upon the tailor, when to his great terror he was told that it was most likely he would find himself charged a thousand crowns, instead of a hundred, as he supposed. This was in fact the case, and his only consolation was, that as he saw no chance of Pierre's escaping the strong arm of de Vaudrey, he stood little risk of being again called on to assist his necessities. But the nephew was more fortunate than his angry uncle expected. He was successful in the combat beyond all expectation, and he received the congratulations of the monarch and his whole court.

Immediately after this event Bayart was sent by de Ligny to join the company in which he had been enrolled, and which was in garrison at Artois. The following is the account of his departure:

"Piquet, my friend,' said the Count, you have had excellent success in your tournay, but the occupation of a chevalier must be practical. I have continued you a gentleman of my household, with the allowance of three hundred francs a year, and three horses, by making you a man of arms in my company. It is time for you to go and join your comrades in garrison. In hearing some sound of war, you will have a better occasion for acquiring honour than in these quarters.' This was to complete the desire of Bayart, who, after having thanked the count for this new mark of kindness, as the greatest he had received from him, requested permission to depart the next day. Willingly,' replied the Count de Ligny, 'but it is necessary before you go, to take leave of the king, and I will conduct you to his hotel.' 'Sire,' said the Count, presenting him to the monarch, here is your Piquet, who before joining his company in Artois, comes to take farewell of you.' The king regarded Bayart for some time with pleasure, and appeared delighted with the noble and serious air with which he knelt before him. Bayart,' said he, 'may God, my young friend, preserve you in the career in which you have commenced, and you will be a great and excellent man. You are going into a country where the dames are lovely, endeavour to acquire their good graces. Adieu my friend.' Great thanks, Sire,' said Bayart. The princes and courtiers all embraced him, testifying their regret at his departure; as for himself, he had long desired to join his company. The king sent him three hundred crowns by the valet de chambre who kept his private purse, and added to this present a superb horse from his own stud. Bayart gave thirty crowns to the valet de chambre, and ten to the man who brought the horse, a generosity which obtained him the greatest honour. The count kept him all the evening at his hotel, and after giving him advice, as if he had been his own son, and recommending him de férir haut, de parler bas, et de ne jamais forligner, 'Piquet, my friend,' continued he, I suppose you will set out to-morrow morning before I rise; may God preserve you in your journey.' He then embraced him with tears in his eyes. Bayart, with one knee on the ground, took his leave, and returned to his residence, followed by his companions, who contended with each other in the tenderness of their adieus.

"On returning, he found in his apartment the count's tailor, who brought him two complete suits, and he further learnt that in his absence he had sent by his equery a superb horse, which he himself had been in the habit of riding. Bayart gave twenty crowns to the tailor, desired him to give ten more to the equery, and to salute, on his account, all the members of the Count de Ligny's household. He then completed the preparations for his journey, took a short repose, and rose with the first dawn of day. He sent off before him his grands chevaux to the number of six, and then his baggage, which he soon followed with six other horses, beaux et triomphans courtauds.' His comrade, Bellabre, accompanied him to La Bresle, where they separated after having dined together; but their separation was to be very short, as Bellabre only waited the arrival of two horses from Spain to rejoin his friend, which he expected to do in three or four days.

"Bayart travelled by short stages, for the convenience of his grands chevaux, and being within three leagues of the town of Aire, he sent one of his suite to prepare his lodging. When the gentlemen of de Ligny's company knew that their new comrade Piquet had arrived, they mounted horses to the number of a hundred and twenty to meet him. Each desired to know this young man, so dear to their king and captain. We leave the reader to guess the appearance they made, and having placed Bayart in the midst of them, they entered in triumph into the city, where the greater part of the ladies were at their windows, curious to see this gentleman of eighteen, of whom so much had been said. His comrades accompanied him to his house, where, according to the orders given, supper awaited him. A part of the company remained at the repast, which was of the gayest kind, intermixed with talk of love and war, without forgetting, as might be expected, Piquet's success at the late tournay."-pp. 41-45.

