The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 12 [of 13]

THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.

H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-Street, Blackfriars, London.

THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET;

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE CRUEL CIVIL WARS BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF

ORLEANS AND BURGUNDY;

OF THE POSSESSION OF

PARIS AND NORMANDY BY THE ENGLISH;

THEIR EXPULSION THENCE;

AND OF OTHER

MEMORABLE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE,

AS WELL AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

A HISTORY OF FAIR EXAMPLE, AND OF GREAT PROFIT TO THE

FRENCH,

Beginning at the Year MCCCC. where that of Sir JOHN FROISSART finishes, and ending at the Year MCCCCLXVII. and continued by others to the Year MDXVI.

TRANSLATED

BY THOMAS JOHNES, ESQ.

IN THIRTEEN VOLUMES VOL. XII.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND J. WHITE AND CO. FLEET-STREET.

1810.

CONTENTS

OF

THE TWELFTH VOLUME.

HERE BEGINNETH

THE TWELFTH VOLUME

OF THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.

[CHAP. I.]

THE KING OF FRANCE ENTERS THE CITY OF NAPLES IN TRIUMPH.--THE ATTACK AND CAPTURE OF THE CASTEL NUOVO AND THE CASTEL DEL OVO.—OF THE EVENTS THAT PASSED IN NAPLES.

On Sunday, the 22d day of February, in the year 1494, king Charles dressed himself in his royal robes, and triumphantly entered the city of Naples. Although he afterwards made another entry, as shall be more fully detailed, he, however, showed himself this day the true king and potent lord of Naples, and went thence to the castle of Capua.

As some of the partisans of king Alphonso still held the citadel of Naples, the Castel Nuovo, and the Castel del Ovo, king Charles ordered them to be instantly attacked, although one side of the citadel was washed by the sea. He had his battering artillery pointed against the Castel Nuovo; and the captains of the guard for the king were sir Gabriel de Montfaucon, Jean de la Grange, and others of rank.

Not to prolong matters, the citadel was gained after a very severe attack; and the Germans, Neapolitans, and Spaniards, of the party adverse to the king of France, burnt the outworks and hastily retreated to join their associates in the Castel Nuovo. In the citadel were found the largest cannons that had ever been seen, with such quantities of other things of an extraordinary appearance that it was more than eight days before the place could be cleared, by employing numbers of people and carts.

Wednesday, the 25th day of February, the king, after hearing mass in the church of the Annonciada went to dine with the lord de Montpensier, and thence, accompanied by his lords, repaired to the citadel to examine how it had been battered, and to consult on the best means of conquering the Castel Nuovo. The next day the garrison demanded a parley, on which the artillery ceased firing,—and the lord Angilbert of Cleves, the lord of Ligny, the bailiff of Dijon, and the great chamberlain to the queen advanced to confer with them. The first demand of the garrison was, that the king would grant them a truce for twenty-four hours, which was cheerfully acceded to: the next, that they might, on the morrow, march away with arms and baggage, which was refused.

On the twenty-four hours being expired, the artillery played more fiercely than before,—and it was a pitiful sight to view the ruins of this Castel Nuovo, which was exceedingly strong. The besieged fired a piece of artillery against the church of the Franciscans of the observantine order, which broke through the roof, but did not the least mischief to crowds of persons, of both sexes, then in the church. The incessant firing of the batteries lasted from Thursday to the Monday following,—and there were so many breaches, for the king was there in person, that the garrison again demanded a cessation of arms for another parley. The lord Angilbert of Cleves and the bailiff of Dijon, who spoke German, met the deputies from the castle. They demanded permission to march away in safety with their baggage, to receive three months pay to serve the king, if it should be agreeable to him; otherwise, to receive passports for them to go whither-soever they pleased.

The cessation of arms was renewed from day to day, as the parley was prolonged by the garrison until the 3d of March, in expectation of being relieved by king Alphonso. But when they found all hopes of relief vain, and that the batteries were about to recommence with more violence than ever, they were forced to abandon themselves to the mercy of the king, into whose hands they surrendered themselves. He allowed them to keep their baggage; but all artillery, stores, and provisions, were to remain in the castle, which he immediately re-garrisoned with his troops, and with able captains, for its defence.

During the king's stay at that pleasant place Poggio-Réalé, the daughter of the duchess of Melfy[1], in company with her mother, came thither, mounted on a superb courser of La Puglia, and throwing the bridle on his neck, made him gallop four or five long courses; after which she made him curvet and bound, as well as the most excellent rider could have done, which pleased the king very much,—and he made her a handsome present.

Monday, the 4th of March, the king had the Castel del Ovo besieged, and strongly battered on the land side; the others were surrounded by the sea. This day, the king heard mass at the carthusian convent, and dined with the lord of Clerieux[2]: he afterwards visited the siege of the Castel del Ovo, of which the artillery had already destroyed great part,—for the canoniers had performed their duty wonderfully well, insomuch that about five o'clock in the afternoon the garrison demanded a parley. The king being there in person, consented to it, and sent thither the lords de Foix and de Miolan, who having heard their proposals, carried them to the king while at supper.

Thursday, the 5th of March, the king again returned to the siege, after his dinner; and while he was in the trenches with his artillery, the prince of Tarentum waited on him. The lord de Guise, the lord de Ligny, the master of the household Brillac, had advanced to meet the prince, and remained as hostages for his safe return after the conference. The king and prince were both sumptuously dressed, and conversed by themselves for some time, in a garden adjoining to the park of artillery, to all appearance with great politeness. When the conversation was ended, the king called to him the lord de Montpensier, the lord de Foix, the lord de la Trimouille, the lord de Miolan, the mareschal de Gie, and several others, with whom he talked for a considerable time, surrounded by his guards. When it was over, the prince took leave of the king, and returned to his galley, which was anchored off the shore, attended by many of the french lords, according to the king's orders. On his arrival at the shore, he took leave of these lords, commending himself to the good graces of their king; and when he had embarked in his galley they went back to relate to the king all that had passed, and his praises of the reception he had had. On this day the artillery did not play on either side.

Friday, the 6th of March, the king, having heard mass, went to dine with the lord de Clerieux,—and this day many of the garrison (among whom were several of the wounded) left the Castel del Ovo. The Spaniards went to the prince of Tarentum, and the Germans surrendered themselves to the king, having passports for the purpose. The lord de Cressol, sir Gabriel de Montfaucon, by the king's command, entered the castle with a body of men under arms, and archers, to take charge of it, and the numberless stores within it.

Saturday, the 7th of March, the king went to examine the Castel del Ovo, and then departed to lay siege to the opposite castle. Towards evening, the prince of Tarentum paid another visit to the king, near to the park of artillery,—and the lords de Guise and de Ligny were hostages for his safe return. This conference was short, for it was late; and when the prince returned to his galley the above lords rejoined the king. It is worthy of remark, that on this day the prince of Salernum, who had been, five years a fugitive from Naples, through fear of king Alphonso, returned thither, and recovered a young son who had been, by Alphonso, confined in prison,—for the cardinal of San Pietro ad vincula had paid a very large sum for his ransom.

On Sunday, the 8th of March, the king having heard mass, and dined, went to amuse himself at the siege, and sent the governor of Paris, and the esquire Galiot, to summon the garrison to surrender, otherwise he would shortly batter the walls about their ears. They refused to comply; and, in consequence, the batteries were played with such effect that, on the Thursday following, the 12th, they knew not where to shelter themselves,—and the governor was constrained to come from the castle to speak with the king, then in the trenches. The governor, bareheaded and on his knees, besought the king, with uplifted hands, to grant a truce until the morrow, and to receive the garrison mercifully, which was granted. The governor was a handsome, tall figure, with white hairs; and, on having this answer, he returned by sea to the castle, accompanied by the prince of Salernum and the mareschal de Gie, to parley with the garrison in the castle. Shortly after, the captains Claude de Rabaudanges and the lord de la Vernade were appointed governors of this castle,—and nothing was taken out of it.

The king, on the following sunday, after hearing mass, returned to the castle of Capua, and remained some days, to receive the homages of the princes and princesses of the realm, together with those of the nobles and inhabitants as well of Naples as of the Terra di Lavora, Calabria, La Puglia, and of other parts subjected to the crown of Naples. He had there established his chancery, and courts of justice and finance, with presidents like as in France. The president Guennay was the chancellor, having the king's secretaries under him, with great and smaller seals for all requisite acts. He ordered money to be coined of gold and silver, and other metal; such as crowns, ducats, and various pieces, both double and single, having the arms of France impressed on one side, and on the reverse the arms of Sicily, quartered with the small crosses of Jerusalem.

The king now appointed many new officers for the city of Naples, and in other towns,—namely, judges, masters of the mint, and of various descriptions. During this interval, he visited the different churches in Naples, and every thing worth seeing there and in its neighbourhood. While thus employed, he had many very fine entertainments given him by the nobility in Naples, and others,—but it would be tiresome to detail them all.

News arrived on the Wednesday, that Gaieta was taken by the french troops: in consequence of which, the king sent the seneschal of Beaucaire on the morrow to take the government of it. During the month of April, the king inspected his artillery, and that which had been found in the castles of Naples: the greater part of the last was transported to France. The lord d'Aubigny left Naples this month for Calabria, accompanied by his men at arms and a large body of Germans. The 15th of April, the king, after hearing mass in the church of the Annonciada, was confessed, and then touched and cured great numbers that were afflicted with the evil,—a disorder that abounded much all over Italy,—when the spectators were greatly edified at the powers of such an extraordinary gift. This day the lord Virgilio Orsini and the count of Petilano waited on the king for the first time since they had been made prisoners.

