His temper, haughty, insolent, and overbearing to such a degree as would hardly have been tolerated in one born to reign, was altogether insupportable in the citizen of a free state. The more sagacious among the Genoese already feared and hated him, as the enemy of those liberties for which they were indebted to his uncle; while Andrew himself, blinded by that violent and undiscerning affection which persons in advanced age often contract for the younger members of their family, set no bounds to the indulgence with which he treated him; seeming less solicitous to secure and perpetuate the freedom of the commonwealth than to aggrandise that undeserving kinsman.

BOOK

VIIL

1547

count of

racy.

But whatever suspicion of Doria's designs, or whatever dissatisfaction with the system of administration in the commonwealth, these circumstances might have occasioned, they would have ended, it is probable, in nothing more than murmurings and complaints, if John Lewis Fiesco, count of Lavagna, observing this growing disgust, had not been encouraged by it to attempt one of the boldest actions recorded in history. That young noble Fiesco man, the richest and most illustrious subject in the reLavagna, public, possessed, in an eminent degree, all the qualities the head of the con-piwhich win upon the human heart, which command respect, or secure attachment. He was graceful and majestic in his person; magnificent, even to profusion; of a generosity that anticipated the wishes of his friends, and exceeded the expectations of strangers; of an insinuating address, gentle manners, and a flowing affability. But, under the appearance of these virtues, which seemed to form him for enjoying and adorning social lif», he concealed all the dispositions which mark men out for taking the lead in the most dangerous and dark conspiracies; an insatiable and restless ambition, a courage unacquainted with fear, and a mind that disdained subordination. Such a temper could ill brook that station of inferiority wherein he was placed in the republic; and as he envied the power which the elder Doria had acquired, he was

VIII.

1547.

BOOK filled with indignation at the thoughts of its descending, like an hereditary possession, to Giannetino. These various passions, preying with violence on his turbulent and aspiring mind, determined him to attempt overturning that domination to which he could not submit.

Intrigues

As the most effectual method of accomplishing this, and prepa he thought, at first, of forming a connection with Francis, the conspi- and even proposed it to the French ambassador at Rome;

rations of

rators.

and after expelling Doria, together with the imperial faction, by his assistance, he offered to put the republic once more under the protection of that monarch, hoping, in return for that service, to be entrusted with the principal share in the administration of government. But, having communicated his scheme to a few chosen confidents, from whom he kept nothing secret, Verrina, the chief of them, a man of desperate fortune, capable alike of advising and executing the most audacious deeds, remon strated with earnestness against the folly of exposing himself to the most imminent danger, while he allowed another to reap all the fruits of his success; and exhorted him warmly to aim himself at that pre-eminence in his country, to which he was destined by his illustrious birth, was called by the voice of his fellow-citizens, and would be raised by the zeal of his friends. This discourse opened such great prospects to Fiesco, and so suitable to his genius, that, abandoning his own plan, he eagerly adopted that of Verrina. The other persons present, though sensible of the hazardous nature of the undertaking, did not choose to condemn what their patron had so warmly approved. It was instantly resolved, in this dark cabal, to assassinate the two Dorias, as well as the principal persons of their party, to overturn the established system of government, and to place Fiesco on the ducal throne of Genoa. Time, however, and preparations were requisite to ripen such a design for execution; and, while he was employed in carrying on these, Fiesco made it his chief care to guard against every thing that might betray his secret, or create suspicion. The disguise he assumed,

was, of all others, the most impenetrable. He seemed to be abandoned entirely to pleasure and dissipation; a perpetual gaiety, diversified by the pursuit of all the amusements in which persons of his age and rank are apt to delight, engrossed, in appearance, the whole of his time and thoughts; but, amidst this hurry of dissipation, he prosecuted his plan with the most cool attention, neither retarding the design by a timid hesitation, nor precipitating the execution by an excesss of impatience. He continued his correspondence with the French ambassador at Rome, though without communicating to him his real intentions, that by his means he might secure the protection of the French arms, if, hereafter, he should find it necessary to call them in to his aid. He entered into a close confederacy with Farnese, duke of Parma, who, being disgusted with the emperor for refusing to grant him the investiture of that duchy, was eager to promote any measure that tended to diminish his influence in Italy, or to ruin a family so implicitly devoted to him as that of Doria. Being sensible that, in a maritime state, the acquisition of naval power was what he ought chiefly to aim at, he purchased four galleys from the pope, who probably was not unacquainted with the design which he had formed, and did not disapprove of it. Under colour of fitting out one of these galleys to sail on a cruise against the Turks, he not only assembled a good number of his own vassals, but engaged in his service many bold adventurers, whom the truce between the emperor and Solyman had deprived of their usual occupation and subsistence.

