eptember to April he
hawks. The Cardinal of Rouen [George d'Amboise] does everything;
nothing, however, with-out the cognizance of the king, who has a far from
stable mind, saying yes and no. . . . I am of opinion that their
lordships should remove every suspicion from his Majesty's mind, and aim
at keeping themselves closely united with him." [Armand Baschet, _La
Diplomatic, L'enitienne_, p. 362.] It was not without ground that the
Venetian envoy gave his government this advice. So soon as the treaty of
alliance between Louis XII. and the Venetians for the conquest of
Milaness had attained its end, the king had more than once felt and
testified some displeasure at the demeanor assumed towards him by his
former allies. They had shown vexation and disquietude at the extension
of French influence in Italy; and they had addressed to Louis certain
representations touching the favor enjoyed at his hands by the pope's
nephew, Caesar Borgia, to whom he had given the title of Duke of
Valentinois on investing him with the countships of Valence and of Die in
Dauphiny. Louis, on his side, showed anxiety as to the conduct which
would be exhibited towards him by the Venetians if he encountered any
embarrassment in his expedition to Naples. Nothing of the kind happened
to him during the first month after King Frederick III.'s abandonment of
the kingdom of Naples. The French and the Spaniards, D'Aubigny and
Gonzalvo of Cordova, at first gave their attention to nothing but
establishing themselves firmly, each in the interests of the king his
master, in those portions of the kingdom which were to belong to them.

But, before long, disputes arose between the two generals as to the
meaning of certain clauses in the treaty of November 11, 1500, and as to
the demarcation of the French and the Spanish territories. D'Aubigny
fell ill; and Louis XII. sent to Naples, with the title of viceroy, Louis
d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours, a brave warrior, but a negotiator inclined
to take umbrage and to give offence. The disputes soon took the form of
hostilities. The French essayed to drive the Spaniards from the points
they had occupied in the disputed territories; and at first they had the
advantage. Gonzalvo of Cordova, from necessity or in prudence,
concentrated his forces within Barletta, a little fortress with a little
port on the Adriatic; but he there endured, from July, 1502, to April,
1503, a siege which did great honor to the p