Chapter XXXV: Appendix: II

(Page 21)

THE SACK OF ROME

I. _Letter from the Bishop of Modula to the Generals of the League._[252]

[Footnote 252: Sanuto Diarii MSS. Bib. Marciana, xlv. f. 132.]

Most illustrious Lords of the League,

Let your most illustrious Lordships speed on quickly
without loss of time, seeing by these presents that the
enemy have carried the Borgo, though our Lord and all Rome
were well fortified. Monsignor de Bourbon is dead of an
arquebus-shot below the abdomen, and a man has just come
in who happened to aid in carrying off his body. More
than three thousand of the enemy have fallen. Let your
Lordships, then, press on, for the enemy are in the utmost
disorder; quickly, quickly, without loss of time. Your
servant,

GUIDO, BISHOP OF MODULA.

From Viterbo, the 7th of May, 1527, 3 P.M.

To the most illustrious Lords, the Duke of Urbino and the
Marquis of Saluzzo, Captains of the League.

II. _Letter from Scipione ... to Alessandro Moresino, alias Venezianello, Master of the Chamber of the Prince Guidobaldo, dated at Urbino, 20th of May, 1527, narrating the destruction of Rome._

Most dear as an honoured brother,

I wish I were fitter than at present, and more easy
in mind, to write you of the strange, horrible, and
atrocious event befallen the wretched, miserable, and
ill-fated city of Rome. Although I feel assured that,
from different advices, you will have had partial, if not
full accounts, nevertheless, that I may not fail in duty,
I have thought it best to inform you of all I have yet
heard, notwithstanding that I tell it with aching heart and
tearful eye.

I therefore inform you that eight days ago last Monday,
being the 18th inst., about 22 o'clock [half-past 5
P.M.], the Spanish imperial army presented itself
at the bastion of the gate. Their object was to make trial,
and see how and by whom it was guarded, not having courage
to attack; but after consulting together, and deciding
to assault, and even to make their way into the city,
they took some food, and then suddenly and all in a mass
attempted with furious impetuosity to force the bastion,
which is said to have been ill guarded, there being but
four thousand regular infantry in Rome. In this attack,
both sides behaved with great bravery, and were supposed
to have lost about one thousand men, including the flower
of the Spaniards. Bourbon, observing the slaughter and
immense confusion, rushed on with all the lansquenets.
The castle maintained a fire of artillery as they best
could; but the air being obscured by a dense fog, they
could not see the effect of it, and battered down a piece
of wall.[253] Through it, and by storming the bastion, the
Imperialists entered, and there Bourbon met his death from
an arquebus-shot, which passed quite through his belly.
The papal troops, unable to offer more resistance, fled
towards the castle, into which most of them were admitted,
especially those who arrived first. It is rumoured,
but not confirmed, that the Lord Stefano Colonna, who
commanded the guard at that bastion, capitulated. Next day,
being Tuesday, the enemy, though within the town, made
no aggressions, but proceeded cautiously, dreading some
ambush. Having, however, assured themselves that there was
no cause for mistrust, they began to spread over the city,
and to plunder the monasteries, nunneries, and hospitals,
with great slaughter of those found therein. The hospital
of San Spirito was destroyed, and the patients were thrown
into the Tiber, after which they commenced attacking the
palaces of cardinals and gentlemen, with much bloodshed and
cruelty; and I have been told this morning by Francesco,
son of Battista Riceco, that one Maestro Jacomo, the first
perfumer in Rome, is come to his house, having escaped
with four other chance companions, whom, being a very old
friend, he has thought it necessary to receive kindly in
his house; and he learned from him as certain, having been
witness to it, that the lansquenets, that inhuman and
villainous race of Lutheran infidels, slew without mercy
those of all ages, sexes, and conditions whom they found in
the streets; also, that they attacked Cardinal Cesarini's
palace, wherein were many Roman gentlemen, guarded by two
hundred infantry; and having stormed it, put them all to
the sword, it being uncertain if the Cardinal himself were
there. Thence they proceeded to the Spanish Archbishop
of Cosenza's palace, wherein were some five hundred of
his countrymen, men of credit inhabiting Rome, who had
retired thither as to a place of safety; but all, without
exception, were cut to pieces. They next went to the house
of Messer Domenico de' Massimi, a Roman gentleman, who had
there his wife and two children, with many noble persons
of the city of all ages, every individual of whom were
slain--men, women, children, servants, maids; and it was
the same in many others, whose names I do not remember,
so that the dead bodies lie in heaps in the houses and
palaces of the nobility, each day getting worse. Fancy the
affliction of the poor ladies, seeing husbands, brothers,
children massacred before their eyes, without the power of
aiding them, and worse still, they were themselves killed
next moment. It is not believed that had the Turk come on
such an enterprise, his barbarity would have equalled that
daily, continuously, and perseveringly practised by these
ruffians. I cannot imagine a greater purgatory or hell than
to hear the weeping and lamentation there must be in that
afflicted city.

