan communicating in the contempts of Pysa euen in the beginning refused of them selues to celebrat the diuine seruice as though there were entred into their city not cardinals of the church of Rome who were wont to be honored and worshipped in euery place but persons profane accursed carying with them all priuacion of honor reuerence and respect And when they had occasion to shew them selues in publike the cōmons forbare not to raile at them skorning them as well in wordes as gestures but specially their malice was most expressed vpon the Cardinal of S. Cross whō as they supposed to be the author of that stir so euery one exercised their iudgement most vpon him being also in the last session of Pisa elected President of the councell These were the manifest common murmures of people that heretofore councels were wont to bring to contreys benedictions peace cōcord but in this was bred to contreyes kingdoms peoples maledictions warres discordes That other councells were assembled to reunite the Church that was out of vnitie but this was assembled to breake her vnitie when she was in good agreement That the contagion of such a pestilence infected al such as receiued it altered all those that obeyed it abused euen those that fauored it defiled such as had conuersacion with it and seduced all those that heard it There was to
be exspected of their cōming no other thing then blood famine pestilence together with the perdicion both of bodies and soules of men by the originall and cause they gathered what would be the successe and effect and reasonably they could exspect no frute or confirmacion of vnity from such as began to sowe their labors with seedes of diuision Gaston de Foix who not many monethes affore the departing of Monsr Longueville had bene preferred both to the Duchie of Myllan and to the armie somewhat suppressed those murmures tending almost to a tumult and manifest sedicion he ioyned to his authoritie commaundements thretning and peynall constraining the Cleargie to celebrate seruice as they were wont and enioyned the Commons to speake more modestly hereafter In regard of these difficulties the beginnings of the councel were continued with very litle successe or issue The plots that had bene layd with so great deuise study brought forth euents quite contrary to thexspectacion of the authors thinges debated by long time deepe discourse of councel drew no resolucion according to the weening cōiectures of the parties where sownd meaning goeth not with the wisdom imaginacions of men there their workings are ful of frailty the whole body of their actions clothed with imperfections But the thing that most troubled the hopes of the Cardinals was that Caesar did not onely from day to day deferre to send eyther Prelats or Proctors notwithstanding the consent he had giuen that often tymes reassured by perpetuall promisses to the french king the Cardinal of S. Seuerin but also he alleaged for his excuse being happly induced councelled by others that it was not agreable to his dignitie to send to the councel of Pisa the Prelats of his proper estates territories if both the example and name of all Germany were not concurrant in thaction And for that cause he sayd he had called a conuocacion of the Prelats of Germany at Auspurge to deliberat of some ioynt vniuersall forme of proceeding to be vsed touching the councel assuring notwithstanding the french mē that vnder that meane he would so work as they should all be sent Moreouer he much troubled the kings mind with his varietie diuers maners of proceeding for besides his vncertein cold dealings in the affaires of the coūcel be inclined fully opēly to the mocion of peace with the Venetians which was solicited by the Pope the king of Aragon with many offers And on the other side cōplaining bitterly against the king Catholike both for that contrary to all shame he had so apparantly impugned the league of Cambray also in this new confederacion which he rather called traison he had named him but as accessary he suborned Galeas S. Seueryn to goe to Rome in person as enemie to the Pope but refurnished by the king for the greatest part of his armie and releeued with great quantities of treason And yet he made no declaracion of these thinges with such assurance as it could not be doubted what he would at last determine notwithstanding all his demaunds were satisfied to him In this sort the kinges mind was eftsoones trauelled with his accustomed suspicions that if he abandoned Caesar he left him at liberty to ioyne with his enemies And if he would still sticke to him and susteine him his alliance would be bought with too deare a price and yet doubtfull what frute would reuert of it well knowing by experience of thinges past that oftentymes his owne disorders did hurt him more then his forces did ayde him yea the king was not able to iudge in him selfe which would most hurt him in this action either the well doings good successe of Caesar or the contraries besides the king Catholike nourished him enterteyned him as much as he could in that doubt And to make him proceede more slowly in the prouisions of the warre he gaue him hope not to stirre in armes The king of England did the like and for the same causes who had made aunswer to the french Embassador that it was not true that he had consented to the league made at Rome but that he was fully determined to keepe thalliance which he had with the french king Besides at the same time the Bishop of Tyuoly proponed peace in the name of the Pope so farre forth as the king would no more fauor the councell and withdraw him selfe from the protection of Bolognia for the which he offered to giue assurāce that the Pope should dresse no more new enterprises against him The king seemed lesse displeased with the peace notwithstanding it bare hard condicions thē to put him selfe to the daungers exspenses of the warre which by computacion seemed infinit hauing to make resistance against his enemies and to refurnish the wants of Caesar Neuerthelesse disdaine drew him almost to be forced by the king of Aragon to make peace for feare of warre besides that it was a matter very hard to assure him that the Pope would obserue the couenants of peace after he had recouered Bolognia should be deliuered from the feare of the councell he doubted also that when he should be ready to consent to the condicions offered the Pope would draw backe as he was wont to doe at other tymes In which maner of proceeding besides that his dignitie should be offended and his reputacion diminished Caesar would hold him selfe iniuried for that leauing him in warre with the Venetians he sought of him selfe alone to conclude the peace Therefore he made precise aunswer to the Bishop of Tyuoly that he would not condiscend to subiect Bolognia to the Church in other forme then it had wont to be in auncient tymes And at the same time to establish a firme resolucion with Caesar who lay at Bruuech a towne neare to Trente he sent to him in great diligence with very large offers Andre de Burgo Caesars Embassador resident with him At this time certeine of his subiects of the contrey of Tyroll occupied Batisten a place of very great strength in the entrey of the vallye of Caldora The practises of the peace being wholly broken dissolued the first thoughts deuises of the king were that when Monsr Palissa leauing in Verona three thowsand footemen to appease Caesar not well contented with his departure should haue led the residue of the bands to the Duchie of Myllan there should be made new leauies of footemen And so all the armie being reassembled they should marche to assaile Romagnia hoping to occupye it either all or in parte before the Spanyard should approach And then either to march further according to occasions or at least to enterteyne and beare out the warre vpon the dominions of others vntill springe time when the king passing into Italy in person with all the forces of his kingdom hoped to make an vniuersall suppression of his enemies But as he stoode wauering in this deuise his resolucions not proceeding with
the place where they were incamped But refusing to assaile thē at so great a disaduantage they passed further the vauntgard lodging in the borow of Bubana foure myles from Ymola and the other part of th armie at Mordana and Baguaro townes somewhat more then a myle one from an other They chused their lodging places beneth the high way for the oportunity of vittels which with sewertie were brought by the riuer of Pavv Lugo Bagua Cauall and the townes thereabout being abandoned of the Spanyards eftsoones returned to the deuocion of the Duke of Ferrara when Monsr de Foix entred vppon the territories of Bolognia The day after the Spanyards leauing sufficient garrison in the castell of Ymola and lx men at armes in the towne vnder Ioh. Sassatello went to Castell Boulonnois and incamped vppon the high way their campe stretching towards the Mounteines And the same day the french men tooke by force the borow of Solarola the terror whereof made Cotignola and Granarola to render to them where they remeyned the daye following And the ennemies encamping in a place called the sielde of flees In these litle remouings and nearenes of places the two armies marched alwayes in good order their artillerie going formost with the face to thennemye as though the battell were to beginne at euery hower And yet both the armies marched with very great respect the one not to be constrayned to come to blowes but in a place where thaduauntage of the situacion shoulde recompense the disaduauntage of their number and forces And the other to seeke to drawe thennemies to a necessitie to fight but with this regarde that at one tyme both the weapons and place shoulde not bee contrarye to them In that place Monsr de Foix receyued a newe commaundement from the Kinge to hasten the battell the same causes and reasons still increasing that had first induced him to aduaunce to seeke thennemyes For where the Venetians had obstinately refused to make peace with Caesar but vppon condicion that they might reteyne Vincensa notwithstanding they were muche weakened by the accident of Bressia and also muche pressed first by requestes and after by protestacions and threatninges of the Pope and Kinge of Aragon There was at last made betwene them a truce for eyght monethe◠before the Pope with couenant that either partes should reteyne the thinges they possessed and to pay to Caesar fiftye thowsand florins of the Rhein The same remouing from the king all doubtes that he would not be deuided from him and at the same tyme he had intelligence that he would haue warre beyond the Mountes for Ierome Cabauillo the king of Aragons Embassador and resident in his Court making instance to be heard in playne councell tolde him he had receiued commaundement from the king his Maister to departe exhorting him in his name to forbeare to fauor against the Church the tyrants of Bolognia for so vniust a cause to leaue of to trouble a peace of so great importance and profit to the whole common weale of Christendom In which exhortacion he offered that in case he feared to receiue any domage for the restitucion of Bolognia he would assure him in all sorts he would desire Adding in the ende for a resolucion immouable that he would not nor could not faile to defend the Church according to the office of euery Christian Prince Therefore Monsr de Foix being now certeine that he should neuer accomplish his intencion in accoasting and following thennemie for that for the commoditie they had of the townes of Romagnia he could not easily cut of their vittells nor force them to the battell without great disaduauntage And his owne armie also suffering no small necessitie of vittells by the barreinnes of places where he lay he tooke councel of his Capteines and determined to goe to incampe affore Rauenna he hoped by this meane thennemies not to diminish their reputacion would not suffer to be lost before their eyes a citie of that importance And withall he doubted not vnder this occasion to fight with thennemies in a place of indifferencie And to lette the ennemie happly suspecting his deuise to approche to Rauenna he incamped betwene Cotignola and Granarola seuen myles from them where he stayed foure dayes exspecting from Ferrara twelue Cannons and twelue other lesser peeces of artillerie Thennemies doubted such a resolucion and for that cause sent to Rauenna Mark. Anth. Colonno who before he entred into the iorney tooke the fayth and promisse of the Legat the Viceroy Fabricio and Peter of Nauarre with all the other Capteines of th armie otherwayes he woulde not vndertake thenterprise that if the frenche came to encampe affore it they should make to his succours with the whole armie There went with him in this expedicion three skore men at armes of his owne bande An hundred light horsemen vnder Peter de Castre and six hundred spanishe footemen commaunded by Capteyne Parades and Salezart touching the residue of th armie they encamped neare the walls of Faenza along the gate that goeth to Rauenna enterteyning the tyme of their abyding there with a hoat skirmishe with thennemie About that tyme Monsr de Foix sent an hundred launces and fiueteene hundred footemen to take the borowe of Russi garded by a garrison of the place it selfe who notwithstanding in the beginning according to the manner of commons and popular men showed them selues very resolure and assured yet their naturall feares vanquishing their frayle showes of courage they entred the same daye into a parley to render and yeelde during which commonings the French men taking thopportunitie of their negligence and disorder entred the place with no litle furie and sacked it putting to the sworde more then two hundred men and reduced all the residue to the calamitie of prisoners from Russi Monsr de Foix drewe neare to Rauenna and the day after incamped neare the walls betweene the two riuers in the middest whereof the towne hath her situacion The ryuer of Ronquo which olde histories call Vitis and the ryuer of Montono not a litle esteemed for that next after Pavv it is the chiefest of those riuers that haue their heade on the left hande of th Appenyn and entreth into the sea of his propper coursse fall from th Appenyn hills And where they take their head there they make the separacion of Romagna from Tuskane These riuers make their coursse so as they inclose the citie of Furly Montono that ronneth on the left hande toucheth almost the walls And Ronquo falling on the right hande passeth within two myles of it and afterwards are restrayned and drawne narrow neare Rauenna with so litle space that the one on the one parte and the other on the other make their coursse fast by the walls A litle belowe which walls their waters meeting and embrasing together they fall afterwards into the sea beeing nowe three myles of but in olde tyme as is sayd did beate vpon the walls of the towne Monsrde Foix
confirmed by these occasions at suche time as the Secretory of the Bishop of Tyuoly ariued with the articles that had bene debated putting him also in hope that the limitacions added by the king to moderat thinfamie that might grow to him by abandoning the protection of Bolognia should bee referred to his will he determined altogether not to accept them But making semblance of the contrary in regard of the subscripcion faith he had giuen to the Colleage of Cardinalls A manner which some times he vsed contrary to the opinion that went on him to be alwayes vpright and iust he caused the articles to be red in the Consistorie and asked aduise of the Cardinalls Wherevpon the Cardinall Arborenso a Spanyard and the Cardinal of Yorke an English man according to a secret packt affore the one speaking for the king of Aragon and the other in the name of the king of England perswaded him to perseuer in his constancie and not to leaue abandoned the cause of the Churche which he had embrased with so great honor They alleaged that all the necessities that had induced him to harken to these offers were remoued and ceassed And that nowe it was manifestly seene that God woulde not suffer his shippe to perish though for some purpose vnknowne to the wit of man he had suffered it to lye open subiect to sondry stormes They told him it was not reasonable that he made peace onely for him self much lesse to debate it without the participacion of the other confederats the action being common and deuided from all particularitie Lastly they exhorted him to consider well what preiudice it might bring to the sea Apostolike and to him to seperat him selfe from true and faithfull friendes to embrace the amitie of enemies reconciled By the operacion of these councells the Pope openly refused the peace And within a very short time after proceeding in his auncient furie he pronownced in the Consistorie an admonicion against the french king charging him to release the Cardinall of Medicis vpon the penalties ordeyned in the holy Cannons But he forbare to publish it for that the Colleage of Cardinalls beseeching him to deferre asmuch as he could rigorous remedies offred to worke by letters written in the name of them all by the which they would both comfort him and beseech him as a right Christian Prince to set him at libertie The Cardinall de Medicis was caried to Myllan where he was kept vnder reasonable and easie garde And albeit his fortune had brought him subiect to the power and disposing of others yet such was his vertue spirit that thauthoritie of the sea Apostolike shined in him together with a wonderfull reuerence of religion And about this time beganne to appeare a great contemning of the councell of Pysa the cause whereof was not onely abandoned of others with deuocion with diligence with faith but also euen of such as affore had followed it with armes and fauored it with affection with studie with resolucion for the Pope hauing sent to the Cardinall of Medicis full power both to absolue from all paines and cursings the souldiours that would promise to beare no more armes against the Churche and also to giue libertie of holy buriall for all the bodies that were slaine at the battell A fauor demaunded with great importunities The concurse of people was wonderfull and no lesse maruelous the deuocion of them that came to demaund and promise such matters yea the Ministers and officers of the king were not against it onely it was not without manifest indignacion of the Cardinalls who saw euen before their eyes and in the place where was the seate of the councell the souldiours and subiects of the king contrary to his honor against his profit vpon the landes of his iurisdiction and without respecting any thing thauthoritie of the councell ronne after and follow the Romaine Church acknowledging with great reuerence as Legat Apostolike the Cardinall Medicis being prisoner great is the force of a people and multitude beginning to vary and chaunge And so much more preiudiciall and perillous their reuolt by how much vpon their numbers and forces depende principally the estate and exspectacion of affayres Nowe because the truce was ratified by Caesar notwithstanding his agents that were within Verona menteyned that it was nothing the french king called home one part of the bandes that he had in garrison in that citie as seruing to small purpose And hauing reuoked also the band of two hundred gentlemen the Archers of his garde and two hundred other launces fearing the threats of the king of England he knewe by the suspicion he had of the Svvyzzers which was redoubled in him that he should neede greater forces in the Duchie of Myllan for which cause he had pressed the Florentyns to send him into Lombardye three hundred men at armes as they were bownd by the couenants of confederacion betwene them for the defence of his estates in Italy And for that that confederacion drew to end within two monethes he compelled them the memorie and reputacion of the victorie being yet fresh to confederat with him of new for fiue yeares Wherein he bownd him selfe to defend their estates with six hundred launces and the Florentyns for their partes promised to furnishe him with foure hundred men at armes for the defence of all that he possessed in Italy And yet to auoide all occasions to enter warre with the Pope they excepted in the generall obligacion of defence the towne of Cotignole as if the Church might pretend right to it But nowe were apparantly disclosed right great daungers to the affaires of the king for that the Svvyzzers at last were determined to send six thowsand footemen to the pay of the Pope who had demaunded them vnder cooller to employ them against Ferrara Those that in this action susteyned and fauored the kings side could obteyne no other thing but to protract and deferre the deliberacion till that tyme And against those men the Communalties of people made vniuersall exclamacion in their parliaments for the wonderfull hatred they bare to the name of the french king They affirmed that the king rested not contented with this kind of ingratitude to refuse to encrease a litle the pensions of those by whose blood and vallour he had won perpetuall reputacion accompanied with a great estate but also with wordes full of reproche he had despised and reiected them as Villaines as though all men in the beginning were not conceyued vnder one element were not cast in one molde and had not one maner of creacion vpon the earth and as though any mortall man were nowe either great renowmed or noble whose Auncestors in the beginning were not poore vnknowen basely discended That he had begon to wage footemen of the launceknightes to show the contempt he had of their nation for the seruice of his warres perswading him self that suffering priuacion of his pay they could not
the footemen of the launceknightes making a resolute defence aboue all others But passing ouer the bridge of Grauatona which was of wood the plankes breaking with the waight of the horses all the french men and launceknightes that were not yet passed ouer were eyther slayne on the place or taken prisoners That laste calamitie being so much the more lamentable and greeuous by howe much they hoped by their diligence to make waye for their sauetie which they sawe their fortune persecuted to thuttermost The towne of Pauia bownd it selfe to pay a great quantitie of money by whose example also Myllan compownded but for a greater summe And all the other townes except Bressia and Crema fled from the aduersities of the french men â–ª All the contrey cryed now vpon the name of thEmpire the state was receiued and gouerned in the name of the holy league so was it called vniuersally and all affaires disposed by thauthoritie of the Cardinall of Syon assigned Legat for the Pope But the treasor and what soeuer was taxed vpon the townes was made a reward to the Svvyzzers to whom was transferred an interest in all things that concerned gaine or profit the same beeing the cause that many other bandes and trowpes of them discended into Lombardye to ioyne with the residue after the parliament of Zurich was ended which was assembled for that cause In this mutacion the cities oâ— Plaisance and Parma gaue them selues willingly to the Pope who pretended they apperteyned to him as members of Rauenna The Svvyzzers made them selues Lordes of Lucarno and the Grisons got Valuoltolino and Chiauenna places very commodious for them And in the heate of this fortune Ianus Fregosa Capteine of the Venetian armie beeing gonne to Genes with such bandes of horsemen and footemen as he had obteyned of th armie was the cause that that citie reuolted the french gouernor beeing fled whereof he was created Duke A dignitie affore tyme inuested in his father with the same violence of fortune all the townes and castells of Romagnia returned to the Popes obedience And lastly the Duke of Vrbyn approching neare to Bolognia with the bandes of souldiours of the Churche the famulie of the Bentyuoleis left it abandoned their fortune leauing them desperat hauing by these violent degrees depriued them of all hope The Pope pursued this famulie very sharpely excommunicating all the places that should receiue them hereafter he expressed no lesse hatred against the citie And beeing most kindled for their forgetfulnes of so many his benefits bestowed vpon them and in that ingratitude not only reuolting from his obedience but also in their spite had not forborne to spurne his picture and rayle out many villanous words against him he would consent no more that they should create new Magistrates nor communicat any way in the gouernment of the towne he exacted by the meane of seuere officers huge summes of money of sundry Citisens as partakers with the Bentyuoleis yea the opinion ronne that if his deuises had not bene broken by death he had a meaning to destroy that citie and translate thinhabitants to Centa The ende of the tenth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE ELEVENTH BOOKE THe Duke of Ferrara is in great trouble The Medicis returne to Florence The king of Romains makes alyance with the Pope Maxymylian Sforce is put in the possession of the Duchie of Myllan The French king makes his preparacions to recouer Myllan Pope Iuho dyeth Leon the tenth is created Pope The French men are ouerthrowen neare to Nouaro and the Venetians neare to Vincensa THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin NOTwithstanding the Pope amyd his greatest aduersities daungers had not onely obteyned victorye of his ennemies contrary to all hope and coniecture but also with the same felicitie had amplified the iurisdiction of the Churche aboue exspectacion and contrary to common equitie yet his auncient couetousnes to the citie of Ferrara the first matter of all these broyles so helde him still ouerruled that he could not make his desires equal to his fortune nor conforme his wandring minde to rest and tranquilletie Such is the rage of couetousnes when it hath thassistance of authority which makes men hard to be contented with that which occasion doth offer for that those things that come first doe abhorre them so long as by the greatnes of their power and place they aspyre and thirst for better But albeit the Pope had violent desires to turne his forces against Ferrara yet the way of peace seeming more easie then the warre or rather hoping more in the benefitte of secret and artificiall practises then in actions apparant and discouered he gaue eare first of all to the Marquis of Mantua who besought him that Alfonso d'Este might come to him to Rome to demaunde pardon and that he woulde eftsoones reclayme him to grace vnder some indifferent condicions In this request was concurrant thEmbassador of the king of Aragon suing for him bothe for that he was the kinsman of his king for Alfonso came of a Daughter of tholde Ferdinand king of Naples and also for that he esteemed it more to the commoditie of the affayres of his kinge to binde him to him by this propertie of benefitte then to suffer so great an estate to bee adioyned to the greatnes of the Churche Moreouer the famulie of the Colonnois beeing become of greate amitie with Alfonso were earnest solycitors in this cause The reason of their compassion was for that after the battell of Rauenna Fabricio Colonno who was Alfonsoes prisoner beeing sent for and requyred of him he vsed so many delayes first in refusing and then in interposing many excuses that by the mutacion that hapned he brought it into his owne power to giue him his libertie without any charge or raunsom At last safe conduit was obteyned for him from the Pope by the sewertie whereof confirmed also with the faith of thEmbassador of Aragon in the name of his king which was protested to him by the consent and priuitie of the Pope he went to Rome his submission beeing greater then his hope to be forgiuen And being come to Rome the Pope admitted him into the Consistorie suspending in the meane while all censures and paynes There with great humilitie he demaunded pardon with the same submission besought him that he might bee receyued into his grace and restored to the fauour of the sea Apostolike offering to doe hereafter all those offices and duties which might apperteyne to a moste deuout and faythfull Vassall of the Church The Pope heard him with a countenance and asspect reasonably peasible and substituted six Cardinalls to debate with him touching condicions of agreement who after certeine dayes spent in disputacion and argument declared to him that the Pope neyther would nor ment to depriue the Church of the citie of Ferrara since it was lawefully reuerted to the imperie of the Churche But in recompense there should be giuen to him the citie of
could suffer no delay of action went out and sette vppon them at the village of Paterna where they were constrayned to retyre within the towne with the losse of more then three hundred men Conquest draweth with it ambicion insolencies and couetousnes And with men of warre triumphing in the victorie all things seeme to hold of equitie that they do in their rage and couetousnes for the Svvyzzers remeyning alone in the Duchie of Myllan and Pyemont deuised how to taxe and rate the whole contrey being now wholly assured of the french men And albeit the french king for the great affection he bare to the Duchie of Myllan was hardly brought to abandon altogether the affayres of Italy yet necessitie compelled him to harken to the councells of such as aduised him to deferre those deuises to an other tyme and dispose his witts for that sommer to defende the Realme of Fraunce The rather for that the king of England according to the contract made with the king Catholike had sent by sea an armye of six thowsand footemen to Fontarabio A towne of the kingdome of Spayne standing vppon the Occean sea the chiefe ende of this iorney was that ioyning to the companies of the sayd king Catholike they might in one mayne force assayle the Duchie of Guihen he beganne also with an other nauie to skower all alonge the coasts of Normandye and Brittaine to the great astonishment of the peoples of those prouinces Moreouer the french king had no hope to drawe agayne Caesar into amitie with him for that he vnderstoode by the Bishop of Marseilles his last Embassador resident in his Court that he bare a minde farre estraunged he aduertised him also that Caesar had not enterteyned him with so many hopes nor for other regarde debated with him vppon so many matters with so fayre apparance then to wynne occasion to oppresse him when he thought least of it or at least to gyue him as it were some violent and deadely blowe as he gloried that he had done at such tyme as he reuoked the launceknightes Thus Italy being for this yeare assured from the armies of the french king whose souldiours notwithstanding helde as yet Bressia Crema Leguague the castell and lanterne of Genes the castell of Myllan the castell of Cremona with certeine other fortresses of that estate There were discerned amongest the confederats many signes of difference and disagreement for the diuersitie of their wills and their endes for as the Venetians desired to recouer Bressia and Crema as due to them by the articles of capitulacion for that they had borne out the daungers troubles of the warre A matter which the Pope desired likewise for them So on the other side Caesar from whose will the king of Aragon at last could not be seperat thought to appropriate them to him selfe and also to depriue the Venetians of all that had bene iudged to them by the league of Cambray Besides Caesar and the king of Aragon practised but very secretly to make to diuolue the Duchie of Myllan to one of their Nephewes A working quite contrary to the Pope and the Svvyzzers who labored apparantly as much as they could that according to the vniuersall resolucion and consent from the beginning Maxymylian sonne to Lodovvyk Sforce might be restored to the place of his father after whose fall he had remeyned alwayes in Germanye The matter that moued the Pope was a feare he had least Italy shoulde fall into a miserable seruitude of the Almaines and Spanyards And that which induced the Svvyzzers was a desire for their owne profit that that estate shoulde not bee brought into the power of so mightie Princes but rather to stande subiected to one that could not menteyne him selfe without their ayde and succours Which election as it depended almost wholly vppon those in whose power was that estate and for the feare of their forces so the Pope the more to confirme them in that wil and in all necessities to haue in his hande the bridle with the which he might moderate thambicion of Caesar and the kinge Catholike did all that he could to winne their amitie And for that cause besides the great account he made publikely of the nation of Svvyzzers raysing to the starres the actions they had done for the sauetie of the sea Apostolike he gaue them yet for their greater honor the banners of the Church with this glorious title to bee the Champions and defenders of the Ecclesiastike libertie Besides these diuersities the Viceroy had readdressed the spanish companies which after the battell were retyred with him into the kingdom of Naples And beginning eftsoones to march and to passe with them into Lombardye the Pope and the Venetians refused to recontinue the payes of forty thowsand duckats by the moneth which had bene discontinued since the ouerthrowe Their reason was that seeing the frenche armie was chassed home they stoode no more subiect to suche bonde for that it was to ceasse by the articles of the confederacion when soeuer the frenche were expulsed out of Italy Whereunto was replyed on the behalfe of the King of Aragon that it could not bee sayde that the Frenche King was dryuen out of Italy so long as Bressia Crema with other many stronge places stoode at his deuocion Moreouer the Kinge of Aragon together with Caesar complayned in that the Pope did appropriat to him selfe the profitts of the victorie that was common to them both And vsurped that which manifestly apperteyned to an other making him selfe Lorde vnder cooller of certeine reasons subborned or at least so olde and withered that their force was gonne vppon Parma and Plaisance cities which the Lordes of Myllan had holden so long tyme as freeholders of thEmpire The diuersitie was also expressed for matters that concerned the Duke of Ferrara for as the Pope on the one side nourished his auncient couetousnes to vsurpe that Dukedom so on the other side the king of Aragon who desired to preserue protect him stoode yet discontented with the iniurie that was offered to haue staied him at Rome contrary to the law of faith safeconduit giuen for these reasons the Pope deferred to vexe Ferrara exspecting perhaps the yssue of affayres of farre greater importance whereof Caesar not thinking good that any resolucion were made without him dispatched into Italy the Bishop of Gurcy whom he had appoynted to that expedicion euer since after the battell of Rauenna there was negociacion of peace betweene the Pope and the French king he appoynted to sende him then for the feare he had least they compownded amongest them selues without respecting him and his affayres but the mutacion of thinges hapning afterwards he still continued his deuise to sende him In like sorte fell into consideracion the affayres of the Florentyns who beeing filled full of suspicion began now to feele the frutes of the newtralitie which vndiscrâ—etely they had vsed finding with all that it was not sufficient to beare themselues vpon the
gaue this as a warning and lesson that that man was neither to be excused nor esteemed worthy of compassion who beeing once beguiled by an other returneth eftsoones to reappose confidence in him An enemie reconciled charitie leades vs to loue him but wisedome willeth vs not to trust him and to a friend once disproued there can be no greater daunger then eftsoones to reenter into confidence with him The Cardinall of S. Seuerin was of an other opinion who as his aduersaries sayd crossing Tryuulce more through enuie then for other occasion for that with his brethren he had alwaies defended the Gebelin faction in Myllan replied in the contrary that nothing could be more profitable to the king and his seruices then in ioyning with Caesar to breake the vnion of thennemies specially the confederacion being made by such meane as they might hope it would last That it was the propertie of Princes in their councells and deliberacions to preferre alwayes profitte affore good will affore hatred and affore other affections And what greater benefit could be done to Caesar then to ayde him presently against the Venetians with hope that his Nephew should come to succeede in the Duchie of Myllan That Caesar being seperat from the others the king Catholike would not obiect against his authoritie as well for thinterests of his Nephew as for other regards Moreouer that as nothing could more amaze the Pope then this confederacion so of the contrary to confederat with the Venetians was full of indignitie since there must be accorded to them Cremona Guiaradada members so conuenient to the Duchie of Myllan that to recouer them the king had stirred vppe all the worlde And yet if the vnion of the others were not broken and deuided the confederacion with the Venetians would not suffice to obteyne the victorie At last this opinion caried the king the rather for thauthoritie of the Queene who desired greatly thaduauncement of her Daughter onely her desire was accompanied with this condicion so farre forth as it might bee obteyned that till the consummacion of the mariage the younge Damesell might remeyne with her And she to bind her faith and promisse to keepe her in the name of Caesar as the spowse assigned for his Nephew to whome she would redeliuer her assoone as her age and yeares made her able to the full office of mariage But the Kinge beeing afterwardes certefied that Caesar woulde not agree vnder this forme of lymitacion but rather that he foysted in those offers for the tyme and by suttletie to detract his diligence and giue him cause to proceede more slowely in his other plottes he brake off from this practise and sent backe againe for Monsr de Asperot brother to Monsr de Lautrech already gone from the Court with his commission to finde the Bishoppe of Gurce On the other side the feare of the vnion betweene the king and the Venetians encreasing dayly the king of Aragon aduised Caesar to render Verona and to transferre the warre into Burgondy by the helpe of the money which he shoulde receiue of the Venetians and with the Spanishe armie Of this aduise was the Bishop of Gurcy who hoping to be hable to moue Caesar by his presence nowe returned into Germanie being followed not onely of Dom Peter de Vree which was come with him but also of Iohn Baptista Spinella Count of Carriato Embassador to the sayde king of Aragon resident with the Venetians And because no newe difficulties should breake of the matters that were nowe in action he induced first the senate to make truce with Caesar for the whole moneth of Marche And those Embassadors gaue them their fayth that Caesar shoulde render Verona if they would promise him within certayne times two hundred and fiftie thousande duckets and for yerely pension fiftie thousande In these alterations of affayres and in these times so deuided and conspiring the Pope fell sicke And happly he was then more full of high conceites and trauelling thoughts then at any time before for notwithstaÌ„ding he had brought his fortune to be equall to his desires obteined the thing he aspired vnto yet his deuises plots did nothing diminish but grewe increasing by the same meane which should haue satisfied them he had determined in the beginning of the spring and first opening of the yere to sende to thenterprise of Ferrara which he so muche desired and his opinion was that that state was hable to make no resistance both for that it was naked of all succours because the Spanish armie was to ioyne with his companies He had secretly bought of Caesar for the price of xxx thousande duckets the Citie of Siena for the behoofe of the Duke of Vrbin to whom except Pesera he woulde neuer giue any thing of thestate ecclesiastike to th ende to reserue to him selfe the whole glorie to haue simply and onely studyed for thexaltation of the Churche he agreed to lende to Caesar fortie thousande duckettes receyuing Modona in gage he threatned them of Lucquoy who in the heate of th affayres of the Duke of Ferrara were become lordes of Garsagnana making instance that they woulde deliuer it to him He was out of conceite with the Cardinall of Medicis for that he thought him to cleaue more to the king Catholike then to him And because he knewe he was not hable to dispose of the Citie of Florence as he thought he studied already newe plottes and newe practises to alter that estate He was yll contented with the Cardinall of Sion from whom he tooke the name of Legate and enioyned him to come to Rome for that in the Duchie of Myllan he had appropriate to him selfe a yerely rent of more then thirtie thousande duckets of the estates and goods of diuers persons The better to assure the Duke of Vrbin of Sienna by intelligences of his neighbours he had of newe taken into his paye Charles Baillon to chafe out of Perousa Iohn Paule who by affinitie was very neare ioyned to the sonnes of â—andolffe Petruccio successors to the greatnes of their father He would of newe create Duke of Genes Octauian Fregosa deposing Ianus from that dignitie an action wherevnto did consent the others of the house of Fregosa because for the degree that his auncestors helde in that state it seemed best to apperteine to him He studied continually either howe he might worke out of Italie the Spanish armie or cut it in peeces by the ayde of the Svvizzers whom aboue all others he exalted and embraced In this deuise he had this intention that the kingdome of Naples beeing occupied by him Italie should remayne free from straungers A speeche that often passed out of his mouth and to that ende he had hindred that the Svvizzers did not confederate with the king Catholike And yet as though it had bene in his power to batter all the world at one time he continued his accustomed rigour agaynst the French king and notwithstanding he had heard a message
take the frute of the benefite which their fortune seemed to offer Andrea Doria he who afterwards was so notable in marine seruice thrust in with a great ship wherof he was owner betwene the castel of the Lantern the french ship and cutting a sunder the cable that was caste to them of the castell and the cables that helde the ankers he set vpon the ship with no lesse felicitie then peril albeit in the fight he was wounded in the face yet by his vallour he wanne and caryed away the shippe The king therefore beeing determined not to deferre the beginning of the warre in which respect and to be ready in al occasions he had already sent many launces into Burgondie Dauphine he thought good now to harken with diligence after the matter debated vpon so many monthes with the Venetians They had bene somewhat deferred and protracted aswell by the one as by the other party both for that sometimes the hope to haue peace with Caesar sometimes the great instance made by the Venetians for Cremona Guiaradada had holden the king in suspence And also in the senat the opinions of Councellors were diuerse for that many of great authoritie in that cōmon weale preferred thaccord with Caesar wherin they shewed that it would be more profitable to discharge them selues for the present of so huge expences with freedome from daungers thereby to be the more ready to embrase thoccasions that would offer then their common weale being so ouerweried and trauelled and the wealth of priuat men abated to entangle thēselues with new warres in companie of the Frenche king whose amitie howe faythfull and assured it was they were not without a late and greene experience Neuerthelesse the greater parte seeming that rarelye an occasion woulde ryse to make them recouer their auncient estate and that thagrement with Caesar he reteyning Verona would not deliuer them from troubles and daungers they reiected all thoughtes and deuises for Cremona and Guiaradada resolued to make confederation with the french king in whose Court it was concluded by Andrea Gritti representing already more the person and place of an Embassador then of a prisoner By this confederation after it was graunted that Bart. Aluiano Andrea Gritti should be set at liberty the Venetians were bound to aide the king with eight hūdred men at armes a thousand fiue hūdred light horsmen ten thousand footmen that against all such as would rise vp to let him for recouering of Ast of Genes the duchy of Millan The king for his part was bound to ioyne with thē vntill they had recouered all that they possessed in Lombardy the Marquisdome of Treuisana afore the league of Cambray Vpon the resolution of this contract Iohn Iacques Triuulce and Bart. Aluiano went to Suso the one to go from thence to Venice by the more sure way and the other to assemble there the army appoynted for the warre It conteined vpon the full muster xv hundred launces eight hundred light horsmen and xv thousande footemen where of eight thousande were Launceknights and the residue of the French nation This army was committed to the authoritie and guyding of Monsr Trimouille whom the king appoynted his liefetenaunt to thend the action might proceede with more reputation In this time the french king made great request to the Pope not to hinder him in recouering his duchy of Millan And the better to conteine the Pope he offred that he would not only not passe further after the victory but also would alwayes referre himselfe to him to make peace vnder what conditions it should please him best To which motions albeit the Pope gaue gracious willing eare and that to drawe better faith to his words he vsed to solicite with the king by the meane and labour of Iulian his brother yet many things made him suspected with the king first the memory of things done afore the time of his Papacie then since he was Pope how he had sent to him Cinthio his familiar fauorit with letters very frendly cōmissions but so generall as they well declared the litle inclination of minde he bare to him or his affaires also for that he had cōsented that Prosp Colōno should be elected captein generall ouer the duchy of Millan A matter which his predecessor had alwaies hindred for the hatred he bare to the famuly of Colonno ▪ he entred also into greater dout by a signification which the Pope addressed to the king of England to cōtinue still in the cōfederation made with Caesar with the king catholike him Lastly he wrote to the cōmunalties of the Svvizzers exhorting thē almost to the defēce of Italie wherin he could not dissimule that he would continue with thē the cōfederation made by his predecessor by the which they were boūd to the defence of thestate ecclesiastik receiuing of him a yerely pension of xx thousand duckets It was also a signe of his wil intētion that he had not receiued into grace the duke of Ferrara but by many excuses deferred to render to him Reggia vntil his brother the cardinal came to Rome who to auoide the persecutions of Pope Iulio was withdrawen into the countrey of Hungaria liued vpon his bishoprike of Agria But the matter that aboue all other things made the king enter into suspicion against the Pope was that he had in great secrecy counselled the state of Venice to come to accord with Caesar A matter cleane contrary to thintētion of the king who also had interpreted in ill part that the Pope declaring that he moued not for other respect thē to satisfie his soueraine duty had writtē vnto him in a kind exhorting not to take armes but rather to expres a dispositiō to finish the war with some honorable cōposition a matter which the king would not haue blamed if for the same desire to peace he had also declared to the king of England that he ought not to make war vpō the frēch king Sure this suspiciō of the king was not without cause for that the Pope desired that the French might be cut off from all seate habitation in Italy either for that he thought it more profitable for the cōmon surety or for the greatnes aduauncement of the church or at least that he kept stil fixed in his mind the remēbrāce of harmes receiued by the crown of Fraunce whervnto albeit his father other his predecessors had borne no litle affection in sundry accidents had reaped many honors profites yet it was an iniury freshe in memorie that his brethren he had bene expulsed Florence by the comming of king Charles and that the king raigning bearing fauour to the popular gouernment had eyther alwayes reiected them or if at any time he showed inclination to them it was to vse them as instrumentes to drawe the Florentins by that suspicion to couenantes of more aduauntage for himselfe without bearing respect or
care to them To this perhaps was muche helping a disdayne that he was ledde prisoner to Millan after the battell of Rauenna and by the kings commaundement shoulde haue bene caried in that calamitie into Fraunce But what so euer was the disposition of the Pope or howe so euer his coniecture was caried for these or other causes he proceeded aduisedly and dissembled as muche as he could his intention for that both he sawe he had not so strong fundations to resist as he wished and also he gaue eare dayly with great affection to the demaundes and complaintes made agaynst the king for the Svvizzers bearing an vniuersall inclination to stirre and ryse for the defence of the Duchie of Millan offred to enter into thaction with a farre greater number then before so farrefoorth as they were furnished in preste with a certayne summe of money which for the pouertie and weaknes of others could not be hoped for otherwise then of the Pope Touching the Viceroy his counsells were vncertayne and his speeches seuerall and suttle for that sometimes he offred the Pope to oppose agaynst the Frenchmen not sparing to enter openly into the cause by sending his bands of souldiors to ioyne with him and waging for three monethes a great number of footemen and the rather to accompany his doings with fayth credit he caused to be retyred his souldiors from the townes of Parma and Reggia and lay incamped with his army vpon the ryuer of Trebia leauing notwithstanding certayne bands of his souldiours for the garde of Torrona and Alexandria suche as had not stirred from thence Sometimes also he did assure that he had receiued commaundement from his king and that at the same time that he wrote to him of the truce to leade backe the armie to the kingdome of Naples But Ierome Vich Embassador resident with the Pope vsed other speeches and yet he agreed with him in this that his king promised so farreforth as the Pope would take vpon him the defence of Millan to beginne the warre in Fraunce without bearing respect to the truce that had bene made A libertie whiche he sayd he might lawfully take without making violation of his fayth promised Therefore it was beleeued of many that the king Catholike fearing that by the truce that had bene made not one woulde appeare to oppose agaynst the Frenche king had commaunded the Viceroy that if he sawe none woulde proceede roundly to the defence of the Duchie of Millan that he shoulde not seeke to prouoke the Frenche king by newe iniuries but shoulde retyre his armie to Naples for whiche cause also he shewed to the king a contentment to harken to the peace offring withall to bring in Caesar and the king of Englande And to make him the more tractable if he should recouer the Duchie of Millan he made almoste an assured promise that his armie should be no impediment to him So that the Viceroy who was determined to go his way reuoked the souldiors that were vnder the Marquis of Pesquiero in Alexādria and Torrona and at the same time as was sayd did communicate his resolution to Triuulce to thend his departing might be more acceptable to the French king Neuerthelesse he did not execute so speedily his deuise for that the Svvizzers very desyrous to defende the Duchie of Millan had sente thither by common consent fiue thousande footemen and giuen hope to supplye the seruice with a greater number But making demonstration of the contrary he sent Prosper Colonno to debate with the Svvizzers of the place where they should assemble against the frēch either that he had receiued aduertisement that the truce was discontenting to Caesar or els that he was enioyned by new cōmissions from his king to folow the will of the Pope who perseuered still in the same perplexities suffring a conflict betweene his small hope his proper inclination And yet notwithstanding the Svvizzers being come vpon the territories of Tortona where Prosper had signified to them that the Viceroy would come ioyne with them interposing many excuses he labored thē to come vpon the lands of Trebia to ioyne with him By which maner of solicitation they finding a diuersitie betwene his will and his words made this braue aunswere that the Viceroy made no such demaund to th end to go looke thenemies in the face but to turne their backs with greater surety They saide they cared not whether he feared to fight with the frenchmē or not neither did it import thē whether he went away or whether he taried stil whether he folowed or whether he fled for that their vallour onely did suffice to defende the duchie of Millan agaynst all enemies But now was all the contrey in a mutinie the Count Mussocke sonne to Iohn Iacques was got into Ast without any impediment after into Alexandria al those bāds of frenchmen which were parted frō Susa marching with great diligence The duke of Millan who was come somewhat to late to enter Alexandria ioyned himself to the Svvizzers neare Tortona and they being made to vnderstande by the Viceroy that he was determined to go his way retired to Nouarro Of all voluble things there is nothing more light then reaport in times of mutation nothing lesse assured then the minds of people popular or cōmons whom euery new occasion can cary and leade contrarie to all reason and confidence that feare and ficklenesse which they haue by nature beeing not hable to be assured by any order or discression for thinhabitantes of Millan at the first brute of the departing of the Viceroy sent Embassadors to their Duke at Nouarro to excuse them if hauing no habilitie nor meane of defence they compounded with the French men to th ende to auoyde the extreame calamitie He was tractable according to the condition of his present fortune and with a minde humbled with the consideration of his miseries that were towards he accepted willingly their excuse recommending to them with words of great affection and zeale to haue a charitable care ouer the safetie of the common countrey Vpon this occasion Sacromoro Viscounto to whom was appoynted the besieging of the Castell of Millan turned to the French and reuittled the Castell which he was sente to batter and beate The Viceroy brake vp from Trebia with all his armie whiche was twelue hundred men at armes and eyght thousande footemen to returne to the kingdome of Naples as though the affayres of Lombardie had bene desperate A reason onely wherein he soughte to saue his armie But receyuing the same day in the way betweene Plaisanca and Florenzola letters from Rome he caused immediatly the ensignes to marche backe agayne returning to the same lodging from whence he was departed The cause was that the Pope to whome almoste at the same tyme were rendred Plaisanca and Parma determining to proue if the Duchie of Millan might be defended by the force of the Svvizzers gaue very secretely to Ierome Moron
