[Illustration: BAYARD.]



BAYARD

THE GOOD KNIGHT WITHOUT
FEAR AND WITHOUT REPROACH


BY CHRISTOPHER HARE

WITH COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS
BY HERBERT COLE



INTRODUCTION


That courtesy title which flies to the mind whenever the name Bayard is
mentioned--"The Good Knight without Fear and without Reproach"--is no fancy
name bestowed by modern admirers, but was elicited by the hero's merits in
his own day and from his own people.

The most valuable chronicle of the Good Knight's life and deeds was written
with charming simplicity by a faithful follower, who, in single-hearted
devotion to his beloved master's fame, took no thought for himself, but
blotted out his own identity, content to remain for all time a nameless
shadow--merely the LOYAL SERVITOR. It is from his record that the incidents
in the following pages are retold.

The "Loyal Servitor" is now believed from recent research to have been
Jacques de Mailles, his intimate friend and companion-at-arms, probably his
secretary. He certainly learnt from Bayard himself the story of his early
years, which he tells so delightfully, and he writes with the most minute
detail about the later events which happened in his presence, and the
warlike encounters in which he himself took part; and a most vivid and
interesting account he makes of it. In an ancient catalogue of the Mazarine
Library, his book is first set down as the _Histoire du Chevalier Bayard,
par_ Jacques de Mailles, Paris, in 4to, 1514 (probably a mistake for 1524).
The better-known edition, with only the name of the "Loyal Servitor," was
published in 1527, under the title of

THE VERY JOYFUL AND VERY DELIGHTFUL
HISTORY
OF THE LIFE, THE HEROIC DEEDS, THE TRIUMPHS
AND THE VALOUR OF THE GOOD KNIGHT
WITHOUT FEAR AND WITHOUT REPROACH

BAYARD.




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


BAYARD

A FINE EXHIBITION OF HORSEMANSHIP

BATTLE OF FORNOVO

BAYARD DEFENDS THE BRIDGE

THE PAGE PRESENTS HIS PRISONER

SEIZURE OF THE SPY

BAYARD PRESENTED TO HENRY VIII

THE DEATH OF BAYARD




[Illustration: LE CHEVALIER BAYARD _Sans peur et sans reproche_.]

THE STORY OF BAYARD

CHAPTER I


Pierre Terrail, the renowned Bayard of history, was born at the Castle of
Bayard, in Dauphine, about the year 1474, when Louis XI. was King of
France. He came of an ancient and heroic race, whose chief privilege had
been to shed their blood for France throughout the Middle Ages.

The lord of Bayard had married Helene Alleman, a good and pious lady of a
noble family, whose brother Laurent was the Bishop of Grenoble. Pierre
Bayard, the hero of this story, was the second son of a large family; he
had three brothers and four sisters. His eldest brother, Georges, was five
or six years older than himself, then came his sisters, Catherine, Jeanne,
and Marie, while younger than himself were Claudie, and two brothers,
Jacques and Philippe.

Like so many other mediaeval strongholds, the Castle of Bayard was built
upon a rocky hill, which always gave an advantage in case of attack. It had
been erected by the great-grandfather and namesake of our Pierre Bayard,
probably on the site of an earlier stronghold, in the year 1404. No better
position could have been chosen, for it commanded a deep valley on two
sides, in a wild and mountainous district of Dauphine, near the village of
Pontcharra in the Graisivaudan. Even now we can still see from its ruins
what a powerful fortress it was in its time, with massive towers three
stories high, standing out well in front of the castle wall, and defended
by a strong drawbridge. Well fortified, it could have stood a siege before
the days of artillery.

But towards the end of the fifteenth century, when Bayard's childhood was
spent here, such castles as these were not looked upon as mainly places of
defence and refuge, they were gradually becoming more like the later
manor-houses--family homes, with comfortable chambers and halls, where once
there had chiefly been the rude dwelling of a garrison used for defence and
stored with missiles and arms.

Each story of the castle, as well as the towers, would contain various
chambers, well lighted with windows pierced in the thick stone walls. On
the first floor, approached by a broad flight of steps from the court, we
find the oratory--scarcely large enough to be dignified by the name of
chapel--the dining-hall, and the private chamber of the lord of the castle.
On the floor above this the lady of Bayard had her own apartment, the
"garde-robe" or closet where her dresses were kept, and the place where her
daughters as they grew up, and any maidens who were brought up under her
care, sat at their needlework, and where they slept at night. On the upper
story were the rooms for the young children with their maids, and the
various guest-chambers.

