Syria But all those attempts pâ—…oued vaine and fruitlesse of which wee determine briefly to speake as occasion shall serue not interrupting the course of our Historie During the aboade of Prince Michaeli in Asia or soone after his returne the Hospitall of the publike charitie was builded with all that which stands neere to it The bodie of Saint Donato brought from Pera to Venice was laid in a Church newly built by the diligence and cost as some Authours say of one called Marco Iuliano Michaeli after hee had gouerned the Common-wealth eleuen yeares did fortunately decease His funeralls were followed by great multitudes of people His tombe is to be seene at this day in the porch of Saint Georges Church right ouer against the Comcell-Hall on the left hand as ye enter into the Church The end of the sixt Booke of the first Deâ—…ad THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE FIRSâ—… DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the seuenth Booke of the first Decad. THe voluntarie submission of the Faneses The institution of a new Religious Order in the Church of Saint SALVATORI The erecting of the Church of Saint CLEMENT The Paduans are defeated on the turning of the Riuer Brente The Venetians warre against the Normans in fauour of the Emperour EMANVEL The building of the great Tower before the Market-place Diuers people of Histria made Tributaries The building of the Church of the Crossed Friers How greatly the conspiracies of the Neighbour-people did trouble the Venetians The originall of the plaies made at Shrouetide What the Emperour EMANVEL did to the Venetian Merchants ouer all his Empire in one day The Venetians mightie Sea-armie against EMANVEL The familie of the IVSTINIANI are almost extinct through the malice of their enemies The miserable death of Prince VITALIS slaine by his owne people at his returne from Greece Two huge Pillars of a wonderfull workemanship erected in the Market-place by an Artificer of Lombardie An Ambassadour of Venice is abused by the Emperour EMANVEL The cause why the Emperour EMANVEL hated the Venetians At what time they beganne to shut vp in the publike Treasurie the money of particular persons vnder colour of loane Pope ALEXANDER flies to Venice in disguise The Venetians make warre against the Emperour FREDERICK BARBAROSSA in fauour of the Pope The Emperours Sonne defeated at Sea by the Venetians with his imprisonment and the Emperour FREDERICK his comming to Venice The Honours and Titles giuen by Pope ALEXANDER to the Dukes of Venice The agreement betwixt FREDERICK the Pope and the Venetians made at Venice The Venetian Prince hauing accompanied the Pope to Rome returneth to Venice honoured with rich presents And lastly the description of the magnificent Church of St. MARKE ¶ PIETRO POLLANI the 36. Duke of Venice PIetro Pollani succeeded his deceased Father-in-law Michaeli At his entrance into the gouernement the Faneses submitted themselues to the Venetians authoritie promising to aide them when neede should be to giue yearlie the quantitie of a thousand pound weight of oile for the vse of S. Markes Church and to pay them besides a yearly pension of money in manner of Tribute It seemeth vnto mee that this tribute proceeded from some aide which they had receiued from the Venetians in their warres the which some Historians haue noted albeit they set not downe against whom it was Bonfiâ—…io Michaeli Administrator at that time of the Church of S. Saluatori and all those which accompanied him tooke a Religious habit vpon them instituting a new order which was afterward authorised by Pope Innocent and after him Pope Alexander the fourth consecrated their Church Pietro Gathilaso caused the Church of S. Clement to be builded on the Canal Orphano It is reported besides that at the same time a great strife arose betwixt the Venetians and the Pisans occasioned by a brauado rashly made vpon them in the Hauen of Rhodes by Michaeli Vitalis the Princes sonne Generall of the Venetian Armie where the Pisans being ouer-come and loosing the greatest part of their Armie did receiue a great disgrace which afterward caused diuers and sundrie murthers on either side And these two States would haue beene more sharply bent one against the other had not the Pope by his wise mediation sodainely pacified their strife Diuers cities of Dalmatia insinuating themselues into the Venetians fauour promised each of them in her owne name to waite on the Prince with one armed Gallie as often as he should put to Sea with fifteene Gallies The Polani likewise a people of Histria offered them all aide with all necessaries for the furniture of the Gallies at any time when the Prince marching against the enemies should arriue in their Countrey I finde about the same time the Venetians fought a cruell fight with the Paduans who would haue cut off the Riuer Brente neere to Saint Hilaries Church Guido Monticulano Generall of the Venetians Armie by Land in that warre hauing incountered them neere to Tumba the bickering was verie bloudie on either side but the enemies being ouercome and put to flight three hundred and fiftie of them were brought prisoners to Venice who neuerthelesse at the entreatie of the chiefe of their Citie laying all the blame on some audacious persons among the Common people and not on the Nobilitie were all freely sent home againe Vrso Badoario left to Giouanni Throno of Mayorba diuers goodly Lands seated neere to Muriana and Maiorba to build an Hospitall in the name of Saint Iames which being since much augmented and enriched was giuen to the Religious sisters of the order of the Cistercians But whilest the Citie was thus at quiet the Venetians because they would not liue idely did set set forth an Armie at the request of the Emperour Emanuel against Rogero sonne to Guiscard King of Sicilie This Prince departing from Ottranto with a great Fleete came to the Isle of Corfu bordring vpon the Adriaticke and Ionian Seas And hauing seized thereon hee sailed into Morea where betwixt the Promontorie of Mailla and the Gulphe of Argiers and Laconia he executed diuers hostile actions Returning thence towards the Sea of Sarrona neere to the Hauens of Cenchrea and Corinth hee put all the Countrie adioyning to fire and sword Then passing forward without any resistance at all and being come to Istmos vulgarly called at this day Heximilia he filled all Achaia with feare and terror He tooke likewise the Citie of Thebes where it is reported he shewed himselfe ouer-couetous in his curious seeking for gold In the end he neither spared the Countrie of Nigrepont nor Beotia called Phocides And being puâ—…t vp by this happie successe he sent one of his Lieutenants with threescore Gallies to crosse the Hellespont called at this day the streight of Gallipolis euen to the Bosphorus of Thrace at this present called Saint Georges Arme who with great boldnesse vsed such speed as being arriued on the sodaine before Constantinople he set fire on diuers
the cause therof who hauing beene able in time to haue quenched that fire had by their mutual hatred auarice suffered it to encrease That they were to blush for shame to repent that they had not relieued that loyal Citie during the siege Therefore all men with one consent detested both the fleet and the Generall and a Decree was made that hee should be dismissed of his place and being sent for home he should giue an account why he had not relieued Nigrepont Pietro Mocenigo was by a generall consent subrogated in his place who was presently commaunded to make hast to the Armie In the meane time after the fleete had made some aboad at Sea Canalis and the rest determined to surprize Nigrepont and by an vnlookt-for assault to attempt the recouery of the Citie They concluded then among themselues that Giouanni Trono Nocolao Molino and Frederico Iustiniano should saile before with nine Gallies and so soone as they from the channell should perceiue the fleete to be neere the Citie then to land their men and march to assaile it on the other side But these men were somewhat too forward for being euuironed with great troupes of Turkes more than two hundred of them were in a moment slaine among whom was Giouani Trono a man whose valour did greatly appeare in that fight although their forces were not equall The rest of the fleete landing on the shoare being daunted with the death of their fellowes and perceiuing those in the channell to goe slowly to worke escaped to their Gallies And in this manner the fleete retired without any good successe to Aulida not farre from Nigrepont The same day somewhat before Sunne-set Pietro Mocenigo with three Gallies came to the fleet so soone as Canalis descried him hee descended into a long boat and went to meete him where after mutuall embracements hee acquainted him what his purpose had beene and why he had assembled that great fleete for the recouerie of Nigrepont which hee hoped to haue effected if hee had any longer tarried in commission But his hope was that what himselfe could not execute by reason of the losse of his place the new Generall by his valour and conduct would fortunately bring to passe all things being in a readinesse for that purpose Mocenigo said vnto him Pursue what thou hast begunne and if thou hast anie hope to recouer the Citie goe on a Gods name as for my selfe I am so farre off in this my new authority from hindering the publique good as on the contrarie I freely offer to aide and assist thee in this important businesse as a friend or ordinarie Captaine but he refusing to enter vpon an other mans charge Mocenigo dismissed the Gallies that had beene sent for and determined not to continue to the weale publiques losse and his owne dishonour an enterprize which had beene so vnfortunately begunne Then he departed for winter was at hand with the rest of the fleete into Morea determining at the Spring to remoue from thence and to attempt some notable exploit which should recompence the losse of Nigrepont Canalis so soone as hee came to Venice was condemned to perpetuall banishment Hee was confined to the Port of Gruare a town of the Forlani where to lessen the griefe for the losse of his country he spent the time in hunting and studie Mocenigo during that winter was not idle for hee repaired his Gallies and sent to the Islands on the Aegean Sea to comfort and assure the Inhabitants who were yet daunted with the losse of Nigrepont Thus was he busied when Marino Maripietro and Lodouico Bembo did about the beginning of the Spring come as Prouidators to the Armie who were sent thither that Mocenigo together with them might manage the affaires of the Republique Ricaosa came thither likewise from Apulia with tenne Gallies being sent by King Ferdinand to make warre on the Turkes in the company and by the aduise of the Venetian Generall The losse of Nigrepont had troubled all the Princes of Italie and especially king Ferdinand who the more he perceiued the frontires of Apulia and Calabria to lie open to the Turkes inuasions the more did he feare their prosperitie and aduancement Ottoman fearing that by his taking of Nigrepont from the venetians all Christian princes would arme against him was willing to trie if hee could make peace with the Venetians or at least if that could not be done to draw the businesse out in length to the end that time might sweeten the sharpenesse of that losse But because hee would not haue them thinke that hee did it for feare hee was content to vse the mediation of his mother in lawe who was a Christian and Daughter to George who in former times had beene Prince of the Tribulles She hauing beene made acquainted with her sonne in lawes meaning sent one of her houshold seruants to Venice from her to aduertize the Venetians that they should doe well to send their Commissioners to the Turke and that if they were desirous of peace it should be graunted them and peraduenture vpon better conditions than they hoped for Hereupon Nicolao Coco and Francisco Capello were sent to her by Sea who found her in a village of Macedonia where shee remained and from thence they went by land to Ottoman But peace being treated of and the Conditions propounded not pleasing and the Commissioners beeing by Letters called home to Venice Capello being troubled with a feauer died at Constantinople Coco in a fisher boat went to Lemnos and from thence in a Gallie that he found there by chaunce sailed to Candie And thus by the going to and fro of Ambassadors by treaties of peace at Constantinople and by transporting of Letters from both sides all that Summer was spent to no purpose Winter drawing neare the Kings nauie returned to Naples and the Prouidators being called home by the Senate went backe to Venice Within a while after Prince Moro died hauing gouerned the Common-wealth nine yeeres and six moneths Hee was buried in Saint Iobs Church which together with the Monasterie neere adioyning hee had erected at his owne proper costs During his gouernement the Citie was not onely beautified with that building but the inner side of the entrie into the Pallace which was begunne before then vnder Maripietro was in his time wholly finished where his Marble Statue is to be seene with two others vnderneath him representing our two first parents wrought by Antonio Crispe the skilfullest Caruer of his time Saint Peters Steeple of the Castle made of a white square stone which is an excellent peece of worke was then builded ¶ NICOLAO TRONO the 68. Duke of Venice NIcolao Trono succeeded Moro whose short gouernment was verie fortunate because the Venetians in his time made a league with the king of Persia and vnited the famous Isle of Cyprus to their dominions The Senate sent Messengers to the Pope and to King
