places placing in them strong Garrisons Vppon a rumor spred abroad that the Duke of Alua should publiquely say that hee accounted warre to beee open betwixt Spaine and France the most Christian King was mooued thereat made many complaints by his Ambassadors not onely at Rome and Venice but in Spaine also beeing partly greeued that his cheefe officers did affirme so important a matter the which as himselfe detested hee supposed others would doe the like in part like-wise going about to iustifie his owne actions from which it seemed that the Duke of Aluas suspition proceeded causing him to vse such speech The Christian King affirmed that those French which had followed the Count Nassau at the taking of Valenciennes were indeed his subiects but all of them of the Protestant faction and by consequent disobedient rebels to the Crowne of France that hee had euer beene greatly greeued for the troubles in Flanders as one that in his owne kingdome had too much experience of subiects rebellion and whose part it was to roote out and not by such examples to cherish the boldnesse of vassâ—…ls against their Prince beeing as desirous of the wealth of Christendome as any other liuing although his owne particular troubles would not at that time permit him to shew it in effect and seeing with his owne forces hee could not assist them his meaning was not to hinder the good intent of others that he had some armed vessels ready not to assaile or offend any one but onely for the safety of his owne seas infested by Pyrates the number of his vessels being insufficient for any great action These or such like discourses did the French Kings Ambassadors by their maisters commandement vse in Spaine Rome and Venice and to giue the greater credit vnto them they were by Edict euery where published with a prohibition to all French men on greeuous penalties not to passe with their armes into Flanders and not satisfied here-with his most Christian Maiesty seemed at the same time to incline to the league wherevpon the Cardinall Lorraine by his commandement did often conferre with the Venetian Ambassador resident in his Court concerning that businesse whom hee went about to perswade that the French King was wholy bent to procure the peace of Christendome with a singular affection toward the Crowne of Spaine All this notwithstanding the Spaniards were no better satsfied then before saying That the French did but this to coulor their practises and to open themselues a way to assaile the Catholick Kings territories in sundry places That they had certaine notice how that the King of Nauarre and the Admirall Coligni did openly vrge the most Christian King to vndertake that warre whom hee must needs please in regarde of his owne particularinterest the chiefe Lords and Princes of his Court mainteining that France would neuer bee at quiet vnlesse the King did resolue vpon some forraine enterprise wherein to employ both Catholicks and Protestants and among others that of Flanders seemed the easiest for many respects That he might make that warre with some coulor by reason of the claime of the Crowne of France to those Countries in which warre without all question the Queene of England would willingly haue a share in regard of her distast of the Catholik King That the marshall ot Montmorency went into England to none other end then to conclude the League with the English and that both of them together beeing freed from other troubles might the easlier enuade the Netherlands Besides that the French Kings league with the Turke made them to suspect that hee went about to procure the Turkes Army to enuade the Catholick King as they had done in former times especially seeing it was reported that the Turke had giuen the citty of Tunis to the French King and promised with his forces to defend it against the Spaniards The Pope beeing greatly mooued at these delayes as well for the common interest of Christendome as his owne reputation which hee accounted to bee much blemished in that hee at his first comming to the Papacy hauing freely confirmed the league the Nauy should now become idle and vnprofitable or else be imployed to any other end which the King of Spaine could not doe it beeing set forth at the Clergies cost by permission and authority of the Sea Apostolick onely against the Turkes This caused his Holinesse to send new messengers to D. Iohn to command him speedily to depart and ioyne with the Venetians fleet and on the other he councelled the Venetians to dispatch speedy Ambassadors to the French and Spanish courts to root out all suspitious doubts and distrusts betwixt those Kings and particularly to incite the Catholick Maiesty to send away his fleet without any more delay according to the articles of the league His Holinesse sent his Nuncios for that purpose Antonio Maria Saluiati Bishop of Saint Peposito the French King and Nicolo Ormaneti Bishop of Padua to the King of Spaine The Emperor likewise vsed meanes to attone these two Kings being mooued therevnto by sundry particular respects of his owne but the Venetians more then any shewed themselues earnest and ready in this businesse as well in regard of their owne interest as for that they were loath to giue the Pope any cause to suspect that by not stirring in so important a deseigne their mindes were turned to peace and thereby to distaste him of the league They then according to his commandement chose two Ambassadors namely Giouan Micaele for France and Antonio Tepulo for Spaine who made hast to those Courts Michaele being come into France did briefly acquaint the King with the Senates desire to see a firme and assured peace established betwixt Christian Princes that being afterwards vnited they might turne their forces vpon the common enemy he told him that the Venetians were much discontented with the rebellions of Flanders and with the iealozies which therevpon arose betwixt his Maiesty and the Catholike King which if they should haue lasted could not but haue procured great hurt to Christendome but by how much the matter was great and important of it selfe by so much the lesse could the Senate be induced to beleeue it being well acquainted with his Maiesties discreet loue and affection to the common good And because the perswations of those who are enemies to peace and who for their owne particular interest are wont to diuert Princes from their good and honourable deseignes the Senate would not be wanting therein following the custome of their ancestors to imploy in that businesse the fauour which it particularly presumed to haue with his Maiesty to exhort him to stop his eares to such inducements and if peraduenture he had already entertained them that it might please him in the behalfe of Christendome and for his particular loue to their Commonwealth to cassier them to the end that the Catholike King freed from that doubt might freely harken to the enterprises of the
Leuant and obserue the Articles of the league The King gaue a willing eare to this discourse saying that the Senate was in no sort deceiued of his exceeding loue towards their Commonweale and least of all in beleening that he was desirous of the wealth and aduancement of Christendome that the troubles of Flanders had neuer pleased him that he had vsed all possible meanes to keepe his subiects from being adherents or supporters of those Rebels but that the condition of those times and the present wretched estate of his Kingdome would not permit him to tame the insolency of some that loued innouation who were not to be wondered at if after they had raised troubles in his owne Realme went about to doe the like in his neighbours Dominions that it had neuer beene by his consent for that would haue hurt the Catholike King and done no good to France but on the contrary would haue procured new troubles which might easily incite the Catholike King to an agreement with the Flemings and afterwards to make warre vpon him in Daulphiné or in the Kingdome of Nauar by which meanes in seeking to carry the war into a forraine country he might be enforced to bring it into his owne at such a time when the forces of his Realme were wasted and diuided by long ciuil wars The Queene mother being present at this discourse who at that time had great authority in managing the affaires of the Kingdome desirous to preserue peace would needs with her owne hand write to his Holinesse to assure him of her willingnesse in all things to follow his aduise and councell and that if her sonne the King had raised forces it was not don with an intent to hurt any but only to serue and defend himself from the Spaniards who were reported vpon no iust cause to haue taken armes The Catholike King on the other side before Tepulo his arriuall at his Court resolued to write to Don Iohn That all other respects laied aside hee should make hast with his Gallies to ioyne with the Venetians and with them to saile into the Leuant being herevnto moued by intelligence of the French Kings affection towards him or else for that he did not much feare his power hauing recouered Valenciennes or because he would not so much honor the French as to haue it said that for feare of them he had giuen ouer so important an enterprise as that against the Turkes or that which is most like to be true because as became a wise and vertuous Prince he would in no sort omit that wherevnto he was obliged by the league but whatsoeuer it were that caused this resolution it is certaine that it proceeded from his owne proper motion and that he did write so to Don Iohn before he acquainted his councell therewith fearing least they should propound some difficulties which might haue diuerted him from it as in former times Antonio Tepulo in the meane time being come into Spaine and aduertized of the Kings determination did not speake any thing of the French iealozies or vniting of the Nauies but only intreated the King to permit D. Iohn in regard the time of yeere was almost past for sea-affaires to winter in the Leuant mooued therevnto by sundry reasons which much imported the Venetian Common-wealth The King neuerthelesse alleadging many reasons to the contrary would not grant his request either of his owne proper motion as being vnwilling to hazard too much on fortune or else being so aduised by such as were not greatly affected to the league Now whilest the confederate fleet went slowly forward the great and mighty Turkish nauy scoured the sea For Vluzzali being made Generall thereof besides the gallies which he had receiued of Carazzati had with great speed rig'd and man'd an hundred others with al which departing in great pompe and magnificence from Constantinople he had already past the Streight of Gallipolis and came forward intending to wast and spoile the Isle of Candy and other places belonging to the Venetians according as he should haue intelligence of the progression of the Christian fleet certaine newes being at that time brought to Venice of the stay and delaies of the Spanish fleet which did much discontent them and made them wonder that the Spaniards who at first had been so desirous of the league should after such a fortunate and vnhoped for successe fearing some vncertaine and remote dangers wholy depriue themselues of the present and assured beauty thereof The Senate not being able to discouer wherevnto those delaies tended thinking it vaine to expect their assistance any longer determined to write to Generall Foscaren that without any longer expectation of the conuention of the fleets so soone as the Prouidator Souranza should returne to Corfoù he should put to sea to encourage their subiects and assure their owne territories proceeding warily to embrace such occasions as God shold offer him for the honor and profit of the Commonwealth Foscarin receiuing this commandement tired with his idle aboad there so soon as the Prouidator Souranza Colonna came to Corfou propounded the departure of the nauy into the Leuant wherevnto all men consenting they began to consult about their iourney But Antonio Colonna did freely and with great affection vtter his good meaning towards the affaires of the league and in particular to the profit aduancement of the Venetian Commonwealth much bewayling the time lost and the diminution of their forces neuerthelesse he willed them to hope well assuring them that the Spanish Kings intention was honorable and the Pope very earnest in soliciting him and that Don Iohn with the residue of the fleet would shortly meet them yet though the Popes subiect and seruant to the King of Spaine he was resolued to spend his life in that enterprise it importing the Venetians particular seruice whom hee knew were more interessed in that warre then any other Generall Foscarani replied that the State was well acquainted with the Pope and Catholike Kings loue and they of the States affection and inclination to the league as the proceeding herein testified but Colonnas vertue zeale to the common good of Christendome and particular affection to the Venetian Commonwealth was not only manifested to themselues but to the whole world by so many noble seruices in aduancement of the league yet himselfe could not choose but lament that so many fayre occasions presented they had not imbraced them as they deserued But since it was fruitlesse to call backe time past and they not able to remoue the impediments detayning D. Iohn in Sicely the onely remedy hereof is to redeeme delayes past with present expedition and to set forward against the enemy inferior to themselues both in number and vallor And seeing it hath pleased the diuine prouidence conducting humaine actions in by-wayes to vs vnknowne that the confederate fleeet should bee thus disioyned let vs see if wee can set vpon them
as shee pleased to returne home to her father at Eugubia Lodouico Vrsino kinsman to the deceased Duke lay at that time in Padua for whose sake the Senate gaue him imployment in a iourney into the Leuant this man either of himselfe or prouoked by others did on a night with diuerse armed men go to the Dutchesse house whom hee cruelly murthered together with one of her bretheren The report of this murther beeing carried to Venice the Senate sent Commissioners to punish the Author and complices of this homicide Vrsino hauing notice heereof and certaine of his letters intercepted which discouered the fact so as hee could not deny it resolued to defend himselfe in his house with fifty of his owne followers determining to hold out till the last man but the Magistrates enuironing the house with their gardes and perceiuing that hee would not yeeld caused a Cannon to bee brought wherewith they battered and beat downe part of the house killing some of the defendants Lodouico at last perceiuing longer resistance to be vaine yeelded himselfe who beeing imprisoned together with some of his complices and found guilty of the Dutchesse murther himselfe was strangled in prison and his adherents publickly executed The end of the third Booke of the seuenth Decade The Contents of the fourth Booke of the seuenth Decade HEnry the third French King is slaine by a Monke Henry of Bourbon King of Nauar is proclaimed King of France Foure Popes dye in lesse then a yeare The Venetians are iealous of the Turkes and Milaneses The building of the Bridge of Rialto The conuersion of Henry of Bourbon French King hee sends a sollemne Ambassage to Rome where Pope Clement the eight refuseth to giue him his blessing All the Citties of France yeeld to Henry the fourth The Venetians send Ambassadors to him Pope Clement blesseth the French King Peace betwixt the French and Catholick Kings The French King marrieth the Lady Mary of Medicis Princesse of Florence Peace betwixt the French King and Duke of Sauoy The Venetians cleere the Adriattick Seas from Pirates A decree of the Venetian Senate against the Clergies purchasing of lands An other Decree concerning building of Churches The creation of Pope Paul the fifth Hee complaines to the Venetian Ambassador against the Senates law forbidding the Clergie to purchace lands or to build Churches without licence The Popes resolution vpon the Venetians refusall Hee sends two Iniunctions to them concerning that businesse with the Senates answer Excommunication against the Venetians is published at Rome They make two Declarations vpon the Popes excommunication The Pope and Venetians warlike preparations against each other The French King is a Mediator for Peace betwixt the Pope and Venetians and to that end sends the Cardinall Ioyeuse to Rome The Pope after sundry difficulties condiscends to reuoke his censures and to giue the Cardinall Ioyeuse ample Commission to doe it The substance of the Articles whereby the Censures were reuoked And lastly the reuocation of them by the said Cardinall in Venice The fourth Booke of the seuenth Decad of the Historie of Uenice WHILEST the Venetians and generally all Italy enioyed peace France and the Netherlands were afflicted with warre And Henry the third French King beeing treacherously slainâ—… by a Monke the cheefe of the Army as well Catholicks as Protestants proclaimed Henry of Bourbon King of France and Nauarre as first Prince of the bloud and next heire to the Crowne But to returne to the Venetians vnto whom our History doth cheefly belong The yeare following 1590. there was a great dearth of Corne ouer all Italy but the Venetian Senate made such speedy prouision of graine from England and Poland as during that time of scarcity Bakers stalls and markets were better stored with bread and the price thereof cheaper then in any other Citty of Italy where men could not buy as much as they pleased though in Venice no man was limited The same yeare on the 27. of August Pope Sixtus the fifth dyed hauing held the Papacie fiue yeares foure moneths and three dayes Twenty dayes after Cardinall Giouan Baptista Castagna a Romaine was created Pope intitling himselfe Vrban the seuenth putting all men in hope of an happy gouernment but he enioyed the Papacie onely twelue dayes After his death the Sea was vacant aboue two moneths in which interim more then seuen hundred Bandetti spoiled the countrey round about Rome against them the colledge of Cardinals and great Duke of Tuscany sent forces At last the Conclaue chose Cardinall Nicolo Sfondrato of Milan Pope intitling himselfe Gregory the foureteenth Toward the latter end of this yeare there was in Venice a Greeke called Marto Bragadino Mamagna one that had beene a Monke famous for opinion men had of him that he could transmute quick-siluer into gold the people were not alone bewitched with this golden dreame but the Nobility and some Princes of Italy sought his friendship hoping by his meanes to turne mountaines into gold but this Impostor beeing no longer able to conceale his deceit fled from Venice into Bauaria where the Duke discouering his cousenage imprisoned and condemned him to be hanged but the prisoner making sute to bee beheaded the Duke granted his request The Venetians hauing carefully prouided for the famine as hath beene said were the yeare following 1591 much perplexed hauing intelligence that the Turke made great preparation for warre They sent forces into Candy and to other places confronting the enemie but they were soone freed from that feare being aduertised that the Turke did it at the request of the French King to infest the Spaniard they did afterwards fortifie Bressia and Bergamo suspecting the great forces which were in the state of Milan they did likewise build that goodly bridge ouer the great Canall of the Citty called the bridge of Rialto In the meane time Pope Gregory the fourteenth dyed the tenth moneth and tenth day of his Papacie hee was a great fauourer of the French league to whose ayde he sent forces vnder the command of his Nephew Hercole Sfondrato Duke of Mont marcian at the charge of the Sea Apostolick but after the Popes death their pay beeing no more currant those troopes by little and little disbanded The Sea was vacant thirteen dayes at the end of which Cardinall Giouan Antonio Faschinetta the Bolognesse was created Pope assuming the name of Innocent the 9. at first he seemed to fauour the league of France but his deseigns were vain for he liued but two monethes and one day after he was made Pope The Cardinalls went into the Conclaue at the beginning of the yeare 1592. and elected Hipolito Cardinall Aldobrandino nominated Clement the 7. who seemed willing to aid the French league with men and money At the same time Candy was miserably aflicted with the Pestilence where in a short space dyed twenty thousand persons one thing is worthy to be noted that toward the latter end of August when the
great troopes and retired themselues to Malamoc and to Rialto But it seemeth that the Authors doe greatly differ concerning the destruction of Heraclea and the troubles of those times Bonitendius disposeth the affaires of those dayes in such sort as hee saith that Prince Mauritio in whose time Charles King of France had wholly abolished in Italie the power and ancient Kingdome of the Lombards enemies to the Pope by reason whereof he was made Emperour the affaires of the Venetians not being verie safe neither at home nor abroad amiddest those tumultes of Italie had drawne in to the gouernment of the Common-wealth by hauing wisely appeased the quarrels of the Citizens and brauely defended their frontiers rather by sufferance then approbation of the people a new and pernicious example in taking Giouanni his sonne for Colleague in the Principalitie which fell out vnhappily not for himselfe who was old and dyed soone after but for his sonne which furuiued him and his sonnes sonne associated by his father after the Grand-sires example ¶ GIOVANNI the eighth Duke of Uenice BEcause in the gouernment Giouanni did not follow his fathers steps and that besides his other mischiefes committed in his place hee sent Mauritio his sonne with a mightie Sea-armie to assailâ—… Giouanni Bishop of Grada a vertuous man in those dayes He 〈◊〉 yet the rest doe not set downe the occasion of this warre And it is to bee supposed that they did expresly conceale it because there was none at all For it comes often to passe that when a wicked man will hurt any one hee neuer regardes the occasion why This naughtie sonne hauing obeyed the commaundment of his bad father and taken this Bishop threwe him head-long downe from an high Tower Fortunato the Triestine who soone after succeeded him resoluing to reuenge the vnworthie death of Giouanni did secretly practise with certaine chiefe men of the Citie to depose yong Mauritio and his father likewise from the Principalitie who without occasion at all had committed so cruell a murther But the enterprise beeing discouered hee with certaine of his adherents withdrew himselfe to Treuiso among whom were Demetrio Marmani Foscaro de Georges and Obellerio of Malamoc who at that time were Tribunes Fortunato departed from Treuiso and went into France to the Emperour Charles at whose suite saith Bonitendius the Emperour commaunded his sonne Pepin who by Pope Adrian was named King of Italie to make warre vpon the Venetians and that in the meane time in hatred of the murtherer Maâ—…ritio and his father it hapned that Obellerio of Malamoc who as hath beene said did follow the Bishop Fortunato to Treuiso being declared Duke both the father and sonne were driuen forth of the Citie the one being oppressed with olde age went to Mantua and the other into France by meanes whereof Heraclea as the place of their birth was wholly with the places adiacent destroyed Some say that Iohn was sent by the first Mauritio to assaile Grada to reuenge the death of Bishop Giouanni slaine in that place in which charge not bearing himselfe faithfully It is supposed that Fortunato was displeased with him Neither is it certainly knowne how long these three commanded one after another Yet Bonitendius sets it briefly downe thus That the first Mauritio gouerned three and twenty yeares accounting nine wherein his sonne was his Colleague who after that commaunded as long alone and after hee had associated the young Mauritio they were both expulsed the seuenth yeare of their association Some hold that in the time of the first Mauritio the Church of Oliuolla called afterwards the quarter of the Castle was by Pope Adrian erected into an Episcopall Seeâ—… the Islands of Rialto Lupria and Dorsse-dura which were called twinnes being vnder the iuridiction thereof Some doe besides set downe that at the same time the Scopares an ancient Family as then in Venice builded the Church of Saint Moses of an excellent structure according to the Cities abilitie in those dayes and enriched it with goodly presents And moreouer that Saint Michaels Church which at this day hath many markes of antiquitie neere to Brundula was repaired and enriched by a stranger named Sergius who hauing a long time beene sicke of an incurable disease was in the night time diuinely warned in a dreame that if he did visit a Church which was neere to Brundula he should be healed of his sicknesse And because it came to passe according to the prediction he did sumptuously repaire the same Church and bestowed on it many rich presents ¶ OBELLERIO the ninth Duke of Uenice LEt vs returne to Obellerio who in his absence being created Duke as hath beene said comming to Malamoc hauing for a time commanded with the peoples great good liking did associate his brother Beato for Colleague This man went to Constantinople to the Emperour Nicephorus where he was nobly entertained and honored with certaine markes of the Empire In the meane time Valentin his younger brother was by the people giuen to Obellerio for his Colleague But we finde the Historians so much to varie concerning the occurrents of these times as wee can hardly iudge which of them best deserues to be followed There be others which say that Obellerio beeing expulsed by his brother Beato had recourse to the Emperour Charles whose daughter he married promising to the King to betray his countrie and that the French being fedde with this hope did sodainely marche against the Venetians that hauing in a moment seised on all the Sea-frontiers he came to Malamoc which he found not inhabited from whence he sought to passe ouer to Rialto by boate whither hee had heard the Prince and people were retired but being there beaten by a furious tempest he lost the greatest part of his Armie and was enforced to retire without doing any thing worthie of note Touching this and the rest which may easily be refuted all of them almost doe affirme that Charles was not the chiefe leader of this enterprise but his sonne Pepin And the easier to vnderstand how it hapned we must search the matter from farre to the end we doe not too much straie from the Venetians From thence we will continue our historie where it behoues vs lightly to passe ouer that which diuers haue left in writing in a long and prolix stile more than needed The Lombards Kingdome being extinct as wee haue said and the affaires of Italie setled by Charles or Pepin his sonne who was afterward installed King the Venetians being in the meane time freed by the agreement betwixt Charles and Nicephorus there hapned strife betwixt the two Empires about Dalmatia It is reported that by the same agreement whereof we now spake it was expresly mentioned that Dalmatia should be a Prouince of the Grecian Empire The Romans not well digesting that such a maritime Prouince so neere Italie should be cut off from their Empire after they had a long time debated thereon both
notwithstanding Lodouicos flatteries hee could not but with griefe endure to let Pisa which hee had pursued with such labour fall to their share wherevpon hee caused the Pope and the Ambassadors to the Kings of Spaine who were iealous of the Venetians greatnesse to propound the drawing of the Florentines into the league by restoring Pisa vnto them seeing by other meanes they could not bee induced to it The Venetian Ambassador with great earnestnesse oppugning this proposition the motion was dasht for feare of loosing the Venetians friendship But the hope of King Charles his returne into Italy beeing wholly lost and most of the Italians that held his party otherwise imployed Lodouico hereby encouraged did daily more and more discouer his hatred towards the Venetians concerning Pisa inciting the Pope and Kings of Spaine with greater efficacy to reuiue the motion of the restitution thereof Herevnto he drew the Florentines who to that end sent their Ambassadors to Rome This treaty was continued there many daies where the Pope and Ambassadours of the King of Spaine Duke of Milan and King of Naples did openly vrge the Venetian Ambassadour to this restitution thereby to ioyne the Florentines to their party against the French to the end that all seeds of discord being rooted out no man might againe haue any cause to call the French into Italy But the Senate contradicting all this and sufficiently perceiuing from whom this earnest motion proceeded answered by the same Ambassadour that it was a very daungerous matter to deliuer that City to the Florentines whose mindes were strictly vnited with the French and that the surrendring of Pisa would not diuert their inclination and also that thereby the fidelity of all the Confederates would be called in question who had taken vpon them to protect the Pisans especially the Venetians who when others did shut their pursses had freely opened theirs and to defend them had spared for no cost or labour wherevpon it would bee great dishonour to them to leaue them then and to falsifie their promise Now whilest this businesse was treated betwixt the Confederates a sodaine accident happened in France begetting sundry and different effects in mens mindes It was the death of King Charles who on the seuenth day of Aprill died at Amboise of an Apoplexie as hee stood looking on some of his Courtiers that plaied at tennis and because hee died without children the crowne of France descended to Lewis Duke of Orleance the next Prince of the bloud as heire male Italy by King Charles his death was somewhat freed from feare for no man supposed that King Lewis the twelfth comming newly to the crowne would at the beginning of his reigne make warre in Italy But the same right to the Realme of Naples hee being French King belonged as well to him as to his Predecessor and beside that the Dutchy of Milan which was his owne by succession from his Grandmother Valentine After his Coronation hee desired nothing so much as to conquer that Dutchy and though from his infancy hee had euer carried that minde yet his successe at Nouara had much inkindled him together with his hatred to Lodouico Sforza by reason of his insolent carriage towards him when hee was at Ast. And for an introduction to his deseigne he did not onely intitle himselfe King of France Naples Ierusalem both the Sicilies but likewise Duke of Milan This was as a summons to Frederick and Lodouico Hee wrote letters full of friendly congratulation to the Pope Venetians and Florentines concerning his comming to the crowne These three seemed to bee highly pleased with those letters being desirous to aduance and reuenge themselues Lodouico neuerthelesse though he knew that he had to doe with a rougher enemy feeding himselfe with hope as Frederick of Arragon likewise did that the new King would not so intend the affaires of Italy did still oppose himselfe against the Venetians concerning Pisa his hatred to them making him forget his owne future danger The Venetians notwithstanding his opposition chose three Ambassadors to goe and congratulate the King for his comming to the crowne and by way of excuse to tell him that the onely suspition and not without cause which they had of King Charles least after the conquest of the Realme of Naples he should haue attempted that of all Italy had enforced them to take armes against him The Pope for the same purpose sent a Nuncio into France beeing desirous to inuest his sonne Caesar then Cardinall with temporall greatnesse The Florentines likewise according vnto their antient custome to the crowne of France sent Ambassadours thither Wherevnto they were earnestly solicited by Lodouico who by their meanes thought to frustrate the Venetians practizes for Pisa and also to mediate some accord betwixt himselfe and the King The King did very louingly entertaine all these Ambassadours and gaue them audience concluding nothing till hee had first secured the Realme of France by new leagues with the Princes his neighbours The Florentines in the meane time still pursuing their deseigne against the Pisans their forces which lay Pontadera hauing intelligence that certaine troupes gonne forth of Pisa returned home-wards with great booty went to intercept them and meeting them did put them to rout but fifty men at armes of the Pisans comming on a sodaine to reskew their fellowes the Florentines were put to flight many of their footmen slaine many captaines taken prisoners with the greatest part of their cauallery During these troubles in Tuscany the Venetians reputation was euery where so augmented as Coruin sonne to Mathias King of Hungary seâ—…t an Ambassadour to the Senate to certifie it that hee was very desirous to make a perpetuall league of friendship with them and to bee receiued into the number of the Venetian Gentlemen This propounded to the great Councell was freely graunted Lodouico in the meane time fearing that the Venetians by reason of that defeate of the Florentines would grow so great as it would bee an hard matter to repulse them forth of Tuscany offered to releeue the Florentines and to the same end was desirous to know what prouisions were necessary not onely for defense but to execute the enterprize of Pisa. For though at first hee did not determine openly for to releeue the Florentines but onely to aide and succor them secretly with money yet beeing transported with choller and disdaine vsing insolent and threatning speeches against the Venetians hee resolued openly for to declare himselfe their friend And therefore hauing first denied passage to their people which went to Pisa and enforced them to goe through the Duke of Ferrara's country hee caused the Emperour to declare himselfe their enemy and procured the Pope to promise the Florentines to send them an hundred men at armes and three Gallies vnder the commaund of Captaine Villamarini who should keepe all victualls from entring into Pisa by sea yet afterwards delaying to send them he did
