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
Lewis the xii is promised to his sonne Hercules and after the Marques of Mantua entred into the same league The treatise of peace seemed vaine betweene the Emperour and the king for the Emperor sayd he could not trust the king that had once deceiued him The Kings ambassadors replied that for asmuch as he tooke himselfe to be deceyued the King might the lesse trust him In the ende the ambassadours of Fraunce and England denounced war agaynst him and many hot speeches breeding hot choler the Emperor chalenging the combat of the French king said he was a false forsworn king The French king on the other side gaue him the lie The king of England embraceth the religion of Luther and by the perswasion of the Cardinall of Yorke deuorceth his wife Katherin of Arragon Monsieur de Lautrech entreth the kingdome of Naples and Andro Dore being at the sould of the king with his gallies returneth to Geane diuerse places yeeld vnto Lautreck and by him Naples it selfe is besieged The xix Booke MOnsieur de Lautreck finding the value of the defendants of Naples to be great purposed to continue the siege hoping that though vertue fayled not yet want of money and victuall would make vertue yeeld to necessitie In the meane time Phillippin Dore with his gallies and Geneuois who were not able sea-men did sinke diuerse shippes Imperiall vpon the sea sleaing the viceroy Don Hugues di Moncada Fieramosque with diuers other to the number of a thousand taking prisoners the Marques of Guast Ascagnio Colōna the prince of Salerne and diues others This conquest of the sea would not make Naples yeeld for Phillippin Dore tooke such direction of Andro Dore to retire to Pozzouolo that Naples was oft vittailed the Venetian fleet after they had gotten Ottranto staied in hope to win the castell of Brundusium so that the defendants were encouraged and the assailants for lacke of water and other necessaries fainted and in the meane time Antonio de Leua perceyuing that Pauia was negligentlie kept assaulted it by night and tooke it and had the Captains prisoners before the souldiers were awares The Pope continued his newtrality betweene the two princes and so was neither trusted of the French king nor of the Emperour who the more suspected him for that he had sent Cardinall Campeius into England to diuorce his kinswoman Queene Katherin daughter of Aragon Now doth Andro Dore leaue the sould of the king and entreth sould with the emperor vpon conditions the french army before Naples is full of diseases Monsieur de Vaudemont almost dead Monsieur de Lautreck very sicke and shortly after dieth so that the Marques of Saluzzo is driuen to capitulate with the prince of Orange who is now viceroy Monsieur de S. Poll gained certaine townes in Lombardy for the French in the meane time Andro Dore taketh Geane for the emperials through the grosse negligence of the French king Monsieur de S. Poll marcheth on stil through Lombardy comming within xii miles of Pauia Antonio de Leua who had beene long sicke causeth himselfe to be caryed in a chayre and all his men to put on white shirtes and stealeth without noyse one night towardes the French within two miles of Ladriane vnawares setteth on Monsieur de S. Poll who albeit he fought valiantly trusting to his Lance-knights yet they ranne away and he remained prisoner with Castillon Claude Rangin and diuerse others to Antonio de Leua Now beginneth the Pope to treate a peace at Barcelone with the Emperour greatly to the Popes aduauntage both for that he should forget iniuries past be no hinderance to the Emperour who ment personally to make a voyage into Italy The like was treated betweene the French King and the Emperour at Cambray a place destinied to such great treatises being there present the two ladie Regents for the two princes the Ambassadours of the confederates and the duke of Suffolke and the Bishop of London for the King of England The French King being somewhat ashamed of this act for certaine dayes kept himselfe close and would not be seene of the ambassadours of his confederates in the ende he gaue them sweet wordes comforts and promises excusing himselfe that otherwise hee could not haue his children The Emperour after this commandeth the prince of Orange to assaile the Florentines and himselfe in royal person commeth to Geane where the princes of Italy do salute him by their Ambassadours The King and the Pope talked togither at Bolognia the pope entring first as the greater princes vse The Turke left off besieging Vienna the Emperour is inclined to capitulate with the Venetians and Francis Sforce to whom he restored the dukedome of Millaine and the Venetians to the Church that they held in Romagnia and to the Emperor that which they held in Puglia The xx Booke THese late leagues seemed nowe to establish peace each where sauing only to the poore Florentines who often had helped others to make their peace and now the peace of others drew them to a daungerous warre with the Emperour who now sent against them foure thousand Lanceknights and three thousande Spaniards and Italians vnder the prince of Orange which maketh Piscara and Prato yeeld of themselues to the Pope and the souldiours of France being well payd defended themselues valiantly In the meane time the Pope causeth the French king to send Monsieur de Cleremont to Florence to excuse himselfe for not comprehending them in the league vpon necessitie of recouering his children wishing them to take such conditions as they could get in so hard a case wherein himselfe would be a dealer for them The Emperour meaning to go to Rome to be crowned being