or in letters, and it is the taste for all to banity of manner, and to be in every re a fashion of old observance there, yet m since the Prince visited Spain." But it Autobiography. "Notwithstanding this state of affairs, racy against his person, originating with to apprehend the consequences of the These were Pietro Bonarelli of Ancona, had bestowed the countship of Orciano great wealth, and Antonio Stati, Count saved himself by flight, and was cond other was put upon trial, and at leng justice, he was beheaded, and some of h Francesco Maria, nevertheless, laboure ment of his people, with due economy of ing he gave audience to his counsellors the evening to all who desired it, dismissi and thus business went on well and rigl Gozzet, who seems to have been a cot period he occupied himself much with c erted himself to repress brigandage, and arising from privileged sanctuaries. His in such measures, and his stern demeano acquired for him, with many, a reputation infirmities of his temper must have served other reference to his system of administ biography contains, is as follows:-"H to the government of his state, maintainin tering justice with integrity and impart *The object of this plot is stated to have been the hunting party in the manors of Orciano, to which spirators. † MSS. Oliveriana, No. 324. tyre passed The first of these was of bad, and perhaps his speedy and voluntary de did not diminish after wedlock had Dess to have been, that her marriage dress with his father, whom he THE POLICY OF THE ITAL Urbina, the winter between Part intervals he visited his other rested wi ng this in person, he dispatched one of the jobs tawn rait, who in one year went to Gate CP: 1 La Pergola; in another to Sinigaglia al MAN E. a third to the province of Montefeltra" upon him so unfortunate an alliance. ese probably gave rise, and the exIs her which he most assuredly set, her position sufficiently unpleasant, r the freedom of her brother's elegant ondered that she hesitated to return, ad succeeded to the sovereignty of s busy with gossip and conjectures is untenance which Muratori gives to jealousy of his supposed infidelities n current at Ferrara of their mystehis suspicion the life and character le refutation, but its existence inpart to bring about a better under employed the Bishop of Pesaro and to persuade her to return to his tions for their guidance, preserved he declares that the excuses she 1 could not be the real motives of ecuniary arrangements, he urges ial which his father's embarrassffers her the same establishment Novilara and its dependencies, But, in consideration of the ations against himself to which timates his intention to select able persons, leaving her, howthem to be more immediately tion having failed, the affair lecision of Cardinals Farnese, ar that an amicable separaat all events, the Duchess tate. c in the Diary of Francesco or in letters, and it is the taste for all to cultivate a refined urbanity of manner, and to be in every respect perfect courtiers, a fashion of old observance there, yet more than ever in repute since the Prince visited Spain." But it is time to resume the Autobiography. "Notwithstanding this state of affairs, he discovered a conspiracy against his person, originating with men who had reason to apprehend the consequences of their former proceedings. These were Pietro Bonarelli of Ancona, on whom the late Duke had bestowed the countship of Orciano, with other estates and great wealth, and Antonio Stati, Count of Montebello. Orciano saved himself by flight, and was condemned in absence; the other was put upon trial, and at length, in due execution of justice, he was beheaded, and some of his accomplices hanged.* Francesco Maria, nevertheless, laboured for the good government of his people, with due economy of his time. In the morning he gave audience to his counsellors and secretaries, and in the evening to all who desired it, dismissing these with despatch; and thus business went on well and rightly." We are told by Gozzet, who seems to have been a cotemporary, that at this period he occupied himself much with criminal police, and exerted himself to repress brigandage, and to reform the abuses arising from privileged sanctuaries. His rigorous perseverance in such measures, and his stern demeanour towards the nobilty, acquired for him, with many, a reputation for severity, which the infirmities of his temper must have served to confirm. The only other reference to his system of administration which the Autobiography contains, is as follows:-"He attended assiduously to the government of his state, maintaining peace, and administering justice with integrity and impartiality. He passed the *The object of this plot is stated to have been the Duke's assassination at a hunting party in the manors of Orciano, to which he was invited by the conspirators. † MSS. Oliveriana, No. 324, summer at Urbino, the winter between Pesaro and Castel Durante. At intervals he visited his other residences, and when he omitted doing this in person, he despatched one of the judges on a sort of circuit, who in one year went to Gubbio, Cagli, Fossombrone, and La Pergola; in another to Sinigaglia and Mondavio; and in a third to the province of Montefeltro." HAVING thus thrown together all that the Duke has thought fit to detail regarding the principles of his government and the early events of his reign, we now proceed to narrate in their order, from his Diary and from other sources, the few incidents afforded by those peaceful and monotonous pursuits wherein many subsequent years were passed. The first of these was of a painful domestic character, arising out of the unsatisfactory terms upon which he had during several years been with the Duchess. That love formed no ingredient in the match has been already shown, and perhaps his speedy and voluntary departure on a distant military expedition may be taken as a proof that his indifference did not diminish after wedlock had riveted his chains. In 1573, Lucrezia was laid up at Novilara with a feverish cold, and was attended by her husband, who with great reluctance consented to her return to Ferrara, on the excuse of change of air being requisite for re-establishment of her health. The truth seems to have been, that her marriage appearing unlikely to give an heir to the family, the Prince was confirmed in his original distaste, and this is said to have occasioned some disagreeable scenes with his father, whom he |