Haven at Genoa for any sudden or urgent occasion that may arise which makes very much for the good of the affairs of that Crown by reason of the opportune situation of Genoa which being seated between the Kingdoms of Spain and of those oâ—… Naples and Sicily and being also the Staple to the State of Millain is very convenient for the uniting and preservation of States and Provinces divided so far one from another On the other side the same friendship and good correspondency is a great security and help for the Staâ—…e of Genoa for the singular care which those Kings are forced to have of her preservation not only by the tye of extraordinary Friendship but out of private Interest so as the Commonwealth may with good reason suppose all the Forces and Fleets of that Crown to be always ready to defend her against whosoever shall plot any thing to the prejudice of her or her Liberty he gave the beginning to this so neer conjunction who being the first author of the Commonwealths Liberty deserves to be by her stiled the Father and Free of his Country and fellow Citizens Prince Andrea Doria the best Captain in Sea affair of any in his time and reputed the best for Maritime Forces and experience for Military Valour and happy success wherein the compassion of his afflicted Countries misery prevailing more with him then the great offers and afterwards the anger of the King of France forsaking not without great danger to his own Fortune the French offers and stipends he went over to serve the Emperour Charles the Fifth King of Spain and hoping much in this new conjunction he betook himself with incredible courage and generosity to so glorious an action wherein being very fortunate he proved not only an unexpected safety to his Country which driving out the French he restored to happy and miraculous liberty but gave a great turn to all the affairs of Italy for the fortune of the French which had then the upper hand and was almost victorious began then to decline and that of the Emperour which was then at an ebb began to be raised up for the French mens losing the State of Genoa was immediately followed by their loss of the Kingdom of Naples whereof they were almost fully possessed and being by Dorias resolution robbed of all their best and greatest Maritime Forces and by the revolution of the affairs of Genoa deprived of the opportunity of being succoured by Sea they fell upon sad incounters and not being able to hold out longer were at last forced to abandon the enterprise to the Imperialists who getting to within the walls of Naples the French did not only badly defend the free possession of that Kingdom but lost all hopes of ever regaining it The King of France his enterpriprises in Lombardy and in Piedmont had no better success both then and afterwards Where the conveniency of the State of Genoa being afforded to the Emperour and deny'd to the French was of great moment for the Emperours victory and for the ruine of the French forces insomuch as the French being utterly ruined and the Emperour superiour to all and able to give the Law he built up that grandezza of Fortune to himself and posterity which he injoyed whilst he liveâ—… and which his descendents the Kings of Spain do at the present injoy Doria's name grew very glorious every where for such egregious actions and his Authority was very great in the Commonwealth of Genoa for her re-gained Liberty and his Power was no less great with the Emperour who esteeming it not only a great happiness to have so famous a Commander under his pay and of such valour and experience in Naval Affairs but thinking him also a fit Instrument to make the City and State of Genoa side with him a thing of great imporâ—…ance to his affairs he studied still to keep him his Friend by conferring great Rewards upon him and unusual Honours He therefore made him Lord High Admiral at Sea and seldom dissented from his advice which he valued very much in Land Enterprises And as Doria's power with the Emperour rendred the liberty of the Genoeâ—…es free from being disturbed by so great an Authority as some of the free Cities of Italy were so his authority with his Fellow-Citizens was sufficient to keep the Genoeses constant in their devotion to the Emperour which was the more easily effected for that the affairs of Italy being divided into two Factions the one adhering to the French the other to the Emperour the prevalency of the latter was very opportune and necessary to the Commonwealth to preserve her from the evident danger of being the more opprest by the former the French being the more incens'd against the Genoeses for the great prejudice they had received by their revolution Doria out-lived the Emperour some few years and continuing in the same Employments and Honours under Philip the Second King of Spain and Son to the Emperour he was succeeded by Iohn Andrea Doria Heir not only to his Principality States and Maritime Fortune but also to his Heroick Virtue and singular Piety towards his Countrey who after having served the Crown of Spain in places of great Employment and given good proof of his Valour and Counsel upon all occasions and having kept great sway with his Fellow-Citizens was of no less authority in the Court of Spain in so much as he was preferr'd by Philip the Second in command at Sea before many Competitors and famous Captains of Illustrious Families and discharged the Office of Lord High-Admiral with splendour and magnificence answerable to the authority And as he was a great help and very serviceable to the keeping of the same correspondency between the Crown of Spain and the Commonwealth so was he a no little supporter of his Countreys Liberty in the jealous