la Cerreto
Guidi, and laying out the park and gardens--the former for the pursuit
of deer-hunting, the latter by way of rivalry to Pratolino--Francesco
and Bianca's plaisance.

The Grand Duchess Giovanna was something like her predecessor, Duchess
Eleanora, a serious-minded sort of woman, with no pretensions to beauty
or ability, not at all the sort of sovereign for that gay and dissolute
court. The _beau monde_ took themselves off to the Orte Oricellari--to
pay their devotions to the lovely Venetian mistress of their Sovereign;
and to Poggio Baroncelli--where Duchess Isabella reigned as queen of
fashion and frivolity.

Cosimo and Cammilla de' Martelli--whom he married secretly and took away
to his favourite Villa del Castello--lived in strict retreat, rarely
came into Florence, and kept no sort of state. At the same time two
sons of his were sources of keen anxiety.

Ferdinando, born 1549, was now wearing the Cardinal's red hat, which
hapless young Garzia's hunting-knife had caused to fall from his brother
Giovanni's head in the Maremma. Ambitious, jealous, but, perhaps, less
depraved than his father, the Cardinal de' Medici made no secret of his
dislike of his brother Francesco and his _innamorata_, Bianca
Buonaventuri. He became a thorn in his father's and brother's sides on
account of his extortionate and presumptuous demands. His young
stepmother--only two years his senior--favoured his pretensions, and so
brought trouble upon herself, as we shall see later on.

Piero, Cosimo's youngest legitimate son, was but a boy of fourteen when
his father married his second wife. Of course she was far too young and
inexperienced to be of any use in guiding his growth and tastes.

The Court was thus divided: the two parties were headed respectively by
the Grand Duchess Giovanna, the titular Grand Duchess-dowager,--so to
call Cammilla,--with the Cardinal de' Medici; and by Bianca Cappello di
Pietro Buonaventuri and Duchess Isabella of Bracciano.

With respect to the latter coterie, its influence was vastly augmented
by the assassination of Pietro Buonaventuri in 1572. Duchess Isabella
gave her whole heart's support to the beauteous young widow. She wrote
to her the most affectionate letters, in one of which, if not in more,
she says she loves Bianca "more than sister," and bids her retain her
position as "the loving helper of my brother."

Bianca heartily returned her "more than a sister's" affection, and she
repeatedly