how to dissemble his designs, that the Orsini were. reconciled to him through the intervention of Signior Paolo, on whom he, for the purpose, lavished presents of dresses, money, and horses. The others were such fools as to put themselves into his power at Signigalia. (Vide Appendix B.) Having thus exterminated the chiefs, and made their partizans his friends, the duke had laid the solid foundations. of his power. He possessed all Romagnia and the duchy of Urbino; he had gained the affection of those two people (particularly the former), who already enjoyed the advantages of his government. As this latter circumstance is worthy of remark, and in this respect deserves to be imitated, I cannot suffer it to pass unnoticed.
After the duke had possessed himself of Romagnia, he found it had been governed by a number of petty princes, who were more occupied in the spoliation than the government of their subjects, and whose political weakness rather served to create popular disturbances than to secure the blessings of peace. The country was infested with robbers, torn by factions, and a prey to all the horrors of civil commotions. He found that in order to establish tranquillity, order, and subordination to the authority of the prince, a vigorous government was necessary. Under this impression, he sent thither as governor Ramiro d'Orco, a cruel but active man, to whom he gave the greatest lati-
