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SPOTLESS cdND FEARLESS. 
 
 THE STORY OF 
 
 THE CHEVALIER BAYARD. 
 
 
" Praise of him must walk the earth 
 For ever, and to noble deeds give birth. 
 
 This is the happy warrior ; this is he 
 That every man in arms would wish to be.” 
 
 Wordsworth. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 “SPOTLESS qAND FEARLESS 
 
 THE STORY OF 
 
 i THE CHEVALIER <BA YARD. 
 
 FROM THE FRENCH OF THE LOYAL 
 SERVANT, M. DE BERVILLE, 
 
 AND OTHERS. 
 
 jfifti) <50ition. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, LOW, AND SEARLE, 
 
 CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET. 
 
 1875. 
 
 
CHISWICK PRESS : — PRINTED BY W H ITT 1 IS' G HAM AND WILKINS, 
 TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE.* 
 
1 
 
 ^Gr SMB.'S 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 tournament. 
 
 Page 
 
 INTRODUCTORY ESSAY . . . ix— xx 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 Parentage and birth of Bayard. Death of Aymond 
 Terrail. The Bishop of Grenoble. Bayard’s first 
 Bellabre and the Abbot. Generosity of Bayard . . 1 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 Bayard follows Charles VIII. into Italy. Bayard distinguishes 
 himself. Death of the king 19 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 Louis XII. succeeds to the throne. Bayard gives a tournament. 
 Italian towns submit to Ludovic Sforza. Bayard is taken prisoner. 
 Generosity of Sforza . 23 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 Ludovic is attacked and defeated in Novarra. Ludovic is taken 
 prisoner. His death. Other Italian towns are conquered. Gene- 
 rosity of Bayard. Naples is conquered. Treaty with Ferdinand of 
 Arragon. Adventures of Bayard. Don Alonzo prisoner. His escape 
 and re-capture. Bayard challenges Don Alonzo. Death of the 
 Spaniard oq 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 Bayard’s thanksgiving. A truce is proclaimed. Bayard skir- 
 mishes with Spaniards, is victorious. Dispute with Tardieu. 
 Bayard V — 1 — K - *—• 
 
 i’s usual generosity p f . pm 
 
 41 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 Page 
 
 Engagement at the Garilliano. Bayard is taken prisoner and 
 recaptured. Julius II. hostile to France. Illness of Bayard. Bay- 
 ard takes a mountain fort. Paul de Novi beheaded. Further 
 victories in Italy. Padua surprised, and retaken by the Venetians. 
 Count of Petigliano occupies Padua. The emperor with Chabannes 
 and Bayard take Montselles and encamp before Padua. Hot fighting 
 at the barriers of Vicenza. Enormous booty. Treason in the camp. 
 Skirmishes. Malvezze is attacked and routed. He escapes. 
 Bayard is congratulated. . . . - 44 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 Skirmish with Scanderbeg. Guignes Geoffrey takes a prisoner. 
 Bravery of the young soldier. Bayard takes the Castle of Bassano. 
 Valuable booty. Dispute between victor and vanquished. Cha- 
 bannes is perplexed. Bayard solves the difficulty. Germans refuse 
 to go to the breach 65 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 
 Departure of the Emperor. Return of the armies to Vicenza. 
 Separation. Bayard at Verona. His exploits. Bayard meets 
 Manfroni. Foraging party surprised. Bayard’s horse is killed. 
 Bayard victorious 76 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 
 Treachery of a spy. Captain Sucker does good service. Bayard 
 defeats Manfroni. Bayard well received in Italy. French re- 
 inforcement. Lignago is taken. Death of Cardinal d’Amboise. 
 Shocking cruelty. Return to Montselles. Meeting with Croates. 
 
 Lord Mercure and his cousin. Re-taking of Montselles . . 84 
 
 Chapter X. 
 
 Julius II. declares war against Ferrara. Another treacherous 
 spy. Total defeat of the French. Death of Malherbe. Gritti’s 
 stratagem fails ...........97 
 
 Chapter XI. 
 
 Julius II. and La Mirandola. Bayard and others prepare to aid 
 the Countess. Bayard lays a plan 104 
 
 Chapter XII. 
 
 The Pope saved by a snowstorm. Severe frost. The Countess 
 capitulates. La Mirandola taken. Julius contemplates the reduction 
 of Ferrara. He determines to take La Bastia 108 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Vll 
 
 Chapter XIII. Page 
 
 Bayard the Counsellor. His advice is taken. La Bastia ap- 
 proached. Defeat of the Pope 113 
 
 Chapter XIV. 
 
 Anne Sforza. Death of the Lord of Montoison. Duke of Urbino 
 opposes the siege of Ferrara Julius plans to take the town by sur- 
 prise. Horrible treachery of the Pope. Surprise of Bayard. Dis- 
 agreement of the Duke and Bayard . 119 
 
 Chapter XV. 
 
 Julius returns to Borne. Marshal Trivulce retakes La Mirandola. 
 Glory of Bayard. Bayard accompanies Chabannes. A duel. 
 Venetians besiege Verona. Bayard avenges the Baron of Conti’s 
 death. Army stops at Carpi. A marvellous astrologer. Fortune- 
 telling. Strange predictions. Duke of Nemours goes to Ferrara. 
 
 The siege of Bologna is raised 127 
 
 Chapter XVI. 
 
 Brescia. Juvenile quarrel. Brescia taken. The castle holds 
 out. After much fighting Brescia is retaken. Bayard wounded. 
 Conveyed to a neighbouring house. Generous and friendly conduct to 
 its inmates. The Duke de Nemours visits Bayard daily . . 133 
 
 Chapter XVII. 
 
 Bayard is convalescent. The surgeon takes leave of him. Affecting 
 interviews between Bayard and his host’s family. Bayard’s gene- 
 rosity. Bayard receives presents, and takes his leave . . . 153 
 
 Chatter XVIII. 
 
 Bayard goes to Bologna. Captain Jacob. Opinions are divided. 
 Ravenna is cannonaded. The Baron of Bearn and Bayard go out 
 to skirmish. They retreat in good order. Battle is ordered for 
 Easter Sunday . • 158 
 
 Chapter XIX. 
 
 A bridge is built. Conversation between Bayard and Don Pedro 
 de Paes. The battle of Ravenna commences. Captain Jacob dies. 
 
 The Duke of Nemours dies. Total defeat of the Spaniards . . 168 
 
 Chapter XX. 
 
 Letter of the Knight Bayard to Laurent Alleman, his uncle, on 
 the battle of Ravenna 181 
 
VIII 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter XXI. Page 
 
 Obsequies of the Duke of Nemours. The Pope’s orders disre- 
 garded. The Cardinal de Medicis escapes. Engagement at Pavia. 
 Bayard wounded. Bayard visits Grenoble. He fetes the nobility. 
 
 A gallant adventure. Bayard’s noble mindedness. Bayard follows 
 the army to Pampeluna. The lansquenets refuse to fight. A suc- 
 cessful adventure. An amusing lansquenet. The siege of Pampe- 
 luna is raised 185 
 
 Chapter XXII. 
 
 Bayard’s hospitality. Julius 11. dies. French retreat from Italy 
 with great loss. Henry VIII. nearly taken prisoner. Bayard is 
 taken prisoner, and takes a prisoner. Their dispute is settled. 
 
 Louis marries Mary, sister to Henry VIII. Louis dies, and is suc- 
 ceeded by Francis I. Colonna is taken prisoner .... 198 
 
 Chapter XXIII. 
 
 Bayard narrowly escapes death. The Swiss are entirely defeated, 
 and return to their country. The king is knighted by Bayard. 
 Ferdinand of Arragon is knighted 218 
 
 Chapter XXIV. 
 
 A dauphin is born. Bayard saves the town of Mezieres . . 225 
 
 Chapter XXV. 
 
 Bayard returns to France, where he exercises his generous 
 qualities 235 
 
 Chapter XXVI. 
 
 Lodi is taken. Bayard is made to occupy a dangerous post. 
 Bayard is mortally wounded ........ 238 
 
 Chapter XXVII. 
 
 Generosity of the Marquis of Pescara. Bayard dies. Character 
 
 of Bayard 245 
 
 Additional Notes . . ; 253 
 
 Epitaph of Bayard 255 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 HE name of Bayard 1 is very familiar to 
 all of us English, who love bravery and a 
 career of adventure ; but. the story of the 
 life of the Spotless and Fearless Knight is 
 very little known. It is now two centuries and a-half 
 since Etienne Pasquier wrote that he endeavoured “ to 
 refresh and restore the memory of a good knight almost 
 buried beneath the ingratitude of years.” And his 
 later French biographer, M. Henry D’Audigier, writing 
 in 1862, quotes these words, which we cannot do better 
 than adopt. For such a memory is worth restoring, 
 not because the man was a brave soul, but because he 
 was generous, just, merciful, a despiser of mere riches, 
 
 1 Bayarf and not Bayard. We write the name as our hero 
 signed it himself. The President Salvaing de Bossiero, in the 
 17th century, criticised the common orthography, and said: 
 “ Bay ar tins sic enim vocandus, non utvulgo, Bayardus.” So M. 
 D’Audigier. We have been, however, constrained to use the 
 spelling now so thoroughly accepted in France, Spain (whence 
 perpahs Bayardos the first deflection), Germany, and England, 
 that the true name looks strange and pedantic ; and thus Shak- 
 spere, perhaps though the more correct, looks somewhat like an 
 offence to those who prefer the chivalric and heroic Shake-spear. 
 
X 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 a model of manly virtues, cheerful as the day, witty, 
 modest, and full of that kind of “pluck,” to use a 
 common but expressive word, which always rose to 
 its greatest height in any danger, rose with the danger, 
 and faced it to the last ; moreover, because he carried 
 out fairly and truly Wordsworth’s character of the 
 happy warrior, who in sudden danger was not cast 
 down, but — 
 
 “ Happy as a lover; and attired 
 With sudden brightness as a man inspired.” 
 
 And because he will recall to modern ears, says 
 M. D’Audigier, “those old and too little remembered 
 words, honour, duty, justice, loyalty, liberality, gallantry 
 and gaiety” (the gladness of good sense, and a pure con- 
 science, that fine humour which inspires strong and 
 healthy souls), “all noble and charming things, once sig- 
 nified by a single word Chivalry , of which one Chevalier 2 
 Bayard was the very personification, the best that is 
 found in our annals.” 
 
 “Three qualities,” says the Loyal Servant, “marked 
 him for a perfect soldier; he was a greyhound for attack, 
 a wildboar in defence, and a wolf in retreat. In short,” 
 concludes this excellent writer, his friend and secretary, 
 
 * Knighthood and knight would be the exact translation of 
 chevalrie and chevalier, but of course in our tongne the strict im- 
 port of the words has been lost, since the government makes 
 knights of successful timber merchants, plotting lawyers, grocers, 
 who deliver an address, and mere citizens, who by chance fill 
 the office of mayor when royalty passes by, or its guest honours 
 the city. As it would be impossible for any one to understand 
 M. D’Audigier’s graceful antithetical figure by the meaning 
 affixed to the words knight and knighthood, I have retained the 
 French form. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xi 
 
 “it would take a good orator his life to recount all 
 his virtues ; I, who am unskilled in learning, cannot 
 pretend to it.” And yet, though he puts it thus, he 
 paints with such skill, that it is a pity that his book 
 should die. In his pages we see and hear the good 
 knight, and behold him always joyous and merry, a 
 true gentleman of the grand old school, remounting a 
 poor knight, by exchanging a Spanish charger, worth 
 300 crowns, for a sorry nag worth six, and persuading 
 the gentleman that the latter was just the nag to suit 
 his purpose. He was but a poor flatterer, and always 
 spoke the truth, even to the greatest princes. He looked 
 with contempt on this world’s wealth, and was at his 
 death no richer than at his birth. “In war none excelled 
 him; in conduct he was a Fabius Maximus; in enter- 
 prize, a Coriolanus ; in courage and magnanimity, a 
 second Hector.” 
 
 As the grandfather and great-grandfather of Bayard 
 fell fighting against the English, and the good knight him- 
 self crossed swords with us, and was a prisoner to our 
 king, it seems to me a worthy thing to put his life be- 
 fore a nation that always loved the qualities which 
 distinguished him ; moreover the book is full of interest, 
 and although it ends tragically — if a glorious death be 
 tragic — is yet, as its originator calls it, a right joyous, 
 pleasant, and refreshing history, full of most interesting 
 pictures, described by an eye-witness, who speaks not 
 like an uncertain chronicler, but as one who had seen 
 what he described. This gentleman (possibly Jacques 
 Jeoflfre of Millieu, see p. 244), who has not let posterity 
 know his name, but who calls himself “ The Loyal 
 Servant,” put forth his book in 1527, three years after 
 the hero’s death, and from that the following title-page 
 is transcribed : — 
 
Xll 
 
 INTRO D UCTION. 
 
 3La tree jopeuse platsante 
 
 recrcatitic i?pstotre« compose par le logs! setbiteur ties fat? 
 Ctstcs triompbes etprouessestiu bon cbebaltersans paout 
 et sSns reproucbe le genttl Seigneur tie ^Sa^art tiont 
 Surnames icuenges sont repanuues par route 
 la cijresticnte De plusteurs autres Sons batUans 
 et bertueup capttatnes qut ont este be son 
 temps. (Ensemble ses guerres batatL 
 les rencontres et assaulj qut tie 
 son bibant sont surbenes 
 tant en jfrance ©spai- 
 gne que Jtalte* 
 
 Paris, 1527. 
 
 This work is the basis of every life that we have of 
 Bayard, and it is so well written and amusing that 
 others have done well to do little else but copy it. In 
 1616, M. Theodore de Godefroy, 3 published a quarto 
 volume, with a portrait of Bayard, probably about as 
 unlike him as a portrait 4 well can be, and being little 
 else but the story of the Loyal Servant reprinted in 
 more modern French, with the addition of 100 pages of 
 annotations, chiefly without interest. 
 
 3 Histoire du Chevalier Bayard, Lieutenant-Gdneral pour 
 Roy au Gouvernement de Dauphin6, &c. & c., by Theodore 
 Godefroy. Paris, 1616. 
 
 4 It represents the chevalier as a hard-featured man, with a 
 Saracen ’s-head look, in armour, with a hand leaning on his 
 helmet. The armour has the merit of being somewhat like the 
 armour of the age in which he lived, though the casque has an 
 impracticable visor. Our own portrait has a Roman helmet, 
 but is the received likeness of Bayard adopted from his bust set 
 over his tomb in the Church of the Minims, founded by his 
 uncle the Bishop of Grenoble. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Xlll 
 
 In 1789, at Grenoble, a place dear to Bayard, M. 
 Gagnon fils, avocat au parlement, made a grand Historic 
 Eulogium on Bayard, in which he repeats many of the 
 gestes and feats of the knight, and this eloge was honour- 
 ably mentioned. In 1834, M. Cimber, of the Biblio- 
 theque Royale of Paris, published, in his collection of 
 curious archives in the history of France, four curious 
 works (he says six, but two are suppressed), which 
 relate to Bayard, some contain his moral sayings, the 
 fourth compares him with “three Gentiles, three Jews, 
 and three Christians the sixth contains orations, 
 lamentations, and epitaphs. The first of these books 
 was composed by Messire Symphorien Champier, doctor 
 and knight, and has been used for the sake of anno- 
 tations, though it contains little worth studying ; from 
 the last we here translate the following proverbs and 
 moral answers of Bayard, and transcribe a song, worthy 
 to be remembered on account of its quaint sadness. 
 
 “ One day a noble knight asked Bayard what goods 
 and chattels a gentleman should leave to his children? 
 
 “Answered the knight, ‘The father should leave that 
 which fears no rain, tempest, or the force of man, or 
 the weakness of human justice, that is, wisdom and 
 virtue, like indeed unto him who would plant a garden, 
 and put therein good seed and sound trees.’ 
 
 “ Said another to him : ‘ What difference is there 
 between a wise man and a fool ?” 
 
 The same, said he, ‘ that there is between a sick 
 man and his doctor.’ 
 
 “ Another said to him with a sneer, ‘ Well, Bayard, 
 certes I can behold goodly lands, and worldly riches, but 
 I never can clap my eyes on that prudence and wisdom 
 that you have so much praised.’ 
 
 “ Bespondet knight Bayard, ‘ Certes, I wonder not at 
 
XIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 all that you see earthly goods, for you have eyes of 
 earth, earthy, but you have not the eyes of heaven, to 
 behold prudence, and to catch sight of wisdom.’ 
 
 “ One day Bayard heard two young pages swearing by 
 the name of God, and he punished them very severely. 
 
 ‘“Knight Bayard,’ said a gentleman, ‘you punish 
 these boys for a very little thing.’ 
 
 “‘Little thing!’ cried the knight. ‘A bad habit 
 contracted in youth is no little thing, but a great thing 
 indeed.’ 
 
 “ The good knight said many other moral proverbs, 
 but they have quite slipped my memory.” 
 
 Thus far the chronicler, and considering how good 
 those are that he has given us, we must be sorry that 
 they have done so. * * * * 5 
 
 In 1699, Aimac, a barrister, (avocat), published at 
 Lyons a life of Bayard, at which we have glanced, and 
 which is well characterized by M. Petitot, 6 as forming 
 a little volume in 12mo., and being written with extreme 
 meanness (d’une grande mediocrite). In 1702, a new 
 history of Bayard appeared in Paris, in 12mo., under 
 the name of the Prior de Louval, the true author be- 
 ing the Canon of Avalon. “ His book,” says M. Petitot, 
 “ is merely that of the Loyal Servant painfully trans- 
 lated into the modern tongue.” 
 
 In 1760, M. Guyard de Berville published a “ Histoire 
 du Bayard,” which ran through many editions. “This 
 
 s M. Cimber adds that “ Bayard once told a lord that he 
 
 should only surround himself with worthy people, and it appears 
 
 that it is to him that we owe this proverb, ‘ Like master, like 
 
 man.’” Tel maitre , tel valet. Valet did not then signify the 
 
 menial thing it does now, but a follower in the field of battle. 
 
 6 Collection complete des Memoires relatifs a l’Histoire de 
 France, depuis le regne de Phillippe- Auguste, jusqu’au com- 
 mencement du dix-septieme siecle, &c.. par M. Petitot. Paris, 
 1827. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xv 
 
 work,” says Petitot, “is weakly written, and is only 
 valuable on this account, that its author has neglected 
 nothing which can make us better acquainted with our 
 hero.” The truth is that M. de Berville has taken from 
 Champier, Godefroy, and others, all that he could, has 
 given the dates of the episodes, connected the story by 
 relating the political history which led to the various 
 battles, and has made the memoirs of the Loyal Servant 
 thoroughly connected and historical. As to its weak- 
 ness, that should disappear in a vigorous translation did 
 it exist, but it does not. In all that relates to our hero, 
 De Berville copies the Loyal Servant so closely, that 
 Southey’s vigorous English reads as a mere translation 
 of De Berville : hence his book has been used as the 
 basis of the present volume. 
 
 In 1825, Robert Southey translated, or caused to be 
 translated, the life of Bayard from the book of the Loyal 
 Servant. It was published by Murray in two volumes, 
 but is carelessly done. Every now and then the 
 translator misses the sense of the author, and some 
 words, such as grande-biiffe, he utterly mistakes; never- 
 theless there is fine and vigorous English about it, as 
 there is in all Southey’s work, and we have availed 
 ourselves of the book and its annotations, whereby we 
 have found that our book has been made more complete 
 and interesting. In 1 848, Edward Cockburn Kindersley 
 published a condensed translation in English of the 
 Loyal Servant’s work, to the notes of which, some of 
 them furnished by Mr. Albert Way, we confess our 
 obligations. And in 1862, M. Henry D’Audigier 7 pub- 
 
 7 Histoire de Pierrb Terrail, seigneur de Bayart, dit Le 
 Chevalier sans peur, et sans reproche, par Henry D’Audigier. 
 Paris, 1862. 
 
XVI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 lislied a volume, which is a kind of romance, written 
 in the subjective style which Lord Macaulay made so 
 popular in England, but which every scholar knows to 
 be so false. Thus, when a late pictorial writer describes 
 our Saviour as having his face suffused by a modest 
 blush when he stooped down to write that awful and 
 marvellous sentence in the dust : “ Let him who is 
 without sin amongst you cast the first stone relative 
 to the woman taken in adultery, everyone feels that the 
 assertion is impudent and untrue. The judge does not 
 blush for the woman ; a blush assumes a perturbation 
 of feeling utterly foreign to the nature of the Incarnate. 
 So when Mr. H. Dixon, in his Holy Land, describes 
 the Saviour and his apostles, as if he had been at their 
 elbows noting down the little idylls, as he queerly calls 
 the miraculous works of the anointed Christ, we feel 
 that the realism is impertinent and false, and that it 
 utterly misses its aim ; so also this writer’s exquisitely 
 outre phrase, with which he commences one of his 
 chapters, shocks us plain men : “ On the whip hand, 
 as you enter Jerusalem, you observe,” &c. This might 
 have been written by an Arab, did an Arab carry a 
 whip, but not by a writer who was barely a fortnight 
 in the city with which he is so marvellously familiar. 
 
 In a like manner we think that M. Henry D’Audigier 
 has failed through want of taste in his story of Bayard. 
 He has “ reported ” speeches that were never made, 
 described certain days as fine, full of sunshine, or black 
 with rain, to suit his purpose, and has produced a novel, 
 not a history. It is, no doubt, very vivid, but a little 
 thought entirely overthrows the scaffolding, and makes 
 great holes in the canvas, painted to look like stone. 
 But M. D’Audigier has a noble comprehension of our 
 hero, and to his book and its notes we are indebted for 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xvn 
 
 some interesting facts in this introduction. To various 
 other histories and works 8 we are also indebted. 
 
 To those who think of kings and royal personages as 
 beings able to use their brains, and to recognize and 
 reward talent, — a light in which, as boys with many 
 romantic illusions, many of us loyally regard them, — 
 one will wonder that Bayard was so little regarded and 
 recompensed by his monarch. “ I have lost a great 
 captain, whose name made my armies to be honoured 
 and feared, and truly he merited better employment 
 and higher charges than ever I gave him.” That is 
 what Francis I. of France said of him; and afterwards, 
 as he well had cause, he was heard to murmur : “ Ah ! 
 Captain Bayard, how much I do miss you.” 
 
 A strange confession for such a king. But what does 
 it amount to, says M. D’Audigier. Francis thought of 
 Bayard, no doubt; but why? because his interests suf- 
 fered, not his heart. Kings make use of their Bayards, 
 but they love only their Bonnivets. 
 
 Henry IY, as it was fitting, passing by Grenoble in 
 1601, remembered Bayard, and asked was there no mo- 
 nument to him. He said he would have liked to have 
 raised a tomb to so pure, so beautiful a fame ; but words 
 did not ripen into deeds. In 1619 the government of 
 the province voted a thousand livres for a statue ; but it 
 was only a vote — they could not spare them. What, 
 could not the descendants of those hundred orphan girls 
 — noblewomen and gentlewomen — whom the good 
 
 8 Especially to “Archives curieuses de 1’Histoire de France, 
 depuis Louis XI. jusqu’lt Louis XYII ; ou Collection des pieces 
 rares et interessantes, celles que chroniques mdmoires, &e., par 
 M. L. Cimber et autres personnes employees & la Bibliotheque 
 Royale.” Paris, 1834. 
 
xvm 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 knight had dowered with his property, “ sans en faire 
 bruit,” without making any fuss about it, spare a livre or 
 so ? asks a writer. No, it was not to be so. About 
 1650, a private gentleman, neither relation nor connec- 
 tion of the knight, named Scipio de Polloud, raised a 
 white marble bust to his memory in the church of the 
 Minims, on a tomb surmounted by a Latin epitaph, 
 of which we have given a copy ; and at last, in June, 
 1823, three hundred years too late, a statue was raised 
 at the Place of St. Andre, Grenoble, to the memory of 
 Bayard. The artist had to draw from imagination, for 
 history supplies but a vague guide for him to work 
 from ; but what boots it ? 
 
 Bayard’s daughter, Jeanne, married, one year after her 
 father’s death, Franqois de Bocsozel, Seigneur de Chas- 
 telart, and her descendants are represented in 1823 by 
 Madame d’Attenas, nee Bocsozel, who was invited to 
 the inauguration of the too tardily raised statue. 
 George, the only brother of the good knight who mar- 
 ried, died without heirs male, and the last holders of the 
 name of Terrail, issue of a cousin of our hero, died out, 
 in the latter half of the seventeenth century ; so that the 
 name Bayard alone survives : that name (I remember 
 with pleasure) was, by common consent, applied to my 
 revered friend Sir James Outram, one as widely appre- 
 ciated and as generally neglected as the good knight — 
 who himself died with the plain “ Sir” before his name, 
 the Bayard of India. 
 
 The castle in which Bayard was born is only about 
 ten minutes’ walk from Pondcharra. From it you have 
 an admirable view of the valley of Gresivaudan, the con- 
 vent of the Grande-Chartreuse, and the mountains of 
 Beauges. Entering a dilapidated gateway, one beholds 
 two ruinous structures. One of these, which was a chapel, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 xix 
 
 is now a stable. The other serves for the dwelling of 
 the steward of the property. “ The principal tower 
 had three stories, of which the first only remains. They 
 still show the chamber of Bayard, and that in which 
 Helene of Allemans first saw the light. The stables, the 
 cellar, and the refectory and kitchen are well preserved ; 
 all the rest is completely destroyed. The Due of Berry, 
 just before his assassination, had ordered one of his 
 friends to buy the chateau, intending to restore it and to 
 make it a princely residence, but the poniard of Louvel 
 put an end to that dream .” 9 
 
 But if kings did not appreciate the good knight, we 
 shall see in this history that his enemies, his friends, and 
 his companions did, and it is worth while to rescue from 
 oblivion this sad song of his companions. 
 
 Lamentation et complaincte par maniere de chanson de la mort du 
 bon Bayard faicte par les avanturiers au retour de Lombardie. 
 
 Aydez-moi tous a plaindre, 
 
 Pouvres advanturiers, 
 
 Sans poinct vous vouloir faindre, 
 
 Ung si noble pilier ! 
 
 C'estoist Ie singulier 
 
 Sur tous les gensd’armes ; 
 
 Car dedans un miller 
 Une tel n’avoit en armes. 
 
 Le jour de Sainct Estroppe, 
 
 Bayard, noble seigneur, 
 
 Voyant les ennemis en troppe, 
 
 11 monstra sa valeur. 
 
 C’estoit par faveur 
 De la faulce canaille, 
 
 Dont luy vint ce malheur 
 Mauldicte soit la bataille ! 
 
 9 Itineraire descriptif et historique du Dauphine. 
 
XX 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Plourez, Plourez, gendarmes 
 A cheval et k pied ; 
 
 Car jamais d’homme d’armes 
 Ne vous en veinst pis. 
 
 II a tenu bon pied 
 
 Sans faire au Roy tort 
 Dont k luy fut le pis 
 Car gaign6 a la mort. 
 
 Le vaillant chevalier 
 II pensoit nuyct et jour, 
 
 Comme pourrait bailler 
 Au genx du Roy secours. 
 
 Adonc il prit le cours 
 Contre ses ennemys, 
 
 Dont ses jours en sont cours, 
 
 Vous voyez mes amys. 
 
 Ha pouvre Dauphine, 
 
 Tu peulx bien dire h61as ! 
 
 Avant qu’il soit fin6 
 Tu en seras bien las. 
 
 Tu as perdu ton solas, 
 
 Et encore de rechief 
 Tu peulx bien ,dh'e helas ! 
 
 Il te coustera cher. 
 
 And with this sad echo of the old free-lance compa- 
 nions of the good knight, the editor and translator take 
 leave of their readers, wishing them a full enjoyment 
 and noble appreciation of these joyous and pleasant 
 feats and gestes of the good knight, and repeating the 
 farewell words of the Loyal Servant in excuse for any 
 shortcomings : “ But as for what I have said herein, I 
 do beg all readers of this history to take it kindly and 
 in goodwill, for I have done the best that I could, 
 though not, indeed, all that was due to the praise of so 
 perfect and virtuous a person as the good knight with- 
 out fear and without reproach, the gentle Lord of 
 Bayard, whose soul may God in His grace grant to rest 
 with Him in Paradise. Amen.” 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A YARD, whose goodness and valour, intre- 
 pidity and prudence, coolness and presence of 
 mind, patriotism and piety, gained him one 
 of the noblest reputations ever acquired by 
 a soldier, and the all-envied title, “Le chevalier sans 
 peur et sans reproche,” was born in 1476, while Louis 
 XI. was on the throne of France. The chateau Bayard, 
 in Dauphiny, was his birthplace, and when Guillaume 
 d’Avengon, Archbishop of Embrun, came into possession 
 of the estate, and found that the castle wanted repairs, 
 he gave orders that the room which Bayard had occupied 
 should be kept untouched, out of respect to the memory 
 of so great a man. 
 
 Historians who have written his life have told us 
 little of the earliest years of the boy who distinguished 
 himself so much as a man. Doubtless he passed them 
 as other children do, in receiving instruction, and joining 
 others of his age in the amusements then general. 
 
 When still a child, hardly thirteen, his father, who 
 felt that his end was approaching, sent for his four 
 children, their mother being present, to ask them wha + 
 professions they chose. The eldest declared his wish to 
 
z 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 live with his parents as long as they lived, and to enjoy 
 his inheritance peaceably afterwards. Bayard, the 
 second, spoke after his brother, and, with a spirit asto- 
 nishing in one so young, said that, holding so glorious 
 and illustrious a name — a name unsullied and un- 
 tarnished by numerous ancestors who had borne it, and 
 who had glorified it by incomparable feats of arms — he 
 begged leave to try and imitate them. That was his 
 wish, and he hoped, by the help of God, never to take 
 one sparkle from the glory of those of his house whose 
 high deeds he had often heard with such thrilling plea- 
 sure. The father was moved to tears by the zeal and 
 earnestness of the boy. “ My son,” said he, “ you are 
 already in face and figure like your grandfather, who 
 was one of the most accomplished gentlemen of his time. 
 I am rejoiced at your resolution, and I will do all I can 
 to forward your wishes, by placing you in the house of 
 some prince where you will learn all noble and manly 
 exercises fitting for a knight.” 
 
 Aymond Terrail lost no time, but the next day sent for his 
 brother-in-law, the Bishop of Grenoble, to consult with 
 him as to what should be done. The good bishop came 
 with many more knights to a banquet which Aymond had 
 prepared, and at which the young Bayard served with a 
 grace and modesty that drew praise from all present. After 
 the banquet, the old man told them how he had questioned 
 his sons, and of the answer of Pierre, the second, dwell- 
 ing upon the delight he felt at his choice, and begging 
 them to advise him what house of prince or noble to 
 send the boy to. Each gave his word of advice. One 
 said, make him page to the king; another, in the house 
 of Bourbon; but the good bishop said, “You know well 
 how friendly the Duke of Savoy is to our house ; he is 
 now at Chambery; to-morrow we will set out, and I will 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 3 
 
 present my nephew to him for a page ; be at no expense, 
 for I myself will equip and mount him.” 
 
 All applauded; and the father, leading the young 
 Bayard to the bishop, with tears in his eyes, said, “ I 
 give him to you, and pray God that wherever you place 
 him he may do you honour.” 
 
 Then the bishop sent to Grenoble for dresses for the 
 child, and all was ready by the next day, so that Bayard, 
 well equipped and mounted, presented himself before 
 the company with as good a grace as if he had been in 
 the presence of the Duke of Savoy. The horse, accus- 
 tomed to a heavy weight and feeling the spurs, gave 
 two or three alarming bounds, but the young chevalier 
 kept a firm seat and managed his horse with the skill of 
 a man of thirty. All were astonished at the courage of 
 a boy just free from the schoolroom, and mounted for 
 the first time. His father asked him if he felt no fear. 
 Bayard, with perfect coolness, answered, that he hoped 
 by God’s help to manage his horse among the enemies 
 of the prince he was going to serve. 
 
 His father took an affectionate leave of him, and his 
 mother, a pious, good woman, mixed her tears and her 
 kisses with wholesome advice, which sunk deeply into 
 the heart of the boy, and had who can tell what effect 
 upon the future life of her darling. She begged him, 
 above all, to serve God first, to pray to him night and 
 morning, to be kind and charitable to all, to beware of 
 flatterers and never become one himself, to avoid envy, 
 hatred, and lying, as vices unworthy of a Christian, and 
 to comfort widows and orphans. Bayard replied lovingly 
 and modestly ; and, provided with a purse and a little 
 trunk containing his linen, he and his uncle took their 
 way to Chambery, where they arrived the same day, 
 Bayard happier than he had ever been in his life before. 
 
4 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 The next day the prelate waited upon the duke , 1 who. 
 was rejoiced at his visit, esteeming him one of the most 
 virtuous and pious prelates of his time. The duke kept 
 a brilliant court, and had always been a faithful ally of 
 France. He received the uncle and nephew with all 
 signs of friendship, and pressed them to remain and dine 
 with him. They did so, and Bayard waited upon his 
 uncle at table with so much grace that the duke was 
 impressed with his manners, and asked the bishop who 
 the child was. 
 
 “ Sir,” said the old man, “ he is my nephew, whom 
 I have brought to present to you, if his services will be 
 of use to you.” 
 
 “ I accept him at once,” replied the duke ; “I should 
 indeed be difficult to please if I refused such a present.” 
 
 The young knight delighted at this, and, having been 
 previously instructed by his uncle what to do, did not 
 wait for dinner, but immediately went out and dressed 
 himself to appear advantageously before the duke. His 
 horse was beautifully caparisoned, and as he approached 
 the palace, where the duke was seated at a window, he 
 managed the mettlesome steed as well as if he had 
 passed all his life on horseback. 
 
 “My lord bishop,” said the duke, “is that your 
 nephew yonder, who rides so charmingly ? ” 
 
 “Yes, my lord,” replied the bishop, “ it is my nephew ; 
 he comes of a good family, and ’one which has produced 
 brave gentlemen and valiant knights. His father, over- 
 come with old age and covered with wounds, has not 
 been able to bring his son himself, so he has commissioned 
 me to do it for him.” 
 
 1 This was Charles I. son of Amedee IX. and Yolande 
 of France, daughter of Char’es VII. He had succeeded his 
 brother, Philibert I. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 5 
 
 “ I am only too happy to receive such a present,” said 
 the duke, “ and if he walk in the steps of his ancestors 
 I shall have abundant reason to thank you for your 
 gift.” 
 
 So Bayard was installed a member of the duke’s 
 household, where he applied himself so heartily to all 
 knightly exercises that he carried away the palm from 
 all his comrades ; he surpassed them in the dance, on 
 the lute, in passages of arms, and, more especially, in 
 horse exercise. He was so graceful, and manly, and 
 obliging to all, that the duke and duchess looked upon 
 him as their own son. 
 
 Six months after, the Duke of Savoy set out for 
 Lyons, where Charles VIII. had been for a year with 
 his court, and amused himself amongst other things with 
 tourneys, feasts, and balls given to the ladies of the 
 town, and even did them the honour to admit them to 
 his table. The king, hearing of the duke’s arrival, sent 
 the Count de Ligny 2 with a number of gentlemen and 
 a detachment of archers to meet him. They met them 
 at about two leagues from Lyons. The prince welcomed 
 heartily the Count de Ligny and the Lord d’ A.vesnes , 3 
 and all the other lords and gentlemen, whence they re- 
 turned together talking merrily on the way. The count 
 perceived the young Bayard in the procession, and was 
 so charmed with his horsemanship that he could not help 
 
 2 Louis of Luxembourg, son of Louis Count of Saint-Pol, 
 Constable of France, who was beheaded at Paris, the 19th of 
 December, 1475, for the crime of felony. 
 
 3 Gabriel d’Albret, Lord of Avesnes, brother of John d’Albret, 
 King of Navarre. John was the father of Jane d’Albret, 
 married to Antoine de Bourbon Vendome, by whom she became 
 the mother of Henry IV. in 1553. 
 
6 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 complimenting the duke upon it. The duke told him 
 that he was a nephew of the Bishop of Grenoble, and 
 still very young. He called to the boy and ordered 
 him to gallop, crying out, “ Spur, Bayard, spur ! ” Asking 
 no questions, young Bayard did as he was ordered, and 
 at the end of the run he brought the horse back curvet- 
 ing and bounding, but perfectly manageable. The count 
 again praised the youth, and said how glad the king 
 would be to have him in his service. The next day, at 
 the table the conversation turned upon the chase and 
 horses, from those the transition was easy to tourna- 
 ments, war, and gallantry. The Count de Ligny told the 
 king of the page of fourteen who was so brave a horse- 
 man, and said if his Majesty wished to see him he could 
 do so as he went to vespers at the abbey of Ainay. 
 Bayard was soon informed of this, when he hastened to 
 the Duke of Savoy’s groom and begged him to make 
 his horse look better than ever before. The groom, who 
 loved the boy, promised. Bayard went immediately to 
 dress himself, so that he might appear at his best, and 
 was ready when his friend the groom brought his horse. 
 This faithful servitor, who foresaw that Bayard was 
 about to change masters, said to him, “ My dear Bayard, 
 whatever satisfaction I may feel at your advancement, I 
 can but be grieved to lose you ; I understand that you 
 are going to pass into the service of the King of France ; 
 you cannot wish for anything more advantageous, nor 
 for a better occasion to make a name and a fortune.” 
 The hour for parting having arrived, they mounted 
 on horseback, Bayard’s horse being groomed fit for the 
 king himself. They reached the meadows of Ainay, 
 where the king and his suite arrived by water, a short 
 time after, and the king had scarcely landed when 
 he perceived the groom and the knight on horseback. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 7 
 
 “Page, my friend,” cried he, “give the spur!” The other 
 pages repeated, “ Spur, spur ! ” Which he did with as 
 much skill and grace as if he had had thirty years’ expe- 
 rience. And from the word piquez , spur, Bayard got 
 his surname of Piquet, by which he was known for a 
 long time after. The king was charmed with the 
 young page, as the duke had been before him, and com- 
 mitted him to the care of the Count de Ligny, who was 
 delighted with the acquisition. He placed him among 
 his pages, and at the end of three years, when Bayard 
 was seventeen, the count made him a man-at-arms in 
 his company, and gentleman of his house, with three 
 hundred livres a year. 
 
 The Duke of Savoy remained at Lyons several days ; 
 and during his stay a nobleman named Claude de Vau- 
 dray, of the province of Burgundy, asked the king’s 
 permission to give a tournament for the young nobility. 
 This tourney was to consist of horse-racing, and of com- 
 bats on foot and on horseback, with lances and battle- 
 axes. The king, who loved all these symbols of war, 
 easily granted permission, and the Lord of Vaudray 4 
 attached his coat-of-arms to a post, so that any gentle- 
 man who wished to enter into the lists could touch it 
 and afterwards give his name to the king-at-arms of the 
 tourney. Bayard, who had been a man-at-arms for 
 some days, passed with one of his comrades before the 
 post, and remained silent before it, tempted to add his 
 name to the list. “Alas ! ” said he, “ if I only knew how 
 
 4 Marechal de Gie. His arms were per pale, gules, and ar- 
 gent. This house, a very illustrious one in the county of 
 Burgundy, had for its device, “ J’ai valu, vaux, et vaudrai,” — 
 1 have been worth, I am worth, I shall be worth; in allusion 
 to three territories belonging to it, Yaux, Yalu. and Vaudray. 
 
8 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 to obtain what is necessary to fit me for the combat, I 
 would willingly touch these escutcheons.” 
 
 His comrade, named Bellabre , 4 5 a gentleman like him- 
 self belonging to the household of the Count de Ligny, 
 surprised at his sudden fit of musing, asked him the 
 cause. 
 
 “Ah, my friend,” replied Bayard, “ my hand is long- 
 ing to touch that shield, but when I have done so, who 
 is to provide me with horses and necessary accoutre- 
 ments ? ” 
 
 Bellabre, a little older and more worldly-wise than he, 
 said to him, “ Why trouble yourself about that, my 
 friend ; haven’t you an uncle in the neighbourhood, the 
 Abbot of Ainay ? 6 If you like, we will go together and 
 pay him a visit, and if he refuse to give you money, 
 why, I’ll seize crosier and mitre, and anything else I can 
 lay my hands upon.” 
 
 “No, no, my friend,” said Bayard, “let us respect 
 the church and her ministers.” 
 
 “ I hope,” replied Bellabre, “ that we shall not have 
 to resort to violence ; when your uncle knows what you 
 require, and that the king is your friend, he will be 
 generous enough, depend upon it.” 
 
 Bayard, encouraged by his friend, hesitated no 
 longer, but immediately advanced and touched the 
 escutcheons. 
 
 The king-at-arms, Mountjoy, who was placed there 
 
 4 Pierre de Pocqui&res, Lord of Bellabre, of Limousin. He 
 
 was all his life Bayard’s friend, and followed him in most of 
 his campaigns. 
 
 6 The Abbot of Ainay was not Bayard’s uncle ; he was three 
 or four degrees removed. His name was Theodore Terrail. He 
 held his abbey forty-eight years, and died there in 1505. . His 
 tomb may still be seen in the centre of the nave. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 9 
 
 to receive the names of the combatants, was astonished 
 at the boldness of the young man, and said to him, 
 “ Why, Piquet, you are only a child yet, and do you 
 mean to put yourself against the Lord of Yaudray, who 
 is one of the boldest knights in Christendom ?” 
 
 “Mountjoy,” replied Bayard, “if I have touched 
 that shield, believe me it is neither pride nor vain- 
 glory that has prompted me. I wish to learn the 
 glorious profession of arms from those who are capable 
 of giving me lessons, and, God helping me, I hope to 
 acquit myself to the satisfaction of the ladies.” 
 
 The king-at-arms smiled ; he could not help admiring 
 the resolution and wisdom of the youngster of seven-, 
 teen. Soon all the town knew that Bayard was to take 
 part in the approaching tourney. The report reached the 
 ears of the Count de Ligny, who was overjoyed, and went 
 to tell the good news to the king. The king was equally 
 charmed, and said to the count, “ My cousin, I have 
 presented you with a pupil who will gain you honour.” 
 
 “ I hope, sire,” replied the count, “ that he will come 
 well out of this affair ; but he is very young to measure 
 himself against this Lord of Yaudray.” 
 
 But the most difficult part of the preparations was 
 still to be gone through ; money was necessary to a 
 splendid appearance. “I don’t know,” said Bayard to 
 Bellabre, “ how to approach the Abbot of Ainay if you 
 do not introduce the subject. I am sure that if my 
 uncle the Bishop of Grenoble were at home he would 
 give me anything I wanted, but unfortunately he is at 
 the Abbey of Saint Saturnin, at Toulouse ; even if I 
 wrote to him there is no time to wait for an answer.” 
 
 “ Be easy,” replied Bellabre, “ we will visit the abbot, 
 to-morrow, and I promise you to get the money from 
 him.” 
 
10 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 The next day the two friends crossed the Saone to 
 Ainay. They had hardly disembarked when the first 
 man they saw was the abbot himself, reading, in a meadow. 
 They approached him respectfully ; but the abbot, who 
 had already heard what had passed, and who guessed 
 what this visit meant, did not receive them very cor- 
 dially, and asked Bayard how he came to be so absurd 
 as to touch the shield of M. Claude of Yaudray. 
 
 “Three days ago,” said the old man, “you were a 
 page, you are hardly eighteen years old ; you deserve a 
 good whipping for showing so much vanity.” 
 
 “ My dear uncle,” modestly replied the knight, “ I 
 protest that vanity has nothing whatever to do with 
 this. I have no other design than to show myself worthy 
 of the honour of belonging to you and a house in which 
 valour has always been hereditary ; so I beg you, sir, to 
 help me with money. You know that I have neither 
 relation nor friend near but yourself to whom I can 
 apply.” 
 
 “ My faith,” replied the abbot, severely enough, “you 
 must beg elsewhere; the wealth of the church has been 
 given for prayers to God, and not to supply money for 
 tourneys.” 
 
 Then Bellabre spoke. “ Sir, without the merit and 
 valour of your ancestors you would not be Abbot of 
 Ainay. You are under an obligation to them for the 
 glory they have acquired, and to their name which you 
 bear. You owe them gratitude, and how can you pay 
 the debt better than by doing good to your nephew ? 
 Up to this time he has done you credit; he is a favourite 
 of the king and of the count our master, who has already 
 made him a man-at-arms in his company. The king, 
 even, knows he is to fight ; and you ought to be 
 charmed with his spirit of emulation, and do all in your 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 ii 
 
 power to contribute to his advancement. Perhaps it will 
 cost you two hundred crowns to equip him, and in 
 return he will gain you honour to the amount of ten 
 thousand.” 
 
 The abbot replied, and Bellabre once more answered 
 him so well that the uncle finally consented to assist 
 his nephew. He accompanied the young men to his 
 house, and, taking a purse from a cabinet, he took a 
 hundred crowns, and gave them to Bellabre, saying, 
 “ Young gentleman, take care of this money, and buy 
 two horses for this brave soldier ; his beard is still too 
 young for me to trust him with it. I will send word to 
 Laurencin to furnish him with all necessary garments.” 
 
 “ I thank you for him,” said Bellabre, “ and for my 
 own part, reckon on my gratitude ; we will not forget 
 to talk about your kindness.” 
 
 The abbot then wrote to the merchant to furnish the 
 young man with the stuffs necessary for him to appear 
 honourably at the tourney. The two friends, armed 
 with the letter, immediately went to the merchant to 
 whom it was addressed, and each one bought three 
 similar suits, for Bayard wished his friend to appear 
 there with his money, for they were such good friends 
 that one had nothing that he did not share with the 
 other. Only horses were wanting now. An occasion 
 soon presented itself. A Piedmontese gentleman, who 
 had only been at Lyons a few days, had fallen and 
 broken his leg. He had two horses, which he deter- 
 mined to sell instead of feeding them and getting no 
 work in return. Bellabre, who heard of this circum- 
 stance, spoke of it to his friend and took him to the 
 sick gentleman’s apartments, with whom the bargain was 
 easily concluded. They tried the horses first, after 
 which the price was fixed at a hundred and ten crowns 
 
12 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 for the two. The money was paid, and two crowns given 
 to the grooms who led the animals to the stables of their 
 new masters. 
 
 There were now only three days before the tourna- 
 ment, which Bayard and his friend employed in be- 
 coming acquainted with the tempers of their new steeds. 
 
 The tournament commenced on Monday, the 20th 
 July, 1494. The Lord of Yaudray distinguished him- 
 self and did marvels; also Jacques Galyot de Genouillac, 
 Lord of Aster, Seneschal of Armagnac, who was afterwards 
 Grand Equerry of France, and Grand Master of the Artil- 
 lery ; Germain de Bonneval, Louis de Hedouville, Lord of 
 Sandricourt; the Lord of Chatillon, of the house ofCo- 
 ligny ; the Lord of Bourdillon, and a number of others ; 
 most of them honoured with the king’s friendship. It had 
 been ordered that each one, after fighting, should go round 
 the lists with his face uncovered, that the spectators 
 might judge whether he had fought well or ill. 
 
 The knight Bayard, then in his eighteenth year, still 
 weak and delicate in appearance, took his place in the 
 lists and struck his first blow, which was considered too 
 bold for one so young. Whether for this reason the 
 Lord of Yaudray favoured him, or whether his skill and 
 strength conquered, certain it is that the majority of 
 votes were for him, and the ladies especially, in their 
 patois, praised him loudly, and said that he had done 
 better than all the others. 
 
 The king was charmed as well as his people, and said 
 to the count at supper, “By the faith of my body, cousin 
 de Ligny, Piquet has given us to-day a foretaste of what 
 he will be as a man. He is the best present I ever made 
 you in my life.” 
 
 “ Sire,” replied the count, “ the honour will redound 
 to your Majesty, and to that thought he owes the glory 
 that his achievements have thrown over him ” 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *3 
 
 About a year after the tournament the Count de Ligny 
 took Bayard aside, told him that, in addition to his place 
 of page-in-waiting, he had put him in his company of 
 artillery. He then sent the overjoyed young man away 
 to join his comrades, saying, “ You will find among them 
 some of the most valiant men in France, daily practising 
 warlike exercises, and you cannot do better than remain 
 with them till war demands your services.” 
 
 Bayard was overjoyed ; he thanked the count with 
 his whole heart, for, as he said, “ the greatest favour 
 he had ever received.” He begged permission to start, 
 the next day, and, having obtained it, went with his 
 master to take leave of the king. The king was just 
 leaving table. 
 
 “ Sire,” said the count, “ your Piquet has come to bid 
 your Majesty farewell before joining his companions in 
 Picardy.” 
 
 Bayard fell on one knee before the king with a modest 
 yet self-possessed air. The prince looked at him gra- 
 ciously and said, “ Piquet, my friend, may God continue 
 in you what I have seen begun ; may you grow up a 
 brave man. You are going into a country where beau- 
 tiful ladies abound, do all you can to gain their good 
 graces ; and now, my friend, good-bye ! ” 
 
 Bayard thanked the king with respect, and then took 
 an affectionate leave of the princes and of his comrades. 
 The king, calling one of the valets-de-chambre, ordered 
 him to give the knight three hundred crowns, and added 
 to the present one of his finest horses. Bayard, out of 
 gratitude, gave thirty crowns to the valet-de-chambre, 
 and ten to the groom who brought the horse. This first 
 act of generosity increased the esteem of those who 
 heard of it. As Bayard was to set off early the next- 
 morning the count bade him adieu overnight and coun- 
 selled him with the affection of a father, recommending 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 14 
 
 him to keep in the paths of religion, honour, and virtue. 
 Bayard kissed his hand, and moistened it with his tears, 
 and then took his final leave, followed by the gentlemen 
 and officers of the household, who embraced him ten- 
 derly and assured him of their sorrow at his departure. 
 At the same moment the count’s tailor brought him two 
 rich suits of clothes, by his master’s orders, and a groom 
 arrived with the finest horse from the count’s stables 
 completely harnessed. The knight, surprised at so many 
 presents added to those he had already received, gave 
 the tailor twenty crowns, and the groom ten, begging 
 them to thank their master for him, as he did not feel 
 equal to the task. 
 
 At daybreak he sent off his six best horses, after them 
 his carriages, and he himself followed with his remaining 
 horses. Bellabre, his friend and companion, could not 
 accompany him to his destination as he was awaiting the 
 arrival of two horses from Spain ; but he went several 
 miles with him, and promised to rejoin him soon. 
 
 Bayard journeyed by easy stages to keep his horses 
 fresh ; and when he was about six miles from Aire in 
 Picardy, he sent an attendant forward to prepare his 
 lodging. As soon as his comrades heard of his approach, 
 they came out to meet him on horseback to the number 
 of a hundred and twenty, thinking they could not show 
 too much honour to a man so well thought of by their 
 king and their captain. They met at about a mile and 
 a half from the town, and having greeted each other 
 with expressions of esteem, they conducted him in 
 triumph to their quarters. Many ladies were at their 
 windows, for they had heard so much of the virtues, the 
 wisdom, and the high-mindedness of Bayard, that they 
 were impatient to see him. 
 
 Part of the company remained and took supper with 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 15 
 
 the new comer, and his success at the tournament was 
 the principal subject of conversation at the meal. 
 
 “ Friends and companions,” said Bayard, with his usual 
 modesty, “ I have not had time to deserve the praises 
 that you are lavishing upon me ; but, by God’s help, and 
 following in your steps, I hope one day to be worth the 
 name of soldier.” 
 
 One of the company named Tardieu, a merry good- 
 humoured fellow, and a thorough lover of pleasure, ad- 
 dressed himself in his jovial manner to Bayard : “ Com- 
 rade,” said he, “ I hope you haven’t come to the garrison 
 without a well-filled purse, because the ladies in these 
 parts are very fond of tournaments, and they have not 
 had the pleasure of seeing one for a long time. Give 
 them one eight or ten days hence.” 
 
 “ If you will undertake to obtain the commander’s per- 
 mission, and send me the herald,” said Bayard, “ it shall 
 be as you wish, my friend ; it will give me even more 
 pleasure than you.” 
 
 Tardieu felt certain that the captain, Louis d’Ars , 7 
 would not withhold his consent. However, it was time 
 for the party to separate, and they did so, promising to 
 meet again early the next day. 
 
 Tardieu was the first to arrive; he entered saying, 
 “ Comrade, here is your herald, now you can settle 
 everything.” 
 
