OF THE SEVERAL TOWNS THE KING OF FRANCE PASSES THROUGH IN HIS MARCH
FROM PIACENZA TO LUCCA.
After the king had heard mass at Piacenza, on the 23d of October, he
set out to dine and sup at the little town of Fiorenzuola[127], where
the people received him very affectionately. On Friday, he lay at
another small town called Borgo San Domino[128], where he was equally
well received. On the 25th, he was quartered at Fornove[129], which is
of tolerable size, having a large abbey, and lies at the foot of the
Appenines.
On the Sunday, he went to Borgo di Val di Taro[130]; and the next day,
after hearing mass, he went to Beers, where he and his train were
much straitened for room; but it was necessary to exercise patience
according to the country they were in. On Tuesday he left Beers to lie
at Pontremoli[131], where he was received with processions, and lighted
tapers and torches, as in the preceding towns. At this place, Pietro de
Medici waited on the king with intelligence from Florence, and placed
himself under his protection. To obviate any attempts of those who
were inimical, he promised to place in his hands a small town called
Sarsina[132]; and he afterwards delivered up another good place of the
Florentines, called Sarsonella, near to Sarsane.
On Wednesday, the king visited the church of Nôtre Dame des Miracles,
near to the town of Pontremoli, and dined at Yole. This day owing to
some quarrel, several Germans were killed in Pontremoli, for which
their countrymen revenged themselves severely on their return from
Naples. The whole army marched on the 30th into Sarsina, and there
halted for six days, on account of a rebellion among the Florentines.
Ludovico Sforza, who was already beginning to form his plans of
treachery, came again to visit the king at this place, and returned
suddenly to Milan.
On the 6th of November, the king marched his army to Massa, a burgh
with a castle having deep ditches all around it: near to it is a
mountain whence white and black marble is dug,--and from it is seen
the sea, about half a league off. He was honourably received by the
lady of the place.--On Friday, he left Massa, and took up his quarters
at Pietra Santa[133], a small town belonging to the Florentines; but
the king having been duly informed that it formed part of the duchy
of Genoa, and that the inhabitants had put themselves under the
Florentines for their better security, and through subtilty, he placed
in the castle a strong garrison of gens d'armes until his return.