Baldesar Castiglione The Perfect Courtier/Curteanul

BA L D A S S A R E C A S T IG L IO N E
T HE P E R FE C T COUR T IER
H I S L IFE A N D L ET TE R S
I 47 8 -1
5 9
2
BY JU LI A C A RT W R IG H T
(M RS . AD Y )
AU T HO R O F I SA B LL A D S
E
’
E TE ,
’
M ADA M E.
’
E TC.
C e ch i , q ua l lui
Ve d r i a m o , h a t a li i c or t e g i a n for m a i t .
’
AR I S T
O O .
L c im
a r e , v oc e e v i t e a
'
b i a n ch i m a rm i
C t i li n d
as g o ,
ar p o t e s t i , e v i v o e s e m pi o
A D ci n t i
u os r ,
a n c h e i n t e so l co n t e m p i o
C om
’
uo m o v i nc a Ia m or t e, e la d i sa r m i .
’
T R UAT
O Q O T Asso .
I N ‘T W O V OLU ME S
V OL . I .
ONDON
L
JO H N M U R R AY , AL B E M A R L E S TR E E T, W .
1 9 8
0
PREFACE
CO U NT B A L D A SS A R E C A S TI G L I O N E is kn own to the
‘
world a s the a u thor of I I Cortegi an o He was a .
’
disti n guished soldier diplom a t a n d poet b u t his title

, , ,
to immort ality rests o n this on e bo o k The bes t .
b o ok th a t w a s ever written upo n good breedin g s a id ,

’
Dr Joh n so n when he w a s tr a velli n g with Boswell i n

.
,
Skye the best b o o k I tell y o u

, l l Cortegi a n o ,
“
,
by C a stigli o n e grew u p a t the little co u rt of Urbi n o

, ,
an d sho ld re d it This fr k a n d decisive

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o u u a an
y .
u tteran ce emi n e n tly ch a r a cteristic o f the S pe a ker a n d

, ,
yet h ardly wh a t we Sho uld h a ve expected from him ,
did b u t co n fir m the u n a n imou s verdict of the l a st

two h u n dred ye ars C a st igli on e s book first iss u ed
.
’
from t he Aldi n e Press a t Ve n ice i n April 1 5 28 an d , ,
before the close of the cen tu ry more th an a h u n dred

editi o n s o f the work h a d a lre a dy seen the light .
Sp a n ish Fren ch E n glish a n d Germ a n versio n s

, , ,
fo llowed e a ch other i n r a pid s uccessio n an d the ,
Cortegi an o wa s u n ivers a lly a ccl a imed a s the most

popul a r prose work of the It ali a n Re n a iss an ce .
”
‘
H a ve yo u rea d C a st igli on e s Cortegi o ’
an ! “
a sks
‘
the courtier M alpiglio i n T a sso s di a l o g u e
,
The ’
.
beau ty of the book is s u ch th a t it deserves to be re a d

i n a ll a ges a n d a s lon g a s co u rts e n d ure a s lo n g a s ,
pri n ces reign a n d k n ights an d l a dies meet a s lon g ,
L I BRAR !
vi PREFA CE
as v alou r an d cou rtesy hold a pl a ce i n o u r he arts ,
1
the n ame o f C a stiglion e will be held i n hon our .
’
N owhere h a s the popula rity of C a st igli on e s tre atise ’
been grea ter th an i n our own cou n try From the .
time whe n o nly thirty -four ye a rs a fter its first appear

,
a n ce i n Ve n ice S ir Thom a s H o b s tr an sl a tio n The ’
, y ,
Bo o k of the C our t y er to o k the Eliz a beth an world ,

’
by storm n o less th an seven teen E n glish version s

,
of the Cortegi an o h a ve been pu blished I n those ’

.
d a ys when to kn ow Itali an w a s held t o be a gr a ce

,
of a ll gr a ces an d tra n sl a tion s o f Bocc a ccio a n d

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B an dello s n ovels were solde i n every shop C a s

’
‘
,
’
t igli on e s book wa s i n the h an ds o f a ll c ultu red

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E n glishmen Poets a n d dra m a tists alike qu ot ed his

.
s a yi n gs an d borrowed his st o ries 2

Fl o ri o i n his . ,
’
S eco n d F r ui t es tells u s th a t C a st i li on s Co urtier is
,
’ ’
on e of the books most re a d by yo u n g m en wh o wo u ld
pick up a little It ali a n B en J on son a n d Webster .
’
‘
men tion the Co u rtier ; M a rsto n i n his S a tires ’
, ,
S pe aks of the a u th o r n o t withou t a tou ch of scorn , ,
as the a bsol ute C ast i li o .

’
There seems little doubt th a t Sh a kespe a re wa s

fa mili a r with the book if n ot in the o rigin a l It a li an , ,
a t le a st i n H ob tr a n sl a tio n As Mr “ f dh am
3
’
s y n
y . .
fir st poin ted o u t the pl a to n ic philosophy of the ,

’
S on n ets w a s clea rly borrowed fr o m B em b o s ora tion
an d a clever Americ a n writer Miss S cott h a s a lmost , ,
s u cceeded i n con vi n ci n g u s th a t the ch a ra cters o f

Ben edick an d Be a trice were derived from the Lord
G a sp are P a ll a vicin o an d the L a dy Emi li a of the
Cortegi an o 4
.
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1 Il M lp i gli
’
a 25 1 o, .
2S eeth I t d uc t i t H b y B k f t h e Co u t y
e n ro on by o o
’
s
‘
oo o r e r,
’
P f ss R l ig h
ro e or a e .
3
I t d uc t i t Th P m s f S h k p
n ro on o e oe o a s ea r e .
T h B k f t h e C u t ye b y M A S c t t Ph D
’
e oo o o r r, . . o , . .
PREFACE vi i
Even Roger Asch a m th a t stern P urit an who ,
l oo ked on these fo n de b ookes by foreign a u thors

as
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en ch an tmen ts o f Circe bro ught o ut o f It aly to ,
m ar men s m an n ers i n E n gl a n d h a s a good word

’ ’
,
’
fo r the Cortegi a n o To j oin le a rn in g with comely
.
exercises Co u n t B ald esa r C a stiglion e doth t ru ely

,
te a ch ; which book a dvisedly re a d an d diligen tly

,
followed b ut on e ye ar at home i n E n gl an d wou ld ,
d o a yo u n g ge n tlem a n more good I wiss th an three , ,
1 ’
ye a rs tra vel spe n t a bro a d
’
.
The modern reviva l o f i n terest i n the It a li a n

Ren a iss an ce h a s n a tu ra lly led st u den ts to turn o n ce
more to C a st igli o n e s Cou rtier i n whom they j u stly
’
,
’
recogn ise the ide a l represen t a tive o f th a t gre a t age .
N o less th an three n ew version s o f the Cortegi a n o

h a ve a ppea red i n E n glish d u rin g the l a st few ye a rs .
I n 1 9 00 H o b y s tr an sl a tion w a s repri n ted i n N u tt s

’ ’
‘
T u dor Cl a ssics with a n excellen t I n trod u ction by
,
’
Professor R a leigh a n d a n other h an dsome editio n

, ,
with woodcu ts by Mr Ashbee wa s iss u ed by the .

,
Essex Ho u se Press to be followed i n 1 9 03 by a n ew

‘
, ,
tr an sl ation richly illustra ted an d c a refully an n ot ated

,
from the pen o f Mr O pdyke . .
But while the Cortegi a n o h as been widely re a d

a n d highly esteemed i n E n gl an d it i s c u rious how ,
little i s k n own o f its a u thor A few n otices of C as .
t igli on e i n the works of H a ll a m Roscoe D en n i st o u n , , ,
an d Joh n Addi n gto n Symo n ds a memoir i n a t ran sla ,
tion of the Cortegi an o p u blished i n 1 7 27 two short ,
biogr a phic al stu dies from the pen of Professor R a leigh

a n d Mr O pdyke a n d a spirited sketch by Miss Scott
.
, ,
a r e a ll th a t h a ve bee n writte n a bo u t him i n E n glish .
Y et Co un t B a ld a ss a re is an exceedi n gly i n teresti n g

an d a ttr a ctive figu re He himself a s his con tem
.
,
1 ‘
Th e S h le m t e iii c o as r,
’
.
viii PREFACE
pora r i e s with o n e a ccord excl a imed w a s a livi n g ,
ex a mple of his ide al cou rtier the perfect kn ight of ,
his o wn dre a ms I a m n o t s u rprised wrote Vitt o ri a

.
,
’
Col o n n a when the C o u n t sen t her his m a n u script

, ,
th a t y o u h a ve d escr i b ed a perfect cou rtier sin ce you

’
h a d o n ly to hold up a mirror before yo u rself a n d

con sider you r extern a l a n d i n tern a l q u alities And
’
.
a ltho ugh C a stiglio n e himself modestly discl a imed a n

y
preten ce a t self-p o rtra it ure there cert a i n ly w a s i n
,
his c a se a s i n th a t o f most perso n s a n evide n t cor

, ,
respo n den ce between wha t the m an a dmired an d

wh a t he wa s I will n ot den y he writes n ai vely
.
,
’
th a t I h a ve striven to a tt a i n those qu alities which I

desired to see i n my cou rtier Ju st as Aristotle .
’
defin ed the virtu ou s a ct a s th a t which the g o od an d

grea t m an does so C a stiglion e m a in t a in ed th a t the
,
perfect gen tlem an m u st fr a me his o wn c an on s o f

mora l t a ste an d th a t his i n stin ct must i n the fi n a l
,
resort determi n e wh a t right c o n duc t is .
I n his o wn pers o n C o u n t B a ld a ss a re a ffords the

most brilli a n t ex a mple of the u n ion of chivalry an d
schol a rship a ty pe which a l ways flourished on It ali an
soil M an y other i n st an ces might be n amed —Luigi
,
d a Porto the br a ve V icen tin e wh o wrote the story

,
o f Romeo a n d J u li et ; N iccol o d a Correggio the ,
co n dottiere an d pl aywright ; the Mil an ese c ava lier ,
G a sp are Viscon ti B ut o f all th a t ga lla n t comp an y

.
C a stiglion e wa s the brightest an d the best I n his .
threefold c a p a city o f soldier st atesm an a n d schol ar , , ,
he holds a foremost pl a ce a mon g the most distin

g ui sh ed figures o f the sixtee n th ce n t u ry He w as .
employed by Popes an d mo n a rchs on import an t

mission s a n d e nj oyed the fa vo u r of Leo X an d
, .
Clemen t V I I of Fr an cis I a n d Ch a rles V Both

.
, . .
a t the co u rts of M a n t u a a n d U rbi n o a n d i n the l a rger

PREFACE ix
world of Rome he wa s a shi n i n g light de a r a like to ,
Elis a bett a Go n z ag a a n d Is abell a d E ste to Bembo ’
an d to R a ph a el I n a n a ge whe n a s it h a s been
.
,
well s a id clevern ess wa s a b un d a n t b ut ch ara cter wa s

1
,
l a ckin g he n o t o n ly believed in virtu e b u t pra ctised

, ,
it I n circles where crime an d trea chery were c on

.
domed an d to deceive o thers wa s held t o be the

,
first d u ty o f a dipl o m a t he spoke the truth boldly , ,
a n d rem a i n ed a bsol u tely loy a l to his m a sters So .
he moved thro u gh these d a rk scen es o f i n trigu e an d

bloodshed we a rin g the white flower o f a bl a meless
,
life an d g a i n i n g the con fiden ce a n d respect o f those

,
who were most u n like him His c a reer wa s a .
chequ ered on e oversh a dowed by hea vy losses an d

,
sorrows i n private life a n d by fa ilu res a n d dis app o i n t ,
men ts i n his p u blic c a p a city B u t he w a s widely .
hon o ured a n d gre atly beloved a n d left a st a i n less ,
n a me to his childre n .
The first biogra phy of C a stiglio n e wa s written i n

1 5 7 3 a t his son C a millo s req u est by the M a n t u an
’
, ,
Bern a rdi n e M a rli an i an d p u blished eleve n ye a rs l a ter

,
i n Ve n ice The a u thor derived his i n form a tio n chiefly

.
from members o f the Co un t s fa mily a n d especi ally ’
from Lodovico Strozzi who h a d been his un cle s c om ,

’
p a n ion d u ri n g the l a st ye a rs o f his life i n Sp a in an d ,
his record is on the whole a cc ur a te a n d tru stworthy .
A few more details a re s u pplied i n Belfa -N egr i n i s ’
‘
Elogi della F a migli a C a stiglion e a work which ,
’
appe a red i n 1 6 06 b u t is r a ther i n the n a t u re o f a

,
p a n egyric th a n a biogra phy P a olo G i o vi o i n tro .
d u ced a n otice o f C a stiglion e a mo n g hi s El o gi of

ill u strio u s m en an d a n eighteen th -cen tu ry histo ri an
, ,
M azz u ch elli wrote an other Life o f the Co un t i n his

,
’
S crittori d It a li a without however a ddi n g much , , ,
A J B ut l
1
C m b id ge M d
. . ii 4 5 7
e r, a r o . . .
PREFACE
to o ur k n owledge B u t the best an d fullest bio

.
graphy o f C a stiglio n e w as th a t writte n i n 1 7 6 0 by

Ab a te Pietro S er assi who h a d a ccess t o the fa mily
,
p a pers bro ught t o R o m e by C a rdi n a l V a len ti G on

z a ga secret a ry t o Pope Be n edict XIV an d who
, .
,
a fterw a rds p u blished a n i n teresti n g selectio n of letters
from the Co u n t s p ublic an d priv a te correspon de n ce

’
.
I n o u r o wn d a ys the most imp o rt a n t work on the sub

a s been the biogr a phic a l ess a y by Dr M ar t i n a t i
j e c t h .
,
whose excellen t s u mm a ry of C a st i gli on e s life con ’
t a i n s forty -fi v e hitherto un p ublished letters .
Like most of his con tempora ries Co u n t B a ld a ss a re ,
w a s a n a ctive correspon de n t a n d his letters both , ,
priva te an d o ffici al a r e a s G i n gu en é rem a rked n o t

, , ,
o n ly precio u s historic doc u men ts b u t m o dels of lucid ,
a n d gr a cefu l style gr a ve a n d a n im a ted witty an d

, ,
p athetic by tu rn s Fortun a tely a con sider a ble portion

, .
,
o f his correspon den ce h a s bee n preserved The .
V a len ti p apers i n the Va tic a n L ibra ry from which ,
S er assi drew m o st o f his m a teri a l co n t a i n sever a l ,
h un dreds o f letters m a n y o f which ar e give n for the

,
first time i n my text while a few of the origi n a ls a r e

,
pri n ted i n the Appen dix A n other l arge collection .
i s to be fo u n d i n the Go n z a ga a rchives a t M a n t u a ,
where C a st igli on e s correspon den ce fills eight vol u mes

’
i n the Bibliotec a O thers ar e preserved i n the

.
O liveri an a a t Pes aro an d i n the Archives o f T u rin

an d Flore n ce . M a n y of these doc u men ts h a ve been
p u blished at di fferen t times by historic a l writers ,
s u ch a s Dr P a stor Sign or L u zio Sign or Con ti n

.
, , ,
Sign or F eli ci a n geli Sign or Z a n n on i an d Sign or

, ,
Vern a zz a di Fren ey A con sidera ble n u mber a r e

.
to be fo u n d i n a very r a re work Delle E sen zion i ,
dell a F a migli a di C a stiglio n e p u blished a t M a n t u a ,

’
i n 1 7 8 0 a s well a s in p a mphlets n o w o u t of pri n t by

, , ,
Professor Ren ier a n d Professor Vittore Ci am This .

PREFACE xi
l a st -n a med writer h a s fu rther e a rn ed o ur gr a titu de

by the v al ua ble series of historic al an d bi o gr aphic a l
n otes with which he h a s e n riched his a dmira ble
edition of the Cortegi a n o Fin a lly a mo n g the .
’
cou n tless n otices of C a stiglio n e which h a ve a p

ear e d i n works o n It a li an liter a t u re especi a l me n tio n
p ,
sho uld be m a de o f the fin e a ppreci ation s from the

of Dr Adolf Tobler Professor B ott a ri an d
p en .
, ,
Dr Ga spar y
. r
l
.
T o all of these I desire to a ck n owledge my oblig a

tion s a s well a s to the keepers of a rchives a n d
,
libr a ries i n m an y cities o f I t a ly Above a ll my .

,
he a rtfelt th an ks a r e d u e to P a dre Ehrle the le a rn ed ,
Keeper o f the V a tic an Libr a ry an d to Sign or Fr a n ,
cesco C a gi at i fo r the u n fa ili n g co u rtesy an d kin d n ess

,
with which they h a ve a ssisted my rese a rches .
The p a i n ti n g by Ju st u s o f Ghen t a t Wi n dsor is

reprodu ced by permissio n of the L ord Ch a mberl a i n ,
an d the portr a it o f Federico G o n z a g a by the ki n d n ess
o f the own er Mr Le a th a m while I h a ve to th an k

, .
,
Lie u ten a n t S i m on d i fo r the v a lu able series of photo

gra phs which he h as pl a ced at my dispos a l .
as a t
a ar
e a
On September 6 1 9 04 ex a ctly fo u r h u n dred ye ars

, ,
from the d ay when C a stiglion e first en tered Urbi n o ,
I stood i n the d u c al p al a ce which w a s the scen e o f

his immorta l di alog ues Here s urrou n ded by rem a in s .
,
o f p a st splen do u r it seemed worth while a ttempti n g

,
to revive these forgotte n glories an d to tell the story

o f the perfect co u rtier s life
’
If the t ale a ffo rds my .
re a ders o n e h alf of the ple a s u re which it h a s given me ,
my l abou rs will n ot h a ve been i n v a in .
J ULIA CA RTW R G I HT .
O C K HA M ,
August 3 0, 1 9 08 .
1 Fo r t h e full t i tle s of w o rk s by t h e se a ut h or s , se e i i g ph y
B bl o ra
B IBL I O GRAPHY
M AN U S CR I PT S O U RC E S .
A r c h ivi o S eg r et o d ell S t S e d L et t
a an d ei P i cipi iii
a e : e re r n , .
, iv
v .
, vi .
i i c V t ic
B bl o t e R m a a a n a, o a
Co dic L t i V t ic
e a
g V l t i 8 2 1 0 8 2 1 1 8 21 2 8 2 1 3
no a an o , ia a en , , , ,
L t t e d ll f mig li di C s t igli
e re e a a a a on e .
C d ic V t ic
o e U bi a 9 04 C mm t i
an o, d l D c G uid r n o, o en ar a e u a o
b ld I —9 24 P h i li pp i B
.
a o ld i D f i F i i M i I : er o a e en s o r a n c sc a r ae
—
. .
9 0 63 M isc ll .1 198 F d i i U b i i D ucis Ep is t l

e a n ea . e er c r n o ae .
1 24 8 Misc ll . e a n ea .
A c h ivi G z g M t v
r o C is p d z di R m 1 5 1 9 -1 5 24
on a a, an o a : or r on en a o a, .
C t ggi d ll M c h s
ar e Is b ll o e a ar e an a a e a .
B i bli t c di M
o e a t v C t ggi di B ld ss C st igli an 8 v ls
o a : ar e o a a a re a on e . o .
A c h ivi di S t t di Fi
r o z C t di U b i Cl i
a o Di G ren e : ar e r no v
f 1 25 24 1 265 —C t S t i
, ,
. . . . .
.
, S i i l l ccc lxiii
, . ar e ro z z a n e . er e .
,
c .
-c x .
, .
B i b li t c M ci
o e a Ve zi Misc ll ar C] vii C d m liii
an a, ne a : e an e a . . .
, o . .
,
Cl -x x ii
. x . .
B i t is h M us u m H le i
r M SS 3 4 62 4 6 1 2 L t t di F C h i i
e : ar an .
, , e ere . er
c ti B Sc l
a , V C lm t S t zi G di
. l M ch s
a on a , . a e a, a o a o, a ar e e
F c sc e ll M c h s
ra n e Is b ll C
o c M t v a a ar e an a a e a. ro n a a an o a n a,
1 4 00-1 5 24 .
Br t h i is M us um A ddi t i l M S e : on a . Valen t i M SS .
Br t h i is M u s um Eg e t P p s e : r on a er ,
P RI NTE D S O U RCE S .
A M
DE A
O L LO,A l ss d V I G i li II e L : e an ro u o e on e X n el Ca r ne
v le di R m —D c um t i i dit i 1 4 99 -1 5 20
.
. .
, .
a o a . o en ne , . Fi z 18 9 1
ren e, .
A O I
FF ,
L V i t d l C v li
.
B di M li i
a a e a a ere e rn a r no ar an . P m 17 8 0 ar a, .
A LB I EER Le l zi
,
i d gli m b sci t i V
.
re a on e a a a or en e ti l S t a en a o
d u t i l s c l d i m t S i ii 5 v ls
ra n e e o o ec o se s o . er e .
, o . Fi r en z e, 1 8 39
1 8 63 .
A LB ER T I N I F , . : Op usc ulum de Mi ra b i li b us N o v ae Rom ae . R o ma ,
15 10 .
D ANCO NA, A
’
. : O igi i d el Te
r n a t ro I t li a an o . 2 v ls o . To r i n o, 189 1 .
xiii
xiv B I BLI O GRAPHY
A NS T I S , J . Th e e R gis t e r of the O de r r of t h e G art er , u ua lly s c alle d
th e k wi t h t s t 2 v ls L d 1 7 24
Bla B oo ck , no e , e c . o . on on , .
AN N N
TOG O A pp u t i M m i
O I, Im l 1 8 8 9 n e e or e o a,
M t v 1 8 5 7 —N t izi e di
. . .
D A D ll A t i di M t v
’
C
R c o, . : e e r an o a . an o a, . o
Is b ll E st s G z g (A c h ivi s t ic i t li
a e a S i i en e on a a . r o or o a an o . er e .
,
A pp dic ii ) F l c 1 8 45
en e . o re n e, .
A R I ST L L t t
O O, p f zi s t i -c i t ic d c um t i
. te
e er e c o n re a on e or o r o, o en e no
pe c u di A C
r pp lli Mi l 1
ra8 8 7 -Op mi i i v s a e an o , er e n or n er o
Fi z 1 8 9 4 —O l d
. . .
ie p s d P li d i
n 2 v ls ro a, e . o or . o . r en e, . r an o
F u i s e d C s ll Fi
r o o, 1 8 77 . a e a . r e n z e, .
A M ST N G E
R Th E m p
RO C h l s V 2 v ls L d 1 9 02
, . e ero r ar e . o . on on , .
A S C HA M R Th w h l W ks f L d 1 8 64
, e o e or o . on on , .
A S H M L E Th I s t it t i L ws d C m i s f t h O d
O E, . e n u on , a , an ere on e o e r er
f th G t
o L d 1 67 2 e ar er . on on , .
A NTA D L t t di X III U mi i i llust i V zi 1 5 5 4

AG I , . e er e o n r . en e a, .
A TT I M M I d ll R R D p ut zi i dl S t i p t i d lle
E E OR E e e . . e a on or a a r a e
P vi ci M d si P m si V ls
ro n d iii
e M de o en e e ar en . o . 11 . an . o n a,
1 8 63 -1 8 65 .
A UTO N , J . : Ch r on i qu e de Lo uis X I I . , ed . Ma uld e de Cla vi er e .
P is 1 8 9 0 ar , .
B A LD I B D ll V i t d i F t t i di G uid b ld D uc d U b i ’
—
, . : e a a e e a o a o, a r n o.
Mi l 1 8 21 D ll V i t F t t i di F d ig di M t f lt
an o, e a a e a e er o on e e ro ,
R m 1 8 24 —D esc izi
.
D c di U b i u a 3 v ls d l r no . o . o a, . r on e e
P l zz d i U b i a a R m 18 41 o r no . o a, .
BA N D LL M N v ll d B u d g Lucc 1 5 3 4
E O . o e e, e . s ra o. a, .
BANDINI A I l B i bb i ,
i l mi is t di s t t d eli t ell vit en a e n ro a o n ea o n a a
d l C di l B D i i
e L iv ar 175 8 na e . ov z . o rn o , .
B G A
AR OT T I, M m i i t i h d i L et t e t i F . si Fe . e or e s or c e ra e r rar e . rrara ,
1777 .
B A R U FFA L D I , G La ta o o Vi di L d vic
o Ar o to i s F e rra r a , 1 8 07
. . .
B AS C H E T , A : l e Ad M c
a n a e, L e t t r e et. s D c m s V is
o u en t en e, 1 8 6 7 . .
B AS C H ET - E O : La R UM N T
e un e e de J ss C i
a t h er n e d eM dici e ar . P is ,
1 8 66 .
B AU D I DE VESM E , C . : II C or t e gi an o d el Con t e B . Ca st i gli on e ,
Fi z 1 8 5 6 r en e, .
B A UM G A T N H G sc h ic h t e K l V
R E3 v ls S t ut t g t 1 8 8 8
, . e ar . o . ar , .
B FF A -N
E N A El gi h i t i i di lc u i p s ggi d ell
EGR I I, . o s or c a n e r on a a
f mig li di C s t igli
a M t v 1 606 a a on e . an o a, .
B MB E P V i t di G uid U b ld D uc di U b i
O, V zi 1 5 5 3 a o a o, a r no en e a,
—E pi t l um f mi li m 4 v ls V zi 1 5 8 2 —
. . .
s o ar E pi t a ar a o en e a, s o
m L is X 2 v ls V zi 1 5 5 2 —L t t e
. . .
l um f mi liar a ar a eo n o en e a, e er
1 7 4 3 —P
. . . .
5 v ls V o si d S e i P d v 1 7 4 5
. ero n a, . oe e, e . r a ss . a o a, .
P s V 1 7 43
ro e . e ro n a , .
B M
ER GA D S t i di G zz l C s lm ggi
AS K I , 18 83 . : or a a o o . a a a or e, .
B T L TT I A A t ist i i l zi
ER O O i G zg M d ,
1885
. r n re a on e c o on a a , o en a , .
B N
ER GE H G C l d f L tt s d St t P p s l t i g t
R OT , . a en ar o e er an a e a er re a n o
th N g ti ti s b tw
e E gl d d Sp i
e p s v d i t he
o a on e e en n an an a n, r e er e n
A c h iv s f S im c s V l ii H e y V I I I 1 5 09 -1 5 1 5
r e o an a . o . . nr .
,
.
L d 1 8 66 on on , .
B IBL I O GRAPHY xv
B ET T I N E LLI , S . : D isc so i or n torn o le b e lle le t t e r e e le a r te M an t o
v i an . V e e zi n a, 1 8 00 .
B IAG I D G A p op o si t o di sc sci ut le g ‘
G rol i ’
, R . . : r d ue on o e a t ur e er .
P ra t o , 1 9 04 .
B I A N C HINI F , . La S p i g zi e a on e d elle S c ult ur e d el P ala zz o d i U r b i n o.
U bi r n o, 1 7 24 .
B I BB I N A B
E , . : La Ca l n d i a (Te a t
a r ro an t ic it lio a a n o, i) R m
. o a,
1 8 08 )
B I S T I CC I V , . DE : Le V i t e d i U o mi n i i llus t r i , ed . A Ma i . . Fi r en z e,
1859 .
BO SW E LL S L i fe o f J oh s o e d J W Croker Lo don 1 8 66
’
n n, . . . . n , .
BO TTA R I E B ald ss e d a Ca st igli on e e i l suo lib o d el C o t igi a

, . a ar r r no .
Pis a, 1 8 77 .
B R E WE R , J . S . L e t t er s n d P p e s F o e ig n n d D o m es t ic
: a a r , r a , of the
R e ig n of H en y VI I I 4 v ols L o d o 1 8 62-1 8 7 5
r . . n n , .
BR OSCH M , . J uli us 11 u d G un d u g d Ki rc h e st t e s . . . r n . n aa . G ot h a ,
1 8 78 .
BR O W N RAW D O N C
,
S t t P p s d MSS l t i g t : a len d ar o f a e a er an . re a n o
E g lish A ff i s i t h A c h iv s f V e ic e
n V ls ii iii iv
a r n e r e o n o
L d 1 8 67 —
. . .
. .
, , ,
1 5 09 -1 5 3 3 1873 . on on , .
B G
U FA R D E C I , S l vit l t t e i d l C t e B C st ig li
. : u a a e r ar a e on . a on e .
R gu s 1 9 00
a a, .
B U C HA DT J
R K Di K ult u d R iss c i I t li
R ,
. :2 v ls e r er en a an e n a en . o .
L i p zig 1 8 9 9
e , .
CA M B I DG M d e
R H is t y T h e V l i
E Th o R iss c ; rn or , . o . .
, e en a an e
l iii Th
vo . W s f R ligi .
,
E d by A W W d e d ar o e on . . . . ar an
G W P th . C m b idg U iv si ty P e ss 1 9 02 d 1 9 04
. ro e ro . a r e n er r , an .
C AM G
P O R I, N t izi s p R ff ll . M d : 18 70 o e o ra a ae e . o en a , .
CASA N V A E L tt
O , di C l V Cle m t V II 1 5 27 -1 5 3 2
. : e ere ar o . a en e .
, .
Fi z 1 8 9 2
r en e, .
CAS T I GL I N A P Th C u t y
O E, t s l t ed d . t t d . : e o r er ra n a an an n o a e .
L d on 1 7 27 on
zi 1 5 28 —Op
.
,
CAST I GL I N B A LD ASSA
O Il C t g i
E, V l RE : or e a n o, en e a, . er e v o
g i L t i d l C t B C s t igli
ar e a cc lt d G i A t i
ne e on e . a o n e, r a o e a o . n on o
e G t V lp i P d v 1 7 3 3 (F
ae an o t t d di t i s d
o . a o a, . or a n n o a e e on an
c i t ic l s t di s f l t t s p ms d b i g p h i s
r a u B tt i
e o e er ,
oe ,
an o ra e , se e o ar ,
B uf d i Gi ar C t i F li i g li G b t t G i i M
ec ,
an ,
on n , e c an e , a o o, o v o, ar
ti ti M t
na Op dy k R l igh R i B u c h i i S
,
or a r a, i e, a e ,
en e r , o n , e ra ss ,
S c t t T bl T ld V ld i gh i V
o ,
zz di F
o y Z
e r, i ) o o, a r , e rn a a r en e ,
an n o n .
CAS T I GL I N D ll E s zi i d ll f mig li di C s t ig li
O E : e d ll’
en on e a a a a on e e e a
l igi
o ro o r f d m t M t v 1780 ne e on a en o . an o a, .
CAST I GL I N M D O igi E,b u s ge t i p i i l g

. :g e t is e or n e, re , s s ac r v e ns n
Ca st eli o n ae . V e n e t i i s, 1 6 1 6 .
CE SA P p L
R EO , G : P s q ui (N u v A t l gi s e i iv
. a a eo n e e a no o a n o o a, r e .
,
v ol R m 1 8 98
. o a, .
GI A N V d c i ll vi t di Pi t B m b T i 1 8 8 5
Un o e en n o n e a a e ro e o or n o,
—M t t i i dit i sc sci t i di M Pi t B m b V e zi
.
, . .
o ne e on o u e ro e o ne a,
1 8 8 8 —C
. .
did t u u zi li di B ld C s t igli V zi
an a re n a a a on e en e a,
1 8 9 2 —ll C t gi
. . .
d l C . t B ld C s t ig li e t t or e an o e on e a e sa r a on an n o a o
B IB LI O GRAPHY
ed illust t Fi z 1 8 9 4 — U A m b sc i di P B mb ra o ren e, na a er a e o
—
. . . .
( A c h ivi V r t xxx V z i 1o8 8 6 F S fi

en e o, .
, en e a, . ra e ra no
B u fl (A c h ivi
'
s
on et ic l m b d xiv
.
) M i l 1 8 8 7 r o or o o ar o, . a n o, .
U m E p is di ll c s u i I t li l s c l xvi
o
(A oc h ivi ne a en ra n a a ne e o o . r o
s t ic l mb d xviii ) M il
or o 1891 o d th t ic l s
ar o, . an o, ,
an o er ar e
i A c h t l m b d xix M i l
n r 1892 ;
. d Gi
s . l o ar o, .
, a n o, an o rn a e
st ic d l t t i t li
or iv ix xvii T i 1 8 8 5 t
o . e . a an a , .
,
.
, .
,
o r n o, , e c .
CO L NN A V C t ggi di d F
O ,
. T i
,
18 8 9 ar e o , e . e rr e r o . or n o, .
CO N T I N L t t dip l m t ich di C s t ig li
: e P d v 1875
er e o a e a on e . a o a, .
CR EI G HT N M A His t y f t h P p cy f m t h G t S c h ism
O : or o e a a ro e rea
1 9 04 — H is t
.
,
t t h S ck
o f R m e 6 v ls a ic l E ss y s d o o e . o . . or a a an
R vi ws L d 1 9 03
e e . on on , .
CRO W J E, d C G Th L if
an d W k s f R p h el AVA LC AsE LLE , . e e an or o a a .
L do on n ,
1882 .
CUS T ,
L P i t i gs V l ii Wi ds
. : Th e L d 1 9 06 R oy a l a n n . o . .
, n or . on on , .
D H
E L AB O R D E , Et u d s u l B ux A t s i P is 1 8 64 . e s r es ea r , . ar , .
D E L VA G E S t i d c um t t di C l V i c l zi
,
. : ll or a o en a a ar o . n orr e a on e a
’
I t li 5 v ls V zi 1 8 63 t
a a . o . en e a, , e c .
D L I S L L R ch ch s u G li
E E, P is 1 8 66
. : e er e s r ro er . ar , .
D NN
E N J M m i s f t h D uk s f U b i
I ST O U , 1 4 40-1 6 3 0 e o r o e e o r n o, .
3 v ls L d o . on on ,
]) IAR 10 F A S 1 409 -1 5 02 M u t i R um I t li um
ERR RE E, ,
r a or , er a ca r
S i pt xxiv
cr o r e s, .
D I D T A F I MI N A ld M u t l H ll i m aV ic e P is ’
O , . R : e an ce e e en s e en . ar
18 75 .
D O NE S MO N D I , R P F . . . I . : D ella St i or a E cc l si s t ic di M
e a a an t o v a .
2 olv s M t v 1 61 3 1 61 6 . an o a, - .
D UM S N I L A H is t i d A m t s I t li s 2 v ls P is 1 8 60
E ,
. o re es a e ur a en . o . ar , .
E I N ST I N L ETh I t li R iss c i E gl d L d
,
. : d e a an en a an e n n an . on on a n
N w Y k 1 9 02 e or ,
.
E R As M D Op O m i
I, 1 0 v ls L ugd B t 1 7 03 -1 7 06
. : e ra n a . o . . a .
,
.
E AS MU S Th
R E p is t l s f t
,
sl t d b y F M N ic h ls L d e e o ,
ra n a e . . o . on on ,
1 901 .
FAB R I C K ZY , C VO N : M e d i lle a n d er I t li isch a en en R en iss c e a an

— A d r ia n o Fi o r e n t i n o (J ah rb uch
. .
L i p zig
e ,
1 9 03 . d er k .
pr . K st un
S mmlu ga n en , xxiv ) B e rlin 1 9 03
.
, .
FAB R O I U S ,
N A . L eon is X P M vi t Pis 1 7 9 7 .
, . .
, a . a, .
FE LI C I A N G E LI , B . : A lc u l tt i dit di B C s t igli
ne e er e ne e . a on e in
P p ug
ro n a t o re , N S v 3 4 6 3 69 B l g 1 8 9 2
. .
,
.
- . o o n a, .
FI A
ER ,
B . : Man t ua n u Hy m i D ivi i ; S ylv
s M l y iu n n ae e an s s Coen a .
15 15 .
FI S CH L E ,
O P o r t rat s d e s G ul a n o d e
. : e : a h rb u h d e r i i M dici J ’
c k .
p K s S
r mm un t a lun e n B e r l n , 1 9 07 g xxviii i
E— E
.
. , .
F I TZ M A U I C K LL R Y , J : H t or y o f an h L t e r a t ur e o n on ,
. is S p is i . L d
1 8 98
—S t o r i a d ell L e tt i t a li a n a
.
FL A MI N I ,
F . : 11 C i q ue c e
n n to . . . Mi l an o ,
1 9 03 .
FL I J S c d F i t
OR O , L d . e on ru es . on on , 1591 .
F A N C SC N I A B AT D C g t t u
R E O ,
E . : on e ra ch e un a le t t e r a c d ut di
re a
B C s t ig li .
i di R ff ll Fi
a on e s a a ae o . r e n z e, 1 799 .
BI BL I O GR A PH Y x vn
FR I ZZ I A, . : M em or i e per la S t or i a d i F errara . Vols iv . . an d v .
179 1 .
G ABOT T O , F Tr e let t er e d . o: n llu t ri n ell A r h v o d i U mi i i s ’

c i i i
M la n o i P n e rolo , 1 8 9 0 . i .
GAR DN
ER , E : Th e n o f C o ur t
. P s S
o et : a t u dy o f t h e Ki g
W s
o rk ,
i im s vic i s
L fe, a n d T e o f L o d o o A r o t o Lon d on , 1 9 06 . .
sc ic
G AS P A R Y , A : G e h h t e d e r t a l en i i isc i
h e n L t e ra t ur Vol 1 1
B er l n , 1 8 8 8 —Tr a
. . . .
i d d a V Ro ssi i
T o r n o , 1 9 00 . . . . .
G AY A NG P OS, DE : d s s c s
Ca len a r o f Le t t er , D e p a t h e , a n d S t a t e
.
P a p er s
r e la t n i g g i i s
t o t h e N e ot a t o n w
b e t e en E n la n g d an d
S i p s v d
p a n , r e e r e i n t h e Ar h e of c iv s S im c s an a Vol s iii an d iv . . . .
d
Lon on , 1 8 7 3 -1 8 8 6 .
G AV E, G : C a rt e . ggi i i
o n ed t a d i is i
art t d ei e ol s c i xv vi , x , e xvu . . .
3 olv s F i r e n z e , 1 8 40
. .
G lo v 1 0 , P : Elo a gi v is
. er c la r o r um V i ror um , si
I m a gi n i b us a pp o t a
qu i m u ae J vi
n C mi p t t u V t i 1 5 4 6saeo o an o o s ec a n r en e a,
Fi z 1 5 5 4 —V it di 1 9 U mi i i llus t i
. .
D ll Imp es
e e r e r en e, e o n r
Fi z 1 5 5 4 — His t i ui t m p i 2 v ls
. .
di g u e r ra re n e, or a s e or s o
1 5 5 4 —V i t
. . . .
L ut t i e ae, L e i X t A d i i V I Fl e t i . ae on . e r an . or n ae,
1 5 48 -El gi i llu t i um i
. um vi to Fl ti a 155 1 s r v r or ae. or e n ae, .
G A
1R LD 1 , L D e p e t is . t o um
: t e m p um ed C W t keo n os r r or , . . o .
B li er 1 8 94 n, .
G I US T I N I A N I A D isp cci di A t i G i us t i i i A m b sci t e

,
. : a n on o n an , a a or
V t o i Ro m 1 5 02-1 5 05 ed P V i ll i 3 v ls F i
en e n a, e , . . ar . o . re n z ,
1 8 76
X (Nu v A t l gi ) R m 1 8 9 8 —S t i d i
.
GN D Le
P s q ui (N u v A t l gi ) R m 1 8 9 0 —U G i ud izi d i
O LI , . on e . o a n o o a . o a, . or a
L s R m i t a s tt L e X R m 1 8 9 1 —
a no o a n o o a . o a, . n o
e a o an L e C cc e d i o o eon . o a, . a
L e on e X R m 1 8 93 . o a, .
G R EG O R O VI U S , F G sc h ich t e d S t d t R m i m M i t t el lt e e er a o a r.
V ls vii d viii S t ut t g t 1 8 8 0
o . . an . ar , .
G R TH N
E E R ,Di p li t isch .B zi eh u g
: Cl m e s V I I u
e o en e n en e n . z
C lV i d J h
ar . 1 5 23 -1 5 27
n H v 1887
en a ren . an n o er , .
G R UY ER, F R ph l p i t d p t i t s 2 v ls P is 1 8 8 1
. : a ae , e n re e or r a . o . ar , .
G U A LT I E R O, F C is p d z s g et di G M G ib e t i l C d i
. or r on en a e r a . . t co ar
na el Ag st i T iv ulzi i 1 5 27 T i 1 8 4 5
o no r o n . or n o , .
G UAS T I C ll A c h ivi di Fi 2 v ls
’
L C t St i e e ar e ro z z an ne r o re n z e o
Fi z 1 8 8 4 —MS S T igi i A ch s t it l s e i e iii

.
, .
r en e, . . orr an . r . or . a r .
,
x ix -xx i x xiii -xxvi Fi z 1 8 65 -1 8 7 7

S t i d I t li 5 v ls T i 1 8 7 4 —T s
. .
, . . ren e, .
G
’
U I CC I AR D I N F I, . : or a a a . o . o r n o, . ran
l t d by F t
a e L d 1 61 8 -Op en i e di t e 1 0 v ls
on . on on , . e re n . o .
Fi z e 1 8 5 7 -1 8 67
r en , .
G U I LP I N E , Sk i l t h i . A Sh d w
: f T ut h i a e ce t i e a or, a o e o r ,
n r a n
E pig ms d S t y es
ra L d 1598 an a r . on on ,
.
H A LL A M H I t d uc t i t t h e L it t u f E u p e Fi ft e t h
, . n ro on o era re o ro , e n
t S v
o te e th C tu i s
en L d 1855
en en r e . on on , .
H LTZ I N G R H F d ig d i M t f lt
O E ,
D uc d i U b i
. e er o on e e r o, a r n o.
C ron ac d i G i v i S t i ch d C d V t O t t 1 3 05
a o an n an na en o . a . . .
Zum e s t e m le h e u sgegeb e r S t utt g t

n a ra n. ar
,
VOL . 1 . b
xviii B I B L I O GRAPH Y
J AN IT S C HE K , H . : D ie Ge s llsch ft
e a d er R en a issa n c e in I t lie
a n un d
die K u st
S t utt g t 1 8 7 9 n . ar , .
J N S N B Th e W ks f d by G ilf d w i t h I t od uc t i o by
O O , . : or o , e . or ,
n r n
Cu i gh m nn n L d 18 75 a . on on , .
K A x
L cz J J ul s 1 1 P is 1 8 9 8
o, . : e . ar ,
.
L AN NCI AR Th e G ld
I, D y s f t h R iss c e i R m e
. : o en a o e en a an n o .
L d 1 9 06 on on , .
L AN Kz, K sp d z d K is s K l V u d em k ig
. : o rr e on en es a er ar . a s on .
A c h iv u d d
r B i b li t h eq ue d e B u g g n u B uss l er o o r o ne z r e .
3 v ls L i p zig 1 8 4 4 -1 8 4 6
o . e , .
L N I G V i t di F c e sc M i d ell R v e e D uc d U b i
EO ,
. a ran o ar a a o r , a
’
r no .
V zi 1 605 en e a, .
L U
ER O L I N A R ch ch s u J e G li e P i s 1 8 66
X DE GY , . e er e s r an ro r . ar , .
L I PPA N G RI U b i (I t li A t is t ic d C
I, . : B g m r 1 9 03 no a a r a, e . . er a o, .
L I TTA P L F migli C l b i I t li : Mi l
e 1 8 19 1 8 5 8
a e e e r a an e an o, -
1 8 9 3 —L
. .
, .
LU ZI A O, d R NI . R M t v U bi
,
an T i E ER , . an o a e r n o . o r n o, . a
C lt u e l R l zi i l t t i di Is b ll d E s t G z g
o ra e e a on e e ra r e a e a
’
e on a a.
( G i l s t ic d e
o rn a ell L e tt i t l v ls xx xiii t l T i
or o . . a .
,
o . . o x . or n o,
1 5399
LUZI O, A F e d e ic o
G on z a a , O t a g o a lla ort e
: G ul o r g s g i c i i II di
—Is
. .
m
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xx B I BL I O GRAPHY
—P si oe e v lg i o ar e la t i ne e vi t a d el Co n t e B a ld . Ca st igli on e .
Ro m a ,
1 7 60 .
S LMI E L e
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P A GES
P FAC
RE E
B I BL I G A
O R P HY xiii—xx
C HA PTE R I
— 1 4 7 8 1 490
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ea a o t s Mi l
o o wit h o or a a o n e e n er an
L uis XII —Hi d sc ipt i

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of th F e r en or e o e on o e o r o an n
the Co r t egi a n o —
1 1 24
C HA PTE R III
1 5 00 1 5 03—
Ca t igli e t t h c u t of M t u —Hi s g e t qu lit i es d
s on a e o r an a r a a an
p pul it y—F i e dsh ip of I s b ll d E st f h i m —Th e D uke

o ar r n a e a
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an t M et u —F cesco G o z g m et s
r no a an a r an n a a e
L uis XII
o t Mi l —L e ds th F ch m y g i st N ples
a an a e r en ar a a n a
C s t igli j oi s h i m t h e G igli o—R t u s wit h h i m t

.
a on e n on ar an e rn o
R me o 25 —
37
x xn C O N TE N TS
CHA PTE R I V
1 5 08 1 5 04—
AGES
P p J li us II —G uid b ld st d t h i t h
P
E le tci on of o e u . o a o re or e o s ro n e
S mm d t R m by t h P p —C s t igli
u on e m i s i R m
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an en er e u e er e e en en o r an e o
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—
on za a a on e o n e u e n e a a or
R t u s wit h h i m t U bi
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C HA PTE R V
U bi —
r noTh c u t f t h M t f lt
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an an n on o er a e o e a ra r r
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an u o en
C HA PTE R V I
B i rt h of G uid obaldo — D eat h of h i s m ot h er — Feder ico s la st y ear s ’
D ea t h — Ch a ra ct er a n d e duca t i on o f G u id ob a ldo— Hi s c am paign s,

li t era r y t as t e, a n d i ll-h ea lt h —M a r r i a gg—E lis a b et ta G onz a ga
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67 8 2
C HA P TE R V II
Cast igli o i —Hi f i ds d ss ci t s—C ss d t h

n e at Ur b no s r en an a o a e an o a an e
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1 5 04
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c t —I t ll ct l d ph ysic l x cis s —P m s d p m di
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A G ES
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C HA PTE R IX
1 5 04 1 5 05—
c sp d c wit h h i m t h —Hi p iv t ff i s
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N d f m y—P sp ct s f h i b t h J
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p p s ls—Visit t F
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—W lik d sig s f P p J li us— C st igli
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CHA P TE R XI
1 5 05 4 5 06
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a e a rn a e es
C HA PTE R XII
1 5 06 1 5 07—
Cast iglio ne s en t P f ct —R p t f M t
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C ON TE N TS
C HA PTE R XIII
1 5 07
A GES
P p J ulius II t U bi —C qu st f B l g -C stigli
P
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o e u r ou e r on a e a e e a r no e a o ue
of th C t gi e —C st igli visit s C m ld li —G i li d
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o ar n ro u e n e or e an o a o e o s
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of t h c u t f U bi
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no 205
C HA PT ER XI V
1 5 07
Cast igli o ne p oposes

xch g st t s wit h E c l B t iv gli
r to e an e e a e r o e en o o
Hi d bt s
s d d i ffi ult i —Missi
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—M t i g wit h ld f i ds—R t U bi —
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at U bi r no 206-222
CHA PTE R X V
1 5 07 1 5 08 —
Mu d r er o f G i A d
an n r ea by F r an c sc M i d ll R v —C mm t s
e o ar a e a o er e o en
o f B e m bo a n d C st igli o
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C HA P TE R X V I
P p s ds A chbish p F g t F ss mb —G i f f t h
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wit h t h P p l f c s t B l g —C pt
e a a f M d or —S i g
e a o o na a ur e o o en a e e
o f Mi d l —Th P p i t h t ch s Hi f y wi th t h
ran o a e o e n e r en e - s ur e
D k —C t i gli l gy Mi d l C pt u f B l g ’
u e as on e s e e on ran o a- a re o o o na
by t h F ch —R ut f th P p l f c s—M d f C di l
e r en o o e a a or e ur er o ar na
A lid si—Th D uk xc mm ic t d d t i d by t h S c d
o e e e o un a e an r e e a re
C ll g —I ll ss f J ulius II —A bs lut i
o e e ne d st t i f
o o on an re or a on o
28 3 —
.
t h D uk
e e 3 03
C HA PTE R XX
15 11 1512 —
M ig
ar r a e w d by C u t M t i g
pr 0 p0 sals ren e d s udd ly e o n ar n en o, an en
b k ro en off—Th e
P p s sp ct s C st igli
o e f i t ig s wit h t h u e a on e o n r ue e
F r en ch —Th D k f U bi e fsst s v u d
u e th
o r no re u e o er e n er an o er
g l —I c s t h P p s displ s u w — Hi ff f ’
en er a n ur e o e ea re an e s o er o
s er vic cc pt d ft t h d f t f R v
e a e e —C m p ig g i st
a er e e ea o a en n a a a n a a n
Fe —D t h f C s
r r ar a G z g
ea o e ar e on a a
CHA PT E R XXI
1 5 1 2—
15 13
Ch an g s t th e c ourt of U bi —F ede ico G z g Visit s h i sist e

e a r no r on a a
“
s r
D t h f G s p e P ll vici
ea o a Cs G zg
ar d R b t di
a a n o, e ar e on a a, an o er o
B i —B em b o d C ss i R om —R st t io of t h e M dici
—
ar an an o a n e e o ra n e
Co u t R g n d ugh t e —C st igli e c iv s g t of
an on e s
’
a r a on re e e a ra n
t h e C st le o f Novill
a ara 3 20 3 28
CHA PTE R XXI I
C iv l fet t U bi
ar n a —B i bb i
e s Cl di p f md d
a
‘
r no en a
’
a an r a
’
er o r e un er
C t i gli as di c t i —Th C t s p l g —Ot h c m di s

on e s
’
re on e ou n
’
ro o ue er o e e
P t i t ic v s s w it t by C st igli —Hi l t t t L d
— a r o er e r en a on e s e er o o o
vic C ss o an o a 3 29 —
3 43
C ON TE N TS
C HA PTE R XXIII
15 13
AG S
J lius II —C cl v d l ct i f L X —
P E
D eat h of u Hi p cl mon a e an e e on o eo s ro a a
—Th D uk s f U bi
. .
ti ond p c sian t th L t r o es ond o e a er a n e e o r n o an
F d th
e r rara w P p — an C s tigli i R m —Hi c
e ne o e a on e n o e s or r e
sp d on wi t h t h D u
en ce k d D c h ss —N g ti t i s g di g e e an u e e o a on re ar n
S l l —S Chi d th c v t f A ssisi —M d
3 44—
o ar o o uor ara an e on en o a on n a
R fi ll —I fl f B i bbi t t h V t ic
’
a ae a n uen ce o 3 63 en a a e a an
C HA P TE R XXI V
1 5 13
Cast igli on e f i ds i R m —Th

’
s ly d ys f L
r en X —S ch l s n o e e ea r a o eo o ar
R m —Th R m h um is ts —C l i
.
an d p t s fl ck t oe o o o e e o an an o occ ,
G it z S d l t
or R ph l—C t i glia p ms d s
o e o, t a ae as on e s
’
oe an on n e s
M dici i R m —Fét t th C pit l—C st igli

,
G i li
u d an o e
’
e n o e es a e a o a on e
ret u s t U birn —F sh sch m s f h i m i g

o r 3 64—
no 38 0 re e e or s ar r a e
CHA PTE R XX V
15 13 15 15 —
P licy
o of —Ambit i s d sig s f Alf si O si i d t h
Le o X ou e n o on na r n an e
Fl t i s —B i bbi c t d C di l—C st igli i R m

.
or en ne en a r ea e ar na a on e n o e
P p l b i fs i h i f v —E t y f t h P t g s m b ss d s
a a r e n s a ou r n r o e or u ue e a a a or
-Th P p s l ph t —R ph l s l tt t C s t igli -Visit f
’ ’
e o e e e an a ae e er o a on e o
I s b ll d E t t R m —C st igli tM tu — Hi st t i
’
a e a s e o o e a on e a an a s re or a on
t f v o t c u t
a our a o r 38 1
C HA PTE R XX V I
1515— 15 16
F ch i v i f It ly—G i li d M dici visit G ubbi F lls i ll

r en n as on o a u an o e
’
e s o a
i Fl n c —Th D k f U bi
or en f s st s v u d L z
e e u e o r n o re u e o er e n er o r en o
—C st igli a s t t R m —Vic t y f M igon e —L en X o o e or o ar n an o eo
cis I —M t i g b t w t h K i g d P p t
.
t t s wit h F
r ea ra n ee n e een e n an o e a
B l g —C t i gli
.
o o na i t vi w with t h K i g h i w y t
as on e s
'
n er e e n on s a o
M t —Hi m i g with Ipp lit T lli

an ua s 3 9 9—
41 5
ar r a e o a or e
C HA PTE R XXV II
1 5 16
Th e P gi s p c di gs g i st t h D uk f U bi —D th
ope be n r o ee n a a n e e o r no ea
f G i li
o d M dici—C s tigli
u an o i R m —Th D ch ss e
’
e a on e n o e e u e
E lis b tt t t h V t ic
a e —E xc mm ic t i
a a d d p iv t i fe a an o un a on a n e r a on o
F c sc M i —I v si f U b i —Fligh t f t h D k d
D ch ss s t M t u —
r an e o ar a n a on o r no o e u e an
z d M dici p cl im d D k f
41 6—
’
u e L e o an a or en o e e ro a e u e o
U bi r no 429
A ND I
PPE X 43 0—
460
xxviii L I ST O F ILL U STRAT I ON S
G I U IAL N O DE
’
ME D I C I
B y A llor i . af ter Raph a el (Ufi zi ) .
E MILI A PI A
I mp er i a l Museu m . Vi en n a .
C A R DI NA L BE MB O
B r i ti sh Museum .
CA RD I N A L A LI D S I O
B r i ti sh Museum .
G U I D O B A LD DU KE O F U R B I N O
O,
E L I SA B E TT A G N Z A G A D U C HE SS
O , OF U IN RB O
E L I SA B TTA G O N Z A G A D U C HE SS
E , OF U IN RB O
B y Ca r oto (Ufi zi ) .
A U T O G R AP H OF B A LD ASSA RE CAS T I G LI O N E
Va ti ca n L i bra r y .
P RT A I T S
O R OF CAST I GL I O N E A N D RAP HA E L
B y R ap hael ( Vat i ca n ) .
F DER I C
E O GO NZAGA
B y Fr a nc i a (L ea tha m Collecti on ) .
LO R E N ZO DE
’
ME D I C I DU K E
,
OF U IN RB O
B y A llor i (Ufi zi ) .
CHAPT E R I
1 4 7 8 —1 4 9 0
C s t igli e d O lo — R m n t di t i s f t h e p l c e —
a on
’
na o a T h e f mi ly o f
ra on o a a
C s t igli e —C di l B r d a—H i s c h ur c h d p l c e —Th e

a on ar na an an a a
j is t F c h i C s t ig li — His d sc d t s i t h s r vi c e
f t h e S f z a p i c es —
u r n n o ra e ea e on e e n an n
o orB a ld ss e C s t igli n e s e v e s u d e
r n a ar a o r n r
L d vic G on z ga d s e t t le s t M n t u — M rri g e o f h i s so
o o o a an a a a a a n
C is t f
r t o L uigi
o o ro G o z g —B i t h o f t h e
a ut h
n a a f Ilr a or o
C t egi
or —His e ly y e s n d t i i g
an o ar ar a ra n n .
ON the heights a bove the gorge o f the O lo n a a bo ut ,
t en miles from the L a ke o f V a rese a n d twen ty o r more

fr o m the city o f Com o st an ds the r u i n ed c a stle o f the ,
a n cie n t C a stiglio n e fa mily It i s a wild a n d rom an tic .
spot with the ru shin g wa ters of the mo un t a i n t o rren t

,
i n the r a vi n e below an d the steep streets a n d ston e,
wa lls of the o ld town stra ggli n g a mon g the chestn u t

a n d a c a ci a woods a lo n g its b an ks The ro a d win ds .
thro ugh ga rde n s o f V i n e a n d m a ize o f fig a n d Oli ve , ,
an d betwee n the overh a n gin g bo u ghs of the trees we
look b a ck a t the dista n t ra n ge o f Alps a n d the s n o ws

of Mo n te Ros a .
Accordin g to o n e histori a n Bon a ven tu ra C a s

t igli on e who w a s himself a member o f the h o u s e
,
the n a me Of the pl a ce i n Rom an times wa s C a stru m

S t ili c on i s a n d owed its origi n t o the V a n d a l ge n era l
,
Stili cho wh o fixed his c a mp here i n the d ays o f

,
Theodoric Afterwa rds it bec a me a flourishi n g town

.
,
b u t w a s destroyed by Attil a a n d restored by Arch

V OL . I . 1
2 C O U N T B ALDAS SAR E CAST IGLI ON E
bishop A n sfert o o f M il an a s recorded on a t ablet ,
pla ced i n the ch urch o f S Ambrogio a t the time .

,
o f his de a th i n 8 8 6 .
I n the te n th cen tury this fa ir a n d fru itful l a n d w a s

gra n ted to a certa in Corra d o so n o f Coun t Beren ,
ga ri a wh o h a d ren dered import an t services t o the

,
Archbishops o f Mil a n a n d n o w settled o n the b an ks

,
o f the O lo n a Here he ra ised the fa mou s C a stello

. ,
with i t s fo ur squ are towers from which his descen d a n ts ,
t o ok their n a me This cit a del with cre n ell a ted

.
,
t u rrets born e i n the lio n s p a ws fig u res i n the a rmori al

’
be a rin gs o f hi s house a n d the o ld town down i n the

,
hollow a t the fo ot of the Rocc a still ret a in s the n a me

o f C a stiglio n e d O lo n a
’
The C apta i n s of C a stiglio n e a s they were termed ,
i n mediev a l d a ys rose to high ho n our u n der O tho the

,
Grea t a n d the s u ccessive Germ a n Emperors who

visited Ita ly ; a n d two members o f the fa mily Gotti ,
frede a n d T eald o were a dvan ced to the dign ity o f

,
Archbishops of Mila n by Hen ry IV But i n the .
thirteen th cen tury when G u ido C a stiglion e wa s

,
podest a o f Como h i s c a stle wa s r a zed to the grou n d

,
by a riva l lord O tto n e Viscon ti a n d the fortific a tion s

, ,
were n o t reb uilt for 1 5 0 ye a rs Then a n ill u strious .
ecclesi a stic Bra n d a C a stigli o n e who enj oyed the

, ,
fa vo ur of the Viscon ti d ukes a n d wa s cre a ted a

C a rdin al by P o pe Joh n XX I I I obt a in ed le a ve to .
,
reb u ild his a n ces t r a l fortress o n the old site .
Close by on the s u mmit o f the s a me hill this

, ,
splen did prela te rea red the n o ble collegi a te church

with the lofty c a mp a n ile an d red s an dston e wa lls ,
th at a r e still stan din g W ithin its sta tely choir an d.

,
b a ptistery were a dorn ed with frescoes by M a soli n o ,
the Floren ti n e p a in ter whom C a rdin a l Bran d a h a d ,
met in H un g a ry when he wa s sen t by the Pope a s

,
CAST IGL I ON E D O L ON A ’
3
Leg a te to this dist an t la n d Here we m a y recogn ize .
the keen fa ce a n d white h a ir of the a ged C a rdi n a l ,
as M a soli n o p a i n ted him whe n he w a s p a st eighty ,
k n eeli n g with the shepherds a t the m an ger of Beth

lehem o r sea ted a t Kin g Herod s b an qu et i n his robes
,
’
o f p u rple a n d ermi n e The C a stello which he ra ised

.
a g a i n from the d u st is a he a p o f r u i n s to -d a b u t
y ,
down i n the town in a street be a ri n g the n a me o f

,
the V i a del C a rdi n ale we m ay still see the fa ir ,
p a l a ce with Lomb a rd Gothic porta ls a n d win dows

, ,
which Br an d a b uilt fo r himself a n d which M a soli n o ,
decora ted with friezes o f portr a its a n d V iews of the

distan t Alp s .
Like m a n y other members o f his house Bran d a ,
wa s a n a ble l a wyer a n d st a tesm a n a s well a s a disti n

g u i s h e d ecclesi a stic D u ri n g his
. missio n to Hu n g a ry
he re n dered import a n t services t o the Emperor Sigis
mon d who in retu rn cre a ted him a n d a ll the members
,
o f h i s ho u se Cou n ts P a l a ti n e a n d gr an ted them per ,
et u a l exemptio n from imperi al tolls trib u te an d

p , ,
c u stoms By the s a me deed dr a wn up a t B u d a

.
,
Pesth i n 1 4 1 2 the members o f this a n cie n t n umero u s

, , ,
’
privileged an d m o st illu strio u s ra ce were empowered
, ,
ye a rly t o elect on e o f their house to hold j urisdictio n

over their fa mily a n d depen den ts i n the cou n ty o f
1
C a stiglio n e .
O n his retu r n t o L omb a rdy the C a rdi n a l wa s

a ppoi n ted Preside n t o f the d u c a l co u n cil by Filipp o
M a ria Viscon ti a n d fo un ded a college fo r poor

,
studen ts a t P a vi a th a t w a s o n ly s u ppressed i n the

l a st cen tu ry B ut Corio tells u s th a t he i n c urred the
.
disple a s ure of the Mil a n ese by e n dea vouri n g to sub

st i t ut e the Rom a n litu rgy for the Ambrosi a n rites i n
the Duomo on Christm a s D a y 1 4 4 0 a proceedi n g , ,
B fl -N g i i El g ‘
'
1
e a 404 e r n , o i, .
4 C O U N T BALDAS S ARE CASTIGLI ON E
which e n raged the mob t o s u ch a pitch th a t they

stormed a n d s a cked the C ardi n al s p al a ce i n Mil an ’
.
After this Bra n d a retired t o C a stiglio n e d O lon a ’
where he spen t his l a st ye a rs i n pe a cefu l retre a t a n d ,
celebra ted the rites o f the Ch u rch a ft er h is o wn t a ste

i n his collegi a te fo u n d a tio n Here he died three .
years l a ter a t the a ge o f n i n ety -three an d wa s l a id to

, ,
rest i n a n imposi n g s a rcoph ag u s a dorn ed with his ,
rec umben t e ffi gy w a tched over by gu a rdi an a n gels

,
a n d his chosen s a i n ts Fr an cis a n d A n tho n y

, .
’
A n other illustrio u s member of the C a rdin a l s fa mily ,
Fra n chi n o C a stiglio n e filled the ch air o f j u rispru den ce

,
i n the U n iversity of P a vi a for m a n y ye a rs a n d wa s ,
s e n t o n emb a ssies both to Flore n ce a n d Ferr a r a by
Filippo M a ri a V i scon t i I n 1 4 41 he wa s employed

.
t o dr a w u p the m a rri a ge co n tra ct of the D u ke s

’
d a ughter Bi an c a M a ri a with Fra n cesco Sforz a a n d

, , ,
delivered a n upti al or ation when the weddin g wa s

celebra ted a t Cremon a After Filippo M a ri a s de a th
.
’
Fra n chin o took an a ctive p a rt i n the est a blishmen t o f

a pop u l a r form o f gover n me n t a n d bec a me on e o f ,
the chief m gistr tes o f the short lived Ambrosi a n

a a -
Rep u blic N o n e the less he rem ai n ed on frien dly

.
,
terms with Fr a n cesco Sforza who m a de him a member ,
o f hi s co u n cil whe n he bec a me D uke o f Mil a n From .
th a t time the C a stiglion i were loya l s ubj ects of the

Sforz a prin ces a n d served Fran cesco a n d his s o n s
,
fa ithfully a n d well A sec o n d Bra n d a a gra n d

.
,
n ephew o f the C a rd i n a l bec a me Bishop o f Como a n d

, ,
celebra ted high m a ss a t the church o f S Stefan o o n .
the Fe a st o f St Stephen when G a le a zzo M ari a wa s

.
,
murdered a s he en tered the doors I n the follow .
i n g ye a r 1 47 7 he wa s sen t by the widowed D u chess

, ,
Bon a a s a mb a ss a dor to her brother -in -law Lou is XI , .
of Fra n ce an d a ft erw a rds

, comm an ded the P ap al
THE CAST IGL I ON I O F M ILA N 5
fleet i n the war agai n st Ven ice I n 1 48 3 Sixtus IV . .
a ppoi n ted the Bishop Gover n or Of Rome b u t the ,
en mity of the Pope s n ephew Girol a mo R i ar i o soon

’
, ,
led him to a b an do n this office a n d reti re to his

diocese Three ye a rs l ater he wa s sen t by the Regen t
.
,
Lodovico Sforz a to co n gr a tul a te I n n ocen t VI I I on

, .
his a ccession to the P a p a cy a n d died durin g his ,
a bse n ce in Rome He wa s s u cceeded i n the bishopric

.
o f C o mo by his n ephew a third Br a n d a who bec a me , ,
d u c a l cou n cillor an d w a s employed by the Moro o n

,
co n fiden ti a l b u si n ess a n d sen t to the help o f his

,
n iece , C a teri n a Sforz a when her s u bj ects rebelled ,
a n d m u rdered her first h u sb an d the h a ted Gir o l a mo ,
R i ar i o .
Severa l other members of the fa mily en j oyed

Lodovico s fa vour an d held high office duri n g his
’
reign Gi a n Stefa n o C a stiglio n e w a s sen t on missio n s

.
to Pope Alex a n der VI an d the Sign ory o f Fl o ren ce .

,
an d m a rried L u ci a d au ghter of the Mor o s c o n,

’
fid e n t i a l secret a ry B art o lommeo C alco

, After .
Lodovico s fall howe ver Gi an Stefan o w a s a mo n g

’
,
’
,
the first c ou n cillo r s wh o to o k the o a th of fe alty t o

Lo u is XI I a n d received the l an ds of S a ro n n o
.
, ,
which the D uke h ad given to his mistress Cecilia ,
G a llera n i i n rew ard for this desertio n His you n ger

, .
brother Br an d a wa s a lso a d u c a l c o u n cill o r a n d prime

fa vourite of the Moro O n his dea th i n 1 49 5 he .
,
was b u ried by the D uke s comm an d i n the choir

’
of S . M a ria della Gra zie where D u chess Bea trice ,
wa s l a id to rest two ye a rs l a ter an d where a be a u tiful ,
mon u me n t records h i s ra re virtues a n d the grief o f

his ki n sfolk O n e o f Bra n d a s so n s Gi a n Gi a como
.
’
, ,
wa s m a de Archbishop o f B a ri i n e a rly yo u th by ,
Lodovico Sforz a b u t n ever V isited his dist an t diocese

,
u n til a fter his p atron s fa ll as he wa s co n st a n tly ’
,
6 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
employed o n diplom a tic missio n s While Gi an G ia .
como rem ain ed loya l to the exiled Sforz a s his brother ,
Girol amo embr a ced the Fren ch c au se a n d wa s ,
rew a rded with l a n ds an d hon ou rs by Lo u is X I I .
An other disti n gu ished member of the fa mily an d ,
descen d an t o f Fra n chi n o the j urist w a s S abb a d a ,
C a stigli o n e the ga ll an t a n d a cc o mplished K n ight o f

,
St J o h n of Jeru s a lem wh o a fter defe n din g Rhodes

.
, ,
a g a i n st the T u rks ret u r n ed to spen d a pe a cefu l old

,
a e a t F a e n z a an d write his fa mo u s Ricordi ’
g .
All o f these Mila n ese kn ights an d c o urtiers cl a imed

the a u th o r o f the Cortigi an o a s their ki n sm an a ltho ugh
’
he w a s o n ly remotely c on n ected with their bran ch of

the ho u se H i s gre a t -gran dfa ther Cristoforo a cou si n
.
, ,
a n d co n temp o r a ry o f C a rdi n a l Br an d a w a s o n e o f the ,
foremost l a wyers o f the a ge an d filled the ch a ir o f ,
j urispru den ce at the U n iversity o f P a vi a U n like his .
ill u striou s ki n sm an he n ever enj oyed the fa vo u r o f the

,
Viscon ti pri n ces a n d a fter the m u rder O f D u ke Gi a n

,
’
M a ri a i n 1 4 1 2 by his wife s br o ther he foun d it
, ,
pruden t t o le a ve P a vi a an d settle a t P a rm a There .
he was tre a ted with the h o n ou r d ue to his le a rn in g ,
a n d received the title of Co u n t P a l a ti n e from the
Emperor Sigismon d a n d the co n firm a tio n o f a ll the

,
privileges which h a d been gra n ted to hi s ki n sm an ,
C a rdi n a l B ran d a fo r himself a n d his descen d an ts in

’
perpetu ity I n his old a ge Cristoforo retu rn ed to P a vi a

.
a n d still p u rs u ed his leg a l st u dies a ltho u gh he h a d ,
the misfortu n e to lose his l a rge an d va l u a ble li br ary

by fire three times L eg u m mon a r cha et su bti li t a
.
tu m p r i n cep s w a s the title bestowed u po n him by

his fell o w -j urists a n d more th an a cen tu ry a fter his
,
de a th his Disco u rses were p u blished a t Ve n ice i n ’
the ye a r 1 5 6 0 .
Cristoforo s y o un gest son B ald a ss a re embra ced the

’
, ,
8 C O U NT BALDAS SARE CASTI GLI ON E
family , Cristoforo s o wn portra it wa s i n trodu ced i n to

1 ’
o n e o f these gro u ps an d the fin e -looki n g courtier ,
st a n di n g behi n d the M a rq u is Lodovico s ch a ir i n the ’
a c t o f receivi n g his lord s comm a n ds is o ur hero s

’ ’
gra n dfa ther The i n tim a cy which the you n g C a s

.
t igli on e brothers e n j oyed with the G o n z aga s wa s

stre n gthen ed by the m arri age o f the elder brother
with L uigi a o r a s sh e i s Often c alled Aloysi a
, , ,
G o n z aga This rem a rk a ble wom an whose force an d

.
,
elev a tion o f ch ara cter were desti n ed to exert so gre a t

a n i n fl u en ce o n her so n s fu t u re w a s the d a u ghter o f
’
A n ton io Gon z a ga a des cen d an t o f C o rra do Podest a

, ,
O f M an t u a a n d gre a t -u n cle to the M a rqu is Gi an Fr a n

,
cesco 1 . Althou gh on ly dist an tly rel ated to the

reign in g ho u se the members o f this youn ger bra n ch
,
Of the fa mily were recogn ized a s ki n smen by the

reign i n g M a rquis an d bore the title o f S ig n or i n obi li
, ,
which g a ve them preceden ce a t co u rt n ext to the

pri n ces of the blood An to n io Go n z ag a himself wa s .
a br a ve soldier who received the ho n o u r o f k n ight
hood from the Empero r Theodore I I I an d his wife .

, ,
Fra n cesc a degli U b ert i a descen d an t o f D an te s ,

’
F a ri n a t a wa s con n ected with m a n y illustrio u s L om

,
b ard houses Their d aughter s m arri age to the son

.
’
an d heir o f B ald a ss a re C a stiglion e wa s celebra ted

with gre a t rej oici n g i n the summer o f 1 4 7 7 Soo n .
a fter this B a ld a ss a re himself w a s se n t t o T u sc a n y to

.
a rbitr a te betwee n the Flore n ti n es a n d L u cchese a n d ,
decide a qua rrel which h ad been referred t o the M a r

qu is Lodovico He retu rn ed home t o wa rds the en d
.
o f t h e ye a r a n d died a few weeks l a ter o n J an u a ry 1 4

, , ,
1 47 8. His lord an d m a ster Lodovico Gon z aga s o on , ,
fo llowed him to the gra ve dyi n g on J un e 1 2 a t his , ,
v ill a of Go i to deeply l a me n ted by the s u bj ects o ver

'
Befla -Negri n i
’
1 .
B IRTH O F BALDAS SARE 9
whom he h a d reign ed so lo n g Six mon ths a fterw a rds .

,
on December 6 1 4 7 8 Cristofo ro C a st igli on e s y o u n g ’
, ,
wife ga ve b i rth t o a son a t C a s a tico th a t an cien t c a stle ,
‘
which i n the words of the family chro n icler we
, ,
n o w reg a rd with a revere n ce a s gre a t a s the ho u se o f
Virgil a t Pietol a the Tower of Boethi u s a t P a vi a or

, ,
the h o me of Petr arch 1

.
’
The boy wh o se birth wa s to en dow this old co u n try

h o u se with immort a l fa me received the n a me of B a l
d a ss a re a fter his gran dfather who h a d been the first
, ,
of his r a ce to settle a t M a n t u a I n 1 4 8 1 Chi a ra .

,
Gon za ga the eldest child O f the M a rq uis Federico

, ,
L o dovico s son an d s u ccessor an d of his wife M a rga ret

’
, ,
o f B a v a ri a w a s m a rried t o Gilbert Co u n t o f Mo n t
, ,
pen sier t h e Fren ch kin g s cou si n Duke Ercole o f

,
’
Ferra r a who c a me to M a n t ua for the weddi n g a n d

, ,
a greed t o the betroth a l o f his d a u ghter Is a bell a with
the son o f his good frie n d the M a rqu is k n ighted ,
L u i gi a s bro ther Gi a n pietro on this occ a sio n a n d

’
L u igi a herself a n d her h u sb an d Cristoforo C a s ,
t i gli o n e were chose n t o esc o rt the yo u n g Pri n cess to

her n ew h o me Together they crossed the Alps i n
.
,
the tra i n of the wedded p air an d tra velled to Fran ce , ,
ta ki n g with them a mo n g the weddin g gifts M an

’
t egn a s p a i n ti n g of S S eb a sti an to a dor n the ch a pel o f
.
the Mon tpen sier ch ate a u i n A u vergn e .
Fr o m the first the yo un g M a rquis Fra n cesc o who ,
s u cceeded his fa ther i n 1 4 8 4 an d his wife Is a bell a ,

’
d E ste hon o u red b o th o f B a ld a ss are s p a re n ts with

,
’
m arks o f sign a l fa vo u r Crist o fo ro a ccomp an ied .
Fr a n cesc o thr o u gh a ll his c a mp aign s a n d fo ught ,
g all a n tly at his side i n the fier cely -c o n tested b a ttle

of the T a ro O n th a t dis a stro u s d a y whe n the
.
,
’
M a rqu is s u n cle Rod o lfo Go n z aga fell i n the thick
, ,
B eff —
N g i i 404 1
a e r n , .
10 C O U N T B ALDAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
of the m el ee a n d Fr a n cesco himself n arrowly esc aped

,
with his life Cristoforo wa s severely wo un ded He

, .
li ved fo ur ye a rs l o n ger bu t n ever recovered from the

,
effect of his i nj uries .
Mea n while yo u n g B ald a ss are grew up i n his home

a t C a s a tico u n der the eye of his w a tchfu l mother
, ,
who in stilled her own high sen se o f ho n ou r an d lo ft y

pri n ciples i n to the boy s soul while a t the s a me time
’
she herself i n spired him with th at deep a ffection

an d u n bou n ded co n fide n ce which l a sted u n til his
dyi n g d ay His brother J er on i m o wa s m an y ye ars
.
y o un ger but for comp an ion s B ald a ss a re h a d h i s u n cle

,
Gi a n pietro G o n z aga s s on s L uigi an d Ces a re w h o

’
, ,
were abo u t his own age an d who both of them

,
sh a red his c u ltu red t a stes a n d love o f m u sic a n d

poetry I n the ye a r 1 4 9 2 a ll three l a ds were sen t to
.
complete their stu dies a t the U n iversity o f Mil a n ,
where the en lighten ed liber ality o f the Sforz a d ukes

a ttr a cted the foremost sch o l a rs Of the d a N othi ng
y .
wa s more n a tur a l th an th a t Cristofo r o sho uld se n d his

son t o a co u rt where his ki n smen held high office ,
while the m atern al un cle o f L u igi a n d Ces are G on

z aga the M ar chesin o St a n ga of Cremon a wa s the
, ,
con fiden ti a l secreta ry a n d ch a mberl ai n o f the all

p o werful Moro .
C HAPTER 11
1 4 9 2- 1 4 9 9
Mi l
an und t h ul f L d vic S f z —C t i gli e t ch s d
er e r e o o o o or a as on
’
s ea er an
s t udi s—Hi l v f l i g d t h fi
e s o e ot s — His f i ds t
e a rn n an e n e ar r en a
th e c u t f Mi l —H
o r t s th
o D uk s s vic — D t h f
an e en er e e
’
er e ea o
D uch ss B t ic —C s t igli
e ea rc ll d t M t u b y h i
e a on e re a e o an a s
f t h s d th —
a er
’
F ll f L d vic S f z C s t i gli
ea a t
o s o o o or a a on e en er
Mil w i t h L uis X II — His d sc i p t i

an o f t h t i um ph l t y e r on o e r a en r
ch vic t s —R e c ll c t i s f t h c u t
.
an d disli k f th F e o e r en or o e on o e o r
o f Mi l i th anC t gin e or e an o .
THE seven ye a rs which yo un g C a stiglio n e spen t a t

Mil an between the age o f thirteen an d twen ty were
, ,
a memor a ble period i n his life N owhere else co uld .
he h a ve a cquired so fu ll a n d complete a tra i n i n g i n a ll

the a rts an d gr a ces n ecess a ry for the equ ipmen t of a
perfect courtier This cou rt wrote Is a bella d Es t e
.
,
’ ’
from the Mor o s p a l a ce is the school o f the M a ster

‘ ’
o f those wh o k n ow
’
.
The yo un g schol ar who c a me to Mil a n from Vi rgil s ’
birthpl a ce with his he a rt full of en th u si a sm fo r cl a ssic a l

lea rn i n g for a r t a n d poetry soon fo u n d himself a t
, ,
home i n this n ew Athen s a n d dr an k deeply of the ,

’
celesti al spri n g th a t flowed fr o m Lodovico s P a rn a ss u s ’

.
He sat a t the feet o f Giorgio M er ul a the sun of ,
Alex an dri a a s the grea t h u m a n ist wa s c alled by his

,
con tempora ries an d le a rn t Greek from the ven er a ble

,
Athen i a n Demetri u s Ch alcon dyla s The importa n ce .
of a cqu irin g some kn owledge of this l an gu age i n e a rly

11
12 C O U N T BALDA S SARE CASTI GL I ON E
yo uth wa s a poi n t u p o n which C a stiglio n e a lw ays

i n sisted in after -ye a rs an d which he took c are to i m
,
press u pon his o wn son It is the opi n ion of the best

.
j udges he wrote t o his mother from Rome i n 1 5 2 1

,
’
th a t a boy sho uld begi n by le a rn i n g Greek bec a use ,
L a ti n is so to spe ak 0 111 OWn l a n g uage an d there

, ,
'
fore e a sily a cquired an d spoken by m en o f o u r r a ce ,
1
b u t this is certa i n ly n o t the c a se with Greek
’
.
At the s ame time B a ld a ss a re a tten ded t h e lectures

o f Filippo B er o ald o a n d u n der the g uid an ce o f this
, ,
emi n en t Bologn ese h u m an ist devoted m u ch o f h i s ,
time to the stu dy o f rhetoric an d L ati n a uthors .
Amon g prose -writers Cicero who wa s afterw a rds t o , ,
become his chief model ; a mon g poets V irgi l a n d ,
Tib ullus Abb o t S era ssi tells u s were h i s fa vo urites

,
2
, .
B u t while cl a ssic a l liter a t u re formed the chief Obj ect

o f his serious st u dies It a li an poets from the first ,
a ttr a cted his fan cy The writers i n th a t li ng ua

.
v olg a r e whose cl a ims he w a s to defe n d so vigor o usly

,
i n futu re d a ys a ppe a led t o him i n an especi a l m an n er

, .
He loved the e n ergy an d s ublime power o f D an te s ’
lin e the gra ce a n d elega n ce o f Petra rch s verse while

,
’
a mo n g livi n g poets n o n e h a d gre a ter fa sci n a tio n fo r
him tha n the T u sc a n si n gers Loren zo de Medici an d ,

’
Polizi an o Both o f these Flo ren ti n e poets were

.
a lre a dy pop u l a r a t the co u rt o f Mil a n D uke Lodo .
vico h a d been o n frien dly terms with the M agn i fico ,
a n d ho n o u red Polizi a n o with his p a tro n age a n d o n e ,
o f the first books which we fin d me n ti o n ed i n C a s
t i gli on e s letters is P o li zi an o s St an ze V O lga r I No r

’ ’
.
wa s the yo un g squ ire s tra i n i n g i n kn ightly exercises

’
n eglected He le a rn t j oustin g a n d fen cin g wrestli n g

.
,
3
a n d v a ulti n g from Messer Pietr o Mo n te
, th a t p a st ,
1
L et t e e r ed . S era ssi , i .
, p . 18 1 .
2 ‘
V i ta p ,
’
.
94 .
3
Co r t eg i an o,
’
i . 25 .
14 C O U N T B A LDAS SARE CA STIGL I ON E
co n ve n t witho u t the ga tes He wa s amon g the .
spect a tors o n the memora ble d a y when the pl a ster

model o f the gre a t horse wa s set up o n the a rch i n
fron t o f the C a stello i n ho n o ur o f Bi an c a M a ri a s ’
m a rria ge t o the Emperor M a ximili a n a n d the voice ,
o f poets a n d a ppl a u di n g m u ltit u des together h ailed
the completion o f the work He sa w the c o medies .
th a t were given i n ho n o ur o f the M a r c h esa Is a bell a s ’
V isit a n d he a rd the won derful perform an ces o f the

,
fa mous impro vis a tore S era fin o of Aqu il a whose

, ,
gn ome -like a ppe ar a n ce c a u sed him to be comp a red t o

a c a rpet-b a a n d whose prem a t u re de a th w a s l a me n ted
g ,
by a ll the l a dies a t M an tu a a n d Urbin o He m ay .
h a ve been i n the D u chess s rooms on those even i n gs

’
when c a n tos of the D i v i n a C o m m ed i a wer e re a d aloud

‘ ’
a n d the a rchitect Br a m a n te an d G a sp a re Viscon ti ,
the poet discu ssed the riva l merits o f D an te a n d

,
Petra rch A n d the ga y a n d witty co n vers a tio n s which

.
he he ard i n th a t brilli an t society m ay well h a ve

suggested the ide a o f rec o rdi n g those a n im a ted scen es
i n a more e n d uri n g fo rm The sight o f a ll these
.
wo n ders a n d the i n terco urse with these r a re a rtists

,
a n d gifted schol a rs whom he describes a s the flower

,
of the whole world m a de a deep impressi on o n the

,
you n g co u rtier whose sen sitive sou l wa s keen ly a live

,
t o be a u ty i n e very sh a pe a n d form It wa s n a tura l

.
th a t a s S era ssi a n d M a rli a n i tell us he wa s s o on fired

, ,
by a n a rden t desire to a tt a ch himself t o a Pri n ce wh o

wa s so en lighten ed a p a tro n o f a r t a n d letters a n d who ,
w a s e n d o wed with so fin e a n d discrimi n a ti n g a t a ste i n

thes e m a tters At the age o f eighteen his ed u c a tion
.
,
bei n g held to be completed C a stiglion e e n tered the

,
D uke s service a n d soon bec a me a gen era l fa vourite

’
a t co u rt .
This wa s i n 1 4 9 6 when the u n fortu n ate Gi an

,
FAV O UR O F I L M O R O 15
G a le a zzo w a s de a d a n d Lodovico h a d ga i n ed the

o bj ect o f his a mbitio n a n d bee n procl a imed Duke in ,
his n ephew s ste a d B ut Fort un e which h a d gra n ted

’
.
,
the Mor o hi s he a rt s desire an d ra ised him to these

’
giddy heights n o w s u dden ly withdrew her smile an d

, ,
C a stiglio n e who h a d seen the court o f the Sforz a s in

,
i t s gre a test sple n d o ur lived to be the witn ess o f its

,
down fa ll He wa s i n Mil a n o n th a t wi n ter even i n g

.
when the yo un g D u chess died i n the bloom of her

’
yo uth an d be a uty Then i n her secret a ry s words
.
,
’
,
everythi n g fell i n to r uin The cou rt which h a d .

,
been a j oyou s p a r a dise wa s tu rn ed i n to a d a rk an d ,
gloomy hell a n d poets a n d p a i n ters were fo rced to

,
seek a n other home Aft er this terrible c a t a strophe

.
’
the rift between the Moro a n d his brother in -la w -

,
Fra n cesco Go n z aga gra d ually widen ed an d mutu a l

, ,
s u spicion a n d distr u st p a rted the rulers o f Mila n an d

M a n tu a . C a stiglio n e however rem ai n ed i n the , ,
’
D uke s service a n d e n dea red himself t o Lodovic o
,
d aily more a n d more O n e o f his Mil an ese ki n smen

. ,
the a ble j urist Stefan o C a stiglion e spe aks of the ,

’
yo un g court ier s p o p u l a rity in a letter which he
a ddressed to B a ld a ss a re s fa ther i n Febr u a ry
’
1 49 9 ,
.
A fter a ppe a li n g to Cristoforo s gen erosity o n beh alf ’
o f a poor rel a tio n who owed him mo n ey the writer ,
a dds : I must tell Your M agn i ficen ce th a t your son ,
Messer B a ld a ss a re is very well an d highly esteemed

, ,
n o t o n ly by o u r ill u strious lord the D uke b u t by every ,
o n e here an d th a t with good re a so n for i n d eed there

, , , ,
co uld n o t be a more ch a rmi n g or ta len ted y o u th Y o u .
shou ld re ally come to Mil an yo urself soo n an d co n tr a ct

some hon ou ra ble m a rri age for him which would prove ,
a so u rce o f co n sol a tio n to a ll your fa mily

1 ’
y o u a n d .
Two mon ths a fter this letter wa s writte n i n A pril , ,
1 Co d Va t L a t . . .
, 8 21 3 .
16 C O U NT B A LDAS S A RE CASTI GL I O N E
1 49 9 , Cristoforo C a stigli o n e died a s we le a rn from a ,
letter a ddressed by Gi a n pietro Go n za ga t o J a c o p o

’
d Atri Cou n t o f Adri a a n d Pi a n ell a The C o un t

, .
,
wh o is me n ti o n ed i n the seco n d bo o k o f the C o r

’
tegi an o wa s a t this time M a n tu an a mb a ss ad o r a t
,
the c o u rt o f N a ples a n d will be remembered a s the

,
secreta ry whose a dvice Is a bell a d Este sought when ’
sh e wished t o r a ise a st a t u e to Virgil No w Gi a n .

,
pietro the wid o wed L uigi a s brother wrote to i n fo rm

,
’
J a c opo d Atri of his ki n sm a n s de a th a n d a ss ure him

’ ’
a t the s a me time of B a ld a ss a re re a di n ess to serve
hi s fa ther s o ld frie n d I a m certa in he writes o n

’ ’
.
,
April 24 th a t Y o u r M agn ificen c e will h a ve grieved

,
si n cerely for the gre a t l o ss we h a ve s u st a i n ed here i n

the de a th o f o ur M a gn i fico Crist o foro i n whom I ,
h a ve l o st a good frien d a n d brother When B a ld a ss a re .

,
his so n who is n o w i n Mil an ret u rn s to this city I

, , ,
will desire him t o do wh at y o u a sk a n d y o u m a y ,
certa in ly depen d u p o n him a s y o u did on his father .
B o th he himself a n d a ll th a t he h a s will be a t the

dispos a l O f Yo u r M agn ificen c e 1
.
’
Cristoforo C a stiglion e was b uried a t his fa ther s side ’
i n the fa mily ch apel i n S Agn ese the ch u rch b u i lt .

,
e a rly i n the cen tu ry by the Au gu stin i an fri a rs o n

the shore o f the L a go di Mezzo a n d eight ye a rs la ter ,
his son a n d widow ra ised a n oble mo n u me n t a b o ve

his gra ve Both ch u rch a n d tomb perished i n the
.
evil d a ys th a t o vertook M a n tu a a n d the street which ,
bore the n a me of V i a S Agn ese is n o w kn o wn .
a s V i a C a vour After his fa ther s de a th B a ld a ss are ’

.
return ed to comfort his widowed mother a n d t a ke

his fa ther s pl a ce i n the m an agemen t of hi s est a tes
’
.
He h a d three sisters two o f whom were a lre a dy ,
1
A r ch ivio zg
G o n a a, C a r t e ggi di
o B . Ca st igli on e . Ma r t i n a t i
No t i zi e i n t o rn o a l C o n t e B C a t . s igli on e , 75 .
P ho t o, n
A d er so n .
L D VI C S F A
O O O OR Z .
BY (T R I UL I C LL C TI
B O LTR AP P I O V Z O O E O N)
.
TO L1 0 0 p . 16 ,
Vu l I .
’
BALDAS SARE S S I S TERS 7
m arried The eldest Polissen a w as the wife o f

.
, ,
J acopo Boschett o a gen tlem an of Moden a who lived

, ,
a t Go n z a g a i n the n eighbourhood o f M an tu a a n d
, ,
seems to h a ve been a m artyr to go ut The secon d .

,
Fran cesc a h a d m arried Tomm a so Strozzi a courtier

, ,
of the M an tu an pri n ces wh o often a ccomp an ied the ,
M a rches a a n d her son on their tr a vels B a ld a ss a re .
en tert a i n ed a si n cere regard fo r both his brothers -i n

law a ltho ugh Messer J a copo s b a d temper a n d gr a sp
’
i n g n a tu re were often a so u rce o f tri a l a n d o n ly to be ,
exc u sed on the groun d o f ill -health B ut the on e o f .
a ll his fa mily t o whom he was most deeply a tt a ched
wa s his y o u n gest sister A n n a wh o took the veil i n , ,
1 5 04 i n the con ve n t of S a n t a P a ol a a commu n ity

, ,
of Poor Cl ares to which m an y o f the Gon z a ga

,
pri n cesses belon ged H i s e a rly letters a bo u n d i n

.
a ffectio n a te refere n ces t o this m aiden whether he ,
c a lls her by her b aptism al n ame of A n n a o r by th a t

o f S u or L a u r a which sh e a dopted o n her professio n ;
,
a n d i n a fter ye a rs he n a med h i s first d a u ghter A n n a

-
a ft er this fa vourite sist e r .
Besides these sisters the youn g Co un t h a d a ,
brother J eron i m o who wa s m an y yea rs you n ger th an

, ,
himself a n d whom h i s mother in sisted o n keepi n g

,
at home F o r his ben efit C a stiglion e e n gaged a

.
you n g t u tor n a med F a lco n e whom he h a d kn own a t ,
Mil an an d o f whose le a rn i n g a n d ch a ra cter he h a d

,
the highest op i n io n F alco n e c a me to live a t C a s a tic o

.
,
an d took ch a rge of J er on i m o who wa s desti n ed for ,
a n ecclesi a stic a l c a reer an d for whom B a ld a ss a re a n d

,
his mother e arly Obt a i n ed a gran t of sever a l rich be n e

fices which he did n o t live to e nj oy
, C a stiglio n e .
himself n o w bec a me a tt a ched t o Fra n cesco G on za ga s ’
perso n an d soon wo n the fa vo u r b o th o f the M a rquis

,
a n d of his a ccomplished wife Stran gely e n o ugh the . ,
v or 1 . 2
18 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAS TI GLI O N E
first p u blic occ a sio n on which he wa s req uired to

a tte n d his l o rd w a s i n O ctober 1 4 9 9 whe n the Fre n ch
, ,
Ki n g Lou is XI I m a de his tri u mph a l en try i n to

, .
,
Mil an D u ri n g the s a me mon th of April i n which

.
B ald a ss are wa s rec a ll ed t o M a n t ua by his fa ther s ’
de a th the tre a ty between Fr an ce a n d Ven ice which

, ,
-
se ale d the fa te O f Lodovic o Sforz a w a s sign ed a t Bl o is , .
After this a series o f d is a sters bro ught a bo u t the

’
Moro s rui n an d by the en d o f Au gu st the Fre n ch
,
a rmies were a t the g a tes of Mil a n Lodovico an d his

children fled to I n n sbr uck a n d the C a stello —th a t
.
impregn a ble cita del o f the Sforz a s — wa s tre a chero u sly

surren dered t o the e n emy Lo u is X I I n ow h a sten ed
. .
t o t a ke possession o f his n ew domin io n s an d the ,

’
exiled D uke s n e a rest rela tives tremblin g for their ,
o wn s a fety lost n o time i n m a ki n g pe a ce with the

,
victori o u s mon a rch O n O ctober 2 D uke Erc o le of

.
Ferra r a an d his son -i n -law the M arqu is of M a n tu a

, ,
met Kin g Lou is at Pa vi a a n d fo ur d ays l a ter en tered

,
Mil an with him in st a te C a stiglio n e wh o h ad by

.
,
this time a lmost completed his twen ty -fir st ye a r rode ,
thr o u gh the streets i n his m a ster s s u ite a n d wrote ’
a letter to his br ther h la w

o -i - J a COpo Boschetto i n
, ,
which he describes this tri umph a l progress n o t with ,
o u t a p an g o f n a tura l regret fo r the lost glories o f

’
Lodovico s court
T o the JVI ag n ificen t Ca va li er , rll csser J a cop o B os

chett o d a G on z a a , my I fi nsma n a n d H on our ed
g
B r other .
M A G NIFI C E NT A N D HO N O U RE D B R O T H E R ,
If I were n ot s u re th a t yo u r kin d n ess a n d

i n d ulgen ce were n o t far grea ter th an my c ulp a ble
n eglect I should fe a r th a t my co n d u ct might h a ve
,
excited yo u r disple a sure But the cert a in t y t ha t I

.
20 C O U N T BAL D AS SARE CAS TI GLI ON E
he h ad n o t s aid or do n e a n ythi n g i n the w o rld to pro

v o ke su ch tre a tmen t ! At len gth G o d be th an ked ,
the Ki n g a ppea red First the trumpets soun ded .
then we saw the Germ a n i n fan try with their C apta i n ,
o n h o rseb a ck a t their he a d a n d they themselves o n ,
foot be a ri n g their l a n ces in rest a s u s ua l a n d a ll wea r

, ,
i n g gree n an d red u n ifo rms a n d hose There were a .
h un dred of them as sple n did -l o okin g m en a s yo u ca n

,
wish t o see a n d these formed the v a n gua rd Then

, .
c a me the Ki n g s o wn body -gua rd a ll o f whom a r e s a id

’
t o be gen tleme n There were 5 00 a rchers o n fo ot

.
,
with h alberds i n ste a d o f bows i n their h an ds a n d ,
helmets o n their hea ds we a ri n g red an d green do ublets

, ,
embroidered with the Ki n g s b a dge o f the porcu pi n e ’
wi t h its qu ills spre a d o ut o n the b a ck a n d brea st

, .
Then c a me the Ki n g s tr u mpeters an d those o f the’
other Prin ces with o u r o wn a mo n g them we a rin g

, ,
s a ti n vests li e the cross b o wmen Immedi a tely a fter

k - .
these c ame His M aj esty the Kin g an d j u st i n fro n t ,
o f him Sign o r G i o v a n gi a c o m o d a Trivu lzio with the
b ato n of comm an d i n his h a n d an d s o me o f his ,
b a ron s a t his side Mon sign ori di B egn in o [ Stu a rt

,
d A u b ign y ] di L i gn i n o [ Lign y ] the Gr an d C on n é t a ble

’
, , ,
a n d others wh o m I d o n o t k n o w Behin d him were .
the three C a rdin als e a ch i n his pro per ran k a n d the

, ,
D uke o f Ferra ra a n d o ur Sign or who rode between ,
M o n tpen sier a n d an o ther l o rd whose n a me I c an n o t

remember an d the P o pe s son who h a s a v ery
,
’
galla n t be arin g all a ccordin g to their r an k After

, .
th a t c a me a m u ltitu de o f other lords an d gen tlemen

i n n u mera ble a n d prela tes an d Mil a n ese an d fo reign ers
, .
Then 200 Fren ch gen tlemen -a t -a rms all well a rmed ,
an d mo u n ted m a ki n g a lt o gether a very g a ll a n t sh o w

,
.
These a ll a ccomp an ied His M aj esty a l o n g the r o a d ,
which wa s covered with cloth u p to the C a stell o a n d ,
lin ed on e a ch side with l a dies an d a dorn ed with

t a pestries an d other decora ti on s Some o n e wh o .
wished to sh o w his affectio n for the Fren ch h ad pla ced

the Ki n g s a rms a bove his doors a s the best orn amen t
’
L O UI S XI I AT T HE CAS TE LL O . 21
th a t he co u ld h a ve The street wa s crowded with .
people a n d the Ki n g rode on lo o ki n g up a t the l a dies

, , .
wh o ar e s a id t o ple a se him gre a tly O ver his he a d a .
b a ld a cchi n o of gold broc a de w a s c a rried by doctors

we a rin g p urple I o b es an d c apes a n d biretta s lin ed with
,
fur S evera l o f the first ge n tleme n In M i l an w a lked o n

.
’
foot a t his horse s side I n good order ; the horse itself ,
is a ro a n n o t very l a rge b u t a n ice horse o n ly a li ttle

, , ,
poor a bo u t the mo u th His M aj esty wore the d u c a l .
m an tle of white d a m a sk a n d the d u c a l c ap lin ed with ,
fur a lso o f white d a m a sk

, S O he rode u p to the .
C a stello The pi a zz a wa s thron ged with pe o ple a n d

.
,
the ro a d w a s kept for His M aj esty by G a sc o n a rchers

on foot a rmed with helmets a n d the s a me liveries b u t
, ,
witho u t embr o ideries These G a sc o n s are little m en .

,
a n d the a rchers a r e very sto u t With a ll this pomp .
His M aj esty the K in g of Fra n ce e n tered the C a stello

o f Mil a n — o n ce the pl a ce where the fl o wer o f the m en
o f this world were a ssembled b u t n o w full o f dri n k
i n g-booths a n d d u n g—
,
he aps It is s a id th a t on en ter .
,
i n g the g a tes Hi s M aj esty l a id his h a n d o n his sw o rd

, ,
a n d his a ctio n c a u sed the be a rers o f the b a ld a cchin o
s o me a la rm However he did n o t dra w blood b u t

.
, ,
o n ly flo u rished his sword i n the a i r a m o me n t On .
Mo n d a y morn in g we wen t to c o urt i n a tten d an ce o n

o ur most ill u strio u s lord a n d the Ki n g we n t to m a ss ,
at S Ambro gi o esc o rted by the h a lberdiers a n d

.
,
a ccomp a n ied by a ll the Pri n ces whom I h a ve a lre a dy
men tio n ed M a ss wa s s un g by the Bishop o f Pi a ce n z a

. .
After m a ss we escorted the Ki n g t o the C a stello ,
a n d we n t home to di n n er a n d the n b a ck to co u rt , .
O n T u esd a y morn i n g o u r lord we n t to co u rt a t bre a k

of d a with two r three horses a n d a fa lc o n o n his
y o ,
wrist bec a u se this wa s the Ki n g s ple a s u re a n d they

,
’
rode o ut i n to the co un try This morn i n g I h a ve n o t .
yet been o ut of the ho u se I do n o t wr ite a bo ut o u r .
ill u strio u s lord s a ffa irs bec a u se y o u will s o o n see

’
person s wh o ar e better i n formed o n these m a tters th an

I c a n prete n d t o be B ut from the gre a t demo n stra
.
22 C O U N T BALDAS SA R E CASTI GL I ON E
tion s o f a ffection a n d fa mili arity which I h a ve see n it ,
seems to me th a t there is a stro n g simil a rity o f t a stes

betwee n His M aj esty a n d o ur m o st i ll u striou s lord so ,
th a t I hope all m ay go well a n d o u r a ffa irs prosper I .
will say n o m o re n o w b ut commen d myself to Yo ur

,
M agn ifi c en ce a n d beg you to try a n d get well soo n .
Yo ur brother ,
B A L D A S S A R E C A S TI G L I O N E .
‘
F m M I LAN
ro , October 8 ,
This first letter th a t we h a ve from C a st igli on e s pen ’
is emin en tly ch ara cteristic of the writer His fra n k .
a n d childlike n a t u re the q u ick n ess o f his o bserv a ti o n

, ,
an d the simple loy a lty o f his so u l a r e a ll reve a led i n ,
this a cc o un t O f the first m a rti a l p a gea n t i n which he

h a d t a ke n p a rt The a cc u r a cy o f his descripti on is
.
c on firmed by the records of the Be n edicti n e chr o n icler ,
Je a n d A u t o n who a cc o mp a n ied the Fren c h ki n g to

’
It aly a n d l o o ked wi t h a dmiri n g eyes on this n ew a n d

,
glorio u s city o f Mil an He t o o describes the splen

.
, ,
do u r o f the street decor a tio n s the ho u ses h un g with ,
white dr a peries a n d shields wre a thed with lea fy

g rl n ds with fle urs de lis a n d ermi n es T wo thi n gs
a a ,
- - .
a b o ve a ll str u ck his fa n cy : the t a ll white lilies th a t
bl o ss o med all a l o n g the ro u te fr o m the city g a tes to

the grea t ch u rch o f N otre D a me d u D Om e a n d the ,
’
be a u tiful l a dies with fl o wi n g locks a n d eyes more

r a di a n t th a n the morn i n g su n wh o cl a d i n robes o f , ,
cloth o f gold a n d ra i n bow -colo u red silks looked down ,
from every wi n dow a n d b a lco n y Like C a stiglion e .

,
the good mon k si n gles o ut the good order a n d pro u d

bea ri n g o f the Germ an h a lberdiers for speci a l pra ise ,
a n d d wells on the s uperb a i r a n d s u mpt u o u s a ttire o f
th e Pope s son Ces a re Borgi a D uke V a le n ti n o

’
.
, ,
1
Cod . V a t La t
. .
, 8 21 0 .
FRE N C H O UTRAGE S 23
At the age o f twen ty it wa s o n ly n a tu ra l t o be

moved by the sight of a ll these splen d o urs a n d yet ,
B a ld a ss a re c o uld n o t repress a sigh a t the sight o f

G a sc o n a rchers a n d foreign s o ldiery c a mpi n g i n these
h alls decora ted by Leon a rd o a n d Bra m a n te where the ,
foremost schol ars a n d a rtists of the age h a d met a t the

’
M o ro s court The Fre n ch a r e a dirty people wrote
.
,
’
a n other eyewit n ess o f the sce n e a Ve n eti a n who , , ,
wi th all hi s h a tred o f the M o ro could n o t b ut feel ,
s a dden ed a t the sight o f the prese n t c o n ditio n o f

Mila n .
‘
Everywhere i n the C a stell o there is dirt a n d
fo ul n e ss s u ch a s Sign or Lodovic o wo uld n o t h a ve
,
al l owed for a ll the world ! The Fre n ch c a pt a i n s spit

u p o n t h e fl o o r o f these sple n did h a lls a n d their ,
s o ldiers o u tr a ge women o pen ly i n the streets 1

A .
’
to uch o f c on tempt fo r these fo reign ers fro m bey o n d

the Alps with their r u de speech a n d m a n n ers is
, ,
a pp a re n t thro ugh o ut C a st igli o n e s n a rra tive a n d ’
certa i n p a ss ages i n the Cortegi an o show th a t these ’
first impressi on s were n o t dispelled by closer a c

qu a i n t a n ce with the Fren ch i n v a ders The Fren ch .
,
’
he writes o n ly believe i n the n obility of a rms a n d

, ,
co u n t a ll the rest a s n o thi n g They n o t o n ly despise .
le a rn i n g b ut they a bh o r it an d h o ld schol a rs t o be
, ,
the vilest o f m en a n d thi n k th a t the w o rst repro a ch

,
they c a n a ddress to a n yo n e is to c a ll him a clerk It

wa s n ecess a ry however t o put a side these prej u dices
, ,
fo r the mome n t Ki n g Lo u is a n d the M a rquis

.
Fran cesco h a d bec o me fa st frien ds a n d the best th a t ,
M a n tu a h a d t o give —the p ai n ti n gs of M an tegn a ,
a n d fa lco n s a n d horses Of r a rest breed were l a id a t ,
the V ictor s feet He n ceforth the G o n z a ga s a n d the

’
Bo urbon s were to be close a llies a n d it wa s u n der ,
1
M i ar n o S a n ut o, D iarii ,
’
iii . 31 .
2 Bo o k 1 42
. .
24 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTI GLI ON E
the b an n er o f Fran ce th a t C a st igli on e s first l a urels ’
were to be won .
B ut the me m ory o f the brilli an t cou rt where he

h a d grown up to m a n hood n ever fa ded fr o m his min d .
Lon g ye a rs a ft erwa rd s when the splen do u r of the ,

’
M o ro s rule h a d van ished like a dream when Be atrice ,
wa s i n her gra ve a n d de a th h a d a t le n gth e n ded

,
’
L odovico s wea ry c aptivity i n the d un geon s of Loches ,
C a stiglion e wh o by this time wa s himself a sober

, ,
middle aged m a n rec alled the differen t a ctors o n th a t

-
,
brilli an t st a ge a n d took up his pen t o celebra te their

,
fa me . Where he a sks i n the ch apters of his

,
Cortegia n o a r e the equ als o f these m en a n d w o me n

,
’
to be seen ! Where for i n st a n ce c an y o u fin d a , ,
wom an t o c o mp a re with D u chess Bea trice or with

her sis t er an d m o ther my l a dy Is a bella o f M a n t ua , ,
a n d the s a i n tly Leo n or a of Ar a go n T h e p a ssio n a te

fires an d e n th u si a sms o f youth were dea d but , ,
G a lea zzo di S an Severin o wa s still for him the mod el

o f a peerless k n ight sa n s eu r ci sa n s r e r oche a n d
p p , ,
Leon a rdo the fo remost p a i n ter i n the world Cristoforo .
Rom a n o a n d Vin cen zo C a lm et a were hon o u red with

a pl a ce a mo n g the a ug u st comp a n y which met i n
Duchess Eli s abett a s rooms J a copo di S an Secon do

’
.
w as held u p to fa me a s the pri n ce o f m u sici a n s an d ,
P i st oj a the poet wh o s an g the glories o f Lodovic o s

’
cou rt an d decl a red th a t God reign ed i n hea ven an d

the Moro upon e ar t h was men tion ed i n the s a me ,
bre a th a s the i n comp a r a ble si n ger S erafin o The , .
n a mes o f these m en a n d wome n who were fa mili a r
figu res when the Moro reign ed over Mil an ar e ,
e n shri n ed i n the p ages o f the C o rtegi a n o a n d live ,

’
for all time i n C a st igli o n e s immort a l prose ’

.
CHAPTER 111
1 5 00 —
1 5 03
Ca s t igli on e at —H is g e t q u lit i s d
the c o ur t of M a n t ua r a a e an
p p ul it y —F i d sh i p f Is b ll d E s t f h i m —
o ar r en Th D uk o a e a
’
e or e e
and D uch e ss f U b i t M t u —F o c sc G z g m t s
r no a an a ran e o on a a ee
L uis X II t M il —L ds t h F e c h m y g i s t N pl s
o a an ea e r n ar a a n a e
—C s t igli —
.
jai s h i m t h G
on e i gli o n R e t u s wi t h h i m on e ar an o rn
t R me
o o .
D U RIN G five ye a rs a fter the Fren ch con qu est o f

Mil a n B a ld a ss a re C a stigli o n e rem a i n ed in the service
,
o f his n a t u r a l lord the M a rqu is of M a n tu a B oth , .
Fr a ncesc o a n d h i s wife tre a ted him with m a rked

fa vour a n d re a lized from the first th a t his prese n ce
,
wa s a gre a t a ddition to c o urt circles a t M an t ua .
Everythi n g i n deed combi n ed t o m a ke C a stigli o n e a n

, ,
orn amen t t o society H e wa s yo un g a n d si n gu la rly .
h an dsome There ar e u n fort un a tely n o e a rly por

.
, ,
tra its of him i n existe n ce b u t those o f a l a ter ,
period with the help o f co n tempora ry description s

, ,
e n able us to form some ide a o f hi s a ppea ran ce He .
wa s a bove middle height well proportio n ed a n d erect , ,
i n be ari n g with regul a r fe a t u res an d deep grey eyes

,
full of tho ught an d serio u s n ess a bro a d open forehe a d , ,
a n d brow n h a ir which he wore short with a poi n ted

, ,
beard a n d mo u st a che a fter the fa shio n set by the ,
M arq uis Fra n cesco a t the co u rt o f M a n t ua There .
wa s a n a i r o f refi n eme n t an d high breedi n g a bo u t

him a n expressi o n o f mi n gled dig n ity a n d ge n tlen ess
,
25
which m a de him the very p a ttern o f a courtier s u ch

a s he h a s himself described fea rless i n b a ttle a n d ,
skilled i n co urtly exercises a fin ished sch o l a r a n d ,
eleg an t poet a ple a s an t comp an io n a n d a tr usted

,
frien d .
A s might be expected this brilli a n t c a v ali er won

,
the smiles o f all the co u rt l a di es a n d before h e h a d ,
been m an y mon ths a t M a n t ua two m a rri ages were

proposed t o him First o f all the M a rches an a a lwa ys
.
,
e a ger t o a rran ge a s u it a ble m atch m a de it her b u sin ess ,
t o fin d him a well -dowered bride a n d s u ggested a ,
d a ughter o f Messer Gir o l a mo St a n ga o f Cremon a , ,
of L odovico Sforz a s most tru sted serv an ts ’

on e .
Messer Girol a mo however does n o t seem to h a ve

, ,
c o n sidered B a ld a ss a re s fo rtun e s u fficien t a n d in

’
1 5 02 Ag n esi n a St a n ga m a rried his ki n sm a n a n d her

first cou sin L uigi Go n z aga o f Borgo forte The n ext
, .
pr o p o s a l c a me from the M a rquis s un cle Bishop ’
Lod o vico G o n z ag a whose home a t G a zzolo w a s o n ly

,
a fe w miles fro m C a s a tico a n d wh o w a s on very ,
frien dly terms with M a don n a L u igi a a n d her children .
I n a letter a ddressed to Co u n t M a ffeo d a G a mb a r a ,
he s uggests a n excellen t m a tch for on e of h i s d aughters

i n the pers on o f M B a ld a ss a re d a C a stiglio n e my
‘
.
,
kin sm an thro ugh his mother sister o f M Gi an Pietro , .
Gon z ag a .
’
The Bishop go es o n t o dra w a glowi n g
picture o f the yo u n g m a n whom he describes a s ,
exceedi n gly h an dsome lea rn e d eloqu en t discreet

, , , ,
a n d sin g u l a rly virt u o u s ; i n fa ct so gen er o u sly e m ,
dowed by N a tu re an d Fort un e th a t it w o uld be h ard

to fin d his eq ual He receives fro m h i s esta tes a dds
’
.
,
the writer a ye arly i n c o me of

, d u c a ts which ,
he sh ares with his brother who is a priest a n d whom , ,
we ar e tryi n g t o en dow with b en efices in order th a t

M B a ld a ss a re m a y en j o y the whole of his p a trimon y
.
28 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CAS TI GLI ON E
’
cou rtier s n a tu re an d l o st n o time in a tta chin g him
,
t o herself The tru st which she reposed i n him w a s

.
rep a id with i n terest Wherever C a stiglion e fo un d

.
himself d u ri n g the n ext thirty ye a rs wh a tever priv a te ,
o r p u blic b u si n ess he h a d i n h a n d his best powers o f ,
body a n d mind his wide kn owle d ge o f m en an d

,
’
i n fi n ite resource were a lw ays pl a ced a t Is a bell a s
,
dispos al A n d sh e o n her p a rt n ever fa iled hi m It

. .
w as to her th a t he t u rn ed i n the d a rkest an d most

diffic u lt momen ts o f his c areer when his lord frown ed ,
upo n him a n d sl an dero us ton gu es revi led him an d he ,
h a d n o other frie n d whom he co u ld tru st a t co u rt .
I n his letters t o his mother he spe a ks o f her a s o u r

pill a r —la n ostr a colon n a —the o n e un sh a ke n rock
u po n wh o m his hopes were fixed a n d on whose help ,
a n d frie n dship he co u ld rely with a bsolute cert a i n ty .
A s yet h o wever n o clo u ds h a d risen t o d a rke n the

, ,
yo un g co urtier s horizo n a n d str o n g o f a r m a n d blithe

’
o f he a rt he ro d e o u t to do h i s lord s biddi n g The ’

.
M a rq u is we kn ow decli n ed t o t a ke up a rms on Lodo

, ,
vico Sfo rz a s beh alf when e a rly i n Febr u a ry 1 5 00

’
, , ,
th at u n fo rtu n a te Prin ce crossed the Alps i n the

forlorn hope o f recoverin g the Mil an ese J u st a t .
th a t time we fin d B ald a ss a re i n comm an d o f the

garrison of C a stiglion e a fortific a tion on M an t u a n
,
territory The post wa s a s o lit a ry on e a n d the

.
,
yo u n g soldier grew restive i n this e n forced i n a ction .
O n J an u a ry 27 he se n t his mother the foll o wi n g n ote ,
beggin g for s upplies for himself a n d his servan ts
‘
M A G NIFI CE NT L A D Y A N D HO N O U R E D MO T H E R ,
I sen d An dre a with the m ule fo r the bre a d

a n d other thi n gs o u wr o te a bo u t if they a re re a dy
y , ,
an d by him some fi sh which w a s give n me yester
d ay .This m o rn i n g I se n t Sp ag n o l o t o Bresci a fo r
t
P ho o, P ram .
I V A NNI F A N C SC G N AG A
G O R E O O Z II .
(M U S E U \I OF M A N TU A )
.
To fc p
a e . 28 , Vol I .
A GARRI S ON T O W N 29
th a t blessed c uira ss but d o n ot kn ow if he will sec u re

,
it C a rl o a sks me to let Fra n cesco go on S u n d ay to

.
1
c a rve a t Messer Lodovico s t a ble I pr o mised to let ’
.
him go an d begged Messer Lod o vico at the s a me

,
time to a sk o u r lord s le a ve for me to c o me to M an tu a

’
for these three d a ys This I thi n k he will e a sily

.
, ,
gran t a s it c a n n ot m a tter if I a m a w a y fo r this short

,
time an d I am very an xio u s to come I beg y ou to

,
.
sen d me some s a lt an d s a u s ages Seb a sti an wo uld be .
gl a d if y o u co uld sen d him e n ough horseh air t o stu ff

a s a ddle an d I sho u ld be gr a tefu l if y o u would a lso
,
’
let me h a ve a piece o f s alt me a t .
The le a ve for which he a sked wa s eviden tly gran ted ,
an d a mo n th l a ter when he h a d ret u r n ed to his post

,
a ft er a visit to M a n t u a he wrote a g a i n t o an n ou n ce ,
h i s s a fe a rriv a l
Un til this momen t I h a ve h a d n o time t o write

to Yo ur M agn i fic en ce We arrived all s a fe an d the .
,
horses too These pea s an ts are cert ai n ly r ather poor

.
crea tu res an d h a ve to be driven li ke don keys I h a d

, .
m u ch ra ther sta y a t M an tu a n o t so m u ch for my ,
o wn con veni en ce o r to esc ape work b u t bec a u se ,
this pl a ce is very lo n ely I beg y o u to let me h a ve .
two po un ds o f c an dles an d a p a ir o f boots for M ar

cello I a m tryi n g to fin d a tru sted messen ger to
.
sen d to Bresci a a n d beg M a rco S ecco to see if he c a n

,
p o ssibly obt a in this tiresome c uir a ss a n d fin d o ut if it ,
costs more th an the si x gold d u c a ts which I p a id

M a estro M i c h elot t o 2
.
’
From an other letter written a ye a r l ater we fin d , ,
th a t B alda ss are wa s sen t by his lord to C a rpi to

a rr an ge some b u si n ess m a tters with Alberto P i o a n d
his brothers O n April 2 1 5 0 1 he i n formed his

.
, ,
1 Lo d vic
o o or Lu igi G on zg
a a, his c usi
o n .
2
Co d V a t L a t
. . .
, 8 210 .
30 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTIGLI O N E
m o ther ofthe success which h a d a tten ded his e fforts ,
a n d o f the co u rtesy with which he h a d bee n received
by these c u ltu red pri n ces .
T o morrow he a dds we i n ten d by God s will

’
- ‘ ’
, , , ,
to go a n d di n e a t S a n Ben edetto ; an d i f Y o u r ,
M agn i fic en c e h a s n o obj ection I i n ten d to rem a i n ,
there durin g Holy Week an d comm u n ic a te i n this ,
quiet retrea t which seems to me well fitted for these

,
devotion s .
’
He proceeds to co n su lt his mother a bo ut
some priva te affa irs which h a d to be a rr a n ged with
Messer Am ato Boschetto J a c opo s brother wh o wa s ,
’
with him at C arpi an d e n ds by sen din g greeti n gs t o

,
his brother Jeron imo his sister An n a an d a ll the , ,
others a t home 1
.
Th a t ye a r witn essed Ces a re B orgi a s i n va sion of ’
Rom agn a a n d the m a rri age o f his sister L u crezi a t o

Alfon s o d Este These even ts were followed a few
’
.
mon ths l a ter by the tre a chero u s con q u est of Urbin o .
G uidob aldo an d his wife Elis a bett a to o k refuge a t

the co urt of M an t u a an d B a ld a ss a re whose mother
, ,
wa s a ki n swom a n o f the Duchess wa s for the first ,
time bro ught i n to close rel a tion s with these ill u strious
exiles I n all prob ability he a ccomp an ied the M a rqu is
.
Fran cesco whe n he a n d his fa ther i n -law the D uke

-
,
of Ferra ra wen t to meet the Fren ch ki n g at Asti

, ,
a n d e n tered Mil an i n his tra i n on J u ly 28 Here .
G u idob a ldo an d Giova n n i Sforz a both of whom h a d ,
been deprived o f their domi n io n s by Ces a re c a me to ,
plea d their c au se with Ki n g L ou is ; an d Fra n cesco

Gon z aga wa s a lre a dy bo a stin g th a t he wo uld soon
a ve n ge their wro n gs whe n to the dism a y of the a s
, ,
sembled Prin ces the h ated B orgI a sudden ly a ppea red

,
i n person on the sce n e .
O n e A ugust even i n g a bo u t n i n e o clock whe n the

’
, ,
1
Co d V a t L a t
. . .
, 8 21 0 .
CE SARE B O RGI A 31
Ki n g wa s retu rn i n g from a b an qu et give n by his

gen er a l Trivu lzio Je an d A uto n the chron icler wh o
,
’
, ,
lodged i n a street n e a r the C a stell o he a rd a cl atter ,
o f h o rses hoofs u n der his wi n dow an d p u ttin g his

’
, ,
he a d o u t qu ickly saw D uke V a len tin o mou n ted on

, ,
a cheva l d c p aste i n the a ct of s a luti n g H i s Most

,
Christi an M aj esty By the light o f the Fre n ch

.
gu a rds fl a min g torches the mo n k w a s a ble t o dis

’
t i n gu i sh Ces a re s tr a velli n g s u it o f bl a ck velvet an d

’
hi s Germ an h a t still covered with white d u st a s ,
he rode by the Ki n g s side i n frien dly a n d an i m ated’
con vers a tion to the ga tes of the C a stello

, There .
,
’
he a dds sign ific an tly were the M a rqu is o f M an tua

, ,
the D uke of Urbi n o a n d m a n y others who h ated , ,
Borgi a with a dea dly h a tred B ut i n spite of the .