the Dukes Embassador remayning in his Court fortie two thousande duckettes to sende to the Svvizzers but with this charge that if the matter came to the knowledge of others he should giue out that twentie thousande of them were vppon the accompt of their pensions and the other twentie two thousande to satisfie a pretended due to the three Cantons by his predecessor but alwayes refused to be payed by him This returning of the Viceroy with his armie together with a brute of the descending of newe companies of the Svvizzers made the Millanois eftsoones sorie for their sodaine reuolting and in that confusion betwene a newe hope and their olde feare they gaue tokens to Maximilian Sforce their Duke that they woulde bee readie to returne to his obedience whensoeuer they saw the Svvizzers and the spanishe armie ioyne together in the field And the more to nourrish them in these hopes the Viceroy with whom was Prosper Colonno prepared to plant a bridge vppon Pavv promising from time to time to passe ouer but neuer did put it in effect for that hauing a speciall care to saue his armie he determined to proceede according as thinges fell out He helde it very daungerous to haue the Frenchemen in his face and the Venetian armie at his backe who hauing alreadie taken the Citie of Cremona and cast downe the bridge into the bottome of Pavv were not farre from him By this was Bartl Aluiano gone from Susa to Venice Where after he had in open councell without any contradiction cast vppon the Count Petillano the fault of the ouerthrowe of Guiaradada he spake very prowdlie of the present warre and by the Senate was chosen Capteine generall of their armie with the same condicions vnder the which the Counte Petillano had bene preferred to the same degree This estate and election happened to him much about the same time that foure yeares before he fell into the power of thenemies so often doth fortune laugh at thignorance of mortall men deuising in their vaine fancies what shall happen vnto them Assoone as he was chosen Generall he went to th armie that was mustering at S. Boniface vppon the demaines of Verona Theodar Triuulce was with him as Liefetenaunt to the Frenche king with whome he drewe neere in great diligence to the gates of Verona the selfe same day that the French armie parted from Susa the reason of this expedicion was that in that Citie certaine factions had conspired to receiue him in But the day after a strength of fiue hundred launceknightes entred the towne by the riuer of Adice by which impediment together with the detection of the conspiracie Aluiano loasing all hope to preuaile determined contrarie to thauthoritie of the Venetian assistant to drawe towardes the riuer of Pavv either to stoppe the Spanyards or else according to the state and behauiour of thinges to ioyne with the French armie A resolution which he did not imparte to the Senate vntill he was gone from Verona one bayte for that notwithstanding he alleaged that the whole depended vppon that which shoulde succeede in the Duchie of Millan and that there the affaires of the Frenchemen being in ill condicion whatsoeuer should be attempted or obteined in any other place woulde be but vaine and not durable and therefore it was necessarie by all possible meanes to helpe to make the Frenche king victorious yet he feared and not without cause that the Senate woulde be against it not so muche for the desire he had that there shoulde be first a care to recouer Verona and Bressia as for that certeine other of the Capteines allowed not that they shoulde passe the riuer of Mincia onlesse they had first a more particular knowledge of the proceedinges of the Frenche wherein they shewed in case of any inconuenience howe hard it woulde be to retyre in safetie hauinge to passe by the confines of Verona and Mantua contreys either subiected or at the deuocion of Caesar Valeggia and the towne of Pesquiero fearinge the threates of Aluiano yeelded them selues to him by whose example also the castellkeeper gaue vp the rocke his feare beeing greater then that any hope could assure him onely he receiued by composition a small summe of money aswell for him selfe as also to be shared amongest certayne launceknightes that were within it About the same time certayne of the chieftains of the Mountayne entred into Bressia in fauor of the Venetians with a great strength of peisantes And yet Aluiano neither for the requestes of the Bressian Embassadors which came to him to Gambaro nor at the desire of the Venetian Assistante coulde not be brought to consent to go thither and remayne there onely one day to recouer the Castell that was kepte in the name of the Viceroy so great was his desire to followe without intermission his firste deliberation With whiche celeritie beeing come to the gates of Cremona he founde that at the same time Galeas Paluoisin called by certayne of Cremona was entred in fauor of the Frenche king But hauing in him no lesse ambition then vallor and not liking that any other shoulde participate with him in the glory of that action he brake and put to pray his bandes of souldiors and entring the towne he stripped Caesar Fieramosqua that was left there in garrison with three hundred horse and fiue hundred footemen of the Duke of Millans He had not to loase time to recouer the Castell for that it had bene alwayes holden by the French king and newly reuitled a litle before by Ranse de Cere who as he returned to Crema where he was appoynted gouernour he brake a trowpe of two hundred horsmen of Alexander Sforce which he encoūtred at Serzana From thence Aluiano encamping at the channell vpon Pavv with the bridge made to passe ouer he could not let his souldiors to do insolencies sometimes vpon the landes of the Pope his discipline not being hable to conteine the men who had as great custome in spoyling as in well seruing Afterwards he marched to Pisqueton hauing already for the mutation of Cremona Soncino Lody and other places thereaboutes aduaunced the French ensignes But affore assone as he had recouered Cremona he had sent to Bressia Ranse de Cero with one parte of the men of warre both to assure that Citie and to recouer the Castell but muche more to hinder the good successe of thAlmains for that almoste assone as he was broken vp from before Cremona Rocand capteine of the Launceknightes and Feder Gonsago de Bossolo issuing out of Verona with six hundred horse and two thousande footemen were gone to S. Boniface where Aluiano had lefte vnder Sigismond Cauallo and Iohn Fortin three hundred light horsemen and sixe hundred footemen and they beeing scattered in the countrey without all discipline and order hearing of the comming of thenemies were fledde to Colorguo where the Launceknightes following them in chase entred the towne by force and committing all the souldiours to the calamitie of
desired the vniō of his kingdom with the church the same being also demaūded by al his peoples the queene no lesse concurrant then the residue it was well discerned by the king his coūcell that there could be no hope of alliance with the Pope in matters tēporal if first they fell not to agreement for controuersies spiritual for which cause either trusting in dede or at least dissēbling vnder showes seming to giue faith to his words he sent to him as embassador to negociate in these causes the Bishop of Marseilles at whose cōming the Pope by decree of the councell reinuested the Bishops and Prelates of Fraunce with power to purge thēselues of their contumacie during the whole moneth of Nouember Agaynst these Cleargie men his predecessor had proceeded rigorously by waye of threatning as agaynst persons guyltie of schisme And the same moarning wherein this decree was determined there was read in the councell a writing subscribed by Bernar. Caruiagall and Feder S. Seuerin wherin forbearing to name themselues Cardinals they approued al the acts of the councel of Latran promised to cleaue to the same obey the Pope In this action consequently they confessed themselues to be lawfully depriued of the estate of Cardinals which priuation being done by Pope Iulio had bin in his life time confirmed by the same councell It had bene debated afore in the consistorie to haue them restored but the resolution was afterwards deferred for thimpedimēt of thembassadors of Caesar and the king of Aragon together with the Cardinalls of Sion and Yorke who alleaged that it was a matter vnworthy the maiestie of the sea Apostolike and of very ill example to pardon the authors of so great wickednesse accompanied with manifest abhomination impietie A matter which the laste Pope had constantly mainteined against them euen to the last moment of his life and that for no other cause then for the publike benefite But the Pope raigning inclined to that side that was least rigorous iudging it more easy and worthy to quenche altogether the name of the councell of Pisa rather with clemencie then with seueritie Besides he would not stirre vp the minde of the French king who was a diligent intercessor for them neither was he caryed agaynst them by any particuler hatred for that neither was the iniurie done to him neither before his pontificacie he nor his brethren had bene great friendes to Federike for which reasons of his owne motion he caused to be read before the fathers of the councell the writing of their humiliation and assigned a day for their restoring which was done in this maner Bernar. and Feder entred secretly into Rome by night without eyther habite or ceremonies of Cardinalls and the moarning folowing being to present themselues before the Pope sitting in full consistory with the presence of all the Cardinals except the Svvizzer and the English who refused to assist the action They first passed apparelled as simple priestes with blacke bonnets on their heades through all the publike places of the pallace of Vatican where they had lodged A wonderfull concourse presse of people flocked to see them euery one iudging that a punishment so honorable did serue as a cruell torment for the vnruled pride of Bernardin and no lesse for the vnstayed arrogancie of Federike Assone as they were admitted into the presence of the consistorie they fell downe of their knees and with many signes of great humilitie they demaunded pardon of the Pope and the Cardinalls They approued all thinges that had bene done by Pope Iulio and namely their priuation and thelection of the newe Pope as an act cannonical And they publikely reproued the councel of Pisa to be an assembly schismatike detestable When this confession was subsigned with their hands solemnly enregistred they rose vp stoode on their fete after reuerence done they embrased all the cardinalls who stirred not out of their seates then they were reinuested apparelled in the habite of Cardinalls receiued by the residue to sit in the same order wherin they were wont to sit before their priuation They recouered only by this act the dignitie of Cardinalls and not their benefices and other reuenues which they had possessed for that long time before they had bin distributed to others by the liberty of vacation In this act the Pope satisfied the French king if not so muche as he desired at least in parte of that he exspected But he satisfied him nothing in other matters for that he sought by all the wayes he could to accord Caesar and the Venetians A matter which seemed to him of easie action for the accidents that were hapned for it was beleeued that Caesar stirred vp by thoccasions beyonde the Mountes would be brought to be contented to be discharged of suche a burden to haue the more oportunitie to harkē to the recouering of Burgondy for his nephew And touching the Venetians it was hoped that they would much more desire it aswel for that they stood amased with the ouerthrow of the frenchmen as also that they knew that the french king for the many dangers hanging ouer his realme was not hable for that yere to do any more to thaffaires of Italie Besides they sawe fast vpon them the Spanish armie wherevnto were to be vnited the companies that were within Verona They were made drye of money and treasor yll furnished of souldiors and namely of footemen and which was not least in their consideration they were to resist all alone of themselues without any hope or showe of other succors And yet the Senate answered very constantly that they would not harken to any accorde vnlesse they were repossessed of Vincensa ane Verona Caesar at that time demaunded of the Pope two hundred men at armes against the Venetians A demaund which albeit was grecuous to the Pope both for feare least the french king should be discontented and also he sawe how inconuenient it would be for Caesar him to become suspected to the Venetians for a matter of so small importance yet by the obstinate importunitie of Caesar he sent him vnder Troyllo Sauello Achilles Torello and Mutio Colonno the numbers he required bothe for that by refusing he would not show any token not to perseuer in the confederation contracted with the laste Pope and also he considered he was not holden by any bonde or obligation that he had with the Venetians who besides that their armie did almoste expresse behauiours of hostilitie vpon the landes of Parma Plaisantin at such time as Aluiano laye neare to Cremona yet they had not elected Embassadors to protest their obedience to him according to their custome vntill the Frenche men beeing ouerthrowen were returned beyonde the Mountes This deliberation brought no litle amase to the Venetians not so much for thimportance of such a succour as for feare least by this beginning the Pope woulde passe further taking it for a manifest
without hope the last extremitie of vittells they agreed to leaue the towne the horses and liues of the souldiours saued if they were not reskewed within two dayes And it is not to bee douted that their holding out by the space of fiftie dayes was not a thing that greatlie profited the realme of Fraunce who by the benefite of the long suffering of Torvvaine had respit to temporise and prepare against many other greater afflictions which otherwise so mightie an armie of enemies would haue brought vppon them euen to the shaking of the Crowne of Fraunce A litle before Maximilian Caesar was come in persone into the Englishe armie reuiewinge and layinge out those places wherein in his youth he had with so great glorie ouerthrowne the armie of the French king Lovvys the eleuenth Who whilest he remayned in the campe the affayres of the warre tooke their chiefest direction and gouernment from him The Frenche king was not onely trauelled with thEnglishe armies but also with greater daunger he had his vexacions by the Svvizzers for the commonalties of those regions desiring with an vniuersall minde that the king should disclaime from all titles and rights which he pretended to the Duchie of Millan wherin for that he did nothing their hatred redoubled towardes him they had entred against him many actions of hostilitie and sette on fire many houses of priuate persons of Lucerna whome they suspected to beare fauor to thaffaires of the Crowne of Fraunce And proceeding continuallie against all men noted of like suspicion they had brought all the chiefetaines and principalls of them to sweare to suffer all the pensions to go in common so falling into armes by publike order they entred almost by heapes into Burgondy their numbers being xx thowsand footmen a thowsand horsemen In which action they had certeine proporcions of artillerie from Caesar who either according to his inconstancy or for ielousie he had of them refused to go thither in person notwithstanding he had promised both to the king of England to theÌ„ Being drawne into this strength power of warre they went incamped affore Dyon the chiefe towne of Burgondy wherin was Monsr Trimouille with a thowsand lauÌ„ces six thowsand footmeÌ„ These natures of coÌ„mons popular peoples hauing some dout of their Capteines who began already to communicate with the french tooke vpon them the managing of thartilleries and fell to batter the towne of whose defense Trimouille douting much he had recourse to the last remedies made with theÌ„ a sodain accord without exspecting any commission from the king on whose behalfe he made this contract to renounce all the rights claimes he pretended to the Duchy of Millan to pay them six hundred thowsand crownes within a certeine tearme for thobseruation of which couenant he gaue him foure ostages persons very honorable and of great condicion And for the Svvyzzers they were bownd to no other promise then to returne to their houses A matter which tyed them not to rememe for afterwards friendes to the french king but left them at libertie to returne when they list to thinuasions of his kingdom Assoone as they were possessed of thostages they brake vp and dissolued their army immediatly alleaging for their excuse with the king of England for entring into this couenant without his consent that they receyued not in tyme conuenient the money he had promised them It was thought that this capitulacion was the cause of the sauing of the whole Realme of Fraunce for that the taking of Dyon had put into the hands of the Svvyzzers a free power to ronne vp without resistance eueÌ„ to the wals of Paris And it was not vnlikely that the king of England passing the riuer of Somme would not haue taken the field to ioyne with theÌ„ A matter which the french could not let for that neither the duke of Gueldres being theÌ„ come nor in the armie aboue six thowsand launceknights they were constrayned to keepe them selues inclosed within townes But the king was not a litle discontented with the resolucion complayning not a litle against Monsr Trymouille both for the summe of money he had promised and much more that he had bound him to the resignation of his titles interests as anaction of too great preiudice farre vnworthy his greatnes the glory of the crowne of Fraunce for which cause albeit the dauÌ„ger had bene great if the Svvyzzers in their wrath had eftsoones returned to assaile him yet reapposing much in the approch of the winter and in the difficultie that they could not reassemble so soone being with all resolute to ronne all fortunes rather then to depriue himselfe of his rightes in that Duchie which he loued dearely he determined not to ratifie thaggreement yea rather he beganne to propownd to them newe offers which much lesse that they did harken vnto seeing they did coÌ„stantly reiect them with these bluddy threats that if the ratification came not within a certeine tyme they would cut of the heades of thostages Torvvaine being taken whereunto thArchduke aspyred by pretence of his auncient right and the king of England chalenged it to be his by the iust prerogatiue of conquest and warre Caesar and he fell to this point for thauoiding of discord to cast downe the wals to the ground notwithstanding such violence was forbidden by the capitulacions made with them of Torvvaine immediatly after Caesar went from tharmy giuing this iudgement vpon thexperience trial he had seene that in matters of warre thenglish were more resolute then wel a duised lesse suttle politike then wel disciplined trained From Torvvain the king of England went to incamp before Tornay A towne very stronge and riche and of great deuocion of long tyme to the crowne of Fraunce but so inuironed with the contreyes of thArchduke that it was impossible to the french to reskewe it so long as they were not maisters of the fielde The french king was not a litle glad of this enterprise fearing least the ennemie caried with victorie and wealth would not transferre his forces into the body and partes of his Realme of more importance A feare which put him into no small perplexities for notwithstanding he had now areared a mighty armie wherein besides the fiue hundred launces which he had bestowed in garrison in S. Quâ—ntyn were two thowsand launces eight thowsand light horsemen Albanois ten thowsand lauÌ„ceknights a thowsand Svvyzzers eight thowsand footemen of his owne nation yet it was farre inferior to the power and multitudes of thenglish armie which by the continuall slocking of souldiours was as the reaport went resupplyed to the number of foure skore thowsande fighting men By the consideracion of which inequalitie of forces the french king who had no great hope to be able to defende Boleyne and those partes of the contrey that are beyonde the riuer of Somme which he feared thEnglish would oppresse looked how to defend Abeuille
and Amyens the other townes that are vppon the riuer of Somme his deuise was also to let them for passing the riuer and so to temporise either vntill the cold season came or els that the Skottish king in whom he hoped much were ready to aduaunce and draw them from that warre his armie marched all the meane while along the riuer of Somme to let thennemies from winning passage It was beleeued that the perswasions of Caesar were the cause of this enterprise of thEnglish for hope that if the towne of Tornay were taken it might either then or at some other tyme diuolue into the power of his Nephew to whome it was thought it did apperteyne perhappes it moued vpon a feare the armie had to be afflicted with want of vittels if they had bene in an other place or happly other places whereunto they might haue gonne had borne a more facilitie to be succored by thennemies But the towne of Tornay which was not manned but with bandes of straungers and forreyners and therefore of lesse exspectacion to bee succored was so battred with artilleries in many seuerall places that after it had made a small resistance it yelded vnder sauetie of goods and liues to aduaunce an hundred thowsand duckats towards the defrayment of the warre and to defend them from pillage The fortune of the frenchmen was no more gracious in other places for that the Skottish king comming to battell with the English armie vpon the riuer of Tvvede where the Lady Katthren then Queene of England was in person was ouerthrowen with a very great slaughter the kings person being then slaine with one of his owne sonnes who was Archbishop of S. Andrevv with many other Prelats and Nobles of that Realme and of the common soldiours more then twelue thowsand bodies After these victories about the ende of October the king of England leauing a stronge garrison within Tornay dismissed his horsemen and footemen of thAlmains and so disposed him selfe to returne into England reaping the great towne of Tornay as a frute of his warres and great exspenses for touching Torvvaine whose wals he had throwen downe to the earthe the naked seate and resemblance remeyned in the power of the french king One cause that made the king of England repasse the seas was that the season of the yeare taking away all oportunities to continue the warre in those cold regions he held it a matter vnprofitable to nourish an armie there with so great charges And an other was that he thought to take order for the institucion and gouernment of the young king of Skots who was in minoritie and the sonne of his owne sister the Duke of Albanie being gonne thether who was also of the blood of the same king By the returne of the king of England the feare of the french men beeing taken away their king dismissed all his armie except the regiments of launceknights he saw him selfe deliuered of the care of daungers present but not of feare to fall into them againe the next yeare with farre greater difficulties he gathered this iudgement by the behauiors of the king of England at his going away who vsed many high threatnings against the crowne of Fraunce promising that he would giue it a greater shake the next sommer Wherein he began already to make new preparacions to auoid the discommodities of his former delayes with more readines to open the warre assoone as the season of the yeare would suffer Besides the french king knewe that Caesar had the same intencion to annoy him and feared withall least the king Catholike who with sundrye suttleties had excused him selfe of the truce made least he should wholly alien them from him woulde not also take armes with them of this suspicion he had great tokens by the discourse of a letter intercepted wherein the king Catholike writing to his Embassador resident with Caesar and expressing an intention quite contrarie to his manyfest speeches which testified an earnest desire to make warre agaynst the infidels and to go in person to recouer Ierusalem he perswaded him to deuise diligently by what meanes the duchie of Millan mighte be brought to Ferdinand their common Nephew younger brother to tharchduke In this perswasion he occupied this maner of encouragement that that estate beeing raunged it would not be hard to reduce the residue of the regions of Italie to their deuotion and with the same facilitie ioyned with his succours Caesar might make himselfe Pope wherevnto he had alwayes aspired since the death of his wife and being once possessed of that soueraigntie he should resigne to the vse and profite of tharchduke the Crowne imperiall Neuerthelesse he concluded that matters of so highe nature and weight could not be ledde to perfection but with tyme and with occasions Besides all these the Frenche king doubted nothing of the will of the Svvizzers whose obstinacies he coulde in no wise moderate notwithstanding he made them offers aboue their merite And they were of newe incensed more then before by the euasion of the ostages deliuered by Monsr Trimouille who fearing the daunger of their lyues for want of obseruation in the king were secretly stolne away and fledde into Germanie So that it was not without cause that he feared leaste by thoccasion of so many other his aduersities they would ryse to assayle presently or at least the yere after the countrey of Burgondy or Dauphine These difficulties were partely thoccasion that made him fall to agreement with the Pope for causes spirituall of which agreement the principal article conteined thabsolute rooting out of the councell of Pisa which poynt was debated many monthes with very great difficulties specially for the regarde of things done eyther with the authoritie of the same councell or agaynst the maiestie of the Pope suche as it seemed very vnworthy for the sea Apostolike to approue and to cut them off there could not but happen right great confusion So that there was a delegation of three Cardmalls to deuise of some meanes by the which suche a disorder might be met withall This bred also one difficultie that it seemed not conuenient to graunt to the king thabsolution of penalties vnlesse he sued for it wherevnto the king woulde not consent least by imputation his person and Crowne of Fraunce were noted of schisme But at last the king was made wearye with these perplexities and no lesse ouerlabored with the importunities and willes of the people of his Realme desiring with vniuersall affection to be reunited to the Church of Rome but most of all he was stirred moued by the deuotion of the Queene to whō those controuersies were grieuous In which respectes he determined to yelde to the will of the Pope and not without some hope that vpon the reappaysement of these quarrels the Pope woulde some way ioyne to his ayde wherevnto with great arte he seemed to expresse to haue a good intention And yet a newe complaint was added to the auncient
yere with Caesar and the king Catholike which yet comprehended no other matter then the defence of their common estates for the king Catholike was entred afore not without cause into suspicion that be aspired to the realme of Naples for Iulian his brother and had already enterteyned in that action some practise with the Venetians This newe confederation was scarcely established and concluded when the French kings answere came By it he approued all that the Pope had propounded with this onely addition that since he was to bynde hym selfe to the protection of the Florentins of Iulio de Medicis hys brother and Lavvrence hys nephew whom the Pope had aduaunced to thadministration of th affayres of Florence that he woulde reciprocally be bounde to the defence of the Crowne of Fraunce But the Pope excused him selfe touching the action of capitulation with Caesar and the king Catholike that seeing how long he deferred to make aunswere to a demaunde so reasonable he coulde not but enter into some doubt And yet the confederation was but for a short time and conteined no matter preiudiciall to him nor to hinder the perfection of the practise begonne betwene them These iustifications were accepted by the king and so they passed the couenaunt not by instrument authentike to hold it more secret but by a priuate writing subsigned by both their handes The peace betwene the king of Englande and the French king was more sodayne and easie then was exspected being vnlikely that so great hatreds redoubled by new iniuries should with such facilitie be conuerted into amitie and aliance happly the peace was not liking to the Pope who aswell as others was perswaded that there might grow betwene them rather a truce then a peace or at least if it resolued to the nature of a peace it would eyther intangle the king with harder conditions or at least with obligation not to assayle the duchie of Millan for a certayne tyme But it brought incredible discontentment to Caesar and the king Catholike who as there is none euill in humaine actions which hath not ioyned with it some good so he assured notwithstanding that he receiued by it in his minde two contentmentes The one for that tharchduke his nephewe beeing out of hope to giue his sister for wife to the Frenche king and entring withall into distruste of the king of Englande would be nowe compelled to do nothing without his counsell and authoritie The other for that the Frenche king standing nowe in good possibilitie of children the succession of Monsr de Angonlesme was put in doubt to whome he bare no little hatred for that he norished a great desire to restore the king of Nauarre to his estate Onely the Svvizzers gaue it out that they reioysed all at that accorde notwithstanding they reteyned agaynst the French king the same hatred they did before The reason of their gladnes grew of an opinion they had that the french king being now at libertie would take occasion to recontinue the warre in the duchy of Millan by which meane they should eftsones begin to declare to all the world their vertue and their fayth And truely it was not to be doubted that the french king being now deliuered almost of al feare to haue warre beyond the Mountes would not be touched with his old desire to reconquer the duchy of Millan only it could not be discerned whether he would presently dispose him selfe to armes or deferre it tyll the yeare following for that the facilitie of thenterprise appeared to all men but there was none that discerned any signe of preparations In whiche vncertayntie the Pope notwithstanding that conquest was grieuous to him stirred him vp not to deserre nor corrupt the present occasions wherein he gaue him to vnderstande that all thinges were yll prepared to make resistance both for that the Spanishe armie was diminished and yll payed the peoples of Millan reduced to great pouertie straitnesse and also none was hable to aduaunce money to make the Svvizzers march These perswasions caryed so muche the greater force and authoritie by how much a litle before the peace with the king of Englande the Pope expressing a desire that the Frenche king should recouer Genes had giuen him a certayne hope to induce Octauian Fregoso to compound with him Assuredly the Pope in this action proceded not with sinceritie good meaning which disposition moued in him as was supposed for that seeing euery one yll furnished and no lesse doubting least the French king woulde make that expedition without his councell since he had his men at armes in readynes and many leauyes of Launceknightes at his deuotion thought by that meane to preuent and winne his frendship perhappes and in this he proceeded with greater suttletie he was enduced by the knowledge he had that the Emperour and the king Catholike were of opinion that it was not lawfull to the French king to inuade the Duchie of Millan An opinion which though they supposed to be true yet the Frenche king denied it a â—uowing that it was good in him he was not forbidden to take armes against the estate of Millan during the truce By reason whereof the Pope perswading him selfe that the king would not enter into thenterprise thought he would expresse to him a good disposicion of will which also should serue him for excuse if an other time he required succours of him And the matter succeded according to his opinion for the king being resolued either for that cause or for his present necessitie of money or lastly for the nearenes of the winter not to enter into armes affore the spring time and making show that he had confidence that euen in that time the Popes fauor woulde not faile him he wrote aunswere to him alleaging many excuses touching his deserring but conceiled the excuse of the truce which yet endured and perhappes was the principall Neuerthelesse he had desire to attempt the reconquering of Genes or at least to succour the lantern which the same yere by his direction had bene reuittelled many times with certaine proporcions of vittels by the aduenture of sundry smal vessels who making as though they woulde enter the porte of Genes dissembled with the warders and were profitable to them of the lantern But at last thextremitie of vittells growing aboue all remedie and no lesse diligence of the enemie to keepe them suppressed in that want their calamitie not able to temporise and exspect any longer after succours the garrison within was driuen to yeelde it vp to the Genovvais who in their spite rased it from the fundacions A matter not a litle displeasing to the king And albeit the losse of this fortresse tooke wholly from the king all cogitacions to vrge a present warre against the Genovvaies yet it diminished nothinge his disposicion to the action of Millan whereunto he turned all his preparacions to inuade the yeare following that state with maine armies he hoped that the Pope both for the
to continue with him thamity begon with his predecessor the iniuries he had receiued frō the king Catholik being yet fresh in memory There came at the same tyme an embassage frō the duke of Austrich wherof the lord of Nausan was chief in this embassage for the regard of th erle of Flaūders wherof the kings of Fraūce are soueraignes were discerned demonstrations of great submission in acknowledging of superiority Both the one the other of these embassages had a ready happy expedition for touching the king of England the confederation betwene him the late king was cōfirmed vnder the same conditions so long as either of thē should liue reseruing a respite of iij. yeres for the Skottish king to enter in it And for tharchduke many differences ceassed which many men supposed would haue giuē great impediments to the action of the peace But the archduke being now in full maiority newly taken vpon him the gouernment of his estates was drawne to the peace for many causes first for thinstance of the peoples of Flaunders who would in no wise haue warre with the realme of Fraunce Secondly for a desire he had to be assured of such impediments as might be opposed against him by the French in the succession of the realme of Spayne when the death of his grandfather should happen And lastly for that he thought it to great a daunger to dwell without any league of amitie in the middest of the powers of England and Fraunce being conioyned together And on the other side the king desired greatly to take awaye all occasions that might restrayne him to be gouerned by thauthoritie counsell of his grandfather eyther by the fathers or mothers side So that at last there was enacted betwene them in the towne of Paris a perpetuall peace confederation reseruing facultie to Caesar the king Catholike without whose authorities tharchduke contracted to take their place in this peace within three monethes In this capitulation was promised thaccomplishment of the mariage betwene the Archduke and Lady Renee daughter to king Lovvis solicited so many times before and that the king should endue the mariage of Lady Renee with six hundred thousande crownes and the duchy of Berry in perpetuitie aswell for her children as for her This dowry in respect of her insufficient age at that time should be assigned to her assone as she should come to the age of ix yeres vnder this condition notwithstāding that she should renounce al rights of inheritance either by the father or mother namely such as might apperteine to her of the duchy of Millan Britaine That the king should be bounde to ayde the archduke with men ships to go to the kingdome of Spayne after the death of the king Catholike At the request of the king the duke of Gueldres was also named and as some write besides the matters afore rehearsed it was agreed that in bothe their names ioyntly embassadors should be sent to the king of Aragon to require him to publish tharchduke prince of the realmes of Spayne such is the title of him to whom the succession apperteineth That he would render the kingdome of Nauarre absteine from the defence of the duchie of Millan Here it is not to be doubted that both these two Princes making this confederation looked not more to the present cōmoditie that appeared then to thobseruatiō of the same in time to come for what fundation could be layde vpon the mariage that was promised the Lady Renee bearing as yet scarcely foure yeres And how could it please the Frenche king that that damsell should be the wife of tharchduke who her eldest sister being the kings wife had her action prepared vpō the duchy of Britaine for that the Britons desiring once to haue a particular duke at such time as Anne their Duchesse maryed the seconde time agreed that the dukedome should apperteine to the youngest of the children and discendantes of her if the eldest were preferred to the Crowne of Fraunce In like sort the French king treated with the king Catholike to prolong the truce made with his predecessor but to leaue out this condition not to molest the duchie of Millan during the truce he hoped he should afterwards compounde easily with Caesar By which reason he kept in suspence the Venetians who offred to renewe the league made with his predecessor wishing that he were in his liberty to accord with Caesar agaynst them But the king Catholike notwithstanding he stoode still possessed of his desire not to haue warre in the frontiers of Spayne considering how great suspicion the prolongation of the truce might giue to the Svvizzers which mighte also be the cause that the Pope who till then had bene in doubt might turne to the french amity refused at last to prolong the truce but vnder the same conditions it had bene renued with the last king So that the Pope shut out of that hope and lesse exspecting to contract with Caesar agaynst the will and councelles of that king reconfirmed with the Senate of Venice the league in the same fourme it had bene made with his predecessor Nowe there remayned the Pope and the Svvizzers Touching the Svvizzers he required that they woulde admitte his Embassadors but they refused to giue them saffe conduit vsing the same rudenes they had done before And for the Pope vpon whose will depended wholly the Florentyns herequired no other thing of him then that he would kepe him out of all bond to th end that when by the trayne of affaires he should be councelled to resolue it might be in his power to make choice of the better perswading him that he should neuer finde in any either for his owne perticular or for the aduauncement of his house a greater amitie A more assured faith or more honorable condicions After the king had layd these foundacions for his affayres he beganne with great care to leauie prouisions of money and to encrease the bandes of his men at armes to the number of foure thowsand he published that he made those preparacions not of intencion to make warre for that yeare but onely to make head against the Svvyzzers who threatned him to inuade Burgondy or Dauphine if he would not accomplish the couenants made at Dyon in the name of the late king Many beleeued him in the semblāces he made the rather for thexample of the kings of Fraunce who haue alwaies forborne to intangle the first yeare of their raigne with newe warres But that coniecture caried not such impression in the mindes of Caesar and the king of Aragon to whome the kinges youth was suspected and the facilitie he had more then other kinges to commaund all the forces of the kingdom of Fraunce and the loue of his people opening a way and readines to all that he would desire Besides they were not ignorant of the great preparacions that king Lovvys had left the same making demonstracion that seeing he was assured
defence or losse of the Duchie of Millan should be executed onely with the daunger and blood of the Svvizzers who not staying for any impediment or small quantitie of money in prest discended by such heapes and trowpes into the duchie of Millan that their armie there was aboue twentie thousande of whome ten thousande were drawne neare to the mountaynes It was a councell taken amongest them to keepe agaynst the French the strayte passages of those valleys which beeing at the foote of the Alpes that deuide Italie from Fraunce come to open them selues vpon the playnes of Lombardie This councel of the Svvizzers troubled greatly the minde of the king who afore had promised to himselfe an assured victorie by the greatnes of his forces not remēbring that the successe of warre respecteth other considerations then the multitudes of souldiors he had in his armie two thousande fiue hundred launces xxij thousande launceknightes ledde by the duke of Gueldres ten thousande footemen of Peter Nauarre eight thousande Frenchemen and three thousande laborers that were payed according to the rate of the other footemen The king considered with hys capteines that in regarde of the vallour of the Svvizzers it was impossible to driue them from those strayte and strong passages but with a farre greater number And yet considering the nature of those straites so great numbers could not be but hurtfull to the seruice and muche lesse in so litle tyme could they do any thing of consequence and least of all be hable to nourishe any long season so great an army in a contrey so barreine notwithstanding there was continuall traffike of vittels to the mountaynes Amid these difficulties some of the capteines that were of opinion rather to diuert and drawe them away then to set vpon them gaue counsell to sende out eight hundred launces through Prouince and Peter Nauarre by sea with his ten thousande contrey men which should all ioyne together at Sauonne Others were of aduise that to go so farre about were to loase too muche time that it would weaken th armie and increase too muche the reputation of thenemies who woulde not doubt to boast that they had not the corage to encounter with them So that it was resolued that not retyring so muche from that straite they should assay to passe by some other way that eyther was not kept by thenemies or at least not so strongly defended And that Emard de Prio with foure hundred launces and fiue thousande footemen should take the waye to Genes not in hope to drawe them downe from their mountaynes but to make warre vpon Alexandria and the other townes beyonde Pavv There be two wayes in the Alpes that leade ordinarily from Lyons into Italie the one is called Monsane a mountayne within the iurisdiction of the duke of Sauoy it is the shortest way the straightest way and most beaten way The other is called the mounte Geneure within the gouernment of Dauphine a way longer then the other and leades by crookings and turnings to Grenoble both the one and the other falleth into the way of Susa where the playne beginneth to enlarge But the French armies are alwaies wont to passe by the Mount Geneure notwithstanding it be a way somewhat longer because it hath a facilitie of passage more conuenient to draw thartillerie The Svvizzers that were carefull to keepe those two passages the other pathes thereaboutes were lodged at Susa the cause was that the passages which be lower drawing towards the sea were so streate and steepe that it seemed impossible to drawe any artillerie being verye harde to passe thither the horses of so great an armie On the other side Triuulco to whom the king had giuen that charge being followed with very many pyoners and hauing about him men paynefull and experienced to drawe artilleries whom he sent to searche the places that were there went sounding the passages if he could finde libertie of way without impediment of the Svvizzers By which occasion the armie that for the moste parte was dispersed betweene Grenoble and Brianson marched slowely exspecting what should be determined wherevnto there was a constraynt by a necessitie to abyde the prouisions of vittells About this time the king of Englande sent a gentleman to the French king who was nowe departed from Lyons to tell him on the behalfe of his king that he ought not to passe into Italie for feare to trouble the vniuersall peace of Christendome The cause of so great variation and chaunge of that king was that he was ielouse of the alliance betwene Fraunce and the Archduke fearing least the affayres of that Crowne would take a course too happy In which considerations he began afterwards to giue willing eare to thembassadors of the king Catholike who with continuall reasons put into his minde howe hurtefull the greatnes of the Frenche king would be to him in whom he coulde not hope for anye other affection then of an enemie aswell for the naturall hatred of that nation as for his late actions of warre and hostilitie done agaynst him But the thing that most moued him was the emulation and enuy of his glorie which he thought would be raysed to too high degrees if he wonne the victorie in the state of Millan he thought in himselfe that notwithstanding he found his kingdome in rest and very populous for the long peace it had lyued in together with a great masse of treasor which his father had gathered yet he neuer had the corage tyll within certayne yeres to inuade the realme of Fraunce alone and enuironed with so many enemies and broken with so many aduersities That nowe the Frenche king somewhat younger then he was at suche time as he came to the crowne albeit he founde his kingdome ouerwearyed and made poore with so many warres durst yet in the first monethes of his raigne go to an enterprise for the whiche so many princes were banded against him That touching him with all his huge preparations and so many occasions he had not brought into England any other profite then the citie of Tornay and that with expences intollerable and infinite But the Frenche king would returne with great glory into his kingdome bringing with him the conquest of so braue a duchie and would open the waye and happly take the occasion affore he retyred his armie out of Italie to inuade the realme of Naples These were the motions that easily renewed in his minde his auncient and naturall hatred But for that he was not at that time prepared to giue impediment to the Frenche king with armes wherein happly he sought some occasion and cooller he thought good to sende him this message The king nor his armie forbare not for all that to marche taking their waye from Lyon to Dauphine where met with the armie the Launceknightes otherwise called the blacke bandes guided by Robert de la Marche together with all the regimentes of lowe Almains so greatly esteemed for their vallour their
wounds with a pyke Such egearnes of mind remeined in both partes that their bodies being no more hable to manage the weapons which the reuenge of their hartes put into their hands they separated and sell of from the feight both without sounding of trompet commaundement of their Capteines The Svvizzers remeined incamped in the same place exspecting the next sunne or day light neither partie offending the other as if there had bene a secret truce betwene them The Cardinall caused the campe of Svvizzers to be reuittelled from Millan whilest their bodies tooke rest adding such propertie of help as he could being the author of the enterprise And to this first felicity of theirs was ioyned a generall brute throughout all Italie that the Svvizzers had put to slight the armie of the Frenchemen with many other rumors giuen out to discorage the Frenche and confirme their owne side The French king consumed not vnprofitably the residue of the night for knowing the greatnesse of the perill he labored to raunge his artilleries into places conuenient to reassemble his horsemen and put in order his squadrons of launceknights Gascoyns he performed in his owne person all things that could be required of a king of a Capteine of a man of warre and of a minde whose resolucion was greater then thestate of the daunger By this time it was day and at the beginning of the sunne the Svvizzers who did not only despise the French army but also in thopinion of their vallor seemed to dishable the whole forces of Italie knit together recontinued their charge vppon thenemies with the same furie and rashenes they went to it ouer night But they were receiued of the French with greater vallour with better order and with more discression they were subiect to a bloody charge of the horsemen and suffred slaughter both a front and in slanke Besides at the rising of the Sunne came Aluiano whom the king had sent for ouer night bringing with him his light horsemen and the most speediest part of his armie he arriued at such time as the fight was most cloase and furious and all things reduced into greatest trauell and daunger And hauing the residue of his regiment marching to good purpose and time he entred furiously vppon the backes of the Svvyzzers who notwithstanding they mainteyned alwayes the fight with one vallour and resolucion yet seeing the desperat resistance that was made and the Venetian armie that was now ioyned they began so to doubt of the victorie that after the Sunne had shined many howers vpon the earth they sownded the retrait and charging vpon their showlders the artilleries they had brought with them they cast about their squadrons and retyred They obserued their accustomed order in their retyring and so ordered their marche towards Myllan with so great terror and astonishment of the frenche that of the whole armie there was neither horsemen nor footemen that durst breake out to follow them Onely there were two companies of their souldiers who beeing fled into a graunge were burned within the house by the Venetian light horsemen The residue of the armie returned to Myllan not breaking one ioate of their order and reteyning in their apparance and countenance one constant and perpetuall assurance some say that they cloyed fifteene peeces of great artilleries which they wonne at the first charge for that they had no oportunitie to cary them to their campe All men are of opinion that there hath not bene seene in Italy of long time a battell of more furie and greater terror for that what by the desperat vallour with the which the Svvyzzers began the charge and also for the darknes of the night which led all men in errour the order of the whole armie beeing confused and the fight so mixed that there could not be seene or obserued any signe or commaundement All thinges were wholly referred and subiected to fortune The king whose person was not without many and manifest daungers was able to discerne that his preseruacion and safetie came more by his owne vertue and by chaunce then by the succours and ayde of his people from whom he was oftentimes separat sometymes by the confusion of the battell and sometymes by the troubles and obscurities of the night such was the discourse and state of this conflict that Tryuulco A Captaine of great tryall and experience of thinges affirmed that this battell was fought by Gyants and not by men and that eighteene battells wherein he had bene an execucioner were but combats of litle children in comparison of this It is not to be doubted that without the ayde of the artilleries the victorie had not remeyned to the Svvyzzers who entring at the first charge into the fortificacions of the french and recouering from them the most parte of thartilleries had alwayes wonne further into their campe Besides the comming of Aluiano was to great purpose for the french for that comming fresh to the fight when the battell was most doubtfull he redoubled the courage of the french and gaue terror to the Svvyzzers supposing that the whole Venetian armie was with him Touching the number of the deade bodies if euer it was vncerteine in a battell as it hapneth almost alwayes it fell out most vncerteyne in this men speaking diuersly some by passion and some by error some make reckoning offoureteene thowsand Svvyzzers to be slayne some set downe but ten thowsand and others that haue a more moderat iudgement affirme there were but eight thowsand left on the ground yea some woulde haue them reduced to a number of three thousand and all bodies of base place on the french part in the encounter that was giuen ouer night were slayne Frauncis brother to the Duke of Burbon Monsr D'imbercourt the Prince of Tallemount sonne to Monsr Trimouille Monsr de Boysi nephew to the Cardinall of Amboyse the Count of Sancerre Catelarth of Sanoye Bussy of Amboyse and Mouy enseigne bearer to the kings bande All personages of marke either for their noblenesse and greatnes of estates or for the honorable places they managed in the army And touching the general numbers of dead bodies some referre them to six thousand some reckon them to three thousand amōgest whom were certeine Capteines of the launceknightes sundry men making sundry accōpts for the causes and respects aforesayd When the Svvizzers were retired to Millan they fell into great disagreement controuersie some willing to accomplish an accord with the French king others perswading to continue the defense of Millan wherein as there was amongest them partialitie and faction so euerie one had his particular reason and opinion Those Capteines that affore had solicited thaccorde sought nowe a cause lesse dishonest to breake vp requiring money of Maximilian Sforce which they knewe he was not hable to aduaunce But all the bandes of footemen at the perswasion of Rost their Generall departed the day following to returne to their countrey by the way of Coma They left in the
THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRTENTH BOOKE The Duke of Vrbin makes an enterprise to recouer his estate out of the hands of Pope Leo the french king makes a league with the Pope The conspiracie of Cardinall Petrucci against the Pope is discouered Charles king of Spaine is chosen Emperour Martine Luther wryteth against the Pope The Pope puts Iohn Pawle Baillon to death THE THIRTEENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin FOrasmuch as all armes and hostilities were now surceassed betwene Caesar and the Venetians and in the french king all occasiōs restrained to make warre against Caesar or the king Catholike it seemed that to the regions of Italie afflicted with so many calamities and trauells of warre was now appointed a time of rest and tranquillitie wherein these were the reasons that the Svvizzers a mighty instrument to any that sought to innouate and trouble things seemed now reclaimed to their auncient amity with the french king and yet bare no mindes estraunged from other Princes that in thaccord made at Noyon was declared such a hope that to establish a greater alliance betwene the two kings there was working to draw them to an enteruiew at Cambray whether were gone to that end Monsr de Cheures the great Maister of Fraunce and Robertet Lastly there was expressed no lesse readines on the parte of Caesar who besides the rendring of Verona sent two Embassadors to the frenche king to solemnise and confirme the peace so that it was a iudgement accompanied with his iust cause reasons that by the benefit of peace concord betwene so mightie Princes would be dissolued the seedes of all quarrels and disagreements in Italie But as there is no certainty in the councells of mortall men so is there lesse exspectacion of their worldly euentes for men and their doings standing subiect to the law of nature and destiny haue no other libertie then to deeme and debate and to God alone is referred all power of disposicion and execucion since he is able to gouerne and commaund all things by the same power wherewith he hath created them of nothing Insomuch as in this action of Italie either for thinfelicity or destinie of the countrey or for that the vniuersall iurisdiction was deuided into so many seueral principalities and states it was almost impossible that it should suffer any dispensacion of miseries by reason of the diuersity of wills and interests of such as had it in hand for searcely were layd aside armes and hostility betwene Caesar and the Venetians yea the Citie of Verona not yet resigned when were disclosed tokens and beginnings of new tumults And of these was the breeder and conspirator Franciscomaria who had practised and drawne to his faction such bands of Spanishe footemen as had serued both within Verona and affore Verona he perswaded them to follow him to the reconquering of his estates out of the which the Pope had expulsed him the same sommer A matter wherein he found small difficulties for that to souldiours forreiners and marcenary accustomed in the time of warres to sacke townes and to make pray and spoyle of contreys there was nothing more contrary then peace whereunto they saw all the affayres inclinacions of Italy disposed at that instant There drew to him about fiue thowsand spanish footemen whereof was chiefe one Maldonato A man of the same nation and of long experience in many warres And to this regiment was ioyned a strength of eight hundred light horsemen led by Federyk Bossolo Gaiozo a Spanyard Succhar a Burgonion Andrevv Bue Constantyn Boccalo Albanoesies al Capteines of name marke especially estemed for their knowledge in warres Amongest them he that bare the greatest reputacion whether it were for the noblenes of his house or for the honorable degrees in warre which he had borne from his youth was Federyk Gonsagno Lord of Bossolo who happly was one of the greatest parties to perswade this enterprise being no lesse moued by an ambicion to make greater his merits prayses by newe warres concurring also thamity which he had with Francisco Maria then through an auncient setled hatred which he bare to Lavvrence de Medicis chiefly for that at such time as was transferred to Lavvrence the charge of all the armies of the Church the Florentyns by reason of the sicknes of Iulian his Vncle he had denied to make him Capteine generall of the footemen an estate which Iulian had assigned to him affore This army standing only vpon bodies numbers was lame in all other proporcions prouisions for they had neither resort of money assistance of artilleries nor any strengh of municions except their horses and armor they wanted all furnitures accustomed to followe armies Onely they bare estimation more by their vertue then through any other abilitie or meanes to susteine the warre They departed to go to the state of Vrbyn the same day that the citie of Verona was giuen vppe to the Venetians A matter which troubled not a litle the Pope after he had receiued aduertisement for he considered the qualitie of tharmy which was to be feared both for the hatred of the Capteines vertue reputacion of the spanish footemen And he was not ignorant with what inclinacion the peoples of that Duchie fauored Francisco Maria hauing long liued vnder the easie gouernment of the house of Montfeltro the affection whereof they had transferred to him as to one that had bene trained nourished in that Duchie bred of a sister of the Duke Guido Besides it greeued him not a litle that he was to menteine warre against an armie which hauing nothing to lose could leaue no reward to his victory And marching onely vpon desire of pray and pillage drew with them a miserable exspectacion of profit bringing nothing to the warre but what they hoped to get by the chaunce and fortune of the warre he doubted also least the sweete desire of gayne which for the most parte carieth marcenory souldiours to the fight would draw such others to ioyne to their faction as by the meane of the peace were vtterly excluded from action But the matter that moste troubled his minde was a fearefull suspicion that the French king did communicat in this conspiracie for bothe he knewe that the king was displeased with the warre made against Francisco Maria and was no lesse touched in his conscience with the consideracion of causes that he had giuen him to be ill contented of him he knewe also he had not obserued the confederacion made after the conquest of Myllan at the tyme when Caesar discended into Lombardye he considered that after he was returned to Rome he sent him a bul touching the collacion of benefices in the Realme of Fraunce and Myllan muche different from the conuencion made at Bolognia which for the shortnesse of the time was not then subsigned This Bull the king would not accept both for that it bare contradiction agaynst the agreement and also