Moved by the hospitality and attention which was shown in this place, he determined on giving a tournay for the amusement of the ladies, who were said to be as beautiful as any in the whole of France. To this tournay came about fifty gentlemen, and among others Bayart's friend, Bellabre. The day arrived, and Louis d'Ars and the Scoteh nobleman, Saint Quentin, were appointed judges of the combat. The combatants then ranged themselves in two companies, each consisting of twenty-three champions. The trumpet sounded and the lists were opened. After a long contest of rival aspirants after fame, in which Bayart was chiefly distinguished, the assembled company retired to his lodgings, where a splendid banquet was provided them. Thus terminated each day of the tournay, and Pierre obtained as much praise for his gallantry and courteous bearing as for his valour.

But a more important scene was now to occupy his attention. Charles VIII., who having renewed his claims upon Naples, had imprudently spent the time of his residence there in thoughtless amusement, saw himself, when endeavouring to return to his own country, surrounded by a numerous army of hostile confederates. On the 6th of July, 1495, an engage

ment took place. In this battle Bayart had two horses killed under him, and it is supposed that it was for his conduct on the occasion he received the honour of knighthood.

Having thus shared in the principal scenes which the times presented, he determined upon paying a visit to his family and the friends by whom he had been first introduced to the world. Having wept over the tomb of his father, and remained a short time with his mother, he proceeded to the court of the Duke of Savoy. A curious incident is here given in the Memoirs, which strongly marks the character of the age, and the confidence and high refinement of manners to which the maxims of chivalry gave birth. Bayart, while a page to the Duke, became enamoured with a lady in the retinue of the Duchess, and his passion was met by one as ardent as his own. Soon after his departure, however, his mistress was induced by the entreaties of her relatives to become the wife of the Count Fruzasque, a nobleman of great rank and fortune. When he returned he was met by this lady with the liveliest demonstrations of continued regard. They Lalked over the events of former times, recollected the various little circumstances attending the discovery of their love, and amused themselves in many a long conversation with repainting the ardour of their attachment. The lady Fruzasque then told him that nothing would so gratify her as his giving a tournay, which she said was due to his regard for his early home. Bayart could not resist this appeal, and he promised to accede to the request if the dame would endow him with one of her bracelets. This was immediately done, and the next day a proclamation was made, announcing that Pierre Bayart challenged the gentlemen of the neighbourhood to combat, and that he would give as a prize a ruby with a hundred ducats, and the bracelet of his mistress, to whoever should be the victor with lance or sword. The day appointed for the festival came, and Bayart was, as usual, the most distinguished of the combatants. Accordingly, when it was inquired to whom the prizes should be awarded, all voices were in his favour, and they were about to be given him, when, blushing and declaring he did not merit them, he observed, that it was to the bracelet which had been lent him by the Lady Fruzasque he owed the victory, and that it was she, therefore, who must dispose of the prize. The count, says the biographer, took no umbrage at this declaration of his wife's lover, confiding in the strict honour of knighthood. The lady herself expressed her gratitude for the distinction given her, and replied to the compliments of Bayart by saying, "since Monseigneur has had the goodness to say that my bracelet has gained him the victory, I wish, for love of him, to keep it all my life; for the ruby, I give it to Seigneur de Mondragon, who is next to him in desert."

Not long after this he was engaged in the contest of the French king with the Duke of Milan, and was taken prisoner in a too ardent pursuit of the retreating enemy. Animated by the encouragements of the Bon Chevalier the French,