was then open to him it being not fortified as it is now at this day hee landed great numbers of his people to scoure and spoyle the Country This Citty was in old time called Cidonia and reckoned among the cheefe of the Island Andre Gritti was Gouernor thereof hauing with him about a thousand Italian foote-men and diuers Greekes of the citty and places neere adioyning These men perceiuing the Turkes to approch in disorder who had not intrenched them-selues did boldly sally forth of the Citty and assailled them who being first beaten with the Citties ordnance whereof it was well prouided and being found in disorder they chaced and slew a great number of them Those which scoured the country had no better fortune by reason that great multituds of the Islanders arising who were diuesly armed by their Lords commandement went and incountered the Turkes which were loden with spoile whome they fell vpon and slew many of them so as they enforced them to giue ouer their enterprize and to retire with speed to their Gallies Barbarossa hoping for better and more fortunate successe in another place or at least to recompence that losse leauing behind him neuerthelesse some memoriall of his being there to the peasants detriment sent an hundred Gallies to Sithiâ—… This place is seated in another corner of the Iland on the west side beeing weake and ill prouided of defense notwithstanding that a particular magistrate sent from Venice doth vsually make his abode there From thence the enemy might easily passe into the I le of Scarpenta possessed at that time by the Turkes and distant from thence some forty miles The enemy finding that place to bee abandoned tooke away certaine peeces of ordinance and other munitions spoiling all the Champaigne neere adioyning But fearing least the Venetian Fleet comming to the ayde of Candy would enforce them to come to strokes the Soldiers being speedily imbarked and all the Gallies beeing vnited togeather they sailed towardes Negrepont The Sangiach of Morea did at the same time by Solimans command beseege Naples and Maluesia He hauing encamped before those two townes wrote to the Gouernors and people thereof that they should speedily yeeld promising to them great rewards in so doing and on the contrary seuere punishment if they should continew to make resistance that Soliman had sent him thither commanding him by no meanes to stirre from thence vntill he had reduced both of them vnder his obedience that their succors were sarre off and their hope vaine long to hold out and therefore that it was best for them to fitte themselues to the time and to the fortune of the van quisher The Gouernours and all the people resoluing brauely to defend them-selues as well by reason of the situation of the place as for their hope that the Venetian Army would shortly releeue them with victualls and necessary munitions made none answer to his letter but betooke themselues more carefully to the Guard of their townes And because they in Naples wanted water the horssemen that were Stadiots a hardy and warlike nation making diuers sallies beeing followed by the Italian Harquebuziers did prouide for that want The Generall Capello hauing intelligence of this sieege and beeing very desirous to releeue those valliant and trusty defendants did opportunely with six Gallies send them supplies of whatsoeuer they needed But during these exploits those of Dalmatia were in like manner greatly aflicted by the Turkish Army who entring into the Countrey made an horrible spoile there carrying away men woemen little children and all sortes of cattell burning the houses and putting the whole Contrey in feare and confusion so as Camillo Vrsino Gouernour of the Prouince had thought to haue abandoned all the other Citties and that the Soldiers should retire to Zara to assure it as the chiefest and easiest to guard fearing that to attempt to preserue al of them against such great nombers of enemies would bee a cause to expose them all to great dangers The Senate did not allow of this opinion esteeming much more besides the losse of so many Citties this note of infamy to haue at once without any fight giuen place vnto the enemies insolency and abandoned so goodly a Countrey wherefore vsing all meanes to preserue and defend it it determined to make a new leuy of horse and foote to weet twelue thousand footmen and fifteene hundred horse hoping with these forces to bee able sufficiently to assure the Prouince and also to encrease the Peoples affection towards the Common-wealth and to encourage them brauely to defend themselues they appoynted fifteene Gentlemen who should speedily be transported thither for the guard of Zara Sâ—…enic and Catarra with thirty men a peece moreouer Lodouico Badoario was sent vnto Zara in quality of Prouidator General of Dalmatia with commandement neuerthelesse not to goe forth of that Citty without the Senates permission aud leaue the Inhabitants like-wise of Dalmatia were permitted to send their wiues and children to Venice for feare of the enemies In these occurrences the Prince shewed the Senate how that euery man was to helpe his country in a time so miserable and alledged vnto them for example that which had beene performed and done in the last warres of the firme land in which said he the Cittizens loue towards their country the vnion and readinesse of their helpe had beene of so great force as in dispight of bad fortune they had drawne the Republike forth of so many calamities and had restored it to her fauour splendor and dignity wherein God be thanked it now continued That the dangers present were no lesse then those that were past hauing to doe with an enemy who though hee be alone and of him-selfe is neuer-the-lesse very mighty and to be feared whome if they did not speedily resist but suffer all things to fall out according to his desire his ouerweening would in such sort encrease as they were neuer to looke for any safety from him that their hope of forraine aide did dayly more and more vanish the Confederates proceeding with such vncertenty and slownesse as they were to expect nothing from them That their true safest and onely defence depended vpon them-selues It did then behooue euery man to finde meanes to surmount his forces and speedily to releeue the Common-wealth with councell meanes yea and with his owne life That the publike Treasury would shrinke vnder an insupportable burthen vnlesse it were speedily releeued by the Cittizens in regard that the expence alone of Dalmatia with the new prouisions thereof did monethly mount to more then fiue and twenty thousand crownes that it behooued them to glad the people who were ouer pressed with sorrow and amazed and to comfort them by the presence of those vnto whome the conseruation of the state did belong to shew that they were desirous to be sharers in the dangers and troubles which should be offered Let those then quoth hee who were appointed depart with
thereunto is a Chappell of his name because it is thought that he being throwne out of the Citie was stoned in the same place Godfrey and Tancred on the West-side and Raymond neere to mount Sion toward the South So soone as the campe arriued certaine skirmishes were made on both sides as occasion serued And the Armie in the meane time wanted no victualls as it did before Antioch by reason of the Sea which was not far of as also for that they possessed diuers strong townes in Palestine They attempted at times during the seege to take the Citie by Scalado but it was in vaine At the last bringing woodden Castles and other warlike engins before the walls the batterie was somewhat more furious than before and a breach being made they marched to the assault which lasted from the day-breake till noone with a great slaughter of our men the which did howerly encrease without anie likelihood of waxing better had not Baldwin followed by a troope of Soldiers mounted the wall on boards which the enemies had there placed to catch our engins which were brought before the walls For a while it was doubtfull what would become of them But the Citie-gate in the meane time being broken open and the wall neere thereunto beaten downe by the Ramme the victors entring on euerie side the enemie retired where at their first entrance they made in all places a meruailous slaughter without exception of sex or age Dauids tower fortified in manner of a Cittadell was forthwith yeelded vp All the furie of the fight was neere to the Temple whither great multitudes of people were retired They fought there with great losse on either side Despaire encouraged the one and shame the other because the Citie beeing taken the Temple was possessed and kept from them by a few Yet neuerthelesse they entred it by force and ranne so couragiously vpon the enemie as beeing thrust forward in front by those which followed them they which first entred were constrained to fight hand to hand with the whole squadron of the Armed enemie and were besides thrust forward by those which were behinde them vpon the points of their swords The enemies in the meane time did valliantly defend themselues whom the imminent danger did constrain to fight with hazard of all things Therefore the fight was verie bloudie not onely at the entrie of the Temple but in the middest thereof And so great was the slaughter aswell of the victors as the vanquished as the bloud which was spilt on the pauement of the Temple was a foot deep In the end the vppermost part of the Temple being not yet taken the retreate was sounded a little before night The next morrow after commandement was giuen not to hurt those that were disarmed they which defended the higher part of the Temple did sodainly yeeld In this manner was the Citie of Ierusalem taken in the yeare of our Saluation 1099. and foure hundred fourescore and ten yeares after it was taken by the Infidels and the thirtie ninth day after the Christians had besieged it Godfrey of Bouillon was by the consent of all men saluted king who after he had receiued all the Roiall ornaments except the Crowne would by no meanes be crowned saying That it did not become a Christian to weare a Crowne of gold in the same