The astrologer came, and astonished all by the accuracy with which he related past events in their lives. Then he told them that on the next Good Friday or Easter Day the French and Spanish armies would come together in a battle which would be one of the bloodiest ever fought. He said that the victory would remain with the French, but that it would be bought with the best blood of France. And he said to Bayard, privately,
"Your prince"--meaning the Duke of Nemours--"seems very dear to you; be near him on the day of battle. I see that he is threatened with a sad fate."
Bayard had little faith in the seer's powers, and laughed when it came his turn to question the mystic; however, it was amusement for the company.
"My master," he said with a twinkle in his eye, "shall I ever be a man of consequence? And shall I become rich?"
The astrologer looked at him sharply and answered,
"Thou wilt be richer in noble qualities than ever French gentleman was before thee, but thou wilt have few of fortune's goods. Thou wilt serve yet another king of France, who will love and esteem thee much; but the envy of those about him will prevent his bestowing on thee the wealth and honors thou wilt so richly deserve."
"But," asked Bayard, "shall I escape from this bloody battle thou hast predicted?"
"Yes," answered the seer; "but twelve years hence thou wilt die in battle of an arquebuse-shot,--in no other way, for thy soldiers do so adore thee that they would die to the last man to save thee."
It chanced that in the fortunes of war the French once captured and held for a long time the beautiful Italian town of Brescia. This city was in time recaptured by the Venetians, to whom it had first belonged, and again possessed by the French,--albeit, at the cost of many valuable lives.
At this retaking of Brescia by the French, Bayard again distinguished himself. The first skirmish before the town was won by the chevalier, who was so eager to attack that he went into battle in his night-clothes.
When the time came for a general assault, the question arose as to whom should put himself in front, at the mercy of the enemy's arquebuses.
"I will," responded Bayard to the Duke of Nemours's question; "and I promise thee that the company I command will do good service to the king, our master."