"Then said the good Chevalier, My lords, it is time to charge." Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard's feud with Giampaolo Manfrone, 1509

Last month Stuart visited and having enjoyed our recent games based on Bayard's biography, "La très joyeuse, plaisante et récréative histoire du gentil seigneur de Bayart" probably written by Jacques de Mailles, which is full of details describing Bayard's heroic adventures, we thought we would continue the theme. We decided to play two games based on Bayard's feud with a Venetian Captain, Giampaolo Manfrone, the detail of which is described below.

"Nevertheless, the play was one-sided, the Venetians numbering four to one, and with their arquebuses doing the French much damage"

Maximilian I's siege of Venetian held Padua ended abruptly at the end of September 1509 when the Habsburg ruler could no longer fund his mercenary army.  Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard, had been in the French contingent of the besieging army (for one of his exploits during the siege see the first game here: https://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2026/02/gentlemen-let-us-stop-here-for-enemy.html) and with his men he retreated to Verona, which had been taken from the Venetians following their defeat at the battle of Agnadello in May 1509 (see https://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2019/08/agnadello-1509.html). Still in the service of the Imperialists and their ruler Maximilian I Bayard formed part of the garrison of Verona with no more than three hundred men at arms under his command. As winter drew in the garrison were frequently harassed by attacks from a Venetian captain named Giampaolo Manfrone, a veteran Venetian condottiero described here: https://condottieridiventura.it/giampaolo-manfrone-a-veteran-commander-distrusted-by-venice/ (The history of his life described in the link above refers to Bayard as "Pietro Baiardo" and also places the events described below in the summer of 1509 rather than after the siege of Padua). Mafrone would already have been in his late 60s in 1509 with a long history of military actions to his name.

Bayard's squire and biographer,  Jacques de Mailles describes in "La très joyeuse, plaisante et récréative histoire du gentil seigneur de Bayart" how Bayard learnt of these attacks and decided he would ambush Manfrone. Bayard's plan was to send out a foraging party accompanied by thirty to forty men at arms and archers (these being the light horsemen that formed part of a gendarme company) under the command of Captain Pierrepont. Bayard would then lay in ambush with a further two hundred men at arms who could strike once Manfrone had taken the bait and attacked the foraging party.

Unfortunately for Bayard Manfrone had spies within the garrison who betrayed Bayard's plans. The Venetian Captain took five hundred cavalry into the field whilst also directing five to six hundred Venetian pikemen and arquebusiers to hide in a nearby "palace"  that he could draw the French towards, thus springing an ambush on the ambushers. 

Translated from the French de Mailles account states:

"On the side of the Venetians, there was a certain captain, a truly brave man full of adventure, by name Giampaolo Manfrone, the which each day made exploits up to the very gates of Verona. And so far he carried them, that he irritated much the good Chevalier, who determined, that on the first day the foragers should issue from the camp, he himself should escort them and make use of some of the subtleties of warfare. But although he arranged all secretly, Captain Manfrone was advised thereof by a spy kept in his quarters. The whom resolved that, when going to the fields, he would with him take such a force, that were he to encounter the good Chevalier, he could do so without trepidation. 

One Thursday's morn, the foragers quitted Verona, and in their train thirty or forty men-at-arms and archers led by the Captain Pierrepont, Lieutenant of the said good Chevalier, who was both wise and wary. Making digression from the high-road to look for houses and get what was needful. The good Chevalier, accompanied by two hundred men at-arms, who did not dream of being discovered, went straightway to a village on the highway, by name St. Martin, distant from the said Verona six miles. Sending some runners to look out, who were not long gone before they saw their enemies, to about the number of five hundred horsemen, marching direct to those in search of forage. They returned to make their report to the good Chevalier, who was well pleased, and, together with his whole company, instantly mounted their horses, going in search of them. 

