that time that he would deliuer out of prison Lodovvyk Sforce and indue him with conuenient meane to liue in the realme of Fraunce The safetie of this man the king of Romaines had shame not to procure for that his conscience put him in remembrance that the promises he had made him and the hopes he had vaynly reapposed in him had bene causes to hasten his ruine In which considerations hauing no power to do what he would at least he expressed inclination to do what he could in so much as when the cardinall of Amboyse went to him at Trent he wrought so much as he should no more be so straightly kept as he had bin making now importunate instance that he might remeine at libertie in the court of Fraunce or in suche quarter of the realme as it pleased the king The king promised also at his request that the exiles of the duchie of Myllan should returne whervpon were many difficulties in the negociation of Trent it was beleeued that he would kepe this capitulation being so greatly to the aduantage of tharchduke and Maximilian notwithstāding his ordinarie variations the Pope being cōprehended and no lesse agreable to the French king not so much for the desire he had at that time to make newe enterprises as for an ambicious respect to obteine thinuestiture of the duchie of Millan and to be assured not to be molested neither by Caesar nor his sonne In these seasons dyed king Federyk beeing wholly depriued of hope to recouer by accorde the kingdome of Naples notwithstanding he was perswaded afore euery one naturally suffreth him selfe to be beguyled by desire that the king of Spayne had a better deuotion to it then the Frenche king he considered not that in that tyme it was a thing vayne to hope for the restitution of so noble a Realme the examples being very rare in times farre more auncient and before wherein men were mose disposed to actes of vertue and nobilitie then they were in the time running he saw not also that it was a thing out of all likelyhood that he which had vsed so many deceites to occupie the moytie of the kingdome would nowe that he hath wonne all depriue him selfe of the fruite glory of his victorie Besides in the common reason discourse of affaires he might haue perceiued that the one made no lesse difficultie then the other onely he had more reason to doubt that he that was already possessed would not restore then he which helde nothing in the kingdome would not consent In the end of this yere Elizabeth queene of Spayne exchanged this life for a better she was a Lady of most honest honorable conditions won in the opinion of her subiects a right worthy name of magnanimity modesty discretion to her did properly apperteine the kingdome of Castillo which is the greater part of Spayne to the which she succeeded after the death of Henry her brother but not without bloud warre for albeit it was beleeued for a long time that Henry by nature was vnhable to procreation and for that reason Beltramise could not be his daughter which was brought foorth by his wife and by him nourished many yeres as a frute of his owne feede And albeit for that occasion Elizabeth daughter of Henry was acknowledged for Princesse of Castill a title nearest to the succession yet many barons of the realme rising after his death in fauor of Beltramise the king of Portugall ministring succors by armes in the right of a friend alie and confederat the factions cōming at last to battel the cause of Elizabeth was approued most iust by the issue of the fielde Ferdinand of Aragon her husband leading tharmy who likewise was discēded of the house of the kings of Castill conioyned to Elizabeth in the third degree of cōsanguinitie and he afterwards succeding by the death of Iohn his father to the realme of Aragon they both tooke vpō them by one ioynt right the title of king queene of Spayne for that the kingdome of Valence being vnited to the crowne of Aragon together with the countrie of Catalogna they were Lords ouer al the prouince of Spayne whiche is conteined betwene the Mounts Pirenei the Occean sea the Middle earthsea And vnder this title for that that region hath bin occupied by many kings of the Mores the title of many kingdomes is cōprehended euery one of thē making a title separat by him selfe except notwithstanding the kingdome of Granado which being at that time possessed by the Mores was afterwards by the vertue of this king queene gloriously subdued to the empire of Castille together with the title kingdome of Portugall the realme of Nauarre much inferior al which had kings particular But the kingdome of Aragon with Cicilia Sardignia and other Ilands apperteining by inheritance to Ferdinand were gouerned by him only without interposing the name or authoritie of the queene contrarie to the policie and course of gouernment in Castille the reason was for that that kingdome belonging by lawe of succession to Elizabeth and standing in a state endowed to Ferdinand things were administred vnder their common name aswell in demonstrations as in effects nothing beeing executed which was not debated ordeined subscribed by them both The title of the king of Spayne was common their Embassadours dispatched in cōmon their armies leauyed in common their wars administred in cōmon and neither of them in particular appropriating more then the other in authoritie and gouernment of the kingdome But by the death of Elizabeth without issue males the succession of Castille by the laws of that kingdome which regarding more the proximitie then the sex exclude not the woman belonged to Iane the daughter of Ferdinand her and wife to tharchduke their eldest daughter which had ben maried to Emanuell king of Portugal together with her litle sonne being dead long time before By reason wherof thadministration of the realme dowager apperteining by the end of the mariage no more to Ferdinand he was eftsones to returne into his litle kingdome of Aragon litle in cōparison of the realme of Castill for the straitnes of the countrey smal◠es of the reuenues and for that also the kings of Aragon not hauing absolute regall authoritie in all things be in many poynts subiect to the constitutions and customes of the same prouinces which limit much the power of their kings But Elizabeth drawing towards hir latest time ordeined by hir testament that Ferdinand so long as he liued should be gouernor of Castillo aswel for that she desired it might be kept in his first greatnes for the amitie that had bene mutual betwene them as also for that she knewe it concerned the profite of hir subiects to be continued vnder the moderate gouernment of Ferdinand and imported no lesse the commoditie of hir sonne in law and daughter who seeing in the ende they should likewise succeede Ferdinand had
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
auoyde tumultes the statutes in like cases might be dispensed withall some of those that helde the chiefe offices were with great importunities and almost by force and with threatninges constrayned to consent that notwithstanding thappeale interposed execucion was done the same night To which extreame iustice appeared more affectioned then the others the followers of Sauonarole not without his proper infamie forbearing to disswade euen his auditors the violacion of a law published a few yeares before by him selfe as a statute conuenient and necessary for the preseruacion of the common libertie In this yeare Federyk king of Naples hauing obteyned of the Pope thinuestiture of the kingdom and making his coronacion perfect with all solemnities recouered by accord Mont Saint Ange which had bene valiantly defended by Dom Iulian de Lorraine whom the french king left there he reconquered also Ciuita with other peeces holden by Charles de Sanguyn And assoone as the truce was ended he chassed out of the realme the Prefect of Rome conuerting his forces to execute the like action vpon the Prince of Salerne who being at last beseeged in the rocke of Dyana abandoned of all succors had permission to goe his way in safetie with his goods leauing that part of his estate which he had not yet lost in the handes of the Prince of Bisignian with condicion to passe it ouer to Federyk assoone as he vnderstoode that he was conduted in safetie to Sinigale About the ende of this yeare the dyet which had bene transferred from Montpellier to Narbonne being afore interrupted by the immoderat demaunds of the king and Queene of Spayne the french king the sayd king of Spayne returned eftsoones to new practises wherein were founde the same difficulties that before for that as the french king had determined not to consent to any accord wherein Italy shoulde be comprehended so it was against the pollicie of the Spanyard to leaue him a libertie free a way open to subdue the iurisdiction of it And yet it was farre from the desires of the Spanish to interteyne warres with him on thother side the Mountes because it was a warre full of troubles and exspenses and no hope of honor or profit At last the truce was concluded betwene them to indure without limitacion till it were reuoked and two monethes after There was no Potentat of Italy comprehended in it to whom the king of Spayne gaue signification of the trusse and the articles and capitulacions of the same alleaging that in him was no lesse power to resolue the contract without the knowledge of the other confederats then the duke of Myllan