of God his yonger sonne the Cardinal of Valence slue his elder brother duke of Candie as he rode alone one night in the citie of Rome for that he thought him to haue greater fauour of their sister Lucrece than himselfe in whom as it is thought the father had as good part as either of them both The French king made peace with Spain the Switchers ment to return into Italy but pleasures and the Cardinall of S. Malo detained him In the meane time he dieth and Lewis the xii duke of Orleans succeedeth At the same time Sauinorola was by the Pope put to death The fourth Booke LEwes the twelfth entituled himselfe king of Hierusalem Naples and Sicill and duke of Millaine entending to conquer the dukedome Lodouike Sforce being yet more iealous of the Venetians then of him aydeth the Florentines to recouer Pisa the Pope on the other side secretly bent to fauour the French king thinking thereby vnawares of the rest to gaine many things and in the end the kingdome of Naples practising in the meane time with Fredericke to marry his daughter to his sonne the Cardinall of Valence wherein Lodouike also played a part shewing him what a strengthening it should be to him and what a weakning to the French king but Fredericke trusting neither of both vtterly refused which bredde much trouble and practise The Florentines offer accord to the Venetians but it will not be receyued For still they defend Pisa The Cardinall of Valence before the Pope and his Cardinals renounceth his Cardinals hat and prepareth to go into France where he was from Cardinal of Valence made duke of Valence a citie in Daulphinoys by the French king for that the Pope had promised him to diuorce the French Queene for sterilitie which he performed Hauing this new souldier the king made peace with all his neighbours and bendeth towards Italie and requireth Pisa to be left in his hands The Venetians are in great doubt whether they may ioyne with the king or no. Grimanni and Treuisan make excellent orations to that purpose in the ende they ioyne and that in such a secrete and straight league as Lodouike could not sounde in a great while after but when hee vnderstood it he was greatly astonished at it and to draw the Venetians againe from the French he practised a reconcilement betwene the Florētines them In the end neither they nor the Pope nor the Swissers nor Maximiliā who he thought would neuer haue ioined league without comprehending him would succour him but all fayled him in the middest of his comming Then hee bent himselfe to the fortifying of his owne but putting such gouernours in trust as had more fauour then vertue a common fault in princes he lost one towne after another and was driuen to forsake Millaine himselfe and to fortifie the castell but the Towne within yeelded to the French which newes being brought to the king at Lyons himselfe passed the mounts in person and came to Millaine where he compounded with al the states of Italie except Fredericke In this meane space the newe duke Valentinois who troubled Romagna and the vicars thereof ioyned with the French And Baiazet Ottoman assayled such places as the Venetians held in Greece and with sixe hundred horse pilled the countrey of Friuly And after him the duke Valentinoys tooke the Countrey and a most valiant ladie of the place prisoner and fearing her valew sent her prisoner to Rome The French king after the taking of the Duchie of Millaine and that he had made truce with the king of Romanes he returned into France leauing sufficient force in Italie making the cardinal of Amboyse his lieutenant and Monsieur Tremouille Captaine Lodouike immediately recouered Como and the Gibellins thereupon in Millaine reuolted from the French and Trinulcio and the Frenchmen secretely stole away hee tooke also Vigenene and Nouaria but there was he betraid by the Swissers yet were they contented that he and his brothers Galeas de S. Seuerin la fracase Antonie Maria should steale away in the habite of Swissers but they were all discried and hee caried away into France and the cardinal Ascagnio who scaped was deliuered to the king by the Venetians contrarie to the olde dignitie of that state Lodouike was brought to Lyons whom the king would not vouchsafe to fee notwithstanding his late greatnesse and excellent wit but was committed there to close prison where after ten yeares hee miserably ended his life The Cardinall Ascagnio was imprisoned in the great tower at Burdeaux where the king himselfe that sent him thither was himselfe prisoner two yeares The fift Booke THis conquest of Millaine by the French made Maximilian bethinke himselfe what a shame it was to him to leese such a fee of the Empire and to suffer Lodouike thus to be caried away who had put himselfe into his protection whereuppon hee declared himselfe against the French king and the Venetians perswading the electours and states of Germanie in time to resist their ambition and violence The French king proceedeth further to succour the Florentines against Pisa taketh Bolognia into his protection and putteth garrison into Pietre Sancte but findeth such euill successe in his forces against Pisa that he greatly stormeth at it and offereth further power which the Florentines in dispaire refuse finally though he were angrie with the Pope in that he fayled him at Millaine yet by the working of the duke Valentinois Caesar Borgeas he now accordeth with him The duke in the meane time taketh Pesara and Rimini and besiegeth Fauentia but was so mightily resisted by the inhabitants not inured to warre that considering his forces and excellent captaines he was almost mad and sware the next spring either to winne or to die The French king by meanes of the Archduke for whose young sonne Charles being then but three yeres old he offered his daughter Claude of the same age made a truce with Maximilian who most dishonourably made no mention of the king of Naples notwithstanding that he had receiued fortie thousand ducats and a bond for a pension to that end The French king thus being sure of the Germains and making no doubt to obtaine the inuestiture of Millaine by the helpe of the Archduke turned all his thoughtes vnto Naples and fearing least the kings of Spaine should oppose themselues and that the Pope and the Venetians should be iealous of his greatnesse he now began to think it the surest way to deuide it with Ferdinand king of Spaine who also pretended a certaine right to it so that the one not to be hindered in the whole the other to haue part of that hee had long desired they resolued at one time to set vppon it The French king hauing Naples Terra de lauaro and Abruzzo the Spanish king Puglia and Calabria but this should be kept secret vntill such time as the French armie were come to Rome The duke Valentinoys besiegeth againe Fauentia so forceth it that
TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull Sir Henrie Brooke Cobham Knight RIght Worshipful forasmuch as the historie of Guicchiardine hath wonne sufficient credite in mens opinions to coūtenance it selfe against the enuious I hope my boldnes may much the better bee excused presuming to publish in print this treatise containing all the notable and materiall things in that Hystorie whosoeuer hee was that hath bestowed his trauaile to reduce so great a volume into so small and necessarie a Booke though his name be suppressed hee may merit no doubt his due commendation I thought it a necessarie office for me to make shew of my good disposition in due consideration towards you whom I haue knowne of along time to be exercised in forraine affaires and imploied in matters of some weight for her Maiesties seruice and the estate Hauing thereon addicted my selfe to thinke you meete to receyue this little Booke into your protection which most affectionatly I recommend vnto you with my prayers vnto the eternall God for your worships health and long life From my house in the new rents in Saint Nicholas shambles this seuenth of December 1591. Your Worships most humbly at commaund T. P. A briefe collection or Epitomie of all the notable and material things contained in the hystorie of Guicchiardine being verie necessarie for Parliament councell treatises and negotiations LOdouike Sforce tutor and vncle to Iohn Galeas duke of Millaine fearing least Ferdinand king of Naples should make war vpon him departed from the league lately made betweene him the king the Florentines against the Venetians and closely procureth Charles the viii king of France to come to Italie to conquer the kingdome of Naples as due to the house of Aniow for that Pope Vrbin the fourth gaue Naples and Cicill being the olde fee of the Church vnto Charles Earle of Prouince and Aniow brother vnto Saint Lewis Ferdinand was verie secure as commonly men are in their woorst destinie knowing his strength both by sea and land and knowing withall that there was no great matter in his enemie but he remembred not the weakenesse and parcialities in Italie and that France was not since Charlemans time so great in circuite nor flourishing in souldiers Howbeit he treated with Lodouike for amitie who secretly promised him meaning nothing lesse and with Alexander the sixt lately chosen Pope by open symonie and by the meanes of Cardinall Ascanio Sforce in despite of the Cardinall of Saint Peters ad Vincula who before was secretly confederated with Lodouike and yet promised Ferdinand that he would defend Naples and Ferdinand should defend the Church Ferdinand further made peace with Maximilian king of Romans lately chosen Emperour Lodouike on the other side to winne the Emperour from him gaue in mariage to the Emperour Marie Blanche sister of Iohn Galeas with promise of foure hundred thousand ducats whereupon the Emperour more esteeming the mony then his new brother in law gaue the inuestiture of the duchie of Millain vnto Lodouike pretending that since the death of Philip Viscont Mary there had bene no lawfull duke thereof The French king hereupon sent Peron de la Bascha embassadour to the Pope the Florentines and the Venetians where albeit he receiued onely comforts in generalitie for that the warres were put off till the next yeare yet Ferdinand seeing all things now like to come to naught fel into pensiuenesse and so into an Apoplexie died whose sonne Alfonso succeeded and entred league with Pope Alexander as his father did But discouering the trecheries of Lodouike he sent away his ambassadour he sequestred the reuenues of the duchie of Barrie and by all meanes endeuoured also to alienate from him the citie of Geane yea that which the deuil himself would scarcely haue done he sent to the Turke Baiazet Ottoman assuring him that Charles the French king after the conquest of Italie had a meaning to set vppon Greece and therefore he should helpe in this common case He sent his nephew forthwith to surprise Geane but Lois duke of Orleance preuented him Now began Italie to thinke of her weakenes the Pope commanded the king not to enter Peter de Medices and the Florentines who were euer French heretofore declared them selues against the king the Venecians were content to stande neuter Lodouike vpon better aduice began to feare that the conquering Naples would also swallow vp Millaine and therefore began now to cast how to make an accord as soone as the king were past the Alpes hoping to make Alphonso tributarie to France and thereby to assure his owne estate Now began prodigious sights to be seene as in Puglia three Sunnes enuironed with cloudes and horrible thundering In Arezzo armies of men and horses in the aire with drummes and trumpets and diuerse Images sweating The Colonoys ioine with the French Lodouike accompanieth them Peter de Medices becommeth his friend and the Pisans the Pope the Venecians and Lodouike in greater feare then euer tofore for that Charles passed like a thunder through Italie with great successe Charles entereth Rome kisseth the Popes feete and ioyneth with him in league defensiue the Cardinall of Valence sonne to the Pope is appointed three monethes to followe the king toward Naples The Neapolitans shew that they neither loued Ferdinand the father nor Alfonso the sonne which brought him in great perplexitie and so much the more for that the spirite of Ferdinand as it was thought appeared to his chiefe surgeon willing him to tell Alfonso that it was in vain for him to resist the French king it was determined their race should faile in respect of diuerse their great sinnes and