place where Christ the soueraigne king had worne a Crowne of thornes Whilst these things were done in Ierusalem fearefull newes was brought that great multitudes of enemies did approach To meete whom Godfrey after he had left a good Garrison in the Citie marched almost as farre as Asdona There they fought a bloudie battaile which for diuers howers space inclined to neither part In the end the enemies were broken and put to flight with great losse Some saie that there died the same daie an hundred thousand men The prisoners that were taken did report That the number of their Armie was fiue hundred thousand fighting men During this happie successe in Syria the Venetians departing from Smyrna after they had coasted the Seas of Lycia Pamphilia and Cilicia they arriued in Syria and kept the Hauen of Ioppa taken before by the Christians But I dare not affirme that the Venetians beeing departed from Smyrna did arriue in Syria before that the holie Citie was taken Neuerthelesse it is certaine that the French beeing encamped before Ierusalem were releiued with victualls comming from the Sea The which I can not see how it should be done by any other but by them at that time seeing that all the coast of Syria was as yet in the enemies power After the Venetians had left a sufficient garrison for the defence of their vessells they departed from Ioppa and marched in order of battaile towards Ierusalem from whence returning they tooke by force the Citie of Ascalon vpon the Sea which the French had a little before attempted in vaine and leauing French-men there in garrison they laid siege to Caypha which is likewise called Porphiria neere to Ptolomais the which siege lasted longer than it was suspected From whence because they would not liue idely they went to besiege Tiberias the which being yeelded by the inhabitants those of Caypha did soone after the like Some Authours attribute these exploits to Godfrey and not to the Venetians But I thinke them to haue beene done by a mutuall consent namely by Godfrey with his Armie by Land after the taking of Ierusalem and by the Venetians by Sea keeping way with him still all-along the coast And from thence it commeth that the Venetian Chroniclers attribute the whole to the Venetians and the French to Godfrey It is certaine that so soone as the Venetians arriued in Syria they ioyned with the French and that the affaires of the Christians were for the space of a whole yeare gouerned in the Prouince vnder the happie fortune of either of them These things being done the Venetian Armie returned to Venice And Godfrey of Bouillon soone after died It is reported that about the same time the bodies of Saint Nicholas and Saint Theodore were brought to Venice the one being laid in Saint Sauiours Church and the other in that which of a long time had beene dedicated vnto him on the banks of the Sea The Normans vnder the conduct of Roger brother to Beamond made incursions on Grecia and Dalmatia The Venetians after they had made a league with Caloman sonne to Geica King of Hungarie marched against the Normans But I know not vpon what ground the Normans at the same time made warre on the Venetians and Alexis The Venetian fleet being strengthned by the succours of the Barbarian passed into Apulia For Caloman had not only made a league with the Venetians but ioyned his forces to theirs I know not vpon what occasion this was done vnlesse it were that the Hungarians did at the same time hold some places in Dalmatia and that it grieued them
Sermion commeth Riuoltella called by some Riualtella Manerbia Feliciana Portuesia and lastly Sales the chiefe of the Prouince It hath besides on the North-side verie high and steepe Mountaines as farre as Riua This place with Penetra which appeares not farre from thence vpon a Rock did in times past belong to the Territorie of Trent The Borough of Nac is to be seen aboue the Fort of Penetra whereby wee may coniecture that the Lake was in olde time called Penac which wee by changing of a Letter call Benac The Ancients called it Penac because it was so neere to Nac Now all the places from the Lake on the hither side and beyond the Riuer Mincia being taken the Mantuan marched with his forces to Vidizolles where Picinino lay encamped Blondus saith that he departed from that Campe when he went the first time to scoure the Verona-Territorie But let it be how it will it is certaine that Philips forces during the incursions vpon the Veronois were encamped at that village seated vpon the Riuer Clesia in the midway betwixt Bressia and the Lake of Benac Against whom Mellato being desirous to oppose his forces went with his troupes to Gauarda Barbaro sent him from Bressia a braue troup of yong foot-men and from the Mountaines great multitudes of Souldiers came vnto him so as in a short space fiue and twentie thousand men were in the Venetians campe Mellato with his forces seized on all places along the Mountaines from St. Euphemius euen to La Garda The Riuer Clesia separated two goodly Armies readie to fight by reason that it was too deep in that place nor in any sort foordable Mellato resolued to fight But vnderstanding afterwards that Picinino's Armie was mightily encreased by Gonzaga's arriual he abstained from battaile As also because he distrusted certaine Captaines who had a long time followed Gonzaga's campe but the euent did afterwards manifest whether he had cause to distrust them For diuers of them hauing an inckling thereof and perceiuing that he took from them the meanes to do hurt did with-draw them selues from his camp went to that of the Prince of Mantua Mellato then fearing least some sodaine reuolt might draw the Venetians affaires into some danger and being desirous to take all occasion from those who practised nouelties hauing lodged the greatest part of his forces in Bressia he sent the residue into Garrison to the Cities Townes neere adioining which were vnder the Venetians obedience And by this meanes Picinino had time and leisure to remoue his camp from place to place whose only aime tending to keepe the Cities victualls from Mellato's troupes he went with his Armie and besieged Sales But those within it hauing brauely defended themselues he approched with his Armie neere to Feliciana and Manerbia Thereupon the Forlani and those of Monteclaro embraced Philips partie Within a while after hauing receiued those of Sales and all the other inhabitants vpon the Lake in Philips name he marched to Bagnolls from whence on a sodaine coasting about with his Armie he first tooke Pontoglio then Palacicla and diuers other Townes without any difficultie All this was done in the Champaine But in the Camonick valley they fought at the same time with better successe For Antonio Bechari with two thousand horse did by the consent of the inhabitants make himselfe Master of the whole valley Barbaro sent Giouanni la Conte Bartholmeo Coioni Leonardo Martinenga against him with great troups of Mountaniers who did greatly affect Martinenga who entring on a sodaine into the vale and hauing made a great slaughter of the enemies did put all those of that rebellious valley to the sword spoiling and burning the whole Countrie The end of the second Booke of the third Decad. THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE THIRD DECAD OF THE HISTORIE Of Venice The Contents of the third Booke of the third Decad. A False rumour being spred in Venice concerning the battaile wonne at Coloignes doth put the whole Citie in danger of a nocturnâ—…ll sedition MELLATO attempteth in vaine to goe from Bressia to Verona NICHOLAO D'AESTE maketh sundrie attempts against the Venetians The Venetians surrender the Polesin to AESTE MELLATO with great trauell ouer the tops of the Mountaines arriueth at Verona A great nauall Armie commeth by the Po vpon the Mantuan Territorie Bressia is streightly besieged The Senate determineth to renew the alliance with SFORZA MELLATO being made Generall of the Armie resolueth to relieue Bressia with victualls PARIS LODRON vanquisheth the enemies neere to the Riuer Sarca The Venetians resolue to prepare a nauall Armie for the Lake of Benac Gallies are carried by maine strength ouer high Mountaines into that Lake SFORZA allieth himselfe with the Venetians and Florentines PICININO and the Prince of Mantua hauing crossed the Riuer Adice take diuers Townes on the Verona and Vincenzan Territories from the Venetians The Venetians fight against the enemies by Land along the Lake of Benac with good successe WHilst al these warlike actions were done in the Camonicke valley those of Chiaua yeelded themselues to Philip. This new Rebellion was accompanied with a greater losse For Guerriero Martiano and Michaeli Gritti whom Mellato had sent with three hundred foot and a hundred and fifty horse to lie in Garrison in that place were defeated Picinino went afterwards encamped before Rhoades whereat the Venetians being moued marched thither with a companie of Mercinarie Souldiers all young men chosen among the inhabitants of the Mountaines of Valtropia and Seroliana to raise the siege These troupes setting forward at the beginning of the night staied neere to Passirana and Paderna Picinino being aduertized of their approach did presently discamp returned to Coloignes three miles from Rhoades The next day hauing placed part of his forces in ambush in the neighbour Mountaines to entrap the Venetian he marched with the residue of the Armie against the enemie as it were to assaile him with all his forces And being come neere to one another Picinino did embattaile his Souldiers Mellato did not refuse the fight but sent some of his troupes disbanded to scoure the plaines and the skirmish being begunne he did by little and little send troupes of horse among his footmen against the enemie and without any disorder retired his wearied and hurt men putting those that were able and fresh in their places both sides dealing so cunningly as when Picinino's troupes came forth of the Ambuscado Mellato's not being moued remained firme Now the fight hauing continued from day-breake till it was almost night with greater losse on the enemies side than on the Venetians both sides retired Picinino to Coloignes and the Venetian to Bressia And although Fortune at that time no more fauoured the one than the other neuerthelesse to satisfie the inhabitants of Bressia who were desirous to vnderstand the successe of that encounter the Magistrates commanded that it should bee giuen forth how that Mellato had broken and put the
