from the Queene yet he styrred vp to make warre the king of Englande to whom he had transferred by publike decree of the councel of Latran the name of Christianissimo whereof there was already a Bul written and in it likewise was conteyned the priuation of the dignitie and name of the king of Fraunce giuing his kingdome to who coulde occupie it In these conceptions no lesse straunge for their varietie then great for the importance they drewe and perhaps in other thoughtes more secret and singuler for in a minde so fierce and terrible all sortes of imaginations howe great and vayne so euer they be are not incredible after the continuation of his sicknesse for many dayes he declined towardes death And feeling the ende of his mortalitie to hasten on and the same to preuent th execution of his high thoughts he caused to cal together the consistorie which albeit he could not assist in person by reason of his disease yet by the authoritie of it he caused to be confirmed the Bull which he had published before against suche as by symonie would climbe to the Popedome He declared that thelection of his successor apperteined to the colledge of Cardinalls and not to the councell And that the Cardinals schismatikes could haue no presence or communitie there to whom he protested there to pardon the iniuries they had done him and prayed to God to forgiue them the wrongs they had done to his Churche After this he besought the Colledge of Cardinalls that in his fauor and for his sake they woulde graunt to the Duke of Vrbin his Nephew the Citie of Pezera in patronage or vicarage alleaging the consideration that by meane of the duke it had bene recouered to the Church after the death of Iohn Sforce In no other matter he expressed no priuate or particular affection In so muche as Madame Felice his daughter ioyning with her the petitions of many others beseeching him with great importunitie to create Cardinall Guido de Montfalcon being her brother by the mothers side he aunswered roundly that he was not worthy of that degree He made not his affections conformable to their desires In that laste action of lyfe he showed no partialitie in worldly causes his present debilitie coulde diminishe nothing of his auncient resolution but expressed in all things the same constancie and seueritie together with that iudgement and force of minde whiche he had before his sicknesse In whiche firme estate disposition of spirite he receiued deuoutly the offices of the church and the xxj day of February he ended his course of these mortal and present paines He was a prince of incredible constancie and courage but so full of furie and vnruled conceptions that the reuerence that was borne to the Churche the discorde of princes and the condition of times did more to staye him from his ruine then eyther his moderation or his discression Worthy no doubt of great glory if eyther he had bene a Prince secular or if that care and intention which he had to rayse the Churche into temporall greatnesse by the meane of warre had bene employed to exalte it by the mediation of peace in matters spirituall Neuerthelesse he was lamented aboue all his predecessors and no lesse esteemed of those who hauing eyther loste the true consideration of things or at least ignorant howe to distinguishe and peaze them rightly iudged it an office more duely apperteining to Popes to increase the iurisdiction of the sea Apostolike by armes and blood of Christians then by good example of life and due curing and correction of corrupt maners to trauell for the sauing of those soules for whom they glory so much that Iesus Christ hath named them his Vicars in earth The Viceroy of Naples who was marched with his Spanishe armie towards Plaisanca constrayned that Citie to returne vnder the gouernment of the Dukes of Millan on whom it depended by auncient tenure They of Parma did the like hauing the same feare of the Spanishe souldiours beeing followed in all places with more terror then loue On the other side the Duke of Ferrara after he had in great spede recouered the townes of Romagnia drewe neare to Reggia but finding no stirre nor tumult within the towne he durst not abyde there for feare of the Spanishe armie which laye dispearsed betweene Plaisanca and Reggia Touching thestate of the Churche there appeared no other stirre nor mouing and the Citie of Rome nor the Colledge of Cardinalls felt none of those difficulties which they had felte in the death of the two laste Popes So that the obsequies and funeralls beeing ended according to thaccustomed maner xxiiij Cardinalls entred peasibly into the Conclaue hauing graunted afore that the Marquis of Mantuaes sonne whom Pope Iulio kept with him for ostage shoulde be made free and acquited of his fayth and promise with libertie to returne to his father The first matter that was debated in the Conclaue was with straite articles to moderate thauthoritie of the Pope to come which they sayde the laste Pope had vsed too immoderately And yet as amongest men some haue not the heart to oppose agaynst a prince and great Lorde and some desire to enter into his grace and lyking so within small time after they dissolued and cancelled of themselues the articles which they had made with so great aduise and to so good purpose The seuenth day they choosed Pope without any discorde of consent the Cardinal of Medicis who tooke vpon him the name of Leo the tenth He bare but xxxvij yeres of age which albeit was so muche the more marueilous and wonderfull by howmuche the election was contrarie to custome yet the yong Cardinalls were the principall causers of it by their industrie hauing long time affore secretly agreed amongest themselues to create the first Pope of their number The moste partes and nations of Christendome reioyced muche at this election euery one enterteining an assured exspectation of his vertues aswell by the present and greene memorie of the vallour of his late father as for an vniuersall reputation that went of his owne inclinations and liberalities To this estimation also was ioyned a generall opinion of his continencie and life not attaynted together with a gladsome hope that by thexample of his father he would be a furtherer of learning and beare fauor to wittes disposed to studie and knowledge To these hopes was muche helping the maner of thelection beeing made in his person sincerely and without symonie or suspicion of other corruption And it seemed that God began to approue and confirme his seate for that the fourth day after his election came into his power the Cardinalls of S. Crosse and S. Seuerin who assone as they heard of the death of Pope Iulio went by sea to Rome accompanied with thembassador of the French king In their passage they stroke into the hauen of Lyuorno where vnderstanding that the Cardinall of Medicis was chosen Pope they tooke lande the one hauing
deuout intencion he protested and for the good disposicion he had shewed in the negociacions with thEnglish and the Svvizzers and lastly for that he had prouoked him to thenterprise would ioyne with him and fauor thaction the rather for that he had made him many generall offers and perticularly had promised to aide him to reconquer the realme of Naples either to the vse of the Church or to the benefit of Iulio his brother But there hapned new occasions for the which the king beganne to enter into some distrust of him The Pope would neuer put ende to the affaires that the Duke of Ferrara had with him notwithstanding at his first aspiring to the Popedom he had giuen him many faire hopes promising to rēder to him Reggia at such time as his brother the Cardinal should be returned from Hungria But he was more liberall to promise then readie to performe for that after the returne of his brother he went alwayes in deferring with many excuses And yet he forbare not to confirme to him the selfe same promises not onely with wordes which might be vaine and vnassured but by wryting sette out vnder thauthoritie and testimonie of his name in which he consented that he should take the reuenues of Reggia as a degree to the whole which was to returne vnder his dominion it was wel knowen that the Popes intencion was farre otherwise dissembling in meaning the thinges he had simplie spoken with his mouth his inclination and desire to occupie Ferrara were stronger then his promise and true meaning whereunto happily he was caried by Albert de Carpy Caesars Embassador and great enemy to the Duke and also by the reasons of many others setting before his eies the glorie of Iulio which was perpetuall for that he had so greatly aduaunced augmented the dominion of the church And sometimes they preferred thoccasion to bestow an honorable estate vpon Iulio his brother who thirsting after too great thinges and nourishing him selfe with hopes immoderat had voluntarily consented that his Nephewe Lavvrance should reteyne at Florence the authoritie of the house of Medicis so that the Pope being entred into these thoughts obteyned of Caesar who was alwayes needy of money to deliuer to him in morgage the citie of Modona for xl thowsand duckats according to the capitulacion made with him a litle affore the death of the late Pope he made his reckoning to vnite that citie with Reggia Parma and Pleisanca and to giue them in patronage o◠perpetual gouernmēt to Iulio adding to them Ferrara if euer thoccasion serued him to get it he sought to doe a thing by authoritie and fauor of tymes which he could not doe by equitie or lawefull course of iustice But that manner of morgaging put the french king into great suspicion for that in his conceit it caried a manifest signe of straight alliance with Caesar being also no lesse discontented that the Pope had giuen him money Whereof notwithstanding the Pope excused him selfe alleaging that Caesar had deliuered Modena to him for assurance of the money which he had receiued of him affore The king on the other side augmented his suspicion for that vppon a victory which the Turke gotte vpon the Sophy king of Persia the Pope construing it to the vniuersall daunger of Christendom wrote letters to all Princes aduising them to depose armes amongst them selues to resist or inuade the common enemies of the faith he protested one thing vnder his letters and practised an other by operacions secret proceeding alwayes with faire apparances and yet holding his intencions dissembled But the matter that almost altogether disclosed his purposes was that he sent vnder the same shadowe and pretence to Venice Peter Bembo his Secretorye and afterwards Cardinall to dispose that state to agree with Caesar towards whom the same difficulties continuing that had bene before the Venetians would not be wrought but manifested to the french king thoccasion of his comming A dealing that did so much discontent the king that the rather for that the Pope sought to depriue him of his succours at a time when he was ready to aduaunce armes he renewed eftsoones with the king Catholike the auncient practises and that either to th ende the Pope should be touched with that feare or at least if he were carelesse to conclude absolutely so hot he was aboue all other thinges in the