The chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet, Vol. 12 [of 13]

THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.

H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-Street, Blackfriars, London.

THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET;

CONTAINING

AN ACCOUNT OF THE CRUEL CIVIL WARS BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF

ORLEANS AND BURGUNDY;

OF THE POSSESSION OF

PARIS AND NORMANDY BY THE ENGLISH;

THEIR EXPULSION THENCE;

AND OF OTHER

MEMORABLE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE KINGDOM OF FRANCE,

AS WELL AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

A HISTORY OF FAIR EXAMPLE, AND OF GREAT PROFIT TO THE

FRENCH,

Beginning at the Year MCCCC. where that of Sir JOHN FROISSART finishes, and ending at the Year MCCCCLXVII. and continued by others to the Year MDXVI.

TRANSLATED

BY THOMAS JOHNES, ESQ.

IN THIRTEEN VOLUMES VOL. XII.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND J. WHITE AND CO. FLEET-STREET.

1810.

CONTENTS

OF

THE TWELFTH VOLUME.

HERE BEGINNETH

THE TWELFTH VOLUME

OF THE

CHRONICLES

OF

ENGUERRAND DE MONSTRELET.

CHAP. I.

THE KING OF FRANCE ENTERS THE CITY OF NAPLES IN TRIUMPH.--THE ATTACK AND CAPTURE OF THE CASTEL NUOVO AND THE CASTEL DEL OVO.—OF THE EVENTS THAT PASSED IN NAPLES.

On Sunday, the 22d day of February, in the year 1494, king Charles dressed himself in his royal robes, and triumphantly entered the city of Naples. Although he afterwards made another entry, as shall be more fully detailed, he, however, showed himself this day the true king and potent lord of Naples, and went thence to the castle of Capua.

As some of the partisans of king Alphonso still held the citadel of Naples, the Castel Nuovo, and the Castel del Ovo, king Charles ordered them to be instantly attacked, although one side of the citadel was washed by the sea. He had his battering artillery pointed against the Castel Nuovo; and the captains of the guard for the king were sir Gabriel de Montfaucon, Jean de la Grange, and others of rank.

Not to prolong matters, the citadel was gained after a very severe attack; and the Germans, Neapolitans, and Spaniards, of the party adverse to the king of France, burnt the outworks and hastily retreated to join their associates in the Castel Nuovo. In the citadel were found the largest cannons that had ever been seen, with such quantities of other things of an extraordinary appearance that it was more than eight days before the place could be cleared, by employing numbers of people and carts.

Wednesday, the 25th day of February, the king, after hearing mass in the church of the Annonciada went to dine with the lord de Montpensier, and thence, accompanied by his lords, repaired to the citadel to examine how it had been battered, and to consult on the best means of conquering the Castel Nuovo. The next day the garrison demanded a parley, on which the artillery ceased firing,—and the lord Angilbert of Cleves, the lord of Ligny, the bailiff of Dijon, and the great chamberlain to the queen advanced to confer with them. The first demand of the garrison was, that the king would grant them a truce for twenty-four hours, which was cheerfully acceded to: the next, that they might, on the morrow, march away with arms and baggage, which was refused.

On the twenty-four hours being expired, the artillery played more fiercely than before,—and it was a pitiful sight to view the ruins of this Castel Nuovo, which was exceedingly strong. The besieged fired a piece of artillery against the church of the Franciscans of the observantine order, which broke through the roof, but did not the least mischief to crowds of persons, of both sexes, then in the church. The incessant firing of the batteries lasted from Thursday to the Monday following,—and there were so many breaches, for the king was there in person, that the garrison again demanded a cessation of arms for another parley. The lord Angilbert of Cleves and the bailiff of Dijon, who spoke German, met the deputies from the castle. They demanded permission to march away in safety with their baggage, to receive three months pay to serve the king, if it should be agreeable to him; otherwise, to receive passports for them to go whither-soever they pleased.

