Venice: October 1524 | British History Online

Pages 383-389

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1869.

Citation:

October 1524



Oct. 1. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 295, St. Mark's Library.	878. Gasparo Contarini to the Council of Ten.
	The following communications have been made to me by the Milanese secretary concerning the marriage and investiture of the Duke of Milan.
	Towards both these matters the Chancellor Gattinara is as well disposed as possible, considering himself bound to the Duke, from whom he has received a fair estate, yielding an annual rental of 7,000 ducats, and also because he favours the interests of Italy. It moreover appears to him that by keeping Italy free, but inclined to and leagued with the Emperor, he achieves the greatness of his Imperial Majesty. On the other hand, Don Juan Manuel, who was ambassador at Rome in the time of Leo X., (fn. 1) and is now one of the Emperor's chief counsellors, would wish the Emperor to take possession of the duchy, or else assign it to his brother the Archduke Ferdinand. Manuel has always opposed the Duke of Milan, and I know most positively through the Milanese ambassador, who quitted Burgos in May, that the Duke offered Manuel property worth 3,000 ducats per annum, which he refused.
	The other counsellors are neutrals, or perhaps tend rather towards the opinion of Don Juan Manuel.
	The Emperor, however, has always adhered to the Chancellor, who, in fact, has hitherto managed the whole; though he has indeed come to this, that such considerable sums having been expended to seat and maintain the Duke, it is fair that the Emperor should be recompensed.
	With regard to the marriage, the Chancellor told the Milanese secretary not to broach the topic until he sees the result of the Duke of Bourbon's affairs.
	I am compelled to proceed in this matter with great circumspection, especially as through the Milanese secretary, my very great friend, I know that the Chancellor, for the sake of favouring the interests of the Duke of Milan, avails himself of the authority both of the Pope and of the Signory, and tells the Emperor that should he not concede the investiture to the Duke of Milan, he would cause great suspicion to both these powers. I am therefore afraid lest, were I to say a word to the Chancellor, unless with the fairest possible opportunity, he might amplify it; and perhaps were I to utter anything as of my own accord (following thus the instructions received from the State), the Chancellor would represent it as a commission from the Republic. I have therefore as yet done nothing.
	Valladolid, 1st October 1524.
	[Italian, 3 pages.]
Oct. 3. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 296, St. Mark's Library.	879. The Same to the Same.
	A week ago a Bergamasque, one Zuan Maria Brasiga, arrived at the Court as the agent of the Count Palatine and the King of France. The Emperor refused him audience, and referred him to the Count of Nassau and to the Chancellor.
	To the Chancellor apart Brasiga said that the King of France loved him, and that were the affairs of the Milanese arranged, not [only would he leave him the castles and estates which he now holds under the Duke of Milan, but would add to them. The Chancellor replied that he did not choose the Emperor's affairs to depend on his, but rather that his should depend on the Emperor's, and that for himself he would not accept the half of France at the hands of her King.
	To the Count of Nassau and to the Chancellor together Brasiga proposed, in the name of the King of France, that if the Emperor would concede him the duchy of Milan for his youngest son, that son should receive a wife from the Emperor, who should also be at liberty to name a regent of the duchy at his option.
	This proposal having been rejected by the two delegates, Brasiga then said that, provided the reigning Duke were expelled, the King of France was willing to concede the duchy to Ferdinand Archduke of Austria, the Emperor's brother.
	This second proposal the Emperor considered fraudulent, and made either for the purpose of commencing a negotiation, or else for the sake of rendering the Duke of Milan desperate and detaching him from the Emperor, so that he may throw himself into the arms of France.
	This affair, as a very close secret, was communicated to me by the Milanese secretary, who has suborned the Emperor's secretaries, the Chancellor, and the whole Court, and who had heard the intelligence from the Chancellor and discussed it with him. He then communicated it to me.
	The Chancellor also told the Milanese secretary that the Duke of Bourbon's gentleman [Lurcy] having complained to the Emperor that the Duke of Milan gave but very little assistance to Bourbon for his expedition in Provence, the Emperor replied that, considering the war and the plague, the Duke of Milan had done all he could.