The Captain Giampaolo Manfrone, who by the said spy had been advised of this undertaking, had placed in ambush within a palace hard by five or six hundred men on foot, pikemen, and arquebusiers, to whom he had well sang their lesson, and, amongst other things, that they were not to come out until they saw them retreating, pursued by the French. For he would make semblance of flight, and by this means surround and defeat the French. The good Chevalier had not proceeded two miles across the open, when he saw his enemies distinctly. He commenced a march straight upon them, with the cry of "Empire!" and "France!" desiring to charge them."

De Mailles account continues to describe how Bayard fell for the trap and was lured towards the Venetian infantry who emerged from hiding and opened fire on the French. Bayard's horse was killed with Bayard being trapped beneath it so his comrade, Grantmont, dismounted to rescue the good Chevalier. Being caught on foot both Bayard and Grantmont were captured by the Venetian infantry only to then be rescued by Captain Pierrepont, the Frenchman who had been in command of the men at arms and archers who accompanied the foragers. Bayard and Grantmont were rehorsed but the French were outnumbered and suffering from the arquebus fire of the Venetians:

"They (the Venetians) made semblance of holding their ground; but seeing him approach, commenced the retreat along the road straight towards their ambush, the which they passed a short distance. Then suddenly halting, with the cry of "Marco! Marco!" commenced to defend themselves valiantly. The footmen left their ambush, and came rushing on the French, discharging their arquebuses. One shot of which killed the Chevalier's horse between his legs, the which in falling held one of his legs beneath. His men-at-arms, who would have died sooner than thus leave him, made a vigorous defence, and one dismounting, by name Grantmont, rescued his Captain from his peril. 

But their feat of arms could not avail them, and both were taken prisoners by the footmen, who wished to disarm them. 

Captain Pierrepont, who was with the foragers, hearing the noise, advanced at full speed, arriving at a timely moment, to find his Captain and Grantmont in close quarters; for already they had been drawn away from the masses to lead them to a place of safety. You need not ask if he were well pleased; for as a lion rushes on those who hold him, they suddenly abandoned their prize and retired to their troop to fight with them against the remainder of the French furiously. The good Chevalier and Grantmont were instantly re-horsed, and straightway returned to the aid of their people, who had endured much, for they were assailed both in front and rear. But the sight once more of the good Chevalier and of Captain Pierrepont filled them with fresh courage. Nevertheless, the play was one-sided, the Venetians numbering four to one, and with their arquebuses doing the French much damage." 

Heavily outnumbered Bayard and Captain Pierrepont realised they needed to get onto the road in order to make a fighting retreat back to Verona. As the French made their retreat Bayard was unhorsed for a second time. He was surrounded  by the Venetians only to be rescued again, this time through the feats of his standard-bearer, the Bastard Du Fay, who rode to Bayard's aid with his archers. The good Chevalier was rehorsed, yet again, and as darkness fell the French managed to retreat back to the village, St Martin, where they had initially lain in ambush.

"The good Chevalier began by saying to Captain Pierrepont: Captain, if we fail to gain the high road we are lost, but if once there, we can retreat in spite of all without loss, thanks be to God." 

"I hold with that counsel," answered Captain Pierrepont. 

They then commenced to fight their way back to the high road whence they came, but this they could not do without much endurance. Nevertheless, they had as yet lost no men, whilst their enemies had lost betwixt forty and fifty footmen and seven or eight horsemen. 

When the Chevalier and his men had gained the high road leading to Verona, they closed in and retreated slowly. And as they accomplished each two hundred paces, turned afresh upon their enemies, defending. But at their wing still were the footmen keeping up a sharp and constant fire of arquebuses, and for this cause in their last charge the good Chevalier had a second horse killed under him, who, feeling it stagger, jumped oft", sword in hand, and thus on foot did marvellous feats of arms. But he was soon surrounded, and it would have gone ill with him, but for the Bastard Du Fay, his standard-bearer, who with his archers rushed forward with brilliant charge into the midst of the Venetian troops, recovering his Captain, and did the same remount in spite of them. They then closed in with the others. Already night was drawing in ; for which cause the good Chevalier gave orders to charge no more, as it sufficed to retreat, which they did to their great credit, till they reached St. Martin, from whence they had started that morning. There there lay a pool, surrounded by a fence, by the which they halted."

