300 JEROME CARDAN. 



Not less earnest than these friends, and constant to the 

 last in his care over Jerome's fortunes, was Cardinal Al- 

 ciat, who had inherited, with the goods of Alciat the 

 lawyer, the strong friendship which that great man had 

 maintained with Cardan the physician. 



The philosopher found also at Rome a firm friend and 

 supporter in another cardinal, Pietro Donato Cesio; and 

 he enjoyed most liberal patronage from the Tridentine 

 cardinal, Cristofero Mediuzio. The Venetian cardinal 

 Amulio was also his friend. He enjoyed, too, the direct 

 favour of the venerable Bishop Taddeo Massa. Of other 

 friends of Jerome in his last years I need name only one, 

 the Prince of Matelica, a small town in the Roman 

 States, upon whom the old man pronounces an unusually 

 warm panegyric for his royal qualities, his most extensive 

 knowledge, his amenity of manners, his vast wealth, the 

 splendour of his father's house, his wisdom, almost more 

 than human. "What was there in me," exclaimed the 

 old man, " that could bring me into friendly intercourse 

 with such a man? Not benefits conferred, not hope of 

 anything that I could do, old and despised by fortune, 

 prostrate, no agreeable companion; if he loved me for 

 anything, it was but for his opinion of my probity." 



Jerome had also a familiar friend in his pupil from 

 Bologna, Rodolf Silvester, who, having graduated, went 

 at once to establish himself as a practitioner in Rome, and 



