e Federico, who had deeply
offended him by refusing to grant Caesar the hand of his daughter
Carlotta. After this occurrence the relations of Lucretia's husband with
the Pope had altogether changed.

Ascanio was the only friend the unfortunate prince had in Rome, and it
was probably he who advised him to save himself from certain death by
flight, as Lucretia's other husband had done. Alfonso slipped away
August 2, 1499. The Pope sent some troopers after him, but they failed
to catch him. It is uncertain whether Lucretia knew of his intended
flight. A letter written in Rome by a Venetian, August 4th, merely says:
"The Duke of Biseglia, Madonna Lucretia's husband, has secretly fled and
gone to the Colonna in Genazzano; he deserted his wife, who has been
with child for six months, and she is constantly in tears."[64]

She was in the power of her father, who, highly incensed by the prince's
flight, banished Alfonso's sister Donna Sancia to Naples.

Lucretia's position, owing to these circumstances, became exceedingly
trying. Her tears show that she possessed a heart. She loved, and
perhaps for the first time. Alfonso wrote her from Genazzano, urgently
imploring her to follow him, and his letters fell into the hands of the
Pope, who compelled her to write her husband and ask him to return. It
was doubtless his daughter's complaining that induced Alexander to send
her away from Rome. August 8th he made her Regent of Spoleto. Hitherto
papal legates, usually cardinals, had governed this city and the
surrounding territory; but now the Pope entrusted its administration to
a young woman of nineteen, his own daughter, and thither she repaired.

He gave her a letter to the priors of Spoleto which was as follows:

DEAR SONS: Greeting and the Apostolic Blessing! We have
entrusted to our beloved daughter in Christ, the noble lady,
Lucretia de Borgia, Duchess of Biseglia, the office of keeper of
the castle, as well as the government of our cities of Spoleto and
Foligno, and of the county and district about them. Having perfect
confidence in the intelligence, the fidelity, and probity of the
Duchess, which We have dwelt upon in previous letters, and likewise
in your unfailing obedience to Us and to the Holy See, We trust
that you will receive the Duchess Lucretia, as is your duty, with
all due honor as your regent, and show her submission in all
things. As We wish her to be recei