To avoid this he had adopted Francesco Maria della Rovere, hereditary Prefect of Sinigaglia, his sister's child and a nephew of Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere's.

There was wisdom and foresight in the adoption, considering the favour enjoyed in Rome and in France by the powerful cardinal.
From Nocera Cesare sent Guidobaldo a message calculated to allay whatever uneasiness he may have been feeling, and to throw him completely off his guard.

The duke notified him that he was marching upon Camerino--which was at once true and untrue--and begged Guidobaldo to assist him in this enterprise by sending him provisions to Gubbio, which he should reach on the morrow--since he was marching by way of Cagli and Sassoferrato.

Further--and obviously with intent that the Duke of Urbino should reduce the forces at his disposal--he desired Guidobaldo to send Vitelli the support of a thousand men, which the latter had earlier solicited, but which Guidobaldo had refused to supply without orders from the Pope.

Cesare concluded his letter with protestations of brotherly love--the Judas' kiss which makes him hateful to us in this affair.
It all proved very reassuring to Guidobaldo who set his mind at ease and never bethought him of looking to his defences, when, from Nocera, Cesare made one of those sudden movements, terrible in their swiftness as the spring of a tiger--enabling him to drive home his claws where least expected.