ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



later, when Adrian the Sixth, in alarm at the discovery 

 of Cardinal Soderini's plot to bring back the French, 

 sent for Cardinal de' Medici to the Vatican. His Holi- 

 ness was then persuaded to accompany the Cardinal to 

 his Vigna outside the walls, where the whole day was 

 spent in earnest consultation. By the end of the year 

 Adrian was dead, and Cardinal de' Medici had been 

 elected Pope with the title of Clement the Seventh. 

 But money was scarce, and the new Pope had no time 

 or thought to spend on his villa. "Unlike Leo," 

 remarked the Venetian Foscari, " His Holiness has 

 only been twice to La Magliana in the last two years, 

 and has seldom had time to visit his own Vigna" 

 Giulio Romano left Rome for Mantua in 1524, but 

 Giovanni da Udine was again employed at the Villa 

 according to Vasari "on things of small importance," 

 probably the fountains and pavilions in the gardens. 

 An inscription, however, bearing his name and the 

 date 1525, has lately been discovered on a pillar in 

 the south corridor, which seems to show that he was 

 employed to complete the internal decorations. 



In the spring of the same year a festa was given at 

 the Pope's Vigna in honour of the Marchesa Isabella of 

 Mantua. This distinguished lady, who had long been 

 intimate with the Medici, and whose son held the 

 office of Captain of the Church, arrived in Rome on 



the 2nd of March, just as the news of the battle of 



92 



