28 ITALIAN WARS. PART ill this, much more than the limited state of his '- - finances.^^ He punishes This excesslve liberality was very inopportune. a mutiny. J J r I The soldiers loudly complained that their general found treasures to squander on foreigners, while his own troops were defrauded of their pay. The Biscayans, a people of whom Gonsalvo used to say, " he had rather be a lion-keeper, than undertake to govern them," took the lead in the tumult. It soon swelled into open insurrection ; and the men, forming themselves into regular companies, marched to the general's quarters and demanded payment of their arrears. One fellow, more insolent than the rest, levelled a pike at his breast with the most angry and menacing looks. Gonsalvo, however, retaining his self-possession, gently put it aside, saying, with a good-natured smile, " Higher, you careless knave, lift your lance higher, or you will run me through in your jesting." As he was reiterating his assurances of the want of funds, and his confident expectation of speedily obtaining them, a Biscayan captain called out, " Send your daughter to the brothel, and that will soon put you in funds ! " This was a favorite daughter named Elvira, whom Gonsalvo loved so tenderly, that he would not part with her, even in his campaigns. Although stung to the heart by this audacious taunt, he made no reply ; but, without changing a muscle of his countenance, continued, in the same tone as before, to expostulate with the insurgents, 88 Bembo, Istoria Viniziana, torn. Illust. Virorum, p. 232. — D'Au- iii. lib. G, p. 368. — Giovio, Vitse ton, part. 1, chap. 71, 72.