and troublesome times which did sometimes happen and as the former was honoured by the publick Decree of the Commonwealth with the title of Father and Freer of his Countrey so was he by the like Decree honoured with the title of Conservator of the Liberty thereof After his death for the chief Command at Sea was reserved for the Princes of the Blood Royal his third Son Don Carlo Doria succeeded in the Government of those Gallies which the King of Spain keeps in Genoa for his eldest son being by reason of his private indispositions unfit for Navigation as also his second son Giannettino by reason of his Priesthood he being at the present a Cardinal Archbishop of Palermo and Viceroy of Sicily Which Don Carlo as also Cardinal Giannettino treading in their Forefathers steps proved very advantagious in the service of that Crown to their Countrey and to themselves At the same time almost that the supreme Command at Sea ceased in the Dorian Family new and extraordinary worth arose in the Family of the Spinolas a House of great Alliance and Wealth in the Commonwealth whose worths fomented the same
who argued by this their so great tenacity that they aimed more at being masters of what belonged to others then at the purging their Gulf of Pirates The war continued therefore in Friuli with greater forces and preparations but with but small progress made by the Venetians much succour came to the Archduke from Germany part at his own charges part at the Emperours and several valiant and well experienced Commanders were sent him from other Princes as Count d' Ampierre the Commandatore Coloredo the Baron of Lelile and Colonel Standardi amongst others there came 4000 Foot and 500 Horse all select men raised at the King of Spains cost and sent into Friuli under the command of Don Baldasser Marradas Don Inigo di Gâ—…evara Count d' Egnate and Embassadour for that King in the Emperours Court a very accuraâ—…e Lord and vigilant in publick affairs and to whom the King committed all the charge and provision of succour which he contributed to the Archdukes service General Trautmistorft not thinking it now any longer time only to make excursions but to keep the Field and face the Enemy past over Lisonso with his Army took up his quarters under Luciniso intending to fall upon the Venetians quarters whose valour he so little valued as he cared not to fortifie himself The Venetian Commanders had notice of the weakness of his Works and of the Enemies negligence in fortifying themselves and thinking it a fit occasion to prevent being offended they resolved to assault them unexpectedly by night The Venetians Camp was no less re-inforced then the Archdukes with Souldiers raised in Terra ferma Sclavonia Albania and Greece and having alter'd their Officers they had made a new form of Government in stead of Barbarico three Commissaries were sent to the Camp from Venice Antonio Priâ—…i Procurator of St Mark Iâ—…van Battista Foscarini and Francisco Erizzo the first had the title of Commissary-general the other of plain Commissariâ—…s These were the only three that voted and all things were resolved upon by the Votes of two the Council of War being therefore first called and consulted with wherein was Don Lâ—…igi dâ—… Esta General of the great Cavalry Francisco Martinâ—…go de Conti di Malpaga General of the Light-horse Ferrante de Rossi General of the Artiâ—…ery Pompeo Iustiniano Camp maste and Camillo Trivisano Commissary of the Albanesse Horse called Stradiâ—…tta these assisted the three Commissaries with their advice and gave their opinions but had no Votes the execution of what was resolved upon belong'd to Iustiniano as Camp-master which he ordered under the Commissary-General guided the Directions and directed the intended Enterprises The enemy being then to be assaulted within his Quarters according to the resolution already taken Iustiniano disposed of the Army into several Squadrons the first assault fell to Trivigiano's share with his Albanesse and to Horatio Baglioni with his Brigade and some Corsicans the former on the west-side where the Hills ended and the others on the south-side towards the Campagnia Trivigiano took some works far from the enemies Quarters kill'd the defendants and past no further but Baglione at the same time which was day-break forcing the first Port of the Rampiers and having seiz'd on the Court found a stiff dispute at the second for the Austrians awakened at the noise ran in to the defence and had not some Corsicks come to relieve him he had undoubtedly been slain as many of his men were A greâ—…t on-set was also made on the other side which though it appeared to be prosperous at first yet the assailants were forced to give back the same befalling them as did those that made the assault at the Raveline before Gradisca who fought more valiantly and received more harm from their friends who were upon their backs then from theâ—…r enemies who were before them for the former being timerous and fearful stood crouching and many of them lay grovelling on the ground who firing their Musquets low slew the best of their own men The Venetian being returned without having done any good effect to Mariano had no beâ—…ter success in the assault which they resolved afterwards to give to the Fort Stella built by the Austrians on the other side the River in form of a Cavalier against those of Sagra and Fogliano held by the Venetians for Pietro di Vasques a Spaniard who was Captain there fore-knowing the enemies resolution put his men quietly in a defensive posture and repulss'd them with the death of above a hundred of the assailants The loss which the enemy received was increased by a great mortality in the Venetian