her more than any
other person of his blood.

We shall not neglect to make a report to your Excellency regarding
the journey whenever an opportunity offers.

Between Terni and Spoleto, in the valley of the Strettura, one of
the hostlers of the illustrious Don Sigismondo engaged in a violent
altercation about some turtle doves with one of his fellows in the
service of the Roman Stefano dei Fabii, who is a member of the
duchess's escort. Both grasped their arms, whereupon one
Pizaguerra, also in the service of the illustrious Don Sigismondo,
happening to ride by on his horse, wounded Stefano's hostler on the
head. Thereupon Stefano, who is naturally quarrelsome and
vindictive, became so angry that he declared he would accompany the
cavalcade no farther. About this time we reached the castle of
Spoleto, and he passed the illustrious Don Sigismondo and Don
Ferrante without speaking to them or even looking at them. The
whole affair was due to a misunderstanding which we all regretted
very much, and as Pizaguerra and Don Sigismondo's hostler had fled,
there was nothing more to be done; the Cardinal of Cosenza, the
illustrious Madonna, and all the others agreed that Stefano was in
the wrong. He, therefore, was mollified, and continued on the
journey. We commend ourselves to your Excellency's mercy. From
Foligno, January 13, 1502.

Your Majesty's servants,
JOHANNES LUCAS and GIRARDUS SARACENUS.

POSTSCRIPT: The worthy Cardinal of Cosenza, we understand,
is unwilling to pass through the territory of the illustrious Duke
of Urbino.

From Foligno the journey was continued by way of Nocera and Gualdo to
Gubbio, one of the most important cities in the duchy of Urbino. About
two miles from that place the Duchess Elisabetta met Lucretia and
accompanied her to the city palace. After this the two remained
constantly in each other's company, for Elisabetta kept her promise and
accompanied Lucretia to Ferrara.

Cardinal Borgia returned to Rome from Gubbio, and the two ladies
occupied the comfortable sedan-chair which Alexander had presented his
daughter. January 18th, when the cavalcade was near Urbino, Lucretia was
greeted by Duke Guidobaldo, who had come with his entire court to meet
her. He accompanied Lucretia to the residence set apart for
her--Federico's beautiful palace--where she and the princes