It does not appear that the unhappy Cammilla de’ Medici was harshly used; indeed her residence within the convent was made as agreeable as possible, and she had the privilege of receiving visitors, other than political.  Madonna Costanza de’ Pazzi and eight other noble ladies were attached to her suite, with five Gentlemen of Honour and several domestics.

Cavaliere Antonio de’ Martelli pleaded in vain his right as father of Cammilla to take her and her child back under the parental roof.  The Grand Duke was immovable in his resolution, he counselled the father to let the matter rest, and gave him and Madonna Fiammetta free access to their daughter, but, on no account, was she to visit them.

As in the case of Eleanora degli Albizzi, an inventory of jewellery and other treasures was made, and whilst Cammilla was permitted to retain certain articles, such objects as were regarded as the property of the reigning Grand Duchess were transferred to the Guardaroba of Bianca.  Apparently Francesco determined that no action of his against his father’s widow should be construed into a menace against his Government.

Writing to the Grand Duke, on 7th August 1574, soon after Cammilla’s reception, the Very Reverend Abbess of Santa Monica humbly thanked his Serene Highness “for the generous treatment of the young widow, and begs remembrance of his good offices for her and for the convent generally.”

Trustees were appointed, under the presidency of Messer Roberto de’ Adimari, the Chancellor of the Monte de’ Pieta, for the administration of the one hundred and four thousand gold florins—­the fortune left by Duke Cosimo to the Lady Cammilla, which produced an annual income of four thousand eight hundred gold florins a year, equal to about L2000.

Cammilla settled down as best she could to a life of leisured ease—­a lonesome woman, a prisoner under close observation.  News of the outside world she had, and when the report of the horrors of the year 1576 reached her, she was prostrated with grief.  Indeed, her time seems to have been spent with repining, weeping and sickness—­a piteous existence for a young woman of twenty-seven.

At length Cammilla braced herself to bear her disappointments, her trials, her imprisonment, with fortitude, and, like the good woman she really was, she set to work to occupy her time, and that of her suite, in useful and interesting occupations.  Gardening and the care of flowers attracted her, and soon the cloisters of the convent were converted into bowers of roses and myrtles.

Her ladies and the nuns also, she encouraged in all elegant handicrafts—­silk-embroidery, lace-making, and other stitchery.  The results of their industry procured immediate custom, and the noble cloths and lustrous silks of Santa Monica, with the Lady Cammilla’s initials attached, became famous far and near.  These objects consisted of pillow-cases, screens, portieres, decorative panels, banners, scarves, cushions, handkerchiefs, bodices and various other details of feminine attire, with rich vestments for the clergy, and sumptuous altar-cloths.