yere with Caesar and the king Catholike which yet comprehended no other matter then the defence of their common estates for the king Catholike was entred afore not without cause into suspicion that be aspired to the realme of Naples for Iulian his brother and had already enterteyned in that action some practise with the Venetians This newe confederation was scarcely established and concluded when the French kings answere came By it he approued all that the Pope had propounded with this onely addition that since he was to bynde hym selfe to the protection of the Florentins of Iulio de Medicis hys brother and Lavvrence hys nephew whom the Pope had aduaunced to thadministration of th affayres of Florence that he woulde reciprocally be bounde to the defence of the Crowne of Fraunce But the Pope excused him selfe touching the action of capitulation with Caesar and the king Catholike that seeing how long he deferred to make aunswere to a demaunde so reasonable he coulde not but enter into some doubt And yet the confederation was but for a short time and conteined no matter preiudiciall to him nor to hinder the perfection of the practise begonne betwene them These iustifications were accepted by the king and so they passed the couenaunt not by instrument authentike to hold it more secret but by a priuate writing subsigned by both their handes The peace betwene the king of Englande and the French king was more sodayne and easie then was exspected being vnlikely that so great hatreds redoubled by new iniuries should with such facilitie be conuerted into amitie and aliance happly the peace was not liking to the Pope who aswell as others was perswaded that there might grow betwene them rather a truce then a peace or at least if it resolued to the nature of a peace it would eyther intangle the king with harder conditions or at least with obligation not to assayle the duchie of Millan for a certayne tyme But it brought incredible discontentment to Caesar and the king Catholike who as there is none euill in humaine actions which hath not ioyned with it some good so he assured notwithstanding that he receiued by it in his minde two contentmentes The one for that tharchduke his nephewe beeing out of hope to giue his sister for wife to the Frenche king and entring withall into distruste of the king of Englande would be nowe compelled to do nothing without his counsell and authoritie The other for that the Frenche king standing nowe in good possibilitie of children the succession of Monsr de Angonlesme was put in doubt to whome he bare no little hatred for that he norished a great desire to restore the king of Nauarre to his estate Onely the Svvizzers gaue it out that they reioysed all at that accorde notwithstanding they reteyned agaynst the French king the same hatred they did before The reason of their gladnes grew of an opinion they had that the french king being now at libertie would take occasion to recontinue the warre in the duchy of Millan by which meane they should eftsones begin to declare to all the world their vertue and their fayth And truely it was not to be doubted that the french king being now deliuered almost of al feare to haue warre beyond the Mountes would not be touched with his old desire to reconquer the duchy of Millan only it could not be discerned whether he would presently dispose him selfe to armes or deferre it tyll the yeare following for that the facilitie of thenterprise appeared to all men but there was none that discerned any signe of preparations In whiche vncertayntie the Pope notwithstanding that conquest was grieuous to him stirred him vp not to deserre nor corrupt the present occasions wherein he gaue him to vnderstande that all thinges were yll prepared to make resistance both for that the Spanishe armie was diminished and yll payed the peoples of Millan reduced to great pouertie straitnesse and also none was hable to aduaunce money to make the Svvizzers march These perswasions caryed so muche the greater force and authoritie by how much a litle before the peace with the king of Englande the Pope expressing a desire that the Frenche king should recouer Genes had giuen him a certayne hope to induce Octauian Fregoso to compound with him Assuredly the Pope in this action proceded not with sinceritie good meaning which disposition moued in him as was supposed for that seeing euery one yll furnished and no lesse doubting least the French king woulde make that expedition without his councell since he had his men at armes in readynes and many leauyes of Launceknightes at his deuotion thought by that meane to preuent and winne his frendship perhappes and in this he proceeded with greater suttletie he was enduced by the knowledge he had that the Emperour and the king Catholike were of opinion that it was not lawfull to the French king to inuade the Duchie of Millan An opinion which though they supposed to be true yet the Frenche king denied it a â—uowing that it was good in him he was not forbidden to take armes against the estate of Millan during the truce By reason whereof the Pope perswading him selfe that the king would not enter into thenterprise thought he would expresse to him a good disposicion of will which also should serue him for excuse if an other time he required succours of him And the matter succeded according to his opinion for the king being resolued either for that cause or for his present necessitie of money or lastly for the nearenes of the winter not to enter into armes affore the spring time and making show that he had confidence that euen in that time the Popes fauor woulde not faile him he wrote aunswere to him alleaging many excuses touching his deserring but conceiled the excuse of the truce which yet endured and perhappes was the principall Neuerthelesse he had desire to attempt the reconquering of Genes or at least to succour the lantern which the same yere by his direction had bene reuittelled many times with certaine proporcions of vittels by the aduenture of sundry smal vessels who making as though they woulde enter the porte of Genes dissembled with the warders and were profitable to them of the lantern But at last thextremitie of vittells growing aboue all remedie and no lesse diligence of the enemie to keepe them suppressed in that want their calamitie not able to temporise and exspect any longer after succours the garrison within was driuen to yeelde it vp to the Genovvais who in their spite rased it from the fundacions A matter not a litle displeasing to the king And albeit the losse of this fortresse tooke wholly from the king all cogitacions to vrge a present warre against the Genovvaies yet it diminished nothinge his disposicion to the action of Millan whereunto he turned all his preparacions to inuade the yeare following that state with maine armies he hoped that the Pope both for the
withdrew him from the thing whereunto his will did driue him so amyd so many variacions of mind he deferred as much as he could to declare his intencion giuing to euery one words and aunsweres generall But being continually importuned by the Frenche king at last he made him this aunswere that there was no person that knew better then him selfe how much he was inclined to his affaires being not ignoraunt with what affection he perswaded him to passe into Italy at a time when he might haue victorie without daunger or great effusion of blood That his perswasions for that thinges were not kept secret as he had oftentimes required him were now come to the knowledge of others to the common detriment of them both for that for his parte he saw him selfe in daunger to be assailed by others that the difficulties were become the greater for the enterprise of the king since others had giuen such order to their affaires that he could no more enter into the victorie but with manifest perill and lamentable slaughter of men That the power and glory of the Turkes being newly increased by so great a victorie successe it was neither conuenient to his condicion nor conformable to thoffice of a Pope either to giue fauor or counsel to Princes christened to make warre amongest them selues And that therefore he could not otherwise aduise him then to temporise surcease exspecting some other facilitie better occasion which when it hapned he shoulde finde in him the same disposition to his glory greatnes which he hath so well discerned certaine monethes passed An answere which albeit it did not in other sorte expresse his conception if it had come to the knowledge of the king it had not onely depriued him of all hope of the Popes fauor but also haue certified him that the Pope would haue ioyned and banded against him both with counsel with armes These were the accidents of the yeare 1514. But death who bringeth with him this law authority to cut of the vaine councells of men euen in their greatest hopes was the cause that the warre so forward in apparaunce burst not out to action with that speede that was exspected for whilest the French king gaue him selfe ouer to behold too much the excellent bewty of his new wife bearing then but eighteene yeres of age nothing considering the proporcion of his owne yeares nor his decayed complexion he fell into the rage of a feauer which drawing to it a suddeine flux ouercame in one instant the life that nature gaue ouer to preserue any longer he dyed the first day of the yeare 1515. a day of memorie for the death of so great a Prince he was a king iust much beloued of his peoples but touching his condicion neither asfore he was king nor after he had the crowne he neuer found constancy or stability in either fortune for rising from a small Duke of Orleance with great happines to the crowne and that by the death of Charles younger then he and two of his sonnes he conquered with a very great facility the Duchie of Millan and the kingdom of Naples and almost all the residue of the regions of Italy being gouerned for many yeares by his direction he recouered with a very great prosperity the state of Genes that was in rebellion vanquished with no lesse glory the armies of the Venetians being in person at both those victories But on the other side euen when he was in youth and best disposicion of body he was constrained by king Lovvys the eleuenth to mary his daughter that was both barren deformed and yet could neuer get the good will nor countenaunce of his father in law And aster his death such was the greatnes of the Lady of Burbon that he could neuer get the institucion of the newe king being then in minoritie being almost compelled to retyre him selfe into Brittaine where being taken in the battell of S. Aubyn he liued two yeares in the calamity of a prisoner To these afflictions may be added the siege and famin of Nouaro the many discomfits he had in the realme of Naples the losse of thestate of Millan Genes and all the townes which he had taken from the Venetians And lastely the grieuous warre he had in Fraunce agaynst very mightie enemies his eyes beholding into what lamentable perils his realme was brought Neuerthelesse afore he died it semed he had conquered al his aduersities fortune shewed good tokens of her reconcilement both for that he had defended his kingdome agaynst mighty enemies also established a perpetuall peace alliance with the king of Englande with whom by howmuche his amitie was great and assured by so muche it gaue him hope to be hable to reconquer the duchie of Millan After Lovvis the xij ascended to the Crowne Frauncis d'Angoulesme who was the next heire male of the blood royall of the same line of the Dukes of Orleance ▪ he was preferred to the successiō of the kingdom before the daughters of the dead king by the vertue disposition of the lawe Salike a lawe very auncient in the realme of Fraunce which excludeth from the royall dignitie all women so long as there is any issue male of the same line The world had such a hope in his vertues and suche an opinion of his magnanimitie such a conceite of his iudgement wit that euery one consessed that of very long time there was none raysed vp to the Crowne with a greator exspectation he was made the more agreable to the fancies of men by the consideration of his age bearing then but xxij yeres his excellent feiture proporcion of body his great liberality general humanity together with the rype knowledge he had in many things But specially he pleased greatly the nobilitie to whom he transferred many singuler great fauors He tooke vpon him together with the title of the french king the name of the duke of Millan A dignitie which he sayd apperteined to him not only by the auncient rights of the dukes of Orleance but also as cōprehended in the inuestiture that was made by Caesar in the treaty of Cambray Besides there liued in him the same desire to recouer it that dyed with his predecessor whervnto not only the working of his owne inclination but the perswasions of al the noble yong gentlemē of Fraunce did induce him no lesse by the memory of the glory of Gaston de Foix thē for the monumēt of so many victories as the kings raigning next afore had obteined in Italie And yet not to warne others afore the time not to prepare to resist him he dissembled his desires by thaduise of his graue counselors in the meane while sell to practise the amities of other princes frō whom were sent to congratulate with him many embassadors whō he receiued with countenaunce affable gracious but specially the embassadors of the king of England who desired
equall distaunce in all his partes from the Pole Septentrionall and Pole Meridionall they call it the lyne Equinoctiall for that when the sunne is vnder it the day and night haue one equalitie They haue deuided with imagination the longnes of this lyne into three hundred and three score partes which they call degrees as the other circuit of the heauen by the Poles is lykewise of three hundred and threescore degrees After these men had giuen this rule the Cosmographers measuring and diuiding the earth haue figured in the earth a lyne Equinoctiall which falles parpendicularly vnder the celestiall lyne figured by Thastrologians deuiding likewise the same and the circuite of the earth with a lyne falling parpendicularly vnder the Poles in largnesse of three hundred and threescore degrees so as from our Pole to the Pole Meridionall they put a distaunce of an hundred and fourescore degrees and from euery one of the Poles to the line Equinoctiall fourescore ten degrees These haue ben the generall opinions of the Cosmographers But touching the particular description of the earth habitable after they hadde made knowen that parte of the earth whiche is vnder our Hemisphere they had a perswasion that that parte of the earth lying vnder the Zona Torrida figured in the heauen of Thastrologians and wherein is conteyned the lyne Equinoctiall was as beeing nearest the sunne vnhabitable by reason of his heate And that from our Hemisphere there was no passage to the landes which are vnder the Zona Torridi nor to those regions whiche beyonde it are towardes the Pole Meridionall called by the confession of Ptolomie landes and seas vnknowen By reason whereof both he and the others presupposed that who so euer would passe from our Hemisphere to the Sino Arabico and Sino Persico or to the other partes of India which first came to the knowledge of men by the victories of the great Alexander should be constrayned to go thither by lande or els comming as neare to it as he coulde by the sea Mediterrane should performe the residue of the way by lande But the nauigations of the Portugalls haue made knowen in our tyme that those opinions and suppositions were false for that the Marchauntes pushed on with a desire to gayne hauing begon many yeres since to coast Affrica and being guyded by little and little euen to the Iles of Cape Verde which the Auncientes named the Iles of Esperides which are distant xiiij degrees from the Equinox drawing towardes the Pole Artike And beeing comen sithence in making a long circuite towards the south to the cape de bonne Esperance which is a promontorie of Affryke further distant then any other from the line Equinoctiall for that his distaunce conteyneth xxxviij degrees And drawing from thence towardes the East they haue sayled by the Occean euen to the Sino Arabico and Sino Persico In which places the marchauntes of Alexandria are wont to buy the spices which grew there in part but for the moste part were brought thither from the Iles Molucque and other partes of India and are afterwarde conueyed by land by a way long and full of incommodities and with no lesse charges into Alexandria where they were solde to the marchauntes Venetians and they bringing them frō Venice furnished all Christendome to their great gaines and wealth for that they only possessing the traffike of the spices laide on them what rate or price they woulde and caried into Alexandria many sortes of marchaundise in the shippes wherein they brought embarked the spices the same vessels likewise wherein they conuayed that trade of spicerie into Fraunce into Flaunders Englande and other places returning fraughted with other marchandise But the Portugalls going by sea from Lyshbone the capitall Citie of the Realme into regions farre remoued and hauing confederation in the Indian sea with the kings of Calicut other regions neare they pearsed by degrees further and buylded with time fortresses in places conuenient by whose oportunitie making them selues friendship with certayne cities of the countreis reducing others to obedience by their armes and oppression they haue appropriate to them selues the traffike of the spices which the marchauntes of Alexandria were wont to haue afore and bringing them by sea into Portugall they distributed them also by sea into the selfe same Realmes and countreys where the Venetians at the firste had custome and vent for them Sure this nauigation is right wonderfull for that it conteynes a course of eyght thousand french leagues through seas altogether vnknowen vnder other starres vnder other firmament and with other instrumentes for the lyne Equinoctiall beeing passed they are no more guided by the northstar stand altogether depriued of the seruice and vse of the Adamant stone and for that they can not take harbour in so long a way but in regions vnknowen differing in language in religion in customes and altogether barbarous and enemies to straungers And yet notwithstanding so many difficulties they haue in time made this nauigation so familiar that where afore they had wont to consume ten monthes in the voyage they runne it nowe commonly in lesse then sixe their daungers beeing lesse and all things in more securitie But farre more marueylous is the nauigation of the Spaniards which was begonne by Christopher Colombo a Genovvay in the yeere a thousande foure hundred fourescore and ten after he had many times sayled by the Occean sea wherin making coniectures by the obseruation of certayne windes of that which afterwards succeeded to him in deede he obteyned certayne vessels of the King and Queene of Spayne with the which setting his course towards the west he discouered at thirtie dayes ende in the vttermoste extremities of our Hemisphere certayne Ilandes altogether vnknowen to men before regions happie for the situation of the heauen and for the fertilitie of the lande and withall no lesse blessed sauing that certayne people lyued vppon mans fleshe by the disposition of thinhabitantes whose maners were simple and contented with that which the liberalitie of nature brought foorth for them they were not disquieted with passions of couetousnesse and ambition but most vnhappie in that the people hauing no certayne religion no knowledge in learning no science in negociations or handycraftes but wholly without experience of armes without rule or art of warre and without science vse or custome in any thing be as it were no other then tractable and tame creatures and a pray most easie to whosoeuer will assayle them By meane whereof the Spaniards being drawne with the facilitie of commaunding those Ilands and with the possibilitie of reuenue and profite beeing plentifull of veynes for golde many of them began to inhabite there as in their proper countrey Christopher Colombo passing further and after him Americo Vespuccio Florentin and successiuely many others haue disclosed other Ilandes and great countreys of firme lande finding in certayne of them albeit in the moste parte the contrarie aswell in their buyldings both publike and
