money the King of Spain was the more obliged to indeavour peace in Italy not to break with France and to dissemble with the Italian Princes who therefore mans ambition being naturally vast not being content with not being troubled advanced â—…e more in their ends and pretentions Amidst this disposition of humours and accidents the affaâ—…rs of Italy were likely to be quiet for neither were the Forces of her Potentate such as might incourage them to struggle with the Spaniard and the Spaniards being far from desiring novelties out of the aforesaid respects would have been quiet and have avoided any occasion of disgusting the Princes of Italy But Italy could not long continue in this condition for either the heavenly influence not favourable to the quiet of Italy or the anger of God not yet pacified with her sins the Duke of Feria had such occasions administred him of securing the King of Spains affairs as they prevailing over whatsoever respect or inclination to peace he thought he should do much amiss not to embrace them wherefore causing new jealousies and diffidences in the Italians and affording matter of complaint and opposition to the rivals of that Crown it seemed that instead of begâ—…ting good blood and nourishing Confidence the Mother of Peace between that Crown and the Princes of Italy as he was wish'd to do by the King he sowed fresh and fertile seeds of new wars and of more important perturbations then those that were past A secret fire was hatch'd in a â—…ook of Italy which breaking forth aâ—…wards had like â—…o have set all Italy on fire just as what usually beâ—…alls great Cities whose combustions begin sometimes not from Theatres or Temples but from poor Coâ—…ages I will take my Narrative a little backwards to the end that what succeeded afâ—…erwards may be better understood The Inhabitants of antient â—…tia who are now called Grâ—…sons injoy'd their antient liberty under the name of the three Unions or Leagues whereof the chiefest and most numerous from which the whole Country â—…akes its name was called Griggia the other two Dirriture and Cadedio and as part of them did long ago rebell against the house of Austria and are for the most part Hereticks so they retain an implacable hatred against that house and hating extreamly the name of Spaniard have always held France and their confederacy contracted with that Crown for above a hundred years ago to be the chief foundation of their security and liberty and being defended and protected by that Crown they were observed by their neighbours at least not disturb'd in their quiet and peaceful possessions their Country which lies amongst L'ulpi Retiche or Retian Alps extends it self a little into Italy for descending down the Mountains it 〈◊〉 some Valleys as the brinks thereof amongst which lies the Valtoline from whence and by which the new wars the great jealousies and commotions of Italy had their beginning The Valtoline begins from the Alps which border upon Tirvolo just where the River Adda takes her commencement and running along the same river it ends in the lake of Como so as the end thereof confines upon Tirvolo which is under the house of Austria so it joyns in the Basis upon the State of Millain it is coasted along on the one side by the Rhetian Mountain and on the other-side by the Countreys of Bressia and Bergamo this Valley of the Grisons as it severs the State of Millain from Germany and Austria and joyns the Venetians to the Grisons and Swissers and by means thereof to France and all the Transalpine Countreys if by any accident it should fall under the Spanish Dominion upon the access of Germany to the State of Millain it would serve as a Gate or Bridge whereby to bring as many men as the King of Spain should please from Germany to the State of Millain with less expence and difficulty and also if occasion should be to convey the like from Italy into Germany in succour of the Empire and house of Austria which is very convenient and necessary for the saâ—…ety of the Spaniards and Austrians in Germany for Germany being the principal help to defend the State of Millain and the Kingdom of Naples as upon Occurrences the Spaniards have need to ask leave of the Swissers for the passage of Germans into Italy and do purchase it from them at great rates and upon hard conditions for they cannot possibly hope for it from the Grisons by reason of their League with France and their abhorring the name of a Spaniard and the Swâ—…ssers sometimes denying passage they would much endanger the States and Affairs of Spain in Italy so the getting of the Valtoline would afford the Spaniards commodity of passing as many men and other provisions as they should have need oâ—… by a shorter safer and less expensive way through their own Countries of Germany into Italy Moreover the same Valtoline whilst possess'd by the Grisons was like a Gate thrown open to the Venetians and to the other Princes of Italy whereby to receive succour from the Transalpineâ—… in desence of their affairs if as it was continually doubted they should be molested by the Spaniards and being possess'd by the Spaniards it would be a Bulwark which blocking up that passage would exclude all other forreign succour for the Austrian Territories invironing all Italy on the out-side from Rhetia to Dalmatia and the State of Millain coming to those by the Valtoline which State of Millain reaches almost aâ—… ' Mare Ligustico and the King of Spain possessing the Kingdom of Naples and the Mediterranean by means of a powerful Fleet it will appear clearly that the State of Venice and of all other Italians except Piedmont would be invironed by the King