the siege longer and their marching off did so dishearten the rest that the Emperour thought best to follow them Rinaldus pursued him in his retreat but the Emperour not able to bear this affront and considering his Army to be still the more numerous offered him battle Rinaldus to make up the disproportion in the number by the advantage of the ground posted himself upon a hill dividing his Army into four parts he gave the Van towards the plain to his Son Azo and Torrisedi Governour of Verona the Milan Troops were placed at some distance behind those of Bergamo Brescia and Piacenza had the top of the hill and the General himself retired to the other side out of the enemies view The King of Bohemia commanded one Wing of the Imperial Army the Kings of Denmark and Norway another Frederick with the Duke of Bavaria stood in the middle The King of Bohemia's Wing began the fight about noon with Azo and Torrisedi and for a long time it was doubtfull to which Party victory enclined till the King being wounded and carried back to the Camp half dead his men retired in disorder Azo encouraged by this and seconded by the Troops of Milan bore all down before him till he came to the main Body where the Emperour with his German Horse sustained his charge killed those who led the Troops of Milan and took Azo prisoner They upon the top of the hill who hitherto had no occasion to act seeing the rest in distress marched briskly down to their assistance and while the Imperialists bent their Forces that way thinking the whole Confederate Army was now engaged Rinaldus came with such violence upon their Rere that they presently gave ground and marched off with his own hand he took the Imperial Standard and followed the Emperour so close that he was obliged to the darkness of the night for his escape but the news of his Sons being carried off prisoner did much abate the joy of his success nor could any arguments prevail on the Emperour to give him up so long as his Father lived It is believed if this advantage had been pursued the Emperours Affairs in Italy might soon have been brought to a weak pass but the Confederate Troops as if they had already done enough went all home to their own Cities to receive the applause and carresses of their friends and could never again be united Rinaldus also gave up his Commission not willing to exasperate the Emperour while he had such an Hostage from his Family nor could the Emperour make sure any other wayes of one who did so unjustly head the Confederates that had so often violated their Duty and failed in their promises to their Prince Frederick had been alwayes hitherto Victorious and now his Fortune seemed to decline having after this manner besieged Milan several months to little purpose and at last retired with so great loss but this blow did rather hasten his success for being doubtfull what course to take the news was brought him of the Confederates being gone and this encouraged him to return to the siege of Milan sooner than they expected the City seeing it self abandon'd sent to capitulate with the Emperour but he absolutely refused to agree to any terms telling them that he expected to enter at a breach in their Walls as a Conquerour and to treat them accordingly whereupon trusting to his Clemency their Gates were opened the Emperour then mindfull how perfidiously they had dealt with him commanded all the Inhabitants to depart within three dayes and the City to be razed to the ground and upon the fourth day after he entered at a breach with his whole Army to see his Sentence put in execution the neighbour Cities were forward enough to revenge the injuries received in pulling down each a part the wretched Inhabitants standing without the Walls to express their sorrow in cryes and tears when they saw the deplorable fall of the City Novara pull'd down one quarter Cremona another Como a third and Lode a fourth Churches and Convents Hospitals and Palaces without respect Anno Christi 1162 were thrown down nothing except two small Chappels of all that stately City was left standing the very Broglio or great Market-place was sow'd with Salt And thus Milan which had long aspired to the Soveraignty of Lombardy and which for its largeness its beauty and the number as well as riches of its Citizens began to emulate Rome felt in a few dayes this terrible desolation as a just reward of its insolence to its Neighbours and of its perfidy to an indulgent Prince who had already three several times pardon'd its rebellion The destruction of Milan the submission of all the other Cities and the changing the Ancient Magistrates into Imperial Podesta's seem'd to secure the Peace of Italy for many years Yet the haughty carriage of these new Ministers in the Emperours absence and the Arts of Pope Alexander drew on in a short time a fresh Rebellion they wanted only a Head and knew by former experience that none could either do them credit or service like Rinaldus but his tenderness for his Son was such that no perswasions could engage him again If Rinaldus of Esté's denying to