Camp which beginning with their horses came afterwards to their men for the stench of the dead horses being intollerable the air grew so infected as it begot dangerous diseases whereby the Camp was reduced to so small a number aâ—… if they had been then assaulted by the enemy it would assuredly have been totally defeated A danger whereat the Common wealths Commanders were much troubled the courage and gallantry of the enemy especially being considered and the little esteem which the Austrians made of their men But they were afterward somewhat inheaâ—…ed by the taking of two places situated on two several ways which lead from Germany and therefore of great consequence Ponteba and Chiavaretto Ponteba is cut through in the midst by the River Fella which falls into the Tagliamento the neâ—…her part theâ—…eof belongs to the Venetians and is called Ponteba Venetiana the other part to the Dutch and is called Austriaca The Souldiers which guard Austriaca passing over the River had taken Ponteba Venetiana which when the Camp heard 2000 Fooâ—… of the Country were preâ—…ently dipatch'd away thither under Commissary Fosclarini Francisco Martinengo led on by Count Nicolo Gualdo of Vicenza Governour of Udine by Captain Antonio Manzano and by Captain Daniele Antonini of the same City who when they had past the River drove the Dutch out of Austriaca and did not only recover the booty which they had taken but moreover took much Merchandize which they found in Austriaca and entring further in burnt Malborgeto and Trivese two neighbouring Towns nor had the other Commissary Erizzo less fortunate success who advancing towards Chiavaretto together with Trivigiano and his Stradiotti and a good strength of Foot led on by Iovanni Mâ—…rtinengo took it to the no little praise of Trivigiano to whom almost the whole honour thereof is due he being the first that came thither and the first that did manfully assault it The taking of Chiavaretto was succeeded by the like of Luciniso the Austrians having abandoned it who going to recover Chiavaretto repast over the Lisonzo which when the Venetians knew they marched immediately thither and possessing themselves easily of the Town which was but weakly guarded they in a short time made themselves masters of the Castle situated upon the top of a Hill where after three days stout resistance the defendants were forc'd to yield for want
Conde Duca peâ—…ceiving he got the King to command the Constable to consent to the Marriage without reply which the Constable would not give way unto unless it were absolutely declared in the Matrimonial Covenants that he was compell'd thereunto by the Kings Command Nor did Olivares his vast ends and desires cease here for he was ambitious to introduce him into the management of the principal Affairs of the Crown albeit that his said sordidness and the incapacity of his Genius was unfit for any imployment So as at the very first step he destined him to be President of the Indies removing the Count of Castriglio a worthy Gentleman and meritorious State Minister of much Power and Trust from that place He aspired also to procure him the honour which the Spaniards call Aio del Principe to whom the Government of him that is to succeed to be King of so many Kingdomes and the instructing of him in noble and generous Sciences belongs Thus he by degrees aimed at the making him his Colleague and to succeed him in his place of Favourite which he could not believe that himself should ever fore-go no not when he was even upon his downfall an example very unlike to that of Cardinal Richlieu This Favourite being removed the King would take the Government of the Kingdom upon himself which though all men were infinitely glad of yet did not the change prove very happy but the remedy came too late apply'd to the malady with which it was already gangren'd and become almost incurable Let us now return to the Affairs of Italy which we have left off by so many digressions of Affairs in forreign Courts February in the year 1643. was not well begun when the Governour of Millain marchâ—…d into the field with his Army which consisted of 5000 Foot and 1500 Horse and going out of Alessandria went to quarter in Figarvolo and Bosco and sent the Marquess of Caracena from thence with 2000 Foot and 1000 Horse by Pozvolo to possess himself of the passes above Tortona who coming before day to the Scrivia over against Tortona advanced two files of Musketiers whereby he made himself Master of the Capuchins Covent which stands a little without the Gate that leads to Serravalle the French not being aware of him by reason of the thick mist which kept them from discovering the Enemy but finding when the mist was over that the place was taken they presently endeavoured the recovery thereof but in vain for Caracena advancing with 200 Horse and with some Musketiers drove them back into the City whither Don Iohn Vasques Coronado being come by the way of Castelnuovo with the other 3000 Foot and 1500 Horse he possess'd himself of some houses neer the opposite Gate which looks towards Millain and not long after the Governour came thither with his Guards and Don Vincenzo Gonzaga with the Neapolitane Horse here they called a Councel of Waâ—… whither Caracena was called for from his quarter which was on the opposite side in which councel they took not onely into consideration how they were to carry on the enterprize but whether they should begin it or no in both which points the Captains of the Army did disagree but the Governours desire prevailing and for that they had already proceeded so far as there was no away left to avoid it all other considerations were laid aside the rather for that Marquess Caracena