of Spain's and Austrâ—…an Dominions and little less then shut up and imprisoned within their Forces so as the possessing of this Valley was of great consequence and moment by reason of the union or disunion which it occasioned of the States to the security or prejudice of the Affairs of all of them It was no wonder then if as the Graecians and Trojans strove so much for fair Haelena our Princes did the like for the Valtoline The Venetians did very much desire a League with the Grisons for ten years from the year 1603. and afteâ—… many disputes and contestations did obâ—…ain it to the end that by that confederacy the way might be open to them for Transalpine assistance as oft as they should have need thereof for their own defence and when they had obtained it they made publick Feasts and Rejoycings But this confederacy did even then very much displease not only the King of France the ancient Protector and Confederate of the Grisons but also the Spanish Agents and particularly Count Fuentes then Governour of Millain so as the Agents of both those Courts by several means and out of differing ends indeavoured by all means to disturb it The French having by the title of long confederacy
avaricious thirst with the fair pretence of publick peace they are no less intent upon the usurping of other mens Dominions then were the Persians of old who aspiring at the oppression of Greece demanded a little water and some few clods of earth for no other end but that upon denial they might have some colourable pretence to make War upon them and tyrannically to subjugate them If then the safety and dignity of all Italy be indanger to be ruined by the abasing of my Master by the suppression of Piedmont will this Commonwealth contrary to her custom contrary to the constitutions and examples of her Predecessours stand idle spectators of other mens miseries careless lookers upon the common danger and calamity shall she sleep and be drown'd in a dull Lethargy which confesseth that she continually watcheth over and stands sentinel to the common liberty the Romans did of old make War and sent forth powerful Armies against Philip King of Macedon and Antiochus King of Asia not out of any desire of acquisition or of inlarging their Empire not out of any hatred to those Kings nor to revenge any injuries received from them but only to free the Grecians from the tyranny of those Princes but out of Roman generosity which could not suffer that those people who had been anciently born and who had long lived freed and masters of themselves should be subjected by barbarous Kings And yet Greece was a Nation far distant from Rome much differing from the Romans in Laws Customs Language and Religion so as the Romans needed not to have cared much for their Country nor Condition nor been much moved at their misery and will you who represent that ancient and august Commonwealth to the life in Wisdom Actions and much more in generosity of Mind refuse to assist in the freeing not of a Province or forreign Nation but of this which was anciently the Paincess of Provinces which is your Mother your Country the seat of your Empire and of the Majesty of your Common-wealth from whose dignity safety and freedom you reap so much splendor and security but why make I use of so remote examples when there are not wanting those which are fresher and more sutable to the times and present occurrences it is not much above 400 years since Italy and particularly all that which lies between the Apenine and the Alps being oppress'd by the Dutch Empire many of the Cities of Lombardy took courage to shake off the yoke of that fierce Nation so as joyning in League wherein your Ancestors having manfully for many years made War with Germany which had her foot upon their necks the peace of Constance did insue by which nothing remained to the Germans but the bare name of Supream Empire and the Italians repossest themselves of their so much desired liberty Shall not that then which made so many people disperst in so many Cities oppress'd by so severe a yoke able to venture for and to atchieve liberâ—…y be sufficient now to associate some few and free Chieftains will it not be able to infuse courage into free great and powerful Princes and ascertain them that the same thing begun with more prosperous presage shall have a more fortunate end shall peradventure the doubt of success make you hesitate whose fore-fathers dâ—…d manfully withstand the Forces of so many Princes joyn'd together against them shall the Commonwealth of Venice be afraid of Spain which being without either King or Government drown'd in luxury and riches and divided into so many parts and Regions as that the vastness of its Empire doth counterpoise or injure it self should it fear to resist that power against which the Hollanders who were then but a weak people did rebel and of Subjects have made themselves freemen of slaves Lords nothing can appear really difficult to generously minded men The Duke of Savoy hath no sooner sacrificed his State and Life in so laudable an enterprize but immedâ—…tely the French despising their Kings commands are come in to his aid and will very suddenly appear in greater numbers Nor will he want assistance from Holland and England as also from many of the German Princes who favour my Master and are tacitely confederated with him if for no other end at least to abate so great a surquedry and so odious a pride and shall not that which works upon forreigners prevail with this Commonwealth which to boot with the same Reasons is incited so to do by the safety of her friends by the protection which she professeth to take of the oppressed and