64

Repeating their war cry, charged the Lom

bards with so much fury, that they began to lase ground. Cazachio, seeing that the French were too near him, and fearing that they would enter Binasco with him, made his retreat in good order on the side of Milan. Being arrived at a short distance from that citv the Italians disbanded, and flew at full speed. pursued by the French, even to the cannon of the fortification. Then one of the seniors of the company perceiving their dan ger, cried, 'turn, soldiers, turn.' All obeyed and stopped, with the exception of Bayart, who was too eager in the pursuit of the fugitives to hear any thing, and thus led away by his ar dour, he entered pell mell with them into Milan, chasing them even to the ducal palace Being soon recognised by his white crosses, and surrounded on all sides by the populace, who shouted, Piglia! piglia! he was forced to surrender himself to the Captain Bernardino Cazachio, who took him with him to his abode, but after that Bayart was disarmed, he could not recognise the terrible gend'arme in the person of a young man of a gentle and almost feminine figure. Ludovic, who had heard the tumult, denianded the cause of it, and desirous to see this rash archer, ordered him before him Cazachio, a warrior full of honour, on hearing this order, and fearing that Ludovic, giving way to his habitual fury, might have conceived some fatal project, determined to accompany his prisoner himself. My gentleman,' said Sforza, astonished at seeing so much valcu and youth united, 'approach and tell me whit led you into our city. Did you think of taking Milan by yourself? By my faith, my lord, replied Bayart, without confusion, I did not expect to enter quite alone, and thought of being followed by my companions, who, more au fait in war, have avoided my fate. But in dependent of my disgrace, I only congratulate myself that I have fallen into the hands of this good and valiant captain. Ludovic then asked him, upon his honour, what was the number of the French troops. Upon my soul, my Lord, they are little less than fourteen or fifteen hun dred men of arms, and sixteen or eighteen thousand foot soldiers; but all choice men, who are determined from this time forever to subject the Duchy of Milan to the king on master: excuse my frankness, but it appears to me, my Lord, that you would be as safe in Germany as here, for your people cannot stand before ours.'

"The Duke pretended to be amused at the proposition of the young Frenchman. Upon my word, my gentleman,' said he in a tone of raillery and indifference, I shall be glad for the troops of the king of France and mine to decide, at the earliest period, by a battle, t whom the inheritance belongs, for I find there is no other way of settling it. May it please God,' said Bayart, that it be to-morrow, provided I am out of prison.' 'You are free,' answered Ludovic, in a transport of generosity unusual to him, and I will grant to you moreover, whatever you may ask.'

"The Chevalier, placing one knee on the ground to thank him, begged him to have the kindness to restore to him his arms and horse, and to send him back to his garrison. I feel so grateful to you, my Lord, that beyond the

arms.

service of the king my master, and my own honour, I shall always be at your command.' 'Captain Cazachio,' said Ludovic, let his horse and all belonging to him be restored.' 'Nothing more easy,' said the former, for all is at my house. And he sent for his horse and Ludovic wished Bayart to arm before him, who leaped on the saddle without touching the stirrups. He then took his lance, and closing his vizor, flew across the vast court of the palace, and broke the shaft of his lance upon the ground into five or six pieces. Ludovic, who was not more delighted with this spectacle than he had reason to be, could not help confessing, that if all the men of the French army resembled this one, he had much to fear. However, he gave him a trumpeter to reconduct him to his garrison, who went not so far, for the French army was already but ten or twelve miles from the city.

"All had pitied the young warrior, whose courage was an excuse for his imprudence. His unexpected return surprised his comrades, who joyfully accompanied him to his good master, the Count de Ligny. How, Picquet, my friend,' said he, smiling, "you here! Who has taken you out of prison and paid your ransom? I was, at this instant, about to send a trumpeter to do this for you.' My Lord, I thank you very humbly for your good wishes, =but the Lord Ludovic has generously sent me back without ransom,' and he related in detail his adventure. Trivulzio asked him, if he thought, from the countenance of Sforza, that he was a man likely to give them battle.' My Lord,' answered Bayart, he has not placed me so much in his confidence; all that I can tell you is, that he has not the appearance of being easily intimidated, and most probably it will not be long before you hear news from him. All that I have been able to learn is, that the greatest part of his troops are in Novare, and that he ought either to call them to Milan, or to go himself and join them.'"-pp. 74-78.

But we must tarry no longer in these details of Bayart's early exploits; and it will be sufficient to mention, that he soon enlarged the sphere of his reputation by his conduct in a war with Spain, and by several single combats, especially in one in which eleven Frenchmen were pitted against eleven Spaniards; and in another, in which he equalled the most celebrated deeds of the knights of old, by defending a bridge against two hundred Spaniards. In the year 1509, when Louis XII. sent a strong force into the Milanese, Bayart was put at the head of thirty men of arms and a company of infantry. At the head of this little band he performed wonders, and contributed greatly to the celebrated victory of Agrandel. At the siege of Padua, which shortly followed, he again distinguished himself by a similar display of conduct and bravery, and France and Italy rung with the fame of his several actions. But there is one account in this part of the Memoirs which we must not pass over, as it shows the barbarity which degraded the lower classes of the people in the age of Bayart.