 Although the knight, fatigued with a long march, had 
 required rest, he sat up the greater part of the night 
 writing the proclamation, which was ready when Tardieu 
 entered. It was to this import, that — “ Pierre Bayard, a 
 gentleman of Dauphiny, in the service of the high and 
 
 7 One of the most illustrious captains of his time. He was a 
 native of Dauphiny, a relation and neighbour of Bayard. 
 
16 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 mighty lord, Count de Ligny, lately initiated into the 
 mysteries of war, publishes a tournament for the 20th of 
 July, outside and close to the walls of the town of Aire, 
 to all comers, to fight with lances without lists, and on 
 horseback ; the prize for the conqueror to be a gold 
 bracelet enamelled with his arms, of the weight of thirty 
 crowns — that the next day will be fought a combat with 
 lances on foot, and after the lances are broken an assault 
 with battle-axes, the prize for which will be a diamond 
 of the value of forty crowns.” Tardieu highly approved 
 of the proclamation, and vowed that Launcelot, Tristram, 
 and Gawain were not to be compared to Bayard. They 
 gave it to the herald, and bade him proclaim it in that 
 town, and in all the garrisons in the province. For in 
 those days there were a great many companies of brave 
 knights, who all heard of the approaching tournament. 
 All those who wished to take part in it hastened to Aire ; 
 and, notwithstanding the shortness of the notice, they 
 arrived to the number of forty or fifty. 
 
 In the interval the valiant captain Louis d’ Ars arrived, 
 glad to be there in time for the tournament. As soon 
 as Bayard knew he had come, he went to pay his respects 
 to him, and was received in the most flattering manner. 
 To heighten his joy his good friend Bellabre arrived the 
 day after his commander, and had a flattering reception 
 from every one. Then there were nothing but fetes and 
 balls, where Bayard showed so much grace, and prudence, 
 and generosity, that the ladies of the town, and those of 
 the province, could do nothing but praise him ; they 
 unanimously gave him the preference, curiously enough, 
 without making him vain, or his companions jealous. 
 
 At last the day arrived, Louis d’Ars, and the Lord of 
 St. Quentin, captain of the Scotch guards, were appointed 
 umpires. The number of combatants was forty-six, 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 17 
 
 •whom the judges divided into two parties of twenty- 
 three against twenty-three. This done, and the com- 
 batants being ready to enter the lists, the herald sounded 
 his trumpet and published distinctly the order of the 
 tournament. Then the knight appeared first on the 
 scene, and Aymond de Salvaing, lord of Boisseau, 8 his 
 cousin, was the first opponent who presented himself; 
 this man was surnamed “the Tartar,” as Bayard was called 
 “ Piquet,” according to the custom of the times. They 
 ran one against another so furiously that Boisseau broke 
 his lance short in two, and Bayard awaited him on 
 guard and shivered his lance in pieces. Immediately 
 two trumpets sounded to announce this brave assault. 
 Bayard finally conquered. After them came Bellabre, 
 and a Scotch captain named David of Fougas. The 
 Tartar, the captain David, the Bastard of Chimay, Tar- 
 dieu, 9 Bayard, and his friend Bellabre were amongst the 
 most successful combatants. 
 
 At the end of the day Bayard, who had prepared a 
 magnificent supper, invited those who had taken part in 
 the .tournament, and a number of ladies. The repast 
 was followed by dances and other amusements until one 
 o’clock in the morning, when everyone retired. The 
 next day, according to the order of the tournament, they 
 began again ; and after attending mass, as it was Sunday, 
 they dined with the lord of St. Quentin. The meal was 
 not of long duration, for as the clocks struck two the 
 
 8 Aymond de Salvaing was the grandson of Catherine Serrail, 
 the aunt of Bayard. 
 
 9 John of Tardieu, a gentleman of Rouergue. He was a man- 
 at-arms in the company of the Count of Lignv before Bayard, 
 in connection with whom he will be met with several times in 
 this history. 
 
 C 
 
SFOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 1 8 
 
 trumpet called the combatants to the barrier. The 
 umpires, the lords, and ladies being placed, Bayard en- 
 tered first as on the previous day ; his adversary was 
 Harmotin de Saker, a gentleman of Hainault ; Bayard 
 soon forced him on his knees, and then the judges called 
 out, “ enough, enough ! ” 
 
 After them Bellabre entered the lists against Arnaul- 
 ton de Pierrefdrade, Tardieu fought against David of 
 Fougas, and the whole company declared that they had 
 never seen so many skilful brave men assembled at one 
 tournament. After the supper, to which they repaired 
 at the close of the tournament, the question was to be 
 decided as to who should receive the prizes. The judges 
 took the opinions of the company — first the ladies were 
 appealed to, and begged to say frankly and without par- 
 tiality who they thought had distinguished himself the 
 most. All voices, gentlemen’s and ladies’, were raised 
 in favour of Bayard ; and St. Quentin, after the trumpet 
 had sounded for silence, handed the jewels to the young 
 knight to give them to whomsoever he thought most de- 
 serving after himself. Amidst the praises of the com- 
 pany he awarded one to his friend Bellabre, and the 
 other to the Scotch captain, David of Fougas. 
 
 During the two years that elapsed from Bayard’s 
 arrival in Picardy, till the departure of the king for the 
 kingdom of Naples, he frequently gave tournaments, in 
 the greater number of which he came off victorious. 
 He gained universal esteem and friendship, and the 
 ladies were never tired of praising his prudence and 
 numerous virtues. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 N 1494, Charles VIII. determined to claim, 
 by force of arms, the rights he had upon the 
 kingdom of Naples. He entered Italy at 
 the head of a large army, traversed the 
 country without interruption, and on the thirty-first of 
 December, with the whole of his troops, entered Rome 
 by torchlight, and with the lance in rest. He there did 
 several acts of sovereignty ; appointed some criminals to 
 be executed and pardoned others, while Pope Alexander 
 YI, famous for his crimes, not being able to oppose the 
 king, retired to the Castle of Saint Angelo. The king 
 forced him from his retreat and compelled him to crown 
 him Emperor of Constantinople and King of Naples ; 
 afterwards he set out to make the kingdom submit, 
 leaving for viceroy Gilbert, Count of Montpensier, a 
 prince of the blood royal. 
 
 The Count of Ligny, who followed the king in this 
 expedition, took Bayard with him, not only because he 
 liked him, but because he wished to give him an oppor- 
 tunity to distinguish himself. 
 
 The king, after a glorious campaign, left a large 
 part of his army to guard his newly -acquired kingdom, 
 and went back to France with less than 10,000 men. 
 
20 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 On his road, near Fornova, 1 iie was unexpectedly attacked 
 by an army of 60,000 men, composed of the pope’s troops, 
 of Venetians, and of the soldiers of the Duke of Milan 
 and other Italian princes. Their design was to surprise, 
 defeat, and carry the king away. A prize of 100,000 
 ducats was promised to the man who brought him to 
 the camp, dead or alive. Six ducats were moreover 
 offered for every Frenchman’s head ; but heaven ordered 
 it otherwise. 
 
 Charles, although compelled to fight with such a 
 handful of troops, gained a complete victory; 2 10,000 
 of his enemies were left upon the field, and he only lost 
 700 of his men; the slaughter would doubtless have 
 been greater, but the sudden rising of a small river 
 hindered the king from profiting by his success. 3 The 
 enemy lost almost all their generals, especially the Ve- 
 netians ; many nobles of the house of Mantua perished, 
 and the marquis himself owed his life to his spurs and 
 the swiftness of his horse. Bayard, who was in the king’s 
 army, in De Ligny’s company, distinguished himself more 
 than any one, and had two horses killed under him. 
 He took an ensign from fifty men-at-arms and presented 
 
 1 A town in the Duchy of Parma, three leagues south of that 
 city. 
 
 2 Amongst the gentlemen who fought at Fornova were a 
 number of lords of Dauphiny with their companies, all composed 
 of the nobility of the province; but as it would take too much 
 space to enumerate them all, we will only mention the Serrails, 
 Allemans, Sassenages, Clermonts and others who acquitted 
 themselves with much valour. 
 
 3 The approach of night forced the combatants to separate, 
 the king being resolved to finish on the morrow what he had so 
 well begun ; but, in the interval, a stream which divided the 
 two camps rose to the height of seven feet and overflowed, 
 saving, no doubt, the remains of the combined armv. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 21 
 
 it to the king, who, already informed of the courageous 
 ardour that he had shown in this action, granted him 
 500 crowns. It was in this battle that Jacques de Cize- 
 de-Chambarau fought, a gentleman of Dauphiny, whose 
 whole family, both male and female, were of gigantic 
 height. He was then one of the king’s guards, and his 
 family became extinct in Henry IY.’s reign. 
 
 Charles, after his glorious exploits at Fornova, ad- 
 vanced to Verceil, where he found a considerable body 
 of Swiss ready to help him; he raised the siege of No- 
 varra, where Ludovic Sforza, calling himself Duke of 
 Milan, kept besieged, Louis Duke of Orleans, afterwards 
 Louis XII. The nobility of Dauphiny, who had done 
 such wonders in the last battle, signalized themselves 
 before Novarra, but they lost three of their number, 
 Peter of Sassenage, Charles Alleman (Bayard’s uncle), 
 and Barachim Alleman, his cousin-german, Lord of 
 Rochechinard, Knight of Malta, and Grand Prior of 
 Provence. 
 
 The king, after these expeditions, returned to France 
 and went to Lyons, where his queen, Anne, and his 
 sister, the Duchess of Bourbon, 4 had arrived on their 
 way to meet him. Arrived, with all his Court, at Paris, 
 he visited the tombs of his ancestors at St. Denis, as if 
 he had foreseen that, although only twenty-six, it would 
 not be long before he joined them. The next two years 
 he passed in visiting his kingdom, showing his sub- 
 jects a shining example both of religion and morality. 
 Finally, he went to Amboise, where he heard of the 
 general revolt of the kingdom of Naples, the triumphal 
 entry of Frederic, the death of the Count of Mont- 
 pensier, and the forced return of his troops. He 
 
 4 Anne of France, wife of Peter of Bourbon, lord of Beaujeu. 
 
22 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 resolved to return in person for the reduction of this 
 kingdom, and set out in September, 1497, for Lyons, 
 but he only got as far as Tours ; he returned to Am- 
 boise to pass the winter there, and died suddenly in the 
 month of April following, watching a game of tennis, 
 aged only twenty-eight years. His four children, by 
 Anne of Brittany, died before him. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 [ 1498 .] 
 
 HARLES VIII. having died without children, 
 his brother-in-law, Louis, the Duke of Or- 
 leans , 1 succeeded him. He had married 
 Charles’s sister Jane, but was speedily di- 
 vorced from her. The pope having proclaimed the 
 marriage null, the lady retired to the Duchy of Berry, 
 which the king gave her, and died seven years after in 
 the odour of sanctity. Louis, having settled the divorce, 
 married the queen dowager, Anne of Bretagne . 2 
 
 V' hile the new king was attending to the internal 
 affairs of the country, Bayard was visiting his friends in 
 Savoy, in the house of the duke where he had been r 
 
 1 He was then thirty-six years old, and was the son of 
 Charles, Duke of Orleans, whose father, Louis I, brother of 
 Charles YI, had married Valentine of Milan, from whom he 
 derived his right to the duchy. The mother of Louis XII. 
 was Maria of Cleves. 
 
 2 “ Whether it (the divorce) were ill or well done, God 
 knows,” says the Loyal Servant. Anne’s marriage contract with 
 Charles VIII. contained this singular clause, that in case she 
 became a widow she could only marry the king’s successor; this 
 was done to render more sure the union of her duchy of Bretagne 
 with the crown of France. 
 
24 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 page. Chaiies I, his old master, whose memory was 
 still dear to him, was dead, and his widow, Blanche 
 Pateologue, the heiress of Mont-Serrat (daughter of 
 William VI. and Elizabeth Sforza) was at Carignan in 
 Piedmont, which had been given to her as dowry. She 
 was a virtuous and generous princess, and had always 
 entertained as much friendship for Bayard as the late 
 duke, her husband. Her Court was as brilliant as any 
 in Europe, and strangers were received there with royal 
 magnificence. The wife of the Lord of Fluxas, who 
 was the superintendent of the duchess’s house, was one 
 of her maids when Bayard first entered the house as 
 page to the duke. She was beautiful, witty, vir- 
 tuous, and belonged to a good family. Bayard was 
 endowed with the same advantages, and a friendship 
 commenced between the young people, which soon 
 ripened into love. And, if fate had been propitious, they 
 would doubtless have been united in marriage ; but the 
 duke’s journey to Lyons and the entrance of Bayard 
 into the king’s service separated them so entirely that 
 from that time until his present visit they had only 
 communicated by letter. He found her advantageously 
 married to the rich and powerful Lord of Fluxas. 
 When she saw the knight she received him with every 
 sign of friendship. She had heard of his exploits and 
 congratulated him upon them, and they talked over 
 their boy and girl passion for each other. She finally 
 asked Bayard to give a tournament, to which he im- 
 mediately consented, and said it should be in a few 
 days. Bayard kissed the lady’s hand, and asked her 
 for one of her sleeves. The lady gave it him and he 
 put it into the sleeve of his doublet, intending it for 
 the victor’s prize. The herald proclaimed the tourna- 
 ment, and brought the names of fifteen gentlemen 
 
LIFE OF FAFAllD. 
 
 i 
 
 2 5 
 
 who promised to be there. The day having arrived, 
 Bayard and the Lord of Ronastre first entered the lists ; 
 Bayard was victorious. The tournament lasted all day, 
 and at the close of it the Lord of Fluxas, by the 
 duchess's commands, invited all the gentlemen to sup- 
 per with her, and while at table tne judges awarded the 
 prize to Bayard. Bayard blushed, and refused it. He 
 said that the lady who provided the sleeve :1 should give 
 the prize. She said she would keep the sleeve herself 
 for the sake of the victor, and as he refused to receive 
 the prize she gave a ruby pendant to the Lord Mon- 
 dragon, who, next to Bayard, had been the most suc- 
 cessful combatant The prize was then delivered and 
 the customary ball began ; the gaieties were continued 
 four or five days, after which each gentleman returned 
 to his garrison. The duchess was overjoyed to see her 
 quondam page so generally esteemed and respected, and 
 so beloved that no one was jealous of him. 
 
 A short time after, Ludovic Sforza, who had retired 
 to Germany, had raised a considerable army there 
 of Swiss and Burgundians, and a fine body of German 
 cavalry. With these troops he entered Lombardy, and 
 on the 3rd of J anuary he surprised the town of Milan, 
 and drove the French from it. Following the example 
 of the capital, several other towns submitted to Sforza, 
 and the king, hearing of the fresh revolt, sent a powerful 
 army under the orders of the Count of Ligny and De 
 Trivulce, to reduce the rebels to subjection. 
 
 Bayard had remained in Italy, by permission of the 
 Count of Ligny. He believed that Ludovic would 
 
 3 M. de Berville has ^ bracelet” here, while the “ right 
 joyous history” reads sleeve, which is more in keeping with the 
 manners of the time ; it was probably the heraldic manche worn 
 still as a charge in coats of arms. 
 
26 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 soon return and cause more trouble than on his first 
 campaign, in which Bayard had not taken part. His 
 ardent wish to excel in his profession kept him con- 
 tinually on the watch for occasions to distinguish him- 
 self and serve his prince. He was in garrison then, 
 twenty miles from Milan, where he passed the time with 
 his comrades in military exercises. One day he was 
 informed that there were three hundred horse in Binasco 
 that might be easily defeated. He spoke of it to his 
 companions who were only too glad to join him in 
 undertaking it ; so they set off early the next morning 
 to the number of about fifty officers to try the adven- 
 ture. Jean Bernardin Cazache, the captain on the 
 other side, who commanded in Binasco, was brave and ' 
 alert. He learnt from his spies that a French party 
 was coming to attack them. As soon as the two troops 
 perceived each other they commenced the fight, the war- 
 cry on the one side being “ France ! France ! ” and on 
 the other, “ Moor ! Moor ! ” The charge was brisk, and 
 a great many were thrown from their horses, and others 
 with great difficulty retained their seats. But Bayard 
 seemed like a furious lion. He made the heads and arms 
 fly with unparalleled dexterity and rapidity. Seeing that, 
 after an hour’s fighting, the victory was not yet decided 
 in his favour, he cried out, “ What, my companions ! 
 shall we let this handful of men keep us here all day ? 
 Courage, my friends, let us redouble our blows, and 
 overturn them.” These words reanimated his men; 
 each one felt a new ardour, and again crying, “France ! 
 France!” they fell upon their enemies with such impe- 
 tuosity that they drove them from the place. The 
 French followed them four or five miles towards Milan ; 
 but the Lombardians, finding themselves near the 
 town, turned their horses and thus saved themselves, 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 27 
 
 tlie French still chasing them. When the French were 
 near the walls, one of the principal and the most expe- 
 rienced, seeing the danger, cried, “ Turn, men-at-arms, 
 turn ! ” Every one obeyed except Bayard, who was 
 too excited to hear. He pursued the fugitives with so 
 much ardour that he entered Milan with them and 
 chased them as far as the king’s palace. The white 
 crosses that he wore soon caused him to be recognized as 
 a Frenchman, and the people cried out, “Take him! 
 Take him ! ” He was surrounded in a moment, and 
 taken prisoner by Cazache, who took him and disarmed 
 him. He was surprised to see one only twenty-four 
 years old giving signs of such extraordinary valour. 
 
 Ludovic, hearing the noise and the uproar, asked 
 the cause : they told him of the defeat of the captain 
 Cazache, and that a young Frenchman had pursued 
 the fugitives even to the palace. He was curious to 
 see him, and commanded him to be brought. Cazache 
 was told to present himself with his prisoner before Lu- 
 dovic ; he was afraid that Ludcvic would be in a fury, 
 and cause him to be assassinated. 
 
 “ My good gentleman,” said Ludovic to the knight, 
 “ come here, and tell me what has brought you to this 
 town.” 
 
 Bayard, who was never astonished at anything, 
 freely replied, “ I had no idea that I was alone ; I 
 thought my companions were behind me ; but they are 
 wiser than I, and more used to the ways of war, or 
 they would undoubtedly have been made prisoners as 
 well as myself. In the meantime, in my disgrace, I 
 thank heaven that I have fallen into such good hands as 
 yours.” 
 
 Ludovic then asked him the number of the French 
 army. 
 
28 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 “ Sir,” replied Bayard, “ I do not think that there 
 are more than 1400 or 1500 men-at-arms, and from 
 16,000 to 18,000 foot soldiers, but they are all picked 
 men, and resolved to make the duchy of Milan submit 
 at once and for ever to the king their master ; and for 
 you, sir, I assure you, you will be safer in Germany than 
 here, for your men cannot possibly resist us.” 
 
 The duke appeared amused at the certainty with 
 which Bayard spoke, but it gave him something to 
 think of. Nevertheless, he hid his fears under a show 
 of bravery, and gave the young knight to understand 
 that he wished for nothing more ardently than a meet- 
 ing between his troops and those of the king of France. 
 
 Bayard replied that nothing would give him greater 
 pleasure also, provided he were not in prison. 
 
 “ Set your mind at rest,” said the prince, “ it is my 
 intention to set you free. Ask anything you like of 
 me, and I will grant it you.” 
 
 The knight had not expected such generosity. He 
 knelt on one knee to thank him. “ Sir,” said he, “ the 
 greatest favour I can ask of you is to restore my arms 
 and my horse, and allow me a guide to the garrison 
 twenty miles distant ; and, believe me, I shall always be 
 ready to serve you, if I can do so in honour to my king 
 and to my country.” 
 
 The duke ordered Cazache to restore his arms and 
 horse, which that noble officer was only too ready to do. 
 The horse having arrived, Bayard vaulted into the 
 saddle with his usual grace and agility, and again thank- 
 ing the duke for his generosity, departed with the 
 guide. 
 
 Ludovic was far from rejoiced at what had happened. 
 Although he admired the courage and sang-froid of 
 Bayard, he naturally thought that if all the men of the 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 29 
 
 French army were like him, he himself would not be 
 likely to prove victorious. 
 
 On Bayard’s arrival at the camp, he presented himself 
 to his general, the Count of Ligny, who was much 
 astonished to see him. “ What, Piquet ! ” said he, “ are 
 you out of prison? Have you paid your ransom? I 
 was about to send a herald to pay it, and bring you 
 back.” 
 
 “ Sir,” replied Bayard, “ I thank you sincerely, as I 
 ought. Ludovic has spared you the trouble, and proved 
 himself a rival in generosity even to yourself — he has 
 allowed me to return without ransom.” He then related 
 to him and a crowd of officers who were present the 
 whole of the adventure from first to last ; and, in reply 
 to the Lord Jean Jacques, who asked him if he thought 
 Ludovic would risk battle, he replied that Ludovic had 
 not given him to understand as much as that, but that 
 he was a man not easily astonished, and one for whom 
 they must be always ready. “As for me,” he continued, 
 “I can only praise him; and all I know is, that the 
 greater part of his men are in Novarra, and that to do 
 anything he must either join them or order them to 
 come to him.” 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 E have previously said that Ludovic had 
 entered into Milan, but that the citadel 
 still remained in the possession of the 
 French. When he saw the king’s army so 
 near him, he was afraid of being hemmed in between it 
 and the citadel, so he went away secretly in the night to 
 Novarra, taking almost all his followers, and leaving 
 the rest in Milan, with his brother, the cardinal. Just 
 at this critical juncture, La Tremouille joined the Count 
 of Ligny and Trivulce, and they resolved to attack 
 Ludovic in Novarra. Ludovic’s troops were strong in 
 number, but composed of Burgundians, Swiss, Lansque- 
 nets, and German cavalry. They were, in consequence 
 of their variety, difficult to govern. Thus, in a few 
 days, the town fell into the hands of the French gene- 
 rals. This happened the Friday before Palm Sunday. 
 
 It was reported that the prince was not in the town, 
 and that he had escaped to Germany. Whether he was 
 betrayed or not is not certain ; it was ordered that the 
 foot-soldiers should pass under the halberd, and Ludovic, 
 pressing amongst these in the dress of a common soldier, 
 was recognized and made prisoner, set free on parole , 1 
 
 1 Ludovic Sforza was carried prisoner into France, at first to 
 Pierre-Encise, at Lyons; afterwards to Lis-St. -George’s, at 
 Berry; and, finally, to the castle of Loches in Touraine, where 
 he died in 1510. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 3i 
 
 and the rest of his army were allowed to march away. 
 Ludovie Sforza, with bag and baggage, was conveyed to 
 France, and, after being a prisoner at Lyons, in Berri, 
 and in Touraine, successively, died in 1510. It is very 
 certain that, before the engagement, the Swiss had 
 mutinied, either because their pay was irregular or at 
 the instigation of Antoine de Bessai, 2 Grand Bailiff of 
 Dijon, who was in great repute amongst them. It has 
 also been hazarded that they would not fight against 
 their numerous countrymen in the king’s army. Such a 
 determination would speedily decide the loss or gain of 
 a battle. Whatever it was, Ludovie deserved a happier 
 fate if he had fought for a better cause. He was brave, 
 generous, and beneficent; but his good qualities failed 
 to insure him against the caprices of fortune. 
 
 When his brother, the cardinal, learnt that he was a 
 prisoner, he quickly sent his two sons to the Emperor of 
 Germany, and was himself proceeding to Boulogne with 
 an escort of 500 or 600 horse, but he was stopped on 
 the road by Severin de Gonzagua, captain of the Vene- 
 tians, who sent him to the French, and took care of the 
 booty, money, and baggage, the value of which they 
 estimated at two hundred ducats. 
 
 The rebels at Milan did not know the fate of their 
 princes whom they Lad submitted to the king, and they 
 fully expected their town to be plundered, but they 
 found the king and his generals more magnanimous than 
 they merited, for they entirely pardoned them. 
 
 2 Antoine de Bessai, baron of Senchatel, and of an old and 
 illustrious house in the county of Burgundy. He was held in 
 high esteem in the Swiss Cantons, and it was he who was com- 
 missioned bv the king to raise a body of 1 5,000 Swiss for the 
 conquest of Milan. 
 
32 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEAELESS. 
 
 Louis, wishing to reward his officers for the services 
 they had rendered him at Milan, had given them, as 
 fiefs, several places in the duchy; amongst others, he 
 gave Tortona and Voghiera to the Count of Ligny, be- 
 sides several smaller places. They had all followed the 
 example of the capital, and submitted themselves to 
 Ludovic. The count resolved to punish them for their 
 treachery. He took with him the famous captain Louis 
 d’Ars. Bayard, and several other officers. When his 
 subjects knew his intentions, and that he had already 
 reached Alexandria, resolved, as he said, to destroy them 
 by fire and sword (although this was a mere threat), 
 they were extremely alarmed, fearing a destruction 
 which they knew they deserved. They selected twenty 
 of their best men, and sent them to their new master to 
 sue for mercy. This deputation met him at a few 
 miles from Yoghiera, but he appeared not to notice it, 
 and continued his way to the town. The suppliants, 
 exceedingly frightened, followed him, and implored 
 Louis d’Ars to intercede for them. This, with his usual 
 generosity, the gallant captain promised to do, and told 
 them to visit the count the next day. In the interval, 
 he informed the count of the visit he might expect, and 
 begged him to pardon the miscreants. 
 
 The next day, after the count’s dinner, fifty of the 
 principal citizens appeared, and presented themselves on 
 their knees and bareheaded before him. A very elo- 
 quent man among them begged for mercy in a soul- 
 stirring speech ; but the count appeared inflexible, and 
 treated with the utmost disdain the large quantity of 
 silver they had brought him as a peace-offering. The 
 poor fellows were in great distress, and thought that 
 certain death must be their fate, when Louis d’Ars 
 stepped forward, and, with his ha't in his hand and one 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 33 
 
 knee on the ground, pleaded for them, for the sake of 
 God and His Son Jesus Christ. 
 
 The count was moved almost to tears. “ Go,” he 
 said, “ I pardon you for the sake of the Captain of Ars, 
 whose services deserve even a better return than that. 
 As to your silver, I cannot accept it.” Then, turning 
 to Bayard, “ Piquet, take all this, it will adorn your 
 table.” 
 
 “I thank you,” replied Bayard; “God forbid that the 
 wealth of traitors and unfaithful subjects should be used 
 by me ; they would do me harm.” So saying, he took 
 the plate, piece by piece, and distributed it amongst 
 those present, not keeping one for himself. Then he 
 left the room, and the deputation followed him. When 
 he was gone, all the company began to speak of the 
 generosity of Bayard. They all agreed that he would 
 be one day one of the most perfect of men. The next 
 day, to reward him for his generosity, the count pre- 
 sented him with a magnificent velvet dress, a valuable 
 horse, and a purse containing three hundred crowns, 
 which he immediately shared with his comrades. 
 
 A few days after, the count returned to Milan, where 
 the Cardinal d’Amboise had just arrived as lieutenant- 
 general for the king in Lombardy, and thence returned 
 to France. 
 
 The treachery of the Neapolitans, and the loss of that 
 kingdom, would certainly have been revenged by Charles 
 VIII. had he lived. Louis XII, his successor, began 
 his reign with the conquest of Milan, so that his* in- 
 tended vengeance upon Naples was postponed . 3 Fer- 
 
 3 It was during this campaign of 1503 that Bayard, offended 
 by Hyacinth Simonetta, a man belonging to a noble Milanese 
 house, of merit and valour, but insolently arrogant, challenged 
 
 D 
 
34 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 dinand, the son of Alphonse, in whose favour the 
 rebellion was raised, was dead, and his uncle, Frederic, 
 had succeeded him. 
 
 During the life of Charles, the Count of Ligny had 
 married Eleanor de Baux, princess of Altemore. The 
 house of Baux was ancient and illustrious ; it was a 
 Provencal family, which had removed to Naples. When 
 duty called the count away, the lady felt it so deeply 
 that she died of grief. By her death and the king’s 
 munificence, De Ligny possessed many lands and houses 
 in the kingdom, particularly in La Pouille, such as Ve- 
 noye, Canose, Monervine, Berjeilles, and others. Louis 
 having resolved to make Naples submit to him, the 
 Count of Ligny had hoped to command the king’s army 
 there, but his plan was twice frustrated, and it is ber 
 lieved that vexation for the disappointment occasioned 
 his death, which happened, a short time after, on the 
 31st of December, 1503. 
 
 Berault Stuart , * * * 4 Lord d’Aubigny, was appointed by 
 the king to command his army. He was a wise, brave 
 officer, then captain of the Scotch Guard. The army 
 was compact and numerous, both in infantry and cavalry. 
 The Count of Ligny’s company was under the orders of 
 
 him to a duel and killed him. We only find this in Alcyat, 
 
 a Milanese jurisconsul, who, without relating either the cause or 
 the circumstances, says, “ I have seen knights who, too much 
 
 affecting goodness and grace under arms, have let victory 
 escape them. Such was Hyacinth Simonetta, a Milanese 
 gentleman, who fought against Bayard, a French captain, 
 during the first inroads of the French to Italy. It was a mani- 
 fest presage of the overthrow of Sforza, which happened soon 
 after.” 
 
 4 The president Henaut (Abrege Chron.) and the Abb6 La* 
 vocat (Diet. Hist.) call him Robert Stuart, but his real name 
 was Berault. He died in 1548. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 35 
 
 Louis d’Ars. Bayard took leave of his old master with 
 great friendship expressed on both sides, and much 
 regret. 
 
 D’Aubigny marched straight into Naples, and with 
 such speed, that Frederic, taken by surprise, and little 
 loved by his subjects, was unable to defend himself, and 
 had no other resource but to make the best conditions 
 possible. He made his treaty with the French general, 
 by whom he was told that he would be taken into France 
 with his wife and his children, 5 and that he would have 
 for appanage the enjoyment of the duchy of Anjou for 
 life. He was received by the king with the honour due 
 to his dignity, and the treaty was strictly observed while 
 he lived ; but after his death, in 1504, his widow was so 
 neglected that she fell into a sad state of indigence and 
 misery. 
 
 Naples conquered, the companies were garrisoned in 
 the kingdom. The Count of Ligny’s company went to 
 the lands that belonged to that nobleman, and Louis 
 d’Ars made Bayard governor of a quantity of the pos- 
 sessions of De Ligny. He acquitted himself to the 
 satisfaction of everybody. 
 
 About the same time another treaty was made with 
 Ferdinand, King of Arragon, husband of Isabella of 
 Castille, father of Jane the Fool, and grandfather of 
 Charles V. Ferdinand had claims upon a part of the 
 kingdom of Naples, which was given to him by the 
 king. By this treaty peace was made between the two 
 princes and with the Emperor Maximilian, and pub- 
 
 5 Frederic married one of his daughters to La Tremouille. 
 From that circumstance that house claimed rights to the 
 crown of Naples, and the eldest sons bore the title of Princes of 
 Tarento. 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 36 
 
 listed at Lyons the same year. The mediator was the 
 Archduke Philip, son-in-law of Ferdinand ; he also 
 drew up the treaty, which was soon violated, and while 
 Louis was resting securely upon the faith of Ferdinand, 
 the latter sent a powerful army to Ferdinand Gonzalva, 
 called the great captain , his lieutenant in those parts 
 which had been ceded to him. These troops entered 
 into the kingdom of Naples by the connivance of Pope 
 Alexander YI, took the capital, and drove the French 
 from almost all parts of the kingdom. D’ Aubigny opposed 
 them as long as possible ; but, at last, forced to yield to 
 numbers, he retired to La Pouille, where he remained a 
 longtime — tilltheyear 1504, when, after having engagedin 
 a great number of battles, gained some and lost others, 
 the French were obliged to leave the country. 
 
 But let us return to our hero during the sojourn of 
 the French in La Pouille. Being in garrison at Moner- 
 vine, he was tired of doing nothing, and proposed to his 
 comrades that they should go out and search for stray 
 parties of Spaniards whom they might overcome. The 
 proposition was received with joy, and they set out at 
 daybreak resolved not to return without having seen and 
 encountered the enemy. On the same day, the Spanish 
 captain, Don Alonzo de Soto Mayor, had proposed to 
 go out and meet the French ; and Bayard and Alonzo 
 were both equally pleased at the thought of a contest 
 when the numbers were so well matched. The numbers 
 were about equal. When the good knight recognized 
 the Spaniards by their red crosses, he turned round 
 in his saddle, and said to his troop, “ Now, my friends, 
 here is just what we came to look for ; here is some 
 honour to be gained. Let us do our duty. If you don’t 
 see me do mine, hold me all my life as a poltroon.” 
 
 “ Charge!” shouted the company ; “ don’t let us give 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 37 
 
 them the honour of attacking us.” Then, lowering their 
 visors and putting their horses to the gallop, they fell 
 upon the Spanish troop, crying, “France! France!” 
 On their side, the Spaniards returned the cheer with 
 “ Spain ! Spain ! St. Jago ! ” and, with lance in rest, 
 received them vigorously. At the first shock a great 
 many were dismounted on both sides, and their compa- 
 nions had a great deal of trouble to remount. The 
 affair lasted for about half an hour, each striving for 
 victory. The second attack was on the flank. At last, 
 Bayard so inspirited his men by word and example that 
 the Spaniards were defeated. They left seven on the 
 field and as many prisoners ; the rest took to flight, their 
 commander Soto Mayor with them. Bayard pursued 
 him and called upon him to stop if he did not wish to 
 be slain from the rear ; not wishing to die an ignominious 
 death, he turned. They fought, and the Spaniard yielded 
 to the Frenchman, after displaying courage only second 
 to that of Bayard himself. The French did not lose a 
 single man in this skirmish, although five or six were 
 wounded. Bayard behaved nobly to his prisoner, 
 treating him with all the honour due to so distin- 
 guished a soldier, and leaving him free, on receiving his 
 word of honour that he would not go beyond the castle 
 walls. Wearying of his captivity, although he was as 
 free as prisoner could possibly be, Don Alonzo planned 
 his escape. He bribed an Albanian named Theode to 
 provide two horses, by means of which they could both 
 reach the nearest garrison of the Spaniards. Theode, 
 who had a great affection for money (of which he was 
 promised a large sum by Alonzo), consented to aid his 
 escape, and they set off, Alonzo intending to send Bayard 
 his ransom, the price of which had been fixed at 1000 
 ducats. Bayard, soon after their departure, came round 
 
38 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 to have his usual talk with his prisoner, but he was 
 nowhere to be found. Bayard’s rage and indignation at 
 the departure of the Spaniard and the Albanian were 
 indescribable. He ordered eleven of his faithful servants 
 to ride towards Andres, and overtake the fugitives. 
 They had scarcely gone two miles when they perceived 
 the two not far distant. Alonzo was on foot attending 
 his horse’s saddle-girths. Before he could remount he 
 was fallen upon by Bayard’s men and brought back to 
 Monervine. Bayard, as may be imagined, severely re- 
 proached him, and treated his petty excuse of ennui with 
 contempt. He was then confined to one of the towers, 
 but in all other respects treated as before. At the end 
 of fifteen days a herald and one of his valets arrived 
 with his ransom, and he was set at liberty. He re- 
 mained just long enough to take leave of Bayard and 
 the other officers, and to see the whole of his ransom 
 money distributed amongst the soldiers. 
 
 Upon Don Alonzo’s arrival at Andres he was ques- 
 tioned as to the character of Bayard. He praised the 
 character of the man, but complained of the way in 
 which he had been treated as a prisoner, saying he would 
 resent such conduct to his dying day. His hearers were 
 divided in their opinions, some sympathised with their 
 countryman, others thought Bayard in the right, while 
 others again consoled him with the remark that “prisons 
 were never beautiful places.” 
 
 It came to Bayard’s ears that Don Alonzo complained 
 of his treatment while he was his prisoner ; he called all 
 his company together and asked them, as honourable 
 men, to tell him if they had ever by word or deed treated 
 the Spaniard in a manner to be complained of. They 
 all answered that they had treated him as they would 
 wish to be treated under similar circumstances. There- 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 39 
 
 upon Bayard sent for his secretary and dictated a chal- 
 lenge to Don Alonzo. The herald by whom he sent it 
 brought back a reply saying that Don Alonzo would meet 
 Bayard within fifteen days, at two miles from Andres, or 
 in any other place which seemed good to him. Bayard, 
 wbo was far from well, accepted all the terms of the 
 challenge, and having obtained permission to fight from 
 the Lord of La Pallisse, lieutenant of the Duke de Ne- 
 mours, he chose his old friend Bellabre for a second. 
 
 When the day arrived Bayard was first upon the 
 field, mounted and dressed in white. The Spaniard had 
 not yet arrived, and the herald was despatched to hasten 
 his coming. Bayard had previously allowed him the 
 choice of the manner of fighting ; hearing that he was 
 on horseback, Alonzo sent to say that he chose to fight 
 on foot, thinking that Bayard, who was very ill, would 
 be obliged to refuse to fight in consequence. But he 
 had mistaken the character of the man. Bayard was 
 certainly surprised, but he quickly recovered himself 
 and sent back the herald to hasten his adversary, who 
 presently arrived accompanied by the Marquis of Licite, 
 Don Diego Quignones, Don Pedro de Valdes, Don 
 Francisco d’Altemez and numerous others. Chabannes, 
 D’Oroze, D’Humbercourt, Foutrailles, Baron of Bearn, 
 and many more had come with Bayard to the field. 
 The combat was of long duration. Bayard, notwith- 
 standing his weakness, fought with his usual skill and 
 bravei’y. After some time, during which Alonzo man- 
 aged to keep even with his adversary, Bayard thrust his 
 long sword into the Spaniard’s throat, and parrying the 
 blows which the enraged Spaniard aimed at him, he 
 waited till the loss of blood had considerably weakened 
 him, and then, flinging himself upon his adversary, they 
 rolled together in the dust, Bayard giving Don Alonzo 
 
4 ° 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 a poniard thrust between the nose and the left eye. 
 He then called upon him to give himself up, but the 
 Spaniard was dead. Bayard was deeply grieved that 
 he had killed his adversary, but the deed could not now 
 be undone, and he flung himself on his knees and thanked 
 God for giving him the victory. He then went to the 
 umpire, Don Diego, and asked him if he was satisfied 
 with what he had done ? w You have done too well for 
 the honour of Spain,” Don Diego replied, sorrowfully. 
 “ As the body is at my disposal,” said Bayard, “ I give 
 it to you ; I heartily wish I could give him back to you 
 alive.” Then, amidst great cries and much lamentation, 
 the Spaniards bore the dead body away, and the French 
 carried back the conqueror to the sound of trumpets, 
 hautboys, and numerous other instruments. 
 
CHAPTER Y. 
 
 P'jiprSS’SSHEN he reached home, his first act was to 
 P rocee d a * once to the church, where he a 
 l Iftr | second time offered up thanks to God ; and 
 afterwards gave a magnificent banquet to 
 the officers his comrades. This combat spread the re- 
 putation of our hero over the whole kingdom. 
 
 After this event there was a truce of two months pro- 
 claimed between the French and Spanish. The Spanish 
 were inconsolable for the loss of Soto Mayor, and vowed 
 vengeance against the French. The officers often walked 
 near each others’ camps, and the Spaniards appeared to 
 take pleasure in trying to insult the French. 
 
 One day thirteen Spaniards met Bayard and his good 
 friend D’Oroze just outside the French camp at Moner- 
 vine. The Spaniards saluted the two friends, and they 
 returned their salutation. 
 
 One of the Spaniards, Don Diego de Bizagna, who 
 had belonged to Soto Mayor’s company, and was, more- 
 over, a brave and bold knight, and could not forgive 
 Bayard for causing his death, stepped forward, and said to 
 Bayard, “ My good French lord, the truce has only lasted \ 
 eight days yet, and we are utterly tired of it ; perhaps 
 you feel the same. There are thirteen of us here ; if 
 you will form a party of thirteen against us nothing 
 would afford myself and companions greater pleasure.” 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 42 
 
 Bayard and D’Oroze looked at each other. “ My Lord 
 D’Oroze,” said Bayard, “ what do you think of it ?” 
 
 “ I know,” said D’Oroze, “ what answer I should make, 
 but I would rather hear you speak.” 
 
 “As you wish it,” replied the knight, “ I will answer.” 
 “ My lord,” said Bayard to the Spaniard, “ my compa- 
 nion and I accept your proposition with much pleasure ; 
 meet us this day week at two miles distant from here. 
 Thirteen of us will be there, and we shall see which side 
 will conquer.” 
 
 The Spaniards promised, and they returned to their 
 sides. Bayard and his friend having related the chal- 
 lenge and named the rendezvous, all wished to be of the 
 thirteen. Conditions of the fight were laid down, viz. 
 — That if a knight lost his horse he was not to fight ; 
 that he who passed over a certain boundary should be 
 prisoner : that the night should terminate the combat ; 
 and if there remained but one unhorsed on each side he 
 should take back his companions with equal honour to 
 either side. 
 
 This being agreed on, the two parties met, lance in 
 rest, and put spurs to their horses. But the Spaniards, 
 in the fight, basely attacked the horses instead of the 
 men, and with such success that eleven of them were 
 soon dead upon the field. But the Spaniards’ horses re- 
 fused to advance over the dead bodies, which served Ba- 
 yard and his friend D’Oroze as a rampart ; for they 
 charged the Spaniards boldly and frequently, and, when 
 attacked by many, retired behind the rampart of dead 
 horses, so that in the end, when night set in, and they 
 were obliged to quit the field, the two Frenchmen were 
 unanimously proclaimed victors. 
 
 Some time after, when the truce was ended, Bayard 
 heard by his spies that a treasurer from Naples was 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 43 
 
 about to carry a large sum of money to Gonzalva, and 
 that he would pass at a few miles from Monervine. 
 Bayard, resolved to lay hands on the man and his trea- 
 sure, set out two hours before daybreak, and went, 
 accompanied only by twenty men, and put himself in 
 ambush between two little hills, and he sent Tardieu, 
 one of his men-at-arms, in another direction with 
 twenty-five Albanians, so that if the treasurer escaped 
 one he should be taken by the other. At seven o’clock 
 in the morning the knight’s spies heard the noise of 
 horses, and came to announce it to him. He was so 
 hidden by the two rocks that the treasurer and his es- 
 cort passed without seeing him, and, as soon as they 
 had gone by, Bayard and his company fell upon them, 
 crying, “France! France! slay! slay!” The Spaniards, 
 thinking they had a whole army at their back, fled to 
 Barletta without looking behind them. They were 
 pursued until the treasurer and cashier were taken, 
 when 15, 000 ducats were found in their cases. Tardieu, 
 arriving just at this time, was dazzled by the glitter of 
 the coin, and claimed half the prize, as he had gone 
 on the expedition, but Bayard, who loved justice, chose 
 to have the affair properly settled by the French general, 
 who decided that the prize was Bayard’s alone. When 
 Tardieu saw the course matters were taking, he made a 
 virtue of necessity and joined in the laugh against him- 
 self. Bayard, with his usual generosity, gave Tardieu 
 half the large sum of money, and distributed the whole 
 of the remainder amongst the soldiers. He then set the 
 treasurer free, and allowed a herald to accompany him 
 to Barletta, whither he wished to go. 
 
CHAPTER V I. 
 
 OWARDS the end of the war of which we 
 were just now speaking, the French were en- 
 camped on one side of the river Garilliano and 
 the Spaniards on the other side. Now it must 
 be understood that if there were brave soldiers on the one 
 side, so there were on the other, above all, the famous 
 Gonzalva de Cordova; but the most extraordinary of 
 them was Pedro de Pais, who was not three feet high, 
 and was so hump-backed and deformed that the head of 
 his horse, when you were in front of him, hid him from 
 your view. But, in spite of his deformity, he was one 
 of the boldest and most enterprising of the whole army. 
 One day he took it into his head that he would give the 
 French an alarm, and for that purpose took with him 
 about 120 men-at-arms, eachwith afoot soldier mounted 
 behind him, armed with arquebuses, and these passed 
 the Garilliano by a ford which they knew. When the 
 French saw them, they thought the whole of the Spanish 
 army had come to attack them; but Bayard, whose quar- 
 ters were near the bridge, soon perceived that there 
 were not 200 Spaniards, but that their object was to take 
 possession of the bridge, which would have been certain 
 ruin to the French. He immediately despatched Le 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 45 
 
 Basque to seek help, while he stood alone at their end of 
 the bridge, waiting for the arrival of the Spaniards ; as 
 they approached, he fell upon them with such terrible 
 fury and struck such vigorous blows that he knocked 
 down four men-at-arms to begin with, two of whom fell 
 into the water and were never seen again. The Spaniards 
 thought they were fighting a devil and not a man ; in- 
 censed by the loss of their countrymen, they fell upon 
 him with blind fury, he returning their blows with extra- 
 ordinary courage ; but he must undoubtedly have been 
 overcome by numbers if Le Basque had not arrived 
 with 200 men, who saved the bridge and chased 
 the Spaniards a good mile on the other side. They 
 would have gone further, but Bayard perceived a body 
 of 700 or 800 men coming to assist the fugitives. Think- 
 ing they had done enough for one day, he gave the 
 order to return, himself bringing up the rear, last in 
 retreat as he was always first in attack. As the troop 
 was marching home in good order, it was again attacked 
 by a detachment of the enemy. Bayard’s horse was 
 much fatigued, and, surrounded as he was by thirty or 
 forty men, he knew it was useless to resist, so gave him- 
 self up to the Spaniards. His companions, who had 
 fought their way to the bridge, thought he was amongst 
 them until Pierre de Guiffrey suddenly cried out, 
 “ Comrades, we have lost Bayard. I vow that I will 
 have news of him, if I go alone. Shall we leave the 
 man who has gained us so much glory ? He is either 
 dead or a prisoner.” There was great confusion at this 
 cry, and they determined to return and seek their 
 leader. They soon overtook the Spaniards, and called 
 upon them to turn and fight. They did so, and 
 as they had not disarmed Bayard, he joined in the 
 fray, and, leaving his own jaded horse, vaulted upon a 
 
46 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 splendid charger from which Salvador Borgia had been 
 thrown by the lance of Le Basque. Finding himself 
 well-mounted, the knight fought desperately. The 
 Spaniards learning who it was that they had allowed 
 to escape, lost heart, and went off at full gallop ; the 
 French contented themselves with watching their flight, 
 only too happy to retain with them their true guide of 
 honour, Bayard. They regained their camp without 
 further adventure, where they long talked of a day 
 made so extraordinary by curious adventures, and 
 especially by the exploits of the Knight Bayard. 
 
 To take up the thread of our history. We have seen 
 before that the French army which kept the kingdom 
 of Naples had been obliged to abandon it through the 
 numerous perfidies of Ferdinand, King of Arragon, who 
 violated all the treaties. Alexander YI. was dead, and 
 Julius II, of the house of la Rouere, occupied the holy 
 see, when the remnant of the French army passed through 
 the states of the Church. He treated the French as 
 well as they could possibly expect, but it was the friend- 
 ship of the fox, which he made pay well in the end, 
 having always been a sworn enemy to the King of 
 France, and the whole French nation. 
 
 [1505.] Louis d’Ars and Bayard remained in Spain 
 after the departure of the French army, and contrived 
 to keep several places there in spite of the whole Spanish 
 army. On their return to court the king gave Bayard 
 a place in the household until he had a company ready 
 to place under his orders. 
 
 This same year [1505] was marked by three events. 
 The first was the death of Jeanne de France, first wife 
 of the king, in the town of Bourges ; the second was 
 the severe illness of the king, who was given up by the 
 doctors ; this circumstance possibly saved his life, for 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 47 
 
 he recovered, much to the joy of his people, by whom 
 he was greatly beloved. The third event was the death 
 of Frederic of Arragon, King of Naples, in the town 
 of Tours. He held this crown from his ancestors, who 
 had usurped it ; and those who took it from Louis XII. 
 had no more right to it than Frederic. 
 
 The next year [1506-7] was signalized by the deaths 
 of the incomparable Isabella of Castille, wife of Fer- 
 dinand, King of Arragon, and her son-in-law, Philip-le- 
 Beau, Archduke of Austria, who had married Jane, the 
 eldest daughter of Isabella. Ferdinand, now a widower, 
 married again, the same year, Germaine de Foix, niece 
 of Louis XII. and sister of the Duke de Nemours, with 
 whom he will often be mentioned in this history. This 
 princess, although she had been brought up at the court 
 of France, changed her principles when she became the 
 wife of Ferdinand, and became a sworn enemy of her 
 country and the royal house. 
 
 The first service that the pope rendered to the king 
 was, by all the means in his power, to try and draw the 
 Genoese from their allegiance. The populace, animated 
 against the nobles, chased them from the town, and 
 afterwards elected for doge a man named Paul de Novi. 
 The king was informed of these proceedings, and deter- 
 mined to cross the mountains in person without delay, 
 and with all the soldiers that the occasion seemed to 
 require. 
 
 Bayard was then at Lyons, very ill with intermittent 
 fever, and from the consequences of a wound which he 
 had formerly received — a sword wound, which became 
 ulcerated, but from which he fortunately recovered in 
 time. Notwithstanding his indisposition, Bayard was one 
 of the first to be ready for the expedition. The army 
 was so quick in its march that they surprised the Genoese, 
 
48 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 who had no time to wait for the help which the pope 
 and some other Italian princes were to have sent them ; 
 they nevertheless prepared for defence, and the French 
 were astonished to find, at the top of the last mountain 
 which it was necessary to cross to arrive at the town, a 
 newly-constructed fort, with a good garrison and a con- 
 siderable muster of artillery. Upon this the king held 
 a council of war, and, after hearing the opinions of the 
 rest, took the advice of Bayard, who requested per- 
 mission to go with about 120 known brave comrades 
 and see what they were doing at the fort. The king 
 begged him to do so, and they set out, Bayard first, as 
 always, climbing the mountain on all-fours, when they 
 reached the top they were obliged to stop and take 
 breath, then they marched to the bastion, having first 
 to overcome several parties of advanced guards, who 
 gave them some trouble, and finally fled. The French 
 wished to pursue them, but Bayard stopped them, 
 crying, “ Do not follow them, comrades ; go straight to 
 the fort.” They tound 300 men there, who defended 
 themselves pretty well for a time, but who soon took to 
 flight, and descended the mountain precipitately, leaving 
 many of their comrades dead on the ground. So Bayard 
 was master of the fort, the taking of which so surprised 
 the Genoese that their courage failed them, and they 
 submitted at once to the clemency of the king. Louis, 
 having entered the town, made them pay all the expenses 
 of the war, and construct, at their expense, a citadel 
 which commanded the town, and which he named 
 Codifa. He had Paul de Novi and one of the nobles 
 of the house of Justiani beheaded. He deprived the 
 town of all its privileges, gave the people a governor in 
 his name, to whom he obliged them to swear allegiance, 
 and ordered that in future the coin should be marked 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD . 
 
 49 
 
 ■with his arms and those of the town, after which he 
 forgave them for all that was past. 
 
 From Genes the king went to Savonne, where he had 
 an interview with Ferdinand, King of Arragon, return- 
 ing from Naples with his new wife, Germaine de Foix. 
 She did not attempt to disguise her change of opinions, 
 but treated the French nobility with insolence, not even 
 excepting the Duke de Nemours, her brother. Her 
 husband, on the contrary, treated them with exceeding 
 politeness, and complimented the king upon the posses- 
 sion of two such distinguished soldiers as Louis d’Ars 
 and Bayard. The French king, on his side, was not 
 less friendly to the great captain Gonzalvo, one of the 
 heroes of his age and nation, and of whose virtues Fer- 
 dinand was jealous. He went expressly to Naples to 
 bring back Gonzalvo with him, fearing that, as he was 
 such a favourite with the people, they would transform 
 him from viceroy to king. After his return from Naples 
 Gonzalvo passed a sorrowful life in retirement, and 
 when he died was sumptuously buried by the king and 
 mourned by the nation. After a few days’ conferences 
 between Louis and Ferdinand they separated, Ferdi- 
 nand to continue his route to Spain, Louis to go to 
 Milan, where Trivulce, lately become Marshal of France, 
 gave him a magnificent entertainment, and for three 
 days the six or seven hundred people who were gathered 
 together enjoyed the recreation of feasts, balls, come- 
 dies, and various other kinds of amusements. 
 