	Valladolid, 3rd October 1524.
	[Italian, 2 pages.]
Oct. 5. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 297, St. Mark's Library.	880. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	On the 29th a gentleman of the Emperor's chamber, named Mocaron, arrived at Valladolid from Flanders, with letters from Madame Margaret dated the 11th ult. She writes that the King of England had sent a gentleman of his chamber to her (the same who was ambassador to the Emperor, and quitted Burgos last Easter) [Sir Richard Jernyngham], (fn. 2) to say that as she had 3,000 horse in readiness, according to the treaty with the Emperor, he, the King, meant to reinforce them with an additional 2,000, although not bound to do so, and that with this army, the greatest that had ever attacked that kingdom, he would invade France in person.
	The Lady Margaret answered that her troops were ready, and exhorted him to act according to his message; with which decision Jernyngham returned to England.
	The small hopes entertained by the Imperial ministers in that quarter are much raised by this intelligence, and notwithstanding the approach of winter, and the apparent difficulty of sending an army into France at that season, they believe that the King of England, seeing that the Emperor has not failed in any of his promises, is rousing himself, and is determined on his part likewise to fulfil his obligations. They have written to him in strong terms, urging him either to cross over to France or else to send money to the Duke of Bourbon's army, according to the articles of their treaty; and they inform the King that for that army the Emperor has already disbursed some 400,000 ducats.
	Valladolid, 5th October 1524.
	[Italian, 2 pages.]
Oct. 5. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 298, St. Mark's Library.	881. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	I am told by the Chancellor that several princes have formed a confederacy, headed by the Duke of Saxony, in favour of Luther, and that the King of France is supposed by some to encourage it.
	Valladolid, 5th October 1524.
	[Italian, 1 page.]
Oct. 5. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 299, St. Mark's Library.	882. The Same to the Council of Ten.
	The Emperor desired the Chancellor to tell the agent Brasiga that if the King of France wished to discuss peace it was unnecessary to speak of the Milanese, but that he should rather think of restoring the duchy of Burgundy, which belongs to the Emperor and is now held by France.
	When talking on the 5th about the news of the invasion of France by the King of England, and of the suspicion formerly entertained by the Chancellor, he said to me,—
	“By our letters from Flanders it seems certain that he will cross the Channel: and although he may have arranged his Scottish affairs through the medium of France, yet subsequently, having gained his object, he has probably raised some difficulty about the rest of their mutual agreements, and as the opportunity now offers itself, he will wage war on the King of France; for that Cardinal knows very well how to deceive when he chooses.” (fn. 3)
	The Chancellor next dropped a word about Brasiga, the envoy from the Count Palatine. He said Brasiga sought to suborn him on behalf of France, but in that matter he was much mistaken. He gave no farther particulars, and being already acquainted with them through another channel, I did not evince any curiosity.
	Valladolid, 4th and 5th October 1524.
	[Italian, ¾ page.]
Oct. 9. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvii. pp. 41, 42.	883. Zuan Francesco Contarini (brother of Carlo Contarini) to Nicolo Boldu.
	“Tell the most noble Messer Marin Sanuto that here one cannot even speak of Luther, still less have his works, as this Prince [Archduke Ferdinand] makes the Bishop of Vienna search for Lutherans, and if found woe betide them; so he must excuse me in this matter.”
	A painted caricature has been found on the door of the cathedral, representing an ass soiling Cardinal Campeggio (che cagava adosso il Cardinal Campezo) , the Archduke holding the ass's tail; and beneath was written much abuse of the Archduke, the Cardinal, and Salamanca, purporting that they had come to suck the blood of one person and the other, and that unless they departed they would be cut to pieces speedily. The paper was removed and taken to the house of the Archduke's Lord Steward.
	Vienna, 9th October. Registered by Sanuto on the 20th.
	[Italian.]
Oct. 16. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 300, St. Mark's Library.	884. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	Letters have been received from England dated the 28th of September. The Chancellor says the King talks of invading France, but alleges so many impediments as to show that he does not purpose doing anything whatever. He also tells the Emperor that he will have no truce with France, but either peace or war; so from that quarter the Imperial ministers have but indifferent news.
