Venice: May 1532 | British History Online

Pages 334-338

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:

May 1532



May 4. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvi. p. 167.	765. Carlo Capello, to the Signory.
	Monseigneur Falconetto departed today.
	Received the Signory's missives of the 8th April, with a patent from the Emperor for the Flanders galleys, which forwarded to Hampton, where it will arrive in good time.
	Four days ago in London a proctor, (fn. 1) one Master Bainham, (fn. 2) was burnt alive as a heretic. The greater part of the population was present at his death. He died with the greatest fortitude, not evincing any pain; talking the whole time, and praying God aloud.
	The Parliament still continues sitting.
	Postscript.—Three hours ago Mons. de Pomeraye, the French ambassador resident here, departed; he will embark at Hampton for Brittany, and is to return in fourteen days, weather permitting. He is supposed to have gone about the divorce.
	London, 4th May. Registered by Sanuto 31st May.
	[Italian.]
May 11. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvi. p. 153.	766. Letter written at Ratisbon by — to —.
	The Court is constantly expecting to hear of the arrival of Balansom and Monfalconetto (sic) who were sent lately by the Emperor, the one to France, the other to England.
	In England, during last Lent, many preachers having alluded to the divorce, all giving their opinion in favour of the Queen, the King's partisans urged his Majesty, in order not to leave this impression on the public mind, to have a contrary doctrine preached; so this office having been lately assigned to an individual, the King's confessor, this person, preaching in the presence of his Majesty and the Privy Council, and of the whole Court, took a fair opportunity for confuting the arguments in favour of the Queen; and whilst enforcing his opinions on the bystanders, a Franciscan friar [Elston ?] rose intrepidly and opposed the confessor so courageously, and with such strong reasons, that the whole audience remained astounded and stupified. At length silence was enjoined both to one and the other, the friar being summoned to appear before the Privy Council. The result is not yet known.
	Ratisbon, 11th May. Registered by Sanuto 21st May.
	[Italian.]
May 13. Sanuto Diaries v. lvi. p. 175.	767. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	On the 8th Camillo Orsino Pardo, cousin of the other Camillo in the Signory's service, arrived in London. He is sent by the most Christian King, and crosses to Dantzic, then to Prussia, on his way to enter the service of King John [Zapolski].
	Parliament adjourned last Friday, and will meet again in a fortnight. They have decreed, though the act is not yet published, that all the inhabitants of the island, whatsoever their condition, are each to pay the King 15 per cent. on the value of all their real and personal property (mobeli e stabili); and henceforth, on the death of any person, one year's revenue of the deceased is to be paid to his Majesty. With this money they propose fortifying the passes, harbours, and places of importance on the island; it being also proposed to ]ay a tax of 400,000 crowns on the clergy, and to diminish their revenues.
	Here new preachers and fresh disputes between them spring up daily, part being in favour of the King, part of the Queen; and three of these last have already been taken into custody.
	Encloses letters from the captain of the Flanders galleys, who has received the Emperor's patent. The galleys are all loaded, and merely await fair weather for departure.
	London, 13th May. Registered by Sanuto 31st May.
	[Italian.]
May 16. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvi. p. 175.	768. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	On the 13th instant in St. Paul's an individual preached in favour of the divorce, and a woman stood up and told him aloud that he lied, and that this example in a king would be the destruction of the laws of matrimony, which is one of the holiest and strongest ties, whereby man is restrained within the limits of civil and Christian existence. This woman was arrested like the other preachers.
	On that day the King deprived Sir Thomas More of the office of Lord High Chancellor; it is not known whow ill be appointed in his stead. The cause is said to be his refusal to gratify the King by writing in favour of the divorce, which his Majesty is endeavouring to dispatch with all speed, as according to report Madame Anne is pregnant.
	London, 16th May. Registered by Sanuto 30th May.
	[Italian.]
May 18. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvi. p. 175.	769. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	The day before yesterday the Chancellor resigned his office (ussite dil magistrato) and delivered the great seal to the King. Yesterday his Majesty went to Greenwich, he will go to “Hierca” (sic).
	It is not known when Parliament will meet.
	The day before yesterday the Flanders galleys were eight miles beyond Hampton.
	A French ship of 24 guns arrived here two days ago.
	His most Christian Majesty's ambassador who went to Britanny is reported to have been captured by the Scots, who released him immediately.
	The Signory's galleys having reached St. Edward's are supposed to have departed.
	London, 18th May. Registered by Sanuto 30th May.
	[Italian.]
