[*293] The Duke left between the fourth and fifth hour of the night (i.e. between 11 p.m. and midnight) on June 20. Cf. Diario delle Cose di Urbino in Arch. St. per le Marche e per l'Umbria, vol. III., p. 423.
[294] Bembo, Opera, II., p. 637.
[*295] The Diario delle Cose di Urbino makes no mention of any terror or looting on the 21st or after. There was an earthquake on the 23rd at mid-day, "che non s'udì mai il maggiore." On the 25th Cesare departed towards Casteldurante. He returned on August 3rd and left on the 6th.
[297] Vat. Urb. MSS. No. 1023, art. 17.
[298] Sanuto has preserved the following letter of the 8th October, addressed by Cesare to the inhabitants of Bertinoro, near Cesena, in reference to this feat of Brizio:—
"The Duke of Romagna, Prince of Urbino and Adria, Lord of Piombino, to our well-beloved, greeting: The peasants of S. Leo, carrying wood into that place, induced by cupidity of new booty, captured the warder and took the castle; and it being the capital of Montefeltro, the neighbouring castles have rebelled; and as perhaps Guidobaldo, feigning to have assistance from some potentate, may attempt to go thither, we command you, as you value our favour, to exert yourselves, and guard the passes with armed men, arresting all who may come that way, giving them into the hands of our commissary, or slaying those who may make resistance. Guidobaldo is not aware of the good understanding which exists between the Pope's Holiness and the most Christian King of France, as also between other potentates and us."
[*299] On 8 October, according to the Diario above cited ([p. 401], [note *1]), news came of the return of San Leo, San Marino, and Tavoleto, and all the Montefeltro. Gubbio and Cagli had returned to their allegiance to Guidobaldo, and all Urbino armed itself and cried, "Feltro! Feltro! Feltro!" There was, however, at first a large party who did not wish to see Guidobaldo again. The rocca, still presumably in the hands of Cesare, was taken next day, four contadini being killed.
[300] Among the Oliveriana MSS. I found a statement that his return was reluctant, and against hope of success, and that it had been somewhat forced upon him, in consequence of the injudicious zeal of a priest, who, finding his seal in S. Leo, gave out that he was arrived, ordered rejoicings, and issued forged letters in his name. The apocryphal story is not supported by any authority that I have met with. From the instructions to Machiavelli, dated 5th of October, it appears that his return was anticipated before the surprise of S. Leo had taken place,—an event probably brought about in part by such rumours, tending
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