but because they saw those forces more under the sway of the patriarch,
who was their greatest foe. Giovanni Vitelleschi of Corneto was at first
apostolic notary, then bishop of Recanati, and afterward patriarch of
Alexandria; but at last, becoming a cardinal, he was called Cardinal of
Florence. He was bold and cunning; and, having obtained great influence,
was appointed to command all the forces of the church, and conduct all
the enterprises of the pontiff, whether in Tuscany, Romagna, the kingdom
of Naples, or in Rome. Hence he acquired so much power over the pontiff,
and the papal troops, that the former was afraid of commanding him, and
the latter obeyed no one else. The cardinal's presence at Rome, when
the report came of Niccolo's design to march into Tuscany, redoubled the
fear of the Florentines; for, since Rinaldo was expelled, he had become
an enemy of the republic, from finding that the arrangements made by his
means were not only disregarded, but converted to Rinaldo's prejudice,
and caused the laying down of arms, which had given his enemies an
opportunity of banishing him. In consequence of this, the government
thought it would be advisable to restore and indemnify Rinaldo, in case
Niccolo came into Tuscany and were joined by him. Their apprehensions
were increased by their being unable to account for Niccolo's departure
from Lombardy, and his leaving one enterprise almost completed, to
undertake another so entirely doubtful; which they could not reconcile
with their ideas of consistency, except by supposing some new design had
been adopted, or some hidden treachery intended. They communicated their
fears to the pope, who was now sensible of his error in having endowed
the cardinal with too much authority.



CHAPTER VI