joyn with the Confederates did at first retard their motions the baseness of Henry of Bavaria one of the same Family did afterwards spoil the Emperours Affairs when he was in a fair way to reduce all he was the Emperours Cousin and had been restored to the greatest part of his Fathers Dominions at the same time that his Uncle Guelpho had those of Matildis given him in Italy Yet upon a vain scruple arising from Alexanders Excommunication he left him when he had most occasion for him and his Troops The Emperour went after him to perswade him to return but no arguments nor condescension in the Emperour could work upon an obstinate humour cloak'd with a pretence to conscience Nor was it only the loss of him and his followers for his example was like to draw others away so that the Emperour perceiving the ill disposition of his Army infected by the very air of that rebellious Countrey sent to Alexander to procure his reconciliation this he obtained indeed but upon such terms that it is hard to say whether Alexander the third or Gregory the seventh treated an Emperour with most insolence what Gregory did at the Castle of Cannossa only with Matildis Alexander may be said to have done solemnly in the face of the whole Senate and people of Venice The Emperour finding his kindness to Henry of Bavaria so little considered turn'd him out of all and Henry who had married a Daughter of England fled thither for protection where he stay'd till by that Kings intercession the Dutchies of Brunswick and Lunenburgh were restored to him by the Emperour in this his former greatness was indeed much impaired yet still he continued in the first rank of German Princes which figure his successors have ever since sustained
to free Naples from the Saracens whom the Greeks had called in the flower of the German Nobility accompanied him in this Expedition and Albertus hoping his absence might then be dispensed with stopped in Lombardy to look into the concerns of his Family which the Emperours Affairs had made him long neglect Otho gave the Saracens battle under the walls of Benevent where by the treachery of the Romans his Army was overthrown and he himself made his escape most miraculously after having been sometime though unknown in the enemies hands Albertus having the news of the Emperours defeat hasted towards him with what Troops he could raise and came in time to help to reunite the Emperours scatter'd Army which thereupon made head against the Saracens when they least expected it kill'd all that made any resistance and then pursuing the advantage never gave them time to breathe till they had chased them out of Naples from thence had Otho the title of Saracenicus given him At his return to Rome he treated those who had betrayed him with the utmost severity and was going on to see deeper every day into their indirect practices when he was seized with a desperate feaver which killed him in a few dayes Otho the third came to the Crown so young that Henry of Bavaria's ill success formerly did not discourage him from a second attempt he had got the young Prince into his hands pretending he was his Guardian and that till he were of age none ought to question his Right to Govern Albertus who well understood if Henry succeeded in this so long as he lived Otho was never like to enter upon the Government shew'd no less concern now than he had done formerly for Otho the second Others who remember'd that he had been too hard for Henry were encouraged to joyn and form'd a strong confederacy in defence of Otho that Henry seeing the difficulty of the enterprize with the doubtfulness of the success gave it over Albertus lived to see Otho the third in sure possession of the Crown which he had been so eminently instrumental in setting both upon his and his Fathers head Never did any man promote the interest of Princes more than Albertus did that of the three Emperours under whom he lived nor have we any ground to tax them of backwardness in acknowledging his merits He was honour'd with Otho the first 's Daughter in marriage under Otho the second and Otho the third he had the chief trusts of the Government committed to him and had such a strange influence upon all their Counsels that nothing but the assurance of his integrity could have justified their prudence in placing any man in so high a sphere Alda brought him three Sons the eldest was Hugo the second who succeeded his Father not only in his Possessions and Title but which is a rare thing in his Interest at Court About this time Rome grew big with a new project of setting up an Italian Monarchy in opposition to the Emperours The severity or as some termed it the cruelty of Otho Anno Christi 993 the second made the Romans conceive an unalterable prejudice against his Family and his Nation and those who expected to advance their fortunes by a change did most carefully foment these humours The great Engine which moved all was one Crescentius who according to the character given him by the Italian Writers wanted none of the qualifications necessary for such an undertaking