OF THE EXPEDITION WHICH KING CHARLES UNDERTAKES TO RECOVER HIS KINGDOM
OF NAPLES, AND THE REASONS THAT MOVED HIM THERETO.
When king Charles had, by his prudence, subjugated or reduced to peace
all the countries that were immediately on his frontiers, so that
he had not any disturbances to apprehend from those quarters, like
a magnanimous prince, and full of prowess, he turned his thoughts
to regain the kingdoms of Naples and of Sicily, which legally and
justly belonged to him. Although he was small in body, he had a great
mind,--and from the time he had determined on his project, nothing
could dissuade him from it.
Master Robert Gaguin declares, in his chronicle, that he would never
listen to the ambassadors that were sent to him by the Parisians, to
entreat him to lay aside the expedition to Naples: on the contrary, he
assembled, with all diligence, a most numerous army of horse and foot,
and selected able captains to command them.
The king was strongly excited to this measure by pope Alexander and
Ludovico Sforza, who both hated Alphonso, for having, as it was said,
usurped the crown of Naples, and done many injuries to the barons
of that country. For this reason, the pope and Ludovico had invited
Charles to invade Italy. The king, for the more readily assembling of
his men at arms, made the city of Lyon his chief residence, to be near
at hand for the march of his army.