On Monday, the 4th of May, the king sent Jean du Bois, Fontaines, and the master of the household de Bresse, to make an inventory of all the stores, and other effects, in the Castel del Ovo,—for there appeared to be such quantities of provision, and of other things, that the value seemed inestimable. During this time, the king visited several places in the neighbourhood of Naples; such as the grotto which Virgil had pierced with such subtile art through a high mountain on the seashore of Naples, which is a wonderful thing, as there is no other road but through this subterraneous passage, as all who have seen it can testify. A little further on is the Solfaterra, where sulphur is made,—and there are natural fires beneath the surface that are always burning: the king saw them make sulphur. There are, likewise near, many springs of hot water as well as of cold; and in a valley of this mountain is a hole through which comes such an impetuous wind that it supports in the air stones, and pieces of wood, that are thrown into it,—and it is said that the heat is very great within this hole. The king visited another remarkable spot where alum is made, and saw the whole process. Near to this last place is a cavern having a deadly quality; for whatever is thrown in perishes instantly, as was proved before the king on an ass and cat, which, on being thrown in, were suddenly killed[3]. The king, having seen all that was most curious, returned to Naples for the night.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Melfy. Q. Amelfi?
[2] Clerieux. William of Poitiers, lord of Clerieux, governor of Paris.
[3] This must be the Grotto del Cane, not far from the Solfaterra. Although small animals perish, yet I doubt whether an ass could be thrown in, or would be so suddenly killed.
KING CHARLES MAKES HIS PUBLIC ENTRY INTO NAPLES, AS KING OF THAT COUNTRY AND MONARCH OF ALL ITALY.
Tuesday, the 12th of May, the king, having heard mass in the church of the Annonciada, left Naples after dinner for Poggio-Réalé,—where all the princes and nobles of France and Italy were assembled, to accompany him in his public entry into Naples, as king of France, Sicily, and Jerusalem. He was dressed in royal robes, and made a most splendid and triumphant entry, and thenceforward was called Charles Cæsar Augustus. In his right hand was the globe, and his sceptre in the left,—and his mantle was of fine scarlet trimmed with ermine, having a deep fall-down collar, ornamented with ermines' tails also, with a brilliant crown on his head. The horse he rode was as grandly caparisoned as possible, to suit his state: and over his head was borne a splendid canopy by the highest nobility of Naples, who were surrounded by the king's valets richly dressed in cloth of gold: the provost of the household with his archers on foot attended on him on each side. The seneschal of Beaucaire represented the constable of Naples,—and the lord de Montpensier preceded him, handsomely mounted, and dressed as viceroy and lieutenant-general of Naples.
The prince of Salernum was present, together with the great lords of France, of the blood royal, and knights-companions of the king's order; such as, the lord de Bresse, the lord de Foix, the lord de Luxembourg, the lord de Vendôme, and others without number, all dressed in mantles like to what the king wore. In short, the entry was most magnificent; and the nobility of Naples, with their ladies, presented to the king their children of ten, twelve, and fifteen years of age, requesting of him to make them knights, which he did with his own hand,—and it was a splendid spectacle.