The ground floor below the dining-halls was a dark place given up to
store-rooms and the servants' quarters, and below this again were cellars
and grim dungeons, which could only be reached by trap-doors. The kitchen,
usually a round building, stood in an outer court, and here great wood
fires could be used for the needful hospitality of a country house. The
stables and the rough quarters for the serving-men were beyond.

The dining-hall was used as a court of justice when the lord of the castle
had to settle any difficulties, to receive his dues, or reprimand and
punish any refractory vassal. At one end of this hall was a great hearth,
where most substantial logs of wood could be laid across the fire-dogs, and
burn with a cheerful blaze to light and warm the company in the long, cold
winter evenings. At meal-times trestle tables were brought in, and on these
the food was served, the long benches being placed on each side of them. On
the special occasions of important visits or unusual festivities, a high
table was set out at the upper end. The floor was covered with fresh
rushes, skins of wolf or bear being laid before the fire, and the walls
were stencilled in white and yellow on the higher part, and hung with serge
or frieze below. Only in the lady's chamber do we find carpets and hangings
of tapestry or embroidery, part of her wedding dowry or the work of her
maidens. Here, too, were a few soft cushions on the floor to sit upon, some
carved chairs, tables, and coffers. The master of the house always had his
great arm-chair with a head, and curtains to keep off the draughts, which
were many and bitterly cold in winter-time.

The chronicler of Bayard, known as the "Loyal Servitor," begins his story
on a spring day of the year 1487.

Aymon Terrail, lord of Bayard, sat by the fireside in his own chamber, the
walls of which were hung with old arms and trophies of the chase. He felt
ill and out of spirits. He was growing old--he had not long to live: so he
assured his good wife.

What was to become of his sons when he was gone? A sudden thought occurred
to him. "I will send for them at once, and we will give them a voice in the
matter."

To this the lady of Bayard agreed, for she never crossed her lord's will,
and at least it would distract his gloomy thoughts. It chanced that all the
four lads were at home, and ready to obey their father's command. As they
entered the room and came forward, one by one, in front of the great chair
by the hearth, somewhat awed by this hasty summons, they were encouraged by
a smile from their mother, who sat quietly in the background with her
embroidery.

The assembled group made a striking picture. The grand old man, a massive
figure seated in his canopied arm-chair, with white hair and flowing beard
and piercing black eyes, was closely wrapped in a long dark robe lined with
fur, and wore a velvet cap which came down over his shaggy brows. Before
him stood his four well-grown, sturdy, ruddy-faced boys, awaiting his
pleasure with seemly reverence, for none of them would have dared to be
seated unbidden in the presence of their father. Aymon de Bayard turned to
his eldest son, a big, strongly-built youth of eighteen, and asked him what
career in life he would like to follow. Georges, who knew that he was heir
to the domain and that he would probably not have long to wait for his
succession, made answer respectfully that he never wished to leave his
home, and that he would serve his father faithfully to the end of his days.
Possibly this was what the lord of Bayard expected, for he showed no
surprise, but simply replied, "Very well, Georges, as you love your home
you shall stay here and go a-hunting to fight the bears."

Next in order came Pierre, the "Good Knight" of history, who was then
thirteen years of age, as lively as a cricket, and who replied with a
smiling face, "My lord and father, although my love for you would keep me
in your service, yet you have so rooted in my heart the story of noble men
of the past, especially of our house, that if it please you, I will follow
the profession of arms like you and your ancestors. It is that which I
desire more than anything else in the world, and I trust that by the help
of God's grace I may not dishonour you."

The third son, Jacques, said that he wished to follow in the steps of his
uncle, Monseigneur d'Ainay, the prior of a rich abbey near Lyons. The
youngest boy, Philippe, made the same choice, and said that he would wish
to be like his uncle, the Bishop of Grenoble.