hee houered two whole dayes before the Citty of Naples expecting some popular commotion in the Citty which had been promised but it was in vaine for the French tooke good order there for that time so that the third day after Ferdinand dispayring of any good successe made to Sea determining to returne to Ischia The Cittizens of Naples who had resolued to deliuer the towne to Ferdinand their plot being halfe discouered determined to make a vertue of necessity and to win or loose all according to this resolution secretly sent a small boate to call back Ferdinand intreating him to land all or part of his forces to giue incouragement to those that intended to rise in his behalfe Vpon this aduertizement Ferdinand returned againe before Naples and then landed a mile from the Citty which the Duke Montpensier perceiuing sallied forth of Naples with all his forces to hinder his landing The Neopolitans then taking hold on occasion presently tooke armes and at the first ringing of the Toxin or larum bell made good the gates and began euery where to cry Ferdinand Ferdinand The French amazed at this suddaine tumult thinking it dangerous to abide betwixt the rebellious Citty and the enemies determined to returne to Naples but they were enforced to fetch a great compasse to come to the Gate neere Castelnouo for that through which they came forth was seazed on by the Neopolitans Ferdinand in the meane time entred the Citty on horseback where to the peoples incredible ioy he rode vp and downe The French entring at the Gate next the Castle did their best to get into the heart of the Citty but their attempts were vayne for at euery streetes end they found resistance and night approaching they retired into the Castle to gether with the Duke of Montpensier Yues of Alegre a famous Captaine Antonio Prince of Salerne and many other French and Italian Captaines of note Those of Capua Auersa the Fort Montdragon and other townes neere adioyning and the greatest part of the Kingdome did the like Those of Gayetta going about to follow their example were with great slaughter preuented by the French Garrison who in heate of blood sackt the Citty The Venetian Senate hauing intelligence that Ferdinand had recouered the Citty of Naples wrote to Antonio Grimani that he should no more assault any towne of the Kingdome in the Venetians name but to remaine at Monopoli to know their farther pleasure The Pope vnderstanding that the Venetian fleet was idle intreated the Senate that it might saile to Naples to aid Ferdinand this was granted and Antonio Grimani leauing 100. light horse and two Gallies for the gard of Monopoli went to Tarentum which held out against Ferdinand But Grimani being there aflicted with a flix sent twenty Gallies to Ferdinand vnder the command of Contaren the Prouidator and himselfe with the rest of the fleet for he had in the meane time receiued new supplies directed his course to Corfou At the same time the Florentines being desirous by all meanes to recouer Pisa and the Pisans being to weake to resist sent secret messengers to the Venetian Senate to intreat them to receiue their Citty into their protection and to hold it for a member of their state At first the Senate found the matter to be of such importance as they made no great hast either to refuse or accept it yet at last some Senators beganne to tast this offer and to harken vnto it as they who with the deseignes and hopes embraced the entire Monarchie of Italy for obtaining whereof they supposed that the Signory of Pisa would greatly auaile them in regard that their antient vnion with other Potentates was broken and most of those who were wont to resist them weakened as also because that Citty would giue them sure footing in Tuscany and extend their bounds as farre as the lower sea and therefore concluded to accept it as an offer sent from God This opinion being approued by the greatest part of the Senate the businesse was consulted on by the councell of Tenne that the resolution of it might bee kept more secret whose opinions being various the matter was put off till some other time Lodouico likewise was greedy to impatronize this Citty and therevpon seemed very ready vnder-hand to aid the 〈◊〉 against the Florentines whom he entertained with sundry practises The Pope mooued by Ferdinands intreaties wrote at the same time to the Venetians to send part of their Army returned from the seege of Nouara to aid Ferdinand to driue the French forth of the Realme of Naples promising that Ferdinand should engage certaine sea townes to them till they were satisfied for their expence in that warre The Senate not fully resolued to send the Army to the King commanded Bernarao Contaren to go before to Rauenna with 600. light horse to the end that if they should determine to send it he might be so farre onwards on his way This beeing vnderstood at Rome the businesse was prolonged for Cardinall Ascanio brother to Lodouico made a proposition that the Venetians should assist the King in that warre and yet haue no townes engaged to them Ferdinands Ambassadors that came to Venice to make an accord following the Cardinalls aduice demanded the army but offered no pawne The Senate knowing that this was Lodouicoes practise who enuied their greatnesse did on a sudaine dismisse the Ambassadors not suffering them to remain a moment in the Citty The Ambassadors spent many dayes to pacifie the Senate and notwithstanding that they promised that Ferdinand should deliuer three of his best Citties with their territories vnto them namely Trani Brundusium and Oâ—…ranto they would hardly agree to it had not the Confederate Ambassadors there present interceded for them whereuppon a new league was made by which the Venetians hauing first receiued the three townes were obliged speedily to send 600. men at armes and 3000. foot to Ferdinand and the Treasorer to the State did deliuer to Ferdinands Ambassadors 150. pounds of gold by way of loane with diuers other conditions which the Pope approoued and ratified as one hauing interest in the Realme of Naples The League thus made Commissioners were sent to Ferdinand to receiue the three townes and messengers to the Marquis of Mantoua to will him without delay to lead his troopes into the Realme of Naples These things thus concluded and diuulged caused diuers townes in the Kingdome which the French held presently to yeeld to Ferdinand the like did the two Castles in Naples King Charles after his returne into France sent the Lord of Argenton to Venice to tell the Senate that hee accounted their State to be comprehended in the accord made with Lodouico because their Generals Prouidators were present at it in which regard he intreated the Senate to surrender Monopoli to him which their Army had taken from his subiects and that they would no more assist Ferdinand The Venetians sent him back without
of most importance till such time as those great nombers of Suisses should be wasted or else some fresh supplies might come to them from France to make head against them Wherevpon he did put into Bressia two thousand foote one hundred and fiftie lances and a hundred men at armes of the Florentines into Crema fiftie lances and a thousand foote and into Bergamo a thousand foote and a hundred Florentine men at armes he brought the residew of the army to Pontuico which consisted of six hundred lances two thousand French foot and foure thousand Lansquenets But the next day letters came from the Emperour who commanded the Lansquenets forthwith to abandon the French Kings seruice they not daring to disobey departed the very same day because they were all his subiects La Palisse despayring by reason of the Lansquenets departure of beeing able any longer to defend the Dutchy of Milan did in great hast retire to Pisquetona The Venetians in the meane time hauing already taken Valegia and Piscara did still with that Army winne the Contrey as they went along Those of Cremona being wholly forsaken did yeeld to the Cardinall of Syon and gaue him a good somme of money to the end that the Suisses should not enter into their Citty The like did Carauagio and Soncino wherein the Cardinall of Syon placed his owne people in Garrison in steed of deliuering it to the Venetians as it was mentioned in the treaty of the League All other townes neere to the riuer Adda did yeeld to the Venetians the like did Bergamo with her territory by reason that La Palisse had recalled his companies which lay there to ioyne them to the army La Palisse forsooke Pisquetona and went and crossed the Riuer Adda hoping to keepe the enemies from passing the riuer if the footmen which they made account to leauy had arriued But through want of money to pay them none were raised wherevpon he retired to Saint Angello and the day following to Pauia determining to stay there But after that Triuulcio came thither to him and had shewed him the vanity of his opinion and how that it was impossible to hould back so great a ruine seeing there were no footmen in the Army nor meanes to wage new as well for the shortnesse of the time as for that there was no money to pay them he went and made a bridge ouer the Po at a place where it is most narrow to the end that the companies might more commodiously passe holding on their way towards Ast. So soone as the French had passed the Riuer Adda Loda yeelded to the confederates who being come to Pauia beganne to batter the Castle The French like-wise did soone abandon it and came to the stone bridge which is ouer the riuer Thesin fearing least it should be surprised hauing but that place alone whereby to escape from Pauia All the French men with certaine Lancequenets who were not departed with the rest being come forth of Pauia the Cittâ—… promised to pay a great summe of mony to auoyde the sack thereof Milan had already done the like compounding for a great summe and all other townes Bi essia and Coma excepted did with great desire doe the same All matters were gouerned in the name of the holy league for so all men called it and all the profit fell to the Swisses which caused many more of that nation to come downe into Lombardy and to vnite them-selues with the first In this change Parma and Placentia were giuen to the Pope The Swisses â—…eazed on Lucarna and the Grisons on Voltolina and Chiauenna Iano Fregossa by the Venetians aide in whose army he serued went to Genoa and so handled the matter as the French gouernor being expelled it reuolted and created him Duke In the like manner all the townes and Castles of Romagnia did returne to the Pope Bolognia like-wise yeelded to his officers after the Bentiuoles being depriued of all hope had forsaken it The Cardinall of Medicis had already before then escaped by meanes of some stirre which hapned of purpose as hee entred into a boate at the passage of the Po wherevpon hee was taken from the French who kept him who intended flight rather then resistance The Senate in the meane time being desirous to recouer Bressia and Coma solicited the Cardinall of Syon to come with his troupes and their army to beseege those townes who making no hast beeing loth to encrease the Venetians greatnesse came in the end and encamped before Bressia neere to Saint Iohns gate battering at one time both the towne and Castle whether the Viceroy came to them with the Spanish army The Lord of Aubigni who was within it perceiuing that in the end he could not choose but deliuer it thought it best to yeeld it together with the Castle rather to the Viceroy then to the Venetians compounding with him that all the souldiors within should depart with liues and goods The French that were at Legnaga followed the same councell Crema did other-wise which was beseeged by Ranze de la Cere with a part of the Venetians forces vnto whome Benedict Cribario being corrupted by guifts and vpon promise to be made a gentleman of Venice did yeeld the towne by the consent of the Lord De Duras gouernor of the Castle the which he would not doe to Octanian Sforza Bishop of Lodi for in the name of the future Duke Maximilian Sforza being come thither for that purpose with foure thousand Swisses In these interims the Bishop of Gurcia as Lieutenant to the Emperor went to Rome who being receiued with all honor they beganne to treat of the establishment of the common businesse and how to root out particular strife and contentions to the end that Italy being vnited together might resist the French King and the hardest matter of all this was the agreement so often treated of betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians For the Bishoppe of Gurcia demanded to haue Verona and Vincenza to remaine to the Emperor and the other townes to the Venetians for which they should presently pay to Maximilian two hundred thousand florins of the Rhyne and thirty thou sand for euer after yearely in manner of rent The Venetians would not pay rent for those townes which they had enioyed for so many yeares as belonging vnto them nor consent to giue mony and much lesse to deliuer Vincenza for diuers reasons by them alleadged The Pope did what he could to attone them now inciting the Venetians then entreating them sometimes threatning The King of Arragons Ambassadors did all they could the like also did the Swisses In the end the Bishop of Gurcia persisting in his demand and the Venetians in their refusall as well of Vincenza as of the summe of mony the Pope forsooke them protesting to their Ambassadors that he should be enforced to pursue their Republick with spirituall and temporall armes and made a league with the Emperor
