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e of everything； at last even Lorenzo Valla； filled the same office。 From the time of Nicholas V and Pius II onwards； the Papal chancery continued more and more to attract the ablest men； and this was still the case even under the last popes of the fifteenth century； little as they cared for letters。 In Platina's 'History of the Popes；' the life of Paul II is a charming piece of vengeance taken by a humanist on the one Pope who did not know how to behave to his chanceryto that circle 'of poets and orators who bestowed on the Papal court as much glory as they received from it。' It is delightful to see the indignation of these haughty gentlemen； when some squabble about precedence happened； when； for instance； the 'Advocati consistoriales' claimed equal or superior rank to theirs。 The Apostle John； to whom the 'Secreta caelestia' were revealed； the secretary of Porsenna； whom Mucius Scaevola mistook for the king； Maecenas； who was private secretary to Augustus； the archbishops； who in Germany were called chancellors； are all appealed to in turn。 'The apostolic secretaries have the most weighty business of the world in their hands。 For who but they decide on matters of the Catholic faith； who else combat heresy； re…establish peace； and mediate between great monarchs； who but they write the statistical accounts of Christendom？ It is they who astonish kings； princes； and nations by what comes forth from the Pope。 They write commands and instructions for the legates； and receive their orders only from the Pope； on whom they wait day and night。' But the highest summit of glory was only attained by the two famous secretaries and stylists of Leo X： Pietro Bembo and Jacopo Sadoleto。
All the chanceries did not turn out equally elegant documents。 A leathern official style； in the impurest of Latin； was very common。 In the Milanese documents preserved by Corio there is a remarkable contrast between this sort of composition and the few letters written by members of the princely house； which must have been written； too； in moments of critical importance。 They are models of pure Latinity。 To maintain a faultless style under all circumstances was a rule of good breeding； and a result of habit。
The letters of Cicero； Pliny； and others； were at this time diligently studied as models。 As early as the fifteenth century a great mass of manuals and models for Latin correspondence had appeared （as off…shoots of the great grammatical and lexicographic works）； a mass which is astounding to us even now when we look at them in the libraries。 But just as the existence of these helps tempted many to undertake a task to which they had no vocation； so were the really capable men stimulated to a more faultless excellence； till at length the letters of Politian； and at the beginning of the sixteenth century those of Pietro Bembo； appeared； and took their place as unrivalled masterpieces； not only of Latin style in general； but also of the more special art of letter…writing。
Together with these there appeared in the sixteenth century the classical style of Italian correspondence； at the head of which stands Bembo again。 Its form is wholly modern； and deliberately kept free from Latin influence； and yet its spirit is thoroughly penetrated and possessed by the ideas of antiquity。
But at a time and among a people where 'listening' was among the chief pleasures of life； and where every imagination was filled with the memory of the Roman senate and its great speakers； the orator occupied a far more brilliant place than the letter…writer。 Eloquence had shaken off the influence of the Church； in which it had found a refuge during the Middle Ages； and now became an indispensable element and ornament of all elevated lives。 Many of the social hours which are now filled with music were then given to Latin or Italian oratory； with results which every reader can imagine。
The social position of the speaker was a matter of perfect indifference； what was desired was simply the most cultivated humanistic talent。 At the court of Borso of Ferrara； the Duke's physician； Girolamo da Castello； was chosen to deliver the congratulatory address on the visits of Frederick III and of Pius II。 Married laymen ascended the pulpits of the churches at any scene of festivity or mourning） and even on the feastdays of the saints。 It struck the non…Italian members of the Council of Basle as something strange that the Archbishop of Milan should summon Aeneas Sylvius； who was then unordained； to deliver a public discourse at the feast of Saint Ambrose； but they suffered it in spite of the murmurs of the theologians； and listened to the speaker with the greatest curiosity。
Let us glance for a moment at the most frequent and important occasions of public speaking。
It was not for nothing； in the first place； that the ambassadors from one State to another received the title of orators。 Whatever else might be done in the way of secret negotiation； the envoy never failed to make a public appearance and deliver a public speech； under circumstances of the greatest possible pomp and ceremony。 As a rule； however numerous the embassy might be； one individual spoke for all； but it happened to Pius II； a critic before whom all were glad to be heard； to be forced to sit and listen to a whole deputation； one after another。 Learned princes who had the gift of speech were themselves fond of discoursing in Latin or Italian。 The children of the House of Sforza were trained to this exercise。 The boy Galeazzo Maria delivered in 1455 a fluent speech before the Great Council at Venice； and his sister Ippolita saluted Pope Pius II with a graceful address at the Congress of Mantua （1459）。 Pius himself through all his life did much by his oratory to prepare the way for his final elevation to the Papal chair。 Great as he was both as scholar and diplomatist； he would probably never have become Pope without the fame and the charm of his eloquence。 'For nothing was more lofty than the dignity of his oratory。' Without doubt this was a reason why multitudes held him to be the fittest man for the office even before his election。
Princes were also commonly received on public occasions with speeches； which sometimes lasted for hours。 This happened of course only when the prince was known as a lover of eloquence； or wished to pass for such； and when a competent speaker was present； whether university professor； official； ecclesiastic； physician； or court…scholar。 Every other political opportunity was seized with the same eagerness； and according to the reputation of the speaker； the concourse of the lovers of culture was great or small。 At the yearly change of public officers； and even at the consecration of new bishops； a humanist was sure to come forward； and sometimes addressed his audience in hexameters or Sapphic verses。 Often a newly appointed official was himself forced to deliver a speech more or less relevant to his department； as； for instance； on justice； and lucky for him if he were well up in his part！ At Florence even the Condottieri； whatever their origin or education might be； were compelled to accom