,
prese n ce of these Open en emies the Ki n g g a ve the ,
D uke a cordi a l welcome embr a ci n g him a ffection a tely , ,
orderi n g his s u pper a n d pl a ci n g hi s o wn w a rdrobe

,
a n d c a rri a ges a t his g u est s dispos a l His M aj esty ’ ’

.
,
a dds ho n est Je an goes n owhere with o u t the D u ke

,
a n d if he sh o uld wish to get o ff his horse or i n to the
s addle a g ai n it is the D uke who pl a ys the p art o f

,
1
a good squ ire a n d holds stirr u p a n d bridle
’
.
After th a t it w a s pl a in th a t G u id o b a ldo an d his

comp an ion s i n misfortu n e h a d little hope o f obta i n i n g
an
y redress fo r their wro n gs fr o m the Fren ch mo n a rch ;
a n d B o r i a s i n sole n ce grew to s u ch a pitch th a t he

’
g
would n ot a ll o w the exiled D uke an d D u chess to
rem a i n a t M a n tu a a n d c o mpelled them t o seek
,
shelter a t Ven ice Louis XI I however sti ll tre a ted

. .
, ,
Fran cesc o Gon z aga with m a rked fa vour a n d a t his ,
pressin g in vit a tion the M a rquis spen t Christm a s a t

the Fren ch c o u rt a t L o ches an d did n ot ret urn to ,
It a ly u n til the en d o f J an u a ry .
J
1
d A ut
ean Ch
’
i q ues ii 1 9 2 1 9 4
on , ron ,
’
.
, .
The fo llowin g ye a r wa s memora bl e in C a st igli o n e s ’
life as the d ate of his first V isit to R o me He wa s .
eviden tly s en t there by the M a rqu is o r his wife Is a bell a ,
wh o frequ en tly exch an ged letters a n d presen ts with

D uke V alen ti n o i n her a n xiety t o keep o n g o o d terms
,
with the powerful u s u rper a n d h a d a ct u a lly agreed to .
the betro th a l o f her three -ye a r -old son F rederico with

1
’
Ces are s i n fa n t d a ughter U n fortun ately we h a ve n o .
,
det a ils of his j o urn ey or of the impressio n s which the

first sight o f the Etern a l City m a de on the en th u si a stic
yo un g sch o l a r A si n gle sen ten ce i n a letter to his
.
mother is the o n ly rec o rd th a t is left u s o f his feelin gs

on this o cc a si on We a r e all well th an k G o d he ’
.
, ,
wro te from Rome on M a rch 1 6 1 9 03 a n d h o pe y o u , ,
will tell me all th a t is h appen in g a t home h o w y o u a r e , ,
a n d wh a t people a r e d o i n g over there a n d how o ur ,
frien ds ar e Here there is n o n ews th a t con cern s u s

.
,
b u t R o me i s a w on derfu l pl a ce (g r a n cosa e
’
T w o mo n ths l a ter he wa s a t h o me a g a i n a n d we fin d ,
a n i n teresti n g men tio n o f him i n a letter fr o m the
M an t u an secret a ry T o lome o Sp ag n oli wh o h ad been ,
sen t to pay his m a ster s respects to the Fren ch Viceroy ’
o f Mil a n Ch a rles d A m b o i se
,
’
.
The illu striou s Sign or Zo a n Gi a como Triv u lzi o ,

’
writes the en voy on M ay 24 1 5 05 tells me th at i n

‘
, ,
the l a st rebelli on of Milan whe n the Moro rec o vered ,
the city i n 1 5 00 he lost m a n y o f his private p o sses

,
sion s a n d a mon g these n othi n g which he regretted

,
a s m u ch as a volu me of Q u in t u s C u rti u s with ,
m a rgin al n o tes i n his o wn h an d This book he he a rs .

, ,
is n o w i n the h an ds o f B a ld a ss a re d a C a stiglion e an d ,
si n ce he is an xio u s to recover it an d hea rs th a t ,
B ald a ss are is n o w at M a n tu a he begs Yo u r E xcellen cy ,
t o a sk B a ld a ss a re for the book a n d se n d it t o him a t

1 ‘
Is b ll d E s t 1 24 7-25 0
a e a
’
e, C d V t L t 8 210
’
. .
2
o . a . a .
, .
34 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTI GLI ON E
the M a rqu is left P a rm a a courier from Rome a rrived , ,
brin gi n g him word o f the Pope s s u dden dea th a n

’ ’
even t which ch an ged the whole a spect o f a ffairs .
C a stigli o n e a ppe ars to h a ve been sen t b a ck t o M a n tu a

with the n ews which wa s the sign al fo r the exiled
,
D uke s immedi a te retu rn to Urbin o L a Tremo uille

’
.
con tin u ed h i s m a rch sou thwa rds a s fa r a s V iterbo , ,
where he fo u n d the c on cl a ve wa s sitti n g an d h alted ,
a t the u rge n t request of C a rdi n a l Georges d A m b o i se

’
who hoped th a t the presen ce of the a rmy wo uld

en s u re his o wn election But the con fiden t expect a .
tio n s of the Fren ch prela te who in Je an d A ut on s , ,

’ ’
w o rds a lre a dy sa w the keys o f St Peter d an gli n g

, .
1
from his girdle ’
were doomed t o dis appoin tmen t
, ,
an d on S eptember 22 1 5 03 the ve n era ble C a rdin a l

, ,
Piccolomi n i o f Sie n a wa s procl a imed Pope with the ,
title o f Pius I I I A week l a ter the Fren ch a rmy

.
m a rched thro ugh the s u b u rbs o f S M a ri a del .
Popolo in fin e order an d grea t n u mbers an d si n ce

,
‘
,
’
L a Tr emouille wa s d a n gero u sly ill of fever an d u n a ble

to pro ceed further the M a rqu is o f M an tu a a ss umed
,
the c o mm an d Me an while Fra n cesco s loya l servan t

.
’
B ald a ss are C a stigli on e wa s h urryi n g from M an t ua to

,
j oi n his lord c ursi n g the F a tes who h ad hin dered his

,
j ou rn ey by a series o f u n tow a rd a cciden ts When a t .
len gth he re a ched Rome e arly i n O ct o ber he fou n d ,
t o his bitter dis a ppoi n tme n t th a t the Fre n ch a rmy h a d

a lre a dy left the n eighb o u rhood I n his disg u st he a d .
dressed the foll o wi n g letter to the M a rqu is expl ai n i n g ,
the c a u ses of hi s dela y an d h is imp a tien ce to rej oi n him
MY A R LO R D
DE ,
‘
Sin ce I h a ve been u n a ble to j oi n Yo u r
E xcellen cy a s q u ickly a s I hoped a n d a s it was my ,
Ch i ques iii 1 31
ron ,
’
. .
ON THE GARI GLIA NO 35
d uty t o do I m u st tell yo u th a t I h a ve a rrived here

,
i n R o me with M a tteo Grign a M a rsilio T o m b et t a , ,
R igellin o C a rlo d a B a rdellon e a n d C a rlo del G a ll o

, , ,
a n d th a t we a r e a ll o f u s i n the gre a test desp a ir to
fin d th a t it is impossible to j oi n Yo u r E xcellen cy I .
h a ve n o other desire i n the world th a n to serve yo u ,
especi ally a t this momen t b u t the ro a ds ar e so u n s a fe ,
th at if we tra vel withou t an escort we a r e certa i n t o

be r o bbed S O we hope to come a s soon a s a com
.
p an y of the O rsin i or an y other su fficien t escort sh all

be goi n g the s a me wa y The re a so n o f my del ay h a s.
been the impossibility o f proc u rin g a good horse I .
h a d to seek thro u gh the whole St a te of Mil an a s fa r

a s P iedmo n t before I co u ld fi n d o n e an d a s soo n a s I ,
h a d succeeded i n this a series o f misfortu n es del a yed

my dep arture However I hope soo n to con ti n u e
.
,
my j o u rn ey an d desire n othi n g else b u t to be where

,
Your E xcellen cy is a n d whether on fo o t or on horse

,
b a ck devote this poor life to your service G o d gr an t .
me this pra yer for I ca n a sk n o gre ater fa vour in this

,
world
Yo u r Excellen cy s most fa ithfu l servan t ’
B A L D A SS A R E C A S TI G L I O NE .
RO M E , October 4 , 1 5 03 3 1
The you n g soldier s pr ayer wa s gr a n ted an d i n the

’
short but a rdu ou s c a mp a ign which followed he fa ced

peril an d h ardship v alia n tly a t his lord s side A ft er ’
.
a fru itless a ttempt to t a ke the fortified town o f Rocc a
Secc a Fran cesco Gon z a ga took up hi s position on

,
the b ank s of the G a rigli an o between S an Germ an o ,
an d G a et a The Sp an ish c apt ai n G on salvo de

.
,
Cordov a whose forces were con sidera bly in ferior i n

,
n umbers pr u de n tly e n tre n ched himself on the Opposite

,
b an k an d prep ared to o ffer a vigoro u s resist a n ce

,
t o the e n emy After repea ted e fforts the Fre n ch

.
,
A ch ivio G o z g
1 d M t i ti p 7 6
r n a a, an ar na
—2
, . .
3
36 C O U N T BALDAS SA R E CASTI GLI ON E
s u cceeded i n crossi n g the river b ut were rep ulsed ,
a n d drive n b a ck with he a v loss I f the Fre ch

y n .
m en , writes G ui cci ar di n i
’
h a d boldly a dv a n ced ,
forwa rd they h a d th at d ay rem a i n ed superiors ; b u t

,
wh ile they proceeded slo wly an d with demon stra ti o n ,
o f t i m o r ou sn esse they did n o t o n ly lose the occ a sio n

,
o f the victory th a t d a y bu t they dimi n ished gre a tly ,
a ll hope i n time t o come From th at d a ye all thi n gs .

,
tooke with them Very ill s u ccesse an d there wa s ,
a lre a dy a mo n g the ca pt a i n es r a ther co n fu sio n th an
con cord ; an d a ccordi n g to the c ust om e of the

Fren ch sou ldiers with the It a li an c apt a i n es very ,
little Obedie n ce t o the M a rqu is o f M a n tu a the Ki n g s ,

’
1 ’
lieute n an t .
Fran cesco s d i fli cult i es were in cre a sed by sc arcity

’
o f provisi o n s a s well a s by the u n u s u a l severity o f the
sea son Wi n ter wa s very c old e an d sh arpe c o n ,

’
‘
t i n u es the histori an r ain i n g a n d s n owi n g a lmost
,
con ti n u ally m u ch mo re th an h a d been a cc u stomed i n

,
th a t coun try whereby it seemed th at Fort un e a n d the

,
he a ven s h a d c o n spired a ga in st the Fren ch wh o st a y ,
i n g there did n o t o n ely spe n d the time u n pr ofit ab ly

, ,
b ut received by th a t abo a de a lmost the like h ar m e s ,
which men s bodies receive by a poison th at worketh

slowly 2
The M a rqu is himself fe ll ill o r else a cc o rd
.
’
, ,
i n g to most a uthorities feig n ed sick n ess bec a u se he ,
wa s u n able t o e n d u re the pride qu a rrels a n d di s , ,
3
obedi en ce o f the Fren ch a n y lon ger an d resign ed his ,
c o mm a n d to the M a rqu is o f S al uzz o The Ven eti an .
E n voy in Rome reported th a t Fr an cesco h a d fa llen ill

with fever a n d p ai n s i n his limbs a n d been c a rried ,
i n a litter to T ra i et t o but an other i n form a n t a dded ,
1 Th e G ui c c i ar d i n i r e u e d
H i st o ri c of d c i n to En gl h is by
F
G e ffra y en t on , 1 6 1 8 , p 23 7
’
. .
2
G ui cci a r d in i , p 23 1 , 23 7 p 3 M
. ur a t o r , . i A n n ali d I t li
’
a a.
’
RETUR N T O R O M E 37
sign ific a n tly : He is n ot ill b ut h as left the c a mp ,
an d is g o n e t o Rome seei n g the prob a ble result o f

,
the c a mp a ign He is a wise m an a n d I n eed say n o

.
,
1
more .
’
Throu gho u t the e arlier st ages o f the c a mp aig n

C a stiglio n e rem a i n ed i n close a tten d an ce u po n hi s
m a ster an d en de a red himself gre a tly to the M a rq uis
,
by the cheerfu l cour a ge with which he bore the h a rd

ships to which c a pt a i n an d soldiers were alike exposed .
N o w he left the c a mp with his lord a n d ret u rn ed to ,
Rome where his co u sin Ces a re Go n z ag a wa s e a gerly

, , ,
expecti n g him a s we le arn from the letters which

,
he wrote e a rly i n December to B a ld a ss a re s a n xious ’
mother .
After their dep artu re the qu a rrels of the Fre n ch

c a pta i n s bec a me d aily more bitter while the soldiers ,
died by h u n dreds of cold an d h un ger At len gth o n .

,
December 20 a decisive b a ttle took pl a ce i n which the

,
Fren ch were completely r o u ted a n d Piero de Medici ,

’
who wa s fighti n g in their r a n ks together with a ,
l a rge n u mber o f fugitives were dr o wn ed in the river ,
Ga rigli an o The destru ction o f the Fren ch a rmy on

.
th a t fa ta l d a y sea led the fa te o f N a ples an d esta blished ,
the Sp an ish domin i o n firmly thro ughou t the ki n gd o m .
B ut n either the M a rqu is o f Man t u a n o r his servan t

C a stigli o n e a s most o f his biogra phers h a ve st ated
, ,
were presen t i n the rou t o f G a rigli a n o 2

.
1
S an ut o , v . 3 8 7, 48 3 .
2 Ma r li a n i S e ra ssi , , etc .
CHAPTER IV
1 5 03 —1 5 04
E le t ci f P p e J uli us I I —G uid b ld
on o o st d t h i th . o a o re o re o s ro n e
S umm e d t R m by t h e P p —C s t igli
on o o mi s i e o e a on e re a n n
R m d t s t h D uk s s vic —R s tm t f F c sc ’
o e an en er e e er e e en en o ra n e o
G z g —C s t igli
on a
j i s t h D uk i t h e c m p t F li
a a on e o n e e n a a or
R t um wi t h h i m t U b i
e s o r n o.
G R E A T even ts h a d h appen ed d urin g the few weeks

which h a d elapsed sin ce C a stiglion e left Rome o n
the morrow of Pope Pi u s I I I s election O n O cto .
’
.
ber 1 7 a ft er a brief reign o f twen ty -si x d a ys the

, ,
n e w Po n ti ff died a n d on the V igil o f All S a i n ts the

,
con cl a ve met o n ce more to elect his s u ccess o r This .
time there co u ld be little dou bt a s to the res ult A l .
tho ugh C a rdi n al d A m b o ise i n Je an d A u t on s q uain t

’
,
’ ’
phra se c a me very n e ar to the g a tes o f P a ra dise

, ,
’
b ei n g o n ly short of two votes o n th a t s a me even i n g ,
Gi uli a n o dell a Rovere C a rdi n al of S Pietro i n Vi n c ul a , .

,
wa s elected Pope
’
O n the morn i n g o f All S a i n ts
.
D ay N ovember 1 this a ble an d a mbitio u s prel a te

,
m igh t i e i n frie n ds reput a tion an d riches —wa s pro

,
, ,
cl a imed s upreme Pon tiff an d a ss u med the title o f

J ulius I I .
The elev ation of this C ardin a l t o the ch a ir of

St Peter prod u ced a complete rev o lu tion i n the
.
P ap a l policy A lre a dy o n ly t en d a ys a fter Alex a n

.
,
der V I s de ath D u ke G u idob aldo h a d retu rn ed to

.
’
Urbi n o where his old s ubj ects welcomed him with

,
38
DU KE GU ID O BALD O 39
an en th u si a sm which C a stiglion e himself h a s described

i n eloq u e n t l a n g u age G u idob aldo he writes i n ’
.
,
‘
his L a ti n Epistle t o o u r Hen ry VI I c a me b a ck .
,
to his own an d recovered the Sta te o f which he

h a d been so u nj u stly deprived a mid the rej oici n g o f ,
all It a ly .Tro ops o f children flocked t o meet him

with Olive bran ches in their h an ds si n gin g fo r gl a d ,
n ess a t the sight of their beloved Pri n ce O ld m en .

,
totteri n g u n der the weight o f ye a rs h u rried o u t t o ,
meet him with te a rs of j oy stre a mi n g d o w n their

cheeks mothers with b a bes i n their a rms an d person s
, ,
o f every a e a n d sex j oi n ed the cr o wds th a t thro n ged

g
the streets The very sto n es seemed to d an ce a n d
.
ex ult in his comi n g 1

.
’
The a ccessi o n of his kin sm an Gi uli a n o dell a R o vere ,
to the P a p a l thron e t w o m o n ths l a ter sec u red the

, ,
perm an en ce of G uid o b a ld o s restora ti o n The n ew ’

.
’
P o pe s brother Giov a n n i dell a Rovere who i n his
, ,
lifetime held the o ffice of Prefect of R o me h a d ,
m a rried the D uke of U r b i n o s sister Giov an n a the ’
, ,
L a dy P r efet e ssa wh o wa s the p atron of Perugi n o a n d

R aph a el a n d her yo un g so n Fra n cesc o M a ri a w a s
, , ,
ta citly recogn ized a s G ui d ob ald o s heir O n e of

’
J uli u s I I s first a cts wa s to s ummo n G u idob a ldo

.
’
t o Rome a n d promise t o a ppoi n t him Go n fa lo n iere

o f the Ch u rch i n the pl a ce o f Ces a re Borgi a C as .
t igli on e s co u si n Ces a re G o n z a g a h a d a ccomp an ied

’
, ,
the D uke o n his return to Urbin o a n d a fter t a ki n g , ,
p a rt in his c amp a ign a g ai n st B o rgi a s forces i n ’
Rom a gn a n ow followed him to Rome Th u s whe n

, .
,
B ald a ss a re re a ched Rome with the M arq u is o f M a n t ua

0 1] his retu r n from the Fre n ch c a mp he fo u n d his ,
kin sm an a lrea dy settled i n the Va tic a n O n Decem .
ber 7 Ces are wro te the fo llowi n g letter to his a un t

1
S e ra ssi , 11 . 35 1 .
40 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTIGL I ON E
L uigi a wh o , wa s an xiously expecti n g n ews of her

a bse n t son
I did n ot an swer Your M agn ificen ce s t w o letters ’
before bec a u se I h a ve been d a ily expectin g o ur Messer

,
B a lda ss a re s retu rn Now he is here I m u st th an k

’
.
,
you for yo u r dea r letters which ar e a fresh pro of o f ,
the l o ve which I k n o w y ou bea r me a lthough n o ,
letters ar e n eeded to a ssure me o f this A n d I pr a y .
y o u to co n ti n u e yo u r pr a yers for me for I firmly ,
believe they a re the c a u se th a t God h a s n o t a ll o wed

me to perish i n the gre a t d a n gers to which I h a ve been
exposed F o r when I lo o k b a ck u pon them I feel
.
,
m o re terror th an 1 did at the a ctu a l m o men t God be ,
prai sed As for D o ro te a d a Crem a a bo ut wh o m y o u ,
write I regret th a t I can give you n o s a tisfa cti o n I

, .
h a ve m a de m an y i n qu iries o f pers on s wh o h ad go o d
re a son to k n o w the t ru th b ut a ll I cou ld le a rn from ,
a frie n d o f mi n e w h o w a s on e o f her g u a rds i s th a t

, ,
s o me d a ys a go he ga ve her 4 00 d u c a ts i n o rder th a t ,
sh e might t a ke a lo n g j o u rn ey I en tre a ted him to .
tell me m o re b ut he refu sed an d I c an fin d o ut

, ,
n othi n g fu rther I a m sorry n o t t o be a ble t o give

.
u more i form a tio n b u t I thi n k sh e is a live an d

y o n , ,
will do my u tm o st to fin d o ut more a s o ur most ,
illu strio u s L o rd M a rqu is a lso desires I p a ss on t o .
Yo u r M agn i ficen ce a ll the P a p a l blessi n gs which I

h a ve received exceptin g on e which is in ten ded for
,
M a do n n a O rsi n a Plea se do me the fa vo u r to presen t

.
this to her i n my n a me with i n fin ite respects I will ,

.
sa n o more u will do u btless he r m o re fully

y a s y
, o a
from o ur Messer B a ld a ss a re a n d o n ly commen d myself ,
to yo u a n d a ll the members o f our fa mily A n d when .
o u see the L a dy M a rches a n a I pr a y u comme n d

y y o ,
me to her good gra ces .

’
We h a ve n o clu e a s to the mysteriou s dis appe a ran ce

o f D o ro te a d a Crem a b u t sh e w a s prob a bly o n e o f
,
Ces a re B o rgi a s victims an d h a d been c a rried o ff by

’
,
’
C a stiglion e we le a rn from his cou sin s letter a rrived
, ,
i n Rome o n December 7 an d obta i n ed his m a ster s

’
le a v e to rem ai n there when Fr an cesco himself wen t

on to M a n t u a for Christm a s The M a rquis might .
n o t h a ve a greed so re a dil y h a d he foresee n the c o n
sequ e n ces o f his a ction B ald a ss a re rem a in ed i n .
Rome a n d saw so m u ch of G u idob a ldo d uri n g the

,
n ext few mo n ths th a t he w a s i n spired with an a rde n t
wish to en ter the D uke s service This feelin g w a s ’

.
n o do u bt stre n gthe n ed by the fa ct th a t both Ces a re
Gon z aga a n d his other kin sm a n a n d i n tim a te frien d ,
Lod o vico Co un t o f C an oss a were a lrea dy a tt a ched to

, ,
the D uke s person O n the other h a n d C a st igli o n e s

’
.
,
’
person a l ch a rm his talen ts an d a cc omplishmen ts

, ,
m a de him pec uli a rly a ccept able to the D u ke who ,
a sked n othi n g better th an to sec u re the services o f
so fi n ished a c a v a lier A mutu a l regard spra n g up .
between Pri n ce a n d courtier a n d when a t the en d o f , ,
M ay B a lda ss a re a t len gth ret u rn ed to M a n t u a he

, ,
pledged h i s word to j o i n the D u ke i n Rom agn a a s

soon a s he cou ld o bt ai n the n ecess a ry permissi o n from
the M a rq uis .
G u idob aldo himself wa s i mp a tien t to ret urn t o hi s

o wn home a t Urbi n o where the D u chess wa s gover n ,
i n g the St a te i n his a bsen ce B ut a ll thro ugh the .
wi n ter mon ths Ju li u s I I who wa s gen uin ely fon d o f

, .
,
the D uke in sisted o n keepin g him at the V a tic an o n

,
o n e prete n ce o r a n o ther a n d it was o n ly on M a y 1 0 ,
th a t the lon g -del a yed con sistory wa s held i n which

the s uccession o f the Pope s n ephew Fran cesco dell a ’
Rovere to the d u chy o f Urbi n o wa s p u blicly con

firmed Two d a ys afterwards three E n glish A m
.
,
b a ssa d o rs Sir Gilbert T a lbot Rich a rd Bere Abb o t

, , ,
of Gl a ston bury an d Dr Robert Sherborn e Dea n o f

, .
,
St P a ul s a rrived in Rome bea rin g Ki n g Hen ry

.
’
, ,
T H E O RDER O F THE GARTER 43
VI I con gra t u l a tion s t o the n ew Pope a n d bri n g

.
’
s ,
i n g wi th them the h a bit a n d coll a r o f the G a rter for

the D uke o f Urbi n o— th u s i n the old chron icler s
’
qu a in t phra seology stoppi n g t wo ga ppes with on e ,
b u she I n a L a tin epistle a ddressed to his m o st de a r

.
’
frien d the Lord G uid o Ub aldo the E n glish mon a rch

, ,
in fo rmed his S u blimity th a t i n a Ch apter o f the Most

N o ble O rder of the G a rter recen tly held i n the p a l a ce
o f Westmi n ster he h a d bee n cre a ted a K n ight of th a t
,
a u g u st comp a n y a s his fa ther of h a ppy memor y h a d , , ,
been befo re him i n recogn itio n o f his si n gul a r merit ,
a n d virt u e The e n voys were received by Silvestro

.
Gigli the It a li a n Bish o p o f Worcester an d E n glish

,
residen t a t the V a tic an a n d l o dged i n the hou se o f ,
C a rdi n a l Adri a n o C a st elle si B ishop of H erefo rd ,

.
This prela te a s L o d o vic o Sforz a s e n voy to the

,
’
E n glish c o u rt rep o rted kept Kin g Hen ry wel

1
,
i n fo rmed i n It a li an a ffa irs an d wa s especi ally u sefu l ,
i n o bt a i n i n g fa vo u rs fr o m the V a tic a n I n the prese n t .
in st an ce the C a rdin al s a mb a ss a dor wa s well p a id

,
’
for h i s hospita lity b y the an n ou n cemen t which the

e n voys brought o f his prefermen t to the See of
B a th with a yea rly in come of
, d u c ats I n .
recogn ition o f this sign a l fa vour C a st ellesi we , ,
learn fr o m the Ven eti an a mb a ss a dor i n Rome pre ,
sen ted his splen did n ew p a l a ce i n the Borgo to Ki n g

Hen ry VI I 2
.
I n a co n sistory held on M a y 20 the E n glish ,
en voys were received by the Pope an d a B ull ,
was promulg a ted gr an ti n g speci a l i n d ulge n ces to

Hen ry V I I s n ewly -b u ilt ch apel i n the Abbey
.
’
of Westmin ster an d s an ctio n i n g the remov al o f ,
1 C d f S t t P p e s i A c h iv s
ale n ar o a e a r n r e of V e ic e i 28 1
n , . .
G i us t i i i D is p cci ii 9 7 D i D u k e s o f U rb i ’
2 ’
n an ,
a , . en n st o un ,
n o,
n . 447 .
’
He n ry V I s a shes to this shri n e O n the 22n d the
. .
D u ke o f U r bi n o s a ppoin tmen t a s C a pt ain o f the ’
Chu rch with a ye a rly s a l a ry o f

, d u c a ts was ,
p u blicly pro cl a imed a n d he wa s solem n ly i n vested ,
with the robes an d i n sign i a o f the G a rter i n the ’
V a tic an There i n the presen ce of t h e Pope a n d

.
,
C a rdi n a ls the Abbot o f Gl a ston b ury recited the

,
a n cie n t form u l a i n N o rm a n Fre n ch t o the n ew -m a de

, ,
K n ight wh o kn elt before him : L a S over a iyn e ct

l a mya ble d s Chi va li er s d c t O r dr e ate la
co m n ie
’ ’
e a
p g
‘
J a r r et i er e w a s out r epu et choi si p our leu r A my ,
F r er e ci Comp a ig n on a n d proceed ed t o i n vest the
D uke with the crimson robe velvet m an tle of celesti a l ,
blu e a n d coll a r an d ga rter of the O rder i n the

, ,
n a me o f God Almighty Hi s spotless a n d un d e file d ,
M o ther , an d the blessed m a rtyr St George . . S i gu e

d e bea uay a r mi
’
est a n i a r m e ver tus, vous p ou vez p a sser

p
les en n emi s et les co
nf on d r e, ci a r e
p s a voi r v a i lla mmen t
mon obe i les

’
u er r oy e en cc vous p ou vez p a r ven r e a

g
‘
lles tr i o mp ha n z
After this celesi es
1
’
j
’
eter n e ci oyes .
ceremon y the D u ke an d a mb a ss a d o rs were e n ter

t a i n ed a t a b an q u et i n the V a tic a n a n d G u idob a ld o ,
r o de i n sta te thr o ugh the town i n his G a rter ro bes to ,
the gre a t a dmira tion of the people O n the fo llowi n g .
even i n g he left R ome a n d retu rn ed to Urbi n o to , ,
lea d a n expedition a ga i n st the cit a dels o f F o rli a n d

Cesen a which Ces a re B orgi a s c apta i n s still refu sed to
,
’
s u rren der .
O n M ay 27 he re a ched Folign o a n d th a t s a me ,
even in g a ddressed a n ote t o his brother -in -law ,
Fra n cesco Gon za ga a ski n g h i s permission to in vite ,
the M archese s s u bj ect a n d serv a n t B a ld a ss are d a

’
C a stiglio n e to e n ter his service ,

This wo u ld be .
1 El a i s A s h m ole ,
‘
Th e I s t i t ut i
n on , La ws ,
an d O r der o f th e
G a r t er,
’
1 67 2, A pp dix
en .
G U I D O B A L D O S R EQUE ST
’
45
especi a lly a ccepta ble to me writes the D uke sin ce I ,

’
desire t o r a ise a comp an y o f m en -a t -a rms which will

do me hon ou r a n d serve me well ; a n d I promise to
tre a t him i n s u ch a m an n er a s to sh o w Yo u r E xcellen cy
h ow highly I esteem yo u r servan ts a n d if ever y o u ,
should requ ire his services y o u will be a ble to a v a il ,
you rself o f them a s e a sily a s if he were still i n his o wn

home .
’
The request wa s on e which the M a r quis co uld

-
h ard ly refu se but from the c u rt n ess o f his reply it is
,
pl ain th a t he wa s by n o mea n s ple a sed a t the prospect

o f bei n g deprived o f his most brilli an t serv a n t .
My Lord D uke he wrote from his V ill a a t Gon z aga

,
’
on J u n e 9 if B a ld a ss are d a C a stiglion e chooses to

,
en ter yo u r service we a r e well co n te n t an d sh all be

, ,
ever re a dy to oblige y ou i n an ythin g th a t yo u m ay

desire .
’
F R A N C E S C O GO N Z A G A .
Mea n while C a stiglio n e himself h a d re a ched M a n t u a ,
an d o n the followi n g d a he se n t a gr a cefu lly worded

y
petiti o n t o the M a rqu is a ski n g for le ave t o en ter the
,
Duke o f U r bi n o s service ’
MY A R L O RD
DE ,
Yesterd ay I received a letter from the Lord

Duke o f Urbin o a ski n g me if I a m wi lli n g t o en ter
,
his service with Y o ur High n ess s le a ve an d promisi n g

,
’
to tre a t me libera lly a n d well He also tells me th a t .
he h a s written to Y o u r Excellen cy o n the subj ect .
Sin ce I m u st ever rem a i n y o u r serva n t an d c an n ever ,
thin k o f a n ythi n g b ut servi n g an d obeyi n g Your

High n ess my on ly desire is to d o wh a t yo u comm an d
, .
So I a wa it the k n o wledge o f y o u r wishes before I sen d

an
y a n swer a n d w
, ill o n ly Obey the will o f Yo u r
Excellen cy to whom I commen d myself with the

,
utmost devotion .
’
On the n ext morn in g the fo llowi n g brief an swer

c a me from Rovere where the M a rquis wa s n ow ,
!
st ayin g
B AL D A S S A RE ,
‘
As we h a ve replied to the Lord D uke who ,
a sked o ur le a ve t o t a ke o u i n t o his service so we

y ,
repe a t to y o u th a t a s rega rds o u rselves we a re, ,
co n te n t a n d g1v e y o u free lea ve t o serve h i m

, .
J un e 1 1 ,
The bitter resen tmen t secretly cherished by the

writer o f these lin es wa s t o m a ke itself felt i n m an y
wa ys d u ri n g the n ext few ye ars but a t the momen t ,
B ald a ss a re c a red little a s lo n g a s he could h a ve his

wa y . His choice wa s m a de a n d with the desired , ,
permissi o n i n his h an ds he h u mbly th an ked H i s ,
Excellen cy for hi s gra cio u s a n swer a n d h a sten ed t o ,
j oin his n ew m a ster i n the c a mp at Cesen a There .
his co u sin Ces a re G o n z aga ga ve him a cordi al welcome

an d the D u ke appoi n ted him t o the comm a n d o f a
c o mp an y o f fifty m en -a t -a rms a n d promised him a

‘
s a la ry o f 400 du c a ts Here I l a ck n othin g he wrote

.
,
’
to his mother i n high spirits from Cesen a the D u ke

a n d a ll the others tre a t me with i n fi n ite ki n d n ess a n d ,
soon we hope to go to Urbin o where we sh all be very ,
h a ppy an d gl a d o f he a rt So I hope you will try an d .
be o f good co urage a n d all the rest o f the fa mily t o o

, ,
fo r I can h a ve n o gre a ter j oy th an to kn ow th at yo u

A n d i n a postscript he begs his brother
’
a r e s a tisfied .
J er oni m o to sen d him a son g begin n i n g Essi Diva

1 A r c h ivi o G on z aga , an d Mart i n a t i 7 6
, .
a t/ W éz f ’
A UT G A
O R P H OF B A LD AS S A CASTI GL I N
RE O E .
( A TI C A N LI BR A RY )
V .
To f p
a ce 40 , Vol I .
48 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAST IGL I ON E
h a ve alrea dy writte n by a n a rmour be arer a n d a lso by ,
Sigismon do fro m Ferra ra on ly beg Yo u r M agn i fic en c e

, ,
t o be a s cheerfu l an d o f go od co u r a ge a s I a m An d .
if it is tru e th a t 1 a m far from home a n d from m an y

person s wh o m I l o ve de arly a t le a st I a m h a ppy a n d ,
c an s u ffer mi sfort u n es willi n gly n o w my mi n d is a t
rest .
F L I A gu t 1 2
OR ,
u s ,
M a don n a L u igi a wh o h a d a ll alo n g felt some mis ,
givin gs at the co urse which her son h a d chosen w a s ,
further relieved by a letter from her n ephew Ces a re ,
who wrote i n high spirits to a ss ure his a u n t of

B ald a ss a re s well bein g an d o f the m arked fa vo ur
-
’
which the D uke showed him

If u n til n ow my de ar a n d ho n oured A u n t 1 h a ve
, ,
shown myself a ll too n egligen t a son I will n o lo n ger ,
persist in these b a d co u rses Therefore p u ttin g ex .

,
c u ses fo r my p a st n egligen ce a side I will pay my ,
a ddresses to y o u feeli n g s u re th a t y o u h a ve a lre a dy

,
forgiven me o n m a n y gr o u n ds a n d if y o u h a ve n ot
,
forgiven me of yo u r o wn free will 1 a m qu ite certa i n ,
th a t n o w o rds o f mi n e will be o f a n y a v a il Here I .
a m a live an d well a n d a lw a ys re a dy t o exec u te Y o u r ,
M a gn ificen c e s comm a n ds Messer B a ld a ss are is a lso

’
.
well a n d his fo o t is begi n n in g to men d A n d he is

,
.
trea ted wit h su ch kin d n ess by this ill u striou s lord

th a t every d a y he feels better s a tisfied to be here .
We ar e both o f u s gay a n d h appy an d h ope th a t yo u ,
a n d a ll o u r ki n a r e the s a me .
F L I Augu t 1 1
OR ,
s ,
P S . .
—You r M agn ificen ce will ki n dly commen d me
to Messer J er on i m o an d to F alcon e a s well a s t o ,
Messer J a c opo a n d M a don n a Polissen a with wh o m I ,
rej o ice cordi ally in wh a tever go o d fortu n e falls t o their

sh a re .
’
1 S e ra ssi , 11 . 23 5 .
F O RL I S URRE N D ERS 49
On the very d a y th a t this letter wa s written the ,
cita del o f Forli s urre n dered to the Duke s a rms a n d ’
a messe n ger wa s promptly disp a tched to Rome with
the n ews O n the even i n g o f S un d a y A ugust 1 1

.
, ,
Pope J u liu s h a vin g been very restless a n d irrit a ble

,
a ll d a
y w a s i n d u ced by his serv a n ts to t a ke a ride
,
with on e o f the C a rdi n als i n the me a dows a lo n g the

b an ks o f the Tiber They wen t a s fa r a s Po n te.
Molle a n d a s they were ret urn i n g thro ugh the fields

, ,
they met a courier from the D u ke of Urbi n o rid in g a t

full speed O n he a ri n g the g o od tidin gs the Pope
.
b u rst i n to j oyfu l excla m a ti o n s a n d hurried home to ,
sen d his co n gr a tu l a tio n s to the victorio u s le a der .
The P a p a l a rmy n o w occupied Forli a n d o n ,
Augu st 24 B ald a ss a re wrote a g ai n to his m o ther

, ,
expressi n g a lively in terest in his n ewly -born n ephew ,
a n d a ss u ri n g his an xious mother th a t he wa s t a ki n g
the u tmost c a re o f his i nj u red foot a n d h a d n o gre a ter ,
wish in the world th an to be a ble t o u se it a g a in As .
for the mi n u te p a rtic ul a rs which M a do n n a L u igi a

desires reg a rdin g s u n dry sm all expen ses he decl a res it ,
to be beyo n d his power to s a tisfy her .
I cert ai n ly bought three y a rds a n d a h alf of velvet

from the Jew Agn olo a n d m a de o ut the bill m yself
"
, .
I c a n n ot a t this momen t rec o llect the ex a ct price

o f the m a teri a l but k n ow th a t it wa s chea p E x
, .
c e t in my foot I a m exceedi n gly well Here it is

p g , .
very hot an d we st a y a t Forli rel u ct an tly o n a cco u n t

,
o f the gre a t sc a rcity here b u t do n o t yet k n ow when ,
we sh all le a ve a s the D uke h a s h a d a n a tt a ck o f fever

, ,
which h as grieved u s a ll God sen d him better hea lth .
I h a ve n o other n ews but sho uld like t o hea r some ,
from M an tu a .
Your obedie n t son ,
B C 1 . .
’
1
Co d Va t La t
. . .
,
8 210 .
V OL . I .
A d a y o r two l a ter G u idob aldo disb a n ded h i s troops

a n d retu r n ed to Urbi n o t a kin g with him fo u r w a ggo n s
,
l a de n with his o wn recovered tre a s u res i n cludin g the ,
fa mo u s libra ry o f the d u c a l p a l a ce which Ces a re ,
B orgi a h a d c arried o ff a n d stored i n the cita del o f

Forli .
It wa s the n th a t the D uke took C a stigli o n e with him

to the city which w a s t o be his home d uri n g the n ext
t en ye a rs I n the midst o f the co n fu sio n o f these first
.
d ays he fou n d time to write a few h urried lin es i n ,
formi n g his mother o f his s a fe a rriv a l
Si n ce M a estro A n ton io is goin g t o yo u I must ,
i n fo rm Yo u r M agn ificen c e th a t l a st Frid a y o n the ,
6 t h o f the presen t mo n th we a t len gth re a ched

,
Urbin o s a fe a n d soun d a n d with grea t rej oici n g sin ce

, ,
we h a d all of u s been lon gi n g t o be here We h a ve .
don e wh a t little wa s possible i n these three d a ys , ,
t o pu t o u r house i n order an d n ow we sh a ll get 0 11,
c apita lly M a estro A n ton io ca n tell y o u all th a t yo u

.
m m t o kn o w a b o u t us The L a dy D u chess a n d
.
M a d o n n a Emili a commen d themselves very w a rmly

to yo u My fo ot 1 5 improving but o n ly very slowly
.
,
.
I beg y ou t o sen d me by the first o pport un i ty a p i ece

, ,
o f fin e white cloth t o m a ke a n ew p a i r o f hose fo i m y
self a s 1 c a n n ot proc u re a n y here a n d a lso some d a rk

, ,
green cloth t o m a ke a p a ir for Smera ldo [ his groom ] .
Plea se a sk J ero n i m o a lso t o sen d me my copy o f

P o li zi a n o s St anz e Volg a ri An d I commen d myself
’
.
to Y o ur M agn i fic en c e .
1
U I N S pt mb 9
RB O, e e er ,
1 S er a ssi , i . 8 .
C HAPTER V
1 5 04
U bi
r no — Th c u t f t h e M t f lt p i c s —C t i gli
e o r o on e e ro r n e as on e s
’
d sc i pt i —R ig f D k F d ic —His c h ct
e r on e n o d u e e er o ara er an
pt l g v
a ern a m t —P t o g f te rn d l t t s —Th
en a r on a e o ar an e er e
p l ce f U b i It p s t c d i t i —C t mp y e
cc u t s—G i v i S t i d A t i di Me c t ll —Th
a a o r no s re en on on on or a r
a o n o an n an an n on o r a e o e
du c l li b y
a A t is t s e mpl y d t U b i
rar Pi
r d ll o e a r no e ro e a
F c e sc M l
ra n d F li
a, d J us t u s f G h
e o z zo t a or , an o en .
ON the slopes of the Apen n in es a lmost i n the cen tre ,
of Ita ly towa rds the Adri a tic S ea there lies a s every

, , ,
o n e k n ows the little city o f Urbin o

, Altho ugh .
situ ated i n a mou n ta in o u s region less ple a s a n t it m a y ,
be th an some th a t we m ay h a ve seen it is fa vo u red by ,
Hea ven in th a t the cou n try is exceedi n gly fertile an d

rich i n fru its o f the e a rth A n d besides the pure a n d .
he alth -givi n g ai r o f the region a ll thi n gs n ecess a ry ,
for h u m an life ar e t o be fou n d here i n gre a t a b un d

a n ce B ut a mon g the gre a test blessi n gs which it
.
enj oys this I cou n t to be the chief th a t from remote

, ,
times it h a s a lwa ys bee n govern ed by the best o f

Prin ces a lthough i n the un ivers a l c a l a mities o f It aly
, ,
d urin g the recen t w a rs it wa s deprived of them fo r a ,
time 1
.
’
Inthese words C a stiglion e describes the city which

he en tered in G uid ob ald o s tra in i n September 1 5 04 ’
, , ,
a n d which hi s eloque n t prose h a s re n dered immort a l .
1 C t e gi i 2 ‘
or a n o,
’
—2
. .
51 4
52 C O U NT BALD A S S A R E CAST IGLI O N E
This rrow strip

na of
hill cou n try o n ly sixty miles
-
,
lon g lyi n g between Umbri a the M a rch of An co n a

, , ,
an d the Adri a tic S ea h a d d uri n g the l a st h alf

,
cen tury become fa mo u s a s the se a t o f a model

cou rt upo n which the eyes o f a ll I t aly were fixed
, .
Here d uri n g forty ye a rs the good Federico h a d

reign ed over a loy a l a n d co n ten ted pe o ple wh o still ,
kept his memo ry a live i n their hea rts A wise a n d .
a ble r u ler a s well a s a br a ve c a pt a i n this gre a t Mo n te ,
feltro pri n ce w a s fo remost a m o n g his peers b o th i n

the a rts of wa r a n d pe a ce The best 1 ecOr d o f h i s
.
'
c a reer i s give n in the L a ti n i n scription which his so n

G u idob a ldo pl a ced a bove the a rc a des In the co urt of
the duc al p a l a ce
Federico D uke of Urbin o Coun t o f Mo n tefeltro

, ,
a n d o f C a stel D ur a n te Gon falon iere o f the Holy

,
Rom a n Ch u rch an d C a pt a i n of the It a li a n Co n federa

tion b uilt this hou se from its fo u n d a tion s fo r his own
,
glory an d the go o d o f posterity He fought m a n y .
b a ttles wen t o u t si x times to war defea ted h i s en emy

, ,
eight times an d h a vi n g been victorio u s i n all hi s ca m

, , .
ai n s exte n ded the borders o f his domi n io n s His

p g , .
j u stice clemen cy libera lity an d religion i n time o f

, ,
pe a ce equ a lled a n d a dorn ed his con qu ests .

’
In his d a ys s ays C a stiglio n e D uke Federico o f

,
’
.
gloriou s memory w a s the light o f It a ly n o r is there ,
an
y l a ck o f tr u thfu l witn esses still livi n g w h o ca n ,
bea r testimon y t o his pru de n ce h u m a n ity j u stice , , ,
liber ality u n con qu ered co u ra ge a n d milit a ry skill

, , .
His gre a t qu alities were fu rther proved by h i s m an y

victories a n d swift a n d s udden c a mp a ign s by the ,
c aptu re o f impregn a ble fortresses a n d the repea ted ,
occ a sion s on which he put n u mero u s a n d powerful

foes t o flight without ever losin g a si n gle b a ttle S o
, .
54 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
his meals excepti n g i n Len t when he liked to he ar

, ,
p a ss a ges from the F a thers o r h i s fa vou rite a uthor ,
Aqu in a s H e rose e a rly an d r o de out i n to the coun try

.
,
a tte n ded by a few you n g sq u ires an d o u his retu r n

'
a tte n ded m a ss a n d w a lked i n the p al a ce g a rde n s ,
con versi n g freely with a n y of his s ubj ects who cr aved

a ccess to their lord O n summer eve n i n gs he oft en
.
wa tched the youths wh o were bei n g edu c a ted a t ,
co u rt wrestlin g a n d pl a yi n g b all i n a me a d o w o f the

,
Fran cisc an c o n ven t behin d the p a l a ce an d en cou raged ,
the l ads with his a ppl a use o r reproved them if they ,
1
were a wkwa rd a n d l a zy The Urbi n o poet An ton io .
,
di Merc a tello describes h o w he w alked d a ily i n the

,
m arket -pl a ce j estin g with the pe a s an ts wh o r o de i n

,
from the cou n try a n d greetin g brid es on their wa y t o

,
ch u rch He often en tered the shops a n d houses an d

.
,
ta ki n g o n e m an by the h an d o r le an i n g on the ar m ,
o f an other a sked them i n a frie n dly w a a bo u t their

, y
fam i ly o r their a ffa irs How is you r old fa ther ! he .
’
would say to on e Are you r d aughters m a rried yet

’
t o a n other ; o r How does you r busin ess prosper !
,
A n d when he sp o ke he a lw a ys lifted his h at with

chiva lrous courtesy so th a t it bec a me a commo n j est
,
i n Urbi n o to tell an yon e who wa s very busy th a t he

2
h a d more t o do th a n F e d er i c o s c ap
’
.
Architectu re w a s o n e of the s u bj ects i n which he

took especi a l i n terest an d Merc atello tells u s th a t ,
‘
the good lord wa s himself a n a dmir a ble a rchitect
’
an d ofte n design ed his o wn b u i ldi n gs He cert a i n ly .
w a s a gre a t b u ilder erectin g churches b ri dges a n d , , ,
p al a ces in a ll p a rts o f h i s domi n ion s an d improvi n g the ,
du c al residen ces a t Gubbio an d Fossombron e C a stel ,
1
Uomi i illust i pp 9 2-9 4
n r ,
’
. .
2 M uzi H is t i d ei F t t i di Fe d ig D uc d U b i
o, or a a er o a
’
r n o,
’
D en n is
t o un , i 25 8 -268
. .
t
P ho o, c ut . S i mo n d i .
P AL AC E OF U B IN
R O .
To f p
a ce . 5 1, Vo l I
.
THE DU CAL PALACE 5
D ura n te an d C agli But his most splen did a chieve

.
men t i n this direction wa s the p a l a ce a t Urbin o .
O n the r ugged heights of Urbi n o

’
wri t es C a s ,
t i gli on e i n the ope n i n g sen te n ces o f his C o rtegi an o

’
, ,
Federico re a red a p a l a ce which in the Opi n i o n of ,
m a n y is the fi n est i n It a ly a n d fu rn ished it so richly

, ,
with a ll thi n gs n eedfu l th at it seems to be ra ther a

city th an a p al a ce F o r he a dor n ed it n o t o nly with
.
a ll thi n gs requ ired for ordi n a ry u se s u ch a s silver ,
pl a te a n d sumpt u ou s h an gi n gs of gold a n d broc a de ,
b u t with a n i n fi n ite n umber o f an tiqu e m a rble a n d

bron z e st a tu es o f preciou s p a in ti n gs an d m u sic a l
, ,
i n stru men ts of ever y v a riety n either wo uld he allow

a n ythi n g withi n its w a lls which w a s n o t most r a re
1
a n d excelle n t
’
.
The a rchitect wh o tr an sformed the mediev a l fortress

of Urbin o in to this fa ir R e n a iss an ce p a l a ce w a s
L u ci a n o d a L a ur an a a n a tive o f L o v r an a i n Istri a
, ,
wh o h a d a lre a dy built a wo n derful ple a s u re -ho u se a t

Poggio Re ale fo r Ki n g Ferran te of N aples a n d h a d ,
more l ately been employed by Aless an dro Sfo rz a t o

a dor n his p a l a ce a t Pes a ro I n J un e 1 4 6 8 Federico
.
, ,
a ppoi n ted him t o be Ca p o -ma estr o of works i n the
p a l a ce o f U rbi n o an d set fo rth his ple a s u re i n the

,
followi n g terms
H a vi n g resolved to b u ild i n this o u r city o f

Urbi n o a fin e h o u se worthy of the birth a n d ren own
o f o u r fa thers an d o u rselves an d h a vi n g va i n ly ,
se a rched everywhere b u t more especi a lly i n T u sc an y

, ,
th at home o f go o d a rchitects fo r a m an skilled i n this,
professi on an d h a vi n g first he ard by report a n d then

, ,
s a tisfied o u rselves by o ur o wn eyes o f the lea rn i n g ,
a n d ge n i u s o f Messer L u ci a n o we d o n o w a ppoi n t ,
1
Co r t e gi an o ,
’
i . 2 .
this distin guished architect chief of all those employed

u po n this ou r fa bric
’
.
Duri n g the n ext fourteen y ears the Istri an a rchi

teet s ge n i u s a n d F e d er i co s v a st we alth were devoted
’ ’
t o this t a sk an d i n their h a n ds the p a l a ce o f Urbi n o

,
bec a me on e o f the wo n ders o f the world Even .
to -d ay when the h alls h a ve been stripped o f their

,
priceless tre a s u res a n d on ly the shell o f the b u ildi n g

,
rem a in s its be au ty a n d gra n de u r still fill u s with

,
a dmir a tio n .
The site is un riva lled from whichever side it is ,
a ppr o a ched Whether the tra veller e n ters Urbi n o by

.
the R o m an ro a d th a t le a ds a cr o ss the Apen n i n es ,
a n d thro u gh the F u r lo r a vi n e o r c o mes from T u sc a n y ,
by the u pper va lley o f the Tiber a steep a scen t le a ds ,
to the city ga tes an d lon g before the j o urn ey s en d

,
’
he sees the d u c al p a l a ce o n the heights a bove Th e .
twi n towers with their delic ate pin n a cles s o a ri n g i n to

,
the sky a nd fro n tin g the western sun l en d the

, ,
wh o le an a tmosphere o f rom a n ce —a fa ery gl amou r

th a t might well m ake the poets decl a re this wa s n o
work of mort al h a n ds b ut a house reared by the gods ,
.
This first impression is deepen ed by the height o f

the st ately port als the a dmira ble proportion s of the ,
pill a red co urt a n d wh at V a s a ri c a lls the ewtr a vag a n za

,
o f the gr an d st a irc a se with its steps e a sier an d wider , ,
th an a n y other i n the world A whole we alth of .
exqu isite sc ulptu re is l a vished u pon pila sters an d

doors corn ices a n d m a n telpieces a ll wr ought i n fin e
, ,
white limeston e bro u ght a ccor di n g t o the oldest

, ,
writers n Ot from Istri a but from the n eighbou ri n g

, ,
v alleys of the Met au ro a n d the F o gli a 1

O n the .
va ult o f the thron e -room is the e a gle of Mon te

1
Bal di D sc izi
, e r on e d el p l zz d uc
a a o ale d i U rb i n o p
,
’
. 580 .
P hoto, Li eu t . n
S i me ai .
P A L AC E OF U B IN
R O .
To fc p
a e . 5 6 , Vol I
.
in m an y b a ttles ; the Bible an d his fa vo u rite Greek ,
a n d L a ti n a u thors —Homer Virgil Cicero Se n ec a

an d T a cit u s —a r e a ll fig u red here
, , , ,
Here t o o are .
, ,
symbols o f the recre a ti on s with which he beguiled his

S p a re momen ts : geometric a l an d m u sic al i n str u men ts ,
lu te a n d viols a shelf filled with m u sic a l scores his

, ,
fa vo urite orga n with the m a ker s n a me J oha n i

,
’ ‘
Cas e t la n o — o n the c a se a n d the motto Vi r tu ti bu s i ta r

,
a d a str a . O n the tessell a ted p a veme n t o f the floor ,
his pet squ irrel is represen ted feedin g on a Cl u ster of ,
r ipe fru it Cl a ssic al porticoes a n d temples fra min g

.
,
views o f fa mili a r hills a n d v a lleys i n the n eighbo ur

hood o f Urbi n o ar e seen on on e wall on the other a
,
c age o f p a rro ts a clock a bell a lighted c an dle a n d

, , , ,
fl agon s o f embossed silver h a ve been i n troduced by ,
the a rtist either a s a ppro pri a te emblems o f home

,
life or merely t o show h is re alistic skill The l a rger

, .
p an els a t the en d of the room ar e filled with a lle

o r i c a l fig u res of F a ith H o pe a n d Ch a rity an d a
g , ,
portra it o f Federico himself we a ri n g the duc a l c ap ,
an d m a n tle a n d holdi n g the G on fa lon i er e s b at o n

’
i n his right h a n d .
O n e d o or o f this st u dy le a ds i n to a sm all ora tory ,
decora ted with colo ured m a rbles an d stucco reliefs ;

the o ther o pen s o n t o the loggi a between the cen tra l
towers lo o ki n g d o w n on the crowded roofs a n d n arrow
,
streets o f the mediev al city below a n d far a w ay a cross ,
smilin g va lleys an d fr uitful pl a i n s to the lon g ridge of

Mon te N ero n e a n d the lo ft y pea k o f C at ri a .
These be a u tiful fr agmen ts help u s t o re a lize wh a t

the home of the Mon tefeltro prin ces m u st o n ce h a ve
been . M an y ar e the descriptio n s o f the fa mo u s
p a la ce th a t co n tempor a ry writers h a ve left u s S ome .
o f these like R a ph a el s fa ther a n d Merc a tell o them

’
, ,
selves w a tched L au r an a s towers rise t o the m u sic o f

’
C ON TEMP O RARY DE S CRIPTI ON S 59
Apollo s son g ; others like B aldi a n d V a s a ri k n ew

’
, ,
Urbi n o i n the d ays o f the l ater dukes before the ,
p al a ce wa s shor n o f its an cien t splen dour a n d the con ,
ten ts were c a rried o ff to Floren ce a n d Rome Giovan n i .
S an ti si n gs of the m a rvellou s hou se which h as n o ,
equ a l on the fa ce of the e a rth ; An ton io c alls it a n

e arthly p ar a dise th at a ttra cts stra n gers from a ll p arts
,
o f the world They describe the lofty h a lls a n d

.
sp a cio u s cou rts the gr a n d st a irw ay a n d fair ch apels

, ,
the 25 0 rooms a n d 6 60 win dows the beds h u n g with ,
silke n ta pestries an d cloth of gold the m arble b a ths ,
an d p a ved y a rds where the g a me of p a ll a w a s pl a yed ,
the va st kitche n s an d st ablin g for 3 00 horses the ,
storeho u ses for corn an d wi n e which held s upplies

for this l arge ho u sehold Perfect order we a r e told .
, ,
reign ed thro ugho u t this va st est ablishme n t E a ch .
fretted corn ice an d delic a te or n amen t wa s d a ily kept

bright an d polished by the h an ds of serv an ts a n d
p a ges who stood re a dy to do their lord s will an d
,
’
c a rry o ut his orders with scrup u lous ex a ctitude O ur .
poets devote their most eloqu e n t periods to the gran d

b an qu et -h a ll h u n g with the fa mo u s t apestries of the
,
siege of Troy wro ught by skilful we a vers whom

,
Federico bro ught from Fl an ders an d which i n Vesp a

"
si amo s Opin ion were u n equa lled fo r b ea u t y a n d delic a cy

’
o f workm a n ship
1
Here t o o were the services o f
.
, ,
gold a n d silver the c o stly bowls an d dishes cu n n i n gly

, ,
ch a sed a n d e n a melled with precio u s gems which , ,
r an ged i n tiers on a sidebo a rd a t st a te b an qu ets m a de ,
a s fin e a show a s an th a t a dor n ed the t a ble of ki n gs

y
a n d emper o rs Witho u t were the D u chess s h a n gi n g ’
.
garden s ra ised o n pill a rs c ut i n the r o ck a n d com

, ,
m an din g a view o f the wide pl a i n s a n d fa r Apen n i n es .
Here the terra ces a n d ston e se a ts were sh a ded with

U mi i illust p 9 41
o n ri , . .
pergol a s o f tra ilin g ivy rose a n d j ess a mi n e an d the , ,
fo un ta in s an d b a si n s were fed by a con d uit which

brought wa ter from a t a n k i n the roof an d a lso sup ,
plied the st a bles 1

.
B u t the chief pride o fthe p a l a ce o f Urbi n o was the

d u c a l library which occ upied t wo h a lls o n the groun d
,
fl o o r to the left o f the ce n tr a l doorw a y

, The first of .
these wa s a v a u lted c o rridor 40 by 1 8 feet with , ,
shelves r an ged a lo n g the w alls an d a bove them sm a ll ,
wi n dows looki n g n orth which B aldi tells u s di ffu sed ,
a soft light an d kept the room w a rm i n wi n ter a n d

,
deliciou sly cool (fr eschi ssi ma ) i n s u mm er The in n er .
an d l a rger h a ll we n t by the n a me of L a C an cellerIa
bec a u se it con t a i n ed the duc a l a rchives a n d st a te

p apers Here the sp a ce between the shelves wa s
.
decora ted with a series o f allegoric a l frescoes r epre ,
sen tin g the Arts an d S cien ces p a in ted a c cordin g t o , ,
Dr Schm a rsow by M eloz zo d a Forli b u t a scri bed

. , ,
by most recen t critics to the Flemish m a ster Ju s t u s ,
of Ghen t Portra its of Federic o s three elder

.
’
d a u ghters Elis a bett a Giovan n a an d Cost an za with

, , ,
their betrothed husb an ds — Roberto M a l a test a o f

Ri mi n i Giov a n n i dell a Rovere a n d A n ton io Pri n ce
, , ,
o f S a lern o — were i n trod u ced i n these p a i n ti n gs while

his brother -in -law Costa n zo Sforz a o f Pes aro is s a id , ,
to be the yo u th represen ted i n the p an el o f M u sic ,
which together with th a t of Rhetoric is n ow

'
, ,
i n the N a tio n a l G a llery His n ephew an d min ister .

,
O tt a vi a n o U b aldin i appe ars as Ptolemy i n the subj ect ,
o f Astro n omy an d Federico himself i n the red duc a l, ,
c a p is seen k n eeli n g a t the feet o f the te a cher who

,
discou rses on Di alectics Both o f these p i ttur e .
si n ula r i ssi me they c a lled by the p o et

2
as are
g ,
1
di p 5 8 8
Bal , . .
2 Me c t ll i S ch m s w
r a e o n ar o ,
Meloz z o da F or li , A pp en d ic e .
i n 1 4 7 2, a n d d evoted the rem ai n i n g yea rs o f his life

to F e d e r i c o s service ’
He it wa s who cl a ssified the.
d u c al libra ry a n d di vi ded it i n t o the fo u r grou ps o f

theology philosophy history a n d poetry an a rra n ge
, , , ,
men t first a do pted a t the V a tic a n an d a ft erw a rds

illu stra ted i n Raph a el s frescoes The Floren ti n e ’
.
bookseller c an n ot restr a i n his wo n der an d a dmira ti o n

a t the si ht o f this fa mo u s a n d excelle t libr a ry
g n ,
which he pro n o u n ces fa r s uperior t o a n y th a t h as

been formed duri n g the l a st thou s an d ye a rs .
‘
Wh a t goodly books ! he excl aims wh at ra re ’
m an u scripts wh a t fin e works All collected rega rd

less o f expen se a ll superl a tively be a utifu l all writte n
,
.
with the pen a n d a ll elega n tly ill umi n a ted ! VVh en

ever the D uke he ars o f an y r a re m a n u script he sen ds ,
fo r it a t o n ce a n d d uri n g the l a st fo u rtee n ye a rs

,
he h a s kept thirty -fo u r copyists c on stan tly e mployed

a t Urbi n o Flore n ce an d i n other p a rts o f It a ly
, , Thus .
he h a s s u cceeded i n obt a i n in g somethin g th at is un iqu e

in the world
’
.
O n a br a ss e a gle i n the ce n tre o f the h a ll w a s the

fa m o u s Urbi n o Bible bo un d in go ld an d silver broc a de ,
a n d richly a dor n ed with mi n i a t u res which is still the ,
pride of the V a tic an Then there wa s the Hebrew .
Bible which the D u ke was s a id t o h a ve bro u ght b a ck

,
from the siege o f V olterr a a n d the ill umin a ted D a n te ,
with the e agle o f Mon tefeltro a n d G a rter embroidered

i n pe a rls o n the cover A Polygl o t Ps alter i n Hebrew .
,
Greek an d L a ti n cosa mi r a bi le ed eccellen ti ssi ma

, , ,
especi a lly excited the a dmira ti o n o f Vesp a si a n o while ,
Merc a tello dwells with e n th u si a sm on a copy o f

Ptolemy s C o sm ogra fia with illustra tion s of the
’
,
’
mo un t a in s rivers a n d bridges described by the Greek

, ,
geogr apher A ll the L a ti n poets with their best

.
,
commen t a ries all the kn own Greek an d Rom an

,
VALUAB LE MA N US CRIPT S 63
histori a n s the complete works of Cicero the writin gs

, ,
of the F a thers a n d o f the chief mediev a l a n d m o dern

do ctors fro m Aqu i n a s t o Pope Piu s I I were in cl u ded
,
.
,
i n the c o llection Besides these historic a l an d theo

.
logic a l w o rks the most import a n t tre a tises o n geometry

, ,
a strology m a them a tics la w medici n e a n d physics

, , , , ,
were to be fo u n d on the shelves t oget h er wi t h n umero u s ,
works on milit a ry t a ctics a rchitectu re p a in ti n g a n d , , ,
mu sic E a ch b o ok w a s bo un d i n crims o n a n d fa sten ed

.
with gold or silver cla sps an d e a ch wa s a complete ,
copy a perfectio n rem a rks the Floren t in e writer

,
’
n o t t o be fo u n d i n a n y other libr a ry Vesp a si a n o ’

.
c o u ld spe a k with a u th o rity o n the s u bj ect sin ce i n ,
1 48 2 shortly before the D u ke left home fo r hi s l a st

,
c a mp a ign the libra ri a n c o mp a red the c a t alog u e which

,
he h a d draw n up with th o se o f the V a tic an of S M a rco , .
o f Fl o ren ce of P a vi a a n d of the U n iversity o f O xfo rd

, , ,
an d fo u n d th a t it w a s the o n ly on e which co n t a i n ed
n o d uplic a tes an d n o imperfect copies N o won der .
th a t the m ost ren owned schol a rs were a ttra cted fr om

a ll p a rts o f the world t o the p a l a ce which co n t a i n ed
s uch priceless tre a s u res I myself writes Giov a n n i .

,
’
S an ti h a ve seen m en of the fin est t a ste bu ried i n the

,
stu dy of these precio u s vol u mes .

’
A whole a rmy o f a rtists a n d skilled workmen were

employed i n the decor a ti o n s o f the p a l a ce u n der ,
L a ur an a s directio n Fran cesco di Giorgio o f Sien a

’
.
,
a n a ble e n i n eer whom V a s a ri in correctly c a lls the

g ,
chief a rchitect of the p a l a ce b u ilt the st a bles i n 1 4 7 5 , ,
an d
, with Ambrogi o d a Mil a n o as his a ssist an t ,
executed the seven ty -t w o reliefs o f milit a ry we a po n s

a n d trophies which origi n a lly a dorn ed the ce n tr a l co u rt .
The Fl o ren ti n e B a ccio P o n t elli who lived a t Urbi n o ,
from 1 4 7 9 un til his de a th i n 1 48 2 a n d is b u ried in ,
the churc h o f S Domen ico h a d a l a rge sh are

.
,
in the decor ative sc ulpture whi ch w as the chief

bea uty of the i n terior I V h en Lore nz o de Medici
.
’
as ked this art ist for a pl an o f the fa mo u s p a l a ce he ,
replied th a t he o nly wis hed the M agn ifi c o co uld see

for himself wh at a thi n g of be a u ty it w a s while the ,
Duk e co u rteo usly sen t word th a t he regretted it w as

impossible to sen d L oren z o the hou se itself The .
i n t a r sza decor a ti o n of F ed eri c o s st u dy is s a id to h a ve

’
bee n the work of a Berga mo fri a r M a estro Gi a como ,
by n ame A Lomb ar d sc ulptor D omen ic o Rosselli

.
, ,
ca rved the m an telpiec es o f the thr o n e -r o om a n d

S al a degli An geli ; whi le B ran dan o D i o t ale vi a n d , ,
severa l other l o ca l a rtists were employed u po n the

,
stu cc o orn a men ts a n d reli efs o f h a lls a n d corridors .
M an y other a rtis t s o f ren own c a me to Urbin o in

'
’
F ederico s reign Desiderio d a S etti gn an o the you n g
.
,
T u sc an sc ulptor whom Giovann i S an ti c alls si (10 106 ‘
6 Si bello
’
, w a s employed by the D uke to ca rve a b u st

o f hi s fai r d a u ghter Gen tile An other Floren tin e
.
m aster M a so di B art olommeo d esign ed the porta ls of ,
the Do mi ni c an ch u rch opposite the old win g o f the

d u ca l p al a ce a n d L u c a dell a R o bbi a with whom he
, ,
h a d w o rked on the br o n z e g a tes o f the s a cri s t y in the

,
i
D uomo of Floren ce exec u ted the bea u t f l terr cottau a -
M ad on n a over the do o rwa y I n t hose d ays t oo .

, ,
Pis an ello an d Speran di o design ed their a d mi r a ble

med a ls of F ederi c o an d the U mbri an m a ster Piero
, ,
della Fr an cesc a p a in ted hi s m asterly p o rtra i t s of the

,
D u ke a n d D u ch ess whe n he c a me t o Urb in o in 1 4 6 9 ,
an d l o dged i n the house o f Giov a nn i S a n ti P ao lo .
Uccell o w a s there i n the previ o u s y ea r a n d exec u te d ,
a n a lt a r -piece for the brotherh o od of Corp u s Domi n i ,
t o which the c u rio u s predell a of the Mir a cle of the

Host n ow in the d u c al p alac e origi n a lly belo ng ed Yet
, , .
a n o ther g rea t m a s t er M elo zz o d a F o rli was a t Urb i n o

, ,
Q u een Victori a seven ye a rs l a ter a n d is n ow i n the ,
roya l collecti o n a t Wi n ds o r Here un der the v aulted

1
.
,
r o o f of a sp a cio u s h all Federico we ari n g the du c a l , ,
m an tle o f crimson velvet a n d the o rder o f the G a rter ,
is thron ed i n a ch a ir of st a te with three cou n cillors ,
behin d him an d G uid o b a ldo a fa ir -h aired boy of

, ,
si x o r seve n i n co u rt dress st an di n g a t his side

, , ,
listen in g to a bla ck -be a rded pro fessor pr ob a bly the w
Germ a n Messer P a olo —lecturi n g on m a them a tics .
I n this n oble he a d of the D uke we recogn ize the

portra it which Vesp a si a n o describes a s the bes t like
n ess ever t a ken o f his lord an d o n ly w a n ti n g ,
brea th to be a live B ut the fi n est an d best pre .
served of the Flemish m a ster s w o rks still i n exist ’
e n ce is the L a st S u pper p a i n ted i n 1 4 7 4 for the ,

’
Con fra tern ity of Corpus Domin i a n d n ow i n the ,
d u c a l p al a ce I n this n oble a lt a r -piece we h a ve a

.
p o rtra it of Federico with his mi n ister O tt a vi a n o , ,
U b ald i n i st an di n g immedi a tely behin d him which

, ,
is a m a sterpiece o f rea lism The Ven eti a n e n v o y .

,
C a teri n o Ze n o w h o visited Urbi n o i n 1 4 7 4 on his

,
wa y to H u n ga ry is i n troduced in the b a ckgr o un d

, ,
sitti n g a t t a ble cl a d i n O rien t a l dress an d t u rb a n an d ,
a n u rse is see n st a n di n g i n the ope n doorw a y with
Federico s on ly son an d successor the in fan t Pri n ce

’
G u id o b a ldo i n her a rms

, .
L C us t Th R y l C ll c t i
‘
s f P i t i gs l W H J ’
1
.
, e o a o e on o a n n ,
vo . 11 . . . .
VV l i
ea e nP et it R vu d G d 1 9 0 1
e e e e an ,
’
.
C HAPTER VI
i
B rt h of i
G u d ob a ld o D ea t h o f h i s— o t h er m
e d er o la t y ear—F ic s s
’
s
D ea t h — Ch ara t er a n d e d u a t on o f G u o b a l o
c c i ca m id d —His
a i n s,
p g l t e i
ra r y t a t e, an ds i ll-h e a lt h M —
a r r a e —El a b e t t a ig is
G o n a g a — V r t ue an d p o p ula r t y o f t h e D u h e
z i s i Ar t t c ss — is s
em ploy e d by G u ob al o id d
Hi s a d t on to the di i s
u al d c
p c l
a a e an d l br ya i
r — o r kW s d dic
e a te to h im T he ‘
d
H yp e r —
n o t o m a ch i a P ol
yp h i li
’
E p — is
t l e o f A ld o Ma n u z i o Th e b rt h — i
p
o f R a h a el a n d o n c mi g
of Ca t s ig i
l on e .
FE D E RI C O S first m a rri a ge wa s childless ; b u t a fter

’
the dea th of his wife Gen tile Bran c aleon e i n 1 46 0 , , ,
he m a rried B a ttist a Sforz a the you n g d a ughter o f ,
Aless an dro of Pes a ro an d n iece o f his i n tim ate frien d

,
an d close a lly Fr an cesco Sforz a D uke o f Mil an , .
The n ew D uchess h a d bee n ed u c a ted a t her u n cle s ’
court with her a ccomplished cou si n Ippolit a the ,
wife of Alfon so o f N aples a n d is described by con ,
tempora ry writers as a bein g e n dowed with every

gra ce an d V irtu e Giov an n i S an ti spe aks o f her
.
modest an d m aj estic eye her gra ve a n d gen tle ,
ch ara cter ; an d Pope Pi u s I I pra ised the discretio n .
a n d wisdom with which sh e r u led her h u sb a n d s St a te

’
i n his a bse n ce Their u n io n wa s a si n gu l a rly h appy

.
on e an d a fter h ea r i n her lord seve n d a ughters d u ri n g

, , g
twelve yea rs o f m arried life B a ttist a g a ve birth t o a ,
so n a t G u bbio i n J an u a ry 1 4 7 2 The b oy wa s n amed , .
Gu ido Ub aldo a fter the hermit who was the p a tro n

,
s ain t of the a n cien t city a n d whose shri n e m ay still ,
67 5 — 2
be seen o n the cli ffs above the duc al p al a ce His .
birth wa s h a iled with gen era l rej oicin g an d the D uke ,
h a sten ed home fro m his victorio u s c a mp a ign at V o l

terr a to the cra dle o f his n ew-born son .
Ala s for the v an ity of hum an bliss s an g Gi o va n n i

S an ti more slen der th a n the spider s web o f go ss a
,
’
mer Federico re a ched Gu bbio on a July d ay t o ,
fin d his wife dyi n g a n d w a s o n ly j u st i n time to ,
receive her l a st farewell With the most bitter a n d .
he a rtfelt grief wrote the berea ved h u sb an d to his

,
’
kin sfolk I i n form y o u th a t my wife B a ttist a sicken ed

,
on Tuesd a y l a st with he a d a che a n d fever an d th a t ,
O u r Lord God t o ok her so u l t o himself a t eleven

o clock on this 6t h i n sta n t lea vi n g me a s miserable
’
, ,
distressed a n d i n con sol a ble a s a n yo n e c a n be i n this

,
world .
’
She w a s my wife he told Pope Pi u s I I ,
’
.
,
who h ad kn own a n d highly esteemed the yo un g

Duchess ‘
precio u s a bove all others t h e beloved
, ,
p artn er o f my toil an d c ares the j o y o f my p ublic ,
a n d priv a te life ! N o gre a ter misfo rtu n e co u ld h a ve

befallen me
The D u chess wh o wa s o n ly twen ty -six a t the time
,
o f her de a th wa s b u ried with gre a t pomp in the

,
ch urch o f S Bern a rdi n o outside the city gates o n

.
, ,
the hill opposite the d u c a l p al a ce This be a u tifu l .
Ren a iss an ce b u ildi n g h a d been erected by Federico

on the site o f a n other shri n e where his a n cestors were
b u ried a n d is supposed t o be a n e a rly work o f the

,
grea t a rchitect Br a m an te who left home for Milan ,
a bo u t 1 4 7 2 The Duke wa s on frien dly terms with

.
the Zoccol an ti fri a rs wh o occ upied the n eighbo u ri n g ,
con ven t ; a n d his biogra pher M u zio rel a tes how on e

wi n te r n ight when the fri ars were s n owed up an d
,
ra n g their bells to c a ll for help Federico himself wen t ,
C d V t U b 1 19 8
1
o De i t u
. i 204 a . r .
,
nn s o n, . .
70 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTIGLI ON E
hi s neck His refin ed fe a tures a n d gen tle expressio n

.
rec a ll the you n g mother who died i n gi vi n g him

birth a n d the white forehea d bl u e eyes a n d fa ir h a ir
, , ,
a gree with C a st i li on e s descriptio n G idob ld we

g ’ u a o .
,
ar e told grew up t all a n d h an dsome with lon g

, ,
delic a te fea tu res an d well -sh aped limbs un t il a s his , ,
biogr apher s a dly rem a rks prolon ged ill n ess m arred
,
the be a uty of his fa ce a n d form From e arly ye a rs .
he wa s n o ted for his litera ry t a stes a n d love o f

le a rn i n g O d asi o to whom Federico e n trusted his
.
,
edu c a tion a n d whose misfortun e it w a s to s u rvive

,
his pup il describes him a s a child of exception a l i n

,
t elligen ce Both C a stiglion e an d Bembo were stru ck

.
by his rem a rka ble p o wers o f memory a n d wide kn ow

ledge of cl a ssic al liter a tu re He could repea t whole
.
books o f Homer a n d Virgil by hea rt a n d spoke ,
Greek a s if it were his o wn l a n gu a ge Like Federico .

,
he wa s p a rtic u l arly fo n d of history a n d theol o gy .
Xen ophon a n d Chrysostom were his fa vou rite a uth o rs .
The rites a n d ceremon ies of the Church a lso i n

t er est e d him deeply an d l a yme n a n d ecclesi a stics
,
a like were s u rprised to he a r the clea rn ess a n d

a cc u ra cy with which he co u ld expl a i n the di ffere n ces
th a t are to be fou n d in the Greek a n d Rom an litu rgies .
It wa s the h a rd fa te o f this thou ghtful youth to

live i n the most troubled times a n d to be e n gaged i n ,
a lmost perpetu a l w a rfa re At the a ge o f t en he wa s

.
elected C apt ain of the a rmies o f the Le a g u e i n his

fa ther s pl a ce a n d a lthough this a ppoin tmen t wa s
’
n a tur a lly p u rely n om in a l he took the field a s soo n a s

,
he wa s old en o ugh to be a r a rms His fa ther s frien d .

’
Ki n g Ferran te of N a ples e nlisted him i n his service

, ,
an d Pope I n n oce n t VI I I employed him to repress

.
the t u rb u len t b aro n s o f the M a rches B ut he w a s .
a s u n fo rt u n a te i n b a ttle as his fa ther h a d bee n for

t
P ho o, Attua r i .
GUI D B A LD D U
O O, KE OFU B IN R O
.
BY C A R T ( ITTI )
O O P .
To f p
ace .
72 C O U N T B ALDAS SARE CAST I GL I ON E
the well -kn own pict ure i n the U ffizi This l a st wa s .
formerly a scribed t o M a n tegn a b ut is n o w gen era lly ,
recogn ized as the work o f the Vero n ese a rtist C a roto , ,
1
who p a in ted G u i d ob aldo s liken ess in the Pitti ’
.
I n both these portra its we see the s a me n oble a n d

regu la r fe a tures the s ame tired an d serious expres
,
si o n b ut n either give u s an y ide a o f the ch a rm

,
which fa sci n a ted m en a n d women a like If however .

, ,
’
p a in ters failed to do j u stice t o D u chess Elis a bett a s
bea uty writers a n d poets h a ve m a de a mple a men ds
,
for their short -comi n gs There is a u n ivers a l a gree .
men t i n the h o m age p a id to her b y m en o f every ‘
r an k an d age th a t is very rem a rkable When sh e .
died Pope Clemen t VI I p a i d a splen did trib u te to her

, .
gre a t a n d n oble ch a ra cter a n d the M a n tu an a mb a s ,

’
s a dor l a me n ted her a s the ra rest l a dy o f her time s
’
B o th C a stiglion e a n d Bembo h a ve celebra ted her

n a me i n immorta l prose I h a ve see n m a n y ex .
cellen t a n d n o ble women wrote Bembo a n d h a ve ’
, ,
kn own s o me who were con spic u o u s fo r cert a in virtues

i n their time b u t i n her a l o n e a ll virtu es were
,
summed up 2
.
’
‘
There is n o n eed for me to dwell on her perfec
tio n s writes the au thor of the Cortegi a n o si n ce they
,
’
,
’
a r e a lre a dy well k n ow n to the world a n d yet more , ,
bec au se it is beyo n d the power o f my ton gue or pen

t o express them They might i n deed h a ve rem a i n ed
.
, ,
hidden if Fortu n e who a dmires r a re virtu es h a d

, , ,
n o t reve aled them to u s by m a n y a dversities a n d
sti n gs o f c al a mities i n order t o show the world th a t

,
i n the te n der bre a st o f a be au tifu l wom a n yo u m ay

fin d wisdom a n d fortitu de o f so u l a n d a ll those ,
stern er virtu es which a r e most ra re i n m a n 3

.
’
1
i i
B bl o t h e qu e Na t ,
MS It . al
. A rt e ,
148 .
2 ‘ Le t t e re ,
11 . 65.
3 C
‘
orte gi a n o,
’
18 .
HER C HARM S AND VIRTUE S 73
These expressio n s were n o mere commo pl a ces n -
o f fl a ttery i n the lips o f either co u rtier or C a rdi n a l .
The te a rs which Bembo shed over Elis abett a s gra ve ’
the cry th a t br o ke from C a st i gli on e s he a rt when he ’
remembered th a t the L a dy Duchess wa s de a d ar e more ,
eloquen t th an a n y co urtly phra se B ut it wa s the s a me

.
with all wh o a ppro a ched this ge n tle an d ch a rmi n g

l a dy The keyn ote o f her ch ara cter wa s a sweet
.
rea son a blen ess a sere n ity o f so u l which m a de her

,
fa ce peril a n d c a la mity with u n compl a i n i n g fo rtitu de ,
a n d a n un selfi sh n ess which led her t o pl a ce herself
u n reservedly a t the disp o s a l o f others .
Her qu ick symp athy with j oy a n d sorrow her ,
re a di n ess to help the n eedy a n d relieve the oppressed ,
m a de her bel o ved by a ll N o pra yer for s u cco u r

.
o r comfort w a s ever a d d ressed t o her i n v a i n ; n o

suppli a n t for p a rdon o r fa v o ur ever left her doors
u n s a tisfied Her fin e wom a n ly t a ct wa s ever re a dy
.
to smooth awa y difficulties to len d a helpin g h a n d

, ,
a n d co un sel p a tie n ce o r s u bmissio n del a y o r prompt,
a ctio n a s the c a se might req u ire

, W e see her wa tch
.
in g an xiou sly by the de a th -bed of the court -p a in ter

Giovan n i S an ti grievi n g over his u n timely en d a n d
,
protecti n g the yo u th o f his orph a n son the boy ,
Raph a el for his fa ther s s ake We fin d her mo u rn

,
’
.
i n g o ver her o ld frie n d M a n t egn a s de a th a n d i n ter

’
cedin g with her br o ther o n beh a lf of the m a ster s ’
scapegra ce son bec a u se of A n dre a whom I loved

‘
, ,
’
so well .I n l a ter ye a rs we se e her c u rbi n g the viole n t
temper o f her a dopted son D uke Fra n cesco dell a ,
Rovere tea chi n g him to be ten der to h i s yo u n g wife

, ,
a n d ki n d a n d tho u ghtfu l for o thers We see her .
taki n g i n fin ite tr o u ble to obt a i n a pl a ce or pen si o n for

perso n s wh o m sh e did n o t even k n o w b ut who were ,
the frie n ds o f her frien ds o r else exc u si n g the fa ults

72 C O U N T B A LDAS SARE CASTI GLI ON E
the well -kn own pict u re i n the U ffizi This l a st was .
formerly a scribed to M a n tegn a b ut is n o w gen era lly ,
recogn ized a s the work of the Vero n ese a rtist C a r o to , ,
wh o p a in ted G u id o b a ld o s like n ess i n the Pitti 1 ’

.
I n both these portra its we see the s a me n oble a n d

regul a r f e atu res the s a me tired a n d serious expres
,
sion b ut n either give u s a n y ide a of the cha rm

,
which fa sci n a ted m en a n d women alike If however .

, ,
’
p a in ters fa iled to do j ustice t o D uchess Elis a bett a s
bea uty writers a n d p o ets h ave m a de a mple a men ds
,
for their short -comi n gs There is a u n ivers a l a gree .
men t i n the hom age p a id to her by m en o f every

ra n k a n d age th a t is very rem a rka ble When sh e .
died Pope Clemen t VI I p a id a splen did tribu te to her

, .
gre a t a n d n oble ch a r a cter a n d the M a n tu an a mb a s ,
s a d o r l a men ted her as the ra rest la dy o f her tim es .

’
B o th C a stiglion e an d Bembo h a ve celebr a ted her

n a me i n immorta l prose I h a ve see n m a n y ex .
c ellen t a n d n oble wome n wrote Bembo a n d h a ve ’
, ,
kn ow n some who were co n spic u o u s for cert a i n V irtues

i n their time b u t i n her a lon e a ll virt u es were
,
s u mmed up 2
.
’
‘
There is n o n eed for me to dwell on her perfec
,
’
tio n s writes the a uthor o f the Cortegi a n o sin ce they ,
’
ar e a lre a dy well k n own to the world a n d yet more , ,
bec a u se it is beyon d the power o f my ton gue o r pen

t o express them They might i n deed h a ve rem ai n ed
.
, ,
hidden if Fortu n e wh o a dmires r are virt u es h a d

, , ,
n o t reve aled them to u s by m a n y a dversities a n d
sti n gs of c al a mities i n order to show the world th a t

,
i n the te n der bre a st o f a be a utifu l wom a n yo u m ay

fin d wisdom a n d fortit u de o f so u l a n d a ll those ,
3
stern er virtu es which a r e most ra re i n m a n .
’
1
i i
B bl o th e q ue N at M S I ta l
. . A rt e ,
148 .
2
Le tt e r e,
’
ii 65 . .
3 Co rt e gi a n o,
’
18 .
an d follies of o ld
serva n ts cra vin g p a rdon fo r ,
T e bald e o s
’
delin qu en cies an d soothi n g her brother ,
the M a rqu is s j u st a n ger with wise a n d gen tle words

’
.
The L a dy D u chess writes Bembo t o the frien ds ,

’
i n Ve n ice who u rged him to le a ve Urbi n o an d return

home h a s worked an d is worki n g for me i n a way
, , ,
th a t h a s s u rp a ssed my fon dest expect a ti o n s She .
n ever ce a ses to do thi n gs th a t m a help an d be n efit

y
me a n d t akes more thought for my a ffa irs th a n I do
,
myself Eve n if Fortun e sho u ld deprive her o f the

.
power t o help me a s sh e desires I c a n n ever forget ,
th a t sh e for whom I h a ve n ever do n e a n yt hi n g i n my

,
life h as don e more for me th a n all the other people

,
p u t together for whom I h a ve often do n e a gre a t

de al 1
.
’
S u ch a pri n cess could n ot fa il t o in spire deep an d

a rde n t a ffecti o n I n her old home a t M a n tu a Elis a
.
,
betta h a d been a fa vourite with brothers an d serva n ts

a like The r ude a n d p a ssion a te M a rqu is Fra n cesco
.
a n d the an d tho ughtless Gi o v an n i wh o c a red fo r

g y
a ,
n othi n g b u t h o rses an d g a mbli n g were both devoted ,
to this gen tle sister a n d re a dy t o t a ke a n y tro u ble or

,
r u n an
y risks for her s a ke Her delic a te he a lth o n ly .
i n cre a sed their a ffection for her when she left home
for Urbin o Fran cesco wa s re a dy t o fly t o her side
.
a t a mome n t s n otice if the doctors ga ve a b a d report

’
o f her a n d wa s a lw a ys tryi n g to i n d u ce her to come to

,
M an tu a fo r the good of her he alth a n d th a t he might

enj oy the ple a s u re o f her society A n d on e of the .
few occ a sion s on which sh e a ro u sed his disple a s ure

wa s whe n i n spite o f h i s w a rn i n gs a n d s u spicio n s o f
,
the B o rgia s sh e persisted in her determin a tio n o f

,
goin g to Rome ra ther th an dis app o i n t her sister in -
la w Agn esin a C o lon n a

, .
1 Let t e re ,
’
ii . 61
E L I SABETTA S P O PUL ARITY ’
5
N ever wa s there such a M a do n n a ! excl a imed the ’
reckless Giovan n i when he c a me to Urbi n o a t the ,
time o f G uid o b ald o s de a th a n d fo un d how wisely a n d ’
well the D u chess h a d ordered all th i n gs i n her lord s ’
St a te Women a s well a s m en own ed the power of

.
her spell Yo un g a n d old they all l o ved Elis a bett a

.
, .
Her brilli an t sister -i n -law Is a bella d Este a highly ,

’
critic a l l a dy e a sily j ea lo u s a n d qu ick to resen t a n y

, ,
cla im to s u periority i n a riv a l cherished her with ,
a deep a n d en d uri n g a ffection th a t rem a in ed un

ch an ged thro ugh every vicissitude of fortu n e A n d .
sh e q u ickly i n spired b o th her yo u n g sister -i n -law ,
1
Agn esi n a an d Emili a P i a the a ccomplished wife of
, ,
her h u sb a n d s illegitim a te brother An to n io di Mo n te

’
feltro wi th the s a me devotio n From the momen t

, .
th a t the Duchess Eli s a bett a c a me to Urbi n o sh e w a s

a dored by her h u sb a n d a n d subj ects G u idob a ldo .
fo un d i n his you n g wife the i n telli ge n t symp a thy th a t

he n eeded a n d a ltho ugh the blessi n g of children wa s
,
den ied them d u rin g twen ty ye a rs their u ni o n wa s o n e

,
of u n clo u ded h a ppi n ess U n der thei r r ule the co urt .
o f Urbi n o m a in t a in ed the high positio n which it h a d
a cq u ired i n the d a ys of the good D u ke Federico a n d ,
bec a me even more fa m o us a s a school o f a rt a n d

letters .
It is a n oteworthy thin g an d impossible o f c on ,
t r a d i c t i on by the most m a licious to n gues

’
wrote ,
2
R u scelli th a t the co u rt of Urbi n o i n o ur times h a s
,
been a fo un t a in which in n o poetic phra se b u t i n, , ,
sober e a rn est m a y be termed a tr u e Pega se an spri n g

, ,
a fort u n a te g a rde n or field i n which were re a red an
1
A gn e si n a G ui d o b a ld o y o u ge s t sis t er wa s s t ill m i d
’
, s n ,
un a rr e
wh e n El is a b et t a c m
a e U bi to r no . In the f o llo wi g y
n h ea r s e
be c m
a wif
e t he e o f F b izi a C lr o o on n a, an d was a ft w ds t h
er ar e
m t h f A sc i
o er o an o a n d Vi t t i C l or a o on n a .
Im p s ill s t
2
re e u ri .
i n fi n ite n u mber o f gre a t m en whose n a mes will be

celebra ted for all time .
’
The de a th of D u ke Federico a n d th a t of his

a rchitect L au ran a i n the fo ll o win g ye a r n a tu ra lly ,
i n t err upted the progress o f the d u c a l p a la ce a n d ,

’
G ui d o b ald o s e n fo rced a bse n ce from h o me a n d l a ck
o f m o n ey seri o u sly i n terfered with its completi on .
B u t he m a de sever a l import an t a dditi o n s to the fa bric ,
a n d took especi a l i n terest i n the decor a tion o f the

1
in teri o r which B a ldi tells u s bec ame m u ch richer
, , ,
an d
‘
more s u mptuou s d urin g h i s reign bein g ,
a dorn ed with gildi n g a n d col o u r a n d i n l a id p an elli n g

’
.
He b u ilt a n ew a n d l a rger st u dio for his o wn u se

o n the grou n d -fl o o r a n d emplo ed Tim o teo Viti to
y ,
decora te its wa lls with frescoes o f P a lla s a n d Ap o llo

a n d the M u ses A ch a pel e n riched with st ucc o a n d
.
c o l o u red m a rbles wa s a lso G ui d o b ald o s work a s well ’
a s a n e w a n d sp a cio u s h a ll for the g a me o f p a ll a ,
which a ltho ugh he wa s u n a ble to t a ke p a rt i n it him

,
self he liked to w a tch

, .
Fr an c i a s p upil the Urbi n o m a ster Timoteo Viti

’
, , ,
men tio n ed above retu rn ed from Bologn a i n 1 4 9 5 t o

,
s u cceed Gi o va n n i S an ti a s c o u rt -p ai n ter a n d become

the te a cher of his son Ra ph a el Severa l works by .
Timoteo s h an d ar e preserved a t Urbi n o ; a mon gst

’
oth ers a n a lt a r -piece i n which G u idob a ldo a n d Bish o p

,
A r r i v a ben e a r e seen kn eeli n g before St M a rti n a n d .
St Thom a s This pictu re n o w i n the C a thedra l

. .
,
s a cristy wa s p a i n ted a fter the dea th o f Bishop

,
A rr i va b en e i n 1 5 04 for the ch apel of St Th o m a s

,
.
a Becket i n the D u omo which this prel a te h a d

en dowed .
B o th G u idob aldo a n d his wi fe sh a red the p a ssion

fo r a n tiqu es th a t wa s prev a le n t i n their a ge a n d ,
B ldi p 5 7 4 1 a , . .
prin ti n g
. Sever al o ther distin guished musici an s
visited Urbi n o d uri n g this D uke s reign a n d li n gered ’
there m a n y weeks The Ve ron ese sin ger M a rchetto

.
C a ro who w a s i n the M a rqu is of M an t u a s servi ce

,
’
an d h a d bee n sen t by him to cheer Elis a bett a s exile

’
a t Ve n ice fou n d a wa rm welcome a t Urbin o an d

, ,
wo uld gl a dly h a ve rem a i n ed there if his own lord h a d

n o t se n t him a n imperio u s s u mmo n s to return home .
J a copo di S a n sec o n d o the fa mou s Viol -pl ayer who

, , ,
like Cristoforo R o m an o h a d been a gre a t fa vou ri te

,
with D uchess B ea trice of M i l an settled at Urb in o ,
a ft er the Moro s fall Here too often c a me the

’
.
, ,
Rom an l ute pl ayer T erpan d r o t o m a ke his home

-
with his frien ds Bemb o a n d Bibbien a C a stigli on e ,
a n d T e b a ld eo a t this co u rt which w a s the fa vo u rite

, ,
res o rt o f every ple a s an t an d a m u sin g person an d of ,
a ll those who were m o st excellen t i n every br an ch of
kn owledge thro u ghou t It a ly

’
.
B u t the libr a ry which Federico h a d foun ded w a s ,
a s might be expected his son s especi al c a re He ’

.
,
a dded a gre a t n u mber of v a lu able works t o the

collecti o n spen din g l a rge s u ms i n obt ai ni n g a n cien t
,
m a n u scripts a n d employin g the best h u m an ists to

,
a ssist him i n the t a sk S everal n o ted schol ars

.
,
Agabito Loren zo Abstemio an d the chron icler

, ,
Federic o Veter an i held the p o st o f libra ri an at his

,
c o u rt i n succession a n d a set o f cu riou s a n d min u te

,
regul a tion s were dra wn u p fo r their guid an ce an d the

ben efit o f stu den ts who visited Urbin o .
The libra ri a n shou ld be le a rn ed an d of good

presen ce equ a ble in temper a n d gra cio u s i n m an n er
, ,
a cc u r a te an d fl u en t o f speech He mu st keep a .
c o mplete i n ven t o ry o f the bo o ks i n the li bra ry a n d ,
se e th a t they a r e well a rr an ged a n d e a sily a ccessible ,
whether L atin Greek Hebrew o r It ali an ; a n d he

, , ,
S CH O LARS AT THE C O URT 9
m u st a lso keep the h a lls in go o d c o n dition The .
books m u st be preserved from the r a va ges of d a mp

a n d vermi n a s well a s from the h a n ds of ign or a n t
, ,
dirty a n d c a I eless person s

, W hen pei son ages o f .
lea rn i n g a n d import an ce visit the p al a ce he ought ,
himself to show them the trea s u res of the libr a ry ,
co urte o u sly poi n ti n g o ut their be a uty a n d chief

ch ara cteristics their min i a tu res an d ch ara cters b u t
, ,
bei n g w a tchful to see th a t n o p a ges ar e removed .
W hen stran gers a sk t o see the books o ut o f mere

c uriosity a si n gle gl an ce will be s u ffi cien t un less the
, ,
V isitor sh o uld be on e o f disti n ction an d in flu en ce .
When n ew Cl a sps o r l o cks ar e requ ired he m u st t a ke ,
c are th a t they a r e pro vided witho ut dela y N o book .
m a y be t aken o u t of the libra ry excepti n g by order

o f the D u ke a n d the libr a ri an m u st t a ke c a re th a t a
,
written receipt be given for e a ch volu me a n d see th a t ,
it is c a refully retu rn ed A n d when m an y visitors .
c o me together he m u st be especi ally wa tchful th at

,
1 ’
n o books a r e stole n .
The fa me o f G u i d ob ald o s o wn lea rn i n g a ttra cted ’
man y sch o l ars t o his Co urt an d works of the most ,
varied descripti o n were dedic a ted to hi m by dis

t i n gui sh ed writers A reprin t of a n an cien t a stro
.
n o m i c a l work by M a t er n u s an d a Tre a tise o n the ,
Dign ity an d O ffice o f a C a rdi n a l by P a o lo C o rt esi o ,

’
were both in scribed t o him To him the ve n er able .
p ai n ter Piero dell a Fra n cesc a dedic a ted his work

, ,
on the Five Bodies a pra ctic a l applic a ti o n o f ,
E uclid s proposition s to ar t beggi n g the D uke t o

’
place his li bella s i n some corn er a s a h u mble h a n d

‘
,
maid to the i n n u mera ble books of his v a st libra ry .

’
Aga in Piero s fellow-citizen a n d Leon a rdo s frien d

,
’ ’
Fra Luc a P a ci oli of Borgo S an S epolcro i n scribed

, ,
his gre a t m a them atic a l work the S omm a di Arit ,
1
C d V t U b 1 248 f 5 8
o . a .d D i t u
r i 15 8
s, , .
, an enn s o n, . .
metic a i n 1 49 4 to the s a me ge n ero u s p a tron

,
’
, .
An other celebra ted b o o k men tio n ed i n the Corte

gi a n o the fa mo u s H ypern o t om a ch i a P olyphili o r
,
’
,
’
The Comb a t o f Love i n the Dre a m o f P olyphilu s ,

’
'
on e of the first v ol u mes th a t issued from the

Aldin e press wa s a lso dedic a ted t o G uid o b a ld o
, .
A D o mi n ic an fri a r of Ve n ice Fr an cesco Col o n n a , ,
w as the a u thor of this str a n ge a n d powerfu l rom an ce ,
which reflects i n so vivid a m an n er the di fferen t

c u rren ts of It a li an th o ught in the fifteen th cen t u ry ,
its yea rn i n gs fo r the old Greek a n d Rom an world ,
its love of rich c o lo ur a n d s u mpt u ous p age an try ,
its dre a ms o f be au ty a n d a spir a tio n s a fter a more

perfect order It wa s pri n ted by Aldo i n 1 49 9 a t
.
,
the expen se of Leon a rdo Cra ss o o f Vero n a whose ,
brother h a d served i n the c a mp aign o f Bibbien a u n der ,
G u idob a ldo a n d dedic a ted by him i n t erms of high

,
‘
e ulogy to this Prin ce le arn ed a bove others i n Greek
an d L a ti n i n the k n owledge o f a n cie n t history an d
, ,
equ ally re n o wn ed for his wisdo m a n d good n ess The .

’
Veron ese schol ar s choice wa s si n gu l a rly appropri a te

’
an d it seems i n the fit n ess of thi n gs th a t a work
steeped i n cl a ssic al mythology an d ill u strated with a

pro fusion o f a dmira ble w o odc u ts shou ld be con n ected ,
with the co u rt o f Urbi n o .
Fou r ye a rs l ater Ald o himself dedic ated his editio n o f

Xen ophon to G u idob aldo D u ri n g the we ary mo n ths
.
o f exile which the D u ke a n d D u chess h a d spe n t a t
Ven ice they h a d m ad e m an y frien ds a mon g the circle

,
o f c u lt u red p a trici an s to which the pri n ter belo n ged ,
a n d h a d e n de a red themselves to a ll who k n ew them
i n tim a tely When i n N ovember 1 5 03 they were

.
, , ,
rec alled by a gra tefu l people Aldo a va iled himself o f

,
this a u spi ci o iI s o cc a sion to a ddress an eleg an t Greek

epistle t o the Duke in which he con gra tu l a tes him on
,
82 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTIGLI ON E
worth th a t I o ffer yo u the H ellen i c a o f Xen oph o n
, ,
a work fu ll o f i n terest which I h a ve j ust pri n ted

, The .
a u thor wa s so el o qu e n t an d so deeply imb u ed with the
Attic spirit th a t the Greeks c a lled him the Attic bee .
I n this a lso he rese m bles y o u Like yo u rself he wa s .
the c a pta i n o f a n a rmy like y o u he wa s le arn ed well

, ,
ed u c a ted a n d distin gu ished by his virtu es These a r e

, .
i n deed grea t a n d n oble qu a lities B ut I h a ve s a id .
en o ugh .Accept this prese n t which I hope will ,
ple a se you an d which y o u will keep a s a remem

,
bra n ce o f my rega rd a n d o f my devotion to yo u an d

,
yo ur rea lm Greeti n gs
.
1
.
’
V NI C N mb 1 4
E E, ove er ,
This dedic a tio n deserves to be remembered a s a

pro of o f the hi ve a n d a dmira tio n with which G u ido
b a ldo wa s rega rded beyon d the w a lls o f Urbi n o .
B ut there were t wo eve n ts which more th a n the ,
gr a tefu l pra ises best o wed u pon him by schol a rs a n d

a rtists more ev en th a n the eloque n t words o f Aldo
, ,
h a ve m a de th e n a me of thi s D uke memora ble in the

eyes o f posterity D u ri n g his reign R aph a el was born
.
,
i n the old ston e ho u se th a t is still st a n di n g i n the n a rr o w

street le a di n g up the steep mo un t ai n -side a n d twe n ty ,
ye ars la ter while the cen tu ry wa s still yo un g B a l

, ,
d a ss a re C a stigli o n e fir st c a me to Urbi n o .
1
X e n o ph on He lle n i ca .
’
In A ld i Ne a ca d e m i a , 1 5 03 .
84 C O U N T BALDAS S ARE CASTI GLI ON E
ever before all th a t he most n eeded — ra re books

,
a n d m a n u scripts with leis u re t o stu dy their co n te n ts ,
con ge n i a l society a n d frie n ds th a t were de ar to him a s

his o wn so ul ; the a lta gui et e la vi ta d olce e li eta , ,
which Giova n n i S a n t i c alls the gre a test boon th a t can

be gra n ted to mort a ls i n this tro ubled w o rld .
D u ri n g the n ext twelve ye a rs he m a de Urbi n o his

home an d sh a red a h o u se with his co u si n Ces are
,
Gon za ga in a street n e a r the d uc a l p al a ce When .
he wa s n o t en ga ged i n close a tten d an ce o n the

D uke his morn i n gs were ge n era lly spen t i n the
,
libra ry There he might be seen in the cool recesses

.
of the frescoed h a lls stu dyin g his fa vo urite cl a ssic a l

,
a uthors — Cicero an d Virgil Pl a to an d Aristotle

Pl u t arch a n d T a citu s —or those poets i n the li ng u a
, ,
volg a r e for whom he h a d so gre a t a n a ffectio n In .
the D uke he fou n d a symp a thetic frien d who

sh ared his love o f the M a n tu an b a rd an d wh o ,
w a s a s keen ly i n terested i n cl a ssic a l texts a n d

met aphysic a l problems a s he wa s himself G uido .
b a ldo we kn ow took gre a t ple a su re i n the society

, ,
o f st u dio u s a n d c u ltiva ted person s It wa s the

.
D uke s h a bit C a stigli o n e tells u s to s urro u n d

’
,
’
himself with gen tlemen o f birth a n d breedi n g with ,
whom he lived o n e a sy a n d fa mili a r terms enj oyi n g ,
their co n vers a tio n an d givi n g them as m u ch plea s u re

,
a s he received bec a u se he wa s himself le a rn ed i n

,
both Greek a n d L a ti n a n d combin ed the utmost ,
a ffa b ili ty a n d ple a s an t n ess with i n fi n ite kn owledge o n

’
a ll m a n n er o f s u bj ects .
The Ve n eti an e n voy Mocenigo describes h o w ,
bein g dis abled by broken he alth from t a ki n g p a rt i n

a ctive pursuits the Duke resolved t o fill h i s household
,
with m en who were distin g uished i n every professio n .
Thus with the help o f the D uchess who w a s as ,

CA NO S SA A N D FRE G O S O 85
e ager a s her lord i n welcomin g a n d en tert a in i n g

a ccomplished gu ests he collected a grea ter n u mber,
o f fin e spirits th a n a n y Pri n ce of his a ge a n d held u p ,
to the world the model o f an a dmira bly regu l a ted

1
co u rt
.
’
Some o f these n oble yo u ths an d t a len ted gu ests

bec ame C a st igli on e s most in tim ate frien ds I n the’
.
a u t u m n o f 1 5 04 Gi u li a n o de Medici h a d n o t yet come

’
t o seek a refu ge i n his exile a t G ui d o b a ld o s court

’
a n d Pietro Bembo wa s still str uggli n g i n v a i n to

esc a pe from the politic a l o r commerci a l c a reer for
which his fa ther h a d destin ed him B ut Ces a re .
Gon z a ga an d severa l o f the other person ages with

,
whom the p ages o f the Cortegi a n o h a ve m a de us ’
famili a r were a lrea dy a t Urbin o Here B a ld a ss a re

, .
fo un d a n other ki n sm a n — o ur Co u n t a s he c alls him i n ,
his letters home— Lodovico C a n oss a a member o f a ,
n oble Vero n ese fa mily who a ft er spe n di n g his yo u th a t , ,
M an tu a c a me t o Urbin o in 1 4 9 6 a t the a ge o f twen ty

, , ,
with a n in trod u ction from Is abell a d E ste a n d en tered '

’
,
’
the D uke s service Here too were the s o n s o f .
, ,
G ui d o b ald o s h a lf-sister the be a utifu l Ge n tile di

’
Mon tefeltro O tt a vi a n o a n d Federico Fregoso who

, ,
h ad lived a t their u n c le s court si n ce they h a d been

’
driven out o f their n a tive city o f Gen o a by riva l

fa ction s i n 1 4 9 7 O tt a vi an o wa s a ga llan t soldier
.
who distin g u ished himself i n defen di n g Urbi n o ag ai n st

Ces a re Borgi a a n d a fterw a rds served u n der his u n cle
,
in the w a rs of the Ch urch His you n ger br o ther .

,
altho ugh he took orders a n d w a s m a de Archbishop
of S alern o i n 1 5 6 7 a ls o pl a yed a n a ctive p a rt i n the

,
wars of Ge n oa a n d fo ught i n the ga lleys o f A n dre a

,
Dori a Both brothers were followers o f the M u ses

.
an d composed so n n ets an d j oi n ed C a stiglion e an d ,
1
Albe i R el zi i d egli m b sci t o i V e et i S e i e i 98 ’
r , a on a a a r n , r . .
C es a re Gon z aga i n the di fferen t ga mes an d p a stimes

th a t were the o rder o f the d a y a t Urbi n o A n d both .
were m en o f n oble a n d a ffectio n ate ch a ra cter especi a lly ,
Federico who rem a i n ed B em b o s a tt a ched frien d u n til

,
’
his de ath i n 1 5 4 1 Cert a i n ly wrote the C a rdin a l

.
,
’
o n th a t occ a sio n t o Leo n or a Go n z a g a the wid o wed ,
D u chess o f Urbin o Y o ur High n ess a s y o u truly

‘
, ,
sa h a s n o t o n ly l o st a r a re frie n d a n d rel a tive a n d a

y ,
mo st wise an d h o ly prel a te b ut the whole Church h a s .
s u ffered a grea t an d i n c o mp a ra ble l o ss O f my o wn .
s o rrow I will n o t spe a k for Yo u r E xcellen cy kn o ws ,
the close a n d a rden t a ffecti on th a t li n ked u s to

gether fro m the d a ys o f ten der a n d e a rly yo u th a n d ,
wa s n ever i n j u red by a si n gle word on his p a rt o r

1
mi n e . Here too were the you n g Lomb ard C o u n t
’
, ,
G a sp a re P alla vici n o who plays the p art o f Ben edick ,
i n the C o rt egi an o b ut wh o i n spite of his decl a red

’
, ,
a versio n to w o me n wa s exceedin gly p o p u l a r both ,
with m en a n d l a dies ; the Milan ese C a pt a in Aless an dro ,
Trivulzio ; th e a ged N e a p o lit an B aron Sigi sm o n d o ,
Morello o f O rto n a wh o own ed va st l an ds i n the

, ,
’
Abr u zzi b ut h a d l on g been a tt a ched to the D u ke s
,
person ; an d those two yo u thful c o u rtie rs Roberto d a

2
,
B a ri the b o y -shepherd o f C a st igli o n e s p a stora l pl a y

,
’
to whom he wa s so ten derly a tta ched a n d L u igi d a ,
Porto o f Vicen z a t h e a u th o r o f the well -kn own

, ,
Lettere storiche a n d o f the o rigin a l t ale o f R o meo

a n d J u liet This l a st -n a med kn ight wh o li ke B al
.
’
, ,
d a ss a re himself wa s desti n ed t o a cqu ire a s m u ch

,
ren ow n i n letters a s in arms wa s rel a ted t o the ,
G a mb a ra an d Pio fa milies a n d seems -to h a ve retu rn ed ,
to Urbin o with G u idob a ldo i n 1 5 03 He wa s o n e .
o f Pietr o B e m b o s i n tim a te frie n ds b u t left Urb i n o

’
towa rds the en d of 1 5 05 t o the grief o f the whole ,
L et t e e iv 7 1
1
r ,
’
Ug li i
. 159 .
2 o n , 11 . .
still very you n g Emili a P i a c ame to Urbi n o a s the

,
bride o f A n ton io d a Mo n tefeltro G u id ob ald o s elder ,

’
h alf-bro ther This n a tu r a l so n o f D uke Federico h a d

.
been legitimized in 1 4 5 4 by Pope N ichol a s V before , .

,
his fa ther s m arri age t O B at t i st a Sforz a a n d is described

’ '
by Vesp a si an o a s a yo uth of gre a t promise an d milit ary

prowess He was kn ighted by Ki n g Ferr a n te of
.
N aples at the a ge o f twen ty a n d fo u ght gallan tly ,
a t his fa ther s side i n his l a st c a mp a ig n o f Ferr a r a

’
a fter which he e n tered the Ve n eti an servi ce a n d w a s ,
presen t a t the b a ttle o f the T a ro .
I n spite o f the wide di ffere n ce o f ye a rs betwee n

them Emili a w a s devo tedly a tt a ched t o her h u sb an d
, ,
a n d whe n he died a ft er a l o n g illn ess i n 1 5 00 her

, , ,
grief wa s s u ch a s to c a u se her rel a tives the gre a test

an xiety for her o wn life M a don n a Emili a s sorrow ’ ’
.
,
wrote the gen tle Elis a bett a who h a d from her first , ,
a rriv a l a t Urbi n o fo un d a tru e sister i n A n ton io s

,
’
‘
you n g wife is so gre a t th a t it w o uld move the h a rdest
,
he a rt to comp a ssio n 1
My lord an d I c an n ot on an y
.
a cc o u n t le a ve her A n d the M a rchio n ess Is a bell a

’
.
wrote a ffecti on a tely to the poor you n g widow beggi n g ,
her to t a ke c o mfort a n d t o en d ure life fo r the s ake o f

the frien ds who l o ved her so well After the first .
sh o ck wa s over Emili a recovered he a lth a n d spirits

, ,
a n d showed the s a me te n der solicitude fo r others ,
an d the s a me keen in terest i n p a ssi n g even ts which ,
h a d m a de her a gen er a l fa vourite before B ut .
a lth o u gh her ch a rms still a ttr a cted s u itors of a ll a ges ,
an d she w a s co u rted a n d l o ved by m a n y sh e rej ected ,
a ll a dv an ces a n d rem a i n ed fa ithful t o her de a d lord s

’
memory .
D uri n g the D u chess s exile Emi li a P i a wa s her c o n

’
st a n t comp an ion an d bec ame i n tim a tely a cqu a i n ted

,
1
Lu zi R e i o eM t v e U bi 1 06
n er , an o a r n o,
’
.
EMI LIA I MP I A 89
with sever al le a di n g Ven eti an s O n e of her chief .
frien ds a n d a dmirers wa s Pietro Bembo who often ,

’
correspon ded with this v ali an t l a dy a s he c alls her ,
i n on e of his letters He describes her a s a wom an

.
o f gre a t so u l a n d wise co u n sel a s rem a rk a ble for ,
pruden ce a s for virtue ; while i n a set of c a rn iva l

1 ’
verses he s a lu tes her a s A lma g en ti l a t o n ce cru el an d ,
piou s [ pi a ] a n d pro n o u n ces her ch arms worthy t o

,
be su n g by Homer the gre a test o f all poets I n , .
a ch a rmi n g letter of M a rch he decl a res th a t ,
M adon n a Emili a s letters however lo n g del a yed

’
, ,
a r e a s welcome a s fl o wers i n M a a n d se n ds her

y ,
an d the D u chess a s m a n y greeti n gs a s there a r e

‘
lea ves t his spri n gtide on the forests between Ven ice
an d Urbi n o S u ch fragmen ts o f Emili a s corre
’ ’
.
s on d en ce a s h a ve bee preserved especi a lly her

p n ,
letters to the M a rchion ess Is a bell a j u stify these ex ,
pressi on s a n d show th a t her pen co uld be a s lively an d

,
a m u si n g as her to n gue Her quick wit sp arkli n g .