for the interest of his proper dignitie he remembred the secrete negociations interteyned agaynst him with other Princes and with the Svvizzers he was not ignoraunt that a litle before pushed on by a desire directly to hinder the recouery of Verona he had suffred the regimentes of Spanishe footemen comming from Naples to the reskew of it to passe in seuerall trowpes through the dominions of the Churche excusing himselfe that he would not giue them occasion to passe in one ioynt strength beeing in that case not hable to stoppe them Lastely he founde in his conscience that he had not performed his promises touching the donation of the tenthes but vnder conditions suttle and intangled nor had obserued the rendring of the townes to the Duke of Ferrara abusing the kings exspectation and his owne fidelitie These were right iust causes to make him doubt of the kings will whereof also his suspicions made him seeme to see certayne tokens for that this conspiracie and leauie of men being bred in the partes of Verona it could not be that Monsr de Lavvtrech coulde be without knowledge of it many dayes before and seeing he was secret and silent in it it was a manyfest presumption of his priuitie and consent To this also was added a ielousie of Federike Bossolo hauing till then followed the paye of the king and it was doubtful whether that was true that Monsr de Lavvtrech alleaged for his excuse that the time of his enterteinment was finished Moreouer the Pope stoode doubtfull of thinclination of the Venetians hauing an opinion that their Cōmissioners had made them selues parties to this vnion for that the Senate stoode verye muche discontented with him aswell in regarde of things paste as for iclousie of his present greatnes which was suche that being successor of so great a power and reputation of a Popedome he disposed absolutely at his deuotion the whole estate of the Florentins These considerations brought no small amaze to the Pope to whom also was no lesse reason of exspectation or hope in the confidence or alliance with other Princes for that besides that they were of newe reconciled and confedered with the French king not one of them helde for acceptable his maner of proceeding with secrete councells and suttleties wherein albeit he dissembled sometimes to incline on their side yet what betweene the detections that burst out agaynst him the slow execution of his intentions and promises he gaue little or none satisfaction to any of them yea disclosing oftentimes a manyfest doubt agaynst them all he had dispatched a little before to the king Catholike Freare Nicholao an Almain and secretorie to the Cardinall Medicis to drawe him from thenteruiew and parley whiche was solicited with the French king fearing a contract of greater alliance betweene them to his preiudice Thus the Pope waued indifferently betwene doubt dread betwene feare and suspicion exspecting all things to happen to him which his tymerous conscience did suggest or fashion the same being a passion that oftentymes tormentes the myndes of yll men agaynst whom Salomon pronounceth this vexation that what so euer their guyltie mindes do feare in yll the same shall assuredly happen vnto them Neuerthelesse amidde these confusions and suspensions of minde he and his nephew Lavvrence ceassed not to sende bandes of souldiors into Romagnia suche as for the most parte were leauyed of newe and the residue drawne out of the squadrons of the Florentins pensioners his reason was in sending out of this force that ioyning with Ranso de Cero and Vitelli who laye at Rauenna with the regimentes of men at armes they might giue impediment to the passage of thenemies But this expedition was in vayne and theffect thereof for that th armie of thenemie hauing already passed the ryuer of Pavv at Ostia and preuenting with their celeritie the preparations of their aduersaries were by that time entred vpon the landes of the duke of Ferrara taking the waye to Cento and Burio and marching thorowe the countrey of Bolognia In this iourney they sacked Granarola which is borowe vpon the territories of Fauentia and from thence they drewe neare to Faenza to proue if they could conspire any mutation there by the helpe of a young gentleman of the familie of Mansroy who was in that armie But the inhabitauntes of Faenza disauowing al mutinies the armie passed further not trying to get any other of the townes of Romagnia for that they were all strong in garrison eyther of men at armes or of footemen and for the better suretie of Rimini Ranso Vitellt were gone thither by sea Lavvrence came to Cesena to assemble his companies there and at Rimini but for that thenemies were already passed he ceassed not in the meane while to leauie souldiors in many places whereof there flocked to him both more then he needed and more then he required for a regiment of two thousande fiue hundred launceknights that were dismissed by Monsr de Lavvtrech to returne into their houses and likewise certaine colonels of iij. thousand Gascons were reteyned by Iohn Poppy secretory to Lavvrence wherin he vsed his owne authoritie being perswaded that that army of footemen would folowe Francisco Maria if they were not waged by others or happly he beleeued lightly that with these forces there might be opened an easie waye to the victorie In this action he imployed also thauthoritie of Monsr Lavvtrech with whom he had remayned many monethes to perswade the Capteines whom with their seuerall bandes and regimentes he conuerted immediatly towardes Bolognia But his diligence brought foorth an effect contrarie to his exspectation and the merite of his trauell since the Pope and Lavvrence were discontented with that maner of doing suspecting the kings indignation and yet they could not refuse them for feare least they would ioyne to thenemie being marched so farre with mindes and promises to be imployed In the meane while Francisco Maria aduaunced more and more accompanying his fortune with that diligence and celeritie which leades men of action to the successe and felicitie of thenterprises they followe he was no sooner entred into the Duchie of Vrbin then he was receyued in euery place with great ioye and gladnesse he founde no souldiors in the townes for that Lavvrence hauing no leysure to refurnishe so many places had onely care to defende the Citie of Vrbin the sanctuarie and capitall place of that Duchie And for that cause was sent thither by the counsell of Vitelly a strength of two thousande footemen from Citta di Castello and in place of Vitelly that refused to go to that seruice that charge was committed to Iacques Rossetto of Citta di Castello who notwithstanding he was aduised by reason the people of Vrbin were holden suspected to chase out of the towne all suche bodies as were vnhable to beare armes yet he forbare to execute any suche violence thinking he should better assure himselfe by clemencie then by crueltie But Francisco Maria not conuerting his time
substanciall With these impressions and with these accidentes ended the yere a thousande fiue hundred and eightene and as the Electors had not yet resolued and established the deliberation so it was made both more doubtfull and full of difficulties by the death of Caesar which happened in the first beginning of the yere following he dyed at Liuz a towne vpon the marches of Austriche where he remayned for the delight and pleasure in hunting the wilde Boare and other chases of the fielde He liued alwayes vnder one condition of fortune who many times fauored him in offring him many fayre occasions and as often wrought agaynst him in not suffering him to take the fruite and effect of them He was by nature inconstant and remouable and had conceites and impressions very yll disposed and different from the iudgement of other men ioyned to an excessiue prodigalitie and dissipacion of money Matters which cut off from him theffects and successe of al occasions being otherwise a prince most perfect and instructed in the ordering of warre secrete to laye and dispose a plotte diligent to followe it of body hable and suffring of minde affable and easie and replenished with many other excellent giftes and ornaments Assone as he was dead the French king and the king of Spayne began manifestly to aspire to thempire the purchase whereof albeit was a matter of right great importance and no lesse the emulacion ronning betwene two so mighty Princes yet they ordered their ambicion with great modestie neyther vsing wordes of iniurie nor threates of armes but eyther one laboring by his authoritie and by his meanes to drawe on his side the Electors The Frenche king sundry times reasoned touching thelection with great comelynesse with the Spanishe Embassadors to whome he sayde it was a matter both agreable and conuenient that eyther of them seuerally should seke by honest meanes to encrease the honor of his house by so great a dignitie which for that in tymes before had bene transferred into the famulies of their predecessors there was now the lesse occasion to breede betwene them two matter of iniurie nor diminution of their amitie and goodwill But rather he wished that in the action of thempire they might followe thexample and order of two young louers who albeit they followe the quest of one Lady and eyther one laboreth by his industrie to cary her yet they forbeare to come to contention The king of Spayne alluded with good right that thempire apperteined to him as hauing continued by a long succession of time in the house of Austriche and that it had not bene the custome of the Electors to depriue the issue of themperour without manifest cause of their dishabilitie neither was there any in Germanie of that puissance and authoritie to make him equall to stande competitor with him in that election And east of all did he holde it iuste or likely that the Electors would transport to a forreine or straunge Prince so great a dignitie continued by so many ages in the nation of Germanie And albeit some particuler amongst them eyther through the insinuation of money or other propertie of corruption might be allured to an other intention yet he hoped to stoppe him with force prepared in time conuenient not douting also but the other Electors would oppose agaynst him and the princes and free townes of Germanie would not endure so vniuersall an infamie specially to suffer it to be layde vpon the person of the French king which would be no other thing then to make great the puissance of a king enemie to their nation and from whome there was no surety that th imperiall dignitie would euer returne into Germanie he thought it would be an action easie to obteine and reduce to perfection that which had bene solicited by his grandfather who had already compounded for recompenses and donations and other diuidentes for euery of the Electors On the other side the desire of the French king was as great and no lesse were his hopes whiche tooke their principall fundation vpon an opinion he had to corrupt the voyces of the Electors with his huge summes of mony especially for that there were amongst them both pensionaries to him and otherwise assured by many good offices who incouraging him with the facilitie of thenterprise pushed him on to embrace it And for his parte as mortall men are apt to beleeue the thing they desire so he norished that hope with reasons rather apparant then true he knewe that commonly it was a matter grieuous to the Princes of Germanie to haue themperours mightie being ielouse that in so great a puissance they would not eyther in part or in all quarrell the iurisdictions and authorities imperiall occupied by many of them In which reason he perswaded himselfe that they would in no sort consent to thelection of the Spaniard and so of them selues to subiect themselues to an Emperor more mightie then had bene since a long discent and race of Emperours A matter which in his person seemed to be qualified for that hauing neyther estates nor auncient alliances in Germanie they had no occasion of suspicion of his greatnes The same reason also made him beleue wel of the cōformitie of the free townes in whō much lesse that the regarde of the glorie of the nation would carie it from him seeing it would helpe to peize the ballance on his side for that with moste men the mocions of proper and priuate interest may do more then the respect of publike and generall profite He knewe it was not a little greeuous to many noble houses of Germanie pretending to be capable of suche a dignitie to see thempire continue so long time in one house but muche more did it discontent them to suffer that so great an estate which of right ought sometimes to be giuen to one of them and sometimes to passe to an other should become a perpetuall discent and succession in one line In so muche as they might call inheritance and succession that election whiche durst not leaue the lyne of themperours That in that sort thempire was translated from Albert d'Austriche to Federike his brother and from Federike to Maximilian his sonne and nowe there was deuise to passe it from Maximilian to the person of Charles his grandchilde By these humors and indignations of the Princes of Germanie he tooke hope that the discordes and ielousies amongest themselues mighte helpe on his cause the rather for that it often happneth in the contentions of men that he that is excluded or the partie whom he fauoreth ronneth with a naturall rashnes rather to call in and aduaunce a thirde then to giue place to him that hath opposed agaynst his intention Moreouer the Frenche king was not without hys hopes in the fauor of the Pope both in regarde of thamitie and alliance newly past betwene them and also for that he was not ignorant howe inconuenient it woulde be to the sea Apostolike to haue th imperiall Crowne
a power in the person of one onely prince whose youth and other apparances made showe of great effectes of ambicion in him besides that there was promised and prophesied vpon him by many predictions a right great large empire together with many worldly fortunes and felicities And albeit he was not so riche in treasor and money as was the French king yet it was noted in him a matter of right great importance to be hable to furnishe his armies with footemen of Svvizzers Germains and Spaniards people for their vallour of great glorie and reputation through the world A matter wherein he had a singular aduantage of the French king who for that he had not in his kingdome a strength of footmen to oppose agaynst the vertue of these had no meane to make strong warre but by drawing with great expences and intollerable difficulties bandes of footemen out of forreine contreis A necessity which cōstrained him to enterteine with great charge and diligence the nation of Svvizzers and to endure of them many iniuries and yet he neuer stoode fully assured neyther of their constancie nor of their fidelitie Moreouer it was not to be doubted that betwene these two Princes of equall youth and ambicion and hauing indifferent reasons and occasions of ielousie and contencion would not in the ende arise a great and daungerous warre for the French king was not without a burning desire to recouer the kingdome of Naples to the whiche he aspired and pretended iust title and he tooke greatly to hart the restoring of king Iohn to the realme of Nauarre touching the which he nowe discerned that he had bene fed with vaine hopes It troubled the Emperour to pay the hundred thousande duckets promised in the accord of Noyon and he interpreted agaynst the king that in reiecting thaccord made before at Paris and vsing immoderatly thoccasion when he was to passe into Spayne he had almost forced him to make a new accorde Besides the cause of the duke of Gueldres was greene and fresh betwene them A matter of it selfe without any other concurrancie sufficient to stirre them vp to warre armes for that as the French king on the one side had taken him into his protection so on the otherside he was holden by the people of Flaunders a seuere and bitter enemie But aboue all other quarrels the Duchie of Burgondie wrought in the mind of themperour no small emulacion which duchie being possessed by Levvis the eleuenth by reason of the death of Charles duke of Burgondie grandfather by the mothers side to themperours father hath euer since tormented the minds of his successors Lastly there wanted no matter or occasions of strife and warre for the duchie of Millan of which the king raigning had not since the death of Levvis the twelfth neither demaunded nor obteined the inuestiture Besides there was pretended to the rightes which had bene gotten to him by the inuestiture which had bene made to his predecessor many chalenges exceptions aswell touching the inualiditie as the losse of those rights which was matter sufficient to stirre them vp to quarrell Neuerthelesse neither the time ronning nor the oportunitie present which are the guiders of actions consented as then that they should enter into any innouacion for besides that themperour of necessitie was to repasse first into Germanie to receiue at Aix the crown of thempire according to the custome of those that are elected yet they were either of them so puissant mightie in their particular that the difficultie to offend one another kept them restrayned from all inuasion vntill they had perfect informacion of the intencion disposicion of other Princes but specially of the Pope in case the warre were to begin in Italie his intencions inclinacion were so obscured couered with artificial faire semblāces that much lesse that they were knowen to others seing happly at sometimes they held no resolucion in himself notwithstāding he had dispēsed with Charles for thacceptatiō of thelection made in his person contrarie to the tenor of thinuestiture of the realme of Naples wherin being made according to the auncient forme of inuestitures he was expresly forbidden suche a matter But what soeuer he did in that action proceded not so much of good will as for that he had no occasion to refuse it to him without offending him greatly So that the regions of Italie for these reasons stoode in good estate of peace and tranquilitie notwithstāding in the end of the same yere the Pope sought to possesse the citie of Ferrara not with manifest armes but by secret ambush and deuise for albeit it might haue bene beleeued that for the death of his Nephewe Lavvrence de Medicis especially for that there wanted in his house rather men then estates he would haue shaked of all thoughtes ambicion to occupie Ferrara to the which he had alwayes aspired before yet whether he was pushed on by a hatred conceiued agaynst that Duke or by a desire to make himselfe equal or at least to come as neare as he could to the glory of Iulio he had not neither for the death of his brother nor for the losing of his nephew diminished any part of that burning ambiciō by which experience it maye be easily discerned that the ambicion of Priestes taketh of nothing so great norriture as of it selfe But the qualitie of the time and the situacion and fortresse of that Citie whiche Alfonso with great diligence had reduced to good rampiers fortifications would not agree that he should make his enterprise with forces open and discouered seing withal he had prouided an infinit quantity of faire artilleries municions improuing to thuttermost his reuenues limiting al his exspences imposing newe raxacions and tributes and lastely expressing in all things the minde of a marchant more then of a prince it was beleeued he had gathered together a huge masse of money and treasor In so much that if the condicions of the time changed not there remayned to the Pope no other hope to cary it then by the way of secret conspiracie and practise wherof as he had in vayne made experience in times past with Nicho. d'Este and many others And Alfonso for that he knewe not that he followed any more those practises helde himselfe almost assured not of his will but of his conspiracies and ambushes So it seemed to the Pope for the meanes that were offred to him and for that Alfonso by thoppression of a long maladie was reduced to those desperate tearmes that there was almost no hope of his recouerie and withall for that his brother the Cardinall because he would not remayne in the Court of Rome with disgrace was gone into Hungrie that the time consented to execute some plot layde and preferred by some exiles of Ferrara and by their working by Alexander Fregoso Bishop of Vintemille who was then at Bolognia for that aspiring to be Duke as his father the Cardinall had
Spaine all the peoples of any prouince whatsoeuer gathered into commocion not against their king as they protested but to suppresse the couetousnes of his wicked gouernors And after they had communicated together their councels they would no more obey the kings Officers but of them selues set downe a forme of gouernment dressed by the vniuersall councell of the multitude which they called La santa giunta such is the name they giue to the vniuersall councell of the popular sort The Capteines and kings Officers tooke armes against them and so thinges being reduced to a manifest warre the disorders encreased by so many degrees that thEmprour held amongest them a very small authoritie The same being the cause that aswell in Italy as out of Italie the hope of those encreased who desired the diminucion of suche a greatnes Neuerthelesse as his armie by sea had wonne vpon the Moares the I le of Gerbes so in Germanie the reputacion of the frenche king had bene somewhat embased for the king to nourrish the troubles of Germanie fauored in that prouince the Duke of VVittemberg who was disagreeing from the league of Suaue which thing his peoples finding and feeling to their damage and harme they chassed him by force out of his estate and after they had wonne his liuing vpon him they sold it to thEmperour whom they knew to be desirous to pull downe the factioners of the frenche king thEmperour bounde him selfe to defende them in all oppressions whatsoeuer insomuch as the Duke seeing him selfe reduced to hope in the succours of the frenche was constrained to haue his recourse to the clemencie of thEmperour and to receiue of him such lawes as was his pleasure to assigne not being for all that restored to the possession of his Dukedom Towards the end of this yeare a regiment of three thowsand spanishe footemen hauing no mindes to returne into Spaine according to a cōmaundment which they receiued of thEmperour and litle esteeming thauthority of their Capteynes passed to Reggia in Calabria And from thence committing many insolencies as they past they drew towards the territories of the Church A matter which put the Pope in whose minde was fixed the memorie of thaccidents of Vrbin in great feare least being either stirred vp by other Princes or ioyning them selues with Franciscomaria or with the sonnes of Iohn Pavvle Baillon or some other enemies of the Churche they were not the cause of some great emocion This feare was made greater in the Pope for that the souldiers refused the offers made to them by him the Viceroy of Naples to enterteyne parte of them in paye and to distribute money to the residue But these offers raised them so much the more into corage made them to march towards the riuer of Tronto not keeping the straite way of Capinai but spreading ouer the large way of Povvilla The resorte of other souldiers ioyning with them daily together with certeine companies of horsemen encreased more more the humor of this feare In men timerous feare is a readie impression and for the time carieth the minde in contemplacions of perill and daunger Neuerthelesse this emocion tooke ende both with more expedicion and more facilitie then was exspected since assoone as they had passed Tronto to enter into the marke of Ancona whether the Pope had sent strength of souldiers incamping before Ripatransono they were compelled to retire for the great losse of men they had susteined in a fierce assault they gaue to the souldiers within Ripatransono an accident so preiudiciall to their vallour and reputacion that they accepted willingly of thEmperours officers condicions of farre lesser quality then such as they hadreiected before The ende of the thirtenth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE FOVRETENTH BOOKE POPE Leo is the cause that the peace continueth not in Italy He ioyneth in league with thEmprour against the French king The French king loseth the ` Duchie of Myllan Pope Leo dyeth Adrian the sixt is created Pope Frauncis Sforce reentreth vppon the Duchie of Myllan VVarre is made in Tuskane by Ranse de Cere THE FOVRETEENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin ABout the beginning of the yeare 1521. was reappeased that former litle stirre touching the which mens mindes suffered more feare by a freshe recordacion and memorie of those bands of spanish footemen that inuaded the state of Vrbin then for any other cause bearing either reason likelihood or probabilitie of terrour But as one warre draweth on an other like to diseases that redouble in bodies il disposed so not many moneths after Italy began eftsoones to be vexed with warres of greater perill of longer continuance and of more importance then were all the other quarrells that had passed affore Wherein the ambicion of two most mighty kings puffed vp with mutuall ielowsies hatreds and deepe suspicions drew them on to make exercise of all their power and forces in the partes and bowels of Italy which hauing skarcely breathed three yeres in peace and yet alwayes full of doubt and suspicion it seemed that in the powers of heauen destinye and fortune was layed vp either a manifest enuie of their tranquillitie or els a supersticious feare that vnder the benefit of rest and concorde those regions woulde eftsoones returne to their auncient felicitie and greatnes Such personages were the beginners of these new emotions as albeit they had farre more interest then all others to procure the preseruacion of the peace yet generally and seuerally they troubled it more then any others and by their industrie authoritie sought to kindle the fire which they ought to haue quenched with their propper blood if other remedies had not sufficed For notwithstanding the hard moodes and inclinacions betwene Caesar and the French king grew increasing continually yet there was no cause at all to push them on so fast to make present warre neither did the one so farre exceede the other in Italy either with force or friendes or any other propertie of ayde that they were able to offend one an other without the fauors oportunities and meanes of the Italian Princes for that as the French king had noreason to feare any vexacion of Caesar neither touching the kingdom of Naples nor for any quarrel of Germany both hauing the Venetians conioyned with him for the defense of Myllan and in the Svvizzers remayning no more readynes to make warres in their owne names but stoode only disposed to serue as souldiors to who so euer would minister paye to them so also he had no meane to offende Caesar in the realme of Naples vnlesse the Pope were concurrant with him in the action who stoode solicited by them both by many offers and meanes to be their friende In so muche as it was beleeued that if the Pope continuing indifferent betweene them were carefull to temper and raunge with his high authoritie and fidelitie of a newter their disdaynes and quarrells and to cut of and stop the passage of their troublesome
get Ferrara In these times and in very good season for those practises the french king no lesse taking thoccasion of the tumultes of Spaine then obseruing the perswasions of the Pope which he afterwards assured by complaintes sent out an army into the kingdom of Nauarre vnder Monsr d'Asperot brother to Lavvtrech to raunge that kingdom reduce it to his auncient king requiring at the same instant Robert de la Marche and the Duke of Gueldres to breake out and vexe the confyns of Flaunders The sedicions of Spaine were the cause that Monsr d'Asperot made an easie conquest of the kingdom of Nauarre both beeing destitute of succours and also not without a great memory and deuocion to their originall and auncient king for after he had forced with his artilleries the castel of Pampeluna he entred the frontyers of the kingdom of Catelognia and tooke Fontarabye ronning vp euen to Logrogma of this enterprise it hapned as oftentimes commeth to passe in humane thinges that that which men thought would haue brought preiudice and harme to Caesar turned greatly to his seruice and benefit for the matters of Spaine beeing trauelled till that time with diuers aduentures and fortunes were nowe reduced into very great perplexities and troubles for that on the one side the multitude and popular sorte were bandyd together and on the other side many Nobles and Barons had taken armes for the seruice of Caesar They for thinterest of their estates feared the popular libertie being nowe come to a manifest rebellion and the rather to haue it gouerned by a head of authoritie they had drawne out of the castell of Sciatyua the Duke of Calabria whose fidelitie made him refuse to come out of prison because he woulde not beare armes against Caesar But such is the affection and conscience of men towards their naturall contrey and such the perpetuall custome of contrey men when they see inuasions made by forreine forces that ciuill quarrells can not take from them the feeling of common and forreine daungers for when the Spanyards sawe the armies of Fraunce make slaughter and hostilitie vpon their contrey notwithstanding they had suffered the losse of the Realme of Nauarre beeing a member of their dominions by the vniting which the king Catholike made they felt them selues so touched in conscience and affection that partly for those regards and partly for a happy encownter which the armie of Caesar had made they became men conuerted and returned to the obedience of their king leauing suppressed and forgotten their domesticall hatreds contencions After this easie conquest of the Realme of Nauarre there happened to the king a farre greater successe if he could haue vsed thoccasion for as both he Caesar had their Embassadors with the Svvizzers soliciting seuerally that nation to stand with them so the Cantons did not onely refuse contrary to thopinion of many and against the hope that was giuen the friendship and offers of Caesar but also embrased thallyance of the French king binding them selues to furnish for his seruice so many footemen as he would and for what enterprise it pleased him and not to suffer any leauies of souldiers for any other against him There rested the execucion of the capitulacion made at Rome betwene the Pope and the king who when he was required to ratifie it began to temporise and dwell in suspense being aduertised by many that there was no exspectacion of sewertie in the Pope in whom was no opinion of fidelity and confidence and who since he was possessed of the dignitie and place of Pope had alwayes made declaration of small friendship towards the french That it was to be feared that his doings were intangled with suttletie and deceite since there was no congruencie of reason that the Pope should desire the diuoluing of the realme of Naples into his power or to th inheritance of his sonne for that by howe muche more iurisdiction the french should haue in the kingdom of Naples and the Duchie of Myllan by so much lesse would be the sewertie of the Pope amid a power so mighty and redowted That so greate a showe of amitie breaking out vpon suche a sodayne could not be without misterie That the tokens of deceite that appeared warned him to take heede that vnder the practise to conquer the kingdome of Naples he fell not into the snares layde for him to loase the Duchie of Millan for that to sende his armie into Naples was none other thing then to giue power and oportunitie to the Pope with his sixe thousande Svvizzers to breake it and put all to extreame hazarde which beeing ouerthrowen there remayned no defence for the duchy of Millan An estate which as he knew the Pope had fayled to take from him by armes and warre so it was to be feared that he would assaye to depriue him of it by trecherie deceit These reasons so wrought with the king that they made him doubtfull to ratifie the capitulation and therfore exspecting happly an aunswere of some other practises he sent no dispatche of the ratificacion to Rome but left the Popes embassadors in suspēce But for that the Pope eyther in deede notwithstanding his showes semblances had his mind estranged from the king or for that all the tearmes and dates to answere being past he began to suspect a truthe or happly for that he feared least the king woulde discouer to Caesar his practises so some alliance to passe betwene them to his preiudice or it might be he was pushed on by a vehement ambicion to recouer Parma Plaisanca and to do some thing worthy of memory or lastly perhaps he might take to displeasure thinsolencie of Monsr de Lavvtrech and the Bishop of Tarba his minister who contemning his commaundementes in thestate of Millan and reiecting some ecclesiasticall edictes disdayned him with very prowde and insolent words for some of these causes he determined to enter league agaynst the French king with Caesar who also for his parte beeing kindled for the warre of Nauarre and pushed on by many of thexiles of Millan and lastly induced by some of his counsell desiring to embase the greatnes of Monsr de Cheures who had alwayes perswaded him not to seperate him selfe from the French king resolued to ioyne confederacion with the Pope agaynst the king which he was thought to hasten the more vnder a hope that with the Popes authoritie his owne he should eyther diminish or dissolue the alliance made with the Svvizzers affore it were confirmed by bondes and other offices of gratification Moreouer the Pope tooke greater occasion of confidence in this that Caesar who had heard Martin Luther in the Parliament of VVormes whither he was come vnder his safconduit and hauing passed him to be examined by many diuines who made report that his doctrine was erroneous dangerous for Christendome had banished him to gratify the Pope Only at last there was cōtracted betwene Caesar the Pope a
They went in three remouings of campe through the landes of the Venetians to Orchiueche a towne of their obedience making this excuse to the Senate that it was a passage necessarie and that they had no intencion or desire to offende them In the same sorte was it excused to them when Andrevve Gritty their Agent was constrayned to consent to Monsr Lavvtrech to sende artilleries to Pontvvyke At Orchiâ—eche arriued certeyne Corryers sent by the Lordes of the Cantons to commaunde the Svvyzzers to departe from the armie sending also the like commaundement by other poastes to the bandes that were in the frenche campe to whome was alleaged that it was a thinge vnworthie the reputacion of their name and countrey to suffer the footemen of their nation to serue vnder publike enseignes in the armies of two ennemies But these commaundementes brought foorth diuerse effectes for the poastes that were dispatched to the campe of the league were by comminge stayed in the waye so that they came not so farre as to those bandes that were with the Cardinall of Syon And touching the companies that followed the french campe they dismissed them selues immediatly without bidding farewell not that they were moued by the commaundementes that were sent and much lesse for the longnes of the warre wherin they are wont to be most impacient aboue all other nations But they saw into the dishability of Monsr de Lavvtrech to aunswer their payes who as he had of long time receiued no money out of Fraunce so tâ—extreame exactions which he leauied vpon the Duchie of Millan were farre insufficient to satisfie his charge Here may be gathered a fitte experience how muche the enuie and indiscression of officers bringes preiudice and domage to Princes who either through negligence haue no employment in affaires or else by incapacitie are not hable of them selues to discerne good councells from euill for where direction was giuen for the leauying of three hundred thowsande crownes to be sent to Lavvtrech according to the kings promise The Ladie Regent being the kings mother bare so great emulacion to his greatnes that vsing her enuie against the profit of her sonne she procured the Treasorers and Receiuers without the kinges priuitie to turne that summe to an other vse The same being the cause that Monsr Lavvtrech suffered him selfe to runne into confusion and priuate griefe since by the departing of the Svvizzers the successe of the warres which affore he promised to be good happy was become full of doutes and dispaire And therefore forbeating to contend against enuy fortune and the time he bestowed garrisons in Cremona Pisqueton and reduced him selfe with the residue of th armie to Cassan hoping to giue impediment to thennemies to passe Adda both in respect of thordinary difficulties which follow armies that are to passe riuers when there stands resistance vpon the shoare opposit and also for thoportunity of the place bearing his banke towardes Millan verie high and raised therfore the offence is greater that is done to the ennemies with thartilleries then that which they can receiue On the other side the Legats Apostolike and the Capteines were broken vp from Orchiueche and passing eftsoones the riuer of Oglio were come in three remouinges to Riuolco not feeling any more thincommoditie of vittells for that they were plentifully relieued by the townes of Guiaradadde which the frenchemen had left abandoned At this place as both the armies were vppon tearmes th one to winne and the other to stoppe the passage of the riuer Prospero and the other Capteynes made preparacion to build a bridge betwene Riuolco and Cassan a matter very doutfull and hard for the stopping of the ennemies Wherein hauing consumed two or three dayes in controuersies and councells at last Prospero who would not communicate his thoughtes with the Marquis of Pisquairo to th ende he should haue no interest in the glory of that action and much lesse would vse the seruice of the Spanyards least they would disclose his deuise caused secretly to be taken from the riuer of Bembo two small barkes and sent by night with great silence certeine bandes of Italian footemen to passe the riuer right against the towne of Vaury Vaury is a towne open discouered and without walls and hath his scituacion vppon the bankes of Adda fiue myles from Cassan There is conuenient passage ouer the riuer and in the middest of the towne is there a small circuit of wall raised in forme of a litle castell There were for the gard of this place certeine bandes of horsemen vnder the charge of Hugh de Popoly Lieutenaunt to the men at armes which the frenche king had giuen to Octauian Fregosa vppon the hearing of the noyse that was made he presented him selfe vppon the banke or shoare from the which he was presently repulsed with force of shot and yet it was thought that he might easely haue mainteined resista nce if a certeine trowpe of harguebuziers had ioyned with those horsemen which he had with him a matter which afterwardes he sayd he did require of Monsr Lavvtrech As the footemen passed in trowpes and numbers so they assembled and drewe into strength in a place within the towne raised and somewhat fortified exspecting there the succours which Prospero had appointed who assoone as he was aduertised of that happie beginninge caused to be turned that waye almost all the footebandes of the armie bestowed in diuerse boroughes of Guiaradadde to whome he gaue this order that as they arriued they should passe successiuely vpon the same small barkes and vppon two others that were appointed to follow th armie to serue for bridges ouer riuers which by night were caried ouerlande to the same banke or shoare Then he and the other Captaines with the Cardinall Medicis tooke foorth with the same way leauing this commaundement to such as taried at Riuolto that if the frenchemen retyred from thence they shoulde immediatly sette vp the bridge But at Vaury the successe of thenterprise was vncerteine for certeine howers for if Monsr Lavvtrech vppon his first aduertisement of the passing of his enemies had conuerted thither one parte of th armie he had no dout giuen them the ouerthrowe But after he had spent certeine howers in dout what he had to doe he dispatched thither Monsr d'Escud with foure hundred launces and the bands of the frenche footemen causing to be drawne afterwardes certeine peeces of artilleries Monsr d'Escud and his regiments marched thither in great diligence and beganne verie resolutely to charge the place where thenemies were retyred euen at the same time that the succours which were exspected appeared vppon the other shoare For whose comming together with the hope that they brought thenemies made a valliant defense notwithstanding that Monsr d'Escud discended on foote with all his men at armes and made so resolute a fight in the straightes of the streetes that if thartilleries had come in time his vallour no dout had giuen them the ouerthrowe But
farre from Parma when Federike departed was called in by an vniuersall consent of the people and made his entrie The Capteines and Assistantes of the League deuised howe to recouer the residue of the estate vnder this foundacion to make no more so greate expences And accordingly they dispatched from Millan at the same tyme the Marquis of Pisquairo with his bandes of Spaniardes and the Launceknightes and Grisons to laye siege to Coma In whiche enterprise in maye be doubted whether was more forwarde his desire or his fortune for he had no sooner begonne to enforce the terrour of his artilleries then the defendantes dispayring of reskew agreed to render vp the place vnder condicion of sauetie of life and goods aswell to the Frenche bandes as to thinhabitantes of the towne And yet when the Frenche men were vppon their departure the Spaniardes made their entrie and sacked it to the greate infamie of the Marquis who beeing afterwardes accused of fayth breaking by Iohn Chabannes chiefe of the Frenche bandes within Coma was by him defyed and chalenged to the combat At the same instant they of the League sent the Bishop of Verula to the Svvizzers to assure them of their willes neuerthelesse assoone as he was come to Belinsone they committed hym to warde for that standing yll contented that their regimentes of footemen had marched agaynst the French king they did not onely complayne of the Cardinall of Syon and the Pope but also of all their ministers and officers But chiefly they inueyed agaynst the Bishoppe of Verula for that being the Popes Nuncio with them at suche tyme as they leauyed their men he laboured to induce them to goe agaynst thexception vnder the which they had bene accorded The estate and affayres of the warre was reduced into these tearmes with a wonderfull hope in the Pope and Caesar to confirme the victorie bothe for that the French king had no meane to dispatche with expedicion newe companies into Italie and also for them selues they thought the power of those who had wonne Millan vpon him with the moste parte of the Duchie was sufficient not onely to preserue it but also to runne through all the residue that remayned in the handes of thenemie Yea suche a thing is terrour that the Senate of Venice fearing least the warre begonne agaynst others would not fall vpon them gaue hope to the Pope to cause the French bandes to depart out of their landes But of thoughtes sodaine began to spring an accident vnlooked for for newes came that the Pope was dead sodenlye the first day of December As he laye at the village of Magliana whither he went oftentimes for his recreation he heard the first reapport of the taking of Millan which stirred in him suche an extreme passion of ioye that the same night he entred into a small feauer and for his better remedie he caused himselfe the next daye to be remoued to Rome where he dyed within very fewe dayes after notwithstanding the Phisitions in the beginning made no great reckoning of his disease There was great suspicion that he was poysoned by Barnabie Malespina his Chamberleine whose office was alwayes to giue him drinke And yet though he was made prisoner through the suspicion of the fact and the vehement reasons of the same yet the matter was dashed and thexaminacion thereof for that the Cardinall Medicis assone as he came to Rome set him at libertie fearing to fall further into the disgrace of the Frenche king by whose practise it was supposed that Barnabie gaue him the fatall drinke This was but whispred secretly the author being no lesse doubtfull then the coniectures vncertayne He dyed if we consider the cōmon opinion of men in very great glory felicity not so much for that by the surprising of Millan he saw himself deliuered of daungers and exspences intollerable whiche hauing drayned him of all store of money and treasor he was constrayned to aduaunce all meanes and maners for his supply and releeuing But also that a very fewe dayes affore his death he receyued aduertisement of the taking of Plaisanca and the very day he dyed newes came to him of the winning of Parma A matter so greatly desired by him that at such time as he debated to moue warre agaynst the Frenche men it is very well remembred that he sayde to the Cardinall de Medicis laboring to disswade him that as he was in nothing more caryed to the desire of that warre then to recouer to the Churche those two Cities so when so euer God should blesse him with theffect of that desire it would not greue him to dye He was a prince in whom were many thinges worthy to be commended and blamed and in the estate and discourse of his life he deceyued greatly thexpectation that was had of him when he was created Pope for that his gouernment was with a greater discression but with farre lesse bountie then was looked for The death of the Pope did greatly diminishe th affayres of Caesar in Italie as also it was not vnlikely that suche an enemie beeing taken away with whose money the whole warre was both begon and continued both the French king would enter into a newe sprite and dispatche a newe armie into Italie and also the Venetians for the same causes would recontinue the confederacion they had with him So that it seemed that by this accident the deuises to assayle Cremona and Genes vanished were dissolued and the officers of Caesar who till then had payed the Spanishe bandes with great difficultie were constrayned to dismisse a great part of them A matter not without daunger since there were holden yet for the king Cremona Genes Alexandria the Castell of Millan the Castells of Nouaro and Tressa Pisqueton Domussolo Arona and all the Lake maior Besides the Rocke of Pontremo was eftsones returned to his deuocion which being lost before was reconquered by Sinibaldo de Fiesquo and the Count Nocero Neither had the affayres of the French king any good successe beyonde the Mountes for that Caesar bringing warre vpon Flaunders had taken from him the Citie of Tornay and not long after the Castell wherein were no small quantities of artilleries and municions In so muche that by reason of the Popes death newe gouernmentes newe counsells and newe estates of affayres and doings were introduced into the Duchie of Millan The Cardinalles of Syon and Medicis made foorthwith to Rome to communicate in thelection of the newe Pope The Imperials kept retayned with them fifteene hundred footemen Svvizzers and dismissed all the others together with the Launceknightes who went their waye The bandes of the Florentines tooke their way to returne into Tuskane Touching the regimentes of the Church Guido Rangon ledde one part of them to Modona and the other remayned in the state of Millan with the Marquis of Mantua and that more of his proper resolucion then by the consent of the College of Cardinalles who standing deuided amongest themselues could bring
likewise made in the name of his brother Maleteste yet he would not ratifie it hauing affore receyued money to be ioyned with Ranso de Cere with a charge of two thousande footemen and an hundred light horsemen On the one side he would openly blemishe his proper honor and on the other side he was loath to prouoke the Cardinall and the Florentins by newe occasions Therefore to wade in a meane betwene both he fayned him selfe to be sicke and sent to Ranso being then come to the borowe of Pieua two thousande footemen an hundred light horsemen and foure falconettes making excuse by the rage of his sicknesse that he was not hable to goe in person And to the Cardinall he gaue hope that he would take no more new payes of thenemie and that assone as the tearme were finished for the which he was payed he would ratifie the contract made in his name and in the meane time would proceede with as great moderacion as he could in such actions as he could not refuse for the payes he had receiued After this Ranso entred into the territorie of Siena with fiue hundred horse and seuen thousande footemen with intention to practise the mutation of that gouernment with the trayne of the selfe same exiles which had followed the Duke of Vrbin wherein if thenterprise had drawne to good issue it was not to be doubted that hauing power by that meane to enter on that side into the bowels of the Florentin dominion that the like successe had not followed him touching the particular of Florence But the Florentins no lesse foreseeing that daunger then desyring that thenemies should not approche to Siena had sent to that state all their regimentes of men of warre vnder the conduit of Guido Rangon elected for that emotion generall of th armie he had this speciall intention both to temporise with thenemies to make them lose tyme for that he was not ignorant that without expedicion they would fall into wante of money and also vnder one tyme to vse all thimpedimentes he could to cut off and stoppe their vittells So that gouerning him selfe according to the proceedinges of thenemies he labored to put seuerall garrisons into those townes that were nearest the estate of the Sienois and the Florentins In which remouing of souldiors from one place to an other it hapned that the guydon of horsemen of Vitelli going from Torrito to Asinolongo encountred on the way with three hundred horsemen of thennemies and were ouerthrowne Ieronimo de Peppoli lieftenant to Vitelli being taken prisoner with fiftie men at armes and two ensignes Ranso addressed him selfe firste to the Citie of Chiusa a Citie more noble for the memorie of his antiquitie and the renowmed actes of Porsene their king then for his fortunes and condicions present his hope was deceyued to carye it bringing with him no other sortes of artilleries then foure falconetts A force farre to weake to take townes that are defended with souldiors He marched further betwene Torrito and Asinolongo to drawe neare to Siena but hauing no commoditie of vittels amidde so many townes of thennemies and seeking to get some by force he assayled the borowe of Torrito where was in garrison an hundred men at armes of Guido Rangon and fiue hundred footemen But he leauyed his campe from thence without dooing any thing to aduaunce his purpose and keeping his way he went to Monteliste and from thence to Bagno de Rapolano within twelue myles of Siena in which Citie the Florentins in the beginning had bestowed the Count Petillano But the Count Guido by whose diligence and celeritie all these deuises were preuented entred the same daye into Siena with two hundred light horsemen leauing his armie behinde to followe after So that what for the succours that approched and the reputacion of Ranso which was greatly diminished in this expedicion aswell with his owne companies as amongest thenemies together with the knowledge they had that he was reduced to a great necessitie of vittells brought no little discourage to them of Siena to whom could haue bene acceptable a chaunge or alteracion Neuerthelesse he presented himselfe within halfe a myle of the walles and seeing no insurrection made in his fauour he retyred hauing remayned there xxiiij howres The same daye he retyred but after he was gone the bands of the Florentins entred within Siena who albeit were put in readinesse to pursue him yet they made no great labour when they sawe he was to farre gone they suffred certayne light horsemen to pursue the chase and certeine bandes of footemen which were before at Siena of whom he receyued no great domage onely his retrayte being hastie and happly no lesse for famine then for feare he leste his artilleries by the way which to his great dishonor fell into the power of thennemies he stayed at Aygueponte to readresse his companies which were muche diminished a place so muche the more assured to him by howmuche he knewe that the Florentin bands would be curious to enter vpon the landes of the Churche But falling into wantes of money and other prouisions and the Cardinalls of Voltero of Monte and of Come with whom by the French kings direction he communicated touching his affayres beginning nowe to reiect him he conuerted those few bands of souldiors that his fortune had left him to pill and robbe the shoares or water-sides of Siena and in vayne gaue assault to Orbatella for which cause the Florentins hauing made their armie to marche towardes the bridge of Centino whiche is the confine limit betwene thestate of Siena and the dominion of the Church threatned to make inuasion of the lands of the Church for that they sawe Ranso did not wholly dissolue his companies In which respect the Colledge of Cardinalles who stoode ielouse to suffer suche an action vpon thestate of the Churche interposed to accorde them A matter indifferently agreable to them both It was acceptable to the Florentins for that by it they were drawne out of a burden of exspences whiche they made without any frute And to Ranso it was no lesse welcome for that both he was yll furnished for the present and also had no hope to increase his forces specially the French affayres suffring yll tearmes in Lombardie The accorde conteined no other matter then a bare promise not to offende one an other whiche promise ranne betwene the Florentins and Sienois on th one parte and Ranso de Cero on the other parte putting in pledge in Rome of fitie thousande duckets for the suretie of obseruation And touching the things that had bene made pillage and spoyle they referred them to tharbitracion of the Pope when he should come into Italie This winter there happned in the towne of Lucquay this daungerous accident one Vincent Poggio of a noble discending and famulie and Lavvrence Totti vnder cooller of particular discords but more likely pushed on by ambicion and pouertie tooke armes and in the publike pallace slewe
