Serrare

This is part 2 of 3. Part 1 is here. Part 3 is here.

His auditis, furorem cuncti animi mitigarunt. solus Gezo in qua prius fuerat protervia manens, operam dabat, quo omnes super regem irruerent eumque morte turpissima cruciarent. verum disponente Deo, affectus eius pravus effectum habere non potuit. reversi igitur ad regem nuntii, prout viderant et audierant, enarrarunt. igitur rex Hugo haec omnia quasi pro nichilo mente subdola ducens, Papia egressus, longe alio properare festinat, missisque circumcirca libris, milites suos ad se venire praecepit. quos inter Samson praepotens comes advenerat, qui iam dicto Gezoni inimicissimus erat. is denique regem ut vidit, eum ita convenit: ‘sollicitum te equidem de urbanis rebus contra te tumultuose et moleste his diebus actis intueor; verum si me audis mihique obtemperas, suis ipsi laqueis capientur. alter enim, qui melius consilium dare possit quam ego, non facile inveniri potest; tibi vero ipsi certe nemo melius dabit. unum tamen peto, ut dum capti mea opera fuerint, Gezo cum omni sua ypostasi meis tradatur in manibus.’ quem dum dari sibi a rege audivit, adiecit: ‘Leo, Ticinensis episcopus civitatis, Walperto et Gezoni non habetur amicus; ii sane quocumque possunt ei omnimodis adversantur. scitis denique, moris esse, regi ab aliis locis Papiam tendenti cives forciores extra urbem occurrere. mandate itaque clam episcopo, ut dum tempore statuto Papiam veneritis, et ipsi nobis extra urbem obviam venerint, portas civitatis omnes serrare faciat, clavesque sibi retineat, quo dum capere eos ceperimus, nec in urbem confugere, nec ab urbe possint auxilium expectare.’ quod et factum est.
(Liutprand of Cremona, Antapodosis, 3.40-41)

Having heard these words, all the rebels mitigated their wrath. Only Gezo remained, clinging to the original wickedness, and urged that all should rush upon the king and torment him with a most dishonorable death; but truly, with God disposing it thus, his wicked desire could not take effect. Once the messengers returned to the king, they related exactly what they had seen and heard. Therefore, King Hugh mulled over all these events in his subtle mind while pretending they were insignificant. Having left Pavia, he hastened to go far away, and, having sent around written orders, he instructed his soldiers to come to him. Among them came the mighty count Samson, who was especially hostile to the aforesaid Gezo. When he saw the king, he spoke to him thus: “I observe that you are worried by the things that were done against you in the city, tumultuously and harmfully, during these past days; truly, if you listen to and obey me, they shall be caught in their own nets. Another man who could give you better advice than I could not easily be found; certainly no one will hand them over to you more skillfully. I ask only one thing: namely, that, when they have been captured by my endeavors, Gezo be given over into my hands with his whole entourage.” When he heard that Gezo would indeed be surrendered by the king, he added: “Leo, the bishop of the city of the Ticinians, is not a friend of Walpert and Gezo: clearly they oppose him by all means whenever they can. You know it to be the custom for the greater citizens to come out of the city to welcome the king arriving in Pavia from some other parts. Therefore, send a message secretly to the bishop so that, when you shall come to Pavia at the appointed time, and they shall advance toward you from the city, he have all the gateways of the city closed and keep the keys himself. In this way, when we begin to capture them, they may neither flee back into the city nor expect any help from within it.” And this was done. (tr. Paolo Squatriti)