Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-08-02
CHAPTER XVI.

CONCERNING MANY THINGS
One short and desperate attempt was
made to rescue him. About dozen horse
men charged right at us. and for moment
it appeared as if they would succeed. But
we were too strong. and although, they in.
f1icted severe loss on lis, killing Bande Mere
amongst others. they were cut down. all
but one, who led them. This man. seeing all
was lost, and determined not to be taken
himself, galloped to the quay, and striking
his spurs home, leaped his horse far into the
river, and made for the vessel. The stream
was running fast and strong, but the good
beast, despite his burden, struggled bravely
against the flood. To relieve the horse the
cavalier, having torn off his morton, slipped
from the saddle, and with his hand on the
pommel, attempted manfully to swim be-
side the animal. The weight of his curass,
however, bore him down. Twice his head
sank below the water, twice he rose again
and battled with the flood. Those on the
ship made no effort to save him, and we on
shore could do nothing. lie had now, fight
ing every inch of his way, drifted astern of
the vessel, and some one flung rope at him.
His hand reached out to clasp it, but missed,
and then the under-current caught man and
horse and dragged them down. He rose yet
once again. his white despairing face
turned towards US, and with supreme ef-
fort of hate, shook his clenched hand at me,
and was gone.
SO died Crepin D'Entrangues, the death of
brave man, unyielling and lighting to the
last. The yellow Tiber Kissed in white foam
over the spot where he sank. Perchance
the mad currents dragged his body down to
the slime of the river-bed, picked it up again
in their swirl. tossed it in sport from one to
another, and finally flung it to rot on some
lonely bank, where the guls screamed above
it, and the foxes of the Maremma gnawed
at the rusty armor. and snapped and
snarled over the white bones in the moon
light.
Everyone knows the history of the times,
and it is not my intention to dilate on this,
but merely to set down, without comment,
those matters of state in which Fortune al
lowed me to play part. When Cesare sur
rendered at Osta the Horgia were broken
for ever, and Valentinois allowed, after a
short confinement, to escape to Spain, where
he died like soldier. Now that the game
was in their hands, the allies began to quar-
rel amongst themselves, the French king to
drivel away his opportunities in gayety, and
the Eenetians to step in, in their Most Sc
rene way, and claim share of the spolls for
the Lion of St. Mark. Events moved quick
ly, the genius of the Great Captain won vic.
tory after victory for Spain, the death of
Francis Piccolomini paved the way for the
accession of Rouvere to the papacy as Julius
Ill.,, and the Holy League was formed, by
means OF which the French were finally
driven from Italy. Thus, in few years, the
winds. but long before that time l had
ehco had
no more with war;
But on the day that l surrendered my
prisoner TO D'Amboise and Orsini, the for
mer already in thought sat in St. Peters
chair, and the latter, at the very least, i'm
agined himself the Lord of the Romagna.
sent forward couriers, with the news of my
success, 10 the cardinal, and ere we reached
Malafede met with return messenger from
DAmboise, bearing a brief note of con-
graduation, and adding that Colonna had
made terms to evacuate the portions of the
cityehe held. The messenger informed me
that the Bailly of Caen had already entered
Rome by the Porta Pia, and that, finding
himself between two fires, old Fabrizi Colon
ma had made a virtue of necessity, and by
yielding now reserved himself for another
day. This enabled me to 60 back by an
easier route than we had come, and as we
rode through the Ostian gate, could not
help contrasting my present entry to the
day when Jacopo and had reined in our
weary steeds to let the Borgia pass, and give
his following the road. At the Ponte s.
Angelo, surrendered my prisoner to Orsini
in person, and truly thought he would have
but few hours more to live, for GentiP Vir-
ginio had long score to settle with the
Borgia, and longer memory for a wrong
The blood, too, of Paolo, whom Cesare
strangled at Sinigaglia, and that of the Car
dinal Orsini, whom he brutally murdered in
Rome, called aloud for vengeance. Cesare
himself seemed to be aware of this, for
whereas up to now he had remained in
sullen silence, he found tongue to implore
inc, in the most servile manner, not to de- .
liver him to Orsini, and when l told him |
had no option, he tried to creep out of his
litter, and lay his cap at the feet of his
enemy. Orsini spoke nothing, merely or
dcring him to be borne to S. Angelo; but 4
as the Borgia shrank back into his litter, he
said with grim smile that he trusted the
duke would find his entertainment to his
liking. How it happened that Cesare came
off with a whole skin never knew, but he
did, as have mentioned above, and it sur
passes belief. He turned cur at the last, and
the low blood showed in him; but he was
one of those men who knew how to be thor
oughly bad. Orsini took back his lances,
saying he had need Of them, SO that it was
with my own few men that reached the
Palazzo Corneto. must except Bande Mere
from this number, and l was truly sorry for
his death, for his was an honest sword. The
cardinal received ME in the little chamber
where VIC had supped with Machiavelli. Hc
Ia 10 olo hon
in mail, but wore his barettina on his head.
He was more than kind, congratulating me
heartily on my success, going so far as to
say that by capturing Cesare had given a
kingdom to France. then left him with
further assurances of his good will towards
me, and saw him no more for the day.
Towards the small hours of the next morn
ing was aroused from deep sleep by Jaco-
po Starting up, Iinquired what was astir,
and was told that Defaure, the page, was
waiting to see me. gave orders for his in
slant admission, and, on coming in, he in
formed me that his eminence desired my i'm
mediate attendance. Telling Jacopo to have
Castor saddled, for l smelt work afoot,
flung myself into my clothes and hastened
to D'Amboise. 's.i 800 - f.: beg
He had evidently not slept all night, and
was pacing the room in agitation.
''St. Dennis!" he burst out, as I entered,
"do you know what they have done? The
/. king holds q tourney at Afezzo instead Of
marching on at once. WHAT'S worse, he has
granted an extension of the truce to Spain,
and Tremouille and the rest Of them are off
to the junkets. They are making 2 May.day
with those ducats you captured. By G.!
I they would dance away kingdom.
our eminence has no doubt sent news
II =, ,,x,,,, Coco #S"F