Hare

1939 · ref. AQ22427 — London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. 1939. 127pp 1; 127pp 1. With 16 illustrated coloured plates by Herbert Cole and H. Granville Fell. Original publisher’s red cloth lettered in black. Lightly rubbed spine sunned. Internally clean and crisp. Pierre Terrail seigneur de Bayard c. 1476-1524 renowned French Knight commonly known as Chevalier de Bayard. The epitome of chivalric virtue Bayard was one of the most renowned military commanders of the sixteenth century Europe. He served with distinction under Charles VIII securing numerous victories during the First Italian War. Under Louis XII he was the hero of many combats; on one occasion he is said to have single-handedly defended a bridge over the Garigliano against 200 Spanish troops an exploit that brought him such renown that Pope Julius II sought unsuccessfully to entice him into the papal service. In 1508 he fought at the siege of Genoa and later at Padua. Despite being severely wounded at Brescia he nevertheless enthusiastically joined the Battle of Ravenna 1512. In 1515 on the accession of Francis I he was made lieutenant general of Dauphiné notably holding Mézières with 1000 men against the opposing forces of Holy Roman emperor Charles V totalling 35000 troops. He was totally wounded whilst campaigning in Italy in 1524 dying in the midst of the enemy. For his unwavering gaiety and kindness his contemporaries dubbed him 'le bon chevalier'; as the centuries have passed the epithet e chevalier sans peur et sans reproche the knight without fear and beyond reproach has been more commonly adopted. . 8vo. J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. hardcover