KING CHARLES MAKES HIS ENTRY INTO THE TOWN OF CASAL.--THE MARCHIONESS
OF MONTFERRAT AND HER SON PLACE THEMSELVES UNDER HIS PROTECTION.
The king of France left Moncalvo on the 7th of October; and on his
arrival at Casal, he was received with all demonstrations of joy, and
conducted to the castle, where his lodgings had been prepared. At the
gate of the castle was the marchioness of Montferrat, richly dressed,
with her son, who having humbly saluted the king, and not knowing the
french language perfectly well, the count de Foix and the lord Louis
made their harangue, which was in substance what the lady had before
said,--and that they placed all their possessions, without exception,
under his protection,--that now they gave him possession of the town
and castle of Casal, with all other their strong places. The king
benignantly accepted of the trust, and entered the castle of Casal to
the sound of trumpets and horns.
The lady feasted the king and his company most plentifully with all
sorts of meats, wines and hypocras, so that nothing could have been
better. On the morrow, the king presented the young marquis with
new and rich dresses, in the french fashion, demonstrating, by his
liberality, that he received him under his protection,--and he remained
three days in this town.
On Friday, at sunrise, the king departed from Casal, to dine at Consse,
and sup at Mortare, where he was well received, lodged in the castle,
and handsomely feasted. The next day he went to take up his quarters
in the town of Vigeue[126], and was triumphantly received there by
Ludovico Sforza and his lady, with other lords of that county. After
the usual ceremonies were over, and they had discoursed sufficiently,
he was conducted to his apartments in the castle, which was pleasantly
situated, and himself and his company were well entertained.
On Monday, the 23d of October, the king went to see the Granges, half
a league from Vige-vano. These Granges belong to the lord of Milan,
are beautifully situated, and hold immense quantities of corn and
cattle, and are the place of receipt for all rents due to him in kind.
In the first, there is a spacious court of stables, the roof of which
is supported on handsome columns, for stallions of great value, and
adjoining were others for mares and colts. At this time, in other
stables were full eighteen hundred horned cattle,--such as fat oxen,
cows, and buffaloes. In the sheep-folds, were about fourteen thousand
sheep and goats. In short, it was a place excellently contrived, and of
great value.