tenne myles from Bolognia with intention to present them selues the day after affore the gates of the Citie wherin what by the comming of th armie and what by the reapport that the Bentiuoleis were in it all things were full of confusion and tumult and the Nobles no lesse then the Cōmons expressed an vniuersall disposition to change the one parte fearing and the other parte desyring the returne of the familie of Bentiuoley But greater confusions and feares occupied the myndes of the Prelates and Courtiers better acquaynted with the delightes of Rome then accustomed to the daungers of warre The Cardinalls full of tymerous passions ranne to the Pope complayning that he had put him selfe the sea Apostolike and them in so great perill their tymerous condition tooke away the reason that in cases of daunger is wont to rule wise men and the same feare that moued their confusion suppressed in them all respect and reuerence to the dignitie of the place and person but pushed on with those passions whiche they were not hable to moderate they besought him with great importunities eyther to make some sufficient prouision for their defence whiche in suche a shortnesse of tyme they helde impossible or at least to seeke to appease and reassure thinges by composition vnder suche conditions as the necessitie of their estate required wherevnto they supposed thenemie woulde incline or at least that he woulde make his departure out of Bolognia together with them and to consider that if his particuler daunger touched him not of what importance it woulde be for the sea Apostolike and for all Christian religion if there happned any inconuenience to his person His dearest fouourits and most acceptable ministers and seruantes did communicate in these complaintes and hauing all one feare they followed all one sute like men that neuer feling but securitie had least rule ouer their passions when they sawe perill and danger at hande But he onely amidde so great a tumult disorder of things no lesse vncertayne of the fidelitie of the people then yll contented with the slowe comming on of the Venetians made obstinate resistance agaynst all these aduersities neither amased with the perills that he sawe nor once moued with the perplexities of his Cardinals ioyning to these afflictions the maladie that had muche weakned his body they had all no habilitie to bende the greatnes of his minde At the beginning he had caused to come thither M. Anth. Colonno with one part of the souldiours that were within Modona and likewise had sent for Ierome d'Onato Embassador to the Venetians to whom he complayned with bitter exclamations that for the long delaying of the aydes which had bene so many times promised him his person and his estate were in manyfest daunger not onely with an ingratitude abhominable towardes him that had begonne the warre chiefly for their safetie and who with his great expences and daungers hauing brought the whole empire and the french king to be his enemies had bene the cause of the preseruation of their libertie till that daye but also with an incredible indiscression for the regarde of themselues seeing if he shoulde eyther be vanquished or constrayned to yeelde to any composition there coulde be no hope of their safetie and lesse exspectation of good degree for their common weale he lastly protested with wordes and action full of furie and resolution that he would fall to agreement with the frenche if the next day past ouer and no succours of their people which lay at Stellata entred into Bolognia hauing this difficultie to builde a bridge and to passe the ryuer vppon barkes and other vesselles He assembled the gouernment and Colleages of Bolognia with whome he occupied perswasions of great grauitie that remembring the myseries of their tyrannie paste and howe hurtfull and daungerous woulde be the returne of tyrantes after they were expulsed they would lifte vp themselues to the defence of the iurisdiction of the Church whiche they had founde so easie and tractable And to induce them to a more readines besides the fauors he had graunted them before he gaue thē exemption of the moytie of al the imposts exacted vpō the vittels that entred into Bolognia for the vse of man with promise to gratifie them hereafter in greater benefites he caused to publishe these fauours by proclamation the better to moue the people to take armes for the defence of thestate ecclesiastick But as his purpose was corrupt so his labour was without frute for that not one body stirred not one hande was holden vp nor any signe made in his fauor These cold affections of the people considered with other causes and showes brought him at last to looke into the daunger wherin he stood and pitying withal the importunities plaints of so many peoples ioyned to the perpetuall intercession and labor of thembassadors of Caesar the king Catholike and the king of England set on by the Cardinalls he consented to send to Monsr Chaumont to suffer Iohn Fran. Piqua Count of Mirandola to go to him in safety in the Popes name And not many houres after he dispatched to him one of his chāber to require him to send to him Albert de Carpy not knowing but that he was in the army And in the action of these things to th end that in al aduētures the most precious Reliques of the Pontificacie might be in safetie he sent Laur. Pucci his Datario with the Regno so they cal the principal Myter wōderfully garnished with precious stones to be kept in the famous Monastery of the Murato of Florence Chaumont by cōsideration of the requests that were made to him hoped that the Pope would incline to peace which he did so much the more desire by how much he knew it was agreable to thintention minde of the king and therfore not to trouble such a disposition the day following he retayned the armie in their lodgings suffring notwithstanding the Bentiuoleis with many horsmen of their friends followers to run euen to the walls of Bolognia hauing marching a good space after thē an hundred fifty french launces At whose cōming notwithstanding Hermes one of the brothers both youngest most resolute presented himselfe on that side of the gate yet there was no mutinie made within thexpectation of peace that was then in action preuayling more to contayne the people then any affection or obedience they bare to the Pope Chaumont gaue gracious audience to Fran. de Mirandola and returned him the same day to Bolognia to signifie to the Pope the conditions wherein he was content to accorde That the Pope should absolue Alfonso d'Este of all accursings and paynes together with all those whosoeuer which for any occasion were parties to the defending or offending of thestate ecclesiasticke that likewise he should acquite the Bentiuoleis of all paynes and censures and make them repossessed of the goods which manifestly apperteined to them referring to arbitration and iudgement suche as they
dayes after arryued there the Bishoppe of Paris the Frenche kinge who to be more neare the solicitations of peace and the better to furnishe his prouisions for the warre was nowe come to Lyon perswading him selfe that the Pope woulde also sende thither and ioyne frankly in the action But suche was his obstinacie agaynst the deuoute willes of all these great Princes that he made greate instance to haue the Bishop of Gurce to come to him not so much that he thought it aunswered thexspectation of his dignitie Pontificall as for that he hoped that in loading him with honours ceremonies and promises ioyned to the efficacie and authoritie of his presence he might raunge him and make him conformable to his wyll beeing nowe more estraunged then euer from peace and agreement wherein to make the labour more easie and the successe agreable to hys desyre he solicited Hierome Vich whiche was of Valence and Embassadour resident for the king Catholike to goe on hys behalfe to the Bishop of Gurce The Bishoppe of Gurce refused not to condiscende to the Popes wyll but he obiected that it were good he woulde firste take order for that that was to be done afterwardes assuring that the difficulties woulde bee more easilye dissolued and decyded if the negociation were firste managed at Mantua with intention to goe afterwardes to the Pope with matters well debated and almoste resolued He alleaged that this course he was bounde to take no lesse for the necessitie then for the facilitie of thinges For as it coulde not bee conuenient for him to leaue alone the Bishoppe of Paris whome the Frenche king had sent to Mantua at the instance of Caesar so there was no hope he shoulde debate in th affayres of his king and no lesse inconuenient to require him to goe with him to the Pope seeing that neyther it aunswered his commission nor the dignitie of his king to goe to the house of thennemie affore their controuersies were accorded or at least very neare to bee resolued Of the contrarie the two Embassadors of Aragon declared that the whole hope of peace making depended vppon the agreement and composing of the affayres of Ferrara for that they beeing determined and no more cause remayning to the Pope to sustayne the Venetians they shoulde bee constrayned to yeelde to peace with suche lawes and conditions as Caesar woulde That the Pope pretended that the sea Apostolike had great and strong rightes ouer the citie of Ferrara and did esteeme Alfonso to haue vsed towards him a great ingratitude and had done him many vnworthy iniuries That to abate and qualifie the rigor of his minde whiche was nowe full of displeasure it was more conuenient that the subiect or vassall shoulde implore the clemencie of his Lorde then to come and dispute of his iustice For which reasons they perswaded that it was not only comely and honest but also conuenient and necessarie to go to him in which iuste humilitie and submission they doubted not but he woulde diminishe a great parte of his rigour They thought it not profitable that that diligence that industrie that authoritie whiche was to be imployed to dispose the Pope to peace shoulde be consumed in perswasions tending to endes doubtfull Lastely they added with very sweete wordes that neither could matters haue their full disputation nor the quarrells sufficiently searched into vnlesse all the parties were together in full assistance And that within Mantua was onely but one parte for that Caesar the French king and the king Catholike were in suche vnitie of leagues parentages and amities that in this action they were to be reputed as brethren thinterestes of euery particular beeing common to them all What by these perswasions and other respectes more speciall and priuate the Bishoppe of Gurce suffered him selfe to bee wonne to goe thither with intention that the Bishoppe of Paris shoulde exspect at Parma what woulde be the successe of his voyage During these actions the Pope notwithstanding all solicitation made apperteining to the peace had not yet altered his thoughtes from the warre interteyning the one with showes dissembled and embrasing the other with desires burning and importunat He supposed to surprise of newe the bastillion of Geniuola recommending the charge of that enterprise to Iohn Vitelli But aswell for the small and slowe paymentes that were made the numbers of footemen were farre inferiour to thappoyntment as also that all the countrey thereaboutes stoode ouerflowed bothe by the plentie of raynes that fell and by the cutting of the rysinges of the ryuer of Pavv there was nothing aduaunced Besides Alfonso d'Este was the stronger by water who with an armie of Gallies and Brigantins so charged the Venetian fleete neare S. Albert that what with the furie of that encounter and with the feare of an other fleete of lesser vesselles which they discerned sayling from Comaccho they retyred to the porte of Rauenna with the losse of two fustes two barbottes and more then fourtie smaller vesselles This accident disappoynted the Popes hope to take the Bastyllion and therefore he returned those companies to the campe whiche lodged at Finalo very muche weakened of the strength of footemen for that the paye was so small About this tyme the Pope created eyght Cardinalles partely to allure to him the myndes of Princes and partly to arme him agaynst the threatnings of the Councell Suche as he created were prelates learned and experienced and as they bare in the Court of Rome a greate authoritie so they were personages of speciall election suche as he reapposed moste suretie in Of the number of this creation was the Archbyshoppe of Yorke Embassadour for the kinge of Englande and the Byshoppe of Syon the one beeing a man of importaunce to stirre vppe the Svvizzers and the other beeing gracious with hys king whom he hoped to kindle agaynst the Frenchmen And to drawe on the Bishop of Gurce as it were with an earnest penny certayne of the same dignitie and with that hope to make him the more tractable to his desyre he reserued to him selfe with the consent of the Consistorie a power to name an other suche a one as he had fashioned already in his mynde After he vnderstoode that the Bishop of Gurce had consented to come to him he determined to receyue him with great honour wherein to expresse more office then thestate of a Bishop of Gurce coulde chalenge and lesse respect then apperteined to so supreme a dignitie as a high Bishop of Rome he went from Rauenna to Bolognia to th ende to ioyne the magnificence of the place to the residue of the honours he pretended There he receiued him with pompes and ceremonies equall to the estate and dignitie of any king the glory of his demonstrations and showes giuing great detection of his dissembled minde The Bishop also for his parte expressed no lesse pompe and magnificence for that discending into Italie with the title of Caesars liefetenant he came accompanied with a very great
