עב

A. D. 1525-BATTLE OF PAVIA.

47

battle; and Antonio Leyva* was glad, and he arrayed the soldiers who were with him; and they remained on their ward that day.

650. And it came to pass, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of February, in the year one thousand five hundred and twenty-five, in the middle of the night, that they brought the hosts of the emperor, and divided the people into three heads. And they cast down the walls of Barco†, where the king's host was, every one passed over, and they came with a high hand, and gave the signal for battle. In that night the sleep of the king left him; and he commanded, and they divided his hosts into four heads, and they put the battle in array there with a great tumult, and much people fell of the French, for fear came upon them as desolation, suddenly, and the soldiers could not find their own hands.

651. And Antonio Leyvas heard it, and went out also and fell upon them suddenly; and the horsemen and the footmen fled before him, for his fear fell upon them; and Antonio Leyva drew near again. And the battle was strong between them all the night, and the earth was rent because of their voices. The morning dawned, and the

* Here again,

s.

.ברקו +

i.e. They were in the utmost consternation.

.ליווא $

men of the king girded themselves with might, insomuch that the Spaniards drew back, and the French took the cannons from their hand with might. That day was dark, cloudy, and misty, by reason of the grievous smoke of the guns, so that hardly one might know his brother.

652. And when the Marquess Pescara, the chief of the emperor's host, saw the people that were naked, he went to the duke of Bourbon, saying, “The children are come to the birth; but there is no strength to bring forth. And now speak, I pray thee, kindly, to the people which follow thee. And I shall do so also, and we will war against these Frenchmen, and our fame will spread over all the earth; for the day which we desired, we have found and have seen;" and they did so, and they put the battle in array there, and the marquess passed over before them, and he warred against those nations, and they fell slain to the ground before him. And also the Marquess del Vasto* filled his hand, and they were counted by him as vain and as nothing, and they slew among them a great slaughter. And when the Swiss saw that the evil was determined against them, they turned their backs, and fled before them. And the Italians and Germans were left to their destruction, and fell slain to the ground.

דיל וואסטו *

ער

FRANCIS TAKEN PRISONER.

49

651. Then did the horse-hoofs stamp, when the horsemen also put the battle in array, and the earth shook at their voice. And the chief captains of the imperial hosts placed five hundred footmen bearing guns in the midst of the cavalry with subtlety. And it came to pass, as they were fighting, that they suddenly fired their guns on the cavalry of the French, and many of them fell; and the rest fled for their lives, for they feared lest the evil should overtake them; and the viceroy of the emperor and the duke of Bourbon also filled their hands at that time. And the king also, as well as his nobles, fought on that day, and all his mighty men fell before his face slain to the ground; and the king ran with his sword drawn in his hand, and slew the chief of the Germans, and he fell slain to the ground; also, the Marquess Pescara was wounded in his face, his belly and his thigh; for all this his anger was not turned away, and he spake kindly to his men, and they again put the battle in array, and the French were smitten before them, and fled; and they slew the horse of King Francis, who fell to the ground, and they took him, and he was delivered into the hand of the viceroy of the emperor at that time. And also the king of Navarre and many nobles and honorable men who were with them, were taken in that battle. And many were slain by the edge

50

SLAUGHTER AT PAVIA.

ער

of the sword; and they were like dung upon the face of the field, and like the corn after the reaper, which none gathereth. And it came to pass, as they were fighting, that the duke of Alençon* saw their distress, and went out from the camp and four hundred horsemen with him. So they fled, and went on their journey to France. And the hosts of the emperor came into the camp of the king upon the slain and took great spoil, and came to the city with gladness. And the city of Pavia rejoiced and was glad.

652. Now there died of the men of the emperor on that day, the chief of the cavalry and eight hundred men; and of the host of the king, there fell in that slaughter some of the Italians and Germans and one thousand five hundred Swiss, and five hundred fell into the river Tessino, when they fled: so they died. And also many nobles and honorable men of the French fell in that slaughter, and the number of the dead was eight thousand men. The like thing had not occurred in the gates of Pavia from the time it became a nation. And the nobles of the French gave ransom for their souls, some more and some less, and they returned to their country. And the viceroy of the emperor, the duke of Bourbon, and the nobles with them, went and bowed themselves before this imprisoned

.מונסיניור לאנסון *

ער

THE FAME OF BOURBON.

51

king with their faces to the ground. And they spake kindly unto him, and comforted him, saying, "Let it not be grievous in thine eyes, O king, for the issue of war belongeth unto God, and who will say to him, What doest thou?" And the duke of Bourbon drew his sword, and gave it into the hand of the king, and fell upon his knees and said, "I pray thee, forgive the offence of thy servant, for I have sinned against my lord a great sin; and now, if thou wilt forgive, forgive according to thy great kindness; and if not, slay me utterly, I pray thee, for I am a son of death, because I have lifted up mine hand against my lord the king." And the king said, "The thing came forth from the Lord, and thou hast not sinned, but hast served thy lord the emperor with all thy strength; but because of thy meekness and humility, thou hast spoken thus: arise now, and become a son of valor." And through this thing, Bourbon gained a good name among the kings and counsellors of the land, as well as for his fighting in the day of battle amongst the mighty; and his name became very precious. []

653. And the nobles of the emperor led the king to Pizzigitone*, and set a watch over him. Francis was twenty-two years old when he became king, and for ten years his power and strength, and

,פיציגיטון *