guishing marks of his favour. He was besides the implacable enemy of Bourbon, and as the king hardly knew whom to trust at that juncture, he thought the chief command could be lodged no where so safely as in his hands.

Colonna, who defended the Milanese, was not in a condition to make a formidable resistance. The only plan which he formed, was to defend the passage of the river Tessino against the French. Bonnivet, however, passed the river without loss, at a ford which had been neglected, and the Imperialists retired to Milan, preparing to abandon the town as soon as the French should appear before it. By an unaccountable negligence, which Guicciardini imputes to infatuation, Bonnivet did not advance for three or four days, and lost the good opportunity with which his good fortune presented him. The citizens recovered from their consternation. Colonna, still active at the age of fourscore, and Morone, whose enmity to the French rendered him indefatigable, were employed night and day in repairing the fortifications, in amassing provisions, in collecting troops from every quarter; and by the time the French approached, had put the city in a condition to stand a siege. Bonnivet, after some fruitless attempts on the town, which harassed his own troops more than the enemy, was obliged, by the inclemency of the season, to retire into winter quarters.

Francis being again stimulated by him to invade the Milanese, and to besiege Pavia, on the first intelligence of the approach of the enemy, he called a council of war, to deliberate what course he ought to take. All his officers of greatest experience were unanimous in advising him to retire, and to decline a battle with an enemy who courted it with despair. The Imperialists, they observed, would either be obliged to disband an army, which

they were unable to pay, and which they kept together only by the hope of plunder; or the soldiers, enraged at the non-performance of the promises to which they trusted, would rise in some furious mutiny, which would allow their generals to think of nothing but their own safety; that meanwhile he might encamp in some strong post, and waiting in safety the arrival of fresh troops from France and Switzerland, might before the end of spring take possession of all the Milanese, without danger or bloodshed. But in opposition to them, Bonnivet, whose destiny it was to give counsels fatal to France during the whole campaign, represented the ignominy that would reflect on their sovereign, if he should abandon a siege which he had prosecuted so long, or turn his back before an enemy to whom he was still superior in number, and insisted upon the necessity of fighting the Imperialists, rather than relinquish an undertaking, on the success of which the king's future fame depended. Unfortunately, Francis's notions of honour were delicate to that excess that bordered on what was romantic. Having often said he would take Pavia or perish in the attempt, he thought himself bound not to depart from that resolution; and rather than expose himself to the slightest imputation, he chose to forego all the advantages, which were the certain consequences of a retreat, and determined to wait for the Imperialists before the walls of Pavia.

The imperial generals found the French so strongly entrenched, that notwithstanding the powerful motives which urged them on, they hesitated long before they ventured to attack them; but at last the necessities of the besieged, and the murmurs of their own soldiers, obliged them to put every thing to hazard. Never did armies engage with greater ardour, or with an higher opinion

of the importance of the battle which they were going to fight; never were troops more strongly animated by emulation, national antipathy, mutual resentment, and all the passions which inspire obstinate bravery. On the one hand, a gallant young monarch, seconded by a generous nobility, and followed by subjects whose natural impetuosity, indignation at the opposition which they had encountered, added new force, contended for honour and victory. On the other side, troops more completely disciplined, and conducted by generals of greater abilities, fought from necessity, with courage heightened by despair. The Imperialists, however, were unable to resist the first efforts of the French valour, and their firmest battalions began to give way. But the fortune of the day was quickly changed. The Swiss, in the service of France, unmindful of the reputation of their country for fidelity and martial glory, abandoned their post in a cowardly manner. Leyva, with his garrison, sallied out and attacked the rear of the French, during the heat of the action, with such fury as threw it into confusion; and Pescara falling on their cavalry, with the imperial horse, among whom he had prudently intermingled a number of Spanish foot, armed with the heavy muskets then in use, broke this formidable body by an unusual method of attack, against which they were wholly unprovided. The rout became universal, and resistance ceased in almost every part but where the king was in person, who fought now not for fame or victory, but for safety. Though wounded in several places, and thrown from his horse, which was killed under him, Francis defended himself on foot with an heroic courage. Many of his bravest officers, gathering round him, and endeavouring to save his life at the expense of their own, fell at his feet; among whom was Bon

nivet, the author of this great calamity, who alone died unlamented. The king, exhausted with fatigue, and scarcely capable of farther resistance, was left almost alone, exposed to the fury of some Spanish soldiers, strangers to his rank, and enraged at his obstinacy. At that moment came up Pomperant, a French gentleman, who had entered, together with Bourbon, into the emperor's service, and placing himself by the side of the monarch, against whom he had rebelled, assisting in protecting him from the violence of the soldiers, at the same time beseeching him to surrender to Bourbon, who was not far distant.

Imminent as the danger was which now surrounded Francis, he rejected with indignation the thoughts of an action which would have afforded such matter for triumph to his traitorous subject, and calling for Lannoy, who happened likewise to be near at hand, gave up his sword to him, which he, kneeling to kiss the king's hand, received with profound respect, and taking his sword from his side, presented it to him, saying, That it did not become so great a monarch to remain disarmed in the presence of one of the emperor's subjects.

LOUISE OF SAVOY.

THIS lady was the mother of Francis I. of France. She was deceitful, vindictive, rapacious, and capable of sacrificing any thing to the gratification of her passions, but had acquired an absolute ascendant over her son, by her maternal tenderness, her care of his education, and her great abilities. Among the first actions recorded of her life, is one of which proved of considerable loss to

France. Charles had commenced hostilities in the Milanese, under the conduct of Prosper Colonna, one of the most eminent of the Italian generals. Informed of this, Francis commanded Lautrec to repair forthwith to his government. That general, who was well acquainted with the great neglect of economy in the administration of the king's finances, and who knew how much the troops in the Milanese had suffered from the want of pay, refused to set out, unless the sum of three hundred thousand crowns was immediately put into his hands. But the king, Louise of Savoy his mother, and Semblancy, the superintendant of the finances, having promised, even with an oath, that on his arrival at Milan he should find remittances for the sum which he demanded, upon the faith of this he departed. Lautrec, however, having incurred Louise's displeasure by his haughtiness in neglecting to pay court to her, and by the freedom with which he had talked concerning some of her adventures in gallantry, she, in order to deprive him of the honour which he might have gained by a successful defence of the Milanese, seized the money destined for that service, and detained it for her own use. Another instance of her vindictive spirit was not less inimical to France. She had contracted a violent aversion to the house of Bourbon, for no better reason than because Anne of Bretagne, the queen of Louis XII. with whom she lived in perpetual enmity, had discovered a peculiar attachment to that branch of the royal family, and had taught her son to view all their actions with a mean and unbecoming jealousy. The duke of Bourbon, after repeated insults and injuries, was at last inspired with the thoughts of revenge, which provoked him to act after this period