beginning of his raigne with forrein warres hauing first to looke with great study into the state of his owne gouernment at home which commonly to kinges newly inuested bringes many causes of new councells alteracions But the spirits of such as discoursed with iudgement vpon the trayne and euent of things nourished alwayes a secret suspicion that thafflictions that then were but defferred would with tyme redouble and rise growing to greater daungers and more generall harmes specially so great an Empire being falne vpon a king rype in age full of experience ruled in his councells resolut in action moderat in exspenses and in all things without comparison holding more of him selfe then did his predecessor and to whom withal did apperteyne as in the right of the crowne of Fraunce not onely the inheritance of the realme of Naples But also he menteyned that the Duchie of Myllan was his freehold by the succession of the Lady Valentina his grandmother who was maried by Iohn Galeas Visconte his father afore that of viccare of thEmpire he had obteyned the title of the Duke of Myllan to Lovvys Duke of Orleans brother to kinge Charles the sixt At which mariage there was added to the state of the dowrye which was the citie contrey of Ast with great summes of money an expresse condicion that as often and when so euer as the lyne masculyne of the sayde Galeas shoulde fayle the Lady Valentina should succeede to the Duchie of Myllan or she being dead her next heires and discendents which couenant albeit stronge enough of it selfe was confirmed if the frenche tradicions be true by the authoritie of the Pope th imperiall seate beinge voyd at that tyme for the Popes of Rome pretend that the administracion of thEmpire vacant belongeth to them by which meanes the blud male of Iohn Galeas determining afterwards by the death of Phillipp Maria Visconte Charles Duke of Orleans sonne to the Lady Valentina began to pretēd to the succession of the sayd dukedom But as thambicion of Princes is ready to helpe on their titles with euery apparant coler so there aspired at the same time to the sayd dukedom not only thEmprour Federyk alleaging that it was reuerted to the Empire for that the lyne nominated in thinuestiture made to Iohn Galeas by Vincislaus king of Romaines was extinct and dissolued But also Alphonso king of Aragon and Naples who was instituted heire by the Testament of Duke Phillipp And amongest the residue Frauncis Sforce with a fortune force and felicitie more fauorable then the others quarrelled the same title who to giue a better shadowe to the armies which he leuyed in that cause alleaged that his wife Blanche the onely daughter but a bastard of Phillipp had peculiar interest in that succession So that Charles Duke of Orleans who being taken prisoner at the battell of Agincourt in the warres betwene thenglish and french and remeyning restrayned in England xxv yeares was able to doe nothing by reason of his pouertie and hard fortunes to iustifie his title and much lesse could he obteyne ayde of king Lovvys the xj notwithstanding he was his nearest kinsman the reason was that the same king in the beginning of his raigne was much molested and manifestly inuaded in diuerse partes of his kingdom by the great Lordes and Barons of the same shadowing their conspiracies with a showe of publike profit But because the king saw that their intencions drew with them priuat regardes and particular interests he kept them alwayes in bridle and esteemed his estate and sewertie to consist in the embasing of the great ones of his realme but chiefly his nearest competitors And for that reason Lovvys Duke of Orleans sonne to Charles albeit he was his sonne in law could draw no fauors or succors from him the same driuing him after the death of his sayd father in law together with his impaciēce that the Lady Anne Duchesse of Burbon the kinges sister was preferred afore him to the gouernment of Charles the eyght then in minoritie to trouble Fraunce with a very slender successe and after retyred into Britain with a worse fortune for ioyning with those that were against thintencion of Charles to obteyne Brittain by marying with Anne heire of the state by the death of Frauncis her father leauing no yssue male yea aspiring secretly to the same mariage he was taken in an encownter betwene the french and the Brittons neare S. Aulbyn in that contrey from thence led prisoner into Fraunce where he remeyned two yeares In so much as fayling then of meanes and finding no succors in king Charles after he was out of prison he ioyned no further action to that enterprise but when the king left him within Ast he made him selfe Lord of Nouaro with a very litle profit But being now become king of Fraunce he held nothing of greater affection then to reconquer the Duchie of Myllan as a succession iustely apperteyning to him This desire planted in him from his youth was eftsones wonderfully increased and aduaunced by the successe he had at Nouaro and withall for that he greatly hated Lodovvyk Sforce by reason of the insolent demonstracions and behauiors which he vsed to him when he had the kings