made it lawfull without their consent or priuitie to conclude the peace of Verceill And albeit according to the forme and couenants of the league he had begon the warre in Fraunce and continued it many moneths without receiuing one porcion of the money promised by the confederats wherein he had iust occasion not to make care of them that had consented to his disappoynting yet he had by many meanes and tymes aduertised them that if they would make payment of the hundreth and fifty thowsand duckats which they ought to him for the exspenses of the warre he had made he was contented to accept that payment in reckoning of all other actions and enterprises hereafter hauing determined to enter Fraunce with a stronge armie Whereunto as the confederats would show no wil or inclinacion and much lesse keepe faith or be carefull ouer the common safetie So he in that regard and seeing withall that the league made for the libertie of Italy was turned into an vsurpacion and oppression of the regions of the same for that the Venetians not contented with so many portes falne to their share in the kingdom of Naples had made thē selues Lordes ouer Pysa without any right he could not but hold it indifferent reasonable and iust seeing by others the affayres common were disordered to prouide for his owne particular with a truce bearinge notwithstandinge suche a forme and manner that it may rather be called an admonicion then a will to seperat from the league for that it was alwayes in his power to dissolue or reuoke it which he would doe when he shoulde discerne an other intencion with other prouisions in the Potentats of Italy for the stay of the common benefit About this tyme dyed Iohn Prince of Spayne onely sonne to the Kinge and Queene to whome the accident brought no small sorowes and heauines for that besides disappoynting of the succession his death gaue no litle impediments to the sweete delites pleasures which they reckoned to reape in their new tranquillitie and rest To this was also ioyned the death of Phillip Duke of Sauoye leauing for a posteritie one sonne of litle age and therefore of no iudgement touching his exspectacion or towardnes This late Duke after he had wauered long tyme in suspense and newtralitie beholding all their actions without mocion or inclinacion particular seemed at last to fauor the faction of the confederats who had promised to pay him euery yeare twenty thowsand duckats And yet euery one of them had so great dout of his faith that they could assure nothing of his promises and trueth if the frenche king should discend to make any stronge enterprise With this yeare ended the two yeares touching the deputacion of the castell of Genes which the Duke of Ferrara receiuing it in trust did eftsoones render to Lodovvyk his sonne in law he first demaunded of the french king that according to the capitulacions of Verceill he would see him satisfied of the halfe of thexspenses employed in the garde and keeping of it whereof the king consented to make paymēt so that the Duke would put into his handes the castell as he sayd he was bownd for the inobseruacion of the Duke of Myllan To this the Duke of Ferrara aunswered that that was not verefied and that to put the Duke of Myllan in contumacie it were necessary to haue interpellacion The kinge offered to committe the money into a third mans hand to th ende that afore payment were made there might be construction in iustice reason and lawe whether he ought not to render to him the castell But the instance made to the contrary by the Venetians and his sonne in lawe caried farre more force in the fancie of the Duke of Ferrara wherein he was not onely moued by the prayers and solicitacions of Lodovvyk who not many dayes before had indued the Cardinall Hippolite his sonne with tharchbishoprike of Myllan but also he had regard to the daungers that threatned him if he shoulde prouoke the malice of so mighty ennemies specially at a tyme wherin was continuall diminucion of the hope that the french men would discend So that applying his actions to thinclinacion of the tyme he first called home from the Court of Fraunce his sonne Ferrand and then surrendred the castell to Lodovvyk who satisfied all charges for keeping it
was the violence and furie of the spirit that gouerned him that notwithstanding by the trauells he had suffered in so greatan accident both in body mind his maladie was made much worse yet he began to make new leauies of souldiours and to stirre vp the Venetians who at last had cast a bridge betweene Ficquerolo and Stellate to send vnder the Marquis of Mantua one part of their armie to Modena to ioyne with his and with the other part to vexe and molest Ferrara assuring them that within few dayes he should haue Reggia Rubiere and Ferrara The ambicion of his mind made him apt to hope for all thinges and to dispaire in nothing And what seemed vnpossible in reason arte or pollicie he made no dout to bringe to passe by the benefit of his fortune which he supposed was of power to remoue all the difficulties that could be obiected against him The Venetian bandes deferred to passe the riuer for the perill they had ronne into if the death of the Pope had hapned as was douted But being in the ende compelled to yeelde to his wills after they had left the other bandes vpon the shoare beyond Pavv they sent towards Modena fiue hundred men at armes A thowsand six hundred light horsemen fiue thowsand footemen but not vnder the conduction of the Marquis of Mantua who staying at Sermydy to leauye horsemen and footemen to th ende to marche afterwards to th armie as he sayd notwithstanding the Venetians were already entred into suspicion of his longe abiding went to S. Felix A borow belonging to Modena There he receiued aduertisement that the frenche that were within Verona were entred into the contrey of Mantua to pillage it And therefore alleaging the necessity to go to defend his estate he returned from thence to Mantua hauing the Popes leaue but not without great complaints of the Venetians for that notwithstanding his promisse to make present returne being already entred into suspicion of his faith they beleeued all Italy almost was partaking in that opinion that Chaumont to giue him an excuse not to go to the armie had suffered certeine french bandes to make incursions vpon his contrey This suspicion was increased by a letter which he wrote from Mantua to the Pope that he was not able to marche for a sicknes that was newly beflane him desiring that his good will might be holden for recommended hauing his bodye subiected to his infirmitie After the bandes of the Pope the Venetians and the spanish launces were reassembled and vnited into one armie about the confyns of Modena if they had ioyned diligence to thopportunitie and marched it was thought that Chaumont had abandoned the citie of Reggio and reteyned the Citadell hauing vpon his discamping from Bolognia dismissed all his Italian footemen for auoyding of exspences But taking aduauntage of their slownes and making their negligence a helpe to his fortune he began of new to leauye bandes of footemen determining onely to looke to the gard of Sassuola Rubiera Reggio and Parma But as the armie lay vpon the marches of Modena without direction whether they should passe further or turne against Ferrara certeine trowpes of the Church which ronne vp towards Reggia being put to flight by the french lost an hundred horses and Count de Mateligne taken prisoner At which time the Duke of Ferrara together with the Lorde of Chastyllion with the french bands lay incamped vpon the riuer of Pavv betwene the hospitall and Bondin on the opposit to the Venetian regiments which were beyonde Pavv whose nauy seeking to retyre for the sharpnes of the season and for the ill prouision that came from Venice being charged by many barkes of Ferrara whose artilleries sonke eight vessels to the bottom retyred with great paine by Nevvcastell vpon Pavv into the ditch that falleth into Tanare and Adice and there is seperat Immediatly after the Pope gaue order that the armie gouerned by Fabricio Colonno for that the Marquis of Mantua was not come should draw streight to Ferrara leauing the Duke of Vrbyn for the gard of Modena And albeit most of the Capteines blamed this councel being both preiudicial daungerous yet he eftsoones reassured them with a hope almost certeine that the people would draw into tumult so violent was his desire aboue all reason aboue all councel aboue all pollicie and aboue all experience But the mindes of men gouerned by desire are full of variacions and subiect to mutabilitie and chaunge for the same day they departed they were eftsoones returned by his commaundement keeping from the knowledge of euery one thoccasion that moued him so suddeinly to alter his determinacion And leauing there his first deuises and plotts the armie marched incamped affore the towne of Sassuola whether Chaumont had sent fiue hundred Gascons footemen After they had battred it two dayes to the great pleasure and contentment of the Pope who hearde in the same chamber the noyse of thartilleries that battred Sassuola wherin not many dayes before he had heard to his great disliking the thundring of thennemies shot that were about Spilimberto They gaue the assalt which with small a doe succeeded haply to them for that the footemen that were within fell into disorder