DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0431
356 COUNT BAEDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
vidual ecclesiastics—these and a score of minor
matters were all referred to the Duke's envoy. The
gentle Duchess Elisabetta, on her part, kept up an
active correspondence with her loyal servant during
his absence from Urbino. After her wont, she was
beset with suppliants and proteges, in whose favour
she constantly solicited Castiglione's good offices with
the Pope or other exalted personages. Now it was
her sister-in-law Chiara, the widow of Roberto Mala-
testa, who sought the Pope's intervention to enable
her to recover certain sums of her dowry in Rimini;
now an Urbino gentleman, who asked for a recom-
mendation to His Holiness ; then, again, a merchant
of Sinigaglia, who begged that Messer Agostino
Chigi, the rich Sienese banker, would renew the
lease of a shop to his daughter. Or else it is one
of her Mantuan connexions, M. Agostino Gonzaga,
who has visited Urbino on his way to Rome, and in
whose favour Elisabetta is eager to enlist the Mag-
nihco Giuliano and the all-powerful Treasurer; and
the kind Duchess entreats her dearest and most
beloved kinsman Baldassare to deliver her letters
in person, and do his utmost to further M. Agostino's
suit. Then, again, it is Madonna Emilia who begs
the Count's help in some private business of her own,
and this time the Duchess feels she need make no
apology for troubling him, and is sure he will arrange
the matter with his wonted prudence. Many of
these letters are written with Elisabetta's own hand,
and abound in kind expressions of regard and affection
for M. Baldassare, and of earnest hopes that he may
soon be able to return to Pesaro, where the Duke and
Duchesses were spending the early summer.
From Pesaro on March 26, only a fortnight after
the Pope's election, Elisabetta addressed an urgent
vidual ecclesiastics—these and a score of minor
matters were all referred to the Duke's envoy. The
gentle Duchess Elisabetta, on her part, kept up an
active correspondence with her loyal servant during
his absence from Urbino. After her wont, she was
beset with suppliants and proteges, in whose favour
she constantly solicited Castiglione's good offices with
the Pope or other exalted personages. Now it was
her sister-in-law Chiara, the widow of Roberto Mala-
testa, who sought the Pope's intervention to enable
her to recover certain sums of her dowry in Rimini;
now an Urbino gentleman, who asked for a recom-
mendation to His Holiness ; then, again, a merchant
of Sinigaglia, who begged that Messer Agostino
Chigi, the rich Sienese banker, would renew the
lease of a shop to his daughter. Or else it is one
of her Mantuan connexions, M. Agostino Gonzaga,
who has visited Urbino on his way to Rome, and in
whose favour Elisabetta is eager to enlist the Mag-
nihco Giuliano and the all-powerful Treasurer; and
the kind Duchess entreats her dearest and most
beloved kinsman Baldassare to deliver her letters
in person, and do his utmost to further M. Agostino's
suit. Then, again, it is Madonna Emilia who begs
the Count's help in some private business of her own,
and this time the Duchess feels she need make no
apology for troubling him, and is sure he will arrange
the matter with his wonted prudence. Many of
these letters are written with Elisabetta's own hand,
and abound in kind expressions of regard and affection
for M. Baldassare, and of earnest hopes that he may
soon be able to return to Pesaro, where the Duke and
Duchesses were spending the early summer.
From Pesaro on March 26, only a fortnight after
the Pope's election, Elisabetta addressed an urgent