After this conversation with his four sons the lord of Bayard, not being
able to ride forth himself, sent one of his servants on the morrow to
Grenoble, about eighteen miles distant, with a letter to his brother-in-law
the Bishop, begging him to come to his Castle of Bayard as he had important
things to say to him. The good Bishop, who was always delighted to give
pleasure to any one, readily agreed. He set off as soon as he had received
the letter, and arrived in due time at the castle, where he found Aymon de
Bayard seated in his great chair by the fire. They greeted each other
warmly and spent a very pleasant evening together with several other
gentlemen of Dauphine, guests of the house.

At the end of dinner, the venerable lord of Bayard thus addressed the
company: "My lord Bishop, and you, my lords, it is time to tell you the
reason for which I have called you together. You see that I am so oppressed
with age that it is hardly possible I can live two years. God has given me
four sons, each of whom has told me what he would like to do. My son Pierre
told me that he would follow the calling of arms, and thus gave me singular
pleasure. He greatly resembles my late father, and if he is like him in his
deeds he cannot fail to be a great and noble knight. It is needful for his
training that I should place him in the household of some prince or lord
where he may learn aright his profession. I pray you that you will each
tell me what great House you advise."

Then said one of the ancient knights: "He must be sent to the King of
France." Another suggested that he would do very well with the Duke of
Bourbon; and thus one after another gave his advice. At last the Bishop of
Grenoble spoke: "My brother, you know that we are in great friendship with
the Duke Charles of Savoy, and that he holds us in the number of his
faithful vassals. I think that he would willingly take the boy as one of
his pages. He is at Chambery, which is near here; and if it seems good to
you, and to the company, I will take him there to-morrow morning."

This proposal of the Bishop of Grenoble seemed excellent to all present,
and Pierre Bayard was formally presented to him by his father, who said:
"Take him, my lord, and may God grant that he prove a worthy gift and do
you honour by his life." The Bishop at once sent in haste to Grenoble with
orders to his own tailor to bring velvet, satin, and all things needful to
make a noble page presentable. It was a night to be long remembered in the
castle, for cunning hands were pressed into the service under the eyes of
the master tailor, who stitched away through the long hours in such style
that next morning all was ready. A proud and happy boy was Bayard the next
morning when, after breakfast, clad in his fine new clothes, he rode the
chestnut horse into the courtyard before the admiring gaze, of all the
company assembled to look upon him.

[Illustration: A fine exhibition of horsemanship.]

When the spirited animal felt that he had such a light weight upon his
back, while at the same time he was urged on with spurs, he began to prance
about in the most lively fashion, and everybody expected to see the boy
thrown off. But Bayard kept his seat like a man of thirty, spurred on his
horse, and galloped round and round the court, as brave as a lion, his eyes
sparkling with delight. An old soldier like his father thoroughly
appreciated the lad's nerve and spirit, and could scarcely help betraying
the pride he felt in him. But the wise Bishop probably thought that the lad
had received quite as much notice as was good for him, and announced that
he was ready to start, adding to his nephew: "Now, my friend, you had
better not dismount, but take leave of all the company."

Bayard first turned to his father with a beaming countenance. "My lord and
father, I pray God that He may give you a good and long life, and trust
that before you are taken from this world you may have good news of me."
"My son, such is my prayer," was the old man's reply as he gave the boy his
blessing. Bayard then took leave of all the gentlemen present, one after
the other. Meantime the poor lady his mother was in her tower chamber,
where she was busy to the last moment packing a little chest with such
things as she knew her boy would need in his new life. Although she was
glad of the fair prospect before him, and very proud of her son, yet she
could not restrain her tears at the thought of parting from him; for such
is the way of mothers.

Yet when they came and told her, "Madame, if you would like to see your son
he is on horseback all ready to start," the good lady went bravely down to
the little postern door behind the tower and sent for Pierre to come to
her. As the boy rode up proudly at her summons and bending low in his
saddle took off his plumed cap in smiling salutation, he was a gallant
sight for loving eyes to rest upon. Bayard never forgot his mother's
parting words. "Pierre, my boy, you are going into the service of a noble
prince. In so far as a mother can rule her child, I command you three
things, and if you do them, be assured that you will live triumphantly in
this world. The first is that above all things you should ever fear and
serve God; seek His help night and morning and He will help you. The second
is that you should be gentle and courteous to all men, being yourself free
from all pride. Be ever humble and helpful, avoiding envy, flattery, and
tale-bearing. Be loyal, my son, in word and deed, that all men may have
perfect trust in you. Thirdly, with the goods that God may give you, be
ever full of charity to the poor, and freely generous to all men. And may
God give us grace that while we live we may always hear you well spoken
of."