That evening Bayard and his men rested in the village of St Martin where a spy informed them that the infantry from the days clash were billeted at the village of St Boniface only four to five miles away. Bayard and his men decided they would surprise the exhausted Venetians. The French were back in the saddle by 3am the following morning and launched an attack on St Boniface killing most of the Venetian infantry. They returned to Verona triumphantly having evaded destruction in the ambush and having slaughtered two to three hundred of the Venetian infantry.

Captain Pierrepont and the foraging party about to ride past the "palace" and attempt to reach the high road.

Bayard and his company are also attempting to flee from the pursuing Venetians and reach the high road.

Scenario

This game focused on Bayard and his gendarmes attempting to escape the ambush sprung by Giampaolo Manfrone. As always the game was played using our modified Renaissance Rampant rules and the table was set to show the high road at one end with Bayard and Captain Pierrepont being deployed at the other end, each in command of a retinue. These two retinues made up the French force. In between the high road and the two French retinues were the buildings that made up the palace complex where the Venetian infantry were hiding (see the photo below). Manfrone's retinue started off the table, it was assumed his cavalry had ridden off in a feint and would return in pursuit during the game.

"Then suddenly halting, with the cry of "Marco! Marco " commenced to defend themselves valiantly."

The Venetian cavalry would enter from the opposite end of the table to the high road and behind the French (see the photo below). The Venetian cavalry could enter the table via a move, skirmish or attack activation from the very start of the game.

"The footmen left their ambush, and came rushing on the French, discharging their arquebuses"

The palace was a series of buildings in the middle of the table between the French and the high road. At the start of the game the Venetian player wrote down which infantry units were in which buildings. Once captain Manfrone's unit had entered the table the following turn the Venetian infantry could start to emerge from hiding. The Venetian infantry could only deploy from the buildings via move activations. The could not attack or fire as they left their hiding places. A blunder would reveal a units hiding place.

Turn sequence

The order in which the retinues acted changed each turn. Each retinue had a coloured dice. The 4 dice were placed in a bag. Each turn a dice was taken from the bag and the retinue whose dice was drawn could then act. This was done for all four retinues every turn. If a retinue was wiped out its' dice was removed from the bag. The Venetian infantry could only act once Manfrone's unit had arrived on the table.

Victory

Victory was dependent on Victory Points which were awarded as follows:

The Venetians

3 points if Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard was killed or routed

2 points if Captain Pierrepont was killed or routed

2 points if Grantmont's unit was destroyed or routed

1 point for every other French unit destroyed or routed

The French

3 points if Captain Giampaolo Manfrone was killed or routed

2 points if the Venetian Infantry Captain was killed or routed

1 point for every French unit that reached the high road and escaped.

A view of the battlefield. The high road is on the right of the photo whilst the palace complex is made up of the buildings in the centre. The Venetian infantry are hiding in these buildings. In the top left of the photo Bayard's retinue can be seen whilst in the bottom left is Captain Pierrepont and the foraging party. Captain Giampaolo Manfrone's retinue will enter from the left of the photo, directly behind the fleeing French.

The Retinues

For both of these games Stuart took command of  Le Chevalier Bayard and the French and I took command of the condottiero Giampaolo Manfrone and the Venetians.

The Venetians

The Venetian condottiero Captain Giampaolo Manfrone 

2 Units of Venetian Gendarmes (one unit contains Captain Giampaolo Manfrone, retinue leader)

2 Units of Stradiots

2 Units of Mounted Crossbowmen

The Ventian Infantry in ambush 

1 Unit of Foot Knights (includes the Venetian Infantry Captain, retinue leader)

2 Units of Italian Pike

3 Units of Italian Arquebusiers

The French

Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard, and his retinue

1 Unit of Gendarmes (unit contains the retinue leader Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard)

1 Unit of Gendarmes (unit contains Bayard's comrade Grantmont)

2 Units of Men at Arms

2 Units of Ordonnance Archers with lances

Captain Pierrepont and the foraging party

2 Units of Gendarmes (one unit contains the retinue leader Captain Pierrepont)

1 Unit of Mounted Archers

3 Units of Ordonnance Archers with lances

Both of the games we played were quite chaotic with lots of stuff taking place around different parts of the table. I have tried to give an idea of what took place using the photos and the captions below but a brief summary of the game also follows.