The next day, which was Maunday-Thursday, the 16th of April, the king heard divine service in the church of St John, a handsome building, and attended (as if in France) on thirteen poor persons, who were washed and waited on at dinner, and presented with thirteen crowns. The sermon was preached on that and the two following days by master Pinelli, a doctor of divinity in the university of Paris.

On Easter-day, the 19th of April, the king was confessed in the church of St Peter, adjoining to his lodgings, and then touched for the evil a second time; after which he heard mass in the church of St John, and in the evening a sermon by doctor Pinelli.—Wednesday, the 22d, the king went to see the tiltings, the lists for which had been erected near to a church founded by the Anjou-race of kings of Sicily, where were many of the nobility and ladies of Italy. These justings lasted from Wednesday until the first of May: the holders of them were Châtillon and Bourdillon, and the assailants were very numerous,—and excellent deeds of arms were done on each side.

On Sunday, being the feast of St Januarius, the king heard mass in the cathedral or church of St Januarius, where many cardinals, bishops, and prelates attended. The head of St Januarius was publicly displayed to the king, and some of his blood in a glass bottle: it was congealed like a stone, as the king proved by touching it with a small rod of silver; but no sooner was it placed near to the head than it began instantly to melt and become liquid, to the astonishment of many who viewed this miracle.

The prelates of the church said, that by means of this miraculous head and blood of St Januarius, they were made acquainted with the success of their petitions to God; for when their prayers had been propitious, the blood became liquid,—but when otherwise, it remained hard. They were likewise by this means informed as to the dispositions of their prince, and whether he was to reign over them or not, which seemed very extraordinary.

On Monday, the 4th of May, the king sent Jean du Bois, Fontaines, and the master of the household de Bresse, to make an inventory of all the stores, and other effects, in the Castel del Ovo,—for there appeared to be such quantities of provision, and of other things, that the value seemed inestimable. During this time, the king visited several places in the neighbourhood of Naples; such as the grotto which Virgil had pierced with such subtile art through a high mountain on the seashore of Naples, which is a wonderful thing, as there is no other road but through this subterraneous passage, as all who have seen it can testify. A little further on is the Solfaterra, where sulphur is made,—and there are natural fires beneath the surface that are always burning: the king saw them make sulphur. There are, likewise near, many springs of hot water as well as of cold; and in a valley of this mountain is a hole through which comes such an impetuous wind that it supports in the air stones, and pieces of wood, that are thrown into it,—and it is said that the heat is very great within this hole. The king visited another remarkable spot where alum is made, and saw the whole process. Near to this last place is a cavern having a deadly quality; for whatever is thrown in perishes instantly, as was proved before the king on an ass and cat, which, on being thrown in, were suddenly killed[3]. The king, having seen all that was most curious, returned to Naples for the night.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Melfy. Q. Amelfi?

[2] Clerieux. William of Poitiers, lord of Clerieux, governor of Paris.

[3] This must be the Grotto del Cane, not far from the Solfaterra. Although small animals perish, yet I doubt whether an ass could be thrown in, or would be so suddenly killed.

[CHAP. II.]

KING CHARLES MAKES HIS PUBLIC ENTRY INTO NAPLES, AS KING OF THAT COUNTRY AND MONARCH OF ALL ITALY.

Tuesday, the 12th of May, the king, having heard mass in the church of the Annonciada, left Naples after dinner for Poggio-Réalé,—where all the princes and nobles of France and Italy were assembled, to accompany him in his public entry into Naples, as king of France, Sicily, and Jerusalem. He was dressed in royal robes, and made a most splendid and triumphant entry, and thenceforward was called Charles Cæsar Augustus. In his right hand was the globe, and his sceptre in the left,—and his mantle was of fine scarlet trimmed with ermine, having a deep fall-down collar, ornamented with ermines' tails also, with a brilliant crown on his head. The horse he rode was as grandly caparisoned as possible, to suit his state: and over his head was borne a splendid canopy by the highest nobility of Naples, who were surrounded by the king's valets richly dressed in cloth of gold: the provost of the household with his archers on foot attended on him on each side. The seneschal of Beaucaire represented the constable of Naples,—and the lord de Montpensier preceded him, handsomely mounted, and dressed as viceroy and lieutenant-general of Naples.

The prince of Salernum was present, together with the great lords of France, of the blood royal, and knights-companions of the king's order; such as, the lord de Bresse, the lord de Foix, the lord de Luxembourg, the lord de Vendôme, and others without number, all dressed in mantles like to what the king wore. In short, the entry was most magnificent; and the nobility of Naples, with their ladies, presented to the king their children of ten, twelve, and fifteen years of age, requesting of him to make them knights, which he did with his own hand,—and it was a splendid spectacle.

The prelates and clergy came out to meet him in the richest copes, bearing relics, and conducted him to the cathedral, where on the high altar were displayed, as before, the head and blood of St Januarius. In front of the altar, the king swore to protect his new subjects, and to preserve them in their liberties and privileges, which gave universal satisfaction,—and great rejoicings were made on this occasion, and also for his happy arrival, and the great good he had promised them.

The king was, after this, conducted to his palace, where, during several days, he received embassies from different parts of his kingdom; such as Calabria, La Puglia, L'Abruzzo, to do homage, and to inquire respecting the manner in which they were to be governed by a viceroy when the king should be absent, as was natural for them. On Monday, the 18th of May, the king ordered a grand supper to be prepared at the Castel Nuovo, where he gave a sumptuous banquet, to his princes and nobles, seated at two tables, in the great hall of the castle, to which was an ascent by several stone steps. The grand seneschal of Naples served the whole of the supper, superbly mounted, and clothed in white, with abundance of trumpets and clarions sounding. After supper, the king received the homage of all the lords, and then returned to sleep at his palace.

[CHAP. III.]

KING CHARLES MAKES DISPOSITIONS TO RETURN TO FRANCE,—AND TAKES LEAVE OF HIS SUBJECTS IN NAPLES.

Wednesday, the 20th of May, the king, having heard mass with great solemnity at the church of the Annonciada, dined at the palace; after which, the nobility of Naples waited on him to take leave. They were assembled in the great hall, where the king received them graciously, and kindly bade them adieu! at the same time, he presented to them the lord de Montpensier, as their viceroy and governor during his absence. When this was done, the king departed from Naples, attended by a gallant company of lords and gentlemen, men at arms, Swiss and Germans, and slept that night at Aversa, on his return to France.

[CHAP. IV.]

KING CHARLES RETURNS, FROM NAPLES TO FRANCE.

The king, as I have said, left Naples on the 20th of May, and halted at Aversa. On the 21st, he marched from Aversa to Capua. On the morrow, he dined and slept at the bishop's palace in Sezza[4]; and on the Saturday, as he was about to enter Gaieta to refresh himself, the castle fell down and obstructed the road, so that he returned to Sezza,—but on the Sunday, when the damages had been repaired, he proceeded and lay at Monte Cassino. Thence he passed to Ponte-corvo, to Cyprienne, and to Fiorentino, a small city, then under an interdict from pope Alexander, because the inhabitants had murdered and cut off the arms of their bishop, who was a Spaniard, for having been obstinate in supporting king Alphonso against the king of France. This latter would not have been able to have heard mass that day, if he had not before had full powers given him to order the celebration of the mass in all places, according to his good pleasure.

On Friday, the 29th, the king advanced for the night to Valmontone, wherein were many who hated the French, because they had destroyed and burnt Monte-Fortino: nevertheless, he proceeded to Marina the next day, and halted there till Sunday.

On Monday the first of June, the king re-entered Rome, on his return to France, and was lodged in the palace of the cardinal de St Clement, near to St Peter's. He was grandly accompanied by his nobles, gentlemen pensioners, men at arms, cross-bowmen, Swiss and Germans; and because pope Alexander was absent[5], he posted his men in different parts of the town, to check any insolence of the Romans. Having done this, he went to St Peter's, to return his thanksgivings to God. On Wednesday, he left Rome, dined at Isola, and lay at Campanolle. Friday he advanced to Ronciglione, and the same day entered Viterbo with his whole army, where he was as well received as before. He remained in Viterbo until Whitsunday was passed, to perform his devotions, and visit the body of St Rosa.

On the 8th of June, the king supped and lay in the town of Monte Fiascone, celebrated for its muscadine wines,—and thence, continuing his march through La Paille and other places, arrived at Sienna, the inhabitants of which came out to welcome him, magnificently dressed, and with the same ceremonies as at the first of his coming thither.

The king marched from Sienna on the 17th of June for Poggiobondi, where he lay, and staid the following morning, on account of its being the feast of the holy sacrament, and attended the procession to high mass with great devotion. After dinner he advanced to Château Florentin,—and on the morrow he dined at Campane, near to Florence; but he did not enter Florence on his return, for, under pretence of being in the french interest, the town of Pont-Velle had been taken.

Saturday, the 20th of June, the king entered Pisa, where he was received with every honour and submission. He staid there two days, and on the Tuesday following dined at Pommart, and slept at Lucca, where, in return for his handsome reception, he took the town under his protection. He marched through Pietra Santa, and arrived, on the Saturday, at Sarsaigne[6], where he had intelligence of the junction of the duke of Milan with the Venetians. For this reason, he would not sleep at Villa Franca, but encamped his army on the other side of the river, where he supped, and waited for the arrival of his artillery, and the rear of his army.

