DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42863#0224
198
RESTORATION OF
all the Imperial party, rejoiced at the election of
their master’s nominee, and from the disappointed
candidate, Cardinal Medici, who wrote a hurried
note to the Marquis as he left the Conclave, giving
the new Pope’s name without any comment. The
last-named prelate was anxious to keep up the same
friendly relations with the Gonzagas as before, and
Isabella on her part lost no opportunity of strength-
ening her son’s position. Castiglione succeeded in
obtaining Federico’s confirmation in his office from
the new Pope, and Adrian’s surrender of the duchy
of Urbino to its rightful lord. And when, in
February 1522, Cardinal Medici sent a confidential
envoy from Florence to the Emperor, he spent a
night at Mantua, and was closeted with Madama
la Marchesana during more than two hours.1 The
Venetian ambassador reported that the said envoy,
Giovanni Matteo dei Medici, was sent by the Car-
dinal to arrange the terms of the agreement between
Florence and the Duke of Urbino, and to propose
a marriage between Francesco Maria’s little son
Guidobaldo and Caterina, the infant daughter of
his old rival, Lorenzo dei Medici. In the same inter-
view, he adds, Madama eloquently pleaded the cause
of her brother the Duke of Ferrara, and her nephew
the Duke of Milan, and desired the Florentine envoy
to lay her requests before the Emperor. The result
of these negotiations soon appeared in the arrival of
Francesco Sforza at Mantua. Although the young
Duke’s chancellor Morone had taken possession of
Milan in his name, he himself had been detained at
Trent for lack of money and troops to fight his way
through the Swiss mercenaries in the pay of the
1 M. Sanuto, Diarii, xxxii. 457.
RESTORATION OF
all the Imperial party, rejoiced at the election of
their master’s nominee, and from the disappointed
candidate, Cardinal Medici, who wrote a hurried
note to the Marquis as he left the Conclave, giving
the new Pope’s name without any comment. The
last-named prelate was anxious to keep up the same
friendly relations with the Gonzagas as before, and
Isabella on her part lost no opportunity of strength-
ening her son’s position. Castiglione succeeded in
obtaining Federico’s confirmation in his office from
the new Pope, and Adrian’s surrender of the duchy
of Urbino to its rightful lord. And when, in
February 1522, Cardinal Medici sent a confidential
envoy from Florence to the Emperor, he spent a
night at Mantua, and was closeted with Madama
la Marchesana during more than two hours.1 The
Venetian ambassador reported that the said envoy,
Giovanni Matteo dei Medici, was sent by the Car-
dinal to arrange the terms of the agreement between
Florence and the Duke of Urbino, and to propose
a marriage between Francesco Maria’s little son
Guidobaldo and Caterina, the infant daughter of
his old rival, Lorenzo dei Medici. In the same inter-
view, he adds, Madama eloquently pleaded the cause
of her brother the Duke of Ferrara, and her nephew
the Duke of Milan, and desired the Florentine envoy
to lay her requests before the Emperor. The result
of these negotiations soon appeared in the arrival of
Francesco Sforza at Mantua. Although the young
Duke’s chancellor Morone had taken possession of
Milan in his name, he himself had been detained at
Trent for lack of money and troops to fight his way
through the Swiss mercenaries in the pay of the
1 M. Sanuto, Diarii, xxxii. 457.