DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0328
A BRESCIAN BRIDE
259
in point of fact, reduced them to as fine a thread as
possible. On the other hand, 1 have been much
urged to delay these negotiations until I receive ary
answer from the Martinenga, because, if her dowry is
14,000 ducats instead of 5,000 or 0,000, and she, too,
belongs to a good family, and is an only daughter,
living in an important city near to our own, I should
by this means secure a safe and comfortable home
and sufficient fortune to free me from all anxieties.
So I have decided to keep the thing in suspense a
little longer until we see how matters stand. I beg
you once more to find out whatever you can on the
subject, and let me know any particulars which in
these cases are not to be despised. May God inspire
us to act for the best!' ^
The next day Madonna Alda wrote to say another
proposal had been made to Count Giulio Martinengo
for his daughter s hand, and that he had decided to
accept it. This being the case, Baldassare had no
excuse for further delay with regard to the proposals
of the Medici, and in his letters to his mother alludes
to the marriage as definitely arranged. ' I hold the
Medici marriage to be quite settled. God grant that
it may prove a happy one!' he wrote to his mother
on August 9. A few days later he begged her to
get as many of the family jewels as possible out of
pawn, ' as now we are making this marriage it will
be well to show the Medici that we are not quite
destitute.But he was anxious to see her and discuss
the best means of raising the necessary money for the
wedding expenses, and, if possible, make sure of the
Marquis Francesco s approval before the final arrange-
ments were concluded.
Francesco Maria had long wished to pay a visit to
* Serassi, i. 42.
2 Cod. Vat. Lat., 8210.
17—2
259
in point of fact, reduced them to as fine a thread as
possible. On the other hand, 1 have been much
urged to delay these negotiations until I receive ary
answer from the Martinenga, because, if her dowry is
14,000 ducats instead of 5,000 or 0,000, and she, too,
belongs to a good family, and is an only daughter,
living in an important city near to our own, I should
by this means secure a safe and comfortable home
and sufficient fortune to free me from all anxieties.
So I have decided to keep the thing in suspense a
little longer until we see how matters stand. I beg
you once more to find out whatever you can on the
subject, and let me know any particulars which in
these cases are not to be despised. May God inspire
us to act for the best!' ^
The next day Madonna Alda wrote to say another
proposal had been made to Count Giulio Martinengo
for his daughter s hand, and that he had decided to
accept it. This being the case, Baldassare had no
excuse for further delay with regard to the proposals
of the Medici, and in his letters to his mother alludes
to the marriage as definitely arranged. ' I hold the
Medici marriage to be quite settled. God grant that
it may prove a happy one!' he wrote to his mother
on August 9. A few days later he begged her to
get as many of the family jewels as possible out of
pawn, ' as now we are making this marriage it will
be well to show the Medici that we are not quite
destitute.But he was anxious to see her and discuss
the best means of raising the necessary money for the
wedding expenses, and, if possible, make sure of the
Marquis Francesco s approval before the final arrange-
ments were concluded.
Francesco Maria had long wished to pay a visit to
* Serassi, i. 42.
2 Cod. Vat. Lat., 8210.
17—2