He had, moreover, embroiled himself with his neighbors the Venetians, who were watching for an opportunity of aggrandizing themselves at his expense.

As early as the 20th of April, 1498, a fortnight after his accession, Louis XII.

addressed to the Venetians a letter "most gracious," says the contemporary chronicler Marino Sanuto, "and testifying great good-will;" and the special courier who brought it declared that the king had written to nobody in Italy except the pope, the Venetians, and the Florentines.

The Venetians did not care to neglect such an opening; and they at once sent three ambassadors to Louis XII.

Louis heard the news thereof with marked satisfaction.