[Footnote 253: This letter, though inaccurate in several
details, the author writing at a distance from the events,
affords curious evidence of the consternation generally
occasioned by the sack of Rome.]

But I forgot that he told me they were barricading the
Marchioness of Mantua's palace, as he left Rome, in which
were her Excellency, with many Roman ladies, who had fled
there as to an asylum, but the result was not known. He
also said that the _Bande nere_ of the late Lord Giovanni
de' Medici were to have from the Pope double pay for
their services, which his Holiness refusing, a part of
them remained in Rome, and the rest went off in disgust
and joined the Spaniards in plundering, being the foremost
to assault that bastion which was defended by their
comrades, and having, in fact, secured the Imperialists
their victory, as without them neither the lansquenets nor
Spaniards had ever got into the city.

The Pope is in the castle, with many cardinals and other
persons of station: they are said to have a year's
provisions, with ample ammunition and artillery. This
Maestro Giacomo says he heard that the Imperialists,
dubious of succours, thought of fortifying the bridges,
with the intention of holding their ground against any
who might annoy them. As yet the lansquenets have made
no prisoners, but the Spaniards have pillaged immensely,
and taken vast numbers of men, women, priests, and people
of all sorts, so that there is, from Rome to Naples, an
uninterrupted stream of baggage and prisoners sent by
them. He also mentions that the chief of Colonna most
courageously charged the lansquenets, crying Colonna!
Colonna! but after a great fray, he was beaten and his
followers killed, whereupon Pompeo Colonna, thinking to
elevate himself and put down his enemies, fled away, and
neither he nor any of his house have been since heard of.
It was reported that four soldiers were killed in entering
the castle, but this is since contradicted. Cardinal del
Monte and many more cardinals are missing, and it is not
known if they got in there, or are dead, or taken, or
escaped. It is suspected that these anti-Christian dogs
will put all Rome to flames; and we may anticipate that
after suffering all this rapine, pillage, slaughter,
and captivity, it will soon have to endure a grievous
pestilence, from the number of dead bodies left in the
palaces and houses, which no one removes for burial, and
which are putrefying in masses, so that no one can enter,
on account of the stench, without inhaling infection. It
is also said that, a day or two ago one of the Pope's
chamberlains was secretly sent by his Holiness from the
castle in the night to our Duke [of Urbino], to inform him
of the state of matters, and to exhort him and the other
captains of the League to push on with the army to his
aid; and that all these other leaders having repaired
to consult with his Lordship, they unanimously resolved
to press forward. We hear that his Excellency is to-day
at Orvieto, and will reach Viterbo to-morrow; also that
he will make a general levy, and give bounty to all who
will enlist. His Excellency has written the Governor a
very affectionate letter, praying him to exhort all those
here who have been soldiers to go in search of honourable
service, with money and all they may require. The Governor
has circulated copies of this letter throughout the state,
and has made proclamation, so that they are embodying many
men to join his Excellency. On Saturday, Vincenzo Ubaldino
and Pier-Matteo di Thomasello will start from this with a
fine and good detachment. I am sorry not to be able to send
you a copy of this letter, which it would really have done
your heart good to read. You could hardly believe how much
vexation this misfortune to Rome has caused here; and when
people of station discuss it, as they often do, I assure
you I have seen them weep as freely as if it were their
own. All that I have related I tell you just as I heard it
from others. I would I were speaking untruths, and that it
were all false; but I shall say no more. The Lady Madonna
Emilia sends you hearty commendations, and reminds you not
to give yourself such airs as to forget her. From Urbino,
the 20th May, 1527. Entirely your brother,

