n
a few months performed such feats of military art and prowess, as were
sufficient to render illustrious the life of the oldest captain.[**] His
career finished with the great battle of Ravenna, which, after the most
obstinate conflict, he gained over the Spanish and papal armies. He
perished the very moment his victory was complete; and with him perished
the fortune of the French arms in Italy.

* Polyd. Virg. lib. xxvii. Stowe, p. 490. Lanquet's Epitome
of Chronicles, fol. 273.

** Guicciard. lib. x.

The Swiss, who had rendered themselves extremely formidable by their
bands of disciplined infantry, invaded the Milanese with a numerous
army, and raised up that inconstant people to a revolt against the
dominion of France. Genoa followed the example of the duchy; and thus
Lewis in a few weeks entirely lost his Italian conquests, except some
garrisons; and Maximilian Sforza, the son of Ludovic, was reinstated in
possession of Milan.

{1513.} Julius discovered extreme joy on the discomfiture of the French;
and the more so as he had been beholden for it to the Swiss, a people
whose councils he hoped he should always be able to influence and
govern. The pontiff survived this success a very little time; and in his
place was chosen John de Medicis, who took the appellation of Leo X.,
and proved one of the most illustrious princes that ever sat on the
papal throne. Humane, beneficent, generous, affable; the patron of every
art, and friend of every virtue;[*] he had a soul no less capable of
forming great designs than his predecessor, but was more gentle, pliant,
and artful in employing means for the execution of them. The sole
defect, indeed, of his character was too great finesse and artifice; a
fault which, both as a priest and an Italian, it was difficult for
him to avoid. By the negotiations of Leo, the emperor Maximilian was
detached from the French interest; and Henry, notwithstanding his
disappointments in the former campaign, was still encouraged to
prosecute his warlike measures against Lewis.

Henry had summoned a new session of parliament,[**] and obtained a
supply for his enterprise. It was a poll-tax, and imposed different
sums, according to the station and riches of the person. A duke paid ten
marks, an earl five pounds, a baron four pounds, a knight four marks;
every man valued at eight hundred pounds in goods, four marks. An
imposition was also granted of two fifteenths and four tenths.[**