when he vnderstood that the league betwixt the King and Venetians was resolued hee not knowing the particularities thereof Hee was then ready to send Francesco of Sanseuerine with great forces to aide the Florentines but hee detained them vpon intelligence that Triuulcio leauied souldiers neere Ast. Hee likewise thought that if the accord betwixt the Venetians and Florentines should take effect they would peraduenture moderate their indignation conceiued against him and forsake the French King Herein hee imployed Hercules D'Aeste Duke of Ferrara his father in law and by forcible reasons enforced the Florentines in some sort to condescend to the Venetians desire sending them word that if they did not agree he should be constrained for feare of the French King to call home those forces he had sent to aide them Hercules the better to effect it came in person to Venice whither Lodouico sent his Agents and from the Florentins Giouâ—…n Baptista Râ—…dolfi and Paâ—…ic Antonio Soderini two of the wisest and chiefest Citizens came thither all which after long disputation concerning the meanes to be obserued in that accord made an absolute compromise for eighâ—… daies in the person of Hercules Duke of Ferrara who hauing well considered the matter did on the sixth of Aprill prouounce his sentence But the Venetians not satisfied therewith in regard of the small consideration had of their expences in warre nor yet the Pisans who obtained nothing but a seruile kind of liberty contrary to the intention of most of the Venetian nobility nor the Florentines who thought themselues ouer burthened for that they were to repay part of their expenses who had vniustly molested them it tooke none effect notwithstanding that the Venetians and Florentines had signed and ratified it because that the Pisans determined to endure all extremity rather then to returne vnder the Florentines command being there vnto secretly incited by the Geneaois Lukeses and by Pandolfo Petrucci And so soone as they vnderstood the tenure of the sentence being wonderfully incensed against the Venetians they tooke the gard of the Cities fortes and gates from their souldiers and would not longer suffer them to lodge in the City The Florentines despayring by this accord to obtaine Pisa resolued to win it by force King Lewis in the meane time commanded his forces to march into Italy his army consisted of 1600. Launces 5000. Swisses 4000. Gascons and 4000. out of the other parts of France whereof Giouan Iacomo Triuulcio was made Generall This army comming before the fort of Arazza seated on the riuer Tanaâ—…e took it in a short space notwithstanding that there were fiue hundred footmen in it from thence it went to Anon a little towne betwixt Ast and Alexandria vpon the same Riuer which beeing battered in foure seuerall places was in two daies taken by force notwithstanding that the Duke of Milan some few monthes before had well fortified it and placed seuen hundred men in Garrison there The King came after as farre as Lyons intending to passe the mounts from whence he sent an Ambassador to Venice for to accompany the Venetian army whether soeuer it marched to which so soone as it was ready Melchâ—…or Treuâ—…san and Marc Antonio Morosini were sent as Prouidators And the Senate presented this French Ambassador with a gallant horse ritchly caparisond a pauillon for the field and two pounds of gold The Venetians hauing intelligence of Triuulcio his good successe caused their army to march consisting of seuen thousand horse and as many foot which vnder the command of Aluiana hauing crossed the Oglio and entred the enemy country did in a short space take diuers townes and castles and comming before Carauagia the chiefe City of the country tooke it by force with other townes neere the Riuer Adda The end of the fifth Booke of the fourth Decade The Contents of the sixth Booke of the fourth Decade LOdouico is troubled with the newes of the league betwixt the French King and Venetians against him Alexandria is taken by the French The Milaneses reuolt and Triuulcio entreth Milan for the King The Venetians take Cremona King Lewis comes to Milan The Venetians fleet against Bajazeth It sustaines great hurt by fire The Turke takes Lepanto Lodouico is receiued into Milan by the disloyalty of the Inhabitants Lodouico going forth of Nouara is taken by the French and sent prisoner into France The Venetians great warre with Bajazeth The Venetians through want of winde at sea lose the battaile The Turke takes Modon Coron and the fort of Iunca are yeelded to the Turke on composition Naples in Morea beseeged by the Turke is brauely defended The Isle of Samothrace yeeldeth to the Venetians They take the City of Cephalonia Confederacy betwixt Ladislaus King of Hungary and the Venetians against the Turke Peace betwixt the Venetians and Turke The Portugals traffick to Calicut for spices The castles of Moua and Faenza are re-deliuered to the Venetians The Pope complaines against the Venetians in regard of the Cities of Romagnia And lastly are set downe the Venetians Ambassadors inuectiue to the Emperour Maximillian and French King against the Pope The sixth Booke of the fourth Decade of the History of Uenice THese newes did greatly afflict Lodouico Sforza putting him in feare of his State who lost as it often happeneth in sodaine Aduersities both courage and councell flying to bootlesse and vnprofitable remedies He sent an Ambassador to Venice to vse some meanes to pacifie the Senate This Ambassador comming first to Ferrara Duke Hercules sent one of his Gentlemen before to the Senate with Lodouicos letters intreating them to suffer his Ambassador to come thither The contents of his letters were that himselfe and his brother Ascanio sent an Ambassador to them on great and important affaires requesting them to giue him audience The Senate hauing read both their letters commanded the Ferrarois presently to leaue the City and gaue Lodouicos letters to the French Ambassador At the same time Frederick King of Naples did by his Ambassador acquaint the Senate with his desire to send fiue hundred horse to Lodouicos aide The Senate told the Ambassador that hee should make his King this answer That the Cauallery he intended to send to the Duke of Milan would doe him small good he hauing need of farre greater forces and that if he should send him any they would take it as a wrong done to themselues adding that there was no man liuing who had receiued more fauors and benefits of them then hee which he had requited with ingratefull iniuries That the time was now come when God was his enemy whom hee had so often offended by his disloyalty and periury and that therefore his King should doe much better to leaue him to him selfe In the end Lodouico frustrate of all hope made meanes to the people of Milan who extreamely hated him for his great exactions and hauing assembled them he did acquit and release part of his imposts to them and
be at last enforced to haue recourse vnto him and to doe his pleasure but the Venetians on the contrary continued firme and constant in their alliance hoping by that meanes of the French to be able to maintaine and defend their owne state King Francis in the meane time beganne very carefully to gather together very great summes of mony and to encrease the ordenance of his men at armes to the number of foure thousand publishing abroad that his meaning was not to make warre on any one for that yeare but onely to make head against the Swisses who threatened to assaill Burgondy or Daulphinè if so bee hee should refuse to fullfill the conuentions made at Dijon in the name of the late King Many beleeued it inregard of the example of some late kings who would neuer incomber them selues with new wars the first yeare of their reignes But the Emperor and the King of Arragon were of another opinion in regard of the Kings youth and the greate preparations of warre which King Lewis had left behinde where-vpon because they would not be taken vnprouided they made meanes to confederate themselues with the Pope and the Swisses The Pope delayed it as much as he could The Swisses on the contrary whose heate against the French did not onely continue still but dayly more and more encrease did ally them-selues with the Emperor the King of Arragon and the Duke of Milan for the defence of Italy reseruing place for the Pope to enter wherein was concluded that the Swisses should enuade either Burgondy or Dauphinè and the Catholike King with a mighty army should come in by Fontaraby or Perpignan to the end that the French King beeing assayled at one time in diuers and sundry places might not bee able though hee would to trouble the Dutchy of Milan but should bee enforced to defend his owne country The French Kings intent was for a time kept close vntill the greatnesse of his preparations could by no meanes bee any longer concealed in regard of his huge prouisions of mony with which hee waged very great numbers of Lancequenets hee caused store of Artillery to bee carried towards Lyons and had a while before sent Pedro of Nauarre who was newly come to his seruice into Guyen to leuy ten thousand foot on the marches of Nauarre It being then apparant to all men that warre was prepared for the Dutchy of Milan and that the King determined to goe thether in person he openly craued to haue the Pope to ioyne with him as well by the meanes of Iuliano his brother who was as hath beene already said allied to the King as by his Ambassadors to the end to be assured of his entent But the King soone beganne to bee out of hope as well because the Pope had graunted to the King of Arragon the Croizads of Spaine for two yeares whereby it was thought that hee would raise aboue a Million of gold as by the faire and goodly promises which hee made to those who pleaded for him and yet without any resolution at all besides it was wholy in vayne for hee had already before made a very secret conuention with the others for the defence of the sttaâ—…e of Milan the which neuerthelesse hee would not haue yet to be knowne till such time as he had found out some more apparant preâ—…ence whereby he might say that hee had beene enforced therevnto because the King would not graunt him what hee demanded but the King condescended to all his requests and notwithstanding all this hee made diuers doubtfull and irresolute answers The King not tarying any longer for his replies being come to Lyons accompanied with all the French nobillity made Charles of Burbon Constable of France his Liuetenant Generall to command in the warre if him-selfe went not thither in person whereof hee yet doubted promising to him-selfe the certainety of the victory by reason of his great forces for hee had in his Army two thousand Lancequenets conducted by the Duke of Guelders ten thousand Basques or Gascons eight thousand French and three thousand Castadours For of all the enemies army there was none to bee feared but the Swisses who continually came downe into the Dutchy of Milan so as already more then twenty thousand of them were there arriued tenne thousand of whome being come neere to the mountaines did vndertake to gard the streight passages of those valies against the French This determination of the Swisses did greately trouble the Kings mind because it was an hard matter in regard of the valour of that nation to driue them from those strong and narrow passages The rest of the confederates hauing left sufficient garrison for the defence of those townes which they had snatcht from the Venetians were not able to leuy the one halfe of a stronge Army Whilest France made these preparations vpon the report of the Kings comming into Italy the Viceroy of Naples who for a time had beene at truce with the Venetians in the Vincentine territory made shew to bring backe his army to Verona as hee said to the ayd of the Duke of Milan but it was to seaze on Vincenza in regard of the fit season that then was to make silke wherewith the country doth greatly abound hoping from thence easily to draw meanes to pay his army But Aluiana being aduertized of this deseigne left Padua where hee then lay and passing speedily on the Vincentine Territory leading along with him sufficient troupes to gard the Citty and to breake the enemies enterprise whereby the inhabitants had leasure to gather their silkes and to transport them to a place of safety That done Aluiana retyred towards Padua the Spanish forces dayly encreasing and encamped with Rance de Cera at Brentelles two miles distant from Padua where hee taried many dayes because the Senate had willed him not to stirre from thence with the army before hee were certaine of the enemies purpose to the end not to goe into any place where hee might bee enforced to come to handy stroakes and to tempt fortune fearing if hee should receaue any losse it might happen to keepe backe King Francis who affirmed that the cheefe hope of his designes depended on the Venetians and therefore discoursing with their Ambassador resident with him hee did councell him that his country-men should not hazard ought before his arriuall in Italy it beeing indiscretion to hazard the successe of that warre on a small part of those forces which hee hoped would be great being vnited together Yet notwithstanding the Venetian soldiors made often incursions cheefely the light horse vnder the command of the Captains Mercurio Buono and Giouan de Nalda who did greatly molest the enemies taking great Booties from them as well from Rouigo as on the Veronois In this sort did the two Armies Venetian and Spanish behaue them-selues for a certaine time without any other attempts still expecting newes of the French army
the businesse of the league to the which at last the King after that hee had intelligence that the Emperor would alter none of the Articles of the Capitulations made at Madrid began more to incline and vpon the tenth day or May 1526. it was concluded at Coignac betwixt those of the Councell and the Kings Procurators on the one siâ—…e and the Agents of the Pope and the Venetians on the other The chiefe points of which were That betwixt the Pope the French King the Venetians and the Duke of Milan for whom the Pope and the Venetians promised the ratification there should bee a perpetuall league and confederacy to the end that Francis Sforza might freely enioy the Dâ—…tehy of Miâ—…an and the children of France be set at liberty by receiuing an honorable ransome which the King of England should appoint with other particular obligations concerning the preparations of the warre concluded with the Councell of the Realme before the Kings deliuery In this manner then was the league concluded but it was not presently published because they tarried for the King of Englands resolution whom they desired should bee named one of the cheefe Contractants Therefore the Confederate Princes resolued to send an expresâ—…e message into England to solicite him forth with to declare himselfe against the Emperour in the behalfe of the league Iohn Baptista Sangua a man of singular wisedome went thither from the Pope Iohn lâ—…q iâ—… from the French King and Marc Antonio Veniero for the Venetians But the King of England albeit hee seemed to bee deâ—…ous to listen to that agreement as beeing distasted of the Emperor resolued neâ—… helesse not to make any publick demonstration thereof vntill hee had first of all requested the Emperour Charles to gratifie the Confederates so much as to set the children of the most Christian King at liberty and reâ—…der the state of Milan to Francis Sforza and for want of so dooing to protest against him and to denounce warre in the name of all the confederates Now because it would haue beene too long to haue proceeded after this manner by reason of the difficulties which might haue beene made such as it was it was published with great â—…olemnity they thinking themselues strong enough to abate the Imperiall pride There was at the same time in the Venetians army tenne thousand foot nine hundred men at armes and eight hundred light horse and they daily expected great nombers of Suisses paid partly by the Pope and the Venetians and partly by the French King at whose arriuall they resolued to march to the releefe of the Castle of Milan and to trie if they could take the Citty The Marquis of Salusses on the other side with the French men at armes and tenne thousand foot waged at the common charge of the league was â—…o enter the Dutchy of Milan and to assaile Nâ—…ara and Alexandria whilst in an other place order should be taken for anauall Army The Venetians commanded their Generall and Petro Pesare their Prouidator to goe and encampe speedily at Chiari vpon the Bressan terrritory which was the rendezuous of all their troopes and those of the Pope commanded by Francisco Guicciardin came vpon the Parmesan to the end they might ioyne together and then maâ—…h whether it should be thought fittest for the seruice of the league In the meane time Malateste Baillone with a band of the Venetian troopes marched to Lauda where he had intelligence with Lodouico Visturlin a gentleman of the same Citty and albeit there lay within it fifteene hundred footmen in Garrison he did neuerthelesse with ease seaze on it and became master therof and kept it in the name of Francis Sforza After the taking heereof the whole Venetian army passed the Po and within two dayes after ioyned it selfe with the Popes and all of them together marched directly towards Milan the Duke of Vâ—…bin beeing in great hope to take the Citty because it had beene told him that vpon their arriuall the People would life and take armes in their behalfe and that the Imperialls Captaines â—…ring it had already sent their riches and bagage forth of the Citty meaning forth-with to abandon it And vpon this hope of the people rising and of the enemies disorder Lodouico Earle of Belgie requested the Duke of Vrbin to giue him two thousand footmen with whom he offered to releeue the Castle of Milan Now the Confederates Army beeing come very neere to the Citty was lodged at the Monastery of Paradis towards the Roman gate intending to assaile that surburbe supposing to take it and to lodge there And albeit the enemies made many sallies and hotte skirmishes they were still notwithstanding beaten back by those of the league But the night before the day that the Army should set forward the Duke of Bourbon who not long before was come to Genoa with six Gallies and bills of Exchange for an hundred thousand Ducats entred Milan with eight hundred Spanish foote that he had brought with him He was very much sollicited thereunto by the Marquis of Guasto and Antonio de Leua The Duke of Vrbin at these newes dispayring to take the Citty by assault and fearing some greater disorder if he should tarry any longer there raised his campe and retired in good order vnto Marignan without any losse or empeachment at all The Senate who had conceiued great hope by reason of the armies approach neere Milan that the Castle would be releeued which was reduced to extreame want did greatly wonder and was sorry when it vnderstood by the Prouidators letters that they had raised their campe so that the Duke of Vrbin sent Lodouico Gonsaga to Venice to instiâ—… his actions who being brought into the Senate yeelded a particular account of what had passed and of the occasions which mooued him to proceed in that manner wherewith the Senate was well satisfied but the Pope was nor so easily appeased complaining very much not only of this retreat but likewise of the whole course of the Duke of Vrbins actions who did not vouchsafe in any â—…ort to communicate the affaires of greatest importance to his Lieâ—…enants the which had greatly mooued him so as for to please him the Senate commanded the Duke of Vrbin euer after to communicate with Guiccardin all matters of importance which should be handled in the army On the other side they prepared the nauall army to assaile the sea-townes belonging to the Emperor and to those ends the Venetians hauing appointed Lodouico Armiero for their Prouidator sent him to Corfou wher Iohn Mora the other Prouidator was with the army of which Armiero had commandent to take 12. Gallies and with them to saile towards Rome to ioyne with those of the Pope and the most Christian King that all of them together might direct there course according as they should iudge it to bee necessary and proffitable for the confederates Diuers propositions were made concerning those
a precipitate downefall For the Pope thinking that the Venetians spake for their owne particular interest because hee had forsaken them would not harcken vnto them wherevpon Bourbon within a while after writing to Rome that hee could no longer hold backe the souldiers for want of pay from comming to beseege it he then perceiuing that to bee very true which they had told him al-be-it that at the first hee thought that hee had said so onely but for to draw some greater summes of money from him or else in a brauado and that hee did not meane to breake the truce Also hee was wont to say afterward that though hee should haue feared any sinister accident yet neuerthelesse hee would not haue changed his opinion because hee would not haue the world to knowe that hee had beene deceiued by trusting to any one Now hee imagining that the same would not come to passe which did happen had already appointed Matheo Guilberto his Datary to goe as Legate into Spaine to treat particularly there on the conditions of peace The Venetians beeing aduertized of the Popes resolution did write to the Duke of Vrbin that hee should assemble his troupes and ioyne them with those of the Marquis of Salusses that were on the Bolognois They afterwards sent to Sebastian Iustiniaâ—… their Ambassadour with the Christian King willing him to assure his Maiesty that al be-it the Pope had forsaken them that they would neuer depart from his friendship and that if hee thought good to accept of the truce they would likewise accept of it and not otherwise The Pope in the treaty of the accord which the Viceroy had reserued place for the Venetians to enter into it because they had not shewed themselues much contrary to the truce the better to please him who beeing vnited with the most Christian King were very well contented not for to breake off wholly with him hoping still to draw him to their party for they made more account of the friendship of France then of all the rest wherevpon perceiuing that the King did not willingly giue eare to this truce they would no more motion it But concerning his proposition to them to renue the warre in the Realme of Naples they did very much commend the reprizall of armes but not to goe into that Kingdome saying That they had there lost the good will of the people and their reputation by yeelding vp thorow the Popes separating himselfe from them all the townes which they had there taken but that the surest and proffitablest way for the present was to prepare for the defense and conseruation of that which they possessed in Lombardy if the accord should happen to bee made An if it should fall out otherwise it should bee for the profit of the league to haue the Cities of the Churches state and the Florentines at their deuotion Now the Imperiall army notwithstanding the agreement conceiued at Rome betwixt the Pope and the viceroy went still forward although that Caesar Fieramosca had signified vnto them the agreement to cause them to returne backe For the Duke of Bourbon at the same time either because hee would not obey or else it beeing not in his power to doe it caused his army to march towards Romagnia where he beseeged Cottignola the which hee tooke by composition then marching towards Furli hee came and lodged at Villafranca fiue miles off and taking the way of Meldola he shewed that his meaning was to passe Tuscany by the Val di bagna wherevnto he was much solicited by the Sienois who offred him great store of victuals and pioners The Venetians hauing notice of the enemies determination sent word to the Duke of Vrbin that leauing strong Garrisons in the territories belonging to their State hee should passe on with the residâ—…e of the army to assure the lands of the Church and the Florentines and to oppose himselfe against the Imperials deseignes The Duke of Vrbiâ—… according to this direction being come with part of the army neere to Bolognia and the Marquis of Salusses likewise beeing lodged in sundry places hee passed on towardes Imola and encamped betwixt Rauenna and Faenza at the same time as the enemy departed from Cottignola It was there a long time debated amongst the captaines of the league what course to obserue in that warre and in the end it was concluded to haue two seuerall campes the better and with more ease to cut off all victuals from the enemies to what place soeuer they should march The Pope taxing this councell did neuerthelesse make vse of it vnder collour of his rash agreement saying That the slow proceeding of those of the league for the preseruation of that which beelonged vnto him had enforced him for to take an other course for his safety Now the Pope who contrary to all mens opinions had still thought himselfe safe enough beeing then strangely daunted by this new aduertizement called before him all the Ambassadours of the Confederate Princes which were in his Court and after hee had declared to them on the one side how that the zeale to the publike good but chiefly necessity had enforced him to accept the truce and on the other the malicious deceit of the Imperialls towardes him did earnestly entreat them to make intercession for him to their Princes that they would not forsake him nor the Florentines likewise in so manifest daunger to the great hurt and preiudice of the common cause and hee did particularly entreat Dominico Veniero Ambassadour at Rome for the Signory of Venice that hee would so deale with the Senate as that they should commaund the Duke of Vrbin to passe the Appenine hils with his army promising to renue the league and sincerely to obserue it The Senate vpon this proposition al-be-it they iudged it to bee a very dangerous matter to send their troupes so farre off from their owne State and to aduenture them in the craggy mountaines and that besides the Pope had not giuen them any cause to take care for his affaires in regard hee had forsaken them continuing neuerthelesse in their former resolution commanded the Duke of Vrbin and Lodouico Pisani who was come to the army as new Prouidator to passe the mountes if neede should require wherevpon so soone as the Imperiall army had passed the mounts that of the Confederates followed it so as almost at one time the two armies were in Tuscany the Duke of Bourbon beeing then lodged neere to Arezzo and the Confederates army at Barberina the City of Florence remayning in a manner in the middest betwixt these two armies This was the cause of great troubles in the Citty some crauing a popular gouernment and others would haue that of a few priuate persons wherevpon the greatnesse of those of Medicis came to controuersie and the popular faction would aâ—… least haue preuailed those of Medicis beeing driuen from the publike gouernment and Hippolito and Alessandro of Medicis the
any enterprize which the King had often promised should bee done and especially at that time when there was more need then euer to stoppe the Emperours passage into Italy by offering him great resistance at his entry or by enforcing him to looke to the defense of Spaine assailed by the way of the Pirenean mountaines as was resolued which the Venetians did most of all pursue thinking thereby to breake the Emperors deseigne of comming into Italy But they peceiuing that the King did rather encline to the warre of Italy they were in great hope that at one time the warre might be renued in Lombardy and in the Realme of Naples and before that the Emperours aide should arriue to make some notable progression Vpon these hopes the Senate sent for the Duke of Vrbin to come to Venice where in the presence of the Ambassadours of France and the Duke of Milan and of one of the Lord Saint Pauls Gentlemen they might consult and aduise on meanes to make warre where in the end was concluded before all other matters to pursue the enterprize of Milan by seege rather then by assault by surprizing all the neighbour townes and places to reduce the army of Antonio de Leua to want of victuals And for this purpose it was likewise decreed for to haue twenty thousand foot-men in their army namely about some eight thousand in the French troupes and asâ—… many in those of the Venetians two thousand from the Duke of Milan and two thousand Lansequenets which they daylie expected from Lyons leauied already at the common charge and as for the enterprize of Genoa they determined for to pursue it according vnto the aptnesse of time and the successe of Lombardie Now because that the whole safety of the affaires of Italy did depend vpon the stopping of the Emperours comming thither they resolued to augment they most that might bee the French and Venetian nauall armies and especially of great vessels which might easily resist that of the Emperours which was composed of the like to the end that the Emperour vnderstanding the difficulty of his iourney might absteine from comming In the meane time they had notice that the King had changed his purpose meaning for to make warre on the Emperour on the hither side of the mounts vpon the Confines of Spaine as had beene before determined at which newes the Senate beeing assembled to dispatch Anâ—…ré Nouagera newly chosen Ambassadour to the French King the Senators were diuided in opinion whether to perswade the King to come in person into Italy or to send his army towards the Pirenean mountaines to enuade Spaine The matter being debated in open councell where Moceniga on the one side a man of authority and well acquainted with affaires of State and Mark-Antonio Cornare a man of great vnderstanding on the other being heard diuersly to maintaine the one and other opinion that of Cornare preuailed whereby they decreed to enioyne the Ambassador Nouagera to perswade the King or if he were already enclined therevnto to incite him more to depart forthwith and to come into Italy Nouagera being come into France did not faile to doe that which had beene resolued in the councell whereof there had beene sundry opinions hoping to obtaine that which he had propounded because the King had heard him with good attention and greatly commended his councell as determining to put it in practize and for that purpose the King did meane within a while after to come into Languedoc to reduce all the forces that were there into the next and neerest place to Italy whether he promised to goe being followed besides twenty thousand foot-men with tenne thousand Lansquenets and tenne thousand Pioners The Kings departure being in this manner held for assured the Senate resolued that Nouagera should remaine in France nere to the Lady Regent the Kings mother and that Sebastian Iustiniano whom Nouagera was sent to succeed should follow the King into Italy The Senate in the meane time did with speed make all necessary preparations for the renuing of the warre making account that at the latter end of Aprill the Republikes army should goe before and beeing ioyned with that of the Lord Saint Paul should march to the enterprize of Milan which being executed the Emperours comming would seeme to be wholly broken and by meanes of this victory and by the helpe of the army and the Kings presence they supposed to be afterwards able to take the city of Genoa with ease and any other deseigne that they pleased to execute The Venetians at the same time were very carefull to prouide for the guarde of the places which they held in Puglia by sending for that purpose into the same country great numbers of foot-men to preserue whatsoeuer they there possessed and to attempt to make some farther progression if occasion should be offered and also for to keepe the Imperiall forces busied and diuided farre from Lombardy This great heate of the Kings beganne by little and little without any apparent cause to coole and the prouisions for warre to goe slowly forward wherevpon money was sent very sparingly from France to the Lord Saint Paul who despayring in a manner of beeing able to entertaine the army protested that hee would gette him gonne and leaue all seeing that of tenne thousand men whom hee ought to haue hee had scarce the one halfe by reason that being badly paied they left the campe in troupes At the last the Lord Chastillon who had beene long expected came to the campe with lesse store of money then was needfull and within a few daies after he left the campe and went to Venice saying that hee would goe into Puglia to assure the troupes that were there and to carry them a certaine summe of money for which iourney the Senate hauing speedily commanded some vessels to bee made ready according vnto his request hee did daily with many eâ—…euses delay his departure which gaue a suspition that hee had neither money nor any good will for to goe into Puglia but that hee gaue out that hee would goe thither because hee would not breake off the prouisions which the 〈◊〉 had already made The King doubting the matter and knowing how great cause hee gaue them to suspect did within a while after send Iohn Iaquin his Ambassadour to Venice to soliciâ—…e the departure of the army with the other prouisions for war without making any mention at all of the Kings so much desired comming which did so highly import them This did greatly encrease the Venetians suspition and did infinitely trouble them in regard of the daungers which threatned them from the Emperour and also for that this delay did cause them to loose the fruite of so many hopes their army remayning vnprofitable on the shore of the Riuer Adda because that it was not able alone to execute the enterprize of Milan The Senate neuerthelesse did not cease still to arme soliciting