The king left his camp, at Villa Franca, on the 30th of June, to hear mass at a large monastery near to Pontremoli; for the Germans had burnt that town, in revenge for the murders of some of their countrymen by the inhabitants, on their march to Naples. After dinner, the king encamped at the foot of the Appenines, and there remained until his artillery had passed the mountains. The lord de la Trimouille and Jean de la Grange were charged with this business,—and although there were plenty of hands they had great difficulties, on account of the rocks. On the 3d of July, and the following day, the king crossed the Appenines, and passed through Verceil and Cassano, and encamped his army near to Borgo de Taro, where he lay, under the security of strong guards. Sunday, the 5th of July, the king heard mass in his camp, and dined at Foronuovo[7], where he formed his plan for the order of battle, with a main body, a van and reserve, and having the usual guards established.

FOOTNOTES:

[4] Sezza,—29 miles NNW. of Naples.

[5] The pope had fled to Orvieto, conscious of having deceived the king, and fearful of consequences.

[6] Sarsaigne. Q. Sarsana?

[7] Foronuovo,—eight miles from Parma.

[CHAP. V.]

THE BATTLE OF FORONUOVO, WHERE THE KING OF FRANCE GAINS A COMPLETE VICTORY OVER THE CONFEDERATED PRINCES OF ITALY.

On Monday the 6th of July, in the year 1495, the french army was encamped adjoining to the valley of Taro, about two miles from Foronuovo, and four from Parma. Thence marched that gallant prince, Charles VIII. of the name, king of France, accompanied by those valiant captains before mentioned, and about eight or nine thousand courageous men at arms, to meet from fifty to sixty thousand Lombards, Venetians, Estradiots[8], and others, his enemies. The marquis of Mantua was commander of the Venetians: count Galeas Sforza was the representative of his brother, Ludovico duke of Milan, and the lord of Ferrara commanded the rest of the traitors, in company with other captains.

The king was armed from head to foot in a manner becoming so great a prince. Over his armour he wore a jacket, with short sleeves, of a white and violet colour, besprinkled with crosses of Jerusalem. His helmet was magnificently ornamented with feathers,—and he was accoutred like a good man at arms, with sword, dagger, spear and battle-axe. He was mounted on a powerful black horse, called Savoy, whose caparison was of the same colours with the king's jacket, and besprinkled with similar small crosses. The king was surrounded by very able and trusty advisers to direct him, having under them about two thousand men, who afterwards gave good proofs of their valour.

When the french army had been properly arranged, and the artillery was ready, they began to advance toward the enemy in such wise as the ground served them. The Italians not knowing in what division of the army the king had posted himself, sent a herald, under pretence of asking something from him,—and the herald, on his return, told them the manner in which the king was accoutred. They now began to move, and taking advantage of a favourable situation, discharged a heavy piece of artillery at the van of the french, which wounded and killed several, although it did not break their ranks, nor cause any great confusion. A sharp cannonading followed; but the king's artillery did great mischief to the enemy, and killed one of their principal cannoniers, as was known from a trumpeter that was soon after made prisoner. The king's artillery was so well served that the Italians were forced to retreat, having noticed the excellent order in which the French were formed.

It was wonderful to observe the cool and determined valour of the gallant king, both in actions, and in speeches to those about his person: 'How say you, my lords and friends? Are you not resolved to serve me well to-day? and will you not live and die with me?' Then having heard their answers, he continued, 'Be of good courage, and not afraid; for although they be ten times our number,—which is the case, as I know for certain,—yet we have justice on our side, for which I put my confidence in God, that he will be pleased to give us the victory over our enemies. I have also hopes that he will fight this day on our side, and that, through his gracious favour, we shall again triumph, as we have done throughout the whole of this expedition, and return to France with honour to ourselves, through his merciful kindness.' Such, or nearly similar, were the words with which this valorous king consoled and encouraged all around him.

The enemy were much surprised at the good order of the French; and to endeavour to break it, they sent a detachment of Estradiots, and some Albanians, across a hill, to fall on the baggage. Those who had the guard of it had been very negligent in not keeping themselves in readiness to resist an attack, by reason of some dispute among themselves, for which they suffered; but it was not much, as shall be told hereafter,—and the army remained unbroken.

The Italians, seeing this, sent a herald to the king to demand a truce. The king replied,—'If they wish for a truce, let them meet me between the two armies.' But he afterward sent to them, to say, that if they would, through friendship, allow him and his army a free passage to France, it was all he wanted, otherwise he would force his passage in spite of them.

The Lombards and Venetians, hearing this message from the king's herald, detained him, and resolved instantly to charge the French, like madmen. They were particularly desirous to attack the division where the king was, to put him to death,—but God was that day his Protector. The advanced guard, perceiving the enemy thus hastily marching, informed the king of their gaining the woods and bushes; on which he crossed the bed of the Taro, and each army was in sight of the other. In fact, the Italians were handsomely equipped and mounted, and advanced with the appearance of a determined courage, as they were far superior in numbers to the French. Their best men were placed in front,—and the first onset was very severe on both sides. As they had been informed by their herald how the king was dressed, their chief attack was made on his division, and with such success that they advanced to his person; but he displayed great valour, and was so heartily seconded by those near him that the enemies were completely repulsed, with immense slaughter; even the boldest among them attributed their highest honour to him who could fly the fastest; for when they saw the day was lost, the best piece of all their armour was the point of their spurs.

Only one man of rank was made prisoner on the side of the French, namely, Matthew bastard of Bourbon, who had most valiantly defended the king, and he was taken when pursuing the enemy up to their lines. Not more than nine or ten french gentlemen were killed, although their enemies were ten to one against them, the greater part of whom saved themselves by flight. This proves, beyond a doubt, that Divine Providence assisted the French, and gave them the victory over their disloyal enemies, who were conquered in so very short a space of time. The king remained the whole of the day armed and on horseback, and until the whole of his army had retired within their camp. Thither came ambassadors to him from the Italians, to demand the prisoners; but they were answered, that they should not be restored,—which astonished them greatly, as they feared that some of their first nobility had been either killed or made prisoners.

The king and his nobles, in sign of triumph and victory, supped and lay on the field of battle,—where they ate and drank what they could find, and as it pleased God, to whom they gave their most humble thanksgivings and praises for their success, as indeed they were bounden to do.

FOOTNOTES:

[8] Estradiots,—a sort of light horse, or a militia.

[CHAP. VI.]

THE KING DECAMPS FROM FORONUOVO, TO RETURN TO FRANCE.

On the morrow of the battle of Foronuovo, the 7th of July, the king, after hearing early mass, decamped from before Foronuovo, and posted his army on an elevated situation called Magdelan, about half a french league from his late camp, where he remained the whole day. The commanders of the artillery made such diligence in bringing up the cannon that they were placed round the king, as was usual in such cases. The king marched away, on the Wednesday, with his army and artillery, and repassed several towns wherein he had halted on his advance to Naples, notwithstanding the attempts of the enemy to prevent it. He came at length to Novara, and delivered the duke of Orleans, who had been shut up in that town, with a party of his men, by the traitor Ludovico of Milan. Thence the king proceeded to Asti and to Vercelli, where the duke of Orleans came to meet him. The king received him with much friendship, and they supped together.

On Friday, the 2d of October in this year, the lord de Vendôme died in the town of Vercelli. His death was much lamented by the king and his nobles, for he was a notable prince. The following Tuesday, the king had a funeral service performed with much solemnity in the cathedral-church dedicated to St Eusebius, where great grief was manifested by all the assistants; and afterward his body was transported to France, to be interred among his ancestors.

On Wednesday, the 7th of October, the bishop of Sion arrived at Vercelli, with a body of Swiss, horse and foot, and others from the german allies of the king, for his better security. The king thanked the bishop for his friendship, and grandly feasted him and the troops he had brought.

The next day, ambassadors came to the king from Ludovico of Milan and the Venetians, and earnestly demanded a treaty, having witnessed the strength of the king, and the enterprising courage of his troops,—when a treaty was agreed to, on much better terms than they deserved.

On Saturday, the 10th of October, the king heard mass in the church of the Cordeliers in Vercelli, adjoining his lodgings; and after his dinner, he proceeded to Trino, where he halted until the 15th of October, when he went to Crescentino, and from this place, by many days march, arrived at Grenoble, passing through the following towns; Sillans, Sessia[9], Turin, Quiers, Rivoli, Suza, Briançon, Nôtre Dame d'Embrun, Savines, Saint Eusebe, La Meure[10], and Tault near to Grenoble. He arrived at Grenoble about vespers, on the 27th of October; and all ranks of people went out in procession, and made another public entry for him on his return from the campaign of Italy.

The king, being unwell, remained in Grenoble until the 3d of November, when he set out for Lyon, passing through the towns of St Rambert, where he staid some days, Sillans, La Côte St André, and Chatonay,—from which last place he advanced nearer to Lyon, where he slept.

On Saturday, the 7th of November, having dined at Venisseu, he proceeded to Lyon, whence all the churchmen came out in grand procession, dressed in their robes, and bearing relics, to meet and welcome him on his return from Italy. He made a public entry into Lyon, as king of Jerusalem, Naples, and Sicily, attended by all the municipal officers, and persons of rank in that town, handsomely dressed. He was conducted triumphantly through the streets, accompanied by the nobles and captains, who were looked at with pleasure in consequence of the noble victory they had gained over such superior numbers. The streets and squares were hung with tapestries: bonfires and mysteries were exhibited in all the open spaces through which the king passed, in his way to the archbishop's palace, that had been prepared for his lodgings. Here the queen and the duchess of Bourbon his sister were waiting, with many noble ladies and damsels, impatient to receive him; and indeed he was deserving of such eagerness.

