"We eventually reached Milan on August 24th, and there the legate attended various services and ceremonial functions during the next two or three days. On Sunday, August 28th, he rode out with the Duke of Milan and the ambassadors that were present to the monastery of the Augustinian nuns, whose abbess was the duke's sister, although she was of illegitimate birth, and where there were about a hundred and thirty nuns following the Rule."This may have been Bianca Francesca Sforza (1448-1516), abbess at Santa Monica in Cremona, some miles southeast of Milan. This off-hand remark by Burchard connecting Ludovico Sforza's half-sister with the abbey outside Milan, by itself, shows so much. The previous couple years this Lombard region of north Italy, had been full of threats of, rumors of, and evidence of, wars and battles. In running an abbey, it was especially the sister to the local Duke Ludovico (who continued to be instrumental in fomenting, prolonging and often worsening affairs), who had to be selective on who she might let in. As I wonder what duties she might have running such a place, one also wonders how many other sisters were employed detailing the arrangements affording accomodation there to the many dignitaries and emissaries and thir attendants and horsemen and so on. Heirs of nobles, and often the 'illegitimate' heirs especially, would be sent, fulfilling in some capacity, and often for a fee to such sequestered, holy orders. Still, even for her place, this daughter of Francesco Sforza had much responsibility.
The next day, Burchard tells us, he received some letters. These detailed the arrival of King Maximillian at Carimate, some miles north of Milan. Reporting this news to the Cardinal, asking if there was any other service he might offer, the cardinal 'was most pleased' to send Burchard off in his capacity of legatine ambassador to meet with the King's group, and, 'in accordance with the instructions sent by Cardinal Piccolomini'.
"The legate commissioned me to speak plainly and suitably about everything that need not be concealed from the Duke of Milan, who thereafter arranged for my journey by placing me in the care of his chamberlain. The latter arranged for me to be provided with hospitality and all other necessities in Carimate, which I reached that same evening at about seven o'clock, only to find that there was no time then to have an audience with the king and that my accomodation was not yet available."So, Burchard retreated 'under protection of the duke's chamberlain' to another nearby town named Lentate where they spent the night. The info he might keep from the Duke of Milan while being protected by the Duke's chamberlain, refers to agreements and arrangements the pope wanted to send to Maximillian but without the Duke of Milan's knowledge. It wasn't until later that Burchard would be able to do this. The next day there was a meeting at Carimate. Burchard paid his due respects, 'as a servant should', and immediately began discussing precedence, and who should sit next to whom.
"Properly speaking, His Majesty's place should be next to the legate, and this I had to explain to him at the same time as I pointed out what the difference was between a crowned Emperor and the King of the Romans." [p. 123]The German lords present agreed that the legate could sit at the left of the King since the King already 'held the full powers of imperial administration'. After all, the distinction that Maximiliian Habsburg, King of the Romans desired, to be crowned Holy Roman Emperor, could only be bestowed by the pope. Pope Alexander VI had offered this possibility in exchange for helping in keeping the French out of Italy. Abruptly, Burchard turns from his narrative to retrace his steps, telling details of how difficult matters had been for him on this trip in exercising what he saw was his correct duties.
It is possible Burchard had a difficult time of these exchanges. This may have had to do with his sense of the importance of his office, - that's how he writes about it - also recognizing the importance of the issues at stake, and showing he wanted things to be done in a procedurally sound way. But he wasn't negotiating, or persuading. He was there almost perfunctorily to explain the order of things, literally the precedence of persons, and the distinction of a king's own station, to his face, upon first meeting. Burchard had done this before, and back in Rome usually (like with the French King Christmas week two years back), but not before this king or these chamberlains and other attendants, so far afield like this.
Burchard returned that afternoon (Aug30) to report back to Cardinal Carvajal. His group then left for Monza on the way to meet up with Max at Carimate. There he was given orders by the legate and the duke to leave before dawn next day and return to Carimate and the King carrying the proposed itinerary and timetable for the arrival and meeting of the legate with Max. That night, Burchard notes, 'if I remember rightly', he slept in a nearby public inn, the Campana.
Before dawn, Burchard had saddled up and returned to Carimate, where he learned that the King 'had not yet breakfasted' and could 'give no audience', but that the papers could be sent ahead. Later, he received word that the legate and the duke should go to Meda in order to meet up with the King there. This message was returned to the duke and the legate whereupon they agreed to all the king's requests. All these goings and comings to ensure that their eventual meeting could be worked out smoothly, shows how high the degree of respect that each wanted to pay to the other. The actual physical approach of one to the other, and who should dismount, and how the legate should then pay his respects to the mounted King, etc. are details that Burchard most dutifully explains.
"They thereupon continued to Meda to wait for the king, and they joined the Duchess of Milan and her ladies-in-waiting who had arrived in three carriages. King Maximillian then appeared with about two hundred cavalry, and he was met by the legate, the duke and the duchess. On reaching the legate, the king dismounted and embraced him, and all four together went into an inner room. The legate presented the apostolic letter to the king who, receiving it, handed it on to his secretary to open and read. This was done publicly, after which the legate spoke some suitable words about the commission given him by His Holiness, and blessed the king according to his authority whilst they remained seated on their thrones, together with the duke and duchess, and the envoys standing around." [p. 126]Maximillian had a prepared response written out and delivered by his secretary 'in a finely-composed, polished Latin'. A local nobleman's villa had been prepared to receive the king, the duke, the legate and the various councillors, and this is where they then went and spent the afternoon. Later, when the king retired again to Carimate, the duke, duchess and the legate returned to Monza. And the following day (Sep 1) they went on to Milan. By Sunday they had again gone on to another villa, by boat and on horse to Vigevano, situated between Milan and Novarra to the west. There the group spent most of September receiving many dignitaries from all over, including Spain, Venice, Naples and Florence.
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Johann Burchard: At The Court of the Borgia translated for english, with introduction by Geoffrey Parker, The Folio Society, Ltd, 1963
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