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Spinola replied with new regrets and exhortations; declaring

himself grieved not to be able to visit Milan in person, in order

to employ himself for the preservation of the city, but hoping

that the zeal of the magistrates would supply his place: in

short, he made evasive answers to all their requests. Afterwards,

when the plague was at its height, he transferred, by letters

patent, his authority to the high chancellor Ferrer, being, as he

said, obliged to devote himself entirely to the cares of the war.