Upon all occasions he did inveigh against the Emperour with equal boldness and eloquence complaining how much his Countrey-mens spirits were debased from those of their Ancestors in suffering a dull phlegmatick People and a Priest the Germans he mean'd and the Pope to keep the Mistriss of the world thus in slavery Being created Consul he endeavour'd to retrieve some of the lost Power to that empty name and began with the Pope whom he chased from Rome that so he might order things as he pleased Otho had notice of all that past and judging it a business of too great consequence to be neglected set forward towards Rome accompanied by his Cousin the Marquess of Esté and many of the German and Italian Nobility In his march he had advice of the Popes death which made him create a Kinsman of his own and a German Pope by the name of Gregory the fifth whom he sent to Rome before him to see if they would acquiesce in his choice Crescentius and the Romans to divert the present danger received the new Pope with much outward respect confessed their rashness in calling the Emperours Authority in question and readily promised entire submission for the future though it soon appeared they intended nothing less for scarce was the Emperour gone when the former project being again set on foot Gregory was rejected as an Usurper and John Bishop of Piacenza a Greek by Nation friend to Crescentius and the richest Prelate of Italy placed in the Chair Otho enraged at their proceedings made what preparation he could for a new Expedition resolving not to be put off a second time with fair words with the German Army and the Troops that Hugo of Esté had raised in Italy the Emperour invested Rome which Crescentius having fortified refused to deliver but there being neither Provision nor Forces sufficient to hold out a long siege the City was taken and in it the new Pope who had his eyes put out his nose and ears cut off and with his face backward was afterwards carried upon an Ass round the City in triumph Crescentius retired to the Castle of S t Angelo which he defended with such obstinacy that the Emperour seem'd glad to agree to what terms he would but he was the more liberal in his promises because he never design'd to perform them for Crescentius after having suffered many indignities in his person was sentenced to end his life upon a Gibbet He was a person of rare endowments and might have deserved a more honourable death had he imployed himself in a better Cause In short Crescentius had truly the fate of all unsuccessfull Traytors to be infamous to Posterity for miscarrying in his attempt but if his Fortune had bore any proportion to the greatness of his mind we had found him ranked among the Worthies of Italy All must own that Crescentius did not make good his promise to Otho yet this could not vindicate Otho's breach of his Royal word or secure him from the subtle contrivances of the Romans who vowed the death of Crescentius should be revenged and they had so ordered the matter that when the Emperour fancied himself free from all danger he must have fallen into their hands had not his Cosin Hugo of Esté disappointed them by conveying him away by night The sense of so narrow a deliverance with Hugo's great performances in this and the former expedition made Otho Create him Marquess of Italy a Title Anno Christi 1000 never given to any other This rendred Hugo so
strengthen his interest and keep her from any other match which might prove in the end fatal to him and his Family But Adeleidis in her heart hated Berengarius as the Author of her husbands death and rejected Albertus upon his Fathers score Berengarius resolving to gain by threats her who was proof against all allurements confin'd her first to Pavia then to a more narrow prison whence there was no hopes of deliverance but by consenting to a marriage with Albertus Hugo who knew nothing to be more natural to Berengarius than cruelty being sensible of the Queens danger whom he judg'd not likely to yield generously ventur'd all to rescue her and oblige Otho King of Germany for whom Adeleidis was designed before her imprisonment Having therefore got without suspicion into the Castle where she was kept in the midst of a Lake by the help of a Priest of whose fidelity and courage he had formerly experience the Queen was let down out of a Window and convey'd away in a Boat which lay ready for that purpose into the next Wood where she continued several days with Hugo the Priest furnishing them with such entertainment as he could procure from the neighbouring Villages Notice being given to Otho of the Queens escape his Army presently advanced towards Italy and this put all in such a consternation that Hugo and the Queen got without any further danger into the Castle of Cannossa where Azo expected them Otho having received his Queen Anno Christi 952 from the hands of Hugo her Deliverer marched on towards Berengarius whose tyranny had now render'd him so odious that being deserted by all his friends he delivered himself up Prisoner with his Son Albertus