deputacion in Ast Therfore not long after the death of king Charles by resolucion set downe in his elect councel he intitled him self not only king of Fraunce and for the regard of the realme of Naples king of Ierusalem both the Cycillyes but also soueraigne Duke of Myllan And because he would make knowen to the world what was his inclinacion to the things of Italy he wrote letters full of amitie and congratulacion touching his ascending to the crowne to the Pope the Venetians and the Florentyns and withall dispatched mē of speciall credence to giue hopes of new enterprises but chiefly of his determinacion to conquer the Duchie of Myllan wherin the tyme running nourished for him many fauors and oportunities for that the death of his predecessor had innouated in the mindes of the Italians many new humors inclinacions much differing from the cogitacions purposes they had afore for the Pope whose ambicious thoughts could not be satisfied if Italy stoode in tranquillitie wished that thinges might grow to hurly burly seeking his peculiar aduauncement in the common diuision of principallities and states A desire not vnlikely to deriue from such a mind to whom all thinges were hatefull that held of equitie conscience or religion and nothing vnsauery that smelled of troubles innouacion and chaunge And the Venetians being now deliuered of the feare they had of king Charles for the wronges iniuries they had done him expressed manifestly that they had no distrust in the new king which disposicion increased dayly more and more for that Lodovvyk Sforce notwithstanding he knew that he had to doe with an ennemy more mighty and lesse plyable feding him selfe with this hope the same also beguiling Federyk of Aragon that the
in whom was any principall ende and purpose not to suffer the Venetians to become great The Venetians for their partes being in deede more mighty and greater then any particular of the confederates but farre lesse and inferior to them all togither helde their councells separate from the common councell of the league and watching to rayse and encrease their estate by the discord and trauells of others they had a continuall preparation and readines to take th' opportunitie of all occurrants and tymes which might open vnto them the way to the Empire Monarchie of al Italy wherunto it was clearly seene that they did aspire in diuerse seasons but chiefly when abusing the occasion of the death of Philip Maria Viscoūte Duke of Myllan they attempted vnder colour to defend the libertie of the people of Myllan to make them selues Lordes of that state conspiring in like sort but of later memory to bring the Duchie of Ferrara by the way of open warre to their seruitude and subiection This confederation did easily bridle the couetousnes of the senate of Venice but it could not entierly knit the confederats in a true and faithfull amitie for that being indifferently replenished with enuie ielousie they ceased not to keepe a continuall care obseruation eye ouer the thoughts and behauiours of one an other breaking mutually all their resolucions and plotts by the which might come to any one of them enlargement of estate or reputacion A thing which made not the peace lesse stable but reuiued in them all a generall readines to be carefull to quench all such sparkes and brondes as might be the cause of new fires and burnings Such was the estate of the affayres such were the foundacions of the tranquillitie of Italy disposed and counterpeised in such sort that much lesse that there was any dout of present mutacion seeing the wisedome of man could not easily make coniecture by what councells by what accidents or with what innouacion or armies so great a tranquillitie could be troubled when in the month of Aprill 1492. chaunced the death of Laurence de medicis A death very pitifull for him in respect of his age hauing not yet fortie foure yeares but more bitrer and intollerable to his contrey which for the wisedome and reputacion of the man togither with the naturall volubilitie of his witte raysed to all thinges concerning honour and greatnes flourished plentifully with riches loue and ciuilitie and with all other benefitts and felicities which in th affayres of the worlde are wont to accompany a long concord and peace This death hapned also very ill for the residue of Italy as well for his generall deuises cares and actions for the commonsewertie as also for that he was a meane in particular to moderate bridle the differences councells and suspicions which for diuerse occasions were often kindled betwene Ferdinand and Lodovvyk Sforce Princes equall in ambicion and nothing inferior in power Like as when aduersities happen it is seldom seene that one ill comes alone So a litle after the death of Laurence the time preparing euery day occasions to the calamities to come chaunced the death of the Pope whose life being in other thinges vnprofitable to the common weale was at the least conuenient in this that leauing sodeinly warre and armes vnhappily raysed in the entry and beginning of his popedom against Ferdinand at the incēsing of many barons of the realme of