believing the rumours
that Alessandro was Clement's son."

Goaded by what he conceived to be a legitimate ambition, Ippolito posted
off to Florence with the idea of seizing the executive power. Clement
despatched Baccio Valori after him, with entreaties and promises, and
finding that he had no welcome among the Florentines, Ippolito returned
quietly to Rome.

The Pope immediately, and without consulting him, preconised him
Cardinal--greatly to his disgust. He had no wish for ecclesiastical
preferment, he was a soldier at heart, and meant to be ruler of
Florence. Clement noted the young man's partialities--he was only just
twenty years of age, and he encouraged him in his extravagant tastes by
liberally endowing his Cardinalate. A Brief "_In commendam_" was
bestowed upon him, whereby the revenue of all vacant benefices and Papal
dignities, for six months, were transferred to his account. Moreover, in
1529, he was appointed Archbishop of Avignon, Legate of Perugia, and
Administrator of the See of Casale. These fat endowments very
considerably affected Ippolito's position. In Rome he had a Court of
three hundred notable personages of all nations; his most intimate
friends were soldiers and statesmen of renown, and writers and artists
of the highest abilities and fame.

Clement having placated Ippolito, set to work to carry out his plans
for Alessandro. He wrote on his behalf to the Emperor Charles V. to
invite him on his way from Flanders, whither he had travelled to avoid
disputes with Ippolito, to visit the Imperial Court. Charles received
Alessandro with great honour, and expressed his pleasure at greeting the
near relative of the Pope.

A treaty was subsequently signed at Barcelona between Charles and
Clement, whereby it was agreed that Alessandro should espouse Margaret,
Charles' illegitimate daughter, and that Clement should create Florence
a Dukedom in favour of Alessandro. At the same time the Emperor was
asked to intercede between the rival cousins but he naively replied,
"Neither wants liberty but aggrandisement! Let them be."

Alessandro entered Florence on 5th July 1531 accompanied by Giovanni
Antonio Muscettola, envoy and chancellor of the Emperor. He proceeded to
the Palazzo Vecchio, there he read aloud the injunction of Clement,
countersigned by Charles, which established him as Duke of Florence. The
office of _Gonfaloniere di Giustizia_ was abolished, and the _Signoria_
restricted in their powers as