fortunes that might happen he married Blanche Mary sister to Iohn Gales and his Neece to Maximylian newly aspired to thempire of Rome by the death of Federyk his father to him he promised in dowrie to be payd within a certeine time iiij hundreth thowsand duckatts of ready money with iewells and other ornaments to the value of xl thowsand duckatts and of the other parte Maximylian thirsting more after money then affinitie by this mariage bound him selfe to indue Lodovvyk to the preiudice of Iohn Galeas his new brother in law with thinuestiture of the Duchie of Myllan for him his children offpringe as though that estate had remained without lawfull Dukes euer since the death of Phillip Maria Viscount At the latter payment of the money he promised to giue him all the priuileadges and prerogatiues accomplished in most ample forme The Viscounteis gentlemen of Myllan during the bluddy factions in Italy betwene the Gebelyns and Guelffes and after the Guelffes were suppressed of principall men of one part of Myllan became Lordes and absolute maisters of the whole citie such frutes for the most are bredd by ciuill discordes And in this greatnes after they had continued many yeares they sought according to the common aduauncement of tyrannies the better to disguise their vsurpacion with a show of right to strengthen first with colers lawful after to set out their fortune with most ample titles therefore after they had first obteyned of themprours of whome Italy began to know rather the name then their power the title of capteines then vicaires of thempire In the ende Iohn Galeas who for that his father in lawe Iohn king of Fraunce had giuen him the earldom of Vertus called him self Earle of Vertus obteyned of Vincislao king of Romaines for him his yssues males the dignitie of Duke of Myllan in which succeded him the one after the other Iohn Maria and Phillip Maria his sonnes But the lyne masculyne being determined by the death of Phillip albeit by his testament he had instituted as his heire Alphonso king of Aragon and Naples partly for the recompense of the amitie he shewed at his deliuery but more for that the Duchie of Myllan defended by so mighty a Prince should not fall into the subiection of the Venetians aspiring manifestly to it yet Francis Sforce at that time a capteine valiant and equally seene in affaires of peace and warre being assisted with many occasions then occurrant and more esteeming to reigne then to keepe faith held with armes the sayd Duchie as apperteining to Blanche Maria his wife the bastard daughter of Phillip And albeit it was supposed that soone after with a small porcion of money he might haue purchased of themprour Federyk thinuestiture of that state yet trusting he was able to kepe it by the same meanes wherwith he had wonne it he made small reckoning of that office in themprour thus without inuestiture continued Galeaz his sonne Iohn Galeaz his later sonne by reasō whereof Lodovvyk bearing him self wickedly at one time against his Nephew liuing doing wrong to the memory of his father brother decessed mainteined that not one of thē were lawful dukes of Myllan procuring him self as of an estate diuolued to thempire to be inuested by Maximylian by that reason bare the title not of the 7. but of the 4. Duke of Myllan which thinges so long as his Nephew liued were not suffered to come but to a fewe mens knowledge Besids following thexample of Cyrus yonger brother to Artexerses king of Persia which also he confirmed with thauthority of many lawyers he aduowched that he was before his brother not in yeares age but for that he was the first borne after their father became Duke of Myllan This reason togither with the first was bestowed amongest the imperiall priuileadges wherin to cloke with a vaine couer the ambicion of Lodovvyk there was also written in letters separate that it was not the custom of the holy Empire to consent or passe any estate to any that afore had holden it vnder thauthoritie of an other for which cause Maximylian had kept no reckoning of the peticions made by Lodovvyk to obteyne thinuestiture for Iohn Galeas hauing afore acknowledged the same Duchie of the people of Myllan In this mariage made by Lodovvyk of his Neece with Maximylian Ferdinand tooke encrease of hope that Lodovvyk would estraunge him selfe from the amitie of the french king these were the reasons and arguments of his hope for that he had knitt him selfe with Maximylian enemie and Corriuall to the french king by many occasions the departing with so great a sunme of money might induce the kings suspicion agaynst him And lastly this newe coniunction ministring occasion of corage hart he supposed he would not be fearful to diuide him selfe from the french doings This hope Lodovvyk nourished with great conning and with the vayle of the same so blinded all others that at one time he communicated with Ferdinand the other Potentates in Italy and withall enterteyned the king of Romaines and yet kept the french from ielousie Ferdinand also iudged that it could not but be displeasing and intollerable to the Senate of Venice to whom he had sent Embassadors that a Prince so mightie aboue them should enter the hart of Italy wherein they had the chiefest place opinion and authoritie besides he fedd much of the hopes in the king and Queene of Spayne who had promised him great succors if neither by perswasions offers nor authoritie he could not breake the enterprise On the other side the french king hauing taken away all impediments on that side the mountes began to practise to remoue such difficulties as might fall to his hinderance on the other side the hills In that action he sent Peron de la bache a man not ignorant in th affayres of Italy by thexperience he had there vnder Iohn of Aniovv who after he had made knowen to the Pope the Senate of Venice and the Florentyns the resolucion of his king to recouer the kingdom of Naples he made peticion to them all to enter societie fellowshippe and communitie with him But he reaped no other frute then frayle hopes and generall aunsweres for that the warre being not to be executed till the next yeare euery one refused to discouer so long before his intencion In like sort the king required of thembassadors of Florence sent to him a litle before by Ferdinands consent to excuse them selues of thimputacion that they inclined to the partie of thAragons to haue passage and vittells for his armie in their iurisdictions at reasonable rate and that to accompanie him to the kingdom of Naples they would furnish him with an hundreth men at armes which he sayd he required as a signe that the common weale of Florence stoode with him in amitie Albeit they aunswered him with many reasons and declaracions that they could not in that sort protest without great perill vntill his armie were
