FOOTNOTES:
[12] This was the notorious Cæsar Borgia,—a worthy son of so worthy a father!
[13] Valentinois,—a county on the Rhône: Valence is the capital.
[14] Her fate seems to have destined her to marry those who, to obtain her, were forced to be divorced. Charles VIII. was betrothed to Margaret of Flanders, and Louis XII. was married to the daughter of Louis XI.
[15] Alexandria della Paglia—is about 38 miles from Milan.
DUKE LUDOVICO SFORZA IS MADE PRISONER BEFORE NOVARA, AND CARRIED TO FRANCE.
On Thursday before Palm-Sunday, the French in Italy acted with such vigour that duke Ludovico fled from Novara with one hundred horse, abandoning his army and artillery in that town. When the french captains approached, a burgundian leader, called the captain of the Yotiers, came out of Novara and surrendered himself and men to them. The bailiff of Dijon went into Novara to practise with the Swiss in the pay of the duke of Milan (about four thousand in all), who only asked for payment of what was due to them. In regard to the Lansquenets, they knew not how to act; for the Swiss in the king's service would not show them any mercy, although their captains did all they could that matters might be settled without effusion of blood.
There were in Novara twenty thousand combatants; eight thousand Lansquenets, four thousand Swiss, eight hundred Burgundians, and the rest Lombards. In addition to these, a reinforcement of fifteen hundred men were on their march to join them, and within a mile of Vercelli, not including those in Vigeue.[16]