The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-10-04


When cardinal Montalto assumed the tiara
under the title of sixtus Y, he speedily tlue,
off the disguise which had enveloped his forme
lfe smoothed the wrinkles from his now prout
forehead, raised his piercing eyes-heretofort
cautiously yelled by their downcast lids-a1t
omade the astounded conclave know that, il
place of docile instrument, they had elected
an inhexible master. Many glaring abuses ex
listed in Rome, and theseothe new pope deter
mined to reform. It was the custom for th,
mobiles, whether foreigners or natives, to be es
corted whenever they wept o8t BY numerous
body of pages, vaaets, soldiers, and followers s
all kinds, armed like their masters, to the teeth
Sometimes a mobiles ''followers'' resembled al
army rather than escort, and it frequently hap
pened that, when two such parties met in mar
row street, violent struggle for precedence
took place, and blood would be freely shed be
those who had no previous cause of quarrel
Hence came the war-like meaning-which il
still retains-of the word rencontre. SixtusoV
resolved to put down this practice, and seized
the opportunity Of an unusually fierce combat
taking place on easter day, owitlQn theoverv
precincts of St. Peters.
Next morning an official notice was posted
on the city walls, prohibiting every noble, with
out exception, from being followed by more than
twenty attendants. Ey8ry one also, of every
degree, owho should himself carry, or cause his
people to carry, any sort of firearms (pocket
pistol being especially mentioned) should there
by incur the penalty of death. At this notice,
Pasquin laughed and the mobiles TESTED, but none
dared indulge in bravado until after the follow
| ing incident occdrred. Just after the promul-
cation Of the pope's orders, Rannuccio Farnese,
the onl y son Of the duke of Parma, arrived in
Rome. His first care was to wait on the new
pontih; and being presented by his uncle, car
dlnal Farnese, the young prince met the recep-
ton due to his rank and to his merit. Already
his talents and courage gave promise of his be-
coming worthy successor to his father; and
the Roman nobes We'd with each other in doing
in the peninsula.
On the evening: after his arrival, he was in
vited by prince Cessarnioto magnificent ban
quet. Wine flowed freely and the night waxed
late, when the gay guests began to discuss the
recent edct of his holiness. Several wild Young
spirits, among them Rannuccio, declared them
selves ready to brae it openly. Next morning
however, when sobered by sleep, they all, with
one exception, judged it expediept to forego
their bravado. Rannuccio alone felt strong
desire to try conclusions with the pope. Al
Tough 3 feudatory Of the holy see, be was not
Ro5lan, and he was a prigce Sxtus V. would
probably think twco before touching head
that was almost crowned. Besides youths of
twenty love adve1Sure, and it is not every day
that we can enjoy the pleasure Of putting a
pope in dilemma. Rannuccio, in Snort, went
to the Vatican, and asked an audience of his
holiness. & was Immediately granted, and the
prince, after having, according to the custom
knelt three times, managed adroitIy to let fall
at the very feet of Sxtus paiS af pistols load
ed to the muzzlc. Such audacity could not 90
unpunished. Without moments hesitation
the Pope summoned his guards, and ordered
them to arrest and convey to fort St. Angelo
the son 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 a corpse. The news
spread quickly, SO much audacity on one side
and so much tirmness on the other seemed al
most incredible. Cardinal Farnese hastened
to the Vatican, and falling at the feet Of the
pope, with tears in his eyes, pleaded his
nephcw's Gauge He spoke of the youth of the
culprit and the loyalty of bis father who was
then in Flanders fighting the battles 6f the holy
see Hanuccio had been but two days in Rome
-21ight be not fairly be supposed ignorant of
the new enactment? Then he belonged to
powerful house9 which it might not be prudent
for even his holiness to offend ,and finally he was
closely related BY blood to the late pope, Paul
III. The pope's reply was cruelty decisive.
E'The law he said, ''makes no distigction, a
criminal is a criminal and nothing noore. The
of God on earth, my justice, like his
must be impartial nor dare exercise clemency,
which would be nothing but weakness" The
cardinal bent his head and retired. Beseiged
by fresh supplications from various
Influential quarters, the pope, sent for Monslg-
more Angel, the governor of fort St. Angelo.
To him he gave imperative orders, that precise
ly at twenty four o'clock* that evening, his
lllustrious prisoners head should be struck off.
The governor returned to the castle and slgnl- |
fed to Ranucco that he had but two hours to
live. The young man laughed in his face, and
began to eat bis supper. He could not bring
himself to believe that he, the heir apparent of
the duke of Parma, could be seriously menaced
with death by an obscure monk, whose only IL
tie to the pontifcate seemed to have been his
age and decreptitude. Yet speedily the threat
seemed to him less worthy of derision, when he
saw from his window scaffold, bearing hatch
ct and block, in process of erection. But who
can describe his dismay when his room was en-
tered by monk, who came to administer the
astrtes of the church, followed by the execu-
ioner, asking for his last orders. Meantime, car
linal Farnese was not idle. He consulted with
his friend, count Olivares, AMBASSADOR from the
court Of Spain, ,and they resolved to attempt to
obtain by stratagem what had been refuseds to
heir prayers Two precious hours remained.
''Our only plan," said the cardinal, ''is to
stop the striking of all the public clocks in Rome.
Meanwhile, do you occupy Angeli's attention.
His en1inence possessed great influence in the
;ity, and, moreover, the control of the public
clocks belonged to his prerogative. At the ap-
pointed hour, as if by magic, time changed his
,oisy course into silent flight. Two clocks,
hose of St. Peter and St. Angelo, were put
back twenty minutes, and the cardinals au-
hority secured the inviolable secresy Of every