expedicion of Myllan In those tymes there were not in any quarter of Italy other stirrs or emocions thē against the Venetians against whom were raysed many secret ambushes and conspiracies for according to the testimonie of their Cronicles certeine spanish footemen feyning to be fugitiues from thennemies campe entred Padoa with mindes to kill Aluiano by direction of their Capteines who hoped by the trouble and disorder of the people for the death of such a Capteine they should be able with their campe to cary the towne So different at this day are the stratagemes of warre from the vertue of thauncients who much lesse that they would subborne an instrument to so great a trayson but of the contrary hauing knowledge of it they would lay it open to thennemies to th ende that by their vertue they might vanquish thinfidelitie pretended but the conspiracie being detected the Magistrates committed the traytors to the due paynes of their offence The spanish armie being now wel diminished in numbers lay incamped betwene Montagnano Cologno and Este And the Venetians to thend to constraine them to returne to the kingdome of Naples leauyed an armie at sea and made their Admirall or capteine generall Andrea Gritti whom they thought to sende to inuade Povvilla But for many difficulties that happned that expendition went no further beeing assone discontinued as it was thought vpon Afterwards the Spaniardes came to the towre neare Vincensa by the perswasion of thAlmains that were within Verona to th ende to ioyne with them in an enterprise to waste and ouerronne the corne of the Padoans But after the Spaniards had taryed in that place in vayne many dayes being both reduced to a very small number and not hable to accomplishe the promisses vnder the which they had called them they left there their enterprise to spoyle their corne for bearing in suche rashnes to do a violence which would draw with it a greater reuenge then was the iniurie And after they had gotte of the Almains xv hundred footmen they marched with seuen hundred men at armes seuen hundred light horsemen and three thousande fiue hundred Spanishe footemen to incampe before Citadella wherein were three hundred light horsemen they marched with great diligence all the night and came to the place within two howres in the moarning and falling to batter it with their artilleries they caryed the towne the same day at the seconde assault they made prisoners all the lighte horsemen that were there and so returned to their campe lying within three myles of Vincensa Aluiano making no resistance He had receyued
in whom was any principall ende and purpose not to suffer the Venetians to become great The Venetians for their partes being in deede more mighty and greater then any particular of the confederates but farre lesse and inferior to them all togither helde their councells separate from the common councell of the league and watching to rayse and encrease their estate by the discord and trauells of others they had a continuall preparation and readines to take th' opportunitie of all occurrants and tymes which might open vnto them the way to the Empire Monarchie of al Italy wherunto it was clearly seene that they did aspire in diuerse seasons but chiefly when abusing the occasion of the death of Philip Maria Viscoūte Duke of Myllan they attempted vnder colour to defend the libertie of the people of Myllan to make them selues Lordes of that state conspiring in like sort but of later memory to bring the Duchie of Ferrara by the way of open warre to their seruitude and subiection This confederation did easily bridle the couetousnes of the senate of Venice but it could not entierly knit the confederats in a true and faithfull amitie for that being indifferently replenished with enuie ielousie they ceased not to keepe a continuall care obseruation eye ouer the thoughts and behauiours of one an other breaking mutually all their resolucions and plotts by the which might come to any one of them enlargement of estate or reputacion A thing which made not the peace lesse stable but reuiued in them all a generall readines to be carefull to quench all such sparkes and brondes as might be the cause of new fires and burnings Such was the estate of the affayres such were the foundacions of the tranquillitie of Italy disposed and counterpeised in such sort that much lesse that there was any dout of present mutacion seeing the wisedome of man could not easily make coniecture by what councells by what accidents or with what innouacion or armies so great a tranquillitie could be troubled when in the month of Aprill 1492. chaunced the death of Laurence de medicis A death very pitifull for him in respect of his age hauing not yet fortie foure yeares but more bitrer and intollerable to his contrey which for the wisedome and reputacion of the man togither with the naturall volubilitie of his witte raysed to all thinges concerning honour and greatnes flourished plentifully with riches loue and ciuilitie and with all other benefitts and felicities which in th affayres of the worlde are wont to accompany a long concord and peace This death hapned also very ill for the residue of Italy as well for his generall deuises cares and actions for the commonsewertie as also for that he was a meane in particular to moderate bridle the differences councells and suspicions which for diuerse occasions were often kindled betwene Ferdinand and Lodovvyk Sforce Princes equall in ambicion and nothing inferior in power Like as when aduersities happen it is seldom seene that one ill comes alone So a litle after the death of Laurence the time preparing euery day occasions to the calamities to come chaunced the death of the Pope whose life being in other thinges vnprofitable to the common weale was at the least conuenient in this that leauing sodeinly warre and armes vnhappily raysed in the entry and beginning of his popedom against Ferdinand at the incēsing of many barons of the realme of Naples he turned soone after all his facultie affections spirite to pleasures vaine dissolute idle not acquainting his thoughts neither for him selfe nor friendes with any enterprise which might trouble the rest felicitie good accord of Italy To Innocent succeded Roderyk Borgia borne at Valence one of the chiefe cities of Spayne he was an auncient Cardinal one of the greatest in all the court of Rome one meane that raised him to the seate of the Pope was the difference betwene the Cardinals Ascanius Sforce Iulian S. Petri ad vincla but the chiefest thing that accomplished his election was that with a new exāple for that time he bought by the consent knowledge of euery one partly for money and partly with promises of offices and great dignities many voyces of the Cardinals who reiecting thinstruction of the Gospell were not ashamed to passe to him by sale an authoritie and power to make marchandize of the holy treasors that with the name of the celestiall authority in the most high and eminent part of the temple To which abominable negociacion many of them were induced by the Cardinall Ascanius but that was not more with perswasions and sutes then with his example for that being corrupted with the infinite desire of riches he made the Pope promise him for his hyer and recompence of so great wickednes the office of vicechancellorshippe the principallest place in the Court of Rome togither with benefices castells and his pallaice of Rome full of mouables of great valour But the Pope for all this coulde not auoyde neither for the tyme to come the iustice and iudgement of God nor for the present the infamy and iust hate of men in whom for this election was no small impressions of astonishment horror not only for that it was entāgled with meanes dishonest but also because the natures condicions of the man chosen were for the greatest part knowen to many many sentences coniectures were made of his successe amongest others Ferdinand king of Naples dissembling openly the griefe he had of that election signified to the Queene his wife with teares which he was wont to forbeare euen in the death of his children that there was created a Pope who woulde be most hurtfull to Italy and the whole common weale of Christendom A iudgement not vnworthy of the wisedome of such a Prince for that in Alexander the sixt for so would this newe Pope be called was a sutteltie sharpenes and expedicion of witte most singular a councell excellent a wonderfull efficacie in perswasion and in all great affayres a iudgement and care incredible But these vertues were maruelously defaced by his vices for touching his manners and customes they were very dishonest in his administrations he expressed litle sinceritie in his countenance no shame in his wordes small trueth in his hart litle faith and in his opinion lesse religion Of the contrary all his actions were defiled with an insatiable couetousnes an immoderate ambicion a barbarous crueltie and a burning desire to rayse and make greate by what meanes so euer his children who were many in number and amongest others one no lesse detestable then the father to whose cursed councells he became a wicked instrument Great was the chaunge in the affayres of the Church by the death of Innocent the eyght but no lesse reuolucion happened in the common weale of Florence by the taking away of Laurence de medicis to whose greatnes without contradiction suceeded Peter the eldest
distrust This was when the warre was most hoate against the Duke of Ferrara whereunto after he had prouoked them intangled them with the quarrell receiuing of the one great displeasures without any profit and for Sixtus he did not onely chaunge purpose but also recompensed them with his spirituall curses and togither with the residue of all Italy he proceeded against them with his temporall corrections But notwithstanding all these the industrie and diligence of Lodovvyk continually soliciting the Senate and priuatly working with many in particular all these difficulties were vanquished and at last was contracted in the month of Aprill 1493. betwene the Pope the Senate of Venice and Iohn Gale as Duke of Myllan for all expedicions were dispatched in his name A new confederacion for their common defence and particular preseruation of the gouernment of Lodovvyk one of the condicions was that the Venetians and Duke of Myllan and euery of them should send immediatly to Rome for the sewertie of the Pope and state ecclesiastick an hundreth men at armes as well with those as with greater forces if neede required they should ioyne with him for the recouerie of the castells deteyned by Virginio These new councells moued not a litle the mindes of all Italy for that the Duke of Myllan remayned now deuided from that league by the which for more then a dozen yeares their common securitie was mainteyned being in it expresly defended that none of the confederats should enter any new alliance without consent of the residue And therefore seeing that vnitie was broken with vnequall diuision wherein consisted the equalitie of their generall and common busines and the mindes of the Princes replenished with suspicions and displeasures there could be no