could suffer no delay of action went out and sette vppon them at the village of Paterna where they were constrayned to retyre within the towne with the losse of more then three hundred men Conquest draweth with it ambicion insolencies and couetousnes And with men of warre triumphing in the victorie all things seeme to hold of equitie that they do in their rage and couetousnes for the Svvyzzers remeyning alone in the Duchie of Myllan and Pyemont deuised how to taxe and rate the whole contrey being now wholly assured of the french men And albeit the french king for the great affection he bare to the Duchie of Myllan was hardly brought to abandon altogether the affayres of Italy yet necessitie compelled him to harken to the councells of such as aduised him to deferre those deuises to an other tyme and dispose his witts for that sommer to defende the Realme of Fraunce The rather for that the king of England according to the contract made with the king Catholike had sent by sea an armye of six thowsand footemen to Fontarabio A towne of the kingdome of Spayne standing vppon the Occean sea the chiefe ende of this iorney was that ioyning to the companies of the sayd king Catholike they might in one mayne force assayle the Duchie of Guihen he beganne also with an other nauie to skower all alonge the coasts of Normandye and Brittaine to the great astonishment of the peoples of those prouinces Moreouer the french king had no hope to drawe agayne Caesar into amitie with him for that he vnderstoode by the Bishop of Marseilles his last Embassador resident in his Court that he bare a minde farre estraunged he aduertised him also that Caesar had not enterteyned him with so many hopes nor for other regarde debated with him vppon so many matters with so fayre apparance then to wynne occasion to oppresse him when he thought least of it or at least to gyue him as it were some violent and deadely blowe as he gloried that he had done at such tyme as he reuoked the launceknightes Thus Italy being for this yeare assured from the armies of the french king whose souldiours notwithstanding helde as yet Bressia Crema Leguague the castell and lanterne of Genes the castell of Myllan the castell of Cremona with certeine other fortresses of that estate There were discerned amongest the confederats many signes of difference and disagreement for the diuersitie of their wills and their endes for as the Venetians desired to recouer Bressia and Crema as due to them by the articles of capitulacion for that they had borne out the daungers troubles of the warre A matter which the Pope desired likewise for them So on the other side Caesar from whose will the king of Aragon at last could not be seperat thought to appropriate them to him selfe and also to depriue the Venetians of all that had bene iudged to them by the league of Cambray Besides Caesar and the king of Aragon practised but very secretly to make to diuolue the Duchie of Myllan to one of their Nephewes A working quite contrary to the Pope and the Svvyzzers who labored apparantly as much as they could that according to the vniuersall resolucion and consent from the beginning Maxymylian sonne to Lodovvyk Sforce might be restored to the place of his father after whose fall he had remeyned alwayes in Germanye The matter that moued the Pope was a feare he had least Italy shoulde fall into a miserable seruitude of the Almaines and Spanyards And that which induced the Svvyzzers was a desire for their owne profit that that estate shoulde not bee brought into the power of so mightie Princes but rather to stande subiected to one that could not menteyne him selfe without their ayde and succours Which election as it depended almost wholly vppon those in whose power was that estate and for the feare of their forces so the Pope the more to confirme them in that wil and in all necessities to haue in his hande the bridle with the which he might moderate thambicion of Caesar and the kinge Catholike did all that he could to winne their amitie And for that cause besides the great account he made publikely of the nation of Svvyzzers raysing to the starres the actions they had done for the sauetie of the sea Apostolike he gaue them yet for their greater honor the banners of the Church with this glorious title to bee the Champions and defenders of the Ecclesiastike libertie Besides these diuersities the Viceroy had readdressed the spanish companies which after the battell were retyred with him into the kingdom of Naples And beginning eftsoones to march and to passe with them into Lombardye the Pope and the Venetians refused to recontinue the payes of forty thowsand duckats by the moneth which had bene discontinued since the ouerthrowe Their reason was that seeing the frenche armie was chassed home they stoode no more subiect to suche bonde for that it was to ceasse by the articles of the confederacion when soeuer the frenche were expulsed out of Italy Whereunto was replyed on the behalfe of the King of Aragon that it could not bee sayde that the Frenche King was dryuen out of Italy so long as Bressia Crema with other many stronge places stoode at his deuocion Moreouer the Kinge of Aragon together with Caesar complayned in that the Pope did appropriat to him selfe the profitts of the victorie that was common to them both And vsurped that which manifestly apperteyned to an other making him selfe Lorde vnder cooller of certeine reasons subborned or at least so olde and withered that their force was gonne vppon Parma and Plaisance cities which the Lordes of Myllan had holden so long tyme as freeholders of thEmpire The diuersitie was also expressed for matters that concerned the Duke of Ferrara for as the Pope on the one side nourished his auncient couetousnes to vsurpe that Dukedom so on the other side the king of Aragon who desired to preserue protect him stoode yet discontented with the iniurie that was offered to haue staied him at Rome contrary to the law of faith safeconduit giuen for these reasons the Pope deferred to vexe Ferrara exspecting perhaps the yssue of affayres of farre greater importance whereof Caesar not thinking good that any resolucion were made without him dispatched into Italy the Bishop of Gurcy whom he had appoynted to that expedicion euer since after the battell of Rauenna there was negociacion of peace betweene the Pope and the French king he appoynted to sende him then for the feare he had least they compownded amongest them selues without respecting him and his affayres but the mutacion of thinges hapning afterwards he still continued his deuise to sende him In like sorte fell into consideracion the affayres of the Florentyns who beeing filled full of suspicion began now to feele the frutes of the newtralitie which vndiscrâ—etely they had vsed finding with all that it was not sufficient to beare themselues vpon the
for his proper interestes labored to exclude them out of the league wherein he sayde his Embassadors had behaued themselues vndiscretly who not consenting for that they knewe suche was his intention that he was named in the head of the confederation had suffred him to be expressed in that article wherein euery one named the confederates of which the Venetians were not Moreouer that in those negociations and practises the Venetians had not aunswered thopinion that men had of their wisedome and discression holding such an estimation and accompt of Vincensa that the feare to loase it hath kept them from deliuering them selues from the trauells of the warre That it was impossible to him to nourishe the armie he had in Italie without the payes and contributions that were promised and muche lesse reasonable to susteine the whole warre vpon the confines of his realmes A matter which he knewe all the residue did desire and procure That the Pope coulde no more dissemble his desire and intention to take from him the kingdome of Naples And yet notwithstanding neyther these present iniuries nor the consideration of other wrongs could euer moue him to haue a thought to abandon the Churche and the other estates of Italie so farre foorth as he might finde in them a reasonable correspondencie to contract and capitulate with him for their common defence A matter which he hoped they would be moued vnto the rather by thopportunitie and meane of this truce He caused to expresse in the instrument of the truce the names of Caesar and the king of Englande notwithstanding he had nothing cōmunicated with them therfore it was a thing very scornefull ridiculous that at the same time that the truce was solemnly published through all partes and regions of Spayne A Heralt arriued euen in the action from the king of Englande to signifie to him the strong preparations and furnitures of warre which he leauyed to inuade Fraunce soliciting that he would likewise enter into the warre agaynst the king on the coasts of Spayne according to the articles and promises reciprocally passed betweene them The truce made in this maner amazed much in Italie the mindes of suche as had any discontentment with the rule or iurisdiction of the French men euery one holding it almost for certaine that the French king woulde not be long ere he sent an army on this side the Mountes and also that by the obstinacie of Caesar touching the conditions of the peace the Venetians would ioyne with him agaynst whom it seemed a very hard matter to be hable to resist for that the Spanish army had nowe no more meane to be enterteined notwithstāding they had at times drawē some sums of money out of thestate of Millan which stoode greatly impouerished with continuall expenses Touching the new Pope men could not discerne what was his intention he seemed to wish secretly that the power of the French king should haue his ends limites within the Alpes and yet being newly ascended to the Popedom and no lesse confused then the others for the truce that was made by the king Catholike in a time when men had greatest exspectation that he woulde applye his thoughts to the warre he was in great doubt and variation of mind Besides he was angry for that demaunding with great instance the restitution of Parma Placentia to the church he found a readynes of hope promise but very slow dispositions to execute performe all the others desiring to preserue them to the duchy of Millan happly hoping that his desire to recouer them would induce him to the defence of that state The Svvizzers seemed to be a more certayne and a more mightie defence succour but because the summes of money which according to the couenantes were necessary to wage leauie them could not be aduaunced neither by Maximilian Sforce nor the residue there was great feare that in greatest necessitie that nation would not refuse to discende to the reskew of Millan On the other side the French king after he had finished the truce determined to sende an army into Italie the reasons affore recited giuing him great hope of the victorie To those reasons also he added the propertie of his owne iudgement vppon the people of Millan who vexed with so many taxes and imposts of the Svvizzers and no lesse troubled with the harboring payes made to the Spaniards he knew had an vniuersall desire to returne eftsones vnder his obedience he gathered by generall argument that hauing nowe compared the heauy yoke of others with the easie impery of the French the seueritie of the one woulde make the other lesse contemnible And particularly he vnderstoode by many gentlemen some relating to him selfe and some enterteyning intelligence with Triuulce whome the king had sent to Lyon the better to debate with them of Millan that he was not to deferre to sende an armie hauing their promise to take armes and be his assoone as his armie were passed the Mountes To these furtherances the king wanted no sort of continuall perswasions aswell of Triuulce as of others that were banished who according to such as be depriued of the liberty of their naturall contrey omitted no reasons which might make thenterprise seeme easy specially the Venetians beeing brought to ioyne with him in the action But the matter that enforced the king to make haste was the confidence he had to preuent with the ende of that expedition the beginning of a warre which the king of England ment to make vpon him which yet he could not begin till after certayne monethes both for that that kingdome hauing liued many yeres in peace was vpon the sodein disfurnished of armes and armor of artilleries almost of all other necessary hablementes of warre and also in great want of horses of seruice for that to the inhabitantes of those regions the seruice on foote is more familiar then to make warre on horsbacke and also the footemen lacking training experience the king of England was constrained for the better strength habilitie of his army to leauye a great number of Almain footemen Matters which could not be dispatched without great tract of time The french king in like sort made more hast to haue his army to march for that he feared the castles peces that held for him would be lost for want of vittels but specially the lanterne of Genes whiche not many dayes before had missed to releeue with vittells a shippe sent for that effect which from Arbinga being thither accompanied with three ships one galeon being entred the mayne sea with a good wind had by a strainable gale passed thorow the middest of the Genovvaies flete cōming neare the castell of the Lanterne she cast anker and throwing yet with good successe her cables to those of the castell she began to vnlade her vittels and munitions whiche she had brought But euen in the action and before the desolate soules of the Castels coulde
care to them To this perhaps was muche helping a disdayne that he was ledde prisoner to Millan after the battell of Rauenna and by the kings commaundement shoulde haue bene caried in that calamitie into Fraunce But what so euer was the disposition of the Pope or howe so euer his coniecture was caried for these or other causes he proceeded aduisedly and dissembled as muche as he could his intention for that both he sawe he had not so strong fundations to resist as he wished and also he gaue eare dayly with great affection to the demaundes and complaintes made agaynst the king for the Svvizzers bearing an vniuersall inclination to stirre and ryse for the defence of the Duchie of Millan offred to enter into thaction with a farre greater number then before so farrefoorth as they were furnished in preste with a certayne summe of money which for the pouertie and weaknes of others could not be hoped for otherwise then of the Pope Touching the Viceroy his counsells were vncertayne and his speeches seuerall and suttle for that sometimes he offred the Pope to oppose agaynst the Frenchmen not sparing to enter openly into the cause by sending his bands of souldiors to ioyne with him and waging for three monethes a great number of footemen and the rather to accompany his doings with fayth credit he caused to be retyred his souldiors from the townes of Parma and Reggia and lay incamped with his army vpon the ryuer of Trebia leauing notwithstanding certayne bands of his souldiours for the garde of Torrona and Alexandria suche as had not stirred from thence Sometimes also he did assure that he had receiued commaundement from his king and that at the same time that he wrote to him of the truce to leade backe the armie to the kingdome of Naples But Ierome Vich Embassador resident with the Pope vsed other speeches and yet he agreed with him in this that his king promised so farreforth as the Pope would take vpon him the defence of Millan to beginne the warre in Fraunce without bearing respect to the truce that had bene made A libertie whiche he sayd he might lawfully take without making violation of his fayth promised Therefore it was beleeued of many that the king Catholike fearing that by the truce that had bene made not one woulde appeare to oppose agaynst the Frenche king had commaunded the Viceroy that if he sawe none woulde proceede roundly to the defence of the Duchie of Millan that he shoulde not seeke to prouoke the Frenche king by newe iniuries but shoulde retyre his armie to Naples for whiche cause also he shewed to the king a contentment to harken to the peace offring withall to bring in Caesar and the king of Englande And to make him the more tractable if he should recouer the Duchie of Millan he made almoste an assured promise that his armie should be no impediment to him So that the Viceroy who was determined to go his way reuoked the souldiors that were vnder the Marquis of Pesquiero in Alexādria and Torrona and at the same time as was sayd did communicate his resolution to Triuulce to thend his departing might be more acceptable to the French king Neuerthelesse he did not execute so speedily his deuise for that the Svvizzers very desyrous to defende the Duchie of Millan had sente thither by common consent fiue thousande footemen and giuen hope to supplye the seruice with a greater number But making demonstration of the contrary he sent Prosper Colonno to debate with the Svvizzers of the place where they should assemble against the frēch either that he had receiued aduertisement that the truce was discontenting to Caesar or els that he was enioyned by new cōmissions from his king to folow the will of the Pope who perseuered still in the same perplexities suffring a conflict betweene his small hope his proper inclination And yet notwithstanding the Svvizzers being come vpon the territories of Tortona where Prosper had signified to them that the Viceroy would come ioyne with them interposing many excuses he labored thē to come vpon the lands of Trebia to ioyne with him By which maner of solicitation they finding a diuersitie betwene his will and his words made this braue aunswere that the Viceroy made no such demaund to th end to go looke thenemies in the face but to turne their backs with greater surety They saide they cared not whether he feared to fight with the frenchmē or not neither did it import thē whether he went away or whether he taried stil whether he folowed or whether he fled for that their vallour onely did suffice to defende the duchie of Millan agaynst all enemies But now was all the contrey in a mutinie the Count Mussocke sonne to Iohn Iacques was got into Ast without any impediment after into Alexandria al those bāds of frenchmen which were parted frō Susa marching with great diligence The duke of Millan who was come somewhat to late to enter Alexandria ioyned himself to the Svvizzers neare Tortona and they being made to vnderstande by the Viceroy that he was determined to go his way retired to Nouarro Of all voluble things there is nothing more light then reaport in times of mutation nothing lesse assured then the minds of people popular or cōmons whom euery new occasion can cary and leade contrarie to all reason and confidence that feare and ficklenesse which they haue by nature beeing not hable to be assured by any order or discression for thinhabitantes of Millan at the first brute of the departing of the Viceroy sent Embassadors to their Duke at Nouarro to excuse them if hauing no habilitie nor meane of defence they compounded with the French men to th ende to auoyde the extreame calamitie He was tractable according to the condition of his present fortune and with a minde humbled with the consideration of his miseries that were towards he accepted willingly their excuse recommending to them with words of great affection and zeale to haue a charitable care ouer the safetie of the common countrey Vpon this occasion Sacromoro Viscounto to whom was appoynted the besieging of the Castell of Millan turned to the French and reuittled the Castell which he was sente to batter and beate The Viceroy brake vp from Trebia with all his armie whiche was twelue hundred men at armes and eyght thousande footemen to returne to the kingdome of Naples as though the affayres of Lombardie had bene desperate A reason onely wherein he soughte to saue his armie But receyuing the same day in the way betweene Plaisanca and Florenzola letters from Rome he caused immediatly the ensignes to marche backe agayne returning to the same lodging from whence he was departed The cause was that the Pope to whome almoste at the same tyme were rendred Plaisanca and Parma determining to proue if the Duchie of Millan might be defended by the force of the Svvizzers gaue very secretely to Ierome Moron
