Pagina 53 de 310

Such was his line of action as to present affairs. But as to the

future he had to fear, in the first place, that a new successor

to the Church might not be friendly to him and might seek to take

from him that which Alexander had given him, so he decided to act

in four ways. Firstly, by exterminating the families of those

lords whom he had despoiled, so as to take away that pretext from

the Pope. Secondly, by winning to himself all the gentlemen of

Rome, so as to be able to curb the Pope with their aid, as has

been observed. Thirdly, by converting the college more to

himself. Fourthly, by acquiring so much power before the Pope

should die that he could by his own measures resist the first

shock. Of these four things, at the death of Alexander, he had

accomplished three. For he had killed as many of the dispossessed

lords as he could lay hands on, and few had escaped; he had won

over the Roman gentlemen, and he had the most numerous party in

the college.