that confederate that is slowe not of will but by impedimentes giues to his companion no iust cause to complayne nor any honest cooller to depart from his confederacion We ought in this case to iudge of the French king as in matters of amitie good men vse to measure friendship that he that maketh a promise albeit he performe late yet he breakes not the law of promise for that although he disappoynteth yet he fayleth not It is a great vnthankfulnes when we forget what we haue receiued of our friends and when they are slowe to performe but small things we are ready to rayse great complayntes agaynst them But touching this deliberacion if we looke well into thestate of our affayres we shall finde that if common honestie ioyned with the dignitie of our Senate call vs to it no lesse are we iustely prouoked by the regarde of our profite and proper safetie it is easie to be discerned from howe many daungers from how many suspicions and from how many afflictions we shal be deliuered if the French king recouer thestate of Millan and wise men with the same facilitie may finde out into what tranquility into what assurance and into what freedome of estate our affayres will fall for many yeres if he preuayle in that action wherin he hath cōcurring with his forces reason conscience and equitie Of this we are warned by thexamples of the yeres before for at suche time as the king that nowe is went about to recouer it it came to passe that we who affore with many daungers very great exspences were skarce hable to desende Padoa and Treuisa were made hable by his occasion to reconquer Bressia and Verona yea so long as he enioyed that Duchie in quietnes we possessed in peace and suretie all our dominious and iurisdictions and what else was of our imperie or our obedience Which are examples that muche more ought to moue vs then the auncient memorie of the league of Cambray for that the kings of Fraunce haue learned by experience that which they could neuer cōprehend by reason how preiudiciall it hath bene to them to depart out of our alliance A matter which without all comparison they may best discerne in the time present wherin this king hath for his aduersary competitor an emperour a prince whose amplitude of kingdomes and whose redoubted power will keepe him in necessitie to esteeme dearly our alliance But of the contrary who seeth not into what daungerous tearmes our affayres will be reduced when the French king shall finde him selfe merely excluded out of the enterprises of Italie for who can let themperour to appropriate to him selfe or to his brother the Duchie of Millan of the whiche he woulde neuer to this daye transferre thinuestiture to Frauncis Sforce And if he haue power to do so what is he that can assure his will who can staye the streame driuen by so violent a winde yea since the Duchie of Millan is so apte a ladder to lifte him to the Empire of all Italie who will take vpon him to promise that in themperour iustice and conscience will beare more swaigh then ambicion and couetousnes inclinacions naturall to all great Princes If any man take any suretie by the moderacion and temperance of his officers which he hath in Italie let him be aunswered that the moste of them are Spaniardes a nation vnfaythfull rauishing and aboue all others moste insatiable So that if themperour or his brother Ferdinand make Millan their owne and possesse it in what degree shall remayne our estate being enuironed by them bothe on the confines of Italie and Germanie what suretie what succours what exspectacion of remedie amidde so many daungers The kingdome of Naples is in his possession the Pope with all the other Potentates of Italie are at his deuocion and all our friendes being made naked of money and forces there remaynes to vs no hope of ayde or comfort and lesse possibilitie to finde fauour where fortune and so great diuision of minds contende agaynst vs But if the French king were lorde of the duchie of Millan then should things stande so euenly balanced betweene two so great Princes that who so euer stoode in feare of the power of the one of them shoulde finde peace and suretie by the might of the other for that bothe pollicie and their proper ambicion would make them iealouse one of an others greatnes yea the only feare of his comming assureth all his neighbours for that by it the Imperialles are restrayned from entring into armes or to intangle them selues with any enterprise By whiche reason is made more ridiculous then terrible the vanitie of their threatninges to turne th armie agaynst vs if we confederate with themperour as though it were an easie enterprise to moue warre agaynst the state of Venice and as thoughe there were present suretie of the victorie and lastely as thoughe that were the onely meane and remedie to keepe the Frenche king from passing and not rather the cause of the contrarie for who doubteth that beeing prouoked by them we would propound to the king by necessitie such conditions that though he bare no inclination to them yet they would induce him to passe The same hapned in the tyme of king Levvis when the iniuries and treasons that were done vnto vs by that nation enforced vs so to incense and stirre vp that king when of his prisoner I became your Embassadour that euen when he stoode in the greatest feare to be mightily inuaded in his kingdome of Fraunce euen then did he dispatch a strong armie into Italie though with very yll successe Let vs not beleeue that if thimperialls thought the waye to drawe vs to their amitie or to assure themselues of the Frenche king were to sette vppon vs that they had tyll this daye deferred th execution Perhappes their Capteines haue no desire to enriche themselues with the profites and spoyles of warre perhaps they haue had no necessitie in disburdening those countreys that were friendes to them to drawe money from them to nourishe th armie in the countrey of an other No rather they haue well founde oute that by reason of our power it is too harde a matter to force vs And muche lesse standes it with them hauing a continuall feare of the descending of the Frenche to intangle them selues with an other warre nor to giue occasion to a state so mightie in men money and opinion to allure with the greatnesse of offers the Frenche kinge to marche So longe as they are holden in these suspicions and in these doubtes they will not intrude for them selues vppon the Duchie of Myllan neither will they seeke to offende vs but with vaine threatninges Where if we assure them of that feare they will haue in their power to doe both the one and other And if they doe it as it is likely they will where is our remedie where are become our hopes our councells and our exspectacions yea of whome maye we complayne more
then of our selues our owne feares will breede our common daungers our fraile suspicions will drawe on our propper calamities and as a destinie we shall be driuen into warre by our immoderat desires to peace which then is most holy and most to be embrased when it puts men out of suspicion when it encreaseth no daunger when it bringes a meane to sit downe in tranquillitie and to cut of great exspenses But when it appeareth in an other habit and forme begetteth effects contrary it abuseth then the name the property and the nature of peace and vnder a corrupt resemblance of peace it taketh iustly the title of a daungerous warre and vnder the show of a holsom medicine it expresseth thoperacion of a mortall poyson So that as in confederating with thEmprour we turne the French king from his enterprise of Italy leade thEmprour as it were by a lyne to occupy at his will the Duchie of Myllan and so to embase vs and our iurisdiction so it followeth that by that action with a right great infamie of our name and hazard of the faith of this common weale we buy the greatnes of a Prince who hath giuen no lesse tokens of his ambicion then proofe of his power and who ioyning with him his brother hath set downe this pretence that all that we possesse in the firme land apperteineth vnto them And on the other side we reiect and exclude out of Italy A king who vnder his equitie and greatnes assureth the libertie of vs all and is induced by a great necessitie and constraint to remeine straitly allied and conioyned with vs These reasons so euident and sensible auoyd all matter of imputacion that I am not pushed on more by affection then by truth nor more caried by any interest particular then with the loue I beare to the common weale The sauetie and preseruacion of which we neede not doubt if God giue so great grace and felicitie to your councells as he hath plentifully imparted amongest you the spirit of wisedom and forecast But against this speech did oppose one George Cornaro a gentleman of equall authority and of no lesse reputacion for grauitie and stayed condicion Rightielous were the office of Magistrates if in matters of councell it were lesse lawfull to confute then to obiect And no lesse doth it offend the estate and credit of their place where it is not thought as greate a fidelitie to aunswer as to propone Since such hath beene alwayes the law and libertie of councell giuing to assure the truth against all sinister insinuacions And albeit I am not ignorant that in nothing is more suspicion then to giue councell in matters of state yet for myne owne parte considering the equitie of this Senate affore whom I speake I doubt not but the reasons I shall giue will suffice to assure myne innocencie against all imputacions Assuredly the matter we haue in hand is great and full of difficulties both for the consideracion of the time nature of many accidents concurring And yet when I looke into thinfidelitie and ambicion of the Princes of this time and howe much they differ from the nature of common weales whose gouernment beeing not subiected to thappetit of one alone but disposed by the consents of many vse to proceede with more moderacion and regard and obserue with great ceremonie contrary to thexamples of Princes not to depart from any thing that beareth apparance of iustice honestie or reason I can not but conclude that it is most hurtfull for vs and our affayres to haue the Duchie of Millan possessed by a Prince more mightie then our selues seeing that necessarily suche a neighborhood will so holde vs suspected and afflicted that thoughe we enioye peace yet we shall alwayes liue in continuall thoughtes of warre notwithstanding all leagues of alliance or confederacion what so euer Of this auncient stories giue vs many examples which for good respectes I passe ouer for the present leauing you onely to the lamentable experience of king Lovvis the xij of whose doings I doubt not remayneth imprinted in the heartes of vs all a bitter remembraunce This Senate brought him into the Duchie of Millan and to that vnhappie resolucion many of vs heare gaue assistance we kepte with him iustly our fayth in all Capitulacions notwithstanding vnder great offers and goodly occasions we were aduised by the Spaniardes and Launceknightes to leaue his alliance as also his infidelitie gaue no small cause to drawe vs therevnto for that he solicited many practises agaynst vs But neyther the memorie of so many benefites receyued nor the merite of our fidelitie so iustely obserued nor the consideration of so many perpetuall offices exhibited could moderate in him his great desire to vex vs In so muche as in that ambicion and for that cause he made a willing reconcilement with his auncient and greatest enemies and lastly contracted agaynst vs that most perillous confederacie of Cambray If it be daungerous for the riche and poore to dwell neare together for that in the wealth of the rich are sowen the seedes of enuie to the poore and by the wantes of the poore are bred humors of couetousnes in the riche man to consume him farre greater harmes must growe by the neighborhood of great kings and princes whose ambicion caryed on the wings of authoritie runneth without limitte and is no more repulsed by the resistance of men then a swift running streame blowen by a violent winde to ouerflow his channell And therefore to escape those daungers that would alwayes hang ouer vs by so yll assured neighborhood of great Princes the necessitie of our affayres driues vs to addresse all our counsells to this ende that neyther the French king nor themperour haue anye footing in the Duchie of Millan but that it remayne to Frauncis Sforce or suche an other of his equalitie who were not borne vp with kingdomes or large dominions Vppon such a choyse dependes our suretie for the present and hereafter if the condicion of tymes do chaunge may depende a great encreasing and exaltacion of our estate We consult nowe whether we should continue amitie with the French king or confederate our selues with themperour By the one of these two deliberacions Frauncis Sforce is excluded absolutely from the Duchie of Millan and an entrie left open to the French king who is a prince farre mightie aboue vs the other tendeth to assure and confirme in the same Duchie Frauncis Sforce whom themperour offreth to comprehend as principall in our confederacion and hath made promise to the king of Englande to protect him So that though he would seeke to depriue him of that estate he should not offende vs onely and the other potentates of Italie to whom he should giue cause to turne eftsones to the Frenche but also in that action he is both to displease the king of Englande whom it behoueth him greatly to respect and also to prouoke agaynst him all thinhabitantes of the Duchie of
Millan who beare an vniuersall inclinacion to Frauncis Sforce And so laying him selfe downe to many difficulties and daungers and to no lesse infamie he should also go agaynst his fayth whiche till this daye we haue not founde by any token that he hath defiled A matter which we can not protest on the behalfe of the French yea he can not be touched with any demonstration or signe contrarie to his fidelitie hauing since the death of Pope Leo repossessed Frauncis Sforce of that estate and redeliuered vp the strong holdes in sorte as they were conquered and lastly reestablished him in the castell of Millan contrarie to the beleuing of many why therefore should we not rather embrase that councell wherein is discerned an apparant hope to come to the end of our intencions then to follow that which manifestly tendeth to an end contrarie to our affaires Perhappes there are that will obiect against this that this common weale would suffer greater daunger if the Duchie of Millan were in the power of thEmperour then if it should diuolue into the handes of the french for that necessitie would draw that king both for the greatnes of Caesar and for themulacion and gelousie he hath of him to perseuere in our alliance But in thEmperour all the contrarie as well for his power might as for the claimes and rights which he and his brother pretende agaynst our estate Sure I beleue that who hath that opinion of the Emperour is not beguiled considering the nature and custome of Princes which are mightie and great But God graunt that he be not deceiued that holdeth not the same opinion of the frenche king Many of the same reasons made for his predecessor yet ambicion and couetousnes bare more dominion in him then either common honestie or his proper profit And besides the causes that might keepe him conteined in league with vs are not perpetuall but subiect to chaunge from one time to an other according to the nature of humane things for bothe thEmperour hath his mortality as other men haue and withall standes subiect to infinite accidentes of fortune according to thexample of many Princes as mightie in greatnes as he it is not long since that all Spaine conspiring against him he seemed more needefull of pitie then of spite And at the leastwise there is not so great difference betwene the one daunger the other as there is oddes betwene a councell that wholly excludes vs from our purpose and a resolucion which in similitude of trueth and reason leades vs to the full accomplishment of the same Besides those reasons consider only the time to come and farre of But if we looke into the present estate of thinges we shall discerne that to reiect thalliance of thEmperour doth put vs for the present into greater perplexities and daungers for if we separate our selues from the french king it is credible that he will deferre the warre vntill better times and fitter occasions but if we continue conioyned with him it may be that thEmperour will presently make warre against vs a matter which necessarily will heape vpon vs many troubles exspenses And in whether of these elections shall the issue of the warre be more daungerous to vs If we ioyne with thEmperour it is not almost to be douted that the victorie will not fall on that side which we can not so assuredly promise to our selues if we stand conioyned with the frenche king And in confederating vs with thEmperour the victory of the french can not be so daungerous to vs as it would be in the contrarie for that in that case all the forces of the victor would be turned against vs and thEmperour would not only haue a lesse bridle and weaker impedimentes but also he woulde stande almost in an absolute necessitie to occupie the Duchie of Millan Touching thobiection made against the bond of confederacion it is easely aunswered by the same reason that is vsed to satisfie questions of equitie since our promise to the frenche king stretcheth only to aide him to defend his estates that he possessed in Italie but not to recouer them if he shoulde loase them The articles of the capitulacions beare not that and the same reasons make for vs that are brought in against vs we accomplished the bonde of all duetie and office when after the losse of Millan hapning through the default of their prouisions our souldiours and men of seruice receiued more harmes then the frenchemen We were acquited of our promisse when Monsr Lavvtrech returning to the warre with the Svvyzzers we sent him our bands of souldiours for his succours yea we haue done more then reasonably might be required of vs when in exspecting so many monethes the comming of his armie we receiued nothing from him but vaine hopes and dissembled promisses if he were stayed by his owne will why seeke we to support the imputacion of his faultes if he were holden by necessitie is not the same a sufficient reason to iustifie vs though we stood bownd I know not why we should be kept bownd any longer to the French king seeing he hath first abandoned vs it can be no iniustice to retyre from the league since we take our liberty by his example how can we stand giltie in bond and office towards him when he hath first broken the lawe of fidelitie and contract with vs In matters of league and confederacion betwene parties the breach of the one giues liberty to the other and the bond that is once broken by the one forbeareth afterwards to compell the other I will not assure that thEmprours Capteines intend to moue warre at this time against vs no more will I warrant the contrary considering with what necessitie they are pressed to interteyne their armie in the estates of others and the hope they may conceiue to draw vs by that meane to their allyance specially if the french doe not marche Of which who dowteth dowteth not without reason both for their naturall inclinacions for their necessitie and want of money and for thimpediments of the warres which they haue on the other side the Mounts with two so mighty Princes and of these impediments our Embassador hath already made credible relacion Lastly my replye conteyneth one selfe matter that we ought to foresee with all studie that the Duchie of Myllan be transferred to Frauncis Sforce and consequently I menteyne that the councell that guides vs to that effect is more profitable then that which makes reasons and arguments to exclude vs from it Thauthoritie of two such personages together with the force of their reasons did rather make doubtfull then assure the mindes of the Senators whose perplexities kept them so farre of from resoluing that the Senat deferred to determine absolutely inducing them thereunto their custom and nature the greatnes of the cause and their desire to see further aduaunced the preparacions of the french king The many difficulties also that by necessitie hapned in thaccorde with the Archeduke were some
causes helping to their deferring But the matter that most encreased the suspence of their mindes was that the French king who with great industrie prepared him selfe to the warre had sent the Bishop of Bayeulx to desire them to deferre to resolue any thing till the next moneth by whome he assured them that before that terme he would marche with a greater armie then had bene seene in Italy in the age of man And as they stoode in this doubt and perplexitie of minde Anthony Gryman Duke of the same citie dyed and Andrevv Gritty was chosen into his place An election rather preiudiciall to the French affayres then otherwaies for assoone as he was raysed to that dignitie he referred wholly to the Senat the deliberacion councell of that matter and would neuer afterwards either in word or deede showe him selfe enclyned to either part But at last because the king continued to send fresh corriers to the Senate and was importunat in offers and promisses And for that there was speciall aduertisement that to assure thexpectacion of the warre Anne Montmoransy afterwards Constable of Fraunce and Federyk Bossolo were vppon their way to Venice ThEmbassadors of thEmprour and the king of England to whome this deferring was much suspected began to protest to the Senate that they would departe within three dayes and leaue all thinges in their imperfection By reason of which protestaciō imploying a maner of thretning also that the fidelity that was gathered in the french promises began to diminish finding nothing but vaine hopes but chiefly by the aduertisement of their Embassador resident in Fraunce they were cōstrained to determine to embrace the amity of thEmperour with whom they entred into contract vnder these condicions That betwene thEmperour Ferdinand Archduke of Austria and Frauncis Sforce Duke of Millan on the one partie and the Senate of Venice on thother partie should be a perpetuall peace confederacion That the Senate in times of neede shoulde sende for the defense of the Duchie of Millan six hundred men at armes sixe hundred light horsemen and six thowsande footemen That they should administer the like proporcion for the defense of the kingdom of Naples but in case it should be inuaded by the Christians for the Venetians refused to be bound generally because they would not stirre vp the Turke against them That thEmperour should be bound to defend against all men all that the Venetians possessed in Italie and that with the like number and proporcion of men That the Venetians should pay in eight yeares to thArchduke for appaisement of their auncient controuersies for thaccord made at VVormes two hundred thowsand duckats vpon the end of this agreement the Senate hauing dismissed Theoder Triuulce chose Frauncis Maria Duke of Vrbin for gouernor generall of their men of warre with the same condicions It was a common iudgement of most of the wisemen in Italie that the frenche king finding those aides to be turned against him which affore had bene of his side would put of the enterprise of Millan for that yere Neuerthelesse when they heard that the preparacions did not onely continue but that the armie began to marche such as stoode in feare of his victorie fell the better to resist him to make a newe confederacion wherein they perswaded the Pope to be chiefe and principall Here is to be remembred that where the Pope at his first descending into Italie stoode desirous to haue an vniuersall peace and looking with great compassion into the harmes which grewe vppon Christendom by the victories of the Turkes he sent to thEmperour to the french king and the king of England to depose for the time their armes so hurtfull for the common weale of Christendom and euery of them seuerally to sende Embassadors to Rome with fulnes of power to consult of the necessary remedies and releuing of the lamentable afflictions of the Christians This was performed by them all in apparance but beginning to treate more particularly of things it was presently discerned that those labors were vaine for the infinite difficulties that fell out when they came to the point of peacemaking so many impedimentes do follow the deliberacion of great causes and so hard it is to reconcile controuersies of estate which ordinarily draw with them their infinite suspicions and differences for a truse for a short time was nothing agreable to thEmperour neither did it in any sorte serue thexspectacion of his purposes And the frenche king refused to make it for a longer time so hurtfull was it for him to protract or temporise that had all his prouisions for the warre aduaunced In which separacion of minde betwene these two great Princes the Pope either for the auncient affection which eftsoones beganne to reuiue in him towards thEmperour or for that he discerned the thoughts of the french king to be estraunged from peace and concord discouered his inclinacion and began more then he was wont to harken to those that encoraged him not to suffer the french to possesse againe the Duchie of Millan This oportunitie was obserued by the Cardinall Medicis who hauing remeyned at Florence for feare of the persecutions of his enemies but chiefly of the Cardinall of Volterro who stoode very great and gracious with the Pope tooke to him a new corage and came to Rome where he was receiued of most of the Court with great honor and respect There ioyning him selfe with the Duke of Sesso thEmprours Embassador and with thEmbassadors of the king of England he fauored that cause and furthered it all that he could with the Pope It is seene often in the course and practise of worldly things that the falling of one man is the rising of an other by which propertie of reuolucion is apparantly proued that mortal men are subiect to the law of nature and fortune for in this aduauntage of variacion and chaunge the ill hap of Cardinall Volterro which almost alwayes troubled his wit his pollicie and all his drifts heaped vpon him a great domage and daunger And in that oportunitie was giuen to the Cardinall Medicis a notable meane to enter into greater grace and authoritie with the Pope who affore bare a constant inclination to the Cardinall Volterro for that both by his industrie and apt insinuacion of wordes he had brought him to beleeue that he desired nothing more then an vniuersall peace throughout all Christendom This was thaccident One Frauncis Imperiale being banished from Sicile went into Fraunce And being staied at Castelnoua neare Rome by the deuise of the Duke of Sesso there was found about him a packet of letters written by the Cardinall Volterro to his Nephew the Bishop of Xainctes By these letters he gaue councell to the French king to inuade the I le of Sicile with an armie by sea by which inuasion thEmprours forces should necessarily be turned to the defense of it and so the enterprise of Myllan would become more easie to the French The detection of this
man troubled not a litle the Pope who was so much the more aggreued against him by howe much his dissembled demonstracions had beguiled him And in that iust discontentment he was vehemently furthered by the incitacion of the Duke of Sesso and Cardinall Medicis by whose industries he was committed to the castell S. Ange and afterwards examined by Iudges delegate as guiltie in the crime of violacion of the Popes maiestie for that he had incensed the french king to inuade with hostilitie the Iland of Sicile A free hold of the sea Apostolike Wherein albeit they proceded with lenitie and fauor and after the actes of interogatories he had libertie of councell to pleade for him yet they proceeded not with the same moderacion against his goods since the same day he was apprehended the Pope sent to make seasure of all the moueables and riches that were in his house And as one conspiracie reuealeth an other so by thimprisonment of the sayd Imperialo there was discouered an other detection for the French king in Sicile for the which were executed by iustice the Count Camerato the maister of the ports and the Treasorer The veritie consideracion of these matters insinuated in the Pope a great displeasure against the French king in which ill disposed inclinacion he began to consult more and more with Cardinall Medicis And lastly the rumor of the discending of the french armies redoubling daily the Pope published manifestly his intencion to oppose against them for which cause he summoned the assembly of the Cardinalls to whom after his accustomed protestacions of the present feares and daungers of the great Turke he declared that as onely the French king was the cause why so great perills were not remoued from Christendom for that he refused with great obstinacy to consent to the peace that was negociated So seeing it apperteyned to him as the Viccaire of Iesus Christ and successor to Peter to be carefull ouer the preseruacion of Christian peace he was compelled by that zeale which he oweth to their vniuersall safetie to confederat him selfe with such Princes as did what they could to defend Italy from troubles for that of the quiet or trouble of that region depended the tranquillitie or vexacion of the whole Christian parte of the worlde According to this declaracion concurring with the industrie of the Viceroy of Naples beeing come to Rome for that purpose a league was concluded for the defence of Italie the thirde daye of August betweene the Pope themperour the king of Englande tharchduke of Austria the Duke of Millan the Genovvaies and the Cardinal Medicis and thestate of Florence ioyntly The publication bare also that it should continue all the time of the confederates lyues and a yere after the death of euery of them There was reseruacion of place and tyme for any other to come in so that the Pope themprour and the king of Englande thought good with this prouision that in matters of quarrell and controuersie they should vse iustice and not armes That they shoulde erect an armie to be opposed agaynst whom so euer would inuade any of the confederates to which armie the Pope shoulde sende two hundred men at armes themperour eight hundred the Florentins two hundred the Duke of Millan two hundred and two hundred light horsemen That the Pope the Emprour and the Duke of Millan should make all the prouisions of artilleries municions together with al exspences and charges apperteining That to leauy the bands of footmen necessary for tharmy to furnish al other exspences requisite for the warre the Pope should pay euery moneth xx thousand duckets the duke of Millan as much the Florētins the like summe That the Emperour should pay xxx thousand the Genovvaies Lucquois and Siennois together ten thousand and the Genovvaies notwithstanding to remaine bound to the army by sea and other defraimentes necessary for their defence To this contribucion they should be all bounde for three monethes and so muche tyme ouer the three monethes as should be set downe by the Pope themprour and the king of Englande That it should be in the power of the Pope and themprour to name the capteine generall of the whole warre who it was sayde should fall vppon the person of the Viceroy of Naples for whom the Cardinall Medicis whose authoritie was great with thimperialls labored what he coulde chiefly for the hatred he bare to Prosper Colonno The Marquis of Mantua was ioyned to this confederacion by an indirect meane for that the Pope and the Florentins interteyned him for their Capteine generall at their common pay But neither the league made by the Venetians with themperour nor the vnion of so many great Princes contracted with so ample contribucions and great prouisions could alter the resolucion of the French king who being come to Lyons prepared to passe in person with a strong army into Italie where the brute of his comming was no sooner spred then newe tumultes began to appeare for Lionell the brother of Albert Pio recouered by surprise the towne of Carpy being negligently garded by Iohn Coscia whom Prosper had created gouernor there which he might do of good authoritie for that thempror had giuen that towne to him after he had deposed Albert for his offence of rebellion to thempire But in the duchie of Millan there was like to haue chaunced a greater accident both more terrible for the property for the person of greater preiudice This is the discourse of it Frauncis Sforce riding frō Monce to Millan vpon a litle Mulet causing the horsemen that were for his gard to ride farre frō him to auoyd the trouble of the dust that in sommer time the traine of horses makes to rise in great abundance through all the playnes of Lombardie Boniface Visconto a yong gentleman better knowne by the noblenes of his house then for his wealth estates or other condicions offred him selfe onely to accompany the Duke being well mounted vpon a Turkishe horse and as they came riding together vpon a particion of a way Boniface being somewhat slipt behind obseruing the oportunitie of the place and the distance of the Dukes trayne spurred his horse and ranne in a mayne race with his dagger drawne to strike the Duke on the head But what with the feare of the Mulet shrinking with the noyse of his horse and the fiercenesse of his horse whom he could not stoppe together with the difference of the height of his horse from the Dukes mulet the blowe that he made at the Dukes head swarued and fell vppon his shoulders and afterwardes drawing his sworde to accomplishe the execution the same impedimentes made it vayne or at least the hurt was light beeing but a blowe slentwise By this tyme manye of the horsemen making in to the Dukes reskewe he fell to flying hoping to shake off by hys fortune the daunger that by his vallour he was falne into Many of the horsemen of the Dukes garde had him
drawing thether with their forces The Viceroy was appointed to goe against the Marquis of Rothelin who was come ouer the Mounts with foure hundred launces Neuertheles assoone as he vnderstood of the fortune of the Admirall and that he was retyred he returned also into Fraunce holding it vaine for him to followe further thenterprise when the principall forces were dispersed Besides Monsr de Boysy and Iulio Saint Seuerin to whom was committed the gard of Alexandria made no resistance In like sort Federyk after he had demaunded respit of a fewe dayes to know if the Admirall were passed the Mountes compownded to yeeld vp Loda vppon the condicion that was accorded to them of Alexandria to leade into Fraunce the bands of Italian footemen who conteining a regiment of fiue thousande men did speciall seruice to the King afterwardes This was the end of the warre that was managed against the Duchie of Myllan vnder the gouernment of the Admiral of Fraunce By the which neither the kings power being much weakened nor the rootes of harmes remooued much lesse that so many calamities were cleane taken away seeing they were but deferred to an other season and Italy in the meane while remeining discharged of trobles present but not of suspicion of further aduersities to come And yet Themprour no lesse by the incitacion of the Duke of Burbon then by the hope that the authoritie and name of that man might serue him to speciall purpose Was of minde to transferre the warre into Fraunce to the which also the King of Englande showed a readines and disposicion In the beginning of this yeare Themprour had sent his Camp to Fontarabie a towne of verie smal circuit standing vppon the debatable lands that deuide Fraunce from Spaine And albeit the towne was very wel manned and furnished with artilleries and vittelles and leasure sufficient to them within to make it fortefied yet the fortifications being ill made through the ignorance of the Frenche men the towne laye open to the fury of thenemies who heaping vppon the defendants one necessitie after an other constrained them at last to giue it vp only with the safetie of their lyues He was not satisfied with the recouerie of this place but stretching his thoughtes further he made his ambicion no lesse then his fortune and in those conceites being raised to further enterprise he kept no reckoning of the comfortes and authoritie of the Pope who hauing sent in the beginning of the yeare to Themprour the Frenche King and to the King of Englande to solicit a peace or a truse he found their mindes very ill disposed to giue ouer the warre For the French king consenting to a truse for two yeares refused to make peace for the small hope he had to obteine thereby suche condicions as he desired And the Emprour reiecting the truse by the which was giuen good tyme to the Frenche King to reordeine his forces to folow a new warre desired to haue peace And touching the King of Englande any sort of composicion that was offred to be made by the Popes meanes was displeasing to him as in whom was alwayes a desire that the treatie of thaccorde might bee wholly referred to him To this he was induced by the ambicious counselles of the Cardinall of Yorke who seruing as a true example in our dayes of an immoderate pride notwithstanding he was of very base condicion and no lesse abiect for his parentes and discending yet he was risen to suche an estate of authoritie and grace with the King that in most of the actions of the realme the kings wil seemed nothing without thapprobacion of the Cardinall as of the contrary what so euer the Cardinall did deliberate was either absolute or at least had very great force But both the King and his Cardinall kept dissembled with the Emprour that thought by apparances showed a very forward inclination to moue warre against the realme of Fraunce which the King of Englande pretended lawfully to apperteyne to him He grounded his claime vppon these reasons King Edvvard the thirde after the death of the Frenche King Charles the fourth called the faire who dyed without issue male in the yeare of our saluacion 1328. and of whose sister the sayde King Edvvarde the third was borne Made instance to be declared King of Fraunce as next heire male to the French king deceassed Neuertheles he was put by by the generall Parliament of the realme wherein it was set downe that by vertue of the lawe Salyke an auncient lawe of that kingdome not only the persons of women were made vnable to the succession of the Crowne but also all suche as discended and came of the women line were excluded But he not satisfied with this order brought in to take away his right armed him selfe soone after and taking vpon him the title of the king of Fraunce he inuaded the realme with a mightie armie And as in that action he obteined many victories both agaynst Phillip de Valois published by vniuersall consent lawfull successor to Charles the fayre and also agaynst king Iohn his sonne who being ouerthrowne in battell was ledde prisoner into England So after long warres he forbare further to vex the realme and making peace with the sayde Iohn he reteined many prouinces and estates of the kingdome and renounced the title of king of Fraunce But after this composicion which was neither of long continuance nor of great effect the quarrell was eftsones renewed and sometimes followed with long warres and semetimes discontinued with tedious truces vntill at laste king Henry the fift entring confederacie with Phillip Duke of Burgondy who bare a minde estraunged from the Crowne of Fraunce for the murder done vpon Duke Iohn hys father preuayled so muche agaynst Charles the sixt somewhat simple of vnderstanding that he commaunded almost the whole kingdome together with the towne of Paris And finding in that Citie the French king accompanied with his wife and the Lady Katherine his daughter he tooke to wife the sayde Lady and brought the king to consent hauing no great vse of witte that after his death the kingdome shoulde apperteine to him and to his heires notwithstanding his sonne Charles did suruiue him By vertue of which title assone as he was dead his sonne king Henry the sixte was solemnly crowned at Paris and proclaymed king of Englande and Fraunce And albeit after the death of Charles the sixte his sonne Charles the seuenth by reason of great warres happning in Englande betweene the Lordes of the blood royall had chased thEnglishe out of all that they helde in Fraunce except the towne and territories of Callice yet the kinges of Englande dyd not leaue for all that to continue and vse the title of King of Fraunce These causes might happly moue king Henry the eyght to the warre the rather also for that he stoode more assured in his Realme then anye of his predecessours had done for that the kinges of the house of Yorke that was
towardes his countrey With him are layde vp the issues of warres in his sight is farre more acceptable the innocencie of your cause then the might of your aduersarie Lastly I wish you all to remeine thus resolute that suffring for a good end that which our present necessitie doeth constraine vs vnto that mightie God whose rule goeth thorow all will take to him selfe the reuenge of our proude enemies by a glorious victorie redeeme vs from those afflictions which we haue suffred so long in his sight After these wordes he dismissed the assembly and causing vittells to be put within the Castle he issued out of the towne The Duke not knowing any thing of that which Moron had done at Millan tooke his way to go thether But immediatly after he was come out of Pauya he met with Ferrand Castriot hauing the conduit of thartillerie who signifying to him that part of thenemies were passed Thesin and that they had ouerthrowen Capteine Succhar a Burgougnon with his light horsmen vppon the shoares of the Ryuer he returned to Pauya fearing to finde ambushes and impediments in the way And albeit the Duke and Moron had proceeded with sinceritie in these causes yet the Emprours Capteines who were with the armie at Binasquo being ielous least they had secretly contracted with the Frenche King sent to Myllan Capteine Alarcon with two hundred Launces either to folowe him or to lye still according to thaduertisementes that should bee giuen He was no sooner aryued there then the people who were alreadie compounded with certeine exiles that negociated in the kings name began to take hart and to publishe the name of Themprour and Frauncis Sforce But Captein Alarcon waighing with the litle hope that remeined of defence the nearenes of the French Vawwarde which was then at hande issued out of the gate called Rome gate and tooke the way to Loda whether was also marched the whole armie This was at the same tyme that thenemies began to enter by the gates of Thesin and Verceill who if they had not turned towards Millan but put vppon them the chase and pursuing of Themprours armie both being weary with marching and hauing lost many of their men at armes and horsses it was beleeued for certeine that they had put the armie to the shocke and defeated with facilitie the forces which affore they feared And moreouer if after they were approched to Myllan they had with the same diligence drawne towardes Loda either Themprours Capteines would not haue dared to staye there or at least passing with diligence the Ryuer of Adda they had with the same fortune and facilitie put to disorder the residue of thenemies But the king who happlie supposed it a matter of great importance to establish and assure at his deuocion Myllan a towne which had made the most principall resistance agaynst him or happlie being caryed with some other cause he did not only draw to the citie of Myllan wherein he would not enter nor suffer the armie to enter but staied to bestow in it sufficient garrison and to giue direction for beseeging the Castle wherein were seuen hundred Spanishe footemen He forbadde to the great praise of his modestie and clemencie that no displeasures should be done to thinhabitants seeking by that insinuacion to reduce a people whome he sawe vntractable by all other meanes after he had published his directions at Millan he turned his armie towards Pauia not holding it conuenient for the estate of his affayres to leaue behinde his backe a Citie wherein were so many souldiors The king had in his armie reckning those that remayned at Millan two thousande launces eight thousande launceknightes six thousand Svvizzers sixe thousand foreriders or aduenturers and foure thousand Italians The number of these last encreased muche afterwardes About this time the Marquis of Pisquaro was got within Loda with two thousand footemen And the Viceroy hauing reuitteled the townes of Alexandria Coma and Tressa was entred into Sonzin with him entred Frauncis Sforce and Charles Burbon who amidde so many difficulties and distresses drewe to them some courage by the going of the king to Pauia They thought to readdresse their companies if the defence of that Citie would giue them libertie and to that purpose they sent into Germanie to leauie sixe thousand footemen with the payes of whom and other expenses necessarie there was prouision made with the fiftie thousande duckets whiche themperour had sent to Genes to employe them in the warres of Prouence But the thing that gaue chiefe impediment to their counsells was the necessitie and wante of money which they suffred For neyther had they meane to drawe any out of the Duchie of Millan and lesse hope to obteine of the Emperour for his dishabilitie any other matter then a commission to offer to be solde at Naples the moste of the reuenues of the kingdome And touching their auncient confederates they exspected none at all or very little reliefe neyther of money nor men for that as the Pope and Florentins ioyntly being sued vnto for some contribucion of money gaue them nothing but generall wordes and hopes more hurting then curing their calamities So the Pope alone who after the Admirall was gone out of Italie stoode resolutely fixed not to intangle himselfe further in the warres betweene themperour and the French king would neuer renew the confederacion made with his predecessor nor contract newe leagues with any prince And whiche more is notwithstanding he declared himselfe inclined to themperour and the king of England yet he had made a secrete promise affore to the French king not to be any impediment to him in the recouery of his duchie of Millan Moreouer when the Venetians were required by the Viceroy to furnishe those bandes of souldiors which they were bounde vnto by the capitulacions of the league albeit they did not slatly refuse them yet their aunswers were but colde and conteyned small hope Their intencion was to accommodate their counsells according to the trayne and proceeding of things wherein they were caryed by one of these reasons eyther for that in many of them was renewed the memorie of their auncient alliance with the French king or else they iudged that he could not but remayne victorious in regarde of his vallour his fortune but specially the mightie forces he brought into Italie agaynst enemies of so slender preparacion and worse prouision or lastely for that themperours ambicion was more suspected to them then before for that he had not inuested Fraūcis Sforce in the Duchie of Millan A matter which the states of Italie did no lesse maruell at then grieuously complayne vpon In this maner of doing also they were muche caryed by the authoritie of the Pope to whose counsells and example they bare no small respect in those tymes The French king made his approach to Pauia on the lower side betwene the ryuer of Thesin and the waye that leadeth to Millan And after he had incamped his vauntgarde within the
suburbes of S. Anthonie beyonde Thesin vpon the waye that goeth to Genes he bestowed himselfe in the Abbey of S. Lanfrank which is within a myle of the walles There he drewe into consideracion all the wayes that could be deuised for the exployte of the towne eyther how muche the situacion did helpe or what might be hoped for by the industrie of men whiche partes were weakest for want of fortification and howe to leauye the difficulties where were showes of resistance yea he made a counsell with his Capteines of all things tending to suche a seruice and after resolucion set downe he aduaunced his artilleries with the which for two dayes together he battred the walles in two places and afterwardes raunging his armie into araye of battell he began to giue thassault But in the very firste charge he caused eftsones to sounde the retraite both finding the rampiers within very strong and furnished and the assurance and vallour of the defendantes resolute and singuler and also discerning in his owne souldiors manyfest signes of feare by the spectacle of their felowes slayne in the charge With this also he considered howe harde it would be to take by assalt a towne that had for her defence so many braue men of warre so many naturall impedimentes so many artificiall difficulties and lastely so plentifully prepared of all those things which eyther experience industrie or counsell could prouide that there was nothing wanting which might be made for the helpe of their daunger nor nothing vsed to their helpe which was not hurtfull to thenemie Therefore he deuised to cast trenches and plotformes wherin he employed the labor of a great nūber of pyeners by whose working he sought to cut of the flanks to giue more suretie to his souldiors when they should approch And as to his desire to cary the towne there was wanting no will to followe thexployte with charges and exspences so albeit the worke was long and harde yet he caused to make mynes in many places hoping to preuayle by that engine though in all other wayes should fall out imperfection or errour The ryuer there about two myles aboue Pauya separates it selfe into two armes or hornes and carying his streame of one violence and swiftnes somewhat belowe the towne he meeteth in one agayne affore he fall into Pavv The king deuiseth to take the oportunitie of this ryuer wherein vsing the counsell of diuerse engenistes and water workemen skilfull in the course of the streame he determined to turne that arme of the ryuer that passeth on that side to Pauia and to make it fall into the lesser whiche they call Graualone his hope was to preuayle with greater facilitie on that side for that the wall by reason of his suretie which the depth of the water did giue was not any way rampiered The number of the defendantes was so great aboue his exspectacion and their mindes so resolute in vallour and fidelitie that he had no confidence of the victorie by any other meane then this which made him consume many dayes in that worke no lesse great for the labour employing multitudes of men then grieuous for thexspences drawing with it many extraordinary charges The townesmen could not but be fearefull to see such a worke raysed to do them harme and yet subduing through a setled confidence those mocions that made them tymerous the vertue of their mindes brought them to contemne the thing that their nature and fleshe made them to distrust and doubt But suche was the violent working of the water being muche encreased by certayne great raynes and landfluddes that were falne that it began to reuerse the trenches and sluces which were made in the channell where the ryuer was deuided to force the course of the water to enter into the lesser arme And albeit the kings hopes made him both to recontinue the worke and to thinke to be hable to surmount the violence of the streame with the force of men and money yet in the ende experience gaue him to knowe that the force of a water carying a violent course can do more then eyther the trauell of men or industrie of engenistes The priuacion of this hope together with the difficulties that were deserned to carie the towne by force dryue the king to a newe counsell wherin he determined to continue the siege with the long tract and continuance wherof he was not without hope to reduce the defendantes into necessitie of rendring During these preparacions and actions the Pope hearing of the taking of Millan was not a litle moued with the fortunes and happie beginnings of the Frenche And therefore amidde suche alteracion of things he studied to assure his proper affayres dispatching for the same occasion to the French king Gianniatteo Giberto Bishop of Verona who was of no lesse fidelitie and confidence with the Pope then gracious and acceptable to the French king he had in charge to go first to Sonzin to induce the Viceroy and the other capteines to peace cōmunicating with them his legacion to the king for the same cause But finding them recomforted by the resistance of Pauia and no lesse assured in the hope of their proper vallour they made him a braue answere that they had no deuocion to any composicion which should giue to the king any one foote of lande in the Duchie of Millan He founde in the king a like or happly a more hard disposicion raysing his hart into high hopes both by the greatnes of his armie and also for the good meanes he had to continue it and encrease it A fundacion wherevppon he assured principally his passage into Italie not vnder a simple hope to preuent his enemies notwithstanding he would say that in effect it was already succeeded to him The king norished in himselfe an assured hope to carie Pauia which he battred with a continuall fury and execution of his artilleries This hope was especially grounded vpon the workes which he cast about the walles suche as he was assured coulde not be troubled by thenemies for the want which they had of municions A matter easie to be deserned by the little number of shottes which they made He sawe also into their penurie of vittells and breade and was not without hope also to be hable in time to turne the streame of Thesin an action specially importing thaduauncement of his victorie And esteming the conquest of Millan and Genes a recompence farre vnworthy thexspenses he had made and a rewarde too simple for so great a glory he raysed his minde to higher thoughts in that ambiciō deuised to inuade the kingdome of Naples holding nothing the hardnes of thenterprise in regard of his fortune glory more contemning the perill then well examining the partes and circumstances of it But after all this the principall cause of the Bishops legacion was debated betweene them and brought foorth effect with very litle difficultie both for that the Pope bounde himselfe not to giue agaynst the king
thē by our armes by our vallour by our weapons This aduise was embraced and as a sentence set downe folowed by the Viceroy who accordingly dispatched to Naples the duke of Tracetta with direction to make as great leauies of money as was possible and recōmend ouer the care defense of the kingdom to Askanio Colonno the other barons of the realme And albeit he had modestly giuen answere to thembassage presented to him frō the Pope yet he wrote to Rome letters full of seuerity bitternes such as gaue manyfest signification that he would not heare speake of thaccord By reason of this the Pope declaring howe he was pushed on by necessitie for that the Duke d'Albanie aduaunced dayly published not as a thing done before that he had contracted with the french king vnder a simple promise not to offend one another This he signified by writing to themprours agents alleging the causes that induced him but specially his necessities perils increasing And when the sayd writing was presented by Iohn Corsi embassador of Florence with wordes conuenient in suche a case themprour who afore could not be persuaded that the Pope would abandon him in so great a danger fell into no litle emotion trouble of mind he set before his eyes the sundry hopes he had giuen him confirmed by many good offices and oblations he conferred together the seuerall demonstrations of amity accompanied with no lesse tokens of constancy firmnes lastly making a iudgement betwene the former promises of the Pope his present effects he burst out into publike passion against him accusing with exclamation his frayltie light condition and in that heate of nature he answered thembassador that neither hatred nor ambition nor any interest particular had stirred him vp to begin warre with the french king but onely the perswasions the suggestions and the authoritie of Pope Leo who as he sayd was drawē vnto it by the Pope raigning being at that time cardinall of Medicis and perswaded him with great vehemency of reasons that it was a matter of great importance for the publike safety vniuersall benefite not to suffer the french king to possesse any thing in Italy That the same Cardinall was the author of the confederacion made for that cause before the death of Pope Adrian In which respects he pronounced with great griefe how much it troubled him to see the Pope who aboue all others was bound not to be seperate from him in those daungers wherin by his meanes he was entred had made a chaunge no lesse hurtfull to him then without all necessity That such reuolt and seperation for the time the place and the whole manner and propertie of it could be attributed to no other thing then to a certayne seruile feare and tymerous impression such as hath falne vpon him since they within Pauia haue holden out In this humor he forgot not to debate the meanes and fauors he had vsed to encreace his greatnes alwayes since the death of Pope Leo and specially his authoritie in two Conclaues together with his perpetuall desire to transferre vppon him the soueraigne election onely for this opinion that by his meane mighte be reestablished the common libertie of Italie And on the other side he made collection howe little the Pope might assure him selfe of the French king and howe farre he was eyther to feare or to hope of his victorie Lastelye he stoode vppon this conclusion that neyther for the Popes resolution whiche was agaynst all good office and exspectation nor for anye other accident or fortune of what condition soeuer he would not forget nor abandon him selfe Wherein he protested and therewithall wished that no man shoulde exspect that for wante of money he would chaunge or vary from his purpose seeing he had vowed to set vp as a laste reast all his Crownes and kingdomes and hys life withall desiring of God that his irreuocable deliberacion in the matter mighte not be preiudiciall to the health of his soule To these complayntes thembassadour of Florence replied That the Pope since he was raysed to the soueraigne dignitie was bounde to proceede no more as Cardinall of Medicis but to put on the personne of Pope of Rome whose office was to be carefull ouer the peace of Christendome for whiche reason he had often debated with him the necessitie of peace and quietnesse and for better negociation of it he had sent to him at two seuerall tymes the Archbishop of Capua by whome he protested that by the othe and ceremonie of his office he was bounde not to bee particular but indifferent That he had also admonished him thereof at suche tyme as the Admirall Bonniuet departed oute of Italie hauing no better season and oportunitie to treate of peace for him and more for his honour wherevnto neuerthelesse he made him no other aunswere then that he coulde conclude no peace without the consent of the kinge of Englande He desyred the Emperour to remember howe often the Pope had disswaded the passage and iourney into Prouence bothe for that it troubled altogether the hope of the peace and also herein he seemed a diuine prophete of thinges to come the necessitie wherein it woulde put the Frenche king to enter into armes mighte bee the occasion to stirre vp in Italie a more daungerous combustion That the Pope by the negociacion of the Bishoppe of Verona had declared to the French king then possessor of Millan and also to the Viceroye howe farre it concerned them to harken to peace but neyther of them bare anye inclination therevnto That since that tyme he had with manye reasons and verye greate efficacie refused to giue passage through thestate Ecclesiastike to the bandes of menne of warre that marched agaynste the Realme of Naples And yet neuerthelesse the kinge dyd not onely denie to heare his reasons but also made his forces to march along the countrey of Plaisanca withoute tarrying for hys aunswere That for that cause he had lastely sente Pavvle Vittorio to induce the Viceroye to a surceassing of armes vnder condicions conformable to the tyme and withall to certifie him by howe many reasons of necessitie he was to assure him selfe of the daunger imminent seeing withall that both the Venetians stoode in suspence and also the kinge of Englande woulde not be concurrante in the defence of the Duchie of Millan if at the same tyme both by Themperour and by him the warre were not moued beyonde the Mountes But seeing the Viceroye made no reckoning of anye offers or condicions he propounded and that the kinges men of warre and armed bandes aduaunced daylye he was constrayned to take fayth and suretie of the kinge without beeing bounde to anye other thing then not to offende hym The Emperour complayned of the hardnesse of the condicion offered to the Viceroy for that it restrayned and bounde hym to leaue that which he helde not expressing any mention that the Frenche king should do the lyke And lastely
