d of June, after having held the castle for six
months.

If Venice was jealous and hostile in the north, Florence was scarcely
less so in mid-Italy--though perhaps with rather more justification, for
Cesare's growing power and boundless ambition kept the latter Republic
in perpetual fear of being absorbed into his dominions--into that
kingdom which it was his ultimate aim to found. There can be little
doubt that Francesco da Narni, who appeared in Tuscany early in the
March of that year, coming from the French Court for the purpose of
arranging a league of Florence, Bologna, Siena, and Lucca--the four
States more or less under French protection--had been besought by
Florence, to the obvious end that these four States, united, might
inter-defend themselves against Valentinois. And Florence even went
so far as to avail herself of this to the extent of restoring Pandolfo
Petrucci to the lordship of Siena--preferring even this avowed enemy to
the fearful Valentinois. Thus came about Petrucci's restoration towards
the end of March, despite the fact that the Siennese were divided on the
subject of his return.

With the single exception of Camerino, where disturbances still
continued, all was quiet in the States of the Church by that summer of
1503.

This desirable state of things had been achieved by Cesare's wise and
liberal government, which also sufficed to ensure its continuance.

He had successfully combated the threatened famine by importing grain
from Sicily. To Sinigaglia--his latest conquest--he had accorded, as to
the other subjected States, the privilege of appointing her own native
officials, with, of course, the exception of the Podesta (who never
could be a native of any place where he dispensed justice) and the
Castellan. In Cesena a liberal justice was measured out by the Tribunal
of the Ruota, which Cesare had instituted there, equipping it with the
best jurisconsults of the Romagna.

In Rome he proceeded to a military organization on a new basis, and
with a thoroughness never before seen in Italy--or elsewhere, for that
matter--but which was thereafter the example all sought to copy. We have
seen him issuing an edict that every house in the Romagna should furnish
him one man-at-arms to serve him when necessary. The men so levied were
under obligation to repair to the market-place of their native town when
summoned thither by the ringing of the bells, and it was estimated that
this method of conscriptio