The king held most sumptuous justs at three different places in Lyon: at La Grenette in front of the convent of Cordeliers, in the Juerie, and before the palace: at all of them, he was foremost to offer himself, and performed many gallant feats with lance and sword, on horseback and on foot, as did several others of the french lords. In memory of these justs, three stone columns were erected,—and to this day there exist the latin verses that were inscribed on them, for king Charles was the principal tenant of the lists.

Prior to the expedition to Naples, the king had the body of the seraphic doctor, St Bonaventure, raised with great pomp from his tomb in the church of the Cordeliers,—and the duke and duchess of Bourbon had his shrine afterward covered with plates of silver. The king, at the same time, founded the convent of the Cordeliers of the Observance in the city of Lyon, which is become a place of much devotion.

When the king had staid some days in Lyon, he resolved to pursue his journey, to pay his devotions at the abbey of St Denis, and return thence to Amboise,—which he did, as shall be hereafter related.

In the year 1496, the son of the king of Spain died,—and the same year died the duke of Savoy, who was said, by those lately returned from Italy, to have poisoned the whole country of Piedmont.

FOOTNOTES:

[9] Sessia. Q. Borgo de Sessia?

[10] La Meure. Q. La Meyrie? in the election of Grenoble.

[CHAP. VII.]

THE KING OF FRANCE GOES TO ST DENIS.—HE RETURNS TO AMBOISE, AND THERE SUDDENLY DIES, OF A FIT OF APOPLEXY.

When king Charles had made some stay in Lyon, and had witnessed the tilts and tournaments that had been performed at Moulins, in the Bourbonnois, he proceeded to the abbey of St Denis, to accomplish the vow of pilgrimage he had made, and to offer up his thanksgivings to God for the brilliant victories he had obtained over his enemies, and for the successful issue of his expedition to Naples. He went likewise to St Denis, to replace the blessed bodies of the holy martyrs, who repose there, that had been taken down from their niches when the king set out on his italian expedition.

It is an ancient and praiseworthy custom, that when the most Christian kings of France undertake any foreign expedition in person, they supplicate the aid and intercession of the glorious martyr St Denis, and his companions Saint Rusticus and Saint Eleutherus. The shrines of these saints are, in consequence, taken down from their niches on the king's quitting his kingdom, and deposited in a private part of the church. These holy bodies, thus deposited, cannot be replaced in their former situations until the king shall return to St Denis from his foreign expedition, whether it had been for conquest or pleasure.

King Charles, therefore, having been victorious throughout Italy, followed the pious custom of his ancestors the kings of France. He made a devout pilgrimage, to St Denis,—and the shrines of the martyrs were, by him, replaced in their several niches, in the presence of the great barons of France. The king would neither pass nor repass through Paris on this pilgrimage, for reasons that moved him so to do, but which I omit, to avoid prolixity. For this cause, when he left St Denis, he took his road through St Antoine des Champs, thence over Le Pont-de-Chalenton[11], and through Beauce, strait to the castle of Amboise, where he found the queen and many lords and ladies of his noble blood. He was received there by the inhabitants with the utmost joy and honour.

He had not been long at Amboise before he heard of the treachery of the Neapolitans, and the death of the noble Gilbert lord of Montpensier. The remaining captains, unable to support themselves in Naples after his loss, returned home as well as they could; for those traitors of Lombardy and Naples had suddenly risen in rebellion,—and they could not possibly receive succours in time from France, had they attempted to hold out against them, from the great distance.

King Charles made preparations to avenge himself on them for their treachery and infidelity,—but he had over-exerted himself in his late expedition. His constitution, which was naturally feeble, became daily worse: whence it happened, that as he was walking one day in a gallery of the castle of Amboise with the queen, and amusing himself by looking at some tennis-players, he was suddenly seized with a fit, and died shortly after, in the twenty-eighth year of his age, and in the month of April in the year 1497. May God have mercy on his soul!

FOOTNOTES:

[11] Pont de Chalenton. Q. Charenton?

[CHAP. VIII.]

OF THE FUNERAL SERVICES PERFORMED FOR KING CHARLES VIII. OF FRANCE, AT AMBOISE, PARIS, AND ST DENIS.

After the decease of king Charles VIII. whose soul may God pardon! a very solemn funeral service was performed at Amboise, in the church of St Florent, by the reverend cardinal the lord John Peraule, assisted by many prelates, great lords, and other persons. There were immense numbers of tapers and torches, and great alms were distributed. When this service was over, the king's heart was carried for interment to the church of Nôtre Dame de Clery, near to that of his late father. The body, with the representation of his figure over it, was borne in sorrowful pomp to the church of our Lady in the fields, in the suburbs of Paris, where it was watched all night by some of his most confidential friends.

On the morrow morning, a grand procession came out of Paris, consisting of all the clergy with their crosses, the four orders of mendicant friars, the members of the court of parliament and of the other courts of justice, the provosts, sheriffs, and inhabitants dressed in mourning, to the church of our Lady in the Fields,—where were waiting the great lords, officers, pages of honour, and others, to the number of more than seven thousand persons, clad in mourning, with hoods,—and, according to the usual ceremony, conducted the body to the cathedral-church of our Lady in Paris. There were four hundred torches, ornamented with escutcheons of three flowers de luce, carried by four hundred poor men, dressed in black cloaks and hoods. A solemn funeral service was performed in the church of Nôtre Dame; after which, the body was carried with the same ceremonies through Paris to the abbey of St Denis, where another service was solemnly performed for the deceased, and presents of money given to all the assistants in making the offerings at the mass, and great alms distributed to the poor.

When the accustomed ceremonies had been finished, the body of king Charles was interred in the sepulchre that had been prepared for him; after which there was a grand dinner given to all the assistants in honour of the late king, to whose soul may God graciously grant his pardon! Amen.

[CHAP. IX.]

OF KING LOUIS THE TWELFTH.

On the 23d of May, in the year 1498, Louis duke of Orleans, son to the late duke Charles, was consecrated king of France, in the same manner as his predecessors had been, in the cathedral of Rheims. He was the twelfth who had borne the name of Louis, and the fifty-fifth king of France.

At this ceremony at Rheims were the twelve peers of France, or their substitutes. For the duke of Burgundy appeared the duke of Alençon; for the duke of Normandy, the duke of Lorraine; for the duke of Guienne, the duke of Bourbon; for the earl of Flanders, the lord de Ravenstein; for the earl of Champagne, the lord Angillebert of Cleves; for the earl of Toulouse, the lord of Foix. Almost the whole of the french nobility were present at the ceremony, which was solemnized in the usual mode to that of former kings, by the cardinal of St Malo, archbishop of Rheims.

Immediately after, the king made knights of his order of St Michael the lord de Taillebourg, the lord des Pierres, lord de la Gruture, the lord de Clerieux. He created also knights to the amount of four score; among whom were the lord de Myolans, sir Claude de Mont-l'Or lord of Château-neuf, de Salazuit, and others, too numerous to name. When these things were done, the king ordered preparations for his entry into Paris.

On the 1st of July, the king was crowned in the church of St Denis, after the manner of his predecessors, kings of France. On the morrow he made a triumphant entry into Paris, and supped at the palace. When all these solemnities were ended, each person withdrew to different places, as ordered by the king. The first who made any opposition to him was the lord de Vergy,—but the war was soon ended in Burgundy.

The duke de Valentinois, said to be the son of pope Alexander VII.[12] arrived at Lyon on the 18th of October, and made his public entry into that city. The king had given him the county of Valentinois[13],—and he was now come to France to conclude his marriage with the daughter of the lord d'Albret. This duke was also a cardinal; but he had left that dignity behind him, and appeared in secular clothes with the utmost pomp and grandeur.

The 2d and 3d of December, the wind was so high at Lyon that the greatest alarm was caused by it; and the custodium, in which the hosts were kept, on the high altar, in the church of the Cordeliers, was burst open, owing to a broken pane in the window, and the sacred wafers blown all about the church, to the great scandal of devout persons. It happened somewhat before eight o'clock in the morning.

This year, the king gave the princess Jane of France the duchy of Berry; and, for the benefit of the realm, he espoused, by a dispensation from pope Alexander VII. the widowed queen of France, Anne of Brittany,[14] which was of the greatest public utility.

In the course of this year 1499, the head of St Bonaventure was deposited, in a very rich shrine of silver, in the church of the Cordeliers at Lyon,—and a most solemn procession was made on the occasion by the friars of the convent. On the 10th of June, in this year, the king made his public entry into Lyon, which was very magnificent. The streets were hung with tapestries,—and many fine mysteries were represented in the squares. He was very anxious to recover possession of the Milanese, and had sent thither a large army, which, within fifteen days, reconquered Milan, on the 4th of September. Duke Ludovico was in the town, and narrowly escaped being taken, by quitting the place in disguise. The town of Alexandria della Paglia[15], having shown much hatred to the French, was plundered, and the greater part of it destroyed.

When the king heard of the capture of Milan, he left Lyon, giving orders to the lord de Bersac to destroy all the benches and awnings before the doors in that city. He made his public entry into Milan, and regulated its government.

On the Friday before All-souls-day, in this year, the bridge of Nôtre Dame, at Paris, fell down, which was a heavy loss; and the king sent thither John de Doyac to superintend the immediate construction of another.

