Book II, ch. 158 (Johnes, v. II, pp. 31-32). At this period,
another marvellous event happened in Lombardy, which
was the subject of general conversation. The count de Vertus, whose
name was John Galeas Visconti, and his uncle were the greatest personages
in all Lombardy. Sir Galeas and sir Bernabo were brothers, and had peaceably
reigned and governed that country. One of these lords possessed nine cities,
and the other ten; the city of Milan was under their government alternately,
one year each.
When sir Galeas, the father of the count de Vertus, died, the affections
of the uncle for his nephew were much weakened; and sir Galeas suspected,
that now his father was dead, his uncle Bernabo would seize his lordships,
in like manner as sir Galeas,
his father, and uncle Bernabo had done to their brother sir Matthew,
whom they had put to death. The count de Vertus was very suspicious, and
plainly showed that he had his fears of this event taking place. However,
by his actions and the capture he made, he proved himself the more subtle
of the two. I will relate the circumstance
Sir Bernabo heavily oppressed that part of Lombardy of which he was
lord, and taxed his vassals, two or three times a-year, a half or a third
of their wealth; but none dared to murmur against him. Sir Galeas, count
de Vertus, to acquire popularity and praise, did not levy any taxes on
his possessions, but simply lived on his rents. This mode he had followed
for five years, ever since the death of his father, which gained him so
much the love of the Lombards, that they all praised him, and lived happily
under him; whilst, on the contrary, they abused underhand sir Bernabo,
who would not leave them anything. The count de Vertus (who had formed
his plan, and was acting accordingly, from the suspicions he had of his
uncle, and, as some said, from appearances having been manifested, that
confirmed them) issued a secret summons to those in whom he confided the
most:
to some of whom be revealed his plan, but not to all, lest it should
be made public. A day had been appointed by sir Bernabo to make an excursion
of pleasure from one of his castles to another. Upon this, his nephew placed
three ambuscades on the road sir Bernabo was to take; so that it was not
possible but he must fall into one of them. He had ordered that he should
be made prisoner, and on no account killed, unless he made too obstinate
a defence
Thus as sir Bernabo was riding from one town to another, mistrusting no evil, nor any way thinking of his nephew, but considering himself as perfectly safe, he entered one of the ambuscades, when the men planted in ambush instantly advanced to him full speed and with lances in their rests. Sir Bernabo had a German knight with him, who cried out, "My lord, save yourself! for I see people of a bad mien coming towards you, and I know them to be persons belonging to your nephew sir Galeas."
Sir Bernabo replied, that "he was not acquainted with any place where he could save himself, if they had any evil intentions against him, and that he was unconscious of having done anything against his nephew that should make him fly."
Those who had been placed in ambuscade continued advancing towards sir
Bernabo. When the German, who was a man of honour and knight of the body
to sir Bernabo, saw them thus approaching his lord, having the sword of
his master before him,
he instantly drew it out of its scabbard and placed it in the hands
of sir Bernabo (which was seen by those who were pressing forward); and
then the knight drew his own sword, like a valiant man, and put himself
on his defence. This, however, did not avail, for he as well as sir Bernabo
were instantly surrounded, and the knight was slain under pretence that
at the commencement he meant to defend himself; for whose death sir Galeas
was afterwards sorely vexed.
Sir Bernabo was made prisoner without any defence made by him or his
attendants, and carried to a castle where his nephew was, who much rejoiced
on his arrival. That same day his wife and children that were marriageable
were also arrested, and confined by the lord of Milan, who took possession
of all the lordships, castles, towns, and cities which sir Bernabo held
in Lombardy. His uncle died shortly after; but I know not by what means,
though I believe it was from being bled in the neck, for in Lombardy they
are accustomed to make such bleedings when they wish to hasten the death
of any one. News of this was soon spread abroad: some were pleased at it,
others vexed; for sir Bernabo had in his time done so many acts of cruelty,
and without reason, that few pitied him, saying, he had well deserved it.
This was the end of sir Bernabo Visconti,
who had reigned most powerfully in Lombardy.