his obseruacion of the wise Phisicion who hauing found out the humor that offendeth prepareth that ministracion and medicin that is most apt to cure and remedie somtimes he serued his turne with excuses which in suche cases haue their operacion And sometimes he whetted them on with wordes of comfort which to mindes wauering giue no litle edge and reuiuing sometimes he reprehended them which according to the persons might worke some notable office And sometimes he confessed the equitie of their complaints wherein he ouercame their generall griefe with his proper compassion And hauing thus by the singularitie of his wit and industrie reduced to moderacion their present murmures and discontentments he followed his purpose with new incoragements that by how much more they stoode to make their vertue apparant and their vallour manifest by so much more were they bound not to suffer so noble hartes to be ouercome by an estate of infanterie or footemen either in fidellitie or affection to thEmprour And as the present quarrell did not concerne the glory and honor of thEmprour alone but also the successe of the condicion and whole estate of Italy was concurrant so if they expressed not their readines and vallour equall with the greatnes of the occasion offered they could hardly acquire thexspectacion that was conceiued of them but sitting downe with dishonor and infamie they would leaue to thEmperour an vnthankefull recompense for his benefits past Lastly he tolde them that seeing they had so many times offered their liues to hazard in thEmperours quarrells and no lesse often had made waye by their vertue thorow all perills of warre and fortune for his sake it coulde not but intangle with shame and infamie the memorie of their merites past if nowe they shoulde refuse to goe to the warre for so vile a thing as a small quantitie of money What by these perswasions and thauthoritie of the Marquis they consented to receiue for one moneth a small allowance of pay Infomuch that the whole armie being thus assembled which was supposed to conteyne seuen hundred men at armes as many light horsemen a thowsand Italian footemen more then sixteene thowsand spanish and launceknightes They brake vp from Loda the fiue and twentie of Ianuarie and marched the same day to Marignan making as though they woulde draw towardes Millan either to make the king being touched with the daunger of that Citie to leauie his seege from before Pauia or else to giue cause to the souldiours to go from Millan that were there in garrison Neuerthelesse hauing afterwards passed the riuer of Lambra neare to Vidigolffo they tooke manifestly the waye to Pauia The king payed in his armie xiij hundred launces ten thowsande Svvizzers foure thowsand launceknightes fiue thowsand frenchmen and seuen thowsand Italians And yet what thorow the abuses and robberies of his Capteines and corruption and negligence of his officers the numbers of the footemen were farre lesse Theodor Triuulso lay in garrison within Millan with three hundred launces six thowsand footemen Grisons and Valesiens and three thowsand frenchmen But assoone as the king discerned that the Imperialls turned towards Pauia he reuoked to the army all the regiments of footemen except two thowsand Assoone as the armie of thimperialls had taken the field the french king began to deuise what was best to be done And calling to councell his Capteines Trymouille Palissa and Monsr de Foix with many others aduised him to retyre his armie from before Pauia and to go incampe either in the monasterie of Charterhouse or at Binasquo which are places of good strength and likewise are found many suche in the contrie there for the oportunitie of the channells deriuing and do serue for the watering of medowes They told him that in taking this course he should speedily carie the victory without blood or daunger the wantes and necessities of his enemies not suffering them to holde out many dayes but woulde constraine them either to dissolue or disperse their companies into seuer all villages That the launceknightes that were within Pauia to th ende to cut of all imputacion that they sought to couer their feare and timerousnes with the excuse that they were not payed were content to beare with pacience the prolonging of their payes for many moneths But assone as they saw the seege remoued they would in insolencie demaunde their payes and not finding in their Capteines any assured meanes to satisfie them and lesse exspectacion to enterteine them with credible hopes it was to be feared they would draw to some daungerous tumult That thenemles with no other thing kept them selues so orderly together but with hope to giue speedily the battell but when they should see the warre drawne out into longnes and the commodity of offring the battell not presented then their exspectacion would be frustrate and the whole armie replenished with difficulties confusion That it could not be but daungerous to remeine betwene a towne wherein were fiue thowsande footemen of a most warlike nation and an army that came to reskew it which was no lesse mightie in numbers of men vallour and experience of Capteines and souldiours then braue and resolute by the glorie of their victories obteyned in times past And who nowe had reapposed all their hopes in the battell That in warres it was no shame to slee when the fleeing profiteth him that giueth place to his aduersarie That there could be no infamie in a retraite that was made by discression and not by tymerousnes when it is done vppon this consideracion not to put in doubt things that be certeine And when in the yssue and successe of the warre is to be expressed to all the world the maturitie of the councell That there is no victorie more profitable more honorable nor more glorious then that which is obteyned without the domage the spoile and blud of souldiers Lastly that the first and chiefe commendacion of the discipline of warre consisted in this that a generall shoulde not oppose his armie to daungers without necessitie and rather with industrie and pacience to reuerse and make vaine thenterprises of his aduersaries then through vallour corage to hazard the battell which fortune and accidents may make doubtfull The Pope concurred in the same councell and signified no lesse to the French king though not so much for the kings interests yet for the necessitie of his owne affaires for that the Marquis of Pisquaro being not without his feare in so great a necessitie had aduertised affore hand the difficulties of thEmprours army to be such as they almost cut from him all hopes of happy successe Neuerthelesse the king A destinie ineuitable can not be auoyded who in his deliberacions followed only the councells of thAdmiral seemed to set before his eyes rather the rumors of men and brutes varying for euery light accident then the firme and assured substance of theffects of thinges he interpreted it to a great shame and infamie that an armie royall led by
Realme of Fraunce was to appease and assure the minde of the king of England iudging truely that if they could reduce him to amitie and reconcilement the Crowne of Fraunce should remayne without quarrell or molestation Where if he on the one side and themprour on the other should ryse in one ioynt force hauing concurrant with them the person of the duke of Burbon and many other oportunities and occasions it could not be but all things woulde be full of difficulties and daungers Of this the Lady Regent began to discerne many tokens and apparances of good hope for notwithstanding the king of Englande immediatly after the first reapportes of the victory had not only expressed great tokens of gladnes reioysing but also published that he would in person passe into Fraunce and withall had sent Embassadors to themprour to solicite treate of the mouing of warre ioyntly together yet proceding in deede with more mildnes then was exspected of so furious showes tokens he dispatched a messanger to the Lady Regent to sende to him an expresse Embassador which accordingly was accomplished that with fulnes of authority commission such as brought with it also all sortes of submissions implorations which she thought apt to reduce to appeasement the mind of that king so highly displeased he reapposed himself altogether vpon the will and counsel of the cardinal of Yorke who seemed to restrayne the king his thoughtes to this principall end that bearing such a hand vpon the controuersies quarrels that ranne betwene other princes al the world might acknowledge to depend vpon him and his authoritie the resolution and exspectation of all affayres And for this cause he offred to themperour at the same time to discend into Fraunce with a puissant army both to giue perfection to the alliance concluded betwene them before and also to remoue all scruple and ielousie he offred presently to consigne vnto him his daughter who was not as yet in an age and disposition able for mariage But in these matters were very great difficulties partly depending vpon himself and partly deriuing from themprour who nowe shewed nothing of that readines to contract with him which he had vsed before for the king of England demaunded almost al the rewards of the victory as Normandy Guyen Gascoign with the title of king of Fraunce And that themprour notwithstanding thinequality of the conditions should passe likewise into Fraunce and cōmunicate equally in thexspences dangers Thinequality of these demaūds troubled not a litle themprour to whō they were by so much the more grieuous by howmuch he remēbred that in the yeres next before he had always deferred to make warre euē in the greatest dangers of the french king So that he perswaded himselfe that he should not be able to make any fundation vpon that confederation And standing in a state no lesse impouerished for mony tresor thē made weary with labors perils he hoped to draw more cōmodities from the french king by the meane of peace then by the violence of armes warre specially ioyning with the king of England Besides he made not that accompt which he was wont to do of the mariage of his daughter both for her minority in age also for the dowry for the which he should stande accōptable for so much as themprour had receyued by way of loane of the king of England he semed by many tokens in nature to nourish a wonderful desire to haue children and by the necessitie of his condicion he was caried with great couetousnes of money vppon which two reasons he tooke a great desire to marye the sister of the house of Portugall which was both in an age hable for mariage and with whome he hoped to receyue a plentifull porcion in gold and treasor besides the liberalities of his own peoples offered by waye of beneuolence in case the mariage went forwarde suche was their desire to haue a Queene of the same nation and language and of hope to procreate children for these causes the negociacion became euery daye more hard and desperat betweene both those Princes wherein was also concurrant the ordinary inclinacion of the Cardinall of Yorke towardes the Frenche king together with the open complaintes he made of thEmprour aswell for thinterests and respects of his king as for the small reputacion thEmprour beganne to holde of him He considered that affore the battell of Pauya thEmprour neuer sent letters vnto him which were not written with his owne hande and subscribed your sonne and Cosin Charles But after the battell he vsed the seruice of Secretories in all the letters he wrote to him infixing nothing of his owne hande but the subscripcion not with titles of so greate reuerence and submission but onely with this bare worde Charles In this alteracion of affection of the Cardinall the king of England tooke occasion to receiue with gracious wordes and demonstracions thEmbassador sent by the Ladye regent to whome he gaue comfort to hope well in thinges to come And a litle afterwards estraunging his minde wholly from th affayres which were in negociacion betwene him and thEmprour he made a confederacion with the Lady regent contracting in the name of her sonne wherein he would haue inserted this expresse condicion that for the kings raunsom and deliuerie should not be deliuered to thEmprour any thing that at that time should be vnder the power or possession of the crowne of Fraunce This was the first hope which fell vppon the Realme of Fraunce And this was the first consolation in so many aduersities which afterwards went on increasing by the disorders of thImperialls in Italy They were become so insolent for so great a victorie that perswading them selues that all men and all difficulties should yeeld and giue place to their will their glory made them lose thoccasion to accorde with the Venetians and gaynesaye thinges which they had promised to the Pope and lastly brought them to fill full of suspicions both the Duchie of Myllan and all the other regions of Italy And so going on to sowe seedes of new innouacions and troubles they reduced thEmprour to this necessitie to make a rashe deliberacion daungerous for his estate in Italy if his auncient felicitie and the harde fortune and destinie of the Pope had not beene of greater force Matters assuredly moste worthy of a knowledge perticular to th end that of accidents and things so memorable may be vnderstanded the foundacions and councells which being oftentymes hid are for the most part reuealed and published after a manner most farre from the truth But skarcely had the Pope capitulated with the Viceroy when were presented vnto him the great offers of Fraunce to stirre him vppe to the warre wherein albeit he wanted not the perswasions of many to induce him to the same effecte and lesse diminucion of the distrust which he had before of thImperialls yet he determined to take suche a coursse and proceeding in all thinges
his exclaiming others tooke courage to buyld new plotts Of which if themperour thought to proceede no further in the matters of Italie did ryse a iust occasion yea almost a necessicie to take other resolutions but if he stoode vpon endes and purposes ambicious he had meanes to couer them with the most honest occasion and fayrest cooller he coulde desire And seeing from thence was deryued the very beginning and cause of righte great stirres and alterations it is necessary we reduce it to some particular rehearsall The warre which in the lyfe of the late Pope Leo was begonne aswell by him as by themperour for the chasing of the Frenche king out of Italie was leanyed vnder cooller to reestablish Frauncis Sforce in the Duchie of Millan And albeit for th execution hereof after the victorie was obteined promise was made to transfer to him the obedience of that state together with the castell of Millan and the other places of strength when they should be recouered Yet such was the magnificencie and oportunitie of that Duchy that the former feare ceassed not which men had of themperours ambition to aspire to it They interpreted the impedimentes which he receiued by the french king to be the cause that he kept cloked as yet so great a thirst for that he had altered those peoples desyring vehemently to haue Frauncis Sforce for lorde and had stirred vp all Italie agaynst him being not content to suffer the French to ryse to suche a greatnes So that Frauncis Sforce helde that Duchie but with a harde yoke and subiection and tributes and charges intollerable for all the staye and fundation of his defence agaynst the French consisting in themperour and in his armie he was constrayned not onely to respect him as his prince but also to liue subiected to the will of his capteines By whom he was miserably compelled to enterteine his regimentes of men of warre not payed by themperour sometymes with money which he leauyed vpon his subiectes with grieuous impostes and great difficulties and sometimes in suffiring them licenciously to lyue vppon his people by diseression and that in all the seuerall partes of his estate except the Citie of Millan Oppressions which albeit of themselues were heauye and grieuous yet the nature of the Spaniarde being greedy and when he hath the meane to discouer his inclination very insolent made them intollerable Neuerthelesse the daunger which was had of the Frenche men to whom thinhabitantes were enemies and the hope that those vexations would one day drawe to ende wrought in the heartes of men a greater suffraunce then their forces or faculties could well beare But after the victorie of Pauia the people could no more endure seeing the same necessities no more continuing for that the king was prisoner yet their calamities continued notwithstanding and therefore they required to bee somewhat eased of their burdens by withdrawing from the Duchie eyther all or the moste parte of the armie The like instance was also made by the Duke hauing enioyed of the Dukedome no other thing till that day then the bare name and title he feared least themprour beeing nowe assured of the French king would occupie and reteine the Duchie to himself or at least bestowe it in donation vpon some of his followers and dependanciers In which feare and suspicion deriued of the very nature of th affayres occurrant he was specially nourished by the insolent words spoken by the Viceroy affore he conueyed the king into Spayne together with the demonstrations expressed by the other capteines wherein muche lesse that they published any reputation to be holden of the Duke seeing they desired openly that themperour woulde oppresse him Besides themperour after many delayes and deferring hauing sent to the Viceroy the expedition and priuileages of the inuestiture the Viceroy when he presented them to the Duke demaunded for recompence of charges for conquering and desending that state to paye to themperour within a certayne tearme the summe of twelue hundred thousande duckets A demaunde so excessiue and intollerable that the Duke was driuen to haue recourse to the Emperour to moderate and abate the summe But these difficulties drew a doubt least the demaundes so immoderate were not interposed to make the matter alwayes deferred Moreouer suche as sought to excuse the necessitie of Frauncis Sforce alleaged many other generall causes of his iust suspicion and particularly the knowledge he had that th imperiall Capteines were resolued to restrayne or retayne him In so muche as being sommoned by the Viceroy to a certayne councell or Dyet he refused to go fayning to be sicke couering himselfe with the like excuses in all places where they had power to do him violence He nourished this suspicion whether it were true or false and ioyned withall this consideration that the state of Millan was well disburdened of the regimentes of men of warre parte of the Spanishe footemen being gone into Spayne at seuerall times with the Viceroy and the Duke of Burbon and also diuerse bandes being made riche with pillage and pray were retyred by trowpes into sundrie places And considering also the great indignation that was showed to the Marquis of Pisquairo he deuised by these aduauntages to assure himselfe of the present daunger and entred into hope that th armie might be easily defeated vsing the consent and vallour of the Marquis The author of this deuise was Ierome Moron his Chauncellor a man of high authoritie and place with him and for the facultie of his spirite facilitie of inuention flowing eloquence familiar readynes and great experience and lastly for his resolution and magnanimitie hauing oftētimes made singuler resistance agaynst aduersities was in our age a personage of right worthy memorie Whiche partes or giftes had tyed vpon his name a perpetuall fame and honor if they had gone accompanied with suche sinceritie of minde suche care and zeale to integritie and with suche maturitie of iudgement as his counsels for the moste parte had not bene discerned to holde more of precipitation and impudencie then of circumspection or honestie This man sounding the intention of the Marquis made suche insinuation into his minde already deepely grieued that they began to common to cut in peeces the remaynder of the regimentes remayning within the Duchie of Millan and to make the Marquis king of Naples An enterprise whiche they helde of easie action if the Pope and Venetians woulde be concurrant with them And touching the Pope whose minde was drawen with suspicion and doubt after he was sounded by the aduise of Moron he showed him selfe no whit disagreeing to that counsell and yet he aduertised themprour vnder cooller of friendship to interteine his capteines in deuotion and well contented not that he ment to disclose the practise but to prepare to himselfe a refuge if the matter declined to some yll euent But the Venetians embrased the deuise with resolution and sincere affection perswading them selues that no lesse readinesse of minde and will woulde
humor of some Princes to be caried rather with consideracions of profit then with care of honestie Nowe after thEmperours mariage was consummated at Seuille in Spayne the commaundator Erraro arriued at the Court with the breuiat of tharticle concerning Frauncis Sforce which article the Pope had deduced at large in his fauor So that thEmperour being also assured that the Legat Saluiatio had no commission to conclude any thing but according to that article and his whole councell thinking it necessary to stoppe and hinder the league that was in hande and no lesse daungerous to haue to doe at one time with so greate a number of ennemies He sawe him selfe reduced to these tearmes either to content the Pope and the Venetians by restoring Frauncis Sforce to the Duchie of Millan or else to compounde with the Frenche king Who for his parte after long arguing and disputacion for the countrey of Burgongnie and finding that without the price of it he coulde not hope for his deliuerie by thEmperour offered to render it with all thappurtenaunces and dependancies and to renownce all titles and rightes which he had to the kingdome of Naples and Duchie of Millan and to assure the obseruacion of his promise by the ostage of two of his sonnes The disputacions were greate vppon the election of the one or the other waye wherein the Viceroy insisted more vehementlie then euer both for that he had the conduct of the Frenche king into Spayne and had nourrished him with many braue hopes of his deliuerie vnder easie conditions His authoritie was great with thEmperour and his reputacion nothing inferiour both for that thEmperour reapposed muche in his fidelitie and trusted him because he knewe he loued him But there opposed against him Mercurio Gattinaro a man of base discending in the contrie of Piedmont and by his vertue raised to the place of high Chauncellor to thEmprour for his experiēce credit had managed of long time all the affaires of the Court of most importaunce One day thEmperour sitting really in councell to resolue absolutely the matters that had bene discoursed so many monethes these two were also present of whom the Chaunceller tooke occasion to reason in this forte I haue alwayes feared least our too great greedinesse concurring with the immoderate ends we aspire vnto would not be the cause that of so singular and honorable a victory we reaped in the ende neither glory nor profit But I coulde neuer be induced by anye argument or reason that by your victorie oh gracious Emperour eyther your estate or your reputacion shoulde fall into daunger A matter whiche nowe appeareth manifestly since there is question to conclude an accorde by the which all the regions of Italie shall be reduced to a condicion desperate which can not but bring infamy to your name the french king deliuered vp to his liberty but vnder so vnequall condicions that he will continue a greater enemy to you then before though not of will which happily he may restraine and temper yet by necessitie which is alwaies a mighty mocion to moue men to reuenge for my parte I coulde wish with as great show of affectiō as others that at one time by one meane your Maiesty might recouer Bourgongny also establish fundacions of your imperie in Italie But vaine is the wit that aspireth to hold the thing which the hand is not hable to gripe and in the property of worldly things there is nothing more full of errour then that ambicion which goeth on working in the humor of wening only lookes not backe to order and reason which are the assured lines that laye out the infallible successe of euery mortall action I haue alwaies seene that that Prince who sodainly hath embrased many thinges hath gone on with perill to effect nothing for that all those things are put to aduenture that are guided by will not by reason That fire that is mightily kindled hath much a do to be quenched but when vpon one fire riseth many flames whose propertie is to flie with the winde into many places it can not be that the burning wil not be great yea oftentimes extended to the consuming of him that first kindled it I see no reason to induce vs to thinke that the french king being deliuered wil obserue the articles of so great importance since he is not ignorant that in making you Lord of Burgangny he layeth open such a gappe to lead you into the bowells of Fraunce that it will be alwayes in your election to runne vp euen to the gates of Paris And he knoweth well enough that when he hath once put into your hande the power to vex Fraunce in so many places he hath left to him selfe no possibility to make resistance against you doth not he know all the world see that to consent that you goe to Rome with an armie is no other thing then to giue you a raine with whose bridle you may checke all Italie authoritie to dispose according to your liking of thestate spirituall and temporall of the Church and by that meane your puisance being redoubled you shall for alwayes after neuer want money nor forces to offend him And who doubteth that of this greatnes he maketh this conclusion that he shall be constrained to accept all suche lawes as it shall please you to impose vpon him Is it then reasonable to beleue that he will obserue an accorde by the which he is made your slaue and you his Lorde Where is feruitude hatefull if not in the minde whome nature hath borne to soueraintie And howe can it bee thought that he will liue vnder the yoke of subiection whose ambicion coulde not hitherunto be conteyned within the large limites of Fraunce But be it that in the king will be founde no want of conscience to obferue the condicions of the contract yet he may be ouercaried by a naturall compassion by the complaintes and lamentacions of his kingdome and by the perswasions of the king of Englande accompanied with thincitacion of all Italie It may bee that by the lawe of amitie that is betweene you two he will reappose confidence in you or at least looke into the power you are of But was there euer two Princes betwene whome haue bene greater causes of hatred and contencion There is not onely betweene you a reciprocall ielousie of greatnes A matter apt to stirre vppe one brother agaynst an other but also your common emulacion is pushed on by many auncient and great quarrells begonne in the tymes of your fathers and great grandfathers many long warres betweene those two houses many peaces and accordes not obserued many harmes done and many iniuries receyued There is no quarrell more mortall then that which taketh his nurriture in tract and prescripcion of tyme nor any hatred so daungerous as that which lyeth smothered like fire couered with hoate ymbers by whome the heate is preserued to a greater power of burning To the mind
that is iniuried there is nothinge so sweete as the passion of reuenge And by howe muche th offence is auncient and inueterat by so much more incurable is the humor of reuenge and more heauye the stroake where it lighteth We may beleeue that the kinges minde burneth with disdayne when he remembreth how many monethes he hath beene your prisoner with what seueritie he hath beene kept vnder straite and sure garde and neuer was fauored so much as to speake to you or see you Besides in this calamitie of imprisonment he hath passed so many perplexities and perills as had almost brought him to the ende of his mortall life causes not litle materiall to make him highly incensed besides the despite of his other iniuries sufficient to drawe on his desire to be reuenged And nowe he seeth we goe about to deliuer him not through magnanimitie or amitie but by necessitie and feare of so great a confederacion conspired against vs Do we thinke that parentage made by necessitie is more mighty then so many vehement incitacions Doe not we know how much Princes esteeme of such bonds And who can yeld a better restimonie then our selues of the estimacion and reckoning of parentages But it may happly seeme to some that we shall be greatly assured by the faith he will giue to returne againe into prison Oh weake foundacions and full of frailtie oh hopes vnperfect and drawing more perill then sewertie oh councell vndiscreete which hath no societie with wisedome and forecast The griefe I haue to see vs disposed to take a coursse so hurtfull and daungerous makes me burst out into this libertie of playne speeche This boarde is not ignorant what reckoning is made of faith and worde giuen when there is question of interests of estate neyther are we to learne of what force are the promisses of the French men who though they be open and playne in all other thinges yet in this regarde let vs thinke them Schoolemaisters moste perfect in deceyuing and abusing And for the king he hath naturally a readye tongue to promisse and aslowe hande to performe and by custom is so much the more harde and sparing in effects by howe much he is plentifull and prodigall in words and speeches Vppon which I gather this reasonable conclusion that neither the respect of good will betwene two Princes who haue for an auncient inheritance iniuries and offences nor the memorie of benefits which neuer was any nor the cōsideracion of faith promisses which in controuersie of matters of estate importeth nothing with the frenchmen wil haue any force to induce him to follow an accord which lifteth vp his enemy into heauen throweth his owne person his kingdom into manifest subiection where it may be obiected that for feare of these things the better to assure your maiesty you demaūd two of his childrē of whom one to be theldest whose loue wil cōtein him more thē the price of Burgongny I aūswer that the loue of those childrē wil rather cause the cōtrary specially whē the memory of thē shal moue in the cogitaciōs of his mind cōsideration that to obserue thaccord would be the beginning to make them your slaues it is doubtful that such a pawne will not be sufficient if he should be altogether desperat to recouer it in other sort for that as it is a thing that much importeth to put his Realme in daunger which being once lost is hard to be recouered So neuerthelesse he may haue many hopes to redeeme his children either with the fauor of tyme or by the benefit of accord or by thopportunitie of some other occasion and yet in respect of their base age thexspectacion wil not be greeuous to him Besides standing in tearmes to draw into vnitie against you almost all the Princes of Christendom who doubteth not but he will confederat with them who seeth not that he will seeke to moderat that accord by the waye of warre and armes And who knoweth not that in that case the gayne and profit which we shall reape by this victorie will bringe vppon vs a most stronge and daungerous warre stirred vp by the desperat hatred of the French king by the burning ielousie of the king of England and by the general necessitie of all the Potentats in Italy Against whom how shall we be able to defende our selues vnles God continue daily to worke the same miracles for vs which he hath so often done till this tyme or vnles fortune for our sakes chaunge her nature and reduce her inconstancie and lightnes to an example of constancie and firmenes contrary to all experience past how many monethes haue we concluded in our councells to doe all that we could to let thItalians for vniting with the house of Fraunce And now we throwe our selues rashly into a deliberacion which takes away all difficulties that till this hower haue kept them in suspence A matter which multiplieth our daungers encreaseth the forces of our enemies since it is not to be doubted that that league wil be more strong and mighty which shal haue for a head the French king standing in his freedome and in his kingdome then that which should be contracted with the house of Fraunce and the king remeine your prisoner There is no other thing which till this day hath deteyned the Pope from entring confederacion against you then the feare he had that you would alwayes separate the French from the residue in offering to them the libertie of their king but lesse will be their feare of such a matter when you shall haue the children who import not muche and dismisse the father vppon whose person resteth the ballancing of all things So that by this meane the medicine which we haue sought to applye to preuent our daunger will become without all comparison the chiefe poyson and instrument of our perill And in place to breake this vnion we shall be the meane to enforce it and make it more firme and puissant But me thinkes I see some ready to aske my aduise and whether I wil councell your Maiestie to drawe no profitte of so greate a victorie and to suffer you to dwell alwayes vppon these doubtes and perplexities to whome I aunswer and confirme eftsoones the similitude I haue spoken many tymes that it is a matter too hurtfull to receyue so much meate at one tyme as the stomacke can not beare And that it is necessary eyther by returning into amitie with Italy which demaundes nothing of vs but to be assured to gette of the Frenche king both Burgonguye and asmuch els as we can or els to make a composicion with him by the which Italy may remeyne at our discression but so easie touching his interests as he may haue cause to obserue the condicions of it In thelection of the one of these two wayes it apperteyneth to your maiestie in pollicie forecast to preferre that which in deed is moste stable and iust affore that which at the
of the realm of Naples So that making a collection and consideration of all these difficulties and daungers together he made vchement instance to the coÌ„federats that notwithstanding euery one in particular should solicite aduaunce such prouisions both by sea and lande as they were bound vnto by the articles of the league yet he perswaded them in generall to make a common inuasion vpon the kingdome of Naples with an army of a thousand light horsmen twelue thousand footmen a conuenient number of men at armes He tooke his reason of this deuise vpon thexperience of things done tyll that day iudged that afterwards there would succede no better issue if they vexed not themprour with warre in other places then in the duchy of Millan And for the better aduauncing of this expedition he dispatched to the french king Iohn Baptist a Sanga a Romaine and one of his secretories both to pul him on with a better inclination to the warre and to impart with him thestate of his wantes and pouertie of money together with the small meanes he had to goe on with so heauy a burden of exspences if he were not eased with some quantity of money from him That he was determined to harken presently to the warre of Naples notwithstanding the articles of the confederation bare not to do any action vpon that kingdome so long as the warre should endure in Lombardy That the Venetians notwithstanding to auoyde so great exspences had made difficulty in the beginning yet being caried with his importunities they had consented to be concurrant in the action and that without the french king but with so much lesse numbers of men as imported his part and contribution That the french king for that cause ouer besides the 500. launces to whoÌ„ he was minded to giue for generall and commaunder the Marquis of Salussa more for the fortune and felicity then for the vallout and vertue of the man as he sayde would also send an other proportion of 300. launces into Lombardy to thend to administer one part of them to the warres of Naples That he would solicit the coÌ„ming on of the army by sea that either to hold Genes short restrayned with it or else to conuert it against the kingdome of Naples Which army albeit the freÌ„ch meÌ„ led on with as slow aduauncementes as they vsed in the other prouisions yet it went on still in forwardnes The kings nauy conteined 4. gallions 16. light gallies the Venetians conteined 13. gallies and the Popes 11. Ouer all which Nauy reduced into one Admiralty Peter Nauarre was appointed Capteine general at the kings instaÌ„ce notwithstaÌ„ding the Pope could haue wished that dignity to haue bin transferred to Andrea Dore Besides all these instructions and commissions the Pope gaue a secret charge to Sanga to perswade the french king to vndertake the enterprise of Millan for himself to thend to intangle him with that occasion to imbarke him into the warre with all his forces Moreouer Sanga was enioyned to go out of Fraunce to the king of England to demaund succours of money â—eeing the king of that Realme desiring greatly in the beginning the warre against the Emprour so farre forth as the league were negociated in England according to his desire the Cardinals of Yorke would enter the league as was beloued But the hature of the time and necessitie of the castel of Myllan not suffring a long treaty or conference when he saw the league was made by others he thought he might hold the ballance and stand as a looker on and a iudge The Pope also solicited both at the perswasions of the Venetians and at the request of the French king who had sent to that end the Bishop of Bayeux to Ferrara to haue composed the controuersies that were betwene him that Duke But â—e handled that action more in apparance then in effect making vnto him many offers and amongest others to giue him Rauenna in counterchaunge of Modena and Reggia A couerture or culler which the Duke made no reckoning of not onely for that by taking a new hart for the retyring of the army from before the walls of Myllan he was more hardly then before drawne to like of the offers that were made and chiefly that of Rauenna but also for the great difference and inequalitie of the reuenues And that he tooke it to be a meane to driue him with time into contencion with the Venetians These were the practises preparacions and operacions of the confederats deferred broken of and chaunged according to the endes and according to the councels of the Princes that managed them But thEmprour whose deliberacions depended wholly of him selfe was neyther negligent nor irresolute so farre forthas his power and forces stretched for after the Frenche king at the instance of the confederats had denyed to the Viceroy leaue to passe into Italy which he demaunded with great affection The Viceroy refusing to take the kinges present which was supposed to be in value twenty thowsande crownes departed and tooke his waye into Spayne bearing with him a writing written with the kings hande wherein he protested a readines to obserue thaccord of Madrill so farre forth as he woulde conuert the restitucion of Burgongute into an exchaunge and payment of two myllions of crownes By whose relacion thEmprour seeing nowe no further hope of obseruacion in the king determined to sende by sea into Italy the Viceroy with the launceknights that werein Parpignan beeing almost three thowsande with the like number of Spanish footemen conteyning in all a number of six thowsande he gaue order also to sende a newe supplye of an hundred thowsande duckats to Myllan And albeit he solicited thexpedicion of the armye by sea yet it coulde not be ready with speede according to his exspectacion for that besides the tyme to mooster and assemble the Spanish souldiers there was necessitie to paye the launceknightes an hundred thowsande duckatts due vppon their wages past furthermore he addressed continuall directions into Germanye to sende to Myllan newe succours of footemen but bothe for that he gaue no order for their payes and also for the dishabilitie of his brother to leauye money that expedicion proceeded slowely And yet by the delayes and yll successe and yssue of the confederats no sorte of temporising nor slowenes coulde bee hurtefull for Malatesta Baillon beeing come before Cremona planted his artilleries by nyght of the seuenth of August before the gate of La Mussa iudging that place to bee weake for that it was yll flanked and worsse rampared And for that he thought at the same tyme to giue thasfault on the castell side he supposed it best to make his batterye in a place farre of to th ende to constrayne the defendants to deuide their strength into sundrye places Neuerthelesse after his artilleries had executed he founde the place strong and fortefied with campars and the wall which he battered so highe of earth that
an yll counsel of the Pope wrote to him that the Viceroy reiecting all motions to truce was contented to make peace with the Pope onely or with the Pope and Venetians ioyntly so farreforth as they would make payment of money to thend to mainteine the army for assurance of the peace and afterwards to debate in the matter of the truce with the others An alteration mouing eyther by the variation or chaunge of the Viceroy or happly by the perswasions of tharchbishop as many suspected At which time Paule d'Arezze being come to themprours Court with authoritie from the Pope the Venetians and Frauncis Sforce whither also went by the motiō of the king of England for the negociation of peace the Auditor of the Chamber the rather for that before were come thither full commissions from the french king He found themprour wholy chaunged both in minde will taking the reason of his alteration vpon an aduertisement he had receiued of the army of the launceknightes and of his Nauy in Italy In so much as enforcing the fauor of that good aduauntage he fled from all the conditions that were set downe before and vrged vehemently that the French king should obserue absolutely thaccord of Madrill to haue the cause of Frauncis Sforce heard by law before Iudges assigned by himselfe Thus did both the will and intention of themprour vary according to the successe of affayres like as also his commissions which he sent to his Agentes in Italy bare alwayes by reason of the distance of the place eyther an expresse or silent condition to gouerne themselues according to the variation of times and occasions Therfore the Viceroy after he had many dayes abused the Pope with vayne practises and would not so muche as consent to a surceance of armes for a few daies till the negociation might soart to some issue brake vp from Naples the xx of December to goe into thestates of the Church In which wilfulnesse he offred many new and very straunge conditions of accorde But to returne to the laste daye of the yeare wherein the Launceknightes as we haue sayde passed the ryuer of Nure The same day also the Duke of Ferrara by the meane of his Embassador capitulated with the Viceroy and Don Hugo who had commission from themprour Neuertheles the capitulation was made with a very small liking of that Embassador for that he was almoste constrayned to consent by the threates and rude words of the Viceroy Tharticles of the capitulation were these That the duke of Ferrara should be bounde aswell in his person as in his estates to serue themprour agaynst all his enemies That he should be capteine generall for themprour in Italy with a company of an hundred men at armes and two hundred light horsemen onely he should assemble and leauy them at his owne charges and receyue agayne allowance in his accountes That he should presently receyue the towne of Carpy and the Castell of Nouy which had apperteined to Albert Pio for the dowry of themprours bastard daughter promised to his sonne onely the reuenues should be aunswered in account of the souldiors a compensation to be made vntill the consummation of the mariage And that Vespatian Colonno and the Marquis of Guast should disclayme and renounce the rightes which they pretended to them That he should pay the summe of two hundred thousand duckets when he had recouered Modena but out of that should be deducted that which he had giuen to the Viceroy since the battell of Pauia That if he did not recouer Modena all the summes of money which he had before disbursed should be eftsones repayed to him That themprour should be bound to his protection not to make peace without comprehending him and not without obteining for him of the Pope absolution of the paynes and censures which he had incurred euer since he was declared confederate to themprour And lastly that he should vse all his meanes and authoritie to the Pope to absolue him of all those penalties and transgressions which he had runne into before Thus in the ende of the yere a thousande fiue hundred and sixe twentie all things prepared and tended to a manyfest and open warre The ende of the seuenteenth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE EIGHTENTH BOOKE THe Duke of Burbonissueth out of Millan The Viceroy and Colonnois make vvarre agaynst the Pope in thestate of the Churche The Marquis of Salussa entreth vvithin Bolognia The Pope maketh vvarre in the kingdome of Naples The Duke of Burbon leadeth his armie to Rome taketh the tovvne and sacketh it and is slayne in the action The Pope beeing abandoned of all hope accordeth vvith thimperialls Amutinie in Florence The king of Englande is declared agaynst themprour The confederates do many enterprises THE EIGHTEENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin NOW ensueth the yeare of our Lorde a thousande fiue hundred and seuen and twenty A yeare prepared to many harde euentes and accidentes suche as for their crueltie were full of feare and daunger and for their straungenes had no example or experience with the worldes and ages before For in the predictions of this yeare was expressed an vniuersall face of troubles and confusion of mutation of estates of captiuitie of princes of desolation of Cities of dearth of vittelles and of a generall visitation of the plague yea through all the regions and climates of Italy there was no apparance nor contemplation of other thing then of blood death famine and fleeing A condition lamentable euen to forreiners and straungers that dyd but heare of it but moste intollerable to those miserable wretches vpon whose neckes the lawe of destenie had drawne so grieuous a yoke To these calamities there was no other thing that stayed the action of beginning and execution but the difficulties whiche the Duke of Burbon founde to make the regimentes of Spanishe footemen to departe out of Millan for where he had determined that Anthony de Leua shoulde abide there for the defence of the whole Duchie and reteyne with him all those bands of Launceknightes which were there before for whose enterteinmentes and payes were consumed bothe all the moneyes exacted at tymes vppon the Millannois and also suche other summes as were leauyed by the billes of exchaunge which the Duke of Burbon brought from Spayne And where he had also appoynted to remayne with the sayd Leua for the seruice of the Duchie a strength of twelue hundred footemen Spaniardes together with some bandes of Italian footemen vnder the leading of Lodovvike Belliense and other commaunders So likewise by their example all the other bandes and regimentes of souldiors for that they had in pray the houses the wyues and daughters of thinhabitantes of Millan were not discontented to liue still in that estate of licentious libertie But for that both for the necessitie of the present seruice and regarde of their proper honor and lastely for the awe and authoritie of the Duke of Burbon they
the castell S. Angelo The Pope was al this while in no smal thought to make prouision of money wherin imploring the ayde of other princes he receiued of new from the king of England a supply of thirty thousand duckets which the lord Russell his Chamberlaine brought to him And with him came Monsr de Rabandanges with ten thousande crownes sent to him by the french king vpon the benefit of the tenthes which the Pope had accorded to him by necessitie compulsion vnder this promise notwithstāding that besides the payments of the forty thousand crownes which he gaue to the league and twenty thousand which he contributed to the Pope for euery moneth he should presently minister to him thirty thousand duckets within a moneth thirty thousand more The king of Englande gaue commission also to the Lorde Russell to signifie to the Viceroy and the Duke of Burbon a surseance of armes to th end to giue sufferance and tyme to treate a peace the practise and negociation whereof according to themprours will was holden in Englande And if the Viceroy would not condiscend to it then to denounce agaynst him warre It seemed by this readynes and many other apparances that the king of Englande vnder a desire to marry his daughter with the Frenche king was well inclined to the confederates and fauoured their cause And in that good inclination he promised that assoone as the mariage were established to enter into the league and beginne the warre in Flaunders It seemed also he was particularly disposed to do pleasure to the Pope But there could be no great exspectation of ready remedies from a prince who both measured not well the present conditions of Italy nor stoode firme and resolute in his purposes beeing styll labored and retyred by the hope which themprour gaue him to commit to him the working and arbitration of the peace notwithstanding theffectes were in nothing correspondant to the semblances and showes he made for when the Auditor of the Chamber was with him for that matter albeit themprour did what he could to perswade him in many sortes that such was his intention yet for that he exspected some euentes from Italy since the discending of the launceknightes and the aryuall of his Nauy at sea wherof he had receiued some aduertisement he forbare to giue him an aunswere assured and certayne taking his excuse vppon the warrantes and commissions of the confederates as though they were not sufficient But thaccorde whiche the Pope solicited continually with the Viceroy hurt him not a little with the Confederates both for that they stoode alwayes in feare least he woulde resolue and compound with him And also the French king and the Venetians made this iudgement that all the exspences and defraymentes whiche they should make to support him would be almost vnprofitable This iudgement and suspicion tooke encreasing by certayne degrees of vehement feares whiche were discerned in him together with the lamentable protestations he made dayly that he was no more hable to susteine the warre Wherein agaynst hys ordinarye meane and remedy in that case he opposed wilfully his naturall obstinacy would not make Cardinalls for money nor releeue himselfe in so great necessities amid so many daungers of the Church with those meanes which other Popes had wont to vse yea euen in thatchieuing of their vniust and ambicious enterprises In which regarde the French king and the Venetians to be the better prepared and ready in all accidents were eftsones particularly bound to make no accord with themprour the one without the other And the French king for that cause and for the great hope which the king of Englande gaue to rayse together with him in case the mariage went forwarde great emotions in the spring following became more negligent and lesse carefull of the daungers of Italy In this time the Viceroy who solicited an inuasion vpon the Churche states dispatched a regiment of two thousande Spanish footemen to assault a small Castell of Stephen Colonno where the vallour of the defendantes made that enterprise in vayne And because the Viceroy came on and aduaunced thecclesiastikes referred to an other time to execute the resolution taken to batter the Popes rocke the garrisons of which place had surprised the Castell Gandolffo but weakly manned and at that tyme holden by the Cardinall de Monte At last the Viceroy after he had assembled into one strength twelue thousande footemen all bodyes commaunded and trayned sauing the Spaniards and Launceknights that were come with him by sea encamped with his whole armie the xxix of Ianuary before Frusolone a towne weake and without walles sauing that the howses of some particulars serue as a wall and within the which the capteines of the Church had bestowed garrison because they would leaue him no footing nor entrie into Campagnia to the weaknes of this place was ioyned a great necessitie and want of vittells and yet the situation of the towne standing vpon a hill giueth alwayes to the inhabitantes good meane and oportunitie to saue them selues of one side for that it beareth a certaine benesite of reskew and backing A matter which gaue a great resolution to the garrison within to defende it besides that they were of the best choyse of Italians whiche at that time tooke paye Moreouer the height of the mountayne was no litle impediment to thenemies to do any action vpon their artilleries of which they had planted three demy Cannons and foure Coluerines Onely the greatest care of thenemies was to stoppe as muche as they could the entry of vittells into the towne On the other side the Pope who albeit was muche impouerished for money and was more apt to suffer indignitie to desire others to releeue him then to furnishe himselfe by meanes extraordinary encreased his campe as muche as he could with bandes of footemen payed and trayned And in that incertentie of minde and dealing he had newly taken into his paye Horacio Baillon without keeping memorie or obseruation of the iniuries which he had done before to his father and afterwardes to him whom he had of long holden prisoner within the Castell of S. Angelo as a troubler of the quiet of Perousa With these supplies of souldiours his armie went on alwayes drawing neare to Ferentin to make there his generall moosters and to giue hope of succours to those that were besieged The batterye of Frusolona was reduced to perfection the xxiiij day but because it was not suche as to giue hope to cary the place there was no assault performed Onely capteine Alarcon trauelling about the walles was hurt with the blowe of a harquebuse and likewise Maria Vrsin was wounded One of the principall grounds and hopes of the Viceroy was that he was not ignorant that the souldiors within suffred great scarcitie of vittells as also the armie that moostred at Ferentin was in the same extremitie for the souldiours of the Colonnois whiche laye within Palicina Montfortin and the Popes Rocke the
