He turned craven at the end, and protested tearfully to his judges--for a trial was given them--that the fault of all the wrong wrought against the duke lay with his brother-in-law, Vitellozzo.

More wonderful was it that the grim Vitelli's courage also should break down at the end, and that he should beg that the Pope be implored to grant him a plenary indulgence and that his answer be awaited.
But at dawn--the night having been consumed in their trial--they were placed back to back, and so strangled, and their bodies were taken to the church of the Misericordia Hospital.
The Orsini were not dealt with just yet.

They were kept prisoners, and Valentinois would go no further until he should have heard from Rome that Giulio Orsini and the powerful cardinal were also under arrest.

To put to death at present the men in his power might be to alarm and so lose the others.

They are right who say that his craft was devilish; but what else was to be expected of the times?
On the morrow--January 1, 1503--the duke issued dispatches to the Powers of Italy giving his account of the deed.