DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0151
ISABELLA GOVERNS MANTUA 117
ministered affairs with a prudence and sagacity
which excited the wonder of grey-headed councillors.
On the vigil of the Ascension, while a procession
was passing the house of Daniele Norsa, a Jewish
banker who had lately settled in the Via San
Simone, the attention of the crowd was attracted
by a group of images, inscribed with profane verses,
which some evil-disposed person had placed on a wall
formerly decorated with a fresco of the Madonna.
The cry of blasphemy was raised,' stones were thrown
by the mob, and the house was only saved from
destruction by the prompt interference of a city
magistrate. The poor Jew, who had previously
obtained the Bishop’s leave to remove the painting of
the Madonna and had paid all the fees required, now
wrote to implore the protection of the Marquis, and
Francesco sent peremptory orders that he was not
to be molested. But this small disturbance was so
grossly exaggerated that Isabella felt it necessary to
write to her lord on the subject, and assure him that
no serious tumult had taken place in his absence.
“ The inventors of these malicious tales,” she wrote
on the 30th of June, “who have not scrupled to
disturb your peace of mind when you are occupied
with the defence of Italy, showed little regard for
my honour, or for those of my councillors. Let
Your Highness, I beg of you, keep a tranquil mind,
and attend wholly to military affairs, for I intend to
govern the State, with the help of these magnificent
gentlemen and officials, in such a manner that you
will suffer no wrong, and all that is possible will be
done for the good of your subjects. And if any one
should write or tell you of disorders of which you
have not heard from me, you may be certain that it
ministered affairs with a prudence and sagacity
which excited the wonder of grey-headed councillors.
On the vigil of the Ascension, while a procession
was passing the house of Daniele Norsa, a Jewish
banker who had lately settled in the Via San
Simone, the attention of the crowd was attracted
by a group of images, inscribed with profane verses,
which some evil-disposed person had placed on a wall
formerly decorated with a fresco of the Madonna.
The cry of blasphemy was raised,' stones were thrown
by the mob, and the house was only saved from
destruction by the prompt interference of a city
magistrate. The poor Jew, who had previously
obtained the Bishop’s leave to remove the painting of
the Madonna and had paid all the fees required, now
wrote to implore the protection of the Marquis, and
Francesco sent peremptory orders that he was not
to be molested. But this small disturbance was so
grossly exaggerated that Isabella felt it necessary to
write to her lord on the subject, and assure him that
no serious tumult had taken place in his absence.
“ The inventors of these malicious tales,” she wrote
on the 30th of June, “who have not scrupled to
disturb your peace of mind when you are occupied
with the defence of Italy, showed little regard for
my honour, or for those of my councillors. Let
Your Highness, I beg of you, keep a tranquil mind,
and attend wholly to military affairs, for I intend to
govern the State, with the help of these magnificent
gentlemen and officials, in such a manner that you
will suffer no wrong, and all that is possible will be
done for the good of your subjects. And if any one
should write or tell you of disorders of which you
have not heard from me, you may be certain that it