of a peasant who was given to Bernabo’s dogs to be devoured for having killed a hare.  Corio (p. 247) describes the punishments which he inflicted on his subjects who were convicted of poaching—­eyes put out, houses burned, etc.  A young man who dreamed of killing a boar had an eye put out and a hand cut off because he imprudently recounted his vision of sport in sleep.  On one occasion he burned two friars who ventured to remonstrate.  We may compare Pontanus, ‘De Immanitate,’ vol. i. pp. 318, 320, for similar cruelty in Ferdinand, King of Naples.

    [2] This programme may be read in Sismondi, iv. 282.

Galeazzo died in 1378, and was succeeded in his own portion of the Visconti domain by his son Gian Galleazzo.  Now began one of those long, slow, internecine struggles which were so common between the members of the ruling families in Italy.  Bernabo and his sons schemed to get possession of the young prince’s estate.  He, on the other hand, determined to supplant his uncle, and to reunite the whole Visconti principality beneath his own sway.  Craft was the weapon which he chose in this encounter.  Shutting himself up in Pavia, he made no disguise of his physical cowardice, which was real, while he simulated a timidity of spirit wholly alien to his temperament.  He pretended to be absorbed in religious observances, and gradually induced his uncle and cousins to despise him as a poor creature whom they could make short work of when occasion served.  In 1385, having thus prepared the way for treason, he avowed his intention of proceeding on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Varese.  Starting from Pavia with a body guard of Germans, he passed near Milan, where his uncle and cousins came forth to meet him.  Gian Galeazzo feigned a courteous greeting; but when he saw his relatives within his grasp, he gave a watchword in German to his troops, who surrounded Bernabo and took him prisoner with his sons.  Gian Galeazzo marched immediately into Milan, poisoned his uncle in a dungeon, and proclaimed himself sole lord of the Visconti heirship.[1]

    [1] The narrative of this coup-de-main may be read with advantage in
    Corio, p. 258.

The reign of Gian Galeazzo, which began with this coup-de-main (1385-1402), forms a very important chapter in Italian history.  We may first see what sort of man he was, and then proceed to trace his aims and achievements.  Giovio describes him as having been a remarkably sedate and thoughtful boy, so wise beyond his years that his friends feared he would not grow to man’s estate.  No pleasures in after-life drew him away from business.  Hunting, hawking, women, had alike no charms for him.  He took moderate exercise for the preservation of his health, read and meditated much, and relaxed himself in conversation with men of letters.  Pure intellect, in fact, had reached to perfect independence in this prince, who was far above the boisterous pleasures and violent activities of the age in which he lived.