expectacion of other successe then that to a generall and common hurt there would resort frutes equall and conformable to such seedes Nowe the Duke of Calabria and P. de medicis iudging it more for the sewertie of their estates to preuent then to be preuented inclyned easily to Prosper and Fabricius Colonne who being also secretely incensed by the Cardinal S. P. ad vincla offered to surprise the towne of Rome with their companies of men at armes the ayde of the faction of the Gebelyns so that the Vrsins would follow them and the Duke of Calabria march so neare that he might reskew them within three dayes after their entry into Rome But Ferdinand who now desired no more to vexe but to appaise the courage of the Pope and to correct that which heretofore had bene done by a rash councell without discression reiected altogither those councells wherein he iudged was infection of commotion and caried not intencion and matter to breede securitie but to rayse and nourish greater troubles and daungers he determined now not faynedly but with all his hart to doe all he could to compound and accord the controuersie of the castells perswading him selfe that that occasion of so great emotion chaunge being taken away Italy would speedely returne with litle or no trauell to her first estate But it hapneth not alwayes that in taking away thoccasions theffectes doe cease hauing had of them their first beginning for as it often tymes hapneth that resolucions made by feare seeme to him that feareth lesse then the perill so Lodovvyk had no great confidence in that he had found a remedie sufficient for his securitie But dowting by reason the Pope and the Venetians had intencions and endes other then his that his foundacion could not long last which he had layd vppon the confederacion lately made with them and that therefore his affayres by diuerse accidents should be in daunger to be reduced into hard tearmes and many difficulties he applyed all his thoughts more to cure euen to the roote the originall ill that he sett before his eyes then to prouide a salue for such accidents as might happen by it neither remembring how daungerous it is to vse a medicine stronger then the nature of the disease or complexion of the patient will suffer nor that to enter into greater perills can be the onely remedie for daungers present And to the ende to build his sewertie vppon forreine strength seeing he had no confidence in his owne forces and lesse expectacion of trust in thitalyan amities he determined to doe all that he could to stirre vp the French King Charles the viij to assayle the kingdom of Naples which he pretended to appertein to him by the auncient rightes discentes of the house of Aniovv The kingdom of Naples which in the inuestitures bulls of the Church of Rome whereof it is an auncient freehold is absurdly called the Realme of Sicyle on this side the riuer of Far and being vniustly vsurped by Manfroy bastard sonne to the Emperour Frederyk the second was giuen in chiefe togither with the yle of Sicyle vnder the title of both Sicyles the one on this side and the other beyond Far by Pope Vrbyn the fourth to Charles Earle of Prouence and Aniovv brother to that Levvys king of the french who much renowmed for his power strength but more recommended for the holines of his life deserued according to the vaine affections of the frenchmen to be translated after his death into the number of Sainctes This Charles with force of armes obteyned effectually that which by title was giuen to him with thauthoritie of the Church after his death succeeded to the kingdom Charles his sonne called by the Italyans to distinguish him from his father Charles the second who left the inheritance of the Realme to Robert his sonne But because Robert died without issue male Iohane daughter of Charles Duke of Calabria sonne to Robert who died in young age before his father aspired to the kingdom but her authoritie beganne immediately to be deiected no lesse for thinfamie of her life and condicions then for the common imbecillitie of that sexe whereuppon with thincrease of time the Realme being throwne into many discordes and warres not with straungers but amongest the selfe successors of Charles the first descending of diuerse children of Charles the seconde Iohane despayring not to be able to defend her selfe adopted for her sonne Levvys Duke of Aniovv brother to the frenche Kinge Charles the fift he to whome the french men gaue the surname of wise for that he had obteyned many victories without feeling the power of Fortune This Levvys after he had passed into Italy with a mighty armie Iohane being aforehand decessed by violent meanes and the kingdom transferred to Charles called Durazzo descending likewise of Charles the first died of a feuer in Apulia euen when he was almost in possession of the victorie so that there came no other thing to them of Aniovv by this adopcion then thearldom of Prouence which had bene alwaies possessed by the yssues of Charles the first But yet of that rose the original of the colour vnder the which afterwards both Levvys of Aniovv sonne to the first
the L. of Ligny and Yues L. of Alegre with fiue hundred launces two thowsand Svvyzzers to th ende that passing Tyber and ioyning with the Collonnoys they might make a strength to enter Rome and that so much the better by how much the Collonnoys by the meane of their factions and partakers within Rome had a resolute hope to make their entrey in what sort so euer it were notwithstanding by the season of the tyme being rough and stormie the difficulties were much increased By this tyme Ciuitaueche Cornette and in the ende almost all the territorie of Rome were brought to the deuocion of the frēch when a man might haue seene all the Court amased all the Cardinalls dowtfull and all the communaltie of the citie full of feares emocion demaunding vehemently peace in so much that the Pope driuen to daungerous tearmes seeing the foundacions which he had layd for his defence shaken on all sides was not reteyned with any other thing then with the remembrance that he was one of the first that stirred the french king to thenterprise of Naples And had since without occasion giuen obstinatly resisted him with authoritie with councells and with force the same making him iustly dowt that the faith which he should receiue of the king should be like to that the king had receiued of him To these feares he felte an other torment nothing inferior vnderstanding the Cardinall S. P. ad vincla was very gracious in the kinges sight with many other Cardinalls his ennemies bearing no litle authoritie and rule in the kinges doings By the perswasions of whom and for the regard of the title of right Christian which the kinges of Fraunce beare and for the auncient name which that nacion hath to be very religious and lastly for that in ill men the conscience giltie and infected suspecteth not onely the worst but also their mindes caried in shadowes they expect and dread great thinges of those that are knowne to them but by name onely he feared least the king would turne his witts according to a vayne brute to reforme the gouernment of the Church the same being a right trembling thought coniecture to him when he remēbred with what infamie he was come to the Popedom performing his ministracion with maners of life meanes not differing from so fowle and vile a beginning But he was cleared immediatly of these suspicions by the diligence and promises of the king full of efficacie and desire to aduaunce aboue all things his going to the realme of Naples And for that cause letting nothing passe that might take out of his way the blockes and impediments of the Pope sent to him eftsoones as Embassadors the Seneschall of Beucaire the Mareshall of Gie the sayd President of Gannay they labored to perswade the Pope that the kinges intencion was not to medle with any thing that apperteined to thauthoritie of Popes and that his demaundes stretched not but to thinges reasonable and necessary for the sewertie of his passage They required him instantly to agree with good will to the kinges entrey into Rome assuring him that it was a holy and peculiar desire in his maiestie Not that it was not in his power to make his entrey by armes but because he would not be constrayned to forbeare to vse those actions of reuerence which had bene alwayes done by his elders to the Popes of Rome They assured him that assoone as his maiesties person were possessed of the presence of the Pope within Rome all those quarells that had bene raysed betwene them would be conuerted into reconcilement vnitie and coniunction It seemed to the Pope a hard compulsion to despoyle him selfe afore all thinges of the ayde of his friendes and committing his estate and life into the power of an ennemie to receiue him within the walles of Rome afore he had compownded or assured his affayres Notwithstanding making election of the daunger that was of least qualitie he consented to all their demaūds and caused to depart out of Rome the Duke of Calabria for whom albeit he obteyned of the french king a safe conduit for his safe passage through all the dominions of the Church yet the Duke accompting it a diminucion of his reputacion and courage refused it and issued out of Rome by the gate S. Sebastian the last day of the yeare 1494. at the same hower that at the gate de S. Maria de Popolo entred with the armie of Fraunce the french king armed with his launce vppon his thigh as he entred Florence At the same tyme the Pope full of incredible feares and perplexities was withdrawne to the castell S. Ange and not accompanied with other Cardinalls then Baptista Vrsin and Oliuer Caraffe a Neapolitan But now began the Cardinalls ad vincla Askanius Collonne and Sauelle with many others to solicite the king with vehement instance that taking from the sea a Pope ful of vices and abominable to all the world he would create and set vp an other they told him it would be no lesse vertuous in him to deliuer the church of God from the tyrannie of a wicked Pope then it was great glorie to Pepin Charlemain his predecessors to take the Popes of holy life out of the persecucions of those that did vniustly oppresse them that the action was no lesse necessary for his securitie then greatly concurring for his glorie for there was no expectacion of faith or trust in the promises of the Pope being a man naturally full of fraude insatiable in ambicion shameles in all his doings and according to the testimonie of experience extremely hating the french with whom the reconciliacion that now he made was more by necessitie and feare then of inclinacion or good will partly by these perswacions and partly for that the Pope in the condicions that were debated refused to let the king haue the castell of S. Ange for the sewertie of those thinges he promised him thartilleries were drawne twise from the pallaice of S. Marke where the king was lodged to be planted before the castell But the king bearing no inclinacion to offend the Pope and the presentes and promises of Alexander working much with some of those that gouerned most the kings councells they fell to accord in this sort That the Pope should giue to the king to hold for his sewertie till he had conquered the kingdom of Naples the Cytadells of Ciuitauechia Terrachine and Spolete and yet this last was not put into his hands That the Pope should keepe no remembrance of any offence or iniurie of the Cardinalls or any Barons subiectes to the church that had followed the kinges partie That the Pope should inuest him in the kingdom of Naples That he should giue to the king Gemyn Ottoman brother to Baiazet who after the death of their father had bene persecuted by the sayd Baiazet according to the barbarous customes of the Ottomans seeking to establish their succession in the Empire with the bludd
