Pages 205-209
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.
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April 1529
| April 1. Parti Comuni, Consiglio X., v. lii. p. 9. | 438. Ballot by the Council of Ten and Junta. |
|---|---|
| That by authority of this Council the Jewish physician, Master Jacob, be allowed freely to wear the black cap throughout this our city of Venice, he residing in Jewry, where the other Hebrews dwell; and this concession to be available and to last during the whole of the next month of May. | |
| The law of the Grand Council (105) concerning 5/6 was read. | |
| Ayes, 13. Noes, 3. Neutrals, 0. (fn. 1) | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 1. Sanuto Diaries, v. 1. p. 72. | 439. Report of England. |
| Marco Antonio Venier, LL.D., having returned from his embassy to England, came into the College, wearing a gown of purple velvet with a raised pile, and narrated a few particulars. He was desired to make his report in the Senate, where he took his seat as sage for the main land. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 2. Sanuto Diaries, v. 1. p. 73. | 440. Report of England. |
| The Senate sat in the afternoon, and after perusal of the letters, Marco Antonio Venier, LL.D., who took his seat as sage for the main land, on his return from the embassy to England, went to the platform, and made a very unskilful report (riferite molto inespertamente) of the country and of the King, whom he supposes to have much money, having 600,000 ducats revenue, and 200,000 expenses. The Cardinal of York is more than King; he is the enemy of the Emperor, but they will not spend money; they greatly love the Signory and the King of France. The Cardinal wishes for the popedom, and is supposed to have much money. | |
| The embassy lasted — months. Praised his secretary, Gasparo Spinelli, and said that on his (Venier's) departure, the King gave him — pieces of silver, worth about 500 ducats. On his way home he returned through France and spoke with the most Christian King; also at Lodi he had audience of the Duke of Milan. He also mentioned other particulars; and on his coming down from the platform, the Doge praised him as usual. | |
| The Councillors (with the exception of Nicolo Venier, ordered to withdraw on account of relationship), the Chiefs of the Forty, and the Sages, then moved that by reason of the toil endured by him, Marco Antonio Venier, LL.D., late ambassador in England, be allowed to retain the silver plate given him by the King. The motion was balloted for twice, and lost, as it required a majority of five-sixths. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 3. Sanuto Diaries, v. 1. p. 75. | 441. Present from Henry VIII. |
| Motion made in the Senate by the Councillors, Chiefs of the Forty, and Sages, that there be given to Marco Antonio Venier, LL.D., late ambassador in England, the silver plate presented to him by the King. | |
| Balloted for twice, and not carried. | |
| 1st Ballot. Ayes, 160. Noes, 47. Neutrals, 3. | |
| 2nd Ballot. Ayes, 159. Noes, 51. Neutrals, 2. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 3. Senato Terra, v. xxv. p. 131. | 442. Venetian Ambassador in England. |
| The munificence of the State should make a substantial demonstration of gratitude towards the nobleman, Marco Antonio Venier, LL.D., returned from his embassy to England, where he resided for three years and — months, to the satisfaction of the Signory and to the honour and advantage of the State, and to his own detriment and cost. | |
| Put to the ballot,—that there be given him the twelve pieces of silver, worth about 500 ducats, which he received on his departure from the King of England, as done by other ambassadors in similar cases. | |
| Ayes, 100. Noes, 47. Neutrals, 3. | |
| Ayes, 159. Noes, 51. Neutrals, 2. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 5. Sanuto Diaries, v.l. p. 153. | 443. Lodovico Falier to the Signory. |
| The most Christian King has sent the King of England a very beautiful present of four mules, loaded with most handsome effects, with velvet coverings exquisitely wrought. Two of the mules bore a cradle (cartola), bed, and bolster, all of cloth of gold with a raised pile, on which were many embroidered devices, the woodwork being gilt. He also sent two other mules for Cardinal Wolsey. King Henry is sending another ambassador to the Signory. | |
| London, 5th April. Letter sent by way of Florence. Registered by Sanuto, 24th April. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 7. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 153, St. Mark's Library. | 444. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory. |
| Dom. Andrea dal Borgo, ambassador from King Ferdinand, went to the Pope on the day before yesterday, and narrated to him how in Germany the Lutherans had so multiplied and prevailed in such a manner that in some of the chief cities the one single mass which was celebrated for the Catholics had been abolished, and in another city a crucifix had been shamefully defaced, so that well nigh all Germany might be considered Lutheran. | |
| Rome, 7th April 1529. | |
| [Italian, 2 pages.] | |
| April 8. Sanuto Diaries, v. 1. p. 94. | 445. English Secretary in the College Hall. |
| In the morning the secretary of the English ambassador came into the College, bringing advices, dated Rome, the 2nd instant, from the English ambassadors, announcing the determination of the Emperor to come into Italy. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 9. Sanuto Diaries v. 1. p. 143. | 446. News from France. |
| The Council of Ten has received letters from the Signory's ambassador in France, dated Blois, 9th April. The King was not there. The Emperor had arrived at St. Mary's of Montserrat, seven leagues from Barcelona, whither he was going to embark for Italy, taking with him the French Princes. | |
