Venice: February 1529 | British History Online

Pages 196-200

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1871.

Citation:

February 1529



Feb. 1. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlix. p. 323.	408. News of Rome from Sir Gregory Casal.
	Letters from Rome dated the 28th ult. written by the English ambassador, Sir Gregory Casal, to his brother the Prothonotary here, concerning the Pope's illness, and the coming hither of two English ambassadors with a letter from the King to the Signory in strong terms about restoring Ravenna and Cervia. Sir Gregory has been with them, and they wrote back to their King that the letter ought not to be delivered, to avoid exasperating the Venetians, by reason of the coming of the Cardinal Santa Croce, and the Spanish ambassador; wherefore, as important negotiations will take place, it is unadvisable to do more about these towns for the present. Sir Gregory writes that thus does he do the State good service.
	Registered by Sanuto, 1st February.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 1. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlix. p. 370.	409. Taberna, Milanese Ambassador in France, to the Duke of Milan.
	The most Christian King promises to supply the Duke of Milan with 10,000 crowns. All his Majesty's designs tend towards the Milanese expedition. Giovanni Gioachino has departed, and is negotiating peace with hope of success through the Pope and the Capuchin Cardinal [Sta. Croce].
	His most Christian Majesty purposes forming an army of 30,000 foot and 3,000 horse, to which, according to agreement, the King of England will contribute 10,000 foot and 1,000 horse; and with this force his most Christian Majesty will pass either into Spain or Italy, as shall seem best. Owing to the news of the Pope's death he said he would raise 10,000 infantry to secure for the Cardinals the freedom of the new creation.
	Two ambassadors from the Lady Margaret have arrived in France to confirm, it is said, the truce in Flanders.
	Paris, 1st February. Registered by Sanuto, 15th February.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 2. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlix. p. 344.	410. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory.
	Told by the King that two ambassadors have arrived from the Lady Margaret to prolong the truce with Flanders, which expires in February. Also that an ambassador from the King of England, and one from Lady Margaret, wished to mediate between him and the Emperor.
	Marco Antonio Venier, LL.D., late ambassador in England, has arrived in Paris. We went together to the King, who gave him good greeting and much praise.
	Poissi, 2nd February. Registered by Sanuto, 12th February.
	[Italian.]
[Feb. 2?] Sanuto Diaries, v. xlix. p. 344.	411. Marco Antonio Venier to the Signory.
	Quitted London with permission from the King and Cardinal on the—December, and was well received by his most Christian Majesty.
	Had been unable to visit “Madame,” his mother, as she was indisposed. Praises the ambassador Guistinian, who is very acceptable to the King and Court.
	Paris,—. Registered by Sanuto, 12th February.
	Note by Sanuto: That when Venier left England the King gave him silver to the value of 700 ducats, and in like manner to his secretary, Gasparo Spinelli, silver worth 200 ducats.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 2. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 115, St. Mark's Library.	412. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	The ambassadors from England who arrived lately have not yet been admitted into the Pope's presence; they will not have audience unless he gets better. The length of the illness cannot but cause apprehension, though the fine weather, which is already commencing here, may be of great benefit.
	Rome, 2nd February.
	[Italian, 2 pages.]
Feb. 4. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlix. p. 395.	413. Lodovico Falier to the Signory.
	The King and Cardinal are absent from London, and Wolsey having heard by letter of the death of the Pope immediately despatched the Bishop of Bayonne post-wise to France, to ask the most Christian King to direct his three French Cardinals, and such others as he can influence, to go to Rome and make the Cardinal of York Pope.
	Understands that Dr. Stephen [Gardyner] and the other [Sir Francis Bryan?], who went to Rome to negotiate the general peace, have been commissioned to propose a two years' truce during which to treat the peace.
	London, 4th February. Registered by Sanuto, 27th February.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 6–17. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlix. pp. 395.	414. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory.
	Having heard from the Ambassador Falier that Dr. Stephen [Gardyner] went to Rome to negotiate a two years' truce, went to King Francis and acquainted him with this news, saying it would be bad to negotiate anything without the Signory's knowledge. The King replied that without the Signory's knowledge they would do nothing.
	Paris, 6–17th February. Registered by Sanuto, 27th February.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 8. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlix. p. 352.	415. Francesco Contarini, Envoy accredited to Count de S. Pol, to the Signory.
	An ambassador from the King of England has come to Monsignor. (fn. 1) He (fn. 2) is going to Rome, and will perhaps come first to the Signory.
	Alexandria (della Paglia), 8th February. Registered by Sanuto, 13th February.
Feb. 10. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 118, St. Mark's Library.	416. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	The two English ambassadors [Sir Francis Brian and Peter Vannes], on hearing that the ambassador from the Emperor had been admitted to pay his respects and kiss the Pope's feet, made an attempt to do the like; so, to avoid the display of any partiality, the Pope gave them audience on the 6th, the topics they were to discuss being prescribed to them. On entering they presented their credentials, and departed after uttering a few commonplace phrases, as told me by Jacopo Salviati, from whom I also heard that the Kings of England and France have behaved well to the Pope, not merely making him verbal offers of money, but giving orders to merchants to pay; but the Pope will not inconvenience any of his. friends unless his own need and penury be intense.
	Rome, 10th February 1529.
	[Italian, 3 pages.]