meane to execute against the parties so that dispatches went out according to the olde rates The king for his parte promised not to take into his protection any of the Cities of Tuskane And albeit afterwardes he required to haue libertie to protect the people of Lucqua who offered him fiue and twentie thowsande duckats saying he was bounde to that protection by thobligacion of his predecessor yet the Pope would giue no consent but promised for his parte that he woulde forbeare to molest them in any sorte Lastly they agreed by indifferent consent of them both to sende frear Giles Generall of the Augustins and an excellent preacher to Caesar in the Popes name to dispose him to render to the Venetians Bressa and Verona taking a recompense of money And so vppon the expedicion of these matters but not sette downe by wryting except tharticle for nominacion of benefices and payment of the Annats according to the true vallue the Pope in fauour of the king pronounced Cardinall Adrian de Boisy brother to the great Maister of Fraunce and of the greatest authoritie with the king and in the generall gouernment That the enteruiewe brake vppe the king departing from the Pope verie well contented and in great hope to haue him his perpetuall frende who for his parte expressed no lesse with all reasonable demonstracions but in his minde he nourished other impressions for that bothe it was a matter no lesse greeuous to him then affore that the Duchie of Myllan shoulde be possessed by the Frenche king and Parma and Plaisanca restored and also that the Duke of Ferrara should be eftsoones reinuested in Modena and Reggia And yet all these not long after turned to vanitie and smoake for that the Pope being gone from Bolognia to Florence remeining there about a moneth had receiued of the Duke promises of the money that should be payd assoone as he should enter into possession being there set down in writing by common consent thinstrumentes that were to passe betwene them the Pope neither denying nor accomplishing but interposing many delayes and excuses refused to giue perfection to things The king being returned to Myllan dismissed his armie except seuen hundred launces six thowsand launceknightes and foure thowsand frenchmen such as they caladuenturers whom he left for the gard of that estate And for his owne person he teturned into Fraunce with great speede about the first beginning of the yeare 1516. leauing behinde him as his Lieftenaunt Charles Duke of Burbon he thought he had left his affayres in Italie in good estate of sewertie both for the allyance newlie contracted with the Pope and also for that about that time he was newly compounded with the Svvyzzers who notwithstanding the perswasions of the king of England to haue them to reenter into armes against the frenche king renewed with him thalliance by the which they bound them selues to furnishe alwayes for his seruice and at his paye both in Italie and out of Italie for defense and offence and against all nations suche numbers of footemen as he would require and that vnder their vniuersall name and publike enfeignes onely they excepted to beare armes against the Pope the Empire and thEmperour And on the other side the king confirmed to them of newe their auncient pensions with promisse to paye them within a certaine time the six hundred thowsand duckats agreed vpon at Dyon with three hundred thowsande if they gaue vp to him the villages and vallies apperteyning to his Duchy of Myllan A matter which the fiue Cantons that possessed those places refusing to do as also to ratifie the accord the king began to pay to the other eight Cantons that parte and porcion of the money that apperteined to them who accepted it but vnder this expresse condicion that they should not be bound to take his pay against the fiue Cantons About the beginning of this yeare the Bishoppe Petruccio an auncient seruant to the Pope chassed out of Siena by the Popes aide and some helpe from the Florentins Borgueso sonne to Pandolffe Petruccio his cossing and impatronised him selfe vpon the place the authority and gouernment remeining by equity in the possession of his said cossing the Pope had two respects inducing him to this actiō the one for that that citie standing betwene the estate of the Church and the dominion of the Florentins was gouerned by a man wholly at his deuocion the other was much more particular and mouing for that he hoped with the fauor of some good occasion to make it fall into the gouernment of his brother or his nephew wherein he douted nothing of the Bishops consent hauing already framed him tractable to all his desires and ambicions The warre continued kindeled betwene Caesar and the Venetians who for their partes desired to recouer by the aide of the frenche king Bressa and Verona But for other places and regions of Italie things seemed to stand in a peasible estate onely there beganne to burst out mocions of new stirres that were pushed on by the king of Aragon who fearing least the greatnesse of the frenche king would bring some aduersities to the realme of Naples delt with Caesar and the king of Englande to recontinewe the warre A matter not onely of no great difficultie and hardnesse to drawe Caesar vnto being both desirous of innouacion and newe thinges and also was not able easily to kepe the townes which he had takē from the Venetians But also it was fullie concluded and agreed vnto by the king of England The remembraunce of the late infidelitie and breache of promise of his father in lawe being of lesse power in him then either his present emulacion or auncient hatred against the crowne of Fraunce besides he was enuious that the Skottish king being in minoritie should be gouerned by people of his appoyntment or any waye depending on him These matters had bene followed both with better councell and greater forces if during the negociacion the death of the king of Aragon had not hapned who after he had bene vexed with a long indisposicion died in an inferior village called Madrigalege as he went to Seuile with his Court he was a king excellent in councell and so furnished with al other properties of vertue that he bare no occasion matter of reprehension if he had bene constant to keepe his promisses for touching thimputacion of nigardnes or the reapport that went of him to be straite in exspenses it was proued vntrue by the testimonie and discouerie of his estate after his death leauing behinde him no amasse of treasor notwithstanding he had reigned xlij yeares But it hapneth oftentymes by the corrupt iudgement of men that in a king prodigalitie is more praysed though the raking and oppression of subiects be ioyned to it then a sparing straitnes wherin is nourished an orderly absteyning from taxing the goods of others To thexcellent vertues of this Prince was ioyned a most rare and perpetuall felicitie
foure dayes to the obedience of the Church But the Castell of Sinigalo made no delay to folow the course of the victorie as also the strong Castell of Pesero after it had bene two dayes executed with artilleries compounded to giue vp if within twentie dayes it were not reskewed so farfoorth as during this time of truce or exspectation of succours there were no casting of rampiers nor other sort of fortifications which condition being yll performed was the cause that Tranquillo receiuing no reskew within the tyme appoynted refused to deliuer it vp and beginning a fresh to recontinue the warre he made new sallies and actions vpon thenemy without which made his destinie the harder for that the batterie beginning to play with greater furie the souldiors within the Castell preferring their owne safetie affore the wyll of Tranquillo drewe into mutinie agaynst him and deliuered him vp into the hands of the capteines who condemned him to be hanged for his promise breaking Not many dayes after was rendred the castell of Maiuola a place very necessarie to besiege S. Leo for that it is but a myle distance and hath his situation directly opposite And they bestowed about S. Leo two thousande men to th end to keepe it besieged And albeit for the strong situation there was no hope to carie it but by the laste necessitie whiche is hunger yet it was surprised within three monethes by an inuention of a maister Capenter who clymbing by nighte by the benefite of a very long Ladder vp to a clyffe or dependant supposed to be most inaccessible of all that mountayne he tooke away his ladder and remayning there all the residue of the night he began at the firste appearing of the day to