When the king was within a league of Sienna, he was met by a procession
of the clergy and inhabitants, who having made an harangue, presented
him with the keys of their town, as an acknowledgement of his being
the lord thereof. He was afterwards conducted thither with great
solemnity,--and the streets had been gaily decorated to welcome him.
He was lodged in the palace of the bishop, near the cathedral, where
he and his company were entertained. On Thursday, the king departed
from Sienna, dined at Buonconvento, and lay at St Clerico, where he
tarried all Friday. On Saturday, he dined at Ricoure, and lay at La
Paille. Having heard mass on Sunday, he proceeded to Acquapendente, a
town situated on a height, and belonging to the pope; notwithstanding
which, the king was very honourably received, with processions, and
the keys of the gates were presented to him. On Wednesday, the 10th
of December, the king crossed Monte-Fiascone, and fixed his quarters
for the night at Viterbo, a handsome town, belonging also to the pope.
The inhabitants, however, made a splendid entry for him, submitting
themselves to his obedience; they conducted him to his lodgings at the
bishop's palace, a spacious and pleasantly situated mansion, near to
the gate leading to Rome.
The king remained five days in Viterbo; and, during that time,
frequently visited the shrine of St Rosa, whose body was in complete
preservation as to flesh and bones. He placed the lord de Gaiasche,
with a good garrison, in the castle, and dispatched the lord de la
Trimouille to pope Alexander, who promised fidelity to the king, and,
for greater assurance thereof, dismissed some of his cardinals, and
even his confessor.
On Monday, the 15th of December, the king left Viterbo, dined at
the small town of Roussillon[136], and lay at a little town called
Naples[137], where he halted until Friday, when he advanced to
Bracciano, belonging to the lord Virgilio d'Orsini, where he dined and
lay. He there encamped, and while thus occupied, he received an embassy
from the pope to agree to his entering Rome with his army.
During this interval, the lord de Ligny marched a strong detachment
of Germans, to take possession of Ostia, a strong place at the mouth
of the Tiber, and a convenient seaport. The duke of Calabria was at
this time in Rome, and, from his boastings, it was thought he would
achieve wonders against the French,--but he was soon forced to make a
precipitate retreat into La Puglia; and immediately after, the lord de
la Trimouille and the marshal de Gié marked the quarters for the army
in Rome as undisturbed as they would have been in any town of France.