hopeth to winne the Venetians from the league and so with newe forces to recouer Millaine A better hope then all this was that Pope Iulius the second nowe died in the middest of his prosperitie and Iean Cardinall de Medici was chosen named Leo the tenth by which good accident he did the easilier make peace with the Catholique King and prepared for his purpose for albeit he could not well compasse a peace with the King of Englande yet for that the English were not well prouided of readie horsed although their value chiefly consisted in footemen yet nowe by long peace and lacke of vse being driuen to hyre Almaines hee thought manie things might be done before that warre came forwarde wherefore he sent power to Triuulcio who ioyning with Aluiano Captaine of his newe confederates the Venetians he setteth vpon the duchie of Millaine and recouereth Geane and after besiegeth Nouara where being resisted by the Swissers they retired seuen miles of but the Swissers to the ende that no succours or Nation might take the glorie from them like most valiaunt souldiours hauing neither horsemen nor artillarie followed Triuulcio and Monsieur de la Tremouille and fought a most braue battaile with them gayned their artillarie slue their men with it and put their gendarmerie to flight who beastlie demeaned themselues that day notwithstanding it may not bee forgotten that Robert de la March hauing his two sonnes most daungerously beset with Swissers rushed like a Tiger into the midst of them and fought so terribly that he amazed them and deliuered his sons Aluiano perceiuing the discomfiture of the French retired to Verona and besieged it but preuayled not Padua is besieged by the Viceroy and the yong duke of Millaine taketh Pontuica by the helpe of Antonie de Leua and the Viceroy finding that he could not take Padua spoyleth the Countrey euen almost vnto Venice within two miles of Vincentia the Viceroy Prosper Celonna the Marques of Peskara gaue a great ouerthrow to the Venetians and Aluiano by the cowardise of their footmen of Romaigna At the length Caesar and the Venetians compromitted their differences to the Pope and the French king had now nothing left in Italie but the Lanterne of Geane which also was battered by sea and defended with sacks of wooll The twelfth Booke THe king of England was nowe readie both by sea and lande to war vpon the French king had also hyred the Emperor Maximilian with sixe score thousand ducats to enter al at one time into Burgundy hoping also that his father in law the Catholique king woulde ioyne with him The French king bestirred him to resist these great daungers and some what to appall the courage of the English king he allured into Fraunce the duke of Suffolke as a competitor of the crowne but he being nothing dismaied therewith in despite strake off the dukes brothers head whom he held before in prison by the king of Castiles means as you haue heard The French king farther to trouble him set Iames King of Scots the old enemie of England confederate of France to warre on that side the seas vppon him The English King was long in preparing his subiects being out of vse the maner of fight being chaunged the vse of their bowes being almost gone Neuerthelesse in Iuly being greatly furnished his armie camped neare Bullen and from thence besieged Terwin where at the first they answered not the renowne of their hardinesse in that they gaue no hardie assault but within a while after they ouerthrew three hundred men of armes The Marques of Rotelin called duke of Longuile Captaine Bayard Fayette were taken prisoners and monsieur de la Palisse escaped hardly wherewith the French king and all France were so amazed that if the English King had followed this good fortune it is thought the gappe was nowe open to take all Fraunce Terwin was raysed by the aduise of the Emperour for that the Archduke Charles pretended right vnto it and the Emperour departed the campe for that hee thought the Englishmen to be rash and without discipline King Henrie neuerthelesse passed towards Tornay and tooke it whereof the French were full glad fearing his comming farther into Fraunce with his terrible armie of fourescore thousand which perhaps hee had done if he had had experience or had beene truly aduertised of the disposition of France but he returned into England assuring the French that he would returne the next sommer At this time by chaunce of fire the richest part of all Venice was burnt and the Pope endeth the differences betweene Caesar and them The league was renued betweene the Spanish king and the French king which greatly displeased the king of England who sayde that this was the third time that his father in lawe had broken promise with him The French king practised with the Pope and the Pope with the Cardinal of Yorke to reconcile the French and English King which tooke place and the French king marieth the lady Mary the king of Englands sister This was vnpleasant both to the Emperour and the Spanish King and not pleasant to the Pope who was the procurer of it who albeit he loued with such cunning to gaine princes yet he liked not that this league shoulde helpe the French King againe to Millaine At this time King Emanuel of Portingale presented the Pope with two monstrous Elephants out of India and Lewis the xii dieth and Francis the first duke of Angolesme succeedeth taking the title of the duke of Millaine making peace with