DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0059
21
LOUIS XII. AT THE GASTELLO
that he could have. The street was crowded with
people, and the King rode on, looking up at the ladies,
who are said to please him greatly. Over his head a
baldacchino of gold brocade was carried by doctors
wearing purple robes, and capes and birettas lined with
fur. Several of the first gentlemen in Milan walked on
foot at his horse's side, in good order; the horse itself
is a roan, not very large, but a nice horse, only a little
poor about the mouth. His Majesty wore the ducal
mantle of white damask and the ducal cap, lined with
fur, also of white damask. So he rode up to the
Gastello. The piazza was thronged with people, and
the road was kept for His Majesty by Gascon archers
on foot, armed with helmets and the same liveries, but
without embroideries. These Gascons are little men,
and the archers are very stout. With all this pomp
His Majesty the King of France entered the Gastello
of Milan—once the place where the dower of the men
of this world were assembled, but now full of drink-
ing-booths and dung-heaps. It is said that, on enter-
ing the gates, His Majesty laid his hand on his sword,
and his action caused the bearers of the baldacchino
some alarm. However, he did not draw blood, but
only flourished his sword in the air a moment. On
Monday morning we went to court in attendance on
our most illustrious lord, and the King went to mass
at S. Ambrogio, escorted by the halberdiers and
accompanied by all the Princes whom I have already
mentioned. Mass was sung by the Bishop of Piacenza.
After mass we escorted the King to the Gastello,
and went home to dinner, and then back to court.
On Tuesday morning our lord went to court at break
of day with two or three horses, and a falcon on his
wrist, because this was the King's pleasure, and they
rode out into the country. This morning I have not
yet been out of the house. I do not write about our
illustrious lord's affairs, because you will soon see
persons who are better informed on these matters than
I can pretend to be. But from the great demonstra-
LOUIS XII. AT THE GASTELLO
that he could have. The street was crowded with
people, and the King rode on, looking up at the ladies,
who are said to please him greatly. Over his head a
baldacchino of gold brocade was carried by doctors
wearing purple robes, and capes and birettas lined with
fur. Several of the first gentlemen in Milan walked on
foot at his horse's side, in good order; the horse itself
is a roan, not very large, but a nice horse, only a little
poor about the mouth. His Majesty wore the ducal
mantle of white damask and the ducal cap, lined with
fur, also of white damask. So he rode up to the
Gastello. The piazza was thronged with people, and
the road was kept for His Majesty by Gascon archers
on foot, armed with helmets and the same liveries, but
without embroideries. These Gascons are little men,
and the archers are very stout. With all this pomp
His Majesty the King of France entered the Gastello
of Milan—once the place where the dower of the men
of this world were assembled, but now full of drink-
ing-booths and dung-heaps. It is said that, on enter-
ing the gates, His Majesty laid his hand on his sword,
and his action caused the bearers of the baldacchino
some alarm. However, he did not draw blood, but
only flourished his sword in the air a moment. On
Monday morning we went to court in attendance on
our most illustrious lord, and the King went to mass
at S. Ambrogio, escorted by the halberdiers and
accompanied by all the Princes whom I have already
mentioned. Mass was sung by the Bishop of Piacenza.
After mass we escorted the King to the Gastello,
and went home to dinner, and then back to court.
On Tuesday morning our lord went to court at break
of day with two or three horses, and a falcon on his
wrist, because this was the King's pleasure, and they
rode out into the country. This morning I have not
yet been out of the house. I do not write about our
illustrious lord's affairs, because you will soon see
persons who are better informed on these matters than
I can pretend to be. But from the great demonstra-