Chapter IX: Part 9

At this time, the lord des Querdes (more commonly called des Cordes) fell dangerously ill at Lyon, as he was preparing to cross the Alps with the king. Being advised by the physicians to return and try his native air of Picardy, he took leave of the king and departed from Lyon, but was unable to proceed further than the town of Bresle, three leagues from Lyon, where he died. By the king's command, great honours were paid to his body, which was put into a leaden coffin; in all the towns it passed through, processions came out to meet it; and it was carried to the church of our Lady at Bologne-sur-mer for interment, according to the orders he had given.

King Charles, before he left Lyon, held several councils respecting the appointment of a regency to govern the kingdom in his absence. Duke Peter of Bourbon, who had married the lady Anne of France, was nominated sole regent of the kingdom: the lord de Baudricourt was made governor of Burgundy,--the lords de Avaugour and of Rohan, governors of Brittany,--the lord d'Orval, governor of Champagne,--the lord de Graville, governor of the country of Caux, Normandy and all Picardy--and the lord d'Angoulême, governor of that county and of Guienne. All these lords, having taken their leave of the king, set out for their respective governments.

The king remained, some days after their departure, enjoying the good cheer and pleasures of Lyon,--and the beauty of the Lyonnoises, was also one great inducement to detain him there; but an epidemical disorder having appeared, he set out from Lyon with his queen and court for Vienne, which is seven leagues below Lyon. When the king and queen left the ancient town of Vienne, they passed through Villeneuve, and other towns, wherein they were received with due honours, to Grenoble.

On Saturday, the 23d of August, in the year 1493, king Charles accompanied by his queen, and numbers of princes, lords, ladies and damsels, made his entry into the town of Grenoble; which entry was very magnificent, as well on the part of the clergy, who came out to meet him in rich copes and bearing relics, as on the part of the court of parliament in that town, and the nobles and inhabitants, all well dressed according to their different ranks, some in handsome liveries, others with divers devices, as their fancy led them. Those who had been deputed to present the keys of the town to the king, made an eloquent harangue in his praise. A rich canopy was carried over his head, and another over that of the queen; and they were thus conducted into the town, where all the streets were hung with tapestries. Several allegorical pageants and mysteries were displayed, in honour of the king and queen. When this procession arrived at the cathedral, their majesties dismounted to offer up their prayers, and were thence conducted to their lodgings, in the palace of the court of parliament.

The king and queen staid six whole days at Grenoble, where several councils were held relative to the greater security of passing the Alps with the army. It was thought advisable to send back the carriages that were there in waiting to transport the king's baggage, and other stores for the troops, and in their stead a number of mules were collected for this purpose, otherwise too much time would have been lost,--for this is the usual mode of transporting merchandise across the mountains.

Proper persons were selected to fix on the quarters for the king and his army, so that as little confusion as possible might arise; and the chief manager in this business was Pierre de Valetaut,--and a better chief could not have been fixed on, for he was perfectly well acquainted with the whole country the army was to march through. Purveyors were also appointed to go from town to town to collect provisions for the cavalry and infantry, every article of which was to be paid for at a regulated price,--and no pillaging of any kind was to be permitted with impunity. Those among them were to have the titles of marshals, maitres d'hôtels, and provosts, accordingly as they behaved themselves well.

To preserve the friendship of those italian towns which had promised support, and to keep them to their engagements, the following persons were sent to them (as their fidelity was not overmuch to be depended upon), namely, John de Cardonne, master of the household, to Florence; the lord Charles Brillart to Genoa; Gaulcher de Tinteville to Sienna; La Ville Rigault d'Oreilles to Milan; Adrian de L'Isle to Pisa; the lord de Louan to Lucca,--and others to Viterbo. With each of these envoys, were sent gentlemen of the long robe, to make harangues, should there be necessity. On the same business, the following persons were sent ambassadors to the different regencies and princes of Lombardy and Italy: the lord de la Trimouille to the king of the Romans; Louis Lucas to Ludovico Sforza, at Milan; the lord du Bocage to the Venetians; the lord d'Aubigny to Rome, accompanied by the lord d'Autun, the president Grusnay, and the general de Bidont, as ambassadors to the pope; the lord d'Argenton, in company with Monstreau, was sent elsewhere.

The commanders of the king's army were the princes of the blood and others, namely, the duke of Orleans, the lord de Montpensier, the lord de Foués, the lord de Luxembourg, the lord de Vendôme, the lord Angillebert of Cleves, the lord John Jacques, the prince of Salerne, the lord de Miolens, the lord de Piennes, the marquis de Saluces, de Vienne, de Rothelin, the marshals de Gié and de Rieux, the seneschals of Beaucaire and of Normandy, together with numbers of other barons, knights, captains of renown, and loyal gentlemen.

The following nobles were nominated for attendants in the king's company: de Bourdillon, de Châtillon, de la Palice, George Edouille,--together with some of his household, such as Paris, Gabriel, d'Yjon, and others of his domestics. They also served as masters of the household, in the room of those who had been sent forward as ambassadors or envoys. Guyot Lousiers had the command of the artillery. The lord de Chaudoyt had charge of the fleet, together with the bailiff of Vitry, Jehannot du Tertre, Perot de Baché, the lord de Villeneuve, René Parent, the bailiff of St Pierre du Monstier, John Château Dreux, Herné du Chesnoy, John de Lasnay, the lord du Fau, Adam de L'Isle, Giraut and Charles de Susaine, the lord de la Brosse, Honoré lord du Chef: and likewise the officers in ordinary to the king, such as butlers, cup-bearers, valets, grooms, ushers of the chamber, and many more, suitably to the state of so great a monarch on this occasion.