The cessation of arms was renewed from day to day, as the parley was prolonged by the garrison until the 3d of March, in expectation of being relieved by king Alphonso. But when they found all hopes of relief vain, and that the batteries were about to recommence with more violence than ever, they were forced to abandon themselves to the mercy of the king, into whose hands they surrendered themselves. He allowed them to keep their baggage; but all artillery, stores, and provisions, were to remain in the castle, which he immediately re-garrisoned with his troops, and with able captains, for its defence.

During the king's stay at that pleasant place Poggio-Réalé, the daughter of the duchess of Melfy[1], in company with her mother, came thither, mounted on a superb courser of La Puglia, and throwing the bridle on his neck, made him gallop four or five long courses; after which she made him curvet and bound, as well as the most excellent rider could have done, which pleased the king very much,—and he made her a handsome present.

Monday, the 4th of March, the king had the Castel del Ovo besieged, and strongly battered on the land side; the others were surrounded by the sea. This day, the king heard mass at the carthusian convent, and dined with the lord of Clerieux[2]: he afterwards visited the siege of the Castel del Ovo, of which the artillery had already destroyed great part,—for the canoniers had performed their duty wonderfully well, insomuch that about five o'clock in the afternoon the garrison demanded a parley. The king being there in person, consented to it, and sent thither the lords de Foix and de Miolan, who having heard their proposals, carried them to the king while at supper.

Thursday, the 5th of March, the king again returned to the siege, after his dinner; and while he was in the trenches with his artillery, the prince of Tarentum waited on him. The lord de Guise, the lord de Ligny, the master of the household Brillac, had advanced to meet the prince, and remained as hostages for his safe return after the conference. The king and prince were both sumptuously dressed, and conversed by themselves for some time, in a garden adjoining to the park of artillery, to all appearance with great politeness. When the conversation was ended, the king called to him the lord de Montpensier, the lord de Foix, the lord de la Trimouille, the lord de Miolan, the mareschal de Gie, and several others, with whom he talked for a considerable time, surrounded by his guards. When it was over, the prince took leave of the king, and returned to his galley, which was anchored off the shore, attended by many of the french lords, according to the king's orders. On his arrival at the shore, he took leave of these lords, commending himself to the good graces of their king; and when he had embarked in his galley they went back to relate to the king all that had passed, and his praises of the reception he had had. On this day the artillery did not play on either side.

Friday, the 6th of March, the king, having heard mass, went to dine with the lord de Clerieux,—and this day many of the garrison (among whom were several of the wounded) left the Castel del Ovo. The Spaniards went to the prince of Tarentum, and the Germans surrendered themselves to the king, having passports for the purpose. The lord de Cressol, sir Gabriel de Montfaucon, by the king's command, entered the castle with a body of men under arms, and archers, to take charge of it, and the numberless stores within it.

Saturday, the 7th of March, the king went to examine the Castel del Ovo, and then departed to lay siege to the opposite castle. Towards evening, the prince of Tarentum paid another visit to the king, near to the park of artillery,—and the lords de Guise and de Ligny were hostages for his safe return. This conference was short, for it was late; and when the prince returned to his galley the above lords rejoined the king. It is worthy of remark, that on this day the prince of Salernum, who had been, five years a fugitive from Naples, through fear of king Alphonso, returned thither, and recovered a young son who had been, by Alphonso, confined in prison,—for the cardinal of San Pietro ad vincula had paid a very large sum for his ransom.

On Sunday, the 8th of March, the king having heard mass, and dined, went to amuse himself at the siege, and sent the governor of Paris, and the esquire Galiot, to summon the garrison to surrender, otherwise he would shortly batter the walls about their ears. They refused to comply; and, in consequence, the batteries were played with such effect that, on the Thursday following, the 12th, they knew not where to shelter themselves,—and the governor was constrained to come from the castle to speak with the king, then in the trenches. The governor, bareheaded and on his knees, besought the king, with uplifted hands, to grant a truce until the morrow, and to receive the garrison mercifully, which was granted. The governor was a handsome, tall figure, with white hairs; and, on having this answer, he returned by sea to the castle, accompanied by the prince of Salernum and the mareschal de Gie, to parley with the garrison in the castle. Shortly after, the captains Claude de Rabaudanges and the lord de la Vernade were appointed governors of this castle,—and nothing was taken out of it.

