DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0463
THE BISHOPRIC OF AVILA
415
renewed, and this time gratefully accepted. The
Count's biographers all agree that the offer was
made; hut while Giovio and Guicciardini say that he
accepted it, Marliani leaves the reader in doubt on
this point. The epitaph written by Bembo on the
Count's tomb at Mantua, however, expressly styles
him Bishop of Avila, and the testimony of the
English ambassador at the court of Spain appears
conclusive. On February 9, 1529, the Bishop of
Worcester wrote to inform Cardinal Wolsey of the
nuncio's sudden death, and remarked that the
Emperor had given him the Bishopric of Avila only
two days befored This statement was confirmed by
Contarini, who wrote from Rome on March 10 that
news of Baldassare Castiglione's death had just
arrived from Spain, adding that the Emperor had
appointed him Bishop of Avila a week before he fell
ill.2 So there seems to be no doubt that Castiglione
became Bishop-elect of Avila a few days before his
death, and his name is linked for ever with the old
grey town on the rugged heights of the Guadarrama.
This ancient city, famous in past days as an outpost
of the Christians in their long struggle against the
inhdel, was soon to become more illustrious as the
home of Santa Teresa, who even then was growing up
within its cyclopean walls, building little hermitages
in her garden, and going forth in a passion of youthful
enthusiasm to seek martyrdom from the Moors.
The 6th of February, 1529, was a great day at
Toledo. That morning the grandees and deputies from
all the provinces of Spain met to hear the Emperor's
pleasure concerning his proposed journey to Italy.
The Chancellor announced that His Majesty would
sail from Barcelona on March 1, and called on his
i Brewer, iv., part iii., 2S24. 2 ganuto, 1. 62.
415
renewed, and this time gratefully accepted. The
Count's biographers all agree that the offer was
made; hut while Giovio and Guicciardini say that he
accepted it, Marliani leaves the reader in doubt on
this point. The epitaph written by Bembo on the
Count's tomb at Mantua, however, expressly styles
him Bishop of Avila, and the testimony of the
English ambassador at the court of Spain appears
conclusive. On February 9, 1529, the Bishop of
Worcester wrote to inform Cardinal Wolsey of the
nuncio's sudden death, and remarked that the
Emperor had given him the Bishopric of Avila only
two days befored This statement was confirmed by
Contarini, who wrote from Rome on March 10 that
news of Baldassare Castiglione's death had just
arrived from Spain, adding that the Emperor had
appointed him Bishop of Avila a week before he fell
ill.2 So there seems to be no doubt that Castiglione
became Bishop-elect of Avila a few days before his
death, and his name is linked for ever with the old
grey town on the rugged heights of the Guadarrama.
This ancient city, famous in past days as an outpost
of the Christians in their long struggle against the
inhdel, was soon to become more illustrious as the
home of Santa Teresa, who even then was growing up
within its cyclopean walls, building little hermitages
in her garden, and going forth in a passion of youthful
enthusiasm to seek martyrdom from the Moors.
The 6th of February, 1529, was a great day at
Toledo. That morning the grandees and deputies from
all the provinces of Spain met to hear the Emperor's
pleasure concerning his proposed journey to Italy.
The Chancellor announced that His Majesty would
sail from Barcelona on March 1, and called on his
i Brewer, iv., part iii., 2S24. 2 ganuto, 1. 62.