THE PATRON D'AVALOS. 157 



and governor in Milan. In the year 1535 he joined the 

 expedition of the Emperor to Tunis, and obtained mili- 

 tary promotion. D'Avalos was by no means a man of the 

 best stamp. He was clever, but unscrupulous ; in words 

 and ways fond of display. He sought the smiles of ladies 

 as a dandy, and in that character was probably unequalled 

 in his time and country. His dress was elaborate, and he 

 perfumed not only his own person, but even the saddle 

 upon which he rode. In the year 1536 his patronage of 

 Jerome was but nominal. Four years afterwards, how- 

 ever, the marquis was sent by the emperor as chief am- 

 bassador to Venice; and before that time, on the recom- 

 mendation of an influential friend, Jerome had come to be 

 numbered and paid among the members of his suite. He 

 had worked, however, for the great man's favour had 

 gone courting to him ; and in one of his works he relates 

 incidentally his regret that he was troubled with a severe 

 cold at a time when he was in furtherance of his suit 

 assiduously paying to the great man evening visits. He 

 put his feet, however, in hot water, took Cassia Nigra, and 

 in three days got rid of the ungraceful huskiness 1 . 



The name of this patron will recur several times as the 

 narrative proceeds, and I know no better way of giving a 



1 " Opprimebar aliquando Coll. nostri auctoritate. . . . coactus sum 

 principis Alphonsi amicitiam colere, id faciebam hora vespertina," &c. 

 De Aqua. Opera, Tom. ii. p. 585. 