especially for the thing that they resolued in Saint Leonards Church in Chiaie which was to put a number of the novilitie to death Hereupon Alfonso tormented in conscience priuily stole away into Sicilia with foure gallies whereby the French king with great ease got this noble kingdome as the Romane who said Veni vidi vici Howbeit Ferdinand sonne of Alfonso tooke on him the title of the king and defence of the kingdome But within short space hee was driuen to flie into Iskia At this time the noble captaine Iean Iaques de Trinulce of Capua gaue himselfe to the king and offered to bring Ferdinand to some good composition whereof the king willingly accepted so that hee woulde forgo Naples in respect whereof he offered to giue him other estates in Fraunce This was the fruite of discorde and ambition in the manie little estates of Italie whereof none was able to defende it selfe seuerally and ioyntly might haue done greater things The second Booke THe Pisans desire to cast off the yoke of the Florentines and submit themselues to the French the Florentines prepare to warre vpon them and in the meane time fall at difference among them selues for the forme of their owne gouernement touching the which Soderin and Vespucci made two excellent Orations one for Democratie the other for Aristocratie the which had preuailed had not
that noble and graue state neyther fell to dissention among themselues nor spake so much as a worde of reproch one to another touching their counsayles that caused this successe which was somuch the more lamentable for that all the Countreys subiect vnto them in this their miserie beganne to sorsake them in short they thought it the onely way to trie by submission and intreatie to diuide either the Pope or the Emperour from the French king of whom they dispaired The Pope gaue small comfort and the Emperour lesse without the French kings consent Thus the one of them gained on the one side and the other on the other side and the Venetians are driuen to vtter extremitie now the states of Italy and especially the Pope seeing the imminent daungers ouer their owne heades began nowe to thinke what a faire threed they had spoonne if the fall and ruine of Venice did bring into Italie two such mightie princes on their necks wherefore hee giueth audience to their sixe Ambassadours that most heauily and wofully demaunded pardon giuing the Ambassadours of the confederates to vnderstand that the Church ought not to shut her bosome to such as returne Now began Treuisan to stand to them and shortly after they recouer Padua from the Emperour they take the Marques of Mantua prisoner Shortly after the French king making a league defensiue with the Pope returneth into Fraunce The Emperour bendeth all his forces to recouer Padua the Venetians for the defence thereof send all the yong noble and gentlemens sonnes with which policie the people tooke such comfort that beyond expectation they so defend them selues that the siege is raysed and the Emperor returneth into Allemaigne with little profite The Cardinall of Amboyse hoping thereby in time to be Pope reconcileth the Emperour and the catholike king wherein he did his maister small seruice The Countie Petilian dieth the Pope absolueth the Venetians The ninth Booke The Pope not onely absolueth the Venetians but doth as it were take them into protection intending to reconcile them to the Emperour and to set him against the French king and finally to driue the Frenchmen out of Italie but the Emperour woulde not heare of it without Verona were yeelded vnto him whereuppon the Pope practiseth with the Swissers by the meanes of the Bishop of Sion who now were verie proude for that they were so desired of all nations perswading themselues that all the victories of king Charles and king Lewis came by them and therefore picked quarrels with the king touching their pensions The Pope in like sort picked quarrell to the duke of Ferrara for his dependancie on the French being so much benefited and honoured by him The Emperour the French king on the other side smelling his drift to touch as well the interest of the one as the other of them knitte themselues againe fast against Venice And Monsieur de Chaumont for the king and the prince of Henault for the Emperour ioyning together draue backe the Venetian armie and approching to Vincentia the Vincentines being destitute of helpe sent an Ambassadour to them who made a verie pitifull oration the which the prince of Henault answered with great vigor like a barbarous Dutchman In fine they yeelded at their discretion and Monsieur Chaumont treated for them telling the prince of Henault that hee ought to haue more regard to the greatnesse and glorie of Caesar then to the fault of the poore miserable men who depended on others greater then themselues After this were taken Legnague Montsilice and other places Monsieur de Chaumont was commanded to returne to Millain for certaine broiles there kindled closely by the Pope at which time dieth the Cardinall of Amboyse which greatly hindred the french for that the king being apter to be directed then to direct neuer had the like confidence in any man After his death the Pope flatly requireth the king to giue ouer his protection of Ferrara the king answereth that he cannot do it with his honor and so stomacke groweth betweene them The Pope in the meane time eggeth on the Swissers who being angry that the king would not increase their pensions were ready enough and discended toward Millain The Venetians in the mean time while Mōsieur de Chaumont was there occupied recouered most part of their towns besieged Verona the marques of Mātua scaped out of prison at Venice by the secrete meanes of Baiazet the great Turke who had before shewed many friendly parts to the Marques The Pope purposeth to set vpon Geane and many other things that tooke no effect the king on the other side to anger him meaneth to defende the duke of Ferrara and still to continue friendship with the Emperour so that the Pope was driuen to leaue his thoughts of getting other mens and to thinke vpon defending his owne for within a while after he was besieged by Monsieur de Chaumont in Bolognia but after a while he was content vpon great occasions to leaue