As the French attempt to reach the high road Captain Pierrepont is immediately charged by a unit of Venetian gendarmes. The French fight back valiantly and the first Venetians to catch them are routed.

"if we fail to gain the high road we are lost", the French cavalry from the foraging party attempt to make it back to safety, riding past the palace.

Captain Giampaolo Manfrone enters the fray and his gendarmes break lances with Captain Pierrepont  and his men.

Sensing danger Bayard ordered the retreat and began to make for the high road back to Verona. As the French cavalry started to make their way back Captain Pierrepont, who had been instructed to take command of the foraging party, was immediately attacked by a troop of Venetian gendarmes. Pierrepont and his men counter charged and sent the Venetians reeling back. He ordered the lighter archers who accompanied him to make haste before being attacked again, this time by none other than the wily Venetian condottiero Manfrone. Pierrepont's gendarmes fought off Manfrone's men before turning and attempting to make their way to the high road.

Pierrepont's attempt to reach the high road was a failure. With his men tired from two clashes with the Venetian gendarmes they fell easy prey to a pursuing unit of stradiots who defeated them in a skirmish attack. As the rest of the French units tried to escape they heard crys of "Marco! Marco!"  as the Venetian infantry began to emerge from the various buildings that made up the palace. It was clear that Bayard's cavalry had fallen into a trap!

"The Captain Giampaolo Manfrone, who by the said spy had been advised of this undertaking, had placed in ambush within a palace hard by five or six hundred men on foot, pikemen, and arquebusiers". A unit of Venetian arquebusiers emerges from hiding. 

Captain Pierrepont has been fighting bravely but he is finally brought down in a skirmish with a unit of pursuing stradiots.

Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard engages in single handed combat with the much older Giampaolo Manfrone. Amazingly the wily old condottiero manages to defeat Bayard. With Bayard and Captain Pierrepont both unhorsed the French are leaderless!

"The footmen left their ambush, and came rushing on the French", the Venetian pikemen charge the French lancers.

Furious that his Captain has been defeated by Giampaolo Manfrone Bayard's loyal comrade Grantmont leads his gendarmes in an attack on the Venetian condottiero...

...a furious cavalry melee develops and Manfrone is unhorsed...

...with the Venetian captain out of action the French cavalry make a rush for the safety of the high road.

Worse was to come for the French as Manfrone turned his attentions from Captain Pierrepont to "le chevalier sans peur et sans reproche" himself and spurred his horse straight torwards Bayard. Never being one to back down from a challenge Bayard turned to face the condottiero. Despite being in his 60s Manfrone managed to unhorse Bayard and best him in a one on one duel! Both of  the French captains had now fallen 

The clash of arms and shouts of men could now be heard all around the palace. As the French lighter horse fought off the attacking Venetian pikemen Bayard's comrade Grantmont led the remaining French gendarmes and men at arms in an attack on Manfrone. A swirling cavalry melee developed as the fully armoured French and Venetian cavalry fought. Bayard was avenged as Grantmont defeated Manfrone and took charge of the French heavy cavalry who then made for the high road.

Having broken their spears and lances with the Venetians the French lancers...

...and men at arms attempt to retreat in good order...

...but yet more Venetians are emerging from the palace.

As some of the original French foraging party get within sight of the high road they find their path blocked by Venetian arquebusiers.

"with the cry of "Marco! Marco" a unit of Venetian pike... 

...engage in a sharp clash with French lancers. The lancers are victorious and the pikemen flee back into the palace.

