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[7] Battle of Vaila in 1509.

And as with these examples I have reached Italy, which has been

ruled for many years by mercenaries, I wish to discuss them more

seriously, in order that, having seen their rise and progress,

one may be better prepared to counteract them. You must

understand that the empire has recently come to be repudiated in

Italy, that the Pope has acquired more temporal power, and that

Italy has been divided up into more states, for the reason that

many of the great cities took up arms against their nobles, who,

formerly favoured by the emperor, were oppressing them, whilst

the Church was favouring them so as to gain authority in temporal

power: in many others their citizens became princes. From this it

came to pass that Italy fell partly into the hands of the Church

and of republics, and, the Church consisting of priests and the

republic of citizens unaccustomed to arms, both commenced to

enlist foreigners.