Naples he turned soone after all his facultie affections spirite to pleasures vaine dissolute idle not acquainting his thoughts neither for him selfe nor friendes with any enterprise which might trouble the rest felicitie good accord of Italy To Innocent succeded Roderyk Borgia borne at Valence one of the chiefe cities of Spayne he was an auncient Cardinal one of the greatest in all the court of Rome one meane that raised him to the seate of the Pope was the difference betwene the Cardinals Ascanius Sforce Iulian S. Petri ad vincla but the chiefest thing that accomplished his election was that with a new exāple for that time he bought by the consent knowledge of euery one partly for money and partly with promises of offices and great dignities many voyces of the Cardinals who reiecting thinstruction of the Gospell were not ashamed to passe to him by sale an authoritie and power to make marchandize of the holy treasors that with the name of the celestiall authority in the most high and eminent part of the temple To which abominable negociacion many of them were induced by the Cardinall Ascanius but that was not more with perswasions and sutes then with his example for that being corrupted with the infinite desire of riches he made the Pope promise him for his hyer and recompence of so great wickednes the office of vicechancellorshippe the principallest place in the Court of Rome togither with benefices castells and his pallaice of Rome full of mouables of great valour But the Pope for all this coulde not auoyde neither for the tyme to come the iustice and iudgement of God nor for the present the infamy and iust hate of men in whom for this election was no small impressions of astonishment horror not only for that it was entāgled with meanes dishonest but also because the natures condicions of the man chosen were for the greatest part knowen to many many sentences coniectures were made of his successe amongest others Ferdinand king of Naples dissembling openly the griefe he had of that election signified to the Queene his wife with teares which he was wont to forbeare euen in the death of his children that there was created a Pope who woulde be most hurtfull to Italy and the whole common weale of Christendom A iudgement not vnworthy of the wisedome of such a Prince for that in Alexander the sixt for so would this newe Pope be called was a sutteltie sharpenes and expedicion of witte most singular a councell excellent a wonderfull efficacie in perswasion and in all great affayres a iudgement and care incredible But these vertues were maruelously defaced by his vices for touching his manners and customes they were very dishonest in his administrations he expressed litle sinceritie in his countenance no shame in his wordes small trueth in his hart litle faith and in his opinion lesse religion Of the contrary all his actions were defiled with an insatiable couetousnes an immoderate ambicion a barbarous crueltie and a burning desire to rayse and make greate by what meanes so euer his children who were many in number and amongest others one no lesse detestable then the father to whose cursed councells he became a wicked instrument Great was the chaunge in the affayres of the Church by the death of Innocent the eyght but no lesse reuolucion happened in the common weale of Florence by the taking away of Laurence de medicis to whose greatnes without contradiction suceeded Peter the eldest
during that time not one of the beseeged to whom should be ministred day by day by thArragons necessary vittells should depart out of Attella That it shoulde be suffered to Montpensier to aduertise his kinge of thaccorde That if he were not reskewed in the sayd tearme of thirty dayes he should leaue Attella and all that he had in his power in the kingdom of Naples together with all thartilleries that were there That the souldiers should be in safetie for their persons and iewells and with them it should be lawfull to euery one to goe into Fraunce either by land or sea And to the Vrsins and other Italian Capteines to returne with their bandes whether they would out of the kingdom That to the Barons and others which had followed the faction of the french In case they would returne to Ferdinand within xv dayes all punishments should be remitted restitucion of all the goods they possessed when the warre began The tearme of this abstinence expired Monsr Montpensier with all the french and many Svvyzzers together with the Vrsins were conduted to sea castell of Stabbie where they began to dispute if Montpensier as Lieftenant generall vnder his king and by that meanes aboue all others were bownde as Ferdinand sayd to make to be rendred all that was possessed in the kingdome of Naples in the name of the french king for that Monsr Montpensier pretended that he was bownd to no more then was in his owne power to render and that his authoritie stretched not to commaunde other Capteines and castellkeepers which were in Calabria Abruzze Caietta many other townes peeces which the king had giuen them in charge and not to him The argument being trauersed by many reasons on both sides