 In the following year (1508) the Emperor Maximi- 
 lian took up arms against the Venetians, who were allies 
 of Louis. The king immediately sent Trivulce with a 
 large force to assist them; but the Venetians, knowing 
 Maximilian’s rapacity for money, offered him a large 
 sum to withdraw, which he accepted, much to the dis- 
 
 E 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 5° 
 
 gust of Trivulce, who was annoyed at such a cowardly 
 proceeding. 
 
 The pride of this republic had become so unbearable 
 that a league was entered into, called the League of 
 Cambrai — a treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, 
 entered into by Louis XII, Maximilian, the Pope, and 
 the King of Spain, to overthrow the republic of Venice. 
 One clause of the treaty was to the effect that Louis 
 should be in Venice forty days before any of the others. 
 It is difficult to imagine how Louis could have signed a 
 treaty containing such a clause, but he did so. As it 
 turned out, he had all the success and honour of the 
 affair, but his allies shared the profit with him. 
 
 In the month of March, 1508, the king reviewed his 
 troops in the duchy of Milan. He appointed celebrated 
 captains to the command of his army; to Bayard he 
 gave the company of Captain Chatelart, who had re- 
 cently died; but when he also gave him the command of 
 1000 infantry, Bayard begged that the number might be 
 reduced to 500, as he feared 1000 would be more than 
 he could manage. The king acceded to his request, 
 and at the end of March he and all the other captains 
 were at Milan ready for action. The king’s army con- 
 sisted of 30,000 men, both foot and horse. The Vene- 
 tians had 32,000 soldiers under the command of Nicolas 
 des Ursins, Count of Petigliano. 
 
 The king, on arriving at Milan, learnt that a little 
 town on the Adda, called Trevi, had been taken by the 
 French and retaken by the Venetians; that the Vene- 
 tians had burnt the town to punish the inhabitants for 
 surrendering to the French, and afterwards taken pri- 
 soners the captain Fontrailles and all his men, besides 
 several other captains who were there. The king was 
 enraged at this, and, constructing two bridges over the 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 5 1 
 
 Adda, he made his cavalry pass over by one and his in- 
 fantry by the other. The next day he sacked a small 
 town called Bivolta, and two days after, on the 14th of 
 May, the French and Venetians met at Agnadel. The 
 Venetians did wonders, but the French gained a com- 
 plete victory, and showed surprising bravery, Bayard 
 and his men especially, who had waded through a 
 marsh up to their waists in water. The French loss 
 was comparatively small, but the Venetians lost 15,000 
 men. D’Alviano, the infantry general, was taken pri- 
 soner, and conducted to the presence of the king, who, 
 to see if his troops were on the alert, had a false alarm 
 made after dinner, and hearing the clanking of arms 
 and other sounds indicative of active preparation, he 
 asked B’Alviano what it could be. 
 
 “ Your men must be fighting each other, I should 
 imagine,” was his reply ; “ as for our troops, I can pro- 
 mise you they will not soon return.” 
 
 The king passed two days on the battle-field, during 
 which time an unhappy castle named Cavatas was knocked 
 to bits with cannon and taken in two hours. No one was 
 found within but some peasants, who were immediately 
 hanged from the battlements. This example so intimidated 
 the others, that no other places or castles resisted, with 
 the exception of that of Pescara, the garrison of which was 
 severely treated. Amongst others, a high steward of the 
 manor and his son were found there; they offered a 
 large ransom, but their offers and dignity availed them 
 nothing, and only warranted their being hanged on the 
 first tree. They had surrendered to a gentleman named 
 Le Lorrain, a distinguished officer who had exchanged 
 parole with them. He had high words with the general 
 (the grand master) on their behalf, but, notwithstanding 
 that, he could not save their lives. 
 
52 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 The king took up his abode at Pescara, after he had 
 reduced to submission the places it was his intention to 
 overthrow — Cremona, Creme, Brescia, Bergamo, and a 
 great number of others. The towns of Verona, Vi- 
 cenza, and Padua delivered their keys to him ; he sent 
 them to the emperor, who claimed them. To the Pope, 
 who had used him so ill, he gave Ravenna, Forli, 
 Imola, and Faenza, in Lombardy, Brindes and Otranto, 
 in the kingdom of Naples. He did not get much re- 
 turn for his generosity; the emperor soon lost his places, 
 and the Pope became even a more dangerous enemy, as 
 we shall shortly see. 
 
 The remnant of the Venetian army fled to Trevison 
 and Friuli without stopping, wrongly imagining that 
 the French were following them, at which the emperor 
 had great reason to be satisfied. 
 
 This prince had promised the king to go to Pescara 
 to hold a conference with him. It was agreed between 
 them that he should come by boat down the lake which 
 waters one side of this place, and that he should have 
 what escort seemed good to him. The king sent the 
 Cardinal D’Amboise to Rouvray to receive and accom- 
 pany him, but this minister could not persuade him to 
 come. The cardinal returned to the king, bringing with 
 him the Bishop of Goritz, as the emperor’s ambassador, 
 to compliment the king and to explain the reasons why 
 his master had not come according to his promise. 
 
 A little while after the king returned to Milan, at 
 the commencement of July. Padua, about this time, 
 through the carelessness of Maximilian, again fell into 
 the hands of the Venetians. He had only left 800 lans- 
 quenets to defend the place, too small a number for a 
 town six miles in circumference. The town was cleverly 
 retaken by the skill of two noble Venetians, Andre 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 53 
 
 Gritti and Luc Malvezza, who had always had sway in 
 this place where the Venetian dominion was dear to 
 them, on account of the exact justice the government 
 of the Doge gives to its subjects. These two nobles, in 
 the commencement of July, which is in Italy the season 
 of the second hay harvest, lay in ambush at a crossbow- 
 shot from the town, in a place full of thick trees, which 
 entirely obstructed the view, and concealed there without 
 trouble 400 men-at-arms and 2000 foot-soldiers. The en- 
 virons of Padua have abundance of hay, and the waggons 
 to carry it were so large that they filled the gates of the 
 town. Upon this they formed a design, and at break 
 of day, the four first cartloads having entered, they had 
 the fifth followed by six knights, each with a foot-soldier 
 behind him armed with an arquebus, and amongst them 
 a trumpet to sound the alarm, when the time should be 
 come. 
 
 On the other side, the lansquenets which composed 
 the garrison were very vigilant. They kept only two 
 gates open, and thirty men on guard at each. The 
 Venetian seignory had, as we have said, many 
 spies in the town ; amongst others, a gentleman 
 named Geraldo Magurin, who was in the secret, and was 
 to appear in arms with those of his party at the first 
 sound of the trumpet. The fifth cartload having en- 
 tered after the four others, the six men-at-arms, who 
 followed it closely, began shouting “ Marco ! Marco ! ” 
 The foot-soldiers behind them dismounted and fired so 
 skilfully and closely that each one killed his man. The 
 trumpet sounded, and the greater part of the Venetians 
 fell upon them at once, uttering the terrible cries of 
 “Marco! Marco! Italy! Italy!” They were seconded 
 by Magurin, who had kept ready enough men to muster 
 in an instant from the houses more than 2000 inhabit- 
 ants armed with pikes and javelins. 
 
54 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 The lansquenets, extremely astonished at the first charge, 
 placed themselves promptly on the defence, and sounded 
 the alarm ; but, when they saw the general revolt, and 
 that they must perish, they marched to the great square 
 at once and formed a square battalion, resolved to fight 
 vigorously and to sell their lives dearly. They had 
 hardly formed thus when they saw themselves attacked 
 on two or three sides at once. Such a splendid defence 
 was never seen. They held out for two hours without 
 breaking. In the end, the greater number conquered ; 
 they were broken and defeated without any quarter. 
 But, in revenge, they made their conquerors pay dearly 
 for their defeat. They killed more than 1500 on the 
 spot, both inhabitants and assailants. 
 
 Thus the town returned to the Doge ; and the Count 
 of Petigliano having entered, repaired and fortified it » 
 thoroughly, knowing of what importance it was to his 
 masters. 
 
 When the emperor heard of the revolt of Padua he 
 was furious, and swore to be avenged and go in person 
 to punish the offenders. He asked Louis for 500 men- 
 at-arms for three months. Louis readily agreed, and 
 charged the brave Chabannes to choose that number 
 from the men whose valour he could most depend upon, 
 and take them to the emperor. Chabannes was de- 
 lighted ; war was his element ; and as he left the gates 
 of the castle of Milan, he met Bayard and asked him to 
 accompany him. Bayard was as overjoyed as himself, 
 and readily promised to do so. 
 
 These two great men gained all the victories they 
 were trying for, and returned with great pomp to Ve- 
 rona, where they were magnificently received by the 
 Bishop of Trent, for the emperor. They remained there 
 two days, were feasted and made much of by the inha- 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 55 
 
 bitants, and then returned to Vicenza, which they en- 
 tered readily, the people having fled as soon as they 
 heard that the French were marching towards them. 
 They remained five or six days at Vicenza, awaiting 
 news of the emperor, who, they said, was already in the 
 country ; but he did not arrive till the commencement 
 of August, when he brought with him a large number of 
 troops, which, joined to the original French army and 
 two reinforcements which they had recently received, 
 made a considerable army. He received Chabannes 
 with much pomp at the camp, near the town of Est. If 
 they had had to wait for him, with the help of the army 
 he had brought they soon made up for loss of time. He 
 had with him nearly 120 princes, dukes, counts, or 
 lords of the first German families, about 12,000 horses, 
 and 500 or 600 lancers of Burgundy and Hainault, and 
 nearly 50,000 infantry. Hippolite d’Est, the Cardinal 
 of Ferrara, came to join the emperor in the name of 
 his brother, the Duke Alphonse I, and brought 500 
 horses, 3000 foot-soldiers, and twelve pieces of artillery. 
 The Cardinal of Mantua brought nearly the same num- 
 ber; so that altogether the army consisted of 100,000 
 men. 
 
 The first encampment of the emperor was at eight 
 miles from Padua, near the palace of the Queen of Cy- 
 prus. While he was there, another reinforcement of 1000 
 or 1 200 arrived, all picked men and fit for war, under the 
 generalship of Jacques d’ Alegre, Lord of Millaut, well 
 worthy of commanding them. It was there that the 
 emperor proposed the siege of Padua, and held a coun- 
 cil of war to fix on a plan of operations. By this 
 council it was decided that the French soldiers, with 
 the lansquenets of the Prince of Anhalt, as the best 
 German troop in the army, should form the point : but 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 56 
 
 that, before all, it was necessary to take possession of 
 Montselles, a little place on the road to Padua with a 
 strong castle, whose Venetian garrison would have been 
 able to hinder the inarch of the troops, and still more 
 the convoys of provisions and ammunition. 
 
 On the morning of the next day the army set out 
 and arrived near Montselles, which gave itself up at 
 first, being utterly defenceless ; but the castle, which 
 was good and capable of holding out for a long time, 
 disturbed the generals. However, by the cowardice of 
 those who were in it, they were soon masters of it. 
 They began to beat it down, and they had hardly com- 
 menced the breach, when the alarm was sounded for 
 the assault. They had a good bowshot’s length to climb, 
 but the French adventurers of the Captain d’ Alegre 
 were there in so short a time that they seemed to fly. 
 The garrison, which was entirely composed of rabble, 
 made a show of resistance, but in a quarter of an hour 
 the place was taken and all were massacred. The ad- 
 venturers took 500 horses besides other plunder. The 
 town and castle were given back to the Duke of Ferrara, 
 who reclaimed them, but he had to give the emperor 
 
 30.000 ducats for them. The Cardinal d’Est took pos- 
 session of it for his brother, and placed a good garrison 
 there. 
 
 The emperor, whom we left in his camp before Mont- 
 selles, had no sooner given up this place to its rightful 
 owner, than he marched straight to Padua, and ap- 
 proached within a mile of it. Besides being well forti- 
 fied, the city was defended by the Count of Petigliano, a 
 skilful general, who had with him 1000 men-at-arms, 
 
 12.000 infantry, and 200 pieces of cannon, so that rais- 
 ing a siege was an important matter. 
 
 The emperor encamped within a mile of the walls, 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. S7 
 
 held a council of war to deliberate on which side he 
 should form the siege, and called to it those amongst the 
 French whom he honoured with his esteem and confi- 
 dence. They agreed that the emperor should take up 
 his position near the gate which leads to Yicenza, 
 having the French with him; that the Cardinal of 
 Ferrara should be at another gate higher up, with the 
 Burgundy and Hainault soldiers and 10,000 lansque- 
 nets ; that at another gate, beyond the emperor’s quar- 
 ters, the Cardinal of Mantua should be stationed, with 
 his brother John and the lansquenets of the Prince of 
 Anhalt, in order that in case of need these divisions 
 might easily obtain help from the main body of the 
 army. 
 
 Bayard, for whom the most perilous tasks were al- 
 ways reserved, was ordered to go. first, accompanied by 
 the young Bussy d’Amboise, La Cropte-Daillon, La 
 Clayette, &c. Now there was a high road, perfectly 
 straight, going right to the gate of Yicenza, upon 
 which, at a distance of 200 feet, they had constructed 
 four large barriers furnished with men and firearms ; 
 and on each side this road was bordered with wide 
 and deep ditches, according to the custom of Italy, in 
 order that they might only be attacked from the front. 
 They placed artillerymen on the walls of the town 
 which overlooked the road, and which, over the barriers, 
 and without inconveniencing those who guarded them, 
 fired upon the French a hail-storm of cannon. 
 
 In the meantime Bayard and his companions attacked 
 the first barrier, which was well defended ; neverthe- 
 less, they managed to force it, and drove the enemy to 
 the second. If the fight was hot at the first, it was hot- 
 ter still at the second barrier. Young Bussy had his 
 arm pierced with a shot, and his horse killed under 
 
58 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 him ; but he did not leave the party on that account ; 
 on the contrary, he became more furious. At this 
 second attack the Captain d’ Alegre came to their aid 
 with 120 of his chosen men, who were more like lions 
 than men. All this happened at mid-day, so that it was 
 easy to see who did his duty and who neglected it. 
 After half an hour’s fighting, the second barrier was 
 forced and taken, and the enemy were chased and pur- 
 sued so closely that they could not remain at the third, 
 and were happy to be able to reach the fourth. This 
 was at a stone’s throw from the ramparts of the town, 
 and guarded by 1000 or 1200 men, with three or four 
 falconets, which made a terrible fire upon the main 
 road, but (incredible fact) only killed two horses. The 
 fugitives, who had joined themselves at the barrier with 
 those who guarded it, took courage under shelter of the 
 walls of the place, and the attack having lasted an hour, 
 Bayard was tired of such a lengthy resistance, and 
 cried to his men, “ Comrades, this is lasting too long ; 
 let us dismount and force the barrier.” They did so, 
 to the number of thirty or forty, and, with visor raised 
 and lance lowered, they rushed upon the Venetian 
 guard. Near Bayard fought the Prince d’ Anhalt, Jean 
 le Picard, and the Captain Maulevrier, who all fought 
 furiously. But Bayard, seeing that the enemy was 
 momentarily reinforced, cried out a second time, “ Com- 
 rades, they shall keep us here as long as they like. Let 
 us give them assault. Follow me, all of you; sound 
 trumpet.” He himself led the way with the fury of a 
 lion. His companions seconded him so well that the 
 enemy withdrew a pike’s length. Then Bayard, without 
 hesitation, leapt over the barrier, shouting, “Friends, 
 they are ours! let us go on!” Those who had dis- 
 mounted vaulted after him, and those who had remained 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 59 
 
 on horseback, seeing the danger in which their comrades 
 were, imitated them in crying “France! France! Empire ! 
 Empire ! ” Then the attack went on with redoubled force, 
 and was such that the enemy left the place, and fled in 
 disorder into the town. Thus the four barriers were 
 forced, in open day, to the great glory of the French, 
 and especially of our hero, to whom all unanimously 
 gave the honour. This expedition over, the artillery 
 was immediately brought down to the bank of the moat, 
 and the soldiers were so quartered that they formed 
 three camps, as had been previously arranged. The 
 army and its followers were so numerous that they 
 covered an area of more than four miles, in a country 
 so abundant in provisions, corn, wine, and hay, and 
 everything necessary for both men and horses, that at 
 the raising of the siege, which lasted about two months 
 and a half, they burnt the worth of 100,000 ducats which 
 they could not carry away. 
 
 The day after the taking of the barriers the artillery 
 began their work, and commenced their terrible fire, 
 which the town returned with usury. They made three 
 breaches, which were speedily converted into one, and 
 consequently more than large enough for an assault. 
 
 While the artillery were at wdrk, one of the emperor’s 
 cannoneers was discovered firing against the camp, in- 
 stead of the town. His trial was soon finished. He was 
 placed in a mortar instead of a bomb, and blown to 
 bits towards the town. They accused one of the em- 
 peror’s generals of this treason, a Greek, named Constan- 
 tine, who governed the emperor, and was the cause 
 of his committing great faults ; yet he was his fa- 
 vourite. They suspected him of having corrupted this 
 man, and even of being concerned in a plot with the 
 Count of Petigliano, giving him news of everything that 
 
6o 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 happened in the emperor’s camp. Chabannes reproached 
 him publicly, treated him as a traitor and a coward, and 
 challenged him to fight ; but the other refused, saying 
 his conscience would not allow it. The emperor, to 
 prevent ill consequences, reconciled them. 
 
 The Count of Petigliano, whether he had been told or 
 not, had fortified his place so well, that 500,000 men 
 could not carry it. He had made behind the breach a 
 moat, with ditches twenty feet deep and as many wide, 
 where he had put several layers of fagots and dry wood, 
 all covered with gunpowder, and at a hundred steps 
 apart he had raised a rampart with artillery, which com- 
 manded the whole length of the moat. Beside this in- 
 surmountable trench was a beautiful esplanade, where 
 the Venetian army, cavalry and infantry, could range 
 themselves in battle, to the number of 20,000 men, and 
 behind this esplanade he had raised platforms, furnished 
 with from twenty to thirty pieces of cannon each, pointed 
 to the breach over the heads of the garrison. When 
 some French officers fell into the hands of the Count 
 of Petigliano, made prisoner in skirmishes, and who ran- 
 somed themselves, they made no difficulty of letting 
 them see these entrenchments, that they should give an 
 account of them to their generals, especially to Cha- 
 bannes, and inform him of the certain danger of hazard- 
 ing the assault. “ For,” he said to them on taking leave, 
 “ I hope that the republic will get sooner or later into 
 the good graces of the King of France, and if it were 
 not foy the consideration that I have for your nation, 
 and those who are with the emperor, I assure you that 
 I would make him raise the siege to-morrow.” All that 
 was reported to the French generals, but the king, 
 having given them to the emperor for auxiliaries, they 
 would not take anything upon themselves. Before we 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 61 
 
 relate what the emperor intended to do, we may note 
 two adventures that befel our hero. 
 
 During the siege of Padua, the besieged frequently 
 inconvenienced the emperor by their attacks. The gar- 
 rison of Trevisa, another good place twenty or twenty- 
 five miles from there, served him the same. It was 
 commanded by the Duke of Malvezze, an excellent 
 captain, and by other officers. This commander did 
 not fail to give the alert to the imperial camp two or 
 three times a week, and when he found an occasion, he 
 profited by it ; if, on the contrary, he found resistance, 
 he retired. He continued this manoeuvre a long time, 
 but so wisely, that he never lost a single one of his men. 
 Bayard was tired of this, and said to two of his parti- 
 cular friends, with whom he lodged, La Cropte-Daillon 
 and La Clayette, “ This Captain Malvezze,” said he, “ is 
 too much talked about. I am sorry he does not know 
 what sort of men we are. If you will second me, we 
 will look for him to-morrow, and as he has not appeared 
 for two days, I do not despair of finding him.” 
 
 Bayard had spies, whom he paid so well that they 
 would not have betrayed him at the peril of their lives. 
 One of them had informed him of the route and the 
 forces of Malvezze. Having arranged his plans upon 
 this information, and his two friends having consented 
 to join him, he told each of them to arm thirty brave 
 men-at-arms, at two o’clock in the morning; and “I,” 
 added he, “ will take my company with some of our good 
 companions, Bonnet, Mipont, Cosse, Brezon, and others, 
 and we will mount in the strictest silence. Confide in 
 me, I have a guide in whom I can trust.” At two 
 o’clock in the morning, in the month of September, all 
 were on horseback, and the spy walked before, escorted 
 by four soldiers. Bayard, too prudent to place himself 
 
 v 
 
6z 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 entirely in the power of such men without precaution, 
 had promised him a large reward if he did his duty ; 
 but in case of treason, the four soldiers had orders to 
 kill him with their poniards. This spy served him well, 
 and led the company for about ten miles. When day 
 broke, they found themselves near a large and beautiful 
 country house, an extensive garden, and a park sur- 
 rounded by walls. The spy pointed it out to Bayard, 
 and assured him that if this was the day upon which 
 Captain Malvezze had to give the alarm to the camp, he 
 would necessarily pass there; that as this castle was 
 abandoned on account of the war, it was easy for the 
 soldiers to lie in ambush there, seeing all, but unseen 
 themselves. The advice was considered good. They 
 entered the castle, and remained for two hours, without 
 results. At the end of that time, they heard a great 
 noise of horses, which was just what they had been 
 awaiting. 
 
 Bayard had with him an old soldier, named Monart, 
 an experienced warrior, and a man in whom he could 
 place implicit trust. He had placed him as sentinel in 
 the dove-cote of the house, to examine whom and how 
 many they had to deal with. This soldier saw from a 
 distance, and recognized the Captain Malvezze, with his 
 troop, which he judged to consist of about 100 men- 
 at-arms, and about 200 Albanians, commanded by the 
 Captain Scanderbeg, all well mounted, and with the air 
 of men ready for anything. This troop having passed 
 the French ambuscade about a bow-shot, the sentinel 
 went down, and made his report, at which everyone was 
 pleased. Then Bayard ordered them to harness their 
 horses, which each one did himself, because they had 
 no grooms with them. Then he said to his company : 
 “ Friends, it is ten years since such a good adventure 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 63 
 
 came in our way, and if each of us do his duty, the 
 number ought not to astonish us ; they are two against 
 one, but that is very trifling. Let us set out immedi- 
 ately.” All having answered, “ Let us go ! let us set 
 out ! ” the gate was opened, and they galloped briskly 
 after their enemies. After having marched a mile, they 
 discovered them on the high road, and Bayard ordered 
 the trumpet to sound. The Venetians, much astonished 
 at hearing the trumpet, thought it must be some of their 
 own men coming to join them. Nevertheless, they 
 waited to know, and were much deceived. To their 
 surprise was joined the fear of finding themselves shut in 
 between the advancing enemy and the emperor’s camp, 
 without any possible means of escape ; but they took 
 courage again when they saw the few men approaching. 
 
 The Captain Malvezze encouraged his men, exhorted 
 them to do well, because they must conquer or perish ; 
 that there remained no means of escape, the road being 
 bordered by fosses so deep and wide that no knight 
 would have the boldness to jump them. Afterwards, 
 he had the trumpet sounded, and the French trumpet 
 answered. Wken they were a bow-shot the one from 
 the other, they began to charge, the French crying, 
 “France! France! Empire! Empire!” and the Spa- 
 niards, “ Marco ! Marco!” The first charge was severe 
 A great number were unsaddled . The Captain Bonnet 
 pierced a gendarme through and through with one stroke 
 of his lance, and on both sides the fight was very des- 
 perate. The Albanians left their soldiers with the 
 French, and, thinking to surprise them from behind, they 
 went off the high road. Bayard perceived this, and 
 said to La Cropte-Daillon, “ Keep your eye upon them, 
 so that they do not shut us in. I will undertake 
 those who are before us.” La Cropte did so, and when 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 64 
 
 the Albanians thought to fall upon the French, they 
 were so well received that a dozen of them were left on 
 the field, and the rest took to flight, and departed as fast 
 as their legs could carry them. La Cropte did not 
 pursue them. He returned to the main body ; but the 
 action was finished, the Venetians were conquered, and 
 the victors were already seizing their prisoners. The 
 Captain Malvezze, with twenty or thirty of the best 
 mounted, crossed the moat, and returned whence they 
 came. The French did not pursue them ; their horses 
 went too fast, owing to the vigorous spurring of their 
 masters. 
 
 The French began the retreat with more prisoners 
 than men ; but they deprived them of their swords, and 
 made them march in the midst, and in this manner they 
 reached the camp. Just at this juncture the emperor 
 was walking with some of his courtiers ; and perceiving 
 a thick cloud of dust, he sent a French officer, Louis de 
 Peschin, to learn the meaning of it. This officer told him 
 that the captains Bayard, La Cropte, and La Clayette, 
 had returned from performing the boldest stroke that 
 the last 100 years had witnessed. The emperor could 
 not conceal his joy. He visited the troop, and com- 
 plimented them generally, and he congratulated each 
 captain upon such a day ; and finally, addressing him- 
 self to Bayard, he said, “ Knight, the king, my brother 
 and your master, is proud and happy to have such a 
 man as you in his service. I wish I had a dozen like 
 you, if they cost me 100,000 florins a year,” 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 0 previous expedition ever made so much 
 stir as this, and no captain ever got so much 
 honour as Bayard; but, with his accustomed 
 modesty, he attributed the glory to his 
 friends and soldiers, and never to himself. 
 
 A few days after this action, he learnt from his spies 
 that Captain Scanderbeg, with his Albanians and some 
 other horsemen, had retired into the Castle of Bassano, 
 and that from there they made raids upon those who 
 came to the camp, and upon the foot-soldiers who were 
 returning to Germany with their booty and horses that 
 they had taken from the enemy ; and that in a few days 
 even they had defeated more than 200, and retaken from 
 them four or five hundred oxen or cows, which they 
 had with them in the castle ; “and if you like,” added 
 the spy, “ I can take you to a defile at the foot of a 
 mountain where they will fall into your hands.” Bayard, 
 who had always found this man faithful, and had always 
 paid him well, resolved to follow him, without informing 
 any one of his intention, feeling certain that with his 
 thirty men-at-arms, his company of archers, and ten or 
 twelve gentlemen who were attached to him, and who 
 served as volunteers simply to learn the art of war from 
 him, he could easily defeat 200 light-horse Albanians, 
 . f 
 
66 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 who had for a chief Kenault Contarini, a noble Venetian, 
 a native of Padua. He informed his soldiers and friends 
 of his plan, who were charmed with it. Everything 
 being ready, they set out an hour before daybreak, one 
 Saturday in the month of September, and travelled 
 fifteen miles with their spy, before arriving at the defile, 
 where they were fortunate enough to arrive without 
 being seen. They ambuscaded themselves at a cannon- 
 shot from the castle, and a moment afterwards they 
 heard a trumpet, which from the castle sounded “ To 
 horse.” Bayard, very pleased with his expedition, asked 
 the spy what road he thought the Albanians would take. 
 He replied, “ that whatever road they took, they must 
 necessarily pass a little wooden bridge, which was at a 
 mile from there, and which two men could easily guard ; 
 and when they have passed,” added he, “ send some of 
 your men to seize the bridge, so that they cannot return, 
 and I will conduct you by a gorge which I know of in 
 the mountains to a plain near the palace of the Queen 
 of Cyprus, where you will surely meet them.” It was 
 then merely a question as to who should guard the 
 bridge. The Lord of Bonnet said, “ Captain, if you have 
 no objection, Mipont and I will guard the bridge, with 
 as many men as you shall see fit to give us.” Bayard 
 consented, and gave them six men-at-arms, and ten or 
 twelve archers. 
 
 Whilst they were making these arrangements, they 
 heard the noise of the Albanian troop coming down 
 from the castle, as if they were going to a wedding, 
 reckoning upon making some good capture, according to 
 custom ; but they had reckoned too surely this time. 
 
 They let them pass the bridge, and immediately 
 Bonnet and his companions seized it, whilst Bayard and 
 his men followed the spy into the defile of the mountain. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 67 
 
 They were so well conducted that in less than half an 
 hour they found themselves in a plain where they would 
 have seen a knight at 6,000 steps. Then they saw, at 
 something more than a cannon-shot from them, their 
 enemies, who were taking the road to Vicenza, where 
 they reckoned upon an encounter with the enemy. 
 Bayard ordered his standard-bearer, the bastard Du 
 Fay, to take twenty men, and to go and skirmish, to 
 engage them in action, and then to fly, as if frightened 
 at so large a number. “ Bring them here,” said he, “ I 
 await you at the foot of the mountain, and you shall see 
 some fine sport.” Du Fay 'did not wait to say more ; 
 he saw the whole plan at a glance. He then went near 
 enough to the enemies to be recognized by his white 
 crosses. Then Scanderbeg and his men, overjoyed at 
 the meeting, began the charge, crying “Marco!” Du 
 Fay, pretending great fear, fled with all his might, ac- 
 companied by his men, towards the mountain, and were 
 pursued so hotly that the enemies precipitated them- 
 selves into the ambuscade of Bayard, who awaited them 
 fully prepared. He immediately appeared with his men, 
 who, like so many lions, fell upon the enemy, crying 
 “Empire! France!” and at the first shock they un- 
 saddled more than thirty men. The Albanians and the 
 crossbowmen kept up some time, but finally they 
 galloped off in the direction of the bridge by which they 
 had crossed an hour previously. They were so well- 
 mounted that Bayard would have lost his prey if the 
 bridge had not been guarded by Bonnet, Mipont, and 
 their men, who hindered their crossing by it. This 
 second surprise put Scanderbeg under the necessity of 
 fighting or flying. The greater number adopted the 
 latter plan : but they were so well followed that they 
 took from them two captains, thirty crossbowmen, and 
 
68 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 sixty Albanians. The rest escaped across country 
 to Trevisa. 
 
 A few days before, Bayard had received as a cadet 
 into his company a young gentleman of Dauphiny, 
 named Guignes Geoffrey, son of the Lord of Bou- 
 tieres ; he was between sixteen and seventeen years 
 old ; and, being descended from brave ancestors, he was 
 already capable of walking in their steps. He was in 
 this expedition of Bayard’s, and he gave good promise 
 of what he would do in the future. Having seen the 
 standard-bearer of Contarini leap a ditch and take to 
 flight during the action, he vaulted after him at the risk 
 of breaking his neck, and soon reached him. He gave 
 him such a sudden and powerful blow with his lance 
 that he shivered it to pieces, and upset the fugitive ; 
 then, taking his sword in his hand, he cried, “ Yield 
 yourself, sir ensign, or I will kill you.” Preferring the 
 former to the latter course, the ensign gave his sword 
 and flag into the boy’s hands. Geoffrey, more overjoyed 
 than if he had found his weight in gold, made him re- 
 mount his horse, and march before him to the place 
 where he had left Bayard. He arrived as they were 
 sounding retreat, and saw so many prisoners that he was 
 embarrassed. Bonnet was the first who perceived him, 
 and who showed him to the knight, returning with his 
 prisoner and flag. Bayard never felt more pleased in 
 his life. “ Have you taken this standard-bearer and 
 his flag?” he asked. ‘‘Yes, sir,” replied Geoffrey; 
 “ God has given me that favour ; but I assure you, if 
 he had not given himself up, I should have killed him.” 
 This speech doubled the pleasure of Bayard and the 
 whole assembled company, and he said to him, “ Bou- 
 tieres, my dear friend, you have begun well ; God grant 
 that you may continue ; ” which the result verified, for 
 he became an excellent officer. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 69 
 
 Our hero, not content with the expedition just re- 
 corded, still wished to make himself master of the 
 castle of Bassano. He spoke of it to his companions, 
 Bonnet, Mipont, and Pierrepont, his nephew and lieu- 
 tenant, and other officers who had followed him. “For,” 
 said he, “ they have that within that will enrich our 
 men.” “ That is more easily said than done,” they 
 replied. “ Remember the castle is strong, and we have 
 no artillery.” “ For my part,” answered Bayard, “ I 
 intend to have it in a quarter of an hour.” He then 
 had the two Venetian Captains, Contarini and Scander- 
 beg brought before him, and said to them : “ Gentlemen, 
 I know it is in your power to put me in instant posses- 
 sion of the castle ; I give you your choice to do so, or to 
 have your heads cut off before its gates presently.” 
 They promised to do their best; and indeed, he who 
 commanded there, a nephew of Scanderbeg’s, gave it up 
 as soon as his uncle had asked him. 
 
 They found there more than five hundred oxen and 
 cows, and a quantity of plunder ; the whole was equally 
 distributed among the victorious troops, who were greatly 
 enriched by it. The cattle were led to Vicenza, where 
 each one received the value of his share in money. They 
 found in the castle plenty of provisions for their horses, 
 and sufficient to make good cheer for themselves. They 
 made their two prisoners sit down to table with them ; 
 and at the end of the meal young Boutieres entered to 
 salute his captain, and to present his prisoner, who was 
 a man of thirty years, twice as big as he was. 
 
 At the sight of this disproportion Bayard could not 
 help laughing ; then, addressing himself to the two 
 Venetians: “ Gentlemen,” said he, “ here is a child who 
 only six days ago was a page, and who will not have a 
 beard for three years ; nevertheless he has taken your 
 flag ; what do you say to it ? I don’t know what your 
 
7 ° 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 officers think of it, but we French are less easily over- 
 come ; it requires some trouble for stronger than we 
 to wrest our flag from us.” 
 
 The Venetian ensign felt how humiliating this plea- 
 santry was to him, and he replied, in his own tongue, 
 “ My faith, captain, if I gave myself up, it was not 
 because I was afraid of the boy who took me ; he could 
 not have made me prisoner ; but I could not resist the 
 whole troop.” 
 
 Bayard at this answer looked at Boutieres, and said 
 to him, “ Do you hear what your prisoner has just said ?” 
 The young man, cut to the quick, reddened with vexa- 
 tion, and begged the knight to grant him a favour he 
 had to ask. Having obtained it, he said, “ Sir, it is that 
 you will allow me to give back his arms and horse to 
 this man, and to get upon my own ; we will go together 
 to the meadow and fight once more ; if he conquers I 
 give him back his ransom, but if I am victorious I swear 
 to him before God that I will kill him.” 
 
 “ Certainly, I grant you what you wish,” cried Bayard, 
 joyfully ; but the Venetian would not run the risk, and 
 shamefully refused the challenge ; thus Boutieres had 
 the honour of a second victory. 
 
 After they had dined, the French resumed their 
 homeward route, taking with them their prisoners. They 
 were received as well as they had been on the former 
 occasion. Bayard was congratulated by the emperor 
 himself ; but young Boutieres carried off the palm, both 
 for the capture of the Venetian ensign, and the offer he 
 had made to give 'him his revenge. Chabannes especially 
 could not sufficiently admire him, and told him that he 
 was a worthy representative of the house of Geoffrey, 
 which he had known a long time, and which had always 
 been fruitful in great men. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 7i 
 
 We must now return to the siege of Padua, where we 
 left the emperor resolved to commence the assault. This 
 prince, seeing the success of the artillery, and that one 
 of the three breaches was 500 feet wide, reproached 
 himself for his weakness, in not having commenced 
 sooner, considering the number and strength of his army. 
 He had hardly returned to his quarters with the lords 
 and princes of his court, when he sent for a secretary to 
 whom he dictated the following letter to Chabannes, 
 who was lodged quite near to him : — 
 
 “My cousin, I have been this morning to see the 
 breach of the town, which I consider easily got through 
 by him who wishes to do his duty. I have appointed 
 the assault for to-day. I therefore pray you that as 
 soon as my great drum sounds, which will be about mid- 
 day, you shall hold ready all the French gentlemen 
 under your command, at my service, by the order of my 
 brother the King of France, to go to the said assault 
 with my foot-soldiers, and I hope, with God’s help, that 
 we shall carry the place.” 
 
 The same secretary who had written the letter was 
 ordered to carry it to Chabannes, who considered the 
 emperor’s proposition very extraordinary ; however, he 
 contented himself with replying to the secretary that he 
 was exceedingly surprised that the emperor had not 
 done his brother officers and himself the honour of call- 
 ing them together to deliberate upon an affair of such 
 importance, and he also charged him to tell his imperial 
 majesty, that he would call the officers together and 
 communicate to them the contents of his letter, and he 
 had no doubt that they would be ready to obey him. 
 
 When the secretary had departed, Chabannes sent 
 word to all the captains to assemble themselves at his 
 quarters. The report had already spread that the 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 72 
 
 assault would be made on that day, and it was a curious 
 thing to see each soldier anxious to confess himself, pay- 
 ing for his turn with a good heavy sum of gold, some of 
 the men even trusting their purses to the priests who 
 confessed them. The historian adds that there was 
 never so much money before seen with an army, and he 
 has no doubt that the reverend gentlemen would not 
 have been displeased if they who entrusted their money 
 to them had fallen in the assault and remained in the 
 breach. Besides the abundance of specie, that of provi- 
 sions was not less ; and not a day passed but three or 
 four hundred lansquenets deserted, taking away to their 
 country all sorts of animals, furniture, clothes, and 
 other articles ; so much so that they valued the plunder 
 taken in the domain of Padua at two million crowns, 
 including the cost of burnt palaces and houses. 
 
 When all the captains had arrived, Chabannes or- 
 dered dinner to be served, “ Because,” said he, laughing, 
 “ I have something to say to you presently which might 
 take away your appetites.” He well knew what sort of 
 men he was talking to, and that in the whole company 
 there was not one man who was not a hero, especially 
 Bayard, whose right to that title no one disputed. The 
 meal ended, all but the French officers went out. Then 
 Chabannes read them the emperor’s letter, and read it 
 again so that they might thoroughly understand it. The 
 surprise was so great that they looked at each other, 
 each apparently expecting the other to speak. Hum- 
 bercourt broke silence, and said, laughingly, that the 
 Lord of Chabannes could send word to the emperor that 
 they were all disposed to obey him. “ I begin,” said he, 
 “ to get tired of this ; moreover we’re getting to the 
 bottom of our good wine.” 
 
 They smiled at this sally, and everyone said his say, 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 73 
 
 agreeing with Humbercourt. Bayard alone said nothing, 
 and seemed absent-minded, sitting still and picking his 
 teeth. 
 
 “ What do you say, O Hercules of France ?” Chabannes 
 asked, good humouredly, “ is this a time for picking 
 teeth ? What answer shall we make to the emperor ?” 
 
 Bayard, who never lost his good humour, replied in the 
 same tone, “ If we all wish to follow the advice of the 
 Lord D’ Humbercourt, we have only to go straight to the 
 breach ; but as it is not the business of a man-at-arms 
 to fight on foot, I could willingly dispense with the honour. 
 In the meantime, I will tell you my opinion upon the 
 subject, as you wish to know. The emperor commands 
 you to make foot-soldiers of all the French gentlemen, 
 that they may go to the breach with the lansquenets : as 
 for me, although I have neither wealth nor lordship, I 
 have the honour of being a gentleman. I do not com- 
 pare myself to you, my lords, who are all rich and 
 of great houses, as nearly all my company are ; but I 
 don’t know what the emperor is thinking of in wishing 
 to compromise so much nobility with his foot-soldiers, 
 of whom one is a shoemaker, another a baker, another a 
 tailor; and, besides, they are men who have no pre- 
 viously gained glory to recommend them, as we have ; 
 begging his majesty’s pardon, it is degrading us too 
 much. This, my lord,” added he, “ is what I think you 
 should answer : — You have assembled your captains 
 together ; they are determined to follow his orders, as 
 far as they agree with those of the king their master ; 
 that he cannot be ignorant that the king has none but 
 gentlemen under his orders, and it is too much to under- 
 rate them by mixing them with his foot-soldiers ; but 
 that he has a number of counts, German lords and 
 gentlemen, that he can put on foot with the French 
 
74 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 men-at-arms, to whom we will show the way ; and that 
 after that he can send his lansquenets to get a taste of 
 it, and see how they like it.” 
 
 When he had finished this speech, every one agreed 
 with him, without exception. The answer was then put 
 into shape, and sent to the emperor, who appeared 
 pleased with it. Immediately he had trumpets and 
 drums sounded to assemble the princes, captains, and 
 lords of his court and his army, as well of Germany 
 as of Burgundy and Flanders. He declared to them 
 that he was resolved to give the assault in an hour; 
 that he had warned the French lords and captains of it, 
 who all promised to do their duty, but had begged that 
 the German gentlemen should go with them, they will- 
 ingly marching first to the breach. “ That is why,” 
 added he, “ I entreat you all in my power to accept the 
 part, and to go on foot with them ; and I hope, at the 
 first assault, we shall carry the place.” 
 
 This speech finished, murmurings were heard amongst 
 the Germans for the space of nearly half an hour. 
 Finally, one of the best qualified, deputed to speak 
 for the rest, told the emperor that their duty was to 
 fight on horseback, like gentlemen, and not on foot ; 
 still less did it become them to go to a breach. The 
 emperor could scarcely expect any other answer, and 
 though he was extremely displeased, he hid his vexation, 
 and only said to them, “It will be necessary, then, to 
 consult as to what is best to be done.” He immediately 
 sent for a gentleman of his household, named Rocan- 
 dolff, who was ordinarily charged with his commissions 
 for the generals, and who was as often with them as 
 with his master, and said, “ Go from me to my cousin, 
 the Lord of La Palisse ; commend me to him and all 
 the French lords with him, and tell him that there will 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 75 
 
 be no assault to-day.” This answer having been taken 
 to Chabannes, everyone disarmed himself, some glad, 
 others sorry, for there were some among them, says the 
 historian , 1 who had reckoned otherwise. The emperor 
 showed great self-possession in disguising from his no- 
 bility the vexation he felt when they refused the service 
 which the French undertook, but he was not the less 
 piqued. 
 
 1 The people who were displeased at this result were evi- 
 dently the reverend depositaries of the soldiers’ money, 
 “ Certes,” adds the Loyal Servant, “ the priests were not over- 
 delighted, they being obliged to restore what had been de- 
 livered into their keeping.” The emperor removed after this 
 more than forty miles from the camp, and ordered the siege to 
 be raised. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HE valiant Prince of Anhalt thought diffe- 
 rently to the others ; he not only told the 
 emperor of his willingness to go to the 
 breach, but he went again to find the 
 French, and to show them how discontented he was 
 at what had happened. There was with him in the 
 imperial army an officer distinguished by his bravery, 
 and all sorts of good qualities, who was called Jacob 
 Emps, or Empser, a gentleman of Swabia, in the dio- 
 cese of Constance, and who in the. end passed into the 
 king’s service. He often made one of the French party 
 when there were assaults or skirmishes to be made. 
 But this Captain Jacob and the Prince of Anhalt could 
 not make up for all the Germans. The emperor played 
 a very singular part, suggested by the indignation that 
 his officers had caused him. He left his army the 
 following night very secretly, escorted by a body- 
 guard of 500 or 600 men, and retired to his own es- 
 tates, forty miles distant. Thence he sent to Constan- 
 tine, his lieutenant-general, and to the Lord of Palisse, 
 to raise the siege as well as they could under the cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 The sudden departure of this prince equally surprised 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 77 
 
 his own soldiers and the French. In the meantime, 
 pursuant to his orders, they held a council of war, and 
 resolved upon raising the siege. It was not a very easy 
 operation to transport about 140 pieces of cannon; there 
 were only carriages for about half the number. The 
 French were ordered to escort them, and by their means 
 this numerous artillery was all removed. But the Prince 
 of Anhalt, to cover the shame of his nation as much as 
 possible, did not leave the escort during the whole pro- 
 cess of removal, and he was on foot and armed from 
 morning till evening, without giving himself time to eat, 
 which acquired him the honour and esteem of the 
 French. 
 
 They practised the same manoeuvre for taking many 
 cannon that they had recourse to on their arrival : they 
 took part of them, and returned with the carriages to 
 take others, and so on till all were carried there. In the 
 meantime, the garrison of Padua made vigorous sallies 
 from hour to hour, notwithstanding which the siege was 
 raised without the loss of a single man by either army. 
 The German lansquenets burnt every house that they 
 left, and all they found on their road. Bayard, who had 
 a horror of excess, and of everything contrary to the 
 laws of war, made seven or eight of his men remain in 
 a beautiful house, which he had occupied, until after 
 the departure of the German savages, and by that means 
 preserved it from burning. 
 
 The armies arrived, after several days’ march, at 
 Vicenza, where Chabannes received letters from the 
 emperor and presents for him and the other French 
 captains, according to the power of that prince, who 
 was much more generous than rich. He had good 
 qualities, but they were obscured by an essential defect, 
 which affected his whole life : he persisted in defying 
 
78 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 the whole world, and planning alone, and without ad- 
 vice, all his enterprises. 
 
 The armies separated at Yicenza. The Germans took 
 the road to their country, excepting one garrison, which 
 remained in the town, commanded by the Lord of Reu. 
 The French army retired into the Milanais on All 
 Saints’ Day, and Bayard remained in garrison at Ve- 
 rona, where he signalized himself by new exploits 
 against the Venetians, who then held a little place in 
 the neighbourhood, named Lignago, whence they made 
 sallies into- the country. During his sojourn at Verona, 
 where he had only 200 or 300 French men-at-arms in 
 the service of the emperor, those who guarded Vicenza 
 for that prince did not believe themselves in safety. 
 Besides that they were weak themselves, they were still 
 threatened with a siege ; they withdrew to Verona, near 
 the knight, where, only -finding a moderate garrison, 
 they passed beyond, and encamped fifteen or eighteen 
 miles farther off, at a village named St. Boniface. The 
 winter began to make itself felt, and Bayard’s people 
 were obliged to leave their place to find forage, and 
 sometimes go to a great distance — so much so, that he was 
 obliged to have them escorted, because from time to time 
 he lost grooms and horses in encounters with the enemy. 
 
 The Venetians had a brave and enterprising captain, 
 who annoyed the French every day by making inroads 
 to the very gates of Verona. Bayard resolved to meet 
 him and moderate his ardour. For that reason he 
 wished himself to escort the first foraging party, and to 
 see close this Venetian, named John Paul Manfroni. Man- 
 froni, informed of Bayard’s design by a spy who was near 
 him, wished to profit by the occasion, and to take sufficient 
 men with him to be the stronger party, and give the 
 knight the worst of it. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 79 
 
 One day the foragers, having set out from Verona, 
 supported by thirty or forty men-at-arms or archers, 
 commanded by the Captain Pierrepont, went towards 
 the country houses to forage. The knight, who believed 
 himself master of his secret, was concealed, with 100 
 men-at-arms, in a village named St. Martin, on the high 
 road from Verona, and about six miles from it. He 
 sent scouts out to reconnoitre, who soon returned with 
 the news that they had seen the enemy, to the number 
 of 500 horse, drawing up right where the foragers were. 
 Manfroni, warned by his spy of Bayard’s intention, and 
 of the number of his men, had concealed five or six 
 hundred men in a deserted palace, pike men and arque- 
 busiers, and had told them what to do, especially not to 
 appear until they saw him fly, and the French after 
 him. He could not form his plans better than to sur- 
 round them, and thus put them between two fires. 
 
 As soon as Bayard learnt of the arrival of the enemy’s 
 troops, he ordered his own to horse, without being in the 
 least afraid of the disproportion. He had not gone two 
 miles when he discovered them, and marching straight 
 forward to charge them, crying “ France!” and “Em- 
 pire !” They kept firm a moment, but on the approach 
 of the French they pretended to retreat, marching back- 
 wards towards the ambuscade, which they passed at 
 about 100 feet distant, always appearing to defend them- 
 selves ; then they stopped suddenly, and began crying, 
 “ Marco ! Mai’co ! ” At this signal the foot soldiers 
 emerged from their ambuscade and fired upon the 
 French. Bayard’s horse was killed at the first discharge, 
 and he fell heavily, with one leg under the animal. Im- 
 mediately his men-at-arms, who would have given their 
 lives to save his, surrounded him, and one of them, 
 named Grandmont, dismounted and disengaged him. 
 
8o 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 But however good their defence, they could not hinder 
 Bayard and Grandmont from being taken prisoners by 
 some foot-soldiers, who wished to deprive them of their 
 arms. Pierrepont, who was with the foragers, hearing the 
 noise, put his horse to the gallop, and arrived as the two 
 prisoners were already out of the ranks to be taken 
 away. At sight of this fury seized him ; he fell like a 
 lion upon those who guarded them, and by furious 
 sword blows obliged them to release their prey and to 
 fly towards their troop, which was engaged with the 
 French, and both sides fought well. 
 
 Bayard and Grandmont, remounted, ran to the help 
 of their men, who were sorely pressed both in front and 
 in the rear, but at the sight of their captain and Pierre- 
 pont they regained courage. However, the inequality 
 was too great; the Venetians were ten to one, without 
 taking into account the inconvenience that the arque- 
 busiers caused the French. Bayard felt the danger, and 
 said to his nephew Pierrepont, “ Captain, if we do not 
 gain the high road we shall perish here, and if we can 
 reach it we shall escape in spite of them, and, God help- 
 ing us, without loss.” “I think with you,” replied 
 Pierrepont, and they began to retire towards the high 
 road, which they finally reached with the greatest diffi- 
 culty, fighting every step of the way. They had, how- 
 ever, unsaddled seven or eight horsemen, and put an 
 end to forty or fifty of the foot-soldiers, without losing 
 one of their own men. 
 
 VV hen Bayard and his troop had gained the high road 
 they formed a square, always fighting as they retired, 
 and now and then turning upon their enemies, to whom 
 they gave some trouble ; but they had on their flank 
 foot-soldiers, whose arquebuses inconvenienced them 
 much. The knight again had his horse wounded under 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 81 
 
 him ; feeling it stagger he dismounted, and performed 
 prodigies of valour, without any other arms than his 
 sword. He was obliged, however, to yield to numbers. 
 He was already surrounded, when the bastard Du Fay, 
 his standard-bearer, came with his archers, and fell upon 
 the Venetians with so much bravery and success that he 
 took him out of their hands, and re-mounted him in 
 spite of them. Then, again forming a square squadron, 
 they regained the high road to the town with the 
 honour of the day and that of having fought against a 
 number ten times as large as their own, of having dis- 
 mounted a number of their enemies, and only lost a 
 single man. 
 
 As the night was coming on, Bayard ordered that the 
 charge should cease, and that they should retire towards 
 St. Martin, whence they had set out at the commence- 
 ment of the day. He ordered a halt on a bridge fur- 
 nished with barriers, to see if they would not be fol- 
 lowed. But the Captain Manfroni, seeing that they were 
 out of his reach, and that they might receive help from 
 Verona, beat a retreat, and gave orders for taking the 
 road to St. Boniface. He made the foot soldiers defile 
 before him; but they were overcome with fatigue, 
 having fought for four or five hours without pause. 
 They wished to remain at a village four or five miles 
 from St. Boniface, in spite of their captain, who was 
 forced to leave them there, and to continue his route 
 with his horse soldiers. Manfroni was in a very ill 
 temper at the treatment they had received at the hands 
 of so small a body of men. 
 
 Bayard and his troop passed the night at St. Martin, 
 where they found plenty with which to make good cheer, 
 and to make up for the fatigue of the day. They con- 
 gratulated each other upon their happy escape from the 
 
 G 
 
82 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 danger in which they had been placed, and with so little 
 loss, only having lost one archer and four horses. 
 
 During the supper a spy of Bayard’s arrived, coming 
 from St. Boniface. When he was brought in, the knight- 
 asked him what the enemy was about ; the spy replied 
 that they were in great numbers at St. Boniface, and that 
 they boasted that soon they should take Verona, by 
 means of the intelligence that they had received. “ But 
 as I went out,” added he, “the Captain Manfroni 
 arrived there, very much fatigued, and still more vexed, 
 for I heard him say that he had come from the skirmish, 
 where he had been fighting with devils, and not men. 
 And at four or five miles from here,” said the spy, “ I 
 passed through a village full of their foot-soldiers, who 
 are staying there, and who appeared to me very much 
 fatigued.” “ I wager my head,” said Bayard, “ that 
 they are those we saw to-day, and that they are so 
 fatigued with their day’s work that they have not been 
 able to go farther. If you are willing, comrades, they 
 shall be ours. We will have our horses well fed, and 
 towards four o’clock in the morning we will go by 
 moonlight and wake them up.” All were of his opinion, 
 and after having had their horses well groomed, and 
 ordered the watch, everyone went to rest excepting 
 Bayard, who never slept when he had the idea of an ex- 
 pedition in his head. He was on horseback by three 
 o’clock in the morning with his troop. Silently they 
 took the road to the village that the spy pointed out, 
 and on their arrival they found neither watch nor 
 sentinel. They began their ordinary cry, “Empire! 
 France ! To the death ! to the death ! ” The sleepers 
 awoke at the noise, and still half asleep, came out of 
 the houses, and found outside men ready to slaughter 
 them like beasts. Their captain assembled two or three 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 83 
 
 hundred men, thinking they would be able to defend 
 themselves, but his opponents did not give him time ; 
 he was charged so vigorously that he and two brothers 
 only were left of all of them. The two brothers were 
 exchanged for two French gentlemen, prisoners of the 
 Republic. 
 
