This celebrated tourney, its causes, and all the details of the action, are told in as many different ways as there are narrators; and this, notwithstanding it was fought in the presence of a crowd of witnesses, who had nothing to do but look on, and note what passed before their eyes. The only facts in which all agree, are, that there was such a tournament, and that neither party gained the advantage. So much for history!
[20] D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., ubi supra.--Quintana, Españoles Célebres, tom. ii. p. 263.
[21] Brantôme, Oeuvres, tom. vi. Discours sur les Duels.--D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., part. 2, chap. 27.--Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 11.-- Mémoires de Bayard, chap. 22, apud Collection des Mémoires.--Giovio, Vitae Illust. Virorum, p. 240.
[22] According to Martyr, the besieged had been so severely pressed by famine for some time before this, that Gonsalvo entertained serious thoughts of embarking the whole of his little garrison on board the fleet, and abandoning the place to the enemy. "Barlettae inclusos fame pesteque urgeri graviter aiunt. Vicina ipsorum omnia Galli occupant, et nostros quotidie magis ac magis premunt. Ita obsessi undi que, de relinquendâ etiam Barlettâ saepius iniere consilium. Ut mari terga dent hostibus, ne fame pesteque pereant, saepe cadit in deliberationem." Opus Epist., epist. 249.
[23] Giovio, Vitae Illust. Virorum, p. 242.--Zurita, Hist. del Rey Hernando, tom. i. lib. 5, cap. 4.--Bernaldez, Reyes Católicos, MS., cap. 167.--Guicciardini, Istoria, p. 283.
[24] Ibid., lib. 5, p. 294.--D'Auton, Hist. de Louys XII., part. 2, chap. 22.--Chrónica del Gran Capitan, cap. 63.
[25] Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 11.--Giovio, Vitae Illust. Virorum, tom. i. p. 247.--Zurita, Hist. del Rey Hernando, tom. i. lib. 5, cap. 9.
[26] Giovio, Vitae Illust. Virorum, pp. 243, 244.--Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 11, 12. A dispute arose, soon after this affair, between a French officer and some Italian gentlemen at Gonsalvo's table, in consequence of certain injurious reflections made by the former on the bravery of the Italian nation. The quarrel was settled by a combat _à l'outrance_ between thirteen knights on each side, fought under the protection of the Great Captain, who took a lively interest in the success of his allies. It terminated in the discomfiture and capture of all the French. The tourney covers more pages in the Italian historians than the longest battle, and is told with pride and a swell of exultation which show that this insult of the French cut more deeply than all the injuries inflicted by them. Giovio, Vitae Illust. Virorum, pp. 244-247.--Guicciardini, Istoria, pp. 296-298.--Giannone, Istoria di Napoli, lib. 29, cap. 4.--Summonte, Hist. di Napoli, tom. iii. pp. 542-552.--et al.