were thé gteabeft perfonages in all Lombardy. Sir Galea* .and fir Bernabo were brothers, and had peaceably deigned and governed that country. One of thefe lords poffeffed nine cities, and the otim ten; the city of Milan was under their go-vernment alternately, one year each. When fir Galeae, the father of the count de Vertus, died* the affections of the uncle for his nephew were mmék weakened ; and fir Galeas fufpected, that mrtr his father was dead, his uncle Bernabo would Mm has lordfhips, in Hke manner as fir Galea** his Either, and uncle Bernabo had done to their brother fir Matthew, whom they had put to death. . , The count de Vertus was very fufpicious, and plainly fhewed that he had his fears of this event taking place. However fy Ms actions and the capture he made,, he proved hhnfelf the more fdbrtle of the two. I will relate the eircumftance* ^ Sir Bernàrbo heavily opprefled that part of Lotn-bairdy of Which he was lord, and taxed his vafials two or three times a year, a half or a third of their wealth ; but none dared to murmur againft bun. Sir Galeaa, count de Vertus, to acquire* -popularity and praife, "did not levy any taxes on his fufleffions, but limply lived.-on Ms ' rents/ This mode he had followed for five years, ever since the death of his father, which gained him fo much the love of the Lombards, that they all praifed him, and lived happily under htm.; whilft, cm the contrary they abufed undeHu^d fir Bei nabo, who would not leave them any thing. The.cowt de Vertus (whu hid ftnatdhfepla^ B 3 an4 8