And after the artillerie being immediatly presented before the castell whether they were retyred they yeelded almost without any composicion with the same infamie and infelicitie of Iohn Casalo that was their Capteine which he had felt suffered at the same time that Duke Valentynois tooke the castell of Furly he was a man of very lowe and base place but for that in the flower of his age he had bene conformable to Lodovvyk Sforce he was now risen to some honorable degree his fortune and not his vertues preferring him and the fauor of others more then his proper merits making him able to the opinion credit that he had After the taking of Sassuola the armie tooke also Formingo And the Pope appoynting by his direction that they should goe and take Montechio which is a place of strength and importance standing betweene the high way and the Mounteine vpon the frontyers of Parma and Reggia and part of the territory of Parma notwithstanding it is holden by the Duke of Ferrara Fabricio Colonno refused to execute the direction alleaging that his king had forbidden him to molest any thing that was vnder the iurisdiction of thEmpire Monsr Chaumont prouided not for these disorders who hauing left within Reggia Monsr d'Aubigny with fiue hundred launces and two thowsand Gascons vnder Capteine Molard was gon him selfe into Parma the king hauing sent him word to absteine as much as he could from exspenses for the king perseuering in his deuise to temporise vntil the spring made no purueyance for th affayres on this side the Mountes by meane whereof his reputacion declyned in Italy and the courage of his enemies augmented more and more And the Pope impatient that his armie aduaunced no more not admitting
gaue this as a warning and lesson that that man was neither to be excused nor esteemed worthy of compassion who beeing once beguiled by an other returneth eftsoones to reappose confidence in him An enemie reconciled charitie leades vs to loue him but wisedome willeth vs not to trust him and to a friend once disproued there can be no greater daunger then eftsoones to reenter into confidence with him The Cardinall of S. Seuerin was of an other opinion who as his aduersaries sayd crossing Tryuulce more through enuie then for other occasion for that with his brethren he had alwaies defended the Gebelin faction in Myllan replied in the contrary that nothing could be more profitable to the king and his seruices then in ioyning with Caesar to breake the vnion of thennemies specially the confederacion being made by such meane as they might hope it would last That it was the propertie of Princes in their councells and deliberacions to preferre alwayes profitte affore good will affore hatred and affore other affections And what greater benefit could be done to Caesar then to ayde him presently against the Venetians with hope that his Nephew should come to succeede in the Duchie of Myllan That Caesar being seperat from the others the king Catholike would not obiect against his authoritie as well for thinterests of his Nephew as for other regards Moreouer that as nothing could more amaze the Pope then this confederacion so of the contrary to confederat with the Venetians was full of indignitie since there must be accorded to them Cremona Guiaradada members so conuenient to the Duchie of Myllan that to recouer them the king had stirred vppe all the worlde And yet if the vnion of the others were not broken and deuided the confederacion with the Venetians would not suffice to obteyne the victorie At last this opinion caried the king the rather for thauthoritie of the Queene who desired greatly thaduauncement of her Daughter onely her desire was accompanied with this condicion so farre forth as it might bee obteyned that till the consummacion of the mariage the younge Damesell might remeyne with her And she to bind her faith and promisse to keepe her in the name of Caesar as the spowse assigned for his Nephew to whome she would redeliuer her assoone as her age and yeares made her able to the full office of mariage But the Kinge beeing afterwardes certefied that Caesar woulde not agree vnder this forme of lymitacion but rather that he foysted in those offers for the tyme and by suttletie to detract his diligence and giue him cause to proceede more slowely in his other plottes he brake off from this practise and sent backe againe for Monsr de Asperot brother to Monsr de Lautrech already gone from the Court with his commission to finde the Bishoppe of Gurce On the other side the feare of the vnion betweene the king and the Venetians encreasing dayly the king of Aragon aduised Caesar to render Verona and to transferre the warre into Burgondy by the helpe of the money which he shoulde receiue of the Venetians and with the Spanishe armie Of this aduise was the Bishop of Gurcy who hoping to be hable to moue Caesar by his presence nowe returned into Germanie being followed not onely of Dom Peter de Vree which was come with him but also of Iohn Baptista Spinella Count of Carriato Embassador to the sayde king of Aragon resident with the Venetians And because no newe difficulties should breake of the matters that were nowe in action he induced first the senate to make truce with Caesar for the whole moneth of Marche And those Embassadors gaue them their fayth that Caesar shoulde render Verona if they would promise him within certayne times two hundred and fiftie thousande duckets and for yerely pension fiftie thousande In these alterations of affayres and in these times so deuided and conspiring the Pope fell sicke And happly he was then more full of high conceites and trauelling thoughts then at any time before for notwithstaÌ„ding he had brought his fortune to be equall to his desires obteined the thing he aspired vnto yet his deuises plots did nothing diminish but grewe increasing by the same meane which should haue satisfied them he had determined in the beginning of the spring and first opening of the yere to sende to thenterprise of Ferrara which he so muche desired and his opinion was that that state was hable to make no resistance both for that it was naked of all succours because the Spanish armie was to ioyne with his companies He had secretly bought of Caesar for the price of xxx thousande duckets the Citie of Siena for the behoofe of the Duke of Vrbin to whom except Pesera he woulde neuer giue any thing of thestate ecclesiastike to th ende to reserue to him selfe the whole glorie to haue simply and onely studyed for thexaltation of the Churche he agreed to lende to Caesar fortie thousande duckettes receyuing Modona in gage he threatned them of Lucquoy who in the heate of th affayres of the Duke of Ferrara were become lordes of Garsagnana making instance that they woulde deliuer it to him He was out of conceite with the Cardinall of Medicis for that he thought him to cleaue more to the king Catholike then to him And because he knewe he was not hable to dispose of the Citie of Florence as he thought he studied already newe plottes and newe practises to alter that estate He was yll contented with the Cardinall of Sion from whom he tooke the name of Legate and enioyned him to come to Rome for that in the Duchie of Myllan he had appropriate to him selfe a yerely rent of more then thirtie thousande duckets of the estates and goods of diuers persons The better to assure the Duke of Vrbin of Sienna by intelligences of his neighbours he had of newe taken into his paye Charles Baillon to chafe out of Perousa Iohn Paule who by affinitie was very neare ioyned to the sonnes of â—andolffe Petruccio successors to the greatnes of their father He would of newe create Duke of Genes Octauian Fregosa deposing Ianus from that dignitie an action wherevnto did consent the others of the house of Fregosa because for the degree that his auncestors helde in that state it seemed best to apperteine to him He studied continually either howe he might worke out of Italie the Spanish armie or cut it in peeces by the ayde of the Svvizzers whom aboue all others he exalted and embraced In this deuise he had this intention that the kingdome of Naples beeing occupied by him Italie should remayne free from straungers A speeche that often passed out of his mouth and to that ende he had hindred that the Svvizzers did not confederate with the king Catholike And yet as though it had bene in his power to batter all the world at one time he continued his accustomed rigour agaynst the French king and notwithstanding he had heard a message