the King for that wherewith hee cause lesly did presse them and for this end they chose Gâ—…sparo Pineli Secretary to the Signory to goe speedily into France to giue the King to vnderstand that for their part all things were in readinesse to renue the warre and that there was nothing wanting but his presence promising to send forthwith their troupes to meet him to the end that with greater safety and speed they might execute some notable enterprize At the same time the Bandetti of the Realme of Naples came into the field in sundry places of the Kingdome and did extreamely presse the Imperials whereby Rance de Cera did promise to himselfe some good successe being supplied with money and with certaine foot companies he had by sundry messengers acquainted the King therewith who from him did represent vnto his Maiesty the State of the affaires that he might obtaine the supplies that he craued the which albe it they were promised to be sent with the army were neuerthelesse delayed from day to day to the great preiudice of their league by giuing time to the Imperials to renue and augment their forces for the report of the Emperours comming had caused diuers Barons and people of the Kingdome to change their purposes diuers of them being desirous to insinuate themselues into his fauour some to obtaine pardon and others to get offices and immunities in the Realme so that the Prince of Orange being gonne into Abruzzo recouered Aquila by composition by drawing forth of the city and the whole country neere adioying an hundred thousand Ducats for the payment of his army from thence he sent forces to Matriâ—…a where Camillo Parde lay in Garrison with foure hundred foot-men who beeing gon forth thereof a little before promising to returne so soone as the Imperials should approach it the foot-men that were within it went ouer the walls and left it whereby the towne was yeelded This notwithstanding the successe of the Imperials was not so good in Puglia where treason being secretly practized in Barletta and discouered Iulio of Naples captaine of certaine foot forces and some of the townesmen as authors and complices of the Rebellion were put to death Besides the Venetians hauing drawne horse-men forth of Greece into the same Prouince they ioyned with those o Simon Romano and all of them together scouring the Country did assure it and kept the waies open to victuals hauing driuen Pignatello Count of Borella forth of the whole Prouince Now the Marquis of Guasto beeing come into Puglia would not deale with Barletta a very strong and well fortified city but went and encamped before Monopoli with foure thousand Spaniards and two thousand Italians and lodged in a small bottome couered by the mountaine so as he could not be hurt with the towne ordnance wherein lay Camillo Vrsino Andre Gritti gouernor of the city and Iohn Vitturt the Prouidator vnto whom Rance de Cera forthwith sent three hundred foot-men by the Gallies The Marquis then caused a great Bastion to bee made right ouer against the walles within Harguebuze shot and two others vpon the sea shore on each side one Then hauing battered the towne and made a breach hee gaue an assault where he lost aboue fiue hundred men and great numbers of Pioners with three peeces of ordnance that were broken wherevpon he retired a mile and halfe further off because that the cities ordnance did him much hurt in the place where he was lodged which caused the Venetians to sally forth and to assaile the bastions that he had made where they slue aboue an hundred men and then they assured the Hauen by a bastion made vpon their shore opposite to that of the enemies The Marquis being newly returned before Monopoli and hauing made two Caualiers with two trenches two hundred foot men sallied forth of the towne and burned his workes After that the Marquis making an other approach on the right side of the battery and causing a bastion to be made behind he planted the ordnance vpon it and did beate downe three score fathome of the wall within foure fathome of the ground but hauing intelligence that new companies had entred the towne the same night sent by Rance de Cera he withdrew his ordnance and at last discamped wherevpon being come to Conuersa he afterwards retired to Naples The braue resistance of Monopoli and the retreate of the Marquis did greatly encourage the Confederates so that diuers Barons and others repenting that they had gonne to the Imperial party shewed themselues very ready for a new rebellion the which emboldened the souldiers and captaines of the league to vndertake some enterprize This being reported to the Senate perceiuing that their nauall army remained idle at Corfou expecting the arriuall of the French army they commaunded their Generall to saile into Puglia where beeing arriued he cast ankor neere to Brundusium hoping as it came to passe that those of the towne prouoked by a particular affection towards the Venetians would forthwith yeeld The city beeing yeelded on conditions was preserued from spoile and from all wrongs of the souldiers and Iohn Francisco Iustinian was made gouernour thereof as Magistrate for the Signory and presently afterwards they begannâ—… to batter the castles the charge thereof was committed to Camillo Vrsino who hauing in short space brought them to a streight passe could not for all that enforce them to yeeld by reason of their hope ere long to see the Imperiall nauy vpon that sea The Venetian army in the meane time did from the Cape of Otranto molest the whole country to the great hurt of the Imperials Simon Romano died at that exploite who was a valiant and couragious person The affaires standing at this stay the Prince of Orange knowing that the Confederates forces were not so meane and weake as they could easily bee driuen forth of the Realme neither yet so mighty as they were able to make any progression of great importance Or perhaps because that the Emperour would haue the Popes content preferred before all other matters that hee might haue him for his friend and confederate at his comming into Italy after that he had put strong garrisons into the most important places he turned with the residue of his forces towards Perusa to driue Malateste Baillone thence and from thence to enter into Tuscany to restore those of Medicis to their country The behauiour and approaches of the Prince did cause the Duke of Vrbin to suspect that he went about to enuade his State wherevpon he departed sodainly from the army to goe and prouide for his owne territories The Venetians were not well pleased with their Generalls departure in so trouble some a season as well for their owne interests as for feare of the suspition of the French who by that accident taking some occasion of a feigned suspition might grow slow in the prouisions for warre Therefore the Senate determined with
should obtaine it at his owne priuat request it importing him so highly as hee could not otherwise redeeme his children from the Emperor who were one day to succeed him in the Kingdome The Senate answered that it did still continue in that good will and affection which it had euer borne to the King and Crowne of France the Republike being in a manner ioyned to that Kingdome by an indissoluable band in regard of sundry faire reciprocall offices and common interests that they could not deny but that they had greatly desired to haue beene comprehended in that accord made with the Emperor not so much for the prouiding for their owne safety as for to take away all suspition that they were in any fault or that the Common-wealth had not sound intelligence and correspondeâ—…cy with the Crowne of France Yet neuer-the-lesse they did so much rely vpon the Kings goodnesse and wisdom as they hoped by his interposing of his authoritie with the Emperor to obtaine peace and assurance which they so much desired But concerning the restitution of the Citties of Puglia it was euident that they were not tyed to doe it by any bond seeing that the King had concluded peace without comprehending them therein hauing thereby absolued them from the bond of the Confederacy by which was expresly mentioned that the King could not make any accord withouâ—… them Yet they neuer-the-lesse desired to giue him therein some satisfaction but hee was to tarry for some opportunity how to doe it seeing that the deliuery of my Loâ—…ds his children was to bee made within two moneths by which time they hoped to finde some meanes to compose the strife betwixt the Emperoâ—… and them whereby the same businesse might in like manner by the same meanes be finished to the Kings content Vpon this answer the King dispatcht the Admirall into Italy to exhort him to vniuersall peace and cheefely to make an accord with the Venetians by meanes whereof hee hoped to bee able to accomplish the conditions of the Treaty of Cambray by causing the Citties of Puglia to be rendered to him hauing already for his part begun that which belonged vnto him to execute by commanding Rance de Cera with all his companies to depart forth of Puglia hauing consigned into the hands of the Emperors commissioners all the places which hee held in his name in the Realme of Naples by perswading like-wise the Venetian officers to doe the like But they being before aduertized of the Senates intention had refused so to doe At this stay stood the affaires of Italy at that time The Emperor being in armes and very mighty the Pope his friend and Confederate the other Potentates of Italy being in a manner ready to obay him and the French wholy chaced forth of Italy for albeit they had not as yet layde downe their armes it was neuer-the-lesse mentioned in the Treaty that the King should no more medle with the affaires of Italy nor Germany in the behalfe of any Potentates to the preiudice of the Emperor The Venetians alone in the middest of so many difficulties made preparations to resist the Emperor if so be that he were desirous as it was thought he would bee to seaze vpon the State of Milan therefore their confederacy being broken with all others they did newly reuiue it with Francis Sforza exhorting him to take courrage and to hope well meaning in his behalfe to employ all their forces The end of the eighth Booke of the fifth Decade The Contents of the ninth Booke of the fifth Decade FIRST Soliman taketh Armes to restore Iohn Vayuode into the kingdome of Hungary with the taking of Belgrade The insurrection of the Hereticks in Germany A motion of peace betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians The enteruiew of the Pope and the Emperor at Bolognia Accord betwixt the Emperor and the Duke of Milan Accord made betwixt the Emperor and the Venetians Warre against the Florentines Pope Clement crowneth the Emperor at Bolognia Confederacy betwixt the Pope the Emperor the Venetians and the Duke of Milan The Marquisat of Mantua is made a Dutchy The Venetians send Ambassadors to Constantinople to be present at the Circumcision of Solimans children being by him entreated to that end The Almains demand a councell and the Popes answer therevnto The Emperor graunteth the Interim in Germany concerning religion vntill a councell were called Solimans great deseigns against Christendome The Venetians make great preparations and stand vpon their gard The Venetians resolue to remaine newter in the warre betwixt the Emperor and Soliman The Kings of France and England determine to make warre vpon the Emperor Soliman returneth into Hungary with a great army The Emperor commeth likewise with a great Army neere to the Citty of Vienna there to tarry for the Turke The Nauall Armies of the Emperor and Soliman Coron and Patras are taken by the Imperial army The Duke of Ferrara recouereth Modena Regio A second enteruiew of the Pope and Emperor at Bolognia The Venetians refuse to renew the league being satisfied with the former and not meaning to adde anything to it And lastly a new league concluded betwixt the Pope the Emperor and all the Potentates of Italy the Venetians excepted The Ninth Booke of the fifth Decade of the Historie of Uenice WHILEST Italy was in alarme by reason of the Emperors arriuall with such great prouisions Soliman the Turkish Emperor resolued to restore Iohn Vayuode King of Hungary to his Kingdome from whence Fernand had expulsed him and being entired to this end with a mighty army vpon the Confines of Hungary he came and encamped before Buda which he tooke with ease then hee caused his Cauallery to scoure the Champaine Country of Austria spoyling all places that were subiect to the Arch duke threatening him that hee would within a while after encampe with all his forces before Vienna Wherevpon hee caused great preparations of victualls and warlike engins to be made to send them thither by Danuby These newes did greatly trouble the Emperor perceiuing that it concerned his reputation and the safety of the States of the Empire not to suffer so mighty an enemy to come so neere him besides the trouble and care whereto his brother was reduced whilest hee busied him-selfe in matters of meaner consequence as spectator of the eminent dangers oâ—… his whole house and subiects This mischeefe was followed by an other as great for his brother aduertized him that the Sect of Hereticks did very much encrease in Germany that they were assembled in great troupes and made shew of great innouation and that if they were not speedily preuented by rooting them wholy out it was to bee feared that some great hurt would redound to the Catholike Religion which would preiudice the temporall States of Princes and cheefly those of the Empire These occasions being well weighed caused the Emperor to condescend to peace and to pursue it in effect the which desire at the
the feare likewise for their owne State the Turke waxing so mighty a neighbour on the other side their doubt not to finde in the Christian Princes such steadfast constancy as to expose themselues to necessary trauailes and dangers held them backe so as in this diuersity of opinions they answered the Pope that the Venetian Senate had euer desired and sought the good of Christendome but as the same did sodainely incite them to vndertake all matters for the seruice thereof euen so they were sory that the condition of the times and the particular estate of â—…heir affaires would not permit them to shew it in effect That the greatest Princes of Christendome were at the same time at discord and dissention amongst themselues so as it could not be promised that they would vnite themselues against that common enemy that the forces alone of the Signory were to weake to march against him besides that their State for the space of two thousand miles from the Isle of Ciprus unto the end of Dalmatia was neere neighbour to the Turkes where there were ordinarily great numbers of Citizens and much wealth a matter with indeed did enforce them to temporize with them and kept them from so easily declaring themselues their enemies That they did therefore much commend the Popes goodnesse and wisedome for that he did so well foresee and prouide for the perills of Christendome And that they did hope that their excuses would bee entertained of all men as most iust and reasonable Ferdinand in the meane time al-be-it he perceiued that all these treaties of league would come to nothing yet neuerthelesse promising vnto himselfe to bee able to obtaine by armes a more aduantageous peace then that which King Iohn had propounded vnto him contemned all treaties that were offered by reason that hee had beene declared King of Romaines in the assembly at Colein and thereby successor to his brother Charles in the Empire and had moreouer obtained sundry aides in the Diets held at Lins and at Prague beside the great help which he hoped to haue from his brother The Venetians neuerthelesse without giuing ouer their former proposition of peace hauing sent their Ambassadours vnto Ferdinand for to congratulate in the common-wealths name his new dignity caused him to entertaine the motion of peace exhorting him to embrace it and to answere the hope which men had conceiued of him that as a wise and vertuous Prince he would haue the peace and quiet of Christendome in singular recommendation All those that had regard to the publike good and did neerely consider the conditions of those times desired peace because they did fore-see that great warres and calamities would arise in other places by reason that the Kings of France and England perceiuing a goodly occasion offered to enuade the Emperours dominions who was enforced to turne his forces against the Turkes to defend the Estates of his house and the Empire did practize sundry waies to make warre vpon him the one beeing prouoked with an antient desire to recouer the State of Milan and the other for a disdaine newly conceiued against Charles for defending his Aunts cause wife to the King whom he had put away that hee might marry with an other therefore they had ioyntly practized the German Princes who did not greatly affect the Emperour and in the meane time they armed so as it seemed that they tarried for nothing else to make warre vpon him but till the Turke should beginne and thereby draw the Emperors forces into another place according to their common report Soliman who had dayly intelligence of the Christian Princes deseignes much esteeming the selfe same occasions to see the Emperour at one time busied in diuers and sundry places seemed euery day to be more resolute to defend and maintaine the Realme of Hungary for King Iohn his friend and Confederate desiring to recouer his reputation which he supposed he had lost at his retreat from before Vienna At the beginning then of the yeere 1532. the Turke being come to Andrinople acquainted all men what way he ment to take but before his departure shewing both in word and deed what great account he made of the Venetians friendship he called home the great Gallies which he kept in Soria and Alexandria for the aboue mentioned causes and freely suffered them to traffick in all places as they were wont to doe caring no more to reduce the trade to Constantinople Then being carefull to raise his army he sent for all the Spaches from Greece these are horse-men vnto whom the Prince giueth for wages the possession of certaine lands during their liues to come to him with their armes and horse he demanded likewise of the Tartarians Valachians and Transiluanians the aide which by their confederacies they were bound to send him so as marching into the field and being come vpon the confines of Hungary he found that there were a hundred and fifty thousand fighting men in his army amongst whom the most esteemed were twenty thousand Ianissaries who fight on foote being brought vp from their youth in the exercize of martiall discipline Soliman then being arriued with his whole army before Belgrade a City seated in low Hungary he caused it to be published that he would enforce the Emperour to come to battaile with him promising to himselfe easily to vanquish him threatning with insolent speeches to driue him forth of Germany and to make himselfe Lord of all the States of the Westerne Empire which as he said belonged vnto him as true Emperor and Lord of Constantinople Vpon the report of the Turkes arriuall the Emperour Charles likewise hauing assembled a mighty army from all parts of Christendome and such an one as in the memory of man the like had not beene seene went and encamped before the city of Vienna determyning there to attend the enemy All men were attentiue to see what would be the issue of this warre especially the Venetians who vnder-hand sauored the Christian party hauing suffered their subiects to goe as of themselues to the Emperors army The effects neuerthelesse of these two great armies were farre otherwise then were the expectation and feare which men had because that Soliman entring very late into Hungary beeing not able to come sooner as well in regard of the greatnesse of his preparations as for the distance of the way did not directly march towards the Emperours army but hauing onely made a shew of warre and some few incursions hee returned to Constantinople The Emperour who had not stirred from before the walles of Vienna not going forth to met the the Turkes notwithstanding that he had intelligence of their approches being assured of their retreat did on a sodaine breake vp his army and burning with an extreame desire to returne into Spaine after that he had left certaine Italian foot-men with his brother and some numbers of Lansquenets hee tooke his iourney into Italy from
from the English and the other hauing called the Protestant Princes to the Dyet of Ratisbon to treat of affaires concerning Religion although he were there in person could not induce them to decree or conclude any thing but whereas at the beginning it seemed that they would haue beene satisfied to haue had the councell held in the city of Trent whither they promised to send their Doctors to treat of matters concerning faith and afterwards to hold and embrace what there should be decided they did then craue first of all to haue a nationall councell held in Germany and if afterwards it should happen to be referred to that of Trent that the assembly might on all sides be free with diuers other exorbitant and vnreasonable demands This caused the Pope no more to feare the councell and to assure the State of Parma and Placencia to his sonne the Emperor Princes and people of Germany hauing turned their thoughts to other matters determining to end that controuersie by armes The end of the fourth Booke of the sixth Decade The Contents of the fist Booke of the sixth Decade THE Venetians goe about to diuert the Pope from taking armes against the Protestants The Venetians grant passage thorow their Territories to the Pope and the Emperors Soldiors who were the Protestants partakers The Venetians refuse to lend mony to the Duke of Saxon and Lantgraue of Hesse The Protestants take the Castle of Chiusa to stop the Italians passage The cause of the losse and ouerthrow of the Protestants What the Venetian Gentlemen are with their prerogatiues The commotion of the Sienois against the Spaniards Petro Lodouico Duke of Parma and Placentia is murthered The Death of Francis the first French King The death of Henry the eight King of England The occasion of the new warre betwixt the French and the English Horacio Farnese marrieth the daughter of Henry the French King The Venetians being solicited by the Pope and the French King against the Emperour continue Neuters The Popes great perplexities Soliman takes armes against the Persian making truce with Christian Princes Contention betwixt the Emperor and the French King concerning the Truce with the Turke Controuersy about the Place wherein the councell should bee held The death of Pope Paul the third with the election of Pope Iulius the third Horatio Farnese committeth him-selfe and his family into the French Kings protection Great warre in Italy concerning Parma and Placentia The Publication of the Councel of Trent Pietro Strozzi his pollicy to reuictuall Parma The German Princes Treate with the French King against the Emperor The French King being incensed against the Pope forbidd◅th the Annates in France The Turkes warre in Hungary and Transil◅ania All Germany in league against the Emperor and his brother Ferdinand to free him selfe from the warre with the Turkes offereth to pay him tribute for Transiluania And lastly the murther of Frier George Cardinall of the Sea Apostolike The fift Booke of the sixt Decade of the History of Uenice THE Pope perceauing the Emperor to be distasted of the Protestants as hath beene said began to heate him more by promising to aid him with great numbers both of horse and foote paid by the Sea Apostolike The Senate from the beginning vsed meanes to appease the Pope and to diuert him from medling in that warre the which it thought could bring no good to Italy and there was small hope to preuaill by force in matter of Relligion For all the free townes of Germany hauing declared them-selues for the Protestant Princes fearing that the Emperor vnder other pretences went about to subiugate them Germany on the other side standing badly affected to the Pope and Court of Rome it was to be feared and not without cause that the same fierce and warlike nation would by reason ther of make incursions into Italy where they that had in no sort delt in that businesse were to smart for it Or if the Emperor should happen to quell Germany hee by that victory growing more mighty both in forces and reputation his greatnesse would proue fearefull to the Princes of Italy But the Senate knowing him to be resolute therein and that being prickt forward by two mighty spurrs Feare and Hope concerning the affaires of state of his own greatnesse and that of his house he would not embrace any councell contrary to his owne opinion did for beare to speake vnto him any more concerning that matter but vpon the Pope and Emperors motion vnto it about that exterprize by their Ambassadors it made a modest answer because it would not vainely offend the Emperor without praising or dispraising it being not willing to giue any occasion to be requested to aide him Yet neuerthelesse it was certainly reported that the Common-wealth had promised at the conclusion of the league at Rome to giue paiment for fiue thousand footemen which was most false The Venetians being desirous in some sort to content these Princes in any thing which was not of expence and being intreated so to doe did promise free passage to the Popes soldiers who being assembled at Bolognia to the number of twelue thousand footmen and fiue hundred horse were to passe thorrow the Territory of Verona to goe to Trent the like was done to the Emperors forces who for their mony were furnished with victualls and other necessaries The best and brauest soldiers of all Italy were in the Popes Army whereof Octania Farnese his Nephew was Generall who was a yong Lord of great hope But that of the Emperor was composed of sundry nations namely of diuers Almans drawne forth of the patrimonial States of the house of Austria frō those of the Dukes of Bauaria and Cleues and the Marquis Albert of Brandenbourg who did follow the Emperors party so that the whole number of his forces were forty thousand footemen and fiue thousand horse The Protestant Princes made preparations at the same time the cheife of whom were Iohn Fredericke Duke of Saxony one of the Electors of the Empire and Phillip Lantgraue of Hesse who saying that they would defend the liberty of Germany which Charles went about to vsurpe as they said did draw vnto their parts diuers of the greatest Lords and Citties of Germany as the Duke of Wittemberg the Count Palatin another Elector with the Common-wealthes of Argentine Vlmes Francfort and Norimberg the Citty of Ausbourg hauing a long time before declared it selfe in their behalfe all which hauing resolued to hold a diet at Vlmes did send their Ambassadors and Commissioners thither to treat particularly of the preparations for warre where the concourse of all Germany was such as they leuied a very great army of fourescore thousand footmen and tenne thousand horse with which forces they promised vnto themselues to be able to ouercome those of the Emperor and to driue him forth of Germany in regard hee was not able to assemble Germaine forces comparable to theirs They feared