In a few simple words the boy promised to remember, and took a loving
farewell of her. Then his lady mother drew from her sleeve a little purse,
in which were her private savings: six gold crowns and one in small
change,[1] and this she gave to her son. Also, calling one of the
attendants of the Bishop, she entrusted him with the little trunk
containing linen and other necessaries for Bayard, begging him to give it
in the care of the equerry who would have charge of the boy at the Duke of
Savoy's Court, and she gave him two crowns. There was no time for more, as
the Bishop of Grenoble was now calling his nephew. As he set forth on that
Saturday morning, riding his spirited chestnut towards Chambery, with the
sun shining and the birds singing, and all his future like a fair vision
before him, young Bayard thought that he was in paradise.

[Footnote 1: The gold crown was then worth 1 livre 15 sous. Multiplying
this by 31, in order to find its present value, we learn that the sum which
Bayard received from his mother would to-day be worth 266 francs, or about
10 guineas.]

Pierre Bayard had set forth from his home in the early morning, soon after
breakfast, and he rode all day by the side of his uncle until, in the
evening, they reached the town of Chambery, where all the clergy came out
to meet the Bishop of Grenoble, for this was part of his diocese, where he
had his official dwelling. That night he remained at his lodging without
showing himself at Court, although the Duke was soon informed of his
arrival, at which he was very pleased. The next morning, which was Sunday,
the Bishop rose very early and went to pay his respects to the Duke of
Savoy, who received him with the greatest favour, and had a long talk with
him all the way from the castle to the church, where the Bishop of Grenoble
said Mass with great ceremony. When this was over, the Duke led him by the
hand to dine with him, and at this meal young Bayard waited upon his uncle
and poured out his wine with much skill and care. The Duke noticed this
youthful cup-bearer and asked the Bishop, "My lord of Grenoble, who is this
young boy who is serving you?"

"My lord," was the reply, "this is a man-at-arms whom I have come to
present to you for your service if you will be pleased to accept him. But
he is not now in the condition in which I desire to give him to you; after
dinner, if it is your pleasure, you will see him."

"It would be very strange if I refused such a present," said the Duke, who
had already taken a fancy to the boy.

Now young Bayard, who had already received instructions from his uncle,
wasted no time over his own dinner, but hurried back to get his horse
saddled and in good order, then he rode quietly into the courtyard of the
castle. The Duke of Savoy was, as usual, resting after dinner in the long
gallery, or _perron_, built the whole length of the keep, on a level with
the first floor, and overlooking the great courtyard below. It was like a
cloister, with great arched windows, and served for a general meeting-place
or lounge in cold or wet weather. From thence he could see the boy going
through all his pretty feats of horsemanship as if he had been a man of
thirty who had been trained to war all his life. He was greatly pleased,
and turning to the Bishop of Grenoble he said to him, "My lord, I believe
that is your little favourite who is riding so well?"

"You are quite right, my lord Duke," was the answer. "He is my nephew, and
comes of a race where there have been many gallant knights. His father, who
from the wounds he has received in battle, and from advancing age, is
unable to come himself to your Court, recommends himself very humbly to
your good grace, and makes you a present of the boy."

"By my faith!" exclaimed the Duke, "I accept him most willingly; it is a
very fine and handsome present. May God make him a great man!"

He then sent for the most trusty equerry of his stables and gave into his
charge young Bayard, with the assurance that one day he would do him great
credit. The Bishop of Grenoble, having accomplished his business, did not
tarry long after this, but having humbly thanked the Duke of Savoy, took
leave of him and of his nephew, and returned to his own home.

