קלא PIER LUIGI, SON OF PAUL III. 435 days; and there remained no more courage in the men of the fortress because of them*. And they delivered it into their hand, and their life became a prey unto them. Pier Luigi, duke of Piacenza also, the son of the pope, took some of their cities at that time, and there were none to save them; and the men of Genoa pulled down the house of Gian Luigi to the ground, and it became a heap for ever even unto this dayt. And upon the fortress of Montobbio also, the men of Genoa sent about one thousand two hundred men and twenty-nine battering-rams and iron balls and gunpowder in abundance, and besieged it many days. * Jos. ii. 11. ↑ Jos. viii. 28. The following extract, from a scarce tract (An Historical Relation of the Conspiracy of John Lewis, Count de Fieschi, against the City and Republic of Genoa, in the Year 1547, written in Italian by Augustin Mascardi, Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to Pope Urban the Eighth, done into English by the Honorable Hugh Hare, Esq., London, 1693), describes the termination of this siege. "The palaces of John Lewis, Count Fieschi were confiscated, and by the emperor's consent divided into several houses for merchants and other private men, and leased out as the senate thought most proper for the increasing their revenue. Fieschi's palace in the street called L'Inviolata (La casa de' Fieschi all' Inviolata) a large princely and magnificent structure was demolished and rased even to the very foundations. Fieschi's three brothers and Verrina, who were looked upon as the prime contrivers and managers of the conspiracy were declared traitors and rebels; as for other persons concerned in it, they being adjudged 436 FRANCIS I. DIES, A.D. 1547. קלא 1189. And Francis, the king of France, slept with his fathers on the second day of the month of only accessories and abettors of the fact, were several of them by name condemned to banishment for fifty years. "But Ottobuoni Fieschi, not content with the secure retreat he enjoyed at Marseille, came back awhile after to Mirandola ; and by his frequent journeys from the French army, which then lay encamped thereabouts, into France, and his returns thither again, gave the republic just occasion to suspect that there was some new design carrying on against them. Jerome Fieschi having lodged himself in Montobbio, and Verrina being come back to him with several others of his adherents, he made it his business to fortify the castle and to lay in vast stores of ammunition and provision. This gave so great alarm to the senate, that, having consulted the emperor, they were all of opinion (as he was likewise) that it was absolutely necessary for them to possess themselves of the fort. It stands just at the back of the city, and besides other natural advantages for strength, its high situation made it formidable to the Genoueses, as being a place able to do them a great deal of mischief, if that nest of traitors that had sheltered themselves there, should prevail with the French to make use of it towards the recovery of their former power in Genoua; which could not be compassed without the ruin of their present constitution. For these reasons, therefore, the senate sent Pansa again to Count Jerome Fieschi, to try if he could persuade him, and those of his family who had any interest in the reversion, to sell it to the Genouese on such terms as should be agreed on at a treaty between both parties. But Fieschi having but a small stock of prudence, and perhaps being puffed up with a vain opinion of success, from the liberal promises wherewith the French had buoyed him up, he did not only deny to comply with the senate's proposal, but also, as if he had studied to increase the jealousies they had of him, and to hasten his own ruin, he told Pansa, that he kept the fort for the service of a far greater prince קלא HENRY II. REIGNS, A.D. 1547. 437 April; and they buried him in the sepulchre of the kings, and mourned over him many days. 1190. And his second son, Henry, reigned in his stead; and they put the royal crown upon his head*, and his kingdom was firmly established. than himself, meaning the French king. This answer so surprised the Genoueses, that after many threatening messages to Fieschi, and public declarations against his proceedings, they resolved to try whether they could out him by force. In order hereunto they sent several companies of soldiers with a good train of artillery under the command of Augustin Spinola, an experienced captain, to besiege the fort, which, after having held out for some time, was forced to capitulate; but could obtain no better terms, than that Jerome Fieschi and his adherents should surrender themselves at discretion. This dedition of theirs occasioned many disputes in Genoua, which were at first whispered about, till being debated in the senate, both sides of the question found its assertors, both in that assembly and in all public meetings. When it was proposed in the senate what should be done with Jerome Fieschi and the rest of the prisoners, the house divided upon it, some were for pardoning, and others for executing the conspirators. Some aggravated the fact as the most execrable parricide that ever was committed, and others represented it as the consequences of juvenile rashness and levity, severely enough punished by the death of Count Fieschi and the other penalties. Andrea Doria hearing of what vote was like to pass, and being extremely grieved that the traitors had so strong a party even in the senate-house, he came thither and discoursed so excellently, that without any debate, it was resolved that Jerome Fieschi and the rest of the prisoners should be put to death; which was accordingly executed upon them." * Comp. Esth. vi. 8. + Kings ii. 12. 438 THE SCHMALCALDIC WAR, A.D. 1547. קלא And the King Henry was a mighty man of valor, his hand was against every man, and every man's hand was against him; he dwelt in the the princes of France*. throughout all the earth. presence of And his fame was 1191. And the elector of Saxony and the landgrave gathered men of valor, to war against the emperor, and the emperor went out against them with a numerous people and with a strong hand. And they encamped on the bank of the river Danube, and the river overflowed its banks† between them. And the hearts of the German princes were divided; part of them turned after the landgrave, and stood afar off; and part of them went after the elector: and the elector brought near his camp on the twenty-fourth day of the second month, and went out to reconnoitre on the greenness of the river‡, and about three thousand men with him. And the river overflowed its banks; and also the men of the emperor went out to reconnoitre on the bank of the river, and found rest for the sole of their foots, so they passed over||. And there was nothing known unto the elector, for they were far off from the camp. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that they fell upon him suddenly, and smote his men and his son with * Gen. xvi. 12. Cant. vi. 11. Job. viii. 12. + Josh. iii. 15. § Gen. viii. 9. i. e. They found a shallow place where they could pass over. קלא P THE SCHMALCALDIC WAR ENDED, 1547. 439 the edge of the sword*; and the elector was taken in their destruction at the same time. And they brought him unto the emperor, who pronounced judgment upon him. And he thought to destroy his life, as one of the lowest. And the elector besought him with tears, and fell down at his feet; and the emperor repented of the evil which he thought to dot, and they set a watch over him; the duke landgraves also made peace with the emperor at that time. And he humbled himself before the emperor, and besought him for his life; and they took him, and set a watch over him. Then the princes of Germany were amazed, and humbled themselves before the emperor; neither did there remain any more courage in any man because of him; and the land had rest. 1192. And the viceroy of the emperor who was in Naples, desired to make new statutes and judgments which were not good against the oppressed**, according as it was in Spain; and the inhabitants of the city were unwilling, and refused to hearken unto him, and his wrath was kindled against them, and his anger burned in him††. * The prince of Saxony was wounded in the battle of Mühlberg, or on the Lochauer Heide. .דוכוסלאנגרביאו + || Ex. xv. 15. ** i. e. Against the Jews who had been compelled hypocriti cally to profess Christianity. tt Esth. i. 12. |