Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/32

18 him a spirited reply; but returned disheartened to the city. In the consultations which followed, some were for submitting unconditionally, as was demanded; and others preferred dying sword in hand. An old man, who had lived more than a century, re-animated their courage, by proposing the employment of their treasures in procuring succours from the neighbouring princes: and then, if their applications proved fruitless, he advised them to throw their riches into the sea, and sell their lives as dear as possible.

Deputies were accordingly sent, by some stratagem, through the Venetian fleet, to William degli Adelardi, of Ferrara, and the Countess of Bertinoro, who engaged in the cause, with all that zeal and alacrity, which animates generous minds to aid the distressed.

The archbishop, alarmed at the succours he heard were preparing for the besieged, caused letters, as if from their deputies, to be thrown into the city, saying, they had bad success in their negociations; and, that they must expect no help, Some of the most enlightened of the inhabitants detected the forgery, and calmed the anxious minds of the affrighted populace, by solemnly assuring them they were false.

In the mean time, through many difficulties and interruptions, the troops of the countess Aldrude, and of William Adelardi, advanced, preceded by a standard of cloth of gold. They were composed of twelve squadrons, each of two hundred choice men; and an innumerable multitude of regular and light infantiy. They encamped upon a hill, not far from the Archbishop; and when it was night, William ordered his men to place two or more lighted candles at the tops of their pikes and lances. Alarmed, by this means, with the idea, that their number was immense, the Archbishop drew