The public tranquillity was some years after broken by a war between the Paduans and Vincentines, in which the former, after some losses, engaged Ezzelino Monaco in their service at an established pension. The Vincentines then made a league with the Veronese, which gave them such a superiority, that Ezzelino thought proper to desert the Paduans, and ally himself with their enemies. To this change he was further induced by the hatred he bore to Padua on account of the favor of that city towards the family of Campo San Piero. The war continued with various success; and the Marquis of Este having been chosen Podesta of Verona against a competitor supported by Ezzelino, the latter again changed his party, and renewed his treaty with the Paduans. When the Paduan army marched against Este, Ezzelino had the charge of laying waste the surrounding country, which he executed with all the fury of a most inveterate foe. His son was by his side, learning to practice those cruelties which afterwards so much distinguished him even in an age of cruelty. This petty war was terminated in 1212 by a treaty, and the restoration of tranquillity was celebrated in the city of Treviso by a singular entertainment. A wooden castle was erected, in which was placed a garrison of 2000 women, who were to defend it without the aid of the other sex. No weapons of any kind were allowed either in the attack or defence, and a great concourse of families of distinction throughout the Marche of Treviso assembled to be spectators of this harmless warfare. It was, however, the cause of a quarrel between some Paduans and Venetians, who were joint assailants of the castle, who came to blows on the field; and this trifling incident produced a war between the two states.

The Marquis Azzo da Este having succeeded his brother Androvandino, was checked and opposed by Salinguerra da Este, a nobleman of great influence, the old enemy of the Marquisses of Este and the kinsman and ally of the house of Ezzelino. A bloody war ensued between them, in which the marquis was expelled from the city of Ferrara. In revenge for that and certain treacherous acts of Salinguerra, he attacked la Fratta, a castle belonging to the latter, and having taken it by storm, put to death every person found in the place, not sparing even women and children. Salinguerra sent an account of this deed to Ezzelino da Romano, who was now at the head of his house, his father having devoted himself to a religious retreat in the habit of a monk, which was the cause of the appellation of Monaco, given him by historians. In conjunction with his brother Alberico, Ezzelino da Romano adopted the quarrel of Salinguerra, and employed all his art and abilities to raise factions against the Marquis of Este in all the towns where he had an interest. He entered Verona, and expelling the count de San Bonifacio, the head of the Este, procured his own election to the dignity of Podesta. He also established his brother in the same office at Vicenza. In retaliation for the capture of la Fratta, he surprised by night the castle of Fonte, the residence of Giacomo da Campo San Piero, who had behaved with great cruelty at the storm of the former place; and carrying off the infant son of Giacomo, left a strong garrison in the castle. Giacomo made complaint of this outrage to the community of Padua, under whose protection were all the possessions of the family. The grand council of the city, consisting of a thousand persons, immediately assembling, it was resolved to march out against Ezzelino, who was reduced to considerable difficulties; but through the mediation of the state of Venice the dispute was compromised in 1228, on the condition that Ezzelino should restore the castle of Fonte, and swear allegiance to the state of Padua.

The unquiet spirit of this man soon, however, produced new troubles, by instigating the Trevisans to take possession of Belluno and Feltre, which were under the protection of Padua. The Paduans took arms to recover them, and peace was re-established upon conditions of their restitution. A year or two of general tranquillity followed, which is in great part attributed to the preaching of St. Anthony, who had left his native country of Portugal, and was come into this district in the course of his pious labours. He could not, however, prevent or pacify a tumult which arose at Verona between the parties of Ezzelino and the count St. Bonifacio, for which reason he retired to a hermitage near Padua, where he soon after died in the highest reputation for sanctity. Another preacher, named Father Giovanni deputed by Pope Gregory IX. for the purpose of appeasing the party differences which then prevailed through all the towns of Lombardy, came to Padua in 1233, where he was heard with great deference, and was successful in extinguishing many family feuds; but all his eloquence was unable to reconcile Ezzelino and the house of Campo San Piero. The pope's chief purpose in these missions was to unite the Lombards against the emperor Frederick II. who was expected shortly to visit Italy, a measure to which he was solicited by several leading men, and especially by Ezzelino. The death of da Campo San Piero, whose influence in Padua almost thwarted the plans of Ezzelino, was highly favorable to his views; and the arrival of the emperor at Trent in 1237 gave full scope to his ambition. He conducted Frederick to Verona, which city was at his disposal; and soon after procured him admission into Vicenza. By the intrigues he was carrying on in other cities, he gave hopes of the acquisition of all Lombardy to the emperor, who, in return, promised to raise him to the highest degree of authority. When Frederick was recalled to Germany by the news of some commotions in that country, he left Ezzelino with extraordinary powers to act in concert with his commander in chief, Count Goboardo.

It was the great object of Ezzelino to render himself master of Padua, and for that purpose he was continually plotting with the partisans whom he possessed in that city, and who were daily becoming more numerous. Their machinations being discovered, a number of them left the city and joined Ezzelino and the imperial troops; but their departure was far from restoring quiet and unanimity. The approach of the imperialists augmented the confusion in the city; the Marquis of Este thought proper to join the emperor's party; the devastation of the surrounding country filled the wealthy citizens with discontent; and in fine it was agreed that Ezzelino and Count Goboardo, with their followers, should be peaceably admitted iuto Padua.

