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XIII.

A. D. 1515. A. Et. 40.

ed.

The views of the adverse pârties were now CHAP. fully disclosed; and whilst Francis I. was on the point of passing the Alps in the beginning of the month of August, the league between A. Pont. III, the pope, and the king of the Romans, the The league king of Aragon, the states of Florence and of proclaim. Milan, and the Swiss cantons, was solemnly proclaimed in Naples, Rome, and other principal places. (a) At the same juncture, Henry VIII. sent an envoy to the French monarch, to admonish him not to disturb the peace of christendom by carrying his arms into Italy;(b) but opposition and exhortation were now alike ineffectual; and Francis, having passed with his army into Dauphiny, was there joined by Robert de la Marck, at the head of the celebrated bandes noires, who were equally distinguished by their valour in the field and by their fidelity to the cause which they espoused.

In order to engage the attention of the allies whilst the French army was passing the Alps,

D 2

life of Fr. Maria duke of Urbino, p. 167, states the forces of Lorenzo at 800 men at arms, as many light horse, and 7000 infantry.

(a) Muratori, Annali d'Italia, x. 113.

(b) Guicciard. lib. xii. ii. 89.

XIII.

Genoa sur.

fleet.

CHAP. Alps, Francis had dispatched a flotilla with four hundred men at arms and five thousand foot, under the command of Aymar de Prie, with orders to possess himself of the city of Genoa. On their arrival at Savona that place renders to immediately capitulated. Fregoso had now the French obtained a better opportunity of deserting his friends than had before presented itself. That he might not, however, a second time incur the imputation of treachery, he dispatched messengers to the duke of Milan to request instant succour from the allies; and as this did not speedily arrive, he opened the gates of Genoa to the French and raised their standard in the city. The French general having accomplished his object without bloodshed, and being now reinforced by a body of troops from Fregoso, proceeded to Alexandria and Tortona, of both which places he possessed himself without difficulty, although the viceroy Cardona was strongly intrenched at Castellazzo; and even the city of Asti soon afterwards surrendered to the French arms.(a)

A. D. 1515. A. Pont. III.

A. Et. 40.

Whilst this detachment was thus successfully employed, the body of the French army, under

(a) Ligue de Cambr. liv. iv. ii. 418. Murat. Annali d'Ital. x. 113.

Prospero

and made

prisoner.

under the command of Trivulzio marshal of CHAP. XIII. France, was effecting its passage over the Alps. They did not, however, follow the usual track, from Grenoble to Susa, although it afforded the greatest facility for the conveyance of artillery; having had information, that the Swiss Colonna were assembled there in great force to oppose surprised their progress, on the supposition that it would not be possible for the French to effect their passage in in any other part. Choosing therefore rather to encounter the difficulties of a new. and unexplored pass, than to` attempt to force their way in the face of a bold and active enemy, who might annoy them at every step, they bent their course to the south and proceeded between the maritime and Cottian Alps towards the principality of Saluzzo.(a) In this undertaking, they underwent great labour and surmounted incredible difficulties, being frequently obliged to hew through the rocks à path for their artillery, and to lower the cannon from the precipices with which the country abounds. Having, however, no fear of an attack, they divided their force into different bodies, each taking such direction as appeared most practicable, and in six days arrived in the

vicinity

(a) Guicciard. lib. xii. ii, 90, 91,

A. D. 1515.

A. Et. 40.

A. Pont. III

[XIII.

CHAP. vicinity of Embrun. The Milanese general, Prospero Colonna, lay encamped at Villa Franca near the source of the Po, whence he intended to proceed towards Susa, for the purpose of joining his arms with those of the Swiss to oppose the descent of the French. As he had not the most remote idea that the enemy could have effected a passage so far to the south, he was wholly unprepared for an attack; but the Sieur de Palisse at the head of a strong detachment, having availed himself of the services of the neighbouring peasants, surprised him whilst he was seated at table, and having dispersed his troops, made him and several of his chief officers prisoners. (a) This unexpected and disgraceful event, by which a great and experienced commander in whose abilities and integrity the allied powers had the fullest confidence was lost to their cause, added to the successes of Aymar de Prie, spread a sudden panic throughout the country, and was more particularly felt by the pope, who relying on the courage and vigilance of the Swiss had flattered himself that the French would not be able to force their way into Italy.

A. D. 1515. A. Pont. III.

A. At. 40.

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As

(a) Guicciard. lib. xii. ii. 91. Muratori, Annali

d'Ital. x. 114.

A. D. 1515. A. t. 40.

Francis I.

As the measures in which Leo had concurred for the public defence had been adopted rather through compulsion, than from any hostile disposition to the French monarch, for A. Pont. III. whom he still continued to profess the highest regard; so the earnest of success which Francis had already obtained induced him to relax his opposistill further in his opposition, lest he should tion to eventually exasperate the young monarch beyond all hope of reconciliation. Hitherto the troops of the church had taken no other part in the contest than such as appeared necessary for the protection of the papal territories, Unable to support the fatigues of a camp, Giuliano de' Medici had been attacked by a slow fever, in consequence of which he relinquished the command of the Roman troops to his nephew Lorenzo and retired to Florence, in hopes of deriving advantage to his health from the air of his native place. Three days after the capture of Colonna, Lorenzo arrived at Modena, between which place and Reggio he stationed his troops; the only active service which he had performed having been the expulsion of Guido Rangone from the fortress of Rubiera. In this situation it became a subject of serious deliberation with the pope, whether he should order the Roman and Florentine troops to hasten and join the Swiss, who were obliged

CHAP.
XIII.

The pope

relaxes in

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