this word faction hatcht at Rome about Ecclesiasticall dignities might afterwards slippe among them and infect the Common-wealth and this is the reason why they haue abstained from it Now after a long strife Giouan Maria Cardinall of Monte was for his sanctity created Pope who was borne at Mont S. Seue inâ—… in Tuscany a man who obteining the dignity of Cardinal not by fauour of Nobility or help of kindred was reputed to be very vertuous and especially to be a man newter the Venetians being very ioyfull for this election were perswaded that he depending no more on the Emperor then on the French King they might procure him to hold them both for friends and mediate likewise betwixt them and especially in Italy a firme peace Wherevpon the Senate did speedily write to Matteo Dandulo their Ambassador at Rome to congratulate Pope Iulâ—…us for so the new Pope would be termed who was the third of that name with great demonstration of friendship and entire affection then within a while after determining to send a solemne Ambassage to him to present their vsual and due obedience foure of the chiefe Senators were chosen namely Philippo Tron Francesco Contaren Marc-Antonio Venieri and Nicolao de Ponte But the effects did in no sort answer the hope which men had conceiued of this new Pope and especially in that all men did expect desire namely that he would appease the troubles prouide for the quiet of Christendom and for the safety of Italy For addicting himselfe to buildings and other vaine matters he seemed to contemne serious things and such as beseemed the ranck grade which he held and the miserable condition of those times in which Christendome was in diuerse places much afflicted For notwithstanding that peace ensued betwixt France and England all men did neuerthelesse perceiue that the same peace was the beginning of a farre greater warre For 〈◊〉 the French King beeing greedy of Fame and finding him-selfe freed from the warre with the English hauing recouered the towne of Bulloigne could not long liue in quiet for Horatio Farnese comming into France to entreate his Maiestie to take his house himselfe and brother into his protection and to defend and keepe the Citty of Parma things which had beene already motioned by others he was very kindly welcommed and the King did embrace his protection vpon certaine conditions beeing desirous to disturbe the peace of Italy whereby he might afterwards haue a more open occasion to take armes against the Emperor hoping more-ouer although the matter fell out very diuersly that it would open him away either to vnite himselfe more strictly with the Pope or at least to disioyne him from the Emperor by taking vpon him to defend a vassall of the Church whom the Emperor went about to oppresse and ruine the Popes entreaties beeing of no force to make him desist from his enterprise by meanes whereof fire was already much kindled in the heart of Italy King Ferdinand on the other side hoping vnder coullor of some contention betwixt the Barons of the Realme of Hungary and certaine rebellion hapned in Transiluania to bee able to impatronize that Prouince departed from Augustâ—… vpon sundry promises of ayde which the Emperor had made to him the better to induce him to quit the succession of the Empire to his sonne Philip and went into Austria where he had already assembled a Dyet to leuy men and money for such an enterprize it was besides reported that Soliman at his returne from Persia to Constantinople could not endure that the young King of Hungary who was vnder his protection should be so dispoiled of part of his dominions as also for that hee accounted the fiue yeares truce to haue beene broken by Doria who â—…ad taken certaine places froâ—… him in Affrick held by Dragut which he had manned with Spanish Garrisons â—…o that all these things beeing exactly considered were presages of great warres These accidents did greatly displease the Venetians and by so much the more as they were in hope to prolong the truce for a longer time Soliman beeing come to Constantinople beeing willing to shew how desirous hee was to continue friend to the Venetians sent a Chiaus to Venice to acquaint them with his returne from Persia with his happy successe exâ—…olling according to the manner of that nation all his exploits done there saying That in regard hee found the Persians stronger then he expected his attempts had not succeeded to his desire The Senate beeing desirous still to enterteine Solimans friendship resolued to do the like by him and to send an Ambassador to his Port wherevpon Catherin Zene was appointed to that end who although he was foure score and foure yeares of age did not refuse to vndertake so long and tedious a iourney for the seruice of his counâ—…rey His Ambassage was to great purpose for by his wisdom he caused to be troden vnder foot the complaints which the Turkes made for the death of Saba Râ—…is so often reiterated wherevpon Soliman promised that it should neuer more bee remembred In this manner was the yeare 1550. spent famous of it selfe ouer all Christendome it beeing the yeare of Iubilee but it was more noted by the publication of the Councell of Trent whither speedily from all places diuerse Prelates began to come then there hapned a great dearth of corne which was in a manner generall but greater in Italy then in other places whereby it behooued Princes to open their treasures for the reliefe of their poore subiects and in particular the Signiory of Venice who prouiding with singular bounty and affection for the necessity of the people of the Citty and other their subiects gaue great guifts to such as brought come to Venice to prouoke those of forraine countries to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 which was afterwards distributed among other Townes of their obedience The yeare following 1551. did open great warres ouer all Italy whereof the Pope by his 〈◊〉 rather then of malice was the chiefe Author who by little and little falling from his first resolution did publish monitories against Octanio Farnese of whom not long before himselfe had taken vpon him the defense and tuition accusing and cursing the French Kings protection of the citty of Parma although that according to the common report when hee was made acquainted therewith hee seemed to allow it or at least in no sort to contradict it Hee did not consider how that by his ordinary reuiling of the French and the Farneses he did enforce them to league themselues more strictly together and to augment their forces which hee hauing no meanes to resist in that hee had not prouided in time was enforced to haue recourse to the Emperor who for the very selfe same matter of Parma was displeased with him Hee was by little and little falne into these inconueniences by the craft of the the Imperials vnknowne to him his owne seruants in
dilligence and industry of Petro Mosto the Senator deputed at that time to the office of La Sanita The pestilence was followed by a dearth and want of victuals proceeding from a suspition that the sicknesse still continued by meanes whereof strangers did no more bring any thing to the city At the same time Pope Paul the fourth a bad friend to the Spaniards did imprison in Castle Saint Angelo the Cardinall Santa Fior Camillo Colonna Iuliano Caesaren and the Abbot of Bresegna all of them enemies to the house of France for secret assemblles which they made in Rome in the houses of Marc-Antonio Colonna and that Cardinall Marc-Antonio escaping went to the King of Spaine who presently commanded the Duke of Alua to releeue them This Duke being Viceroy of Naples was greeued to see the Pope openly to pursue the Roman Lords Spaines partizans and being desirous to obey the King his Masters commandement marched into the field and tooke from the Pope neere to Rome Agnane Pilaâ—…tina Segna Tiuoli and last of all Ostia whereby he did cut off victuals from the Romans he on the side and the Colonnessi on the other keeping the Pope in this manner shut vp within the circuit of his wailes The Pope made meanes to the French King sending the Cardinall Carassa his Nephew vnto him his Maiesty wrote to the Marshall Stossi who then lay in Tuscany to march thitherwards and to expect aide which the Duke of Guise should bring him His Holinesse diâ—… likewise send to Venice to mooue the Senate to aide him The Senators being greeued for the Popes troubles and desyring to haue him at quiet sâ—…rit Phaebe Capello a very wise discreet Secretary to the Duke of Alua to pacifie the matter if it were possible Philip King of Spaine in the meane time perceiuing this warre to be backed by the French and that thereby it was likely to prooue more dangerous in regard of the intelligences and partiallities which they had in Italy did receiue Duke Octauio of Parma into fauor restoring to him the city of Placentia and all other places nere adioyning which he had seized in regard whereof this Duke embraced the Spanish party to the Popes great discontent who said that a Prince feudatary of the Church as he was ought not to make an accord with his enemies without his leaue wherevpon he caused him to be cited to Rome together with the Cardinal Farneze his brother The Duke of Guise about the same time came from France into Italy which was at the beginning of the yeere 1557. with fifteene thousand footmen eight hundred men at armes and twelue hundred light horse to aide the Pope against the Imperials with whom within a while after Strossi Monluc and others who by the Kings commandement were gonne before to Rome with six hundred horse and fiue thousand foot ioyned themselues Vpon the report of the arriuall of these forces the Duke of Alua had retired himselfe to the frontiers of the Realme of Naples by his retreat opening a way to Rome for the Duke of Guise who presently went thither vpon hope to finde great forces ready there according to the accord concluded betwixt the Pope the King and the Duke of Ferrara but finding none at all there he went into La Marca where the Marquis of Montebel came vnto him with the Churches forces and from thence they marched into the Realme of Naples where they stayed not long by reason that the aide came not which the Cardinall Caraffa had promised to the King and because the French army for want of pay did dayly decrease anâ—… on the contrary that of the Duke of Alua did encrease wherevpon the Duke of Guise returning to La Marca and afterwards going to Rome to talke with the Pope perceiuing the small meanes his Holinesse had to make warre and the great pursuite made by the Duke of Alua hee aduized him to harken vnto peace and agreement with the Spaniard resoluing to returne into France For at Rome hee receiued letters from the King bearing newes of the losse of the battaile of Saint Laurence and of the taking of Saint Quintins by the Spaniards with commandement presently to returne into France the Duke of Guise being willing to obey tooke his leaue of his Holinesse and went forward on his iourney home-ward the Pope determining to follow his councell During this warre against the Pope The Venetians and Cosmo Duke of Florence had solicited King Philip and the Duke of Alua to make an accord with his Holinesse either of them answered that they had not taken armes to take from him any thing that was his but only to defend the Realme of Naples and that they had made warre in an enemies country to defend their owne subiects and therefore so soone as his Holinesse should leaue his confederacy with the French and the resolution of making himselfe master of the Realme of Naples they would yeeld him the obedience due to the soueraigne pastor of Christendome and would restore whatsoeuer they had taken from him during that warre to which the Pope giuing eare the Cardinall Caraffa with certaine others went to the Duke of Alua to treat of peace the which was easily granted with restitution on all sides of places taken in the warre the Duke of Ferrara being therein comprehended The Senate to mediate this agreement sent Marc-Antonio de Franceschis thither who was Secretary to the Common-wealth a very wise and discreet man who stirred not from thence till the finall conclusion thereof In the meane time two hundred Turkish Gallies returning from the coast of Calabria did cast anchor at La Valona and did in no sort hurt the lands belonging to the Venetians Within a while after the two sonnes of Soliman Selim and Baiazet tooke armes against one an other in Asia and because the father did most fauour the elder brother Selim the other was enforced to haue recourse to Tamas King of Persia who in hatred to Soliman did willingly aide him and giuing him great forces the two brethren ioyned their battaile which continuing a day and a night Selim was victor his brother being fled from the battaile hurt and more then forty thousand Mahometans one either side slaine in the place The Senate on the other side being still desirous to continue their ancient customes and alliances sent Giouan Capello Knight and Bernardo Nouagera Ambassadors to the Emperor Ferdinand to congratulate his promotion to the Empire as hath beene said and Paulo Tepulo to King Philip. This was at the latter end of the yeere the next 1558. bred great warres both in France Piedmont and Tuscany together with the death of Princes and Princesses For so soone as the Duke of Guise returned into France hee executed the enterprize of Calais a long time before determined of and reduced vnder the Kings subiection the country of Oye and all the forts which the English held there
Lords and Barons of Poland proclaimed a generall assembly at Varsouia in Aprill next ensuing there to proceed to election of a new King After this election posts were dispatched into France to giue Henry notice thereof whilest Ambassadors were making ready to receiue and conduct him into Poland Italy being now freed from the dreadfull Turkish warre was like to haue baâ—…ched an other in her owne bowels for the Duke of Vrbin going about to lay some new impositions vpon his subiects they denied to pay any thing but that which they had granted to Duke Francesco Maria when he entred into the State and therevpon tooke armes protesting neuerthelesse that they did it not against their Prince but onely to defend their ancient priuiledges The Duke on the other side raised an army to enforce them and the matter would haue proceeded to battaile had not the Pope quenched this flame making them friends but the Duke entring afterwards with a power into Vrbin beheaded some of the chiefe of the sedition and banished others consiscating their goods and then built a Cittadell at the Cities charge the better afterwards to conteine them in their obedience Don Iohn of Austria being at the same time in Sicily with a gallant Nauy and vnderstanding that the Venetians had made peace with the Turkes did by King Philips permission passe ouer with his forces into Affrick to â—…eate the sonne of Muleassem in the Kingdome of Tunis who for his intelligence with Christians had beene expulsed by the Turkes and had honorable entertainment giuen him by the King of Spaine in Goletta Being come into Affrick he landed his souldiers and in order of battaile marched to assault the City of Tunis where no resistance being made the Christians without any slaughter entred and sacked it then Don Iohn causing a fort to be built nere to the City placed Gabriele Serbellone the Milanois in it with three hundred Italians and himselfe with the fleet returned into Sicily About the beginning of the yeere 1574. the Venetians hauing intelligence that Selim armed at Constantinople fearing that he would not obserue peace suspected that hee ment to enterprise vpon Candy wherevpon they leauied 12000. foot-men to guard it and rigged their fleet making Iacomo Souranza their Generall but these preparations were needlesse for Selim turning his deseignes vpon Affrike to bee reuenged on Don Iohn ratified the peace and tooke from them all suspition of being inuaded by him sent Sinan Basha with a mighty army into Affrike to recouer Tunis and raze Goletta the which in one month he did Selim perceiuing all things to succeed according to his desire intended to breake his word and oth with the Venetians and to inuade the 〈◊〉 of Candy but whilest he made his preparations death ouerthrew his vniust and proud deseignes God so prouiding for the quiet and safety of Christendome Amurath his eldest sonne succeeded him in the Empire In the meane time Henry of Aniou entring Poland did vpon the confines in great power and magnificence meet with the chiefe of the Kingdome who conducted him to Cracouia where with royal solemnity he was crowned and whilest he busied himselfe with enquiring of their manner of gouernment beginning by little and little to order the affaires of State the Queene his mother sent a speedy messenger to him from France to aduertize him of the death of his brother King Charles and to aduise him to returne into France with all possible speed to receiue the crowne and to remoue those troubles wherewith by his brothers death she was entangled The King accquainted the Polanders with these newes telling them that hee was of necessity to returne into France to order the affaires of that Kingdome which were much embroiled But the Lords which were then with him at Cracouia answered that his departure could not be treated of but in the Generall Councell of the whole Realme who would send him so well accompanied as he should terrifie those that durst make any resistance The Generall Estates of the Kingdome were to the same end summoned to Cracouia but the King againe solicited by his mother to make hast and on the other side perceiuing that the Polanders did not proceed with such celerity as his affaires required and that they were vnwilling to let him goe resolued in secret manner to depart and in disguise by night leaping on horse-back him-selfe with three more went from Cracouia and with great speed hasted towards the confines of the Empire His departure was not long concealed for the Earle of Tericenia the Kings Chamberlaine with other Lords comming to his chamber and finding him not there did presently take horse pursuing the same way that hee had taken meaning to stay him and bring him backe but the King made such speed as they could not ouer-take him till he arriued in the Empires territories where they earnestly entreated him to returne with them which he not granting they went back againe to Cracouia The King in the meane time pursuing his iourney came to Vienna where the Emperors sonnes met him and within a while after the Emperor himselfe who very magnificently entertained him From thence he sent word to the Venetians that he determined to come and see their Citty Archduke Charles accompanied him through his Cuntrey vpon the Venetians confines he met with a gallant troope of Noblemen who came to waite vpon him with eight hundred souldiers the next day foure of the chiefest Senators of Venice came to him as Ambassadors and intreated him to come and view their city where all men with great desire expected him which he pro mising to doe the Duke of Neuers who was then in Italy came likewise to him and so altogether arriued at Maguera the farthest place of the firme land on the lakes where hee met with threescore Venetian gentlemen which came to waite vpon him and entring into a Gondola prepared for him together with the Dukes of Ferrara and Neuers attended by infinite numbers of Gondolas hee came to Murana where the next day hee was visited by the Prince and Senate with foureteene Gallies then beeing conducted to Lia hee went into the Bucentauro and with him the Prince and Senate from thence with great magnificence he was brought to Venice all that Channell betwixt Lia and the city beeing full of boates made in fashion of sea monsters wherein were all the youth of Venice ritchly attired with infinite numbers of Gondolas who rowed before and on euery side of the Bucentaure which was gently towed to Venice where the King remayning certaine daies the Signory shewed him all pleasures and delights that could be imagined and at his departure the Prince and Senate accompanied him three miles from the city where taking leaue of each other the King embraced the Prince giuing him great thankes for his royall entertainment which hee promised neuer to forget and in so saying gaue him a diamond of great valew entreating him to
sicknesse beganne to decrease there was seene in a night on the easi side of the Island a great cloude of fire which giuing light for an houres space as if it had beene noone dayes did to the great terror of the beholders runne through the ayre as farre as Spina longa and there fell into the Sea where for a long time it burnt in the water and at last it vanished Now the Citty of Venice hauing beene as all men know and as wee haue declared in the first booke of this History builded by those who flying from the fury and incursions of barbarous nations retired into those lakes where it now standeth and in the same manner as it beganne hath still daily augmented and encreased so as till this day many famous men learned in all arts haue come thither from all parts of Christendome as to the Sanctuary of the Muses where those which are excellent in any art whatsoeuer are so honored and cherished by the nobility as they presently forget their natiue Contrey making their perpetuall abode there where vppon it came to passe the same yeare that certaine fauorers of learning hauing honorable command in the Citty propounded the building of an Academy there where by turnes they would meeet and read publicke lectures in that art which euery man profest and to this end nine gallant spirrits ioyned together Pompeo Limpia de Bari Lucius Scarannus de Brindiz Fabio Paulino de Vdina Giouan Baptista Leone Georgio Contaren of Venice Guido Cassono de Serauall Theodore Angelucio de Bella forte in la Marca Vnicentio Galieno the Roman and Giouan Paulo Gallucio de Salles and laid the foundation of this vertuous work choosing a fit place for the purpose where continuing their ordinary lectures the glory and reputation of this Venetian Academy extended so farre as diuers notable men haue since then come thither whereby it is daily much beautified and augmented Thus ended this yeare At the beginning of the next which was 1593. though the Venetians sought to satisfie the Turke by keeping the Vscoques of Segna from scouring the Adriattick Seas yet not relying on their perfidious promises beeing aduertised that they made great preparations by land and Sea they re-enforced the Garrisons of Candy which were much weakened by the late pestilence then perceiuing that the Turkish Army which came from Constantinople made incursions through Croatia and approached the Contry of Frioul belonging to their state resolued to build a fort vpon the Confines thereof at al times to defend the Contry from the Turkes incursions they committed the building thereof to skilfull Ingeniers and to some of the cheefest Senators which for that it is seated in a goodly soyle tenne miles from Vdina and within halfe a mile of the Emperors territories was called Noua Palma The same yeare Henry King of France and Nauarre after sondry battailes and ouerthrowes of his enemies did through the instruction of the Arch-bishop of Bourges and sundry Doctos of Paris require to bee reconciled vnto the Roman Church and on the fiue and twentith day of Iuly made publick profession thereof in Saint Denis Abbey before the said Archbishop accompanied by the Cardinall Bourbon Archbishop of Rouen nine Bishops and diuerse other Prelates and Religious men protesting to liue and dye in the sayd Catholick religion and to maintaine it with and against all men hee made profession of his faith accomplished all ceremonies requisite in so solemne an acte and then receiued absolution to the wonderfull ioy and applause of the people Not long after this publick conuersion the King sent the Duke of Neuers and other Prelates to Rome by them to present his obedience to the Pope and to witnesse his desire to imitate the example of the Kings his Predecessors and by his actions like them to merit the title and grade of the Churches eldest sonne and to intreate his Holynesse to approoue his conuersion and to honor him with his blessing The Pope after sundry honors done to the Duke of Neuers would not at first endure to heare tell of the King notwithstanding that the Duke and Prelates which accompanied him assured him that his conuersion was true and vnfeigned and therefore humbly besought his Holynesse to beleeue it which hee refusing to doe would neither absolue the King nor ratifie that which had beene done at Saint Denis The French in the meane time perceiuing that the King had abiured his former errors and was become a Catholick and afterwards crowned and annoynted at Chartres with the holy oyle according to the ancient custome of the French Kings all rebellious citties one after another returned vnder his obedience The Venetians sent Ambassadors to the French King to congratulate his conuersion and to reioyce with his Maiesty for his happy successe in recouering the greatest part of his kingdome At the beginning of the yeare following 1595. Amurath the Turkish Emperor dyed Mahomet his eldest sonne succeeded him who calling all his brethren into his chamber caused them to bee strangled in his presence The Pope beeing aduertised of the French Kings good successe who still humbled himselfe to the Sea Apostolick and had againe sent Dauid du Perron Bishop of Eureux to Rome to procure his absolution was willing to grant his request notwithstanding many were of contrary opinions Wherevpon comming one Sunday morning beeing the eighteene of September in his Pontificalibus into Saint Peters Hall hee approoued King Henries abiuration with all ceremonies therein requisite receiuing him to fauour and into the bosome of the Church with his blessing Apostolicall inioyning him due penance which done Drums and Trumpets sounded in signe of ioy and Cannons thundred from Castle Angelo all men reioycing at his good fortune the Spanish Ambassador excepted who in his Maisters behalfe protested that the same act could not preiudice his Kings titles During these solemnities at Rome Pascale Cicogna Duke of Venice dyed beeing foure score and fiue yeares old hauing gouerned the Common-wealth nine yeares one moneth and fifteene dayes hee lyes buryed in the Church of Santa Maria de Cruciferi MARIN GRIMANI the 89. Duke MARIN GRIMANI Knight and Procurator of Saint Marke succeeded him beeing beloued of all men for his rare vertue and charitie to the poore The Pope in the meane time to confirme what hee had done to the most Christian King sent the Cardinall of Florence his Legate into France who was honorably entertained at Paris where hee made some aboade for open warre beeing denounced betwixt France and Spaine the Pope became a Mediator of peace and to that end sent the Generall of the Fryers a Sicillian with ample Commission together with the Legat to treate of peace betwixt those two great Kings hee had receiued the like authority from the King of Spaine and in the end after sundry goings too and fro peace which all men desired ensued the yeare 1598. The Venetians perceiuing that the Vsicoques did not
106 Pope Leo exhorteth Christian Princes to take Armes against the Turke 117 Pope Leo and the Emperour make seeret alliance against the French King 125 Pope Leo suspecteth the Imperials 127 Pope Leo his sodaine death 130 Pauia besieged by Lautrec 134 Pollicie of Lautrec 135 Pope Adrian the sixt his creation 138 Pope Adrian zealous of an vniuersall peace ibid. Pope Adrian his death 142 Pope Clement the seauenth created ibid. Pope Clement his remonstrance to the Venetians 145 Pauia besieged by the French King 146 Pope Clement a Mediator betwixt the Emperour and the French king ibid. Pope Clement protesteth against them both if they agree not 147 Pope Clement and the Venetians feare least the French King should come to battell 148 Pope Clement his resolution after the defeat of the French 149 Pope Clement and the Venetians answere to Don Hugo for the Emperour 156 Pedro of Nauarre Generall of the Nauall Armie 158 Pope Clement his agreement with the Colonnesi 162 Pope Clement maketh meanes to the Vice-roy for an agreement 166 Pope Clement his errour in disarming himselfe 169 Pope Clement acknowledgeth his errour and imploreth the aide of the Confederates 171 Pope Clement with diuers Cardinals retireth to the Castle of S. Angelo 173 Pauia taken by Lautrec 182 Pope Clement complaineth of the Imperials dealings 185 Pope Clement his excuses to shun a new Confederacie 186 Pope Clement his answere to the King concerning Doria his entertainment 195 Proposition of the Count S. Paul 199 Pope Clement his intention 204 Prince of Orange determineth to goe to Perusa 208 Prince of Orange changeth his minde 209 Part of the enemies defeated by the Duke of Vrbin 211 Publication of the Treatie of Cambray 215 Pope Clement and the Emperour come to Bolognia 221 Pope Clement his excuses concerning the conuocation of a Councell 227 Pope Clement acquainteth the Venetians with all his designes 242 Philippo Mazzo a knight of Malta looses his head for his many robberies 244 Pope Paul the third taketh Armes for the Dutchie of Camerina 245 Propositions in the Senate for the answering of Count Rangon 259 Pople Paul his answere to the Venetian Ambassadour 265 Pope Paul sendeth to the Emperour and the French King to reconcile them 274 Pope Paul resolueth to goe to Nice to attone the Emperour and the King 276 Pope Paul denied entrance into Nice 277 Proposition of the Captaines in Dalmatia 283 Patriarke Grimani his enterprise vpon the Castle of Preueze 285 Petro Zeni chosen Ambassadour to goe to Soliman 299 Pope Paul sendeth the Cardinall Farnese Lega◅ into France 306 Peace concluded with the Turkes according to their owne minds 308 Peace confirmed betwixt the Turkes and the Venetians 315 Polin soliciteth the Venetians to make a league with the French king 316 Polin his practises against the Venetians 317 Pope Paul goeth about to make alliance with the Venetians 319 Pope Paul and the Emperours enteruiew at Busset to no pupose 321 Pope Paule giueth Parma and Placentia to his sonne Pietro Lodouico 329 Protestants suite to the Venetians 333 Pope Paul his discourse to driue the Venetians from their suspition 334 Protestants take Chiusa ibid. Pope Paul his complaints against the Emperour 335 Piero Strossi sent for from France to trouble the peace of Italie 337 Pope and French King sollicite the Venetians against the Emperour ibid. Pope Paul to satissie the Almaines sendeth a Legate into Germanie 339 Paule the third his death 341 Parma is kept by Camillo Vr◅ino ibid. Presages of great warres 342 Pope Iulius the third not thinking thereon causeth great warres in Italie 343 Proposition of agreement about Parma ibid. Pope Iulius seeketh meanes of agreement with the French King ibid. Pope Iulius by his Legatgoeth about to attone the Emperour and the French King 347 Prince of Salerne commeth into France 351 Prince of Salerne his proposition to the Venetian Senate ibid. Pace of Chiusa taken by the Protestants 325 Peace betwixt the Emperour Germane Princes ibid Prince of Salerne returneth to Venice from the French King ibid. Pope Paul the fourth enemie to the Spaniards 359 Peace betwixt the Pope and the Spaniards 360 Peace toncluded betwixt the French and Spanish Kings 361 Pirates pursued by Bembo saue thēselues in Durazzo 362 Pope Paul dieth ibid. Pope Pius the fourth created 363 Pope Pius endeth the controuersie betwixt the Ambassadours of France and Spaine 364 Pope Pius sendeth to the Catholike king to toyne in the warre against the Turkes 376 Pope Pius soliciteth the French King to haue an hand in this warre 377 Pope Pius his proposition to a◅oid delay 382 Pope Pius armeth twentie Gallies whereof Colonna is made Generall 383 Piali of opinion to besiege Famagosta first 386 Praiers and processions in Nicosia 388 Pope Pius his exhortation for conclusion of the league 395 Pope Pius and the Spaniards seeke to the Venetians to conclude the league 400 Prince Mocenigo his remonstrance to the great Councell 403 Pope Pius the fift solliciteth the king of Poland 450 Priuce Mocenigo his Oration to the Councell of Ten. 471 Peace propounded in the Councell of Ten. ibid. Peace concluded betwixt the Turkes and Venetians 474 Prince and Senates Vow to God 481 Price set vpon allwares 482 Pope Alexander the third sends a golden Rose to the Venetian Prince ibid. Pope Sixtus death with the creation of Pope Vrban the seauenth 489 Pope Clement the seauenth blesseth and absolueth the French King 491 Peace betwixt the French King and the Duke of Sauoy 493 Pope Paul the fift complaineth to the Venetian Ambassadour 495 Pope Paul his resolution vpon the Venetians refusall ibid. Pope Paul grants a Commission to the Cardinall Ioyeuse 498 R. RAuenna taken and spoiled by the French 55 Resolution of the Suisses 63 Rance de Cera his braue exploites 79 Rance de Cera putteth Siluio Sauello torout 84 Rance de Cera leaueth the Venttian partie 95 Rhodes taken by Soliman 137 Resolution of the assembly held at Venice by the Confederates 205 Resolution of the Venetian Councell vpon the Kings comming into Italie 206 Report of the Lancequenets comming causeth the Venetian Armie to retire 212 Retreat of Soliman and of Charles the Emperour 232 Retreat of the Turkish Armie 233 Rangon is answered according to the opinion of Cornari 260 Reasons of those who desired peace with Soliman 274 Reasons of those who were desirous to warre on him 275 Resolution of the inhabitants of Naples and Maluesia 281 Resolution of the Turkes in Dalmatia 283 Resolution to giue battell reioyceth the whole Armie 288 Rimon and Fregosa sent Ambassadours to Soliman murthered in their returne 313 Reasons that moued the Venetians to keepe themselues Neuters 314 Reasons propounded to the Pope to moue him to relieue the Venetians 375 Rumors diu◅lged by the Spaniards 451 Reasons alleadged by the Protestants to moue the French King towarre 456 S. SEnates answere to the Emperours Ambassadours 3 S◅range suspition of the Pope concerning the French King 6 Six thousand Suis◅es come
