The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-07-02
The Death of Bayard.

GFrom the United Service Magazine.l
Hard pressed in the Val d'Aosta, at he pas
sage of the Seisa, on the retreat from Bia
grasso, the French leader was wounded, and,
beinp ohlioed to leave the field, resigned the
command to Bayard. Placing himself at the
head of his troops, he beat back the enemy,
but on approaching the bridge was mortally
wounded by musket ball. "Have mercy on
me, Jesus r he exclaimed, and sank on his
saddle-bow. He was lifted from his horse and
placed under a tree-his face, as he desired,
turned toward the enemy-and, holding the
hilt of his sword before him like a cross, he
calmly awaited his end. Some Swiss soldiers
offered to carry him on their lances, but he
declined. saying that his hour was come, and
he wished to pass it TRANQUILITY aud in prayer
The enemy, instead of rushing upon their
prey, as was the custom of those semi-savage
days, formed, when they heard that the dying
man was the illustrious Bayard, a silent and
respectful circle about him. The Constable OF
Bourbon was deeply affected, and expressed
great regret at seeing his old friend and COM
panion-in-arms in SO affecting situarion.-
"Grieve not for me-" said the dying hero, 81
die in the discharge of my duty, fighting for
my king and my country; but rather grieve
for yourself, who are in arms against them."-
The Marquis of Pescara had a tent placed
over him, and priest at his bedside to soothe
his last hours. After making his confession,
and sending his adieus to his king and coun-
try, he died, in the midst of weeping friends
and admiring foes, April 30, 1924, in the for
ty-eighth year of his age. s.
With his fall the campaign was ended. The
French lost everything standards, ordnance
and baggage. 1t was no longer retreat, but
a flight. Bourbon said, when his death was
announced to him, "France little knows how
great is the loss she has sustained this day.
Like his German contemporary, Fronsperger,
and many other great captains OF the sixteenth
century, Bayard had detestation of fire.
arms, as il, according to one Of his biographers,
he had entertained presentiment he was to
fall by one. at was shame," he often said,
''that brave man should be exposed to die
by miserable pop-gun, against the effects OF
which he cannot defend himself" His body
remained in the hands of the Spaniards; but
the Spaniards of that day were the most hon
orable, as they were the bravest of men,
whether to friends or foes. They embalmed
the mortal remains of the hero, and returned
them to the French unsolicited. The body of
the gallant soldier was treated with the great
est respect wherever it passed, on its way to
Bayard's native town for interment. To the
disgrace of France be it recorded, that no
monument has been raised to this most noble |
knights A simple bust, with brief and |
modest Latin inscription, in the Church of the |
Minorlties, at Grenoble, erected in 1928, is his
only monument; but he needs none, tor his |
memory will ever be indelibly impressed upon |
the hearts OF all who admire gallantry and |
generosity, kindness and humanity, combined |
with the most chivalric and heroic valor.-
There is a fine portrait of Bayard to be seen |
in the gallery of the Palais Royal, at Paris;
and in grand old mansion at Albany-one |
of whose occupants can claim the proud dis |
tinction of being allied by blood and name to |
our hero-we have often admired an eques-
TRAN statuette in bronze of the gallant sdbreur
which, with similar figure of the first Napo- |
leon, form the principal ornaments Of the no
blest apartments of the Manor House. In
medieval history there is no purer or more
beautiful character, not even Sir Phillip Sid
ney, le cbeuGlier sans peur ct sans repy0che-
the representative of the ideal knight-errant
of romance, and TO whom, in conclusion, we
may fifty apply Chaucer's line:
"He was very perfect gentle knight"
sThere is colossal statue of Bayard in the court
yard Of the Palace OF Versailles