sieged. The position of the combatants was thus completely changed, and the Genoese found themselves suffering all the hardships they had but a short time before inflicted on their antagonists. In their turn they experienced the disappointment of having their overtures for peace rejected, and were finally reduced by famine and loss of men and vessels to surrender at discretion to the Venetians. The recapture of Chiozza saved the republic, but it did not put an end to the war. The coffers of St. Mark were exhausted, and the donations afforded by private individuals for the country could not continue. Pisani, the favourite admiral of the people, died, and Francesco da Carrara, having taken advantage of the distress of the Venetians, was besieging Treviso with the aid of the King of Hungary. The city held out bravely against superior numbers, but was so sorely pressed by famine, that Venice, feeling herself unable in her present reduced condition to aid the unfortunate besieged, and yet unwilling to allow Treviso to fall into the hands of her bitterest enemy-Carrara-thought it best to invite a far more powerful prince to be her neighbour, judging that by so doing the danger to her freedom would be less. To Leopold, Duke of Austria, Treviso was therefore nominally ceded, and he gladly prepared to take possession of his new territory by marching ten thousand men into Italy. Peace was concluded, but Carrara, whose disappointment was great at the prospect of losing Treviso when he had almost conquered it, resolved to gain by subtlety what he could no longer gain by force of arms. He bribed the Austrian commanders to delay taking possession of the various towns, and he employed every artifice he could devise to make a successful negotiation with the Duke Leopold. Carrara represented to him the burden of possessing a territory so far from his hereditary dominions, and whilst negotiating, he strengthened his own position, and added to the Paduan garrisons. The Austrian treasury was exhausted, and dissensions and cares at home crippled the duke's power, making him listen favourably to the envoys of Carrara, who offered him 80,000 ducats if he would renounce his claims to Treviso. This was an offer not to be cast aside, and Duke Leopold signed the agreement by which the Venetian policy was overthrown, and Francesco da Carrara installed in his new dominions. Having thus gained what he had so long courted, he would gladly have remained at peace in order to replenish his treasury and allow his subjects time to rest. He was not, however, destined to be permitted to do so. Antonio della Scala of Verona saw his prosperity with a jealous eye, and, helped by the Venetians, he made war upon Carrara. A battle was fought on the 25th of June, 1386, at a place called Brentella. The troops of Carrara were victorious, and he took eight hundred prisoners. It was customary at that time to send back prisoners without ransom after having seized their horses and arms; so that the numbers taken in battle only made a pecuniary difference to the combatants individually. The Seigniory of Venice, acting in a secret and underhand manner, supplied Della Scala with money to "enable him to continue the war upon their common enemy, and another battle was fought at Castagnoro, in which the troops of Verona were again defeated. Francesco Novello fought in this battle under the command of Giovanni d'Azzo and John Hawkewood, an English mercenary of great repute in Italy, and a man of strong determination, and a consummate general. The success of this expedition opened to the younger Carrara an opportunity of ravaging the country up to the very gates of Verona, but his father chose once again to write and demand peace of the lord of Verona, and Francesco Novello had to content himself by making a triumphal entry into Padua amid the cries of the populace of "Carro! Carro!" Another formidable combatant was now about to appear on the stage, and to create, by his unquenchable ambition, his cruelty, and his skilful diplomacy, more havoc amongst the northern nobles and republics than any individual had hitherto effected. This was Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti, who, by marriage with Isabella of France, claimed the title of Comte de Vertu. Perceiving the weakened condition of both Antonio della Scala and of Francesco da Carrara, he thought that by aiding to foment their disputes he might look forward to having occasion to annihilate them both. He offered his assistance to both the antagonists. Antonio della Scala listened to the perfidious suggestions of this secret enemy, and returned Carrara's letter negotiating peace without a reply. Giovanni Galeazzo had succeeded his father, in 1378, to a part of the government of Lombardy, and shared the sceptre with his uncle Bernabo, who fixed his court at Milan, whilst his nephew presided over his at Pavia. Jealousies and intrigues were rife in the courts of the uncle and nephew. The former wished to possess himself of the lands belonging to Giovanni, that he might increase the portions of his numerous children, whilst the nephew feigned incapacity and a devotion to religious exercises, visiting the sick, praying, &c., that he might the more easily dethrone his uncle Bernabo Visconti. Waiting an opportunity to put his long-projected plans into execution, Giovanni Galeazzo appeared to spend all his time in making pilgrimages, and in performing numerous acts of devotion. He was everywhere seen. with downcast eyes and a rosary in his hand. So well did he play the hypocrite's part, that his uncle was thoroughly deceived, and, in consequence, thrown entirely off his guard. It was in the beginning of May, 1385, that the Comte de Vertu announced his intention of making a pilgrimage to the chapel of the Holy Virgin in the vicinity of the Lago Maggiore. To reach this place, he had to pass the city of Milan, and his uncle, having been informed of his intention, came out to salute him on his road, accompanied by his two elder sons and a few attendants. Bernabo must have felt some surprise at the escort with which his nephew thought fit to make his pilgrimage, but fully believing that Galeazzo was too much of a saint to meditate treachery, he rode out fearlessly to greet him. Scarcely had Galeazzo embraced his uncle with the greatest apparent cordiality, than he turned to his captains Giacopo dal Verme and Antonio Porro, and, addressing them in German, commanded that Bernabo and his sons should be arrested. Very little resistance was made on his behalf by the Milanese; they were weary of his tyranny and oppression. Probably they thought that something might be gained by a change of governors, and, therefore, welcomed a new tyrant without once attempting to liberate the old during the seven months of his captivity. Bernabo Visconti was confined in one