clyme higher with certayne fastning instrumentes of yron and got at laste with greate aduenture to the top of the mountayne and so discending agayne and with his yron instrumentes making easie certaine of the places that were of most difficultie he returned the night folowing to the campe by the helpe of the same ladder that caryed him vp he declared to the capteines that the mountayne was accessible and that in the enterprise the danger was greater in opinion then in aduenturing in so much as a night was appoynted when he was sent thither with the same ladder that he first vsed And as it was reasonable that he should be guyde of thaction that was the first author of thinuention so there were committed to him a hundred and fiftie footmen of choyse with whome staying vpon the sayde cliffe or dependant they began at the opening of the day for it was impossible to climbe higher by night to mount vp those very harde and straite places esteeming nothing of the perill when they considered what glorie was in the aduenture with this labour about thirtie of them ouercame the difficultie of the place and gotte vp to the toppe of the mountayne with a drumme and six ensignes and hiding them selues vpon the ground to exspect their companions that were a climing when the watch being then releued espyed them as they laye in ambushe vpon the earth The watche gaue the alarme when the souldiors being now disclosed not tarying for their felows gaue the signe to the army in the camp who according to good direction tooke knowledge of the successe of the climers and with great store of ladders offred a present assault to the mountayne in many places Their chiefest reason in this assault was to drawe away those that were within who after they had somewhat serued the places they were apponted vnto and discrying already vpon the playne of the mountaine six ensignes aduaunced they ranne to enclose themselues within the Castell that was hewed out of the mountayne hauing now more feare of their lyues then confidence in the inuincible strength of the place The residue by this time beeing clymed vp to the top of the mountaine they began to commaunde the whole place opening the way to others that as yet with great payne difficultie were labouring to winne the top of the hill But the resolution of the clymers beeing farre aboue the vallour of the defendantes in whom also the sodennesse of the fortune redoubled their feare the mountayne became a rewarde to the labours of those that had aduentured to clymbe it when the Castell also well prouided of all thinges to holde out sauing of vallour and fidelitie yelded the seconde day In so much as vpon the conquering of this estate which together with Pesera Siuigalo seperat members from the Duchie of Vrbin was not worth in reuenue aboue xxv thousande duckets The Pope pursuing the processe he had begon published sentence depriued Frauncis Maria and in the consistory inuested his nephew Lavvrence wherin for a more hable and sufficient cōfirmation of his doings he annexed to the Bull which he dispatched for that action the subscribing of the proper hands of all the Cardinalls sauing of Dominike Grimani Bishop of Vrbin and an auncient frend to the Duke who would not be concurrant in so manifest a wrong for that cause fearing the Popes indignatiō he departed afterwards from Rome whether he neuer returned so long as he liued The french king was discōtented with thoppression of the duke of Vrbin the rather for that he suffred priuation of his estate for being cōfederat with him But he stood much more displeased for many other things that the Pope did for Prospero Colonno abiding at Basseta a town of the Paluoisins at such time as he was returned frō Fraūce afterwards being come to Modona for feare of the frēchmen whither likewise was retired Ier. Morono who also stood in dout of thē for that contrary to their promises they had cōmanded him to go into Fraunce There was conspiracie whilest Prospero lay at Modona afterwards at Bolognia to surprise secretly some place of importance in the duchie of Millan by the working of some of the banished men In this practise was also concurrant Mucio Colonno to whom the Pope hauing priuity in these actions had graunted harbour for his bandes of souldiors vpon the territories of Modena Moreouer the Pope had perswaded the king Catholike for so was tharchduke called since the death of his grandfather by the mother side to make no newe conuentions with the Frenche king And on the behalfe of the Svvizzers Emius Bishop of Verulo and the Popes Nuncio to whom afterwards euen in his latest yeares was transferred the creation and dignitie of Cardinall stirred vp the fiue Cantons to folow the amitie of Caesar besides many other offices displeasing to the king So that concurring also at the same time a practise betweene Caesar who remayning betwene Trent and Ispurch terrified the French men more with demonstrations then with effects and the king of Englande and the Svvizzers to make a newe inuasion vppon the Duchie of Millan The Frenche king suspected that these matters were wrought with the will and priuitie of the Pope
being corrupted with some secret summe of money within very few daies after deliuered vp those castells to the Florentyns In the meane while the people of Florence had reduced their citie to a popular gouernment and in that humor had created Gonfalonier and chiefe Magistrate of the pollicie for one yeare with facultie of confirmation for three yeares one Nicholas Cappony A Citizen of great authoritie and a louer of the publike libertie This man desiring wholly the concord and vnitie of the Citizens and no lesse zealous to reduce the gouernment to the most perfect forme of a common weale that was possible debated the action with reasons graue and resolued in a conuocacion of the great councell in whome rested absolute power to establishe lawes and create all Magistrates And sure if the Citizens had giuen faith to the perswasions of this man their new libertie had happly endured longer But as for the most parte the passion of spite and disdaine is stronger in him that recouereth libertie then in an other that defendeth it so the hatreds being great against the house of Medicis for many causes but especially for that they haue bene driuen to beare out for the most part with their owne money all the enterprises that they had begonne The people began to persecute immoderatly all those Citizens that were friendes to the Medicis together with such as boare affection to the name of the Pope They called into remembraunce how the citie had exspended not onely in the occupacion but also in the defence of the Duchie of Vrbyn more then fiue hundred thowsand duckats And as much in the warre which Pope Leo managed against the French king and in matters hapning after his death depending vppon the same warre Neither did they forget the three hundred thowsand duckats which were payed to the Capteines Imperialls and to the Viceroy before the creacion of Clement And lastly they reduced into reckoning the six hundred thowsand duckats disburssed aswell since that tyme as employed in this last warre agaynst the Emprour These reckonings beeing ioyned to the humor of their vniuersall hatreds so aggrauated their rage and furye that they defaced and reuersed through all the partes of the citie the armes and enseignes of the house of Medicis not forbearing in that course of insolencie to pull downe euen those skootchions which were affixed and emboasted to the publike pallaices builded by them selues They brake the images or portraictes of Leo and Clement set vp in so greate glorye in the temple of Annuciado so much celebrated through