Pope Julius II. weighing in his mind that the whole of the territories of Bologna were the patrimony of the church, made preparations to reduce them to his obedience. This city and territory had been usurped, and held by force for some time, by sir John de Bentivoglio. The pope, considering that there was no prince in all Christendom so well able to afford him support in this project as the king of France (that firm pillar of the church, who had been every where victorious), made him acquainted with his claims and intentions of recovering the bolognese territories. The king, eager to serve the holy church, ordered a large detachment of men at arms to join the pope's forces from the Milanese, for him to use at his pleasure. The pope's army was besieging Bologna on the side toward Rome,--but when joined by the French, it was besieged on all sides. This took place in the month of October. The French, stationed on the side toward Modena, behaved very gallantly, and won Castel-franco, which was plundered because the garrison would not surrender. The pope's army gained another castle,--and both armies showed so much courage, the Bolognese were astonished and frightened: they found themselves closely besieged, and that it would be impossible for them to resist the pope and the king of France. Finding their situation desperate, they surrendered themselves to the pope, having driven sir John de Bentivoglio out of Bologna, who, as I have before said, held the town by force, although it lawfully belonged to the pope. The pope offered up thanksgivings to God the Creator for his success, and chaunted high mass most devoutly, on All-souls-day, in the church of St Petronilla in Bologna. CHAP. XXII. OF THE DAMSEL TRIVULCE. About this time, there resided a young lady in the Milanese, who had been taught the rudiments of grammar at seven years of age, and was so earnest in her studies that, at fourteen, she was eloquent to a degree that astonished all who heard her. She was descended from the noble family of the Trivulces. Her father, called John, was an able knight and good scholar, as were all of his family. Her mother's name was Angela, a noble lady of the race of the Martinengois. In praise of this young lady, the verse of Prosper may be well applied,--'Naturæ sequitur semina quisque suæ.' Her mother was not a learned lady, although full of virtue; but the daughter was so devout and eloquent, in her prayers, that she seemed more angelic than human; and if she continues to abound in such virtues, and to live thus sanctified and devout, she will deservedly be worthy of her reputation of a saint.