and Otho without much trouble possess'd himself of the Imperial Crown which has ever since continued in the German Nation No reward seeming too great for the person to whom he ow'd his Queen Hugo was made Governour of all that Country which is now known by the name of the Dutchy of Milan the Dutchy of Montferrat Piemont and the territory of Genoua and Berengarius was carried Prisoner into Germany CHAP. IV. The most remarkable actions of the Counts of Esté from Otho the Great to Henry the third AFter a short confinement Berengarius had leave to return into Italy with the title of King but much limited in his Authority which he was too apt to abuse scarce was he well setled when forgetfull of the Emperours clemency and his own engagements being enraged at those who had helped to humble him he behaved himself more cruelly than ever Hugo whose splendid way of living did eclipse him was the chief object of his wrath but too powerfull for him to meddle with After Hugo's death he took occasion to fall out with his Brother Azo about their Mother Giscla's inheritance and their difference ended in Azo's being turned out of all he had and forced to fly for his life into Germany with his Anno Christi 960 Son whence neither of them ever returned With them must the family of Esté have perished had not the hopefull Issue of Sigifred Prince of Parma supported it Sigifred himself was dead but his eldest Son Azo entering upon his Cousins desperate fortune in spite of the Tyrant maintained his right and confirmed his younger brothers in theirs at Parma and Luca. The loud cryes of Berengarius's oppression and the complaints of such as every day fled from Italy reaching the Emperours ears brought his Son Lodolphus with an Army from Germany against the Tyrant Lodolphus being suddenly kill'd Azo the third happening to be then in the Camp was chosen General in the Princes room In this station he had not continued many dayes when engaging the enemy he obtained a signal victory and reduced several places to the Emperours obedience Where-ever he came the people crouded to welcome him as the deliverer of his Countrey Piacenza and Regio desiring to live under his protection presented him with their keys many Cities being weary of their late sufferings were making hast to free themselves from the yoke of Berengarius who on the other hand was using all diligence to raise forces and to put a stop to Azo's success But Otho 's appearing the second time with a strong Army after some few skirmishes rather than fights took Berengarius prisoner and sent him into Germany there to endure perpetual imprisonment for the miseries he had brought upon his Native Countrey Otho's occasions requiring his speedy return into Germany he resolved to put the Government of Italy into sure hands and none having deserved so well of him nor being so able to do him service as Azo he committed all to his trust with the title of Vicar of Italy This unlimited Power Anno Christi 970 Azo discreetly employ'd for the establishment of the Emperours Authority yet not without giving satisfaction to those he govern'd by which he added greatly to the former lustre of his family Azo left several Sons the eldest was Albertus the second Otho's chief Favorite whom some of the Italian writers call Albertatius the second was Thedaldus whom the City of Ferrara mindfull of its former happiness under a Prince of the house of Esté chose in the place of Almaricus lately dead After the death of his Father and Uncle he had likewise Regio Parma and Luca by which he laid the foundation of that Power and Riches which his Grand-child the Countess Matildis so famous in the Histories of those times did foully mis-imploy in setting up the Papal Authority against that of the Emperours as we shall relate hereafter The vast possessions fallen to Albertus by his Fathers death might have invited him home had he not been deeply engaged at the Emperours Court. From the time of Charles the Great the Family of Esté had been dignified with the title of Counts which Otho changed into that of Marquess and thinking he could never too well requite Hugo's kindness in rescuing Adeleidis from the hands of Berengarius he gave his Daughter by Adeleidis named Alda in marriage to Albertus with ten Castles in Lombardy and the City of Friburgh in Germany Upon the death of Otho the Great dissensions arose about the Succession for his Brother Henry of Bavaria trusting in his Interest with the neighbour Princes endeavoured to wrest the Imperial Crown from his Nephew Otho the second But Albertus being zealous for the young Prince engaged so many in his behalf as made good the Justice of his Cause against the Usurper This did beget him the irreconcileable hatred of Henry which he little valued while he was so fast united to the Emperour Harald King of Denmark was one of those that declared for Henry and brought an Army to the Fields to over-aw those who should offer to oppose him but Albertus with the Emperours Forces gave him such a blow that all his threats ended in a peace with Otho upon very unequal terms Things thus setled at home Otho the second went
