עא

CREMONA SURRENDERS TO PROSPERO. 27

prince Bona Valle*, to Lodit, to watch it. And Prospero gathered his men, and the men of Milan went every one to his house. And he went to Marignano and gave money to the Germans ; and it came to pass, in the morning, he hastened to go up to Lodi; and he encamped against it, and warred against it, and went up to the fortifications and subdued it, and gave it over to be spoiled, and much people died. And the rest of the French hastened to flee, but they pursued after them, and made of them a great slaughter. And the remnant of them they took alive. And thence he removed and encamped against Pizzigitoni§, and they gave the city into his hand, for they were terrified before him. And he turned about, and went to Cremona, and encamped against it, whereupon the generals of the host sent to him, saying, "Let us alone, and we will send to Tzarphath; and it shall come to pass, that if the king will not send to our assistance, in the space of forty days, we will surrender the city into thy hand, and we will go our way freely." And Prospero hearkened unto their voice, and returned to Pavia. And it came to pass, after certain days, that they gave the city into his hand, but not the citadel, for it had not been given them by the king.

.לודי +

.פיציגיטון 8

בונה וואלי מאריניאן !

*

+

28

A. D. 1522-SIEGE OF GENOA.

עא

619. Then the chief captains of the host spake every one to his neighbour, and said, Let us go

66

up to war against Genoa, which is in the hands of Ottaviano Fragoso, to leave no remnant of the French in the country" (for Genoa alone was left to the king at that time). And the marquess Pescara, and Antoniato and Geronimo Adorni, went, and with them a very great company. And Prospero went also into the gates of Genoa, in the month of May, in the year one thousand five hundred and twenty-two. And they laid siege to it, and cast up trenches, and beat down their walls, and demanded peace; but they of the city hearkened not, for the Lord had hardened their hearts, and they brake down the walls day by day, and the city of Genoa was in consternation. Then they sent messengers to the generals of the host; and it came to pass, as they were without, that Pietro of Novara came with six cruizers, and one great ship, and cried with a loud voice, "Let the king live for ever!" and they hardened their hearts, and ran after the men of Pietro of Novara to the walls, to mock the battle-array of the Spaniards; and when the chief captains of the host heard thereof, they gave the city to the men of the host to plunder, and to tread under the soles of their feet. And it came to pass, on the thirtieth day of the month of May, that they sent ambassadors

עא

GENOA TAKEN BY THE SPANIARDS.

29

to Prospero to beseech him, and to give the city into his hands on the next morning; and he said to them, Beware much of the Spaniards; and before my men be not afraid, for I will not let them war any more; only know ye, and see, that your murmurings be not against me." Now, at this time, the marquess Pescara heard of it, and drew nigh unto the city, and put the battle in array against it, and cast up a trench round about it, and slew the watchmen on the walls. And the Spaniards came into the city through the breaches of the wall, with a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death*; and they said, "Let us swallow them alive, and no man could stand before them; and they ran about the streets, so that the people fled before them into the houses and to the high places, and to the courts. And after them went all the men of valor, who spoiled them; and deeds which ought not to be done, were done in the midst of the city that night, and they took much spoil; and also to the great high placet, where the chargert is, went the soldiers; but the priests strengthened themselves until assistance came. And they gave them a thousand ducats, and the Germans went away

* Judges v. 18.

i. e. The cathedral.

p. See Vol. 1. p. 80.

30 RABBI JOSEPH'S MOTHER DIES-A.M. 5283. NU

from the high place. And they slew the French who were hid with the edge of the sword; and Pietro of Novara, and Ottaviano Fragoso, the oppressor of the Jews, they took alive, and led them away bound with chains; and Ottaviano died in prison by the vengeance of the Lord. And blessed be He, who hath not given us over for a prey unto his teeth. He shall be blessed for ever! Selah! Amen and Amen..

620. And Antoniato Adorno, the duke of Genoa, was in the counsel of the emperor at that time. This was the fourth plundering of Genoa. The first was by the hand of Magon, the Carthaginian*; and the second, by the hand of Rotarist, king of the Lombards; and the third, by the hand of the Hagarenes‡.

621. Adrian, the pope, came to Genoa in the month of August; and Prospero, and the duke of Milan, and the marquess Pescara came to bow themselves before him, and to ask of him forgiveness for the plundering of Genoa; but he would not hearken unto them, and they returned to Milan. . Now my mother Dolza died in the month Tebeth of the year two hundred and eighty-three, after the smaller number, and I buried her in Novi, and may her rest be glorious! And my wife bare a

.רוטארי +

מאגון קארטאגיניס * .the Saracens ההגריים ?

A. D. 1522-SOLYMAN INVADES RHODES. 31 daughter, and I called her name Dolza, and I was comforted after my mother's death*.

622. On that day the Lord stirred up the spirit of Solyman to go to war against Rhodes. And he gathered together men of valor, and went thither in the month of June, one thousand five hundred and twenty-two. And his ships were four hundred, and the number of the soldiers two hundred thousand, and of the battering rams numberless. And they brake down the walls thereof, and dug trenches round about, and cast up a high mound over against it, and they shot into the city day and night with guns, and cast great stones ́into it a cubit in breadth, and battered down their houses to the ground. And the battle was sore between them many days, and much people died. And day after day they entered through mines into the midst of the city, and they likewise strengthened themselves; and much people died in the mines from the gunpowder, which the men of the city put therein. And the mines were filled round about her with dead carcases, and their stench went up towards heaven; and also from sickness, there died in the camp of Solyman, about thirty thousand men. And for all that, he turned not his right hand back, and they

* Gen. xxiv. 67.