te and turning quickly
started to open it, whereupon he thrust at me with his lance, but my
corselet turned it aside.

"Quickly drawing my sword and throwing off the cowl and robe, I made a
vicious thrust at him, piercing his leather jacket. He sank at my feet
helplessly wounded.

"My companion and I then rushed the other two who turning fled, uttering
loud cries of alarm. We ran and opened the small gate, when one of my
men rode forward leading two horses, and mounting, the three of us rode
rapidly away through a near gate of the city into the open country and
by nightfall reached the camp of my horsemen.

"I immediately dispatched a special messenger with a note to my wife
telling of my escape and promising within the week to come to her.

"These men were anxious to hear an account of our adventures, believing
we had been to England or some distant country on important service; but
I had to remain silent to hide the identity of my faithful friend. To
their inquiries I answered; 'You must be satisfied with the little we
have told; I will say further my experiences have not increased my love
for the church, or the Pope.'

"At the monastery they were unable to learn who had escaped with the
friar or what became of either of us. Their records showing me dead,
made their investigation the more difficult. Of course, in time they
learned that was a mistake and doubtless concluded that I accompanied
the friar.

"On the following morning I resumed formal command and in a day or two
things were moving along as though I had never been absent. The only
persons to whom I ever disclosed the place of my imprisonment, were my
wife, her brother and Sir John.

"On the third day after I resumed command we were ordered to take an old
castle which the owner, though a Tuscan, more churchman than patriot,
had voluntarily turned over to the Bologna legate.

"It was situated on the mountain side and made admirable headquarters
for several companies of soldiers who acted as a guard for the mountain
pass less than a mile distant, through which the legate's army procured
supplies and beyond which we had, as yet, been unable to penetrate.

"To our force of horsemen were added one hundred English bowmen and more
than that number of hardy native mountaineers, whom it was thought might
render valiant service in scaling or undermining the walls of the castle
if we were forced to take it by assault. These additional men made our
forces abou