ut
he, being much indebted to the Duke of Urbino, would not attach
himself to others, and returned to Urbino, where he was received by
that Duke into his service, and ever afterwards held very dear.

[Footnote 9: Giovan Battista.]

Not long afterwards, the Duke taking to wife Signora Vittoria Farnese,
Bartolommeo received from the Duke the charge of executing the festive
preparations for those nuptials, which he did in a truly honourable
and magnificent manner. Among other things, he made a triumphal arch
in the Borgo di Valbuona, so beautiful and so well wrought, that there
is none larger or more beautiful to be seen; whence it became evident
how much knowledge of architecture he had acquired at Rome. Then the
Duke, having to go into Lombardy, as General to the Signoria of
Venice, to inspect the fortresses of that dominion, took with him
Bartolommeo, of whom he availed himself much in preparing designs and
sites of fortresses, and in particular at the Porta S. Felice in
Verona. Now, while Bartolommeo was in Lombardy, the King of Bohemia,
who was returning from Spain to his kingdom, passed through that
province and was received with honour by the Duke at Verona; and he
saw those fortresses. And, since they pleased him, after he had become
acquainted with Bartolommeo, he wished to take him to his kingdom, in
order to make use of him in fortifying his territories, with a good
salary; but the Duke would not give him leave, and the matter went no
further.

When they had returned to Urbino, no long time passed before Girolamo,
the father, came to his death; whereupon Bartolommeo was set by the
Duke in the place of his father over all the buildings of the state,
and sent to Pesaro, where he continued the building of S. Giovanni
Battista, after the model of Girolamo. During that time he built in
the Palace of Pesaro, over the Strada de' Mercanti, a suite of rooms
which the Duke now occupies; a fine work, with most beautiful
ornaments in the form of doors, staircases, and chimney-pieces, of
which things he was an excellent architect. Which having seen, the
Duke desired that in the Palace of Urbino as well he should make
another suite of apartments, almost entirely on the facade that faces
towards S. Domenico; and this, when finished, proved to be the most
beautiful suite in that court, or rather, palace, and the most ornate
that is there. Not long afterwards, the Signori of Bologna having
asked for him for some day