 When Bayard had so gloriously ended this double 
 expedition, he thought he ought not to risk losing the 
 fruit of it by any check, so he returned to Verona, where 
 he was triumphantly received. The Venetians, on the 
 contrary, were enraged at the second defeat of their 
 men, and the proveditore Andre Gritti wanted to lay 
 the blame on the Captain Manfroni, who justified himself 
 well, but meditated having his revenge with as little 
 delay as possible. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 EVEN or eight days after the massacre of the 
 Venetian foot-soldiers, this Captain Manfroni 
 bargained with a spy, who was employed 
 by Bayard and himself, went from one to 
 the other, and took money from both ; and yet was better 
 affected towards Manfroni than Bayard. Manfroni thus 
 instructed him : “ Go to Verona, and make the Captain 
 Bayard understand that the senate has nominated the 
 present commander at Lignago to go to the Levant with 
 the state galleys; that the proveditore has orders to 
 send me in his place to Lignago, and that you know for 
 a certainty that I shall start for my destination to- 
 morrow at daybreak with 300 light horse, and no foot- 
 soldiers. I know his high spirit too well to doubt that 
 he will allow the opportunity to escape of visiting me 
 on m y journey ; and if he comes, I promise you that the 
 best that can happen to him will be to be taken prisoner ; 
 for I shall put 200 men-at-arms and 2000 foot-soldiers in 
 L Isola della Scala, in ambush; and if you fulfil my com- 
 mission well, I promise you, on my honour as a gentle- 
 man, 200 golden ducats.” 
 
 # The spy, dazzled by such a large sum, promised to do 
 his duty, and went to Verona the same day. He went 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 85 
 
 straight to Bayard’s quarters, where he was well known 
 to the servants, who saw him often, and believed him 
 faithful to their master. They took him to him while 
 he was still at supper, and he was better received than 
 he deserved. 
 
 “ Vicentin,” said Bayard to him, “ you do not come 
 for nothing : what news ? ” 
 
 “ Good news, sir,” he replied. At these words Bayard 
 left the table and drew him aside. The false spy told 
 him his commission with so much apparent faith that 
 Bayard was as glad as he could possibly be. He or- 
 dered supper for his informant and feasted him well ; 
 then he called the Captains Pierrepont, Du Fay, La 
 Varrenne, who then bore his flag, and the Lord of 
 Sucker, a Burgundian gentleman, who had supped with 
 them, and told them word for word what he had just 
 heard of the movements of the Captain Manfroni, that 
 he was to be at Lignago the next day with only 300 
 horse. He asked them if they were in the humour to 
 follow him, saying that the day should not pass till Man- 
 froni had been well punished. Everyone being will- 
 ing, they agreed at once to set out at daybreak with 
 200 men-at-arms, and sent word to the Lord of 
 Conti (Frederick de Mailly), and made him promise 
 to be ready by a given time. He had no thought of 
 refusing, he liked the business too well, especially in 
 Bayard’s company. Then they separated to get them- 
 selves ready to assemble in good time. Thus would they 
 have gone blindly to destruction if Providence had not 
 saved them. The Lord of Sucker, who lodged at a 
 good distance from Bayard, returning to his own quar- 
 ters, saw the same spy leaving a house which he sus- 
 pected ; it was occupied by a noble Veronese, known to 
 be more Venetian than imperial. Sucker took the spy 
 
86 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 by the collar and asked him where he had come from. 
 The spy, taken by surprise, excused himself so badly that 
 he only increased the suspicions of his unfaithfulness. 
 The captain, without releasing his hold, returned to 
 Bayard dragging the spy with him. Our hero was about 
 to retire for the night ; he, however, ordered the spy to 
 be put in security, and then Sucker told him what had 
 happened, that he had seen this man come from the 
 house of the Seigneur Voltege, the most suspected par- 
 tisan of the republic in the town, that in his surprise he 
 had changed colour, and stammered, and not been able 
 to justify himself. 
 
 Bayard, on hearing this, did not doubt for an instant 
 that treason was on foot. He sent for the spy, and 
 asked him what he had been doing at Yoltege’s 
 house. The coward replied at first that he had a rela- 
 tion in the house ; then he gave another excuse ; finally, 
 he contradicted himself five or six times. They brought 
 handcuffs to make him explain more clearly, and Bayard 
 had the goodness to promise him, on the faith of a gen- 
 tleman, that no harm should happen to him although he 
 had conspired against the knight’s life, provided he told 
 the whole truth, but that if he did not he should be 
 hanged at break of day. 
 
 The spy, seeing that he could no longer dissimulate, 
 threw himself on his knees before the knight, and begged 
 for mercy ; then he confessed the plan of Captain Man- 
 froni to surprise him in an ambuscade of 200 men-at- 
 arms, and 2000 foot-soldiers in L’lsola della Scala; that 
 he had been to Voltege to inform him of it, and to know 
 of him how he could some night give up one of the gates 
 of the town to the Proveditore Andre Gritti, and many 
 other things besides ; but that Voltege had declared he 
 would enter into no treason, and that as the emperor had 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 87 
 
 become his master he wished to keep faith with him. 
 When he had finished his confession Bayard said to him 
 calmly, “ Vicentin, I have employed to very bad purpose 
 the ducats I have given you, and though I have always 
 looked upon you as a rascal, you are far worse than I 
 should have believed you — you richly deserve death, but 
 as I have given you my word that I will not take your 
 life, I will keep faith, and have you put in safety out of 
 the town, but beware of entering it again, for the whole 
 world shall not prevent my hanging you if you do.” At 
 these words he drove him from his presence and had him 
 shut up in a room to await further orders. 
 
 Bayard, left alone with the Captain Sucker, said to him, 
 “ What can we do to repay Captain Manfroni for the 
 good turn he intended us ? We must have our revenge, 
 and if you will do what I tell you, believe me we shall 
 soon be quits with him.” 
 
 “ You have only to speak,” replied the captain, “ I am 
 ready to do anything.” 
 
 “ Go then at once,” said Bayard, “ to the Prince of 
 Anhalt, present my compliments to him, and give him an 
 exact account of this affair ; beg him to give us 2000 
 lansquenets to-morrow, whom we will take with us to a 
 good place, and, if you do not see wonders, never believe 
 me again.” 
 
 The Captain Sucker fulfilled Bayard’s commission, and 
 the prince, who loved him, and esteemed his valour, 
 granted his request immediately, saying that Bayard was 
 as much master of his troops as he was himself or more 
 so, and that he wished he could be one of the party. 
 Then he sent his secretary with his orders to four or 
 five captains, who were ready with their companies as 
 soon as those who had been warned in the evening. 
 
 The Baron of Conti, who did not know what had 
 
88 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 happened, was astonished at the number ; but when he 
 was informed of the plot by Bayard, “ On my faith,” 
 said he, “ we shall have a merry day’s work.” 
 
 The gates being opened, the whole of these troops 
 took the road to L’lsola della Scala. Now, at two miles 
 from there, there was a village called Servoda, where 
 the knight put the Captain Sucker with the 2000 lans- 
 quenets in ambush, promising to lead the enemy under 
 his very nose, and to give him an opportunity of acquir- 
 ing honour. Bayard and the Baron of Conti, with their 
 troop, marched straight to Isola, without appearing to 
 know who were concealed ; they were in a beautiful 
 plain, very open, where they saw at a little distance the 
 Captain Manfroni with some light horse. Bayard sent his 
 standard-bearer, the bastard Du Fay, with some archers, 
 to commence the skirmish, and followed him pretty closely 
 with his soldiers. But he soon saw emerging from Isola 
 the foot-men of Venice, with a troop of soldiers; he 
 affected fright and ordered the trumpet to sound the 
 recall. Thereupon Du Fay, who had his lesson by 
 heart, retired towards the main body and formed with 
 it a single square squadron, which feigning to retire 
 towards Verona, went slowly to the village where was 
 the ambuscade of lansquenets, to whom an archer had 
 been already sent to order them to prepare for battle. 
 The Venetian soldiery, supported by the infantry, 
 charged the French rudely, making a deafening noise 
 with instruments, as though they were sure of victory. 
 The French on their side did not break, and skirmished 
 prudently and with precaution till they had arrived at 
 the village of Sevoda. Then the lansquenets appeared 
 in good order at a bow-shot from the cavalry, and 
 Bayard cried immediately, “ Charge ! ” 
 
 The Venetians, already surprised at the sight of the 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 89 
 
 infantry, whom they did not expect, were very much 
 more astonished at the shock they were obliged to 
 receive from the men-at-arms. Nevertheless, they bore 
 it very well at first, although many of their men were cut 
 down. The lansquenets afterwards fell upon their foot- 
 soldiers, who, having no way of retreat, were cut to pieces; 
 their enemies disdaining to take a single prisoner. 
 
 Manfroni, witness of his own defeat, did his duty very 
 well ; but seeing no other resource than flight, gal- 
 loped furiously away towards St. Boniface. He was 
 pursued ; but Bayard ordered a retreat, and his whole 
 troop assembled, having made considerable booty, and 
 gained many horses. It also had taken prisoners about 
 sixty men-at-arms, who were led to Yerona. The 
 loss of the Venetians was complete. Besides the pri- 
 soners already mentioned, twenty-five men-at-arms were 
 left upon the field, and of their 2000 foot-soldiers not 
 one escaped. A triumphant reception was given to the 
 conquerors at Verona. French, Burgundians, and Lans- 
 quenets shared the praise, their companions only regret- 
 ting that they had not been with them. 
 
 If this day was glorious for Bayard, and for all those 
 who took part with him, it was still happier by reason 
 of the discovered treason, without which discovery they 
 would all have infallibly perished. However, we must 
 render justice to Bayard’s greatness of mind on the two 
 occasions that we are about to speak of. In the first, 
 Manfroni attacks him with 500 men, and prepares an 
 ambuscade of 600 others, Bayard only having 140 ; in 
 the second, the same use of treason in having him told 
 that he should march with only 300 light horse, and 
 reckoning well that the knight would not have more, he 
 prepares another ambuscade, where he puts 2000 men, 
 to make sure of overwhelming him. The knight, on the 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 90 
 
 contrary, will only take at first 200 soldiers to oppose to 
 300 of the enemy, and when he knows the treason, in- 
 stead of revenging himself on Manfroni, and attacking 
 him with superior forces, he contents himself with the 
 same number. This is what he practised during his 
 whole life. He always had a horror of treason and 
 traitors, and we shall see in the course of his history 
 that, after God, he reckoned more on the valour of his 
 troops than on the superiority of their number. When 
 Bayard returned to his quarters, he had the spy brought 
 before him, and said to him, “ I have given you my 
 word, and I must keep it. Go to the Venetian camp, 
 and ask the Signor Manfroni if Captain Bayard has 
 done as much as he ; and tell him from me that we will 
 see each other again as soon as he likes, at the same 
 price.” That said, he had him taken out of the town by 
 two archers. The spy was fool enough to go straight 
 to St. Boniface, but he had hardly arrived there, when 
 Manfroni had him hanged as a traitor, without even 
 hearing a word he had to say. 
 
 The winter suspended operations. However, the 
 Venetians, who still held Lignago, and had a good 
 garrison there, often made raids upon that of Verona, 
 which returned the compliment. 
 
 At the commencement of this year (1510), that is to 
 say, immediately after Easter, the Duke of Nemours, 
 nephew of the king, went into Italy. He had with him 
 the illustrious Captain Louis d’Ars, of whom we have 
 spoken several times already. They were received in a 
 manner consistent with their rank by the grand-master 
 of Chaumont, governor of Milan, and by all the heads of 
 the army. But no one received more marks of esteem 
 and friendship than Bayard, as well from the prince 
 (who had known him for a long time, and who had been 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 91 
 
 informed of his exploits since they had met) as from 
 Louis d’Ars, his first teacher in the art of fighting. The 
 king sent an addition of 2000 lansquenets and several 
 other captains, under the Lord of Molard, to join the 
 army in Italy. 
 
 The grand-master went to lay siege before Lignago, 
 and to cut off his help and provisions, Milaut d’Albgre 
 was sent to Vicenza with 500 men-at-arms, and 4000 or 
 5000 lansquenets of the brave Prince of Anhalt, who 
 had for his lieutenant the Captain Jacob Emps. The 
 place stood a deal of cannonading a tolerably long time 
 by a numerous artillery, to which was added that of the 
 Duke of Ferrara, where was, amongst others, a culverine 
 of twenty feet long, which the adventurers called the 
 great devil. The town was taken at last, and quarter 
 was given to none. Molard and his adventurers did 
 wonders, for they could not wait till the breach should 
 be of a proper size to give the assault. The grand- 
 master placed La Cropte-Daillon there as governor, and 
 with him 100 men-at-arms, of whom he had the charge, 
 under the Marquis of Montferrat, and 1 000 foot-soldiers, 
 commanded by the captains Le Herisson and Jacques 
 Corse, a Neapolitan. During the siege of Lignago, the 
 grand-master heard of the death of his uncle, the Car- 
 dinal d’Amboise. He felt this loss so much that he 
 could never be consoled for it. His grief degenerated 
 into a languor, of which he died a short time after, as 
 we shall mention in its place. He was under obligations 
 to this great man for the dignities which he enjoyed, 
 having become successively grand-master, marshal and 
 admiral of France, and governor of the duchy of Milan. 
 This grand prelate, to whom one cannot refuse praise, 
 whenever there is occasion to mention him, had also 
 done much good to all his house, then very numerous, 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 92 
 
 in the church, the court, and the camp. All the his- 
 torians of his time agree in praising him for the wisdom 
 of his ministry, on the possession of the king’s entire 
 confidence, and upon the administration of the finances, 
 which were always abundant, without fresh taxes upon 
 the people, although Louis XII. had almost continual 
 wars to maintain; finally, by his scrupulous disin- 
 terestedness, never having wished for more than one 
 benefice. He died Archbishop of Rouen, where his 
 memory is revered to the present day. His death took 
 place, says the historian Bouchet, a short time after 
 the breaking of the treaty of Cambray. 
 
 The grand-master of Chaumont, his nephew, notwith- 
 standing his affliction, which he tried to conceal as much 
 as he could, was not less watchful of the interests of the 
 king, his master. Having then provided the guard of 
 Lignago, he went to unite his troops to those of the 
 emperor, to march against the Venetians, and reduce 
 them. Four hundred Spanish and Neapolitan men-at- 
 arms had newly arrived to the assistance of the emperor. 
 They were the finest troops one could see, under the 
 orders of the Duke of Termes . 1 They put them in 
 garrison at Verona to refresh them. The two armies 
 went to camp at a town named Sainte Croix, where they 
 stopped to await the emperor, who was expected; but 
 they waited in vain. 
 
 When they left the camp of Sainte Croix to go to 
 Montselles that the Venetians had retaken, a very un- 
 fortunate event happened which deserves to be recorded. 
 
 1 I have not been able to discover (says M. de Berville) 
 who the Duke of Termes was at the period of which we are 
 writing. There must certainly be an error in the original 
 history. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 93 
 
 Near Longara there is a mountain, in which there is a 
 natural cavern, more than a mile in length. The in- 
 habitants of the low country, frightened at the war, had 
 taken refuge there, to the number of 2000 persons, men 
 and women, gentle and simple, with their goods and a 
 quantity of provisions. They had some fire-arms with 
 which to defend the entrance in case of attack, and this 
 entrance was so narrow that only one man at a time 
 could pass through it. 
 
 The adventurers, plunderers, of whom the most cow- 
 ardly are generally foremost, discovered this cave. They 
 wished to enter, but they begged them not to do so, 
 because, said they, those who were within having left 
 their goods in their houses, there was no booty to be 
 obtained. The adventurers thought this advice was 
 only given them to turn them from the project they had 
 formed of penetrating into the cave, and because there 
 was undoubtedly some good capture to make ; that is 
 why they determined to force an entrance ; but they 
 fired on them from the cavern, and killed two. The 
 others were intimidated by this unexpected event, and 
 dared not undertake a fresh attempt. They despatched 
 some among them to call their comrades, who hastened 
 to the spot, following their custom of being more diligent 
 in the performance of a bad than a good action. When 
 these villains saw that they could not enter by force, 
 they revenged themselves cruelly. They raised a pile 
 of wood, hay, and straw before the mouth of the cave, 
 and set fire to it. In a moment such a stifling smoke 
 arose that the cave was full of it, and the air only enter- 
 ing by this opening, all its occupants were suffocated 
 before the fire had touched one of them. 
 
 Among these unhappy victims a number of gentlemen 
 and ladies were found, although dead, as if asleep, and 
 
94 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 not in the least disfigured. When the smoke had dis- 
 persed, the adventurers entered, and made immense 
 booty. Their barbarity horrified the grand-master and 
 all the heads of the army. 
 
 But Bayard, who was a sworn enemy to such expedi- 
 tions, had no rest till he had laid hands on some of these 
 brigands. Two of them fell into his hands, one man with 
 one ear, and the other with none. He made strict in- 
 quiries into their mode of life, and found more than was 
 necessary for their deliverance to the provost, who had 
 them hanged before the entrance to the grotto, in pre- 
 sence of Bayard, who wished to be a witness of their 
 punishment. 
 
 While the execution was taking place, a kind of 
 phantom issued from the cave, a child of fifteen years, 
 yellowed by smoke, and more dead than alive. He was 
 taken to the knight, who asked him by what miracle he 
 had escaped. The child answered that when he saw the 
 horrible smoke, he fled to the farthest extremity of the 
 cavern, where he had observed the rock broken up above, 
 and that thence he had received a little air. He related 
 also a very deplorable circumstance, which was that 
 some gentlemen and their wives, having seen the prepa- 
 rations for the burning, had wished to go out, at the risk 
 of perishing outside, rather than remain within; but 
 that the peasants shut up with them, and who formed 
 the stronger and the larger number, had prevented 
 them with pikes and other arms, saying, “ As we must 
 perish here, you shall also remain.” 
 
 We have seen that from Sainte Croix the armies 
 turned towards Montselle, that the Venetians had re- 
 taken. They had fortified it, and placed there a garrison 
 of 1000 or 1200 men. On the road, Bayard, D’Alegre, 
 and the Lord Mercure, an Albanian captain in the ser- 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 95 
 
 vice of the emperor, met a troop of light horse in the 
 service of the republic, whom they called Croates (the 
 troop of Croatia), more Turk than Christian, and noted 
 for plunder. They were coming to see if there was any- 
 thing to be done, and booty to be gained ; but all the 
 good they got by their expedition was to be left nearly 
 all dead on the field or prisoners. Amongst these was a 
 cousin of that Lord Mercure, and his greatest enemy, 
 who had unjustly despoiled him of all his goods in 
 Croatia, their native country. They recognized each 
 other, and the conqueror, remembering all the ill the 
 other had done him, refused to ransom or exchange 
 him, although he remonstrated with him, that as he was 
 a prisoner of war, he ought to enjoy the common right 
 of ransom, and he offered him 6000 ducats and six 
 Turkish horses of admirable beauty. 
 
 “ We will speak of that at our leisure,” said Mercure ; 
 “ but in good faith, if I were in your power, as you are 
 in mine, what would you do with me ? ” 
 
 “ As you press me so much,” replied the other, “ I 
 declare to you that if you were in my power, as I am in 
 yours, all the gold in the world should not hinder me 
 from cutting you to pieces.” 
 
 “ Truly,” said Mercure, “ I have no desire to serve 
 you worse.” 
 
 At that moment he ordered his Albanians to sabre 
 him and his Croates, which was so promptly and so well 
 executed, that there was neither captain nor man who 
 did not receive ten superfluous strokes. Afterwards 
 they cut all their heads off", and bore them in triumph at 
 the end of their pikes, after the manner of the Turks. 
 These Croates wore a singular dress ; amongst other 
 things, they had their heads covered with a bonnet 
 made of many sheets of paper pasted together, impene- 
 trable to the sword. 
 
9 6 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 Montselles was besieged and cannonaded for four or 
 five days. It was so well fortified that it would never 
 have been taken without the indiscreet and too frequent 
 sallies of the garrison, which came sometimes within a 
 stone’s throw of the fort against the French adventurers, 
 who only wanted to go and see what was going on in 
 the place. One day Captain Molard’s men went with a 
 gentleman named the Baron of Montfaucon to skirmish 
 with the men in the castle, who received them gallantly, 
 and repulsed them two or three times with loss, but who 
 finally followed them too far, so that, when they wished 
 to retire, they were so fatigued that they could hardly 
 drag themselves along. When the rest of the garrison 
 saw that all was lost, they retired into a large tower, 
 where they were besieged ; and as they would not give 
 themselves up, they set fire to the foot, and the greater 
 part allowed themselves to be burnt rather than to be 
 taken prisoners; others jumped out of the windows, and 
 were received on the point of their pikes. Finally 
 almost all perished. On the French side a gentleman 
 named Camican was killed, and the Baron of Montfaucon 
 was mortally wounded ; however, he recovered, but with 
 much difficulty. 
 
 t 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 HE town of Montselles having been taken, 
 they increased the fortifications, and put a 
 strong garrison there, with the design of 
 going immediately to lay siege to Padua. 
 
 While these plans were in progress, they heard that 
 the Pope Julius II. had declared war against the Duke 
 of Ferrara, an ally of the king, to whom this prince had 
 written to obtain help. The king granted it him, and 
 gave orders to the grandmaster, his lieutenant-general, 
 to help the duke. Chaumont, in consequence, sent him 
 a detachment of 4000 men, under the orders of the 
 Lords of Clermont, Montoison, de Fontrailles, du Lude, 
 and Bayard. Added to these were 800 Swiss, newly 
 arrived in the army as adventurers, commanded by a 
 captain of their nation, named Jacob Zemberc. These 
 officers and their troops were received with much joy 
 by the Duke and Duchess of Ferrara and their subjects. 
 
 Before speaking of the war between the Pope and the 
 Duke of Ferrara, it will be well in this place to give an 
 account of a check that a party of French received 
 through the treachery of a spy. La Cropte-Daillon was 
 hardly in possession of his government of Lignago, when 
 
 H 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 98 
 
 he fell dangerously ill. He had with him a great number 
 ~of volunteers, gentlemen. One amongst them was named 
 Guyon de Cantiers, braver and more venturesome than 
 prudent. The Venetians made incursions even to the 
 gates of the town ; but the soldiers of the garrison, who 
 only had orders to guard it, dared not go out. Guyon 
 de Cantiers had made acquaintance with the gentlemen 
 of the town of Montagnane, at twelve or fifteen miles 
 from Lignago, who supplied him with spies. One of 
 them often came to see this officer in garrison, and 
 assured him one day that, if he could go out with a 
 small number of horse and foot-soldiers, he would pro- 
 vide him with the means of carrying off the proveditore 
 Andr6 Gritti, who often came to Montagnane with two 
 or three hundred light horse. He promised to give him 
 notice of the best day for the occasion, and to show him 
 an ambuscade, where he could place himself in the 
 morning, and whence he could assuredly carry off the 
 proveditore, and immediately afterwards take the town, 
 where there was plenty of plunder to be had. Cantiers, 
 who was no less eager to signalize himself by an exploit 
 than to take possession of this booty, promised to act as 
 the spy directed, and charged him to warn him of the 
 exact time. 
 
 This traitor, having returned to Montagnane, told the 
 commander of his agreement with Cantiers, and pro- 
 mised to give him up a party from the garrison of 
 Lignago, and to give him the power of retaking the 
 place even, which was of consequence to the Venetian 
 senate. The commander thought of the project, and 
 by an express informed the proveditore of it, who im- 
 mediately sent 300 men-at-arms, 800 light horse, and 
 2000 foot-soldiers. 
 
 The very same day the spy returned to Cantiers, who 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 99 
 
 was charmed to see him, and asked him what news he 
 brought. “ Very good for you, if you will profit by it,” 
 he answered in a confident tone. “ The proveditore 
 arrives this evening in our town with only 100 horse. 
 If you will be in the country to-morrow before day, I 
 will give him up to you.” Cantiers, transported with 
 joy, ran to announce this news to his companions, 
 amongst others to a gentleman who was their standard- 
 bearer, named young Malherbe. Every one wished to 
 take part in the expedition ; but to do so the permission 
 of the commander, La Cropte-Daillon, was necessary, 
 who, being still ill, kept his room. Cantiers and Mal- 
 herbe went to ask him, and related the enterprise as the 
 most glorious and advantageous in the world. La 
 Cropte was too wise to profit by their advice at first. 
 “You know,” said he, “that the place has been con- 
 fided to me alone on my life and honour, to keep it. If 
 any misfortune happened to you, I should be a dis- 
 honoured man, and I should die of grief, so I cannot 
 allow you to adopt this plan.” They insisted more 
 strongly than before, assuring him that their spy was a 
 safe man ; finally, they said so much to him that rather 
 by force or importunity than of his own good-will he 
 gave them leave. 
 
 The proveditore had sent as ambuscade, at two or 
 three miles round Montagnane, 200 men-at-arms and 
 1000 foot-soldiers, with orders to let pass all that went 
 out from Lignago, and to cut off the passage from 
 behind, which plan was only too well carried out for 
 the unfortunate Cantiers and his companions. 
 
 These, who would have taken permission themselves 
 if their commander had refused it, gave notice to their 
 troop, of the hour when it would be necessary to be on 
 horseback, to the number of fifty men-at-arms, under 
 
IOO 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 the orders of Malherbe, and 300 foot-soldiers, led by 
 Cantiers, and they set out from Lignago just before two 
 o’clock, guided by their faithless spy, who led them to 
 butchery. 
 
 They followed the high road from Lignago to Mon- 
 tagnane, the foot-soldiers before, and the cavalry form- 
 ing the wing, passed without challenge a little village, 
 where the first ambuscade was, and advanced to within 
 a mile of the town. There the spy left them, to go, as he 
 said, to see what was going on at Montagnane. They 
 let him go ; but they might better have killed him, for 
 he went straight to the proveditore, and said to him, 
 “ I have brought you the best part of the garrison of 
 Lignago with the rope round their necks, and, if you 
 like, not one of them can escape you. They are at 
 about a mile from here, and less than that from the 
 ambuscade. Gritti was soon on horseback with all his 
 men, and sent 200 horse forward to skirmish. The 
 French were full of joy, thinking that the proveditore 
 was in this first party, and that they were going to 
 capture him. They charged the company vigorously, 
 but the men turned and fled towards the chief ambus- 
 cade. Then the great secret was explained, and the 
 French, greatly astonished, returned to their foot- 
 soldiers, and said to them, “We are lost; they are 
 more than 3000 ; we must try to save ourselves.” The 
 Venetians followed closely on their heels crying, “Marco, 
 slaughter ! ” 
 
 The French, seeing the danger, put their foot-soldiers 
 in front, and the cavalry behind, to support them, and 
 in this manner retreated, without loss, to the village 
 where the first Venetian ambuscade was. These showed 
 themselves immediately at the sound of the trumpet, in 
 the order that they were, and shut out the road to 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 IOI 
 
 Lignago from the French, who found themselves sur- 
 rounded by a number ten times as large as their own, 
 However, they defended themselves like lions, and occu- 
 pied this great number more than four hours without 
 being broken. Then Gritti sent his cross-bowmen to 
 attack the foot-soldiers on the flank, which soon scattered 
 them, but did not hinder them from retiring to within 
 four miles from their place. Finally attacked on all sides, 
 their men-at-arms dismounted, the greater part of their 
 horses slain, and only one to ten of their adversaries, 
 they were obliged to yield, and in such a manner, that 
 out of three hundred not one was left. Cantiers, their 
 captain, seeing that all was lost, threw himself upon 
 the enemy, and slew six with his own hand before 
 he perished himself. Malherbe continued an hour 
 longer with his men-at-arms, and was at last made 
 prisoner with twenty-five of his men ; all the rest 
 were slain. Hot one man remained to carry the news 
 to Lignago. 
 
 The proveditore Gritti, seeing that his victory was so 
 complete, thought of a stratagem to surprise Lignago. 
 He had all the dead Frenchmen stripped, and their 
 dress put upon as many of his own soldiers, both foot 
 and horse. Then he gave them 120 of his men to lead 
 as prisoners, with three falconers that the French had 
 brought, and he ordered them to go to the town, and to 
 cry on arriving, “ France! France! victory! victory!” 
 “ Those in the town,” said he, “ will think their own men 
 have arrived victorious ; and to deceive them better, 
 carry their standards with some of ours, as if you had 
 gained them. They will certainly open the gate to you, 
 and you can seize it. I shall march at a bowshot from 
 you, and join you at the first sound of the trumpet. If 
 you play your parts well, Lignago will be ours in the 
 
102 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 day, and you know of what importance it is to the 
 Republic.” 
 
 This order was perfectly executed. The V enetians ap- 
 proached the place to the sound of trumpets and clarions, 
 and began crying, “ Victory ! ” La Cropte had a lieu- 
 tenant named Bernard de Villars, a man of quality, an old 
 and experienced soldier, who, seeing this triumphant troop 
 approach, went up to the donjon of the gate to recon- 
 noitre it. He suspected the marching and the coun- 
 tenances of both the foot and horse soldiers. “ These 
 are the dresses and horses of our men,” said he ; “ but 
 they are not mounted in the French fashion ; they do 
 not manage their horses as we do. My heart tells me 
 that our men have met with some misfortune, and that 
 this is only a stratagem.” Under this idea he sent a 
 man to have the drawbridge lowered and raised again. 
 “ If these are our men,” said he, “ you will recognize 
 them ; if not, save yourselves behind the barrier. I 
 have two pieces of loaded cannon, with which I shall 
 receive them.” The soldier executed the order. He 
 went out of the place to reconnoitre the troop, and 
 cried, “ Who goes there ? Where is Captain Mal- 
 herbe?” None answered; but the enemy, thinking 
 that the bridge would be down, spurred their horses. 
 The soldier gained the barrier in haste ; then they 
 discharged the two pieces of cannon, which stopped 
 the astonished troop, and made them turn back. Thus 
 the place was saved ; but the day had been only too 
 unfortunate. 
 
 When Daillon learnt this news he thought he should 
 have died of grief. The king was near bringing him to 
 trial ; but Marshal Trivulce appeased him. He was 
 then at the court to stand godfather to Madame Renee, 
 second daughter of the king, and as he knew Daillon to 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 103 
 
 be a good officer, he justified him, and obtained his 
 pardon. 
 
 But we must resume the account of the war declared 
 against the Duke of Ferrara by the pope, which we in- 
 terrupted to relate this occurrence. 
 
 \ 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 N 1511, Julius II, claiming the Duchy of 
 Ferrara as a possession of the Holy See, and 
 wishing to reunite it, raised an army in the 
 Bologna, and to carry it through this duchy 
 he took it to a town named Santo Felice, between 
 Concordia and La Mirandola. The duke on his side, 
 and the French whom he had with him, had come to 
 lodge at twelve miles from Ferrara, between the two 
 branches of the Po, at a place called the Ospitaletto, and 
 they made a bridge of boats, upon which they put a 
 strong guard, and by this bridge they made frequent 
 skirmishes. 
 
 When the pope had arrived at Santo Felice, he sent 
 a haughty message to the Countess of La Mirandola, 
 desiring her to return the town to him, because it was 
 necessary for his expedition to Ferrara. This lady, who 
 was a natural daughter of Marshal Trivulce, of whom 
 we have just spoken, was the widow of Louis-Marie 
 Picot. 1 Like her father’s, her heart was entirely French; 
 and as she had been informed that the Duke of Ferrara 
 
 1 The Loyal Servant says “natural daughter to the Lord 
 John James of Trivulce, and then a widow.” 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 105 
 
 was an ally of France, and that the king sent aid to him, 
 she would not, at the risk of her life, have given up her 
 town to the pope. She had with her at the time her 
 cousin-german, the Count Alexander Trivulce, with 
 whom she planned the answer that she should return to 
 the holy father’s message. She told the deputy to re- 
 turn, and tell his master that the countess would not 
 give up her town at any price whatever ; that God had 
 made her lady and mistress of it, and she knew how to 
 guard it against whoever wished to wrest it from 
 her. 
 
 The pope, irritated to the last degree by this answer, 
 swore by St. Peter and St. Paul that he would make 
 himself master of it by fair or foul means, and he 
 ordered his nephew, and captain-general of his army, 
 the Duke of Urbino, to prepare himself at once to be- 
 siege it the next day. The Count Alexander, who had 
 expected this, sent in all haste to acquaint the Duke ot 
 Ferrara and the French generals at La Mirandola with 
 what had happened. He told them that, not having 
 enough soldiers to defend the town, he begged them 
 to send them a hundred brave men and two chief 
 artillerymen. The keeping of La Mirandola interested 
 the Duke of Ferrara * 2 so much that he immediately sent 
 the required help. 
 
 With the 100 men and the two artillerists set out as 
 volunteers two French gentlemen, the Lords of Mont- 
 
 / 
 
 2 This duke was named Alphonse I, son of Hercules I. He 
 was a great captain, wise and vigilant in war, and a good 
 politician. He was a man learned in the arts and sciences, and 
 he was especially noted for his skill in engineering and mathe- 
 matics, even to the extent of the casting of artillery, and the 
 construction of gun carriages. 
 
106 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 chenu 3 and of Chantemerle ; the first a native of Dau- 
 phiny, nephew of the illustrious Montoison, and the 
 other from Beausse, a nephew of the Lord of Lude. 
 On their leaving, Bayard exhorted them to signalize 
 themselves, and to get themselves a name. “The 
 place you are going to,” said he, “ is well fortified and 
 strong, and you are going to fight in the service of a 
 lady ; you ought to make yourselves worthy of her 
 good graces ; and if the place is besieged you will have 
 the honour of keeping it for her.” 
 
 After other encouraging words, he escorted his com- 
 pany on horseback to the town, and saw them enter it. 
 They were received by the lady and the count with all 
 possible joy and honours. Three days after, the place 
 was besieged. The artillery was planted on the borders 
 of the ditch, and fired without intermission ; while that 
 of the town answered in like manner, and the besieged 
 did not appear afraid of the pope’s forces. 
 
 Bayard, who had spies everywhere, and was well 
 served because he paid well, knew every day exactly 
 what was passing at Santo Felice in the pope’s camp. 
 One of these spies, having informed him that the pope 
 intended to set out shortly to come and command the 
 siege of La Mirandola in person, he sent him back to 
 find out the precise time at which he would start. The 
 spy returned, and told him that it would be on the 
 morning of the next day. 
 
 The good knight, without fail, without fear, and 
 without reproach, charmed at this news, determined to 
 
 3 Marin de Montclienu, the favourite of Francis I, and after- 
 wards first steward of his household. He followed this prince 
 (not because he was a prisoner, but simply on account of his 
 attachment) in his captivity at Madrid, after the fatal battle of 
 Pavia. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 107 
 
 make a bold stroke, and carry off the pope and all his 
 court. 
 
 He went to the Duke of Ferrara’s, where he found 
 the Lord of Montoison. “ I am informed,” he told 
 them, “ that to-morrow the pope leaves his camp at 
 Santo Felice, to go to that of La Mirandola, six miles 
 distant. I have a plan that I have come to propose to 
 you, and if you agree to it, it will be talked of a 
 hundred years hence ; it is this : At two miles from 
 Santo Felice I know of two or three large palaces, 
 abandoned on account of the war. With 100 men-at- 
 arms of my choice, I will place myself in ambush in 
 one of these palaces, and to-morrow morning, when the 
 pope leaves, carry him off. I know that he will only 
 be escorted by some cardinals, some bishops and pro- 
 thonotaries, with 100 men of his guard ; so before the 
 alarm shall have reached his camp, I will bring him here 
 to you. But to help me, in case of accident, it will be 
 necessary, my lord,” he said, turning to the duke, “that 
 you and the Lord of Montoison should cross the bridge 
 at break of day with the rest of the soldiery, and that 
 you should advance to four or five miles from here.” 
 This plan was approved of ; there was nothing now but 
 to put it in execution, which was not delayed a moment : 
 for Bayard, having taken his 100 picked men, put them 
 in battle order, as if they were marching to an action, 
 and in this manner they travelled all night, having the 
 spy for a guide. He had the good fortune to be lodged 
 in one of the palaces before day, without having been 
 met or discovered by man or woman. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 T daybreak the pope got into a litter, and 
 took the road to his camp at La Mi- 
 randola. His prothonotaries, secretaries, 
 and other household officers had set out 
 before him to prepare his apartments. When Bayard 
 saw this cortege he fell upon it without loss of time, but 
 they drew bridle, and ran as fast as all their legs could 
 carry them, to take the alarm to Santo Felice. That 
 was not what saved the pope, however ; fortunately for 
 him, as soon as he had entered his litter, and before he 
 was a hundred steps from Santo Felice, it snowed so 
 heavily that the Cardinal of Pavia, (Felix Alidosi), his 
 prime minister, represented to him that the severity of 
 the -weather would not allow of the journey, and ad- 
 vised him to return, to which the pope consented. 
 
 As bad luck would have it, the fugitives arrived dis- 
 concerted and out of breath just as the pope reached 
 the castle, and the good knight Bayard the town ; for 
 the latter, only desiring one object, did not stop to 
 amuse himself with taking other prisoners. 
 
 The pope was so frightened at their cries that he 
 jumped out of his litter without assistance, and himself 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 109 
 
 helped to raise the bridge. There was no time to lose, 
 for in an instant later he would have been caught up 
 and taken prisoner. 
 
 However mortified Bayard might be at..this mishap, 
 he had no other plan but to return. He knew, how- 
 ever, that the castle was worth nothing, and that he 
 should have it in a quarter of an hour ; but having no 
 artillery, and no time to send for it, he was fearful that 
 the alarm taken to the camp of La Mirandola should 
 result in assistance to the pope, help that he did not 
 think it necessary to wait for. So he took the road to 
 Ferrara with as many prisoners as he chose, amongstwhich 
 were two bishops, and a great number of baggage mules, 
 which last his soldiers had the benefit of. Bayard was 
 inconsolable at the failure of this well-laid plan. The 
 Dukes of Ferrara and Montoison, whom he found at the 
 appointed meeting-place with their escort, were not less 
 grieved when he gave them his account of it. How- 
 ever, they showed him that the evil was without remedy ; 
 that his plan was admirable, and that chance alone had 
 hindered its success. They led him back with them to 
 the camp, and on the way they sent back several of their 
 prisoners on foot, and afterwards liberated the two 
 bishops for a moderate ransom. 
 
 The pope was so much frightened at the danger he 
 had run, that he shook as if he had the ague for twenty - 
 four hours, and the following night he sent a special 
 messenger to fetch his nephew the Duke of Urbino, who 
 joined him with 400 men-at-arms to conduct him to the 
 camp at La Mirandola. When he was there he carried 
 on the siege so vigorously that the place was forced to 
 give up. The same luck which had left him his liberty 
 rendered him master of it, for during the siege the snow 
 fell for six successive days and nights, and so abun- 
 
no 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 dantly that it lay on the ground within the camp to the 
 height of a man. To the snow succeeded such a severe 
 frost, that the moats of La Mirandola were two feet 
 thick in ice, and a cannon with its carriage, which fell 
 upon it, could not break it. 
 
 The pope’s artillery had already made two wide 
 breaches, so that the countess and the Count Alexander, 
 having no hope of help, were obliged to capitulate. 
 They knew that the grand master of Chaumont was at 
 Reggio with the rest of the French army fortifying 
 that place, not doubting that after the reduction of 
 La Mirandola the pope might attack it with all his 
 forces, which had become considerable by the union of 
 the Spanish and Venetian troops with it. They asked 
 by the capitulation that the town having surrendered 
 to the pope, he should promise that the garrison and 
 inhabitants should have their lives saved, but he wished 
 all to give themselves up at discretion. However the 
 Duke of Urbino was the mediator, and treated to the 
 satisfaction of both parties. The pope would not have 
 been so merciful had it not been for the friendship he felt 
 for his nephew, whose heart was entirely in favour of 
 the French, and who remembered with gratitude the 
 kindness that the reigning king, whose page he had been, 
 had shown to him. The holy father did not condescend 
 to enter La Mirandola by the gate ; he had a bridge 
 made on the moat, and entered there by the breach. 
 
 The news of this taking grieved the Duke of Ferrara 
 and all the French generals. This prince, little doubt- 
 ing that he should be incessantly besieged in his capital, 
 broke the bridge, and shut himself up in it with all his 
 troops, resolved to defend himself to the last extremity. 
 In fact Julius was no sooner quiet in La Mirandola 
 than he assembled a council of war, at which the Duke 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 hi 
 
 of Urbino and all the cavalry and infantry officers of the 
 army assisted, and declared before them all that, without 
 losing a moment, he would lay siege to Ferrara. He 
 asked them their advice as to the manner of this ex- 
 pedition, taking into consideration that the place was 
 strong in itself, and that it was provided with good 
 troops and numerous artillery. He added that the best 
 means of reducing it would be to cut off the provisions, 
 and starve it out, which would not be difficult, as he was 
 master of the upper passage of the Po, provided the 
 Venetians would guard the lower. Every one said 
 what he liked for or against this plan ; when the turn 
 of one of the captains of the republic, named Giovanni 
 Forti, came, he spoke to the pope, and said to him : — 
 
 “ V ery Holy Father, following the plan of your holiness, 
 and the opinions of all those who have spoken, it should 
 appear very easy to starve Ferrara by guarding the 
 upper and lower passages of the Po ; but I know the 
 country well enough to be certain that the place could 
 obtain sufficient subsistence from Argenta, — we could, 
 however, cut off even this resource ; on the other side 
 there is a country that they call the Polesine of St. 
 George, so rich that it alone would nourish the town for 
 one year. Now, it will be difficult to break off com- 
 munication with it, if your holiness does not get rid of a 
 little town at twenty miles from Ferrara, named La 
 Bastia, which, once taken, I warrant the place starved 
 out in less than two months, considering the number of 
 people shut up in it.” 
 
 The captain had hardly finished speaking, when the 
 pope cried out that they must have La Bastia, and that 
 they should have no rest until the place was theirs; 
 and he instantly gave the commission to two Spanish 
 captains, who were each to lead 100 men-at-arms, and 
 
X 1Z 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 to the Captain Forti with 500 horses and from 5000 to 
 6000 foot-soldiers. He gave them besides six pieces of 
 heavy artillery. 
 
 All this large train of artillery set out in haste, arrived 
 before the place without hindrance, and surprised the 
 governor, who did not expect to be besieged, more 
 especially by such a formidable army. However, he 
 resolved to defend himself well — as well as he could 
 with such a feeble garrison as his, and he sent a special 
 messenger to his master, to inform him of the extremity 
 in which he found himself. The pope’s men did not lose 
 a moment. As soon as they had arrived, they planted 
 their artillery, and began making a breach. 
 
 \ 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 HE courier that the governor had at first 
 sent secretly to the duke marched with 
 such diligence that he was at Ferrara in six 
 hours. Bayard met him at the gate by 
 which he entered, and had him brought forward to know 
 who he was, whence he came, and what his business at 
 Ferrara was. 
 
 This man gave him a faithful account of his commis- 
 sion, of the arrival of from 7000 to 8000 men before La 
 Bastia, and finished up by saying that the governor 
 sent word to the duke that if he were not speedily 
 assisted, he could not hold out twenty-four hours. 
 
 “ What ! ” cried Bayard, “ is the place so bad as 
 that?” 
 
 “ No, my lord,” replied the messenger, “ it is one of 
 the best places in Italy, but there are only twenty-five 
 men within, who are not in a state to resist, especially if 
 their enemies give the assault.” 
 
 Upon that Bayard led him to the duke, whom he 
 found on horseback in the market-place, in company 
 with Montoison. 
 
 This latter, believing that the knight had a spy, cried 
 out to him from a distance, “ My companion, you would 
 
 i 
 
1 14 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 sooner die than pass a day without capturing some of 
 the enemy. How much is this prisoner going to pay for 
 his ransom ? ” 
 
 “He is not an enemy,” said Bayard, “he brings 
 strange news for my lord.” 
 
 The messenger gave the duke the letters of the 
 governor of La Bastia, who immediately began read- 
 ing them. At every word he changed colour ; they saw 
 him grow red and white by turns. 
 
 Wh£n he had finished reading the letter, he said, 
 with a sorrowful air, “ If I lose La Bastia, I may also 
 abandon Ferrara, and I do not see any means of giving 
 help there in the time that my commander points out ; 
 for he asks it for to-morrow, and that is absolutely im- 
 possible, taking into consideration that it is twenty 
 miles from here to La Bastia, and more than that, there 
 is a defile half a mile long, where only one man can pass 
 at a time, and if my enemies knew of another pass which 
 is on the road, with twenty men they could stop 10,000 ; 
 but I do not think they know of it.” 
 
 Bayard, seeing the prince in consternation, and with 
 so much reason for it, said to him, “ My lord, for great 
 evils we must have great remedies. When a little 
 thing is in hand, we may leave it to chance ; but when 
 ruin is before us, we ought to employ our most strenu- 
 ous efforts to ward it off. Your enemies believe them- 
 selves in safety before La Bastia, because they imagine 
 that the pope’s army, which is not far from here, will 
 hinder our going to pay them a visit. An idea occurs 
 to me of a plan, which I do not think it will be difficult 
 to execute, and which, if it succeeded, would do us 
 great honour. You have in this town 4000 or 5000 
 good troops, experienced soldiers. Take 2000 of them, 
 with the 800 Swiss of the Captain Zemberc, and make 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 ”5 
 
 them embark to-night. You are still master of the Po as 
 far as Argenta. Order them to go and await us at the 
 passage of which you have just spoken, and to take it from 
 them, if they are arrived before us. The gendarmerie 
 will march all night by land, with good guides, and will 
 be there to-morrow at sunrise, and join us. The enemy 
 will never suspect our march. You say that from this 
 passage to La Bastia is only three miles ; that being so, 
 without giving them time to range themselves in battle 
 order, we will fall upon them. 1 have an idea that we 
 shall succeed.” 
 
 All the gold in the world would not have been so 
 acceptable to the duke, as the advice Bayard had just 
 given him. 
 
 “ My lord Bayard,” he cried, transported with joy, 
 “ you find nothing difficult, and I do not doubt that if 
 all the French lords who are here will help us, we shall 
 destroy the pope’s army,” and, added he, taking his hat 
 off, “ I beg them to do so with all my heart.” 
 
 “ There is no necessity for that,” replied the brave 
 Montoison. “ Order, and you shall be obeyed, for the 
 king, our master, told us so to do. The lords of Lude 
 and Fontrailles say the same, and they are not men to 
 retract.” 
 
 At the same time they sent for the captains of the 
 foot-soldiers, who were in the same mind, and charmed 
 with the idea of the expedition. 
 
 The duke secretly prepared a number of boats, and 
 made all his foot-soldiers embark in them that evening, 
 with good and skilful sailors. The cavalry set out at 
 the approach of night, the duke at their head, with good 
 guides, who led them so well that, notwithstanding the 
 bad weather, half an hour before daybreak they arrived 
 without any obstacle or mishap at the passage where 
 
n6 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 they were to meet the others. At break of day the 
 boats with the foot-soldiers arrived also. When all 
 were assembled, they marched noiselessly towards the 
 difficult passage, which was a little bridge, so narrow 
 that only one knight could pass at a time, and it was 
 over a very deep torrent between the Po and La Bastia. 
 They were an hour crossing, so that it was quite light 
 when they had all arrived on the other side. This cir- 
 cumstance lessened their chances of success in the duke’s 
 opinion, and besides that, they did not hear the cannon, 
 which made them think the place had surrendered. But 
 while they were talking with the French captains, they 
 heard three cannons fire at once, which gave them in- 
 expressible pleasure. 
 
 They were then at a mile from the hostile army, and 
 Bayard, addressing himself to the duke, said, “ My lord, 
 I have heard say that it is not wise to count your enemy 
 for nothing. We are very near ours, and if they had 
 the least knowledge of our march, they would give us a 
 great deal of trouble, for they are three to our one. 
 They have artillery, and we have none. Besides, the 
 pope has sent here the pick of his troops, so we must do 
 the best we possibly can to surprise them. My advice 
 is, that the bastard Du Fay, my standard-bearer, a man 
 learned in skirmishes, should go and give them the 
 alarm on the side whence they have come, with only 
 fifteen or twenty horse, and the Captain Pierrepont, 
 with 100 men-at-arms, shall follow him at a bowshot’s 
 length to sustain him, and at a like distance the Captain 
 Zemberc shall march with his Swiss. You, my lord, at 
 our head with the Lord of Montoison, and all the 
 French captains that are here, will march straight to 
 the siege, and I will go a little in advance to give the 
 first alarm. If Du Fay attacks before us, and the enemy 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 117 
 
 turns to his side, we will put them between him and us. 
 If, on the other hand, we attack before him, Pierrepont 
 and the Swiss will act as we should have done under 
 the same circumstances. By that means they will be 
 astonished, and will think our number three times as 
 large as it is ; and our trumpets must make as much 
 noise as they possibly can.” 
 
 This arrangement having been approved of by every 
 one, they agreed to follow the advice ; and they set out 
 on their march from opposite points. The prince’s de- 
 tachment arrived at a cannon-shot from the place, and 
 neither party was yet discovered. 
 
 Du Fay commenced by giving a loud alarm from his 
 side, which surprised all the enemy’s camp greatly. 
 They immediately put themselves under arms, and 
 mounted their horses to go straight to him, while their 
 foot-soldiers ranged themselves in battle order; but, 
 fortunately for the Duke of Ferrara, they did not give 
 them the time.. Those who repulsed Du Fay had 
 hardly taken 200 steps when Pierrepont attacked them 
 from the side, and broke them. The Swiss immediately 
 fell upon the foot-soldiers, who were from 5000 to 6000 
 in number. They had not much success at first, and 
 would have been undoubtedly forced to yield to num- 
 bers, had it not been for the cavalry, which sustained 
 them, and took this infantry on the flank. Then 
 the duke, at the head of the French men-at-arms, 
 commanded by Montoison, Du Lude, Fontrailles, and 
 Bayard, and with 200 foot-soldiers attacked the enemy 
 in the rear, and completely defeated them. While these 
 deeds were being done, Fontrailles and Bayard per- 
 ceived a body of from 300 to 400 knights, who tried to 
 rally. They called their men together promptly, who, 
 without giving their enemies time to recognize them, 
 

 1 1 8 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 charged them crying, “France! France! duke! duke!” 
 and upset the greater part of them. The rest of their 
 army sustained the shock for nearly an hour, not- 
 withstanding the slaughter, but finally their defeat was 
 so complete that very few escaped. Five thousand foot- 
 soldiers and more than sixty men-at-arms, all the bag- 
 gage, all the artillery, and more than three hundred 
 horses, remained to the conquerors, with so much plunder 
 that it was quite embarrassing. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 HIS victory of La Bastia was the salvation 
 of the Duke of Ferrara, and the French, 
 who, under other circumstances, had been lost. 
 They all returned to Ferrara glorious and 
 triumphant, and were received there with shouting and 
 acclamation by the people. The duchess especially gave 
 them the reception due to their success, and during 
 their stay regaled them with continual festivals and 
 amusements. We have spoken of the virtues and 
 talents of the duke. The duchess, his wife, was not 
 less worthy of praise. She was Anne Sforza, daughter 
 of Galeas Marie, Duke of Milan, and Bonne of Savoy, 
 daughter of the Duke Louis. Nature had bestowed 
 
 o 
 
 upon her more gifts and graces than upon any other 
 woman of her age. She spoke and composed equally 
 well in Italian, French, Latin, and Greek, and contri- 
 buted not a little to the glory of her husband and his 
 house. They had one son, Hercules II, Duke of 
 Ferrara, who married Madame Renee, second daughter 
 of the king. 
 
 We are compelled to interrupt the course of our 
 narrative for a short time to do homage to the rare 
 talents of our hero. The Duke of Ferrara owed to him 
 
120 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 the safety of his estates. The French army was no less 
 under an obligation to him, for it would undoubtedly 
 have been lost if the pope had succeeded in his plans, 
 in league as he was with the Spanish and the Venetians. 
 What wonderful presence of mind at the news of the 
 siege of La Bastia ! what coolness in seeking for a 
 remedy ! what promptitude in finding it ! what wisdom 
 in its development ! finally, what a display of sagacity 
 and generalship in its execution ! But it is impossible 
 sufficiently to praise Bayard for the part he performed 
 on this memorable occasion. He had never seen La 
 Bastia nor its environs, nor the local situation of the 
 Po ; but he had a perfect knowledge of it nevertheless. 
 Without this knowledge he could never have conceived 
 and carried into execution a plot so complicated, and 
 upon the success of which depended the saving of the 
 duke and of his estates, and that of the army of the 
 king himself. 
 
