as Lodovico was born when he already was so.

The obsequies of Gian Galeazzo completed, Charles pushed on. From
Florence he issued his manifesto, and although this confined itself to
claiming the kingdom of Naples, and said no word of punishing the Pope
for his disobedience in crowning Alfonso and being now in alliance with
him, it stirred up grave uneasiness at the Vatican.

The Pope's position was becoming extremely difficult; nevertheless,
he wore the boldest possible face when he received the ambassadors of
France, and on December 9 refused to grant the letters patent of passage
through the Pontifical States which the French demanded. Thereupon
Charles advanced threateningly upon Rome, and was joined now by those
turbulent barons Orsini, Colonna, and Savelli.

Alexander VI has been widely accused of effecting a volte-face at this
stage and betraying his Neapolitan allies; but his conduct, properly
considered, can hardly amount to that. What concessions he made to
France were such as a wise and inadequately supported man must make to
an army ninety thousand strong. To be recklessly and quixotically heroic
is not within the function of Popes; moreover, Alexander had Rome to
think of, for Charles had sent word that, if he were resisted he would
leave all in ruins, whereas if a free passage were accorded him he would
do no hurt nor suffer any pillage to be done in Rome.

So the Pope did the only thing consistent with prudence: he made a
virtue of necessity and gave way where it was utterly impossible for him
to resist. He permitted Charles the passage through his territory which
Charles was perfectly able to take for himself if refused. There ensued
an interchange of compliments between Pope and King, and early in
January Charles entered Rome in such warlike panoply as struck terror
into the hearts of all beholders. Of that entrance Paolo Giovio has left
us an impressive picture.

The vanguard was composed of Swiss and German mercenaries--tall fellows,
these professional warriors, superb in their carriage and stepping
in time to the beat of their drums; they were dressed in variegated,
close-fitting garments that revealed all their athletic symmetry. A
fourth of them were armed with long, square-bladed halberts, new to
Italy; the remainder trailed their ten-foot pikes, and carried a short
sword at their belts, whilst to every thousand of them there were a
hundred arquebusiers. After them came the French infantry, wi