DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0097
THE MARQUIS OF MANTUA
75
the Pope's oilers. Only, the young Marquis added, he
would have to ask His Holiness so to arrange matters
that his honour should be safe with regard to the Most
Christian King, towards whom, as the Pope knew, he
had certain obligations. These last words point to the
daily widening breach between Leo N. and Francis 1.,
which might at any moment involve the Pope in war
with a monarch who had hitherto been Federicos
close ally.
Since the beginning of the year, when Francis 1.
had claimed the guardianship of the little Catherine
de' Medici, several of the King's actions had aroused
the Pope's displeasure, and Castiglione found him far
more inclined to treat with the Emperor than with
France. The new Imperial ambassador, Don Juan
Manuel, was a man of considerable ability, who soon
acquired influence over the Pope; while Charles V.'s
support in crushing Luther's revolt in Germany was
of the greatest importance to the Church.
In spite of Leo's precautions to maintain strict
secrecy with regard to Federico's appointment, the
diplomatic world soon became aware of the Pope's
proposal, and the French ambassador, greatly to
Castiglione's indignation, did his utmost to oppose it.
' St. Marceau,' wrote the Count on November 4,
' has been telling the Pope that V. E. is young and
inexperienced and given up to pleasure. He also
maintains that Mantua is not as important a state as
people think, and says that if the Emperor should come
there, he must first conquer the King of France and the
Venetians, with a great deal more in the same strain.'^
Two years afterwards, in warning Federico against
French intrigues, he reminded him how much the
French envoys had opposed his appointment in 1520.
i ' Esenzioni,' 26.
75
the Pope's oilers. Only, the young Marquis added, he
would have to ask His Holiness so to arrange matters
that his honour should be safe with regard to the Most
Christian King, towards whom, as the Pope knew, he
had certain obligations. These last words point to the
daily widening breach between Leo N. and Francis 1.,
which might at any moment involve the Pope in war
with a monarch who had hitherto been Federicos
close ally.
Since the beginning of the year, when Francis 1.
had claimed the guardianship of the little Catherine
de' Medici, several of the King's actions had aroused
the Pope's displeasure, and Castiglione found him far
more inclined to treat with the Emperor than with
France. The new Imperial ambassador, Don Juan
Manuel, was a man of considerable ability, who soon
acquired influence over the Pope; while Charles V.'s
support in crushing Luther's revolt in Germany was
of the greatest importance to the Church.
In spite of Leo's precautions to maintain strict
secrecy with regard to Federico's appointment, the
diplomatic world soon became aware of the Pope's
proposal, and the French ambassador, greatly to
Castiglione's indignation, did his utmost to oppose it.
' St. Marceau,' wrote the Count on November 4,
' has been telling the Pope that V. E. is young and
inexperienced and given up to pleasure. He also
maintains that Mantua is not as important a state as
people think, and says that if the Emperor should come
there, he must first conquer the King of France and the
Venetians, with a great deal more in the same strain.'^
Two years afterwards, in warning Federico against
French intrigues, he reminded him how much the
French envoys had opposed his appointment in 1520.
i ' Esenzioni,' 26.