 A few months after the great event just recorded, 
 Philibert de Clermont, Lord of Montoison, died at 
 Ferrara, of a fever, which carried him off in a few days. 
 He was lieutenant-general of the French army in Italy, 
 and one of the greatest captains of his age. He dis- 
 tinguished himself greatly in Picardy, Bretagne, Lom- 
 bardy, and the kingdom of Naples. He had gained 
 great advantages over the Swiss, particularly at the 
 Lake of Como. He was praised amongst other qualities 
 for the singular precision he showed in deciding the 
 number of a hostile army, however far it might be from 
 him. The king was full of regret at his death. He 
 looked upon him as the first of his captains, and feared 
 that his death would occasion a revolt in the duchy of 
 Milan. He was much regretted by the Duke and 
 Duchess of Ferrara, and by all the officers, both French 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 121 
 
 and Italian ; but Bayard wept for him, his particular 
 friend and his countryman . 1 
 
 If the deliverance of La Bastia was glorious happi- 
 ness for the French, it was equally intolerable misery to 
 the pope, who was furious when he received news of it. 
 He swore to be avenged, and wished to go immediately 
 and lay siege to Ferrara ; but his generals tried by all 
 means in their power to turn him from his intention. 
 His nephew, the Duke of Urbino, especially was loud in 
 dispraise of such a proceeding, as he wished to see his 
 uncle reconciled to the king of France. They repre- 
 sented to him that the place was strong in itself, well 
 furnished with artillery, and full of good officers, of 
 whom the invincible Bayard was one ; that he would 
 not only lose his men, but have great difficulty in 
 obtaining ammunition and provisions. 
 
 Julius, obliged to give up the idea of taking the place 
 by force, plotted to have it by surprise, making use of 
 spies upon whom he thought he could rely, and by 
 whose means he hoped to get one of the gates opened 
 secretly in the night. 
 
 He sent spies, therefore, charged to draw the sentinels 
 from their duty ; but the duke and the knight were so 
 wary that they arrested six or seven of these spies, who 
 
 1 They were both from the same canton, in the province of 
 Dauphiny. Montoison was captain of fifty men-at-arms, and 
 one of the most illustrious warriors of his heroic age. He was 
 the originator of the device that descended to his posterity, a la 
 recousse, Montoison, “ to the rescue, Montoison,” on the occasion 
 of the battle of Fornova, when Charles VIII, seeing a wing of 
 his army tottering, and ready to break, cried To the rescue, 
 Montoison ! Montoison, who was in command of the rear-guard, 
 went at once, and charged the enemy so vigorously that he 
 decided the gain of the battle. This brave man belonged to a 
 cadet branch of the house of Clermont Tonnerre. 
 
122 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 were hanged. However, the Duke of Ferrara enter- 
 tained suspicions (perhaps wrongfully) of some of the 
 gentlemen of the town, amongst others of the Count 
 Borse of the house of Calcagnini, with whom Bayard 
 had once lodged, and at whose detention he was much 
 grieved ; but he felt that in the uncertain state of affairs 
 it would not be prudent to interfere. 
 
 The pope’s plan of taking Ferrara by treason not 
 being more satisfactory than his wish to besiege it, he 
 imagined a third scheme, which was truly horrible. It 
 was his intention to endeavour to enlist the Duke of 
 Ferrara on his side against the French, who had always 
 been the duke’s best friends and most valuable allies. 
 Julius had in his service a gentleman of Lodi, in the 
 Duchy of Milan, named Augustin Guerlo, a celebrated 
 intriguer, and a man always more ready to do a treason- 
 able than a good action. The pope sent for him one 
 day, and charged him to go secretly to the Duke of 
 Ferrara, and tell him that if he would ally himself with 
 him, for the purpose of utterly destroying the French, 
 he would give one of his nieces to his eldest son in mar- 
 riage, with the title of Gonfalonier and Captain-general of 
 the church, and bind to him for ever the estates and pos- 
 sessions which had been the causes of quarrels between 
 them. “ It will be only necessary,” Julius continued, 
 “ for him to give the French their leave, and tell them that 
 he has no further occasion for their services, and as they 
 must pass my territory on their return, my intention is, 
 not to let one escape me.” 
 
 Guerlo found the commission very much to his taste, 
 and undertook it immediately, promising the pope to 
 acquit himself to his satisfaction. He went to Ferrara, 
 and addressed himself at once to the Duke, who listened 
 to him calmly, and without showing any of the intense 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 123 
 
 horror he felt at such a dastardly proposal ; on the con- 
 trary, he pretended to the messenger that he would wil- 
 lingly comply with the pope’s wishes, though nothing was 
 further from his intention, and he would have preferred 
 losing all his estates, and death even, to acting inamanner 
 so treacherous and ungrateful, and unworthy of himself. 
 However, he received the messenger well, and had him 
 apparently well treated ; but he ordered him to be 
 taken to a room, of which he shut the door, and took 
 away the key, and, accompanied by only one gentleman, 
 proceeded at once to Bayard’s lodgings. 
 
 The tale of the evil design of Julius made the good 
 knight shudder, as well it might ; in fact, the plot ap- 
 peared to him so thoroughly detestable that he hesitated 
 to believe it at first. But the duke offered to convince 
 him, if he would return to his palace with him, by 
 placing him in a cabinet, whence he could hear Guerlo 
 repeat the pope’s commission word for word, assuring 
 him that, after the tokens the envoy had given him, he 
 could not doubt that he was really sent by the pope ; 
 “ but,” added he, “ when I heard it I shuddered with 
 horror as you do. I know the obligations my ancestors 
 were under to the kings of France, and myself more 
 than all to the reigning king, and rather than repay 
 their services by such vile treason, I w ould consent to 
 be bound to four horses, and torn limb from limb.” 
 
 Bayard told him that he had no reason to justify him- 
 self, that he knew his greatness of mind too well to fear 
 that any surprise could happen to the French, at least 
 with his consent, and that he felt himself as safe in 
 Ferrara as at Paris. 
 
 Then the duke proposed to act somewhat as the pope 
 had done, and to repay his intended good turn by one 
 somewhat similar, and, without explaining what he 
 
124 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 meant, he returned to the palace, where he conversed 
 with Guerlo some time without coming to the point. 
 At last he said, “ I fear the holy father’s scheme is not 
 practicable for two reasons. In the first place, how can 
 he expect me to trust him, after he has told me a hun- 
 dred times that I am the man he hates the most in the 
 world, and that if he had me in his power he would 
 murder me ; and I know besides that he has no other 
 motive than to obtain possession of my town and estates. 
 In the second place, how can I have the assurance to 
 declare to the Lord Bayard and the other French cap- 
 tains that their aid is useless, and that they must leave ? 
 They are twice as strong as I am here ; they will take 
 time to inform the king or his lieutenant-general, the 
 grandmaster of Chaumont ; and if while waiting their 
 orders, they hear of my understanding with the pope, 
 they will have a right to treat me as a man without 
 faith, and perhaps an enemy, or at least they will 
 leave me, and I shall find myself exposed on all sides. 
 But, Signor Guerlo, you know the pope is a terrible, 
 furious, and vindictive man. He has spoken one thing 
 to you, and possibly thinks another, and he is quite 
 capable of paying you treacherously on the first day of 
 your services. Besides, he is mortal, and when he is 
 dead what reward will you have from his successors ? 
 Are you not aware that in that court gratitude for ser- 
 vices does not pass from one pope to another ? You 
 know that I am in a position to do you good, and I give 
 you my word that I will do it so generously that you shall 
 be at ease for the rest of your life, if you will help me 
 to defeat my enemy.” 
 
 Guerlo was too low-minded and interested to refuse 
 such propositions. He assured the prince that for a long 
 time he had resolved to leave the pope’s service for his, 
 
LIFE OF BAY AIII). 
 
 125 
 
 if he agreed to it ; that no one was more able than he 
 to do what he wished, being day and night with the 
 pope, serving him at table, and being so much in his 
 confidence that they talked together alone of the most 
 secret matters.” 
 
 “ So, my lord,” he added, “ if you will make it worth 
 my while, he shall not be alive in eight days from this. 
 I ask for no reward till after his death ; but I must 
 have your word that when that takes place I shall be 
 well remembered.” 
 
 The duke, who had already given him his word, con- 
 firmed it on his honour, and they agreed that Guerlo 
 should receive 2000 ducats down, and 500 ducats 
 a year. 
 
 The treaty concluded, the duke left the messenger to 
 inform Bayard of what had happened. He found him 
 on the ramparts, and, having drawn him aside, said to 
 him; “ You know that traitors and deceivers often fall 
 into their own traps. You and I, and all the French, 
 shall soon be avenged on our enemy. I have gained 
 over the pope’s commissioner, and I have his word that 
 in eight days his master shall be a dead man.” 
 
 “ How can that be,” cried Bayard, “ does this man so 
 enter into the secrets of Providence that he can predict 
 the precise time of life or death?” 
 
 “ Do not disturb yourself,” the duke replied, “ I am 
 very certain of what I have just said.” 
 
 Bayard’s heart was too pure to suspect the truth; but, 
 having finally leai’nt that Guerlo was to poison the pope, 
 he trembled, and manifested his great surprise at the 
 duke, wondered how such a plot coidd have originated 
 with so great a prince, and said that if he could think 
 such a thing possible, he would warn the pope of it that 
 very day. 
 
126 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 The duke justified himself by saying with what 
 horrible treason the pope had intended to act towards 
 them, and reminded Bayard how many of his spies they 
 had arrested and hanged. 
 
 “ No matter,” said Bayard, “ I can never consent to 
 his perishing in that manner.” 
 
 The duke, on the contrary, wished that all his enemies 
 might be served the same ; “ but,” he added, “ as you 
 oppose it, it shall not be, but if God himself do not 
 smite him, and that soon, you and I will have plenty of 
 time to repent our mercy.” 
 
 “ I hope not,” replied Bayard, “ and if you will give 
 up to me the man who wishes to commit this master- 
 piece of villany, I will have him hanged in less than 
 an hour.” 
 
 The duke, who had pledged his word to Guerlo that 
 his person should be safe, kept his promise, and sent 
 him away. But the miserable wretch had not long to 
 wait for the reward that he merited, having been hanged 
 some time after at Brescia for another crime. Thus 
 Bayard, who had checked the plots of the pope against 
 the duke, and the schemes of the duke against the pope, 
 saved the life of the one and the honour and estates of 
 the other. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 JULIUS remained some time longer at La Mi- 
 randola, then put his troops in their quarters, 
 and returned to Rome. About this time the 
 Duke of Urbino, the pope’s nephew, had a 
 quarrel with the Cardinal of Pavia, the prime minister, 
 and killed him. How the quarrel arose is not exactly 
 known, but it was imagined that the cardinal had ac- 
 cused the young duke of favouring the French, and in- 
 forming them daily of his uncle’s plans. The pope was 
 irritated at the death of his favourite, but,. he did 
 nothing to avenge it. We know well enough the pri- 
 vileges belonging to the position of nephew to the pope. 
 
 In the following year (1512) Trivulee, who had 
 become Marshal of France, and who was in command 
 of the French army in Lombardy, re-took La Miran- 
 dola, and gave it back to the countess. Afterwards he 
 drove the pope’s army to Bologna, where he entirely 
 destroyed it, and thought to make the pontiff himself 
 prisoner. This victory was remarkable, inasmuch as no 
 blood was shed. All was taken — men, artillery, tents, 
 and baggage. There were some of the French who took 
 five or six prisoners single-handed — one of them named 
 La Baume, who had a wooden leg, led three bound toge- 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 128 
 
 ther. Bayard acquired so much glory on this extra- 
 ordinary day, that Marshal Trivulce did not hesitate to 
 say on the same evening, in presence of all the officers 
 of the army, that it was to him, after God, that they 
 owed the victory. 
 
 Before this great victory much had been taking place 
 in Italy ; but as the events have nothing to do with our 
 hero, we suppress them. We ought not, however, to 
 omit that the emperor, having some places in Friuli 
 that the Venetians kept from him, asked help from 
 France to recover them. The king sent him 1200 men- 
 at-arms and 800 foot-soldiers, commanded by Chabannes, 
 who did not forget to engage his good friend Bayard to 
 accompany him. This body met the emperor’s army 
 (under the orders of George of Stein, a German lord) 
 at Verona. Thence it marched straight to Trevisa, 
 whence, not having had great success, it penetrated 
 into Friuli. 
 
 Bayard at that time was in command of 100 men-at- 
 arms, whom the king had recently given to the Duke of 
 Lorraine, with the express condition that the knight 
 should head them. With this troop, accompanied by 
 the brave Fontrailles and his men, and some few 
 Germans, they presented themselves before Gradisca 
 and Goritz, soon made themselves masters of them, and 
 gave them up to the emperor’s soldiers ; but, disgusted 
 by the slowness of the Germans, they rejoined Cha- 
 bannes, who, for the same reason, was still where they 
 had left him. In this expedition they lost an excellent 
 officer, the Lord of Lorges (of the house of Mont- 
 gomery), who was killed before Trevisa, and who com- 
 manded 1000 foot-soldiers. Misery followed, and more 
 than 4000 men, French as well as Grisons, died for 
 want of provisions. This state of things determined 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 129 
 
 Chabannes to return, notwithstanding the opposition of 
 the emperor’s soldiers, with whom he had high words 
 on this subject. 
 
 After Mirandola had been retaken, and Ferrara as- 
 sisted as we have seen, the Duke of Nemours, with the 
 French officers, went to see the Duke and Duchess of 
 Ferrara in their Capital, and had a reception worthy of 
 a prince who was the nephew of a king, and of the 
 great service that the French had rendered them. 
 Amongst many sights, there was one of which we shall 
 gfive an account, less to serve as a model than to show 
 to what excess of fury they carried what they called 
 bravery, or a point of honour, in those days. It appears 
 incredible that princes and lords, noted for their birth, 
 their virtues, their piety even, should lend themselves to 
 combats which are revolting to nature and reason, as if 
 they were legitimate and reasonable acts, some fighting, 
 others seconding them, others judging them, and again 
 others looking on. We have seen Bayard himself, the 
 wisest and most virtuous man of his age, doing the same 
 thing. But the most astonishing part is to see the com- 
 batants preparing themselves by prayer to fight, and the 
 conqueror giving thanks to God for having killed his 
 man. 
 
 Two Spanish gentlemen, the one the Lord of St. 
 Croix, the other Azevedo, made prisoners at Bologna, 
 had quarrelled. Azevedo accused St. Croix of having 
 wished to assassinate him treasonably. St. Croix had 
 given him the lie, and had offered to satisfy him by 
 mortal combat. Azevedo charged the Baron of Bearn 
 to obtain permission to fight from the Duke of Nemours, 
 which was granted. He then sent for St. Croix, who 
 accepted the challenge immediately. The field was pre- 
 pared before the Duke of Ferrara’s palace. The second 
 
 K 
 
130 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 day the champions appeared. St. Croix, accompanied 
 by 100 knights, amongst others by Dorn Pedro d’Acugna, 
 his second, knight of Rhodes, and grand prior of Messina, 
 and other lords. Azevedo was attended by the same 
 number, and his second, Frederick of Gonzagues, Count 
 of Bossola. As soon as Azevedo had entered the lists, 
 armed with all possible weapons for fighting either on 
 horseback or on foot, the grand prior of Messina ad- 
 vanced towards him, and presented him with two very 
 sharp swords and two poniards, from which he was to 
 choose, 1 St. Croix not intending to have any other kind 
 of arms. After their seconds had felt them to satisfy 
 themselves that they had no coats of mail or other de- 
 fence under their clothes, they fell on their knees, and 
 said their prayers, and every one left the field but the 
 two seconds and Bayard, whom the Duke of Ferrara had 
 appointed umpire, not only to honour him, but because 
 he knew most about such fights. The herald having 
 sounded to impose silence, the two adversaries marched 
 proudly towards each other, and commenced fighting. 
 Their strokes fell so thick and fast that one did not wait 
 for the other, and both had need to be watchful and 
 careful of their footing. After several strokes given and 
 returned on both sides, Saint Croix gave Azevedo a 
 vigorous thrust in the face. Azevedo took his sword 
 from him very skilfully, and plunged his own in St. 
 Croix’s thigh downwards, cutting him to the bone. The 
 blood spouted out, and St. Croix took but one step, and 
 fell. Azevedo cried out to him, “ Give yourself up, St. 
 Croix, or I shall slay you;” but, without answering, he 
 
 1 The Loyal Servant adds, “ two secrettes ” as well as the 
 rapiers and the poniards, and we learn from Du Cange that the 
 secrette was a small but very effective axe. See Glossary, 
 vol. vi. p. 314, at the word secures. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 1 3 1 
 
 still sat on the ground with the sword in his hand, and 
 made passes as if he still fought. 
 
 Azevedo begged him to get up, saying that he would 
 not strike him while he was down. St. Croix tried, but 
 he only took two steps, and then fell on his face, when 
 his opponent raised his sword to cut off his head, which 
 would have been easy to do ; but he did not strike. 
 
 The Duchess of Ferrara, frightened at this horrible 
 sight, begged the Duke of Nemours to separate the 
 combatants. 
 
 “ I cannot do it in honour, madam,” said he to her. 
 “ Right gives the conquered to the victor.” However, 
 St. Croix lost all his blood, and yet would not give him- 
 self up. The prior of Messina went to Azevedo, and 
 said to him, “ My lord, I know the heart of St. Croix, 
 and that he would only give up to death. I give myself 
 up for him as his second.” Then they called the surgeon 
 to dress the wound, and stop the blood, after which his 
 people carried him off in their arms. The conqueror 
 threw himself on his knees to thank God for having 
 given him the victory, and was led in triumph to the 
 Duke of Nemours’ house by those who had accompanied 
 him. 
 
 By the law of victory the arms of St. Croix should 
 belong to Azevedo, so he sent to demand them ; but 
 they refused them. He complained of this to the Duke 
 of Ferrara, who charged the knight Bayard to go and 
 demand them, and make them give them up ; that other- 
 wise St. Croix should be brought back to the field, his 
 wound undressed, and his person abandoned to the dis- 
 cretion of the conqueror The severity of these con- 
 ditions settled the matter, and his arms were given up. 
 
 But it is time to return to our history. After the 
 pope’s troops had been driven from the Duchy of 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 I 3 2 
 
 Ferrara, they joined themselves to those of Spain. 
 They then came with the intention of besieging Bologna, 
 which siege they were speedily forced to raise. The 
 Venetians, on the other side, were besieging Verona, 
 where the Lord of Plessis was in command for the king. 
 This place had been given by the emperor to the king 
 as hostage for a considerable loan of money. The grand- 
 master went to its assistance, and had the siege raised, 
 as he had done at Bologna. This was his last exploit ; 
 a short time after he died in the little town of Cor- 
 region at the early age of thirty-eight . He had been 
 appointed Governor of Milan at twenty-five, and for 
 thirteen years had kept his master’s Italian states with 
 the wisdom and prudence of an experienced man. He 
 was a nephew worthy of the Cardinal of Amboise, who 
 had adorned him with the offices of grandmaster, marshal, 
 and admiral of France, as we have already said. 2 The 
 tears of all the officers, the soldiers, and the people were 
 his praise, and the regrets of the king and all the king- 
 dom were a sufficient renown. 
 
 2 He was the son of Charles d’Amboise, Lord of Chaumont, 
 Governor of Burgundy and Champagne, and grandson of Peter, 
 father of the Cardinal George, and seven other sons. All this 
 large and numerous house is extinct ; the name alone is pre- 
 served by the alliance of the heiress with a member of the house 
 of Clermont Gallerande, whose cadet branch, known by the 
 name of Clermont of Amboise, exists in the person of John 
 Baptist Louis, Marquis of Resnel, called the Marquis of Cler- 
 mont, lieutenant-general of the king’s armies, who is appointed 
 to the name and arms of Amboise. He has an only son, Dom 
 d’Aubrac in Rouergue, a knight of Malta. Again, there are two 
 houses which join to their name that of Amboise, the Marquis 
 of Aubijoux, and a branch of the house of Crussol. The arms 
 of the Marquis of Clermont are azure, three chevrons or, that 
 of the chief broken at the point, quartered with those of Amboise, 
 which are pall6 or, and gules in six pieces. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *33 
 
 Louis immediately sent the Duke of Longueville to 
 replace him in his post of lieutenant-general. Longue- 
 ville did nothing but renew the oath of allegiance to the 
 king and to Madame Claude of France, his eldest 
 daughter, sworn by all those who held places in the 
 Duchy of Milan. After that he returned, and was im- 
 mediately succeeded by the Duke of Nemours, with all 
 the authority that the grandmaster himself had had. 
 
 At the end of the same year — that is to say, towards 
 Christmas — the Duke of Nemours learned that a large 
 troop of Swiss were descending into the duchy of Milan 
 to drive him from it. He went to meet them with the 
 few men that remained with him, but the greater part of 
 his soldiers were in winter quarters, or in garrison at 
 Verona, Bologna, and other places. Not finding their 
 numbers sufficiently large to oppose so vast a body of 
 men, they were obliged to return to Milan, and had the 
 misfortune to lose the Baron of Conti, who was mortally 
 wounded in the retreat, and died soon after. His death 
 was avenged with interest the next day by the baron’s 
 good friend, Bayard, our noble hero, who left 500 Swiss 
 dead on the field where Conti had been wounded. This, 
 disgrace and want of provisions forced their leader, 
 the Baron of Saxony, to enter into a negotiation with 
 the Duke of Nemours, and in consequence of this they 
 returned to their own country, but not before they had 
 left cruel traces of their visit, and had burnt about 
 twenty large villages on their road. The Duke of 
 Nemours, rid of the Swiss, had scarcely breathing time, 
 when he learnt that the Spaniards were approaching 
 Bologna to besiege it. He set out with his army for 
 Final, and established his quarters in its environs. On 
 the road from Milan to Final he remained two days in 
 the little town of Carpi, with the heads of his army, and 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 134 
 
 those whom he loved and trusted. This town belonged 
 to Albert Pico, Count of Carpi, cousin-german to John 
 Francis Pico, Count of La Mirandola, both of them 
 noted for their learning. 
 
 The count made great cheer for the chief and French 
 captains, and amongst other things they had the amuse- 
 ment of an astrologer, who was then in the town, whose 
 history is curious enough to merit a place here . 3 
 
 This astrologer was a little withered black man, of 
 about sixty years of age, who astonished all the world 
 by the tales he told every one of things which had hap- 
 pened to them, without having had any previous know- 
 ledge of their history, and still more by his predictions, 
 which results had often verified. When the Duke of 
 Nemours and all his company had heard the history of 
 this man, they wished to see him, and amuse themselves 
 with him. They sent word to him to present himself 
 before the count. When he arrived, the duke spoke to 
 him in a friendly manner, and asked him several ques- 
 tions on indifferent subjects before coming to the point. 
 He asked him if the Viceroy of Naples and the Spanish 
 expected battle, to which he answered yes ; that by his 
 head 4 battle would be given on Good Friday or Easter 
 
 3 “ It certainly ought to be acknowledged,” — says the Loyal 
 Servant, wiser in his generation than Lieutenant Morrison 
 (Zadkiel), and those who consult his almanac, are in this, — “ by 
 all true Christians that God alone can see into futurity ; yet this 
 astrologer of Carpi said so many things a.nd to so many different 
 people, which afterwards proved true, that he turned the heads 
 of a number - ” 
 
 4 “ Cursed be the hour,” says the Loyal Servant, while re- 
 lating this singular story, “alas! whereof he prophesied so 
 truly.’’ The Duke of Nemours, who in these chronicles is always 
 referred to as gentle, good, and kind, seems to have been sincerely 
 loved by all those about him. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *35 
 
 Day, and that there would be much bloodshed. The 
 duke asked him again who would gain it. His answer 
 was, that the field would remain to the French, that the 
 Spaniards would lose more there than they had ever 
 lost in one battle before ; but that the loss of the French 
 would be as great on account of the number and quality 
 of the brave men they would leave there. He sur- 
 prised everybody by the assurance of his answers and the 
 good sense which he showed. 
 
 Chabannes asked him if he were among those who 
 would die at that time. 
 
 “ No,” said the little man, “ you have still a dozen 
 years to live, but you will die in another battle.” 
 
 He said as much to the Lord of Humbercourt, and 
 announced to the Captain Richebourg that he was 
 doomed to perish by lightning. Finally, all the com- 
 pany questioned him, and he answered all very wisely 
 and pertinently. Bayard laughed at him, or rather 
 mocked him, but the Duke of Nemours wished that he 
 also should question the astrologer as to his future. The 
 knight answered him, laughing, that he did not mind the 
 trouble of questioning him, but that he knew well enough 
 without asking that he should never become a great 
 man. However, he spoke to the astrologer. 
 
 “ My master,” said he, “ tell me if I shall be a man of 
 consequence some day, and if I shall become rich ?” 
 The other, after scanning his face and looking in hi& 
 hand, according to custom, answered him, “ You shall 
 be richer in honour and virtue than ever French captain 
 was before you, but you shall have scarcely any of 
 fortune’s goods, so do not seek them. You shall serve 
 another King of France besides the one who now reigns, 
 and whom you serve, who will love and esteem you 
 much ; but the envy of those surrounding him will pre- 
 
136 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 vent his giving you great riches, or promoting you to 
 the honour that your merit will have deserved : always 
 believe that the fault will not be his.” 
 
 “ But,” replied Bayard, “ shall I escape from this 
 battle, which you declare will be so bloody ? ” 
 
 “ Yes,” replied the oracle ; “ but a dozen years hence, 
 at the most, you will die in action, and of a cannon shot ; 
 in no other way, for you stand first in the hearts of all 
 your soldiers, who would die to the last man to save 
 your life.” 
 
 After he had answered everybody’s questions, per- 
 ceiving that the Duke of Nemours was more friendly to 
 Chabannes and Bayard than to any of the others, he 
 drew them on one side, and said to them, “ Your prince 
 over there appears to be very dear to you; he de- 
 serves it. I have never seen such a happy countenance ; 
 but take care of him on the day of battle ; I see that he 
 is threatened to remain there. I am almost sure that he 
 will die there, but if he escapes he will be one of the 
 greatest men that France has yet produced.” 
 
 These proceedings were interrupted by the arrival of 
 an adventurer, an ensign in Captain Molart’s band. 
 This man, named Jacquin Caumont, was a brave soldier, 
 but coarse and vicious. He also wished to take part in 
 the amusement, and know his good fortune. 
 
 “ Come here,” he said to the astrologer in insolent 
 tones, “ and tell me my good fortune.” 
 
 Caumont was rebuked by the nobles for his bad man- 
 ners : they made him apologize to the astrologer, and 
 told him to question him more civilly if he wanted to 
 know anything. The old man was annoyed at first, and 
 would not reply to him ; but he relented, and after 
 examining his face and hands, he said, “ Do not ask me 
 anything, for I have nothing but bad fortune for you.” 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *37 
 
 Caumont pressed him to tell him what it was. 
 
 “ If you will know, I must tell you,” said the astro- 
 loger. “ Look to your conscience quickly, for in less 
 than three months from this, you shall be hanged till 
 you are dead.” 
 
 All the company laughed immoderately at this pre- 
 diction, but it was verified shortly afterwards, as we 
 shall see ; also Bayard’s death in 1524, that of Humber- 
 court- in 1522, and that of Chabannes in 1525. 
 
 What we have just related happened at the end of 
 January, 1511, at Carpi, whence the Duke of Nemours 
 went to Final ; and from there, awaiting news of the 
 Spanish army, he went to spend a few days at Ferrara. 
 On returning to his camp, he learnt that it was time to 
 go to Bologna in all diligence, for that otherwise the 
 town and garrison would be lost. He assembled his 
 captains together, and held a council of war with them, 
 when it was resolved to set out without losing a moment 
 to raise the siege. This they dij, and the first news 
 that greeted them on their arrival at Bologna was to the 
 effect that the Venetians had entered again into Brescia 
 by surprise, as we shall proceed to relate. 
 
 1 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 RESCIA is one of the most beautiful towns 
 in Europe. Strong, rich, and remarkably 
 well situated, its climate is delightful, and 
 its soil fertile in all that is necessary to 
 support life. Three valleys, one stretching out from 
 Germany and the other two from Friuli, join in its 
 territory, and by one or the other of these valleys 
 the town can always be supplied with men and pro- 
 visions. 
 
 The King of France had been master of it since 
 May, 1509, and had placed the Count of Lude there as 
 Governor, and a Biscayan gentleman named Herigoye as 
 captain of the castle. The Venetians wished for nothing 
 so much as the re-capture of this place, not only because 
 of its importance, but also because from there they 
 could cut off provisions from Verona, and oppose any 
 convoys that might come from Milan. Of course, having 
 once possessed the town, they had many friends within 
 its walls, but no one dared stretch out a helping hand to 
 them, for the late Baron of Conti and the knight Bayard 
 had once beheaded one of their magnates, the Count of 
 Martineugne, for preparing a surprise for them, and 
 this deterred the inhabitants from again attempting to 
 
LIFE OF BA YARD. 
 
 *39 
 
 assist them. But what the Venetians never hoped to 
 attain by force of arms, or spies, or treason, a quarrel 
 between two youngsters brought about, and occasioned 
 their re-entering Brescia, and the slaughter of a great 
 number of French. So true is it that great events 
 often spring from small causes. 
 
 The Count of Gambara and the Count Louis Avogara 
 were two of the principal nobles of the town. Each had 
 a son of about the same age, who one day quarrelled 
 and fought. Gambara, a little stronger than his oppo- 
 nent, wounded him dangerously. The Count Avogara 
 knew not how to be revenged, so he went to Milan to 
 demand justice of the Duke of Nemours ; but whether 
 the wounded man was in the wrong, or whether the 
 Duke of Nemours, being occupied with more important 
 matters, had not time to attend to his case, certain it is 
 that Avogara did not get satisfaction, and his anger led 
 him to revenge himself upon all the French at the risk 
 of what might happen to himself. He dissembled for 
 some time, and then, pretending to go into the country 
 on business, he went to Venice, and held a conference 
 with the Doge and the councillors, and explained his 
 plot and the means of executing it. 
 
 They entirely agreed with him, and promised that on 
 the day named, the proveditore, Andrea Gritti, should be 
 before the town with from 7000 to 8000 men, and a 
 number of armed peasants from the mountains. Avogara 
 returned to Brescia, and managed to persuade the 
 principal inhabitants of the town of the justice of 
 his cause, and the plot was crowned with the greatest 
 success. The Count de Lude was always on the watch, 
 but he had not enough soldiers to resist a general revolt. 
 On the appointed day the Venetian army came to give 
 the alarm at one of the gates, and while they were occu- 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 140 
 
 pied in defending it, a party of troops broke the iron 
 bars of a drain at the other end of the town, and entered 
 in a great number, crying, “ Marco ! Marco ! ” At this 
 signal the Count Avogara and all his accomplices ap- 
 peared in arms, and placed the garrison between two 
 fires, and immediately the gates were opened to the 
 troops without. The Count of Lude, seeing himself 
 surprised and betrayed, sounded the retreat, and retired 
 as best he could to the castle, abandoning horses, arms, 
 and baggage. All those belonging to the garrison found 
 within the town were murdered ; they did not deign to 
 take a single prisoner. The Count of Gambara found 
 the means to save himself, and very fortunately, for as 
 soon as his enemy saw himself the stronger the first 
 thing that he did was to go to all the houses belonging to 
 the family of Gambara, and to plunder and burn them. 
 
 The conqueror, feeling that it was useless to have the 
 town without the castle, sent a trumpet to summon those 
 who were inside to give themselves up ; but the brave 
 men they had to do with made no reply, although from 
 their large number their provisions could not last long. 
 However, the proveditore cannonaded the castle vigo- 
 rously, and made a large breach. He had two large 
 machines made of wood, capable of containing 100 men, 
 to approach the breach. 
 
 The Count of Lude had found means to send a man 
 to the Duke of Nemours. The messenger had the good 
 fortune to get away safely, although all the approaches 
 were well guarded. He informed the duke of what had 
 happened, and told him that if he did not send assistance 
 to the Count of Lude, the castle could not hold out more 
 than eight days. The siege of Bologna had just been 
 raised and the Spaniards beaten, and the duke was so 
 grieved at the loss of Brescia that he determined to go 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 T 4 T 
 
 and retake it. He called his captains together, and in- 
 formed them of the sad event, and they quite agreed with 
 him that they could not afford to lose this beautiful and 
 interesting Italian possession of theirs. They considered 
 that the re-capture would be easy, provided that the 
 castle held out till their arrival, and without losing any 
 time they set out at once for Brescia. 
 
 The Proveditore Gritti was not idle. He had no 
 doubt that as soon as the Duke of Nemours heard of the 
 capture of this place he would hasten to take it. He 
 wrote with all speed to the Seignoryof Venice to inform 
 them of the success that he had had, and spoke of the 
 danger he should be in if a large French army arrived, 
 that his forces were not large enough to await it in the 
 town, much less to give battle to it ; that on the keep- 
 ing of Brescia depended the retaking of all the places 
 that they had lost ; and he concluded with a wish that 
 they would speedily send him assistance sufficiently 
 powerful to put him in a position to profit by his 
 victory. 
 
 The Seignory was too well satisfied at this first success 
 not to try to push it farther. Orders were sent to the 
 Captain-General John Paul Baillon to march night and 
 day to Brescia with 400 men-at-arms and 4000 foot- 
 soldiers. Baillon executed the order of the republic 
 without delay; but the Duke of Nemours, as diligent 
 as he, so hastened his march that his men got over as 
 much ground in the day as a body of cavalry would 
 have been able to do, and he arrived first at a castle 
 named Valege, which the Venetian general wished to 
 make himself master of before entering Brescia, and 
 where there was a French garrison. The time that the 
 Venetian lost there made him miss that which was worth 
 having, and gave to the French the means of gaining 
 
142 SPOTLESS AND TEARLESS. 
 
 the town before him, and of attacking him in a narrow 
 defile. 
 
 The Venetians took with them six pieces of artillery, 
 which they fired upon the French vanguard, led by 
 Bayard and another valiant captain, a standard-bearer 
 of Teligny’s company, who was killed there. 
 
 Bayard, who had had the ague all the night, and who 
 was on horseback in his night-gown , 1 seeing himself 
 alone entrusted with the attack, put on the corslet of an 
 adventurer, then mounted an excellent horse, and, fol- 
 lowed by Teligny, without waiting for the greater part 
 of his vanguard, which was still at a distance, charged 
 the enemy with his ordinary valour, and held out against 
 them for a quarter of an hour, notwithstanding the 
 inequality of numbers. He was soon joined by his 
 troop ; but the Venetian general had no sooner seen 
 them assembled than he turned his back with so much 
 speed that those who pursued him could not reach him. 
 However, all his foot-soldiers, and nearly all his men- 
 at-arms, remained upon the field with his artillery. 
 News of this happy event, due to the knight Bayard 
 alone, was soon taken to the French camp, and caused 
 general rejoicing both there and at the castle, which, by 
 continual firing, testified its joy. 
 
 The Duke of Nemours and the captains regretted 
 that they were not present during these proceedings, 
 but they were not at all jealous of our hero ; the admir- 
 
 1 In his night-gown ; that is, not as we now understand it, 
 but in a velvet robe de chambre. “ He was not armed, but had 
 on a black velvet riding dress,” says the Loyal Servant. It 
 was such a gown as Hamlet wore when, rising in the night, he 
 discovered the treachery of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz : — 
 
 “ Up from my cabin, 
 
 My sea-gown scarf’d about me.” — Act v. sc. ii. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 143 
 
 ation they had for him was mixed with no shade of 
 envy. 
 
 The inhabitants of Brescia were in a general con- 
 sternation, foreseeing what must happen sooner or later. 
 They begged the proveditore, Messer Andrea Gritti, 
 to leave their town that they might give it up to the 
 French ; but he refused them constantly, and finally 
 repented that he had done so. 
 
 The Duke of Nemours, who was still twenty miles 
 from the town when the Venetians were defeated, went 
 the following day to the foot of the castle, having met 
 in a village on the road a number of Venetian foot- 
 soldiers, who tried to stand their ground, but were 
 speedily cut in pieces. On his arrival, several of the 
 French captains went to the castle to reassure the Count 
 of Lude and the Captain Herigoye, who, by way of 
 rejoicing, sent about twenty volleys of cannon amongst 
 the townspeople, to whom this sort of joy was doubtless 
 anything but pleasing. The next day the prince and 
 all the captains assembled at the castle, and there deter- 
 mined to give a general assault to the town. 
 
 The French general knew that there were about 8000 
 regular troops, and 12,000 or 14,000 peasants or militia- 
 men in the town, which was well fortified, whilst he had 
 only about 12,000 men in all. These, however, were 
 picked troops, as the surplus had remained at Bologna. 
 They went down, without trouble, from the castle to the 
 town. There were no ditches which crossed the marsh, 
 but a tolerably good newly-made rampart. All being 
 thus arranged, and every one showing the greatest 
 ardour, joined to the confidence and friendship which 
 they had for the Duke of Nemours, the assault was 
 ordered for nine o’clock in the morning on the following 
 day. The plan was, that the Lord of Molard should 
 
144 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 lead the first, that the Captain Herigoye, with his foot- 
 soldiers, should begin to skirmish ; after him should 
 come the Captain Jacob with the 2000 lansquenets that 
 he commanded, and after him Bonnet, Maugiron, the 
 bastard of Cleves, and others, with their men, amount- 
 ing to 7000 in all ; that the duke with the gentlemen 
 under the orders of the Seneschal of Normandy, and 
 the greater part of the men-at-arms, all on foot and 
 fully armed, should march by the side of the 7000 men 
 before named ; that last of all D’ Alegre with 300 horses 
 should post himself at the gate of St. John (which was 
 the only one remaining open, all the others being walled 
 up), and hinder people from leaving the town. 
 
 Chabannes was not able to be there, having been 
 wounded in the head the day before by a piece of stone 
 splintered by a cannon ball fired at the castle from the 
 town. This plan of attack was agreed to by every one 
 but Bayard, who was not quite satisfied with it. He con- 
 sidered that as the Lord of Molard was to lead the attack, 
 he would have all the picked men of the enemy to resist, 
 “ and as in this position,” said he, “ he cannot possibly 
 retreat (as I am sure he would not think of doing), I 
 advise that he shall have 150 men-at-arms to support 
 his foot-soldiers.” 
 
 “ What you say is very just and true,” replied the 
 Duke of Nemours, “but what captain would put himself 
 at the mercy of their arquebuses ?” 
 
 r I will,” replied Bayard, “ if you approve of the plan, 
 and I will answer for it that the company I command 
 tvill do such honour and service to the king as shall be 
 well worthy of appreciation.” 
 
 Every one looked at his neighbour in astonishment at 
 this dangerous proposition ; but Bayard was persistent, 
 and no one was inclined to dispute his commission with 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *45 
 
 him. Everything being thus settled, the Duke of 
 Nemours, touched with the fate of the poor inhabitants 
 who were going to be sacked and massacred, thought 
 they ought to make one more effort to save the town 
 and its people from the evils they would otherwise 
 have to undergo, and to see if they would give them- 
 selves up. * 
 
 This kindness was much approved of, and it was 
 agreed that before the attack on the next day they 
 should send a herald to summon the townspeople to a 
 parley. This was done. The herald began sounding 
 his trumpet at the gate of the town, and went on thus 
 to the rampart, where he found the Proveditore Gritti, 
 and all the captains, who, without allowing him to enter 
 the town, received his message, which was, that if they 
 chose to give up the town their lives should be spared ; 
 that otherwise, if they sustained a siege, they must all 
 expect nothing short of death. 
 
 The answer was, that the town belonged to the 
 Seignory of Venice, that it wished still to remain in the 
 possesssion of that power, and that no Frenchman 
 should put foot inside it as long as they were on guard. 
 The inhabitants thought very differently, and would 
 willingly have given themselves up ; but. they were not 
 consulted. The herald went up to the castle with his 
 answer. The Duke of Nemours, who in the interval 
 had settled the whole order of battle, cried, “ Let us go, 
 then, my friends and companions ; in the name of God 
 and St. Denis let us show them what we can do.” At 
 that moment he caused such a noise of clarions and 
 trumpets, and drums to be made, that it was enough to 
 make the hair of the boldest stand on end. The enemy, 
 hearing this noise, answered with many volleys of cannon 
 shot, one of which went right into the midst of the 
 
 n 
 
1 4.6 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 duke’s company, but happily without killing or wound- 
 ing one man. 
 
 The march was headed, as had been settled, by the 
 Captains Molard and Herigoye with their men, Bayard 
 with his men-at-arms forming the two wings. The 
 gentlemen of Bayard’s company were all picked men, 
 and noble and valiant soldiers. The greater number of 
 them had been commanders themselves, but preferred 
 the honour of serving under Bayard to having troops of 
 their own to command. These troops reached the first, 
 rampart, behind which were their enemies, who defended 
 the approach with their artillery and arquebuses, which 
 strewed shot like hail amongst the French. 
 
 Both sides fought like lions, the French crying, 
 “France! France! Bayard! Bayard!” and those in 
 the town, “ Marco ! Marco ! ” with noise enough to 
 drown the roar of the cannon. 
 
 The Proveditore Gritti, to encourage his men, said 
 to them, “ Hold fast, comrades. The French have only 
 the first rush ; they will be tired presently, and if this 
 Bayard were defeated, all the rest would lose heart.” 
 However, the attack became increasingly furious on both 
 sides. The French began to drive back the Venetians, 
 and made them retreat a little. Bayard, perceiving it, 
 cried, “ Courage, companions ; let us go in, they are 
 ours.” The good knight was the first to cross the ram- 
 part, and was soon followed by his whole troop, to the 
 number of more than a thousand, who gained the first 
 fort ; but it cost both sides much blood, the French, 
 however, much less than the Venetians. Bayard, espe- 
 cially, paid dearly for the honour he had gained in leap- 
 ing the rampart. He received such a terrible pike 
 thrust in the top of his thigh that a spear-head remained 
 broken short off in his flesh. The pain he felt was so 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 147 
 
 great that he thought he was dying. “ Captain Molard,” 
 he said, “ take the command of my men ; the town is 
 gained, but I shall never enter it. I am wounded to the 
 death.” The blood was streaming from his wound, and 
 two of his men tore up their shirts to staunch it, and 
 then carried him out of the fray as quietly as they 
 could. 
 
 But the Lord of Molard, furious at the loss of his 
 men, swore, with tears in his eyes, that he would have 
 vengeance, and he and his whole troop threw themselves 
 upon their enemies, like tigers upon their prey, and 
 overthrew all who came in their way. The Duke of 
 Nemours, learning that the first fort was taken, but that, 
 Bayard was mortally wounded, felt as much grief as if 
 he himself had received the blow. “ Let us go, my 
 friends and comrades,” he cried, “ let us go and avenge 
 the death of the most accomplished knight that ever lived. 
 Follow me.” 
 
 On his arrival, the Venetians, already driven back, left 
 the rampart, and, with the idea of re-entering the town, 
 tried to raise the bridge, which would have been a great 
 hindrance to the French ; but they fortunately had no 
 time to do what they intended; the French pursued 
 them so quickly that they all entered together pell-mell, 
 and arriving in this manner in the great square, found 
 all the cavalry and infantry ranged ready for battle. 
 The lansquenets and the French foot-soldiers were very 
 brave, and distinguished themselves particularly by their 
 feats of valour. 
 
 Captain Bonnet commenced the attack, which was 
 furious indeed. The poor French had not only to 
 fight against the men, but to stand the attacks of the 
 women of the town, who from the windows of the houses 
 threw stones, bricks, boiling water, and pieces of furni- 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 148 
 
 ture upon them. In this battle, which scarcely lasted 
 half an hour, the Venetians were totally defeated. From 
 7000 to 8000 lay dead in the square, and the rest 
 sought safety in flight : but from street to street they 
 met soldiers, who gave them no quarter. The provedi- 
 tore, the Count Avogara, author of the treason, and all 
 the captains, seeing the rout become general, ran 
 towards the gate of St. John, crying “Marco!” and 
 had the bridge lowered; but they were driven back 
 by D’Alegre and his 300 men-at-arms, who charged 
 them so vigorously that they overthrew them nearly all. 
 The proveditore, seeing himself pursued, took refuge in 
 a house, where he was made prisoner with Avogara. 
 Such a terrible and complete carnage had not been 
 seen for a long time. The Venetians reckoned their 
 dead at above 20,000 men, soldiers and townspeople, 
 while the French did not lose fifty. Afterwards the 
 French began the pillage of the place, which was im- 
 mense, and the desire for which carried them even unto 
 the convents, where the soldiers gave themselves up to 
 all sorts of excesses. But the great value of the 
 plunder was a misfortune for the French, for the 
 soldiers, being enriched by it, deserted in bands, and 
 returned to their homes, which left the army much 
 weakened, and in a short time led to the loss of all the 
 places the French held in Italy. 
 
 Bayard, mortally wounded, as he supposed, at the 
 beginning of the action, was placed by two of his soldiers 
 on a wooden gate, which they took from the first house 
 they came to ; and having withdrawn him from the 
 crowd, they carried him into a beautiful large house at 
 a little distance, belonging to a gentleman who had 
 deserted it, leaving his wife and two young and beauti- 
 ful daughters to the care of Providence. The lady her- 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 1 49 
 
 self opened the gate, and received Bayard as a dying 
 man. He ordered his two soldiers to station themselves 
 at the gate, and on pain of death not to admit anv but 
 his men. 
 
 “ I am sure,” said he to the men, “ that when they 
 know I am lodged here they will not force a passage ; 
 and I will indemnify you for your loss of the plunder.” 
 
 His two soldiers, led by the lady, carried him into a 
 beautiful apartment, and as soon as they arrived there 
 she threw herself on her knees, and spoke to him in 
 these words : — “ Noble lord, I offer you this house and 
 all that it contains ; all is yours by the laws of war. I 
 only ask you one favour, which is that you will preserve 
 the lives and honour of myself and my two daughters.” 
 
 “ Madam,” said Bayard, scarcely able to speak, “ I 
 do not know whether I shall recover from the wound I 
 have received, but as long as I live neither you nor 
 your daughters shall sustain more injury than myself; 
 only take care of them, and do not let them appear. I 
 promise you that no one shall enter the house contrary 
 to your wish. I am not the man to plunder you ; on 
 the contrary, I promise you all the respect and friend- 
 ship in my power. But the most urgent need now is to 
 procure me some help, and that quickly.” 
 
 The lady, relieved by the knight’s words, went her- 
 self, accompanied by one of his soldiers, to look for a 
 surgeon who lived two houses distant from her. As 
 soon as he arrived he examined the wound, which was 
 large and deep, but happily, as he declared, not mortal. 
 He applied the first dressing, and when that was re- 
 moved, the Duke of Nemours sent his surgeon, with 
 orders not to leave the invalid. Indeed, the surgeon 
 treated him so well that in less that a month and a°half 
 he was fit to get on horseback. 
 
SrOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 I 5° 
 
 As soon as Bayard’s wound was dressed, he asked his 
 hostess where her husband was. 
 
 “ I don’t know,” she replied, weeping bitterly, 
 “ whether he is dead or alive, but I believe he has 
 taken refuge in a convent, where he has many friends.” 
 
 “ Try to find out, madam,” said Bayard, “ and I will 
 promise you to have him brought home in safety.” 
 
 When they learnt the place of his retreat, Bayard 
 sent his maxtre d’hotel with two archers, who accom- 
 panied him into the sick man’s room, by whom he was 
 received with a good grace ; and the assurances of safety 
 and protection that had been given to the lady were 
 renewed to him. We shall see that Bayard kept his 
 word to them even more strictly than they could have 
 hoped. 
 
 After the glorious but bloody re-capture of Brescia 
 by the French, the Duke of Nemours’ first care was to 
 establish order as far as possible. He began by sending 
 orders that all the soldiers were to leave the churches 
 and convents, and that the inhabitants of the town were 
 to return to their homes ; next he gave orders that the 
 dead bodies should be taken outside the town. The num- 
 ber was found to exceed 22,000. He filled up the officers’ 
 places which had become vacant, and did all that pru- 
 dence dictated to restore good order everywhere, after 
 which he brought the Count Avogara, and Thomas Del 
 Duca, and Jerdme de Kive, his pi’incipal accomplices, to 
 trial. They were condemned to be beheaded and after- 
 wards quartered. 
 
 During the seven or eight days that the duke re- 
 mained in the town he did not allow one to pass without 
 going to see our hero once or twice, and encouraging 
 him to get well quickly. “ Because,” said he, “ we shall 
 be obliged to give battle to the Spaniards in a month 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 I5i 
 
 from this time, and I would give all the world for your 
 presence at that time.” 
 
 “ If you desire my presence there,” replied Bayard, 
 “ I assure you I should like nothing better, and, God 
 helping me, I will be there, even if I am carried in a 
 litter.” 
 
 The duke, before leaving the town, made Bayard 
 many presents ; amongst other things he gave him 500 
 crowns, which he divided between his two soldiers, 
 having promised that he would make up to them for 
 the loss of their share of the plunder. 
 
 When the king learnt -that the town of Brescia had 
 been reduced to submission, he felt very great joy, and 
 wished more strongly than ever to pursue the victory, 
 and to drive the Spaniards entirely from Lombardy, for 
 he judged that, as long as they were there, his state of 
 Milan would never be in safety. He wrote letter after 
 letter to his nephew, the Duke of Nemours, who saw 
 the matter in the same light as he did. The king told 
 him, amongst other things, that he could not defray the 
 expenses of the foot-soldiers whom he had hired without 
 levying taxes on his people, which he feared doing more 
 than anything else in the world ; and he added that he 
 knew the King of England meditated a descent upon 
 some province of France; that the Swiss on their side 
 had evil designs upon the country ; and he always con- 
 cluded by wishing the Spaniards sent so far away that 
 they should never return again. 
 
 The duke, as well to obey the king as because he 
 himself saw the necessity for a battle which might put 
 an end to the war, set out from Brescia with all his 
 captains and horse and foot- soldiers, and went to 
 Bologna, where the Duke of Ferrara arrived soon 
 after, and, in conjunction with Chabannes, was en- 
 
 1 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 152 
 
 trusted with the charge of the vanguard. The French 
 met the Spanish army at a few miles from Bologna. 
 It was one of the finest armies on record, not only from 
 the number, but the superiority of its troops, and on 
 account of the richness of the equipments and the beauty 
 of the horses. Don Raymond of Cardona, the viceroy 
 of Naples, was commander-in-chief; he had in his own 
 particular company 1200 or 1400 men-at-arms, armed 
 cap-a-pied ; besides these he had 12,000 foot-soldiers — 
 that is to say, 2000 Italians, under the orders of a cap- 
 tain named Ramessot, and 10,000 Spaniards, Biscayans, 
 or Neapolitans, commanded by Don Pedro of Navarre, 
 who had formerly led these troops into Barbary, where 
 they had gained him two or three battles. All these 
 troops were accomplished soldiers, and men to be 
 trusted. They had for two years done nothing but 
 wander about Lombardy, which is a country abundant 
 in provisions and pasturage, and where both men and 
 horses had had everything they could desire. 
 
 For three or four weeks the two armies kept con- 
 tinually at five or six miles from each other. The 
 Spaniards took care to encamp themselves to their ad- 
 vantage, and often skirmished with the French, some- 
 times one party, sometimes the other, gaining the 
 advantage. 
 
 But notwithstanding the situation of the Spaniards, 
 and the flourishing state of their army, the French were 
 very desirous of seeing them in open field, so that they 
 might give battle to them. This desirable occasion was 
 not long in presenting itself, as we shall show, after 
 having seen how Bayard recovered from his wound, 
 and with what generosity he treated his hosts. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 HE good knight, who was believed to be 
 mortally wounded, had been allowed to 
 leave his room after five or six weeks, and 
 his wound got daily better, although not so 
 quickly as he wished. He was uneasy as the time 
 approached for the battle which the duke had resolved 
 to fight with the Spaniards, for he would not have 
 missed his chance of being there for all the gold in the 
 world. 
 