	Am informed by the Florentine ambassadors that the Pope has complained to the Emperor, that in the letter written by him to Germany against Luther at his Holiness's request, mention is made of calling a council, which, under existing circumstances, the Pope considers impossible. The Emperor says that he inserted the paragraph about a council for favouring the Papal cause and diminishing the power of Luther, it appearing to him that this hint of a council might somewhat estrange the Germans from the Lutheran creed and reconcile them to the Romish Church, but that he was willing to write in any form the Pope pleased, and when forwarding the letter to the Archduke Ferdinand he desired him not to present it until acquainted with the wish of his Holiness.
	The Emperor is still ill of quartan ague, although it is rather less severe, in such wise that the cold and hot stages do not last more than five hours. (fn. 4)
	His Majesty is remaining at Tordesillas, and the Chancellor and the ambassadors are at Valladolid.
	Valladolid, 16th October 1524.
	[Italian, 2 pages.]
Oct. 16. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 301, St. Mark's Library.	885. The Same to the Council of Ten.
	In addition to the English news contained in the public letter, I am told by the Chancellor that, notwithstanding his promise, the King of England, since the first 100,000 ducats, has sent no farther supply to the Duke of Bourbon's army, and that the protest of the King, rejecting the truce and insisting on peace or war, proceeded from Cardinal Wolsey, who would fain keep the Emperor in such straights as to compel him to place this negotiation for peace or truce in his hands, but who deceives himself vastly, as the Emperor does not choose the affair to be managed by him.
	I have heard from the Milanese secretary, who received the intelligence from Mons. de Traponis, the husband of the Chancellor's granddaughter, that the Emperor now talks of going into Italy; that the plan has the approval of all his councillors, including even those who were formerly opposed to it; and that 300,000 ducats have been put apart for the expenses of the journey.
	Valladolid, 16th October 1524.
	[Italian, 1 page.]
Oct. 21. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvii. p. 49.	886. The Governors of Brescia to the Signory.
	The English ambassador, Richard Pace, has arrived here, and is lodged in the house of the Podestà [Antonio Surian], who contracted a great intimacy with him during his (Sudan's) embassy in England.
	Brescia, 21st October. Registered on the 22nd.
	[Italian.]
Oct. 22. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvii. p. 63.	887. Letter from Brescia.
	The English ambassador, Pace, is still here; he departs tomorrow.
	Brescia, 22nd October. Registered on the 23rd
	[Italian.]
Oct. [23?]. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvii. p. 64.	888. Antonio Surian, Podestà of Brescia, to the Signory.
	News received from the English ambassador the Reverend Richard Pace, during the three days of his sojourn here with me.
	The Viceroy [Charles de Lannoy], having negotiated the truce, would never communicate it to Bourbon or to Pace, who declares he was authorized by his King to conclude it, and would have done so by this time had the particulars been confided to him. The Viceroy chose to procrastinate, and then the King of France, having gained the advantage, rejected the truce. Had Bourbon and Pace known in time, it could have been stipulated, Bourbon retaining the towns captured in Provence, to which France would have consented, as seen by intercepted letters; but the Viceroy did not choose Bourbon to be master of those towns by reason of the hatred he bears him, and he therefore kept the negotiation secret.
	On the 28th of June last, Pace received letters from his King and from Cardinal Wolsey, desiring him to encourage Bourbon to persevere in the undertaking by assurances that the money would be ready, and that the English troops had been already sent across to Calais to join the Flemings for the invasion of France.
	With this intelligence Pace gave Bourbon confidence to persevere, his hope resting on the King of England, and especially on the Cardinal.
	It was arranged first for the Emperor to disburse 100,000 ducats, the King of England then contributing a like sum, this being done by them alternately, until the prosperous conclusion of the undertaking.
	Although the Emperor did not send his 100,000 ducats in time and all at once, but by driblets, Pace nevertheless expended the 100,000 ducats belonging to his King.
	The Emperor failed in the engagement, first, by not sending the money in time nor all at once, and moreover has latterly broken it throughout, not having remitted one penny of the second 100,000 ducats. So Pace in like manner refused to disburse the second 100,000 ducats payable by the King of England.