SCIPIONE ARRIS....

III. _Letter from Mercurino da Gattinara, Commissary of the Imperial Army during the sack of Rome, wherein he informs the Emperor of the entrance into that city, of the slaughter and havock inflicted, and of the arrangement made through him with Clement VII., and how during four successive days he repaired to the Castle of St. Angelo to negotiate with the Pope and thirteen cardinals there inclosed._[254]

[Footnote 254: Vat. Ottob. MSS. No. 2607.]

Most sacred Cæsar,

I have this written in Italian by another hand, being
unable to do so with my own in consequence of meeting with
an accident, as I shall presently explain. I have to inform
your Majesty that Monsieur di Borbone, being near Florence
and Siena with his army, and understanding that the former
of these cities was well fortified, and contained the
forces of the League ready to defend it, rendering a siege
impossible, or at all events so protracted as to endanger
your Majesty's troops from want of provisions and other
stores, whilst the lack of pay risked their disbanding
and losing all;--aware, on the other hand, that Rome had
been disarmed, and that to seize and bring it and the
Pontiff to great straits was to gain everything, or at all
events would prove a measure so useful and advantageous
as to content your Majesty;--it appeared to him better to
abandon his designs upon Florence, and, advancing by forced
marches, to beleaguer Rome, thereby anticipating the army
of the League, and preventing them from succouring it,
for which purpose he determined to leave his artillery in
Siena. Accordingly, when this was decided, the confederates
being in Florence, and we thirty miles on this side of it,
we advanced with the utmost diligence, doing twenty or
four-and-twenty miles a day, which was something quite new
for the army, so numerous, so distressed by past fatigues,
and by recent and actual hunger.[255] Thus, on Saturday
the 4th instant, it was quartered at Isola, seven miles
from Rome. M. di Borbone and his officers were astonished
that the Pope and cardinals should await the army and the
threatened danger, whilst Rome was incapable of defence,
without submitting some proposal by envoy or letter, or
even answering a despatch sent to his Holiness by M. di
Borbone and the Viceroy as to the terms of agreement. Some
of your Majesty's good servants suggested that were the
army under the walls it was doubtful if they could carry
them, from want of artillery, in which event their own
destruction would follow; on the other hand, that in case
of taking the city it would be sacked, which could be no
good service to your Majesty, as its plunder would occasion
the army to disperse, the Spaniards and Italians straggling
towards Naples, or, should they not break up, they might
demand immense arrears of pay, which not being discharged
from want of means, everything would fall into confusion.
For these reasons they recommended Borbone so to dispose
his forces as to keep matters open for arrangement with the
Pope. Of this advice he openly approved, desirous of any
plan which should provide pay for the army. He, however,
declared that he would not abstain from annoying the
enemy, nor allow them time to provide for their interests,
alleging that the Admiral [Bonnivet] of France, from not
having taken Rome when he could, in order to save it from a
sack, was unable afterwards to do so, it being defended by
the Lord Prospero Colonna: also that, on another occasion,
when Monsieur di Chaumont beleaguered Bologna, Fabrizio
Colonna threw in succours whilst the French general was
treating with Julius II., who thereupon broke off the
parley: finally, that it became a pontiff rather to seek a
capitulation than to wait until it was demanded of him.