Those spring and summer months spent at the Court of Savoy remained a happy
memory to Bayard all his life. On feast-days and holidays the whole company
would go out into the woods or the meadows, the Duchess Blanche with her
young maidens and attendant ladies, while the knights and squires and pages
waited upon them as they dined under the trees, and afterwards played games
and made the air ring with their merry songs. Or there were hunting and
hawking parties which lasted for more than one day, or river excursions
down as far as the Lake of Bourget, where the Duke had a summer palace. It
must have been on occasions such as these when the gallant young Bayard met
with the maiden who caught his boyish fancy, and to whom he remained
faithful at heart until the end of his days. Yet this pretty old-world
story of boy-and-girl affection made no farther progress, and when the
knight and lady met in the years to come, once more under the hospitable
care of the good Duchess Blanche, they met as congenial friends only. The
fair maiden of Chambery is known to history solely by her later married
name of Madame de Frussasco (or Fluxas), and in the records of chivalry
only by the tournament in which the "Good Knight without Fear and without
Reproach" wore her colours and won the prize in her name.




[Illustration: CHARLES VIII KING OF FRANCE _from a medallion_.]

CHAPTER II


The King heard that the Duke of Savoy was coming to his Court, and he sent
the Comte de Ligny to conduct the Duke on his way, and to receive him with
due honour. They met him about six miles from Lyons, and gave him a warm
welcome, after which the two princes rode side by side, and had much talk
together, for they were cousins and had not met for a long time. Now this
Monseigneur de Ligny was a great general, and with his quick, observant eye
he soon took notice of young Bayard, who was in the place of honour close
to his lord, and he inquired: "Who is that gallant little lad riding his
horse so well that it is quite a pleasure to see him?"

"Upon my word," replied the Duke, "I never had such a delightful page
before. He is a nephew of the Bishop of Grenoble, who made me a present of
him only six months ago. He was but just out of the riding-school, but I
never saw a boy of his age distinguish himself so much either on foot or on
horseback. And I may tell you, my lord and cousin, that he comes of a grand
old race of brave and noble knights; I believe he will follow in their
steps." Then he cried out to Bayard: "Use your spurs, my lad, give your
horse a free course and show what you can do."

The lad did not want telling twice, and he gave such a fine exhibition of
horsemanship that he delighted all the company. "On my honour, my lord,
here is a young gentleman who has the making of a gallant knight,"
exclaimed de Ligny; "and in my opinion you had better make a present of
both page and horse to the King, who will be very glad of them, for if the
horse is good and handsome, to my mind the page is still better."

"Since this is your advice," replied Charles of Savoy, "I will certainly
follow it. In order to succeed, the boy cannot learn in a better school
than the Royal House of France, where honour may be gained better than
elsewhere."

With such pleasant talk they rode on together into the city of Lyons, where
the streets were full of people, and many ladies were looking out of the
windows to see the coming of this noble prince and his gay company. That
night the Duke gave a banquet in his own lodging, where the King's
minstrels and singers entertained the guests, then there were games and
pastimes, ending with the usual wine and spices being handed round, and at
last each one retired to his own chamber until the dawn of day.

The next morning the Duke rose early and set forth to seek the King, whom
he found on the point of going to Mass. The King greeted him at once most
warmly and embraced him, saying, "My cousin, my good friend, you are indeed
welcome, and if you had not come to me I should have had to visit you in
your own country...." Then, after more polite talk, they rode together on
their mules to the convent, and devoutly heard Mass, after which the King
entertained the Duke of Savoy, Monsieur de Ligny, and other nobles to
dinner with him, and they had much merry talk about dogs and falcons, arms
and love-affairs. Presently de Ligny said to the King: "Sire, I give you my
word that my lord of Savoy wishes to give you a page who rides his chestnut
better than any boy I ever saw, and he cannot be more than fourteen,
although his horsemanship is as good as that of a man of thirty. If it
pleases you to go and hear vespers at Ainay you will have your pastime in
the fields there afterwards." "By my faith," cried the King, "I do wish
it!" and he heard the whole story of this wonderful boy from the Duke of
Savoy.

