BOOK IX. 1547. without necessity, and founded on false or frivolous pretexts. All the Spanish prelates, and most of the NeaTranslated politan, by the emperor's express command, remained at from Trent Trent; the rest, to the number of thirty-four, accompanyto Bologna. ing the legates to Bologna. Thus a schism commenced in that very assembly which had been called to heal the divisions of Christendom; the fathers of Bologna inveighed against those who staid at Trent, as contumacious and regardless of the pope's authority; while the other accused them of being so far intimidated by the fears of imaginary danger, as to remove to a place where their consultations could prove of no service towards re-establishing peace and order in Germany. The emperor, at the same time, employed all his interest to procure the return of the council to Trent; but Paul, who highly applauded his own sagacity in having taken a step which put it out of Charles's power to ac quire the direction of that assembly, paid no regard to a request, the object of which was so extremely obvious. The summer was consumed in fruitless negociations with respect to this point; the importunity of the one, and obstinacy of the other, daily increasing. At last, an event happened, which widened the breach irreparably, and rendered the pope utterly averse from listening to any proposal that came from the emperor. Charles, as has been already observed, had so violently exasperated Peter Lewis Farnese, the pope's son, by refusing to grant him the investiture of Parma and Placentia, that he had watched ever since that time, with all the vigilance of resentment, for an opportunity of revenging that injury. He had endeavoured to precipitate the pope into open hostilities against the emperor, and had earnestly solicited the king of France to invade Italy. His hatred and resentment extended to all those whom he knew that the emperor favoured; he did every ill office in his power to Gonzaga. governor of Milan, and had encouraged Fiesco in his attempt upon the life of Andrew Doria, because F. Paul, 248, &c.. IX. 1547. both Gonzaga and Doria possessed a great degree of the BOOK emperor's esteem and confidence. His malevolence and secret intrigues were not unknown to the emperor, who could not be more desirous to take vengeance on him, than Gonzaga and Doria were to be employed as his instruments in inflicting it. Farnese, by the profligacy of his life, and by enormities of every kind, equal to those committed by the worst tyrants who have disgraced human nature, had rendered himself so odious, that it was thought any violence whatever might be lawfully attempted against him. Gonzaga and Doria soon found among his own subjects persons who were eager, and even deemed it meritorious, to lend their hands in such a service. As Farnese, animated with the jealousy which usually possesses petty sovereigns, had employed all the cruelty and fraud whereby they endeavour to supply their defect of power, in order to humble and extirpate the nobility subject to his government, five noblemen, of the greatest distinction in Placentia, combined to avenge the injuries which they themselves had suffered, as well as those which he had offered to their order. They formed their plan in conjunction with Gonzaga; but it remains uncertain whether he originally suggested the scheme to them, or only approved of what they proposed, and cooperated in carrying it on. They concerted all the previous steps with such foresight, conducted their intrigues with such secrecy, and displayed such courage in the execution of their design, that it may be ranked among the most audacious deeds of that nature mentioned in history. One body of the conspirators surprised, at mid-sept. 1o. day, the gates of the citadel of Placentia, where Farnese resided, overpowered his guards, and murdered him; The assasanother party of them made themselves masters of the sination of the pope's town, and called upon their fellow-citizens to take arms, son. in order to recover their liberty. The multitude ran towards the citadel, from which three great guns, a signal concerted with Gonzaga, had been fired; and, before BOOK 1547. The impe take pos Placentia. they could Before next morning, a body of troops arriving from the frontiers of the Milanese, where they had been posted session of in expectation of the event, took possession of the city in the emperor's name, and reinstated the inhabitants in the possession of their ancient privileges. Parma, which the imperialists attempted likewise to surprise, was saved by the vigilance and fidelity of the officers, whom Farnese had intrusted with the command of the garrison. The death of a son whom, notwithstanding his infamous vices, Paul loved with an excess of parental tenderness, overwhelmed him with the deepest affliction; and the loss of a city of such consequence as Placentia