His feare kept him from being resolute in a pe|rill that was so desperate, neither did he thinke, that with the presence and maiestie of his person, though it was couered with the vaile of the highest dignitie on earth, he was able to put by the danger, which the valor and fidelitie of his souldiers could not defend with their weapons. There he consulted with the cardinalles, whether it were more for his safetie to remaine there, or during the furie of the astonish|ment, to retire with the light horssemen of his gard into some place of more suertie by the waie of Rome. But he, who was appointed by destinie, to be an example of the calamities that maie thunder vpon popes, and how fraile is the authoritie and ma|iestie of that sée, being certified by the relation of Berard de Padoa, who was fled from the armie imperiall, that the duke of Burbon was dead, and that the whole armie standing abated in courage for the death of their capteine, desired to come to accord with him. In which matter they sent out men to parlée with the principalles there, he wretchedlie left there all his councelles to go awaie, both he and his capteins remaining no lesse irresolute in the prouisions for defense, than they had beene slow in the expeditions.

So that the daie following, the Spaniards nei|ther séeing order nor councell to defend the quarter beyond Tiber, entred the place without anie resi|stance. And from thence, not finding anie impedi|ments to stop their victorie, the same euening they entred the citie of Rome by the bridge Xisto,; where,The Spani|ards enter in|to Rome by the bridge Xisto. except such as reapposed in the confidence of their fa|ction, and certeine cardinalles, who for that they bare a name to embrace the emperours quarrell, be|léeued to find more suertie than the others, all the re|sidue of the court and citie (as happeneth in accidents so furious) was conuerted into fléeing and confusi|on. But the souldiours being within the citie, which they knew wanted nothing to make them right glo|rious, and well satisfied of all things apperteining to their desires, they began to omit no time to execute the thing they had so dearlie bought. Euerie one ran to pillage with the same vnbridled libertie, which in such cases maketh souldiors both insolent and im|pious.

There was small care or regard borne either to the name of fréends, factions, or fauourers;The reader is to tol [...]erate the report of this historie though sauouring of superstition. and much lesse was respected the authoritie of cardinalles and prelats, or dignitie of temples and monasteries; and lastlie, not reserued from violation, the holie reliks brought thither from all parts of the world; yea e|uen things sacred, and speciallie dedicated, were pro|faned from their shrines and holie places, and made subiect to the furious wils and discretion of the soul|diours. It is not onelie impossible to reaccount, but also to imagine the calamities of that citie raised to a woonderfull greatnesse, and appointed by Gods ordinance to suffer manie fortunes and directions, hauing beene sacked by the Goths within ix.C. and lxxx yeares. It is hard to particulate the great|nesse of the preie, both for the generall wealth and riches which the gréedie hands of the souldiours had made vp in heaps, and for other things more rare and pretious drawne out of the store-houses of mer|chants and courtiers. But the matter which made the spoile infinit in value, was the qualitie and great number of prisoners redéemed with most rich and huge ransomes.