EXPEDITION OF CHARLES VIll. 273 dominions in Sicily. He lost no time in fortifying cnArxER the faltering courage of the pope by assurances of '. — ■ support. His ambassador, then resident at the pa- pal court, was Garcilasso de la Vega, father of the illustrious poet of that name, and familiar to the reader by his exploits in the Granadine war. This personage with rare political sagacity combined an energy of purpose, which could not fail to infuse courage into the hearts of others. He urged the pope to rely on his master, the king of Aragon, who, he assured him, would devote his whole re- sources, if necessary, to the protection of his per- son, honor, and estate. Alexander would gladly have had this promise under the hand of Ferdi- nand ; but the latter did not think it expedient, considering his delicate relations with France, to put himself so far in the power of the wily pontiff. ^^ In the mean time, Charles's preparations went ^'"Pf^^/J^'" forward with the languor and vacillation resulting from divided councils and multiplied embarrass- ments. " Nothing essential to the conduct of a war was at hand," says Comines. The king was very young, weak in person, headstrong in will, surrounded by few discreet counsellors, and wholly destitute of the requisite funds. ^^ His own im- patience, however, was stimulated by that of the youthful chivalry of his court, who burned for an opportunity of distinction ; as well as by the repre- ss Zurita, Hist, del Rey Hernan- Quincuagenas, MS., bat. 1, quinc. do, lib. 1, cap. 28. — Bembo, Isto- 3, dial. 43. ria Viniziana, (Milano, 1809,) torn. 23 Comines, M^moires, liv. 7, i. lib. 2, pp. 118, 119. — Oviedo, introd. VOL. II. 35