| The most Christian King purposes going into Italy, but will first send to Guienne, and then to Languedoc; he will have 20,000 Switzers, 10,000 Lansquenets, and 10,000 adventurers. He wishes the Signory likewise to have 20,000 infantry; and he will send money to Italy to Mons. de S. Pol, and for the affairs of Puglia. The King of England is sending Cardinal Wolsey to his most Christian Majesty. An ambassador has arrived at Blois from the Lady Margaret, on account of certain disputes about the truce with Flanders, and they purpose electing ten [commissioners?] for each side. The coming of Cardinal Wolsey to Blois is because the King of England chooses absolutely (at tutto) to annul the marriage. | |
| Blois, 9th April. Registered by Sanuto, 20th April. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 13. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 156, St. Mark's Library. | 447. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory. |
| The day before yesterday the English ambassadors conferred with the Pope, and most earnestly demanded of him the repeal of a certain brief made by Pope Julius in favour of the King's marriage. His Holiness answered them that he could not repeal it without citing the advisers of the Queen (senza citar l'altra parte de la Regina); and assuredly from what I heard from the Cardinal of Mantua, with whom the Pope spoke yesterday on the subject, he finds himself much embarrassed, nor does he know how to extricate himself from the matter, in accordance with justice and to the satisfaction of the King. | |
| Rome, 13th April 1529. | |
| [Italian, 4½ pages.] | |
| April 22. Sanuto Diaries, v. 1. p. 248. | 448. Lodovico Falier to the Signory. |
| The ambassador from the King of Bohemia [Archduke Ferdinand], who came to his Majesty here for assistance against the Turks, proceeded subsequently to Scotland, and returned without obtaining anything. | |
| An ambassador from the Emperor, now in England, (fn. 2) wishing to return to France, King Henry wrote for a safeconduct for him, and King Francis replied that the like must be given to him also, to enable him to effect the return to France of his own ambassador, and that he would then grant the Spaniard's demand. | |
| London, 22nd April. Registered by Sanuto, 10th May. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 26. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 162, St. Mark's Library. | 449. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory. |
| Sir Gregory tells me he has been informed by Jacopo Salviati that these proceedings of the League, and the outrages perpetrated by the Abbot of Farfà in the neighbourhood of Rome, are of such a nature that they will compel the Pope to become an Imperialist. | |
| Rome, 26th April 1529. | |
| [Italian, 2 pages.] | |
| April 27. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 163, St. Mark's Library. | 450. The Same to the Same. |
| Yesterday, whilst I was visiting Cardinal Pisani, Jacopo Salviati came to him, and told me what I had already heard about the statement made by him to Sir Gregory Casal concerning the Pope's disapproval of the proceedings of the Abbot of Farfà. | |
| This morning, moreover, while I was at the house of the Cardinal of Mantua (who this day departed, to the great regret of the whole Court), he received visits from the ambassadors of the Emperor and of King Ferdinand, who informed him, with regard to Spanish news, that they had merely letters from the Treasurer, dated Barcelona, concerning the postponement of the Cortes of Aragon until the 4th of May, and the consequent protracted stay of the Emperor in that city; but they did not say anything to him about the sale of the biscuits. (fn. 3) | |
| They also told him that they went this morning to the Pope, and made a protest to Mm, in the name of the Emperor and of Ferdinand, against the dissolution of the English marriage, which was heard and accepted by his Holiness, who, I believe, is much embarrassed about this matter. | |
| Rome, 27th April 1529. | |
| [Italian, 3 pages.] | |
| April 29. Sanuto Diaries, v. 1. p. 167. | 451. English Ambassador in the College. |
| The English ambassador [Prothonotary Casal] came into the College Hall, and presented a Latin letter from his King to the Signory, writing warmly in very atrocious terms (parole molto atroze), desiring the State to restore Ravenna and Cervia to the Pope. | |
| Note by Sanuto, that the letter was read subsequently in the Senate, and that if able to obtain a copy it shall be noted by him hereafter. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 30. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 164, St. Mark's Library. | 452. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory. |
| By my last of the 27th I notified what the ambassadors of the Emperor and of Ferdinand told the Cardinal of Mantua about the protest made to the Pope concerning the affair of the divorce, to which the King of England lays claim. Subsequently heard these further particulars. The ambassadors aforesaid made a protest to the Pope that this divorce case should not be tried in England, but here at the Court, in the presence of his Holiness and the Sacred College of Cardinals, to which effect they served a summons on the English, ambassadors for yesterday, charging them to appear before the Pope “in signatura.” This summons was served on them by a Spanish cursitor. At this the English ambassadors took great offence, most especially Dr. Stephen [Gardyner], and yesterday morning accordingly they made their appearance, “in signatura,” before the Pope and the Cardinal of Ancona (fn. 4),—the aforesaid ambassadors of the Emperor and King Ferdinand, and the English ambassadors also. Thereupon much altercation ensued between them about the summons and the mode observed by the Imperial ambassadors, but they came to no conclusion of any sort. (fn. 5) | |
| Rome, 30th April 1529. | |
| [Italian, 2 pages] | |