ancient Etruscan cities, abounded in game of every
description--wild-boars, deer, quails, pheasants, and
partridges--and afforded ample opportunity for indul-
gence in his favourite sport. On this occasion he was
accompanied by a large company, including twelve
Cardinals and a number of foreign ambassadors and
officials of his court, as well as a strong escort of
guards under Renzo da Ceri, one of the Orsini chiefs,
whose own castle of S. Severa stood between the Via
Aurelia and the sea.

Palò was another fortress of the Orsini which Leo
made the headquarters of his hunting expeditions,
and had lately employed his architect, Francesco di
Sangallo, to enlarge and adorn. This moated castle,
on the coast half-way between Rome and Cività
Vecchia, still retains the vast dining-hall, kitchens
and extensive stables erected at this time, and the
words ' Leo X. Pont. Max.' are still inscribed over
the portals. The situation of Palò, in its wide plain
surrounded by thickly-wooded hills, was admirably
adapted for the purpose. But it was no easy task to
find quarters for so large a concourse of visitors, and
the Venetian envoy and his servants complained of
the great inconveniences to which they were exposed.
In spite of these drawbacks, they seem to have enjoyed
themselves exceedingly. ¹

On November 5, Cardinal de' Medici arrived from
Florence with a great company of gentlemen--'I
will not say "mob of people " [canaglia],' remarks
the same writer--and more than 500 horses, which
brought up the total number of the party to 2,000.
Then the sport began in good earnest. Fortunately,
Guido Postumo, the Pesaro poet who stood so high
in the Pope's favour, has left us a record of the dis-

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