I have already given an account of the naval engagement off Rapalo. Don Frederic (upon this defeat) retired to Pisa and Leghorn, without staying for the forces which he had put on shore; at which the Florentines were highly disgusted, as they were always in their own minds more inclinable to favour the French than the house of Arragon: and our army in Romagna, though the weaker of the two, yet had better fortune than the other, and forced the Duke of Calabria to give ground by degrees; which the king observing, he took a resolution to march forward, being solicited to do so by the Lord Ludovic and others whom I have mentioned before; and at his arrival, Ludovic saluted him after this manner:— “Sir, do not fear for the success of this enterprise; Italy consists but of three powers that are at all considerable: Milan, which is one of them, is yours already; the Venetians are neutral; and you will therefore have to deal only with Naples. When we were united, and joined together in a mutual alliance, several of your predecessors have been too powerful for us. If you will be ruled by me, I will assist in making you greater than Charlemagne; for, when you have conquered the kingdom of Naples, we will easily drive the Turk out of the empire of Constantinople.” If he meant the Turk who now reigns[288], it was likely enough; but to insure success, affairs on our side needed to have been managed more wisely. Upon this the king began to be wholly governed by the Lord Ludovic, which highly displeased some of our courtiers, among whom there was one of the gentlemen of the bed-chamber, and I know not who besides; but their resentment was to no purpose, for the king could not do without him, and what they did was but in complaisance to the Duke of Orleans, who pretended to the duchy of Milan.[289] But, above all, none was so much disgusted as Monsieur Brissonet, who now began to look upon himself as a considerable person, and was become the seneschal’s rival in power; and Ludovic having proposed to the king and the seneschal to leave him behind, he was highly incensed against him, and endeavoured to persuade all people that he meant to leave them in the lurch. It had been more wise in him to have been silent; but he was never employed in, nor indeed was he fit for, any affairs of state; for he had not the command of his tongue, though otherwise he was very well affected to his master. The conclusion of all was, that several ambassadors should be sent; and I, among the rest, was sent to Venice.