of their brethren their nearest kinne and competytors In which perill for safetie of his life he was fledd to Rodes from whence he was brought into Fraunce lastly past ouer into the power and custodie of Pope Innocent By which occasion Baiazet seruing his turne of the couetousnes of the Vicaires of Christ as instrumentes to holde in peace the Empire ennemie to the Christian faith payed euery yeare vnder the name of allowance towardes his norriture and keeping forty thowsand duckats to the Popes to th ende they should be lesse ready to deliuer him into the handes of other Princes to serue their turnes against him The king was so much the more desirous to haue him by how much he supposed to turne him to many vses oportunities for thaduauncing of his pretended enterprise against the Turkes being greatly caried into glorie by the vayne flatteries of many of his fauorits which he ment to beginne as soone as he had accomplished the conquest of thAragons And because the last xl thowsand duckats sent by the Turke were taken at Sinigalle by the Prefect of Rome he required that the Pope would remitte both the punishment and restitucion To these capitulacions were added that the Cardinall of Valence should follow the king three monthes as Legat apostolike but in meaning it was to stande as ostage for the promises of his father The accord thus made and past the Pope returned to the Vatican where is his pallaice pontificall And after with pompes and ceremonies accustomed at the receiuing of great kinges he receiued the king in the Church of S. Peter and there according to the maner hauing kissed his feete kneeling was afterwards receiued to kisse his cheeke An other day he assisted in presence the Popes masse where he had his place the first after the first Bishop Cardinal and according to the auncient custom gaue water to the Pope celebrating masse which offices humilities ceremonies the Pope to continue the memorie to all posterities caused to be curiously drawn in a table purtraied honge vp in a gallerie of the castell S. Ange In this action the Pope to gratifie the king created published Cardinalls the Bishop of S Mallo the Bishop of Maus of the nation of Luxumburg forgetting nothing that might expresse how sincerely and vnfaynedly he was reconciled The king remeyning in Rome about a month forgat not to send bandes trowps of souldiers euen vppon the confins of the kingdom of Naples where was already such generall commotion that Aquila and almost all Abruzza displayed enseignes afore he parted from Rome as also Fabricius Collonne occupied the quarters of Albe Taille cosse The whole residue of the kingdom was almost in no more peasible estate for that as soone as Ferdinand was parted from Rome the frutes of the hatredes which the people had long borne to Alphonso began to appeare helping much the remembrance of many rigors which his father Ferdinand had vsed against them vpon these they raysed ready occasions to complayne vehemently of the iniquities of the gouernments passed togither with the cruelties and pride of Alphonso expressing in these humors apparant desire that the french might come and that in such sort as the contemplacion of the auncient relykes and monuments of such as held with the house of Aniovv albeit they were ioyned to the memorie of so many Barons as had bene chassed and emprisoned at sundry tymes by Ferdinand thinges of themselues of great consideracion and of no litle power to worke a chaunge did litle in this tyme in regarde of the other occasions so vehemently were the hartes of all the kingdom inflamed against Alphonso who for his part as soone as he vnderstood that his sonne was gon out of Rome entred into such present feares astonishmēts that turning all memorie or regard to the great renowme and glorie which with so long experience he had got in many warres in Italy into a present despaire not to be able to resist this fatall storme determined to abandon the kingdom and leaue to Ferdinand the name and authoritie royall In this deuise perhaps he had hope that taking away with him selfe the generall hatred and leauing to the people for their king a yong Prince of great expectacion not yet hauing offended any of them but gracious and plawsible to the vniuersall multitude he should make lesse in his subiectes their desire to haue the french which councell if it had bene sooner taken would happily haue wrought to better purpose but being differred till things were not onely in motion and shaking but euen beginning to fall it was not able to stay so great a ruine It was sayd also if it be lawfull not to despise such thinges altogither that the spirite of Ferdinand appeared three tymes in sundry nightes to Iames chiefe Surgeon of the Court charging him first with soft and mild words and after with many threatnings to warne Alphonso from him not to hope to be able to resist the french king because it was a resolucion in destinie that his race trauelled with infinit aduentures and fortunes and depriued at last of so large a kingdom shoulde now ende and determine he sayd their enormities began now to appeare in iustice and the many tyrannies by them committed were the causes but aboue all others that which by his perswasion he had done in the church of S. Leonard in Caiaia neare Naples comming from Pozzolo for that he expressed them no more particularly men supposed that Alphonso had in that place perswaded Ferdinand to put to death secretly many Barons whom he held prisoners long time before But of what nature so euer was thoccasion it is most certeine that Alphonso vexed with his proper conscience liued day and night in a discontented spirite for that in his sleepes the shadowes and Ghostes of those dead Lordes were liuely afore him and on the dayes he beheld the people prepard greatly to insurrections for reuenge of his rigorous dealinges In which perplexitie of mind applying his councells to his fortunes he communicated onely his intencion with the Queene his mother in law keeping it from his brother or his sonne and departed from Naples accompanied with fowre light gallies loaden with implements rich and precious he was so afflicted with dread confusion that at the earnest instance of his mother he would not stay two or three daies a time to ende the whole yeare of his reigne And at his departing expressing such tymerous disposicion of mind as if he had bene enuironed with the french mē he sayled to a towne in Sicile called Mazare which Ferdinand the king of Spayne had giuen him the yeare before but his feares left not to followe him no more then his fortunes showing at euery brute or small noyse no lesse perplexitie and terror then if the heauens and elements had conspired against him As the french king departed out of Rome he receiued aduertisement of the fleing of
reason to esteme it much to their behoof that vntil Philip borne norished in Flaūders where things were gouerned diuersly had attained a riper age taken a greater knowledge of the laws customes nature maners of Spayne al their realmes might be preserued for them vnder one peaceable well ordred gouernment the coūtreis of Castill Aragon being meinteined in the meane while as one selfe body But as in mortall actions the wit of man is insufficient to set downe a firme stabilitie for that all things vnder the highest circuite haue their proper reuolutions so litle helped the wise prouisions of this Queene to stay the alteration of things for that after her death newe accidents hapning in Spayne the state tooke a newe forme of gouernment But touching th affayres of Italie as we meane to expresse hereafter they were better disposed to a newe peace The yere 1505. things continued in the same estate of tranquilitie wherin they had bene norished the yere before which was such that had not the quarell betwene the Florentins and Pisans brought some alteration the actions of armes for that yeere had wholly surceased one part of the potentates beeing desirous of peace and the other that were enclined to warre holden reteyned for many reasons for it suffised the king of Spayne who continued still the same title and as yet traueled with the thoughtes of his dead wife to keepe the kingdome of Naples by meane of the truce that had bene made The Frenche king was entred into a great suspicion for that Caesar following in this as in all other things his wandring nature had not ratified the peace The Pope albeit he was desirous of innouation and newe things yet he neyther durst nor coulde stirre onlesse he were accompanied with the armes of some mightie Prince And the Venetians esteemed it to no small grace if in so great consulte and counsell of things agaynst them and in so yll a disposition of the Pope they stoode quiet and were not molested by others wherein the better to appease the Pope they had offred many monthes before to leaue him Rimini and all that they had possessed in Romania since the death of Pope Alexander to th ende he did consent that they might reteyne Faenza with his territories This offer they made also for feare they had of the Frenche king and for that Caesar at the solicitation of the Pope had sent his Embassadours to Venice to sommon them to make restitution of the landes of the Churche But the Popes aunswere was so resolute that they passed no further he tolde them according to the constancie of his minde and his free nature to expresse his conceytes that he woulde not consent to the reteyning onely of a little towre but dyd hope to recouer before his death bothe Rauenna and Ceruia cities whiche they possessed no lesse iniustly then they did Faenza with whiche aunswere they kepte suspended their further sutes till the beginning of the sommer when their feares beeing become greater they offred by the meane of the Duke of Vrbin a friende indifferent to restore all that they had occupied which was not of thappurtenances of Faenza and Rimini so that the Pope who would not afore admit their Embassadours to tender their obedience would nowe consent to receyue them This demaunde albeit the Pope shewed him selfe somewhat harde to accept supposing he should do wrong to his dignitie as not conuenient to allowe it remembring the great quarrels and threatnings he had made to them yet hauing regarde to the perplexities that were endured by them of Furly Ymola and Cesena who depriued of the greatest parte of their countreis suffred many incommodities And seeing withall no other meane to redresse things with spede for that the affaires betweene