But public and private wrath did not fully attain their end. A beautiful picture of Gianluigi and portraits of Verrina and Sacco escaped the vandalism of their enemies. In the dark and narrow chapel of the cathedral near the tomb of the Fieschi family, there is a picture painted by Luca Cambiaso representing the protectors of Genoa, St. John the Baptist, St. Lawrence and St. George. In the face of the last saint you have the features of Gianluigi, and tradition tell us that the others are Sacco and Verrina.
It did not occur to Andrea Doria, when he was destroying every trace of his rival, that the love of friends would entrust the image of the dead to the holy guardianship of the altar.
Count Gerolamo declines propositions of the governments--Intrigues of the imperial party and revolutionary tendencies of the populace--The Republic is induced by Andrea Doria to assault Montobbio--The count’s preparations for defence--Verrina and Assereto assigned to the command of the works--Andrea induces the government to decline negotiations with Fieschi--Agostino Spinola closely invests the castle--Mutiny of the mercenaries of the count--He offers to surrender the castle on condition of security for the lives and property of the beseiged--Opposition of Doria to this stipulation--The treason of his mercenaries compels Fieschi to surrender--Doria, notwithstanding the entreaties of the government, treats the defeated Fieschi with great cruelty--Punishment of the Count of Verrina and other accomplices--Raffaele Sacco and his letters--The castle of Montobbio razed to the foundations.
THE castle of Montobbio was a beautiful and strong fortification, situated ten miles from Genoa, occupying the brow of a mountain, and looking down on a deep valley closed round with spurs of the Apennines. The Beriana papers assert that it once belonged to an Obizzo di Montobbio who sold it, in 1232, to Ansaldo Di Mari. We find no record of the transfer to the Fieschi family. The torrent of Scrivia on the south, and the wooded heights encircling it on every side, render the position naturally impregnable. The rough crests afford no convenient positions for placing batteries so as to enfilade the redoubts or batter the walls. In fact, it often held large armies in check.