all the worlde yea the moste parte of them omitted nothing apperteyning to moue the Popes disdaine and to nourish the diuisions and discords of the citie wherein they had risen into greater degrees of disorder if the authoritie discression of the Gonfalonier had not bene interposed which yet was not sufficient to remedie many insolencies But by this tyme were comen to Rome with the Marquis of Guast and Don Hugo all those footebands of launceknights and Spanyards which were in the Realme of Naples So that it was sayd they had stronge within the towne of Rome eyght thowsande Spanish footemen twelue thowsand launceknights and foure thowsand Italians An armye sufficient to doe in Italy what they would aswell for the reputacion they had gotten as for the vniuersall astonishment of those regions together with the weake prouisions that were made to oppose against them Onely the armye tooke such libertie in their insolencies and disorders the Prince of Orenge being Capteine generall in title and name but not in authoritie and effect that they tooke litle care of thinterests of thEmprour beeing wholly caried with the humor of praye and spoyle and to raunsom prisoners and racke the purse of the Pope Matters whose sweetenes deteyned them still in Rome where running a race of tumult and mutinie the Viceroy and the Marquis of Guast feared least they woulde extend their furye vppon their persons to the daunger of their liues In which feare they fled leauing the souldiours to the hazard and stroake of the plague which beeing already begonne kindled amongest them greater bronds of infection to their vniuersall domage for these reasons thImperialls lost thoccasion of many enterprises but especially they omitted the oportunitie to conquer Bolognia A citie which albeit the Count Hugo de Pepoly went thether after the losse of Rome with an army of a thowsand footemen payed by the Venetians yet it stoode and perseuered in the obedience of the sea Apostolike though not without difficultie by reason of the tumult which Lavvrence Maluezzo made by the secret consent of Ramassotto and the fauor of the faction of the Bentyuoleis yea which was of no lesse importance then the residue their disorder and carelesnes gaue tyme to the French king to dispatch into Italy a moste mightye armye with great daunger to the Emperor to lose the Realme of Naples after he had triumphed gloriously in so great a victorye for matters going on long time before in Fraunce to a preparacion of a newe warre there was established the foure and twenty of Aprill A conclusion of the confederacion solycited many moneths betwene the French king and king of England Wherein one condicion was that the Daughter of the king of England shoulde be maryed to the french king or to the Duke of Orleans his second sonne the election of which shoulde be resolued at the tyme of the enteruiewe of the two kinges which was to bee performed at Whitsontyde betweene Callyce and Bolleyne An other article was that the kinge of Englande shoulde renownce the title of kinge of Fraunce receyuing in recompense a yearely pension of fiftye thowsande duckats The thirde article bare that the kinge of Englande shoulde enter the league made at Rome and to bee bownde by the next moneth of Iulye to moue warre beyonde the Mountes agaynste thEmprour with nyne thowsande footemen and the Frenche Kinge with eyghteene thowsande and a conuenient number of launces and artilleries That in the meane whyle bothe the one and the other of them shoulde sende Embassadors to thEmprour bothe to signifie the confederacion made by them to summon him to restore the kinges children and to enter into the peace with comely condicions Which in case he woulde not accept within one moneth their Embassadors shoulde denownce warre to him and beginne it Assoone as this accorde was passed the king of England entred the league who together with the Frenche king dispatched two gentlemen in post to present to thEmprour conuenient summonce Matters which were done by the Embassadors of the Frenche and Englishe with a farre greater readines then they were performed by the Popes commission for that his Nuncio Baltasar Castillion sparing to sharpen the mynde of thEmprour would not consent to denownce warre agaynst him But afterwardes the Court of Fraunce beeing possessed with the newes of the losse of Rome And the displeasure of the accident of the Pope beeing ballanced with the gladnes
also he made retyre most part of his footbandes they vnderstanding that the fortresse of Stampace was wonne desiring to make a pillage pray of the towne run thether by heapes to enter And in the meane while the Pisans a bruite running thorow the Citie that the enemies folowed not the victorie pushed forwerd by the lamentable cryes of their wiues women who encouraged them rather to chuse death thē to liue vnder the yoke of the Florentyns began to returne with a new valour to the gard of the Rampiers Amongst whom Gurlyn remembring that from a part or Iawme of Stampace bending towardes the towne there was a way that led to the gate of the sea which they had before filled vp with earth wood fortefied on that side to the Camp but not on that part that looked to Stampace he caused it to be rampierd filled vp on that side casting a plot forme of earth he cut of the entrey on that part with the artilleries that were bestowed in flanke Assoone as Stampace was wonne Pavvle caused to be mounted there certeine Falcounets port peeces which shot thorow the towne of Pisa but offended not the Rampiers which albeit were much afflicted with the artillerie that was planted below yet the Pisans redobling in corage by thimportunities of their daūgers abādoned them not at the same instant they battred the murdring house towardes S. Anthony the water gate the defenses Pavvle Vitelly not ceasing to labour to fil vp the trenche with earth baskettes the more easelie to take the Rampier Against which oppressions the Pisans rising in courage in that they had receiued the night folowing from them of Lucqua a succor of three hundred footmē hurled into the trenche many sortes of wildefyers And laboring with a wonderfull resolucion of minde and diligence to cōstraine the Camp to abandon the Towre of Stampace they turned directly thether a very great Port peece called Bufole by whose furie the Camp was compelled to dismount the artillerie which they had mounted aboue And albeit Pavvle caused to be braked against it certeine Port peeces of his by the which the mouth of Bufole was choked and broken yet sparing not for all that to shoote they brought in certeine dayes the Towre to that reason that Pavvle was constrained not only to remoue his artillerie but also to abandon the place Notwithstanding all this the Generall would not make himselfe frustrat of the hope he had to cary in the ende the victorie which according to his custome desiring to haue with the most suertie the least hurt to the army that could bee albeit in many places there was more then fyue hundred yeardes of the wal vppon the earth he labored cōtinually to encrease the battery to fil vp the ditches with earth and to fortefie the Towre of Stampace to replant new artilleries and to beate in flanke the great rampiers which the Pisans had made labouring with all his pollicie and industrie to winne alwayes some commoditie to giue with more suertie the assalt generall determined which last exployt notwithstanding he had brought thinges into that estate that as often as he would haue followed the assalt he might haue had great hope of the victorie he prolonged willingly to th ende the harmes of the armie might not deface the honor and reputacion of the victorie And