r being with his army before Brescia,
there were many assaults made, wherein much people died both within
and without the city, among which was slain in an assault, by an arrow
from a large crossbow, M. Waleran of Luxemburg, brother in blood and
marshal of the Emperor, and many other barons, good knights; whence
came great fear to all the host. And encouraged by this, the Brescians
sallied forth ofttimes to attack the host, and in the month of June
some of them were routed and discomfited, and forty of them were taken
prisoners of the chief of the city, and fully 200 slain, among which
prisoners was M. Tebaldo Brusciati, which was leader of the people
within the city, a man of great valour, which had been a friend of the
Emperor, who had restored him to Brescia when the Guelfs had been
driven out: wherefore the Emperor caused him to be drawn asunder by
four horses as a traitor, and many others he caused to be beheaded,
whereby the power of the Brescians was much enfeebled; but for all
that they within the city did not abandon the defence of the city. In
that siege the air was corrupted by the stench of the horses and the
long sojourn of the camp, wherefore there arose much sickness both
within and without, and a great part of them from beyond the mountains
fell sick, and many great barons died there, and some departed by
reason of sickness, and afterwards died thereof on the road. Among the
others died there the valiant M. Guy of Namurs, brother of the count
of Flanders, which was leader of the Flemings at the rout of Courtray,
a man of great worth and renown; for which cause most part of the host
counselled the Emperor that he should depart. He holding the needs
within the city to be yet greater, alike from sickness and death, and
from lack of victuals, determined not to depart till he should have
taken the city. They of Brescia, as food was failing them, by the hand
of the cardinal of Fiesco surrendered themselves to the mercy of the
Emperor, on the 16th day of September, in the said year. Who, when he
had gotten the city, caused all the walls and strongholds to be
destroyed, and exacted a fine of 70,000 golden florins. Thus with
great difficulty, after much time, he gained the city by reason of
their evil estate; and 100 of the best men of the city, both magnates
and popolari, he sent into banishment, confining them within bounds in
divers places. When he had departed from Brescia, with great loss and
hurt, seeing tha