Aretino flattered both, but naturally attached himself more closely to Charles, because he remained master in Italy.After the Emperor's victory at Tunis in 1535, this tone of adulation passed into the most ludicrous worship, in observing which it must not be forgotten that Aretino constantly cherished the hope that Charles would help him to a cardinal's hat.It is probable that he enjoyed special protection as Spanish agent, as his speech or silence could have no small effect on the smaller Italian courts and on public opinion in Italy.He affected utterly to despise the Papal court because he knew it so well; the true reason was that Rome neither could nor would pay him any longer.
Venice, which sheltered him, he was wise enough to leave unassailed.
The rest of his relations with the great is mere beggary and vulgar extortion.
Aretino affords the first great instance of the abuse of publicity to such ends.The polemical writings which a hundred years earlier Poggio and his opponents interchanged, are just as infamous in their tone and purpose, but they were not composed for the press, but for a sort of private circulation.Aretino made all his profit out of a complete publicity, and in a certain sense may be considered the father of modern journalism.His letters and miscellaneous articles were printed periodically, after they had already been circulated among a tolerably extensive public.