mbled before Caesar; and greater princes,
like those of the Gonzaga and Este families, who were either entirely
independent or were semi-independent vassals of the Church, courted the
friendship of the Pope and his dreaded son. Caesar, as an ally of France,
had secured for himself the services of these princes, and since 1499
they had helped him in his schemes in the Romagna. He engaged in a
lively correspondence with Ercole d'Este, whom he treated as his equal,
as his brother and friend, although he was a young and immature man. To
him he reported his successes, and in return received congratulations,
equally confidential in tone, all of which consisted of diplomatic lies
inspired by fear. The correspondence between Caesar and Ercole, which is
very voluminous, is still preserved in the Este archives in Modena. It
began August 30, 1498, when Caesar was still a cardinal. In this letter,
which is written in Latin, he announces to the duke that he is about to
set out for France, and asks him for a saddle horse.

Caesar engaged in an equally confidential correspondence with Francesco
Gonzaga, with whom he entered into intimate relations which endured
until his death. In the archives of the Gonzaga family in Mantua there
are preserved forty-one letters written by Caesar to the marquis and his
consort Isabella. The first is dated October 31, 1498, from Avignon; the
second, January 12, 1500, from Forli; the third is as follows:

ILLUSTRIOUS SIR AND HONORED BROTHER: From your
Excellency's letter we have learned of the birth of your
illustrious son, which has occasioned us no less joy than we would
have felt on the birth of an heir to ourselves. As we, owing to our
sincere and brotherly goodwill for you, wish you all increase and
fortune, we willingly consent to be godfather, and will appoint for
our proxy anyone whom your Excellency may choose. May he in our
stead watch over the child from the moment of his baptism. We
earnestly pray to God to preserve the same to you.

Your Majesty will not fail to congratulate your illustrious consort
in our name. She will, we hope, through this son prepare the way
for a numerous posterity to perpetuate the fame of their
illustrious parents. Rome, in the Apostolic Palace, May 24, 1500.

CAESAR BORGIA of France, Duke of Valentinois,
Gonfallonier, and Captain-General
of the Holy Roman Church.

This son of the Marquis of