LOdovicke Sforza , after hee 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 remoue this impediment . Isabella daughter to the Prince of Calabria , and Grand-childe vnto Ferdinand King of Naples , was wife to Galeazzo . A woman of a spirit as high as her birth , and equall to Sforza in all things but the sex : shee perceiuing the stupidity of her husband , and how that whatsoeuer she proiected for his safety , he discouered to his vncle , for his ouerthrow , makes her father secretly acquainted with all the passages , desiring him to vindicate his son in law from the vsurpation of his Protector . This could not be so priuately dispatched , but that Sforza had an incling of it , whether out of his owne reach hee guessed it : or by his Nephewes sottishnesse he vnderstood it . To preuent then his owne ruine , whilst he intends his Nephews , he ventures on those remedies which the height of feare rather rusheth on , then chuseth , which more expresse and exchange , then remoue , or auoyd a danger . He knew the French claime to Naples , to the prosecution of which he sollicites the yong King ; whom either his right , or inconsideratenesse quickly armes vnto the action . But before his comming , hee by continuall messengers deludes the old King , and makes him beleeue that there was no purpose of his comming , and that the French iourney vnto Naples , as it was onely the childe of rumor , & 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 hauing certainly vnderstood that all defence would be too late , the French being already very strong vpon his frontires , cheated , not conquer'd , hee dyes and leaues 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 Pauia , when Sforza has brought this worse poyson into his Country . But the French growing prodigiously victorious , and almost by the very seeing ouer comming their opposites , Sforza begins to be apprehensiue of his owne danger , and striues to rid himselfe of these incumbrances , in the which a too much prouidence had intangled him . A consideration without doubt necessary , but almost past the season , it being neer vnto an impossibility to expell him now , whom it was far 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 wisdome hee should not haue ventur'd on , or , in honesty not haue altred . But howsoeuer , hee enters into a new league with the Venetians , and giues the French after their victorious returne from Naples halfe an ouerthrow at Taro . And now when hee thinks himselfe confirm'd in his Dukedome , when he as little fear'd ruine , as he deseru'd preseruation ; 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 vnder the conduct of the two Sanseuerins , men , whom hee had highly fauour'd and aduanced . But it is scarce seene , that a faithlesse Master should haue a trusty seruant , and hee that hath no respect to his owne word , shall in the extremest of his necessities , finde all others promises but words . The elder reuolts , and the yonger , without the least show 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 , ouerflowes all before him , and recouers 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 ouerthrow of the warlike Duke of Burgundy , and these Italian wars , had raised to the height of admiration . But to be valiant is not to haue all vertues : these were as strong in treachery , as in battle , they lead Sforza in the habite of a Swizzer into the French camp , through which in the same habit they had promised to conduct him . Thus hauing beene twice betrayd , and now a prisoner , after a ten yeers harsh confining hee dyes in France , hauing liu'd in his misery , longer then in his Duchy , and leauing 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 .