the siege which done the Pope complained himselfe to all princes Christian of the French king The Pope ceaseth not thus but falleth to warres still besiegeth Mirandola is there present in person no lesse busie in bodie then in minde riding and going to and fro like a captaine and in the end winneth it wherat the French king is so angrie that he sendeth instructions to Monsieur de Chaumont not onely to defend Ferrara but also by all meanes to plague the territories of the Church the Pope in the meane time is content that Modena should be yeelded to the Emperiall for feare it should fal into the hands of the French And the noble captaine Monsieur de Chaumont dieth and Trinulce is made a Marshall of Fraunce and Caesar contrarie to his treatise with the French king is content to hearken to peace After the death of Monsieur de Chaumont Gaston de Foix a valiant yong Gentleman and the kings sisters sonne began to haue charge The Pope partly to gaine the fauor of princes partly to be the stronger in the councell that was threatned made eight Cardinals at a clap and among the rest the Archbishop of Yorke thereby to gaine the king of England and the Bishop of Sion by him to gaine the Swissers Now began a generall peace to be treated at Venice by the Bishop of Gurce but the Pope brake it off wherupon the French king commanded Trinulcio to march on who tooke Concordia and after Castelfranco and drew towards Bolognia they falling in great feare the cardinall of Pauia runneth away The Bentiuoles return the popes army flieth the Pope fretteth the Cardinal of Pauia draweth toward Rauenna to the Pope and the duke of Vrbin hating him deadly by the way drew his dagger and in the middest of his gard slue him After this the Emperour and the French king do publish a councell to be holden at Pisa the lucke whereof the Pope liked not for that Popes had bene there deposed at
who kept them selues in good order and caused Aluiano with his light horsemen to set on their backes which greatly annoyed them They fought notwithstanding most valiantly but yet dispairing of victorie for that the Venetian armie approched they sounded the retraite and albeit the artillarie beate them on the backes yet did they keepe their array towards Millaine to the wonder of the French and all that looked on especially the King who often escaped death and daunger and Triuulcio who sayde they were Giantes and not men for that he neuer sawe the like battell After this victorie all the duchie of Millaine returned to the King except the Castels of Cremona and Millaine and the duke and the King fall to composition and Aluiano dieth and the Pope and the King in louing sort talke together at Bolognia and there renuing a league with the Swissers he returned into Fraunce Ferdinand king of Aragon and king of Castile in the right of his wife the winner of Granado conquerour of Naples and Nauarre died without heire male and the great Captaine Gonsaluo died one moneth before absent from the Court in disgrace and malcontent The death of the king made the French king in hope to get Naples thinking that the young Archduke Charles shoulde bee too much busied to keepe al his estates but he was distourned from that thought by the comming of the Emperour into Lombardie agaynst him and the Venetians who summoned Millaine but was faine to recule for that by delay he lost all oportunitie The Venetians recouer Brescia the Pope maketh his nephew Laurence de Medici duke of Vrbin The King of France and Spaine make a peace at Noyan The Venetians recouer Verona The xiii Booke BEsides the peace of Noyon the Kings of Spaine and Fraunce and the Emperor treat a peace at Cambray and now great quietnesse was hoped in all Italie sauing that Francesco Maria de la Rouere being folowed of many Spaniards went about to recouer such his states as the Pope had taken from him as Vrbin Fane and others driuing the Pope to complaine to the French and Spanish Kings enter league with the French for ayd agaynst all subiects and fendataries of the Church The chiefe Captaines of the Spaniards that folowed Francesco Maria namely Maldonat and Swares conspired after certaine victories to betray Francesco Maria and to deliuer him vp aliue to his enemie Laurence de Medices which treason Francesco Maria discouering made such an excellent oration to the Spaniards that they iudged their owne Captaines worthie to passe the pikes and so with their owne hands slue them At this time Alfonso Cardinall of Siena being the Popes creature most vngratefully notwithstanding conspired against him and the Cardinals of Cornette and Volaterra confessed on their knees that he had imparted it to them Alfonso the night following was secretly strangled in prison The Pope finding himselfe no more gracious among his colledge of Cardinals created thirtie new Cardinals at a clappe some for learning some for friendship and some for money which nowe went low with him and after a few conflicts with the duke of Vrbin at Ancona and Anguiare he falleth to composition by meanes of Don Hugues de Moncada the Viceroy to his great charge which the poore Florentines were driuen to defray Italy now being at quiet the Pope began to treat with Christen princes against Selim the Turke who seeing his father Baiazat to be olde partly by Ianissaries and partly by poyson dispatched his elder brother Achomat and after his yonger brother Corcut and all their race as the world supposed had a meaning to do the like to his own son the better to strengthen his owne dominion for his time which by his desperat hardnes was growne great hauing ouerthrowne the mountains Aduliens the Sophy of Persia winning from him his chiefe citie Taurus and then turned his warres vpon the Sowdan of Soria and Egypt a most mightie prince of country by reason of the warlike discipline of the Mamelukes yet neuer ouerthrown but by this Selim who highly disdaining that his victories should not be aboue Caesar Alexander nowe ment to bend toward Christendom and first against Rhodes Hungary being verie weake for that the king was a child as some thought toward Italy but this consult tooke so small effect that if God had not soone after taken away Selim who left Soliman very yong all christendome no doubt had