The general history of Spain from the first peopling of it by Tubal, till the death of King Ferdinand, who united the crowns of Castile and Aragon : with a continuation to the death of King Philip III / written in Spanish by the R.F.F. John de Mariana ; to which are added, two supplements, the first by F. Ferdinand Camargo y Salcedo, the other by F. Basil Varen de Soto, bringing it down to the present reign ; the whole translated from the Spanish by Capt. John Stevens.

CHAP. III. The famous Battel of Ravenna; That City surrendred to the French; Scandalous Proceed∣ings of the mutinous Cardinals, and opening of the Lateran Council.

THE Confederate Army still lay about the Castile of S. Peter, Butri, Cento and Pieve, Towns in the Earldom of Bolonia, where the Viceroy resolved to fight the French, because the Ground was advantageous and his Men in good heart. The French Army and Forces of the Duke of Ferrana all good Men advanced towards them. The Viceroy was willing to obey the * 1.1 Orders brought him by Ferdinand de Valdez. There the French lay till the last Day of March, when they marched away towards Ravenna, which City they desired to possess themselves of, because thence our Army was supplied with Provisions. For the Defence of that Place, the Viceroy had sent thither, Peter de Castro with 100 light Horse and Luis Dentichi a Neapolitan with 1000 Italians. That Place was of such consequence, that he resolved to follow the Enemy, and the two Armies marched at only 3 miles distance from one another. He sent before Marc Antony Colona with 100 Lances and 500 Spaniards to get into the City by night. Ravenna is sea∣ted on the shoar of the Gulph of Venice, betwixt two Rivers, both fordable. One of them is cal∣led Roneo, and the other Monton. They run close by the Walls, Monton on the left, and Ronco on the right. Upon Maunday Thursday the French encamped before the City between the Ri∣vers, and the next day gave a furious Assault, which was bravely sustained by the Defendants, and particularly Luis Dentichi, who had a Brother killed, and was himself mortally wounded. The Viceroy marched close by the City down the River Ronco, which divided the two Armies. Upon Holy Saturday he encamped and entrenched himself at a Place called Molinazzo, two miles from the Enemy. There was variety of Opinions about what ought to be done. Fabricius was for staying there, since they had their Provisions secure, and the Enemy would soon want, be∣sides that there they secured the City. Count Peter Navarro being a selfish Man perswaded the Viceroy to advance relying upon the Spanish Foot. Accordingly our Army march'd. Some French Horse skirmish'd with our Vanguard, but nothing considerable was done that day. The Enemy returned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Camp, and the Viceroy lay that night almost in sight of it. Next Day being Easter Sunday and the 11th of April both Armies drew out. The French had 24000 Foot, 2000 Men at Arms, 2000 light Horse, and 50 pieces of Cannon. The Duke of Ferrara and the Sieur de la Palisse led the Van. In the main Battel were the Seheschal of Norman∣dy, and Cardinal Sanseverino Legate of the Council at Pisa, Frederick de Bossoln brought up the Rear, the Duke of Nemours being with a Body of choice Horse as a Reserve. The Confede∣rate Army reported to consist of 18000 Foot, was not near the number. There were less than 8000 Spaniards and 4000 Italians, 1200 Men at Arms, 2000 light Horse, and 24 pieces of Can∣non. The Viceroy ought to have moved before break of day, to prevent the Enemy, as Fabri∣cius Colona advised, but he would not be perswaded, and ••••ve the Enemy time to pass a Bridge and put themselves in good Order. Fabricius Colona led the Van consisting of 800 Men at Arms, 600 light Horse, and 4000 Foot. All the rest formed two Bodies, commanded by the Viceroy and Count Peter Navarro. In this manner both Armies advanced by beat of Drum, the Generals encouraging their Men. The Cannon began to play, and altho' that of the Viceroy at first did great Execution among the Enemies Vanguard as they passed the River, yet theirs being twice the number and planted in an open Plain, made a much greater Slaugh∣ter among the Men at Alms who stood exposed. The Marquess de Pescara gave the first Charge with the light Horse, and then the Men at Arms of both Sides mixed confusedly. For some time the Battel was maintained so, that the Success was dubious. At length the French be∣ing superiour in numbers, the Confederates began to give way. Here the Marquess of Pescara was wounded and taken ••ad Peter de Paz a notable Officer killed. Count Peter Navarro who had always thoughts to carry away the Honour of the Victory now advanced with the S••••••ish Foot, backed by 300 Spanish Men at Arms he gathered. When they charged the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Foot, Collonel Zamudio who was in the first Rank saw a German Officer called James Empser, who came forward and challenged him. O King (says Zamudio) how dear 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bay your Fa∣vours, and how well da Men deserve them upon these occasions. Having spoke, these words, he char∣ged his Pike and struck the German dead. The rest fell on so furiously, that they broke the Ger∣mans, then the Gascons and Italians. Most of the Germans were put to the Sword, for of 12 German Captains only 3 escaped, and all the French Foot was put to the Rout. In the same heat they took the French Cannon, but the French say Janolaço Galcoto defended it. The French Horse seeing the Slaughter was made charged our Foot, who having no Horse to sup∣port