rage and yet neuer brake their order All in generall did fight with great courage the men at armes excepted who stood still and did nothing no perswasions commandements nor entreaties of the Lords Triuulce and Trimouille beeing able to preuaile with them beeing so affrighted as they had no courage to charge the enemie who stood before them and the Suisses were well pleased with their standing still and for that they came not on to the ayde of the footmen At the lâ—…st the great boldnesse and valour of the Suisses carryed it away who hauing brauely wonne the ordnance did turne it vpon the French whom they put to rout the footmen as well as the men at armes doing nothing worthy of prase This is the famous battaile of Nouara where they fought for the space of two houres with great losse on both sides but most of all on the French which did afterward bring great calamity on the Venetians By this defeate of the French a great alteration followed in Italy chiefly in those matters which concerned the Venetians Gritti who was in the French army was likewise one that accompanied them in the flight who beeing by no reason able to perswade them to tarry at Alexandria or in Piedmont and not blot their reputation with so base and shamefull a flight perceiuing their Armie to bee wholy broken and knowing that hee could in so sort aduance the seruice of the Common-wealth went to Sauona and from thence to Genoa then to Luca and so at last he came to Venice This victory caused Milan with other townes which had openly shewed them-selues for the French to send to begge pardon which was granted them on condition to paye the Suisses vnto whom by right was due not onely the profit but the glory of the victory purchased by their valour and bloud The Viceroy who till then had still kept the Spaniards in their garrisons and not shewed himselfe against the French nor Venetians following the victors fortune did on a sodaine crosse the Po and marched towards Cremona where he knew the Venetian army lay to assaile it Wherof Aluiana hauing intelligence and how that in other places the people began to rise against them the French in Maximillians behalfe attempting to cut off victuals and passage from them determined to leaue those confines and to draw his Armie in safety from thence the which the Senate vpon the report of the battailes losse had commanded him to doe but yet neuerthelesse to retire in such manner as his retreat might not sauor of a manifest flight least it should discourage his owne soldiers and cause the enemies to become more audacious Aluiana being departed and Cremona left naked of Souldiers the Spaniard did forth with seaze on it and wholy sackt it because it had giuen entrance to the Venetian Army Then sending ayde to Maximillian Sforza to Nouara and to Octauian Fregosa at Genoa against the Adorni he brought the residue of his Army towards the Venetians confines hauing crossed the riuer Adda where without any difficulty hee tooke the Citties of Bressia and Bergamo These Citties were taken in the Emperors name and rated at certaine great summes of money which being rigourously leuied were destributed among the Spanish Soldiers Aluiana in the meane time with all his forces remaining on the Veronois being much discontented to see the great deseignes which hee had proiected to bee snacht forth of his hands resolued on a great and difficult enterprise for hauing wonne the towne of Legnaga he left Iohn Paul Baillon at the siege of the Castle with twelue hundred foot and himselfe went speedily with the residue of the Armie to assaile Verona to trye if hee could take it on the sodaine Baillon hauing made a breach in the forte of Legnaga gaue a furious assault to it and notwithstanding the Spaniards resistance it was taken by force for which hee was greatly esteemed by the Senate This place beeing taken was not able to beekept without a strong garrison wherefore they resolued to dismantle and forsake it Aluiana on the other side being come before Verona did assaile it on the weakest side neere to Saint Maxims gate where hauing planted his ordnance hee did with great fury batter the Tower of the gate and the wall thereto adioyning expecting in the meane time when any tumult would be raised in the Citty and hauing beaten downe to the ground forty fathome of the wall with the tower which fell downe likewise hee gaue it a fierce assault But three hundred horse and three thousand Lansquenets beeing in Verona it was valiantly defended by reason that the breach was very high on the townes side which made the descent very vneasie Which Aluiana perceiuing and that the Veronois did in no sort stirre contrary to his hope he did with great speed retire his footmen and artillery from before the walls as wholy despairing of the Victory and returned the very same day to his quarter from whence he came in the morning hauing in that assault lost aboue two hundred of his soldiers In this exploit there was nothing worthy of praise but his great speed because he had done that in one day which other Captains were scarce accustomed to doe in three or foure After that hee spoiled the Countrey trying whether for feare thereof he could enforce the Veronois to come to any agreement The end of the tenth Booke of the fourth Decade The Contents of the first Booke of the fifth Decade THE Spaniards take the Castle of Legnaga Pope Leo reuiueth the treaty of peace betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians Offers made to the French King by the Venetians Lewis the French King submitteth himselfe to the Pope The Venetians lose the towne and Castle of Pescara Padua besieged by the enemies they soone quit it The enemies make great spoile beeing come within fight of Venice Aluiana comming forth of Padua with his Army opposeth him-selfe against the enemies passage The enemies are greatly perplexed by reason they could not could not come to any place of safety The enemies doe defeate and put the Venetians to rout neere to Vincenza The admirable constancy of the Venetian Senate after the losse of the battle Prospero Colonna doth secretly fauour the Venetians by diuerting the siege from Treuiso The Pope in person makes a Compromise concerning the strife betwixt the â—…mperor and the Venetians which takes none effect Selim King of Turkes his warre against Acchomat his Brother The difficulties which held back the Pope from procuring peace betwixt Christian Princes The Countreys of Padua and Friul wholy ruined Frangipan taketh Maran by the treachery of a Priest The Venetians are defeated before Maran A great fire in the Citty of Venice A new compromise made in the Popes person concerning the same differences Feltre taken and spoiled by the Almains is opportunely releeued by the Venetians The difficulties which were found a new in the accord betwixt the Emperor and the
souldierâ—… wanted diuers monthes pay did vnlooked for assaile Siluio Sauella as he came from Milan who had with him two hundred men at armes a hundred light horse and fifteene hundred foot whom hee did forth-with put to rout so as Sauello fled to Lodi with fifty men at armes only whervpon the Venetians did re-victual Crema the second time Count Nicolo Scoto manned it with fifteene hundred foot Rance being encouraged by these supplies did within a while after enter into Bergamo whither those of the City had sent for him and the Spaniards that lay there fled to La Chappella The viceroy and Prospero Colonna being awakened with the losse of Bergamo assembled the Spanish companies with those of the Duke of Milan and went to encampe before it with fiue thousand foot ioyned to the Spanish and the Duke of Milans forces where hauing planted the artillery against Saint Catherins gate and made a breach Rance who was in the city perceiuing that it was impossible to keepe it left it to their discretion and capiâ—…ulated for himselfe and his souldiers that they might depart thence with their liues and goods without sound of drum or trumpet and their enseignes â—…oulded vp Whilest these things were done at Crema and Bergamo Aluiana hauing much importuned the Senate that he might come forth of Padua with his forces was permitted to doe so to the end he might restraine the Spaniards who although peace was treated of did not cease to waste and spoile euery where wherevpon at his comming forth hee made a very notable enterprize full of wonderfull speed and industry vpon the City of Rouigo where lay aboue two hundred Spanish men at armes who thought themselues safe there because the Riuer Adiâ—…é was betwixt them and the Venetian companies for at such time as they thought not of him he cast a bridge neere to the towne of Anguilare and with one company without baggage he crost the Riuer and being come to the towne whereof one of the gates was seized by a hundred foot clothed like peasants whom he had sent before vnder collour that it was market-day he entred it and tooke all the men at armes prisoners whom he found there This exploit caused all the other Spaniards that were lodged in the Pollessin to abandon it and Legnaga likewise and to retire to Ferrara Aluiana after the taking of Rouigo being come to Oppian neere to Legnaga meaning to haue gon to Verona hauing intelligence that the Spanish army had recouered Bergamo and was returning towards Verona he resolued not to tarry there and therefore he sent the companies of men at armes by land to Padua and he went thiâ—…her by night by the Riuer Adicé with the Infantery the baggage and the ordnance to auoide the great wet and mire and not without feare of beeing assailed by the enemies who were kept backe by the waters which were risen very high then comming on shoare he speedily went into Padua whether the men at armes were come two daies before The Senate vpon the report of this braue exploite vpon Rouigo did receiue great contentation hoping still for better fortune hereafter and wrote letters to Aluiana full of congratulation saying that he had truly manifested his valour and martiall experience together with the good will which he did beare to the Republike The same yeere the country of Friul was in more quiet then of a long time before by reason of the taking of captaine Frangipan who had molested it moâ—…e then any other wherevpon the Venetians knowing how much it did import them still to detaine him refused to exchange him for Iohn Paul Baillon At the same time likewise Rance de Cera being returned to Crema and finding there great want of all things did of his owne authority without communicating it to the Senate make truce with the enemy for sixe monthes then leauing Giouan Antonio Visin in the City with fiue hundred foot and as many horse for the gard thereof he went with the residue of his forces to Padua and from thence himselfe went to Venice to giue them an account of what had past at Bergamo and Crema and also to consult with them of what was needfull to bee done Hee was honourably entertained and because hee had in former time reâ—…used the place of Generall of their army no greater honour beeing at that present vacant the Senate gaue him the towne and castle of Martinenga with all the reuenue thereof The viceroy and Prospero Colonno being crossed in their deseignes by reason of Aluiana his retreat to Padua hauing sent their forces into Garrison in the Pollesin of Rouigo they went to Ispruch to consult with the Emperour what was to be done Whilest fortune shewed her selfe so variable and inconstant to the Venetians the City of Vincenza which was reduced vnder their gouernment was kept with a small garrison notwithstanding that diuers of the enemies troupes lay round about it for it continued still in the fidelity and deuotion of the common-wealth chiefly by the meanes and dilligence