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But the duke's soldiers, not being content with having pillaged

the men of Oliverotto, began to sack Sinigalia, and if the duke

had not repressed this outrage by killing some of them they would

have completely sacked it. Night having come and the tumult being

silenced, the duke prepared to kill Vitellozzo and Oliverotto; he

led them into a room and caused them to be strangled. Neither of

them used words in keeping with their past lives: Vitellozzo

prayed that he might ask of the pope full pardon for his sins;

Oliverotto cringed and laid the blame for all injuries against

the duke on Vitellozzo. Pagolo and the Duke di Gravina Orsini

were kept alive until the duke heard from Rome that the pope had

taken the Cardinal Orsino, the Archbishop of Florence, and Messer

Jacopo da Santa Croce. After which news, on 18th January 1502, in

the castle of Pieve, they also were strangled in the same way.

THE LIFE OF CASTRUCCIO CASTRACANI OF LUCCA

WRITTEN BY NICOLO MACHIAVELLI