DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0218
CHAPTER XL
1528
The Pope's neutrality—Plot of Cardinal Soderini discovered—
Cardinal de' Medici in Rome—Castiglione accompanies Isabella
to Venice—Interviews the new Doge—Treaty of Venice and of
the Pope with the Emperor—French invasion of Lombardy—
Castiglione serves in the campaign-—Death of Adrian VI.
THE political situation underwent little change that
winter. The Pope persisted in his determination to
preserve neutrality, and refused to take advice from
anyone but Enkevoirt, who was said to be in the
pay of France. Nor would he provide for the main-
tenance of the army, although he told Castiglione
when he left Rome that the troops must not be
disbanded, for fear of troubles in Romagna. In vain
Castiglione wrote pressing letters to all his friends
in Rome on behalf of the destitute soldiers. ' It is
pitiful to see these poor fellows starving/ wrote the
Count to Piperario. ' May God help them !' The
Duke of Sessa declared openly that he would rather
risk his life in battle every day than negotiate with so
feeble and irresolute a Pope. The French and their
allies were equally dissatisfied. ' Nothing is done/
wrote the Venetian envoy, 'and every one is discon-
tented.'^ All through the winter Francis 1. was
preparing for war, and his partisans asserted con-
fidently that he would soon be in Milan.
i Alberi, iii. 112.
190
1528
The Pope's neutrality—Plot of Cardinal Soderini discovered—
Cardinal de' Medici in Rome—Castiglione accompanies Isabella
to Venice—Interviews the new Doge—Treaty of Venice and of
the Pope with the Emperor—French invasion of Lombardy—
Castiglione serves in the campaign-—Death of Adrian VI.
THE political situation underwent little change that
winter. The Pope persisted in his determination to
preserve neutrality, and refused to take advice from
anyone but Enkevoirt, who was said to be in the
pay of France. Nor would he provide for the main-
tenance of the army, although he told Castiglione
when he left Rome that the troops must not be
disbanded, for fear of troubles in Romagna. In vain
Castiglione wrote pressing letters to all his friends
in Rome on behalf of the destitute soldiers. ' It is
pitiful to see these poor fellows starving/ wrote the
Count to Piperario. ' May God help them !' The
Duke of Sessa declared openly that he would rather
risk his life in battle every day than negotiate with so
feeble and irresolute a Pope. The French and their
allies were equally dissatisfied. ' Nothing is done/
wrote the Venetian envoy, 'and every one is discon-
tented.'^ All through the winter Francis 1. was
preparing for war, and his partisans asserted con-
fidently that he would soon be in Milan.
i Alberi, iii. 112.
190