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ASTORRE MANFREDI.
On March 29 Cesare Borgia departed from Cesena--whither, meanwhile, he had returned--to march upon Faenza, resume the attack, and make an end of the city's stubborn resistance.
During the past months, however, and notwithstanding the presence of the Borgia troops in the territory, the people of Faenza had been able to increase their fortifications by the erection of out-works and a stout bastion in the neighbourhood of the Osservanza Hospital, well beyond the walls.

This bastion claimed Cesare's first attention, and it was carried by assault on April 12.

Thither he now fetched his guns, mounted them, and proceeded to a steady bombardment of the citadel.

But the resistance continued with unabated determination--a determination amounting to heroism, considering the hopelessness of their case and the straits to which the Faentini were reduced by now.