[Footnote 255: As a specimen of the very loose diction even
of public despatches in this age, and of the obstacles
which a translator has to encounter, we shall render
literally the next sentence, or rather half page, sentences
not being divided in the original. "And so the fourth
day of the present month of May, which was Saturday, the
foresaid army made his lodgment at seven miles from Rome,
in a place which is called the Isle; Monsieur di Borbone
and all the principal persons were filled with much
wonder that the Pope and so many cardinals and all Rome,
being disarmed, should wait for such an army and great
danger, without sending to the said Monsieur di Borbone
an ambassador to make some parley, nor letters, or answer
to his letters which the said M. di Borbone had formerly
written, and the Viceroy, to his Holiness about the affair
of the agreement."]

Monsieur di Borbone accordingly decided on approaching the
walls, and on Sunday morning the 5th we made a lodgment
within [beyond?] St. Peter's palace, hard by the monastery
of S. Pancrazio. Yet he did not neglect addressing a
letter to the Pontiff on that morning, exhorting him to
make a favourable capitulation rather than abide the
unpleasant alternative. It was at the same time suggested
whether it might not be well for him to repair to his
Holiness; but considering that he could not go for want of
a safe-conduct, it seemed better for him to remain; he,
however, sent the letter by a trumpet, whom the enemy did
not allow to pass, the missive remaining in their hands,
and we know not whether it reached the Pope; at all events,
no answer ever came, which was demanded before half-past
seven P.M. of that day, after which it would be no
longer possible to restrain the army. For these reasons,
as evening approached, it was resolved to get the ladders
all prepared for an assault the following morning on the
Borgo towards the furnaces, where the wall was considered
very weak. And so the assault was given on Monday morning
the 6th of May in this year 1527, when by an unlucky
chance the Lord di Borbone was hit in the abdomen towards
the right thigh, of which wound he presently died. Yet
notwithstanding this accident, which was not at once
known to the army, the undertaking was carried through,
and the Borgo was plundered that morning. The Pope, with
most of the cardinals and court, were in the castle, but
on hearing what had occurred they hastily retired to the
castle of S. Angelo. Meanwhile our soldiery sacked the
whole Borgo, and slew most of the people whom they found,
taking a few prisoners. The enemy's forces then in the city
are supposed not to have exceeded three thousand, unused
to arms, so that it was scarcely defended; the dense fog
which prevailed during that day was likewise inopportune,
preventing them seeing each other; and the struggle did not
last in all above two hours. We afterwards learned that
the Pope and the citizens, relying upon the assurances of
Renzo da Ceri, considered both Rome and the Borgo to be
impregnable without artillery, and looked for support from
the confederate army.

