JULIA G ON Z A tj A* |i| 



%he tenth of Auguft, and was interred firft at Itri, and 

 afterwards at Rome, in the church of St. Lawrence. 



It is highly probable that the grievous lofs of fo 

 Faithful and affectionate a friend., was the principal 

 motive to her chilling a nunnery at Naples for the 

 place of her retreat. But fhe was iikewife impelled by 

 another very urgent caufe to repair to Naples towards 

 the year 1536. Her Hep-daughter Ifabella, not only 

 laid claim to all the feignories of her father, but even 

 denied that he had fettled upon her the 13*000 ducats. 

 Though Julia's deceafed hufband had fecured to her, 

 by will, the poffeffion of all his lordfhips fo long as 

 fhe continued a widow ; yet, for the fake of peace, 

 flie was contented to relinquifh her right, if a decent 

 maintenance were but allowed hen But, as Ifabella 

 would liften to no propofals^ the emperor Charles V* 

 being at Naples in the year 1536. appointed a com^ 

 million to fearch the will : and to determine the matter 

 according to law and equity. This induced Julia to 

 retire into a convent at Naples. It was not only more 

 eafy for her here to wait the ilfue of her procefs ; but 

 the convent ferved her as a rampart againA: all the at- 

 tacks that her uncommon beauty might draw upon her. 

 To this end fhe made choice of the convent of St. Fran- 

 cefco. She did not however put on the habit of a nun, 

 nor did fhe confine herfelf within the precincts of the 

 cloiften She lived elegantly, though refervedly, with 

 her female attendants ; and was condefcending and 

 affable to the nuns. She only went out on urgent 

 -affairs. None were denied accefs to her. She received 

 her vifitants with the: mofc engaging cordiality. Anni- 

 bal Caro took a journey to Naples in the year 1538. 



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