You must know that in the
time of King Alfonso,(2) whose lust was the sceptre of his kingdom,(3)
there lived in the town of Naples a gentleman, so honourable, comely,
and pleasant that his perfections induced an old gentleman to give him
his daughter in marriage.
1 This story is historical. The events occurred at Naples
cir. 1450.--L.
2 The King spoken of in this story must be Alfonso V., King
of Aragon, who was born in 1385, and succeeded his father,
Ferdinand the Just, in 1416. He had already made various
expeditions to Sardinia and Corsica, when, in 1421, Jane II.
of Naples begged of him to assist her in her contest against
Louis of Anjou. Alfonso set sail for Italy as requested, but
speedily quarrelled with Jane, on account of the manner in
which he treated her lover, the Grand Seneschal Caraccioli.
Jane, at her death in 1438, bequeathed her crown to Rene,
brother of Louis of Anjou, whose claims Alfonso immediately
opposed. Whilst blockading Gaeta he was defeated and
captured, but ultimately set at liberty, whereupon he
resumed the war.
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