er very slightly …… yet now a king of Francetrembles before it； and it has been able to drive him from Italy； and toruin the Veians …… although this may be very manifest； it does notappear to me superfluous to recall it in some measure to memory。Before Charles； King of France； passed into Italy； this country wasunder the dominion of the Pope； the Veians； the King of Naples； theDuke of Milan； and the Florentines。 These potentates had two principalanxieties： the one； that no foreigner should enter Italy under arms； theother； that none of themselves should seize more territory。 Those aboutwhom there was the most anxiety were the Pope and the Veians。 Torestrain the Veians the union of all the others was necessary； as itwas for the defence of Ferrara； and to keep down the Pope they made useof the barons of Rome； who； being divided into two factions； Orsini andColonna； had always a pretext for disorder； and； standing with arms intheir hands under the eyes of the Pontiff； kept the pontificate weak andpowerless。 And although there might arise sometimes a courageous pope；such as Sixtus ＇IV＇； yet neither fortune nor wisdom could rid him ofthese annoyances。 And the short life of a pope is also a cause ofweakness； for in the ten years； which is the average life of a pope； hecan with difficulty lower one of the factions； and if； so to speak； onepope should almost destroy the Colonna； another would arise hostile tothe Orsini； who would support their opponents； and yet would not havetim