Pope 68 The incursions of Rance de Cera Gouernour of Crema 69 The tenour of the Senates letters to Aluiana 74 Troubles in Asia 75 The Emperour Maximilian prouoketh Selim against the Venetians 76 Traitor punished 77 To what intent the Spaniard spake to the Venetians of peace 88 Those of Bressia make a sally on the Venetians campe 101 The retreat of the Venetians Armie ibid. Triuulcio leaueth his charge 104 The Emperours comming into Italie 105 The whole countrey betwixt Oglio Po and Adda yeelds to the Emperour 107 Truce renewed betwixt the Emperour and the Venetians 117 The King of England chosen Vmpier betwixt mightie Princes 124 Traitours in Milan giue aduertisement to Prospero Colonna 128 Triuulcio taken prisoner by the Imperials 129 The protestation of the Emperor and King of Englands Ambassadors in Senate 139 The French King will by no meanes discampe from Padua 148 The French King is taken by the Imperials and the Armie defeated ibid. The Emperours speech and gestâ—…re vpon newes of the victorie 149 The King of Englands courtesie towards the French king 154 The King of Englandes aâ—…nswere to the Commissioners of the league 156 The two Armies of the Pope and the Venetians march together to Milan 157 The offer of the Pope and the Venetians to the King 159 The King of England offereth the Pope a great summe of money 163 The Emperours preparations by sea and land ibid. The two Armies of the league and Imperialles at once in Tuscanie 171 The king of Fraunâ—…e and England resolue to free the Pope 176 The Emperours dissimulation concerning the Popes taking 177 The French kings great preparations to send into Italy 179 The Turke being assailed by Marcello hath speedie reuenge 183 The Emperour commaundeth the Pope to be enlarged 115 The French kings answere to the Venetians Ambassador and his determination 206 Treason discouered in Barletâ—…a 207 The two Armies of the French and Venetians distrust one another 209 Triuulcio his request from the king to the Venetians 213 The Emperours arriuall at Genoa 212 The Kings request to the Venetians 215 The king entreateth the Emperour to make an accord with the Venetians 216 The Emperour is desirous of an accord with the Venetians 218 The Emperour is crowned at Bolognia 224 The Emperours gift to the Venetian Ambassadors brought into the publike treasurie ibid. The Turkes complaints against the Venetians 226 The Emperour granteth an Interim concerning the difference in Religion 228 The king of Hungarie seeketh peace of the Emperour and Ferdinand 230 The Emperour with a mightie Armie encampeth before Vienna 232 The Emperours and Solimans nauall Armie 233 The Emperour returneth into Italie 235 The Turkes recouer Coron 243 The Turkish fleet scoureth the Sea-coast of Calabria 244 The Emperour seeketh to the Venetians 245 The Emperour for the Venetians sake doth maintaine the Duke of Vrbins caufe 246 The Emperours preparations for Africke ibid. The Emperours great Armie for his voiage into Affricke 247 The taking of Thunis and Bonna 248 The Emperours captious answere to the Venetians concerning the State of Milan ibid. The Emperour challengeth the French King to single fight 250 The Emperour enforced to retire forth of Prouence 251 The three chiefe pointes which the Pope handled with the Christian Princes 252 The French king sendeth an Ambassador to Venice to draw them from the Emperour ibid. The king purposeth to vse the Turke against the Emperour 253 The king commeth to Lyons to go into Italy 257 Three sundrie accidents that caused warre betwixt Soliman and the Venetians 260 The Turks of Obrouazzo retire to the Castle 269 Treatie of peace betwixt the French king and the Emperour broken off 276 The Emperour declareth that hee could not take Armes for the league ibid. The Emperour and French King refuse to sâ—…e one another at Nice in the Popes presence 277 The Turkish feastes of Baieran 278 The Turks wast Dalmatia 281 The Turkes take the Castle of Laurana 282 The Turks leaue Dalmatia and goe into Hungarie 283 The Turkes arriuall makes the Venetians quit Obrauazza 284 The Turks wonder at the Christians boldnesse 286 The Turkish Gallies put to rout by the Armie of the league 287 The Turkes come forth of the Gulph and put themselues in battaile 288 The Turkes purpose broken by Doria 289 The Turkish Armie retireth into the Gulph of Larra 292 The Emperours excuses for not performing his promise 295 The Turkes great preparations for recouerie of Castel-nouo 298 Truce for three monethes betwixt the Turkes and Venetians 299 Truce prolonged with the Venetians 300 The Basha his demaunds to Contaten 302 The Emperour desireth passage through France to goe into Flanders 303 The Emperour and French king send to the Venetians to diuert them from peace with the Turks 304 The Emperour commeth to Paris 307 The traitors which bewrayed Badoatio his Commission to the Turks discouered 308 The traitors punished 309 The Emperours resolution contrarie to his promise 313 The Emperour allieth himselfe with Henrie King of England 319 The Turkes take Regio in Calabria 320 The Emperour returneth into Italy ibid. The Emperour refuseth to conferre with the Pope 321 The Turke makes warre in Hungarie 322 Two Legates sent to the Emperour and the French king to procure peace 324 The Emperour and Ferdinand send Ambassadors to treat of peace with the Turke 326 Truce for one yeare betwixt the Emperour his brother and Soliman 328 Tyrannicall law of the Turks ibid. The Emperor refuseth to inuest Pietro Lodouico in the Dutchie of Parma and Placentia 329 The Emperours the French kings difficulties cause of peace in Italy 330 The Emperours complaintes against the Pope with his returne so Milan 335 The Turke sendeth an Ambassador to Venice 342 The Turkes make war in Hungarie and Transiluania 347 The Emperour sendeth the Vice-Roy of Naples against the Siennois 355 The Emperour Charles resigneth his whole state to his sonne Philip and to his brother 358 Truce granted and soone broken 358 The taking of Calais by the Guise 361 The forme of the great Turkes oath 369 The opinion of the other Bâ—…shaes contrarie to that of Mahomet 371 Treason practised by a Cypriot discouered and punished 374 The King of Spaines aunswâ—…re to the Popes conteâ—…t 376 The Turkes preparations for the war of Cyprus 378 The Emperours answere to the Venetian Ambassadour 382 Turkes repulsed from Tina 385 The Turkish fleete landed in Cyprus ibid. Turks build 3. Forts neere to Nicosiâ—… 390 Turkes take the Bulwarke Constantia 391 The Emperour resuseth to enter into the leâ—…gue 396 The Emperour will not allow of the Popes new Title giuen to the Duke of Florence 399 Tepulo his opinion tends to warre 401 The league against the Turke concluded ibid. Turkes put to rout in Candie 404 Turkes waste the Islands of Xant and Zephalenia ibid. The League published at Venice 407 Turks before Dulcigna 408 Turkes before Mandrachia 410 The king of Spaines answere to the Cardinall Alexandrine ibid. The leagues offer to
the Duke of vrbin 246 venetians answere to the Emperours Ambassadour 252 venetians answer to Solyman 254 venetians preparations to stand vpon their gard against the Turke 257 vncertaine course of the Turkes fleete puts the venetians in doubt 258 venetians remaine Neuters betwixt the Imperialls and the Turkes ibi Venetian Fleet looseth foure gallies taken by the Turkes 262 Visier Basha his reasons to direct Soliman from his resolution 263 Venetians imprisoned and their goods seized ouer all the Turkish Empire ibid. Venetians remonstrance for the Pope 265 Venetians constancie 266 Visier Basha counsâ—…ileth Soliman to raise his siege in Corfou ibid. Vittore de Garzons Gouernour of Naples 268 Venetians suspect Soliman desiring 〈◊〉 269 Venetians diligence to fortifie the Islands against the Turkes 273 Venetians acquainted with Solimans preparations forwarre are exhorted to peace 274 Venetians seeke to draw the King of England to the league 275 Venetians take Obraâ—…azza 284 Venetians naual Armie and the Pope ioyned together ibid. Venetians grieued because there was no Duke of Milan 315 Venetians solicited to leaue their Neutralitie ibid. Venetians raze the Fort of Maran 318 Venetians excuses to the Emperour and Ferdinand concerning Maran 323 Venetians reasons to diuert the Pope from medling with the Protestants 332 Venetians grant passage to the Pope and Emperours troupes ibid. Venetians gentle answere to those of Ausburge 333 Venetians preparations against the Turkes 344 Viceroy of Naples spoileth the Countrie of the Sienois 355 Venetians entreated by the Pope seeke meanes to pacifie the Duke of Alua. 359 Venetian Prelates that were present at the Councell of Trent 364 Venetians chace the Pirates 365 Venetians send Ambassadours to Selim the new Emperour 368 Venetian Ambassadors Oration to the Emperour 369 Venetians purge the seas of Pirates ibid. Venetians prepare for the warre of Cyprus 373 Venetians implore the aid of Christian Princes 375 Venetians sollicite the Persian to make warre on Selim. 378 Venetians send Ambassadours to the Emperour soliciting him to enter into the league 382 Venetians propositions in the Court of Spaine with the difficulties alleadged thereupon ibid. Venetian Flect leaueth Corfou by the Senates commandement 384 Venetian Generall resolueth to send aid to 〈◊〉 306 Venetians great doubts and perplexities with their request to the Pope 398 Venetians resolue to hearken to peace 399 〈…〉 Venetians expect the Confederates Fleet. 407 Venetians will not heare of 〈◊〉 408 Venetians complaints to the Pope 410 Valour of the besieged in repulsing the enemie 415 Vniting of the Confederates Fleete 418 Venieri his answere to D. Iohn his obiections 421 Venetians preparations against the Spring 449 Venetians solicite the Cardinals in the Vacancie of the Sea 453 Venetians Ambassadours discourse to the French King 457 Vluzzali his pollicie 461 Vluzzali determineth to assaile D. Iohn 463 Vluzzali returnes to Constantinople 468 Venetians complaine to the Pope 469 Venieri his honourable entertainment and welcome at Venice ibid. Venetians send an Ambassador to the Pope 476 Venetians feare 480 Vpon what occasion the Pope caused tenne dayes to be taken from the yeere 485 Venetians iealous of Turkes and Milanois 489 Venetians send Ambassadours to the French King 491 Venetians defeat the Vsicoques 492 W. WHat was concluded in the Diet at Constance 7 War resolued against Maximilian 10 What was practised vnder hand against the Venetians 11 Wherunto the Popes actions teded 28 What astonishment the losse of the battaile brought to Rome 56 Whole Dutchie of Milan yeeldeth to Sforza 64 What importance the taking of Padua was of 69 What shifts the Pope vsed to declare himselfe openly against the French King 91 〈◊〉 CouÌ„trie 〈◊〉 Oglio Po and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Emperour 107 〈◊〉 the French King distrusted the elect 〈◊〉 119 What 〈◊〉 the Emperour to send his Ambassadours to the French King 124 Why the King delaied to conclude the league 125 What the Popes and Emperours designes were ibid. What hindred the Lord of Lautrec from assailing Milan 133 With what feruencie the Milanois endured the discommoditie of the siege ibid. What Prospero Colonna did vpon report of the arriuall of the French 140 Why the Grisons would not leaue their houses 144 Why the French king was displeased with the Venetians 145 Whereunto the Pope attended ibid. What moued the Senate to allie themselues with the French 147 What caused the Imperials to come into the field 148 What letted the taking of Naples 168 What moued the Pope to seeke agreement with the Viceroy 169 What caused the Duke of Bourbon to march to Rome 172 What great forces were requisite to free the Pope from prison 178 What moued the Lord Lautrec to change his determination 183 What moued the Venetians to be at the charge of the warre in Lombardie 184 What was the Emperours meaning concerning peace ibid. What the Popes intention was 186 Wants of the armie before Naples 195 What kept the 〈◊〉 from sending Ambassadours to the Emperour 212 What moued the Emperour to enforce the Florentines to obey the Pope 223 What moued the Kings of France and England to make warre on the Emperour 231 Wrongs done the Venetians in Solimans Dominions 254 What the Senate propounded to write to the Baily 275 What moued the Emperour French King to grant the enteruiew at Nice 277 Warre renewed betwixt the Emperour and the King 278 What Doria his purpose was 289 What the Senate enioyâ—…ed Badoario Ambassadour to Soliman 306 Who they were that tooke part with the Protestants 333. What bee Venetian gentlemen with their prerogatiue 334 Who hindred the Emperour from allowing the agreement 343 Warre continued in 〈◊〉 344 Warre betwixt Solimans two sonnes 361 Warre opened in all places 381 Warre resolued against the Turke 401 What moued the Generall Venieri to saile to Messâ—…a 407 FINIS Whereof the Authors meaning is to treate The true original of the first Uenetians The foundation of the Citie of Padua The extent of the Countrie of Venice The trouble which the first Venetians had to keepe that which they had conquered The fruitfulnesse of the Venetian Countrie The originall of the Huns and their comming into Italic Diuers opinion of the Historians The foundation of the Rialto How the Islands were inhabited 421. Macrin Gouernor of Hungarie ouercome by the Hunnes The Authors opinion concerning the Cities foundation How the original of Venice hapned Who they were that began to flie What those places were whereon Venice is at this day built Where the first foundations of the Citie were laid On what day the Citie of Venice was builded A very 〈◊〉 obseruation What manner of people were receiued into this new City Foure and twentie houses burns at once A wonderfull miracle smelling some-what of Poperie Attila defeated neere Tholouse What the true Foundations of Uenice was From whence the Uenetians that now are be descended 456. The sundry opinions of the Historians concerning the building of the City The true time when the city of Uenice was built What the Venetians
comming causeth the Venetian Army to retire to the Citties The Citty of Cambraâ—… chosen for the â—…reaty oâ—… peace The Venetian Senate are male content with the Frâ—…ch King The Venetians giue authorâ—…ty to their Ambassadors to be present at the treaty of Cambray The Uenetians meaning concerning the Articles of peace The Venetians suspect the Kings carriage Triuulcio his request to the Venetians from the King The Venetians answers to Triuulcio The Venetians recourse to the King of England The Emperor arriuall an Genoa Nomâ—…er of the Emperors 〈◊〉 in Italy Italy amazed at the Emperor crmming Florentines send Amâ—…assadors to the Emperor VVhat kâ—…pt the Venetians from sending Ambassadâ—…s to the Emperor Great preparatiâ—…ns of the Venetians The Uenetians exhortation to the consederats The Venetians offers to the Duke oâ—… Ferrara Publicatioâ—… of the treaty of Cambâ—…ay The Kings request to the Venetians The Venetians answer to the King The King entreateth the Emperor to make an accord with the Venetians Soliman taketh 〈◊〉 The Hereticks begin to stirre in Germany The 〈◊〉 in desirous of 〈◊〉 accord with 〈◊〉 Venetians The Venetian â—…nswere to those that spaâ—… to them oâ—… Peace with the Empeâ—…or Expectation of the enteruiew at Bolognia Sundry opinions in the Senate concerning the motion oâ—… 〈◊〉 with the Emperor A Discourse made in Senate concerning peace with the Emperor A Discourse in Senate contrary to the â—…ormer The Senatâ—…s resolution The Pope and the Empâ—…ror come to Bolognia The Imperials dâ—…mand concerning the accord for Milan The Duke of Milans great humility to the Emperor The Articles of peace betwixt the Emperor and the Vâ—…netians The Florentines great trouble VVhat moued the Emperor to enâ—…orcethe Florenâ—…ines to obey the Pope Soliman restoreth Iohn King of Hungary to his Kingdome The Venetianâ—… send Ambassadors to the Pope and the Emperor The Ambassadors discharge their duties to the Princes The Emperor is crowned at Bolognia The Emperors guiâ—…t to the Venetian Ambassadors brought into the publike treasury The Mâ—…rquisate of Mantâ—…a is erected into a Dutchy The great entertainment giuen to the Emperor on the Venetian 〈◊〉 Soliman distastâ—…d of the Venetians by reason of a report that was cuâ—…rant in Constantinople The Venetians sâ—…nd an Ambassage to Soliman Soâ—…iman 〈◊〉 the Venetians The circumcision of Solimans children The incursions of the Knights of Malta against the Turkes Solimans purpose to enrich Constantinople The Venetians pursuites to diuert Solimans deseignes The Uenetians forbid the Knights of Malta to come no more vpon their Gulph The Turkes coâ—…plaints against the Venetians The Almains desire to hauâ—… a General Councell The Pope excuses concerning the conuocation of a councell The Pope hath recourse to the Venetians against the instances of the Germains The Venetians answer to the Pope 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Castle of Milan and the city of Coma 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Sforza Iohn Pisani extraordinary Ambassador into France The Venetians 〈◊〉 the nomination of Bishopricks vnder their 〈◊〉 Solimans deseigne against the Christians The Venetians craue the 〈◊〉 leauied vpon the Clergie to helpe them against the Turkes The Venetians preparations to stand vpon their gard The Venetians by chasing away the Pirats make the sâ—…as safe The King of Hungary secketh peace of the Emperor and of Ferdinand The Venetians doe in vaine solicite the Pope for the King of Hungary The Venetians answer to the Popes demand Ferdinands deseignes against the Turkes The Uenetians exhort Ferdinand to peace VVhat moued the Kings of France and England to make warre on the Emperour 1532. The number of the Turkish army Soliman with his army commeth into Hungary The Emperor with a mighty army encampeth before Vienna Solimans retreate The Emperors retreate The Emperors and Solimans nauall Armiâ—… Doria his subtile meaning The Senates answer to the Emperors Ambassador The retreate of the Turkâ—…sh Army Coron and Patras taken by Doria The Duke of Ferrara recouereth Mode na and Regio by the Emperors sentence The Emperor is againe 〈◊〉 rous to talk with the Pope â—…t Bolognia What was the cause of the enteruiew The Emperour returneth into Italy The Venetians are requested to consent to the renuing of the league The Venetians answer concerning the renuing of the league A new league betwixt the Pope Emperor and all the Italian Potentates the Venetians excepted Vmpiers appointed wiâ—…h a third man to end the controuersie betwixt Ferdinand anâ—… the Venetians The assembly is broâ—…n vp without anâ—… conclution The Venetians make preparations for their safety Francesco Dâ—… duo is taken by Pirats Sâ—…dry opini ons in â—…he Senate concerning the reuenge of that wrong Dandulo is banisheâ—… at his returne to Uenice A fight at Sea betwixt the Venetians and Turkes The Venetians victory at Sea against the Moore oâ—… Alexandria who was taken The wisely remedy the error commited by night The Venetian ships are staâ—…ed by the Turkish officâ—…rs Sundry opinions in the Senate concâ—…rning Canalis 〈◊〉 Soliman accepteth oâ—… the Venetians excuses The Senate acknowledge Canaâ—… seruice by recompâ—…nsing his sonnâ—… Cariadiâ—…e Barbarrâ—…ssa his greâ—… experience at sea The Pope acquainteth the Veâ—…etians with all hiâ—… 〈◊〉 The Popes preteâ—… ces to coullor 〈◊〉 ioy concâ—…iued by that mâ—…riage Great troubles in Germany concerning the Duke of VVittemberg 〈◊〉 great preparations for 〈◊〉 Great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at on time in 〈◊〉 pâ—…aces The Senates holy resolution The Venetiâ—… pre parations for their safe ty The Turkeâ—… recoâ—…r 〈◊〉 Tâ—…e Turkish fleet sâ—…oureth the Sea coast of Calabria Cariadine taketh Thuniâ—… Phâ—…lippo Mazzo a Knight oâ—… Malta looseth â—…is head for â—…is many robberies The death of Pope Clement the seuenth Tâ—…e Crâ—…ation of Pope Paul tâ—…e third The 〈◊〉 sendeth â—…ight 〈◊〉 to the Pope The Emperor seeketh to tâ—…e Venetians The Venetians answer to the Empâ—…ror The Pope takâ—…th Armâ—…s â—…or the Dutchy of 〈◊〉 The Venetians seek to appâ—…ase the strise betwixt the Pope and the duke oâ—… Vâ—…bin The Emperor â—…or the Venetians sake doth maintaine the Duke of Vrâ—…ins cause A new pracâ—…ise beâ—…wixt the Popâ—… and the 〈◊〉 The Emperors preparations for 〈◊〉 Soliman adueâ—…tiseth the Vâ—…netians of what he had done in Persia The Emperâ—…rs great army for his voyage into Affrâ—…ck 〈◊〉 besoâ—…ged Cariadiâ—…e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The taking of Thunis and 〈◊〉 The Emperor returâ—…eth to Naples The death of Francis Sâ—…orza Duke oâ—… Milan Tâ—…e Emperors 〈◊〉 answer to the Venetians conceâ—…ning the Statâ—… of Milâ—…n The Confederacy confirmeâ—… betwixt the Emperor and Venetians The French Kings Ambassade to the Venetians concerning the businesse of Milan The Venetians answere to the Ambassador The Duke of Sauoy denietâ—… the Kings paâ—…sage 〈◊〉 of the Kings discontent with the Duke of Sauoy Thâ—… French take 〈◊〉 â—…ossan and Pigneâ—…oll 〈◊〉 chalengetâ—… the Frencâ—… King to 〈◊〉 fight 〈◊〉 to accoâ—…d tâ—…e Empâ—…ror and tâ—…e Frencâ—… The Emperor 〈◊〉 with bâ—…sarmy into Prouenâ—…e The Kings enteâ—… prose vpon Genoa The Emperor 〈◊〉 to retire forth of Proâ—…ence
was cut in peeces by the people and his bowels being rent forth of his body were torne in peeces by some of the multitudes teeth his wife likewise who was reported to bee of the royall bloud of France was slaine with him But neither was Charles the leader of this Armie nor did this happen which they report And the common consent of the crediblest Historians makes me to beleeue that it was Pepin which made warre on the Venetians But whether it were the one or the other it is certaine that the Venetians did wholly preserue their libertie and became open friends to either Empire ¶ ANGELO PARTITIATIO the 10. Duke of Venice and the first at RIALTO SOme report that Obellerio being slaine his brother Beato held the Principalitie and others say that Obellerio and Beato being expelled Valentin their yonger brother commanded in the Citie But howsoeuer it was for it is hard to iudge the right in such diuersitie of opinions it is certaine that the Gouernement of these three lasted not aboue fiue yeares Angelo Partitiatio succeeded these three who was the first that held his seate at Rialto They gaue him two yearely Tribunes to assist him in all thinges Some say he had the surname of Badoairio from whom the Badoairians are descended The most curious Historians haue numbred the Partitiatij among the noblest families which came from Heraclea to Rialto And that which makes me easily to beleeue it is because among the most memorable matters acted in his Gouernment we find the reparation of Heraclea which by reason thereof was afterward called Villa-noua And because that in the time of the warre with the French a great number of people ranne to Rialto so as the place was filled with an incredible multitude of inhabitants it came to passe that threescore small Ilands next to them were ioyned together by Bridges But all men did thinke this place for the great multitude of people and for the commodiousnesse thereof worthie that the Soueraigne Magistrate and the whole State of the Commonwealth should reside there And with a good and happie presage for the Duke and the whole Venetian State it was decreed That Rialto should euer after bee the Princes seate According to this conclusion to the end that the Soueraigne Magistrate should not want a house the Duke himselfe did forth with appoint a place whereon to build the Dukes Pallace which stands as we see at this daie neere to the goodly Church of St. Marke But we may truly say that it is only the olde Pallace which Partitiatio did edifie For the other neighbour-buildings confronting the Senate-house doe represent a newer architecture For it is nor likelie that in those daies they could tell from whence to haue gotten so manie costlie pillars and excellent stones their meanes being then verie small But whether it were in Partitiatios time or since as it is most credible by the report almost of all Annalists that this worke was built the excellencie and greatnesse thereof doth deserue that such a thing should not be buried in silence But because it would be too tedious a matter to particularize all the singularities of that place wee will speake onely of the admirable structure thereof This place then as it is appointed to manie and sundrie purposes hath likewise manie and diuers fronts whereof that which lookes vpon the West and South is vnder-propt by two rankes of columns and that which supporteth the whole burthen of the worke hath pillars of a strange kinde of stone rather bigge then long The Arches are verie sumptuous made of the same matter and workemanship embracing vnder the bending of a costlie vault diuers columns set verie neere together That ranke which is aboue is made almost of the same stone and fashion and because it hath a greater number of Pillars they are the more slender and vnderneath enuironed with a verie thicke rew of other pillars but farre lesse so as they doe not onely serue for a staie but for a meruailous adornment But as well the vppermost ranke whereof we now spake as the lowest doth make a great gallerie the most spacious part whereof is almost wholly possessed by the market-place The remainder of the front euen to the toppe of the whole Masse which is of a verie rare stone red and white is so high that it troubleth as much as it delighteth the eies of the beholders being verie richly couered with lead Aboue the gallerie there is a part of a verie great Librarie stored with manie Greeke and Latine bookes the greatest part whereof was giuen by the last Will and Testament of Cardinall Bessarion The residue which lookes towards the South is the Comitia For I know not how otherwise to terme this place where euerie eight daies and sometimes oftner all the Nobilitie are assembled about the creation of Magistrates As also I will more freely call that part of the Palace which lookes towards the East The Court whereas the Senate vsually doe resort I vnderstand by the Senate that which they call the Councell of the Preguays by whom are handled the most important affaires of the Common-wealth For the ancient Fathers the Authors of this State haue among other things borrowed of the Romans to name those Preguays which debate in the Senate because they were intreated to deliuer their opinion concerning that which was spoken by him that held the cheifest place in the Senate But we will speake more amply in an other place We will now returne to the gouernment of Partitiatio who hauing two sonnes he sent the one named Iustiniano to Leo Emperour of Greece by whom he was liberally entertained and greatly honoured and praised and in the mean time he tooke the other named Giouanni for his Colleague whereat Iustiniano at his returne was in such sort moued as he obstinately refused to come and see his Father But the olde man being extreamely desirous to see his sonne after he had deposed Giouanni who refused to obaie his Father had not the people constrained him thereunto did associate Iustiniano and his nephew Angelo sonne to Iustiniano the people did confine Giouanni that was deposed to Constantinople Some saie that hee went of his owne accord to Pergamus to the Emperour Leon from whence returning he did by his Fathers commandement take his wife and children and went to Constantinople About the same time the Emperour Leon gaue Partitiatio the bodie of Saint Zacharie and part of the garments of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and of the glorious Virgin with a peece of the holie Crosse which he religiously lockt vp in Saint Zacharies Church which he had built He did moreouer translate the Monkes of the Couent of Saint Seruulo at the entreatie of the Abbot into Saint Hilaries Church which stood then in the farthest part of the Rialto And they which now knowe those places doe at this day shewe the ruines thereof in the firme Land Hee
much greater the which in the name of Almightie God we promise to as many as shall fight valiantly It is reported that when the Pope had ended his speech the whole assembly cried out that it was Gods will to haue it so Then the Pope hauing commaunded silence replied Goe then quoth hee yee generous spirits and let that which ye haue all with one accord now spoken bee your watch-word in this warre and let as many as meane to vndertake this iourney sew a Crosse of red cloath on the right side of their garments They report a very admirable matter the which I should hardly set downe were it not for the assurance that we haue that God doth euer assist holy enterprises Which is that the same day that the warre was resolued vpon at Clermont it was knowne and diuulged to the farthest Regions of the earth But whilest Pope Vrban and the rest did labour about the choice of a Captaine in the assembly the which besides other matters had giuen great hope to all men and that this businesse had kept them there certaine dayes it is reported that diuers thousands of men affecting this new warre came thither And that soone after three hundered thousand armed men were in a readinesse to march The leaders to these great numbers of Christians were Godfry of Bouillon Eustace and Baldwin his brethren Raymond Earle of Saint Giles and Robert Earle of Flaunders Hugh sirnamed the great brother to Phillip the French King Stephen Earle of Chartres the Bishop of Puy and Peter the Hermit the Author of this enterprise This man because hee would bee seene to haue some cheife commaund in this warre came with Baldwin and his brethren through Germanie Hungarie and Thrace to Constantinople accompanied with troops of souldiers The Bishop of Puy Raymond Hugh the great passed into Italie with greater forces and came to Rome to visit the Pope From whence they departed in three troopes The one marched directly to Brundusium the other to Barri and the third to Ottranto But Beamond sonne to Guiscard a valliant Prince being incited before by the report of this gallant enterprise did ioyne his forces with those which passed through Apulia Whilest the troopes which were in Italie made themselues ready to march Peter the Hermit who was arriued at Constantinople with the three brethren of Bouillon so soone as he had crossed the Bosphorus of Thrace the next and shortest way he passed ouer his troopes into Asia which the Emperor Alexis as it is reported did soone enforce him to doe in regard his souldiers obserued no martiall discipline but gaue themselues licentiously to all manner of euill The which Alexis with others did impute wholly to the Hermit being altogether ignorant of martiall discipline and vnworthie to haue any command by meanes whereof diuers did report that the Emperour caused Peter whether he would or no to depart formost into Asia where his Army soone after marched towards Nicomedia and Nicea But because it did manifestly appeare that vnlesse some other besides the Hermit who was more religious than martiall did take charge of the Armie it was likely at the verie first encounter to fall into great danger they chose Raymond a German by nation and a verie warlike person for their Generall By the which election we may easily coniecture that the brethren of Bouillon came not with Peter to Constantinople or if they did come after the Hermit was gone into Asia they remained with the the Emperour Alexis till the rest of the forces were arriued The Sarracens who had beene aduertised of the resolution of the Councell held in France and of whatsoeuer the Christian Princes had since then enterprised in this warre did determine by Ambush to surprise those who should first come into Asia to kill them and then to resist the passage of the rest ouer the Bosphorus of Thrace Raymond hauing marched on the Territorie of Nicea without sending forth his discouerers fell into Ambuscado and retired with great losse of his people to the Citie of Exorga This place had beene of set purpose abandoned by the enemie who so soone as they perceiued the Germaine to be within the Towne came sodainly and besieged it on euery side Raymond being wearied with that long siege of a Captaine became a fugitiue and with certaine others went to the enemies side The Citie after that was valiantly defended for a time but at the last the enemie tooke it and the most of those who were within it hauing beene tormented with hunger thirst and infinite other miseries were put to death either by the sword or by some other accident of warre all those which yeelded were likewise put to the edge of the sword The Hermit in the meane time seized on the Citie of Cynita which was forsaken by the inhabitants and hauing fortified it with those few forces which hee had hee ioyned himselfe with the troopes at such time as his Countrimen arriued Whilest these things were done in Bythinia Hugo the Norman the Earles of Flaunders and of Chartres departed from Barri and with a faire wind arriued at Durazzo Then at the intreatie of the Gouernour of Dalmatia in the name of the Emperour Alexis they marched in bands and at sundrie times to Constantinople for feare least so great an Armie marching all together should spoile the Countrie whither being come as into a place of safetie it is reported that Alexis did lay snares for them as one who from the beginning had greatly suspected their enterprise But being reconciled to Baldwin Godfrey and the rest The Bishop of Pâ—…y and Raymond did arriue who had conducted their troopes through Dalmatia Albania Macedon and Thrace Beamond who for his fathers and his owne particular enmitie with Alexis thought not himselfe safe if he should come into Greece sailed with a direct course from Brundusium into Morea and from thence marching in battaile as if he had beene to fights through the higher Misia and Thrace to auoide the trappes of Alexis and came into Asia sooner than hee was expected where after he had taken a Citie of the Hereticks spoiled and ouerthrowne it and being come to the banks of the riuer Barbara he caused part of his forces to passe ouer at a foord and kept the residue with himselfe But the morrow after by breake of day Alexis forces being come to assaile those troopes that were gone ouer the riuer they did greatly amaze them at the first and had vndoubtedly much endangered them if Beamond had not speedily come to their reskue with two thousand horse which he had ready fot the same purpose at whose comming the Greekes retired themselues And by this meanes Beamond perceiuing that there was no place free from the ambushes of Alexis he resolued still to march in order of battaile But the Emperour after he had in vaine made all these attempts thought it his best course to
