resence of
Bourbon at the head of the besiegers excited patriotism; the burgesses
turned soldiers; the cannon of the besiegers laid open their walls, but
they threw up a second line, an earthen rampart, called the ladies'
rampart, because all the women in the city had worked at it. The siege
was protracted; the re-enforcements expected by Bourbon did not arrive; a
shot from Marseilles penetrated into Pescara's tent, and killed his
almoner and two of his gentlemen. Bourbon rushed up. "Don't you see?"
said Pescara to him, ironically, "here are the keys sent to you by the
timid consuls of Marseilles." Bourbon resolved to attempt an assault;
the lanzknechts and the Italians refused; Bourbon asked Pescara for his
Spaniards, but Pescara would only consent on condition that the breach
was reconnoitered afresh. Seven soldiers were told off for this duty;
four were killed and the other three returned wounded, reporting that
between the open breach and the intrenchment extended a large ditch
filled with fireworks and defended by several batteries. The assembled
general officers looked at one another in silence. "Well, gentlemen,"
said Pescara, "you see that the folks of Marseilles keep a table well
spread for our reception; if you like to go and sup in paradise, you are
your own masters so far; as for me, who have no desire to go thither just
yet, I am off. But believe me," he added seriously, "we had best return
to Milaness; we have left that country without a soldier; we might
possibly find our return cut off." Whereupon Pescara got up and went
out; and the majority of the officers followed him. Bourbon remained
almost alone, divided between anger and shame. Almost as he quitted this
scene he heard that Francis I. was advancing towards Provence with an
army. The king had suddenly decided to go to the succor of Marseilles,
which was making so good a defence. Nothing could be a bitterer pill for
Bourbon than to retire before Francis I., whom he had but lately promised
to dethrone; but his position condemned him to suffer everything, without
allowing him the least hesitation; and on the 28th of September, 1524, he
raised the siege of Marseilles and resumed the road to Italy, harassed
even beyond Toulon by the French advance-guard, eager in its pursuit of
the traitor even more than of the enemy.

In the course of this year, 1524, whilst Bourbon was wandering as a
fugitive, trying to escape from his country, then returni