during the whole coursse of his life excepting onely the death of his onely sonne for the accidents of his wiues and his sonne in lawe were the cause that he kept his greatnes vntill his death and the necessitie to depart with Castillo after his wiues death was rather a sport then a blowe of fortune In all other thinges he was right happy for being second sonne to Iohn king of Aragon he came to the crowne by the death of his elder brother he aspyred to the kingdom of Castillo by Issabell his wife he subdued the Competytors of the same kingdome and expulsed them he made a conquest of the Realme of Granado which the ennemies of Christian faith had vsurped almost eight hundred yeares he annexed to his Empire the Realmes of Naples and Nauarre and the principallitie of Orano with many other places of importance vpon the coast of Affriqua he bare alwayes the victorie and vpperhand of his ennemies he almost cloaked his ambicions and couetousnes with an honestzeale to religion and an holy affection to the common weale wherein fortune appeared manifestly conioyned with industrie About a moneth affore his deathe dyed the Great Capteine both absent from the Court and ill contented of the king And yet the king gaue order that in remembrance of his vallour there shoulde bee done to him both in the Court and through the whole partes of the Realme those honors that haue not beene vsed to bee done but at the death of kinges A matter plausiblie accepted and executed by all his subiectes who omitted no forte of reuerence or celebracion to the name of the Great Capteyne making him singuler in liberalitie in councell in discression and for knowledge in warres and martiall science excelling all the Capteines of his time By the death of this king the french king entred into a newe courage to addresse an enterprise against the realme of Naples to the which he was in mind to send forthwith the Duke of Burbon with an armie of eight hundred launces tenne thowsand footemen he seemed to reappose much in thopportunitie of the time for that the kingdome beeing in some tumult vppon the death of the king and ill prepared for defense he perswaded a facilitie of conquest speciallye the Archduke hauing no respitte or tyme to succour it And he doubted nothinge of the Popes fauour bothe for the hopes he had giuen him at the enteruiewe of Bolognia and in regarde of thalliance contracted with him and also in consideracion of his proper interest as though he shoulde bee ielouse of the wonderfull height and greatnes of tharchduke heire present to so many kingdomes by the death of the king Catholike and exspected successor of Caesar he hoped besides that tharchduke would giue him no great impediment knowing howe harmefull might be to him his ill will touching the Realmes of Spayne but specially for the regarde of the kingdome of Aragon wherevnto many of the same famulie had aspired if their power had bene as great as their right for albeit in the life of the late king and Isabell his wife it was interpreted in an open generall Parliament that the ancient constitutions of that kingdome which admit not women to the succession of the Crowne were not preiudiciall agaynst the issue males borne of them when in the lyne masculine was to be founde neither brother vncle nor nephew of the dead king nor any other that was more nearer to him then they that were discended of the womans side or at least in equall degree and that for that reason it was declared that after the death of Ferdinand the succession apperteined to tharchduke Charles wherin was brought for example that after the death of Martin king of Aragon dying without issue males the sentence of the Iudges deputed to that matter through the whole kingdome preferred Ferdinand graundfather to this Ferdinand notwithstanding he came of the womens side affore Count Vrgello and others ioyned to Martin by masculine lyne but in degree and propertie of discending further off then Ferdinand yet the people nourished amongest them selues a secret complaynt and controuersie that in that interpretation and declaration the power of Ferdinand and Isabell had more force then the lawe of iustice and equitie In this did thinterpretation seeme vniust to many that the women beeing excluded suche as discended of them might be admitted and withall that in the sentence giuen to the behoofe of tholde Ferdinand the feare of his armes ruled more then reason These matters beeing layde open to the French king and withall that the peoples of the prouince of Aragon Valence and Earledome of Catelonia all these are comprehended vnder the kingdome of Aragon stoode desirous to enioye a king proper and particular He hoped that tharchduke not to endaunger so great a succession and so many estates would not at laste be straunge or harde to leaue to him that kingdome vnder some reasonable cōposition And for the better preparing of this enterprise because he would insinuate by benefites aswell as preuayle by forces he sought at that time to set at libertie Prospero Colonno vpon whom was imposed a raunsome of xxxv thousande duckettes whereof the king procured him to be pardoned of the one moytie By whiche propertie of fauor the worlde beleeued that Prospero had made secrete promise not to beare armes agaynst him yea happly to ayde him in the warre of Naples albeit with some limitation or reseruing of his honor Albeit the king was occupied with these thoughtes and had now determined to deferre no longer the action of armes and forreine warre yet he was driuen by new accidentes to turne his minde wholly to his owne defence for that Caesar hauing receiued a hundred and twentie thousande duckets according to the former negociation begon with the king of Aragon made preparation to inuade the duchie of Millan after he had once giuen succours to Verona and Bressia for the Venetian armie commaunded by Theoder Triuulco for that the other Triuulco was returned to Millan lying encamped within six myles of Bressia suffred their estradiots to make incursions thorowe the whole contrey And one daye beeing charged by those that were within the towne and either partie ronning to the reskew and succour of their friendes they repulsed them and draue them beaten into Bressta hauing long fought for the victorie in which conflict they slue many and tooke prisoner the gouernors brother of the Citie Not many dayes after Monsr de Lavvtrech generall of the French armie and Theodore Triuulco hauing espiall that a strength of three thousand Launceknightes came to Bressia to conduct the money sent for the paye of the souldiors sent out to hinder their passage at the Castell of Aufo Ianus Fregoso and Iohn Conrado Vrsin with certayne bandes of both the armies they put the launceknights to flight and made slaughter of eight hundred of them the residue carying awaye the money founde safety by flying to Lodrono Afterwardes the Venetians sent a
substanciall With these impressions and with these accidentes ended the yere a thousande fiue hundred and eightene and as the Electors had not yet resolued and established the deliberation so it was made both more doubtfull and full of difficulties by the death of Caesar which happened in the first beginning of the yere following he dyed at Liuz a towne vpon the marches of Austriche where he remayned for the delight and pleasure in hunting the wilde Boare and other chases of the fielde He liued alwayes vnder one condition of fortune who many times fauored him in offring him many fayre occasions and as often wrought agaynst him in not suffering him to take the fruite and effect of them He was by nature inconstant and remouable and had conceites and impressions very yll disposed and different from the iudgement of other men ioyned to an excessiue prodigalitie and dissipacion of money Matters which cut off from him theffects and successe of al occasions being otherwise a prince most perfect and instructed in the ordering of warre secrete to laye and dispose a plotte diligent to followe it of body hable and suffring of minde affable and easie and replenished with many other excellent giftes and ornaments Assone as he was dead the French king and the king of Spayne began manifestly to aspire to thempire the purchase whereof albeit was a matter of right great importance and no lesse the emulacion ronning betwene two so mighty Princes yet they ordered their ambicion with great modestie neyther vsing wordes of iniurie nor threates of armes but eyther one laboring by his authoritie and by his meanes to drawe on his side the Electors The Frenche king sundry times reasoned touching thelection with great comelynesse with the Spanishe Embassadors to whome he sayde it was a matter both agreable and conuenient that eyther of them seuerally should seke by honest meanes to encrease the honor of his house by so great a dignitie which for that in tymes before had bene transferred into the famulies of their predecessors there was now the lesse occasion to breede betwene them two matter of iniurie nor diminution of their amitie and goodwill But rather he wished that in the action of thempire they might followe thexample and order of two young louers who albeit they followe the quest of one Lady and eyther one laboreth by his industrie to cary her yet they forbeare to come to contention The king of Spayne alluded with good right that thempire apperteined to him as hauing continued by a long succession of time in the house of Austriche and that it had not bene the custome of the Electors to depriue the issue of themperour without manifest cause of their dishabilitie neither was there any in Germanie of that puissance and authoritie to make him equall to stande competitor with him in that election And east of all did he holde it iuste or likely that the Electors would transport to a forreine or straunge Prince so great a dignitie continued by so many ages in the nation of Germanie And albeit some particuler amongst them eyther through the insinuation of money or other propertie of corruption might be allured to an other intention yet he hoped to stoppe him with force prepared in time conuenient not douting also but the other Electors would oppose agaynst him and the princes and free townes of Germanie would not endure