ortresses, from the remotest
hiding-places, they gave themselves up into the hands of the people
who summoned them to die. Some even precipitated themselves from the
towers of their strongholds. A very few, aided either by fortune or by
their own valor, escaped with their lives, but were despoiled of
everything, and these sought refuge in Messina. But the fate of
William Porcelet merits especial remembrance. He was Lord or Governor
of Calatafimi, and, amid the unbridled iniquity of his countrymen, was
distinguished for justice and humanity. On the day of vengeance, in
the full flush of its triumph and fury, the Palermitan host appeared
at Calatafimi, and not only spared the life of William and of his
family, but treated him with distinguished honor and sent him back to
Provence--a fact which goes to prove, that for the excesses committed
by the people, ample provocation had not been wanting.

Meanwhile the great object toward which every effort was directed was
to gain over Messina to the cause of the revolution, for all
comprehended the importance of her situation, of her seaport, and of
the powerful and wealthy city herself--obviously marked out as the
key-stone of the war--as well as the pressing necessity of obtaining
her alliance or of making a desperate effort to subdue her by force of
arms. Negotiations were therefore commenced. Of those which were
private and the most efficacious no record has been handed down to us;
but of those publicly conducted, a letter is still extant, dated from
Palermo, the 13th of April, and despatched by messengers to Messina,
which begins thus: "The Palermitans to the noble citizens of the
illustrious city of Messina, bondsmen under Pharaoh in dust and
mire--greeting, and deliverance from the servile yoke by the arm of
liberty.

"Rise!" continues the epistle. "Rise, O daughter of Zion, and reassert
thy former strength; ... cease thy lamentations, which only awaken
contempt; take thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and unbind the
fetters from thy neck." It proceeds to speak of Charles as a Nero, a
wolf, a lion, and a ferocious dragon; then reverting to Messina, it
exclaims: "The voice of God says to thee, 'Take up thy bed and walk!'
for thou art whole." And again it exhorts her citizens "to struggle
with the old serpent, and, being regenerate, like new-born babes to
suck the milk of liberty, to seek justice, and to fly from calamity
and ignominy."

While the Palermitans sought to