"The population of Vicentia, in an attack being made upon their town by Chaumont d'Ambrise, had fled for security to the mountains which environed the city. A large tract of Museum.-VOL. XIV.

these hills had been undermined, partly by nature and partly by man, and the immense cave which had been thus formed, was called the Grotto of Masano. Into this subterranean retreat the miserable fugitives plunged themselves, in the hope that they might continue there in safety, till succours should arrive to relieve the town. No immediate danger, it seemed, could possibly befall them; for the entrance to the cave was so narrow, that only one person could pass in at a time, and they were well defended with pikes and arquebûses. Their place of concealment, however, being discovered by some of the stragglers belonging to the French army, they were terrified by hearing themselves threatened with destruction, unless they instantly delivered up their valuables as a ransom. They in vain replied that they had saved nothing, and, therefore, had nothing to offer; the abandoned wretches immediately collected a quantity of hay and stubble, which they brought to the mouth of the cave, and set fire to. The victims of this horrid barbarity had no chance of escape, and the whole population of Vicentia perished, crowded together in their suffocating hold."

About the year 1511, Bayart was sent with the French army under Nemours, to the succour of the Emperor Maximilian. A curious circumstance happened while the commander and his officers were staying at Carpi, which is worth relating, as it is another of the many anecdotes with which these Memoirs abound, calculated to illustrate the state of manners and learning in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Alberti Pio, the lord of the place, who entertained the party, had under his protection an astrologer, whose fame was celebrated through the neighbourhood. Curiosity induced Nemours to request a sight of this man, and he was accordingly introduced when the company was assembled at the evening banquet. After several compliments had been paid the philosopher, he was asked if the Spaniards would come to battle? "Yes," was the answer, "and on Ash-Wednesday." "And who will conquer?" "The field will remain to the French, and the Spaniards will suffer loss: but the French will pay dearly for their victory." "Shall I be among the dead," asked Le Seigneur de la Palice." "No, you have at least twelve years to live, but you will die in another battle." In the same manner every one in the party received some prediction of his fate. Bayart was persuaded to ask the astrologer whether he should ever be a great and rich personage? The answer was, that he would be as rich in honour and virtue as any captain in France; but that the good things of fortune he would not possess, because he did not value or seek them. "You will serve," continued the astrologer, "another monarch, after him who now reigns in France, who will esteem and love you much, but envious men will hinder your receiving those rewards and honours which you merit." "And shall I escape the perils of the deadly battle about to be fought?" "Yes, but you will die in war about twelve years hence, and by a cannon ball; for you are too well loved by your companions to let them suffer any other weapon to reach you." After some further conversation of the same kind, a No. 83.-2 R

wild fellow of the name of Jacquin Caumont | entered the apartment. He demanded his fate of the wise man, and not finding his questions readily answered, proceeded at once to abuse and ridicule. "You wish then to know your fortune?" "Yes! yes!" "Well then, take care of your soul, for you will be hung and strangled in less than three months." This prophecy was strangely fulfilled by the poor Capitaine being carried by a runaway horse into the river, from which he was extricated with difficulty, and afterwards hung up by the legs to dry, or rather drain.

In the year 1512, the French evacuated Italy. In defending a bridge over the Tesin, Bayart received a severe wound in the neck, and as soon as the army had completed its retreat, he hastened to Grenoble, where his uncle, the Bishop Laurent des Alleman resided, and who received him with every demonstration of regard. Here he was seized with a violent fever, which was brought on by the united effects of fatigue and the pain of the wound he had lately received. There is something picturesque and simple in the account given of his sickness and recovery. We extract the passage.