When king Charles had staid six days in Grenoble for the arrangement of his affairs, he took leave of the queen, who departed thence, for France, most honourably accompanied.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 114: Jerome Savonarola--was a jacobin friar, and had foretold that the king of France would invade Italy, to punish the inhabitants for their vices, and their rulers for their tyranny. He afterward preached against king Charles. He was burnt at Florence by the intrigues of pope Alexander VI. at the instigation of the Venetians and the duke of Milan, against whose vices he had publicly declaimed.

The death of Jerome Savonarola was a disgrace to the times. Florence supported him as an inspired person. His piety, his austere life, and his edifying sermons gained him the esteem and admiration of all the Florentines. There may, perhaps, have been some imprudence in his sermons, which persons of piety will attribute to zeal; and the pope was too severe in having him burnt for the slight censure he had passed on his conduct, which was notoriously infamous.]

CHAP. XLII.

THE KING OF FRANCE SETS OUT FROM GRENOBLE, TO CROSS THE ALPS ON HIS MARCH TO NAPLES.

On Friday, the 29th of August, the king, having heard mass and taken leave of his queen, set out from Grenoble to dine at a place called La Meure, a village dependant on a barony belonging to the count of Dunois. He thence went to sup and lie at the small town of Escoy, where he was honourably received by the burghers and inhabitants. On the morrow, he dined at St Bonnet, and went to lodge at a small city in Dauphiny, called Gap. The next day he dined at Forges, and supped at Embrun[115], where he was joyfully received by all ranks, and lodged at the bishop's palace, who was then absent on an embassy from the king to the pope.

On Monday morning, having heard mass in the church of our Lady, the king left Embrun for St Crespin, where he lay, and thence went to Briançon[116]. He was received with every honour by the clergy and people, and conducted to an immense inn without the town, as the most convenient lodgings for him. He and his company were there served with plentiful cheer, and excellent wines. On the 2d of September the king dined at Serzene; and in the evening was at the provostship of Ourse, where, after his repast, a tall man, native of la Poille, was brought before him, as charged with being one of the 'principaux maistres de la vau-perte[117].' After the king had heard what he had to say, he delivered him into the hands of his officers of justice, who, having duly examined the charge laid against him, caused him to be publicly hanged on a tree.

The ensuing day, the king dined at Chaumont, and immediately after entered Savoy, to lie at Suse. The duchess of Savoy, accompanied by many lords, ladies, and damsels, had come thither to meet him, and entertained him handsomely. On quitting Suse, he dined at St Jousset, entered Piedmont, and lodged at Villanne[118],--and wherever he came, he was received with all due honours. On the morrow, he made preparations for his entry into Turin, as described in the following chapter.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 115: Embrun--is 24 leagues from Grenoble, and 8 from Gap.]

[Footnote 116: Briançon,--capital of the Briançonnois, 9 leagues from Embrun, 19 from Grenoble.]

[Footnote 117: Vau-perte,--a sodomite.----Du Cange.]

CHAP. XLIII.

THE KING OF FRANCE MAKES HIS PUBLIC ENTRY INTO TURIN, WHERE HE IS RECEIVED WITH GREAT HONOURS AND SOLEMNITY.

On the 5th of September, as king Charles approached Turin, he was met by a procession of the clergy, accompanied by the nobles and inhabitants of that city, the university, and by the noble lady the princess of Piedmont, most magnificently dressed in cloth of gold frize, after an antique fashion, ornamented with large sapphires, diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones. She had on her head a heap of gold ornaments, intermixed with carbuncles, jacinths, and tufts of fine gold. On her neck she wore collars, with wide rockets, decorated with large oriental pearls, having also bracelets of the same. Thus richly dressed, she was mounted on a palfrey led by six lackeys, well equipped in cloth of gold, and attended by a company of damsels most elegantly dressed, and numbers of lords, knights, esquires and pages of honour.

In this manner did the king enter Turin, the streets of which were all decorated with cloths of gold or of silk; and in different places were stages erected, on which mysteries were represented from the Old and New Testaments, and upon historical subjects. The king was conducted to the castle, where he was received by the aforesaid lady of Piedmont, the duke her son, his uncle the lord of Bresse, and other great barons, to the melodious sounding of trumpets, clarions and other instruments. Every offer of service and support was made to the king in his expedition to Naples; and it must not be omitted, that public tables were laid out in all the principal streets, for the refreshment of every one that chose to sit down at them.

The ensuing day, the princess of Piedmont led her son into the king's apartment, where they dined joyously together; and after the repast the king took his leave of them and the other lords to sup and lie at Quiers[119], whither orders had been previously sent for his handsome reception, which was accordingly done: and he was so well pleased that he remained in Quiers three days amusing himself in feasting, and with the ladies.[120]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 118: Villanne. Q. if not Villa-nova d'Asti? a town in Piedmont, about four leagues distant from Turin and from Asti.]

[Footnote 119: Quiers,--five miles to the eastward of Turin.]

[Footnote 120: It was an attachment to the beautiful daughter of a physician that detained Charles at Quiers, and made him repeat his visits.--See further particulars in the notice of a MS. history of Gohori, in the viith vol. of Notices des MS. in the National Library at Paris.]

CHAP. XLIV.