of certaine Citizens who hauing gathered together great numbers of people of the territory neere adioyning did keepe it alwaies well furnished and prouided of all necessaries so as Nicolo Pascalic the Citties Magistrate resoluing in regard of the small number of defendants which was in it at the beginning to abandon it did take new courage and did so well exhort all the inhabitants to the defense thereof as the enemies durst neuer come againe to beseege it In these petty exploits of warre and with an vncertaine hope of peace the Sommer of that yeere was spent for the affaires of Italy But Asia produced greater enterprizes for Selim marching into Persia as hath beene said and meeting with Ismaels army fought with him of whom he gate a glorious victory chiefly by meanes of his artillery the vse whereof was then vnknowne to the Persians In regard wherof the great dangers were plainly discerned which threatned other Realmes and Prouinces by reason of Selims fierce and haughty courage who for this fortunate successe was become more proud and insolent And that which did most manifest it was that at the same time that hee made warre in Persia Soliman his sonne entring Hungary did spoile the country with great numbers of horse and had already taken diuers townes The Pope was desirous to remedy it and caused great leauies of souldiers to be made in Hungary who tooke for their badge a red crosse calling themselues the Crossed taking armes for the defence of Christian religion against the Infidels But this leauy of souldiers which were thought would haue aided and releeued the King of Hungary did in a manner ruyne him for weapons beeing put into the hands of the peasants of that country who are deadly enemies to the Nobility they committed infinite riots and threw the Realme head-long into greater dangers wherewith the Pope beeing troubled turned all his thoughts
army to Biagrassa whilest hee stayed there the Duke of Sauoy with the other commissioners whome the King had left at Verceill had made peace with the Swisses in the Kings name But this peace was almost in one day concluded and broken by the arriuall of new Swisses who being proud for their forepassed victories hoping to carry home with them as great wealth as they saw their fellowes laden with they would not heare tell of peace refusing to yeeld vp the valleis mentioned in the agreement so as by this breach of peace matters returned to their former difficulties and to much greater in regard of the Swisses new forces as also of those of the Viceroy and Lorenzo de Medicis who approched Milan Aluiana in the meane time sent word to the French King that he would so amuse the Spanish army as it should haue no meanes to hurt him and therefore so soone as hee vnderstood that the Viceroy was gone from Verona he left the Pollesin of Rouigo and hauing crossed the Adice he speedily came along the riuer Po with nine hundred men at armes foureteene hundred light horse and nine thousand foot with greate store of artillery neere to the walls of Cremona The King according to Aluianas letters came to Marignan to giue him more easie meanes to ioyne with the royall army and to stop the companies of the Church and Spaniards from doing the like with the enemies For it did greately import the king to haue the enemies force diuided in sundry places The King being come to Marignan stayed there and wrot to the Venetian Senate giuing them notice of his arriuall in Italy and of the fortunate successe of his affaires till then together with the hope hee had that his deseignes would prosper in regard that both their affaires were managed by one selfe-same Vnion and concord But in these interims Rance de Cera who had well demeaned him-selfe against the enemies being mooued with iealozy against Aluiana for that hee would not bee enforced to obey him as Generall if the armies should come to ioyne together craued leaue of the Venetians to depart who being not able to make them friends did freely graunt it Hee was a braue Captaine and could not abide any superior and Aluiana could not endure an equall by meanes whereof they could not agree together wherevpon hauing taken his leaue hee put him selfe into the Popes pay with two hundred men at armes and two hundred light horse Marke Antonio Colonna in the meane time who remayned for the gard of Verona made a sodaine sally with three thousand foot-men and about seauen hundred horse of all sorts and went and scoured the Vincentine Territory spoyling and wasting what-so-euer he met with Albeit this did trouble the Venetians yet could it not diuert them from their former determination which was that Aluiana should ioyne with the French army knowing well that if the French Kings affaires did prosper this could not doe amisse Foure armies were at one time in one country very neere to one another The French army was of forty thousand men among whome were fiue hundred men at armes chosen out of the French Nobillity excellently well armed and mounted who after they had seazed on Nouara and Paula were come to Marignan not farre from them lay the Venetian army of twelue thousand foot and three thousand horse which stayed at Lodi both armies being well stored with artillery Against these two were two other armies of the enemies who for the same reasons were enforced to remaine deuided one from another That of the Pope and the Florentines ioyned with the Spaniards was more esteemed for the old soldiers then for the great number and it was lodged neere to the Citty of Placentia on the banke of the riuer Po. The other was of Swisses which was said to bee forty thousand men who at the pursute and perswasion of the Cardinall of Syon kept the Citty of Milan which was well furnished with all necessaries This Cardinall returning from Placentia whither he was fled wondering that his country-men practized with the French king relying on great numbers of soldiers newly come which did fauor his party he came among them who were al in a manner diuided some of them not enduring to heare tell of war and others not of peace And causing them al to come together on a day he beganne with a very vehement and affectionate speech to incite them without any more delay to go forth the same day and assaill the French King and not to set so much before their eyes the number the enemies horse and artillery as to let it make them to forget the valour of the Swisses and the victories obtained by them against the French That it was not the artillery which gaue the victory but onely the prowesse and valour of the soldier And that besides the giuing of the victory which he assured them of they should consider the great wealth they were to get as well by the spoyle of the French army as by that of the whole state of Milan And therefore hee willed them to aduance their pikes with their vsuall courage and sound their drums and without delaying one houre of time to goe and vse their armes effectually and to glut them-selues with the bloud of those who by their pride would molest the whole world and by their basenesse doe euer become a prey to all men The Swisses beeing incited by these or such like speeches did furiously on a sodaine put on their armes and going forth of the Citty did put themselues in order of battaile and albeit it was neere night they marched towards the French Army with such courage as if they had already obtayned the victory notwithstanding that diuerse of their Captaines thought it great rashnesse and a very dangerous matter to assaile the enemy in his camp who was resolued for battaile But the Cardinall of Sion fearing least delay might produce somthing contrary to his deseignes and that as the desire of fight had easily enflamed their courages it might as easily be quenched by the remonstrance of their Captaines of the contrary part he gaue forth a false rumor among them that the French gathered togeather their baggage and prepared for their departure and that their vantgard was already forth of their Camp to goe and ioyne with the Venetian army to retire afterwards to beseege Milan wherevpon he exhorted them to make hast to surprize the enemy in disorder who little doubted thereof This exhortation was seconded by diuers Captaines of his faction who did greatly praise his councell and incited them to battaile going vp and downe the rankes making the like remonstrances wherewith the soldiers being encouraged marched on with a speedy pace towards the enemies Now the French being aduertized of the Suisses comming towards them albeit they were at the first greatly amazed as it happeneth in matters not foreseene nor premeditated they did
the other side sought to enter into the Churches territories to defend those of the Colonnesi and to enforce the Pope to disioyne himselfe from the league and to giue him a certaine summe of money for the payment of his army wherevpon he set foreward and came with twelue thousand men before Frossolona where he encamped which is a towne very weake and seated in the Champaine countâ—…y the houses of particular persons seruing in stead of walles within which neuerthelesse the captaines of the Church had left a strong Garrison to keepe him from any sure footing in that country At his first comming he beganne to batter the towne not giuing any assault to it afterwards But the arriuall of Rance de Cera and Alessandrâ—… Vitelli with the Churches forces which were much encreased by the Popes dilligence who had augmented his campe with great numbers of foot-men paied and commanded for the reliefe of that place was the cause that after certaine skirmishes on either side the viceroy raised his campe two houres before day and set fire to certaine munitions which were left leauing there behind him some bullets for great ordnance and retired to Cesenna and from thence to Cepparane This fortunate successe encouraged the Pope and at the entreaty of the confederates Ambassadors whom he could not otherwise satisfie he resolued to execute the enterprize of the Kingdome of Naples notwithstanding that it was in the middest of winter being the month of Ianuary in the yeere 1527. The Venetians for this purpose commanded Augustine de Mulla their Prouidator in the nauall army to bring it to Ciuitauecchia and ioyning there with the Popes gallies to saile together towards Naples But the French army tarrying to long that of the Venetians sailed towards Terracina to take in three thousand foot conducted by Horatio Baillon who was freed by the Pope from his imprisonment wherein Pope Leo had confined him At the same time the Earle of Vaudemont came from France to make one in the enterprize of Naples which they resolued to enuade by sea and land who determining to imbarke himselfe in the Venetian gallies they re-enforced their army with two thousand foot Rance de Cera in an other place against the Popes will entred into Abruzzo with sixe thousand men where by the meanes of the Earle of Montorias children he did hope with ease to take Aquila the which he forthwith did by reason that Ascanio Colonna fled from thence so soone as he had intelligence of their arriuall Doria likewise sailed before with his gallies and went and assailed Pozzola a place very important for the confederates in regard of the commodiousnesse of the hauen of Baja but being at his first arriuall repulsed by the artillery he dislodged from thence without assailing it afterwards other gallies of the league arriuing they resolued to assaile the sea Burrow of Stabia where Diomede Caraffa lay with fiue hundred footmen the which was taken by assault on the third day towards the side of the hill and the day after the castle yeelded The tenth day the souldiers tooke the Greeke tower and Surrenta by force diuers other places on the coast did within a while after yeeld on composition They had before then taken certaine ships laden with corne which were going to Naples where victuals were very scarce Now the army of the league finding no