DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0231
ARRIVAL IN ROME
201
On November 27 the Count set out on his third
mission to the Papal court. By December 9 he
reached Rome, and lost no time in waiting on his
friends at the Vatican.
'Last night I arrived in Rome/ he wrote to Fede-
rico, ' and am lodged in the house of our Illustrious
and very Reverend Monsignore. ^ As soon as I dis-
mounted, I went straight to his lordship, and gave
him your letters and showed my credentials, especially
the messages which I had to give our lord the Pope, all
of which met with his approval. He did not wish to
alter anything, but said he should like to be present
when I kissed His Holiness s feet. Then I visited
M. Gian Matteo, the Archbishop of Capua, and
M. Agostino Foglietta, and left V. E.'s letters. They
all three kiss your hands, and are your very loyal
servants. I understand from M. Gian Matteo that
the best time to see His Holiness would be in the
morning, about nine o'clock. The Archbishop of
Capua, indeed, wished me to see him last night, al-
though it was already past eight. But I would not
do this, out of respect to Monsignore Illustrissimo.
So this morning I went with him to the Pope, and
after kissing his feet and handing him V. E.'s letter,
I said how much you rejoiced in his fortunate eleva-
tion in the most graceful phrases at my command. I
told him that V. E.'s feelings on the subject were well
known, and that you only wished to remind him that,
as your services were always at his disposal before he
rose to these heights, so they would be entirely at his
command now that the greatest wish of your heart
was realized. The Pope answered very joyfully and
cordially that it was needless to prove what was mani-
fest to all, and that, since V. E. had shown him so much
kindness in the dry tree, it was unnecessary to repeat
these assurances in the green. He said how much he
hoped to show you that your love and kindness had
l Cardinal Sigismondo Gonzaga.
201
On November 27 the Count set out on his third
mission to the Papal court. By December 9 he
reached Rome, and lost no time in waiting on his
friends at the Vatican.
'Last night I arrived in Rome/ he wrote to Fede-
rico, ' and am lodged in the house of our Illustrious
and very Reverend Monsignore. ^ As soon as I dis-
mounted, I went straight to his lordship, and gave
him your letters and showed my credentials, especially
the messages which I had to give our lord the Pope, all
of which met with his approval. He did not wish to
alter anything, but said he should like to be present
when I kissed His Holiness s feet. Then I visited
M. Gian Matteo, the Archbishop of Capua, and
M. Agostino Foglietta, and left V. E.'s letters. They
all three kiss your hands, and are your very loyal
servants. I understand from M. Gian Matteo that
the best time to see His Holiness would be in the
morning, about nine o'clock. The Archbishop of
Capua, indeed, wished me to see him last night, al-
though it was already past eight. But I would not
do this, out of respect to Monsignore Illustrissimo.
So this morning I went with him to the Pope, and
after kissing his feet and handing him V. E.'s letter,
I said how much you rejoiced in his fortunate eleva-
tion in the most graceful phrases at my command. I
told him that V. E.'s feelings on the subject were well
known, and that you only wished to remind him that,
as your services were always at his disposal before he
rose to these heights, so they would be entirely at his
command now that the greatest wish of your heart
was realized. The Pope answered very joyfully and
cordially that it was needless to prove what was mani-
fest to all, and that, since V. E. had shown him so much
kindness in the dry tree, it was unnecessary to repeat
these assurances in the green. He said how much he
hoped to show you that your love and kindness had
l Cardinal Sigismondo Gonzaga.