letted with certaine importunate affaires of Germanie and chiefly to elect his brother Ferdinand king of Romanes was faine to be crowned at Bolognia Anno 1530 on his birth day of S. Matthias which was his fortunate day and there the Pope and the duke of Ferrara compromitted all their differences vnto him The Florentines being often skirmished withall and often battered though they valiantly defended after the death of the prince of Orange and departure af the Marques of Guast were yet for verie hunger and diuersitie of opinions driuen to offer to Gonsague the Captaine of the Imperials that Caesar himselfe and the Pope shoulde determine their conditions and gouernment their life and libertie saued Ferdinand is now chosen King of Romanes at a decree in Ausbourge and there is treatise agaynst the Lutherians of whom the great princes beganne to be afrayde and at the instant request of the Germaines the Emperour summoned the Pope to call a Councell the Pope vtterly misliked it as preiudiciall to his Court and abuses and yet dissembled it cunningly The French would neuer bee long quiet but the King turneth to his olde emulation of the greatnesse of the Emperour and perswadeth with the Pope and states of Italie to take heed of it To the states of Germanie he affirmeth that the Emperour ment to make it a Monarchie The King of England he pricketh forwarde in recounting vnto him how angrie the Emperour was for the diuorce of his mothers sister and last of all that which euill beseemed the most Christian King he stirreth vp the Turke who indeede was alreadie iealous of his greatnesse and hated him also in respect of his brother with whom he was at oddes for Hungarie The Emperour still calleth vpon the Councell he desireth now to renue the league of Bolognia and to comprehende in it all Italie making contribution for their common defence agaynst the French The Pope lyked not to be of any side remembring the daungers past so often as the sides were ouerthrowne but being of that calling he liked neutralitie better as the surest way The Emperour returneth into Spaine and the Pope and the French king talke at Marseilles of great matters vnder pretence of dealing against the Turke and the King of Englands diuorce To ratifie their matters Katherin of Medices the Popes neece was married to Henry the second sonne of Fraunce whome nowe the Pope woulde faine make duke of Millaine forthwith for he foreknewe as it seemed that he should shortly die in that he made his Ring and all other habiliaments and indeed died in whose place was chosen Alexander Farnese called Paule the third The duke of Wittemberg by ayde of the Lantgraue of Hesse and the French Kings money recouered the dukedome from Ferdinand and great troubles were toward but the matter was compounded without the French kings consent who in the meane time hoped to get Millaine At this time also Barbarossa Bascha generall by sea to Soliman passing to the conquest of Thunis scoured the riuers of Calabria and passed Caiette and put all Italie in such a feare as he might easily haue taken Rome if he had come forward FINIS
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
would not once vouchsafe to see him during his imprisonment that his ambition grewe so great that he now meant to ruine the Pope the Church all Italy and to bring all Christian princes into subiection With these perswasions he hoped to bring al Italy and other princes to ioyne with him and consequently to bring the Emperour to such daungerous warre as he should of necessitie be driuen to release Burgundie and other hard conditions for money The Emperiall armie on the other side waxing euery day in Italy more and more insolent being extreamely chargeable to the Millanois and Antonio de Leua himselfe hauing euerie day thirtie ducats the people in tumultuous sort tooke weapon in hand and had driuen away both captaines and souldiours had not the cunning of the captaine and their owne disorder compounded the matter The Emperour sent the Viceroy of Naples into Fraunce to accept the perfourmance of the conditions where he was greatly welcomed but nothing was performed The Emperour was neare madde for anger and so much the more as that almost against all mens opinion and contrarie to the intelligence of the Ladie Margueret Regent of Flaunders he would needs insert the article of Burgundie which they assured him would neuer be performed but happily breed further broyle In the meane time at Coignac there is treated a league betweene the pope the French King the Venetians and the duke of Millaine to be forthwith intimated to the Emperor who had libertie to enter into it within three moneths so that he deliuered the French kings children at a reasonable ransome to be rated by the King of Englande After this treatie the Pope surpriseth the letters of Antonio de Leua touching the hard estate of the duke of Millaine and the duke of Vrbin generall of the Venetians armie taketh Loda and so passeth to Millaine where after long batterie they were faine to retire with some altercation betwene the duke and the lieutenant The Spaniards in the meane time so plagued the Millanois that one of them made a very lamentable oration to the duke of Burbon who was there ariued and yet finding no remedie but a curteous answere some hanged themselues some threw themselues out at their windowes and ended their miseries with other deaths The armie of the confederates once againe approcheth towards Millaine but not onely doth any good but also the Castell it selfe by the duke is vpon conference with the duke of Burbon yeelded to the Imperials While christen princes were thus tearing