Giovanni Galeazzo, which had been signed in the month of October, 1389.

Thus deceived where he felt most secure, Francesco Carrara gave himself up, for the first time, to despair. His accustomed fortitude forsook him, he was crushed by such repeated and humiliating calamities. Where could he seek for support, and, if wholly unaided, what could he do?

The ever-changing policy of his allies showed him how little he could trust to their assistance, but without them what was he?-an exiled, persecuted man, with means only sufficient for the maintenance of himself and family.

A spirit like Carrara's could not long be subdued by reverses such as these, and the affectionate sympathy of his much-beloved sister and her worthy husband revived and consoled him.

Count Stefano pointed out to him how that, by the help of some Hungarian friends, he could safely promise him three thousand horse, which they would maintain in his service for a year at least. He advised him also to negotiate with the King of Bosnia, who was enraged against Visconti for having assisted his bitter enemies, the Turks, during a recent

war.

Francesco da Carrara immediately commenced his preparations for a journey to this semi-barbarous country, but, before setting out, he yielded to his sister's entreaty that he should consult a prophetess who lived amongst the mountains not far from the town of Modrusa, and who was of great renown amongst the superstitious, as to the result of such an undertaking.

Carrara in all probability had little faith in the power of such a person, but curiosity and love for his sister Catarina led him to comply with her urgent and repeated request. The prophetess was sent for and conducted to Stefano's castle. Before venturing upon any revelation, she required to be made fully conversant with the past life of the person who wished to consult her.

Carrara drew, therefore, a slight sketch of all that had befallen him in the course of his eventful career, disclosing his designs and wishes, and demanding of her what lay hid from him in the mystery of the future, what the result of his journey would be, and what he had to expect from others.

The woman asked time, that she might consult with the spirit ere she spoke, and accordingly withdrew, returning in the space of an hour. She then revealed to Carrara many things, and amongst them she promised that he should re-enter his rightful territory in June, and recover his lost power.

"Your journey to Bosnia will not take place," she continued, "for you will have to treat again with the Duke of Bavaria. I see that you give no credence to my words now, but I declare that, at this very moment, the Comte de Vertu has violated the treaty with Florence and Bologna, and that war will break out between them. The messengers are seeking for you even whilst I speak, and the news they bring confirm my words. You have also required of me to reveal the future with regard to your father. He will die in captivity."

The sibyl quitted the castle. What she had said troubled Carrara; he

knew not whether to believe her, or to treat this announcement as the fabrication of an ingenious brain.

On the morrow he set forth upon his journey to the King of Bosnia, but scarcely had he started than he was stopped by messengers from the seigniory of Florence, who, having exhibited their credentials, informed him that a fresh quarrel had arisen between their republic and the Comte de Vertu, and that they were instructed to authorise him to renew the treaty with the Duke of Bavaria, which they had formerly rejected. Carrara having ascertained that the Florentine ambassadors were actually in Friuli waiting till it should be time to ratify the treaty with Bavaria, thought that now, at least, he might place confidence in his fickle allies, and, accompanied by Piedro Guazzalotti, the Florentine ambassador, he set out for Munich, passing by Ramestorich, Ottenburg, and Hall. At Munich he was received by the Duke of Bavaria, who declared himself ready and willing to renew the promises he had already made, and to accept of an alliance with the Florentine republic upon the former conditions.

Having learned the duke's pleasure, Guazzalotti started for Friuli, and soon returned with the ambassadors.

The season of the year was so far advanced that it would have been impossible to make any military arrangements, and the winter, therefore, was passed in diplomacy, in consultations, and in planning for the future.

Carrara repaired to Carinthia, that he might spend this tedious season of delay with his aunt Lieta da Carrara, who had married the Count of Ottenburg, a much-valued and powerful friend.

Now that the consummation of his desires seemed to approach so near, Francesco Novello found this temporary inaction almost more than he could bear.

He dreaded any delay, and indeed he had but too good cause to fear lest the spring should find the policy of Florence once more changed. This trying winter brought much family affliction to add to his numerous anxieties.

