Milan had been relinquished, out-worn, and depopulated, to the nominal ascendency of an impotent Sforza.

Naples was a province of the Spanish monarchy.

The feudal vassals and the subject cities of the Holy See had been ground and churned together by a series of revolutions unexampled even in the mediaeval history of the Italian communes.

If, therefore, the Pope could come to terms with the King of Spain for the partition of supreme authority in the peninsula, they might henceforward share the mangled remains of the Italian prey at peace together.

This is precisely what they resolved on doing.