The king, on the following sunday, after hearing mass, returned to the castle of Capua, and remained some days, to receive the homages of the princes and princesses of the realm, together with those of the nobles and inhabitants as well of Naples as of the Terra di Lavora, Calabria, La Puglia, and of other parts subjected to the crown of Naples. He had there established his chancery, and courts of justice and finance, with presidents like as in France. The president Guennay was the chancellor, having the king's secretaries under him, with great and smaller seals for all requisite acts. He ordered money to be coined of gold and silver, and other metal; such as crowns, ducats, and various pieces, both double and single, having the arms of France impressed on one side, and on the reverse the arms of Sicily, quartered with the small crosses of Jerusalem.

The king now appointed many new officers for the city of Naples, and in other towns,—namely, judges, masters of the mint, and of various descriptions. During this interval, he visited the different churches in Naples, and every thing worth seeing there and in its neighbourhood. While thus employed, he had many very fine entertainments given him by the nobility in Naples, and others,—but it would be tiresome to detail them all.

News arrived on the Wednesday, that Gaieta was taken by the french troops: in consequence of which, the king sent the seneschal of Beaucaire on the morrow to take the government of it. During the month of April, the king inspected his artillery, and that which had been found in the castles of Naples: the greater part of the last was transported to France. The lord d'Aubigny left Naples this month for Calabria, accompanied by his men at arms and a large body of Germans. The 15th of April, the king, after hearing mass in the church of the Annonciada, was confessed, and then touched and cured great numbers that were afflicted with the evil,—a disorder that abounded much all over Italy,—when the spectators were greatly edified at the powers of such an extraordinary gift. This day the lord Virgilio Orsini and the count of Petilano waited on the king for the first time since they had been made prisoners.

The next day, which was Maunday-Thursday, the 16th of April, the king heard divine service in the church of St John, a handsome building, and attended (as if in France) on thirteen poor persons, who were washed and waited on at dinner, and presented with thirteen crowns. The sermon was preached on that and the two following days by master Pinelli, a doctor of divinity in the university of Paris.

On Easter-day, the 19th of April, the king was confessed in the church of St Peter, adjoining to his lodgings, and then touched for the evil a second time; after which he heard mass in the church of St John, and in the evening a sermon by doctor Pinelli.—Wednesday, the 22d, the king went to see the tiltings, the lists for which had been erected near to a church founded by the Anjou-race of kings of Sicily, where were many of the nobility and ladies of Italy. These justings lasted from Wednesday until the first of May: the holders of them were Châtillon and Bourdillon, and the assailants were very numerous,—and excellent deeds of arms were done on each side.

On Sunday, being the feast of St Januarius, the king heard mass in the cathedral or church of St Januarius, where many cardinals, bishops, and prelates attended. The head of St Januarius was publicly displayed to the king, and some of his blood in a glass bottle: it was congealed like a stone, as the king proved by touching it with a small rod of silver; but no sooner was it placed near to the head than it began instantly to melt and become liquid, to the astonishment of many who viewed this miracle.

The prelates of the church said, that by means of this miraculous head and blood of St Januarius, they were made acquainted with the success of their petitions to God; for when their prayers had been propitious, the blood became liquid,—but when otherwise, it remained hard. They were likewise by this means informed as to the dispositions of their prince, and whether he was to reign over them or not, which seemed very extraordinary.

