On the very battle-field, "before making and creating knights of those who had done him good service, Francis I.was pleased to have himself made knight by the hand of Bayard.

'Sir,' said Bayard, 'the king of so noble a realm, he who has been crowned, consecrated and anointed with oil sent down from heaven, he who is the eldest son of the church, is knight over all other knights.' 'Bayard, my friend,' said the king, 'make haste; we must have no laws or canons quoted here; do my bidding.' 'Assuredly, sir,' said Bayard, 'I will do it, since it is your pleasure;' and, taking his sword, 'Avail it as much,' said he, 'as if I were Roland or Oliver, Godfrey or his brother Baldwin; please God, sir, that in war you may never take flight!' and, holding up his sword in the air, he cried, 'Assuredly, my good sword, thou shalt be well guarded as a relic and honored above all others for having this day conferred upon so handsome and puissant a king the order of chivalry; and never will I wear thee more if it be not against Turks, Moors, and Saracens!' Whereupon he gave two bounds and thrust his sword into the sheath." [_Les testes et la Vie du Chevalier Bayard, by Champier,_ in the _Archives curieuses de l'Histoire de France,_ Series I.t.ii.

p.

160.] [Illustration: Bayard Knighting Francis I----19] The effect of the victory of Melegnano was great, in Italy primarily, but also throughout Europe.

It was, at the commencement of a new reign and under the impulse communicated by a young king, an event which seemed to be decisive and likely to remain so for a long while.