登陆注册
15311900000051

第51章

The third group consisted of, first, two mules quite covered with cloth of gold, each carrying two chests in which it was said that the duke's treasure was stored, the precious stones he was bringing to his fiancee, and the relics and papal bulls that his father had charged him to convey for him to Louis XII.These were followed by twenty gentlemen dressed in cloth of gold and silver, among whom rode Paul Giordano Orsino and several barons and knights among the chiefs of the state ecclesiastic.

Next came two drums, one rebeck, and four soldiers blowing trumpets and silver clarions; then, in the midst of a party of four-and-twenty lacqueys, dressed half in crimson velvet and half in yellow silk, rode Messire George d'Amboise and Monseigneur the Duke of Valentinois.Caesar was mounted on a handsome tall courser, very richly harnessed, in a robe half red satin and half cloth of gold, embroidered all over with pearls and precious stones; in his cap were two rows of rubies, the size of beans, which reflected so brilliant a light that one might have fancied they were the famous carbuncles of the Arabian Nights; he also wore on his neck a collar worth at least 200,000 livres; indeed, there was no part of him, even down to his boots, that was not laced with gold and edged with pearls.His horse was covered with a cuirass in a pattern of golden foliage of wonderful workmanship, among which there appeared to grow, like flowers, nosegays of pearls and clusters of rubies.

Lastly, bringing up the rear of the magnificent cortege, behind the duke came twenty-four mules with red caparisons bearing his arms, carrying his silver plate, tents, and baggage.

What gave to all the cavalcade an air of most wonderful luxury and extravagance was that the horses and mules were shod with golden shoes, and these were so badly nailed on that more than three-quarters of their number, were lost on the road For this extravagance Caesar was greatly blamed, for it was thought an audacious thing to put on his horses' feet a metal of which king's crowns are made.

But all this pomp had no effect on the lady for whose sake it had been displayed; for when Dona Carlota was told that Caesar Bargia had come to France in the hope of becoming her husband, she replied simply that she would never take a priest far her husband, and, moreover, the son of a priest; a man who was not only an assassin, but a fratricide; not only a man of infamous birth, but still more infamous in his morals and his actions.

But, in default of the haughty lady of Aragon, Caesar soon found another princess of noble blood who consented to be his wife: this was Mademoiselle d'Albret, daughter of the King of Navarre.The marriage, arranged on condition that the pope should pay 200,000ducats dowry to the bride, and should make her brother cardinal, was celebrated on the 10th of May; and on the Whitsunday following the Duke of Valentois received the order of St.Michael, an order founded by Louis XI, and esteemed at this period as the highest in the gift of the kings of France.The news of this marriage, which made an alliance with Louis XII certain, was received with great joy by the pope, who at once gave orders far bonfires and illuminations all over the town.

Louis XII was not only grateful to the pope for dissolving his marriage with Jeanne of France and authorizing his union with Anne of Brittany, but he considered it indispensable to his designs in Italy to have the pope as his ally.So he promised the Duke of Valentinois to put three hundred lances at his disposal, as soon as he had made an entry into Milan, to be used to further his own private interests, and against whomsoever he pleased except only the allies of France.

The conquest of Milan should be undertaken so soon as Louis felt assured of the support of the Venetians, or at least of their neutrality, and he had sent them ambassadors authorised to promise in his name the restoration of Cremona and Ghiera d'Adda when he had completed the conquest of Lombardy.

同类推荐
  • 齐乘

    齐乘

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 陈秋岩诗集

    陈秋岩诗集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 麟台故事

    麟台故事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 奉和送金城公主适西

    奉和送金城公主适西

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Apology

    Apology

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 粉袖末同

    粉袖末同

    男同偶遇奇缘,断袖纯爱之恋,悟到参禅以寻解脱,终落得遗世独立而羽化登仙
  • 源恋勿扰

    源恋勿扰

    傻傻的付出,究竟换来了什么?薄荷微凉,凉的终究是心......傻傻的女孩,什么时候,你才会回头?什么时候你才会知道,有一个默默为你付出守候的他?他说:“累了,记得回头,你还有我......”他的等待,于你而言,究竟算什么?别忘了,再美的等待,终究会枯萎,没了你,哪儿来的幸福?
  • 天哪!谁是她孩子的爸

    天哪!谁是她孩子的爸

    面对化验结果,她目瞪口呆,她怎么怀孕了?孩子的爸究竟是谁?他?他?还是他?
  • 重生神皇

    重生神皇

    上掌三十六天,下握七十二地,掌管一切神、佛、仙、圣和人间、地府之事的神皇重生为凡了,一切从零开始,且看一代神皇如何在这神奇浩大的仙侠世界再登巅峰之座。
  • 喂你欠我一个拥抱

    喂你欠我一个拥抱

    她本是个单纯的少女,步入中学单纯的少女不再单纯,在KTV她是重星捧月的妖精,在学校她是孤傲的女神,在家里她是脆弱的瓷娃娃,她在海边对着星空起誓,她即将嫁为人妻,他能否归来带她离开
  • 换装武师

    换装武师

    人真是奇怪的生物,有那些伟大的品质却也有那些人性的阴暗所有人都有各种欲望,而无限的欲望会形成一个个可怕的怪物秦修本是一个普通人,却走上了与欲望搏斗的道路。“你以为我们是守护人类的英雄?不,我们只是和自己斗争的可怜虫罢了。”------秦修。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 茅山第一届令

    茅山第一届令

    茅山第一届令,人与鬼不得私通天师毛一凡,为捕僵尸王,协与女儿毛子琪和弟子宋从安南来灭尸:玄魁!声名大噪,却引来神迹堂的神棍堂主的冯子叶妒忌,两人遂变成冤家。毛一凡虽与冯子叶是冤家,却想收其子邓文为弟子,因邦为五世奇人。毛一凡在寻尸王之际认识了邓浩然,二人成为了莫逆。邓文最后受毛真诚感动,成毛一凡的徒弟。而毛一凡却被邓浩然陷害放出千年女鬼,邓浩然漠然离他而去。毛一凡失落时得村姑余乐扶持,两人产生微妙的感情。此时玄魁修得归来,复仇在即。毛一凡没有邓浩然的帮助独自一人是否能消灭玄魁!而千年女鬼又有何下场!结局都在茅山第一届令……
  • 无限恐怖之雷电

    无限恐怖之雷电

    当一个知晓无限恐怖始末的男人进入其中后,剧中的危机时刻真的还会那么危险吗。去星河战队我带上异形皇后,无限的繁殖杀怪。团战来袭时,一颗核弹埋在你脚下。轰成渣渣吧!!
  • 宋太祖赵匡胤(世界伟人传记丛书)

    宋太祖赵匡胤(世界伟人传记丛书)

    宋太祖赵匡胤(927年-976年),中国北宋王朝的建立者,庙号宋太祖,涿州(今河北涿州)人。出身武将世家,赵弘殷次子。948年,投后汉枢密使郭威幕下,屡立战功。951年郭威称帝建立后周,赵匡胤任禁军军官、殿前都点检。周世宗柴荣死后,恭帝即位,建隆元年(960年),他以镇、定二州的名义,谎报契丹联合北汉大举南侵,领兵出征,发动“陈桥兵变”,黄袍加身,代周称帝,建立宋朝,定都开封。