Cesar the French king proceeded with so great a longnes of time and delay at last he consented to that which in effects was a gayne without losse since neither by wordes nor writings he was bounde to any thing So that after the townes were restored eight embassadors of the principals of the Senate chosen since he was created Pope were sent to him The greatest companie and most honorable shewe of Embassadors which that commonweale had euer sent to any Pope if he were not a Venetian But after they had tendred their obedience with the ceremonies accustomed they brought not backe to Venice any signe by the which they coulde gather that the Pope was become more easie or tractable so deepe were thimpressions of his misliking agaynst them or els so cunningly coulde he dissemble contrarie to his owne promises and their expectations About this time the French king desiring to put ende to that which had bene debated sent the Cardinall of Amboyse to Haguenau a towne of base Almaine where Cesar Tharchduke attended him hauing newly taken that towne vpon the Counte Palatin There were published sworne solemnly the conuentions that had bene made the Cardinall paying the moytie of the money promised for thinuesture with promise that Caesar should receyue thother moytie assoone as he should passe into Italie notwithstanding both at the present he gaue to vnderstand and a little after he declared that he could not passe that yere for thimpedimentes which were in Germanie the same making the suspition of warre so much the lesse the French king being determined to enter into no new attempt without him Only the warre almost continuall betweene the Florentins and Pisans remeined kindled in Italie the which proceeding by easie degrees and not pursued but when occasions offred to the one or the other partie who otherwise had no one setled enterprise it hapned that Luke Sauelle issued out of Cassina in which lande the Florentins made their retraite of warre and with him certeyne captaynes and constables of the Florentins with foure hundred horse and many bandes of footmen their intention was to reuittell Librafatta and by the same meane to leauie certayne heards of cattell of the Pisans feding on the other side the ryuer of Sercle vpon the grounds of the Lucquoys not so muche for the benefite and pillage of the pray as for the desire they had to drawe the Pisans to the feight hauing a confidence to ouerthrowe them for that they were the stronger in the fielde And when they had conueyed vittels into Librafatta possessed the pray they pretended they returned with leisure by the same way to th ende to intise the Pisans with that oportunitie to come and charge them Tarlatin chiefe commaunder ouer their men of warre issued out of Pisa assone as he vnderstoode thenemie droue away their cattell And bicause the chiefe poynt of the reskue rested in expedition he tooke no moe with him then fifteene men at armes fortie light horsemen and threescore footemen leauing order that a greater strength should follow him so necessarie is speede in enterprises that oftentimes they are wonne and lost with a lesse measure distance of time then is required to
were the particulars That they should not in any sort dispose the benefices or dignities of the Church and that they shoulde make no resistance or difficultie touching the frutes prouisions deriuing of them to the Court of Rome That they should not gainesay that in that Court should not be persecuted the causes for benefices with others appertaining to thecclesiastike iurisdiction That they should not charge the goods of the Church and exempt places of their temporall dominion with tenthes or any other sortes of imposicion That they shoulde renownce from thappellacion against thadmonicion and from all interests rightes gotten vpon the Church landes in what sort soeuer but specially from all those prorogatiues and rightes by the which they pretended to holde the office of Vicedomino in Ferrara That the subiects of the Church and their vessels may freely traffike thorough their goolfe and that with such ample facultie that the marchandise of other nations brought in their bottoms shoulde not be troubled nor subiect to pay tolls That it should not be lawfull for thē in any sort to medle with Ferrara or any townes of that state which were dependant on the Church Thatal couenantes contracts which they had made to the preiudice of the Church with any the subiects or vassalls of the same should be cancelled and made voide That they should not receiue any Duke Baron or other subiect or vassall of the Churche that should be an enemie or rebell to the sea Apostolike That they should be bownd to make restitution of all the moneys which they had exacted vppon the reuenues of the Churche together with reparation of all the harmes which the Church had suffred These obligations with the promises and sufficient renouncements being receiued in the consistorie the Venetian Embassadors at a day appoynted according to thauncient examples of tymes were brought vnder the portall of the great Church of S. Peter where falling at the Popes feete being set in his pontificall seate neare the brazen gates and honored with thassistantes of all the Cardinals and college of Prelates they asked him pardon in great humilitie confessing their contumacie and faultes past After this according to the custome of the Churche were pronounced certaine prayers and so proceding to all the other degrees of ceremonies the Pope receyuing them into grace gaue them absolution and enioyned them for penaunce to go visite the seuen Churches After the action of absolution was done they entred into S. Peters Churche beeing guided by the great penitencier And after they had heard Masse which was denied to them before they were very honorably accompanied to their howses by many prelates and Courtiers not as persons excommunicated and interdited but as reconciled Christians and deuout children to the sea Apostolike Soone after they returned to Venice more loaden with the ceremonies then made blessed with the vertue of their absolution leauing behinde them at Rome Hieronimo Donato one of their number and who by his vertues and singular facilitie of witte and learning becomming very agreable to the Pope did afterwards great seruice to his countrey in things which he negociated with him THE ARGVMENT OF THE NINTH BOOKE POpe Iulio the seconde turneth agaynst the French men The French king and king of Romains enter league agaynst the Venetians vvho besiege Verona The Pope taketh Mirandola and makes vvarre vpon the Duke of Ferrara The families of Bentyuole returne to Bolognia A Councell is published at Pisa agaynst the Pope THE NINTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin THE mindes of men of their proper inclination are mutable bearing no small subiection to passions of enuie ambition and glorie And to great Princes aspiring to high actions by so muche lesse tollerable is the stroake of reuolution and chaunge by howmuche more thoccasions are wrought directly contrarie to their exspectations and do conclude preiudicially agaynst their proper imperie and greatnes for as this absolution whiche the Pope gaue to the Venetians brought no litle greefe to the minde of Maximilian beeing so muche the more vexed by howmuche thaction was accomplished with a will resolute and touched him more particularly and principally then all the residue So also the French king hauing no lesse interest in the harmes that might happen did equally communicate in the perplexities of this alteration for that he desired for his priuate profite that the greatnes of the Venetians should not be eftsones reestablished Neuerthelesse he coulde not finde out what were the intentions and laste endes of the Pope And therefore feeding himselfe with vayne hopes concerning the difficulties of th affayres that were prepared agaynst him he perswaded himselfe that the Pope stirred onely for suspicion of his vniting with Maximilian and that temporising with him and giuing him no occasion of greater feare he would passe no further but rest satisfied with thabsolution he had giuen A perswasion muche abusing the kings affayres and no lesse farre from the resolution of the Pope who growing more and more confirmed in his deliberation and litle respecting the declarations and impedimentes of the confederate Embassadors suffred the subiects and dependantes of the Churche to enter into the pay of the Venetians who receiued into intertainement Iohn Paule Baillon as generall of their whole companies standing without a gouernor by the death of the Count Petillano they tooke also into their wages Iohn Lovvis and Iohn Vitelli sonnes to the late Iohn Camilla and made Ranso de Cere colonell of their footmen holding it a iustice as reasonable to fauour them with this libertie for their temporall ayde as to acquite them of the paynes of the Churche both the one and other respecting one meaning and matter And as in this action he made open declaration that he tooke the Venetians into his protection so he laboured also to bring them to agreement with Caesar hoping vnder that meane not onely to seperate him from the French king but withall to knitte him with himselfe and with the Venetians to make warre vpon him wherein for the more easie succeding of this deuise taking his oportunitie vpō the necessities of Caesar he interposed his authoritie to the electors of thempire and the free townes to th ende that in the dyet of August there should be no consent of contribution But the more he aduaunced and vrged this practise the more he founde it of harde operation for that on the one side Caesar would not harken to any motion of agreement vnlesse Verona might remayne to him and on the other side the Venetians in whom the Pope had hope of a greater facilitie perswading them selues to be hable to defende Padoa in all fortunes and that keeping that citie time would fauour them with more occasions demaunded resolutely the restitution of Verona offring to pay in recompence a huge summe of money To a minde disposed to troubles nothing is more sweete then the studie of vexation and by howmuch more plentifully doth abounde the humor of