mutined drew into manifest tumult and that to the great daunger of the life of the Duke of Burbon if he had not with present diligence escaped from his lodging which in their fury they inuaded sacked killing one of his gentlemen who stoode to defend the goods of his maister By reason of this accident the Marquis of Guast went foorthwith to Ferrara from whence he returned with some litle summe of money with the which the army was reappeased The seuenteenth day there fell from the regions aboue such abundance of snowe and raine that for certeine dayes it tooke away all libertie of marching as well for the impediment of the wayes made worse by the ill weather as for the swelling of the riuers which the snowes and landfluddes had made equal with the toppes of their bankes or shoares By which intemperaunce of the wether instrumentallie working in the destinie assigned Capteine George fell sicke of an appoplexie which so vexed him to the great perill of his life that at least thennemies hoped that he would become vnprofitable to followe the campe and vnder that occasion the Launceknightes would no more beare their incommodities and want of money But the effect was otherwise then thapparance declared By this time the Venetian armie was at S. Favvstin neare to Rubiero to whom the eighteenth of Marche came the person of the Duke of Vrbin who according to his custome promised to the Senate of Venice almost a certeintie of the victorie not so much through the vallour and puissance of the confederates as for the difficulties and straites whereunto were reduced thennemies But now the affaires of the Pope being reduced on all parts to these hard tearmes he ranne a carelesse course accompanied with faintnesse of courage both for that he was pinched with the want necessitie of money wherein his care was so much the greater by howe muche did redouble his extremities and also for thenterprise of Naples which tooke not successe according to his first deuises and lastlie for that his companies were retyred to Piperna being no longer hable to endure the want of vittells But the matter that most tooke away his resolucion and spirite was the temporising of the Frenche in whom was found no correspondencie betwene their promises and their effects a custome which they had duely obserued euen from the first day of the warre till the last end of the same for besides that the king was long in sending the fortie thowsande duckats for the first moneth of the warre and to dispatche the fiue hundred launces for the sea armie And besides that he woulde not according as he was bounde make warre beyonde the mountes which was one of the principall fundacions and meanes sette downe to aspire to the victorie Yet also he failed to obserue his promises with the Pope from day to day that besides the ordinarie contribucion he would minister to him monethly twentie thowsand duckats to make warre in the realme of Naples Also the truce being made by reason of the conspiring of Don Hugo and the Colonnois he councelled him not to keepe the articles of the truce and confirmed vnto him the same promise not onlie to ayde him in the warres against Naples but also in all actions for his proper defense And lastly he promised to send to him Ranso de Cere whom he fauored much for that he had expressed great vallour in the defense of Marseilles All which things albeit they had bene promised from the moneth of October yet it was so long ere they were executed that it was the fourth day of Ianuarie before Ranse came to Rome and yet he brought no money and also it was ten dayes after before the twenty thowsand duckats were sent Of which summe foure thowsand were reteined by Ranse as well for his expenses and defrayments as for his pension and ten thowsand were conuerted to furnish thenterprise of Abruzze so that to the Popes hands who vnder that promise had broken the truce almost three moneths before there neuer came of that summe more then six thowsand Moreouer the king had promised the Pope in regard of his consenting to a tenth to pay vnto him xxv thousand crownes within eight dayes and xxxv thowsand more within two monethes But he neuer receiued aboue nine thowsand which were brought him by Monsr Rabandanges The king also extended his promise further for that after Pavvle Aretze had taken his leaue of him the twelfth of Februarie he promised him a coplemēt of twenty thowsand duckats to th end to giue to the Pope a better stomake to make warre But the sayd twentie thowsande duckats which were sent after Monsr de Lange neuer passed further then Sauona The king was bound by the capitulacions of the confederacion to send twelue gallies of which sorte of vessells he sayd he had sent sixteene but the most parte of them so ill prepared and so slenderlie furnished of men to set on land that they stirred not from Sauona Where if at the first when ouerture was made of the warre against the kingdome of Naples they had immediatly ioyned with the gallies of the Pope and Venetians they would not but haue executed right great exployts And touching the armie by sea verie mightie in great vessells notwithstanding the king had made many promises to sende them out against Naples yet they neuer went farre from Prouence or Sauona Furthermore after he had condiscended to geue two payes to the souldiours of the Marquis of Salusse he agreed with the Venetians who had a lesse number of souldiours then he to whome they were bounde that their pay shoulde be taken vpon the contribucion of the fortie thowsand duckats He saw the comfortes and succours of the king of England were verie farre of and vncerteine The Venetians made but slowe paymentes to their companies and for that cause the bandes of the Marquis of Salusse and the Svvizzers who were within Bolognia serued almost for nothing The variacions and vncerteinties of the Duke of Vrbin astonished him not a litle since thereby he discerned that no impediment would be giuen to thImperials to passe into Tuskane By which meane waying together with the ill disposicion of the people of Florence thintelligence which the Citie of Sienna had with thImperialls he saw that not onelie the state of Florence woulde fall into manifest daunger but also the circuit and iurisdiction of the Churche All which reasons albeit they moued him greatlie and wrought no small impressions in him yet after many dristes and doubtes notwithstanding he discerned well enough howe infamous and daungerous it would be to separate him selfe from the confederates and to referre him to the discression of thennemies yet both for that he was not sufficientlie succored by the residue and much lesse would applie suche aide of him selfe as he might and also being ouerruled by passions of present feare and not hable to resist with resolucion and courage the difficulties and daungers occurring he
of the deathe of the Duke of Burbon And lastly the Frenche kinge not holding it good pollicye to suffer the thinges of Italy so to declyne he contracted the fiftenth daye of Maye with the Venetians that they shoulde wage in common tenne thowsande Svvyzzers he to furnishe the first paye and the Venetians the seconde and so forwarde according to that rule That he shoulde sende into Italy tenne thowsande Frenche men vnder Peter Nauarre That in lyke sorte the Venetians ioyntly with the Duke of Myllan shoulde wage tenne thowsande footemen Italyans That he shoulde fende thether a newe supplye of fiue hundred launces and eyghteene peeces of artilleries And bicause the king of England notwithstanding tharticles of the contract shewed no greate readines to make warre beyonde the Mountes A dealing which was not very agreable to the French king They dispensed with that obligacion and in place of that they couenanted That the king of England to furnishe the warre of Italy shoulde defraye the paye of tenne thowsande footemen for six monethes full And at the speciall instance of the sayde kinge of England Monsr de Lavvtrech almoste agaynst his will was declared Capteine generall of the whole armye during whose preparacion to marche and passe with conuenient prouisions of money and other thinges necessarye there was nothinge done in Italy that was of any consequence for bothe thEmprours armye styrred not out of Rome notwithstanding that many perished dayly by the rage of the plague which at that tyme ranne also with greate mortalitye in Florence and through many partes of Italy And also the armye of the league into which at thinstance of the Marquis of Salusso and the Venetians the Florentyns were entred of newe with obligacion to defraye fiue thowsande footemen wherewith thEmprour felt him selfe greeuously offended for that hauing at their instance giuen to the Duke of Ferrara authoritie to compownd in his name was almost assoone aduertised of their contrary deliberacion This armye beeing greatly diminished in numbers for that the regiments of the Venetians of the Marquis and the Svvyzzers were yll payed was retyred towardes Viterba And looking altogether to temporise and enterteyne they labored to holde in the deuocion of the league Perousa Orbieta Spoleto with other places thereabowts And afterwardes hauing vnderstandinge in that place that one parte of thEmprours armye was yssued out of Rome somewhat to take breathe with the largenes and skoape of ayre fearing least the residue shoulde doe the lyke after the first payments were made they retyred to Orbietta and afterwardes neare to the borowe of Pyeua And in that inclinacion they had retyred vppon the landes of the Florentyns if they would haue giuen consent In this rage of the plague the castell of Saint Angeo was visited to the great daunger of the life of the Pope abowt whom dyed certeine speciall men that did seruice to his person who amyd so many afflictions and aduersities and no other hope remeyning to him then in the clemencie of thEmprour appoynted for Legat with the consent of the Capteines Cardinall Alexander of Farneso who notwithstanding being yssued out of the castell and Rome refused vnder that occasion to goe in the sayd legacion The Capteines desired to cary the person of the Pope with the thirteene Cardinals that were with him to Caietto but he labored against that resolucion with greate diligence peticions and arte At last Monsr de Lavvtrech after he had giuen order to thinges necessary departed from the Court the last of Iune with eyght hundred launces and honored with the title of Capteine generall of the whole league And the king of England in place to present tenne thowsand footemen was taxed to paye in money for euery moneth beginning the first of Iune the summe of xxx thowsand duckats Which money should be conuerted to the payment of tenne thowsand launceknights vnder Monsr Vavvdemont which was a regiment of very good exercise and practise for that they had many times broken the bands of the Lutherans The French king tooke also to his paye Andre Dore with eyght gallyes and xxxvj crownes for euery yeare But before Monsr Lavvtrech was past the Mounts the regiments of the Venetians and the Duke of Myllan ioyned together marched to Marignan whome Antho. de Leua yssuing out of Myllan with eyght hundred Spanyards and the like number of Italyans together with a very fewe horsemen constrayned them to retyre About which tyme Iohn Iames de Medicis Captaine of Mus who was in pay with the French king and exspected vppon the lake the comming of the Svvyzzers made him selfe Lord by suttle meanes vppon the castell of Monguzzo seated betwene Lecqua and Coma wherein dwelt Alexander Bentyuolo as in his owne house for the recouering of it Antho. de Leua sent thether Lodovvyk de Belioyense who hauing assalted it in vaine turned to Monceo But afterwards Antho. de Leua hauing espiall that the sayd Capteine Mus with two thowsand fiue hundred footemen was come to the village of Carato foureteene myles from Myllan returned to Myllan where leauing onely two hundred men notwithstanding the Venetians were almost ten thowsand and yssuing out by night with the rest of the armye he charged suddeinly vppon the rising of the Sunne the bands of Capteine Mus who at the alarme leauing their houses wherein they were lodged they retyred into a playne place enuyroned with hedges not farre from the village not thinking that all the bands were there And albeit they cast them selues into order yet by the disaduauntage of the place beeing lowe and strayted as a prison they fell all without any resistance into the calamitye of the sworde or prisoners except many who in the beginning sought their sauetye by fleeing taking their example of the Capteine In this meane while ThEmprour had aduertisement of the Popes captiuitie by letters which his high Chauncellor wrote to him from Monaco as he went into Italy whether he was sent by his authoritie And albeit by his speeches and outward forme of behauior he expressed how greeuous that accident was to him yet it was discerned by his secrete mocions and affections that he was not muche discontented with it which he well declared in publike demonstracions not forbearing to followe the feastes and torneyes begonne before for the byrthe of his Sonne But as the deliuerie of the Pope was vehemently desired by the king of England and Cardinall of Yorke and for their authoritie no lesse displeasing to the French kinge who in case he coulde otherwayes haue recouered his children woulde haue taken litle care and greefe for the calamities of the Pope and vniuersall domages of all Italy So in a cause so generally inducing to compassion bothe the one and the other king sent Embassadors to thEmprour to demaunde the deliuerance of the Pope as a matter apperteyning in common to all the Princes Christian and particularly due by the Emprour vnder whose faith he had beene reduced to that estate of miserye by his
natural custome hauing not left for the calamitie of his imprisonment neither his suttleties wherin he could depely dissemble nor his couetousnes which he could not auoyde for when the Agents which Lavvtrech sent together with the Embassadour of the king of Englande were come before him to solicite him to consederate with the residue he began to giue them diuerse aunsweres Sometimes he dismissed them with hope that he would be reduced conformable to their desires and sometimes he would inferre excuses that hauing neyther men money nor authoritie as it coulde not helpe them muche to haue him to ioyne with them so the action could not but be preiudiciall to himselfe for that thimperialls would take occasion to vex him in many places And sometimes he showed a ready inclination to satisfie their demaundes so farrefoorth as Monsr Lavvtrech did aduaunce A matter which he desyred greatly to thend the Launceknightes were compelled to depart out of Rome who going on consuming the remaynders of that miserable citie and all the countrey confining would not be brought to giue ouer to hunt the praye whiche they founde so sweete but in their insolencies neyther respecting their Capteines with obedience nor for bearing ciuill tumult and mutinies amongest them selues they demaunded new payes But from the ende of the yere going before and much more in the beginning of the yere following the industrie and solicitations of the peace began to appeare vayne and by that reason the mindes of Princes and states beganne to be so muche more incensed and kindled by how much lesse they saw themselues excluded from the hope of peace For as all the difficulties were almost resolued seing themprour refused not to render to Frauncis Sforce the Duchie of Millan and to compounde with the Venetians the Florentins and the other confederates So this rested onely in question which of these two things should be put first in execution eyther the withdrawing of the French armie out of Italy or the restitution of the kinges children The king would not be bound to reuoke his armie out of Italy if first he recouered not his children offring to put ostages into the handes of the king of England to assure the obseruation of the penalties wherein he was bounde if vpon the refirming of his children he retyred not presently his armie But themprour made instance to the contrarie offring the same cawtions into the king of Englands hands Wherein the question and disputation running in whether of them it would bee more comely or honest to trust the other themprour sayde it was not reasonable to reapose confidence in him who had once deceyued him To the which the French Embassadours aunswered that by how muche more he pretended to be deceiued by their king by so much lesse could their king reapose confidence in him They alleaged also that themprours offer to consigne into the hands of the king of England the same assurances which their king offred was neyther equall nor indifferent for that both the case varyed in this that the thing which themprour promised to do was of farre greater consequence then thobligation of their king and therefore not reasonable to be assured vnder the same cawtions And also they added that the English Embassadours who had authoritie to binde their king to obserue what so euer the French king should promise had no commission to tye him to thobseruation of themprours promises And that their faculties authoritie being limited and restrayned to tearme and time they could neither exceed nor anticipate Vpon which disputation could soart no resolution for that themprour had not the same inclination to the peace which his Counsell had the rather for that he enterteined himselfe with this opinion that though by warre he should lose the kingdome of Naples yet he should be apt to recouer it by rendring the children of Fraunce yea the great Chauncellour who long time before was returned into Spayne was touched muche by imputation to haue troubled greatly the solicitations of the peace with cauillations and interpretations sophisticall At last thembassadours of Englande and Fraunce following their commissions in case they dispayred of thaccorde determined to demaund leaue of themprour to depart and immediatly afterwards to denounce warre agaynst him And with that conclusion being brought to his presence the xxj of Ianuary his Court being then at Burgos and beeing folowed with thembassadours of Venice of the Duke of Millan and Florence Thenglishe Embassadours demaunded of him the foure hundred and fiftie thousande duckets which their king had lent to him and sixe hundred thousande for the penaltie imposed vpon him in that he had refused his daughter together with fiue hundred thousande for the pensions of the French king and for other causes Whiche demaundes being proponed for greater iustification all thembassadours of the confederates asked leaue to depart away But he tolde them he woulde take aduise of his counsell before he would aunswere that demaunde beeing in deede necessarie affore they departed that his Embassadours were in places of suretie Thembassadours were no sooner departed his presence then the Heraldes of Englande and Fraunce entred to denounce warre agaynst him whiche he accepted with a greate showe of gladnes and brauerie And in that humor he gaue present direction that thembassadours of Fraunce Venice and Florence should be conueyed to a towne fifteene leagues from the Court where beeing garded with archiers and halberdiers they were forbidden eyther to communicate or to write anye thing what so euer Touching the duke of Myllans Embassadour he imposed vpon him a commaundement as vpon his subiect that he should not departe from his Court Onely on the behalfe of the Embassadour of Englande there was nothing innouated Thus all the negociations and hopes of peace being broken there remayned only inflamed and kindled the cogitatious and thoughts of the warre which as it declared it selfe in manyfest preparation through all the regions of Italy So to reduce to action and beginning the thing that as yet was but in apparance show Monsr Lavvtrech pushed on by the king but muche more by the king of Englande since the hope of peace began to diminishe was departed from Bolognia the nynth of Ianuary to marche to the kingdome of Naples by the way of Romagnia and la Marqua This way after long consultation was chosen by him contrary to thinstance of the Pope who desyred vnder thoccasion of his marching to restore into Sienna Fabio Petruccio and Montenono That election of the way was also agaynst the instance of the Florentins who to th end to haue that army more ready to succour them in case thimperialls marched to inuade Tuskane desired them to take the way of Tuskane But Monsr Lavvtrech chose rather to make his entry into the realme of Naples by the way of Tronto both for the commoditie of that way to leade the artilleries and also for the fertilitie of the countrey yeelding plenty of vittels and lastly because he would not
to pay thirtie thowsand duckats monthly for the warre of Italy in which was determined the contribucion promised before for six monethes But by how much were augmented and enforced the preparacions of the warre by so much and by the same degrees were kindled redoubled the hatreds of both the princes hauing especiall interest in this warre either of them tooke occasion to multiplie iniuries and enforce quarrells In which passions they contended no lesse with courage and malice then with force and armes For whereas thempror about two yeares before in the towne of Grenado when in like sorte the peace was solicited betwene the french king and him spake to the President of Grenoble the french embassador then certeine wordes inferring that he would willingly put end to all quarrells betwene the king and him by a singular combat of both their personnes to th ende to auoide so much bloode and affliction of Christians and personnes innocent And whereas also since that time he had cōfirmed the same wordes to the herald the last time he signified the warre to him with this addicion that the french king had delt with him villanously and cowardly in falsesying the faith he had giuen to him These speeches being now deliuered ouer to the king he thought he could not let them lie in silence without his ignominie and dishonor And therefore albeit the chalenge might better become the personnes of knightes then to be performed by princes of their estate and greatnes yet being no lesse guided with the enuie of the chalenge then desirous to purge and iustifie his honor he caused to assemble the xxvij of Marche in a great hall of his pallaice at Paris all his princes attending his person all thembassadors resident from the forreine and the whole presence of his court And in that aspect and stately view of nobles embassadors the king in his time discended into the hall with a great pompe and furnishment of sumptuous attire no lesse honorably accompanied with a traine of Barons where after he was with all ceremonies of state dignitie set in his seate royall he caused to be called before him themprours embassador who sued for his dispatch for that it was determined that being conueighed to Bayone he should be deliuered at the same time that the other confederat embassadors were set at libertie who for that purpose were conducted to Bayone When thembassador stoode in his presence the king spake to him excusing and alleadging that thempror had bene principally the cause of his restraining for that in an example new and against humanitie he had kept reteined his embassadors and the agents of his confederats But seing he was now to go to Bayone to th ende there might be an vniuersall deliuerie at one time he desired him to cary from him a letter to thempror and to deliuer a message from him of this tenor That whereas thempror had saied to his herald that he had falsefied his faith he had saied falsely and that hovv many times he had spoken it so many times had he lied and that for aunsvvere to th ende not to linger the tryall of their quarells he vvould assigne him the place vvhere they might together performe the combat But thembassador refusing either to cary the letter or to deliuer the message the king saied he would send to signifie no lesse to him by a herald he added also to the message that albeit he was not ignorant that themprour had spoken wordes against the honor of his brother the king of England yet he would make no mencion of that knowing that the saied king was well hable to deale in his owne defense And yet if thorow the indisposicion of his body he had any lawfull impedimēt he offred to present his person to hazard for him Not many daies after the king of England gaue the same deffiance and with the same solemnities and ceremonies The same somewhat offending the honor of the princes of Christendome who in their rage of malice could not forbeare to defile their mindes with such passions hauing ronning amongest them a warre of so great importance and so much preiudiciall to all the common wealth of Christendom But amyd these great heates and furies of warre and armes the order of our story draweth into discourse some reapport of the king of England touching the refusing of the Lady Katherine of Aragon The saied king had to wife the said Lady Katherine daughter to Ferdinand and Elyzabeth kings of Spayne a queene worthy of such parents and for her vertues and good behauior vniuersally beloued reuerenced of the whole estate of the realme In the time of the father of that king she was maried to prince Arthure eldest sonne to the crowne but being almost no sooner maried then she was made a widow by the hasty death of her husband she was eftsoones by the consent of her father and father in law married to prince Henry the younger brother but with dispensacion of Pope Iulio in regard of thaffinitie that was neare and straite of which mariage was procreated a sonne who died immediatly and afterwardes there succeded no other generacion of children then a daughter The same giuing occasion to the court to murmure that for the vnlawfulnes of the mariage being not dispensable in the first degree the crowne was by miracle depriued of issue male This occasion was aptly taken and managed by the Cardinall of Yorke who knowing the kings desire to haue sonnes began to perswade him that refusing his first wife who iustly was not his wife he might dispose himselfe to marie an other Wherein much lesse that he was induced by conscience or of a simple desier to bring issue male to the king but he was caried in that action with a secret opinion that in drawing his king to embrase a second mariage he might happlie induce him to fix his affection vpon the Ladie Renea daughter to king Lovvys A matter which was desired by him with no small industrie and ambicion for that knowing he was generally hated of all the realme he sought to prepare remedies for his owne estate against all accidents that might happen both during the life and after the death of the king he tooke also one strong inducement to that practise vpon the greate malice he had conceiued against themperour for that neither in demonstracions nor with effects he did not further and satisfie his incredible pride neither did he doute for the great authoritie the king and he had with the Pope to dispose him to publish iudicially the diuorce The king opened readely his eares to this councell not that he was caried with those endes which the Cardinall of Yorke had fashioned But according to thopinion of many he tooke the chiefest reason of his inducement vppon the loue he bare to a Ladie of the Queenes traine whome he determined to make his wife In which course of loue and choosing the king was so secret and priuate that
his pretence was neyther knowen to the Cardinall nor communicated with others but when it beganne to burst out eyther into knowledge or into coniecture the Cardinall of Yorke that first insinnuated the mocion of diuorce had no meane to disswade him from it and lesse authoritie to leade him in an other counsell then suche as he had perswaded him before But the king seeking to establishe his conscience vppon good groundes searched out the opinions of Diuines Lawyers and men religious by whom he was aunswered that his first mariage was not sounde nor lawfull and vpon their learning iustefied it for such Therefore as soone as the Pope was deliuered out of prison he dispatched Embassadours to induce him to enter the league and to labour according to the ordenaunce giuen for the restitucion of Rauenna But the chiefest ende and industrie of these Embassadours consisted to obteyne facultie to proceede in the diuorce whiche he sought not by way of dispensacion but by declaracion that the mariage with Katherne was of noane effect The king beleued that the Pope for that his estate was weake in forces and his person voyde of reputacion and hauing no stay nor supporte vppon the puissance of other Princes And lastlie in recordacion of the greate fauours receiued of him for his deliuerie he woulde not be vneasie to consent to the thing whereunto he was deepelie bounde by so many obligacions To which the king adioyned the consideracion of the Cardinalls credit whom he knew for that he had alwayes fauoured his affaires and affore him the doings of Pope Leo he was verie gracious and mightie with the Pope And to cut of from the Pope all excuses of feare for any offence that might happen to him by thEmperour being sonne of the sister of Katherne and the better to allure him with suretie the king offered to wadge for his sauetie a garde of foure thowsande footemen An offer which the Pope harkened vnto and in that inclinacion though he considered the importaunce of the matter and the infamie that might redownde to him yet beeing at Orbietta and as yet in the condicion of a Newter betweene the Frenche king and thEmperour and of litle confidence with eyther of them And in that regarde esteeming muche to preserue the amitie of the king of Englande he had no stomacke to impugne the kinges demaunde And albeit he declared in showes and demonstracions a readie desire to be agreeable to the king yet holding thinges in suspense for the difficultie of the meanes that were proponed he kindled so much the more the hope and importunitie of the king and his Agents which wellspring or originall of many aduersities tooke augmentacion and increassing dayly Assoone as the Pope had geuen audience to Monsr Vavvdemont and Monsr Longeuille and aunswered them with wordes generall he dispatched to the king together with Longeuille the Bishoppe of Pistoya to signifie vnto him that beeing without money without force without authority and wretched by all other priuacions it could litle profit the confederates to haue him to declare That onely he might do a better office to sollicite a peace to which ende he had geuen him commission to goe to thEmprour to exhort him with wordes sharpe rigorous to embrase it A matter which the king would not consent vnto not for that he remained ill contented of the Popes newtrality but that he doubted the negociacion was extended to some further matter Neither did thEmprour complayne that the Pope in so great a dissension stoode indifferent But nowe at suche tyme as Monsr Lavvtrech marched and came on and direction geuen that the armies by sea shoulde doe the like there were founde many difficulties to geue impediment to thenterprise for the twelue gallies of the Venetians whiche before were reduced to Liuorna hauinge suffered many vexacions in thexployt of Sardignia both by the rage of the sea and for want of vittells departed the tenth of Februarie from Liuorna to goe to Corfu to readdresse and refurnishe their wantes Neuerthelesse the Venetians promised in their place to sende twelue other gallyes to ioyne with the Frenche armye by sea which was not without their difficulties for the perplexities they had passed and for the controuersies happened betwene Andre Dore and Ranso de Cere by reason of which accidentes albeit Ranso remayned sicke at Pysa yet it was sette downe that Andre Dore who with all the gallyes was come to the shoares of Liuorna shoulde with his fleete of gallyes sette his course for the Realme of Naples And Ranso with the other Frenche gallyes and the foure of Fryer Bernardyn together with the foure of the Venetians whiche were all assembled into one fleete shoulde prepare for thenterprise of Sicile But Andre Dore with his eyght gallyes accompanied with eyght other of the Frenche kinges crossed sayle and retyred to Genes taking this excuse that it was necessarie both for him and his gallyes to take some rest eyther for that suche was the true grounde and occasion or else the interestes of the affaires of Genes caried his minde with an inclinacion to newe thoughtes for where the Genovvaies had demaunded of the king to suffer them to gouerne freely of them selues and for that gifte of libertie did offer him two hundred thowsande duckats The king refusing to gratifie a demaund so farre from the common weale of his affayres it was beleeued that Andre Dore eyther the Author or at least the furtherer of these demaundes helde it not reasonable that the king should accomplishe the conquest of Sicilie if first he did not consent to the libertie of the Genovvaies There was also brought in question an other cause of controuersie which was of importance for the king hauing dismembred the Citie of Sauona from the Genovvaies it was doubted least most parte of thentercourse and trafficke of Marchaunts being transferred in short time to Sauona in fauour of the king and for the oportunitie and situacion of the place And that the king making there his staple and building vessells for his seruice the City of Genes would stand depriued of most part of her inhabitants and plenty of riches Andre Dore employed all the arte and industry he could to induce the king to restore Sauona to the auncient subiection of the Genovvaies But a farre better successe and felicitie followed the enterprise of Lavvtrech then the expedicions of the sea for that as soone as he was arriued at Askoly and had sent Peter Nauare with his footbands to Aquila Ieramo and Iulia Noua were rendred to him at the first brute of his comming The Marquis of Salusso by the same direction followed him with his regiments by the way of Lyonessa And last of all succeeded Horatio Baillon with an hundred and fiftye light horsemen and foure thowsand footemen Florentyns of the blacke bands The Venetians had also promised to send him without the person of the Duke of Vrbin foure hundred light horsemen and foure thowsand footemen of those bands which
they had in the towne of Rome And in supply of the others which they were bound to administer employ to the warres of Naples they had accorded to pay three and twenty thowsand duckats for euery moneth Assuring also that for the regarde of the nauie at sea they would aduaunce xxxvj vessells to giue ayde to thenterprise of Sicilie Neuertheles they gaue manifest signes that they were weary of the burden and proceeded very slowly in the matter of exspenses by whose example the French king did the like seeing at the same time complaynts were comen from Monsr de Lavvtrech that the assignacion for an hundred and fifty thowsand crownes monthly for the charges of the warre which the king had made to him at his departure out of Fraunce of which was to receiue about two hundred thowsand crownes was reduced to three skore thowsand crownes onely the moneth and that but for three monethes to come A matter which as it brought no small greefe and dispaire to him so he burst out in complaints against the king and his omission and carelesnes as not to be moued neither with reason nor with his faith nor with the memorie and example of his propper domage This was one especiall poynt of his greefe and complayning that where the king had conuerted to thenterprise of Fontarabye his treasors and forces which ought to haue serued him for the defense of Myllan it was the cause to make him to lose the whole estate and Duchie of Myllan The enterprise of Aquila succeeded happely for that as Peter of Nauare made his approches so the Prince of Melffy went out of it for the French king did enter the sonne of the Count Montoiro In like sort the launceknights of the Venetians tooke by composicion Ciuitella A litle towne but well fortefied and hath his situacion seuen myles beyond Tronto The taking of this towne was furthered by the preuencion of two hundred harquebuziers spanish who were sent for the defense of it All Abruzza followed thexample of Aquila the whole residue of the Realme of Naples had done the like had not th Imperiall army yssued out of Rome This army after passion of many difficulties tumults and the souldiers fully satisfied of all their paies from the tyme of the Popes deliuery marched out of Rome the seuenteene daye of February A day which had bene most ioyfull and of speciall respiracion to the long miseries of the wretched people of Rome if their calamities which they supposed to be ended by the departure of the launceknights had not eftsoones recontinued in a newe course by the Abbot of Farfa and others of the famulie of the Vrsins who entring the towne with the peysants of their dominions immediatly vppon the breaking vp of the others did for many dayes many great insolencies By reason of these calamities greeuous for their continuance lamentable for their wretched succession discending from one enemie yll to an other that was worse the citie of Rome was not onely made naked of a greate parte of her inhabitants with the desolacion of many houses and pallaices But also it stoode rent and defaced in images of worthy and auncient presence of pillors representing the monument and memorye of greate Princes and Conquerors of many singular stones for their vallue precious and for their raretye greately esteemed and lastly of many ornaments of antiquitye suche as drewe delight to the eyes of the beholders and gaue greate reputacion to the towne that so longe had preserued them Neuerthelesse the launceknightes continuing in their mutynies and woulde not departe without imprest for two payes where the Spanyards were satisfied with more facilitye The Pope desirous to purge the towne of suche a contagion was constrayned to furnishe them with twentye thowsande duckatts more which he payed vnder cooller to deliuer the two Cardinalls ostages And afterwardes they reteyned twenty thowsand more as from the people of Rome and albeit it was doubted that this pay was made by the Pope yet it passed vnder that name to th end to giue lesse occasion of complaynt to Lavvtrech â–ª Who notwithstanding complayned not a litle that the Pope with that money was the cause that th Imperiall armye went out of Rome by which action his victory which was before manifest and certeyne was nowe reduced to doubtfull tearmes and vncerteyne euents of warre There yssued out of Rome according to computacion fifteene hundred horse foure thowsand footemen spanish two or three thowsand footemen Italyans and fiue thowsand launceknights So great diminucion had the plague brought vppon that nation By the remouing of thImperialls out of Rome Monsr Lavvtrech who otherwayes would haue taken the straight waye to Naples was constrayned to fetche a circuit more long by Povvylla along the sea coast he had some reason to take that marche for the difficultie to drawe his artilleries if in these places he shoulde haue found impediment of ennemies to passe the Mounteine But much more to make prouision of vittells least he fell into want if he happly were driuen to plant the coursse of his victorie before the walls of Naples So that partly by compulsion and partly vppon those reasons inducing he tooke his way to Ciuita de Chiora the capitall towne of the furthermost Abruzza for the water of Pescairo makes seperacion of the hethermost Abruzza from the furthermost There did render vnto him Sermono with many other townes of the contry and in that property of inclinacion eyther for affection they boare to the French name or for hatred to the Spanyards there was almost no towne which sent not out at least xxv and xxx myles before to yeld them selues And yet because he would passe with a greater sewertie and stabilitie he forbare to aduaunce with that diligence which both by his felicitie he might and by his fortune was offred And it was beleued to th end to gather in safetie during the moneth of Marche the reuenue of the tribute of Povvylla amounting to foure skore thowsand duckats and was leauied in fiue townes that he would send thether Peter Nauare with his regiments for whose disagreements and controuersies which Monsr Lavvtrech was compelled to endure there was litle good order in the armye But being departed from Guast and vnderstanding that one parte of thennemies to whome was ioyned the Prince of Melffe with a thowsand of those launceknights which the Viceroy Don Charles had brought out of Spayne and two thowsande Italyan footemen comen out of Aquila was arriued at Nocero fortye myles from Termyny drawing towards the sea And an other part of the ennemies to be passed to Campo Basso which is thirty miles from Termyny vppon the common or ordinary way to Naples he sent out before Peter Nauare with his regiments of footemen and went him selfe the last day of February to Sera within twelue myles of Termyny from whence the fourth daye of Marche he arriued at Saint Seuero But Peter Nouare according
with wordes and reasons reteined their resolucion to goe awaie and passed by Coma except two thowsand who remained with Antho. de Leua to whom in those daies Moraro was rendred And it was not dowted that if the Launceknightes had continued before Loda a few daies more they had honorably caried the towne both by their vertue and want of vittells in the towne In which expedicion many desired a readines in the Duke of Vrbyn to th ende that whilest they laie about Loda he might draw neare Crema or Pisquaiton or at least kepe menteined there some cornetts of horsemen to vexe them And albeit whilest they were vpon the confins of Bressia he did sometimes both accoast them and molest them yet neuer comming so neare them as three miles and standing onely vpon defending of the estate of the Venetyans he passed no further then the riuer of Eglia Neither was Monsr saint Pol for his parte more diligent to aduaunce and come on who notwithstanding all the resolucions sette downe and confirmed by so many promises made by the king to send on his behalfe bandes of soldiers against the Launceknightes ariued not in Piedmont but at such time as the Launceknightes departed and yet his armie conteined farre fewer nomber then had bene promised and published Neuerthelesse the confederates forbeare not for all this to solicite of newe the Pope to declare himselfe for them wherein they required him that proceeding against themperour with armes spirituall he would also depriue him of the Empire and the realme of Naples But he stoode vpon these excuses that if he should declare for them he could then be no more a conuenient meane to practise solicite peace ▪ That his declaracion would sturre vp a greater combustion amongest the princes of Christendome and yet bringe no profit to the confederats for that his pouertie and weaknes would alwaies impugne the good they exspected in him That the priuacion of the emprour for Naples and the empire would sette all Germanie in an vprore both for suspicion that he would appropriate to himselfe thauthoritie to elect themperour for ielowsie that he would establish that election in the person of the french king Lastly he reduced to their memories the imminēt daunger of the Lutherans which went on encreasing by the diuision of the time Neuerthelesse not being hable in reason and comlynes to resist thimportunities that were vrged to him he promised to enter with them so farforth as the Venetians would restore to him Rauenna which condicion he proponed as impossible to be graunted and confirmed this offer with his promise and obligation not to molest thestate of Florence vpon which occasion thembassadors of England came to Venice the xx of Iune to solicite the Senat to render Rauenna protesting for the Pope to assure the obseruacion of his promises But being not liable to induce the Senat they went away ill contented In this time the Pope recouered the citie of Rymyny which Iohn Sassatello hauing before assaied in vaine to recouer was at last yeelded vp vppon condicion of life and goods saued But now by the operacion of the time and course of euentes and affaires began to be laied open and disclosed the Popes most deepe and secret thoughtes such as he had before dissembled with great art For where before he had firmely imprinted in his minde a desire to restore to his house the greatnes which aunciently it had had in Florence he was driuen in publishing by singular cunning the contrarie to perswade the Florentyns that much lesse that he had any such thought seeing all that he desired of that common wealth was that they would according to thexample of other Christian princes acknowledge him for Pope and that in causes particular they would forbeare to persecute such as depended vpon him or deface or reuerse the armes and ornamentes proper to his house To these endes and with such commissions he sent to Florence as his embassador when he was deliuered a Florentyn prelat And for that thestate of Florence would not giue him audience he forgat not the better to cloake his dissimulacion to recontinue a new instance by the solicitacion of the french king that they would send to him an embassador seeking by these simplicities offers to haue them familiar with him to draw them with more facilitie into the ambushes he had dressed against them But when he sawe these deuises and labors soart to none effect he began to perswade Monsr Lavvtrech that where as such as gouerned thestate of Siena were dependants and deuote to themperour it were conuenient for the better course of his affaires there to referre to that gouernment Fabio Petruccio Neuerthelesse albeit Lavvtrech saw reason and conueniency in the deuise yet in regard of the contradiction of the Florentyns he forbeare either to follow it or to effect it And when the Pope sawe he could worke none of these to his driftes and hauing no inclinacion to dissolue or leaue of the practise which his ambiciō kept enterteined in him he wrought secretly in such sort that Pirrhus di Castello vnder pretence that thinhabitants of Siena had done him wrong made him selfe Lorde of Chiusa with a strength of eight hundred footemen ▪ and by the good diligence office of certeine exiles of that towne The Popes reason to raise this man to the iurisdiction of Chiusa was to make him an instrument vnder that oportunitie to trauell and trouble the gouernment of Siena But the Florentyns discerning depelie into the Popes driftes complained to the Vicont of Loraine embassador to the french king that the doinges of the Pope tended to no other ende then with the commoditie of Siena to trouble and disorder the affaires of Florence In which regard thembassador procured of the Pope that the action of Chiusa should cesse In this meane while the affaires of the kingdom of Naples proceeded diuersely for that on the one side the Count of Burello was passed from Sicile into Calabria with a thowsand footemen where he ioined himselfe with the residue And on the other side Symon Roman had raunged to discression with the fauor of mines and trenches the Castell of Cosenso though by a wounde he receiued of a harquebuze in the shoulder the course of the victorie was somewhat hindred he ioined his forces afterwardes with the Duke of Somma who with the bandes of footemen of the contrey held besieged Catanzara a towne strong by fortificacion but weake by the want of vittells In this towne was the sonne in law of Alarson with two hundred horsmen and a thowsand footemen And as in taking this towne they stoode in good degree to commaund the whole contrey euen vp to high Calabria so neuerthelesse necessitie constrained them to turne against the forces vnited with the succours that were come from Sicile who had now made some aduauncing But Symon being abandoned of one parte of his footemen leaiued of the contrey was driuen for his
sauetie to retire within the castell of Cosensa and the other parte of his footebands not without the slaughter of many of them disparsed and went away The Corsegnans went wandring towardes the army in so much as not only the region of Calabria was left in daunger but also it was feared least the victors would aduaunce addresse their forces to Naples On the contrary the affaires of the frenchmen drewe good successe and issue in Abruzza by this accident as the bishop Colonno was approched within xij miles of Aquila to sturre vp Abruzzâ— to commotion he was ouerthrowen and slaine by the Abbot of Farfa with whom were put to the sworde iiij hundred bodies of soldiours and eight hundred taken prisoners In the confins of Caietta the Spaniardes went wandring and retiring being caried with feare for the ariuall of the prince of Melffe And the garrison of Manfredonia through the slender vallour and action of the Venetyan bandes committed many domages without perill or resistance Like as the Pope perseuered still in his resolucion to declare himselfe for neither partie So the french king espying the intelligences and practises which he enterteined began to hold him for suspected And to themprour he was nothing aggreable though for no other cause yet for that he had sent as Legat into England Cardinall Campeius to debate there the controuersie delegated to him and to the Cardinall of Yorke for where the king of England solicited vehemently to haue published the inualiditie of the first mariage The Pope hauing delt verie liberally in wordes and promises with his Agents and also being of litle fidelitie or credit with other princes laboured to kepe himselfe vnder his protection he made at last secretly a Bull decretall by the which he pronounced the mariage to be of no force and gaue the Bull to the Cardinall Campeius he charged him withall that in showing it to the king and the Cardinall of Yorke he should tell them that he had commission to publish it if in iudgement the knowledge and informacion of the cause succeded not wel wherein it seamed the Pope wrought vpon this ground That both they should be brought with more facilitie to consent to haue the cause iudicially debated and also indure with better temperance of minde the delaies and longenes of the iudgement Which he had inioined his Legat to holde of and prolonge to as long a tract of time as he could And as he should not deliuer the Bull vntil he had receiued new commission from him so neuerthelesse he should labour to perswade the king by all the meanes he could that his intention was to deliuer it vp to his handes in the ende of this embassage in the person of that man of the delegation of the cause themprours embassadors that were within Rome complained not a litle though with lesse authoritie for the ill termes of his affaires in the kingdom of Naples About Naples many were the difficulties happening vpon both the one other partie but such as in all discoursse of reason made more apparant on the french side the hope of the victorie though it was hindred by the vertue and obstinacie of the ennemies Within the towne of Naples the wantes of vittells grew daily to extremities especially of wine and flesh a calamitie without his comfort for that no prouision could enter the towne by sea for the impediments of the Venetian gallies being after so longe exspectation ariued nowe the x. of Iune in the goulffe of Naples to the nomber of xxij And albeit the horsmen of the towne made daily sallies out not towardes the face of the armie but to those quarters of the contrey where they thought to find vittells by whose industry some praies of flesh were alwaies brought in and the whole estate of the towne somwhat releued and refreshed yet these prouisions and comforts brought in by these aduentures were not such as being depriued of the commoditie of the sea they might suffice to nourishe and enterteine them longe Besides they began to grow short in money the stroake of the plage afflicted them much and they had much to doe to kepe enterteined the Launceknightes whome they coulde no longer abuse with vaine hopes and promises In which discontentment many of them went by troupes to the french armie notwithstanding the authoritie and grace which the prince of Orenge who by the death of Don Hugo commaunded in the place of Viceroy had with them was of some force to reteine them who the better to frame their mindes with authoritie discipline which he coulde not raunge by lenitie and easynes he made prisoner captaine Cattay a Gascon with many of his soldiours beinge of the remeindars of the regiments of the Duke of Boâ—rbon And afterwardes he did the like by suspicion to Fabricio Maramo whom notwithstanding he sette at libertie presently On the other side diseases encreased daily in the french campe the same beinge the cause that Lavvtrech to th ende not to haue so great a space or circuit to garde would not suffer to be perfected the last trenches which neuerthelesse coulde not easely be finished for the impediment of certeine waters Besides the campe suffred want of vittells and nourriture though more for the ill order and gouernment that was vsed then through any other occasion â–ª Neuerthelesse Monsr Lavvtrech obseruing his owne rule and councell hoped more in the necessities that were within Naples then he feared or douted his proper difficulties and perswading himselfe of thexpedicion of the victorie either for that cause or for their want of money he forbare to make any newe leauies of footemen a matter which the whole armie desired for the vniuersall diminucion which was made by death and diseases not onely of personnes meane and base but euen of such as satte in places of authoritie as the Popes Nuncio and Loys Pisano commissarie of the Venetians who died in the face of the towne the xv daie He hoped also to allure to the campe either all or the most parte of those bandes of Launceknightes that were within Naples a practise wherein the Marquis of Salâ—sfa first and afterwardes himselfe had reaposed of longe time greate confidence in vaine So that vpon these groundes together with certeine hopes that were giuen him to draw to the armie certeine light horsmen that were within Naples he forbare to make any newe leauies of light horsmen such as had bene most necessarie for the seruice of whom if he had waged but foure hundred he had stopped in good time the hurtfull incursions which the soldiours of the towne made so often to his disaduauntage And yet in those actions of praie and bootie he was not without his felicitie for that as the horsmen of Naples returned one daie with a riche spoile of cattell they were encountred by the blacke bandes who as they were th 〈…〉 inewes and strength of the armie â–ª so without them there had bene no seege planted before the
walles of Naples By them the bootie was recouered from the Napolitains with the losse of three skore horsmen notwithstanding the Spaniards issued out of the towne to reskew them Thus Monsr Lavvtrech was not without hope that thimperialls would be constrained to leaue Naples to discression And therefore laying to cutte them of from all retraite within Caietta he gaue order to garde well Capua and kepe in deuocion the sea towne of Vulturno And to depriue them also of meane to retire into Calabria besides that he cutte of certeine passages apte for their purpose he recontinued the working at the trenche begon so often and left of for sondrie accidents he now raised it so high that the springes and waters which before gaue impediment were nowe beneath the worke besides he sought to put in defense certeine houses adioyned neare to Naples and to haue them garded with a thowsand footemen which he ment to leauie to that ende turning also to that seruice the fauour of the Venetyan gallies which were come vp right ouer against the trenche This trenche also serued aptly for that resort of vittells to the armie that came from the sea coast and was no lesse conuenient to cutte of the ennemies if they returned that waie with their booties for by reason of the greate ditches and waters at Poggio Royall that had bene cut vp the waie from the campe to the sea conteined a greate and daungerous circuit Thimperialls â—ought to vexe and hinder those that wrought at the trenche And beinge one daie 〈…〉 ted out in very stronge troupes the pioners by the ordenance of Peter Nauare who solicited the worke made as though they fledde and thimperialls pursuing them more in rashnes then in good gouernment of warre fell vpon an ambushe dressed for their destruction wherein were hurte and slaine an hundred bodies Neuerthelesse the trenche was not halfe finished aswell for wante of pioners as by other accidentes ioyned to an ordinarie negligence which oftentimes hindreth the effect of the good directions and ordenances that are giuen In which good course of direction if the campe had continued many were of opinion that considering the straite tearmes and condicion of Naples Monsr Lavvtrech had honorably caried the towne And at the same time was offred a faire occasion and of greate consequencie if the execucion had bene as resolute as the offer was ready Monsr Lavvtrech being informed that the souldiours of Naples were issued out in greate troupes to goe on forraging and for bootie and for that he would at one blow ridde the contrey of those incursions and open himselfe a waie to the absolute victorie sent out the xxv â–ª of Iune by night the regiment of the blacke bandes the horsemen of Florence and three skore french launces with a bande of Svvizzers and Launceknightes whom he directed to take the waie of Beluedere and Pedegroâ—to to encounter the forraigers and to vexe them in their retire he appointed capteine Bâ—â—iâ— with the Gascon footemen to stande vpon the hill which is aboue Grotta and vpon the alarme giuen to discende and cutte the ennemies from entring into Grotta The beginning of this exploit was well executed and drew with it a good issue for that the companies of Lavvtrech hauing encountred thimperialls they charged them and put them to fleight more then three hundred bodies remaining prisoners and slaine besides an hundred horses of seruice and greate stoare of baggage And in the encounter Don Ferrand of Gonsaguo was striken from his horse at he fought and being made prisoner he was estsoones recouered by the furie of the Launceknightes But this medley had his imperfection by captaine Burie who eyther through negligence which is yll or by feare which is worse appeared not in the place to the which he was appoynted which if he had done according to his direction they had no doubt giuen an absolute ouerthrow to thimperials â–ª Monsr Lavvtrech had also sent to Caiette six gallies of the Venetians â–ª and had appoynted two to ryde at the mouth of Garillan to fauour the Prince of Melffe And because that notwithstanding the impedimentes of the gallies some releefe of vittels entred into Naples by the fauour of certayne Frigots he put out to the sea certayne small Barkes to oppose agaynst the seruice of the Frigots And lastely he gaue order that all the heardes of cattell should be driuen away fifteene myles compasse from Naples to thend thimperialls should not with such facilitie chase them But nowe by reason of a newe accident whiche long tyme before had disclosed certayne signes and tokens the French affayres were not a little intangled Andre Dore eyther by corruption and long working wyth him or of his owne proper motion whiche in cases of alteration caryeth men not a little determined to leaue the French paye to the which he was bounde tyll the ende of Iune A resolution which he had long tyme before established in his mynde as was gathered by many argumentes and coniectures In that disposition he retyred to Genes and would not go vp with his Gallies to the kingdome of Naples no though the French king offred to make him capteine generall of the army by sea which he prepared at Merseilles Against which offer he alleaged only his impotencie of body in which reigned so many maladies drawne on with yeres and old age that he was nowe no more hable to beare the trauels of an army But the originall and first motion of this chaunge was afterwards attributed aswell by himselfe as others to diuerse causes Touching him selfe he complained that the French king to whom he had done faithfull seruice for the space of fiue yeres had raysed to the place of high Admirall by sea Monsr Barbesieux A place which though he had refused once yet he looked that the king would make a newe instance to him to take it Secondly that the king had not satisfied him of the xx thousande duckets due for his payes past without the which he was not hable to enterteine his gallies That he would not harken to his iuste petitions to restore to the Genovvayes their accustomed iurisdiction of Sauona And lastely that because he vrged these petitions with importunitie the king had debated in hys counsell to cutte off hys head as one that vsed too arrogantly hys authoritie Others were of opinion that hys yll contentment grewe fyrst from the difference and controuersies betweene hym and Ranso de Cero for the enterprise of Sardignia In whiche contention he construed agaynst the kinge that he had with more partialitie inclined to the reaportes of Ranso then fauoured hys iustifications That the king had too muche importuned hym to delyuer vp hys prisoners whom he desyred but especially the Marquis of Guast and Askanio Colonno as a matter of great importaunce neuerthelesse offering to paye their raunsome These were the causes coniecturall gathered by straungers but afterwardes it was both beleeued and discerned manyfestlye that in thys reuolte he
