BALBI, Girolamo.

      [Rome, Francesco Minucio Calvo, 1523]. One of at least three editions to appear in the same year. In 1521 Balbi had appeared at the Diet of Worms as the ambassador of Louis II of Hungary, attracting considerable attention by a discourse in which he protested against the ideas of Luther and urged upon the assembled princes the necessity of a joint undertaking against the Turks. ‘Shortly afterwards he was in the service of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, who, in 1522, designated him Bishop of Gurk, and sent him to Rome on a congratulatory embassy to the newly elected pontiff, Adrian VI. It was a part of his mission also to induce the pope to proclaim a crusade against the Turk. The address [printed here] which he made on being received by the pope in a public audience, 9 February 1523, abounded in extravagant rhetoric, but in humanistic circles it was considered a marvel of eloquence’ (Catholic Encyclopedia). Although Balbi here praises the pope enthusiastically, he soon afterwards bitterly reproached him for failing to keep his promises.Apponyi 168; Göllner 178. OCLC records two copies only (Library of Congress and Oxford).