DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0389
816 COUNT BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
new dovecot that she is building, which he wishes
to be square and partly enclosed in the courtyard.
And he inquires about another Brescian lady, a niece
of the unfortunate Count Martinengo, who has been
recommended to him as a possible bride. A week
later he wrote from Modena, where he was staying
with his kinswoman, Costanza Rangone the fair and
accomplished daughter of Bianca Bentivoglio, and
who had lately taken Cesare Fregoso as her second
husband. This time he had been sent by his lord
to meet Bishop Matthaus Lang, the imperial envoy
who had lately been present at the conference of the
Powers held at Mantua, and was now on his way to
attend the Lateran Council. What was Castiglione s
precise errand on this occasion we do not learn, but
there can be little doubt that its object was to plead
the Duke of Ferrara's cause with the Emperors
powerful favourite. At the same moment he re-
ceived a personal appeal from the Marchesana
Isabella, who told Cardinal Ippolito that she heard
Castiglione had more influence than anyone else with
the Duke of Urbino, and could be counted on as a
good friend. According to her account, Castiglione
assured the Marchesana that the Duke was conduct-
ing the campaign against Ferrara with the utmost
discretion, and intentionally creating difficulties and
delays/ The manner in which the war was pursued
that autumn goes far to prove the truth of her words.
The Pope, so the Venetian envoy in Rome reported,
was more eager than ever to press on the war, and
complained that the Duke s delays were interminable/
When, at the end of September, boats and bridges
for the passage of the Po were prepared, Francesco
1 Luzio e Renier, ' Mantova e Urbino,' p. 206.
2 Sanuto, xv. 121.
new dovecot that she is building, which he wishes
to be square and partly enclosed in the courtyard.
And he inquires about another Brescian lady, a niece
of the unfortunate Count Martinengo, who has been
recommended to him as a possible bride. A week
later he wrote from Modena, where he was staying
with his kinswoman, Costanza Rangone the fair and
accomplished daughter of Bianca Bentivoglio, and
who had lately taken Cesare Fregoso as her second
husband. This time he had been sent by his lord
to meet Bishop Matthaus Lang, the imperial envoy
who had lately been present at the conference of the
Powers held at Mantua, and was now on his way to
attend the Lateran Council. What was Castiglione s
precise errand on this occasion we do not learn, but
there can be little doubt that its object was to plead
the Duke of Ferrara's cause with the Emperors
powerful favourite. At the same moment he re-
ceived a personal appeal from the Marchesana
Isabella, who told Cardinal Ippolito that she heard
Castiglione had more influence than anyone else with
the Duke of Urbino, and could be counted on as a
good friend. According to her account, Castiglione
assured the Marchesana that the Duke was conduct-
ing the campaign against Ferrara with the utmost
discretion, and intentionally creating difficulties and
delays/ The manner in which the war was pursued
that autumn goes far to prove the truth of her words.
The Pope, so the Venetian envoy in Rome reported,
was more eager than ever to press on the war, and
complained that the Duke s delays were interminable/
When, at the end of September, boats and bridges
for the passage of the Po were prepared, Francesco
1 Luzio e Renier, ' Mantova e Urbino,' p. 206.
2 Sanuto, xv. 121.