Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/398

370 DEATH OF GONSALVO. II. 1512. iMay. I'ART tunes of the league. The king, trembling for the immediate safety of his own dominions, gave a re- luctant assent, and ordered Gonsalvo to hold him- self in readiness to take command of an army to be instantly raised for Italy. ^ •jenerai Thcsc tidings wcrc received with enthusiasm by enthusiasm. " J the Castilians. Men of every rank pressed forward to serve under a chief, whose service was itself sufficient passport to fame. " It actually seemed," says Martyr, " as if Spain were to be drained of all her noble and generous blood. Nothing appeared impossible, or even difficult under such a leader. Hardly a cavalier in the land, but would have thought it a reproach to remain behind. Truly marvellous," he adds, " is the authority which he has acquired over all orders of men ! " ^ Such was the zeal with which men enlisted un- der his banner, that great difficulty was found in completing the necessary levies for Navarre, then menaced by the French. The king, alarmed at this, and relieved from apprehensions of immediate danger to Naples, by subsequent advices from that country, sent orders greatly reducing the number of forces to be raised. But this had little effect, since every man, who had the means, preferred act- ing as a volunteer under the Great Captain to any other service, however gainful ; and many a poor cavalier was there, who expended his little all, or 3 Peter Martyr, Opus Epist., Giovio, Vita Magni Gonsalvi, lib. epist. 486. — Chronica del Gran 3, p. 288. Capitan, lib. 3, cap. 7. — Zurita, ^ Opus Epist., epist. 487. — Pul- Anales, torn. vi. lib. 10, cap. 2. — gar, Sumario, p. 201.