King Frederick of Naples knew nothing of the secret compact between France and Spain, and he expected Gongalvo de Cordova, known as the Great Captain, to come to his help with the troops of Spain.

As the alliance between France and Spain was founded on treachery, we cannot be surprised that they soon fell out over the division of their spoils.  King Ferdinand of Aragon was never bound by any contract which did not profit him, and by his orders the Great Captain, Gonzalvo de Cordova, invaded the province of Naples itself.  The lord of Aubigny had placed his various companies as garrisons in different towns, and those which belonged to the Count de Ligny were in the hands of his company, amongst whom, as we know, was Bayard, the Good Knight.  We shall now understand how it was that he found himself at war with the Spaniards, who had been at first the allies of France.

Pierre de Bayard, the Good Knight, had been placed in command of a garrison at a place called Monervine, by his captain, Louis d’Ars.  There had been no fighting in his neighbourhood for some little time, and he began to get rather weary.  So he said one evening to his companions:  “Gentlemen, it seems to me that we have been too long in one place without seeing our foes.  We shall grow weak for want of using our arms, and our enemies will grow bolder than ever, thinking that we dare not go out of our fort.  So I propose that to-morrow we ride out towards the nearest Spanish garrisons, Andria or Barletta, and have a little fighting if possible.”  The others readily agreed, and about thirty of them arranged to start early the next morning.  It was a merry party of young gentlemen who galloped over the country at daybreak, and it so chanced that the same idea had occurred to a Spanish knight of Andria, Don Alonzo of Soto-Mayor, who wished to exercise his company of men-at-arms.  Such was the fortune of the two captains, that as they turned a corner by some rising ground they suddenly came within arrow-shot of each other, and joyful indeed they were to have such a chance.  When the Good Knight saw the red crosses he turned to his followers and cried:  “My friends, here is our chance to win honour ... we will not wait for them to attack!”

With a shout of delight they all lowered their visors, and crying, “France, France!” they galloped forward and charged their foes, who came proudly on to meet them with the cry of “Spain!  St. Iago!” gaily receiving them on the point of their lances.  In the shock of this first meeting many on both sides were borne to earth.  The combat lasted a good half-hour before either side seemed to have the best of it, for they were well matched in numbers and strength.  But in the end one side must win, and it chanced that the courage and skill of the Good Knight, and the enthusiasm with which he inspired his men, at last succeeded in breaking the ranks of the Spaniards, of whom about seven were killed and the same number taken prisoner, while the rest took to flight, and amongst them their captain, Don Alonzo.  The Good Knight pursued, crying out to him:  “Turn, man-at-arms, it would be a shame to die while running away.”  Presently Alonzo, like a fierce lion, turned against his pursuer with terrible force; and they fought desperately with sword-thrusts.