The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14
rlage, though solemnized. had not vet

dered in Rome In 1877. Suspicion fell
upon Cesar. then sprightly and aspir-
Ing young man OF ~. but this is one OF
the accusations which the author finds
not proven, and he is inclined to attribute
the assassination, with the Pope and
Caesar, to the Orsinis. as an Incident In
n family feud, or else to revenge in
CURED In the prosecution Of one Of
those amorous intrigues to which Juan
was given In common with the rest OF
the family, his father the Pope not
excluded.
At any rate, the removal OF his two
brothers left the path OF ambition open
TO Caesar. lie not only was not. but the
author holds that he never became, the
faVorite OF his father. whom to the last
he controlled more 10y fear than by af-
1ection' But tho fondness or Alexander
W. TOT MS OFFSPRING ana MS determine
ton 10 push their fortunes In every
possible way, In other words, what
would DO nowadays called mis- quite
snanleiess nepotsm, was the most
attractive feature OF his character. He
PROVIDED Tor MS own ana was thus by
no means worse than an inhdel. That
tney were perfectly known and indeed
almost oiicially recognized TO be his
own maze no dinerence in those curl
Gus times. Before the birth or Cesar
MS rather had taken the precaution to
iesitiihize ms pirtn oy procuring the
mar rage OF ms rnother 10 one Arlgnano'
SO that Wnen IL became necessary 10
snow, LOT inc purpose OF making cesar
ehBlple 10 the arcnDlshopric OF Valentia'
that ne was porn IN Weoiock' MS posi-
tioh was Teeulhrlzeu py papei DUH
issued py MS fatner ana reciting the
marriage IL appears a supernuous
cyhicism ny which upon the very day
on whlch TINS Dull was issued the sue
cessor OF 81. refer should nave Issued
another formally recognizing Cesar as
MS own son. me philoproSenitiveness
OF Alexander vi. TOOK strange forms.
III was not Tor nothing that cesar
desired to be freed from the trammels
OF the priesthood little as he had al
lowed them to interfere with his per-
sonai pleasures. II was, to be sure,
after he mad become laicized that he
gave MS famous banquet to fifty ladies,
the doings at which were such as to
scandaiize even the italy OF the late
hfteenth century. IL Is noticeable that
IN MS appeal 10 the conslstory TO be
relieved or his diaconate and his cardi-
naiate ne admitted that his life was not
suitaoie 10 cnurchman. IL IL also 10
De noted that ne cneerfully bastardized
hinlself by pleading that whereas he
had optained MS ecclesiastical standing
upon the aver1nent that he was the son
OF Arlgnano' born In lawful wedlock,
that averment had subsequently been
discovered to be inaccurate. But I'M
douotediy II was because MS priesthood
interfered with his ambition to be
soldier that ne was at such pains 10
renounce II. IL appears that ne already
mad his eye on the conquest and lordship
or Rofnagna.
MT. woodward shows disposition,
as indeed becomes modern historian,
to make every allowance for an en-
vironment SO foreign to us as that OF
the Italy or the Renaissan" D.. He also
Insists. and no doubt with justice, that
the Pope OF the fifteenth century was
necessarily an italian potentate first
and spiritual father only secondarily.
1t was conceded to him that his tenn
porauties must take the first place in
his affections and plans. 1t was with
me Vie". apparently. OF becoming the
gonfalonler OF the Pope that Cesar
became iayman. Az any rate the nrst
use ne MADE OF MS hperty was to go TO
France TO see what cOuIu be done with