CHAP. LII.
THE KING OF FRANCE ENTERS ROME WITH HIS ARMY.—WHAT PASSED THERE.
THE KING OF FRANCE ENTERS ROME WITH HIS ARMY.—WHAT PASSED THERE.
Onthe last day of December, king Charles, with his princes, lords, and gens d'armes, entered the city of Rome as a conqueror, with his whole army, and train of artillery, in such handsome array as astonished the Romans. But as it was nearly night, an immense number of torches were lighted, and he entered the city by the Porta Flaminia, near to the church of Santa Maria del Populo. He traversed part of Rome to his lodgings in the palace of San Marco,where he had his park of artillery, and the rest of his army marched to the quarters that had been marked for them by the before mentioned lords.
Pope Alexander VI. hearing of the great army which the king of France had marched into the city, shut himself up in the castle of St Angelo, fearing some commotions. But by advice of the council, the king sent to him the counts of Foix, of Bresse, and of Ligny, with the marshal of Gié and master John de Rely bishop of Angers, who harangued the pope in such wise that he took courage,—and henceforward there was a good intelligence between the king, the pope, and the other nobles.
The king, though daily occupied by his council on the business he was engaged in, found means to visit the churches and holy places in Rome, with much devotion; and he was shown wonderful relics and precious treasures, to which he and his company paid singular respect. The king displayed his sovereignty in Rome by having three or four gallows erected, and by ordering some thieves and malefactors to bethereon hanged. He caused others to be whipped, drowned, or deprived of their ears, to demonstrate that, as a true son of the church and most Christian king, he enjoyed the same powers of executing justice in Rome as in his town of Paris.
At this time, a very large piece of the wall of the castle of St Angelo fell, of itself, into the ditch, to the great vexation and fright of the pope. The Romans, on the other hand, thought it a miracle. The king visited the Coliseum, and other curiosities in Rome.
Friday the 16th of January, the king, attended by all his nobles, heard mass in St Peter's; and the pope, to show his affection, conversed most familiarly with him, the king and he walking arm in arm, like brothers. In short, such was their friendship that the bishop of St Malo[138]wascreated a cardinal,—and the king remaining with the pope some days.
Tuesday, the 20th, the king heard mass in the french chapel, and afterwards touched and cured many afflicted with the king's evil, to the great astonishment of the Italians, who witnessed the miracle. This same day, the pope chaunted high mass at the great altar in St Peter's, in the presence of the king, his nobles, and principal officers. There were twenty-five cardinals, about thirty archbishops, forty bishops, and a number of other prelates and churchmen. When mass was done, the pope and the king came together to a place that had been prepared for them at the entrance of St Peter's, when a bishop displayed the impression of our Saviour's face on the holy handkerchief three times,—and all the people cried aloud, 'Mercy!' The pope was then carried to a scaffold in front of the church, where the king was seated beside him, and the cardinals according to their ranks, and next to them the french princes of the blood. The pope then ordered the Confiteor to be said for the full remission of sins, as in the year ofjubilee, which was proclaimed by three cardinals in three different languages, namely, in Latin, French, and Italian. When the pope gave his benediction for the jubilee, he had his left hand on the king's shoulder, and thus were all persons absolved from every sin and crime they might have committed.
At this time, there was a Turk[139]in the castle of St Angelo, whom all the people were admitted to see, to his great vexation.
After the ceremony of St Peter's, every one returned to his lodgings rejoicing, and the king visited the seven privileged churches which are in or near Rome. On the Sunday following, the pope and the king, to prove on what friendly terms they were, rode together through Rome,—when the king showed, to him and his cardinals, his fine army and train of artillery: a pleasing sight to his friends, but a terror tohis enemies. On the 27th of January, the king gave orders for the army to be in readiness to march from Rome; and he went to take his humble leave of pope Alexander and his cardinals, who had all given him a handsome reception.
FOOTNOTES:[138]Bishop of St Malo. He was one of the king's greatest favourites, and is mentioned before under the name of Briçonnet. He was rich, able in finance, and called General, from being general of finance.For full particulars of this transaction, see Burchard's very curious diary of pope Alexander, a fragment of which was published by Leibnitz.[139]A Turk. Zizim, the unfortunate brother of Bajazet. He was given up to the king of France by pope Alexander; but not until (as it was believed) he had had a slow poison administered to him.
[138]Bishop of St Malo. He was one of the king's greatest favourites, and is mentioned before under the name of Briçonnet. He was rich, able in finance, and called General, from being general of finance.For full particulars of this transaction, see Burchard's very curious diary of pope Alexander, a fragment of which was published by Leibnitz.
[138]Bishop of St Malo. He was one of the king's greatest favourites, and is mentioned before under the name of Briçonnet. He was rich, able in finance, and called General, from being general of finance.
For full particulars of this transaction, see Burchard's very curious diary of pope Alexander, a fragment of which was published by Leibnitz.
[139]A Turk. Zizim, the unfortunate brother of Bajazet. He was given up to the king of France by pope Alexander; but not until (as it was believed) he had had a slow poison administered to him.
[139]A Turk. Zizim, the unfortunate brother of Bajazet. He was given up to the king of France by pope Alexander; but not until (as it was believed) he had had a slow poison administered to him.