for certeine daies they were at last conduited to Baia Ferdinand making semblance that he woulde lette them goe And there vnder cooller that the vessells wherein they should be imbarked were not yet ready they were so long reteyned that being dispersed betwene Baya and Pozzola they fell into such diseases by the ill ayre and many other incommodities that both Monsr Montpensier dyed and of the residue of his company which were more then fiue thowsand bodies there skarce returned into Fraunce safe and sownd fiue hundreth Virginio and Pavvle Vrsin at the request of the Pope who was now determined to take from that famulie their estates were sent prisoners to the egge castell and their companies conduited by Iohn Iordan sonne to Virginio and Bartlemevv d'Aluiano were by the appoyntment of the Pope stripped in Abruzze by the Duke of Vrbyn Iohn Iordan also and Aluiano leauing their people in the way returning to Naples by the commaundement of Ferdinand were made prisoners but Aluiano either by his industrie or by the secret sufferance of Ferdinand who loued him much had meane to escape After Ferdinand had taken Attella he made diuision of his armie into many parts for the more easie recouering of the residue of the kingdome he sent before Caietta Federyk of Aragon Prosper Colonne And to Abruzze where the towne of Aquila was already reuolted to his deuocion he dispatched Fabrice Colonne And him self taking by force the rocke of S. Seuerin and cutte of the heades of the castell keeper and his sonne the more to terrifie others went to incampe before Salerna where the Prince of Bisignian had parley with him and compownded for him selfe for the Prince of Salerne for the Count of Capaccie for certeine other Barons with condicion that they shoulde remeyne possessed of their estates but that Ferdinand for his sewertie shoulde keepe in his handes the fortresses for a certeine time After which accorde they went to Naples In Abruzze was not made any great resistance for that Graciano who was there with viij hundreth horsemen hauing no more meane of defense and lesse exspectacion of succors in a fortune so declining retyred to Caietta Into Calabria of which the greatest quantitie held yet for the french returned Consaluo against whom albeit Monsr d'Aubigny made some resistance yet being in the ende driuen to take Groppoly after he had lost Manfredonie and Consensa which had bene sacked before by the french And lastly seeing all hopes became desperat and no apparaunce of succors from Fraunce he consented to deliuer vp all Calabria vppon sufferance to returne by land into Fraunce It is certeine that many of these reuoltes and chaunges hapned by the negligence indiscression of the french for albeit Manfredonia for the scituacion of the place was stronge for the fauors of the people there free from suspicion and for the fertilitie of the contrey full of plentifull meanes and prouision of vittells And that the king had left for the gard of it Gabriell Montfalcon esteemed a Capteine valiant yet after it had endured a very short and easie seege they were constrayned to render it for famine Like as also in misfortunes examples doe much other peeces of good abilitie to defende them selues became recreant and yelded either for feare which is propper to cowardes or for impacience of thincommodities which such must suffer as are beseeged Some castellkeepers finding their rockes well prouided for sold the vittells at their first entrey and so assoone as thennemie appeared made their willing necessities and wants a slaunderous detection of their infidelitie cowardise By these disorders ioyned to the negligence of the king the french lost in the kingdom of Naples that reputacion which the vertue of that man had won vnto them who holding many yeares after the victorie of Ferdinand the castell of the egge which Iohn of Aniovv had left in his charge could neuer be brought to render it but by compulsion of vittells altogether consumed Thus no more remeyning for the recouery of the whole realme then Tarenta and Caietta with other peeces holden by Charles de Sanguyn and Mont Saint Ange kept by Dom Iulyan de Lorraine who with great merit and praise made his vertue knowne in all the places thereabouts it hapned that Ferdinand raised into great glory and no lesse hopes to be equall in greatnes with his predecessors went to Somme A towneseated at the foote of the hill Vesune to see the Queene his wife where he became very sicke either for his trauells past or by new excessiue disorders And feeling by his disposicion no hope of recouery he caused him selfe to be caried to Naples where he dyed not many dayes after somewhat before the ende of the yeare after the death of his father king Alphonso he left behind him not onely in his kingdom but also thorow all Italy a singular opinion of his vallour not so much for his victories obteyned which in times and condicions so deuided merited much as by the life and readines of his spirit wherein he was founde resolute in both fortunes with many other royall vertues wherein he became a worthy example to many he dyed withoutyssue and therefore his Vncle Dom
