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. VII. The Defeat given the French by the Swisse near Novara; The Viceroy Vanquishes the Venetians near Vincenza; Actions of the English and Portugueses; Venice Can∣nonaded.

THE great Rendezvous of the French Army was at Aste, and in Piedmont Monsieur de la * 1.1 Trimouille made all necessary Preparations, and about 400 light Horse were come to him out of France. With him was John James Trivulcio, and Sacromoro Visconte, who forsaking the Duke of Milan whom he had Served, went over to the French. Bartholomew de Albiano made ready with the Venetian Army to Besiege Verona. In that City were 5000 Germans, and 600 light Horse, who ravaged all the Country as far as Vincenza, as if they had been Ma∣sters of the Field. Near Placencia lay the Viceroy with 1400 Men at Arms, 800 light Horse and 7000 Foot, all tried Men. With the Duke of Milan were 8000 Swisse, and he expect∣ed 5000 more. Nevertheless not only Milan, but many other Places Revolted to the French. Neither durst the Duke give them Battle, but leaving the Camp, retired to Novara. He entred that Place on the last of May without reflecting, that those very People had before betrayed his Father to the French. The Viceroy seemed willing to join the King; but no Money coming from Rome, as the Ambassador Vic had promised, and having received Or∣ders from Spain to Return to Naples, he was unwilling to engage to far in that War. He resolved to look on, and only encourage the Affairs of Lombardy by his presence. The Command of the Foot, Vacant by the Marquess de Padula's being preferred to be General of the Florentines, he gave to Commendary Solis, and sent Luys Icart to take charge of Bressa in his stead. He put the Forces of the Pope into Cremona, and afterwards sent thither Fer∣ramosca with 40 Men at Arms, 300 Spaniards and 500 Italians. Yet Albiano for all this, took that City, putting to the Sword all the Men at Arms to the number of 200, and disarming the Spanish Foot. This success encouraged the French to lay Siege to Novara. Their Army consisted of 800 Lances, and 8000 Foot, 3000 of them Germans, the rest bad Troops. Be∣ing about to strom the Town, news was brought them that 12000 Swisse were upon their march to relieve the Duke, and that the Baron of Altsaxe followed with 5000 more. This caused the French to return to their strength betwixt Gaya and Novara: Upon the first sup∣plies joining them, the Swisse resolved to march towards the Enemy, without expecting the Baron of Altsaxe. The French would have avoided fighting, but could not: The Men at Arms and light Horse did nothing, yet the fight lasted very hot for two hours betwixt the Foot. A most desperate Resistance was made by the Germans, but the Swisse got the day. On the side of the French above 7000 were killed, and among them all the Germans, and of People of Note Coliobano, Trivulcio and Luis de Biamonte. After the Victory came the Baron of Altsaxe, and most of the State of Milan submitted to the Duke. The Viceroy sent the Duke 400 Lances Commanded by Prosper Colona, because he was in great want of Horse, and all the Enemies Horse were left entire. The rest of the Army remained as before, near the River Trebia, not far from Placencia. Albiano's being prevented joining the French Army, made that Victory the easier to be purchased. He hearing of the Defeat, retired with his Forces which were 1000 Lances, 300 light Horse and 5000 Foot, most of them base Soldiers. That Republick was so streightned for Money, they were forced to raise the 10th of E∣states, and one in the hundred out of all Merchandize. Albiano in his march took Lignagno defended by Captain Villada with 200 Men. Thence he marched to attack Uerona; but the Garrison sallied, and cut off part of his small Forces. At this time the two Schismatick Cardinals publickly acknowledged their Crime, and Abjured the Schism they had raised, and * 1.2 on the 27th of July were received into the Church, and restored to their Dignities. The Duke of Milan pressed the Viceroy to join him, because the French were with all Diligence recruting their Army. In 3 days march he came to Sarasina, thence he sent the Marquess de Pescara to Genoa, as was said before, and went himself to relieve Verona, before which Al∣biano still lay. Pontevico, Ursonova and other Places surrendred, as did Bergamo promising some supply of Money. The Viceroy went on to Pesquera, leaving Mosen Puch at Bergamo to receive the Contribution. Renso a Venetian Commander having notice of it, and some In∣telligence in the Place got into it by Night, took the Money and some of Puch his Com∣pany, he with difficulty saving himself in a strong House. The Viceroy took Pesque∣ra which is strong, and the Cardinal de Gurce joining him with some German Forces, they sat down before Padua about the beginning of August: Padua is large and strong, and Al∣biano had thrown himself into it, which obliged them to quit the Siege. During the Siege, in a skirmish Alonso de Carvajal and the Captains Cardenas and Espinosa were taken by the Albaneses. Here the light Horse sent to Genoa with the Marquess of Pescara were much mis∣sed. The Catholick King was now old, sickly, and worn out with so many Wars, and therefore thought of making Peace with France. It was proposed that Prince Ferdinand should Marry the youngest Daughter of France, and her Portion should be the States of Milan and Genoa, and King Ferdinand should give his Grandson the Kingdom of Naples. These were only Contrivances to gain time, especially on the King of France his part, who dreaded

