The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

FAMILY OF PIUS IV. 67
who, to distinguish him from the other branches of the family,
was sumamed " di Nosigia," because he belonged to the parish
of San Martino di Nosigia. He was known as an industrious
and honourable man,^ who by his marriage with Cecilia Ser-
belloni became the father of fourteen children, of whom ten,
five sons and five daughters, survived. In order to support
this numerous family Bernardino de' Medici endeavoured to
increase his income by the farming of the customs. After
the victory of Francis I. at Marignano, on September 14th,
1515, had placed Milan in the hands of the French, he lost, as
an adherent of Maximilian Sforza, not only this concession,
but also his whole fortune, and was, moreover, thrown into
prison, from which he was only released through the inter-
cession of a friend, Girolamo Morone. Completely broken
in health by his misfortunes, Bernardino died in 1519,^
leaving his family in very necessitous circumstances. The
eldest son, Gian Giacomo, a bold and adventurous character,
who had been obliged to flee from Milan, adopted the career
of arms.^ The second son, Gian Angelo, went to Pavia, where
he at first studied medicine and philosophy, but later, following
the family tradition, turned his attention to jurisprudence,
which was, indeed, more suited to his temperament. The
misfortunes of his father placed him in such dire need,
that he was thrown on the charity of his fellow students,
and was thankful, through the influence of the friend of his
iQiROL. SoRANZO, 68. In Cod. D. 325 of the Ambrosian
Library at Milan, there is a picture of the house of Bernardino
de' Medici, with the original coat of arms. • Cf. Beltrami, Sul
valore dei terreni in Milano al principio del 1500, Milan, 1891,
and Rassegna d'Arte, XIV. 140 seq. (1914).
^Cf. Lettere di G. Morone, in the Miscell. di stor, Ital., II.,
713. SusTA, Pius IV., 10.
^ The work of his contemporary, Marcantonio Missaglia,
furnishes rehable statements concerning his adventurous life :
Vita di Giov. Jacomo Medici, marchese di Marignano, Milan, 1605
(con noti di M. Fabi, Milan, 1854). ^f- ^^^so Giangiacomo de
Medici Castellano di Musso (1523-32). Saggio bibliografico di
Solone Ambrosoli, Milan, 1805.