a prominent Ferrarese noble, was cast into prison upon an unstated
charge, but it was given out by his jailor, that he had aspired to the
hand of an Estensi princess. He was never seen alive again, for he was
strangled in Duke Alfonso's presence--who caused his name to be vilely
linked with that of the poisoned Duchess! Cosimo and Eleanora made a
show at least of grief, and a splendid _Requiem_ was sung for Lucrezia
at the Medici church of San Lorenzo. At the same time Cosimo made known,
in most heartless fashion to Alfonso that, whilst he was resigned to the
will of Heaven, he assured him of his sincere affection, and expressed a
fervent wish that nothing should loosen their bonds of true and solid
friendship! Devout Duchess Eleanora's indifference is harder to explain
than Duke Cosimo's nonchalance. Perhaps in her case evil associations
had corrupted good manners, or, more likely, the memory of her child
Maria's terrible death compelled discretion in her dealings with her
husband--"Tyrant of tyrants." It might be her turn next to feel that
cold steel!

And what about Duke Alfonso? Well, very soon he forgot all about
Lucrezia, and found consolation, though actually he needed none, in a
second marriage. This union, however, led to the resurrection of the
hatchet of discord, which Cosimo and Ercole had agreed to bury
underground.

The new Duchess was Barbara d'Austria, sister of the Archduchess
Giovanna, bride of Don Francesco, poor Lucrezia's brother. A double
wedding was fixed at Trento in August 1565, but a fracas occurred at the
church doors between the Medici and Estensi suites for precedence. The
two princely couples were married separately by the Emperor Maximilian's
command, each in the capital of the bridegroom's dominions. Duke
Alfonso died in in 1597.

* * * * *

One notable effect of the foreign marriages of the Medicean princes was
the settling of aliens, in considerable numbers, in Florence. With
Clarice and Alfonsina d'Orsini had come greedy Roman adventurers; with
Margherita and Giovanna d'Austria many enterprising Germans;
self-seeking Spaniards came with Eleanora de Toledo.

From one point of view this foreign immigration was advantageous--it
tended to revive the falling fortunes of Florentine commerce. On the
other hand aliens were introduced into prominent positions at the Court
and in the city, whose speculations robbed the citizens of their fame
and fortune.