Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/172

146 146 ITALIAN WARS. PART December, on which this battle was won, came on '- — Friday, the same ominous day of the week, which had so often proved auspicious to the Spaniards under the present reign. '° Gallantry of fhe disparity of the forces actually ene^aged was their chival- I J J a a '^" probably not great, since the extent of country over which the French were quartered prevented many of them from coming up in time for action. Sev- eral corps, who succeeded in reaching the field at the close of the fight, were seized with such a panic as to throw down their arms without attempt- ing resistance." The admirable artillery, on which the French placed chief reliance, was not only of no service, but of infinite mischief to them, as we have seen. The brunt of the battle fell on their chivalry, which bore itself throughout the day with the spirit and gallantry worthy of its ancient renown ; never flinching, till the arrival of the Spanish rear-guard fresh in the field, at so critical a juncture, turned the scale in their adversaries' favor. Early on the following morning, Gonsalvo made preparations for storming the heights of mount Or- lando, which overlooked the city of Gaeta. Such and fatinfue, besides a considerable Guicciardini, who has been fol- body cut off by the peasantry. To lowed in thisl)y the French writers, balance tliis bloody roil, he com- fixes tiie date of the rout at the pntes the Spanish loss at two hnn- 28th of December. If, however, it dred slain in the field ! Reyes Ca- occurred on Friday, as he, and ev- t61icos, MS., cap. 1!)1. ery authority, indeed, asserts, it ^0 Chronica del Gran Capitan, must have been on the '29th, as lib. 2, cap. 110. — Ziirita, Anales, stated hy the Spanish historians, ubi supra. — Garihay, Compondio, Istoria, lib. G, p. 330. lib. I!), cap. IG. — Quintana, Es- '^ Giovio, Vila Magni Gonsalvi, paiioles Celebres, lorn. i. pp. 296, fol. 268. 297.