reat anxiety, for the duke was a man
who would not have hesitated to throw all Italy in turmoil for the
purpose of carrying out his own plans; he was greatly beloved, not only
by the men of war, but also by many people in Ferrara and in the States
of the Church--something which seldom falls to the lot of a tyrant."

Caesar's messenger ventured to Bologna in spite of the presence of the
Pope, and there the latter had him seized. This was reported to
Lucretia, who immediately wrote to the Marchese of Gonzaga as follows:

ILLUSTRIOUS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HONORED BROTHER: I have
just learned that by command of his Holiness our Federigo, the
chancellor of the duke, my brother, has been seized in Bologna; I
am sure he has done nothing to deserve this, for he did not come
here with the intention of doing or saying anything that would
displease or injure his Holiness--his Excellency would not
countenance or risk anything of this sort against his Holiness. If
Federigo had been given any order of this nature he would have
first informed me of it, and I should never have permitted him to
give any ground for complaint, for I am a devoted and faithful
servant of the Pope, as is also my illustrious husband. I know of
no other reason for his coming than to inform us of the duke's
escape. Therefore I consider his innocence as beyond question. This
apprehension of the courier is especially displeasing to me because
it will injure my brother, the duke, making it appear that he is
not in his Holiness's favor, and the same may be said of myself. I,
therefore, urgently request your Excellency--of course if you are
disposed to do me a favor--to use every means to induce his
Holiness to release the messenger promptly, which I trust he will
do out of his own goodness, and owing to the mediation of your
Excellency. There is no way your Majesty could give me greater
pleasure than by doing this, for the sake of my own honor and every
other consideration, and in no way could I become more beholden to
you. Therefore, I commend myself again to you with all my heart.
Your Majesty's Sister and Servant,

THE DUCHESS OF FERRARA.

FERRARA, _January 15, 1507_.

Caesar had sent his former majordomo, Don Jaime de Requesenz, from
Pamplona to the King of France to ask him to allow him to return to his
court and enter his service.