albeit the assistantes of the Florentyns to whom euery litle respit was troublesome and the continuall letters and messages from Florence ceassed not to hasten him to the assalt the better to preuent those impediments that might happen yet Pavvle stood firme in his owne councel which albeit might happely be discreete according to thexperience discipline of warre yet it had a cōtrary fortune for that the countrey of Pisa which is ful of lakes marishes betwene the next sea the citie being in that season of the yeare subiect to ayres pestilent and specially on that side towardes the Camp there came vppon the army in two dayes many diseases which so wasted and weakned the bodie of the Camp that when Pavvle gaue order to prepare to the assalt the foure and twentith of August he founde so many of his regimentes made vnprofitable and vnhable for seruice that those that remeined whole and disposed sufficed not to meinteyne thassalt which vnhappie accident albeit the Florētins and he who was also sicke labored to helpe by leauying new bandes of footemen yet the influence of the ayre contending against their industry made thinfectiō so vehement that euery day the diminucion was found greater then the supplie In so much that their long hope of the victorie being now turned into an other habit both doutful desperat fearing harmes both more speciall and importing he determined to leauy breake vp the Camp A resolucion much resisted by the Florentyns who aduised him that leauing garrison sufficient within the fortresse of Stampace he wold repose with the armie about the confines of Pisa But he making this councell no direction to him abandoned the Towre of Stampace which he helde not tenable for that it had bene first shaked with his artilleries and then battred with the great shot of the Pisans And drawing the whole armie to the way of the sea the fourth of September and not hable to trayle his artilleries by lande to Cascina for that the wayes were drowned with waters he embarked them in the mouth of the Ryuer of Arne to conuey them to Lyuorne But fortune striuing against him in this laste action many of thartilleries were sunke in the waters and a little after drawne vp againe by the Pisans who at the same tyme recouered eftsoones the Towre that gardes the mouth of the Ryuer By these occasions the seruices yea and faith of men are interpreted by opinion the ill disposicion conceiued alreadie by the people of Florence was so redoubled with the Maiestrates that within fewe dayes being called to Cassina by the Commissioners vnder cooller to consult into what places they should distribute the companies hee was made prisoner by commaundement of the soueraigne Maiestrate of the towne and from thence sent to Florence where the same night he arryued being painefully examyned by torments hee was executed by the head the day following by sentence of the Maiestrate his brother being almost taken in the same daunger and fortune for that as the Commissioners sent to apprehende him in the same instant So beyng sicke of the disease hee had taken in the Camppe hee made semblaunce to obey them And rysing out of his bedde he conuerted the tyme that they gaue him to araie him into deuises directions to steale away In so much as beguiling with diligence the securitie of the Florentyns he was in one instant with the helpe of his seruantes well mounted vppon a horse of speede and fleeing to Pisa he was receiued with generall gladnes of the whole inhabitantes The principall pointes
neuer consented to the conuocacion of Pysa disauowing all such as had vsed his name Assoone as he had thus ratified the councell of Latran he departed from Rome to be present when Maxymylian Sforce being now come by commission of Caesar to Verona should take possession of the Duchie of Myllan the Cardinall of Syon disposed him selfe very hardly to exspect and attend his comming and also the Embassadors of the whole nation of Svvyzzers that were at Myllan for that they would that in the demonstracions and solemnitie of thactions that was to be vsed it might appeare that the Svvyzzers were the men that had chassed the french men out of that state and by their vallour and courage Maxymylian receiued it They would that the veritie and effect of that conquest might be transferred to them by such publike ceremonies as were to be vsed in the enstalling of him whom their vertue onely made Lord of the Duchie But such was the working of the Viceroy that more by practise then by his authoritie he obteyned so much that they taried for the comming of the Bishop of Gurcy who after he had ratified at Florence in the name of Caesar the confederacion made in Prato and receiued certeine summes of money of the Lucquoys whome he tooke into protection came at last to Cremona where Max. Sforce and the Viceroy attended him from thence they went al together to Myllan to make their entrie at the day appoynted into that citie with solemnities and honors accustomed to newe Princes In which action albeit it was long disputed betweene the Cardinall of Syon and the Viceroy which of them should giue him the keyes at the entry of the gate in signe of possession yet in the ende the Viceroy giuing place the Cardinall put into his handes the keyes of the towne in the vniuersall name of the Svvyzzers And that day being one of the last dayes of December he did all thinges both in showe and act that were necessary to make knowen that Maxymylian Sforce receiued the possession of them he was receiued with an incredible gladnes of all the people both for the desire they had to haue a Prince proper and perticular and also they hoped he would resemble his grandfather or his father of whome the memorie of one remeyned very fresh in the mindes of the people of that state and touching the other the despites they had receiued by the gouernment of straungers had turned their hatred into good will The working of tyme with thexperience of the yoke of straungers had made in that people a wonderfull conuersion and nature in those actions works not a litle bringing that people to reioyce at the returne of him whose father they abhorred with a iust and vniuersall hatred But these gratulacions and ioyes were yet vnperfect vntill the castell of Nouarro were recouered A matter not long deferred for that they within yeelded it vp their fortune being farre inferior to their faith The confederacion made at Rome had not altogether broken the hopes of agreement betweene Caesar and the Venetians for that the Pope had vppon the suddeine sent to Venice Iacques Staffilio his Nuncio with whom went accompanied three Embassadors of the Svvyzzers to perswade them to accord And on the other side the Senat the better to enterteine the goodwil of the Pope and not to giue cause to Caesar to inuade them with armes had sent to their Embassadors a newe direction to cleaue to the councell of Latran They had commaunded also the men of warre assoone as the confederacion was made to retyre vpon the territories of Padoa And for that cause the Viceroy not willing to trouble the hopes of the peace had turned his armie towards Myllan But all these thinges serued to no purpose for that the same difficulties did yet continue touching the restitucion of Vincensa and the payments of money which Caesar demaunded That was the cause that the Pope assayled not the Duke of Ferrara whom agreement going betweene Caesar and the Venetians he supposed he should be able to vanquish with the aydes of the Venetians together with the brute that the Spanyards were to come on if neede should be otherwayes he had resolued to deferre that expedicion till the springe tyme for that he accounted it a matter of