the King of England and the Archduke he meaneth to recouer the dukedome The Emperor the King of Aragon the duke of Millaine the Swissers doe league against him the King of England sendeth him word to Lyons not to passe into Italie to trouble Christendome the Swissers gard the foote straights of the Alpes against him But he like an industrious prince by the counsaile of Triuulcio leaueth the two ordinarie wayes of Mountsenis Mount Genewre and passeth by extreame toyle of Pioners nearer the sea by the Cortian Alpes by the Marquisate of Saluzzo and being passed before any man thought of him Monsieur de la Palisse tooke Colonna a noble Captaine prisoner at Villefrance as he sat at dinner which greatly astonished all Italie insomuch that the Pope vsed the duke of Sauoy to excuse him to the King forthwith The King taketh the Countreys of Alexandria and Tortona The Swissers are in diuersitie of opinions whether they shall hearken to any league with the French or farther withstand them At length the Bishop of Sion with a very perswasiue oration encouraged them to ioyne in one opinion agaynst the French and to fight with them neare vnto Marignian where the first day both they and the King fought so long as they could holde weapon in hand and departed on both sides as it were by agreement without sounde of trumpet The next day they rashly and furiously set on the French
his head in respect whereof he treated amitie with the French King and hyred sixe thousand Swissers and in secret they concluded to diuide the kingdome of Naples In the meane time the French king taking the oportunitie of sturres in Spaine sent Monsieur Asperrot with a power easily without resistance recouered the kingdom of Nauarre And the Swissers refusing the amitie of Caesar ioyned with the French The Pope notwithstanding his league contracted with the French king ioineth also in league with the Emperor to defend Florence the Medici to recouer Millaine to Sforce and Parma and Placentia to the Church At that very instant on S. Peters day at Millaine there fell fire out of the ayre which tooke certaine barrels of powder which ouerthrew a fayre Marble tower and so shooke the castell and city of Millaine as a greater portent neuer chaunced vnto them The Pope had in solde the Marques of Mantua and Prospero Colonna and the king sent Monsieur Lautreck to defend Millaine by the helpe of the Venetians whose Captaines were Theodore Triuulcio Andrew Gritti who after they had skirmished to and fro with the other side about the riuer of Paw in the ende the Swissers hired by the Pope sayd that they were content to defend the states of the Church for which cause they were purposely hyred but agaynst the French King they would not march On the other side the Swissers that were with the French king departed without any bidding farewell or any worde speaking The popes army the Emperors marcheth on towards Millaine and at the first assault the Marques of Pescara Captain of the Spaniards maketh the Venetians to forsake the walles and Triuulcio is taken and al Millaine al Pauia and Lody diuerse other places yeeld crying out vpon the French and reioycing to become imperiall Now died pope Leo the tenth which no doubt much weakned the Emperor for that his money beganne and entertayned the warre in whose place was chosen Adrian the sixt a Flemming by the fauour of Caesar agaynst all their minds for that they thought a stranger of that Countrie and education not verie fit for Italie The duke of Vrbin recouereth his estate and with the helpe of Baillous asiegeth Siena And ten thousand Swissers of Lucerne contrarie to the minds of Surick Suith come ouer the mount Godard and Bernard into Lombardie to helpe the French king to recouer Millaine Prospero Colonna is as busie on the other side to defend it and Antonio de Leua to defend Pauia Mōsieur de Lautreck besiegeth it which he hopeth in time to get by famine but their industrie within deceyueth his hope Wherupon Lautreck retireth towards Fraunce and three thousand of his Swissers were slain at Bicoque by the emperiall armie Lody also and Gene were taken by them At Lucques at this time Poggio and Totty two men of noble familie vnder colour of priuate enmitie in the open palace slue the Gonfalonier of that citie but afterward were chased by the citizens Sagusanac Malateste vsurpeth vpon Rimini The xv Booke THe French King being euerie where at peace his returne into Italy is suspected and therfore Florence Geane Siena and Luca are taxed with great summes for the maintenance of a continuall armie to defend Naples and Millaine and Don Charles de Lanoy is made Viceroy of Naples The Pope taketh his iourney towards Rome and Charles the Emperour into Spaine and talketh with king Henrie of England by the way they two ioyntly sent Ambassadours to Venice to perswade them to leaue the amitie of the French king and to ioine with the Emperour The king of England moreouer sent an Herault to the French king to protest warre against him in case he would not make truce with the Emperour for three yeares the which woulde not be granted but the league betweene the Emperour and the Venetians succeded and touching the same two excellent orations were made by Andrew Gritti and George Cornare While christian princes were thus vndermining and vexing one another Soliman Ottoman the Turke in person with infinite power besieged the Rhodes the which though it were to the