rison a castle in the interior, but that cannot possibly be an objection, for but lately you said, you were indifferent where you went, so that there was a chance of your speedly rising from a subaltern to be an officer, and saint Antonio knows, there will be opportunity enough when Charles pours his army upon us."

"I will not go!" suddenly exclaimed Jerome, striking his forehead as if a painful conviction had shot across his mind, "the departure is too sudden, it will require time before"- "Do as you please," rudely interrupted Merency, walking from him, "the poor boor is jealous and imagines I have a mind to his girl, if I had his remaining in Milan would not frustrate my designs."

Jerome snatched a dagger from the floor where it had lain steeped in the blood of his beloved Isabel's father, brandishing it over his head, he left the house, swearing to cleanse its stains in Merency's heart.

In a few moments he was in the French camp, and approaching the tent of the murderer, he was suddenly arrested by a guard of soldiers; "what do you with that bloody dagger," said one of the soldiers wresting it from his grasp.

"I seek Merency," answered Jerome, struggling to free himself from the guard. "Merency has just left Milan, in the company of one of the handsomest maidens of the city, Isabel thy betrothed bride;" said the soldier, "he is for Paris, to-morrow's sun will lead you to death for the

Jerome did indeed tremble for his hap-murder of her father." piness, he knew Merency too well, not to fear, his making an attempt to steal Isabel's affections from him; but, it was some consolation to know.that his betrothed was far different from most of the Milanese maidens, and that she knew the character of the Frenchman too well to allow him to visit her; with these reflections busy in his mind he returned home, determined to visit Isabel in the evening, and warn her of Merency, whom he now considered his rival.

Words or resistance were vain, Jerome was dragged to a tent, bound and a guard of soldiers placed around him; but love and revenge were too strong for chains or guards-that night as the church clock of Milan struck the last hour to morning, Jerome had bursted his bands, evaded the soldiers and was on his way to France.

It was no sooner dark, than Jerome bent his anxious steps towards the dwelling of Isabel; as he approached the house a presentiment of evil seized his mind, he remembered the attentions Merency had paid to his betrothed, and the anxiety he evinced that he should depart from Milan; these reflections goaded him to desperation, he rushed to the door, and gave the well known signal of his arrival, a summons which Isabel had always haistened to obey; instead of hearing her light foot step approaching, he was startled by the tremulous voice of her father, intreating him to come in, he burst the door open and rushing into the house beheld Antonio Blout extended upon the floor surrounded by blood.

Jerome was fixed to the spot with agony and amazement. "Father," he at length exclaimed, "tell me quickly who has done this horrid deed, that the wretch may feel the instant vengeance of my wrath."

"Merency!" faltered the old man. "And Isabel; tell me father where is Isabel."

"Merency!" repeated Antonio, and his spirit fled with the utterance of that word.

*

*

*

The first rays of the sun were reflected from the spires of the different steeples of Moulins, as a weary traveller entered its suburbs; his whole appearance bore the marks of a long and fatiguing journey, which evidently from the state of his apparel had been performed upon foot; several citizens had collected together, and were casting upon the stranger glances of suspicion, following at such a distance, that they could not lose sight of him as he slowly wended his way to the heart of the city,

"How dares a traitorous Milane enter a city of France," said one of the citizens, "after suffering Charles' generals to drive the brave De Foix from their country, if they had joined heart and hand to support him, he would have been still in Milan."

"Beware neighbor, and do not broach your suspicions so openly," said another of the company, "you are apt to form hasty opinions, and are therefore often wrong in your conclusions; the stranger before us, may be the bearer of important documents from our marshal De Foix."

"It is more probable," replied the first speaker, "he will carry back to Milan important news to Colonna, or the Marquis de Piscara; in my opinion, he should be instantly arrested."

Before the sagacious citizens could set

tle in what way to act, Bourbon the first prince of the royal blood of France, was seen advancing towards the stranger; when they met, the Milane dofft his cap, Bourbon returned his salutation, when after a few moments conversation they both entered the house, before which they had been standing.

dotard," said another citizen, "seize him, arrest him for treason."

"Bourbon gave me no gold," replied the old man, "but he has given me this good sword, with which I will strike to my. feet the first hind who dares stretch out a hand to detain me."

The sight of the naked blade seemed to "Did you see that,' said one of the town-have a magic influence upon tho loyal citimen. I'll wager the best sword in my zens of Moulins, they drew back and sufshop against a rush, that, those two are fered the old man to pass unmolested; he cogitating some mischief to involve our scornfully returned his weapon to its scabgood King Francis into some new trouble; bard, and then entered the Duke of Bouryou all know it was rumored, that Bour- bon's house. bon carried on a correspondence with the Count de Rouex, a confident of the emperor Charles."

He proceeded to an apartment situated in the back part of the dwelling, where Bourbon was seated at a table with a pocket of papers before him. The Milane was sitting in a corner of the room, seemingly wrapt up in his own reflections, though occasionally he would raise his eyes from the floor, and closely scrutinize the countenance of the Duke, as if a part of the papers he was engaged in reading related to his own peculiar interest.