On Monday, the 4th of May, the king sent Jean du Bois, Fontaines, and the master of the household de Bresse, to make an inventory of all the stores, and other effects, in the Castel del Ovo,—for there appeared to be such quantities of provision, and of other things, that the value seemed inestimable. During this time, the king visited several places in the neighbourhood of Naples; such as the grotto which Virgil had pierced with such subtile art through a high mountain on the seashore of Naples, which is a wonderful thing, as there is no other road but through this subterraneous passage, as all who have seen it can testify. A little further on is the Solfaterra, where sulphur is made,—and there are natural fires beneath the surface that are always burning: the king saw them make sulphur. There are, likewise near, many springs of hot water as well as of cold; and in a valley of this mountain is a hole through which comes such an impetuous wind that it supports in the air stones, and pieces of wood, that are thrown into it,—and it is said that the heat is very great within this hole. The king visited another remarkable spot where alum is made, and saw the whole process. Near to this last place is a cavern having a deadly quality; for whatever is thrown in perishes instantly, as was proved before the king on an ass and cat, which, on being thrown in, were suddenly killed[3]. The king, having seen all that was most curious, returned to Naples for the night.

CHAP. II.

KING CHARLES MAKES HIS PUBLIC ENTRY INTO NAPLES, AS KING OF THAT COUNTRY AND MONARCH OF ALL ITALY.

Tuesday, the 12th of May, the king, having heard mass in the church of the Annonciada, left Naples after dinner for Poggio-Réalé,—where all the princes and nobles of France and Italy were assembled, to accompany him in his public entry into Naples, as king of France, Sicily, and Jerusalem. He was dressed in royal robes, and made a most splendid and triumphant entry, and thenceforward was called Charles Cæsar Augustus. In his right hand was the globe, and his sceptre in the left,—and his mantle was of fine scarlet trimmed with ermine, having a deep fall-down collar, ornamented with ermines' tails also, with a brilliant crown on his head. The horse he rode was as grandly caparisoned as possible, to suit his state: and over his head was borne a splendid canopy by the highest nobility of Naples, who were surrounded by the king's valets richly dressed in cloth of gold: the provost of the household with his archers on foot attended on him on each side. The seneschal of Beaucaire represented the constable of Naples,—and the lord de Montpensier preceded him, handsomely mounted, and dressed as viceroy and lieutenant-general of Naples.

The prince of Salernum was present, together with the great lords of France, of the blood royal, and knights-companions of the king's order; such as, the lord de Bresse, the lord de Foix, the lord de Luxembourg, the lord de Vendôme, and others without number, all dressed in mantles like to what the king wore. In short, the entry was most magnificent; and the nobility of Naples, with their ladies, presented to the king their children of ten, twelve, and fifteen years of age, requesting of him to make them knights, which he did with his own hand,—and it was a splendid spectacle.

The prelates and clergy came out to meet him in the richest copes, bearing relics, and conducted him to the cathedral, where on the high altar were displayed, as before, the head and blood of St Januarius. In front of the altar, the king swore to protect his new subjects, and to preserve them in their liberties and privileges, which gave universal satisfaction,—and great rejoicings were made on this occasion, and also for his happy arrival, and the great good he had promised them.

The king was, after this, conducted to his palace, where, during several days, he received embassies from different parts of his kingdom; such as Calabria, La Puglia, L'Abruzzo, to do homage, and to inquire respecting the manner in which they were to be governed by a viceroy when the king should be absent, as was natural for them. On Monday, the 18th of May, the king ordered a grand supper to be prepared at the Castel Nuovo, where he gave a sumptuous banquet, to his princes and nobles, seated at two tables, in the great hall of the castle, to which was an ascent by several stone steps. The grand seneschal of Naples served the whole of the supper, superbly mounted, and clothed in white, with abundance of trumpets and clarions sounding. After supper, the king received the homage of all the lords, and then returned to sleep at his palace.

CHAP. III.

KING CHARLES MAKES DISPOSITIONS TO RETURN TO FRANCE,—AND TAKES LEAVE OF HIS SUBJECTS IN NAPLES.

Wednesday, the 20th of May, the king, having heard mass with great solemnity at the church of the Annonciada, dined at the palace; after which, the nobility of Naples waited on him to take leave. They were assembled in the great hall, where the king received them graciously, and kindly bade them adieu! at the same time, he presented to them the lord de Montpensier, as their viceroy and governor during his absence. When this was done, the king departed from Naples, attended by a gallant company of lords and gentlemen, men at arms, Swiss and Germans, and slept that night at Aversa, on his return to France.