vttermost defended by the grand maister and the knights thereof yet by the negligence of the pope christian princes they were faine to yeeld and on Christmasse day the Turke in triumph entered and dedicated all the Churches to Mahomet The French kings armie being now passing the Alpes and himselfe readie in person to follow he discouered that the discontented duke of Burbon Constable of Fraunce was conspired with the Emperor the King of England and should marrie with Elenor the emperours sister widow of Emanuel late king of Portingale and that assoone as he was ouer the Alpes the duke of Burbon and the King of England should set vpon Fraunce and the duke should be King of Prouence and the King of England should haue the rest These newes though they appalled and stayed the Kings person yet did it breake the attempt and caused the duke to flie in a straunge weede first into la Franche Conte and after to Millaine In the meane time Pope Adrian dieth and the Cardinal de Medices is chosen calling himselfe Clement the seuenth The French armie being now passed the Alpes Monsieur de Boniuet a French Captain taketh Loda the rest of the French power being vnder the conduct of the Admirall before Millaine were not in great hope to take it but making diuerse skirmishes still came by the worst And shortly after retyred from thence in which meane space the noble Captain Prospero Colonna died The Pope refused to be of either side whereof the French King is glad the Emperour verie angrie for that he helped him to that dignitie The Emperials passe the riuer of Thesin and foyle the French in diuers places insomuch that they begin to abandon the duchie of Millaine but in warlike aray The Marques of Pescara followeth with light horses and Chabanes is slain and captaine Bayard is taken prisoner who died of his wounds and the Admirall returneth into Fraunce After which time the duke of Burbon counsailed the Emperour to turne the warres into Fraunce alledging that the desire the English king had to conquer that realme would much helpe him The King of England also much encouraged the Emperour thereunto but seeing the difficulties and charge for himselfe and being disswaded by the ambitious cardinall of Yorke who was secretly French he moued little The Emperor vpon this confidence maketh warre in Prouance the duke of Burbon and Marques Pescara being Captaines The duke would haue passed on into the bowels of France but the Marques other captaines would by no meanes from the seas but lay in siege before Marsiles fortie daies without profite And for that before their comming they hoped that the king of England would so haue fired the French king on his side that all his forces should haue bent that way that they should haue receiued money
out of Englande which both they failed of they thought it folly to go any farther or to abide til the king with his whole power and six thousand Swissers should come vpon them and therefore with speede returned into Italy wherewith the king being in heart followed as fast al in one day the king came to Verceil and the Marques of Pescara albeit forthwith it was agreed by the Viceroy and the rest that Antonio de Leua should defend Pauia and the other Millaine which was sore infected with the plague that they durst scarcely furnish it insomuch that the maine armie of Fraunce being at hand ere they could well prouide the captaine Alarcon was faine to leaue it and the King tooke it vsing al clemencie notwithstanding he knewe the French to be there hated From thence he besiegeth Pauia but could not take it and sendeth Stuart duke of Albany in Scotlant with a power to Naples The pope perswadeth them to peace The duke of Ferrara being come into the French kings protection helpeth him against Pauia but it is succored by the Emperials The pope the French captaines perswade the king to desist but he sayth he will either win or die At the length on S. Mathias day on which the Emperor was borne the Viceroy and the Marques of Pescara in well ordered battell ioyned with the King who fought nobly being hurt in the face and in the hand vntill his horse was slain vnder him and after was taken by fiue common souldiours that knew him not but in the end he discouered himselfe to the Viceroy who receyued him as prisoner to the Emperour Antonie de Leua in the meane time throwing downe so much of the wall of Pauia as an hundreth horses abrest might come through issued out and set on their backe spoiling and putting to flight all sauing the rereward of the duke of Alanson taking prisoner the king of Nauarre the bastard of Sauoy Montmorancie and others and manie of the Nobles and best captaines were there slaine The xvi Booke ALl the Potentates of Italie were nowe greatly dismaied with this taking of the king prisoner fearing the greatnes of the Emperour sepecially the Pope and next him the Venetians who treated a league with the Pope offering to ioyne in these common dangers to leuy ten thousand Swissers and a sufficient band of Italians not doubting the forwardnesse of my Ladie Regent of France to send the duke of Albany with sufficient succors and making sure account of the duke of Ferrara The viceroy on the other side was carefull to conuey the kings person into some place of suretie to make all sure to ioyne in amitie with the pope The Pope bit at the baite immediatly was full glad and treated to bring in the Venetians also but that would