When young Bayard heard that the King was to see him he was as much
delighted as if he had won the city of Lyons; and he went in haste to the
head groom of the Duke of Savoy and prayed him to get his horse ready for
him, offering his short dagger as a present. But this the man refused and
made reply: "Go and comb and clean yourself, my friend, and put on your
best clothes, and if, by God's help, the King of France takes you in
favour, you may some day become a great lord and be able to serve me."
"Upon my faith! You may trust me never to forget all the kindness you have
shown me," replied the boy; "and if God ever gives me good fortune you
shall share it." It seemed a long time to his impatience before the hour
arrived when he rode his horse, attended by his equerry, to the meadow
where he was to await the King and his company, who arrived by boat on the
Saone. As soon as Charles VIII. had landed he cried: "Page, my friend,
touch up your horse with your spurs!" which the lad did at once, and to see
him you would have thought that he had been doing it all his life. At the
end of his race Bayard made his clever horse take a few jumps, and then he
rode straight towards the King and gracefully drew up before him with a low
bow. All the company was delighted with the performance, and the King bade
him do it again. "Picquez! Picquez!" (Prick up your horse!), he cried, and
all the pages shouted: "Picquez! Picquez!" with enthusiasm, so that for
some time the name stuck to him.

Then Charles turned to the Duke of Savoy and said: "I see that my cousin of
Ligny told me the truth at dinner, and now I will not wait for you to give
me this page and his horse, but I demand it of you as a favour."

"Most willingly, my lord," answered the Duke, "and may God give him grace
to do you true service." After this young Bayard was given into the special
charge of the lord of Ligny, who was greatly pleased and felt sure that he
would make of him a noble knight.

Meantime, the Duke of Savoy remained for awhile at the Court of Charles
VIII., with whom he was in great favour, and they were like brothers
together. This young King was one of the best of princes, courteous,
generous, and beloved of all men. At length the day of departure came, and
the good Duke went back to his own country, laden with beautiful and
honourable presents.

During three years young Bayard remained as a page in the service of the
Seigneur de Ligny, being trained with the utmost care in all that would be
needful to him in his profession of arms.

He won so much favour from his lord that at the early age of seventeen he
was raised from his position as a page to that of a squire, and appointed
man-at-arms in the General's company, being retained at the same time as
one of the gentlemen of the household, with a salary of 300 livres. As a
man-at-arms Bayard would have under him a page or varlet, three archers,
and a soldier armed with a knife (called a "coutillier"). Thus, when we
find a company of men-at-arms spoken of, it means for each "lance garnie,"
or man-at-arms, really six fighting men on horseback.

When King Charles VIII. found himself once more in his loyal city of Lyons,
it chanced that a certain Burgundian lord, Messire Claude de Vauldray, a
most famous man-at-arms, came to the King and proposed that he should hold
a kind of tournament, called a "Pas d'Armes," to keep the young gentlemen
of the Court from idleness. He meant by this a mimic attack and defence of
a military position, supposed to be a "pas" or difficult and narrow pass in
the mountains. It was a very popular test of chivalry, as the defender hung
up his escutcheons on trees or posts put up for the purpose, and whoever
wished to force this "pas" had to touch one of the escutcheons with his
sword, and have his name inscribed by the King-at-arms in charge of them.

There was nothing that King Charles VIII. loved better than these
chivalrous tournaments, and he gladly gave his consent. Messire Claude de
Vauldray at once set about his preparations, and hung up his escutcheons
within the lists which had been arranged for the coming tournament.

Young Bayard, whom every one called Picquet, passed before the shields and
sighed with longing to accept the challenge and so improve himself in the
noble science of arms. As he stood there silent and thoughtful, his
companion, called Bellabre, of the household of the Sire de Ligny, asked
him what he was thinking of. He replied: "I will tell you, my friend. It
has pleased my lord to raise me from the condition of page into that of a
squire, and I long to touch that shield, but I have no means of obtaining
suitable armour and horses." Then Bellabre, a brave young fellow some years
older than himself, exclaimed: "Why do you trouble about that, my
companion? Have you not your uncle, that fat Abbe of Ainay? I vow that we
must go to him, and if he will not give you money we must take his cross
and mitre! But I believe that when he sees your courage he will willingly
help you."

Bayard at once went and touched the shield, whereupon Mountjoy, King-at-arms,
who was there to write down the names, began to reason with him. "How is
this, Picquet, my friend; you will not be growing your beard for the next
three years, and yet you think of fighting against Messire Claude, who is
one of the most valiant knights of all France?" But the youth replied
modestly: "Mountjoy, my friend, what I am doing is not from pride or
conceit, but my only desire is to learn how to fight from those who can
teach me. And if God pleases He will grant that I may do something to
please the ladies." Whereupon Mountjoy broke out into a hearty laugh,
which showed how much he enjoyed it.

