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254

CHIERI DEFENDED.

קה

unto the places where the hosts of the king were encamped. And the war was strong between them at that time. When the emperor abode at Genoa, his hosts went against Chieri, and battered its walls; and part of it they cast to the ground, and their voice was heard afar off. But their heart did not fill them to go to war against the city* ; so they returned back with shame.

936. And the pope sent the cardinal Trivulcio† into France, to make peace between them; but the king did not hearken unto his voice, for his soul was embittered against the emperor, and he set not his heart unto his words§; and Trivulcio returned to his master in the ninth month.

937. And the war was strong in Picardy by command of the emperor. And the king chose every strong man and every son of valor, and sent them thither to help. And he also hastened to go, for the men of Flanders had set themselves in array in his borders||; and he helped his people.

938. And for all this, his anger was not turned away, but his hand was still stretched out¶ in Italy, and he sent both chariots and horsemen, who abode in Turin and its borders until the month Abib. 941. And there was peace between King

* i. e. They had not courage enough to assault it.

.טריאולציאו +

|| Is. xxii. 7.

1 Sam. xxx. 6. § Exod. vii. 23.

Is. v. 25; ix. 12, 17, 21; x. 4.

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CASALE IN MONTFERRAT.

255

Francis and between Solyman the Turk; and both made a covenant and sent presents to each other.

939. And the emperor went down to the sea in ships on the fifteenth day of the month of November, on the fourth day*, and went unto his country and three of the large ships sank as leadt; and there died much people upon them, beside the horses and the mules which the emperor and his nobles had upon them.

940. And the emperor gave Montferrat unto the duke of Mantua, for his wife Margaret had the right of the inheritancet. And he journeyed from Genoa by command of the emperor, on the seventeenth day of the ninth month, which is the sixth days, to go unto Casale, for this is the capital of Montferrat; and he went on his journeys unto San Salvator||, and he lodged there in that night¶. And he sent men before him to direct him to Casale**; and they encamped there. And Giovanni Guilielmo Viandrott, the man of Belial, went out and called Monseigneur de Boritt, the chief captain of the king's host, and brought him unto Casale in the darkness of the night, on the twenty-second of the same month; and all the city was moved concerning them, and they gave up the

* i. e. Wednesday. § Friday.

Exod. xv. 10. Jer. xxxii. 8. ¶ Comp. Gen. xxviii. 11.

.שאן סאלבאטור || .ביאנדרו ++

** Gen. xlvi. 28.

בורי ++

256

RAISING THE SIEGE OF CASALE.

קה

Jews to be plundered, and the men of the duke were taken captive. In a moment their tents were spoiled*.

941. And the Marquess del Guasto, the chief captain of the emperor's host heard of it, and his wrath was much kindled; and he stood in Asti at that time. And he gathered his host, and hastened to march to Casale, and came into the fortress. And when the French heard it, they built forts against it round aboutt, and fortified themselves there. And the Spaniards went out from the fortress, and warred against them in the midst of the city, and the French fell before them by the edge of the sword; and the city of Casale was perplexed+, and God delivered it into their hand; and they gave it up to be plundered, and the men and the women were taken captives. Their things were searched out, their hidden things were sought up§, and things which ought not to be done, they did in the midst thereof; neither was there any that could deliver out of their hand¶ on the day of the Lord's anger**. The Jews also were plundered a second time, and some of them went into captivity†† and

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LORENZO AND ALESSANDRO DEI MEDICI. 257

gave ransom for their souls*; what was left by the French, the Spaniards devoured†. Behold, O Lord, and consider, to whom hast thou done this! And Monseigneur de Boris fled before them; and they pursued after him, and took him alive. And the rest went their way; they looked not behind them||, lest some evil should take them¶. And the duke came into the city, and was their shepherd**, as a provocation of their anger and their fury until this day††.

942. And Lorenzo dei Medici was zealous for his land, and devised every day mischief against Alessandro the duke§§, who hated him not|||, neither sought his harm¶¶. And they went both of them together*+ daily; and they solaced themselves with lovest‡; and the duke confided in him and loved him much. In those days, the soul of the duke longed for one of the women of the city‡§, and they went both of them together in the darkness of the night, and walked in the streets of Florence all that night; and Lorenzo dei Medici

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tt Jer. xxxii. 31: i. e. The Florentines were displeased with

his government.

Comp. Joel ii. 18.

§§ 1 Sam. xxxiii. 9.

¶¶ Num. xxxv. 23; Deut. xix. 4.

| Deut. iv. 42.

*+ Gen. xxii. 8. † Prov. vii. 18. § Comp. Gen. xxxiv. 8.

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258

LORENZO MURDERS ALESSANDRO.

קו

brought him to his house, and Alessandro removed to the chamber securely, and stripped off his coat of mail*, and lay down on the bed. And Lorenzo sent out his servant, and entered into the chambert and sat down on the bed. And the duke said, [p] "Art thou my very brother Lorenzo ?” and he said, "I am§;" and drew nigh thither, and removed the covering of the bed and pierced him with a sword. And the bitter duke|| laid hold on the finger of Lorenzo between his teeth, but fainted and died¶. And Lorenzo hid him**, and went out into the street and shut the door after him††, and went and proclaimed in the gates of the nobles of the city, saying, “I have taken off the yoke of Alessandro from you;" but they did not hearken unto him, for a deep sleep had fallen upon them‡‡. And when he saw that there was no man to help§§, he feared for his life ; and mounted a horse, and went out by the way of the city-gate, and went his way unto Venice; for the duke had commanded him who was over his house|||| before he died¶¶, saying, "According to all that Lorenzo will say unto you, ye shall do*†,

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