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Nor is there to be seen at present one in whom she can place more

hope than in your illustrious house,[1] with its valour and

fortune, favoured by God and by the Church of which it is now the

chief, and which could be made the head of this redemption. This

will not be difficult if you will recall to yourself the actions

and lives of the men I have named. And although they were great

and wonderful men, yet they were men, and each one of them had no

more opportunity than the present offers, for their enterprises

were neither more just nor easier than this, nor was God more

their friend than He is yours.

[1] Giuliano de Medici. He had just been created a cardinal by

Leo X. In 1523 Giuliano was elected Pope, and took the title of

Clement VII.