t arms and otherwise against ourselves and our said people and
army, which resulted to us in great and irrecoverable loss."

The climax is in the deliberate falsehood contained in the closing
words. Poor Cesare, who had served France at her call--in spite of
what was rumoured of his intentions--as long as he had a man-at-arms
to follow him, had gone to Naples only in the hour of his extreme need.
True, he had gone to offer himself to Spain as a condottiero when naught
else was left to him; but he took no army with him--he went alone, a
servant, not an ally, as that false letter pretends. He had never
come to draw his sword against France, and certainly no loss had been
suffered by France in consequence of any action of his. Louis's army was
definitely routed at Garigliano, with Cesare's troops fighting in its
ranks.

But Pope Alexander was dead; Cesare's might in in Italy was dissipated;
his credit gone. There lay no profit for Louis in keeping faith with
him; there lay some profit in breaking it. Alas, that a king should
stain his honour with base and vulgar lies to minister to his cupidity,
and that he should set them down above his seal and signature to shame
him through centuries still in the womb of Time!

Cesare Borgia, landless, without right to any title, he that had held so
many, betrayed and abandoned on every side, had now nothing to offer in
the world's market but his stout sword and his glad courage. These went
to the first bidder for them, who happened to be his brother-in-law King
Jean.

Navarre at the time was being snarled and quarrelled over by France and
Spain, both menacing its independence, each pretending to claims upon it
which do not, in themselves, concern us.

In addition, the country itself was torn by two factions--the Beaumontes
and the Agramontes--and it was entrusted to Cesare to restore Navarre
to peace and unity at home before proceeding--with the aid upon which
he depended from the Emperor Maximilian--to deal with the enemies beyond
her frontiers.

The Castle of Viana was being held by Louis de Beaumont--chief of the
faction that bore his name--and refused to surrender to the king.
To reduce it and compel Beaumont to obedience went Cesare as
Captain-General of Navarre, early in February of 1507. He commanded a
considerable force, some 10,000 strong, and with this and his cannon he
laid siege to the citadel.

The natural strength of the place was such as might have defied any
at