lay dead on the field. Don Henry, with many of his followers,
fled to Monte Cascino, and said that King Charles was defeated. The
abbot, which was lord of those lands, knew Don Henry, and judging by
divers signs that they were fugitives, caused him and great part of
his people to be seized. King Charles, with all his followers,
remained upon the field, armed and on horseback, until the night, to
the end he might gather together his men, and to be sure of full
victory over the enemy; and this defeat was on the vigil of S.
Bartholomew, on the 23rd day of August, in the year of Christ 1268.
And in that place King Charles afterwards caused a rich abbey to be
built for the souls of his men which had been slain; which is called
S. Mary of the Victory, in the plain of Tagliacozzo.

Sec. 28.--_Of the vision that came to Pope Clement concerning the
discomfiture of Conradino._

Sec. 29.--_How Conradino and certain of his barons were taken by King
Charles, and how he caused their heads to be cut off._

[Sidenote: 1268 A.D.]

[Sidenote: Purg. xx. 68.]

Conradino, with the duke of Austria and with many others, which were
fled from the field with him, arrived at the beach towards Rome upon
the seashore hard by a place which is called Asturi, which pertained
to the Infragnipani, noblemen of Rome; and when they were come
thither, they had a pinnace furnished to pass into Sicily, hoping to
escape from King Charles; and in Sicily, which had almost all rebelled
against the king, to recover state and lordship. They having already
embarked unrecognised on the said vessel, one of the said Infragnipani
which was in Asturi, seeing that they were in great part Germans, and
fine men and of noble aspect, and knowing of the defeat, was minded to
gain riches for himself, and therefore he took the said lords
prisoners; and having learnt of their conditions, and how Conradino
was among them, he led them captive to King Charles, for which cause
the king gave him land and lordship at Pilosa, between Naples and
Benivento. And when the king had Conradino and those lords in his
hands, he took counsel what he should do. At last he was minded to put
them to death, and he caused by way of process an inquisition to be
made against them, as against traitors to the Crown and enemies of
Holy Church, and this was carried out; for on the . . . day were
beheaded Conradino, and the duke of Austria, and Count Calvagno, and
Count Gualferano, and Count Bartol