Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/177

151 THE FRENCH DRIVEN FROM NAPLES. 151 with cold and famine ; and all the hospitals in chapter Rome, as well as the stables, sheds, and every other. 1_ place, however mean, affording shelter, were filled with the wretched vagabonds, eager only to find some obscure retreat to die in. The chiefs of the expedition fared little better. Among others, the marquis of Saluzzo, soon after reaching Genoa, was carried off by a fever, caused by his distress of mind. Sandricourt, too haughty to endure disgrace, laid violent hands on himself. All^gre, more culpable, but more courageous, sur- vived to be reconciled with his sovereign, and to die a soldier's death on the field of battle. ^^ Such are the dismal colors in which the French historians depict the last struggle made by their monarch for the recovery of Naples. Few military expeditions have commenced under more brilliant and imposing auspices ; few have been conducted in so ill-advised a manner through their whole pro- gress ; and none attended in their close with more indiscriminate and overwhelming ruin. On the 3d of January, 1504, Gonsalvo made his Thespan- •^ lards occupy entry into Gaeta ; and the thunders of his ordnance, ^^^^^ now for the first time heard from its battlements, announced that this strong key to the dominions of Naples had passed into the hands of Aragon. After a short delay for the refreshment of his troops, he set out for the capital. But, amidst the general jubilee which greeted his return, he was seized J' Buonaccorsi, Diario, p. 86. — cap. 190. — Giovio, Vitae Illust. Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 23. — Virorum, ubi supra. — Gaillard, Bernaldez, Reyes Calolicas, MS., Rivalil^, torn. iv. pp. 254-256.