which imports most by the imminent danger of her own liberty but if peâ—…adventure so great and important occasions should contrary to the expectation of all men be so little considered by her as in so urgenâ—… a necessity she should not defend the common interest think I beseech you what opinion will be had of her wisdom what esteem will be put upon her generosity and grandezza what will the other Italian Princes say who being anxious for the common interest what the end of the War of Piedmont will prove depend upon your Authority knowing that the safety of their Dominions and fortune depends upon your Counsels and Resolves Who doubts that our Princes shall no sooner know your inclination shall no sooner see the Venâ—…tian Colours display'd and that the people who are subject to the Spaniards shall no sooner see your arms glister but that those wearied with their pride and these vexed with their unsupportable tyranny will move and will expose themselves their children and all that is dear unto them to enjoy that dignity that golden liberty whereunto these Skies and this Country doth invite them Make use then of this so fair so rare and so opportune an occasion wherein all Italy all Europe is concerned which being imbraced by the Duke my Master gives assured signes of happy success Mark I beseech you how he accompanied but with a handful of men hath quickly cooled their threats hath at the first push turn'd their intentions of oppugning Piedmont into care of fortifying themselves in the State of Millain One small Victory one brush given them will throw them down headlong from that height from whence they with such arrogancy pretend to prescribe Laws to Italy will alienate their friends from them will put heart into their Subjects and make them see upon how weak foundations this their vast Monarchy is built And they losing their courage wherewith in their prosperity they are so puft up will yield to us the glory of so gallant an action whereby to boot with our natural liberty we shall purchase perpetual and immortal praise to our posterity These words were as attentively listened unto as efficaciously spoken by the Embassadour who being dismiâ—…d with general words the business was propounded in the Consiglio de Pegâ—…di where a Senator stood up worthy for the acuteness of his wit and for his affection to his Country of all those Honours which
Horse so as being repuls'd the Spanish Army might quietly pursue their March and yet neither this nor any other impediment which they met with which retarded the proceeding of the Army nor yet the Castle of Rubella which being in the mid-way would not yield till it was batter'd would have hindred the taking of Verrua much the Army not finding it any way better provided with Garrison or better fortified then it was when they went from their first quarters to take it so as they might have done the same thing which they might have done before Asti with their flying Squadron for though the Duke when he was free of the danger of Asti went with such of his men as were readiest into the Field and coasting along by the Enemy intended him no good yet because the way by which he saw them march led both to Cheri and to Verrua and that he knew not whither of the two they meant to go to he was forced to suspend his resolution and be ready to go whithersoever he should see them bend moreover when he saw them incline towards Verrua he must if he would succour it go to Crescentino which was on the other side of the Poe and not being able to pass to the other side but by the stone Bridge which was neer Tarino he was fain to take a large compass to pass his men over it to Crescentino so as the Governour had conveniency enough to have found that Town unprovided and to have done what he pleased with it but neither he nor Don Gonsallo who then order'd and provided all things under the Governour being able to make use of so happy an occasion lost it by these and other negligences and by the destruction of that flourishing Army made that little Burrough which was not otherwise considerable famous to posterity and with no little loss of honour raised up the Dukes almost quite lost reputation Verrua is a little Town upon the right side of the Poe not of any consideration but for the seat thereof it stands upon the top of a little Hill stony and broken on all sides except on the South wherein somewhat a gentler descent it sustains a little Suburbs which cover almost all the descent of that Hill on the North side the Poe enlargeth it self leaving â—…a little plain in the midst full of Trees it hath not any Fortification except a little Castle upon the top of the Hill from which if you take away an ancient Tower it is more like an old ruine then a Fortification the Suburbs which lies upon the descent of the Hill is begirt with an old weak Wall the Country about is full of Hills which inviron the Hill whereon Verrua stands The Governour incamp'd himself upon these little Hills on the East side to the end that Montferrat being on his back and the Poe on his right hand he might receive Provisions both by Land and Water afterwards extending his quarters towards the West instead of falling to assault the Town at his first arrival and of presently possessing himself of so weak and ill guarded a Town he as if he were to besiege a great Town in the face of a powerful Enemy-Army began to fortifie his Quarters with Trenches and other Works and waiting for provisions which were but slowly brought he took no care to block up the Avenues insomuch as soon as he saw the Enemies Army bend towards Verrua having sent the Marquess di San Rerano thither with his