hard action to take in a season of winter the towne of Ferrara the situacion being strong in respect of the riuer and greatly fortefied besides by the continuall industrie of Alfonso It may happly seeme to some if I intangle my historie with thaccidents of Fraunce in that yeare that I wander or chaunge my course which is not to speake of matters hapning out of the bondes of Italy But because the affayres of that nation haue some affinitie and relacion with the busines of these partes And that to the successe of the one the councells and yssues of the other were oftentymes conioyned I am constrayned not to passe them altogether vnder forgetfulnes and silence About the beginning of Maye an armie of six thowsand English footemen sailed in vessells of England and Spayne to Fontarabye A frontyer towne belonging to the crowne of Spayne vpon the coast of Fraunce and standing vpon the Occean sea The seruice and purpose of this armie according to the couenants made betweene the father in law and sonne in law was together with the forces of Spaine to set vpon the Duchie of Guyen which is a part of the prouince of Aquitaine according to the auncient names and diuisions of the same Against this warre the french king not yet assured on the coast of Picardy prepared a new pencionary band of eight hundred launces which he had erected waged many bands of footemen of the lower parts of Germany not subiected to thEmprour And knowing of what importance for the defence of the Duchie of Guyen was the Realme of Nauarre which was both appropriat and dowrie to Katherin de Foix and possessed ioyntly with Iohn the sonne of Albert who was her husband he called to the Court the father of the sayd Iohn and carefully considered how he might make him his friende and consociat Wherein serued to good purpose the death of Gaston de Foix by the instigacion of whome pretending the same kingdom not to fall vpon the femall and by consequent to apperteine to him as to the next heire male of the house of Foix the french king had pursued the sayd Iohn On the other side the king Catholike who had sette his eyes vppon that Realme required the king of Nauarre to stande Newter betweene the french king and him And to suffer to passe thorow his Realme his souldiours that were to enter Fraunce And for the assurance of these things he would put into his handes certeine places of strength vnder promise to render them assoone as the warre should ende It hath bene a perpetuall desire in the auncient kings of Spaine to impatronise them selues vpon the Realme of Nauarre In which respect the
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
the cure of that which most importeth and carieth most necessitie of remedy for the safety and good health of the pacient But the better to explaine and signifie such a matter it is necessarie we discend more deepely into the discourse of one parte of those things which we haue set downe seuerally heare and there and reduce them into one place and order They of the family and house of Est besides that they haue bene possessed of long time vnder the title of the Vicaires of the Church of the iurisdiction of Ferrara were Lords also for many yeares of Reggia and Modena by vertue of inuestiture from the Emperours for that in those times there was none that called into doubt why those two Cities were not subiect to the Empire They were enioyed peasibly vntill Pope Iulio the second he whose custome was to vncouer the auncient titles and rightes of the Church long buried with tract of time vnder shadow of piety was the author of many ills begon the warre with Duke Alfonso to reduce wholly Ferrara vnder the obedience of the Church By the occasion and accidents of this warre the Pope tooke from him Modena and at the beginning reteined it for him selfe as though together with all the other townes euen to the riuer of Pavv it had apperteined to the sea Apostolike as being parte of the partage or diuision of Rauenna But a litle after he gaue it to thEmperour Maximilian for feare of the frenchemen and yet he ceassed not for all that the warre against Alfonso but tooke from him afterwardes Reggia yea it was beleued that in that humor of authority ambicion if he had liued longer he would haue depriued him also of Ferrara Not that he accōpanied his action with equitie but for the hatred and enuie he bare to Alfonso wherein he not only sought to couer his ambicion with pietie pretending vnder that pretext to recouer to the Church all that he could find had bene holden by her in any time but also vnder suche a shadowe he pushed on the disdaine he had to Alfonso for that he followed rather the amitie of Fraunce then depended of him yea in this malicious disposicion was happily concurrant the vnappeasible hatred which he boare to the memory and relikes of Alexander the sixt his predecessor whose daughter called Lucrece had bene maried to the Duke Alfonso of which mariage were procreated many children The sayde Pope Iulio left by his death to his successors not only the succession of Reggia but also the same thirst desire to get Ferrara wherunto they seemed to be inclined for the glorious memorie he had left of him selfe to posterity for which reason that ambicion was more mighty in Leon his successor then the regard to the greatnes which the house of Medicis had in Florence on whose behalfe it seemed more profitable that the puisance of the church should diminish then to haue it made more redoubted to all her neighbours by annexing of Ferrara to it And indeede after he had bought Modena he disposed his spirites and study wholly to the getting of Ferrara and that more by practise and ambushes then with force open and disclosed for that it would haue bene an enterprise of too great difficulties since Alfonso by the consideracion of his owne daungers fortefied him selfe on all sides and made plentifull prouision of artilleries and municions and as the brute went had confirmed his strength with huge proporcions of wealth and treasure it may be his hatreds were greater then the hatreds of Iulio euen so were they managed with more secrecy and suttletie wherein besides many plots which he layed to take Ferrara either by surprise or by fraude he passed such manner of obligacions with those Princes that he made alliance withall that at least they were restrained to hinder him in this enterprise That held him not onely during the life of Iulian his brother and Laurence his nephew for whose greatnes and exaltacion it was thought he was caried with that ambicion but also euen after their death Yea he was so ouerruled with that burning desire that many were perswaded that therevpon proceded his last deliberation more rashe then discrete to knitte with themperour agaynst the French king In so muche that by necessitie Alfonso was constrayned to satisfie the French king being his onely founder and hope in making warre vppon them of Modena at suche time as the armies of Pope Leo and themperour helde Pauia besieged In which warre albeit he had receyued a verye yll successe yet he had bene reduced into farre greater difficulties if Pope Leo euen amidde the course and dayes of his victories had not bene called into the other life by sodayne death An accident which assuredly chaunced no lesse aptly and conueniētly to him and to his affayres then the death of Iulio And it may be doubted whether at last Adrian that was successor to Leo was not infected with that property of couetousnesse although both for his newe creation and want of trayning in th affayres of Italie he gaue him absolution of the Censures in the very firste tymes of his comming to Rome He graunted him also of newe thinuestiture of the