CHAP. L.
THE KING OF FRANCE, WITH HIS LORDS, ENTERS FLORENCE, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WHOLE ARMY.
THE KING OF FRANCE, WITH HIS LORDS, ENTERS FLORENCE, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WHOLE ARMY.
OnMonday, the 17th of November, the king, having assembled his whole army and train of artillery, advanced to a largepalace near to Florence, where he dined. The florentine nobles, with numbers of the lower ranks, came thither to pay him their respects; which they having done, and presented him with the keys of their gates, the french army marched into the town of Florence by companies, each under its own captain, and with displayed banners, in handsome order. This lasted a long time, for there were a greater body of men under arms than the Florentines had ever before seen.
When the companies had all passed, the king, accompanied by his princes and nobles, entered the town completely armed, with his body guard and his hundred gentlemen all in armour. He was conducted, having a handsome canopy borne over his head, to the cathedral, and thence to the lodgings that had been prepared for him in the mansion of Pietro de Medici, where he and his company were more sumptuously entertained than can be imagined.
The king, the better to subjugate and keep the Florentines in check, remained some days in Florence. He marched awayon the 21st, and was lodged at a large palace not far distant. The next day, Saturday, he went to St Cassant, where he remained the Sunday; and on the Monday, he advanced to Poggiobonzi[135], which is a prettily situated town, and, though small, well peopled. On the morrow, the king dined at the abbey of Aye, and thence went to his quarters in the city of Sienna.