Regiment of a thousand Foot there was not any one that moved either to stop him by the way or to hinder his coming into the Town which he did at full noon and in sight of the Enemy by the Gate of the neighbouring Suburbs neer the Enemies Quarters with no little note of infamy to those that suffer'd it The Duke whilst the Governour minded nothing but making of Baracadoes and Rampiers sent to the Marshal who was left with Prince Thomaso to defend Asti to come after him and joyn with him in Crescentino whither he speedily marched and coming with his men first thither whither the Marshal came also within some days after with 5000 French he betook himself wholly to defence being past by the Poe from Crescentino to Verrua he found that the Enemy having quitted the Banks of the River and the Plain minded nothing but fortifying himself upon the little Hill and thinking that it made much for the defence of Verrua to make himself master of the Plain before it he presently past over some of his men in boats and quarter'd himself there without any gainsaying being then advised by some of his Officers to defend Verrua on the upper side and to abandon the Suburbs which was upon the hanging of the Hill as that which being weakly walled was not tenable nor was the main business much concern'd therein he contrary to their opinion undertook the defence thereof thinking that any whatsoever opposition would either abate the edge of the Enemies Forces or else weary them and occasion delay which afterwards proved much for the defence of the Town he therefore began to perfect a Raveline before the Suburbs which was formerly begun by the Towns folk which did partly cover partly flank the Wall on the Front and placing a sufficient Garrison he Plat-form'd the Wall it self and afterwards cut thorow the very Suburbs with a threefold Trench at equal distances to the end that those who should assault the Raveline and the front of the Suburbs should not only be annoyed by those Trenches which arose as did the Suburbs but that if the defendants should be repuls'd at the first onset they might have more advantagious places to retreat unto behind them from whence reassuming the defence they might make head again and driving the assailants from what they had first taken might recover it with more ease he likewise placed some Artillery in fit places of the highest Hills which served not only to defend the Raveline and the Suburb but to offend the Enemy who were incamped on the opposite Hills and which made the defence more safe he threw a Bridge of boats over the Poe between the Banks of Crescentino and the Plain before Verrua by meanes whereof those who were quarter'd in Crescentino might communicate with those of the Plain and those who were in Verrua and the latter might be relieved and refreshed by the former whereby the defence might be made more easie and consequently might last the longer nor herewithall content for the greater security of the Bridge and of the Garrison which lay in the Plaâ—…n he erected a great Trench between the point of the Hill towards the East and the Banks of Poe which did shelter almost all the Plain and the Bridge Things being thus ordered the Governour who not making any opposition was this mean while preparing how to offend the Town found the business harder then he at first imagined it to be for to fall absolutely to assault the Town
time that the Galleoons and other Ships use to come thither which is just about the beginning of September to the end that guarded by those Galleoons and other Ships they may pursue their Voyage with more safety and less danger of Pyrates to boot with these other Ships of the neighbouring Kingdoms use to come thither at the same time so as the whole Flotta as they call it amounts to between 60 and 70 Vessels when they part from Havanna they must by the Streight of Beama a very dangerous Streight between the Island Beama and Florida fall into the open and immense Ocean whither when they are come they give fire to all their Artillery in sign of joy for that they have escaped so dangerous a passage and calling a Councel they open a Packet which is brought from Spain wherein there are Orders and Instructions from the King how they are to steer their Course in their return and in what height they are to keep from Climate to Climate to the end that their Enemies may not know what Course they steer who oft times lie in wait to surprize them these Ships which are called la Flotta d' America come usually into Spain in November and entring the Gulf of Cales goe to Sivil by the great River of Guadalquivir where the Merchandize and Treasure are brought to the Kings Officers and are by them delivered out according to their several proportions They bring with them commonly to the value of eleven Millions of Gold whereof two Millions consist in Merchandize the rest in Gold and Silver the fourth part whereof is calculated to belong unto the King the rest to particular Merchants the Merchandizes are Cuchunel Indico Campeggio or Campeche a medecinable wood Tebacco and beasts hides tan'd to make shooe-soles withall which they call Covie of the Ships when they go from Spain those which go first away with the Galleoons carry Silks and Woollen-cloath Cloath of Gold and other things of value the rest which are intended for Terra Firma carry great quantities of Linnen Wine Oyl and Olives in which things those Countries which stand in need thereof do abound for the King to keep those Provinces united and dependant upon his Kingdoms of Spain requires upon rigorous and severe penalties that two things be by them observed the one that neither Vines nor Olives