The Constable De Bourbon
CONTENTS
On a fine day, in the early part of June, 1523, a splendid cavalcade, consisting of three hundred well-mounted gentlemen, habited in velvet, and each having a massive gold chain round his neck, entered the Forest of Fontainebleau from the side of Nemours, and proceeded along an avenue bordered by noble trees towards the palace.
For the most part, the persons composing this brilliant troop were young and handsome cavaliers, whose looks and haughty bearing proclaimed their high birth, but there were some veterans among them, whose bronzed visages and martial deportment showed that they had served in many a hard campaign. But all were equally richly attired in the sumptuous livery of their leader—black velvet embroidered with gold—and their pourpoints and the housings of their steeds bore a princely badge, woven in gold, together with a sword wrought in the same material, which denoted that their lord held the office of Constable, one of the highest military dignities of France.
The leader of the troop, a very striking personage, whom it was impossible to regard without interest, was a man of large stature, with handsome, strongly-marked features, very stern in expression. An ample chest and muscular throat indicated the possession of great personal strength, but his frame, though stalwart, was admirably proportioned, and it was easy to discern, from the manner in which he bestrode his steed—a powerful block charger—that he was a consummate horseman. His looks and deportment were those of one accustomed to command. If not absolutely young, he was in the very prime of life, being just thirty-three. His complexion was swarthy, his eyes dark and piercing, and his beard, which he wore exceedingly long, black as jet. His firm-set mouth betokened inflexible resolution, while his towering forehead indicated great sagacity. Though he was magnificently arrayed, his bearing showed that he was not one of the silken gallants who thronged the gay and chivalrous court of François I., and who delighted in the banquet, the masquerade, or the tournay—but a hardy warrior, who had displayed prowess in the field, and could lead hosts to conquest.
William Harrison Ainsworth
THE CONSTABLE DE BOURBON
1878
BOOK I.—THE AFFRONT.
I. FONTAINEBLEAU.
II. FRANÇOIS I.
III. LOUISE DE SAVOIE.
IV. WHAT PASSED BETWEEN THE KING AND BOURBON.
V. THE DAME DE BEAUJEU.
END OF THE FIRST BOOK
BOOK II.—THE FLIGHT.
I. THE SECRET TREATY.
II. HOW SAINT-VALLIER REMONSTRATED WITH THE CONSTABLE.
III. SHOWING HOW THE PLOT PROGRESSED.
IV. THE COMTE DE MAULEVRIER.
V. WHAT PASSED IN THE SICK MAN'S CHAMBER.
VI. DIANE DE POITIERS.
VII. PEROT DE WARTHY.
VIII. HOW BOURBON QUITTED THE CHATEAU DE MOULINS,
IX. CHANTELLE.
X. HOW THE BISHOP OF AUTUN AND THE COMTE DE SAINT-VALLIER WERE
ARRESTED.
XI. MARCELLINE D'HERMENT.
XII. THE CHATEAU DE LALLIÈRES.
XIII. THE MOUNTAIN HOSTELRY.
XIV. THE MILL AT SAINT-SIMPHORIEN.
XV. VIENNE
XVI. THE ROCK. IN THE RHONE.
XVII. THE INN AT SAINT-ANDRE
XVIII. SAINT-CLAUDE.
XIX. IN WHAT MANNER BOURBON ENTERED BESANÇON.
END OF THE SECOND BOOK
BOOK III.—THE CHEVALIER BAYARD.
I. HOW THE COMTE DE SAINT-VALLIEr's PARDON WAS OBTAINED.
II. HOW BOURBON WAS APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OP THE IMPERIAL ARMY.
III. THE TWO ARMIES IN THE MILANESE.
IV. HOW THE DUKE DE BOURBON ENTERED MILAN.
V. THE CONTESSA DI CHIERI.
VI. HOW BOURBON ASSUMED THE COMMAND OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY.
VII. HOW BONNIVET RESOLVED TO RETREAT FROM NOVARA.
VIII. IN WHICH BAYARD RELATES HIS DREAM TO DE LORGES.
IX. THE RETREAT OF ROMAGNANO.
END OF THE THIRD BOOK
BOOK IV.—THE SIEGE OF MARSEILLES.
I. MONCALIERI.
II. THE CASTLE OF MONACO.
III. HOW BOURBON WAS PROCLAIMED COMTE DE PROVENCE.
IV. SHOWING HOW MARSEILLES WAS FORTIFIED,
V. IN WHAT MANNER POMPERANT ENTERED MARSEILLES.
VI. “THE BASILISK.”
VII. THE AMAZONS.
VIII. SHOWING HOW THE BISHOP'S PALACE AND THE CHURCH OF SAINT CANNAT
WERE DEMOLISHED.
IX. LES TRANCHERS DES DAMES.
X. HOW POMPERANT FURNISHED A SAFE-CONDUCT TO THE DEPUTIES TO THE KING.
XI. HOW TOULON WAS BESIEGED AND TAKEN BY THE MARQUIS DEL VASTO.
XII. AVIGNON.
XIII. HOW POMPERANT WAS ORDERED FOR, EXECUTION.
XVI. THE MINE.
XV. HOW THE SIEGE OF MARSEILLES WAS RAISED.
END OF THE FOURTH BOOK
BOOK V.-THE BATTLE OF PAVIA
I. HOW FRANÇOIS I. SET OUT FOR ITALY, AND HOW HE ENTERED MILAN.
II. BONNIVET'S LAST INTERVIEW WITH THE COMTESSA DI CHIERI.
IV. OF THE STRATAGEM PRACTISED BY ANTONIO DE LEYVA.
V. GEORGE VON FRUNDSBERG.
VI. HOW FRANÇOIS I. REFUSED TO RAISE THE SIEGE OF PAVIA.
VII. IN WHAT MANNER POMERRANT PROCURED A SUPPLY OP POWDER FOR THE
GOVERNOR OF PAVIA.
VIII. HOW MARCELLINE D'HERMENT CAME TO PAVIA TO SOLICIT HER BROTHER'S
PARDON PROM THE KING.
IX. HOW PESCARA CAUSED A BREACH TO BE MADE IN THE WALLS OF THE PARK. OF
MIRABELLO.
X. THE BATTLE.
XI. HOW BONNIVET WAS SLAIN BY BOURBON.
XII. HOW THE KING SURRENDERED TO THE VICEROY OF NAPLES.
END OF THE FIFTH BOOK.
BOOK VI.—CHARLES V.
I. HOW FRANÇOIS I. WAS TAKEN TO MADRID, AND CONFINED IN A MOORISH
CASTLE.
33?
II. HOW THE TREATY OF MADRID WAS SIGNED.
END OF THE SIXTH BOOK
BOOK VII.—THE SACK OF ROME.
I. HOW VON FRUNDSBERG ONCE MORE ENTERED ITALY WITH HIS LANZ-KNECHTS.
II. HOW BOURBON COMMENCED HIS MARCH TO HOME.
III. HOW BOURBON REACHED THE APENNINES.
IV. THE PRINCE OF ORANGE.
V. HOW LANNOY VAINLY ATTEMPTED TO ARREST BOURBON'S MARCH.
VI. VON FRUNDSBERG'S LAST CAROUSE.
VIII. HOW BOURBON AND HIS BANDS ARRIVED BEFORE ROME.
VIII. BENVENUTO CELLINI.
IX. THE FIRST SHOT FROM THE WALLS.
X. IN SAINT PETER'S.
THE END.