THE KING LEAVES QUIERS FOR ASTI, WHERE HE IS INFORMED OF THE GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE DUKE OF ORLEANS AT GENOA.--LUDOVICO SFORZA AND HIS LADY VISIT THE KING AT ASTI.--A MARVELLOUS EVENT AT GENOA.

On Tuesday the 9th of September, the king, after thanking the lords and ladies of Quiers for the honourable reception they had given him, departed for Villa-nuova; and thence went to supper in the town of Asti, belonging to the duke of Orleans, where he was received by all ranks of inhabitants with greater magnificence than at any other town, considering their means. The king was lodged at the house of one John Roger, and the other lords in different houses.

The duke was absent on the coast of Genoa, on the king's business, and to provide for the security of his expedition. The morning after the king's arrival, a false messenger arrived at Asti, with every mark of bringing hasty news,--and it was instantly rumoured that the French had been defeated at sea. The king immediately assembled his council, to consider how to act in consequence of this unfortunate event; but the messenger was not now to be found, to hear the particulars from him; and within a short time another messenger arrived with better news, for he brought certain information that the duke of Orleans, whilst cruizing in the gulph of Rapallo, near Genoa, had defeated the army of the prince of Tarentum, and taken forty thousand prisoners, and that the slaughter of the enemies of France had been so great that the numbers were not known: a few had escaped over the mountains: and among the prisoners were a son to sir John Fregoso[121], and a nephew to the cardinal of Genoa: Frederic[122], who was the commander of the neapolitan army, had expired through fear. The flower of the italian nobility was in this battle.

The duke of Orleans had with him, at this glorious victory, the lord de Piennes, John de la Grange, Charles de Brillac, who was then knighted, the bailiff of Dijon, the lord Guyot de Lousiers, with numbers of other nobles and gentlemen of name. After the victory, the duke of Orleans was seized with a fever, which forced him to return to Asti, where the king still was.

To Asti came also, from Milan, Ludovico Sforza, and his consort, the daughter of the duke of Ferrara, who brought with her a profusion of rich dresses and jewels to display before the king. They conversed together, like old friends,--for the traitor Ludovico had not then manifested the iniquity of his malignant mind, as he afterwards did, but for which, in the end he was severely punished[123].

When king Charles had staid some time at Asti, he was much indisposed for two or three days[124], and removed from his lodgings to more airy apartments in the convent of the Jacobins, that overlooked their gardens. It was there the duke of Orleans and the other lords of the council arranged many things for the furtherance of his expedition, and also for the general welfare of his kingdom. During this interval, Ludovico went back to Milan, but shortly returned, although his support was but feigned and full of deceit.

It was about this time that three or four french gentlemen in Genoa, went to the sea shore to bathe, and were shortly afterward joined by another, who stripped himself to bathe with them,--when lo, a large fish rose from the bottom of the sea, and bit the latter gentleman until the blood came. Perceiving himself wounded, he attempted to escape by driving off the fish, but he, having tasted his blood, returned again, bit him in several places, and at length dragged him by force under the water, and he was never seen afterward, which seemed a very marvellous event to many persons in Genoa.

The king having remained in Asti from the 9th of September until the 6th of October, departed from it for ever, to accomplish the object of his expedition.

On the morning of the 6th, having heard mass as usual, and taking some refreshments, he set out from Asti, dined at La Fariniere, and lodged at Monçal[125], which is the first town on the road toward Lombardy, and of a tolerable size. It belonged to the late marquis of Montferrat, and the king was honourably received there by the marchioness, his widow, her eldest son the present marquis, and her second, called Constantine. She showed him the whole extent of the fortifications of the town and castle, and how well they were provided with artillery and military stores. She also pointed out to him the heads of three traitors who had been, a short time before, executed for having caused a war between Ludovico of Milan and her husband, the late marquis.

The marchioness treated the king with the greatest hospitality and kindness, making offers of every thing she had for his service,--and tenderly reminding him how her deceased lord had left her and her children under his especial protection. The king behaved to her very affectionately; and on the morrow he departed from Moncalvo, to dine and sup at Casal, the capital of the possessions of the marquis of Montferrat.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 121: Sir John Fregoso,--natural son to Paul Fregoso cardinal-archbishop and duke of Genoa.]

[Footnote 122: Frederic--was brother to Alphonso king of Naples.]

[Footnote 123: He was made prisoner by Louis XII. and confined in the castle of Loches, where he died.]

[Footnote 124: With the small pox. See Roscoe's Leo X. if it were not another disorder.]

[Footnote 125: Monçal, Q. Moncalvo? nine miles north of Asti.]

CHAP. XLV.

KING CHARLES MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO THE TOWN OF CASAL.--THE MARCHIONESS OF MONTFERRAT AND HER SON PLACE THEMSELVES UNDER HIS PROTECTION.

The king of France left Moncalvo on the 7th of October; and on his arrival at Casal, he was received with all demonstrations of joy, and conducted to the castle, where his lodgings had been prepared. At the gate of the castle was the marchioness of Montferrat, richly dressed, with her son, who having humbly saluted the king, and not knowing the french language perfectly well, the count de Foix and the lord Louis made their harangue, which was in substance what the lady had before said,--and that they placed all their possessions, without exception, under his protection,--that now they gave him possession of the town and castle of Casal, with all other their strong places. The king benignantly accepted of the trust, and entered the castle of Casal to the sound of trumpets and horns.

The lady feasted the king and his company most plentifully with all sorts of meats, wines and hypocras, so that nothing could have been better. On the morrow, the king presented the young marquis with new and rich dresses, in the french fashion, demonstrating, by his liberality, that he received him under his protection,--and he remained three days in this town.