The year 1500 was a grand year of jubilee at Rome, celebrated by pope Alexander VII. and attended by great numbers. There would have been more, if, on the 3d of January, duke Ludovico Sforza had not, in person, regained Milan, by the aid of a considerable body of Germans. He won the town through the treason of the inhabitants, who surrendered themselves to him; but the French fought valiantly, and kept possession of the castle, whence they battered the town.

Several Frenchmen, going to the jubilee at Rome, were murdered at the inns on the road,—which being discovered, justice was done on the perpetrators by burning their houses, with their inhabitants, to serve for examples to all others. The duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, gave a ducat to every one who brought him the head of a Frenchman. The count Gayache and his wife now came to France; he was brother to the late Galeas Visconti.

On the 19th of March in this year, the queen of France made a second public entry into Lyon, the streets being hung with tapestry, and several beautiful mysteries represented. About eight days after, a number of prisoners of war were brought before the king, at Lyon, for having broken their oaths, at which the public greatly murmured.

FOOTNOTES:

[12] This was the notorious Cæsar Borgia,—a worthy son of so worthy a father!

[13] Valentinois,—a county on the Rhône: Valence is the capital.

[14] Her fate seems to have destined her to marry those who, to obtain her, were forced to be divorced. Charles VIII. was betrothed to Margaret of Flanders, and Louis XII. was married to the daughter of Louis XI.

[15] Alexandria della Paglia—is about 38 miles from Milan.

[CHAP. X.]

DUKE LUDOVICO SFORZA IS MADE PRISONER BEFORE NOVARA, AND CARRIED TO FRANCE.

On Thursday before Palm-Sunday, the French in Italy acted with such vigour that duke Ludovico fled from Novara with one hundred horse, abandoning his army and artillery in that town. When the french captains approached, a burgundian leader, called the captain of the Yotiers, came out of Novara and surrendered himself and men to them. The bailiff of Dijon went into Novara to practise with the Swiss in the pay of the duke of Milan (about four thousand in all), who only asked for payment of what was due to them. In regard to the Lansquenets, they knew not how to act; for the Swiss in the king's service would not show them any mercy, although their captains did all they could that matters might be settled without effusion of blood.

There were in Novara twenty thousand combatants; eight thousand Lansquenets, four thousand Swiss, eight hundred Burgundians, and the rest Lombards. In addition to these, a reinforcement of fifteen hundred men were on their march to join them, and within a mile of Vercelli, not including those in Vigeue.[16]

Shortly after, Ludovico returned and marched his army out of Novara, and encamped them near to the French; but God, knowing the usurpation and wickedness of Ludovico, inspired the French with courage to defend themselves, when attacked by him. Notwithstanding the duke of Milan thought himself certain of destroying the French, the matter ended without blood being spilt, and without a battle. It was said, that the Lansquenets, refused to fight against their countrymen; and likewise, that the duke had not paid his men their arrears, which made them unwilling to serve him. On the other hand, the French were determined on battle; but when they marched to charge the milanese army, it surrendered to them without striking a blow.

The duke of Milan, observing this, disguised himself in the frock of a cordelier monk, and, by mixing with his men, thought to escape; but the lord de Ligny and the lord de la Trimouille made such good arrangements with their army, it was impossible; for they ordered the whole of the milanese force to pass under the pikes, so that the duke was discovered, made prisoner, and put under the guard of the French in Novara, which place had thrown open its gates. The lord Jean Jacques[17] was present at this conquest, for he had always been faithful to the king. The duke had in his pay an astrologer or necromancer, in whom he put great confidence; but his astrology was of no avail to prevent him being made prisoner.

According to agreements entered into with the milanese army, they were allowed to depart in safety with their arms and baggage,—but the duke and his artillery remained with the French. The lord-cardinal of Amboise was then at Vercelli, and vowed the king under the protection of our Lady des bonnes nouvelles.

Intelligence of this success came to the king at Lyon, the vigil of Palm-Sunday, which rejoiced him exceedingly; and bonfires were made in the streets, for joy that the French had been victorious. Immediately after, news was brought that the duke of Milan was a prisoner, which caused the rejoicings to be repeated by all ranks of persons in Lyon. The children of the duke were sent into Germany.

FOOTNOTES:

[16] Vigeue. Q. Vigevano.

[17] The lord Jean Jacques. Trivulce, a Milanese, marquis of Vigevano, governor of Milan, captain of one hundred lombardy men at arms and of two hundred archers, king's lieutenant of the french armies in Italy. He was present at the battles of Foronuovo and Aignadello, and held great and honourable employments under Charles VIII., Louis XII., and François I. He was made marshal of France in 1500, died in 1518. He was uncle to Theodore Trivulce, governor also of Milan, and marshal of France.

See Brantome, vol. ii. des Vies des Hommes illustres étrangers.

[CHAP. XI.]

THE CARDINAL ASCANIUS, BROTHER TO THE DUKE OF MILAN, IS TAKEN PRISONER, AND CARRIED TO FRANCE.

The cardinal Ascanius, brother to the duke of Milan, was in that city when he heard of the duke being a prisoner: he instantly departed thence, with six hundred horse and some artillery, accompanied by the higher nobility of Milan. He had also with him a considerable body of Estradiots; and the commander of the whole was count John, brother to the marquis of Mantua, who intended to march for the Bolognese,—but it was said, that he was met by a venetian captain, of the name of Soucin Bienson[18], with a body of troops, who attacked the cardinal. At this unexpected onset, the cardinal cried out, 'Qui vive?' and was answered, 'St Mark and France!' The battle lasted four hours,—and the venetian captain was severely wounded, with many of his men,—but when the cardinal, who was in armour, saw the fortune of the day was against him, he fled to a castle called Rivoli, which was immediately besieged by the Venetian.

To make short of this matter,—the cardinal lost many of his men, and the brother to the marquis of Mantua was ransomed. With this venetian captain was another called Charles des Ursins. A milanese captain, of the name of Badin, was made prisoner, with the abbot of Senselles, and four viscounts,—and upwards of a hundred thousand ducats were taken, without including the baggage. The cardinal, astonished to find himself besieged in this castle without provision or money, entreated the captain to ransom him, which he refused,—so that he surrendered himself on the sole conditions of having his life spared, and of being given up to the king of France.

The captain would have carried him a prisoner to Venice,—but the seneschal of Beaucaire, the lord de Montoison, and the chief justice of Provence, who had gone thither to receive the cardinal, prevented it. The Venetians also, knowing that the cardinal was an enemy to the king, that he had been taken on the king's territories near Piacenza, and wishing likewise to be on good terms with France, had the cardinal delivered into the hands of the before-named persons.

The inhabitants of Milan, on their duke and his brother the cardinal being made prisoners, opened a negotiation, for the surrender of their town, with the cardinal of Amboise, lieutenant for the king.

FOOTNOTES:

[18] Soucin Bienson. Q.

[CHAP. XII.]

THE INHABITANTS OF MILAN ARE BRIBED INTO SUBJECTION.

On the 17th of April, which was Good Friday, in this same year, the inhabitants of Milan, acknowledging the great crimes they had committed against the king of France, their duke, most humbly besought the reverend father in God the lord George d'Amboise, cardinal-priest of the apostolical see, lieutenant-general for the said king, that he would be pleased (after having granted some small sums for their relief, to assist them in paying their fine, and also to save them from the pillage and destruction which the army was ready to inflict on them) to come to the duke's palace in the city of Milan to receive their submissions, which they were determined to make publicly in acknowledgment of their misconduct, and to entreat the clemency of the king, on payment of such a fine as their means would admit of.

This reverend cardinal acceded to their request, and came to the palace called La Court-vieille, whither arrived in procession all the nobles, burghers, tradesmen and inhabitants, preceded by little children dressed in white linen, and bareheaded, having a large crucifix, and the great banner of our Lady, borne before them.

The lord-cardinal being seated on the throne prepared for him in the great court of this palace, and surrounded by many of the king's counsellors and captains, master Michael Touse, doctor of laws, and town-advocate, ascended a rostrum that had been there erected, and made the following harangue:

'Unworthy as I am to ascend this rostrum, my most reverend and most illustrious lord-cardinal, I am very anxious to have it remembered, and thus publicly to express the complete submission and devotion my countrymen, the people of Milan, as well as myself, feel toward our sovereign lord and duke, the most Christian king of France; and although I know my own incapacity to express their wishes, notwithstanding my earnest desire so to do, yet, as a good citizen, I could not refuse their requests to undertake it,—and I will accomplish it to the best of my abilities.

'Among all the cities and towns of Italy, Milan, without doubt, must be considered as the principal, when governed with justice by an upright lord, as all good and loyal citizens have desired. Since God the Creator, has been pleased to place them in the hands of the most Christian king, their legitimate lord, they cannot wish for a better nor a more powerful prince: their duty is to persevere in the fidelity and loyalty which they have sworn to him when he received them with such benignity and humanity. It may be said, that he had reintegrated the citizens to their country, and their country to the founder; for the French had founded and built the city of Milan,—and the country, to this day, retains the name of Gallia Cisalpina. But, alas! we have sadly displayed the instability of our tempers, and committed the crimes of treason and rebellion without any reason for so doing; for neither the king our lord nor the deputies he sent to govern us, have done any things that ought to have displeased us, or make us discontented. In regard to our lord himself, we have always found him full of humanity, affection, and clemency; and in regard to the lord de Luson, who had been appointed our chief justice, we cannot accuse him of any improper acts,—for he ever received us kindly, and heard our complaints attentively, doing justice to all parties, like as a good father would to his children.