the English breaking into Picardy by the way of Calais. King Henry laid Siege to Therouenne, and having defeated the French that came to relieve it, took and dismantled it. Then he sat * 1.3 down before Tournay, at such time as the Earl of Surry in England vanquished and killed the King of Scots, who in favour of the French invaded England. Hereupon Tournay surrendred. There the Emperor, Princess Margaret and Prince Charles came to see the King of England. Thence they went to Lisle, where it was agreed as soon as the Truce was expired, the Em∣peror and Kings of England and Spain should each on their own Side Invade France. King Ferdinand was to conquer Guienne for the English, but it appeared he did not approve of this Treaty. The Match before proposed betwixt Prince Charles and the King of England's Sister was confirmed, and it was agreed it should be Consummated the following Year. Summer being spent, King Henry returned into England. France was in distress, the Swisse having broke through Burgundy. Monsieur de la Trimoville overthrew, and yet compounded with them. The King of France ingag'd not to favour the Council of Pisa, and to withdraw his Garrisons out of the Castles of Milan and Cremona. No part of this Accord was performed, except what related to submitting to the Church.

Whilst the other Christian Kings wasted their Forces against one another, King Emanuel of Portugal enjoyed Peace at home, and extended his Conquests in Africk and India. On the Western Coast of Africk stands the City Azamor, which is large and rich, and belongs to the Kingdom of Fez. The Country about it is plentiful, being watered by the River Omirabin, which runs by the Town. King Emanuel had some Years before this, as has been said, thought to possess himself of this Place, by the means of one Zeiam a Moor, who deceived him and made himself Master of it. At this time the King fitted out a Fleet, shipping aboard it, 20000 Foot, and 2700 Horse, under the Command of the Duke of Bragança. After a trou∣blesome Voyage, they landed at Azamor about Autumn. Several Skirmishes passed betwixt them and the Defendants, as also those that came to relieve the Place, but many Men of Note among the Moors being killed, the rest fled out at a Gate that could not be secured, and thus the City was taken about the beginning of September. Some neighbouring Places surrendred, and among them the Citties of Gita and Almedina. Having left a good Garrison at Azamor under the Command of Roderick Barreto and John de Meneses, the Duke returned to Portugal, tho' many advised to besiege the City Morocco, but he said he had no such Orders. This Suc∣cess encouraged King Emanuel to prosecute his Conquests, along the Coast of Africk on that side, and therefore resigned any Pretensions he might have to Pen̄on and the City Velez, upon Condition the Catholick King, should not pretend to any thing along the Coast of the King∣dom of Fez, even down to Cape Bojador. In Italy, the Viceroy entred the Territory of the Venetians, by the way he took many Boats and Carts loaded with the Goods of People that fled. Pieve de Saco. a delightful Place, where are all the Country Houses of the Venetians he plundered and burnt. He passed the River Brenta and took Mistre which is as it were a Suburb of Ve∣nice. At the end of the Channels are certain Houses which they call Palizas, within Cannon-shot of the City. Thence they Cannonaded it, the Balls flying as far as the Monastery of S. Se∣gundus, but the Affront was more than the harm done. Our Army