Feb. 12. Consiglio X., Parti Secrete, Filza 2.	417. Council of Ten and Junta to the Venetian Ambassador and Vice “Bailo” at Constantinople.
	The Emperor has sent a commission to his aunt, Madame Margaret, to stipulate a truce with Flanders, France., and England, and to make peace with the King of France and his confederates; and the King of France sent one of his gentlemen to inspect this commission, which he says is drawn up in suitable form to negotiate the said peace; so the King told the ambassadors of the confederates that he would send to treat it, but did not acquaint our ambassador with the terms.
	Ayes, 26. Noes, 2. Neutrals, 1.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 13. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 121, St. Mark's Library.	418. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	The English ambassadors lately received letters from the French Court, dated the 16th ult., announcing the preparations making by the Emperor.
	Rome, 13th February 1529.
	[Italian, 3½ pages.]
Feb. 18. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 125, St. Mark's Library.	419. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	Three days ago Dr. Stephen [Gardyner] arrived, having quitted England on the 21st ult. (fn. 3) The cause of his coming, as told me by Sir Gregory Casal, is because at a disputation held in England about the marriage, and in which some French doctors took part, certain briefs were produced in favour of the Queen, which the King's partizans declare to be false, or that they suspect them of falsity, and so this ambassador Stephen is come to the Court to ascertain the fact. (fn. 4)
	I went to visit him yesterday, and together with the other English ambassadors, we consulted whether it was desirable that the Abbot of Farfà (who has written from Bracciano to the French ambassador for advice in this matter) ought now to raise a certain amount of infantry, as ordered of him, for the garrison of Aquila.
	It appeared to us all that this stir would be to no purpose, as the troops thus mustered would prove insufficient to enter the Abruzzi, the Prince of Orange being in Aquila with a considerable force, and these foot soldiers might provoke the Imperial army to push forward in this direction.
	Sir Gregory Casal tells me that on the day before yesterday he heard from Fabio Penuzo that the Count dell' Aquila and Camillo Pardo were in Spoleto. The French ambassador, although he has no letters, understands that the aforesaid Count and Camillo Pardo are at Florence. As yet there is no further certainty.
	Rome, 18th February 1529.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 18. Sanuto Diaries, v. 1. p. 41.	420. Lodovico Falier to the Signory.
	The Cardinal tells him there are letters from the Spanish Court, dated Toledo, 4th February, purporting that the coming of the Emperor into Italy seemed to have cooled, though he would not fail to do so were the King [of France?] to go thither.
	London, 18th February. Registered by Sanuto, 14th March.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 20, 21. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlix. p. 390.	421. Antonio Surian, Venetian Ambassador at Florence, to the Signory.
	The truce with Madame Margaret is settled; the ambassador who stipulated it has gone to Spain. The King of England has sent two ambassadors for the purpose of avoiding (fn. 5) certain briefs made in favour of the Queen about the divorce.
	Florence, 20th and 21st February. Registered by Sanuto, 26th February.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 20. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 127, St. Mark's Library.	422. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	The Pope is now free from fever; so, provided the physicians do not commit any more extravagances, as they in fact did by giving him two doses of rhubarb in three days, it is hoped he will recover.
	At the suggestion of the French ambassador, went to the English ambassadors to consult about writing to the Abbot of Farfà concerning the succour of Matrice, and they approved of sending a certain amount of infantry thither.
	Rome, 20th February 1529.
	[Italian, 4½ pages.]
Feb. 23. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 128, St. Mark's Library.	423. The Same to the Same.
	On Sunday last was visited by Sir Gregory Casal and Bernardino, the agent of the Abbot of Farfà, who gave a very different account from the one received by my secretary from the French ambassador, telling me that the Abbot, having no news from La Matrice, supposed it to have been taken. Sir Gregory and I and Bernardino agreed to send a letter to the townspeople of La Matrice and to the Count of Aquila, exhorting them to hold out, and promising them all possible assistance; to which letter we obtained the signature of the French ambassador, and Sir Gregory (thinking thus to render it more authoritative) signed it in like manner, as did I also.
	Rome, 23rd February 1529.
	[Italian, 4¼ pages.]
Feb. 26. Sanuto Diaries, v. 1. p. 48.	424. Lodovico Falier to the Signory.
	Letters from Rome dated 30th January announcing that the Pope was worse, Cardinal Wolsey has a stronger fantasy than ever to be made Pope, and spoke to him (Falier), requesting that he would write to the Signory to give him all favour, and desire the Venetian Cardinals to bestir themselves. It would be well to write the Cardinal a judicious letter, which would be very efficacious.
	An ambassador has arrived in London from King Ferdinand [of Hungary], and with the Imperial ambassador had audience of the Cardinal, requesting subsidy against the Turk, who is about to attack them. Wolsey told the ambassadors that the best assistance would be for the Emperor to make peace with the most Christian King, who requires nothing but his sons, and that then the Powers might unite Christendom against the Turks.
	London, 26th February. Registered by Sanuto, 18th March.
	[Italian.]
Feb. 27. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 131, St. Mark's Library.	425. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	The messenger despatched by Sir Gregory Casal with our letters for La Matrice got as far as Arieta (sic) where he met the servants of Camillo Pardo, who insisted on carrying them on, saying that if conveyed by others the bearers would fare badly, having to pass through places occupied by the enemy, whereas Camillo's servants, being natives of the country, traverse it in all safety by night.
	Rome 27th February 1529.
	[Italian, 3¼ pages.]