rom such a thing being true, Cesare was so
devoted to the Orsini as to be "more Orsini than Borgian."

It is further worth considering that the defection of the Orsini was
neither immediate nor spontaneous, as must surely have been the case had
the story been true. It was the Baglioni and Vitelli only who first met
to plot at Todi, to declare that they would not move against their ally
of Bologna, and to express the hope that they might bring the Orsini to
the same mind. They succeeded so well that the second meeting was held
at Magione--a place belonging to the powerful Cardinal Orsini, situated
near the Baglioni's stronghold of Perugia. Vitellozzo was carried
thither on his bed, so stricken with the morbo gallico--which in Italy
was besetting most princes, temporal and ecclesiastical--that he was
unable to walk.

Gentile and Gianpaolo Baglioni, Cardinal Gianbattista Orsini, Francesco
Orsini, Duke of Gravina, Paolo Orsini, the bastard son of the Archbishop
of Trani, Pandolfo Petrucci--Lord of Siena--and Hermes Bentivogli were
all present. The last-named, prone to the direct methods of murder by
which he had rid Bologna of the Marescotti, is said to have declared
that he would kill Cesare Borgia if he but had the opportunity, whilst
Vitelli swore solemnly that within a year he would slay or capture the
duke, or else drive him out of Italy.

From this it will be seen that the Diet of Magione was no mere defensive
alliance, but actually an offensive one, with the annihilation of Cesare
Borgia for its objective.

They certainly had the power to carry out their resolutions, for
whilst Cesare disposed at that moment of not more than 2,500 foot, 300
men-at-arms, and the 100 lances of his Caesarean guard of patricians,
the confederates had in arms some 9,000 foot and 1,000 horse. Conscious
of their superior strength, they determined to strike at once, before
Cesare should be further supported by the French lances, and to make
sure of him by assailing him on every side at once. To this end it was
resolved that Bentivogli should instantly march upon Imola, where Cesare
lay, whilst the others should possess themselves of Urbino and Pesaro
simultaneously.

They even approached Florence and Venice in the matter, inviting the
Republics to come into the league against Valentinois.

The Florentines, however, could not trust such enemies of their own as
Vitelli and the Orsini, nor dared they join in an enterprise which had
for s