DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0276
246 COUNT BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
the Papal Legate in Lombardy, made him feel very
doubtful as to the Pope's intentions.
On December 17 he left Mantua and travelled by
way of Brescia, to avoid bad roads and visit the
Viceroy at Soncino. At Brescia he found the Duke
of Urbino, now Captain-General of the Venetian
forces, who had retired into winter-quarters by com-
mand of the Signory, and was told that a treaty had
been made between the Pope and Venice, and that
both parties were on friendly terms with Pranced
The next day he went on to Cremona, and, finding
that the Viceroy had crossed the Po to Monticelli,
delivered his credentials to the Duke of Milan, and
assured His Excellency of the Pope's resolute inten-
tion to stand by him.
Beatrice d' Este's son made a very favourable im-
pression on his father's old courtier, who was charmed
by the young man's modesty and good sense. But
he did not find it altogether easy to answer Francesco
Sforza when he expressed his surprise that the Pope,
who as long as he was a Cardinal had exerted himself
warmly on his behalf, should do so little to help him
now, and should no longer appear to realize the
imminent danger to which he was exposed by the
French invasion. All that Castiglione could say in
defence of the Pope's action, was that His Holiness
was compelled to observe a strict neutrality, and to
submit to much of which he could not approve in the
Most Christian King's actions. The Duke ended by
begging the Count to commend him dutifully both
to Csesar and to the Pope, and once more expressed
his confident belief that, if only His Beatitude would
declare himself openly on his side, the present diffi-
culties would be removed.
i Sanuto, xxxvii. 335.
the Papal Legate in Lombardy, made him feel very
doubtful as to the Pope's intentions.
On December 17 he left Mantua and travelled by
way of Brescia, to avoid bad roads and visit the
Viceroy at Soncino. At Brescia he found the Duke
of Urbino, now Captain-General of the Venetian
forces, who had retired into winter-quarters by com-
mand of the Signory, and was told that a treaty had
been made between the Pope and Venice, and that
both parties were on friendly terms with Pranced
The next day he went on to Cremona, and, finding
that the Viceroy had crossed the Po to Monticelli,
delivered his credentials to the Duke of Milan, and
assured His Excellency of the Pope's resolute inten-
tion to stand by him.
Beatrice d' Este's son made a very favourable im-
pression on his father's old courtier, who was charmed
by the young man's modesty and good sense. But
he did not find it altogether easy to answer Francesco
Sforza when he expressed his surprise that the Pope,
who as long as he was a Cardinal had exerted himself
warmly on his behalf, should do so little to help him
now, and should no longer appear to realize the
imminent danger to which he was exposed by the
French invasion. All that Castiglione could say in
defence of the Pope's action, was that His Holiness
was compelled to observe a strict neutrality, and to
submit to much of which he could not approve in the
Most Christian King's actions. The Duke ended by
begging the Count to commend him dutifully both
to Csesar and to the Pope, and once more expressed
his confident belief that, if only His Beatitude would
declare himself openly on his side, the present diffi-
culties would be removed.
i Sanuto, xxxvii. 335.