BAYARD

or moro properly BAYART, Pierre DU Terbail, Chevalier de, called the kniyfu withmtt fear and wilfund reproach, bom in 1 476, in the castle of Bayard, near Grenoble, was one of the most spotle characters of the middle ages. He was simple and modest; a true friend and tender lover; pious, humane, and magnanimous. The family of Terrail, to which he belonged, was one of the most ancient in Dauphin^, and was celebrated for nobility and valour. Young Bayard, educated under the eyes of his uncle Geoi^e du Terrail, bishop of Grenoble, early imbibed in the school of this worthy prelate the virtues which distinguished him afterwaros. the age of thirteen he was received among the of the Duke of Savoy, the ally of France. Charles VIII., who saw him at Lyons, in the suite of prince, was struck with the de3cterity with the youth managed his horse: he begged him duke, and committed him to the care of Paul Luxemburg, count de Ligny. The tournaments were his fir at field of glory. At the age of eighteen he accompanied Charles YIII. to ItfJy, and distinguished himself greatly the battle at Verona^ where he took a standard. the beginning of the reign of Louis XIL, in a near Milan, he pursued the fugitives with eagerne , that he entered the city with them, was taken prisoner. Ludovico Sf orza returned bis arms and his horse, and dismi ed him without ransom. Whilst the French were in Apulia^ Bayard defeated a Spanish corps, and made their Don Alonzo de So to may or, prisoner. He treated him with generosity. So to may or, however, not violated hu parole by flight, but calumniated Bayard, who, according to the custom of that time, challenged him, and killed him. Afterwards, like Horatius Cocles, he defended a bridge over the Garigliano singly against the Spaniards, and saved the French army by checking the advance of the victorious «nemy. For this exploit he received as a coat anns a porcupine, with the motto Vires agnUnis hdbet. He distinguished himself equally against Genoese and the Venetians. When Julius IL clared himself s^ France, Bayard went a istance of the Duke of Ferrara. He did not ceed in his plan of taking the pope prisoner; but refused wiUi indignation an offer made to him. Being severely wounded at the a ault Brescia, he was carried into the house of a nobleman who had fled and left his wife and two daughters exposed to the insolence of the soldiers. Bayard protected the family, refused the reward of ducats which they offered to him, and returned, soon as he was cured, into the camp of Gaston Foix, before Bavenna. In an engagement shortly after ensued he took two standards from Spaniards, and pursued the fugitives. Gaston, hope of France, perished through his neglect advice of Bayard. In the retreat from Pavia Bayard was again wounded. He was carried to Grenoble; his life was in danger. ' I grieve not for death,' said, 'but to die on my bed, like a woman.' In the war commenced by Ferdinand the Catholic he displayed beyond the Pyrenees the same talents, the same heroism, which had distinguished him yond the Alps. The fatal reverses which embittered the last years of Louis XII. only added a brighter splendour to the personal glory of Bayard. VIII. of England, in alliance with Ferdinand Maximilian, threatened Picardy in 1513, and besieged Terouane. The French army disgracefully took flight. Bayard, with his accustomed intrepidity, an ineffectual resistance to the enemy: overpowered by superior numbers, his troop was on the point laying down their arms, when Bayard, perceiving Ki)*;liMh officer at some distance from him, diately gall(>i)ed towanln him, preaenteil his sword his breoHt, and cried, 'Yield, or die!' The Englinhman surrendered his swurd: Bayard immediately gave him his own, saying, * I am Bayard, and captive, an you are mine.' The boldne and g»*nuity of this action j)leased the emperor and Kiii^ cjf Kiij^l.md, who d l'-'. When Francis I. ascended the throne, he sent Bayard into Dauphind to open for his army a pas- At sage over the Alps, and through Piedmont. Prosper pages Colonna lay in wait for him on his march, expecting to surprise him, but Bayard made him prisoner. this This brilliant exploit was the prelude to the battle which of Marignano, in which Bayard, at the side of the of the king, p^oimed wonders of bravery, and decided of the victory. After this glorious day Francis was knighted with the sword of Bayard. When Charles V. invaded Champagne with a laxge army, and threatened to penetrate into the heart of France, in Bayard defended the weakly-fortified town of M^> At ziferes against every a ault, until the di ensions of battle the hostile leaders compelled them to retreat Bayard such was saluted in Paris as the saviour of his country: and the king bestowed on him the order of St. Michael, him and a company of 100 men, which he was to command in his own name — an honour which till then had only been conferred on princes of the blood. Soon afterwards Genoa revolted from France: leader, Bayard's presence reduced it to obedience. But only after the surrender of Lodi fortune changed, and the Frendi troops were expelled from their conquests. Bonnivet was obliged to retreat through the valley of Aoeta; his rear was beaten, and hixmielf severely wounded, when the safety of the army was committed to Bayard. It was nece ary to pa the Sesia in the presence of a superior enemy, and of Bayard, always the last in retreat, vigorously at* unua tadced the Spaniards, when a stone from a blunderbu the struck his right side, and shattered his backbone. de- The hero fell, exclaiming, 'Jesus, my God, I am a to the dead man!' They hastened towards him. 'Place sucme under yon tree,' he said, 'that I may see the he enemy.' Fof^want of a crucifix he ki ed the cro betray of his Bword, confe ed to his squire, consoled his of servants and his friends, bade farewell to his king and his country, and died April 30, 1524, surrounded by friends and enemies, who all shed tears of admiration and grief. His body, which remained in the 2500 hands of his enemies, was embalmed by them, given as to the French, and interred in a church of the Minor* de ites, near Grenoble. His monument consists of a which simple bust, with a Latin inscription. See Hist, de the P. Terrail, dit le Chevalier Bayard, sans Peur et the sans Be proc he, by Gayard de BerviUe (new edition, of the Paris, 1824). BAYAZID. See Bajazet. 107