a Prince, named Michael, who was proclaimed prefumptive Succeffor of Ferdinand and Ifabella. An Account of the then State of Italy, and of Charles the VIIIth's Expedition. 1493. 6 Guicciardin, fpeaking of Charles the VIIIth's Expedition into Italy, obferves, That what followed was fo much the more difpleafing and aftonishing in Men's Minds, by how much the univerfal Estate of Italy ftood quiet, plea fant, and easy before; for that, fince the Roman Empire declined, the Principalities of Italy had not talted of fo great and general Profperity, nor was fo happy and well governed as in the Year 1490, being on all fides in Peace and Tranquillity, the Hills and barren Places were tilled, • and made no lefs fruitful than the Vallies; it flourifhed with Men of Wit, well versed in all the Arts and Sciences: In a Word, they were diftinguished • for their Knowledge and Difcipline in War, and thereby bore a very great Reputation among the other Nations of Europe. This was the flourishing • Condition of Italy, when Ludovic on the one hand, and Charles the VIIIth on the other, began to difturb its Repose.' There had, ever fince the Year 1490, been fome Discourse on foot concerning Charles's Title to the Kingdom of Naples, and many Arguments were used to inflame that young Prince with the Defire and Love of fo fair a Conqueft. The Earl of Salerna, and fome other Noblemen, who had been banifhed from Naples, and taken Sanctuary in France, were the first that propofed it to the King; but thefe Exiles could not have prevailed on him, had he not been encouraged by Ludovic Sforza, Uncle to the Duke of Milan. The Dutchy of Milan fometime beSome Account of fore paffed from the Family of Visconti to that of Sforza, Phillippo Maria Vif conti, the last Duke of that House, ha the Family of Sforza, Dukes of Milan, ving adopted Francis Sforza, who had married Blanch his only Daughter. Francifco Sforza becoming Duke of Milan, on the Death of his Father-in-law, in the Year 1466, died foon after, leaving two Sons. Ludovic, his eldest Son fucceeding him, was in a very little time affaffinated; on which John the Youngest came to the Title and Dignity, under the Guardianship of his Mother, infamous for her Lewdnefs, and Ludovic his Uncle, whose whole Defigns, fpun with incredible Artifice, tended to no less than making himself Mas fter of the Dutchy. John was indeed a young Man of but little Courage; yet, having married the Daughter of Alphonfo, Duke of Calabria, Son of Ferdinand King of Naples, he was for a Time preferved by their Affiftance from the wicked Machinations of his Uncle. Ferdinand, pless Family. King of Na Ferdinand of Naples's Family confisted of two Sons, Alphonfo and Frederick; the Eldeft had two Children, a Son and a Daughter, and the Youngest died unmarried. Alphonfo's Son, named Ferdinand, was about twenty-two Years old, who, by his good Behaviour, had gained the Love of the Nobility and People; whereas the Father and Grand-father were rather feared than beloved, on Account of their oppressive Government. Ludovic, in purfuing of what he had defigned, by degrees engroffed the whole Power and Government of Milan, leaving his Nephew only the bare Title of Duke, without his being much concerned; but Ifabella, his Dutchefs, being uneasy to see the Duke her Spoufe without any Authority, complained to the Duke of Calabria of this ill Ufage, who fhortly after perfuaded Ferdinand, his Father, to proclaim War against Ludovic, in order to compel him to refign the Government to his Nephew. X 2 Το To avoid this War it was, that Ludovic joined in exciting Charles to undertake the Conqueft of Naples, putting him in Hopes of the Affiftance of all his Forces; and had alfo a further Defign to make ufe of Charles's Aid to become Mafter of the Dutchy of Milan, and difpoffefs his Nephew, for which End he had already taken fome private Meafures. There were at that Time two eminent Statesmen that wholly influenced King Charles's Mind, who were Stephen de Vers, his Chamberlain, and William Briconnet, his Treasurer, General, and Bishop of St. Malo, and the War was at firft agreed on by their Advice But Briconnet, having afterwards more thoroughly confidered the Confequences that might enfue from the Undertaking, became of a quite contrary Opinion; whereby the Matter was then laid afide, but foon after it came again under Confideration, and was debated in Council. At length his first Determination for War prevailing, he rejected the pacifick Counfels of his beft Advifers, and concluded a Treaty with Ludovic's Ambaffadors. The Substance of which was,That his Majesty's Army fhould have a free Paffage thro' the State of Milan, and that the faid Dutchy should at their own Charge provide him with 500 Men, to be ready to join the French Army, and affift them in their Undertaking. Moreover, that the French in Genoa fhould be allowed to equip what Number of Veffels they pleased for 'their own Service during the War; alfo, that Ludovic, before the March of his Army, fhould lend Charles 20,000 Ducats. On the other hand, the King obliged himself to defend that Dutchy against 6 any Power whatfoever, to maintain Ludovic in his • Government, and during the War to keep 200 of his Troops within the City of Aft, for the Service of • Milan; and at laft, if the War was successful, to bestow the Principality of Tarranto on Ludovic.” The |