"But at their wing still were the footmen keeping up a sharp and constant fire of arquebuses", the Venetian arquebusiers pour fire into the French flank.

With more Venetian pikemen in pursuit the French lighter cavalry attempt to flee.

Slowed down by their wounded comrades some of the heavier French cavalry are still far from the high road.

Grantmont has taken control of the French forces and fights a rear guard action against a unit of mounted crossbowmen.

A running battle was taking place all around the palace. Venetian pikemen charged the French as they attempted to make an orderly retreat whilst the Venetian arquebusiers poured shot into them. The first unit of French light horse that tried to make it to the high road was gunned down. Seeing this the  mounted archers and lancers behind them took a different route and using the cover of a walled orchard managed to evade the Venetian arquebusiers, safely reaching the high road.

As some of the lighter horsemen escaped the men at arms and gendarmes behind them fought a fierce rear guard action. They drove back the pursuing Venetian mounted crossbowmen and the stradiots before surrounding and breaking the Venetian pike. Grantmot and some of the French heavy cavalry survived but it had come at a high cost. As they rode through the vineyards that covered the slopes to the high road they came under a hail of shot from the Venetian arquebusiers who had withdrawn to the slopes using the terrain to prevent the French horsemen from riding them down. It had been a bloody fight for both sides but the Venetians had won the day.

Venetian arquebusiers are holding the vineyard that lies on the slopes of the high road...

...but some of the French lancers and mounted archers slip past them and reach the safety of the high road.

The remaining Venetian pike are surrounded by Grantmont with his gendarmes and ridden down.

It has been a bloody fight with both sides taking heavy casualties. With the Venetian arquebusiers holding the vineyard the remaining French heavy cavalry take heavy casualties as the make for the high road. Both sides have been mauled but the Venetians claim the day.

The quiet village of Servoda where the landsknecht under Captain Sucker are lying in wait for the Venetians.

"Then said the good Chevalier, "My lords, it is time to charge"."

Furious that his ambush had been thwarted with his infantry caught and defeated the Venetian Captain Giampaolo Manfrone plotted yet another ambush only days later. He paid a spy, named Vizentin, to inform Bayard that he would be heading to Lignano with only three hundred light horse. He told Vizentin that he knew Bayard would come looking for him and that this time he would have two hundred men at arms and two thousand infantry lying in wait for the good Chevalier. Vizentin travelled to Verona and Bayard fell for the trap, explaining to the other captains in the garrison how they would set forth the following day with two hundred men at arms to defeat Manfrone.

This time Manfrone's plot was foiled. Returning to his lodgings that same night one of the Imperialist Captains, Captain Sucker, saw Vizentin emerging from a house in Verona that belonged to a man who was suspected to be loyal to the Venetians. Captain Sucker seized the spy and took him to see Bayard who was about to go to bed. Under threat of torture Vizentin confessed the whole plot and told Bayard of the numbers that lay in wait for him. Bayard then sent Captain Sucker to the lodgings of the commander of the garrison, the Prince of Anhalt, to ask if two thousand landsknecht could be provided for the attack on Manfrone. The Prince agreed and at dawn Bayard left Verona with two hundred men at arms and two thousand landsknecht. This time it would be Manfrone's turn to fall into a trap.

De Mailles account describes how Bayard and the landsknecht left Verona and headed toward Isola della Scala where Manfrone had intended his ambush to take place. Under the command of Captain Sucker the landsknecht would lay in wait at the village of Servoda, modern day Sorgà, whilst Bayard and the Lord of Conti, would continue with their cavalry towards Isola della Scala in order to lure the Venetians into the trap:

"The gate was thrown open, and they took the road towards Isola della Scala. Then the good Chevalier said to Sucker, "You and the lansquenets must remain in ambush at Servoda" (this was a small village about two miles from Isola). " Do not be anxious, for I will draw the enemy right under your nose; so that you shall have honour enough today, if you prove a brave fellow."

