Borgia messenger

"Don't slay the messenger, good Lord. Have my pouch instead."

- A Borgia messenger, upon being caught.

Borgia Messengers, also known as Borgia Couriers, were presumably messengers for the House of Borgia. They always carried a significant amount of florins with them, likely delivering payment to or from allies of the Borgia.

Description
Unlike most guards or civilians, messengers were very skilled free runners, and were able to perform many acrobatic stunts, such as climbing walls and swinging from posts.

They often did this to escape the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze, though upon being caught, they would willingly surrender the money they carried, and would beg for their lives.

Additionally, messengers who operated around Rome also carried certain rare items in addition to money, which could be sold or used in shop quests.

Killing a messenger and looting his corpse would result in the same amount of money as sparing him, however, obtaining the money in this fashion would increase Ezio's Notoriety.

Trivia

 * In Assassin's Creed II, killing a messenger would raise notoriety by 50%, but in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, killing one would raise it up to 100%.
 * Perotto Calderon posed as a Borgia messenger while working as a spy for the Assassins.
 * It is interesting to note that the usual amount of money gained from a messenger (1503 florins) is also the recorded year of Rodrigo Borgia's death.
 * During Ezio's time in Rome, the frequency of Borgia messengers reduces dramatically as the city is rebuilt.
 * Interestingly, archers run after the messenger if he climbs onto a rooftop during the chase, even though the messenger will call out to the same guards for help.
 * It is possible to trip or throw messengers off buildings to their deaths without being penalized for it, though throwing them into water will have repercussions.
 * Ezio's notoriety will not increase if an Assassin apprentice is used to kill a messenger.
 * In Assassin's Creed II, throwing a throwing knife at messenger will cause the courier to automatically stop and give you his money.