f the Duke
of Florence. In January of the following year, he invited young Giovanni
to visit Rome, and immediately conceived an immense fancy for his
charming visitor. Giovanni was preconised Cardinal-Deacon, with the
title of Santa Maria in Domenica, and the Pope presented him his own
private residence, with its appointments and household. The young
Cardinal spent some weeks in the Eternal City, and gathered around him,
by his courtesy and liberality, most of the Florentine exiles in Rome
and its environs. They were generally in a woeful condition, and the
young prince undertook to bring their misfortunes and their fervent
wishes before his father.

The Cardinal of Lorraine and the Cardinal Camerlengo Ascarno Sforza had
previously visited the Tuscan Court, and had received Cosimo's consent
to his son's acceptance of the biretta.

Giovanni Battista Adriani in his _Istorie di Suoi Tempe_, has placed on
record that this youthful Prince of the Church was "of mature judgment
and wise beyond his years, and of such a bearing that it would have been
difficult to have found anyone more attractive, more seemly in his
morals, and very sensible." In Rome Giovanni gave himself up especially
to the study of antiquities, and he became a great favourite with the
many pious, learned, and distinguished men who were gathered round the
mild and religiously-minded Pontiff.

Cardinal de' Medici's secretary was the erudite and upright Abbot Felice
Gualterio, who subsequently gathered together his letters and literary
compositions, "wherein are noble and benevolent expressions of his
affection for his father and mother and his brothers and sisters."
Garzia, two years his junior, is often named with sincerest love and
pleasure.

Pius, constant in his devotion to the young Cardinal, added to his
honours and prerogatives by creating him, early in 1561, Archbishop of
Pisa, but, inasmuch as he had not reached the age prescribed for holding
ecclesiastical preferments, Canon Antonio da Catignano was appointed
Administrator of the spiritualities of the See. However, in March, the
young Archbishop made his ceremonial entry into Pisa, accompanied by the
Duke and Duchess, with their family and court.

The Pope greatly desired that Cardinal Giovanni should enter Holy Order,
and to this the young prince cordially and reverently acceded, but, for
reasons of his own, Cosimo declined his consent, remarking that "a
prince of his house was more distingui