out the bowels one of another Soliman Ottoman Turke entreth into Hungarie and putteth the whole Countrey and consequently all Christendome in daunger ouerthrowing Lewis the young King and getteth a great part of that buckler of Christendome The Pope notwithstanding encourageth his confederates to set vppon Naples and Peter of Nauarre is made generall and all the confederates offer the Emperour to enter into the league perfourming the conditions he answered he could not with his honour being a league made against him especially and yet for a common quietnesse he would do it presently if the messengers had sufficient commission meaning in deed nothing lesse but onely to keepe the king of England from entering into it Rome is surprised by the Colonois and the Pope driuen to leaue the Emperour and to deale with them and the confederates by sea fight with the Emperials The xviii Booke THe French King and the Venetians had the Pope in great iealousie that hee woulde forsake their league in that he made manie treatises with the Viceroy and euer cried out of the charges of the warre and yet would not make money by creating of Cardinals nor otherwayes as other Popes did but to break the treatise if there were any such they vrged him and bent themselues with him by sea against Naples The popes Lieutenant was Monsieur Vaudemont who pretended right thereto by ancient title of king Rene where after certaine exploites of no great waight the Pope seeing no greater successe and that the duke of Burbon by the perswasion of the duke of Ferrara drew towards Rome and that the French promises were but winde he fell to agree a truce for eight moneths with the Viceroy The duke of Burbon neuerthelesse would not accept of it but marched on The Viceroy himselfe in person went from Rome to make him surcease but all in vaine for the dukes case being now somewhat desperate he draweth to Rome and either meaneth to get that noble bootie or to die and therefore most valiantly giueth the assault himselfe before all men and was slaine with a harquebuze His death enflameth the souldiours and especially the Lanceknights who before were verie cold insomuch that within fewe houres they take the towne and sacke it where they had infinite treasure The palaces of the Cardinals were rifled and the Cardinal of Siena who himselfe all his ancestors were Imperiall was yet driuen to compound with the Spaniards yet after as in all such broyles no man is sure he was taken prisoner by the Launceknights and caried bareheaded with many buffets to Borgo where he paied a newe raunsome of fiue thousand ducats In like maner were vsed all the Spanish and Dutch prelats notwithstanding the hope of their Countrey-mens fauour The Pope driuen to keepe himselfe in the castell vntill the plague wearied his enemies and composition made with the Imperials The Emperour being certified of the Popes distresse and that the plague was entred into his castell of S. Angelo made outward shew of dislike but inwardly was very glad and indeed he had caused him to be caried into Spain had it not beene for feare of the king of England as for the French king he cared not if the Pope had bene hanged and all Italie fiered so that he had againe his children The Cardinal of Yorke is now sent into France to make a league with the French king more sure and to offer the mariage of the Lady Marie either to the king if he went not on with the emperours sister or otherwise to the duke of Orleans And for that the Cardinal was honourably accompanied with xii hundred horses had three C. thousand crownes to lend the king towards his warres with the Emperour The Cardinall of Loraine was first sent to receiue him and after the king himself receiued him at Amiens In fine the king and he sent Gambare to the Pope to make the Cardinall of Yorke his Vicar generall in Fraunce England and Germanie during his imprisonment but secretly the French king withstood it by all meanes possible In this meane space the French armie vnder the conduct of Monsieur de Lautreck take Bosco and Genes by composition after the Countrey of Alexandria and then Pauia where the souldiours sacked and pilled and vsed crueltie eight dayes in memorie of the battell of Pauia where the king was taken The duke of Ferrara entereth into the league with him in respect wherof Madame Rence daughter of king
much golde and siluer c. The duke Valentinoys about this time escaped out of prison to Naples where Gonsaluo taketh him and sendeth him captiue into Spaine and a truce is taken betweene the kings of Fraunce and Spaine Fredericke being out of hope of recouering his kingdome of Naples died and after him Queene Elizabeth of Spaine wherevpon some differences were like to arise betweene the Archduke and the Spanish king for the gouernement of Castilia About this time it may not be forgotten that Cardinall Hippolite of Esca being in loue with a yong damosel his kinswoman who made more account of his bastard brother asked her what was the cause why she so greatly loued a bastard and she answered his sweete and amiable eyes whereupon one day as he rid on hunting he caused his brother to dismount and commaunded his footmen in his presence to plucke out his eyes saying he liked no such companions in loue The seuenth Booke PHillip the archduke began to entitle himselfe king of Castile not being content that his father in law should gouerne hauing no better interest then the appointment of his wife when she lay in extremitie And the king of Romanes being hartned with the greatnes of his sonne purposeth to enter into Italie The French king hauing them al in ielousy though he were verie angry