 His impatience at last induced him to try his 
 strength ; he got up and walked about the room a 
 little. His courage was greater than his weakness, and 
 he sent for his surgeon to ask him if he were in a fit 
 state to get into the saddle once more. 
 
 “ It seems to me,” said he, “ that I am well ; and I 
 assure you that I should be worse if made to keep my 
 room, than if I were allowed to go to the field.” 
 
 The surgeon, who knew him, assured him that the 
 wound was internally healed, and it was only necessary 
 to leave it for the scar to heal, and he added, “ Your 
 valet can do all you want ; he has seen me dress your 
 wound, and as I intend giving him the ointment which 
 I used, he will be able to dress it as well as I could.” 
 Bayard, transported with joy, rewarded the surgeon 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 154 
 
 with his usual liberality, and, having resolved to depart 
 in two days, ordered his men to get ready to accompany 
 him in that time. 
 
 The gentleman and lady in whose house he was, 
 hearing of his approaching departure, and considering 
 that themselves, their children, and their property 
 (which might have been as much as 2000 gold ducats 1 
 a year) belonged to him, were in doubt as to how he 
 would treat them, and fully expected that they should 
 have to pay him at least 10,000 ducats for ransom. The 
 lady, who had reason to know the nobility of his senti- 
 ments, hoped that he would content himself with the 
 offer she would make him. She put 2500 golden ducats 
 in a little highly ornamented steel coffer, and on the 
 morning of the day of Bayard’s departure she entered 
 his room, followed by a lacquey carrying the coffer. 
 She began by throwing herself on her knees, but the 
 good knight forced her to rise, and would not listen to 
 her until she was seated near him. 
 
 “ My lord,” she said, “ I shall thank God all my life 
 that it pleased him, in the midst of the sacking of our 
 town, to lead such a generous knight to our house ; and 
 my husband and children shall always look upon you as 
 our tutelar angel, and shall ever remember that it is to 
 you we owe our lives and our honour. Ever since you 
 came amongst us, we have received from you nothing but 
 proofs of goodness and friendship. Your men even have 
 treated us with respect, and have taken nothing from us 
 without payment. We confess we are your prisoners ; 
 the house, with all it contains, is yours by right of con- 
 
 1 It was a very small piece of money of the size and value of 
 the present sequin, which is worth about 11 francs 10 sous 
 French money. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 r 55 
 
 quest; but you have shown us such generosity and 
 greatness of mind that I have come to beg you to have 
 pity on us, and to be satisfied with the little present 
 that I have the honour to offer you.” 
 
 So saying, she opened the coffer, and showed Bayard 
 its contents. The knight, who never in his life had set 
 any value upon either gold or silver, smiled and said to 
 her, “ How much have you there ?” 
 
 The lady, thinking that he was speaking contemptu- 
 ously, and that he considered the present too small, 
 answered him, trembling all the time, “ My lord, there 
 are only 2500 ducats ; but if you are not satisfied, 
 mention the sum you wish to have, and we will try to 
 get it.” 
 
 “ That is not what I was going to say,” replied 
 Bayard. “If you were to offer me 100,000 ducats, I 
 should not value them as much as all the kindness you 
 have shown me since I have been with you, and the 
 company you have borne me, both yourself and your 
 whole family. Instead of taking your money, I promise 
 you that as long as I live you shall find me always 
 ready to serve you and be your friend, and I shall 
 ever hold dear the remembrance of your benefits.” 
 
 The lady, much astonished at this reply, which she 
 had not in the least expected, threw herself on her 
 knees, with tears in her eyes, to beg him to accept her 
 present. 
 
 “ I shall consider myself the most unhappy woman in 
 the world,” said she, “ if you refuse it, and I shall think 
 we have not deserved all the goodness you have shown 
 us while you have been here.” 
 
 “ As you wish it so much,” replied Bayard, “ I accept 
 it ; but I pray you send your daughters here that I may 
 take leave of them.” 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 156 
 
 While she was gone to call them, Bayard divided the 
 ducats into three lots — two of 1000 ducats each, and 
 the other of 500. The young girls having come, the 
 first thing they did was to throw themselves on their 
 knees ; but he made them get up, and seat themselves. 
 Then the elder of them said to him, “You see before 
 you, my lord, two young girls who owe their lives and 
 honour to you. We are very sorry not to be able to 
 show our thanks otherwise than by praying to God for 
 you all our lives, and asking Him to reward you both 
 in this world and the next.” 
 
 Bayard, affected almost to tears, thanked them for 
 their help and their charming society, for they had been 
 his daily companions, and amused him by working in 
 his room, and singing or playing on the lute to him. 
 
 “You know,” said he, “that soldiers are not ordi- 
 narily loaded with jewels or other things to present to 
 young ladies ; but your mother has just compelled me 
 to accept from her 2500 ducats that you see there. I 
 give you a thousand each to form part of your marriage 
 portions ; ” and in spite of their protestations he made 
 them accept his gifts, asking nothing in return but their 
 prayers to God for him. Then addressing himself to 
 the mother, “ Madam,” said he, “ these 500 ducats re- 
 main to me, and I intend to distribute them amongst the 
 poor convents which have suffered most from the pillage ; 
 and as I am about to leave, and as you are more likely 
 than I am to know who have the greatest need of relief, 
 I leave this work to you, and I must now take leave of 
 you and your daughters.” 
 
 They again fell on their knees, sobbing as if they had 
 lost their father. They pressed his hands in theirs, and 
 the mother, so moved that she could scarcely utter her 
 words, said to him, “ Too generous knight, God alone 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 157 
 
 can reward your virtues. We will daily pray to Him 
 without ceasing to spare your life.” 
 
 After this, she retired with her daughters. Bayard 
 sent to beg the father to come and dine with him. 
 Having been informed of what had passed, he entered 
 the room, and with one knee on the ground, began out- 
 pouring his thanks, and offers of his services, his pro- 
 perty, and his person. As soon as they had dined, 
 Bayard, who had ordered his carriages to be ready, pre- 
 pared to set out, when the two young ladies came to 
 him, and begged him to accept from each a piece of her 
 work. The elder of the two gave him two pretty brace- 
 lets of gold and silver-thread, and the other a crimson 
 satin purse, beautifully embroidered. He was as grate- 
 ful to them as if they had given him a fortune, put 
 on the two bracelets in their presence, and put the purse 
 in his pocket, promising the young ladies that as long as 
 their presents lasted, he would wear them. The fare- 
 wells and tears began again, but the separation was a 
 thing of necessity, and while they were yet bitterly 
 grieving at his departure, Bayard left them. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 HE knight took the road to the camp before 
 Bologna, accompanied by his good friend, the 
 Lordd’Aubigny, whom the Duke of Nemours 
 had left governor at Brescia, and who led him 
 with a great number of gentlemen to within two or 
 three miles of his destination. Some of them followed 
 him to the camp, where they arrived the Wednesday 
 before Easter. Bayard was received by the prince and 
 all the army with such great demonstrations of joy that 
 it seemed as if he alone were a reinforcement of 10,000 
 men. The camp was that day before Ravenna. The 
 Spaniards were six miles’ distant, but the next day they 
 approached to within two miles of the French. The day 
 alter Bayard’s arrival the Duke of Nemours held a 
 council of war upon the plan which it would be wisest 
 to pursue. He showed how the French army had begun 
 to suffer for want of provisions, that bread and wine 
 would soon be wanting, because the Venetians on one 
 side and the Spaniards on the other, occupied the pass- 
 ages of the Romagna. But he did not know, neither 
 did any of his officers, another inconvenience that in- 
 terested him equally — namely, that the emperor had 
 ordered, by letter, the captains of the lansquenets to 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *59 
 
 retire on pain of their heads, immediately his orders 
 were received. By good fortune, these letters were 
 given to two men, too generous to use them. Of these 
 one was Philip of Friberg, and the other the Captain 
 Jacob, of whom we have already spoken, who had 
 formerly received benefits from Louis XII, so that his 
 heart was more French than German. He had con- 
 tracted a singular friendship for Bayard ever since the 
 emperor’s expedition to Padua in 1509. He had no 
 sooner received the letter than hearing of Bayard’s 
 arrival at the camp, he went to see him without any 
 other witness but his interpreter (never having been 
 able to learn the French language). After many mutual 
 protestations of friendship, he informed the knight of the 
 emperor’s orders, of which none but he and Friberg had 
 any knowledge. He protested that, having given his 
 oath to the king, and being in his pay, he would sooner 
 die a thousand times than be so unfaithful to him, 
 though he was very certain that if the lansquenets 
 were informed of the order, not one of them would 
 fight. He said how necessary it was to hasten matters, 
 for fear the emperor should send new orders, more espe- 
 cially because the lansquenets formed the third part of 
 the army. 
 
 Bayard thanked him very heartily for the good service 
 he had rendered to the king, on whose part he promised 
 him any reward he might expect, “ although,” added he, 
 “ I am the only man to give him an account of it. Let 
 us go to our general, the Duke of Nemours. He is now 
 holding a council, and we will declare to him what you 
 have just told me.” 
 
 When they arrived, opinions were divided. Some 
 had good reasons why battle should not be given ; others 
 had good reasons why it should be, and that imme- 
 
160 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 diately. The first said, “ If we lose it, which is possible, 
 all Italy is lost to the king, and not one of us will escape. 
 We shall have to cross three or four rivers in our re- 
 treat, and we have enemies on all sides — the pope, the 
 Venetians, the Spaniards, and the Swiss, and we can 
 trust but little to the emperor.” 
 
 The others said, “ Our position forces us to give 
 battle, or to die with hunger like wretches and cowards. 
 We have gone too far to retreat otherwise than in dis- 
 order, and covered with shame.” 
 
 The Duke of Nemours, already informed by Bayard 
 of what had brought him there with the Captain Jacob, 
 was urgent for the battle, and presented the letters 
 of the king, his uncle, which arrived daily, because of 
 the fear he was in of being attacked in his kingdom on 
 all sides at once. However, the duke asked the advice 
 of Bayard, who, without mentioning the secret he knew, 
 answered, “ I only arrived yesterday, my lord, so I do 
 not know the enemy’s forces as my comrades do, who 
 have been near enough to skirmish with them ; but as 
 you ask my advice, and I have heard that some are in 
 favour of battle, and others against it, I may tell them 
 that it is always dangerous to give battle, and perhaps 
 very much so in this instance, on account of your situa- 
 tion ; one ought not to expose oneself to it without 
 much prudence. However, taking into consideration 
 the state of the enemy and our own, I think you ought 
 to give battle, because you have already made your 
 approaches before Ravenna, and to-morrow you ought 
 to cannonade it, in order to give the assault as soon as 
 the breach is made. You know that the Lord Marc 
 Antony Colonna, who has been here more than thirteen 
 days, only entered here on the word and oath of the 
 Viceroy of Naples, general of the Spaniards, of the 
 
LIFE OF BA YARD. 
 
 161 
 
 Lord Fabricius Colonna, his uncle, of Don Pedro of 
 Navarre, and all the captains, to give him help, if he 
 can wait till to-morrow, or at the latest till Easter-day. 
 You know, also, that they have the power to keep their 
 word, since they are close upon our army ; besides, we 
 shall not be able to remain in the position in which we 
 are now, and we shall want provisions and forage, and 
 the king presses you to give battle as the only means of 
 keeping, not only his duchy of Milan, but his whole 
 kingdom, for the causes which he writes to you, so I 
 conclude that we must fight, and endeavour to act wisely, 
 for we have a large and fine army at stake. But one 
 thing comforts me. For two years the Spaniards have 
 done little else but eat and drink ; they are so stout 
 and unwieldy that they are not active, whereas our 
 men have known what it was to want food, and will have 
 better breath, and I assure you that the field will remain 
 to the side which fights longest.” 
 
 This remark made every one laugh, but it was none 
 the less sensible for that. The Lords of Lautrec, 
 Chabannes, 1 Crussol, the grand seneschal of Normandy, 
 and nearly all the captains ranged themselves on Bayard’s 
 side, and on the spot all the officers of the gendarmes and 
 foot-soldiers had orders to prepare to give battle. 
 
 The next day, which was Good Friday, the town of 
 Ravenna was so vigorously cannonaded that the Spani- 
 ards could count each separate discharge in their 
 camp, so they prepared for their duty of helping the 
 town, as they had engaged to do. They answered from 
 the chief square to the cannon of the French, who had 
 two brave men so dangerously wounded that they died 
 
 1 He had just succeeded the Marshal of Chaumont as grand- 
 master of France. 
 
 M 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 162 
 
 a few days afterwards at Ferrara. One was the Lord of 
 l’Espi, grand-master of the artillery, who had an arque- 
 bus wound in the arm, the other the Lord of Chatillon- 
 Coligny, provost of Paris, who received a similar wound 
 in the thigh. They were both men worthy of regret. 
 
 When the breach was made in the town, all those who 
 were ordered to give the assault approached it, to the 
 number of 300 men-at-arms, and 3000 foot-soldiers. The 
 rest of the army was arranged in as good battle order as 
 it could possibly be, and all showed so much desire to 
 fight that it seemed as if they were going to a fete. They 
 remained under arms for three or four hours to support 
 the assailants, who had enough to do ; for if their attack 
 was good, the defence was equally so. The Yiseount 
 d’Etoge, 2 lieutenant of the Count Robert de la Marck, and 
 Frederic, Count of Bozzolo, of the house of Gonzagua, 
 signalized themselves, and were several times thrown 
 from the top of the foss to the bottom. Mark Antony 
 Colonna, who commanded in the square, encouraged the 
 besieged. “ Keep a good heart,” said he, “ I promise 
 you that we shall have assistance by to-morrow. The 
 breach is small and easy to defend, and if we let our- 
 selves be captured, we are all lost and dishonoured.” 
 
 When the French had given five or six assaults, seeing 
 that the breach was so well defended that they could not 
 enter, they beat a retreat; and this was perhaps fortunate, 
 for if they had entered, they would doubtless have 
 amused themselves with the plunder, which would have 
 been immense, and there might possibly have been, as 
 
 2 He was of an illustrious house, since known under the names 
 of Boulemont and Givry. His grandson, Rene d’Anglere, Vis- 
 count d’Etoge, served uiider Henr}' IV. in the battles of Senlis 
 and d’lvry, and at the sieges of Paris and Rouen He was 
 killed at the siege of Laon in 1594. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 163 
 
 at Brescia, a great desertion, which would have caused 
 the loss of the battle, which was given on Easter-day, 
 the 11th of April. The Duke of Nemours withdrew 
 his army also, so that they might rest, and be in a con- 
 dition to fight, which would soon be inevitable, as the 
 enemy was only two miles distant. 
 
 He provided supper for the principal officers, and 
 after the meal he said to the good knight, “ Lord 
 Bayard, I must tell you that the Spaniards fear you. 
 Our prisoners tell us that they are always asking if you 
 are in our camp. I am of opinion that you should go 
 yourself to-morrow morning, and so carry the news of 
 your own arrival, and have some good skirmishing with 
 them, which will oblige them to prepare for battle, 
 and you will have an opportunity of judging of their 
 appearance.” 
 
 Bayard, who had never desired anything more in his 
 life, seized the proposition, and answered, “ I promise 
 you, my lord, that before mid-day to-morrow I will 
 have seen them so near that I shall be able to give you 
 a good account of them.” 
 
 Amongst the captains who were present was the Baron 
 of Bearn, lieutenant of the Duke of Nemours, a brave 
 soldier, and one who was always ready for a skirmish. 
 He was jealous that Bayard was before him, and deter- 
 mined to be out before him in the morning. He con- 
 fided his design to his most intimate friends, who 
 promised to accompany him, and kept their word. We 
 shall see how they came out of it. 
 
 Bayard returned home, and sent for his nephew, 
 Pierrepont, who was his lieutenant, with his ensign, his 
 standard-bearer, and several others of his company, and 
 informed them of what he had promised the duke. He 
 consulted them as to the manner of carrying it out, and 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 164 
 
 added that his design was to unfurl for the first time 
 the banners of the Duke of Lorraine. “ 1 hope,” said 
 he, “ that they will bring us good luck, and that they 
 will be more beautiful than the cornets.” Then he 
 gave out his orders. He charged the bastard Du Fay, 
 his standard-bearer, to take fifty archers, with which he 
 was to pass the canal below the artillery of the Spani- 
 ards, and give the alarm in their camp as far as he could 
 in safety, and to retire in good order, without hazarding 
 anything, when he thought fit, until he met Pierrepont, 
 who would follow him closely with thirty men-at-arms, 
 and the rest archers ; “ and,” added he, “ if you find 
 yourselves pressed, I shall be there to sustain you, and, 
 believe me, if we bear ourselves bravely, we shall gain 
 honour.” The men he spoke to were too skilled not to 
 understand his plan immediately, and they had men 
 under their orders who were capable of commanding 
 armies themselves. All retired to rest until the trumpet 
 should wake them, which it did not fail to do at break 
 of day. All were soon on foot, and in marching order. 
 The Duke of Lorraine’s banners were unfurled, and 
 gave good courage to all the company, which was dis- 
 tributed, as had been arranged the evening before, in 
 three bands, each at a bow-shot from the other. 
 
 Bayard still knew nothing of the expedition of the 
 Baron of Bearn, who had preceded him, and who had 
 given such a hot alarm to their enemies that all were 
 already under arms. All went well for him up to that 
 time ; but they fired two or three cannon shots from the 
 Spanish side, one of which carried ofif the arms of one of 
 his comrades, named Bazillac, and another killed the 
 Lord of Berzar’s horse under him. Both of these gentle- 
 men belonged to the Duke of Nemours’ company. The 
 duke was much grieved for them, especially for Bazillac, 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 165 
 
 to whom he was much attached. After these artillery 
 shots, the skirmishers were assailed by 120 Spanish and 
 Neapolitan men-at-arms, who made them retreat, and 
 afterwards gained the plain at full gallop. The first of 
 the routed troop met Du Fay, who did not venture 
 farther, and informed Bayard of the encounter. The 
 knight sent him to join the Captain Pierrepont, and 
 himself reached them with his troop, making of the three 
 companies but one. Then he saw the Baron of Bearn 
 and his flying soldiers, and the enemy following them 
 closely, and already past the canal. He would not have 
 taken the whole world as a gift to have changed places 
 with any one. 
 
 “Follow me, my companions!” he cried, both to his 
 own men and to the fugitives, “ they are ours ! ” His 
 voice alone rallied them, but to show them an example, 
 he threw himself, first of all, into the midst of the Spani- 
 ards, and, soon followed by his troop, showed himself, 
 as he always did, great in valour. His first strokes 
 upset five or six of the enemy, who made no wonder- 
 ment at that, but put themselves in good order of de- 
 fence; yet at the same time they turned their backs, 
 and crossed the canal quicker than they had come. 
 Bayard and his soldiers pursued them quite into their 
 camp, where all was in battle order, and where they 
 overturned all who opposed them, and knocked down 
 all the tents and pavilions they came to. 
 
 However, the knight, whose eye was everywhere, per- 
 ceived a body of cavalry, consisting of nearly 300 men- 
 at-arms, marching towards them in a close squadron, 
 in order to surround them. He immediately beat a 
 retreat, saying to Pierrepont, “There are too many men 
 here for our small number to compete with.” 
 
 They took the road to the canal, and thence returned 
 
1 66 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 to their camp, without having lost a single man. The 
 Spaniards let them go, excepting five or six, who fol- 
 lowed them, demanding to break lances with them. 
 Bayard would not allow it, although many of his com- 
 pany had a great desire to do so ; but he feared that that 
 might engage them in some new skirmish, and that the 
 time was not propitious for such an occurrence. From 
 the record we have of Bayard’s actions, we find that his 
 valour was always tempered with wisdom, and that, as 
 he was the bravest officer of his age, he was also the 
 most prudent, and his prudence never left him, even in 
 the hottest fields. 
 
 The Duke of Nemours, informed of the knight’s ex- 
 pedition before he arrived at the camp, ran to embrace 
 him, saying, “ You are the man, Lord Bayard, for skir- 
 mishes. No one knows so well as you do, either how to 
 begin or how to finish them ; you are our master in the 
 art of war, as you have clearly shown to-day.” 
 
 That same day, which was the eve of the battle of 
 Bavenna, the duke assembled together all his captains, 
 both of foot and horse, and spoke to them thus : — “ You 
 see, sirs, that we are here in a country where everything 
 is wanting to us ; and that the longer we remain here, 
 the more exhausted we shall become. The town of 
 Ravenna bounds us on the one side, and our enemies on 
 the other, within cannon-shot of us. I am informed that 
 the Venetians and Swiss threaten to descend upon the 
 duchy of Milan, where you know we have not left strong 
 'forces. My uncle, the king, is daily pressing me to give 
 battle, and I think, if he knew our situation, he would 
 urge me to it still more forcibly. Thus, considering all 
 things, I think we cannot defer it any longer ; and I 
 hope that, with the help of God and the good-will of 
 cur army, we shall, for our master’s honour and our 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 167 
 
 own, soon inarch upon our enemies. If God favours us, 
 to Him we will render thanks ; if we are unsuccessful, 
 His will be done. As to me, do not doubt that I would 
 sooner die than lose the day, and if God orders it so, 
 our enemies will be cowards if they spare me, for I will 
 not spare them. Give me your opinions now, and I 
 will follow them.” Chabannes spoke first, and voted for 
 battle, and the sooner the better. He was supported by 
 the grand equerry , 3 the grand seneschal of Normandy, 
 the Lord of Crussol, Louis d’Ars, and all the other 
 heads of the army. Battle was then fixed for the next- 
 day, Easter Sunday. 
 
 3 Peter d’Urfe, grand-bailie of Forey, of an ancient and noble 
 house now extinct. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 HEY began by building a bridge over the 
 canal, of which we have spoken, for the 
 artillery and foot-soldiers to cross by ; as 
 for the cavalry, they would have no diffi- 
 culty, as the canal was fordable and the banks easy to 
 climb. Bayard was of opinion that they should settle 
 the plan of the battle, so that, each one should know his 
 place, and what he had to do “ Because,” said he, “ all 
 the prisoners whom I have questioned have told me 
 that it is the custom of the Spaniards to make one troop 
 of their infantry and two of their cavalry ; so I think 
 we ought to arrange our plans, taking that fact into 
 consideration.” 
 
 His advice was received with applause, and the plan 
 was immediately arranged. 
 
 It was decreed that the lansquenets, with the foot- 
 soldiers of Captains Molard, Bonnet, Maugiron, the 
 Baron of Grammont, Bardassan, and others, to the 
 number of 6000 men, should march together, and form 
 one large body, flanked by the 2000 Gascons of Captain 
 Odet d’Aydie, and the cadet of Duras ; that all should 
 go and place themselves at a cannon-shot from the 
 enemy, having the artillery before them ; and that they 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 169 
 
 should cannonade the Spaniards to make them leave 
 their fort, as their principal precaution had been to 
 encamp themselves well ; that after the foot-soldiers, 
 and quite near to them, the Duke of Ferrara and Cha- 
 bannes should be placed at the head of the vanguard, 
 and with them the gentlemen to the number of 800 
 men-at-arms, under the orders of the grand seneschal, 
 the grand equerry, Humbercourt, La Cropte-Daillon, 
 Theodore Trivulce, and others ; and finally, near them, 
 and directly opposite, the Duke of Nemours with his 
 company, his cousin Lautrec, D’ Alegre, Louis d’Ars, 
 Bayard, and some others, making in all 400 men-at- 
 arms ; that the Italian infantry, to the number of about 
 4000, should remain on the near side of the canal in 
 care of the baggages, for fear that those of Ravenna 
 should come and make a sally. This infantry was under 
 the command of Counts Nicholas and Francis Scottie, of 
 Plaisance, of the Marquis Malaspina, and other officers 
 of the same nation. It was decided that the bastard Du 
 Fay, having a command and with the chief standard, 
 should guard the bridge till further orders. 
 
 As soon as the day dawned the lansquenets crossed 
 the first ; but Captain Molard, jealous of the honour of 
 preceding them, cried out to his men, “ What ! my 
 friends, shall it be said that the lansquenets have seen 
 the enemy before us ? I would sooner lose one of my 
 eyes than that should happen.” 
 
 He immediately plunged into the water, and followed 
 by all his men, up to their waists in water, they crossed 
 the canal fully equipped, and reached the other side 
 before the lansquenets ; the artillery crossed next, and 
 were placed at the head of the foot-soldiers ranged in 
 battle order ; after them the infantry passed with the 
 men-at-arms. 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 170 
 
 During this march a singular circumstance happened. 
 The Duke of Nemours, armed at all points, and magnifi- 
 cently attired in a dress blazoned with the arms of Foix 
 and Navarre, having gone out very early in the morn- 
 ing, remarked that the sun rose as red as blood ; he 
 pointed it out to those who accompanied him, amongst 
 whom was a gentleman very familiar with him, named 
 Hautbourdin, a wit, who said to him, “ Do you know, 
 my lord, what sign that is ? That is a token that some 
 great prince or captain will die to-day : it must be 
 either you or the Viceroy of Naples.” 
 
 The duke smiled at this, as he always did at Haut- 
 bourdin’s sallies ; afterwards he went forward to see his 
 army defde, which it did with great diligence. Bayard, 
 who was near him, asked him to walk with him along 
 the canal with the Lords of Lautrec, D’Alegre, and 
 some others, to the number of about twenty. They saw 
 afar off the movements of the Spanish camp, where they 
 were preparing for battle, judging that it must take 
 place on that day. The duke then said to Bayard, 
 “ We are just under their fire ; if they had arquebusiers 
 placed there, they could pick us off easily.” 
 
 At this moment they perceived a body of twenty or 
 thirty Spanish knights, amongst whom was the general 
 of the cavalry, Don Pedro de Paes. Bayard advanced 
 towards them, saluted them, and said to them, “ My 
 lords, you are walking about, as we are, waiting for the 
 beginning of the battle ; I pray you not to allow arque- 
 buses' to be fired from your side, and I promise you 
 none shall be from ours.” 
 
 This they agreed to, and then Don Pedro begged him 
 to say who he was, the Spaniard having heard of the 
 glory which he had acquired in the kingdom of Naples. 
 Learning his name, he said to him with a verv good grace, 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 171 
 
 “ Lord Bayard, although your arrival in the French 
 camp may not be a subject of rejoicing to us — in fact, 
 on the contrary, we consider it as good as a reinforce- 
 ment of 2000 men for them — still I am no less glad 
 to see you ; and if it please God that peace shall be 
 established between our nations, I will prove to you the 
 esteem I feel for you, and the wish I have to be num- 
 bered amongst your friends.” 
 
 The knight returned his civility with his accustomed 
 modesty, after which Don Pedro asked him who that 
 lord was so magnificently accoutred, and to whom 
 everybody paid so much respect. 
 
 “ He is,” said Bayard, “ our general, the Duke of 
 Nemours, the brother of your queen.” 
 
 He had hardly spoken, when this Spaniard and all 
 with him advanced towards the duke, dismounted and 
 did homage to him, assuring him that, saving the service 
 of the king their master, they would profess themselves 
 his servants all their lives. The duke received their 
 compliment very graciously, and after a little conversa- 
 tion they separated, each to his post. 
 
 The French, while marching, perceived the enemy’s 
 vanguard, commanded by Fabricius Colonna, full in 
 sight, and within gun-shot distance. Bayard and 
 D’ Alegre remarked the circumstance to the Duke of 
 Nemours. 
 
 Do you see, said he, “ that magnificent troop of 
 horsemen ? If we only had two pieces of artillery here, 
 we could easily reach them.” 
 
 D Alegre went himself to order a cannon and a cul- 
 verin to be brought forward, which they fired so vigo- 
 rously and so quickly on the enemy’s troop that they had 
 300 men-at-arms down in a moment ; and their chief, the 
 Lord Fabricius, declared, when he was a prisoner at 
 
172 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 Ferrara, that a single shot had killed thirty-three men. 
 The Spaniards were terribly frightened, not knowing 
 whence the shots came that overthrew them. Their 
 general had expressly commanded them not to leave 
 their posts until the French should go to attack them ; 
 but they were forced to leave their places, notwith- 
 standing their commanding officer, to whom they said in 
 their tongue, “ By the body of God, we are going to 
 fight men, and Heaven crushes us ! ” 
 
 However, from the side of the Spanish camp, which 
 was extremely strong, and protected by a good ditch, 
 the artillery had begun its play. Behind the foss all the 
 foot-soldiers, to protect themselves from the French, 
 were lying on their faces : their defence, which was in 
 front of them, consisted of twenty pieces, cannons and 
 culverins too, and about 200 arquebuses h. croc, and 
 between each two a little wheeled truck, upon which 
 were sharp pieces of iron, like scythes, to cut down the 
 French foot-soldiers as they advanced. On one wing 
 was Fabricius Colonna with the vanguard, composed of 
 800 men-at-arms ; a little higher up was the body of 
 the army, commanded by Don Raymond of Cardonna, 
 who had more than 400 men-at-arms ; and still nearer 
 to him were 2000 Italians, commanded by Ramassot. 
 But as to their soldiery, never were seen finer or more 
 active troops. 
 
 As soon as the Duke of Nemours had passed the 
 canal, he gave orders that all should march, notwith- 
 standing the enemies’ fire, which picked out the French 
 infantry as if they had been targets, and had already 
 killed 2000 before the battle commenced ; amongst 
 others four captains, who were much regretted — Jarses, 
 Le Herisson, Molard, and Philip of Friberg, all brave 
 men, Ml of courage and experience. However, not- 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *73 
 
 ■withstanding the Spanish fire, the French did not 
 slacken speed, but still marched forward. On the other 
 side, the vanguard, commanded by Fabricius Colonna, 
 driven out, as we have seen, came into the open field to 
 fight, and marched straight to the point where the 
 Duke of Nemours and some few of the soldiery were. 
 
 The French in this body, overjoyed at commencing 
 the attack, rushed upon their enemies. The Spaniards 
 had divided into two parties, thinking to surround their 
 opponents. Bayard saw it at first, and advised the 
 duke to divide his men into two bodies, which was 
 immediately done. Then the Spaniards began crying 
 with all their might, “ Spain ! ” “ St. Iago, a os cavallos ! ” 
 (upon the horses), and fell upon the French, only 
 wishing to kill their horses ; but they were received with 
 equal fury by the French, who cried, “France!” 
 “ France ! ” “ To horse ! ” and, like their enemies, tried 
 to unhorse them, according to the proverb, which says, 
 “ Kill the horse, and the man-at-arms is lost.” There 
 was never, perhaps, a more bloody and furious combat 
 than that which was fought then, and which lasted more 
 than an hour and a-half. Both parties were obliged to 
 stop and take breath ; then they began their ordinary 
 cries more briskly than before. The Spaniards were 
 half as numerous again as the French . 1 
 
 The Lord D’Alegre, seeing the victory undecided, 
 ran to the vanguard, and cried to the band of the Lord 
 of la Marck, whom he met the first, and who was dis- 
 tinguishable by his black and white colours, “ After me , 
 black and white and the archers of the guard!" 
 
 1 The Spanish army consisted of 20,000 men, and the French 
 of 15,400, according to an account kept in the record chamber 
 at Grenoble ; but we see that 4,000 remained to guard the 
 baggage. 
 
174 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 The Duke of Ferrara and Chabannes, concluding that 
 pressing necessity had induced him to call them, sent 
 their men at full speed towards the Duke of Nemours, 
 who had already made the enemy retreat by degrees. 
 This reinforcement was fatal to the Spanish, for these 
 archers of the guard carried on their saddle-bows, little 
 hatchets, which were useful to them in putting up their 
 tents : they used them now, and gave the Spaniards 
 such terrific blows with them that they knocked down 
 every man they touched. Finally, they forced the 
 enemy to leave the camp, leaving 300 or 400 men-at- 
 arms on the field between the two ditches, besides many 
 Neapolitan lords whom they took prisoners, and whose 
 lives were saved. 
 
 Bayard, seeing the Duke of Nemours covered \yith 
 blood, and with the brains of one of his slain men by his 
 side, asked him if he were not wounded, as he thought 
 he was. 
 
 “ No,” said the duke, “but I have wounded others.” 
 
 “ God be praised,” Bayard replied, “ the battle is 
 yours. You have covered yourself with glory to-day ; 
 but remain here, assemble your soldiers, and do not allow 
 them to begin plundering. It is not time for that yet. 
 The Captain Louis d’Ars and I are going to follow the 
 fugitives, and hinder them from leaving before their 
 foot-soldiers ; but do not leave here till he or I come to 
 you.’ The duke promised to do as Bayard wished, but 
 did not keep his word, and paid for it by his life in a 
 manner which deserves a detailed account. 
 
 We have noticed that, at the commencement of the 
 action, the Spanish foot-soldiers had thrown themselves 
 flat on their faces to escape the fire of the French artil- 
 lery, and that their fort was so constructed that they 
 could not be seen, so that it was very dangerous to attack 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 J 75 
 
 them. Now the French were only two pikes’ length 
 from them. The 2000 Gascons were then ordered to go, 
 in spite of the danger, and attack them from the rear, 
 and discharge their arrows at them to make them get up. 
 The Captain Odet and the Captain Duras got ready to 
 do so; but they explained that they wanted some pike- 
 men to support them, in case their foot-soldiers, having 
 discharged all their arrows, should be charged by 
 Spanish ensigns. The Lord of Moncaure was ordered 
 to go and help them with 1000 Picards whom he com- 
 manded. 
 
 The archers discharged their arrows, and slew a great 
 number of Spaniards, which obliged the others to rise, 
 and form in battle order : but two ensigns immediately 
 appeared behind them, with 1000 or 1200 men each, who 
 fell upon the Gascons, and broke them (whether it was 
 their fault or that of the Picards), killed the Lord of 
 Moncaufe, the lieutenant of the Captain Odet, that of 
 the cadet of Duras, and many other very good officers. 
 The Spanish uttered loud cries of joy, as if they had 
 gained the battle, although their defeat was already 
 decided, and the two ensigns returned no more to their 
 rear, but took the road to Ravenna, marchino- four 
 abreast along the bank of the canal. We must leave 
 them a moment, and relate what followed the attack of 
 the Gascons. The Spanish, standing, advanced upon the 
 border of their ditch, where, the French assailed them 
 with incredible bravery; but they were received with 
 arquebus strokes, which killed many of them ; amongst 
 others, that famous Captain Jacob, whom we have be- 
 fore mentioned with honour ; he received a gun-shot- 
 through the body, which only gave him time to say to 
 his comrades in his own tongue, “ Friends, serve the 
 king as well as he serves us,” and lie immediately fell 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 176 
 
 dead. He had brought with him a captain named 
 Fabian, one of the largest, handsomest, and strongest 
 men that could be seen, who, seeing his good friend and 
 commander slain, only wished to live to avenge his 
 death, and performed a deed of unexampled strength 
 and bravery. He threw himself into the middle of the 
 Spaniards’ pikes, holding his own across, and made them 
 lower their points to the earth, where he held them by 
 the strength of his arms alone, and by that means gave 
 the French an opportunity of leaping the ditch, which 
 was not accomplished without much bloodshed on both 
 sides, for a better defence was never seen than that 
 which the Spaniards opposed to this attack. 
 
 The French lost in this action the Baron of Gram- 
 mont, the Lords of Maugiron and Bardassan, who had 
 been prodigiously valorous. The Captain Bonnet re- 
 ceived a pike-thrust in the forehead, and the head re- 
 mained in the wound. In fine, the loss of the French 
 was great, not only in number, but considering also the 
 quality and merit of the dead ; but on the Spanish 
 side it was very different, for whilst they supported the 
 attack from the ditch of which we have spoken, the 
 soldiers of the French vanguard, having attacked them 
 on the flank, routed them, and did not leave one of 
 them, excepting only the general, Don Pedro of Na- 
 varre , 2 and some other principal officers, whom they 
 took prisoners. 
 
 To return to those two ensigns whom we have seen 
 
 © 
 
 taking the road to Ravenna, and following the course 
 
 2 He was a soldier of fortune. His merit and talents pro- 
 moted him to the first military dignities. It is said that he 
 was the first to invent mines. He passed from the Spanish 
 service to that of France, under Francis I. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *77 
 
 of the canal. The Duke of Nemours remaining at the 
 place where Bayard had urgently recommended him to 
 await news of the action, perceived these two ensigns, 
 who were retiring, whilst some of the defeated Gascons 
 were flying towards him. He asked what it was. 
 One of the fugitives replied, “ The Spaniards have de- 
 feated us.” 
 
 The prince, thinking that his whole infantry was 
 routed, without looking to see whether he was accom- 
 panied or not, rushed to their rescue in despair into that 
 way, having only fourteen or fifteen men with him. 
 
 To complete the misfortune, the Spaniards had re- 
 loaded several arquebuses, which they fired on him and 
 his escort, then fell upon them with their pikes. The 
 French could not easily move, not only because the 
 road was narrow, but it was bordered on one side by a 
 canal, and on the other by a very deep ditch. All the 
 escort was killed or thrown into the canal or ditch. The 
 duke’s horse having been hamstrung, his loss compelled 
 his master to fight on foot, having no other defensive 
 weapon than his sword. Assailed by a crowd of ene- 
 mies, he defended himself like a true hero. He was 
 vigorously seconded by his cousin Lautrec, who cried to 
 the Spanish, “ Do not kill him ; he is our general, the 
 brother of your queen.” 
 
 In spite of Lautrec’s cries, they finished him, having 
 given him so many cuts that he had fourteen or fifteen 
 on his face alone. Vivarotz, son of the Lord d’ Alegre, 
 was thrown into the ditch, and his father had already 
 been killed at the defeat of the foot-soldiers. Lautrec 
 and some others were left for dead, after which the 
 Spanish fled along the same road, which was nearly ten 
 
 miles longr. 
 
 © 
 
 Half way, they met Bayard returning from the pur- 
 
 N 
 
1 78 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 suit of the fugitives, with about forty men, so fatigued 
 that neither they nor their horses could keep up. How- 
 ever, they considered it their duty to charge them, and 
 prepared to do so ; but one of the Spanish chiefs ad- 
 vanced from the ranks, and said to him, “ What do you 
 want to do ? You must plainly see that you have not 
 enough men with you to fight against us. You have 
 gained the battle, in which all our men have lost their 
 lives, and it is only by a miracle that we have escaped. 
 Be satisfied with the honour of the victory, and let us 
 pass.” 
 
 Bayard consented to this, on condition that they 
 should give up the ensigns. They gave them up, and 
 then gave the knight a passage through the middle 
 of their troop, and continued their road. Alas ! if 
 he had known of their last exploit, and that the Duke 
 of Nemours had just died by their hands, he would not 
 have let them go without attacking them, and would 
 have rather died a thousand times than not have 
 avenged himself. 
 
 During the battle, and before the total defeat of the 
 Spaniards, the Viceroy, Don Raymont of Cardona, 
 had fled with 300 men-at-arms, and Ramassot with his 
 2000 Italian foot-soldiers. These were all that escaped ; 
 the remainder were killed or taken prisoners. The battle 
 had commenced at eight o’clock in the morning, and it 
 was four in the afternoon when Bayard and the others 
 returned to the camp. The news of the Duke of Ne- 
 mours’ death was already spread there, and the con- 
 sternation, cries, and tears were such that 2,000 fresh 
 troops would have been more than a match for the 
 whole army, more especially that all were spent with 
 fatigue. The body of the duke was carried to his 
 lodgings by his gentlemen, and there the crying and 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 179 
 
 sobbing began again, and did not leave off for a long 
 time, this prince, the most accomplished man of his 
 time, knew so well how to gain the friendship, con- 
 fidence, and hearts of all his army, both great and 
 small. 
 
 Finally, we must say of this battle of Ravenna that 
 perhaps there never was such a cruel, murderous en- 
 gagement, and that on both sides they fought with a 
 fury that history furnishes few examples of. If the 
 Spaniards lost many, their number being, as we have 
 , seen, nearly twice as numerous as that of the French, and 
 nearly all being left dead on the field, we must also con- 
 fess that the loss on the French side was very great, 
 on account of the great number of good officers who 
 perished there. Their greatest loss was that of the 
 incomparable Duke of Nemours, in whom nature had 
 united all human virtues, and who, if he had lived, 
 would have been King of Naples ; but God disposed of 
 him according to His will. With him died on this un- 
 happy day the brave D’Alegre and his son Vivarotz, 
 La Cropte-Daillon, the Lieutenant D’Humbercourt, the 
 Captains Molard, Jacob, De Friberg, Maugiron, the 
 Baron of Grammont, Bardassan, and many others; about 
 3000 foot-soldiers, twenty-four men-at-arms under the 
 king’s orders, seven gentlemen of his house, and nine 
 archers of his guard. The greater number of those who 
 did not perish on this bloody day were wounded. 
 
 On the Spanish side twenty captains of infantry regi- 
 ments and nearly 10,000 of their men died; of their 
 cavalry more than thirty captains or standard-bearers, 
 with 800 men-at-arms, besides Don Menaldo of Car- 
 dona, Don Diego of Quignonez, and the Captains Alva- 
 rado and Alphonse of Stella. Their infantry general, 
 Don Pedro of Navarre, was made prisoner there, with 
 
180 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 Don John of Cardona, the Marquises of Licite, of La 
 Padule, and of Pescara, the Duke of Traijetter, the 
 Counts of Conches and of Pepoli, the Cardinal de Me- 
 dicis, the Pope’s legate, and more than 100 other lords 
 or captains. All the artillery, the arquebuses, and bag- 
 gage remained there. In fine, out of an army of more 
 than 20,000 men, 16,000 were slain or taken. The 
 Lord Mark Antony Colonna had the good fortune to 
 retire into the citadel of Ravenna, which was strong, 
 and capable of a good defence. 
 
 The next day the town was plundered by the lans- 
 quenets and the French foot-soldiers, notwithstanding 
 the defences which had been made. This was by the 
 base orders of the Captain Jacquin Caumont, whose death 
 verified the horoscope of the astrologer of Carpi ; for 
 Chabannes, who had been placed at the head of the 
 army, had him hanged. 
 
 This day at Ravenna would have been great in its 
 results had it not been for the death of the Duke of 
 Nemours, and the French would, doubtless, have pro- 
 fited by their victory, but this misfortune, added to the 
 news that, the Lord Trivulce incessantly gave them, 
 that the Venetians and the Swiss menaced the duchy 
 of Milan ; and that, on the other hand, the emperor 
 began to bestir himself, to declare war to the king, 
 determined them to take the road to the duchy of 
 Milan. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Letter of the Knight Bayard to Laurent Alleman, his 
 uncle , on the battle of Ravenna. 
 
 COMMEND myself with all humility to 
 your good favour. 
 
 “ Since I last wrote to you we have had, 
 as you have doubtless learnt, a battle with 
 our enemies. But, to make you acquainted with the 
 whole affair, it happened in this way. Our army came 
 and lodged close to this city of Ravenna ; our enemies 
 were there as soon as we, in order to give heart to the 
 said town, and by reason of some rumours which were 
 daily current of the descent of the Swiss, and of the 
 want of provisions in our camp, Monsieur de Nemours 
 resolved to give battle, and, last Sunday, passed a little 
 river, which was between our said enemies and ourselves. 
 Thus it fell out that we engaged them. They marched 
 in the best order, and were more than 1700 men-at-arms, 
 the proudest and most triumphant that we ever saw, and 
 14,000 foot soldiers, as gallant men as could be’ met 
 with. So about 1000 of their men-at-arms, enraged at 
 our artillery, fell upon our squadron in which was the 
 Duke of Nemours in person ; his company, that of the 
 
18 z 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 Duke of Lorraine, of Louis d’Ars and others, to the 
 number of 400 men-at-arms or thereabouts, who received 
 their said enemies with such valour, that better fighting 
 was never seen. Between our vanguard, which was 
 composed of 1000 men-at-arms and us, there were great 
 ditches, and, moreover, it had work to do elsewhere, 
 and could not help us. So it happened that the said 
 squadron was obliged to stand the brunt of the said 
 1000 men-at-arms of the enemy. Just then Monsieur 
 de Nemours broke his lance, and pierced one of their 
 men-at-arms through his body, and half the length of 
 an arm beyond. So the said 1000 men-at-arms were 
 defeated and put to flight, and as we were in pursuit 
 of them, we met their foot-soldiers near their artillery, 
 with 500 or 600 men-at-arms, who were there hemmed 
 in, and had put little trucks upon two wheels before 
 them, upon which were pieces of iron of the length of 
 two or three arms, and they came to a hand-to-hand 
 fight with our foot-soldiers. Their said foot-soldiers 
 had so many arquebuses, that when they fought close 
 in this manner, they killed all our captains, so to speak, 
 instead of staggering them, or putting them to flight. 
 But our soldiers were so well seconded by the men-at- 
 arms that, after fighting well, our said enemies were 
 defeated, lost their artillery, and 700 or 800 men-at- 
 arms, and the greater number of their captains, with 
 7000 or 8000 foot-soldiers. It is not known whether 
 any captains escaped, but the viceroy, for we have taken 
 prisoner the Lord Fabricius Colonna, the Cardinal de 
 Medicis, the Pope’s legate, Pedro Navarre, the Marquis 
 of Pescara, the Marquis of Padule, the son of the 
 Prince of Malfi, Don, man of Cardona, son of the Mar- 
 quis of Belonde, and others whose names I do not know. 
 Those who escaped were followed for eight or ten miles, 
 
LIFE OF BAY ARB. 
 
 183 
 
 and are now making their way across the mountains, 
 although some say the serfs (peasants) have cut them 
 to pieces. 
 
 “ My lord, if the king has gained the battle, I swear 
 to you that the poor gentlemen have lost it, for while 
 we gave chase the Duke de Nemours saw some of our 
 foot-soldiers who required help. He rushed to their 
 rescue, but the gentle prince was so badly accompanied 
 that he was killed. Of all grief and mourning that 
 were ever known, never was so much sorrow, surely, as 
 has been and is now being shown in our camp, for it 
 almost seems as if we had lost the battle. I promise 
 you, my lord, it is the most pitiful death of any prince 
 these hundred years ; and, if he had lived to be old, he 
 would have done deeds that no other prince ever did 
 before him. The soldiers well may say they have lost 
 their father, and as for me, my lord, I cannot be cheer- 
 ful, for I have lost so much that I cannot give you an 
 idea of it in writing. On other parts of the field were 
 killed the Lord d’ Alegre, and his son, Monseigneur de 
 Molard, six German captains, and the Captain Jacob, 
 their colonel, the Captain Maugiron, the Baron of 
 Grammont, and more than 200 gentlemen of good name 
 and merit, not reckoning more than 2000 of our foot- 
 men. I assure you. that the kingdom of France will 
 not recover the Joss it has sustained in 100 years. 
 
 “ Yesterday morning the . body of the late duke was 
 taken to Milan with all possible honours. Two hundred 
 men-at-arms accompanied him, and carried before him 
 eighteen or twenty of the most triumphant banners 
 gained in this battle. He will remain at Milan till the 
 king has sent word if he will have him conveyed to 
 h ranee or not. My lord, our army is going temporarily 
 by the Komagna, taking all the towns for the council 
 
1 84 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 of Pisa. They will not wait for us to implore them to 
 give themselves up, they will be afraid of being plun- 
 dered as Ravenna has been, in which nothing remains. 
 And we shall not stir from that quarter till the king 
 has sent word what he wishes his army to do. 
 
 “ When this is despatched, I think we shall have 
 abstinence from war. The Swiss are always making a 
 noise somewhere ; but when they know of this defeat 
 perhaps they will put a little water in their wine. As 
 soon as things are a little settled I shall come and see 
 you. Praying God, my lord, to give you a happy and 
 long life. Written at the camp of Ravenna, this 14th 
 day of April. 
 
 “ Your very humble servant, 
 
 “ Bayard.” 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 SHEN all the army had arrived in the duchy 
 of Milan, they began by paying the last 
 honours to the Duke of Nemours. His obse- 
 quies were conducted with more pomp and 
 ceremony than are ordinarily displayed at the funerals 
 of kings. More than 10,000 men in mourning attended 
 the corpse, the greater number on horseback, four flags 
 taken from the enemy preceded his coffin, drooping to 
 the earth. Afterwards came his ensigns, and his stan- 
 dard-bearer, and he was placed in the church of the 
 Duomo, which is the Cathedral, honoured with the tears 
 and regrets of all present. The captains being assembled 
 after the ceremony was over, the command was trans- 
 ferred to the Lord of La Palisse, Jacques de Chabannes, 
 as the oldest man, and the one most worthy of this 
 honour, because the Lord of Lautrec, dangerously 
 wounded, had been taken to Ferrara, where the duke 
 and duchess gave him all the care they could, and had 
 the satisfaction of seeing him recover his health. 
 
 The Pope Julius the Second, always an open enemy 
 to France, was not satisfied, because he had not been 
 able to make the emperor declare against the king. He 
 had persuaded him to order his lansquenets, the few 
 
i86 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 that were left from the battle of Ravenna, to return. 
 His orders, addressed to their commander, brother of 
 the dead Captain Jacob, were so precise, that he con- 
 sidered it necessary to obey, and the greater number 
 left the French army, where only 700 or 800 remained, 
 who were retained by a young captain, who, having 
 nothing to lose in Germany, attached himself to the 
 service of the king. 
 
 The Cardinal de Medicis, made prisoner at the battle 
 of Ravenna, was upon the point of being sent to France, 
 where he would doubtless have been kept a long time, 
 but he had the good fortune to be delivered by a party 
 of the Pope’s men, commanded by Matthew of Beccarea, 
 who rendered him a great service, for if it had not been 
 for him, he would never have borne either tiara, or the 
 name of Leo X. 
 
 The fear that the French had for the Venetians and 
 Swiss was found to be only too well founded, the latter 
 came down in great numbers into the duchy of Milan, 
 and were reinforced by the Pope’s troops. The French 
 army was too fatigued and too small to show front to 
 them. They disputed several passages with them pretty 
 successfully, but at last they were obliged to yield to 
 numbers, and to retire to Pavia, where they hoped to 
 remain. The French were only there two days when, 
 notwithstanding the diligence they had displayed in 
 barricading and fortifying the gates, the Swiss entered 
 the town (it has never been discovered by what means), 
 and gained the great square, where the alarm was soon 
 spread. The Captain Louis d’Ars, who had been made 
 governor, went immediately to the place, and did great 
 things. Chabannes and Humbercourt followed him, 
 and Bayard, of course, who surpassed himself. Amongst 
 other doings, he stopped the Swiss with about thirty- 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 187 
 
 six of his company, and kept them fighting incessantly 
 for more than two hours, and in this time he had two 
 horses killed under him. 
 
 It was by his advice that the French, on entering the 
 town, had at first constructed a bridge of boats (al- 
 though there was a stone one there), so that they might 
 have a certain way of retreat in case of need. The 
 event clearly showed the wisdom of this precaution, for 
 as soon as the Swiss had commenced their attack, they 
 had the artillery taken off to be carried across the 
 bridge. While they were still at work, Captain Pierre- 
 pont, who was on the watch, came to warn the French 
 that above their bridge fresh troops were arriving to 
 the Swiss, on little boats, with about ten men on each ; 
 that if they chose to make one troop, they could seize 
 the bridge, shut them in, and conquer them easily. 
 On this warning, every one took the road to the bridge, 
 where there were many blows given, and much blood 
 shed on both sides. 
 
 However, the cavalry passed, and they left 300 lans- 
 quenets to guard the bridge. But this was one of those 
 unfortunate days on which disgrace seems to succeed 
 disgrace without remorse. As the last piece of artillery 
 (a long culverin taken at Bavenna) was passing, it sunk 
 the first boat, and so cut off the route from the lans- 
 quenets, who took to flight, and saved themselves as 
 they best could; some were slain, others thrown into 
 the Ticino, and very few escaped. When the French 
 had all passed they broke the bridge, and thus stopped 
 their pursuers. But the day’s misfortunes were not 
 yet complete. 
 
 Bayard, who had remained the last, according to 
 custom, to superintend the breaking of the bridge, 
 received a falcon-shot fired from the town, which struck 
 
1 88 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 his shoulder in passing, and cut off the flesh to the 
 bone. Those who saw the blow thought it had killed 
 him ; but our hero, who was never frightened at any- 
 thing, was not disconcerted, and though he felt extreme 
 pain, he relieved his companions by telling them that 
 his wound was nothing, as though it had in reality been 
 a very small matter. 
 
