Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-09-09

ing 10 The custom, knelt three times. man.
aged adroilly 10 let fall at the very feet OF
Sixtns, q pair of pistols loaded to the
muzzle. Such audaciiy could aot go un.
punished. Without 0 moments hesita.
tion the Pope summoned his guards, and
ordered them TO hpd convey 10 Fort
St. Angelo the son OF fke. Duke of Par
ma, who had just condemned himself 10
death. War might he declared on the
morrow; an outraged father might come
sword in hand, 10 demand the life and
liberty OF .his son; what cared Sxtus !
He was resolved TO restore but a corpse.
The news spread quickly so much o.
dleity on one side, and so much firmness
on the other, seemed almost incredible.
Cardinal Farnese hastened 10 the Vati-
can, and falling at The feet of the Pope,
with tears in his eyes, pleaded his neph
ew's cause. He spoke of the youth of
he culprit and the loyalty of his father,
who was then in Flanders, fighting the
battles of the holy see Ranuccio had
been but two days in Rome-mgh, he
not fairly be supposed ignorant of the
new enactment Then he belonged to
n powerful horsc, which it nigh, not be
prudent for even his holiness to offend !;
and finally, he was closely related BY
blood 10 the late Pope, Paul Ill. Tne
Pope's reply was cruelty decisive. The
law he said, makes no distinction q
criminal is a criminal aud nothing more.
The vicegerent of God on earth, my JUS
tico, like his must be impartial; nor dare
exercise clemency, which would be
nothing but weakness The Cardinal
bent his hend and retired. Besieged in
cessantiv by fresh supplica,ions from va
rious influential quarters, the Pope sent
for Monsignore Angel, the Governor of
Fort 81. Angelo. 10 him he gave inn
rera'ive orders, that precisely n. fov
O'clock that evening. his ilustr,ous
prisoners head should be struck off,. The
Governor returned to the castle, and sig,
nitied 10 RanuCcio that he had but Two
hours to live, The young man laughed
in his face. and began to eat his supper,
lie could not bring himself to believe that
! ~ WV hNii pIhi CHl VI tlIo iJuhC vi dI
ma could be serious y menaced with death
by an obscure monk, whose only title to
the pontticate seemed to have been his
sge and dec:epitude. Yet speedily I've
threat seemed less worthy Of derision,
when ne saw from his window scafold,
bearing hatchel and block, in process OF
erection. But who can describe his dis,
may when his room was entered by q
monk, who came to administer the Ias
rites of the church, followed by the exc.
eutioner asking fer his last orders. Mean
time. Cardinal Farnese was not idle. He
consulted with his friend Count Olivares,
Ambassador from the Court of Spain, and
they resolved 10 attempt to obtain by st,al.
agem what had been refused 10 their
prayers. Two precious hours remained.
Our only plan,' said the Cardinal, is
to stop the striking Of all public clocks
in Rome. Meanwhile, do you occupy
! Angeli's attention.
His emlnence possessed great influence
in the city, and moreover, the control o.
the public clocks belonged to his pit erog.
alive. AT he appoin ed hour, as if by
magic, Time changed his noisy course
into silent fight. Two clocks, those o
St. Peter and ST. Angelo, were put back
twenty minutes. and the Cardinals au
thority secure d the inviolahle secrecy Of
every one con 2erned in the plot. The
execution was to be private; but Oivsres
in his quality of ambassador, was per
mitted to remain with the governor. A
single glance assured him that the clock
was going right, thu. is to say, that it was
quite wrong. Already the inner cour, wa:
filed with soldiers under arms, AMI the
monks chanting the solemn dies lrae. D
Everything was prepared save the victim
I Olivares was with Angel, and n scene
commenced, at once terrible and burles
que. The ambassador, in ordor to gair
time, began to converse on every imagin
able subject, but the governor would no
listen.
My orders said he, ARE imperative
At the first stroke Of the clock all will bt
over.
But the Pope may change his mind'
Without replying, the terrible Angel
walked inpatient; up and down the
i room, watching the striking of the clock
He called "a soldier appeared. Is al
prepared 2 All was prepared; the a'ten
dants, like their masters, were only wait
|, ing for the hour.
'Tis strangs,' muttered the Governor
4 have thought
!, AT least interrupted the ambassador
. If you will not delay, do not anticipate.
And Monsignore resumed his hast!
!, walk between the door and the window
+, listening for the fatal sound which 'h
t faithful tongue Of the clock still refused
$ to utter. Despite of the DELAY, however
e the fatal hour approached. Ten minu'e
!. more, and Rannuccio's fate would b
!, sealed.
Y Meanwhile the Cardinal repaired 10 th
a Pope. As he entered. Six,us drew OF
0 his watch, and his eyes sparkled with n
f' ~Nnonf,,l L. IT b,