As it was said, so was it done; for on arriving at the said village, the lansquenets remained in ambush, while the good Chevalier, the Lord of Conti, and their troop went on towards Isola, feigning to know nothing of what was therein. The place looked over a fine plain where on all sides you could see for a considerable distance. At length they catch sight of the Captain Manfrone in company with a few light-horse. The good Chevalier sent forward his guidon, the Bastard Du Fay, with some archers, to skirmish with them a little; and he himself marched at a quick pace after him with the men-at-arms."

The plan worked perfectly and as the Venetian men at arms and infantry sprung their supposed ambush Bayard and his standard-bearer, the Bastard Du Fay, led the French cavalry back towards Verona, right past the village of Servoda where Captain Sucker and the landsknecht lay in wait. As the Venetians attacked the French cavalry the landsknecht counter attacked. Manfrone escaped the clash but all of the Ventian infantry were lost along with twenty five of their men at arms, whilst sixty were taken prisoner.

"But he had not gone far, when he saw sally forth from the town of Isola della Scala the foot-soldiers of the Seigniorie and a troop of men at-arms. He feigned to be somewhat surprised, and bade the trumpet sound recall; on hearing which, the Bastard Du Fay, according to his instructions, retreated towards the main body. They closed their ranks well, and pretending to be retiring straight to Verona, marched slowly towards the village where their lansquenets were, and whither an archer had already gone to bid the Captain Sucker come forth in battle array. The gendarmerie of the Seigniorie, with this body of foot-soldiers on its wing, charged the French sharply and frequently, making such a noise that you could not have heard God thunder; for they thought among themselves that the foe they saw could not escape them. The French turned not a step from their route, and kept skirmishing cautiously, so that they were close to Servoda, about an arrow's flight off, when they perceived the lansquenets advancing at a quick march and in close order; the latter were also discovered by the Venetians, who were exceedingly surprised. Then said the good Chevalier, "My lords, it is time to charge"

And so everyone did, and they fell upon the Venetians, who showed themselves men of worth; nevertheless many of them were borne to the ground. Their foot-soldiers could not flee, for they were too far from refuge ; they were in like manner charged by the lansquenets, and, being unable to withstand their weight, were broken and routed, and all cut to pieces, without a prisoner being taken. 

This took place under the eyes of the Captain Giampaolo Manfrone, who did his duty very well; nevertheless he knew sure enough that if he did not beat a retreat he would be slain or captured. He began to retire at full gallop towards St. Boniface, which was a good stretch. He was well pursued but the good Chevalier had the retreat sounded, and accordingly everyone returned ; but it was with great gain of prisoners and horses, and the spoil of that day was exceedingly fine. The Venetians suffered severe loss in the fight, for all their two thousand foot and full twenty-five men-at-arms were slain. There were also about sixty prisoners taken, who were brought to Verona, where the French, Burgundians, and lansquenets were received with joy by their comrades, who felt sorely vexed not to have been with them"

Following the victory Bayard returned to Verona where he had Vizentin sent back to the Venetians. The spy headed straight for St Boniface, the village where the Venetian infantry had been slaughtered a week previously, where Vizentin was arrested on the orders of Manfrone and hung for his betrayal. Interestingly the details of Giampaolo Manfrone given here https://condottieridiventura.it/giampaolo-manfrone-a-veteran-commander-distrusted-by-venice confuses the details of this clash and states that Manfrone was captured and held for a while by the French in Brescia castle, perhaps this was in a clash that happened after Bayard's ambush?

A view of the table from above. The village of Servoda can be seen in the centre of the table. Bayard's retinue is deployed in the top right and left hand corners of the photo with Bayard being in the top right and the Lord of Conti being in the top left. The landsknecht are all hidden in the buildings that can be seen across the table. Captain Giampaolo Manfrone and the Venetian cavalry are deployed in the bottom right corner whilst the Venetian infantry are deployed in the bottom centre of the photo.