vpon their arriuall Antonio Vittorini by the Senates permission returned to Venice so that Pisaura was sole Prouidator in the Armie till the comming of Luca Pisani who after Zacharia Barbaro had for a while commaunded Bressia They remained still in the Armie till the end of the warre and in the meane time wearie of Idlenesse made a bridge ouer Oglio and a Fort at it which crossing they tooke the Tower Tristania on the farther side the Riuer and finding store of corne victuall and hay it was a great helpe to them that winter And because the place seemed of some importance they sodainly fortified it placing a strong Garrison there The spring already approched when a rumour was spread that the Consultation of the confederate Princes which Alfonso held at Cremona had no prosperous issue and that they dissented concerning the renouation of the warre This did put the Venetians in some hope that peace propounded in Flaminia by the Popes Ambassadors might vpon reasonable termes take effect and to these ends being solicited the Senate sent Zacharia Barbosa and Frederico Cornari to Lesenna where after long consultation they perceiued by the vniust conditions propounded that this treatie of peace was motioned onely to amuse the Venetians and to keepe them from pursuing that which they had begunne the yeere before in France and Germanie The Venetians the precedent summer carefull of the issue of that warre and incensed against Pope Sixtus had sent Ambassadors to the French Armie and Germaine Princes to incite them to summon the Pope and all Christendome to a generall Councell wherein it might be lawfull to complaine of the Pope and to implore the aide of all Christians against him and to this end they sent Sebâ—…stiano Badoario to the Emperour Frederick Antonio Lauretano to the French king Paulo Pisani to the Duke of Austria and Nicolao Foscarini into Flaunders to Maximillian the Emperour Fredericks sonne The Pope fearing this matter was desirous to hearken vnto peace The Venetians in the meane time though they intended peace did not omit their warlike preparations against the Spring for besides the Italian forces which by new supplies were mightily encreased by sea and land they drew from Morea and the Islands next adiacent to Corfou from Albania and Dalmatia twelue hundred horse one part of these were quartered in the villages neere to the enemie from whence they daily made roads into his Countrey and the rest vpon the Bressan The Spring was alreadie past when Sanseuerino sent commaundement to all the Garrisons to meet him on the 27 of May betwixt Variola and Cortiana But whilest this was done on the Bressan the sailers of Diede his Galley and foure other Gallies of Marcello's Fleet mutined The Authours of the mutinie were secretly punished by the commaundement of Tomaso Zeno Generall of the Fleet on the Po which the other Marriners hauing notice of went with their Gallie to the enemies side who lay neere to Philocina but they were by him basely stript spoyled and sent away The Senate vpon these newes proclaimed them traitors and that they might serue as an example to others banished them from their territories with this addition That if any of them were euer afterwards taken in the Venetian iurisdiction they should be put to death as Capitall offenders At the same time that this Galley was lost Captaine Porco agreat enemy to the Venetians made daily incursions from Hostilio euen to the trenches of Mellaria and among other brauadoes against the Venetians hee did by oath protest vnto Giouanni Canalis at that time Gouernour of the Castle that within few dayes he would come knocke a naile into the gates of Mellaria This bragge cost him deere for being taken and brought before Canalis the Venetian said to him Thou arrogant and vaine-glorious fellow performe thy insolent promise and seeing as victorious thou canst not performe this bragge at least as a captiue And because thou shalt not be forsworne take this naile and hammer which he deliuered to him This being done he presently sent him to Venice to be executed Marcello Generall of the Venetian Fleet toward the latter end of the Spring left Corfou and went to besiege Gallipolis This citie is like an Island and seated in that part of Calabria aduauncing toward the Ionian sea confining vpon it and the Adriatick Plinie saith That in time past it did belong to the Gaules which is not vnlikelie to be true in regard of the name The Nauall Armie consisted of 56. vessels among which were 16. Gallies and fiue shippes of burthen The Venetian before he would assault the Citie summoned it to know if they would voluntarily yeeld but seeing that labour was vaine he drew his vessels neere the shoare and landed part of his souldiers to assault it by land and on the water from his Fleet annoyed the enemie so as on both sides a cruell fight beganne Marcello from his Admiral Galley incouraged his soldiers willing them brauely to mount the Rampiers the soldiers obeyed and desperately ranne through the midst of the enemies shot Dominico Delfino Lodouico Garzone Constantino Lauretano Tomaso Diede and many other Captaines of Gallies did brauely acquite themselues at the assault And the Venetians had alreadie not without great slaughter reared ladders against the wals on which some were mounted when Marcello from the poope of his Admirall Galley encouraging by name the soldiers and Captaines approuing the valliant and condemning cowards executing all offices of a skilfull Captaine and Generall being shot with a bullet presently fell downe dead Sagidino the Secretarie saw him fall and couered him with a cloake and after that he had conueyed the bodie into his Cabin encouraged his Countrimen to pursue the victorie telling them that the Generall was slightly hurt and gone to be drest willing them in the meane time to let the enemie see that they could fight valliantly without a Commander and in recompence of their valour the Cities sacke was theirs it being once taken Dominico Maripietro Captaine of the shippes of burthen so encouraged his soldiers as in despite of the enemie they mounted the walles At last the victorious Venetian entred the Citie not yet knowing their Generall was dead Euery street was filled with slaughter and spoile Commaundement was giuen not to rauish women or spoile Churches The Citizens threw downe their armes and cryed for mercie all places ecchoed the cries and lamentations of women and children The noble Venetian presently grew passionate and pitied their distresse by sound of Trumpet commanding his Souldiers and Marriners to abstaine from spoile and slaughter Gallipolis taken the command of the fleet was by a Generall consent committed to Maripietro till such time as the Senate should prouide a new Genenerall The victorious Venetians did forth with fortifie the Citie and made it a safe retreat for their forces In the meane time Nerita a Citie of the Salentines Radisca and many other
reedified The Pestilence begunne in Summer doth in Autumne make diuers places in the citie desolate A briefe Description of their Sea-trafficke Foure Gallies trading into France are taken by Pirates on the coast of Portugall Troubles in Friull by the sodaine arriuall of the Hungarians ROBERTO SANSEVERINO with a braue Cauallerie goes to the warre lately begunne neere Rome The election of MARCO BARBADICO who succeedeth MOCENIGO in the Principalitie of Venice A briefe Declaration of the warre of Rome betwixt Pope INNOCENT and king FERDINAND Three Commissioners are appointed to prouide all things requisite to purge the Citie from the pestilence SANSEVERINO dispoiled of his troupes returnes to the Venetians Their vsuall custome at their Princes funeralls The cause of the warre with the Archduke of Austria and sodaine commotions of the enemie on the very confines of Italie The beginning and end of the Rethicke warre The kingdome of Cyprus is ioyned to the Venetians Dominions by a conueyance made by Queene KATHERINE in her life time The inuention of harquebuzes and the recompence of such as learned to shoot in them An extreame cold frost at Venice and ouer all the Lakes A league betwixt the Pope Venetians and GALE AS SFORZA The preparations of CHARLES the French King for the conquest of the kingdome of Naples THat part of the Dukes Pallace which was burnt during the warre was from the foundation reedified this first yeere of the peace It is an admirable peece of worke and likely to last long The Citie was greatly molested with the Infection the next Summer which increasing in Autumne did make Venice very desolate This domesticke losse was accompanied toward the end of Summer with an other farre from home But before wee enter into this Discourse it shall not bee impertinent to mention the Venetians great industrie wealth purchased by traffike at sea There is no place in all the Sea from Gades betwixt Affricke and Europe towards Syria and Egypt in the Leuant nor from the North and West towards Bosphorus and the Fennes Meotides nor any place so remote which the Venetian Gallies haue not at all times frequented in trade of Marchandize It is almost incredible to thinke how the Venetian vessells doe ordinarily enter into the Hauens not onely of Italie but of Liburnia Dalmatia Macedonia and Grecce as if it were in the suburbs of Venice Wee will speake of those who at the Common-wealths charge are yeerely sent to take in lading in the remotest places of the world Of these foure great gallies bring home into Italie Spice Silke Pretious stones and Pearles from Syria and Egypt Three others goe into Lybia for gold iewells and slaues Two saile into Fraunce and bring home wooll and Spanish silke Others goe towards the Tana is and Fennes Meotides from whence they returne loden with Tapistrie and Emeraldes And besides this number foure direct theyr course into the French Ocean and from the Martes there loade themselues abundantly with woolls gold tapistrie and cloth of Flaunders According to this custome foure Gallies for this purpose were abroad vnder the commaund of Bartilomeo Minio who comming into the Spanish Seas mette with young Columbus nephew to Columbus the famous Mariner who with seauen tall shippes of warre incountered them in the night neere to the sacred Promontorie modernely termed S. Vincents Cape But although at first hee determined to assault the Venetian Gallies yet hee abstained that night and resoluing to fight with them came so neere as the prowes of the pirates shippes were asterne the poopes of the Venetian Gallies So soone as it was day Columbus assailed the Venetians who were inferior to him in men and vessells but superior in courage and resolution They fought fiercely for certaine houres space and with such great slaughter as is seldome seene in any fight with such enemies who rarely come to fight but vpon constraint Diuerse that were present at the bickering say that three hundred Venetians were slaine at that fight others mention not so many Among the dead were Lorenzo Michael Captaine of a Gallie and Giouanni Delfino brother to another Captaine The Venetians were wearied with long fight The Gallie Delfina was taken by the enemies whereupon the rest yeelded Some say that in one Gallie foure score dead bodies lay betwixt the prow and poope which spectacle the victorious enemie lamented saying in despite That the Venetians by their wilfulnesse had procured that losse The dead bodies were throwne into the Sea and the wounded set on shoare Those which escaped went to Lisbone and from thence were sent home Lisbone is a Citie of Portugall standing vpon the Sea I thinke it was in old time called Olisipone It is at this day very famous as well for the ordinarie residence of kings as for her great wealth The Venetians were there very kindely entertained by the king and those that were sicke he commaunded to be carefully looked to the rest according to each mans qualitie receiued mony and cloaths and were sent home into their countrey The Venetians are in ancient league with the kings of Portugall the which being deriued from the Father to the Sonne they inuiolably obserue They say that the cause of this league and friendship proceeded from the Venetians courtesie and liberalitie It is reported That a king of Portugall came in time past with a small traine to Venice to see the Citie where he remained certaine daies in disguised habite But so great a guest could not long be concealed For the Senate hauing intelligence that a Noble man of royall parentage lay in the Citie it did honourably receiue and conducted him to a goodly Pallace where he lodged being accompanied by certaine Senators to shew him the singularities of the Citie and to wait vpon him whither soeuer hee went At his departure they gaue him rich giftes and for his greater honor appointed some to attend him as farre as the Venetians confines This did the Venetians not as they thought to a king but only to a priuate person of blood royall At his returne into Portugall hee acquainted his Princes with the Venetians curtesie and liberalitie and made a Decree That his successors should for euer acknowledge the Venetians bounty towards him And for this cause the king of Portugall gaue such good entertainement to the distressed Venetians he did likewise commaund that none of his subiects should buy any part of the Venetians goods which had bene stollen from them The newes of this losse did greatly afflict the Citie the which exceeding as it was reported the summe of 20000. crownes touched some particular persons But the death of so many men did much augment their sorrow The pestilence at this time did greatly infect the Cittie in regard whereof the Senate was of opinion at that time not to reuenge that wrong but to deferre it to a fitter time At the same time there arose some troubles in Friull Certaine light horse sent by the King
of Hungarie as it was afterwards knowne made sodaine incursions vpon the very confines of Italy to surprise Porto-nouo a towne vpon the Riuer Lizonza The Hungarians made a stay vpon the Thryestines territorie But the Senate though it certainly knew that the same King made warre still vpon Frederick and that those troupes were expresly sent into Italy to surprize Porto-nouo and Tryeste which Frederick yet held yet because they were not well assured of the Kings intention they forthwith sent certaine troopes of horse which lay in Garrison betwixt Verona and Padua to the Carnons territories But the Hungarians passing quietly through the territorie of Vdina and frustrate of their hope to take the Citie which the Bandetti had assured them of left Italy and returned without any farther attempt The better part of Haruest was alreadie spent when Roberto Sanseuerino who notwithstanding the peace in Lombardie still remained in the Venetians pay earnestly solicited by Letters from Pope Innocent who succeeded Sixtus went without the Senates consent or knowledge who were then at peace by sea and land with his sonnes Fracasso and Galeas and two and thirtie companies of horse first into Faminia and afterwards to Rome in the middest of winter but hee arriued somewhat before his forces for the Pope being pressed by Alphonso hastened his comming The cause of this warre proceeded from the commotions of the Volaterrans and rebellion of certaine Princes who by a sodaine conspiracie reuolted from Ferdinand retiring to Pope Innocent requesting his aide against that King The Pope finding them not onely worthie to be protected by his authoritie but likewise to be freed from all wrong by the forces of the Church of Rome it fell out that Virgino Vrsino who as we haue elsewhere said besides sundry townes which hee possest neere Rome on this side and beyond Tiber had likewise diuers others in the Marshes as farre as the lake Fuscino in the confines of the Realme of Naples remained still loyall to the King At first he resolued as it is reported not wholly to abandon the King nor likewise in any sort to take Armes against the Pope but together with Ferdinand defending the Realmes frontiers following his Ancestors steps to make no attempt neere Rome In this maner he remained as it were neuter amidst these new garboiles of warre when after Sanseuerins arriual by the perswasion as it was thought of some chiefe Commanders of the contrarie faction the Pallace of the Vrsini vpon Mount Iordano which is the name of some part of the Citie was sodainly by the soldiers spoiled and burnt whereat Virginio being incensed did presently declare himselfe together with the other Lords of that familie an enemy to the Pope Alfonso strengthened by this mans power and hauing seized on certaine bridges neere Rome began after Sanseuerines arriuall to waste and spoile all places round about the Citie We onely mention this to acquaint the reader with the cause of the warre betwixt the Pope and King Ferdinand Now while these things were done neere Rome Prince Mocenigo died the seuenth yeere of his Gouernment ¶ MARCO BARBADICO the 73. Duke of Uenice MArco Barbadico a Senator of great wisdome and authoritie was by a generall consent chosen Prince in his stead This man the Common-wealth being quiet at home and abroad repaired the Ducall Pallace begunne a while before with such expedition as in a few moneths whilest he remained Prince all that part thereof towards the East was with stately Architecture almost finished The cold weather nothing abating the furie of the Pestilence it did greatly afflict the Citie Therefore three Senators were appointed who had ample commission to doe whatsoeuer they should finde necessarie to free it from that calamitie These men that they might the sooner take away the cause of the sicknesse in an open place for the purpose caused a great quantitie of infectious apparell which the couetous graue-makers had layed vp together to bee burned in one fire And because great numbers of people did surcharge the Citie they sent a great part of the vulgar to inhabit elswhere At the same time the great Chanell opposite to the great market-place was clensed the which by a decree of Senate though it were of great extent was in all places scoured They sent certaine foote companies according to their vsuall manner into Cyprus for to guard the Island In the meane time warre betwixt the Pope and the Vrsini who as hath beene said shewed themselues openly for Ferdinand brake forth into great flames after the arriuall of Sanseuerines forces For Pontenomentana being recouered which they had taken and Fracasso sonne to old Sanseuerino almost slaine with a bullet the whole burthen of the warre fellon Paulo Vrsino and other of Virginio's kinsmen For Nomentana being taken by force was sackt and ruined Sanseuerino marched towards Monterotonda when Cardinall Baptista Vrsino came to the Pope and assured him that himselfe and friends would be obedient to the holie Sea by meanes whereof there were none other attempts made neere Rome Virginio's troopes of horse did in the meane time waste the Roman territorie till Alphonso's returne from Tuscanie where according to their agreement they receiued a braue cauallery from the Florentines and Milaneses with which they made towards Rome Sanseuerino with farre fewer number went to incounter him neere Flisco there in skirmish the enemie lost certaine horse but this notwithstanding Alphonso presuming on his owne strength did in despight of Sanseuerino make furious incursions vpon the Romanesca The Pope who till then had constantly maintained this great warre though he alreadie before resolued as some say to craue aide from France hauing sent for Renatus Duke of Lorraine to come into Italy against Ferdinand and had likewise by his Nuncio Nicolao Franco elect Bishop of Treuiso requested the Venetians to associate him in that warre yet because supplies from France are accounted farre off and tedious and that the Venetians in respect of their league sworne in Lombardie at the finishing of the Ferrarois warre with Lodouico Sforza Alphonso and the Florentines would not take Armes hauing thereby lost all hope of aide from any other place and fearing to precipitate the State of Rome into greater dangers he did willingly incline to peace which the enemie offered him on honourable termes For though he was a great Protector of the papall dignitie yet he loued peace and quietnesse in concluding whereof he did as much as in him lay procure the wealth and aduancement of the Church of Rome together with that of his friends and confederates Sanseuerino presently after peace was made being casheerd and resoluing to carrie backe his troupes of horse into Lombardie did by letters and expresse messengers craue leaue of the Senate to retire with two thousand horse into some towne belonging to their territories But his demand not granted himselfe destitute of all counsell as a man forsaken hauing no safe place of retreate and Alphonso
Now the Rendezuous for all the Kings troupes was at Suza from thence to march with ease into Italy vnder the conduct of the Lord of La Tremouille albeit the warre was managed by Iohn Iames Trivulce a man of great repute for his excellent skill in martiall discipline The report was that there were twenty thousand soldiours in the Kings Army The Venetians had for their parts eight thousand foot-men twelue hundred men at armes and fiue hundred light horse with greate store of munition and ordnance Dominico Contaren and Andre Loredan were prouidators of the army and Bartilmeo Aluiana Generall in the Count Pettillans sted who was deceased Hee beeing come to the Army which lay on the bankes of Adice sent to the Senate to know if hee should passe on farther whilst the enemies were vnprouided of all aide and succour and their townes without garrisons The Senate beeing assembled therevpon after â—…undry opinions decreed that their Armie should not passe the Po nor Adda referring the rest to the pleasure and discretion of their General according as he should think it fit For the Senate had as yet receiued no certaine newes whether the French Armie had passed the Alpes wherevpon they thought it not discretion to abandon their state to the enemies mercy or to send their Army into any place from whence if matters should fall out vnfortunately they should not bee able to withdraw it But Aluiana beeing full of courage and desirous to exploite some gallant enterprise if occasion should fitly serue resolued without delay tâ—… passe ouer and first of all tooke his way directly towards Verona hoping for to winne it Pandolfo Malateste commanded for the Emperour in one of the Fortes of the Citty Hee with certaine of the Townsmen had practised to giue him entrance But the next day fiue hundred Lansquenets entred Verona by the Riuer Adicé and the matter beeing discouered Aluiana perceiuing that the Citty could not bee easily forced and that it would aske much time to besiege it did on a sodaine march towards Cremona and by the way made him-selfe maister of Valegia and of the Forte of Piscara two strong and commodious places for the Venetians in respect of their situation Vpon report of Aluiana his comming a great tumult was raised in Cremona those which were of the contrary faction forsooke the towne and the others without contradiction did receiue Aluiana into the citty who being entred he did sodainly disarme Caesar Fieramosca who lay there in garrison with three hundred horse and fiue hundred foot of the Duke of Milans Hee needed not to spend any time for the recouery of the castle by reason it was euer held for the French King Wherevpon hee forth with erected the French Kings banner saying That hee did receiue the Citty for and in the name of the French King for whom Theodore Triuulce his Ambassador was there present in the Venetian Armie Hee went afterwards to Pisquetona Sonzino Lodi and other places neere adioyning hauing already by the change of Cremona erected the French Kings Banners But on the Verona and Vincentine territories the Venetians affaires were differently managed For so soone as Aluiana was departed with his Armie Rocandolphe Captaine of the Lansquenets and Frederick Gonsaluo of Bossola comming forth of Verona with sixe hundred horse and two thousand foote went to Saint Boniface where Aluiana had left vnder the command of Sigismond Cauallo and Iohn Fortino three hundred light horse and six hundred foote who beeing scattered heere and there vpon newes of the enemies comming fled to Colognia and were so neerely pursued by the Lansquenets who entered the towne by force as they were all taken prisoners and the towne beeing sacked and burnt they returned to Verona laden with spoile The enemies for this exploit waxing more prowd and insolent foure thousand foote and fiue hundred horse sallied forth of Verona for to assaile Vincenza whereof Iohn Paull Manfron the Citties Gouernour hauing intelligence hee caused great numbers of peasants on a sodaine to enter into the Citty and did so carefully prouide for the rest as the enemies hope beeing frustrate hauing spoyled the countrey round about they were enforced to returne to Verona But during these exploites on the Veronois and Vincentine territories the whole Dutchie of Milan was in vprore and Armes There was no Towne Village not Castle but did rise and take armes vpon the comming of the Venetian Armie vpon the report that was spredde that the French had passed the Alpes for albeit that the people of Milan wearied with the French gouernment had desired the returne of the Sforzas their antient Lords yet neuerâ—…helesse hauing not by their returne obtained the liberty and freedome which they hoped for but on the contrary all discommodities and charges they changed their mindes and desired the returne of the French Many likewise enemies to the quiet of other poore banished men or mooued by the diuersity of factions did fauour the French In regarde whereof the Earle of Manâ—…oc sonne to Iohn Iames Triuulce riding vp and downe the Champaine countrey of the Dutchy of Milan to stirre them vp to commotions found it no hard matter to make them to reuolt and to take armes Maximillian Sforza beeing daunted thereat not knowing whereon to resolue perceiuing all things to tend to his ruine thought it most expedient for his safety and escape and for the tryall of his latest fortune to retire with certaine horse to Nouara where he vnderstood some Suisses were arriued resoluing there to tarry for the rest who in great numbers were comming down for the defence of his state Those of Milan seeing them-selues to bee without garrison and without a Captaine that their well fortified Castle held for the French and that the Venetians Army did approach some of them beeing stirred vp with hope oâ—… better fortune others with feare and distrust thought it fit to yeeld to the French and to that end to send an Ambassador to the Venetian Generall who hauing made a bridge ouer the Adda threatned that hee would shortly bee with them The French on the other side with whom Andrè Gritti was in quality of Ambassador for the Signory entred Italy tooke diuerse townes and castles some by assault and others by a voluntary redition so as the state of Milan beeing enuaded by two mighty armies French and Venetian was in short space reduced vnder the French gouernment Two Citties onely held out for Maximillian Nouara and Coma. The Venetians for these so fortunate attempts did promise to them-selues a glorious end of this warre for their armie had gotten such reputation by the the taking of Cremona as Ranze de Cera going with a troope of Soldiers to recouer Bressia it was yeelded vnto him vpon the first summons by reason that the Spanish Soldiers who lay there in garrison beeing frighted at his comming retired into the Castle There was but one onely