followed by Frauncis Sforce Duke of Bary to performe the like for his brother Maxymylian Sforce And albeit the Bishop of Gurcy represented in Italy the ful person of Caesar as he did at other times yet laying now aside his pomp and accustomed magnificence he entred more modestly into Rome and forbare by the way to weare the cappe of Cardinall which the Pope had sent to him at Foggibonso At his comming was compownded a compromisse by him and the Venetian Embassadors in the person of the Pope of all the controuersies that were betweene Caesar and their common weale But it was a compromisse more in name and apparance then in effect and substance for that neither of the parties for thimportance of the cause would be referred to an arbytrement suspected vntill they had seuerally and secretly receiued promisse of him that he would not giue vppe his arbytracion without their consent and priuitie The Pope by this authority of Compromitting declared in writing that there should be a surceassing of armes betweene the two parties which albeit was ioyfully accepted by them both was yet ill obserued by the Viceroy for that being come betweene Montagnana and Este besides that he had done no other thing since the victorie then made pillage and ouerronne the whole contry hauing withall sent part of his souldiours to Policena he committed in sondry places many insolencies and harmes sometymes he excused his doings in that they were vpon the landes of Caesar sometimes he alleaged that he exspected new intelligence from the Cardinall of Gurcy lastly the ende of the compromisse was no more happie then had bene the middest and the beginning by reason of difficulties that fell out in the negociacion of affaires for Caesar would out consent to thaccord but with condicion to reteine parte of the townes for the other to receiue a great proporcion of money and of the contrary the Venetians demaunded all the townes and offered a very small summe of money it was beleued also that the king Catholike did secretly disswade the accorde notwithstanding openly he made demonstration to desire it yea it was said that to make it more hard he had at the same time put Bressa into the hands of Caesar a place which the Viceroy neuer til that day would giue vp alleaging that he kept it to make him more inclined to the peace But the causes were coniectured diuersly either he had so farre offended the Venetians that he iudged he would no more enterteine with them a true and assured amitie or else he knew that his reputacion and greatnes in Italie depended vppon continuing and keeping on foote the armie which for want of money he was not able to feede and nourrish but by racking raunsoming the peoples that were his frendes and in making praye and pillage of the countreys that were enemies These difficulties together with the vntowardnesse of the parties made the Pope leaue the matter vnperfect when a litle after the Almains by the helpe of the exiles and banished men tooke Marano vpon the suddeine a seafaring towne in the countrey of Friull and so discended to the like action vpon Montfalcon and albeit the Venetians both for their honor profit desired to reconquer Marano being threescore miles from Venice in that disposition did assaile it both by sea and land yet their fortune being all one in all places they receiued losse vexacion on all sides only Ranso de Cero in that time susteyned the name and credit of their armes to his great praise and merit for albeit there was a great rage of plague and hunger in Crema where he lay in garrison and that the bands of Spanyards and Millanois being dispersed into the townes thereabout by reason of the season he was as it were besieged yet he gaue a suddeine charge vppon Calcinaia a towne of the countrey of Bergamo and stripped Caesar Fieramosquo with forty men at armes and two hundred light horsemen of the regiment of Prospero Colonno And not many dayes after he entred by night into Quinsano and tooke the Lieutenaunt of the Count S. Seuerin and spoyled fifty men at armes and within Treuy stripped ten men at armes of the company of Prospero About this time thinges were quiet enough in other places of Italie sauing that the Adorneis and the Fiesqueis with three thowsand men of the countrey accompanied perhappes with the secret fauor of the Duke of Millan drew neare the walls of Genes after they had taken Spetia and other places of the riuer of Leuant But their fortune being farre inferior to their valour they went away almost ouerthrowen hauing loste parte of the men they brought to thenterprise and certaine peeces of artillerie There appeared also in Tuskane certeine beginninges of new iniuries for the Florentins beganne to molest them of Lucquay trusting that thorow feare of the Pope they should redeeme peace in restoring to them Pietrasanta Mutrona They alleaged besides that it was not conuenient that they should enioy the benefitte of that confederacion which they had broken in minstring secret succours to the Pisans Against these suggestions they of Lucquay complained to the Pope and to the king Catholike in whose protection they were but seeing there grew no remedy to them they were at last contented to auoyde greater mischiefes to referre a compromisse to the person of the Pope Who hauing like authoritie for the Florentins pronounced that they of Lucquay who had affore rendered to the Duke of Ferrara Garsagnana shoulde leaue to the Florentins the places of Pietrasanta and Mutrona and that there should remayne betwene them a perpetuall peace confederation About the ende of this yere the Castles of Millan and Cremona who for the necessitie of vittells had agreed to yeelde if they were not succored in a certayne time were deliuered into the power of the Duke of Millan So that there remayned no more that the French king helde in Italie but the lanterne of Genes which in the end of the same yere the Genovvaies assayed to caste downe by mynes They approched to it vnder the benefite of a Caske or vessell of wood conteining thirtie fadomes in length and twentie in breadth within which was stowage for three hundred men and set rounde about with packes of wooll the better to defende the shotte At the first showe it caryed great arte and deepe inuention but being brought to tryall it serued to litle vse as most often is seene by those newe and straunge workes The ende of the eleuenth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE TWELFTH BOOKE THe king of Englande makes vvarre vpon the French king The Venetians recouer Friull The Pope as arbitrator pronounceth peace betvvene them and the king of Romains King Lovvis the xij dyeth Frauncis the firste commeth to the Crovvne and discendeth into Italie to reconquer Millan THE TVVELFTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin THERE happned the same yere in the regions beyonde the Mountes most
defence or losse of the Duchie of Millan should be executed onely with the daunger and blood of the Svvizzers who not staying for any impediment or small quantitie of money in prest discended by such heapes and trowpes into the duchie of Millan that their armie there was aboue twentie thousande of whome ten thousande were drawne neare to the mountaynes It was a councell taken amongest them to keepe agaynst the French the strayte passages of those valleys which beeing at the foote of the Alpes that deuide Italie from Fraunce come to open them selues vpon the playnes of Lombardie This councel of the Svvizzers troubled greatly the minde of the king who afore had promised to himselfe an assured victorie by the greatnes of his forces not remēbring that the successe of warre respecteth other considerations then the multitudes of souldiors he had in his armie two thousande fiue hundred launces xxij thousande launceknightes ledde by the duke of Gueldres ten thousande footemen of Peter Nauarre eight thousande Frenchemen and three thousande laborers that were payed according to the rate of the other footemen The king considered with hys capteines that in regarde of the vallour of the Svvizzers it was impossible to driue them from those strayte and strong passages but with a farre greater number And yet considering the nature of those straites so great numbers could not be but hurtfull to the seruice and muche lesse in so litle tyme could they do any thing of consequence and least of all be hable to nourishe any long season so great an army in a contrey so barreine notwithstanding there was continuall traffike of vittels to the mountaynes Amid these difficulties some of the capteines that were of opinion rather to diuert and drawe them away then to set vpon them gaue counsell to sende out eight hundred launces through Prouince and Peter Nauarre by sea with his ten thousande contrey men which should all ioyne together at Sauonne Others were of aduise that to go so farre about were to loase too muche time that it would weaken th armie and increase too muche the reputation of thenemies who woulde not doubt to boast that they had not the corage to encounter with them So that it was resolued that not retyring so muche from that straite they should assay to passe by some other way that eyther was not kept by thenemies or at least not so strongly defended And that Emard de Prio with foure hundred launces and fiue thousande footemen should take the waye to Genes not in hope to drawe them downe from their mountaynes but to make warre vpon Alexandria and the other townes beyonde Pavv There be two wayes in the Alpes that leade ordinarily from Lyons into Italie the one is called Monsane a mountayne within the iurisdiction of the duke of Sauoy it is the shortest way the straightest way and most beaten way The other is called the mounte Geneure within the gouernment of Dauphine a way longer then the other and leades by crookings and turnings to Grenoble both the one and the other falleth into the way of Susa where the playne beginneth to enlarge But the French armies are alwaies wont to passe by the Mount Geneure notwithstanding it be a way somewhat longer because it hath a facilitie of passage more conuenient to draw thartillerie The Svvizzers that were carefull to keepe those two passages the other pathes thereaboutes were lodged at Susa the cause was that the passages which be lower drawing towards the sea were so streate and steepe that it seemed impossible to drawe any artillerie being verye harde to passe thither the horses of so great an armie On the other side Triuulco to whom the king had giuen that charge being followed with very many pyoners and hauing about him men paynefull and experienced to drawe artilleries whom he sent to searche the places that were there went sounding the passages if he could finde libertie of way without impediment of the Svvizzers By which occasion the armie that for the moste parte was dispersed betweene Grenoble and Brianson marched slowely exspecting what should be determined wherevnto there was a constraynt by a necessitie to abyde the prouisions of vittells About this time the king of Englande sent a gentleman to the French king who was nowe departed from Lyons to tell him on the behalfe of his king that he ought not to passe into Italie for feare to trouble the vniuersall peace of Christendome The cause of so great variation and chaunge of that king was that he was ielouse of the alliance betwene Fraunce and the Archduke fearing least the affayres of that Crowne would take a course too happy In which considerations he began afterwards to giue willing eare to thembassadors of the king Catholike who with continuall reasons put into his minde howe hurtefull the greatnes of the Frenche king would be to him in whom he coulde not hope for anye other affection then of an enemie aswell for the naturall hatred of that nation as for his late actions of warre and hostilitie done agaynst him But the thing that most moued him was the emulation and enuy of his glorie which he thought would be raysed to too high degrees if he wonne the victorie in the state of Millan he thought in himselfe that notwithstanding he found his kingdome in rest and very populous for the long peace it had lyued in together with a great masse of treasor which his father had gathered yet he neuer had the corage tyll within certayne yeres to inuade the realme of Fraunce alone and enuironed with so many enemies and broken with so many aduersities That nowe the Frenche king somewhat younger then he was at suche time as he came to the crowne albeit he founde his kingdome ouerwearyed and made poore with so many warres durst yet in the first monethes of his raigne go to an enterprise for the whiche so many princes were banded against him That touching him with all his huge preparations and so many occasions he had not brought into England any other profite then the citie of Tornay and that with expences intollerable and infinite But the Frenche king would returne with great glory into his kingdome bringing with him the conquest of so braue a duchie and would open the waye and happly take the occasion affore he retyred his armie out of Italie to inuade the realme of Naples These were the motions that easily renewed in his minde his auncient and naturall hatred But for that he was not at that time prepared to giue impediment to the Frenche king with armes wherein happly he sought some occasion and cooller he thought good to sende him this message The king nor his armie forbare not for all that to marche taking their waye from Lyon to Dauphine where met with the armie the Launceknightes otherwise called the blacke bandes guided by Robert de la Marche together with all the regimentes of lowe Almains so greatly esteemed for their vallour their
meane to execute against the parties so that dispatches went out according to the olde rates The king for his parte promised not to take into his protection any of the Cities of Tuskane And albeit afterwardes he required to haue libertie to protect the people of Lucqua who offered him fiue and twentie thowsande duckats saying he was bounde to that protection by thobligacion of his predecessor yet the Pope would giue no consent but promised for his parte that he woulde forbeare to molest them in any sorte Lastly they agreed by indifferent consent of them both to sende frear Giles Generall of the Augustins and an excellent preacher to Caesar in the Popes name to dispose him to render to the Venetians Bressa and Verona taking a recompense of money And so vppon the expedicion of these matters but not sette downe by wryting except tharticle for nominacion of benefices and payment of the Annats according to the true vallue the Pope in fauour of the king pronounced Cardinall Adrian de Boisy brother to the great Maister of Fraunce and of the greatest authoritie with the king and in the generall gouernment That the enteruiewe brake vppe the king departing from the Pope verie well contented and in great hope to haue him his perpetuall frende who for his parte expressed no lesse with all reasonable demonstracions but in his minde he nourished other impressions for that bothe it was a matter no lesse greeuous to him then affore that the Duchie of Myllan shoulde be possessed by the Frenche king and Parma and Plaisanca restored and also that the Duke of Ferrara should be eftsoones reinuested in Modena and Reggia And yet all these not long after turned to vanitie and smoake for that the Pope being gone from Bolognia to Florence remeining there about a moneth had receiued of the Duke promises of the money that should be payd assoone as he should enter into possession being there set down in writing by common consent thinstrumentes that were to passe betwene them the Pope neither denying nor accomplishing but interposing many delayes and excuses refused to giue perfection to things The king being returned to Myllan dismissed his armie except seuen hundred launces six thowsand launceknightes and foure thowsand frenchmen such as they caladuenturers whom he left for the gard of that estate And for his owne person he teturned into Fraunce with great speede about the first beginning of the yeare 1516. leauing behinde him as his Lieftenaunt Charles Duke of Burbon he thought he had left his affayres in Italie in good estate of sewertie both for the allyance newlie contracted with the Pope and also for that about that time he was newly compounded with the Svvyzzers who notwithstanding the perswasions of the king of England to haue them to reenter into armes against the frenche king renewed with him thalliance by the which they bound them selues to furnishe alwayes for his seruice and at his paye both in Italie and out of Italie for defense and offence and against all nations suche numbers of footemen as he would require and that vnder their vniuersall name and publike enfeignes onely they excepted