It was about this time that three or four french gentlemen in Genoa, went to the sea shore to bathe, and were shortly afterward joined by another, who stripped himself to bathe with them,—when lo, a large fish rose from the bottom of the sea, and bit the latter gentleman until the blood came. Perceiving himself wounded, he attempted to escape by driving off the fish, but he, having tasted his blood, returned again, bit him in several places, and at length dragged him by force under the water, and he was never seen afterward, which seemed a very marvellous event to many persons in Genoa.
The king having remained in Asti from the 9th of September until the 6th of October, departed from it for ever, to accomplish the object of his expedition.
On the morning of the 6th, having heard mass as usual, and taking some refreshments, he set out from Asti, dined at La Fariniere, and lodged at Monçal[125], which is the first town on the road toward Lombardy, and of a tolerable size. It belonged to the late marquis of Montferrat, and the king was honourably received there by the marchioness, his widow, her eldest son the present marquis, and her second, called Constantine. She showed him the whole extent of the fortifications of the town and castle, and how well they were provided with artillery and military stores. She also pointed out to him the heads of three traitors who had been, a short time before, executed for having caused a war between Ludovico of Milan and her husband, the late marquis.
The marchioness treated the king with the greatest hospitality and kindness, making offers of every thing she had for his service,—and tenderly reminding him how her deceased lord had left her and her children under his especial protection. The king behaved to her very affectionately; and on the morrow he departed from Moncalvo, to dine and sup at Casal, the capital of the possessions of the marquis of Montferrat.
FOOTNOTES:
[121] Sir John Fregoso,—natural son to Paul Fregoso cardinal-archbishop and duke of Genoa.
[122] Frederic—was brother to Alphonso king of Naples.
[123] He was made prisoner by Louis XII. and confined in the castle of Loches, where he died.
[124] With the small pox. See Roscoe's Leo X. if it were not another disorder.
[125] Monçal, Q. Moncalvo? nine miles north of Asti.