	With regard to the troops, which Wolsey wrote last June he had sent to join Madame Margaret for the invasion of France, that statement was false. Wolsey sent but 100 infantry; so that at the commencement the Cardinal violated the treaty, as so few troops were insufficient for an attack on France.
	On the 15th of September Pace received a letter from Wolsey purporting that the English troops were ready to cross whenever Pace gave the order. It was then, however, too late, as the promised pecuniary supply not having been sent from Italy into Provence, the Duke of Bourbon could no longer remain there. So Pace wrote back that it was superfluous, and therefore the English troops did not cross.
	For this, Pace blames Wolsey greatly, as he has thus caused all these disasters, because if the King of England had sent his troops, the King of France would not have crossed the Alps.
	Pace declares that so far as he knows, no agreement, either tacit or public, has been made between his King and France, though he suspects that the Cardinal may have some secret understanding with the Most Christian King through subornation, by reason of Wolsey's very base nature (pessima natura).
	Pace founds his suspicion on the following fact, namely, that for the last two months Dom. Giovanni Gioachino [Passano], the Genoese who is accustomed to negotiate for France, has resided constantly in England. Pace assured me that so far as he knows, Giovanni Gioachino has not concluded anything whatever with the King of England.
	Pace also told me that some while ago he received letters from a great personage, whose name he would not divulge, informing him that the King of France was crossing the Alps, dragged by the Pope (tirato dal Pontefice). Pace, however, does not credit this, and said that owing to certain things said to him by the Pope, and negotiated with him heretofore, he will never again believe anything, nor be a Christian, should the Pope be French.
	Pace was going to Mantua, where he would remain until further orders from his King, and again promised to acquaint me with passing events, and with the Marquis's mind if able to ascertain it; and as a good friend he recommended himself much to Doge Gritti. Pace quitted this town at daybreak this morning.
	Brescia, — October. Registered by Sanuto, 23rd October.
	[Italian.]
Oct. 24. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvii. pp. 78, 79.	889. Letter of a Spy addressed to Paulo Nani, Bailiff of Verona.
	The only news here is that the Archduke Ferdinand at Vienna has issued proclamations prohibiting all persons from following the tenets of Martin Luther, or believing in them, under penalty of prosecution and being beheaded. Some persons, scorning to be afraid, were discovered, and he caused two or three great personages to be beheaded; so he is shut up in a town, not daring to quit it, and the country is in confusion, as generally reported here.
	Bolzano, 24th October. Registered by Sanuto, 30th October.
	[Italian.]
Oct. 29. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvii. p. 96.	890. Richard Pace to Antonio Surian.
	What you wrote on the 27th arrived at Mantua on the 28th with my secretary (notario). Your confidential and conscientious communications facilitate my proceedings. You are right in supposing that I know what France is plotting; her efforts are directed to the mastery of all Italy. I now understand the business better, but not in the light in which you see it. On the 26th I received letters from the Duke of Bourbon that 40,000 men are to defend Pavia; 100 heavy horse, an equal amount of light cavalry, 3,000 Spanish and Italian infantry “will protect Lodi. Great stores of provisions have been collected in Cremona for support of the rest of the army, which is at Soratinum (sic), with all the commanders-in-chief. These are not bad measures, but full of forethought, because, if Pavia and Lodi be well defended, Milan will be of no use to the King of France, as no provisions are conveyed thither; neither can money be obtained there by reason of the absence of the merchants. The Imperialists have therefore done all that is required by the rules of strategy.
	Were I a Venetian by birth, as I am by inclination, I should advise the Signory to join the Imperialists speedily, so as in this dilemma to terrify the enemy. This is the only road to victory, if the State desires the expulsion of the French from Italy. Should there be any who wish for such neighbours, they must have a stomach for food easier to swallow than to digest or evacuate. I hear that the King of France is about to attack Pavia; if defeated, his whole military reputation is lost; if victorious, his object is gained. At Pavia, therefore, he ought to be resisted to the utmost.
	Mantua, 29th October.
	Forwarded from Brescia to the Signory by Surian.
	Registered by Sanuto, 3rd November.
	[Latin.]