took their Husbands upon their backs declaring as they past through the Camp that these were the only Jewels they desired to secure from Conrard and his Army this generous act of the Princess and her Ladies did so surprize and please the Emperour that he would see his word made good and thereupon not only pardon'd but was reconciled to Gwelfo giving him back some part of his Brothers inheritance Gwelfo afterwards accompanied Conrard in his expedition to the Holy Land which the treachery of the Greeks rendered insuccessfull at his return he made ready an Army to go into Italy to receive the Imperial Crown and designed to carry Gwelfo with him of whose company he seem'd to be very fond because he durst not leave him behind but his journey being put off by his sickness he lived not to receive that honour and though he left a Son yet his Nephew Frederick Barbarossa succeeded him Frederick's first work was to cement all the breaches of Germany which he did with so much equity and discretion that he gave satisfaction to all parties His Mother was of the House of Bavaria and this made him willing to restore that Dutchy to the Son of Henry and to his Uncle Gwelfo he gave all that the Emperours had recovered of Matildis Estate which I confess was a doing right in some measure to the house of Esté but not to that part of it that had suffered most by her This brings us back to Italy which we shall now find the chief Scene of Affairs and Rinaldus of Esté of age to be the chief Actor for whose sake we must give a more particular account of things as they then stood when Frederick came thither The long absence of an Emperour had brought Affairs into great disorder especially in Lombardy where every City form'd it self into a sort of Republick and dissensions naturally arising betwixt them there was no person that had either Authority to determine their differences or power to see his determinations received The City of Milan affected the Dominion over all the rest had already made some submit and was every day encroaching upon others with an insupportable insolence Many complaints were brought to the Emperour from most of the neighbour Cities declaring that they must submit to the Queen of Lombardy for so Milan stiled her self unless they had his protection The Emperour promised to make what hast he could towards them and to put an end to all their quarrels When he came to the Lago di Garda near Verona he received the complements of the Italian Princes amongst others were Boniface Fulco Opizo and Albertus of Esté his Kinsmen by his Mother who had all conferred on them special marks of his favour But we find nothing of Rinaldus the Chief of the Family who it is thought absented himself being highly disgusted that Matildis Estate should be setled by Frederick upon the German Line The Emperour having rebuked those of Milan and Tortona for their late carriage and required them to make reparation for the injuries done their neighbours went towards Rome and being Anno Christi 1155 Crowned Emperour by Adrian the fourth he returned into Germany Fresh troubles in Italy called him soon back but as his presence converted all their Rebellion into Humility and Duty so his being reconciled upon too easie terms to Milan and Brescia the authors of discord encouraged them to renew their practices when he was gone and for Adrian if we honour him for his Countrey as being of our neighbour-nation of England we must condemn him for his malice against this great Emperour in fomenting their Rebellion When Frederick came to Italy the third time Milan and Brescia had several other Towns joyn'd to them and stood out a long siege yet before he left them they were made to accept of what conditions he pleased to impose which yet were much more gentle than they especially Milan did deserve after having twice abused his clemency About this time Adrian the fourth dying the Election of two Popes Alexander the third and Victor the fourth occasioned a new Schism more dangerous than any of the former both writ to the Emperour then besieging Crema to confirm their Election but he out of pure zeal for the peace of the Church refusing to declare for either called a Council at Pavia where they were summoned to appear to have their Cause heard and determined by their Brethren the Bishops Victor came thither at the day appointed but Alexander continued at Rome whereupon the Council offended at his contempt and judging his not appearance to flow from a diffidence in his Cause gave it in favour of Victor whom the Emperour did then confirm and sent Letters to the Kings of France England and Spain to give an account of what was there concluded Alexander was excommunicated by Victor at Pavia Frederick and Victor by Alexander at Rome and the parties being now irreconcilable Alexander sent a Legat to those of Milan to declare them absolved from the Oaths they had lately sworn and not obliged to make good the Articles which necessity had extorted from them Milan and the Confederate