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

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DEATH OF FEDERIGO BORROMEO. II5<br />

obsequies which were held for this j'outh who had been so<br />

suddenly snatched away <strong>from</strong> life, almost seemed to be <strong>the</strong><br />

funeral rites for <strong>the</strong> glory <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> house <strong>of</strong> Borromeo. Cardinal<br />

Borromeo might well see in <strong>the</strong> gold-embroidered pall which<br />

covered <strong>the</strong> c<strong>of</strong>fin, ^ as it lay in state under a gilded canopy<br />

at <strong>the</strong> obsequies on November 25th, a symbol <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> splendid<br />

downfall <strong>of</strong> his family.<br />

<strong>The</strong> sudden death <strong>of</strong> this much-loved nephew at <strong>the</strong> early<br />

age <strong>of</strong> twenty-seven, filled <strong>the</strong> Pope with <strong>the</strong> deepest sorrow.<br />

A letter <strong>from</strong> Borromeo to Cesare Gonzaga <strong>of</strong> November 19,<br />

1562, in Sai.a, Documenti, III., 241. (2) A *letter <strong>of</strong> Fr. Tonina<br />

<strong>of</strong> November 20, 1562 (Gonzaga Archives, Mantua). (3) A<br />

*letter <strong>of</strong> Alf. Roselli <strong>of</strong> November ig, 1562 (State Archives,<br />

Modena). Cf. also Borromeo's letters <strong>of</strong> November 24, 1562<br />

(with wrong date 1561, as erroneously printed in Sala, Docum.,<br />

III., 99), December 3, 1562, April 5, 1563, September 2, 1564<br />

(removal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> body to Milan), in Sala, Docum., III., 242, 262,<br />

308. <strong>The</strong> news <strong>of</strong> his having received <strong>the</strong> marquisate <strong>of</strong> Oria only<br />

arrived when Federigo was in his last moments (Kervyn de<br />

Lettenhove, III., 212 ;<br />

Sickel,<br />

Konzil, 403). A satirical<br />

epitaph on F. Borromeo in Giorn. d. lett. Ital., XXXVI., 212.<br />

1 BoNDONUs, 544. *Letter <strong>of</strong> Alf. Roselli <strong>of</strong> November 25,<br />

1562 (State Archives, Modena).<br />

2 On November 18, 1562, when Federigo's state had become<br />

hopeless, Fr. Tonina reports : " *N.S. ni ha sentito et sente<br />

infinito dispiacere et questa notte gli ando a otto hore a vederlo<br />

et egli poi, o per dispiacere o per il disturbo, si dice che vomit6<br />

quanto hieri havea magnato et resta anch' esso travagliato."<br />

On November 20 Tonina writes : " *Resta adunque dirle che<br />

N.S. ha sentito et sente di questa morte infinito dolore, et chi<br />

fu presente dice che disse, Manus Domini tetigit me, et un altra<br />

volte disse, orsu bisogna portrala in pace, questi sono i nostri<br />

peccati." In an *Avviso di Roma <strong>of</strong> November 21, 1562, it is<br />

stated :<br />

"<br />

S.S*'^' quand' ebbe tal nuova stava a far segnatura e<br />

sospese la penna, torno a seguirla et prestandogli il card. Borromeo<br />

disse : Manus Domini tetigit nos " (State Archives, Naples,<br />

C. Fames.). According to <strong>the</strong> *report <strong>of</strong> Tonina <strong>of</strong> November<br />

28, 1562, <strong>the</strong> Pope deplored in <strong>the</strong> Congregation <strong>of</strong> Monday, with<br />

tears in his eyes, <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong> this " filius dilectus, solamen suum "<br />

(Gonzaga Archives, Mantua). According to <strong>the</strong> *report <strong>of</strong><br />

^

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