DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0114
92 COUNT BAUDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
wishes, a final resting-place was prepared for him in Our
Ladys shrine at Loreto/ A report, common enough
in those days, was spread abroad in Rome, that the
Cardinals death was due to poison, and his old
friend Canossa was accused of having openly im-
puted this crime to the Pope and Cardinal de' Medici.
The Bishop of Bayeux indignantly denied the charge
in letters which he addressed both to Leo X. and
Cardinal Giulio from Blois, but owned that King
Francis had mentioned this report to him. He had
replied that the thing was impossible. ' I find it,
however, very difficult/ adds the Bishop, ' to get this
idea out of people's heads, for the common belief
in France is that every illustrious person who dies in
Italy has been poisoned.'2
The report in this case was certainly groundless.
Since Bibbiena's long absence in France he had, no
doubt, lost his old place in the Pope's confidence, but
he remained on friendly terms with him to the last.
For many years past he had suffered from an internal
ailment, which had increased in severity of late, and
proved the cause of his death.
But, whatever the Pope's feelings on the subject
may have been, his old favourite's death was not
allowed to interfere with his amusements. From
Montalto the party returned to Corneto for another
c%ccM, and thence to Civita Vecchia, where
a new form of sport was indulged in. Nets were
spread round a forest of lentisk-trees on the slopes
of the shore, and four stags rushed down the steep
hillside into the sea, followed by the hounds. ' Truly
a fine sight !' exclaimed the astonished Venetian
envoy/ The Pope and many of the company put
1 Sanuto, xxix. 401. ^ 'Lettere di Principi,' i. 68, 69.
s Sanuto, xxix. 443.
wishes, a final resting-place was prepared for him in Our
Ladys shrine at Loreto/ A report, common enough
in those days, was spread abroad in Rome, that the
Cardinals death was due to poison, and his old
friend Canossa was accused of having openly im-
puted this crime to the Pope and Cardinal de' Medici.
The Bishop of Bayeux indignantly denied the charge
in letters which he addressed both to Leo X. and
Cardinal Giulio from Blois, but owned that King
Francis had mentioned this report to him. He had
replied that the thing was impossible. ' I find it,
however, very difficult/ adds the Bishop, ' to get this
idea out of people's heads, for the common belief
in France is that every illustrious person who dies in
Italy has been poisoned.'2
The report in this case was certainly groundless.
Since Bibbiena's long absence in France he had, no
doubt, lost his old place in the Pope's confidence, but
he remained on friendly terms with him to the last.
For many years past he had suffered from an internal
ailment, which had increased in severity of late, and
proved the cause of his death.
But, whatever the Pope's feelings on the subject
may have been, his old favourite's death was not
allowed to interfere with his amusements. From
Montalto the party returned to Corneto for another
c%ccM, and thence to Civita Vecchia, where
a new form of sport was indulged in. Nets were
spread round a forest of lentisk-trees on the slopes
of the shore, and four stags rushed down the steep
hillside into the sea, followed by the hounds. ' Truly
a fine sight !' exclaimed the astonished Venetian
envoy/ The Pope and many of the company put
1 Sanuto, xxix. 401. ^ 'Lettere di Principi,' i. 68, 69.
s Sanuto, xxix. 443.