of his own châteaux, and thrice was poison administered without effect. He died at length in the month of December, 1385, and Giovanni Galeazzo reigned alone. Having satiated his ambition in obtaining possession of the whole of Lombardy, he turned his thoughts upon the states bordering on his own. The disorders which distracted them favoured his purpose, and, determining to encourage the quarrel, he offered aid, first to one antagonist, then to the other, as we have already noticed. Suspecting his intentions, they at first rejected all negotiations with him, but the fatal battle of Castagnaro so weakened the forces of Della Scala, that he was glad at length to listen to the flattering proposals of the Comte de Vertu, and a treaty was on the point of being concluded, when Francesco Vecchio resolved to prevent the dangerous coalition, and to accept the overtures made to himself by Galeazzo. This alliance was signed in April, 1387, and therein it was agreed that the conquest of Verona should be assured to Visconti, whilst Vicenza fell to the lot of Carrara. The allied armies of Padua and Milan entered the doomed territory of Della Scala in opposite directions, but whilst Francesco Vecchio was engaged before Vicenza, the Venetians had been busy instigating the inhabitants of Udino to attack Carrara on the side of Treviso, which forced him to accept a proposition made to him by the citizens of Vicenza, and to hasten to protect his dominions from another enemy. This diversion in no way aided the cause of Antonio della Scala: he was utterly ruined. Visconti took possession of both Verona and Vicenza, and, finding himself master of these towns, refused to give up either of them, or to acknowledge the rights of his ally. Della Scala was forced to seek an asylum in Venice, whilst the Comte de Vertu was the sole gainer by the war, and enjoyed full possession of the territory of which he had been robbed. In vain Francesco da Carrara implored the Venetians to aid him in obliging the Comte de Vertu to render up Vicenza according to the original agreement; he was answered by a cold refusal on the part of the republic. the Carrara besought the Marquis of Este to intercede for him, but with the same result; and he heard with alarm that, instead of seeking peace, Venetians were even then negotiating with Galeazzo Visconti to continue the war. Filled with indignation at finding himself thus duped, Francesco Vecchio wrote to the Emperor, to the Pope, and to all the Christian sovereigns of Europe to complain of the wrong he had suffered at the hand of the perfidious Visconti, and to implore support and succour, that he might have justice done to him. It was all in vain; and upon the 29th March, 1388, a treaty was signed by the Venetian senate and Galeazzo Visconti, in which it was agreed that the dominions of Carrara should be divided between them, and a war was openly declared, which had for its end the annihilation of the House of Padua. The community of Udino, 'Albert Marquis d'Este, and Francesco Gonzaga, all coalesced against Carrara. Thus he stood alone amidst his enemies, and was as much afraid of his own subjects as he was of his powerful neighbours. Surrounded by traitors at home, scarcely knowing to whom to turn or who to believe, Carrara felt that his power was crumbling away from him. Suspicious of every one, and fearing that those who offered their advice were traitors bribed by Visconti, still there was no resource left him but to call his council and lay before them the direful extremity in which he found himself. The Dukes of Bavaria and Austria had both promised to march to his succour, provided that he would engage to send them the money necessary for the expedition. Francesco Vecchio was incapable of doing this, as the constant wars in which he had been involved had exhausted the treasury, and, to add to his perplexities, the Marquis of Ferrara refused to allow any succour from Bologna or Florence to pass through his dominions. The short-sightedness of these small Italian princes was obvious, but the influence of the ambitious and powerful lord of Milan was already felt, and so great a dread had they of provoking his anger, that they preferred aiding him to effect conquests which would render him yet more dangerous, rather than run the risk of incurring his displeasure, even if by so doing they might stop his victorious career. So. The ruin of the elder Carrara was inevitable, and he felt that it was Enemies surrounded him on every side, and his own courage even forsook him. After some days of weakness and irresolution, in which he listened to his various counsellors without gleaning any consolation from what they said, he at length resolved to take the last step which seemed to offer at least a faint chance of saving his territory from invasion-he abdicated in favour of his son Francesco Novello da Carrara. We are told that, during the few days that the lord of Padua was undecided and averse to taking such a step, traitors were not wanting to pour into the ears of his noble son dark schemes for throwing the old lord into prison, and seizing upon his authority. The advantages they urged were, that the Venetians had a personal, or rather an individual, hatred to Francesco Vecchio, and that it was for revenge that they prosecuted the war, whereas they could have no ill-feeling to the son, and would withdraw their support from Visconti, if he were to sit in his father's place. Francesco Novello listened with scorn to these dark insinuations; and so low had the sense of honour and religion fallen at this period in Italy, that it was considered a noble act on the part of the son, and one deserving of all praise, that he should refuse to comply with such an advantageous proposal. 39 VIDOCQ'S VISIT TO THE COUNTRY. BY WALTER THORNBURY. Vidocq, the great French detective, distinguished himself at one period of his career by putting down a gang of Chauffeurs-country thieves (many of them rich yeomen) who used to go about at night in disguise burning the feet of miser farmers to make them confess, by torture, where they had hid their money. My poem describes a sudden foray on the farm-house of a chauffeuryeoman living near Brest. SCENE I.-THE UNLUCKY FARM-HOUSE. JULY EVENING. ONE knew some evil thing would happen there,- Like notes of admiration-save the mark!!! The vine broke from its foster-nurse the wall, One knew the serpent fire would creep and wind, That doors would shrivel, floor-planks char and snap, Or some dark crime would mark with scarlet cross Barred up unseen, till rased by years of damp. SCENE II.-THE QUIET SUMMER Evening before Rain. The spider, with his fine-drawn telegraphic threads, The spider, ever answering the door, Waited for visitors but slow to come, Or sat, the centre sun of laddered world, The fly was taking on and off his pivot head, |