,
gaiety a n d wom an ly ta ct a re displ a yed i n the m a n y

,
p a ss ages o f the Cortegi a n o which m ake u s rea lize ,

’
the importan t positio n th a t sh e held at the d u c al

court .
These Pri n ces i n deed writes Ab a te S er a s si , ,

“
l o ved a n d ho n o u red her m o re th an if sh e h a d been
their o wn sister A n d sh e wa s un dou btedly worthy
.
o f this high co n sider a tio n si n ce few wome n ever lived , ,
at an
y period o f the world w h o c o u ld i n a n
y w ay ,
comp a re with her N ot on ly wa s sh e en dowed with

.
sin gul a r gra ce a n d the most lively wit b ut her wisdom ,
a n d ripe j u d gme n t h a ve r a rely bee n eq u a lled so th a t ,
a t this Co u rt which a s every on e k n ows co n t a i n ed

, ,
the n oblest m en i n the w o rld the L a dy Emili a ,
a ppe a red t o be the mistress of a ll a n d wa s a p a tter n ,
1
De U bi i
r n D uc i b us,
’
p . 45 .
2
L et t er e iv ,
’
. 31 .
of wisdom an d pru den ce T o these virt u es she j oin ed .
a cert a i n modesty a n d sweetn ess th a t were a pp are n t
i n a ll her words a n d moveme n ts a n d m a de her ,
the u n con scio u s a rbiter of the deed s an d wishes o f

others . Th u s C a stiglion e i n his p a storal pl a y o f ,
Tirsi si n gs
,
’
U n a fr a t ut t e lor e ol e e pi a v ’
d c
’
cc
Ch a a n t o e lla D ea e d re e s m p si v d e
Q s
ue t a n o n p
or t a m a i e o ar e in s c m c cci a a,
d c p
S o l c ol o l e a r la r le fier e a lla a cci .
B ut wh a t a b o ve a ll m a de her worthy of the gre a test

hon o u r an d reveren ce wa s her gre a t an d sin gu l a r
ch a stity For a lth o ugh she wa s y o u n g a n d be a u tifu l
.
,
an d lived a t the g a yest o f Courts a mo n g co n st a n t ,
d an cin g an d festivity a n d w a s a dmired a n d cou rted ,
by m a n y ga lla n t k n ights n o t o n ly did she rem a i n ,
ch a ste an d modest i n word a n d deed b u t k n ew how ,
t o i n stil the s a me p u re se n time n ts a n d modesty i n t o

other la dies F o r these virtu es a s well a s others
.
, ,
M a don n a Emili a wa s especi ally worthy t o be the

sister coun sell o r an d i n sep a rable comp a n ion of
, ,
Duchess Elis abett a 1

.
’
This i n vi n cible virtu e a s S era ssi goes on to say w a s , ,
n o t a lt o gether a pproved o f by the c v a liers a t

g y
a a
c o u rt some o f whom c o mpl a i n ed o f the fa ir la dy s

,
’
‘
tyr a n n y an d wr o te s o n n ets a n d epigra ms All a Sign ora
,
Emili a i m pi a Even the Goddess of Love Bembo

.
’
tells u s an d her so n C u pid h a d c a u se to l a men t the

, ,
cr u elty of the L a dy Emili a an d sen t messen gers t o the ,
cou rt of Urbin o to a sk why the wi n ged d a rts o f Love

were shot i n v a in a l o n g the b a n ks of the Met au ro an d ,
fa ir m a iden s there l a ughed a t the fiery r ays o f the

Even i n g St a r The med a l str u ck a t Urbi n o i n
.
ho n ou r of Emili a be a rs witn ess to the i n viol a ble

,
1
S era ssi , 11 . 27 0
.
92 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAS TI GLI ON E
frien ds O tt a vi a n o a n d Federico wa s a lso livi n g a t ,
Urbi n o a t this time a n d is often men tio n ed i n letters

,
o f the period Her d aughter Costan z a a ft erwards the

.
,
wife o f Co un t L an di o f P i a c en z a took a n a ctive p a rt i n

’
,
the p a stimes of the cou rt d an ced Fren ch an d Sp an ish ,
d a n ces with M a rgherit a to the delight of the spect a

,
tors a n d c o rrespon ded with Pietr o Bembo wh o sto od

, ,
spo n sor t o her fir st -born so n A n other fa ir m aiden . ,
R a ffa ell a by n a me wa s a mo n g the D u chess s l a dies

,
’
an d n o t o n ly ho n o u red C a stiglio n e with her frie n d
ship b ut wrote letters to him when he wa s a bsen t i n

,
the c a mp We h a ve however n o p articu l a rs o f her

.
, ,
h istory an d fa mily n or yet of her comp a n io n Ippolita

, , ,
whom Aless an dro Triv ulzio c o urt ed an d whose ch a rms ,
Bembo praised i n his verses .
B u t more t o C a stiglio n e th an an y o f these lovely

m a iden s more to him th an the wise an d witty M a don n a
,
Emili a o r Bemb o o r his o wn ki n sm en wa s the D u chess

, , ,
Elis a betta herself He h a d k n own this gen tle Pri n cess

.
i n his boyhood a t M an t u a a n d seen her go forth as a ,
you n g bride to her n ew home beyo n d the Apen n i n es .
He h ad met her aga in on t he frequ en t visits which sh e

p a id t o her brother s co urt when sh e a n d her lord
’
were driven in to exile F o r him i n those e a rly d ays

.
, ,
she h ad been the bright p a rtic ul a r st a r whom he wo r

,
shipped from a far N ow he le a rn t t o kn ow her i n

.
t i m a t ely a n d e nj oyed th a t e a sy a n d fa mili a r co n verse

,
with the D uke an d D u chess which Bembo tells u s , ,
wa s a le a di n g fe a t u re o f life a t U rbi n o G ui d o b ald o s

’
.
fa vo u r an d his o wn co n n exio n with the G on z aga s

bro ught the yo un g cou rtier i n to close rel a tion s with
Eli s a betta who qu ickly recogn ized his n oble ch a ra cter
,
an d hon o u red him with her frien dship while he

on his p art rega rded her with deeper reveren ce
an d a ffectio n th an an y other wom an Fo r him .
CAS TI GL I ON E A ND T HE DUC HE S S 93
Elis abett a was n ot on ly the fa ir G a la tea for whom a ll

the shepherds on the b a n ks o f Met a u ru s sighed i n
va i n the divin e Dido whose l a men t wo uld h a ve melted
,
the h a rdest hea rt o r the Siren whose voice ch armed

,
morta l c a res a wa y b ut the obj ect o f his silen t worship

, ,
the mistress t o whom his a llegi a n ce wa s pledged a n d ,
whom he served with tr u e an d lifelo n g dev o tion .
Chron iclers a n d biogra phers a gree i n a scribi n g these

se n timen ts t o C a stiglio n e a n d give u s m a n y i n sta n ces ,
of the secret p a ssio n th a t he cherished fo r his mis

tress . Beffa N egri ni the fa mily hist o ri an tells u s
- 1
, ,
of the two so n n ets eviden tly i n spired by hopeless ,
love for some ex a lted obj ect th a t were pl a ced by him ,
i n 1 5 1 7 together with the portra it of a most be a u tifu l

,
an d illustrio u s l a dy by the h an d o f R a ph a el o f ,
Urbi n o a t the b a ck o f a sple n did m i rr o r i n his house

,
at M an tua Here they w ere fou n d fo rt y -three ye a rs

.
l ater by his d a ughter -i n -la w Co u n tess C a teri n a ,
M an dello who to u ched a secret spri n g a t the b a ck o f

,
the gla ss a n d discovered R a ph a el s p a in ti n g a n d the ’
s o n n ets composed by C a stiglion e a mo n g the ruin s o f

a n cie n t Rome a n d writte n by his o w n h a n d
, The .
portr a it h a s u n fortu n a tely n ever come to light but ,
the so nn ets a r e pri n ted i n S era ssi s collecti o n a n d

2 ’
ar e a mo n g the best which the Cou n t ever wr ote .
It is diffi c u lt to say whether C a st igli on e s devotio n ’
to Elis a bett a wa s more th a n a merely poetic sen ti

men t common to co u rtiers a n d poets i n th a t age ; bu t
,
there a r e p a ss ages i n his C o rtegi a n o which seem to

show th a t the feeli n gs which he cherished fo r the
D u chess were of a deeper a n d more e n d u ri n g n a ture .
I m u st co n fess he writes i n his dedic a tio n to

,
’
1 ‘
Elo gi d i B . Ca st iglion e ,
’
415 ; Mar li a n i , 330 ; A . D um es n i l ,
His t io re d es Am at e ur s i t li s a en .
’
2
S er assi , ii . 28 6 .
D om Miguel de Silva th at I h a ve n o t expressed o r

,
eve n i n dic a ted the perfection s o f the L a dy Duchess ,
bec a use my words could n ever describe them n o r

A n d when i n a
’
cou ld my i n tellect im agi n e them .
foreign l a n d lon g ye a rs a fter he h a d left Urbi n o the

, ,
n ews o f her de a th re a ched him , it c a me as a gre a t

shock a n d wrun g from him a cry of p a i n
, . B ut
wh a t c an n ot be told without te a rs is th at the L a dy
D u chess i s herself de a d ; an d if my so ul is tro u bled
by the loss o f so m a n y o f my frie n ds a n d m a sters ,
wh o h a ve left me i n this life a s i n a desol a te wilder

n ess it is n a t u r a l th a t I sho uld grieve m ore bitterly fo r
,
the dea th o f the L a dy D u chess th a n fo r a ll the rest ,
bec a u se sh e wa s worth far more th a n a ll the others ,
a n d I w a s more deeply a tt a ched t o her th a n to a n o f

y
them all .
’
96 C O U N T BALDAS S A R E CASTI GLI ON E
th a t ple a s a n t l a n d where the most j oyo u s ye a rs of

1
my life were spe n t .
’
I t is C a stiglio n e himself who h a s en a bled u s t o

re a lize i n some degree the m an n er o f life th a t these
m en led a t the c o urt o f Urbi n o I n the p ages o f the .
‘
Cortegi an o he h a s i n his o wn words given u s a
’
, ,
fa ithfu l portra it o f G ui d o ba ld o s co urt n o t i n deed ’
by the h an d o f R aph a el o r Michel a n gelo bu t by a ,
h u mble p a in ter w h o co uld o n ly tra ce the chief o ut

li n es o f the pict ure a n d kn ew n o t h ow t o a dorn the
,
tru th with ga y colo urs o r by the a rt of perspective

,
m a ke th a t which is n o t a pp ea r a s if it were .
’
I n spite o f these modest expressio n s the picture ,
i s dra wn by a m a ster -h a n d The o utlin es of the .
sketch ar e clea r an d V igorou s ; the colou rs ar e l a id

o n the lights an d sh a dows filled i n wi th r a re li tera ry
, ,
skill The form is t a ken fr o m cl a ssic a l models b ut

.
,
the p u lse o f wa rm h u ma n life be a ts thro ugh the even

fl o w o f the n a rr a tive a t every p age The di a log u es .
ar e i n terspersed , a ft er the fa shio n o f co n tempor a ry
pl ays with lively i n terl udes with merry j ests a n d

, ,
witty stories with g a mes a n d d a n ces a n d the whole

, ,
reflects a s i n a mirror the c a lm a n d j oyo u s life which

, ,
the a u thor a n d h i s frien ds led a t the co u rt o f Urbi n o

i n the golde n d a ys o f the Re n a iss a n ce .
The time C a stigli o n e begi n s by telli n g u s w a s

, ,
divided between i n tellect ual a n d physic a l exercises ,
h o n o u ra ble an d e nj o ya ble b o th t o body an d mi n d .
The high ide al held up i n his bo o k h a d pen etr a ted

deeply i n to the he a rt of It a li an s o ciety a n d there ,
w a s n o on e a t the d u c a l co u rt wh o do ubted th e
tr u th of his a ssertio n th a t men ta l culture formed
’
p art o f a pe rfect kn ight s equipme n t G uid ob ald o s .
’
1
Lett er e iii ,
’
. 69 , iv . 39 .
S ONN ETS A N D P O EM S 97
o wn love o f litera ture a n d the refin ed t a stes o f

Elis abetta a n d her l a dies le n t a stron g stimul u s to
litera ry produ ctio n S on n ets a n d ca n z on i sta n z e .
,
an d r i me were composed an d recited

, n o w by o n e ,
member o f the gro up n ow by a n other M o st o f , .
Ca st igli o n e s fi n est poems a n d m a n y o f B em b o s most

’ ’
elegan t verses belo n g t o this period O t her courtiers .
less a ccomplished b u t n o less an xiou s t o ple a se , ,
c aught the prev a ili n g fa shion a n d tried their h an d at ,
rhymin g Ces a re Gon z ag a O tt a vi an o Fregoso even

.
, ,
Giuli an o de Medici were a mo n g the poets i n those

’
days B em b o s correspo n den ce a bo un ds i n all u sio n s to

.
’
these poetic e ffu sion s which re a ched him from all

p arts o f It aly an d were re a d an d recited to the whole
,
cou rt whether they were composed i n Rome o r

,
Ven ice a t M a n t u a o r Ferr ara At c a rn iva l time

, .
flights o f a higher order were a ttempted ; p a st o ra l

pl ays a n d comedies were composed a n d a cted before
the D u chess an d her l a dies Vin cen zo C alm et a .
,
Bea trice d Este s o ld secret a ry who sin ce the de a th of

’ ’
his la men ted mistress h a d been a w an derer from on e

court to a n other c a me to U rbi n o i n the e arly sprin g ,
of 1 5 04 an d delighted the l a dies by a comedy o f his

,
in ven tion n ot with ou t exciti n g the j e alousy o f Bembo

, ,
who wrote from Ven ice to M a don n a Emili a th a t he ,
would like to p ull his riv a l s e ars were he n o t a fra id o f ’
Calm et a s superior st a ture ! N ext ye a r it wa s the

’
turn of C a stiglion e a n d Ces are Gon z a ga then o f ,
Bembo an d O tt a vi an o Fregoso wh o were all c alled ,
upo n t o co n tribute t o the a museme n ts an d ple a sures
of the court .
Gra ver an d more solid works were a lso prod u ced

by le adin g schola rs an d h u m a n ists Here d u ri n g .
man y ye a rs Bembo p u rs u ed those studies o f the

li ng ua volg a r e th a t were ultim a tel y to fin d sh ape
V OL . I . 7
98 C O U N T BALD A S SARE CAST IGL I ON E
in his fa m o u s Prose A porten to u s work i n n i n e

’
.
books dedic a ted t o D u chess Elis a betta w a s Vi n cen zo

, ,
C a lm et a s co n trib u tion to the s u bj ect a n d h a d the

’
effect o f aga in ro u sin g the a n imosity of his fri en d

Bembo N o theme wa s more frequ en tly a n d hotly
.
discussed a t Urbin o th a n this vexed q u esti on o f the

riv a l cl a ims of L ati n a n d It a li a n p o etry Bemb o .
tells u s h o w o n e wi n ter even i n g i n 1 5 02 fo u r dis

,
t i n gui sh ed pers o n a ges — Messer Ercole Strozzi the ,
M agn i fico G i uli an o d e Medici Federico Fregoso a n d

’
, ,
his o wn brother C a rl o B embo —met by the fireside

,
i n his fa ther s ho u se i n Ve n ice a n d began a d isc u ssio n

’
o n the s u bj ect which wa s prol o n ged d u ri n g three

,
s u c cessive meeti n gs Messer Ercole the t alen ted

.
,
Fer ra rese poet stro n gly a d voc a ted the s uperior cl aims
,
of L ati n verse while Giulian o an d C a rlo Bembo who

, ,
represented his brother s views defen ded the li ng ua ’
v olg a r e a n d Fregos o br o ught his k n owledge of P r o

,
v en a l a n d Sicili a n di alects to be a r u po n the c on

c
t r o v er sy ,an d s uggested th a t T u sc an poets owed
m u ch t o both th o se so urces At Urbin o however .
, ,
the p a rtis a n s o f the li ng ua volg a r e were i n the

a sce n d a n t Both C a stiglion e a n d Bemb o who wr ote
.
,
the m o st elega n t L a ti n verse a n d pro se o f the d ay ,
were stro n g s upp o rters of the v ulga r t o n gue a n d ,
did much by their o wn works t o form a n ation al

litera tu re .
B ut there were ple n ty o f mi n or poin ts which

a fforded deb atea ble gro un d for schola rs wh o were
i n terested i n this n ew stu dy Bembo a n d Fregos o .
,
i n their a n xiety to preserve the p u rity o f the T u sc an

t o n gu e defen ded the u se o f obsolete phra ses ; while
,
C a stigli o n e an d C a n oss a were all i n fa vo u r o f

grea ter freedom a n d cou ld see n o obj ection to the
,
i n trodu ction of collo qu ial expression s i n writi n g

1 00 C O U N T BALDA S SARE CASTI GL I ON E
himself a n d his c o usi n Ces a re Gon z aga G a sp a re ,
P a ll a vicin o an d yo un g Roberto d a B a ri were all

, ,
experts a t these exercises ; while a mo n g the dis

t i n gu i sh ed visitors a t Urbi n o th a t ye a r wa s Pietro
Mon te the Mila n ese co n dottiere who h a d been
,
C a st igli on e s o wn te a cher a t the court o f L odovico

’
Sforz a an d wh o is pra ised by o ur a uthor a s the tru e

,
a n d o n ly m a ster i n every br a n ch o f this a r t

1
An d
’
.
thu s both i n j ou sts an d tou rn amen ts in ridin g an d ,
h an dlin g a rms o f all ki n ds a s well a s i n ga mes an d ,
m u sic —i n fact i n a ll the exercises meet for n oble

,
c a valiers every o n e strove to prove himself worthy of

,
s u ch n oble fellowship .
’
B u t si n ce the Duke w a s compelled by his i n cre a si n g

in fir m i t i es t o retir e to rest so on a ft er s u pper the ,
comp an y gen erally met t o spen d the even i n gs i n the

rooms o f the Duchess with whom C a stigli on e tells , ,
’
us , w a s a lw a ys t o be fo u n d M a do n n a Emili a P i a ,
who bein g e n d o wed with s u ch quick i n telligen ce an d

,
j u dgmen t seemed to be the mistress o f all a n d

,
‘
i n spired all presen t with her o wn wit a n d wisdom .

’
Here c a vali ers an d l a dies gro uped themselves i n a

circle an d sat down a s far a s possible in p a irs only
, ,
th a t the n u mber of m en wa s n e arly a lways la rger

th an th a t of the women presen t on these occ a sio n s .
E a ch chose the pl a ce th a t seemed good to hi m

—
,
o r w as his by ch an ce a n d the D u ches s o r more

,
Often a t her desire M a don n a Emili a

, decided
,
h o w the even in g was t o be spen t O ften it wa s .
devoted to music an d s in gin g p a stimes most ,
fitti n g in the cou rtier s opin ion when l a dies are

,
’ ’
presen t Strin g qu a rt ets a n d motets for di fferen t

.
’
i n strumen ts were performed especi ally those o f ,
J osq u i n de Pr es the ren own ed Flemish composer

, ,
C t gi o 25 1
or e an , 1. .
MUS I C A N D DA N CI N G 1 01
wh o , er spen din g some ye ars i n the service o f

a ft
Pope Sixtu s IV a n d Loren zo de Medici w a s n o w

.
’
,
the D uke o f Ferra ra s choir-m a ster Sometimes the

’
.
Duchess herself o r on e o f her l a dies wou ld sin g

Petra rch s verses t o the l u te o r else J o sq ui n de
’
Pr é s o wn setti n g of Virgil s l a men t o f Dido which

’ ’
was o n e o f Elis a bett a s fa vo u rite so n gs J a c opo

’
.
di S a n se co n d o wo uld ch a rm his liste n ers with the

melodiou s stra in s o f hi s viol ; or Morello the a ged lord ,
o f O rto n a wo u ld pl a y the lute with his wo n ted skill

,
.
Then all of a su dden B a rlett a wou ld strike u p a

merry t un e on his i n stru men ts a n d M a do n n a ,
M a rgarita a n d Cost a n zo Fregoso wo u ld j oin h a n ds

a n d d an ce a st a tely Sp an ish ba ssa or sprightly Fre n ch
r oe a r z e to the delight of the a ssembled comp an y

g ,
.
O n wi n ter n ights the whole p a rty oft en j oi n ed i n

these d an ces a n d in Jan u a ry 1 5 05 F r a S era fin o
, , ,
wrote th a t every even in g c a v aliers an d l a dies d an ced

i n the S a l a Gr a n de of the p al a ce to the m u sic o f four ,
pipers from Ferr ara D an ci n g we k n ow i n C a s

.
, ,
t igli on e s opi n io n wa s a n a ccomplishme n t i n which

’
every c o urtier wa s b o u n d t o be proficien t even if he ,
could n o t a tta in to the perfectio n of Messer Roberto

d a B a ri wh o h a d n o riva l i n this ar t an d d an ced with
, ,
su ch gra ce an d enj oymen t th a t he oft en a llowed

the cl o a k t o fa ll fr Om his sho ulders a n d slippers
drop o ff his feet without ever p a u sin g to pick them
,
1
up . At other times rou n d ga mes o f di ffere n t sorts ,
such a s the Sien ese p r op osi to when qu estio n s were ,
p assed rou n d the circle a n d forfeits p a id fo r i n ap,
r o r i a t e a n swers ; or th a t o f i n vidi a whe n a b a ttle

p p ,
dore wa s brought in to u se a n d rep a rtees were s wiftly ,
exch an ged a s the shuttlecock flew from on e to the

1
C o r t eg i an o ,
’
i . 27 .
1 02 C O U N T B A LDAS S ARE CASTIGL I ON E
1
other . O r else riddles were propo un ded an d e n igm a s
guessed j ests a n d merry a n ecd o tes were told o r
,
witticisms p a ssed rou n d a n d sh a rp ret o rts freely ,
exch a n ged b et ween su ch lively spe a kers a s C o un t

, .
G a sp a re a n d L a dy Emili a who loved n o thin g better ,
th a n a p a ss age a t a rms with some qu ick witted

oppo n en t O n e fa v o urite a m u semen t we le a rn from
.
,
C a stiglion e w a s th a t o f choosi n g devices or m o ttoes

,
for e a ch member o f t h e comp a n y A n o ther c o n .
sisted i n reciti n g impromptu verses a n d so n n ets .
O ften a s Ariosto tells u s th o ughts a n d feelin gs th a t

, ,
could n o t be o pen ly decl a red fo u n d expressio n i n ,
these veiled forms a n d by this me an s lovers reve a led ,
the secrets o f their he a rts t o the u n c o n sci o u s o bj ects

of their a dora ti o n 2
A n d i n a ll these di fferen t modes
.
o f c o n vers a ti o n
’
C a stiglio n e tells u s , m a rvell o u s ,
plea su re w a s t a ken bec au se a s I h a ve a lre a dy s a id , , ,
the h o u se co n t a i n ed so m a n y fin e i n tellects .
’
Here t he n i n o ur co u rtier s words sweet dis

, ,
’ ’
co u rses an d i n n ocen t j ests were hea rd a n d t h e fa ces ,
o f a ll prese n t sho n e wit h mirth a n d g a iety s o th a t ,
this hou se co u ld i n deed be c a lled the very home o f

j y
o ; n o r d o I believe t h a t i n an
y other pl a ce a ll the
sweetn ess which flows fro m dea r a n d cherished c o m

a n i on sh i w ever t sted fu lly it w a s here a t
p p as a a s a s
th a t time F or lettin g alon e the hon o u r it wa s for

.
, ,
e a ch of us to serve s u ch a m a ster a s him of whom I

,
h a ve a lre a dy sp o ken there spra n g u p in the he a rts o f ,
a ll a se n se o f s u preme co n te n t e a ch time we e n tered
the presen ce o f the L a dy D u chess a n d it seemed a s if

this were a ch a in th a t held u s a ll boun d together i n
l o ve so th a t there wa s n ever gre a ter un i o n o f will or
, ,
more cordi a l love between brothers th a n th a t which ,
reign ed between u s all It wa s the s a me a mon g the .
la dies with whom there wa s the freest a n d most

,
V Gi
1 M t t i i dit i di M Pi et B m b 9 1
. an , o ne . ro e o,
’
.
O l d Fu i s
2
ii 21
r an o r o o,
’
V . .
1 04 C O U N T BALDAS S A RE CASTI GLI ON E
’
hon o ura ble en tert a in men t I c a me to Urbi n o he .
,
wrote l o n g a fterwa rds whe n the D uke a n d D u chess ,
were de a d a n d all the a ctors i n th a t st a tely p a ge an t

h a d p a ssed a w a y I c a me t o Urbi n o with o nly forty
d u c ats i n my po cket fa n d there I st ay ed for si x ye ars
’
.
Merit wa s the o n ly p a ssport required o f the str a n ger

—
who presen ted himself a t the p a l a ce ga tes vi r tu a s ,
the phra se ran — th a t is t o say excellen ce i n o n e form ,
o r a n other I beg yo u to receive o ur frien d Bemb o

.
’
ki n dly wrote M a don n a Emili a t o Is a bella d E ste
,
’
when the Ven eti an sch o l a r left Urb in o a few mon ths ,
a fter this to visit M a n t u a o n his homew a rd j o u r n ey

, ,
a s his t a le n ts deserve for tr u ly he is a m a n worthy ,
to be held i n high a cco u n t 1

At this p a rtic ula r .
’
momen t when C a stigli o n e c a me t o Urbi n o he fo u n d

, ,
m an y a ccomplished visitors a ssembled i n the d u c al

‘
p a la ce . This c o urt wrote a M an t uan secret a ry ,
’
th a t September to his mistress is full o f t a len t j ust

‘
,
n ow
’
, a n d a mo n g the poets who were presen t he

proceeds t o n ame Vi n ce n zo C alm et a an d l U n ic o ’
A reti n o whose brilli an t improvis a tio n s delighted the

,
2
a ssembled comp a n y n ight a fter n ight .
A n other g uest who is hon o ured with a pla ce i n the

C o rtegi an o a n d whose j ests a n d s a llies frequ en tly
,
’
prov o ked the l a ughter o f the d u c al circle the M an tu an ,
b u ffo o n Fr a S era fin o wa s a lso a t Urbi n o on this ,
occ a sio n Like the A retin e this fri a r wa s on e o f the

.
,
M a rches a Is a bell a s prime fa vourites an d a ddressed ’
frequen t letters i n prose a n d rhyme to his mistress i n

‘
his a bsen ce sign i n g himself h abitu ally You r sla ve
, ,
an d th a t my L a dy D u chess These e ffusion s ’

of .
a b o un d i n pro o fs of the stra n ge licen ce th a t wa s

a llowed to these bu ffoo n s whose m a d fre a ks a fforded ,
1 V . Ci a n i n i
G o rn a le d .L et t . i x 99 . .
2
A . Lu zi o i n i
G orn a le d L et t
. . iv 3 8 2 . .
ILLUS TRI O US GUE STS 1 05
so much musemen t to o ur illu strious l a dies Fr a

a .
S era fin o tells Is a bell a th a t the letter which sh e se n t

to him by Co u n t Lodovico C a n oss a filled him with ,
such tran sports of deli ght th a t he rushed i n to the
D u chess s bedro om to the a m a zemen t of her wa itin g

’
women an d d a n ced a n d c apered a bo ut m a dly u n til

, ,
Elis a betta herself c au ght him by the h a ir an d a sked

wh a t h a d h appen ed I n spite however o f his v a un ted
1
.
, ,
devoti o n t o the M a rches an a F ra S er afin o eviden tly ,
fou n d Urbi n o a very ple a s an t s oj o u rn ; a n d a lthough

he return ed t o M an t ua i n O ctober by Christm a s he ,
w a s b a ck a ga i n e nj oyi n g the fl esh -pots o f the d u c a l

,
cou rt a n d pl ayin g the fo o l fo r the ben efit of k n ights

,
a n d l a dies .
There were other a n d more ex a lted person ages

a mo n g the g u ests wh o spe n t th a t a u t u m n a t the court
o f Urbi n o Foremost a mo n g those who h a sten ed to

.
rej oice with the D uke a n d Duchess o n their h appy ,
resto ra ti o n w a s G uid ob ald o s eldest sister Giova n n a

,
’
,
’
dell a Ro vere the widow of P o pe J uli u s I I s brother
, . ,
the l ate Prefect o f Rome The L a dy P r efet essa a s .

,
sh e wa s still c a lled a rrived from the P a p a l

, co u rt ,
bri n gi n g her son Fr a n cesco the D uke s a dopted heir ,

’
an d her yo u thfu l d a ughter Cost an z a a i rl of fi ft ee n

g , , ,
whom C a stiglio n e describes a s bein g a s good a n d

gen tle a s sh e wa s fa ir to look upon With them .
c a me two o ther Pri n cesses the P refet essa s elder ,

’
d a ughter M a ri a the widow o f Ve n a n zio V a ran o Lord

, ,
o f C a meri n o an d her n iece Felice della Rovere

, ,
the be a utiful an d a ccomplished d aughter o f Pope

Julius 1 1 Both h a d s u ffered from the cruelties o f
.
Ces a re Borgi a a n d h a d n a rrowly esc a ped with

.
their o wn lives The poor you n g wife o f V a ra n o

.
h a d see n her h u sb a n d murdered with his fa ther

1
V Ci . i A c h ivi s t ic L m b d viii 4 06
an n r o or o o ar o,
’
. .
1 06 C O U N T BAL D AS SARE CASTIGL I ON E
by Ces a re B orgi a when he seized the Rocca o f ,
Pergol a a n d h a d fled for shelter with her i n fa n t so n

,
Sigism o n do to her u n cle s co urt Felice while still a ’

.
,
child h a d been resc u ed by fa ithful servan ts a fter her

, ,
sister a n d brother -in -la w h ad been m urdered a n d ,
c a rried by sea t o j oi n her father i n his di o cese o f

S a von a C a stigli o n e himself tells the story o f t h e
.
- ’
high spirited girl s c o ura ge o n th a t occ a si o n a n d h o w , ,
’
whe n the Pope s galleys were seen i n p u rs uit she t o ld ,
her a tten d an ts th a t sh e wo uld throw herself i n to the

se a r a ther th a n fa ll a live i n t o the h a ted B o rgi a s ’
1
h a n ds B ut n o w times were ch a n ged a n d the Pope s
.
,
’
d a ughter wa s held i n high hon o u r i n Rome both for ,

’
her fa ther s s ake a n d her o wn ch arms This fa s .
cin a t i n l a dy M a d o nn a Felice a s the ’
g o u r o wn , ,
a u thor o f the C o rtegi a n o c alls her i n o n e p a ss age o f ’
his b o o k soon m a de herself very p o p u l a r n o t on ly

, ,
i n Rome b ut a mo n g all the co u rt circle a t Urbi n o

, ,
a n d bec a me o n e o f C a st i li on e s best frie n ds

’
g .
O n Septe mber 1 4 a week o n ly a fter G u id o b a ld o s

’
tri umph a l en try the P a p a l n u n ci o the Archbishop o f

, ,
R agus a a rrived from Rome t o prese n t the st an d a rds

, ,
o f the Ch u rch a n d the b é t o n o f Go n fa l on iere to the
Duke . His comi n g h a d been l o n g expected a s ,
we learn from M a d o nn a Emilia s letters an d wa s the ’
sign a l for gre a t rej oici n gs O n the followi n g S un d a y .
high m a ss wa s celebr a ted in the D u om o before the

whole co u rt a n d chief citizen s o f Urbi n o These .
i n sign i a o f office were solem n ly blessed by the

n u n cio who a ft er ce n si n g a n d spri n kli n g them with
, ,
holy wa te r fin ally delivered them to the D uke

,
.
Gu idob ald o received them kn eeli n g o n the a lt a r steps , ,
a n d h an ded the b ato n to his lie u te n a n t a n d brother
i n -la w , Gio van n i Go n z a g a a n d the b ann ers t o ,
C t egi iii 4 9 ’
1 or an o , . .
1 08 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAS T IGLI ON E
pro t égé h ad j u st fin ished an importa n t a lt a r -piece for

the Fra n cisc an s o f Citt a di C a stell o a n d h ad prou dly
,
sig n ed the picture with his n a me—Ra ph a el o f Urbi n o .
N ow the yo un g p ai n ter c a me t o a sk for le a ve to go

to Fl o ren ce th a t he might c on ti n u e his stu dies there
,
a n d see the wo n derfu l c a rtoo n s th a t Leon a rd o an d

Michel an gelo h a d design ed for the decora tion o f the
Co u cil h all The res ult o f this i n terview w a s th a t
n - .
,
o n O ctober 1 the L a dy P r efet essa ga ve him a letter

,
o f i n tr o d u ctio n to Pier o S o d er i n i the Go n fa lo n iere o f

,
Flore n ce a n d with this in his pocket R a ph a el

, ,
descen ded the steep hillside a n d set o ut o n his j ou rn ey .
C a stiglion e whose fin e t a ste i n art wa s well kn own

, ,
n o do u bt sa w the works which this n a tive a rtist h a d
a lr e a dy exec u ted fo r the Duke a n d Duchess the ,
p o etic little p an el o f the Dre a m o f a K n ight the ,
St Mich a el which he h a d p a in ted on the b a ck of a

.
dra ught -boa rd a n d the M a donn a with the pure

,
’
brow a n d he a ven ly smile which hu n g i n Elis abett a s

,
ch amber He prob a bly con versed with the y ou n g

.
p a in ter whos e rom an tic a i r a n d ch a rmin g m an n ers

,
m a de him a fa vo u rite wherever he wen t an d thu s i n ,
these e a rly d ays the fo u n d a tio n s o f th a t frien dship

,
were l a id t o which the world it m ay be owes more

, , ,
th a n it h a s yet re a lized .
C HAPTER I X
1 5 04- 1 5 05
Ca st i gli on e s p d c wi t h h i m t h —His p iv t ff i s
’
s c or r e on en e s o er r a e a a r
N d f m y—P s p c t s f h i b t h J
ee o on e i m —Mro ig e o s ro er e r on o arr a e
p p s ls V isi t t F
ro o a Th E st P i c s d th i
o e r r ar a e e r n e an e r
c u t — W lik d sig s f P p J uli u —C s t igli

o r ar e e m
n o o e s a on e a cco
p ics t h D uk t R m —M i g f F c sc M i
an e e o od e ar r a e o ra n e o ar a an
L G
e on o r a z g —F lic d ll R e w ddi g
on a a e e e a o ve r
’
s e n .
A M I D the m an ifo ld distr a ction s of his n ew life B ald a s ,
s a re did n o t forget his home a t M a n tu a His letters .
to his mother sh o w the s a me deep i n terest a n d a ffec

t i o n a t e solicitu de for every member of the fa m i ly
which he h a d left behi n d He begs to be i n formed .
of the sm a llest even t s a t home a n d repe a tedly pro ,
fesses his a n xiety to gra tify his you n g brother J er o

n imo s wishes an d t o be guided by M a do n n a Luigi a
’
i n every p a rtic ul a r o f b u si n ess He sen ds kin d mes .
s ages t o his m a rried sisters a n d their fa milies does ,
n o t forget t o i n q u ire a ft er the he a lth o f his brother -i n
law Messer J a copo Boschetto a n d n ever fa ils to sen d

, ,
his love an d greeti n gs to e a ch o n e of them a n d most ,
o f a ll to S u or L a u r a the sister An n a for whom he ’
cherished so deep an d en durin g an a ffectio n C o m .
m un i c a t i o n s betwee n M a n t u a a n d Urbi n o were fr e

qu en t owi n g to the close rel a tio n ship o f the G o n z aga s
,
a n d M o n t e felt r o s a n d the i n tim a te frie n dship betwee n

,
the M a rches an a a n d the D u chess C a stiglion e a va iled .
himself of the messen gers wh o wer e con st an tly ,
1 09
1 10 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTIGLI ON E
j o urn eyin g from on e court to the other t o sen d ,
h o me letters a n d p arcels at every possible opp o rtu n ity .
Th u s e a rly i n O ctober when he h a d a s yet h ardly

, ,
been a mon th i n his n ew h o me he d isp a tched a letter ,

’
to his mother by Fra S era fin o a n d a fortn ight l a ter ,
received t wo letters from her by Gi o va n n i S u ar d o ,
which he immedi a tely a pplied himself to a n swer .
M a don n a L u igi a however wa s n ot a lwa ys e a sy to

, ,
s a tisfy After the h a bit o f an xio u s mothers sh e plied

.
,
her a bsen t so n with perpetu a l questio n s a s t o his wel

fa re his doi n gs an d d o mestic m a tters an d compl a in ed
, ,
if she did n ot receive a prompt reply .
In on e wrote her son on O cto

of yo u r letters ,
’
ber 26 y o u sa
, y y o u a r e a n xio u s t o le arn wh at
receptio n I h a d from the L a dy D u chess an d if I h a ve ,
hired a hou se o r live i n on e belon gi n g t o the cou rt ,
an d wh a t provision we m a ke for o u r ho u sehold an d if ,
the sc a rcity is gre at et c - thi n gs which 1 h a d o mitted

,
t o me n ti o n a s u n n ecess a ry bei n g myself more i n n eed o f ,
s upplies th an of cou n sel B ut to t a ke yo u r qu estio n s .
i n order The D u chess received me an d con tin u es t o

tre a t me with fa r more ki n d n ess th a n I deserve The .
ho u se is on e th a t h as been ren ted by Messer Ces a re ,
a n d he a n d I live here together very c o mfort a bly .
The sc arcity i s gre at a n d we h a ve n ever received a n y

,
more pay from the D uke so ou r pockets ar e very ,
light However we expect some every d ay a n d ar e

.
, ,
very well th an k God A s you see I h a ve n ot been at

, .
,
the trouble to an swer every p a rtic ul a r of Your M agn i

fic en ce s in q u iries b ut o n ly those which ar e most
’
imp o rt an t It is certa i n ly tru e th a t I like to hea r

.
everythin g th a t go es o n a t h o me a n d wish o ur a ffa irs

were more prospero u s However a s lo n g a s we c an .
,
keep o u t o f debt let F o rtun e do her worst ! Y o u

m u st n o t ta ke these thi n gs too m u ch to he a rt but try ,
a n d remedy wh a t o u c an a n d let the rest go a s I do

y , , ,
with a gay hea rt ! A s t o o ur a ffa ir o f import an ce ,

selves t o Y o ur ; M agn ificen c e an d so does M a don n a ,
1
Gin evra who p ays me a thous a n d a tten tio n s every
,
d ay My de a r Lord D uke is su fferi n g fro m a q u a rt a n

.
agu e which distresses u s all I sen d the e n closed

, .
letter to C a rlo o pen If you a pprove o f it y o u c a n

2
, .
give it to him a n d for the rest do a s y o u like i n the

,
m atter Si n ce time presses I h a ve decided n ot t o

.
,
wa it an y lon ger to a rran ge o u r importan t affair ,
bec au se if I were t o aw a it the i n stru ction s an d

a dvice o f which I wrote the thi n g might dr a g on t o o ,
lon g So I h a ve settled to go t o Ferra ra an d there

.
a w a it Y o u r M a n i fi cen c e s i n str u cti o n s a n d it w o uld

’
g ,
be well if F a lcon e co uld tell me you r wishes m o re

fully by word o f mou th I n an y c a se I h o pe to be .
,
a t Ferr a r a i n a fort n ight s time a n d I hope o u will

’
y ,
a rr a n ge fo r me t o fin d F a lco n e t here ; a n d if I h a ve
n o t a rrived he can a w a it me i n the h o u se o f Messer

,
Timoteo [ B en d i d ei ] or th a t o f the Stro zzi I wo uld n ot .
come to M an tu a n o w for a n ythi n g i n the world F o r .
the presen t I must be con ten t to V isit Yo ur M agn i

fice n c e by me a n s o f these letters for I n ever thin k o f ,
M an tu a with o u t on e o f my h a irs turn i n g grey an d if ,
y o u were n o t there I sho u ld n ever thi n k o f the pl a ce

,
a t a ll Fra n cesco will tell y ou of o ur life here which

.
,
i s cert a i nly h appy a n d tr an q u il an d I c o mmen d myself ,
to you an d all o ur fa mily .

’
Three weeks l a ter B a ld a ss a re wrote a ga in t o his

mother from Ferrara where he h a d met F a lcon e a t , ,
the ho u se o f his kin smen the Strozzi a n d discussed , ,
m an y thin gs with his old frien d M a do n n a Luigi a .
a pp a re n tly w a s a n xio u s th a t her son sho u ld come to
M an tu a n ot o n ly o n his brother s b u sin ess b u t

,
’
bec a use sh e h a d fresh m a rriage propos als o n his own

1
i v R g
G ne w ife f ra an o n e, o G i a n gi rola m o d a Co rre ggi o, an d
aft w ds f L uigi G z g
er ar o on a a .
A d p d t wh w ish d
2 e en en o e to ren t on e of the h ou s s
e at
C s t ic
a a o .
MARRIAG E PR O P O SAL S 1 13
a cco un t t o disc u ss with him We d o n ot le arn from .
wh a t qu a rter these propos a ls c a me or whether it wa s ,
the M a rches a wh o as before wa s an xious to fin d a , ,
good m a tch fo r her fa vourite c a v a lier an d thus it , ,
m ay be obt a in his return t o co u rt

, B u t whoever .
w a s respo n sible for these suggestio n s B a ld a ss a re wo u ld ,
h a ve n on e o f them His min d wa s m a de up o n this

.
poin t a n d n othi n g would i n d u ce him either t o come

,
t o M a n tu a or e n terta i n these m a rri a ge propos a ls He .
w a s perfectly h a ppy i n hi s prese n t s u rro u n di n gs a n d ,
he h a d n o wish t o u n dert a ke n ew a n d gra ve respon si

b ili t i es S o he wrote to his mother from Ferr a r a
.
,
firmly decli n in g to en ter o n a n y n egoti a tio n which

wo u ld compel him t o le a ve the D uke o f U rb in o s
’
ser v ice .
Spe akin g a s my con scie n ce directs I m u st say th a t , ,
h a vin g so l ately en tered the servi ce of these Pri n ces ,
I should be very rel u ct a n t t o le a ve them t o come

home which it seems to me wo uld be n ecess a ry I
, .
should n o lo n ger be able to a rra n ge a n ythin g for

J eron i m o wherea s if he re a lly wishes to fin d a
, ,
c a reer an d if God gran ts His Holi n ess life a n d hea lth

, ,
I m a y be able to help him Besides there i s .

,
plen ty o f time a n d I feel perh aps pres u mpt u ously

, , ,
th at I n eed h a ve n o fe a r o f fa ili n g to obt a in a wife .
A n d a lthough this m a y be a good o ffer n o n e the less ,
it is n o t so good th a t I might n ot e a sily fin d a better .
Yo ur M a gn ific en c e will u n dersta n d wh a t I me a n a n d ,
1 pra y God to be my guide th a t I m ay a c t fo i the ,
1) est
’
1
.
Un fortun a tely the post which C a stiglio n e h a d hoped

,
to obta i n for his brother w a s a pp a re n tly n o t yet

va c a n t an d h i s erra n d i n this respect wa s d o omed to
,
failure O n December 3 he wrote a ga i n to his mother

.
1
Co d Va t La t
. . .
, 8 210 .
V OL . I .
114 C O U N T BALD A S SARE CASTI GL I ON E
In reply t o the letter which Fr an cesco bri n gs me ,
I must tell you th a t by the gra ce o f God we a re a ll

i n go o d he a lth a n d a r e in n o d an ger o f s ufferi n g from
,
expos ure to the b a d we a ther bein g un c o mmo n ly well ,
lodged so th a t I listen to the ra i n th a t is falli n g n o w

,
with gre a t s a tisfa ction I h a ve n o t yet s a id a n ythi n g t o

.
the Most Reveren d Lord C a rdi n a l b ut will be s u re to ,
spea k t o h i m o n the s u bj ect a n d let y o u k n ow his

reply I a m o n ly sorry t o h a ve h a d so little sen se a s
.
to come here fo r a thin g th a t c an n ot be do n e n o w ;

however I will fin d some expl an ation to give my Lord
,
D u ke I he a r th a t the illustri o u s L o rd M a rq u is will

.
be here t o -morro w a n d sh a ll be gl ad of this o ppor

,
t u n i t y to ki ss his h a n d Wh a t I h a ve t o tell y o u .
n o w is th a t a t this ho u r which is eleve n o clock a t

’
n ight this ill u stri o u s Lord D u ke s life is desp a ired of

’
, ,
a n d the doct o rs let him e a t wh a tever he fan cies A .
little while ago he a sked for some c a bb age a n d w a s , ,
I beli eve a llo wed to h a ve s o me which m u st I sho uld

, , ,
’
thi n k help to h a sten the a ccession of a n ew D uke
, .
Ercole d Este wa s a s C a stiglio n e s a id a t the poin t

’
, ,
o f de a th a n d i n trigu e w a s b u sy r o u n d his bedside i n

,
these l a st momen ts of his life This did n ot preven t .
B ald a ss a re from fin di n g a cordi al welcome a t Ferr a ra ,
an d spe n di n g a very ple a s a n t time a mo n g his frie n ds
a t the court a s he tells his mother i n a n other letter

, ,
written on the eve o f his dep a rtu re an d d a ted ,
December 9
I write to Yo ur M agn ific en c e to fu lfil my d uty ,
a s I sh all prob a bly be u n a ble to fin d messen gers for
s o me time to c o me I le a ve Ferra ra t o -morrow a n d .
return t o Urbin o a n d sh all tra vel by wa ter a s fa r a s

,
Ra ven n a I h a ve been m o st kin dly trea ted by these

.
i llu striou s Lords n o t o nly by my frien d the M ost

,
Revere n d b ut by a ll the o thers a n d most o f all by

, ,
1
the most ill u strio u s L a dy who h a s shown me gre a ter ,
Lu c zi B gi w if f Alf s d E s t
1
re a or a, e o on o
’
e .
116 C O U N T B A LD A S S A RE CAS TI GLI ON E
p as sion a n d den oun ced the Duke a s a cowa rd a n d a

,
1
tra itor I n spite how ever o f this viole n t l a n g u a ge
.
, , ,
the Pope h a d a si n cere rega rd fo r Guidob aldo a n d ,
would n o t ta ke a n y decisive mea s u res witho u t c on

sult i n him At le n gth e a rly i n December he se n t
g .
, ,
a litter dr a wn by fo u r m a g n ificen t white horses t o
Urbin o a n d ordered the D uke t o come t o Rome

,
without further del a y Accordin gly on December 1 5 .

,
Guidob a ldo sta rted o n his j ourn ey t o the grief o f the ,
Duchess an d a ll the citizen s wh o i n the chro n icler s , ,

’
words were sorely disple a sed —J ma li ssi mi con ten ti

,
a t the loss o f their bel o ved Prin ce B u t a severe

“
a tt a ck o f go u t del a yed his progress an d det a i n ed him
at N a rn i fo r n i n e d a ys C a stigli o n e a n d Ces a re
.
Gon zag a with the chief p a rt o f his s u ite were sen t

, ,
o n t o Rome a n d a rrived there on Christm a s Eve

, ,
while the D u ke a n d his n ephew the P re fet t i n o did , ,
n o t re a ch the city u n til J a n u a ry 3 .
Your M agn ificen ce wrote B ald a ss a re fr om Rome ,

’
‘
on J a n u ary will h a ve he a rd o f my s u d den
d epai t ur e from Urbi n o by this time thro u gh my ,
serva n t Seb a sti an o a ltho ugh fro m wh a t I hea r he di d

, , ,
n o t st a rt o n h i s j o u r n ey a s soo n a s I h ad o r d eI ed him
to do which thin g displea ses me gre atly I must beg
, .
Your M a gni ficen ce to tell him from me an d fo r this ,
on ce on ly th a t when I give him a n order a n d he does

, ,
n o t execute it with gre a ter prom titude a n d diligen ce

p
th a n he showed on this o c c a sI On i n lea vin g Urbin o o r ,
the other d a y i n ta ki n g the horse fro m C a s a tico t o

Forli we sh all agree very b a dly a n d I m u st i n fact
, , , ,
dismiss him from my service for wh a tever h appen s I , , ,

’
a m determin ed to be obeyed .
H a vi n g reli eved his feelin gs by this u n usu a l display

o f severit y the writer resumed the t a le o f his tr a vels
, ,
G i us t i i an i D isp cci ii 23 9
’
1 n a
, , . .
P ho t o, n
A le a! z
.
P OP E J U L IU S II .
BY R A P HA E L (P I T 1 1 )
To fc p
a e . 1 1 6, Vol I
. .
1 18 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTI GLI ON E
wa s especi a lly an xi o u s t o see a rran ged The o ther .
wa s the C a rdin a l a te which h a d lo n g b een the obj ect g
o f her brother Sigismo n do s a mbiti o n s a n d i n trig u es

’
.
The fulfilmen t o f these h o pes a s C a stiglio n e could ,
n o t b u t feel m u st r o i e a dv an t a geo u s to himself a n d

p ,
f
,
especi a lly t o J er o n i m o s prospects ’

.
I h a ve n othi n g t o tell Yo u r M a gn i fic en c e he ,
’
con ti n u es rega rdin g the thin gs th a t c o n cern M an tu a

, .
N either the m a rri age n o r o ur red h a t a re yet defin itely

a r I an e d
g B u t if
. the D u chess were t o come here i n
pers o n I thi n k th a t it wou ld be less difli c u lt a n d we

, ,
expect th a t she m ay h a ve t o come a t a n y mome n t .
God gr an t th a t sh e m ay s u cceed ! It c an o n ly bri n g

u s g o od a n d wo u ld ben efit J er o n i m o most of a ll a n d
, ,
I should like t o feel th a t o n ce for a ll his feet were , ,
pl an ted firmly in the gro u n d I sho uld a lso be very .
gl a d if y o u wo u ld let me k n ow of a n y va c an t o ffi ce
th a t yo u m a y he a r o f thro ugh frien ds as bein g here , ,
on the sp o t I could o bt a i n it with o u t di ffic u lty

, I .
h a ve n othi n g more t o write to Yo ur M a gn i fic en c e

s a vi n g th a t we ar e a ll well by God s gra ce a n d a s ’
, ,
u s u a l with o u t a fa rthi n g i n the world !

, I sho uld
m u ch like to kn o w h o w o u r a ffa irs a t h o me a r e pros
peri n g b ut when y o u write be c a reful n o t to sa y a n y
,
thin g th a t m a y n o t be seen by every on e unless the ,
messen ger is a tried on e as m a n y letters a re i n ter ,
cepted I commen d myself to Yo u r M agn ificen c e an d

.
,
beg y o u t o comme n d me t o all o ur fa mily a n d tell ,
M J a copo th a t his brother M G alea zz o I s well W e

—th a t I s t o say M Ces are an d I —a re lo dged here i n
. . .
, .
.
’
St Peter s i n the ho u se of C a rdi n a l d Este O ur
,
’
.
1
M Ces a re commen ds himself t o yo u
. .
R M J u y5
O E, an ar ,
F or some time the D u chess herself h a d wished t o

come t o Rome a n d there h ad been qu ite a fl utter
,
a mo n g her l a dies a t the prospect B u t the Pope ple a ded .
Se i i 12 1
r a ss , . .
L I GHT O F HEART A N D P O CKET 119
poverty a s an exc u se for his reluctan ce to e n ter

tai n gu ests th a t wi n ter an d the pl an wa s a b an don ed , ,
grea tly to the disple a s u re of M a do nn a Emili a an d her

c o mp an ion s who pou red scorn on the P on ti ff s n ig
,
’
‘
ar dl h a bits The Pope h a s given up a ll his o ld
’
g y .
libera lit y wrote the Ve n eti a n a mb a ss a dor an d o n ly

,
’
c a res t o s a ve mo n ey He sells every o ffice a n d will.

,
n o t eve n ay his bills if he c a n disch a rge them i n an

p , y
other wa y A n d I he a r th a t he h a s a lre a dy a ccu m u
.
l a ted duc a ts sin ce he took possession o f the

1
Pap al thron e ’
He goes o n t o rem ark th a t Guido
.
b aldo an d his s u ite a r e lodged i n the C a rdin al o f

Ferrar a s ho u se a n d expected to pay their o wn expen ses
’
without even receivin g a s ubsidy This expl a i n s the .
stra its t o which C a stiglio n e a n d his comr a des were

redu ced when he wro te th a t they h a d n o t a farthi n g
,
between them .
I n spite o f these dra wb a cks our yo u n g courtier ,
fo un d li fe i n Rome very ple a s an t th a t win ter His .
letters to his mother reflect the gay a n d va ried scen es

a mo n g which he mo v ed the st a tely fun ction s which ,
he a tten ded the frien ds who c a me a n d wen t on

,
’
mission s to the V a tic a n The Prefect s m a rri age .
n egoti a tio n s were briskly c a rried on if the bestow a l o f ,
the r ed h a t from which C a stiglion e hoped so m u ch

,
for his brother wa s still del a yed Co un t Lodovic o

, .
C an oss a wa s sen t to M a n tua with form al propos als

’
for Leo n ora s h a n d a n d return ed to Rome e a rly ,
i n Febru a ry a ccomp an ied by Giov an n i Go n z aga so ,
th a t C a stiglion e a n d his mother were in co n st an t

commu n ic a tion .
As I kn ow th a t y o u like t o h a ve letters from

,
’
me he wrote o n J a n u a r y 22 I begi n o n e althou gh , ,
1 G i us t i i i iii
n an , . 3 46 .
1 20 C O U N T BALDAS SARE C A STI GL I ON E
I h a ve n o n ews o f an y description We a re all .
well excepti n g Smeraldo wh o h a s been i n disposed

, ,
l a tely b u t I hope it will prove n o thin g serio u s

, .
Y o u will h a ve he a rd most of the eve n ts th a t h a ve

been h appen in g here from o ur Co un t Lod o vico ,
so I n eed n o t describe them a t le n gth Here i n Ro me .
we h ave h a d a bitterly c o ld wi n d for the l a st d ays .
Befo re th a t it w a s so w arm th a t the r o ses were in

bloom an d it might h a ve been M ay M a n y m a sks .
a r e bei n g m a de i n Rome Pri n ces C a rdi n a ls an d .

, ,
prel a tes a ll i n ten d t o wea r them ; I expect it i s the

s a me i n M a n tu a or better still For my p art I c a n
, .
,
n o t sa
y th a t these thi n gs give me much ple a s ure .
V e expect C o u n t Lodovico s ret u rn with gre a t i i n

’
V
p a tie n ce a n d hopes o f m an y go o d t hi n gs ; b ut I fea r

,
th a t he too h a s a llowed himself to be deta in ed by

, ,
these plea s an t festivities o r by their prospect an d will ,
forget t o come o n here If it were of an y use t o .
desire thin gs a rden tly a n d to wish for wh a t o n e h as ,
n ot
g o t I sh o uld h a ve a b u n d an ce of h a ppi n ess
, Above .
a ll I a m very imp a tie n t t o get letters from home fo r

, ,
si n ce I left Ferra ra I h a ve h a d n on e n o t even a n

. ,
a n swer t o the l a st o n e which I wrote fr o m there So .
I implore y o u to write to me a b o u t o ur priva te

a ffa irs a n d beg o ur M
, Tomm a so a n d M Fran cesc o . .
an d M Luigi Gon zaga t o write to me a n d forgive

.
my i n fi n ite n eglect ! F or if I o wed them s o me

letters n o w th a t I h a ve kissed the Pope s foot 1
,
’
a m a bsol v ed from all g u ilt an d oblig a tio n fo r p a st
si n s You r M agn ifi c en ce will c o mmen d me t o a ll

.
o u r frie n ds especi ally to S uo r L a ura a n d Ja copo

,
B o schetto an d M Ces are a n d I commen d o u rselves

, .
’
1
to yo u .
When he n ext wrote the lo g expected letters h a d , n -
a rrived an d he did his best t o gra tify M a do n n a

,
L u i gi a s reiter a ted pr a yer for n ews a n d expl a i n his

’
sile n ce rega rdin g p u blic affa irs .
1
S era ssi , i . 13 .
T en d a ys l a ter this good son took up his pen a g ain

'
,
an d s o ught to gr a tify his m o ther by telli n g her the
l atest n ews from Rome This time a t le a st he h a d .

, ,
m o re to tell The fun era l o f Q ueen Is a bell a o f Sp a i n

.
,
—
the e n try of the P o lish a mb a ss a dors a bove all the ,
m a rria ge o f the Prefect an d Leon ora Go n z ag a— were

n a tur a lly o f deep i n terest to M a do n n a L u igi a .
Si n ce yo u wish t o hea r wh at is h a ppen i n g i n

R o me I m u st tell y o u th a t l a st Wed n esd a y
, ,
Febru a ry 26 the fun era l o f the grea t Qu een o f

,
Sp a i n o f blessed mem o ry wa s celebra ted with m u ch

, ,
s o lemn ity a fter the Sp an ish rites i n the church o f

, ,
S J a copo o f the Sp a n i a rds All the C a rdi n als were

. .
presen t cl a d i n d a rk p u rple which is their mo u rn i n g

, ,
ga rb ; all the Amb a ss a d o rs an d His E xcellen cy my

Lord D uke we a rin g a bl a ck m an tle dow n t o the
,
gro u n d ; the most I ll u stri o u s L o rd Prefect i n bl a ck ,
velvet the Sp an ish Amb a ss a dor an d all his ho u sehold ,
cl a d i n co a rse bl a ck cloth N othi n g else worthy of .
n ote t o ok pl a ce o n this occ a sio n Yesterd ay bei n g .
M a rch 1 the Polish Amb a ss a dors m a de their sta te

,
en try h a vi n g c o me to pa y hom age to His Holi n ess

, .
’
All the C a rdi n als ho u seh o lds an d th a t o f the Pope a s ,
u su a l rode o u t t o meet them ; the n the C a pt a i n o f

,
the P a p a l G u ard fo llowed by the whole gu a rd then

,
the I llu striou s L o rd Prefect w h o m we escorted , .
These Amb a ss a dors were a tten ded by fifty serv an ts

mou n ted o n ro a n horses a n d were n e a rly a ll cl a d in ,
red like Germ an s an d all wore the s a me ki n d o f h ats

,
with a j ewelled pl ume an d device in pea rls S o me o f .
them h a d the s a me device embr o idered i n pe arls o n

o n e sleeve an d stock i n g a n d most o f them w o re silver
,
ch a in s Before them rode two Turks o n Ar a b h o rses

.
,
with O rien ta l tu rb a n s on their he a ds ; a n d behi n d

fou r T art ars s t r an gely a ttired with bows an d a rrows ,
an d c u riou s fur c aps All these six were sl a ves

.
,
wh o h a d been t a ken prison ers i n b a ttle The .
Amb a ss a dors a r e three i n n umber a Bisho p a , ,

THE PREFE CT S MARRIAGE ’
1 23
C apta i n an d a Ch a mberl ain an d e a ch is richly cl a d

, ,
a cc o rdi n g t o his o ffice Th u s were they hon ou ra bly .
esc o rted t o the hostelr y o f C a ppello B u t His .
Holi n ess h a s n ot yet given them an a udien ce .

’
The P a p a l M a ster o f Ceremo n ies B ur ca r d o wh o , ,
dil ate s o n the b a rb a ric splen do u r of the Polish en voys ,
an d the Ven etia n a mb a ss a dor Giu stin i an i expl ai n , ,
th a t this del ay wa s c a used by a n a tt a ck o f go u t which

ga ve the Pope a c u te p a in s i n o n e k n ee an d compelled
him to rem a i n i n bed There w as some t a lk o f .
putti n g o ff the Prefect s m arri a ge u n til the followi n g ’
S un d a y bu t a s this wo u ld h a ve been Pa ssio n Su n d ay

, , ,
His Holin ess refused to defer the ceremon y which ,
took pla ce i n the Va tic an on M a rch 2 a s C a stiglion e ,
rela tes .
T o -d a y bein g S u n d a y the h appy m a rri age of o u r ,
Ill u strio u s L o rd Prefect with the L a dy Leo n o ra w a s

celebra ted to the gre a t s a tisfa ction of the frien ds o f
,
both p a rties These n u pti a ls t o ok pl a ce in the p al a ce

.
, ,
i n the H a ll o f the Pope s i n the presen ce of eighteen ,
C a rdi n als — Rec a n ati Port uga l N a ples S t a Pra s

, , , .
sede S Giorgio Aless an dri a Gurk Grim an i C o m o

, .
, , , , ,
Volterra Bologn a F i esc o S Pietro a d Vi n cul a

, , , .
,
Ara gon a Medici S an severin o Asc an io Sforz a

,
Colon n a —
, , ,
an d m an y o ther prel a tes Th e M a rqu is .
o f M a n t u a s brief o f proc u r a tio n w a s recited an d the

’
Illu stri o u s L o rd Gi o v a n n i m a de this co n tra ct o n the

p art of the bride an d my Lord D uke a n d the Prefect
,
o n the o ther side His Holin ess could n o t be presen t

.
,
1
owi n g t o a slight fit o f gou t .
’
An other m arri age which closely con cern ed both

the Pope a n d the Duke o f Urbi n o an d h a d bee n ,
publicly a n n o un ced at the s a me time a s the u n ion o f

Fran cesco M a ri a an d Leon ora wa s th a t of the Pon tiff s ,
’
Se i i 15 1
ra ss , . .
1 24 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CA STI GLI ON E
d a ughter F elice della Rovere This ch a rmin g l a dy

, .
,
who h ad a lre a dy won all he a rts a t U rb i n o o ur
M a don n a Feli ce a s C a stigli o n e c a lls her wa s t o

’
wed G uid ob ald o s n ephew A n ton ello di S an severi n o

’
’
, ,
the exiled Prin ce o f S alern o The P o pe wrote .
t o the Ki n g o f Sp a i n to dem a n d the restitu ti o n

o f the Pri n ce s est a tes i n C al abri a a n d o ffered t o
’
en dow his d a ughter with a l a rge fortun e if the bride ,
groom wo uld ren oun ce his cl a ims o n the duchy o f

Urbi n o i n fa vo u r o f Fran c esco della Rovere All .
‘
these thi n gs rem a rked the Ven eti an en vo y i n dic a te
,
’
n ew dre a ms a n d a mbiti o n s o n the Pope s p art B ut

’ ’
.
i n this c a se the fa ir l a dy herself resol u tely o pposed the

m a rri age which h a d been a rran ged fo r her an d boldly ,
decl a red th a t sh e wou ld n ot become the wife o f a

l a n dless a n d pen n iless Pri n ce I n va i n the P o pe .
stormed an d the Duke of Urbi n o en treated his lovely

ki n swom an t o c o n sen t to a proj ect emi n en tly c on
ven i en t to a ll p a rties ; Felice stood firm an d the ,
m arri age as Ma do n n a Emili a h a d prophesied en ded

, ,
i n smoke . We he ar n o m o re of the weddin g which

h a d been a rr a n ged fo r the P o pe s d a ughter wr ote
’ ’
1
Giustin i a n i o n the d ay of Fr an cesco M a ri a s m a rri a ge ’
.
A ye ar l a ter this l a dy wh o wa s t o pl a y an imp o rt an t

‘
p a rt i n the politics of the Holy See bec a me the ,
bride o f G ian gi o r d an o O rsin i the chief of this grea t ,
Rom an h 0use .
1 D isp cci iii

a ,
’
. 43 8 .
1 26 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTI GLI ONE
son , who ha d been m a de a C a rd in al at twelve ye ars

of an d i herited the cult u red t stes of his
g
a e n a
ho u se He t o o wa s o n frien dly terms with G u ido

.
, ,
b a ldo a n d Elis a bett a while his brother Gi uli a n o who

, ,
spen t this wi n ter in Rome wa s soon to become o n e ,
o f C a st i li o n e s de a rest frie n ds a n d comp a n io n s a t the

’
g
court of Urbi n o A n d there wa s l a stly the youn g
.
C a r di n a l G aleotto della Rovere who h a d s u cceeded ,
to his un cle Pope J uli us s titu l ar church o f S Pietro ’

.
i n Vin c u l a a n d wa s s a id to h a ve more i n fluen ce a t

,
the Va tic an th an a n y o ther person The son o f .
L u c c h i n a dell a Rovere the sister whom the fie ry o ld ,
Pon tiff rea lly loved a n d a t whose fu n era l he wa s seen

,
t o shed te a rs G a leotto is described by M a rco D a n dolo

,
a s the a pple o f the Pope s eye the o n e m a n who ’ ’
kn ew how to soothe his u n cle s viole n t moods by his

’
t a ct a n d ge n tlen ess 1
At twen ty -four he bec a me in
.
t urn Bishop o f L u cc a Govern or of Avign o n a n d , ,
C a rdin al an d w a s d a ily lo a ded with n ew hon ours an d

,
b en efi ces But a s all con tempora ry writers a gree

.
, ,
he m a de a n oble use of his wealth an d w as alre a dy ,
ren own ed a s the most gen ero u s p a tron o f a r t a n d

le a rn i n g i n R o me C ardin al de Medici wa s deeply
.
’
a tt a ched to him a n d his co n n exio n with the d u c a l

, .
fa m i ly m a de him a frequen t g u est a t Urb i n o a s well ,
a s a n i n tim a te frie n d of the Duchess an d M a do nn a
Emili a .
I n C a st igli o n e s letters to M a n tu a we fin d con st an t

’
referen ces to these three C a rdin als a n d if o n ce ,
J ero n i in o could come to Rome his brother h ad little ,
do ubt th a t with the help o f these powerful frien ds he

wo uld be a ble to obt a i n some lucra tive post Before .
l o n g too the M a rquis o f M a n tu a s brother Sigismon do ’
G o n z a ga wo uld n o dou bt receive the red h at th a t

, , ,
1
S an ut o, V . 66 8 .
’
JER ON I M O S PR O S PE CT S 1 27
had so lo n g d an gled before his eyes a n d wa s s a id ,
to be the b a it which h a d i n d u ced the Duke o f

Urbi n o to recogn ise Fran cesco M a ri a a s his heir a n d
give him Leon ora Go n zaga i n m a rri age The .
prospect o f seei n g his mother s kin sm an ex alted t o ’
the C a rdin al a te ro u sed fresh hopes in C a st igli o n e s

’
brea st a n d he wrote to sh a re his n ew pl an s with

,
’
M a do n n a L u igi a on the d a y a fter the Prefect s
,
m a rri age
As for J eron i m o s a ffa irs this is my pla n Sin ce , .
o ur Mo n sign ore will n o w u n do u btedly become a

C a rdin al it will be n ecess a ry 0 1 a t lea st c o n ven ien t
, , ,
for His High n ess to come to Rome It would .
ple a se me if J ero n i m o c a me here i n his service si n ce ,
a s yet he h a s o bt a i n ed n o b en efic es The m an y .
promises which His High n ess h a s m a de me i n former

d a ys an d the loya lty of o u r h o use towa rds him an d
,
his fa mily co n vin ces me th a t when ever he h as the

, ,
ch an ce he will n ot fail to remember u s A n d if he

, .
should fa il u s w e a r e n o t so frien dless n o r is o u r

, ,
good fort un e so e n tirely de a d th a t we m a y n o t still ,
look fo r s o me good thin g to c o me o ur wa y especi a lly ,
n o w th a t o ffices with l a rge s a l a ries a tt a ched to them
ar e bei n g sold every d a i n R o me Altho u gh we

y .
a re sh o rt o f mo n ey we h a ve some i n terest , a n d if we
h a d n o other me a n s o f help it wo u ld be n o sm a ll
“
thin g t o kn ow the chief person ages i n t h e co urt o f ,
Ro me a n d e nj o y the frien dship o f so m a n y Lord

,
C a rdi n als a ll o f which I c a n pr o mise him I further

, .
i n ten d to get my ill u strio u s l o rd t o write the wa rmest

letter p o ssi ble to o ur C a rdi n a l [when the h a t is his
so th a t between the fa v o u r with which His High
n ess rega rds o u r h o use a n d my Lord D uke s ’
1 eco m m en d a t i o n I am certa i n J eron i m o will so o n

,
obta i n a go od a n d ho n o ura ble post Besides t h i s I .

,
sh all n o t ce a se to exert an y sm a ll i n fl u en ce th a t I m a y
h ave on h i s beh alf a n d i n deed I a m a lrea dy en du rin g
, ,
1 28 C O U N T BALD A S SARE CAST I GL I ON E
fa tig u e an d toil more i n order to ga i n some promo tion

,
fo r him th a n fo r myself For if by God s gr a ce I c a n

’
.
give myself up to a q u iet life I sh a ll n o t be wo rse o ff , ,
n o r will a n reg a rd me a s otherwise th a n a n ho n o u ra ble

y
m a n seei n g the life th a t I h a ve led till n ow
, So I .
h o pe to be a ble to e ffect this m u ch th a t thro ugh my ,
exerti on s J er o n im o m a y a tt a i n thro ugh his o wn deeds

t o some w o rthy pl a ce an d this d o es n o t seem t o me a
b a d begi n n i n g a s thi n gs a r e
, He n eed n o t ta ke a n y .
further orders n or deprive himself of liberty n o r

, ,
s a crifice the h a lf of th a t property t o which he h a s

s u cceeded b ut c an le a d a free life i n R o me with go o d
. ,
h o pe o f fu tu re grea tn ess if a s I tr u st his a cts , , ~ ,
deserve it a n d Fortun e proves kin d This is m y a dvice . .
I hope th a t it a grees with yo u r wishes a n d h i s o wn 1

.
’
B o th M a do n n a L u igi a an d J eron im o a s might be ,
x ect ed respo n ded gra tefully to B a ld a ss a re s su

’
p , gg es
tion s a n d the boy a sked n o thi n g better th a n t o j oi n

,
his elder brother in Rome I n deed I thi n k wrote

.
, ,
’
C a stiglion e i n a n other letter th a t this o ught t o s atisfy ,
him fully a n d if he h a d n othi n g else in v iew the ,
prospect o f holdi n g offi ce i n this grea t court wo u ld

be n o sm all a ttra ction Then he wh o risks n othin g
.
ga in s n othin g ; a n d the fa ct o f bei n g in R o me n eed

n o t hi n der his studies fo r this is the fo u n t o f a ll
,
le arn ed m en . F or the presen t however a ll , ,
th a t Jeroni mo himself co uld do w a s to visit M on

sign ore Sigism o n do occ a sion a lly a n d rem ai n in his
c o mp an y wh i ch wo uld n ot on ly h a ve the good effect
,
o f in teresti n g the fu ture C a rdi n a l i n him b u t wo u ld ,
a t the s a me time help the boy to put a side his o wn
shyn ess a n d timidity Then a s soon a s ever the

.
,
P o pe s plea sure wa s a nn o un ced a n d Sigismo n do wa s

’
cre a ted C a rdi n a l B a ld a ss are promised to write to him

,
o n hi s brother s beh a lf a n d procure a letter o f r ec o m

’
Se i i 171
ra ss , . .
t oo lon g to describe all the form alities o f the proceed
i n gs a s the i n vestit ure o f this o rder en t a ils much
,
cerem o n y S o th a t if it sh ould ple a se His Excellen cy

.
to choose me for this office I c o u ld n ot refuse so ,
hon o ura ble a t a sk a n d on e which m a y a lso prove of

,
gr e a t use to me for I kn ow I sh o uld go with the best

,
a n d highest recomme n d a tio n s S o th a t I beg Yo u r .

.
M agn i ficen ce to be c o n te n t if this ta kes pl a ce for s u ch

thi n gs do n ot h appen every d ay a n d a lthou gh the ,
j o ur n ey is ra ther lo n g it will be very ple a s an t I beg o f

, .
y o u n o t to me n tio n this t o an
y o f o u r fa mily o r t o o thers ,
bec au se I sh o uld look very fo olish if this were gi ven

o ut a n d a fter a ll there sho u ld be n othi n g I n it
, Messer .
Gio Pietro k n ows it a lrea dy thr ough M Ces a re 5

. .
letters but I do n o t thi n k he will spe a k of it If a n y

, .
o n e excepti n g M Gio Pietro me n ti o n s this to o u

.
y.
,
y o u c a n sa
y th a t you kn ow n othi n g o f it a n d do
n o t believe it bec a u se I k n ow it i s th a t be a st Messer

,
Gi a n L u cido [ the M an tu an a ge n t i n R o me] who h a s

sen t the n ews t o M an tua i n a n evil ho u r h a vin g hea rd ,
it fr o m a cert ai n Bish o p to whom the D uke h a d

spoke n If y o u like to re ad Jeron imo th a t p a rt of
.
this letter rel a ti n g t o himself i n o rder to fin d o ut his ,
wishes o n the s ubj ect I sh all be very gl a d , b ut I do ,
n o t wish him to see wh a t I h a ve s a id a b o u t E n gl an d

’
.
A fortn ight l a ter B a ld a ss are s u n certa in ties were ’
h appily en ded a n d he wrote j o y q y t o tell his mother

,
the good n ews
O urLord D uke h a s a t len gth told me th a t I sh all

d o him the grea test ple a s u re if I wi ll c o n sen t to go t o
E n gl an d I n h i s service So I feel th a t it is impossible .
to refu se a n d I hope to fin d grea t s a ti sfa cti o n I n this

,
mission - fir st o f a ll I n servin g H i s Excellen cy a n d ,
sec o n dly i n seei n g so l a rge a tra ct o f cou n try especi ally

,
a s we ar e s u re t o h a ve a n excelle n t j o u rney n ow the ,
fin e se a s o n is befo re u s I hope to tra vel i n the

,
.
c o mp a n y o f M o n sign or Gigli a Fl o ren ti n e who holds ,

BAL D A S S A RE S H O PE S ’
13 1
a rich bishopric i n E n glan d a n d is His M aj esty s ’
a mb a ss a dor t o His H o lin ess here i n Rome a n d is a lso ,
on e o f my gre a test frie n ds So I sh a ll go with gre a t .
hon o u r on a ll sides a n d h o pe to sa tisfy His E xcelle n cy

,
my Lord D u ke which I desire a b o ve a ll thin gs A

, .
few d a ys a fter E a ster 1 will come to M a n t u a a n d

spen d eight o r t en d a ys with y o u a ft er which if it , ,
ple a ses G o d I wi ll set o u t o n my j ou rn ey a n d trust it

, ,
will prove o f a dva n ta ge to yo u a n d me a n d all o u r

frien ds If yo u co uld sen d me the sm a ll sum o f m o n ey
.
o f which I spoke before I st a rt it would be a gre a t

, ,
ki n d n ess a s then I c a n proc ure a few n ecess ary thi n gs

, .
R M M h 15
O E, a rc ,
But m a n y dis a ppoi n tmen ts were t o d a mp the you n g

c o u rtier s high hopes a n d m a n y lon g m o n ths were
’
to p a ss a wa y before he st a rted o n his j o u rn ey o r sa w

his mother s fa ce a g a i n
’
Th a t spri n g wa s ren dered .
memora ble by the u n u s u a l severity o f the sea son .
E a ster fell e a rly an d the we a ther w a s bitterly cold

, .
S n ow fell hea vily at Urb i n o a n d w a s twelve in ches ,
deep on April 7 Whea t rose to fo u r fl ori n s a bushel

. ,
a n d a gue a n d feverish colds were ever where prev a le n t

y .
Guidob a ld o wa s l a id u p fo r severa l weeks with a n

a cute a tt a ck o f gout an d the Ve n eti an e n voy p a id him
,
repe a ted V isits while he wa s in bed tru stin g t o him ,
more th a n a n yo n e else t o a ppe a se the P o pe s a n ger,

’
.
At M an tua C a st iglio n e s u n cle Gi a n Pietro a n d his

,
’
, ,
cousin L u igi were both serio u sly ill a n d he a n d his

, ,
comra des i n Rome did n o t a ltogether esc ape .
I h a ve received two o f y o ur letters a t o n ce he ,

’
wrote t o his mother on M a rch 24 a n d a m very gl a d ,
t o he a r yo u r co ugh i s better a n d o u r ki ns folk a re well , ,
or a t le a st recoveri n g Here I h a ve little to tell .

,
exceptin g th a t the us u a l Le n t cerem o n ies h a ve been

held Hi s H o li n ess a tten ded the H o ly Week o ffices
.
with much devo tio n a n d s a n g m a ss i n S t Peter s

, .
’
,
132 C O U N T B A LD A S S A RE C A STI GLI ON E
as u su a l E aster D a y To -d ay m a ss w a s cele
, on .
b r a t ed i n the P a p a l ch a pel a n d the golde n r o se ,
w a s presen ted t o the Polish Amb a ss a dors who a re ,
s o on lea vi ng Rome They brought fin e g ifts t o

the Holy F a ther—t a three l a rge a n d be a u tifully
.
worked silver bowls m a de i n Germ an y a n d very well

, ,
g i lded ; a lso three lo n g m a n tles o n e o f white s a ti n ,
or d a m a sk lin ed with the fi n est s a bles a n o ther o f

, ,
crimso n s a tin li n ed with e rm m e the third o f some ,
other colo u r li n ed with squirrel a n d with them a b o ut

1 5 0 s a ble -ski n s so be a u tiful th a t the li ke h a ve n ever
,
been seen i n It a ly We ar e imp a tien tly expecti n g the

.
settlemen t of o ur M a n tu an a ffa irs Both the m a rri ag e .
busin ess a n d th a t o f the C a rdin a l s h at ai e pro gr ess i ng ’
most h a ppily As to my missi o n to E n gl a n d I thi n k

.
,
o u wi ll h a ve he a rd e n ough by t h eletters which I se n t

y
by the horsem an Zoppo Sin ce the D uke spoke t o .
me I h a ve hea rd n o more b u t expect my j o u rn ey to

, ,
be put o ff for a t le a st t wo mon ths B u t whether it .
t akes pl a ce then or l a t er Your M agn ific en c e m ay be ,
s u re th a t I will n ot set out on the j o u rn ey witho u t

comi n g to spen d some d a ys with y o u for I really a m ,
n o t So u n d u tiful a s o u a ppe a r to thi n k I will sa no

y y
more b ut pra y yo u to commen d me to all my frien ds
,
an d especi ally to M a do n n a AI d a B oi ar d a [ Is a bella s

’
fa vo urite m a id of hon our] wh o I a m delighted to ,

’
1
hea r h a s become on e o f o ur fa mily
, .
In this l a st sen te n ce we h a ve prob a bly a n a llusion

to some report regardin g M a don n a Ald a s m a rri a ge ’
but a lthough this brilli an t a n d p o p u l a r l a dy a lwa ys

r em ai n ed fa st frien ds wi th M a d o n n a L u igi a a n d her
so n w e he a r n o more o f her co n templ a ted u n io n with
,
f their fa mily All B ld ss re s letters a t this ’

an
y o a a .a ,
time con t ai n urgen t requests for mo n ey o f which he

, ,
stood in gre a t n eed h a vi n g been red u ced to borrow

,
thirty d u c a ts o f his co u sin Ces are t o pa y fo r the bl a ck

Se i i 19 1
rass , . .
c lu d e an greemen t with t h e Pope en tered Rome

a , .
Thro ugh o u t the p a st wi n ter whether si ck o r well the , ,
D uke h ad n o t cea sed t o ple a d the c a use o f Ve n ice

with the ira sc ible P o n tiff At his en tre a ty the Doge .
a n d Sign ory h a d a gr eed t o ev a c u a te R a ve n n a a n d the
whole o f Rom agn a excepti n g F a en z a an d Rim in i a n d

, ,
n o w se n t a mb a ss a dors t o la their s u bmissio n before

y
the Pope B em b o s fa ther a n d the futu re Doge
’
.
,
An dre a Gritti were a mon g the eight a mb a ss a d o rs

,
chosen for this delic a te t a sk a n d Pietro Bembo ,
himself was on e o f the 200 members of the s u ite

wh o set o ut fo r R o me a s soo n a s the s n ows were ,
melted a n d the Apen n i n es c o uld be crossed in s a fety .
At Urbin o the a mb a ss a dors were roy a lly en tert a in ed

by the D u chess in her lord s a bse n ce an d Bembo
’
, ,
o n ce more enj o yed the comp an y of Elis a bett a

an d Emi li a P i a
‘
Wo uld to God he wrote fro m
.
,
’
Ven ice th at M a rch w o uld to God I were livi n g i n a

,
little shepherd s b ut on the mou n t i n slopes looki n g

’
a -
down on Urbi n o A n d he pra yed th at the F a tes

might gra n t him t o see the sweet spot on ce m ore
befo re he died 1
N o w he left the D u chess pro misin g
’
.
,
t o pa y her a lo n ger visit o n his return a n d we n t on to ,
Rome where C a stiglio n e an d m an y other frien ds were

,
e agerly a w a itin g him .
Abo u t si x o clock o n the eve n i n g o f April 28 the

’
.
,
a mb a ss a dors o f the Republi c e n tered the city by the
Port a S Pietro The highest hon ours a s the Ve n eti an s

. .
,
were pr o ud t o rec o rd were p a id them by the S a cred ,
C o llege 0 11 this occ a si o n The o fficers o f the Pope s .

’
hou sehold a n d the serva n ts o f a ll the C a rdin als r o de

o ut t o meet them a t t h e g a tes followed by the Fre n ch , ,
Polish Floren tin e Ferra rese Bologn ese a n d Rhodi an

, , , ,
a mb a ss a dors wh o o ffered their co n gr a tul a tio n s in a

,
L t t e iv 3 0 3 8 e r e,
’
.
, .
A VE N ETIA N EMBA S SY 135
L a ti n ora tion t o which Bern ardo Bembo repli ed also

,
i n L a ti n, with gre at decoru m a n d gr a vi ty Then the .

’
Lord Prefect met them on the bridge o f S a n t A n gelo ’
a tten ded by 1 00 horseme n a n d 3 00 foot -soldiers a n d ,
received the a mb a ss a dors i n the Pope s n ame with ’
every S ign of reveren ce He wa s foll o wed by the

.
gen tlemen of the D uke o f U rb in o s suite led by ’
Ces a re Gon z a ga a n d C a stiglio n e n oble person ages ,
mou n ted on superb horses who s al u ted the a mb a s ,

’
sa d or s i n the n a me o f their ill u strio u s lord he himself ,
bein g ill i n bed B ut the most memor a ble in ciden t o f

.
the receptio n wa s the u n expected a ppe ara n ce o f P o pe

Juliu s himself a t a wi n dow th a t wa s sudden ly o pen ed
i n the C a stello S an t A n gelo
’
I n his c u riosity t o wit
.
n ess the a mb a ss a dors e n try His Holi n ess h a d h u rried

’
a cross from the V a tic a n a ccomp an ied by most o f the

,
C ardi n als a n d presen tly looked o ut o f the wi n d o w

,
an d with a smili n g fa ce g a ve his blessi n g to the
a ssembled multit u de Then the gun s o f S an t A n gelo

.
’
were fired a n d the processio n wen t on its way towa rds

Mo n te Giord an o wher e the e n voys were hospit a bly
,
1
received by their O rsi n i a llies .
O n M a y 5 the a mb a ss a dors were received by the

Pope i n full con sistory a t the Va tic a n H i er o n i m o .
Don a to expl ai n ed the obj ect o f their missio n i n a

m ost eleg an t a n d orn ate L a ti n ora ti o n a ft er which ,
His Holin ess replied i n con ve n ien t terms an d Bern a rdo ,
Bemb o w a s allowed the privilege o f be ari n g the Holy

F ather s tra in i n to the C a mera de P app agalli B ut
’ ’
.
a ltho ugh the Pope spoke very ple a s an tly to these

gra ve Sign o rs an d wa s gra cio u sly plea sed to a dmire
the m ag n ifice n ce o f their robes a n d orn a men ts he ,
firmly refused t o issue a brief con firmi n g the Republic

i n the possessio n of F a en z a a n d Rimi n i a n d se n t them ,
1
S an ut o, vi . 1 62 .
136 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CA STI GLI ON E
home m u ch diss atisfied with the result o f their mission .
The P o pe wa s e v ide n tly ben t o n recoveri n g the whole

o f Rom a g n a an d on ly a wa ited a fa vour a ble mome n t
,
to brea k his ple dges a n d m ake open wa r on the

Republic The V en eti a n s wish t o tre a t u s a s if we
.
were merely their ch apl ain s he excl a imed t o Gi u s ,

’
t i n i an i
, b u t th a t they sh a ll n ever d o It is n ot i n o ur
power t o s urren der the possession s of the Church It .
1
is en ough th a t I sh o u ld pledge my word .
’
There wa s h o wever on e member o f the Ven eti a n

, ,
emb a ssy who thoroughly enj oyed his visit to Rom e .
After his l on g exile i n Ve n ice Pietro Bembo wa s ,
e n ch a n ted to fin d himself o n ce more i n the city for

‘
which his so u l h un gered a n d thirsted like an other
T an tal u s .He fo un d m an y o ld frien ds there an d
’
m a de n ew o n es wherever he wen t C a rdin a l G aleo tto .
i n vited him to st a y i n his ho u se an d tre a ted him so ,
co urteou sly an d ki n dly th a t he bec a me his sl a ve fo r

life He wa s presen t a t the splen did b an quet which
.
C a rdi n a l Griman i g a ve i n ho n o u r o f his cou n trymen ,
a n d revelled i n the rich decora tio n s an d sumptuous
fa re set fo rth o n this o cc a sion The h alls were h u n g .
with blu e velvet a n d gold broc a de a n d a dorn ed with ,
priceless an tique m a rbles Gilded sta gs a n d bo a rs

.
,
’
he a ds be arin g the lion o f St M a rk o n their horn s

, .
,
pea cocks an d phe a s a n ts o f glitterin g plu m age were ,
c a rried i n o n golden pl a te by p ages i n sc a rlet liveries ,
t o the m u sic o f h a rps a n d lutes o f drums a n d tr u mpets , ,
o f t a mb o u rin es a n d si n gin g N o wo n der th a t a fter

2
.
,
this brief ta ste o f Rom an festivities the yo un g ,
Ve n eti an lon ged fo r a n other dra ught o f those fresh

a n d i n vigor a ti n g w a ters o f Tiber a n d wished himself ,
b a ck u n der the sh a d o w o f C ardi n a l Galeotto

‘
the you n g a n d st a tely o ak th a t h a s stuck its roots

G i us t i i i iii 4 08
1
n an , . S ut
. vi 1 7 5 2 an o, . .
my wa y N orth As soon as possible I will sen d a .
messe n ger t o fetch those d ogs a n d fa lc o n s which y ou

sa a r e re a dy B u t if bef re the u s fe w
y o n
y
. o se e an y a a
y
o f se n di n g them I sh o u ld be very gl a d especi a lly if it
, .
c o uld be by B r ogn olo whose comi n g we all expect ,
imp a tien tly an d I most of all bec au se o f the mon ey

, ,
which I hope he will bri n g a s I h a ve n ot received ,
it yet .
’
1 11 this letter B a lda ss a re complai n ed o f a sudde n

a tt a ck o f fever which h a d fo rt u n a tely yielded to
pro mpt tre a tmen t When he writes a ga in a m o n th .
,
l a ter he ple a ds a retu rn of the a ilmen t a s a n exc u se

,
for his del a y in a n sweri n g his mother s letters a n d ’
ackn owledgi n g the mo n ey which the M an t u an ge n tle

m an V a len ti h a d a t len gth brought him
, ,
The t ruth is th at j ust a ft er V a len ti a rrived I h a d, ,
sever al fits of fever which th an k God h a ve n o w , , ,
p a ssed a w a y But s u dden ly on e n ight I w a s seized

.
with a terrible p ain i n the fo ot which I cru shed at ,
Cesen a t o gether with a con tra ction o f n erves an d

cru el sp a sms —the result I believe of some medicin e
,
, ,
which I h a d t a ken M an y remedies were a pplied .

,
a n d I a m well n o w th a n k God b u t this leg is n o t , ,
c u red yet This h as kept me severa l d ay s i n the

.
h o u se so th at a t lea st I h a ve esc a ped the i n ten se

,
he a t fro m which we a r e n o w s ufferi n g Here o ur .
o n ly n ews is th at M o n sign o r S Pietro a d Vi n c ul a h as .
been given the Ch an cellorship which wa s Mon sign or ,
A sc an i o s o f h appy memory a n d bri n gs in

’
,
,
d u c ats a yea r so th a t this yo u th o f twen ty -fi ve fin ds

, ,
himself with a n i n come o f d u c a ts ! G o d

pr o sper him a s he deserves ! O ur p a ra de which w a s ,
t o h a ve bee n o n St Peter s D ay h a s bee n pu t o ff for

’
.
,
a n other eight o r t en d a ys As soon a s possible a fter .
th a t I mean t o go to the B aths n e a r Sien a t o cure my

foot which is n ot y et right M y visit t o M an tu a will
, .
A GRA N D PARADE 139
n ot be j u st yet I fe ar a s we go t o Urbin o first

, , ,
an d then I sh a ll see my w a y better But y ou mu st .
n o t expect me u n til I tell y o u fo r cert a i n a n d I will ,
ta ke c a re to let yo u kn o w eight o r t en d ays before my

a rriv a l . We ar e a ll well n ow which is s ayi n g a good ,
de al i n R o me a t this se a s o n an d most o f a ll o u r ,
i llustrio u s lord wh o c o n tra ry t o his u s u a l h a bit is

, , ,
i n rem a rk a bly good he a lth Here we h a ve received a .
sm all p a rt of ou r s a l a ry— th a t is to say twen ty -fiv e ,
d u c a ts a n d sh all n eed more th a n th a t to prep a re for the

,
review sin ce we m u st spen d freely if we a r e n o t to

,
disgr a ce o urselves Yo u r dispen s a ti o n is dra wn u p

.
a n d sign ed I will bri n g it wi th the ot h er obj ects o f

.
devoti o n for which y ou a sked 1

.
R M J ly 3
O E, u ,
Three weeks l at er the much t lked p a ra de wa s -a -o f
fin ally held a pp a ren tly t o C a st igli on e s en tire s atis

,
’
fa cti o n O n the 3 ot h he wrote t o his m o ther

.
We h a ve a t la st h a d o ur review which wa s re a lly ,
a be a u tifu l sight an d g re a tly pr a ised by a ll who were

,
presen t I exerted myself more th a n a ll the rest to

.
do h o n o ur t o my de a r lord an d a lso t o myself N o w , .
I thi n k th a t we sh all sta rt fo r Urbi n o i n fo ur d a ys ’
time a n d expect my dep artu re for E n gl an d will t a ke

,
pla ce very s oon b u t will tell y ou in good time For

, .
the prese n t I h a ve told Va len ti all I kn o w a b o u t it so ,
th at he wi ll i n form you by w o rd o f mouth .

’
The Pope was highly ple a sed a n d e n tert ai n ed the ,
D uke o f Urbi n o before his dep a r ture a t di n n er a n d

supper i n the V a tic an a n d presen ted his n ephew the , ,
Prefect with t wo m agn ifice n tly e n gra ved dishes fo r

,
his bride B ut C a st igli on e s ple a sure i n these eve n ts

.
’
wa s dimmed by the sa d n ews of his frie n d F a lco n e s

’
dea th which he received from C a s a tico th a t week

. .
S i i 23 1 e r a ss , . .
1 40 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CA S TI GLI ON E
M a do n n a L u igi a k n o wi n g the depth o f her s o n s

,
’
feeli n g fo r the you n g Ma n tu a n schol a r sen t the first ,
i n tim atio n o f his prem a tu re de a th t o her n ephew

Ces are beggi n g him t o bre a k the n ews gen tly to
,
B a ld a ss a re O n Au gust 2 Ces a re replied t o his

.
a u n t s letter i n the followi n g words

’
I h a ve received a letter from V M i n which yo u . .
tell me o f o ur dea r F a lco n e s de a th This h a s c a used ’

.
me the u tmost grief bec a u se o f his excellen t p a rts ,
a n d go o d n ess a n d o u r i n tim a te frien dship but more ,
th an all bec a u se M B ald a ss a re h as lost I n him so tr u e

.
a n d fa ithfu l a frie n d This alo n e wo uld grieve me a s

.
much a s a n yth i n g th a t co uld h appen n ow B ut sin ce .
soo n er or l a ter we all h a ve to tre a d the s ame p a th let ,
us m ake a virt u e of n ecessity an d seek to en d ure ,
these s o rr o ws with co u rage an d p a tien ce Therefo re .

,
kn owi n g M B a ld a ss are t o be well a n d stro n g a t

.
presen t a n d en dowed with these qu alities I did n ot

, ,
thi n k it n ecess a ry to employ an y a rtifice i n telli n g

him the n ews which n atu ra lly distressed him n o less
,
th an yo u expected bec a u se of the love th a t he bore

,
t o o ur poor frie n d B u t si n ce he rea lizes wh a t we

.
mu st all feel i n rega rd t o those thi n gs he h as n o n eed ,
o f te a chi n g t o e n a ble him t o be a r his m isfortu n e an d , ,
a s 1 thin k he is writi n g to o u on the subj ect I will

y ,
sa y n o more O n ly I will beg you t o remember th a t

.
we ar e all of good co u r a ge an d le a di n g a j oyous li fe ,
here an d ar e tryi n g t o keep o urselves i n good he alth

, ,
a s we a ll a r e th an k G o d a t presen t To You r
, , .
M a gn ific en c e I comme n d myself a n d to M J eron i m o , .

,
who will I h o pe n o t a b an don the go o d p a th o n

, ,
which he h a d sta rted with O ur poor frien d eve n ,
though he h as lost his guide .

’
H ow deep rea l B a ld a ss are s sorrow wa s we ’

an d
le a rn from the followi n g letter which he a ddressed to

his mother t wo d ays before Ces are wrote
1 42 C O U N T BALDAS S A RE C A STIGL I ON E
rem a i n t o perish with him I will say n o more .

,
b u t c o mmen d myself ever t o y o u a n d M J a c opo .

,
M a do n n a Polisse n a a n d a ll the others most of a ll t o

,
J ero n i m o who must n o t ce a se to n a viga te his b ark

, ,
a lthough he h a s l o st a s a fe a n d tr u sted pilot

’ 1
.
If ever a m an h a d a gen iu s for frien dship it ,
wa s C a stigli o n e N 0 on e loved his frien ds more

.
ten derly o r cl u n g to their m emories with gre ater

,
fa ithfuln ess He sorrowed over his brother s tu tor a s

.
’
he sorro wed fifteen ye a rs l a ter over R aph a el a n d ,
trea s u red the fragmen ts which F a lc on e left behin d

him a s c a refully a s every sketch by the gre a t
m a ster s h an d
’
M a n y ye a rs a ft erwa rds a dr a m a
.
,
writte n by F a lcon e wa s performed a t M an t ua in

h o n ou r o f C a st igli on e s weddin g a n d th an ks to thi s
’
, ,
loy a l frie n d the you n g poet s n a me wa s h o n oured in

,
’
hi s n a tive city l o n g a fter his de a th Nor wa s this .
tou chin g letter the on ly tribute which C a stiglio n e

p a id to his frien d The most be a u tiful a n d spo n
.
’
t an eo u s of a ll his L a ti n poems the elegy o f Alco n , ,
wa s writte n i n memory o f F alco n e Sin ce in these .
verses he a ll u des to his brother J eron i m o s u n timely ’
en d , an even t which took pl a ce i n the s u mmer

o f 1 5 06 it is clea r th at C a st igli on e s poem was n o t
,
’
written fo r more th a n a ye a r aft er his frien d s de ath ’
prob a bly d urin g his j o urn ey t o E n glan d B ut when .
ever these fin e hex a meters were composed they ,
were i n spired by gen uin e l o ve an d sorrow—a love an d

sorro w th a t everywhere bre aks through the thin
di sguise o f p a stora l rom an ce an d mythologic a l fable
i n which a fter the fa shion o f the d ay he chose t o
, ,
clothe his thoughts .
Alcon de a d Al con i s the theme o f his so n g

, ,
Alc o n the beloved yo u th wh o se s o n g ch a rmed the

, ,
S i i 24 1
e ra ss , . .
THE P O ET S LAME N T ’
1 43
F a u n s a n d D rya ds o f the woods whose de a th the ,
shepherds l a men t to -d ay
Alcon d a rlin g o f Apollo a n d the Muses ; Alco n
, ,
h a lf o f my soul more th an h a lf o f my he a rt wh a t
, ,
God wh a t cru el fa te h a s torn thee from my side !

, ,
With thee the h appin ess of the fields a ll o ur love ,
a n d j oy h a ve p a ssed a w a y
, The foli age o f the trees.
withers the forest loses its pride a n d den i es the

,
shepherds its sh a de the me a dows lose their ch a rm

, ,
the gra ss dies the fo un t a in s ce a se to flow a n d the

, ,
rivers are dried up The soi l i s n o lon ger fertile a n d

.
,
the flock wa n ders without a shepherd Al a s ! u n .
h appy boy torn from u s by cruel F a te N ever a ga in

,
sh a ll I see thee wrestle with thy comra des o r be a r

o ff the victory with wi n ged sh a ft an d spe a r while ,
the shepherds st a n d a rou n d ; n ever a ga i n sh a ll I

fly with thee from the s u n s gl a re o n the lon g s u mmer ’
d a s to rest i n the sh a de ; n o m o re sh all thy pipe

so y t en the sto n y rocks a n d t hy tu n eful s o n g reso u n d
through the sh a dy v a le For we lived together
.
from o u r ten derest ye a rs a n d sh a red the hea t of the

,
d a y a n d the cold o f wi n ter n ights a n d re a red

, ,
o u r fl o cks by o ur commo n l a bo u r My fields were .
thin e we lived o n e a n d the s a me life W h y then ar t .

, ,
thou t a ken while I a m left ! Ala s i n a n evil ho u r the

gods led me from my n a tive l a n d My h a n ds were
n o t a llowed t o close thy dyi n g eyes ; my lips were
n ot a b le to kiss thy cold brow

’
.
Here the poet t u rn s t o his brother a n d en vies ,
him for h a vi n g been presen t a t Alco n s de a th -bed ’
fo r h a vi n g he a rd his l a st words a n d received his

dyin g bre a th ; a y e more fortun ate st ill i n th a t he
, ,
h a s followed him so soo n to th a t sile n t l a n d where ,
they wa n der h a n d -in -h an d thro ugh the Elysia n

sh ades enj oyi n g sweet c o n verse together while he is
, ,
left al o n e t o m o urn his l o st frie n d Fo n dly he rec a lls .
the drea ms he o n ce cheri shed o f brin gi n g Alco n to

1 44 C O U N T B A LD A S S A R E C A ST I GLI ON E
the fa m o us shore de a r to the gods o f o ld where the

, ,
temples o f L ati u m rise o n the b a n ks o f Tiber a n d ,
i n his sleep he seems t o see o n ce more the fa ce a n d

hea r aga in the vo ice o f his beloved B ut the n he .
w a kes a n d kn ows it I s all a drea m F or his comfort

, .
he will ra ise a tomb to Alco n s sh a de by the wi n din g ’
A n io a n d c a ll yo u ths to sc a tter fr agr an t flowers o n

,
the gra ssy mou n d—n a rciss u s a n d roses a n d fa ir purple

hy a ci n ths ivy a n d l aurel—n o t forgettin g c a ssia c in
, ,
n a mo n a n d b a ls a m
, to fill the gen tle breeze with
,
delicious scen ts Here the woodl a n d n ymp h s wi ll

.
brin g violets wove n with a m a ran ths a n d strew ,
flowers over hi s gra ve an d i n scribe the ston e with ,
this la men t a ble so n g

We loved Al con gre a tly an d he wa s worthy o f ,
o u r love a n d worthy , t o o o f the ho n our we pa y

, ,
him ; a n d n o w th a t u n kin d F a te h as torn him from

u s the sto n y rocks weep over him
, F o r d a y is t u rn ed .
’
i n to n ight light t o d arkn ess an d sweet t o bitter
, , .
T wo thin gs strike u s when we re a d C a st igli on e s ’
poetic l amen t o ver his de a d frien d Virgil h a s .
throughout been his model the b ard whom M a n t ua ,
h a d n ever ce a sed t o ho n our whose b u st still looked ,
down on the m a rket squ a re o f his n a tive city a n d to ,
whom I s abell a d Este wa s even then seekin g t o ra ise

’
a more worthy mo n ume n t The metre of B ald a s .
s are s elegy is Virgili a n the met a ph o rs a re b orrowed

’
fr om the Georgics an d the B u c o lics the l amen t

over Alco n rec a lls the w a il o f Mops u s fo r D a phn is ,
the fa irest shepherd of the woods The very n a me o f .
Alc o n which C a stiglio n e a dopted from it s simil a rity

,
to the n a me of his l a men ted frien d is borrowed from ,
the fifth eclog u e As i n his p a stora ls Virgil o pen ly

.
a dopted the ch a ra cters a n d met a phors empl o yed by

C HAPTER XI
1 5 05 —1 5 06
The D uke of U bi r v sR m
no lea e o e an d j oin s the D uch e ss at G ub b i o
—S fi er a no s
’
p m oeth d uc on —G ui d b ld i ss
e al c o ur t o a o s
’
lln e
C s t igli
a on e s t t M t u —D t i d t F
en o an by Fa c sc e a ne a e rr a r a ra n e o
G o n z a ga t s—H w ly sc p s im p is m t
’
s th rea e n a r ro e a e r on en
R et u s rn to F mb o sso—Th c u t m ves t U b i
ro n e e o r o o r no
Ca st i gli o n e E cl g u p e f m ed t t h c iv l fe s t ivit i s
’ ’
s o e r or a e a rn a e .
IN the middle of Au gu st the D uke of Urbin o fi n ally

left Rome a n d retu rn ed t o his o wn realm B ut the .
severe win ter h a d prod u ced a terrible fa m i n e i n

Urbin o an d this i n tu rn h a d been followed By an
,
o u tbre ak o f the pl ag u e ‘
As m an y a s 3 00 died i n .
the city m o re fro m h u n ger th an disea se writes the

, ,
’
‘
di a rist ; c o rn ro se t o five a n d six d u c a ts a b u shel ,
a n d every on e le ft Urbin o which w a s quite deserted ,
till Christm a s I n M ay the D u chess moved to

’
.
G u bbi o a n d rem ai n ed there with the cou rt thro ugh

,
o u t the s u mmer a n d a u tum n This a n cien t city o n .

,
the s o u thern slopes Of the Apen n i n es lookin g down ,
on the va lley of the Tiber h a d been a fa vou rite ,
residen ce o f Eli s a bett a fro m the d ay o f her m a rri age .
The w a rm clim a te o f this sheltered spot suited her

delic a te he alth better th a n the m o re exp o sed situ a ti on
o f Urbi n o a n d it wa s G u id o b ald o s delight to be a u tify
’
the p a la ce which h a d been his birthpla ce The n oble .
cen tra l cou rt still reta i n s i t s lofty colum n s a n d

g r a cefu l a rches a n d w a s prob a bly the fir st wo rk
,
1 46
AT GUBB I O 1 47
design ed by the a rchitect L a u ra n a for D uke Federico ,
whose n a me a n d a rms a dorn the d o orwa ys Giova n n i .
S an ti pra ises the be a u ty o f the site a n d describes ,
the p a la ce a s tu rn ed tow a rds the s o u t h a n d western

skies with its b a ck restin g a gai n st the mo un ta i n
,
side sheltered fro m r u de Borea s a n d comm a n di n g

, ,
a view over the Tiber V a lley so fa ir a n d wide th a t ,
it even s u rp a sses the loveli n ess o f Urbin o .
C um si d c v e d
ol e ut a c h e U bir no e x ced e e le su e d c c
ol e a lle .
’
1
G uidob aldo proceeded to a dorn the i n teri o r with

elega n t c a rved ba s-reliefs a n d rich ceili n gs o f gilded
an d p a i n ted wood a n d a l o c a l a rtist —A n ton io
,
M a ffei — decora ted his st u dy with exqu isitely wr o ught

i n t a r si a represen ti n g books m u sic a l i n stru men ts
, ,
mili t ary we apon s birds an d flowers Sixty yea rs

, .
a o the i n scripti o n
g G U ba ld o D a m an d the b a dge
.
a n d motto o f the G a rter were t o be see n i n this little
room which riv alled Federico s c a bi n et a t Urbin o ’

.
B ut Time h a s de a lt still more h a rdly with the d u c a l

’
cor te a t G u bbio I n the l a st ce n tu ry it w a s stripped

.
of a ll its rich decor a tio n s ; the c a rved m a n telpieces
an d priceless i n t a r si a s were ut u to a u ctio n an d

p p ,
sold to the highest bidder ; while the p a la ce itself

was t u rn ed i n to a silk m an u fa ctory N othin g o f the .
D uke s on ce splen did home n o w rem a in s but the

’
shell o f the buildi n g a n d the fou n t a i n i n the ga rden

th at wa s E lis a bett a s especi a l deli ght
’
.
It was here i n this m agn ificen tly fu rn ished p al a ce

, ,
which ch a rmed the eyes o f Is abell a d Este when she ’
visited G u bbi o eleven ye a rs before th a t C a stiglion e ,
an d his comr a des j oi n ed the D u chess o n their retur n
from Rome .
1
R im e d i G i v
o an n iS an t i ’
—2
.
10
1 48 C O U N T BAL D AS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
By the gra ce o f G o d he wrote to his mother ,

’
o n A u g u st 23 we h a ve a rrived s a fely a n d well a t

,
E u gu bb i o where we h a ve fo u n d o u r L a dy D u chess
,
a ls o i n g o od he a lth I d o n ot kn ow h o w lo n g we
.
sh all sta y here a s w e m a y h a ve to go to F an o o n

,
a cco u n t o f some eve n ts which ar e h a ppe n in g there

’
.
He goes o n t o tell her of the he a vy expen ses

which he h a s in c u rred d uri n g the l a st few mo n ths ,
owi n g to the high price o f corn a n d provision s ,
a n d c o n fesses th a t he h a s been o bliged t o borr ow

1 40 d u c a ts i n Rome 5 5 o f which must be rep a id t o
,
a n a ge n t a t Bologn a by the en d o f September .
I kn ow he a dds th a t this p a rt o f my letter will

,
’
n o t ple a se you ; b ut I w as compelled to borrow this
mo n ey a n d a m an xiou s t o keep my credit I n Rome

, ,
so th a t if I should s u dde nly requ i re a l a rger su m I
should be a ble to rai se i t withou t difficu lty So I .
pra y y ou kin dly t o s upply me with the n eedful sum

by the time I n a me I hea r th at m an y person s ar e
.
still dyin g o f the pl ague at M an tu a which seems to ,
me very stran ge G o d help them .
B ut either a n xieties a bout mon ey n or the ra vages

n ,
o f the pl a gue i n other cit i es n or eve n his grief over ,
F alcon e s de a th preven ted B a ld a ss a re from en j oyi n g

’
the n ext few weeks a t Gubbio The D uchess a s .

,
usu al wa s surrou n ded by a brilli a n t comp a n y an d

, ,
the Duke s return bec a me the sign a l for n ew festivi

’
ties an d a musemen ts Bembo in deed h ad been on ce

.
, ,
more obliged to te a r himself awa y from the ple a s an t

society which he enj oyed so much b ut his rival
Vin cen z a C alm et a l U n ico Aretin o Fr a S era fin o
,
’
, ,
O tta vi an o an d Federico Fregoso were all there a n d , ,
1
S era ssi , i . 25 .
15 0 C O U N T BALD A S SARE CAS TIGLI ON E
breezes o f the Adri a tic C a stiglio n e himself n o w we n t .
t o the B a ths o f S C a sci a n o i n T u sc a n y a n d wrote

.
, ,
the foll o wi n g letter to his mother o n S eptember 20

‘
As I h a ve b een a b sen t from home so m a n y d ays
~
a n d mo n ths an d see n o pr o spect o f comi n g to se e

,
y o u a t prese n t I h a ve decided
, to se n d Fr a n cesco ,
who will tell y o u a bo u t my a ffa irs better th a n I c a n

d o by letter I kn ow y o u a r e l o n gi n g t o hea r from
.
me a n d he ca n bri n g me y o u r letters
, F o r ever .
si n ce I received on e from y o u t o gether with a n o ther ,
directed t o M Ces a re telli n g him of the dea th o f

.
,
poor F a lc o n e I h a ve he a rd n othi n g
, B ut this I .
,
expect h a s bee n o wi n g to wa n t o f messen gers I n

, .
this letter I n eed n o t sa y m u ch a s Fra n cesc o will tell ,
y o u a ll
y o u w a n t to kn ow N o w I a m a t the B a ths .
o f S C a sci an o fo r my foot which w a s n ever properly

.
,
c ured It is a lrea dy very m u ch better a n d wou ld

.
,
h a ve bee n qu ite c ured if I h a d come here a little

soon er ; b u t the c au se o f my dela y w a s the gr a ve
an d d a n gero u s ill n ess o f the L ord D uke who h ow , ,
ever th a n k G o d is n o w co n va lescen t B u t he ga ve u s
, , .
a ll a gre a t fright especi a lly the poor L a dy D u chess

, .
G o d i n His mercy would n o t a llow so terrible a

dis a ster ! I wro te t o y o u the other d a y by M Gio . .
Pietro s serva n t a b o ut the debt which owi n g t o the

’
fa mi n e a n d other in evita ble expen ses I i n c u rred i n ,
Rome N o w I sen d my serv a n t o n the s ame erra n d

.
,
bec u se the t y fiv e d u c a ts will be d ue a t the en d of

a fi f -
this m o n th a n d I would n ot l o se my credit i n Rome for

,
a tho u s a n d re a s o n s especi a lly a s I h a ve m a n a ged to

,
keep it till n o w Fo r if I req u ired h a lf a th o u s a n d

.
d u c a ts I n eed on ly o pen my lips t o h a ve them ; a n d

,
this i s importa n t if I a m t o e ffect a n ythi n g for my

brother a s well a s for myself S o I beg Yo u r .
M a gn i fic en c e to m a n age by some me a n s t o let me

h a ve this m o n ey a s q uic kly a s p o ssible I sh all awa it .
Fr a n cesco a t F o ss o mbro n e an d when he is b a ck if , , ,
a s I tru st God m a gr a n t the D uke is o u t o f d a n ger

y ,
C R IST O F O R O R O MA NO 15 1
an d there is n o b u sin ess o f import an ce I h o pe t o ,
come to M a n tu a if possible for a fortn ight ; fo r I

, ,
wish a bo v e a ll else to see y o u an d the other members

o f o u r fa mily M e an wh i le yo u m u st try an d keep
.
well a n d I will do the s a me My j ou rn ey t o E n gl a n d

, .
,
a s far a s I c a n m a ke o ut i s n ot to t a ke pl a ce this
,
wi n ter 1
.
’
Fortun a tely C a stigli o n e foun d the Duke restored

,
t o he a lth on his retur n to F o sso m b r o n e The co u rt .
res u med i t s former ga iety a n d n ew visitors a rrived ,

’
to a d d l u stre to the d a ily ga theri n gs i n Elis a betta s

ro o ms I n N ovember Bembo a rrived fr o m Ven ice o n
.
,
a flyi n g visit to the M a rch with a n other pop u l a r per

,
so n a e whose m u sic a l t a le n ts an d witty co n vers a ti o n

g ,
m a de him a s gre a t a fa vo u rite a t M an t u a an d Urbin o

a s he h a d bee n a t Mil an — the sc u lptor Cristoforo
Rom an o C a stigli o n e greeted him a s a n o ld frien d
.
,
a n d he a rd m a n y i n terestin g p a rtic u l a rs reg a rdi n g both
M i la n a n d M an t u a from his lips N o w the sc ulptor .
wa s o n hi s wa y to Rome an d br o u ght with him a s a

,
presen t to the D u ches s hi s be a u tiful por tr a it -med a l

o f the M a rches an a Is a bell a which excited a s m u ch ,
a dmir a tio n a t the co u rt a s it does in o u r o wn time .
N ot a little mirth wa s c a u sed on this occ a sio n by a

trick which the D u chess pl a yed up o n her a dorer ,
’
l U n ic o Areti n o At her su ggestio n Cristoforo
.
showed Accolti the med al which he h a d been desired

to gi ve the p o et an d told him th a t he co uld n o t
,
sp a re o n e for him upo n which the j ea lou s Aretin e

,
broke i n to bitter repro a ches S o violen t wa s his .
a n ger th a t some m o n ths l a ter Is a bell a felt obliged t o
write a letter to the sc ulptor feign i n g the grea test ,
displea su re at his forgetfuln ess i n obeyi n g her o rders ,
a n d begged Cristoforo t o show Accolti this n ote in ,

‘
S i i 25 1
e ra ss , . .
152 CO U N T BALDAS SAR E CASTI GL I ON E
order to keep the secret a n d s a ve the D u chess s ’
1
rep u t a tion .
’
By December most o f the g uests were go n e ;

Bemb o was b a ck i n Ven ice an d Cristoforo i n Rome , ,
where he ga ve Is a bell a s mess ages t o the Holy F a ther

’
a n d told her how e a gerly her prese n ce w a s desired by
M a d o n n a Felice a n d the C ardi n als G u id o b a ld o who .

,
rem a in ed a t Fossombron e for the good o f his hea lth

thro ugho u t the wi n ter n ow decided t o sen d C a s
,
t i gli on e to M a n t u a on a secret missio n t o h i s brother

,
i n -law Fr a n cesc o Go n z aga

, He wished the M a rqu is .
to be i n formed o f the Pope s design s a ga in st Ve n ice ’
a n d o f the more immedi a te a tt a ck u po n Perugi a a n d
Bolog n a which His Holin ess w a s medit atin g N o .
on e seemed to him better fitted to disch a rge this
delic a te a n d importan t t ask th an Fran cesco s o wn ’
s ubj ect a n d loya l servan t Hitherto C a stiglion e h a d

.
on ly a cted as on e o f the gen tlemen i n a tten d an ce on

h i s lord whether i n priva te or p u blic i n the c a mp a t
, ,
Cesen a a n d Forli or a t solemn fu n ctio n s of st a te in

~
,
Rome a n d a t Urbin o We h a ve seen him s u cces

.
si vely i n the p a rt o f stu den t soldier an d courtier , , .
N ow fo r the first time he en tered on the diplom a tic

c a reer i n which m a n y of the best yea rs o f his life
were spen t The D u ke h ad by this time kn own him
.
l on g en ou gh t o re ali ze how a dmira bly fitted he wa s

by n a tu re an d ed u c a tion for s u ch a task Not o n ly .
w a s his presen ce h an dsome a n d dign ified his m an n ers ,
cou rtly a n d persu a sive b ut he possessed a ra re t a ct

,
an d q uick observa tio n th a t m a de him i n va l ua ble

i n busin ess tra n s a ctio n s o f a diffic u lt a n d delic a te
n a t u re. H i s fin e schol a rship a n d re a dy comm a n d
o f la n gu a ge were fu rther q u alific a tio n s o f gre a t i m
1
A V . e n t ur i , in A rt e
‘
,
’
i . 15 1 .
154 C O U N T B ALDAS SAR E C A S T I GL I ONE
thought o f the gra ve a n d serio u s d a n ger o f the

obsta cle th a t blocks my wa y a ltho ugh y o u do n o t ,
clea rly st a te wh a t it i s All the s a me I wo uld n ot .

,
tu rn b a ck but h a ve sen t a n u rgen t disp a tch to the

,
Lord D uke beggi n g hi m t o let me k n ow his ple a su re

, ,
a n d h a ve m a de u my mi n d t o a w a it his a n swer
p ,
an d come to M an t ua withou t fea r o f d an ger o r

respect o f pers o n s if this seems best to him The ,
.
messen ger c an n o t retu rn fo r five o r si x d ays so I ,
a m w a iti n g here My presen ce is hidde n from mos t

.
people a n d o n ly kn own to a fe w chief a m o n g wh o m

, ,
is my Lord C a rdi n a l ]
‘
J u st n o w I met some o n e who told me he h a d
tra velled from M a n t ua with a messen ger who w a s
sen t by the Lord M a rqu is to a rrest me i n his
n a me ; b u t Messer Ces a re G o n z a ga the brother ,
of M Giulio told him th a t I h a d a lre a dy left

.
,
Ferra r a for M a n tu a a n d repe a ted this so decidedly ,
th a t the rider t u rn ed b a ck on h i s a u thority So .
I settled to a sk yo u to con s ult M Gio Pietro . .
o n this s u bj ect ; fo r if the d a n ger is n o t very cle a r
a n d m an ifest I will gl a dly c o me a n d should like t h e

, ,
M a rquis t o k n o w th a t I a m here If I do n o t .
come I kn ow m y Lord D u ke will feel gre a t i n

,
dign atio n a n d I sh o uld be very sorry if he should

,
be a n n oyed most of all o n my a cco un t Fo r my

, .
o wn p art I wo u ld n o t hesit a te to c o me eve n with

, ,
o u t receivi n g the D u ke s a n swer bec a u se I k now his

’
mi n d a ltho ugh I h a ve h a d a s yet n o letters or orders

,
from hi m S o th a t I tr u st yo u will t a ke prompt

.
a c tio n ,for the thi n g is very seri o u s an d m ay be ,
a tte n ded with evil res u lts — a ll the m o re th a t I re a lly
could n o t sa y why I a m t urn in g b a ck a n d every o n e ,
here kn ows th a t I wa s comin g a s a n a mb a ss a dor I .
beg yo u t o sen d a messen ger a s so o n a s possible ,
a n d c o mme n d myself to ou
y .
F A RA 5 p m D mb 24
ERR , . .
, ece er ,
2
1
Er c ole d ’
E tes . S e ra s si , i . 27 .
RETUR N T O F O S S O MBR ON E 155
Fortu n a tely C a st igli on e s do u bts a n d diffi c ulties

,
’
were qu ickly settled by a mess age from the D uke ,
rec allin g him a t o n ce a n d e a rly i n the N ew Ye a r he ,
set o ut on his j ourn ey so u thwa rd O n Ja n u a ry 5 .