While Fiesco was taking these important steps, he preserved so admirably his usual appearance of being devoted entirely to pleasure and amusement, and paid court with such artful address to the two Dorias, as imposed, not only on the generous and unsuspicious mind of Andrew, but deceived Giannetino, who, conscious of his own criminal intentions, was more apt to distrust the designs of others. So many instruments being now pre

VOL. VI.

G g

BOOK

VIII.

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BOOK
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1547.

The con

spirators

execu'e

their plan.

pared, nothing remained but to strike the blow. Various
consultations were held by Fiesco with his confidants, in
order to settle the manner of doing it with the greatest
certainty and effect. At first they proposed to murder
the Dorias and their chief adherents, during the celebra-
tion of high mass in the principal church; but, as An-
drew was often absent from religious solemnities on ac-
count of his great age, that design was laid aside. It
was then concerted that Fiesco should invite the uncle
and nephew, with all their friends whom he had marked
out as victims, to his house, where it would be easy to
cut them off at once without danger or resistance; but
as Giannetino was obliged to leave the town on the day
which they had chosen, it became necessary likewise to
alter this plan. They at last determined to attempt by
open force, what they found difficult to effect by strata-
gem, and fixed on the night between the second and third
of January for the execution of their enterprise.
time was chosen with great propriety, for, as the doge of
the former year was to quit his office, according to cus-
tom, on the first of the month, and his successor could
not be elected sooner than the fourth, the republic re-
mained, during that interval, in a sort of anarchy, and
Fiesco might, with less violence, take possession of the
vacant dignity.

The

The morning of that day Fiesco employed in visiting assemble to his friends, passing some hours among them with a spirit as gay and unembarrassed as at other times. Towards evening, he paid court to the Dorias with his usual marks of respect, and surveying their countenance and behaviour with the attention natural in his situation, was happy to observe the perfect security in which they remained, without the least foresight or dread of that storm which had been so long a-gathering, and was now ready to burst over their heads. From their palace he hastened to his own, which stood by itself in the middle of a large court, surrounded by a high wall. The gates had been set open in the morning, and all persons, without dis

VIII.

1547.

tinction, were allowed to enter, but strong guards, posted BOOK within the court, suffered no one to return. Verrina, meanwhile, and a few persons trusted with the secret of the conspiracy, after conducting Fiesco's vassals, as well as the crews of his galleys, into the palace, in small bodies, with as little noise as possible, dispersed themselves through the city, and, in the name of their patron, invited to an entertainment the principal citizens whom they knew to be disgusted with the administration of the Dorias, and to have inclination, as well as courage, to attempt a change in the government. Of the vast number of persons who now filled the palace, a few only knew for what purpose they were assembled; the rest, astonished at finding, instead of the preparations for a feast, a court crowded with armed men, and apartments filled with the instruments of war, gazed on each other with a mixture of curiosity, impatience, and terror.

tion to

While their minds were in this state of suspence and Fiesco's agitation, Fiesco appeared. With a look full of alacrity xhorta and confidence, he addressed himself to the persons of them. chief distinction, telling them, that they were not now called to partake of the pleasure of an entertainment, but to join in a deed of valour, which would lead them to liberty and immortal renown. He set before their eyes the exorbitant as well as intolerable authority of the elder Doria, which the ambition of Giannetino, and the partiality of the emperor to a family more devoted to him than to their country, was about to enlarge and to render perpetual. This unrighteous dominion, continued he, you have it now in your power to subvert, and to establish the freedom of your country on a firm basis: the tyrants must be cut off: I have taken the most effectual measures for this purpose: my associates are numerous : I can depend on allies and protectors, if necessary. Happily, the tyrants are as secure as I have been provident; their insolent contempt of their countrymen has banished the suspicion and timidity which usually render the guilty quick-sighted to discern, as well as sagacious to guard