Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/105

79 VICTORY OF CERIGNOLA. 79 I I artillery, consisting of thirteen pieces, his baggage, chapter XII and most of his colors fell into their hands. Never ' was there a more complete victory, achieved too within the space of little more than an hour. The body of the unfortunate Nemours, which was recog- nised by one of his pages from the rings on the fingers, was found under a heap of slain, much dis- figured. It appeared that he had received three several wounds, disproving, if need were, by his honorable death the injurious taunts of Allegre. Gonsalvo was affected even to tears at beholding the mutilated remains of his young and gallant ad- versary, who, whatever judgment may be formed of his capacity as a leader, was allowed to have all the qualities which belong to a true knight. With him perished the last scion of the illustrious house of Armagnac. Gonsalvo ordered his remains to be conveyed to Barleta, where they were laid in the cemetery of the convent of St. Francis, with all the honors due to his high station. ^^ The Spanish commander lost no time in following Pursuit of ■I O the enemy up his blow, well aware that it is quite as diflicult to improve a victory as to win one. The French had rushed into battle with too much precipitation were too well screened to sustain ous statements of the paiticulars much injury, and no estimate makes of this action may probably be at- it more than a hundred killed, and tributed to the lateness of the hour, some considerably less. The odds and consequently imperfect light, in are indeed startling-, but not impos- which it was fought, sible ; as the Spaniards were not ^ Quintana, EspariolesCelebres, much exposed by personal collision tom. i. p. 277. — Giovio, Vitoe II- with the enemy, until the latter lust. Virorum, fol. 255. — Ferre- were thrown into too much disor- ras. Hist. d'Espagne, tom. viii. pp. der to think of any thing but es- 248, 249. — UUoa, Vita di Carlo cape. The more than usual con- V., fol. 17. — Bernaldez, Reyes fusion and discrepancy in the vari- Catolicos, MS., cap. 181.