alleaged the contract appeared not by writing notwithstanding the Pope mainteyned a further obligation So that he solicited to enter into the paye of the French and Florentins complayning bitterly of certaine intelligences and practises enterteyned against him by the Cardinall of Cortono and of a letter which he had surprised written by the Cardinall Medicis to Braccio Baillon But the Pope seeking indirectly to stoppe the effect of his deuice forbad by Edicts publike that none of his subiectes without his leaue shoulde take the payes of other Princes vpon paine of confiscation Neuerthelesse Malatesta forbare not for that to prosecute his deuise The Frenchmen bounde them to indue him with a charge of two hundred horsemen two thowsand crownes pension the order of Saint Michael and in time of warre with two thowsand footemen And the Florentines gaue him the title of Gouernor two thousand crownes pension a thousand footmen in time of warre fiftie horsemen for his sonne and fiftie for the sonne of Horatio with fiue hundred crownes for the paye of them both They tooke vpon them the protection of his estate and of Perousa and aswel the French King as they made him one ioynt allowance in time of peace of an hundred crownes the moneth to enterteyne ten Captaines And the Florentines a part made him a paie for two hundred footmen for the garde of Perousa and for his part he was onely bounde to this to goe to their seruice with a thousande footemen when their affaires required yea though he shoulde not haue the bandes promised from the Frenche King Of this dealing the Pope complayned highlye to the Frenche King as a matter done directlye to let him for disposing according to his will of a Citie whiche was vassall and subiect to the Churche the same making the King who bare no mynd to kindle the Pope to deferre the action of ratification and for the same cause the Pope hoping to be able to alter or retyre Malatesta perswaded him to continue out his yeare and at the same time he enterteyned secretly Braccio Baillon Sero Colonno and the exiles of Perousa who hauing assembled and mustered bands of souldiers lay incamped at Norcio But all these practises together with all offers and oblacions serued to no purpose for that Malatesta was resolutely fixed to continue no longer in the Popes paye and as the Florentins ministred ayde to him openly so he feared so much the lesse those stirres or emocions by howe much they ceassed foorthwith the Pope finding they were vnperfect and insufficient to leade on his hopes to their effectes Besides the Pope would not suffer the Duke of Ferrara to dwelin rest and he was so farre of from obseruing the couenants made with the Duke in the name of the Colledge of Cardinals that the byshoprike of Modena being newly fallen into vacacion by the death of Cardinall Gonzaguo an estate promised to the Dukes sonne by the sayde couenants he bestowed it by his authoritie vpon Ierom Moron seeking vnder colour of refusing the possession occasion to prouoke against him suche a personage and minister bearing great authoritie in the Emperours armie He enterteyned also a practise with Ierom Pio to occupie Reggia and that by the meane and operacion of Hubert de Gambaro gouernour of Bolognia But when the Duke was informed of the state of the practise and how farre it extended he passed Pio to such propertie of punishment as his offence deserued He layde plotts also to surprise Rauenna which likewise sorted to none effect And about this time inclining dayly by apparant degrees to the Emperours part and being also well aduaunced in the solicitation of things he sent vnto him the Byshop of Vasono his stewarde he called backe the cause of diuorce of the King of Englande which he had done long time before had not the regarde of the Bull which was already in Englande in the hands of his Legat Campeius reteyned him For as the good fortunes of the Emperour encreased in Italie so he sought not onely not to offende him further but also to reuoke the offence he had done him alreadie being in deede determined before he was sicke to reuoke the cause In which action he sent Frauncis Compagnio into Englande to the Cardinall Campeius dissembling to the King that he was sent for other matters including notwithstanding matter apparteyning to that cause where in deede he brought commission to Campcius to burne the Bull And albeit Campeius for a maladie the Pope was fallen into deferred for a time the execution of that commission yet when he knewe he was recured he perfourmed the thyng he was commaunded So that the Pope being thus deliuered of that feare reuoked the cause though not without great indignation of that King especiallie when he required the Bull of the Legate and vnderstoode by him the vnworthie accident of it These matters made both more seuere and more readie the ruine and fall of the Cardinall of Yorke whose authoritie the King supposed to be so great and gracious with the Pope that if his mariage with the Lady Anne had bene agreeable to him he might haue obteyned of the Pope what dispensation he had woulde By whiche occasion opening his eares to the enuie and mallice of his aduersaries he grewe kindled against him euen to the taking from him his goodes and treasure of a wonderful value and in his indignation leauing him a smal part of the reuenues of his benefices he restrayned him to his Byshoprike with a slender traine of seruants And so not long after eyther by a surprise of letters which he wrote to the French King or for some other propertie of malice of his enemies who gathering by the Kings speches that he was not without inclinacion towardes him and therefore feared least he woulde rise againe into his auncient authoritie he was conuented to appeare in counsell to speake for him selfe in matters to be obiected against him For whiche cause as he was brought towards the Court as prisoner he was suddenly taken with a fluxe engendred either of the humour of disdaine or of the passion of feare of which he dyed the seconde day after he was apprehended with the maladie an example in our dayes worthie of memorie touching the power whiche fortune and enuie hath in the Courts of Princes About this time fell out in Florence to the greate preiudice of the gouernment that then was a newe chalenge against Nicholas Cappony Gonfalonier it happened almost vpon the end of the second yeare of his magistracie and was incensed principallie by the enuie of some of the chiefe citisens who tooke occasion of the vaine suspicions and fond ignorancies of the commons Nicho. Cappony during all the time of his magistracie hath had these two principall obiectes the one to defend him selfe against the freshe enuie of those that had bene honored of the house of Medicis suffring the principals amongst them to communicat with the other Citisens in the honors and
inclinacion to reuenge thinformacion things being preferred vp to the Magistrates six of the principalls were beheaded many imprisoned and a great number bownd ouer according to the tradicions and statutes of the citie Insomuch as the citie being so much the more made weake and feeble by how much she was shaked in her pillors and chiefe foundacions And withall those that had pertaked in these reuenges and punishments being reduced into greater necessities and difficulties The power of the Medicis returned more free and more absolute yea almost royally into that citie which had for so long and great a warre remeyned much impouerished of money made naked both within and without of many inhabitants and spoyled both of dwellings and goods abroad lastly stoode now more then euer deuided in it selfe A calamitie which yet was made so much the more great and heauy by how much had bene more lamentable for many yeres their vniuersall necessitie and difficultie to make prouision of vitteis in forreine contries for the generall skarcetie and darth which the whole contry endured for as for that yeare by reason of the afflictions and impediments of the warre they made neither seede time nor haruest so it was so seueare a calamitie continued to the yeares succeeding that the citie being raked and dreyned had yssued out more money to make prouision of corne from forreine regions and cattell without the lymits of their own dominions then had bene defrayed for thexspenses of so great a warre full of heauy burdens and charges In this meane while thEmprour assembling the dyet at Auspurge had caused to be elected king of Romains Ferdinand his brother And calling into question the cause of the Lutherans both suspected touching the power of Princes and for the multitude and ambicion of their followers deuided into diuers heresies and euen the life and example of Martyn Luther the originall Author of that opinion being now almost of no consideracion The Princes of Germany could deuise of no better remedie then to assemble and celebrate a councell for both the Lutherans seeking to couer their cause with the authoritie of religion solicited vehemently to haue their cause disputed in a publike and free councell And on the other parte it was beleued that the decrees which the councell should set downe would beare authoritie sufficient if not to reduce and remoue the minds of the heretikes from their errours at least to retyre and recouer to a more sownd opinion one parte of the multitudes infected But in Germany euen those that followed the factions and opinions of the Catholikes desired the conuocacion of a councell to th ende to reforme the excessiue charges and abuses of the Court of Rome Where what with the authoritie of indulgences and with the profit of dispensacions and lastly with the annates or yearely frutes of benefices that were giuen together with the allowances that in thexpedicion of them reuerted to the offices infinitely multiplyed in that Court It seemed there was no other studye or carethen to exacte by those corrupcions a huge masse of treasor throughout all Christendome without regarding the health and true comforting of soules nor that matters Ecclesiastike were rightly administred and gouerned for both many benefices incompatible were transferred and heaped vppon one person and also without respecting the merits and worthines of men they were eyther bestowed by partialitie and fauor or at least such persons were introduced who for their age were incapable or for their doctrine insufficient or which worse is for their life and example most slaunderous The Emperour was verye forwarde to satisfie this vniuersall instance and solicitacion of the partes and states of Germanye And helde it also not out of purposse for his affayres to appease in those prouinces the causes of the tumultes and contumacye of the peoples In which regardes he vrged the Pope by reducing to his memorye the conference they had together at Bolognia to call a councell promising him least he feared his authoritye and dignitye shoulde fall into daunger to bee there in personne to take perticularly care of him But for the Pope albeit there was nothinge in the worlde that coulde bee offered more to his displeasing or discontentement then the assemblye of a councell yet to nourishe the opinion that men had of his good intencion he dissembled that inclinacion or rather cause of feare And yet in effecte he had many deepe and setled feares one was least the councell to moderate the abuses of the Court and the indiscreete permissions of many Popes woulde not too much diminishe and restrayne the power of the sea Apostolyke an other was which was no small impression in him that albeit when he was called to bee Cardinall he had proued by witnesses that he was borne in lawefull mariage yet in truthe he knewe it was contrarye And albeit there coulde bee founde no lawe written that forbadde any man not lawefully borne to ascende to the Papacie yet there was enterteyned amongest them an auncient and common opinion that no man vppon whome coulde bee proued illegittimacion coulde bee capable of a Cardinalls place Thirdely he reduced to remorsse and conscience that he was raysed to the sea Apostolyke not without some suspicion of symonie practised with the Cardinall Colonno And lastely he feared least for the seuerities and rudenes whiche he had vsed towardes his naturall contrye accompanyed with so manye tumultes and aduersities of warre he shoulde bee made perpetually infamous in the generall councell the rather for that it had appeared vppon theffectes that he was moued not to reduce that citye to a good and moderate gouernment but was induced with ambicion and enuye to put it eftsoones vnder the yoke and seruitude of his house In regarde of these causes and feares lyke as he abhorred the name of a councell and coulde not accompt the fidelitie of the Emperour a sufficient sewertye to him So after he had communicated the whole matter with some Cardinalls deputed to the discussion of a cause of so greate waight who also stoode in feare to be corrected by the councell he aunswered that there were many reasons against the calling of a councell in that time both for that there was no assured stabilitie of peace amongest the Princes of Christendom And also the feare was no lesse that the Prince of Turkes would recōtinue the warre in which case it were not good that he found the regions of Christendom encombred with the disputacions and contencions of the councell Neuerthelesse making show to referre the resolucion of it to thEmprour he concluded that he was contented that he should promisse in the dyet the induction of the councell with these obseruacions That it might be celebrated in Italy That a reasonable tyme were assigned for the calling of it That it be assisted with the person and presence of thEmprour And that the Lutherans and other heretikes promising to refer them selues to the determinacion of the councell should in the
meane while desist from the practise of their corrupcions And rendring to the sea Apostolike their due obedience they should returne to their former conuersation of Christian Catholikes This article made more hard the whole practise and negociacion of the councell ▪ for the Lutherans were not onely not to desist from their opinions and ceremonies before the celebracion of the councell but also it was beleued that they had no inclinacion to the councell where they could exspect no other matter then a reprobacion of their doctrine the rather for that their principall opinions had bene many times refuted as hereticall by the former councells yea it was thought they insisted vppon the conuocacion of this councell for that knowing it was a matter fearfull to Popes to stand in presence of a councell they were of opinion that the court of Rome would not accorde to it And so by that meane they should support their cause with the nations of the world with a greater authoritie With these actions and intencions determined the yeare a thowsand fiue hundred and thirty and successiuely followed the yeare 1531. wherein was wrought no great matter of emocion and stirre for notwithstanding it was comprehended by many signes that the French king was not onely ill contented with the accords and contracts made with the Emprour but also stoode very desirous to innouate things to new tumults with whom the king of England bare the same inclinacion especially against thEmprour for that standing in defence of the cause of the sister of his mother he impugned the matter of his diuorce yet the French king beeing both impouerished of money litle leasure to respire from the trauells of so long warrs he sawe the time was not yet apt to kindle matters of innouacion Neuerthelesse he omitted not in the meane while to conspire aswell in Germany with such Princes as bare mindes estraunged from thEmprour as in Italy with the Pope to whome the better to assure his amitie he made an ouerture of mariage betweene his seconde sonne and the Popes Neece In which practises and conspiracies he suffered him selfe to be so much ouercaried with malice and reuenge that to the great offence of God and perpetuall infamie to the crowne of Fraunce which alwayes made principall profession to defend Christian religion and for those merits was honored with the title of Christianissimus he enterteyned practises with the Prince of Turkes to stirre him vp against the Emprour Towards whome the Turkes were ordinarily ill disposed no lesse for a naturall hatred they bare to the name of Christians then for the matter of controuersies they had with his brother tending to questions for the Realme of Hungrie with the Vayuode whome he had taken into his protection The Turkes also began with much ielousie to suspect and enuye the greatnes of thEmprour By this time th Imperiall Capteines leauied their forces from the territories of Sienna to leade them to Piemont But before they departed to satisfie the Pope they reestablished within Sienna the famulie of Montonouo repossessing them of their cōtry and goods yet altered not the forme of the gouernment And to assure them in their estate they left them a garde of three hundred Spanyards depending vppon the Duke of Malfy vnder whome beeing not able to keepe his authoritie thinges so reuerted forthwith to their olde disorders that suche as had beene reestablished and restored left for feare the thinge they could not holde by force Moreouer the Emperour pronownced the forme of gouernment for Florence dissembling that parte of the authoritie giuen to him which lymited their libertie saued for that according to the very instructions which the Pope had sent to him he expressed that the citie shoulde be gouerned with the same Magistrate and in the same manner it was wont in the tymes when the Medicis ruled it he declared also for chiefe of the gouernment Alexander the Popes Nephewe and his sonne in lawe And that in case of him and his yssue extinct there shoulde succeede from hand to hande the children the descendants and the next procreated of the same famulie he restored to the citie all the priuileadges agreed vnto beforetymes by him and by his predecessors but with this condicion annexed to be deposed from them as often as the citie shoulde attempt any thinge against the greatnes of the famulie of Medicis inserting throw all the decree wordes which showed that he tooke not his ground and inducement onely vppon the power that had beene giuen to him by the parties but also vppon the authoritie and dignitie imperiall In which manner of dealing where he happly satisfied the Pope more then was extended by the facultie giuen him by the writ of compromisse he offended him as much immediatly after in a matter which was no lesse greeuous to him then the other was agreeable for after the Doctors especially assigned had heard and examined the controuersie betwene the Pope and Duke of Ferrara before whome both the parties had produced many testimonies and inscripcions with a long course of processe and pleading he pronownced sentence according to their councell and relacion that as Modena and Reggia apperteyned of right to the Duke of Ferrara so the Pope in receiuing of him an hundred thowsand duckats and reducing the tributes to the auncient manner he should inuest him of new in the iurisdiction of Ferrara Wherein the Emprour labored to insinuat into the Pope that where contrary to his promisse made in Bolognia not to pronownce in case he founde his cause not to be iust he had giuen sentence That he was not to complaine against him but rather to blame the Bishoppe of Vasona his Nuncio to whome he alwayes gaue significacion that he woulde not pronownce sentence for that he woulde not bee constrayned to passe iudgement against the Pope But he perswading the contrarye and interpreting those significacions for a discharge of the promisse he had made to giue sentence if the right were in him had pressed so muche the publicacion of the sentence that he was halfe constrayned to it for the regarde of his honour An excuse whiche the Pope woulde sooner haue admitted if the sentence and iudgement had not beene in the same sorte and manner Wherein thEmprour had many tymes assayed to reduce the matter by accorde But the poynte wherein the Pope was moste offended was that the Emperour in pronowncinge vppon the matters of Modena and Reggia hadde followed a waye and taken a coursse of a Iudge moste rogorous but in the action of Ferrara wherein the rigour was manifestelye for hym he hadde donne the office of a friendelye Arbitrator and Compromittor Therefore though he woulde neither ratifie the sentence pronownced nor accept the payment of the money wherein the Duke was condemned neither did he at the next feaste of Saint Peter accept the tribute which was publikely offred to him according to auncient custom yet the Emprour forbare not for
all that to consigne vnto the Duke of Ferrara Modena which he had deteyned in deputacion till that daye leauing them to decyde afterwards the differences betweene them So that by reason of that dealing there was not for many moneths betwene the Pope and the Duke of Ferrara neither an open warre nor an assured peace the Popelying alwayes in watche to oppresse him with conspiracies and surprise or els to exspect the occasion to heape against him an open warre with the supportacion of greater Princes This yeare of 1531. brought forth no other accidents and the tranquillitie also went on continuing for the yeare following A yeare more daungerous for forreine warres then for the emocions of Italy for the Turke beeing kindled with the ignominie of his repulse at Vienna and no lesse vnderstanding howe thEmprour was intangled in Germany prepared a right huge and great armye wherein boasting insolently of his forces he let not to publish that his intencion was to constraine thEmprour to come to battell with him By the rumor and renowme of which preparacions both the Emprour put him selfe in as good order as he could reuoking into Germany the Marquis of Guast with his Spanish regiments and a great band of horsemen and footemen Italyans And the Pope promised to contribute to him a defraiment of forty thowsand duckats for euery moneth sending for the same expedicion as Legat Apostolike his Nephew the Cardinall of Medicis And lastly the Princes and free townes of Germany prepared in fauor of thEmprour and for the common defense of Germany A very huge and mighty army But the effects aunswered nothing the renowme and the feare for Solyman who for the greatnes of his preparacions and difficultie and distance of the way could not enter into Hungarie but verie late did not drawe directlie with his armie where thEmperour was but exhibiting onely a show of warre together with certeine bragging Caualcadoes and braueries of horsemen he returned to Constantinople leauing the enterprise vnperfect for want of vallour which he had induced and managed with so mightie preparacions Neither did thEmperour shew any greater deuocion or readines seeing that when he vnderstood the Turkes drew neare much lesse that he made out to meete them seeing vppon their retyring he omitted to pursue with all his forces the faire occasion that was offered him to reconquer Hungarie for his brother Onely yeelding to his importunate desire to go into Spaine he gaue order that certeine bands of Spanish footemen some regiments of Launceknightes should be conuerted to thenterprise of Hungarie But that order was immediatlie disordered by the insolent behauiours of thItalians who pushed on by certeine their Captaines disdaining that the authority and conduit of the enterprise was giuen to others and not to them so mutined That hauing no reason to alleage for their tumult and the presence of the Emperour who went thither to appease them being not sufficient to conteine them They tooke resolutely and vniuersally their way into Italie in which disorder they marched with great hast for feare to be followed and in their way with minds malicious they burned many villages and houses in reuenge as they said of the burnings wasting committed in many places in Italie by the Launceknights ThEmperour also returned by the way of Italie and where he had set downe in what order and by what places should passe his Court and all his trayne The Cardinall Medicis caried with humors and passions of youth would not obey the order generallie giuen to all the traine but in his insolencie respecting lesse the Emperours order then his owne ambicious will he aduaunced and gotte before together with Peter Maria Rossa vppon whom chiefly was layed the fault of that sedicion This bred no litle indignacion in thEmperour either for that he imputed the beginning and discourse of the matter to the Cardinall or else he feared least the Cardinall standing ill contented that Alexander his cossin was preferred to the administracion of thestate of Florence would goe after the bandes of Italians to lead them to trouble the affaires of Tuskane In which regard he caused to be apprehended by the way the Cardinall and with him Peter Maria Rossa But after he had better considered of thimportaunce of the matter he wrote letters for the redeliuerie of the Cardinall to whome as well as to the Pope he protested many excuses Onely Peter Maria remeyned prisoner though not long after he was released working greatlie for him with thEmperour the iniurie which it seemed he had done to the Cardinall The retyring of the Turke deliuered the regions of Italie of a great warre that threatned to fall vpon them for where the Frenche king and king of England with mindes full of emulacion against thEmperour had an enteruiewe and conference together betwene Calice and Bolleyne where taking their groundes that the Turke would abide that winter in Hungarie and hold intangled the forces of thEmperour They consulted that the French king vnder that oportunitie should inuade the Duchie of Millan and hauing a disposicion to draw the Pope to their parte by violence and astonishment whom they could neuer allure by other meanes they deuised to take from him the obedience of their kingdoms in case he would not cōsent to that which they desired of him which was for the action of Millan for the French king for the king of England to giue sentence on his side in the cause of diuorce And to relate their intencions they were determined to sende to him with sharpe commissions the Cardinalls of Tournon and Tarbes both which bare no small authoritie with the Frenche king But the newes which they receiued of the retyring of the Turke before the time of their enteruiew was determined did not onely well moderate those deuises and their seuerities but were also the cause that the king of England would not suffer to passe to Calyce the Lady Anne Bulleine to celebrate mariage with her publikely in that assembly Notwithstanding that both the cause was hanging in the Court of Rome also he was forbidden by writs Apostolike vnder paine of very great iudgements to innouate nothing to the preiudice of the first mariage ▪ But so deepe did the French king dissemble that albeit to confirme the minde of the king of England that he would be against the Pope he imposed by his owne authoritie vppon the Clergie of his Realme a taxe of tenthes dispatched the two Cardinalls to the Pope yet not obseruing the fidelitie of his word and promisse he sent them furnished with commissions farre differing from the resolucion of the two kings in the beginning The Emprour being comen into Italy with a desire to speake with the Pope the place of their meeting and enteruiewe was eftsoones assigned at Bolognia A place which the Pope accepted willingly the rather for that he would giue no occasion to thEmprour to goe to the Realme of Naples and by that occasion to make
a longer aboad in Italy A matter whereunto albeit thEmprour was induced by the reasons and perswasions of many of his Court yet it was entierly contrary to his principall intencion who desired to make haste into Spaine chiefly for the desire he had to haue sonnes his wife remeyning there So that those two personages of that estate and greatnes mette at the ende of the yeare at Bolognia where were obserued betweene them the same demonstrations of amitie and the same offices of familiaritie whiche they vsed before but there was no more the same correspondencie of willes whiche had beene expressed vppon their negociations the other tyme for themperour had a great desire to aduaunce the Councell the better to reduce to reste and contentment the regions and peoples of Germanie He offred to dissolue the armie liuing at a great charge bothe to him and others But to th ende he might do it with more suretie he insisted to haue renued the last league made at Bolognia both to comprehend in it all the Italians and to taxe the quantities rates of money which euery particular was to contribute if the states of Italy were inuaded by the French He desired also to haue Katherine the Popes Neece maryed to Frauncis Sforce aswel to presse the Pope by a greater necessitie to looke to the preseruatioÌ„ of that state as also to breake the practise of parentage that was solicited with the french king Of all these matters not one was acceptable to the Pope seeing the confederation was a motion contrarie to the desyre he had to stande a newâ—er so much as he could betwene the Princes of Christendome Wherein both he doubted many daungers generally and especially he feared least the Frenche kinge taking his example and instigation by the king of Englande woulde depriue him of the obedience of his kingdome Touching the conuocation of a Councell it was no lesse grieuous to hym then before for the auncient causes and impressions And for parentage with the Duke of Millan it pleased hym nothing at all for that he interpreted it to a meane to take an open hatred with the Frenche kinge with whose seconde sonne he had a vehement desyre to conioyne his Neece These matters were drawne into negociation and counsell but principally was solicited the poynt of the confederation In whiche action running many monethes were deputed for themprour Cnoâ—os the great Commaunder of Leo Granuelle and Prato his chiefe counsellors And for the Pope were delegate the Cardinall Medicis Iames Saluiatio and Guicciardin Who as they refused not to go through with the confederation for that it was all one to vncouer the Popes intention and to gyue themprour cause to conceyue iustely a greate suspicion of him So they made instance to haue the Venetians sownded and to be drawne to consente to it alleaging that bothe without them the defence of Italie would be but weake and that ioyntly with them shoulde be protected with more reputation the common affayres if the defence were continued vppon the renowme of the former confederation Where if there were resolued an other without them it would deliuer to the world an opinion that betwene themprour the Pope and Venetians were apparant matter of discord In this regarde the Venetians were solicited to condiscend to a new confederation for the vniuersall defence of all the regions of Italy for that by the first league their obligation extended no further then for the affayres of Millan and Naples Themprour also wished with great desire that they might be bound to the defence of Genes where it was thought that when the warre was on foote the Frenche men would be apt to recontinue their former inuasion a matter which they might pretende to do lawfully by reason of their rightes and interests particular without preiudicing the contractes of Madrill and Cambray But the Senate of Venice refused absolutelye to renewe the confederation or to amplifye the obligations conteyned in the same A matter whiche broughte no small discontentment to themperour thoughe they affirmed to obserue inuiolably that coniunction But themperour was so much the more importunate and so refuted all reasons that were alleaged to the contrarye that the articles of the confederacion beganne to be commoned vppon And for the more effectuall handling of thinges there were summoned all the Pottentats of Italy who sent Embassadors to this negociacion They were required to enter the league and to contribute in case the warre went on euery one according to his power and possibilitie wherein they made no difficultie or resistance but labored seuerally to ease the demaunde of the contribucion Onely Alfonso d'Este reasoned with them that it was not reasonable he should enter into a league to defend the states of others if first he were not assured of his owne he alleaged there could no accorde be made to warrant him against the Pope nor to enter league with him neither could he promisse to contribute with his treasor to the defense of Myllan and Genes if necessitie compelled him to exspend it continually to keepe bands of souldiours within Modena and Reggia and also for the sewertie of Ferrara Vppon which reasons was deriued a new practise and labor to accord him with the Pope who bearing a mind farre estraunged from that mocion and yet not willing to oppose him selfe so apparantly against the instance of thEmprour he proponed condicions very hard and impossible to be obserued affirming that if he should leaue Modena and Reggia to Alphonso who otherwayes would not come to accord he would that Alfonso should reacknowledge hold them in chief of the sea Apostolike A matter which for that it could not be done in such sort as to be iudicially auaileable without the consent of the electors and Princes of thEmpire reduced the Emprour to a difficultie which had no yssue This brought the Emprour to entreat the Pope that at the least during the league he would be bouÌ„d not to vexe the state which Alfonso held Insomuch as after many importunities and disputings the Pope consented to assure him for xviij monethes And so at last was resolued the conclusion of the league passed and contracted vppon S. Mathievves day A day alwayes happy to thEmprour This league and confederacion conteyned an obligacion of thEmprour the king of Romaines and all the other Pottentats of Italy except the Venetians for the defense of Italy Onely the Florentyns were not otherwayes named then in the same manner they were expressed in the league of Conguac and that to th end not to trouble their entercoursse and trades in the Realme of Fraunce it was set downe with what proporcion of souldiours euery one should be concurrant and with what quantities of money to contribute for euery moneth ThEmprours rate was xxx thowsand duckats The Pope for him and the Florentyns was taxed at twenty thowsand The Duke of Myllan at fifteene thowsand The Duke of Ferrara at ten thowsand the Genovvaies at six thowsand the
state of Sienna at ten thowsand and the citie of Lucquay at a thowsand And to thend to be found prepared against all suddeine vnlooked for inuasions vntill defense might be made with the contribucions afforenamed it was agreed that immediatly should be leauied a loane of a summe of money almost equall to the taxacions and that not to be exspended onlesse the preparacions to inuade Italy were manifestly discerned There was also set downe a small contribucion yearely for thinterteinment of those Capteines that remeyned in Italy and to defraye certeine pensions to the Svvyzzers to stoppe that nation for giuing ayde of men to the French king Ouer this league was declared Capteine generall by common consent Antho. de Leua with ordenaunce that he should remeine in the Duchie of Myllan Touching the generall councell there was nothing cōcluded to the liking of thEmprour who stil solicited the Pope to send out present summonce for it But he refused to accomplishe the mocion alleaging that as in that ill disposicion of the time and mens mindes there would be daunger lest the kings of England and Fraunce would not appeare So if the councell were celebrated without them much lesse that there could be introduced either vnion or reformacion of the Church seeing it was to be feared lest things would diuolue to a manifest scisme Onely he was content to send out Nuncioes to all Princes to induce them to so holly a worke But albeit thEmprour made a question to him what would be the yssue of thinges if those two Princes did dissent from them without iust cause and pressed him in that case to intimat the councel yet he could neuer dispose him to it So that his Nuncioes were assigned and sent out with a very slender hope to bring backe any good conclusion ThEmprour was no better satisfied touching the negociacion of the parentage for that when the two Cardinalls which the French king had sent were comen to Bolognia and had eftsoones recontinued the negociacion of the mariage with the second sonne of Fraunce The Pope gaue aunswer to the offer made for the Duke of Myllan and exhibited by the Emprour That whereas the Frenche king had long time before made an ouerture of mariage for his sonne he had harkned to the mocion by the consent of thEmprour declaring at that time his good consent and liking he should nowe doe too greate a wronge to the Frenche king if during the negociacion he should giue his Neece in mariage to one of his ennemies But he perswaded him that that practise was artificially introduced by the French king to enterteine him and not with intencion to conclude it seing there was betweene the parties so great disagreement and inequalitie of degree and condicion Lastly he assured him that he would not commit so great an offence to the king if he sawe not before the practise and solicitacion altogether broken And the Emprour for his parte beeing not to be perswaded that the French king would adioyne his sonne to a matche so farre vnequall to him encouraged and aduised the Pope that for the better vncouering of the kings dissimulacions he would presse the Cardinals to send for a procuracion to contract them which accordingly was accomplished in fewe dayes and exhibited in very ample forme By which readines and resolute meaning not onely was lost all hope of affinitie with Frauncis Sforce but also the solicitacion with the French king was pursued with so muche the more importunitie and to it was further added according to the deuise betweene them longe before that the Pope and the Frenche kinge shoulde contracte together at Nyce A citye of the Duke of Sauoye standing vppon the ryuer of Var and separateth Italye from Prouence These matters were not a litle discontenting to thEmprour aswell for a suspicion he had that betwene the Pope and French king were concluded a greater coniunction to his preiudice as also for that he was ielous that in the Pope remeyned not some secrete memorie and impressions of his imprisonment of the sacke of Rome of the mutacion of Florence and of other wronges To these he adioyned the passion of disdayne wherein he iudged that the honor which the Pope had done to him in making two iorneyes to Bolognia to speake with him woulde stande derided and diminished if he shoulde make a voyage by sea so farre as Nyce to meete with the French king But in vaine were these suspicions and the causes of them though he could not dissemble them for that in the Popes mind was vehemently norished and affected the desire of that affinitie beeing happly moued more with ambicion and appetit of glorye in that beeing of a house almoste simple and priuate he had obteyned in recompense of a bastarde Nephewe of his A bastard Daughter of so mightye an Emperour and nowe in exchaunge of his Neece legyttimate he had honored his howse with the seconde sonne of Fraunce lawefully borne and orderly assured Then that he was induced which many councelled him that by the meane of that parentage he might giue cooller of right though more apparant then true to the Frenche king to enter for his sonne and for his Daughter in law vppon the estate of Florence To these discontentments of thEmprour may be added also as a full accomplishment of his disliking That where he made instance to the Pope to create three Cardinalls exhibited by him he obteyned onely and that with difficultie the calling of thArchbishop of Bary the Pope making his excuses vppon the contradiction of the Colleage of Cardinalls The Emprour stoode litle appeased in the readines which the Pope showed to make a secret confederacion with him wherein he promised to proceede iudicially to pronownce iudgements and censures and all other things that might be done by right against the king of England and against the Lady Anne Bolleyne And they were bownd to make no new confederacions or accords with Princes without reciprocall consent one of an other Thus thEmprour departed from Bolognia the daye after the conclusion of the confederacion being now no lesse assured in him selfe that the sayd mariage would goe on together with thenteruiew betweene the Pope and the French king Then he had reason to doubt some greater coniunction And beeing embarked at Genes he passed into Spaine with this resolute intencion that if the mariage of Katherine de Medicis were celebrated with the seconde sonne of Fraunce he woulde dissolue and breake the matche made betwene his Daughter and Alexander de Medicis Not many dayes after the Pope departed to goe to Rome beeing accompanied with the two French Cardinalls and nothing troubled with the newe confederacion for that as he was excellent in simulacions and practises in which he was not surmounted with feare so he had told them that vppon concluding the league the spanish armie was to dissolue decasse A matter which would turne more to the benefit of the french king then the league
or confederacion could doe him hurt seeing that aswell for the obligacions it conteyned as for the obseruancie and execucions of the same many difficulties might happen and sundry impediments arise Thus the solicitacions and practises begon were continued betwene them And as the French king was desirous in regard of his honor and for ambicion more then for other needefull matter that the person of the Pope might come to Nyce so to allure him the more he promised not to require of him any confederacion nor to incense him to warre and much lesse to drawe him from tearmes of iustice in the cause of the king of England nor to importune him to create newe Cardinalls Neuerthelesse he was somewhat pushed on by the incitacion of the king of England who had now solemnly maried the Ladye Anne Bolleyne by whome hauing by due order of time procreated a Daughter he had to the preiudice of the Daughter of his first wife declared her Princesse of the Realme of England A title which is transferred to suche as are moste nearest the Crowne By reason of which action the Pope not hable to dissemble so great a contempt against the sea Apostolike nor refuse to graunt iustice to thEmprour had with the vowes and iustificacions of the Consistorie published that king guiltie of the cryme of contempt A matter which moued the king of England to desire with more importunitie both the parentage and enteruiewe of the Pope with the French kinge hoping muche in that kinge to remedye his cause and that if the Pope were induced to common vppon new matters against thEmprour he woulde desire to restore him and to drawe him to their coniunction and so almoste to constitute a triumuirate to giue lawes to the thinges of Italy At laste his going was concluded but not to Nyce for some difficultie interposed by the Duke of Sauoy touching the consigning of the Castel to the Pope hauing in likelyhood no inclination to displease the Emperour But the place was chaunged to Marseilles greatly to the pleasing and appetite of the French king who interpreted it not a little to his honour to reduce the enteruiew into his kingdome Neyther was it discontenting to the Pope as one that desired to satisfie him more with demonstrations to please his ambition then with effects according to true meaning The Pope caused to be published a brute that he went to this enteruiew principally to solicite an vniuersall peace secondly to perswade an enterprise agaynst the Infidells thirdly to reduce and call backe to good wayes the king of Englande and lastely and onely for common and generall interests and to establish some good fourme in the vniuersall affayres But beeing in deede not hable to dissemble the true cause of his iourney before he departed he sent his Neece to Nice vpon the gallies which the French king sent to him accompanied with the duke of Albania vncle to the young Lady Which gallies after they had deliuered the Lady to Nice returned to the port Pisan and tooke in the fourth of October the person of the Pope with a trayne of many Cardinalls whom with a happy nauigation they brought in few dayes to Marseilles There he made his solemne entry and after him entred the French king who had visited him before by night They were lodged in one Pallace and exercised reciprocally one vpon an other right great offices and demonstrations of amitie And the king who especially laboured to insinuate into his fauour and to winne him besought him to sende for his Neece to come to Marseilles which beeing perfourmed with a willing readines in the Pope who forbare to preuent the king in that motion to shewe that he would first debate of the common affayres so soone as the Lady was come the contractes wente on which were immediatly confirmed and made perfect by the consommation of the mariage to the incredible gladnes of the Pope Who albeit with such art solicited his affayres with the king that the king reapposed a wonderfull confidence in his wordes and honored him with a singular affection yet both contrary to thopinion of all men and especially agaynst thexspectation of themprour no article or capitulation was passed betweene them Onely the Pope shewed him selfe alwayes well inclined and desirous that the state of Millan might be conuerted to the Duke of Orleance husbande to his Neece A matter also vehemently thirsted after by the king for a hatred despite he bare to the Emprour and his greatnes fortunes But much more for that the duke of Orleance hauing to his share an estate of that apparance greatnes he thought that therby would be quenched the occasiōs of contentions betwene his children after his death ▪ which otherwise he feared might fall amongest them for the title of the Duchie of Britaine ▪ An estate which the king in the yere before contrarie to the couenauntes made by king Levvis with those people had annexed and vnited to the Crowne of Fraunce wherevnto he induced the subiects of that state to consent more by his kingly authoritie then of their proper inclination and will. Moreouer in this enteruiew muche lesse that the king coulde obteyne any fauour of the Pope in the cause of the king of Englande seeing beeing discontented with the inciuilities of the Agentes of that king whom he founde in the Popes chamber protesting and appealing from him to the Councell he tolde the Pope that it should nothing offende him if he pursued that king and his cause according to the rule of iustice yea he was so moderate in his demaundes and dealings that in nothing did he offende the minde of the Pope sauing that more to satisfie others of his Court and counsell then to content himselfe he solicited him to create three Cardinalls A matter not a little discontenting to the Pope not so muche for thinstance whiche themperours Embassadour made to the contrarie as for that he interpreted it to an action of great consequence both for thelection of other Popes hereafter and for the disobediences whiche might happen in hys lyfe and after to adde so many Cardinalls to the French nation beeing at that time sixe in number Neuerthelesse to preuent a greater euill with satisfying the lesser he accomplished the kings demaunde making to be concurrante in the action of that creation a brother of the Duke of Albanie to whome he had before promised the Cardinalls Cappe In all other regardes they seemed to stande firme and assured in all sortes of fidelitie and satisfaction and in that good estate of inclination and amitie the Frenche king was not curious to communicate with him many of his counsells and especially his determination to stirre vp agaynst themprour certayne Princes of Germany and chiefly the Lantgraue van Hesse and the Duke of VVittemberg who the sommer following drewe into commotion And so wyth these actions and demonstrations of amitie and office after they had passed a moneth at Marseilles the Pope returned
at Rome Maxymylian Sforce restored to Myllan ThEnglish men as Fontarabye against the french king The king of Aragon taketh the Realme of Nauarre The purposes of Pope Iulio the second his death Creation of Pope Leo the tenth Coronation of the Pope Disposition of princes to the vvarre Desire of pope Leo to chase the Frenche out of Italy The Fr. men in the duchie of Millan The Pope sendeth money to the Svvizzers 〈…〉 Aluiano 〈…〉 generall â—â— the Venetians Aluiano taketh Pesquiero and other 〈…〉 Genes at the deuotion of the French. Nouaro beseged by the french The wordes of Capteine Motyn to the Svvyzzers The Frenchemen defeated by the Svvizzers The Pâ—pe 〈…〉 Humilitie of two Cardinals Padoa 〈…〉 gâ—d by the Viceroy Ouerthrowe of the Venetians armie Prouisions of the Frenche agaynst the king of Englande Torvvaine besieged by the English. The ouerthrow â—f the French neare 〈…〉 Rising of the Swizzers against the French king Thenglish as mie affore Tournay Tornay taken by thEnglish The Popes sentence touching the controuersies betwene Cesar the VenetiaÌ„s The hopes of the Frenche king Treatie of peace betwene Englande and Fraunce The Fr. king marieth the Lady Mary sister to the king of Englande Actions of the Pope The lantern of Genes rased by the people Emocions against the Venetians and of the Venetians Two ElephaÌ„ts presented to the Pope The death of king Lowys the twelfth 1515. Frauncis the first comes to the crowne The fr. king assumeth the title of duke of Millan Preparacions of the frenche king against the Duke of Millan Octauian Fregosa Duke of Genes â—â—mpoundes with the Frenche king The Swizzers seeke to stoppe the passage of the Frenche men The French armie The king of EnglaÌ„d sends to the frenche king not to passe into Italie The treatie betwene the king and the Swizzers broken The Cardinal of Syon persâ—adeth the Swizzers The battell of Marignan Pe. Nauarre afore the Castell of MillaÌ„ Death of Aluiano Enteruiew of Pope Leo the fr. king in Bolognia 1516. The french king returneth into Fraunce Death of the king Catholike Death of the Great Capteine The Venetians recouer Bressia The Pope taketh the Duchie of Vrbin giueth it to Laur â–ª de Medicis his nephew Capitulations betwene the French king and king Catholike Beginningâ— of new 〈…〉 Vrbin returneth to the obedience of the naturall Duke Fano besieged Description of the Citie of Pesero Consederacion betwene the Pope and fr. king Franciscomaria sendes to defie law de Medicis Scituacion of Fossambrono Lawrence loaseth thoccasioÌ„ of the victory Lawrence de Medicis hurt Ielousie against Iohn Ia. Tryuulce The death of Ioh. Ia. Triuulce The french aspireth to be Emperour 1519 Death of Lavv. de Medicis Charles the fife chesen Emperour Occasions of contention betwene the fr. king and themperor The Popes enterprise vppon Ferrara 1520. Martin Luther agaynst the Pope The Pope executeth Io. Paule Baillon ThEmprour in England Commocions in Spaine Pope Leo is the cause of the warre Fontarabye taken by the french Martin Luther Confederation betwene the Pope and thEmperour agaynst the fr. king The titles of thempire to the duchie of Millan Practises against the fr. king FrauÌ„cis Guicciardin the writer of this history Monsr d'Escud before Reggia Lightning vpon the castell of Millan The Marquis of Mantua for the Pope The resolucioÌ„ for the warre agaynst the Frenchmen Monsr de Lawtrech returneth to Millan Frauncis Guicciardin generall coÌ„maunder ouer the army The capteines of the league take counsell together The siege of Parma The Popes Capteines and the Emprours take councell to passe further The armie of the league passeth the riuer of Paw A fault of Monsr de Lavvtrech The Svvizzers leauied by the Pope vvoulde not march against the Frenche king The souldiers of the league passe the riuer of Adda The taking of Myllan by the league The death of Pope Leo the tenth The Frenche men before Parma The duke of Vrbin reentreth his estates Election of Pope Adrian the sixt The D. of Vrbin and the Baillons before Sienna Alexandria taken by the Imperialls Ten thowsand Swizzers discend into the Duchie of Millan for the fr. king Iohn Medicis for the french king The French men before Millan Frauncis Sforce at Millan Monsr Lawtrech before Pauia The Swvizzers woulde leaue the sr armie for that they are not payde Monsr Lawtrech determined to set vppon his enemies Thencounter of Bicocque The ouerthrow of the Swizzers Monsr Lawtrech returneth into Fraunce Loda taken by the Imperialls Genes taken by the Imperialls Monsr d'Escud returneth into Fraunce Emotions in Tuskane An accident in the towne of Lucquai The prouinces of â—â—alâ—e are taxed for the conseruation of the duchie of Millan Pope Adrian the vi coÌ„meth to Rome The king of England for thEmprour sendeth Embassadors to the Venetians to draw them from thalliaÌ„ce of the french VVhat thEmprour did in Spaine Roades taken Rhodes rendred vp to the Turke The Castell of Millan rendred by the French. The oracion of Andrevv Gritti touching thalliance vvith Caesar The oratioÌ„ of George Cornaro Andrea Gritty Duke of Venice Consederacion betwene Caesar and the Venetians Cardinall Volterro prisoner The French armie marcheth Confederacie betwene theÌ„prour the k. of England and the Duke of Burbon The french army in Italy The death of Pope Adrian Frauncis Guicciardin The taking of Reggia by the duke of Ferrara The taking of Loda by the French. The frenchmen breake vp from before Millan Cardinal Medicis is created Pope and taketh the name of Clement the seuenth The death of Prospero Colonno and his qualities The Duke of Burbon notable to doe any thing in Burgondie commeth to Myllan The imperials passe the riuer of Thesin The frenchmen go from before Millan The claime of the Kings of England to the Crowne of Fraunce The frenche king determineth to passe the mountes and to follow the ennemie The French king before Pauia The fr. king sendeth the Duke of Albanie into the realme of Naples The Pope counsellâ—th the fr. king and themperour to peace Duke of Ferrara aydes the French king during the siege of Pauia 1525. The defendantes of Pauya in necessitie The french king will â—â—t 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 of his Captemes The Imperialls take the castell S. Angeo Thimperialls drawe neare to Pauia The battell of Pauia wherin the frâ—king is take prisoner The Potentats of Italy in great feare for the imprisonment of the French king The VenetiaÌ„s solicite the Pope to confederate with them Thimperialls determine to accorde with the Pope Confederation betweene the Pope and the Emprour The rightes pretensions of the familie of Est The Pope sendes to visite the french king beeing prisoner The moderation and temperance of thâ— Emprour â—poÌ„ the neâ—es of the victory The Oration of the Bishop of Osimo touching the taking of the fr. king The opinion of the duke of Alba touching the kings imprisonment The sorowes and feares of Fraunce for the imprisonment of the king A treatise of of accord
