elatives in the
Duke of Valentinois's army. That was the way of the Cinquecento, which
appears to have held few things of less account than human life.

In passing, it may be mentioned that Guicciardini, of course, does his
ludicrous best to make this murder appear--at least indirectly, since
directly it would be impossible--the work of Cesare Borgia.

As for Castel Bolognese itself, Cesare Borgia sent a thousand
demolishers in the following July to raze it to the ground. It is said
to have been the most beautiful castle in the Romagna; but Cesare had
other qualities than beauty to consider in the matter of a stronghold.
Its commanding position rendered it almost in the nature of a gateway
controlling, as we know, the road from Faenza to Imola, and its
occupation by the Bolognese or other enemies in time of disturbance
might be of serious consequence to Cesare. Therefore he ruthlessly
ordered Ramiro de Lorqua to set about its demolition.

The Council of Castel Bolognese made great protest, and implored Ramiro
to stay his hand until they should have communicated with the duke
petitioning for the castle's preservation; but Ramiro--a hard, stern
man, and Cesare's most active officer in the Romagna--told them bluntly
that to petition the duke in such a matter would be no better than a
waste of time. He was no more than right; for Cesare, being resolved
upon the expediency of the castle's destruction, would hardly be likely
to listen to sentimental reasonings for its preservation. Confident of
this, Ramiro without more ado set about the execution of the orders he
had received. He pulled down the walls and filled up the moat, until
nothing remained so much as to show the place where the fortress had
stood.

Another fortress which shared the fate of Castel Bolognese was the
Castle of Sant' Arcangelo, and similarly would Cesare have disposed
of Solarolo, but that, being of lesser importance and the inhabitants
offering, in their petition for its preservation, to undertake,
themselves, the payment of the Castellan, he allowed it to remain.

Scarcely was the treaty with Bologna signed than Cesare received letters
from the Pope recalling him to Rome, and recommending that he should not
molest the Florentines in his passage--a recommendation which Alexander
deemed very necessary considering the disposition towards Florence
of Vitelli and Orsini. He foresaw that they would employ arguments to
induce Valentinois into an enterpri