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Updated: April 30, 2025
De Comines more than once notices the humanity shown by the Italian peasants to the French army. The drunkenness and gluttony of northern nations for a like reason found no favor in Italy. It disgusted the Romans beyond measure to witness the swinish excesses of the Germans.
The Italian States confront the Great Nations of Europe Policy of Louis XI. of France Character of Charles VIII. Preparations for the Invasion of Italy Position of Lodovico Sforza Diplomatic Difficulties in Italy after the Death of Lorenzo de' Medici Weakness of the Republics II Moro The year 1494 Alfonso of Naples Inefficiency of the Allies to cope with France Charles at Lyons is stirred up to the Invasion of Italy by Giuliano della Rovere Charles at Asti and Pavia Murder of Gian Galeazzo Sforza Mistrust in the French Army Rapallo and Fivizzano The Entrance into Tuscany Part played by Piero de' Medici Charles at Pisa His Entrance into Florence Piero Capponi The March on Rome Entry into Rome Panic of Alexander VI. The March on Naples The Spanish Dynasty: Alfonso and Ferdinand Alfonso II. escapes to Sicily Ferdinand II. takes Refuge in Ischia Charles at Naples The League against the French De Comines at Venice Charles makes his Retreat by Rome, Siena, Pisa, and Pontremoli The Battle of Fornovo Charles reaches Asti and returns to France Italy becomes the Prize to be fought for by France, Spain, and Germany Importance of the Expedition of Charles VIII.
De Comines observes, that had the Italian knights been supported in this passage of arms by the light cavalry of the Venetian force, called Stradiots, the French must have been outnumbered, thrown into confusion, and defeated.
The King produced a weighty bag of money; but De Comines, more delicate in his sentiments than most courtiers of that time, declined the proffer, declaring himself perfectly satisfied with the liberality of his native Prince, and assuring Louis that his desire to serve him could not be increased by the acceptance of any such gratuity as he had proposed.
After reading Dante, Petrarch, Ariosto, Boccaccio, with Sanazzaro's Arcadia, in Italian; Rabelais, Froissart, and Comines, in French; Chaucer, Gower, and the Mirror for Magistrates in English, what remained for an ardent young student to devour? When Sidney came home, Montaigne whom he probably saw at the French court was just writing his Essays at his chateau in the Gironde.
My reading, till now, had been almost wholly English or classical; she sent me to the old French literature to the Chansons de Geste; to the metrical romances of the Trouvères; to the Chronicles of Froissart, Monstrelet, and Philip de Comines, and to the poets and dramatists that immediately succeeded them.
He rolled his eyes angrily around; and the sentiments so generally expressed by so many of his highest vassals and wisest councillors, would not perhaps have prevented his giving way to his violent and despotic temper, had not De Comines, who foresaw the danger, prevented it, by suddenly announcing a herald from the city of Liege. "A herald from weavers and nailers!" exclaimed the Duke.
The resources of the papal treasury, the private fortunes of the Florentine bankers, the riches of the Venetian merchants might have purchased all that France or Germany possessed of value. The single duchy of Milan yielded to its masters seven hundred thousand golden florins of revenue, according to the computation of De Comines.
Philippe de Comines, who parted from the King at Asti and passed the winter as his envoy at Venice, has more than once recorded his belief that nothing but the direct interposition of Providence could have brought so mad an expedition to so successful a conclusion.
Venice, praised for its piety by De Comines, was the resort of all the debauchees of Europe who could afford the time and money to visit this modern Corinth.
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