of France. The vast estates of both branches
of the Bourbon family were united in the possession of the
Constable, making him a person of importance independently
of his military career. He was born in 1490, and was made
Constable of France for his services at the battle of
Melegnano (1515), in which Francis gained a brilliant
victory over the Swiss.

The attempt of powerful enemies to undermine Bourbon in the
favor of the King led to the threatened loss of the
Constable's dignities and lands, and provoked him to
renounce the French service. After making a secret treaty
with Charles V and with his ally, Henry VIII of England,
Bourbon led a force of German mercenaries into Lombardy,
where in 1523 he joined Charles' Spanish army, and next year
aided in driving the French from Italy. Invading France, he
marched under the Emperor's orders to Marseilles and laid
siege to the city, but failed to take it.

Bourbon contributed materially to the Emperor's great
victory at Pavia, and was rewarded by being made Duke of
Milan and commander in Northern Italy. But although Charles
thus honored Bourbon he did not trust him, and was not
really desirous of advancing a person of such great resource
and consequence. In the peace between Spain and France in
1526 Bourbon's great interests were neglected.
Notwithstanding these things, when Charles V wished to
punish Pope Clement VII, who had joined a league against
him, Bourbon, with George of Frundsberg, led an army of
Spanish and German mercenaries to Rome.

The description of the sack which followed, written by
Benvenuto Cellini, the celebrated Italian artist, shows him
as an effective participant in the defence. This account of
a combatant is of course only fragmentary, and is
supplemented by Trollope's critical narrative.

BENVENUTO CELLINI

The whole world was now in warfare. Pope Clement had sent to get some
troops from Giovanni de' Medici, and when they came they made such
disturbances in Rome that it was ill living in open shops.[36] On this
account I retired to a good snug house behind the Banchi, where I
worked for all the friends I had acquired. Since I produced few things
of much importance at that period, I need not waste time in talking
about them. I took much pleasure in music and amusements of the kind.

O