BAYARD, PIERRE DP TERRAIL ( 1476 1524 ). A French knight, the chevalier suns pent. et sans reproehe. without a rival the model of chivalric virtue. and one of the few medimval knights whose virtues can stand the tests of mod ern culture. Though his activity was chiefly military, he cultivated all the gentler virtues, yet was equaled by none in courage and intrepid ity. Three French kings profited by his loyal devotion—Charles Louis XII., and Francis I. Italians, Spaniards, and Englishmen on in numerable occasions suffered by his remarkable exploits, but they honored as much as they feared him. At the Garigliano (1503), Bayard defend ed the bridge alone, against a whole detachment of the victorious army of Gonsalvo de Cordova. At Guinegate, in the 'Battle of the Spurs' (1513) he performed an equal feat of valor. At Mari gnano (1515), Bayard gained a brilliant vic tory over the Swiss auxiliaries of the Duke of Milan. Upon the battle-field, his elated King (Francis I.) bowed to receive knighthood from the hero of this 'Battle of the Giants.' In 1521
Bayard defended M5zi4es against Charles V., prevented an invasion which France could hardly have resisted, and on his return to Paris was hailed as the savior of his country. He was given command, in his OWII name, of a company of 100 knights—an honor usually accorded only to princes of the blood royal. He fell in the brit tle of the Sesia, April 30, 1524. While dying he fell into the hands of the Spaniards,among whom was the Constable of Bourbon, his last utterance to whom has become famous: "My lord, I thank you: but pity is not for me. who die a true man, serving my King; pity is for you, who bear arms against your prince. your country. and your oath." The Spanish vied with the French in the honors paid to his remains and his memory. His life was written soon after by Symphorien Champier, his 'loyal servant.' Consult Saint Alban, Berville, and others, Le Chevalier Bayard, trans. and ed. by E. Walford (London, 1867).