the meane time their hapned a great disorder at Rome to the cofederates great preiudice who after the conquest of Cremona hoped to preuaile in the enterprise of Genoa and to bee able according to the proiects formerlie made to encampe in two seuerall places before Milan For the Colonnesi hauing assembled sixe hundred horse and fiue thousand foot marched with greate speed towards the Citty of Rome where no man thinking of their comming they entred by night and seazed vpon three gates then running vp and downe the Citty they sackt diuers Prelats houses the Pallace and Church of Saint Peter without any respect to the Maiesty of Relligion esteeming sacred matters lesse then Turkes would haue done so as the Pope could hardly retire with some Cardinalls and others whome hee most trusted into the Castle Saint Angelo the Colonnesi hauing determined to take him prisoner who without any long stay did sodainely leaue the Citty the Cardinall Colonna hauing first of all attempted in vaine to cause the people to rise in his behalfe They carried away with them in gould and siluer and other commodities more then three hundred thousand crownes The tumult being appeased which lasted not much aboue three howers D. Hugo after that he had taken assurance of the Pope went to the Castle to talk with him where vsing termes beseeming a Conqueror hee enforced him to grant a truce betwixt them as well in his name as in that of the confederates and the Emperors for foure monethes by meanes whereof the Pope promised speedily to cause his Army to repasse the Po to call home his Galleis into the Churches territories and to pardon the Colonessi and all others that had any hand in that assault and tumult That the Imperials and Colonesi with their Companies should depart from Rome and foorth of the Churches state and should retire themselues into the Kingdome of Naples This truce was for the time present willingly embraced by both sides by the Pope because the Castle was not well victualled by D. Hugo the Colonesi neuerthelesse making instance to the contrary because it seemed vnto him that he had done much for the Emperor and because that all those in a manner with whom he had entred Rome being laden with spoile were slipt away into diuers places The truce did interrupt all the deseignes of Lombardy and the whole fruite of the victory of Cremona But the Pope thinking afterwards more considerately and with a setled iudgement vpon the agreement which he had made and foreseeing into how many dangers he had throwne himselfe in time to come the better to free himselfe from those perrils wherevnto he was subiect if he should obserue the Articles of the truce wrote to his Nuncios to enquire of the most Christian King and the Venetian Senate whether he were bound to performe that which he had beene enforced to promise to D. Hugo or wholly to reiect it and within a while after he sent the Lord of Liege into France for the same purpose who at the same time was come to Rome The Pope knew very well that to obserue the truce was nothing else but to giue the Emperor meanes and time to beginne afterwards a greater and fiercer warre and to ouercome by that delay those difficulties wherewith he was pressed assuring to himselfe in the end his states in Italy to the great danger and hazard of the liberties of all the rest But his immeasurable feare diuerted him from al good councell and hindred him from well discerning that truth wherevppon the Generall of the Friers being come to Rome by the Emperors commandement to treat of peace he heard him attentiuely and exhorted the Venetians to incline to an accord saying That since they were of necessity one day to lay downe armes and beeing then inuited to doe so they ought not to contemne the occasion that was presented The Senate vpon this proposition assuted him that it had neuer desired warre but had on the contrary by warre procured an assured peace so that it might be treated and concluded by the most Christian King because that doing otherwise they should for euer alienate him from the affaires of Italy and should lose a most assured refuge in their necessities and occurrences therefore they vsed meanes to induce the Pope to temporize and to expect an answer from France that nothing did presse him to precipitate his affaires and to grant the Emperors demand on such vniust conditions as to giue him a great somme of money and besides to consigne into his hands for the assurance of the treaty Parma Placentia and Ciuita-uechia places most important of the Churches State That he was to consider that the Emperors forces were not so great as they were reported and that the greatest ayde that he had forth of Germany came from George Frâ—…ndsperg who at his owne charges had brought him an army the which beeing not able to hold out long would of necessity be shortly broken That the Garrison of Milan beeing not paid refused to obey hir commanders and would be gone On the contrary how that they expected Rance de Cera from France with a great somme of money and that there was great hope that the King himselfe who was come as farre as Lyons would in person come into Italy That the enterprize of Genoa was set forward with good successe in a word that all things promised an happy issue The Pope being vrged by these remonstrances and most of all perhaps by the wrongs which he had newly receiued resolued to hold in suspence the practizes of that new truce and to treat onely of an vniuersall peace by the aduise and consent of the most Christian King The arriuall of the Lord Russell did much auaile the resolution who beeing sent by the King of England to offer thirty thousand crownes to the Pope for the expence of the war came at the same time to Rome who did greatly solicite and exhort him to continue stead-fast in the league or else to labour to conclude an vniuersall peace betwixt the Princes of Christendome the which being approued by the Venetian Senate they wrote to Nouagiero their Ambassadour with the Emperour that he should enterpose that treaty of peace it being decreed that the agreement should bee treated and concluded in France and should afterwards for the Emperors honour and dignity be ratified and confirmed by him in Spaine The chiefe pointes of the treaty were That the children of the most Christian King should be set at liberty that Lombardy should be left peaceable and Francis Sforza restored to his State and that the Emperour should pay the King of England that which he pretended to bee due vnto him but difficulties dayly arising vpon these articles each of them prepared on a sodaine for warre The Pope sent his troupes which he had recalled from the campe of the league before the townes which the Colonesi had vsurped vpon the Churches State The
of Saint Angelo was by this accord foorth-with yeelded to Captaine Alarcon who entred it with three companies of Spanish footmen and three companies of Lancequenets appointed to guard the Castle and the Pope But the other townes and Castles that were promised were not so easily consigned by reason that the Castle of Ciuita Chastelane was guarded by the Confederates and Aadrew Doria refused to deliuer vp that of Ciuitauechia vnlesse he were first paied fourteene thousand Ducats which he said was due vnto him for his entertainment Parma and Placentia on the other-side abhorring the Spanish gouernment refused to receiue them and those of Modena were reduced vnder the obedience of the Duke of Ferrara who making vse of the Popes calamity threatning the Modenois to spoile their corne which was almost ripe did enforce them to deliuer vp the citty into his handes The Confederates army remained quiet without attempting any thing expecting the arriuall of the Lord of Lautrec who was said to be already in Piedmont with great forces both of horse and foot albeit the Captaines in the meane time were of sondry opinions some thinking that being vnited with the French it would be best for them to march directly to Rome where they should find the Imperiall army in such disorder as they might easily set the Pope at li berty by reason that it was much diminished as well by the contagious sicknesse which was in the Citty as by the ouer-much licence which the Soldiers had taken for certaine monethes space liuing without al order and without any martiall discipline some of them being lodged in the Citty and others heere and there abroad and that diuers of them beeing disbanded went their waies daily without any leaue whereby they might with ease driue those few from Rome that remayned behind Those of the contrary opinion thought that for the effecting of that deseigne it were better to scoure the state of Milan beeing neere thereunto to enforce the Imperials to leaue Rome and to come to the defense thereof which might prooue either to slow or insufficient to stoppe the current of the victory wherby they might at one time execute diuers fortunate exploits and perhaps giue an end to the warre This being alowed by all men and propounded to the Lord of Lautrec at his arriuall he entred into the state of Milan with eight thousand Suisses three thousand Gascons and tenne thousand footmen conducted by Pedro of Nauarre and went and encamped before the towne of Bosco on the marches of Alexandria where was a Garrison of a thousand footmen the most of whom were Lancequenets who after they had for the space of tenne dayes sustained the battery and sundry assaults did at the last yeeld themselues at the discretion of the Victor This conquest was followed by that of Alexandria whither the Lord Lautrec came afterwards and encamped wherin lay fifteene hundred footmen who being molested at one time both by the Artillery and the mynes were enforced to yeeld their liues and goods beeing saued But the taking of Alexandria was cause of the beginning of some contention betwixt the confederates For the Lord of Lautrec being desirous to leaue fifteene hundred footmen in Garrison there to the end that at al euents his owne companies might haue one place of retreat and those which should come from France finde some comodiousnesse of meeting there the Duke of Milans Ambassador fearing that it would be the beginning of an occasion to possesse that State for his King opposed him-selfe against it the like did the Ambassadors of England and Venice wherevpon Lautrec agreed not without indignation to leaue it freely to the Duke of Milan a matter which did afterwards greatly preiudice the leagne Now Lautrec after the conquest of Alexandria propounded that he would march to Rome to free the Pope from imprisonment who although he had agreed as hath beene said with the Almaines and Spaniards did neuerthelesse still remaine a prisoner vnder their guard vntill that he had accomplished the articles of the agreement as wel for payment of the money as for the consignation of the aboue mentioned townes where-in were found sundry difficulties wherevppon the Emperor did not there-in shew him-selfe well disposed nor resolute although by his speech he sought to haue all men to beleeue the contrary But the Venetians did wholy dislike of Lautrecs proposition not that they stood lesse affected to the Popes enlargement then did the King but because they thought the enterprise of Rome lesse profitable for the common cause then that of Milan as it had beene debated before his comming and afterwards confirmed by himselfe that there was at the same time great hope of beeing able to conquer Pauia and Milan where there were weake Garrisons and that Antonio de Leua who by his dilligence and skill more then by force did gouerne that State lay greeuously sicke and was vnable to prouide remedies that losing this opportunity the affaires of the league would euer afterwards decline in regard of the huge number of Lancequenets that were ready to come down from the County of Tiroll into Lombardy But by taking Milan from them which was their only retreat and hauing neither cauallery nor victualls they would be enforced to change their mindes and to tarry at home in their houses that in the meane space it would giue time and leisure to tenne thousand Almaines payd by the King of England to come to the campe of the league and afterwards they might with those forces march to Rome and driue the enemies before them assuring together with the Churches State the libertye of all Italy The Lord of Lautrec inclining to their request determined to march towards Pauia before which with great speed he went and encamped the releefe which Antonio de Leua sent not beeing able to enter it the which being battered for the space of foure daies and a great part of the wall beaten downe the soldiors making ther approches did enter it by the breach The Citty was sackt and the French for eight daies together vsed all sorts of cruelty vpon the inhabitants who had vanted that they had beene the vanquishers of the French King because that King Francis was taken prisoner lying at the seege of the same Citty The Genowais at the same time being afflicted with sundry losses and calamities and cheefely with famine sent Ambassadors to the Lord Lautrec for to capitulate The Citties Duke whose name was Antonio Adorni retired him-selfe into the Castellet and the tumult being appeased by Phillip Doria who was prisoner there the Citty returned vnder the Kings obedience who appointed Theodario Triuulcio gouernor thereof and the Venetians because they would not leaue their Captaines vnrecompenced who had valiantly behaued themselues in the reduction of Genoa they encreased to Caesar Fregosa the conductof other thirty men at armes and doubled his pay they did like-wise acknowledge the valour and prowesse of Guy
Leua who was already come forth into the field with eight thousand foot-men that they two beeing ioyned together might goe and assaile the Cities belonging to the State of Venice against whom Brunswich had denounced warre and had with a vaine and rediculous proposition challenged Andre Gritti Duke of Venice to a single fight who was a man of fourescore yeeres of age The Venetians resoluing to defend themselues concluded to raise twelue thousand foot-men amongst whom were foure thousand Swisses vnto whom they speedily sent money into Swisserland and intreated the French King by his authority to fauour that leauy they had besides great numbers of light-horse from Greece and Dalmatia then they recalled the Duke of Vrbin from the Marches of Ancona and commanded him to visit all their townes and fortes of most importance to prouide them of strong garrisons and to take order for whatsoeuer hee should thinke necessary for their seruice safety and defense they appointed afterwards diuers Gentlemen to command their principall cities Ieronimo Diede was sent to Treuiso with an hundred and fifty footmen Pedro Sagreda with like number to Padua to Verona went Zachary Doria Philippo Correrio Alessandro Donato Ambrosio Contaren Iosepho Badoario Lorenzo Sanuto Augustino Canall and Almore Barbaro each of them with fiue and twenty souldiers with them to looke to the gates and other important places of the city In the meane time vpon these newes great warlike preparations were made in France to send into Italy of whom the Count of Saint Pol was made Generall who was of the house of Bourbon to the end to follow the Duke of Brunswich if hee should passe on into the Realme of Naples if not to make warre on the Dutchy of Milan together with the companies of the Venetians those of Francis Sforza But all these preparations did little auaile by reason of their late comming For the Duke of Brunswich beeing followed with his owne forces determined to assaile certaine cities belonging to the Venetians being the rather mooued therevnto because that at his arriuall Pescara Reuotella and certaine other townes vpon the Lake of La Garda had yeelded to him The Duke of Vrbin who had put himselfe into Verona hauing still an eye vpon Brunswich did preuent his deseignes and went sodainely to Bressia where hee strengthened the Garrison then from thence hee went to Bergamo into which hee caused great numbers of the people of those Vallies to enter who were very faithfull and trusty to the Venetians and with a wonderfull celerity hee caused the city to bee encompassed with great trenches making it thereby defensible then giuing very many trauerses and molestations to the enemies by cutting off victuals and many other commodities from them the Duke of Brunswich despayring of beeing able to execute any notable enterprize after that hee had according to their barbarous custome spoiled the country and burned sundry faire buildings to leaue some memory of himselfe behinde hee departed without any other great exploit forth of the Venetian State and came vpon that of Milan where he met with Antonio de Leua who vpon report of his comming had passed ouer the Riuer Adda to ioyne with him that they might afterwards execute some great enterprize and hauing repassed the Adda they went and encamped before Lauda forth of which the Duke of Milan was newly departed beeing aduertized of the enemies comming and was come to Bressia by the consent of the Senate hauing left a suffitient number of souldiers in Lauda with Iohn Paul Sforza his naturall brother to command there who being assailed by the enemies did valliantly receiue and repulse them By means whereof Brunswick finding himself without means to entertain such an army any long time and beeing frustrate of his hope to returne home laden with glory and spoile not determyning to go on any farther towards Naples as at the beginning hee had purposed hee tooke his iourney towards the Lake of Coma to returne into Germany hee was pursued at the heeles by the Count Gaiazzo and Mercurio Bue who comming forth of Bergamo gaue in vpon his rereward The report of the Lansequenets departure did greatly afflict the beseeged Neapolitans loosing thereby all hope of succours on whom it seemed that their whole safety did depend because that not long before they had with bad successe assailed the Gallies of Phillipine Doria supposing to open to themselues the passage by sea seeing that by land was wholly shut from them Lautrec hauing taken Pozzuolo and the places neere adioyning by which great aboundance of victualls came to Naples which was the cause that before the Venetians Gallies arriued they were desirous to tempt fortune and to free themselues of the stumbling block by sea by breaking Phillippine Doria who with the Gallies lay in the Gulph of Salerno They manned sixe Gallies foure Fusts and two Brigantines with a thousand Spanish Harquebuziers of the choisest and most valliant of the army with whom went along Don Hugo the Viceroy and almost all the chiefe captaines and men of authority To these vessels were added diuers fisher-boates to amaze the enemies a farre off by the shew of a greater number of vessels All these Lords beeing ioyfully embarked as if they had beene going to a triumph came to the Isle of Capri from thence leauing the Cape of Minerua on their left hand they came into the maine â—…ea and sent two Gallies before who were commanded that so soone as they should come neere the enemies to make shew of flight to the end to draw them forth to fight at sea hoping to take them with ease But the matter fell out otherwise for Phillipine Doria beeing aduertized the day before by trusty spies of the enemies determination had with great speed and secrecy drawne three hundred Harquebuziers from Lautrec then so soone as hee discouered the enemies fleet a farre off making towards it he was at the first somewhat doubtfull in regard of the great number of vessels that hee discouered but beeing soone freed of that scruple when he perceiued that there were but sixe vessels onely hee caused three gallies of his owne to keepe aloose as though they had ment to flie to the end that by returning with a very faire winde they might giue in vpon the enemies broad sides and himselfe with fiue Gallicâ—… went forward to meet them who were commanded to discharge their ordnance vpon him to take away by the smoake both his sight and aime but Phillippin beeing quicker then they gaue fire to a very great Basilisk in his owne Galley which strooke the Admirall Galley wherein the Viceroy was who with diuers others were therewith slaine then hee discharged all his other shot which did hurt and kill diuers The enemies shot on the other side slue some but not very many then comming neere to one an other they beganne with Harguebuzes and other weapons a very fierce fight which lasted along while till
the Venetians A treaty of peace held at Rome but to no purpose The great warlike preparations of the Archduke of Austria to send into Italy to the Emperors ayde The Venetians lend money to the French and to the Duke of Milan The French King resolueth to make warre vpon the Emperour on the frontiers of Spaine The Venetians solicit the King to come in person into Italy The Imperialls recouer Aquila and Matricia The Marquis of Guasto besiegeth Monopoli Brundusium is yeelded to the Venetians An allarme beeing giuen to the Duke of Vrbin hee runneth to the defence of his owne state An enterview of the French and Venetian Armies The defeate and taking of the Count Saint Paul by Antonio de Leua The Duke of Vrbins retreate to Cassan. The Duke of Vrbin defeateth a part of the enemies at the passage of a Riuer Antonio de Leua retireth to Milan The Venetian Senate are male-content with the King The Emperors arriuall at Genoa The Emperors great forces in Italy The Florentines send Ambassadors to the Emperor The great warlike preparations of the Venetians Peace concluded at Cambray betwixt the Emperor and the King The King is very earnest with the Emperor to make an accord with the Venetians And lastly a new confederacie betwixt the Venetians and Francis Sforza Duke of Milan The Eight Booke of the fifth Decade of the Historie of Uenice THE Lord Lautrec beeing dead Michaele Antonio Marquis of Salusses a couragious Lord and well beloued of the Soldiors tooke vpon him the charge of the Armie in a manner ruined who beeing councelled to discampe not so much for the present state of their affaires as for the danger and necessity that pressed him gathered together those forces that remained and retired with small losse to Auersa expecting succours from Rance de Cera Vpon his retreate the Imperialls comming foorth of Naples gaue in vpon his rereward but by reason of his good order the losse was not great Certaine French troopes were broken and Pedro of Nauarre beeing taken prisoner was ledde to Naples where hee dyed The Marquis beeing come to Auersa was neerely pursued by the Imperialls and beeing not able to make defence hee sent the Count Ouy de Rangone to parley with the Prince of Orange the Imperialls Generall with whom it was capitulated That the Marquis should quit Auersa with the Castle Artillery and Munition That as well himselfe as the other Captaines should remaine prisoners except the Count Guy who treated particularly for himselfe That the Marquis should doe his vtmost to cause the French and Venetians to render vp the kingdome with diuerse other conuentions which made this French Armie miserable who of vanquishers became vanquished to the Venetians great greefe and discontent whose fortune for the kingdome of Naples was to depend on that of the French their friends and consederates This losse was accompanied by a very greeuous and most preiudicious accident to the league and of great importance to the French which caused great strife betwixt them for the plague beeing very great in Genoa and by reason thereof in a manner forsaken by all men and likewise by the soldiers and namely by Theodore â—…riuulcio the Gouernor who retired into the Castle Anare 〈◊〉 making vse of this occasion came neere to the Citty with certaine Galleys and those few soldiors that hee had which did not exceed the number of fiue hundred footmen not hoping neuerthelesse to performe that which hee afterward did and entring it without any great resistance by the fauour of the people who were greatly delighted with the name of liberty which hee promised them became maister thereof where on a sodaine hee changed the manner of gouernment vnder the Emperors protection It lay not in Triuulcio his power to hinder it who beeing come to the Citty but a while before had much to doe to escape into the Castle hoping as hee said vpon the artiuall of succours to bee able at his pleasure to enter the Citty and to reduce it to the Kings deuotion as it had beene in time before For hee sent to the Lord Saint Paul to send him speedily three thousand footmen by whose ayde hee hoped to recouer the Citty Wherevpon the Captaines of the Confederates did determine That the Lord of Montilan should turne to Genoa with three thousand Lansquenets and Suisses which came from France and were already arriued at Alexandria The Senate in the meane time did not cease to giue order for necessary prouisions for the speedy renewing of the warre in Lombardy and for that they would not giue Antonio de Leua any time to make preparations they solicited one an other speedily to take armes they sent the Secretary André Rossi into France to hasten the forces which were to come into Italy they did besides command the Duke of Vrbin to receiue all those Almaines into their pay which had forsaken the Duke of Brunswich hauing more-ouer sent to Iuree money for the payment of fiue thousand Lansquenets so as the Republick had in a very short space more then tenne thousand footmen of sundry nations Almaines Suisses and Italians fifteene hundred light horse and eight hundred men at armes with which forces and those of the French beeing ioyned together they did hope to driue Antonio de Leua forth of Italy The Duke of Vrbins chiefe purpose was to place a strong Garrison in Lauda beeing a place of great importance for the Duke of Milan and for the Venetians likewise because the keeping there of did greatly auaile for the assurance of Bergamo and Crema and then to passe the Po so soone as the French succours should beginne to come vpon the Alpes to ioyne with the French and afterwards to goe and assaile Antonio de Leua For the supplyes of siue thousand footmen and fiue hundred Lances as many light horse which were expected beeing arriued the Duke of Vrbin talked with the Count Saint Paul at Monticella on the Po to consult in what manner they were to proceed in this warre for the profit and commodity of the common cause The Duke of Vrbin by the aduise of the Senate propounded to employ their whole forces in Lombardy to driue Antonio de Leua if it were possible foorth of the State of Milan to the end to cut off all meanes from the Imperialls of sending downe any ayde by that way into Italy forth of Germany and of hauing victuals from thence for the feeding of their Armie as they were wont The Lord Saint Paul and the other French Captaines were of a contrary opinion saying That it was not fitte to abandon the affaires of Naples vnlesse they should loose their honour and reputation both with the people and the enemies propounding besides how important a matter it was to keepe the Imperialls busied in the kingdome of Naples who by that meanes could not come and ioyne with Antonio â—…e Leua In this diuersitie of opinions
treaty of peace with the Turkes in regard the Emperor would neuer be at peace with the French so long as he could haue the Estates of the Venetian Republike and the Realme of Hungary for his Bulwarke for the which aduertisement they thanked his King and for that present delt no farther with him But although the Pope did offer his forces to maintaine the warre and exhorted the Senate to prouide dilligently for the conseruation of their States and defense of Christendome yet neuerthelesse he did not dissemble the suspition which he had conceiued of the Imperials and the smal hope he had in their aide wherevpon he did often times affirme that being assured that the Venetian Senate as most prudent and well aduised would neuer make peace with the Turke vnlesse they were enforced therevnto by very vrgent necessity euen so the occasions being once knowne to be such he did commend their councell which knew how to fit it selfe to times and necessity Now about the same time the Senate receiued letters from the Bayly Canalis who aduertised them that great and magnificent triumphs were preparing at Constantinople for the nuptials of the great Lords daughter married to Rusten Basha and for the circumcision of two of his children and to that end they expected some from Venice and that the Basha did greatly desire that according to the vsuall custome some Ambassador of theirs might come to the Porte to haue an occasion to reuiue the treaty of peace The Senate being assembled therevpon and a proposition being made to elect an Ambassador to send to Soliman all of them with one voice and consent embracing the businesse did choose 〈◊〉 Badoario a Senator of great authority and one of those who had most of all perswaded the Senate to an accord with Soliman offering himselfe if neede were to goe thither for that purpose They did then enioyne him first of all to procure the negociation of the Generall truce according to the former instructions of the Ambassador Contaren continued by the French Kings Agent then to motion the restitution of all those places possessed on either side during that warre and if hee could not obtaine that then to treate of a finall peace by renuing of the ancient capitulations giuing authority for to offer some fiue or sixe thousand Dicatâ—… a peece for the Cities of Naples and Maluesia and to promise three hundred thousand Ducats for the expences that Soliman had beene at in that warre This was the Senates commission But the councell of Tenne who at that time did Soueraignly treate of the most serious affaires of state without communicating them to the Senate to the end they might be more secretly managed among fewer persons added another more ample commission namely to haue power if hee should perceiue the treaty to bee wholy desperate to surrender vnto them the townes of Naples and Maluesia These Senators who were of the ancient and best experienced in the gouernment did very well know how greeuous and insupportable that warre had bin vnto them how that Naples and Maluesia were farre off from them and therefore hardly to be releeued and easie to be beseeged by the enemy whereby they had beene in danger oftentimes to haue beene taken in regard of their want of many things So as they would ere then haue fallen into the enemies hands had not the truce protected them That the Common-wealth was at the same time in great danger where-vpon it was discreetly aduised to cast away some what although it were deere and pretious to conduct it safely to the Hauen of peace forth of the rockes of that dangerous warre That it was a Maxim confirmed by many experiences that time in the Negociations with the Turkes doth breed danger and the conclusion of matters by delaies haue euer had a bad and difficult successe This happened about the latter end of the yeare and at the beginning of the next which was 1540. the Emperor came to Paris where the king entertained him with all possible signes of honor and friendship Christophero Capello Ambassador at the same time for the Signory in France did acquaint both of them with the Senates answer to the Marquis of Guasto and the Marshall D. Anibault wherevnto the Emperor answered that although for his owne part hee did resolue to make warre vpon the Turkes yet neuer-the-lesse hee could not see in regard of the shortnesse of the time how they might satisfie the Republcks desire and therefore that it would be to more purpose at that present to obtaine a generall truce during which they might haue time to prepare forces conuenient for such an enterprize and that he in the meane time would not omit to doe whatsoeuer lay in him for the common safety of their Sea Estates The most Christian King did at the same time make great protestation for his good will saying that hee would let men know that his intention neuer was to diuert the common good of Christendome but that he was ready speedily to embrace peace and concord with the Emperor that he might afterwards vndertake a warre more proffitable and necessary but that the present time would not permit him to treat of those bussinesses because he would not mingle graue and serious matters among feasts and ioy for the Emperors arriuall the negociating whereof might breed difficulties and discontents where-vpon they had referred the whole businesse to the assembly of Flanders Capello hauing acquainted the Senate with the Emperors and French Kings answers they were found to be very generall so as no certaine hold could be taken thereon neither of peace betwixt themselues not of warre against the Turkes where-vpon they resolued more earnestly to persue the treaty of peace already begun and did write to Badoario who ariuing at Constantinople about the middest of Aprill began to treat according to his commission with the Baschas therein vsing the fauour and aduice of the French Ambassador But at the beginning of their negotiation great difficulties did arrise not that the Turkes were vnwilling of an agreement but because they hauing notice of the secret commission giuen to Badoario and thereby being growne more insolent as well in regard of the feare and desire of peace which they discouered to be in the Venetians as for that they were assured to obtaine what-so-euer they demanded began forthwith to protest that they would not harken to any other proposition vnlesse that besides the Ilands of the Archipelago and the Castles of Nada Laurana which they already enioyed the Citties of Naples and Maluesia might bee freely surrendred to them and restitution made for the expences of the warre The Ambassador beeing amazed at these demands so sodainly and obstinately made and suspecting the truth of the matter did for certaine daies giue ouer that negociation incertaine of himselfe what he were best to doe on the other side he was drawne from it when he considered how that by continuing
