Machiavelli, commenting upon the action of the Baglioni, remarks that the event proved how difficult it is for a man to be perfectly and scientifically wicked.

Gianpaolo, he says, murdered his relations, oppressed his subjects, and boasted of being a father by his sister; yet, when he got his worst enemy into his clutches, he had not the spirit to be magnificently criminal, and murder or imprison Julius.

From Perugia the Pope crossed the Apennines, and found himself at Imola upon the 20th of October.

There he received news that the French governor of Milan, at the order of his king, was about to send him a reinforcement of 600 lances and 3000 foot-soldiers.

This announcement, while it cheered the heart of Julius, struck terror into the Bentivogli, masters of Bologna.