On Friday, at sunrise, the king departed from Casal, to dine at Consse, and sup at Mortare, where he was well received, lodged in the castle, and handsomely feasted. The next day he went to take up his quarters in the town of Vigeue[126], and was triumphantly received there by Ludovico Sforza and his lady, with other lords of that county. After the usual ceremonies were over, and they had discoursed sufficiently, he was conducted to his apartments in the castle, which was pleasantly situated, and himself and his company were well entertained.

On Monday, the 23d of October, the king went to see the Granges, half a league from Vige-vano. These Granges belong to the lord of Milan, are beautifully situated, and hold immense quantities of corn and cattle, and are the place of receipt for all rents due to him in kind. In the first, there is a spacious court of stables, the roof of which is supported on handsome columns, for stallions of great value, and adjoining were others for mares and colts. At this time, in other stables were full eighteen hundred horned cattle,--such as fat oxen, cows, and buffaloes. In the sheep-folds, were about fourteen thousand sheep and goats. In short, it was a place excellently contrived, and of great value.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 126: Vigeue. Q. Vige-vano?]

CHAP. XLVI.

THE KING OF FRANCE ENTERS PAVIA.--HIS RECEPTION THERE.

The king, having left the Granges, advanced toward Pavia,--and when he was near that city, the clergy came out in handsome procession, to meet him. They conducted him in this state to the principal church, called Il Duomo, and thence to his apartments in the castle, which was large and well situated. The duchess and her young son were waiting there to welcome him on his happy arrival; and he and his company were well feasted with a variety of meats and wines, from the 14th until the 17th, when he took his departure, after hearing mass, to dine at Beriofle, and sup and lie at Castel San Joanne. On the morrow, he dined at Roqueste, and thence resolved to make his entry into Piacenza.

As the king approached Piacenza in the afternoon of the 18th of October, the clergy, judges, officers, and principal inhabitants came out to meet him in a handsome procession, as all the other towns had done, and led him in triumph to the apartments that had been prepared for his reception. While he was in this town, a messenger came to him in haste with letters, containing in substance, that on that day the young duke of Milan had died, which much afflicted and vexed the king. Tears filled his eyes, without any dissembling, and to perform his duty to God, he ordered on the morrow a solemn funeral service to be celebrated,--after which were distributed large sums in alms to the poor, all at the king's expense, and chiefly under the direction of the lord Reginald d'Oreilles. It should not be forgotten, that the king invited the nobles and principal inhabitants to this funeral service: and that they, in gratitude for his benignant humanity, presented him with several immense cheeses, as large as our greatest millstones, which he sent to France, as a gift to the queen. The king, having staid six days in Piacenza, departed.

CHAP. XLVII.

OF THE SEVERAL TOWNS THE KING OF FRANCE PASSES THROUGH IN HIS MARCH FROM PIACENZA TO LUCCA.

After the king had heard mass at Piacenza, on the 23d of October, he set out to dine and sup at the little town of Fiorenzuola[127], where the people received him very affectionately. On Friday, he lay at another small town called Borgo San Domino[128], where he was equally well received. On the 25th, he was quartered at Fornove[129], which is of tolerable size, having a large abbey, and lies at the foot of the Appenines.

On the Sunday, he went to Borgo di Val di Taro[130]; and the next day, after hearing mass, he went to Beers, where he and his train were much straitened for room; but it was necessary to exercise patience according to the country they were in. On Tuesday he left Beers to lie at Pontremoli[131], where he was received with processions, and lighted tapers and torches, as in the preceding towns. At this place, Pietro de Medici waited on the king with intelligence from Florence, and placed himself under his protection. To obviate any attempts of those who were inimical, he promised to place in his hands a small town called Sarsina[132]; and he afterwards delivered up another good place of the Florentines, called Sarsonella, near to Sarsane.

On Wednesday, the king visited the church of Nôtre Dame des Miracles, near to the town of Pontremoli, and dined at Yole. This day owing to some quarrel, several Germans were killed in Pontremoli, for which their countrymen revenged themselves severely on their return from Naples. The whole army marched on the 30th into Sarsina, and there halted for six days, on account of a rebellion among the Florentines. Ludovico Sforza, who was already beginning to form his plans of treachery, came again to visit the king at this place, and returned suddenly to Milan.

On the 6th of November, the king marched his army to Massa, a burgh with a castle having deep ditches all around it: near to it is a mountain whence white and black marble is dug,--and from it is seen the sea, about half a league off. He was honourably received by the lady of the place.--On Friday, he left Massa, and took up his quarters at Pietra Santa[133], a small town belonging to the Florentines; but the king having been duly informed that it formed part of the duchy of Genoa, and that the inhabitants had put themselves under the Florentines for their better security, and through subtilty, he placed in the castle a strong garrison of gens d'armes until his return.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 127: Fiorenzuola, 13 miles from Piacenza.]

[Footnote 128: Borgo San Domino,--20 miles from Piacenza.]

[Footnote 129: Fornove,--10 miles from Parma, remarkable for the victory of Charles VIII. with nine thousand men, over the confederated princes of Italy.]

[Footnote 130: Borgo di Val di Taro,--a small city, capital of the country called Val di Taro.]

[Footnote 131: Pontremoli,--40 leagues from Parma.]

[Footnote 132: Q. Sarsina?]

[Footnote 133: Pietra Santa,--six miles from Massa.]

CHAP. XLVIII.

