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

78 HISTORY OF THE POPES.
Emperor did not prove ungrateful, for Medici received the
bishopric of Cassano in 1553, and three years later, that of
Foligno.^
Medici was much respected among his colleagues on account
of his intimate acquaintance with canon law ; he was permanent
Prefect of the Signatura Gratiae, with Cardinal
Saraceni, while he often represented Cardinal Puteo in the
Signatura Justitiae. His principal work, however, was not
done in the Curia, public opinion placing him among the
Cardinals of lesser importance, while the people persisted in
calling him " Medichino " as if the celebrated name of Medici
was not suitable to him.^ The Cardinal had his residence
in the Fieschi palace, while he possessed a Vigna outside the
Porta S. Pancrazio.^ In both of these he enjoyed seeing
himself surrounded by men of letters. In politics, he was,
as before, an adherent of the Emperor, from whom he enjoyed
a pension ;* he never, however, took any prominent place
in the party, and associated in a very friendly manner with
those on the side of France. It was as little to his liking to
bind himself to either side, as to take a prominent or important
part in any struggle. He liked to keep on good terms with
everyone, and the quiet times of Julius III. were very much
to his taste. ^ The stormy reign of Paul IV. was, therefore,
all the more painful to him, as he had contributed towards
his election, as well as to that of Marcellus 11.^
^ See Vol. XIII. of this work, p. 132. Susta, 32-5. A number
of letters from Medici to Ferrante Gonzaga about the war with
Parma are in Campori, CIII. Lettere inedite di sommi pontefici,
16 seqq. Modena, 1878.
2 Cf. MiJLLER, 234 seq. ; Susta, 35. Susta forms a fair opinion
concerning the actual circumstances. The anecdote concerning
the prediction of the pontificate by young Silvio Antoniano
(N. Erythraeus, Pinacotheca, 37 ; cf. Cancellieri, Possessi,
109) with which Ranke (Papste, I*'., 205) begins his account of
the pontificate, is likely to lead the reader astray.
3 Cf. Vol. XIII. of this work, p. 381, and Susta, 38.
* See the Venetian Despatches, II., 432.
5 C/. MocENiGO, 51, and especially Susta, 39.
^ C/. Vol. XIV, of this work, pp. 10, 62.