Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/348

324 324 ITALIAN WARS. PART rendered to King Ferdinand ; and that, on these '. conditions, his soldiers should be furnished with vessels to transport them back to France ; that the foreign mercenaries should be permitted to return to their own homes ; and that a general amnesty should be extended to such Neapolitans as return- ed to their allegiance in fifteen days.^^ Such were the articles of capitulation, signed on the 21st of July, 1496, which Comines, who re- ceived the tidings at the court of France, does not hesitate to denounce as " a most disgraceful treaty, without parallel, save in that made by the Roman consuls at the Caudine Forks, which w^as too dis- honorable to be sanctioned by their countrymen." The reproach is certainly unmerited ; and comes with ill grace from a court, which was wasting in riotous indulgence the very resources indispen- sable to the brave and loyal subjects, who were endeavouring to maintain its honor in a foreign land. ^2 ^ilfof'the Unfortunately Montpensier was unable to enforce the full performance of his own treaty ; as many of the French refused to deliver up the places in- trusted to them, under the pretence that their au- thority was derived, not from the viceroy, but from the king himself. During the discussion of this point, the French troops were removed to Baia and Pozzuolo, and the adjacent places on the coast. The unhealthiness of the situation, together with y' Villeneuve, M6nioires,p. 318. 32 Comines, Mdmoires, liv. 8, — Comines, M^moires, liv. 8, chap. chap. 21 . 21. — Giovio, Ilist. sui Temporis, lib. 4, p. 13G. French.