DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0219
CARDINAL SODERINI'S PLOT 191
' Here we talk cheerfully of the French invasion/
wrote Castiglione on April 12, ' although to most of
us this seems so unreasonable that we can hardly
believe it/
Liberal offers were made to Federico Gonzaga on
the part of France, but his loyalty stood the test, and
in spite of slanderous tongues Charles V. assured the
Duke of Sessa that the Marquis was his faithful
servant/ Castiglione's language was still more
emphatic.
' Rest assured/ he wrote to his friend Piperario,
' however badly the Pope or Duke of Milan may
behave, the Marquis will always remain
in body and soul, and so will his mother Madonna ;
and if there were any need of pressure to keep him in
this mind, I would not only devote sincere labour
to this end, but life itself. All of which I beg you to
repeat to M. Agostino, and, if he sees fit, to the Duke
of Sessa.'2
But towards the end of April an unexpected incident
changed the course of events. A plot by Cardinal
Soderini to raise a rebellion in Sicily and deliver
Milan to the French was suddenly discovered. The
Pope's distress was great. He had confided in the
aged Cardinal, and believed him to be honestly in
favour of peace, and now he found himself basely
deceived. In his anger he ordered Soderini to be
imprisoned in the Castello, and summoned his rival,
Cardinal de' Medici, from Florence. The return of
Medici was in itself a sufficient pledge that Federico
Gonzaga's interests would not be neglected, and
Castiglione gladly availed himself of this excuse to
remain at Mantua, where he could be of more use to
i Bergenroth, ii. 573. 2 gerassi, ' Neg./ i. 109, 110.
' Here we talk cheerfully of the French invasion/
wrote Castiglione on April 12, ' although to most of
us this seems so unreasonable that we can hardly
believe it/
Liberal offers were made to Federico Gonzaga on
the part of France, but his loyalty stood the test, and
in spite of slanderous tongues Charles V. assured the
Duke of Sessa that the Marquis was his faithful
servant/ Castiglione's language was still more
emphatic.
' Rest assured/ he wrote to his friend Piperario,
' however badly the Pope or Duke of Milan may
behave, the Marquis will always remain
in body and soul, and so will his mother Madonna ;
and if there were any need of pressure to keep him in
this mind, I would not only devote sincere labour
to this end, but life itself. All of which I beg you to
repeat to M. Agostino, and, if he sees fit, to the Duke
of Sessa.'2
But towards the end of April an unexpected incident
changed the course of events. A plot by Cardinal
Soderini to raise a rebellion in Sicily and deliver
Milan to the French was suddenly discovered. The
Pope's distress was great. He had confided in the
aged Cardinal, and believed him to be honestly in
favour of peace, and now he found himself basely
deceived. In his anger he ordered Soderini to be
imprisoned in the Castello, and summoned his rival,
Cardinal de' Medici, from Florence. The return of
Medici was in itself a sufficient pledge that Federico
Gonzaga's interests would not be neglected, and
Castiglione gladly availed himself of this excuse to
remain at Mantua, where he could be of more use to
i Bergenroth, ii. 573. 2 gerassi, ' Neg./ i. 109, 110.