[295] I - Here begins the third part of this book, which describes the marshal's deeds from the time of his return from Syria to the present And first, the Italian lords who sought [296] the acquaintance of the marshal because of all the good things they had heard of him

Summary

Once matters had been brought to a peaceful conclusion and the marshal had returned to Genoa, his high reputation for virtue and benevolence spread throughout Italy, and certain lords of that country were impressed and wished to make his better acquaintance. Among these was the lord of Padua, who was himself of great benevolence, valiant and expert in arms; for this reason he was much attached to the marshal, for, as the old saying goes, ‘Like attracts like’. And because of his love for the marshal and because he very much wished to see him, he wrote to him a number of times and finally made a visit to Genoa. The marshal received him most honourably and made him very welcome; the lord was so impressed by his reception, and felt such affection for the marshal, that he was drawn to all the French for the marshal's sake. The loyal marshal, for his part, always eager to advance the honour and the interests of the king of France, lost no time in offering the lord such warmth of affection and such wise advice, that the lord pledged himself to the king and accepted his sovereignty over the two great cities of Padua and Verona, as well as over all of his land, paying homage to the king [297] through the person of the marshal; the marshal received this homage with delight.

Just as the lord of Padua had done, so the lady of Pisa and her son Gabriele Maria Visconti approached the marshal and of their own accord paid homage to the king, via the marshal, for the lordship of Pisa and its region; they offered him every possible service should he require it; the marshal thanked them most heartily and gave them most honourable hospitality throughout their visit.