be planted in America though that soil be very capable thereof the other that the Exchequer-rents and Kings Revenues of those Previnces may not upon any terms be sold to private men and hence it is that those Inhabitants being in a possibility of being besieged by Spain forasmuch as belongs to Wine and Oyle they are necessitated to keep Commerce with Europe and to tolerate the Sovereignty of a far distant King to the end that they may be provided thereof and not having elsewhere where to imploy their Riches they must send them into Spain to purchase annual revenues out of the forfeitures of those Kingdoms which by a Spanish word drawn from the Latine they call juri whence it is that almost all the ready moneys of America being transported into Spain raises the rates of the juri and occasions plenty of ready money and which is of greater importance the same juri serves the King as a pledge and surety of their fidelity and vassallage so as they can the lesse easily Rebell Nor were the Portuguese less fortunate in their Maritime Enterprises who some years before Colomba's Navigation undertook by Maritime Art and Study Navigations no less uncertain dangerous unusual and in mans opinion not to be achieved for the ancient Mathematicians and Cosmographers holding that the torried Zone was uninhabitable thought that that part of Africa which being wash'd by the Western Sea extends it self from the Streights of Gibraltar towards the South did enter into that Zone and that therefore it was in vain to sail any further that way or to coast along there without evident danger of their healths who should come to the Precincts of the Zone so as it was impossible to penetrate by Navigation from the Occidental African Ocean into the Oriental which washeth Asia and India but the Portugueses endeavouring to advance further did first discover the great Promontory of Capo Verde and the adjoyning Islands which the ancients called Hesperides and then advancing much further when they had past the Equinoctial line they arrived at the Kingdoms of Congo and Angola then passing the Tropick of Capricorn they at last compassed the enterprise which was before held so desperate and discovered the furthermost Promontory of Africa which they called Capo di buona Speranza or the Cape of good Hope and sailing from thence through the open Ocean towards the East they coasted so far along Africa which turned about thitherwards as discovering the mouths of the Arabian and Peâ—…sian Gulfs they came at last to that of the great Indo where laying the foundations of so great an Empire upon friendship made with some of those Barbarian Kings by the sole Trafick of Spices and other Levant Merchandiz they began to interpose themselves in the Wars which they made one against another adhering to some with their Arms suppressing some others insomuch as having gotten some Towns partly by agreement partly by force and fortifying themselves very well therein they laid some better ground-works of Empire in the midst of that Nation which from nothing or from very little increased so fast as exceeds all their Neighbours if not in greatness and union of State at least in Worth Maritime Forces and Civil Policy which by peradventure an unheard of example proceeding from so far distant parts curbs almost all the Kings and Potentates of those Regions for being either Tributaries adherents or Vassals of the Portuguese Empire they either by force or by private interest are become dependants upon the King of Portugal nor have they kept their Navigations and Acquisitions only within the Confines of India but as if one afforded materials for an other they still advanced till having gotten to the head of India which they call Comorino and hath on its Front the ancient Taprobana they entred into the Gulf of Bengala and from thence into the Molucca Islands the fertile Mother of Spices and to the great Kingdoms of China and Iapan and so bold and fortunate have they been as overcoming the Seas and finding them navigable they have gone about the whole World and joyning the East unto the West they have rendred the opinions of the Ancients fabulous and foolish who denied that the World was round the possibility of the Antipodes the peopling of the Zone and the conjunction of the Seas The Kings of Portugal govern'd this Empire and now the Kings of Castile in succession to those of Portugal by a Viceroy to whom retaining unto themselves all that is on this side of Capo dibuona Sper anza they give all Supream Arbitrement and disposal of all that belongs to them from the said Cape
be a fit person to be imploy'd in the intended enterprise of the Valtoline as one who had been much acquainted with the humours of that people and of those parts wherein he had lived made him his General in that enterprise nor did he erre in his judgement or choice for he did many singular acts whereby he won much honour in the Valtoline and obtained many famous Victories there which had they been done in a larger and more noble field they might have made him vie for honour with the most eminent Commanders of this age When this business was first begun war was not as yet intimated to the King of Spain nor was the peace broken between the two Crowns the business of Triers from whence the breach of peace proceeded hapned at this time Rohan having received his Commission from the King went from Alsatia with but a few men to the Grisons whom he told that the time which they had so long desired and which the King had promised of recovering the Valtoline was at last come and acquainting them with the Kings Commission he exhorted them to concur with him in this