The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-02-28
Conspiracy of the Clocks

NY luIcN OH llC ulSSulsC NhlCH hdu
enveloped his former life, smoothed the
wrinkles from his now proud forehead
raised his piercing eyes-heretofore
Neiled with their downcast lids-and
male the astounded conclave know that
In Pace of docile instrument they had
electeA an inhexible master. Many
glarihg Nbuses existed in Rome, and
these the New Pope determined to re-
form. twS the custom of the mobiles.
whether foreigners or natives, to be es-
corted wheheVe they went out by a
numerous body ofNages, Wallets, soldiers,
and followers of al kinds, armed, like
their masters, to the >eeth. Sometimes
a mobiles following resembled an
army rather than an esc%t; and it fire.
quently happened that wlen two such
parties met in narrow stree. a violent
struggle for precedence weld take
place, and blood be freely shed v those
who had no previous cause of qArrel.
Hence came the warlike meanily-
which 1t still retains-ofthe word "rtl-
contre." Sixtus V. resolved to pn
down this practice, and seized the OPP
portunity of all unusually fierce combat
taking place on Easter day within the
very precincts of st. Peters
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 what
ever degree, who should himself carry
or cause his people to carry, any sort
of firearms pocket pistols being especi'
ally mentioned), should thereby incur
the penalty of death. At this notice
Pasquin jested, and the mobiles laughed,
but no one dared to indulge in bravado,
until the following incident occurred.
Just after the promulgation Of the
Pope's orders, RanuceiO Farnese, the
only son of the Duke of Parma, arrived
in Rome. His first care was to wait on
the pontii'; and being presented by his
uncle, Cardinal Farnese, the young
prince met the reception due to his
rank and merit. Already his talents
and courage gave promise of his becom-
ing worthy successor to his father ;
the Roman mobiles We'd with each other
I'm doing honor to the heir of one of
richest duchies in the peninsula. On
the morning after his arrival, he was
invited by Prince Cesarina to magnifl-
cent banquet. Wine flowed freely, and
the night waxed late, when the gay
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 morning, however, when
.sobered by sleep, they all, with one eX-
ception, judged 1t expedient to forego
their bravado.
Ranuccio alone felt strong desire to
try conclusions with the Pope.
Although feudatory of the Holy See,
he was not Roman, and he was a
prince.
Sixtus V. would probably think
twice before touching a head that was
almost crowned. Besides, youths of
rwentylove adventure, and It's not every
day that one can enjoy the pleasure
of putting Pope in dilemma. Ran
uccio, in short, went to the vatican and
asked to see his Holiness. 1t was i'm
mediately granted, and the prince,
after having, according to the custom,
knelt three times, managed adroitly to
let fall at the feet of Sixtus a pair of
pistols loaded to the mGzzle.
Such audacity could not 90 unpun-
ished. Without a 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 de-
clared on the morrow; an outraged
father might come, sword In hand
to demand the life and liberty of his
son. What cared SixtusP He was re-
solved to restore but corpse.
The news spread quickly; so much
audacity on one side and so much firm
ness on the other seemed almost incred-
ible. Cardinal Farnese hastened to 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 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-might he not fairly be supposed
Ignorant Of the new enaCtmentp Then
he belonged to most powerful house,
which it might not be prudent for even
his Holiness to ofIend and, finally he
was closely related to the late Pope,
Paul III.
The holy fathers reply was cruelty
decisive.
"The law" he said, "makes no dis
tinction: criminal is criminal, and
nothing more. The vicegerent Of God
on earth, my justice, like His, must be
impartial also; nor dare | exercise elem
ency, which would be nothing but
weakness"
The Cardinal sadly bent his head and
retired.
Besiegcd necessarily by fresh oppli-
cations from various influential quar-
tsrs, the Pope sent for Monsignor Ar-