The prelates and clergy came out to meet him in the richest copes, bearing relics, and conducted him to the cathedral, where on the high altar were displayed, as before, the head and blood of St Januarius. In front of the altar, the king swore to protect his new subjects, and to preserve them in their liberties and privileges, which gave universal satisfaction,—and great rejoicings were made on this occasion, and also for his happy arrival, and the great good he had promised them.
The king was, after this, conducted to his palace, where, during several days, he received embassies from different parts of his kingdom; such as Calabria, La Puglia, L'Abruzzo, to do homage, and to inquire respecting the manner in which they were to be governed by a viceroy when the king should be absent, as was natural for them. On Monday, the 18th of May, the king ordered a grand supper to be prepared at the Castel Nuovo, where he gave a sumptuous banquet, to his princes and nobles, seated at two tables, in the great hall of the castle, to which was an ascent by several stone steps. The grand seneschal of Naples served the whole of the supper, superbly mounted, and clothed in white, with abundance of trumpets and clarions sounding. After supper, the king received the homage of all the lords, and then returned to sleep at his palace.
KING CHARLES MAKES DISPOSITIONS TO RETURN TO FRANCE,—AND TAKES LEAVE OF HIS SUBJECTS IN NAPLES.
Wednesday, the 20th of May, the king, having heard mass with great solemnity at the church of the Annonciada, dined at the palace; after which, the nobility of Naples waited on him to take leave. They were assembled in the great hall, where the king received them graciously, and kindly bade them adieu! at the same time, he presented to them the lord de Montpensier, as their viceroy and governor during his absence. When this was done, the king departed from Naples, attended by a gallant company of lords and gentlemen, men at arms, Swiss and Germans, and slept that night at Aversa, on his return to France.
KING CHARLES RETURNS, FROM NAPLES TO FRANCE.