CHAPTER XXXVII

1521. Dec. 1. Disgust and death of Leo 411

" " Opinions as to his being poisoned 411

" " Francesco Maria returns to his state 412

" " 22. And is readily welcomed 413

1522. Jan. 5. He restores the Varana and Baglioni 413

" " And invades Tuscany 414

" " 15. His letter to the Priors of Siena 414

" Urbino invaded by the Medici 415

" Their reconciliation with the Duke 415

" His condotta by them 416

" Election of Adrian VI 416

" May 18. The Duke is reinstated in his dignities 418

" Feb. 18. His bond to the Sacred College 418

" Pretensions of Ascanio Colonna upon Urbino 418

" June 22. Murder of Sigismondo Varana 419

" The Duke refuses service with the French 420

" Aug. But aids the Pope against Rimini 420

1523. The ladies of his court return home 421

" He establishes his residence at Pesaro 421

" Hospitality of the Duchesses 421

" He goes to Rome, to wait upon Adrian 422

" New league for the defence of Sforza 423

" Francesco Maria retained by Venice as general-in-chief 423

" French invasion of the Milanese 423

" Sep. 24. Death of Adrian succeeded by Clement VII. 423

" Death of Prospero Colonna, and his influence on the tactics of Francesco Maria 423

" Venetian _proveditori_ and their evils 424

1524. Lanoy commander-in-chief of the allies 426

" The Duke of Urbino hampered by the Proveditore 426

" His tactics 427

1523. The French admiral, Bonnivet, wounded 427

" Is succeeded by the Chevalier Bayard 427

1524. Apr. 30. His heroic death 427

" The French driven out of Italy 428

" June 25. His honourable reception at Venice 429

" " 27. Made captain-general by the Signory 429

" July 3. Received into the company della Calza 430

" " 5. Returns home 431

" Oct. New invasion of Italy by Francis I. 431

1525. Feb. 25. The battle of Pavia 431