,
1 5 06 he wrote a s follo ws t o his mother :

,
To -d ay— Mo n d a y — I h a ve received yo u r letter b y

C a rlo d a Vill a n ov a a n d the d a y a fter t o -morr o w a t ,
l a test I ret ur n a cross the mou n t a i n s His Excelle n cy .
my Lord D uke a n d my L a dy D u chess h a ve rec a lled

me a ltho ugh my l o rd writes th a t he sho uld n o t
,
dre a m o f d o in g this bec a u se o f the M a rquis s o bj ec ’
tion s a n d wou ld h a ve been gl a d t o see wh a t might

,
h a ve h appen ed b ut a fter he a rin g the w a rn i n gs which

I h a ve received he w o u ld n o t a ll o w me t o r un a n y
,
risks a s I a m too dea r i n his eyes S o I wi ll ret urn

, .
to yon der pla ce where if other thi n gs a re l a ckin g a t

, , ,
lea st I a m sure of a welcome I beg y o u to sen d me .
those thin gs which I n eed so m u ch by B r ogn o li n o o r

some o ther w a y J er on i m o must cert a i n ly h a v e a
.
mule I will e n de a vo u r t o proc u re him o n e i n o u r

.
p a rt o f the wo rld I sen d yo u the Co n fession a l by .
Fran cesc o who h a s begged me t o let him go home

,
o n a cco u n t o f his m o ther s de a th a n d hope you will

’
listen to cert a i n thin gs which I h a ve desired him

t o tell y o u chiefly a s to on e M N iccol o F r i si o who
, .
, ,
I hea r is a t M an t u a I very m u ch h o pe y o u will be

, ,
.
good to him bec a u se he wa s e xceedin gly kin d to me

,
d u ri n g my illn ess i n R o me I do n o t expect y o u .
t o receive him with gre a t ceremo n y b u t o n ly to ,
trea t him a s well a s y o u can fo r I k n ow th a t he ,
l o ves me m u ch M a don n a B a rb a ra T o rella o r Ben ti

.
,
vogli a [ wife o f Erc o le Be n tivoglio a n d a fterwa rds ,
o f Erc o le S tr o zzi a n d her sister M a d o n n a O rsi n a

] , , ,
commen d themselves to yo u a n d a lso M a don n a ,
Simon a Stro zzi 1

I h a ve b o rro wed t en duc a ts from
.
S im on a d gli U b
e e rt i, w i fe o f Ti t o S t ro zzi s so ’
n Gu id o, an d c usi
o n
o f L uigi a .
156 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTI GLI O N E
Messer Timoteo [ B en d ed ei] , an d h a ve t o ld him th a t

y o u will rep a y them .
’
O n ce b a ck a t Fossombr on e C a stiglio n e wa s r e ,
cei v e d with m a rked fa vo u r by the D uke a n d D u chess ,
a n d co n soled himself i n the s o ciety o f his frie n ds for
the a n n oya n ces which he h a d received elsewhere .
U n fo rtun a tely Fra n cesco G on z aga s disple a su re h a d

,
’
a b a n eful i n fl ue n ce o n his brother s pr o spects an d

’
c a u sed M a do n n a L uigia gre a t distress B a ld a ss a re .
did his best like the good son th a t he wa s to comfort

, ,
an d re a ss u re his mother ; b u t the t a sk was n o t a lw a ys
e a sy Then his sister P o li ssen a s husb a n d Ja copo

.
’
B o schetto a gouty qu erulou s i n va lid w a s a lwa ys

, , ,
t aki n g o ffen ce a t some s upposed a ffron t o r wra n gli n g

over his wife s portion with his mother -in -la w
’
.
I h a ve n o t yet an swered yo ur letters bec a u se I ,
h a ve been a lwa ys o n the move a n d Fra n cesco fo un d ,
me a t S in igaglia I wa s gl a d to see you r st a temen t

.
o f expe n ses a n d on e thi n g a lo n e vexed me

, ‘
which ,
wa s th a t Yo u r M agn i fi cen c e sho u ld be worried .
B ut we ar e a ll born i n to this w o rld for tro u ble an d ,
a s I k n ow the th o ught th a t yo u a r e worki n g fo r

,
me lighten s the b urden gre a tly so o f this I will ,
sa y n o more Some d ay I hope t o rest a n d yo u

.
,
sh a ll do the s a me As fo r M J a copo y ou m u st
. .
,
decide a s y o u th in k best a n d i n deed there is n othin g , ,
in the world I wo uld n ot d o to s a tisfy him If he .
is n o t con ten t with the i n terest we pay him I will ,
gla dly sell an y p a rt o f my est a te th at he wishes t o b uy ,
a ll the more bec a u se I a m co n vi n ced th a t he thi n ks
he is doin g u s a gre a t fa v o u r i n o n ly a ski n g eight per

cen t fro m u s ; a n d I o n the c o n tra ry feel s u re this
.
, ,
su m w o uld n o t prod u ce a s m u ch if it were u t o ut

p
a t i n terest F o r on e thi n g whoever t akes over the
.
,
mortga ge will n o t compla i n a ll d a y a s he d o es ! I

h a ve written to him fou r or five tim es without getti n g
mon do o n his j ourn ey The M a rq uis however .

, ,
vo u chs a fed n o a n swer a n d o n Februa ry 6 Eli s abett a ,
ren ewed her requ est s ayi n g th a t her lord h a d gon e ,
t o S i ni ga gli a for a few d ays an d h a d desired her t o ,
write i n his ste a d a n d beg him to gr a n t M B ald a s .
s are this fa vou r I pra y Your E xcelle n cy to a llow

.
’
this sh e a dded th a t so he an d Mon sign ore m ay
, ,
enj oy a few d ays together t o their mutu al con sola ,
tion a n d ple a s ure B u t the M a rq u is preserved a

.
’
ston y silen ce an d B ald a ss are wisely j u dged it best t o

,
t ake n o further steps to con cili a te him 1

.
At the en d o f Febru ary the co u rt retu rn ed t o

Urbi n o Gu idob aldo wh o h a d n ot been there
.
,
sin ce he le ft fo r Rome m o re th an a yea r before , ,
received an en th u sia stic welcome from hi s s u bj ects ,
a n d c a r n iva l wa s celebra ted with a g a iety u n kn own
si n ce the d a ys before Ces a re B o rgi a s in va sion ’

.
The chief fe a t ure o f the festivities w a s the per

fo r m an c e o f a p a stora l pl a y composed by C a stiglio n e
a n d Ces a re G on z a g a a n d recited by them i n cost u me ,
before the L a dy D u chess a n d a brilli an t comp a n y .
I n the foll o wi n g dedic a tory epistle a ddressed to ,
Elis abett a by Ces a re Gon za ga when this pl ay of

Tirsi wa s pri n ted d urin g C a st igli o n e s a bsen ce i n ’
Rome the t wo frien ds a r e n a med a s the j oi n t a uthors

,
o f the piece
Sin ce l a st c a rn iva l some p a s t ora l verses were

, ,
composed by the most n oble c a va lier Messer B al

d a ss a re C a stigli o n e an d myself which a s Your High , ,
n ess wi ll remember were p a storally recited i n you r

,
presen ce ; an d a s we seek n o o ther r ewa rd fo r o ur sm a ll

l a bours th a n to see them gra ciously a ckn owledged by
Yo u r High ness it h a s seemed good t o me to pu t
,
1
A c h ivi
r o G on zg Ca a, ar t e
ggi d i
o B . Ca st igli on e .
A PAST O RAL PLAY 159
them together a n d sen d them to yo u We dedic a te .
them t o yo u with the gre a test plea sure b o th b e ,
c au se we kn o w th a t n o o n e will receive them more

ki n dly a n d bec au se they co n ta i n some men tion o f
,
yo u rself u n der the veil of a llegory altho ugh n o t i n , ,
deed i n those terms o f i n fin ite pra ise which yo u

,
deserve But y o u will deign t o look gra ci o u sly

on o u r good i n te n tio n an d remember th a t eve n the ,
gods are ple a sed with the ho n o u rs p a id them b y

mortals 1
.
’
But a lth o ugh Ces a re cert a i n ly took p a rt i n the

represe n ta tion a n d prob a bly helped his cousin with
,
his a dvice an d s uggestion s the compositio n wa s ,
chiefly if n ot en tirely C a st igli on e s work a n d we fin d

, ,
’
the poem described by Bembo in a letter t o the

2
D u chess a s Messer B alda ss a re s Eclogue ’
.
’
These Stan ze P a stora li were the first a mbitiou s

e ffort o f C a st igli on e s M u se i n the li n gu a v olg a r e
’
wh o se cl aims Bembo a n d his comp an io n s defen ded

so resol u tely The ott a va r i ma a dopted by him o n
.
this occ a sion an d the ge n era l style o f the eclogu e

,
’
a r e pl a i n ly borrowed from P o li z i an o s O rfeo th a t ’ ’
p a storal dra m a which h ad been first a cted at the

co urt o f M a n tu a a n d rem a i n ed a fa vo u rite model o f
,
Ren a iss a n ce poets B ut the im agery a n d met aphors

.
i n trod u ced show on ce more how deeply he h a d

drun k from cl a ssic a l so u rces an d how fa milia r he wa s ,
with the works o f Virgil an d H ora ce of O vid an d ,
C a tullus Petra rch s i n flue n ce is a lso stron gly felt

.
’
while n ot a few p a ss ages bea r a stron g liken ess t o

‘
B em b o s Asol an i a book th a t wa s a lre a dy p o pul a r a t
’ ’
the co urt of Urbi n o To u s the chief i n terest of the

.
p o em co n sists i n the a llusio n s which it co n t a in s to

the differen t person ages o f the d u c a l co urt The .
Se
1
i 23 7
rass , n:L tt iv 3 6
.
2
e e r e,
’
. .
a llegory a s u su al in these p ala ce represen t a tio n s i s

, ,
thin ly veiled The D u chess is the cen tr a l figure o f

.
the gro up —the milk -white G al a tea for whom the ,
shepherd I o l a (C a stiglion e ) p o urs fo rth his l o ve an d

p ai n i n stra in s th a t melt the h ard ro cks a n d dra w "
the wild be a sts from their l a ir— the goddess wh o h a s

her home o n the wi n din g b an ks o f bel Meta uro ,
’
an d moves a lo n g these h a ppy shores a tten ded by ,
lovely m a iden s robed i n white an d ga rl an ded with

,
flowers si n gi n g an d m akin g m u sic a s they go To

, .
her a ll the shepherds o f the cou n try brin g their

flocks an d herds si n gi n g of their l o ve an d l o st free
,
dom a n d strewi n g flowers i n her way With them

, .
c o me a troop o f str an gers fr om other l an ds a ttra cted ,
by the fame o f her be au ty an d goodn ess O n e there .
is fa mous a bove a ll o thers — a shepherd fro m the

,
shores of Adri a who fo r her s a ke wou ld fa in le a ve

,
his o wn l an d a n d come to dwell in this c o un try an d ,
1
i s he a rd si n gin g softly Alm a cortese N ext comes ’
.
an other from the b a n ks o f Mi n cio whose n a me is ,
hon oured a n d beloved by every shepherd i n yon der

l an d a n d who h a s been crown ed victo r i n every con
,
2
test Here too we h a ve the aged seer the N estor o f
.
,
3
, ,
the tr 0 0 p with the la urel o n his bro w a n d Ap ollo s

,
’
lyre i n his h a n ds whose co un sel is precio u s to all his

,
comra des a tten ded by an o ther yo uthful sw a in who

,
4
h as su ff ered cr u elly a t Love s h an ds a n d fills the a i r

’
with the so un d o f his complai n ts Yet on e more there .
i s a wise an d le a r n ed shepherd skilled i n a ll the a rts

, , ,
whose pra ises ar e he a rd on every shore an d by every

1
Bemb wh o h a d la t e l a
o, e a e y dd d d dic i
at on t o t h e u he to D c ss
his p m
oe o n h i s b ro t h e r a r lo C
ea t h , b e
’
nn n sd th the e orgi i g wi s w ds .
2 Co un t L o o o d vic C
an o
g ss
a , Ca st i li o n e s o u n
’
c si .
3 Mo r ello d a r t on a O .
4
Ro b er t o d a Ba r i .
1 62 C O U N T B AL DAS SARE C A STIGL I ON E
e tern a l pea ce an d rest secure from the s n ares o f

cu n n in g wolves He is the good Duke the Pri n ce
.
,
whose fa me h a s go n e o ut i n to a ll l an ds gloriou s a s ,
the sun i n its splen do ur cleme n t a n d j u st wise , , ,

’
lea rn ed a n d good This then wa s the dra m atic

, .
, ,
eclogue th a t wa s p a stora lly recited in the h alls o f

Urbin o o n the l a st d ay o f c a rn iv al 1 5 06 i n the , ,
presen ce o f Elis a bett a a n d her co u rt C a stiglion e .
himself a n d hi s co u sin Ces a re took the two chief p a rts

o f Iol a an d D a m et a a n d a t the en d a cho r us o f
,
shepherds j oin ed i n sin gin g the pra ises o f the divin e

l a dy who h a d stooped from h eav en t o bless this l an d
with her presen ce A mor esca or morris -d a n ce the
.
, ,
most bea uti ful we a r e told

,
’
th a t h a d ever been ,
performed at Urbi n o con cluded the e n terta i n m en t

,
’
a n d n ymphs shepherds c a va liers a n d l a dies p a ssed

, , , ,
h a n d -i n -h a n d i n to the b an qu et -h a ll si n gin g a s they ,
we n t We c an im agin e the delight with which C a s

.
t i gli on e s gr a ceful verses were received an d the

’
complimen ts an d pra ises th a t were showered upon

the a uthor The D u chess wa s gra ci o usly plea sed to
.
a sk fo r a copy o f the pl a y which sh e sen t a few ,
weeks la ter t o Bembo a t Veni ce This c opy there .

,
c a n be little doubt wa s the book o f verses

,
written
i n be a utiful ch a r a cters on p a rchmen t with a dedi ,
c a t or letter from Ces re Go z g a n d bou n d i n

y a n a a ,
bla ck velvet with wrought silver cl a sps which the ,

’
D uchess preserved a mon g her most precious tre a s u res ,
an d which her grea t -n ephew Guidob aldo I I pre ,

.
,
sen ted lon g a fterwards to C a st iglio n e s gra n dson ’
Cristoforo .
1
B effa -Negri n i , 4 1 5 Marli a n i , 330 .

t
P ho o, Ali n ar i .
G IU L I A N
O DE M DI CI
'
E .
BY A LL R I A T R R A A L (U I I )
O , F E PH E FF Z .
To fc p
a e . 1 62, V o l I
. .
1 64 C O U N T B A LD A S S A RE CASTIGLI ON E
was left a ft er m a k in g th a t o ld ten t a s I wa n t clothin g ,
for my horses When I wa s a t Ferra ra I a sked yo u

.
for some bl a ck cloth fo r m akin g a p a ir o f hose b u t ,
o u did n o t reply I wish t o h a ve it n o w , b u t prefer

y .
white t o bla ck , a n d sho u ld like it t o be very fin e an d

s ufficien t to m ake me a p a ir a n d would ra ther h a ve ,
t oo m u ch st u ff th a n too little I do n o t like to write .
a bout my o wn a ffa irs , a s I see o u ar e so fe a rfu l th a t

y
y o u h a rdly d a re spe a k o f them B ut I a m a n xio u s .
to kn ow wh a t is h appen in g ; if thin gs h a ve settled

down an d if ki n der words o r at le a st less u n kin d
, ,
on es a r e spoken of me Directly a ft er E a ster I thin k

, .
the Lord Prefect will come to M an tua Most o f .
’
the D uke s servan ts will a ccomp an y him but I sh a ll
n o t come either then o r l a ter
, u n til I c a n be q u ite ,
s ure o f a better reception th an I should h a ve a t

presen t Here by the gr a ce o f God we a r e a ll well
.
, ,
a n d h a ppy The L a dy Duchess is goin g to R o m e a t

.
,
an
y r a te before Le n t is over I h a ve n o o ther n ews .
,
b u t my serv a n t I l Rosso will be a ble to tell yo u

, ,
more by word of mo u th I hope th a t y o u will sen d .
me some o f your good s a lt mea ts fo r here t hey ar e ,
much a ppreci a ted espe ci ally by His Excellen cy o ur

,
L ord a n d I shou ld be very gl a d for him to t a ste

,
some o f o u r o wn I n order t o esc a pe p a yi n g toll .

,
y o u might get a p a ss fo r them i n the n a me o f the
M a rqu is o r M a don n a so th a t they should a ppe a r ,
t o be se n t to the D u ke — if i n deed I a m held worthy , ,
o f so gre a t a fa vour ! D o n ot fo rget the mon ey

th a t I o we M Timoteo When o ur Mon sign or o f
. .
M a n tu a is here w ith u s I me an to th a n k him fo r his ,
kin d in ten tio n to t ake my bro ther i n to his hou sehold

if it h a d been possible a n d beg to be a llowed to fin d ,
him a n other p a tro n with a tho u s a n d fin e words ! ,
The n when I go t o Rome as I must d o before my ,
j ou rn ey t o E n gl an d I a m sure t o be a ble to fin d a ,
n ew p a tro n I will a lso con trive to see y o u on ly yo u

.
,
must on n o a ccoun t men tio n my expedition .
‘
U IN M h
RB O, a rc
I N R O ME 1 65
The L a dy D u chess my mistress begs t o be com

men ded t o y o u a n d to M a d Polissen a an d sen ds the .
,
e n closed for her coma tr e M a d Fra n cesc a 1

. .
’
The prec a ri o us st a te o f G u i d o b a ld o s health led ’
Elis abett a to a b an do n her i n ten ded visit t o Rome ,
b u t tow a rds the middle o f April the yo un g Prefect

wa s se n t to w a it o n the Pope i n his u n cle s ste a d
’
.
C a stigli o n e a cc o mp an ied him t o gether with severa l ,
o f his frien ds — Lodovic o C a n oss a Gi u li a n o de Medici

’
, ,
a n d Lodovico Pio They were a j oyo u s p a rty a n d

.
l o dged i n C a n o ssa s ho u se a n d en j o yed the be au ty o f

’
the spri n g -time the sights o f Rome an d the splen dou rs

, ,
of the Va tic a n t o the full B a ld a ss a re was trea ted .
with m a rked fa vo u r by the P o pe an d the l a dies o f

the Rovere fa mily B u t the M a rqu is F r a n c esco s
.
’
s u spicio n s followed him even i n Rome where a ,
cert ain A u gu stin i a n fri a r Girol a mo Redin i wh o

,
2
,
wa s fon d of meddli n g i n politics a cted a s a spy ,
upon his a ctio n s a n d reported them to M an tu a O n .
April 20 the Prefect a n d the gen tlemen o f his s u ite

were presen t at a n a udien ce given by the Pope t o the
en voys o f the D uke o f S a voy O n this occ a sio n .
Giro l a mo Eremit a m a de good u se o f his eyes an d

ea rs an d the n ext d ay sen t the M a rqu is the followin g
,
letter co n ta in in g the res ult of his observa tio n s
The comin g of B a ld a ss a re C a stiglion e h a s I fi n d , ,
n othi n g to do with his missio n to E n gl a n d which he ,
tells me i s n o t to ta ke pl a ce for a n other mon th I .
h a ve n o t seen him a ga in sin ce the d ay a ft er my

a rriv a l
. Co un t Lodovico C an oss a tells me th a t the
Magn ific o Gi u li an o de Medici h a s t a ken him a w a y
’
from his h o u se a n d th a t he h a s n o t see n him si n ce

, .
But th a t is their u su a l way o f t alki n g ! I wi ll spy

1
Cod Va t La t
. . .
, 8 21 0 .
2
Is
a b ella d ’
s
E t e,
’
i . 1 25 .
1 66 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAST I GL I ON E
o ut their a ction s an d let yo u kn o w wh a t his move

me n ts ar e A n d then a s if a qu a lm of co n scien ce
.
’
h a d s u dde n ly seized him he a dds It is true th a t I a m

,
s orry t o be mixed up i n this sort o f bu sin ess i n which ,
on e c an n ot spe a k well o f every on e a n d i n which o n e ,
obliged n o t to men tio n the n a mes a n d a ction s o f

cert a i n perso n s 1
.
’
C a stiglion e a n d his frien ds co uld a fford to l augh a t

the pryi n g fri a r b u t the sore ran kled in the y o un g
,
m an s bre a st an d he felt more con vin ced th an ever th a t

’
his lord s ea rs h a d been p o iso n ed by m a liciou s sl a n ders

’
.
U n l u ckily M a do n n a L u igi a chose this momen t t o

,
a dmi n ister a reb u ke t o her son fo r his extr a v a g an t
h a bits I n spite of her rega rd for the D u chess sh e

.
,
h ad n ever cordi ally approved of B ald a ss a re s exch an ge

’
of m a sters an d n ow sh e began to re alize th at the

,
p a th he h a d chosen wa s n ot likely t o le a d to fortun e .
Mon ey was sc a rce a t Urbin o his s al ary was sm a ll an d ,
i rr egula ry p a id an d expe n ses were he a vy

, So the .
c au tiou s m o ther took this opportu n ity o f exhorti n g

her son to grea ter pru den ce a n d more rigid eco n omy .
B a ld a ss are n ot u n n a t u r ally resen ted this good a dv ice ,
as we see from the followi n g letter :
I received the letter which y o u sen t me by I ] R osso

here i n Rome where I c ame on b u si n ess t en d ays
,
a o a n d where I sh a ll rem a i n a n other fo u r o r five

g ,
d ays a ft er which I hope to retu rn to Urbi n o a n d

, ,
soon come to Lom b a rdy o n my way t o E n gl an d .
I will n ot reply to a ll th a t yo u sa y bec a u se I wrote

'
fully the other d ay by Sign or Giov an n i s messen ger ’

.
But in a n swer to yo u r rem a rk th a t it is sometimes

n ecess a ry to u se self-restr a i n t an d n o t spe n d more ,
th an o n e h a s I must say th at I do n o t thin k I

,
deserve this repro a ch If you con sider how m a n y .
A ch ivi s t ric I t li
1
r ppe d ic e 27 8
o o o a a n o,
’
a n , 11 . .
1 68 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CA STI GL I ON E
co u sin Felice who a fter refusi n g t o wed the l an d

, ,
less Prin ce o f S alern o n o w bec a me the bride o f ,
G i an gi o r d a n o the stro n g -willed a n d eccen t ric chief

,
o f the O rsi n i ho u se B u t the P o pe fe a ri n g t o rec a ll

.
,
the splen do u rs o f Lucrezi a B o rgi a s weddin g w o u ld ’
a llow an festivi ie to be held a t his n iece s

’
n ot t s
y
m a rri age which w a s celebr a ted n o t i n the V a tic an
, , ,
b u t i n her brother C a rdi n a l G aleot to dell a R ov er e s

’
p a l a ce of the C a n c ellar i a F ull det a ils o f Gi a n gior .
d a n o s s t ra n ge proceedi n gs on t his o cc a si on were d uly

’
rep o rted to the co urt of Urbi n o where M a d o n n a ,
Felice s m arri age w a s a topic of a bs o rbi n g i n terest

’
.
Both the P o pe s M a ster o f Ceremo n ies P a ride ’
de Gra ssi a n d Emili a P i a describe how the bride

’
groom kissed the bl u shin g bride a t the con clusi on

of t h e ceremon y m u ch to her con fu sio n a n d to
,
the s u rprise of her kin sfolk a fter which he i n sisted ,
on wa lkin g through the streets to his ho u se 0 11

Mon te Gi o rd a n o a mid a shower of co n fetti fr o m the
,
spect a t o rs a t the wi n dows Here n o prep a ra tio n s .
h a d been m a de fo r the bride s receptio n The ro o ms ’

.
were i n dis o rder an d the s upper wa s o f the sc a n tiest

,
kin d Two shou lders o f mutt on h a lf a l a mb h a lf

.
, ,
a kid o n e c a po n
, a n d three bowls of bl a n cm an ge
, ,
fr agmen ts o f the di n n er held at the Vice -Ch an cellor s ’
p al a ce h a d been brought ro un d an d lay he aped

, ,
together i n the s a me dish witho u t even a kn ife o r ,
fork so th a t the gu ests h a d to help themselves with

,
their fin gers Worse th an a ll were the an tics o f the

.
bridegro om He put his h at on Feli ce s he a d a s

.
,
’
they w a lked thro ugh the streets a n d kept on e of ,
his p ages h a ts o n his own he a d durin g the me al t alki n g

’
Sp a n ish an d Fren ch a t ran dom a ll the while 1

H ow .
1
G i us t i i in an ,
‘
D is p a cci iii ,
’
. 43 9 ; Luzio e R e n i er
,
‘
M an to v a e
U bi
r n o,
’
1 79 .
RAPHAEL S S T GE O RGE ’
. 69
ever this m a rri age which bega n i n so in au spiciou s a

, ,
m a n n er tu rn ed o ut very h a ppily Felice s good sen se

, .
’
a n d clever n ess prev a iled a n d a s the Pope h a d fore , ,
seen the i n fl u en ce which she obta i n ed over her

,
stra n ge h u sb an d proved n o i n co n sidera ble fa ctor i n

It ali an politics Thro u ghout the ch an ges o f the n ext
.
twen ty ye a rs sh e wa s l o y a l t o her o wn fa mily an d ,
rem ai n ed o n e o f C a st igli on e s best frien ds t o the e n d

’
o f her life .
O n B a ld a ss a re s retu rn t o Urbi n o prep a r a tion s fo r

’
his j ourn ey to E n gl a n d were pressed forwa rd The .
D uke wa s an xio u s to show his a ppreci a tio n of the

high ho n o ur p aid him by Ki n g Hen ry V I I a n d took . ,
gre a t p ai n s i n choosin g suita ble presen ts for his

a ccept an ce Beside the custom a ry gi fts o f val ua ble
.
horses a n d dogs a n d fa lcon s which his fa ther D uke ,
Federico a n d other It a li an prin ces h ad sen t to

,
Edw a rd I V a n d Hen ry V I I on simil a r occ a sion s

. .
,
G u idob aldo determi n ed t o give the E n glish mo n a rch

a presen t which sho u ld gra tify his well -kn ow n i n terest
i n the a r t of It aly This wa s a pictu re p a in ted by

.
on e o f the D u ke s o wn s u bj ects th a t wo uld give

’
Kin g Hen ry s o me ide a of the perfectio n to which

art h a d a tt a i n ed a t U rb in o The s u bj ect o f the .
picture wa s St George the p a tro n s a in t o f the order

.
,
o f the G arter a n d the p a in ter selected fo r this

,
h o n o u ra ble t a sk w a s R aph a el o f Urbi n o Altho ugh .
for the l a st t wo ye a rs the yo un g m a ster s time ’
h a d bee n chiefly spe n t i n Floren ce he still p a id ,
o cc a sio n a l V isits t o hi s home an d w a s a t Urbi n o fo r ,
some weeks durin g this spri n g S o i n obedien ce t o .
the D u ke s orders — i t m a y be a t C ast igli o n e s own

’ ’
s ggestio
u n — h e p a i n ted the be a utiful little p a n el o f
St George ridi n g full tilt a t the dra gon which n ow
.
ad or n s the Hermit age a t St Petersburg His fa ther

. .
h ad devoted severa l st an z a s o f his poem to the praise

‘
of il gra n Re Ed ua rd o a n d this ill ustrio u s order ,
worn first o f a ll a ccordi n g to him by Kin g Pepi n , ,
of Fran ce The p o et h ad i n eloqu en t l an gu age

.
described the i n sign i a of the G a rter an d the device ,
in scribed i n gold letters u pon the bl u e ribbon P ossa

H om
‘
r i r chi a a ltr z che ben e ma l y
' ' '
p e
p en s soi t qu z
’
his son pl a ced the word H om on the
No w
'
p en se .
G a rter worn by the w a rrior s a i n t a n d his o wn n ame , ,
R ap llello V an d delivered the p an el t o C ast i gli on e s

’
.
,
keepin g to be presen ted by him to His M aj esty of

,
E n gl an d .
A s C a stiglio n e h a d told his mother it wa s n ecess ary ,
th a t he sho uld be kn ighted before he set o ut on his

j ourn ey si n ce i n the qu a in t wordi n g of the an cien t
, ,
sta tutes o f the O rder o f the G a rt er the proctor or ,
dep u ty who wa s in st alled in pla ce of the n ew member

m u st be i n degree a t le a st a kn ight e n n obled with ,
a rms a n d o f u n bl a m a ble co n vers a tio n i n corr uptible ,
fame withou t an y m an n er of repro a ch Accordi n gly

, .
’
the D uke i nvested C a stiglion e with the hon ou r o f

kn ighth o od at Urbin o prob ably at the E a ster festival , ,
si n ce i n Ces are G on zaga s dedic a tory letter o f the ’
eclogu e the a u thor is described a s the Most N oble

‘
K n i ght B a lda ss are C a stiglion e A n d the letters

’
.
a ddressed to him on his j our n ey a r e i n scribed with
the title E qu es .
B a ld a ss a re s dep a rture however wa s del ayed for

’
, ,
some mon ths chiefly owi n g to the d ifficulties m a de by

,
Fran cesco Go n z aga whom G u idob aldo h ad a sked for a ,
horse o f his famous M an tu a n breed a s a presen t for ,
His M aj esty o f E n gl an d There ca n be n o doubt .
th a t Fran cesc o s un wo n ted relu ct an ce to oblige his

’
brother -in -law on this occ a sion a rose from the spite
which he still cherished aga in st C a stiglion e Yet .
17 2 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
1 ‘
Urbin o di arist Messer Fran cesco Ceci a so n o f the
, ,
Go n fa lon iere o f this city an d M Gi ulio d a C a gli , .

,
were sen t by the Duke to E n gl a n d with M B ald a s .
s a re di C a stigli o n e t o t a ke presen ts o f three h o rses t o

,
the Ki n g of E n gl an d who ga ve him the G arter l a st

,
’
wi n ter .
’
B ut si n ce the M a rq u is vo u chs a fed n o reply
to B ald a ss a re s requ est the ki n d D u chess m ade a
’
l a st a ttempt to soften his he art a n d wrote to beg ,
permission for B a ld a ss a re to visit C a s a tico an d embra ce

his mother a n d brothers an d sisters before he st arted
on his lon g an d perilou s j ourn ey This letter .
,
couched in the most pers u a sive terms wa s sen t to ,
M an tua o n July 8 with a n other from the D uke ,
i n formin g his brother-i n -law o f Messer B a ld a ss are s ’
dep art ure an d beggi n g th a t he might t ake the horse

,
a n d fa lco n s which Fr a n cesco h a d a t le n gth a greed to
sen d t o E n gl an d .
We th an k yo u i n fin itely for you r promised gi fts ,
an d feel s ure they will redo un d t o yo u r hon ou r

a n d credit with His M aj esty of E n gl an d Messer .
B a ld a ss a re wi ll sta rt o n his j o urn ey fro m here to

morrow Be so good a s to sen d these thin gs to him
.
on his p a ss a ge thro ugh yo u r domin io n s a ro a d which ,
he will gra tefu lly t ake by yo u r le a ve Y ou c an then .
tell M B a ld a ss a re if y o u h a ve a n y b u sin ess i n th o se

.
l a n ds a n d I h a ve ch a rged him to exec ute a n y orders

,
th a t you m ay give him with the s a me faithfuln ess an d

diligen ce a s o ur o wn 2
.
’
But the M a rqu is still rem a in ed obd u ra te a n d C a s ,
t i gli on e wa s n o t a llowed t o visit C a s a tico I n his fit .
o f b a d temper he m a de di ffi c u lties a bo u t the horse ,
a n d told his brother -i n la w th a t the ch a rger in

1
Co d Va t U r b , 9 04
. . . .
2
c ivi z
A r h o G on aga, Cart egg i di
o B . Cast i gli on e .
H O RSE S F O R E N GL A N D 1 73
q u estio n would be thrown a w a y s i n ce in E n gl a n d n o ,
o n e c a red for big h o rses G u idob a ldo i n reply ex

.
, ,
pressed gre a t s urprise a t this obj ecti o n a n d rec alled ,
the ex a mples o f his fa ther D uke Federic o o f Ercole, ,
d E ste an d o f Ki n g Ferdi n an d wh o h a d a ll sen t

’
, ,
horses o f this size to the Ki n g of E n gl an d on bei n g ,
i n vested with the O rder o f the G a rter bec au se they ,
u n derstood them to be more a ccept a ble th a n a n y
other presen t . S o th a t h a v i n g co n sidered the

,
subj ect lo n g a n d seriou sly a n d h a vin g he a rd from ,
E n glan d th a t a mo n g other gifts a big horse wo u ld

, ,
be especi a lly a ccept a ble to His M aj esty we h a ve ,

’
decided to sen d this o n e .
This letter w a s writte n o n A u gust 4 be fore C a s ,
t igli o n e le ft G a z zolo B ut his tro u bles with the

.
M a n tu a n ch a rger were n o t yet a t a n en d When .
he rea ched Mil a n t en d a ys l a ter he fo u n d th a t the

, ,
horse which the M a rquis h a d fi n a lly sen t i n reply

to G ui d ob a ld o s ren ewed request w a s n e arly bli n d
’
.
I n his perplexity a t this vex a tio u s discovery he co n ,
fid ed his diffic u lties t o the M a rq u is s old M a ster o f

’
the Horse N iccol o Christo whom he met i n Mil a n

, , ,
an d who imme di a tely pro n oun ced the horse i n

qu estion quite u n fit for a presen t to a roy a l sovereign ,
an d
p romised to t a ke it b a ck to M an tu a S oo n a ft er his .
return on September 8 the ho n est serva n t a ddressed

,
the followin g letter to his m a ster i n which he gives ,
a full expl a n a tio n of this u n fort u n a te a ccide n t which ,
wa s prob a bly the work o f some o f B a ld a ss a re s e n emies

’
a t court
Whe n I wa s at Mil a n with Sign or Alberto di

C arpi Messer B ald a ssa re di C a stiglio n e a rrived with
,
two horses on his wa y to E n gla n d O n e o f these .
belon ged t o Your E xcelle n cy s breed but h a d a ’
,
174 C O U N T B ALDAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
serio u s in firmity bei n g bli n d o f on e eye an d seein g

,
little with the other This bei n g the c a se he

.
,
n a tura lly felt it wo uld n ot do Yo u r E xcellen cy

hon o u r to t ake a n ythi n g to E n gl a n d b u t wh a t w a s
exquisite an d perfect o f its ki n d A n d a s I h a d t o .
return to M an t u a he begged me to ta ke it b a ck
, ,
which I a m a bou t t o do I left Mil an l a st Thursd a y .

,
a n d re a ched C a s a tico on S un d ay eve n in g There .
I left t h e horse i n good h an ds I spoke t o the Most .
Reveren d Lord C a rdin a l who replied th a t he wo uld ,
n o t meddle i n this a ffa ir so I write t o a sk for Your ,
E xcellen cy s orders a n d will do wh at y ou wi ll The

’
,
.
horse is i n the st a ble of M a do nn a L u igi a di C a s

’
t i gli on e who will do a s Your Excelle n cy comm an ds
,
.
The M a rquis wa s a t Per u gi a with the Pope s forces ’
when his old serv an t s letter re a ched him an d se n t a

’
brief n o te t o his brother C a rdin al Sigismon d o who m , ,
he h a d left i n ch a rge at M a n tu a beggin g him to a tten d ,
to the m a tter I beg your High n ess he wrote on

.
,
’
September 1 8 to sen d t o C a s a tico for the horse

,
which B ald ass are di C a stiglion e h a s sen t b a ck a n d ,
1 ’
see th a t it is pl a ced i n a st a ble an d properly ten ded .
I n a letter to his m other from Mil a n B a ld a ss a re ,
thus a lludes to this vex a tious i n ciden t
I do n o t kn ow if this will rea ch yo u before o ur

go o d frien d M N iccol o s a rriva l He is bri n gi n g b a ck
.
’
.
the horse which h as been a n d is still the c a use o f , ,
in fin ite trou ble However I h a ve en du red so m a n y

.
,
worse thi n gs th a t I m u st bear this t o o I e n trea t you , .
n o t t o vex yo u rself a s perh aps eve n this misch a n c e

,
will be for the best in the en d—at lea st so I try t o ,
pers ua de mysel f I beg you to see th a t the gre atest

.
c are is ta ken of the horse s a ddle a n d all his trappin gs , , ,
he a dpiece an d clothin g a n d especi ally th a t the iro n,
1
A r c hi vi o G on z a g a ,
C a rt e ggi di
o B . Ca s t iglio n e .
mother to me bec au se we h a ve th a t hon our a n d

,
reveren ce for her which a m a tro n e n do wed a s sh e I S ,
with every virt u e deserves Go h appily o n yo ur

, .
j o urn ey which we pra y God m a y prosper a ccordin g

, , ,
t o yo u r wishes Your mother will be ever i n o ur

.
tho ughts a n d so will everythin g else th a t belon gs to

,
y uo . We beg yo u to co n d o le with her i n o ur n a me ,
a n d tell her th a t we will do a ll th a t is in our power
t o help both her an d y o u E t ben e va lete . .
E x MAR N G A g tE O, u us ,
The C a rdi n a l we see from this letter e n terta in ed

, ,
the kin dliest feeli n gs for B ald a ss a r e a n d his mother ,
a ltho u gh he pr u de n tly shr a n k from meddli n g i n his
brother s qu a rrels
’
.
After w a iti n g a t Mil a n some d a ys l o n ger in hopes

of receivi n g importa n t d i sp a tches from Urbin o ,
C a stiglio n e decided to con ti n u e his j o u rn ey on Sep

tember 4 The eve n in g befo re his dep a rture he
.
wrote t wo letters to his mother a n d se n t them by ,
S ca r am ella I n the first a fter repe a ti n g his or d ers

.
,
rega rdi n g the M a rquis s horse he a dded ’
I hope t o st rt to morro w and trust I m ay h a ve

a -
,
a good j o u rn ey I lea ve Fra n cesco here t o a wa it the

.
retu rn o f the groom who is t a ki n g the horse b a ck ,
a n d the t wo will j o i n me t o gether an d will I hope , , ,
brin g me letters f1 om y o u a n d th o se from Urbin o

which I h a ve bee n an xio u sly expecti n g For the .
future ple a se sen d all letters to the ho u se of the

,
V i sm ari o r o f Mon sign or dell a T o rre a n d they will be ,
forwa rded to me I sen d M a don n a Fra n cesc a a fan

.
,
which I did n o t let her h a ve before bec a use I wa s so

m u ddle — he a ded a s to fa n cy it wa s mean t as a reme m
bra n ce fo r yo u b ut which I fi n d M M a rgh erita
, .
me an t for her By the b y when M Fran cesc a

.
, .
1
Co d Va t La t
. . .
, 8 21 1 .
A FA N F O R FRA N CE S CA 1 77
writes to her aga in I hope

ddress her letter , sh e will a
A lla S ig n or a mi a on or a n da
”
“
n ot maj or a mi a ,
“
on or a n d a This you m ay say is a triflin g error ;

.
, ,
but I sho uld prefer to see it corrected The fa n .
seems to me very be a u tifu l although I do n ot thin k ,
there will be m u ch u se for it this se a son a s the ,
mosquitoes ar e n ot very tro u blesome I should like .
the en closed letters for Urbin o to be sen t by some

tru sted messen ger— n ot by post but by some s a fe ,
ch an n el for the love o f G o d O n e o f the C a rdin al s

’
servan ts wo uld do well if he h a s n ot yet st arted , .
P ost -scr ip t a I h a ve t a ken the liberty o f open i n g the

letter which M Fr an cesc a wrote to Sig M a rgherita
. .
,
a n d see th a t sh e did n o t u n derst an d wh a t I s a id ,
which w a s th a t M M a rgherit a sen t her this fan a s a.
presen t an d a lso these veils for which I p a id n othin g

, , ,
a n d a m n ow se n di n g
’
.
In a secon d letter written a few hours l ater he , ,
a ckn owledged the receipt o f o n e o f A u gust 27 from
M a do n n a L u igia in formin g him o f the de a th of h i s

,
sister P o li ssen a s poor little b oy who h a d it a ppe ars

’
, , ,
been ill fo r some time

It seems in deed a s if G o d h a d visited u s very
often o f l a te I a m deeply grieved for M J a copo
. .
an d M Polissen a who ar e I am sure sorely dis

.
, , ,
tra cted I sen d by N iccol o the mourn in g veils for

.
which y ou a sked an d the fan which the Ill u strious ,
L a dy M a rgherit a S an severi n a sen ds you to give

M Fr a n cesc a h a vin g he a rd th a t I wa s goi n g to
.
,
sen d her o n e It wo u ld be well fo r her to write a n d

.
th an k her I a m sorry M Tomm a so is ill I will

. . .
sa
y n o more for the prese n t but o n ly beg y o u ,
to try a n d keep well an d o f good cou rage for ,
there is n othin g I desire more e a rn estly th a n this .
Messer N iccol o will supply all my omission s by word

of mou th .
MILA N S pt mb 3 , e e er ,
VOL . I .
C a st igli on e s
’
con cern for his sorrowi n g mother ,
whose tea rs he wa s n o t allo wed t o dry is eviden t ,
from the letter which he a ddressed t o her on Sep

tember 20 from Lyon s
I kn ow when this letter will re a ch Your
n ot
M agn i ficen c e b u t I write t o th an k y ou for y o u rs

,
which I received from Fra n cesco who j oi n ed me here ,
i n Lyon s where I a rrived s a fely a n d well th an k God

, , ,
a n d a m spe n di n g fo u r d a ys to rest the horses which ,
h a d s u ff ered a little from the j o u rn ey a cross the

mou n ta i n s To -morrow if it ple a ses G o d I sh a ll set
.
, ,
o ut a g a i n on o ur j o u rn ey I am very gl a d t o he a r
.
th a t M Tomm a so h a s recovered but very sorry for

.
,
M J a c opo a n d M Polissen a They t oo must be a r

. . .
, ,
these i n evita ble tro ubles with p a tie n ce I kn ow n o t .
wh a t comfort to give yo u a s to the thin gs which h a ve

h appen ed a t home except t o beg y o u n ot to distress
,
yo urself ; for if Fortu n e is a s ch an ge a ble a s m en say ,
surely we m ay look fo r some prosperity befo re lon g .
I commen d myself with a ll my he a rt t o y o u an d ,
so do my comp a n io n s an d I beg y o u to try an d

,
keep well a n d comme n d me to all o ur family most ,
o f a ll to Suor L a u r a
’
.
The d an gers o f this dist an t j o u rn ey to u n kn own

l an ds m ay well h a ve filled M a d o n n a L u igi a with
a l a rm a n d the p a ss age o f the Ch an n el i n wi n ter w a s
,
dre a ded by every tra veller Pope J uli u s himself . ,
while still C a rdin a l di S Pietro i n V in cu l a h ad .

,
i n ten ded to visit E n gl a n d d uri n g his exile i n Fran ce ,
but o n re a chi n g C al a is he a b a n don ed his in ten tion

,
bec au se of the ro ugh n ess o f the Ch an n el O n ly a .
few mon ths before Ki n g Philip an d Qu een Jo ann a

,
o f C a stile h a d been shipwrecked o ff Portl a n d on their
wa y from Zeel a n d to Sp a i n a n d h a d bee n forced to ,
wa de to shore up t o the w a ist in w a ter ! Kin g

,
He n ry h a d immediately sen t C a rdi n a l A dri a n o

18 0 C O U N T B ALDAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
met by Sir Thom a s Bra n do n whom the Ki n g h a d ,

’
sen t to receive him i n His M aj esty s n ame an d brin g ,
him to Lon don .
’
Heretofore writes Ashmole the seve n teen th , ,
cen tu ry histori an o f the O rder o f the G a rter the ‘

,
S o v er aign h ath c a used the Proctor o f foreign K n ights

o f the O rder to be received with gre a t st a te for so , ,
on the 2 ot h o f O ctober the twe n ty -secon d ye ar of o ur ,
sov er a in lord Ki n g He n ry VI I there l an ded a t Dover

, .
,
a n oble a mb a ss a dor Sir B alth a s a r C a st ileo n sen t , ,
hither from the D uke of U rb in whom Sir Thom a s ,
Bran don with a goodly comp an y o f his o wn serv an ts

, ,
well horst met a t the S ea side an d then ce con tin u ally

,
kept comp an y with him till they c ame n eer Dept ,
ford i n Ken t ; where by the S ov era ign s c o mm an d '

’
he wa s met by Sir Thom a s D okara Lord o f St , .
John s a n d Sir Thom a s V r i ot h esley a li as prin cip a l]

’
,
V
,
G arter Ki n g -o f-Arms The s aid Sir Thom a s D okar a .
h a d a tten di n g him thirty o f his serv an ts all in n ew ,
li veries well h o rsed every Gen tlem an bea rin g a

, ,
J a velin i n hi s h an d a n d every Yeom an a Bow an d ,
a she a f of a rrows an d so they co n veyed him to his ,
lodgin g The n ext d ay they con d u cted him to

.
Lon don an d by the way there met him divers

,
It ali an s a n d P a u lu s de G ygeles the Pope s Vice

, ,
’
Collector to whose house he wa s con veyed an d

,
1 ’
there lodged .
Polidoro Vergilio wh o held the office o f Vice ,

’
Collector o f Peter s Pen ce a t this time a n d enj oyed the ,
speci al fa vour o f Hen ry VI I wa s a n a tive o f Urbin o .

, .
He h a d a ccomp an ied his kin sm a n C a rdin a l Adri ,
a n o C a st ellesi t o E n gl a n d a n d h a d been a ppoin ted

, ,
to the rectory o f Chu rch L an gton i n Leicesters h ire , .
Afterwa rds he bec a me Preben d ary o f L i n coh1 an d

E li s A sh m l I s t i t ut i d L ws f th Od ‘
1
a o e, f t he n on an a o e r er o
G t 1 69 2 A pp
ar e r ,
’
dix p 44 0 ; J A u s t is R egis t e f t h e O d e
,
en , . .
, r o r r
l i 25 7
’
o f the G t 1 7 24
ar e r, , vo . . .
ITAL I AN S I N E N GLA N D 18 1
Archde a con o f Wells but is chiefly k n ow n a s the ,
a uthor o f a L a ti n History o f E n gl a n d which wa s ,
u n derta ke n a t Hen ry V I I s suggestio n a n d dedic a ted .

’
to h i s successor Before the a uthor left Italy he h a d .

,
dedic a ted a b o ok on pro verbs to Duke G u idob a ldo ,
a n d w a s n a t u r a lly delighted to welcome a n e n voy
from Urbi n o B u t there were m a n y It ali a n s i n

.
Lon do n a t this time an d i n P olid oro s ho u se Ca s ,

’
t i gli on e fou n d himself s urro u n ded by comp a triots .
He n ry VI I h a d alwa ys e n co u r aged It a li an s to settle

.
i n E n gl a n d especi ally Ve n eti an s a n d Flore n ti n e

,
merch an ts with whom he often co n versed on It ali an

,
a ffa irs an d who were full o f a dmir a tio n fo r his we a lth

,
a n d fi n an ci a l skill 1
.
This kin gdom wrote a Mil an ese en voy to Lodo ,

’
‘
vico Sforz a i s perfectly st a ble first by re a so n of the
, ,
Ki n g s wisdom whereof every o n e sta n ds i n a we ;

’
secon dly o n a ccoun t of his we a lth fo r I a m i n formed

, ,
th a t he h as more th an si x million s o f gold a n d s a ves ,
d u c a ts ye arly ; which is e a sy fo r him a s his ,
reven u e does n o t merely exist on p a per b ut is a rea l ,
an d gre a t thin g A n d wh a t is more he n ever spen ds

.
, ,
a n ythi n g
’
.
’
Besides employi n g n ota ble m en i n Rome such a s ,
C ardi n al Adri an o or Silvestro Gigli a n d Giov an n i

of Lucc a he liked to h a ve It a li a n s a bout his perso n
,
.
Pietro C ar m eli a n o o f Bresci a wa s his secret a ry an d

court poet Polidoro his frien d a n d a dviser a n d when
-
, ,
Silvestro Gigli succeeded his u n cle a s Bishop o f

Worcester Hen ry kept him a t co u rt to a ct a s M a ster
,
2
o f Ceremo n ies a n d receive disti n g u ished foreig n ers .
C a stiglion e who h ad kn own the Bishop i n tim a tely

,
i n Rome a n d h a d origi n a lly hoped to tra vel t o

,
1
P V gili His t p 6 1 5
. er o, ,
’
. .
2
L E i s t i I t li R iss c i E gl d p 1 8 1
. n e n,
‘
a an en a an e n n an ,
’
. .
18 2 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTI GLI ON E
E n gl an d i n h is comp an y must h a ve rej oiced to fin d ,
this frien d a t co u rt a n d wa s n o do u bt i n tr o d u ced by

, , ,
him to the roya l presen ce whe n t wo d a ys a fter his , ,
a rriv a l
, he wen t to se e the Ki n g a t the p ala ce of
.
Green wich Here he delivered his creden ti a ls a n d

.
,
o ffered His M aj esty the presen ts sen t him by the

D uke o f Urbi n o —the horses a n d falc on s an d R aph a el s ’
little St Geo rge— i n an el o qu en t L a ti n o ra ti o n

. .
C a stiglio n e eviden tly m a de a very fa vo u r a ble impres

sio n o n the Kin g who co u ld himself S pe a k It a li a n
, ,
a n d who n o t o n ly received him very ki n dly b ut i n ,
v i t e d him t o repe a t his visit the n ext d a B a ld a ss a re

y .
,
on his p a rt w a s eq u a lly gr a tified a t this c o rdi a l

,
welcome a n d a t the i n terest which His M aj esty

,
showed i n Ita li a n a ffa irs even thou gh he own ed th a t

,
he fo u n d them diffi c u lt t o follo w bec a u se Ita li a n ,
powers were so ch a n gea ble B ut the E n glish .

’
mon a rch a s C a stigli o n e soon discovered w a s a d

, ,
m i ra bly well i n formed a n d thoro ughly a cqu a i n ted ,
n o t o n ly wi th t h e ge n er a l st a te o f a ffa irs b u t a lso ,
with the pers o n a l ch a r a cter an d a ttrib utes o f the

di fferen t Pri n ces who r uled over Ferra ra M an tu a , ,
a n d Urbi n o
1
.
I n the midst of these a bsorbi n g occ up a tio n s B a l

d a ss a re fou n d time to write a h u rried n ote to his
mother
‘
I kn ow th a t yo u a r e l o n gi n g to he a r fr o m me ,
a n d I write whe n ever I can Y o u m u st kn o w th a t .
o n N ovember 1 I a rrived here i n Lo n do n which is ,
the c apit a l o f E n gl an d s a fe a n d well th a n k G o d

, , ,
a n d wa s most ho n o u r a bly esc o rted to this city At .
the e n d o f t wo d a ys I wa s s u mmo n ed to h a ve a n
a u die n ce of His S a cred M aj esty the Ki n g who ,
tre a ted me with the grea test h o n o u r a n d ki n dn ess ,
1 V en . Calen d a r of St ate P a er
p s i
,
’
. 260 .
184 C O U N T BALDAS SAR E CASTI GLI ON E
an d a dmit the s aid B alth a s ar a s proctor for the s a me

D uke a n d to receive his o a th a n d i n st a l him i n the
,
lieu a n d pl a ce a n d for the s a id D u ke b u t a ls o , ,
further t o do therein a s t o the st a tu tes a n d l au d a ble

,
u s a ges o f t he s a id O rder it appert a i n eth a n d this o u r ,
wr itin g sh all be to y ou an d every on e Of you su fficien t

disch a rge in th a t beh alf .
“
Given u n der the se ale Of our s a id n oble O rder
o f the G a rter at o u r m an n o r Of G r een wi c h e
, the ,
7 t h d a y o f N ovember the 22n d ye a r Of o u r reign

’
.
,
On the followi n g d a y C a stiglion e rode do wn t o

‘
Wi n dsor a lo n g the fa ire c au sewa y which Ki n g
,
Hen ry VI I h a d l a tely m a de between Lon don a n d

.
‘
th a t town escorted by three n oble peers a n d a
,
g all a n t equ ip age At Win dsor he wa s e n tertain ed i n

.
’
the De an s lodgi n gs where a costly an d s u mptuous

’
supper wa s prep ared a t the Ki n g s expen se The ’

.
De an wh o h a d the hon o u r Of bei n g C a st igli on e s host ’
on this occ a sio n wa s Dr Christopher Urswick the .

,
’
Ki n g s Alm on er on e Of the most gen ero u s frien ds
,
o f Er a sm u s who dedic a ted his L a ti n version of

,
‘
Lucia n s Drea m t o his best an d kin dest Chris
t oph er i n gra titude fo r m a n y civilities an d fa vours
’
, .
Si n ce he h a d been m a de De an Urswick h ad en tirely ,
rebu ilt the Dea n ery a n d a pictu res que fragmen t O f

,
his work i s still preserved while h i s a rms a r e to be ,
seen o n the fa n -vau lted roof Of St George s Ch apel .

’
.
The l a st foreign visitor t o Wi n dsor h a d been n o less

a perso n a ge th an Ki n g Philip o f C a stile who a ft er , ,
bei n g wrecked o f Portl an d h a d been m agn ificen tly ,
en tert a in ed by Hen ry VI I an d i n st alled a s K n ight .
Of the G a rter The splen dours O f th a t occ a sion

.
were still fresh i n the De an s min d a n d M B a lda s ’
, .
s are w a s told how the C a stili an mo n arch hun ted i n

the p ark an d pl a yed r a ckets in the n ew te n n is -c o u rt
AT W I N D S O R 18 5
with my Lord Of D orset while Ki n g Hen ry looked ,
on a n d his d a ughter L a dy M a ry d a n ced an d pl a yed
the l u te ; how he a tten ded m a ss an d he a rd a Fre n ch

sermon a t St George s Aft er this H i s M aj esty spen t
.
’
.
the rest Of S u n d a y i n horse -b aiti n g an d m a squ es a n d ,
fin a lly rode Off by the river -side a ll the children Of ,

’
Eton stan di n g a lon g the b a rres Of St George s .
Cherche y a rd to see H i s M aj esty s dep a rture

-
,
’
1 ’
.
The n ext morn in g C a stiglio n e wa s led by three

K n ights Of the order through the door Of the Ch a pter
house i n to the choir Of St George s Ch apel where
, .
’
the blue velvet m an tle with the red -cross shield a n d

the coll a r a n d George were l a id on the st all a ssign ed
to the D uke Then the pro xie a s he is termed in
.
,
’
the G arter book kn eelin g at the a lt ar took a solemn

, ,
o ath on the Gospels i n the n a me Of the L ord Duke ,
a n d vowed to keep the st a tu tes o f the order in

viola ble an d t o defe n d to the best of h i s power all the
,
liberties a n d fr an chises belo n gi n g t o the College o f

O ur Most Blessed L a dy an d the holy m artyr George ,
where this most n oble Order wa s fou n ded .

’
When the ceremo n y Of i n st a ll a tio n wa s en ded the ,
r o x i e wa s co n ducted by h i s brother K n ights t o the

p
Dean s gre a t ch a mber where a b a n q uet wa s prep ared
’
a t the Ki n g s ch a rge a n d C a stiglio n e sa t i n the pl a ce

’
o f ho n our a n d w a s served a lo n e the other K n ights ,
bei n g sea ted at the en d Of the t a ble It wa s the .
custom for the n ewly -m a de K n ight or his pro xi e to

he vy fees to the priests choir V ic a r a n d vergers
p ya a , , ,
sexto n s an d bell -ri n gers o f the College o f Wi n dsor , ,
a n d to give a lms to poore K n ights O f the foun d a

tion b u t fortu n a tely for G u idob a ldo a n d C a s
,
t igli o n e the fees Of foreig n Pri n ces were p a id by

,
1
A sh m o le , 153 ; T igh e an d D visa , A n n a ls o f Wi ds
n o r,
’
i . 43 4 .
18 6 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CA S TI GLI ON E
the Ki n g a n d a ll the pr o xi e h a d to d o o n this

,
‘ ’
occ a s i o n wa s to bestow a l a rgess on the college .
We do n o t hea r h o w l o n g B a ld a ss a re rem a i n ed a t
W i n dsor o r if his comp an io n s to o k him h a wki n g the
,
n ext d a i n the For est d sh o wed him some o f th a t

y a n ,
gre a t v a riety o f sport which mightily ple a sed a Fren ch

Co un t wh o c ame t o E n gl a n d n o t lo n g afterwa rds
o n the s a me err an d for his Ki n g B u t we k n ow .
th a t o n his retu rn to Lo n d on he p a id visits t o

a ll the K n ights O f the o rder i n to wn a s wa s the ,
custom an d wa s fe a sted an d hospita bly en tert ain ed

,
by e a ch i n tu rn A ft er this he wa s sen t for by the

.
Kin g a n d we n t down aga in to the roya l p a la ce a t

,
Green wich .
This time he w a s welcomed with even gre a ter

ki n d n ess th an before an d the Ki n g seems thoro ughly ,
to h a ve a ppreci a ted the ch a rm o f his g u est s con

'
vers ati o n . Perh aps like the V en eti an C a pta in , ,
Vi n cen zo C apello M B ald a ss a re wa s i n vited to din n er

, .
,
a n d he a rd the widowed Pri n cess o f W a les K a theri n e ,
of Ara gon a n d her yo u n g sister -i n -la w L a dy M a ry

, , ,
pl a y the spi n et B u t it i s cert a i n th a t he wa s pre

.
sen ted to Hen ry the y o un g Pri n ce Of W a les a n d

, ,
wa s a s m u ch impressed by h i s t a len ts an d love of

letters a s Era sm u s w h o c a me to E n gl a n d i n this
,
s a me ye a r T O this visit we o we the splen did com

.
p li m e n t s which a r e p a id to He n ry V III by the a u thor .
O f the Cortegi a n o i n his ch a pter o n good mon a rchs

’
Look cries O tt a vi an o F r ego so at my L ord H en ry

,
’
, ,
Pri n ce Of W a les n o w gr o win g u p un der his gre a t

,
fa ther in every form o f excellen ce like a te n der shoot ,
i n the sh a de a fru it -l a de n tree to become even m o re

, ,
be au tifu l an d fru itful in its time F or a s o u r C a s .

,
t igli on e writes fr o m E n gl an d a n d promises to tell us ,
more fully o n h i s return it seems a s if i n this pri n ce ,

.
188 C O U N T BA LDAS SARE C A STI GLI ON E
to M Tolomeo beggi n g him to i n form His E x
.
,
c elle n c th a t I h a ve re a ched M an t u a a n d with his

y , ,
gra ci o u s permission w o uld gl a dly c o me t o see y o u ,
a t C a s a tico B u t I le a ve the m a tter t o y o u

. Y ou .
might con sult M Gio Pietro a n d sen d Fra n cesco to . .

,
meet me a t Crem a 1
.
MI LA N F b u y 9 1 5 07
, e r ar , .
P S . .
—
do n ot thin k it well t o give
I f you
M T o lomeo the letter yo u n eed n ot trouble
.
,
a bo u t it
’
.
M a don n a L u igi a delivered her son s letter t o the ’
powerful secret a ry a t M a n tu a witho u t del a y ; b ut

either he proved a fa lse frien d o r else the M arqu is ,
w a s still obd u ra te an d refu sed to a llow C a stigli o n e

to d o more th a n spen d a few d ays at C a s a tico O n .
the 1 3 th Tolomeo sen t a n ote couched i n his u su a l

s u a ve l an gu age
‘
M A G N I FI OO M B A L D A S S A R E —I rej oice m u ch
.
,
as
a s an of yo u r frie n ds t o he a r o f y o u r s a fe a n d
y
ho n o u red retu rn O ur Ill u strio u s Sign or s reply t o
.
’
yo u r petition is th a t he is willin g to a llow y o u t o go

a n d spe n d a few d a ys with yo u r mother a t C a s a tico
a s you desire A n d I beg yo u r lordship to give me

.
yo u r fu rther comm an ds i n a n ythin g i n which I a m

a ble t o do o u service an d to believe th a t I wo u ld
y ,
more gl a dly serve y o u th an receive the grea test

’
2
fa vours from others .
The momen t this letter re a ched B ald a ss are he

h a sten ed t o C a s a tico an d M a do n n a L u igi a h a d the ,
j oy of embra cin g her son o n ce more She wa s

n ot h o wever a ll o wed this ple a s u re lon g a n d fo u r
, , ,
d a ys l a ter he con ti n u ed his j o u rn ey s o u thw a rd .
1
Co d V a t L a t
. . .
, 8 21 1 .
2 I bid .
RET U R N T O URB I NO 189
On the 20t h he re a ched Bologn a where he fou n d his ,
m a ster the Duke i n a tten d a n ce o n the Pope an d wa s ,
a ble to give him a full report O f his missio n T wo .
d a ys l a ter the D u ke left Bologn a with the Holy

Fa ther a s B ald a ss a re i n formed his mother
,
Your M agn ific en ce will be gl a d to he a r th a t by ,
the gra ce of God I arrived here at Bologn a s a fe an d

,
well an d fou n d His Holi n ess the Pope a s well a s the

,
Lord Duke They h a ve both left Bologn a to -d ay

.
,
a d
n I hope to fo llow them to -morrow a n d fea r I ,
sh a ll n ot be a ble to ret u rn to C a s a tico this E a ster a s ,
the Duke d oes n o t wish it Me an while I sho u ld be .
grateful if y ou cou ld proc u re me som e mon ey to

a the twe n ty —fi ve gold d u c a ts which I borrowed
p y
from Vism a r a as well a s some thi n gs which I bought
,
o f him . Then there is my debt t o Mon sign ore O f

Ferr a ra which I kn ow yo u will be an xious t o
,
’
disch a rge .
This wa s a sum O f 200 d u c a ts which C a rd in a l

Ip p olito d E ste h a d sen t B ald a ss a re when he wa s
’
a t Mil an on his wa y to E n gl an d with a ki n d letter ,
wishi n g him a prospero u s j ourn ey an d beggin g him to ,
brin g b a ck some fi n e horses for his u se The yo un g .
kn ight h a d app a ren tly o n ly spen t fifty o f the

C ardin al s duc a ts a n d wa s a n xious to rep a y the
’
rem a in der a s soo n a s possible .
Ple a se sen d Fran cesco to Mil an to p a ck up those

b a rds which I left there a n d give them to the V i sm a r i
,
t o be se n t to M a n tu a A n d a s the D uke wishes to

.
give C a rdin a l S an severin o the dogs c a lled Mord a n o

a n d Bomb o I wish Fr an cesco to prese n t them to His
,
I ll u strio u s Reveren ce with the en closed n ote a n d see ,
th at he p u ts the gold coll a r an d silk le a sh on B o m b O .
As soon a s he ret urn s I sho uld like him to come here

,
with the m ules le a vi n g the sick on e at home if he is

,
190 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CA STI GLI ON E
n ot yet cured an d my three horses a n d the little ,
Ara b As t o this l a st I should like y o u t o con s ult

.
,
Seb a sti an o a n d see if he o ught to be bled a fter this

,
lo n g j o u rn ey but do n o t give him an y fodder except

,
i n g corn a n d stra w I a ls o pr a y yo u to a sk M a s t er .
Fra n cesco of the Sc u ol a or his son Jeron imo if he

’
, ,
k n ows a boy i n the vill age who c an write a good

h an d If so I sh o uld like to h a ve him to live with
.
,
me si n ce I n eed a secreta ry b a dly a s I h a ve Oft en

, ,
’
told y o u .
B L G N A F b u y 22
O O , e r ar ,
Three d a ys l a ter C a stigli on e j oi n ed his lord a t

Forli a n d wrote a ga in beggi n g h i s mother to sen d
,
a n other o f his dogs t o Mil a n by Fra n cesco a s a

presen t to Sig An to n io di S a n S everin o the h u sb a n d
.
,
Of his frie n d M a do n n a M a rgherit a after which ,
the servan t wa s to st a rt a s soon a s possible for

Urbin o brin gi n g with him m ules horses a n d dogs
, , ,
in fa ct the whole gre a t comp an y ! This wa s o n ’
Febr ua ry 25 O n the l a st d a y Of the mon th C a s

.
t igli on e ret urn ed t o Urbin o with the D u ke a n d the ,
a rriv a l o f the Amb a ss a dor from E n gl an d w a s d u ly
chron icled by the an n alist a mon g the chief even ts O f

2
the mon th .
1 Co d V a t La t
. . .
, 8 21 0 .
2
Co d Va t U r b
. . .
, 9 04 .
an d , after the custom Of the time seized his m ule , ,
which wa s a fterwa rds redeemed fo r six d u c a ts The .
highest hon ours were p a id him The ro a ds h ad bee n .
men ded beforeh an d The city ga tes were t aken .
down a n d the keys ha n ded t o him i n a gold dish ;

tri u mph a l a rches were erected a n d the Host wa s ,
born e before him on a richly -draped white horse

through the ga ily -decora ted streets The D uke pre .
sen ted him with 1 00 s a cks Of flo ur a s well a s ,
gifts Of win e an d mea t of corn an d poultry which , ,
the Pope ga ve t o the hospit al Of the Misericordi a .
The streets writes o ur frien d the di arist were so

,
’
‘
,
thro n ged with Bishops an d priests proton ota ries a n d ,
Offici als from Rome th a t you cou ld h a rdly cross the ,
Pi a zza a n d it wa s i n deed a bea u tiful sight

,
Within the p al a ce wa s a dorn ed with the richest

,
t apestries a n d most costly trea su res o f gold an d silver

pl ate m u ch of which h a d been brou ght from Ferr a ra
,
a n d M a n tu a for the occ a sio n All n ight the wi n dows .
bl azed with torches a n d a cross Of glitterin g fire ,
illumin ed t he Rocc a on the opposite heights The .
whole ai r writes the chron icler seemed fu ll Of

,
’
li ghts Very e a rly on the morn i n g o f the 28 t h His

.
Holin ess left Urbin o an d a fter s u bd u in g a ll the , ,
c a stles a n d cities on hi s way en tered Bologn a i n ,
1 ’
gre a t triu mph on St M art in s D a y The Pope s .
’
.
’
success wa s complete the Fren ch Ki n g a b an don ed ,

’
his a llies Giovan n i Ben tivoglio fled before the Victor s
,
a ppro a ch a n d the Pope born e i n a s u mptuo u s litter

, ,
presen ted to him by Queen An n e Of Brittan y was ,
h ailed by the people o f Bologn a a s a deliverer .
Althou gh it wa s win ter wrote on e spect a tor the ,

’
roses a n d flowers bloomed ab u n d a n tly an d it wa s ,
s ummer we ather so th at all the Bologn ese s aid , ,
C d V t U b 9 04 A lb e t i i D e Mi b i li bu U b is p 7 2
’
1 ‘
o . a . r .
,
r n ,
ra s r , . .
J UL I U S I I A T UR B I N O
. 19 3
Tr uly J uli u s comm an ds the he a ven s a n d the

,
pl a n ets ! An other witn ess — Era sm u s — wh o w a s

‘
a lso prese n t o n th is occ a sio n rem a rked The ,
Pope fights con quers tri u mphs a n d i n fa ct pl a ys

, , , , ,
the p a rt O f J u li u s to perfectio n 1
G u id o b a ldo h a d .
’
a ccomp a ni ed the Pope on his expeditio n a ltho u gh , ,
owi n g to his ill-he alth the a ct u a l comm a n d O f the ,
P a p a l forces wa s given to the M a rqu is Of M an tu a ,
a n d the u n fort u n a te D u ke spe n t most of his time a t
Bologn a i n bed O n Febr u a ry 20 the Ve n eti a n

.
a mb a ss a dor se n t home a r u m o u r which h a d re a ched
him th a t the D uke wa s a ctu ally dea d Two d ays

,
.
l a ter however he recovered a n d h a sten ed home t o

, , ,
receive the Pope on his wa y to Rome C a stiglio n e .

,
who a s we h a ve seen en tered Urbi n o with the D u ke

, , ,
an d g a ve him He n ry s gifts a n d a ffectio n a te mes ’
s ages w a s received by him with every m ark O f fa vo u r

, .
G u idob a ldo a n d his co u rtiers liste n ed with the gre a test

i n terest to C a st igli on e s descripti o n O f the splen do ur ’
o f the E n glish court a n d the we a lth O f these N orther n ,
eo le a s well a s Of the ch a r a cter an d h a bits Of the Ki n g

p p ,
an d his co u rt The D u ke he wrote t o his mother ’

.
, ,
‘
an d these other lords h a ve welcomed me most
a ffectio n a tely a n d a ll show the gre a test ple a sure a t
,
’
my ret urn Before h alf his story wa s told the Pope
.
,
a rrived on M a rch 3
, This time o n ly twelve C a rdin a ls .
a ccomp a n ied him the o ther h a lf preferri n g t o t ake ,
the e a sier a n d lo n ger ro a d thr o ugh T u sc a n y a n d th u s ,
a void the b a d ro a ds a n d bitter cold O f the j o u rn ey
a cross the Ape n n in es B ut n othi n g co uld d a un t the .
’
Old Po n tiff s co u rage o r s ubd u e his en ergy He .
re ached Urbi n o i n the highest spirits a n d wa s o n ce ,
more m agn ificen tly e n tert a i n ed by the D uke an d

D uchess Fortun a tely he only rem a i n ed two n ights
.
,
F M N i h ll Th e Epis t le s f E sm us p 4 2 1
1
. . c o s, o ra ,
’
. .
V OL . 1 . 13
19 4 C O U N T B AL D A S S A R E C A STI GL I ON E
on this occ a sion bei n g imp a tien t to rea ch Rome by
,
P a lm Su n d a y an d set o ut e arly o n the 5 t h to c o n

,
t i n u e his tri u mph a l progress The Duke a cco m .
a n i ed him a s far a s C a gli a n d the n return ed to t a ke

p
a few weeks m u ch —
,
’
n eeded repose .
’
‘
Here wrote B a ld a ss a re on M a rch 5 we h a ve
, ,
h a d His Holin ess the Pope fo r two d a ys so th a t we ,
h a ve been exceedin gly b u sy I n the ope n i n g sen .

’
t en ces o f the Cortegi an o he gives a fuller a cco u n t

Of these memora ble d ays
‘
After Pope Juli u s I I h a d by his o wn presen ce .
,
a n d with the help O f the Fre n ch red u ced B o log n a to ,
the Obedien ce o f the Apost o lic Ch a ir i n the yea r 1 5 06 ,
an d wa s ret u rn i n g to Rome he p a ssed thr o ugh ,
Urbin o where he wa s received a n d en tertai n ed with

,
a s much sple n do u r an d m a gn ifice n ce a s co u ld h a ve
been possible i n a n y o f the n oblest cities o f It aly so ,
th a t both the Pope himself a n d a ll the C a rdin als a n d

other co u rtiers were exceedi n gly well s a tisfied A n d .
there were some who a ttr a cted by the ch a rm Of the

‘ ,
comp an y rem a in ed for m a n y d a ys at Urbin o a fter

,
the Pope a n d his c o u rt h a d left d u ri n g which time ,
n o t o n ly were the u s u a l festivities a n d a musemen ts
held b ut every o n e tried to in crea se the merrimen t

, ,
an d fresh ga mes a n d diversion s were held every

e v em n
g .
This we kn ow wa s the precise momen t which

, ,
C a stiglio n e chose as the da te Of the co n vers a tion s de

scribed i n his Cortegi a n o the first o f which is s a id t o,
’
’
h a ve t aken pl a ce on the even in g a fter the Po pe s
dep a rture His repe a ted a llusion s to his o wn a bsen ce
.
,
a n d t o the letters which he wrote fr o m E n gl a n d a t
the time were gra ceful fictio n s i n ven ted to expla in

, ,
the fa ct th a t he himself t akes n o p art in these dis

Co t gi 6 1 r e an o , 1. .
196 C O U N T B A LD A S S ARE CASTIGL I ON E
’
C a rdi n al Giovan n i de Medici This s a i n tly m an sen t .
the Duchess a ros a ry which sh e va l u ed grea tly a n d , ,
Elis a bett a i n return employed a grea t m a ster of

’
p a in ti n g t o exec ute a devo tion a l picture for the
hermit o f C a m aldoli : U n fortu n a tely the un k n o wn ,
a rtist h a d del a yed to begi n the work a n d o wi n g to ,
the severity Of the wi n ter the colou rs took a lon g time

t o dry so th a t m a n y mo n ths p a ssed befo re the work
,
w a s completed B u t when d u ri n g th a t Holy Week

.
, ,
Messer B a lda ss a re visited the hermit i n the n arrow

cell a t C a m aldoli which seemed to him an d his frien ds
,
the holiest spot o n e a rth he took a co urteo u s mes ,
s a ge from the D u chess a n d told the go od fa ther ,
h o w co n sta n tly sh e thought O f his a u stere a n d

dev o u t life an d how e a rn estly sh e begged t o be
,
remembered i n his pra yers Elis a bett a herself fre .
qu en tly expressed a wish to V isit b o th C a m aldoli

a n d L a Vern i a the holy mou n t a in con secra ted by
,
the presen ce Of St Fran cis b ut wa s n ever a ble to

.
,
1
c a rry o ut h er i n ten tion .
H a vin g p a id his devotion s a t this shri n e i n the

he a rt of the Apen n i n es C a stiglion e retu rn ed to ,
Urbi n o for E a ster which wa s the occ a sion Of ,
ren ewed festivities i n the duc a l p ala ce O n April 6 .
n ews re a ched the D u ke th a t his n ephew Federico ,
Fregoso h a d bee n a ppoin ted Archbishop O f S alern o

,
by the Pope a n even t which wa s h ailed with a s m u ch

,
j oy by the citizen s as by the cou rt .
Bembo a n d Giuli an o de Medici both spen t E a ster ’
a t Urbi n o an d sh a red the ge n ero u s h o spit a li ty O f the

,
D uke a n d D u chess These were the h appy d ays

.
described by Ariosto th a t ki n g o f co urt -poets when

, ,
C a rdi n al de Medici w a s still a n exile fr om Floren ce

’
a n d his brother Gi uli a n o wa s a gu est a t the F elt ri a n
B mb L et t e i 25 0 iii 8
1 ’
e o, r e, .
, . .
THE MAG N IFI C O 197
co urt together with the

, a uthor Of the Cortegi a n o
an d Bembo
Qu dan o ilG i uli a n ofi

suo
Si i p
r ar o n e la Fe lt r e sca o rt e c
O ve c o l for m a t or d e l C o rt e g a n o , i
m
Co l B e b o, e gli a lt ri a r a l d o s ci iv A p o llo ,
’
si i
Fa ce a l e l o suo m e n d ur o e t r a n a s .
’ 1
Whe n B em b o s Ven eti an frie n ds bl amed him fo r

’
bei n g con ten t to live a t the D u chess s expen se he ’
retorted by poin tin g t o the M agn ifico Gi u li a n o the ,
brother O f a C a rdin al with an i n come o f ,
fl ori n s wh o c a me t o Urbi n o with t e n horses at the

,
time Of the Pope s visit an d stayed on for m an y

’
mo n ths a s the gu est O f the D u chess The freq u en cy .
o f Gi u li a n o s V isits a n d the sple n did hospit ality with

’
which he wa s en terta in ed a r e proved by the fa ct th a t

the wi n g O f the p a l a ce o f Urbi n o co n ta in i n g the
suite Of rooms which he occupied still bea rs the
M agn i fico s n a me It was d u ri n g these ye a rs Of exile
’
.
which he spen t a t Urbin o th a t he c a rried o n a secret

i n trigu e with a fa ir l ady n a med P a c ific a B r an d an o ,
who i n April 1 5 1 1 ga ve birth to a son a fterw a rds

, , ,
the C a rdi n al Ippolito of Titi a n s m agn ificen t portra it ’

.
O n e E a ster Eve a b a be wa s fo un d i n the street

w rapped i n white sw a ddli n g clothes with a silver
cl a sp an d t a ken to the Childre n s Hospit al D urin g
,
’
.
two yea rs the little fo un dli n g w a s n u rsed by foster

p a ren ts who i n 1 5 1 3 were s u dde n ly ordered by the
,
M agn i fic o to bri n g their ch a rge to Rome a n d were

h an dsomely p a id fo r their trou ble From th a t time .
the b oy wa s recogn ized a s his so n an d bro ught up i n ,
the Va tic a n d u ri n g the po n t ificat e o f his u n cle Leo X ,

.
C a rdin a l Giova n n i himself wa s a frequ en t visitor a t

Urbin o a n d h i s n ephew Piero s son Loren z o wa s
, ,
’
1
S at i ra Terza .
’
br o ught there a s a b a be by his widowed mother ,
Alfo n si n a O rsi n i an d ten derly n u rsed by the ki n d

,
D u chess .
B em b o sreside n ce a t the co u rt Of Urbi n o wa s eve n

’
'
more prolon ged B e O f good cheer he wrote fi ve

’
.
,
a n d -twe n ty ye a rs a fterw a rds to his yo u n g ro t e e

p g ,
Vettore S o r an zo who wa s gro an i n g over his p o verty

,
an d l a ck of Opportu n ities be O f good cheer an d do , ,
n o t a llow mel a n choly t o Oppress o u rememberi n g

y ,
th a t I wen t to Urbi n o with o n ly fo rty d u c a ts i n my

pocket an d rem a i n ed there si x ye a rs a n d witho u t
, ,
ever receivi n g more th an fo urteen du c a ts from my

fa mily .
1 ’
After m an y storms a n d tro u ble s Fortu n e ,
h ad a t le n gth brought him i n to a q u iet h a ven .
I n M a y o f 1 5 06 he h a d writte n disco n sol a tely to

Elis a betta from Ve n ice s a yi n g th a t his fa ther who
, ,
wa s ben t o n seei n g his so n embr a ce a politic a l c a reer ,
o r at lea st t a ke a rich wife positively refu sed t o ,
s u pply him with s u fficien t fun ds to go to R o me ,
a n d beggi n g the go o d D u chess t o get le a ve for him

‘
to i n h a bit rooms i n the B a di a della Croce at Avel

l an a i n the mou n t ai n s n e a r G ubbio A few weeks
, .
l a ter he wa s in vited t o Rome by his frien d Bern a rdo

d a Bibbien a n o w secret a ry to C a rdi n a l de Medici
’
, ,
a n d fo un d a lodgi n g u n der this prel a te s hospit a ble

’
ro o f un til he c a me to meet the Pope a t Urbin o .
He followed the P a p a l co urt to Forli t o prese n t ,
a petitio n from the K n ights Of Rhodes a fter which ,
he h a d in ten ded t o return to the B a di a dell Avell a n a ’

.
B u t Elis a bett a decl a red th a t she cou ld n o t a llow him

to spen d the wi n ter i n so rigorou s a clim a te a n d ,
i n sisted on keepi n g him as a guest i n her o wn house .
It was i n va i n th a t his frien ds in Ve n ice— his

Old father wh o h a d grown grey i n the ser vice Of
,
1 C d
M ci Cl x No xx ii 5 2
o . ar an a , .
,
. . .
, .
200 C O U N T BAL D A S SARE CASTI GLI ON E
TO his brother B a rtol o mmeo Bembo expressed

, ,
himself with still gre a ter fra n k n ess in a letter written

on the s a me d a December 1 0 1 5 0 6
y , ,
As to the surprise which all my fa m ily show

a t my rem a i n i n g i n U rbi n o a ll I wish to sa is th at
y .
I wo n der they should thi n k me so m a d a s n o t to

re ali ze wh a t I a m d o in g K n ow then th a t I do n o t
.
, ,
st a y here with o u t go od rea son an d th a t if I could ,
a dva n ce my i n terests better by goi n g t o Rome I ,
wo uld do so B ut let them sa y wh a t they choose !

.
They ar e fools who thi n k themselves wise a n d ,
i m a gi n e they c a n m a n a ge the lives Of others better
th a n their o wn If God gran ts me a few more yea rs

.
Of life a n d the world does n ot move ou t O f its co urses

,
for a few more mon ths they will I h ope see th a t

, , ,
I h a ve a cted wisely A n d even if the Po pe dies

. .
a n d the fa ce O f the world is ch an ged I sh a ll n o t be ,
worse O ff th an I a m n ow B ut keep yo u r cou n sel .

,
an d let m en sa y wh a t they ple a se Most pe o ple .
c ann ot see fu rther th an their o wn feet Y o u n eed .
n o t be a fra id lest the ch a rms Of these l a dies sho u ld
m ake me forget myself I c a n a ss u re yo u th a t I a m

.
n o t a sleep. A n d let this s u ffice you As for .
the extra v aga n ce with which I a m ch a rged do n o t ,
disturb yo u rself For I a m n ot a s gre a t a fool a s

.
1
you r Solomon s wo u ld m ake me o ut .
’
There c a n be n o doubt th a t Bembo kn ew his o wn

min d a n d th a t he h a d chose n well A typ ic a l .
h u m an ist O f his d ay he saw th a t his o n ly hope Of

,
Obt ai n in g a n e a sy life a n d freedom from c are wa s to

a tt a ch himself to a n oble p a tro n a t whose co u rt he ,
co u ld devote himself to the stu dy Of litera ture This .
w as his o n e gre a t p a ssio n a n d with a ll his fa u lts a n d

,
weak n esses he rem ain ed it m u st be s aid to his credit

, ,
true to the Muse whom he h a d served from boy

1 ‘
Lett ere ii ,
’
. 17 .
EM I LI A P IA .
( IM RIAL M US U M
PE E , V E I NN A )
.
To fc p
a e . 200, Vol I
. .
vi an o recited these verses i n cost u me before the

Duchess M a do n n a Emili a an d the lords a n d l a dies
, ,
a ssembled i n the gre a t h a ll O f the p a l a ce Of Urbi n o .
At O tt a vi a n o Frego so s request the poem w a s ’
a fterw a rds pri n ted a ltho u gh

, Bembo modestly de
c la r ed th a t c a r n iv a l verses written i n h a ste a t th a t
,
j oyo u s se a so n a n d recited i n those brief i n terv als

,
between d an ci n g a n d fe a stin g when fu n an d l au ghter ,
were gen era l co uld n o t be a r t o be re a d i n cold blood

, ,
b u t like fish o u t o f w a ter wo u ld lose all their fl a vo u r

, ,
a n d fresh n ess I n complyi n g with F r ego so s wish

’
.
,
he begged him to remember th a t he the c a va lier , ,
wa s rich i n gl o ry an d fa me d for v a li a n t deeds Of a rms ,
while his fr ien d the wr iter w a s poor a n d n eedy an d ,
co uld n o t well a fford t o s u ffer loss Of rep u t a tion 1

.
B u t i n poi n t O f fa ct these verses a r e a mo n g the

_
most gra cefu l an d sp o n t a n eous th a t Bembo ever

wrote a n d comp a re fa vo u ra bly with the more
,
l a bou red son n ets a n d epigra ms which excited the

a dmir a tio n of his co n tempor a ries .
Bembo an d his distin gu ished comp a n io n s were i n

con sta n t comm un ic a tion with their frien ds i n Rome ,
an d there w a s h a rdly a schol a r o f n ote i n the Ete rn al
City who did n o t con trive to pay a V isit to the co u rt

o f Urbi n o i n the co u rse Of the ye a r O n e Of C a s .
t igli on e a n d B em b o s most i n tim a te frie n ds who a lso

’
pl ays a lea di n g p art i n the Cortegi a n o w a s C a rdin al ,

’
’ ’
de Medici s secret a ry Bern a rdo D o vi z i better kn own
, ,
by the n a me of Bibbien a his n ative city a t t h e foot

,
o f the mo un t a i n o f L a Vern i a This bel Bern ardo

’
.
wa s a m an Of rem a rk a ble a bility wh o se pers o n a l be au ty ,
a n d re a dy wit e n de a red him to the co u rt circle a t
Urbi n o while the position which he held i n C a rdi n al

,
de Medici s hou sehold e n a bled him t o be o f gre a t use

’ ’
Lett e e iii 4 1
1
r ,
’
. .
IL BEL BER N ARD O 203
to both Bembo an d C a stiglion e Like Bembo he took .

,
min or orders e arly ; but this did n o t preven t hi m from

bei n g i n volved in m an y love a ffa irs to which we fin d ,
frequen t a llu sion s i n the letters which p a ssed between

Rome a n d Urbin o But i n spite Of his a mbitio u s
.
,
a n d ple a sure -lovin g n a t u re he w a s a m an o f stro n g ,
feeli n g an d c a p a ble Of i n spirin g deep a n d l a stin g

,
a ffectio n The d a ys seem ye a rs till I see Bern a rdo

.
ag a i n wrote Bembo to a m u tu a l frien d the Arch

’
, ,
‘
bishop O f S a lern o a n d c a n o n ce more enj oy the
,
ple a s a n t comp a n y a n d delightful con vers a tio n the ,
wit the j ests t h e co un ten an ce a n d love Of th a t

, ,
m an A n d cert a i n ly n either co n flicti n g i n terests

n o r the riv a lry O f politic a l p a rties ever a ltered the
love which he bore to C a stiglio n e .
A n other disti n gu ished m an Of letters who wa s a lso ,
a t o n e time secret a ry to C a rdi n a l de Medici — Filipp o

’
B er o ald o the yo u n ger Of Bolog n a — frequ e n tly visited

Urbi n o a t this period an d wa s on i n tim a te terms
,
with the au thor O f the Cortegi an o There is a n .

’
a m u si n g letter a m o n g B em b o s L a ti n epistles i n
’
which he l a u ghs a t the foolish fea rs which h a d pre

ven ted B er oald o from visitin g Urbi n o th a t spri n g ,
o n h i s ret u rn from Bologn a to R o me The reports .
whi ch re a ched the h u m an ist Of the distu rbed st a te

of the coun try a n d of the soldiers who i n fested the
ro a ds h ad a l a rmed him so m u ch th a t he regretfully
a b an do n ed his i n te n tio n o f visiti n g Urbi n o a n d took ,
the s a fer ro u te thro ugh Floren ce .
When I re a d your letter to those n oble l a dies ,
Emilia Cost a n z a a n d yo u r M a rgherita [ M a rgherita

, ,
Gon z a ga fo r whom B er o ald o professed especi a l devo

,
ti o n ] an d whe n they he ard th a t yo u did n o t d are tra vel

,
1 ‘
is
E p t fa m
. .
’
iv 1 5 0
. .
204 C O U N T BALDA S SARE CASTI GLI ON E
alo n g the Fl a mi n i a n W a y the s afest a n d most ,
fa mo u s ro a d i n It aly bec a use y ou were a fraid o f ,
meetin g t en or twen ty Of o ur m en -a t -a rms it excited ,
the grea test l aughter an d I was qu ite sorry y o u h a d ,
written so gre at wa s the scorn a n d co n tempt which

,
they pou red upon you r folly B u t if women deride .
y o u th u s wh a t do
y
, o u thi n k those stro n g a n d v a li a n t
k n ights O tt a vi an o Gi uli an o C a stiglion e a n d Ces are

, , , ,
Gon z aga s a id when they re a d yo ur letter I c an n ot

tell you how m u ch your o wn rep u t a tio n a n d dign ity
h a ve s uffered while I wh o tried t o defen d yo ur
, ,
c au se an d say th a t yo u a cted pruden tly fou n d ,
myself o verwhelmed with ridic ule 1
B ero ald o however could be witty a t B em b o s

, ,
’
expen se an d the ga y rep a rtees which he wrote fr o m

,
Bibbie n a s ca mer zn o i n Rome were the delight Of all

’
’
the l a dies Of Urbin o .
A n other gre a t fa vo u rite Of theirs the Petrarchist ,
poet an d m u sici a n An ton io M ari a T erpa n d ro wa s a lso

, ,
a t Urbi n o th a t summer a n d m a n y were the te a rs th a t ,
were shed a t h i s dep artu re a n d m a n y the mess ages ,
th a t Bembo sen t him from these fa ir frie n ds beggin g ,
him n o t to forget h i s promise b ut to retu rn very ,
soo n . T erpa n d r o w a s deeply a tt a ched t o Messer

L atin o Gioven ale an other member o f the R o ma n ,
Ac a demy which met i n C a rdin a l Giovan n i s ho u se ; ’
a n d when h i s frie n d s a ppoi n tme n t to a c a n o n ry Of

’
St Peter s re a ched Urbin o the poet i n B em b o s

.
’
, ,
’
‘ 2
gr aphic phra se j u mped o ut Of his skin for j oy
, .
’
L a tin o Gi o ven a le o r J uv en ale de M a n etti wa s him

,
’
self a clever verse -writer who wa s aft erw a rds employed

o n import an t missio n s by Leo X an d P a u l I I I an d . .
,
’
wh o is Oft e n me n tion ed i n the Cortegi an o .
1 ‘
E pis t . iv . 1 45 .
2 Le t t ere iii
‘
,
’
. 33 .
CH A PTER XIV
Ca s t igli o ne p ro p o s e s t o e xc h n ge e s t a t e s wi t h
a Er c iv gli
o le B en t o o
His s d d i ffi lt i —Missi t
d eb t an cu es on o Ki g L uis X I I
n o . at
Mil an M t i g wit h ld f i ds R
ee n O r en e t urn U rb i n o
to
I llus t i us g u s t s t c u t —C s t igli
r o e a o r a on e an d Bem bo s oe
’
p ms
S umm d y s t U b i er a a r no .
W H I L E C a stiglion e wa s every d ay becomin g de a rer

t o the D u ke a n d D u chess a n d more h a ppily settled ,
i n his home a t Urbi n o his frien ds a t home still ,
cherished a h o pe of rega in in g the M a rqu is s fa vour ’
an d bri n gi n
g him b a ck t o M a n tu a His mother as .
,
might be expected looked o ut an xiously fo r every ,
sign Of relen tin g o n Fran cesco s p a rt an d rej o iced ’
when i n M a rch 1 5 07 her ki n sm a n Lodovico C an oss a

, , , , ,
a rrived from Urbi n o a n d w a s gr a cio u sly received by
the M a rqu is B ald a ss a re he ard the n ews with s a tis

.
fa ctio n b ut when his frie n d Va len ti s uggested th a t

,
his former lord shou ld be a sked to fin d him a wife he ,
i n dign an tly rej ected this propos a l .
As for V alen t l s ide a th a t in order to a rran ge my ,
a ffa irs
’
he wrote to M a don n a L u igia o n M a rch 29 his
, ,
bro ther -i n -la w sho uld a sk the M a rqu is to fin d me a

wife it is I a m s u re very good o f both these ge n tle
, , ,
m e n to tro u ble themselves a bou t my h appi n ess n o n e

the less I thin k this course O f a ction might n ot o n ly
,
2 06
A N EXC HA N GE 207
profit me little but bri n g me h a rm a n d ridicule i n

,
the b a rga i n ! I wo uld n ever i n all etern ity co n se n t

to such a thin g If God p u ts a good m a rri age in
.
my w a y I will gl a dly embr a ce the opport un i ty

,
witho u t n eedin g a n y help from o thers but it seems

stra n ge to me th a t on e who h a s a lwa ys tried to
oppress me shou ld su ddenly ch a n ge his ways Wh a t .
little reput a tio n I h a ve a cqu ired — i f I c an c a ll it th a t

—h as certa in ly n o t been his do in g ! (I write th u s
freely a s I a m sen di n g this letter by h an d ) A n d a s
,
.
a cert a in propos a l which i n m y opi n io n seems very

,
fa vo u r a ble h a s been l a tely m a de t o me I a m goin g to

, ,
tell You r M agn ificen ce a bout it Wh a t h a s trou bled .
me most h a s been to fin d m yself witho u t su ffi cien t

fort u n e to live a wa y from M an tu a I n deed this h a s .
,
m a de me very u n h appy a n d still distresses me gre a tly , .
A n d a ltho ugh I sho u ld be sorry to give up my

n a tive c o u n try e n tirely yet I should feel m u ch s a fer
,
if I co u ld sec u re some me a n s Of s ubsisten ce else

where Wh a t I wish t o tell y o u is th a t Sig Ercole
. .
Ben tivoglio who is n o w at Urbi n o wa s n ever a ble to

, ,
se t fo ot i n Bologn a while the other B en t i v o gli were
reign i n g a n d si n ce they h a ve been driven o ut

, ,
he is less a ble th a n ever to go there a n d desp a irs ,
Of ever retu rn i n g to this his n a tive city S O th a t he .
is n xiou s to n d
a fi a resti g pl a ce for his decli n in g
n -
ye ars a n d thi n ks th a t M a n tu a wou ld s uit him very

,
well i n m an y respects more especi ally bec a use ,
his mother who is s a id to be fo n der o f him th a n O f

,
an
y o f her childre n h a s m u ch mo n ey an d, m a n y
j ewels an d good thi n gs Of which he thi n ks he wo uld ,
h a ve a la rge sh a re if he were n e a r her F o r this .
re a so n he h as proposed to exch an ge his property a t

Bologn a with mi n e a t M a n tu a givi n g me possessio n s ,
which other people tell me a r e worth 7 00 gold d u c a ts

, ,
a ye a r an d i n cl u de p a ymen ts from tolls a n d o ther

,
sou rces which do n o t va ry i n time o f plen ty o r

sc a rcity together with a good ho u se a t Bologn a a n d
, ,
a n other a t some dist an ce from the tow n wi th a very ,

208 C O U N T B A LDAS S A RE CASTI GL I O N E
be a utiful ga rden I listen ed t o his pr Opo sals an d we

.
,
disc u ssed the m together a n d agreed to res u me the su b

a fter E a ster s i n ce he 1 s desirous Of co n s u lti n his
j ec t ,
g
frien ds at Bologn a a n d I wished to he a r yo ur op i n io n
,
o n the m a tter a s well a s th a t Of M Gio Pietro He . . .

,
I k n ow t akes as wa rm an i n terest i n my affa irs a s I do

, ,
so I hope th a t whe n I come a n d see y o u a ft er E a ster ,
we m ay a rrive a t some con cl u sio n B ut I shou ld be .
gl a d if before I come you cou ld let me h a ve a word

, ,
to say whether this ide a plea ses o r disple a ses yo u It .
certa i nly ple a ses me highly bec a use I feel th a t I sho uld
,
be a ble to keep some O f my pr operty a t M an tua ,
where I a lw ays hope to 1 et urn some d a y an d sh o uld ,
n ot mi n d h a vi n g possession s i n both pl a ces si n ce ,
Bologn a i s n e a r t o M a n tu a a n d the 1 ev en ue is
good .
In the s a me letter he allu des t o a n other E n gli sh

ho un d which the D uke h a d sen t t o Sig An ton io di .
S a n Severi n o the husb a n d O f M a rgherit a P i a a n d begs

, ,
his moth er t o pay speci a l a tten tion to the precio u s

b a rds which he h a d brought from E n gl a n d h a n gin g ,
them sep a ra tely o n the w all an d seein g th at they a r e,
kept free from d a mp a n d d u st .
’
S ome Of o ur people he a dds are s u fferi n g from
, ,
a c u te rhe u m a tic p a i n s i n the side I remember th a t .
y o u o n ce told me Of a cert a i n remedy Of boiled ga rlic ,
plea se repe a t this i n yo ur n ext lett er B u t I h a ve .
gossiped e n o ugh for on ce a n d Aless a n dro will tell,
y o u m u ch more by w o rd O f mo u th .
’
Ercole B en tivoglio wa s the son o f a former r uler

Of Bologn a S a n ti Ben tivoglio by his m arri age with
, ,
Gin evra d aughter o f Aless an d ro Sforz a of Pes a ra I n

, .
1 4 6 5 three ye a rs a fter the de a th of her lord Gi n evr a

, ,
m arried his yo un g co u si n Giovan n i I I the rightful

,
heir who recovered the d o mi n io n s which S a n ti h a d

,
a secret u n til it is settled Directly Sig Ercole . .
h a s a rra n ged his a ffa irs we wi ll proceed with the ,
b u si n ess bec a use I h a ve qu ite m a de u p my mi n d t o

,
e ffect this exch a n ge an d hope y o u will be co n ten t

,
for the v a ri o u s re a s on s which I h a ve a lre a dy expla i n ed ,
a ll the more th a t we sh a ll n o t h a ve t o le a ve M a n t u a
en tirely b ut c an live there aga in some d ay ple a se God !

, ,
’
Here however the m a tter seems to h a ve en ded

, , ,
prob ably owin g to the su dde n de a th O f Ercole Ben ti

voglio a few weeks la ter Th at it wa s a relief to .
M a do n n a Luigi a we ca n h ardly doubt ; but her son

gro an ed u n der the lo a d of debts an d diffic ulties from
which he saw n o hope o f esc ape There is h a rdly a .
letter i n which we do n ot fin d some allu sion to this

i n cre a si n g burden He sold severa l of his horses
.
bec a use Of the dea rn ess Of corn a t Urbin o pledged ,
his fa mily j ewels an d fou n d himself compelled mu ch

, ,
to his distress to p aw n the gold colla r an d pen d an t

,
which the Ki n g of E n gl an d h a d given him I n his .
a n xiety to redeem this precio u s j ewel he sen t his ,
mother the richly embroidered m an tle which he h a d

worn at the E n glish court beggin g her to t ake it to ,
pieces a n d h a ve the gold orn a men ts melted down an d

sold B ut he wa s sti ll in dire n eed o f mo n ey a n d wa s
.
,
obliged to defer the exec u tio n of a scheme which he

a n d his mother h a d lo n g pl an n ed —the erectio n Of a
mon u men t t o his fa ther an d brother i n the fa mily

ch apel Of S Agn ese a t M a n t ua At M a don n a L u igi a s
. .
’
pra yer however B ald a ss a re sen t her the followin g

, ,
L a ti n i n scription i n memory Of his decea sed rel a tives

B A LT E S S AR I C A ST I L I O N O AVO
C H R I ST OP HO R O P ATR I H I E R O NY MO
FR AT R I B A LT ESS AR P I E NT I S S
OP E R A A LOV I S I /E G O N ZAGE
MAT I SR N T T I S QU I D M
P . EC . O E
QU UM FA M A I N T R
OR E
H MI N S
O S I I T US N SU I S
E o P R I P ER
VI G ET A NN M D V II xx O 0 O CT O B R I S
A FAMILY M ON UME N T 21 1
Y ou might in scribe these words he wrote o n ,

’
the restin g -pl a ce of those blessed sou ls my gr a n d ,
fa ther fa ther a n d brother for the presen t ; some

, , ,
d ay if o n ly ple a se God the st a rs ch a n ge their

, , ,
c o n tra ry co u rses I me an to erect an h o n ou ra ble

,
memori al an d the n we might thin k o f some better

,
words At presen t I a m t oo m u ch h a ra ssed ; b ut if

.
o u li e this i n scriptio n t o be a ltered l a ter it sh a ll be

y
d on e fk ,
His pious i n ten tio n however wa s n ot a ecom , ,
li sh e d u n til a fter his de a th whe n a st a tely tomb was

p ,
pl a ced i n the C a stiglio n e ch apel O f S Agn ese by .
M a don n a L u igi a .
A n ew an d hon o u ra ble missio n wa s n ow e n tru sted

t o C a stigl i o n e by the D u ke Of Urbi n o He wa s .
sen t to pa y hom age to Ki n g Lo u is X I I Of Fran ce .

,
wh o w as i n the a ct O f l ayi n g siege t o the revolted

city O f Ge n o a Both Alfo n so d Este a n d Fra n cesco
.
’
Go n z aga h a d j oin ed H i s Most Christi an M aj esty

with their forces an d the other powers o f Italy i n
,
their tu rn h a ste n ed to d o him hon o u r B ut whe n .
B alda ss a re re a ched Bologn a on M ay 1 9 he he a rd ,
th a t Gen o a h a d s u rre n dered a n d th a t Louis w a s ,
o n his wa t o Mil an Accordin gly he decided to

y .
,
tra vel by Mode n a t o Milan i n order t o be presen t a t ,
the Ki n g s tri u mph a l en try B ut a s u su a l pec u n i a ry

’
.
, ,
emb a rra ssmen ts stood i n his wa y .
I a m gre atly co n cern ed a t the prospect Of goi n g

to Mil a n without a n y mo n ey an d fa ci n g the V i sm ari ,
[ the b a n kers who h a d le n t him mo n ey ] an d the

’
C a rdi n al d Este S O I h a ve writte n t o C a rlo d a
.
C a stiglion e beggin g him to give yo u these 3 00 d u c a ts ,
an d wo u ld be very gr a teful if o u co u ld se n d them

y
at on ce t o M il an by a discreet an d trustworthy
Se i i 30 1
—2
r a ss , . .
14
21 2 C O U N T BALDAS SARE C A STI GLI ON E
messen ger I do n o t fa il to beg the Lord Duke

.
fo r s u pplies a n d h a ve a lre a dy written to him twice ;

,
an d h a d I k n own I wo u ld h a ve to go to Mil a n ,
I wo uld h a ve been so importun a te th a t perh aps

1
I should h a ve brought the mo n ey wi th me .
’
This time however M a d o n n a Luigi a wa s u n able

, ,
t o r a ise the n ecess a ry fu n ds Fortu n ately C a rdin al .

,
Ippolito far fro m pressi n g for p aymen t a ccepted

, ,
C a st igli o n e s excuses with the gre a test ki n d n ess

’
which a s he told his mother o n ly m a de hi m the

, ,
more an xiou s t o fulfil his Obliga tion s O n M a y 24 .
B ald a ss are on ce more rode i n to Mil an i n the s u ite

’
Of the victorio u s Fren ch mon arch whose en try he ,
h a d witn essed eight ye a rs before O ur Old frie n d Je a n .
d A u t on w a xes eloqu e n t over the brilli a n t we a ther

'
the rich t apestries an d bowers of verdu re th a t

decora ted the streets an d the a rches which Leon ardo
,
d a Vi n ci i s s a id t o h a ve desig n ed He g a zed with .
wo n deri n g eyes on the procession O f childre n be a ri n g

fleu rs -de -lys i n their h an ds on the 3 00 Mil an ese ,
a rmo u rers i n glitteri n g silver an d a bove a ll on the , , ,
l a dies be a utiful a s a drea m cl a d i n cloth o f gold an d

, ,
crimson velvet with j ewels twi n ed ro un d their lo n g

,
c oils o f h a ir —
This time three C a rdin a ls Ambrose
.
,
Ferra ra a n d S an S everin o— rode at the Kin g s side an d

,
’
the Viceroy Of Mil a n Ch a rles d A m b O i se the sto u t

,
’
Old gen er a l Gi an Gi a como Trivu lz io a n d the yo un g

, ,
D uke o f Bou rbon immedi ately behi n d him B ald a s

, .
s a re loc ked with i n terest o n this t all an d h an dsome

you th whose mother Chi ara Gon z aga h ad been
, , ,
escorted by his o wn p aren ts on her weddi n g j ourn ey

to Fran ce a n d who n ow met his It a li an ki n smen
,
’
for the first time Little did the Duke Of U r bin o s

.
en voy dre a m Of the terrible doom which this courteous

Se i i 33 1
ra ss , . .
21 4 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAST IGL I ON E
u n til vespers M a n y fa ir l a dies smiled on the youn g

.
courtier from Urbi n o th a t eve n i n g M a rgherit a P ia .

,
the wife of his frie n d A n to n i o di S a n Severi n o

an d sister Of M a don n a Emilia wa s there an d , ,
T r i v ulz i o s d a ugh t er in la w the Co n tess a di M u soch o

’
l 1
-
, ,
a s well a s m a n y l a dies of his o wn kith a n d ki n B ut

-
.
n o on e greeted him m o re gr a ciously th a n the M a rches a
Is a bella who h a d a rrived i n hot h a ste from M an tu a

,
a t Ki n g Lo uis s u rge n t e n tre a ty

’
This Prin cess w a s .
the cy n os u re of a ll eyes a s sh e sat a t the roy a l t able

a t the b a n q u et i n the Rocchett a a n d d a n ced with ,
exqu isite gra ce a t her ro y a l p a rt n er s side in these '

’
s a me h a lls where C a stiglion e h a d O ft en seen her in

’
D u chess Bea trice s d a ys .
A splen did b a n quet given by his frien d C a rdi n al

Ippolito con cl u ded the festivities a n d then B a ld a ss a re ,
m a de his wa y b a ck to Urbi n o where he fou nd the ,
D uke an d a ll hi s hou sehold i n the best of he a lth a n d

spirits The a rrea rs of s al a ry d ue t o him were promptly
.
p a id h i s an xieties were a ll a yed for the momen t a n d

, ,
he could enj oy the comp an y Of hi s frien ds an d the

ple a s an t s u mmer we a ther withou t a c a re .
Th a t se a son wa s lo n g remembered a t Urbi n o .
The severe wi n ter wa s s u cceeded by grea t he a ts i n

the S pri n g an d s u mmer E xcepti n g o n E a ster Eve . ,
when there wa s a violen t storm n o r a i n fell d u ri n g ,
t en mon ths ‘
There wa s o n e sea so n Ariosto si n gs
.
,
’
,
when Apollo seemed to h a ve on ce more given

Ph a eton the rein s o f his co u rsers a n d every well ,
a n d fou n t i n the l a n d r an dry an d o u co u ld p a ss

y ,
2
the most famo u s rivers witho u t a bridge The bed .
’
o f the river Fogli a wa s dry all the wi n ter the m i lls ,
co uld n o t work a n d the pea s an ts Of Cesen a brought

,
1
P l ao a zg
G o n a a, h a l - f sist er to A lb er t o Pi c .
2 S ti a z
ra Te r a.
’
A DRY S U M MER 21 5
their corn t o be gro un d a t C a gli Th a t ye a r h a rvest .
bega n o n the 26t h O f M a y in the va lley Of L a Fogli a ,
a n d by the l st o f J u n e w as i n full swin g thr o u gho u t

, ,
the c o un try B ut n o seed c a me up exceptin g a little

.
th a t h a d bee n sow n i n O ctober ; the b arley a n d o a ts

a n d clover were a complete fa il u re The price O f .
corn rose to sixty d u c a ts a b u shel an d C a stiglio n e ,
wrote to beg his mother t o sen d a lo a d Of o a ts a n d

stra w by bo at from M a n tu a to Ferra r a a n d Pes a ro ,
if the M a rqu is wou ld gi ve le a ve sin ce n o forage ,
wa s t o be h a d a t Urbin o S oo n the wells began to .
fail a n d wa ter h a d to be bought i n the town By

, .
J un e the well a t the ga te of Va lbo n a w a s exh a u sted ,
a n d on J uly 20 the gre a t well o n the m a rket -pl a ce ,
which h a d n ever been kn own to fa il before r a n dry , .
The me a dows were b u rn t up a n d the V i n t age wa s so ,
sc a n ty th a t wi n e h a d t o be mixed with three p a rts o f

w a ter a n d cider an d perry were l a rgely dr un k pe a rs
, ,
a n d a pples bein g the o n ly fr u its th a t were ple n tifu l .
Every on e s uffered b ut n on e the less a dds the

, ,
chron icler people were very well i n he a lth

,
1 ’
.
’
The fin e we a ther l a sted till Christm a s All through .
N ovember roses bloomed i n a b un d a n ce a n d a tt a r o f

roses wa s distilled from their lea ves stra wberries an d
m ulberries ripen ed i n December to the won der of ,
a ll wh o sa w them Fortu n a tely the seco n d h a rvest

.
wa s better th an the fir st a n d by the en d Of the ye a r

,
the price of corn fell t o its n orm a l level .
It wa s a lso a memor a ble ye a r a t the cou rt All .
thro ugh the s u mmer dist in guished gu ests c a me an d

’
wen t . The Pope s visits h a d a ttra cted u n ivers a l
a tte n tio n a n d the eyes Of a ll Europe were fixed u p o n
,
Urbin o E a rly i n the a ut um n Ki n g Ferdi n a n d the

.
C a tholic a n d his n ew Q u ee n Germ a in e de Foix , ,
1
Co d V a t U r b
. . .
, 9 04 .
21 6 C O U N T BALDAS S A R E CASTI GL I ON E
c a me to N aples an d expressed a wish to V isit the

,
Duke a n d D uchess b ut were un able to c a rry o ut

,
this proj ect A n other still more i llu strio u s V isitor

.
wa s expected a s we le a rn from sever a l p a ss ages i n

,
the letters o f Elis a betta an d C a stiglio n e th a t a u tum n .
This wa s the Emperor M a xim i lia n who h a d m a de ,
gre a t prep a ra tio n s for his Ita li a n j o urn ey an d wa s ,
V ery a n xio u s to see the fa mou s p al a ce Of Urbin o .
B u t the obsti n a te refu s a l O f the Diet to a llow the

expedition an d his own h a bit u a l l a ck O f mon ey
, ,
frustra ted his pl an s a t the la st momen t an d His ,
C ae s a rean M aj esty was un able to keep the promise

which he h ad m a de to the Duchess This decision .
was prob a bly a relief to her for i n A ugu st Gu ido , ,
b a ldo h a d a seri o u s illn ess which a lth o ugh fort u

, ,
n a t el O f brief d u r a tio n left him in e n feebled

y an
,
st a te Of he alth an d un fit to be a r a n y fa tigue The .
frequen cy a n d severity Of the fits Of go u t from

which he su ffered on ly i n cre a sed the an xiety Of his
,
wife a n d frien ds to a muse him by every me a n s i n

their power He Often wa tched his courtiers pla y
.
‘
i n g a t p a ll a i n the n ew h all which he h a d built to
’
ta ke the pl a ce Of the Old grou n d u n der S Domen ic o .

,
where the m a rks of the pl ayers b alls a re still to ’
be seen on the Dell a Robbi a l un ette a bove the

door . A n d he wa s n ever tired o f re a din g an d
discussi n g his fa vo u rite cl a ssic al a u thors with C a s
t igli o n e a n d Bembo or a n y Of the distin guished
,
schol a rs whom ch an ce bro ught to Urbi n o for a few

d ays .
Fili ppo B er o ald o a n d L a ti n o Gioven ale both Visited

Urb i n o th a t summer Bern ardo Bibbien a c a me i n
.
Augu st with his m a ster the C a rdin al a n d m a de ,
himself so agree a ble th at every o n e la me n ted his

dep artu re a n d a s Bemb o took c a re to tell hi s frien d
, , ,
21 8 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTIGL I ON E
welcome from the D uchess a n d felt str a n gely loth ,
t o go whe n s u mmo n ed elsewhere o n public or priv a te

,
b u si n ess For the court o f Urbi n o wa s n ot o n ly

.
,
a s Cristofor o Rom an o c a lled it i n on e Of his l a st ,
letters to Bembo the blessed temple O f a ll the

‘
,
virtues but a s C a stiglio n e a n d Bembo described it

,
’
, ,
a home of j o y an d c o mmon brotherhood a shelter ,
an d h a ve n where tro u bled souls co u ld fin d pe a ce Of
min d a n d freedom from c a rkin g c are .

’
Come here ! wrote Bembo t o L u igi d a Porto ’
who was lyin g ill a t Ven ice a n d oppressed with

stra n ge mel an choly Ever ythi n g i n vites y o u We . .
will l a ugh fo r a week an d drive a wa y the bl u es , ,
which I see h a ve l a id h o ld upon yo u If y o u l o ve

, , .
me be j oyful a n d keep up yo u r spirits fo I this I s the

, ,
o nly wa y to live Therefore come . .
A n d in a letter to L a ti n o J uv en ale in Rome he

writes :
‘
There is little to say Of o ur doin gs hei e ; b ut we
l a ugh we j est we pl a y ga mes we i n ven t n ew tricks
, , ,
a n d pr a ctic a l j okes we fe a st a n d stu dy a n d n o w a n d , ,
then we write poetry If I h a d more time which I .