'In like manner, the lord Jean Jacques, who has ruled us without distinction of persons, or the smallest partiality, punishing rather his own people than ours, just as those excellent Romans, Brutus and Torquatus, put to death their children for the good of their country. He also has afforded us all necessary support. The lord-bishop of Como and others of the family of Trivulce have acted in a similar kind manner to us. We feel the more beholden to the lord Jean Jacques, because knowing, as he did, the wicked intentions of many of the chief exciters to the late rebellion, he attempted to gain them over from their intentions by gratuities and honours, rather than dip his hands in the blood of his countrymen. He preferred also retiring into the castle to destroying the town by fire and sword, as perhaps strict duty would have forced him to,—and from thence he departed, to return with so much the greater glory. The preservation of the town from ruin is solely owing to his prudent conduct: a superior victory to any achieved by arms, seeing that Ludovico Sforza and almost all the king's enemies are become prisoners. The cardinal Ascanius and others attached to his party were, by God's merciful providence, induced to leave the town, when they might otherwise have injured it by obstinately holding out against the troops of our legitimate lord. The inhabitants, therefore, are greatly indebted to God and the king, who has kindly overlooked their faults, and not punished them according to their deserts.

'To check the fury of his victorious army, the king has been pleased to send you, my lord cardinal, hither, with full powers to act according to your discretion; and this you have done with such prudence that you have saved the town to the king,—for which we, our children, and our successors, shall be ever beholden to you.

'We also thank my aforesaid lord the bishop of Como for his good recommendations of us to you, and for the means he has taken for the preservation of his country.

'Since, most reverend father in God, you have been pleased, out of your bounty and clemency, following the kind will of our lord the king, to grant to us, the inhabitants of Milan, this public audience, they have commissioned me to make, in their name, the following requests.

'In the first place, that it may be your good pleasure, when you shall return to the king, to recommend us most humbly to his good graces,—and to assure his majesty that the people of Milan will never again rise in rebellion to his power and authority. They somewhat resemble St Peter, who, having denied God the Redeemer, had afterwards such grief for his sin that he was more ardent and determined in his service than ever, continually supplicating mercy for his crime. In like manner, most reverend father in God, and in the name of the king our lord, do I, on my bended knees, for myself, the nobles, burghers, and the inhabitants of Milan, beseech you to pardon the rebellion perpetrated by us, which was contrary to the usual custom of the Milanese, celebrated for their fidelity and loyalty.

'Secondly, most reverend father, in respect to the expenses the king our lord has been put to in countermanding the troops sent hither to punish us for our ill conduct, we have promised to pay the sum of three hundred thousand crowns: fifty thousand on the 12th of this month, fifty thousand on the 1st day of May, and the remaining two hundred thousand at his pleasure. We beseech you to intercede for us to his majesty, that he would be graciously inclined to remit payment of the balance of the two hundred thousand crowns,—for it will be impossible to raise so large a sum without totally ruining the town. Its whole wealth consists in merchandize, and in cloths of silk and woollen,—and should so large a sum be withdrawn from trade, all these works must stop, to the utter ruin of the city and duchy of Milan, which depends so much upon it. The duty of a king is to enrich and not impoverish his subjects.

'Thirdly, we most humbly supplicate, that you would dismiss all the men at arms from the duchy as speedily as possible, that the fruits of the coming harvest may be preserved for the use of our lord's subjects.

'Fourthly, we beseech you, that all persons may be restored to the offices they before enjoyed.

'And, lastly, that since, out of your great mercy and wisdom, you have been pleased to separate the principal instigators of the late rebellion from the more peaceable inhabitants of the town,—and that, through the mercy of God, the cardinal Ascanius and the chiefs of that party are now, for the welfare of the country, detained prisoners,—we beseech you to use your interest with the king our lord, that such provisions be made to prevent them henceforth from troubling the city and duchy, as they have lately done, and put us again in danger of losing our lives and fortunes, whence we have been relieved by the merciful bounty of the king our lord.

'We assure you, most reverend father in God, and most noble lord, that we are determined to remain faithful to our sovereign prince in body and soul; and, by granting us our requests, you will never again hear of any disturbances or factions in this town,—for the inhabitants will, henceforward, be united in his service, as experience shall prove. We have full confidence that your benignant goodness will do every thing, in regard to us, becoming the race whence you descend, which will be agreeable to God, and worthy to be engraved on marble, as a perpetual memorial of your wisdom, and to the glory of your name: all of which I and the people of Milan now assembled here, again on our bended knees, beseech you to grant.'

Master Michael having finished his harangue, the lord-cardinal of Amboise consulted the marshal of Trivulce, the bishop of Luson[19], chancellor of Milan, the lord de Neufchatel, and others of the king's counsellors, and ordered master Michael Ris, doctor of civil and canon law, and counsellor to the king in his court of parliament of Burgundy, and in the senate of Milan, to make a reply, which he did in manner following.

'Misertus est Dominus super Ninevem civitatem; eo quod pænitentiam egit in cinere et cilicio.' My lords and gentlemen of the Milanese, the very reverend father in God and most noble cardinal here present, as lieutenant general for the king in this duchy, has more attentively listened to your humble propositions and requests than your demerits deserved. That his bounty and mercy may be more manifest, he has ordered me to lay before you your great and inexcusable rebellion, which his excellency would willingly have done himself could he have addressed you in your own language. I am, therefore, employed to do it by his command. I must, therefore, remind you, that on the day when you swore fidelity to the most Christian king, I then addressed you by his orders, and exhorted you to remain firm in your loyalty to him, whence you would derive great honour, and by acting contrary inevitable evils and disgrace would follow. I am now commanded by the most noble lord-cardinal, here present, to explain your great disloyalty and infidelity, that the exceeding clemency and pity of the king, our lord, may be the more apparent.

'Your crimes and your demerits are so enormous, O Milanese! that no punishments can be adequate to them,—and they are deserving of a similar punishment from the king as the Romans inflicted upon the Samiens, as related to us by historians: 'Ita ruinas urbis diruerunt ut hodie Samus in ipsa Samo requiratur.' Or one equal to what Archila[20] king of the Goths inflicted on the Romans, whose marks are now visible on the walls and buildings of Rome. Or what Alexander did to the Thebans. It may be seen in numerous histories, that for much smaller crimes, Charles the great, king of France, and the emperor Frederick I. punished most severely this city of Milan.

'To make your ingratitude more public, you have allowed that the most Christian king is your true and legitimate lord, to whom you owe love and obedience, according to the laws of God and man; for the wise regulation of the Spartans says, 'Populum in obsequia principum, principes ad justitiam imperatorum infirmabit.' In addition to the most Christian king being your natural and lawful lord, he has conferred upon you numberless benefits: he came in person to deliver you from slavery,—not out of a disorderly ambition to gain kingdoms, but from the pity he felt for you as subjects of duke John Galeazzo, your first duke, whose most excellent daughter, the princess Valentina, was his grandmother. He recalled Justice to your country, which had been banished thence. He secured to you your lives and properties, which before no one could call his own. He allowed you the liberty to marry your children as you should please, which before this could not be done; for a father could not marry a daughter, nor a mother a sister, but according to the will and appetite of the lord. Offices which were temporary he made perpetual. He abolished all pillories, concussions, and exactions.

'Besides these and numberless other benefits that he showered upon you, you were bounden by your oaths of allegiance to be faithful unto him: nevertheless, many of you, even when taking these oaths, were plotting to deceive him. All of you, ye Milanese! forgetful of the salvation of your souls and honour, and regardless of the danger into which you threw your wives, your children, and your town, have conspired against your true lord in favour of a tyrant, quitting the first of kings in Christendom for a mean fellow of low birth,—a most potent prince for one as poor in courage as in wealth and friends. Had I the powers of language to display the extent of such a crime, I should be incapable to do it under two days; but your own consciences will make you more sensible of it than I can,—and you may apply to yourselves what is written, 'Populus dure cervicis,' when you committed that base act of recalling your Ludovico in opposition to your true lord.

'What was the consequence? Did he not instantly seize all the effects of private persons, and not only their wealth but even the crosses, chalices, and jewels from the churches? What was said of Cambyses, king of Persia, may be said of him, 'Difficile enim erat ut parceret suis, qui contempta religione grassatus etiam in Deos fuerat.' Although from so great a crime many may attempt to exculpate themselves, yet I do not see how they can well do so, for it would have been easy at first to have resisted such treason: nor can one in Milan excuse himself for the joyous reception given to Ludovico, as if he had been a god descended from heaven on earth. The people of Milan assisted the lord Ludovico with money and men. Feasts and entertainments were every where displayed to welcome his arrival, and for his short-lived victories when he gained Novara.

'Observe now, O Milanese! how strongly the justice of God, the Creator, has been made manifest, and the great power that it has pleased Him to invest the king our lord with: for when you thought that you had done every thing by gaining Novara, at that moment you lost the whole, and your idol, the lord Ludovico, carried away a prisoner,—so that what was said of the Persians may be applied to him, 'Servit alteri cui nuper mediolanum serviebat.'

'O Milanese! notwithstanding your enormous offences, the great fountain of mercy of our good king has not been dried up by your ingratitude to him: and the uncommon benignity of his lieutenant general, my lord cardinal, has been fully shown to you, from his respect and reverence to this day, on which it pleased our Lord to suffer an ignominious death on the cross for our salvation. He, in the king's name, pardons your lives, your honours, and your property, exhorting you, at the same time, to be more careful, henceforward, not only to avoid committing similar offences but to avoid even the being suspected of them: for should you ever relapse again into rebellion, you will be punished with such severity the remembrance thereof shall endure to the latest ages of the world. By acting as loyal subjects towards your lord, your town and country will be daily improved, and you will live happy and contented; for it must be a great satisfaction to live under a true and legitimate prince.

