DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0076
86 COUNT BALDASSARE CASTIGEIONE
succeeded in crossing the river, but were repulsed
and driven back with heavy loss. ' If the French-
men/ writes Guicciardini, ' had boldly advanced
forward, they had that day remained superiors ; but
while they proceeded slowly, and with demonstration
of timorousnesse, they did not only lose the occasion
of the victory that day, but they diminished greatly
all hope in time to come. From that daye, all things
tooke with them very ill successe, and there was
already among the captaines rather confusion than
concord; and according to the custome of the
French souldiers with the Italian captaines, very
little obedience to the Marquis of Mantua, the King's
lieutenant A
Francesco's difficulties were increased by scarcity
of provisions as well as by the unusual severity of the
season. ' Winter was very colde and sharpe,' con-
tinues the historian, ' raining and snowing almost
continually, much more than had been accustomed in
that country, whereby it seemed that Fortune and the
heavens had conspired against the French, who stay-
ing there, did not onely spend the time unprohtably,
but received by that aboade, almost the like harmes
which mens bodies receive by a poison that worketh
slowly A The Marquis himself fell ill, or else, accord-
ing to most authorities, feigned sickness because he
was unable to endure the pride, quarrels, and dis-
obedience of the French any longer,^ and resigned his
command to the Marquis of Saluzzo. The Venetian
Envoy in Rome reported that Francesco had fallen ill
with fever and pains in his limbs, and been carried
in a litter to Traietto, but another informant added
1 ' The Historie of Guicciardini reduced into English by
Gehray Fenton/ 1618, p. 237.
2 Guicciardini, pp. 231, 237. ^ Muratori, 'Annali d' Italia/
succeeded in crossing the river, but were repulsed
and driven back with heavy loss. ' If the French-
men/ writes Guicciardini, ' had boldly advanced
forward, they had that day remained superiors ; but
while they proceeded slowly, and with demonstration
of timorousnesse, they did not only lose the occasion
of the victory that day, but they diminished greatly
all hope in time to come. From that daye, all things
tooke with them very ill successe, and there was
already among the captaines rather confusion than
concord; and according to the custome of the
French souldiers with the Italian captaines, very
little obedience to the Marquis of Mantua, the King's
lieutenant A
Francesco's difficulties were increased by scarcity
of provisions as well as by the unusual severity of the
season. ' Winter was very colde and sharpe,' con-
tinues the historian, ' raining and snowing almost
continually, much more than had been accustomed in
that country, whereby it seemed that Fortune and the
heavens had conspired against the French, who stay-
ing there, did not onely spend the time unprohtably,
but received by that aboade, almost the like harmes
which mens bodies receive by a poison that worketh
slowly A The Marquis himself fell ill, or else, accord-
ing to most authorities, feigned sickness because he
was unable to endure the pride, quarrels, and dis-
obedience of the French any longer,^ and resigned his
command to the Marquis of Saluzzo. The Venetian
Envoy in Rome reported that Francesco had fallen ill
with fever and pains in his limbs, and been carried
in a litter to Traietto, but another informant added
1 ' The Historie of Guicciardini reduced into English by
Gehray Fenton/ 1618, p. 237.
2 Guicciardini, pp. 231, 237. ^ Muratori, 'Annali d' Italia/