, and so
harassed the Germans, that they were glad to make their retreat into
Lorraine. Guise attacked them as they passed the Meuse, put them into
disorder, and cut off the greater part of their rear.

The emperor made great preparations on the side of Navarre; and though
that frontier was well guarded by nature, it seemed now exposed to
danger from the powerful invasion which threatened it. Charles besieged
Fontarabia, which a few years before had fallen into Francis's hands;
and when he had drawn thither Lautrec, the French general, he of a
sudden raised the siege, and sat down before Bayonne. Lautrec, aware
of that stratagem, made a sudden march, and threw himself into Bayonne,
which he defended with such vigor and courage, that the Spaniards were
constrained to raise the siege. The emperor would have been totally
unfortunate on this side, had he not turned back upon Fontarabia, and,
contrary to the advice of all his generals, sitten down in the winter
season before that city, well fortified and strongly garrisoned. The
cowardice or misconduct of the governor saved him from the shame of a
new disappointment. The place was surrendered in a few days; and the
emperor, having finished this enterprise, put his troops into winter
quarters.

So obstinate was Francis in prosecuting his Italian expedition, that,
notwithstanding these numerous invasions with which his kingdom was
menaced on every side, he had determined to lead in person a powerful
army to the conquest of Milan. The intelligence of Bourbon's conspiracy
and escape stopped him at Lyons; and fearing some insurrection in the
kingdom from the intrigues of a man so powerful and so much beloved,
he thought it prudent to remain in France and to send forward his army
under the command of Admiral Bonnivet. The duchy of Milan had been
purposely left in a condition somewhat defenceless, with a view of
alluring Francis to attack it, and thereby facilitating the enterprises
of Bourbon; and no sooner had Bonnivet passed the Tesin, than the army
of the league, and even Prosper Colonna, who commanded it, a prudent
general, were in the utmost confusion. It is agreed, that if Bonnivet
had immediately advanced to Milan, that great city, on which the whole
duchy depends, would have opened its gates without resistance: but as
he wasted his time in frivolous enterprises, Colonna had opportunity to
reenforce the garrison, and to put the place in a posture of defence.
Bonnivet was