The Pontiff being thus within the castle, and such of the
citizens as were armed having joined their handful of
troops for defence of the bridges and of the Transtevere
quarter, the Borgo was occupied by a large portion of our
army, and its leaders were assembled in council, when there
arrived the Portuguese ambassador to say that some Romans,
his neighbours, had, with the Pope's sanction, urged him
to make terms. The answer given him was that the council
would be ready to treat, so soon as the Pope had placed
in their hands the Ponte Molle and Transtevere, to which
proposal no reply was returned during that day. A brigade
of our troops having carried the Transtevere, and possessed
themselves of the Ponte Sisto and Sta. Maria, the whole
army passed into the city early on that evening of the
6th. As the inhabitants in general relied on its being
defended, none of them had fled or removed their property,
so that no one of whatever nation, rank, condition, age,
or sex escaped becoming prisoners--not even women in the
convents. They were treated without distinction according
to the caprice of the soldiery; and after being plundered
of all their effects most of them were compelled by
torture or otherwise to pay ransom. Cardinals Cesarini,
della Valle, and di Siena, being imperialists, considered
themselves safe, and remained in their houses, whither
also there retired Cardinal ..., Fra Giacobatio, and many
friends with their women and valuables; but finding no
sanctuary there, they had to compound with certain captains
and soldiers for security of their persons and property;
notwithstanding which, these houses were completely
pillaged three or four days afterwards, and they had enough
to do to save their lives. Some women who had carried all
their earthly possessions to Cardinal Colonna's residence
were left with but a single cloak and shift. Cardinals S.
Sisto and della Minerva, who stayed at home, are still in
the soldiers' power, being too poor to pay their ransom.
All the church ornaments are stolen, the sacred utensils
thrown about, the relics gone to destruction--for the
troops in abstracting their precious receptacles heeded
these no more than as many bits of wood: even the shrine
of the _sancta sanctorum_ was sacked, although regarded
with peculiar reverence. St. Peter's church and the papal
palace from top to bottom have been made into stables.
I feel confident that your Majesty as a Catholic and
most Christian emperor will feel displeasure at these
gross outrages and insults to the Catholic religion, the
Apostolic See, and the city of Rome. In truth, every one
is convinced that all this has happened as a judgment
from GOD on the great tyranny and disorders of
the papal court; but however this may be, there has been
vast destruction, for which no redress can be had but from
your Majesty's arm and authority. This army has no head,
no divisions, no discipline, no organisation, but every
one behaves according to his own fancy. The Lord Prince
of Orange and Giovanni di Urbino, with the other leaders,
do what they can, but to little purpose; for in entering
Rome the lansquenets have conducted themselves like true
Lutherans, and the rest like actual.... Most of the troops
are enriched by the enormous booty, amounting to many
millions of gold. A majority of the Spaniards will, it is
supposed, retire to Naples with their spoil.

But to resume our narrative. On the morning after our
entry, being Tuesday the 7th, the Pope wrote a letter
to our leaders, praying them to send me to his Holiness
to hear certain proposals. By their order I went into
S. Angelo, where I found thirteen cardinals in great
affliction, as was natural in the circumstances. His
Holiness in their presence told me, that since fortune, on
which he too much relied, had brought him to this pass,
he would not think of any resistance, but was content to
place his own person and that of the cardinals, and his
state, in your Majesty's hands, and that he desired me to
mediate with the captains for some favourable arrangement.
I did my best to comfort his Holiness and the cardinals,
showing them how satisfied they must be that your Majesty
never intended to injure either his Holiness or the
Apostolic See; but that great blame attached to them,
seeing they might, on certain fair conditions and by a
sum of money, have prevented our army from approaching so
near, which would have averted the destruction of Rome;
since, however, GOD had so willed it, that his
plan seemed to me good, of placing himself in the hands
of your Majesty, as there was no remedy or redress to be
looked for but from that quarter. Taking upon me the charge
imposed by my office as mediator, I passed several times
between the council of war and the Pontiff, and succeeded
in the course of four days in concluding a capitulation,
which is generally considered reasonable and advantageous
to your Majesty's service, as to which I shall only say
that your Majesty will judge, after seeing its terms
and learning its progress. There arose on our side an
obstacle to prevent the execution of this agreement, which
was the bad discipline of the Germans, who took a fancy
not to quit Rome, nor confirm any truce, until they had
received all arrears of pay, amounting, according to their
calculation, to 300,000 scudi. But as the Pope could put
down but 100,000 scudi, even after selling everything
within the castle, of his own valuables and those of the
cardinals and prelates, and the church ornaments, the
affair could not be brought to a happy issue, so much so
that I greatly feared the brutality of these Germans and
the blunders of others would have lost all the fruits of
our enterprise, especially as the army of the League is
supposed not to be more than twenty or twenty-five miles
distant, and as some of their detachments have already
tried to carry off his Holiness by night. After several
days had passed in disputing with the lansquenets, the
expedient was adopted of handing them over all the cash
produced by the Pontiff--the Prince of Orange and other
captains undertaking that they should be paid [the balance]
out of the first moneys raised, and Parma and Piacenza
being consigned in security. I was obliged to concede
to them these conditions, in order to carry through the
capitulation, and so secure the benefit of our enterprise,
as well as to elude their anxiety to get the Pope and
cardinals into their clutches, upon which they were greatly
set. And this arrangement is really of such importance that
most of your Majesty's servants are willing to undertake
any obligation towards these lansquenets, in order to
ensure the Pope's and cardinals' safety. There is still
some hitch about raising the 100,000 scudi, but we trust
means will be found; meanwhile, it has been resolved to
throw three hundred infantry into the castle to-morrow,
under some leader, to secure it and all in it; and we shall
see gradually to get the rest brought about.

