s page, and would have been
glad to keep him; but King Charles of France was so pleased with him,
when on a visit to the Duke, that he took him into his own service, and
when only seventeen Pierre accompanied the King in his expedition into
Italy. Here he gained great fame, and was ever after called "Bayard, the
good knight, without fear, and without reproach."

It would be impossible to tell of all his deeds, for "the loyal servant"
who wrote his life says of him, "The good knight was a very register of
battles, so that on account of his great experience every one deferred
to him," and until his death, save times, when laid up with wounds, he
was constantly battling for his King and country. Twice was he captured;
but so great was his fame both for prowess and goodness that both times
his enemies released him without ransom. Once he defended a bridge
single-handed against the enemy, and enabled the French army to retreat.
So great was his valor at the battle of Marignano that Francis I. of
France, after the field was won, craved the accolade at his hand. But
never, either in victory or defeat, did he forget the promise he made
his dear mother.

"Was he in possession of a crown, all shared it; the first thing he did
when he rose was to serve God; he was a great giver of alms; and there
was no man during his life who could say he had refused him anything
within his power to grant."

Once, when assaulting Brescia, he was severely wounded, and after the
town was taken was carried to the house of a nobleman who had fled,
leaving his wife and daughters, and Bayard protected them from pillage
and insult. When his wound was cured, for his kindness to them the
mother besought his acceptance of 2500 ducats, but bidding her ask her
daughters to come to him, he said to them: "You must know that military
men are not usually furnished with pretty toys to give to ladies. The
good lady, your mother, has given me this money, and I present each of
you one thousand ducats to aid you in marrying." Then, to the mother,
"Madam, I accept these five hundred ducats, to be distributed among the
poor nuns of the convents that have been pillaged; I give it to you in
charge for me."

When he was ready to mount his horse, the daughters each gave him a
present, one "a pair of bracelets delicately composed of fine gold and
silver threads, the other a purse of crimson satin most curiously
wrought." He told them the presents came from such good han