to beare armes against the Pope the Empire and thEmperour And on the other side the king confirmed to them of newe their auncient pensions with promisse to paye them within a certaine time the six hundred thowsand duckats agreed vpon at Dyon with three hundred thowsande if they gaue vp to him the villages and vallies apperteyning to his Duchy of Myllan A matter which the fiue Cantons that possessed those places refusing to do as also to ratifie the accord the king began to pay to the other eight Cantons that parte and porcion of the money that apperteined to them who accepted it but vnder this expresse condicion that they should not be bound to take his pay against the fiue Cantons About the beginning of this yeare the Bishoppe Petruccio an auncient seruant to the Pope chassed out of Siena by the Popes aide and some helpe from the Florentins Borgueso sonne to Pandolffe Petruccio his cossing and impatronised him selfe vpon the place the authority and gouernment remeining by equity in the possession of his said cossing the Pope had two respects inducing him to this actiō the one for that that citie standing betwene the estate of the Church and the dominion of the Florentins was gouerned by a man wholly at his deuocion the other was much more particular and mouing for that he hoped with the fauor of some good occasion to make it fall into the gouernment of his brother or his nephew wherein he douted nothing of the Bishops consent hauing already framed him tractable to all his desires and ambicions The warre continued kindeled betwene Caesar and the Venetians who for their partes desired to recouer by the aide of the frenche king Bressa and Verona But for other places and regions of Italie things seemed to stand in a peasible estate onely there beganne to burst out mocions of new stirres that were pushed on by the king of Aragon who fearing least the greatnesse of the frenche king would bring some aduersities to the realme of Naples delt with Caesar and the king of Englande to recontinewe the warre A matter not onely of no great difficultie and hardnesse to drawe Caesar vnto being both desirous of innouacion and newe thinges and also was not able easily to kepe the townes which he had takē from the Venetians But also it was fullie concluded and agreed vnto by the king of England The remembraunce of the late infidelitie and breache of promise of his father in lawe being of lesse power in him then either his present emulacion or auncient hatred against the crowne of Fraunce besides he was enuious that the Skottish king being in minoritie should be gouerned by people of his appoyntment or any waye depending on him These matters had bene followed both with better councell and greater forces if during the negociacion the death of the king of Aragon had not hapned who after he had bene vexed with a long indisposicion died in an inferior village called Madrigalege as he went to Seuile with his Court he was a king excellent in councell and so furnished with al other properties of vertue that he bare no occasion matter of reprehension if he had bene constant to keepe his promisses for touching thimputacion of nigardnes or the reapport that went of him to be straite in exspenses it was proued vntrue by the testimonie and discouerie of his estate after his death leauing behinde him no amasse of treasor notwithstanding he had reigned xlij yeares But it hapneth oftentymes by the corrupt iudgement of men that in a king prodigalitie is more praysed though the raking and oppression of subiects be ioyned to it then a sparing straitnes wherin is nourished an orderly absteyning from taxing the goods of others To thexcellent vertues of this Prince was ioyned a most rare and perpetuall felicitie
those that were besieged that in the Citie so many monthes afflicted by thennemies that kepte it alwayes straytely enuironed the stoare of vittells beganne to diminishe and no hope to be resupplyed but in very small quantitie and that by stealth vsing the pathes of the mountaynes for the commoditie of that poore releefe But as the affaires of Verona stoode in these tearmes there came to the reskew of that Citie a regiment of nine thowsand launceknightes sent by Caesar who ariuing at Chiusa tooke it by composition and made them selues Lords of the castell of Coruaro which is a peece standing vpon the next hill to Adice drawing towards Trenta and cōmaunded many times by both the parties in the warre betwene Caesar the Venetians Monsr Lavvtrech either fearing in deede or dissembling to be amazed at the new supply of launceknights leauied his campe against the mindes of the Venetians and retyred his armie to Villefranche carying with him one parte of the Venetian regiments and the other parte vnder Iohn Pavvle Manfron withdrew to Boseto beyond the riuer of Adice by a bridge prepared for their passage Insomuch as the Venetians hauing nowe no further confidence to carie Verona sent all their great artilleries to Bressa And the launceknights without any impediment incamped at Tomba where the french army was lodged affore one part of them entring into the City the other parte remeyning without which returned after Verona was reuitteled There remeyned for the gard of Verona a strength of seuen or eight thowsand launceknights for that the most parte of the spanishe bandes that could holde no agreement with them were passed to the Venetian campe vnder Cronell Maldonato And in common iudgement that reskew or succours was of small momēt for that they brought not with them other stoare of money then xx thowsand Florins of the Rhein which the king of England had sent during the time of their tarying there they cōsumed so much vittells that it was almost equall to that quantitie which they had brought with them By reason of those bands that were retired to Villefranche from whence they committed manifest hauoke and spoyle vpon the partes of Verona and Mantua the Venetians were compelled least the frenchemen whome no commaundement that was made to them on the kings behalfe could make to stay should departe to their garrisons to take order that the Citie of Bressa should wholly furnish them of necessary vittells an exspence rising to aboue a thowsand crownes a day At last things beganne to incline manifestly to peace for that it was knowen that Caesar notwithstanding his former solicitacion to his sonne in law not to compound with the frenche king preferring the couetousnes of money affore the hate he bare naturally to the french also affore his auncient ambicion to make him selfe Lord of Italie had not only accepted and ratified the peace but also determined to render Verona according to the forme of those conuencions from this succeeded an other matter to the benefit of the frenche king that all the Cantons of Svvizzers seeing armes hostilitie deposed betwene Caesar the king were contented to compound with him as the Grisons had done before in which action Galeas Visconte did what he could who being banished and a rebell protested by the king wonne of him by this meane libertie to returne into his countrey restitucion to all his goods and recompense of many graces and honors The composicion was that the king should pay to the Svvizzers within three monethes an hundred fifty thowsand duckats and from thence forwarde an indument of perpetuall yearely pensions That the Svvizzers should be bounde to deliuer to his pay by publike decree so often as he should demaund a certaine number of footemen wherin notwithstanding the proceeding was diuerse for that the eight Cantons were bounde to furnishe that proporcion whensoeuer he should enter into any enterprise to offende the estates of an other and to the fiue Cantons the couenant bare no other obligacion then for the defence of his proper estates That it shoulde be in the power of the Svvizzers to render to the french king the castells of Lugan and Lugarno which bee passages of great strength and of no lesse importance for the sewertie of the Duchie of Myllan And in case they would make restitucion the king to paye to them three hundred thowsand duckats But they rased them to the ground immediatly vpon the making of the composicion This was the discourse of thinges in Italy in the yeare a thowsand fiue hundred and sixteene But in the beginning of the yeare following the Bishop of Trente who was come to Verona made offer to Monsr Lavvtrech to deliuer vp that citie to the french king within six moneths according to the contents of the capitulacion seeing he held it in the name of the king of Spaine But there remeyned this difficultie whether the tearme should begin from the day of the ratificacion of Caesar or from the time it was acknowledged that Verona was holden by the king catholike And vpon this albeit there passed a disputacion for certeine dayes yet for that the garrison of footemen that were within Verona drewe to mutinies vpon the demaund of money the Bishop of Trente was constrained to followe those affayres with a greater haste And therefore taking the beginning from the day that he had receiued commission from Caesar he agreed to deliuer vp Verona the fifteene daye of Ianuary At which daye he passed the assignement to Monsr de Lavvtrech who receiued it in the name of the french king the said Bishop receiuing of the Venetians the first fifty thowsand duckats together with the fifteene thowsand which by the capitulacion they were bound to pay to the garrison in Verona and also assured fidelitie and promisse of Monsr de Lavvtrech to see drawne to Trente the artilleries that were within Verona Monsr Lavvtrech at the same instant redeliuered the citie ouer in his kinges name to the Senat of Venice Andrevv Gritty standing then as Deputie and assigney to that state great was the gladnes of the nobilitie and whole communaltie of Venice for that after so long and daungerous a warre drawing with it so many calamities and exspenses they had reclaymed to the general body of their dominion so principal a member esteeming the reward of the warre farre aboue the burden and charges of the same although by the reapport of such as haue written of their doinges they consumed during all the warres they made since the league of Cambray fiue myllions of duckats whereof they leauyed fiue hundred thowsand of the sale of offices lastly the inhabitants of Verona reioysed no lesse then the residue together with all other cities and iurisdictions subiect to their common weale hoping now to be deliuered and dispensed withall from so many afflictions which so long a warre had throwen vpon them sometymes by the one armie and sometymes by the other The ende of the tvvelfth Booke
enuie that stirred vp in men this consideracion was redoubled by the accident of the plague which beginning in Rome at his arriuall afflicted the Citie during the whole season of Autumne to the great calamitie and losse of the people A matter which in the fancies of men was construed to an euill prognostication of his Pontificacie The first councell that this Pope tooke was to aduaunce the recouering of Rimini and to put ende to the controuersies which the Duke of Ferrara had continued with two of his latest predecessors And for the better succeeding of that expedition he sent into Romagnia that regiment of fifteene hundred Spanishe footemen which he had brought with him for the more suretie of his passage by sea Whylest the Pope was in these actions and preparacions in Italie themperour cast in his mind howe muche it would import to the successe and sewertie of his affayres in Italy to seperat the Venetians from the French king To which deuise was much helping an opinion that he had that the hopes of the french matters being diminished the Senat would not be without manifest inclinacion to peace and that they would not for thinterests of others laye them selues downe to the daungers which such a warre might bring vpon their estates In this practise he communicated with the king of England who affore had lent him money secretly against the French king and began openly to take part against him They sent thether their Embassadors to require the Senate to confederat with thEmprour for the defense of Italy Ierom Adorna being for thEmprour Richard Pase for the king of Englād There was also exspectacion of an Embassador from Ferdinand Archduke of Austria Caesars brother who enterteyning many quarrells with the Venetians it was iudged necessary that he should interpose and communicat in all accords Besides the king of England sent a Herald to pronownce warre against the French king in case he would not come to a generall truce with thEmprour for three yeares in all partes of the world ▪ and therein should be comprehended the Church the Duke of Myllan and the Florentyns he complained also in this diffiance that the French king had forborne to pay him thanuitie of fiftie thowsand crownes which he was bound to aunswer yearly But the French king whose youth made him more apt to trust in fortune then to looke into things by counsell refused to make truce And touching the demaund of the fifty thowsand crownes he protested openly that it was not conuenient for him to pay money to him that ayded his enemies with money An aunswer which so aggrauated the disdaines hartburnings betwene them that thEmbassadors on both sides were reuoked This yeare departed out of Italy Don Iohn Manuell who had bene Caesars Embassador at Rome with very great authoritie And at his departure he deliuered to the Florentyns a scedule subsigned by his hande declaring that Caesar by a scedule published in September 1520. promised to Pope Leo to reconfirme and eftsoones to reaccord to the Florentyns the priuileges of estate of authority of the townes which they held within six moneths after the first dyot vppon his coronation at Aix This was a reitteracion of a former promisse made by him to accomplish the same within foure monethes after his election within which time he sayde he could not dispatch it for many iust causes So that vnder protestacion of that reasonable excuse Don Iohn promised it eftsoones in the name of Caesar who ratified the scedule in March 1523. and deliuered the expedicion of it in writing in a most ample forme As hath bene set downe before Caesar passed this yeare into Spaine where he proceeded seuerely against many that were noted the Authors of the sedicion and to others he remitted all punishments and pardoned their goods In which action to ioyne with iustice and clemencie examples of recompense and remuneracion he called to the Court in great honor Ferdinand Duke of Calabria who refusing to be Capteine of the commons that rebelled he rewarded his fidelitie with the mariage of Madame Germania sometimes wife to the king of Spaine she was riche but barreine to thend that house should determine in him who was the last of the descendants of olde Alfonso king of Aragon two of his younger brothers being dead before the one in Fraunce and the other in Italy But the ende of this yeare was made no lesse wretched and vnhappy then slaunderous to all Christian Princes for the losse of the I le of Rhodes which Solyman Ottoman tooke by violence notwithstanding it was defended by the Knightes of Rhodes called in other times more auncient the knightes of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem And abiding in that place since they were chased out of Ierusalem notwithstanding they laye betweene two so mightie princes as the Turke and the Soldan yet their vallour had preserued it of long tyme and to the right worthy glorie of their order they had remayned as an assured rampier of Christian religion in those seas And yet they were not without their imputacions and notes of infamie for that hauing a continuall custome for the better defending of those shoares to spoyle the vessells of the infidells they were thought sometymes to make pillage of Christian shipps The Turke sente into thilande a wonderfull greate armie which remayning there manye monethes with no lesse horrour to good men for their cruelties then terrour to all men for their huge numbers at laste he came thither in person And drawing to his desire of conquest and glorie the respect of profite and ryches which the victorie woulde yeelde he loste not one minute of tyme to vexe them wherein his industrie was nothing inferiour to his vallour for sometimes he caste monstrous mynes and trenches sometymes he raysed platfourmes of earth and wood whose height ouertopped the walles of the towne and sometymes he afflicted them with moste furious and bloudy assaultes In so muche that as these workes and engines were not perfourmed without a wonderfull boocherie and slaughter of his souldiours so also the defence of them was so daungerous to the lyues of them within that manye numbers were diminished manye bodyes maymed and made vnseruiceable and the residue made terrified by the calamities of their companions and friendes to whome they coulde giue no other propertie of compassion then to mourne with them their common miserie Their aduersitie was so muche the more intollerable by howe muche theyr trauelles were without fruite their wordes withoute comforte and their vallour disfauoured of fortune and lastely their stoare of gonne powder was consumed whiche is not the least necessitie for the desence of a place They sawe affore their eyes huge breaches made into their walles with thartilleries of thennemies They decerned seuerall mynes wrought into many partes of the towne and they founde by lamentable experience that the lesse good they did the more paynefully they laboured for that their fortune had reduced them to these
