CHAP. XLIV.

THE KING LEAVES QUIERS FOR ASTI, WHERE HE IS INFORMED OF THE GALLANT CONDUCT OF THE DUKE OF ORLEANS AT GENOA.—LUDOVICO SFORZA AND HIS LADY VISIT THE KING AT ASTI.—A MARVELLOUS EVENT AT GENOA.

OnTuesday the 9th of September, the king, after thanking the lords and ladies of Quiers for the honourable reception they had given him, departed for Villa-nuova; and thence went to supper in the town of Asti, belonging to the duke of Orleans, where he was received by all ranks of inhabitants with greater magnificence than at any other town, considering their means. The king was lodged at the house of one John Roger, and the other lords in different houses.

The duke was absent on the coast of Genoa, on the king's business, and to provide for the security of his expedition. The morning after the king's arrival, a false messenger arrived at Asti, with every markof bringing hasty news,—and it was instantly rumoured that the French had been defeated at sea. The king immediately assembled his council, to consider how to act in consequence of this unfortunate event; but the messenger was not now to be found, to hear the particulars from him; and within a short time another messenger arrived with better news, for he brought certain information that the duke of Orleans, whilst cruizing in the gulph of Rapallo, near Genoa, had defeated the army of the prince of Tarentum, and taken forty thousand prisoners, and that the slaughter of the enemies of France had been so great that the numbers were not known: a few had escaped over the mountains: and among the prisoners were a son to sir John Fregoso[121], and a nephew to the cardinal of Genoa: Frederic[122], who was the commander of the neapolitan army, had expired through fear. The flower of the italian nobility was in this battle.

The duke of Orleans had with him, at this glorious victory, the lord de Piennes, John de la Grange, Charles de Brillac, who was then knighted, the bailiff of Dijon, the lord Guyot de Lousiers, with numbers of other nobles and gentlemen of name. After the victory, the duke of Orleans was seized with a fever, which forced him to return to Asti, where the king still was.

To Asti came also, from Milan, Ludovico Sforza, and his consort, the daughter of the duke of Ferrara, who brought with her a profusion of rich dresses and jewels to display before the king. They conversed together, like old friends,—for the traitor Ludovico had not then manifested the iniquity of his malignant mind, as he afterwards did, but for which, in the end he was severely punished[123].

When king Charles had staid some time at Asti, he was much indisposed for two or three days[124], and removed from his lodgings to more airy apartments inthe convent of the Jacobins, that overlooked their gardens. It was there the duke of Orleans and the other lords of the council arranged many things for the furtherance of his expedition, and also for the general welfare of his kingdom. During this interval, Ludovico went back to Milan, but shortly returned, although his support was but feigned and full of deceit.

It was about this time that three or four french gentlemen in Genoa, went to the sea shore to bathe, and were shortly afterward joined by another, who stripped himself to bathe with them,—when lo, a large fish rose from the bottom of the sea, and bit the latter gentleman until the blood came. Perceiving himself wounded, he attempted to escape by driving off the fish, but he, having tasted his blood, returned again, bit him in several places, and at length dragged him by force under the water, and he was never seen afterward, which seemed a very marvellous event to many persons in Genoa.

The king having remained in Asti from the 9th of September until the 6th of October, departed from it for ever, to accomplish the object of his expedition.

On the morning of the 6th, having heard mass as usual, and taking some refreshments, he set out from Asti, dined at La Fariniere, and lodged at Monçal[125], which is the first town on the road toward Lombardy, and of a tolerable size. It belonged to the late marquis of Montferrat, and the king was honourably received there by the marchioness, his widow, her eldest son the present marquis, and her second, called Constantine. She showed him the whole extent of the fortifications of the town and castle, and how well they were provided with artillery and military stores. She also pointed out to him the heads of three traitors who had been, a short time before, executed for having caused a war between Ludovico of Milan and her husband, the late marquis.

The marchioness treated the king with the greatest hospitality and kindness, making offers of every thing she had for his service,—and tenderly reminding him how her deceased lord had left her and her children under his especial protection. The kingbehaved to her very affectionately; and on the morrow he departed from Moncalvo, to dine and sup at Casal, the capital of the possessions of the marquis of Montferrat.

FOOTNOTES:[121]Sir John Fregoso,—natural son to Paul Fregoso cardinal-archbishop and duke of Genoa.[122]Frederic—was brother to Alphonso king of Naples.[123]He was made prisoner by Louis XII. and confined in the castle of Loches, where he died.[124]With the small pox. See Roscoe's Leo X. if it were not another disorder.[125]Monçal, Q. Moncalvo? nine miles north of Asti.

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

[122]Frederic—was brother to Alphonso king of Naples.

[123]He was made prisoner by Louis XII. and confined in the castle of Loches, where he died.

[124]With the small pox. See Roscoe's Leo X. if it were not another disorder.

[125]Monçal, Q. Moncalvo? nine miles north of Asti.

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