so vniuersall an infamie specially to suffer it to be layde vpon the person of the French king which would be no other thing then to make great the puissance of a king enemie to their nation and from whome there was no surety that th imperiall dignitie would euer returne into Germanie he thought it would be an action easie to obteine and reduce to perfection that which had bene solicited by his grandfather who had already compounded for recompenses and donations and other diuidentes for euery of the Electors On the other side the desire of the French king was as great and no lesse were his hopes whiche tooke their principall fundation vpon an opinion he had to corrupt the voyces of the Electors with his huge summes of mony especially for that there were amongst them both pensionaries to him and otherwise assured by many good offices who incouraging him with the facilitie of thenterprise pushed him on to embrace it And for his parte as mortall men are apt to beleeue the thing they desire so he norished that hope with reasons rather apparant then true he knewe that commonly it was a matter grieuous to the Princes of Germanie to haue themperours mightie being ielouse that in so great a puissance they would not eyther in part or in all quarrell the iurisdictions and authorities imperiall occupied by many of them In which reason he perswaded himselfe that they would in no sort consent to thelection of the Spaniard and so of them selues to subiect themselues to an Emperor more mightie then had bene since a long discent and race of Emperours A matter which in his person seemed to be qualified for that hauing neyther estates nor auncient alliances in Germanie they had no occasion of suspicion of his greatnes The same reason also made him beleue wel of the cōformitie of the free townes in whō much lesse that the regarde of the glorie of the nation would carie it from him seeing it would helpe to peize the ballance on his side for that with moste men the mocions of proper and priuate interest may do more then the respect of publike and generall profite He knewe it was not a little greeuous to many noble houses of Germanie pretending to be capable of suche a dignitie to see thempire continue so long time in one house but muche more did it discontent them to suffer that so great an estate which of right ought sometimes to be giuen to one of them and sometimes to passe to an other should become a perpetuall discent and succession in one line In so muche as they might call inheritance and succession that election whiche durst not leaue the lyne of themperours That in that sort thempire was translated from Albert d'Austriche to Federike his brother and from Federike to Maximilian his sonne and nowe there was deuise to passe it from Maximilian to the person of Charles his grandchilde By these humors and indignations of the Princes of Germanie he tooke hope that the discordes and ielousies amongest themselues mighte helpe on his cause the rather for that it often happneth in the contentions of men that he that is excluded or the partie whom he fauoreth ronneth with a naturall rashnes rather to call in and aduaunce a thirde then to giue place to him that hath opposed agaynst his intention Moreouer the Frenche king was not without hys hopes in the fauor of the Pope both in regarde of thamitie and alliance newly past betwene them and also for that he was not ignorant howe inconuenient it woulde be to the sea Apostolike to haue th imperiall Crowne
into order Neither had the feare continued that was begonne at Parma and at Millan by the first rumors that came that Escud was holden prisoner and the men at armes broken notwithstanding it had bene knowen that the bandes of men at armes had bene hoale for that neither was there neare at hande any armie or force to make any stirre and withall many other Capteines of men at armes were there remeining But assoone as Monsr d'Escud had reassembled his companies of horsemen and footemen he retyred to Coriagne a village in the countrey of Reggia not six myles from the city from thence within certeine dayes after he withdrewe to the confines of Parma on thother side the riuer of Leâ—zo and sent la Motte to the Pope to tell him what moued him to goe to Reggia and withall to solicite him in vertue of the capitulacions which were betwene the french king and him to expulse out of the dominions of the church such as were holden rebells against the king About this time there happened at Millan a matter of no lesse wonder then feare which brought to the frenchemen no small astonishment as if the heauens by manifest signes had giuen them a forewarning of their calamities to come For vpon the day that is solemnly consecrated to the memory of the death of the Prince of Apostles the sunne being sette and the aire and firmament cleare there fell downe from the vppermost regions as it were a fire and light affore the gate of the castell whether were brought many barrells of gunpowder drawne out of the castell to be sent to certeine places of seruice This flashe or fierie lightninge embrased by and by the powder with a horrible noyse and by the violence of it the faire tower of marble builded ouer the gate and bearing vppon his toppe a goodly clocke was cast downe and rased from the toppe to the fundacion In which furie did communicate also the walls and chambers of the castell with other buildinges adioyning the tower Yea in one instant all the whole bodie of the castell together with the vniuersall Citie of Millan trembled and shaked with the furie of so raging a tempest which blewe into the aire from sundrie places many huge and greate stones falling to the hurte of many persons And as in a generall calamitie euerie one hath his fortune so there were many that being happie to escape the fall of the huge stoanes were made wretched by the ruines of the walles vnder the which they were smoothered and rammed to death with which ruines the castell greene was so spredde and couered that it was a terror to beholde suche an alteracion but specially it brought astonishment euen to the most assured to see the stones of incredible greatnesse which the furie of the tempest had cast more then fiue hundred pases from the place It happened in the verie hower wherein the people of all sortes were gone for their recreacion to take the ayre vppon the greene by which occasion were slaine more then fiue hundred footemen of the castell and the Capteine of the rocke and the castell together with others of principall place so amazed and desperat both in corage and councell that if the people would haue taken the benefit of that accident and falne to armes they might without difficultie that night haue occupied the castell specially so great a quantitie of the wall being reuersed After the Pope was aduertised howe Monsr d'Eseum was come euen to the gates of Reggia he serued his turne of that enterprise and enforced it to the iustificacion of his owne actions he complained greatly of that doing in the consistorie of Cardinalls where conceiling the confederacion made secretly affore with Caesar and also the direction that both their gallies shoulde be armed to the assailing of Genes he declared that since Monsr d'Escum had attempted to take Reggia it was to be supposed that the french king bare no good minde to the sea Apostolike he concluded that for the defense of the Church and the rights of the same he was constrained to ioyne with Caesar in whom had neuer bene discerned any action that was not worthie a Christian Prince and the same expressed as well in his other operacions as in his late zeale which he published at VVormes touching the protection of religion Therefore he made semblance and showe to contract then with Don Iohn Emanuell Caesars Embassador the confederacion which had bene concluded affore and for that matter he caused to be sent for to Rome Prospero Colonno vppon whom was determined the charge of the enterprise and with whome they consulted in what manner and with what forces they should enter into open warre seeing they had found no successe in ambushes and assaultes suddeine like as in deede the treatie of Coma did no more happely succeede then thenterprise of Genes for as Manfroy Paluoysin M. de Brinzi were by night drawne neare the walls of Coma with eight hundred footemen as well Italians as launceknights hoping that Anthonie de Rusquo a citizen there would breake downe so much of the wall next ioyning to his house as they should haue meane to enter where for the slender strength of frenchmen that were there they supposed would be offered no resistaunce And after they had exspected some good space of time the gouernor of the place assembling together all the frenchmen with certeine of the townesmen whose fidelity he held most assured yet their numbers were lesse then they that were without gaue the charge vpon them with a violence and suddeines so terrible that they brake and fell easely into flight not without suspicion that he had corrupted the Almaine Capteynes both with money and greater promises In the chasse three barkes were sunke vpon the lake seuen taken Many of the generall souldiers fell into the fortune of prisoners and amongest the chieftaines were taken Matto and Manfroy as they fled by the way of the mounteines The launceknights were suffred to goe away freely and the residue were led to Millan where Manfroy and Matto were publikely quartered They confessed in their execucion that Bartl Ferrery of Millan a man of place and authoritie was consenting to the practises of Moron vpon which accusation he was imprisoned together with his sonne so committed to the same punishment for that he had not reuealed that Moron had induced him by secret messages to practise innouations and to raise enterprises against the king About this time the Pope knowing of what oportunity was thestate of Mantua for the warres of Lombardy tooke to his paye Federike Marquis of Mantua with two hundred men at armes and two hundred light horsemen and indued him with the title of Capteine generall of the Churche But before he possessed him selfe of thinterteinment of the Pope herenounced the order of S. Michaell and returned the coller and enseigne that the king had giuen him to him who first receiued him into that order This
