the illustrious Duke, he
showed great annoyance, declaring it was a mistake which could only
injure his Majesty, and he added that the ambassadors of Rimini had
been here two months without succeeding in speaking with him, as he
was in the habit of turning day into night and night into day. He
severely criticized his son's mode of living. On the other hand, he
commended the illustrious Duchess, saying that she was always
gracious, and granted audiences readily, and that whenever there
was need she knew how to cajole. He lauded her highly, and stated
that she had ruled Spoleto to the satisfaction of everybody, and he
also said that her Majesty always knew how to carry her point--even
with himself, the Pope. I think that his Holiness spoke in this way
more for the purpose of saying good of her (which according to my
opinion she deserved) than to avoid saying anything ill, even if
there were occasion for it. Your Majesty's Ever devoted.

ROME, _October 6th_.

The Pope seldom allowed an opportunity to pass for praising his
daughter's beauty and graciousness. He frequently compared her with the
most famous women of Italy--the Marchioness of Mantua and the Duchess of
Urbino. One day, while conversing with the ambassadors of Ferrara, he
mentioned her age, saying that in October (1502) she would complete her
twenty-second year, while Caesar would be twenty-six the same month.[122]

The Pope was greatly pleased with the members of the bridal escort, for
they all were either princes of the house of Este or prominent persons
of Ferrara. He also approved the selection of Annibale Bentivoglio, son
of the Lord of Bologna, and said laughingly to the Ferrarese ambassadors
that, even if their master had chosen Turks to come to Rome for the
bride, they would have been welcome.

The Florentines, owing to their fear of Caesar, sent ambassadors to
Lucretia to ask her to come by way of their city when she went to
Ferrara; the Pope, however, was determined that she should make the
journey through Romagna. According to an oppressive custom of the day,
the people through whose country persons of quality traveled were
required to provide for them, and, in order not to tax Romagna too
heavily, it was decided that the Ferrarese escort should come to Rome by
way of Tuscany. The Republic of Florence firmly refused to entertain the
escort all the time it was in its territo