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.
On Tuesday 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 mark of
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 in the 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 king behaved 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.