The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-03
Conspiracy of tho Clocks.

Conspiracy of the Clocks.
When Cardinal Mon,ato assumed the tiara
under the tile OF Sirlus ", he Immediately threw
of the disguise which had enveloped his former
life, smoothed the wrinkles from his now proud
forehead, raised his piercing eyeshe retofore eau.
tiously veed by ,her downcast lids-and made
the asiounded concIave know that in place of a
docIie instrument they had elected an inhexible
master. Many garng abuses existed in Rome,
and these the new Pope determined to REFORM IL
was the custom for the mobiles, whether foreigners
or natives, 10 he escorted whenever they went OUT
by numerous body of pages, Wallets, soldiers, and
followers OF all kinds, armed, like their masters,
the teeth. Sometimes mobiles following" re-
semb'ed an army ra her than an escort and it fire.
qu"ny happened that when two such parties met
in narrow street, violent struggle for precedence
would take place, and blood be freely shed by those
who had no previous cause of quarrel. Hence
came the warIike meaning-whch it still retains
of tie word reContre. Sxtus V. resolved TO put
down this practice, and seized the opportunity of
an unusnaily fierce combat taking place on Easter
dav within the very precincts Of st. Peter
Next morning an official notice was posted on
the city walls, prohibiting every noble, without
exception, from being followed by more than
twenty attendants Every one also, of whatever
degree, VITO should himself carry cause his peo-
pie to carry, any sort Of firearms, pocket pistols
being especially mentioned) should thereby incur
the PENALTY Of death At this notice Pasquin esed,
and the mobiles laughed, bu, no one dared to indulge
in bravado, uotif the following incident occurred
just afer the PRONUNCIATION of the Pope's orders,
Ranucclo F4rnese, the only son of the Duke of
Parma, arrived in Rome. His first care was to
wait on the new Pontlf; and being presented by
his uncle. Cardinal Farnese, the young prince met
the reception dus 10 his rank and to his merit.
Already his lalents and courage gave promise of
his becoming worthy successor to his father and
the Roman MOBILES We'd with each other in doing
honor to the heir of one Of the richest Duches in
the peninsula On the evening after his arrival he
was invited by Prince Cesar,ni to magnificent
HAN, -al fraalt nVI tha tNtrht
ed late, when tn. cay guests began to discuss the
recent edict OF His Holiness. Several wild young
spirits, and amongst them Ranuccio. declared
themselves ready to brave it openly. Next, morn
ing, however, when sobered by sleep, they all,
with one exception, judged it eXpedient to forget
their bravado. Ranuccio alone felt strong desire
to try conclusions with the Pope. Although a
f.lfatory Of the Holy See, he was not Roman
and he was Prince. Sixtus V. would probably
think twice before touching head that was
almost crowned Besides, youths of twenty love
adventure, and it is not every day that one can
e1ipy the pleasure OF putting Pope in dilemma.
Ranuccio, in short, went 10 the Vatican and asked
an aud cnce OF His Holiness. 1t was Immediately
granted and the Prince, after having, according
10 the cu.tom, knet three times, managed adroitly
to let fall at The very feet of Si,tus, pair of ps-
tolls loaded to the mnzzIe.
Such audacity could not go unpunished. With
out moments hesitation the Pope summoned his
guards, and ordered them to arrest and convey to
Fort ST. Angelo the of the Duke OF Parma,
who had just condemned himself to death, War
might be declared on the morrow; an outraged
father might come, sword in hand, to demand the
life and liberty of his son. What cared Sixtus
He was resolved to restore but corpse.
The news spread quickly SO much audacity on
one side and much frmness on the other seemed
almost incredible. Cardinal Farnese hastened t.
the Vatican, and falling at the feet of the Pope
with tears in his eyes pleaded his nephew's cause
He spoke of the youth of the cupr and the 10y
atty Of his father, who was then in Flanders fight
ing the battles of the Holy See. Ranucco had beer
but two days in Rome-might he not fairly be sup
posed ignorant OF the new enactment, Then h
belonged 10 powerful house, which II might no
be prudent for his holiness to offend and
finally he was closely related by blood to the lat
Pope, Paul jill.
The holy fathers reply was cruelty decisive
"The law" he said, makes no distinction
criminal is criminal, and nothing more. TIL
vicegerent OF God on earth, my justice, like His
must be impartial nor dare exercise my elem
ency, which would be nothing but weakness"
The cardinal bent his head and retired.
Beseged necessarily by fresh supplications from
various influential quarters, the Pope sent for Mon
signor Angel, the governor of Fort St. Angelo
- To him he gave imperative orders, that precse
at twelve o'clock that evening his illustrious pri
soner's head should be struck off.
The governor returned to the castle, and sig nj
fled to Ranuccio that he had but two hours to live
The young man laughed in his face, and began t
eat his supper. He could not bring himself to be
lieve that he, the heir.apparsnt of the Duke q
Parma, could be seriously menaced with death b
an obscure monk whose only title to the pontii
cate seemed to have been his age and decrepitude
Yet speedily the threat seemed to him less worthy
of derision, when he saw from his window seal
fod bearing hatchet and block, in process
! erection. But who can describe his dismay whe
his room was entered by monk, who came to ad
minister the last rites of the church, followed b.
the executoner, asking for his last orders
Mean time, Cardinal Farnese not idle. H
consulted with his friend, Count Olivares emba
sador from the Court Of Spain, and they resolve
to attempt to obtain by stratagem what had bee
refused to their prayers. Two precious hours r,
NAMED sour only plan," said the Cardina
"is to stop the striking of all the public clocks
Rome. Mean time, do you occupy Angeli's a
tention"
Hi, eminence possessed great influence in Il
city, and moreover, the control of the public clocl
belonged to his prerogative At the appoint
hour, as if by magic, time changed his moi
course into silent fight Two clocks, those
:. St. Peter and St. Angelo, were put back TWEEN
minutes. Their proximity to the prison requr
this change, and the CARDINALS authority secur
the invioable secrecy Of every one concerned
the plot.
The execution was to be private; but Olvarl
in his quality OF ambassador, was permitted to
main with the Governor A single glance assur
him that the clock was going right-that is to ST
that it quite wrong. Already the inner co
filled with soldies under arms, and MOI
chanting the solemn Dies Itn." Every tn
was prepared save the victim. Olivares was "
Angel, and scene commenced at once terri
and bur!esque. The ambassador, in order to e
- time, began TO converse every imaginable 8
jsct buI the Governor would not listen.
I "My orders" he said, are imperative. At
\ first stroke OF the clock all will be over"
"But the Pope may change his mind" W
out replying, the terrible Angei walked i'm
,iently up aud down the room, watching for
= striking OF his clock. He called soldier
peared. as all preparsds" All was prepar