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ich he might have been assisted； in hands that would fear the aggrandizement of the Pope； namely； the Orsini and the Colonnesi and their following。 It behoved him； therefore； to upset this state of affairs and embroil the powers； so as to make himself securely master of part of their states。 This was easy for him to do； because he found the Venetians； moved by other reasons； inclined to bring back the French into Italy； he would not only not oppose this； but he would render it more easy by dissolving the former marriage of King Louis。 Therefore the king came into Italy with the assistance of the Venetians and the consent of Alexander。 He was no sooner in Milan than the Pope had soldiers from him for the attempt on the Romagna； which yielded to him on the reputation of the king。 The duke； therefore； having acquired the Romagna and beaten the Colonnesi； while wishing to hold that and to advance further； was hindered by two things： the one； his forces did not appear loyal to him； the other； the goodwill of France： that is to say； he feared that the forces of the Orsini； which he was using； would not stand to him； that not only might they hinder him from winning more； but might themselves seize what he had won； and that the king might also do the same。 Of the Orsini he had a warning when； after taking Faenza and attacking Bologna； he saw them go very unwillingly to that attack。 And as to the king； he learned his mind when he himself； after taking the Duchy of Urbino； attacked Tuscany； and the king made him desist from that undertaking； hence the duke decided to depend no more upon the arms and the luck of others。
For the first thing he weakened the Orsini and Colonnesi parties in Rome； by gaining to himself all their adherents who were gentlemen； making them his gentlemen； giving them good pay； and； according to their rank； honouring them with office and command in such a way that in a few months all attachment to the factions was destroyed and turned entirely to the duke。 After this he awaited an opportunity to crush the Orsini； having scattered the adherents of the Colonna house。 This came to him soon and he used it well； for the Orsini； perceiving at length that the aggrandizement of the duke and the Church was ruin to them； called a meeting of the Magione in Perugia。 From this sprung the rebellion at Urbino and the tumults in the Romagna； with endless dangers to the duke； all of which he overcame with the help of the French。 Having restored his authority； not to leave it at risk by trusting either to the French or other outside forces； he had recourse to his wiles； and he knew so well how to conceal his mind that； by the mediation of Signor Pagolowhom the duke did not fail to secure with all kinds of attention； giving him money； apparel； and horsesthe Orsini were reconciled； so that their simplicity brought them into his power at Sinigalia。＇*＇ Having exterminated the leaders； and turned their partisans into his friends； the duke laid sufficiently good foundations to his power； having all the Romagna and the Duchy of Urbino； and the people now beginning to appreciate their prosperity； he gained them all over to himself。 And as this point is worthy of notice； and to be imitated by others； I am not willing to leave it out。
＇*＇ Sinigalia； 31st December 1502。
When the duke occupied the Romagna he found it under the rule of weak masters； who rather plundered their subjects than ruled them； and gave them more cause for disunion than for union； so that the country was full of robbery； quarrels； and every kind of violence； and so； wishing to bring back peace and obedience to authority； he considered it necessary to give it a good governor。 Thereupon he promoted Messer Ramiro d'Orco；＇*＇ a swift and cruel man； to whom he gave the fullest power。 This man in a short time restored peace and unity with the greatest success。 Afterwards the duke considered that it was not advisable to confer such excessive authority； for he had no doubt but that he would become odious； so he set up a court of judgment in the country； under a most excellent president； wherein all cities had their advocates。 And because he knew that the past severity had caused some hatred against himself； so； to clear himself in the minds of the people； and gain them entirely to himself； he desired to show that； if any cruelty had been practised； it had not originated with him； but in the natural sternness of the minister。 Under this pretence he took Ramiro； and one morning caused him to be executed and left on the piazza at Cesena with the block and a bloody knife at his side。 The barbarity of this spectacle caused the people to be at once satisfied and dismayed。
＇*＇ Ramiro d'Orco。 Ramiro de Lorqua。
But let us return whence we started。 I say that the duke； finding himself now sufficiently powerful and partly secured from immediate dangers by having armed himself in his own way； and having in a great measure crushed those forces in his vicinity that could injure him if he wished to proceed with his conquest； had next to consider France； for he knew that the king； who too late was aware of his mistake； would not support him。 And from this time he began to seek new alliances and to temporize with France in the expedition which she was making towards the kingdom of Naples against the Spaniards who were besieging Gaeta。 It was his intention to secure himself against them； and this he would have quickly accomplished had Alexander lived。
Such was his line of action as to present affairs。 But as to the future he had to fear； in the first place； that a new successor to the Church might not be friendly to him and might seek to take from him that which Alexander had given him； so he decided to act in four ways。 Firstly； by exterminating the families of those lords whom he had despoiled； so as to take away that pretext from the Pope。 Secondly； by winning to himself all the gentlemen of Rome； so as to be able to curb the Pope with their aid； as has been observed。 Thirdly； by converting the college more to himself。 Fourthly； by acquiring so much power before the Pope should die that he could by his own measures resist the first shock。 Of these four things； at the death of Alexander； he had accomplished three。 For he had killed as many of the dispossessed lords as he could lay hands on； and few had escaped； he had won over the Roman gentlemen； and he had the most numerous party in the college。 And as to any fresh acquisition； he intended to become master of Tuscany； for he already possessed Perugia and Piombino； and Pisa was under his protection。 And as he had no longer to study France （for the French were already driven out of the kingdom of Naples by the Spaniards； and in this way both were compelled to buy his goodwill）； he pounced down upon Pisa。 After this； Lucca and Siena yielded at once； partly through hatred and partly through fear of the Florentines； and the Florentines would have had no remedy had he continued to prosper； as he was prospering the year that Alexander died； for he had acquired so much power and reputation that he would have stood by himself； and no longer have depended on the luck and the forces of others； but solely on his own power and ability。
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