Their league as yet was neither broken off nor concluded; but the Germans were dissatisfied, and wished to be gone. The Duke of Milan would not consent to some of the articles; but at length he sent instructions to his ambassadors to dispatch, and in a short time the league was concluded. Whilst this affair was in agitation I wrote constantly to our king, advising him to make peace, or else to continue in that kingdom, and provide himself better with men and money; but, if he did not approve of my advice, that he would be pleased to make good his retreat towards France, and put strong garrisons into the chief towns, before the confederates had assembled their forces. I wrote also to the Duke of Orleans, who was at Asti, but attended by his own domestics only (for his forces were with the king), and advised him to throw more men into that town, assuring him that he would suddenly be besieged in it. I sent likewise to the Duke of Bourbon (whom the king had left as his lieutenant in France) to send what forces he could spare to reinforce the garrison of Asti; for if that town were lost, no supplies could be sent to the king. I also gave notice to the Marchioness of Montferrat (who was true to the French, and a great enemy to the Duke of Milan), that she might be ready to assist the Duke of Orleans with her forces, if there should be occasion; for the taking of Asti would entail on her the loss of the two marquisates of Montferrat and Saluzzo. The league was concluded one night very late[387]; the next morning I was sent for by the Signory somewhat earlier than usual. As soon as I came thither, and had taken my seat, the Doge told me, that in honour to the Holy Trinity they had entered into an alliance with our Holy Father the Pope, the Kings of the Romans and of Castile, and the Duke of Milan, for three principal objects: one was to defend Christendom against the Turk; the second was the defence of Italy; and the third the preservation of their territories, which they desired I would notify to the king my master. They were in all about a hundred or more, looked very gay, and held their heads high, and there was no such sadness in their countenances as upon the day when they heard of the surrender of the castle of Naples. They also told me that they had written to their ambassadors, who were attending on our king, to take their leave, and return to Venice. One of their ambassadors was Dominico Loredano, and the other Dominico Trevisano. I was extremely troubled and concerned for my master’s person, as I feared that he and his whole army were in great danger; for I thought the confederates were much forwarder than they were (as they also thought themselves), and that some German troops had been near at hand. If it had been so, the king could never have got out of Italy. I had resolved within myself to speak little in my passion; but they provoked me beyond the bounds I had set myself. I told them that