42 Lionel's Journey to Italy 



3. CHAMBERY TO PA VIA 



From Chambery on, Lionel was accompanied by Amedeo of 

 Savoy.^*^ They must have begun their journey on Monday, May 

 15, since we find them at Aiguebelle, 23 miles from Chambery, 

 on May 16.^' 



On y chanta et respondi. 

 A celle fin je le vous di : 

 A la feste ossi ou j'estoie, 

 Quant avoec celles m'esbatoie 

 Et chiauls de qui la compagnie 

 Estoit moult bien acompagnie, 

 L'une apries Tautre sans detri 

 Chantoient si com par estri. 

 La fu mon virelay cantes 

 Et moult volentiers escoutes, 

 Mes a painnes pent il fin prendre, 

 Quant ma dame en volt un reprendre 

 Qu'onques mes je n"'avoie o'i. 



'"Keryyn, 7. 247; see above, p. 31. 



^ Cordey, p. 187, note i. Cordey says they went by the Mont Cenis, 

 but strangely enough adds that they had a guide as far as Aosta, which, 

 if true, would indicate that they crossed by the Little St. Bernard. That 

 the passage was regularly made by the Mont Cenis is clear enough. 

 Thus the French princess, Isabella, crossed by this route (Gabotto, 

 Rendiconti, p. 87) : Sept. 15, Montmelian and Aiguebelle; 16, Aiguebelle; 

 18, St. Michel; 19, Les Fourneaux ; 20, Lanslebourg; 21, Susa, the 

 distance from Chambery to Susa being 83 miles. In 1359, the Green 

 Count traveled as follows (Gabotto, p. 80): Sept. 11, Chambery; 11, 

 Montmelian; 13, Aiguebelle; 13-15, La Chambre, St. Michel, Les Four- 

 neaux, Lanslebourg. In 1393, Henry, Earl of Derby, traveled in the 

 opposite direction (Derby Accounts, ed. L. T. Smith, p. Ixxviii) : May 

 25, Susa; 26, Lanslebourg; 27, St. Michel; 30, Aiguebelle; 31, Chambery. 

 Ruskin walked from Susa to Lanslebourg, 23 miles, in one day, Sept. i, 

 1858 (see Library Edition 35. 498) ; for his description of the scenery 

 at Lanslebourg, June 2, 1841, see op. cit. 35. 296-7, cf. i. xli; for his 

 description of the country about Susa, 36. 231-2 (letter to Miss Siddal 

 of Jan. 27, 1856), Summing up the foregoing itineraries, we have: 

 Isabella's journey, Chambery to Susa, 6 days, besides one day for rest, 

 apparently; Amedeo's journey, Chambery to Lanslebourg, 5 days, with 

 one to spare for Susa; the Earl of Derby's, Susa to Chambery, 7 days. 

 We might therefore assume that Lionel would have been at St. Michel 

 on May 18, at Lanslebourg May 21, and at Susa May 22, though it must 

 always be remembered that his party was large, and that he might there- 

 fore have been delayed. However, May 22 is none too early, considering 



