communication against Lewis, and again put France under an Interdict.

Lewis was fo enraged at this Treatment, that he caufed Medals to be ftruck with the following Infcription, Perdam Babylonem, which proves Rome was not first called Babylon by Proteftants.

The Pope's Pretence, for excommunicating Lewis at this time was, for that he detained Cardinal Medici, his Legate, at Milan; who, tho' a Prisoner," exercifed his Legatefhip, the Inhabitants of Milan refufing to own the Authority of Lewis's Council, to his no small Mortification; though this was but trifling to the Misfortunes that enfued. After la Palife had quitted la Romagna feveral of the Towns in that Country fubmitted to the Pope; at the fame time Ferdinand became Mafter of Navarre; and Lewis was forced to fend an Army into Bearne, to hinder the English and Spaniards from invading GuienMe and the Emperor concluded a Truce with Venice, fecretly promifing to withdraw from the French Army a Body of German Troops, fent for the Defence of the Milanefe; though upon the Affurance of this Aid it was, that Lewis recalled from Milan Part of his own Troops; where, la Paliffe finding himself much weakned, was obliged to recal the Cardinal of St. Severin with his Troops, the Confequence of which was the Lofs of all la Romagna.

What made the French Affairs ftill worse was, the Swiss continued highly enraged against them, and were waiting for an Opportunity to take a Revenge for their former Affront: And the Pope in his' Diftrefs having renewed his Sollicitation to those brave" People for Affiftance, it occafioned among them several Meetings in Parliament, to confider what was proper to be done. Some in this Affembly took Notice, that the French King was not contented with refufing to encrease

The Swifs hold a Parliament.

encrease their Penfions, but had ufed Words full of Reproach, by by defpifing and rejecting them as Villains.

It was also remarked, that Lewis had began to take the Footmen of the Lance-knights into his Pay, to fhew the Contempt he had of their Nation, and even proceeded fo far as to perfuade himfelf

"World. In their Personage "they bear a Prefence rude, "and in their Behaviour and "Converfation hold more of In

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The Switzers are called, in antient History, Helvetians, and inhabit the high Mountains of Jura, named St. Claudo, St. Bridget, and St. Godat; a Peo-" ple naturally rude, but valiant in War: Their Country is more ufed in Grazing than Tillage : They were formerly under the Subjection of the Duke of Auftria, whofe Jurifdiction they shook off fome hundred Years ago, Guicciardin relates, "That they have "a Policy and Government of "their own Coining, without

civility than Comlinefs. This "Defire of Gain makes them pursue the Ufe of Arms, and "they serve no longer than "whilft the Prince, or State in "whofe Service they are, punc"tually pays them, but are "noted for their Fidelity to "those who do.

"Somewhat below the Savitzers are certain Towns and Villages, inhabited by a People called Valley-men; they are inferior to the Switzers "in Number, Authority, Va"lour, and every other Difpo"fition: But ftill lower than

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any Dependance or Rela"tion to Emperors, Kings, or "Princes of any kind; and they " are divided into thirteen Co"monalties, which they call "Cantons, every one of which "is governed by Magistrates," they are another People, cal"Laws, and Ordinances pecu"liar to itself. They hold a "Parliament every Year, or oft"ner, if Neceffity requires it, "which is not always held at

"led Grifons, which are divi"ded into three Cantons, called "the Lords of the Three Leagues; "their Capital Town is called "Coire; they often affociate

with the Savitzers, and with "them go commonly to the "Wars, they have almost the "fame Policy and Laws; pretty

66

one Place, but as best pleafeth" "the Deputy of every Canton. "When they agree to raise Sol"diers for any Prince, the Can"tons chufe among themselves "a Captain General, to whom "they give the Banner with the "Enfign, and their ftrict Uni"ty, with the Glory of their "Arms, hath made them re"nowned throughout the whole

nigh the fame in Conftitution, "Manners, Customs, Arms, and "Valour, and are preferred be"fore the Valley-men, but hold "no Comparison with the Savitzers, either in Number, Policy, or Virtue."

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felf, that their People would die in their Mountains of Idlenefs, and famifh for Want of his Pay, which induced them to exprefs to all the World, how much he was deceived in his vain Thoughts, and that his Ingratitude was only hurtful to himself, and thereby Evidence that nothing could stay Men of War from fhewing their Valour for fuch Men, the Ufe of Gold and Silver was made for: Laftly, that it was neceffary to convince the World, how indifcreet the French King was, to prefer the Lance-knights Footmen to the Switzers.