OF THE ENTRY AND RECEPTION OF THE KING OF FRANCE IN THE TOWN OF LUCCA.

When the king made his entry into Lucca, he was met by the clergy, and principal townsmen in procession, a league distant,--and what was most singular, the greater part of them were dressed in fine cloths of gold, or in velvets. After they had all paid their respects to the king, they conducted him into the town, which was richly decorated with tapestries, and divers pageants. He was lodged in the bishop's palace, where he and his company were grandly entertained.

CHAP. XLIX.

THE KING ENTERS THE TOWN OF PISA.--OTHERS OF HIS CAPTAINS ADVANCE AS FAR AS FLORENCE.

The king left Lucca on the following morning, after hearing mass, to dine at Primat, and in the evening entered Pisa, having been met by the clergy, governor and chief inhabitants. It was doubtless here that he received the truest marks of affection,--for the very children in the streets as well as others of higher ranks, shouted out, 'Liberty for ever!' They submitted themselves unreservedly to his will, for they were greatly molested by the Florentines; and it was melancholy to hear their complaints of them. The king assured them of his support in maintaining their liberty, which gave greater joy than I can describe,--and it need not be wondered at if, in consequence, the king and his company were so magnificently feasted. The next morning, he marched from Pisa, to dine at Pont Codere, and lodged at Empoli[134].

On the 11th of November, the king went to lie at Pont-de-Signe, which is a very pleasant place, and tarried there five or six days, because the Florentines had rebelled against Pietro de Medici, who had delivered up to the king some strong places and castles. But so firm a countenance was shown to the said Florentines, and the royal artillery were so well prepared to march against Florence and such as were the most active in rebellion, that they sent ambassadors to offer their obedience to the king, to sue for pardon for their transgressions, and to entreat that he would come to their town.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 134: Empoli, a town 15 miles west of Florence.]

CHAP. L.

THE KING OF FRANCE, WITH HIS LORDS, ENTERS FLORENCE, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WHOLE ARMY.

On Monday, the 17th of November, the king, having assembled his whole army and train of artillery, advanced to a large palace near to Florence, where he dined. The florentine nobles, with numbers of the lower ranks, came thither to pay him their respects; which they having done, and presented him with the keys of their gates, the french army marched into the town of Florence by companies, each under its own captain, and with displayed banners, in handsome order. This lasted a long time, for there were a greater body of men under arms than the Florentines had ever before seen.

When the companies had all passed, the king, accompanied by his princes and nobles, entered the town completely armed, with his body guard and his hundred gentlemen all in armour. He was conducted, having a handsome canopy borne over his head, to the cathedral, and thence to the lodgings that had been prepared for him in the mansion of Pietro de Medici, where he and his company were more sumptuously entertained than can be imagined.

The king, the better to subjugate and keep the Florentines in check, remained some days in Florence. He marched away on the 21st, and was lodged at a large palace not far distant. The next day, Saturday, he went to St Cassant, where he remained the Sunday; and on the Monday, he advanced to Poggiobonzi[135], which is a prettily situated town, and, though small, well peopled. On the morrow, the king dined at the abbey of Aye, and thence went to his quarters in the city of Sienna.

CHAP. LI.

THE KING MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO SIENNA, VITERBO, AND OTHER TOWNS.

When the king was within a league of Sienna, he was met by a procession of the clergy and inhabitants, who having made an harangue, presented him with the keys of their town, as an acknowledgement of his being the lord thereof. He was afterwards conducted thither with great solemnity,--and the streets had been gaily decorated to welcome him. He was lodged in the palace of the bishop, near the cathedral, where he and his company were entertained. On Thursday, the king departed from Sienna, dined at Buonconvento, and lay at St Clerico, where he tarried all Friday. On Saturday, he dined at Ricoure, and lay at La Paille. Having heard mass on Sunday, he proceeded to Acquapendente, a town situated on a height, and belonging to the pope; notwithstanding which, the king was very honourably received, with processions, and the keys of the gates were presented to him. On Wednesday, the 10th of December, the king crossed Monte-Fiascone, and fixed his quarters for the night at Viterbo, a handsome town, belonging also to the pope. The inhabitants, however, made a splendid entry for him, submitting themselves to his obedience; they conducted him to his lodgings at the bishop's palace, a spacious and pleasantly situated mansion, near to the gate leading to Rome.

The king remained five days in Viterbo; and, during that time, frequently visited the shrine of St Rosa, whose body was in complete preservation as to flesh and bones. He placed the lord de Gaiasche, with a good garrison, in the castle, and dispatched the lord de la Trimouille to pope Alexander, who promised fidelity to the king, and, for greater assurance thereof, dismissed some of his cardinals, and even his confessor.

On Monday, the 15th of December, the king left Viterbo, dined at the small town of Roussillon[136], and lay at a little town called Naples[137], where he halted until Friday, when he advanced to Bracciano, belonging to the lord Virgilio d'Orsini, where he dined and lay. He there encamped, and while thus occupied, he received an embassy from the pope to agree to his entering Rome with his army.

During this interval, the lord de Ligny marched a strong detachment of Germans, to take possession of Ostia, a strong place at the mouth of the Tiber, and a convenient seaport. The duke of Calabria was at this time in Rome, and, from his boastings, it was thought he would achieve wonders against the French,--but he was soon forced to make a precipitate retreat into La Puglia; and immediately after, the lord de la Trimouille and the marshal de Gié marked the quarters for the army in Rome as undisturbed as they would have been in any town of France.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 135: Poggiobonzi,--21 miles from Florence.]