CHAP. IV.

KING CHARLES RETURNS, FROM NAPLES TO FRANCE.

The king, as I have said, left Naples on the 20th of May, and halted at Aversa. On the 21st, he marched from Aversa to Capua. On the morrow, he dined and slept at the bishop's palace in Sezza[4]; and on the Saturday, as he was about to enter Gaieta to refresh himself, the castle fell down and obstructed the road, so that he returned to Sezza,—but on the Sunday, when the damages had been repaired, he proceeded and lay at Monte Cassino. Thence he passed to Ponte-corvo, to Cyprienne, and to Fiorentino, a small city, then under an interdict from pope Alexander, because the inhabitants had murdered and cut off the arms of their bishop, who was a Spaniard, for having been obstinate in supporting king Alphonso against the king of France. This latter would not have been able to have heard mass that day, if he had not before had full powers given him to order the celebration of the mass in all places, according to his good pleasure.

On Friday, the 29th, the king advanced for the night to Valmontone, wherein were many who hated the French, because they had destroyed and burnt Monte-Fortino: nevertheless, he proceeded to Marina the next day, and halted there till Sunday.

On Monday the first of June, the king re-entered Rome, on his return to France, and was lodged in the palace of the cardinal de St Clement, near to St Peter's. He was grandly accompanied by his nobles, gentlemen pensioners, men at arms, cross-bowmen, Swiss and Germans; and because pope Alexander was absent[5], he posted his men in different parts of the town, to check any insolence of the Romans. Having done this, he went to St Peter's, to return his thanksgivings to God. On Wednesday, he left Rome, dined at Isola, and lay at Campanolle. Friday he advanced to Ronciglione, and the same day entered Viterbo with his whole army, where he was as well received as before. He remained in Viterbo until Whitsunday was passed, to perform his devotions, and visit the body of St Rosa.

On the 8th of June, the king supped and lay in the town of Monte Fiascone, celebrated for its muscadine wines,—and thence, continuing his march through La Paille and other places, arrived at Sienna, the inhabitants of which came out to welcome him, magnificently dressed, and with the same ceremonies as at the first of his coming thither.

The king marched from Sienna on the 17th of June for Poggiobondi, where he lay, and staid the following morning, on account of its being the feast of the holy sacrament, and attended the procession to high mass with great devotion. After dinner he advanced to Château Florentin,—and on the morrow he dined at Campane, near to Florence; but he did not enter Florence on his return, for, under pretence of being in the french interest, the town of Pont-Velle had been taken.

Saturday, the 20th of June, the king entered Pisa, where he was received with every honour and submission. He staid there two days, and on the Tuesday following dined at Pommart, and slept at Lucca, where, in return for his handsome reception, he took the town under his protection. He marched through Pietra Santa, and arrived, on the Saturday, at Sarsaigne[6], where he had intelligence of the junction of the duke of Milan with the Venetians. For this reason, he would not sleep at Villa Franca, but encamped his army on the other side of the river, where he supped, and waited for the arrival of his artillery, and the rear of his army.

The king left his camp, at Villa Franca, on the 30th of June, to hear mass at a large monastery near to Pontremoli; for the Germans had burnt that town, in revenge for the murders of some of their countrymen by the inhabitants, on their march to Naples. After dinner, the king encamped at the foot of the Appenines, and there remained until his artillery had passed the mountains. The lord de la Trimouille and Jean de la Grange were charged with this business,—and although there were plenty of hands they had great difficulties, on account of the rocks. On the 3d of July, and the following day, the king crossed the Appenines, and passed through Verceil and Cassano, and encamped his army near to Borgo de Taro, where he lay, under the security of strong guards. Sunday, the 5th of July, the king heard mass in his camp, and dined at Foronuovo[7], where he formed his plan for the order of battle, with a main body, a van and reserve, and having the usual guards established.