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The first who gave renown to this soldiery was Alberigo da

Conio,[8] the Romagnian. From the school of this man sprang,

among others, Braccio and Sforza, who in their time were the

arbiters of Italy. After these came all the other captains who

till now have directed the arms of Italy; and the end of all

their valour has been, that she has been overrun by Charles,

robbed by Louis, ravaged by Ferdinand, and insulted by the

Switzers. The principle that has guided them has been, first, to

lower the credit of infantry so that they might increase their

own. They did this because, subsisting on their pay and without

territory, they were unable to support many soldiers, and a few

infantry did not give them any authority; so they were led to

employ cavalry, with a moderate force of which they were

maintained and honoured; and affairs were brought to such a pass

that, in an army of twenty thousand soldiers, there were not to

be found two thousand foot soldiers.