the traitor is out of the house, I will fire it with my own hand;
no man of honor could live in it any more." Holding this great and at
the same time doubtful position, Bourbon remained in Spain up to the
moment when the war was renewed between Francis I. and Charles V. The
latter could not at that time dispense with his services in Italy for the
only soldier who could have taken his place there, the Marquis of
Pescara, had died at Milan on the 30th of November, 1525, aged
thirty-six. Charles V. at once sent Bourbon to take the command of the
imperial armies in Italy. On arriving at Milan in July, 1527, Bourbon
found not only that town, but all the emperor's party in Italy, in such a
state of disorder, alarm, and exhaustion as to render them incapable of
any great effort. In view of this general disturbance, Bourbon, who was
as ambitious as able, and had become the chief of the great adventurers
of his day, conceived the most audacious hopes. Charles V. had promised
him the duchy of Milan; why should he not have the kingdom of Naples
also, and make himself independent of Charles V.? He had immense
influence over his Spanish army; and he had recruited it in Germany with
from fourteen to fifteen thousand lanzknechts, the greater part of them
Lutherans, and right glad to serve Charles V., then at war with the pope.
Their commander, Freundsberg, a friend of Bourbon's, had got made a
handsome gold chain, "expressly," he said, "to hang and strangle the pope
with his own hand, because 'honor to whom honor is due;' and since the
pope called himself premier in Christendom, he must be deferred to
somewhat more than others." [Brantome, t. i. p. 354.] On the 30th of
January, 1527, at Piacenza, Bourbon, late Constable of France, put
himself at the head of this ruck of bold and greedy adventurers. "I am
now," said he to them, "nothing but a poor gentleman, who hasn't a penny
to call his own any more than you have; but, if you will have a little
patience, I will make you all rich or die in the attempt;" and, so
saying, he distributed amongst them all he had left of money, rings, and
jewels, keeping for himself nothing but his clothes and a jacket of
silver tissue to put on over his armor. "We will follow you everywhere,
to the devil himself!" shouted the soldiers; "no more of Julius Caesar,
Hannibal, and Scipio! Hurrah! for the fame of Bourbon!" Bourbon led
this multitude through Italy, halting before most of the towns, B