Giacopo and Lamberto, elder sons, became esquires of the young Medico, and were of the party which entered Florence on that memorable day in 1537.  A younger boy, Malatesta, followed his brothers’ example, for, in 1548, in the list of officers and men of the Ducal household in Florence, appears his name as a page, but of the tender age of ten.

The lad was possessed of the vigour and spirit of his race, and it required all the patience and tact of Frate Cammillo Selmi, the Master of the Pages, to keep him in order.  His pugnacious disposition attracted the attention of the Duke, and his pretty looks and fair hair charmed the Duchess.  One other recommendation the young boy had—­his father’s fidelity and worthy services, and he was looked upon as a pet of the palace, and became rather a playmate than an attendant of the Duke’s family.  Besides, his mother was a Florentine—­she was Madonna Cassandra, the daughter of Messer Nattio de’ Cini, a devoted adherent of the Medici.

Many were the escapades in which Francesco, Giovanni, Garzia, and Ernando, the Duke’s sons, were joined by young Malatesta de’ Malatesti and other pages of the household.  One such boyish prank, when the Court was at Pisa, in the winter of 1550, had a tragic ending.  In the pages’ common room the lads were playing with shot-guns, which were supposed to be unloaded.  Picking up one of these, by mere chance, Malatesta aimed it jokingly at his companions, when to his and their alarm the weapon exploded, and, sad to behold, poor young Francesco Brivio, a son of Signore Dionisio Brivio of Milan, a fellow page, fell to the ground mortally wounded.

Consternation reigned in the palace, the Duke’s private physician, Maestro Andrea Pasquali, was sent for in all haste from Florence, and everything was done for the unfortunate lad, but, on the fourth day—­it was just before Christmas—­the promising young life passed away.

Malatesta, with his heart breaking, was confined in the guard-room, and there he remained pending the Duke’s decision.  Every one was grieved beyond measure at the tragic occurrence, but all took Malatesta’s part.  The young Medici were eager and united in their version of the affair, moreover Donne Maria and Isabella were filled with pity for the unhappy young prisoner.  Indeed, the former regarded him with a sister’s love:  she was just ten and the lad thirteen, and she pleaded with the Duchess, her mother, to have the boy released.

The Duke sent for Signore Tommaso de’ Medici, the Chamberlain of the Court, and gave him instructions to set the boy at liberty, after administering the useful punishment of twenty strokes with a birch rod, and giving him a severe reprimand and caution!

Signor Brivio and his wife, of course, were dreadfully cast down by their sad bereavement, and both wrote piteously to the Duke, and so did Marchese Leonida de’ Malatesti.  Cosimo sent very sympathetic letters in return:  that to the Marchese was as follows:  “...  Consideration has been given ... it has not been found that there was any malice between the boys....  Do not trouble yourself any further about the matter, for your boy remains in our service, in which we hope he will behave as he ought, and we hold you in the same esteem as we have ever done.  May God preserve you.”