of space which we gained a bloody
conquest.

"Within an hour after effecting our entrance we were in possession of
the ground floor, but our enemy held the upper stories and were too
strong and well fortified to be ousted by assault.

"We felt certain they were without food and water, since our assault had
been a surprise, and we had captured their storerooms, which were on the
ground floor.

"That night we rested, having placed a heavy guard at the gate and on
the wall and barricaded ourselves against the upper story. The next
morning I sent off fifty men to guard the pass and a messenger to report
our progress to Sir John.

"We saw nothing of our foes until afternoon, when we heard them
carefully removing their barricades of the door; then it was suddenly
thrown open and they stood ready for an assault, facing our barricade,
which they had not expected to find.

"Our bowmen, brought in for the purpose, let fly a shower of arrows into
their faces at close range, which wounded many. They quickly closed the
door and replaced their barricades. More than a dozen of them had been
killed or severely wounded by the archers.

"Shortly before sundown the barricade was again removed, the door opened
a few inches and a conference asked. I consented that their commander
with two aids might be admitted to our quarters.

"To see if they were hungry, a table was prepared with food and drink,
at which I asked them to be seated, stating; 'I am about to dine, and
after the meal we will discuss any matter you see fit to call up.'

"While the commander ate and drank quite sparingly, I was convinced by
the way the two aids responded that they were without provisions.

"We finally agreed upon the terms of their surrender. All were to be
liberated and their arms and horses returned, but not until they had
retired from the castle and crossed through the pass into the valley
towards Bologna.

"Our work, in less than two days, thanks to the ex-friar and his brave
companions, was completed. We were the masters of the castle and the
pass, which for two years had been held against repeated assaults.

"Shortly afterward we received word that the legate was dead and that
his entire force had retired from Tuscany.

"The ex-friar, who now called himself Lorenzo di Puccio was not so
seriously wounded as at first appeared. His armor and remarkable
expertness as a swordsman had rendered such protection that of his more
than thirty wounds o