Chapter IX

The conspiracy of Caesar’s captains--Machiavelli and
Valentino--Vacillation of the conspirators--They offer to
return to Caesar--They again take heart--A reconciliation
is effected--Caesar separates the conspirators--He
enters into an alliance with Bentivoglio--The rebels
return to Caesar--Paolo Orsini takes possession of Urbino
in Caesar’s name--Execution of Don Remiro de Lorca--
Caesar goes to Senigaglia, and meets his commanders--The
trap at Senigaglia--Fate of the rebels--Caesar informs
the Italian princes of his act--The Orsini and their
adherents in Rome are seized--Cardinal Orsini’s palace
is plundered--Fermo and Perugia surrender to Valentino--
He puts Paolo and Francesco Orsini to death--Cardinal
Orsini dies in prison--Caesar demands that the Sienese
expel Pandolfo Petrucci--He ravages the country about
Siena--Activity of the Orsini in the neighbourhood of
Rome--Caesar returns to Rome--He lays siege to Ceri--
Contemporary opinions of the Pope and Caesar--Gonsalvo de
Cordova in Naples--The Pope and Caesar are stricken by
the plague--Death of Alexander VI.--Rumours of poison--
Caesar recovers--He takes possession of the dead Pope’s
property 206

CHAPTER X

The enemies of the Borgia pour into Rome--Fears of the
Sacred College--Orsini and Colonna--The Cardinals and
Valentino--Caesar enters into an agreement with France--
The Cardinal d’Amboise--Scheming before the conclave--
Caesar leaves Rome--Return of Giuliano della Rovere--
The conclave--Election of Francesco Piccolomini to the
Papacy--The new Pope supports Caesar--Valentino’s
fortunes ebb--Death of Pius III.--Machinations
preparatory to electing his successor 242

CHAPTER XI

Election of Giuliano della Rovere--Julius II. and Caesar
Borgia--Caesar leaves Rome--Machiavelli and Caesar--
Arrest of Caesar--Victory of Gonsalvo de Cordova at the
Garigliano--Caesar goes to Naples--Gonsalvo seizes
Valentino and sends him to Spain--Caesar imprisoned in
the Castle of Chinchilla--Jeanne la Folle and Philippe le
Beau--Caesar is transferred to the Castle of Medina del
Campo--His escape 266