was encompassed by Ene∣mies. On the one side was Treviso, on the other Padua and Albiano, who drew near with his * 1.4 Army being resolved to fight. The Viceroy retired towards Vincenza, and marched in one Day 14 miles, tho' above 500 Carts followed the Army, loaded with Baggage and Plunder. Paul Baillon from Treviso and the Garrison of Padua joyned Albiano. In all, his Army consisted of 7000 Foot, and 1200 Horse, besides 10000 of the Country People that appeared upon the Mountains. Albiano marched to cut off the Viceroy from Vincenza. and encamped in a nar∣row Pass near a Town called Olmo. Our Army was in great danger, it being impossible to advance, and dangerous to turn back, yet they resolved to retire, that they might draw the Enemy into the open Field. They thinking our Men had fled, pursued hastily and in Disor∣der, whereupon the Viceroy by the advice of Prosper Colona and the Marquess of Pescara, commanded his Germans to charge the Enemy; which they did with such fury, that they soon * 1.5 broke them. The Marquess of Pescara pursued them up to the City, where the Gates being shut, many were drowned in the River, and among them Sacromoro Visconte. This done, the Viceroy with the Germans and some Spaniards, attacked a Body of the Enemies Horse and Foot, who fortified themselves on a Hill with 5 Pieces of Cannon. These also were easily put to flight. This Battel was fought on the 7th of October. 700 Venetian Men at Arms were killed, all their Foot dispersed. Paul Baillon and many others, and 22 Pieces of Cannon were taken. Albiano and Griti escaped. The Viceroy marched to Vincenza where he stayed some Days. At the same time the Castle of Bergamo was taken from the Venetians by Storm. Paul Baillon was released upon his Parole, that he would surrender himself again, in case the Venetians would not give Alonso de Carvajal in Exchange for him. Carvajal died in Prison, and Baillon never returned. On the 20th of November the Castle of Milan was surrendred, as was that of Cremona. Nothing was left the French in Lombardy, but the Castle of Lanterna at Genoa. The Duke layed Siege to it, and the Adornos and Fliscos encamped before Genoa, but were forced to retire leaving some of their Cannon behind. The Pope continued the Lateran Council, and admitted the French Ambassadors, they in their King's Name, renouncing the Council of Pisa, and the Protection of the Schismaticks, so the Gallican Church submitted to the Roman. The Pope was concerned to see the Republick of Venice so near Destruction, and underhand designed

to relieve it. He sent to require the Viceroy to proceed no farther against it, that some Accom∣modation might be made. Aragon was now in an Uproar, on account of some Quarrel be∣tween the Earls of Ribagorça and Aranda. At length the King interposing, the Difference came to Tryal, and the Earl of Ribagorça being found faulty, was banished the Kingdom of A∣ragon during the King's Pleasure. In the Kingdom of Naples some Towns had revolted, being oppressed by their Lords. And Peter de Castro tho' with much trouble reduced them all. The Earl of Muro Governour of Apulia, was commanded to go and reside at his Government, and Michael de Ajerve to the Mountain of Abruzzo. All had Orders to favour the Execution of Justice.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rendez∣vouz of French at Aste.
• * 1.2

  Swisse rout the French.
• * 1.3

  K. Henry of England takes The∣ourenne and Tournay.
• * 1.4

  Azaomr ta∣ken by the Portu∣gueses.
• * 1.5

  Venice Ca∣nonaded.