From the Diet of Worms to the Augsburg Confession - James Aitken Wylie

again to draw it back.
The winter of 1525 beheld the Spanish and
French armies face to face under the walls of
Pavia. The place was strongly fortified, and had
held out against the French for now two months,
although Francis I. had employed in its reduction
all the engineering expedients known to the age.
Despite the obstinacy of the defenders, it was now
evident that the town must fall. The Spairish
garrison, reduced to extremity, sallied forth, and
joined battle, with the besiegers with all the energy
of despair.
This day was destined to bring with it a terrible
reverse in the fortunes of Francis I. Its dawn saw
him the first warrior of his age; its evening found
him in the abject condition of a captive. His army
was defeated under the walls of that city which
they had been on the point of entering as
conquerors. Ten thousand, including many a
gallant knight, lay dead on the field, and the
misfortune was crowned by the capture of the king
himself, who was taken prisoner in the battle, and
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