Duchie with permission to reteyne all that he had possessed during the vacation of the sea He brought him also into a generall hope to make restitution of Modena Reggia though afterwards vpon better information of thestate and condition of things he well expressed how farre his wyll was estraunged from his promise But by the creation of Pope Clement Alfonso entred into a great feare to returne eftsoones into the same daungers wherein he was intangled before He tooke his reason of this feare for that if things had happely succeeded with Clement the same propertie of disposition woulde haue bene found in him which had alwayes followed Iulio and Leo But as thoccasion was not yet ripe for Ferrara so he made his next practise and preparation to haue agayne Reggia and Rubiera as an enterprise of more facilitie and better to bee iustified by the late possession whiche the Churche had of them and as though in that regarde he coulde not but beare dishonour and infamie to leaue them vnrecouered Vpon which selfe suggestions and reasons he tooke occasion bothe in many other sortes affore and lastly in the capitulation with the Viceroy to occupie his memorie with that deuise more often then many desyred who as they looked into the daungers hanging ouer euery mans head by the greatnesse of themperour and to breake the same sawe no better remedie then a ready and generall vnion of all the states of Italie together that the tyme might cut out occasions and necessities euery daye to take armes So they iudged it a better course for the Pope not to stirre and kindle the Duke of Ferrara and muche lesse to put him into necessitie to seeke his reskewe betweene the armes of themperour agaynst whose forces whose fortune and whose
with an example all new without shutting the conclaue elected Pope the same night those that were of the contrary opinion not daring to oppose against him He either hauing regard to his first name of Iulio or as coniectures were made to signifie the greatnes of his conceptions or lastly bicause he would not giue place to Alexander no not in the excellencie of name tooke vpon him the name of Iulio the second of that name Amongst all the Popes that had passed it was wondred that by so great consent they had created for Pope a Cardinall who was knowen to be of a disposition rigorous terrible and in whom was no expectation of rest and trāquilitie hauing consumed his youth in continuall trauels offended many by necessitie exercised hatreds agaynst many great personages a man to whose wit nothing was more familiar then thinuention of trouble faction and conspiracie But on the other side the causes of his election to that degree appeared clearly and surmounted all other difficulties for he had bene of long time a Cardinall of great power and might and with his magnificence wherin he had always exceeded the residue and with the greatnes of his spirit by the which he did great things he had not only made himselfe mightie in opinion and frendes but by times degrees had erected high his authoritie in the Court of Rome bearing the name title and dignitie of the principall defender of the ecclesiastike libertie But that which serued most in his aduauncement was the promises immoderate and infinite whiche he made to the Cardinals Princes and Barons and to all others whom he might make profitable to him in that action Besides he had the meane to distribute money benefices and spirituall dignities aswell such as were his owne as those that were the rightes of others for that suche was the bruite and renowne of his liberalitie that many made willing offers to him to dispose as he best liked of their treasures their names their offices and benefices They considered not that his promises were farre to great then that beeing Pope he was eyther hable or ought to obserue for that he had of so long continuaunce enioyed the name of iust and vpright that Pope Alexander him selfe his greatest enemie speaking ill on him in al other things could not but cōfesse him to be true of his word A praise which he made no care to defile staine to th ende to become Pope knowing that no man more easily beguileth an other then he that hath the custome and name neuer to deceiue any The Cardinall of Amboyse cōsented to this election for that dispayring to obteine the Popedome for himselfe he hoped that in the new Pope would be recontinued in time to come those degrees and properties of amitie which he had alwayes borne to the king his maister vsing this wisdome to seeme to beare that with liking and contentment which he could not hinder by any deuise or power The Cardinall Askanius gaue also his franke consent beeing reconciled to him before and treading vnder feete the memorie of all auncient contentions that had bene betweene them at suche time as afore the Popedome of Alexander they folowed the court of Rome in the persons of Cardinals for hauing better experience of his disposition then the Cardinall of Amboyse thought that beeing ascended to the Popedome he should haue the same vnquietnes or rather greater then he had had in a meaner fortune together with such cōceptions as might be able to opē to him a way to recouer the duchie of Millan In like sort the Spanish Cardinals yelded their consent notwithstanding in the beginning they shewed no inclination But seing there was such a concurrance of others and fearing not to be sufficient enough to let his election they iudged it more conuenient for their suretie to holde him appeased in consenting then to stir him to anger in refusing somewhat affying themselues in the great promises he made to them and for the rest induced by the persuacions and requests of Valentynois whose condition stoode so enuironed with calamities that he was constrayned to folow euery daungerous counsel He was also no lesse abused then the others with the hopes that he gaue him for that he promised him to make a mariage betweene his daughter his nephew Frauncis Maria de la Rouere prefect of Rome to confirme him captaine of the armies of the Churche And which was of greatest importance to ioyne to his ayde in the recouery of the townes of Romania All which except the Castels were almost withdrawne from his obedience The affayres of which prouince full of innouations and chaunges troubled with diuers thoughtes the spirite of the Pope both for that he knewe he was not able at that time to bring it to his deuotion and also he endured with murmure and grudge that in it should be raysed the greatnes of the Venetians enuy bearing this nature not to make men so muche to complayne of their proper wantes as to greeue in the wealth and well doing of others When it was vnderstande in Romania that Valentynois was fledde into the Castel S. Angeo and the regiments of men that were about him dispersed and passed into their seuerall calamities the Cities whiche had expected him before in great constancie hauing now their hopes turned into feares applied to the time and began to take newe parties suche for the most part is the wauering condition of communalties and multitudes not measuring things by iustice and equitie of reason but eyther by opinion which cōmonly is partiall or by cōmon report which for the most part is ful of incerteinties errors Cesena returned to the auncient deuotion of the Church Ymola the capteine of the castel beeing killed by meane of certayne the principall Citizens stoode in doubt one parte desiring to reuert to the Churche and an other part to be reconciled to the Riareis their first Lordes The Citie of Furly possessed by the Ordelaffy long tyme before it came to the Riares by the permission of Pope Sixtus had reappealed Anthonie a remeynder of the same familie who firste prouing to enter with the fauour of the Venetians but afterwardes fearing that vnder hys name they woulde reteyne the iurisdiction to them selues had recourse to the Florentynes and by their meanes was reinuested in his patrimonie Iohn Sforce returned to Pesero and to Rimini Pandolfe Malateste the one and other beeing called by the people But Denys of Nalda an auncient souldiour to Valentynois at the request of the Castlekeeper of Rimini went to their succours by whose helpe in good time Pandolffe beeing put to the chase the Citie returned eftsones to the obedience of Valentynois Faenza only perseuered longest in his deuotion but in the ende falling into a depriuation of hope for his returne casting their eyes vppon certayne remaynders of the familie of Manfreda their auncient Lordes they called home Astor a young Gentleman of the same house but