 However, the blood flowed in such abundance, that 
 they had a good deal of trouble to staunch it ; but as 
 there was no surgeon there, his men tore up their shirts 
 for bandages. Others put tree-moss upon the wound. 
 In fine they did all they could to put him in a fit state 
 to follow the army, which retired to Alexandria, where 
 there was a bridge, which had been made under the 
 auspices of Theodore Trivulce, who had gone on before 
 for that purpose. The army did not remain there long ; 
 it was soon obliged to leave Lombardy entirely, ex- 
 cepting the citadels of Milan, Cremona, Lugano, and 
 Lucerne, and some places in the Valentine, with the 
 town and castle of Brescia. 
 
 This army, or rather this remnant, repassed the Alps, 
 and lodged in different garrisons. Bayard, though still 
 suffering from his wound, followed it, and went to 
 Grenoble, to the bishop, his uncle, who had never seen 
 him since he left him in the hands of the Duke of 
 Savoy as his page. 
 
 It is needless to tell with what demonstrations of joy 
 he was received, and the good bishop’s satisfaction at 
 the warlike renown he had acquired in the long interval 
 of twenty-two years since they met. 
 
 He received many testimonies of esteem and admira- 
 tion on the part of the nobility. Each outvied the other 
 in giving him f6tes ; and all, even the ladies, congratu- 
 lated themselves on the honour his presence did to their 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 189 
 
 province. He could not have been in a better place 
 for the recovery of his health ; but whether on account 
 of an issue from his last wound, or from the great 
 fatigues he had borne in many succeeding campaigns, 
 he was attacked with a violent fever which lasted 
 seventeen days, and brought him very low indeed. 
 When he found himself in this state, his regret was 
 not that death was near, but that he must die in 
 his bed. 
 
 “ Oh, heaven !” he cried, “ if it was your will to take 
 me to yourself, why did you not let me die at the feet of 
 that matchless Duke of Nemours, with my brave com- 
 panions ! Why did I not die when I was so grievously 
 wounded at the assault of Brescia! I should have 
 accepted death with joy, following the example of all 
 my ancestors who have died on the field of battle. I 
 have been so many times exposed there, I have braved 
 so much, and on so many perilous occasions, in assaults 
 or skirmishes, and have I only escaped to come here 
 and die in a bed like a woman. But, God, Thy will be 
 done. All my confidence is in Thy mercy, I am a great 
 sinner, but I hope Thou wilt pardon my faults, and ac- 
 cept the sacrifice of my life, as an expiation for them.” 
 His regrets and sentiments of piety were so touching, 
 that all the attendants were bathed in tears. 
 
 While he was in this state, all in the town, both great 
 and small, nobles and common people, the bishop and 
 the clergy, and even the nuns, prayed incessantly for 
 Bayard’s preservation. At last God was favourable to 
 their prayers, his fever decreased by degrees, and in 
 eight or ten days left him entirely. 
 
 His recovery was slow, but with time, and the care 
 they took of him, his health was entirely re-established, 
 and during the few months that he continued at Gre- 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 190 
 
 noble, he gave fetes to the ladies, and was feted by them 
 in return. 
 
 During this interval, there happened to our hero a 
 gallant adventure which I shall relate with pleasure, 
 because Bayard happily escaped therefrom, and, in some 
 measure, imitated the continence of Scipio. 
 
 His valet-de-chambre, having one day discovered a 
 young and beautiful girl, whose mother, the widow of 
 a man of gentle blood, was so poor, that she often wanted 
 bread both for herself and child, brought this girl, 
 persuaded more by force than will, secretly to Bayard’s 
 cabinet, where they awaited his return. 
 
 When he arrived, the roguish valet told him that he 
 had made one of the finest discoveries in the world, and 
 that he had with him, for his amusement, at that moment, 
 a young lady, who was not only beautiful, but noble. 
 
 At the same time he showed her to Bayard, who be- 
 held a creature beautiful as an angel, but with her eyes 
 inflamed with the tears that she had shed, and still con- 
 tinued to pour forth. 
 
 “ What is the matter, my beautiful child ?” said the 
 knight, “ why do you weep so bitterly ?” 
 
 “ Alas,” cried she, throwing herself at his knees, “ I 
 know too well that my mother has delivered me to your 
 will; but I assure you that I am a virgin, that my 
 honour has never been sullied, and I would rather that 
 I were dead than behold myself in your hands, for my 
 mother has only brought me here through her own and 
 my misery, for we shall die with hunger.” 
 
 Then again her sobs broke forth with redoubled 
 vigour, and Bayard, moved almost to tears, seeing so 
 much virtue in this young creature, said to her : “ In 
 truth, my dear young lady, I am very far from seeking 
 to overthrow those noble thoughts which I find in you. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 19 1 
 
 1 have always respected virtue, more so when it is 
 accompanied by birth. Pray recover yourself, and 
 come with me, and I will place you in a house where 
 your honour shall be in safety.” 
 
 So saying, he took a torch from his valet, and he 
 himself conducted the young lady to the house of a 
 relative who lived near. 
 
 On the morning of the next day he sent for the 
 mother, whom he deeply reproached for dishonouring 
 herself and daughter in the manner I have related ; 
 “ especially,” said he, “ being of a noble race, you are 
 still more criminal.” The poor woman, thoroughly 
 frightened, assured him that her daughter was pure, 
 and that want and misery were the only causes of her 
 crime. 
 
 “ But tell me,” said Bayard, “ has no one yet asked 
 her in marriage of you ?” 
 
 “ One of our neighbours,” she replied, “ an honest 
 and well-to-do man spoke to me about her a short time 
 since, but he wants 600 florins with her, and all I possess 
 in the world is not worth half the money.” 
 
 “ And would he marry her,” replied Bayard, “ if she 
 had this sum ?” 
 
 “Yes, my lord, certainly he would,” answered the 
 widow. 
 
 Then the knight ordered a purse to be brought from 
 which he took 300 crowns, saying : “ Here are 200 
 crowns, which are worth a little more than 600 florins, 
 to marry your daughter, and 100 crowns to buy her 
 dresses. Moreover,, he gave her 100 crowns more for 
 herself, and ordered his valet to watch the mother and 
 daughter, and to give him an account of them till the 
 marriage was contracted, which took place three days 
 after. The generosity of Bayard was rewarded by the 
 
192 spotless and fearless. 
 
 satisfaction he felt in having preserved the honour of 
 a noble and virtuous girl, and by his generosity having 
 made a woman exemplary and respectable. 
 
 After he had passed some time in Dauphiny, feted 
 and caressed by everybody, the king, Louis XII, sent 
 an army into Guienne, under the orders of the Duke 
 of Longueville, to recover the kingdom of Navarre from 
 Ferdinand, King of Arragon, who had a short time be- 
 fore usurped it from the King J ohn d’ Albret, to whom 
 it belonged in right of his wife Catharine de Foix. 
 This enterprise was not successful ; the army having been 
 a long time in the country without any success, a part 
 commanded by Chabannes was forced to recross the 
 Pyrenees, with the King of Navarre. A little while 
 after they were followed by Bayard, leading a number 
 of heavy pieces of artillery, with a detachment of soldiers, 
 who, on the road, took some little fortresses, and finally 
 came to lay siege to Pampeluna. 
 
 At four leagues from this town was a castle, whose 
 taking became interesting in detail, not because it was 
 very strong in itself, but because it could contain enough 
 men to succour the town, or at least to make the be- 
 siegers uneasy. The King of Navarre and Chabannes 
 begged Bayard to accept the charge of making himself 
 master of it. He accepted the commission in the spirit 
 of a man who had never found any difficulty in any- 
 thing. He took with him his company, who were as 
 well disposed for war as he was, and composed of men, 
 who had most of them, as we have already said, com- 
 manded themselves. He there joined the company of 
 Captain Bonneval, another excellent officer, many ad- 
 venturers, and about 800 lansquenets, and went in open 
 day straight to the castle. He began by sending a 
 trumpet to summon those who were there to give it 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 193 
 
 back to the King of Navarre, to whom it belonged, 
 assuring them that their lives and baggage should be 
 saved, but if they were taken by assault, no quarter 
 should be shown to anyone. 
 
 Those within the castle were all good soldiers, 100 
 Spaniards, very loyal to their king, and they had been 
 put there by the Duke of Naxara and the Alcalde of 
 Donzelles, 1 both of whom Ferdinand had appointed, the 
 one viceroy, the other lieutenant-general in the king- 
 dom of Navarre. Their answer was that they would 
 keep the place, and not give it up, still less would they 
 submit personally. As soon as this answer had been 
 reported to Bayard, he had a battery constructed, 
 furnished with four large pieces of cannon, and beat a 
 breach without delay. The besieged, on their side, 
 had a good number of arquebuses with two falconets, 
 and answered very well to the French artillery; but 
 notwithstanding all this, in less than an hour, the 
 breach was large enough, although difficult of access, 
 because it was necessary to get up to it. Then Bayard 
 sounded to the assault, and commanded the lansquenets 
 to march and do their duty; but it was necessary, before 
 arranging them, to come to terms with them ; they told 
 him, through their interpreter, that, according to their 
 treaty, when a place was taken by assault they should 
 receive double pay ; that if this demand were acceded 
 to, they would go cheerfully to the breach, otherwise 
 not. Bayard was ignorant of this treaty ; however he 
 promised them that if they took this place by assault 
 their demands should be satisfied. But they un- 
 doubtedly expected to be paid in advance, for not one 
 
 1 Don Didago Ferdinand, of Cardoue, one of the bravest and 
 best officers of his time. 
 
 o 
 
i 9 4 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 moved from his place. The adventurers alone marched 
 boldly, and found work to do, for, if they knew how to 
 attack, those within knew equally well how to defend 
 themselves. 
 
 Bayard, seeing that three attacks had been unsuc- 
 cessful, had had retreat sounded, and afterwards caused 
 cannons to be fired, apparently to enlarge the breach, 
 but really to throw the besieged off the track, for there 
 had entered his mind one of those expedients which were 
 never wanting to him when occasion required. To put it 
 in execution, he addressed himself to one of the men-at- 
 arms, whose bravery and good conduct he knew, named 
 La Vergne, and said to him : “ Companion, will you do 
 a bold deed, for which I will richly reward you ? Do you 
 see that large tower which forms the corner of the rear 
 of the castle ? I want you to take with you thirty or 
 forty brave men, and whilst I give the assault, and occupy 
 the enemy at the breach, you shall lead your men, 
 supplied with ladders, to enter it there. I am sure you 
 will find no one, and you know what you have to do.” 
 
 La Vergne was a man skilled in the art of war, and it 
 was not necessary to say any more to him. He under- 
 stood the plan, and executed it to perfection, while 
 Bayard had the assault given with more impetuosity 
 than the first time. The besieged were all at the 
 breach, and were strangely surprised to hear behind 
 them the cry of “ France ! France! Navarre ! Navarre!” 
 And to see themselves charged from the back by La 
 Vergne and his fifty men. They wished, however, to 
 defend themselves, but at that instant the besiegers 
 entered by the breach, which they knocked all to pieces 
 or very nearly so, and then plundered the place. Bay- 
 ard left a small garrison there under the charge of a 
 gentleman belonging to the King of Navarre, and as 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 1 95 
 
 he was preparing to set out to rejoin the French camp, 
 the lansquenets who had refused to serve, and who had 
 done nothing, had the impudence to ask him, through 
 their interpreter, for the double pay which he had pro- 
 mised them. The proposition irritated him. “ Tell 
 those rascally lansquenets,” he replied, “ that I would 
 sooner give each a halter to hang himself with. The 
 cowards wouldn’t go to the breach, and now they 
 ask double pay. I will inform the Duke of Suffolk, 
 their commander, of it, and the Lord of Chabannes, 
 that he may get rid of them ; they are worth nothing.” 
 Their interpreter, having returned them this answer, 
 they began to murmur loudly, like men just ready to 
 revolt. But Bayard sounded to the standard, and as- 
 sembled his adventurers, and his men-at-arms, resolved 
 to exterminate them to the last man, if they made the 
 least movement. They chose the better part, which was 
 to be quiet, and return with the others to the camp at 
 Pampeluna. 
 
 This adventure, instead of ending in a bloody manner, 
 as it might have done, terminated by a comic scene 
 with which the reader will be amused. 
 
 When Bayard returned from this expedition, he 
 was received by the King of Navarre, Chabannes, the 
 Duke of Suffolk, and the other captains, with all the 
 expressions of satisfaction that his skill and the service 
 he had just' rendered merited. He related to them the 
 insolent pretention of the lansquenets, and told them 
 what had happened, at which they only laughed. In 
 the evening he gave a supper to the Duke of Suffolk, 
 and to many other officers of the first rank. The supper 
 was abundant and delicate, and all were merry, when, 
 at the end of the meal, Pierrepont came to tell Bayard 
 that there was a tipsy lansquenet who was looking for 
 
196 SFOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 him to kill him. The knight left the table, laughing, 
 took his sword in his hand, and addressing himself to 
 the lansquenet : “ Comrade,” said he, “ are you the man 
 that is looking for Captain Bayard, to kill him ? I am 
 he; defend yourself.” 
 
 The tipsy fellow was terribly afraid, and replied, trem- 
 bling, and jabbering bad French: “It is not I alone 
 who wish to kill you, but all the lansquenets together.” 
 
 “ Mercy,” cried Bayard, “ all the lansquenets ! 
 Quarter, my comrade, I don’t feel capable of fighting 
 6000 or 7000 men.” 
 
 All the company laughed at the adventure, and Bay- 
 ard, for their amusement, made the lansquenet come 
 in. He placed him at table opposite himself, and sup- 
 plied him with such frequent and copious bumpers, that 
 he finished by leaving him as tipsy as he found him, and 
 then sent him away. The lansquenet, well satisfied, 
 swore to Bayard that he would be his friend for life, that 
 he was a worthy man, that his wine was good, and that 
 he would defend him against all the lansquenets in the 
 world. This scene lasted a considerable time, and 
 diverted all the company, who laughed till they cried 
 at the conversation that the wine caused this man to 
 indulge in, and which his bad French made still more 
 amusing. 
 
 But to return to the siege of Pampeluna. The day 
 after the re-entrance of Bayard into the camp, the 
 place was breached, and they tried to give the assault 
 there, but the alcalde of Los Donzelles, who was shut 
 up there, defended it so well, that the French were 
 obliged to suspend the assault, after having lost many 
 men there. The result of this campaign was very un- 
 fortunate. The army, on entering Navarre, had made 
 there a general waste of all the good things of the earth ; 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 197 
 
 the corn magazines had been blown up, and the mill- 
 stones broken ; they soon had reason to repent of this, 
 for everything was wanting at once, and the famine 
 became so great, that many soldiers died of it ; added 
 to that, the troops were barefooted, and ragged, so that 
 they were full of misfortunes. 
 
 In this sad plight, and to finish their disgrace, they 
 learnt that the Duke of Naxara was advancing with a 
 body of from 8000 to 10,000 men, and that he was 
 already at the Pont-de-la-Reine. All these circum- 
 stances caused Chabannes, and all the officers, to advise 
 the King of Navarre to put off the expedition to 
 another time, in consequence of which the siege was 
 removed in broad daylight, and the artillery taken away ; 
 but it did not go far, for they had hardly gone two or 
 three days’ journey with it, with almost incredible 
 trouble and expense, by a hilly road, when they had to 
 leave it, and shatter it to pieces, so that the enemy 
 should not profit by it. Added to this, they were 
 continually harassed in their retreat, and had bloody 
 skirmishes to withstand. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 / 
 
 HE Duke of Suffolk was in this army, and 
 had formed a very close friendship with our 
 hero. 
 
 One day after a vigorous skirmish, which 
 lasted till the evening, he retired ; overcome with lassi- 
 tude, hunger, and thirst, he came to beg some supper 
 of Bayard, “ For,” he said, “ I have not broken my fast, 
 and my men have told me that there is nothing to eat at 
 my house.” 
 
 “ Very willingly,” replied Bayard, “ I will entertain 
 you well.” 
 
 Then calling his butler, he ordered him to hasten the 
 supper, and, added he, “ Let us be served as well as if we 
 were in Paris.” Suffolk laughed with all his heart at 
 this joke, knowing that no one in the army had had any- 
 thing but millet bread for two days ; but he was agree- 
 ably surprised at being regaled as if he had indeed been 
 in Paris. 
 
 The French retired, with the enemy in pursuit, which 
 disturbed them much. However, the retreat was not so 
 unfortunate as it might have been. Bayard especially 
 acquired much honour, being always in the rear-guard, 
 and turning and facing the enemy, whom he often made 
 repent of their rashness. In fine, the army reached 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 199 
 
 Bayonne, where it found plenty to make up for the 
 previous famine ; but this abundance even was a mis- 
 fortune, for many soldiers died from over-eating. 
 
 This year, 1512, closed with three events. Firstly, 
 the Venetians returned to favour, and made peace 
 with the king. Secondly, the pope, Julius II., the ir- 
 reconcilable enemy of the king and the French nation, 
 died. He had always either been fighting against 
 them, or quarrelling with them, as we have seen in the 
 course of this history, and he carried his hatred and ill- 
 will to the grave. He was succeeded by the Cardinal de 
 Medicis, the same who was made prisoner at the battle 
 of Ravenna, who took the title of Leo X. He was a 
 very wise man, protector, or rather restorer of the 
 sciences, very ambitious, and a great politician. The 
 third event was, that the English made a descent upon 
 Brittany, in which they were not successful. One day 
 one of their largest vessels fought against one of the 
 ships of Queen Anne, Duchess of Brittany. The Eng- 
 lish ship, named the Regent, carried the most brilliant 
 nobility of the kingdom, and in large numbers. It ran 
 against the queen’s ship, named the Franciscan nun, but 
 as during the combat they threw fire into each other, 
 they were both burnt, and not one on board escaped. 
 
 The year 1513 began by an expedition into Italy, 
 whence the French were again obliged to retire with 
 great loss. The army, commanded by the illustrious 
 Louis de la Trimouille, lost a battle against the Swiss 
 near Novarra, in which many were killed on both sides. 
 Two sons of the Lord of La Marck were left there for 
 dead. Their father, in despair at this misfortune, went 
 there with his company of 100 men-at-arms, to see them 
 again, or perish with them. He made such a furious 
 charge that he drove back the conquerors to a ditch, 
 
200 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 where his two sons lay amongst the dead. He put one 
 across his horse before him, and a servant took the other 
 in the same manner, and thus they took them to the 
 camp, pierced through and through with wounds. How- 
 ever, they recovered in time. The elder was afterwards 
 the Marshal of Fleurange, and the other the Lord of 
 Jametry, and both became very illustrious men . 1 
 
 After this said expedition into Italy, and when the 
 army was in France after its return, the king was not 
 long idle. Henry VIII., king of England, at the in- 
 stigation of the pope, and of Ferdinand, king of Arragon, 
 and through information received from the Emperor 
 Maximilian I., made a raid in Picardy, near Calais, with 
 powerful forces. Louis sent proportionate forces against 
 him, under the orders of Louis of Hawin, Lord of 
 Fiennes, governor of the province, and with him Bayard 
 and a number of other good captains. 
 
 The English had no sooner disembarked than they 
 went straight to lay siege to Terouana, which was a 
 good place, and well fortified. It was defended by two 
 brave men, the seneschal of Rouergue, Francis of 
 
 1 History has a singular story of the battle of Novarra. The 
 evening before it was given all the dogs in the French army, 
 after howling for a considerable time, suddenly crossed in a 
 pack to the Swiss camp, as if they had known that they were 
 soon to change masters. This is not the only historical case 
 we have of such conduct on the part of dogs. It is related in 
 English history that Richard II. had a beautiful greyhound who 
 had never caressed any but him. This prince, having been 
 defeated and made prisoner by the Duke of Lancaster, who dis- 
 puted his right to the crown, the hound crossed over to him, and 
 overwhelmed him with caresses. The duke was much surprised, 
 and asked Richard what it meant. Richard replied, “ It is a 
 good omen for you. This dog knows no other master but the 
 king of England. I was king yesterday, you are king to-day.” 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 201 
 
 Teligny, and Antony of Crequi, Lord of Pontdomi. 
 They had under their command their companies of 
 men-at-arms, a good number of adventurers, and a 
 body of lansquenets, commanded by their captain 
 Brandec. There were enough to defend the place well, 
 if they had had sufficient provisions and munition ; but, 
 says a contemporary historian, those were nearly always 
 the causes that prevented success. 
 
 The English army was commanded by the Duke of 
 Suffolk (Charles Brandon) and the Captain Talbot. 
 Whilst they cannonaded the place, the king of England 
 disembarked, and he was nearly taken prisoner on the 
 road from Calais to Terouana. He had with him nearly 
 12,000 foot-soldiers, amongst whom were 4000 lans- 
 quenets, but not a single horse-soldier. He was met by 
 Bayard, who commanded a detachment of 1200 men-at- 
 arms, and not a single foot-soldier. The English prince, 
 alarmed at this, dismounted, and made his lansquenets 
 surround him. Bayard absolutely wished to attack 
 them with his 1200 men-at-arms, and said to the Lord 
 of Fiennes, “ Let us charge them. If we break them, 
 we shall have their king ; if they drive us back, our 
 horses will carry us off without much loss.” 
 
 Fiennes answered him, “ Do so if you wish, but not 
 with my consent. I have orders from the king to guard 
 iny country alone, and to risk nothing.” So no attack 
 was made, and Bayard and his men had the vexation of 
 seeing the king of England and his escort pass. But at 
 last our hero could contain himself no longer. He fell 
 upon the rear of the troop, and soon put them to the 
 double-quick, so that in their hurry they left a large 
 piece of cannon, which they called St. John, being one of 
 twelve similar pieces, each bearing the name of an apostle, 
 and for that reason called by Henry his Twelve Apostles. 
 
202 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 This king, a few days after his arrival at his camp, 
 was there joined by the emperor, who brought him some 
 troops from Hainault and Burgundy, and this arrival 
 was celebrated by cannonadeg against the town. The 
 King of France had come as far as Amiens, and sent 
 word every day to his general to victual Terouana at 
 any price, which was very difficult to do, because of the 
 number of troops who invested it. However, to obey 
 the king, they determined to do it. It was resolved 
 that all the cavalry should go and give an alarm to the 
 enemy’s camp, and that by this diversion they would 
 make it easier for those who were ordered to go to the 
 other end of the town to throw pieces of bacon into the 
 ditch, for the besieged to pick up. They tried to carry 
 this plan into execution, but, the enemies, informed by 
 their spies, placed 12,000 English foot-soldiers, 4000 or 
 5000 lansquenets, and ten pieces of cannon in a favour- 
 able part, so that as soon as the French cavalry had 
 passed to give the alarm, this body of troops sallied out 
 and cut off their road ; and at the place where he fore- 
 saw that the attack would be made, he had put all his 
 cavalry in arms, with the Burgundians and Hainaulters. 
 
 On the-French side they had received orders not to 
 fight, but only to occupy the enemy, to second the 
 transport of provisions into the town, and if the enemy 
 showed themselves strong, to retire with all speed. 
 
 The order was pretty well executed, but did not suc- 
 ceed; for the French, having commenced the skirmish 
 with spirit, and soon perceiving a body of troops 
 coming to enclose them, sounded retreat, and every 
 one galloped off to the camp. The first fell upon 
 the companies that Chabannes and -the Duke of Lon- 
 gueville commanded, and threw them all in disorder. 
 The pursuers seeing this first small defeat, stuck to 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 203 
 
 their point, and made the whole army turn their backs. 
 Chabannes was energetic in trying to rally them, but in 
 vain. “ Turn, men-at-arms ! ” he cried. “ It is only a 
 false alarm.” They did not listen to him ; on the con- 
 trary, they fled at full speed towards the camp where 
 were the 'foot-soldiers and the artillery. This adventure 
 gave to the day’s exploits the name of the Battle of 
 Spurs . 2 The Duke of Longueville and Chabannes were 
 made prisoners with some captains ; but Chabannes 
 escaped from the hands of those who took him. 
 
 Bayard, obliged to retire like the others, and to his 
 great regret, often faced about upon the enemy with 
 about fifteen men-at-arms of his company, and repulsed 
 them. He found a little bridge over a very deep cur- 
 rent of water which crossed the plain. Now this bridge 
 was so narrow that only two men abreast could cross it. 
 “ My friends,” he cried, “ let us stop here, and take care 
 of this bridge. I promise you that the enemy shall not 
 ■wrest it from us in an hour.” He then sent a man of 
 his troop to Chabannes, to tell him where he was, and 
 to say that he would stop the enemy until Chabannes 
 should send him help, and that, seeing the disorder in 
 which the English were, it would be easy to defeat 
 them. The Burgundians and Hainaulters were soon 
 there, and, surprised at seeing themselves stopped 
 by so few men, they charged them with all their forces. 
 Bayard showed his customary bravery, and would have 
 given the French time to rally and come to him, when 
 
 2 M. de Yoltaire, in his general History, calls the Battle of 
 Spurs a complete defeat. All the contemporary historians say 
 that the retreat of the French was an ordered retreat; that 
 there was none or very little blood shed, and, looking at it in 
 the light of a flight, we must agree that it was not only volun- 
 tary, but very wise. 
 
204 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 he perceived a troop of 200 horses, which gained the 
 lower part of the current and crossed it near a mill. 
 Seeing himself shut in in front and in the rear without 
 any means of escape, he said to his comrades : — 
 
 “ Let us give ourselves up. These forces are too 
 strong, and we are too few. They are at least in the 
 proportion of ten to one, and all our prowess will be of 
 no use to us, for our horses are overcome with fatigue, 
 and our men too far off to help us, and if these English 
 archers reach us they will cut us to pieces.” 
 
 His advice was followed, and every one gave himself 
 up to the nearest of the enemy’s troops. Bayard, whose 
 presence of mind never left him, perceived a well- 
 equipped officer who had retired under the trees to rest 
 and refresh himself ; he was unarmed, and his sword 
 was beside him. Our knight ran to him, and snatching 
 up his sword and putting it to his throat, said to him : — 
 “ Give yourself up, man-at-arms, or you die!” 
 
 The knight, much astonished at being taken by sur- 
 prise in this manner, did not wish to die there. He 
 gave himself up saying : — 
 
 “ As I am without defence, I render my sword and 
 my person to you ; but tell me to whom I have given 
 myself up.” 
 
 “ To Captain Bayard,” replied the knight, “ who is 
 himself your prisoner, and there is my sword.” 
 
 The gentleman understood nothing of the adventure 
 yet, but Bayard informed him of it all, and made his 
 condition that if it happened that the English wished to 
 kill him, he should give up his arms to him. The officer 
 agreed to this, and kept his word, for they had to defend 
 themselves against some scouts who amused themselves 
 by killing the prisoners, when they found nothing more 
 to plunder. 
 
205 
 
 LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 At last they arrived at the camp of the King of Eng- 
 land, where the officer lodged his prisoner in his tent, 
 and treated him as a man who honoured valour even in 
 his enemy. That lasted four or five days, at the end of 
 which Bayard said to him one morning with a very 
 serious air : — 
 
 “ My worthy gentleman, I am beginning to tire of 
 being here doing nothing ; you will oblige me much if 
 you will have me taken to the camp of the king, my 
 master.” 
 
 “ What,” said the Burgundian, “ eh P You have said 
 nothing about your ransom yet.” 
 
 “ Nor you of yours,” replied Bayard. “ Are you not 
 my prisoner ? Bid I not have it in my power to slay 
 you ? and if I gave myself up to you, was it for any 
 other reason than to save my life ? I have your word, 
 and you will keep it ; if not, sooner or later, I shall fight 
 you.” 
 
 The gentleman, more astonished than before, did not 
 know what answer to make to him ; he knew his name 
 too well to wish to fight him. However, he said : — 
 
 “ Sir captain, I will abide by the judgment of those 
 to whom we report our case.” 
 
 The emperor, having heard that Bayard was in the 
 camp, and seeing the joy that his capture caused every- 
 body, almost as great as the gain of a battle, sent for 
 him, and received him with extraordinary kindness. 
 
 “ Captain Bayard, my friend,” said he, “ the sight of 
 you gives me great joy. Would to God that I had 
 many such men as you ! It seems to me that if such 
 were the case, I should not be long in requiting the 
 king your master for the good turns he has done me in 
 times past. But,” added he, “ it appears to me that 
 when we were in battle together I had heard it said that 
 Bayard never fled.” 
 
206 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 “ Sire,” replied the knight, “ if I had fled, I should 
 now not be here.” 
 
 Then he reminded the emperor on what occasions he 
 bad been in battle with him. Just then the King of 
 England arrived, and he also received Bayard in a most 
 gracious manner. Afterwards he joked with him upon 
 the precipitate retreat of the French, and said that he 
 had never seen such a good run. The emperor was 
 also rather witty in his remarks; but Bayard inter- 
 rupted them by saying that the French men-at-arms 
 were not to blame, because they had had express orders 
 not to fight. 
 
 “ They had,” added he, “ neither foot-soldiers nor 
 artillery, and it was doubtful whether your majesties 
 would not bring all your forces, which indeed happened ; 
 and they know that the French nobility enjoy a settled 
 reputation; not that I place myself among their num- 
 ber, though.” 
 
 “ You ! ” replied the King of England. “ I think 
 that if all the French gentlemen were your equals, the 
 siege that I have put before Terouana would soon be 
 raised. But you are our prisoner.” 
 
 “ Saving the respect I owe to your majesties,” said 
 Bayard, “ I cannot allow that I am a prisoner, and I beg 
 you to be judges in the case.” 
 
 And then, in presence of the gentleman, he re- 
 lated the transaction as it had occurred, and the officer 
 could not deny any of the statement. The two princes 
 appeared to consult each other by their looks, and the 
 emperor declared that Bayard was not a prisoner, and 
 that the Burgundian was rather his; but that, consi- 
 dering all things, they should be quits, and the knight 
 should have the liberty of returning to his camp when 
 the King of England should allow him. That prince was 
 ready to ratify the emperor’s judgment, and said that 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 207 
 
 if Bayard remained six weeks on parole without bearing 
 arms he would allow him to visit all the towns of Flan- 
 ders, and afterwards give him leave to depart. The 
 knight, with one knee on the ground, thanked the two 
 princes for their decision, and a few days after left 
 them to avail himself of their permission to visit the 
 country. 
 
 The King of England secretly proposed to him to enter 
 into his service, assuring him that he would load him 
 with riches and honours. Pope Julius had proposed 
 the same thing to him at the end of 1503, after the exploit 
 at the Garilliano, promising also to make him Captain- 
 general of the Church ; but he had only one answer to 
 give to both, namely, “ that he had only one master in 
 heaven, who was God, and one upon earth, who was the 
 King of France, and that he would never serve any 
 other.” 
 
 We have already said that although Bayard was not 
 rich, yet there was no man who kept a better table than 
 he wherever he went. As soon as he arrived in Flan- 
 ders, he gave fetes to the ladies, and regaled the empe- 
 ror’s subjects so well and so often, and especially gave 
 them such good wine, although it was dear, that he sent 
 them away quite satisfied, and they wanted nothing but 
 their beds when they left his house. They would very 
 much have liked this style of life to last longer, but as 
 soon as the term had expired Bayard took leave of 
 them, and was taken in safety to within a short distance 
 of the French camp. 
 
 The town of Terouana was continuously cannonaded, 
 and neither being supplied with men or provisions it 
 was finally reduced to capitulation. The articles were 
 that all the soldiers should leave with bag and bag- 
 gage, that no wrong should be done to the inhabit- 
 ants, and that the town should not be destroyed. The 
 
2oS 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 first article was strictly observed, but the others were 
 not ; for the King of England, after having battered 
 down the walls, set fire to the town in various places. 
 The ruin of this town was completed in the reign of 
 Henry II., and in 1553 by Charles V., and now scarcely 
 a vestige of it remains. 
 
 The taking of the town of Tournay followed that of 
 Terouana. It fell into the hands of the English by the 
 fault of the garrison, which refused to receive a rein- 
 forcement of French troops, thinking itself strong 
 enough without assistance for the defence. The winter 
 separated the armies; the King of England and the 
 emperor returned to their states, and the French were 
 scattered in various garrisons in Picardy and the neigh- 
 bouring provinces. 
 
 In the course of this .same year, 1513, the Swiss, led 
 by the Lord ofVerzi, and accompanied by a body of 
 lansquenets, to the number of 30,000 men, made a 
 descent upon Burgundy, where was the governor of the 
 province, the brave Louis de la Trimouille, who, having 
 no troops to oppose them, was obliged to shut himself 
 up in Dijon, where he hoped to stop this large army, 
 but the town was soon cannonaded with fury and be- 
 sieged on both sides. The governor did his duty nobly, 
 being day and night upon the ramparts ; but at last the 
 breaches were made, and seeing himself surrounded by 
 a very few men, and without hope of help, he saw not 
 only that his town was lost if he persisted in defending 
 it, but the danger which all the kingdom would be in at 
 the loss of the place, as there was no other place of de- 
 fence between Dijon and Paris. Seeing that there was 
 no other course to pursue, he had the wisdom to treat 
 secretly with the Swiss. 
 
 He reminded them of the advantages that they had 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 209 
 
 already received from the Kings of France, and the 
 great benefit that they would always find in an alliance 
 with this crown ; he made them fair promises, and took 
 upon himself the task of negotiating the alliance between 
 themselves and the king ; he made them plainly see 
 that they had everything to lose and nothing to gain by 
 desolating the kingdom ; in short, he treated so well 
 and so ably, after having agreed to give them a large sum 
 of money , * 3 that they returned, taking with them La 
 Trimouille’s hostages, the Lord of Mairieres, his nephew, 
 the young Rochfort, son of Guy of Rochfort, Chancellor 
 of France, and some notables of the town. 
 
 This treaty of the Lord of La Trimouille was not ap- 
 proved by everybody at the court, where jealousy often 
 distorts the finest actions ; but the blame was not slow 
 to be changed into praise, and then, and since, all the 
 historians have reported this action as one of the 
 greatest services which could have been rendered to any 
 of our kings. 
 
 Louis XII. during his stay at Amiens had the annoy- 
 ance of learning of the defeat and death of his relative 
 and ally James IV., King of Scotland, who, trying to 
 enter England with a large army, was conquered in 
 battle 4 by the Duke of Norfolk, and left dead on the 
 field. 
 
 Winter quarters having been taken, the king went to 
 Blois, to which place he was attached, as it was his birth- 
 place. Here he hoped to be able to rest from the fatigues 
 
 4 Puffendorff says 10,000 crowns, which, would be worth more 
 
 than a million of our present money. 
 
 4 It is scarcely necessary to say that this battle was the 
 well-known Flodden, that Scott has popularized by “ Marmion.” 
 
 p 
 
210 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 and annoyances that he had undergone during the whole 
 year ; but it was not to be. 
 
 The court was hardly established at Blois, when the 
 Queen of France, Anne, Duchess of Brittany, was 
 seized with a disease which was at once declared to be 
 mortal, so that all the skill of the doctors could not 
 prevent her death, which happened eight days after, at 
 the commencement of January, 5 1513, at the age of 
 thirty -eight years. 
 
 She left two daughters, Madame Claude, who, a short 
 time after, married Francis, Count of Angouleme, who, 
 in the end, succeeded to the crown, and Madame Renee, 
 wife of Hercules II, Duke of Ferrara . 6 
 
 In the month of October following (1514) the king 
 married again. His bride was Mary, sister to the King 
 of England. It was the Duke of Longueville, made 
 prisoner at Terouana, and taken to England, who 
 negotiated this alliance, for the consummation of which 
 the king did not appear in a hurry. But he wished 
 for peace. His finances were exhausted, his troops 
 diminished, and he feared, above all things, to oppress 
 his people by taxation. 
 
 The princess was taken to Abbeville, and thence to 
 Paris, where she was received with astonishing magni- 
 
 • O O 
 
 5 The month of January was then the tenth month in the 
 year. The year began at Easter, whatever date it fell upon ; 
 the year begau to be dated from the 1st of January, in 1564, by 
 order of Charles IX. 
 
 6 She embraced the doctrines of Calvin, who went to Ferrara 
 for the express purpose of bringing about her conversion. This 
 change in her religion not allowing her to remain in Italy, she 
 returned to France in the following reign. Francis I. gave her 
 the Duchy of Montargisfor appanage. She died there in 1568, 
 without being reconciled to the Church of Rome. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 zn 
 
 ficenee. 7 The king had the kindness to change his mode 
 of life in favour of his young wife; he enjoyed pleasures, 
 and attended fetes with her, and often carried them far 
 into the night, so that instead of getting up, and going 
 to bed early, as he had been accustomed to do, he gave 
 himself up to a mode of life which shortened his days. 
 He died after a year of widowhood, and three months 
 of his second marriage, on the 1st of January, 1514. 
 He was a good prince, and much lamented by his people, 
 who embalmed his memory for ever by bestowing on 
 him the surname of Father of the People. By the death 
 of Louis the crown passed by right to the Count of' 
 Angouleme, 8 who was twenty years old, and a son-in- 
 law of Louis. He was conducted to Kheims, and con- 
 secrated with a pomp of which there is no previous 
 example. The fetes began again on his entrance into 
 Paris, where he remained till Easter, and during this 
 interval he made his treaty of peace, through the me- 
 diation of Charles, Archduke of Austria, Count of 
 Flanders, who was to marry Madame Renee, sister to 
 the queen. This marriage was broken off at the peace 
 a short time after, and she married the Duke of Ferrara, 
 as we have said. The Queen of France, widow of 
 Louis XII, married the Duke of Suffolk, and returned 
 
 7 It was then the custom to give a triumphal reception to 
 kings and queens, which were very sumptuous and very mag- 
 nificent for those times. The custom ceased in Henry the 
 Second’s reign. The route of these grand entries was always 
 through the gate and street of St. Denis. 
 
 8 He was a grandson of John, Duke of Orleans, who was the 
 son of Louis I, also Duke of Orleans, and Valentina of Milan. 
 Louis I. was brother to the King Charles VI. He was assassi- 
 nated by order of the Duke of Burgundy. Francis I, as the 
 great-grandson of Valentina of Milan, had, through her, the 
 same claims upon this duchy as Louis XII. 
 
212 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 to England. The Duke of Bourbon was made Con- 
 stable of France at twenty-six years of age; and his 
 sister married the Duke of Lorraine, Anthony I. 
 
 (1515.) The new king did not give himself com- 
 pletely up to pleasure ; he meditated re-conquering his 
 Duchy of Milan, which the Sforzas continued to hold 
 in sovereignty. He ordered the troops to come secretly 
 by the Lyonnais into Dauphiny, where Bayard (whom he 
 had made lieutenant-general of the province) was await- 
 ing them. He sent orders for them to advance into the 
 lands of the Marquisate of Saluces, where the Lord 
 Prospero Colonna was with the troops, and the title of 
 lieutenant-general of the pope, and treated these lands 
 as conquered country, excepting one place called Ravel, 
 strong enough to hold out against him. 
 
 We have seen, in the course of this history, that 
 Bayard was always the first on an expedition, and the 
 last at a retreat. We will give an account of his first 
 endeavours in the country. He knew at first that this 
 Prospero Colonna had with him 300 men-at-arms, and a 
 number of light horse, all perfectly mounted ; he also 
 knew where he ordinarily lodged, and resolved to sur- 
 prise him. He had with him his company of 100 men- 
 at-arms, and from 300 to 400 foot-soldiers, but he had 
 not enough cavalry to carry out his plan, in which the 
 infantry were of no service. He wrote to the Constable 
 de Bourbon at Briangon, telling him this, and the constable 
 sent word to the king, who was already at Grenoble, and 
 who ordered three of his bravest captains (Chabannes, 
 Humbercourt and D’Aubigny), to join him with their 
 companies. 
 
 As soon as Bayard knew they were on the road, he 
 entered Piedmont with his men-at-arms only, but 
 Colonna, knowing their small number, did not disturb 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 213 
 
 himself, and remained quiet. The knight communicated 
 his plan to two Piedmontese gentlemen, to surprise the 
 town of Carmagnola. Indeed, as soon as the reinforce- 
 ment arrived, Bayard assembled the captains, and showed 
 them that there was no time to lose, because, if Colonna 
 were informed of their number, he would not wait for 
 them, or perhaps he would call the Swiss to his aid, 
 “ who are,” said he, “ in large numbers at Pignerol and 
 Saluces. For that reason,” he continued, “my advice 
 is that you give your horses time for repose and refresh- 
 ment to-night, and to-morrow we will march at break 
 of day. It is true we shall have a stream of water to 
 pass, but the Lord of Morete, who is here now, and 
 who knows the country, will show you a ford where you 
 can cross without danger.” Every one went to take a 
 few hours’ rest, and between two and three o’clock in 
 the morning all were on horseback, and marched away 
 as quietly as possibly. 
 
 Colonna was in Carmagnola ; but having the fixed 
 notion that Bayard had only his own company, he would 
 not have sallied out so soon, but that the same night 
 that the French were making their plans to surprise 
 him at break of day, he received orders to go to Pignerol 
 to assist at a council which was to be held there, to talk 
 of the news they had received of the march of the 
 troops from France. He set out then pretty early, and 
 well accompanied, to go and dine at a little town named 
 Villafranca on the Po, at seven or eight miles from 
 Carmagnola. When Bayard’s company arrived at the 
 castle of the last-named town, they learnt that Prospero 
 had only left it a quarter of an hour, and they were 
 informed of the road he had taken. It would be diffi- 
 cult to express the vexation of everybody at losing such 
 a chance. The captains deliberated as to the part they 
 
214 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 had to perform, some wished to go forward, others were 
 undecided ; but Bayard reassured them, saying : “ As 
 we have come so far, I propose that we follow them, 
 and if we overtake them in open field, it must be some 
 great misfortune indeed which will prevent our leaving 
 some there.” 
 
 All agreed with him, and said it was necessary to set 
 out immediately; but before doing so the Lord of 
 Morete alone, and disguised, was sent on before, to 
 discover the enemy’s situations. Morete acquitted 
 himself well and quickly, and told them, on his return, 
 that Colonna and his whole escort were going to dine 
 at Yillafranca in the greatest security. They imme- 
 diately agreed upon the order of their march. Hum- 
 bercourt was to go first with 100 archers ; Bayard, at a 
 bow-shot’s distance, should follow him with 100 men-at- 
 arms ; Chabannes and D’Aubigny bringing up the rear 
 with the remainder of the troop. 
 
 In the mean time Prospero Colonna had received in- 
 formation from one of his spies that the French were 
 in the fields in large numbers. “ I know what it is,” 
 he replied, “it is only Captain Bayard and his company, 
 at least if the others have not flown over the moun- 
 tains.” 
 
 A moment afterwards another spy came and said to 
 him : “ My lord, the French are quite close to us with 
 more than 1000 horse.” 
 
 This second piece of news staggered him a little, and 
 calling one of his gentlemen, he said to him : “ Take 
 twenty knights with you, follow the road to Carmagnola, 
 and see what is going on, and come and tell me.” Then 
 he sent his quarter-master to go and prepare his men at 
 Pignerol, and sat down to table. 
 
 In the meantime the French troop was nearing them, 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 215 
 
 according to the plan that had been agreed upon ; the 
 first, being at about a mile and a-half from Villafranca, 
 discovered the gentleman whom Prospero had sent to 
 bring news of them. As soon as he and his escort 
 caught sight of the French, they turned their backs 
 and retraced their steps at full speed. Humbercourt 
 and his men pursued them at full speed, after informing 
 Bayard of what had happened, who immediately fol- 
 lowed in their train. Humbercourt reached the fugitives 
 as they were entering the town, and about to close the 
 gate; but he and his men crying “France! France!” 
 hindered their doing so, and did marvellous feats of 
 arms, without any accident, excepting a slight wound 
 that Humbercourt received in the face. Bayard, who 
 had soon joined him, with much clatter and noise, 
 made himself master of the gate. 
 
 The quarter-master, who heard this noise as he left 
 the town by the opposite gate, returned, and put him- 
 self in defence, but he was soon conquered, and part ot 
 his men slain. Chabannes and D’Aubigny, who were 
 close behind Bayard, put a guard at the first gate, and 
 went themselves to take care of the second (for there 
 were only two), so that .no one should leave it ; but 
 notwithstanding these precautions, two Albanians crossed 
 the small plank of the drawbridge, and ran to a troop 
 of 4000 Swiss, telling them of the danger Prospero was 
 in. While he was gone, Prospero was surrounded, and 
 attacked in the house where he was dining. He tried 
 at first to defend himself ; but when he saw the large 
 number of assailants, and heard the names of the cap- 
 tains who were against him, he saw that resistance was 
 useless, and gave himself up with great regret, in des- 
 pair at having been surprised there, instead of waiting 
 for the French in the open field. 
 
2l6 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 Bayard, who was as generous in victory as he was 
 brave in action, said to him to console him : ” Lord 
 Prospero, it is the fate of war ; we gain one day and lose 
 the next ; but you tell me that you wish you had met 
 me in the open field ; thank God that he did not permit 
 it, for I assure you that, seeing the courage of our men, 
 you and yours would have been troubled to escape us.” 
 
 “ I would to God,” replied Prospero, coldly, “ that 
 it had happened so. I would willingly have fallen on 
 the field.” 
 
 With him were taken three captains, the Count of 
 Policastro, Pierre Morgant, and Charles Cadamastro. 
 Afterwards the French began to plunder their baggage 
 and effects. 
 
 The booty was considerable considering the few men 
 who were taken ; and, if they had been careful, they 
 would have had above the worth of 100,000 ducats ; 
 but there were many things broken and lost. The 
 most valuable part of the booty was the horses, of 
 which there were nearly 700, and, amongst the number, 
 400 Spanish horses of remarkable beauty. Prospero 
 confessed to them that, for his part, he lost more than 
 50,000 ducats’ worth in gold and silver vessels, jewels, 
 and coined money. The French could not carry all 
 away, for they were informed that the Swiss were com- 
 ing to attack them, and that they were not far off. 
 Hearing that, they had retreat sounded, everyone seizing 
 what he could carry off most easily. They made the 
 prisoners march before the troop, and retired. 
 
 As they left the town by one gate, the Swiss entered 
 by the other. They had both horse and foot soldiers; 
 but they did not pursue the French. Thus finished this 
 expedition, of which Bayard had the honour both of the 
 planning and success, and in which Prospero Colonna 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 217 
 
 was taken prisoner by a man whom he had boasted he 
 would take sooner or later, like a bird in a cage. The 
 king in the meantime, at the head of his army, had 
 already advanced far over the mountains, which no army 
 had ever crossed before. At the mountain of Santa 
 Paolo he received the news of the taking of Prospero. 
 This intelligence gave him great pleasure, for he knew 
 Prospero to be a valiant man, and if he had been pre- 
 sent at the battle which was given a short time after, 
 he would have had with him at least 1000 men-at- 
 arms, some Spanish, and some belonging to the pope, 
 who would have been powerful enough to decide the 
 victory. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 HE king having crossed the mountains, de- 
 scended into Piedmont, and passed through 
 Turin, where he was received by the Duke 
 of Savoy in a manner befitting his dignity 
 as King of France, and as a near relation and ally of 
 the Duke. The Swiss, who were posted in various parts 
 to bar their progress, having heard of the overthrow of 
 Prospero Colonna, took the road to Milan, with the 
 French at their heels. While these events were occur- 
 ring, a truce was proposed, and looked upon even as 
 already concluded. That gave an opportunity to the 
 Duke of Gueldres, an ally of France, who had brought 
 10,000 lansquenet's to the king’s assistance, to return to 
 his country, leaving his troops under the orders of the 
 Duke of Guise (Claude of Lorraine, brother of the 
 reigning duke), and of his. lieutenant, the Captain 
 Michel. The king approached to within twelve or 
 fifteen miles of Milan, where the Swiss were established. 
 But the negotiations were broken by the wickedness of 
 the Cardinal of Sion. 1 He was a sworn enemy of France, 
 
 1 Matthew Schiner, or, according to others, Schaner, Bishop 
 of Sion, in the Valais, a mortal enemy of the French name. 
 He died a short time after this exhibition of anger. 
 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 219 
 
 and now, gave a fatal proof of his hatred. He was at 
 Milan, and feared that, by the treaty then negotiating, 
 this duchy would fall into the king’s hands. Whilst 
 Lautrec had gone to Galenas, to carry the necessary 
 preliminary money, he convened the Swiss, and haran- 
 gued them with so much rage and fury, that they took 
 up arms, left the town, and went like madmen to attack 
 the king’s camp, which was not prepared for this violent 
 incursion. The constable who was in the vanguard 
 quickly put himself on the defensive, and the king, who 
 had just sat down to table, left it to go to the help of 
 his men. The skirmish had already begun, and many 
 were dead on both sides. The king’s lansquenets, wish- 
 ing to signalize themselves by a bold stroke, and throw 
 themselves on the Swiss, tried to cross a ditch, which 
 was before the French camp ; but when they had crossed 
 it to the number of between 700 and 800, the Swiss 
 attacked them on the flank, and drove the greater part of 
 them into the ditch. The slaughter would have been 
 immense, if the Duke of Guise, the constable, the 
 Count of St. Pol, Bayard, and several others, had not 
 gone to their assistance, and driven back the Swiss. 
 The Duke of Guise was left for dead in this action. 
 The vanguard routed the enemy, 2000 of whom, in 
 their flight, passed before the king, who charged them 
 briskly, and killed many ; but he was in danger of 
 losing his life, for he had his buff coat pierced with a 
 halberd stroke. 
 
 The night separated the combatants, who did not 
 meet again. Every one retired to his own side, and 
 remained under arms till day, the king remaining on 
 horseback with the meanest of the soldiers. 
 
 In the last charge upon the Swiss a strange adventure 
 happened to Bayard, in which he marvellously escaped 
 
220 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 losing his. life. He was mounted on a spirited horse, 
 who, feeling himself wounded with many pikes, slipped 
 his bridle, and not feeling the bit, took his course right 
 through the Swiss, and would have carried his rider into 
 another troop which would have given him no quarter. 
 By good fortune, the horse became entangled in some 
 vine-stocks hanging from one tree to another, according 
 to the Italian custom, and there he was obliged to stop. 
 If Bayard was ever in fear for his life it was then ; 
 however, he preserved his customary presence of mind. 
 He slid from his horse to the ground, left all his armour, 
 and creeping on his hands and feet so as to escape ob- 
 servation, turned to the direction whence he heard cries 
 of “ France ! France ! ” and arrived in safety at the 
 king’s camp, thanking God with all his heart for his 
 deliverance from so great a danger. 
 
 The first man he met was the Duke of Lorraine, by 
 whom he was particularly beloved and esteemed. The 
 duke was much astonished to see him on foot, unarmed, 
 and in such a plight. Bayard related bis adventure to 
 him, and the prince immediately gave him a splendid 
 horse, which he had received as a present from Bayard, 
 who gained it at the first taking of Brescia . 2 
 
 - 2 « This horse,” says the Loyal Servant, “ was named Le 
 Carinau, and had been formerly presented to the duke by 
 Bayard himself, who had won him at the taking of Brescia. 
 He (the horse) was left for dead after the battle of Ravenna, when 
 the good knight leapt from off his back, by reason that he had 
 two pike wounds in the flanks, and more than twenty gashes in 
 the head from swords; but next day he was found grazing, and 
 began to neigh ; in consequence of which he was brought back to 
 the good knight’s quarters, and there healed. Incredible 
 things are told respecting him : he suffered himself to be handled 
 like any human being, probes to be put into his wounds with- 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 221 
 
 Bayard, mounted once more, was grieved at being 
 without his helmet, not only because he was so heated 
 with walking that he was in danger of taking a violent 
 cold without it, but he did not consider the battle over 
 yet. At this moment he saw near him a gentleman, a 
 friend of his, who had his helmet carried by his page ; 
 he borrowed it of him, resolved not to return it till 
 after the battle, which had begun at daybreak, and did 
 not end until nearly mid-day. 
 
 The Swiss at first directed their attacks against the 
 French artillery, who destroyed a great number of them. 
 The fight was fierce and bloody on both sides ; at last 
 they were entirely defeated, and left 10,000 or 12,000 of 
 their men on the field. The rest withdrew towards 
 Milan, fighting their way, and in pretty good order. 
 They were pursued both by the French and Venetians, 
 whom the seignory had sent to the king, commanded by 
 the noble Bartholomew d’Alviani, who lost several of 
 his best officers, amongst others the young Petigliano. 2 
 The French also lost many illustrious men, such as the 
 Count of St. Pol, the brave Humbercourt, the Count 
 of Saucerre, and Lord of Muy, the Prince of Salmon 
 (cadet of Louis de la Trimouille), and the Count of 
 Bussy, brother of the late grand master of Chaumont, 
 who was wounded there, and died soon after. 
 
