DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0266
226
ISABELLA’S EXPENSES
erred on the side of extravagance, she was a prudent
and clever manager, who made the most of her
money, and had a shrewd eye to business.
“My honoured Lord and Father,—When I first
entered this illustrious house I was given a yearly
allowance of 6000 gold ducats, to pay for my clothes
and provide dowries for my maidens, and all that is
necessary for my servants—including two gentlemen;
the Court supplying the food of about a hundred
persons. Afterwards, in order that I might be free
to increase or diminish my household, my illustrious
consort gladly agreed, by the advice of his stewards,
to take this burden from off their shoulders, and give
me another 2000 ducats for the expenses of my whole
company. Of this income 6000 was charged on the
toll of the mills, 1000 on an excise duty, and the other
1000 on the lands of Letopalidano, near Gonzaga. So
you see that in all I have 8000 ducats a year. It is
true that by my own economy, and that of my servants,
the income of this estate has been increased by about
1000 ducats, with which I have been enabled to buy
some neighbouring lands ; so that at present the rent
brings in about 2500 ducats a year. But I also have
to feed about fifty more persons of my household.
And it is true that my lord has given me other houses
for my pleasure, such, for instance, as Sacchetta and
Porto ; but their income does not exceed their ex-
penses, and sometimes I have to spend more money
to keep them in repair. This is all I can tell Your
Excellency for your satisfaction.”
By this statement it is clear that Isabella enjoyed
a yearly income of from 8000 to 9000 ducats—no
inconsiderable sum, if we consider that the ducat
was worth about eleven and a half francs—or, roughly
ISABELLA’S EXPENSES
erred on the side of extravagance, she was a prudent
and clever manager, who made the most of her
money, and had a shrewd eye to business.
“My honoured Lord and Father,—When I first
entered this illustrious house I was given a yearly
allowance of 6000 gold ducats, to pay for my clothes
and provide dowries for my maidens, and all that is
necessary for my servants—including two gentlemen;
the Court supplying the food of about a hundred
persons. Afterwards, in order that I might be free
to increase or diminish my household, my illustrious
consort gladly agreed, by the advice of his stewards,
to take this burden from off their shoulders, and give
me another 2000 ducats for the expenses of my whole
company. Of this income 6000 was charged on the
toll of the mills, 1000 on an excise duty, and the other
1000 on the lands of Letopalidano, near Gonzaga. So
you see that in all I have 8000 ducats a year. It is
true that by my own economy, and that of my servants,
the income of this estate has been increased by about
1000 ducats, with which I have been enabled to buy
some neighbouring lands ; so that at present the rent
brings in about 2500 ducats a year. But I also have
to feed about fifty more persons of my household.
And it is true that my lord has given me other houses
for my pleasure, such, for instance, as Sacchetta and
Porto ; but their income does not exceed their ex-
penses, and sometimes I have to spend more money
to keep them in repair. This is all I can tell Your
Excellency for your satisfaction.”
By this statement it is clear that Isabella enjoyed
a yearly income of from 8000 to 9000 ducats—no
inconsiderable sum, if we consider that the ducat
was worth about eleven and a half francs—or, roughly