The peace was publicly proclaimed, amid universal plaudits, on the last day of the year 1529.
[Footnote 4: See Ranke, vol.i.p.

153, note.] The chief affairs to be decided in the new year were the reduction of Florence to submission and the coronation of the Emperor.

The month of January was passed in jousts and pastimes; ceremonial privileges were conferred on the University of Bologna; magnificent embassies from the Republic of S.Mark, glowing in senatorial robes of crimson silk, were entertained; and a singular deputation from the African court of Prester John obtained audience of the Roman Pontiff.

Amid these festivities there arrived, on January 16, three delegates from Florence, who spent some weeks in fruitless efforts to obtain a hearing from the arbiters of Italy.

Clement refused to deal with them, because their commonwealth was still refractory.