,
h a ve n o t to d a y I wo uld sen d y o u a pro o f Of this i n

,
a be a u tifu l ca n z on e which my de a r M B a lda ss a re .
C a stiglion e h a s composed du ri n g the l a st few d a ys .
Y o u sh a ll h a ve it a n other time F a rewell O n the . .
2
9 t h O f September 1 5 07 i n more th a n h a ste
’
.
, ,
Prob a bly this the poem begin n in gca n z on e wa s ,
Am p i h e l p e si e or , o c
’
n r,
’
in which D a n te s fa mo u s lin e ’
Am mill m t m p d ’ ’
h or c a o a a o a or er on a,
is in trod u ced a n d e a ch verse a fter the fa shio n

, , of the
d ay e n ds with a li n e O f Petr a rch
, .
L tt iii 1 07 I bid iii 3 3

’
1 2
e er e, . . .
, . .
S ONN ETS A N D ELE GIE S 21 9
Aga in B embo
sen ds his Old Ve n eti a n frien d Trifo n e
G a briele on e o f his l a test pr o d u cti o n s a n e w ca n z on e ,
o n an O ld theme the de a th o f my brother the lovely ’

-
,
poem begi n n in g with the lin es

A lm a c s
o r te e , c h em d dal on o e r ra n t e
P a r t en t e n e ll t u pi u v d
a a er e et a,
Ha i m e l sci t m t d gli ’
a t a o e er n a en e in o o,
In the s a me letter he repe a ts how perfectly h appy he

i s a t Urbi n o a n d h o w ferve n tly he th an ks the fa tes
,
which h a ve bro ught him s a fely i n to por t a ft er a ll his

w an derin gs
Here I will o n ly tell yo u th a t every d a y I rej oice
the more t o h a ve t a ken the c o u rse for which a ll O f
my frien ds bl a med me more th a n yo u did a n d a m ,
co n fide n t th a t o n e d a y they too will pra ise the wisdom

o f my choice .
O n e d ayhe sen ds L u crezi a Borgi a t wo so n n ets o n

the device O f the C a rdin al O f Ar agon to remi n d his ,
Old comra des a t Ferr a r a of his existe n ce A n other .
time he e n closes wh at he describes a s h i s l a test

ca n z on e to his v ali an t brother -i n -a rms Archbishop ,
’
Fregoso an d i n vites the criticism Of his Rom an

,
frie n ds o n these compositio n s .
Most Of these poems were fugitive pieces which , ,
a s Bembo himself o wn ed o we m u ch Of their ch a r m ,
to the circu mst an ces i n which they were prod u ced .
Such for in st an ce wa s the son n et

, ,
d
I O a r o, e is p s t i v
la r o a n an o ,
m
Co e i l gi c c h i e d l ss
o o a, a o a sp ett a r,
’
which a n e a rly comme n t ator expl a i n s to be an

a ll u si o n t o a g a me Of p r op osi ti or q u estio n s a n d ,
a n swers th a t wa s pl a yed o n e eve n i n g a n d i n which

, ,
1
L e tt e re ii ,
’
.
, 28 .
220 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAS TI GLI ON E
the poet gives ve n t to his m ort ificat io n a t the D u chess s ’
refus al to reply to his protest a tio n s o f devotio n 1

.
’
B u t here a n d there we come a cross a re ally fin e

so n n et especi ally a mo n g th o se composed by C a s
,
t igli o n e who wa s withou t do u bt the best poet o f

, , ,
the group The L a ti n elegies i n which he wa rn s the

.
,
n ym phs O f the perils of the tre a cherous flood a n d the
d an gers of the u n kn own shore or rec a lls the cru el fa te ,
O f Hippolyt u s ; the verses on the D u chess si n i n g

g
’
Dido s l a men t to her lu te D e Elis abett a Gon zaga
c an en t e —n a t u r a lly excited the a dmi r a tio n o f the
cou rt b ut hi s fin est poetry we thin k wa s written i n

, , ,
the v ulg a r to n gu e H i s It a li an ca n z om a n d sonn ets

’
strike a deeper n ote th an a n y Of the elega n t t ri fl es

which B embo a n d his comra des t urn ed o ut with so
mu ch e a se a n d deftn ess They spe a k the l an gu age .
o f stro n g a n d tr u e emotio n a n d their te n der mel an ,
c h o ly a n d n a t u ra l gra ce a r e i n spired by ge n u in e
poetic feeli n g .
The a ir of Urbin o wa s h a un ted with cl a ssic a l

memories ; its a tmosphere wa s gen ui n ely litera ry ,
a n d the i n terests Of co u rtiers a n d l a dies a like ce n tred
i n these s u bj ects Every o n e brought somethi n g

.
to a dd to the commo n fun d Those who did n ot .
write could a lwa ys li sten o r criticize The yo u n g .
Prefect himself a born soldier O f co a rser fibre th an

, ,
the D ukes Of the Mon tefeltro ra ce took keen i n terest ,
i n Greek a n d Rom a n history an d co u ld disc u ss ,
Xe n ophon s retre a t or the siege Of C a rth age with

’
2
i n telligen ce Even C a rdin a l G a leotto a n d Gi uli an o
.
de Medici a s we h a ve see n wrote son n ets Letters

’
, , .
from Veron ic a G a mb a ra o r Gra zios a M a ggi L a tin ,
epistles i n prose or rhyme a rrived by every post from ,
V Mo t t i i di di mb ’
1
Co d V a t
. .
, 8 8 25 . Ci a n , ne t i F Be
. o, 91 .
2
R i p o sat i ii , . 1 27 .
t o ok u p his p a ra ble an d desc an ted on the immort a l

,
power Of Love a n d its Divin e origi n a n d the comp an y ,
listen ed spell -bo un d by his eloqu e n ce u n til the sho rt

, ,
ho u rs Of the s ummer n ight were welln igh over an d

d a wn wa s brea kin g I n the e a stern sky .
Then the wi n dows bein g Open ed o n the side Of

the p al a ce lookin g towards the lofty pe a k o f Mon te
C at r i a they sa w th a t a be a u tiful a urora Of rose -red
,
h u e wa s a lre a dy bre a ki n g i n the e a st an d th a t all the

,
st ars h a d van ished s a ve the sweet Q u een Of the realm

o f Ve n us who holds sw a y i n the borderl a n d o f n ight
,
an d d ay A gen tle breeze filled the a i r with fresh

.
n ess an d beg an to w a ken the sweet voices O f j oyo u s

,
birds i n the murm u rin g forests o f the n eighbou ri n g

hi lls All the comp an y rose a n d h a vi n g p a i d their
.
, ,
reveren ce to the L a dy Duchess a n d t aken le a ve o f

her wen t to their ro oms without the light of torches
, ,
1 ’
th a t of d ay bein g suffici en t .
C t eg i b k iv 7 3
’
1 or an o, oo .
.
,
C HAPTER X V
1 5 07 —1 5 08
Mu d er O f G i a A n dre by F c e sco M i a d e lla R o v e re

r n a ra n ar
C mm e t s f B e mb o d C s t ig li on e — Th e D uke s f ili g
o n o an a
’
a n
h e lt h —Th e c u t m o v e s t
a o r F ss m b on e —L a s t d y s n d
o o o r a a
d e t h o f G uid ob ald o —T i b ut e Of B e m b o t o h i m e m ory

a r s .
IN spite of
the compl a i n ts o f C upid a n d the r e
r o ac h es a ddressed by the a mb a ss a dors Of Ve n us
p
to the cru el fa ir who dwelt on the b an ks Of
the Met au ru s the l a dies Of Urbin o were by n o
,
mean s a ll o f them pr opf a ga i n st the wi n ged sh a fts

Of the god O f l o ve M a don n a Emili a it is true , ,
preserved a n i n viol a ble fidelity to her de a d h u sb a n d ,
an d C a stiglion e sought n o rew a rd for his whole

he a rt ed allegi an ce bu t a word o r smile from the L a dy
D u chess B ut there w ere others who were c a st i n
.
less heroic mould Even a t the cou rt of Urbi n o

.
youths an d m a iden s were hum an an d d a n ces an d ,
ga mes in the p a l a ce a s C a stiglion e own s a fforded

, ,
plen ty Of occ a sion fo r lovers to reve al their secrets

by meetin g eyes a n d cl a spi n g h a n ds It wa s ple a s an t .
to s t i a p a rt i n the deep recess o f the high -a rched
wi n dows on a s u mmer n ight an d listen to whispered ,
vows when J acopo di S an Secon do s V iol wa s pouri n g

,
’
out its imp a ssio n ed stra in s o r t o lin ger at the side of

,
a g a ll an t c a v alier u n der the roses a n d j ess a mi n e Of

,
223
the pergol a when the moon rose a bove the triple

,
pea ks o f S a n M a ri n o an d the cool ripple Of ru nn i n g

w a ter fell with soft murm u r o n the mid n ight ai r .
Bembo might desc an t i n eloq u en t periods Of the

mystic glories a n d Divin e origin O f Love but i t s
'
e a rthly side wa s n o n e the less fa milia r to him an d ,
his letters to Bibbie n a a b o un d i n cryptic a ll u sio n s to

their respective mistresses All m en live for love .
,
’
he s an g i n on e of his best poems an d he himself wa s ,
n o exceptio n t o the r u le M argherit a Gon z aga did

.
n o t t u r n a de a f ea r to B er o ald o s pra ises when her

’
betrothed h u sb an d wa s n o lon ger a t her side a n d the ,
M a gn i fic o s rel a tio n s with M a d o n n a P a c i fica were fa r

’
from bei n g Of a Pl a ton ic n atu re But there wa s on e .
love a ffa ir th at au tu m n which h a d more serio u s c on se

u e n c es a n d e n ded i n a tr agedy th a t forms a d a rk an d
q ,
p a i n ful co n tra st to the pea ceful j oys which m arked

co u rt life at Urbin o .
There wa s a you n g squ ire Of Vero n a n amed ,
Giova n n i An dre a wh o m the Duke h ad brought

,
home with him on hi s retu rn from exile a n d wh o ,
h a d disti n g uished himself fighti n g u n der the Church s

’
b an n er i n the c a mp a ign s Of R o m agn a Three yea rs

-
.
before G uidob a ldo h a d con ferred the h o n ou r o f kn ight

,
hood u po n him a n d h a d rewa rded his va lou r with a

,
gran t Of the c a stle o f S a scorb ar a a n d the l u crative

mills on the Fogli a Altho ugh Of h u mble birth
.
,
Gi an An drea s gallan t be ari n g an d polished m an n ers

’
m a de him a gre a t fa vo u rite n o t on ly with the ,
D uke but with a ll the pe o ple of Urbin o a n d he is

, ,
men tion ed a mon g the chief orn a men ts Of the court

by more th an on e writer B ut i n an evil ho u r this .
squ ire Of low degree d a red t o pay his a ddresses to

the Prefect s sister M a ri a Va ran a whose h u sb a n d
’
, ,
h a d been m u rdered by Ces a re Borgi a a n d wh o was ,

2 26 C O U N T B ALDA S SARE CAST I GLI ON E
wa s as h ot A u gu st a n d the roses were still i n

as ,
full bloom The D uke, with C a stigli o n e an d a few

.
others o f h is s uite wa s a bsen t fo r a few d ays an d

, ,
Fra n cesc o to ok t his opportun ity t o i n vite Gi a n

An drea to din e i n his ro o ms on e S a t urd a y even i n g
an d h a ve a fe n ci n g-m a tch a sport o f which the ,
yo un g Prefect wa s very fon d a n d i n which his guest ,
excelled After di n n er the you n g m en took up their

.
foils an d were e n gaged i n the con test when sudden ly ,
t wo Of Fr a n cesco s serva n ts e n tered fr o m behi n d an d

’
seized Gi a n An dre a by the a rms while the P r efet t in o ,
himself st abbed h i s gu est to the he a rt with a kn ife .
After this his serva n ts fell upon the u n fortun a te

kn ight an d fin ished their m a ster s w o rk The body ’
.
w a s left pierced with wo un ds on the floor O f the

room while Fran cesco tellin g his serva n ts t o keep
, ,
the door b a rred t o ok horse a n d rode a s fa st a s he

,
cou ld go t o his o wn city of S i n igagli a .
Me an while the Duchess hea ri n g a n oise c a me t o , ,
her n ephews rooms an d kn ocked a t the door B ut

’
.
n o a n swer c a me an d when Elis a bett a filled with

, ,
a l a rm , b a de on e o f the servan ts open the do o r ,
‘
he replied : M a don n a it is Of n o u se I h a ve the , ,
Lord Prefect s order to keep the d o o r fa st ; a n d

’
if y o u co uld open it y o u w o u ld see a sight th a t

wo uld be very disple a sin g t o yo u r eyes The .
’
D u chess i n sisted the door wa s thrown Open a n d a t

, ,
the sight o f the de a d body covered with blood the

poor la dy b u rst in to a flood o f tears B u t the .
P r efet t i n o wa s go n e con tin u es the Ve n eti a n en voy

’
, ,
who reported the gh a stly t ale a n d th a t s a me even i n g ,
he sen t some Of his serv an ts to kill his sister s c a rver ’
1
who h ad been employed t o bea r letters t o her lover .
’
Both court a n d city were filled with horror a n d

1
S an ut o, v11 . 194 .
M U RDER O F GI A N AN DREA 2 27
co n stern a tion a t the cruel deed a n d the Duke wh o , ,
retu rn ed immedi a tely o n he a rin g the terrible n ews ,
w a s pl un ged i n the deepest grief ‘

A n d the n ext .
d ay writes the U rbin o chro n icler

,
’
bein g the ,
1
M a don n a s fe a st d a y a ft er vespers the de a d kn ight
-
’
, ,
wa s born e with the gre atest ho n o u r to the D u o mo ,
fo llowed by all the Duke s gen tlemen an d a ll the ’
citizen s m en an d women gre a t a n d sm all all weepin g

, , ,
bitterly bec a u se he wa s so h an dsome an d so beloved

, ,
a n d for m an y ye a rs p a st n o on e who died i n Urbi n o

’
h a d been more widely l a me n ted 2
.
I n str a n ge co n tr a st to these words a r e the curt

sen ten ces i n which both C a stiglion e a n d Bembo
a ll u de i n their priv a te letters to the u n h a ppy Gi a n
An dre a s a ss a ssi n a tion

’
At the e n d o f a letter to .
his mother written o n N ovember 21 a fter givin g

, ,
o rders a bo u t some b a rds a n d horses tr a ppi n gs which

’
he h a d left at C a s a tico B a ld a ss a re rem a rked ,
There h a s bee n some distu rb a n ce here a bo u t a n

‘
u n fortun a te even t i n the d u c a l fa mily [i n Casa n ostr a ] .
However thi n gs a r e settlin g down n o w a n d the Lord

, ,
Prefect is here ag a i n so I hope there will be n o ,
fu rther trou ble i n the m a tter .

’
By this time n ews Of the horrid deed h a d rea ched

M a n tu a a n d M a do n n a L u igi a wrote full Of co n cern
, ,
a n d dism a y to m a ke i n q u iries O f her so n

, All th a t .
B a ld a ss a re however wo uld sa y i n reply w a s to beg

, ,
her n o t to vex herself a bout the i n evit a ble .
‘
Y ou n eed
distress yourself he wrote on n ot ,
’
December 2 a bout the dea th O f Gio A n drea

‘
m ay God p a rdo n him — bec a u se these thin gs whe n

, .
S u d y ft All S i t s D y w h ic h i t h e R m c l d is
1
n a a er a n
’
a n o an a en ar
Obse v d rth p t e l f s t iv l f c h u c h s c
as s c t d t the
e a r on a e a O r e on e ra e o
Bl ss d V i gi
e e r n .
Co d V t U b 9 04 ; U g li i II 1 4 1
2
. a . r .
, o n , . .
1 5 —2
228 C O U N T BALDAS S A RE CASTIGLI ON E
th ey a re on ce don e c a n n ot be un don e Everythi n g

, .
h a s bee n a rr a n ged th a n ks to the wisdom a n d dexterity

,
o f the L o rd D u ke a n d the Lord Prefect is here a g a i n

, ,
a n d is rest o red to H i s E xcelle n cy s fa vour a n d he

’
,
1
who n o lon ger lives is a lre a dy forgotte n .
’
B em b o referen ce to the m urder soun ds even

’
more cold -blooded a n d he a rtless i n o ur e a rs O n .
N ovember 1 3 b arely a week a ft er the deed which

,
h a d sen t a sh u dder through the co u rt an d city he ,
wrote t o i n form Bibbien a t h a t he h a d j ust ret urn ed

from a V isit to P a du a a n d observed th a t he wo uld ,
he a r the l a test n ews from Co u n t Lodovico C a n oss a ,
who wa s on the poin t Of st a rti n g for Rome .
The Co un t will tell yo u wh a t h a s h appen ed here ,
rega rdin g which he h a s received full a n d m m ut e

p a rti cul ars from Messer Ces a re S O I will keep .
s ilen ce a n d will o nly sa y this : he who might rem a in

,
stan di n g a n d falls by his o wn fa ult deserves t o li e

, ,
2
there aga i n st his will .
’
It is difficult to u n dersta n d the con fusion Of mora l

ide a s which co uld le a d a schol a r a s refin ed a s Bemb o ,
an d a k n ight a s ge n tle a n d high -mi n ded a s C a s

t i gli on e t o p a lli a te so d a rk a n d tre a cherou s an a c t
, .
All th at c a n be s a id in their defen ce is th a t by the ,
code o f ho n ou r common ly a ccepted i n those d a ys ,
there were cert a i n wro n gs which on ly dea th co uld

a ven ge . The situ a tion wa s n o do u bt a very di ffic ult
o n e both fo r the D uke a n d D u chess The perpetra tor .
o f the deed w a s n o t o n ly their o wn n ephew a n d heir
t o the crown b u t the Pope s n ephew a n d the a ffi a n c e d

’
husb a n d o f Elis a betta s n iece He n ce fa mily a s well ’

.
a s politic a l exige n cies led them to a ccept Fr an cesco s

’
excuses an d forgive his crime U n der these circ um .
i i 34 Le t t 2 ’
Se 1 ra ss , . .iii 1 5 er e, . .
THE AFFAIR HU S HE D UP 2 29
st an ces silen ce seemed to be the o n ly possible course

o f a cti o n a n d it bec a me the d u ty O f a loy a l courtier
,
to a void an y referen ce to the s ubj ect It i s however .

, ,
worthy Of n ote th a t both the histori a n s o f Urbi n o ,
B a ldi an d L eon i a bst a i n from the fa i n test a ll u sio n

,
to the m u rder Of Gi an An drea an d it is o n ly the

1
,
u n kn own chro ni cler o f the V a tic a n m a n u script a n d
the Ve n eti a n a rchives which s upply u s with det ails

Of the i n ciden t Ab a te S er a ssi in his n otes o n
.
,
C a st igli on e s correspo n den ce ow n s himself completely

’
b a ffi ed i n his rese a rches to expl a i n the mystery a n d ,
con fesses to complete ign ora n ce Of the even ts to

which M B ald a ss are refers i n the a bove -qu oted
.
p a ss ages .
S O the very n a me o f the D u ke s fa vourite wa s

’
n ever he a rd a g a i n a n d Fr an cesco M a ri a s crime wa s

’
forgotten u n til fou r ye a rs l a ter the murder Of C a rdin a l

,
Alidosi rec alled this V iolen t deed to the memory Of

his e n emies As for M a ri a V a ran a the other V ictim
.
,
Of her brother s ven ge an ce we he a r n o more o f her

’
, ,
an d o n ly k n ow th a t she wa s still livi n g a t Urbin o
from a c a su al referen ce to her i n the letters Of a

Ve n eti an en voy who men tio n s a report th a t sh e wa s
,
t o m a rry o n e o f the v a li an t S an Severi n o brothers .
This wa s G a sp a re better kn own by his s u rn a me , ,
Fra c a ss a who spen t some time a t Urbi n o i n the

,
spri n g Of 1 5 1 3 an d a ccomp an ied D uke Fra n cesco

,
M a ri a to Rome B u t the ide a wa s a b an do n ed an d

.
,
2
M a ri a a s far a s we k n ow n ever m a rried a gai n
, The ,
.
cou rt soo n resumed its wo n ted tra n qu illity The .
1 g i i ii
U ol n , 1 43 . .
2 Li s
tt a a n d D e n n i st o un bo t h tat e t hat ar a a ra n a M i V
a rr e m i d
zz S f z
G a lea o s c d
o r a Ri ar i o , t h e e on so n o f a t er n a o r a, o f C i Sf z
o rl F i
an d Im olaF mig i c
(
‘
a i ii
l e e leb r , b ut e
’
en tl
. on u e t h e vid y c f s
lady w i c si C di
t h h er ou n , ar n a l G a le o t t o s
’
t er, a ri a sis
t a , wh o M S is
cm id is p i c
i n 1 5 04 b e a e t h e b r e O f t h r n e .
Prefect retu rn ed to hi s Old q u a rters i n the p al a ce a n d ,
C a stiglion e an d Ces are Gon z a ga rode o ut with him i n

m a sks through the streets th at Christm a s a n d m a de ,
merry i n their u s ual fa shio n Bibbien a wrote witty .
letters as before from Rome ; we he a r Of on e espe

c i a ll a m u si n g e ffu sio n which w as a d d I e ssed to his
y
three comp a n i o n s Bembo C a stiglion e an d Ces a re G o n
, , ,
z aga a n d provoked the D u chess an d M a do n n a Emili a

,
t o m u ch l a u ghter B u t the de a th o f the P r efet t i n o s

’
.
yo un gest sister Cost an z a wa s a c au se Of fresh sorrow

, ,
to the du c al hou se She died i n R o me i n December

.
,
‘
a t the a e of eightee n gre a tly writes C a stiglio n e
’
g , , ,
t o the Lord D u ke s grief God w a n ted her fo r

’
.
Himself he a dds bec au se sh e wa s good

,
’
, .
’
’
Soo n a ft er this Messer Ces are s horse slipped down
on e s n o w n ight i n J an u a ry when he an d the Prefect
y ,
a n d B a ld a ss a re were m a squer a di n g i n the street a n d ,
this gay gen tlem a n w a s l a id u p fo r s o me weeks with

a broke n leg B a ld a ss are n u rsed his cou sin a tten
.
t i v ely a n d Wrote frequ e n t letters t o M an tu a to c a lm

,
his mother a n d u n cle s a l a rms ’

.
No r w a s M a do n n a L u igi a witho u t her a n xieties th a t

wi n ter Her so n -i n -law J a copo Boschett o wa s ill
.
, , ,
a n d worried his wi fe a n d ev e ry on e with his b a d

temper G o d restore him t o
. he a lth wrote
B ald a ss are on e d a y th a t he h a d received a n u n u s ua lly
dis agree a ble lett er from Messer J a copo It seems .
to me his bra in i s full Of th a t c u rsed go u t an d this ,
mu st h a ve a ffected his mi n d B u t these min or .

’
tro u bles fa ded i n to i n sign ific an ce when i n the e a rly

S pri n g the D uke fell d a n gero u sly ill .
I n J a n u a ry the we a ther which h a d rem a in ed ,
si n gu l a rly mild up till Christm a s t u r n ed bitterly ,
cold an d s n ow an d frost set i n with severity Gu id o

,
.
b aldo su ffered from a b a d a tta ck Of gout a n d at his , ,

23 2 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTIGL I ON E
y ou wish to deprive me O f the g o o d th a t I lo n g fo r
m o st ! I S n ot dea th which c an deliver me from ,
these cr u el p a i n s the ki n dest a n d best o f frie n ds !

,
’
A n d t u rn in g t o C a stiglion e he repe a ted these li n es

, ,
Of Virgil
Me ci c u m lim us ig
r n er e t d e fo r m i s a r un d o
Co cyt i , t a r d a q u e p a lus d
i n a m a b i li s un a
Alli ga t , e t n ovi e s Sty x i n t er fusa c o e r c e t .
’
1
A ft er th a t his vo ice fa iled b u t his dyi n g g aze rested ,
o n his wife s p a le fa ce a n d the D u chess t aki n g his

’
, ,
c o ld h an d i n hers tried t o c o n sole him with sweet ,
a n d te n der words O n April 1 1 he a sked fo r the .
l a st S a cra men ts which the Bishop Of Fossombro n e

,
a dmi n istered a n d b a de his n e a rest rel a tives fa rewell

, .
He a ddressed his la st co un sels to the Prefetto an d ,
ch arged him solem n ly t o govern his pe o ple well t o ,
be j u st a n d cleme n t a n d t o t ake his un cle the Pope , , ,
an d his n oble gran dfa ther D uke Federico for his , ,
models Above all he begged him t o Obey the

.
,
D u chess i n everythin g an d tre a t her with fili a l love ,
a n d revere n ce L a st of a ll he t u rn ed to Elis a betta c all

.
,
i n g her his Sp osa ca r zsszma e an d implored

’ ’
her to guide a n d help his n ephew i n the govern men t

o f the St a te th a t he might prove worthy O f his r a ce
, .
‘
B u t I n eed give y o u n o comm a n ds he a dded te n derly ;
’
y o u k n ow better th an I do wh a t I wish an d I ,
pla ce a ll my tru st i n yo u When his hea rt -br o ken .

’
wife tried t o hide the te a rs th a t sh e c o u ld n o t

restra i n he begged her n o t to weep an d distu rb the
,
pea ce Of his so u l S i n ce he w a s p a ssi n g t o a blessed

,
home After th a t he n ever spoke aga i n b ut la y for

.
,
some time with his eyes fixed on his wife s fa ce a n d ’
’
his h an d i n hers At t en O clock th a t even in g C a s
.
G e g iv 4 7 8 1 ’
or , . .
DEATH O F GUID O BAL D O 23 3
t i gli on e s n a tched a sp a re momen t to write the follow

in g brief n ote t o his mother
I o n ly sen d these few li n es i n an swer t o the letter
brou ght me by Fra c a ss a bec a u se we a re a ll i n the
gre atest distress H i s Excellen cy the D u ke is si n k
.
i n g fa st a n d the doctors give little o r n o hope Of hi s

,
life The loss is very gre a t for every o n e O f u s most

.
,
o f a ll for the poor L a dy Duchess whom I will n ever ,
lea ve a s lon g a s sh e n eeds my services G o d help u s .
I thin k the Lord Prefect will s u cceed pea ce a bly to

this d u chy M Ces a re is a t Urbi n o which is a good
. .
,
thin g a s n o on e else Of imp o rt an ce is i n the p al a ce

, ,
a n d we c a n n ot tell wh a t m a y h a ppe n
’
.
An ho u r l a ter the en d c a me The dyin g Pri n ce la id .
his right cheek u pon his h a n d composed himself to ,
S leep a n d with o u t the slightest str uggle p a ssed

, , ,
a w a y so ge n tly th a t C a stiglio n e an d the others wh o
k n elt a ro un d h a rdly kn ew when he wa s gon e ‘

NO .
’
‘
on e , wrote Bembo to Vin cen zo Q u er i n i ever died ,
m o re c almly a n d n obly an d i n a more Christi an

m a n n er .
’
Even the Ven eti an h u m an ist s cold an d c alcul ati n g ’
spirit wa s m o ved t o te a rs a t the prem a tu re dea th Of

this Pri n ce wh o w a s so precio u s t o his family a n d
,
frien ds an d S O de ar to his s u bj ects who h a d been

, ,
tr usted an d hon ou red by the Pope an d whose life ,
seemed n ecess a ry to the pe a ce of It aly We i n .
’
Ven ice he remi n ds his frien ds witn essed the cou ra ge
, , ,
con stan cy an d good n ess which he S howed i n the

,
we a ry d a ys O f exile when both he a n d the D u chess

,
ma de themselves S O de a r to u s th a t it w a s h a rd to
sa
y w hich Of the two w a s the more beloved .
A n d so e n ds the life Of the ra rest Pri n ce Of o u r

a e — let others sa wh a t they wi ll
g y
L t t e ii 65 1 ‘
e re,
’
. .
C HAPTER X VI
1 5 08
Th e P p s ds A c h b ish p F g s t F ss mb e—G i f f t h
o e en r o re o o o o o ron r e O e
D uch ss d l m t t i i U b i —C t i gli
e an a en al tt ton n r no as
’
on e s e er o
H y VI I
en r f E gl d d f
o l f D uk G u id b ld
n an an un e ra o e o a o
C st igli e s t t G ubb i —B m b t t is
.
’
a on en o o e o s r ea e .
T HE ews o f D u ke G u i d o b ald o s da n gero u s illn ess

n
’
w a s a c a use o f gre a t sorrow to his frie n ds a t the

V a tic an The Pope sen t the Archbishop Of S alern o
.
a n d his o wn doctor Arc an gelo d a Sien a to give , ,
him the P ap a l ben ediction an d a tten d him i n these

critic al momen ts B ut whe n Fregoso re a ched F o s
.
so m b r on e the good D u ke h a d a lre a dy bre a thed his

,
l a st a n d all th a t he c o u ld do wa s t o comfort the

,
stricken widow Both C a stiglio n e who witn essed

.
,
the D uke s de a th a n d Bembo who he a rd full par

’
, ,
t i cular s Of th a t movi n g sce n e from Fregoso tell u s ,
h o w br a vely the Duchess bore u p to the l a st It .
wa s o n ly whe n she saw th a t her h u sb an d w as de a d ,
th a t her co ura ge forsook her an d fli n gi n g her a rms , ,
with a cry o f a gon y rou n d his n eck a n d kissi n g ,
‘
h i s cold brow sh e excl a imed : Why h a ve y o u left
,
me my beloved
,
! Where e y o u go in g
a r ! At lea st
let me die with y o u ! The n sh e fell fa in tin g i n the
’
a rms Of M a do n n a Emil i a while every o n e i n the room ,
broke in to tea rs an d sobbin g an d throughout the ,
23 4
EL I SABETTA S C O URAGE ’
23 5
ho u se n othi n g b u t the sou n d of weepin g could be

he a rd F o r the n ext twe n ty -four hours fe ars for
.
Elis a betta s life were serio u sly en tert a in ed an d a

’
report re a ched Urbi n o th a t the D u chess wa s de a d ,
a s well a s her lord a n d excited a fran tic

, o u tburst
Of l a men ta tion The first thin g th a t roused her
.
from the stupor in to which sh e h a d fallen wa s the

a rriv a l of Archbishop Fregoso wh o re a d a letter ,
from the Pope an d begged her to thin k Of the you n g

,
D uke an d help him for the s ake of the love ,
which S he bore her h u sb a n d a n d the tru st which he

reposed i n her Fr an cesco himself spoke a ffection
.
a tely c a lli n g her his mother a n d remi n di n g her how

, ,
m u ch depe n ded upo n her a t this momen t With a .
gre a t e ffort sh e con trolled her grief a n d dryi n g her , ,
te ars ga ve the n ecess a ry orders for the fun eral an d

, ,
’
issued a procl a m a ti o n c a ll in g on the l a te D uke s
s u bj ects t o Obey hi s wishes a n d a ckn owledge Fran cesco
M a ri a a s his s u ccessor .
O n the eve n i n g o l e d n esd a y April 1 2 the , ,
D uke s body was born e o n the shou lders O f the

’
’ ’
con t a dzm o f Fossombro n e a tte n ded by the members ,
o f his h o u sehold c a rryi n g lighted torches o ver the ,
m o u n t i p a sses C a stiglion e who ro de a t the he a d o f

a n - .
,
the mou rn ful processio n describes the weird S ights a n d,
so un ds O f th a t sa d j o u rn ey —the weepi n g crowds who

lin ed the ro a ds the howli n g o f the d ogs o n the l o n ely
,
hillside a n d the d arkn ess o f the st arless n ight The

, .
D u chess followed some hours l a ter i n a litter with

her l a dies an d the Prefect who h a d ridde n o n before
, , ,
met the corpse a t the ch urch o f S an Ber n ardin o with ,
the n obles a n d gen tlemen Of the co urt All th a t d a y .
the gre a test a git a tio n h a d preva iled in the city a n d , ,
i n spite Of the sn ow which fell he a vily the m a rket ,
pl a ce wa s crowded with people thro ughout the n ight .

23 6 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTIGLI ON E
A meteor wa s s aid to hover i n the a i r a bove the d u c a l

p al a ce a n d the ga tes Of the Zoccol a n ti Ch urch i n
, ,
which D uke Federico was b u ried were see n t o open ,
wide a n d close aga i n A den se thro n g Of weepi n g .
m en an d wome n m a n y be a ri n g their b a bes i n their

,
a rms a n d striki n g their bre a sts a n d te a ri n g their h a ir

,
i n token Of their grief li n ed the streets a s the chief , ,
m agistra tes Of the city bore their de a d lord t o the

p al a ce gates H ere his body wa s cl a d i n the bl a ck
.
d am a sk vest rose -red hose a n d gold -frin ged c a p

, , ,
which he h ad worn it is s a id when R aph a el p ain ted

, ,
hi s portr a it an d over all was thrown the bl u e m a n tle o f

,
the G arter with crimson velvet hood li n ed with white

,
silk Th u s a ttired the D uke wa s l a id on a st a tely

.
c a t a falqu e h un g with gold broc a de an d s u rro un ded

,
with bl azi n g torches i n the cen tre Of the grea t

,
b a n qu et -h a ll an d here du rin g the n ext two d a ys

,
his s u bj ects c a me i n crowd s to t ake a l a st l o ok a t

their beloved Prin ce O n Thursd a y morn i n g D u ke
.
G u i d o b ald o s will wa s re a d i n the D u omo His .
n ephew w a s a pp o i n ted his heir a n d s u ccessor an d the ,
widowed D u chess wa s t o go vern the Sta te a n d a d

mi n ister the reven u es u n til he re a ched the age Of
twen ty -fiv e This pru den t proviso did m u ch to alla y
.
the fe a rs O f the citizen s wh o were i n cli n ed to lo o k ,
with su spicion on Fran cesco M a ri a an d h a d deeply ,
resen ted their fa vo u rite Gia n An dre a s mu rder ’

.
B ut s u ch wa s the l o ve which the people Of Urbin o

bore t o the D u chess th a t n o on e wou ld oppose her
‘
wishes an d a s Bembo told his fri en d it is qu ite
, , ,
certa in th a t if S he h a d chosen t o dispose Of the St ate

,
i n an y other wa y a ll the city a n d cou n try a n d every

,
m a n i n th e re a lm wo u ld h a ve obeyed her w o rd ,
p a rtly bec a use S h e held S L eo an d all the chief .
fortresses i n the rea lm but still more bec ause o f the

,
FRA N CE S C O MARIA PR O CLAIME D 23 7
i n credible love which they bore her The n the n ew .

’
1
D u ke wa s solem n ly procl a imed a n d a ft er receivin g , ,
the keys o f the city g a tes i n a S ilver b a si n ro de ,
through the town i n white s a ti n ro bes a n d with the ,
d u c a l c ap a n d crown o n his hea d a mid S hou ts o f ,
‘
Feltre ! Feltre ! D u c a ! Prefetto Accordin g to
the u s u al c u stom o n his ret urn to the p al a ce the
, ,
D uke s ch a rger a n d robes were give n up t o the

’
citize n s ; b u t s u ch wa s the excitemen t Of the you n g

m en o n this occ a sio n th a t his white s a ti n m a n tle li n ed
with cloth O f gold wa s torn to pieces an d i n order t o , ,
s a tisfy them Fra n cesco ga ve them a n other robe O f

,
bl a ck velvet an d a gold broc a de cl o a k Whe n the .
ceremo n y was en ded the chief citizen s were received ,
by the widowed D u chess I n spite of her p ale a n d .
a ltered a ppe a r a n ce a n d o f the te a rs th a t she co u ld n o t

,
check sh e m a de them wh a t o ur frien d the di a rist

,
c a lls a most bea u tiful speech th an ki n g them for a ll ,

’
their love a n d symp a thy a n d beggin g them to S how ,
the s a me l o y a lty a n d devoti o n to the Prefetto a s

they h a d S hown t o thei r l a st D uke I h a ve lost a .
most beloved h u sb an d S he s a id with t o u chi n g ,

’
simplicity a n d y o u a devote d Pri n ce an d fa ther

. .
Y o u a ll k n o w how m u ch he loved y o u B u t it is the .
will Of God who tries those whom He loves best

,
most sorely A n d S he th a n ked them for o beyi n g

’
.
h i s l a st wishes s a yi n g th a t the sight Of their love a n d

,
loya lty t o hi s desires would be her h u sb a n d s best ’
j oy i n he a ven an d the gre a test co n sol a tio n she

,
co uld h a ve 2
. At si x O clock the Bish o ps a n d priests ’
a ssembled i n the gre a t h a ll where a solem n req u iem ,
wa s held a n d a t eight all the citize n s with Fra n cesco

, ,
M a ri a a t their he a d a n d lighted torches i n their h a n ds ,
followe d G ui d ob ald o s rem ai n s to the church O f ’ ’
1 ‘
Le tt e ii 66 B ldi p 23 5
’
r e, 2
. . a , . .
S Chi ara Here the body la y i n sta te all n ight

. .
,
m an y women bein g a mo n g the wa tchers by the bier ,
and o n Frid a y a dds the chro n icler they bore him

’
, ,
to S a n B ern a rdi n o an d l a id him i n a c o ffi n covered

, ,
with gold broc a de o pposite th a t Of his fa ther as he

, ,
1
h a d willed a n d it ra i n ed torre n ts a ll the while
’
.
,
I n her deep sorrow Elis a bett a showed a wisdom

which excited the a dmiratio n O f soldiers a n d sta tes
m en a like Both Bembo who w a s i n Rome a t the
.
,
time a n d her w a rlike brother Giova n n i Gon zaga

, , ,
who h a d h a sten ed to Urbi n o o n hea rin g Of G uido

b a ldo s de ath pra ise her c a re a n d fo retho ught i n
’
sen din g tru sted co u n cill o rs t o the chief cities o f the

d u chy to e n s u re the yo un g D uke s pe a ceful s u cces ’
‘ ‘
si o n thu s S h o wi n g herself wrote Giov an n i to be
, ,
’
the wise an d pr u de n t l a dy th a t S he is .
’
C a stiglion e w a s sen t to G ubbio where the citizen s ,
were i n cli n ed to be un r uly an d dis a ffection wa s chiefly

to be fe a red a n d disch a rged his erran d with complete
,
s u ccess a s he i n formed h i s mother in a letter o f

,
Apri l 29
It is m a n y d a ys S i n ce I h a ve written to y o u ,
bec a u se I h a ve bee n S O m u ch o cc upied l a tely owi n g

to the grea t a n d bitter loss we h a ve s uff ered i n the
de a th O f my dea r lord a n d m a ster If the loss Of so .
excellen t a Pri n ce is grievo u s for the whole o f It a ly ,
it is far worse fo r u s here The L a dy D uchess is .
still i n the deepest distress bu t even sh e m u st t a ke ,
comfort i n time I cert a i nly thin k Her Excellen cy s

.
’
fa te will be a sa d on e If yo u h a ve written to her it .

,
will be a very g o od thin g I h a ve j u st retu rn ed fr o m .
E ugu b b i o bec a u se there wa s some fe a r th a t this ch a n ge

,
Of r u lers wo uld excite a tu mult a s the city is full o f ,
powerfu l m en an d m u ch e n mity B ut G o d h a s n o t
‘
a llowed a n ythi n g O f the sort to h a ppen Everythin g .
1
Co d V a t
. .
Ur b 9 04
.
, .
2 40 C O U N T B A L DAS SARE C A STI GL I ON E
a rchitectu ra l an d hera ldi c devices its rows Of colum n s ,
a n d a rches its shields decor a ted with the a rms titles

, , ,
a n d portr a its O f the D u ke a n d D u chess with p a i n t ,
i n gs Of G uid o b a ld o s deeds i n wa r an d pea ce i n scribed

’
with appropri a te lege n ds wa s the work o f the cou rt ,
a rchitect a n d p a i n ter Girol a mo Ge n g a an d Tim o teo,
Viti a n d excited gen era l a dmira tio n O n the summit

, .
Of the bier the m a n tle a n d i n sign i a Of the G a rter the ,
sword a n d d uc a l c ap were l a id a sight which r e , ,
min ded C a stiglion e p a i n fully o f the j oyo u s d a y when

the D uke wa s first i n vested i n these r o bes a n d all ,
Rome rej oiced with him .
The de a d Pri n ce s sister Ge n tile Fregoso with’
, ,
her d a u ghter M a don n a Emilia an d all the l a dies of

, ,
the co u rt were presen t a t the fu n era l ceremon y in

,
lon g bl a ck veils Fra n cesco M a ri a a s chief m o u rn er

.
, ,
wa s a tte n ded by the co u rt O ffici a ls the P ap a l n u n cio , ,
m agistr a tes foreign represen t a tives an d more th an

, ,
8 00 perso n s i n mo u rn i n g clo a ks an d hoods An .
elegan t L a t i n ora tion full o f cla ssic a l a ll u sion s a n d

,
in voc a ti o n s of the immorta l gods min gled with pio u s ,
Christi a n se n time n ts w a s pro n o un ced by the D uke s

,
’
1
Old tutor L odovico O d a si o
, This discourse a s b o th .
,
the di a rist a n d th a t ho n est soldier Giova n ni Go n zaga , ,
rem a rk la sted fu lly a n hou r The l a tter however

, .
, ,
d o es n o t pres u me to p a ss a n y j udgmen t u pon its

merits b ut s a ys th a t it w a s pron ou n ced t o be very
,
fin e by perso n s who un derst a n d these thi n gs better

th an I do The crush at the do o rs wa s so gre a t
.
’
th a t it wa s impossible to move a n d a s m a n y a s ,
person s p a ssed by the bier A ll those who .
were prese n t a greed th a t so s u mptu o u s a fun era l h a d

n ever bee n seen in It a ly a n d th a t n o Pri n ce h a d ever ,
been more deeply a n d widely la men te d Eli s a bett a .
B mb L tt ii 69
1 ’
e o, e e re , . .
EL ISABETTA S GRIEF ’
24 1
wa s determin ed t o lea ve n othi n g u n don e th a t her

l o ve a n d sorro w c o u ld s uggest By her desire .
m a sses were s a id for the repose O f her

h u sb an d s s o u l a n d a rrea rs Of her dowry a mo un ti n g
’
, ,
to some 400 gold florims which were sen t her th a t ,
week from M an tu a were e n tirely devoted to this ,
1
Obj ect .
When the D uke s fun era l wa s over writes C a s ’
,
’
t i gli o n e a ll tho u ghts tu rn ed tow a rds the D u chess

,
a n i n fi n itely p a thetic fig u re i n her sile n t an d i n c on
sol a ble sorrow .
NO
‘
eye co u ld rem a i n dry th a t sa w her wrote ’
,
‘
Bemb o to V in ce n zo Q u eri n i ; n o o n e c o uld come
n e a r her witho u t bei n g o verc o me with the deepest
comp a ssio n How pr o fo u n dly a n d bitterly she grieves

.
n ow th a t so m a n y d a ys h a ve p a ssed I c an h a rdly tell
y o u an d
, y o u co u ld sc a rcely believe Whe n ever sh e .
sees a n yo n e fresh wh o h a s come t o con d o le with her ,
sh e b u rsts i n to floods Of sc aldi n g te a rs a s if S h e h a d ,
n ever wept before When I retu rn ed from Rome .
some twen ty d a ys a fter the D uke s de ath an d c a me ’
to pa y her reveren ce n o soon er did S he c a tch sight ,
Of me th a n S he b u rst in to te a rs so th a t i n stea d Of , ,
con solin g her I fo u n d myself u n a ble to S pe a k a wo rd

, ,
an d beg a n to cry myself a n d for some time we did ,
n othi n g b u t l a me n t together u n til I w a s obliged to ,
le a ve her lest sh e sh o uld weep the whole d a y Thus .
this u n h a ppy l a dy rem a i n s i n co n ti n u a l l amen t a tio n ,
lea din g the h ardest possible life an d n ever lea vi n g a ,
cl o sed ch amber h u n g with bl a ck i n which b o th d a y ,
a n d n ight the o n ly li ght is th a t of o n e little c a n dle set
o n a cor n er o f the floor so th a t this room seems to ,
be a d a rk a n d gloomy d un geo n ra ther th an a duc a l

ch amber—a home of the dea d ra ther th an Of the
livin g .
’
1
Co d V a t U rb
. . .
, 9 04 ; L uzio e R en i er Man t ova
, e U bi r n o,
’
185 .
V OL I . . 16
2 40 C O U N T B A L DAS SARE CA ST I GL I ON E
a rchitectu ra l an d heraldi c devices its rows Of col um n s ,
a n d a rches its S hields decor a ted with the a rms titles

, , ,
an d portr a its O f the D u ke a n d D u chess with p a i n t ,
i n gs o f G uid o b a ld o s deeds in war a n d pea ce i n scribed

’
with appropri a te lege n ds wa s the work o f the co u rt ,
a rchitect a n d p a i n ter Girol a mo Ge n g a a n d Timoteo ,
Viti an d excited gen era l a dmir ation O n the summit

, .
o f the bier the m an tle a n d i n sign i a Of the G a rter the ,
sword an d d uc al c ap were l a id a sight which r e , ,
mi n ded C a stiglion e p a i n fu lly o f the j oy o u s d a y when

the D uke wa s first in vested i n these robes a n d a ll ,
Rome rej oiced with him .
The de a d Pri n ce s sister Gen tile Fregoso with ’
, ,
her d aughter M a don n a Emilia a n d a ll the la dies Of

, ,
the co u rt were presen t a t the fun era l cerem o n y in

,
lon g bl a ck veils Fra n cesco M a ri a a s chief m o u rn er

.
, ,
w a s a tte n ded by the co u rt O ffici a ls the P a p a l n u n cio , ,
m agi str a tes foreign represen t a tives an d more th a n

, ,
8 00 perso n s i n mourn i n g clo a ks a n d hoods An .
elegan t L a ti n ora tion full o f cla ssic a l a llu sion s an d ,
in voc a tio n s Of the immorta l gods mi n gled with pious ,
Christi a n sen time n ts w a s pro n o un ced by the Duke s

,
’
Old tutor Lodovico O d asi o

,
1
This disco urse a s b o th .
,
the di a rist a n d th a t ho n est soldier Giova n n i Gon z aga , ,
rem a rk l a sted fully a n hou r The l a tter h o wever

, .
, ,
does n o t presume t o p a ss an y j u dgmen t u p o n its

merits but s a ys th a t it w a s pron ou n ced t o be very
,
fin e by perso n s who u n ders t a n d these thi n gs better

th an I do The crush at the doors wa s S O gre a t
.
’
th a t it wa s impossible to move a n d a s m a n y a s ,
person s p a ssed by the bier All those who .
were presen t a greed th a t so s u mptu o u s a fun era l h a d

n ever been seen in It a ly a n d th a t n o Pri n ce h a d ever ,
been more deeply a n d widely la men te d Elis a bett a .
B mb L tt 1
ii 69 ’
e o, e e r e, . .
24 2 C O U N T BAL DAS SAR E CA STI GL I ON E
At the s a me time he recogn izes with wo n der a n d

a dmir a t i o n how wisely an d well the bere a ved l ady
h a s disch a rged the t a sk a ssign ed t o her by her lord
how relu ct an tly b u t with wh a t a bility a n d wisdo m
, ,
S he h as t a ken up the rein s of gover n men t to the ,
i n fin ite s a tisfa ction Of all her h u sb a n d s s ubj ects an d ’
to the gre a t an d l a stin g ben efit o f the St a te The .
P r efet t i n o he own s a ltho u gh a mere b o y p ays her

, , ,
the u tmost hon ou r an d reveren ce a n d obeys her ,
wishes i n every p a rtic u l a r M a donn a Emili a he .

,
a dds , bei n g herself experien ced i n sorrows o f this

ki n d h a s on ce more given proof Of th at a dmirable
,
discreti o n an d gre a tn ess Of s o ul fo r which S he is n ote d ,
a n d h a s bee n thro u gho u t the Duchess s most ste a dfa st

’
helper an d comp an ion Fi n a lly he in forms his frien ds

.
,
i n Ve n ice th a t it is the good D u chess s ple a s u re th a t

’
he a n d his comp an ion s who h a d m a de their home a t

the co urt Of Urbin o d u ri n g her lord s lifetime S ho uld ’
rem a in there still .
N ot on ly is it gre a tly for the ben efit o f her own

s u bj ects th a t this excellen t l a dy still rem ain s i n power ,
b u t for th a t of the fo reign ge n tleme n who lived a t

her h u sb a n d s co u rt wh o wi ll I believe all or a lmost
’
, , , ,
a ll c o n ti n u e i n the n ew D u ke s service a t her req u est

’
, ,
S i n ce S he feels th a t o u t Of respect t o her lord s

,
’
memory this hon o ura ble comp an y which served him

,
S h o uld n o t be broken up 1
.
’
’
Accordin gly Bembo a n d C a stigli on e Gi uli a n o de
, ,
Medici a n d most o f the c o urtiers a n d schol a rs who

,
h ad helped to S hed l u stre o n G u i d o b ald o s c o urt

’
rem a i n ed a t Urbin o an d served the n ew D uke i n

,
their differen t c a p a cities A n d S in ce n othin g could .
plea se Elis a bett a better both Bembo an d C a stiglion e

,
1
Be mb o, L et t er e ii ,
’
. 70 .
n
P h oto, A d er so n .
E L I SA B T A G N AG A DU C H S S
E T O Z , E OF U B IN
R O .
BY C A R T
O O
To fc p
a e .
'
24 2, \ o‘ I .
24 4 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CAS TI GL I ON E
S a d o let o rem a rks he w a s a s gre a t an expert a s in the

,
compositio n o f L a ti n prose I n the simplest an d .
most n a tu ra l way he tells u s h o w o n e spri n g d ay ,
soon a fter the D uke s dea th while Pope J uli u s w as

’
a bse n t O sti a he w a s w a lki n g i n the V a tic an

’
at ,
g a rden s with S a d olet o a n d Filippo B er o ald o when ,
the P ap al Secreta ry Sigismon do Con ti of Folign o

, ,
c a me up to them with letters from U rbin o In .
these disp a tches the Archbishop o f S alern o described

G u id o b ald o s l a st momen ts i n to u chin g l a n gu a ge a n d
’
the three frie n ds listen ed with tea rs t o the sa d story .
H a vin g re a d the letters a lou d Sigismo n do Co n ti the , ,
prel a te whom R aph a el a fterwa rds p ai n ted kn eelin g

’
a t the M a do n n a s feet i n his grea t Folign o a lta r
piece turn ed to Bembo a n d exh o rted him to S how
,
his love for this illu strious l o rd an d his devoted wife

by wr iti n g a record of their lives which might
be rea d by person s wh o h a d n ever kn own them .
Then B er o ald o wh o h a d S pen t the l a st s u mmer a t

,
Urbin o chimed i n rec allin g the gra ci o us welcome

, ,
which the D u chess h a d given him a n d exto lli n g ,
Elis a bett a a s s u rp a ssi n g a ll other women in beau ty Of

ch a ra cter a n d gre a t n ess o f sou l O thers I h a ve .
kn own he con cl u des i n a famou s phra se co n

,
’
s i c u o u s for cert a i n q u a lities b u t n on e i n whom

p ,
a ll V irtues a n d excelle n cies were combi n ed a s they
were i n her ’
Sudden ly the c o n vers a tion o f the four
.
schol a rs was i n terr upted by the a rriv al o f a messen ger

from O sti a S igismon do h a sten ed to an swer His
.
H olin ess s letters B ero ald o a n d S a d olet o wen t b a ck

’
to their d aily t a sks an d Bembo wa s left a lon e

, ,
m u sin g s a dly over the good D uke whose loss all

m en were l a me n ti n g A few d ays l a ter at the
.
,
urge n t re quest of h i s fa ther a n d fr ien ds in Ven ice ,

“
‘
D E QD U C I B U S 1 2 45
who kn ew h o w i n tim a te he h a d been with the

l a men ted Pri n ce he wrote down this co n vers a tio n
,
with his three comp a n ion s a n d p u blished it i n the

,
1
form o f a di a log u e en titled De D u cib u s which
’
‘
, ,
rem a in s on e o f his best works .
‘
O pe 1
ra , Iv .
W I N D OW OF BAN QU T-HALL A LA C
E , P E OF U B IN
R O
.
(S ee p .
C HAPTER XVI I
1 5 08 —1 5 09
Ca s t iglio ne s vic f F c sc d ll R v —His d v t i

i n the er e o r an e o e a o er e e o on
to th wid w d D uch ss — Hi p iv t ff i s d b t s
e o e d e s r a e a a r e an
d i fli ult i —M
, ,
c i g p p s ls m d by G i uli
es a rr a d M dici
e ro o a a e an o e
’
e
an d by t h M t i g f mi ly—C s t igli e t B l g wi t h
e ar n en o a a on a o o na
th e D uk —H i visi t t C s t ic —F ilu
e s f b th g ti ti s
o a a o a re
—Cl ic d M d ici b et t h d t o Fili pp S t zzi
o o ne o a on
’
ar e e e ro e o ro .
T HE de ath of Guidob a ldo w a s the first bre a k i n C a s

t igli on e s h a ppy life a t Urbi n o
’
For him a s for Bembo .
,
a n d Fregos o the co u rt wa s n ever a g a in wh a t it h a d

,
’
been i n the go od D uke s lifetime His s u ccessor ’

.
,
Fra n cesco dell a Rovere wa s a m an of a di fferen t st a mp , ,
a br a ve soldier with n o n e Of his u n cle s refin eme n t

’
a n d love o f letters b u t with a cert a i n ho n est m an li

,
n ess a n d w a rmth of he a rt th a t we n t fa r to a to n e for
his fiery temper He soon le a rn t to a ppreci ate C a s

.
t i gli on e s l o y a lty a n d relied upon his skill a n d t a ct to

’
steer him s a fely through his gre atest diffic ulties B ut .
the services which the n ew D uke requ ired were o f a

more ex a cti n g order Hen ceforth B a ld a ss a re s time .
’
wa s spe n t i n a ctive w a rfa re or a n xio u s diplom a tic

mission s O ft en i n the full a n d crowded ye a rs th at
.
followed he sighed for the Old d a ys a n d ye a rn ed to

be a t leis u re to c ultiva te the n eglected M u se a n d
devote himself t o his fa vo u rite st u dies .
The s ummer O f 1 5 08 however wa s spe n t i n com , ,
24 6
The writer w a s still better ple a sed whe n Elis a bett a
a sked t o see a Fre n ch versio n of his
‘
Asol a n i an d ,
’
wro te O ff i n h a ste to his frien ds a t Ven ice to Obt a i n a

copy B ut this w a s s everal mon ths l a ter
. .
The de a th o f the P o pe s fa vo u rite n ephew C a rdi n a l ’
G a leotto della Rovere i n September wa s a fresh ,
c au se o f sorrow a n d the prem a tu re en d o f this yo un g

,
a n d popul a r prel a te w a s l a me n ted a s m u ch a t Urbi n o
a s i n R o me I n a letter t o the M a rches a Is a bell a

.
,
Emili a P i a en closed t wo s o n n ets written shortly before

his dea th by th a t u n fort un ate S Pietro in V i n .
,
’
c ul a i n on e o f which he foretells his c o mi n g doom .
With a thoughtfuln ess which Is a bell a o f a ll o thers , ,
a ppreci a ted S he a dds th a t S h e h a s a lre a dy writte n to

,
a sk Ber n a rd o d a Bibbie n a if a n Of the l a te C a rdi n a l s

’
y
be au tifu l a n tiqu es a r e for s a le a n d promises t o let ,
1
Her Excellen cy he a r a bou t them The sculptor .
Cristoforo wh o c a me to Urbi n o th a t au tum n brought

, ,
word th a t the collection wa s to be sold t o pay the

C a rdin al s debts which i n spite Of his l a rge reven u es
’
, , ,
a mo u n ted to u pw a rds of d u c a ts If Is a bella .
wa s e a ger t o sec u re the de a d m an s an ti qu es Bembo

’
wa s equ a lly kee n to Obt a i n reversio n o f his b en efic es ,
a n d eve n before his de a th h a d writte n to Bibbie n a ,
beggi n g him to a scert a in their ex a ct n u mber an d v al u e .
C a stiglion e we fin d Often a cted a s secret ary t o the

, ,
D u chess a t this time a n d m an y Of the letters which

,
sh e wrote to M a n t u a a r e i n his h a n dwriti n g I n his .
o wn letters to hi s mother we come a cross freq u en t
referen ces t o Elis a bett a a n d Emili a P i a a n d he wa s ,
eviden tly dra wn i n to close an d i n tim a te rel ation s with

both these l a dies .
I thin k I m u st h a ve told y ou before he writes on ,

’
J u n e 1 5 th a t the L a dy D u chess con ti n u es to govern

,
V Ci i G i O t 1 L t t
1
. an ix 1 1 5
n rn . s . ( . e . . .
DEATH O F ERC O LE S TR O ZZI 24 9
this St a te an d enj oys the Holy F a ther s goodwill an d ’
fa vou r i n the highest me a s u re a n d is tre a ted with the ,
gre a test reveren ce an d a tten tion by the n ew D uke .
The Duke of ble ssed mem o ry left her d u c a ts

besides her dowr y an d a llowa n ces for the m a in ten a n ce
o f her est a bli shme n t o n a s uit a ble sc a le S O H er .
Excellen cy h a s d u c a ts which h a ve been p a id ,
i n s u ccess i ve i n st a lme n ts fro m M a n t u a sec u red t o ,
her a s well a s this other

, duc a ts an d sever a l
other gifts which the Duke m a de her i n his life
time The Pope is very an xio u s for the M an tu a n
.
m a rri age a n d h a s sen t o ur Mes ser Aless a n dro here

,
on th a t a cco u n t I thin k it will soo n t ake pl a ce

. .
’
M Ces a re a n d I rem a in i n the n ew D uke s service
.
with the s ame s a l a ry th a t we h a d before I hope you .
will be s a tisfied this time a n d thi n k th a t I h a ve ,
written en ough The tru th is I do n o t c a re for the

.
,
tro u ble of letter -writi n g b u t whe n I h a ve a secret a ry

,
I will write to y o u so Oft e n th a t you will be tired o f

my letters ! I grieve more th an I c a n sa y fo r the
dea th of o ur p o or M Ercole Strozzi . M ay G o d .
receive his so u l ! An d I a m a ls o very sorry for

Leo n ora s poor child , an d beg y o u to o ffer my
’
con dolen ces to both p a rties for i n deed I feel the ,
gre a test comp a ssio n for them both .

’
S er a ssi a dds a n ote expl a i n i n g th a t this Leo n or a

1
,
who h a d lost her child wa s a sister O f Ercole Strozzi

, ,
whose a ss a ssi n atio n i n the streets of Ferra ra close to

his ow n home h a d excited a gre a t sen s ation C a s .
t igli o n e a s we h a ve alre a dy see n wa s m u ch a tt a ched

, ,
to his ch a rmi n g ki n swom an B a rb a ra Torelli who , ,
soon aft er the de a th o f her first h u sb an d Ercole ,
Ben tivoglio h a d become the wife of this a ccomplished

,
Ferrarese poet to wh o m she h a d l a tely born e a child

,
.
The n a me Of the a ss a ssi n rem a i n ed u n kn own a n d the ,
rigid S ilen ce th a t wa s preserved o n the s ubj ect a t the

0p i t i 4 3 1
. c , . .
25 0 C O U N T B A L DAS S A RE CAS TI GL I ON E
co urts o f Ferra ra an d M an t u a le a ve little d o u bt

th a t Duke Alfo n so wa s the perpetr a tor o f the
crime whether he wa s moved by j e alo u sy of Ercole
,
Strozzi s i n tim a cy with the D u chess L u crezi a or

’
by his o wn p a ssion for the u n fo rtu n a te B a rb a ra

Torelli . C a stiglion e himself stood loya lly by the
desol ate widow an d even tu a lly m a rried her co u si n
,
Ippolit a .
Altho ugh Messer B a ld a ss are s letters co n t a in ed a ’
few a ll u sion s t o p u blic even ts his correspon den ce ,
d urin g this ye a r wa s a lmost e n tirely o cc u pied with

his priva te a ffa irs Two s u bj ects a ppe a r to h a ve
.
e n grossed his o wn a n d his m o ther s a tten ti on : the ’
on e w a s his pecu n i a ry emb a rr a ssme n ts the other his ,
m a rri a ge C a stiglion e a s we h a ve a lre a dy seen wa s

.
, ,
fa r less skilful i n the m an ageme n t Of his o wn a ffa irs

th a n in those o f the pri n ces whom he served N O .
d o u bt he often felt s a dly h a mpered by the limited

me a n s a t his disp o s a l a n d wa s Of t o o fa stidio u s an d
,
sen sitive a n atu re t o be e a sily ple a sed ; b ut he seems ,
i n his o wn words to h a ve bee n si n gu l a rly u nlu cky i n

,
serva n ts O n e wa s an idler an d in c a p a ble a n other a

.
,
thief ; on e loitered by the way when the disp a tches

e n tru sted t o him were of the utm o st import a n ce ,
a n other left Rome o r Urbi n o witho u t ever t a ki n g his
m a ster s letters There wa s a cert a i n h un chb a ck

’
.
,
I l Gobbo a prot ege of M a don n a L u igi a who tried

’
, ,
h i s p a tien ce sorely an d w a s a ctu a lly a fr a id to go

,
fro m Poggio to M a n t u a a lon e I h a ve forgiven him .
‘
this on ce wrote the yo u n g kn ight bec a u se y ou
,
’
h a ve t a ke n him u n der yo u r protectio n If it h ad .
n o t bee n for this I sh o uld h a ve se n t him a bo u t his

,
b u sin ess lo n g a go 1
Then there wa s An ton i o the
.
’
secret ary wh o se a rriva l he h a d imp a tien tly a wa ite d ,
1
Co d V a t L a t
. . .
,
8 2 1 0, fo l 1 0 1
. .
B a rtolommeo wa s a li ar a s well a s a n idler C a stiglion e ,
felt o bliged to give his mother a full a cco un t of his

re a so n s fo r dismissi n g the m an a ddi n g s a dly : I h a ve ,
h a d so little go o d luck i n my serv a n ts th a t I h a rdly

k n ow wh a t to do n ext b ut I m u st try a n d get a lo n g
,
a s best I c a n A cert a i n Smera ldo however a n d t wo

.
’
, ,
o r three others S c a m ar ella Giov an n i M a rti n o a n d

, , ,
Aless a n dro seem to h a ve rem a i n ed a lo n g time i n his

,
service E arly i n 1 5 1 2 we first he a r o f Cristoforo Tira

.
bosco of Asol a who wa s sen t to him from M an tu a

,
with letters a n d wh o i n a fter -ye ars bec a me a co n

,
fid en t i a l servan t i n whom he pl a ced the u tmost tr u st .
N ext to serva n ts horses were his gre a t a n xiety

,
.
He n eeded h an dsome an d well -groomed ch a rgers for

hi s d u ties a t co u rt a n d on p a r a de a n d w a s co n st a n tly ,
sen din g home for fresh o n es an d compl a i n in g th a t the ,
grooms a t C a s a tico did n o t feed an d exercise h i s colts

properly or tu rn them o u t to his s a tisfa ction If there .
wa s o n e thi n g o n which he S pen t more duc a t s th a n he

could a fford it wa s on horses He h a d a keen eye for
, .
a ll their poi n ts an d n ever co u ld he a r o f a rem a rk a bly

,
go od steed withou t desiri n g to a cqu ire it by p u rch a se

o r exch a n ge M an y of his fa vo urite horses ar e m en
.
t i o n ed by n a me i n hi s letters There wa s Frison e .
b
( u llfin c h ) C a rpegn olo B uffon e P a pp a gallo (p a rrot )
, , , ,
I l M agn o a n d a bove a ll the Shetl a n d pon y which

, , ,
His M aj esty o f E n gl an d h ad given him which he ,
describes a s both belli sszmo e bon i sszmo ’

’ '
An other fertile c a u se o f an n oy an ce was the d iffi

c ulty Of con veya n ce between M a n t ua a n d Urbin o .
When B a ld a ss a re ret u rn ed from E n gla n d he h a d left ,
some p a i n ted b a rds a n d a rmo u r a t Mil an These he .
begged his mother t o sen d him by bo a t i n the fo llow

i n g a utu m n together with other clothes a n d goods
,
which he requ ired i n ch a rge o f a tr ustworthy serv a n t

,
.
DEBTS A ND D I FFI CULT IE S 25 3
After m u ch d i fli cu lt y he Obt a in ed the n ecess a ry p a sses

from the a u thorities a t M a n tua a n d Ferra r a a n d ,
from the Sign ory of Ven ice which held swa y over the ,
cities Of Rom agn a an d the goods were s a fely l an ded

,
a t Rimi n i e a rly i n J an u a ry By this time the ro a ds .
over the Apen n i n es were so b a d th a t C a stiglio n e

foun d it impossible to sen d for them a n d he ari n g , ,
th a t Rimi n i was full of thievi n g soldiers ordered the ,
gre a ter p a rt t o be sold on the spot B ut when the .
serva n t Giov a n n i M arti n o whom he se n t on horse ,
b a ck from Urbi n o to t ake ch arge o f his property ,
re a ched Rimi n i he fo u n d th a t most o f the goods h a d

,
a lre a dy bee n stole n by a M a n t u a n serv a n t who t u r n ed ,
o ut both a thief a n d a li a r This time I rea lly thi n k ’

.
,
he wrote home I a m cured Of h a vi n g thi n gs sen t

,
from Lomb a rdy

All these domestic worries were a so u rce o f per
u al vex a tio n to C a st i gli o n e s soul an d he fretted
’
p et ,
over them as poets will B ut wh at troubled him far

, .
more th an a n y o f these min or an n oyan ces were the

debts th a t he co uld n ot pay a n d which a s he told his , ,
mother were like a worm gn a win g co n tin u ally at his

,
heart .
’
1
Duc a ts were still more sc a rce u n der Fra n
cesco M a ria s swa y th a n d uri n g the l a st Duke s reign
’ ’
.
C a st igli on e s s al a ry w a s ge n er a lly i n a rrea r a n d his

’
expen ses a s he Often told his mother were a lwa ys

, ,
i n cre a si n g I n spite of his e fforts he h a d been u n able

.
,
to pay his debt t o C a rdi n a l Ippolito d Este a n d still ’
owed him 1 5 0 duc a ts His letters d u ri n g this wi n ter

.
con t ai n repe a ted req u ests for help i n this m atter .
I still ow e th a t debt to Mo n sign or di Ferr a ra ,

’
he wro te from Fossombro n e d u ri n g G uid ob ald o s l a st ’
illn ess which Oppresses me beyo n d mea s ure for a

,
1
Cod Va t L a t
. .
,
. 8 21 0.
25 4 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTI GL I O N E
tho u s an d re a son s pri n cip ally bec a use I a m so a n xious

,
t o ret a i n his frie n dship which a s y o u kn ow is ex , , ,
t r e m ely va l u a ble t o me B u t it is impossible th a t I

.
sh o u ld pa y this o u t Of my s a la ry which is t oo sm a ll ,
to defra y my he a vy expen ses here O n ce more wou ld .

,
o u be S O good a s to tell me if there i s an hope f

y y o
y o ur bei n g a ble to let me h a ve mon ey from home ,
either n ow or la ter bec a use this debt lies hea vily,

1
on my he a rt
’
.
Three mo n ths a fterwa rds i n Jun e 1 5 08 he return ed , , ,
t o the ch a rge a n d o ffered t o try a n d r a ise 5 0 d u c a ts o u t

,
o f his slen der reso u rces if his mother would provide ,
1 00 or a t le a st a n o ther 5 0 so th a t by p a yi n g Ippolito
, ,
’
d Este 1 00 d u c a ts he might a t le a st give him a proof
o f h i s good i n te n tio n s I would n ot for a ll the .
world he a dds th a t the Lord C ardi n a l should h a ve

,
’
t o a sk me for this mo n ey ! At len gth in August ’
, ,
M a do n n a L u igi a wa s a ble to gran t his requ est an d ,
1 00 d u c a ts were sen t to Mo n sign ore di Ferr a r a with

B a ld a ss are s most cou rt eo u s excuses a n d expression o f
’
th an ks B ut by the en d of the ye a r C a stiglion e on ce

.
more fo un d himself i n debt a n d was beggi n g his

mother for a dvan ces o f mo n ey to s a tisfy his creditors
a t Urbi n o .
U n der these circ u mst an ces a we althy m a rri age

seemed t o be the best wa y o ut Of his difficulties a n d ,
it wa s n o t s u rprisin g th a t M a don n a Luigi a on ce more

pressed this co u rse upon her son Hitherto B al .
d a ss a re h a d shown little i n c lin a tion to t ake to himself

a wi fe When i n 1 5 04 his mother h a d s uggested
.
, ,
a suit a ble a lli a n ce a n d whe n three ye a rs l a ter the

,
M a rqu is o f M a n tu a O ffered to fin d him a well -dowered

bride he firmly declin ed these propos a ls s ayi n g th at
, ,
there wa s plen ty o f time an d he could fin d a wife for ,
Se i i 38 1 ra ss , . .
25 6 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
In J an u a ry 1 5 08 a cert a i n M a n tu a n la dy of the
, ,
G a mb a corta fa mily who h a d i n cu rred the M a rqu is

,
’
Fra n cesco s displea s ure a n d h a d been fo rced to le a ve,
the cou rt a n d t a ke refu ge a t N a ples p a id a visit ,
to Urbi n o a n d br ought Messer B a lda ss a re fresh

,
propos a ls from Ald a B o i ar d a This l a dy however .

, ,
p artic u l a rly wished th a t her n a me S h o uld n ot a ppe a r

i n these n egoti a ti o n s an d i n ste a d of a ddressin g
, ,
herself to M a do n n a L u igi a sen t mess ages first by ,
‘
la G a mb a c o rt a an d the n by Pietro d a B ar ign an o
’
, ,
a Bresci an poet whose n a me Ariosto h a s celebr a ted
i n his O rl an d o 1
a n d wh o visited Bembo a t Urbin o
’
i n Febr u a ry The m a iden i n qu estion wa s a d a ughter

.
Of Messer Gi ulio d a M a rtin en go of Bresci a whose ,
dowry Of d u c a ts m a de her a priz e in the

m a rri age -m a rket The prospect w a s suffi cien tly
.
a ll u rin g to m ake B ald a ss a re propose t o meet his

m o ther a t Ferr a ra or Poggio a n d discuss M a d o n n a
Ald a s s uggestion B ut the de a th Of G u idob aldo
’
.
c o mpelled him to defer his j o urn ey a n d h i s frien ds ,
a t Urbin o u rged him to keep to his former i n te n ti o n ,
an d co n cl u de a m a rri a ge with Cl a rice de Medici

’
O n M ay 1 3 he wrote to his mother
Your M agn ifi c en ce remembers th a t I spoke to

o u some t i me a o a bo u t a m a rri a ge with a l a dy
y g
O f the ho u se o f Medici After a while the thin g .
a ppe a red to h a ve co o led d o w n bec a u se the mother
h a d qu arrell ed with her other rel a tives an d wa s n ot ,
i n cli n ed to a llow her d a u ghter t o go a s fa r from R ome

a s M an tua B u t a ll a lo n g both Mon si n ore a n d the
.
g
M a gn ifico Giu li an o h a ve been a n x i o u s for this
m aI r i age . Thro ugh their exertion s the n egoti a ti on s
h a ve so far a dva n ced th at yesterd a y B el n ar d o wrote
to the M a gn ifico s a yin g th at the mother an d all the
,
1 Can t o xlvi . 16 .
CLARI CE S D O WRY ’
25 7
family were n o w fa vou ra ble to the pr Oposal a n d h a d ,
emp o wered him t o con cl u de the a ffa ir with me F o r .
the s a ke of their ho n o u r they wo u ld like the pr O posalS

to be m a de thro ugh the M a rqu is or C a rdin a l Go n z aga
an d the L a dy D u chess which wo uld ple a se me ,
grea tly Bern a rdo does n ot specify the a mo un t Of

.
the dowry bu t s a ys th a t it will be s u ch a s to s atisfy

,
me a mply O n hea ri n g this I told the M agn ific o

.
th a t I wa s very an xio u s to a rran ge the m atter b u t ,
mu st first write a li n e to y ou a n d co uld n o t say ,
a n ythi n g defin ite un til I k n ew wh a t y ou felt .
M Ces a re is gon e t o Rome o n b u si n ess for the

.
D u chess so I will write an d a sk him to fin d o ut the

,
ex a ct a m o u n t o f the dowry a n d if possible see the , , ,
la dy This is how thi n gs st an d Y o u can co n fer

. .
with M Gio Pietro an d a n y o ther O f o u r frien ds

. .
whom y o u m a y thin k a dvis a ble keepi n g this qu ite ,
secret for the presen t an d let me kn ow wh a t yo u ,
1
thi n k I h a d better do .
’
M a don n a L u igia s reply wa s en tirely fa vou ra ble

’
an d o n the 23 r d B a ld a ss a re who wa s i n the act O f

, ,
t akin g h o rse t o ride to Gubbio sen t a few li n es b a ck ;
to sa y tha t a lovi n g frie n d the ki n d D u chess h a d ,

’
herself u n derta ke n to a scert a i n the a mo un t o f Cl arice s ’
dowry Without del a y The an swer however proved .

, ,
s o mewh a t dis appoi n tin g All th a t Alfon sin a wo uld .
promise wa s a su m Of d u c ats to be p a id down

a t the time o f the m a rri age .
’
‘
It is tru e expla i n ed B ald a ss a re th a t there will
, ,
prob ably be a good de a l more even tu a lly b ut this is ,
all th a t is cert a i n A n d si n ce I a m e n te rt a i n i n g these

.
propos als chiefly to ple a se Yo u r Ma gn ificen ce I a wa it ,
your comm a n ds an d will do wh a tever yo u desire N o

, .
dou bt the m a tch h as m a n y disti n ct a dv an t ages : the

family is n oble on both sides the u n cle is a C a rdi n al an d , ,
1
Co d Va t La t
. . .
, 8 21 0 .
V OL . I .
there is every prospect th a t they will soon be restored

to their rightful home i n Floren ce B ut I a m a bove .
a ll a n xio u s th a t the tyi n g o f this k n ot S ho u ld deliver
me from other tro u bles which a s y ou k n ow Oppress , , ,
me sorely I beg you to thin k o ver these m a tters

.
seri o u sly an d sen d me word by this messen ger wh a t

,
is y o u r a dvice a n d th a t of M Gio Pietro an d . .
M J a copo an d an yon e else whom y o u choose to

.
,
con s u lt O n ce this i s settled it will be e a sy en o ugh

.
,
t o fin d the best w a y o f m a ki n g the propos a l And .
si n ce I h a ve he a rd aga i n on the s ubj ect of the

M a r t in en ga y o u might try an d le arn some more
,
a bo u t th a t b u si n ess
’
.
M a d o n n a L u igi a it is pl a in was very a n xio u s t o

, ,
see her son m a rried an d urged him t o lose n o time i n

,
con cl u din g a n a lli an ce with the Medici B alda ss are .

,
however still hesit a ted M a rri a ge in his eyes wa s

, .
p u rely a w ay Of esc ape from b u rden some debts a ,
me an s by which his fortun es might be a dv an ced a n d

the cool w a y i n which he disc u ssed the whole qu esti on
showed how little his hea rt wa s con cern ed i n the
m a tter I n a letter Of J un e 1 5 he th a n ks his mother
.
for her prompt reply an d own s th a t he is q u ite a live ,
t o the a dv a n t ages of the Medici co n n exio n b ut ,
still thi n ks the sm a ll a mo un t Of the dowry a gr e at

dra wb a ck .
The dowry he writes seems t o be very sm all

‘
,
’
, ,
an d wo uld n ot even su ffice to reli eve me of my

presen t b u rden s which y o u kn ow vex me sorely
, .
B ut if I fo u n d myself e n c u mbered with a wife in to

the b a rga in they wo uld vex me m u ch more fo r the
, ,
rooms th a t do fo r me n o w w o uld n o lon ger be s u it able

’
then ; an d a s to bein g con ten t to live with a sin gle

serva n t an d m ule th a t I h a ve n ever do n e an d n ever
, ,
mea n t o do I say this bec au se yo u exhort me to

.
regul a te my wa y Of livin g an d expen ses ; a n d I h ave ,

his bride Leon ora Go n z aga W hom her un cle Gi o van n i

, ,
described t o him a s the prettiest gi rl i n Lomb a rdy ,
a n d w o rthy to be ran ked i n poi n t Of be au ty a n d

excellen ce with her fa ther s fa m o u s ra cehorses ! O n ’
Augu st 7 he sta rted for Mil an a n d M a n tua tra vellin g ,
i n cogn ito a n d on ly a ccomp an ied by Gi uli an o de

,
’
Medici Ces a re Gon z a ga an d fou r servan ts a s the

, ,
M a rchio n ess Is abell a h a d l a tely given birth to a

d aughter a n d w a s un a ble to receive him with d u e
,
ho n ou r But he p a id a flyi n g visit to the C a stello a t

.
M a n tu a o n the 25 t h an d embra ced Leon ora wh o wa s

, ,
by this time a lovely girl Of fo u rteen C a stigli on e .
h o ped to be a ble to come to C a s a t ico where his ,
mother wa s an xio u sly expectin g him but wa s del ayed ,
by a n un expected in ciden t The Pope sen t his n ephew .
sudden orders to hold a review o f the P a p a l troops a t

Bologn a an d C a stiglion e h a vi n g with s o me diffic ulty
, ,
collected the Urbi n o con ti n gen t j oi n ed his lord i n ,
th at city towa rds the en d Of S eptember On .
Mich a elm a s D a y the P ap a l L egate a n d th a t s a me

C a rdin a l Alidosi wh o three ye a rs la ter wa s t o die by
Fran cesco s h an d celebra ted high m a ss i n the
’
Duomo an d solem n ly i n vested the you n g D u ke with

,
the sword an d b aton of the Ch urch a s C a pt ai n of the

P ap a l forces I s uppose rem a rked the Ven eti an
.
,
’
en voy a lludin g covertly t o Fra n cesco s well -kn own

,
’
‘
dislike Of the tyr an n ic al Lega te th a t this fea st -d ay ,
wa s chosen bec au se it is the Arch an gel Mich a el s

’
’
office to drive a wa y devils from men s so uls an d the ,
Duke h a s a lre ady show n himself well disposed to

1
help the people o f Bologn a i n this fa shion .
’
The review however did n o t t ake pl a ce u n til

, ,
N ovember 22 Both m en t a rm s an d horses were

-a - .
i n the fin est order but the m a gn ificen t S ight was

,
1
S a n ut o , VI I . 68 3 .
A N U N GRACI O US ME S SAGE 26 1
un ul ckily m a rred by the ra i n which fell i n torr en ts ,
a n d r u i n ed the sple n did u n iforms o f the m en a n d
rich trappi n gs Of the horses A s soon a s it wa s over .
the tro ops were disb a n ded The Duke retu rn ed to .
Urbin o a n d ga ve C a stiglion e le a ve to visit his mother

,
a t C a s a tico .
He h a d a lre a dy sen t a letter to the M a rq uis by

M Ces a re i n A ug ust h u mbly a ski n g fo r le a ve t o
.
,
come t o M a n tua a n d pa y h i s respects a s a d u tiful

servan t But n o reply h a d been vo u chs a fed him a n d
.
,
he wrote sorrowfully to his mother

Th a t letter which M Ces a re took to the M a rq uis
.
h a s b o rn e n o fru it sa v m g th a t it m a y h a ve br o ke n the
,
ice a little We must try an d follow it up a n d I hope

.
,
a ll m a yet be well I m a rvel a t those w h o wo n der

y .
why I do n o t come t o M a n tu a for if the tr uth were ,
kn own they w o u ld see th a t it is n o sh a me o n my

1
p a rt to Obey o n e wh o is my lord .
’
O n O ctober 1 2 he wrote from Bologn a t o tell

his mother th at the M a rqu is h a d refu sed to a llow
him to visit M a n tu a ; a n d on the 2ot h he a ddressed
a letter to T o lomeo Sp a g n oli beggi n g him to obt a i n
le a ve from His E xcellen cy to visit his mother a t

C a s a tico a s soon a s the review wa s over Still he .
received n o an swer an d a s a l a st reso urce M a do n n a

,
L u igi a begged her brother M Giov an n i Pietro , .

,
t o ask M . i
Tolomeo n well chosen words to
,
-
,
Obt a i n le a ve for her son to V isit her a t C a s a tic o ,
i n order th a t he might co n fer with her reg a rdi n g

his i n ten ded m a rri age Even then if T olo m eo s
.
,
’
version o f the affa ir is to be tru sted the secreta ry ,
h ad gre a t di ffic u lty i n obt a i n i n g a fa v o ur a ble a n swer .
I n a letter to his sister M Gio Pietro describes

, . .
how three times over i n on e d a y M T o lomeo .
1
Co d V a t L a t
. . .
,
8 210 .
26 2 C O U N T BAL DAS S A RE CASTI GLI ON E
a pproa ched his lord o n the subj ect First o f all he .
ven tured to remi n d H i s E xcellen cy th a t his co u si n ,
the M agn ifi co G i o Pietro h a d written to him on the.

,
subj ect ; seco n dly he Observed th a t M a don n a L u igi a

,
h a d repe a tedly m a de the s a me req u est a n d thirdly , ,
i n the e ve n i n g he i n formed His E xcelle n cy th a t

Messer G i o Piet ro h a d sen t to beg fo r a n a n swer t o
.
his former a pplic a tio n E a ch time the M a rqu is tu rn ed .
his b a ck upon him witho u t a word At la st B a ld a s .
s a re s u n cle himself wen t to see M T o lomeo the n ext .
d a y a n d i n sisted o n obt a i ni n g a n a n swer t o his requ est

, ,
u po n whi c h the M a rqu is b a de his secreta ry tell

M G i o Pietro th at for love o f him he wo u ld a ll o w
. .
, ,
M B a ld a ss a re t o spe n d fo u r d a ys b ut n o lon ger

.
, ,
with his mother a t C a s a tico 1

A s a res u lt Of this .
u n gr a c io u s m ess a ge C a stiglion e c a me to C a s a tic o

,
directly the review a t Bologn a h a d t a ken pla ce a n d ,
spen t a few d a ys with his mother an d fa mily .
By D ecember 5 he w a s b a ck a t Urbi n o a n d three ,
d a ys la ter sen t h is mother a n ote to say he h ad

sp o ken t o the M agn i fic o o f his a ffa ir a n d w a s n o w ,
o n ly a wa iti n g the a n swer from Rome i n order to
con clu de the m a rri age B ut he reck on ed withou t his .
host O n the 2ot h he told his mother th a t n o doubt

.
h i s m a rri age wo u ld be a rr an ged directly the Christm as

fe a st wa s over b ut con fessed th a t the la test n ews from
,
Rome wa s n ot a ltogether fa vo u ra ble a n d th a t he wa s ,
doubtful whether this wa s d u e t o politic a l c au ses or to

’
n spite o f C a st i gli on e s
’
an
y o f M Ber n a rdo
. s tricks I
’
a ffectio n fo r Bibbie n a it is evide n t th a t h i s frien d s wily
,
n a tur e h a d a lre a dy i n spired him with s u spicio n Wh a t .
ever the c a u se might be he a dded : I do n ot feel ,
m u ch co n cern ed a n d sh all n o t be gre atly distressed

,
2 ’
if the whole th in g should en d i n smoke This letter .
1
Co d V a t
. . Lat .
,
8 21 2 .
2
Co d V a t L a t
. . .
, 8 21 0 .
settled a n d co n cluded I thin k import an t re a son s

.
a n d q u estio n s o f pec u li a r gr a vity moved Mo n sig n ore
t o a ct a s he did for he cert a inly h a s n ot ch a n ged his

mi n d with rega rd t o my s u it a s y o u will see from the
,
en close d letter which he wrote t o me with his own

h an d But G o d be pra ised fo r a ll ! I beg y o u n ot to
.
distress yourself fo r perh aps the thi n g w o uld h a ve

,
t u rn ed o ut qu ite di fferen tly fr om wh a t we expected .
M Ces a re will tell y o u a ll a bou t it when he comes to

.
’
M an tu a .
We see by this letter th a t C a stiglion e bore n o

gr udge either to C a rdin a l de Medici o r to Bi bbie n a ’
wh o were a pp a ren tly the chief promoters Of the

Strozzi m a rri age an d by this mea n s cert ai n ly suc
,
c eed e d i n g a in in g a n ew foothold i n Floren ce AS .
for the M agn ifico B a ld a ss a re wo u ld n ot a llow a n y

,
bl ame t o be imputed to him a n d t o ld his mother ,
th a t far from Gi uli a n o h a vi n g h a d a n y sh are in

,
breaki n g o ff the m a rri age it h a d a n n oyed him ex

,
c essi v el
‘
A n d n ow
’
y . he a dds cheerf
, u lly , Your
M agni fic en ce m u st try a n d fin d me a n other wi fe 1 ’
.
1
Co d Va t L a t
. . .
, 8 210
.
CHAPTE R X VI I I
1 5 09 —1 5 1 0
Wa r a g i n s t Ve ni c e—Ca m p ig n O f R o m a gn a —Vic t ori e s o f F

a a ra n
c e sc o M i C p t u e o f R ve n
ar a a C st i gli o e s i ll e ss
r a na a n
’
n
Fr es h m arri ag e p o p o s ls —Th e D uc h e ss g o e s t M t u
r a o an a
M do a L uigi ret urn s w i t h h e —Th e yo u g D uch e ss L e o

nna a r n n ora
—V isi t o f t h e D uk e a d D u c h e ss e s t o R o m e —C s t igli o e a
n a n n d
R p h a el
a .
W IT H the N ew Ye a r the cl a sh Of a rms a n d tu mult ,
o f w a rlike prep a ra tio n s c a me to dist u rb the pe a ce o f
Urbin o The Pope s lo n g -cherished schemes for the

.
’
overthro w o f Ven ice were a t len gth to be put i n to

executio n O n December 1 0 1 5 08 the Leag u e Of
.
, ,
C a mbra y wa s S ig n ed betwee n Lo u is X I I an d M a xi .
mili an a n d i n M a rch the Pope p u blicly an n o un ced

,
th a t he h a d j oin ed the co n federa cy a ga i n st Ven ice .
The D uke of Urbin o wa s h a stily rec a lled from M a n tu a ,
where he wa s p ayin g a brief visit t o his bride t o t a ke ,
comm an d o f the P ap al a rmy C a stiglio n e forgot his .
m a trimon i al hopes a n d dis a ppoi n tmen ts i n the t a sk

o f eq u ippi n g his comp a n y o f fifty m e n As u s u a l he .
,
wa s sorely i n n eed of mo n ey a n d his letters to his ,
mother a bou n d i n requests for horses a rms a n d , ,
duc a ts I fin d th a t I h a ve severa l debts here he wro te

.
,
’
a t the en d Of J a n u a ry an d a lthough they a r e n o n e O f

,
them l a rge the whole a mou n t to a c o n sider a ble su m

, ,
so th a t I m u st a sk y o u to se n d me sixty d u c a ts
without dela y .
’
26 6 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CAS TI GLI ON E
On M a rch 16 he repe a ts his req u est in still more

urgen t terms
We a r e expectin g to t ake the field directly here
every on e is stirrin g an d I expect it is the s a me with
,
o u a n d wa r will br e k out very soo The more

y , a n .
q uickly yo u c a n sen d me the mo n ey the better ,
sh all I be plea sed bec au se owin g to this pro spect

,
I h a ve been compelled to pledge my n ext qu a rter s ’
s a l a ry to my creditors a n d a m withou t fu n ds I S h a ll .
be gl a d if yo u c o uld sen d me a t le a st fifty d u c a ts ,
fo r I a m i n n eed o f a tho u s a n d thi n gs an d m o st o f all ,
Of a horse fo r my B u ffo n e is h a rdly fit fo r the w o rk

, .
I a m a ls o imp a tien tly expecti n g those blessed pieces

o f a rmo u r a n d if they h a ve n o t yet re a ched M a n t ua
, ,
I h o pe yo u wi ll write to M Gio A n gelo Vism a ra . .

,
beggi n g him t o sen d them t o B ologn a t o the c a re o f ,
Sign o r Lodovico d a C a rpi a n d he Wi ll pa y the c a rri age

, ,
which m ay be e a sier th a n to sen d them from Mila n to

1
M an tu a .
’
This a rmo u r h a d been ordered from Miss agli a

Of Mil an severa l mon ths before an d C a stiglio n e , ,
who n eeded it gre a tly for the comin g c a mp aign was ,
n a t u r a lly i n dig n a n t a t the prolon ged del ay But .
M a do n n a Luigi a wa s overwhelmed with home

tro ubles a n d losses an d co uld n ot a lwa ys s a tisfy her
,
son s dem an ds as promptly a s he expected E a rly i n

’
.
J an u ary her son -in -law J acopo Boschetto died aft er

, , ,
a lo n g ill n ess le a vi n g a wi d ow an d on e u n m arried

,
da ughter .
’
By letters from my lord Giova n n i Gon z ag a ,
wrote B a ld a ss a re o n J an u a ry 23 I h a ve he ard of ,
the de a th o f o u r p o or M J a c opo which grieves me .

, ,
owi n g t o the bro therly love which I bore him We .
must h a ve p a tie n ce a n d m a y G o d give him a h appier

,
life i n a n other world ! I h a ve written a li n e t o

M a d on n a Polissen a who m u st be plu n ged i n grief a n d
, ,
Se i i 47 1
ra ss , . .
I N THE F IEL D 67
beg yo u to give me p a rtic ula rs o f his dea th an d to

tell me wh a t Polissen a will do an d if a h u sb a n d h a s , ,
been fou n d fo r A n n a A n d i n a postscript he

.
sen ds the D u chess s si n cere co n d o le n ces to both his

’
mother a n d M a don n a Polisse n a .
On April 27 the B ull o f excommu n ic a tion aga i n st

Ven ice wa s p u blished a n d the D uke i n v a ded R om a gn a
,
a t the he a d Of sever a l tho u s a n d m en C a st igli o n e s

’
.
letters give an excelle n t a cco un t o f the short a n d

s u ccessful c a mp a ign th a t followed The first wa s
written from Brisighell a o n M ay 1
Altho ugh I do n o t k n o w how this letter is to be
sen t I write o n the ch an ce to tell yo u th a t I a m s a fe
,
a n d well Yesterd a y bein g Wed n esd a y we a rrived

.
, ,
here a t Brisighell a a town a t the he a d Of the V a l di

,
L a mon e a n d fou n d th a t the city h a d alre a dy su r

,
ren dered t o o u r forces a n d th a t the cita del w a s bein g

,
besieged This h a s n o w been t a ken together with

.
,
the person s Of Sig Gio P a olo M an fron e a n d t wo

. .
o ther le a ders a lso the Provveditore an d

, C a stell an .
The town h a s been s a cked bec au se it wa s t a ken by ,
o n e Of o u r Sp a n ish comp an ies a n d so witho u t an

y ,
tro u ble we h a ve co n qu ered the whole V a l L a mon e ,
which is a gre a t a cq uisition a n d wh a t is o f still gre a ter , ,
import an ce h a ve m a d e M a n fron e prison er Before

, .
lon g I thi n k we S h a ll m a rch o n F a en z a a n d I hope , ,

’
with God s help soo n t o ga in fresh glory Ple a se
, .
sen d Pietro n e here a s soon a s possible for I a m i n ,
gre a t n eed o f serva n ts ; a n d if y o u h a ve a n y ki n d o f

horse I should like him t o brin g it with him b ut if
, ,
n o t let him come as best he can a n d we will fin d him

, ,
a mo u n t a t o n ce He h a d better come to Bologn a

.
,
a n d there he c a n fi n d o u t where o u r c a mp is I .
shou ld be gl a d of p a rtic u l ars a s t o the sire a n d breed

Of C a rlo degli U ber t i s horses I wa n t some b adly ’
a ll the more th a t my poor B u ffo n e h a s r u n a n a il i n to
on e foot a n d will n o t be fit for work for sever a l d a ys

’
.
26 8 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CAST IGL I ON E
C ast iglio n e s ext letter bore the follo wi n g L a ti n

’
n
w eli czbus
Ca st r zs S R E cclesi ae ap ud
’
i n scription
’
: . .
G r a n a r olu m di e 7 M ai M D I X
’
. .
Yesterd a y j u st when I received yo u r letters a

, ,
fierce a ss a ult w a s bei n g m a de on a stro n g fort o f F a e n z a

c alled Gra n a ro lo M a n y o f o ur bra ve m en were killed
.
,
b u t the e n emy s u rren dered a t discretio n an d there ,
h as been n o sl a ughter o f the prison ers We hope .
o ur a rms will prosper a s we fight i n a good c a u se an d ,
a r e a fin e comp an y G o d gu ide o u r steps i n to a go o d

.
p a th ! We a re a ll well a n d h a ppy Ple a se sen d .
P ietr o n e a s s o o n a s p ossible A s fo r M C a rlo s

’
. .
horses I do n ot thi n k they a r e wh a t I requ ire ; fo r I

,
a m n o t i n n eed o f y o u n g h o rses b u t w a n t a tr a i n ed ,
1
h o rse which wou ld h a ve some bra i n s .
’
O n ce more , on M ay 18, the youn g kn ight wr ote In
high spirits
Yesterd a y Pietron e a rrived a n d I th a n k yo u fo r ,
sen di n g him I will sen d b a ck his horse when I h a ve

.
a n opport u n ity a n d sho uld be very gl a d to kn o w wh a t

,
my c o lts ar e d o i n g We h a ve been here before .

,
R u ssi a fortified city for the l a st eight or n i n e d ays

, , ,
a n d the d a before yesterd y were prep a ri n g f

y a o r an
a ss a u lt when 3 00 horseme n an d
, i n fa n try s allied
o u t from R a ve n n a which is t en miles O ff a n d a tt a cked
, ,
us t o m ake a diversi o n O ur light horse rode o u t t o .
meet them a n d behi n d them o u r Sign or with n o more

,
th a n eight ge n tlemen followed by G i o Vitelli an d his , .
brother Chi a ppin o two yo u ths with sixty m en -at -arms

, .
We p u rs u ed the en emy an d a lth o ugh they were i n a , ,
very stro n g positio n a tt a cked them S O furious ly th a t ,
we bro ke their ra n ks an d s o me o f o u r c a valry rode ,
right i n to R a ven n a We m a de 3 00 foot a n d 5 0 horse

.
priso n ers a s well a s m u ch c a ttle an d won a gre a t

, ,
V ictory m u ch t o the ho n ou r Of o u r most ill u stri o u s

,
Sig n o r Yesterd ay m o rn i n g R u ssi s urre n dered o n

.
,
S i i 49 1
e r a ss , . .
27 0 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CAST I GLI ON E
goin g to t ake Cervi a an d Rimi n i a n d i n a short time ,
o u r c a mp a ig n will be over a n d we sh a ll I hope be

, , ,
b a ck a t Urbi n o I sho uld be gl a d to kn ow if His

.
Most Christi an M aj esty h a s rei n sta ted o u r Lord

M a rqu is i n his possessio n s i n Ven eti an territory an d ,
how thi n gs a r e h appen in g o ver there We h a ve do n e .
terrible d am age an d i nj u ry to the co un try rou n d this

poor R a ven n a but the city itself h as n o t su ffered I
, .
did a s little h arm a s I co uld a n d see th a t every on e ,
but myself is e n riched But I d o n o t repen t

. I .
c an n ot tell you how m u ch I grieve over the de ath

o f poor Uberto [ his brother -i n -la w Tomm a so degli
Strozzi s brother] for m an y rea son s b ut most o f a ll
’
, ,
for the s a ke o f his poor wife whos e fa mily whether , ,
livi n g o r de a d brin g her n othi n g bu t trou ble Y o u

, .
will kin dly co n dole with M L u dovi co an d wi th her . .
I c a n n ot write a s I h a ve n o time a n d will only com

, ,
men d myself to y o u an d my S isters an d all o f ours , .
E x Gastr ic, ultim o Ma ui

,
The victories o f the Fren ch i n Lomb a rdy an d the

cru shi n g defe a t of the Ven etian s on M ay 1 4 at the
Ghi ar A dda h a d m a de Louis XI I supreme in N orth
’
.
It aly a n d a fter the co n qu est o f Rimin i seein g there

, ,
wa s n othi n g more to ga i n Juli u s I I ordered the , .
Duke to disb an d his forces By the en d of Ju n e .
C a stiglion e wa s b a ck at Urbin o ; but the h ardships

an d fa tig u e which he h a d s u ffered i n the c a mp a ign
h a d told o n his n ever robust fr a me a n d he wa s ,
seriously ill fo r some weeks in A ugust Both the .
Duchess an d M a don n a Emili a showed him the grea test

kin d n ess du ri n g his sic kn ess If I h ad been their .
o r brother they cou ld n ot h a ve don e more ’

so n , .
Emili a Pi a s wa itin g -women n ursed him with the

’
utmost devotion B u t it wa s m an y weeks before

.
he recovered his stren gth an d he still compla in ed i n

,
1
Se i i 50 ra ss , . .
M ARRIAGE O FFE RS 27 1
September th at he felt very we ak a n d th a t he alth

did n ot come a s q uickly a s ill n ess By wa y of r aisin g .
mo n ey to meet the expe n ses of hi s i lln ess he sold ,
his Old horses a t the fair of Rec an ati an d sen t for ,
others from C a s a tico .
Here his mother w a s still busy m akin g n ew pl a n s

for his m a rri a ge an d some h a lf a doze n di ffere n t
,
brides were proposed to him duri n g the course of the

yea r W hile the un ion with Cl a rice de Medici w as still
.
’
i n the a i r M a do n n a L u igi a received propos a ls from

,
a Cou n t Lodovico Visco n ti w h o h a d a m a rri age a ble
d a ughter an d when the n egoti a tio n s with the Medici

,
were fin a lly broken o ff D u chess Elis a bett a suggested

,
o n e o f Co u n t B or ro m eo s d a ughters a s a s u it a ble
’
bride a n d i n the ki n d n ess o f her hea rt wrote t o

a scert a i n the a mo u n t of her dowry For some re a so n .
the Viscon ti m a rriage did n o t a ttra ct him but he ,
w a s quite i n cli n ed to e n tert a i n the ide a o f an a lli a n ce

with the Borromeo fa mily His frien d M a don n a .
Emili a s brother L o dovico P i c o f C a rpi who c a me t o

’
, ,
Urbi n o o n the Pope s b iI sin ess i n terested himself i n the

’
m atter an d a ss u red C a stiglio n e th a t a ll the members

,
o f the Borromeo fa mily m en a n d wome n a lik e a sked , ,
n othi n g better th an to form a n a lli an ce with him .
B ut a m alicio u s report re a ched him th a t the m a ide n

i n questio n wa s exceedi n gly u gly a n d he a t o n ce ,
recoiled from the pl an However rich S he m ay be

.
,
’
he wrote to his mother I w o uld n o t for a n ythi n g , ,
i n the world t a ke a devil t o be my p a rt n er

, .
This however seems to h a ve bee n a c al um n y an d

, , ,
a ye a r l a ter when he w a s a t Bolog n a i n J u n e 1 5 1 0

, , ,
we fin d him revertin g to the idea an d serio u sly c on

t em pla t i n g the m a rri age O n e Messer Viscon ti wh o
.
,
wa s rel a ted t o the B o r ro m ei h a d a pp a re n tly re ,
1
Co d V a t L a t
. . .
, 8 21 0 .
o pen ed n egoti a tion s a n d c o me fo rwa rd with s a tis

fa ctory a ss u ran ces a s to the m a iden s age a n d be au ty ’
so th a t if the dowry were re a lly a s good a s it so u n ded

, ,
B ald a ss a re w a s qu ite willin g to con cl u de the a gree

men t B ut a s u s u a l h e left the decision to his mother
.
’
a n d u n cle a n d a s u s u a l before m a n y weeks the m a tter

, , ,
wa s a llowed to drop .
O ther propos a ls however re a ched him from , ,
d iffere n t qu a rters We hea r of a d aughter of Con te

.
Giovan n i B oi a rdo a n d Of a n other m a iden o f the ,
St an ga fa mily o f Crem o n a a d au ghter o f Lodovic o ,
Sforz a s fa vo u rite M a rchesin o Then the Bishop of

’
.
Asti h ad a n iece o f his own to recommen d ; while

Lodovico Pio h a d seen a Ferra rese d a msel o f the
C a v a lieri fa mily who w a s n o t on ly t all a n d well
,
‘
ed u c a ted b u t wh a t was more to the purpose h a d

, , ,
a d o wry o f go ld d u c a ts besides con sidera ble ,
expect a tion s from her mother B ald a ss are himself .
wa s more a ttra cted by the a cco u n t which he he ard

o f o n e o f Giberto d a C o r r e i d ghters whose ’
gg o s a u ,
stepmother Vero n ic a G a mb a ra wa s the M a rches a

, ,
d
Is a bell a s go child a n d B em b o s i n tim ate frien d
’ ’
- .
The m aiden herself w a s fo u rteen ye a rs o f age well ,
bro ught u p t a ll a n d very be a utifu l an d her dowr y

, , ,
wa s recko n ed a t d u c a ts so th a t i n every way ,
the m a tch seemed a most eli gible o n e But i n this .
a s i n other c a ses some d i fli c u lt y a rose i n the co u rse
o f n egoti a tio n s an d a fter draggi n g on for m an y

, ,
1
mon ths the m a tter en ded i n smoke
, .
It must be own ed th a t C a stiglion e wa s a very

n eglige n t s u it o r an d his o wn cold n ess a n d l a ck o f
,
i n terest in the s ubj ect m ay expl a in m an y o f these

1
Co d V a t L a t , 8 2 1 0 S ee a l o
. . . s V i s p m p hl t C did t u
G an . .
’
a e , an a re
nu zi i di
al B a t l on e
.
(C s ig i
en e a,V zi w u f t u t ly no n or na e o ut
O fp i r n t , for a e t a le a d i d cc
oun t o f t h e es v i us p p s ls
ar o ro o a .
27 4 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAS T I GLI ON E
fiery old Pope rem ai n ed immova ble , When the .
D u ke begged le a ve fo r an a u dien ce he stern ly b a de ,
him rem a i n a t Urbi n o a n d n ot stir fr o m his St ate

,
without express permissio n a n d when Fr a n cesco ,
M a ri a sta rted i n cogn ito to visit his bride he promptly ,
ordered him t o return a lthough he h a d a lre a dy go t

,
a s fa r a s C a rpi .
U n der these circ u mst an ces both Is a bella a n d her ,
sister -in -law felt th a t their best policy wa s to hu rry o n

’
the Duke s m a rri age a n d brin g the i n fl u en ce of Leon ora
,
a n d her lord to be a r upo n the Pope The M a rches a .
especi ally st aked all her hopes o n this u n io n which ,
Juli u s I I h ad a lwa ys fa vou red a n d the good Duchess

.
, ,
yieldin g t o her sister -in -l a w s pr a yers a greed to u n der ’
ta ke the lo n g j o urn ey t o M an tu a in the de a d o f wi n ter

a n d herself br i n g home the bride .
D urin g the p a st summer M B a ld a ss a re repea tedly .
expressed his i n ten tion o f comin g to meet his mother

a t Ferr a r a or some n eighbo u ri n g spot a n d a rr a n gi n g ,
these m a tt ers I mean to go o n a pilgrim age to

.
Loreto he wrote on August 21 a n d then if G od

,
’
, ,
will meet you in some pl a ce where we can discuss

,
these di fferen t m a rri ages B u t his ill n ess i n terfered

.
’
with these pl an s an d when a t the en d o f N ovember

, , ,
’
the D u chess we n t to M a n tu a to fetch the D uke s
bride sh e kin dly proposed th a t M a do n n a L u igi a S hould
,
retu rn with her t o U rbin o C a stiglio n e gratefully .
a ccepted this gr a cio u s o ffer a n d se n t his most c ap a ble,
a n d tr usted servan t t o escort h i s mother o n the

j ourn ey .
‘
As my illu stri o us Sign ora is com i n g to M an tua ,
I thought I wo uld sen d my serva n t to help y o u o n

the j ou rn ey kn owi n g th a t y o u will be well served
,
by him If I co uld h a ve fo un d a go od horse I wo uld

.
,
a lso h a ve se n t it fo r yo u r u se si n ce we kn ow th a t yo u ,
ILL N E S S O F CAST IGL I ON E 27 5
will be a sked to return here by the L a dy D u chess .
I wish y o u cou ld proc u re me a n a n swer from Lodo

vico M an tegn a to a letter which I sen t him la tely .
It wo uld a lso be well if yo u wo uld ren der i n fin ite

th a n ks to the L a dy D u chess for the exceedin gly
grea t kin d n ess which Her Excellen cy showed me
d uri n g my illn ess an d the s a me t o M a do n n a Emilia
, ,
fo r if I h a d bee n their so n or brother they co u ld n o t

h a ve do n e more ; a n d certa i nly the vows they m a de
on my beh alf will n o t be fu lfilled fo r m a n y a lon g
d ay. I owe a grea t de a l a lso to M a don n a Emili a s ’
women a n d S h ou ld like y o u to gi ve a piece Of li n en o r

,
s o methin g more fo r l o ve O f me t o the o ld o n e n a med

, ,
M a rgherit a altho ugh I a m rea lly equ a lly i n debted to

,
them a ll I a m s ure yo u wi ll pa y them every a tte n

.
tion a n d h o n o ur i n yo uI power a n d n eed sa y n o ,
m oI e Ple a se a lso give my serv an t cloth fo r a pa n

o
o f shirts a n d a c a o f wh a tever ki n d he m a r efe I

, p y p ,
bec a u se he re ally serves me most excellen tly a n d I ,
h a rdly kn o w h ow I S h a ll do witho u t him b ut I W ish

y o u t o h a ve him t o help you I h a ve give n him .
sever a l mess ages for y o u an d yo u will fin d th a t he is ,
implicitly to be t 1 u st ed I S h o u ld be gl a d if y o u c a n
brin g s o me mo n ey with y o u —as m u ch a s p o ssible
.
for my affa irs ar e i n some co n fu sion o wi n g to my ,
recen t illn ess .
U IN
RB N O,mb 19
ove er ,
On the followi n g d ay the D u chess a tten ded by a ,
l arge a n d brilli an t s u ite set o ut for M a n tua a n d a ft er

, , ,
bein g sple n didly e n terta in ed by Is a bell a du ri n g t en

o r twelve d a ys ret u rn ed t o Urbin o with the yo u n g
,
D u chess Leon ora a n d M a do n n a Luigi a i n her tra in .
The we a ther w a s terrible a ll over I t a ly th a t a utum n .
The poet Ariosto who wa s sen t to Rome at Christm a s

,
by his p a tron C a rdin a l d Este to beg the Pope fo r

,
’
rei n forcemen ts i n the wa r a g ain st Ven ice wrote th a t ,
Se i i 51 1
—2
ras s , . .
18
27 6 C O U N T BAL DAS S A RE CASTI GL I ON E
it h a d rai n ed every d ay si n ce he left Ferra ra a n d ,
th a t the floods were S O high he should r un the risk

o f bei n g drow n ed if he were t o st a rt o n his j ourn ey
1
home .
The Urbi n o p a rty left M an t ua i n a den se fog a n d , ,
a ft er w a n deri n g for ho u rs i n the d a rk h a d t o t a ke ,
shelter at the villa Of Gon z a ga The ro a ds were so .
he a vy th a t m ules a n d horses co uld h a rdly get al o n g ,
a n d some o f the l a dies n a rrowly esc a ped dr o wn i n g
i n crossi n g on e r1v er n e a r F a e n z a The po o r .
D u chess su ffered a c u tely from go u t a n d h a d t o ,
tr a vel i n the sumptuo u s gold a n d silver litter born e ,
by t wo h an dsome p a ges i n liveries to m a tch which ,
the Pope h a d sen t for the bride B ut c o urtiers an d .
l a dies a like kept up a bra ve hea rt an d l a ughed over

their a dven tures a n d were hospit a bly en terta in ed a n d
,
a m u sed by d an ces a n d b a n q u ets a t Moden a a n d

Bolog n a an d wherever they spent a n ight
,
2
By .
Christm a s they re a ched their j ourn ey s en d an d the ’
D uke rode O u t from the ga tes o f Urbi n o to meet his

‘
bride an d brought her b a ck i n triumph to the d u c a l

,
p al a ce With him c ame C a stiglion e wh o h ad the

.
,
h appi n ess o f welcomin g his mother a n d M a don n a ,
Luigi a forgot the perils an d fa tigu es o f the j o u rn ey i n

the j o y of embr a cin g her beloved son .
Th at year Christm a s wa s kept with grea t rej oicin g

a t Urbi n o an d the h a lls o f the Mo n tefeltro p a l a ce
,
o n ce more r an g with the s o u n d o f d an c in g a n d so n g .
The Duchess forgo t her o wn sorr o ws i n the S ight o f

’
her children s h a ppi n ess a n d M a d o n n a Emili a wh o se
, ,
a dmir a ble j u dgme n t Bibbien a rem arked wa s n ever

, ,
a t fa ult co m me n ded Leo n ora s be a u ty an d m a n n ers

’
i n the wa rmest terms Bembo who h ad bee n with

.
,
1 A C ppe lli L e t t ere di Lo d A rio st o iv

. a , .
,
’
.
2
L uzio e R e n i er M a n t o va e U b i o p 1 9 4
, r n ,
’
. .
27 8 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CAS TI GL I ON E
complete these ela bor ate toilettes a n d 9 00 d u c a ts of ,
the Prin cess s dowry were melted dow n to provide

’
gold orn a me n ts for the bl a ck velvet robe worn by her

on the S u n d a y Of C a rn iv a l O n e eve n i n g C a rdi n al
.
S an S everi n o ga ve a s u mpt u o u s e n tert a i n me n t a t ,
which a L ati n comedy w a s a cted before s u pper an d an ,
Itali a n pl a y a fterwa rds The Duchess Elis a bett a the

.
,
P refet essa M a don n a Emili a a n d all the other l a dies

, , ,
rem ai n ed to the en d which wa s n ot till two o clock ;

,
’
but the D uke grew so tired o f the perform an ce th a t

he took his wife by the h an d an d rode home with her ,
a tte n ded by o n e o r t wo serv a n ts The n ext even i n g .
he sc an d alized the c o mp an y still more by lea vi n g

M Ago sti n o C h igi s p al a ce immedi ately after supper
.
’
witho u t w a iti n g t o he a r the be au tiful eclog ue o r the

th o u s an d other g en ti lezz e which the Sien a b an ker
h a d prep a red i n ho n o u r o f his gu ests This wa s the .
more i n defen sible bec a u se M Ago sti n o wa s a t this .
time p ayin g a ssid u o u s co u rt t o the fa ir M a rga rita

Gon za ga whose h an d he so u ght in m arri age a skin g
, ,
n o dowry an d pr o misi n g t o settle

, d u c a ts u pon
her B ut whether M a rga rit a s he art wa s still given
.
’
t o her Old lover Alberto P i o who was n o w i n Rome

, ,
a s Imperi a l a mb a ss a do r o r whether S he shr an k with

,
a version from this elderly b a n ker it is cert a in th a t she ,
declin ed his o ffer a n d M Agosti n o himself fr an kly

, .
o wn ed th a t he h a d n o wish t o S h are his home an d bed

with an u n willin g bride .
Th e Pope wa s i n high g ood humo u r we n t every ,
where a n d wou ld se e everythin g He ga ve suppers

, .
an d d an ces i n the rooms of Pope I n n ocen t an d ,
b u ll -figh t s in the Belvedere g a rden s a n d presen ted ,
the bride w i th a costly gold ch a i n a n d crown a s well ,
a s a q u a n tity o f gloves an d perfu mes When the .
M arquis Fran cesco s horse c a rried O ff the p a lla i n the

’
TH E VE N ETIA N S AB S O LVE D 27 9
r a ce he liste n ed with eviden t ple a sure to the S houts

,
of M an tu a ! M an tu a with which the pi a zz a r an g .
The two Duchesses too k a dv an t age o f this occ a si o n

to beg him to remember their c a ptive brother an d
fa ther upon which he s a id with a smile H a ve
,
‘
, ,
little p a tie n ce my children B u t whe n the

’
a , .
D uke i n his t u rn tried t o ple a d his fa th e r -i n -l a w s ’
c a u se the Pope broke i n to a furio u s ra ge an d told

, ,
1
him n o t to atte m pt to pl a y the p art of V ale n ti n o .
However he co n sen ted t o a bs olve the Ven eti a n

,
en vo ys who ca me t o su e for p a rdon O n Febru a ry 24 .
a stra n ge scen e took pl a ce on the pi a zz a befo re

S Peter
. The Pope se a ted o n a thron e i n the
.
,
portico an d supported by the C a rdi n als the D uke

, ,
of Urbi n o the fo reign a mb a ss a dors a n d a host of

, ,
Bishops an d offici a ls received the five e n voys who , , ,
cl a d i n sc a rlet rob es k n elt before him while the ,
M i ser er e wa s ch an ted After they h a d kissed his .
feet three times His Holin ess ga ve them a bsol u ti o n

, .
The n the gre a t chu rch doors were thrown Ope n ,
an d the pen iten ts w ere o n ce more a dmitted i n to

the s an ctu a ry Aft erw a rds they visited the seven
.
b a silic a s an d the ho u sehold o f the Pope escorted

,
them home with gre a t triu mph an d S houts o f j oy .
There w a s n othi n g in the ceremo n y wro te on e o f ,
the five b ut wa s hon ou ra ble to the Rep u blic ; a n d

,
S i n ce the a lms o ffered at e a ch church on ly c o n sist ed

o f five d u c a ts the e n voys fl a ttered themselves th a t
,
they h a d Obta in ed the P ap al a bsolution at sm all

2
expen se .
The ga ieties of C a rn iva l were followed by the

services o f Len t an d the Duchesses were a ssid uo u s
,
i n visiti n g the d i fferen t ch u rches an d a tten ded a ,
1
A Luzi . o, F d ic
‘
e er G o n a ga
o z O s t ggi o p
a ,
’
. 58 .
2
S a n ut o, x .
9, 7 1 , 7 7 A
lb eri , S i ii v iii
er e .
, . . 36 .
28 0 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAS TI GL I O NE
represen ta tio n of the sto r y o f L a z a ru s i n St Peter s .

’
which too k pl a ce o n e S un d a y i n M arch an d w as ,
witn essed by over perso n s But the P o pe a s .

,
o n e of the Ve n eti an s rem a rked wa s n ever prese n t a t

,
’
an
y lo n g services C a stiglion e fo un d m an y of his
.
o ld frie n ds i n Rome an d together with Bembo a n d

,
Giu li a n o e nj o yed the comp an y o f S a d olet o B er o ald o , ,
Bibbien a Cristoforo a n d the lea di n g C a rdi n a ls

, , .
There wa s an other frien d fr om Urbin o wh o welcomed

his presen ce gl a dly This wa s the p a i n ter R aph ae l
.
,
n o w in high fa vour with His Holi n ess a n d e n g a ged ,
i n decora ti n g the V a tic a n st a n z e with his gre a t

fresc oes The D u chess a n d her n ephew who h a d
.
,
been o n frien dly terms with the a rtist fro m his

boyhood n atu rally looked with especi a l i n terest o n
,
the works of the youn g m a ster from Urbi n o ; while

a cc o rdi n g t o an o ld tr a ditio n repe a ted by a n E n glish
,
tra veller wh o V i sited Rome i n the sixteen th cen t ury ,
C a st igli on e s a dvice wa s of gre a t u se t o R a ph a el i n

’
design in g h i s n oble fresco of the S chool o f Philosophy .
The best pro of we h a ve of C a st igli on e s in terest i n ’
the work is the i n trodu ctio n o f his own portra it in to

the grou p on the left close t o R aph a el himself Here
, .
B a ld a ss are a ppea rs i n the ch ar a cter o f Zor o a ster an d ,
stan ds looki n g to w a rds the p a i n ter ; while a n other

n a tive o f Urbi n o the a rchitect Br a m an te fig u res a s
, ,
E u cli d i n the foregrou n d an d the yo un g D uke appea rs

,
i n a c or n er o f the c o mpos ition The portra its o f b o th

‘
C a stiglion e a n d Fr an cesco M a ri a m u st h a ve been

p a i n ted d u rin g this V isit t o Rome while th a t o f
Leo n ora s brother the c u rly —
,
’
, hea ded boy Federico ,
wa s a dded when he c a me to the V a tic a n a s host a ge

fo r his fa ther a few mo n ths l a ter When t h e E a ster.
festiva l wa s o ver the Duke a n d Duchesses took le a ve

,
o f His Holin ess a n d their frien ds in the S a cred

it grieves me when the a ccou n ts I h ave of y o u ar e
n o t those which I S hould like t o he a r 1 ’

.
A ye a r a fter Bembo wrote this letter G a sp are ,
P a ll a vici n o died a t the a ge o f seven ty -fiv e a n d ,
C a stiglion e p a id a S plen did trib ute to h i s frien d i n the

fo u rth book of the C o rtegi an o .
’
E arly i n M a y M a don n a Luigi a wh o h ad a cco m

, ,
an i ed the D u chesses t o Rome d ret u r ed with

p a n n ,
them t o Urbin o sta rt ed on her j o urn ey home takin g

, .
with her m a n y a ffection a te mess ages to the M a rches a ,
a n d the followi n g n ote fr om Elis a bett a
T o my D ea r est S i ster .
As M a don n a Luigi a d a C a stiglion e is return i n g to

Y o ur E xcellen cy a n d c a n give y o u full i n form a tion
,
con cern i n g o ur a ffa irs I will n o t try to spe a k of them

,
.
I sen d yo u a little Oil o f c it ro b e a n d wood o f a loes

which I brought from Rome an d h o pe y o u will ,
a ccept fo r love of me hopi n g soo n t o be a ble to let,

’
y o u h a ve t h e n ews from Rome which I expect .
On the 24t h Is a bell a replied

I am gre atly con soled t o he a r fro m M a don n a Luigi a
d a C a stiglio n e th a t Yo u r High n ess h a s ret u rn ed s a fely
fro m Rome with the D uke an d our d arli n g child a n d ,
m a ke u se o f th e retu rn of the bea rer wh o c a me wi th

M a don n a L u igi a t o tell y o u th a t I a m well b ut h a ve ,
n o n ews o f my lord a s
2 ’
et
y .
At len gth on J uly 1 7 the M a rqu is was rele a sed

, ,
’
i n compli an ce with the Pope s repe a ted dem an ds .
The Holy F a ther h as ordered the Sign ory to set my

lord free wrote Is a bell a j oyfu lly an d the most hea rt
,
’
felt con gra tul a tion s were sen t her from Urbin o .
1
L tt iii 4 1
e e r e,
’
. .
2A c h ivi G z g C t ggi d i B C s t igli

r o on a a, ar e o . a on e .
C HAPTE R XI X
15 1 0 1
- 5 11
Wa r of the P p
g i st F c
o e a d Fa n C t i gli s v s
ra n e an e rr a ra as on e er e
w i t h t h P p l f c s t B l g — C pt u f M d —S i g e
fl
e a a or e a o o na a re o o en a e
of Mi d l —Th P p i t h t c h s — His fu y w i t h t h
r an o a e o e n e re n e r e
D uk —C t i gli
e as el gy Mi d l —C p t u f B l g
on e s
’
e on ra n o a a re o o o na
by t h F e ch —R ut f t h P p l f c s—M u d f C di l
r en o O e a a or e r er o ar na
A lid si—Th D uk xc mm u ic t d d t i d by t h S c d
C ll g —I ll ss f J uli us 1 1 —A b s lut i
o e e e o n a e an r e e a re
o e e ne o d st t i f . o on an re or a on o
t he D uk e .
E A R L Y i n J un e C a stiglion e wa s sen t to Bologn a by

the D u ke o n m ilit a ry b u sin ess a n d rem a in ed there ,
for five or six weeks His letters to his mother were .

