DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0192
A VENETIAN EMBASSY
135
Latin oration, to which Bernardo Bembo replied also
in Latin, ' with great decorum and gravity/ Then the
Lord Prefect met them on the bridge of Sant' Angelo,
attended by 100 horsemen and 300 foot-soldiers, and
received the ambassadors in the Pope's name with
every sign of reverence. He was followed by the
gentlemen of the Duke of Urbino's suite, led by
Cesare Gonzaga and Castiglione, ' noble personages
mounted on superb horses,' who saluted the ambas-
sadors in the name of their illustrious lord, he himself
being ill in bed. But the most memorable incident of
the reception was the unexpected appearance of Pcpe
Julius himself at a window that was suddenly opened
in the Gastello Sant' Angelo. In his curiosity to wit-
ness the ambassadors' entry, His Holiness had hurried
across from the Vatican, accompanied by most of the
Cardinals, and presently looked out of the window
and with a smiling face gave his blessing to the
assembled multitude. Then the guns of Sant' Angelo
were bred and the procession went on its way towards
Monte Giordano, where the envoys were hospitably
received by their Orsini alliesJ
On May 5 the ambassadors were received by the
Pope in full consistory at the Vatican. Hieronimo
Donato explained the object of their mission in a
most elegant and ornate Latin oration, after which
His Holiness replied in convenient terms, and Bernardo
Bembo was allowed the privilege of bearing the Holy
Father's train into the Camera de' Pappagalli. But
although the Pope spoke very pleasantly to these
grave Signors and was graciously pleased to admire
the magnificence of their robes and ornaments, he
firmly refused to issue a brief confirming the Republic
in the possession of Faenza and Rimini, and sent them
i Sanuto, vi. 162.
135
Latin oration, to which Bernardo Bembo replied also
in Latin, ' with great decorum and gravity/ Then the
Lord Prefect met them on the bridge of Sant' Angelo,
attended by 100 horsemen and 300 foot-soldiers, and
received the ambassadors in the Pope's name with
every sign of reverence. He was followed by the
gentlemen of the Duke of Urbino's suite, led by
Cesare Gonzaga and Castiglione, ' noble personages
mounted on superb horses,' who saluted the ambas-
sadors in the name of their illustrious lord, he himself
being ill in bed. But the most memorable incident of
the reception was the unexpected appearance of Pcpe
Julius himself at a window that was suddenly opened
in the Gastello Sant' Angelo. In his curiosity to wit-
ness the ambassadors' entry, His Holiness had hurried
across from the Vatican, accompanied by most of the
Cardinals, and presently looked out of the window
and with a smiling face gave his blessing to the
assembled multitude. Then the guns of Sant' Angelo
were bred and the procession went on its way towards
Monte Giordano, where the envoys were hospitably
received by their Orsini alliesJ
On May 5 the ambassadors were received by the
Pope in full consistory at the Vatican. Hieronimo
Donato explained the object of their mission in a
most elegant and ornate Latin oration, after which
His Holiness replied in convenient terms, and Bernardo
Bembo was allowed the privilege of bearing the Holy
Father's train into the Camera de' Pappagalli. But
although the Pope spoke very pleasantly to these
grave Signors and was graciously pleased to admire
the magnificence of their robes and ornaments, he
firmly refused to issue a brief confirming the Republic
in the possession of Faenza and Rimini, and sent them
i Sanuto, vi. 162.