CHAPTER CCIX.-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 menat-arms, to meet from fifty to sixty thousand Lombards, Venetians, Estradiots *, 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 cannoneers, 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.

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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 Iassage to France, it was all he wanted, otherwise he would force his passage in spite of

* Estradiots, a sort of light horse, or a militia.
+ Francis III., fourth marquis of Mantua, of the house

of Gonzaga.

Hercules d'Este, first duke of Modena.

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.

CHAPTER CCX.-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 ariny 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 2nd 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.

* Matthew lord of Roche, eldest of the bastards of cardinal of Vendôme. 3. Anthonia, wife of Claude duke John II. duke of Bourbon.

+ His surviving children were:-1. Charles first duke of Vendôme, the father (by Frances de Longueville duchess of Beaumont) of Anthony king of Navarre. 2. Louis,

of Guise. 4. Louisa, abbess of Fontevraud. 5. Francis, lord of St. Pol, a title which he inherited from his mother, the eldest daughter of Peter, son of the constable.

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 *, Turin, Quiers, Rivoli, Suza, Briançon, Notre-Damed'Embrun, Savines, Saint Eusèbe, La Meure †, 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 3rd of November, when he set out for Lyon, passing through the towns of St. Rambert, where he stayed 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 jousts 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 jousts, 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.

Sessia. Q. Borgo de Sessia?

dini, probably refers to his successor Philip count of La Meure. Q. La Meyrie? in the election of Gre- Bresse, who died the year following, just at the time that noble.

Prince John, to whom the unfortunate Margaret of Austria was betrothed after her rejection by Charles VIII. § Charles John Amadeus, commonly called Charles the Second, duke of Savoy, died this year at the tender age of eight years. The suspicion of poisoning the waters, which is nowhere that I can find alluded to by Guicciar

he had intended to leave the party of the king of France and embrace that of the confederates. Philip had three sons; Philibert II., who succeeded him, and died in 1504, without issue by Margaret of Austria his wife; Charles III.; and Philip duke of Nemours. Louisa, who married Charles count of Angoulesme, and is so celebrated in history as the mother of Francis I., was one of his daughters.

VOL. II.

I I

CHAPTER CCXI.-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 St. Rusticus and St. 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.

CHARLES VIII. CAUSING THE SHRINES OF ST. DENIS, ST. RUSTICUS, AND ST. ELEUTHERUS, TO BE REPLACED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE NICHES IN THE CHURCH OF ST. DENIS. Designed from contemporary authorities.

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*, and through Beauce, straight 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 Montpensiert. 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!

CHAPTER CCXII.-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 NotreDame-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 Notre-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.

*Pont de Chalenton. Q. Charenton ?

This prince, by his wife Clara Gonzaga, left issue, 1. Louis count of Montpensier, who died in 1501. 2. Charles, who married Susanna, daughter and heiress of Peter II. duke of Bourbon, was made constable of France in 1515, was afterwards condemned for treason, and was

killed in the imperial service at the siege of Rome in 1527. 3. Francis duke of Chatelherault, died 1515. 4. Louisa, lady of Chavigny. 5. Reparata, married to Anthony duke of Lorraine. Neither of the sons left any issue surviving. Raymond Perault, bishop of Saintes, cardinal in 1493, died in 1505.