business which was undertaken only for their good and would redound so much to their advantage The Grisons believing him took up Arms immediately and refused not to promote the cause with all their Forces Rohan had not many French with him so as he began the war of the Valtoline with almost none but the Grisons Forces it is true that the Venetians being very desirous that the Valtoline should return to its former condition dismiss'd 2000 French which were under their pay and who past easily into the Valtoline and joyn'd with Rohan who about the end of March in the year 35 sent first to take the Counties of Chiavenna and Bormio to the end that the way being block'd up to the Dutch Forces by the latter and to the State of Millain by the former the Valtoline might the sooner be recovered which was seated between those two Counties not being to be relieved on any side Nor was his counsel here in vain for about 1500 Foot the most whereof were Grisons and four Troops of French Horse falling down into Chiavenna under the Embassadour Dulande they took it together with the black-house of La Riva and presently began to munite and fortifie it There also was a Fort erected in the plain of Chiavenna beyond La Mera upon the way which leads from Millain called La Strada Francesca to keep any oppositions from coming that way And taking also some Barques for Merchandize which they found at La Riva they furnish'd them with Souldiers and kept them to defend the upper Lake With the like spâ—…ed he sent about 600 Foot to Bormio by the Mountains which were yet covered with snow who taking the unguarded Serra de Bagni which stands upon the Mountain which overlookes Bormio and confines upon Tyrvolo they fell down and took the Town of Bormio without any resistance together with the whole Country till you come to La Serra Della Valtolina so as that Country fell into their possession the Serra are nothing but certain great Gates or Portals of stone made in form of an Arch which are munited on the sides by ancient Towers with strong Gates of Wood scituated upon the passes whereby men enter and go out of that Country Who soever will come into these parts must pass through these Gates the passage in this Country being so streight as the entrance thereinto is let in or shut out just as in Cities or private Houses by the first Serra de Bagni the Dutch are kept out by the other towards the Valtoline the Spaniards These two Counties being taken and fortified Rohan went from Rhetia and entred the Valtoline about the beginning of May by the way of Poschiavo which lieth between these two precincts having with him 4000 Foot and 500 Horse and reduc'd it into his power without unsheathing a Sword or discharging a Gun and with much severity and inhumanity forced the Inhabitants to abandon the Spanish protection and to adhere unto the French Then building a Fort at Font Martello he fell down with his men towards Morbegno and quartering them in the Towns near the State of Millain he began to unarm the people and to put several Taxes upon them Nor herewithall content he forced them to swear Loyalty to the King of France and doing other things in the Kings Name he profess'd nothing less then the maintaining of the Valtolinians Liberty as by his Letters Patents he was bound to do and as he had promised the Valtolinians both by word and writing wherein he did not so much offend the Valtolinians as the Grisons to whom the King and Rohan himself that he might get them to joyn in this enterprise had promised that according to his directions from the King he would reunited them to their State and reduce them to their ancient subjection By which actions the Grisons were heinously scandalized and made their complaints to Rohan himself and required the observance of his plighted faith and the restitution of what had been taken who answered that when the War should be ended the King would restore all unto them provided that that they would reimburse him the monies which he had laid out At which answer being more angry and incensed then before they almost all of them left him and repassing over the Mountaines went back again displeased to their own homes By these so great and so many alterations and novelties the Austrians in Germany and Spaniards in the State of Millain were much moved and all of them endeavoured to bring what speedy and necessary help they could thereunto as to a blow which by the consequence thereof wounded the total of the common Affairs But the more the State of Millain was necessitated so to do the more was it retarded by weakness that State being then no less exhausted of military men then the Kingdom of Naples the flower of them both being gon into the low Countries So as they wanted Souldiers for their necessary Garrisons much more to send into the field weak was the preparation or provision therefore which from thence could be applied against this commencing mischief the Cardinal Albernozzi was now Governour of Millain a Church-man by profession and not at all experienced in the management of War he immediately deputed Count Iohn Serbellone with some few Foot Companies for the defence of those parts Who thinking that the first thing that was to be done was the recovery of Riva gave orde that a Gally should be drawn out of the Arsenal of Como which was built before these present Commotions and not thinking this sufficient for the businesse an other Gally was built by the monies of the Genoese great Masters at this mystery which was greater And seeing that the French were busie in fortifying places to block up the entrance into the Valtoline he betook himself also to fortifie other places