-
full Of the c u stom a ry compl a in ts a bout his serva n ts

an d o f disc u ssio n s over the ever -rec u rri n g theme o f
possible m arri ages the Borrome o bride a t th at ,
momen t bei n g to the fore B u t the n ecessity o f .
l a yi n g out a few h u n dred d u c a ts to begin with proved ,
as u s u a l a n i n s u per a ble di ffic u lty

,
especi ally a s he , ,
rem a rked the thin g might fa ll thro u gh an d le a ve

,
him worse o ff th an he w a s before O n ly the d ay before .
he h a d to give Eva n gelist a the M an t u an tra i n er forty , ,
d u c a ts for h o rses a n d to a dv a n ce the s ame a m o u n t to

,
s o me troops who were ordered to Fl o ren ce so th a t he ,
m u st beg M a don n a L u igi a to sen d him fu rther remit

tan ces t o s atisfy his prese n t n eeds The few d u c a ts .
which h a d been p aid him for a horse th a t he h a d

l ately sold were n ot su fficien t t o meet these dem a n ds .
28 3
28 4 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTI GLI O N E
At the s a me time he a dds o n e m u st h a ve bre a d,

’
t o ea t ! Here a t Bologn a my expen ses an d the keep

o f my h o rses cost little less th an a d u c a t a n d a h alf a
d a y so th a t I c a n n ot a fford t o forget those who o n

,
their p a rt o we me mon ey At the s ame time he .

’
wa rn s hi s mother th a t wa r is very likely to bre a k o u t

before l on g a n d begs her n o t o nly to sen d Cristoforo
,
a n d Smer a ldo with his horses before the p a ss es a r e
gu a rded b ut a lso t o employ every a v a il able l abou rer

,
a t C a s a tico to get i n the h a rvest si n ce he foresees th a t ,
there will soon be tro u ble at M an tu a 1

The rep o rts .
which re a ched him from Rome were in deed omi n ou s .
The Pope s wr a th a gai n st Ven ice h a d h ardly been

’
a ss u a ged befo re his fu ry wa s directed a g a in st his former
a llies — Fran ce a n d Ferr a r a He h a d a n Old q u a rrel .
with Lou is X I I over the n omin a tion o f Fren ch

.
Bishops a n d resen ted the hi gh-h an ded me a sures o f

,
the Fren ch m o n a rch i n N orth It a ly while he h a d ,
lon g l o oked en vio u sly on Ferra ra as a fief o f the

Chu rch a n d c o uld n ot forgive Alfon so s close alli an ce
,
’
wi th Fra n ce The P o pe is O ld an d go u ty wrote ,

’
Trevis an o from Rome i n April bu t he is deter ,
min ed to be m a ster o f the world s game W he n i n ’

.
’
M ay n ews re a ched the Holy F a ther th a t Bishop

,
S ch i n n er h a d con cl u ded a tre a ty with the Swiss he ,
excl a imed j oyfu lly : N ow we S h all be a ble t o drive

the Fre n ch o u t o f It a ly He cou ld n ot S leep he .
’
s a id bec a u se o f the Fren chmen a n d spen t the n ight

, ,
p a cin g u p a n d down his room brood in g over hi s war ,
like design s Every on e felt th a t there w as tro uble

.
i n the a i r The Fren ch i n Rome look lik e corpses

.
,
’
wr ote the s a me e n voy a few weeks l a ter an d H i s ,
Holi n ess is even more violen t in his l an gu a ge again st

them th an he wa s a ga in st u s l a st ye a r The D uke .
’
1
Cod Va t L a t
. . .
, 8 2 1 0, fo l 1 0 1
. .
28 6 C O U N T BAL D AS SARE CAST IGLI ON E
covered more speedily an d by the e n d o f August

,
wa s a ble t o j oi n the D uke i n the c a mp a t Fi n a le .
By this time war h a d beg un in good e arn est O n .
Augu st 9 the P o pe l a u n ched a B ull o f e x c o m m un i ca

tio n a ga i n st Alfon so den o un ci n g him a s a so n of per
,
diti o n a tra it o r a n d rebel a g a in st the Vic a r o f Christ

, ,
a n d a pp o i n ti n g the M a rq u is of M a n t u a Go n fa l o n iere
o f the Ch u rch i n his ste a d The D uke of Urbin o

.
a dv a n ced i n to Ferra ra a n d Rom agn a a n d m a de ,
a n e a sy c o n qu est of the prin cip a l tow n s i n this district .
O n the 2ot h Moden a s u rren dered chiefly owi n g to ,
the a cti o n o f the powerful Co un t Gira rdo Ran g o n e ,
w h o decl a red himself for the Pope B ut the c a ptu re

.
o f Ferr a r a itself wa s a more d i fli c u lt m a tter Alfon so .
a n d his s u bj ects prep a red for a V ig o ro u s defe n ce a n d ,
the va lia n t c a pt a i n Federic o Gon z aga o n e o f C a s ,
t i gli on e s Bozzolo n eighbo u rs s u cceeded i n fighti n g

’
his wa y thro ugh the en emy s ran ks an d j oi n ed the

’
D uke within the wa lls Altho ugh the M a rq uis o f

.
M an tu a h a d been a ppoi n ted to the chief comm a n d of

the P a p a l forces he del a yed to t a ke the field a n d there
, ,
c a n be little do u bt th a t the M a rches an a secretly u sed
her in fl u en ce o n her bro ther s beh alf ’

Here we are .
’
told of in trigu es i n M an tu a which s u rprise uS gre a tly ,
wrote C a stiglion e to his m o ther from Moden a o n

‘
O ctober 1 6 ; if yo u cou ld fin d o ut the tru th a bo u t
wh a t i s re a lly t aki n g pl a ce I S ho uld be very gra teful
, .
His letters from the c a mp d u rin g this a u tu m n an d

wi n ter cert ai n ly give the impressi o n th a t the Pope
wa s j u stified i n compl a i n in g of his ge n era l s dil a tory
’
me a s ures .
‘
life in c a mp he wrote o n S eptember 2 1
O ur ,
’
seems to con sist i n lodgin g i n the open a i r in the

fields T he r a in s h a ve been very he a vy a n d ar e quite
.
S IE GE O F M IRA N D O LA 28 7
i n cess an t , how lo n g we h a ve to rem a i n here n o

an d
o n e c a n im a gin e B u t the P o pe will be i n Bol o g n a

.
to morro w a n d then I expect we sh a ll soon h a ve o ur

-
,
m rchi n g orders
a 1
.
’
Through torren ts of ra i n a n d a sea o f a lmost i m

p a ss a ble m u d the in domita ble Pope m a de his wa y t o
Bologn a a cco m p an ied by sever a l rel u ct a n t C a rdi n a ls
,
a n d a b o dy o f 4 00 m e n The light -he a rted R om a g

.
n ese we n t i n to fits o f l a ughter whe n they sa w the
l o n g tra in o f m ules a n d servan ts be a ri n g litters ,
str uggli n g a lon g the hea vy ro a ds i n detestable

wea ther an d forgot t o kn eel before the Holy F a ther
,
as he p a ssed B ut the fa tig u es o f the j o u rn ey

.
an d the perils th a t thre a te n ed him a t Bol o gn a

from the a dva n ce o f the Fre n ch a rmy a n d the dis
a ffectio n o f the citize n s bro ught on a viole n t a tt a ck o f
,
fever an d fo r a few d a ys the Pope s life wa s in d an ger

,
’
.
Eve n then his stron g will a sserted itself an d he i n ,
sisted o n bei n g c arried to the b a lco n y to bless the

citizen s wh o rose i n a rms a ga in st the h ated Lega te ,
Alidosi but were qu ic kly p a cified by the sight of the

,
Holy F a ther I n S pite o f s u ccessive rela pses he rose

.
,
from his sick -bed to sa y m a ss on Christm a s D ay an d , ,
to the i n ten se a m a zemen t o f C ardin a ls a n d gen erals

a like he an n o u n ced his i n te n tio n of j o i n i n g the c a mp
,
a n d co n d u cti n g the siege of Mir a n dol a i n pers o n .
D uri n g the a u t um n mon ths the combi n ed Ven eti a n

a n d P a p a l forces h a d bee n e n c a mped betwee n Mode n a
a n d Reggio chiefly e n g a ged i n pl u n deri n g the co u n try

,
ro un d an d S kirmishi n g with the ga rriso n o f Ferra ra .
O n December 1 1 C a stiglio n e se n t Cristofo ro with his

horse P a pp aga llo b a ck to C a s a tico beggin g h i s mother ,
for mon ey a n d white cloth , Of which he w a s i n gre a t

w a n t an d told her th a t the D uke h ad been s u fferi n g
,
S i i 54 1 e r a ss , . .
28 8 C O U N T B ALDAS S A RE CAST IGLI ON E
from fever for the l a st few d a ys a n d w a s goi n g t o ,
B o logn a fo r rest We others eight o r t en of u s ar e

.
, ,
goi ng with His E xcellen cy The rest of the c a mp is .
movi n g towa rds L a Mira n dol a Mira n dola wa s n ow .

’
the poi n t upon which the eyes o f a ll E u rope were

fixed The stron gly fortified city wa s defen ded by
.
a v a li an t Co u n tess Fr an cesc a Triv u lzio d a ughter o f

, ,
the o ld M a rsh a l a n d widow o f th a t Lodovico Pico

whose he a d h a d bee n blo wn O ff by a S hell a ye ar
before when he wa s fighti n g on the Pope s side
,
’
a ga in st Ve n ice This bra ve l a dy s upp orted by her

.
,
co u si n Aless a n dro Trivulzio a n d a troop of Fren ch

, ,
c a va lry refu sed t o s u rre n der a n d held o ut galla n tly

, ,
a g a i n st the a ss au lts of the P ap a l a n d Ven eti a n

troops It wa s the n th a t the Pope decl a ri n g th a t
.
,
his c a pta i n s were either fools o r tra itors put him ,
self a t the he a d of his forces a n d led the a tt a ck

on Miran dol a The we a ther w a s bitterly cold the
.
,
s n ow lay thick o n the gro un d a n d the wi n d raged ,
viole n tly The mo a t u n der the wa lls wa s frozen

.
‘
over an d the gu n p o wder wa s r uin ed by the torren ts

,
o f r a i n an d sleet b u t n othi n g could d a u n t the lio n

‘
he a rted old m an .
‘
The Pope h a s a ppea red to o ur gre a t surprise ! ,
’
wrote the V en eti a n en voy H i er o n i m o L ippo m an o ,

.
He h a tes the Fren ch more th a n ever a n d s a ys ,
n othi n g b u t Mira n dol a ! Mir an dol a ! un til it i s i m

p o ssible t o help lau ghi n g He heeds n either cold n or .
s n o w a n d h a s the stren gth o f a gian t B ut his peo ple

, .
do n o t s upport him The cou rt offici als o n ly c a re .
’
fo r mo n ey a n d a r e lo n gi n g t o get b a ck to Rome
, .
This a p a thy on the p a rt of his c apta in s i n fu ri a ted

the vigoro u s o ld Pon tiff When the Duke o f Urbin o .
tried to m ake excuses for his dela y in pl a n tin g the

a rtiller a g a i n st the w a lls he sho u ted out : Hold
y ,
s n ow Whe n he dismo un ted i n the midst o f a he a vy

.
s n owst o rm he h a d a big fire m a de a n d a sked for a

, ,
dri n k which he sh a red with the com m o n soldiers

, .
‘
Mon sign ore s a id Messer H i er o n i m o to C a rdin al
,
’
Alid o si a s he w a tch ed the stra n ge sight it sh o u ld be

,
‘
,
recorded i n a ll the histo ries o f the world th a t a Pope ,
l a tely rec o vered from d a n gerous illn ess h a s himself ,
come i n to the c a mp i n J a n u a ry in bitter cold a n d

s n ow T o which the C a rdin al wh o h a d n on e o f the
’
.
,
Pope s milita ry a rdou r an d wa s s u spected o f secretly

’
plottin g with Fra n ce replied curtly : It is a gre a t ,
1
even t .
’
The won der with which Ch r isten dom beheld the

scen e is reflected in the witty L a ti n di alogue of
‘
Juli u s I I E x clusus which wa s published a n on y
.
,
’
m o u sly in P a ris i n 1 5 1 3 but promptly recogn ized ,
a s the work o f a well k n ow n schol a r

- Aut Era sm u s ,
a u t di a bol u s Here the fightin g Pope wea rin g a

’
.
,
c a ssock over his blood -sta in ed a rmour an d a tten ded ,
by th ou s a n ds o f soldiers who fell i n his b attles is .
represen ted a s th un derin g i n va in a t t h e ga tes o f

P a ra dise which S t Peter refuses to u n lock S i n ce he
, .
,
c a n n ot rec o gn ize i n him a n y m a rks o f the Vic a r o f

Christ the p ure a n d l o wly M a ster wh o loved the
,
p o o r an d ga ve His o wn life fo r m an ki n d B ut this .
fa mous di alogu e wa s n o t the o n ly composition i n

S pired by the siege o f Mira n dol a I n these s a me .
frost -bou n d tren ches where he spen t d a y a n d n ight ,
directin g the movemen ts o f the a rtillery B a ld a ss are ,
C a stiglion e con ceived the ide a o f his n oble dram a tic

elegy Prosopopoei a L u dovici Pici M i r an d ulan l the
, ,
o n ly poem which c an be defi n itely a scribed to these

tro u bled yea rs o f his life I n thes e fin e L a tin verses .
he describes h ow a s he wa tched u n der the w alls of

,
S mut x i 7 4 5 1
a o, . .
C A S T I G L I O NE S
’
P O EM 29 1
the bele a g u ered city a n d the white moo n light sho n e

,
o n the glitteri n g s n ows the ghost o f Lodovico Pico ,
s u dden ly a ppea red before him with bloody brow a n d ,
sa d fa ce ga zi n g o n the c a mp b u stli n g i n wa rlike

,
a rr a y an d a ppe a led in p a thetic l a n gu a ge t o the Pope

,
a s the F a ther an d Shepherd Of the n a tio n s the gre a t ,
Arbiter Of the world t o whom G o d Himself h a d ,
given power over he a ven an d hell Wh a t h a ve I .
do n e the p a le ghost a sked t o brin g such ru in on

,
’
my r a ce an d home an d poin tin g to the wo un ds ,
which he h ad received i n the Pope s service implored ’
the Holy F a ther t o h a ve comp a ssion on his u n h appy

wife an d in n ocen t children a n d o n the r u i n ed ho u ses ,
a n d desol ate vi n ey a rds of the miser a ble pe a s a n ts whose
homes were l aid w a ste by the cruel sco u rge Of war .
But while the hero S pirit po u red o u t h i s mo u rn ful

compl ain t t h e sou n d o f ro a ri n g gu n s broke upon the
,
a i r sh a kin g the e a rth with their fury a s u dde n bl a ze

, ,
o f fl a mes lit up the b u rn i n g city a n d with a gro a n , ,
the sad spectre v a n ished i n to d a rkn ess .
Both the dea d Lord o f Miran d o l a an d h i s wife

h a d been C a st igli o n e s frien ds a n d the S ight o f the
’
wro n gs i n flicted on a n in n ocen t ra ce appea led t o h is

poet -soul ra ther th an the tri u mphs of the wa rrior
,
Pope u po n whose S ide he fought B ut a s he an d all

, .
,
the world kn ew i t wa s a lost c a use Ch a umon t who

, .
,
with the Fren ch a rmy wa s en c amped h a rd by between ,
Ru bier a an d C arpi did n o t move a h an d a n d the

, ,
belea guered town wa s left to its fa te .
O n the 2ot h a brea ch w a s m a de i n the w a lls a n d ,
both her amm un itio n a n d provision s bei n g exh austed ,
the Coun tess s urre n dered sen din g word t o the Pope ,
th a t he might d o his worst b ut th at sh e a n d her ,
children would return t o their own some d ay This .
mess age we ar e told plea sed the Pope so m u ch th a t

—2
, ,
19
he se n t the l a dy a n escort an d ga ve o rders th a t ,
S he sh o uld be allowed to le a ve the city with all the

ho n ours o f war 1
H e himself wou ld n o t w a it till
.
the drawbridge w a s restored a n d the w a lled -up ga tes

open ed bu t climbed up a l a dder a n d en tered through
,
t h e bre a ch a fe a t
, which a s the Ven eti an e n vo y ,
rem arked the gou ty Old m an only a ccomplished with

,
some d i ffi cult y 2
The n ext d ay he wa s c a rried
.
o n a litter ro u n d the w a lls where he g a ve directio n s ,
a s to the n ecess a ry rep a irs a n d a ppoin ted Lodovico ,
Pico s brother Gi a n fran cesco Govern or of the c on

’
qu ered city ‘
N OW he s a id ex u ltin gly ‘
we will
’
.
, ,
go on to Ferr a ra B u t he saw with a n n oy a n ce the

.
qu a rrels o f his o wn c a pt a in s an d the ever -growi n g ,
h atred between C a rdi n al Alidosi an d the D uke o f

Urbin o He sto rmed a t them all i n turn told them
.
,
they were d o lts a n d cowa rds a n d swo re th a t he ,
wou ld h an g the on e an d qu arter the other .
‘
This Pope i s exceedi n gly stron g -willed an d ex
c e e di n gly diffic u lt t o m a n age rem arked L ippo m an o ’
, ,
who h a d a mple opportu n ity of formi n g an opi n ion .
N O o n e kn ows wh a t he will d o n ext he h as a bra i n

o f his o wn an d a spirit which i s terrible i n a ll thin gs
’
, .
Even C a stiglion e c ame in fo r a sh are Of these

a men ities a n d experien ced wh a t Ariosto h a s fi n ely
,
c a lled la g r a n de zr a da S econ do — the grea t wr a th

’ '
3
o f the seco n d J uli u s O n J an u a ry 24 he wa s sen t
.
t o the Rocc a by the D u ke who wo u ld n o t ve n tu re ,
himself i n to the presen ce o f the ira scible Pon tiff to ,
be ar him his con gr a t ul a tio n s o n the s u ccessful occ u p a

tion o f the city an d a sk his ple a sure regardin g the
movemen ts o f the c a va lry But at the sight o f .
1 Lui gi da P o rt o , Lett ere p ,

’
. 23 1 .
2
S a mut o , xi . 7 7 0, etc .
3
S ti a re i . 15 2 .
in g an import an t positio n on the b a n ks of the Po ]

an d a sk n othin g better th a n t o try o u r ch a n ce i n
a b a ttle if o nly t o get o u t o f these miseries
, All my .
m en a n d I myself a r e worn o u t by these lo n g m a rches ,
an d o u r clothes a r e in r a gs I wish y o u w o uld try .
a n d proc u re me some bl u e a n d t a n cloth to m a ke my
serva n ts n ew v ests an d some blu e s a ti n for a t un ic

,
fo r myself a n d I will let y o u k n ow h o w m u ch I

,
req uire A s fo r o ur n ext m o vemen ts I c a n o n ly tell

.
,
y o u wh a t every on e k n ows We a r e very n e a r the .
en emy a n d a r e obliged to pro tect o u r fl an ks a s well

,
a s we can W e ar e a t Fi n a le Bon den o a n d M a ss a

.
, , ,
a n d the e n emy a t L a Stell a t a a n d S er m et o The .
Pope wa s very an xio u s to t a ke L a B a sti a but every ,
o n e else expects gre a t thi n gs from this co n fere n ce a t
M an tu a .
’
Aga in , on April 7 he wrote

O u r l a bo u rs a r e co n ti n u a l a n d the fa mi n e i n cre a ses
,
ever y d ay There is h a rdly a fee d o f c o rn left for o u r

.
poor horses , an d I h a ve t o ld the prese n t be arer Au relio , ,
t o a sk y o u t o se n d me 1 8 o r 20 b u shels o f o a ts by a
me a n s o f con veya n ce th a t he W ill expl a i n , a n d which ,
I hope, y o u will be a ble t o m an age a s we cert a i nly a r e ,
i n a b a d c a se I n two d a ys I will se n d fo r the bl u e

.
a n d t a n cloth o f which I wrote , to clothe my p o o r l a ds ,
wh o ar e red u ced to a st a te o f a bsol u te n a ke d n ess .
I should alS O like to h a ve two s a cks o f whea t , a s n o t

a gr a i n o f corn is to be h a d here , a n d bre a d costs a s
much as a n eye ! ’
Still more pressi n g wa s his letter o f the 9 t h i n ,
which he repe a ts his requ est for s u its o f bl u e an d t a n

cloth fo r Smera ldo his secret a ry a n d white cloth to
, ,
m a ke a tu n ic fo r Gi an pietro an d three p airs of fur ,
lin ed boots All o f these I wa n t a s s o on a s possible

.
,
fo r o u r clothes ar e a ll tor n to bits A n d I beg y o u .
t o se n d the c o rn a t o n ce a s the horses ar e in dire ,

WAR R A THER THA N PEACE 29 5
necessity an d h a ve ea te n the gra ss cl o se down to the

gro un d 1
.
’
This time go o d M a don n a Lui gi a bestirred herself

i n e a rn est an d on the 27 t h B a ld a ss a re wrote gr a te
,
fully to th a n k her for the corn eggs an d vegeta bles , ,
which h ad bee n sorely n eeded I n the s a me letter he .
l a men ts the fa il u re o f the n egoti a tio n s to which he

h a d referred a bove .
This wa s the con feren ce o f foreign en vo ys whom

the M a rches a n a i n her a n xiety for pe a ce h a d in vited
, ,
t o M a n t u a where M a ximili a n s fa vo u rite M a tth ae u s

’
, ,
L a n g Bishop o f G urk met the a mb a ss a dors o f

, ,
Fra n ce Sp ai n an d E n gl a n d a n d a mused himself

, , ,
flirti n g with Is a bella s m a ids o f ho n o u r i n the i n

’
t er v a ls of b u si n ess O n April 1 0 Bishop L a n g wa s

.
se n t to tre a t with the Pope a t B o l o gn a a n d beh a ved ,
with s u ch u n m a n n erly a rroga n ce a n d i n s o len ce th a t

even the V en e t i an s were disg usted a n d co u ld n o t ,
wo n der th a t J uli u s refused to come to terms with

him The Pope replie d by excomm un ic a ti n g the
.
D uke o f Ferr a r a a n d a ll the a llies o f Fra n ce a n d o n ,
the 25 t h the Bish o p left Bologn a h u rriedly with a n

a n gry c o u n te n an ce which boded ill fo r a ll p a rties
, .
Y ou will h a ve hea rd wrote C a stiglion e to his ,

’
mother two d a ys a fterwa rds th a t the Amb a ss a d o r

‘
,
o f H i s C aes a re a n M aj esty h a s p a rted from o u r Lord
the Pope i n a n ger so th a t we expect wa r ra ther th a n

,
pea ce G o d sen d u s wh a t is best

. .
’
At this critic a l mome n t a n e w Fren ch gen era l

a ppe a red o n the sce n e i n the perso n o f the fin e Old
M a rsh a l Triv ulzio who wa s se n t with fresh rei n force

,
men ts to ta ke comm a n d a fter the d e a th o f Ch au mo n t .
His first step wa s to m ake a d a sh o n Bol o gn a a n d o n ,
S i i 5 6 -5 8 1
e ra ss , . .
29 6 C O U N T BALDAS S A R E CASTI GL I ON E
M ay 15 the Pope le ft hurriedly for R a ve n n a t o a void

the risk of fa llin g i n to the h an ds o f the h a ted Fre n ch .
B ut h a rdly w a s he g o n e befo re the people o f Bol ogn a

rose i n a rms a ga i n st C a rdin a l Alidosi who fled i n ,
disguise t o his h o me n e a r Imol a withou t m a kin g an y

a ttempt a t resist an ce The D u ke o f Urbi n o whose
.
,
a rmy w a s e n c a mped in the n eighb o u rhood

promptly ,
o rdered his m en t o retre a t a n d they were p u rs u ed

,
a n d defe a ted with he a vy losses by the Fre n ch The .
flight soo n bec a me a rou t a n d the d u c a l st a n d a rd

, ,
together with twen ty g un s a n d a ll the b aggage fell ,

’
i n t o the en emy s h an ds an d on the 23 rd Trivu lzio
,
e n tered Bolo gn a in tri u mph The B en t i v ogli were .
restored the cita del which J uliu s I I h a d b uilt wa s

, .
destro yed a n d Michelan gelo s bro n z e st at u e o f the

,
’
Pope was broken i n pieces a n d melted d o wn by

Alfon so d Este who m a de it i n to a c an n on which
’
, ,
he n a med L a Gi uli a —a n in s ult which the Po n tiff

n ever forg a ve .
Th u s in a few d ays the o ld Pope sa w himself

deprived o f all his h a rd -won con q u ests B u t his .
c o ura ge n ever q uailed O n Frid a y M a y 23 he sum

.
, ,
m on e d the C a rdi n als i n to his presen ce a t R a ven n a ,
a n d told them th a t Bolog n a h a d bee n l o st n ot a s , ,
some m en s a id by the fa ult o f the Lega te b ut by

, ,
the revolt an d tre a chery o f its citizen s He a sked .
for Ali d o si an d hea ri n g he h a d fled to Imol a rem a rked

, , ,
th at perhaps he felt s a fer there th an here Then he .
ven ted his fu ry o n the D uke o f Urbi n o c a lli n g him ,
a fool a n d a tr a itor a n d s a yi n g th a t if Fr a n cesco fell

,
i n to his h an ds he shou ld be dra wn a n d qu a rtered a s he ,
richly deserved E a rly the n ext morni n g he sen t for

.
his n ephew an d at the sight of the D uke br o ke o u t

,
i n to a torren t of violen t repro a ches telli n g him th a t hi ,
del a ys a n d irresol utio n h a d been the c a use o f a ll these

29 8 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTIGLI ON E
b ut still stron g i n courage a n d firm o f purpose His .
cooln ess an d resol utio n i n the fa ce o f overwhelmin g

d a n gers a m a zed every on e A grou p of rebellio us .
C a rdi n a ls supp o rted by Louis X I I a n d M a ximili a n

, .
,
h a d s u mmo n ed a Genera l Co u n cil a t Pis a a n d cited ,
the Pope to a ppe a r before this a ssembly J u li u s .
retorted by issu in g summo n s for a u n ivers a l Coun cil

t o meet a t the L a ter a n i n April 1 5 1 2 a n d pron o u n ced , ,
the edict iss u ed by the revo lted C a rdi n als to be n ull

a n d void . A t the s a me time he fulmi n a ted e x co m
m un i c a t i on s a g a in st Bologn a a n d bega n to n egoti a te ,
a le a g u e a g a i n st Fr a n ce with Ferdi n a n d o f Sp a in ,
Hen ry VI I I an d Ven ice His e n emies were divided

.
, .
a n d irresolute The Co un cil o f Pis a proved a n utter

.
fa il ure Lo u is X I I fe a rin g to proceed t o extremities

. .
,
a g a i n st the He a d o f the Ch u rch ordered his troops to ,
retire to Mila n an d e n tered in to n egoti a tion s for pe a ce

, .
Me an while C a stiglion e h a d retu rn ed with the Duke

to Urbin o He h a d lost everythin g in the ro u t o f the
.
P a p al a rmy b u t held himself fortu n a te to h a ve esc aped

,
with his life from this dis a ster O n J un e 1 he sen t a .
brief n ote to i n form his mother of his s afety

By di fferen t wa ys you will h a ve hea rd th a t we
re a ched Ces en a s afely This be a rer will tell you th a t .
we a re a t Urbin o s a fe i n deed b ut u tterly destitu te

, ,
.
I h a ve lost all my horses a n d everythi n g th a t I

possessed However I a m n ot gre a tly co n cern ed
.
,
a bout this S i n ce th an k God I a m s afe a n d u n

, , ,
h armed I S ho uld be gl a d if yo u co uld sen d me a

.
few n ecess ary clothes S hirts h a n dkerchiefs c aps o f , , ,
gold cl o th a n d other thin gs o f this kin d fo r I h ave

, ,
been stripped b a re of everythin g 1

.
’
We do n ot kn ow if C a stiglion e wa s i n R a ven n a
with the D uke an d w it n essed the m u rder of Alidosi ,
S i i 59 1
e ra ss , . .
TRIAL O F FRA N CE S C O 29 9
b ut as n o a llu sio n t o the even t a ppe a rs i n his letters ,
it is more prob a ble th at he rem a in ed at the c amp n e a r

Cesen a en de a vo u rin g to collect the rem n a n ts o f the
a rmy . It wa s however a s u s u a l t o him th a t Fran cesco
, , ,
t urn ed for help in his ho u r o f n eed His in fluen ce .
c o un ted for m u ch with h i s lord a n d both the Ven eti a n ,
en voys an d the M a n tu an correspon den ts spea k o f him

a s the D u ke s chief min ister an d fa vo u rite the on e
’
who ca n do everythin g with him C a stiglio n e o n .

’
his p a rt seems t o h a ve become a tt a ched to h i s you n g

,
m a ster a n d wa s t o o loy a l a serv an t t o say a word

,
a g a i n st him eve n i n priv a te letters .
O n J uly 2 1 three d a ys a fter prom ulg a ti n g the

,
Bull con vokin g the L a tera n Cou n cil the Pope ,
su mmo n ed his n ephew the D uke o f Urbin o t o , ,
a ppe a r be fore the S a cred C ollege to a n swer for the
m u rder o f C a rdin al Alidosi an d decl ared him t o ,
h a ve forfeited a ll his dign ities a n d possession s At .
fir st Fra n ces co hesit a ted t o Obey the s u mmon s but ,
yield in g to the co un sels o f his a u n t th e D u ches s a n d , ,
his more pru den t friends he c a m e to Rome with ,
Ca stiglio n e o n Au gu st 9 an d presen ted himself a t the

1
Va tic an The Pope ordered him to rem a in u n der
.
a rrest in the D u chess Elis a bett a s h o u se i n the V i a

’
L a t a while his tri al wa s referred t o a commission

,
o f si x C a rdi n a ls Fort un a tely fo r F r a n cesco the chief

.
,
Of this trib un a l wa s Giov an n i de M edici a C a rdin al ’
closely con n ected by ties o f frien dship a n d gra titu de

with the d u c a l fa mi ly a n d who se brother Giuli a n o
,
an d secret a ry Bibbie n a a s we k n ow were i n tim a te

, ,
a like with the D u chess Elis a bett a B embo a n d C a s , ,
t igli o n e The Duke s defen ce wa s co n fided to a n other

’
.
member of the s a me circle Filippo B er o ald o who , ,
ple a ded F r a n cesc o s c a u se with a powe r a n d a bili ty

’
S mut x 3 7 1
1
a o, 11 . .
3 00 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAST I GLI ON E
th a t excit ed gen era l a dmira tio n The proceedin gs .
were lo n g a n d i n volved a n d fill a thick p a rchmen t

,
vol ume which is still preserved i n the a rchives of

,
Urbi n o while B er o a ld o s a ble a n d eloquen t o ra tion

,
’
is mon g the m an u scripts of the V a tic a n libra ry

a 1
.
It rests a lmost e n tirely o n the crimes a n d tre a son of

the m u rdered C a rdi n a l of which m an y s ubst an ti a l
,
proofs c o u ld be pr o d u ced an d a ft er a lo n g recit a l

, ,
o f A li d o si s n u mer o u s a cts o f viole n ce a n d tre a chery

’
his secret u n derst a n di n g with the Fren ch a n d fin a l ,
betra ya l of Bologn a en ds by decla ri n g th a t the D uke

,
h a d ren dered the P o pe a n d Church a gre a t service

i n deliveri n g the w o rld from t his mo n ster o f i n iquity .
I n a fi n e peror a tio n the a dvoc a te a ppe a led to the

j u dges to sp a re a yo u n g Prin ce whose life wa s precious
t o so m a n y ill u strious an d V irt u o u s Pri n ces s u ch a s the ,
D u chess of Urbin o a n d the M a r qu is a n d M a rchion ess

o f M an t u a a n d wh o se sword wa s sorely n eeded fo r
,
the defen ce of It a ly .
These sentimen ts fo un d a qu ick respo n se in the

pop ul a r feeli n g both i n R o me a n d in the rest o f
,
It aly After the first shock o f horror a t the m u rder

.
,
there wa s a ge n eral revulsion in fa vour o f the m an

wh o se h an d h a d sl a i n this h a ted villai n NO o n e b ut .
the Pope grieved for Alidosi The other C a rdin als .
expressed their s atisfa ction open ly Pa ris de Gra ssis .

,
i n hi s d i a ry retu rn ed solem n th a n ks to Almi ghty

,
God for h a vi n g delivered the world fr om S O odio u s a

m a n a n d S O n otorio u s a tr a itor The people i n the .
streets o f R a ven n a rej oiced over the tyr an t s fa ll a n d ’
a voice was hea r d c alli n g dow n blessi n gs on the

D uke whom G o d h a d chosen to be the a ven ger of
,
their wron gs .
B ut i n the midst of thes e proceedi n gs the P o pe

1 Co d V a t U r b
. . .
, 9 24 .
the full p artic ul a rs Of their decision were afterw a rds

embodied i n a Bull S ign ed by H i s Holi n ess a n d
eighteen C a rdin als an d d a ted December 9 1 5 1 1
, , .
O n September 27 C a stigli o n e wrote j oyo u sly from

Urbin o to tell hi s m other th a t their an xieties were
h appily en ded
We h a ve th an k G od retu rn ed s a fely from Rome

, , ,
brin gi n g with u s the a bsoluti o n a n d restora tio n Of my

ill u strio u s lord t o his sta te an d hon ou rs a fter p a ssin g ,
thro ugh in fin ite trou bles an d more an xieties th an I c an

describe The worst of a ll wa s the very d an gero u s
.
ilhi ess Of His Holin ess who h a s been s a ved a s it

, ,
were by a mira cle from the j a ws o f de ath to e n sure

,
the s a fety o f o ur D uke an d o f the whole Chu rch o f

G od . F o r if he h a d re a lly died both the st a te an d ,
person Of the D uke wo uld h a ve been i n the utmost

d a n ger an d might h a ve been exp o sed t o gre at risks
,
a t the h a n ds o f the S a cred College M a n y i n deed .
were the perils th a t co u ld a lre a dy be foreseen B ut .
God be pra ised When I wa s in Rome I sen t you a

letter by a messen ger of the L ord M a rqu is b ut d o ,
n o t kn ow if it ever re a ched y o u I n th a t letter I .
begged y ou to se n d me fi ft y d u c a ts to pay some o f

my debts which I h a ve been forced t o in c u r owi n g t o
,
o u r misfortu n es this ye a r As soon a s I h a ve received

.
the mon ey I will set o ut on my j ourn ey an d come

a n d see y o u Me an while I a m goin g to O u r L a dy of
.
Loreto t o whom I owe a v ow I c ann ot write more

, .
,
a s my h a n d is very ti re d ; an d a lthough I ca n u se
it t o write it is still we ak an d on ly improves by slow

, ,
1 ’
degrees .
B a lda ss a re h a d s uffered i n body a s well a s i n min d

by the c al a mities o f the p a st yea r He c ompl ain ed .
repea tedl y duri n g the dis a strous c a mpa ign of severe

1
S erassi , i . 60 .
PIL GRIMA GE T O L O RET O 3 03
p ain s in his S ide which dis a bled him fr o m a ctive

,
service an d n o w he s u ffered from sleepless n ess an d

,
we akn ess o f limbs B ut the perils from which he

.
a n d his lord h a d esc a ped were so much w o rse th a t he
co uld o n ly th an k God a s with a gra teful he art he

set o u t on his pilgrim age t o Loreto.
C HAPTER XX
1 5 1 1 —1 5 1 2
Marr i g e p p o s ls
a w d by C u t M t i g
ro a r en e d s udd ly
e o n ar n en o, an en
b k ro ff—Th P p e s us p c t s C s t igli
en o ef i t ig u s wi t h t h
o e a on e o n r e e
F c h —Th D uk f U b i
r en fus s t s v u d
e e o th r no re e o er e n er an o er
g l—I c u s t h P p s dis pl s u w —His ff f ’

en e ra n r e o e ea re an e o er o
s vic cc p t d ft t h d f t f R v
er e a e e a —C m p ig
er e e ea o a en n a a a n
ag i st F
a n —D t h f C es G z g
e rr a ra ea o ar e on a a .
A F TE R a ll the d a n gers an d an xieties o f the p a st

ye a r M ad o n n a L uigi a w a s n atu ra lly an xiou s to see
,
her son She h ad a lso m an y thin gs to disc u ss with

.
him —a bove all the etern al m a rri age qu estio n which

, ,
a s yet re ma i n ed u n settled The pertin a city wi th .
which she met all reb u ffs a n d con tin u ed her exe rtion s ,
to fin d B ald a ss a re a su it a ble a n d well-dowered bride ,
w a s a lt o gether a dmir a ble ; b ut it is h a rdly s urprisi n g

if the kn ight himself beg an t o grow tired o f her
imp o rt un ities Even when he wa s en gaged in a ctive
.
w a rfa re S he sen t him fresh propos als From the .
c a mp at Fi n ale he wrote on April 27

AS for M a don n a B i on d a s o ffer I lea ve it t o y o u ’
b u t I fe a r the l a dy s fa ther is n ot of ge n tle birth

’
a thi n g which I c o u n t o f gre a t import an ce ; a n d I
do n o t see th at the other con dition s ar e s ufficien tly

go o d to co un terb al an ce this dra wb a ck o r th a t fo r , ,
i n st a n ce we ca n expect a l arge dowry high position

, , ,
1 ’
o r an y other a dv a n t a ges .
Se i i 58 1 ra ss , . .
3 04
thin k there is a n y risk i n this d el a y These l a dies .
[ the D u chesses ] a ll commen d themselves t o you a n d ,
M a don n a Emili a a sks me co n sta n tly wh a t sh e owes

y o u for the cloth b ut I c a n n ot tel l her a s the letter
, ,
on this s u bj ect re a ched me i n Rome I h a ve lost it ,
an d c a n n ot remember
’
.
U n fortun a tely this time M a don n a Luigi a wa s n o t

,
o n ly sorely dis appoin ted bu t serio u sly vexed with her ,
so n for wh a t S he co n sidered his n eglect a n d both ,
her wid o wed d a ughter Polissen a a n d her son -in -law

, , ,
Tomm a so Stro zzi wrote t o i n form B a ld a ss a re h o w

,
m u ch S he h a d ta ken his co n du ct to hea rt Their .
letters a rrived a t Urbin o a ft er he h a d sta rted o n his

pilgrim age a n d o nly re a ched him a t S in igagli a on h i s
,
wa y b a ck from Loreto .
’
The before yesterd a y he wrote o n N ovem
d ay ,
ber 6 I received a letter of yours written on

,
O ctober 1 9 which c au sed me the grea test vex a tion

, ,
a n d s u ch i n deed a s I h a ve n o t experien ced fo r a lo n g
time a n d this bec a u se I see th a t y ou d o n ot believe

me a n d thin k th a t I a m less obedien t a n d lovin g th a n
,
I am a n d h a ve a lwa ys shown myself to be i n a ll my

a ctio n s I c an n ot thi n k th a t wh a t I h a ve do n e is
.
seriou s en o ugh for you to t a ke it t o he a rt i n such a

wa y a s t o m a ke y o u rself ill a s M Tomm a so a n d , .
M Poli ssen a t ell me Wh a t c a u se o f compl ai n t

. .
h a ve you ! H a ve I ever s a id th a t I would n ot c on

sen t to this m a rri age o r del ay its con clu sion with o ut
good re a son ! If I h a d been u n willin g to agree to this ,
I should n o t h a ve give n you le a ve to m ake the c o n

tra ct a s you h a ve don e with my e n tire a pprova l a n d
,
to my gre a t s a tisfa ction If I h a ve h a d to defer my .
visit for a little whi le this does n o t seem to me to be

,
so gre a t a wro n g si n ce this dela y i s only d ue to

,
impera tive an d most urgen t rea so n s which I would ,
h a ve expl a in ed in writin g if they were n ot S O gr a ve “

M A D ONN A L U I G I A S
’
C O MPLAI N TS 3 07
fo r if the letter were to fa ll i n to other h an ds it might

do m u ch h a rm n ow th a t the ro ads a r e S O un s a fe an d
,
’
a r e cl o sely w a tched by the Pope s e n emies All the .
s a me I will ven tu re to tell y o u the c a use n o w lest

, ,
o u sho u ld t a ke it t o be o ther th an it is The D u ke

y .
refu sed to give me lea ve to come to M an tu a a n d a s ,
it wo u ld t ake a lo n g time to expl ain his re a s on s I a m ,
writi n g a n other letter to M Tomm a so who will .

,
repe a t it s co n ten ts to yo u so a s n o t to give y ou the

,
tro u ble o f re a di n g them O n ly I do beg y o u if you

.
,
wish to ple a se me n ot to distress yourself bec a u se

, ,
I do n o t me a n either to del a y or bre a k O ff these

n egoti a ti o n s . I tr u st th a t you will c a lm yo u r S pirits ,
a n d if o u re a lly wish for my h a ppi n ess try to get

y ,
well a n d be o f good coura ge for I promise a n d S we a r

t o come a s soo n a s possible an d hope i n a n y c a se this,
m ay be very soo n Me a n while if you he a r a ga i n

.
,
from Brescia I a m q uite co n te n t th a t yo u should

,
a n n o u n ce the m a rri a ge a n d co n cl u de the co n tr a ct a s
o u m ay thi n k best I h a ve n othi n g more t o sa b u t

y .
y ,
th a t I do hope y o u will be c ured qu ickly a n d keep

u p a good he a rt for there is n o thin g th a t I more
,
e a rn estly desire th an to see y o u well a n d t o be with

y ou . A n d y o u will cert a i n ly n o t req u ire the medici n e
tha t yo u say you wo uld like to t a ke
The followi n g wa s the letter which he en closed fo r

hi s brother -i n -la w
T o the mag n ificen t Ca va li er a n d my most lt ouour ed

B r other , M T ommaso S tr ozz i
. .
I h a ve been very m u ch vexed to hea r from you

how bitterly M a don n a our mother compl a i n s of me ,
G o d kn o ws with wh a t i nj ustice S in ce I h a ve n ever ,
h a d a wish on e a rth excepti n g t o obey a n d ple a se her .
The re a so n s o f my del a y which I could n ot write by

,
Pietro n e I n o w se n d y o u S O a s n o t to give her the

, ,
trouble of rea din g them hopi n g yo u wi ll either rea d

,
20 — 2
3 08 C O U N T BAL D A S S A RE C A ST IGLI ON E
or expla in them t o her by word o f mo uth I a lso .
beg yo u t o S how this letter t o o ur M ag Gio Pietro . .

,
a n d t o M Polisse n a a n d hope th a t o u will a ll beg

.
y ,
o f her n o t t o compel me t o i n c u r the D u ke S disgr a ce

’
fo r the s a ke o f t h e se fe w d a ys which wo uld cert a in ly

1
be a gre a t pity a s I h a ve a lrea dy fully expl a in ed

, ,
especia lly a s the a ffa ir is so far settled th a t there c a n

be n o thought of dra wi n g b a ck n ow I beg o f y o u .
ki n dly t o go t o C a s a tico at on ce a n d see her a n d the n ,
sen d me a messen ger t o tell me how she i s fo r I a m ,
so much disturbed th a t I h a rdly k n ow wh a t to do .
S I NI G AG LI A, Novem ber 6, 1 5 1 1 .
Sin ce the begi n n i n g o f these wa rs the P o pe h a s ,
a lw a ys tho u ght a n d s aid th a t the D u ke n ot o n ly

fa iled to do his utmost a ga i n st the D u ke of Ferra ra
an d the Fren ch but wa s i n secret comm un ic a tion
,
with them a n d h as O ft en decla red th a t he w a s a

,
tra itor a n d S ho uld be dra wn a n d qu artered an d m a n y ,
simil a r words which he h a s repea ted a tho u sa n d

,
times an d n ow m a i n ta in s more stron gly th an ever .
N o w th a t the c a mp a ign a ga in st B o logn a is t o be

u n dert a ken he h a s red u ced the D uke of U rb in o s
,
’
Old comp an y by sixty m en -a t -a rms an d h a s give n the ,
D uke o f Termin i a force o f 200 m en at -a rms a n d

1
,
light c a valry with the title of Lieu ten an t which is

, ,
gre a ter th a n th a t of C a pta in S O th a t the D uke would ,
h a ve t o se1 ve u n der the D uke o f Termi n i a n d decla res ,
th a t he will ra ther die th a n submit to s u ch a n i n s ult ,
for a thou san d re a son s which wou ld t a ke t o o l o n g to

tell O ur Lord D uke h a s a lwa ys tr ied an d i s still
.
,
’
tryin g t o remove the Pope S s u spicio n s a n d pro ve
,
his i n n ocen ce a s the best wa y of rec o veri n g His

,
Holi n ess s fa vour The Pope h a s repe a tedly decl ared

’
.
tha t I wa s the medi u m through whom the D uke

kept up corresp o n den ce with the Fren ch h a vi n g ,
received this i mpressio n from o n e who bore me n o

goodwill—z e Cou n t G i o Fra n cesco of Miran dol a
. .
, .
A N e p lit ge e l i t h e Ki g f S p i s s e vic e ’
1 a o an n ra n n o a n r .
3 10 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTI GLI O N E
n ext few mo n ths open ly a cc u si n g him o f c a rryi n g o n
,
i n trigues with Louis XI I an d decl a rin g him to be a .

,
rebel by a B ull iss u ed o n ly a few d ays before the b a ttle

o f R a ve n n a G u i c c i a r d i n i a ll udes t o the s u spici o n
.
with which the Pope rega rded C a stigli on e whom he ,
u nj u stly believed to be i n correspo n den ce with

G a ston de Foix the y o un g c apta in wh o se short ,
c a reer wa s closed on th a t h a rd -fought field where ,
he an d Alfo n so d Este o bt ai n ed so brilli an t a Victory

’
over the combin ed Sp an ish an d P a p al forces B ut .
a lthough n either the D uke o f Urbi n o n o r C a stiglio n e
were presen t a t the b a ttle o f R a ven n a the Urb in o ,
con tin gen t led by Domen ico di Gen ga fou ght u n der
, ,
1
the Pope s b a nn er on th a t occ a sion A s soon a s th e
’
.
dis a strou s result Of the b a ttle wa s kn o wn Fran cesc o ,
h a sten ed to Rome an d O ffered his services t o h i s

u n cle who gla dly a ccepted them a n d on ce more
, ,
i n vested him with the chief comm an d o f the P ap a l

forces .
U n der th ese circumst a n ces C a stiglion e felt th a t it

wa s impossible fo r him t o gr a tify his mother s wish
’
an d a b a n d o n ed a ll ide a O f a visit to M a n tu a for
the presen t The prop o sed m a rri age with Co un t

.
M art i n en go s d au ghter which h a d bee n the most

’
pressi n g c a u se for the j ou rn ey wa s s u dden ly broken ,
o ff owi n g t o p o litic a l re a so n s Agostin o Gon za ga .

,
who wa s sen t t o Urbi n o by the M a rqu is in December ,
brought B ald a ss are some priva te i n form a tio n o n the

s u bj ect to which he refers mysteriou sly i n a letter to
,
his mother o f December 22
M Agosti n o spoke
. to me a bo u t this in ten ded
m arr i age an d told me , a thin g th a t I co uld n ever
1 G ui cc i ard i n i , x .
, c
5 ; . Ug li i ii
o n , . 18 8 ; D en n i st o un , 11 . 330
Br o sc
h , J ul u
‘
i s 24 5 , 25 1 .
THE FATE O F BRE S C IA 311
h a ve im agin ed a n d which en ds the m a tter

, Sin ce .
the a ffa ir wa s so fa r settled a n d my min d w a s qu ite

,
m a de up o n the s ubj ect I regret this deeply— fo r

,
m an y re a s o n s B u t we m ust h a ve p a tien ce for this

.
,
is the wo rk Of F at e I a m a lso grieved t o thi n k

.
these gen tlemen m ay n o t re alize the tru e n at u re of

my rea so n s a n d I beg yo u t o m a ke them u n derst an d
,
very clea rly th a t this distresses me most profo un dly .
M a y God direct o u r cou rse ! for i n deed I see gre a t

rui n h an gi n g over this city a n d a bove all o ver this ,
u n h a ppy fa mily At lea st it is somethi n g to feel th a t

.
i n this i n st an ce o u r lord h a s sh o wn th a t he p a rtly

re a lizes h o w l o y a l a servan t he h a s i n me B ut I .
will sa y n o m o re a bou t this We Often d o n ot k n ow

.
wh a t is our tr ue ga in o r loss .
The un fort un ate city to whose doom C a stiglio n e

a ll u d e s i n w o rds of prophetic w a r n in g wa s cle a rly ,
th a t o f Bresci a which wa s besieged a n d t a ken by

,
the Ven eti a n s i n Febru a ry an d reta ke n an d cr u elly

,
s a cked by G a ston de Foix a fo rtn ight l a ter Before .
these dis a str o u s even ts Co un t Gi uli o M a rti n en go the

, ,
fa ther o f his desti n ed bride wa s pu t t o de a th with ,
his two brothers for co n spirin g to give up the city

t o the Ve n eti a n s S o me i n tim a tio n o f the plot i n
.
,
which the Co un t w a s en gaged h a d eviden tly re a ched ,
the M a rq u is of M an tu a who sen t C a stiglio n e this

,
frien dly wa rn i n g by his kin sm a n Agosti n o Gon z a ga .
B ut the s a tisfa cti o n which this t o ken o f re n ewed

good feeli n g g a ve B a ld a ss a re wa s clou ded by a n
u n ki n d rep o rt which s o me m alicio u s to n gue repe a ted
i n his he a ri n g
.
,
’
I a m a good de a l vexed he wrote o n J a n ua ry 29 ,
‘
by a ru mo u r which h a s rea ched me by a secret
ch an n el to the e ffect th a t the Lord M arqu is h a s
,
S i i 64
1
e r a ss ,
. .
l a tely s a id cert a i n thin gs a bout me which S how th a t

some sl an dero u s ton gu e h as more i n fluen ce with him
th an my tru e devotion to his service If an y tru st .
worthy messen ger is comi n g this w ay I shoul d be ,
gl a d if yo u wo u ld tell me a n ythi n g th a t y o u kn ow
a bo u t this
’
.
The bea rer of this letter t o M an tu a was Bern ardi n o

Miss agli a on e o f the fa mou s Mil a n ese a rm o u rers
, .
C a stiglion e pro ceeded to i n form his mother th a t he

h a d given Miss agli a a n order fo r a thi n g which he
h a d lo n ged t o h a ve for ye a rs p a st —a s u it o f Germ a n
a rmo u r —an d begged her to fin d S ixty fl or i n s t o
defra y the c o st sin ce if he cou ld h a ve n othin g else
, , ,
he me an t a t le a st to be well a rmed A ft er this c a me .
a modest req u est for t w o bl a ck c a ps m a de i n It a li a n
fa shion o f do u ble thickn ess with t wo folds a n d low

, ,
crown s but n o brims

, .
I will d o my best to a sk fo r n o more mon ey at

presen t an d will keep the be a rer o f y o ur letter
, ,
Cristoforo d a Asol a i n my service I will on ly a d d

, .
th a t I a m very well th an k God an d a n xious to h a ve

, ,
n ews o f o u an d a ll o f o u rs I tr u st th a t thin gs will

y .
settle dow n S O th a t we m a y see e a ch other o n ce

,
more .
’
Three mo n ths l a ter the D u ke of Urbin o o n ce more

took the field a t the he a d o f a P a p al a rmy an d ,
s u cceeded i n recoveri n g Rom agn a in the course of a

short c a mp aign C a stiglio n e who rem a in ed i n c lo se
.
,
a tte n d a n ce on his lord wrote o n M a 1 2 from Rimi ni

y ,
to M a don n a Luigi a
I h a ve n ot writte n for some time for l a ck of ,
messen gers the ro a ds bei n g so u n s a fe ; b u t to -d a y

,
I h a ve fou n d a be arer a n d sen d this by him We , .
a r e still a t Rimi n i which we h a ve ret aken for the

,
Chu rch a s well a s t h e Ro cca W e sh all soon occu p y .

314 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTIGLI ON E
On J un e 1 3 the D uke of Urbin o en tered Bologn a ,
which on ce more shook o ff t h e yoke o f the B en t i vogli

an d a ck n owledged the P a p al r ule At the s ame .
momen t P a vi a s u rrendered to the Swiss i n va ders ,
who h a d descen ded upo n Lomb ardy u n der C a rdi n al

S ch i n n e r .O n the 2ot h O tt a vi a n o Sforz a t o ok pos
session o f Mil an in the Pope s n ame The Fren ch ’
.
Bishop retired i n con fu sio n a cross the Alps The .
tri u mph o f J u li u s wa s complete He celebra ted .
t h e deliver a n ce o f It a ly with solem n th a n ks givi n gs ,
a processio n an d fireworks
, an d
, gave the Duke o f
Urbi n o ren ewed orders t o press o n a ga i n st Ferr a ra .
D uke Alfo n so fin di n g himself deserted by his allies

, ,
w a s i n d u ced by the G o n z a ga s an d C olo n n a s t o c o me

t o R o me an d throw himself o n the Pope s mercy
’
.
O n J u n e 23 he left Ferr a r a pr o vided with a s a fe

,
con duct from the Pope which his S ister Is a bell a

,
brou ght him with her o wn h an ds a n d rea ched Rome ,
on the even i n g o f J u ly 4 . He p a id a brief visit to

his n iece t h e yo un g D u chess o f Urbin o o n his way
, , ,
a s we le a rn from a letter which C a stiglio n e wrote to
his m o ther a few d ays l a ter

I a here a t Urbin o where I h a ve been sin ce
m ,
the L o rd D uke o f Ferr a ra p a ssed thro ugh on his

w a y to Rome B ut I expect we sh a ll s o o n return
.
to Bologn a All my ho u seh o ld is there an d I h a ve

.
,
only a s in gle servan t with me here .

’
B a ld a ss are h a d eviden tly been sen t on a con fl

den ti a l mission from h i s m a ster t o Alfon so whose ,
domin io n s he wa s in va di n g i n the P o pe s n a me ’
.
Thro ugho u t the war the M a rches a n a Is a bell a wh o ,
left n o ston e u n turn ed to help her brother besieged ,
her son -in -la w with en trea ties n o t t o pr oceed to

extre m ities a gai n st Ferrar a a n d her c h a m pion ship
,
W A R O F FERRARA 15
of Alfo n so s c au se frequ en tly excited the wra th of

’
J uli u s wh o t hre a ten ed to sen d his a rmy a g ai n st

,
M an tu a a n d pu t her boy Federico i n the du n geon s

,
o f the Torresell a o f Ve n ice I n Rome the D u ke .
wa s lodged i n C a rdi n a l G o n za ga s h o u se an d received

’
a cordi a l welcome n o t o n ly from his n ephew Federico ,
b ut fr om the Pope s d a u ghter Felice a n d F a brizi o

’
Colo n n a whom he h a d ge n erou sly rele a sed a ft er his

,
defea t a t R a ven n a .
O n the 9 t h the C o lo n n a s escorted him t o the

Va tic a n where he received a bsol ution fro m the Pope
,
a n d V isited yo u n g Federico w h o g a ve h i s u n cle a ,
b an qu et In the Belvedere a n d took him to see ,
Michel an gelo a t work on the v a u lti n g of the Sisti n e ,
Ch apel B u t it s o on bec a me eviden t th a t the P o pe

.
Would be s a tisfied with n othin g b u t the surren der O f

Ferra ra a n d Alfo n so bei n g determi n ed n o t to yield
, , ,
esc aped from Rome o n the 1 9 th with the help of the ,
C o lon n as D u ri n g the n ext two mo n ths he rem a i n ed

.
hidden i n the c a stles o f these powerful frien ds or

w an dered a bo u t the C a mp agn a disgu ised by tu rn s ,
a s a soldier an d a fri a r u n til on O ctober 1 4 he a t, , ,
len gth rea ched Ferrar a i n s afety .
Me an while Reggi o o pen ed its ga tes t o the D uke

o f Urbi n o a n d o n September 29 C a stiglio n e wrote
,
fr o m R aven n a to his mother :
We ar e here on o u r wa y to a tta ck Ferra ra M a y

, .
G o d order o u r doi n gs I c a n n ot employ my secreta ry

to write he a dded fo r I h a ve n o n e L a st n ight
,
‘ ’
, .
o u r C a millo a tt a cked Giov a n n i while he w as a sleep ,
an d str u ck him S ix times with h i s sword a n d ra n ,
a wa y
’
.
All the s ame like the good son th a t he wa s he

, ,
proceeds t o gi ve his mother directio n s a bo u t the

n ew dovecot th a t sh e is b u ildi n g which he wishes ,
t o be sq u a re a n d p a rt ly en closed i n the court y a rd .
A n d he i n q uires a bo u t a n other Bresci an l ad y a n iece ,
o f the u n fort u n a te Co u n t M a rti n e n go who h a s bee n ,
recommen ded t o him a s a possible bride A week .
l a ter he wrote from M o den a where he wa s st a yi n g ,
with his ki n sw o m an Cost an z a R an gon e the fa ir an d

,
a cc o mplished d a ughter o f Bi an c a Ben tivoglio a n d ,
who h a d l a tely t ake n Ces a re Fregos o a s her secon d

h u sb a n d This time he h a d been sen t by his lord
.
to meet Bishop M a tth au s L a n g the imperi a l en voy ,
who h a d l a tely been presen t a t the co n feren ce o f the

Powers held at M an tu a an d wa s n o w o n his wa y to,
a tten d the L a ter an Co u n cil Wh a t wa s C a st igli on e s

.
’
precise erra n d o n this occ a sion we do n ot le a rn b ut ,
there c a n be little do u bt th a t its obj ect wa s to plea d

the D u ke o f Ferra ra s c au se with the Emperor s’ ’
powerful fa vourite At the s a me mome n t he r e

c e i v ed a person al a ppea l from the M arches an a
Is a bell a who t o ld C a rdi n a l Ippolito th a t sh e he a rd
,
C a stiglio n e h a d more i n fl u en ce th a n a n yo n e else with

the D uke o f Urbi n o a n d c o uld be co u n ted on a s a
,
good frien d Acc o rdin g to her a cc o un t C a stiglion e

.
,
a ss u red the M a rches a n a th a t the D u ke w as co n d u ct
i n g the c a mp a ign a g ai n st Ferra ra wi th the u tmost

discretio n a n d i n ten ti o n ally cre a ti n g diffic ulties an d
,
1
del a ys. The m a n n er i n which the wa r wa s p u rs u ed
th a t au t u m n goes far to prove the tr uth o f her words .
The Pope so the Ven eti an e n voy i n Rome reported

, ,
was more e age r th an ever t o press o n the w ar a n d ,
compla in ed th a t the D uke s del ays were in termi n a ble ’

2
.
When at the en d o f September boa ts an d bridges

, ,
fo r the p a ss a ge o f the P O were prep a red Fra n cesco ,
Lu zi R i
1
o e M t v U bi
en e r ,
p 2 0 6 an o a e r n o,
’
. .
2
S ut x v 1 21
an o, . .
3 18 C O U N T B A L D AS SARE CAS TI G L I ON E
esc a p a de a n d wa s filled
, with fe a rs which her
, so n did
his best t o dissip a te .
As for wh a t you write a bo u t the ill -co n d uct o f

my serva n ts I th a n k y o u wa rmly for wh a t y o u say
, ,
a s I k n o w it comes from yo u r he a rt ; b u t I beg o f
you n ot to distress yo urself a bout these m a tters fo r , ,
th an k God I am n o t i n wan t of good servan ts a n d

, ,
ca n get a s m an y a s I desire For the rest I tr ust .
i n God w h o will g uide a n d protect me from d an ger

, ,
a s He h a s do n e till n o w th an ks to the pra yers of ,
holy person s I a m ra ther p u zzled to u n derstan d

.
why yo u beg me t o be c a refu l a s t o whom I a llo w

t o sleep i n my room fo r I a m n o t a wa re th a t I h a ve
,
an
y secret e n emy With reg a rd t o my
. secret a ry
ship a s I wrote before I wa n t a m a n a cc u sto med t o
, ,
a h a rd life an d wh o c a n write well As lon g a s he .
c a n d o these thi n gs y o u m a se n d me a n yo n e yo u
y ,
choose With regard t o a bed -h a n gin g th at is n ot

.
t o o l a rge I should be very gl a d t o h a ve on e s u ch

,
as o u describe to keep o u t the wi n d B u t n o on e

y .
c an tell wh at our fu ture movemen ts m a

y be H ow .
ever as fa r a s I c a n see we sh a ll be a ble to do little

, ,
m o re this win ter The be a rer o f this is a Sp a n ish

.
Officer a gre at frien d o f min e wh o is comi n g to

, ,
M a n tu a o n bu si n ess I i n vited him to o ur house .
bec a u se he is a v ery ple a s an t a n d g allan t ge n tlem an .
I thin k he will pa y y ou a V isit a n d hope yo u wi ll ,
show him civility a n d a s far as possible a muse him

, ,
a n d i f he likes a bed i n o u r ho u se I hope o u will

y
give him on e I will sa y n o more but beg o f you to
.
,
be o f good cheer an d trust i n o ur Lord G o d who will ,
help u s A n d for your pe a ce o f min d I will tell yo u

.
th a t the L o rd Duke h a s been gra ciously plea sed to

give me a c a stle i n his n ew State o f Pes aro which , ,
from wh a t I hea r is in a very fair an d plea s a n t spot

, ,
i n a fru itful dom a i n lo o ki n g over the sea ; a n d ,
a ltho ugh it m a n o t be a s fertile a s o u r Lomb a rd

y
soil yet it brin gs i n q uite 200 d uc a ts a ye a r a n d is
, ,
MAD ONN A CAM ILLA 319
s u rro un ded by fin e esta tes The c a stle is c a lled

.
Gi n estreto S O th a t y o u m a y tell M a d o n n a P o lisse n a

,
t o let M a d o n n a C a mill a kn ow th a t I S h all so o n h a ve

a c a stle a n d the d u c a ts sh e requires in to the
b a rga i n If S he is con ten t with my propos al we wi ll ,
1
yet m a ke a m a tch .
’
C a milla Gon za ga to whom C a stiglion e sen t this

,
a
g y mess age , w a s the yo u n gest a n d fa irest o f a ll
M a do nn a A n ton i a s d a ughters wh o lived a t G a zzu olo

’
, ,
n e a r C a s a tico an d whose weddi n g

, five ye a rs a fter ,
w a rds wa s celebra ted by B a n dello i n on e o f his

,
n ovels .
1 S i i 70 e r a ss , . .
CHAPTER XXI
1 5 1 2—15 13
Ch n g e s t t h e Co u t U b i —Fede ic G g visit s h i sist e

of
—De t h f G sp
a a r r no r o on z a a s r
a P ll vici C s G z g
o a a re d R b t di
a a n o, e a re on a a, a n o er o
B i —B m b
ar d C e ss i R m e —R s t t i f t h M dici e e
—
o an an o a n o e or a on o
C u tR g
o n d ugh t —C st igli
an on e sc iv e s g t f
’
a er a on e re e a ran o
t h C s t le f N vi ll
e a o o ara .
T HE ye a r 1 5 1 2 bro ught m a n y ch an ges to the c o urt o f

’
Urbin o Up to this time the circle of G u id oba ldo s
.
kn ights rem ai n ed pra ctic a lly u n broken Thro ugh the .
tum u lt o f wa rs th at distra cted It aly d uri n g the e a rly

ye a rs of Fr an cesc o M a ri a s reign we c a tch glimpses ’
o f court festivities a n d m a n y c a r n iva ls which S how ,
us th a t the o ld order was still u n ch an ged The .
c a rn iva l o f 1 5 1 1 wa s especia lly ga y in spite of the ,
a bse n ce o f the D u ke a n d C a stiglio n e i n the c a mp a ign
of Miran dol a Th a t Febru a ry yo un g Federico

Gon za ga the Pope s host age who h a d a ccomp an ied
,
’
J ulius t o Bologn a an d wa s the O ld m an s pet a n d ,

’
pl a ythin g p aid a visit to his sister Leon or a a n d

, ,
rem a in ed a t Urbi n o u n til April His comi n g wa s the .
sign a l fo r a ro un d of b a lls m a squera des b an qu ets a n d , , ,
c o n certs P a storal eclogues were recited comedies

.
,
were performed an d Fed erico a fter le a rn i n g a few

, ,
li n es from Virgil every morn i n g t o s a tisfy his tutor ,
ga ve himself up t o a musemen t I n the even in g he .
s a n g an d pl ayed with his sister the yo un g D uchess , ,
3 20
FE DERI C O G ON ZA GA 3 21
an d en tert a in ed Leon or a a n d her l a dies M a rgherit a , ,
Ippolit a an d the fa ir R a fl a ella a t s upper The

’
, , .
violin ist J a cO po di S a n Seco n do Bemb o a n d the , ,
M agn i fic o Gi u li a n o were ge n era lly of the p a rty a s ,
well a s Co un t Aless an dro Trivulz i o the hero o f ,
Mira n dol a who h a d been rele a sed on p arole a fter the

,
s u rren der o f th a t city a n d st o od high in fa vo u r with

,
a ll the l a dies O n the l a st d ay of c a rn iv a l Duchess

.
Elis a betta who sel d om left her rooms j oin ed the

, ,
merry g a theri n g an d wa s presen t with M a don n a

,
Emili a an d a ll her ge n tlemen a t the s u pper -p a rty a n d

m a sq u ed b a ll in the M arc h esi n o s ro o ms
’ 1
I n April .
Federico a n d his tutor retu r n ed t o Rome a n d B embo ,
wen t to Ven ice n ot withou t a sigh o f regret for the

,
ple a s an t comp an y th a t he was le a vin g .
’
Wh a t ar e y ou all doi n g I won der he wrote from , ,
the S hore of the Adri atic to O tt a vi an o Fregoso H o w .
fa res my Ippolit a ! Is S he c a ught i n the toils o f

S a n S eco n do o r Trivu lzio O fool th a t I a m to le a ve
my beloved a prey to m en O f wa r an d lin ger here o n ,
a s a n dy S hore more d ri ll an d u seless th an

, the very
shells a t my feet A tho u s an d greetin gs I pra y y o u , ,
to b o th their Excelle n cies a s well a s Emili a a n d the ,
lively M a rgherita a n d t o Ippolit a the a dored a n d to

, ,
2
my riva l Aless an dro Trivulzio
, .
’
The M u ses h ad n ot yet deserted th a t court which

S a d o le t o pr a ised a s the P arn a ssus o f the world Cas .
t i gli on e still wrote m a tchless verses i n L a ti n an d

It ali an Ces a re Gon z ag a sen t m a drig als to Is a bell a
.
d Este from the b a ttlefield vowi n g th at if his sword

’
, ,
was pledged to the service o f M a rs his he a rt belon ged ,
t o the Q u ee n of Love Bembo an d Bibbie n a still.
a ddressed witty epistles to the M a rches a n a an d ,
Lu zi F d ic G z g O s t gg i p 1 6
1 o, e er o on a a a o,
’
. .
E p is t
2 ‘
iv 1 5 5 . . .
V OL . I .
3 22 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CAST I GL I ON E
helped her t o p lay tricks on M a rio E q uic ola or 1 U n ico ’
Areti n o B ut a ch a n ge wa s p a ssin g over the cou rt

.
where G u id o b a ld o h ad reign ed of Old Elis abetta .

,
the D u chess -wi d o w a s sh e is c alled i n the corre

,
o
spon d en ce Of these d a ys w a s S lowly retiri n g i n t o the,
b a ckgroun d a n d fa di n g o u t o f sight By degrees she .
ga ve up the rein s of govern me n t to her n ephew a n d

his coun cillors a n d o n ly a ppe a red i n publi c when her
,
gen ero u s help o r gen tle i n fluen ce cou ld a vail to loose

c a ptive ch a i n s o r a ss u age the Pope s a n ger She ’
.
wrote fewer letters an d the short n otes which she

,
sen t t o Is abella were gen erally dicta ted to a secret a ry .
Eve n M a do n n a Emilia s pen wa s less a ctive th an of ’
Old a n d a letter from Urbi n o wa s h a iled with plea su re

,
a t M a n tu a F o r a few loy a l serva n ts for C a stiglion e

.
, ,
an d perh aps Bembo Eli s a bett a might still be the

,
wom an a bove all women but i n the eyes of o thers the ,

’
youn g D u chess bega n to t ake her pla ce Leon ora s .
be a u ty an d go o d n ess were extolled with re a s o n by all

.
visitors t o Urbi n o a n d C a stiglio n e brought his pra ises

,
to swell the flowi n g tide If ever gr a ce be au ty .

, ,
i n telligen ce co u rteou s m an n ers gen tlen ess an d

, , ,
ch a rm were un ited i n o n e person it is i n the n ew

, ,
D uchess whose every motion is a dorn ed by these

,
1
qu a lities .
’
Le o n ora h a d n o t i n herited her mother s brilli an t ’
gifts o r the i n comp a ra ble ch arm o f her a un t an d

, ,
n ever pl a yed the s a me p a rt i n the eyes o f the world
b u t S he wa s ge n u i n ely g o od an d a ffecti o n a te a s well ,
as rem a rk a bly bea u tifu l Her con du ct wa s irre .
r oa ch a b le a t a ll st a ges o f her life a n d her devoted

p ,
a tt a chme n t to the widowed D u chess i s o n e Of the
m o st a ttra ctive fe atu res o f her ch a ra cter T O C a s .
t i gli on e she pro ved a fa ithful frie n d a n d h er rega rd ,
C t gi o 1
3 ‘
or e an , iv . .
an d to ilso me wa rs a n d his n o ble li n e a ge wa s fu rther

,
a dorn ed by the k n o wledge a like o f letters a n d a rms ,
a n d by every ex a lted qu a lity so th a t his goodn ess , ,
t a len ts an d le a rn in g led u s to expect still gre ater

,
thin gs from him in the fu ture .

’
Yet a third n a me is lin ked with these th a t o f ,
Roberto d a B a ri the youthful shepherd o f B ald a s

,
s are s p a stora l a n d the a ccomplished co u rtier whose

’
d an cin g wa s the a dmira tion o f all He n ever r e .
covered from the effect o f the h ardships which he

h a d u n dergo n e i n the S iege Of Mir an dol a a n d died ,
soon a fter M Ces a re regretted by a wide c 1r cle o f

.
,
frien ds who l a men ted i n him a you th Of r a re bea uty

,
a n d ch a rm full o f mirth a n d g a iety a s prosperou s

, ,
’
an d g a ll a n t a ge n tlem a n a s y o u co u ld w ish t o se e .
S o writes C a stiglio n e u n fortu n a te De a th deprived

’
, ,
our hou se of these three ra rest gen tlemen a t a

momen t when they were most pr o sperou s an d en ter
1
t a i n ed the highest hopes o f ho n o u r a n d re n ow n
’
.
To their n ames yet a n other m u st be a dded th at ,
o f Giov a n n i Cristofor o Rom an o the a ccompli shed ,
sc ulptor an d brilli an t letter -writer who died a t Loreto ,
in M ay o f this s a me ye a r 1 5 1 2 He h ad been .
C a st i gli o n e s frien d sin ce his e a rly d a ys a t Milan ,
an d wa s a s much l a men ted by Is abella a n d her

l a dies a t M an tu a as he wa s by the schol a rs of
Rome an d Urbin o B u t de a th wa s n o t the o nly
.
dividin g c au se which helped to bre a k up the j oyo u s

comp an y o f Urbin o While some good kn i ghts —the
best an d brightest of the n u mber—died i n the flower o f
.
their age others wen t their way to seek n ew fort un es

,
i n other l a n d s Lodovico C an o ss a B alda ss a re s other ’

.
,
ki n sm an wh o h a d been a t Urbi n o for the l a st seven

,
1
C or t egian o iv
,
’
. 1 .
THE MED I C I RE ST O RED 3 25
teen yea rs , m ade Bishop of Tri ra ri c o by Juli us I I

wa s .
i n 1 5 1 1 a n d we n t to live i n Rome where he h a d

, ,
a lre a dy a cq u ired ren o wn by his di plom a tic skill .
He ha d a lwa ys bee n a b a d corresp on den t a n d when ,
his mother a t M a n t u a a ppli ed to M a don n a L u igi a for

the l a test n ews o f her a bsen t son C a stiglion e sen t her ,
word th a t a s Bishop he rem a i n ed wh a t he h a d been

a s a l a ym a n — very ch a ry of letters Alberto Pio th a t .
,
other distin gu ished diplom a tist who h ad o ft e n spen t

the s u mmer a t Urbin o in G u i d ob ald o s lifetime h a d ’
n o w go n e over to the Imperi a lists a n d h a d forfeited a ll ,
cl a im t o M a d o n n a M a rgherita s h an d by his resol u te ’
Oppositio n to the D u ke of Ferra ra I n 1 5 1 2 an other .
pop u l a r member o f the duc a l ho u sehold O tt a vi an o ,
F r egoso left Urbin o to pl a y a le a din g p a rt i n the

,
revolution o f his n a tive city aga i n st the Fren ch an d ,
t o bec o me Doge of Ge n o a A n d i n the s a me ye a r

.
Bembo who h a d m a de his home at Urbin o for the

,
l a st six yea rs fi n a lly settled i n Rome a n d e n tered the

, ,
service of C a rdi n a l de Medici A S he rem a rked to

’
. .
Duchess L u crezi a : Whether it is best to be gre a t

a n d serve others o r to be h u mble a n d free I k n ow
, ,
n o t b u t I a m q u ite s u re th a t to be h u mble an d serve

,
is worst o f a ll .
The ho ur o f restora tio n h a d a t len gth sou n ded fo r

this exiled fam ily S i v olg e the motto which the
.
,
M agn i fico h a d chose n for hi s device h a d c o me tru e , ,
a n d Fort u n e h a d o n ce more tu rn ed her lo n g -a verted
fa ce towa rds him Th a t summer both he a n d hi s

.
br o ther C a rdin a l Giova n n i retu rn ed to Floren ce

, , ,
which h a d s urre n dered to the a rms o f the Viceroy ,
C a rd o n a a n d his Sp a n ish troops At the en d of J uly

, .
,
Giuli a n o w as still a t Urbi n o enj oyin g the comp a n y ,
o f the Duchesses a n d C a stiglio n e O n September 1 .
L tt 1
iv 25
‘
e e re,
’
. .
3 26 C O U N T B A L D A S SARE CAS TI GL I ON E
he e n tered Flore n ce i n sta te an d o n ce more took up

,
his a bode i n the h ouse of his fa thers Am o n g the m an y

.
co n gra tula tion s which he received on this occ a sion ,
n o n e were more cordi a l th a n those which re a ched
him from the Duchess Elis a bett a wh o h a d been so ,
good a frien d to him in the p a st an d whose kin dn ess

he n ever forgot .
B ut a ltho u gh so m a n y o f his frien ds were de a d a n d

gon e C a stiglio n e rem a i n ed loy a l to his m a ster Aft er
, .
the con tin ual wa rfa re o f the l a st thr ee ye a rs he wa s ,
gl a d t o enj o y a few pea ceful d ays a t Urbi n o But a s .

,
u s ua l , he fo u n d himself very short o f mon ey— leg

g i er i ssi mo his
, u s u a l term for empty pockets — an d
c o mpl a in ed th a t for six mon ths he a n d his comra des

i n -a rms h a d n o t seen a fa rthi n g o f the Pope s pa y
’
.
E a rly i n D ecember he wrote th a t he expected to be

’
sen t by his lord to t a ke p art i n M a ssimili a n o Sfo rz a s
tri u mph a l en try to Milan a ft er which he h o ped to
,
come an d spen d three or four d ays at C a s a tico an d

t a lk o f m an y thi n gs — a bove all of those tedious ,
m arri age n egoti a tion s which a s he rem arked seemed

, , ,
a like doomed to en d i n fa il u re B u t by the en d of

.
the ye a r he wrote th a t hi s j o u rn ey to Mila n h ad been

give n up an d th a t he sa w n o hope o f comin g home
,
till c arn iva l wa s o ver . A mon th l a ter he wrote a

lon g letter to s a tisfy his mother s imp a tien t i n qu iries
’
with rega rd to a propos a l which sh e h ad received from

Costan za R an go n e some mon ths before an d which he ,
h a d refused t o con sider u n til the wa r wa s over T hi s .
l a dy wh o w a s c o n n ected with his mother through the

,
U b ert i an d Strozzi h a d propose d Gi n evr a R an gon e the

, ,
on ly d aughter o f the powerful Co u n t Gir ardo a s a ,
suit able wife for B a ld a ss a re an d h ad a fterwa rds dis

,
c u ssed the m atter with her ki n sm an himself when he

wa s a t Moden a .
the Duke i s equ ally co n ten t th a t I should h a ve a n d ,
which suits me a gre a t dea l better It is o n ly two .
miles from Pes a ro an d five from F a n o The a ir there .
is excellen t the V iew most bea utiful over l a n d a n d

,
sea a n d the soil very fru itfu l i n deed

, There is a fin e .
p a l a ce which is n ow my o wn a n d the reve n u es are

, ,
eq ua l i n va lue to those o f Gi n estreto o r perh aps ,
ra ther m o re so tha t I a m exceedi n gly well s a tisfied

, .
God gran t me gra ce t o enj oy it i n pea ce ! It is so

1 ’
n e a r Pes a ro th a t I m a sa I h a ve a house there
y y .
On J a n u a ry 1 the D u ke en tered his n ew city which , ,
from its comm a n d o f the Adri a tic sh o re wa s a n ,
especia lly v alu able a cqu isitio n a n d C a stigli on e saw

,
the fa ir ho u se a n d dom a in which he wa s pro u d to c all

his o wn A t o wer h a d been b uilt a t N o v illara by the
.
M al a test a of Rimin i i n the fo u rteen th cen tury a n d ,
the c a stle h a d a fterwa rds been a fa vou rite residen ce

o f the Sforz a pri n ces .U n fortun a tely the citizen s of ,
Pes a ro obj ected t o the a lien ation of a dom a in which

h a d a lw a ys belo n ged to their r ulers a n d i n 1 5 22 when , ,
Fr a n cesco M ari a received his d u chy a fter the de ath

of Leo X they i n d u ced him to withdra w the gran t
.
,
which he h a d m a de to C a stiglion e S o N o v illara on ly .
belon ged t o its first Co un t d uri n g a few ye ars when

his lo rd wa s i n exile an d he n ever e nj oyed this
,
be au tiful h o me B ut the ruin ed pile on the heights

.
lo o kin g over the bl u e Adri a tic a n d the far D a lm atian

shores will a lwa ys be a ssoci a ted with the n ame o f the
n oble own er wh o h a d deserved so we ll of his lord ,
a n d whose services met with so sc a n ty a rew a rd .
1
S e rassi , i . 72 .
CHAPTER XX I I
15 13
C a rn iv al fet e i —B ibb i s C l d i p f m d u d
at U rb no en a
’
‘
a an r a
’
e r or e n er
C t i gli
as di c t i —Th C u t s p l g —O th c m di s
on e s
’
re on e o n
’
ro o ue er o e e
- P t i t ic v
a r o s s w it t b y C s t ig li
er e —His l tt t r en a on e e er o
L d vic C ss
o o o an o a .
IN this ye a r o f 1 5 1 3 c a rn iv a l wa s celebra ted with ,
u n u s u a l sple n do u r a t most of the courts o f It a ly At .
Ferra ra i n deed there w a s li ttle c au se for rej oicin g

, , ,
a n d the critic a l st a te o f a ffa irs m a de Al fo n so a n d his
fa mily listen an xi o u sly t o every fresh report of the

fiery O ld Pope s he a lth th a t c a me fro m Rome B u t
’
.
a t Mil a n Is a bell a d Este w a s prese n t a t the fetes held

’
i n ho n o u r of her n ephe w M a ssimili an o Sforz a The .
Viceroy a n d his Sp a n i a rds d a n ced with her fa scin a ti n g

m a ids of h on o u r o r l o o ked o n a t p agea n ts i n which
,
the deliveran ce of Ita ly from the b a rb a ri a n s by the

grea t Po n ti ff a n d the golden o ak o f the house o f
,
R o vere fig ured l a rgely while Fren ch g un s still ,
thu n dered from the C a stell o At Flo ren ce a rtists .
an d sc ulptors Po n tormo a n d B a ccio d Ag n ol o

,
’
design ed a series of s u mpt u ou s tri umphs in hon o u r

of the ho u se of Medici a n d s a n g the retu rn o f the ,
Golden Age Gi uli a n o a n d his n ephew L o ren zo led

.
the revels a n d Bembo a n d Bibbien a were s u mmo n ed

,
by their p a tro n C a rdi n a l de Medici to j oi n the ,

’
festive thr o n g I n Rome a yet more sple n did

.
3 29
330 C O U N T BAL D A S S A RE CASTI GL I ON E
p agean t was devoted to the a potheosis Of the victoriou s

Pope wh o h a d triu mphed over a ll his foes A n i n ter .
mi n a ble processio n of ch a riots con t a i n i n g emblem a tic ,
represen ta tion s p a ra ded the streets escorted by , ,
Rom a n you ths bea ri n g the a rms an d n a mes o f the

a n cien t houses from which they cl a imed desce n t
the F a bii a n d Hora tii the fa mili es o f Scipio a n d ,
C a mill u s o f T or q uat u s or M a n liu s First c a me Ita ly

, .
bou n d a n d c aptive i n the thrall Of her foreign foes ,
then Ita ly free a n d tri u mph a n t with a p alm Of victory ,
i n her h a n d followed by the c o n qu ered cities — Bologn a

,
a n d R eggio P a rm a a n d Pi a cen z a — a n d a gr a n d c a r
,
represen tin g the Cou n cil of the L a teran with Pope ,
a n d Emper o r i n its midst L a st o f all a gi an t o a k .
tree a ppe ared crown ed by an effigy o f J u li u s with

, ,
the mo n a rchs o f the H o ly Le a gu e the Emperor , ,
the C a tholic Kin g a n d Hen ry VI I I o f E n gla n d a t , .

,
his feet 1
.
B u t more memor a ble th an an y of these were the

festivities held at the c a rn iv a l o f Urbin o Here it h a d .
been decided to celebra te the s a fe retu rn o f the D uke

from the w a r an d the a n n ex a ti o n o f Pes a ro by a
’
, ,
series o f dra m a tic represen t a tion s a ft er the fa shion of

those a rra n ged by C a stigli o n e an d Bembo in former
d a ys . Three n ew comedies we le a rn fr o m the ,
2
chro n icle of the du c a l libra ri an Federico Veteran i , ,
were given on this occ a sion The first w a s the .
"
E ut i c h i a a comedy by the D u ke s M a n tu a n secreta ry
’
, ,
N iccol o Gra ssi fou n ded on a n episode o f the con quest

,
o f Urbi n o by D u ke V a le n ti n o a theme cert a in t o be ,
h a iled with en thu si a sm by the a u dien c e The secon d .
wa s the work Of a yo u thfu l prodigy a b oy Of fo u rteen , ,
1
Lu zi o ,
‘
Fe d G on a a . z g O s t ggi
a o,
’
pp 7 3 -7 8
. .
2
Co d . Va t U r b , 4 9 0,
. . A V. e rn a r e cci i n
‘
A r ch . St or .
pe r le
M c a r h e,
’
iii . 18 1 .
From his boyhood the Coun t h ad witn essed simil ar

represen t a tion s at the courts of Mil an a n d M an tu a an d ,
h a d prob a bly a cc o mp an ied the M a rches an a to Ferra r a

for those c a rn iva l festivities on which her father ,
D uke Ercole expen ded so m u ch time an d tho ught

,
.
He wa s cert a m presen t a t the fa mou s c a rn iv a l o f

1 5 0 1 a t M an tu a whe n a m a gn ifice n t n ew thea tre w a s
,
erected i n the C a stell o an d the st age wa s hu n g with

,
M an t egn a s n ewly -fin i sh ed Tri u mphs O n th a t occ a

’
.
sion a series o f comedies by Pl a ut u s Teren ce a n d , ,
Sen ec a were performed an d the scen e w a s l a id i n ,
a cl a ssic a l temple with l o fty col u mn s a n d a rc a des

,
.
C o u n t Sigismon do C a n t elm o the husb a n d o f I s a bell a s ,
beloved frien d M a rgh er i t a wh o wrote a full description ,
o f the st a ge sce n ery an d m a n a geme n t to his lord ,
D uke E r c olo rem a rked th a t this represen t a tio n sur

,
p a ssed a ll th a t he h ad ever seen i n gra n deur a n d

excellen ce a n d deserved to be stu died by a ll who
,
wished to en co u ra ge the perform an ce Of an cien t or

modern pl ays .
1
This experien ce h a d n ot bee n lost
o n C a stiglio n e a n d the st age sce n ery a n d decora tio n s
,
’
which he a rra n ged for the represen t a tio n o f Bibbien a s
c o medy were i n m a n y respects S imil a r to th o se which
he remembered a t M a n t ua while i n some w a ys they ,
were eve n more S plen did a n d effective The t a sk a s .

,
he con fessed w as on e a ft er his o wn hea rt a n d he

, ,
devoted himself with his u s ua l en ergy t o the pre

p ar a t i o n s
. D u ri n g the n ext fo ur mo n ths his time
wa s so fully occ u pied with a rtists c a rpen ters , ,
dec o r a tors a ctors an d si n gers th a t a s he told his

, , , ,
mother he h a d n o t a momen t s leis ure a n d cou ld

,
’
on ly write to her l a te at n ight The co urt p a i n ters .

,
Timoteo Viti a n d Girol a mo Gen ga were en ga ged ,
i n p a in ti n g the sce n ery a n d a t Christm a s C a stigli on e

,
Is b ll d E st i 1 8 3 -1 8 5
1 ‘
a e a
’
e,
’
. .
C A S T I G L I O NE S PR O L O GUE
’
333
him self o rdered the c o stu mes a n d sen t t o a well ,
kn ow n m a ker a t M a n tu a for go ld -embroidered c aps .
Bibbien a h a d promised t o write a pr o l ogu e but his ,
compositi o n on ly a rrived the d a y before the per

fo r m a n ce too l a te t o be le a rn t by he a rt by the reciter
, ,
an d i n its ste a d o n e wri tte n by C a stiglio n e himself
fo r the occ a sion wa s delivered a mid gre a t a ppl a use

from the a u dien ce This prologu e is prin ted i n some
.
o ld editio n s o f
’
L a C al an dri a a n d deserves t o be ,
preserved if on ly a s a proof o f the vers a tility of the

,
’
a u thor s t a le n ts
Y ou are spect a t o rs Of a n ew comedy

t o -d a y
en titled L a C a la n dri a written in prose n o t i n verse
“
,
”
, ,
i n the v u lg a r n o t i n the L a tin to n g u e

, It is c a lled .
C al an dri a bec a use it is a bo u t C a l an dro a per -
son a e whom u will fi n d so fo o lish th a t perh a ps it

g y o
will be d iffic u lt for y o u t o believe th a t a n y h u m a n

bein g c o uld ever m ake himself so ridic ulou s B ut if
o u remember others like him whom y o u m a y h a ve
y
seen an d he ard— a bove a ll M a rti n o d a Ameli a the m an
, ,
who tho ught the moon wa s his wife an d im agin ed ,
himself i n tu rn a god a wom a n a fish a n d a tree

, ,
y o u will n o t wo n der th a t C a l an dro co u ld believe a n d
commit the follies th a t y o u will see Si n ce this .
comedy dea ls with the fa mili a r thin gs o f everyd a y

life the a u thor did n ot thi n k well to u se verse con
, ,
si d er i n th a t prose a n d words u n fettered by metre a r e

g
better fit for ordin a ry u se Th a t it is n o t a n cien t .
ought n ot t o disple a se y ou a s lon g a s it is i n good ,
t a ste bec au se thi n gs n e w a n d modern alw a ys plea se

, ,
an d ar e more agree a ble th an o ld a n d time-w o rn

themes which h a ve become tediou s by l on g u se It
, .
i s n o t i n L a ti n bec au se the a u thor wishi n g t o be

, ,
u n derstood by m an y who a r e n o t le a I n e d a n d bein g ,
a bove a ll a n xio u s to ple a se h a s chose n the vulg a r

,
to n gue so th a t he m a y equ ally delight all his hea rers

, .
A n d besides the to n gu e which G o d an d N a ture

, ,
h a ve gi ven u s S hou ld n ot be held in less esteem

th an L a tin Greek or Hebrew to which l an gu ages
, , ,
o u r o wn wo u ld perh a ps n o t be in ferior if we kept its

, ,
rules an d polished it with the s a me c a re an d diligen ce

,
a s the Greeks a n d L a ti n s S u rely th a t m an is his .
o wn e n emy wh o co u n ts a foreign l an gu a ge to be more
worthy of stu dy th an his o wn F or my p a rt I hold .

,
my o wn l an gu age so de a r t o me th a t I wou ld n ot
ch an ge it for a n y other in the whole world an d I ,
thin k yo u will feel the s a me Therefore you ought .
t o be gr a tefu l to he a r the C a lan dri a i n you r o wn

ton gue —n o I m a de a mist a ke : in our o wn ton gue
, ,
I mea n n ot i n your s Y ou will hea r the comedy

, .
which we h a ve t o recite an d while we S pe a k it is ,
you r p a rt to keep silen ce If an yon e s a ys the a uthor .
is a thief who h a s stolen from Pl a u t u s let him hold

, ,
his pe a ce ; for Old Pl au tus wo uld be well con ten t t o

be robbed a n d allow I l Moccicon e t o h a ve the
,
u se o f his tre a s u res an d does n o t thi n k it n eedfu l ,
t o keep them u n der lock a n d key But the a u thor .
swears by the Cross of G o d th a t he h a s n o t stolen

from Pl au tu s b ut h as r a ther tried t o emula te his
,
work A n d he further s a ys th a t if y o u se a rch all

.
,
through Pl a u tus yo u will fin d th a t the L atin poet ,
h a s lost n othin g th a t pert a i n s to him This bein g .
the c a se Pla utu s h a s n ot been robbed ; an d if y o u

,
or a n y obstin a te perso n still d a re to c a ll the a u thor
a thief at le a st I beg y ou n ot t o c all him n a mes

,
o r a cc u se him before the m a gistra te but go your ,
self an d whisper the secret in to the e a rs of Pla u tus .
B ut here comes the a ctor with his a rgumen t Prep a re .
t o receive it well an d let e a ch o n e ope n the door Of ,

’ 1
his e ar .
In the brief argu men t which follo wed the a u thor ,
expl a in ed th a t D emetriu s a citi z en of the Greek ,
city M o d on e h a d twi n children — a b oy Lido an d a

, , ,
girl S an t ille—wh o were S O m u ch a like th a t when

,
‘
Te t t ic i t li i 195 1 ’
a ro a n o a an o, . .
recollect the precise d a te on which I ga ve y o u th o se

1 00 d u c a ts to se n d t o N a ples But I k n ow this .
,
th a t it w a s when o u r two L a dy D u chesses left Rome

a n d I st a yed behi n d fo r t en o r twelve d a ys i n te n di n g ,
t o go t o N a ples a nd the n ch a n ged my mi n d a n d,
ga ve V S the mon ey a n d retu rn ed to Urbin o with

. .
,
the C ardi n a l o f P a vi a Now y ou will remember the .
wh o le thin g !
I sen d y ou m y M arI n e Elegy which plea se p a ss ,
on to M Pietro Bembo . I beg V S to rea d it an d . . .
give me you r Opin ion on the poem I kn ow n o t if .
it is worth y o ur peru s a l b u t I kn ow well th a t it ,
c an n ot possibly equ a l y o u r expecta ti o n s o r be worthy

o f y o u r pr a ise As for my del a ys V S is a wa re how
.
, . .
m an y re a son s I h a ve to exc u se them O u r comedies .
h a ve gon e O ff well m o st of a ll the C a l a n dri a which

, ,
”
wa s represen ted i n a tr u ly m a gn ificen t style which ,
I n eed n ot describe S i n ce y o u will h a ve he a rd full ,
a cco u n ts from m a n y who were presen t B ut I will .
tell y o u this m u ch The scen e represen ted wa s a n .
ou ter street o f the t o wn between the city wa ll ,
a n d its l a st ho u ses The w a ll with its t wo t o wers .
wa s represen ted i n the most n a t u r a l w a y p o ssible ,
risin g from the fl o or o f the st age t o the top of the

h all O n e tower w a s o cc upied by the pipers the
.
,
other by the tru mpeters an d between the t wo there ,
w a s a n o t her fin ely con stru cted r a mp a rt The h a ll .
itself where the a u dien ce sat occ upied the pl a ce of

, ,
the mo a t an d wa s crossed as it were by two

,
a qu ed u cts The b a ck Of the wa ll a bove the tiers

.
Of sea ts wa s hu n g with the t a pestries o f the Troj an

W ar Above these wa s a la rge c o rn ice i n high
.
relief bea rin g the followin g i n scripti on i n l a rge white

,
letters o n a blue gro un d ru n n in g the whole len gth o f ,
the h a ll
B ll f is lud q u d mi x
e a b t et i p s
or , os e o e e rc e a e
C s m g i t i m t ut q u c u
ae a r m
a n e en es ra e ra a n I I.
B th i w s b
o n d d i g m e s t h m C s disp l y s
ar a ro a an n a a o e, ae a r a
hi st sg t h f b t h lik
r en fit w k f
,
g e t mi ds
or o a e ar e or or r a n .
T HE S T A G E S CE N E R Y 337
Accordi n g to the chro n icler Vetera n i o n the ,
cl o si n g d ay o f the c a rn iva l the l a st li n e o f the L a ti n

,
motto o n the corn ice O f the h all wa s a ltered a n d ,
m a de t o r un th u s Ccesa r et li cec n ostr i est u tr a que

‘
,
'
,
D u ci s th u s in trod u cin g a person a l a llu sio n

’
cu r a ,
to the D uke Fran cesco M a ri a who figured i n the ,
fin a l in terlu de as the deliverer o f Ita ly .
From the roof o f the h a ll h un g gre a t bu n ches of

foli a ge a lmost hidin g the ceili n g a n d from the
, ,
r o settes o f the va ult wire threa ds were s u spen ded ,
to which two rows o f c a n del a br a i n the sh ape of

letters were fa sten ed from on e en d o f the h a ll t o the
,
other These thirteen rosettes m a de thirteen letters

.
,
spellin g the words D eli ci ae P op uli a n d these letters ,
were so l a rge th a t they held seve n or t en torches ,
which lighted the h a ll brilli a n tly .
The scen e wa s l a id i n a very fin e city with streets , ,
p a la ces ch urches a n d to wers a ll i n relief a n d lo oki n g

, , , ,
a s if they were re a l the e ffect bei n g completed by

,
a d m ir a ble p a i n ti n gs i n scie n tific perspective Am o n g .
o ther obj ects there was a n oct ago n temple i n low

relief so well fi n ished th a t even if a ll the workme n
, ,
i n the d u chy of Urbi n o h a d been empl o yed it seemed ,
h a rdly possible t o thi n k th a t a ll this h a d been d on e

i n fo u r mo n ths This temple wa s completely c o vered
with be a u tiful st u cco reliefs the wi n dows were m a de ,
to imita te a l ab a ster the a rchitra ves a n d c o rn ices were

,
Of fin e gold an d u ltra m a ri n e bl u e with gl a ss j ewels ,
here a n d there lookin g ex a ctly like re a l gems there

,
were ro un dels O f m a rble co n t a i n in g fig u res c a rved ,
p illa rs a n d m u ch more th a t wo uld t a ke me t o o lo n g

,
to describe This temple stood i n the cen tre of the

.
st age At on e en d there wa s a tri umph a l a rch a bo ut

.
t wo y a rds from the w a ll m a rvello u sly exec uted , .
Betwee n the a rchitra ve an d the va u lt a n a dmira ble

represen t a tio n of the st o ry o f the Hora tii h a d bee n
p ai n ted to imita te m arble The t wo n iches a bo v e .
V OL . I . 22
3 38 C O U N T B A L D A S S A R E CASTI GLI ON E
the pilla rs supportin g the a rch were filled with little

Victories bea rin g trophies i n their h an ds m a de o f '
st u cco O n the top o f the a rc h stood a most bea utiful

.
e q uestri a n st a tue of a figure i n a rmou r strikin g a ,
v a n quished m an a t hi s feet with his spea r T o right .
an d left o f this rider were t wo li ttle a lt a rs with
v a ses o f b u rn in g fl a me th a t la sted t o the en d of the

comedy .
I wi ll n ot describe everythin g a s I feel s u re V S , . .
will h a ve he a rd a good dea l alre a dy ; n or will I

tell h o w on e of the pl a ys wa s composed by a child
an d recited by children who perh aps put thei r ,
elders t o sh a me They certa in ly a cted m a rvell o usly

.
,
a n d it wa s a n ew thi n g to see little Old m en n ot ,
a foot high preservi n g a gr a vity a n d severity of

,
m an n er worthy of Men a n der No r will I a ttempt .
to describe the stra n ge m u sic o f these comedies ,
pl a yed by mi n strels who were a ll o u t o f sight a n d ,
pl a ced i n diff eren t corn ers b u t I will come at o n ce to

o u r Ber n a rdo s C al an dro which ga ve the gre a test
’
ple a s u re A n d S in ce the prolog u e a rrived very l a te

.
,
a n d the a ct or who h a d to recite it c o u ld n o t le a rn it ,
by hea rt i n time an other which I h a d written wa s

,
recited i n i t s pla ce a n d met with gen era l a pprova l

, .
O therwise little w a s ch a n ged o n ly a few scen es ,
which perh aps were n ot fit for recit a tion ; b ut little

, ,
or n othi n g else a n d it w a s performed ex a ctly a s it

,
is written .
These were the i n ter mezz i First a mor esca by .
J a son who a ppe a red on on e S ide o f the sta ge d a n ci n g

,
i n an tiqu e a rmou r l o oki n g very fin e with a splen did

, ,
sword a n d shield O n the other c a me two b u lls so

.
,
li fe -like th a t severa l o f the spect a tors took them fo r

re a l a n im als bre a thi n g fir e through their n ostrils
,
.
The good Ja son yoked them to the plough a n d m a de

them dra w it a n d then sowed dragon s teeth i n the
,
’
fu rrows . Presently a n cien t w a rriors spr an g u pon

the stage i n a wa y th a t w a s I thin k excellen tly , ,
m an aged an d d an ced a fiery mor esca tryi n g to kill

, ,
3 40 C O U N T B A L DAS S A R E C A ST IGLI ON E
an d they a ll d a n ced a sword -d an ce with a gra ce th a t

it is imp o ssible t o describe o r im agi n e .
W hen the comedy wa s en ded on e of the Am o ri n i , ,
whom we h a d a lr e a dy seen a ppea red s u dde n ly on the ,
sta ge i n the s a me h a bit a n d expl a in ed I n a few verses

, ,
the mea n in g o f these i n ter mezzi which w a s a sep a ra te ,
thin g fr o m the c o medy itself .
First o f a ll there wa s the b a ttle between e arth

born brothers when a s we see to -d ay there is wa r
, , ,
between those n ea rest o f ki n wh o o u ght to live a t ,
pea ce a s set forth i n the fa ble o f J a son Then comes

, .
Love who kin dles first m a n kin d an d e a rth then the

, ,
sea a n d a i r with his s a cred fl a me a n d seeks to drive

, ,
a w a y w ar a n d disc o rd a n d j o i n the whole world i n
blessed con cord This i n deed y o u wi ll sa y is r a ther

.
, ,
a hope a n d devo u t a spir a tio n b u t the visio n o f w a r , ,
a l a s ! is a ll too re a l fo r o u r misfort u n e ! I did n o t

mea n to S how y o u the verses th a t Love s an g but yet ,
I sen d them an d V S c a n d o wh a t y o u like with

, . .
them They were written i n gre a t h a ste by o n e

.
,
who wa s stru ggli n g a ll the while with p a i n ters an d

c a rpen ters with a ct o rs a n d m u sici a n s a n d d a n cers
,
.
When the verses were e n ded Love dis a ppea red The .
sou n d Of hidden m u sic pro ceedin g from fo u r viols , ,
w a s he a rd a n d then fo u r voi ces sin gi n g a verse to the

,
st i m m o f a be a u tifu l mel o dy a s it were a n i n voc a tio n ,
t o Love S o the f est a en ded a ft er givi n g the gre a test

.
,
s a tisfa ction a n d plea s u re to the spect a tors If I h a d .
n o t pr a ised the whole thin g so m u ch I wo u ld h a ve ,
told y ou W h a t S h a re I h a d i n it ; b ut I will n ot do
this fo r fe a r V S sh o u ld thin k th a t I fl a tter myself
, . .
It wou ld be t o o grea t a piece o f g o o d fortu n e to be

a ble t o a tte n d t o m a tters s u ch a s these a n d esc a pe ,
fro m b u si n ess c a res G o d gra n t th a t I m a y o n e d a y

.
d o this This letter is fa r lon ger th a n I i n ten ded t o

write o r i n deed h a ve written fo r more th a n a yea r
,
.
V S m u st n ot t a ke this a s a pro o f th a t I h a ve become

. .
a good secreta ry for I a m q u ite tired o ut a n d a m

, ,
h a rdly a ble to tell y o u th a t a m arri age h a s been

I TALY S LAME N T ’
3 41
arran ged between o ur M a do n n a M a rgherit a an d a

Co un t of Corre gio who I S n oble youthful rich a n d
h an dsome g .
, , , ,
This description o f the el abora te st age scen ery

employed of the s i n gers an d orchestra kept o u t Of
,
sight a n d the h all h u n g with g a rl an ds an d l u stres

, ,
is c u rio u sly m o dern an d might almost refer to ,
the B ai r eu t h perform an ces o f recen t ye a rs As i n .
’
—
W agn er s m u sic dra m a s a ll the a rts were c o mbi n ed i n ,
these Ren a iss an ce comedies an d the whole sh o w ,
en ded i n a glorific ation o f ide a l l o ve B u t the .
p a triotic n ote in trod u ced o n this occ a si o n wa s pl a i n ly

d u e to C a stiglio n e I n his modesty the Co u n t omits
.
a ll refere n ce t o the i n ter mezz o composed by him fo r

’
N icc o l o Gr a ssi s comedy a n d repe a ted o n the l a st ,
d ay o f c a rn iva l whe n the childre n s pl a y w a s give n

’
, .
Vetera n i tells us how It a ly appea red i n the figu re

Of a sa d a n d wea ry wom an with dishevelled l o cks an d ,
ra imen t torn by the h an ds o f b a rb ari an s an d so mu ch

, ,
o ppressed with the b u rde n o f her sorrow th at sh e

c o uld h a rdly u tter the words of her compl a i n t a n d ,
p a u sed repea tedly a s if o verwhelmed by grief I n

, .
p athetic l a n gu age she la me n ted the r a v ages o f Time

a n d the v an ity of h u m a n glory a n d rec a lled the d a ys ,
when she wa s qu een of the whole w o rld a n d c aptive ,
ki n gs a n d n a tion s k n elt a t her feet N ow S h e wa s p o or .
a n d miser a ble S horn o f a ll her sple n do u r a n d red u ced

, ,
t o weep i n solitu de an d ch a i n s over her l a me n t a b le fa ll .
Ho rvi li p es s v bb d t a, er a, a an on a a ,
Mi t v flli t t mis
ro t m sc h i
o a a, e ra e e n a,
P v ll m dic t sc s l t
o er e a en a e on o a a,
Pi g l m i c ud ] lt ui
an o a a r e a a r na .
’
V a i n ly sh e ca lled on the heroes o f Old on C msa r , ,
F abi u s Scipio a n d all the p ale ghosts o f heroes wh o

, ,
thron g the b an ks Of Styx to wake a t her voice an d ,
wield their an cien t sword s i n her defen ce N O an swer .
c a me a n d a fter u tteri n g these piteo u s verses the sa d

,
'
spea ker dis appe a red fro m the st a ge u n able to u tter ,
a n other word B u t i n the fin a l scen e the s a me figu re

.
a ppe a red a g a i n an d c a lled i n imp a ssio n ed str a i n s on a
livi n g hero to come to her help biddi n g him u n fo ld ,
the b an n er o f the triumph an t e agle an d wi n immorta l ,
gl o ry in her c a use .
m F c d U i
E t t u a a t o i gli o l, D u a r b n o,
’
v v s
I n e ui e ro a lor r i n a sc er en t o ,
v d s g i
Fa e n e t t a d el m i o a n ue la t n o ,
m q si s
E d e l m i o n o e c h e e ua i n t ut t o p en t o ,
i v divi
R n n o a l a li d el t uo ucel
’
n o,
i s g m s i g d v
L n e n a t ri u p h al p e a n o a l e n t o,
’
c q is i
Ch a u t e ra i n gi o v e n i l e t a t e,
’ ’
g i imm
Cum t ua lor a i
o r ta l, m i a l b e r t a t e
Then from the opposite side o f the st age wri tes ,

’
the Old chro n icler there s u dden ly spra n g to light a

,
figu re o f the D u ke with a drawn sword in his h an d ,
looki n g a s if he h ad driven ou t a ll the b a rb ari a n s w h o

h a d stripped a n d plu n dered It a ly N o w retu rn in g .
,
from the fra y he pla ced a crown o n her he a d a n d

,
threw a golden m an tle o ver her shoulders a n d the ,
t wo d a n ced a gra cefu l m or esca to the sou n d o f u n seen

m sic
u an d, wen t o u t together d an cin g h n d
a -i n -h an d .
Tru ly a most be au tifu l sight

The fin e verses recited by the w a rrior with their ,
c o u rtly a ll u sion s to the youn g Duke s tri umph a n d ’
the delivera n ce o f It a ly from the b a rb a ri an s were , ,
there can be little dou bt c o mposed by C a stiglion e , ,
a n d formed a fitti n g cl o se to a c a rn iv a l th a t wa s lo n g
remembered at Urbin o It m arked the en d of a grea t .
a e
g . The brilli a n t a ssembly o f lords a n d l a dies who ,
were presen t on this festive occ a sion little dreamt ,
1
Co d Va t
. . U rb .
, 490 .
C HAPTER XXI I I
15 13
D eat h Of J uli us 11 —Co n cla v e an d e le c ti on of L eo X —

Hi s p ro
—
. .
cl m t i
a a on an d p c e ssi
ro k s i on t o t h e L a t e ra n Th e D u e o f U rb n o
d F
an d th w P p —C s t igli
e r ra ra an i R m — Hie ne o e a on e n o e s
c s p d c wi t h t h D uk
o rr e on en d D uc h ss —N g t i t i
e s e e an e e o a on
g di g S l l —S u Ch i
re ar n d th
o ar o o c v t f A ssisi or ar a an e on en o
M d R fi ell —I fl u f B ib b i t t h V t ic
’
a on n a ea a a n en c o en a a e a an .
IT would be t o o good t o feel th a t on e m ight esc a pe

from the c a res of b u sin ess an d dev o te the rest o f life
t o these ple a s u res These w o rds i n C a st igli on e s
’ ’
.
,
letter to C a n oss a h a ve a p athetic rin g when we fin d

, ,
h o w ru dely the writer was to be a w a ken ed from these

h a ppy dre a ms a n d how soon he was to be pl u n ged
i n to the tu rm o il o f i n tri gu e an d discord which his ,
sou l lo a thed D u rin g the n ext three an d a h a lf ye a rs

.
his life was S pen t c o n tin u a lly in diplom a tic mission s

an d i n politic a l b usi n ess o f the most a n xi o u s an d
h a ra ssin g description Fort un a tely he h a d two gre at .
,
c o n sol a tion s which n ever failed him—frien dship an d

litera tu re These t wo powers pl a yed a gre a t p a rt i n
.
his li fe du rin g the memora ble period on which we are

n o w e n teri n g whe n Rome bec a me to a gre a t exte n t
, , ,
his he d qu a rters a n d the cen tre o f h i s existen ce

a - .
Twelve d a ys a fter the l a st c a rn iva l festivities o n

Shrove T u esd ay Pope J uli u s II bre athed his l a st i n
, .
the Va tic an The stron g so ul m a de a bra ve fight fo r

.
life a n d met dea th with a compos ure which surprised

,
3 44
DEATH O F J UL IUS II . 3 45
those a bout him There wa s grief a n d con stern a tio n

.
i n Rome whe n the n ews bec a me k n own The crowds .
wh o thro n ged St Peter s to see the l a st ho n o u rs p a id

’
.
to the de a d Pon ti ff were gre a ter th an h a d ever

been seen before a t a Pope s fun era l a n d m an y ’
l a men ted the m an who h ad s a ved It aly from fo reign

i n va ders His en emies n a tura lly rej oiced an d felt
.
,
th at they co u ld o n ce more brea the freely N either .
the D uke of Ferra ra n or his S ister m a de a n y secret

o f their s a tisfa ctio n The M a rches an a wrote the ’
.
,
Ven eti an en v o y from Mil an where Is abell a wa s keep ,
i n g c a rn iva l with her n ephew M a ssimili a n o Sforz a , ,
‘
w a s filled with j o y when she he a rd th a t His Holi n ess
wa s a t the p o i n t o f de a th ; an d L i ppo m an o wrote
’
home th a t it wa s a pit y fo r Ven ice a n d Christen d o m

1
th a t the P ope h a d n ot died five ye ars soon er B ut .
’
a s C a stigli o n e h a d foresee n the de a th Of J u li u s I I , .
wa s a grievo u s loss to the D uke o f U rbi n o F o r a ll .
his violen t o u tb ursts a n d s u spicio u s temper the Old ,
m an wa s fo n dly a tt a ch ed to his n ephew a n d his l a st ,
a c t a s he la dyi n g w a s to summo n a co n sistory an d

, y ,
c o n firm the i n vestitu re o f Pes a ro which he h a d gran ted ,
t o the D u ke Two d ays a ft erwa rds he was de a d

.
2
.
The S a cred College immedi a tely sen t d u c a ts

from the P a p a l tre a s u ry to the D uke desiri n g him ,
to ra ise a body o f troops an d come to Rome

at o n ce B ut whether Fra n cesco M a ri a fou n d it
.
impossible to collect his fo rces or whether he wa s ,
gla d t o del a y his comi n g u n til a n ew P o pe wa s

elected he exc u sed himself from obeyi n g the
,
s u mmon s an d sen t C a stiglio n e to a tten d the l a te

,
P ope s fu n er a l i n his ste a d O n his a rriva l the Co u n t

’
.
fo un d Rome seethi n g with the u s u a l i n trig ues rife

1
P sta o r, v i . 43 7 S a mut o , xv n . 6, xv . 26 1 .
2
S a n ut o, xv . 5 60 .
3 46 C O U N T BAL DAS S A RE CASTI GLI ON E
before a con cl a ve At first C a rdin a l R affa ello R i ar i o

.
di S an Giorgio wa s the fa vo u rite H i s cl a ims a s the .
we a lthie st a n d on e o f the s en ior members of the

College were stron gly s u pported by the M a rqu is o f
M a n tu a with whom he wa s i n tim a te a n d wh o begged
, ,
his son -i n -law to a ssist his exerti o n s B ut all the .
’
D u ke o f U r bi n o s i n terest a n d all C a st igli on e s
’
perso n al in fl u en ce were n atu ra lly employed i n fa vou r

o f C a rdi n a l Giov an n i de Medi ci wh o a rrived from ’
Flor en ce on Febru a ry 26 with his clever secreta ry ,
Bern a rdo d a Bibb i en a .
This C ardi n a l to say the truth wa s popul a r with

, ,
a ll p a rties His ki n d n ess an d libera lity his gen i a l

.
,
a n d e a sy -goi n g n a t u re the soft words wi th which he

,
kn ew h o w t o in gra ti a te himself with those who ap

roa ch ed him the frequ e n t smile th a t lighted u the
p , p
’
l a rge bl an d fa ce a n d hea vy j a w with which R aph a el s
portra it h a s m a de us fa m ili a r a ll helped t o ren der him ,
’
a ge n er a l fa vourite There i s much t a lk of Medici ,
wrote F o scari the Ven eti a n en voy on M a rch 7 ; he

, ,
is very you n g fo r a Pope bu t is a s good a m a n a s ,
possible —worthy le a rn ed o f exempl ary con d u ct

, , .
’ 1
Above all C a rdin a l Giov an n i wa s qu iet an d pea ce

,
a ble an d a fter the w a rlike an d t u rbule n t J u lius there

, , ,
wa s a widespre a d feelin g th a t pe a ce an d tr a n qu illity

were the most desira ble th i n gs for Ita ly It is tru e .
th a t he wa s only thirty -seven an d his youth a s the , ,
Ven eti an rem a rked was a ga in st him ; b u t sin ce he

,
wa s s a id t o be s u fferin g from an i n tern al compl a in t ,
a n d h a d t o be c a rried i n a litter t o the co n cl a ve a n d ,
u n dergo a n oper a tion a few d ays l a ter for fistu l a ,
there wa s good re a son to believe th a t his life wo u ld

n o t be a lo n g o n e O n M a rch 4 the co n cl a ve met
.
i n the Va tic an an d at the first scru ti n y o n l y on e

,
S mut x vi 28 3 0
1 a o, .
, .
The Flore n ti n es n a tu ra lly rej oiced most o f all

, ,
’
a t the ex a lt a tion o f Lore n zo de Medici s so n The ’
.
cro wds who ru shed to a ccl aim the n ewly -elected

Pon ti ff filled the ai r with sh o u ts o f P a lle I p a lle a n d
‘
.
the p a rtis a n s o f the exiled ho u se c a me i n fo r a l a rge

S h a re of rewa rds an d hon o u rs Bembo an d S a d olet o .
were appoin ted P a p a l Secret a ries ; Bern a rdo d a Bib

bien a to whose clever m an oeuvres d uri n g the con cl ave
,
Leo s election wa s chiefly d u e bec a me Tre a s u rer

’
o f the Pope s household A n d althou gh Fran cesco

’
.
Gon za ga h a d at first s upported C a rdi n a l R i ar i o s ’
c a n did atu re L eo X did n o t forget how hospitably

, .
he h a d been en tert a in ed at M an tu a when he esc aped

from his Fren ch c aptors a fter the b a ttle o f R a ven n a ,
a n d told the M an tu a n e n voy th a t whe n he wa s elected
Pope he wa s still we a rin g the clothes given him by

1
the M a rqu is But o f all the gen erou s frien ds wh o
.
h a d stood by the Medici i n the d a ys o f their exile ,
n o n e h a d deserved better o f them th an the D uke
a n d Duchess o f Urbi n o N ot o n ly h a d Guidob a ldo .
received the refugees i n a ten der an d most hospit able

m an n er b ut Gi uli a n o h ad spen t m a n y mon ths a t
,
a time i n the d u c a l p a l a ce a n d the Pope himself h a d ,
frequ en tly been a gu est a t the cou rt N O con gra tu l a .
ti o n s were w a rmer o r more si n cere th an those which

rea ched the n ew Pope fro m M an tu a an d Urbin o ,
from the M a rches an a Is abella an d her son -i n -law ,
Fran cesco M a ri a .
I n a letter o f M a rch 1 4 the D u ke th a n ked C as

t i gli on e for his fu ll a n d deta iled a cco u n t of the
co n cla ve an d expressed u n qu alified s a tisfa ctio n a t
,
’
C a rdin a l de Medici s electio n : ’
We c an n ot tell you h ow delighted we a r e to he ar

this good n ews an d hope th a t o ur services t o this
,
Lu io i n Ar ch ivi s t ri co L m b d 1 9 06 1 1 4
1
z o o o ar o,
’
, .
LATERA N PR O CE S S I ON 3 49
good an d
holy Po n ti ff w ill n o w receive recog n itio n .
Y o u will c o mme n d u s c o rdi a lly t o His Holi n ess a n d ,
a ss u re him th a t we s h a ll be n o less ze a l o u s i n his
service th an we were i n th a t o f o u r u n cle o f blessed ,
memory an d pla ce o urselves a bsol u tely a t his

,
1
dispos a l .
’
C a stiglion e n o w u rged his lord to come to Rome

a n d ki ss the Pope s feet a s so o n a s p o ssible ; but the
’
D uke still dela yed a fter his u s u a l h a bit plea di n g the

, ,
cost a n d time n ecess a ry fo r prep a ra tio n s if he were to

a ppe a r with s u it a ble splen do u r a t the appr o a chi n g
ceremon ies A t len gth o n the even i n g o f April 7
.
, ,
two h o u rs a ft er d a rk he a rrived i n R o me with a ,
b o dy o f 3 00 h o rse a n d wa s received with d u e st ate

,
by the V a tic a n o ffi ci a ls F a brizio Col o n n a a n d m a n y .
o f the n oble R o m an s rode o u t to meet him a t P o n te
Molle a n d escorted him t o the D u chess Of U rb in o s

’
ho u se i n the V i a L a t a behi n d the ga rde n of the ,
Ven eti an emb a ssy The Pope tre a ted him with the .
grea test h o n o u r a n d sen t him a libera l s upply o f

,
pr o visi on s in cl u din g l a rge stores o f b a rley wi n e s a lt

, , ,
mea t a n d 8 0 p a irs o f c a p o n s 200 torches 5 0 po u n ds

, , ,
o f c a n dles a n d 1 00 boxes of c o n fectio n ery Whe n

2
, .
,
o n the morn i n g of the 9 t h Fr a n cesco M a ri a prese n ted ,
himself a t the Va tic a n he wa s most gr a cio u sly received

, .
His H o li n ess spoke a ffectio n a tely o f their Old frien d

ship co n firmed him in his o ffice a s Prefect Of Rome
, ,
an d ren ewed his a ppoi n tmen t a s C a pt a i n of the

Ch u rch for a n o ther ye a r I n this c a p a city the D uke .
,
cl a d in bl a ck velvet a n d s a tin a n d a tten ded by a ,
fin e comp an y of twe n ty -fiv e ge n tleme n a lso we a ri n g

m o urn i n g for his un cle a ppea red i n the m agn ifice n t ,
processio n to the L a tera n which the Pope fixed for ,
1
Co d Va t La t
. . . , 8 21 1, fo l 5 0 4 . .
2
S a n ut o, xvi . 67 8 .
350 C O U N T BAL D A S SA R E CASTI GL I ON E
April l l —the Fe a st of St Leo a n d the a n n ivers a ry .
o f the b a ttle o f R a ve n n a .
O n th a t mem o ra ble d a y which rec a lled the triumphs ,
o f a n cie n t Rome w he n a ll the gods a n d goddesses o f

,
O lymp u s c a me to h a il the Vic a r o f Christ a n d the ,
tri umph a l a rches a lon g the n ew Pope s ro u te were ’
a dorn ed with im a ges o f the Virgi n a n d Ap o stles o n
o n e S ide a n d Of Ve n u s a n d P a ll a s o n the other the

, ,
D u ke o f Urbin o rode immedi a tely behin d the Rom a n

n obles a n d foreig n a mb a ss a dors a n d i n fr o n t o f the ,
t a bern a cle which held the H o st A t a ll a n d ga ll a n t .
wa rrior G a sp a re Fra c a sso di S a n Severin o cla d i n

, ,
cloth o f gold from he a d t o fo o t a n d mo un ted on a ,
ch a rger hea vily dra ped with the s a me tiss u e b o re the ,
b a n n er of the Ch u rch befo re him a n d at h i s side rode ,
the Pope s n ephew th a t y o un g Loren zo de Me di ci

’
,
’
w h o wa s ere l o n g t o ro b him o f his cro wn For the .
presen t however a ll wen t merry a s a m a rri ge bell a - .