Federyk succeeded him being the fift king seene to succeede in that kingdom in three yeares time Assoone as Federyk was aduertised of the death of his Nephew he leauied his seege from before Caietta and went to Naples where was the olde Queene his mother in law who put into his handes new castell albeit many were of opinion that she would reteyne it for her brother Ferdinand king of the Spanish In this accident were most singular towards Federyk not onely the wills of the peoples but also thinclinacions of the Princes of Salerne and of Bisignan together with the faith of the Count Capaccie all which were the first that pronownced his name within Naples going to meete him saluted him as king at his discending from the ship They were farre better content with him then with the last king no lesse for the mildenes and moderacion of his mind which they honored with great reuerence and humilitie then for the sewertie of their owne estates hauing no small suspicion that Ferdinand assoone as he had addressed his affayres had intencions to call to aunswere all those that in any sort had bene fauorers of the french But these alteracions and disorders hapning with so great dishonor and domage to the french faction had no power to giue a new life to the king much lesse hasten his prouisions who stāding intangled with the delites pleasures of the court made yt foure monethes afore he returned to Lyons And albeit in this amarous negligence he often times recommended to such as he had left there the solicitacion and dispatch of all prouisions aswel for sea as land and the Duke of Orleans was prepared to depart yet by the auncient connings of the Cardinall of S. Mallovv the men at armes which were slenderly payed marched as slowly towards Italy And the nauie by sea which was to be assembled at Marseilles aduaunced so slackly that the confederats had leasure enough to sende first to Ville franche a large hauen neare to Nice and afterwards euen to the roades of Marceilles an armie by sea leauied at their common charges at Genes to giue impediments to the vessells of Fraunce that were to goe to the realme of Naples And to these great and generall delayes proceeding principally from the Cardinall of S. Mallovv wise men dowted that there was ioyned some other cause more secret interteyned in the kinges mind with a singular art and diligence of such as with many reasons labored to turne him from the enterprises of Italy for that they thought that for his proper regard and interest he ought to beielous ouer the greatnes of the Duke of Orleans on whom if the victorie succeeded the Duchie of Myllan shoulde fall Besides they occupied with him this discourse of perswasions that it was farre from pollicie and his propper sewertie to goe out of Fraunce afore he had made some contract with the kinge of Spaine who expressing a desire to be reconciled had sent Embassadors to his Maiestie to induce a truce and insinuat an agreement Many councelled him to tary till the Queene was brought to bed for that it agreed not with his wisedom was contrary to the loue he ought to beare to his peoples to obiect his person to so many perills afore he had a sonne heire to receiue so great a succession A reason which made the deliuerie of the Queene more painefull and her frute more wretched vnfortunat seeing that not many dayes after the masculyn yssue which God had giuen him dyed So that partely by particular negligence in the king but more by the errours vices of his simple councell and partly by the difficulties which others suggested the prouisions waued so long in delayes that the ruine of his people and whole losse of the kingdom made lamentable vnto them the operacions of their owne indiscression yea the like had hapned to his frendes and confederats in Italy if of them selues they had not constantly defended their proper estates It hath bene set downe before how for feare of the french prouicions and more for the contentment of Lodovvyk Sforce then any thing agreeable to the Venetians there was a plot layd to make passe into Italy Maxymilian Caesar with whom whilest that feare indured it was agreed that the Venetians should giue him for three whole monethes twenty thowsande duckats for euery moneth to th ende he should bring with him a certeine proporcion of horsemen and footemen vpon the which passing of accord Lodovvyk accompanied with thEmbassadors of the confederats went to Manza a place on thother side the Mountes vpon the confyns of Almayne to communicat with his Maiestie where after they had vsed great conference Lodovvyk came backe againe the same day to Bormy A towne of the Duchie of Myllan on this side the Mountes whether came Maxymilian the day following vnder cooller of going on hunting And after in that enteruiewe of two dayes they had set downe the time and maner of his marching into Italy Maxymilian returned into Iermany to solicit thexecucion of thinges that were contracted But the brute of the prouisions of Fraunce inferior to all exspectacion growing now so cold that for that regard it semed not necessary that the king of Romaines should