hardly be for that they would not drop so much money as the Viceroy demaunded The Pope sendeth the Bishop of Pistoia to visite comfort the French king The Emperour being in Spaine receyueth the newes of this victorie his confessour the Bishop of Oisme maketh an eloquent oration perswading him franckly and freely to deliuer the French king and that to be the most profitable honourable and sure way Fredericke duke of Alba spake to the contrarie with great vehemencie saying that to let him go were dangerous and to let him go most honorably were nothing to the Frenchmen who were insolent and light and made no regard of honour and therefore to make profite of him were the best way In fine the Emperour sent vnto him his great chamberlaine Monsieur de Beaucain to Pisqueton to comfort him to tell him that these were his conditions hee should depart with the soueraigntie of the dukedome of Burgundie to him he should depart with Prouance to the duke of Burbon with many other great things both for him and for the king of England The French king answered constantly that he would die in prison before he would diminish the crowne of Fraunce for all other things he would satisfie the Emperour with reason In the meane time the Ladie Regent of Fraunce employed all meanes possible and especially the Cardinall of Yorke to winne the king of England where all the feare was The Emperour on the other side sollicited the King of Englande to ioyne with him to conquer Fraunce but the King demaunded the whole kingdome in effect if it were conquered some other such conditions as gaue them cause to breake off The Imperials become insolent in Italie the French king is conueyed into Spaine imprisoned at Madril the duke of Burbon is sent for without whom the Emperor will make no agreement and being placed in the house of a great barron at the Emperors request he answered that he would obey for that he and all was at his commaundement But so soone as the duke were gone he would set it on fire with his owne hands least it should smell of the infection of a traitor There is now a conspiracie against the Emperour in Italy wherein the Marques of Pescara plaid a part at the first and after accused the rest dishonourably and shortly after died In the meane time the French king falleth extreamly sicke at Madril insomuch that the Emperor in person would haue visited him but his Chauncelor would not suffer him Within a while after the Emperour espouseth the infant of Portingale the French king recouereth health the Pope treateth for his deliuerance touching the which the great Chancellor and the Viceroy make two excellent orations After this shortly ensueth the treatise of Madril for the kings deliueraunce wherin was yeelded Burgūdie Charelois and so many other Countreys as they that heard it did thinke it would neuer be kept for assurance hereof the king was affianced to the Emperours sister Elconor and the Dolphin of Fraunce and the duke of Orleans were brought in a boat to the midst of the riuer that deuideth Spaine Fraunce and the king in another boate and at one instant they chaunged boates and the king hasted to land and had a Turkish horse readie with whom he rid in post to Bayon and there met with a messenger from the king of England which greatly comforted him vnto whom he confessed that he acknowledged the greatest cause of his deliuery to proceed from him and therfore he was for euer the English kings The xvii Booke ALthough both the Emperour and the King had sworne to the conditions set downe betweene them for his deliuerie and that the king farther sware to ratifie them so soone as he came into a place of libertie Neuerthelesse as soone as hee came to Bayon he answered the messenger that attended the ratification that he durst not performe such things as were preiudiciall to the crowne of France vntill he had wonne the minds of his subiects vnto it After that hee highly complained himselfe to all princes and estates of the Emperours seueritie as well touching the hard conditions as that hee
who kept them selues in good order and caused Aluiano with his light horsemen to set on their backes which greatly annoyed them They fought notwithstanding most valiantly but yet dispairing of victorie for that the Venetian armie approched they sounded the retraite and albeit the artillarie beate them on the backes yet did they keepe their array towards Millaine to the wonder of the French and all that looked on especially the King who often escaped death and daunger and Triuulcio who sayde they were Giantes and not men for that he neuer sawe the like battell After this victorie all the duchie of Millaine returned to the King except the Castels of Cremona and Millaine and the duke and the King fall to composition and Aluiano dieth and the Pope and the King in louing sort talke together at Bolognia and there renuing a league with the Swissers he returned into Fraunce Ferdinand king of Aragon and king of Castile in the right of his wife the winner of Granado conquerour of Naples and Nauarre died without heire male and the great Captaine Gonsaluo died one moneth before absent from the Court in disgrace and malcontent The death of the king made the French king in hope to get Naples thinking that the young Archduke Charles shoulde bee too much busied to keepe al his estates but he was distourned from that thought by the comming of the Emperour into Lombardie agaynst him