These Obfervations had the defired Effect upon thefe People; they one and all declared for the Cause of the Pope, as if it had been their own; without more ado they departed from their Houses, with only one Florin a Man, whereas they were not used to march for the Service of the French King without Money in Hand, and Promifes of Prefents among their Captains: And, tho' his Holiness demanded no more than 6000, yet no less than 16,000 voluntarily began their March about the end of Auguft. Instead of taking their direct Road to the Milanefe, the Paffes whereof they did not Question were ftrongly guarded, they marched to Trent, where Maximilian received them, tho' this was an Enemy's Act; but as he had not yet declared against France, he was defirous to hide his Intentions, by telling the French Ambaffador, that his Alliance with the Switzers fuffered him not to deny them a Paffage through his Dominions, as if his Treaty with Lewis the XIIth was to be lefs obferved, than that with the Switzers.

In fhort, he fuffered them to pass unmolefted thro' Trent, (which ruined all Lewis's Affairs in Italy) and they foon proceeded to Verona, where they were joined by the Venetians, who marched in Conjunction towards Milan: Whereupon the French (who, a little Time before, had been deferted by the Germans, under Pretence of their returning home,) had not above 10,000

Men,

Men, which rendered them wholly unprovided to engage the Enemy,and had nothing to do but to put those Forces into the fortified Towns, in order to waste the Enemy's Army by Sieges, till the King fent them Supplies, or the approaching Winter ftopt the Progrefs of these defperate Enemies; but they found that would not do, and la Paliffe, defpairing to save the Milanefe, refolved to repafs the Mountains, and retire into France.

This Accident fell out luckily for the Cardinal de Medici, whom they would have carried with them: His Prefervation feems to be chiefly owing to the following Tumult: As they were conducting him into France, the Morning he entered the Bark at the Paffage of Pace, certain Peasants of the Village murmurred greatly at the Treatment the Cardinal met with, and one Reignold de Lalle, accompanied with feveral of the Cardinal's Friends, rofe in Arms, and rescued him out of their Hands. Guicciardin obferves on this Occafion, "That they, whom many Adversities had "made fearless of all Accidents, hearing the Noise “of a Tumult, which they were afraid to endea"vour to fupprefs, were the more careful to fly than to fight, and to lose that Prifoner by Cowardice, "whom they had won in Danger of Battle." In short, that may be applyed to these greatly intimidated Frenchmen, which Horace fays of the vicious Man,

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Poft Equitem, fed & atra cura.

for Fear urged on their Flight, and no Hopes of Safety could they conceive, but upon their Arrival in France.

After the French were thus fled, many Towns of the Dutchy readily furrendered to the Switzers and Venetians, and Parma, Placentia, and Reggio fubmitted to the Pope. On the other hand, Alexander Bentivoglio, not thinking himself fafe in Bologna, departed

VOL. II.

Τ

1512

1512

departed from thence with all his Family, leaving the City to the Pope's Mercy: Thus Julius the IId, who once conceived himself at the Brink of Deftruction, was arrived at the Height of his Wishes. By this furprizing Revolution Ravenna, Bologna, all la Romagna, were reftored to the Church, and the French drove out of Italy without ftriking a Stroke: Infomuch, that the French had nothing left there, fave the Caftle of Milan, and Town of Crimona; in the firft of which Chevalier de Louvain was Commander, and in the latter James de Aerbonville Governor, both which maintained their Pofts, and defended themselves against their Enemies with great Bravery.

There remained ftill four Things for his Holiness to do to compleat his Happiness; namely, to difpoffefs the Duke of Ferrara, to reftore the Sforza's to Milan, the Medici to Florence; and laftly, to expel the Germans and Spaniards out of Italy.

Upon this extraordinary Event Guicciardin makes the following Remark, "Conqueft draweth with it "Ambition, Infolence, and Covetoufnefs; and with "Men triumphing in Victory all Things feem to "hold of Equity: That the Switzers, being Mafters of the Dutchy of Milan and Piemont, ftudied

to make the moft of the whole Country, by Taxes "and exceffive Rates, being affured the French could not poffibly return this Year; for, tho' Lewis was very uneafy at the Lofs of the Dutchy of Milan, yet Neceffity compelled him to hearken to the "Councils of fuch as advifed him to defer the Thoughts "of returning thither for the prefent, and employ "his Forces to defend his own Country.

Mantua.

When the French had quitted Italy, the A Meeting at Allies met feveral times at Mantua, where they could agree but upon two Articles: First, That Maximilian Sforza, eldest Son of Ludovic the Moor, fhould be reftored to Milan; fecondly, and the Houfe of Medici to Florence: In Confequence of

the