Cities took Arms immediately and resolving to carry on a formed War against the Emperour invited Rinaldus Marquess of Esté to be their General who thinking himself injured and neglected by Frederick did too readily undertake the Patronage of so unjust a Cause The Emperour judging his Army too weak to deal with so many gave order for New Levies in Germany which were finished and sent with great expedition to Italy the Kings likewise of Bohemia Denmark and Norway came in person to his assistance with their choicest troops so that when all his forces were united he had no less than seventy thousand Foot and forty thousand Horse the Confederates likewise had made great preparations Rinaldus of Esté their General brought six thousand Foot and four thousand Horse Brescia Bergamo Piacenza Verona Vicenza Padoua and Bologna sent the numbers agreed on the general review was made at Milan where according to most of the Italian Writers they were fifty thousand men well armed the very first night the Emperour sate down before Milan Rinaldus ordered a sally at four several gates which put the Imperial Army into such confusion that the enemy was like to have dispossest them of their Camp Rinaldus perceiving the Confederate Army to dwindle away insensibly partly by Famine and partly by Sickness occasion'd by their being shut up so close in the hottest season of the year called a Council of War where it was resolved That all should be in readiness next morning to bring the business to an issue the whole Army being accordingly assembled in the great Market place Rinaldus led them out into the Imperial Camp a little before noon where falling in upon the Danes and Norvegians that were secure and unfit for action by reason of the great heat he did so great execution that no perswasion could make them continue
than the Conquest for what opposition could two such powerfull Princes meet with from Frederick whom his Subjects hated and contemned But Naples was too narrow to satisfie both the French and the Spaniards and Gonsalvo was a man of such unlimited ambition that a Controversie began about a small parcel of Ground to which both parties pretended and which nothing but Arms could decide In this the French had so ill success that they were suddenly beat out of all Gonsalvo with the Spaniards becoming then sole Masters of the Kingdom of Naples which they have kept ever since About this time died Hercules Duke of Ferrara whose life doth represent to us Fortune in all her different aspects he was born the undoubted Heir of one of the richest Princes of Italy was left young by his Father which made him come the later to his Estate after the death of two Brothers Many storms did he weather both in the Court and Wars of Naples his own Courage and the Kings Malice exposing him to every danger till at length he changed parties At his return from thence he lived for some time a Subject in his own Principality being glad to be a Governour of one of his Cities under his Brother But the latter part of his life made a fair reparation for the former no Prince of Italy being more valued or courted than Hercules that very King of Naples who hated him so much sent to proffer him his Daughter in marriage by whom he left a hopefull Issue the Kings of Castile and Hungary when he was in danger by his War with Venice gave testimony how much they were concerned to support him Henry the seventh of England complemented him with the Order of the Garter and three several Kings of France sought his Friendship as necessary for the advancement of their interest upon the other side of the Alpes CHAP. XII The Life of Alphonsus the first the third Duke of Ferrara HErcules had four Sons Alphonsus who succeeded him Hippolytus the former of the two famous Cardinals of Esté of that name Ferdinand and Sigismund Alphonsus was twice married in his Fathers time first to the Daughter of Iohn Galeazo Duke of Milan when he was very young and when she died a Match by Lewis the twelfth's means was made up betwixt him and Lucretia Borgia Pope Alexander the sixth's Daughter the King designing by this to unite the Duke with Caesar Borgia and both to himself The first remarkable action we meet with in Alphonsus after his Fathers death Caesar Borgia being then ruined was his defending Bologna for Iulius the second and his defeating Bentivoglio from whom the Pope had lately taken that City and recommended it to the Duke Not long after was the League of Cambray concluded where Alphonsus joyned with the Emperour the Pope the Kings of France and Spain to take the terra firma from the Venetians The King of France began the War and gave the Venetian Army which was commanded or rather divided by two Generals of quite different tempers so great an overthrow that the other Confederates did thereupon make the more hast The Venetians seeing themselves in no condition to defend their Subjects wisely made a virtue of necessity and allowed them the liberty to make the best terms they could with the Enemy and so prevent their ruine for they presumed and upon