r to invest the place or to
repulse re-enforcements that might arrive for it. The two armies passed
fifty days face to face almost, with the river and its marshes between
them, and vainly attempting over and over again to join battle. Some of
Gonzalvo's officers advised him to fall back on Capua, so as to withdraw
his troops from an unhealthy and difficult position; but "I would
rather," said he, "have here, for my grave, six feet of earth by pushing
forward, than prolong my life a hundred years by falling back, though it
were but a few arms' lengths." The French army was dispersing about in
search of shelter and provisions; and the Marquis of Mantua, disgusted
with the command, resigned it to the Marquis of Saluzzo, and returned
home to his marquisate. Gonzalvo, who was kept well informed of his
enemies' condition, threw, on the 27th of December, a bridge over the
Garigliano, attacked the French suddenly, and forced them to fall back
upon Gaeta, which they did not succeed in entering until they had lost
artillery, baggage, and a number of prisoners. "The Spaniards," says
John d'Auton, "halted before the place, made as if they would lay siege
to it, and so remained for two or three days. The French, who were there
in great numbers, had scarcely any provisions, and could not hold out for
long; however, they put a good face upon it. The captain, Gonzalvo, sent
word to them that if they would surrender their town he would, on his
part, restore to them without ransom all prisoners and others of their
party; and he had many of them, James de la Palisse, Stuart d'Aubigny,
Gaspard de Coligny, Anthony de la Fayette, &c., all captains. The French
captains, seeing that fortune was not kind to them, and that they had
provisions for a week only, were all for taking this offer. All the
prisoners, captains, men-at-arms, and common soldiers were accordingly
given up, put to sea, and sailed for Genoa, where they were well received
and kindly treated by the Genoese, which did them great good, for they
were much in need of it. Nearly all the captains died on their return,
some of mourning over their losses, others of melancholy at their
misfortune, others for fear of the king's displeasure, and others of
sickness and weariness." [_Chroniques of John d'Auton,_ t. iii.
pp. 68-70.]

Gaeta fell into the hands of the Spaniards on the 1st of January, 1504.
The war was not ended, but the kingdom of Naples was lost to the King of
Fran