drawing thether with their forces The Viceroy was appointed to goe against the Marquis of Rothelin who was come ouer the Mounts with foure hundred launces Neuertheles assoone as he vnderstood of the fortune of the Admirall and that he was retyred he returned also into Fraunce holding it vaine for him to followe further thenterprise when the principall forces were dispersed Besides Monsr de Boysy and Iulio Saint Seuerin to whom was committed the gard of Alexandria made no resistance In like sort Federyk after he had demaunded respit of a fewe dayes to know if the Admirall were passed the Mountes compownded to yeeld vp Loda vppon the condicion that was accorded to them of Alexandria to leade into Fraunce the bands of Italian footemen who conteining a regiment of fiue thousande men did speciall seruice to the King afterwardes This was the end of the warre that was managed against the Duchie of Myllan vnder the gouernment of the Admiral of Fraunce By the which neither the kings power being much weakened nor the rootes of harmes remooued much lesse that so many calamities were cleane taken away seeing they were but deferred to an other season and Italy in the meane while remeining discharged of trobles present but not of suspicion of further aduersities to come And yet Themprour no lesse by the incitacion of the Duke of Burbon then by the hope that the authoritie and name of that man might serue him to speciall purpose Was of minde to transferre the warre into Fraunce to the which also the King of Englande showed a readines and disposicion In the beginning of this yeare Themprour had sent his Camp to Fontarabie a towne of verie smal circuit standing vppon the debatable lands that deuide Fraunce from Spaine And albeit the towne was very wel manned and furnished with artilleries and vittelles and leasure sufficient to them within to make it fortefied yet the fortifications being ill made through the ignorance of the Frenche men the towne laye open to the fury of thenemies who heaping vppon the defendants one necessitie after an other constrained them at last to giue it vp only with the safetie of their lyues He was not satisfied with the recouerie of this place but stretching his thoughtes further he made his ambicion no lesse then his fortune and in those conceites being raised to further enterprise he kept no reckoning of the comfortes and authoritie of the Pope who hauing sent in the beginning of the yeare to Themprour the Frenche King and to the King of Englande to solicit a peace or a truse he found their mindes very ill disposed to giue ouer the warre For the French king consenting to a truse for two yeares refused to make peace for the small hope he had to obteine thereby suche condicions as he desired And the Emprour reiecting the truse by the which was giuen good tyme to the Frenche King to reordeine his forces to folow a new warre desired to haue peace And touching the King of Englande any sort of composicion that was offred to be made by the Popes meanes was displeasing to him as in whom was alwayes a desire that the treatie of thaccorde might bee wholly referred to him To this he was induced by the ambicious counselles of the Cardinall of Yorke who seruing as a true example in our dayes of an immoderate pride notwithstanding he was of very base condicion and no lesse abiect for his parentes and discending yet he was risen to suche an estate of authoritie and grace with the King that in most of the actions of the realme the kings wil seemed nothing without thapprobacion of the Cardinall as of the contrary what so euer the Cardinall did deliberate was either absolute or at least had very great force But both the King and his Cardinall kept dissembled with the Emprour that thought by apparances showed a very forward inclination to moue warre against the realme of Fraunce which the King of Englande pretended lawfully to apperteyne to him He grounded his claime vppon these reasons King Edvvard the thirde after the death of the Frenche King Charles the fourth called the faire who dyed without issue male in the yeare of our saluacion 1328. and of whose sister the sayde King Edvvarde the third was borne Made instance to be declared King of Fraunce as next heire male to the French king deceassed Neuertheles he was put by by the generall Parliament of the realme wherein it was set downe that by vertue of the lawe Salyke an auncient lawe of that kingdome not only the persons of women were made vnable to the succession of the Crowne but also all suche as discended and came of the women line were excluded But he not satisfied with this order brought in to take away his right armed him selfe soone after and taking vpon him the title of the king of Fraunce he inuaded the realme with a mightie armie And as in that action he obteined many victories both agaynst Phillip de Valois published by vniuersall consent lawfull successor to Charles the fayre and also agaynst king Iohn his sonne who being ouerthrowne in battell was ledde prisoner into England So after long warres he forbare further to vex the realme and making peace with the sayde Iohn he reteined many prouinces and estates of the kingdome and renounced the title of king of Fraunce But after this composicion which was neither of long continuance nor of great effect the quarrell was eftsones renewed and sometimes followed with long warres and semetimes discontinued with tedious truces vntill at laste king Henry the fift entring confederacie with Phillip Duke of Burgondy who bare a minde estraunged from the Crowne of Fraunce for the murder done vpon Duke Iohn hys father preuayled so muche agaynst Charles the sixt somewhat simple of vnderstanding that he commaunded almost the whole kingdome together with the towne of Paris And finding in that Citie the French king accompanied with his wife and the Lady Katherine his daughter he tooke to wife the sayde Lady and brought the king to consent hauing no great vse of witte that after his death the kingdome shoulde apperteine to him and to his heires notwithstanding his sonne Charles did suruiue him By vertue of which title assone as he was dead his sonne king Henry the sixte was solemnly crowned at Paris and proclaymed king of Englande and Fraunce And albeit after the death of Charles the sixte his sonne Charles the seuenth by reason of great warres happning in Englande betweene the Lordes of the blood royall had chased thEnglishe out of all that they helde in Fraunce except the towne and territories of Callice yet the kinges of Englande dyd not leaue for all that to continue and vse the title of King of Fraunce These causes might happly moue king Henry the eyght to the warre the rather also for that he stoode more assured in his Realme then anye of his predecessours had done for that the kinges of the house of Yorke that was
his Capteynes He gaue order to Ranso de Cero to furnishe his gallies with those bandes of footemen which he had at Marceilles And to auoyde all practises and negociacions of peace or at least that he somewhat distrusted the Pope he forbad to passe further thArchbishoppe of Capua that was dispatched to him and so to goe to thEmperour He sent him worde to tarie for him at Auignon in the Court of his mother and negociate with him by letters or else to returne againe to the Pope So firmelie had he fixed his minde vppon the warre that nothing was more hatefull to him then to heare speake of peace against the which he had cloased his eares and shutte vp all inclinacion And in that resolucion he followed the ennemies in the meane while with the greatest diligence he coulde But they making small reckoning of the harmes and domages which the peasantes did to them marched alwayes in good order along the sea side At last they gotte to Monaco and there they brake into peeces their artilleries which for more facilitie of cariage they laded their Mulets withall As soone as they came to Finalo they vnderstoode with what haste the king marched after which made them double their pase to th ende to bee hable in good season to defende the Duchie of Myllan wherein were not remeyning forces sufficient to make resistance Thus both the one and thother armie drawing towardes Italie the same daye that the frenche king came to Verceill the Marquis of Pisquairo arriued at Albo with the horsemen and bandes of Spanishe footemen beinge followed one dayes iorney behinde by the Duke of Burbon and the Launceknightes The Marquis not takinge