DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0358
THE MARQUIS SET FREE
285
of Urbino was now ordered to prepare for an im-
mediate advance on Ferrara. In the middle of July
Castiglione was sent to Rome to give the Pope a
minute account of the strength and position of
Alfonso's forces previous to the opening of the cam-
paign.^ At the same time the Marquis of Mantua
was released from his long captivity. Marino Sanuto
relates how, on July 14, he himself, together with
three other members of the College, were sent to
bring His Excellency out of prison, and how the
next morning the Marquis set sail for Rimini in a
Venetian galley. ^ Here he found the two Duchesses
waiting to welcome him, and proceeded in their
company to Bologna, where he saw his little son
Federico on his way to Rome. The boy, who was
to remain in the Pope's charge as a hostage for his
father's good behaviour, arrived at Bologna on the
25th, and before Elisabetta returned to Urbino she
was able to tell her sister-in-law that she had kissed
her darling Federico, and left him well and happy in
his father's company. Unfortunately, both Castiglione
and the Duchess suffered from the heat and malaria
of this unhealthy season, and were attacked by fever
on their respective journeys. Baldassare fell ill first in
Rome, and afterwards at Viterbo on his way back to
Urbino. On August 12 he wrote to tell his anxious
mother that he had reached home safely, and had
almost shaken off the fever. ' I am hoping soon
to find myself in camp, but mean to get quite
strong first. The Lady Duchess is not over-well,
either ; let us trust in God that her indisposition may
not be grave.' A month later Elisabetta became
dangerously ill, and her condition was a cause of
grave anxiety through the autumn. Castiglione re-
i Sanuto, x. 883. 2 x. 820, 824.
285
of Urbino was now ordered to prepare for an im-
mediate advance on Ferrara. In the middle of July
Castiglione was sent to Rome to give the Pope a
minute account of the strength and position of
Alfonso's forces previous to the opening of the cam-
paign.^ At the same time the Marquis of Mantua
was released from his long captivity. Marino Sanuto
relates how, on July 14, he himself, together with
three other members of the College, were sent to
bring His Excellency out of prison, and how the
next morning the Marquis set sail for Rimini in a
Venetian galley. ^ Here he found the two Duchesses
waiting to welcome him, and proceeded in their
company to Bologna, where he saw his little son
Federico on his way to Rome. The boy, who was
to remain in the Pope's charge as a hostage for his
father's good behaviour, arrived at Bologna on the
25th, and before Elisabetta returned to Urbino she
was able to tell her sister-in-law that she had kissed
her darling Federico, and left him well and happy in
his father's company. Unfortunately, both Castiglione
and the Duchess suffered from the heat and malaria
of this unhealthy season, and were attacked by fever
on their respective journeys. Baldassare fell ill first in
Rome, and afterwards at Viterbo on his way back to
Urbino. On August 12 he wrote to tell his anxious
mother that he had reached home safely, and had
almost shaken off the fever. ' I am hoping soon
to find myself in camp, but mean to get quite
strong first. The Lady Duchess is not over-well,
either ; let us trust in God that her indisposition may
not be grave.' A month later Elisabetta became
dangerously ill, and her condition was a cause of
grave anxiety through the autumn. Castiglione re-
i Sanuto, x. 883. 2 x. 820, 824.