, ,
The n ew P o pe a dopted a golden yoke a s his device ,
with the m otto S oa ve which wa s embroidered on the ,
rose c olo u red liveries of h i s serva n ts an d expressed

-
,
the most frien dly a n d pea ce a ble i n ten tion s even ,
1
towa rds the D uke o f Ferra ra .
Al fon so h a d a rrived i n Rome on April 4 an d w a s ,
immedi a tely con d u cted by his co u sin the C a rdin al ,
o f Ar a go n i n to the presen ce o f the Pope who su s

, ,
pen ded the ecclesi as tic a l cen su res which h un g over

him a n d restored him to a ll his digni ties i n order
, ,
tha t he might ta ke p a rt i n the L a tera n procession .
Is a bell a d Este s secret a ry M a rio E q u i cola wh o h ad

’ ’
, ,
been a mon g the fir st to kiss the Pope s feet a n d

’
offer his mistress s con gra tula tio n s to her Old frien d
’
describes the cheers which greeted the D uke a s he

1
S ut
an x vi 1 60 ; B h et -R eum t L J
o . ss d e C t h e i e
a sc on ,
a en n e e a r n
d e M d i i p 242
’
e c , . .
352 C O U N T B A LDAS SARE CASTIGLI ONE
were C a st igli on e s
’
most i n tim a te frien ds Bembo a n d .
S a d o let o a s we h a ve seen were S ecret a ries a n d the

, , ,
M a ster o f the Hou sehold wa s h i s ki n sm an C an oss a , ,
i n whose ho u se he lived a s lo n g a s he rem a i n ed i n

Rome Above a ll Messer Bern a rd o the gay comra de
.
, ,
a n d witty story -teller whose comedy h a d bee n a cted ,
a t Urbi n o o n ly a few weeks befo r e u n der his o wn
directio n wa s s upreme a t cou rt Bibbie n a s su nn y

, .
’
temper his wit an d re a di n ess his love of a rt a n d

, ,
’
litera tu re h a d lon g m a de him dea r t o C a rdi n a l de
,
Medici a n d n ow he bec ame i n dispen s a ble t o the n ew

,
P o pe All the en voys a t the Va tic an agree i n describin g

.
Bibbien a i n these ea rly ye a rs o f L eo X S reign a s the .

’
Pope s con fiden ti al a dviser—his a lter eg o— who dis

’
e n se d p a tr o n a ge held the t an gled thre a ds of p o litic a l

p ,
i n trig ue in his h an ds a n d enj o yed his m a ster s a bsol u te ,

’
1
tru st . I n his eleg a n t s u ite o f rooms i n the u pper
story of the p al a ce a dorn ed with costly ta pestries a n d ,
preci o u s gems with r a re a n tiqu es a n d p a in ti n gs by

,
the h a n d of his fa vo u rite R a ph a el the n ew Tre a s u rer ,
w a s the Obj ect o f gen er a l e n vy a n d a d m Ira t i o n ,
c o urt ed a n d fea red by a ll b ut still beloved by his Old ,
‘
frien ds s u ch a s Bembo a n d C a stiglio n e
, As fo r .
Messer Bern ardo wrote E q u i cola it wo uld fill fo u r

‘
,
’
sheets were I t o try a n d describe his pla te a n d

t a pestries the visits which he receives etc I n fa ct
, , .
,
he is Pope 2
A n d a M a n t u an ki n sm an — on e of the
’
.
Va len ti —who wrote t o con gra tul a te C a stiglion e o n

his good fortun e rem a rked th a t he kn ew prosperity ,
wo uld n ever a lt er the l o ve which he a n d Bemb o bore

t o their frien ds but did n ot feel sure if he c o u ld
,
3
co un t o n Bern a rdo .
The first import an t busi n ess which C a stiglion e h a d

1 P st iv 5 8 5 9 ; S ut x vi 5 4 ; B di i B ibb i
a or , . ,
16 an o, . an n , e n a,
’
.
2 Luzi 4 5 4 o, . C d V t L t 8 21 1 3
o . a . a . , .
B I B B IE N A 353
to tran s a ct o n his lord s beh alf bro ught him i n to ’
direct co n t a ct with the n ew Trea s u rer I n the .
a u tu mn of 1 5 1 2 Fr a n cesco M a ri a h a d borrowed
,
d u c a ts from his wife s u n cle C a rdi n a l Sigis ’

,
mon d o Gon z aga who wa s with the P a p a l troops a s

,
Lega te in order to i n demn ify G a le a zzo Sforza for his

,
rights on Pes a ro This sum he n o w so u ght to recover

.
from the P ap a l Tre a s u ry i n p a ymen t o f a rre a rs of

s a l a ry a n d expen ses in c u rred d u rin g the l a st c am
p gai n . Gre a tly t o his s u rprise an d i n dig n a tio n ,
Bibbien a rep u di a ted this cl a im or at a n y ra te , , ,
dem urred to its j ustice The letters which the D uke .
a ddressed to C a stiglio n e o n the s u bj ect reve a l his

u n govern a ble temper N o words were too b a d for .
wh a t he c alled a fl a gr a n t bre a ch of fa ith or fo r

’
the Tre a s u rer wh o w a s g uilty Of it O f a ll m en .
i n the world we should h a ve held o ur frien d

,
M Bern a rdo to be the l a st who would bre a k his

.
word to u s he wrote ; a n d i n the s a me brea th he

,
’
desired C a stiglion e to let him feel the full force Of his

resen tme n t Even B a ld a ss a re who i n former letters
.
,
wa s i n va ri a bly a ddressed a s d i let t issi mo e ca r i ssi mo ,
wa s n o w tre a ted with the b a rest co u rtesy a n d m a de to ,
be a r the br un t o f the d u c a l disple a s ure Fort un a tely .
fo r a ll p arties C a stiglio n e co n d u cted this diffic u lt a n d

’
delic a te n egoti a tio n with so m u ch S kill a n d t a ct th a t

i n the en d Fra n cesco M a ri a wa s s atisfied The Pope .
a lre a dy fo u n d it impossible to s a tisfy the h u n dreds
of n eedy s uppli an ts from Floren ce who crowded the

V a tic a n an d agreed to in dem n ify C a rdin a l Gon z ag a fo r
,
his a dv a n ces by a gra n t of the P a p al fief o f S ola rolo ,
n e a r F a e n z a which a fter prolo n ged n egoti a tio n

, , he ,
co n sen ted to a ccept Co n sider able i n terest a tta ches .
to this tra n s a ction which expl a i n s how it wa s th a t

,
Sigismon do a cquired the little town a n d pri n cip a lity

VOI 1 . 23
354 C O U N T BALDAS SA R E CASTI GLI ON E
which a ft er his de a th p a ssed i n to the h an ds o f the

, ,
M a rches a n a Is a bell a .
B u t these were o n ly the most imp o rt an t o f m a n y

m a tters which p a ssed throu gh C a st igli on e s h a n ds ’
while he represen ted the D uke o f Urbi n o a t the

co urt o f Leo X i n the a bse n ce o f Fra n cesco s
.
,
’
ordin a ry en voy the hon est a n d faithful O ra zio

,
Florido .
The pea cea ble i n ten tion s o f the Pope were show n
by his e fforts t o a vert wa r between Fra n ce an d the
Leagu e but he wa s powerless to restra i n the a mbiti o n
,
o f Lo u is X I I who o n ce more in va ded L o mb a rdy

.
,
e a rly in M a y While L eo X n o mi n ally rem a i n ed

. .
n eu tr a l he secre t ly helped M a ssimili a n o Sforz a with

,
mo n ey t o pa y the Swiss a n d strove persisten tly to ,
det a ch Ven ice from the Fren ch a lli an ce The va cil .
l a ti n g ch a r a cter o f the P a p a l policy a n d gen era l

u n cert a i n ty ar e reflected i n the fo ll o wi n g p a ss a ge
fro m a letter which C a stiglion e a ddressed to the

D u ke of Urbin o from Rome on M a y 28
‘
The Pope c a n n ot m ake up his min d whether to
sen d troops to P a rm a a n d Pi a cen z a b ut will w ait to ,
se e wh a t the Fre n ch do It seems to me th a t Yo u r .
Excellen cy must a lso a w a it his decision a s it would ,
n either be ho n o u r a ble n or desira ble fo r y o u to go to
the scen e o f a ction u n til w a r is openly decl a red .
I will let You r E xcellen cy kn ow wh a t h a ppen s a n d ,
wh a t seems to be a dvis a ble The Swiss promise .
gre a t thin gs a n d t a lk o f i n va din g B u rgu n dy with

,
m en besides descen din g upon Lomb a rdy

,
.
The E n glish a r e routi n g the Fren ch horse in l arge

n u mbers The Empero r is s a id to be prep a ri n g
.
troops t o a tta ck the Fren ch a n d Ven eti an s an d h a s ,
relieved Vero n a a n d forced the Ven eti a n s to ra ise

the siege M a don n a M a rgherita h a s procl a imed w a r
.
a g a i n st Fr a n ce thro u gho u t Fl a n ders an d a ll the h a rm ,

356 C O U N T B ALDAS SARE CASTIGLI ON E
vid l
ua —
ecclesi stics these
a an d a score o f mi n or
m a tters were all referred to the D uke s en voy The ’
.
ge n tle D u chess Elis a betta o n her p a rt kept up a n, ,
a ctive corresp on de n ce with her loy a l serv a n t d u ri n g
his a bsen ce fro m Urbi n o A ft er her w on t sh e wa s

.
,
beset with su ppli a n ts a n d prot é gé s i n whose fa vo u r ,
sh e co n st a n tly solicited C a st igli on e s good o ffi ces with

’
the Pope o r other ex a lted person a ges N o w it wa s .
her S ister-i n -la w Chia r a the widow O f Roberto M a l a

,
’
test a who sought the Pope s i n terven tion t o en a ble
,
her t o recover cert a i n s u ms Of her dowry i n Rimin i ;

n o w a n Urbi n o ge n tlem an w h o a sked for a r ec o m
,
m en d at i o n t o His Holi n ess then a g a i n a merch a n t , ,
o f S i n iga gli a who begged th a t Messer Agostin o

,
Chigi the rich Sien ese b an ker wou ld ren ew the

, ,
le a se o f a shop to his d a ughter O r else it is o n e .
o f her M a n tu a n co n n exion s M Agostin o Gon z a ga , .

,
who h a s visited Urbin o on his wa y t o R o me a n d i n ,
whose fa vo u r Elis a betta is e ager to enlist the M ag

n i fic o Gi u li an o a n d the a ll-powerful Tre a s u rer ; an d
the kin d D u chess en tre a ts her de a rest an d most
bel o ved ki n sm an B a ld a ss are t o deliver her letters
i n pers o n a n d do his u tm o st t o fu rther M Agosti n o s
’
.
,
s u it Then a ga i n it is M a don n a Emili a who begs

. , ,
the Coun t s help i n some priva te bu sin ess o f her o wn

’
a n d this time the D u chess feels S he n eed m a ke n o
a pology fo r tro u bli n g him a n d is s u re he will a rr a n ge

,
the m a tter with his wo n ted pr uden ce M an y of .
’
these letters a r e written with Elis a bett a s o wn h an d ,
a n d a bou n d i n ki n d expressio n s o f reg a rd an d a ffectio n
fo r M B a ld a ss a re a n d o f e a rn est hopes th a t he m a y
. ,
soon be a ble t o retu rn t o Pes a ro where the D u ke a n d ,
D u chesses were spen di n g the e a rly s u mmer .
From Pes aro o n M a rch 26 on ly a fortni ght a fter ,
the Pope s electi o n Elis a bett a a ddressed a n urgen t

’
,
S I S TER C H IARA 357
letter to the Cou n t on beh a lf o f the ga ll a n t C a pt ai n

G a sp a re S a n Severi n o who if report s aid tr u e , , ,
wa s a bout t o wed her n iece the widowed M a ri a ,
V a ra n a .
’
‘
‘
It is the desire o f my hea rt S he wrote if , ,
p o ssible t o help the s a id S a n S everi n o bec au se o f

, ,
the rel a tion ship between u s an d t h e m a n y o bliga

ti o n s th a t I owe him Therefore I beg yo u t o sh o w
.
this lett er to His Holi n ess s Tre a s u rer ; a n d whe n ’
o u h a ve he a rd his a dvice go t o the P o pe s feet a n d

’
y ,
c o mmen d S an S everi n o t o him most wa rmly from

me empl o yi n g all the mea n s i n y o u r power an d
, ,
doi n g everythi n g th a t y o u c a n im a gi n e to bri n g this

to a good en d A n d let me kn o w a t o n ce wh a t is
.
the res u lt of y o u r e fforts th a t I m a y tell him how ,
fa r I h a ve bee n a ble t o help him a ccordi n g t o my ,
1
e a rn est wish .
’
After this Fra c a sso a s we h a ve see n c ame t o , ,
Rome an d bore the D u ke s b an n er in the P ap a l

,
’
’
processio n ; bu t the Duchess s exertion s d o n ot seem
t o h a ve met with an y fu rther s u ccess I n J u n e he .
retu rn ed to Lomb a rdy a n d his m arri age with M a ri a

,
Va ra n a n ever took pla ce S ome o f Elis a bett a s .

’
wishes it m u st be own ed were by n o me an s e a sy

, ,
’
to gra tify G u id ob a ld o s widowed sister Chi a ra h a d
.
, , ,
on the de a th of her hu sb a n d Roberto M a l a test a , ,
t a ken the veil in the c o n ven t O f P o o r Cla res fo un ded ,
by her fa ther D uke Federic o a t Urbin o She was

, , .
n o w gre a tly distu rbed a t the sc an d als which h a d

a rise n a m o n g the n u n s of S a n t a Chi a r a o f Assisi ,
a n d wa s an xio u s to bri n g them u n der the rule o f the
reformed Fra n cisc a n c ommu n ity k n ow n a s the O sser

v an ti t o which her o wn con ven t belo n ged Accord
, .
1 Cod Va t
. . La t 8 21 1 .
358 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTIGL I ON E
i n gly , Ju n e
on 10 sh e a ddressed the followi n g letter
to the Cou n t
M A G NI FI C O B A L D A SS A R E ,
‘
As I am very an xiou s th a t the con ven t
o f S t a Cl a r a o f Assisi
. where the glori o u s b o dy Of
,
this s a in t rests S hou ld be brou ght u n der the rule

,
o f the O sser v an ti i n order th a t i t m a be pr o perly

, y
govern ed a n d th a t the presen t n un s wh o se life a s
, , ,
I h a ve been told by m a n y o f the citizen s is an ythin g ,
b u t h o n est an d religio u s m ay be removed , I n the .
d a ys o f P o pe Ju li u s I a pplied fo r lea ve to go to Assisi

a n d t a ke ch a rge o f the c on ven t a n d bri n g it u n der ,
the rule of ou r O sserv an ti O rder which I h a d been ,
a sked to do by m an y perso n s livin g in th a t city .
His Holin ess gr a ci o usly con sen ted to my propos a l ,
a n d desir ed me t o a pp o i n t a co n fessor t o m ake a

visit ation but I declin ed this propos al sin ce I ,
wa s rel u ct an t to le a ve this co n ve n t a n d the rule

u n der which I h a d m a de my professio n Th u s the .
m a tter rem ain ed u n decided B ut a s I still cherish a n .
e a rn est desire th a t order a n d good livin g shou ld be

restored i n this pl a ce I hope th a t His Holi n ess
, ,
whose goodn ess an d s ain tly livi n g a r e well kn own ,
will con descen d to gran t my a rden t desire I beg .
y o u t o S pe a k to the M a n i fic o o n this s u bj ect

g an d ,
m ake him un ite with y ou i n u rgi n g o ur Lord the

Pope to a llow this con ven t to be bro u ght u n der the
rule o f o ur O sserv an ti O rder which beside bein g a , ,
holy work an d m o st a ccepta ble an d meritoriou s i n

God s eyes wo uld give me more ple a su re th an I
’
c a n sa y . A n d I beg yo u to keep this secret from

a ll b u t the M agn ifico a n d the Holy F a ther lest ,
the riva l O rder m ay get wi n d o f it a n d oppose our

i n ten tion .
F E L TRI A SO R O R C L A R A .
I beg with al l my he art th a t you will obt ain this

fa vour for m e , an d I e n tre a t y ou t o h el p me b y t h e
devout n a tu re o f the M agn i fic o t o see th a t this ch an ge ,
were effected immedi a tely a n d sen d a mb a ss a dors to ,
the citizen s o f Assisi who on their p a rt decl a red th a t

,
they wo uld n o lon ger tolera te the presen t sta te o f

”
thin gs A n d i n order t o in cite y ou the more t o prompt
.
‘
’
a ctio n a dds the Duchess o u m u st k n ow th a t the
, y ,
mighty spirit o f Pope J u li u s h a d been so m u ch

moved an d soft en ed by this o ur petitio n a s t o decl a re
it worthy t o be gr a n ted Un fortun a tely the cru s a de
.
’
on which these pio u s l a dies h a d emb arked w as more
seriou s th an they rea lized A ft er pro tra cted dis .
c u ssi o n the m a tter w as referred t o the Office Of the

,
P ap a l D a t a ry L oren z o P u cci wh o se secret a ry replied

, ,
curtly th a t it wa s n o t con ven ien t th at the L a dy

Duchess shou ld i n terfere i n the a dmin istration Of
con ven ts o u tside her o wn territories This reply .
,
which e ffectua lly cru shed the hopes o f Suor Chi a ra

an d the good D u chess w a s se n t t o C a stigli on e a fter
,
he left Rome by his old frien d T erpa n d r o the lively ,
poet who h a d formerly been S O gre a t a fa vo u rite with

the l a dies o f Urbin o an d who tried to soft en the,
effect o f his refu s al by c o rdi al mess a ges .
Give my L a dy Emili a he wr ote my si n cere c o n ,

’
d o len c e s on the d e a th o f her reveren d brother [ E n e a

Pio ] whose grief c a u ses me more con cern th a n the
,
de a th o f His High n ess S in ce he is prob ably better O ff

,
th a n we ar e Commen d me t o A nn a an d if y ou a re
.
, ,
b o ld en ou gh to M a donn a R affa ell a a s well a s t o

, ,
yo u rself .
OR M A gust 1 1
E, u ,
Yo ur T E R PA N D R O '
This a ll u sion to the fa ir m a id o f hon o u r who kept ,
a soft cor n er i n her he a rt fo r o u r hero remi n ds us ,
th a t R affa ell a hon oured C a stiglion e with her esp eci al

1
Cod Vat La t
. . .
, 8 21 1 .
MAD ONN A RAF FA E L L A 3 61
fa vour an d herself occ a sion a lly wrote to h im with

,
her o wn h a n d A S hort an ill spelt letter which

d.
-
sh e a ddressed to her k n ight whe n he wa s a bse n t a t
the c a mp with lu s lord i s still preserved in the fa mily

’
a rchives .
It is m an y d a ys sin ce I h a ve written t o V S b ut . .
,
this h a s on ly been from fe a r o f tro u bli n g y o u N o w .
I write to remi n d y ou o f me a n d t o beg you if , ,
it is n ot givi n g y ou t o o m u ch trouble to deign t o ,
write to me i n ret urn This wou ld give me grea t .
a n d S in gul a r ple a s ure I will n o t trouble V S fu rther

. . .
a t prese n t b u t o n ly comme n d myself co n ti n u a ll y to

,
ou
y .
From on e who lon gs to see V S .
R A FF A E L L A .
The cover is a ddressed : T o my de a rest Messer

B ald a ss a re d a C a stiglion e K n ight with the Most , ,
’
Illu striou s D uke Of Urbin o .
M B a ld a ss a re n o t o n ly a ppreci a ted the lovely

.
m a id o f hon ou r s a tten ti on s b ut rep li ed t o her letters

’
with his u s u a l gall a n try a n d it a ppea rs from a n other , ,
p a ss age in his correspon den ce this summer th a t ,
M a don n a R a ffa ell a still con sidered herself to h a ve a

cl aim o n his devotion .
I showed th a t p a rt of yo u r letter which con cern ed

her t o M a don n a R a ffa ell a wrote the d u c a l Secreta ry ,
’
Ces a re M in u t olo from Pes a ro in M a y ; an d a lth o ugh

,
she w o u ld n ot a llow me t o kiss her white h a n d I wa s ,
pres u mptu o u s en ough to a spire to her fa vo u rs b ut a ll ,
i n va in She desir ed me to tell y o u fr o m her th a t

.
S h e e a ts well a n d drin ks still better a m u ses herself , ,
h a s a good time an d lives j oyo u sly To say the tr u th .

,
sh e d o es n o t seem to distress herself much a t y o ur
a bse n ce whether this a rises from la ck o f a ffection

,
1
Co d Va t La t
. . 8 21 1 , f . 5 25 .
or from her ch an ge a ble a n d u n feelin g n a tu re which ,
le a ds her o n ly t o thi n k o f her lover when he is presen t .
B u t I sh all n ever u n derst a n d her ! Y o u kn ow h o w

mu ch I like her a n d wh a t a tten tion s I pay her an d ,
the o n ly rewa rd s I get a r e con st a n t reb u ffs b a d ,
words an d cross lo o ks O u n gra tefu l w o m an !

, .
’
Aft er describin g the prep ar a tion s for the tou rn a

men t which is t o t a ke pla ce a t Pes a ro an d the Duke s ,
’
fe a ts o f a rms the writer commen ds himself to

,
Mon sign ore T r ir ar i co an d sen ds M B ald a ss are w a rm

, .
greetin gs from the whole cou rt an d most Of all from ,
1
M a don n a R a ffa ell a .
The letters preserved i n the Va tic an S how how va st

w a s C a st igli o n e s c o rrespo n den ce d u rin g these e a rly
’
mon ths Of Leo X S pon t ific a t e O ld frien ds at

.
’
.
Urbin o a n d Ferr a ra dist an t kin sfolk a t Mil an an d

,
M an tu a comr a des wh o h ad pl a yed with him when he

,
wa s a la d o r h a d more recen tly S h a red his c a mp a ign s

, ,
a like wrote t o co n gr a t u l a te him on his proud positio n

‘
a s e n voy a t the V a tic a n an d to remi n d h i m Of their ,
existe n ce .Ven it post m u lt a s u n a seren a dies ,

’
wrote Ben edetto V a len ti when he wished his kin s ,
m a n j o y on the smili n g fa ce which Fortun e th a t ,
fickle d a me h a d tu rn ed to him a n d pra yed th a t he

, ,
might ever rem a in the s a me loy a l an d un ch an ge able

frien d a s o f old O thers were less modest i n their
.
dem an ds S ome begged him to u se h i s in fl u en ce

.
wi th the Holy F a ther or the Trea s u rer on their

beh alf or a sked boldly for b en efic es a n d pen sion s .
O n e mother wh o sign s herself Dorote a d au ghter of

, , ,
Messer i l Priore d a C a stiglion e h a vin g he a rd from ,
yo u r l a dy mother of the high fa vou r which y ou

enj oy with H i s Be a titude P Ope L eo begs hi m for her ,
’
1
Cod Va t La t
. . 8 21 1 , f
. 479 .
C HAPTER XXIV
15 13
Cast i gli on e s r en
’
i n Ro e—T h e e a rl
f i ds m a —S ch l s
of L eo X y d ys o ar
R m — m is s—C l i
.
an d
po e t fl o k t os c o e Th e o an h u an t R m o oce
a h a e l—Ca st i li on e s
,
iz
G o r t , S a d o le t o, R p g p msoe s an d ts
’
on n e
i i
G ul a n o d e M dici e — et e
R m F s C p i t l—C
’
e in o at the a o as
t i gli o n e re t urn t o U r b n o — r e h
s i F s sc m s m i ge
h e e fo r h i s ar r a .
IN spite of the burden of diplom a tic b u si n ess an d

priva te correspon den ce un der which C a stigli on e
gro an ed these mon ths which he spen t i n the Bishop
,
o f T r i ra ri c o s ho u se i n the Borgo were very h a ppy

’
on es It w a s a memora ble an d even tfu l time both

.
i n the histo ry o f R o me an d i n th a t of the P a p a cy .
N ever befo re h ad the Etern a l City witn essed so grea t

a co n co u rse of schol a rs a n d p o ets a s i n these e arly
d ays of Leo X The a ccession o f a Medici Pope
.
,
wh o in his o wn words h a d grown up i n a libra ry an d

, ,
loved the fin e a rts fr o m his cra dle a ttra cted m en of ,

’
letters n ot on ly from Floren ce b u t from all p a rts of ,
1
It aly . The poets who s an g the pra ises o f the ho u se
o f Medici a n d a ccl a imed Leo X a s a n ew Mec aen a s
, .
,
fo un d themselves l a vishly rewa rded Ari o st o it is .

,
true wh o h a d h a sten ed to s a lu te his O ld frien d wa s

, ,
sen t a wa y u n s a tisfied an d driven t o con cl u de th a t

,
the Pope h a vin g given u p the u se of his eyegl a ss

, ,
h a d fa iled t o recogn ize him B u t d u c a ts were freely

.
showered on sm aller m en a n d crowds o f poeta sters ,
P st iv 4 26 1
a or , . .
3 64
THE DEL IG HTS O F R O ME 3 65
an dreciters m u sici a n s a n d b u ffo o n s sw a rmed a ro un d

, ,
the good -n a tured Pope w h o l a ughed a t their j okes ,
a n d a ll o wed them to feed at his t a ble Stra n gers .
li ke Era sm u s w h o h a d o n ce t a sted the delights of

,
Rome turn ed lo n gi n g eyes towa rds the city which

,
they felt w a s their tru e fa therla n d I n the fogs of .
Lo n don a n d the fen s o f C a mbridge the Rotterd a m ,
h u m a n ist pi n ed for the n o ble libr a ries a n d delici o u s

ga rden s where he h a d e nj o yed the comp a n io n ship o f
,
m e n who were the lights of the world a n d cried fo r a ,
dra u ght o f the wa ter of Lethe th a t he might be a ble

t o fo rget Rome .
W hen I thi n k o f Rome he wrote to his frie n d ,

’
C a rdin a l G ri m a n i a n d a ll its ch a rms a n d a d v a n t

‘
,
a ges I repen t th a t I ever c a me here

, Rome is the .
cen tre of the world I n Rome is liberty I n Rome . .
a r e the sple n did libr a ries I n Rome y o u meet a n d .
co n verse with m en o f le a rn in g I n R o me ar e the .
m a gn ifice n t mo n u men ts o f the p a st O n Rome a r e .
1
fa sten ed the eyes o f a ll m a n ki n d .
’
On St M a rk s D a y P a sq u i n o who h a d a rmed him

.
, ,
self with a swo rd the yea r before a n d cried F uor i , ,
ba r ba r i with J u liu s n o w a ss u med the guise o f
Ap ollo a n d lyre i n h a n d ch a n ted the retu rn o f the

, , ,
go lden age while the fou n t a i n s a t his feet r an with

,
milk a n d h o n ey The phr a se p a ssed from li p t o lip

.
a n d bec a me a commo n pl a ce with p o ets a n d schol a rs .
Era sm u s a dopted it i n his fa mo u s epistle t o Leo X .

,
i n which he th a n ks the Pope for a ccepti n g the dedic a

ti o n of his book o n the Greek Testa me n t C o me t o .
Ro me a n d see o u r go lde n age wrote G u id o P o stu mo ,

’
Silvestri the poet -doctor of Pes a ro t o Is a bell a d Este

, ,
’
a t M a n tu a This b a rd wh o m Ariosto pro n o un ced

.
,
1
E ra sm i , O p .
, E p 1 3 6, 1 6 7 , 1 68
. .
worthy to wea r the d o uble crown Of P a lla s a n d

’
Ph oeb u s h a d good re a son t o pra ise the n ew Pon ti ff s

,
libera lity F or a s we lea rn from a letter a ddressed

.
,
by T eb a ld eo to C a stiglion e he received a gi ft o f ,
200 d u c a ts whe n h e prese n ted His Holin ess with a

book o f poems a n d w a s en a bled to reb u ild his h o u se
,
’
a t Pes a ro a t the Pope s expen se .
I n this a tmosphere C a stiglio n e n a tu ra lly fo u n d

himself a t home He wa s s u rrou n ded by old fri en ds
. .
Bibbie n a S a d o let o a n d Bembo were n o t the on ly

, ,
members of the Urbin o circle whom he fou n d a mon g

the P a p a l Offici als B er oa ld o L a tin o Giove n a le a n d
.
, ,
’
T erpa n d r o whose hil a rity Bembo s a id
,
the gr a vest , ,
’
a ffa irs co u ld n o t dim in ish were a ll emplo yed in ,
differen t c ap a cities a t the V a tica n G u ido Postu mo .
w a s secret a ry t o C a rdi n a l Ippolito d Este ; T eb ald eo

’
the Ferra rese poet de a r a like t o R a ph a el a n d C a s

,
t igli o n e t o Bembo a n d Elis a betta w a s a mon g the

, ,
b a rds whom Leo rewa rded with reckless libera lity .
Accolti the devoted sl a ve o f the Duchess was c on

,
‘
,
st an t ly s u mmo n ed t o give his wo n de r ful improvis a
tion s i n the V a tic a n where the Holy F a ther an d the

,
C a rdin a ls j oin ed i n the cry o f Lon g live the divin e

poet ! A n d there t o o R a ph a el o f Urbin o wa s b u sy
’
, ,
dec o ra tin g the Pope s rooms an d p a in tin g M a don n a s

’
a n d portra its fo r a ll the members of the S a cred Co llege
i n turn .
A whole troop of M a n tu an s c a me t o Rome t o

a their respects t o the n ew Pope an d C as
p y ,
t i gli on e w a s s u rro u n ded by the fa mili a r fa ces o f his

you th C a rdin a l Sigismon do o f cou rse h a d been
.
, ,
presen t a t the con cl ave an d Federico o f Bozz o l o an d ,
B a ld a ss are s o wn co u sin Luigi Gon za ga o f Borgo

’
forte a rrived i n time t o take p a rt i n the L a tera n

,
procession E a rly i n J u n e a n other o f his kin smen

.
,
3 68 C O U N T B A L D A S S A R E CAS T I GLI ONE
a mon g the frien ds wh o helped to m a ke C a st igli on e s ’
st a y in Ro me ple a s a n t A n other hou se where he .
fo un d a w a rm welcome wa s th a t o f his kin swom a n ,
Bi a n c a Ben tivoglio the widow o f Co un t N iccol o,
R a n gon e an d mother o f his especi a l frien ds Cost a n z a

,
an d Gi n evra Ran gon e This l a dy h a d gen ero u sly .
e n terta in ed C a rdi n a l de Medici a t Moden a a ft er his ’
esc ape from c a ptivity an d the Pope n ow requ ited ,
this service by i n vitin g her to R o me a n d givi n g her

a ho u se i n the Borgo C a stiglion e a s we h a ve see n
.
, ,
w a s a lre a dy frien dly with Bi a n c a s d a u ghters a n d

’
two o f her son s the fu tu re C a rdi n al Erc o le a n d

,
An n ib a le a ft erwa rds C apt ain o f the P a p a l G u ard

, ,
were a mon g the most in tim a te frien ds o f his Rom a n

d a ys .
’
The Bish o p o f T rirari c o s hou se a s might be sup ,
posed w
, a s a meetin g pl a ce for the ch o icest S pirits of
-
L eo X S co u rt
’
. There C a stigli o n e met the fo rem o st
.
members o f the Rom an Ac a demy : A n gelo C olo cc i ,
the a ccompl i shed P a p a l S ecret a ry an d gen erou s p a tron

o f letters ; I n ghir a mi better kn o wn by his s u r n a me ,
o f Ph aedr a the le a r n ed keeper o f the V a tic an libr a r

, y ,
whose m a ssive brow a n d squ i n tin g eye still live i n

R aph a el s pictu re ; the t wo a ccomplished Ven eti a n
’
p a trici an s Agostin o B eazz an o an d A n dre a N a v ager o

, ,
whose frien dship the gre a t m a ster immort alized by

p a in ti n g both their portra its o n o n e c a n va s an d m a n y ,
others wh o se n ames a r e b a rely remembered n o w .
The brilli a n t Coun t wh o c a me fro m Urbi n o with

so gre a t a reput a tio n w a s a n ho n o u red guest a t the
,
b a n qu ets a n d s uppers where the R o m a n h u m an ists

met i n C OIO C CI s lovely ga rden s n ea r the ru i n s of the
Acqu a Virgo i n the s u mptu o u s h alls o f C h igi s
’
,
’
sta tely plea su re -house o n the Tiber or i n S a d olet o s ,
humble vill a on the Quiri n al .

A R I O S TO S
’
RE GRET S 3 69
Lon g aft erwa rds when these fa ir region s h ad been

,
l a id wa ste by b a rb a ri an i n va ders a n d most of this ,
goodly comp an y were de a d a n d go n e S a d olet o , ,
writin g t o his Old frien d A n gelo C olo c c i rec alled ,
these delightful meetin gs when poems an d ora tion s ,
were recited by the foremost in tellects o f the d ay ,
a n d p a id a sple n did trib u te t o C a stiglion e c a lli n g ,
1
him the n oblest an d most gifted of m en .
Ariosto who h a d himself been in R o me th a t sprin g

,
a n d sh a red for a ll too S hort a time i n these delights ,
sighed in his remote provin ci a l home n ot he tells us , , ,
fo r the flesh -pots o f Eg ypt but fo r the good comp an y ,
an d in tellect u a l co n verse o f his a bsen t frie n ds .
’ ‘
Tell me he cries th a t I m a y o n ce aga in vi sit
, ,
the h a u n t of the M u ses an d w a n der sin gin g i n the

s a cred groves tell me th a t I m ay every d ay exch an ge
ide a s with Bembo a n d S ad olet o with the lea rn ed ,
G i o v i o an d C a va llo with B lo si o a n d Molz a an d

,
T eb a ld eo a n d t a ke on e o r the other for my guide

,
over the seven hills There book i n h an d I m a y look

.
, ,
down o n the regio n s o f an cien t Rome a n d say Here , ,
wa s the Circ u s M a xim u s here the Rom a n F o ru m ; ,
on this S ide la y the S u b u rr a yo n der the S a cred VVa

y ,
here rose the Temple of Vest a there th a t of J an u s 2

, .
’
These were the ple a s u res which C a stiglio n e a ctu a lly

enj o y ed i n the brief i n terva ls th a t he c o uld sn a tch
from diplom a tic b u sin ess We le a rn from B em b o s .
’
letters h o w he a n d M B ald a ss a re visited the a n ti .
q u i t i e s o f Rome with R a ph a el an d m a de exc u rsio n s ,
in the Rom an C a mp agn a seei n g everyth i n g both old , ,
a n d n ew an d e nj oyi n g the be a u ties o f the e a rly

,
su mmer C a st igli on e s o wn poems show u s the close

.
’
a tte n tio n with which he studied the a n tiques collected
1
E p i 1 06 . . S ti e
. 1 12 2 a r , VI I . .
V OL . I . 24
by J uliu s I I i n the court o f the Belvedere an d the

.
,
l a test frescoes p ai n ted by R a ph a el The help th at he .
ga ve the m a ster i n drawi n g up his fa mou s repo rt on

a n cie n t Rome is a proof if an were n eeded th a t he
y , ,
sh a red his frien d s en th u si a sm fo r the rem a i n s of the

’
Etern a l City a s well a s his ze al for their preserv a tion

, .
A we k ow from R ph el ’
n d n a a s Ofte n - qu oted letters
how much he tru sted C ast iglio n e s j u dgmen t a n d
’
how prou d the p a in ter was o f the pra ise which the
Cou n t bestowed on his beau tiful Gal a te a in C higi s ’
villa .
These con gen i a l surro un din gs the i n tercou rse with ,
so m a n y sch o l a rs a n d poets n a t u r a lly g a ve fresh ,

’
stimulu s to C a st igli on e s poetic powers which h a d ,
lon g been n eglected i n the stress o f politic a l c ares

an d a ctive w a rfa re M a n y o f his best L a tin poems
.
an d epigra ms were composed d u rin g the mon ths

which he spen t i n Rome As S a d olet o h ad su n g the .
gl o ries o f the n ewly discovered L a oco o n so n ow ,
C a stigli on e celebra ted the be au ty of the Cle o p a tra 1
which h a d been brought to light an d pla ced i n the

Belvedere by J uliu s I I He a ls o c o n trib uted a .
L a tin poem to the C o ry ci an a o r collection Of verses ,
th a t were ye a rly pl a ced o n S a n sovi n o s group o f ’
St An n e in the ch apel b u ilt by C ardi n al G Orit z

.
,
the white -h a ired L u xembou rg prela te wh o se ga rden s ,
i n the Foru m o f Tr aj an were a fa vo u rite h au n t of

Rom a n h u m an ists There c an be little d o ubt th a t it
.
wa s d uri n g these mo n ths i n the Etern a l City th a t

B ald a ss are wrote the beau tiful son n et in which he
i n voked the seven hills Of a n cien t Rome ,
S up er b i c lli o e vo i s c
a re r u n e i
Ch e
’
l m
no e so l di R m
o a a n eo r t en et e ,
’
1 Th e st a t ue i n t he Va t ican no w kn o w n b y t h e na me of A ri a dn e
3 72 C O U N T BAL DAS S A RE CASTI GL I ON E
ever held a t the C a pitol
t a i n m en t s A sp a cious .
the a tre a dorn ed with st a tues a n d p a in tin gs by Peruzzi

,
an d other excellen t a rtists w a s erected fo r the occ a sion

, ,
a n d a s u ccessio n o f b a n qu ets a n d the a tric a l represe n t a
tion s wa s given by the Rom an n obles a t which ,
Gi u li an o an d a ll the C a rdi n a ls were presen t A .
m a rvellou s a rra y o f symboli c al figures welcomed the

n ew citiz e n a n d th a n ked him i n flowery or a tio n s for
,
the hon ou r which he h a d co n fer red on Rome The .
Virtues a ppea red t o ar m him with golden sword a n d

shield an d wh a t delighted the a udien ce more th an
, ,
a ll the goddess Cybele O ffered the M a gn ifico a globe

,
which b u rst open an d displ a yed an in fin ite n u mber of

birds which flew a bout the the a tre t o the sou n d of
, ,
exqu isite melodies su n g by the C a rdin a l o f Ferr ara s

,
’
m u sici an s The splen dou r o f the costu mes a n d j ewels

.
worn by the a ctors the va riety o f the comedies an d

,
d a n ces an d the crowds Of people i n the a ssembly

, ,
were described by m an y eyewitn esses .
I thin k the P en ulus of Pl au tu s wa s n ever r epre

sen ted better in the d a ys of Plau tus himself wrote ,
’
Chieric a ti to Is a bella d E ste ’

I n the u n ivers al.
opin ion the Sen a te an d Rom an people h a ve don e

,
themselves the grea test hon ou r by this m a gn ificen t

displa y an d h a ve spen t a t le a st
, duc a ts An d .
it is reckon ed th a t there were a t le a st person s

presen t at the spect a cle .
Towa rds the en d of Au gust C a stiglion e left Rome ,
an d return ed t o Urbi n o where he w a s w a rmly wel

,
comed by the whole cou rt in clu din g let u s hope , , ,
M a don n a Ra ffa ell a The Duke m arked his appr eci a

.
tion of his en voy s service by i n vestin g him form ally

’
with the cou n tship an d est ates of N o vi llara in a deed

1 H le i M S 3 462 ar an . .
GRA N T O F N O V I LL A R A 373
bea ri n g the d ate September 2 1 5 1 3 The pre a mble , .
’
o f the gr a n t spe a ks i n glowi n g terms of the Co u n t s
schol a rly a ccompli shmen ts a n d wa rlike exploits ;

a bove a ll o f his u n swervi n g fidelity a n d i n defa tig a ble
,
l a bours in the duc a l service It records the lo n g d a ys .
a n d n ights spen t i n u n ce a si n g to i l i n dist a n t an d ,
perilo u s j o u rn eys a n d en ds by promisi n g him l a rger

,
rewa rds more fitti n g to his splen did ser vices in future
, ,
1
d ays .
N o on e wa s better ple a sed t o he a r of his s a fe

a rriv a l th a n his mother M a do n n a L u igi a h ad bee n .
a pp a re n tly a good de a l disturbed by her so n s

’
ro
p
l o n ged residen ce in Rome While his fa mily a n d .
frien ds all con gr a tul a ted the Cou n t o n his eleva

tion an d rej oiced at the sign a l m a rks o f fa vour
,
bestowed upon him by the n ew Pope his mother ,
felt a s if her beloved so n wa s slippi n g o ut o f her

hold an d wa s bein g c a rried fa rther from her every
,
d ay . H i s dep a rt u re from Urbin o h a d been so h a sty

a n d u n expected th a t for some time sh e wa s left i n
,
dou bt a s t o his movem en ts a n d co u ld o n ly sen d her ,
letters by the Duchess Elis a bett a s sen esch al a ddressed ’
t o her son in Urbi n o Rome o r wherever he m a y be

’
.
, ,
When a t len gth his letters rea ched her they were ,
short a n d h u rried n otes i n which B a ld a ss a re seemed ,
h a rdly to h a ve leis u re to reply to her a n xio u s i n quiries

o r s a tisfy her c u riosity a bo u t his n ew esta tes a t
No vi llar a These l a st were a source o f gre a t con cern
.
t o this a ctive -min ded l a dy who h a d the deepest ,
distrust o f her so n s busi n ess c ap a cities a n d n ever ’
cea sed beggi n g him to sen d a tru stworthy stew a rd t o

t a ke possession of his C a stello a n d collect the ren ts
d u e t o him .
1 ‘
De ori gi ne reb u s , g es t i s ac
p r i v i le
gi i s G en t is Ca st i li on ae,
’
M a t t eo di C s t ig li
a on e .
374 C O U N T B A L D A S S ARE CASTI GLI ON E
In a letter of April 6 sh e wrote
I h a ve begged yo u severa l times to con sider these

a ffa irs a t C a s a tico an d n o t go to sleep over them fo r
, ,
n o on e c an tell h o w lo n g this Pope will live ; so I
m u st repe a t this o n ce more a n d if yo u thi n k me ,
tiresome remember this o n ly a rises from my a n xiety

,
t o see y o u o n ce for a ll set free from c a re if this sho u ld ,
ple a se G o d ! M a n y people i n town ar e ill a n d s o me ,
a r e dyi n g from wh a t seems to be a c u te p a i n i n the
side b u t I fe a r it must be a serio u s compl a in t T a ke

,
.
c a re o f you rself for the love o f God ! I he a r fr om

C a rlo B a rdellon e th a t i n Rome yo u fin d a much
better kin d o f Rheims li n en th a n is to be h a d here so ,
if y o u are i n wan t of shirts a n d like to sen d me some ,
li n en I wi ll h a ve them m a de fo r y ou B ut this must

, .
’ 1
be a s y ou like .
As u su a l mon ey wa s sc a rce a n d M a don n a L u igia

, ,
u rged her son t o pra ctise a rigid eco n omy a n d fou n d ,
it diffi cu lt t o scrape a few duc a ts together sin ce the ,
l a st h a rvest ha d been a b a d o n e a n d the pe a s a n ts a t ,
C a s a tico would h a ve died o f h un ger if they h a d n ot

been fed a t her expen se .
O n M a y 1 her n ephew L u igi Go n z a g a return ed

from Rome a n d brought good n ews o f B a ld a ss a re ;
,
b ut a s L u igi a herself w a s on the poi n t o f le a vi n g

M an tu a fo r her co un try home sh e c o mpla in ed th a t ,
sh e h a d n o t m u ch time for co n vers a tio n with him .
At len gth however towa rds the en d o f J u ly a

, , ,
certa in B o cc a lin o a rrived from Rome an d M a d o n n a ,

’
Luigia wa s a ble to s atisfy herself a s to her son s

welfa re from o n e who h a d seen a n d spoken with him .
He fo un d her i n bed with a n a tt a ck o f terti a n ague ,
which h a d left her we ak an d mel an choly a n d B al ,
1 Co d V a t L a t
. . .
, 8 21 1 .
376 C O U N T B A L DAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
t wo d a ys t o write this letter Try a n d keep well a n d .

,
commen d me to o u r Bishop an d to Messer Agosti n o ,
if y ou a r e still i n Rome A n d God keep y o u from .
a ll d an er
g .
You r mother ,
L U I G I A C A ST .
CASA T I C J ly 28
O, u ,
E arly i n A ugu st the good l a dy c a me to M an tu a to

se e her c o r n sold b u t the crops were so a bu n d a n t th a t
,
i n some fields the corn w a s n o t worth re a pi n g a n d ,
the m a rket w a s so b a d th a t sh e co uld only ra ise

1 00 duc a ts These sh e sen t to Pes aro by a M a n tu an
.
merch an t a s soon a s sh e hea rd th at M B ald a ss a re

, .
h a d a rrived s a fely a t Urbin o .
C a st igli on e s first a ct o n his retu rn from Rome wa s

’
t o se n d his serv a n t Bi n do t o M a n t u a an d by the time ,
th a t the m a n w a s re a dy t o go b a ck M a don n a Luigi a ,
h a d s u cceeded i n r a isi n g an other 1 00 d u c a ts which ,
she sen t her son together with a stock o f n ew clothes ,
bed -qu ilts a wolf-ski n clo a k some y ards o f fin e white

, ,
cloth t wo h a n dsome bl a ck velvet c a ps a n d a s upply

, ,
o f cheese a n d s alt me a t At the s a me time sh e

.
en tre a ted him e a rn estly to come a n d spen d a fortni ght

o r more a t C a s a tico i n order th a t the IOn -disc u ssed
, g
question o f his m a rri age might a t len gth be s ettled .
The ide a o f an a lli an ce with Cou n t Gira rdo

R a n gon e s d a u ghter h a d bee n by n o me an s a b an don ed
’
either by M a don n a L u igi a o r Costa n za Ra n gon e both ,
o f whom h a d repe a te dly writte n to B a ld a ss a re d u rin g
the p a st s u mmer urgin g him t o come to a decision o n

,
the s u bj ect B ut besides bein g t o o m u ch a bsorbed

.
i n the c a res a n d plea s u res o f Rome to thi n k o f

m a rri age C a stiglio n e wa s ob vio u sly diss a tisfied with
,
1 Co d V a t L a t
. . 8 21 1
.
, .
MA R RIAGE S PR O P O SE D 3 77
the con diti o n s proposed by the Moden ese Cou n t .
The dowry seemed to him t o o sm all the bride herself

was a pp a re n tly n o t a ltogether t o his t a ste I am .
very sorry to hea r th a t you d o n o t like M a don n a

Costa n za s propos a ls but fo r n o thi n g i n the world
’
wo uld I u rge y o u t o co n clu de a m a rri a ge th a t is n o t

t o your t a ste
’
Messer L u igi Gon z aga it a ppea rs
.
, ,
bro ught the s a me report from Rome a n d his a u n t ,
tho ught it well t o compl a in to Polisse n a R a n go n e

o f the s u btleties employed i n the m a tter by C o u n t
Gira rdo At the s ame time M a do n n a Luigi a own ed

.
th a t it wa s difficult to see why her son h a d t ake n

five mon ths to come to this co n cl u sion an d begged ,
him to m a ke his choice soon for the hon our o f

the fa m ily a n d i n order n o t to offen d the pro u d
,
R an gon e Cou n t But with un we a ried p a tien ce an d

.
,
perseveran ce sh e bega n to lo o k a bo u t for other

,
desira ble m a tches First she proposed a gra n d

.
d a ughter o f Cou n t An ton io dell a Miran dol a wh o wa s ,
bei n g ed u c a ted i n a co n ven t i n Floren ce a n d whose ,
m arri a ge the Pope h a d un derta ken to a rra n ge The n .
there wa s o n e o f the G on z aga s o f N o v ella ra who ,
wa s s a id t o be by n o me a n s u gly a n d i n all other ,
respects emi n en tly s u it a ble ; while a d a ughter -i n -la w

of B a rtolommeo dell a Rovere yo u n g a n d well ,
dowered wa s rec ommen ded by o n e o f Federic o

,
’
G on zaga s l a dies M a dd a le n a
’
There seems to h a ve
, .
bee n a n other l a dy fo r whom M B a ld a ss a re at this .
time h a d a n eviden t in clin a tion — possibly the fa ir

R affa ell a If so M a do nn a Luigi a promptly dismissed
.
,
her i n a con temptu o u s phr a se a s bein g poor a n d i n

‘
diffic ult i es—two very b a d co n ditio n s to my mi n d

’
, .
However she h a ste n s to a d d

, Y o u must do a s yo u
like but I thin k either o f the Lomb a rdy m a tches
,
wo uld be better— the Moden ese o n e o r her o f ,

378 C O U N T B ALD A S SARE CAS TI GLI ON E
’
N ovell a ra The best plan sh e fin ally decided
.
, ,
would be fo r B a ld a ss a re t o visit both N ovella ra an d

‘
Moden a on his wa y t o Lomb a rd y a n d see the ,
,
’
merch an dise a s sh e t erms the yo un g l a dies n ot with ,
o ut some rea so n This co uld e a sily be m an aged .
i n the c a se o f the former a s L u igi a he a rd from a ,
m u t ua l ki n sm a n Fra n cesco Gon z ag a th a t the girl , ,
a lw a ys took me a ls with her fa ther a n d B a ld a ss a re ,
n eed o nly stop a n ight a t N o vella r a an d see her At .
Moden a his co u si n Cost a n z a wou ld gl a dly welcome

‘
a V isit etc a n d so a t le n gth wrote the an xiou s ’
, .
, ,
mother we m ay touch l an d, .
The Coun t s sister Fra n cesc a Strozzi n o w a dded ’
, ,
her en tre a ties to those o f her mother a n d sen t him a ,
lon g a n d a ffection a te letter from Rovere expressi n g ,
her s a tisfa ction at he ari n g good reports of his hea lth

a n d welfa re a n d beggi n g him to m a rr y a n d settle
,
down .
I hea r sh e writes playfully th a t you h a ve grown

,
’
fa t a n d h a ve n o t s u ffered from the excessive he a t of

,
this s u mmer a s m u ch a s we h a ve It h a s m a de u s .
a ll ill a n d we h a d t o le a ve M a n t u a bec a u se of the

,
hea t I wa s the first t o fa ll ill a n d th a n k G o d a m

.
, , ,
a lso the first to recover a n d a m a ble n o w to w a it o n ,
the others My poor Messer Tomm a so h a s been in

.
bed for three weeks with a tediou s but h appily n ot ,
a c u te terti a n fever
, He h a s lost his a ppetite e n tirely ; .
n o thi n g c a n tempt him to ea t ; a n d if we were n ot
a whole d a y s j o u rn ey from h o me I would sen d to

’
M an tu a fo r a b o ttle o f o ur wi n e a s we he a r it is so ,
good a n d this might brin g b a ck his ta ste for food

,
.
My little o n es a r e a ll ill a n d a s soon a s they a re c u red ,
we sh all ple a se God go t o M a n tu a I a sked Bin do

, , .
if y o u h a d yet been to see yo u r c a stle a n d he s aid ,
no . I wish y o u w o uld go there for if we shou ld come ,
1
Co d V a t L a t
. . .
, 8 21 1 .
380 C O U NT B AL DAS S ARE C ASTI GL I ON E
so i n firm th a t his dece ase could h ardly be a c ause of

regret a ddin g a ch ara cte ristic postscript i n which
, ,
sh e begged him to be s u re to a n swer the rel a tives
who h a d written t o i n form him o f the sa d even t .
Aga i n a fo rtn ight l a ter sh e re n ewed her en tre a ties

, , ,
beggi n g her son n ot to del a y his dep a rt ure lo n ger

We a ll expect y ou with the grea test e a gern ess ,
an d pra y yo u n o t to del a y a n y lon ger ; for every .
d ay the we a ther gets worse an d the ro a ds begi n t o ,
sh o w th a t we ar e n ea r wi n ter a s i n deed we a re Do , .
n o t forget t o come by Mode n a an d N ovell a r a th a t ,
y u m a y h a ve somethin g to tell me when y o u get

o
here A n d be s u re t o le a ve yo u r ho u se in proper
.
order an d see th a t the thi n gs you le a ve there ar e i n

,
good h an ds so th a t they m a y come to n o h a rm ; a n d

,
d o n o t forget to brin g yo u r ch a i n th a t I m ay t ake ,
c a re o f it for y o u G o d keep you fr om h a rm ! Be

.
s u re to tell me how soon y o u a re likely t o be a t

C a s atico beca u se m an y person s ar e a n xiou s to come
,
a n d se e you .
Your mother ,
LU I G I A .
But a l a s for the va n ity o f a fon d mother s hopes !

,
’
The n ext we he ar o f M B ald a ss are is th a t he h ad left

.
Urbin o t o perform a v o w a t Loreto an d h i s visit to ,
M an tu a wa s o n ce more postpo n ed to a more c on

v en i en t se a so n .
1 Co d V a t L a t . 8 21 1 .
. .
,
C HAPTER XXV
15 13 —1 5 1 5
Policy of L eo X .
—
A mb it i s ou d e sig n s of A lf sion na O r si n i an d t he
Fl or e n t i n e s —B i bb i e n a c r ea t e d Ca r n a l— a t l o n e i n
di o e C s ig i R m
P p l b i fs
a a r e in his fv —
a o ur En t r of the y
o r t u ue e P g s
amb ss d s a a or Th e o e Pp s p ’
e le h a n t a h a el le t t er t o sR p ’
C s t i gli —V isi
a on e t of Is
a b e lla d E st e t o
’
o e a t R m —C s ig i
l on e a t
M t u —His s t
an a re ora ti t f v u
on o a o r at c o ur t .
T HE high hopes which h a d been en terta i n ed o f the

n ew Pope were do o med t o dis a ppoi n tme n t a n d the ,
reign o f pea ce which his a ccession wa s t o h a ve in

,
‘
a u ura t ed proved f short d u r tio As lo g
g o , a n n as .
Leo X wa s a C a rdi n a l ’ wrote the Ferr a rese histori an

.
,
P i st o filo he dissembled so well th a t he wa s held to

,
JL
be h a lf a s a in t ; b ut on ce upon the thron e he showed ,
himself t o be qu ite the co n tra ry The n a tu ra l deceit .

’
fuln ess of his ch ara cter bec a me eviden t both i n the

do uble game th a t he pl a yed with Fran ce an d Sp ai n ,
a n d i n his de a li n gs with the D u ke of Ferra r a who ,
n ever obt a i n ed the promised restora tio n o f Mode n a
a n d Reggio His a vowed policy wa s n ever to bre a k

.
o f n egoti a tio n s with on e power whe n o u h a d e n tered

y
i n to a lli an ce with the opposite p a rty a n d as he him , ,
self told C a stiglion e he rega rded b u lls a n d briefs a s ,
the best methods o f deception 2

Yet Leo X wa s . .
n either a mbitio u s n o r w a r like by n a t u re O n the .
Vi t d i A lf s 1
p 58 a on o ca . .
A lbe i iii 29 0 ; M t in t i 7 8
2 r , . ar a ,
.
38 1
382 C O U N T BAL DA S SARE CA ST IGLI ON E
con tra ry he wa s in dolen t a n d ple a sure -lovin g pa s

, ,
si o n a t ely fo n d of music a n d h u n ti n g a n d determi n ed , ,
a s he told his brother Gi u li a n o to e nj oy the P a p a cy ,
which G o d h a d gi ven him ‘

The Pope is a good .
n a t u red , libera l m an rep o rted M ari n Zorzi wh o

,
’
does n ot like either w ar o r trouble bu t is con st an tly ,
in volved i n these by the i n trigues of his own family .

’ 1
The frien ds a n d ki n sfolk o f the Medici the greedy ,
Floren ti n es who h a d flocked t o Rome to h a ve a sh a re

in the spoils — a bove a ll the a mbitio u s a n d d esign in g ,
A lfon sin a O rsin i —were ben t o n the aggran dizemen t

o f the Pope s fa mily Their hopes were gra tified
’
.
by hi s first cre ation of C a rdin als on S eptember 23 , ,
-
when the ewly a ppoi n ted A rchbishop o f Floren ce
n ,
Gi u lio de Medici the illegi tim a te son o f Giuli an o

’
, ,
who h a d been m u rdered by the P a zzi con spira tors ,
wa s a dv an ced to this dign ity A n other member o f .
the fa mily the yo u thful son o f the Pope s sister

,
’
M a ddalen a Cibo an d two other of its stan ch sup

,
porters Loren z o P u cci an d Bern a rdo d a Bibbien a

, ,
sh ared the s a me hon ou r t o the grea t s a tisfa ction o f ,
the l a st -n a med prel a te s frie n ds a t Urbi n o ’

.
Thu s en coura ged t o expect n ew fa v o urs the ,
gen tlemen o f Giuli an o s ho u sehold discussed their ’
a mbitio u s pl a n s freely a n d t a lked serio u sly o f seein g

,
the M agn ific o Kin g of N aples a n d hi s n ephew Loren zo ,
D uke of Mil a n The Pope himself wa s more modest

.
in his a spira tion s a n d would h a ve bee n co n ten t t o

,
form a n ew st ate in Cen tra l It a ly fo r Gi uli a n o of ,
wh o m he wa s re a lly fon d an d t o secure a positi o n i n ,
Floren ce for his n ephew simil a r to th a t which h a d been ,
held by his fa ther Loren zo At the s a me time it wa s .
con fiden tly reported th a t the D uke o f Urbin o wa s to

be deprived of his office as C aptain of the Church ,
A lbe i iii 5 1 1
r , . .
So in the exuberan ce of his j oy wrote the n ew

, ,
C a rdin al who was ere lo n g to be lea din g the P a p a l

,
forces a ga in st this frie n dly sta te a n d drivi n g the ,
D u ke an d D u chess es from the home where he h ad

so lon g e nj oyed their splen did hospit a lity F o r the .
presen t however the hou se o f Medici wa s on the

, ,
most cordi a l terms with the Urbin o prin ces a n d a ,
few weeks l a t er we fin d Gi u li an o a ddressin g M B al

, .
d a ss a re as his dea rest brother .
O n his retu rn to R ome i n J a n u a ry C a stigli o n e ,
fo un d the P ap a l cou rt gi ven up to a life o f dissip a tion .
O n the 9 t h His H o li n ess set o ff for Viterbo with ,
eighteen C a rdi n als to t ake p a rt in a gre a t h un tin g

,
expedition a t C a rdin a l F a rn ese s bea utifu l cou n try ’
ho u se of C a po di Mon te a n d shoot phe a s an ts a n d ,
gro u se in the forests a lo n g the L a ke o f Bolsen a The

, .
sight o f a Pon ti ff orga n izi n g h un ti n g expeditio n s o n

this l a rge sc a le w a s a sh o ck to m an y of the fa ithful ;
b ut wh a t sc an d a li zed his M a ster o f the Ceremo n ies
most o f a ll w a s the costu me which the Holy F a ther
,
a dopted o n this occ a sio n The P o pe wrote Pa ris ’

.
,
de Gra ssis f left Rome witho u t stole o r rochet an d

, ,
wh a t is still worse in h u n ti n g -boots Wh a t will , .
h appen if an yon e wi shes t o kiss his feet A n d whe n

this wa s poin ted o ut to him he only l a ughed an d did ,
’1
n o t seem to c a re i n the le a st .
N ext t o h un tin g m u sic a n d comedies were Leo X s

, .
’
fa vou rite p a stimes an d d urin g hi s a bsen ce fr o m Rome

,
fresh m a sques a n d fetes were prep a red for his retu rn .
S ome fin e comedies a r e t o be a cted when the Pope

comes b a ck wrote Chieric ati to M an tu a a n d for
,
’
this win ter we n eed thi n k o f n othin g but ple a sure an d

2 ’
a museme n ts .
By the en d o f J an u a ry His Holin ess return ed to

1 R sc
o iii 5 20 ; P st iv 1 0 1 4 1 0
oe , M a li p 1 40 orso
. or , .
, . n, . .
A P O RTUGUE SE EMBAS SY 385
the Va tic an a n d a ga y c a rn iva l wa s followed by wh a t

,
the s a me writer describes a s a yet more splen did

triumph—the st a te e n try o f the Port uguese a mb a s
sa d o r s
. The Pope himself witn essed this imposin g
ceremon y from the C a stell S an t An gelo a n d the ’ ’
Rom an popu l a ce ga zed wi th delight on the costly

presen ts an d stra n ge a n im a ls from I n di a a n d Afric a ,
1
which Ki n g Em a n u el h a d sen t to His Holi n ess .
Tristan d A cun h a on e of the le a din g explorers who

’
, ,
h a d recen tly tra vell ed i n these dist a n t regi on s a n d ,
two other en vo ys i n bl a ck velvet s u its a n d h a ts

embroidered with pea rls a n d j ewelled ch a in s rode ,
through the streets followed by tru mpeters i n sc a rlet

,
an d serv an ts i n liveries o f bl a ck an d yellow s a ti n A .
brilli an t comp a n y of foreign a mb a ss a dors Rom an ,
n obles P a p a l offici a ls an d Swiss G u a rds escorted the

, ,
stra n gers wh i le the chief Portugu ese e n voy rode

,
between the Govern or o f Rome an d Fra n cesco

Sforz a D uke o f B a ri the son o f Lodovico Moro a n d
, ,
Be a trice d Este wh o h a d been sen t to represen t his

’
brother M a ximili an a t the V atic an Persi a n horses

, , .
ridden by n a tives i n E a stern costu me leop a rds a n d ,
p an thers p a rrots an d gu in e a -fowls were a mon g the

, ,
roy al gi fts p ara ded o n this occ a si on b ut wh a t delighted

the Rom an s most of all wa s a white eleph a n t si x
yea r o ld an d a s big a s three b ulls ridden by an I n di an
, ,
’
.
O n his b a ck wa s a s i lver chest covered with cloth of

gold con t a in in g presen ts for the Pope—a richly ch a sed
,
gold ch alice an d t abern a cle for the Host a set of ,
s u mptuo u s vestmen ts a n d a m a rvello u s a lta r fron t al

, ,
va l u ed at duc ats But all eyes were fixed .
upo n the eleph an t itself n o s u ch a n im a l h a vi n g been ,
seen i n Rome sin ce Imperi a l d ays Chieric a ti fa vo u red .
the M a rches an a with a mi n ute a cco un t of the stran ge

1 B s h t -R um
e e t p 243 a c on , . .
VOL . I .
an im al who wa s s aid t o u n dersta n d two l a n gu age

I n di an a n d Port ugu ese —an d wa s a s docile a n d i n
,
t elligen t a s a h u m a n cre a ture These l a st d a ys the ’

.
,
writer a dds he h a s wept m u ch a t le a vi n g home ;

‘
,
b u t he is n o w qu ite con soled a n d kn ows th a t he h a s ,
fo un d a go o d h o me ’
The secreta ry describes how
.
,
when the procession h a lted a t the bridge o f S An gelo .

,
a n d a s a l u te o f 1 00 g un s wa s fired the terrified eleph a n t ,
n e a rly j u mped i n to the Tiber When the a n im a l wa s .
’
bro ught i n to the Holy F a ther s presen ce he kn elt ,
down an d bowed his he a d three times u pon which ,
the Pope sen t for a bowl o f melon s a n d con fetti ,
which he at e gl a dly B ut both His Holi n ess an d his

.
cou rtiers were still more delighted when the eleph an t ,
a fter dri n ki n g from a p a il set before him threw u

p ,
his tru n k i n the air an d sen t a shower of wa ter over

,
1
the a ssembled spect ators .
From th a t d ay the eleph an t A m n on e bec ame the

pet a n d pl a ythi n g of the Va tic an The Pope p aid .
him frequ ent visits i n the ga rden an d l a ughed lou dly ,
a t h i s tricks R a ph a el o f Urbin o p a in ted his portrait

.
o n a tower o f the p a l a ce a n d his e ffigy m a still be

y ,
seen wro ught i n t a rsi a on a door of the St an ze .
S a d olet o extolled the eleph an t i n a n elegan t L a tin

epistle which he a ddressed t o Kin g Em an u el when
the Pope sen t him the Golden R o se th a t E a ster .
A n d when a t the en d o f two ye a rs the poor an im al

, ,
died o f an gi n a the P a p a l ch a mberl ai n Bran con i

, ,
’
d Aqu il a pl a ced the followin g epit aph u pon his
,
gra ve
‘
U n der this moun d I the grea t eleph an t sen t to , ,
L eo X by Kin g Em an uel the co n qu eror o f the E a st

.
, ,
a m l a id The Rom an s a dmired me for a while an d

.
,
1 H ar le a n i M SS . p . 77 .
Every o n e wrote the Ve n eti an L ippom an o s ays

,
’
th a t the D uke did wro n g to come here an d will do ,
worse to go t o N a ples He h a s come to a sk the help o f .
the P o pe an d the M agn i fic o b ut it is s aid th a t he will

be deprived o f his Sta te by the Pope who me an s to ,
give it to his brother A n d this is all the reward th at .
1
he will receive for his goodn ess t o the Medici .
’
C a rdin a l Bibbien a however c ame t o see His , ,
Excellen cy a t the Bishop o f T ri rari co s house a n d ’
a ft er goi n g i n M a y to the shrin e o f Loreto to meet
Bembo an d C a rdi n al Gu rk he p a id a V isit to the D uke ,
a t Pes a ro But the Pope s duplicity began to excite ’

.
s u spicion on all sides He plays m arvellously with .
both h an ds rem a rked a n E n glish e n voy— Rich ard

,
’
P a ce —who h ad some kn owledge o f Leo s wa ys or a s ’
a n other co n tempora ry puts it : The Pope n ever s ails

with on e win d at a time A n d C ardi n a l Gu rk who .
’
left Rome highly diss a tisfied wi th the res u lt of his

mission i n spite o f Bibbien a s soft words wa s he ard
,
’
to say : The Holy F a ther wea ves everythi n g i n to a

2 ’
l a byrin th .
U n fortu n ately there is a gap i n C a st igli on e s cor

,
’
respon de n ce a t this period a n d we h a ve n o certain ,
in form a tio n rega rdi n g his movements B ut there .
seems little dou bt th a t he spen t the gre a ter p a rt of

the ye ar i n Rome The famou s letter which his .
frien d R aph a el a ddressed to him i n the a utumn ,
proves th a t he h a d o nly l a tely left the P a p a l court .
O ften a s this letter h a s been qu oted it i s so i m ,
p o rta n t a doc u men t i n the history of both these

disti n guished m en th a t we c an n ot refra i n from giving
it here
1 S an a t o , x viii . 68 , 8 1 .
2 B re w er ii , . 1 7 29 ; A . V er d i ,
‘
G li ult i m i an n i d i Lo e r n zo
’
de
Me d ici ,
’
1 08 .
RAPHAEL S GALATE A ’
389
M Y LO R D CO U NT ,
I h a ve m a de severa l dra wi n gs o f the s ubj ect

which V S s uggested a n d th o se who h a ve seen
. .
,
them a ppea r to be well ple a sed u n less they a r e ,
a ll b a se fi a t t e r er s ! B u t I con fess th a t they do n o t

s a tisfy my j u dgmen t bec au se I fe a r they will n ot, , ,
s a tisfy yo u rs I sen d th em a n d h ope V S will

.
, . .
cho o se whichever is m o st t o you r t a ste O ur Lord .
the Pope h a s don e me the hon our to lay a grea t

b u rden o n my sho ulders This is the ch arge of the .
fa bric of St Peter s I hope I sh all n o t si n k u n der

.
’
.
the lo a d especi ally sin ce the model which I h a ve

,
m a de plea ses His Holin ess a n d h a s been pr a ised by

severa l m en o f fin e in tellect B ut my thoughts so a r .
to grea ter heights I lon g to fin d o ut more a b o u t

.
the n oble forms o f a n cien t mo n u me n ts an d I kn ow ,
n o t if my flight m a n o t prove to be th a t o f Ic a r u s
y .
Vitru vi u s h a s thr o wn m u ch light o n the s u bj ect b ut ,
h a s n o t show n me a ll th a t I wan t t o k n ow As for .
the G al a te a I sho u ld c o un t myself to be a gre a t

,
m a ster i f o n e h a lf the kin d thi n gs which V S fi n ds . .
i n her were there b ut in your words I recogn ize the

,
love th a t you be a r me A n d I tell y o u th a t if I a m

'
.
,
t o p a i n t a be a u tiful wom an I m u st see sever a l an d , ,
h a ve yo u a t my side to choose the fa irest B ut si n ce .
good j u dges a n d lovely fa ces a r e both r a re I m a ke ,
u se of a cert a i n ide a l th a t is i n my mi n d If it h a s .
an a rtistic excelle n ce I k n ow n o t but I try h a rd t o

y , ,
rea ch it Let me h a ve your comm an ds

. .
F m R M
’
ro O E .
This letter which wa s first published i n 1 5 5 4 must

, ,
’
h a ve been written a fter August when R aph a el s ,
wooden model of St Peter s h a d been presen ted to .

’
the Pope for his a pprov al From this we lea rn .
th a t C a stiglion e h a d a sked the m a ster for a pict ure ,
a n d h a d expressed the w a rmest a dmir a tio n for the
fresco o f G ala tea a n d her n ymphs which R aph a el h a d

390 C O U N T B A L D A S SARE CASTI GLI ON E
l a tely p a i n ted i n a h a ll of Agosti n o C higi s vill a ’

.
The Cou n t who h a d himself su n g the ch a rms of the

,
milk -white G al a te a i n his eclogue i n hon our o f the

Duchess Elis a bett a ma y well h a ve helped the p ain ter ,
with his a dvice i n the composition o f this be autiful

group which i s the very type of the Greek world a s it
,
a ppe a red t o the hum a n ists o f Leo s co u rt

’
At le a st .
R aph a el s letter proves h o w much he relied o n

’
M B ald a ss are s fin e t a ste an d how close a n d e n du rin g

.
’
wa s the i n tim a cy which u n ited them .
A n other illustriou s m an wa s prob a bly bro ught i n to

closer rel a tion s with C a stiglion e durin g th a t a u tumn .
This wa s the poet Ariosto who c a me t o Urbi n o in ,
the tr a i n of C a rdin a l d Este o n the wa y t o Rome ’
, .
The poet rel a tes how the j o yo u s p a rty set o ut a n d ,
how a s ill -lu ck wou ld h a ve it he fell ill i n the F urlo

, ,
P a ss a n d w a s l a id up with fever a t a little cou n try

,
tow n — C agli or Fossombron e Here he rema in ed for .
severa l weeks a fter which he wen t t o Pes a ro an d

, ,
retu rn ed to Ferra ra witho u t seei n g Rome O n this , .

1
visit to Urbi n o a n d d uri n g his e n forced residen ce i n

,
the immedi a te n eighbo u rhood the poet prob ably ,
ren e wed his a cqu a in tan ce with C a stiglion e who h ad ,
frequ en tly met him i n Rome a n d wa s i n tim a te with ,
his cou si n Alfo n so Ari o sto an d n e arly rel a ted to

, ,
a n other frie n d Lodovico d a B a g n o Wh a t is quite

,
.
certa in is th a t the poet wa s well a cqu ai n ted with the

a u thor o f the Cortegi an o whom he men tion s i n his ,
’
gre a t epic a n d t o wh om we le a rn from his son

, ,
Virgi n io he a ctu a lly dedic a ted a s a tire which wa s

,
n ever fini sh e d
2
.
The D uke o f Urbi n o c a me t o Rome agai n in

1
L A r i o st o ca pi t o lo
.
,
i ;
. E . G ar dn er ‘
Th e Ki n
g of Co u t
r
P o et s ,
’
1 21 .
2
G . A Barot t i
.
,
‘
V i t di L
a . A rio s t o .
’
392 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAS TI GL I O N E
pledged to a n a lli an ce with his m a ster t o be a ble to ,
1
withdra w .
Bembo who h a d bee n secretly sen t on a fruitless

,
missio n to Ven ice t o try a n d deta ch the Doge from ,

’
the Fren ch a lli an ce spen t th a t N ew Ye ar s D a y at ,
Pes a ro with his old frie n ds the D u chesses of Urbin o .
O n J a n u a ry 1 he wrote to C a rdi n a l Bibbien a s ayi n g

th a t he h a d s a iled fi o m Chioggi a i n the roughest
we a ther an d a fter tossi n g a bou t for t wo n ights a t sea
, , ,
h a d re a ched Pes a ro so wor n o ut th a t he wa s com

elled t o spe n d two n ights there
p .
I a rrived here on S a tu rd a y e vem n g it is tru e but , ,
s o tired a n d sh a ttered a n d we a ry th a t I a m co n firmed
i n the opi n io n which I h ad a lre a dy fo rmed before

le a vi n g Rome th a t tra vellin g by post is n o t fit fo r old
,
people I h a d some fever la st n ight i n spite o f all

.
,
the c a resses a n d ch a rms o f my de a r M a don n a Emili a .
I fo un d o u r L a dy Duchess i n bed owi n g to a shock ,
which she received from a n ou tbre a k o f fire here but ,
sh e i s c on soled for her fright by he a ri n g th a t o u t oo

y , ,
h a ve su ffered from the s a me fir e and the s a me shock .
I n deed these l a dies a r e proud to thi n k they h a ve h a d

,
’
2
the Pope for comp an ion i n their misfortu n es .
By a c urio u s coi n ciden ce it a ppea rs th a t o n the ,
n ight o f December 22 there w a s a fire a t the V a tic a n
i n C a rdi n al Bibbien a s rooms ex a ctly a bove those ,
occ upied by the Pope a n d his fa vourite ch a mberl ain ,
S er api c a which did con sider a ble d a m age

,
His H o li .
n ess seems t o h a ve been a s much a l a rmed a s the
widowed D u chess a n d wa s un a ble t o hold an y ,
3
a u die n ces the n ext d a
y .
‘
I c an see y ou l aughi n g con ti n u ed Bembo an d
’
, ,
s ayin g O wh at a fin e in ven tion ! I a m sure th a t you

,
1
L uzi o in Ar ch
‘
. st . 1 9 06, 4 7 9 .
2
Be mb o, L e t t e r e,
’
i . 3 20
.
3 S a mut o, xix . 3 36 .
I SABELLA I N R O ME 393
thi n k I a m feign in g sickn ess i n order t o spen d some

d a ys here B ut by G o d an d all the s a i n ts my de a r
.
, ,
Mon sign ore I a m n ot t alki n g n on sen se All yester

, .
d ay I wa s so tired an d exh a u sted a n d w o r n o u t th a t I ,
could h a rdly sta n d an d I bega n to be a fra id th a t it

,
wo uld t a ke me s o me d a ys to recover A n d kn o wi n g .
h o w sorr y you wo u ld be for me a n d h o w k i n d a n d ,
thoughtful y o u a n d the Pope ar e for y o u r serv a n ts I ,
decided t o st a y here to -d ay To -morrow if I a m .

,
n o t worse which G o d forbid I will mo u n t my h o rse

, ,
an d tr a vel to Rome n ot by p o st this time but by

, ,
slow st ages on the horses which the Lord D uke h a s

1
len t me .
’
Th a t win ter the D u ke s mother -i n — law Is a bell a

’
d Este spen t some mon ths in Rome where sh e wa s

’
, ,
feted a n d en terta in ed a s n o roy a l l a dy h a d ever bee n

trea ted before The Pope an d C a rdi n a ls vied with
.
e a ch other in doin g her hon o u r The M a rches an a .
a n d a ll the members of her s u ite were the g u ests o f
the C a rdin a l of Ara gon a n d wherever sh e wen t sh e ,
wa s a tte n ded by Mo n sign ori an d R o m an n obles .
Giuli an o an d Loren zo de Medici C a rdi n als Bibbien a ’
an d S a n Giorgio Luigi of Ar a g o n o r Ippolito d Este

’
, ,
escorted her in visits to the Foru m an d B a ths of

Titu s to the crypt o f St Peter s a n d the Coli seu m
, .
’
, .
Comedies a n d m u sic a l p a rties b a n qu ets a n d s uppers , ,
were given i n her hon ou r a n d her l a dies were b u ried ,
u n der piles o f co n fetti by the merry C a rdi n a ls a n d
t heir ret a i n ers The P o pe himself ga ve a m a gn ificen t

.
perform an ce o f C a rdin a l Bibbien a s C a l an dri a a t ’
the V a tic a n At the first a u dien ce to which she wa s

.
a dmitted His Holi n ess r a ised her from the gro un d

, ,
to u ched her cheek with his o wn an d m a de her sit ,
by his side in the presen ce o f all the C a rdi n a ls 2

.
B mb L t t e i 3 20
1 ’
e o, e er , . .
H l i M SS 3 462 ; Lu zi 4 68 -4 7 4
2
ar e an .
, o, .
394 C O U N T B A L DAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
When Is a bella wen t t o N a ples t o visit Q u een s

Giova n n a of Aragon a n d her d a ughter Leo X in , .
sisted th at sh e sh o u ld return for Christm a s a n d ,
i n d u ced the M a rqu i s t o a llow her to spen d the

c a rn iva l i n Rome Th a t J an u ary sh e to o k p a rt in
.
gre a t hu n tin g -p a rties a t L a M agli an a a n d C a mpo

S alin o an d wa s s umptu ously en tert a in ed by C a rdi n al
,
S an Giorgio a n d Agosti n o Chigi a t their c o un t ry

h o u ses Durin g the c a rn ival wrote the Ven eti an
.
,
e n voy sh e kept the whole city en f éte an d m as

, ,
u era d es comedies bull -fi h t s reg a tt a s horse -r a ces

q , g , , , ,
1
a n d d a n ces s u cceeded e a ch o ther d a ily Th an ks to .
the M a rches an a as Bembo s a id this wa s the ga yest

, ,
c a rn iva l ever kn own i n the Etern al City The Pope .
took the gre a test plea su re i n her society i n vited her ,
t o the C a stello to see the r a ces on the Tiber a n d ,
con versed with her o n politic a l a ffa irs fo r hours

B u t a ll Is a bell a s ch a rms a n d clevern ess
’
together .
co uld n o t preven t the Duke o f Ferra ra from bein g

tre a cherously deprived of M o den a o r her so n -in -law ,
from losin g his offi ce o f C a pta in o f the Chu rch .
Througho u t the wi n ter Leo X wa s pl a yin g his u sual .
double ga me O n the on e h an d the n ewly -m a rried

.
,
Giulian o p a id a ssid u o u s co u rt to his wife s ki n s ’
m a n Fra n cis I a n d C a n oss a the n oblest o f It ali an

, .
, ,
diplom a tists wh o h a d been sen t to co n gra tula te the

,
yo un g Ki n g on his a ccessio n tried dexterou sly to ,
obt ain P a rm a a n d Pi a cen z a if n ot N a ples for the , ,

’
Pope s brother ; while o n the other h a n d Alberto , ,
Pio wa s closeted for hours a t a time with His Holi

n ess, plotti n g a n ew an d powerful le agu e aga in st
Fra n ce 2
.
C a stiglio n e prob a bly spen t the whole o f this wi n ter

1
i
S a n ut o , x x 3 9 1 , e t c
. .
2
B a sc h e t -R e um on t , 24 5 N it t i 6 1
, .
396 C O U N T BAL DAS S ARE CASTI GL I ON E
I h a ve heard by person s who h a ve come fr o m

M an tua wrote o n e of her Mil an ese cousi n s Cecili a
,
’
M a l a test a o n M ay 29 th a t yo u r so n the M a gn ifico

, , ,
B a ld a ss a re h as retu rn ed to M a n tu a This n e ws h a s
, .
given me the grea test p o ssible ple a su re an d sat i sfa c

tio n a ll the m o re th a t I hea r he h a s been received
,
with gre a t fa vour by His Excellen cy the M a rqu is .
N ow th a t y o u h a ve got him b a ck I hope you will be ,
a ble to keep him an d e nj oy his comp a n y an d fin d him ,
a good a n d be a u tifu l wife

’
.
The writer co n cl u des by s ayin g th a t a certai n

m aiden o f the illu striou s ho u se o f Becc ari a i n P a vi a , ,
who h ad been suggested a s a bride for M B ald a ss are .

,
was emi n en tly s u it a ble i n m a n y respects b u t th a t o n ,
m akin g fu rther i n qu i ry she regretted to fin d th a t the

girl s dowry would be sm a ll bec a u se sh e wa s o n e of a
’
1
l arge fa mily .
O n e proof o f the recovered fa vour which C a s

t igli on e e nj oy ed a t c o urt is seen i n the n umero u s
commissio n s with which he wa s ch a rged by the
Go n z ag a l a dies O n this occ a sio n the yo un g Duchess
.
Leo n or a sen t her brother Federic o a set of b alls fo u r ,
l a rge an d n in e sm a ll fo r his fa vou rite game o f p a lla

, ,
which he h a d ordered from a C a gli m aker The .
receipt o f these wa s a ckn owledged by the M a rqu is

himself i n a n ote a ddressed to M B ald a ss a re at .
C a s a tico c alli n g him his ho n o u red frien d a n d th an k

,
i n g him for his lovi n g diligen ce !

The M arches a n a
n ext a va iled herse lf o f this opport u n ity t o a sk the
Co un t t o do her a more imp o rt a n t service Sin ce .
her retu rn from Rome in M a rch life a t M an tu a h a d ,
seemed i n tolera bly d u ll an d tedio u s Although her .
bodily presen ce was i n M an tu a her he a rt wa s in ,
1
Co d V a t La t , 8 2 1 2
. . . .
2
c iv
A r h o G on z a ga, a rt C e ggi d i
o B Ca t
. s igli on e .
RAP HAEL S PI CTURE
’
3 97
Rome a s sh e wrote to C a rdi n a l Bibbie n a I n the

, .
little rooms o f the o ld C a stell o I s abell a th o u ght with ,
lon gin g o f the Va tic an h a lls a n d the sp a ci o u s p al a ces

where she h a d been en terta i n ed by C a rdi n als a n d
prin ces a n d His Holi n ess himself h a d m a de her
welcome N ow sh e gl a dly rej oiced to meet a member
.
o f the bri lli a n t society which sh e h a d left behin d ,
a n d with whom she co uld t alk freely of her dis

t i n gu i sh ed frie n ds i n Rome M B a ld a ss a re fou n d
. .
himself a frequen t a n d welcome gu est i n the sh a dy

groves of the fa ir vill a at Porto where Is a bell a ,
esc aped a s soo n a s the first s u mmer d a ys m a de it

possible feelin g a s sh e wrote to a Rom a n frien d
, , ,
‘
th at i n the s olit u de o f the co un try it wa s e a sier t o
thin k o f the delights o f Rome th an i n the sm all an d
’
1
n a rrow society o f M an tu a .
O n on e o f the visits which the Co un t p a id her

i n these e a rly J u n e d a ys the M a rches a n a a sked ,
him to use his i n fl u e n ce with his frie n d R aph a el to

i n duce him to p ai n t a picture for her stu dio When .
sh e wa s i n Rome the gre a t m a ster h a d promised to
gr a tify her wish an d h a d l ately told Agosti n o G on

,
z aga th a t he hoped t o begi n the work soon B ut .

,
kn owi n g how little tru st co uld be pl a ced i n these

a ss u r a n ces Is a bella begged C a stiglio n e t o sec o n d her
,
requ est . Accordi n gly o n his retu rn to Urbin o he

,
wrote at o n ce to R a ph a el an d when he sa w him a , ,
fe w weeks l a ter i n Rome wa s so u rgen t i n his en

,
tre a ties th a t the p ai n ter promised to put everythi n g

else a side a n d wen t so fa r a s to a sk for the ex a ct
,
me a suremen ts of the picture th a t the M a rches a n a

desired B ut although I s a bell a sen t the c an v a s with
.
,
full p a rtic ul a rs o f the size a n d lighti n g of the pict u re ,
by a n express to Urbi n o a n d her loy al servan t lost

,
Lu i 1 7 9
1 z o, .
no time i n forwa rdin g these R aph a el s pictu re wa s

,
’
still u n fin ished when C a stiglion e retu rn ed t o Rome

in 1 5 1 9
. A few mon ths a ft er th a t R aph a el died the ,
con ten ts of hi s studio were dispersed an d the fate ,
-c oi mt ed tre a su re still rem a i n s a

’
o f Is a bell a s m u ch
1
m y stery .
1 ‘Is b ll d E t
’
ii 1 63 et
’
a e
a se , .
, c .
Fra n cesco M ari a c a me to meet him an d wished to ,
t ake him b a ck to Urbi n o a n d although Gi uli an o wa s

u n a ble to a ccept his o ffer he met the D uke s a dva n ces ,
’
i n the most frie n dly spirit a ss u ri n g him th a t there ,
wa s n o tr u th i n t h e r u mou rs which he h a d he ard

o f the P o pe s desig n s a g a i n st Urbi n o He for o n e
’
.
, ,
would n ever co n sen t to s u ch a crime a n d would ,
a lw a ys hold the D u ke a s de a r to him a s a brother .
F o r the time Fr a n cesc o s suspicio n s were a ll a yed

’
He promised t o r a ise a body of m en a n d j oi n the

’
Pope s b a n n er if s ufficien t mon ey an d a s u it able gu ard
were a llowed him L eo X o n his p art w as s a tisfied
. .
, ,
with Giuli a n o s a ss u ran ces agreed to the D uke s

’
,
’
con dition s an d se n t him liber a l s u pplies of mon ey

, .
1
U n fort un a tely Gi uli an o fell ill i n Floren ce an d a fter

, ,
pro lon ged del a ys the comm an d o f the P ap al forces

w a s given to his n ephew Loren zo who h a d a lre a dy ,
been a ppoin ted C apt ain -Gen era l o f the F lor en t in es .
The D u ke o f Urbi n o who h a d professed his willi n g ,
n ess to serve u n der Giulia n o n ow m a de fresh ,
d ifficulties an d at the en d o f Ju ly C a stiglion e wa s

,
!
sen t t o Rome to a rran ge m a tters His t a sk w a s n ot
a n e a sy on e There was much irrita tion on both sides
.
,
an d a fter the tre a tme n t which Fr a n cesco h a d received

,
from Leo X a n d the persiste n t r umours th at were

.
circu l ated o f the Medici s design s on Urbin o it can ’
h a rdly be won dered th a t he beg an to look to the

Fren ch Kin g for help O n J uly 3 0 C a stiglion e was .
dismissed with peremptory orders t o the D uke a n d ,
C a rdin a l de Medici s secret ary a dvised Giu li an o to

’ ’
w a rn his frien d th a t His H o li n ess s p a tien ce h ad ’
rea ched its limits a n d th at if he did n ot m arch a t

,
on ce he wa s a ru in ed m an 3
.
1
i i i MSS
Torr g a n .
, A rch
‘
. st . It a l. x i x 23 8
. .
2
xx 3 8 3
S a n ut o, . .
3 To rr i g i an i M SS x i x .
, . 24 4 .
VICT O RY O F MARI G N A NO 401
A fo rt n ight l a ter we fin d the Cou n t on ce more in

Rome tryi n g to dispel the Pope s a n ger a n d to excu se
,
’
his m a ster s del ays B ut on Augu st 3 1 a Ven eti a n

’
. ,
wh o h a d seen C a stiglio n e th a t d a y a t the V a tic a n r e ,
ported th a t the Pope h a d ordered the D uke of Urbin o

to m a rch t o Bologn a a n d th a t he h a d refu sed t o go
,
.
The impressi o n th a t Fra n cesco wa s secretly a lli ed with

the Fren ch Ki n g eviden tly preva iled both in Rome
a n d a t Ve n ice where the D u ke w a s described a s the
,
l
frien d o f Fr an ce a n d the P o pe s e n emy Lon g ’
.
a ft erwa rds C a stigli on e who wa s i n a positio n to

, ,
k n o w the tru th told Federic o Go n z a ga th a t his

,
brother -i n -law h a d lost his d u chy solely bec au se

he wa s too Fre n ch i n his symp a thies Accordi n g .
to Leo n i a n d Ugolin i the hist o ri a n s o f Urbi n o

2
, ,
he wo u ld n ot obey the P o pe s orders himself but ’
ra ised a b o dy o f m en who refu sed to fight witho u t

their Pri n ce a n d t u rn ed b a ck when they rea ched
,
Cesen a .
The ra pid progress of the Fre n ch a rms soon c ul

m i n at ed i n the victory of M a rign a n o a n d the pr a ctic a l
a n n ihila tio n o f the Swiss forces When the n ews o f .
this dis a ster re a ched Rome the P o pe sa w th a t further ,
resista n ce wa s i n va i n a n d excl a imed W e m u st thro w

, ,
o u rselves i n t o the a rms of the most Christi an Ki n g
an d beg for mercy B efore the b a ttle C a n oss a

’
.
, ,
who wa s i n the Fren ch c a mp h a d a lre a dy do n e his ,
best t o obt a i n good terms for the Pope a n d when on , ,
O ctober 1 1 Fra n cis I e n tered Milan i n tri umph a n d

, .
received M a ximili an Sfo rz a s a bdic a tion Lorenz o de ’
,
’
Medici h a ste n ed t o greet the victor Fra n cis wh o .

,
h a d n o wish t o drive the Pope to extremities received ,
him ki n dly a n d on the 1 3 t h a prelimi n a ry pea ce wa s

,
1 S an ut o , xx . 45 0 .
2
i i ii
Ugo l n , . 1 99 ; S e ra ssi 1
‘
7
7 .
vor I
4 02 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CA ST I GLI ON E
sign ed a t Viterbo by which the Pope ga ve up P a rm a ,
a n d Pi a ce n z a t o the Ki n g who i n retur n promised to ,
m ai n t ain the Medici i n the govern men t o f Floren ce .
From this mome n t th e D uke of U rbi n o s sit ua tion ’
bec ame critic a l Si n ce the loss o f P a rm a an d

.
Pi a cen z a precl u ded the form a tio n o f a kin gdom in

Cen tra l It a ly the thoughts o f Loren zo de Medici a n d
,
’
‘
his a mbitio u s mother turn ed towa rds Urbin o La .
mi n t mi a (5 i n su U r bi n o wrote Alfo n si n a O rsi n i to

’
her son on N ovember 3 My hopes ar e fixed upon

Urbin o 1
.Fou r d a ys l a ter C a rd in a l Giulio de Medi ci
’ ’
‘
wrote from Rome : As to Urbin o the Pope s min d ,
’
is m a de up He does n ot wish to he ar the thin g

.
discu ssed b ut it will be d o n e witho u t a n y more

,
words .
2
’
F r an cesc o s refus al to serve u n der the b an n er of the

’
Ch u rch h a d given his en emies an opport un ity o f

which they were n ot slow to t ake a dvan t a ge The .
Medici pa rtis a n s with on e a ccord bega n to den oun ce

’
his con d u ct a n d imp u te the worst motives to him .
The Pope a fter some hesit ation determi n ed to

, ,
p un ish his disobedie n t v a ss al a n d a t the s a me time ,
gra tify the va n ity a n d greed o f h i s n ephew A n d .
Giuli an o who a lo n e of his fa mily rem ai n ed fa ithful

,
to his frien ds an d could n o t be a r the thou ght of

,
deprivi n g Fra n cesco of his St a te lay ill a n d helpless ,
at Flo ren ce The D uk e s only hope wa s i n the

.
’
Fren ch Kin g s frien dship a n d the n ews tha t Fran cis

’
h a d m a de pe a ce with the Pope filled him with

dism a y .
He bega n to m ake prep a ra tion s for the defen ce o f

his St a te an d sen t his little son Guidob ald o to the
,
stron ghold o f S Leo i n the ch a rge o f the Pes aro .
1 N it t i 7 1 , V e di
r , 20 ; P st
a or, iv . 1 02 .
2
G i g et t i
or in Ar c
‘
h st. . 18 8 1 .
404 C O U N T B A LD A S S A R E C A ST I GL I ON E
Giuli a n o i n the p a l a ce of the V i a L arga O n Adven t .
1
Su n d a y he celebra ted m a ss i n S Loren zo a n d kn elt .

,
with te a rs i n his eyes a t the tombs of his an cestors .
Ra ph a el h a d a cco mp an ied him from Rome to ,
prep are design s for the fa ca de of the p arish chu rch

o f hi s fa mily an d a t the s a me mome n t by a str a n ge
, ,
c o in ciden ce Leo n a rdo a rrived a t Bologn a i n the tr ai n

,
o f the Fre n ch Ki n g The n ext morn in g His Holi

.
n ess left Flore n ce a n d on the 7 t h e n tered Bologn a

, .
Here the cold n ess of the Bologn ese formed a m a rked

con tra st to the a ccl a m a tio n s which h a d greeted the
Pope i n Flore n ce NO su mptuou s decora tion s a dorn ed
.
‘
the str eets ; n o shout o f P a lle or Medici ! were ’
he a rd Accordin g to the M a n tu a n Archdea con G a b

.
,
b i o n et a the few a rches which h a d bee n erected were

,
hideo u s a n d the women who i n his Opin ion ge n er a lly

, ,
formed the best p a rt of the show h a d the u gliest fa ces ,
!
i n the world When fo u r d a ys l a ter the Fren ch Kin g
, ,
en tered the city i n sta te he met with a better recep ,
tion b ut i n th e eyes o f the Bologn ese the procession

,
’
wa s a very sh a bby a ffa ir The Kin g himself wa s a .
comm an din g figu re mo un ted on a spirited ch arger , ,
a n d we a ri n g a m a gn ifice n t clo ak of gold broc ade

a n d rich z ibeli n e furs Silvestro Gigli the Bishop .
,
of Worcester describes him a s t all an d bro ad

,
‘
sho u ldered with a h a n dsome ova l fa ce in clin ed to
, ,
corpulen ce b ut very slen der a bout the legs

, But .
’
the spect a tors wh o h a d expected to see a splen did

,
displ a y of gold a n d silk a n d n ew fa shio n s in which

‘
,
the Fren ch are s a id t o be very clever were bitterly ,

’
disappoin ted N othin g could be more squ a lid The

. .
a rchers o f the gu a rd looked like b a rgeme n with dirty ,
fa ces an d gre a sy threa db a re coa ts They h a d n o t

, .
1
Ch i ic t i t Is b ell d E st e H le i MS 3 4 62
er a o a a
’
ar an . .
2 P st iv 9 1 S ut o xx i 3 7 5 3 9 1
a o r, . an , .
, .
FRA N CI S I AT B O L O G N A . 4 05
fou r gold ch a in s a n d h a rdly a s u it o f broc a de

, ,
a m o n g them an d the whole thi n g seemed more like

,
a city m ag n a te en teri n g o n his o ffice th an a gre a t
Ki n g comin g i n st a te to meet the Pope Yet the .
It alian s c o mpl ain ed th a t the Fren ch gu a rds were a s

rude an d h a ughty a s ever an d h an dled the P ope s ,
’
servan ts a n d M an tu a n gen tlemen so r o ughly th a t

y o u n g Federic o G on zaga s tu tor th an ked his st ars ’
1
he h ad esc a ped with n o bon es broken .
Whe n the Ki n g e n tered the gre a t h all where

the Pope w a s a w a itin g him i n j ewelled ti a ra an d
glitteri n g robes the den se crowd swa yed b a ck
,
wards an d fo rwa rds so hea vily th a t the Bishop ,
Of Worcester tho ught he wo uld be tra mpled to

de ath an d some time el a psed befo re the M a ster o f
,
Ceremo n ies co uld cle a r the way fo r H i s M aj esty .
The Pope received him most gra cio u sly kissed him ,
on both cheeks a n d con versed i n a frie n dly way with

,
him for some mi n u tes a fter which His Holin ess ,
retired t o t ake o ff his c Ope a n d ti a ra which were so ,
hea vy th a t he co uld h a rdly w a lk an d wa s forced t o le a n ,
o n the mo n a rch s a r m
’
The Ki n g s deme an o u r a s a ll
.
’
the eyewitn esses agree w a s perfect He showed the

, .
deepest revere n ce fo r the Pope an d con versed freely ,
with the C ardi n a ls especi a lly with Bibbien a whom he

, ,
tre a ted with m arked fa vour H i s devotion a t m a ss the .
followi n g d a y gre a tly e d i fied the Holy F a ther After .
s u pper a ll the C a rdi n a ls retired a n d Fra n cis wh o , ,
lodged i n the lower story o f the p ala ce wen t upst a irs ,
an d spen t two ho u rs i n priva te co n vers a tio n with

!
His Holin ess The s ame prolon ged i n terviews were
repe ated d uri n g the n ext two d a ys a n d altho ugh , ,
n othi n g p a ssed i n writi n g the utmost secrecy reg a rd,
1 B ew e
r 341 H le i M S 3 4 62
r, n . ar an . .
2
H leian M S 3 462
ar . .
4 06 C O U N T BALDAS S A RE CASTI GLI ON E
in g the s ubj ects which they disc u ssed wa s preserved .
The m ai n con dition s o f the Tre a ty o f Viterbo

were V irtu a lly r a tified Fra n cis obt ai n ed the cession
.
o f P a rm a an d Pi a ce n z a an d i n sisted on the re st o ra
,
tio n o f Reggio a n d Moden a t o the D uke o f Ferr ara

withi n t wo mon ths a promise which the Pope how
, ,
ever fa iled t o keep B ut when the Ki n g began to

.
i n tercede on beh a lf of his ally the D uke o f Urbi n o ,
the P o pe w a s i n flexible The D uke he i n sisted h a d

.
, ,
bro ken faith with the Holy See S u ch Open di sa ffec .
tion a n d a cts of i n solen ce pl a in ly must be p un ished ,

’
an d Loren zo de Medici who wa s n ow ben t o n ,
a cq u iri n g the d u chy of Urbi n o a n d h a d don e his best ,
to i n gra ti a te himself with Fra n cis begged the Kin g t o ,
1
le a ve Fran cesco M a ri a t o his fate .
Me an while the Duke m a de a l a st a ppea l to

Fran cis thro ugh C a stiglion e I n N ovember he .
decided t o sen d the Co un t to M an t u a t o seek help

from his fa ther -i n -la w Bologn a la y o n his wa y
.
n orth a n d whe n the meeti n g betwee n the Pope an d

,
Ki n g wa s defin itely a rra n ged it wa s e asy for ,
M B a ld a ss a re to m a ke this city his h a lti n g-pl ace

.
an d deliver his disp a tch to Fr an cis At the la st .
min u te hi s dep a rture wa s del ayed prob ably i n ,
order th a t h i s presen ce a t B o logn a when the Kin g

a rrived might n ot excite the Pope s suspicion ’
an d he wa s still a t Urbin o on December 1 0 O n .
th a t d ay the D u chess Dowager wrote to tell the

M a rches an a th a t sh e w a s sen din g her some gold
embro idered c aps by the h an ds o f M B ald a s .
s a re 2
S O th a t the Cou n t could n o t h a ve re a ched
’
.
B o logn a u n til the Kin g s first meeti n gs with the Pope

’
were over .
1 N i t t i 7 3 V er d i 2 1
, , .
2
Ar c h ivi o G on z a ga, Ca rt eggi o di si i
Ca t gl on e .
n ext morn i n g he took le a ve of His Holi n ess an d left ,
Bologn a to spen d Christm a s a t Mil an B u t n either .
M a d o n n a Felice s ch a rms n o r C a st igli on e s eloqu en ce

’ ’
’
co u ld a vail to s a ve t h e ill-fa ted D uke fro m the Pope s
r an co u r a n d A lfon si n a s a mbitio u s design s a n d before
’
Fra n cis p a rted from L eo X he h a d con sen ted .

,
’
rel u ct an tly t o the s a crifice of his a lly C a st igli on e s .
mission so fa r a s its obj ect w a s politic al h a d

, ,
fa iled But his first meetin g with Kin g Fran cis

.
wa s memora ble fr o m an other poi n t Of V iew This .
chiv a lrou s you n g mon a rch whose gen u in e l o ve o f ,
letters h a d a lre a dy c aptiva ted both C an oss a a n d

Bibbien a wa s ch a rmed by the cultu re an d a rt of
,
It a ly He h a d bro ught Leon a rdo t o Bol o gn a i n his

.
1L
t r a i n a n d h a d boldly a sked the Pope to give him the
,
L a oco on a requ est which L eo X ev a ded by sen din g

, .
the Kin g a copy o f the fa mou s gro u p by the h an d of

B a ccio B a n din elli No w the co u rtly m an n ers a n d
.
brilli an t co n vers a tion of the a ccomplished Co un t m a de

a deep impressio n u po n his min d B u t wh a t i n ter .
e st ed Fra n cis a bove a ll w a s Messer A lfo n so 8 a cc o un t

’
o f the b o o k o n the Perfect Co u rtier which C a stigli o n e
h a d writte n a n d which he begged the Cou n t t o co m

,
p l et e witho u t del a y This req u est we .le a rn from the ,
dedic a tory letter t o Alfon s o Ari osto which the a uthor ,

’
origin a lly i n ten ded t o p ublish i n his Cortegi an o ,
wa s a fterwa rds repe a ted severa l times by the Kin g .
I n this epistle 2
which wa s suppressed when the
,
Cortegi a n o fin a lly sa w the light thirteen ye a rs l a ter , ,
the a uth o r thu s a ddresses h i s frien d
I h a ve lon g hesit a ted dea rest M Alfon so between , .

,
two cou rses both of which ar e equ a lly d ifficult

,
1 Mu t z
n , Leon r do d a V in ci ii
a ,
’
. 206 .
2
S era ssi , ii . 18 1 .
THE KI N G S RE QUE S T ’
09
whether t o refu se the u rgen t reques t which y o u h a ve

m an y times m a de of me o n the p a rt o f this illu strious
Ki n g o r to un dert ake the t a sk O n the o n e h a n d it
, .
,
seems very h a rd to refuse so la u d a ble a requ est m ade

by a frien d whom I love so well a n d who loves me ,
n o less whe n it is s u pported by the wish a n d c o m

,
m an d o f so ex a lted a n d n oble a Pri n ce O n the .
o ther it seems h a rdly right t o a ttempt a n u n dert a ki n g

,
which I a m co n scio u s th a t I c an on ly c arry o ut

imperfectly .
’
After a lo n g dissert a tion on the difficulties o f the

t a sk he con cl u des by s ayi n g th a t it wou ld be a crime
,
to d isobey so gre a t an d a ccomplished a Ki n g an d ,
th a t if His M aj esty co n siders him s ufficien t for

,
s u ch a t a sk he will n o lon ger hesit a te b ut will t ake

, ,
con fiden ce from the kn owledge th a t this is the

opi n ion o f the g re a test Ki n g wh o h a s reign ed i n
Christe n dom for m an y a lo n g d ay There seems n o .
doubt th a t this brief i n terview a t B o logn a s upplied

o u r a u thor with the n e cess a ry stimul u s a n d i n d u ced ,
him to complete his u n fi n ished work i n the qu iet

1
ye ars spen t a t M an tu a a fter his m a rri age .
Fro m Bologn a the Cou n t n ow c o n ti n ued his

j ou rn ey prob a bly by wa y o f Moden a to M an t ua
, , ,
where his mother wa s a wa itin g his a rriva l with the

u tmost imp a tien ce Fo r the l o n g -del a yed m a rri age
.
qu estion which h a d cost her so m a n y ye a rs o f toil

,
a n d tro u ble a n d h a d o f l a te seemed more hopeless

,
th an ever was n o w a t len gth on the eve o f solu tio n

, .
The very diffic ulties o f the poli tic a l situ a tion an d the ,
critic a l con dition of affa irs at Urbi n o h a d helped to ,
brin g a bou t this h appy st a te of thin gs by restorin g

M B ald a ss are to his lord s fa vo u r an d the M a rquis
.
’
1 G i an in ‘
G i o r n st . . (1. Let. x vii . 1 20 ; G a spa ry - R o ssi S t ori a
,
‘
d Let t
. . ii
97 . F F m i
. la i n , I1 C i q ue c e
n n t o,
’
3 69 .
41 0 C O U N T BALDA S SARE CAST IGL I ON E
himself seems i n this in st an ce to h a ve don e all th at

wa s possible t o promote his loy a l s u bj ect s m arri age
’
.
I n Sept ember M a don n a L u igi a h a d written to her

son i n gre a t a n xiety a u the repe a ted j o u rn eys t o
bo t “
R o me which he h a d been forced t o u n dertake i n the ,
Duke s service duri n g the grea t he a ts

’
, .
I h a ve been very a n xious a bo u t you she wrote ,

’
sin ce I he a rd th a t you h ad been twice to Rome in so

short a time an d i n this we a ther which is h o tter here
, ,
th a n it wa s i n J uly A n d I see by you r letters th at

.
o u ar e u n h a ppy which grieves me for yo u r s a ke

y , .
B ut y ou m u st believe th a t G o d i s worki n g fo r the

best an d will do more for u s th an we kn ow h ow t o
,
a sk
. O n ly try an d keep well an d n ever mi n d ,
1
the rest .
’
After beggi n g him e a rn estly n either to n eglect his

religio u s d uties n or his he alth sh e a lludes t o pro ,
osa ls of m a rri age which h a d re a ched her two mo n ths

p
before throu gh on e o f her cou sin s at Ferra r a Sim on a ,
’
degli U b ert i the wife o f the m u rdered E r cole s
,
brother G u ido Strozzi

, The bride s u ggested was .
Ippolita the youthful d aughter of Guido Torelli a

, ,
con dottiere o f n ote an d of Fran cesc a Ben tivoglio on e

, ,
o f the n u merous d a ughters O f Giova n n i Be n tivoglio
a n d his wife Gi n evra The fa mily of Torelli wa s on e

.
o f the Oldest an d m o st ill u strio u s m Ferr a ra an d h a d ,
a t o n e time disputed the lordship o f th a t city with the
hou se of Este Bra n ches of the Torelli h a d settled i n

.
P a vi a N aples a n d Gu a sta lla Ippolit a belon ged t o

, .
the bra n ch of M on t echi aragu olo a c a stle an d fief n ear ,
P a rm a o f which her fa ther h ad been dispossessed by on e

,
o f his cousi n s G u ido Torelli himself h a d died some

.
ye a rs before His wife a spirited l a dy who h ad a c quired

.
,
1
Cod Va t L a t
. . .
, 8 21 1 .
an d in telligen t beyon d her yea rs She i n heri ted a con

.
sid e ra b le fort u n e from her m o ther a n d wh a t especi a lly

, ,
gra tified M a do n n a L u igi a h ad been exceedi n gly well

,
brought up by her rel a tives a t M o den a Up to the .
time o f his a rriva l a t M an t ua C a stiglion e himself h a d

,
shown little i n terest i n the m atter a n d wa s t o o mu ch ,
a bsorbed i n the troubles o f Urbi n o t o thin k seriou sly
o f the u n io n which his mother w a s so e a ger t o bri n g
a bout .B u t his first meeti n g with Ippolit a seems to

h a ve decided the question Whether he visited
.
Moden a o n his j ourn ey from Bologn a o r whether he ,
stopped there on hi s wa y b a ck to Urbi n o he cert a in ly ,
m a de her a cqu a in t a n ce th a t Christm a s The simple .
ch a rm an d be a u ty o f the you n g gi rl won his he a rt ,
a n d i n spite o f the fa ct th a t this suitor w a s her sen i o r

,
by twen ty -three yea rs the Cou n t seems to h a ve

,
c aptu red I ppoli t a s a ffection s o n the spot

’
The .
fa vou r with which the M a rqu is a n d a ll his fam ily

rega rded the m a rri age n o dou bt con trib u ted gr eatly
to its co n clusio n U n fortun a tely before C a stiglion e
.
,
could receive his frien ds con gra tul a tion s o r give

’
himself up to the pe a ceful en j oymen t o f these

n e w dre a ms the thre a te n i n g a spect o f p u blic a ffa irs
,
summ on ed him b a ck to Urbin o .
He left M an tu a before the en d of J an u ary an d ,
his mother h ad the plea s an t t a sk o f an n ou n cin g the

m a rr i age a n d receivin g the con gra tu l a tion s o f her
frien ds O n e of the first an d w armest letters which
.
sh e received c a me
”
from Costan z a R an gon e wh o ,
wrote from Moden a o n Februa ry 1 0 rej oici n g with ,
her hon oured ki n swom an over this our common

bride .
’
S in ce she h as been educ ated i n this town a dds ,

’
t h e writer I kn ow her better th an you d o an d am

, ,
C ON GR A TULAT O RY L E TTERS 41 3
sure th a t yo u will h a ve much j oy i n her si n ce , ,
n o t to spe a k of her be a u ty o u h a ve ga in ed i n her

y ,
a d a ughter who h a s been bro u ght u in P a r a dise

p ,
an d is G od kn ows a s ch armin g a n d a ttra ctive a s

, ,
possible I pra y th a t G o d m ay gr a n t them gr a ce to

.
live h app ily together for m an y yea rs V S will . . .
ki n dly wish your d a ughters L a M agn ifica M a do n n a

Polissen a a n d M a don n a Fran cesc a j oy of this good a n d
,
ge n tle sister whom they a r e ga in i n g for their o wn .
I n deed for my p a rt I could n o t feel gre a ter deli ght

, ,
if both the on e a n d the other were my o wn children ,
a n d it i s very lo n g si n ce an ythi n g o f the ki n d h a s
given me so m u ch plea s u re .
Three d a ys la ter an other o f I ppolit a s ki n swomen ’
who h a ppen ed to be a n Old frie n d o f M ad on n a Luigi a ,
an d h a d herself m an y ye a rs before proposed a

m a rri a ge for B a ld a ss a re wrote i n the s a m e cordi al
,
terms . This wa s Ald a B o i a rd a the M a rches a n a ,
Is a bell a s fa vo u rite m a id o f ho n o u r wh o h a d bee n

’
l a tely b a n ished from co urt by the M a rqu is a n d c o m ,
elle d to retire t o Ferr a r a where her sister L a u r a wa s

p ,
a n un i n the co n ve n t o f Corpus Christi .
I le a rn from your letter o f the m a rri age which

y o u h a ve co n cluded fo r yo u r o n ly so n Messer B a l ,
d a ss a re which n ews gives me the gre a test j o y ; a n d

,
S uor L au ra to whom I h a ve shown V S s letter

, . .
’
a lso feels the u tmost s a tisfa ctio n a t this good n ews .
Fr o m bein g frien ds we h a ve become rela tives an d ,
a ccordi n gly we rej oice with y ou a s well a s with

M B a ld a ss a re a n d a r e very gl a d to he a r th a t he is t o
.
,
wed M a do n n a Ippolita wh o is I a m told a lovely girl

, , , ,
rich in dowry a n d a lso sweet a n d gen tle a s I le a rn fi o m

, ,
'
a frie n d O f mi n e i n Mode n a who k n ows her An d .
Suor L a u ra a n d I pra y G o d a n d Christ an d His

M other the glorious Virgi n M a ry to keep y o u a n d
, ,
1
Co d Va t La t
. . 8 21 2 .
41 4 C O U N T B A LD A S S A RE CASTIGLI ON E
yo r
u son d ughter an d -in -la w
etern a lly h a ppy a n d
a
j o you s together with u s your most fa ithful rela tives

, .
‘
A L D A B O I A R D A C OM I T I S S A .
’
B ut the most touchin g of all the con gr a tul a tory

letters a ddressed to the h appy p a ir on this occ a sion ,
a n d still preserved i n the V a tic a n a rchives wa s o n e ,
from the bride s cousi n A n gelica the be a uti fu l

’
d aughter o f Giov an n i Gon z aga who h a d t aken the ,
veil i n the con ve n t o f Corp u s Christi a t M an tu a ,
together with the M ar ch esan a s d a ughter P a ol a an d ’
C a st igli on e s o wn sister L au ra
’
The n ews of Ippo .
’
lita s m arri a ge h a d re a ched the gen tle n un th an ks to ,
’
the tho ughtfuln ess o f B a lda ss a re s mother a n d Suor ,
A n gelic a h a sten ed to a ssure the little bride o f her

best wishes a n d fon dest pra yers for her welfa re .
M A G NIFI C E NT M A D O NN A A N D M O S T H O N O U RED
S I S TE R — T ll e pea ce of Him who r ules the whole un i
,
verse h a s deign ed to lay His protecti n g h an d on your

fo otsteps a n d a s He h a s given you r life so good a
,
begi n n i n g He will I dou bt n ot con duct it t o a h appy

, , ,
en din g This I con cl u de from yo u r espou s a ls with

.
the ho u se o f C a stigli o n e a n d si n ce I h a ve n ot h a d
,
an
y opport u n ity of i n tim a cy with you o w i n g t o o ur ,
livi n g so far ap art from our ten derest ye a rs my

, ,
dea r a n d hon o ured M a don n a Luigi a h a s ki n dly i n

fo rmed me o f this h appy u n ion with wh a t j oy de a rest , ,
sister I ca n h a rdly tell y o u feeli n g th at y o u a re to

, ,
belon g to this her o n ly son If y ou a r e wh a t I believe .
y o u t o be y o u will
, I a m s ure be her he a rt s delight
, ,
.
A n d I rej oice with y o u my sister to thi n k yo u , ,
sho uld wed so n oble a c a vali er a s M B a ld a ss are a . ,
m a n wh o is spoke n o f to d a y a s o n e a bove a ll others

for his t a len ts an d ch arms a s well a s for his be auty ,
.
A n d I d o n o t thi n k a n yon e can be his eq u al SO I .
rej oice with y ou a n d c an n ot thi n k th a t this m arri age

,
C H APTER XXVI I
15 16
gi s p c d i gs g i st t h D uke f U b i —D t h
T h e P O pe b e n ro e e n a a n e o r no ea
i i M d ici — C st igli
o f G ul a n o d e
’
e i R m —Th D uch ss
a on e n o e e e
is V ic —E xc mm u ic t i
E l a b et t a a t t h e a t an d d p iv t i
o n a on a n e r a on
of F c sc i —I v si
o Ma r a f U b i —F lig h t f t h D uk
M t u —L
ra n e n a on o r no o e e
an d D c ss s
u he e to z d e M d ici p c l im ed
an a o r en o
’
e ro a
D i
uk e o f U r b n o .
T HE doom of Urbi n o wa s sea led at Bologn a .
Fr an cis I h a d fin a lly s a crificed hi s old a lly t o the a m

.
bitio n s schemes o f the Medici an d L eo X a n d his , .
n ephew retu rn ed t o Flore n ce resolved to u t their deep

p
l a id plot in to immedia te execution O n J an u a ry 27 .
M a rin Zorzi the Ven eti a n a mb a ss a dor who h a d a c

'
comp a n ied the Pope t o Floren ce wrote home ,
The Pope h as begun importa n t pro ceedin gs a ga in st

the D u ke o f Urbin o an d me a n s to deprive him of
,
his Sta te He bri n gs two ch a rges a ga in st him O n e

. .
th a t he m u rdered the C a rdin al of P a vi a ; the other ,

’
tha t he refused t o fight a fter he ha d ta ken the Church s
1 ’
mon ey .
In va in the D uke a ppe a led for help t o frien dly

powers The o n ly mon a rch who m a de a n y a ttempt
.
t o s a ve him wa s the Emperor M a ximili a n who ,
wrote from Tre n t desiri n g the Pope to a bsta in from

a tt a cki n g this lo ya l va ss a l o f h i s gr a n dso n Ch a rles ,
1 S an a t o , xx i . 49 6 .
416
GIUL IA NO S LAST ILL N E S S ’
41 7
wh o i n J an u a ry h a d succeeded to the crown of Sp ai n

an d N a ples
!
But a lthough M a ximili an himself led a n a rmy

a cross the Alps to oppose the Fre n ch an d Ve n eti a n s ,
the ill -s u ccess which a tten ded his a rms left him
p o werless to help the D u ke an d the good Offi ces ,
o f the Co n st a ble of Bo u rbo n w h o a s Viceroy o f ,
Mil a n gen ero u sly i n terceded with the Pope o n

beh a lf o f his cousi n s husb an d were politely but ’
resol tely decli n ed I n v a i n L eo X s o wn brother

’
u !
.
,
the bei n g whom he prob a bly loved best i n the world ,
begged him with his dyi n g bre a th to remember the

ki n d n ess which he an d all his fa mily h a d received
from the pri n ces o f Urbi n o The Pope turn ed a .
de a f ea r to Gi uli an o s repea ted en tre aties a n d told

’
him n o t t o vex his soul with politics b ut t o t ry an d ,
get well .
O n Febr u a ry 6 the first d ay of Le n t Leo X

, , .
a tte n ded m a ss i n the D u omo a n d a fte r distrib u ti n g ,
the holy a shes t o an immen se mu ltitude o f people ,
he wen t to a muse himself at Poggio At c a rn iv al .
time Giuli an o wa s d an gerously ill a n d the doctors ,
who a tten ded him desp a i red of his recovery b ut with

the first d ays of Len t he ra llied a little an d for a ,
’
momen t the hopes o f the Duke s frien ds revived O n .
the 9 t h the Ve n eti an en voy reported th a t the Pope

w a s goi n g to drop the en terprise agai n st Urbi n o ,
which his n ephew Loren zo h a d pers u a ded him to

‘
u n dertake t o plea se Gi uli an o who will n ot h a ve it
, ,
a cco u n t But Lore zo an d his rel a tives

’
an n
on y .
were too stro n g for him a n d the n ext d a y the ,
Pope told C a rdi n a l R i ari o th a t it wa s wa ste o f time

to a rgue the c a se a n y lo n ger a n d th a t he wa s ,
B M 1
li .V i t a d i T issi
o r so n, 4 06 r n o,
’
.
P s to iv 1 02
2 a r, . .
V OL . I .
41 8 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CASTI GLI O N E
determi n ed to h a ve don e with the traitor on ce an d

!
fo r a ll
T en d a ys l a ter the Pope return ed to Rome an d ,
sen t the Golden Rose to Ki n g Fr an cis I O n M arch 1 .
he cited Fra n cesco M a ri a to appea r before the trib un al

a ppoi n ted to try him on p a i n of excomm u n ic a tio n
,
an d forfeitu re o f a ll his h o n o u rs an d est a tes On .
the 1 4th C a rdin al Bibbien a who h a d rem ai n ed in ,
Floren ce with Gi uli a n o wrote from the B a di a o f ,
Fiesole where the sick m a n h a d been t aken fo r

,
ch an ge o f a i r th a t he wa s m u ch worse Three d a ys
, .
a ft erw a rds a ll w a s o ver It h a s ple a sed God wrote ’

.
,
Bibbien a t o his old frien d C an oss a t o c all b a ck th a t ,
blessed sou l t o a better an d qu ieter pl a ce th an this .