opposing the difficulties and delayes which were objected touching only the taking of the Town cleared all that could be said by assuring them that he would give the City into their hands within less then two days The quarters were therefore disposed of that of the Capuchins which was already taken was assigned to Caracena and to Vasques that on the opposite side over against the Gate that leads to Millain to which two Spanish Brigades were added Caracena was also appointed to chuse a place for battery which being chosen he began to batter and a great part of the Wall being beaten down within two hours the City capitulated The Garrison which was left in the City by Longueville and Prince Thomaso were fifteen hundred Foot amongst which were many good Officers Monsieur di Frolenville Governour of the City commanded over them a Gentleman well experienced in Warre who not finding himself able to defend the City with so few men abandoned it and keeping the Covent of St. Dominico in his hands retreated into the Castle four Batteries were immediately erected by the Governour against this Covent from which the defendants not being well able to defend themselves they tried to free themselves of that trouble by sallies in one of which the assailants had well nigh taken that station of St. Eufemia from whence the Covent was most annoid but the frequent sallies did not incommodate the opposers so much as the season The Country was laid desolate by the former Siege from which no Forrage was to be had for horse for the space of twelve miles and there was great scarcity of all things necessary for humane life and moreover the store of rain that fell and the earth being cover'd with Ice and Snow hindred the making of provision and the excessive cold weather made the Souldiers unable to work they seemed to be more besieged by the season of the year then the enemy was by them besieged The Governour had foreseen these difficulties and had in a great part provided against them having made all things necessary be brought to the neighbouring places and brought them commodiously to the Camp by Mules which were provided on purpose he shelter'd the Souldiers from the cold by store of clothes which were already prepared for them he had made great provision of Hay and dry Straw for the Horses of Bread and Ammunition for the Souldiers and what was wanting in these provisions was supplied by the constant suffering of hardship which could not last long The Army was not a little comforted by provisions of Victuals and other things which they had from Novi from whence and from the State of Millain victuals were sent in more abundance then formerly as also from the State and City of Genoa which did much pacifie the anger of the Spanish Officers who complain'd of the Commonwealth for not keeping the like assistance from the French Army the year before and served to let them see that the Commonwealths good will was not lessen'd towards that Crown Wherein the dexterity and discretion of Gasparo Franzone sent in Commission at that time thither from the Common-wealth did much good who behaved himself to the satisfaction of all parties for the Spaniards were sufficiently provided with all things necessary from Novi and the French were also the like upon many occasions which they had of stealing succour into the Castle and upon many other occurrences they found the Commissary not averse to their Interests The Enterprise therefore though with many and infinite difficulties was continued till a better season which
assault who sometimes held them on with the same hopes and sometimes raised difficulties which made against their desired ends But now that the Spring was come not being able to dissemble any longer he declared his mind unto them and shew'd them the necessity of taking the Citadel of Cassalle first that going with his Army to Turin he might not leave that place behind him from which much mischief might redound to the State of Millain that otherwise he must divide his Forces and must leave part of them in that State and go with the rest to the taking of the Citadel of Turin that they might see how prejudicial such a division would be to both those enterprizes that they should suffer him therefore to acquit himself first of Cassalle which when it should be over he promis'd them faithfully he would apply himself wholly to the business of Turin Citadel The Princes strove by forcible arguments to make him alter his mind shewing him that the good success of Turin would not only be a great furtherance to the main of their affairs but even to those of the King of Spain they told him that he who would make himself master of the Citadel of Cassalle must first begin with that of Turin which being lost the other must needs be lost also by the French who being driven out of Turin could not keep in Piedmont but must be forc'd to pass back over the Alps and leave not onely Cassalle to the arbittrement of the Kings Forces but also the whole affairs of Piedmont so not onely Cassalle but Chiavazzo Carmagnuola together with all the other Towns held by them must be abandoned that therefore many other greatly good successes did depend upon this They represented unto him the weakness of the Enemy who were reduced to a very small number not exceeding 4000 Foot and 2000 Horse ill appointed not able to keep the field nor to defend the Citadel of Turin much less to cause any jealousie to the State of Millain from Cassalle moreover that the Kingdom of France which was not onely troubled with the Wars of Flanders but with those of Catalonia and intestine risings was wholly diverted from the Wars of Italy that Normandy was up in Arms against the King whose