"The good Chevalier went straight to Grenoble to visit his kind uncle, the bishop, whom he had not seen for a very long time. Laurent des Alleman received his nephew with a satisfaction difficult to be described, and had him remain at the palace, where the greatest care and attention was lavished on him. The gentlemen and ladies of the town and surrounding neighbourhood, went to visit this warrior, who was not only an honour to his family, but to all Dauphine. They were never tired of expressing their admiration, and loading him with praises, which his modesty scarcely allowed him to accept.

"But whether it was the consequence of his fatigues during the war, or the effects of his late wound, the good Chevalier was seized with a violent fever, which lasted, at its height, seventeen days, and which weakened him so much that his life was despaired of. The sick man, distressed at the idea of dying in his bed, addressed such prayers and complaints to heaven, as brought tears in the eyes of all around him.

"With that sincere faith, and pious familiarity of the Christians of the sixteenth century, Alas!' said he, my God, if it is thy pleasure to take me so soon from this world, why didst thou not let me die in company with that noble prince, the Duke of Nemours, and my other comrades, at the battle of Ravennes; why not rather have let me perished on the ramparts of Brescia, when I was so grievously wounded? Indeed! I should have died happier, for I should have died like my ancestors, who all fell on fields of battle. Great God, why didst thou shelter me from the dangers of artillery, battle, rencountres, and assaults, to let me die in my bed like a woman. However, thy will be done; I am a great sinner, but I trust in thy infinite mercy. Alas! my Creator, I have greatly offended Thee by the past; but if thou hadst granted me a short time longer to live, it was my firm intention, with thy assistance, to have amended my past life.''

“During the raging of the fever, it was to

Monseigneur Saint Antoine, so renowned in Vienna, that the good Chevalier addressed bis most melancholy cries: Ah! glorious confessor and true friend of God, Saint Antoine, thou whom I have honoured all my life, and served with so much affection, thou permittest me to burn with such heat, that death would be preferable to me. Alas! dost thou not remember, that during the wars with Italy, being at Rubiera in one of thy monasteries, I kept it from being burned, and prevented the German foot soldiers from setting fire to it? In commemoration of thy holy name I lodged in it, though it was out of the city, and night and day exposed to the attacks of the enemy, and preferred dwelling there, in so much danger, s whole month, rather than let thy house be destroyed. I beg thee to cool this burning heat, or to supplicate the Almighty to take me from this world, if it is not his will to restore me to health.""

"The pious Bishop only left the pillow of his nephew to enter his oratory, there to offer up prayers and tears to God. Gentlemen, citizens, merchants, priests, and nuns, filled the churches of Grenoble day and night, offering up prayers and the nine days' devotion for his preservation. Their prayers were at length granted; the fever abated by degrees, and began to give Bayart some respite. At length it left him altogether, and his appetite returned, so that in less than three weeks, with care and discretion, he was completely recovered. He was able to ride his horse round Grenoble, and visit his friends and the ladies from house to house, and even to join the feasts and banquets given on account of his cure."—pp. 345–348.

Almost immediately after his recovery, he was engaged to take part in the war of Navarre, which then broke out. Bayart received a joint command with La Palice; and his courage and address proved of considerable advantage to the cause in which he was engaged. It was at the commencement of the military operations, that an occasion occurred for his showing the generous and amiable character of his disposition. Having begun the siege of a castle, which was strongly defended by some Spanish veterans, he found it necessary to promise the lasquenets, who demanded double pay during a siege, that if they took the place he would grant their desire. Not a lasquenet, however, helped to pull a stone from the fortress; but the valiant corps, notwithstanding, sent a bold deputation to the general to demand the performance of his promise, and to intimate that the consequences would be terrible if they met with a refusal. Le bon Chevalier, nothing daunted by this threat, would not give a single sous to the mal-contents; and they retired, breathing destruction. The story was a matter of merriment to the different captains when they assembled at supper; but what was their amazement, when in the midst of their laughter, a drunken lasquenet reeled into the saloon, and hiccoughing, declared he came to seek the life of the Chevalier Bayart. The latter, rejoiced at the opportunity of merriment which was thus offered, exclaimed in a voice of thunder, "who seeks the life of the Chevalier Bayart? let him defend himself." The poor fellow, not a little terrified at such a