The Pope is attacked during a public morality play and his outraged cardinals assume that the House of Borgia's alliance with France is the cause.

Bored at the French royal court in Lyons, Cesare asks King Louis to give him an army that will pressure the Italian provinces to come to an agreement.

Cesare prepares to march against Milan and forces the Venetian ambassador into a commitment to stop German troops if they should rush to Milan's aid.