THE CARDINAL ASCANIUS, BROTHER TO THE DUKE OF MILAN, IS TAKEN PRISONER, AND CARRIED TO FRANCE.
The cardinal Ascanius, brother to the duke of Milan, was in that city when he heard of the duke being a prisoner: he instantly departed thence, with six hundred horse and some artillery, accompanied by the higher nobility of Milan. He had also with him a considerable body of Estradiots; and the commander of the whole was count John, brother to the marquis of Mantua, who intended to march for the Bolognese,—but it was said, that he was met by a venetian captain, of the name of Soucin Bienson[18], with a body of troops, who attacked the cardinal. At this unexpected onset, the cardinal cried out, 'Qui vive?' and was answered, 'St Mark and France!' The battle lasted four hours,—and the venetian captain was severely wounded, with many of his men,—but when the cardinal, who was in armour, saw the fortune of the day was against him, he fled to a castle called Rivoli, which was immediately besieged by the Venetian.
To make short of this matter,—the cardinal lost many of his men, and the brother to the marquis of Mantua was ransomed. With this venetian captain was another called Charles des Ursins. A milanese captain, of the name of Badin, was made prisoner, with the abbot of Senselles, and four viscounts,—and upwards of a hundred thousand ducats were taken, without including the baggage. The cardinal, astonished to find himself besieged in this castle without provision or money, entreated the captain to ransom him, which he refused,—so that he surrendered himself on the sole conditions of having his life spared, and of being given up to the king of France.
The captain would have carried him a prisoner to Venice,—but the seneschal of Beaucaire, the lord de Montoison, and the chief justice of Provence, who had gone thither to receive the cardinal, prevented it. The Venetians also, knowing that the cardinal was an enemy to the king, that he had been taken on the king's territories near Piacenza, and wishing likewise to be on good terms with France, had the cardinal delivered into the hands of the before-named persons.
The inhabitants of Milan, on their duke and his brother the cardinal being made prisoners, opened a negotiation, for the surrender of their town, with the cardinal of Amboise, lieutenant for the king.
FOOTNOTES:
[18] Soucin Bienson. Q.
THE INHABITANTS OF MILAN ARE BRIBED INTO SUBJECTION.