; but in six days, notwithstanding, 20,000
chosen infantry are brought together, who immediately rush through
Graubunden, over the Adige, and down the narrow defiles to Verona, then
in the possession of the _landsknechts_ and the Gascons. On the
approach of the Confederates they evacuate the city. The Cardinal again
appears in the Swiss army and is received with many marks of honor.
Intelligence reaches us from the Venetians; who soon come up with 800
mail-clad troopers and 500 light-horse. Full of glad anticipation they
behold the imposing array of the Confederates. We advance to a river[3]
(whose name I have not learned) on the other side of which the powerful
French army stands strongly intrenched. The bridge, behind which
Valleggio lies, was defended by three massive towers. The artillery of
the Venetians compels the French to fall back. They take with them what
provision they can raise. The army advances to Pontevico, where the
enemy again makes a momentary stand. Here a castle is built in the
middle of the bridge,[4] up to which point it had been broken down. In
the presence of the foe, but under the protection of the Venetian
cannon, a number of volunteers swim over and fetch back the boats,
which had been carried to the other side. A bridge is quickly
constructed. But by the time the army crossed over, the Frenchmen are
in full flight. Only a few shots from the field-pieces are sent after
them. Conscious that the state of their affairs is desperate, deprived
of the support of the Germans, knowing the enemy with whom they have to
deal, believing themselves secure no where, they take refuge in Pavia
and await the result. The boldest of the Confederate youth had cut off
from them a considerable herd of cattle, on which the army could have
subsisted for a long time. Ulric von Sax, leader of the Confederates,
just as prudent as he was active, resolves to besiege Pavia for a
while, because he thinks it not yet advisable to take it by storm. The
French still endeavor to prevent a passage over the Po.[5] Here an
incident happens almost as incredible as it is amusing. In the French
camp were 800 _landsknechts_, survivors of the defeat at Ravenna. Some
of our men swim over the Po, in order to take measures for the
fastening of a bridge. The _landsknechts_ sally out to prevent this.
All the youth of the Confederate army, skilled in swimming, running,
jumping, cast off their clothes and, halberd in hand, leap into the Po,
to