s, which together with the escort he retained
would be sufficient, since his only object was the complete pacification
of the duchy of Urbino. He added that this pacification would not be
possible if his old friends continued to distrust him, and to discuss
through intermediaries alone plans in which their own fortunes were
interested as well as his. The messenger returned with this answer, and
the confederates, though feeling, it is true, the justice of Caesar's
remarks, none the less hesitated to comply with his demand. Vitellozzo
Vitelli in particular showed a want of confidence in him which nothing
seemed able to subdue; but, pressed by Oliverotto, Gravina, and Orsino,
he consented at last to await the duke's coming; making concession rather
because he could not bear to appear more timid than his companions, than
because of any confidence he felt in the return of friendship that Borgia
was displaying.

The duke learned the news of this decision, so much desired, when he
arrived at Fano on the 20th of December 1502. At once he summoned eight
of his most faithful friends, among whom were d'Enna, his nephew,
Michelotto, and Ugo di Cardona, and ordered them, as soon as they arrived
at Sinigaglia, and had seen Vitellozzo, Gravina, Oliveratta, and Orsino
come out to meet them, on a pretext of doing them honour, to place
themselves on the right and left hand of the four generals, two beside
each, so that at a given signal they might either stab or arrest them;
next he assigned to each of them his particular man, bidding them not
quit his side until he had reentered Sinigaglia and arrived at the
quarters prepared far him; then he sent orders to such of the soldiers as
were in cantonments in the neighbourhood to assemble to the number of
8000 on the banks of the Metaurus, a little river of Umbria which runs
into the Adriatic and has been made famous by the defeat of Hannibal.

The duke arrived at the rendezvous given to his army on the 31st of
December, and instantly sent out in front two hundred horse, and
immediately behind them his infantry; following close in the midst of his
men-at-arms, following the coast of the Adriatic, with the mountains on
his right and the sea on his left, which in part of the way left only
space for the army to march ten abreast.

After four hours' march, the duke at a turn of the path perceived
Sinigaglia, nearly a mile distant from the sea, and a bowshot from the
mountains; between the a