A few days afterwards, on the 27th of August, the Pope left Rome attended by twenty-four cardinals and 500 men-at-arms.

He had previously secured the neutrality of Venice and a promise of troops from the French court.

When Julius reached Orvieto, he was met by Gianpaolo Baglioni, the bloody and licentious despot of Perugia.

Notwithstanding Baglioni knew that Julius was coming to assert his supremacy, and notwithstanding the Pope knew that this might drive to desperation a man so violent and stained with crime as Baglioni, they rode together to Perugia, where Gianpaolo paid homage and supplied his haughty guest with soldiers.

The rashness of this act of Julius sent a thrill of admiration throughout Italy, stirring that sense of _terribilita_ which fascinated the imagination of the Renaissance.