DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0149
CONQUEST OF NAPLES 115
both to Your Excellency and herself.” And Isabella
herself wrote to her sister-in-law, Chiara Gonzaga,
that she was enjoying herself immensely, and was
more honoured and feted by every one than she
deserved. At Lodovico’s urgent entreaty, her
husband allowed her to spend the carnival at Milan,
although, as he wrote, “all Mantua complains of
your prolonged absence.” 1
But the news of the conquest of Naples by the
French threw a gloom over these gay fetes. Car-
nival amusements lost their brilliancy for Isabella
when she thought of the desolation at Naples, and
heard how her cousin, the young King Ferrante, and
her mother’s kinsfolk were driven into exile; and
she was heartily glad when the time came to set
out on her journey home. Lodovico loaded her
with parting gifts, and two fat oxen, together with
several lengths of gold brocade, exquisitely em-
broidered with doves, were among the presents
which the Marchesa took back to Mantua. Beatrice
was strangely moved at parting from her sister,
but neither of the two dreamt they would never
meet again, and Isabella little knew the altered
circumstances under which she was to see the
Moro’s splendid home when she next came to
Milan.
On the 14th of March, she reached Mantua, and
before a month was over the new League was pro-
claimed between the Pope, the King of the Romans,
the King and Queen of Spain, Henry VII. of
England, the Signory of Venice, and the Duke of
Milan. Francesco Gonzaga was appointed captain
of the armies of the League, and, with twenty-five
1 Luzio e Renier in Arch. St. Lomb., xvii. 620.
both to Your Excellency and herself.” And Isabella
herself wrote to her sister-in-law, Chiara Gonzaga,
that she was enjoying herself immensely, and was
more honoured and feted by every one than she
deserved. At Lodovico’s urgent entreaty, her
husband allowed her to spend the carnival at Milan,
although, as he wrote, “all Mantua complains of
your prolonged absence.” 1
But the news of the conquest of Naples by the
French threw a gloom over these gay fetes. Car-
nival amusements lost their brilliancy for Isabella
when she thought of the desolation at Naples, and
heard how her cousin, the young King Ferrante, and
her mother’s kinsfolk were driven into exile; and
she was heartily glad when the time came to set
out on her journey home. Lodovico loaded her
with parting gifts, and two fat oxen, together with
several lengths of gold brocade, exquisitely em-
broidered with doves, were among the presents
which the Marchesa took back to Mantua. Beatrice
was strangely moved at parting from her sister,
but neither of the two dreamt they would never
meet again, and Isabella little knew the altered
circumstances under which she was to see the
Moro’s splendid home when she next came to
Milan.
On the 14th of March, she reached Mantua, and
before a month was over the new League was pro-
claimed between the Pope, the King of the Romans,
the King and Queen of Spain, Henry VII. of
England, the Signory of Venice, and the Duke of
Milan. Francesco Gonzaga was appointed captain
of the armies of the League, and, with twenty-five
1 Luzio e Renier in Arch. St. Lomb., xvii. 620.