DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0233
REJOICINGS IN ROME
208
V. E., because I have not yet had time to feel the pulse
of the court or hnd out in whose hands the conduct
of foreign affairs will be chiefly placed—in those of
the Archbishop or of M. Gian Matteo, who, how-
ever, now he is Datary, cannot attend to them much.
And so I kiss V. E.'s hands.
' RoME, 10, 1523.'i
This letter is a remarkable instance of Castiglione's
keen and penetrating insight. During the few hours
which he had spent in Rome he had already grasped
the situation and foreseen the probable trend of
events. His friends were all rejoicing. Crowds
flocked from all parts of Italy to pay homage to the
new Pope. From his Paduan villa Bembo wrote
to the young Bishop Accolti on December 11, de-
claring that Clement VII. would, he felt sure, be the
greatest, wisest, and most honoured head who had
reigned over the Church of God for many centuries
pastF The bad days of Adrian were over ; the Muses,
which had Red before the barbarians, could not fail to
return under the wing of a Medici Pope. ' Now we
shall see a splendid court and a brave pontiRcate,'
wrote Negri in exulting tones to his friend Michieli.
' On St. Clement's Day, Pope Clement VII. will be
crowned, and long live the^7%//d /'3
The new Pope's Rrst act was to appoint Sadoleto
his chief secretary, and to send a courier to Carpen-
tras, bearing a brief that would admit of no refusal.
This alone was sufficient to endear Clement VII. to
the scholars who had groaned under the Flemish
Pope's yoke, and who now conRdently looked for-
ward to a revival of the once Rourishing Roman
i Vernazza di Freney. 'Notizia di lettere inedite di B, Castiglione.
Accademia di Torino,' 1811, p. 442.
- Bembo, Op., iii. 54. s 'Lettere di Principi,' i. 88.
208
V. E., because I have not yet had time to feel the pulse
of the court or hnd out in whose hands the conduct
of foreign affairs will be chiefly placed—in those of
the Archbishop or of M. Gian Matteo, who, how-
ever, now he is Datary, cannot attend to them much.
And so I kiss V. E.'s hands.
' RoME, 10, 1523.'i
This letter is a remarkable instance of Castiglione's
keen and penetrating insight. During the few hours
which he had spent in Rome he had already grasped
the situation and foreseen the probable trend of
events. His friends were all rejoicing. Crowds
flocked from all parts of Italy to pay homage to the
new Pope. From his Paduan villa Bembo wrote
to the young Bishop Accolti on December 11, de-
claring that Clement VII. would, he felt sure, be the
greatest, wisest, and most honoured head who had
reigned over the Church of God for many centuries
pastF The bad days of Adrian were over ; the Muses,
which had Red before the barbarians, could not fail to
return under the wing of a Medici Pope. ' Now we
shall see a splendid court and a brave pontiRcate,'
wrote Negri in exulting tones to his friend Michieli.
' On St. Clement's Day, Pope Clement VII. will be
crowned, and long live the^7%//d /'3
The new Pope's Rrst act was to appoint Sadoleto
his chief secretary, and to send a courier to Carpen-
tras, bearing a brief that would admit of no refusal.
This alone was sufficient to endear Clement VII. to
the scholars who had groaned under the Flemish
Pope's yoke, and who now conRdently looked for-
ward to a revival of the once Rourishing Roman
i Vernazza di Freney. 'Notizia di lettere inedite di B, Castiglione.
Accademia di Torino,' 1811, p. 442.
- Bembo, Op., iii. 54. s 'Lettere di Principi,' i. 88.