In return for my toils, anxieties, and services, I was
wounded from an arquebus in S. Angelo on the fourth day,
whilst approaching the castle to treat with the Pope.
The ball passed through my right arm, which prevents me
from writing, but I hope in time to get over it. And
notwithstanding this accident befallen me, from no fault
of his Holiness, whilst on your Majesty's service and in
so righteous a work, I shall endure it all patiently, in
the hope that your Majesty will consider my exertions, and
the losses sustained by me in limb and estate, and out of
your clemency and compassion will not omit some fitting
recompence.

After writing the above on the 19th inst., I returned to
the castle to conclude the arrangements with the Pope and
cardinals, and complete the convention; and in consequence
of certain articles being added regarding the entry of our
people into S. Angelo, I sought to remodel the treaty.
The Lord Vespasiano Colonna, and the Abbot of Nigera
accompanied me; and after protracted discussion with the
Pontiff regarding the difficulty of raising the 100,000
scudi, we had recourse to certain merchants who, on a
guarantee from his Holiness and the cardinals, promised to
make up a balance of 20,000 wanted to complete that sum.
This point being settled, I insisted on reforming the
treaty, and that your Majesty's troops might on that very
day take possession of the fortress, as had been agreed
on. But his Holiness endeavoured all day to postpone this
on various pretexts, and at length, when pressed by us to
decide, as we would wait no longer, he replied, "I shall
speak frankly; having advices that the confederate army
is at hand to relieve me, I desire, meanwhile, that you
give me a limited time to await their succours, on the
expiry of which I shall perform all the stipulations of the
capitulation. Nor is this any unreasonable request, as I
shall be satisfied with six days, and as similar conditions
are never refused to any fortress about to surrender."
I replied to the Pontiff and the cardinals, that your
Majesty's army had little apprehension of any such
succours, being always victorious; but that his Holiness
would do well to consider how your Majesty's captains,
on receiving such an answer, would conclude him and the
cardinals to have been merely trifling with them to gain
time: indeed, I was satisfied that they would consider it
a positive rupture, and would suddenly assault the castle,
and storm it so furiously that these, or even better terms,
would no longer be listened to, leaving no opportunity for
repentance or remedy short of the final destruction of the
Holy See. On hearing these views, the Pope and cardinals
were greatly bewildered, apprehending that they would be
realised should they wait for relief, and in this dilemma
remained gazing on each other, but asked a quarter of an
hour for consultation. Eventually there arose a wrangle
among the cardinals, those of the French faction wishing
to await succours at all hazards; so the Pontiff excused
himself from settling the matter according to his own wish,
ever urging a delay of six days. I believe the authors of
this opposition to have been Alberto da Carpi, the Datary
Orazio Baglione, Gregorio Casale the English ambassador,
and such like.

Having retired from the castle with Lord Vespasiano and
the Abbot, we related everything to our leaders, whereupon
it was decided to open that very night a trench round
the fortress, the whole army turning out under arms. It
was found no easy matter to muster them, all being idle
and intent on pillage; nor would they quit the houses,
especially the lansquenets, who at first thought it a mere
trick to get them out. At length, after great exertions,
the enemy being ascertained but seven miles off, all ran
to arms, and your Majesty's army was well disposed for
battle: indeed, I suspect the enemy found their calculation
disappointed, that most of our soldiery having become rich,
would no longer flock to their standards. Some Spanish and
German troops are expected; but I know not if they will
arrive in time, as the trench is already made, so that
neither Pope nor any one else shall escape.

