Bayard

Bayard, Pierre du Terrail, Chevalier de, was born at the Chateau of Bayard, near Grenoble, in 1476. He was regarded by his contemporaries as an ideal soldier and man of honour, earning the title, "the knight without fear and without reproach." He accompanied Charles VIII. to Italy, and distinguished himself at the battle of Fornovo by capturing a standard from the enemy. At Drescia, being wounded, he was taken to the house of a lady, and there nursed. On his recovery the lady made him a present of 2,000 pistoles, because of the protection he had afforded her family against the soldiers. This present he bestowed with rare gallantry on the lady's two daughters as their marriage portion. Another incident in his career was when he, in 1502, at Barletta, with ten other French knights, met in a tournament an equal number of Spaniards. In the first charge seven Frenchmen were overthrown, but after a combat of six hours' duration the result of the contest was declared equal, and Bayard credited with having saved the day for his country. Having engaged in the various wars of his time, he at last met his death wound in 1524, at the retreat of Rebec. As he lay dying, Bourbon, who led the enemy's forces, expressed pity for him - for he was held in high esteem by foes as well as friends. "Pity not me," he replied, "who die a true man. Pity is rather for yourself, who bear arms against your king, your country, and your oath." His body was ordered to be embalmed, and was interred in the church of the monastery of the Minorites, near Grenoble.