so strong a will and so ruthless a hand, that he has been described as "a sovereign who would have done honour to any throne in Christendom excepting that of St. Peter." But King Louis was undaunted. He assembled and consulted his prelates at Tours; and when their answers confirmed his resolution for war, he had a medal struck, with this legend, "Perdam Babylonis nomen," and prepared to execute his threat. When war broke out between France and Rome, De Foix, who had already been created Duke of Nemours, was, though a mere boy, appointed Viceroy of Italy, and intrusted with the command of his royal uncle's army, which had previously been under the Duke de Longueville. The policy, as well as the valour, of the young General, soon became conspicuous. He first induced the Swiss, whom Julius had brought into Milan, to return across the Alps; and having thus secured the States of Milan, he proceeded to the relief of Bologna, to which the army of the allies had laid siege. In spite of the frost and snow, he made his way from Finale, and arriving at Bologna one night, before the allies were aware, entered the city in triumph at the head of sixteen hundred men. While at Bologna, De Foix received intelligence that his success had been, to some extent, counterbalanced by the fact of the Venetians having taken Brescia and Bergama. He marched straightway to retrieve these disasters, and on arrival at Brescia found that the French still held the citadel. He lost no time N in reinforcing them, under cover of the night, with three thousand men, and then summoned the town to surrender. The inhabitants, though promised the King's pardon, declined to yield, and made preparations to resist an assault. They hid their money in secret places, concealed as much property as they could, conveyed their women and children for safety to the monasteries, and declared that they were ready to defend themselves to the last extremity. On a morning in February, 1512, De Foix led on his troops to the assault; and at the same time the French, who held the citadel, made a sally in great force, and met the Venetian soldiers in the great square of the beleaguered city. Fearful was the carnage; and when two thousand of the Venetians were slain, one of their commanders, in despair, placed himself at the head of two hundred horsemen, and, in hope of effecting his escape, made for the gate of S. Nazaro. Quick as thought De Foix availed himself of the circumstance, and entered the city, with one arm bare and his sword on his wrist, and shouting, "France!" The word was echoed by his followers, and the whole French army having entered, a dreadful scene was the result. The Venetians, terror-struck, attempted to escape by the gates; but numbers were slain, and the city was given up to plunder. Eight thousand persons are said to have perished, and for a whole week the soldiers continued their violence and rapine. Even the monasteries were not secure. The boy-general exerted his authority to protect the honour of the women; and being at length under the necessity of using the strongest measures against those who had violated the sanctuaries, gave a peremptory order for retiring to the camp. One circumstance in the sack of Brescia is worthy of mention. The celebrated Chevalier Bayard, with characteristic magnanimity, refused to receive from the daughters of his hostess a sum of two thousand pistoles, which their mother had collected to save her house from plunder. The energy of Gaston de Foix astonished all Italy. In little more than a fortnight he had raised the siege of Bologna, recovered Brescia, and become terrible to the enemies of France. But the man who at that time wore the triple crown was not one to be easily beaten; and King Louis, seeing that some still more signal victory must be won, directed his nephew to bring the allies to a definitive engagement. De Foix was both ready and willing, and the soldiers had learned to love him so well that they would have gone anywhere to please him, even without pay. He immediately marched towards Ravenna, and, on arriving before the town, commenced the attack. His artillery effected a breach in the walls, and, his soldiers rushing forward, an engagement took place on the ramparts; but, notwithstanding their utmost efforts, the French had to retire. And now came the battle which is associated with the name of "the Hero Boy." While De Foix was gallantly rallying his soldiers for a second attack, he received intelligence that the allied army had approached and raised entrenchments within three miles of Ravenna. Delay, under such circumstances, was not to be thought of by one who glowed with youthful chivalry, and Gaston, to force the foes of France to an open conflict, resolved upon storming their entrench ments. On the 11th of April-it was Easter-day-Gaston presented himself to the allies, and offered them battle. Perceiving, after this, that they did not leave their camp, the boy-warrior formed his lines to commence the assault. For some time the artillery only was brought into play; but after the two armies had cannonaded each other with varying success for two hours, the allies rushed from their camp, and met the hostile ranks in the shock of battle. Swords clashed; lances were splintered; for a time the fortune of the day was doubtful; and the French cry of "Victory! Nemours!" was met by the allies with that of "Julius! Victory!" But wherever the conflict was keenest, there was Gaston fighting with heroic courage to inspirit his men ; and, after a sanguinary struggle, the French, with the gallant bravery of their nation, drove the enemy from the field. When the conflict was over, twenty of the greatest lords of Italy lay dead on the ground, and the victory was complete. But though fortune had thus smiled on the arms of Gaston, he was not destined to leave the |