difficulties for the defence of Modona returned vpon him agayne he left the disputation of words consented to haue it set downe in writing that Modona should be restored to Caesar of whose iurisdiction it was And as Vitfruch thembassadour of Caesar resident with the Pope had receiued the possession of it and that he might remayne there in suretie by the authoritie of Caesar he dismissed Mark. Anth. Colonno with the other bands with whom he had kept it afore in the name of the Church aduertising Monsr Chaumont that Modona was no more the Popes but was iustly reuerted to the iurisdiction of Caesar This was not beleeued of Chaumont who still continued to worke the Cardinal of Este to put in execution the conspiracie and intelligence whiche he interteyned with that Citie In so muche that according to direction the Frenche bandes which Chaumont had left in garrison within Rubiero were made out one night but notwithstanding they marched with as litle brute as they coulde within a myle of Modona they returned the same night to Rubiero either for that the order of their faction within was not correspondent or els the Frenchmen had preuented their time and were come to soone Neuerthelesse they gaue no place to this yll successe but made an other â—ally out of Rubiero to come to Modona falling notwithstanding into the same impedimentes they did before aggrauated nowe by the deapth and rage of the waters to passe the ryuer of Sekchie whiche runneth before Rubiero At laste Vitfruch became suspicious and committing to imprisonment certayne of the Citie vpon whom he imposed an intelligence with the cardinall of Este he obteined of the Pope that Marke Anth. Colonno should eftsones returne thither with the garrison that was there before A matter whiche had not stayed Monsr Chaumont beeing nowe come to Carpy to marche and encampe before it if the qualitie and season of the time had not taken from him the drawing of his artillerie along the way betwene Ruolo and Carpy A way not more then ten miles from thence but euen the worst of all the ways in Lombardie notwithstanding their ouerflowing with waters and marishe natures Besides all this Chaumont was euery day more and more aduertised that Modona was redeliuered to Caesar simply and absolutely which made him make this couenant with Vitfruch not to offende Modona nor his territories receiuing reciprocally his promise that in the actions betwene the Pope and his king he should not fauour the one nor the other partie But suche is the destinie and ende of all fleshe that all men borne in humaine nature muste in their time appoynted resigne to the earth the life they had of the earth it happned not many dayes after that Chaumont fell into a greeuous maladie and beeing carried to Correge ended his life within fiftene dayes expressing deuoutly somewhat affore his death how greatly he was repented and remorsed of the vexations he had done to the Church and besought the Pope by a publike instrument to giue him pardon and absolution which being graunted whilest he yet lyued coulde not come to his knowledge by reason of the sodennes of his death He was a Captayne that in his life bare great authoritie in Italie both by the singular credite of the Cardinall Amboyse and also for that he managed almost absolutely the Duchie of Millan and all the armies of the king But touching his habilitie or vallour it was farre inferiour to so great a burden the greatnes of his place carrying him into suche singularitie of minde and weening that not knowing of him selfe the arte and order of warre he would not giue fayth to suche as were hable to instruct him by whiche it happned that after the death of his vncle his insufficiencie beeing no more supported by countenance and fauour he fell in his latter dayes almoste into the disdayne of the souldiours notwithstanding he suffred in them wonderfull insolencies and licencious behauiours to stoppe them from yll reapporting him to the king In so muche as Triuulce a captayne trayned in auncient discipline woulde oftentimes protest by othe that he would neuer go more into the Frenche armies vnlesse the king marched in person or at least him selfe commaunded as cheefe Neuerthelesse the king was determined affore to sende for his successor Monsr Longeuille discended of the bloud royall but a bastarde borne and not so muche esteemed for his vertue as for his discending and ryches By the death of Chaumont Iohn Ia. Triuulce remayned gouernour of th armie by the prerogatiue that he was one of the foure Mareshalls of Fraunce to whom the generall beeing dead the rule of th armie apperteineth by the statutes of Fraunce vntill the king do otherwise dispose of it And albeit not knowing how long he shoulde be continued in that gouernment he durste not attempt any matter of consequence yet he returned with th armie to Sermidi to go to the succors of Geniuola afore the which the Pope had not onely sent his bands that were in Romagnia but also had procured the Venetian fleete to approche at the same instant which came thither with thirtene light gallies and many other vesselles of meaner burden But he had no necessitie to passe further for whilest the landemen incamped about it with very litle obedience and order there was discouered vpon a sudden the Duke of Ferrara and the Lorde of Chastillon with the Frenche souldiours that were ledde out of Ferrara in greater numbers then were thenemies and marching along the brinke of the ryuer of Pavv and beeing come vp as farre as the ryuer of Santerno they cast the bridge which they had brought with them and in one moment charged and confused thenemies who by reason of their disorder beeing not hable to make resistance fell into one generall and voluntarie fleeing sauing three hundred Spanishe footemen whiche garded thartillerie In which confusion they loste their ensignes and artilleries many chieftaynes of the horsemen finding more safetie in the fortune and swiftnes of their horses then in their proper valours By reason of this aduersitie the Venetian fleete to auoide the daunger that threatned hoysed sayle into the winde and so retyred into the ryuer of Pavv The affayres of the warres had these diuers proceedings not expressing any assured token to iudge what would be the issue of it The thoughts also of Princes were no lesse diuerse and no lesse incertayne specially the cogitations of Caesar who contrarie to all exspectation determined to sende the Bishop of Gurce to Mantua to negociate a peace It is set downe before that by the working of the Bishop of Gurce it was resolued betwene Caesar and the French king to make strong warre vppon the Venetians in the spring time and withall to call a councell if the Pope consented not to the obseruation of the league of Cambray To this Caesar bearing a very vehement inclination had since the returning of the Bishop of Gurce sent to all his prelates of his
iniuries for that the Pope by a speciall writ had commaunded the Scottish king to attempt no domage or greeuance to the crowne of Englande Neuerthelesse in the viij session of the councell of Latran which fell in the latter end of the yere the French Agents in the name of their king and protesting his commission disclaymed from the councell of Pisa and stucke to the councell of Latran They promised besides that six of those prelates that did assiste the councell of Pisa should go to Rome to do the lyke in the name of the whole French Churche and that others of the Cleargie should come to dispute vpon the pragmatike with intention to referre themselues to the declaration of the councell of which in the same session they obteined full absolution of all things committed agaynst the Church of Rome These were the accidents and actions done in Italie Fraunce and Englande in the yere a thousande fiue hundred and thirteene In the beginning of the yere following Anne the French queene passed from this life to a better hauing scarcely tasted the sweete fruite of the vnion with the church which she had so muche desired She was a verye vertuous and catholike Queene and for those partes her death was greatly sorowed of all the realme and of her naturall peoples of Brittaine When the realme of Fraunce was thus reduced to thobedience of the Churche and by that meane bothe the name and authoritie of the councell of Pisa vtterly remoued some of those that had feare of the greatnesse of the French king began to stirre and feare least his power were too much embased But specially the Pope who notwithstanding he continued in the same desire that the duchie of Millan shoulde not be recouered by him yet fearing least the king made amased with so great daungers and remembring eftsoones the matters of the yere paste would not giue him selfe sodenly to accorde with Caesar with whose wil was alwayes concurrant the minde of the king Catholike contract his daughter with one of the Nephewes of those two kings induing her for a dowry with the duchie of Millan He began to perswade with the Svvizzers that for too great hatred agaynst the French king they woulde not put him into necessitie to do a matter which should be no lesse preiudiciall to them then to him He tolde them they were not ignoraunt of the yll minde that Caesar and the king Catholike bare to them who if they obteined the duchie of Millan by vertue of accorde with the Frenche king it woulde be a matter no lesse to the daunger of their libertie and authoritie then hurtefull to the prerogatiue of the Churche and perill to the whole state of Italie That they ought to perseuer in their resolution not to suffer the French king to recouer the duchie of Millan yea they ought also to take heede least as it often hapneth in the doings of men to auoyde too muche one extremitie they fell not into an other extremitie more hurtefull and daungerous That to assure themselues more then neede was that that estate should not reuert to the French they were not the cause to make it fall into the handes of others with so muche the more perill ruine to all by howe muche lesse they should be founde hable to make resistance to a farre stronger power then the greatnesse of the Frenche king That the common weale of Svvizzers hauing made notable their name and reputation in the actions of warre with so many glorious and worthy victories was to make them selues no lesse famous and renowmed by the practises of peace That they were to foresee presently the daungers that were to come and to remedie them with wisedome and counsell without suffring things to slyde and fall into places from whence they can not be drawen out and readressed but by armes and vallour of the hande That according to the testimonie of dayly experience it happned often in warre that the vallour of men was smothered by the too great power of fortune That it was a better counsell for them to moderate in some part thaccord of Dion specially the king offring them greater paymentes and promise to make truce for three yeeres with the state of Millan so farrefoorth as they would not constrayne him to resigne his interestes which resignation beeing of greater consequence in apparance then in effect for when oportunitie shall returne to the king to reconquer it the action of resignement shall be no other impediment to him then he liste things for that difficultie ought not to be reduced to so great a daunger On the other side he aduysed the french king with many working reasons to make election of the lesser yll and rather to dispose him selfe to ratifie thaccorde of Dyon then to returne to the daunger of oppression by so many enemies in his realme the next sommer That it was thoffice of a wise Prince to auoyde the greater yll and to embrace for good and profitable thelection of the lesser That it was contrarie to the wise gouernment of a king to take himselfe out of one daunger and disorder to runne into an other of greater importance and greater infamie That it could be no honor to him to graunte the duchie of Millan with so manyfest a note of cowardise to his naturall enemies who had pursued him with so many deceites and suttleties That it was neither reste nor securitie to him by diminishing so much his owne reputation to enlarge the power of suche as conspired altogether to pull downe the Crowne of Fraunce That himselfe was a good witnesse that he could not be assured of any promise of any fayth or othe that they make A matter which he had well knowen by thexperience of other tymes to his great harmes That truely it was a harde matter to resigne hys rightes but thinfamie was so muche the lesse by howemuch a little billet or writing made not his enemies more mightie That since it had bene promised without his priuitie or consent it might be sayde that it was not his deuise from the beginning but in the execution he would be so muche the more excused being as it were constrayned for the promise made by his people to keepe somewhat his fayth Besides the world doth knowe from how great and desperate a state of daunger that accord at that time had deliuered the realme of Fraunce That he allowed well that by other meanes and offers he labored to induce the Svvizzers to his intention And that touching his parte as he desired for the suretie of his kingdome that in some sorte there were made an agreement betweene them and him so in that action he would omitte no good office of amitie and trauell to drawe the Svvizzers conformable to his will But if they woulde be obstinate he exhorted him in grauitie and fatherly deuotion to obey time and necessitie though not for other regardes yet not to take from him thexcuse to departe from thalliance he
