It was against the beginnings of
this that my father had raised his standard, to be crushed thorough the
supineness of his peers, who would not support him to save themselves from
being consumed in the capacious maw of Rome.
But what they had suffered hitherto would be as nothing to what they must
suffer if the Pope now had his way and if Pier Luigi Farnese were to become
their duke--an independent prince. He would break the nobles utterly, to
remain undisputed master of the territory. That was a conclusion foregone.
And yet our princelings saw the evil approaching them, and cowered
irresolute to await and suffer it.
They had depended, perhaps, upon the Emperor, who, it was known, did not
favour the investiture, nor would confirm it. It was remembered that
Ottavio Farnese-- Pier Luigi's son--was married to Margaret of Austria, the
Emperor's daughter, and that if a Farnese dominion there was to be in Parma
and Piacenza, the Emperor would prefer that it should be that of his own
son-in-law, who would hold the duchy as a fief of the Empire. Further was
it known that Ottavio was intriguing with Pope and Emperor to gain the
investiture in his own father's stead.
"The unnatural son!" I exclaimed upon learning that.
Galeotto looked at me, and smiled darkly, stroking his great beard.
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