’
A n d he told the M a rches a n a Is a bell a to whom G i u ,
li a n o h a d been deeply a tta ched :

The Lord G o d h a s c a lled this p u re soul to Him
self le a vin g u s all i n tea rs a n d sorrow a ltho ugh a s
, ,
yet we c an h a rdly believe th a t he is gon e To d ay

‘
.
the fun era l rites h a ve been celebra ted with d ue

h o n ou r A ll yesterd a y his b o dy la y i n the church
.
of S M a rco where y ou w o u ld h a ve th o u ght from

.
, ,
the crowds a ssembled there th a t this wa s the most ,
memora ble thi n g th a t h a d ever h appen ed I s u pp o se .
th a t fo r the l a st h u n dred yea rs n o o n e h a s died i n

this city who wa s more u n ivers ally bel o ved an d whose
dea th h as been more deeply la men ted 2
.
’
The C a rdi n al s grief wa s sh ared by a ll the l a te

’
D uke s fri en ds i n Rome a n d most of all by B embo

’
, ,
t o wh o m Gi u li a n o h a d co n fided his fo u r -ye a r -O ld child

Ippoli to .
I co u ld n ot re a d yo u r to u chi n g an d a ffection a te
’
letter on the dea th o f o ur good D u ke without tea rs ,
S ut x xi 5 1 0 Lu zi i A c h t L m b 1 9 07 3 7
an o, . o n r . s . o , .
B h t -R e um t 24 9
a sc e on , .
this beloved a n d ven era ted l a dy who h a d been so ,
good a frie n d to the exiled Medici .
Accordin gly on the l a st d ay o f Februa ry Elis a bett a

,
G o n zaga a rrived i n Rome a cc o mp a n ied by Emili a ,
P i a a n d a tra i n o f l a dies an d co u rtiers The C a rdi n als .
an d chief o ffici a ls a t the Va tic a n h a sten ed t o pa y

their respects to the D u chess an d a ss u re her of their
go o d -will Bembo an d S a d o let o visited their hon ou red
.
frien ds a n d l U n ic o Aretin o delivered his most elo

,
’
quen t improvis a tion s in Elis a betta s prese n ce an d ’
on ce more professed himself her devoted sl a ve .
O n M a rch 1 the Duchess wa s a dmitted i n to the

Pope s presen ce a n d received with grea t a ffa bility
’
.
His Holi n ess wen t t o meet her embra ced her a ffec ,
t i on a t ely a n d expressed his ple a s u re a t seei n g her

,
i n Rome b u t s a id th a t he wa s too m u ch e n ga ged

,
t o discuss politic a l a ffa irs At the secon d a udien ce

.
which sh e obta in ed the Duchess implored His Holi ,
n ess to forgive her n ephew b ut the Pope o n ly replied ,
th a t Fra n ces co wa s a tra itor a n d must be p un ished , .
O n M a rch 1 0 she m a de a third but equ ally in e ffect ua l ,

’
a ttempt to soft e n Leo s he a rt .
To -d ay wrote the M an tu an en voy C a rlo Agn ello

,
’
, ,
‘
the L a dy D u chess h a s been with the Pope fo r the
third time This time His Holin ess wa s more severe
.
a n d impl a c a ble th a n ever ch an gi n g the s u bj ect r e

,
ea t edly a n d o n ly rem a in i n g firm o n on e p o in t

p ,
n a mely his determi n a tion to p un ish the D uke in

, ,
which he is a s firm an d immova ble a s a rock .
Yet three d a ys l ater the bra ve l a dy return ed t o

the ch arge a n d ga therin g cou r age remin ded the
, , ,
Pope o f the hospita lity which he a n d the M agn ifico

’
h a d received a t her l a te h u sb an d s court She rec a lled .
1 Ba h et - R eum t 24 8 sc on , .
I N TERVIEWS W ITH LE O X . 4 21
the d a ys when sh e n ursed his n ephew Loren zi n o i n

her a rms a n d when they prayed together th a t the
,
Medici might be restored to their o wn S urely y o u .

,
’
who k n ow wh a t this me a n s H o ly F a ther sh e s a id , ,
with to u chi n g ea rn estn ess will n ot drive u s o u t o f

‘
,
ho u se an d h o me an d force u s to w a n der i n exile a n d

,
begg ry thro ugh the world B u t the Pope did n o t

’
a 7
u tter a word i n reply He o n ly looked a t the D u chess

.
thro ugh his eyegla ss a n d shrugged his sho ulders .
A n d i n Obedien ce t o his orders n either the secre

, ,
ta ries n or C a rdi n als in a tten d an ce a ddressed a word

!
to her a s sh e left h i s presen ce
Luigi Gon z a ga of C a st elgoffr ed o whom I s abell a ,
sen t to Rome to i n tercede with the Pope on her

beh a lf met with n o better success The Pope held
, .
lon g an d co n fiden ti a l i n terviews with him l aughed ,
a n d j oked o n every ki n d o f s u bj ect an d a ss u red him ,
Of his a ffection for the M a rches an a a n d reluct an ce to

i nj u re a n y of her kin dred B u t a ll th a t either he or
.
the D u chess were a ble to obt a i n wa s the pror o ga ti o n

o f the se n te n ce o f excomm u n ic a ti o n with which the ,
!
D uke wa s thre a ten ed u n til a fter the E a ster festiv a l
,
Then c a me the n ews of Gi uli an o s de a th a n d the ’
P ope left Rome for h i s V illa of L a M a gli an a a n d ,
wen t to h u n t i n the forests o f P a l o on the Adri a tic ,
shore .
Elis a bett a decided to spen d E a ster i n Rome i n ,
the hope th a t a ffa irs might t a ke a more fa vo u ra ble

tu rn an d C a stigli on e who h a d left n o sto n e un tu rn ed
, ,
on his m a ster s beh a lf

’
enj oyed a brief i n terva l of
,
repose .
The letters a ddressed by Bembo to C a rdin al Bib

bien a this E a ster give us ple a s a n t glimpses o f the
1
C e s r e o i n N A n t o logi
a
‘
. a,
’
1898, p 1 94 . .
2
L uzi o i n A c h st
‘
r . . 1 9 07 p 5 1 , . .
4 22 C O U N T BAL DAS SARE CASTIGL I O N E
wa y i n which the Co un t e nj oyed his brief ho u rs of
leis u re d u ri n g these an xiou s d a ys .
‘
,
’
TO -morr o w wrote the P ap a l Secret a ry on April 3 ,
I go with N av ager o a n d B ea zz a n o a n d with M B al , .
d a ss a re C a stigli o n e a n d R aph a el to V isit Tivo li where ,
I h a ve on ly been on ce —
,
twen ty seven ye a rs ago 1 We .
sh a ll see both the old a n d the n ew a n d all th a t ,
is beau tiful i n the cou n try ro un d I go to plea se .
M A n drea [ the Ven eti an schol a r an d diplom at

.
,
N a v ager o ] wh o le a ves for Ve n ice the d a y a fter

,
P a squ in o [ the Fe a st o f St M a rk April .

,
An d he a dds in a postscript
Yesterd a y His Holi n ess prorogu ed the in terdict
a ga i n st the D u ke o f Urbi n o fo r an other week
’
.
Agai n on the 1 9 th a fter s a yi n g he h a s been to

, ,
visit the D uchess o f Urbi n o a n d fo u n d 1 U n ic o ,

’
Areti n o a s devoted to her a s ever Bembo men ti on s ,
both R aph a el a n d C a stiglion e

R a ph a el who commen ds himself reveren tly to
,
o u h as p a i n ted o u r T eb a ld e o so n a tu r a lly th a t i n
y ,
this pict u re he is more ex a ctly himself th a n he is i n

re a lity I fo r my p art n ever sa w so excellen t a
.
, ,
liken ess V S m a y im a gi n e wh a t M A n ton io s a ys

. . . .
an d thi n ks o f this ; an d i n d eed he h a s every rea son

, ,
to be a prou d m a n The portra i t of M B ald a ss a re

. .
C a stiglion e or th a t o f o ur go o d an d n ever -t o -b e
forgotten Duke whom m ay G o d receive might h a ve
, ,
been p a in ted by the h a n d o f o n e of R a ph a el s schol a rs ’
so i n ferior a r e they i n p o i n t o f like n ess comp a red with ,
this of T eb ald eo I feel very en viou s an d rea lly

.
,
thin k I m u st be p ai n ted myself some d a y .
I h a d written th u s fa r when R aph a el c a me i n , ,
a s if he h a d gu essed th a t I wa s writin g a bo u t him ,
an d begged me to give y o u this mess a ge which i s ,
th a t he hopes y o u will sen d him the other s ubj ects

424 C O U N T BAL DAS SA R E CASTI GL I ON E
an d as m a n y C a rdi n als a s you liked th a t yo u would ,
be s afe by word o f mo uth b ut n ot in writin g a ddi n g

, , ,
th a t if he wished to deceive you he wo uld do it by

b ulls a n d briefs but th a t y o u co u ld believe his w o rds
, .
H e further promised th a t V E sho u ld be un hu rt . .
a n d s a fe an d told me th a t o u wo u ld be blessed if
, y
y u c a me a n d th a t every o n e wh o is y o u r frien d a n d
o ,
serva n t o ught to a dvise yo u to come s a yi n g th a t

, ,
a n yo n e who d o es otherwise is a fool He s a id m u ch .
m o re i n this stra i n a n d I repli ed m u ch more by way

, ,
o f excuse a n d i n expla n atio n o f the d iffic ulties in

yo u r way a n d i n the en d he con sen ted to s an ction
,
the del a y for which we a sked if the Duchess would ,
promise th a t V E wo uld come If n ot we n eed

. . .
,
n ot thin k o f it The m a tter is so import an t th a t

.
it is impossible fo r a servan t t o give a dvice V E . . .
m u st decide a s seems best to yo u r o wn wise an d

pru den t j u dgmen t I kiss your h a n d an d rem ai n
.
, ,
Yo u r devoted servan t ,
B AL D C A S TI G L I O NE . .
R M Ap i l 1 8 1 5 1 63
O E, r ,
1
It is cle a r from this letter th a t C a stiglion e re a lized

the gr a vity o f the situ a tion a n d did n o t ven tu re to ,
a dvise the D uke to tr u st himself i n to the h an ds o f
the Medici Elis a bett a wa s still more con vi n ced th a t

.
it w a s u seless t o a ttempt to propiti ate the Pope a s ,
sh e told her n ephew i n a letter which C a stiglio n e se n t
to Urbi n o with his o wn by express th a t even i n g , ,
I a m cert a i n from wh a t o u r best fri en ds sa y th a t the

, ,
Pope is ben t o n this u n dert aki n g a n d hopes t o fin d yo u

u n prep a red To -m o rrow I will go to L a M agli a n a a n d
.
t ake le a ve of His Holi n ess a n d then return a t on ce to ,

’
sh a re you r fa te an d th a t of the D u chess .
Tr u e to h er w or d t h e n ext morn i n g the good D u chess

,
on ce more u n dertook the lon g j ou rn ey t o L a M agli an a ,
1A ch ivi G z g C t ggi di C s t igli e M t i t i 7 8

r o on a a, ar e o a on ar na , .
EL I SABETTA RETUR N S T O URB I NO 4 25
an d wa s received by Leo X in a fa rewell a u dien ce . .
This time he q uite refu sed to listen t o her pra yers a n d ,
told her c u rtly sh e m u st sen d the D uke at o n ce to

the V a tic a n or it wo u ld be the worse fo r him A l
,
.
rea dy the Vill a wa s bristl i n g with a rmed m en an d a s ,
Elis a bett a left the Pope s presen ce sh e saw L o ren zin o

’
an d his c apt a in s w a itin g i n the h all Even the .
D uke s e n emies wrote the M an t uan e n voy c o uld n ot

’
, ,
restr a in their pity an d a dmira tion a t the distress o f

this n oble l a dy whose te a rs wo uld h a ve melted the
,
!
most s a va ge hea rt
These letters fi o m C a stiglion e an d the D u chess ,
decided Fran cesco s co u rse of a ctio n He wr o te to

’
.
his fa ther-in -law en closin g Elis a bett a s a cco un t o f

,
’
her l a st i n effect u a l e fforts to s o ften the Pope an d ,
beggin g the M a rqu is for help i n the defen ce o f his

domi n ion s At the s a me time he wrote to C a s
.
t igli on e from Pes a ro a ckn owledgin g his letter a n d

, ,
s a yi n g th a t if it were n o t a c a se of riskin g his life

, ,
he wo u ld h a ve h a sten ed to throw himself at the

feet o f His H oli n esst b u t th a t a s it wa s he felt i t , ,
best to a sk his fa ther the M a rquis to i n tercede with

the Pope on his beh a lf He en ded by desirin g the .
Co un t to a ss u re the Holy F a ther th a t he wo u ld

a lw a ys rem a i n his good a n d fa ithfu l serv a n t a n d w a s ,
’
re a dy to s a crifice everyth in g a t his biddin g s a vin g , ,
he a dded sign ific an tly my life a n d freedom a s I , ,
h a ve s aid a b o ve 2
B ut the Pope wa s i n n o m o od to
’
.
brook del ay a n d on A ugu st 27 he p u blished the b u ll

,
by which Fran cesco wa s excomm u n ic a ted an d de

r i v e d o f a ll his St a tes a n d ho n o u rs Th a t week the
p .
D uchess left Rome a tten ded by C a stiglion e H a rdly .
h a d sh e re a ched h o me before the P a p al a n d Floren ti n e

forces u n der the comm an d of Loren zo de Medici an d
,
’
1 Lu zi p 7 0
o, . . M t i ti 7 9 2
ar na , .
Ren zo d a Ceri i n va ded Urbin o , His Holi n ess .

,
’
wr te C a rlo Agn ello s a dly i s m a kin g s u ch extreme

o ‘
,
prep a ra tion s fo r t his c a mp a ign th a t we c an o n ly

expect t o see the u tter destr u ctio n o f this p o o r y o u n g
D uke o f Urbi n o .
’
1
N othi n g wa s left Fr an cesco b ut to m a ke a l ast

ga lla n t st a n d a n d this he prep a red to d o with the
,
he lp of A lessi o B ec ca gut o an a ble c a pt a in whom the ,
M a rqu is h a d employed to fortify M a n tu a a n d whom ,
he n o w sen t t o his son -i n -la w s a ssist an ce Un

’
.
fortun a tely the Sp a n ish mercen a ries whom he h a d

,
en ga ged q u a rrelled with the It a li a n s an d o n e o f their

, ,
le a ders wa s sl a in by order of L uigi Gon z a ga to ,
whom the defen ce o f Pes a ro h a d been e n tru sted .
The D uke h a sten ed to the spot from Urbin o an d ,
broke in t o so V i o len t a p a ssio n th a t L u igi Go n z aga

threw up his comm a n d on the spot a n d took bo at for
M an t u a Urbi n o wa s n o w a tt a cked on three sides by
.
the en emy a n d a fter a v a i n a ttempt a t resist an ce

, ,
Alessi o B e cc agut o fin di n g his a mm un ition exh a u sted

, ,
threw his g un s i n to the Met au ro a n d retired to

Pes a ro O n S a t urd a y M a y 3 1 Lore n zo de Medici
.
, ,
’
e n tered Urbi n o witho u t opp o sition a n d most of the ,
other cities i n the d u chy o pen ed their gates t o the

victors Th a t s a me d a y the t wo D u chesses left the
.
p al a ce a t Pes a ro by a g arden d oor with o n ly a fe w ,
a tte n d an ts The you n g M a do n n a rem a rks a citizen ’

.
,
o f Pes a ro wh o wa s a n eyewitn ess o f their secret

flight co uld h a rdly w alk an d h a d to be s upported by
, ,
two o f her serv a n ts S o the poor l a dies climbed the

.
’
hill o n which the church o f the A n n un zi a t a stan ds ,
a n d desce n ded to the h a rbo u r where ships were in ,
re a din ess a n d their most v a lu a ble possessio n s h a d

a lre a dy been sen t o n b o a rd A few hours l ater the .
B h t R u m t 24 8
1
a sc e - e on , .
of the Rocc a of Pes a ro which did n ot s urren der till ,
J uly a n d the stro n g fortress of S Leo where the

, .
,
’
D uke s n ephew you n g Sigi smo n do V a ran o g allan tly
, ,
held the e n emy a t b a y fo r more th a n fou r m o n ths the ,
whole d u chy of Urbi n o was co n qu ered i n a few d a ys .
By J un e 6 the n ews re a ched R o me a n d b o th here

, ,
a n d i n Flore n ce the Pope an d his fa mily celebr a ted
their tri u mph with fireworks a n d ill u min a tion s O n .
August 1 8 a b u ll wa s issu ed by which Loren zo wa s

,
pro claimed D u ke o f Urbi n o Prefect of S in igaglia , ,
a n d Go n fa lo n iere o f the Ch u rch This docu men t was .
sign ed by all the members of the S a cred College ,
excepti n g the best a n d m o st lea rn ed a mon g them ,
C a rdi n a l Grim an i the Ven eti a n Bishop of Urbin o

, ,
who h a d a lon e d a red oppose the Pope i n this m a tter ,
a n d who r a ther th a n commit so gre a t a wr o n g left

, ,
!
Rome n ever to ret urn u n til a fter Leo s de a th
,
’
The o nly con cession which the M a rquis o f M a n t ua

co uld Obt a i n from the Pope wa s permission for the
exiled Pri n ces to live i n his domin ion s Accordin gly .
,
a t the en d of A u g u st the two D u c hesses took up ,
their a bode i n the Corte Vecchi a where they spen t ,
the n ext five ye a rs o ften redu ced to gre a t stra its an d

, ,
compelled t o p a wn their j ewels a n d melt down their

fi n est pl a te while the D uke exh a u sted his resources
,
i n va i n a ttempts to recover hi s p a trimo n y .
The gre a test symp a thy wa s felt on all sides fo r the

widowed D u chess who wa s driven i n to exile for the
,
secon d time i n her life a n d there were m an y wh o , ,
n ot witho u t re a son comp a red the Medici to the ,
B o rgi a s The Pope s n ephew Loren zo rem arked

.
’
,
’
M a rin Zorzi whose reports reflected c urren t opi ni on

,
i n Rome a t this time i s a st u te an d c a p a ble Of gre a t

‘
,
thi n gs He is n ot equ a l to Va len tin o b ut is little

.
,
1
S t xxi 3 23 t ; P s t iv 1 07 A lb e i iii 5 6
an a o, .
, e c . a or, . r , . .
L O RE N Z O DUKE O F URB I NO ,
429
in ferior t o him He h a s m a de himself lord o f

.
1
Floren ce an d wh a t he wills is law
, The n ew .
’
’
D uke s h aughty airs m a de him everywhere um
pop ul a r He w alke d thro ugh the streets cl a d i n
.
rich clothes a n d a tten ded by h u n dreds of foll o wers ,
a n d Ope n ly decl a red th a t he me a n t t o wed a bride
of ro y a l birth a n d t ake his pla ce a mon g the crown ed

he a ds o f E u r o pe At the Fren ch co urt the yo u n g .
Q u een Cl a u de listen ed with tea rs i n her eyes

to Federico G on z aga s to u chi n g a ccou n t of the ’
s u fferi n gs en d u red by the two D u chesses a n d both ,
sh e a n d her mother -i n -la w Lo u ise Of S a voy wrote , ,
pressin g letters to the Pope beggin g him to a llow ,
the exiles to live in pe a ce a t M an tu a Even .
Fra n cis I who h ad relu ct a n tly s a crificed Fra n cesco

.
,
M a ri a fo r re a son s of politic a l expedien cy m a de n o ,
secret of hi s dislike for the Pope s n ephew When ’

.
the P a p a l h ull wa s issu ed he sen t Loren zo a civil ,
letter of con gr a tula tion b u t a few weeks a fterwa rds ,
he rem arked to the Ferrarese en voy : This is all

Loren zo s doi n g a n d he is a s prou d o f himself a s he
’
c a n be bu t he is o n ly a simpleto n who pl ays a t bei n g

a c apta in a n d a gre a t m a n a n d bo a sts of these ,
con qu ests which h a ve n o t cost him a sin gle m an o r a

drop of blood a n d wishes to m a ke himself lord Of a ll
,
It aly B u t if he h as an y sen se he will be con ten t

.
with this on e St a te o f Urbi n o — I d o u bt myself if he

will ever m an age to keep it —for remember a ft er all , ,
he is on ly a merch a n t
1
A lb e i iii 5 1 r ,
N i t t i 8 1 V e di 27
. .
2
,
r , .
APPE ND IX
A S E L E CT I O N O F U N P U B L I S H E D D O C U M E NT S
Gi ovan n i S tefan o Cas tig li on e to Cr isto

fb r o Castig lim w .
M AG N I F I C E p res t a n t i ssi m e eq ues et a ffin i s h on oran di ssi m e

ac
Q ues t o p o v er o h om o B ar th olo m eo da Cast ili on o v en e da la

V M sp era d o ch e q uella gli h ab i a f re un a elym o in a d i
. . n a a s
ua le i n v e o sera un a
’
q uella O bli g t i on e h 1 ah a d a lui l q c e

’
a r
el m osi n a fio i t a pe e ss r e lui con st i t ui t o i

r r e x t em a n e c ess i t a
e n r
y
et b i s o g o e h a a fa r e c un q uello suo c o g a t o el q ua le er s n
n , p sere e
s t at o sua s ec ur i t a di epsa O bli gat i n e gli t i en e o cc up a t o t ut o o
q uello h e 1 h a i q ues t o m on d o si ch e ben h e s a p i a di q u n t a

c
’
n , c a
b on t si a la V M on d i m en o m e p s o d i scr i e gle (si c)

’
a . . n ar v r
q u st e p och p role e r i o man dargli epso B t h o l m pr ega d o

e e a c ar o eo , n
l V M i a c n t n t d i li ber ar lo d a q uello uo c g n a t o ch e i n
a . . s o e a s o
v e o s e a un o p
r r t a n t o p i et o s a q u t o
a er a lc un a lt ra ch e an a a
p ot ess f r l V M e a e a . .
Cet e um fa c i o i t en d e e a l V M co m o M ess er B a ldessar o

r n r a . .
m S
suo fi li o lo a b e et e m o lt o b e v i s t o d l n o s t r o I ll
lre
g t s en e n a
o
u i ue
n lm n t d t ut i
r sa em eri t a m en t per h i v ero n o p i a
e a e e c e n n or
e ss e e i u g n til e
p i u v i t uo s o q u
e t e e l V M h
e n f ar r an a a a e
re n
p ,
. .
p en s i e o d i o m p g lo q ui M i la O e f q ualch e p r n t a d o
r ac a n ar a n a re a e
h on e ole e s
or v a lat i d e l V M e d e t ut i li s uo i
era co n so on e a . .
p e t i A l V M d i c on t i uo m i ra com n d o Medi ola i

ar n . a . . n a . n
2 feb r uar ij 1 499 .
M 11 9
. V . a ffi n i s Jo S TE P HA N US DE CA STI LI O N O .
Mg a
co
ac p es t t i
r an e q ui t i a ffi n i e t t an
q ua m p t ih
a r o n ora n . D no C r i st h o
f or o d e Ca st i li on o ec . Ma n t ue Ci to
. .
[ Cod . V a t La t . . 8 21 0, f
7, . p pi
ar t ly r nte di n Ci an ,
C didan a t ure n uz i li p
a ,
’
.
430
APPE N D IX 43 ]
B a ldassa r e Castig li one to L uig i a Cas tig li on e .
M a g n i fica g en er o s a d o m i n a
ac et M a t er h on o r a n da Pe
hav er io p o c o fa sc r i t t o a la M V m lt i . . n on mi ex t en d e r o o o n
qu st e
p er
a h av c s a lc u a nov
n on N ui s t i a m
er be e o a n a o n
t ut t i p l D io g t i
er a p go la M V h d i b o ec p i t
ra a re . . c e a n r a o a
le lli g t
a m sc i v d le c o s e d i l
a e : e e c o m i st a h e i f
r a e a e e s : c s a
d l b d d i l : e c m e s t n o gli m i c i o s t i N o v q u
a e an e a o an a n r : e a
so nn o i mp t i te ui
er gr c o s e R o m
n en Pr go l M V
a n an a a . e a . .
ch st i s
e ad i bo a v og li a e m e a om
an a e d i a t ut t i li n o s t r i
n : r c an
a q u lla c t i n ue m i r co m d o D a A n t on i us h eret e per

e on a an : av
o tt o d a a sc olt are R o m 1 6 Mar t i i 1 5 03

. ae .
O b edi en s Fili us
B A L DE S A R .
-
Ma g ce
ac g s Di
e n er o e rre Aloi si e d e Ca s
t i gli on e M t ih
a r on o r . Ma n t ue .
[ C o d Va t Lat
. . . 8 21 0 f
.
B a ld assa r e Castig lio n e to Lu ig i a Ca s tig li on e .
Ma gn i fica g en er o s a D o m i n a
ac et M a ter h on o ra n d a : Cred o
c h e la M V a q ues t i di h a bi a
. . h a ut a un a m ia li t t era : c un
la q ua le era a llig a t a un a a M ess er N i c o lo P h r i si a la q ua le m a n

d a i per la v i a d i Ferr a ra p er o n on r epli ca r o m e t e le c o s a lt r a n e
d i t t e i n q uella H o ra m a n d o el m ula t er o cun

. un m ulo qu t , e a ro
m a zze di fichi : se q ui fo ss e q ua lch e a lt r a c sa m gli pi u o e o,
vo lun t i e la m a d a i
r l M V e dig a r
n fa n e p a t a
r a : a . . s n a r r e
M P oli ss en a
1
3
M F a ce h et a or L a ura E p er c h
e
1
r n sc a s . e
a d ss o e la q u d r a g e s i m
e i o v o gli o c f ss r e el m i o p cc t
a a on e a e a o :
ch q uest i fi h i i o li d o d us u a p er c h e a sp et t o h l M V
e c a r c e a . .
m i ri m d i q u lch s a la m i o v r c a s o c i o e f m o M Po li s
an a e e , or az ,
1
s en ael m ed em o M F n e ch n c h r lei : q ua lch ge la t i a

a
ra c s a a o o e n
d e c ot o g n i o v er a lt r i f ut t i c on fett i d i uch o D l M a t r r z ar : a a e
so rL a ur v ogli a lt o ch o t i i m x i m e d ess o h e
a n on o r e ra on : a a c
p u l n da t m i a de I gh i lt er s era on i n t e ue n d o lt r o
r
’
a a n ra , n r ne a ,
c o m h o sp er n za i n D i o S e la M V h ra h a ut i q uelli f ce i
e a . . . a or r
d a M i lan o ha r o m olt o ca ro h e la m e 11 m a n d i c .
Olt ra q ues t o : se q uelli m a es t ri d e leg n a m i del b or go h a v es
s i n o fa tt a un a m i a ca ss etta ch i o gli or d i n a i gi a m i lla n n i fa ’
h a r ei c a r o h a erla per el p es en t e l t ore

v r a .
A n ch p e ch orei f r q u lc h e c o p ert a d e t el per li

or r e v a a a
c v a lli s erei c o t en t ch e la M V m i m an d ss e q uell t ela

a , n o, . . a a
c h e li res t a d e q u ll t r b h a v echi h l m i s t i sf ri
e a a ac a, c e a a a a .
Q u do o Fean ersc ri ss i a l M V h e v less e m an d m i

a rra ra a . . c o ar
p an n o n e g per u p o di c lc e ro q u s t o l n n m i i spo s
n ar a a e a o r e .
V r i ho
o e ch e l m e 10 m n d a ss
ra ma
a o br u o h e pi u m i
a e, n n n c
pi a er ia b i h o Vorei b e h el f ss b llo h le
’
c an c . t an t n c o e e : e o c e
c a lc se pot e i o fare e pi u p r s t o n e a v n za ss e un p o c o h e me
e ss n e a c
m n ch a ss e
a
L a M V n on h ar a a lt r o fa st i d i o d el R o ss o
. . I O de le c o s e m i e .
di la n on scri v o n e d i m n do a la M V p erch e la v ed o ta t o
ne a . . n
timid ch e la n o
a o a pa l
p u h n ei c a ro s a p e e c o m e le
s r a re : r ar r
s ucced a n o e se m a i se q ui eta t o i en t e n e sa t o m egli r o

, a n ,
v o
m n ch o t r i s t e p r ol d i m e
a a e .
S ubi t o f t t p asq ua lo I ll 8 p efet t o c red o e i r a a M an t ua

a
‘
o
no 1
r v n
Q ues t i s er vi t o i del S D ueoa per la pi u pa rt e li far n n o co m

r r
a
p ga n ia I o. o n e a lh or n ne
po i
n, fin c h e on s a p i a e n on v e d a n
e ss er m eg li o v i s t o e i u r c on osci ut o h e h or a on s on o Qa u i c n
p .
er la D i o g r t i a t utt i s t i a m o ben e e i n p a c ch sa
m
p a L a S D u e . es
o gn i m o d o p i m h e p ss i q ua res i m a a d r a R o m a
‘
r a c a A lt ro ui n a . n
n on h a i m o
q ui d e n o v o ; q u lc h e c s a ch or p o t a d i re el
v a o a n r
R o ss o a bo cch a A sp et t o g n i m o d o h la M V m i m a d i
. o c e . . n
q u lch b o s l m e p e ch e q ui s o o m olt o i n p ec i o e pi ce o
a e n a a r n r a n
m olt o a la E x elle t i d el S ig n o s t c et i o h ar i m o lt o c
n a o
1
ro : e ar
ot er e e f g us t a e E q u an d o i no i u a e on
p g n ar
g r .
q p ve n ran n , r n
p gb d ci o se p t a a q ues t o m od o h u s at o i o de h v er
a ar a o r vs r c e a
u na p t t ch p a v en gan o d e lo I ll S M a ch es e o ue
a en e e
m
ar
o r
r r
M d m m a l S d uc a q ui se pur q ues t a g t i se po i mp e
a a a
r
: ra a
t re
ra .R aco d o a la M V q uelli d i r i de M ess Ti m o t h eo
. . n ar er .
Cred o n h or m an d ar a la M V q uelle s o p ra v est e ech i e pur

a c . . v ,
no o c er t o
n s .
I o fa c i o p en s i er q ua n d o m on s i gn or m i o R de M n t u s er a 3 10
a a
R el b on a i m o suo v
1 13
q u i cu n oi
n ri
g r a t i a e ua 8
,
n d r s o
“
n ers
n ui e d el c et t r m i o fra t ello q uan d o n on fo ss e a lt ro r i sp ett

a c a o
e p r ega l c h e i a c on t en t a ch i O l ro vi n alt r o p a t ro e
’
r a s
g i t c un v n
m i lle b elle par ole P oi a n dan d o a R o m co m e ogn i m o d o m i

. a,
ser a n ecessa ri o er la an d a t a d e I n ghi l t err so cer t o ch e li

p a,
v en ut a s e a p r es t
r a s lut o
m a per e ss er m i s t ato fa t t o c uss i b el a a
l lt
’
a ra v lt a i o n o
o or ei v e i el p a s e d e lo I ll
n v
m
S M ar n re n e
° ”
ch s di M t u p r n o m o s t r e d e es t i m r p c o la v olun t a
e e an a, e n ar a o
s u a,m a el p a mi er i de v i a G
r er lo d o v e la M Vo s a en r a zo . .
v l d o p t ess t ra fer i s
o en o t i li la
e d i m o lt o o lun t i er a
s r e : e o ve er a v .
Ci r c a q u s t l p eg o l se d g i a i sa r m i i o ch e li p a r
e o a r a e n v c e
p ch 1 d i q uel m d o m 1 g er O
er
’
0 o ov n ar :
Non sc i v o M d Fr n
r h ae M ss r T h o m a so per o
a . a cesc a n a e e n n
h v r t e mp
a e l M V d gn i a co m d m i a l ro i g
o a . . se e r an ar o e r n ra
t i li d l uo p res n t e
ar e h
s m i e s t t o c ri ss i m o e q u ll c e a a : a e a
s mpre m i a co m d
e R o m 28 A p ili s M DV I
r an o . e r . .
O b ed . F B AL
. . CA S TI LI ONE .
[ C od . Va t La t. .
, 8 21 0, f .
B a ld assa r e Cas tig li on e t o Lu igi a Ca s tig li on e .
Ma gn i fica g en ero s a D o m i n a e t M a t er h on ora n da : P er la

ac
lett era ch 10 sc r i v o el M a g M ess er ZO P ed ro V M i n t en d er a

’ °°
. . .
c i o ch e ui se e fa t t o c i r c a 10 a n d ar m i o : si ch e h a v en d o
q
r i sp o s t a 0 no 0 b o n a o t r i s t a sp er o v e d ere la M V a
, , , . .
Ca s a t i c o O v er o a G a z o lo T r o va r q uella s cus a d el n on a n d a re a
,
.
M a n t ua per la p es t e cr ed o si a super fluo : m a x i m e q ui p er ch e ,
t ut t o q u es t o s t a t o fa c h e lo I ll m
S M a r ch e s e n o n v o ls e ch i o o ” ’
a n d a ss e a M a n t ua s en za a lt re ci r cum lo q ut i on i : e cred o ch el ’
m ed em o si s a p i a a M a n t ua I o m ett o a o r d i n e per v en i r e e .
p rest o : si ch e n on s er o pi u lon go : s olo m i ra co m a n do a la

M V et a t ut t i li n o s t r i U r bi n i x xrj M a i j M DV I
. . . .
D e V M o b e figli o lo . . .
BAL . CA S TI L I ON E .
[ Cod . Vat Lat .

,
. 8 21 0, f . 64 ]
B a ld assa r e Cas tig lio n e t o Lu ig i a Cas tig li on e .
Magn ifica gen er o s a D o m i n a et M a t er h on ora n da : Non so

ac
se la M V h a r a ques ta p ri m a o ver q uella ch e é p o rta t a per

. .
M ess er N i c olo n ost r o ch e v i en e col c a v a llo E l q ua le e st a t o

, .
et e ca us a d e m i o fa s t i d i o a ss a i : ur er h a v er n e t o llera t o d e
p p
APPE N D IX 43 5
m olt o m agi ori t o llerar o an ch or q ue s t o . Preg o an ch o r la M V . .
a n on ne h a v er despi a cer e a lc un oh e fo r si e per el

: c m egli o
ch e v a d i c u ss i et 10 m
la e 10 p er s ua d o Q uella sella ch e e s o p ra
.
d et t o c a v a llo e li gua i m en t i t ut t i e l t es t era e q u lla rn a : e
c op erta d e p o p eg o la M V ch e li v og li a far go em r e
an n : r . . v a
c un d i li gen t i a e m x i m e la s ll ch e li ferri n on a r ugi n i s

a e a : r
ch an o el c a v a llo se r i m an d er a s ec un d o ch e n ui lo h a essi m
: v o
exce t t ch e fo si d e la s n i t a
o L a M V i n t en d er a d a S ca ra m ell
r a . . . a
e l p r o g re ss o d q ues t e c o s e i o m i p rt iro o gn i m o d o d i m a n e
e : a
p i c en d o D i o cun sp eran za d h a v er bon v i a ggi o L ass o

a a
’
.
Fr n ces h o q ui
a e l q ua l as t t ar a q uello fa m i g li o ch e h a e
c
p : e
m en at o i la 10 c a v llo poi t ut t i d ui m i agi on geran n o : e sp ero

n a :
er loro h a v er li t t ere d a la M V et a n c h or d a V bi n o ch e le
p . . r
d es i d er o a ssa i A ltr let t ere per el t emp o ch e h a ven i e se

. e a r
sera n n o i n d r i t e i n c a s a d e 11 Vi sm ar i o uer d e M on sig d e la

za ,
”
T orre, me M a n d o a Ma d Fran cescha un

v era n n o d r i et o . .
v en ta g li o : e n on ge lo h o m a n d at o p r i m a p er c h e m i c r ed a
c h e l r a c ord o fo ss e fa t t o er lei : t a n t o e r i o b a lor d o :
’
ur la
p p
S M Ma rga ri tt a lo m a n d a v a a lei a la q ua le q ua n d o v n a lt ra
r11 11
‘
vo lt a M a
Fra n cesch a sc r i v e
m e pi a cer i a pi u c h el o ra r i tt o
r a,
’
s p sc
d i c ess e : Sig ”a
m ia h on ora n da : ch e a i or e m i a h on or a ve n a
g m .
ch
’
e l si a
p p i c o lo err o r e , Q ue s t o ur a m e pi a cer i a c uss i .
v en t gli o a m p m olto b ello

a e ar q u l l v o le : lei si t en ga a e a ,
a e n a ch e h or m i l m o sc h e s i a n o er d a r p o c o fa s t i d i o s c u d
g
v
p a e e n o
me Non s r o pi u lo g
. S o lo m i a o m a n d o s e a fin e
e n o l . r c nz a a
M V et a t ut t i li n o s t r i s a n m i n r d un o a d un o
. . en z o a a .
Med i olan i 3 S ept em br i s M D V I . . .
De V M . . o be fi . .
B K (si c)
. . .
Le a lli ga t e ad U rb i n o
c a r o h e a n dassi n o ben e e h a rei a c
fida t a m en t e m a n on per m e ss o p o st a pur fid t m en t e per a : a a
a m or d e D i o a lcun o d el Ca r d i n a le s eri a b o n o 3 e l n on e p a rt i t o
’
.
Post scri p t a : p o co d e securt a cun la S M

I O ho p res o nu
11
.
M g ri tt a d e p r i re la let t era ch e li sc r i v e M Fr n cesch a

ar a a
1
a : e
p r m i h e la n on h abi a ben i n t es o 1 ch i scri ss i h e é ch e

a c 0 0
’
o : c
M M ga ri t t m a n d va lei a d on r li q uello v en t a g li o e v eli

1
”
ar a a a
'
ch r q ues t o v e t g li o a d ess o lo
’
i n n o a ha i
p g i en t e
on
p u e n : n a
m an do i O .
[ Co d . Va t La t . 8 21 0, t .
43 6 C O U N T B ALDAS SARE CASTI GL I ON E
B a ld assa r e Cas tig li on e to Luig i a Ca s tig li on e . .
M a gn i fica ac gen er o s a D o m i n a et M a t er h on o r a n da : Ho
re c ev u t o un a let t er a d e fa M V d e 27 d e a g o s t o per la q ua le :
h o i n t es o—ben ch e —l m o t de
. .
p ri m a lo h a uesse p esr en t i t o a r e
q uel p o v ero figli o let t o d e M ess er J a co m o e b ch l m i p

en e e a ra
ch e D io vs m ne sp ss o i ta t e
i it i o lt o e n n e v a i c o s pur lo
r e e,
ri n r t i o
g a et ss i m i d o le de M ss er J o m e M P li
: a a e ac o
1
o sen n a
li q u li c d o h e s i o m lt o ffl i t t i
a re c o
p i u di q ue s t o
an I o a : n n . O
m n d o pe M ess e N i c lo n o s t r li v li h i n ult i m o la M V m e
a r r o o e c e . .
r i ch i ed e q uelli , lt i cu l v t g li o l a I llus t e M M ar
r n e en a ,
a r
a
g i t ta S n s ev e i li m d o l i
ar a d n r na M F h an e a o a re a -
1
r a n c esc a,
i t d en d o h 1 g li v olea m d ar e s i u d bi t o r e pon
’
n en c 0 e an : er a s o e s
d e gli u l t t e
r v a i gr t i a sua S Me i c sc d el m l d e
e ra e r n a r . r n re e a e
M ss r T h om
e e n ost L M V i t d er a d M ss e N i c olo
as o ro : a . . n en a e r
n str d q ues t o v llo be ed t t h D i o v o l ss h 10 n n ’

o o e ca a n e o c e e e c o
l h u m a i v i s t o pe m i v tu a d l t ut t o l g d a
’
a esse r a en r : e e a e ar
i d u bi t t f d
n Q ues t f m i li o h l c o d uc
a a e e . m n o i a c e o n e a a o : v or e
c h el t o
’
ss s ubi t o s ubi t
rn a he l M V
e c i o ch el p o t ss e o : e c a . . a
’
e
to a i u p s t li f c ss b v u i l q u l i o
rn
p re rre
e n o o a e e a e n ro c n : e a e
f o h e s a e m d t o p l i di C em
ar c er r an m i cu o h
a er a v a r a : ne r c e
c s t ui s t i sp tt
o ah l c v ll a i a pre
e t t
a re c 10 I ll
”
S e a a o s a sen a o a
111 0 ”
M a c h es e m c m 1 e C s t i c o h i c o h l M V 10
r : a o e
’
a a a are ar c e a . .
sp a ss e i q u p i m d r l c v ll
zza n a : M n t u i om
o an a e e a a o a a a n c
p gui d M ss N i c lo pe C l t t o o ue a lt ch p ss e
a a e e er o r ar e , r ro e a re
i p r op o s i t o
n l M V m e visi l h a i t es c o s a lc u
e a . . a se a ar n o a na
d e q u s t o c a v llo h e h a b i d tt o l S M ch es
e a c A lt o o n a e e
”
ar e . r n
mi cc o r e pe h o
o r se on i fi i t m n t
r r co m an d
ra : mi n n n a e e a ar a
q u lla e p ega l h e l
e sfor i d e s t
r s n
r a c di b on an i m o
a se c ar a a e :
p e ch i o p ot i h v e c o s a l m un d o h e pi u d esi d as s e d e
r
’
O n n re a r a c er
q u s ta M ess er N i c lo upli r a a b o ch a o i o m a n ch o n el
e . o s : v
’
s cr i v ere Medi olan i 3 S ept em b ri s M D VI

. . . .
De V M . . o be d i en t e Fi gli olo
B A LD A S A E CA S TI LI ONE .
[ C o d V a t La t
. . .
,
8 21 0, f .
T olo meo S p ag n oli to B a ldassar/r e Cas tig lio n e .
M a gn ifico m ess er B a ldesa r : Mi a le gr o d il feli c e et h o n or a t o

r i t or n o di V M . p o c h i a m i c i l b b bi a L a
111
q uan t o for si
’
a .
r i sp o s t h a ut a d al N I ll S c i r c a i l c a s o suo e ch el si ”n o ’
a v . .
c on t t a ch e per q u lchi di la p oss i v en i

en Ca s a t i c o
a r e ed er r a a v
l M M su m t e c o m e r ece a l M
a
” a
a a r V la q uale pr ego n on v a
1111
.
re s t i d e co mm an d a m i gn i v lt a h e la p o ss i s ru i e h e m i
r ,
o o c e r : c
r e ut a r o r ece e m i or b en efici o er en d o la h e se fo ss i i o
p g v r a s v ,
c
ser v i t o d a a lt r i i n co s a d s d e a t i s i m a E t a lei s emp e m i

y e r s . r
ra c c o m a n d o Man t uae x iij Febr uarn M D ii . . v .
M V . . d edi t us P TOLE ME US .
Magn ifico E qui t i a or h on mi i . D no

B ald esa ri Ca st i gli on eo .
[ Cod . V at .
l
La t .
,
8 21 1 f
.
B a ld a ssa r e Castig li on e to L uig i a Castig li on e .
Ma gn ifica ao « g en ero sa Do mi na et M a t er h on or an da : La
M V . . c o m e i o pe D i o son gi on t o s
i n t en d er a e s a lv o
q ui r an o a
B o log a ’d o v e h o t o v a t o la 8 d el o s t ro S el S D uc a e t utt i
n
1
r
1
n
”e ”
d ui h ozi so p r t i t i d e q ui I o li s gui r o d i m an e e c ed o
n a . e ,
n r
p ot er r i t orn a re i n quelle ba n d e fin q uest a p qua p er ch e l as :

’
S D uc a n on se e c ura : Fr a t t o i o h a r ei ca o ch e la M V
”
n an r . .
p ro cu a ss e el fo ss e p o ssib i le t o v ar per qu lch e v i a q ua lc h e

r 8
’
r a
d en ri per q ues t o m i o d eb i t o h i o h o fa tt o o l Vi s m a ra h
a c
’
c c e
son o 25 d uca t i d o r o p r e s t a t i o i le r o b e t o lt e d a lui oi

’
p p : e :
q ues t o d ebi t o cun Mon si g d i Ferr a a so be e h e la M V n on ”

r : n c . .
p en s a m ai a d a lt o r .
B i ogn a r i a ch e la M V fa cess e ch e Fr an cesch o a n d ass e fin a

s . .
M i l n o per fa r fare un a ca ss et t a e m et t er vi d en t ro q uelle

a :
b r d e h e r e t o o li e fa le m et t r e i c ss d e li Vi sm ar a h e
a c s rn r e n a a c
le m n d a ss i mo
a M a n t ua e c er t a lt e r ob e c o m e sa Fr
a ,
e r ,
an
ce ch o e p e c h e l S D uc h d on a t o a Mon i g S a s ev er i o
’ ” ”
s : r a a s n n
u ell c a e h e c h i M d q ll l h e e ch i m
’
q o n m c se
a n u e t a a or o e a ro c s a a
B o m b o o rei ch e Fr n ces h o ge li c on d uc ess

,
v a m e r a co m an c e e
APPE N D I X 43 9
d ass e a sua S 1 111

p R ma
a r esen t a n d oli q ues ta alli g a ta : e a q ue l
B o m bo m e t t a q uello colla r o d el suo c do de s et
’
or o or ne a .
P oi s ub i t ch o
’
e l si a t or n a t o , s ubi t o v o r ei c h
’
e l v i ss e
en in
q u a : e f c ss e
a e co n d ure q uelli m uli e se q uello che a m a a t o n on l
s er a g u ar i to la ssa r lo li ; e la som a i n s i em e ch e m ch o an e
n c essa r i
e a : e c uss i li t re m ei ca ua lli c un b on a d i li gen t i a e
q uello c
t ur h et t o , d el q ua le h ar ei ca ro ch e l a M V se co n
. .
si
gli asse c un S ebast i a n o , 3
’
el fo ss e bon a
p o co de c va r li nu
s a g ue
n . fa rgelo ca v a re , a m e pi cer i a per el lo g o c a m i n o
a ,
n
he fa t t o : orei a n ch or ch el m an g i a ss e n i en t e
’
c n ui h a vi m o n on v
di fen o se n on b i a v a e p a li a .
Pr ego a n ch or la M V . . ch e v oli a so lli ci t a re M a es t r o F r a n

c esc h o d a la S c uo la
v er Hi e on i m o suo o r figli o lo d e u m q ua lch e
p ut o ch e h abi a b n m a o d a s i v ere ch v oless e v en ir a s ta r
o a n cr : e
m c o c m e h o d i t t o a l M V a lt re v olt ch e h o gra n d i
e , o a . . e, e n
s i m o b i s g o A lt o n on sc i v o a l M V se n on ch q uella
o n r r a . . e a
s emp re m i r com an do B o omi e xxij Februa r ii M DV I I

a n . .
Di V M O bed i en t e Fi li olo
. .
B A L D A S S A R CA STI L I ONE .
[ Cod Va t La t
. . . 8 21 0, f . 74 ]
B a ld assa r e Castig li on e to Luig i a Cas tig liovw .
Magn i fica ac G en er o s a D o m i n a : e t Mr h o n o r : . D a P ed r o n e
e d a l G o bb o h o r ecev ut o q uelle r ob be t ut t e ch e mi scr i v e la
M V . . ch e mig cs on o s t
o s i la r i
g a t i o ate el r a t i ssi m e, n r as s a i :
n o s t ro G b b i o ge l h p rd on at p e ch la M V lo h a ’
o o o e a : r e . .
i n p o t ect i o e
r lt a m e t e i o li i n s eg v
n : be e
a r s l e c si n na a n : e o
g i o en et o c h e
v 1 n s a pp i a d r d l P o gg i o
’
onM n t ua l a n a a a a se
n o n h a la b i l E v a ge li s t a é v en ut
a a . et e m i b i s og n a t o d
n li o ar
q u r n ta sc ut i e c s i h o fa t t o a q u lli ch h a ean o d e n d a
a a : o e e v a ar
Fi o e a si h e q u d la M V p o t ra m d m n d e li lt i
r nz : c an o . . an ar e e a r
la m i f a g a t i ass i per s t i sf
ar r a q u s t i b i s og i
a adi q u st
, a ar e n : e o
n on d i c a lt o p e c h e so
o he l r o m n ch e a d e solli i t e e
r c a n n a r c ar :
q uelli d l c t e B h i o c h o as p t t o o v e o u r i sp s ta
e on occ er n an r e r s a o
li d en i ch 10 d bb h u d el C p gn o lo s o o m o lt p c h
’
ar e o a er ar e n o o i
e sa t i sfa
r a q ues t i d eb i t i et a c h or m i b i s o g n a m
r h n
p e a n za r : c e
li p c o m en ch e u d uca t e m e
va o l d i i sp s p m n
per o zzo a n e a er e e
li c va lli i h 10
a m i sc or d o d e hi m i di e d r d e a i
: s c e n on c a n r .
A sp ett o ch e l M V m n d i X t fo o S m i r ld o on q uelli
a . . a o r e a c
c a v llia
g h 10 per u
: a ve lt m i ge lo h b bi sc r i t t o
na c
’
n a ra a a a :
v o r i a c h or
e h e v en i ss e q u llo Vi ll n tt
n c llev o d i X t o f o e a e o a or
p ot ia ss e h fin o q ualc h e d i le st t e e o m pi i
r e r c e e f si a ra s r ss n o : or
p es t o Co n f t o n c h or a ss i la M V a t orr e a lt t t i h o m i n i
r . OI a a . . ro a n
c o m e la h a I n su 1 a r a e f ex p di r e pres t i ss i m o d e b t t r
’
: ar e a e e
con d u q uelle b i v e p ch e d ub i t o h e o s i a t a v gli a

r a : er c n n no r a
M nt u D i ci m t t l m
a a : A lt r n on sc i v er o lla M V
o e a a an o : o r a . .
se n o he n q u lla s emp re m i ra cc o m d
c a I B o lo gn a
e di an o . n a
v d e J uli o M D X . . .
De V M . . Ob . fi.
B AL . CA STI LI ONE .
[ Cod . Va t Lat . .
,
8 21 0, f .
XI I I .
Fr a ncesco, D u ke o
f Ur bi n o, to B a lda ssa r e Ca stig li on e .
Ma gn i fice d i lect i ssi m e no st er . In q uest o p un t o h a bbi a m o

r ecev ut a q ues t a d el lo co t en en t e d ella M a r ch a la q ual v i m a n
d a m o a cc io p ot i a t e m o s t ra r la a ch i v i p a r er a Q uelle d el a lt r i .
S i”
Ca r d i n a li v i m a n d er em o d i et r o a q ues t a a v i sa t en e d e lle
sco m e sse ch e s e s o n n o p o s t e e t a q u a n t o er Cen t o : et ch i
p
i n d u ra l O pp i n i o n e d elli pi u c i r c a 11 p a p a t o U rbi n i p ri m o
’
.
Mar t u M . D X iij
. .
F R AN C I S C US M A R I A D ux U rb i n i
S R E Ca pi t a n eus G en erali s
. . . .
Mag di l
°° mo
s
n o t r o D om n o B a ldasar i i
Cast i gli on o o ae, t o, to . R m ci ci .
[Cod
'
. Vat La t . .
,
8 21 1 f .
F r a n cesco, D u ke o
f Ur bi n o, to Ba ldassa re Castig li mw .
Ma gn i fice d i lect i ssi m e s t er A v en g q ues t s an t crea t i o e no . a a a n
d el po t i fic si d i ffe i sca a ss a i et h e c s m olt o i mp or ta n t e

n e r : c o a
n on h b bi a t e cha sc i v ern e Non d i m en o ce s r a c ar o i n t n d er

e r . a e e
ua lchi a d a m en t i d i c o s t a et q ua n t o i l p o t et e far e er i d v a e
q n
p
B o lg t t a s en a sp d i r e C v lla ro p o s t a
e z e a a a .
4 42 C O U N T BALDAS S ARE CAS TI GL I ON E
a vi so : a cc i o n on si m o ig
a n oran t i d elle c o s e p ro p o st e . U r bi n i
M a r zo M D
x ii i
j . . X iij .
FR A N C I S C US M A
D ux U rbi n i
S R E Ca pi ta n eus G en er ali s
. . . .
[Cod . Va t Lat . .
, 8 21 1 , f .
Fr a m esco , D uke f
o Ur bi n o, t o B a ld assa r e Cas tig li on e .
M ess er B a lt a ssa re a m a n t i ssi m o . N e st a t o gra t i ssi m o i mt en

’
d er e p er la v ost ra ch e li si a q ua lch e sp era n za de ca v ar e bon

c on st r uct o , si d elli c on t i v ecchi c o m o et i a m d el Qua rt a r on e .
Il ch e et i am n e r p li c a e ser G a br i ello . La u d a m o l o p er a
’
v o st r a et s umm d ili g a en t a , i ex h o r t an d o v e q uel te mp o c he

seret e li a no d es i st e e
n r d e t a le i mpr es a ,
s a p et e q u a t o c he n
si a o s t ro ut i le e t
n i n t e e ss e P et rea p er c h e H or t i o n e
r . r e a
d i m n da li e t i a de v n i e d n i per q u lc h e d i e p i a c e a
a c n e r a o a ,
v r
i n t r i m s upp li re i n t en e
e d c o t i uo a d i s t d elle n o v e d
rn e e n n v a o e
q uella Co t e t s o p ra t uct m t e er n i n bo a gr t i d l
r e o an n e n a a e
s umm o P t i fi e t r com an da e a lli o i S Pi ed i t ben e

on c e
mi
a rn s e
l
v a et e . P i sa ur i x Ma n M D . . Xii
j .
FR . M “
D ux U r bi n i
ac S R E Ca p
. . .
s
gen erali s .
[ Cod . Va t Lat . .
,
8 21 1 , f .
XV I I .
F r an cesco, D u ke f
o Ur bi n o, to B a ldassa r e Cas t igli on e .
M esser B a ld a ss a r e : H a v em o r ec ev ut o la lett er a v o s t ra et
v ed uto qua n t o v oi n e scri vi t e c i r ca li c red i t i n o st ri q ua li
h a b b i a m o d e s i gn a t i a l R m
M o n s d e M a n t ua Vi re sp on d em o
° ”e
.
h a v er e p r es o et p i gli a re t a n t o d i sp i a c ere q ua n t o si a p o ss i bi le a
,
d i re ch e M on el t h esaur i er o ce m a n chi d e la fed e sua : q ua le

”e
n on s o lum h a d a t o a n o i : et c e l h a m a n d a t a a d a r e fin
’
ua
q
et et i a m h a d a t a t a n t e v o lt e a l p r e d ett o M o n
m
R i l ch e ”e °
e c on t ra o gn i ex pect a t i on e n o s t ra : p er ch e si d a t uct i li a lt r i
h o m en i d e l m o n d o ce t r o v a ss i m o m a n c a t i d e la p a ro la lor o : da
M o n M e ss er B ern a r d o d a B ibi en a a m i co n o s t r o p r ec i p uo n o n
re
APPE N D IX 443
c r ed i a m o m ai d e v ess e m a n c a r e
ci in p arte c
a l un a : T uct a vi a
q ua n d o n on
po t eri m o fa r e a lt ro c i d oler i m o i n fra n oi m ed es i m i
d e la d i sgr a t i a n o s t ra : m a b en v o lem o ch e si a t i cun r o e l p ed et t
M on t hesa ur i er o , et ve n e r esen t i a t i i n n o m e n o s t r o q ua n t o si a
”e
p oss i bi le a d i re : de q ues to m a n c a m en t o d e fed e fa c en d o m o lt o

b en e c p a ce
a S S
. . d a n n o ch e r ecevem o c h e per n on
ch e ult r a el
e ss ere sa t sfa c t o
i e l p r ed et t o M o n R m
n o i p a g a m o o gn i m e s e
”e °
c en t o d u c t i d i n t ere ss i me p r em e pm 1 h o n or e ch e e ss en d o s i
’
a e ,
d a t o p h a m (si a c ) he c n o i n e si a sa t i sfa c t o , et el si a tu toc el c o n
t r a ri o c he a lt ra cos
m on d o Vo l n d o h
a d el e d o li a t i
g : e c e ve n
fi o l v i v o c e d e t al c os a
n a or p eg n d o S S h e n on ogli
e : r a . . c v
m an ca r i d e la p r o m ess fed e p er ch e o i i n t u t e le o c orr en t i e

e a : n e c
sue se i m o r
p e f re t a n tr c o
a m e e le c o s e n o s t e p o p i
o, n r r r e .
P et e ea p er c h e H o a t i o h d
r r et r o a si q u i p
r u o b i s o gn o
a a r v r er n
n o s t ro n on m an ca r i t e d e s upp li ca re o i li i n ad i sarn e c o t i n ua v v n
m en t e de t uet e le n o v e d e 1a p e ch e m gi o e a pi a ere n on : r a r c
ne
p o t eri st e fa r et m a x i m e r et r o an d o si el p re d et t o H or a t i o v
a b s en t e .
A p ss o i o scr i v o ua lett era a l M a r c h es e P h o bu s et a l

r e v
1
e
M ar ch s e G h i ra rdi n la q u le s era q ui lli ga t a E t p r ch e n e

e o
2
a a : e
p rem e g d em e t e h a e n e esp o s ta o lem o ch e usi a t i ogn i

ra n n v r r ,
v
d i li gen t i d e d a l i m an o de M ess er S b s t i n o S uli et

a r a n e a a a ,
p r gar lo ogli s i l d o v sse m an da r e un o m ss a p o s t per

e v
’
e
'
e o a
a i ac r
e e o s t ro m a n d r la et fa r la co n i n are i n m o p ro p i a
p n a
g ,
s an r
d 11 d e t i M a c h s i t f re o g i i st n t i a ch e p res t i ss i m o me
e e r e ,
e a n n a
h a bb i an o la r e sp s ta p er c h c o m e e d i c t o d i de a m o g ra d
o e es r n e
m en t e t a le r esp o s t a E t o i s d es i d er a t i farn e c o s a gra t a v ed et e

v e
e e t i a lm en t e ch e la v a d i o m i o et er m ess o fida t o : E t
p r s n
p n n
ben e a let e
v U bi i xx iij I un n 1 5 1 3
. r n v .
FR A N C I S C US M A R I A D ux U b in i U bi s r r
Prefec t a c S R E Ca p i t G en erali s . . . .
8
.
[ C d V t L t 8 21 1 fo . a . a .
, , .
XV I I I .
F r a nc esco, D u ke o
f Ur bi n o, t o B a ld assa r e Castig lion e .
M ess er ss
B a ld a In q ues t o
a re : di ult i mo d e G i ug n o h a v e m o
o B re v e d e N S pe l q ua le S ua B me m da he
”° ”1 0
r ece ut o un . r e an c
1
Ph b u G z g
ae s on a a .
2
G h i ra r d o R an
go n e .
44 4 C O U N T BALD A S SARE CASTIGLI ON E
stia m o in or d in e i n s i em e
s t r G e t edar m e (sic) l cu m le no e n a
p o t ere ca l h a e ue o V eron a ogn i v o lt ch e S ua B

va c r rs c elo a
ne
c o m a n d ara No i ch e ult a cogn o cem o ess ere Obli g a t i et i a m

: r s
d esi d era m o g ra d em en t e s t i s fare S ua B n i n t uc t o q uello a

ne
p ot i m o E t p erh o olem o ch li fa cci at i i n t en d re ch n oi et le

a : v e e e
ge t e n o s t re s em se m pre p o m pt i et pare h i a t e a t u t i li
n o r a c c
c m n d m en t i de S S m lt ro d e ider m o h e e ui re et
o a a
“
. e a s a c s r ,
s at i s far S B i t u t e le c s ch e s i n o p o ss i bile et sp e d e e
e .
ne
n c o e e c a ,
n r
n n o lum el s t t m la v i t p p i i g n i sua s t i f ct i o e
‘
o s a o a a ro r a n o a s a n
e t b en efici o L e ben v er o ch e h v e d o a n d r e el luoco d o v e

.
’
a n a n
d i s egn a la S S ua n oi d esi de m o h e S ua B n e m d i c o m e
1 1
ra c
ne
an
c a p i t a n eo et n o c o m e pri v at o o d u t i ero c i e um un a
n c n c , o , c
g u r d i a de fa n t i i n m o d ch e oi p ot i m o h a e e la o bed ien t i
a ,
o, n a v r a,
et a n ch o h a v en d o q ua lch e su ct o d e li S p g n li c o m e s p et e a
p s e a o , ,
n on o r essi m o
v r d r e d m t t c i n e le m n o lo o per m d o
an a a e er a r o
ch e o le d o i lo ro u s are t er m i e
v n c i i u o s i i s t r o n i n on ce n n sc n n , o
p o t ess m o d fen d r e
e V i s et e p ud en t
e e reg et e q u s t o
. oc a so r e, e
n s t o i n q u llo m o d o h e
o r i p e si a l p o p s i t
e o st
c ma b nv ar a r o o n ro : e
o r tu to d e ti e h e n o stro S r es t i be s t i f ct o d e n oi
”e
s
p a c t a v r re c n a s a ,
et ch l ch e d an d o c i S S c nv g u r di a
’ 111
g oe hi co n sc u i t . na o en en e a ,
c m a r a so euol o s o lum h e s i a m o p r a d are a V n a

o e n e, n n c e n er o
l bi s gn a ss e n l fuo c p o p i o p r u s e v i t i et c u s i
’
ma 5 e o e o r r e s o r o :
lo f et cum q uelle pi u cc o m d a t e p
ar e l h si p o ss i b i le a la
a o a ro e c e a
Su S a
2
d cui li a t i i m i p i d i h um i lm e t e e e m a n
1
e a s nc ss e n n r co
da ri t e U bi n i lt i m I un n 1 5 13
. r v a .
F MA D ux U rb i n i et c R. . .
S R E Ca p i t G en er a li s . . .
”
.
M g dil a
‘o
st D m i B ld i
m°
no ro o no a asar
d C t i gli t e as on o , e c .
I n cs d M s d Ti ih i
a a e on
re
e r ca r c o n
B g or o .
[ C d V t L t 8 21 1 f o . a . a .
, .
X IX .
Fr a n cesco, D uke o
f Ur bi n o, to B a ld assa r e Ca stig li one .
M esser B a ld a ss a r e H a v em o r eceut o let t er e n o s t re d e ult i m o

d e gi ug n o et d e 1j d el p res en t e et v ed ut o q uan t o n e scr i v i t e
,
d elo a ssi gn a m en t o d e S o la r olo ch e v ole far e N S a M on ,

”O re re
n ostro R de M a n t ua : et li d i ficu lt a ch e fa el p r ed ett o M on s

m °
G o n za g a n on ui m n d m o a lt ra r esolut i on e ess en d o i l m ess o
a a ,
i n pro ci n ct o de p t i e A lt a v o lt q u n d o h rem m o co m
ar r : r a a a
m o d o d e t e mp o vi r es
p d
oner i mm o i l ch e n on v orr i mm o exs ec
p
s
ta ti ma pi u t ost o t orn ast i a d n o i sub i t o : P i sa ur i xj a
M a rj
M D X i ij
. .
°
E L I S AB E T FE LTR I A DE G O N ZAGA
U r bi n i D uci ssa .
Mg a
co
a fli n i n ob is a m a n t i ssi m o d mi i
o n
B a ldasar i Cast i li on o, et c .
[ Co d . Va t La t .
,
8 21 1 , f .
XXI .
E li sa betta Gon z ag a t o B a ld assa r e Ca stig lion e .
M ess er B a ldasserra : L a I ll et r everen M s ora Clar a n os t ra .

a
c ogn a t a et s orella h on ora n da per un o cred i t o h a cun i l 8 , .
P a n d olph o da A r i m i n o c o m e p r i m a et po t i o r e cr ed i t ri c e v o len ,
d o d i m a n d ar e c on t ra li b en i q ua li lui h a v ea a d A r i m i n o h a fa c t o ,
d o m a n d a re a V S la co m m i ss i on e d i la ca u sa sua : d a la qua le
. .
i n t en d em o h a v er h a ut o b on a i n t en t i on e : H ora d ubi ta n do si
ch e sua c o mm ett i o a li cler i ci o
[ ]
S 131
n on la a ud i t or i d i
si fa cc i m m
C m er
a et li
p
a :oi n o
[ i ] or t a le i p
ner la Inn h e a
g s z
s o lit a d i la Cort e c o m e a ch o pe el p o ch o m o d o di ssa ,

n r e
p ed tta M d si der o s a d i o m e ben efici o et c o m m o d o suo per

r e
1
,
e n
e l s i g ula e a m o e ch e li p ort a m o c o m e s a p et e h v e m o sc ri p t o
n r r a
al S M I uli o ogli o p er r e u N S ch si d egn i c o mm et

C°
. an v a c n . . e
t erl a m on s R de S n t o Vi t a le eder i t e a n ch o oi par

a .
310
a : v v
la rn e a sua S et cun ess a p a r la r n e a n ch o i n o m e n o s t r o ala ua

. n s
S 11
t d i gra t i a d i m a n dar li q ues t a c o m m i ss i on e i n el p red et t o
e
R m
Ca r d i n a le i
°
el q ua le ffect o n on v o gli a t e m a n ch a re di
n e
o p er a n e p o ss i b i le so ler t i a et st u d i o ch e v er a m en t e n on n e
:
t r i st e fa re c o s a i u g ra t a P i sa n r i xx m a i i 1 5 1 3
p o p . .
E L I S A BE T DE G O N Z AGA
Felt r i a d e m an o pr o p ri a .
M d il tt i i m
°°
est D mi B l
ss o no ro o no a
t h aser i Ca st illi on o, et c .
[ Co d . V at Lat . .
,
8 21 1 , f .
APPE N D IX . 447
XXI I .
Chi a r a d i M on tefeltr o to B a lda ssa r e Cas tig lion e .
Ma gn i fico M ess er B a lt h a sser r a (si c) m i o L a M V sa q ua n t o . .
la I ll M D uch ess a n o s t ra et i o li h o sc r i p t o c i r ca le c o s e m i e
m a 1
”
di A r i m i n o : E t il d e s i d er i o c h 10 h o
’
o b t en er e da N S . . ch e la
c us a
a c o m m ss a i n l R C d in le S V i ta le E t la i sp s t a
si a e e
mo
ar a
1°
r o
h ut d l S M n s t r o d i l q ua l i pur d es i d ero lo eff ct o

a a a .
C°
o : a e O e
q u le pi u sper o per m e o et o p a d i la pred t t V M ch e p r

a z er e a . . e
a lt i P o u t ut t o el c or e l p reg o i a c o t en t
r : er c n o li i t a s n a s c a re
t lm e t e
a n h e i n e h bbi a r o lu t i on cun ff t o E t d i
: c s a mi es e e ec a v sa r
p t i c ul r m en t e c o m e et i n ch e t er m i n i la c o s si
ar a h lo a a : c e
r i c e v ero i p i a c e e supra m odum g ra t o da la p red et t a M V a la

n r . .
q ua le m i r i co mm an d o U rbi n i i ij I n n i i 1 5 1 3 . v .
FE L TR I A S OR O R C LA R A .
P r eg o co n t ut t o el c ore la M V v o gli a con la p r ud en t i a sua

. .
o p p
er a r e s m o d o i o O t en
er
p g a la g ra t i a q uella i n t en d era d es i d er o .
S O ch p o r t i t e m o
e l feli c m m or i a d el S m i o fr a d ello
a a re a a e e .
a m or uo i ut a t e m e so
s n c o a s t e d v o t o d l g lo r i o s o S an
a a r e e e
p e r ,
Fra n es h o e de S c ta Ch i ar
z c p e h o h abi a t e I d i o n an t e li
an a, r a
o ch i e q ues t i doi glo i ossi m i S an c t i v o s t ra s or ll s ora e r ,

e a
t ut t e l a lt
’
m on a ch e ch e m i li t an s o tt o el t i on f t exi llo
re o r an e v
d e q ues t glor i s Ve g i : E l c r p o de l q u le
a o a f ret (si )
r ne o a a se a e c
si a i n m a n o d e q uelle v i v a s c on d o l su v o lo t a n on d ubi t o no e a a n
v e re n d er c op i s i m i t i i n q u st v i t e i n l lt r e ue o bli g
a o er e a a
’
a a a
r t e e t ut t l r li g i o e a s t r p p et u lm e t p r g r I d i p r
a e n no a er a n e e a e o e
v oi .P l l t t ra d e l m i S D E li s a i n t en d eret d i ffus
er a e e a a . .
, e a
m n t e el t ut t o p e h i t e um a t q ue i t e u m ec m n d q ues t a
e r o r r r o a o
c o sa e per 1 m or de I d i o p a ss i s ecret a p q u s t c us a sc i v o a
’
a er e a a r
lo 111 I uli an o l a lig t a Non d i m e t i chi et i a m q ue lla m i a

1110 ’
a . n
ca u s d Ar i m i n o
’
a .
Al mi M M ss o B lt h°°
C e er a as ser ra as
t igli Rm on e . o ae .
[ Co d . Va t Lat . .
, 8 21 1 ,
XXI I I .
Chia r a di Mon te
f eltro to B a ld assa r e Cas t i lio n e
g .
Magn ifico ss n d o i m olt o d s i d ro s a ch l

B a lda ssera . E e o e e
’
e
lo c b o d i S Clar d i A ssi si o d v e e i l g lo r i o s o Co p o d i q uell

11
a o r a
Sa n c t a i red ucesse a l O bser va n t ia

s c i o fusse rec t o et gubern a t o : a
448 C O U N T BALD A S SAR E CASTI GLI ON E
c o m e m erit a m t e si d o v ea E t fusse leva t o da le Con v e t u l
en : n a e
q ua le i n ss o c m e d m o lt i i t d i i fui i f m t et e t i s
e o a c a n n or a a : no
s i m o v i v i m o m n c h o h e r li gi se t h n e t e A l t emp o di
a a c e o e o s :
Pa p a I u li o fe m ae t e t a i m i fuss d t o per t le ffect i l d i c t o

. . n e a a e o
lo c o cun : i m o di n d r li
an p i gli lo et red u lo a l d i t a
a a ar r a c
r eli g i o n e n o s t a Ob e antin rC m e n c h o d a m olt i ci t a d i n i

s rv a : o a
m i n e era f c t o i n st n t i a a
1
S ua S co n des en d e a et e a n :
1
c va : r co
c un or d i n e h i o m i elli ges un o c fess ore et h e

’
t en t o : c se on : c
d a lui t n on lt r i i f c ess e l v i s i t
e a Et s on v olev a a lt ra
a a a : n
m e t e i p es t lev rlo d la c ura d i li Con v n t u li I O l

n s r o a a e a . a
q ua le n on v o lev pe m o d o lch un o le v a m i da l cura eta r a r a
t ot le O bedi en t i a d i li m ei s u p e i or i et d
a l r egula i n la r a a
q u le h o f c ta l m i a p ro fess i on e n on v ols i c ept r E t c o si

a a a , a c a e :
r i m a s l c o s a i n r o lut
e a E t h a v e d pu el m d es i m o d es i d r i o
es a n o r e e :
a I c O q uello lo h o si r edu h i cq uello g o vern o t v i t h e c a e a c
m e i t m t e si c on v i e e S p era d ch N S p r la b on t a su
r a en n : n o e . . e a
et n ct i m
sa io i are h lui v l
on v v i f cc i c on desc en d era
c e o e s a a a
q ues t o i t t o et m i o r d t i ssi m o d s i d ri o P g l M V
n en a en e e : re o a . .
ch un q u s t m i
e c e d e t i le i
e a l i a l M gli n v gli a p r l re
a cr n a n e
C°
e o a a
e t f e i t e d e l t ut t
ar n n un arx t en d r i i n q u s t o c m
e l s p a
o c e a s e o e a a r
fa re : et o p e i s i e m e c un e ss o a p re ss o N S
er a r n i fli c m n t . . s e ca e e e :
h el m i si c c e ss t le ffect o l d i c t loch o et h e i
’
c a on o a a e e o : c s
r eg ul et g v t i n st r
‘
r d u hi a l
e c a n di l Ob er
a : he o er o a s va n a o a : c
i f ope s ct et la ud bi le t D i o
ult ra s ara ra an
pt i i m a a e a a cce ss a :
e t d i m i t per l M V 1 l er o i c v r i p i ce
a . t t g at . 0 o r e e o n a re an o r o
e t p
a cce t q u nto
p iou di n na
p ot r i d a q u ll a l q ua le m i
re o a e a : a
ri comm d E t l p go a d v r t i g o v e
an o : a t a lm en t e s ec et
re e rn a re r a
qu st c os h a lt i h e l M t N S on i t d q ues t’ co
e a a : c e r c e . . n n en an o a
p at i h
r p e ch e s p e d o s i e m uli
c a : r ss a i et a c h o Con v en t u li
a n a n a
fa i a n o o p er i c on t a i o U rb i n i x I
r a n u 15 13
r r : nn .
F E L TR I A S O ROR CL A RA .
[ C d V t L t 8 21 1 f o . a . a .
, .
XXI V .
E li sa betta Gon z ag a to B a ld assa r e Cas tig li o n e .
M esser B a lt h a sser ra : Vo i v i d er i t e q uan t o vi scri v e la I ll . et
re ver en . M
s or Cla a n o s t ra Cogn a t a et s o ell h on
1
E
a rd r a ora n a
Ved t e um o m n e effic ci a d i p ar la e u il S M t un N S °°
a c a rn c n . e c . .
i n o m n ost r o
n t fa t o m n e c on t o c i o la i a c o mp i a c i uta di
e e e a a s
45 0 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CAST I GL I O N E
XX V I .
Cesa r e M i n utolo to B a ld assa r e Ca stig li on e .
Magn ific o La S
‘
et mio o b ser va n d i ssi m o et c . . V. ve d era
q uan t o li seri v e il n o s t r o I ll c o mm un e S p er o n on i n s i s t o i n
mo ”e
r esp on d er e a lla sua a r en d o m e ch e la let t era d i sua E x

“
p , t est ifi a
ca ra la m en t e d e q uello et 11 b on o a n i m o et fed e h a i n v o i
‘
'
Mon st ra i la p ar t i ta d ella v o s t r a let t era a M R a ph a ella et 84

,
b en ch e q uella m e n ega ss e i l ba s o d ella c a n d i d a m a n o n on ,
m a n ch a i d ella m i a s olita presu m pt i on e sed fr us t ra lab ora vi , .
D i ce v e d ebbi a fare i n t en dere da pa r t e sua ch e la m a n gi a ben e

e t b ev e m e gli o d a ss e p i a cer e et b on t e mp o et v i v e a llegr a m en t e
, ,
et er d i r v e la p ura v er i t a n on m e p a r e se a t t r i s t i m o lt o d ella
p
a b s en t i a v o s t ra n on so se p r o c ed a d a p o c h o a m o r e o v er o d a lla
, ,
s ua m a la n a t ura e t i n s t a b i le c er v ello ch e t a n t o se r i c or d a d el suo ,
a m an t e q ua n t o i l v e d e e t a m a la p en e et n o n la i n t en d er i a b i s ,
Ch r i s t o . S a p et e q uan t o l a m o e t O b s er v o e l p r em i o n e r ep ort o ,
s on o r ab uffi v i lla n i e et t or t uo s i r esgua rdi et q uo d det eri us m e

, , ,
spa cci a per M ess er Ma r c o A n t on i o Cosm ogeri t e o i n gra t a ,
d on n a !
D e n o v o q ui no n e a lt r o se a tt en d e a l or d i n e d ella g i o s t r a et ,
o g n i d i se p r o v a q ua lch e v u o H er i s er a i l S r upp e tr e la n c ie 0”
.
v alo r o sa m en t e Me rac o m a n do s emp re a lla S V et a l R Mon

.
d
. .
°
s ign or e d e T ri car i ch o et ve p rego a uch ora ch e s i a t e g ra n M a es t r o ,
ve d egn a t e de g ra t i a a llegra rv i da pa rt e m i a con i l n o v o ,
A r c i v esc o v o d e B a r i , et r a c o m an d a r m i a sua S . p ch e
er me e
a n t i ch o pad p o zza v d er e Ca r d i n a le I o B at i s ta
r on e , e t c h e lo e . .
B n a v en t ur se rac o m an da m olt o
o a lla S V et t ut t a q ues t a . . a
c o te et p i c i p lm en t e M R a ph ell h e d e s o p r m e sc o d a t o
r ,
r n a
“
a a c a
’
r
d i rlo B en e Va lete Pi sa n ri x M aii 1 5 1 3

. . .
Vo st ro s er v i t ore
CE S A R E M I N UTOLO .
Al M g t mi
a
°°
bs
e M ss o o er va n . e er
B ld ss a d C s t igli
a are a a on e .
[ C d V t L t 8 211 f o . a . a .
, , .
APPE N DIX 51
XX V I I .
L u ig i a Cas t ig li o ne to B a ld a ssa r e Ca st ig li o n e .
Ca r i ss i m o m i o figli o lo : P er m e ss er A lui so no st ro i o h eb bi un a
t ua let t er a , p o c h o p a r la ss i m o a b o c h a per e ss er 10 a la v en uta

sua p un t o d a n d a e a C t i h o d v gli on s t t t t o d i
in
’
r asa c o e s a a o e
i d i c i e p o c u a t o i e n o d i p q uell d iff i d A t on i o d
’
n r r r ar er a eren c a n a
M a n t ua N n s t o a d i r d ss o c m o h v e m o f t t o sp ro l
: o ar a e o a a : e a
s e t t i s a d t h la fo ss si t ut n os t ra H ri ch fu
n en a er a a c e a a a : e e
l ult i m o d p i le p r m ss p o s t d e m i f a t ello h ebb i

’
e a r e e o a a o r
un a l tt r e Ca t i h
e a d o v e t u m i sc i v i h
a sa e m d tc o r a v er n an a o
un
’
a lt ra
p P a ulo B en a l
era q u a le n on h o h a u t a n e lu
y e
°
v en ut o s ec on d o q ua n d o d i c on o li s uoy : per q ues t a i n t en d o i l

d e s i d eri o h ay d e h a v er q uello li br o d o v e so n n o ta t i t ut i q uelli
s
r a on d e Casa t i ch o c uss i s ubi t o e h i 5 el p i m o d e m zo
: e oz c r a
son v e ut a d n t r
n e d o m an d t o
e h i fuss per v i
o R m ho a c e en r a o a
ri t o v t d on B e n d i
r a o C p la t or p r s t
r ar el q u l
n f e a ra e en e a e a z va
b e u p o c h d e d i fi u lta pu c ed o q ue s t o m e s r v i
n n o c
pe : r r e ra : e r
luy t i m d d i c d uc a t i d z i oe o e i i 9 u d uc t
’
an o e e or o r v r n e n a o
l gh o pi u n o h o p t ut o i t r o v r c uss i p e s t o P i ma h i O ’
ar : n o r a r : r c
p t i ss p C s t i ch o i t es i e] S A lui o d a G o a g d o v ss i
ar e er a a n
”
s nz a e e n
brev p a t i r per R o m a e cun su S

e r m ss er F c esc o B n t a
1 11
e ra n e a o
p en t e n o s t o e d ubi t an d o n o ess v e uta a t e mp o m n d y

ar r : n er n a a
i d i c t o m ess er F a c e sc o d uc t i 20 i e r o uer i n i h i o p sa i
’
a r n a z o c en
b en h q uelli p o t v n o ess er sp es i q u d o son v e ut lo

c e e a n an n a ro n o
so n ch p t i t i t h o m a da t i p r h v e li d i a i n o h
an e ar : e n e a r n r e n o
o d ut n on e ss e m ess F n c e sc o i n la t
er i ch e ll er ra
p p o er erra : s a a
v uta su
en R o m a h e d i e o s e a p est o t u h a v er i
a a c ch s n r r a an e
q uelli Va m o d et o c uss i cu d e t a sp e den d p ch e s i m

: r n z re z n o, er a o
p u srt t i m l
a q u es t a a p u ch o h e
’
m o b i s ogn t
no e r e n n av sse a o
s ust en i r c uss i li n o s t i u ta d i i e li p o t ev r s t mc s i n
n n s a
g ar : a er a o
a q uest m o ti d f m e D i m o pu un p o ch o d e la p a t i ch
’
ora r e a : ce r r a
n ost i q uel lt
ra : n m i a i O t e cr i ea c o m o m ess r A lui o m
a ra s v e s e
hav d i t t d o v ess e n u p o c h o i t t n i r la c o s
ea o c uss i p l y n ra e a e ar a
c u m P o li ss en
n
a
R a n go d l d mi i a o m e t uo e m i o dna o en o n n e
m lt ubt i li t a ch e us v l C t e G i n n pe i fic n d p o d i
o e s a a e on . o s c a o er
q u ll li e t i a p are d o c u s i m i o f t ll A l fi e c o c lus i
e a c n n a ra e o : n n
ol n a s p ch e t mi i e h ue d ess e e
’
c h 1 0 v e a
g u er er n e se en z a an o a r
q u s t e poy t e a v i sa ria S i c h e q ues t o s er n u t i u p o ch

e e : a en r n o
45 2 C O U N T B A LDAS SARE CAS TI GLI ON E
in te mp p o ss i v ed c om o se puo f r d i q u s t o h i o
o t ant o ch e er a e c
’
t e sc i ss i
P er f e
r o : sc i v pi u d i q u s t x p d i c i o d e
r za n n r o e a e e n
ti h h l n o b i s og ch i t e n e r i h ld
’ ’
C asa so c o c e lt n na o sc a a a ra
m e t e S i m o s n i D i o gr t i l pi u d n uy e m olt i e t i
n : a a a a e e s
o m n d an o h 10 o s t o di E l S D i o t e c a mp d m l
’ ”
r ac a c n n ar a r a a a
e
pe i uli M an t uae
r c
p m a
j 1 5 1 3 °
l .
A LU A CA S T I t u M a d e IS : a r .
Al m i M g c issim figlu l
o a
c°
e ar o o o
B ld d C st igli
a I R m
esa r o a a on e . n o a .
I b g i c s d lR
n or M ss L
o n a a e
do
e er
°°
d C ss V sc d T i h i h
a an o a, e o vo e r c ar c o .
[C d V t L t 8 21 1 f o . a . a .
, , .
XX V I I I .
L uig i a Ca s tig li on e to B a lda ssa r e Ca stig li on e .
ss i m o m i figli olo D poy h i v en n e fo l Ca sat i h

Ca r i o : a c
’
o ra a c o
d l m s e p res e t h h ut q u t
e e n e let t e o t ue m e t ut e g a t i s
a o a ro re a r
s i m e : d lle q ua l u e e po t B och li o q ui p e ss o v
e na n i r o a n a r en e n
p rs o
e v i s it a m e p t u p r t i l h e m e fu d g n d i ss i m
na a r er a a e : c e e ra o
c t e t o a p t p a l u per s
on n o er h t e h au
r ar e v d ut o
c n on a c e e ss e e
t ifi m d el b n s t B m i c re d v a h l m i d v ss
’
c er car e tu e ar o : en e c e o e e
s p d i qua lch p t i ula i ta d i q ues t e t ue c s e d e Ca t i h o

a er r e ar c r o sa c
c h p c m n e ep d i s
e o o e o c u ss i s
g e e ele l rm i d i ss e d
on n
e l n ra : e
q uelle o e dé Nu l la ud d m o l c o s D i o e i sp i
z v ne v o ara an o e e c n ra
t h
a ac a l m li o
a r se ss o B o h li o m i i t o v i n l t o a m l t
e : e c a n r r o e a a a
d un t r n a s y f st i d i s p u D i o g t i l m i h a l t
’
a e za a a a o a, re ra a, a a ssa a
u t i st t i a sp e o i S D i d e r est u a e m p s ”
p r r t u t a : a v r t n n . o a r r e re o :
L l tt la q u l t u m sc r i v i h i v ed d m et ’
a e tu era a ne a e e c o a e ere
i si m
n e d uc e t o d uc t i i l ch f o l p ss i bi le
e n a : ho h e ar e o , an c ra c e
a d ss o si a m olt o m a l i t o v d i n i per ss e e q ua lc h e pi u g
e r r a re ar e r ra n o
d l li t o on t o hi l i e p ch o e ss y i t
e so n se a r
g p va c
p n evo a r o n er a a n en e
di m o f o g i s f h 10 sp o a m ezo g s t o o p o c h
’
en ar o to t n o rz an o c er a o o
u s l d uc t i h i o sc i ss i m ’
p i a o er
p n hi t ia i 5 0
a re c a : o a c r s n a an o
e n o m i o c u a t fi q ui i h
n s n r m ss o h t e li p o t pe
a n c rc a re e c e r a r
h ti i t o h 10 o li m d ss e s e t uo a v i s o h
’
a ve rm e scr c n n an a n za : ora
p r oc u o d
rar m d l i
e h h u
an m ess oar h e v di a P s c a sc no c a a e ar o
o a U bi r Me pno : i q u s t let t e ult i m

a re he tu t i e e ti
n e a ra a c r s n
fo s e p r l m i s oli ci t t d e x p ed i q ues t e t ue c o s m i o
r e e o ar e e r e : n n
v eyor h t i d pe s
za c e h e t u v o l ss q u ell h
es ra se n e c o
p u e e o c e n n o,
ch se i p i
e r a ch e t i p i g a s t d i b on v ogli a
az a : an r e o ar a e con
ti s h io n h v e l m g ra t i l m o do
’
ser v a r an o c ot a on re a r a zor a a n
p y
45 4 C O U N T BALDAS SARE CA STI GL I ON E
XXIX .
L u ig i a Ca st ig li on e to B a ld a ssa r e Ca stig li on e .
ss i m o m i o figli olo D B in d h h ut o u a t u l t t
Ca r i : a o o a n a e er a
e t ab ch a d luy h o i t es o i l b
o a s t r t u o d i l h e h o h ut n en a c a o
g n di ss i m o c on t e t o Nui q ui M t u s i m o s y b e s i
ra n : a an a a a a n an :
m f a i
a or V illa m ss er T h om s o s t
n t u t i d uy li figli li
e a o n r o co n o
s on m l t i c o m o d a Bi d
a a a i t d e y h e li h v i s t i m ess rn o n en ra c a : e
L n o s t o d i U b r t i m or i m e h o r p o x i m o p ss t o
co
r e rc e r a a : n on e
s t t o t o p o d pi ere pe ss o m y d ecr ep i t H o t i d i
a r a an z r e er r a o ra ro
d i q uello h e cc or Bi d
c o t op i n for m t o d i t ut
re n o n on era r o a o
q uell v l s p d luy m x i m e d i c n d m i luy ch t u v ol v i

o o ea a er a , a e o e e
v i r i qu st b d co m
en n e ch t i m e sc i v i gi e d o m an d y
e an e o an e r : a
c u ss i i s ec et o h o d i gie h e i i oe un ch e li t i luy
n r c e r ne av v z c cen a
d i ss e l s a p e e s op
n on o q u t o i o li h d i t t o h e t u v en g i
r : ra an o c
q ua n t o t e pi a ze a Ca sa t i ch o e st a r ge d i ece o q ui n dec i d i e pi u s e l t i
,
’
p a r e i o t e d i r o po i el m o d o ch e h o t en ut o b en l h o d i tt o a n ch e ,
’
a lu se t e lo s a p era d i r ora v en en d o m i p a r er a b en fa t o
y :
p er
n o n p a r er d e fa r b e ffe d el a m i c o d a M o d en a ch e p a ss i d i 11 e
v ed er la m er ch an t i a se v ora n n o poy se r i t ro a r a q ua lc h e scusa v
b on a d e q uella d a Nuv o la r a : pu r h er i p a rla n d on e c un F r a n c esc o

G on za ga m i d i ss e ch e c er t e a l i u d i c i o suo la s e c o n d a n on s er i a
m a y c h i a m a t a b i ut a et ch e a luy pa r er i a ch e v en en d o q ui t u la ,
v ed ess e ch e s eri a fa ci lli m o ch el p a d re la t i en s e mp r e a m a n za r

,
’
c un lu : e s en za d i r a lt r o p a ss a n d o d i 11 fa r un o loz a m en t o t i e
y
v ed er i a : D e q u e lla d el C o n t e N i c o lo la m a z o r e fu d a t a a n u ,
m ess er Pi et ro F r ego s o le a lt r e son chi i n q ua ch i i n la : e l , ,
p a d r e e i n F ra n za n on m i pa r c o s a da p en s a r Q uel a lt ra d el .
Co n t e x 0
me p cu ss i p o ch o
are un a m a t er i a c he l
’
e in
c o t o q ui q ua t o i p oss d i r M M d le c o mp gn a d l
n n s a : , a a na a e
I ll S F ed i c o o st o m i h p eg t h i t sc i va h e t u v d i
m o ”
r n r a r a a c
’
o e r c e
d s p r q u ll i v e ut o d un h e fu d e m ess er
’
e a e e o e o s a n a z v ne c n o ra
B t o lo m eo d l R o v
ar m ogli d i q uello uo figli oli ch i e
e a er , e s ra
c uss i u p ch i d i sco d i c un i l p d e el q u le m o i t e i ques t

n o o n r a a r a r n e
b an d e o s t r h fu l dic h l d Pe o sa o v i c i
’ ’
n e, ora ann o e c e era a r na ,
c he l r ss a y b ll
’
e a
p q u
a t o l i t s e h v e
e d uc t ia e er an a n e ,
a a a
d esd o t t o m i li a d e dot a , p yo
p se as era v a an c h ora un a h er edi t a t e
ch e s er i a un a bon a c s
o a la n on m i sa d ire de chi la fuss e figli o la ,
ma d i ce ch e l
’
er a d ’
un S i gn or : fa q uello ti p are si a n do c uss i
APPE N D IX 45 5
bon a l e d ub i o ch e la si a s
p a za t a : L ’
a lt r o di t i m an d a y ce nto
d uca t i p e r un m erch a d a n t e no st ro ma tu n a n o c hi d r i za y a P s e a ro
am ess r e A mat osc i ss i ti e

gl
pioi
p e un fi li o lo d e
rg a sc i ss r e r
m I u li a
”1
l qu l t e li U bi o h o e m n d o per B i d o
a e s a a r n : or n a n
ot t n t aa v i t i n e d g o l p d st h s e a o c n t V ol v
e n a a o e a c e r n e o : e a
b en m d t e li c n to m
an ar h e p ss i b ile sp g er b i v
e a o
n on o ar a a se n n
a s t en t e c m 1 h v i s t o Bi d o
, o o
’
ho a he l
a b ut u i Te n an c r c a se a a :
m a d o po i m olt c o s e ch e s e a n o t t e h
n e u p t e gli é r no a c e a na ar
u r b i s og t o di m o q u s t i d uy di h i o s t ro
’
p i na d n ar : ve ere e c a a
M a t u a t i f a m s t ro A b a a m d ubi t bi ogn ro i m p g r
n a s s ar ae r e o s a e na
p er un p t
a e
pi u p s
ar t o h s t r
q u i i t e mp re ch l e m oclt o e a n o e
’
b i s o gn o h i o v d i fo a Q u ll g i o v ch i e v e ut
’
c a r u e o an e n o c n
Bi n d o h a h a ut o b t e per d u c t i t r t a c i q ue ci rch
ere i o li h a en n a o
p r m ss o v ed i p og i m o d
o e : n m er li p g r h e d ess o
n o no e a a c a
h ve o d f
a r ss y : A m e q u st o m es m L e C lo m i
a ar a a zo e e
1l 11
ar
s e n d t Ven d o i q u s t b d t i s up li c o d gra t i h e
ra o re o : en n e e an e e a c
tu h od i l t u c t p o t l cu t ego c uss i e l h i ’
r e sc a a a en a e r ar a n e s a
q u lch e s t e d s et
a ve b och t o h e on i per t i ch e m e l
a o r a c e n s a a
p or t ch i o n e f r q u lc h fo n i m e t i pe c a sa :
a
’
a o o
a f e r n r e n n ar
c o m f c ss e q u n d i o
o a e U r bi n o h
a
’
v ol ss i m y h 10
er a a c e n on e a c
’
v d ss
e e eli t uo y fo e i
ne P oy v en z te he
rz r n c ed e v i
: ne en a c no r
la ssa r li s t ss e n el d an
e re a l p u b h i 1 1 h a s eno :
’
era r en c
’
o ve s
h ut i e f
a e q u lc h e c o s
o rn h n or ole pe c s
a h l s r li h a v r
a o ev r a a c e a sa e
a li t r i s t i A lt o o sc i v p
. r ho nN S D i o t i co se v
n r o er ra . .
”
n r a
in s n i t a I n M n t u a d i 4 ept em br i 1 5 1 3 A ri d t e d
a : a a s s . cor a e
da r i sp o s t
r q u s t i n o s t i d i U b er t i h e t i s r i en o d l
a a e r c c v e a
m t e d el p d e
or a r .
A L UI A D A CA S T I G L I O N E t u M a t e S a r .
P ”1
un a fo d ra d e lu i p .
de p ann o b i a n ch o fin o .
Fa z i o let i 1 2
de ren o s
S cufio t i
P a ra 6 d e ca lzet i .
L en z o li 3 g r o ss i .
P eze d e m a n e d a c ort e lli 7 .
P eze 2 d e fo r m a zo p es i 4 .
3 fa so li .
3 ci si .
3 m i li o .
45 6 C O U N T BALDA S SARE CASTIGL I ON E
B eret t i 2 ne gr i b elli .
P ez i 8 de cer v e a t i l .
S a ch i 6 no vi .
Co lt r e 2 d a let t o .
[Cod . V a t La t . .
, 8 21 1 , f .
XXX .
Lu ig i a Cas tig li on e to B a ld a ssa r e C a stig li o ne .
Ca r i ss i m o m i o figli o lo Q uello d i h c e B in d o pa rt i da M an t ua
io h ebb i un a t ua let t era po t t d r a a a nu ra
g a zo d el S D uc a”
p a tr on t uo a la q ua le n o n cc d lt r
a a e a a r i sp o s t a : D a poy ch 10
’
so n a Ca sa t i ch o ne h o h a ut o un a lt r a d el u lt i m o d a go t o :
’
s
m esser Hi er o ym o Po d es t a U bi n o m i 5 v en ut o
n ,
a r a v i s i ta r e
d i m c o m t u p a t i sse el d i d S B t olo m o d U bi o pe
r e o r e
to
ar e a r n r
S t M d e L o et o l q u l d i V i d i 24 d g s t o e pu ’
81
an a r e a en a a o r
q u s t a t u let t e a ad t
e a U bi s i c h n on i t n do c o m o v d
r a a a r n o, e n e a a
q uest a c o s a S i a c o m e i v og li pu h e t u si i s n o c o m o t u m
: s a r c a e
sc i v i ba t a m e B i n d o fu e x p ed i t d m i d i 4 d l p s t e
r s : o a a e re en e
p o t o d i a r i un m olt e lt e c o s l q ua le t i m i s i i scri p t
r n c a r e e n o
e x c p t o d u Co p t e d l t o h e m i d i m n t i h y E l ca v llo che
e e er a e c e c a a
lui c o d u c e v d luy h a era y i n t es o c o m e p ss t o el n e c o mp o

n a a v o a a , r
u O de di i d alt i p y d u c t i t i o gi e lo p g y p e c h
’
n n ar r er se a e a a r e
el p o t e ss p o t t l el li o be et
e r ar hi li h v
e a dat o n e r e a c a en a
d i n a r i e p ort o a ll A ld b 1 5 d e t l d pi u d 1 5 m elli ch
’
a
Ci
e a e a a rz e
po y f ra d i un t de d i i ch l d i c e l d ebe b a v
ar an ar n o o n ar
’
e a er e
d t i E l p o d es t e t i f t o de li 20 d uc a t i de l c va ll h
a : a sa s a : a a a c e
v olev i h 1 t i m a n d ss e v e e d o t i c o m o sp e o la ed y
c
’
0 a : n n r v er a
i a e d ot i l i li D i q u llo a m i c o t uo or fi h e o i
e
p z n
pg y a a ra e e ce c v r a
co d ur le
n be ue n e h o o m i o l fa t o n o s t o d a M t u pe
ro s c ss a r r an a r
m i let t e e h l f i a q u n t o t u sc r i v i D i q u lli v eli h e

’
e r c e az a : e c
sc i v i n on ss en d o 10 M t u e s p n d o o m o s i an o fa tt i
r e a an a n a e c
q u lli 0 d i s t 0 d i filo O b m b o ch e on lo sc i v i h v e i
e : e a a as n r a r a
f t i h a a i n t en d ere s i ch e d i ffe i r m o pu s i n o a l v en ut t u
a c : r e r a a a
i n qu l qu l
a : sp t t o u g n d es i d i o e pr go t i on l
a a e a e c n ra er e n a
t r d i pi u h o g id i n era d o e l t mp o le s t d e i dezo e s an o
a ,
c
p n a n e ra ,
v i c i n i a l i n v e n o c m o s i a m o e t i r a ord o h e fa zi l i a d
r o : c c a v e
M o d en a d Nu o l a
e i o m e s pi e d i r q ua lc h e c o s
a v ar E
az a a :
q ua n d o e i y r a corda t e la ssar bon or d in e i c a sa e q uell rob

v n ra n e e
a t or e m ogli e
p res t m e t e a ci o ch e p o t ia m o v en i e n o
ra a n ,
r a ze e a
so la zo h fa em o d u n o i zo d uy e i rj
c e r h e ho a ma i m e
e v a s rv c ,
c r
c o m i n c ia a ri n cr sc e spet e ta n t ch d ubi t o h e p e o poi

e er a ar o, e c ar r
v ecch i ch m i s e a v g og a b l e a le v o s t e n e Non
a e r er na a ar r oz :
scr i v ero pi n i n lon g pe h o se n o h e a v o s t ra M g M es se

o r ra n c a
Ci a
r
Thom et i
a so e o m fid a m oo
pe i sfi n it v o lt e
rac d es d er
y i a r n e ,
os
v ed er lo e go der lo I R ev e di 5 d e et ebre 1 5 1 3 . n er a s .
L v o s t ra a m r e v o le s o ella a o r
FR A N CI CHA S TR O Z A S .
AI M g C v li a
C0
mi v a d a er o e o en er a n o
F t ll M ss B ld
ra e o d C e er a esa r o a as
t i gli I U bi
o n e ec . n r no .
[C d V t L t 8 21 1 f o . a . a .
, ,
.
XXXI I .
Costa n z a R a ng on e to L u ig i a Cas tig li o n e .
M agn i fica q ua n t o s or ella h on ora n da : P er 10 a m or ch e i o

p or t o a V S s on o s forza ta a d a legr a r m i c um q uella d ela n o s t ra
. .
c o m un e sp o s a q ualla s on o c er ta ch e V S la c on osc a m a per . .

,
e ss er s i a le v a ta i n q ue s t e p ar t e n e h o pur i o pi u co gn i t i on e d i
u ella la q ua le u o b a v er e g a u d i o ch e O lt ra le b elez e sue d e

q , p ‘
h a v erse a q ui st a t o un o figli o la a lev a t a i n P a r a d i s o ch e per D i o ,
e t a n t o gen t il et a cost u m a t a q ua n t o d i r se p o s sa ; c us i p reg o

I d i o li c on c edi gra t i a de g o der s i l un a p ar t e et 1 a lt ra lon g o ’ ’
t e mp o i n a legr eza A n ch o ra V S s er a c on t en ta i n n o m o m i o
. . .
l gr a r si n e cum le M a gn i fice m P o li sen a et m Fr an c es ca s o i e

a e
a 1
”
figli o le, d ela b on a et g en t i l s or ella se h an o a q u i st a t o , ch e a fed e i o

d a l c an t o m i o n o n n e h o m an c h o a legr eza q ua n t o l un a p ar t e et
’
1
’
lt r a m i fussi n o figli oli ,
a ne m i pa r ch e o lt i m gi orn i fa n o fu ss e
fa c t o c o s a pi u la uda b i le d i s
q ue t a : u i d i o la c s I p e s ev i n b
r e ra en e .
A lt r o per h o ra n on mi occo r e se n on c h e a V S d c on t in uo
. . e mi
r a co m an do . In M o d en a a li 1 0 d e fe br a r o 1 5 1 6 .
Di . V . S .
Qu s o ella
an t o r
CO S T A N Z A B A N G O N A Con t e ss a .
All M g
a a
” al
M Aloysaa
da C st i a o n e,
qu t s an o o r ella h on oran d a . In M a n t ua .
[Cod . Va t La t . .
,
8 21 2, f.
APPE N D I X 45 9
XXXI I I .
A ld a B oia r d a to L uig ia Cas t ig lio ne .
M a gn ific a q ua n t o s orella h on ora n d a : Ho v i s t o per un a di

V M q uan t o q uella m i h a sc r i p t o d el spon sali t i o ch e h a fa c t o
. .
V M de lo un i c o figli olo M ess er B a ld essa r e I o n e h o h a ut o

. . .
s u m o c o n t en t o et ga ud i o e t h o m o s t rat o la let t era d i V M . .
a sor La ura et a uch ora lei se n e h a h a ut o gra n d e a legr eza

’
.
H a v en d o i n t es o la n ora et de a m i c i s ia m o d o en ta t i p a ren t i
,
v ,
e t V M se n e r ele r a c o m o M ess er B a ld a sa r er p a r t e n o s t ra
. .
g p ,
et m i p i a c e a ss a i ch e h a b i a h a ut o M H y p oli ta ch i o i n t en d o ch ”1 ’ ’
e v n a b elli ssa (sic) gi o v en e e t a uch ora r i c h a d e d o t ta e t

e
gien t i lle c o ss a a d q uello m i h a d i t o um m o d en eso a m i c o
m i o ch e la c on o sso : et so r L a ur a et m e p rega m o D i o S i
’
g Y ” ”1
X t o c on la m a d re su a g lo r i o s i ss i m a Ver g i n e M a r i a ch e
.
,
m a n t en ga V M et i l figli o e la n ora feli c i e t li et i i n p er p et uo

. .
c o n n u i a lt r e fid eli ssi m e p a r e n t e E t a la M V cun b on c u or e . . .
et fid o a n i m o i o m i r a co m a n d o e t s uo r L a ura si r i c o m a n d a a la
’
bo n a g ra t i a d i q uella F erra ri e 1 3 febr ua rlj 1 5 1 6

. .
A L D A B O I A R D A Co m i t i ssa .
A Mag q uan t o or ella M s a

Aluysa
C si i
a t gl on e h on “
In . M a n t ua .
[ Cod . Va t La t . .
,
8 21 2, f
.
XXXI V .
A ng eli ca G on z a ga to I pp oli ta T or elli .
Ma gn i fic a g et si n c o m e s or ell
ula r i ssi m ah on o a n m a d on n a e a r
di s i m a
s L a p a c e d q u llo h e g d e t utt o lo un i v e s o e d g n i
. e e c o r s e
p on er m d o g i v o s t o p ss c o m o v ed e per sua g t i a si e
an e a n r a o ra
d ig t o d
na t al p i c i p i o son c e ta ch e i n
ar r n ui fin i i n g ra n
,
r v ra
c n t en t e a
o d i l h e h v e d o p r es en t i t o d e la
z ,
c m i c i t ia fa c t
a n a a
m d i n t e la n o s t di po a t i o e cun la ca s a d C s t i o e (si ) e
e a ra s ns n a a n , c
a ve
gna h e un v o s t
c M c
gnifi e i n h b i t
raro p o d o m e t ia c nc a on a a s
ch ez a
p er ss e e s t a t e lo t
e a t e 1 un a da l
r lt a i i a d n li an
’
a r ns n a
n ost i t r e i a ni m
en r i n h e i m o d o h a b i a q ues t o p es en t i t o la
n , a c n r
m ia c a e h o o ar m ,
Alui m e n e ha d t o
n r . vv i s e un
“a
sa a a o, c
q u n to j ubi l d e c o sc i v n n e po t e i p s t e c a i ss i m
a o re r er o v r a en a , r a
s o r ll essa a d i q uello u i c o figli olo S se i te q u ll h e i o p e s

e a, n . e r e a c n o
sar i t e c ore d i l h s orella m e a l gro u ui h
t ut t o i l su o ,
c e e c n v c e
s i t po at a a c o s i d ign o c v a li e q u t o el M g m ess
a e a z a ro an a
°°
er
B a ld esa h o m o fr, t ut t i li lt i l d i d o i n o m i
ra to d vi tu a r a e z na e r e
z en t i le cu b elt a d n o c e d o i
za n l p ro a lui
e, I t eru m m
n r s a e a . e
a legro e d e q ues t o n on p o ss o p e s ss ere p o c ed ut o d a a lt ro n a re e r
ch e d a la m e d e D i o e d l n o m e d e v o s t
an d i g i si m a en u ta d
a ra n s v s e .
Ve h o v o lut a c un q ues t a m i a i i t r e p e ss e m i a p ro p i q u v s a v er re n a
d e s n gu
a Non a lt r o m e v s t
e . h um n i si m M a gn i fi c en c i o ra a s a a
E x m o st i o s t ro C o p o i s x M n t ue d i e
i
m e ri c m
a do o an . na er o n r r a
xx
j Fe br ua r ii M . D .
i .
La V o s tr a Ca ra s o ell sor r a
A N G E L I CA D A G O N Z AGA .
All M g t h
a Md
a Ipp lit
ca
e on or . a on n a o a
d C s t igli
a s ll
a l di on e or e a sua co en s
sim t m t issim I M d
a e a a a . n o en a .
[ C o d V a t Lat
. . .
,
8 21 3 , f . 29 ]
s
Th e la t t h r ee let t er s w p t ly p i t d
er e ar r n e in P f Gi s C did
ro . an
’
an a t ur e
nuzi li di B C st igli
a . a on e ,
’
40-4 2 .
OF V OI I .
B ILLI N G A IND S ONS ,

L TD .
,
P R I NT R G UIL R
E S
,
D FO D
i i i
Un ve rs ty o f C a l fo rn a i
I I
S O UTHER N REG O NAL L B RAR FAC L T Y IIY
i i
3 05 De Ne ve Dr ve P a rk n g Lo t 1 7 0 B ox 9 5 1 3 8 8
I
LOS ANG ELES , C AL FO RN A 9 009 5 - I
138 8
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BA L D A S S A R E C A S T IG L IO N E

disti n guished soldier diplom a t a n d poet b u t his title

to immort ality rests o n this on e bo o k The bes t .

b o ok th a t w a s ever written upo n good breedin g s a id ,

Dr Joh n so n when he w a s tr a velli n g with Boswell i n

Skye the best b o o k I tell y o u

by C a stigli o n e grew u p a t the little co u rt of Urbi n o

an d sho ld re d it This fr k a n d decisive

u tteran ce emi n e n tly ch a r a cteristic o f the S pe a ker a n d

yet h ardly wh a t we Sho uld h a ve expected from him ,

did b u t co n ﬁr m the u n a n imou s verdict of the l a st

from t he Aldi n e Press a t Ve n ice i n April 1 5 28 an d , ,

before the close of the cen tu ry more th an a h u n dred

Sp a n ish Fren ch E n glish a n d Germ a n versio n s

fo llowed e a ch other i n r a pid s uccessio n an d the ,

Cortegi an o wa s u n ivers a lly a ccl a imed a s the most

beau ty of the book is s u ch th a t it deserves to be re a d

pri n ces reign a n d k n ights an d l a dies meet a s lon g ,

as v alou r an d cou rtesy hold a pl a ce i n o u r he arts ,

N owhere h a s the popula rity of C a st igli on e s tre atise ’

been grea ter th an i n our own cou n try From the .

time whe n o nly thirty -four ye a rs a fter its ﬁrst appear

a n ce i n Ve n ice S ir Thom a s H o b s tr an sl a tio n The ’

Bo o k of the C our t y er to o k the Eliz a beth an world ,

by storm n o less th an seven teen E n glish version s

of the Cortegi an o h a ve been pu blished I n those ’

d a ys when to kn ow Itali an w a s held t o be a gr a ce

of a ll gr a ces an d tra n sl a tion s o f Bocc a ccio a n d

B an dello s n ovels were solde i n every shop C a s

t igli on e s book wa s i n the h an ds o f a ll c ultu red

E n glishmen Poets a n d dra m a tists alike qu ot ed his

s a yi n gs an d borrowed his st o ries 2

on e of the books most re a d by yo u n g m en wh o wo u ld

pick up a little It ali a n B en J on son a n d Webster .

S pe aks of the a u th o r n o t withou t a tou ch of scorn , ,

as the a bsol ute C ast i li o .

There seems little doubt th a t Sh a kespe a re wa s

ﬁr st poin ted o u t the pl a to n ic philosophy of the ,

s u cceeded i n con vi n ci n g u s th a t the ch a ra cters o f

Even Roger Asch a m th a t stern P urit an who ,

l oo ked on these fo n de b ookes by foreign a u thors

m ar men s m an n ers i n E n gl a n d h a s a good word

exercises Co u n t B ald esa r C a stiglion e doth t ru ely

te a ch ; which book a dvisedly re a d an d diligen tly

followed b ut on e ye ar at home i n E n gl an d wou ld ,

d o a yo u n g ge n tlem a n more good I wiss th an three , ,

The modern reviva l o f i n terest i n the It a li a n

recogn ise the ide a l represen t a tive o f th a t gre a t age .

N o less th an three n ew version s o f the Cortegi a n o

I n 1 9 00 H o b y s tr an sl a tion w a s repri n ted i n N u tt s

Professor R a leigh a n d a n other h an dsome editio n

with woodcu ts by Mr Ashbee wa s iss u ed by the .

Essex Ho u se Press to be followed i n 1 9 03 by a n ew

tr an sl ation richly illustra ted an d c a refully an n ot ated

from the pen o f Mr O pdyke . .

But while the Cortegi a n o h as been widely re a d

little i s k n own o f its a u thor A few n otices of C as .

t igli on e i n the works of H a ll a m Roscoe D en n i st o u n , , ,

an d Joh n Addi n gto n Symo n ds a memoir i n a t ran sla ,

tion of the Cortegi an o p u blished i n 1 7 27 two short ,

biogr a phic al stu dies from the pen of Professor R a leigh

a r e a ll th a t h a ve bee n writte n a bo u t him i n E n glish .

Y et Co un t B a ld a ss a re is an exceedi n gly i n teresti n g

pora r i e s with o n e a ccord excl a imed w a s a livi n g ,