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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 bee 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。
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 acplished 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 acplished 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 bee 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 pelled 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。
But Alexander died five years after he had first drawn the sword。 He
left the duke with the state of Romagna alone consolidated； with the
rest in the air； between two most powerful hostile armies； and sick unto
death。 Yet there were in the duke such boldness and ability； and he knew
so well how men are to be won or lost； and so firm were the foundations
which in so short a time he had laid； that if he had not had those
armies on his back； or if he had been in good health； he would have
overe all difficulties。 And it is seen that his foundations were
good； for the Romagna awaited him for more than a month。 In Rome；
although but half alive； he remained secure； and whilst the Baglioni；
the Vitelli； and the Orsini might e to Rome； they could not effect
anything against him。 If he could not have made Pope him whom he wished；
at least the one whom he did not wish would not have been elected。 But
if he had been in sound health at the death of Alexander； everything
would have been easy to him。 On the day that Julius II was elected； he
told me that he had thought of everything that might occur at the death
of his father； and had provided a remedy for all； except that he had
never anticipated that； when the death did happen； he himself would be
on the point to die。
When all the actions of the duke are recalled； I do not know how to
blame him； but rather it appears to me； as I have said； that I ought to
offer him for imitation to all those who； by the fortune or the arms of
others； are raised to government。 Because he； having a lofty spirit and
far…reaching aims； could not have regulated his conduct otherwise； and
only the shortness of the life of Alexander and his own sickness
frustrated his designs。 Therefore； he who considers it necessary to
secure himself in his new principality； to win friends； to overe
either by force or fraud； to make himself beloved and feared by the
people； to be followed and revered by the soldiers； to exterminate those
who have power or reason to hurt him； to change the old order of things
for new； to be severe and gracious； magnanimous and liberal； to destroy
a disloyal soldiery and to create new； to maintain friendship with kings
and princes in such a way that they must help him with zeal and offend
with caution； cannot find a more lively example than the actions of this
man。
Only can he be blamed for the election of Julius II； in whom he made a
bad choice； because； as is said； not being able to elect a Pope to his
own mind； he could have hindered any other from being elected Pope； and
he ought never to have consented to the election of any cardinal whom he
had injured or who had cause to fear him if they became pontiffs。 For
men injure either from fear or hatred。 Those whom he had injured；
amongst others； were San Pietro ad Vincula； Colonna； San Giorgio； and
Ascanio。 ＇1＇ Any one of the others； on being Pope； would have had to
fear him； Rouen and the Spaniards excepted； the latter from their
relationship and obligations； the former from his influence； the kingdom
of France having relations with him。 Therefore； above everything； the
duke ought to have created a Spaniard Pope； and； failing him； he ought
to have consented to Rouen and not San Pietro ad Vincula。 He who
believes that new benefits will cause great personages to forget old
injuries is deceived。 Therefore； the duke erred in his choice； and it
was the cause of his ultimate ruin。
1。 Julius II had been Cardinal of San Pietro ad Vincula； San Giorgio was
Raffaells Riaxis； and Ascanio was Cardinal Ascanio Sforza。
CHAPTER VIII
CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE OBTAINED