The news soon spread through Lyons that Picquet had touched the shield of
Messire Claude, and it came to the ears of the Sire de Ligny, who would not
have missed it for ten thousand crowns. He went at once to tell the King,
who was greatly delighted and said: "Upon my faith! Cousin de Ligny, your
training will do you honour again, if my heart tells me true." "We shall
see how it will turn out," was the grave reply; "for the lad is still very
young to stand the attack of a man like Messire Claude."

But that was not what troubled young Bayard; it was the question how to
find money for suitable horses and accoutrements. So he went to his
companion, Bellabre, and asked for his help. "My friend, I beg of you to
come with me to persuade my uncle, the Abbe of Ainay, to give me money. I
know that my uncle, the Bishop of Grenoble, would let me want for nothing
if he were here, but he is away at his Abbey of St. Sernin at Toulouse,
which is so far off that there would be no time for a man to go there and
back." "Do not trouble," said his friend, "you and I will go to Ainay, and
I trust we shall manage it." This was some comfort, but the young warrior
had no sleep that night. He and Bellabre, who shared the same bed, rose
very early and took one of the little boats from Lyons to Ainay. On their
arrival, the first person they met in the meadow was the Abbe himself,
reading his prayers with one of his monks. The two young men advanced to
salute him, but he had already heard of his nephew's exploit, and received
him very roughly. "Who made you bold enough to touch the shield of Messire
Claude?" he asked angrily. "Why, you have only been a page for three years,
and you can't be more than seventeen or eighteen. You deserve to be flogged
for showing such great pride." To which his nephew replied: "Monseigneur, I
assure you that pride has nothing to do with it, but the desire and will to
follow in the steps of your brave ancestors and mine. I entreat you, sir,
that, seeing I have no other friends or kindred near, you will help me with
a little money to obtain what is needful."

"Upon my word!" exclaimed the Abbe, "go and seek help elsewhere; the funds
of my abbey are meant to serve God and not to be spent in jousts and
tournaments." Bellabre now put in his word and remonstrated.

"Monseigneur, if it had not been for the virtue and the valour of your
ancestors you would never have been Abbe of Ainay, for by their merits and
not yours it was gained. Your nephew is of the same noble race, and
well-beloved of the King; it is absolutely necessary that you should help
him...." After more talk of this kind the Abbe at last consented, and took
the two squires into his own room, where he opened a little cupboard, and
from a purse which was inside he took out a hundred crowns and gave them to
Bellabre, saying: "I give you this to buy two horses for this brave
man-at-arms, for he has not enough beard to handle money himself. I will
also write a line to Laurencin,[1] my tailor, to supply him with needful
accoutrements." "You have done well, my lord," said Bellabre, "and I assure
you that every one will honour you for this." When the young gentlemen had
their letter they took leave with many humble thanks, and returned at once
to Lyons in their little boat, highly pleased with their success.

[Footnote 1: The most important and wealthy merchant of Lyons.]

"We are in good luck," said Bellabre, "and we must make the most of it. Let
us go at once to the merchant before your good uncle changes his mind, for
he will soon remember that he has put no limit to your expenses, and he can
have no idea what a proper outfit will cost. You may be sure that you will
never see any more of his money." So they took their boat on to the
market-place, found the merchant at home, lost no time in telling of the
good Abbe's generosity, and encouraged Laurencin to exert himself to the
utmost in the way of splendid suits of clothing and armour, to do honour to
his patron's gallant nephew, for there seemed to be no question of economy.
Bayard was measured and fitted with cloth of silver, velvet, and satin,
and then went gaily home with his friend, both of them thinking it an
excellent jest.

When the Abbe of Ainay bethought himself later of what he had done, and
sent a messenger in haste to the tailor, he found that it was too late and
that his bill would come to hundreds of crowns. He was furious, and vowed
that his nephew should never have another penny from him; but that did not
mend matters, for the story got about, to the intense amusement of the King
and his Court, and the rich old miser met with no sympathy.

The young men were fortunate enough to buy two excellent horses for much
less than their value from a brave knight who had broken his leg, and not
being able to figure in the contests himself, was willing to help so
gallant a youth.