the Duke of Neuers on the other side tooke diuers places in the country of Luxembourg as Herbemont the forts of Iamoigne Chygni Rossignoll Villeneufe and diuers others This happy successe did change the French mens sorrow into gladnesse their hearts still panting for that red and bloudy battaile of Saint Lawrence and chiefly at Court where the ioy was doubled in regard of the marriage of Francis Daulphin of Viennois with Mary Steward Queene and Inheretrix of Scotland daughter to Iames the fifth and Mary of Lorraine daughter to Claude Duke of Guise and that of Charles Duke of Lorraine with Claude the younger daughter of France This ioy was accompanied with an other by reason of the taking of Thyonuille which after a long battery of fiue thirty great peeces of ordnance was yeelded vpon composition Great preparations for warre being after this manner dayly made Almighty God tooke pitty on the people and raised vp Mediators of peace betwixt those two great Kings the which at that time tooke no-effect in regard of the great difficulties which were presented But the death of Charles the fift happening in Spaine and that of his two sisters Flenor Queene Dowager of France and Queene Mary Dowager of Hungary who accompanied him Mary Queene of England died soone after which procured the accomplishment of the peace turning the bitternesse of the precedent warres into a pleasing sweetnesse of accord by meanes of the alliances made the yeere following 1559. For as the Commissioners of both Kings did treat together the death of Charles the fifth happening in September and that of Queene Mary of England in Nouember altered the place and time of that conclusion Peace was concluded in the castle of Cambresis by meanes of the marriages of Philip with Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Henry and of Philibert Emanuel Duke of Sauoy with the Lady Marguerite the Kings only sister who tendred backe to the Spaniard whatsoeuer he had taken from him and to the Duke Sauoy and Piedmont and to the Geneuois Corsica But whilest the nuptials of the Kings daughter and sister were celebrated at Paris with all sports and delights that might be imagined this pleasant Commedy was turned into a mournfull and lamentable tragedy by King Henries death who being at tilt stricken into the eye with a splinter of a Lance died the eleuenth day after his hurt But to returne to the Venetians great numbers of pirats did at the same time scoure the Adriattick sea and by their vsuall spoiles and incursions did great harme on the sea coast of Dalmatia and Histria Matteo Bembo a discreet person and well experienced in many matters and Generall of the Venetians nauall army came forth of the Gulph of Corfou with twelue Gallies and with great speed pursued those Rouers gaue them chase and diâ—… greatly molest them who escaping into the Hauen of Durazzo those of the 〈◊〉 hauing taken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their behalfe Bembo being incensed thereat not regarding the peace which the Venetians had with Soliman discharged his Cannons vpon the cities walles where some of the inhabitants were slaine and yet he could not seize on the Pirats The Turke tooke this battery and manner of proceeding in very bad part and determined to reuenge it the Venetians considering the losses and harme that might arise if they should breake peace with so potent a Lord did appease him both by presents and excuses banishing Bembo from their State being not able to apprehend him that they might giue him an exemplary punishment which did the more coole and appease Soliman On the other side by the death of Mary Queene of England Elizabeth her sister obtained the crowne To Henry the second succeeded Francis the second Daulphin of Viennois his eldest sonne of the age of sixteene yeeres At the same time died Pope Paul the fourth who being extreamly hated of the Roman people as well for the behauiour of his Nephewes as for the Inquisition which he had established in Rome before he had scarce giuen vp the ghost the people arose and being led by the chiefest of those that beene iniured by him ranne to the palace of the Inquisition from whence with their swords hauing driuen the Monkes they opened the prisons and set all the prisoners at liberty the like did they to all the other prisons in Rome then they went to the Capitoll where finding the brazen Statue which the Romans had erected in honour of the Pope at the beginning of his papacy in regard of the good offices he had done them they brake it in peeces and drag'd the head diuided from the body through the dirt and mire of the city that done they threw it into Tiber. The Venetians sent their Ambassadors to the new French King to congratulate according to their manner his comming to the crowne Nicolo de Pont Doctor and Knight and Bernardo Nouagera were appointed to that end and within a while after the Prince falling sicke deceased to the griefe of all men in regard of his integrity and learning he was buried in Saint Dominikes Church in the monument of his ancestors Then by the example of former times they chose Ieronimo Priuli brother to the deceased Duke a man very famous and of great Maiesty IERONIMO DE PRIVLI the 83. Duke AT the beginning of his gouernment Giouan Angelo de Medicis a Milanois brother to the late Marquis of Marignan was chosen Pope to the great contentment of all the Romans taking vpon him the name of Pius the fourth which was at the latter end of the yeere 1559. who to make his actions conformable to his name pardoned the people of Rome the commotion and mutiny made by them against his predecessor then seeing all Christendome at peace he tooke order that the generall councell begunne at Trent and broken off afterwards by reason of the warres should be reuiued And although he was by nature meeke and gentle yet neuerthelesse beeing enforced by the great complaints made vnto him against his predecessors Nephewes who during their vncles Papacy had committed infinite extortions hee imprisoned Charles and Alphonso Caraffi Cardinals the Duke of Palliano brother to Charles and two others of their nere kinsmen who their processe hauing beene made and considered by Iudges deputed to that end being found guilty of sundry bad crimes the Cardinall Charles was strangled in Castle Saint Angelo and forthwith buried the Duke of Palliano with his other kinsmen were beheaded in the tower of Nona and shewne afterwards in publike and Cardinall Alphonso as least culpable was sent home to his owne house by meanes of a pecuniary amends which hee paied and the office of Chamberlaine was taken from him About the same time died that famous Prince Andrew Doria being foure score and thirteene yeeres of age famous as well for the great enterprises he executed as for restoring the city of Genoa his natiue country to the liberty it enioyeth at
and assure the Seas belonging to the Ottoman Empire These prouisions and the Confederates delaies and irresolutions had much imboldened the Turkes and although in the beginning they had sundry times conferred with the Venetian Baily concerning peace and seemed to be very desirous of it they neuerthelesse delayed the certaine resolution thereof till the arriuall of the Bishop of Aix Ambassador to the most Christian King whom they knew at that time to be come from Venice towards Constantinople vppon important affaires supposing that hee brought som particular commission with him concerning that businesse and that by his mediation together with his Kings authority they might the easier establish and conclude some honorable agreement but the condition of matters being afterwards changed when they came to treat on particulars they propounded very vniust Articles being desirous to make peace as though they had been victorious not vanquished menacing the Venetians with losse and destruction The Confederates neuerthelesse being no whit mooued by these nor other geeat mischeefs went very slowly to work as though the enemies had beene wholly defeated that they had no more cause to fight and as if at their own pleasure they might haue enioyed the fruit of the Vlctory All men did wonder at these delaies and differently discoursed therof A rumor was spred abroad that the French did no longer in secret but openly assist the Flemmings who determined to inuade the territories of the Catholick King that to this end they prepared fifty shippes of warre at Rochell which should be commanded by Phillippo Strozzi and elsewhere other stirrs and rumors of war were reported to be currant in the Realme of Nauarre These soe important and dangerous reports held the Spaniards in suspence and would not suffer them to imploy their sea forces in which their greatest hope consisted in forraine enterprizes fearing not to haue them again at their need for the defense of their owne territories Many alleaged other reasons which mooued the Spaniards not to set forth But whatsoeuer the true occasion was it was after the Spannish manner kept very secret for they making no shew to feare the French or that they had giuen ouer the enterprize of the Senate for any other respect they did still affirme the contrary promising from day to day to come to Corfou all this they did very cunningly knowing well enough that if the Venetians should suspect that the Conederates went about to forsake them it would enforce them to make vse of the present time and to agree with the Turkes a matter which would greatly preiudice the Spaniards who resoluing for to continue perpetuall enemies vnto the Turkes would alone bee constrayned to make head against the forces of so great a Potentate After this manner did the Spaniards at the same time beare themselues not bewraying their inward intentions but temporizing in conclusion did nothing In the meane time Pius Quintus dyed generally lamented a man of great Sanctimony and zealous of the common good of Christendome the onely instrument of the preseruation and augmentation of the league These newes flying to Venice the Senate presently by letters sollicited the Colledge of Cardinalls not to suffer the league which his late Holinesse had cherisht to dye with him knowing how mortall delay was to it and how preiudiciall the dissolution to the common good the Colledge resolued to continue the preparation for warre and instantly committed the maâ—…naging of the businesse vnto the former Commissioners who then presently 〈◊〉 in hand with it The Papacy was not long vacant for the same day the Conclaue elected Hâ—…go Boncompagno Cardinal of Saint Sixtus a Bolognesse doctor of the lawes long resident and very famous in the Court of Rome intituling himselfe Gregory 13. His Coronation solemnized he confirmed the league in the former condition but concerning the conuention of the fleetes there arose many delayes and difficulties for D. Iohn only seeking procrastination grew scrupulous of his departure saying his commission extended no farther but euery day expected a more ample where with hee hoped ere long to satisfie them by this meanes was the great preparation of the Venetian frustrate and D. Iohn perseuering in these protractions wrote to the Generall Foscarini that his onely stay was for the Duke of Sessa who if he came not uery speedily himselfe resolued without him to come to Corfou hee likewise taxed Collonna because his expectation of the Florentine Gallies made him delay his ioyning with the fleet The Senate had enioyned the Generall Foscarini not to attempt any particular enterprize till the Spanish Gallies were arriued â—…erst he therby should hinder the common cause of the league At the same time Sciara Martinenga of Bressia a man famous for his martiall experience and Gouernor Generall of Albania propounded the enterprize vppon Castelnouo to the Senate a matter greatly desired by the Venetians not so much for facillity of conquest the towne beeing small and badly inhabited as for the commodious situation thereof lying at the mouth of the Gulph of Catharra The Senate in som sort desirous to let the enemies feele the fury of their Armes committed this attempt to Martinenga who told them that he had already sufficiently viewed the place and that the execution thereof was easie Hee imbarked himselfe and fiue thousand footmen at Chioggia among whom were many Frenchmen gallant fellowes and good soldiers hee directed his course towards the Gulph of Catharra carrying with him a commission from the Councell of Tenne to the General Venieri to aid and asist him in that enterprize whom meâ—…ting by â—…he way neere to Sisena they sailed together towards the mouth of the Gulph where landing their soldiers and attempting to surprize the Towne the alarme was so whot ouer the whole Countrey as multitudes of Turkes comming to defend it Martinenga and the Generall were enforced to quitt the enterprize and to retreat the one to Zara and the other with his French forces to Catharra After this manner did the Christians affaires languish and were nothing answerable to the reputation which the late victory had gotten them their fleets and soldiers remayning idle at Corfou and Messina being spectators of the enemies insulting braues at sea their number and victualls daily diminishing D. Iohn still remayning at Messina and vsing his former delayes did infinitely discontent the Generall Foscaren who somtimes determined of him selfe to attempt somewhat vppon the enemy but at last making a vertue of necessity and knowing his owne forces alone to weake for any great enterprize he was enforced to spend the time in expectation of the confederates arriuall And yet he did by all meanes auoide any occasion that might discontent the Spaniards or giue them cause of any suspition that they might haue no lawfull cause to bee wanting to the common cause Foscarini beeing thus perplext thought it best to send the Prouidator Soranza to Messina who was newly come from
resist it offered men and money to arme three score vessels prouided that the Senate would furnish them with bread and ordnance The Senate willingly accepted this offer and command a florin of gold to be giuen to euery man which should enter into those vessels The Gouernor of Zara aduertized the Senate that two thousand Turkish horse were entred on their confines and had taken great numbers of the country people still continuing their incusions The arriuall of the Turkish cauallery on the Zaratin made the Venetians thinke that they would not at that time beseege Rhodes Wherevpon they forthwith made two Prouidators namely Francesco Cicogna for Morea and Romania and Andrea Loredano for Corfou and beside these Andres Zancani was with forces sent into Frioull because they had intelligence that the Turke determined to come thither In the meane time the Turkish fleet came forth of the Streight consisting of more then two hundred three score and tenne saile and beeing come neere Negrepont directed it course towards Romagnia the great Lord being there in person who before his departure from Andrinople commanded all the Venetians which were in Constantinople to bee imprisoned and amongst others Andrè Gritti before mentioned who was more streighty looked to then any other for that in loue to his Country he had by letters written in caractery aduertized the Gouernor of Lepanto of al the Turks proceedings against his country which had like to haue cost him his life Grimani hauing speedily assembled all the vessels which were in the Islands neere adioyning made vp the number of forty six Gallies seuenteene great marchant ships and forty other lesser ones with as many brigantines and light vessels and anchoring at Modon had an eye on euery side vpon the Turke Hauing intelligence that the enemy was comming to seeke him hee sailed with all his nauy towards the Isle of Sapienza opposite to Modon and there embarrailed his fleete and hauing giuen order for all matters necessary for fight himselfe went somewhat forward with foure Gallies the Turkish fleet being not farre from thence which with the winde hee might haue assailed at his pleasure yet he deferred the fight and returned backe to Modon where after that the Turke had in a few daies made two or three seuerall brauadoes Grimani ordered his fleete resoluing to fight with him when at the very instant Andrea Loretano with eleauen Brigantines and foure great ships arriued hee came to Grimani and told him that hee was come to doe seruice to the State intreâ—…ting him to commaund what hee would haue him doe Hee was a valliant Gentleman and skilfull marriner and at his arriuall the whole fleete made great signes of ioy The Generall placed him in one of the great ships Albano Armerico commanded an other great shippe who in open Councell was enioyned by the Generall to assaile the enemies biggest ship which he performed and Loretan an other who grapled with it to fight more conueniently and in the bickering wild fire was throwne into the enemies ship which beeing on fire was by the winde carried amongst the Venetians and fiered them This accident did more hurt to the Venetians then Turkes because that they did easily saue their men with other small vessels but our men could not bee reskewed in time so that they all perrished some few excepted with Tomaso Duodo recouered in his long boate Albano was saued by the Turkes Grimani wonderfully troubled with this losse sounded the retreate and without any farther fight retired to the Isle of Podroma the Turkish fleet for a time remained in the selfe same place where it had fought Albano brought to Constantinople was solicited by Bajazeth to turne Turke which he boldly refusing to doe was sawed a sunder in the middle and so constantly died The French King solicited by the great Master of Rhodes whether it was reported the Turke would come to releeue him dispatched two and twenty Gallies which beeing rigged in Prouence sailed towards Rhodes But that Island needing no supplies as then they did by the Kings command ioyne with the Venetian fleet The Venetians and French comming to Zant resolued to assaile the Turkish fleet which lay at Tornes but drawing neere it perceiuing that the enemies vessels lay with their poopes to land ward and their prowes towards the sea filled sixe small vnseruiceable vessels with reedes and other combustible matter mingled with wilde fire and sent them before the winde vpon the enemies fleet but it succeeded not according to their hope And Grimani in the meane time omitted a second opportunity to fight with and vanquish the enemy wherevpon an other being sent into his place and himselfe cited to Venice he was committed to the examination of the Councell de Pregati The Turkish fleet went forward to Lepanto whither the Emperour was already come and by the arriuall of his vessels hauing beguirt the towne by sea and land those within it despayring of releefe and wanting all necessaries yeelded These newes did greatly trouble the Venetians and augmented their hatred toward Grimani euery man saying if he had done his duty the enemies fleet would haue beene defeated The Turkish Cauallery on the other side scouring the confines of Zara entred Frioull to spoile and wast and finding the country not defended spoiled and burned all places as farre as Liuenza where they tooke many prisoners vpon these newes Zancani with great forces was sent to the frontiers Seuen thousand of the enemies horse came in troupes through very badde waies into Histria and then crossing the Riuer Liuenza came and encamped nere vnto Gradisca where Zancani lay determining if hee came into the field to fight with him But the enemies Generall perceiuing that he meant not to come forth sent two thousand horse to wast and spoile the Cuntry whom hee commanded to make no long stay These disperfing themselues ouer that goodly Contrey tooke many prisoners burning and wasting many Contrey houses both on the Treuisan and Paduan territories Three hundred Albanese horse fallied forth of Vdina and defeated some hundred of the Turkes if Zancani with his forces had done the like the Turke would haue receiued a great ouerthrow but he would not suffer any one to goe forth of the Towne whereof accused at Venice hee was sent for thither as a prisoner and by a Decree of Senate confind for foure yeares to Padua On such termes stood the Venetian State at home and abroad when Cesar Borgia with the King and Senates forces went into Romagnia to beseege certaine townes which of right did belong to the Church being conquered Pope Alexander gaue them to his sonne This Borgia was a Cardinall as hath beene sayd and casting off his robe and Hatte of Cardinall married a wife in France Hee comming before Imola and Furli after some assaults enforced the inhabitants to yeeld but the Castles which were very strong held out longer especially that of Furli for the other
yeelded sooner The Senate in the meane time to secure their owne territories during the warre in Romagnia sent three thousand foot and two thousand horse to Rauenna vnder Aluianaes command to distribute them through the territories of the Confederates neere adioyning with two prouidators Francesco Capello and Christophoro Moro the one for Arimini and the other for Faenza So soone as Borgia had taken the Castle of Furli Gionan Sforza Lord of Pessaâ—…e knowing that Borgia hated him fearing least he would come and assaile him was desirous to commit himselfe and State to the Venetians protection The Senate answered that they would neuer defend one that had been so great an enemy to them for he had concealed the Ambassador which Lodouico sent to the Turke against the State of Venice and furthered his passage The like had hee done by the Turkes messenger sent to Lodouico whom he entertained in his house and caused him secretly to be conducted to Milan himselfe likewise hauing often acquainted the Turke with the occurrents in Venice Borgia deferred his punishment till some other time because Triuulcio was inforced to call back those troopes which hee had lent him by reason of some tumults feared in Milan in regard of Lodouicos arriual who had brought some smal aid forth of Germany with which and by their assistance who distasted the French he hoped to recouer what he had lost The Senate presently commanded their forces both horse and foot to passe into the Cremonese leuied three thousand Suisses and appointed Pietro Marsello and Christophoro Moro prouidators in that warre Lodouico comming at the same time to Coma tooke it without strokes for the French within it fearing to be shut in betwixt the Inhabitants and Lodouicos troopes went their way Hee sent his brother Ascanio before to Milan from whence the King not long before was gone home into France hauing left a strong Garrison in the Citty and Triuulcio his Gouernour Generall in the Dutchy but the Lombards not so well rewaâ—…ded by the King as they had expected prooued false to him refused to obey Triuulcio who was cheefe of the Guelph faction for the Gibeline party was very strong in the Citty wherevpon the most of the Nobllity and people desirous of innouation wisht for Lodouicos returne and openly proclaimed his name and so soone as they heard of the losse of Coma and that Ascanio was not farre from Milan the people rose and the cheefe of the Gibelline faction began to tumult so as Triuulcio was glad to retire to the Castle and the night following from thence to Nouara The morrow after Cardinall Ascanio entred Milan Lodouico followed him who by this meanes recouered it as easily as it was lost Pauia and Parma presently ecchoed his name Lodi and Placentia would haue done the like had not the Venetian companies by their arriuall preuented it The Senate aduertised of this reuolt determined to send a man of worth to command the Castle of Cremona Lodouico in the meane time desirous to haue the Senate his friend made sute that Ascanio his brother might send the Bishop of Cremona to Venice to offer them his seruice but it was in vaine for the Senate resolued not to quitte the French Kings confederacy The Genois refused to obey him and the Florentines contemned him The King in the meane time hauing intelligence of the rebellion of Milan vsed great speed and sent the Lord Trimouille into Italy with six hundred lances leuied great numbers of Suisses and appoynted the Cardinall of Ambois his Lieuetenant Generall beyond the mounts who comming to Ast had in short space assembled one thousand fiue hundred lances ten thousand Suisse and 6000. French vnder the command of the Lords Trimouille Trivulcio and Ligni Lodouico before these supplies came from France went and beseeged Nouara which hee tooke but not the Castle The French Army assembled at Mortara drew neere him and did cut off his victualls then both sides falling to blowes Lodouico was enforced to retire into the Citty where the Suisses mutined for want of pay hee being not able to pacifie them They told him that they would sodenly depart home into their country wherevpon hee earnestly entreated them to safe-conduct him to some secure place which they denying did at last consent that hee should march amongst them disguised like one of their footmen and in this maner marching amiddest their troopes was by them discouered to those that sought after him who presently apprehended him as the Kings prisoner and sent him into France to the tower of Loches His brother Ascanio followed him who taken by the Venetians and carried to Venice was deliuered to the King and sent into France where hee was more honorably and with greater curtesie entertayned then his brother for hee was sent prisoner to the great tower of Bourges where the same King had beene imprisoned two whole yeares yet afterwards hee was enlarged but this brother dyed in prison Now to returne to the Turks After the taking of Lepanto the Senate despatcht Lodouico Manenti Secretary to the Councell of ten to Bajazeth to complaine for that hee had without cause inuaded them by sea and had contrary to the treaty of peace made not long before with him in the Signories name by Andrew Zancani their Ambassador and to entreate him to enlarge the Venetian Marchants which by his commandement at the beginning of the warre had beene imprisoned That it might likewise please him to surrender Lepanto vnto them which hee vniustly had taken from them And lastly if hee would grant none of these yet at least to renue the League with them Two things moued the Senate to send this Ambassage the one because some that were very inward with the great Lord had written to them that if they sent an Ambassador to Constantinople they might be reconciled to his fauour the second for that they considered how chargeable it would bee for them if they should bee enforced to set forth a new Army against him their treasure both publick and particular beeing exhausted Whereby all their attempts would proue vaine and vnprofitable against so mighty an enemy Manenti ariuing at Constantinople all his demandes were crost for the Turke answered that if the Venetians were desirous of peace with him they should deliuer vnto him Modon Coron and Naples three Citties which they held in Morea and pay vnto him as his tributaries an hundred pound in gould yearely otherwise hee protested to make warre vppon them with this answer Manenti returned But because at Manenti his departure from Venice there was a report that great numbers of Turkish horse were come into Albania the Senate fearing least the desire to spoile the Country of Frioul might draw them thither as the precedent yeare appointed Pietro Doria and Angelo Barozzi Prouidators who taking along with them the Gouernor of Vdina and others of the Country should consult together about repairing and
to the end that he might alow of the Councell of Lateran and disallow the Conuenticle of Pisa. The Spanish Ambassador would not enter into that League saying that he had no commission so to doe from his King The consederacy being contracted the Bishop of Gurcia at the next Session of the councell of Lareran did in the Emperours name adhere to the Councel where he affirmed in the presence of all men that the Emperour had neuer consented to the Conuenticle of Pisa reiecting all those who had vsed his name This being doone the Bishop of Gurcia tooke his leaue that he might be with Maximilian Sforza at such time as he should take possession of the Dutchy of Millan the which he did After his entry the Viceroy went and beseeged the fort of Tresa vpon the riuer Adda which was yeelded vnto him vpon condition that they within it might depart with their goods The confederacy made at Rome had not wholly broken off the hope of agreement betweene the Emperour and the Venetians and therfore the Pope sent Iacomo Stafilea Auditor of the Rote to Venice to entreat the Senate to agree with Maximilian and to enter into the league saying That to his great greeâ—…e he had forsaken them the which many taking in bad part Said that they were assured that it would cause them to enter into League with the French and by that meanes to recall them a new into Italy but that he for his part did so much presume on them as he knew they would neuer do it and in regard of these matters beeing troubled with sondry thoughtes he fell sick and his health dayly empairing not being able to eate or sleepe he deceassed the two and twentith day of February in the yeare 1513. Now the Venetians hauing determined before the Popes death to contract League and alliance with the French according to the motion made by King Lewis to Andrew Gritti prisoner at that time in France they resolued the matter hauing a long time been debated in councell to send one of purpose into France to treat of this businesse with the King and to this end they named Lodouico Pietro Secretary of the Councell of Tenne Hee beeing departed from Venice and onward on his way they had newes of the Popes death but for all that they did not call him back not knowing who should be his successor and least of all what his affection towards them might be The Secretary beeing come into France the King did enlarge Andre Gritti and did forthwith conclude the league with him on condition that Cremona and the contrey of Giradade should belong to the state of Milan and that the Venetians should haue Bressia Bergamo and Crema the King making ouer all his right to them which he could pretend to those Citties That they should be bound to aide one another and to hazard together one selfe same fortune vntill the King should recouer the whole state of Milan and that likewise the Republicke should be restored to the entier possession of whatsoeuer it did enioy on the firme land And lastly that al prisoners on either side should be set at liberty and the fugitiues restored to their goods and contrey In the meane time after the Popes death the Cardinalls entred quietly into the Conclaue and did the seauenth day following with a generall consent choose for Pope Iohn Cardinall of the title of Saint Mary in Dominica of the most illustrious family of Medicis of seauen thirty years of age which was a strange matter and contrary to the custome He tooke vpon him the name of Leo the tenth This election was pleasing to all men and cheefely to the Venetians who did euer greatly affect that family by reason whereof the Senate did hope easily to draw him with them into this league confederacy and alliance But Leo hauing obtained the Pontificall dignity found himselfe to bee assailed with sondry thoughts reuoluing in his minde diuers matters as well belonging to warre as to peace His antient habit and manner of life from his youth did excite him to embrace peace and quietnesse especially now when he saw him-selfe established in the supreame dignity so as the nâ—…e of warre in regard of dangers past was displeasing and odious to him And on the other side hee found no great safety in peace in the middest of armes and confusion of all things as also because the memory of his predecessor who by armes had much encreased the deâ—…aines of the Church did prouoke him to warre But by taking armes hee knew not to which side hee should rather incline For the returne of the French into Italy did not like him in regard of the wrongs and greeuances which he in particular had receiued by them and his predecessor like-wise and which did still threaten him in regard of the councell of Pisa which was transferred to Lyons On the other side the French confederate with the Venetians did in such sort daily encrease in strength and reputation as hee knew not by what meanes to oppose himselfe against such warlike attempts Leo then being thus troubled with sundry thoughts did oftentimes change his determination At the beginning of his papacy he sent a breefe to all Christian Princes exhorting them to peace and vnity and the more easily to induce them there vnto hee determined not to shew him-selfe more affected to one side then to another Yet neuerthelesse perceiuing at the same-time that there was no greate hope of peace he beganne to prouoke the Venetians against the French vsing meanes to perswade them to league them-selues with him selfe the Florentines the Swisses and the Duke of Milan for the liberty of Italy The Venetians would not consent to his proposition thinking it to bee against reason to abandon for vaine hopes an alliance already made with the French and also for that considering matters more iudiciously they perceaued that at the first hee promised some apparent liberty but that dangers did still encrease and that they went about to throw all Italy head-long into perpetuall bondage With these discourses did the Venetians maintayne their opinion soliciting the French King in the meane time to make the greatest hast hee could with his army into Italy to surprise the townes before they were man'd with garrisons putting him in mind that the victory of an enterprise dependeth cheefely on speed The French King beeing moued by these remonstrances did wholy bend his actions to this warre and to cut off all lets that might hinder him therein he made truce for one whole yeare with Fernand King of Arragon onely for that which concerned matters forth of Italy And as for the English whome hee vnderstood were making great preparations for their comming into France hee made no great reckoning thereof hoping in short space to driue Sforza from the state of Milan and to returne victorious with his Army into France time enough to resist their attempts