smarted for this vngodly negligence Now was peace awhile on euery side and the French the English so farre leagued togither that the only daughter of Henrie is promised vpon condition to the Dolphin of France This peace which is an enemie to great warriers maketh Triuulcio now in his olde age to be in iealousie with the French king for the Gwelphian faction Monsieur de Lautreck and other pursue him throughly the king denieth him his countenance he dieth for sorrow in disgrace according as most great captaines do The emperor Maximilian being now aged treated with the electors Pope to choose the king of Romans Charles of Austrich king of Spain the French king thinking him to be too great alredie treated earnestly to the contrarie Maximilian dieth before any thing is done so that the French and Spanish kings are nowe most earnest competitours and countersutours for it The French King spareth neither speach Ambassadors perswasions nor mony and is abused with hope by some of the electours but in fine Charles of Austrich is chosen the which killeth the heart of the French king and his adherents in Italy and now the kingdome of Naples the restitution of Nauarre vnto Iohn and the money accorded at Nayon begin for despite to come in question and into demaund At this time the Pope abusing all the world with his indulgences and by the Bishop of Arembald making a terrible exaction in diuerse parts of Germanie to the vse of his sister Magdalen gaue occasion to Martin Luther to preach against him and to renue the doctrine of Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage The which was verie welcom to the wounded mindes of all such as had felt the Popes abuses and so much the rather as that the Pope tooke no good course to resist it but perseuered still in his enormities This yeare did Charles the Empeperor ariue in England not as his father Phillip did by necessitie but of friendship and so passed into Flanders and to Aix and there was crowned in the meane time some broiles arose in Spaine which were appeased by his officers The xiiii Booke ITalie had at this time a little repose but it could not long continue by reason of the emulation of these two great princes Charles and Frauncis who could not endure the greatnesse the one of the other and especially for that pope Leo was horne madde to want Parma and Placentia gotten by his predecessor pope Iuly and to see that Ferrara should so long holde out against him maugre
much golde and siluer c. The duke Valentinoys about this time escaped out of prison to Naples where Gonsaluo taketh him and sendeth him captiue into Spaine and a truce is taken betweene the kings of Fraunce and Spaine Fredericke being out of hope of recouering his kingdome of Naples died and after him Queene Elizabeth of Spaine wherevpon some differences were like to arise betweene the Archduke and the Spanish king for the gouernement of Castilia About this time it may not be forgotten that Cardinall Hippolite of Esca being in loue with a yong damosel his kinswoman who made more account of his bastard brother asked her what was the cause why she so greatly loued a bastard and she answered his sweete and amiable eyes whereupon one day as he rid on hunting he caused his brother to dismount and commaunded his footmen in his presence to plucke out his eyes saying he liked no such companions in loue The seuenth Booke PHillip the archduke began to entitle himselfe king of Castile not being content that his father in law should gouerne hauing no better interest then the appointment of his wife when she lay in extremitie And the king of Romanes being hartned with the greatnes of his sonne purposeth to enter into Italie The French king hauing them al in ielousy though he were verie angry with the Pope for vsurping vpon the spiritual liuings in Millaine yet least he should stand alone he treateth with the Pope making quarrell to Venice for that he knew it a thing acceptable to him Phillip prepareth by sea to inuade Spaine and is by storme driuen into England where he is honorably receiued by Henrie the seuenth and newly furnished for his voyage vpon condition that he should deliuer the duke of Suffolke whom he had prisoner in the castell of Namures Phillip yeeldeth and requireth that he might not be put to death though he pretended right to the crowne whereunto king Henry the seuenth condiscended but Henrie the eight afterwarde strake off his heade Phillip goeth forward and by capitulation obtaineth the kingdome of Castile but dieth within a while after The French king is desirous to bee reuenged vpon Venice but first marrieth his daughter Madame Claude vnto Francis of Angolesme afterward king The Emperour treateth with the Venetians to passe through their territories to be crowned at Rome The Pope enterprised the recouerie of Bolognia vnder the conduct of the Marques of Mantua the Bolognians require ayde of the French king according to their protection but in fine the poore Bentiuoles in stead of a protection had a faire safe conduct of Monsieur Chaumont for which they payed dearly and lost the state to the Church The Geneuoys rebell against the French king and fell also at ciuil discord the Gibelines fauouring the Adornes and the Guelphes the Fregoses euery man desiring to bring the gouernment to his friendes Monsieur de Chaumont setteth vpon them and maketh them yeeld the towne to the discretion of the king who there entered in person and pardoned all sauing threescore Ferdinand king of Aragon and the French king appoynted a meeting at Sauona and there they put themselues one in anothers power as though there neuer had beene enmitie betweene them Where supping together none but the two kings and the Queene the French king would needes haue Gonsaluo make the fourth being in admiration of his fame his person his maiestie in gesture and speech After this tyme this great Captaine had neuer great occasion to exercise his vertue The ende of their great conference was that they two and the Emperour shoulde ioyne agaynst the Venetians The Emperour on the other side held a decree at Constance for the encountering of the French king in Italie and to that end treated with the Pope professing himselfe a protector of the Church and an