Such is the present state of your Majesty's affairs, and I
trust they will ever have successful issue. Yet it is true
that, after the death of M. di Borbone, great confusion
occurred in the army, as no one knew whom to acknowledge as
its chief. I think that had he lived, Rome would, perhaps,
not have been sacked, and matters might have taken a
better course and result for your Majesty's interests. Yet
GOD so willed it, and we need not talk of what
cannot now be helped. But my affectionate duty to your
Majesty requires me to report certain things requiring from
your Majesty the oversight of a captain-general; of the
individual I say nothing, not wishing presumptuously to
name any one. On M. di Borbone's death, the day we entered
Rome, the captains and counsellors in the army discussed
giving its command to the Viceroy of Naples, then at Siena.
The Prince of Orange remarked that he had acknowledged
the authority of di Borbone, but would not submit to the
Viceroy. It being suggested by some that the Duke of
Ferrara was coming as your Majesty's captain-general, the
Prince replied, that on his arrival, he would acknowledge
him, but that meanwhile, no one being commissioned by your
Majesty, he neither would set himself up as captain, nor at
all permit others to be so without your Majesty's command.
These words he addressed to Giovanni d'Urbino, who then,
and on subsequent occasions, modestly remarked that he was
content to acknowledge the Prince, with other complimentary
phrases. Now the Prince has taken the notion of being
himself captain-general, and thus affairs are conducted in
his name, not, however, with that title, but as the first
person in the army, being much liked by the Germans. Your
Majesty will do as seems best.

One thing requires your Majesty's careful consideration,
namely, how this city of Rome is to be governed, and
whether or not anything of the Apostolic See is to be
retained. I shall not conceal the opinion of some that it
should not be entirely abolished; for if that See were
transported elsewhere, it seems certain that it will be
utterly ruined, seeing that, in that case, the King of
France will set up a patriarch in his realm, refusing
obedience to the Apostolic See, the English and Spanish
Sovereigns doing the like. But this should be seen to
without delay, otherwise the professional men and notaries
will all be gone, and Rome will be quite reduced, as they
will lose both their appointments and their practice.
The Pope and those cardinals with him, told me that your
Majesty should make provision for this, otherwise all would
be lost. Your Majesty will act in this for the best.

There are three other points to which it is necessary that
your Majesty should attend by anticipation. One is, what
would your Majesty wish done, should his Holiness and
those cardinals go to Naples as has been proposed; ought
they to be taken to Spain or not? Another is, what if the
Pope should escape from the castle by aid of the enemy?
In the third place, should it come to an assault and the
Pontiff unluckily fall? It is my belief, however, that, on
expiry of the six days which he has demanded, and which
are already running, he, on finding no efficient succour,
will again come to parley and propose a capitulation. Yet
I have my misgivings lest your Majesty's interests should
be crossed by the fury of the lansquenets, who declare they
must get hold of him. But your Majesty's faithful servants
will not cease to consider how these interests can be
promoted; and now that the Lord Marquis del Vasto, the Lord
Don Ugo, with Marcone, are coming, perhaps their advice
will put things into better train.

I have resolved to discharge my duty by informing your
Majesty of these occurrences, but would to God I could
have despatched a courier to your Majesty daily as they
proceeded. Four days ago the Cardinal and others of the
Colonna were not in the neighbourhood, but he is since
arrived, with Lords Vespasiano and Ascanio, who do their
best in your Majesty's behalf.

The above I have retained until the 24th of May, and as
no courier is gone, I shall here note what has since
happened. Your Majesty must know that on the Pope declining
to accept the capitulation which I have mentioned above,
your Majesty's captains and counsellors began diligently to
surround the castle with trenches, &c., &c.