The time was drawing near for the great tournament, which would be a high
festival for the town and was looked forward to with much eagerness and
excitement. The course on which the knights were to fight was surrounded
and duly laid out with richly-painted posts. At one side of this enclosed
field, stands were put up and made very bright and gay with coloured
hangings, carpets, embroidered banners, and escutcheons. It was here that
the royal and noble company would sit and watch the proceedings.

Meantime, by permission of the King, Messire Claude de Vauldray had caused
it to be published and declared throughout the city that he would hold the
"pas" against all comers, both on foot and on horseback, on the approaching
Monday.

A tournament was always a gorgeous and brilliant spectacle, but on this
occasion, being held by the King's desire and graced by his presence, it
was more splendid than usual. In our day, when it is the custom of men to
avoid all show and colour in their dress, we can scarcely picture to
ourselves the magnificence of those knights of the Renaissance. When the
gallant gentleman actually entered the lists for fighting, he wore his suit
of polished armour, often inlaid with gold or silver, a coloured silken
scarf across his shoulders richly embroidered with his device, and on his
head a shining helmet with a great tuft of flowing plumes. But in the
endless stately ceremonies which followed or preceded the tournament, the
knight wore his doublet of fine cloth, overlaid with his coat-of-arms
embroidered in silk or gold thread, and an outer surcoat of velvet, often
crimson slashed with white or violet satin, made without sleeves if worn
over the cuirass and finished with a short fluted skirt of velvet. Over
this a short cloak of velvet or satin, even sometimes of cloth of gold, was
worn lightly over one shoulder.

If this was the usual style of costume, which had also to be varied on
different festivals, we can easily understand how impossible it was for
young Bayard to procure such costly luxuries on his small means, and we can
almost forgive him for the audacious trick he played on his rich relation
the Abbe of Ainay. Not only was the knight himself richly clad, but we are
told that to appear in a grand tournament even the horse had to have
sumptuous trappings of velvet or satin made by the tailor. We have not
mentioned the suit of armour, which was the most expensive item of all;
being made at this period lighter and more elaborate, with its flexible
over-lying plates of thin, tempered steel, it was far more costly than it
had ever been before. The bravest knights at the Court were proud to try
their fortune against Messire Claude. It was the rule that after the
contest each champion was to ride the whole length of the lists, with his
visor raised and his face uncovered, that it might be known who had done
well or ill. Bayard, who was scarcely eighteen and had not done growing,
was by nature somewhat thin and pale, and had by no means reached his full
strength. But with splendid courage and gallant spirit, he went in for his
first ordeal against one of the finest warriors in the world. The old
chronicler cannot tell how it happened, whether by the special grace of God
or whether Messire Claude took delight in the brave boy, but it so fell out
that no man did better in the lists, either on foot or on horseback, than
young Bayard, and when it came to his turn to ride down with his face
uncovered, the ladies of Lyons openly praised him as the finest champion of
all. He also won golden opinions of all the rest of the company, and King
Charles exclaimed at supper:

"By my faith! Picquet has made a beginning which in my opinion promises a
good end." Then, turning to the Sire de Ligny, he added: "My cousin, I
never in my life made you so good a present as when I gave him to you."
"Sire," was the reply, "if he proves himself a worthy knight it will be
more to your honour than mine, for it is your kind praise which has
encouraged him to undertake such a feat of arms as this. May God give him
grace to continue as he has begun." Then the General added, turning round
with a smile to the assembled company:

"But we all know that his uncle, the Abbe of Ainay, does not take great
pleasure in the youth's exploits, for it was at the old gentleman's expense
that he procured his accoutrements." This remark was received with a roar
of laughter, in which the King himself joined, for he had already heard the
story and was very much amused at it. Soon after the tournament the Sire
de Ligny sent for young Bayard one morning and said to him: "Picquet, my
friend, you have begun with rare good fortune; you must carry on the
pursuit of arms, and I retain you in my service with three hundred francs a
year and three war-horses, for I have placed you in my company. Now I wish
you to go to the garrison and meet your companions, assuring you that you
will find as gallant men-at-arms there as any in Christendom; they often
have jousts and tournaments to keep in practice of arms and acquire honour.
It seems to me that while awaiting any rumour of war you cannot do better
than stay there."