But even without this phenomenon in the New World, which is now for the first time placed within the pale of observations on epidemics, we have facts at hand sufficiently numerous and worthy of credit to prove—_that the English Sweating Sickness of 1517, made its appearance, not alone, but surrounded by a whole group of epidemics, and that these were called forth by general morbific influences of an unknown nature_. CHAPTER IV. THE FOURTH VISITATION OF THE DISEASE.—1528, 1529. “Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär’, Und wollten uns verschlingen; So fürchten wir uns nicht so sehr, Es soll uns doch gelingen!”—LUTHER. SECT. 1.—DESTRUCTION OF THE FRENCH ARMY BEFORE NAPLES, 1528. The events to which we are now about to allude, demonstrate, by their surprising course, that the fate of nations is at times far more dependent on the laws of physical life than on the will of potentates or the collective efforts of human action, and that these prove utterly impotent when opposed to the unfettered powers of nature. These powers, inscrutable in their dominion, destructive in their effects, stay the course of events, baffle the grandest plans, paralyse the boldest flights of the mind, and when victory seemed within their grasp, have often annihilated embattled hosts with the flaming sword of the angel of death. To obliterate the disgrace of Pavia[492], Francis I. in league with England, Switzerland, Rome, Genoa and Venice against the too powerful Emperor of Germany, sent a fine army into Italy. The emperor’s troops gave way wherever the French plumes appeared, and victory seemed faithful only to the banners of France and to the military experience of a tried leader[493]. Every thing promised a glorious issue; Naples alone, weakly defended by German lansquenets and Spaniards[494], remained still to be vanquished. The siege was opened on the 1st of May, 1528, and the general confidently pledged his honour for the conquest of this strong city, which had once been so destructive to the French[495]. It was easy with an army of 30,000 veteran warriors[496] to overpower the imperialists; and a small body of English[497] seemed to have come merely to partake in the festivals after the expected victory. The city too suffered from a scarcity, for it was blockaded by Doria, with his Genoese galleys; and water, fit to drink, failed after Lautrec had turned off the aqueducts of Poggio reale; so that the plague, which had never entirely ceased among the Germans since the sacking of Rome[498], began to spread.