On their side, the Spaniards had advanced to Terracino, and the French to Nepi.  The cardinals saw that Rome now stood upon a mine which the least spark might cause to explode:  they summoned the ambassadors of the Emperor of Germany, the Kings of France and Spain, and the republic of Venice to raise their voice in the name of their masters.  The ambassadors, impressed with the urgency of the situation, began by declaring the Sacred College inviolable:  they then ordered the Orsini, the Colonnas, and the Duke of Valentinois to leave Rome and go each his own, way.

The Orsini were the first to submit:  the next morning their example was followed by the Colonnas.  No one was left but Caesar, who said he was willing to go, but desired to make his conditions beforehand:  the Vatican was undermined, he declared, and if his demands were refused he and those who came to take him should be blown up together.

It was known that his were never empty threats they came to terms with him.

[Caesar promised to remain ten miles away from Rome the whole time the Conclave lasted, and not to take any action against the town or any other of the Ecclesiastical States:  Fabio Orsino and.  Prospero Colonna had made the same promises.]

[It was agreed that Caesar should quit Rome with his army, artillery, and baggage; and to ensure his not being attacked or molested in the streets, the Sacred College should add to his numbers 400 infantry, who, in case of attack or insult, would fight for him.  The Venetian ambassador answered for the Orsini, the Spanish ambassador for the Colonnas, the ambassador of France for Caesar.]

At the day and hour appointed Caesar sent out his artillery, which consisted of eighteen pieces of cannon, and 400 infantry of the Sacred College, on each of whom he bestowed a ducat:  behind the artillery came a hundred chariots escorted by his advance guard.

The duke was carried out of the gate of the Vatican:  he lay on a bed covered with a scarlet canopy, supported by twelve halberdiers, leaning forward on his cushions so that no one might see his face with its purple lips and bloodshot eyes:  beside him was his naked sword, to show that, feeble as he was, he could use it at need:  his finest charger, caparisoned in black velvet embroidered with his arms, walked beside the bed, led by a page, so that Caesar could mount in case of surprise or attack:  before him and behind, both right and left, marched his army, their arms in rest, but without beating of drums or blowing of trumpets:  this gave a sombre, funereal air to the whole procession, which at the gate of the city met Prospero Colonna awaiting it with a considerable band of men.