presents any should yet be made, they shall be held and deemed altogether null and void in court, and out of the same; and that those thus contravening, and their brokers, be punished as it may please the Governor and the future Pope.' It will create surprise to find such an injunction amongst the matters considered worthy of particular
display at this season in Carnival show, of certain ladies whose existence in Rome it has ever been the special duty of the Cardinal Vicar to suppress. 'Do not fancy,' he continues, in high spirits, 'that the Bargello goes after these; no such thing; for neither Court nor Tribunal, nor Ruota nor Chancery, are held; Advocate and Procurator and Cursors start with their hands in their girdles, and everyone enjoys this season of madness.' The Colounas, who had been banished by Paul III., availed themselves of this season of relaxed authority to recover forcibly their possessions, but this little act of rebellion Messer Giulio thinks nothing of, as it was unaccompanied by actual bloodshed. ' I forgot to mention how Signor Ascanio Colonna has taken again his old estate without the stroke of a lance or the drawing of a sword. Signor Fabrizio, his son, and Signor Camillo Colonna, and Signor Pirro are all here, and free room is given to whoever would fight in Piazza Santi Apostoli (the site of the Colonna Palace). What say you now to a vacancy in the See? Does it not seem finer vacant than filled, and just because it is so fine you need not wonder that these most reverend lords should put themselves into a sweat with efforts to sit in it? and sweat they will, so many of them are there who fain would get into it, while it is to be had only by one.'