example would certainly be followed by many other Provinces that there was therefore no fear that new Forces should come from thence to Piedmont and on the contrary that the Spanish Camp being redoubled by so great recruits which were coming from several parts might easily compass any whatsoever enterprize much more that of the Citadel of Turin which was already half taken they therefore earnestly perswaded him to betake himself to the taking thereof but contrary reasons perswaded the Governour from the going to take the Citadel of Turin and to go to the taking of that of Cassalle first his jealousie of the Negotiations still continued between the Princes and the French to this was added the competition touching who should put the Garrison into the Citadel of Turin which not being yet decided the Governour foresaw that the Princes would bring it in play when the Citadel should be taken so as he was refractory therein which when it should be taken would afford occasion of disorders and dissentions which might afterwards make the Princes go over to the French when they should not be masters of the Citadel on the contrary the felicity which he promised unto himself in the taking the Citadel of Cassalle made him believe that it became him not to weaken the flower of his Forces which he had assembled with so much trouble and with such expence to the Kings Exchequer in the taking of the Citadel of Turin which Forces when they should be employed in the taking of Cassalle would undoubtedly win unto the King a place of such importance for the safety of the State of Millain and by which acquisition so great preheminency and advantage would accrue to the Kings affairs over the neighbouring States and which was not least to be considered the acquisition whereof would make so fair a way to the generall peace he was moreover disswaded from taking that of Turin lest the Princes when they should be posses'd thereof assenting to their self interests and to the Common concerns of the I alian Princes would do what they could to keep that of Cassalle from falling into the Spaniards hands and that they would hinder it by underhand dealing wherefore preferring the good of the Kings affairs before that of the Princes he resolved to employ his foâ—…ces which were then fresh and entire in the enterprize of Cassalle believing that the hopes of being afterwards assisted in that of Turin might keep the Princes faithful to the Spanish party and make them co-operate in that of Cassalle and what was of moâ—…e importance the Governour knew how much the Court of Spain was concern'd in the business of Cassalle not so much out of the desire of getting it as for that they thought the French would have slackned the War of Catalonia for the preservation of Cassalle or the Court was not well satisfied with the orders given to assault Piedmont and that they were too exactly observed and could have desired that the Governour contrary to their orders had begun with the enterprise 〈◊〉 Cassalle so to draw the forces of France into those parts so as though he was honoured with the title of a Grandee for the taking of Vercelli yet he had some orders of Revocation to the contrary which Revocation not afresh to incur and that he might at the same time help to secure the State of Millain and also free Cataloâ—… he could not but prefer the business of Cassalle before that of Turin amongst these publick reasons there wanted not some private ones arising from a certain ambition in the Governour to signalize his name in the Court of Spain by the acquisition of that place which he knew was so much desired there and look how much he saw that enterprize had proved unfortunate to his predecessours in that Government the more diligent he was therein hoping that his glory would be the greater in bringing it to a happy end there were also certain other private emulations between him and the Princes which did not make the Governour any thing at all well affected to their interests for an being Infanta of Spain they treated somewhat briskly with him punctually expecting from him all those observances and respects which are due to the Infanta from the subjects of that Crown to that heighth that in the Campagnia where great Princes use to keep open table and to honour their Commanders with sitting at meat with them they never invited him to dine with them nor ever did he negotiate with them but bareheaded and standing and when he was indisposed in his feet he treated with them either by messengers or letters this his aversion was much increased by the Princes arrogating unto themselves all the honour of the
good that had succeded not attributing it to the Kings forces but to the love of the people of Piedmont not to the Governours valour or Counsels but to their own alleadging for proof thereof what great difficulties he met with before Vercelli when he attempted it without them on the contrary the Governour who came not short of them either in counsel or Military valour alleadged that the peoples affection would have been curb'd and kept back by the Dowager without the assistance of the Kings forces just as befel the Prince Cardinal when being entred into Piedmont he would try what the Authority of a Prince of the blood unarmed could do and when the Princes came first with a powerful Army before the Walls of Turin the Dowagers Authority was such as she did so hold the people within bounds as none durst ever speak much less declare themselves in favour of the Princes or raise any sedition so as to let them see that he was able to undertake and to effect great enterprizes without them he was desirous to apply himself to this wherein the Princes not having any