 The Swiss did not remain long at Milan. The day 
 
 out stirring, and ever after, when a sword chanced to meet his 
 eyes, he would run and seize it fiercely with his teeth. Was 
 never seen a more courageous horse, not even excepting Alex- 
 ander’s courser, Bucephalus .” — From the translation by Robert 
 Southey. 
 
 3 He belonged, as also the Count Petigliano, whom we have so 
 often mentioned, to the illustrious house of the Ursino at Rome. 
 
222 
 
 SPOTLESS AXD FEARLESS. 
 
 after tlieir defeat they commenced their journey to 
 their own country The king was undecided whether 
 he should send troops after them to put an end to them ; 
 but he concluded that it was better to let them go, fore- 
 seeing that he might require them in the end ; but if 
 he had wished, not a single one would have returned 
 whence he came. So much for the success which at- 
 tended the charitable harangue of the Cardinal of Sion. 
 
 On the evening of the same day, during supper, the 
 king talked a great deal of this battle and of those who 
 had distinguished themselves in it. All voices united to 
 give the palm to the knight Bayard, who, as he always 
 did, had performed noble and valiant deeds, and who 
 received from the king the most glorious reward that a 
 subject can hope for from his prince. The king wished 
 to receive the order of knighthood from his hands. 
 Bayard excused himself with his ordinary modesty, 
 saying that such honour did not belong to him, but 
 rather to princes of the blood, or other great lords, who 
 had distinguished themselves more than he had. But 
 the king was determined, and ordered him to do his 
 bidding, in these words : — 
 
 “ Before bestowing the honour of knighthood on those 
 who have distinguished themselves in battle, I must 
 myself receive that honour from one who is a knight ; 
 for which reason, Bayard, my friend, I wish to be 
 knighted by your hand this day, because he who has 
 fought on foot and on horseback better than all others is 
 reputed the most worthy knight. It is thus with you, 
 who have fought in many battles against many nations. 
 So, Bayard, make haste, and quote neither laws nor 
 canons. Do my will and command, if you wish to be 
 amongst the number of my good servants and subjects.” 
 “ I can only obey,” replied Bayard, and taking his 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 223 
 
 sword, he said : “ Sire, may this be as efficacious as if 
 done by Roland, or Oliver, Godfrey, or Baldwin, his bro- 
 ther.” Then he performed the ceremony, and added : 
 “ In good truth, you are the first prince that ever was 
 made a knight. God grant that in battle you may 
 never fly.” Then, having kissed his sword, and holding 
 it in his right hand, he said : “ Glorious sword, that to- 
 day hast had the honour of knighting the greatest king 
 in the world, I will only employ thee in future against 
 the infidels, enemies of the Christian name. In truth, 
 my good sword, thou shalt be kept as a sacred relic, and 
 honoured above all others.” Then he made two leaps, 
 and replaced his sword in its scabbard . 4 
 
 This sword has unfortunately been lost . 5 . Charles 
 Emanuel, Duke of Savoy, wished to have it as a relic 
 of great value, and asked the heirs of Bayard for it 
 after his death. Not succeeding in getting that, he ob- 
 tained his mace from Charles of Motet, Lord of Chichil- 
 iano, one of his heirs, to whom he wrote thanking him, 
 saying, “ that, mingled with the satisfaction that he felt 
 at placing this treasure in the best place in his gallery, 
 was a feeling of grief that it should not still remain in 
 such good hands as those of its original owners.” 
 
 Maximilian Sforza, who claimed to be the legitimate 
 Duke of Milan as his father’s heir, retired into the castle 
 after the defeat of the Swiss ; but as soon as he saw the 
 preparations for besieging it, he gave it up, and left it 
 with his men. 
 
 The king, enjoying a little more tranquillity, went to 
 
 4 According to the Memoirs of Fleuranges, Bayard conferred 
 the honour of knighthood on Francis I. before the battle; other 
 historians agree with the Loyal Servant, and say after. 
 
 5 See additional note at the end of this volume. 
 
£24 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 Bologna to see Pope Leo X, who gave him a magnifi- 
 cent reception ; and after a short stay he returned to 
 Milan, whence shortly afterwards he travelled to his 
 kingdom, leaving the constable, the Duke of Bourbon, as 
 his lieutenant-general. 
 
 Francis I. entered his kingdom through Provence, 
 where he was met by the queen, his wife, and Madame 
 de Beaujeu, his mother, whom he had appointed regent 
 before he set out for Italy. 
 
 Just at this time (the 23rd of January, 1515) died 
 Ferdinand, King of Arragon, the husband of the late 
 incomparable Isabella, Queen of Castille. They only 
 left one daughter, known as Jeanne la Folle, then the 
 widow of Philip le Beau, Archduke of Austria, and the 
 mother of Charles Y. and Ferdinand I, both emperors. 
 
 A short time afterwards died John d’Albret, King of 
 Navarre, whose kingdom Ferdinand had usurped, as we 
 have seen in the course of this narrative. 6 
 
 6 In his will he ordered that his body should be placed in the 
 tomb of the royal house at Pampeluna, although this town be- 
 longed to the King of Spain ; not that he imagined he should 
 be obeyed, but he did it in order to maintain a tone of sove- 
 reignty over the town and his usurped kingdom of Navarre. 
 
 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 HE emperor, 1516, jealous of the victory that 
 the king had gained, and which made him 
 master of Milan, assembled a very large 
 number of lansquenets, with Swiss from the 
 Zurich, and the Grisons, and marched in 
 person towards the Duchy of Milan. The constable, 
 not having sufficient troops to go and meet him, shut 
 himself up in his town with his army ; but having a few 
 days afterwards received a reinforcement of 8000 or 
 10,000 Swiss, the emperor did not give him time to give 
 him battle, but went away quicker than he came, leav- 
 ing a goodly number of his soldiers as prisoners of war. 
 He died in the following year, and was succeeded by his 
 grandson, Charles V, already King of Spain in right of 
 his mother Jeanne la Folle. 
 
 The King of France had the satisfaction of seeing 
 himself father of a dauphin, born in the town of Am- 
 boise on the last day of February. The news of the 
 birth of this child was received with universal joy. He 
 died a dauphin in the year 1536. 
 
 (1519-1522). Francis I, having no cause of quarrel 
 with the new emperor, was remaining quiet, and enjoying 
 
 Q 
 
226 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 the pleasures of the court, when an unforeseen event 
 happened to disturb peace. 
 
 The Lord of Sedan, Robert de la Marck, of whom we 
 have spoken before, and who was in the service of 
 France, made inroads upon Charles’ territory, without 
 any apparent cause for such an unjust attempt. The 
 emperor soon got ready more troops than were neces- 
 sary to reduce so feeble an enemy, and to make himself 
 master of the country. His army consisted of 40,000 
 men, commanded by two brave generals, Henry, Count 
 of Nassau, and the Lord of Sickengen, with 110 pieces 
 of cannon. This army overran the territories of the 
 Lord of Sedan, took from him four places, Floranges, 
 Bouillon, Messancourt, and Soignes. Some others de- 
 fended themselves ; but Sedan and Jametz were not 
 besieged, being almost impregnable. This expedition 
 gave umbrage to the King Francis I. 
 
 He could not calmly stand by and see his province of 
 Champagne at the mercy of so formidable an army, so 
 he sent his brother-in-law, the Duke d’Alentjon, with a 
 number of cavah’y, to that frontier, and went himself to 
 Rheims. 
 
 The Imperialists affected not to give any sign of hos- 
 tility, paying strictly for all they bought from the 
 French territories, and their general, the Count of 
 Nassau, keeping strict order there, being expressly 
 bidden to do so by the emperor, who wished, he said, to 
 maintain peace with the king. 
 
 However, all at once, and without any declaration of 
 war, the Imperialists laid siege to Monzon, of which 
 place the Lord of Montmort, grand equerry of Brittany, 
 was governor, who, having only his company and some 
 few foot-soldiers, was not in a state to defend a place 
 surprised, and bare of provisions and artillery. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 227 
 
 What was still more unfortunate for him was, that 
 although he had the courage to defend it to the last 
 breath, his men refused service, and forced him to give 
 it up on condition that their lives should be saved. 
 Some of them wished to make him appear criminal to 
 the king, as not having done his duty ; but those who 
 understood the ways of war gave him justice, especially 
 those who knew that he would rather have buried him- 
 self under the ruins than such a misfortune should have 
 happened. 
 
 This event made the king uneasy for Champagne, and 
 as the town of Mezieres was the nearest to Monzon, he 
 considered that it was also the first to be taken care of, 
 so much the more, because, if it had been taken, Cham- 
 pagne was defenceless. He immediately sent to the 
 knight Bayard, as the man in whom he placed most 
 confidence, and the one most capable of defending the 
 place long enough to put him in a condition to assemble 
 an army, and make head against that of the emperor. 
 
 When Bayard arrived a council of war was held, at 
 which he assisted. The state of the town of Mezieres 
 was taken into consideration, the proximity of the ene- 
 my’s army, and the impossibility of providing troops and 
 furnishing them with provisions and artillery imme- 
 diately. The result of their conference was that they 
 should burn Mezieres and devastate the environs to 
 starve the hostile army. But Bayard was opposed to 
 such a proceeding, and said to the king : “ Sire, no 
 place is weak where there are men capable of defending 
 it.” And he offered to go and do his best with the 
 town. 
 
 The king gave him the commission, and sent orders to 
 the Duke d’Alengon, the governor of the province, to 
 supply him with all that he wanted, men, artillery, pro- 
 visions, and ammunition. 
 
228 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 Bayard had never undertaken a charge which gave 
 h im more pleasure, nor a better opportunity of serving 
 his master and acquiring honour. He betook himself in 
 all diligence to Mezieres, with the Duke of Lorraine’s 
 company of 100 men-at-arms, whom he commanded as 
 his lieutenant, and with his chosen captains, Charles 
 Alleman, Lord of Laval, and Peter Terrail, Lord of 
 Bernin, his cousins ; Antoine de Clermont, Viscount 
 Tallard ; Francis de Sassenage Ennard, Guiffrey, Beau- 
 mont, and others, all from Dauphiny, and the flower of 
 the nobility, who all brought their companies with 
 them. 
 
 Anne of Montmorency, then twenty-eight years old, 
 and afterwards grand master and constable of France, 
 wished to follow him with his company of men-at-arms, 
 “ doing himself the honour,” as he said, “ of serving 
 under so great and renowned a captain.” Many other 
 gentlemen imitated this good example, and joined 
 Bayard to learn the art of war from him; amongst 
 others were Captain Boccara, of the house of Reffuge, 
 and the Lord of Montmoreau, who each brought him 
 1000 foot-soldiers. 
 
 On his arrival, he found the place not in a condition 
 to sustain the siege, which was expected that day or the 
 next. His first care was to send away across the bridge 
 of the Meuse all the useless mouths, 1 and to destroy the 
 
 1 Useless mouths, i. e. men who would eat but not fight. 
 Bayard seems to have taken the same view of these lazy drones 
 in war as Milton in the church : — 
 
 Such as for their bellies’ sake, 
 
 Creep and intrude, and climb into the fold ! 
 
 Of other care they little reckoning make, 
 
 Than how to scramble at the shearers’ feast, 
 
 And shove away the worthy bidden guest ! 
 
 Blind mouths! — Lycidas, 1. 114. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 229 
 
 bridge as soon as they were outside. After that he 
 assembled all the principal townspeople and the chief 
 men of the garrison he found there, and made them 
 swear not to talk of giving up the place, but to defend 
 it to the death. “ And if we are in want of provisions,” 
 added he, laughing, “ we will eat our horses and our 
 boots.” Then he ordered that the parts that were for- 
 tified should be repaired, and that fortifications should 
 be made where there were none ; and to give courage 
 to the workers, he was the first to put his hand to the 
 work, and distributed more than 6000 crowns of his own 
 money amongst them. 
 
 “ Comrades,” he said, “ shall it be said that the town 
 was lost by our faults, seeing what a gallant company of 
 brave men we make here altogether ? It seems to me 
 that if we were in a meadow, with only a ditch four 
 feet wide before us, that we could fight a whole day 
 without being defeated. Thank God, we have ditches, 
 walls, and a rampart, and before our enemy plants his 
 foot there I think many will be sleeping in the ditches.” 
 
 In short, he so encouraged his men that all thought 
 they were quite invincible, having him for a leader. 
 
 Two days after his arrival, the siege was laid on both 
 sides the Meuse, on one side by Captain Sickengen with 
 14,000 or 15,000 men, and on the other side by the 
 Count of Nassau with more than 20,000. The next day 
 they sent a herald to summon Bayard to give the place 
 up to them. The herald, being introduced into the 
 town, delivered his message, which was to inform the 
 commander, on the part of his masters, that it was im- 
 possible to resist them long, that they esteemed the 
 great and praiseworthy chivalry that was in him, but 
 that it would be marvellously annoying if they were taken 
 by assault, for his honour would thereby be lessened, 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 230 
 
 and possibly it might cost him his life. In fine, if he 
 would give himself up, they would make as good a capi- 
 tulation as he could wish. Bayard, to these propositions 
 replied, smiling, “ That he was not aware he had the 
 honour of being known to the Lords of Nassau and of 
 Sickengen, that he thanked them for their gracious 
 offers; but that, as the king had chosen him to guard 
 the place, he would take care of it so well that they 
 should be tired of the siege before he was, and that so 
 far from thinking of leaving it, he hoped to make a bridge 
 of dead bodies in the ditches over which they could pass 
 out.” The herald took his leave with this answer, and 
 repeated it to his masters in the presence of a French 
 captain, named John Picard, who said to them, “My 
 lords, I know this Captain Bayard. I have served 
 under him. Do not expect to enter this place while he 
 is living ; he is a man who gives heart to the most 
 cowardly. I assure you that he and his men would die 
 at the breach before letting us put foot inside the town, 
 and for my part, I wish there were 2000 more soldiers 
 in the place rather than this Bayard.” 
 
 “ Captain Picard,” answered the Count of Nassau, “ is 
 this Bayard of bronze or steel ? If he is so brave, let 
 him get ready to give us an opportunity of seeing him ; 
 for in the next four days I will send him so many cannon 
 shots that he won’t know which way to turn.” 
 
 “ All in good time,” said Picard, “ but you won’t have 
 it all your own way.” 
 
 Immediately upon that the two generals ordered bat- 
 teries of cannon, each one from his side, and were so 
 well obeyed that in less than four days they had fired 
 more than 5000 shots against the town. The besieged 
 answered very well, but their artillery was small in 
 comparison with that of their opponents. As soon as 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 231 
 
 the Lord of Montmoreau’s 1000 men heard the first play 
 of these batteries they fled in spite of him, some by the 
 gate, and the rest over the walls. When this flight was 
 reported to Bayard, his answer was, •“ So much the 
 better. I like such knaves better outside than in ; such 
 rabble were not worthy to gain honour with us.” 
 
 However, the town was greatly inconvenienced by 
 the firing from Sickengen’s quarters, for, as he had placed 
 himself on a hill, he had a great advantage over it. Bay- 
 ard, who not only was the bravest and wisest man of his 
 age, but without his equal for expedients, thought of a 
 very singular plan to dislodge Sickengen from his place, 
 and this expedient succeeded. It was to write to the 
 Lord Robert de la Marck, who was at Sedan, a letter, 
 in which, after he had informed him that he was besieged 
 on botli sides, he added, “ If I remember rightly, you 
 told me a year ago that you proposed getting the Count 
 of Nassau into the service of the king, our master, also 
 that he is a relation of yours. I should wish such a 
 thing to take place as much as you, because he has 
 acquired the reputation of being very gallant. If you 
 think such a change possible, I advise you to bring it 
 about rather to-day than to-morrow, because before 
 twenty-four hours have passed, he and his camp will be 
 blown to pieces. I have news that 12,000 Swiss and 
 800 men-at-arms will sleep to-night at three leagues from 
 here, who to-morrow at break of day will fall upon him, 
 while on my side I shall make a vigorous onslaught, and 
 fortunate will be he who escapes. I thought it my duty 
 to warn you of this, trusting to you to keep my secret.” 
 When the letter was written, Bayard gave it in charge 
 of a peasant, to whom he gave a crown, saying, “ Go 
 and carry this letter to the Lord of La Marck, who is 
 at Sedan, three leagues from here, and give him the 
 compliments of the writer, Captain Bayard.” 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 232 
 
 The knight knew perfectly well that the peasant 
 would be infallibly arrested on the way, as indeed he 
 was, at two bow -shots from the town, and taken to 
 Sickengen, who questioned him. The poor man thought 
 his last moment had come. He was indeed in great 
 danger of being hanged. “ My lord,” said he, “ the 
 great captain who is in our town has sent me to take 
 this letter to the Lord of Sedan.” And, taking it from 
 a purse, he gave it up. 
 
 Sickengen opened it, and was strangely astonished at 
 what it contained, and thought that the Count of Nassau, 
 with whom he had had high words a short time before 
 on the subject of the command, and whom he had 
 refused to obey, wished, out of revenge, to do him a 
 bad turn. “ But,” said he, swearing a fearful oath, “ I 
 will put a stop to his malice.” Then he called for five 
 or six of his captains, and gave them the letter to read. 
 They were as indignant as he, thinking, like their general, 
 that the count had put their camp on the other side of 
 the Meuse on purpose to sacrifice them. Sickengen, 
 without asking their advice, immediately had drums 
 beaten to head quarters, sounded for assembly, and 
 made them march off and cross the river. 
 
 The count, who heard the noise of this removal from 
 his camp, sent a gentleman to know what it was. This 
 messenger saw the body of the army in arms, and taking 
 their way to the Meuse, he returned and told what he 
 had seen. The count’s surprise was great indeed, 
 especially as he knew that to go away was to raise the 
 siege. He sent a second time to beg Sickengen not to 
 remove the camp till they had consulted together, that 
 if he did so he would be acting contrary to his duty, 
 and against the emperor’s service. Sickengen coldly 
 replied : “ Go and tell the Count of Nassau that I am 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *33 
 
 not his dupe, that I will not hold myself ready to be 
 butchered for his sake, and that if he wishes to keep 
 me from removing, we will see, he and I, to whom the 
 field will remain.” Nassau, who understood this answer 
 still less than the first, and who thought that Sickengen 
 was crossing the river to attack him, got his army ready 
 for fight. Sickengen did the same as soon as he had 
 crossed the river. Drums and trumpets made a deafen- 
 ing noise from both sides, and it seemed as if the two 
 armies were about to rush upon each other. 
 
 However they calmed down, but the two generals, 
 very much irritated, would neither see each other, nor 
 speak, for eight days, and, in consequence, both left 
 their camps, and went each his own way. Sickengen 
 entered Picardy, and pushed his way to Guise, setting 
 fire to everything on his way. 
 
 In time these generals were reconciled, but it was 
 years before they discovered that they had both been 
 equally duped. 
 
 It was a miracle that the bearer of the letter escaped 
 from the danger which he had run, but he had the good 
 fortune to return to Mezieres, where he gave Bayard 
 an account of all that had happened. He told him 
 that he had been arrested, and his letter taken from 
 him, that it had occasioned much noise and confusion, 
 and that finally the enemies had soon decamped. 
 
 Bayard split his sides with laughing at the success of 
 his stratagem, and in the excess of his joy he said : 
 “As they would not open fire, I will.” And at the 
 same moment he sent five or six volleys of cannon into 
 them at once. Thus the siege of Mezieres was raised 
 after having lasted three weeks, during which the 
 besiegers had lost many men without having dared to 
 give an assault. AVhen the king heard of the raising 
 
STOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 234 
 
 of the siege of Mezieres, and the artifice which Bayard 
 had used, he felt much joy. He had only wished for 
 time to assemble an army, which he could oppose to 
 that of the emperor; and Bayard had doubled his hopes 
 in procuring him this satisfaction, and delivering Cham- 
 pagne for him so well that the royal army was already 
 on the frontier, and encamped at Fervagnes. The 
 king went to join it, and our hero also went there to 
 give him an account of what he had done, and on the 
 way he retook Monzon. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
CHAPTER XXY. 
 
 AYARD was received by his prince with many 
 marks of friendship and incredible praises. 
 The king made him a knight of his order, 
 and gave him, by an unexampled distinc- 
 tion, a company of 100 picked men-at-arms, an honour 
 which only belonged to princes of the blood. All 
 France resounded with the praises of Bayard, all 
 agreeing that without his grand resistance at Mezieres, 
 the army of Charles Y. would have penetrated into 
 the heart of the kingdom still more easily, because in 
 his seeming security, on the faith of the peace, Francis 
 had not soldiers enough in a fit condition to stop 40,000 
 men ; but he was revenged by following this army 
 into Valenciennes, and if the Germans under Sicken- 
 gen had done much damage in Picardy, the French 
 rendered them double payment by their ravages in 
 Hainault. 
 
 The departure of Bayard and his troops from the 
 town of Mezieres must have been a touching sight. 
 The inhabitants accompanied them a long way with 
 thanks and acclamations, they called them their de- 
 fenders, their liberators, and kissed the arms and the 
 coats of the soldiers. The happy event was celebrated 
 in the town every year till the time of the revolution 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 236 
 
 by a pompous fete, the chief part of the ceremony 
 being the eulogium of Bayard. 
 
 As winter approached, the king went to Paris, and 
 Bayard accompanied him. The public praises were 
 renewed on his arrival ; there was daily a concourse of 
 great and small to see and congratulate him. Finally 
 the French parliament put the finishing stroke to our 
 hero’s glory by sending him a deputation of presidents 
 and councillors to compliment him upon the great 
 service that he had just rendered to the king and the 
 whole kingdom. 
 
 After making some stay at Paris, our knight, without 
 fear, and without reproach, went to pass the winter at 
 Grenoble, where it would be superfluous to tell of the 
 reception that awaited him, and the fetes that were 
 made for him. Besides his quality as lieutenant-general 
 of the province, he belonged to the highest nobility of 
 Dauphiny, and this nobility felt it an honour to par- 
 take of the laurels with which he was crowned. They 
 disputed as to who should have him in his turn, and 
 came from the remotest parts of the province to see 
 and admire him. 
 
 In the following spring, the king being at Compiegne, 
 received news that the Genoese were about to rise, 
 and that it would be as well to send a wise and prudent 
 officer to them to keep them to their duty. Francis I. 
 was not long in deciding. He sent at once to Bayard, 
 whose wish to be useful, and attachment to his masters, 
 he knew. When he had arrived, he gave him his com- 
 mission and his orders, and finished in these words : “ I 
 beg you all in my power to undertake this expedition 
 for love of me, having great faith in your presence.” 
 
 Bayard, without delay, took the road to Grenoble, 
 and immediately went thence to Genoa, where, during 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 * 37 
 
 his stay, not only was everything quiet, but he made 
 himself esteemed and respected by all, government, 
 nobility, and common people. 
 
 He had brought with him his company of 100 men- 
 at-arms, and 500 foot-soldiers, and he was accompanied 
 by a number of gentlemen of the province, amongst 
 others by Charles Alleman, by Balthazar de Beaumont, 
 and the Lord of Romaneche. Having passed some 
 time at Genoa, he went to join the Marshal of Foix, 
 and the Lord Don Pedro of Navarre, of whom we have 
 already spoken, and who had passed from the service 
 of Spain to that of the king. They betook themselves 
 together to the French army before Milan, under the 
 orders of the famous Lautrec, also Marshal of France. 
 
 This campaign was not fortunate, for the Swiss hav- 
 ing been driven back at the first attack in the battle 
 
 O 
 
 of Bicoque, refused to return to the charge, and, a few 
 days after, went back to their own country, which was 
 the reason that the rest of the troops were put in 
 garrison. 
 
 Bayard returned to the frontier of the Marquisate of 
 Saluces, with his company and 2000 foot-soldiers, com- 
 manded by two lords of Dauphiny, Herculeys, and 
 Vatilien, and there they waited till the enemy’s troops 
 were also garrisoned. Then he recrossed the mountains, 
 and went to Grenoble, where he found that the plague 
 had broken out. He had occasion to exercise his two 
 favourite virtues, watchfulness and charity. He pro- 
 vided for all, nourished, at his expense, the poor sick 
 people, or those suspected of being ill, and assisted them 
 with doctors, surgeons, and medicine. He extended 
 his cares and benefits to the monasteries and convents. 
 In short, Bayard was, no doubt, the cause of the speedy 
 cessation of this horrible scourge. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 X the following year (1523) the king, who 
 had determined to regain his Duchy of 
 Milan, resolved to go there and com- 
 mand an army in person ; but the flight of 
 Charles, Duke of Bourbon, Constable of France, who 
 had embraced the emperor’s cause, obliged him to change 
 his plans, and he sent William Gouffier, Lord of Bonivet, 
 Admiral of France, one of his favourites, to command 
 in his place. Under him were many officers, and 
 especially Bayard, whom he had no wish to forget. 
 
 Whilst the admiral laid siege to Milan, the knight 
 marched towards Lodi with 8000 foot-soldiers, 400 
 men-at-arms, and eight pieces of cannon. His plan 
 was to surprise the Duke of Mantua, Frederic de 
 Gonzagua, who had taken possession of it. But this 
 « prince did not wait for him, the name of Bayard, and 
 the knowledge that he was not far off, was enough for 
 him. He left the town with great precipitation by the 
 opposite gate. 
 
 Bayard entered Lodi without difficulty, put a garrison 
 there, and immediately went to Cremona, which he 
 besieged and cannonaded under the eyes of the Papal 
 and Venetian troops, who dared not oppose it; and he 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *39 
 
 would have made himself master of it if it had not been 
 for the continual rain and storms which lasted four or 
 five days without interruption, so that he was obliged 
 to retire, not only because he was surrounded by the 
 enemy, but because he feared provisions would fail, 
 but little as he had, he supplied the garrison of the 
 castle, which was on the king’s side, both with men and 
 provisions. 
 
 At the commencement of this year (1524), the king’s 
 army before Milan became weaker daily, while that of 
 the emperor got stronger. The Admiral Bonivet came 
 to establish his quarters in a little town named Biagras, 
 and ordered Bayard to advance to a small village quite 
 close to Milan, named Rebec, which had neither walls, 
 nor ditches, nor barricades, and which was close to the 
 camp of the enemy. He gave him 200 men-at-arms, 
 and the 2000 men of the Lord of Lorges to keep those 
 in the town on the alert, to cut off their provisions, and 
 learn their news. Bayard, who, during the whole of 
 his life, had only sought for occasions to serve the 
 king, was too wide awake not to perceive the evident 
 danger of the commission, he explained himself clearly 
 enough to the general, showed him that the place was 
 not tenable, and that the half of the army was not 
 sufficient to guard it, and that, having nothing but 
 shame to gain there, he begged him to reflect before 
 sending him. But Bonivet, to quiet him, promised to 
 send him some foot-soldiers to help him, assuring him 
 that not a mouse could leave Milan that his spies did 
 not inform him of it. Finally, whether by Bonivet’s 
 fair words, or his authority, he betook himself with his 
 men to this miserable village of Rebec, where not only 
 was there no fortification, but it was impossible to make 
 any, excepting some barriers at the entrances. 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 240 
 
 When Bayard had arrived there, and saw for himself 
 the danger of the post he occupied, he wrote letter 
 after letter, asking for the reinforcement that the 
 admiral had promised him, and which he never sent. 
 Then he no longer doubted that this general had sent 
 him there to perish, through jealousy or some other 
 motive, for which he made up his mind to challenge 
 him to mortal combat sooner or later. 
 
 The Spanish general, Don Ferdinand Francis d’ Avalos, 
 Marquis of Pescara, had a soldier named Lupon, of 
 remarkable strength, and swiftness in running, who 
 undertook to give him certain news of the state of 
 the French at Rebec. This soldier, accompanied by 
 a single arquebusier, went, unnoticed, to a French sen- 
 tinel ; he took the man round the waist, put him on 
 his shoulders, and returned as swiftly as if he had 
 had nothing to carry. They discharged some arque- 
 buses at him, but his comrade prevented his being 
 followed. Lupon took the Frenchman to the Marquis 
 of Pescara, and stood him on his feet, so frightened that 
 he was not able to speak. He was a man very much 
 given to swearing ; he gave himself to the devil a hun- 
 dred times a day ; and he thought now that the devil 
 had taken him at his word, and come to fetch him away 
 in good earnest. 
 
 At last, when he had recovered from his fright, with 
 much time and trouble, he informed the marquis of 
 Bayard’s position, and of the number of his men. Upon 
 this intelligence, the marquis determined to surprise the 
 French the next night, and take our hero dead or 
 alive. 
 
 He put in the fields, between twelve and one in the 
 night, 7000 foot-soldiers and 1500 men-at-arms, guided 
 by the men of the village, who knew all the avenues. 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 241 
 
 Bayard, who could not be easy at such a dangerous post, 
 had watch kept in the night by half his men, he himself 
 having passed three nights without sleeping. He fell 
 ill with cold, and fatigue, and uneasiness of mind, and 
 was so unwell that he was obliged to keep his room. 
 He ordered some of his captains to keep watch and re- 
 lieve each other, but they did nothing of the kind, and 
 went to bed, only leaving three or four miserable 
 archers on guard. The Spanish, who, for the sake of 
 recognizing each other, all wore shirts outside their 
 coats, approached the town, astonished at not meeting 
 any one. Their first idea was that Bayard, informed of 
 their plan, had retired to Biagras; but having gone 
 about a hundred steps further on, they found the archers 
 keeping watch, who immediately fled, crying, “ Alarm ! 
 alarm ! ” The Spaniards followed them, and were at 
 the barriers as soon as they. Bayard, who was fully 
 sensible of the danger he was in, was sleeping fully 
 dressed. He was soon astir and on horseback, and 
 came to the barrier where the alarm was, accompanied 
 by five or six of his men-at-arms. A moment after 
 Captain de Lorges came to his assistance with his troop 
 of foot- soldiers, who did wonders. 
 
 During the attack the Spaniards were running all over 
 the village to find Bayard’s lodging, for they only wanted 
 to obtain possession of his person, and if they had been 
 able to take him they would have returned as satisfied 
 as if they had gained a complete victory. All the while 
 they were looking for him he was defending the barrier, 
 and from there he heard the noise of the drum, and 
 judged of the number of the enemy’s foot-soldiers. He 
 resolved to retire as best he could, and said to the Cap- 
 tain de Lorges : — 
 
 “ My companion and friend, our numbers are so un- 
 it 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 242 
 
 equal that if they pass the barriers we are all lost. Let us 
 leave them our equipments, and save the men. Draw 
 your men off, and march as close as you can, and I with 
 my men-at-arms will form the rear-guard.” 
 
 All that was well and successfully executed, with a 
 loss of only nine or ten men, and about 150 horses, 
 which were left to the enemy, with some grooms. 
 
 When the barrier was forced, the Spaniards searched 
 all the houses, expecting to find the man they were in 
 search of there; but Bayard was already at Biagras, 
 where he had high words with the admiral, and if he 
 had lived, he would certainly have taken sword in hand 
 against him. 
 
 A little after this check, the admiral, who had not suf- 
 ficient forces to resist those of the emperor, and who, 
 on the contrary, saw his army decreasing every day by 
 illness, assembled a council of war, of which the result 
 was that there was nothing to do in the position in which 
 they found themselves but to retire. They settled the 
 order of the retreat, following which, the admiral and 
 Bayard kept in the rear-guard, and so intimidated their 
 enemies that they dared not approach, but saluted them 
 from a distance, by discharging muskets, arquebuses, 
 and small guns at them. 
 
 The next day the French continued to retreat, and 
 their enemies to follow them. These last had placed 
 upon the two borders of the road a number of arque- 
 busiers, by means of which at eight o’clock in the morn- 
 ing they made a furious charge, in which the Lord of 
 Vandenesse was wounded. He died of his wound 
 shortly aftewards, regretted by the whole army. The 
 admiral received a wound in the arm, and was obliged 
 to be placed in a litter and taken away, leaving the 
 whole command to Bayard, to whom he said : — 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 *43 
 
 “ I pray and conjure you, for the honour and 
 glory of the French name, to defend the artillery and 
 the flags to-day. I consign them entirely to your 
 fidelity, valour, and wise conduct, as there is none more 
 capable of the task than you in the whole of the king’s 
 army, whether for bravery, experience, or counsel.” 
 
 At which Bayard, much annoyed, replied that he 
 should have wished for this honour on a more favour- 
 able and less dangerous occasion. “But,” added he, 
 “ however that may be, I assure you that I will defend 
 them so well that as long as I live they shall never 
 come into the enemy’s power.” 
 
 Indeed, for two hours he made so many vigorous 
 charges on the Spaniards, that he obliged them to rejoin 
 the body of their army, and then he returned with his 
 men-at-arms with as calm an air and as composed a step 
 as if he had been walking in a garden. 
 
 The artillery and the flags were thrown forward, and 
 in safety, when at about ten o’clock in the morning an 
 arquebus was fired, the stone of which struck Bayard 
 across the loins, and completely fractured his spine. 
 When he felt the blow, his first cry was, “ Jesus ! ” 
 Then he added, “ O God ! I am slain ! ” Then he kissed 
 the cross-hilt of his sword, using it as a crucifix . 1 He 
 changed colour, and his men, seeing him stagger, went 
 to him and wished to withdraw him from the fray. 
 His friend D’ Alegre pressed him to allow them to do so, 
 
 1 The Loyal Servant adds that Bayard exclaimed : “ Miserere 
 met, Deus, secundum tnagnam misericordiam tuarn.” “ Have 
 pity on me, oh God, according to Thy great mercy.” Then 
 he waxed quite pale, as one swooning, and nearly fell, but had 
 still strength enough to grasp the saddle-bow, and remained 
 in this posture till a young gentleman, his steward, helped him 
 to dismount, and placed him under a tree. 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 244 
 
 but be would not. “ It is all over,” he said to them. 
 “ I am a dead man, and do not wish in my last moments 
 to turn my back to the enemy for the first time in my 
 life.” He had still strength enough left to order them 
 to charge, seeing that the Spaniards were beginning to 
 advance. Then he was placed by some Swiss at the 
 foot of a tree, “ so that,” said he, “ I may have my face 
 towards the enemy.” His steward, who was a gentle- 
 man of Dauphiny, named Jacques JeofFre of Milieu, 
 was bathed in tears at his side, as well as his other 
 servants. 
 
 Bayard consoled them himself. “ It is,” said he, 
 “ God’s will to take me to Himself. He has kept me in 
 this world long enough, and shown me more goodness 
 and favour than I have deserved.” Then, there being 
 no priest, he confessed to his gentleman, whom he 
 begged to leave him where he was, because he could 
 not be moved without feeling acute pain. The Lord 
 d’ Alegre, Provost of Paris, asked for and received his last 
 
 o ' \ 
 
 wishes ; and a Swiss captain named John Diesbac offered 
 to remove him, for fear that he should fall into the 
 enemy’s power, but he replied to him and all the officers 
 who surrounded him : “ Let me devote the short time 
 that remains to me to thinking of my conscience. 
 I beg you all to leave me, for fear that you should be 
 made prisoners ; and that would be another grief for 
 me. I am dying ; you cannot relieve me in any way. 
 All I ask of you, Lord d’ Alegre, is to assure the king 
 that I die his servant without any regret but my 
 inability to render him further services. Give my 
 respects to my lords the princes of France, and to all 
 the gentlemen and captains. And now, good-bye, my 
 good friends. I commend to you the care of my soul.” 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 T that moment the Marquis of Pescara 1 ar- 
 rived near him, and with tears in his eyes 
 said to him : “ Would to God, Lord Bayard, 
 that I might have given all the blood I 
 could lose without dying, to have taken you prisoner in 
 good health ! You shall know how much I have always 
 esteemed your person, your bravery, and all the virtues 
 that you possess, and that since I have held arms I have 
 never known your like.” 
 
 The Lord of Pescara had his own tent and bed 
 brought immediately, had it spread close by the dying 
 man, and himself helped him to lie upon it, kissing his 
 hands the while. He gave him a guard, so that he should 
 be neither crowded nor pressed upon, nor annoyed in 
 any way, and himself brought a priest, to whom Bayard 
 confessed with perfect consciousness and edifying piety. 
 
 1 The Loyal Servant says that Pescara quoted a Spanish 
 proverb in reference to the bravery of the knight, “ The tri- 
 bute of praise that my nation paid you when they said, 
 ‘ Micchos Grisones, y pocos Bayardos’ (many grey horses, but 
 few Bayards, or bay ones), was not undeservedly bestowed.” 
 He adds that there were not six persons in the whole Spanish 
 camp who did not come to see the celebrated knight. 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 246 
 
 “ 0 generous marquis ! Worthy of eternal memory. 
 Posterity shall speak of you as long as the name of 
 Bayard exists, and declare the bravery and virtue that 
 rule over great hearts, even when they are in the 
 bosoms of our enemies.” 
 
 All the Spanish army hastened, both small and great, 
 to come and admire the expiring hero. The Constable 
 of Bourbon, who, as we have said, had passed into the 
 emperor’s service, came like the rest, and said to him : — 
 
 “ Ah ! Captain Bayard, how troubled I am to see you 
 in this state. I have always loved and honoured you 
 for the great prowess and wisdom which is in you. Ah ! 
 how much I pity you.” 
 
 Bayard rallied his strength, and said to him in a 
 steady voice : — 
 
 “ My lord, I thank you ; I don’t pity myself. I die like 
 an honest man. I die serving my king. You are the 
 man to be pitied, for bearing arms against your prince, 
 your country, and your oath.” 
 
 The constable remained some time with him, and 
 spoke of his reasons for leaving the kingdom ; but 
 Bayard exhorted him to return to the king, for that 
 otherwise he would remain without possessions and ho- 
 nour all his life. 
 
 Bayard left alone, thought only of his approaching 
 death; he recited devotedly the “miserere,” after which 
 he prayed aloud as follows : — 
 
 “ My God, who hast promised a refuge in Thy mercy 
 to the greatest sinners who return to Thee sincerely and 
 with their whole hearts, I put all my confidence in Thee 
 and all my hope in Thy promises. Thou art my God, 
 my Creator, my Redeemer. I confess I have mortally 
 offended Thee and that a thousand years’ fasting on 
 bread and water in the desert would not atone for my 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 247 
 
 faults ; but, my God, Thou knowest that I had resolved to 
 be penitent if Thou hadst preserved my life. I acknow- 
 ledge all my weakness — that by myself I should never 
 have been able to merit an entrance into Thy paradise, 
 and that no creature can obtain such joy but through 
 Thy infinite mercy. . . . My God ! my Father ! for- 
 get my faults ; only listen to Thine own mercy .... 
 Let Thy justice be softened by the merits of the blood 
 of Jesus Christ ” 
 
 Death interrupted his words. His first cry when he 
 felt himself mortally wounded was the name of Jesus, 
 and it was while invoking this adorable name that our 
 hero gave up his soul to his Creator, on the 30th of 
 April, 1524, aged forty-eight years. 
 
 The Spaniards showed as sincere a regret at his death 
 as the whole of France showed. As soon as he was 
 dead, the guard that the Marquis of Pescara had given 
 him bore him, according to that nobleman’s orders, into 
 the nearest church, where services were said over him 
 for two days, after which they gave the body to his gen- 
 tleman and his servants, with passports, to transport it 
 to France. 
 
 When the king heard of the death of Bayard he was 
 sorely afflicted for many days, and paid this tribute to 
 him : “We have lost,” said he, “ a great captain, whose 
 name alone made his arms feared and honoured. Truly, 
 he deserved more benefits and higher charges than those 
 he had.” But he felt the loss he had sustained much more 
 acutely in the month of February following, when, after 
 the battle of Pavia, he was taken prisoner by the empe- 
 ror, and led into Spain. “ If the knight Bayard,” he 
 said to the Lord of Montchenu, who followed him into 
 his prison in Spain, “ if the knight Bayard, who was 
 valiant and experienced, had been alive and near me, 
 
SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 248 
 
 my affairs no doubt would have been in better order. 
 I should have taken and believed in his advice ; I should 
 not have separated my army, and I should not have left 
 my entrenchment, and then his presence would have 
 been worth a hundred captains to me, he had gained so 
 much confidence amongst us, and so much fear from our 
 enemies. Ah, knight Bayard ! how I miss you ! I 
 should not be here if you were alive.” 
 
 The body of our hero was taken to France into the 
 province of his birth, to be placed there, according to 
 his last wishes, near his ancestors, in the church of 
 Creinon. The procession passed through Piedmont and 
 Savoy ; and everywhere the Duke of Savoy gave orders 
 that it should be received with the same honours that 
 they would have paid to a prince of the blood, that 
 services should be performed for him in all the churches 
 on the road, and that his body should rest there at 
 night. 
 
 When he arrived in Dauphiny, the Court of Parlia- 
 ment, the Chamber of Exchequer, with the nobility 
 and peasantry of Grenoble, went before the funeral 
 to within half a league of the town, and conducted it 
 into the cathedral church, where the next day they 
 assisted at a special service, “ non ducali modo sed regio 
 apparatu,” not in a ducal, but even in a kingly manner. 
 Afterwards the body was taken not to Creinon, as he had 
 ordered, but to half a league from the town to a convent 
 founded by his uncle, Laurent Alleman, Bishop of 
 Grenoble, and he was accompanied by the same proces- 
 sion that honoured his arrival. There he rests under a 
 large stone at the foot of the steps of the chancel ; and 
 on the right hand side, above a door of entrance to the 
 monastery is his bust in white marble, wearing the 
 collar of his order, and on a white marble slab beneath 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 249 
 
 there is a Latin epitaph, which the reader will find at 
 the end of this volume. 
 
 All writers, whether while Bayard was living or since 
 his death, French, German, Spanish, Italian, or those of 
 other nations, have agreed, without a single exception, to 
 praise him for all the virtues that can adorn humanity, 
 and which were all assembled in him — piety, charity, 
 modesty, generosity, valour, greatness of mind in dan- 
 ger, goodness in victory, disinterestedness, the talent of 
 obeying and commanding; also, justice in his advice, 
 fertility in expedients, fidelity to his king, his country, 
 and his duty : he had all these, and his virtues cannot 
 be better expressed than by the surname which his 
 own age decreed to him, of the “ knight without fear and 
 without reproach.” 
 
 We cannot refuse ourselves the gratification of 
 analysing closely the eulogium which ends the supple- 
 ment of the President D’Expilly. 
 
 Bayard was born with all the virtues and without any 
 vice. He loved and feared God, always had recourse to 
 Him in his troubles, and prayed to Him assiduously 
 night and morning, always wishing to be alone at such 
 times. He never refused to assist his neighbour, whe- 
 ther by service or money ; and this he always did 
 secretly and kindly. The poor nobles especially never 
 had a refusal from him, whatever they asked of him. 
 It has been reckoned that he married during his life 
 more than a hundred poor orphan girls, gentle and 
 simple. Widows were certain to obtain help and con- 
 solation from him. In war, he remounted one man-at- 
 arms and gave his clothes to another, and helped to pay 
 the debts of a third, and yet he persuaded them that it 
 was he who owed gratitude to them. He had profitable 
 and numerous opportunities of obtaining money by ran- 
 
250 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 soms and other means ; but he distributed all and kept 
 none for himself. He never left a lodging in a conquered 
 country without paying for what his men had taken, 
 and when he found himself in company with certain 
 nations whose custom it was to set fire to the places 
 they left, he always stayed until last to preserve them 
 from burning. He was a sworn enemy of flatterers and 
 flattery ; however great the man he was conversing with 
 he never spoke anything but the truth to him. Slander 
 was odious to him ; he never condescended to take any 
 part in it, but reproved it as much as it behoved him 
 to do. 
 
 Bayard despised riches all his life, and had little 
 esteem for the rich if they were not good also. He 
 hated equally the hypocrite and the boaster, and 
 punished with severity those who left their flags for the 
 sake of plunder. To show his bravery, his wisdom in 
 council, his prudence in action, we cannot do better 
 than refer to what has been already written in these 
 pages. He had passed his apprenticeship to arms under 
 the celebrated Captain Louis d’Ars ; so he all his life paid 
 him as much respect and obedience as if he had been still 
 his master. Finally, we must conclude our eulogium 
 by saying that Bayard was not one of those who com- 
 menced well and slackened as they proceeded, nor of 
 the men who terminate their career more honourably than 
 they have commenced it. His virtues appeared in child- 
 hood ; they were developed as he grew older; honours 
 did not alter them, and they have been crowned by a 
 glorious death and a renown that the remotest posterity 
 will always respect. 
 
 Bayard was never actually married ; but he had con- 
 tracted verbally and by letter an engagement with a 
 beautiful and noble young lady of the house of Treque, 
 
LIFE OF BAYARD. 
 
 251 
 
 in the Duchy of Milan, by whom he had a natural 
 daughter, named Jane Terrail, a daughter worthy of the 
 most virtuous of fathers. 
 
 Bayard was tall, upright, and not too stout ; his face 
 was fair, with a fresh colour, and his eyes were black 
 and full of fire. He was extremely merry, always even- 
 tempered, and his conversation, even on the most seri- 
 ous occasions, was spiced by witty remarks. 
 
 He hated the use of arquebuses, as if he had foreseen 
 that he was doomed to die by one. “ It is a shame,” he 
 would say, “that a brave man should be exposed to 
 perish by a miserable rascal from which one cannot de- 
 fend oneself.” It was doubtless for this reason that he 
 seldom gave quarter to those who fell into his hands 
 using that weapon. 
 
 In short, if his death exactly verified the horoscope 
 of the astrologer of Carpi, who had foretold, in 1512, 
 that he had twelve more years to live, the rest of the 
 prediction was not less true. “ You will be rich in ho- 
 nour and virtue. ... You will not have many of fortune’s 
 goods. . . . Your king will love and esteem you; but the 
 envious will prevent his bestowing riches upon you and 
 promoting you to the honours that you have deserved.” 
 
 He was not born rich, and only increased his property 
 by the acquisition which he made of the king’s domain, 
 an honorary right. This was a portion of the territory 
 of Avalon that he bought for £4000 to provide his lord- 
 ship of Bayard with a jurisdiction ; but with this in- 
 crease, all that he left at his death was not worth more 
 than £400 annually, an admirable example of disin- 
 terestedness in a man who had been nine years lieu- 
 tenant-general for the king in a large province, and who 
 had handled immense sums of ransom money. But he 
 often said, “ What the gauntlet gains the gorget spends.” 
 
25 2 
 
 SPOTLESS AND FEARLESS. 
 
 The President of Expilly says that the head of the 
 Carthusian friars gave orders that an anniversary in per- 
 petuity should be held throughout the whole of the order 
 to pray for the repose of Bayard’s soul ; but^ the order 
 must have been annulled, for it was never executed. I 
 have seen (says M. de Berville) the rituals of the Car- 
 thusian friars in several of their houses, and no mention 
 is made of such a command ; so the writer must have 
 been uncertain of his anecdote, or the order of the chief 
 of the Carthusians must have been revoked. 
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES. 
 
 Lansquenet. 
 
 Lansquenet was a common German foot-soldier. The word 
 is derived either from lanze, lance; or from land , land; and 
 knichte, knight. 
 
 Bayard’s Ancestry. 
 
 Aymond du Terrail, father of the chevalier, was noted for his 
 great stature and strength. He received four wounds, and lost 
 an arm, in the battle of Guignegarte, in Picard}', between 
 Louis XL and the Archduke of Austria, in 1479. Pierre du 
 Terrail, grandfather of the good knight, whom he so much 
 resembled, was renowned for his feats of arms, and was sur- 
 named, “ the sword of Terrail,” I’epee Terrail. He was killed 
 in battle at Montlhery in 1465. Bayard’s great-grandfather 
 was, when aged sixty, killed at Agincourt, fighting against the 
 English. It is evident that the Terrails were not people accus- 
 tomed to die in their beds. 
 
 His great-great-grandfather, Pierre du Terrail, distinguished 
 himself in various battles against the Flemish and English, and 
 in 1356 fell by the side of the French King John, at the battle 
 of Poictiers. 
 
 His great-great-great-grandfather, Robert du Terrail, after a 
 life spent in battles, was killed in action against Anne V. de 
 Savoie in 1337. And the father of Robert’s grandfather, fight- 
 ing most valiantly with his son at the battle of Tarey, was so 
 wounded that he died in 1325. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 2 54 
 
 Bayard's sword. 
 
 The sword of Bayard is in possession of Sir John P. Boileau, 
 Bart. On it are two legends : “ Soli Deo gloria,” and 
 “ Vincere aut mors.” Edward Cockburn Kindersley engraves 
 the arms, but ignorantly places over them a squire’s helmet. 
 They are, Azure, a chief argent, charged with a lion issuant 
 gules, over all a filet or bend or. A shield given by the knight 
 to Henry VIII. at the field of the cloth of gold is in the Guards’ 
 Chamber at Windsor Castle. 
 
 Men-at-arms. 
 
 Each company consisted of 100 lancers, or men-at-arms, who 
 were all gentlemen : hence they often refused to follow inferior 
 infantry. A very few men-at-arms often appear to do wonders ; 
 but one must always multiply the number by six, for each lance 
 was attended by three or four archers, an esquire, and a page, 
 all duly armed. 
 
 Henry VIII. offered him service. 
 
 Pope Julius had made him similar proposals in 1503, offering 
 to make him captain-general of the Church. Bayard replied 
 that “ he had but one master in heaven, which was God ; and 
 one master upon earth, which was the King of France, and 
 that he would never serve any other.” Extract from the History 
 of Bayard In/ Champier. 
 
 Grande huffe. 
 
 “ Le bon Chevalier luy vailla si grant coup sur le hault de sa 
 grant buffe.” The grande buffe was a kind of bevor, the part 
 of the armour for the head, which served to protect the lower 
 part of the face, the visor being property the defence of the 
 upper ; but the terms are frequently confounded. Sir Samuel 
 Meyrick calls it the mentoniere. Florio, in his Italian dictionary, 
 gives buffi, the buffie, or breathing hole of a casque or head- 
 piece. Southey confounds this with a buff-coat. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 255 
 
 Epitaph of Bayard. 
 
 EPITAPH OF THE GOOD KNIGHT BAYARD, 
 
 IN THE CHtJRCH OF THE MINIMES, NEAR GRENOBLE. 
 
 Lapis hie suberbit tumulo, non titulo .... Ubi sepultus est 
 beros maximus, suo ipsemet sepulchro monumentum. 
 
 D. 0. M. 
 
 Petrus Terralius, Bayardus, vix puber, addictus castren* 
 sibus operis, praeclare factis tempora elusit, virtutis miraculo 
 prselusit, primo ferme militi® tyrocinio magnus; prodigios® 
 fortitudinis, quh domi, qua foris spectacula juvenis dedit ; sed 
 illustri prjesertim Italise theatro lauris adtexta lilia geminum 
 in fronte honorem divisere. Ubi virum animosa maturitas et 
 experientia tulerunt, qu® finxit fortia facta vetustas, fecit. 
 Bayardum Alcidi confudit impavidi et inculpati equitis cogno- 
 mentum : constantis fam® vulgatu, virtutis appellationem suo 
 nomine occupavit. Tres ilium reges, lustris fere septem, gra- 
 vibus gerendi belli institutis, su® militi® pr®fectum habuerunt. 
 Illi honorem stipendio potiorem emerito, victori triumphalia 
 decora virtus decreverat ; sed honoris currus, tot victoriis onus- 
 tus, nutavit, virtutis magnitudine laboravit. Regi® vicis, in 
 Delphinatfls provincial pr®fecto, ingens honore fuit honore eo 
 non egere ; non concessum regni insigne, sed pr®mium ; regem 
 suum gladii succinctu militi® inauguravit. Illud tandem duci 
 semper victori deerat ut lethum vinceret : vicit : attonit® mor- 
 tis, nec aus® luctari, feriendum se fulmineo telo objecit. Eru- 
 buit h®c, et quod victa, et quod immatura. Ille equo desiliens, 
 victoriis fessus, sub arbore resedit, et vultu in hostem converso, 
 placidb oculos et diem clausit 30 april 1524, ®tatis 48. 
 
 Moriturum monumentum non morituris cineribus, N. Scipio 
 de Polloud, D. Saint-Agnin, suis sumptibus accuravit. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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