'With regard to the requests you have made to my lord cardinal, you will deliver them to him in writing, and he will return you such answers as shall content you. It must, however, be understood, that from this pardon all the principal actors and instigators of the late rebellion are excepted.'

When this harangue was ended, all the children passed the cardinal in procession, crying out 'France, France! France and mercy!'

On St George's day, the queen of France set out from Lyon, to go to St Claude, with a very handsome company. Before she returned, she stood godmother with the prince of Orange,—for the princess had, at that time, been brought to bed of a son.

On the 2d of May, the lord Ludovico was brought to Lyon. He wore a robe of black camlet, after the fashion of Lombardy, and was mounted on a small mule. The provost of the royal household, and the seneschal of Lyon, went out to meet him, made him a prisoner in the king's name, and confined him in the castle of Pierre-en-Cise. Great numbers of people were collected in the streets to see him pass. The king was then in Lyon.

The 12th of May, the marriage of the lord de la Roche, a baron of Brittany, was announced in Lyon, with the princess of Tarente, daughter to don Frederic of Naples. On this occasion were many justs, and other entertainments, at which were present the queen, her ladies and damsels,—and the wife of count Galeazzo was with the queen; but the marriage did not take place until the 18th of May, at the church of St Croix, near to that of St John. Tournaments again were exhibited on the Grenette, and gave great satisfaction[21].

The lord Ludovico was, by orders from the king and council transferred from the castle of Pierre-en-Cise, on the 14th of May, to the castle of Loches, near Bourges. On the 24th of the same month, the lord de Ligny returned from Lombardy to Lyon, when the king sent out a large party to meet and welcome him.

The cardinal Ascanius Sforza was on the 17th of June, the vigil of Corpus-Christi-day, brought prisoner to Lyon, and confined, where his brother had before been, in the castle of Pierre-en-Cise; but he afterwards found such favour with the king that he had all France for his prison.

The lord-cardinal of Amboise and the lord de la Trimouille arrived at Lyon, the 21st of June, from Lombardy, and brought with them the lord Jean Jacques de Trivulce and his lady to France.

About the end of July, pope Alexander VII. was struck by lightning, at Rome, and much hurt; but, recommending himself to God and our lady, he was cured, and ordered a solemn procession, which he attended in person, and granted a full absolution to all who assisted. This happened, as said, on the vigil, or on the day preceding it, of the feast of St Peter. The same day the king and queen of France left Lyon for Troyes in Champagne, to meet an embassy from Germany that was expected there.

On St Anne's day, the 26th of July, the king of Yvetot[22] died at Lyon: he was buried in the church of Sainte Croix, near to that of St John.

The 28th, on a Sunday Morning, the last arch but one of the bridge over the Rhône, at Lyon, near to Bechevelain, fell down: the wall and the other arch remained,—but it could not be crossed without great danger, and by going along the top of the wall.

This year, the Swiss made war on the king's territories,—on which account his Swiss-guards returned home, but the war was soon put an end to.—About St Simon and St Jude's day, M. de Bordeaux, archbishop of Lyon, died, and was succeeded by François de Rohan, son to the marshal de Gié.

The king of France, about this period, sent a doctor of divinity from Paris to La Vaupute[23], to convert the inhabitants from some fantastical opinions they had imbibed,—but he failed of success.

Near Christmas, the river Saone was frozen as high as Mâcon, which prevented any corn and other victual coming to Lyon, and raised the price of bread very high. On St Thomas's day, the Rhône suddenly rose in the afternoon, and higher than was ever known in so short a time.

In the year 1501, the bishop of Amiens, a native of Burgundy, died at a place called Arbois[24], and was succeeded by the bishop of Nevers.

A jubilee took place, this year, in France, for the support of a war against the Turks,—and a tenth was raised, from all benefices, for the same purpose.—The archduke Philip and his consort came, in the course of the year, to Paris, and declared themselves friends to the king. They went thence into Spain, where the archduchess was brought to bed of a son.

A large body of infantry, with great stores of salted provision, were ordered to Naples; and the king and queen went to Lyon, to see these troops march through that city. The wife of duke Réné of Lorraine came to Sainte Claude, with her son, and thence proceeded to wait on the king and queen at Lyon. Her son remained at the court, and had a pension; and on the mother's returning to Lorraine, the king presented her with a white palfrey, most richly caparisoned in crimson velvet, with knotted cord-work in embroidery.

FOOTNOTES:

[19] Luson. Q. Lausanne?

[20] Archila. Q. Attila?

[21] As I do not understand the expressions in the original, I shall transcribe them.

'Derechief on feit jouste en la Grenette. Les gentils-hommes qui joustoient à cheval de bois et lisses de cordes couvertes de drap de soie qui estoit une chose si mignonnement faicte que merveilles et tres joyeuse à voir.'

[22] King of Yvetot. Yvetot is a small burgh in the country of Caux, six leagues from Rouen. Clotaire I. king of France, having killed Gautier lord of Yvetot, as a compensation erected it into a kingdom. —See La Martiniere's or Baudrand's Geographical Dictionaries.

[23] La Vaupute. Q. Vault-de-Puis-de-Sacs? a village in Burgundy.

[24] Arbois,—in Franche Comté, celebrated for its vineyards, 38 leagues from Lyon.

[CHAP. XIII.]

THE KING OF FRANCE SENDS TROOPS TO RECONQUER NAPLES, WHICH IN A SHORT TIME IS WON,—AND FREDERICK, STYLING HIMSELF KING THEREOF, COMES TO FRANCE.

The king was very anxious to recover his dominions in Naples, and, for this purpose sent thither a considerable force by sea and land. The king's lieutenant-general, the lord d'Aubigny, was so diligent, on his arrival, that he soon won the town of Naples. Frederick, calling himself king of Naples, was then in the town; for, after the decease of the duke of Calabria, he claimed it as his inheritance. Seeing all resistance vain, he consented to meet the king of France, to make arrangements respecting his claim; for he was unwilling to remain the king's enemy, seeing that it was impossible for him to resist. Some of his children, however, were carried away secretly to the king of Spain.

The king of France received the news of the capture of Naples, and of Frederick, the 8th of August, when at Lyon, where great rejoicings, with bonfires, and solemn processions, were made on the occasion, to render thanks to the God of all victories.

On the feast of our Lady, in September of this year, the convent of the Celestins at Lyon took fire, and nearly the whole of it was destroyed. The fire began in the chimney; but the convent was soon afterwards rebuilt, handsomer than before. The same day, friar John Tisserant, an Observantine, of whom mention has been before made, died. On All-souls-day, don Frederic arrived at Lyon, from Naples, and was conducted further into France.

[CHAP. XIV.]

THE CARDINAL OF AMBOISE MAKES HIS PUBLIC ENTRY INTO LYON, AS LEGATE TO FRANCE.

Sunday, the 7th of October, the lord-cardinal of Amboise made his public entry into Lyon, having been appointed legate from the holy see to France. His entry was very sumptuous and handsome: the streets hung with rich tapestries, and several allegorical mysteries represented in those streets he passed through. The populace were greatly rejoiced at his arrival, as he had established a peace among the Christian princes, which was proclaimed at Lyon on Saturday preceding Christmas, when bonfires were made in all the squares.

About this time, the lady Margaret[25] was married to the duke of Savoy, and made her public entry into Geneva in the course of the month of December.

FOOTNOTES:

[25] The lady Margaret—of Austria, daughter to the emperor Maximilian, and widow to John son to Ferdinand the catholic king of Spain.

[CHAP. XV.]

THE FRENCH, AFTER THE CAPTURE OF NAPLES, MAKE WAR ON THE TURKS.

The year 1502 was the jubilee for a croisade against the Turks. It was, as said, celebrated throughout Christendom to excite every prince to take up arms on the occasion. But there were divisions among them; and all failed in their engagements excepting the king of France, who showed himself deserving of his title of most Christian king.

After the conquest of Naples, he ordered his troops to make war on the Turks by sea and land,—for they, having declared war against the Venetians, had landed troops near to Venice. The french army were eager to advance to the conquest of Constantinople, under the command of the lord Philip of Ravenstein; and they had undertaken the siege of the town of Metelino, under a promise of pay, and of being victualled, made by the Venetians to the king of France. They failed in the last article, for the french army was five days without provision; and what was worse, the Venetians allowed the Turks to march through part of their territories, who fell on the French, killed numbers, and made thirty-two prisoners,—for whose release the pope issued his pardons to obtain the necessary sums, as is specified in the bull. By these means, the french army was ruined; but had the promises made to the French been kept, they would soon have conquered the greater part of Turkey.

Good-Friday, this year, falling on the feast of our Lady in March, pardons were fully granted at the church of our Lady at Puys, in Auvergne, where such multitudes attended that a melancholy accident happened, by the falling down of a wall from the crowd pressing against it, which killed numbers, and wounded more. Several also perished from the great pressure.

This year, a marriage was concluded between the king of Hungary and Anne of Candale, daughter to the lord of Candale of the house of Foix. She soon after made her public entry into Lyon, where several splendid mysteries were represented, and thence continued her route to Hungary, where the marriage was consummated, and they had a fine family of children.

About a fortnight before St George's day, the prince of Orange died, and was succeeded by his infant son.