"I knew no such thing," replied another, "but one circumstance is explained to my satisfaction, two days ago the King, when on his way to Lyons, tarried here a short time to visit Bourbon, who was confined to his bed with sickness; to day he has no symptoms of disease, I believe from my soul he only feigned it then to escape marching with his majesty into Italy." "Jerome," at length said the Duke, 'the "If one dare speak his mind,' said an Count de Rouex informs me by this letter, old man who had hitherto been silent, no that, two years ago when Francis still held one has more cause to be discontented Milan under his sway, a French knight of than the high constable Bourbon, for the the name of Merency slew Antonio Blout, two or three years, he has received noth- an aged citizen of that place, when endea ing but insults and indignitics. In the voring to protect his daughter from viocampaign of 1521 in the low countries, lence, and that this maiden was thy betrothFrancis gave the command of the van ofed bride; he requests me if I should be achis army to D'Alencan, which command quainted with any circumstances connectwas time out of mind the preogative of theed with her, to make them known to you, noble Duke. A little while after this in that you might be enabled to rescue her sult, the Constable lost his amiable wife, from the power of the base ravisher, and when our king's worthy mother Lovise for-revenge her wrongs upon his guilty head; getting the hatred she had always bore prepare to hear the worst-death has wrestBourbon's family, wished to make him hered the maiden from D'Merency's grasp, she husband, although she was nearly double died six months ago in Paris of a broken bis age; but his noble spirit could not en- heart." dure this sudden transition from hatred to love, he refused her offer, and treated all her overtures with contempt, this again drew forth all the black malice of her nature she determined if she could not marry him, she would prove his ruin, for this purpose she consulted the infamous Du Prat, be advised a law suit, this advice was taken, and through his law artifices the whole Bourbon estate was wrested from its lawful owner."

"How much gold, old grey beard has Bourbon given you to advocate his cause?" said the speaker who had preceded the

old man.

"Do not parley with the insidious old

"Isabel dead!" exclaimed Jerome, springing upon his feet, "but it is the better, she lived here dishonored, but now her pure spirit shall guide me to vengeance, D'Merency twice escaped this dagger, when I had only to drive it forward an arms length and it would have reached his profidious heart, but I left him live, fearing his sudden death, would forever cut off all information of Isabel, let him beware of our third meeting, then no power on earth shall withdraw my hand from my weapon, but shouting the names of his two victims in his ears, will send him to his master, the devil.”

4

"Your passion is worthy of your wrongs,' said Bourbon, but pay attention to what

duce Pavia or perish in the attempt, and was determined now to stand by his obligation.

I have further to say, this letter also informs me that you wish to be my Henchman, you shall be so, I can well confide in your fidelity, for you have been a faithful Bourbon and his colleague for several Courier between De Rouex and, myself; days merely cannonaded the French ar another thing interests me in your welfare, my, until their soldiers growing impatient, we both seek revenge, you for love, and I demanded instant battle; the Imperial for injured honor. To-morrow's first dawn Generals fearful of rebellion if they refusshall behold us setting forth to seek venge-ed to grant the wishes of the arniy, led ance for our wrongs (and terrible will Fran- them to the charge. cis rue the insults he has heaped upon me,) till then remain in this house, take refreshment and rest, that you may be able to withstand the fatigues of the journey."

*

Baurbon and his Henchman after much fatigue and many narrow escapes from the French soldiers, reached the imperial dominions, where the former was received with open arms by the emperor Charles, and presented with a chief command in one of his armies; he was enabled by this high station, to harrass his late king in many ways, but as it is the design of this story to narrate the history of Jerome's love revenge, and death, Bourbon will appear only when necessary to carry out these incidents, this will carry us over a period of two years; when the French king elated with his conquest of Milan, determined to reduce Pavia, a city of considerable strength, garrisoned by six thousand veterans, under the command of Antonio de Leyva, an officer distinguished for bravery and experience.

Francis sustained by his brave nobility and faithful soldiers rushed with impetuosity upon his foes, throwing their firmest battalions into disorder: at this critical moment, when victory was about to perch upon the French standard, the Swiss in their services forgetting their renown for martial glory, basely deserted their post: Leyva saw this, and knew that the mo ment to revenge his long confinement in the Pavian walls was arrived, he sallied forth at the head of his brave garrison and attacked the French rear with such fury, as to throw it into disorder, this disorder became a perfect rout when Piscara fell upon the French horse-with the Imperial Cavalry the whole army fled, excepting a small body, who were fighting around Francis.

Bourbon was at a little distance from his old sovereign with his faithful Henchman at his side, when the latter suddenly springing from his horse shouted: "The third time has come, yonder is the accur sed Merency; onward Jerome, now strike for Isabel.”

Merency, who with all his faults was at least brave, had with other officers gathered around Francis endeavouring to defend him against a body of Spanish soldiers, seven of whom, the king had slain with his own hand.