[Footnote 136: Roussillon,--Ronciglione, 10 miles from Viterbo.]

[Footnote 137: Naples. Q.]

CHAP. LII.

THE KING OF FRANCE ENTERS ROME WITH HIS ARMY.--WHAT PASSED THERE.

On the last day of December, king Charles, with his princes, lords, and gens d'armes, entered the city of Rome as a conqueror, with his whole army, and train of artillery, in such handsome array as astonished the Romans. But as it was nearly night, an immense number of torches were lighted, and he entered the city by the Porta Flaminia, near to the church of Santa Maria del Populo. He traversed part of Rome to his lodgings in the palace of San Marco, where he had his park of artillery, and the rest of his army marched to the quarters that had been marked for them by the before mentioned lords.

Pope Alexander VI. hearing of the great army which the king of France had marched into the city, shut himself up in the castle of St Angelo, fearing some commotions. But by advice of the council, the king sent to him the counts of Foix, of Bresse, and of Ligny, with the marshal of Gié and master John de Rely bishop of Angers, who harangued the pope in such wise that he took courage,--and henceforward there was a good intelligence between the king, the pope, and the other nobles.

The king, though daily occupied by his council on the business he was engaged in, found means to visit the churches and holy places in Rome, with much devotion; and he was shown wonderful relics and precious treasures, to which he and his company paid singular respect. The king displayed his sovereignty in Rome by having three or four gallows erected, and by ordering some thieves and malefactors to be thereon hanged. He caused others to be whipped, drowned, or deprived of their ears, to demonstrate that, as a true son of the church and most Christian king, he enjoyed the same powers of executing justice in Rome as in his town of Paris.

At this time, a very large piece of the wall of the castle of St Angelo fell, of itself, into the ditch, to the great vexation and fright of the pope. The Romans, on the other hand, thought it a miracle. The king visited the Coliseum, and other curiosities in Rome.

Friday the 16th of January, the king, attended by all his nobles, heard mass in St Peter's; and the pope, to show his affection, conversed most familiarly with him, the king and he walking arm in arm, like brothers. In short, such was their friendship that the bishop of St Malo[138] was created a cardinal,--and the king remaining with the pope some days.

Tuesday, the 20th, the king heard mass in the french chapel, and afterwards touched and cured many afflicted with the king's evil, to the great astonishment of the Italians, who witnessed the miracle. This same day, the pope chaunted high mass at the great altar in St Peter's, in the presence of the king, his nobles, and principal officers. There were twenty-five cardinals, about thirty archbishops, forty bishops, and a number of other prelates and churchmen. When mass was done, the pope and the king came together to a place that had been prepared for them at the entrance of St Peter's, when a bishop displayed the impression of our Saviour's face on the holy handkerchief three times,--and all the people cried aloud, 'Mercy!' The pope was then carried to a scaffold in front of the church, where the king was seated beside him, and the cardinals according to their ranks, and next to them the french princes of the blood. The pope then ordered the Confiteor to be said for the full remission of sins, as in the year of jubilee, which was proclaimed by three cardinals in three different languages, namely, in Latin, French, and Italian. When the pope gave his benediction for the jubilee, he had his left hand on the king's shoulder, and thus were all persons absolved from every sin and crime they might have committed.

At this time, there was a Turk[139] in the castle of St Angelo, whom all the people were admitted to see, to his great vexation.

After the ceremony of St Peter's, every one returned to his lodgings rejoicing, and the king visited the seven privileged churches which are in or near Rome. On the Sunday following, the pope and the king, to prove on what friendly terms they were, rode together through Rome,--when the king showed, to him and his cardinals, his fine army and train of artillery: a pleasing sight to his friends, but a terror to his enemies. On the 27th of January, the king gave orders for the army to be in readiness to march from Rome; and he went to take his humble leave of pope Alexander and his cardinals, who had all given him a handsome reception.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 138: Bishop of St Malo. He was one of the king's greatest favourites, and is mentioned before under the name of Briçonnet. He was rich, able in finance, and called General, from being general of finance.

For full particulars of this transaction, see Burchard's very curious diary of pope Alexander, a fragment of which was published by Leibnitz.]

[Footnote 139: A Turk. Zizim, the unfortunate brother of Bajazet. He was given up to the king of France by pope Alexander; but not until (as it was believed) he had had a slow poison administered to him.]

CHAP. LIII.

KING CHARLES DEPARTS FROM ROME WITH HIS ARMY FOR NAPLES.--WHAT PASSED ON HIS MARCH.

The king of France breakfasted and dined with the pope on the 28th of January; and after they had long conversed together on certain particular affairs, the pope gave him his benediction,--when he set out from Rome, carrying the Turk away with him. The cardinal of Valencia, son to the pope, accompanied the king, as a hostage for the pope, who went that night not further than Marina, a small town seven or eight miles from Rome. On the morrow, he lay at Veletri, which is a city, and was lodged in the bishop's palace: he staid there some days,--during which, the cardinal, like a traitor, abandoned the king. The king, while at Veletri, received, on the last day of January, by a messenger, certain intelligence, that the lord Angilbert of Cleves, a renowned german captain, had won by assault, in spite of all resistance, the town and castle of Monte Fortino[140], belonging to the lord James Conti, who had broken his engagements with the king,--and on this account, the place was destroyed by fire and sword. Many prisoners were made there by the lord Angilbert, and in the number were two sons of James Conti.

