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 stayed six days in Piacenza, departed.

CHAPTER CXCVIII. -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 23rd of October, he set out to dine and sup at the little town of Fiorenzuola*, where the people received him very affectionately. On Friday, he lay at another small town called Borgo San Dominot, where he was equally well received. On the 25th, he was quartered at Fornovet, which is of tolerable size, having a large abbey, and lies at the foot of the Apennines. On the Sunday, he went to Borgo di Val di Taros; 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|l, 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¶; and he afterwards delivered up another good place of the Florentines, called Sarsonella, near to Sarsane. On Wednesday, the king visited the church of Notre-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**, 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 subtlety, he placed in the castle a strong garrison of gens-d'armes until his return.

*Fiorenzuola,-thirteen miles from Piacenza. +Borgo San Domino,-twenty miles from Piacenza. Fornove,-ten miles from Parma, remarkable for the victory of Charles VIII. with nine thousand men, over the confederated princes of Italy.

Borgo di Val di Taro,-a small city, capital of the country called Val di Taro.

|| Pontremoli,-forty leagues from Parma.
TQ. Sarsina?

**Pictra Santa, six miles from Massa.

CHAPTER CXCIX. 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.

CHAPTER CC.—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*. 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.

CHAPTER CCI.-THIE 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 Poggiobonzit, 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.

*Empoli, a town fifteen miles west of Florence.

+ Poggiobonzi,-twenty-one miles from Florence.

CHAPTER CCII.-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 acknowledgment 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 Aquapendente, 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 despatched the lord de la Tremouille 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*, and lay at a little town called Naplest, 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 Tremouille 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.

CHAPTER CCIII.-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 Popolo. 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

Roussillon,-Ronciglione, ten miles from Viterbo.

† Naples. Q. Nepi, halfway between Viterbo and Rome.

Count of Tagliacozzo, ancestor of the dukes of Bracciano. He was a general in the Neapolitan service, and died in 1497.

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.

contemporary authorities.

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 and arm, like brothers. In short, such was their friendship that the bishop of St. Malo* was created a cardinal,-and the king remained 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

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.

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* 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.

CHAPTER CCIV.-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 stayed 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 Fortinot, 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 1st 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 baptized. The king, therefore, instantly led him by the hand to the church, had him baptized 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