greatly embittered his sorrow. He accused Gonzaga, in open consistory, of having committed a cruel murder, in order to prepare the way for an unjust usurpation, and immediately demanded of the emperor satisfaction for both; for the former, by the punishment of Gonzaga; for the latter, by the restitution of Placentia to his grandson Octavia, its rightful owner. But Charles, who, rather than quit a prize of such value, was willing, not only to expose himself to the imputation of being accessary to the crime which had given an opportunity of seizing it, but to bear the infamy of defrauding his own son-in law of the inheritance which belonged to him, eluded all his solicita tions, and determined to keep possession of the city, together with its territories". BOOK 1547. The pope the French the Vene tians. This resolution, flowing from an ambition so rapacious as to be restrained by no consideration either of decency courts the or justice, transported the pope so far beyond his usual alliance of moderation and prudence, that he was eager to take arms king and against the emperor, in order to be avenged on the murderers of his son, and to recover the inheritance wrested from his family. Conscious, however, of his own inability to contend with such an enemy, he warmly soli eited the French king and the republic of Venice to join in an offensive league against Charles; but Henry was intent at that time on other objects. His ancient allies the Scots having been defeated by the English in one of the greatest battles ever fought between these two rival nations, he was about to send a numerous body of veteran troops into that country, as well to preserve it from being conquered as to gain the acquisition of a new kingdom to the French monarchy, by marrying his son the dauphin to the young queen of Scotland. An undertaking, accompanied with such manifest advantages, the success of which appeared to be so certain, was not to be relinquished for the remote prospect of benefit from an alliance depending upon the precarious life of a pope of fourscore, who had nothing at heart but the gratification of his own private resentment. Instead, therefore, of rushing headlong into the alliance proposed, Henry amused the pope with such general professions and promises, as might keep him from any thoughts of endea vouring to accommodate his differences with the emperor, but, at the same time, he avoided any such engagement as might occasion an immediate rupture with Charles, or precipitate him into a war for which he was not prepared. The Venetians, though much alarmed at seeing Placentia in the hands of the imperialists, imitated the • F. Paul, 257. Pallavic. 41, 42. Thuan. iv, 156. Mem. de Ribier, 52, 67. Natalis Comitis Histor. lib. iii, p. 64. BOOK IX. 1547 The impe rial troops take pos Placentia. they could guess the cause or the authors of the tumult, they saw the lifeless body of the tyrant hanging by the heels from one of the windows of the citadel. But so universally detestable had he become, that not one expressed any sentiment of concern at such a sad reverse of fortune, or discovered the least indignation at this ignominious treatment of a sovereign prince. The exultation at the success of the conspiracy was general, and all applauded the actors in it, as the deliverers of their country. The body was tumbled into the ditch that surrounded the citadel, and exposed to the insults of the rabble; the rest of the citizens returned to their usual occupations, as if nothing extraordinary had happened. Before next morning, a body of troops arriving from the frontiers of the Milanese, where they had been posted session of in expectation of the event, took possession of the city in the emperor's name, and reinstated the inhabitants in the possession of their ancient privileges. Parma, which the imperialists attempted likewise to surprise, was saved by the vigilance and fidelity of the officers, whom Farnese had intrusted with the command of the garrison. The death of a son whom, notwithstanding his infamous vices, Paul loved with an excess of parental tenderness, overwhelmed him with the deepest affliction; and the loss of a city of such consequence as Placentia greatly embittered his sorrow. He accused Gonzaga, in open consistory, of having committed a cruel murder, in order to prepare the way for an unjust usurpation, and immediately demanded of the emperor satisfaction for both; for the former, by the punishment of Gonzaga; for the latter, by the restitution of Placentia to his grandson Octavia, its rightful owner. But Charles, who, rather than quit a prize of such value, was willing, not only to expose himself to the imputation of being accessary to the crime which had given an opportunity of seizing it, but to bear the infamy of defrauding his own son-in law of the inheritance which belonged to him, eluded all his solicita |