Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/342

318 318 ITALIAN WARS. PART tributary to the Ofanto, watering the town, and turn- '- — ing several mills which supplied it with flour. At a few miles' distance was the strong place of Ripa Candida, garrisoned by the French, through which Montpensier hoped to maintain his communications with the fertile regions of the interior. BesiegeiHn Ferdinand, desirous if possible to bring the war to a close, by the capture of the whole French army, prepared for a vigorous blockade. He dis- posed his forces so as to intercept supplies by com- manding the avenues to the town in every direction. He soon found, however, that his army, though considerably stronger than his rival's, was incom- petent to this without further aid. He accordingly resolved to summon to his support Gonsalvo de Cordova, the fame of whose exploits now resounded through every part of the kingdom. ^^ The Spanish general received Ferdinand's sum- mons while encamped with his army at Castrovil- lari, in the north of Upper Calabria. If he com- plied with it, he saw himself in danger of losing all the fruits of his long campaign of victories ; for his active enemy would not fail to profit by his absence to repair his losses. If he refused obe- dience, however, it might defeat the most favora- ble opportunity which had yet presented itself for bringing the war to a close. He resolved, there- fore, at once to quit the field of his triumphs, and march to King Ferdinand's relief. But, before his 25 Giovio, Vita Magni Gonsalvi, 226. — Bembo, Istoria Viniziana, lib. 1, pp. 218, 219. — Chronica lib. 3, p. 184. — Guicciardini, Isto- del Gran Capitan,cap. 28. — Quin- ria, lib. 3, p. 158. tana, Espailoles C61cbrcs, torn. i. p.