good grounds that this instance of their tenderness would invite them home to their ancient Masters as soon as the storm was over being attacqued then on all hands nothing except Treviso was left them in a short time and the Duke of Ferrara for his share was once in possession of Rovigo la Badia with Monfelice Esté and other places which formerly belonged to his Family Besides the places he had taken the Pope declared him the General of the Church which made the Venetians discharge their whole fury upon him both by Sea and Land but such was their ill success in every enterprize that their very Navy became a prey to him that had no ships for having chained them up by night within the mouth of the River where they thought themselves secure he burnt some took others and returned to Ferrara in a sort of Naval Triumph upon one of their Chief Gallies Anno Christi 1510 The sole hope now left the Venetians was to break a League in which so many Princes of different or rather incompatible Interests were united and this they found no hard matter Julius being willing not only to take off his censures but also to fall out with France and to help to chase Lewis out of Italy if they would give him the places in Romagna which by the League were designed for him It was not now time for the Venetians to stand at any thing and therefore they readily acquiesced to the Popes proposals and he sent to the Duke of Ferrara to acquaint him with what he had done and to desire him to forbear any further acts of hostility against the Republick but the Duke excused himself saying that he could not in honour nor in conscience abandon those with whom he was in Confederacy Julius taking this excuse for a direct upbraiding himself with what he had done excommunicated the Duke immediately sent Orders to Romagna to seize upon what places he possessed there and exhorted the Venetians to fall upon him to revenge his and their quarrel the Duke in a short time lost Rovigo all the Polecine Monfelice and Esté on the one hand and upon the other hand all the places of Romagna and which grieved him most Modena and Sassuolo with several Castles near him his only comfort was he knew that if he had pleased to make honour and conscience truckle to Interest he might have been a saver But never resolving to stear by this compass nor to follow the precedent given him by P. Iulius he waited for better times till he could fairly recover what he had unjustly lost Never was Pope freer of his thunders than Iulius who seeing his success against Alphonsus took his aim a little higher at Lewis the twelfth deprived him of his Title of the most Christian King and of his Crown and exposed his Territoris as a prey to those that could take them but though his lightning did shine it was not felt in France otherwise than in provoking the good King to Vow and to publish his Vow also in his coin That he would destroy Babylon meaning Rome The King of Castile sent an Army to assist the Pope and the Venetians which made Lewis likewise re-inforce his Troops under a new General Gaston de Foix Duke of Nemours to him he particularly recommended the concerns of the Duke of Ferrara whom of all the Italians he had found the most trusty Confederate and the French Army then lying in Romagna the Duke recovered his places from Iulius Gaston was impatient till he gave the Enemy battle which he did near Ravenna the Duke commanded that part where
the Artillery was planted and they observed he used it with such advantage that it helped greatly to obtain the victory When the Enemies main body was routed and their Officers gone in a little action fitter for some young Captain than a General Gaston was unhappily killed and by his death he made that day remarkable above all others that a victory may be too dear bought with the loss of a General for from that hour the French Arms declined in Italy and did every day lose ground leaving those at last whom they had beaten in possession of what they fought for There being now no French Army in the field the Duke enclined to an accommodation with the Pope Fabricius Colonna whom he had taken prisoner at Ravenna and had used with great civility and dismist without any ransom promising to procure it upon equal terms the Duke had an invitation from Iulius to Rome with assurances that he should find a reception answerable to Colonna's promise as indeed he did being immediately absolved from all his censures but when they came to treat such unreasonable demands were made that he chose rather to venture all than agree to them and the Pope seeing his resolution designed to keep him there Colonna who was the occasion of the Dukes coming thought his honour now so much at stake that not valuing the Popes indignation he brought the Duke from Rome by night in spite of the Guards and committed him to the care of his Cousin Prosper Colonna who with great Address in the midst of the noise of his escape brought him safe through the Popes Territories The Pope being upon this more enraged than ever did contrary to his promise send to the