eyther parties That was the cause why he was bold to call home agayne Marke Antho. and durst not sende to the king the succours he had promised That he had created a Legate with Caesar and on the other side Caesar being departed from Millan the Legate vnder a fayned cooller of sicknesse stayed at Rubiera to see affore he passed further what would be the issue of such an enterprise And afterwards to settle quiet the kings mind he thought good that his nephew Lavvrence continuing in the same demonstration to depende of the king that he showed when he went to him at Millan should giue him money by the Florentins to paye three thousande Svvizzers for one moneth But albeit the king accepted this money yet disclosing by tokens that he knewe the Popes driftes he sayd that since he was alwayes agaynst him in warre and the alliaunce made with him serued him to no vse in times of daunger he would eftsoones make a new confederacion wherein he would be bownd but in peace and in seasons of suertie Assoone as the armie of Caesar was dispersed and separat the Venetians without tarying for the french men approached Bressia by night thinking to skale the wals They had confidence in this enterprise by the smal strength of men that was within since there remained no more but six hundred footemen spanish and foure hundred horsemen but both their ladders being shorter then was necessary to that seruice the vallour of the defendants beguiling their exspectacion their attempt drew with it no successe Afterwardes arriued the frenche armie vnder the charge of Odet de Foix whom the king had newly created his Lieuetenant in place of Monsr Burbon who of his owne mocion had willingly resigned that gouernment into the kinges handes These armies assailed Bressia with artilleries in foure places to take from the defendants all reasonable possibilitie to make resistance against so seuerall executions and albeit the vallour of the defendants contending against their fortune made good resistance so long as they had hope that a regiment of seuen thowsand footemen of the contry of Tyroll beeing come by Caesars commaundement to Montagnia should passe further yet both that reskewe beeing disapointed for thimpediments which the Venetians bestowed in the castell of Auso and other passages and also the defendants not willing to abide thassalt which was to be giuen the next yēare a great pane of the wal being already beaten downe to the ground the souldiours couenanted to leaue the towne and castell onely with their goods saued if they were not reskewed within a day About these times the Pope preparing to take by armes from Frauncis Maria de la Rovvero the Duchie of Vrbyn began to proceede against him with censures and Church paines causing to be published an admonition wherein was expressed that being in the pay and wages of the Church he had refused those regiments of men for the which he had receiued pay and was secretly compownded with thennemies That long time before he had killed the Cardinall of Pauia of the which he was absolued by grace and not by iustice and had executed many other morders That in the greatest heate of the warre betweene Pope Iulio to whom he was Nephewe subiect and Capteine he had sent Baltasar de Chastillion to take the kings pay And that at the same time he had denied passage to certein bands that marched to ioyne with the armie of the Church and in the iurisdiction which he possessed as freeholder to the sea Apostolike he had pursued the souldiours of the Church that sled from the battell of Rauenna The Pope was determined many moneths before to make warre vpon him whereunto besides all late and greene iniuries he was pushed on by a disdaine in that he refused to ayde him selfe and his brother to returne to Florence And yet he was somewhat reteyned by a shame that he had to persecute the Nephew of him by whose meane the Church was risen to such a greatnes but much more at the contemplacion of his brother Iulian who in the time of their exile hauing remeyned many yeares in the Court of Vrbyn both with Duke Guido after his death with the Duke raigning could not endure to see him depriued of the duchie wherein he had receiued enterteinment fauor and honor But Iulian was no sooner dead of a consuming disease at Florence and the great stirrs of Caesar beeing vanished and turned into smoke then the Pope at the perswasion of his Nephew Lavvrence and his mother Alfonsina thirsting after that estate resolued to deferre no longer the oppression which he had determined with no lesse iniurie then infamie he was not ashamed to alleage for excuse of his ingratitude which many imputed to him for reproache and slaunder not onely the trespasses he had receyued by him and the penalties whiche the rygour of the lawes impose vppon a subiect that offendes in contumacie agaynst his Lorde or a Capteine who contrarie to his bonde denyeth to leade the men for the whiche he is waged and enterteyned But also he brought in this consideration that it was to him a matter very ielouse and daungerous to endure in thintralls of his estate a man who by howe muche more he had begonne alreadye to offende him without all regarde to fayth and honor by so muche more it was certayne that when so euer a greater occasion did offer he would not be lesse ready or apte to doo the lyke hereafter confirming his first ylles with other examples of lyke nature The discourse of that warre was this Assone as Lavvrence shewed him selfe vppon the frontiers of the Duchie and displayed his armie compounded vppon the souldiors and subiectes of the Church and thestate of Florence The Citie of Vrbin with other townes of that iurisdiction made a voluntarie rendring to the Pope the Duke that was then retyred to Pesera giuing them election to saue them selues since he had no habilitie to defende them And assoone as th armie drewe neare Pesera followed thexample of Vrbin the cowardise of the Duke concurring with his infelicities for notwithstanding there was a garrison of three thousande footemen the towne mightie in fortifications and had the sea at deuotion yet the Duke leauing within the Castell Tranquillo Mandolfo in whom he muche reaposed tooke his way to Mantua whither he had sent before his wife and sonnes some supposed that his retyring thither came vpon a suspected confidence he had in the souldiors of whom the greatest parte was vnpayed but some are of opinion that his impacience for the absence of his wife was the cause of his going thither vnder which pollicie he excused his feare with loue It is a true saying that aduersities haue a swifte course and fortune to make her mutabilitie wonderfull can heape in one day all the chances of a world for except the castles of Sinigalo Pesero S. Leo and Maiuolo the whole duchie of Vrbin and Pesero was reduced in
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 chiefe Magistrate of that Citie And as one furie draweth on an other and in an vprore is seldome seene any moderacion so they ranne with their armed weapons throughout the towne and made slaughter of diuerse other Citisens their aduersaries with suche an vniuersall terror and feare that not one durst oppose agaynst them Neuerthelesse assone as the first violence was somewhat ceassed the same feare that had amased others beganne to terrifie themselues by the remorse and greatnes of the offences they had done In which oportunitie certayne wise Citisens thrusting in to solicite and appease the murderers issued out of the Citie vnder certayne condicions and afterwardes were sharpely persecuted by thinhabitantes of Lucquay Thus were the matters of Lombardie and Tuskane brought to some appeasement but the College of Cardinalls taking no care of thestates of the Church partly for the Popes absence but more for the ambicion and disagreementes that were betwene them Sigismond the sonne of Pandolfo Malateste an auncient Lorde of Rimini tooke almost wholly into his handes the gouernment of that City hauing therin but a very small intelligence And albeit Cardinall Medicis at thinstance of the Colledge went to Bolognia as Legate of that Citie both to recouer Rimini and to reorder the other affayres of Romagnia whiche were muche troubled and altered to whom the Colledge had promised to sende to his succours the Marquis of Mantua capteine generall of the Churche yet nothing sorted to effect no lesse by the wantes and impedimentes of money then through the iealousie and emulacion of the Cardinalls his aduersaries who obiected themselues agaynst all counsells and actions that any waye might aduaunce his reputacion or greatnes The ende of the fourtenth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIFTENTH BOOKE POpe Adrian comes to Rome The Venetians make league vvith themperour The Frenchmen besiege Millan and are constrayned aftervvardes to returne from it Cardinall Medicis is created Pope King Frauncis discendeth into Italie he taketh Millan and besiegeth Pauia Themperour Charles sendeth out an armie to the succours of Pauia vvhere a battell is fought and the French king taken prisoner THE FYFTEENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin ALBEIT the late victorie agaynst the Frenche men had somewhat reduced the matters of Lombardie into an estate peasible and setled yet it had nothing diminished the vniuersal suspicion that the king would eftsones recontinue the warre and in short time bring new inuasions vpon the Duchie of Millan for both his owne kingdome stoode quiet and acquited from ciuill troubles his Capteines and bandes of men of warre whom he had sent into Italie were returned in safetie the Svvizzers well disposed and prepared to take his paye as before and lastely the Senate