Volume III Part 4 (1/2)

[18] Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., cap. 169.--Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 10.--Chronica del Gran Capitan, cap. 66.

[19] Chronica del Gran Capitan, cap. 53.--D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., part. 2, chap. 26.--Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, pp. 238, 239.--Memoires de Bayard par le Loyal Serviteur, chap. 23, apud Pet.i.tot, Collection des Memoires, tom. xv.--Brantome, Oeuvres, tom. iii. disc. 77.

This celebrated tourney, its causes, and all the details of the action, are told in as many different ways as there are narrators; and this, notwithstanding it was fought in the presence of a crowd of witnesses, who had nothing to do but look on, and note what pa.s.sed before their eyes. The only facts in which all agree, are, that there was such a tournament, and that neither party gained the advantage. So much for history!

[20] D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., ubi supra.--Quintana, Espanoles Celebres, tom. ii. p. 263.

[21] Brantome, Oeuvres, tom. vi. Discours sur les Duels.--D'Auton, Hist.

de Louys XII., part. 2, chap. 27.--Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 11.-- Memoires de Bayard, chap. 22, apud Collection des Memoires.--Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, p. 240.

[22] According to Martyr, the besieged had been so severely pressed by famine for some time before this, that Gonsalvo entertained serious thoughts of embarking the whole of his little garrison on board the fleet, and abandoning the place to the enemy. ”Barlettae inclusos fame pesteque urgeri graviter aiunt. Vicina ipsorum omnia Galli occupant, et nostros quotidie magis ac magis premunt. Ita obsessi undi que, de relinquenda etiam Barletta saepius iniere consilium. Ut mari terga dent hostibus, ne fame pesteque pereant, saepe cadit in deliberationem.” Opus Epist., epist.

249.

[23] Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, p. 242.--Zurita, Hist. del Rey Hernando, tom. i. lib. 5, cap. 4.--Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., cap.

167.--Guicciardini, Istoria, p. 283.

[24] Ibid., lib. 5, p. 294.--D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., part. 2, chap.

22.--Chronica del Gran Capitan, cap. 63.

[25] Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 11.--Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, tom. i. p. 247.--Zurita, Hist. del Rey Hernando, tom. i. lib. 5, cap. 9.

[26] Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, pp. 243, 244.--Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 11, 12. A dispute arose, soon after this affair, between a French officer and some Italian gentlemen at Gonsalvo's table, in consequence of certain injurious reflections made by the former on the bravery of the Italian nation. The quarrel was settled by a combat _a l'outrance_ between thirteen knights on each side, fought under the protection of the Great Captain, who took a lively interest in the success of his allies. It terminated in the discomfiture and capture of all the French. The tourney covers more pages in the Italian historians than the longest battle, and is told with pride and a swell of exultation which show that this insult of the French cut more deeply than all the injuries inflicted by them.

Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, pp. 244-247.--Guicciardini, Istoria, pp.

296-298.--Giannone, Istoria di Napoli, lib. 29, cap. 4.--Summonte, Hist.

di Napoli, tom. iii. pp. 542-552.--et al.

[27]: This supply was owing to the avarice of the French general Alegre, who, having got possession of a magazine of corn in Foggia, sold it to the Venetian merchant, instead of reserving it, where it was most needed, for his own army.

[28] D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., part, 1, chap. 72.--Peter Martyr, Opus Epist., epist. 254.--Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, p. 242.

[29] Guicciardini, Istoria, lib. 5, p. 296.--D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., part. 2, chap. 31.

[30] Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, pp. 248, 249.--Guicciardini, Istoria, p. 296.--Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., cap. 175.--D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., part. 2, chap. 31.--Chronica del Gran Capitan, cap. 72.

The gallant behavior of La Palice, and indeed the whole siege of Ruvo, is told by Jean D'Auton in a truly heart-stirring tone, quite worthy of the chivalrous pen of old Froissart. There is an inexpressible charm imparted to the French memoirs and chronicles of this ancient date, not only from the picturesque character of the details, but from a gentle tinge of romance shed over them, which calls to mind the doughty feats of

”prowest knights, Both Paynim and the peers of Charlemagne.”

[31] Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., ubi supra.--Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 16.--Chronica del Gran Capitan, cap. 72.

[32] D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., ubi supra.--Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t.

Virorum, p. 249.--Quintana, Espanoles Celebres, tom. ii. p. 270.--Zurita, Hist. del Rey Hernando, tom. i. lib. 5, cap. 14.

[33] Giovio, Vitae Ill.u.s.t. Virorum, p. 249.

[34] Garibay, Compendio, tom. ii. lib. 19, cap. 15.--Zurita, Hist. del Rey Hernando, tom. i. lib. 5, cap. 16.--Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 17.