division amongst the neighbouring greedy tyrants
after his death. To avoid this he had adopted Francesco Maria della
Rovere, hereditary Prefect of Sinigaglia, his sister's child and
a nephew of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere's. There was wisdom and
foresight in the adoption, considering the favour enjoyed in Rome and in
France by the powerful cardinal.

From Nocera Cesare sent Guidobaldo a message calculated to allay
whatever uneasiness he may have been feeling, and to throw him
completely off his guard. The duke notified him that he was marching
upon Camerino--which was at once true and untrue--and begged Guidobaldo
to assist him in this enterprise by sending him provisions to Gubbio,
which he should reach on the morrow--since he was marching by way of
Cagli and Sassoferrato. Further--and obviously with intent that the
Duke of Urbino should reduce the forces at his disposal--he desired
Guidobaldo to send Vitelli the support of a thousand men, which the
latter had earlier solicited, but which Guidobaldo had refused to
supply without orders from the Pope. Cesare concluded his letter with
protestations of brotherly love--the Judas' kiss which makes him hateful
to us in this affair.

It all proved very reassuring to Guidobaldo who set his mind at ease
and never bethought him of looking to his defences, when, from Nocera,
Cesare made one of those sudden movements, terrible in their swiftness
as the spring of a tiger--enabling him to drive home his claws where
least expected. Leaving all baggage behind him, and with provisions
for only three days, he brought his troops by forced marches to Cagli,
within the Urbino State, and possessed himself of it almost before the
town had come to realize his presence.

Not until the citadel, taken entirely by surprise, was in Cesare's hands
did a messenger speed to Guidobaldo with the unwelcome tidings that
the Duke of Valentinois was in arms, as an enemy, within the territory.
Together with that message came others into the garden of the Zoccolanti
monastery--that favourite resort of Guidobaldo's--where he was indulging
his not unusual custom of supping in the cool of that summer evening.
They brought him word that, while Valentinois was advancing upon him
from the south, a force of 1,000 men were marching upon Urbino from
Isola di Fano in the east, and twice that number through the passes
of Sant' Angelo and Verucchio in the north--all converging upon his
capital.

The attack had b