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

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PROMOTION OF THE POPE S NEPHEWS. lOI<br />

ing that Pius IV. would subordinate himself to <strong>the</strong> carrying<br />

out <strong>of</strong> all his schemes.^<br />

<strong>The</strong> Dukes <strong>of</strong> Urbino and Florence were still in Rome when,<br />

on December 7th, 1560, Virginia approached <strong>the</strong> city in<br />

gorgeous state. Four Cardinals and numerous prelates went<br />

to meet her at <strong>the</strong> Prima Porta, where she was also greeted by<br />

<strong>the</strong> Roman nobility, and at <strong>the</strong> Ponte MoUe by <strong>the</strong> diplomatic<br />

corps. After Virginia had spent <strong>the</strong> night at <strong>the</strong> Villa Giulia,<br />

she made her entrance into <strong>the</strong> Eternal City on a white palfrey,<br />

her head covered with a coif gleaming with jewels, while an<br />

honour was rendered to <strong>the</strong> young Duchess which had hi<strong>the</strong>rto<br />

been conferred only upon queens and empresses, for by her<br />

side rode two Cardinals, Rovere and Borromeo.^<br />

Pius IV. made it his business that honours and riches should<br />

also fall to <strong>the</strong> lot <strong>of</strong> his remaining nephews, but he was not<br />

able to satisfy <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> full. <strong>The</strong> second <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> five<br />

SerbeUoni bro<strong>the</strong>rs had been received,, as has been already<br />

stated, into <strong>the</strong> Sacred College at <strong>the</strong>, same time as Carlo<br />

Borromeo. Gian Battista SerbeUoni had received <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Captain <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Castle <strong>of</strong> St. Angelo, while his bro<strong>the</strong>r<br />

Gabrio had become Captain <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Papal guard. ^ Fabrizio<br />

SerbeUoni was sent in October, 1561, to France, to defend <strong>the</strong><br />

city <strong>of</strong> Avignon, which was being threatened by <strong>the</strong> Huguenots,*<br />

1 See HiLLiGER, 7, 25. •<br />

^ See BoNDONUs, 537 seq. Cf. Massarelli, 349, and *.report<br />

<strong>of</strong> Fr. Tonma <strong>of</strong> December 11, 1560 (Gonzaga Archives, Mantua).<br />

Concerning <strong>the</strong> preparations for <strong>the</strong> reception <strong>of</strong> Virginia see<br />

Avvisi di Roma <strong>of</strong> November 16 and 23, 1560 (Urb. 1039, p. 216,<br />

218, Vatican Library).<br />

'See <strong>the</strong> *report <strong>of</strong> G. Grandi <strong>of</strong> January 17, 1560 (State<br />

Archives, Modenaj. Cf. Pagliucchi, 138. Ibid. 144, con-<br />

cerning <strong>the</strong> appointment <strong>of</strong> Gian Battista to <strong>the</strong> bishopric <strong>of</strong><br />

Cassano, which took pLace on September 17, 1562. Gabrio and<br />

his bro<strong>the</strong>r Gian Battista had arrived in Rome on January 4<br />

(*Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> January 6, 1560, Urb. 1039, p. 114, Vatican<br />

Library). Gabrio SerbeUoni was later on entrusted with <strong>the</strong><br />

superintendence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fortresses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> States <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church ;<br />

GiroL Soranzo praises him (p. 94).<br />

* See *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> October 25, 1561 (Urb. 1039, p. 305,<br />

Vatican Library). Cf. Giroi, Soranzo, 95.

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