resistance at sea it came so neere to the Peere of Naples as the castle and the gallies plaied vpon it with their shot It was then consulted on whether it were necessary to beseege the city some saying that by the taking thereof the warre would be ended they hauing taken from the enemies all meanes to come by money for the entertainement of their army as also because their greatest hope of being able to keepe that State consisted in the conseruation of that city the which being lost they would forth-with leaue the Kingdome and retire to some other place Diuers reasons might incite them to that seege First of all the small numbers of souldiers which were in the city and yet that small number not well disposed to put themselues forward to dangers for the maintenance of the insolent Dominion of the Spaniards Secondly the Nobility stood badly affected to the Spaniards who for feare of loosing their goods durst not shew their discontent and last of all the Viceroys absence who was farre from thence and the small expectation which the Spaniards had of any speedy releefe from their fellowes Others who weare of a contrary opinion thought it best to â—…arry for Rance de Cera the better to shut in that city with greater forces on which they knew the whole end and successe of the warre depended to the end to proceed therein more considerately and with greater hope the delaying of a small time could not but prooue very commodious to them because they certainely knew that there was want of bread in the city and if succors did enter into it the scarcity would thereby be the more augmented and would be cause of the people 's disordered rising which would open a more easie passage to their victory and that therefore it behoued them in wayting for such an occasion to saile towards Salerno to seize on that city and others neere adioyning whereby Naples it selfe would at last be brought vnder their obedience But these reasons being not much approued nor thought worthy to be equaled with the profit which was to bee hoped for by the then taking of that City they resolued to send an Herald to summon those within it to yeeld the city to the consederates with the promises and threatnings determined in the councell Don Hugo of Moncada who commanded there and held the people in awe determining to defend himselfe so soone as he had notice that the army of the league was within foure miles of the City tooke two thousand fiue hundred foote as well of the Garrison as of the people and three hundred horse and with them marched forth of the City to shew that he wanted no courage to frustrate the enemies deseignes Those of the league â—…ad already landed diuers souldiers vnder the command of the Earle of Vaâ—…demont and Horatio Baillone who marching towards the City to make discouery met with Don Hugo his troupes and skirmishing together they did put them to flight in such disorder as they left certaine field-peeces behind them which Moncada hauing made a stand with his Spaniards recouered and by reason thereof hauing delaied his retreat he was so amazed as he had not the leisure at his entry to plucke vp the draw-bridge and to shut the gate the which standing open was on a sodaine seized by Baillone who followed him at the heeles hauing no great numbers of souldiers with him and considering that if hee should enter he could not keepe them from the spoile which would cause them all to be cut in peeces he retired to the gallies which
were with in a mile off the City This exploit did so affright the Neapolitains as they presently sent to entreat the captaines of the army not to batter the city nor to spoile the country neere adioyning that they for their parts were ready to yeeld But they could not mâ—…ke vse of this fauour of fortune because that D. Hugo hauing intelligence of the small number of the army shewed himselfe resolute to defend the City so as the army for want of men remained idle wayting for supplies out of France which were very slow in comming and by their delay did snatch the victory forth of their hands so as in the meane time of this expectation infinite disorders arose in the Churches army for money and victuals fayling therewithal martiall discipline was no more obserued the souldiers did no more obey their captaines euery one disbanded they contemned the commandements of the Legate Apostolike and all the interest of the league and the Pope in such sort as diuers of the best aduised and most respected captaines forsaking the pay of the confederates went and serued the Imperials For these causes the Pope continuing resolute in his former determination of agreement sought all meanes to obtaine it saying That since he must needs serue he had rather to do it to the Emperour then still to depend on the vnruly wils of captaines and namely of the basest souldiers Now in this meane time the Duke of Bourbons determination to march into the field and to come and ioyne with the Lansequenets of George Frondsperg did greatly trouble the Pope and altered the confederates deseignes for al-be-it he found himselfe to be without money munition pioners and vnfurnished of all meanes to get victuals hee resolued neuerthelesse to passe on thorow the middest of so many enemies townes and against such enemies as were farre greater in number then himselfe Bourbon then beeing thus resolued hauing drawne away the Garrison from Milan and from other places went with his troupes and crossed the Trebia vniting himselfe with the Lansequenets that were newly arriued who tarried for him on the farther side of the Riuer vncertaine as yet what course to take al-be-it the common report was that at his departure from Milan hee had promised to his souldiers the sacke of Rome and of the greatest part of Italy the like also did captaine George to his Lansequenets who vpon that hope had endured very many miseries since their departure from Germany for they had receiued but one onely Ducat for a man and afterwardes two or three Ducats for the whole time they had beene in Italy The Pope in regard hereof being greatly mooued as well in particular for him selfe as for the Florentines did renue his practizes of agreement with the viceroy al be-it he had promised before not to conclude any thing without the consent of the French King and the Venetians That which mooued him therevnto was his owne feare and the continuall exhortations of the Generall of the Friers of whom hee made great account who beeing newlie returned from the Emperours Court assured the Pope of the Emperours affection towards his Holinesse and of his great inclination to peace wherevpon vsing this Generall in that treaty with the viceroy hee continued in such sort as he seemed wholly to bee confirmed by that agreement not making any warlike prouisions for the safety of his owne person saying That as the vniuersall Father and Pastor knowing the Emperour to bee greatly desirous of peace hee ought not for to shew himselfe lesse affected therevnto and for the effecting thereof freely to imploy all his meanes that hee could without any sinister suspition that all Christendome might enioy the peace and tranquillity which it so much desired Bourbon in the meane time beeing come into the Bolognia territory spoyled all places round about to the end that the Florentines fearing the like dammage should compound with him and contribute a certaine summe of money for the payment of his army and thereby to auoide the ruine of their pallaces and goodly houses which lie neere to their city These considerations did in such sort mooue the Pope as the Lord of Langi beeing come forth of France to perswade him not to make any agreement with the Emperour and the rather to induce him therevnto had brought him twenty thousand Ducats with promise of a greater summe so soone as Caesar Fieramosca sent by the viceroy had told him that his Master was satisfied with the truce for eight monthes propounded by his Holinesse he on a sodaine without any regard to the promises and aide of the French King made an accord with the viceroy saying That time might make his condition worse if the Viceroy should but know what disorder was in the army of the league and that the daunger of the Realme of Naples was nothing in comparison of that of Tuscany and Rome Therefore passing on farther for the better assurance of That treaty hee procured that the Viceroy should come in person to Rome whilest the Cardinall Triuulcio who was Legate in the Churches army should goe to Naples to assure the Viceroy from him who comming afterwards to Rome was honourably entertained there and raâ—…ified the suspention of armes for eight monthes according as it had beene agreed vpon by Fieramosca promising to cause Bourbon to withdrawe his army forth of the Churches and Florentines State The Pope being to credulous thought his affaires by this meanes to bee well assured hauing promised by the agreement to giue threescore thousand Ducats for the payment of the army and to pardon the Colonnesi and particularly Cardinall Pompeâ—… restoring him to the Cardinalship whereof hee had depriued him But the greatest errour hee committed was for that thorow badde councell hee had on a sodaine with-drawne his whole army from forth the confines of the Realme of Naples and his nauall army to Ciuitauecchia and had wholly disarmed himselfe retayning for the garde and safety of his owne person but an hundred light horse and certaine companies of black bands which had belonged to the deceased Iohn de Medicis notwithstanding that the Colonnesi were in armes and committed soundry insolencies The Venetian Senate being aduertized of this agreement would not faile to aduise the Pope not to trust ouermuch to the viceroy for al-be-it that hee had proceeded sincerely therein it was neuerthelesse to be feared that Bourbon who had the like authority from the Emperour as had the viceroy beeing displeased that the accord was made without his consent would not raâ—…ifie it Then they declared vnto him what inconuenience and disorder his so soone disarming did bring with it seeing that the Siennois and Colonnesi with whom hee had not yet fullie ended were still in armes But the Pope contemning all these reasons and remayning obstinate in his resolution did verifie the common saying That good and whole some councell giuen by an interressed and suspected person causeth rather