the crowne of Fraunce 876. Confederacion betwene the Pope and thEmprour 910. Conspiracy against thEmprour 935. Capitulacions betweene the confederats against thEmprour 935. Castell of Myllan rendred to thImperialls 1004. Cremona rendred to the confederats 1014. The Confederats resolue to inuade Naples 1040. Confederacion betweene the Frenche king and king of England 1070. Cardinall of Yorke in Fraunce 1073. Cardinal Campeius Legat in England 1114. Couenants betwene Andre Dore and thEmprour 1119. Causes of the ruyne of the Cardinall of Yorke 1139. Capitulacions betweene thEmprour the Venetians Duke of Myllan 1161. Creaciō of Pope Pawle the third 1183 D Duchie of Brittaine inuested in the crowne of Fraunce 24. Death of Ferdinand king of Aragō 27. Duke of Calabria marcheth towardes Calabria 37. Death of Iohn Galeas Duke of Millan 48. Dom Federyk aunswereth the French king 84. Death of Ge. Otto a Turke and kept in refuge by the Pope 85. Duke of Venice reasoneth in fauour of the Pysans and preuaileth 143. Declinacion of the French in the kingdom of Naples 156. Duke of Candia generall of the Popes army 170. Duke of Myllan practiseth against the Venetians touching Pisa 176. Disorders in Florence for the gouernment 177. Duke of Myllan prosecuteth his practise against the Venetians 183. Death of king Charles the eight 184. Death of Sauonarola 185. Duke of Venice aunswereth the Florentyn Embassadors 197. Doings of the French king during the warre of Pisa 203. Duke of Myllan being made astonished with the league soliciteth an accord 215. Duke Valentynois taketh Ymola by the ayde of the French. 236. Discending of the Turke Ibid. Duke Valentynois taketh Furly 237. Disorders in the Frenche gouernment in Myllan 238. Duke of Myllan made prisoner by the treason of the Swizzers 242. Duke Valentynois beseegeth Faenza 250. Duke Valentynois leauieth his campe Ibid. Duke Valentynois disdayneth to be repulsed 251. Duke Valentynois taketh the Duchie of Vrbyn 269. Disorders in Florence touchinge the gouernment 272. Duke Valentynois with the frēch k. 274. Duke Valētynois great with the french king againe 275. Duke of Vrbyn recouereth his estate 278. Duke Valentynois demaundeth succor of the French king Ibid. Death of Cardinall Vrsin 283 Discending of the Swyzzers into the Duchie of Myllan 291. Duke Valentynois for the french k. 310. Duke Valentynois arested by the Pope 318. Discourse vpon the nauigacions of the Spanyards 328. Death of king Federyk 339. Death of Elizabeth Queene of Spaine 340. Death of Cardinall Askanius 345. Dissimulacions very daungerous in the persons of great men 354. Death of king Philip. 363. Death of Duke Valentynois 365. Dyot of Constance 376. Deliberacion of the Venetians 394. Deliberacion of the Venetians 410. Defeate of the Venetians 422. Diuerse opinions touching the fall of the Venetians 430. Descripcion of Padoa 445. Descripcion of Verona 458. Death of the Count Petillano 460. Discending of the Swizzers to the Duchie of Myllan 483. Duke of Ferrara goeth to Rome to demaund pardon of the Pope 603. Duke of Ferrara in daunger to be prisoner at Rome Ibid. Disposiciō of Princes to the warre 634. Desire of Pope Leo to chase the french king out of Italy 638. Death of king Lewys the 12. 684. Death of Aluiano 709. Death of the king Catholike 714. Death of the great Capteine Ibid. Duchie of Vrbyn returneth to the obedience of the naturall Duke 732. Descripcion of the citie of Pezero 733. Death of Iohn Ia. Tryunlce 761. Death of law de Medicis 766. Disorder in an army breeds more daūger then the sword of thennemy 798. Death of Pope Leo the tenth 813. Duke of Vrbyn and the Baillons before Sienna 823. Death of Pope Adrian 857. Death of Prospero Colonno and his qualities 868. Duke of Burbon commeth to Myllan being not able to do any thing in Burgondie 869. Defendants of Pauya in necessitie 894. Duke of Burbon in Spayne 943. Death of the Marquis of Pisquaro 943. Deuises of Princes against the power of thEmprour 944. Duke of Burbon goeth out of Myllan leaueth there Antho. de Leua 1035. Duke of Ferrara perswadeth the D. of Burbon 1036. Duke of Burbon draweth his army directly to Rome 1059. Duke of Burbon slayne at the assalt of Rome 1061. Death of the Viceroy Don Hugo Mōcado 1105. Duke of Brundswike in Italy for thEmprour 1110. Death of Monsr Lawtrech 1122. Deuises of the Pope to restore his house in Lombardy 1137. Death of Pope Clement the vij 1183. E Estate wherein Italy was anno 1490. 1 Embassadors of Myllan perswade the french king to the voyage of Naples 14. Embassadors of Florence confute the complaints of the Pysans 75. Encownter of Soriano 171. Embassadors of the Florentyns at Venice 196. Eldest sonne of king Federyk sent into Spayne 262. Experience declareth this to be true that that which many desire succeedeth rarely for that theffects of humane actions c. 273. Exploytes of the french armies beyond the mountes 320. ThEmprour speaketh in the Dyot 377 Enterprise of Bolognia by the Pope king of Aragon 565. English men at Fontaraby against the french 624. Estate of humane felicities subiect to emulacion and nothing of more difficultie to mortal mē then to beare wel the height and greatnes of fortune 629. English army affore Tournaye 665. Elephantes presented to the Pope 682. Enteruiew of Pope Leo and the french king in Bolognia 711. Emprour in England 775. Election of Pope Adrian the sixt 822. Emprour Charles maried to the daughter of Portugall 951. Emprour writeth to the Pope touching the french kings deliuery 964. Emprour ill contented 976. Execucion at Naples 1132. Emprour sendeth to the Prince of Orenge to inuade the Florentyns 1147. Emprour at Genes 1148. Emprour taketh the crowne at Bolognia 1165. Employ sackt by the Marquis of Guast 1168. Enteruiew of the king of England and French king 1176. Enteruiewe of the Pope and French k. at Marselles 1181. F Ferdinand king of Aragon 2. Frenche kinge sendeth Embassadors to the Pope Florentyns and Venetians 30 Florentyns aunswer the Frenche Embassadors 32. French king angry with the Florentyns aunswer 32. French king prayeth amitie of the Venetians 33. Foreshowes of the calamities of Italy 40. French king doubtfull to goe thorowe with thenterprise of Naples 41. French king in Ast 43. French king discribed Ibid. French king visiteth Iohn Galeas Duke of Myllan 48. French king in minde to returne into Fraunce 49. Florentyns discontented with Peter de Medicis 54. French k. draweth towards Florēce 57. French king entreth Florence 58. French king at Syenna 60. French king entreth Rome 63. French king kisseth the Popes feete 64. French king entreth Naples 70. French king maketh offers to Dom Federyk 84. French king sendeth an army to inuade Yschia 84. French king vseth negligence in ordering the things of Naples 88. French king taketh councel what to do against the league of confederats 90. French k. crowned king of Naples 92. French king aspyreth to the surprising of Genes 98. French kinges attempts vppon Genes
for that they were not payed 830. So mightie is necessitie that in cases of extremitie it makes tollerable all those thinges which in all other condicions are full of difficulties 839. Such is the infirmitie of treason that it hath no further assurance then the partie hath confidence 862. Such are the domages of an vniuersall negligence that euen amidde perills that be manifest and apparant they take away the studie and care of thinges that most concerne safety and defense 882. Sorowes feares in Fraunce for thimprisonment of the king 924. Solyman Ottoman in Hungarie 1005. Sacke of Pauia 1079. Second enteruiew of the Pope Emprour at Bolognia 1176. T The title of the house of Aniow to the kingdom of Naples 12. The name of Iohane a name vnhappie to the kingdom of Naples 12. The estate of the realme of Fraunce vnder king Charles the eight 13. The thoughtes of Ferdinand king of Naples 21. The way which the french army tooke to Naples 50. Tumult in Florence 55. The young king Ferdinand speaketh in great sorow to the multitude 68. Two particular causes of quarrell betwene Florence and Genes 73. The pretended title of the Duke of Millan to Pisa 73. Tarenta Caietta are rendred to Federike new king of Naples 169. The french king determineth to set vpon Genes 169. The french prepare new enterprises against Italie 173. Title of the frenche king to the Duchie of Millan 188. Truce betwene the Florentins Syennoys 198. There is nothing endureth so small a time as the memorie of benefits receiued and the more great they be c. 204. The towne of Millan yeeldeth to the frenchmen 229. The frenche king commeth to Millan 229. The taking of Cassina 230. The estate of Romagnia in the time of Duke Valentynois 235. The incerteinty of fortune transferreth to one that which she taketh from an other not regarding the equitie of causes c. 230. Those authorities are vniust whose meanes to come to them are vnlawefull c. 245. Truce betwene the french king king of Romaines 251. To men afflicted with sorowe it is one consolacion to know thuttermost of their mishaps and when c. 261. That man erreth lesse who promiseth to him selfe a chaunge of thaffaires of this worlde then he that perswadeth that they are alwaies firme and stable c. 298. Truce betwene the kings of Spayne Fraunce 320. There is no possibilitie to auoyde that which the euerlasting councell of God hath determined nor any reason to pull on the destinie of thinges till times be accomplished 333. Truce betwene the kings of Spayne Fraunce 334. Testament of Queene Elizabeth of Spayne 341. The seate of dominion verie casuall where it diuolueth by election 365. Truce betwene Maximilian the Venetians 402. Thassembly of Cambray 407. The armies affront one an other in the field 420. Tyrewaine beseeged by the Englishe 662. Tournay taken by thEnglish 650. Treaty of peace betwene England and Fraunce 675. Treatie betwene the frenche king and Swizzers broken 693. Titles of thempire to the Duchie of Millan 782. The Taking of Millan by the league 810. Tenne thowsand Swizzers discend into the Duchie of Millan for the fr. king 825. Thencounter of Bicocquo 831. Treaty of Madrill touching the deliuery of the french king 961. Truce betwene the Pope and themprour 1020. Tumult in Florence 1055. Thimperial army issueth out of Rome 1095. The Turke returneth with shame to Constantinople 1175. V. VV. Venetians Newters 39. Victorie when it is not assured with moderacion and discression is oftentimes defiled with some accident vnlooked for 84. Virginio Vrsin Count Petillano being the kings prisoners showe reasons to be redeliuered and their reasons are disproued by Monsr de Ligny 93. Venetians and Lod. Sforce prepare to stoppe the frenche kinges returning into Fraunce 95. Venetians in minde to reskewe the Pisans 131. Virginio Vrsin in pay with the frenche king 137. Venetians in minde to take vpon them the defense of Pisa 141. Thestate of Venice debateth vpon the action of Pisa 141. Virginio Vrsin prisoner 157. Venetians sende Embassadors to the french king 190. Vicopisan rendred 196. Venetians carefull to succour the Pisans 200. Venetians take councell whether they should ioyne with the french king or not 206. Where things are deuided the suretie is intricate and where be many competitors to one thing c. 258. Vitellozzo and the Vrsins made prisoners by treason 282. Vittellozzo Li. de Fermo strangled 282. The Vrsins against Valentinois 312. Valentinois distressed by the Vrsins 314. Venetians answere the new Pope 317. What happened to the frenchmen as they woulde haue passed Garillon 321. When extremities perils be at hand it hapneth oftentimes that confidence is turned into feare and when c. 322. Vaine feares in many cases are farre more hurtfull then hastie confidence or credulitie c. 322. Valentinois prisoner by Consaluo 334. Venetians looke to themselues 414. The Venetians armie 418. Venetians recouer Padoa 433. Venetians armie at Vincensa 453. Venetians armie vpon the countrey of Ferrara 454. Venetians absolued 463. The Vincentins yeelde to discression 474. Venetians recouer most parte of their townes 486. Verona beseeged by the Venetiās 486. The warning of a mischiefe brings with it his remedie the harme that is looked for before hand c. 489. Warres denounced against themperour by the kings of England Fraunce 1089. Y Yt hath bene alwaies true that wisemen haue not at all times a discression iudgement perfect 7. Yt hapneth not alwayes that in taking away thoccasions theffects do ceasse 11. Yt is daungerous to vse a medecin stronger then the nature of the disease or complexion of the pacient will beare 11. Yt is familiar with Princes to holde for suspected the greatnesse of their neighbours 18. Yt is hard to assure any thing that dependeth vpon the wil of an other c. 199. Yt hath bene a custom with the Princes of the worlde to enterteine one an other with vaine hopes c. 299. Yt is seene often in the course and practise of worldly affaires that the falling of one man is the rising of an other 852. The end of the Table
places holding for him they accorded with Federyk by the solicitacion of Monsr d Aubigny who for some difficulties hapning in the assignement of the fortresses in Calabria was not yet departed from Naples to leaue the towne and castel and returne by sea into Fraunce with safetie and protection of their liues and goods By reason of this agreement the french king seeing him selfe deliuered of so many cares and thoughtes to minister succors to the kingdom of Naples and on thother side being indifferently greeued with the harmes and infamies of those warres determined to sette vppon Genes wherein he hoped much in the faction of Baptistyn Fregosa aforetimes Duke of that citie and in the trayne and followers which the Cardinall of S. Peter ad vincla had in the towne of Sauone and in those riuers he applyed also to the fauor of his deuise the occasion and consent of the tyme for that in those seasons Iohn Lovvys de fiesco and the famulie of the Adornes were in discorde and all the Genovvays generally ill contented with the Duke of Myllan both for that in the sale of Pietra Sancta he had preferred the Lucquoys before them and also hauing promised to reduce it eftsoones to their hands vsing in that action the better to appease thindignacion conceiued against him the authoritie of the Venetians he had nourished them many moneths with vayne hopes But for feare of this determinacion of the king Lodovvyk who for thoccasion of Pysa was almost estraunged from the Venetians was compelled to knit of new with them and to send to Genes the horsemen and footemen of the Almains which Caesar had left in Italy for whome if this necessitie had not happened there would haue bene neither employment nor prouicion made Whilest these thinges were thus in deuise solicitacion the Pope finding now a great oportunitie to occupy the estates of the Vrsins for that the principals of that famulie were restrayned in Naples pronownced rebells in the consistory Virginio the residue of that race confisked their estates for that contrary to his commaundement they had taken pay of the french After which beginning he proceeded in further action to assayle their landes hauing ordred that the Colonnoys shoulde doe the like in all those places where they confyne with the Vrsins This enterprise was much comforted by the Cardinall Askanius no lesse for the auncient amitie he had with the Colonnoys then for a setled dissention and disagreement interteyned of long against the Vrsins The Duke of Myllan also gaue readily his consent but it displeased not a litle the Venetians in whome were secret desires to winne that famulie and draw them to their deuocion And yet not being able with any iustificacions to hinder the Pope from pursuing his rightes and withall holding it nothing profitable in that tyme to alyenat him from them they consented that the Duke of Vrbyn Mercenary in common to the Pope and to them should march to ioyne with the bands of the Church ouer whom was Capteine general the Duke of Candia and in the office of Legat the Cardinall La luna borne at Pauya A Cardinall wholly depending vpon Askanius to this armie also king Federyk of Naples sent Fabricius Colonne This armie now drawne into a campe after it had compelled many peeces to be rendered marched to incampe at Tryuignian which towne menteyning a valiant defence for certeine dayes yelded at last to discression But during the defense of that towne Bartlemevv d'Aluyano yssuing out of Bracciane put to flight within eyght myles of Rome foure hundreth horsemen that guided the artilleries to the campe Ecclesiasticke And an other day ronning with the same fortune euen to the crosse of Montmarie he lacked not much of taking the Cardinall of Valence who comming out of Rome to the chasse found his best safetie in the swiftnes of his horse After the rendring of Tryuignan the campe drewe to the yle where after they had battered one part of the rocke with thartillerie they obteyned it by cōposicion At length all the warre was reduced to Bracciana where the Vrsins had layed vp all the hope of their defense for that the place which had bene made stronge before was of new refortefied with municions and rampiers and the suburbes reenforced hauing at the entry thereof erected a bastyllion and bestowed within it a sufficient strength of men vnder the gouernment of Aluyano whose youth gaue him a body disposed and his wit no lesse quicke and resolut then his diligence incredible increased in him with exercise in armes those hopes exspectacions to the which in tymes succeeding his actions were nothing inferior The Pope ceased not to increase dayly his armie which he had of new refurnished with eyght hundreth launceknights of those that had bene employed in the warres of Naples There were dayly skyrmishes and tryal armes on both partes and that with great contencion the campe without planting their artillerie in many seueral places and they within not forgetting to repaire and fortefie with present diligence and assurance And yet within fewe dayes the defendants were constrayned to abandon the suburbes which being taken the ecclesiasticks gaue a furious assault to the towne wherein albeit their fortune made them able to aduaunce their enseignes vpon the walls yet by the vertue of the defendants they were eftsoones forced to retyre suffering a great losse in which action was hurt Anthony Sauelle The defendants expressed the like vallour in an other assault repulsing the ennemy with a furie more resolut a losse more generall for that two hundred of them were either slayne or very sore wounded wherein appeared with great merit the particular vallour of Aluyano to whom was iustly giuen the principall glory of that defense for that within he was of a liuely readines to all offices necessary and without with continuall erupcions and sallies he kept th armie of thennemie day and night in alarams In this speciall action he added much to his reputacion that by his disposing certeine light horsemen yssuing out of Ceruette which the Vrsins helde should make incursions euen to the campe and he him selfe taking thoccasion of this tumult charged them out of the towne put to flight the footebands that garded the artilleries of which he caried into Bracciana certeine small peeces And albeit at length rather ouerlayed with numbers then ouercome in vallour he and his companies were ouerwearied with the continuall trauells and perplexities of that warre hauing neither the day nor the night fauorable to their quietnes yet they began eftsoones to readresse them selues with hope of succors for that Charles Vrsin and Vitellozze who was knit to the Vrsins by a bond of the faction of Guelffes being now passed into Italy vpon the vessells of Prouence come to Lyuorne with money of the french king to reerect their bandes dispersed in the kingdome of Naples they prepared to succor them in so great a daunger for which
cause Charles went to Soriana to reassemble the olde souldiers frendes and followers of the Vrsins and Vitellozzo in Citta de Castello made the like leauy of the souldiers and footemen of the contrey adioyning with great diligence his whole strength to Charles at Soriano hauing in his regiment two hundreth men at armes and xviij hundreth footemen of his owne with proporcion of great artillerie vppon wheeles after the manner of Fraunce By reason whereof the Capteines ecclesiastick foreseeing that if they marched forward it could not but be daungerous to be inclosed in the middest of a circle betwene the new succors and the olde ennemies within Bracciana and withall holding dishonorable to the renowme of merit and vallour to leaue them in pray al the contrey thereaboutes wherein he had sackt and made hauocke of diuerse borowes they leauied their campe from before Bracciana and retyring all their great artilleries within Anguillare they marched directly to that quarter where thennemies were And encowntring them betwene Soriana and Bassan they fought together with great furie for certeine howers But in the ende the successe of warres depending chiefly vpon the innocencie of the quarrell albeit at the entry into the encownter thecclesiasticks tooke prisoner Franciot Vrsin yet their whole campe was put to flight with the losse of their baggage and artilleries They lost what in the slaughter and by taking prisoners more then fiue hundred men Amongest which prisoners were the Duke of Vrbyn Iohn Peter of Gonsague Count of Nugolare with many other bodies of marke the Duke of Candia lightly hurt in the face and with him the Popes Legat and Fabrice Colonne found safetie by fleeing into Roncillon Aboue all the residue Vitellozze caried the honor and merit of this victorie for that the bandes of footemen of Citta Castello who had bene afore trayned and managed by him and his brethren with the orders and disciplines of the french were that day greatly ayded by his industrie hauing armed them with pykes longer by an arme length then those which were customably vsed they had so much aduauntage when they came to the shock with the footemen of thēnemies that wounding them with the oddes of length in their pykes they put them easily to the chase so much the more to their greater honor by how much in the contrary battell there were eight hundred footemen of thAlmaines of which nation the infanterie of Italy haue had a continuall feare euer since the discending of king Charles After this victory the victors begon to ronne without resistance ouer all the contrey on this side Tyber And afterward hauing passed part of their companies ouer the riuer beneath the hill Rotonde they still inuaded those wayes where they supposed was any retrait for thennemie In regard of which daungers the Pope applying his witts to the necessities of his affayres studying to make a new leauy of men of warre called to his succors from the kingdom of Naples Consaluo and Prosper Colonne And yet not many dayes after what by the diligence of thEmbassadors of Venice to doe pleasure to thVrsins and the solicitacion of the king of Spayne fearing least these beginnings would draw some ill consequence or innouacion to the league A peace was made with a most ready inclinacion aswell of the Pope who naturally hated exspences as of the Vrsins who being no lesse poore in money then naked in frendes knew that their necessitie in the ende would compell them to yeld to the power of the Pope The articles of the Pope were these That it shoulde be suffered to the Vrsins to continue in the paye of the french till the ende of the tyme for the which they were hyered by the king with expresse mention that they shoulde not be bownde to take armes against the Church That all the places which they had lost in this warre should be restored paying to the Pope fifty thowsand duckats of the which thirty thowsand to be payd assoone as Iohn Iordan and Pavvle Vrsin shoulde be set at libertie for Virginio not many dayes before dyed within the castell of the egge either of an ague which was naturall or by poyson which was violent and therefore much suspected and the other twenty thowsand duckats within eight monethes for assurance of which payment Anguillare and Ceruetre should be committed of trust into the keeping of the Cardinalls Askanius and S. Seuerin That all the prisoners taken in the iorney at Soriana shoulde be redeliuered except the Duke of Vrbyn for whose libertie albeit thEmbassadors of the confederats made great trauell yet the Pope would solicite nothing for that he knew the Vrsins had ho meane to rayse the money they were to pay to him but by the raunsom of the Duke for whome a litle after was agreement made for xl thowsand duckats but with this adiection that he should not be deliuered afore Pavvle Vitelli who remeyned prisoner to the Marquis of Mantua at the rendring of Atella had obteyned his libertie without paying any raunsom The Pope hauing thus to his litle honor dispatched his hands of the warre against the Vrsins made distribucion of money to the companies which Consaluo brought with him whom ioyning to him his owne bandes he sent to take Ostia as yet holden in the name of the Cardinall of S. P. ad vincla wherein his successe communicating with his common fortune was no lesse easie then speedy for that assoone as he had braked his artilleries the castell keeper rendred all to discression After which victory Consaluo made his entry into Rome almost in maner triumphant with a hundreth men at armes two hundreth light horsemen fifteene hundred footemen all souldiers of the spanish leading before him as prisoner the castell keeper whome a litle after he set at libertie There came to meete him many Prelats of the Popes howshold with Cardinalls followed with much people and almost all the Court ronning with great desire to see a Capteine whose name bare so great fame and merit in Italy By those Prelats he was led to the presence of the Pope sitting in the consistory who receiuing him with great honor gaue him in testimony of his vallour the rose which Popes are wont to bestow euery yeare After this Consaluo returned to reioyne eftsoones with king Federyk who had inuaded the estate of the Prefect of Rome and resumed all those places which taken from the Marquis of Piscaire in the conquest of the kingdom were bestowed vpon him by the french king And hauing taken Sore and Arci but not the castells he lay incamped before the rocke Guillaume for that he had had by accord the estate of the Count d'Olyuer before he sold his Duchie of Sora to the Prefect of Rome But as there is no earthly blisse so perfect which hath not his aleye with some bitternes or bale nor no prosperitie so well assured which draweth not with it his proper aduersities So notwithstanding these felicities heaped vpon Federyk
doe all thinges to confirme him in that inclinacion On the other side his disciples and partakers defended and iustified him alleaging that men ought not for the regard of humane thinges to trouble the operacions diuine nor consent that vnder such coolers the Popes of Rome should begin to intrude into th affayres of their common weale But after there were certeine dayes spent in this contencion the Pope wonderfully inflamed sending out new thunderbolts with threates of censures against the whole citie he was at last commaunded by the Magistrats of the citie to forbeare to preach to whom though he obeyed yet diuerse of his brethren supplyed his office in sundry Churches And the diuision being no lesse amongest the spiritualtie then the layetie the Fryers and brethren of other orders ceased not to preach feruently against him arising at last into such high and malicious inflammation that one of the disciples of Sauonarole one of the Frear minors agreed to enter into the fier in the presence of the whole people to th ende that the disciple of Sauonarole either being burned or preserued the people might be left satisfied and certeine whether Sauonarole were a Prophet or an abuser seeing that at tymes afore he had affirmed in his sermons that for the iustificacions of the truth of his prophecies he could in all necessities obteyne of God the grace to passe without hurt thorow the middest of a flaming fire And yet notwithstanding greuing not a litle with the resolucion made without his priuitie touching a present experience he labored to breake it with all his deuises and diligence But the matter being so farre proceeded of it selfe and earnestly solicited by certeine citisens desiring to haue the towne deliuered of so great troubles it was necessary at last to passe further In so much as the two religious brethren accompanied with all their brotherhoods and couent came at the day appointed to the place afore the publike pallaice where was not onely a general concursse of the people of Florence but vniuersall assemblies of the cities adioyning There the Fryer Minors were aduertised that Sauonarole had ordeyned that his disciple and brother entring the fire should beare in his hand the Sacrament which deuise they impugned greatly alleaging that there was sought by that meane to put in daunger thauthoritie of Christian faith which in the mindes of thignorant would not a litle decline if that holy oste should be burned by which contencion Sauonarole being there present perseuering in his resolucion there arose such factions and disagrements that the action of experience proceeded no further the same diminishing so much of his credit that the day following in a tumult then hapning his aduersaries tooke armes whereunto being ioyned thauthoritie of the souereigne Magistrat they entred the Monastery of S. Marke where he was and drawing him out of the place they ledde him with two other of his brethren to the common prisons In this tumult the parentes of those that had bene executed the yeare before killed Francisque Vatori a Citisen of great authoritie and the most apparant fauorer and follower of Sauonarole the chief mocion inducing this quarrell was that aboue all others his authoritie had depriued them of the facultie to haue recourse to the iudgement of the councell popular Sauonarole was afterwards examined with torments but not very greeuous and vpon the examinacion a processe published which taking away all imputacions that were layed on him for couetousnes corrupcion of manners or to haue had secret intelligence or practise with Princes conteyned that the matters by him prophesied were not pronownced by reuelacion diuine but by his propper opinion grounded vpon the doctrine and obseruacion of holy Scripture Wherein he had not bene moued by any wicked intencion or purpose much lesse by that meane to aspire to any office or greatnes in the Church onely he had a holy desire that by his meanes might be called a generall councell wherein might be reformed the corrupt customes of the Clergie and the estate of the Church of God so farre wandred and gone astray to be reduced as neare as might be to the resemblance of the tymes drawing nearest the Apostles A glory which to giue perfection to so great and holy an operacion he esteemed farre aboue the obteyning of the popedom for that the one could not succeede but by meane of an excellent doctrine and vertue and a singular reuerence of all men where the Popedom most often was obteyned either by sinister meanes or else by the benefitt of fortune vppon which processe confirmed by him in the hearing presence of many religious persons euen of his owne order but if that be true which his owne faction bruted afterwardes with wordes darke and such as might receiue diuerse interpretacions there were taken from him and his two other companions with ceremonies instituted by the church of Rome the holy orders and that by sentence of the generall of the Iacobins and of the Bishop Romolyn Commissioners delegate by the Pope And so being passed ouer to the power of the secular Court they were by their iudgements hanged and burned being at the spectacle of the degradacion execucion no lesse multitudes of people then at the day of the experience of entring the fire when was an infinit concursse to beholde the yssue of the miracle promised by Sauonarole This death constantly endured but without expressing any word whereby might be discerned either their innocencie or fault quenched not the diuersitie of iudgements and passions of men for that many supposed he was but an abuser and others of the contrary beleued that the confession that was published was falsely forged or perhaps in his aged and weake complexion the torments had more force then the truth wherin they excused that manner of frailtie with the example of S. Peter who neither imprisoned nor constrayned with torments or by any other extraordinary force but at the simple wordes of the handmaides and seruantes denied that he was the disciple of his Maister in whom he had seene so many holy miracles The ende of the third booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE FOVRTH BOOKE LOWYS Duke of Orleans succeedeth to the crowne of Fraunce he determineth to recouer his Duchie of Myllan Pysa and Florence make warre Lodowyk Sforce fleeth from Myllan the Florentyns giue batterie to Pysa and agree with the french king Pope Alexander aspireth for his sonne to the iurisdiction of Romagna Lodowyk Sforce recouereth Myllan but being betrayed by the Swyssers he is taken and led into Fraunce THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discoursse of Guicciardin IT was almost an vniuersall coniecture amongest thItalians that by the death of king Charles al the regions of Italy were now deliuered of those feares afflictions daungers which the power and nation of the french did threaten Their opinions were induced by this reason that the newe Kinge Lovvys presently ascended to the crowne would not intangle the
any longer the excuses which his Capteines made vpon the season of the yeare with other difficulties he assembled them al together at Bolognia and told them he would march to incampe affore Ferrara A resolucion which was allowed onely by thEmbassadors of Venice either not to offende him in gainesaying his deuises or that by that occasion their souldiours should returne more neare their frontyers it was blamed of all the residue of Capteines and nations in the armie but in vaine for that he did not consult but commaund his authoritie making him tractable to nothing that was not conformable to his liking and will it was then determined that the armie should march to Ferrara but with this conduction that to let the french for succoring it they should attempt to take Mirandola if the difficulties were not greater then the aduenture This citie together with the towne of Concorda inherited by the sonnes of the Count Lod. Picqua and by Frauncisse their mother Tutor was kept vnder the deuocion of the french king following the authority of Ioh. Ia. Triuulco naturall father to Fraunciss by whose meane his Nephewes obteined thinuestiture of Caesar The Pope had receiued them long time before into his protection as appeared by writing but now he excused him that by the condicions of the present times he was constrained so to deale that those townes shoulde not be holden by persons suspected offering if they woulde willingly put them into his handes to redeliuer them immediatly after the conquest of Ferrara from that time it was douted the dout increased much more afterwards that the Cardinall of Pauya who was already suspected to interteine secret intelligence with the french kinge was artificially the Author of this councell Wherein he ment by thenterprise of Mirandola to hinder the beseeging of Ferrara the which citie at that time was neither well fortefied nor sufficiently manned besides the frenche men were made weary aswell in bodye as mind by their paynes and trauells passed the Duke in great weakenes and the kinge altered to make any more prouisions there Whilest the Pope with so great care and diligence managed thexpedicion of the warre the french king who was more inclined to practises then to armes recontinued with the Bishop of Gurce the negociacion of things which had bene begon And they carying in the beginning a shew of great facilitie proceeded now with greater delayes both for the slownes of the aunswers of Caesar and also for the dout that was conceiued of the king of Aragon Caesar and the frenche â—nge iudged it necessary to make him asserteyned of their intencion aswell in regard of the continuacion of the league of Cambray as for thaction that was to be done with the Pope if he still perseuered in the amitie of the Venetians and rested possessed of his auncient ambicion couetousnes to get immediatly to the Church the territories of Ferrara The cause of this dout against the kinge of Ferrara was that besides his other actions he had newly called home to the kingdom of Naples his regiments that were within Verona expressing this cooller that towards Ottranto the nauie of the Turke was discouered comming with a mind preiudiciall to him and his Realme The king Catholike after certeine dayes aunswered to the demaundes of Caesar and the french king taking in the same tyme occasion to purge him selfe of many thinges wherein Caesar and the french king complained against him That he had sent the bande of three hundred launces to the Pope according to the obligacion of thinuestiture respecting onely the defense of the state of the Church and to recouer the thinges that were thauncient demaynes of the same That he had called backe his men at armes from Verona for that the tearme was expired for the which he had promised them to Caesar and yet he woulde not haue reuoked them had not the feare of the Turke bene greater then other occasion That at Bolognia his Embassador interposed with others to worke the peace with Monsr Chaumont not to giue time to the succors of the Pope but to quench and put out so great a fire in Christendom knowing withal that to interteine warre with the Church was grieuous to the kinge That he continued still in one setled purpose to accoÌ„plish all that had bene promised in the league of Cambray and that he would doe more hereafter ayding Caesar against the Venetians with fiue hundred launces and two thowsand footemen That this was not his intencion to bind him selfe to new bands nor to be restrained to new capitulacions both for that he saw no vrgent occasion and also desiring to keepe him selfe free the better to make warre vpon the Infidels of Affrika he would not increase the daungers and calamities of Christendom which had neede of tranquillitie and rest That he liked well of the councell and reformacion of the Church if it were vniuersal that times did not repugne against it of which disposicion he asked no better a witnes then the french king in the speeches they had together at Sauonna but now the state of tymes were much contrary seeing that as peace and concord betwene Christians were the foundacions of councells and that there could be nothing agreed vpon to the vniuersall benefit without the vnion and consent of wills so it could not but be vnworthy to being the councell at such a tyme and in such sort that it might seeme to take beginning more by disdaine desire of reuenge then for the honor of God or zeale to the estate of the Christian common weale he sayde lastly but a parte to thEmbassadors of Caesar that it seemed somewhat intollerable that he should ayde him to preserue keepe his townes since he disposed them afterwards to the french king for money meaning expresly Verona Thus the intencion of the kinge Catholike being knowne by this aunswer the Bishop of Gurce on the one part in the name of Caesar and the frenchking on the other part in person delayed no longer to make a newe confederacion reseruing place to the Pope to enter into it within two monethes next and to the king Catholike and the king of Hungria within foure And for a necessary foundacion of the couenants that were made the kinge bownde him selfe to pay to Caesar an hundred thowsand duckats part in hande and the residue at tymes limited Caesar promised to passe into Italy in the springe with three thowsand horsemen and ten thowsand footemen against the Venetians In which action the king was bownd to send him at his proper charges two hundred launces and eyght thowsand footemen with sufficient prouision of artilleries And to rigge out by sea two light gallies foure bastard gallies That they should obserue the league made at Cambray and in both their names require obseruacion of the Pope and kinge Catholike Whereunto if the Pope were heard to beinduced for the regarde of Ferrara that the king should be bownd to hold him selfe contented
with that that should be reasonable But if the Pope would proue obstinat refuse to consent to their request that then they should prosecute the councel And for that cause Caesar should assemble the Prelats of Germany as the french king had done the Clergy of Fraunce to th ende to proceede further as they should after be aduised Assoone as these capitulacions were published the Bishop of Gurce receiuing many honors rich gratificacions of the king returned to his Prince And the kinge with whome the fiue Cardinalls that were parties to the calling of a councell had presently contracted that neyther he without them nor they without his consent shoulde capitulat any thing with the Pope expressed with vehement demonstracion in wordes the forward desire he had to discende into Italy in person leading such a power as shoulde be able for longe tyme afterwards to assure his affayres And to th ende that affore his marching they fell into no aduersitie or declinacion he sent to Chaumont to minister speedy succours to the Duke of Ferrara and at the same instant he added eight hundred launceknightes to the companie of two hundred launces which he had asfore sent to the Duke vnder the leading of the Lord of Chastillon On the other side the Popes armie after they had made with great delayes necessary prouisions and left Mar. Anth. Colonno for the gard of Modona with an hundred men at armes foure hundred light horsemen and two thowsand fiue hundred footemen went and incamped before Concorda which they forced the same day thartillery was planted And taking immediatly afterwards the castell by composicion they approched neare to Mirandola it drew now towards the ende of September happly the season of that yeare was much more sharpe then ordinarily it had wont to be In which respects and that the towne was strong being also beleued that the french would not leaue a place so conuenient the Capteines began to distrust of the victorie not hauing regard to the felicity of the Pope which made all things fal out well to him but iudged according to experience and pollicie which in matters of enterprise ought principally to guide men of warre Neuertheles the Pope promising to him selfe so assuredly the victorie of the whole warre that sending Cardinall Sinagale a new Legat into th armie for the discord that was betwene the Duke of Vrbyn and the Cardinall of Pauya he charged him in the presence of many that aboue all thinges when the armie should enter into Ferrara they should looke to the keeping of that citie The fourth day after the armie approached neare Mirandola the artillerie began to execute notwithstanding with no lesse trauell then discommoditie aswel for regard of the present season as for want of vittels which came very sparingly from Modona The reason of this restraint of vittells grew by thimpediments that the frenche gaue who hauing bestowed fifty launces within Guastallo as many within Corregia and two hundred and fifty in Carpy and hauing withall cast downe al the bridges occupied all the passages by the which reliefe might come from Mātua they kept the armie no lesse distressed with want of foode then the hardnes of the season hindred their other actions But as necessity is mighty to make men resolute so their extremitie stirred them vppe to a deuise that diminished their skarceties for that deliuering out a false brute that th armie would come and assayle Carpy such as were within being fearefull for that they were not furnished with artillerie did presently dislodge from thence leauing the place abandoned nor by compulsion but by feare About the ende of this yeare there fell vpon the person of the Pope some imputacion and infamie as though it was conspired by his priuitie and consenting that by the meane of Cardinall de Medicis there was practise with Marke Anth. Colonno and certeine younge gentlemen of Florence to kill Pe. Soderin Gonfalonier by whose working it was supposed that the Florentyns followed the french faction This suspicion was aggrauated by this coniecture that the Pope notwithstanding he labored by all his meanes and authoritie to winne that common weale yet he was neuer able to bring that to passe by practise by pollicie nor by compulsion which they refused for want of affection opinion and liking Besides a litle before at the french kings request and to the Popes discontentment they were broken of from the truce with the people of Syenna although they had refused to moue armes vntill six monethes after A thing which the king desired to hold the people in seare And lastly they had sent to the king two hundred men at armes for the gard of the Duchy of Myllan A matter demaunded by the king by vertue of their confederacion not so much for thimportance and necessitie of such a succor as for desire to make them enemies with the Pope In this estate of affayres did ende the yeare a thowsand fiue hundred and ten But the beginning of the new yeare was made notable by a matter not exspected according to the time present nor neuer read of in anye the actions or examples of ages past The Pope was ielous that there was not vsed that diligence in the seruice of Mirandola that was eyther necessary to such an enterprise or able to satisfie his desire wherein taking occasion of their slowe proceedings he interpreted to the ignorance and infidelitie of his Capteines but chiefly to his Nephewe that which reasonably proceeded of many difficulties for these respects together with his ambicion which helde him altogether subiected he determined to goe thether and aduaunce thinges by his presence preferring thimportunitie and violence of his minde affore all other regardes he considered not howe daungerous and vnworthye it was for the maiestie of suche a degree that a Pope of Rome shoulde in person leade armies against townes of Christians And much lesse was he carefull of the opinion and iudgement that the worlde woulde make of him to giue an apparant cooller and almost a manifest iustificacion to those factions as were in practise to call a councell and stirre vppe Princes agaynst him making their suggestion that his gouernment was hurtfull to the Churche and his vices infamous and incorrigible Suche speeches ranne thorow the Court suche coniectures were made some marueled at his furye some blamed his intemperance some feared the thinge they durst not vtter And euery one comparing his actions with the importance of his place and calling ▪ accused his indiscrecion wherein the Venetian Embassadors were no lesse forward then the residue The Cardinalls besought him with great instance his fauorits made reasons to perswade but durst not displease him And his whole Court obiected against the vnworthines of the iorney but his obstinat resolucion made vaine all their labours and deuises his singuler passion was inuincible against all reason in which disposicion he parted from Bolognia the second of Ianuarie accompanied with three Cardinalls
sauetie and the other part for glorye ioyned to a desire to sacke a citie so full of riches The Capteines besides their office to commaund and dispose most often tooke the places of meane soldiours the vertue of Monsr de Foix being singuler aboue the residue At last the Venetian armie were driuen from the place after they had made a wonderfull defense In so much as the Conquerers who nowe deuided them selues into two bandes made their entrey the one by the citie and the other by the Citadel finding in euery quarter and corner a meruelous resistance by the soldiours and by the people In whom it seemed their aduersitie had nothing diminished their vertue But the french men being alwayes followed with victorie passed thorow all impediments and chassed all their ennemies that stoode affore them They gaue not their mindes to pillage vntill they sawe them selues absolute Maisters of the towne such was their direction of their Capteine whom they obeyed and obserued so iustly that what soeuer he were that did otherwayes he was forthwith slayne by his fellowes In these encownters there dyed of the french parte many footemen and a greate number of men at armes But of thennemies were left on the ground eyght thowsand dead carkasses part of the people and part of the Venetian soldiours which were fiue hundred men at armes eyght hundred light horsemen and eyght thowsand footemen amongest whom was Contaryn commaunder of the stradiots who was slaine vpon the greene with a bullet of a harquebuze All the residue were taken except two hundred stradiots who fled by a posterne neare the gate of S. Nazareth albeit with no better fortune for that falling vppon the french armie which remeyned without the towne they were almost all taken or killed They also immediatly after the execution entred the towne by the same gate and falling to pillage aswell as the residue they enioyed the trauells and daungers of others Andrevv Gritty Anth. Iustynian whom the Senat had sent into that citie as gouernour remeyned prisoners together with Ioh. P. Manfron his sonne the Knight de la Volpe Baltazar Scipion one of the sonnes of Anth. de Pio Count Lovvys Auogato and one of his sonnes and Domynik Busechio Capteine of the stradiots These being chieftaines of th armie were reserued as miserable examples of their owne calamitie they were by the wretchednes and fortune of prisoners disposed caried about as best pleased the appetit of the Victors sometymes brought to behold the dead bodyes of their companions and friends A spectacle lamentable to be compelled to see those men deade whom in life they so much honored and loued And sometymes appoynted to stande in the presence of thennemie taking speciall glorie in that which to them could not be but an increase of discomfort by strait commaundement of Monsr de Foix the honors of the women of religion were kept vndefiled but their goods together with such others as for protection were conueyed into their couents were made a praye to the Capteines Count Lovvys was executed in the market place Monsr de Foix being present and seemed to holde it a sacrifice best acceptable and pleasing to his eyes his two sonnes albeit they were for a tyme deferred suffered in the ende the same payne thauthoritie of the Victor raigning very iudicially ouer the liues of whome soeuer it pleased him In this sort by the vallour fortune of the french men of whom they of Bressia vaunted to be discended fell into this extremitie that citie for nobilitie digniue nothing inferior to any other citie of Lombardye but in riches and plentye farre aboue them all except Myllan And as the miseries that warre draweth with it are infinit so the whole citie for seuen daies together was exposed to the couetousnes to the lust and to the crueltie of soldiours thinges sacred aswell as prophane being percell of the pray And no lesse the liues then the goods of men committed to the discression of spoylers This victorie brought great reputacion to the name of Monsr de Foix Italy no lesse then the other regions of Christendō resounding much his glory that by his celeritie and vallour in the space of xv daies he had compelled the armies Ecclesiastike and spanish to discampe from before Bolognia ouerthrowne in the plaine fielde Ioh. P. Baillon with part of the Venetian regiments and reconquered Bressia with so great a slaughter of soldiours and other sortes of peoples it was confirmed by the iudgement of wise men that touching enterprise and matters of warre Italy had not felt the like of long time the aduersitie farre exceeding the memorie and example of all times past After the action of Bressia together with the other places that were lost of whom Bergamo drawne into rebellion by the ayde of very few of the towne had by cōmon consent reuoked the french men before Monsr de Foix made his entrye into Bressia And after Monsr de Foix had set downe a forme to th affayres of Bressia and had somwhat refreshed and reordered his armie made wearie with so great trauells and no lesse disordered partly by keeping and partly by distribucion of the spoyle he determined according to the kinges commaundement to go seeke the armie of the confederats which after his departure from before the walls of Bolognia was stayed vpon the landes of the Bolognois To this direction the king was constrayned by many vrgent accidents which droaue him into necessitie to take newe councells for the sauetie and benefit of his affayres for he discerned manifestly that he should haue warre with the king of England notwithstanding that king had in franke tearmes affore assured him the contrary And since kept him in suspence with tokens and wordes doubtfull The actions which were quite contrary to his promisses could be no more couered for that there came aduertisement from Rome howe he had at lust approued and ratified the league by writing Besides the french king was not ignorant that in England were made great preparacions of men and ships and in Spayne was rigged a great nauie to passe into England where was an vniuersall disposicion in all sortes of the people of that region to make warre vppon the Realme of Fraunce To this humor of the king people was much helping the arriual of a galeass from the Pope laden with Greeke wines with cheeses and other prouisions which distributed in his name to the king Barons and Prelats of the Realme were receiued of all with a wonderfull gladnes The common sort of people which oftentymes is no lesse caried by vaine and small thinges then by matters more graue and great ronne with generall admiracion to beholde the galeasse accounting it so much more to their pleasure and glorie by how much they had neuer seene in that I le any vessell bearing the Popes banners At last Bishop Morton who had long negociated betwene the Pope and the french king induced either by his conscience or
by desire to be Cardinall was appoynted in an assembly of all the states of that ylande where he shewed with equall fauor full testimonie what was the iustice of the Popes cause Vppon this both it was determined to send the Prelats to the councell of Latran in the name of the whole Realme And also thimportunities of the Popes Embassador concurring the king commaunded the french kings Embassador to depart out of the Realme he published this reason of his commaundement that it was not cōuenient to enterteine about the person of a king and in a kingdome so deuout to the Churche a man that represented a king so manifestly persecuting the sea Apostolike Now began to be discouered the secret resolucion wherein the king of England with his armie by sea should molest the shoares of Normandy and Britaine should send eyght thowsand footemen into Spaine to make warre vpon the Duchie of Guyenu together with the forces of the king of Aragon A suspicion which not a litle afflicted the french king both for that the memorie of the warres past had made the english name very terrible to those peoples and also he knewe the daunger woulde grow so much the greater by how much the spanish forces were ioyned with them He was fearefull also by the consideracion of his owne weakenes hauing sent into Italy all his companies of men at armes sauing two hundred launces which if he should call backe eyther in part or in all the Duchie of Myllan which he esteemed much should remeyne in manifest perill And if for his resupplie he should encrease the auncient band of eyght hundred launces he could reapose litle confidence and hope for lesse assurance amyd so great daungers in persons newly created and vnexperiēced he added to this the suspicion of thallienacion of Caesar which daily more and more encreased for notwithstanding Andrevv Burgos whom he had sent with so great exspectacion and being returned brought tydings that Caesar was disposed to abide in the confederacion yet he made offers of very harde condicions entermedling many cōplaints for he required of the king to assure him to recouer al that apperteyned to him by the capitulacions of Cambray alleaging that he could no more trust in simple promisses for that he hath alwayes knowen both from the beginning and since that it was a matter very greeuous to the king that he should conquer Padoa And that to consume and hold him in continuall trauels he had willingly wasted two hundred thowsand duckats euery yeare knowing that to him the spēding of l. thowsand was much more That he had refused the last yeare to deliuer to him the person of Tryuulce being a Capteine that had both the will and the experience to put a speedy ende to the warre he required that the kings second Daughter being but two yeares olde might be promised to his Nephew induing her for her dowrye with Burgonnye and that the Daughter might presently be deliuered to his handes Lastly that there should be left referred to him the quarrells of Ferrara of Bolognia and the controuersie of the councell forbidding the french armie to march towards Rome protesting that he was not to endure that the king should any way encrease his estate in Italy These condicions of them selues greeuous and almoste intollerable were yet made more heauy by the experience he had that notwithstāding he should accord to him so many thinges yet he could not be assured that he would not varye eyther according to occasions or according to his custome yea thiniquitie of the condicions offered serued almost as a certeine argument that being already alienated from the french king he sought thoccasion to put it to effect vnder some cooller seeing that aswell in words as in works he disclosed many signes of an ill will for both the Proctors which he had so many tymes promised to sende to the councell of Pysa were not come with Burgos and also the Prelats assembled at Auspurge had at last made aunswer by a publike decree that the councell of Pysa was schismatike and detestable but yet with this moderacion that they were ready to chaunge sentence if they might be resolued in the contrary by reasons more strong and auaileable And yet notwithstanding the king at a tyme when he stoode most neede to assemble his forces was constrayned to menteyne at the request of Caesar two hundred launces and three thowsand footemen in Verona a garde of a thowsand footemen in Leguague Moreouer the feare of the Svvyzzers vexed not a litle the kings mind for albeit he had obteyned to send to their parliaments the Bayliffe of Amyens to whom he had giuen very ample commissions and was nowe resolued by discreete councell if such may be called councells discreete as are taken when thoportunitie of helping is past to spare no liberalities nor offers of money to reduce them to his amitie yet what with the hatred of the Commons which in this respit was made greater and with thimportunate perswasions of the Cardinall of Syon preuailing aboue thauthoritie of those that from parliament to parliament had hindred all resolucions that were to be made against him it was discerned that they inclined to send 6. thowsand footemen to the pay of the confederats who made demaund of them to oppose against the firme squadrons of the launceknightes Besides all this the king found him selfe depriued of all hopes of peace and agreement notwithstanding during the heate of the warre there had bene great labor and solicitacion made by the Cardinall of Nantes and the Cardinall of Strigonia A mightie Prelate of the Realme of Hungria for the Pope had made this last and resolute aunswer that if they would be better heard then before they shoulde so bringe to passe that the diabolicall councel of Pysa might be reuersed see restored to the Church her cities of Bolognia and Ferrara Wherein expressing no lesse violence in effects then furie in wordes he had newly deposed from their dignities many of the french Prelats which were resorted to the councell together with Phillipp Dece one of the most excellent lawyers of that time both for that he had written and disputed in the iustice of their cause and did follow the Cardinalls to be at hand for direction when matters required aduise and interpretacion of law In all these difficulties daungers and aduersities which inuyroned the french king on all sides he had not one firme or certeine footing in any part of Italy The estates of Ferrara and Bolognia serued him as in times past more for vexacions and charges then for any other vse And touching the Florentyns to whom he made a new instance to ioyne with him in a warre against Romagnia he could not draw from them other then general aunswers No he rather held them suspected by reason of the Vicerois Embassador of Naples ordinarily remeining at Florence but much more for that they had sent thEmbassador to the king Catholike did