DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0032
14 COUNT BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
at their feet. Castiglione and the rest were given
places with the Cavalieri. The ballot for vacant
offices was held, and six of the Mantuan gentlemen
joined in the voting when the hats were carried round.
First young Sigismondo Gonzaga, and then Costanzo
Pio, gave their vote in the choice of officers of the
Republic, amid much laughter and merriment. No
wonder Federico was sorry when the day came for his
departure, and, when he came to take leave of
the Prince, declared that he had amused himself
exceedingly, a sentiment which was echoed by all
the members of his suited
In October the young Duchess Leonora, with ten
ladies and servants, also visited Venice, which she had
never seen before, and rented a house in Cannaregio
for a month, at the rate of 180 ducats a yeard The
Doge sent her a kind message, and excused himself
for not having given her a more honourable reception.
The Duchess replied that she thanked His Serene
Highness, but explained that she had only come for her
own pleasure to see this glorious city, and had nothing
to oiler him save the services of her husband and
her own person, since they were not at present in
possession of their State. The College sent her a gift
of fish and sweetmeats, and great sympathy was felt
in Venice for the exiled Princess, who, attended by
her ladies, all clad in black velvet, visited the sights
of the city and attended mass in St. Mark's. But
she only stayed a fortnight, as her presence excited
the suspicions of the Pope, who complained that
the Signory was in league with his foes, much to
the amusement of King Francis, who laughed aloud
when these reports reached him, and said that only
priests could harbour such ridiculous notions.
i Sanuto, xxiv. 265, 286, 288, 298. ^ Sanuto, xxiii. 144.
at their feet. Castiglione and the rest were given
places with the Cavalieri. The ballot for vacant
offices was held, and six of the Mantuan gentlemen
joined in the voting when the hats were carried round.
First young Sigismondo Gonzaga, and then Costanzo
Pio, gave their vote in the choice of officers of the
Republic, amid much laughter and merriment. No
wonder Federico was sorry when the day came for his
departure, and, when he came to take leave of
the Prince, declared that he had amused himself
exceedingly, a sentiment which was echoed by all
the members of his suited
In October the young Duchess Leonora, with ten
ladies and servants, also visited Venice, which she had
never seen before, and rented a house in Cannaregio
for a month, at the rate of 180 ducats a yeard The
Doge sent her a kind message, and excused himself
for not having given her a more honourable reception.
The Duchess replied that she thanked His Serene
Highness, but explained that she had only come for her
own pleasure to see this glorious city, and had nothing
to oiler him save the services of her husband and
her own person, since they were not at present in
possession of their State. The College sent her a gift
of fish and sweetmeats, and great sympathy was felt
in Venice for the exiled Princess, who, attended by
her ladies, all clad in black velvet, visited the sights
of the city and attended mass in St. Mark's. But
she only stayed a fortnight, as her presence excited
the suspicions of the Pope, who complained that
the Signory was in league with his foes, much to
the amusement of King Francis, who laughed aloud
when these reports reached him, and said that only
priests could harbour such ridiculous notions.
i Sanuto, xxiv. 265, 286, 288, 298. ^ Sanuto, xxiii. 144.