reputacion and authoritie He was a father of soldiours a director of their councelles a framer of their disposicions an example of vertue and a guide to true glorie and fame He was not apte to embrace lightly all occasions that the disorders of thennemies might offer for this propertie was ioyned to his wit rather to doubt too much then beleue too hastely And so ielous was he ouer the safetie and suertie of his people that he would not easily giue any aduauntage to thennemy to oppresse him He would alwayes saye that in a Generall the glorie was greater to feare a mischiefe and foresee it then to runne with occasions which can not bee without their hazardes He was by nature easie slow in his actions and seeking alwayes to administer warres more with councelles then with the sword he left to others this propertie of example to defend estates by temporising and not without great necessitie to commit the euent of battelles to fortune For in our tyme the managing and gouernment of warres hath farre differed since that affore Charles the eight past into Italy The brunt of the warre being more borne out with horsemen armed at all partes then with footemen and no lesse inconuenient and troublesome the engines wherwith they were wont to take townes notwithstanding the armies came oftentymes to the shock of battell yet the slaughter was litle very rare the bloud that was spilt And townes also that were beseged defended themselues with suche facilitie not for that they had more knowledge in defense but through ignorance to take them that there was not so litle or weake a towne which was not able for many dayes to resist great armies of enemies At that tyme Princes did not intrude vppon thestates of others without very great difficulties But when King Charles made his first discending into Italy the regions of that nation were so replenished with terror astonishment what through the feare of new nations and the vallour of the footemen whose feight was in another manner but most of all through the furie of thartilleries by whose vnacquainted roaring noyse the ignorant people feared no lesse then if the frame of the world had falne that there was no hope for any Prince to be able to defende himselfe that were not strong enough to keepe the fielde For men that had no knowledge to defende townes yelded at the first approach of thenemies and if happly any towne stoode to her defence it was taken within fewe dayes suche was the surie of thartilleries and suche the ignorance of men that had yet no custome nor familiaritie with them By that meane the realme of Naples and the Duchie of Millan were no sooner inuaded then they were conquered In that sort the Venetians being vanquished in one battell only left abandoned immediatly all their iurisdiction in the firme land And in that sort the Frenche men hauing skarcely seene thenemyes left the Duchie of Myllan But since the witte of man comprehending better the furie of batteries began to oppose engine and industrie for their defence and fortefied townes with mountes trenches flankes rampiers and Bastillions which they made apte to bestow artilleries vppon And being planted in a place which men seeke to defend doe farre more hurt then that that is braked without So that at this daye it is verie harde to take a towne where is any resistance made And happlie those inuentions began in Italy in the dayes of our fathers when the towne of Ottranto was reconquered vppon the Turkes wherin when Alfonso Duke of Calabria entred afterwardes he founde that the Turkes had made many rampiers and fortifications suche as were vnknowen to the Italians but yet those sortes of fortificatiōs remeined rather as images in the myndes of men then that they were folowed Prospero either was the only man or the first man of all other that with greatest reputacion hath twise by those meanes defended the Duchie of Myllan And aswel in offending as in defending and cutting of thenemies from vittelles as also in prolonging the warre with suche cunning that pouertie disorders and other extremities consumed them he hath borne out the warre and vanquished without once aduenturing the battell without breaking of a Launce yea almost without drawing a sworde So that he standing in example to others that haue come after many warres continued for many moneths haue bene ouercome more with industrie with stratageame and with temporising then with the force or fortune of armes These thinges were done in Italy in the yeare 1523. And the yeare folowing were made beyond the mounts preparacions of right great exspectation and yet brought forth no effectes worthy of so mightie Princes For where the Emprour the King of Englande had cōtracted promised the Duke of Burbon to enter with a strong armie the one into Piccardy the other into Guyen The mouing of the King of Englād was to smal purpose thēterprise of the Duke of Burbon to inuade Burgōdy was turned into a moūteine of smoke For that wanting mony to paie his Laūceknights besides the diminuciō of their nombers by the practise of certein Capteins that stoale away to the Frēch king he dispaired to do any thing in Fraūce in that mind wēt to Millan There themprour hauing no mind that he shold passe into Spain perhaps because he wold not haue the mariage of his sister go forward which the Duke of Burbon desired sēt to hī Mōsr de Beaurain to persuade hī to staie there gaue him thauthority title of his lieftenāt general in Italy to induce him with better wil to abide there Neither did things happē more happily to Thēprour on the coast of Spaine for that albeit in a burning desire to the warres he was come to Pampeluna to passe in person into Fraunce and had already sent his armie beyond the Mountes Pireney where he had taken Saueterra which is not farre from S. Iohn de pied de Porc yet drawing with him many other imperfections he founde at last that his readines was farre greater then his power for that as for the want of money he was not hable to enterteine so great forces as were necessarie for so great an enterprise so for that want also he was not able to assemble his armie vntill the latter ende of the yere when the nature of the season doubled vpon him his difficulties and tooke from him the libertie of the wayes These impediments compelled him to dissolue his armie erected almost agaynst the counsell of all his capteines which made the Duke of Albe a prince of great authoritie say in the heate of the warre that themprour who in many things resembled king Ferdinand his grandfather by the mother side did in this deliberacion beare moste similitude and likenesse with his grandfather by the father side Nowe came on the yere a thousande fiue hundred twentie and foure when the difficulties of the Frenche men stirring vp themperours capteines to looke to
the name of one faction hauing suppressed the kinges of the house of Lancaster whiche was the other faction and the partakers with the house of Lancaster seeing there was no more remayning of that house raysed to the kingdome Henrye of Richemont for his proximitie and nearenes with them Who after he had subdued hys aduersaries to th ende he might raigne with more suretie and with more authoritie tooke to wyfe one of the daughters of Edvvarde the laste king but one of the house of Yorke by whiche coniunction of houses all the rightes and claymes of bothe the one and the other houses were absolutelye and lawfully transferred into the person of king Henry the eyghte borne of that maryage These houses for the enseignes and cognizanses that they bare were called commonly the Redde rose and the VVhite rose But touching the mouing of the king of Englande to make warres in Fraunce he was not so muche caryed by hope to winne the Realme of Fraunce by armes for that he was not ignoraunt of the innumerable difficulties that woulde contende agaynst him as he was importunatelye pushed on by the ambicious desire of the Cardinall of Yorke who layde this plotte that the long and tedious trauells and infinite necessities of the warre woulde in the ende bring his king to be the onely arbitrator and appoynter of the peace And knowing that the negociacion of it shoulde depende muche of his authoritie he thought in one time both to make his name great through all the worlde and also to enterteine hymselfe in the good grace and lyking of the French king to whom he showed secretly to beare some good inclinacion And therefore the king of Englande sought not to binde him selfe to those condicions whervnto it was necessarie he should be bound if he had had a forwarde minde to so great a warre Thus Themperour was stirred vp to the warre by that occasion but much more by a hope that through the fauour authoritie and popular opinion whiche the Duke of Burbon caryed in that kingdome the commons of the realme would draw to commotion And therfore notwithstanding he was aduised by many of his firme and assured friends that both for his want of money which brings no small impedimentes to enterprises and for the doubt of his confederates whose fidelitie was vncertayne he would giue ouer to beginne a warre so harde and intricate and consent that the Pope mighte treate vpon the surceasing of armes yet he capitulated with the king of Englande and Duke of Burbon in this sorte That the Duke should enter the Realme of Fraunce with that parte of th armie that was in Italie And assone as he should be ouer the Mountes the king of Englande to paye an hundred thousande duckets for the defraymentes of the first monthe of the warre That it should be in the election of the sayd king eyther to continue this contribucion from monthe to monthe or else to passe into Fraunce with a strong armie to make warre from the firste daye of Iulie vntill the ende of December And in that case the countreys of Flaunders to furnishe him of three thousande horse a thousande footmen and sufficient artilleries and municions That if the victorie fell to them there should be rendred to the Duke of Burbon all those landes which the Frenche king had taken from him That Prouence should be transferred to him to the which he already pretended by the resignacion that was made after the death of Charles the eight by the Duke of Lorreine to Anne Duchesse of Burbon That he shoulde holde it by the title of king of Prouence That first he should make an othe to the king of Englande as to the king of Fraunce and do him homage whiche if he did not perfourme then this capitulacion to bee voyde That the Duke of Burbon shoulde not treate nor practise nothing with the Frenche kinge withoute the consent of them bothe That thEmperour at the same tyme shoulde make warre on that syde towardes Spayne Lastely that thEmbassadours of thEmperour and the king of Englande shoulde procure the Potentates of Italie to bee concurrant with their money in this enterprise to th ende to be for euer assured agaynst the warre of the Frenche A matter whiche neuer sorted to effect for that the Pope did not onely refuse to contribute but blamed expresly thenterprise prophesying that not onely it would haue an yll successe in Fraunce but also it would be the cause to returne the warre agayne vpon Italie and that with a greater puissance and perill then before The Duke of Burbon refused constantlye to acknowledge the king of Englande for kinge of Fraunce And albeit after the confederacion was made he gaue counsayle to marche with the armie towardes Lyon to th ende to drawe neare hys owne landes and Countreys yet it was resolutely determined that he shoulde passe into Prouence both for that Themperour shoulde with more facilitie sende him succours out of Spayne and also to bee more apte to take the seruice and oportunitie of the armie by sea which was in preparing at Genes by the commaundement and with the money of Themperour The Marquis of Pisquairo was declared capteine generall for Themperour in this warre for that he coulde not be brought to obey the Duke of Burbon The plotte and proceedinges of this expedicion were that the Duke of Burbon and with him the Marquis shoulde passe to Nice and yet with forces farre lesse then such as were appoynted for that where to the forces they had already with them which was fiue hundred men at armes eyght hundred light horsemen foure thowsande footemen Spanyardes three thowsande Italyans and fiue thowsande launceknightes there shoulde haue bene ioyned three hundred men at armes of the armie in Italy and fiue thowsande other launceknightes these laste companies fayled to come for want of money And the Viceroy kept reteyned the men at armes for the garde of the contrey hauing no meane to wage newe companies of footemen according to the resolucion sette downe in the firste councells to th ende to make heade agaynst Michaell Angeo Marquis of Salusse who beeing departed from his estate kept vppon the Mounteines with a thowsande footemen There was added to this that thEmprours armye at sea one of their principall hopes beeing guyded by Don Hugo de Mocado A man of muche malice and wickednes of life and a creature of the Duke Valentynois appeared farre inferior to the nauie of the Frenche king which beeing parted from Marseilles was stayed in the port of Villefrancho Neuerthelesse thEmperours armye entred into Prouence where were Monsr de la Palissa Capteyne Fayetto Ranso de Cere and Pederyk Bossolo All Capteynes of the French kinge and were nowe withdrawen into townes for that they were not stronge enoughe to make heade in the fielde One parte of the armye drewe alonge the sea side and tooke the tower that commaundeth the port of Tovvlon where were taken two Canons that were drawen to the armye
that is iniuried there is nothinge so sweete as the passion of reuenge And by howe muche th offence is auncient and inueterat by so much more incurable is the humor of reuenge and more heauye the stroake where it lighteth We may beleeue that the kinges minde burneth with disdayne when he remembreth how many monethes he hath beene your prisoner with what seueritie he hath beene kept vnder straite and sure garde and neuer was fauored so much as to speake to you or see you Besides in this calamitie of imprisonment he hath passed so many perplexities and perills as had almost brought him to the ende of his mortall life causes not litle materiall to make him highly incensed besides the despite of his other iniuries sufficient to drawe on his desire to be reuenged And nowe he seeth we goe about to deliuer him not through magnanimitie or amitie but by necessitie and feare of so great a confederacion conspired against vs Do we thinke that parentage made by necessitie is more mighty then so many vehement incitacions Doe not we know how much Princes esteeme of such bonds And who can yeld a better restimonie then our selues of the estimacion and reckoning of parentages But it may happly seeme to some that we shall be greatly assured by the faith he will giue to returne againe into prison Oh weake foundacions and full of frailtie oh hopes vnperfect and drawing more perill then sewertie oh councell vndiscreete which hath no societie with wisedome and forecast The griefe I haue to see vs disposed to take a coursse so hurtfull and daungerous makes me burst out into this libertie of playne speeche This boarde is not ignorant what reckoning is made of faith and worde giuen when there is question of interests of estate neyther are we to learne of what force are the promisses of the French men who though they be open and playne in all other thinges yet in this regarde let vs thinke them Schoolemaisters moste perfect in deceyuing and abusing And for the king he hath naturally a readye tongue to promisse and aslowe hande to performe and by custom is so much the more harde and sparing in effects by howe much he is plentifull and prodigall in words and speeches Vppon which I gather this reasonable conclusion that neither the respect of good will betwene two Princes who haue for an auncient inheritance iniuries and offences nor the memorie of benefits which neuer was any nor the cōsideracion of faith promisses which in controuersie of matters of estate importeth nothing with the frenchmen wil haue any force to induce him to follow an accord which lifteth vp his enemy into heauen throweth his owne person his kingdom into manifest subiection where it may be obiected that for feare of these things the better to assure your maiesty you demaūd two of his childrē of whom one to be theldest whose loue wil cōtein him more thē the price of Burgongny I aūswer that the loue of those childrē wil rather cause the cōtrary specially whē the memory of thē shal moue in the cogitaciōs of his mind cōsideration that to obserue thaccord would be the beginning to make them your slaues it is doubtful that such a pawne will not be sufficient if he should be altogether desperat to recouer it in other sort for that as it is a thing that much importeth to put his Realme in daunger which being once lost is hard to be recouered So neuerthelesse he may haue many hopes to redeeme his children either with the fauor of tyme or by the benefit of accord or by thopportunitie of some other occasion and yet in respect of their base age thexspectacion wil not be greeuous to him Besides standing in tearmes to draw into vnitie against you almost all the Princes of Christendom who doubteth not but he will confederat with them who seeth not that he will seeke to moderat that accord by the waye of warre and armes And who knoweth not that in that case the gayne and profit which we shall reape by this victorie will bringe vppon vs a most stronge and daungerous warre stirred vp by the desperat hatred of the French king by the burning ielousie of the king of England and by the general necessitie of all the Potentats in Italy Against whom how shall we be able to defende our selues vnles God continue daily to worke the same miracles for vs which he hath so often done till this tyme or vnles fortune for our sakes chaunge her nature and reduce her inconstancie and lightnes to an example of constancie and firmenes contrary to all experience past how many monethes haue we concluded in our councells to doe all that we could to let thItalians for vniting with the house of Fraunce And now we throwe our selues rashly into a deliberacion which takes away all difficulties that till this hower haue kept them in suspence A matter which multiplieth our daungers encreaseth the forces of our enemies since it is not to be doubted that that league wil be more strong and mighty which shal haue for a head the French king standing in his freedome and in his kingdome then that which should be contracted with the house of Fraunce and the king remeine your prisoner There is no other thing which till this day hath deteyned the Pope from entring confederacion against you then the feare he had that you would alwayes separate the French from the residue in offering to them the libertie of their king but lesse will be their feare of such a matter when you shall haue the children who import not muche and dismisse the father vppon whose person resteth the ballancing of all things So that by this meane the medicine which we haue sought to applye to preuent our daunger will become without all comparison the chiefe poyson and instrument of our perill And in place to breake this vnion we shall be the meane to enforce it and make it more firme and puissant But me thinkes I see some ready to aske my aduise and whether I wil councell your Maiestie to drawe no profitte of so greate a victorie and to suffer you to dwell alwayes vppon these doubtes and perplexities to whome I aunswer and confirme eftsoones the similitude I haue spoken many tymes that it is a matter too hurtfull to receyue so much meate at one tyme as the stomacke can not beare And that it is necessary eyther by returning into amitie with Italy which demaundes nothing of vs but to be assured to gette of the Frenche king both Burgonguye and asmuch els as we can or els to make a composicion with him by the which Italy may remeyne at our discression but so easie touching his interests as he may haue cause to obserue the condicions of it In thelection of the one of these two wayes it apperteyneth to your maiestie in pollicie forecast to preferre that which in deed is moste stable and iust affore that which at the
