THE TRAGEDIE OF LODOVICK SFORZA DVKE OF MILLAN .

By Robert Gomersall .

The second Edition .

Printed at LONDON in the yeare M DCXXXIII .

LOdovicke Sforza , after he had cunningly supplanted the Duchesse from the wardship of her sonne Galeazzo , as cunningly practizeth to bee the murtherer of him , of whom he would seeme to be the Protector . To this end he was to remove this impediment . Isabella daughter to the Prince of Calabria , and Grand-childe unto Ferdinand King of Naples , was wife to Galeazzo . A woman of a spirit as high as her birth , & equall to Sforza in all things but the sex : she perceiving the stupidity of her husband , & how that whatsoever she projected for his safety , he discovered to his vncle , for his overthrow , makes her father secretly acquainted with all the passages , desiring him to vindicate his sonne in law from the usurpation of his Protector . This could not bee so privately dispatched , but that Sforza had an incling of it , whether out of his owne reach he guessed it : or by his Nephewes sottishnesse he understood it . To prevent then his owne ruine , whilst hee intends his Nephewes , hee ventures on those remedies which the height of feare rather rusheth on , then chuseth , which more expresse and exchange , then remove , or avoyde a danger . He knew the French claime to Naples , to the prosecution of which hee sollicites the young King ; whom either his right , or inconsideratenesse quickly armes unto the action . But before his comming , he by continuall messengers deludes the old King , and makes him beleeve that there was no purpose of his comming , and that the French journey unto Naples , as it was onely the childe of rumor , and had no being but from fame , so in a very short space , in the age of a wonder it would vanish and expire . Thus was Ferdinand perswaded from his necessary defence , till having certainly understood that all defence would be too late , the French being already very strong upon his frontires , cheated , not conquered , he dies , and leaves his sonne Alphonso heire of his kingdome , and his troubles . The French king being now entred in person into Italy , Galeazzo dyes of a poyson at Pavia , when Sforza has brought this worse poyson into his Country . But the French growing prodigiously victorious , and almost by the very seeing overcomming their opposites , Sforza begins to be apprehensive of his owne danger , and strives to rid himselfe of these incumbrances , in the which a too much providence had intangled him . A consideration without doubt necessary , but almost past the season , it being near unto an impossibility to expell him now , whom it was farre from any difficulty at the first not to admit . So that this second resolution did onely proclaime the folly of the first , which either in wisedome he should not have ventured on , or , in honesty not have altred . But howsoever , he enters into a new league with the Venetians , and gives the French after their victorious returne from Naples halfe an overthrow at Taro. And now when he thinkes himselfe confirm'd in his Dukedome , when hee as little fear'd ruine , and he deserv'd preservation ; the French King dyes suddenly , to whom Lewis , the true Duke of Orleans , and titular Duke of Millan , succeeded : with him Sforzaes late friend , the Venetians , conclude a league . Thus Sforza being left alone , raiseth two armies under the conduct of the two Sanseverines , men , whom he had highly favour'd and advanced . But it is scarce seene , that a faithlesse Master should have a trusty servant , and he that hath no respect to his owne word , shall in the extremest of his necessities , finde all others promises but words . The elder revolts , and the younger , without the least shew of resistance , flyes ; and Sforza himselfe is so closely pursued , that he can scarce get away safe into Germany . The French abusing their late victory , the Millanesi with a generall consent , recall Sforza ; who , like a melting snow , overflowes all before him , and recovers most of his Duchy , with the same easinesse that he had lost it . The strength of his Army consisted especially of Swizzers , whom the late overthrow of the warlike Duke of of Burgundy , and these Italian wars , had raised to the height of admiration . But to be valiant is not to have all vertues : these were as strong in trechery , as in battle , they lead Sforza in the habit of a Swizzer into the French campe , through which in the same habit they had promised to conduct him . Thus having beene twice betrayd , and now a prisoner , after a ten yeares harsh confining he dyes in France , having liv'd in his misery , longer then in his Duchy , and leaving instruction to succeeding Princes that height should not be their ayme , but integrity ; and that they would not ( that I may vse the words of our Poet ) tempt their starres beyond their light .