proved upon all the plans of Alexander; he added Bologna to the states of the holy see, rendered the Venetians unable to disturb his repose, and drove the French out of Italy; a success the more glorious, as this pope laboured more for the good of the church than his own private interest.
Julius left the Orsini and the Colonni as he found them, when he ascended the papal throne; and though the seeds of ancient divisions yet subsisted, they could not shoot forth under so powerful a government, and which had taken the wise precaution of withholding a cardinal's cap from each party; which dried up the source of those dissensions that previous to his predecessor had convulsed the church; for the cardinals availed themselves of the credit and the influence which that dignity gave them to foment, both within and without, those disturbances in which the nobles of both factions were obliged to take part. So that we may safely aver that the discord between the barons always originated in the ambition of the prelates.
The reigning pontiff therefore found the church in the meridian of power; but if Alexander and Julius gave it stability by their courage, every thing promises us that Leo the Tenth will crown the work by his goodness, and by a thousand other estimable qualities.