The Count Stefano of Segna, and the aunt with whom he was residing, both died. His natural brother, the Count of Carrara, whom he had enrolled amongst the adventurers under John Hawkewood, was taken prisoner; and, to add to his fears, he learned that his beloved and widowed sister Catarina was besieged in the castle of Modrusa.

During all these family afflictions Carrara was supported and consoled by the Count of Ottenburg, who was himself mourning the death of his wife; but, in spite of the kindness he received, Carrara's health succumbed for a time under the many shocks it had sustained, and he was confined to a sick couch for some weeks.

With returning spring came better tidings and renewed vigour.

His brother was set at liberty, Florence and Bologna were forced into a declaration of war against Visconti, and the Paduans were wearied of the tyranny under which they had been groaning, and quite prepared to receive their rightful lord.

Cheered by such intelligence as this, Carrara repaired without loss of time to Bavaria, that he might hasten the preparations of the duke.

The Florentines, doubtful of their own strength, had implored the pro

tection of Charles VI. of France, but they only received his reply to their embassy at the moment when the war broke out, and the conditions which France imposed as the price of her aid were such as the republic could not with honour accept.

The council for war assembled. The command of the troops was given to John Hawkewood, at that time in the service of Queen Margaret, but whose personal hatred to Giovanni Galeazzo was such as to tempt him to accept the office entrusted to him by Florence. He was placed at the head of an army of two thousand lances, or six thousand cavalry.

Bologna brought a thousand lances into the field under Giovanni Barbiano, and every effort was made by the republics to carry on a successful campaign.

The forces of Visconti were infinitely superior in numbers, but his army was dispersed over too great a surface, and the advantages he would otherwise have derived were in this manner frustrated.

A few castles fell into his hands, and some incursions were made, but whilst directing all his attention upon the Italian republics, he was suddenly surprised by the intelligence that Carrara had entered the Trevisian territory at the head of an armed force.

Weary of awaiting the pleasure of the Duke of Bavaria, who continued to counsel delay, Carrara determined to commence operations alone, and boasted that he would be in Padua ere the duke had begun his march, and have ample time to make due preparations for his reception.

His force did not consist of more than three hundred men-at-arms and two hundred infantry, collected together by Michael Rabatta, his bosom friend, and other noblemen of Friuli, at their own expense.

The Venetians, alarmed by the growing power of Visconti, had declared their neutrality, and permitted the passage of troops through the territory of Treviso. Carrara took advantage of this permission, and pushed forward to the frontier of his father's dominions.

The Florentines had insisted upon Carrara's taking under his protection Can Francesco della Scala, the son of Antonio, on whom he had formerly made war conjointly with Giovanni Galeazzo, and therefore the standard of his house was carried in front of Carrara, together with that of the community of Padua and the "carro," badge of the Carraras.

Wherever the little army appeared, they were received with acclamations of joy from the oppressed inhabitants.

Padua had been reduced to the rank of a provincial town; it had lost its position, and their pride revolted at the many insults practised upon them. In every village where Carrara appeared, he was surrounded by an eager crowd ready to welcome him back to his dominions with all the empressement that they had shown when preparing to greet the generals of Visconti but a short time before, and he found himself encamped under the walls of Padua with a well-organised force, aided by upwards of twelve thousand peasants.

On the 18th of June, 1390, Carrara sent his defiance to those in command of Padua, but his herald was treated with contempt, his pennon thrust into his trumpet, and he was ordered to return to his lord with the

information that the man was a fool who attempted to enter by the door when he had been thrown from the window.

It was well for Francesco da Carrara that he knew the locality so perfectly in which he found himself, for he was enabled to arrange his troops in the most advantageous order, and to plan out the best mode of attack.

Below the bridge over the Brenta the water did not reach above a man's knee, and at this point the town was only encircled by a simple wooden palisade. Carrara knew this, and at midnight he was the first to descend into the water, accompanied by twelve men with hatchets, and a company of lancers. They soon gained the palisade, and to distract the attention of the guards from their operations, a command was given to the armed peasants on the opposite shore to set up a great shouting. This had the desired effect, and a breach was soon made. The enemy's guards, having been divided and taken by surprise at this sudden attack, made small resistance, and Carrara, heading two hundred of his men, hewed a passage through the fifty who opposed his entrance, and pushed his way as far as the cemetery of St. James.