leasure to pawse or scarcelie to breathe went the daye followinge from Albo to Voginero being fortie myles distant to the ende he might the next daye gette into Pauya And there he ioyned his forces with the Viceroy who was come thither from Alexandria for the garde of which towne he had lefte a strength of two thowsande footemen This was in a tyme when the frenche armie beganne to drawe fast vppon the shoares of the riuer Thesin their diligence in marching being farre swifter then was the opinion of thenemies In this place they consulted with Ieronimo Moron of the estate of their common affaires wherein their first deuise was that leauing sufficient garrison within Pauia they should dispose all their forces to the defense of Millan according to the obseruacion and custome of the other warres In this councell it was set downe that Moron should goe thither forthwith to make prouision for things necessarie and the Duke of Millan to follow him whome they had sent for And they with their companies marched the right way to Millan after they had left within Pauia Anthonie de Leua with three hundred men at armes fiue thowsand footemen being all Spanyards except certeine launceknights But such was the desolacion within Millan that being still afflicted with the great plague that had runne thorowe the towne all the sommer the Citie was sore shaken and litle remeyning of the former apparance and countenaunce The sickenes had consumed infinite numbers of the people and bodies of good seruice and many had abandonned the Citie to auoyde that mortall perill of their liues it conteyned suche prouisions of vittells as it was wont to doe The meanes to taxe and leauie money beganne to growe hard and desperate And touching the fortificacions the aduersity of the sickenes had taken away all care and remembrance of them yea through the negligence of that time al the bulwarkes and rampiers lay reuersed to the grounde Suche are the domages of an vniuersall negligence which euen amidde perills that be manifest and apparaunt takes awaye the studie of thinges that most concerne sauetie and defense And yet albeit the townes men and popular inhabitauntes expressed no want of readinesse to laye them selues downe to all daunger and suffer all trauell whatsoeuer Yet Moron iudging by the present estate and desolacion of the towne that to enter with an armie woulde be more to the ruine then to the defense of the Citie tooke an other councell which he published in the presence of a greate assemblie of the townesmen in this manner of speaches We may say nowe and with the same perturbacion of minde the like wordes which our Sauiour Christ powred out in the middest of his perplexities Truely the spirite is readie but the fleshe is weake I knowe that in you wanteth not the same affection which hath alwayes caried you to honor obey and defende your Lorde Frauncis Sforce And I am not ignoraunt that in him doe make right deepe impressions the calamities and daungers of his deare people for whose sauetie as I knowe he wanteth no inclinacion to offer vp his life and all his mortall estate so in your faces I discerne an vniuersall readinesse to recompense him with the same compassion But what auayleth it to be resolute where fortune hath made greater the perills and daungers then either reason or nature can make assured the hope and howe vainely is employed that fidelitie which is not accompanied with his due respectes to time place and propertie of thinges I see your forces are nothinge aunswerable to your good willes and inclinacions for that your towne is made naked of people your treasories drayned of money your stoare houses consumed of vittells and your fortificacions reduced to extreame ruine matters that of them selues doe offer the frenche men to enter without that you shall neede to beate open your gates or posternes It brings no litle greefe to the Duke to be cōstrayned to leaue you abandonned but it woulde bee more greeuous to him then death if in seeking to defende you he should leade you to your last ruine and desolacion In so great a face and multitude of euills it is holden for good discression to make election of the least not to doubt of better seeing it is geuen to mortall men to hope for all things and to dispaire in nothing In matters of perill it is no shame to flee when the fleeing profiteth him that giueth place to his aduersarie for this reason the Duke aduiseth you to obey necessitie and giue place to the fortune of the frenche king reseruing your remedies for a better time which we can not but hope will happen for your speedie restoring To giue place to necessitie and folowe the lawe of tyme is an office duly apperteining to wise men For the present the Duke will neither abandon him selfe nor giue you ouer in tyme to come Make your sorowes no greater then is the qualitie of your losse and frame your myndes apte to receiue this consolacion that tyme triumpheth ouer all the aduersities of the world You see your cause is iust the power of Themprour mightie his fortune incredible and your enemies no other men then suche against whom your vallours haue so oftentymes preuailed God will beholde your pietie towards the Duke and his compassion
vppon the same Gallies that brought hym But beeing with great stormes and tempestes of sea aryued at Sauona where reaposing no more confidence neyther in the prouisions of the gallies nor in the industrie and experience of those that gouerned them he sente backe agayne the same gallies that had deliuered him out of his first perilles and tooke his course to Ciuitavecchia in the gallies of Andre Dore from whence beeing returned to Rome with a right great reputation and wonderfull felicitie especially to suche as had seene him prisoner in the Castell of Saint Angeo he reioysed as it were at his wyll in the full fauour of fortune feeling notwithstanding in the secrete apprehensions of his spirite and minde the chaunge that was speedily to happen to him In which impression he seemed to foresee and discerne his laste ende for it is certayne that almoste assoone as he was returned from his voyage to Marseilles from whence he seemed to bring certayne predictions and comettes of his death he caused to make the Ring with all other habites accustomed to bury Popes assuring his familiars with a mind wel reposed resolute that his latest dayes could not be deferred for any long time Neuertheles nothing retyring for all those impressions from his cares studies accustomed he solicited as he thought for the greater suretie of his house to buyld a very strong Citadell within Florence not knowing how soone was to ende the felicity of his Nephews of whō being mortal enemies one to an other Hippolito the Cardinall dyed before the ende of the yere of the Popes death not without suspicion of poyson And Alexander the other Nephew who commanded at Florence was not without a great note of indiscression secretly slayne by night in Florence by the handes of Lavvrence one of the same famulie of Medicis The Pope sickned about the beginning of sommer whose griefe in the first apprehension was the paines of the stomack which drawing with them to passions of a feuer other accidents kept him long time vexed tormented somtimes seming to be reduced to the poynt of death and sometimes so eased and releeued that he gaue to others but not to himselfe a kinde of hope of recouering And during the time of his maladie the Duke of VVittemberg by the ayde of the Lantgraue van Hesse and other Princes concurring also the money of Fraunce recouered the Duchie of VVittemberg which the king of Romains possessed By which occasion fearing a greater combustion they came to composition with the king of Romains agaynst the will of the French king who well hoped that themprour in regarde of those emotions would stande intangled with a long and tedious warre and that happlye their armies being victorious would discende vpon the duchie of Millan In lyke sort about that time Barbarousso Bascha capteine generall to Solyman of all his Nauies and armies by sea passed to the conquest of the kingdome of Thunis In his way thither he skowred along the shores of Calabria and ranne vp aboue Caietta where setting on lande certayne bandes of his souldiours he sacked Fondy with such a feare and astonishment to the Court and peoples of Rome that it was supposed that the Citie of Rome had bene left abandoned if in that course of victorie they had passed on further This accident was kept from the knowledge of the Pope who being no longer hable to make resistance agaynst his maladie exchaunged this life for a better the xxv of September leauing behinde him in the Castell of Saint Angeo many ryche stones and iewels more then was exspected of him and in the Chamber of the sea Apostolike infinite offices contrary to custome and good order but in the treasorie a very small store of money wherein he beguyled the opinion of all men He was raysed from base degree to the place of the Popedome with a wonderfull felicitie but in managing the place he proued a verye great variation of fortune wherin if both the properties of fortune be euenly balanced the one with the other the worser fortune without all comparison was farre more familiar with him then the better For as there could happen to him no greater infelicitie then the aduersitie of his imprisonment for that with his owne eyes he