safety for which the Senate did highly commend him he had with him about fiue thousand foot-men foure hundred men at armes and seuen hundred light horse with great store of carriage But come to Cassan which is a place nere to the Riuer Adda he did then fortifie himselfe with strong Rampiers leauing but one way open which was fenced and garded withall necessaries supposing that place to be most commodious to be able with ease to releeue if neede were Pauia and Lauda to offend the enemies and to defend the State of the Signory and besides to fauour if occasion were offered the enterprize of Genoa by sea Wherevpon thinking himselfe to be very safe in that place he would not follow the opinion of Iano Marâ—…a Fregosa who councelled him to retire with his army to Bressia for feare of any inconuenience being not equall in forces to Antonio de Leua He being emboldned by this victory and more desirous to breake the Confederate forces had followed the Duke of Vrbin as farre as Vaury two miles from Cassan which caused some doubt in the Venetians least hee would haue passed the Adda to haue made wast of the Bressan Bergamasque and Creman territories But the Duke reposed great trust in his light Cauallery the which surpassed that of the enemies both in number and valour who by scouring all the neighbour Countries round about did not onelie cut off all the victualls from the Imperialls campe but had so affrighted them as none of them durst any more come forth of the trenches therefore the Duke remayning firme in his resolution to continue in that place would not raise his Campe as well in regard of his reputation as for the victualls that were brought to him from the country neere adioyning which would other-wise haue releeued the enemies and if hee should haue retyred to the Citty hee would haue spent those which were appoynted for their friends Now the two armies being so neere one to an other they did continually goe forth to skirmish on both sides where the Imperialls were still beaten Antonio de Leua supposing to haue some satisfaction for his losses by some other meanes sent Caesar of Naples on the farther side of the riuer Adda to scoure the Territories of Bressia and Crema whereof the Duke of Vrbin being aduertised leauing the Count Gajazzo for the gard of the Campe he tooke with him a good troope of soldiers and went and ambusht him-selfe neere to the place where he knew the enemies would passe the riuer from whence part of them being gone ouer hee came forth vnlookt for with great fury vpon those who stayed behind vpon the riuer shoare ready to passe ouer hauing first of all sent his light Cauallery to intercept their way if so bee that they would haue fled towards their campe But Caesar of Naples beeing troubled with this vnlookt for accident did speedily cause the bridge to bee broken fearing least the Duke for his part would haue come ouer and fought with him wherevpon all those that stayed behind to the number of fifteene hundred were either cut in peeces or taken prisoners by the Duke and among others it fell out that a braue Spanish Captaine was taken by a woman of big stature who in mans attire receiued pay of the Count Gajazzo and the Count hauing for mirths sake called before him on a time the Captaine that was prisoner shewing him Margueriton for so the soldiors called her told him that the same was the soldier that had taken him prisoner the Spaniard looking vpon her answered that he did comfort him-selfe in his mishap for that he had beene taken by so braue a man as hee seemed to bee but when hee told him that it was a woman shame and disdaine did so seaze vpon him as within few daies after he dyed with greefe Afterwards the two armies kept them selues in their quarters for the space of many daies but the Duke of Vrbin calling the Captaines sundrie times to councell and propounding diuers things vnto them did suffitiently manifest his desire to assaile the enemies and to cause them to dislodge At the last he resolued to goe forth with all his forces and to vse meanes by cunning to come to stroakes with Antonio de Leua vpon some aduantage hee caused all the ordinance of the Campe to bee brought into one place and then hee began to march with all the troupes both foote and horse and with three peeces of ordnance meaning to leaue them behind him by retiring so soone as hee had begunne the skirmish fayning flight both for feare and vpon necessity whereby the enemies comming forward to get those three peeces should bee put to rout by the ordnance of the Campe and being so disordred he would againe returne vpon them with greater violence But this designe fell not out according to his expectation because that the Count Gajazzo comming forth sooner then he should with a part of his Infantery and beginning the skirmish too far of from the Campe being not able with those hee had brought with him long to sustaine the enemies fury was enforced not-with-standing that hee fought valliantly to retyre in some disorder Wherevpon the Duke perceuing him to bee in danger did on a sodaine make hast to his reskew and gaue in with such fury athwart the Imperiall Infantery which neerely pursued the Count Gajazzo as hee caused them to make a stand and to turne their backes still pursuing and beating them euen into their Campe. Antonio de Leua lost in this action more then fifteene hundred foote part of them being slaine and the rest taken prisoners where-vpon hee durst no more after that suffer his soldiers to sallie forth of the Campe nor attempt any enterprize continuing in great feare and doubt what hee were best to doe being afflicted with sundry cares and difficulties For on the one side hee could tarry no longer there for want of victualls and then hee perceiued that his aboad there could in no sort profit him on the other side to dislodge and to returne to Milan he thought it would greatly blemish his reputation and that of the whole army as if he should confesse that hee retired for feare being chaced by a number of e-enemies farre lesse then him-selfe That it was to no purpose to enter into the Venetians state but very dangerous all their townes beeing mand with strong Garrisons well fortified and on the other side the people of Milan were beyond measure discontented and in manner desperate by reason of the extortion and wrongs which they had sustayned by the soldiers were ready to make an insurrection and to alter the state calling without controulement for their Duke who lay then with his troopes in Cremona for he doubted not but that the Venetians being desirous to see him installed in his State would hazard all their forces when hope of obtayning that which they so much desired should bee offered
knowing that therein he had done no great good seruice to Religion that he had broken with the Pope and nothing preuailed with the Almains wherevpon he sought to moderate the conditions with which it had beene published The Venetians on the other side perceiuing that the assembly of the councell though they would not openly hinder it was not pleasing to the Pope as being made in an vnfit time and place and by meanes not beseeming the dignity and authority of the sea Apostolike would not send their Ambassadors thither Concerning the accord treated of at Constantinople of which al men hoped for a prosperous end by meanes of a long truce of many yeeres certaine difficulties arising about the restitution of some few castles in Hungary it ended by a short suspension of armes for one yeere with an intent neuerthelesse as Solimans selfe did say and write to the French King that after the matter should bee well debated in Ferdinands Court the Ambassadours might returne to the Port the next yeere following with new Commissions to strenthen the peace with a longer terme In the meane time a new Contention arose betwixt the Turkes and the Venetians about the confines of Dalmatia where the Sangiacks of Bossina and Clissa being desirous to disturbe the peace for their owne particular profit or else to spoile the country or to receiue so me presents of the Venetians would haue vsurped a great part of the territory of Zara saying that a country contayning nine and forty villages did belong vnto them as dependances of the castles of Nadin and Laurana which by the last accord remayning to the great Lord they said did likewise belong vnto him with all their territories wherevpon they forbad the inhabitants of those places vpon grieuous penalties to acknowledge any other Lord but Soliman This new trouble did greatly vex the Venetians the country in question being of great importance both for it selfe and for the preseruation of the city of Zara and although their reasons were vnreasonable in regard that Nadin and Laurana small castles had no territory belonging vnto them but did with the other villages nere adioyning depend on Zara the chiefe city of the Prouince yet neuerthelesse fearing least the strange and insolent proceedings which the Turkes are wont to vse in such businesses who hold it for a law that the whole country whereon the horse of the great Lord hath once trod doth belong vnto them might occasion longer strife had recourse to Soliman who referring the decission of that controuersie to the Sangiac of Chersega and to two Cadis these men are ordinary iudges in law was desirous to haue whatsoeuer they should set downe to be executed who were to meet in the same place with the Commissioners of the Signory The Senate did for that purpose choose Lodouico Rayniero who handled the businesse so wisely and discreetly with the Turkish officers as the whole territory in question was quietly adiudged to the Republike of Venice The same yeere deceassed Prince Landi leauing behind him a great and singular reputation to haue well and wisely gouerned the Common-wealth for the space of sixe yeeres and eight monthes and lieth buried in Saint Antonies Church Francesco Donato was chosen in his place FRANCESCO DONATO the seuenty ninth Duke ABout the beginning of the yeere 1546. all those that desired the peace of Italy were afraide least it would be shortly shaken with new troubles because that the peace betwixt the Emperor and the French King the principall Articles thereof taking none effect was so badly assured as there wanted nothing but a fit time to take armes The French King by the sodaine death of his sonne the Duke of Orleance hauing not obtained the Duchie of Milan promised vnto him by meanes of the marriage had not for all that lost his desire to recouer it the Duke of Sauoy likewise could not be restored of his State the King still detayning it vpon sundry pretences hoping to enforce the Emperor to some other conditions by the restitution thereof seeking thereby to obtaine his desire An other new matter happened in Italy which gaue cause of feare of some new troubles for the Pope perceiuing al his deseignes to fal out contrary to his desire for the aduancement of his house hauing cut off from the Churches demaines the cities of Parma and Placentia which Pope Iulius the second had annexed therevnto gaue them in see to Petro Lodouico his son on condition to pay a yeerely rent of eight thousand crownes to the Church and in recompence thereof to make ouer to the sea Apostolike the Dutchy of Camerin and the Signory of Nepi wherwith his son Octanio had beene inuested This Cession did so much displease the Emperor as he could by no meanes be induced to giue the Pope the inuestiture of those two cities which he demanded hauing beene in formet time incorporated into the Dutchy of Milan This resusal of the Emperor had equally incensed both the father and the son so that Petro Lodouico would willingly haue embraced the first occasion offered against the Emperour and the Pope distrusting both the Emperour and the French King resolued by all meanes to maintaine and defend what he had done concerning the erection of the new Dutchy in the person of his sonne who discoursing with the Venetian Ambassadour told him into what danger Italy was like to fail so soone as the French King should be at peace with the King of England which at that time was treated of and that the Emperor if he could not at the Dyet of Ratisbon draw the Protestant Princes to his desire would bee enforced to make warre vpon them therefore he did exhort the Senate to ioyne with him a firme and sound intelligence as it behooued them for their common interests and for a greater assurance he caused the new Duke to send Augustino de Landes his Ambassador to Venice who acquainting them with the new grade and dignity which he had lately obtained did in his name offer both his State and person to the seruice of the Signory The Senate did very louingly thanke him for his offers offering him the selfe same but in generall termes which could not tie them to any thing because they would not thereby giue his Holinesse any hope by their meanes to raise any troubles in Italy then prouiding for the defense of their owne States and foreseeing what might happen they tooke into the seruice of the Common wealth Guido Vbaldo Duke of Vrbin in quallity of Generall of their forces by land with a yeerely pension of fiue thousand crownes and fifteene thousand crownes for an hundred men at armes and a hundred light horse which he was bound to haue continually ready for the seruice of the Signory But the troubles wherein the Emperor and the French King were engaged was cause of the safety of Italy because that the one notwithstanding all his attempts could not get Bolloigne