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 cruising in the gulf 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*, and a nephew to the cardinal of Genoa. Frederict, 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. When king Charles had stayed some time at Asti, he was much indisposed for two or three days §, 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 seashore to bathe, and were shortly after 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||, 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

Sir John Fregoso, natural son to Paul Fregoso, cardinal-archbishop and duke of Genoa.

+ Frederic was brother to Alphonso king of Naples. But it is entirely a mistake that he died of the fright, since he outlived both his brother and his nephew, and enjoyed for a short time the title of king of Naples. He did not die before the year 1504.

He was made prisoner by Louis XII., and confined in the castle of Loches, where he died. § With the small-pox.

were not another disorder.

See Roscoe's Leo X., if it

Monçal. Q. Moncalvo? nine miles north of Asti. ¶ Boniface the Fifth, of the house of Palæologus, died

in 1493, and was succeeded by his eldest son William IX. The marchioness, his widow, here mentioned, died at the age of twenty-nine, while these negotiations were going on; and upon her death, the marquis of Saluces and Constantine prince of Servia, her brother, disputed the tutelage of the young marquis. Philip de Comines was sent to Casal for the purpose of accommodating this dispute; and his decision was in favour of Constantine. That prince is, in the text, erroneously called the second son of the marchioness, when in fact he was her brother. John George, who was himself marquis of Montferrat after the death of William, was the only younger son of Boniface the Fifth. See GuICCIARDINI, lib. ii.

Milan and her husband, the late marquis. The marchioness treated the king with the greatest hospitality and kindness, making offers of everything 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.

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

MARCHIONESS

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*, and was triumphantly received there by Ludovico Sforza and his lady, with other lords of that country. 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 23rd 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.

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

THE king, having left the Granges, advanced toward Paviat,—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

Vigeue. Q. Vige-vano?

The king went to Pavia to visit the young duke of Milan, John Galease, who was then lying dangerously ill in the castle of that place. He had lately married Isabel of Arragon, who (with her only child, Francis, then but a few months old) went out to meet the king as here mentioned. The death of the duke, which happened

before the king left him, was universally attributed to poison, administered by Ludovico Sforza his uncle, who had long governed the dukedom in his nephew's name, and upon his death assumed the title also of duke, in prejudice of the infant son of John Galease.-See GUICCIARDINI, lib. i.

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 Fornove‡, 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 Taro§; 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||, 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.
¶ Q. Sarsina?

** Pietra 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.-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 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 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 Naples†, 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.