The king remained in Veletri on Sunday, the first of February, and also on Monday, as it was the feast of the purification of the Virgin, attended by four cardinals and six archbishops. On Tuesday and Wednesday following, he passed through Valmontone, to La Botine. On the 5th, he came to Fiorentino, where he halted, because a jew had humbly supplicated him that he might be baptised. The king therefore, instantly led him by the hand to the church, had him baptised by his confessor, the bishop of Angers, the king giving his own name Charles, and settled a handsome income on him. In this town is an abbey, in which it is said lies the body of St Amboise.

The king advanced on Friday to Verlic, where he dined and lay,--and the lords of the town came to meet and offer him the keys of it, as a proof of their obedience. It is said, that the body of Santa Maria Jacobi, the sister of the Virgin, is interred there; on which account, as the king wished to see it, he staid there until Monday, when he proceeded to Bahut to dinner. In the afternoon, the king, like a valiant prince, armed himself, and went to visit the siege which the French were carrying on against a strong town, and still stronger castle called Mont St Jean. Many violent assaults were made, and as gallantly opposed by a garrison from all nations, who wounded numbers of the French. The king, on his arrival, ordered the place to be stormed on all sides, which was done with great effect, and lasted for eight hours. A breach was at length made in the wall, through which the French instantly rushed, and put all the garrison, to the number of nine hundred and fifty-five to the sword,--but not without having many of their men killed and wounded.

The government of this town and castle was given to the lord of Taillebourg, who guarded it to his honour. It was esteemed to be impregnable; and not long before this, Alphonso of Naples had remained before it for seven years, but was unable with all his forces, to conquer it. The king returned from this place to Verbie, and thence to Bahut, where he lay,--and there heard that the duke of Calabria had fled from St Germain[141], on learning the fate of St Jean. St Germain, from its situation, is the key to the kingdom of Naples, the town being very strong, with two or three castles well fortified, and the whole is crowned by a very large monastery, in which reposes the body of St Benedict.

On Thursday, the 12th of February, the king lay at the small town of St Cyprienne, and dined the next day at Aquino, the birthplace of the celebrated doctor and saint Thomas of Acquino, and thence went to lie at St Germain. On the morrow, he lay at Mignano. Monday, the 16th, he dined at Nôtre Dame di Correggio, and supped at Tiano, where he was joyfully received, and there heard the welcome news, that the duke of Calabria had also fled from Capua. The inhabitants of Capua here waited on him with the keys of their town, and, with uplifted hands, supplicated him to have mercy on them.

The king remained the whole of the next day at Couy, and on the Wednesday, made his public entry into Capua, and was lodged in the castle, which as well as the town, was of great strength. The ensuing day, he entered Aversa, and was equally well received, and took up his lodgings in the palace of the bishop. On the Friday, the citizens and inhabitants of Naples came to salute the king at Aversa, to assure him, that king Alphonso had embarked and sailed for Sicily, to present him with the keys of their town, and to submit themselves to his good pleasure and obedience. Upon this, the king sent thither the marshal de Gié and other lords, who were allowed to enter the city, with all their attendants, according to their pleasure.--The king left Aversa on Saturday, to dine at Poggio-Réalé, which is a beautiful place, much more extensive than the park of Vincennes, with a variety of fine trees, and curious birds and game of all sorts, both small and great, fountains, meads, and wines of the finest flavour. It would take too much time to relate all its magnificence.

END OF VOL. XI.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 140: Monte Fortino,--a town in the marquisate of Ancona, 12 miles from Ascoli.]

[Footnote 141: St Germain. I should suppose it to be Monte Cassino, from the description of it.]

NOTES AND EMENDATIONS.

Page 3. line 19. _Bastard of Bourbon._] Joanna, youngest of the king's four natural daughters, married to Louis de Bourbon, count of Rousillon afterwards admiral of France.

Page 7. line 2. _Sir John de Lorraine._] Qu. John count of Harcourt, brother of Frederic count of Vaudemont? See before, vol. x. page 303.

Page 7. line 19 from the bottom. _Mehun._] The first place of his confinement was Sully sur Loire, from whence he was removed to the castle of Usson in Auvergne. He was afterwards restored to favour and made governor of Rousillon.

Page 20. line 7. _Lord des Bordes._] Philip de Melun lord des Bordes, was governor of the bastille, and father of Charles de Melun the grand master before mentioned. Both father and son were involved in the same disgrace. But the former, more fortunate in being less elevated, was only dismissed from his office, while the latter was soon afterwards brought to the scaffold. The government of the bastille was now committed to Hugh de Chavigny Seigneur de Bloc.

Page 46. line 12. _Stevenot de Vignoles._] This Stevenot de Vignoles was probably a son of Amadour de Vignoles the brother of La Hire who was killed at Creil in 1434 and continued the posterity of the lords de Vignoles in Languedoc.

Page 48. line 14. _Him._] He was accordingly displaced, though not till some years after, and the reason assigned was the opposition he made in the affair of the pragmatic sanction. Du Clos.

Page 49. line 9. _Thiron._] Many historians speak of the number of secret executions performed at the command of Louis by this Tristan l'Hermite, whom he usually called by the familiar appellation of "mon Compère." This cruel man, not content with mere obedience, executed every mandate in the most barbarous manner. Louis may well be reproached for the favour with which he honoured this minister of his wrath whom he should not have looked upon in any other light than that of a necessary instrument of justice. Du Clos.