behelde with so greate a ruine and destruction the sacke of Rome A desolation whiche his fortune suffred him to bewayle with pitie and compassion but not to turne away or remedie the harme So also by him moued the generall desolation of his naturall countrey to the which by howe muche more he was bounde by perpetuall obligations by so muche greater was his aduersitie to be a chiefe instrument in the ruine of the place where he had taken his first beeing He dyed hated of all the Court suspected to most Princes and for the discourse of his lyfe he left behind him a renowme rather hatefull then acceptable for he was accounted couetous of litle fidelitie and naturally farre of from doing pleasures to men And in that humor albeit during hys tyme of Pope he created xxxj Cardinalls yet vppon none of them did he impose that dignitie to content himselfe but was drawne as it were by the violent lawe of necessitie and to please others yea he called to that dignitie the Cardinall of Medicis not of his proper and free election but at the contemplation and perswasion of others and at a tyme when beeing oppressed with a daungerous maladie yf he had dyed he had lefte his friends and kinred in the state of beggers and depriued of all ayde Neuerthelesse he was in counsel very graue and in his actions much foreseeing Touching passions and affections a conqueror of himselfe and for the facultie of his minde and spirite of great capacitie and power if tymerousnes had not oftentimes corrupted his iudgement Immediatly after his death the Cardinalls going the same night into the Conclaue elected in his place with full voyce Alexander of the famulie of Farnesa a Romayne by Nation and for his time the most auncient Cardinall of the Court In which election their voyces seemed conformable to the iudgement and instance that Clement had made the person elected being moste worthy to be preferred before all the others to so soueraigne a degree for that he was both furnished with doctrine and good learning and fully replenished with good apparances and customes And for the Cardinalles they were so muche the more forwarde to passe thelection in his person by howe much for the greatnes of his age beeing already vpon the threescore and seuenth yeare and supposed to beare a weake and vnsounde complexion which opinion he nourished with arte they hoped he would not sitte long in the seate But touching his actions and operations whether they aunswered thexspectation conceiued of him or whether they were worthy of the incredible gladnes which the people of Rome tooke to haue after the end of an hundred and three yeres and after the
in many partes of the merits seruices he had done to the crowne of Fraunce vpon the kings displeasure which cōmonly worketh many daungerous impressions in the mindes of men he renownced disclaimed al society introduction with the Svvizzers and not many dayes after following the court he fell sicke at Chartres where he gaue vp to the king his innocency and complaintes and made to God the last reckoning of his aged daies he was a man in the iudgement of many cōfirmed by sundrie experiēces of singular vallour in the discipline of warre ran a race alwayes opposed to thinconstancy of fortune who according to her mutability made him feele thoperaciō of both her humors somtimes reioising in her fauor earst again finding her sower of bitter tast By his cōmaūdement were written vpon his tombe these words not disagreable to the condicion course of his life I find the rest vvithin my graue vvhich in my life I could not haue About this time Caesar desiring after his death to establishe the succession of the Romaine Empire in the person of one of his grandchildren treated with the electors to choose one of them king of Romains a dignity which draweth with it an immediat succession to the Empire after thEmperours death without other election or confirmacion And bicause none can aspire to suche election vntill thEmperour elect haue obteyned the Crowne Imperiall he made instance to the Pope that by a newe example he woulde accomplishe his Cronacion in Germanie by the handes and deputacion of certeyne Cardinalls Legats Apostolyke for that action And albeit Caesar had affore wished that that dignitie might be transferred to Ferdinand his grandchilde as a degree to supporte him the elder hauing diuolued to him so greate a puissance of estates and albeit he iudged that for the better continuaunce of his house in fame and honor and to meete with all ill accidentes that runne vpon the eldest it were better that two personages were great then one alone ▪ yet what by the operacion of many his Courtiers and by the perpetuall labor of the Cardinall of Syon and lastly by the suborned importunities of suche as feared and hated the puisance of Fraunce he reiected the first councell and disposed all his meanes to haue the king of Spayne elected to that dignity wherein he was perswaded that it would be farre more profitable for the house of Austrich to assemble and draw into one alone all power and greatnes then in canuasing and deuiding it into many partes to make that family lesse mighty to obteine the issue of their purposes That the fundacions of the greatnes of Charles were suche so mighty that adding the dignity Imperiall there was great hope that he might reduce into one monarchie all Italie and a great parte of Christendom An action not onely apperteyning to the greatnes of his progeny and descendants but also agreable to the tranquilitie of his subiects and for the regard of the infidells most conformable to the benefite of the common weale of Christendom That it belonged to him in office equity to lay for thaugmentacion exaltacion of the dignity Imperiall which had bene so many yeares inuested in his person and his house of Austrich and which till that day both by his weakenes and infirmitie of his predecessors had bene greater in title and name then in substance and effects That there was no hope of the rising of that dignity or to reinuest in it his auncient renowme then by transporting it into the person of Charles and annexing it to his power That seeing the humor of the time presented to him thoccasion wherein also did concurre the order of nature and of fortune it ought to be farre from him to stop or hinder the course of so many helps to aduaunce lift vp the greatnes of his house That it was seene by examples and tradicions of auncient Emperours that Caesar Augustus and many of his successors for want of sonnes or other issue of their line haue searched by meane of adoption for successors very farre remoued from their alliance yea such as touched them nothng in blood and kinred wherin they were caried by a naturall gelousie lineally discending from one to an other that the dignitie which had bene so long resident in their persons should not be separate or decline to diminucion That thexample was familiar of the king Catholike who albeit he loued as his sonne Ferdinand who had bene alwayes trayned vp about him and neuer seeing Charles but found him in his last age very disobedient to his commaundements yet without hauing compassion of the pouertie of him whom he loued as his sonne he neuer imparted with him any one of those estates which he helde nor of such as he might dispose by the right prerogatiue of conquest but left all to him whom he scarcely knew but as a straūger That he would remember how the same king would alwayes vrge him to purchase new estats for Ferdinand but to leaue the dignity Imperiall to Charles that it was seene that for thaugmentacion of the greatnes of his successor he had perhaps with a councel reproued of many happily vniust deuested frō the kingdom of Aragon his proper house consented against the common desire of most men that the name of his house so noble and renowned should fall into obscurity perdicion Against this instance of Caesar the french king opposed him selfe with all industrie and meanes possible taking not a litle displeasure and enuie that to so many kingdoms and great estates holden by the spanish there should be added the dignitie Imperiall which resuming a certaine vigor and strength for so great a puisance might subdue all others vnder his feare and iurisdiction he made secret solicitacion to all thelectors to stoppe theffect of such an ambicion he stoode vpon instance to the Pope not to send with an example new and daungerous the Crowne to Maximilian And he sent Embassadors to the Venetians to induce them to hinder it with the Pope whom he admonished of the perills that might fall vpon them both by the course of suche a greatnes But the Electors for the moste parte were already drawne to the opinion of Caesar and no lesse assured of the summes of money promised thē for that election by the king of Spayne who for that purpose had sent into Germanie two hundred thousande duckets Neither could they in reason nor happly without daunger of slaunder in regarde of thexamples paste denie him suche a demaunde Besides it was not to be beleeued that the Pope notwithstanding it was discontenting to him would refuse to agree that Caesar should receiue in Germany by the ministration of Legates Apostolike the Crowne imperiall in his name seing that to make a voyage to Rome to be crowned albeit it brought a greater authoritie to the sea Apostolike yet in all other regardes it was a matter rather ceremonious then