enemie of the French vsurpation in Italie who meaned quoth he to make the Cardinall of Amboyse Pope and himselfe Emperour This troubled the king who was sure neither of the Pope nor of the Venetians and the Venetians were much perplexed whether they shoulde ioyne with the king or the Emperour to which poyntes Foskarin and Gritti made excellent orations In fine they answered the Ambassadour of the Emperour who demaunded passage that if he came armed he shoulde haue no passage if otherwise they shoulde doe him all honour possible He marcheth on notwithstanding and gaineth something but for want of good resolution looseth againe The eight Booke NOw do the Emperour and the Venetians fall to treatise of league which maketh all Italie more afraid then euer before which had beene alreadie greatly tormented by the ambition of princes and specially by the Venetians who made their profite of euery peace and euery warre and euen in this league with Caesar they demeaned themselues so cunningly that they nowe gaue cause both to the Emperour and the French king to ioyne together against them whereupon the Pope fayled not to encourage them insomuch that for the Emperour Madame Marguiret his daughter gouernesse of Flanders for the French king the Cardinall of Amboyse and for Spaine The Ambassador sware this league at Cambray The Venetians mistrusting false measure had their ambassadour there also to awaite what was done but the Cardinall sware so many othes that the French king his maister woulde keepe his league with Venice and that his meeting was to make peace betweene the Archduke and the duke of Guelders that hee made him and the Venetians verie secure This league was helde verie secrete but the Pope taking the aduauntage thereof demaunded of them Rimini and Fauentia which they had taken from the Church vttering that whereas the greatest princes in Christendome were ioyned agaynst them he would also ioyne if they denied him his demaund The Senate was deepely amazed and diuided in opinion touching the restitution and in fine were resolued to restore had not Treuisan a man of high estate next the duke most earnestly disswaded them which they repented for the Pope ratified the treatise of Cambray and so all Christendome in effect armed against them And besides that they had these euill signes and presages a shippe of theirs was drowned with tenne thousande ducats The Castell of Bresse was striken with thunder their tower of records suddenly fell downe their Arsenall was burnt twelue gallies their salt peter powder and munition was consumed The French king accompanied with the duke of Loraine and nobilitie of Fraunce passed the Alpes and sent Monsieur de Chaumont afore to set vpon them The Pope published a bull against them The French armie ouerthroweth their battaile at Gniaradadde taketh prisoner their chiefe Captaine Bartholomeo Aluiano who was wounded in the eye as for the other Captaine the Countie Petylian he stirred not nor would aduenture all vpon one day the which if hee had done it is thought hee had ouercome and yet his not venturing was not misliked These newes astonished almost vnto desperation the Venetians and yet
would not once vouchsafe to see him during his imprisonment that his ambition grewe so great that he now meant to ruine the Pope the Church all Italy and to bring all Christian princes into subiection With these perswasions he hoped to bring al Italy and other princes to ioyne with him and consequently to bring the Emperour to such daungerous warre as he should of necessitie be driuen to release Burgundie and other hard conditions for money The Emperiall armie on the other side waxing euery day in Italy more and more insolent being extreamely chargeable to the Millanois and Antonio de Leua himselfe hauing euerie day thirtie ducats the people in tumultuous sort tooke weapon in hand and had driuen away both captaines and souldiours had not the cunning of the captaine and their owne disorder compounded the matter The Emperour sent the Viceroy of Naples into Fraunce to accept the perfourmance of the conditions where he was greatly welcomed but nothing was performed The Emperour was neare madde for anger and so much the more as that almost against all mens opinion and contrarie to the intelligence of the Ladie Margueret Regent of Flaunders he would needs insert the article of Burgundie which they assured him would neuer be performed but happily breed further broyle In the meane time at Coignac there is treated a league betweene the pope the French King the Venetians and the duke of Millaine to be forthwith intimated to the Emperor who had libertie to enter into it within three moneths so that he deliuered the French kings children at a reasonable ransome to be rated by the King of Englande After this treatie the Pope surpriseth the letters of Antonio de Leua touching the hard estate of the duke of Millaine and the duke of Vrbin generall of the Venetians armie taketh Loda and so passeth to Millaine where after long batterie they were faine to retire with some altercation betwene the duke and the lieutenant The Spaniards in the meane time so plagued the Millanois that one of them made a very lamentable oration to the duke of Burbon who was there ariued and yet finding no remedie but a curteous answere some hanged themselues some threw themselues out at their windowes and ended their miseries with other deaths The armie of the confederates once againe approcheth towards Millaine but not onely doth any good but also the Castell it selfe by the duke is vpon conference with the duke of Burbon yeelded to the Imperials While christen princes were thus tearing out the bowels one of another Soliman Ottoman Turke entreth into Hungarie and putteth the whole Countrey and consequently all Christendome in daunger ouerthrowing Lewis the young King and getteth a great part of that buckler of Christendome The Pope notwithstanding encourageth his confederates to set vppon Naples and Peter of Nauarre is made generall and all the confederates offer the Emperour to enter into the league perfourming the conditions he answered he could not with his honour being a league made against him especially and yet for a common quietnesse he would do