of Venice stoode firme with him in the auncient league and confederacion Whiche argumentes ioyned to the remembrance and passion of his harmes receyued and no lesse concurring the violent inclinacion of his youth naturally caryed with moodes of reuenge were sufficient to arme his minde with bloody desires and to make him by his vallour to seeke to recompence the displeasures whiche the malice and enuie of his fortune had lately heaped vpon him By the consideracion of which daunger the Capteines of thimperialls were driuen to enterteine and paye th armie A compulsion very harde and grieuous for that they receiued no supplies of money neither from Caesar nor from the kingdome of Naples And touching thestate of Millan it was so narrowly raked and gleaned that of their proper treasor and habilitie they were not able to susteine so great a proporcion of exspences as were distributed to the feeding of so many souldiors And therefore for the releeuing of so great burdens they sent the greatest parte of their companies to be bestowed vppon the estates of the Churche notwithstanding the popular voyces and College of Cardinalls obiected many impedimentes and vayne exclamacions Also other prouinces of Italie were taxed for the conseruacion of the Duchie of Millan and that by the labour and solicitacion chiefly of Don Charles de Lauoy lately made Viceroy of Naples by the death of Don Reimond de Cardona and Don Iohn Manuell The rate of thimposition was that monthly for three monthes next folowing thestate of Millan should contribute a thousande duckets the Florentins fyfteene thousande the Genovvayes eight thousande Siena fiue thousande and Lucgua foure thousand And albeit many murmured agaynst this taxacion yet the feare of so great an armie made it to be both executed and suffred So mightie is necessitie that in cases of extremitie it makes tollerable those things which in all other condicions are ful of inconueniencie and difficultie Onely they of Millan iustified the taxacion to be necessarie for that the defence of all Italie depended vppon the continuacion of that armie Neither dyd it cease after the ende of three monthes for that the same necessitie continuing the imposicion was eftsones renewed though in a farre lesse rate and taxacion In this estate of affayres Italie stoode oppressed with continuall aduersities and no lesse terrified with the feare of greater euills that threatned the vniuersall regions thereof for the remedie whereof muche was attributed to the comming of the Pope as an apt and conuenient instrument by reason of his supreme authoritie to appease and reorder all disorders And albeit Caesar passing at the same time by sea into Spayne and in his way did cōmunicate with the king of Englande had besought him to tarye for him at Barcelona whither he would come in person to honor him as Pope yet ye forbare to abyde themperours comming eyther fearing least for the great distance of themperour who as yet was in thextreme consines of Spayne he should let slippe the commoditie of his good tyme which after his nauigacion began to be rough and daungerous or else he suspected least themperour would solicite him to deferre his voyage or lastly which was more credible he feared to aggrauate thopinion conceiued of him from the beginning that themperour dyd so muche gouerne him as to be hable to lette him to treate of the vniuersall peace betwene Christians An action wherein he was determined to employe all his studies and labours So that ouerruling by his wisdome all these suspicions he passed at last by sea to Rome where he made his entry the xxix of August with a great concourse of the commons and the whole Court of whom albeit his comming was desired with an vniuersall gladnes for that without the presence of the Popes Rome beareth more a resemblance of a sauage deserte then of a Citie yet that spectacle wrought sundrie impressions and diuersitie of thoughtes in the mindes of all men when they considered that they had a Pope for nation language a straunger and for th affayres of Italie and the Court altogether vnexperienced and also for that he was not of those regions and countreys who by long conuersacion were already made familiar with the customes of Italie The
was named as principall in this capitulation That themperour should take into his protection all the estates which the Church helde together with those which the Florentins possessed and particularly the house of Medicis with all the authoritie and preheminences which that famulie helde in that Citie That the Florentins should pay presently an hundred thousande duckets for recompence of their parte of contribucion in the laste warres by vertue of the league made by Pope Adrian which themperour pretended not to be dissolued by his death for that it was manifestly expressed vpon the capitulations to endure one yere after the seuerall death of the confederates That thimperials should retyre their forces from of the church estates and not to sende afterwardes any bandes of souldiours to harbour or lodge there without the Popes consent There was place lefte for the Venetians to enter into this confederation within the tearme of twenty dayes vnder reasonable conditions which were to be declared by the Pope and themperour Moreouer it was accorded that the Viceroy should be bound to bring in within foure monthes themperours ratification to all these capitulations And those that were delegates and deputies for the Viceroy were bounde seuerally to a capitulation confirmed by othe that if themperour within the sayd time did not ratifie the sayde capitulations the Viceroy should repay ouer agayne the sayde hundred thousande duckets And yet so long as they were not repayed the league should haue his full obseruation to the which were added these three articles not being any of the text of the capitulation but set downe in articles apart and confirmed also by othe That in all causes and actions of benefices of the realme of Naples it should be permitted to the Popes to vse the same authoritie and iurisdiction as was disposed by the inuestitures of the kingdome That hereafter the Duchie of Millan should make all their prouision of salte from Ceruia according to the price and order which had bene aforetime couenanted betwene Pope Leo and the French king nowe reigning and confirmed in the capitulation which the sayde Pope Leo made with themperour in the yeare a thousande fiue hundred twentie and one That the Viceroy should so worke and labour as the Duke of Ferrara should immediatly render to the Church Reggia Rubiera with suche other townes as he had taken during the vacation of the sea by the death of Adrian And that in consideration thereof the Pope assone as he should be repossessed of them should pay to themperour an hundred thousande duckets and at the first request to be made to him to absolue the Duke of Ferrara of the Censures and priuations which he had incurred but not of the penaltie of an hundred thousande duckets which he had promised in case of breaking the bond made with Adrian And yet neuertheles after the Pope had recouered possession there should be searche and examination made in lawe whether those townes together with Modena apperteined to the Church or to the Empire And if they were founde to be the rightes of thempire then they should stande holden and recognized in chief of themperour and otherwise to remayne free to the sea Apostolike This deliberation of the Pope was diuersly interpreted according to the diuersitie of mens passions and iudgementes but especially did varye the construction of the popular sorte to whom suche counsels as carye the fayrest showes seeme commonly more acceptable and pleasing then those that are disgested with good maturitie of reasons The common people also according to their lightnesse and credulitie do for the most part esteeme for wise and noble suche men as measure things not by discression and experience but by affection and light relation There were also some that professed to desire the libertie of Italie who blamed the Popes dealing as though through pucillanimitie and infirmitie of courage he had let slippe thoccasion to vnite it agaynst themperour and to deliuer him selfe from all disorders But most men of deeper iudgement and insight in matters of state were of an other opinion They sawe howe farre it had bene from wise counsell to oppose resistance with newe companies agaynst so glorious and victorious an armie They considered by howe many reasons the comming of the Svvizzers might be long and dilatorie and with what difficulties they shoulde passe notwithstanding they were ready to discende And yet wayghing with their custome and inconstancle of their nature the fresh wound which they had so lately receyued there was no assurance of their comming These wise men sawe also that there was no better hope or exspectation on the French side eyther for that by reason of so great an ouerthrow they stoode depriued both of courage and counsell or else there remayned no prouision of money nor any supply of men of warre to refurnishe the bandes those fewe that escaped the lamentable slaughter of the battell beeing so spoyled of their furniture and baggage that they stoode neede both of time and money to readresse them So that this vnion caryed no other fundation apparant or probable then a naked hope that th armie of thenemies would not come on nor moue for wante of money A matter which though it came so to passe yet they remayned not for all that depriued of the Duchie of Millan which so long as it stoode at the deuotion of themperour the Pope could not be without a perpetuall occasion of feare And yet that hope was not without his vncertenties for that it drewe with it this feare that the Capteines eyther by their authoritie or by their pollicie or lastly by propounding to the souldiors the sacke of some riche towne of the Churche or of Tuskane would dispose the armie to marche And of this inclination was discerned this manifest token that one part of the Launceknightes to seeke a place of harbor of more benefite and conueniencie were passed the ryuer of Pavv and come vppon the landes of Parma and Plaisanca In so muche as if they had any intention to passe further it could not be but all remedies would come to late and also so great a deliberation was grounded with too great a daunger vpon a bare hope of the disorders of thenemies who neuerthelesse had it in their power and will to ridde them selues out of their disorders Then the counsell of the Pope seemed discret and well considered according to the time that then ranne but it had happly ben more commendable if in all the articles of the capitulation he had vsed the same discression and disposed his wit rather to close vp and make whole all the woundes of Italie then to open and make sharpe any one of consequence Wherein he had wisely imitated the order of the skilfull Phisitions who when the remedies they prepare to cure thindisposition of thinferiour members augment the maladie of the head or the heart they throwe away all care of griefes and infirmities most light and with the fauour of tyme they proceede carefully to