It was then that the cries of "Carro, carro !"* resounded on all sides from the startled inhabitants; the banner of Carrara waved through the streets, the flourishing of trumpets rent the air and sent terror to the hearts of the Milanese garrison, whilst it determined the vacillating Paduans to side with their ancient lord, whose enterprise seemed about to be crowned with success.

Ere long Carrara found himself in possession of all the gates of the city, and had the satisfaction of driving the troops of Visconti, together with those of his own subjects who were against him, into the two fortresses, one of which was delivered into his hands on the following night, through the instrumentality of the owners of some houses in the immediate neighbourhood.

The next day brought the joyful news that Castelbaldo, Montagnana, Este, and Moncelise had declared in favour of Carrara. Intelligence of the most cheering kind continued to pour in, and the returning tide of fortune overwhelmed Francesco Novello with gratitude, so that he threw himself upon his knees in the midst of his people and gave thanks to God.

Whilst flushed with victory, he did not forget to whom he owed his success, and repairing to the church of St. Antonio, he remained on his knees in full armour during the celebration of mass. Rising at the conclusion of the service, he divested himself of his richly embroidered surcoat and placed it on the altar with reverence, as an offering to his patron saint.

But little blood had been shed during this short and spirited conflict, and Carrara's humanity restrained his soldiers from pillaging his enemies' houses.

Verona, having heard of the revolution which had taken place so successfully in Padua, took arms on the 25th of June in favour of Can Francesco della Scala, a boy of six, but who was the son of their ancient lord. They seized all the gates of the city, but could not obtain session of the citadel, and disputes arose amongst themselves, which

"Le char! le char!" les armoiries de Carrare, un char de gueules en champ d'argent.-Sismondi.

Some wished to

weakened their forces and crippled their efforts. establish a republic, others wanted to place the infant prince in possession of his father's territory, and whilst they were disputing, Ugolotto Biancardo suddenly appeared amongst them with five hundred lances sent from Milan to defend Padua. He forced his way into the citadel, and from thence attacked the town, massacred the inhabitants, and delivered everything up to the pillage of the soldiers.

This done, he continued his route to Padua, hoping to meet with equal success. Francesco da Carrara was not a man to allow himself to be taken by surprise, however, and every day added to his strength. On the 27th of June reinforcements arrived from the Duke of Bavaria, and on the 1st of July Duke Stephen himself made his appearance, but with fewer men than he had promised to bring. The 5th of August brought succours from Florence, and ere the month had run out the citadel of Padua was in the hands of Carrara, and he once more found himself upon the throne of his fathers-a position which his own activity, perseverance, and courage had gained for him.

THE NOVEL IN GERMANY.

WE are happy in being able to state that a decided improvement has recently taken place in German novels, and, as conscientious perusers of nearly every work of that nature which appears-and their number is legion-we think we have a right to form an opinion on the subject. The transitions in public taste which have lately taken place in Germany have been very curious, and equally curious is the bell-wether system among the authors. At the time Sue's "Mysteries of Paris" appeared with such success, there was a perfect run upon capitals in which mysteries were performed-Amsterdam, Petersburg, Lichtenstein-in short, every town where a prince ruled, if only over half a score vassals, was marked down as good for a mystery. When this mania died out, there was a rush for novels with French plots, a Madame Lewald being at the head of the sisterhood; for it is a curious fact in novel-history, that the most improper novels are written by women. Unfortunately for the readers, although the improprieties were placed in evidence, the wit that glazes them in French novels was absent, and this class of novels had only a success among milliners and students. The latest phase of German novels is the "Debit and Credit" school, the success of that work having produced an extraordinary number of imitations, the best among them being probably a novel called "Cash," the significance of which title induced us to read the book.

But through the midst of these sporadic successes, one class of novel has been steadily making its way in the shape of the historico-political. The revelations made by Dr. Vehse in his "Courts of Germany" were a veritable fund for romance writers, and it would be impossible for us to quote a hundredth of them. The most celebrated among them, however, are