thing to do the business might be acknowledged to be wholly his and consequently the honour which he undoubtedly expected from the happy success thereof might belong wholly to him and not be communicated to any others private and publick interests being thus joyned the Governour having all things in readiness sent Carlo Della Gatta general of the Neapolitan Horse at unawares to preoccupate the ways that led to Cassalle to keep the Monferrat Souldiers who were dispers'd abroad in that State from entring thereinto and he sent the Count di Monte-Castello after Gatta to take L'occimiano both which having observed their Orders they appeared on Palm sunday the year 1640 before that City and took the Town St. Giorgio without fighting which had a Garrison in it only of 40 Souldiers under a French Captain and the Governour being recruâ—…ed with new men from Germany and Naples came thither with the whole Army the next Easâ—… day his Army consisted of 12000 Foot and 5000 Horse to which soon after were added 2200 Foot come from Spain The Garrison of the place did not exceed 1200 Foot and 300 Horse The French Army which was that that could only â—…lieve it being very weak was thought unable so much as to attempt it so as the Governour made himself sure of Victory To this was added the intelligence which was said to be held between the Governour and some of the chief of the Town not without the Dowagers knowledge as was thought who was not well satisfied with the French Garrison being come within sight of the City he thought to fall to work to the end that when he should have taken the City as he thought he should eâ—…sily do he might quarter his Army more commodiously under covert and by a short line to be drawn without the Citadel he thought to save the time and labour of making large Trenches as his predecessors had done when they were to lodge their Army in the Campagnia he therefore made only two quarters the one at the foot of the Hill and the other upon the Plain towards Frassinero two good miles distant one from the other To the latter whither he sent above 1000 Horse under Carlo della Gatta and 400 Foot under the Camp-masters Serra Trotto and Gliglino was added 900 Swissers that of the Hill was divided into two bodies The Marquess of Carâ—…ena who succeeded Don Francisco di Selva in being General of the Horse commanded the one and Don Lewis di Lincastro the other and the Governour who lodged in one of them commanded them both here were eight thousand Foot and four thousand Horse they then began their approache against the City which was besieged on three sides on two between the Citadel and the Castle and on the third neer the Poe which they called Degli Italiani intrusted to Marquesse Serra and they also took a certain House called la Fornace which proved very commodious for the Siege but fortune which would deriâ—…e â—…ssured hopes of the Governour and his great Forces appeared very little favourable to him from the very beginning for the great rains which fell for many days together were of great prejudice to him not only in the commencement of his works by which he was to make his approaches but in preserving those which wee already made for it destroy'd them all and the water having sunk down the ways had also made the fields unmanagable so as the two quarters which were far one from the other could not communicate together To these hinderances was added many fierce sallies which though they were with equal fierceness repuls'd they did not a little disturb the Works and hinder the Work-men Whilst the Army did thus little good expecting fairer weather the Governour that the Souldiers might not be idle sent Thomaso Alardo with his Regiment of Dragoons and 400 Foot to take Resignano who having at first taken the out-works had also begun a Mine which when it was finished he gave fire unto and did thereby much good for throwing as much Wall as sufficed to give an assault he went thereunto but unfortunately for some of the Souldiers would not fight and others were crush'd by many Gabbions of earth which fell from the earth-work of the Wall that was blown up falling down when they hasted to get upon the breach those who were forwardest in advancing were repuls'd with the death of the valiantest amongst them and many Spanish Captains were wounded and Toby Palavicino who fought valiantly though they were forsaken by their Souldiers This mean while it was given out as it proved true afterwards that Harcourt taking the greatest number of the French Souldiers that he could out of the Towns of Piedmont accompanied by Marquess Villa who brought 1500 Horse with him and by the Marquess Pianezza who brought 2000 Piedmontese Foot to whom also some Montferrians were gorten had got together a body way of an army with which he betook himself to bring succous by the of Villanuova and that he brought with him twelve pieces of Cannon and some Carriages of Victuals and Munition The more unexpected this news was to the Governour they made the greater impression in him calling therefore a Counsel of War it was consulted whether they should march out against the enemy and fight him in the open field or rise from before Cassalle and go speedily to Turin giving out that the business of Cassalle was but a feigned attempt to draw the enemy thither so to keep up the Souldiers reputation The great advantage in number of Souldiers far more valiant then the enemy who were said to be most of them Vagabonds driven from their houses by Famine and War made for the first opinion that therefore Victory was not to be doubted if they should come to battle and that body of men being destroyed wherein were all the Forces which the enemy could