and the Venetians who summoned Millaine but was faine to recule for that by delay he lost all oportunitie The Venetians recouer Brescia the Pope maketh his nephew Laurence de Medici duke of Vrbin The King of France and Spaine make a peace at Noyan The Venetians recouer Verona The xiii Booke BEsides the peace of Noyon the Kings of Spaine and Fraunce and the Emperor treat a peace at Cambray and now great quietnesse was hoped in all Italie sauing that Francesco Maria de la Rouere being folowed of many Spaniards went about to recouer such his states as the Pope had taken from him as Vrbin Fane and others driuing the Pope to complaine to the French and Spanish Kings enter league with the French for ayd agaynst all subiects and fendataries of the Church The chiefe Captaines of the Spaniards that folowed Francesco Maria namely Maldonat and Swares conspired after certaine victories to betray Francesco Maria and to deliuer him vp aliue to his enemie Laurence de Medices which treason Francesco Maria discouering made such an excellent oration to the Spaniards that they iudged their owne Captaines worthie to passe the pikes and so with their owne hands slue them At this time Alfonso Cardinall of Siena being the Popes creature most vngratefully notwithstanding conspired against him and the Cardinals of Cornette and Volaterra confessed on their knees that he had imparted it to them Alfonso the night following was secretly strangled in prison The Pope finding himselfe no more gracious among his colledge of Cardinals created thirtie new Cardinals at a clappe some for learning some for friendship and some for money which nowe went low with him and after a few conflicts with the duke of Vrbin at Ancona and Anguiare he falleth to composition by meanes of Don Hugues de Moncada the Viceroy to his great charge which the poore Florentines were driuen to defray Italy now being at quiet the Pope began to treat with Christen princes against Selim the Turke who seeing his father Baiazat to be olde partly by Ianissaries and partly by poyson dispatched his elder brother Achomat and after his yonger brother Corcut and all their race as the world supposed had a meaning to do the like to his own son the better to strengthen his owne dominion for his time which by his desperat hardnes was growne great hauing ouerthrowne the mountains Aduliens the Sophy of Persia winning from him his chiefe citie Taurus and then turned his warres vpon the Sowdan of Soria and Egypt a most mightie prince of country by reason of the warlike discipline of the Mamelukes yet neuer ouerthrown but by this Selim who highly disdaining that his victories should not be aboue Caesar Alexander nowe ment to bend toward Christendom and first against Rhodes Hungary being verie weake for that the king was a child as some thought toward Italy but this consult tooke so small effect that if God had not soone after taken away Selim who left Soliman very yong all christendome no doubt had smarted for this vngodly negligence Now was peace awhile on euery side and the French the English so farre leagued togither that the only daughter of Henrie is promised vpon condition to the Dolphin of France This peace which is an enemie to great warriers maketh Triuulcio now in his olde age to be in iealousie with the French king for the Gwelphian faction Monsieur de Lautreck and other pursue him throughly the king denieth him his countenance he dieth for sorrow in disgrace according as most great captaines do The emperor Maximilian being now aged treated with the electors Pope to choose the king of Romans Charles of Austrich king of Spain the French king thinking him to be too great alredie treated earnestly to the contrarie Maximilian dieth before any thing is done so that the French and Spanish kings are nowe most earnest competitours and countersutours for it The French King spareth neither speach Ambassadors perswasions nor mony and is abused with hope by some of the electours but in fine Charles of Austrich is chosen the which killeth the heart of the French king and his adherents in Italy and now the kingdome of Naples the restitution of Nauarre vnto Iohn and the money accorded at Nayon begin for despite to come in question and into demaund At this time the Pope abusing all the world with his indulgences and by the Bishop of Arembald making a terrible exaction in diuerse parts of Germanie to the vse of his sister Magdalen gaue occasion to Martin Luther to preach against him and to renue the doctrine of Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage The which was verie welcom to the wounded mindes of all such as had felt the Popes abuses and so much the rather as that the Pope tooke no good course to resist it but perseuered still in his enormities This yeare did Charles the Empeperor ariue in England not as his father Phillip did by necessitie but of friendship and so passed into Flanders and to Aix and there was crowned in the meane time some broiles arose in Spaine which were appeased by his officers The xiiii Booke ITalie had at this time a little repose but it could not long continue by reason of the emulation of these two great princes Charles and Frauncis who could not endure the greatnesse the one of the other and especially for that pope Leo was horne madde to want Parma and Placentia gotten by his predecessor pope Iuly and to see that Ferrara should so long holde out against him maugre