Hitherto Ezzelino had either masked his real character, or the tyrant was not yet matured in him. An ancient chronicler thus describes him previous to his entrance into Padua :-" He was of a middling stature, with extremely lively eyes and a pleasant countenance, and light hair inclining to red. He was sedate in his demeanour, eloquent, polite, and agreeable in conversation; terrible to his enemies, courteous and affable to his friends; faithful in the performance of his promises, steady in his purposes, grave and deliberate in his discourse, provident in his counsels, and, in fine, laudable in every action of his life." He soon showed himself a master in politics; for, having been nominated Podesta of the city at an assembly of the principal citizens, he went out of the hall in appearance much troubled at the burden imposed upon him; and during his absence, those who knew his mind proposed that he should be requested to appoint to that office any person whom

he should think fit. After a feigned reluctance, he named a creature of his own; for, in fact, he had greater things in view than a local magistracy. He persuaded Count Goboardo to return to Germany, leaving him in the post of imperial vicar of all the Marche of Treviso, with the full command of all the foreign troops. These were chiefly Germans; but there was the singular mixture of 300 Saracens, to whom, as particularly attached to his interest, Ezzelino confided the guard of the gates of the city and principal fortresses. Many of the Paduans having emigrated on the change of affairs, and taken possession of the strong castle of Montagnone in the neighbourhood, Ezzelino attempted to reduce it; but not succeeding, he began his tyrannical practices by obliging many of the principal families of Padua to give hostages. He also assembled about twenty of the leading men whose fidelity he most suspected, and with much apparent civility advised them for a time to withdraw from the city, assuring them that they should soon be recalled; but when they had complied with his desire, he took care that they should all be apprehended at their country seats or in the neighbouring towns, and sent to remote castles under his authority, where they were detained as prisoners. He also began to confiscate the effects and demolish the palaces of all those who emigrated through fear of his tyranny; and from the ruins he erected some strong fortresses to bridle the city. An attempt made by the Marquis Azzo of Este, and the Paduan emigrants, in 1238, to get possession of the city, was defeated by the vigilance of Ezzelino, who made it the pretext of further severities against the disaffected. He was also able so well to justify himself against the accusations of his enemies, before the emperor, who had again visited Italy, that his authority received fresh confirmation.

It would be tedious and disgusting to enumerate all the steps in the progress of this tyrant to a despotism, the cruelty of which is scarcely to be parallelled in modern history. It will suffice to note a few of the most striking and characteristic circumstances. Against the emperor and Ezzelino, who were endeavouring to reduce all this part of Italy, a powerful league was formed between the pope, the state of Venice, the Milanese, Bolognese, the Marquis of Este and Alberico, the brother of Ezzelino, whose daughter had married a son of the marquis. Of these joint forces the marquis was made captain, and he gained possession of Ferrara. The league had many friends in Padua, whose correspondences were occasionally discovered, or at least suspected, and served continually to irritate the jealous fury of the tyrant. Executions, with every circumstance of barbarity, became more and more frequent, and the numbers of the imprisoned daily augmented. In a strong castle, erected within the limits of the city, was a range of horrid dungeons, into which not a ray of light, nor a breath of air, was admitted. Their architect was one Zilio, a Milanese, who, falling under the tyrant's displeasure, was their first occupier; and from him they were named the Zelie. They were soon filled with persons suspected of disaffection, who underwent in them the utmost extremity of human misery. In the mean time the vigour and abilities of Ezzelino rendered him successful in most of his enterprises, and in 1250 he possessed Verona, Vicenza, Padua, Feltre, and Belluno, besides numerous castles and fortresses. His brother Alberico was master of Treviso, and though in appearance they were enemies, it is said that they had a secret intelligence, and acted in concert.

A superb palace, which he built in the manner of a fortress at the head of the bridge in Padua, commanding an entrance and an exit of the city, being finished, he gave a grand entertainment in it, to which many of the nobility

of both sexes were invited. Among them was a distinguished cavalier, named Bontraverso da Castel, who brought with him his beautiful and accomplished daughter Beatrice. The stern heart of Ezzelino was instantly captivated at the sight of her, and he drew the father aside and expressed his desire of taking her for his wife. Such an offer was not likely to be refused, and Bontraverso immediately acquainted his daughter with the proposal, and required her acquiescence. The young lady, though little inclined to such an union, knowing that a refusal would be the ruin of her family, gave her consent; and the marriage was celebrated without delay in the presence of several of the principal guests. The festivities which followed this amorous alliance gave little intermission to the executions and imprisonments which were become the ordinary measures of Ezzelino's government; and the appointment of his nephew Ansedisio de' Guidotti to the office of Podesta, a man of a disposition perfectly suited to his own, augmented the number of victims, many of whom were persons connected with him by blood or affinity. Besides an infinite number sacrificed to his political jealousy, he seems to have indulged an appetite for cruelty in torturing and mutilating the bodies of the innocent and harmless. We are told of his cutting off the noses and breasts of women, of blinding and castrating children, of putting persons to death by torture, and suffering others to die of hunger in his dreadful dungeons. It is said that when any died in these cells, their bodies were left to rot, and not removed till the general cleaning of the prisons, which took place only four times in the year. Though Padua was the principal theatre of these cruelties, they also extended to Verona and other places under the tyrant's dominion. The rage of despair in one of his victims once brought his own life into danger. Two noble brothers being apprehended on suspicion and brought before Ezzelino, were treated by him with such injurious language, that the eldest, a man of great strength and ferocity, flew upon him, and getting him down, began to mangle his face with his teeth, and throttle him with his hands, which he would soon have effected, had he not, with his brother, been dispatched by the swords of the bystanders.