marche yet Lodovvyk determining to serue his ambicion of that which afore he had procured for his proper sewertie continued still to solicit him to descend into Italy wherein to remoue all impediments that might hinder his desire albeit the Venetians would not be concurrant in the promise of thirty thowsand duckats which he demaunded ouer and aboue the lx thowsand that were accorded to him yet he forbare not to binde him selfe alone to that demaund Inso much that in the ende Maxymilian marched and passed into Italy a litle afore the death of Ferdinand of the which when he was aduertised being neare to Myllan he entred into thoughts and deuises so to handle thinges as by his meane the kingdom of Naples might come to Iohn the only sonne of the king of Spaine and his sonne in law But that being farre from the purpose of Lodovvyk and his secrete ambicion he tolde him that in that action he should discontent and trouble all Italy and be the cause to dissolue the vnitie of the confederats and consequently to make easie the enterprises of the king of Fraunce occupying such other conning perswacions that his suttelties so vanquished all the intencions of Caesar as he did not onely giue ouer and denownce his first cogitacion but also fauored and ratified by letters the succession of Federyk he descended into Italy with a very small company of men but the brute ronne that there marched after euen to the proporcion and quantitie which he had promised And being come to Vigeneua where he soiorned Lodovvyk and the Cardinall of Santa Croce sent vnto him as Legat by the Pope together with the Embassadors of the confederats assembled with him in councell to resolue what were
dispose it to his owne vses so farre forth as he would make promise to restore it whensoeuer occasion necessitie would call him to defray it to that end it was gathered for his warrant boare also to deliuer to Lavvrence of the same treasure fifty thousand crownes And whereas the king till that day had dissembled not to execute the Popes promise made to him vnder writing for the restoring of Modena and Reggia to the Duke of Ferrara notwithstanding the tearme of seuen moneths were past And knowing withall that he could not offer to the Pope a thing more greuous then to vrge him to that restitucion he redeliuered into the hands of Lavvrence the said writ of promise making a greater reckoning as it often hapneth amōgest mortall men of the stronger then of the weaker About the same time the Venetians by the operacion of the French king prolonged the truce they had with Caesar for fiue yeares with condicion to paye for euery one of the fiue yeares twentye thowsande crownes and to euery one of the exiles that had followed Caesar the fourth parte of their goods yearely beeing rated at the value of fiue thowsande crownes it was supposed that Caesar would haue bene induced to haue made peace with them if they would haue gratified him with a greater summe of money But this truce was not a litle agreeable to the french king for that the Venetians not standing fully assured had the greater reason to make deare accompt of his amitie and that to Caesar was giuen no power with the money he had of them to dresse any innouacion Insomuch as matters on all sides tending to peace and concord the differences betwene the French and English were also reconciled And for the more stabilitie of which agreement it was confirmed with a contract of parentage allyance wherein the king of England promised to giue his onely Daughter to whom hauing no sonnes there was hope of the discending and succession of the kingdom to the Dolphyn the eldest sonne of the crowne of Fraunce Adding for a porcion foure hundred thowsand duckats Both the one and the other boare yet so tender age that infinit accidents might happen before perfection of yeares woulde make them able to establish matrimony There was made betwene them a league defensiue wherein were comprehended Caesar and the king of Spayne in case they would ratifie it in a certeine tyme The king of England bownd him selfe to restore Tornay receiuing presently for defrayments exspended vppon that towne two hundred and lx thowsande duckats and three hundred thowsande to be defalked of the porcion and to paye three hundred thowsand more in the space of twelue yeares The French king also was bownd that if the peace and the parentage followed not to render vppe agayne into the handes of thEnglish the towne of Tornay Many Embassadors were sent from both the Realmes to negociat this league and to receiue the ratificacions and othes by whome in the Courts of both the kinges the actes of thaccorde were dispatched with greate solemnitie and ceremonie with a resolucion of an enteruiewe of bothe the kinges betweene Callice and Bolleyne immediatly after the restitucion of Tornay About the same tyme the Daughter of the French king appoynted to bee maryed to the king of Spayne beeing deade the former peace and capitulacion was eftsoones reconfirmed betweene them wherein was promised the mariage of the seconde Daughter of Fraunce Both the kinges celebrated this coniunction with moste greate