For three months Francis, although assisted by the ablest engineers of the age, was unable to effect any thing more than make a few breaches in the walls, which were speedily remedied by the ingenuity of Leyva, who threw up new entrenchments behind them. But famine and muteny would soon have effected for Francis, Jerome rushed to the spot, and warding what his arms were unable to do, had it off a blow struck at him by the French not been for the address of Leyva, and the King, engaged Merency hand to hand, he influence he had over his soldiers, this poised his battle-axe in the air shouting as obedience would not however have con- it descended upon his opponents head, tinued long, if the imperial army had not "This for Antonio Blout." The clasps of soon appeared, they where discovered in Merency's helmet gave way beneath the the distance with waving banners march-blow and he stood bare headed before the ing to the relief of Pavia; the garrison avenger of innocence. "Mercy," he cried, raised the cry of Bourbon and Piscara, the "spare my life." joyful news soon throughout the city circu lating from neighbor to neighbor, that speedy deliverance was at hand.

"Mercy;" repeated Jerome, "had you mercy on venerable old age, had you compassion on youthful innocence-I know not mercy, here's vengeance for Isabel."Again the battle-axe descended, and Merency lay a disfigured corpse at the feet of

Francis, strongly entrenched before the walls of the city saw the storm approaching, he had time to retreat, but his honor and a vow forbid it, he had sworn to re-the Milane.

Bourbon was also revenged; he had the gratification of seeing Francis led a captive Early the next morning the two citizens from the field of battle; that night when were punctual to their appointment, they writing an account of this event to the Em- had been engaged in conversation till the peror Charles, he considered himself re- first rays of the sun began to pierce through compensed for all the injuries he had re-a thick mist that obscured every surroundceived. ing object, and had turned to depart, when the startling cry burst from a sentinel, "To arms, the Imperial army, Bourbon is upon us."

which we may escape this danger.” ***

**

Two citizens were upon the ramparts of Rome, talking over the different events that had taken place, between the Emperor Charles and the other European powers. "It is reported," said one of them, "that Bourbon is marching either upon Florence or this place; let that be as it may, I am determined to remove my family to a retreat, where they will be safe from the violence of a lawless soldiery."

"I think it would better become you Victor," rejoined the other, "to stay here and assist in the defence of this noble city, if any danger is to be apprehended, which I very much doubt; but if the Imperial army should even make an attempt upon us, the recent repairs in the fortifications, and the recruits which his Holiness the Pope has made, would be amply sufficient, to repel the utmost efforts of Bourbon's mutinous troops."

"There you are mistaken," replied Victor; "Bourbon's soldiers do not fight with the expectation of having their old arrears counted down to them, but to enrich themselves by spoilation; and take my word for it, with such an object in view, and with such a general as Bourbon to direct them, the walls around us will be but little obstacles to keep them out of Rome; were the battlements even defended by better soldiers than the recruits you have mentioned, who are no other than artificers, valets, and train bearers to Cardinals, noble soldiers truly!"

"But you forget Victor," said the other, "the Swiss guard of his Holiness, and the remnant of the disbanded troops which have been mustered, besides the Ecclesiastical weapons our Pontiff can wield, may avail much against our enemies.”

"The Swiss soldiers would indeed alter the case," answered Victor, "if there were a sufficient number of them; as to the spiritual weapons, they certainly would have an effect upon good Catholics, but the very marching of these hereticks upon St. Peter's Patrimony, prove them to be regardless of the curses of our Holy Father."

"You have convinced me," said the other, meet me by to-morrow's dawn upon this spot, and we will concert measures by

They turned; and looking down on the plain; beheld the foremost ranks of the enemy crossing the ditch that surrounded the city; where, having planted their scaling ladders, they rushed to the assault. The two citizens fled in terror from the battlements, and were re-placed by the Pope's guard, and a handful of veteran soldiers. These devoted men received their assailants with such bravery that those who had mounted the ladders; were in a few minutes rolling in the ditch beneath, the others surprised at this stout resistance, began to give way. The soldiers of the Sovereign Pontiff already began to fill the air with shouts of victory, these triumphant cries were however, of short duration-a noble warrior was seen making his way to the front of the retreating Imperialists, conspicious to his own men, and the soldiers of Rome by wearing a vest of dazzling white tissure over his armour. Snatching a scaling ladder from a retreating soldier, he planted it against the wall, and began to ascend, calling upon his comrades to follow, promising them the spoils of Rome, where wealth had been accumulating for ages, as the reward of their victory.

One of the defenders knew this warrior; turning to a comrade he demanded of him, "what his reward would be, if by a single shot he would disperse the whole Imperial army," his companion answered, "honour and wealth from the Pope, and the gratitude of the whole city."

"Then bear witness," he returned, "that my arm alone saves the city from ruin, and revenges our Holy Father, yonder warrior, so proudly encouraging his men to follow him, is the traitor Bourbon, if this shot tells well, the city is safe;" so saying, he raised his musket to his shoulder and fired-Bourbon brandished his sword in defiance at his foes, and then rushed a few steps forward, but his limbs failed, he lost his footing and fell with a groan to the earth. "Jerome," said he to his faithful Henchman who had followed him through every danger-"I die as I always desired, upon the battle

field, but let the day of my death, be the|| he was directed to the house of one of this