Murder of Alfonso of Naples, Duke of Bisceglia--The second campaign in Romagna--Pesaro surrenders--Caesar’s private life--Pandolfaccio Malatesta gives up Rimini--Astorre Manfredi--Faenza’s brave resistance--The Pope threatens Bologna--Faenza surrenders-- Caesar returns to Rome--Astorre Manfredi flung into prison-- Giovanni Bentivoglio--Giuliano and Piero de’ Medici--Caesar’s agreement with Florence--Piombino invested--Caesar returns to Rome--Coalition of the Pope and the King of France for the destruction of the House of Naples--Yves d’Allegre comes to Rome-- Berault Stuart, Commander of the French Army, enters the city. Alexander VI. nearly lost his life in an accident which occurred in the Vatican, June 27, 1500, when the ceiling of a room fell down and he was buried in the rubbish, from which, however, he was finally extricated, having received only a few scratches. His escape, according to his Holiness, was due to the Blessed Virgin Mary; solemn thanks were therefore rendered her July 2nd. She, however, did not interfere about two weeks after Alexander’s providential escape to prevent the brutal murder of Lucretia Borgia’s second husband, Alfonso of Naples, Duke of Bisceglia. Early in the evening, July 15th, Alfonso was attacked at the entrance to St. Peter’s by several armed men and wounded in the head, the right arm, and the leg. The ruffians, about forty in number, ran down the steps of the church, hastily mounted their horses, and escaped by the Pertusa Gate. Such is Burchard’s account of the affair.