At length the name of Ezzelino became so odious, and his power so formidable, throughout Italy, that the pope Alexander IV. published a crusade against him, and a league was entered into in 1256, between the Roman see, the republic of Venice, and many of the Paduan and other emigrants, which collected a considerable army, headed by the papal legate. After the capture of several places, the legate resolved to march straight to Padua; and the following curious description is given of the advance of the consecrated troops. When all the soldiers, infantry and cavalry, were ranged under their respective leaders, with their ensigns displayed, and their provision and ammunition, with all the machines then in use for attacking fortified places, the legate, accompanied by many prelates and devout priests, came to the centre of the army, and drew it up in battle array. Then, perceiving the universal alacrity of the men, he began in a loud and solemn voice to sing in honor of the holy cross the hymn beginning " Vexilla Regis prodeunt." In this he was joined by all his attendants; and thus the army set forwards on their march to Padua. Ansedisio, who commnanded in the city, made every proper disposition for resistance, and a sharp conflict ensued under the outer wall. The Paduan emigrants, animated with all the zeal of party, were the first who forced their way, and at length the suburbs were taken by the assailants, and Ansedisio with his forces was obliged to retreat within the city. On the next day the second wall was attacked and

forced, and the legate obtained complete possession of the city, which was deserted by the defenders. But this success was no present relief to the unfortunate Paduans, who during eight days were unmercifully pillaged by the disorderly soldiers, notwithstanding all the efforts of the legate to restrain them. The prisoners, however, to the number of 1500 of both sexes and all ages, were immediately liberated, and the ancient constitution of the city, with all its privileges and immunities, was restored. It is observed that Ansedisio hastened the loss of the city by the very means he took to retard it; for in order to prevent the entrance of the Venetian fleet, he drained off the water of the river Bacchiglione, and thereby laid dry the deep ditch which every where surrounded the city wall. The strong citadel soon after surrendered, and more than 300 prisoners were restored to the light of day from its horrid dungeons, most of whom, however, were severely injured in their health by their sufferings in them. The surrender of the castle gave liberty to 464 more prisoners, who had been confined in the Zilie, and were in a condition that rendered them scarcely to be recognized by their friends

Ezzelino, meantime, had been engaged in an incursion into the Mantuan territory, whence he returned to Verona just in time to receive intelligence of the loss of Padua. When it was first related to him by a fugitive, he was struck motionless; but soon flying into a rage, he ordered the man instantly to be hanged, as a bearer of false news. Its confirmation was followed by a horrible revenge, which crowned all the cruel acts of the tyrant. Ordering his whole army to assemble in Verona, he caused all the gates of the city to be shut, and then commanded all the Paduans serving in his army, or who were there as hostages or residents, to collect without arms in a particular place. He then summoned his council, and put the question what should be done with them. The opinions were that they should be kept under safe guard at Verona or Vicenza, whilst Ezzelino should be occupied in recovering Padua. As this advice did not come up to his purpose, he dismissed the council with marks of great displeasure, and assembling his satellites and executioners, gave orders that the Paduans should all be put to death within eight days in the most cruel manner. In this massacre 2039 persons of that city, partly noble, partly plebeian, were most mercilessly slaughtered. This catastrophe, succeeding the eight years tyranny which Padua had undergone, so weakened and depopulated it, that a long time elapsed before it recovered itself.

Ezzelino made great preparations for the ensuing campaign, whilst the army of crusaders was much diminished through the dissensions of the different people who composed it. He marched with a powerful army to invest Padua, ruining the country through which he passed, and cutting down the vines and fruit trees. The Paduans had used great diligence in strengthening the fortifications; and the legate and Marquis of Este garrisoned the city with their troops. After some fruitless attempts, Ezzelino thought fit to lead his army back to Vicenza, and thence went to Verona, where he put to death all the surviving Paduans who had been his own servants and partisans. The execution of his cruel agent Ansedisio in torments, however undeserved from him, gave general satisfaction. The loss of the castle of Moncellese threw him into fresh transports of rage, and several Vicentines were the victims of his suspicion on this occasion. He twice attempted, by the offer of a great reward, to procure the assassination of the Marquis of Este, but his plots were happily discovered and frustrated. His brother Alberico, whose conduct had long been dubious, though he still nominally adhered to the party of the