Duke of Vrbin and his other Officers to get what they could before the Dukes return most of the Dukes Subjects looked upon him now as irrecoverably lost not only the places in Romagna but also Regio Brescello and Carpi yielded so that little remained to him upon that hand and all concluded that it must have ended in his utter ruine had not God happily put an end to the life of Julius The person in the whole Colledge next to his Brother Hippolytus whom the Duke could have wished to succeed Iulius was Iohn Cardinal of Medici who in the former reign had secretly favoured him and found wayes when employ'd as Legate in those parts to decline the executing the Popes violent resolutions against him Upon the joyfull news of this Cardinals election who is known by the name of Leo the tenth the Duke went immediately to Rome and came in time to be absolved anew and to carry S t Peters Standard as great Confalonier or General of the Church at the inauguration of Leo who promised to restore whatever Iulius had taken from him but in a little time he was so strangely altered that far from the least performance he watched every opportunity to take from the Duke what was left him Upon a report of his being dead Leo ordered his Troops to march that way and when it proved a mistake he did endeavour to excuse it as if his design had been to secure the Dutchy for Prince Hercules the Dukes eldest Son His ill intentions were more plainly discovered two years after for he hired one Rodolphus a Captain Anno Christi 1520 in the Dukes Guards to kill him but the Captain by good luck had neither the courage to go through with what he had undertaken nor yet to deny it In short the Duke was much disappointed in Leo who could never be brought to make good his promise till Francis the first who succeeded Lewis the twelfth being well satisfied that all the Duke of Ferrara's sufferings proceeded from his constant adhering to the French Interest did refuse to enter into any treaty with the Pope unless the Duke were comprehended in it After Leo's death no Prince complemented Adrian the sixth with so noble an Embassy as the Duke of Ferrara did who upon the Popes arrival at Rome sent his Son Hercules thither attended by many of his chief Nobility the young Prince was then but fourteen years of age yet having his audience of Adrian before the Consistory he harangued so finely and with so good a Grace that the Pope embraced him with tears and having asked him several questions in Latin found him so much a Master of that Language his answers so pertinent and lively and in his whole behaviour a modest assurance so fitted to his age and quality that Adrian declared before all the Cardinals that he must grant the Duke of Ferrara whatever he demanded by such an Extraordinary Ambassador Lueretia the Mother of Hercules being dead there lived a young Gentlewoman at Ferrara called Laura Enstochia sufficiently qualified every way for a Princess except in her birth her person her air but above all her wit did so charm the Duke that after having sometime Courted her she came to be his third Dutchess and brought him two Sons Alphonsus and Alphonsinus Much were the Duke and the Prince grieved for the death of so friendly a Pope as Adrian when they perceived that Clement the seventh began to renew the practices of Leo offering the Emperour great summs of money to have Modena and Regio given to himself and his Family but the Emperour being unwilling to advance the House of Medici by an act of injustice to that of Esté would not hearken to the proposal though the Popes bounty to his Ministers who were to further it had drained the Apostolical Chamber this disappointment which cost Clement so dear helped to hasten his unhappy breach with the Emperour by which Rome was exposed to the most barbarous usage it had met with since the Goths and Vandals sacked it and he himself imprisoned in the Castle S t Angelo by the Duke of Bourbon's Army Duke Alphonsus instead of insulting over his Enemies misery was as forward as any to contribute towards his releasement and at Ferrara was a League of most of the Christian Princes concluded against the Emperour to this very intent No man questioned but the Duke in this action had for ever secured to himself an interest in Clement who by his Legate offered to renounce all his pretensions upon Modena and Regio and to renew the investiture of Ferrara as soon as she should be set at liberty yet all was presently forgot and the only advantage the Duke had by this League was the match then made up betwixt his Son Hercules and Renata Lewis the twelfths younger Daughter who proved the most excellent Princess in all respects that ever Italy saw Amongst other things Clement had promised upon the death of Cardinal Gonzaga the Bishoprick of Modena to the Dukes second Son Hippolytus but it was given away to a Son of one of the Emperours Chief Favourites purposely that the Duke by disputing the business might draw upon himself the Emperours Indignation if not his Arms Other subtle Arts were used by Clement to ruine the