with the Pope for vsurping vpon the spiritual liuings in Millaine yet least he should stand alone he treateth with the Pope making quarrell to Venice for that he knew it a thing acceptable to him Phillip prepareth by sea to inuade Spaine and is by storme driuen into England where he is honorably receiued by Henrie the seuenth and newly furnished for his voyage vpon condition that he should deliuer the duke of Suffolke whom he had prisoner in the castell of Namures Phillip yeeldeth and requireth that he might not be put to death though he pretended right to the crowne whereunto king Henry the seuenth condiscended but Henrie the eight afterwarde strake off his heade Phillip goeth forward and by capitulation obtaineth the kingdome of Castile but dieth within a while after The French king is desirous to bee reuenged vpon Venice but first marrieth his daughter Madame Claude vnto Francis of Angolesme afterward king The Emperour treateth with the Venetians to passe through their territories to be crowned at Rome The Pope enterprised the recouerie of Bolognia vnder the conduct of the Marques of Mantua the Bolognians require ayde of the French king according to their protection but in fine the poore Bentiuoles in stead of a protection had a faire safe conduct of Monsieur Chaumont for which they payed dearly and lost the state to the Church The Geneuoys rebell against the French king and fell also at ciuil discord the Gibelines fauouring the Adornes and the Guelphes the Fregoses euery man desiring to bring the gouernment to his friendes Monsieur de Chaumont setteth vpon them and maketh them yeeld the towne to the discretion of the king who there entered in person and pardoned all sauing threescore Ferdinand king of Aragon and the French king appoynted a meeting at Sauona and there they put themselues one in anothers power as though there neuer had beene enmitie betweene them Where supping together none but the two kings and the Queene the French king would needes haue Gonsaluo make the fourth being in admiration of his fame his person his maiestie in gesture and speech After this tyme this great Captaine had neuer great occasion to exercise his vertue The ende of their great conference was that they two and the Emperour shoulde ioyne agaynst the Venetians The Emperour on the other side held a decree at Constance for the encountering of the French king in Italie and to that end treated with the Pope professing himselfe a protector of the Church and an enemie of the French vsurpation in Italie who meaned quoth he to make the Cardinall of Amboyse Pope and himselfe Emperour This troubled the king who was sure neither of the Pope nor of the Venetians and the Venetians were much perplexed whether they shoulde ioyne with the king or the Emperour to which poyntes Foskarin and Gritti made excellent orations In fine they answered the Ambassadour of the Emperour who demaunded passage that if he came armed he shoulde haue no passage if otherwise they shoulde doe him all honour possible He marcheth on notwithstanding and gaineth something but for want of good resolution looseth againe The eight Booke NOw do the Emperour and the Venetians fall to treatise of league which maketh all Italie more afraid then euer before which had beene alreadie greatly tormented by the ambition of princes and specially by the Venetians who made their profite of euery peace and euery warre and euen in this league with Caesar they demeaned themselues so cunningly that they nowe gaue cause both to the Emperour and the French king to ioyne together against them whereupon the Pope fayled not to encourage them insomuch that for the Emperour Madame Marguiret his daughter gouernesse of Flanders for the French king the Cardinall of Amboyse and for Spaine The Ambassador sware this league at Cambray The Venetians mistrusting false measure had their ambassadour there also to awaite what was done but the Cardinall sware so many othes that the French king his maister woulde keepe his league with Venice and that his meeting was to make peace betweene the Archduke and the duke of Guelders that hee made him and the Venetians verie secure This league was helde verie secrete but the Pope taking the aduauntage thereof demaunded of them Rimini and Fauentia which they had taken from the Church vttering that whereas the greatest princes in Christendome were ioyned agaynst them he would also ioyne if they denied him his demaund The Senate was deepely amazed and diuided in opinion touching the restitution and in fine were resolued to restore had not Treuisan a man of high estate next the duke most earnestly disswaded them which they repented for the Pope ratified the treatise of Cambray and so all Christendome in effect armed against them And besides that they had these euill signes and presages a shippe of theirs was drowned with tenne thousande ducats The Castell of Bresse was striken with thunder their tower of records suddenly fell downe their Arsenall was burnt twelue gallies their salt peter powder and munition was consumed The French king accompanied with the duke of Loraine and nobilitie of Fraunce passed the Alpes and sent Monsieur de Chaumont afore to set vpon them The Pope published a bull against them The French armie ouerthroweth their battaile at Gniaradadde taketh prisoner their chiefe Captaine Bartholomeo Aluiano who was wounded in the eye as for the other Captaine the Countie Petylian he stirred not nor would aduenture all vpon one day the which if hee had done it is thought hee had ouercome and yet his not venturing was not misliked These newes astonished almost vnto desperation the Venetians and yet