demonstracions of perfect amitie for the king of Spayne hauing payed in at Lyons an hundred thowsand duckats ware publikely the order of Saint Michaell vppon the daye of the celebracion of the same and in recompense of that honour the Frenche kinge vppon the daye dedicated to Saint Andrevve was honorably attyred in the robes and couller of the golden fleese Thus the affayres of Italy standing in good estate of tranquillitie there remeyned onely discontented and in ill disposicion Iohn Ia. Triuulce whom neither his olde age reduced almost to the last time nor his vertue so oftentimes expressed in the seruice of the house of Fraunce could any way aide or comfort for as in him selfe were bred some occasions partly by his ambicion which was suspected and partly through his impaciencie which the condicion of olde age might reasonably excuse So he was crossed by the suttle humors of suche as did enuye him but chiefly and vehemently quarrelled withall in many thinges by Monsr Lavvtrech by whose instigacion the king was drawne into suspicion of him that not onely his owne person but also the whole famulie and house were too much agreeable to the Venetians Wherein they tooke the consideracion of their suspicion not onely for thinterest of the faction of the Guelffes and many other actions and tradicions of times past to kepe him enterteined in the grace of the Venetians but also for that Theoder Triuulce was become their gouernor and Rene a member of their family was newly receiued into the pay of that state By reason of which after Galeas Viscount by the death of Fr. Barnardin Viscount was become chiefe of the Gebelin faction the king indued him with thorder of S. Michaell and allowance of pensiō to thend to oppose him against Triuulce with a greater authority hauing withall the ready hand of Lavvtrech to push on his reputacion credit as often as occasions occurred to doe any thing to the disaduantage of Triuulce The passage of which things as they brought no litle diminucion to the authority of the old Triuulce so hauing no pacience to dissemble the wrongs which he knew he had not deserued he made his daily cōplaints was so much the more hated suspected Lavvtrech with his other aduersaries made this no litle occasion to reproch him and accuse him to the king that he had made him selfe a burgeis inrolled with the Svvizzers as though he woulde vse their meane to be supported against the king happly aspire to greater things so apt is enuy to subborne suggestions so ready to enforce them daungerously to the ruine of those against whom she contendeth and as Triuulce notwithstanding his old age which was now in thestate decrepit thinfirmities of a body broken which draweth after it dispensacion from trauel was gone into Fraunce to iustefie himselfe so Monsr Lavvtrech after his departure restrained vnder reasonable gard by the kings directiō at Vigeuena his wife grādchild borne of the Count of Musocque his only sonne deceased which degree of rigor or hard dealing was wel expressed vpon himself at his cōming into Fraunce for that muche lesse that he was receiued of the king with the same aspect countenance honor that he was wont seeing of the cōtrary he reproched to his face his amity correspondency with the Svvizzers assuring him that no other thing held him from punishing him as he had deserued then the consideracion of thuniuersall renowme that ran though not true
farre from Parma when Federike departed was called in by an vniuersall consent of the people and made his entrie The Capteines and Assistantes of the League deuised howe to recouer the residue of the estate vnder this foundacion to make no more so greate expences And accordingly they dispatched from Millan at the same tyme the Marquis of Pisquairo with his bandes of Spaniardes and the Launceknightes and Grisons to laye siege to Coma In whiche enterprise in maye be doubted whether was more forwarde his desire or his fortune for he had no sooner begonne to enforce the terrour of his artilleries then the defendantes dispayring of reskew agreed to render vp the place vnder condicion of sauetie of life and goods aswell to the Frenche bandes as to thinhabitantes of the towne And yet when the Frenche men were vppon their departure the Spaniardes made their entrie and sacked it to the greate infamie of the Marquis who beeing afterwardes accused of fayth breaking by Iohn Chabannes chiefe of the Frenche bandes within Coma was by him defyed and chalenged to the combat At the same instant they of the League sent the Bishop of Verula to the Svvizzers to assure them of their willes neuerthelesse assoone as he was come to Belinsone they committed hym to warde for that standing yll contented that their regimentes of footemen had marched agaynst the French king they did not onely complayne of the Cardinall of Syon and the Pope but also of all their ministers and officers But chiefly they inueyed agaynst the Bishoppe of Verula for that being the Popes Nuncio with them at suche tyme as they leauyed their men he laboured to induce them to goe agaynst thexception vnder the which they had bene accorded The