Cli amber y to Pavia 43 



From Siisa the English probably advanced by way of Vercelli 

 and Novara^^ to Pavia. ^^ Here they would have been entertained 

 at the Castello, which had been begun by Galeazzo in 1360, and 

 completed in 1367. The earliest historian of Milan calls this 

 building 'the first in the world, '^° and Symonds declares*^ that 

 it was 'the noblest dwelling-house in Europe.''*- It is particularly 

 interesting in its possible relation to Chaucer, who, if we may 

 credit the statement of Gioffredo della Chiesa, writing between 

 1430 and 1440. may have seen painted on its walls the story of 

 Griselda."*'^ For the tower of Boethius, see Magenta, opp. p. 



that from Susa to Pavia, even by way of Turin, is not less than 120 

 miles, and that from Pavia to Milan is 20 miles more. Now we know that 

 on Saturday, May 27, Lionel's train entered Milan. 



Cordey (as above) assumes that the journey over the ]\Iont Cenis 

 occupied May 15 to 18. Gabotto, on the other hand, says explicitly (Misc. 

 di Stor. Ifal. 33. 168-9) that Lionel was at Susa on May 17, from which 

 place Amedeo issued summonses to the communes of Savoy and Achaia 

 (here meaning Piedmont) to send representatives to Rivoli with reference 

 to a reform of the country. Cordey (1911) writes later than Gabotto 

 (1895), and then Gabotto is sometimes inaccurate: thus he assigns April 

 6, instead of 16, for Lionel's arrival at Paris. 



^At least this was the route pursued by Isabella (see p. 42) in 

 1360 under the same guidance (R. I. S. 16. 405) ; the Bishop of Novara 

 may also have joined them at that city (see p. 59). Vercelli and Novara 

 were among the cities inherited by Galeazzo in 1354 (R. I. S. 16. 337). 



*■' So Chroii. Plac. 

 "■"'Corio, p. 466. 



*^ Age of the Despots, chap. 2. The hand of man has since dealt harshly 

 with it; see ]\Iurray, Handbook for Travellers in Northern Italy, 3d ed., 

 1847, pp. 206-7. For a remarkable duel which took place in its courtyard 

 on June 24, 1399, see Magenta i. 242-5. 



■*' See the delineations of it in Magenta, opp. p. 74 ; for its magnificent 

 park, several miles in circumference (cf. Hist. Background, p. 186, note), 

 see IMagenta, opp. p. 118; cf. Rosmini 2. 116. 



" M. H. P., p. 861 : 'La historia de Griselidis, Marchexa de Salucio, 

 he [e] stata depinta ab antiquo nel Castello di Pavia, la quale era sedya 

 regale di coloro.' Gioffredo's statements dispose of Westenholz's denial 

 (Die Griselidis-Sage in dcr Litcraturgeschichfe, p. 4). The question 

 arises, however, whether these walls were those of the new castle, or those 

 of the older one built by Matteo I between 1315 and 1322 (R. I. S. 

 16. 379, 696). However, Chaucer may easily have seen both, for the old 

 castle was left standing when the new one was built (R. I. S. 16. 379: 

 'Apud Castrum antiquum, erectum per quondam Dominum Matthceum, 

 aliud Castrum mirabile fecit de novo erigi'). Which castle we suppose 