a bastarde none remeyning of the race legitimate But the Venetians aspiring to the iurisdiction of all Romania immediatly after the death of Pope Alexander had sent to Rauenna many bandes of souldiours with whome as they made a charge one night vppon the sodayne and with great furie vppon the Citie of Cesena so the people of the place standing valiauntly to their defence by their vertue vanquished the conspiracies of their enemies the Venetians which went thither without artillerie hoping more to surprise it then to force it retyring to the countrey of Rauenna where they considered diligently all things that might geue them any occasion to make them selues great in that Prouince whiche immediatly was presented to them by the discordes that were betweene Denys of Nalde and the Fauentyns for it beeing somewhat intollerable to Denys that the Fauentyns shoulde eftsones returne vnder the gouernment of the house of Manfreda agaynst whom he was drawne into rebellion at such time as Valentynois assayled that citie he called in the Venetians and put into their hands the Castels of the vale of Lamona which he had in keeping And the better to further their practises the Venetians a litle after put a bande of three hundred footemen within the Castle of Faenza being brought in by the castlekeper whom they had seduced by their corruptions They occupied in like sort in the same time the borough of Forlimpople with many other boroughs of Romania and sent one part of their men of warre to take the citie of Faua but the people held out constantly for the Church holding it more honorable to abide perill then corrupt their alleageance They were also brought into Rimini by the consent of the people couenanting aforehand with Pandolffe Malateste to giue him in recompēce the towne of Citadella in the territories of Padua and a yerely pention with a perpetuall estate of a company of men at armes They returned afterwards in great diligence to besiege Faenza for that the townesmen nothing amased with the losse of the castel for thin cōmoditie of his seate separation frō the citie by a depe trench made valiant resistance both for the affectiō they bare to the familie of Manfredi and also for a grudge they had that thin habitāts of the vale of Lamona had promised to strāgers the imperie of Faenza they estemed litle their proper aduersities so that they might obserue the full office of fidelitie to the familie of Manfredi their true auncient Lord But of themselues being vnable to make defence sufficient for that Christopher Moare cōmander of the Venetians had approched his artillerie to their towne occupied al the places of importāce in the countrey they prayed succours of the new Pope Iulio to whom such a maner of audacitie was not a little disagreable But beeing newely ascended to that supreme seate without force without money and without hope to be ayded by eyther of the kings of Fraunce or Spayne for that both they were traueled with thoughtes of farre greater importance also that he denied to be cōfederat with eyther of thē he was without meane of comfort in this calamitie but through thauthoritie of the name pontifical And to proue what reuerence the Venetians bare to it together with what regarde they remembred the amities which long time before he had borne to that commonweale he sent to Venice the Bishop of Tyuoli to complayne that Faenza beeing a citie immediatly apperteining to the Church they would not forbeare to do so great a doshonour to a Pope who afore he was raysed to that soueraigne creation as he honoured their commonweale with a speciall affection so now standing in a greater fortune they might hope for right ample fruits of his friendship so aunciently borne It may be there wanted not in the Senat those sortes of men whiche aforetime had dissuaded not to entangle their estate with the matters of Pysa that they should not receiue in pawne the portes of the realme of Naples nor make partition with the French king of the Duchie of Myllan it may be that in the wisedomes of these men appeared the consideration of euils that might happen and howe by making them selues dayly more and more suspected and hated they might in this action adde to other hatreds the ill will of the Pope But ambicious counsels hauing ben fauoured with so happie successe and therefore all their sailes being hoysed in a winde so happie of fortune the opinions of those that persuaded the contrarie were not heard And therefore almost with a generall consent it was aunswered to the Popes Embassadour that the state of Venice had alwayes greatly desired that the Cardinall S. Petri ad vincla should come to be Pope and as he had now obteined it not by corruption but by his proper vertue and merites so they hoped that the same inclination which in his meaner fortune induced him to embrace and loue them would still go on working with confirmation of offices amities as for their partes he should not doubt that they would not followe him with better respectes being Pope then they had done whilest he was in thestate and person of a Cardinall But as touching the poynt of imputation they knew not wherein they had offended his dignitie embrasing thoccasion which was offred to them to haue Faenza for that that Citie was not onely not possessed by the Churche but also the Churche made a willing depriuation of all her rightes in transferring so amply and in playne Consistorie the iurisdiction to the Duke Valentynois That he would remember that afore that graunt the Popes within no memorie of man had euer possessed Faenza but from time to time had geuen it to newe Vicares without acknowledging other superioritie then the tribute which they offered to pay readily when it should be required That the Fauentins had no desire to be the subiects of the Church but abhorring such nomination they had reuerenced the name of the Duke Valentynois with all those offices obseruances that were in them And that now hauing no more hope in him they were runne headlong to call in the bastards of the house of Manfreda Lastly they besought him that being in the authoritie of Pope he would hold them in the same estate of friendship which he thought them worthy of when he had but the person of a Cardinall not suffering light occasions to remoue that gruae and setled liking which he had so long time had of thē more by his proper inclination then by any their deseruings After the Pope was certified of the will of the Venetians he had sent into Romania the Duke Valentynois whom he had embraced with many demonstrations of honour assoone as he was Pope and in token of amitie lodged him in the pallace Pontificall sauing that he feared least his going in the beginning agreable enough to the people should not be then very hatefull seeing they were already al drawne into rebellion