it presently if the messengers had sufficient commission meaning in deed nothing lesse but onely to keepe the king of England from entering into it Rome is surprised by the Colonois and the Pope driuen to leaue the Emperour and to deale with them and the confederates by sea fight with the Emperials The xviii Booke THe French King and the Venetians had the Pope in great iealousie that hee woulde forsake their league in that he made manie treatises with the Viceroy and euer cried out of the charges of the warre and yet would not make money by creating of Cardinals nor otherwayes as other Popes did but to break the treatise if there were any such they vrged him and bent themselues with him by sea against Naples The popes Lieutenant was Monsieur Vaudemont who pretended right thereto by ancient title of king Rene where after certaine exploites of no great waight the Pope seeing no greater successe and that the duke of Burbon by the perswasion of the duke of Ferrara drew towards Rome and that the French promises were but winde he fell to agree a truce for eight moneths with the Viceroy The duke of Burbon neuerthelesse would not accept of it but marched on The Viceroy himselfe in person went from Rome to make him surcease but all in vaine for the dukes case being now somewhat desperate he draweth to Rome and either meaneth to get that noble bootie or to die and therefore most valiantly giueth the assault himselfe before all men and was slaine with a harquebuze His death enflameth the souldiours and especially the Lanceknights who before were verie cold insomuch that within fewe houres they take the towne and sacke it where they had infinite treasure The palaces of the Cardinals were rifled and the Cardinal of Siena who himselfe all his ancestors were Imperiall was yet driuen to compound with the Spaniards yet after as in all such broyles no man is sure he was taken prisoner by the Launceknights and caried bareheaded with many buffets to Borgo where he paied a newe raunsome of fiue thousand ducats In like maner were vsed all the Spanish and Dutch prelats notwithstanding the hope of their Countrey-mens fauour The Pope driuen to keepe himselfe in the castell vntill the plague wearied his enemies and composition made with the Imperials The Emperour being certified of the Popes distresse and that the plague was entred into his castell of S. Angelo made outward shew of dislike but inwardly was very glad and indeed he had caused him to be caried into Spain had it not beene for feare of the king of England as for the French king he cared not if the Pope had bene hanged and all Italie fiered so that he had againe his children The Cardinal of Yorke is now sent into France to make a league with the French king more sure and to offer the mariage of the Lady Marie either to the king if he went not on with the emperours sister or otherwise to the duke of Orleans And for that the Cardinal was honourably accompanied with xii hundred horses had three C. thousand crownes to lend the king towards his warres with the Emperour The Cardinall of Loraine was first sent to receiue him and after the king himself receiued him at Amiens In fine the king and he sent Gambare to the Pope to make the Cardinall of Yorke his Vicar generall in Fraunce England and Germanie during his imprisonment but secretly the French king withstood it by all meanes possible In this meane space the French armie vnder the conduct of Monsieur de Lautreck take Bosco and Genes by composition after the Countrey of Alexandria and then Pauia where the souldiours sacked and pilled and vsed crueltie eight dayes in memorie of the battell of Pauia where the king was taken The duke of Ferrara entereth into the league with him in respect wherof Madame Rence daughter of king
Lewis the xii is promised to his sonne Hercules and after the Marques of Mantua entred into the same league The treatise of peace seemed vaine betweene the Emperour and the king for the Emperor sayd he could not trust the king that had once deceiued him The Kings ambassadors replied that for asmuch as he tooke himselfe to be deceyued the King might the lesse trust him In the ende the ambassadours of Fraunce and England denounced war agaynst him and many hot speeches breeding hot choler the Emperor chalenging the combat of the French king said he was a false forsworn king The French king on the other side gaue him the lie The king of England embraceth the religion of Luther and by the perswasion of the Cardinall of Yorke deuorceth his wife Katherin of Arragon Monsieur de Lautrech entreth the kingdome of Naples and Andro Dore being at the sould of the king with his gallies returneth to Geane diuerse places yeeld vnto Lautreck and by him Naples it selfe is besieged The xix Booke MOnsieur de Lautreck finding the value of the defendants of Naples to be great purposed to continue the siege hoping that though vertue fayled not yet want of money and victuall would make vertue yeeld to necessitie In the meane time Phillippin Dore with his gallies and Geneuois who were not able sea-men did sinke diuerse shippes Imperiall vpon the sea sleaing the viceroy Don Hugues di Moncada Fieramosque with diuers other to the number of a thousand taking prisoners the Marques of Guast Ascagnio Colōna the prince of Salerne and diues others This conquest of the sea would not make Naples yeeld for Phillippin Dore tooke such direction of Andro Dore to retire to Pozzouolo that Naples was oft vittailed the Venetian fleet after they had gotten Ottranto staied in hope to win the castell of Brundusium so that the defendants were encouraged and the assailants for lacke of water and other necessaries fainted and in the meane time Antonio de Leua perceyuing that Pauia was negligentlie kept assaulted it by night and tooke it and had the Captains prisoners before the souldiers were awares The Pope continued his newtrality betweene the two princes and so was neither trusted of the French king nor of the Emperour who the more suspected him for that he had sent Cardinall Campeius into England to diuorce his kinswoman Queene Katherin daughter of Aragon Now doth Andro Dore leaue the sould of the king and entreth sould with the emperor vpon conditions the french army