They appeared, suddenly raised, as if by magic, before the walls of a city, and demanded immense sums as the purchase of peace.

Neither tyrant nor common wealth maintained a force sufficient to resist them; and if other northern mercenaries were engaged to oppose them, it was only to recruit the standards of the freebooters with deserters.

Mercenary fought not mercenary--nor German, German: and greater pay, and more unbridled rapine, made the tents of the "Companies" far more attractive than the regulated stipends of a city, or the dull fortress and impoverished coffers of a chief.

Werner, the most implacable and ferocious of all these adventurers, and who had so openly gloried in his enormities as to wear upon his breast a silver plate, engraved with the words, "Enemy to God, to Pity, and to Mercy," had not long since ravaged Romagna with fire and sword.

But, whether induced by money, or unable to control the fierce spirits he had raised, he afterwards led the bulk of his company back to Germany.