Not long after this, the king of France went to Lombardy, and made his public entry into Genoa, the inhabitants having placed themselves under his dominion. The town made him many rich gifts,—and having staid there some time, he returned to France in September. About this period, Réné bastard of Savoy was driven out of that country, and took refuge with the king of France, to the great displeasure of the duke and duchess of Savoy; for Réné had revealed divers machinations that were going forward to the prejudice of the crown of France. Shortly, a suit was instituted against the duchess, to recover some places which the duke had given her, that belonged to Réné by purchase.

While the king was in Dauphiny, the duke and duchess of Savoy visited the queen at Lyon, but made no public entry: they staid only four or six days, and went back to Savoy a little before the king's return.

Shortly afterward, the general of the order of cordelier friars came to France, to establish a reform, and to make them follow the regulations of the Observantines,—for the king would have it so, as he knew them to be too worldly inclined, and that it was better to have ten good monks than two thousand vicious ones.

On the vigil of St Martin's clay, the wife of don Frederic arrived in France, with some of her children and attendants.

In the year 1503, the picture of our Lady of the Cloister, which had been in the cloister of the cordeliers at Lyon was removed into the church, and placed in the chapel of St Francis. This painting was so large that the wall was broken down to admit it into the chapel, where it now is most richly decorated.

About the beginning of Lent, the king's palace at Dijon was burnt down, by the firing a culverin up the chimney to clean it; the king soon afterwards rebuilt it with greater magnificence.

The 21st of April, when the king was at Lyon, he made a general abolition of a variety of tolls and imposts that had existed for a hundred years, without any legal sanction,—with orders not to re-establish them, under severe penalties. This was contained in letters patent he granted to the merchants who trafficked on the Rhône and Saone, and other navigable rivers falling into them, from the town of Pontarlier, above Auxonne, to the sea,—and also to those who trafficked by land through France, the Mâconnois, Lyonnois, Languedoc, and Dauphiny. By these letters, all obstructions to the navigation, such as wears, milldams, and the like, were ordered to be instantly removed, excepting such as may have been particularly erected by the king.

The french army at Naples gained ground daily, and had nearly conquered Sicily, so that all trembled before them.

[CHAP. XVI.]

THE ARCHDUKE MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO LYON.—ANOTHER HERETIC.

The archduke Philip made his public entry into Lyon the 23d of March, and it was very handsome. He came from Spain; but before he entered the king's territories, he demanded that five or six of the princes of the blood should be sent to his country, as hostages for his safety during his stay in France. This was done, for the king had no evil intentions; but the archduke had made the above demand imagining that he might be somewhat inclined to be suspicious of him.

The populace were rejoiced at his coming, because he was charged to make peace between the kings of France and Spain, which he did; and it was proclaimed while the king, queen, and their court were at Lyon, on the 4th of April. The peace included, beside the kings of France and Spain, the archduke, the king of the Romans and their allies.

The archduke on leaving Lyon, went to Bourg en Bresse in Savoy, where he met the duke, and his sister the duchess of Savoy.

About the 13th of April, the lord John de Horne, bishop of Liege, waited on the king at Lyon, on account of a quarrel that had taken place between him and the lord de la Marche, which they had mutually referred for the king's decision, and he made peace between them.

The archduke had not been long at Bourg en Bresse before it was known that the king of Spain had landed a large army at Naples, and had instantly attacked the French unexpectedly,—for they understood that they were at peace with Spain. Notwithstanding this, a severe conflict took place,—and the duke of Nemours was killed treacherously. The Spaniards conquered the town of Naples, in contradiction to the oath their king had so lately made to observe the peace. It was said that pope Alexander VII. had supplied the Spaniards with provision. The lord d'Aubigny retired into Calabria with a few of his men; but had the French been supported, they would have prevented the Spaniards succeeding in their enterprise. It was likewise reported, that some of the French had joined the Spaniards, having an understanding with the king of Spain,—but this perhaps was discovered afterwards. The lord de la Trimouille was, in consequence, sent to Naples as lieutenant-general for the king; but he was seized with so grievous a malady on his road, he was forced to return to France.

In this year, an extraordinary event happened at Paris. A young scholar, twenty-two years old, a native of Abbeville, whose parents were of worth, and much respected, went on the feast of St Louis, to the holy chapel in the palace, while mass was celebrating at an altar on the right hand. When the priest was about to consecrate the host, this scholar snatched it out of his hands, and ran away with it into the court fronting the exchequer-chamber. Perceiving that he was pursued, he tore the wafer into pieces, and flung them on the pavement. When, taken, he was confined in the prison of the Conciergerie,—but no exhortations could make him repent. Upon this his parents were sent for, who were much grieved at his conduct, more especially for his obstinacy and malice,—and the mother died in Paris of grief.

The father renounced his son for a heretic, and wanted to put him to death with his own hands. When brought before the court of parliament, he was asked of what religion he was; and replied, Of the religion of nature. It was said that he had frequented the company of some scholars from Spain, who had fled. A general procession was made to the holy chapel, to offer up prayers to God that the scholar might be converted,—and a sermon was preached, while he was present, by an eminent doctor. The court of parliament finding him obstinate, condemned him to be dragged from prison to the place where he had thrown down the host; then to be put into a tumbril, and have his wrist cut off, and carried to the pig-market to be burnt. He was accompanied all the time by three doctors, who earnestly exhorted him to repent,—namely, master John Standun, a Cordelier, and a Jacobin: the first never left him until dead, notwithstanding he continued in his obstinacy to the last.

From the time this impiety had been committed, a canopy of cloth of gold was supported over the spot where the host had fallen, with two burning tapers beside it. The pavement was taken up, and carried to the holy chapel, with such parts of the wafer as could be found, to be preserved as relics, and the place repaved.

Toward the end of August, in this year, pope Alexander VII. died. The king was then at Mâcon, and immediately ordered the cardinal of Amboise, the cardinal Ascanius Sforza, then a prisoner in France, the cardinal of St George, with other cardinals, to repair to Rome, for the election of a pope.

About nine or ten o'clock of the Monday, before Michaelmas-day, the whole arch of the bridge over the Rhône at Lyon fell down.

The cardinal of Sienna, nephew to pope Pius II. was elected pope, and took the name of Pius III., but did not live more than eight or ten days after his exaltation. During that short space, he had already shown how very much he was indisposed against the French. He was the hundred and sixth pope.

On Wednesday preceding St Luke's day, the lord Peter of Bourbon died, while the king was at Mâcon: he was much bewailed, for he had ever been true and loyal to the crown of France, and was an able counsellor.

The 19th of October, died pope Pius III. at Rome, who, as I have said, did not outlive his election more than eight or ten days,—and the cardinals made another election.

The French at Naples slew very many Spaniards,—and had they been properly supported, they would have driven them thence, for the lord d'Aubigny evinced much valour and prudence.

[CHAP. XVII.]

THE CARDINAL OF ST PIETRO AD VINCULA ELECTED POPE.

The cardinal of St Pietro ad vincula, legate of Avignon, and by name Francis de Savona[26], was elected the hundred and seventh pope of Rome, and took the name of Julius II. He was nephew to the late pope, Sixtus IV. and had accompanied king Charles of France at the conquest of Naples. After his election, he made his nephew cardinal of St Pietro ad vincula, and legate of Avignon.

The french army before Saulse[27], in the county of Roussillon, was badly conducted by some in whom the king had great confidence; for it was so well equipped, wonders were expected from it. The commanders might have taken the castle and the garrison, on allowing their captains to march away in safety; but although many were for it, the majority were against them. The castle was mined to its very foundations, and the army was so strongly encamped it could not be hurt; but the king of Spain, by dint of money, as it was known afterwards, blinded the eyes of the commanders, to the astonishment and vexation of all loyal Frenchmen when it was discovered.

The commander in chief, the marshal de Rieux, a Breton, marched away to Narbonne, to the great discontent of the French, as the camp was left without a leader. Every one behaved with the utmost courage, and raised the siege, carrying off the artillery and baggage without loss in their retreat. However, had all behaved as they ought to have done, conformable to their engagements with the king, in a short time they would have made great advances into the enemy's country, considering the fine army of the French.

The lord de la Roche-pot was killed, when before Saulse, by a cannon shot: it was a great loss, for he was a good and valiant knight, and the king and whole court were much grieved at it.—The french army in Naples not only kept its ground, but even made some conquests.

On Christmas-eve, in this year, the lord Louis of Luxembourg, lord of Ligny, died, about twelve o'clock at night at Lyon, and was very much regretted by the king and all who knew him, for he was universally beloved.

The 3d day of July, in this year, died Pierre cardinal of Aubusson[28], grand master of Rhodes, which he had governed for twenty-seven years: during the early part of which, Rhodes was attacked by the Turks with an immense army: but he and his knights made so gallant a defence, he was victorious, and the Turks left upwards of forty thousand dead: the rest saved themselves by flight, to the great vexation of all Turkey, in spite of their cries, 'Mahoun, avenge us!'

The sultan, finding this army defeated, uttered a horrid cry, to the alarm of his attendants, and swore to march another to Rhodes, and have ample revenge; but while he was employed in making preparations, he died. The grand master of Rhodes detained the next heir to the sultan a prisoner for thirteen years, contrary to the will of many, and then delivered him up to the pope, who, in return, sent him a cardinal's hat. He had those fortifications repaired that had been damaged by the Turks, and then converted the Jews in the island to Christianity. He formed alliances with all the princes in Christendom, and did an infinite deal of good. He was succeeded by Emeri d'Amboise, brother to the cardinal of Amboise, legate to France, who instantly left France for Rhodes, to oppose the Turks, who were continually carrying on a warfare against the Christians.

FOOTNOTES: