HIS AFFECTION FOR ISABELLA

153

he was entrusted with the education of Pirro and Camilla Gonzaga's orphan daughter, Lucrezia, he often recalled the joyous days which he had spent in Mantua, and caused the memory of the Marchesa and her friends to live again in his immortal pages.

CHAPTER XXX

1519-1520

Death of the Emperor Maximilian-Of the Marquis Francesco Gonzaga-His death-bed and funeral-Proclamation of his son Federico - Death of Lucrezia Borgia - Of Isabella's secretary, Capilupi-Mario Equicola succeeds him-Death of Lorenzo dei Medici, Duke of Urbino-Mission of Castiglione to Rome-Urbino annexed to the Papal States-Raphael designs a tomb for the Marquis Francesco-His picture for Isabella-Portrait of Federico sent to Mantua-Mentioned in Charles the First's inventories-Trial of Longueil-Pandolfo Pico's letter on the death of Raphael.

THE year 1519 proved fatal to many persons closely connected with Isabella d'Este, and whose lives and destinies had influenced the fortunes of her house. First of all, in January the Emperor Maximilian died, and was succeeded in June by his grandson, Charles V., who already reigned over Spain, Naples, and the Netherlands. While the rival powers of Europe were still intriguing over the imperial election, the Marquis Francesco Gonzaga passed away. After Isabella's return from Casale at the end of the year, he became rapidly worse, and was unable to leave the palace of S. Sebastiano. On the morning of the 29th of March, he sent for his notary, Leonello Marchese, and made a will, appointing his son Federico his heir and successor, and leaving a yearly income of 8000 ducats to his two younger sons, Ercole and Ferrante, and a portion of 3000 ducats to his two unmarried daughters. A yearly pension of 400 ducats

DEATH OF FRANCESCO

155

was provided for his two illegitimate daughters, and a house in the Borgo Pradella was assigned to Margherita, who still remained unmarried. The Marchesa was confirmed in the possession of all her revenues, amounting to a yearly income of 12,000 ducats, and, together with the Cardinal and Giovanni Gonzaga, was appointed executor and guardian, or adviser of her son Federico until he should attain the age of twenty-two. A fine house and estate was also left to his brother Giovanni as a special token of affection, and a pension of 6000 ducats a year was assigned to the Duke and Duchesses of Urbino during their exile.1 After this the dying man received the last sacraments, and sent for his wife and children, who assembled round his bedside towards evening. Both the Duchesses of Urbino, his sister and daughter, were present, as well as Isabella, her three sons, and two younger daughters-Ippolita, who had taken the veil a year before, and Livia, who had been destined to the cloister from her birth, and was already known by her conventual name of Paola. The Marquis took leave of them and of the chief magistrates and nobles of Mantua, begging them to serve his son as well as they had served him. "My dearest son," he said to Federico, “I leave you a beautiful state and a large revenue. See that you act justly and keep the love of your subjects, and carry out my last orders if you wish me to rest in peace." Then, turning to Isabella, he recommended his children to her care, saying that he had long known her marvellous wisdom and capacity, and placed his whole trust and confidence in her. After this he asked two Franciscan friars who were present to read aloud the account of 1 M. Sanuto, Diarii, xxvii. 161,

156

FUNERAL HONOURS

the death of Christ from St. Luke's Gospel, and when they reached the passage, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit," he commended his own soul devoutly into the hands of God. "Nothing was to be seen on the faces of all present but tears," writes Equicola, who was present; "nothing was to be heard but the sobbing of the women, while the children stood by, as it were, stunned and silent." At eight o'clock the Marquis breathed his last. All the next day his body lay in state in the Castello, after which it was clothed in the Franciscan habit, as he had desired, and borne in an oak coffin covered with a black velvet pall to the Gonzaga chapel in the church of S. Francesco, followed by all the friars in Mantua.1

On the 4th of April the new Marquis, Federico, rode out of the Castello, clad in white, and, standing under the great gates of the cathedral, received the sceptre from the hands of Sigismondo Folengo, Podestà of Mantua. Then he rode through the city, followed by all the nobles and chief citizens. His steward, Ippoliti, rode before him, bearing a naked sword high over his head, while drums were beat and trumpets sounded, and the people shouted "Long live the house of Gonzaga." A week afterwards the last honours were paid to the dead ruler, and Federico rode in state at the head of all the princes of his house to the church of S. Francesco. Here his father's corpse was laid on a sumptuous catafalque hung with banners and lighted with blazing torches, crowned with an effigy of the dead prince in armour.2 Federico's old tutor, Francesco Vigilio, delivered a funeral oration on the following day,

1 Mario Equicola, Commentarii, ed. 1607.

8 G. Daïno, Cronaca; Volta, Storia di Mantova, ii. 304.

GRIEF OF LUCREZIA BORGIA

157

after which the new Marquis received the foreign ambassadors and gave audience to the chief citizens of Mantua and the neighbouring towns. During the next weeks the widowed Marchesa received letters and visits of condolence, not only, as Bandello remarked, from all parts of Italy, but from all quarters of the civilised world. Ambassadors from France, Spain, and Germany came to offer her their respectful sympathy. Pope Leo X., who, in spite of his base and treacherous conduct towards Isabella's kindred of Urbino and Ferrara, always professed sincere regard for her, sent his secretary, Pietro Bembo, in June to Mantua to offer his condolences and present his congratulations to Federico; and, at the Marchesa's invitation, this old friend paid her a visit at Marmirolo, where she was spending the summer. Even Cardinal Bibbiena, who could hardly appear in Isabella's presence after taking the field against her son-in-law, sent a courteous note from Brescello on his way back from France, professing the warmest sentiments of affection and regretting his inability to visit her in person.

One of the kindest letters which Isabella received on this occasion was from her sister-in-law, Lucrezia Borgia.1 Duke Alfonso, alarmed by the Pope's secret designs against Ferrara, had gone to the court of France to seek the help of his ally, King Francis I., and only heard of his brother-in-law's death on his return home. Meanwhile Lucrezia wrote on the 31st of March to express her deep regret at the death of a prince who had always been a good friend to her. "This bitter loss," she wrote to Isabella, "has afflicted me so deeply that, instead of being able to 1 Gregorovius, "L. Borgia,” p. 319.