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

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GIAN GIACOMO DE' MEDICI. 69<br />

advantage to his whole family. Gian Angelo was now in a<br />

position to complete his legal studies at <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong><br />

Bologna, where he enjoyed <strong>the</strong> tuition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> famous Carlo<br />

Ruini, and in 1525 won his doctor's degree in both branches<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> law. On his return to Milan he was immediately<br />

received as a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Collegio del nohili giuresconsuUi.^<br />

He owed this honour to <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> Morone, who intended<br />

to make use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> young man for his secret political plans.<br />

Gian Angelo, as well as his bro<strong>the</strong>r, Gian Giacomo, was<br />

involved in <strong>the</strong> plot which Morone had set on foot for<br />

<strong>the</strong> liberation <strong>of</strong> Italy <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spanish yoke, but <strong>the</strong> dis-<br />

covery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conspiracy, which led to <strong>the</strong> imprisonment <strong>of</strong><br />

Morone, ruined all <strong>the</strong>ir hopes. <strong>The</strong> two Medici, who were<br />

deeply compromised, fled to Musso, which was strongly<br />

fortified, and <strong>the</strong> Spaniards were not powerful enough to take<br />

energetic measures against <strong>the</strong>m. When <strong>the</strong> Holy League was<br />

formed against <strong>the</strong> Emperor after <strong>the</strong> Peace <strong>of</strong> Madrid, Gian<br />

Giacomo, <strong>the</strong> skilled soldier, took part in <strong>the</strong> campaign against<br />

<strong>the</strong> Spaniards." A quarrel in which he was involved with<br />

<strong>the</strong> commander- in-chief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Venetians, <strong>the</strong> Duke <strong>of</strong> Urbino,<br />

was <strong>the</strong> occasion <strong>of</strong> sending his bro<strong>the</strong>r, Gian Angelo, to Rome<br />

at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> 1526. ^ While Gian Angelo was diplomatically<br />

active against <strong>the</strong> Spaniards, <strong>the</strong> Castellan <strong>of</strong> Musso was<br />

waging a guerilla war against <strong>the</strong>m. This daring soldier gave<br />

so much trouble to <strong>the</strong> Imperial leader, de Leva, that <strong>the</strong> latter<br />

resolved to make peace with him. Gian Giacomo, who<br />

always had an eye to his own interests, agreed all <strong>the</strong> more<br />

willingly to de Leva's <strong>of</strong>fer as <strong>the</strong> League was falling to pieces.<br />

He entered, without scruple, into <strong>the</strong> service <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emperor,<br />

who recognised him by patent, on October 31st, 1528, as<br />

^ <strong>The</strong> Pope in returning thanks for <strong>the</strong> congratulations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

College, referred to this ; see <strong>the</strong> *brief <strong>of</strong> March 26, 1560, to <strong>the</strong><br />

Collegium iuriscons. Mediol. (Arm. 43, t. 10, n. 136, Papal<br />

Secret Archives). Concerning C. Ruini cf. Fantuzzi, VII.,<br />

230 seq. ; Savigny, Gesch. des rom. Rechts, VI., 426.<br />

2 C/. SusTA, Pius IV., 12 seq.<br />

^ See ihid., 13-14. Cj. Mijller, 231.

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