KING CHARLES DEPARTS FROM ROME WITH HIS ARMY FOR NAPLES.--WHAT PASSED
ON HIS MARCH.
The king of France breakfasted and dined with the pope on the 28th
of January; and after they had long conversed together on certain
particular affairs, the pope gave him his benediction,--when he set out
from Rome, carrying the Turk away with him. The cardinal of Valencia,
son to the pope, accompanied the king, as a hostage for the pope, who
went that night not further than Marina, a small town seven or eight
miles from Rome. On the morrow, he lay at Veletri, which is a city, and
was lodged in the bishop's palace: he staid there some days,--during
which, the cardinal, like a traitor, abandoned the king. The king,
while at Veletri, received, on the last day of January, by a messenger,
certain intelligence, that the lord Angilbert of Cleves, a renowned
german captain, had won by assault, in spite of all resistance, the
town and castle of Monte Fortino[140], belonging to the lord James
Conti, who had broken his engagements with the king,--and on this
account, the place was destroyed by fire and sword. Many prisoners were
made there by the lord Angilbert, and in the number were two sons of
James Conti.
The king remained in Veletri on Sunday, the first of February, and
also on Monday, as it was the feast of the purification of the
Virgin, attended by four cardinals and six archbishops. On Tuesday
and Wednesday following, he passed through Valmontone, to La Botine.
On the 5th, he came to Fiorentino, where he halted, because a jew had
humbly supplicated him that he might be baptised. The king therefore,
instantly led him by the hand to the church, had him baptised by his
confessor, the bishop of Angers, the king giving his own name Charles,
and settled a handsome income on him. In this town is an abbey, in
which it is said lies the body of St Amboise.
The king advanced on Friday to Verlic, where he dined and lay,--and the
lords of the town came to meet and offer him the keys of it, as a proof
of their obedience. It is said, that the body of Santa Maria Jacobi,
the sister of the Virgin, is interred there; on which account, as the
king wished to see it, he staid there until Monday, when he proceeded
to Bahut to dinner. In the afternoon, the king, like a valiant prince,
armed himself, and went to visit the siege which the French were
carrying on against a strong town, and still stronger castle called
Mont St Jean. Many violent assaults were made, and as gallantly opposed
by a garrison from all nations, who wounded numbers of the French. The
king, on his arrival, ordered the place to be stormed on all sides,
which was done with great effect, and lasted for eight hours. A breach
was at length made in the wall, through which the French instantly
rushed, and put all the garrison, to the number of nine hundred and
fifty-five to the sword,--but not without having many of their men
killed and wounded.
The government of this town and castle was given to the lord of
Taillebourg, who guarded it to his honour. It was esteemed to be
impregnable; and not long before this, Alphonso of Naples had remained
before it for seven years, but was unable with all his forces, to
conquer it. The king returned from this place to Verbie, and thence to
Bahut, where he lay,--and there heard that the duke of Calabria had
fled from St Germain[141], on learning the fate of St Jean. St Germain,
from its situation, is the key to the kingdom of Naples, the town being
very strong, with two or three castles well fortified, and the whole
is crowned by a very large monastery, in which reposes the body of St
Benedict.
On Thursday, the 12th of February, the king lay at the small town of
St Cyprienne, and dined the next day at Aquino, the birthplace of the
celebrated doctor and saint Thomas of Acquino, and thence went to lie
at St Germain. On the morrow, he lay at Mignano. Monday, the 16th, he
dined at Nôtre Dame di Correggio, and supped at Tiano, where he was
joyfully received, and there heard the welcome news, that the duke
of Calabria had also fled from Capua. The inhabitants of Capua here
waited on him with the keys of their town, and, with uplifted hands,
supplicated him to have mercy on them.
The king remained the whole of the next day at Couy, and on the
Wednesday, made his public entry into Capua, and was lodged in the
castle, which as well as the town, was of great strength. The ensuing
day, he entered Aversa, and was equally well received, and took up his
lodgings in the palace of the bishop. On the Friday, the citizens and
inhabitants of Naples came to salute the king at Aversa, to assure
him, that king Alphonso had embarked and sailed for Sicily, to present
him with the keys of their town, and to submit themselves to his good
pleasure and obedience. Upon this, the king sent thither the marshal
de Gié and other lords, who were allowed to enter the city, with all
their attendants, according to their pleasure.--The king left Aversa
on Saturday, to dine at Poggio-Réalé, which is a beautiful place, much
more extensive than the park of Vincennes, with a variety of fine
trees, and curious birds and game of all sorts, both small and great,
fountains, meads, and wines of the finest flavour. It would take too
much time to relate all its magnificence.