The memoirs of Philip de Commines, Lord of Argenton, Volume 2 (of 2) : $b Containing the histories of Louis XI. and Charles VIII. Kings of France, and of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. To which is added the Scandalous Chronicle, or, secret history of Louis XI., by Jean de Troyes.

In this vivid memoir, a French nobleman recounts the final years of King Louis XI, a ruler whose cunning kept both enemies and allies off balance. He describes the king’s negotiations with England after the Duke of Burgundy’s death, and the marriage that tied Burgundy to the Austrian Habsburgs. The narrative turns to Louis’s drive to reclaim rebellious towns in Burgundy, using his lieutenant Charles d’Amboise and the author's diplomatic missions to Italy as key instruments. Amid these efforts, the king’s sudden illness casts a shadow over the court, prompting desperate cures and a steadfast effort to preserve authority.

The memoir then follows the ascent of Charles VIII, whose youthful ambition launches France toward Italy. It details the king’s peace with the Holy Roman Emperor, his alliance‑building with Venice, and the meticulous preparations for a personal crusade against Naples. Through dispatches and eyewitness accounts, the author captures the excitement and uncertainty that swirl around the French army’s march, the shifting loyalties of Italian dukes, and the early encounters that set the stage for a bold, yet precarious, expedition.