They were Galeotto's
free company, headed by one of his lieutenants. Beyond the Po they too had
been awaiting the salvo of artillery that should be their signal to
advance.
When their identity was understood, and when the crowd had perceived that
they rode to support the holders of the castle, they were greeted with
lusty cheers, in which presently even the militia joined, for these last
were Piacentini and no Swiss hireling soldiers of the Duke's.
The drawbridge was let down, and the company thundered over it to draw up
in the courtyard under the eyes of Galeotto. He issued his orders once
more to his companions. Then calling for horses for himself and for me,
and bidding a score of lances to detach themselves to ride with us, we
quitted the fortress.
We pressed through the clamant multitude until we had reached the middle of
the square. Here Galeotto drew rein and, raising his hand for silence,
informed the people once more that the Duke had been done to death by the
nobles of Piacenza, thus to avenge alike their own and the people's wrongs,
and to free them from unjust oppression and tyranny.
They cheered him when he had done, and the cry now was "Piacenza!
Piacenza!"
When they had fallen silent again--"I would have you remember," he cried,
"that Pier Luigi was the Pontiff's son, and that the Pontiff will make
haste to avenge his death and to re-establish here in Piacenza the Farnese
sway.
Pages:
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468