Page 54. line 13. _Cardinal of Evreux._] Balue obtained the cardinal's hat at the earnest solicitations of his master, and as a recompense for his services in the affair of the pragmatic sanction when he was so nobly checked by St Romain. Pope Paul the second was afterwards thoroughly ashamed of having been prevailed on to elevate to the sacred dignity a person of so thoroughly scandalous and depraved a character, and excused himself on the ground of compulsion. Du Clos.

Page 67. line 6 from the bottom. _Lyon._] The archbishop of Lyons. See after, p. 284.

Page 75. last line. _Him._] The progress of the war with the Liegeois is detailed very much at length in the second book of Philip de Commines, where also the reader will find all the particulars of an affair which is not even hinted at in this place. The king had himself excited the commotions in Liége, the intelligence of which is here said to have so disturbed him by means of his secret envoys. After having done this, he had the imprudence (most unaccountable in one of his consummate craft) to come and meet the duke of Burgundy in the duke's own town of Peronne. The treaty between them was already far advanced when news arrived of this disturbance, and then also intelligence was brought to the duke of the infamous intrigues by which it had been occasioned. The duke immediately ordered the gates of the town to be closed and made Louis his prisoner, and in this state the king remained for some days in hourly apprehension of the death which his duplicity and treachery towards the duke had richly merited. But next to the folly of the king, the most extraordinary circumstance in the whole transaction is the weakness of the duke; who, as if he had never known by experience that the king was neither to be bound by treaties, nor by obligations, had no sooner suffered his first rage to cool than he humbled himself on his knees before his prisoner, and asking forgiveness of him whom on the contrary he ought not himself to have forgiven, permitted him to depart in safety upon his simple engagement to renounce the league he had made with the inhabitants of his rebellious city.

Page 79. line 6. _Cardinal of Angers._] Balue, who at this time held both the bishopricks of Angers and Evreux. The former he obtained from the Pope by means of the most treacherous proceedings against Jean de Beauveau, its bishop, and his former patron and benefactor. See Du Clos.

Page 87. line 12. _Observe._] See before page 75. The circumstance of the king's imprisonment seems to be most studiously avoided by this historian. Perhaps he did not know of it; for Louis who, to the latest hour of his life, reflected on his extreme imprudence and imminent danger with the utmost shame, not only was careful never to mention it himself but was highly offended if he heard or suspected that it was ever mentioned by others. Comines, who gives the relation, was present at Peronne and in the very chamber next to that where the king was confined at the time of the adventure.

Page 89. line 10 from the bottom. _Sir Tanneguy du Châtel._] Youngest son of Olivier lord du Châtel, and nephew of Tanneguy du Châtel provost of Paris who died in 1449. Tanneguy the younger was viscount of Belliére in right of his wife Jane de Raguenel, lady of Malestroit, and viscountess of Belliére. He is celebrated in history for his generous attention to the funeral of Charles the seventh, which was shamefully neglected by his attendants. Louis the eleventh rewarded this service by a suitable care of his obsequies. He was killed at the siege of Bouchain in 1477, and left issue two daughters.

Page 91. line 7. _Long preserve it!_] From this expression it should appear that the writer of this chronicle committed every event to writing as soon as he was informed of it and never afterwards revised his annals with a reference to subsequent affairs.

Page 96. last line. _Viscount of Villars. Q. if not Thouars._] Louis d'Amboise viscount of Thouars dying without issue male, his daughter brought the titles Thouars and Talmont into the family of Tremoille by marriage with Louis I. count of Guînes, &c. who died in 1483.

Page 106. line 6. _Behind._] This sudden revolution seems to have been effected solely by the over-powering influence of the Nevils. The marquis of Montacute, who had been lately forced to resign the earldom of Northumberland on the reconciliation between Edward and the house of Percy, and who was too fond of actual power to think the title of marquis a compensation for one of the greatest earldoms of England, was easily persuaded to join the party of his brother, and on his defection, Edward was seized with a panic, and leaving his army at Nottingham fled beyond seas. Stowe, 1470.

Page 113. line 4. _Combrodes._] Combrodes, Qu. Comborn? John I. viscount of Comborn, counsellor and chamberlain to Charles the seventh, married Jane of Rochechouart and died about 1482. Who was count or lord of Charente I cannot tell. But qu. does this mean James de Bourbon lord of Charency? He married into the family of la Tour d'Auvergne, which renders it the more probable.

Page 116. line 5. _King._] It is evident that these events are related in a very confused and hurried manner. Edward landed in the Humber during the winter of 1470. On the 14th of April, being Easter-day, 1471, was fought the battle of Barnet in which Warwick fell, and with him Bouchier lord Cromwell, sir John Lisle, and others. Montacute also was killed by his brother's men, being detected in a treacherous manœuvre to join king Edward's party. Holland, duke of Exeter, was left for dead on the field; but he found means to escape and got over to Burgundy where he was seen by Philip de Commines following in the train of duke Charles from place to place, a barefooted mendicant. On the 4th of May following queen Margaret having landed with a considerable force in Devonshire and thence marched up the country, was met by king Edward at Tewkesbury when the decisive battle was fought, which as is well known, terminated with the utter overthrow of all the hopes of the Lancastrian party. Besides prince Edward (who is said to have been murdered in cold blood after the engagement was over) there fell Courtney earl of Devonshire, lord John Somerset, (a brother of the duke's) lord Wenlock, and many knights and gentlemen of name. The duke of Somerset (with several others) was treacherously made to quit sanctuary under promise of pardon and afterwards beheaded; but he at least deserved his fate for having fled from the prince of Wales's side during the battle and left him to be made a prisoner. Stowe.