lodging of souldiours Their custom in times of warre before ronning in a coursse of greater humanitie and facilitie made the yoke of this innouacion more heauy to them In which respect looking into their owne estate both to be mighty in numbers and armes and remembring the lawe and obligacion of their freedom and libertie they beganne to murmure as men not able any longer to endure so great insolencie and moste greeuous exactions And therefore to make some honest way to be deliuered or at least to reduce them to some comely moderacion the towne of Myllan sent Embassadors to thEmprour who brought from him no other expedicion then words generall and that without any remedie to their afflictions The towne of Myllan principally and ouer and besides all the other townes of the Duchy being charged according to his proporcion with a greater number of souldiers then the other townes was also taxed to prouide money for expenses publike such as were set downe by the Capteines for the conseruacion of thEmprours things the Ministers of which exaction proceded with no lesse rigour and seueritie then the others for remedy of which aggreuances since by solicitacion they could neither be easied nor pitied the people pushed on with the impressions of men in a desperate state determined to resist with their weapons in hande those fore exactions which the iniquitie of the warre had layed vppon them to eate them vp They gaue order that whosoeuer were oppressed by the cruelty of the exactors should call vpon his neighbours to come to his defence who together with the vniuersall multitude of all the residue should ronne at the commaundement of certeine chieftaines assigned in many partes of the citie to resist the furie of the Officers and represse the insolencie of the souldiours that should rise in their fauor After this order and direction was established amongest them the first experience sell vppon a Marchant of retayle who being vexed by the Collectors of the exactions stirred vp for his defence his neighbours who calling to the alarme a great part of the populars the whole towne was forthwith in a tumult which by the diligence of Antho de Leua and the good office of the Marquis of Guast and other of the principall gentlemen of Myllan was eftsoones reappeased But vnder this condicion and promisse that the Capteines had assured the people to rest contented with the publike reuenues and would not laye vppon them other imposicions nor bringe into the towne other bands of souldiers This was an accord but for a very short tyme since it endured no longer then till the day following for the people hauing aduertisement that new regiments of souldiers approached neare the towne they fell againe into armes but both in a greater tumult and better gouerned and with a greater assistance of the people then the day before yea what with the rage of the populars which in their furie is daungerous and what with their well ordering of the vprore being taught by thexample of the daye before The Capteines fearing not to be hable to resiste so great a furie were vpon the poynt to goe out of the towne with their bandes A matter which in deede the humor of their feare had drawne them to do if the people with a setled resolution had marched on to be reuenged of them and their souldiours But as in tumultes and popular vprores there is alwayes something of imperfection and that aswell by the propertie of the action which holdeth of disobedience and rebellion as by the ignorance of the leaders who for the most parte haue more passion then reason So first of all they wente without all order or skill to sacke the olde Court a place where laye the Capteine of Criminall iustice with certayne bandes of footemen making their beginning with that which should haue bene the laste acte of their execution A matter whiche gaue no litle life and aduauntage to th imperiall Capteines who in that oportunitie omitted not to fortefie their straytes and places of accesse and reuoking from the siege the most parte of the footmen that kept the Castel enuironed they assembled al into one strength to make head agaynst the people if they offred to inuade them By that occasion the besieged within the Castell made a sally out to set vpon the ramparts caste on that side within But when they saw the people made not on to their succours they retyred eftsoones into the Castell leauing vnperfect the enterprise which with due execution would haue done muche to haue established their libertie The people partly for want of experience in actions of warre and partely for the care of the pillage they had made at the olde Court did not onely omit to do that which apperteined but also began to breake and seperate them selues euery one beeing more mindefull to preserue the praye he had made then to followe further the victorie which their fortune offred to them By which occasion the Capteines of the army concurring the ayde of certayne gentlemen of the towne reappeased eftsones this tumult with promise to leade out of the towne and contrey of Millan all the souldiours except those bandes of launceknightes which helde the Castell besieged In this sort the Capteines and men of warre by their pollicie and industrie quenched a daungerous fyre which the furie of the people had kindled in their rashnes and rightly skorned their disorders and ignorance to manage armes and weapons errours which familiarly do followe a communaltie drawne into mutinie hauing no leaders of experience and vallour But by these appeasementes and accordes all intelligences were not broken and muche lesse layde downe the armes of the people but retayning still many tokens of a disposition to stirre vp a greater emotion it seemed that who so euer would take vpon him to trouble th affayres of themprour neede not want a fitte occasion considering principally both the small forces and other great difficulties which thimperialls had and also that in the laste warres the wonderfull vallour of the people of Millan and of other townes expressed in their fauor had bene a great fundation for the defence of that estate These were the tearmes and estate of the affayres of Italy when were brought out of Fraunce the reapports of the ready disposition and offers of the king together with his request for the sending of Commissions And at the same time thembassadours of the king of Englande resident with the Pope laboured to induce him by reasons and perswasions to deuise howe to moderate the greatnes of themperour and to encourage the Frenche king not to obserue the capitulation By reason of which inducementes accompanied with thauthoritie and inclinations of their princes not onely the Venetians who in all times and in farre lesser occasions had giuen counsell to take armes but also the Pope notwithstanding his harde disposition to enter into that trauell iudged nowe that by necessitie he was to reduce and gather together the summe of all
Capteynes and by his armye Abowt this tyme the Cardinalls that were in Italy made a mocion that aswell they as the other Cardinalls beyonde the Mountes might assemble together at Auignion to take councell in so troublesom a tyme what coursse to holde for the stabilitie of the Church But because they woulde not all at one tyme raunge them selues vnder the power of so mightye Princes they refused to goe thether though with diuerse excuses By whose example also the Cardinall Saluiatio Legat in the Frenche Court beeing required by the Pope to goe to thEmprour to helpe his affayres at the comming of Don Hugo who according to the capitulacion was to go vp to thEmprour refused to accomplish that legacion as though it had beene a matter hurtfull to deliuer vppe to the power of thEmprour at one tyme so many Cardinalls Onely he sent by one of his seruaunts of credit thinstructions he had receyued from Rome to thAuditor of the chamber resident with thEmprour to th ende he might negociat with him who brought from him very gracious wordes but such as promised a diuerse and vncerteine resolucion And albeit thEmprour could haue desired that the Pope had beene ledde into Spayne yet for that it was a matter full of infamye and greatly tending to incense the king of England And withall for that all the Potentates and prouinces of Spayne and principally the Prelats and Lordes detested not a litle that an Emprour of Rome Protector and Aduocat of the Church should with so great indignitie to all Christendom holde in prison the man in whome was represented the person of Iesus Christ in earth In those regardes he made gracious aunswers to all thEmbassadors which occupied his presence there At whose instance also to goe thorowe with a peace he sayde he was content to referre the action of it to the king of England which was accepted by them And seeming to confirme this good inclinacion with corespondencye of effects he dispatched into Italy the thirde daye of August the generall of the Graye Frears and foure dayes after him Veri de Miglian enhabling both the one and other with commissions sufficient to the Viceroy for the deliuery of the Pope and restitucion of all such townes and castells as had bene taken from him he consented also for the better releeuing of the Pope that his Nuncio should send him a certeine summe of money exacted vppon the collection of his Realmes who in their Courts and parlyaments had refused to contribute money to thEmprour In this time about the ende of Iuly the Cardinall of Yorke passed the sea to Callyce with twelue hundred horse The French king who had great desire to receyue him with all showes of honor sent to meete him at his landing the Cardinal of Lorraine and went afterwardes in personne to Amyens where the Cardinall of Yorke made his entrey the daye after with very greate pompe Wherein one thinge that muche augmented his glorye and reputacion was the treasor he had brought with him amownting to three hundred thowsande crownes bothe to furnishe thexspenses occurringe and to imparte it with the Frenche Kinge by waye of loane if neede were They debated betwene them aswel of matters apperteyning to the peace as of occasions tending to nourish the warre Wherein albeit the ends and intencions of the French king were different from the purposes of the king of England for that to haue his children restored he cared not to leaue abandoned to manifest praye both the Pope and all the state of Italy yet what by the authoritie of the king of England and necessitie of his owne affayres he was driuen to promisse to make no accord with thEmprour without the deliuery of the Pope And therefore thEmprour hauing sent to the king of England the articles of the peace aunswer was made to him by both the kings that they woulde accept the peace vnder condicions of restitucion of the children of Fraunce receyuing for raunsom of them two millions of duckats within a certeine tyme and deliuerye of the Popes person with the state Ecclesiastike together with the conseruacion of all the gouernments and estates of Italy as they were at that present and lastly vnder condicion of an vniuersall and generall peace And bicause the mariage of the French king with the Emprours sister should still continue there was set downe a speciall couenant that thEmprour accepting these articles the Daughter of the king of England should be maryed to the Duke of Orleans But in case the peace succeeded not the king him selfe should take her to wife After these articles were sent they refused to giue safe conduit to a man whome the Emprour required to send into Fraunce aunswering that they had done enough to send him the articles of their resolucion Which being not accepted by thEmprour the peace and confederacion betweene the two kings was sworne and published solemnly the eyght day of August They determined to employ all their forces in the warre of Italy hauing for their principall obiect the deliuerye of the Pope And touching the manner to proceede in that warre they reapposed them selues vppon Monsr Lavvtrech to whome according to the confidence they had in him they gaue absolute power and before he tooke his leaue to depart with his expedicion they suffered him to obteyne of the French king all his demaundes for that the king ment in that warre to set vppe his last rest The Cardinall of Yorke would also that the knight Casalo shoulde goe to the campe on the behalfe of his king and that the thirty thowsande duckats which were his monthly contribucion should be deliuered to him to th ende to be assured if the nūber of Almaines were compleate Thus after the resolucions and directions of the warre were established the Cardinall of Yorke returned and at his departure he dispatched the pronotorye Gambaro to the Pope to induce him to make him his Viccaire generall in England in Fraunce and in Germanye so longe as he was in prison Whereunto though the French king seemed by demonstracions to consent yet secretly and in effect he did impugne so great an ambicion In this meane whyle there passed but very fewe actions and exploytes of warre in Italy thexspectacion of the comming of Lavvtrech being very great The reason was that as the Imperiall armye full of disorder and disobedience to their Capteynes and no lesse chargeable to their friendes and townes that were rendred made no greate mouing and gaue no feare at all to their enemyes so the footebandes of Spanyardes and Italyans fleeing from the infection of the plague laye dispearsed and wandring abowt the confynes of Rome And the Prince of Orenge with an hundred and fiftye horsemen was gonne vppe to Syenna aswell to eschewe the daunger of the plague as to keepe that citie in the deuocion of thEmperour And for the better conteyning the Citie in fidelitie and order he had sent thyther before certeyne bandes of footemen the rather for that