estate and affayres of the warre was reduced into these tearmes with a wonderfull hope in the Pope and Caesar to confirme the victorie bothe for that the French king had no meane to dispatche with expedicion newe companies into Italie and also for them selues they thought the power of those who had wonne Millan vpon him with the moste parte of the Duchie was sufficient not onely to preserue it but also to runne through all the residue that remayned in the handes of thenemie Yea suche a thing is terrour that the Senate of Venice fearing least the warre begonne agaynst others would not fall vpon them gaue hope to the Pope to cause the French bandes to depart out of their landes But of thoughtes sodaine began to spring an accident vnlooked for for newes came that the Pope was dead sodenlye the first day of December As he laye at the village of Magliana whither he went oftentimes for his recreation he heard the first reapport of the taking of Millan which stirred in him suche an extreme passion of ioye that the same night he entred into a small feauer and for his better remedie he caused himselfe the next daye to be remoued to Rome where he dyed within very fewe dayes after notwithstanding the Phisitions in the beginning made no great reckoning of his disease There was great suspicion that he was poysoned by Barnabie Malespina his Chamberleine whose office was alwayes to giue him drinke And yet though he was made prisoner through the suspicion of the fact and the vehement reasons of the same yet the matter was dashed and thexaminacion thereof for that the Cardinall Medicis assone as he came to Rome set him at libertie fearing to fall further into the disgrace of the Frenche king by whose practise it was supposed that Barnabie gaue him the fatall drinke This was but whispred secretly the author being no lesse doubtfull then the coniectures vncertayne He dyed if we consider the cōmon opinion of men in very great glory felicity not so much for that by the surprising of Millan he saw himself deliuered of daungers and exspences intollerable whiche hauing drayned him of all store of money and treasor he was constrayned to aduaunce all meanes and maners for his supply and releeuing But also that a very fewe dayes affore his death he receyued aduertisement of the taking of Plaisanca and the very day he dyed newes came to him of the winning of Parma A matter so greatly desired by him that at such time as he debated to moue warre agaynst the Frenche men it is very well remembred that he sayde to the Cardinall de Medicis laboring to disswade him that as he was in nothing more caryed to the desire of that warre then to recouer to the Churche those two Cities so when so euer God should blesse him with theffect of that desire it would not greue him to dye He was a prince in whom were many thinges worthy to be commended and blamed and in the estate and discourse of his life he deceyued greatly thexpectation that was had of him when he was created Pope for that his gouernment was with a greater discression but with farre lesse bountie then was looked for The death of the Pope did greatly diminishe th affayres of Caesar in Italie as also it was not vnlikely that suche an enemie beeing taken away with whose money the whole warre was both begon and continued both the French king would enter into a newe sprite and dispatche a newe armie into Italie and also the Venetians for the same causes would recontinue the confederacion they had with him So that it seemed that by this accident the deuises to assayle Cremona and Genes vanished were dissolued and the officers of Caesar who till then had payed the Spanishe bandes with great difficultie were constrayned to dismisse a great part of them A matter not without daunger since there were holden yet for the king Cremona Genes Alexandria the Castell of Millan the Castells of Nouaro and Tressa Pisqueton Domussolo Arona and all the Lake maior Besides the Rocke of Pontremo was eftsones returned to his deuocion which being lost before was reconquered by Sinibaldo de Fiesquo and the Count Nocero Neither had the affayres of the French king any good successe beyonde the Mountes for that Caesar bringing warre vpon Flaunders had taken from him the Citie of Tornay and not long after the Castell wherein were no small quantities of artilleries and municions In so muche that by reason of the Popes death newe gouernmentes newe counsells and newe estates of affayres and doings were introduced into the Duchie of Millan The Cardinalles of Syon and Medicis made foorthwith to Rome to communicate in thelection of the newe Pope The Imperials kept retayned with them fifteene hundred footemen Svvizzers and dismissed all the others together with the Launceknightes who went their waye The bandes of the Florentines tooke their way to returne into Tuskane Touching the regimentes of the Church Guido Rangon ledde one part of them to Modona and the other remayned in the state of Millan with the Marquis of Mantua and that more of his proper resolucion then by the consent of the College of Cardinalles who standing deuided amongest themselues could bring