Scenario

For this game played using our Renaissance Rampant rules both sides comprised one infantry retinue and one cavalry retinue. At the start of the game Bayard and his cavalry were deployed along one end of table with the village of Servoda in the centre of the table. The two Venetian retinues, infantry and cavalry, were deployed along the other end of the table (see the photo above). The landsknecht would start the game hidden as per the rules below.

"You and the lansquenets must remain in ambush at Servoda" 

At the start of the game the French player wrote down which landsknecht units were hidden in which buildings. Once the first melee had taken place the following turn the landsknecht could start to emerge from hiding. The landsknecht could only deploy from the buildings via move activations. They could not attack or fire as they left their hiding places. A blunder would reveal a units' hiding place.

"Do not be anxious, for I will draw the enemy right under your nose; so that you shall have honour enough to day, if you prove a brave fellow."

Captain Sucker was the retinue leader of the landsknecht retinue and as he was so keen to take part in the fighting he had to move from his hidden position as soon as was possible.

Turn sequence

As with the first game the order in which the retinues acted changed each turn. Each retinue had a coloured dice. The 4 dice were placed in a bag. Each turn a dice was taken from the bag and the retinue whose dice was drawn could then act. This was done for all four retinues every turn. If a retinue was wiped out its' dice was removed from the bag. The landsknecht could only act once a melee had taken place.

Victory

For the French to win they had to halve both of the Venetian retinues.

For the Venetians to win they had to kill or rout Captain Sucker and Bayard and defeat or rout the unit that contained the Lord of Conti.

With the Venetian forces in pursuit, the game starts at the point where the Venetians have already sprung their ambush at Isola della Scala and have pursued the French back to Servoda.

Some of the Venetian arquebusiers who were initially hiding in Isola della Scala have pursued the French to Servoda and now take up position in the vineyards. 

Bayard and his cavalry have ridden back to Servoda and are about to spring their own ambush on Manfrone and his men.

The Lord of Conti takes up position on the other side of Servoda.

The Retinues

Once again for this game Stuart took control of the French and I played the Venetians.

The French

Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard and the Lord of Conti

1 Unit of Gendarmes (unit contains the retinue leader Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard)

1 Unit of Gendarmes (this unit contains the Lord of Conti)

1 Unit of Mounted Archers

2 Units of Men at Arms

2 Units of Ordonnance Archers with lances

Captain Sucker and the landsknecht

1 Unit of Foot Knights (unit contains Captain Sucker the retinue leader)

4 Units of Landsknecht Pike               

2 Units of Landsknecht Arquebusiers

1 Unit of Landsknecht Halberdiers

The Venetians

The Venetian condottiero Captain Giampaolo Manfrone 

2 Unit of Venetian Gendarmes (one unit contains Captain Giampaolo Manfrone, retinue leader)

2 Units of Men at Arms

2 Units of Stradiots

1 Unit of Mounted Crossbowmen

The Venetian Infantry 

1 Unit of Foot Knights (unit contains the Venetian Infantry Captain, retinue leader)

2 Units of Italian Pike

3 Units of Italian arquebusiers

2 Units of Italian Infantry

This game was even more chaotic than the first but a brief write up follows.

The fighting begins with French lancers charging a unit of stradiots in Venetian pay.

Bayard's men at arms drive back Manfrone's mounted crossbowmen.

The ambush is sprung and landsknecht arquebusiers begin a firefight with some of the Venetian arquebusiers. The landsknecht arquebusiers are quickly routed.

A view across the field. Manfrone and his cavalry have attempted to advance and catch Bayard but have been driven back. In Servoda Captain Sucker and some of his landsknecht have emerged from hiding.

As soon as Bayard reached the outskirts of the quiet village of Servoda he ordered his cavalry to halt and turn to face the Venetians. He had led Manfrone and his force back to the village so that he could spring his own trap on the veteran Captain who was unaware that two thousand German mercenaries were waiting in Servoda. As Manfrone's light cavalry began skirmishing attacks on the French horse Bayard's men counter charged and the Venetian mounted crossbowmen and stradiots were quickly driven back by the ferocity of the French.