giue occasion to thenemies to make head at Sienna or in any other place hauing a speciall desire to make his entrye into the kingdome of Naples before he should encounter any impediment And assone as he was departed from Bolognia Iohn Sassatello rendred to the Pope the rocke of Ymola of which he had made himselfe lorde in the time of his imprisonment And drawing neare afterwards to Rimini Sigismond Malatesta sonne to Pandolffo contracted with him to giue vp that Citie to the Pope vpon condition that he should be bound to suffer his mother to enioy her dowry to giue to his sister who was not maryed sixe thousande duckets and to assigne for his father and for him two thousand duckets of reuenue That Sigismond should depard immediatly out of Rimini and his father to remayne there vntill the Pope had sent the ratification And that in the meane while the rocke should abide in the handes of Guido Rangon his cousin who being in the pay of the French king followed Monsr Lavvtrech to the warre But the Pope deferring to accomplishe these promises Sigismond repossessed and occupied agayne the rocke though not without a great complaynt of the Pope agaynst Guido Rangon as though he had secretly suffred him and not without suspicion that Lavvtrech and the Venetians had consented seeming they had desired to kepe him in continuall difficulties The suspicion of the Venetians grewe vpon the cause of Rauenna which the Pope assone as he was deliuered out of the Castell hauing sent to sommon and demaunde it of the Senate by the Archbishop of Siponto he was aunswered with words generall referring the matter to the arbitration of Iasper Contarin Embassadour elect resident with him for notwithstanding they had giuen assurance before that they reteyned it for the sea Apostolike yet they had no desire to restore it Wherein they were moued aswell by interests publike as priuate for the commoditie of that Citie to augment their iurisdiction in Romagnia fertill of it selfe in grayne and for the plentie of the countreys adioyning of great oportunitie to draw to Venice euery yere good quantities of corne Besides many of the citie of Venice had in that territorie great and goodly possessions And touching Monsr Lavvtrech the Pope doubted no lesse of him for that besides many instances which had bin made to him before Lavvtrech notwithstanding he had sent to him after he was come from Bolognia Monsr Vavvdemont capteine generall of the Launceknightes together with Monsr Longeuille whome the king sente to solicite him earnestlye to declare agaynst thEmperour could not obteine so muche of him the Pope not refusing expresly but vnder delayes and excuses And in that cunning he had offred to the french king to giue his consent but vnder this condition that the Venetians should render to him Rauenna A condition which he knew could not take effect both for that it behoued not the Venetians to be induced to it by the kings perswasions neither was it agreable to the time that the king should make them his enemies to satisfie the Pope Moreouer he gaue no inclination to thinstance which Lavvtrech made to him to ratifie the accorde made with the Duke of Ferrara alleaging that it was a matter farre vnworthye of him to approue in his life time conditions made in his name whylest he was dead and yet he alleaged that he woulde not refuse to contracte with him By reason whereof the duke of Ferrara taking that occasion made difficultie notwithstanding the king and the Venetians had receyued him into their protection to sende to Monsr Lavvtrech the hundred men at armes and the money which he had promised Wherin he stoode vpon this obseruation that doubting the issue of affayres he would not be so much for the French king as not to reserue place and meane to appease in all euentes the minde of themprour to whom he had excused himselfe by his necessitie Besides he enterteined cōtinually at Ferrara George Fronspergh and Andrevv de Burgo Neuerthelesse the armie for all this ceassed not to aduaunce which vnder the leading of Monsr de Lavvtrech aryued the tenth of February vpon the ryuer of Tronto which seperateth the estate ecclesiastike from the kingdome of Naples But in Fraunce after aduertisement was brought that themprour had reteined the kings Embassadour by his example the king caused themprours Agentes to be restrayned within the Castell of Paris and all Marchantes subiects to him to be stayed throughout all the regions of Fraunce The king of Englande did the like by themprours Embassadour resident with him whom he eftsones redeliuered after he was made to vnderstande that no restraynt was made vpon his And as the warre was nowe published in Fraunce in Englande and in Spayne so the French king stoode vppon this request that the first action might begin ioyntly in Flaunders in which resolution he sent certayne bands of souldiours to make incursions into that contrey Neuertheles the Flemings for all those prouocations made no emotion nor rising vnlesse to defende them selues for that the Lady Margaret of Austria laboring to auoyde all occasions to enter warre with the French king would not suffer her people to issue out of their boundes and confines But it was a matter grieuous to the king of Englande to haue warre with the people of Flaunders for that notwithstanding there were to be confined to him assone as they should be conquered certaine townes promised before by themprour for assurance of the mony he had lent him yet he helde it also a matter no lesse preiudiciall aswell for his particular reuenues as for the generall interest and benefite of his realme to breake the trade and entercourse of his Marchantes with those prouinces Neuerthelesse according to thobligations of the contract as he could not apparantly refuse it so yet he temporised deferred it asmuch as he could taking thaduauntage of the capitulacions by the which it was lawfull for him to linger fortie daies after sommonce made to th ende to giue time to the marchants to retire themselues This excuse of his and inclinacion being both well knowen approued by the french king he solicited him that in place to make warre in Flaunders he would with an armie by sea inuade the sea coastes of Spayne where he assured him he had right good intelligence By which alteracion of councells it hapned at last that as the king sending to the french king a bishop to perswade him to giue ouer thenterprise of beyonde the mountes and to encrease and make stronge the warre of Italy so by his perswasions and his authoritie there was an order established that for the space of eight monethes next ensuing there should be done no vexacions nor harmes by the french and english vppon the contreys of Flaunders nor any of the estates or subiects of themprour confyning vpon those prouinces Wherein for the more easie induction of the french king to condiscend to this order the king of England was bound
at Rome Maxymylian Sforce restored to Myllan ThEnglish men as Fontarabye against the french king The king of Aragon taketh the Realme of Nauarre The purposes of Pope Iulio the second his death Creation of Pope Leo the tenth Coronation of the Pope Disposition of princes to the vvarre Desire of pope Leo to chase the Frenche out of Italy The Fr. men in the duchie of Millan The Pope sendeth money to the Svvizzers 〈…〉 Aluiano 〈…〉 generall â—â— the Venetians Aluiano taketh Pesquiero and other 〈…〉 Genes at the deuotion of the French. Nouaro beseged by the french The wordes of Capteine Motyn to the Svvyzzers The Frenchemen defeated by the Svvizzers The Pâ—pe 〈…〉 Humilitie of two Cardinals Padoa 〈…〉 gâ—d by the Viceroy Ouerthrowe of the Venetians armie Prouisions of the Frenche agaynst the king of Englande Torvvaine besieged by the English. The ouerthrow â—f the French neare 〈…〉 Rising of the Swizzers against the French king Thenglish as mie affore Tournay Tornay taken by thEnglish The Popes sentence touching the controuersies betwene Cesar the VenetiaÌ„s The hopes of the Frenche king Treatie of peace betwene Englande and Fraunce The Fr. king marieth the Lady Mary sister to the king of Englande Actions of the Pope The lantern of Genes rased by the people Emocions against the Venetians and of the Venetians Two ElephaÌ„ts presented to the Pope The death of king Lowys the twelfth 1515. Frauncis the first comes to the crowne The fr. king assumeth the title of duke of Millan Preparacions of the frenche king against the Duke of Millan Octauian Fregosa Duke of Genes â—â—mpoundes with the Frenche king The Swizzers seeke to stoppe the passage of the Frenche men The French armie The king of EnglaÌ„d sends to the frenche king not to passe into Italie The treatie betwene the king and the Swizzers broken The Cardinal of Syon persâ—adeth the Swizzers The battell of Marignan Pe. Nauarre afore the Castell of MillaÌ„ Death of Aluiano Enteruiew of Pope Leo the fr. king in Bolognia 1516. The french king returneth into Fraunce Death of the king Catholike Death of the Great Capteine The Venetians recouer Bressia The Pope taketh the Duchie of Vrbin giueth it to Laur â–ª de Medicis his nephew Capitulations betwene the French king and king Catholike Beginningâ— of new 〈…〉 Vrbin returneth to the obedience of the naturall Duke Fano besieged Description of the Citie of Pesero Consederacion betwene the Pope and fr. king Franciscomaria sendes to defie law de Medicis Scituacion of Fossambrono Lawrence loaseth thoccasioÌ„ of the victory Lawrence de Medicis hurt Ielousie against Iohn Ia. Tryuulce The death of Ioh. Ia. Triuulce The french aspireth to be Emperour 1519 Death of Lavv. de Medicis Charles the fife chesen Emperour Occasions of contention betwene the fr. king and themperor The Popes enterprise vppon Ferrara 1520. Martin Luther agaynst the Pope The Pope executeth Io. Paule Baillon ThEmprour in England Commocions in Spaine Pope Leo is the cause of the warre Fontarabye taken by the french Martin Luther Confederation betwene the Pope and thEmperour agaynst the fr. king The titles of thempire to the duchie of Millan Practises against the fr. king FrauÌ„cis Guicciardin the writer of this history Monsr d'Escud before Reggia Lightning vpon the castell of Millan The Marquis of Mantua for the Pope The resolucioÌ„ for the warre agaynst the Frenchmen Monsr de Lawtrech returneth to Millan Frauncis Guicciardin generall coÌ„maunder ouer the army The capteines of the league take counsell together The siege of Parma The Popes Capteines and the Emprours take councell to passe further The armie of the league passeth the riuer of Paw A fault of Monsr de Lavvtrech The Svvizzers leauied by the Pope vvoulde not march against the Frenche king The souldiers of the league passe the riuer of Adda The taking of Myllan by the league The death of Pope Leo the tenth The Frenche men before Parma The duke of Vrbin reentreth his estates Election of Pope Adrian the sixt The D. of Vrbin and the Baillons before Sienna Alexandria taken by the Imperialls Ten thowsand Swizzers discend into the Duchie of Millan for the fr. king Iohn Medicis for the french king The French men before Millan Frauncis Sforce at Millan Monsr Lawtrech before Pauia The Swvizzers woulde leaue the sr armie for that they are not payde Monsr Lawtrech determined to set vppon his enemies Thencounter of Bicocque The ouerthrow of the Swizzers Monsr Lawtrech returneth into Fraunce Loda taken by the Imperialls Genes taken by the Imperialls Monsr d'Escud returneth into Fraunce Emotions in Tuskane An accident in the towne of Lucquai The prouinces of â—â—alâ—e are taxed for the conseruation of the duchie of Millan Pope Adrian the vi coÌ„meth to Rome The king of England for thEmprour sendeth Embassadors to the Venetians to draw them from thalliaÌ„ce of the french VVhat thEmprour did in Spaine Roades taken Rhodes rendred vp to the Turke The Castell of Millan rendred by the French. The oracion of Andrevv Gritti touching thalliance vvith Caesar The oratioÌ„ of George Cornaro Andrea Gritty Duke of Venice Consederacion betwene Caesar and the Venetians Cardinall Volterro prisoner The French armie marcheth Confederacie betwene theÌ„prour the k. of England and the Duke of Burbon The french army in Italy The death of Pope Adrian Frauncis Guicciardin The taking of Reggia by the duke of Ferrara The taking of Loda by the French. The frenchmen breake vp from before Millan Cardinal Medicis is created Pope and taketh the name of Clement the seuenth The death of Prospero Colonno and his qualities The Duke of Burbon notable to doe any thing in Burgondie commeth to Myllan The imperials passe the riuer of Thesin The frenchmen go from before Millan The claime of the Kings of England to the Crowne of Fraunce The frenche king determineth to passe the mountes and to follow the ennemie The French king before Pauia The fr. king sendeth the Duke of Albanie into the realme of Naples The Pope counsellâ—th the fr. king and themperour to peace Duke of Ferrara aydes the French king during the siege of Pauia 1525. The defendantes of Pauya in necessitie The french king will â—â—t 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 of his Captemes The Imperialls take the castell S. Angeo Thimperialls drawe neare to Pauia The battell of Pauia wherin the frâ—king is take prisoner The Potentats of Italy in great feare for the imprisonment of the French king The VenetiaÌ„s solicite the Pope to confederate with them Thimperialls determine to accorde with the Pope Confederation betweene the Pope and the Emprour The rightes pretensions of the familie of Est The Pope sendes to visite the french king beeing prisoner The moderation and temperance of thâ— Emprour â—poÌ„ the neâ—es of the victory The Oration of the Bishop of Osimo touching the taking of the fr. king The opinion of the duke of Alba touching the kings imprisonment The sorowes and feares of Fraunce for the imprisonment of the king A treatise of of accord
for that they were not payed 830. So mightie is necessitie that in cases of extremitie it makes tollerable all those thinges which in all other condicions are full of difficulties 839. Such is the infirmitie of treason that it hath no further assurance then the partie hath confidence 862. Such are the domages of an vniuersall negligence that euen amidde perills that be manifest and apparant they take away the studie and care of thinges that most concerne safety and defense 882. Sorowes feares in Fraunce for thimprisonment of the king 924. Solyman Ottoman in Hungarie 1005. Sacke of Pauia 1079. Second enteruiew of the Pope Emprour at Bolognia 1176. T The title of the house of Aniow to the kingdom of Naples 12. The name of Iohane a name vnhappie to the kingdom of Naples 12. The estate of the realme of Fraunce vnder king Charles the eight 13. The thoughtes of Ferdinand king of Naples 21. The way which the french army tooke to Naples 50. Tumult in Florence 55. The young king Ferdinand speaketh in great sorow to the multitude 68. Two particular causes of quarrell betwene Florence and Genes 73. The pretended title of the Duke of Millan to Pisa 73. Tarenta Caietta are rendred to Federike new king of Naples 169. The french king determineth to set vpon Genes 169. The french prepare new enterprises against Italie 173. Title of the frenche king to the Duchie of Millan 188. Truce betwene the Florentins Syennoys 198. There is nothing endureth so small a time as the memorie of benefits receiued and the more great they be c. 204. The towne of Millan yeeldeth to the frenchmen 229. The frenche king commeth to Millan 229. The taking of Cassina 230. The estate of Romagnia in the time of Duke Valentynois 235. The incerteinty of fortune transferreth to one that which she taketh from an other not regarding the equitie of causes c. 230. Those authorities are vniust whose meanes to come to them are vnlawefull c. 245. Truce betwene the french king king of Romaines 251. To men afflicted with sorowe it is one consolacion to know thuttermost of their mishaps and when c. 261. That man erreth lesse who promiseth to him selfe a chaunge of thaffaires of this worlde then he that perswadeth that they are alwaies firme and stable c. 298. Truce betwene the kings of Spayne Fraunce 320. There is no possibilitie to auoyde that which the euerlasting councell of God hath determined nor any reason to pull on the destinie of thinges till times be accomplished 333. Truce betwene the kings of Spayne Fraunce 334. Testament of Queene Elizabeth of Spayne 341. The seate of dominion verie casuall where it diuolueth by election 365. Truce betwene Maximilian the Venetians 402. Thassembly of Cambray 407. The armies affront one an other in the field 420. Tyrewaine beseeged by the Englishe 662. Tournay taken by thEnglish 650. Treaty of peace betwene England and Fraunce 675. Treatie betwene the frenche king and Swizzers broken 693. Titles of thempire to the Duchie of Millan 782. The Taking of Millan by the league 810. Tenne thowsand Swizzers discend into the Duchie of Millan for the fr. king 825. Thencounter of Bicocquo 831. Treaty of Madrill touching the deliuery of the french king 961. Truce betwene the Pope and themprour 1020. Tumult in Florence 1055. Thimperial army issueth out of Rome 1095. The Turke returneth with shame to Constantinople 1175. V. VV. Venetians Newters 39. Victorie when it is not assured with moderacion and discression is oftentimes defiled with some accident vnlooked for 84. Virginio Vrsin Count Petillano being the kings prisoners showe reasons to be redeliuered and their reasons are disproued by Monsr de Ligny 93. Venetians and Lod. Sforce prepare to stoppe the frenche kinges returning into Fraunce 95. Venetians in minde to reskewe the Pisans 131. Virginio Vrsin in pay with the frenche king 137. Venetians in minde to take vpon them the defense of Pisa 141. Thestate of Venice debateth vpon the action of Pisa 141. Virginio Vrsin prisoner 157. Venetians sende Embassadors to the french king 190. Vicopisan rendred 196. Venetians carefull to succour the Pisans 200. Venetians take councell whether they should ioyne with the french king or not 206. Where things are deuided the suretie is intricate and where be many competitors to one thing c. 258. Vitellozzo and the Vrsins made prisoners by treason 282. Vittellozzo Li. de Fermo strangled 282. The Vrsins against Valentinois 312. Valentinois distressed by the Vrsins 314. Venetians answere the new Pope 317. What happened to the frenchmen as they woulde haue passed Garillon 321. When extremities perils be at hand it hapneth oftentimes that confidence is turned into feare and when c. 322. Vaine feares in many cases are farre more hurtfull then hastie confidence or credulitie c. 322. Valentinois prisoner by Consaluo 334. Venetians looke to themselues 414. The Venetians armie 418. Venetians recouer Padoa 433. Venetians armie at Vincensa 453. Venetians armie vpon the countrey of Ferrara 454. Venetians absolued 463. The Vincentins yeelde to discression 474. Venetians recouer most parte of their townes 486. Verona beseeged by the Venetiās 486. The warning of a mischiefe brings with it his remedie the harme that is looked for before hand c. 489. Warres denounced against themperour by the kings of England Fraunce 1089. Y Yt hath bene alwaies true that wisemen haue not at all times a discression iudgement perfect 7. Yt hapneth not alwayes that in taking away thoccasions theffects do ceasse 11. Yt is daungerous to vse a medecin stronger then the nature of the disease or complexion of the pacient will beare 11. Yt is familiar with Princes to holde for suspected the greatnesse of their neighbours 18. Yt is hard to assure any thing that dependeth vpon the wil of an other c. 199. Yt hath bene a custom with the Princes of the worlde to enterteine one an other with vaine hopes c. 299. Yt is seene often in the course and practise of worldly affaires that the falling of one man is the rising of an other 852. The end of the Table