Gonsalvo se- cures t] Orsini. CHAPTER XV. ITALIAN WARS. — ROUT OF THE GARIGLIANO. — TREATY WITH FRANCE. — GONSALVO'S MILITARY CONDUCT. 1503, 1504. Gonsalvo crosses the River. — Consternation of the French. — Action near Gaeta. — Hotly contested. — The French defeated. — Gaeta sur- renders. — Public Enthusiasm. — Treaty with France. — Review of Gonsalvo's Military Conduct. — Results of the Campaign. Seven weeks had now elapsed, since the two chapter armies had lain in sight of each other without any decided movement on either side. During this ^u"r^lhe time, the Great Captain had made repeated efforts to strengthen himself, through the intervention of the Spanish ambassador, Francisco de Rojas,' by reinforcements from Rome. His negotiations were chiefly directed to secure the alliance of the Orsini, a powerful family, long involved in a bitter feud with the Colonnas, then in the Spanish service. A reconciliation between these noble houses was at length happily effected ; and Bartolomeo d' Alviano, the head of the Orsini, agreed to enlist under 1 He succeeded Garcilasso de la nombre notados por valerosos ca- Vega at the court of Rome. Ovie- balleros y valientes milites como do says, in reference to the illus- deste nombre de Rojas." Quin- trious house of Rojas, " En todas cuagenas, MS., bat. I, quinc. 2, las historias de Espafia no se hallan dial. 8. tantos caballeros de un linage y VOL. III. 18