before Naples is full of diseases Monsieur de Vaudemont almost dead Monsieur de Lautreck very sicke and shortly after dieth so that the Marques of Saluzzo is driuen to capitulate with the prince of Orange who is now viceroy Monsieur de S. Poll gained certaine townes in Lombardy for the French in the meane time Andro Dore taketh Geane for the emperials through the grosse negligence of the French king Monsieur de S. Poll marcheth on stil through Lombardy comming within xii miles of Pauia Antonio de Leua who had beene long sicke causeth himselfe to be caryed in a chayre and all his men to put on white shirtes and stealeth without noyse one night towardes the French within two miles of Ladriane vnawares setteth on Monsieur de S. Poll who albeit he fought valiantly trusting to his Lance-knights yet they ranne away and he remained prisoner with Castillon Claude Rangin and diuerse others to Antonio de Leua Now beginneth the Pope to treate a peace at Barcelone with the Emperour greatly to the Popes aduauntage both for that he should forget iniuries past be no hinderance to the Emperour who ment personally to make a voyage into Italy The like was treated betweene the French King and the Emperour at Cambray a place destinied to such great treatises being there present the two ladie Regents for the two princes the Ambassadours of the confederates and the duke of Suffolke and the Bishop of London for the King of England The French King being somewhat ashamed of this act for certaine dayes kept himselfe close and would not be seene of the ambassadours of his confederates in the ende he gaue them sweet wordes comforts and promises excusing himselfe that otherwise hee could not haue his children The Emperour after this commandeth the prince of Orange to assaile the Florentines and himselfe in royal person commeth to Geane where the princes of Italy do salute him by their Ambassadours The King and the Pope talked togither at Bolognia the pope entring first as the greater princes vse The Turke left off besieging Vienna the Emperour is inclined to capitulate with the Venetians and Francis Sforce to whom he restored the dukedome of Millaine and the Venetians to the Church that they held in Romagnia and to the Emperor that which they held in Puglia The xx Booke THese late leagues seemed nowe to establish peace each where sauing only to the poore Florentines who often had helped others to make their peace and now the peace of others drew them to a daungerous warre with the Emperour who now sent against them foure thousand Lanceknights and three thousande Spaniards and Italians vnder the prince of Orange which maketh Piscara and Prato yeeld of themselues to the Pope and the souldiours of France being well payd defended themselues valiantly In the meane time the Pope causeth the French king to send Monsieur de Cleremont to Florence to excuse himselfe for not comprehending them in the league vpon necessitie of recouering his children wishing them to take such conditions as they could get in so hard a case wherein himselfe would be a dealer for them The Emperour meaning to go to Rome to be crowned being letted with certaine importunate affaires of Germanie and chiefly to elect his brother Ferdinand king of Romanes was faine to be crowned at Bolognia Anno 1530 on his birth day of S. Matthias which was his fortunate day and there the Pope and the duke of Ferrara compromitted all their differences vnto him The Florentines being often skirmished withall and often battered though they valiantly defended after the death of the prince of Orange and departure af the Marques of Guast were yet for verie hunger and diuersitie of opinions driuen to offer to Gonsague the Captaine of the Imperials that Caesar himselfe and the Pope shoulde determine their conditions and gouernment their life and libertie saued Ferdinand is now chosen King of Romanes at a decree in Ausbourge and there is treatise agaynst the Lutherians of whom the great princes beganne to be afrayde and at the instant request of the Germaines the Emperour summoned the Pope to call a Councell the Pope vtterly misliked it as preiudiciall to his Court and abuses and yet dissembled it cunningly The French would neuer bee long quiet but the King turneth to his olde emulation of the greatnesse of the Emperour and perswadeth with the Pope and states of Italie to take heed of it To the states of Germanie he affirmeth that the Emperour ment to make it a Monarchie The King of England he pricketh forwarde in recounting vnto him how angrie the Emperour was for the diuorce of his mothers sister and last of all that which euill beseemed the most Christian King he stirreth vp the Turke who indeede was alreadie iealous of his greatnesse and hated him also in respect of his brother with whom he was at oddes for Hungarie The Emperour still calleth vpon the Councell he desireth now to renue the league of Bolognia and to comprehende in it all Italie making contribution for their common defence agaynst the French The Pope lyked not to be of any side remembring the daungers past so often as the sides were ouerthrowne but being of that calling he liked neutralitie better as the surest way The Emperour returneth into Spaine and the Pope and the French king talke at Marseilles of great matters vnder pretence of dealing against the Turke and the King of Englands diuorce To ratifie their matters Katherin of Medices the Popes neece was married to Henry the second sonne of Fraunce whome nowe the Pope woulde faine make duke of Millaine forthwith for he foreknewe as it seemed that he should shortly die in that he made his Ring and all other habiliaments and indeed died in whose place was chosen Alexander Farnese called Paule the third The duke of Wittemberg by ayde of the Lantgraue of Hesse and the French Kings money recouered the dukedome from Ferdinand and great troubles were toward but the matter was compounded without the French kings consent who in the meane time hoped to get Millaine At this time also Barbarossa Bascha generall by sea to Soliman passing to the conquest of Thunis scoured the riuers of Calabria and passed Caiette and put all Italie in such a feare as he might easily haue taken Rome if he had come forward FINIS