Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/323

299 CAMPAIGNS OF GONSALVO. 299 success, was attended with no other permanent re- chapter suit to its authors, than that of opening the way ^ 1 to those disastrous w^ars, which wasted the re- sources of their country for a great part of the six- teenth century. ^ Charles the Eighth had left as his viceroy in Naples Gilbert de Bourbon, duke of Montpensier, a prince of the blood, and a brave and loyal noble- man, but of slender military capacity, and so fond of his bed, says Comines, that he seldom left it before noon. The command of the forces in Cala- bria vt^as intrusted to M. d'Aubigny, a Scottish cavalier of the house of Stuart, raised by Charles to the dignity of grand constable of France. He was so much esteemed for his noble and chivalrous qualities, that he was styled by the annalists of that day, says Brantome, " grand chevalier sans reproche." He had large experience in military matters, and was reputed one of the best officers in the French service. Besides these principal commanders, there were others of subordinate rank stationed at the head of small detachments on different points of the kingdom, and especially in the fortified cities along the coasts. ^ Scarcely had Charles the Eighth quitted Naples, when his rival, Ferdinand, who had already com- pleted his preparations in Sicily, made a descent on 5 Villeneuve, M^moires, apud 6 Comines, M^moires, liv. 8, Petitot, Collection de M^moires, chap. 1. — Brantome, Homraes II- tom. xiv. pp. 262, 263. — Flassan, lustres, torn. ii. p. 59. Diplomatic Frangaise, torn. i. pp. 267-369.— Comines, M^moires, liv. 8, chap. 10—12, 18.