them and being tired with fighting were quite broke. There died Collonel Zalmudi with other Officers and Count Peter Navarro was taken. The rest retired in good Order, the Foot that were in Van joining them. On one side the River secured them, and on the other the Causway. The Duke of Numours desiring to break that Body, that he might carry away a compleat Victory, advanced with a small number, contrary to the Advice of the Sieur de la Pa∣lisse, who would have had him content himself with the Advantage gained. Our Men turned upon him and being struck off his Horse, he was killed by a private Soldier, tho' he told him he was Brother to the Queen of Aragon. Monsieur d' Alegre and his Son were also killed, and Monsieur de Lautreque left for dead in the Field. Thus about 3000 Spaniards marched a∣way down the River. Fabricius Colona with what Forces he could get together, still main∣tained himself against all the French Army, till having received two Wounds and his Horse fal∣ling, he was taken by the Duke of Ferraras Men. Thus the French remained victorious, but so shatter'd, they could not prosecute their good Fortune, nor attempt any thing of Moment. Of the number of dead no certain account can be given, Authors varying very much. It is cer∣tain the Fight lasted 5 hours, and the Victors sustained most loss. Their General, many Per∣sons of Note, and almost all the Germans being killed. Whereas on our side few Horse were lost, for that night about 3000 of them fled to Arimino and Ancona, and above 4000 Spanish Foot got off safe. The Viceroy went from Pesaro to Ancona to gather the remains of his Army. After this Victory Ravenna was immediately surrendred to the French upon Articles, which were not performed, for assoon as Mark Antony Colona and D. Peter de Castro were matched away with the Garrison towards Cesena, the French plundered the City without sparing Churches or Mo∣nasteries. The French Authors lay the blame of this Disorder upon Jaquin a Captain of Foot, who being cloathed in Cloath of Gold taken from the Churches at Bressa, encouraged the Sol∣diers to do the like at Ravenna, a greater Booty was found there than had been expected; Imo∣la, Forli, Cesena, Arimino, and most of the Forts in Romania yielded to the Victors, and the Legate took possession of them for the Council of Pisa. The News of this Defeat being spread abroad, the Pope was no whit discouraged, tho' the People of Rome was ready to mutiny. The Duke of Urbino sent to offer his Service, promising to make amends for past miscarria∣ges. Julicis de Medius went to Rome to give the Pope an account of the Posture of Affairs, and encourage him to proceed. The loss was represented to the Catholick King much less than in reality it was, for in his Letters he writes it appeared by the Musters, that not above 1500 Men were lost in the whole. Yet he resolved to send the Great Captain to Italy, whose Presence alone it was thought, would make up for the dammage sustained. So the King writ to several Parts, and immediately sent the Commendary Solis with 2000 Spaniards to Naples. The King of France hearing what had hapned, said, Would to God I had been drove out of Italy, so my Ne∣phew and the other Officers were alive. God grant such Victories to my Enemies, for if we obtain one more such Victory we are vanquished. This Success so alarmed the Venetiales, that they feared the French would now make themselves Masters of all Italy, and they thought of changing Parties. The Spanish Ambassador then Resident at Venice quieted them, shewing how small the Loss had been. The Cardinal of Sorrento who governed at Naples in the absence of the Viceroy, requi∣red D. Hugo de Moncada Viceroy of Sicily, and Captain General of both Kingdoms, to come over with all the Forces he could make, which he did with those that came from Tripoli and some other Horse. D. Raymund de Cardona from Ancona repaired to Naples to recruit his Army, and make the other necessary Preparations.

Before the Battel was fought, Pope Julius provided for the celebrating the Lateran Coun∣cil at the time appointed. In order to it he appointed 8 Cardinals and some other Per∣sons * 1.2 to attend that Affair, and reform the City of Rome and his own Court, that the foreign Prelates might not be scandalized at any Disorders. He pressed the Bishops of Naples, Sicily, and Spain, but particularly the Archbishops of Toledo and Sevil, to repair to the Council, that so he might bear down the Assembly at Pisa under the Schismatick Cardinals. They about this time removed from Pisa to Milan, and encouraged by the Success of the French, published their Declaration against the Pope: It contained, That whereas they had often intreated him to come to the Council, or at least not to obstruct the Sitting o' it; and that instead of so doing, he had caused much innocent Blood to be shed, and there was no hope of his forsaking his Vices, therefore they suspended him from Spiritual or Temporal Jurisdiction, which they ad∣judged to the Council, according to the Decrees of the Eleventh Session of the Council of Bosle, and the Fourth and Fifth of the Council of Constance. This Declaration was set up in the Churches of Milan, Florence, Genoa, Verond••, and Bolonia. A Buisness that scandalized the whole World, and made the Pope the more earnest to open the Council of S. John Lateran. At length it was opened on the 10th of May. There were present the Cardinals of Rome, many Prelates from several Parts, and the Pope himself presided. Egidius de Viterbo, General of the Order of S. Augustin, made a Learned Speech upon the Subject of their being there As∣sembled.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The French ad∣vance to∣wards the Confede∣rates.
• * 1.2

  Prepara∣tions for the Late∣ran Coun∣cil.