Moments later the landsknecht emerged from Servoda but the Germans did not have the discipline Bayard had hoped for. A unit of their arquebusiers were quickly routed by their Venetian counterparts whilst in a particularly bloody fight with a large body of Italian infantry many of the landsknecht were slain.

Just outside Servoda the ambushing landsknecht fight a bloody melee with the Venetian infantry...

...the Venetian infantry have the better of the clash and drive the landsknecht back.

Outside the village Bayard in heavily outnumbered but is trying to drive back the Venetians...

...he briefly engages in a personal duel with Manfrone but this time neither of the veteran captains gains the upper hand and it results in a draw.

Eager for the fight Captain Sucker drives back some of the Venetian arquebusiers.

With fighting taking place all around the village Bayard found himself isolated from the rest of his cavalry and was subjected to charge after charge from the Venetians. Yet again he engaged in a one on one battle with old Manfrone but this time the fight was inconclusive and the feuding captains were separated in the general chaos of the fighting.

Captain Sucker saw off some of the Italian infantry but both he and the Lord of Conti were far from the main fight which was taking place on the other side of Servoda. Manfrone was fending off attacks from the ambushing landsknecht whilst Bayard was still heroically holding his own against all comers. The good knight was eventually surrounded and brought down. With Bayard out of action things were not looking good for the French ambush.

On the other side of the field Manfrone now finds himself caught out by the ambushing landsknecht and fights a short but fierce melee with a unit of landsknecht halberdiers.

The Lord of Conti has been positioned on the other side of Servoda where little fighting has taken place. He attempts to redeploy and ride to the aid of Captain Sucker and Bayard.

Bayard is fighting heroically...

...but is eventually brought down by a force of Venetian gendarmes.

Flushed with the victory against Bayard's cavalry the Venetian gendarmes then find themselves completely overwhelmed by the landsknecht that continue to emerge from Servoda.

"they were in like manner charged by the lansquenets, and, being unable to withstand their weight, were broken and routed, and all cut to pieces, without a prisoner being taken."

The Venetian cavalry are surrounded by landsknecht...

...Captain Manfrone is routed by the landsknecht halberdiers.

The battle was not all going in the Venetian's favour. Bayard may have fallen but with more and more landsknecht advancing out of the village it was now the turn of the Venetian cavalry to be caught out. In the running battle with Bayard the Venetian horse had been lured right up to Servoda and as the landsknecht pike marched forward they routed the Venetian cavalry. Manfrone fled the field being chased off by a large group of landsknecht halberdiers.

With the Venetian cavalry defeated the outcome of the battle hung in the balance. Sensing victory the landsknecht marched for the Venetian infantry confident that they could quickly overrun them. It looked as though the day would go to the French and their landsknecht allies but unfortunately both Captain Sucker and the Lord of Conti were caught by the Venetian infantry before the landsknecht could come to their aid. Both men fought valiantly but they were overwhelmed and captured. As the landsknecht retreated both sides could count many dead. It had been a close run thing with the Venetians just stealing a narrow victory.

Having defeated the Venetian cavalry the landsknecht attempt to close on the Venetian infantry...

...but the Venetian infantry have a localised advantage in the fight with Captain Sucker and the Lord of Conti...

...and the Venetian infantry defeat both men before the landsknecht can rush to their aid. Despite the eventual success of the landsknecht ambush the Venetians have won a very narrow victory.

Two very closely fought and chaotic games, these scenarios from Bayard's biography really make for exciting clashes. In both there were different fights taking place at different points on the table and it was hard to keep track of what was going on. The personal feud between Bayard and Manfrone really helped to set the scene and made for games we both really enjoyed. We are not done with "La très joyeuse, plaisante et récréative histoire du gentil seigneur de Bayart" yet and will be covering more heroic feats of arms from it. But for now I thought I would end with a picture of the feuding Captains, Bayard and Manfrone, enjoying a couple of beers in the local taverna!

Bayard and Manfrone enjoy a few beers after a day of ambushes!