River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-05-02
TIE SIEGE OF FLORENCE.

Holy Father"
Well, my good Chamberlain; what
tidings do you bring me this EVENING""
" Count VanEini, q secret envoy of the
Emperor Charles v. solicits private IN
terview with Your Holiness
My patron saint, COCA Chamberlain,
the Emperor Charles V. is a very i'm
pudent man 10 sent an envoy to me, when,
by his grasping, medalesome policy, he
has caused 50 much trouble in the last
few years"
Holy Father, shall / tel Count Van
mini that you refuse TO receive him?"
No, no. Usher him in. I want to
find cut what Charles v is driving at"
= And the Cardinal Secretary of State,
your Holinoss2'
. He need not know any thing about
all this, good Chamberlain" Call the
Imperial Envoy
As the chamberlain submissively left
the room in the Vatican, where this con-
versation had taken place, on the 14th of
February, 1880, at an early hour in the
forenoon. the Holy Fathers who was no
other than the astute Pope Clement VII,
drew himself up to his full height, and
exclaimed, in an undertone:
All, Charles V, you are, after all, no
match for me"
He sat down in a sumptuous easy-chair,
and the next moment handsome man,
dressed il the gorgeos costume of the
aristocracy of the sixteenth century, step
ped IN.
Count Vannini.' said the Pope.
The newcomer bowed deeply. Then,
lowering himself on ono knee, he rever-
emily kissed the Pope's Slipper and, at
sign from the Holy Father, rose to his
feet again.
"Well, Count" asked Clement the Sew
enth, what has your imperial master TO
say to meln
Il have an autograph letter from His
MajestY.to your holiness
Clement took the imperial missive with
feigned indifference. He glanced over it
and then disdainfully dropped it.
"Bah," he said, the emperor solicits
NV armed assistance for breaking the
power of the Florentine Republic. What
nave the Florentines done to incur the
hostility of the Holy See?"
Florence, Holy Father, is hot-bed
of political conspiracies. It's leading
politicians dream of United Italy
Clement smiled and said:
THAT is harmless dream, Count"
Not altogether, Holy Father. The
plotters are fomenting conspiracies in va
rious parts of the States of the Chur CHI,
as well as in the Italian Provinces be-
longing to my august master. The latter
proposes 20 nip the whole traitorous pro-
iect in the bud by taking Florence
And annexng 1t to the German En-
I SpnGpnH Clement
mo, Holy Father"
"ALw exclaimed Clement, opening
his ewes wonderingly.
Count Nannini looked cautiously about
the room.
These walls have no ears, Count, said
the Holy Father, smihngly.
Count Vannini whispered few words
TO him.
Clements expression circumference un-
derwent a sudden change.
You are not jesting, Count?, he asked
at last, bending piercing glance upon
the envoy.
Not at all, Your Holiness" replied the
latter.
But no not trust your imperial mas
ter at all, said Clement.
Bear in mind, Your Holiness, thai
Alexander Medici is to be the Command
er-in-chief of the united Papal and I'm
perial troops that are to attack Florence
and, after the city has fallen, he is tC
become its ruler under Papal sovereignty
Mvimperial master has authorized me Il
pledge Won his word as Prince that he
will fnlfill this agreement TO the letter.
Clement rose from his chair. Five
minutes he paced the room in silence. A
last he turned to the Count, and said:
II accept the offer. How many auxili
aries does the Emperor want from mel''
Give Thousand. His Majesty himsel
will furnish ten thousand German
ansquenets."
.'Yery well. Alexander Mediei viii
communicate with the Emperor without
delay Good -bye, Count
A week later, at an advanced hour o.
the night, herculean man, with mas
sive head on his shoulders, and the mos
intelligent face imaginable, was walking
up and down a large room, filled witt
plaster-paris casts, not far from where the
Sixtine Chapel is situated now in the
Vatican.
1t was Michel Angelo Buonarotti, tht
most versatile artistic genius lily evel
gave birth to.
He was then engaged in adding TO The
many architectural beauties of the Vati
cap. that priceless art gem, the Sixtint
Chapel.
The illustrious artist, at the time o.
our narrative was evidently buried IL
profound thought
Suddenly he was aroused from bis re-
Elections by low rap at his door.