May 18. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta), File no. 13.	770. The Doge and College to Carlo Capello, Venetian Ambassador in England.
	The Magnifico Ibraim was to proceed with the standard [of the Prophet?] on the 18th as “Begliarbei” of Greece, returning immediately to Constantinople to accompany Sultan Solyman, who will go to Adrianople for ten days, and then continue the march for his expedition, which he does not specify further. The fleet will put to sea in the middle of the present month; it will consist of 80 light galleys, and 21 bastard galleys, so that when joined by the corsair barks (le vele delli corsari) the vessels will be 170 or 180, and it is said that their commander, the captain of Gallipoli, will proceed straight to Modon, and then to the channel of Corfu, from which point they will steer towards the quarter which they may be commissioned to attack.
	The ambassador from the Sophy has arrived; they sent him in a galley from Scutari to Constantinople, and accompanied him to his lodging with much honour. This embassy caused great satisfaction at Constantinople.
	[Italian.]
May 23. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvi. p. 257.	771. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	His Majesty has heard from France that they have despatched Dom. Hironimo Lascho, the ambassador of King John [Zapolski], he having remained there 20 days. They confirm the ratification of the marriage of said King John to Madame Isabel, the sister of the King of Navarre. Monsr. de Pomeraye, his most Christian Majesty's ambassador, went to the French Court, on account, it is said, of the divorce, and also because the King of England understood that King Francis purposed marrying his daughter to the King of Scotland.
	This marriage King Henry seeks to break off unless the Princess of England be married contemporaneously to the French King's second son. De Pomeraye is expected here hourly.
	The King has appointed as Lord Chancellor Master (sic)—[Audley ?], who practised as a barrister in Westminster Hall.
	The Signory's galleys were yesterday at the Isle of Wight, awaiting fair weather for departure.
	London, 23rd May. Registered by Sanuto 21st June.
	[Italian.]
May 24. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta). File no. 13.	772. The Doge and College to Carlo Capello, Venetian Ambassador in England.
	On the 18th the magnifico Ibraim marched from Constantinople with the standard, accompanied by a numerous retinue.
	On the 25th Sultan Solyman in like manner will proceed to Adrianople, for ten days, during which period the ambassadors from the King of the Romans were to arrive there, they being already on their way with Cursogli.
	Ten galleys have already put to sea, and 50 are at the quay, ready greased.
	They are diligently shipping on board the fleet, artillery, ammunition, and biscuit, and each galley will have nine guns at the prow, namely, three very handsome great guns, and falconets; and they will be abundantly furnished with cannon in the other parts of the vessels. In the covered docks there are eight galleys ready for launching, and two galliots are in course of construction. The number of galleys, including the 21 bastard galleys, will amount to 90, to which must be added the corsair vessels, thus forming a total of two hundred sail. The crews are beginning to arrive, and they seem to be hastening the despatch of this fleet, which will go straight to Modon, and then proceed to the channel of Corfu, but nothing certain is yet heard of their future destination. It is said that the Captain of Gallipoli will be the commander-in-chief of this fleet, although, as he has no experience of maritime affairs, it is supposed that some other person will be appointed over him. At the ordnance magazine there are many field-pieces for shipment on board the fleet.
	The ambassador from the Sophy had audience of Sultan Solyman on the 20th, and presented the donatives, which were carried by 110 “Capigi.” They consisted of gowns of cloth of gold, and many of silk of various colours, of very beautiful [fur] linings, and of horse coverings, and there was a very beautiful jewelled inkstand, and eight books, and similar things, all rich and beautiful. He remained half an hour with the Sultan, and when he came forth the Bashaw seemed elated. Before the Sultan's departure, they will hold another Porte for the despatch of this ambassador.
	As this intelligence is very important, to communicate it to the King.
	[Italian.]
May 31. Sanuto Diaries, v. l.vi p. 257.	773. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	The most Christian King has given Dom. Hironimo Lascho 10,000 francs, and made him a knight of St. Michael. He is gone to Lubeck to the diet there, to act against the Emperor and his brother, and is to return to France in four days, to escort the bride [Isabel d'Albret ?] to King John.
	The day before yesterday Camillo Orsino departed for France. He confirmed to me the fact of his going to King John. He purposed going by way of Dantzic and Prussia, and by order of Lascho spoke to certain Germans, who announced his journey to the Imperial ambassador here, and it was arranged, to waylay him; so he has to return to France and traverse Hungary through the Signory's territory.
	His Majesty is attending to the divorce with all diligence, and awaits the reply from Rome, and the return from France of Mons. do Pomeraye.
	Yesterday a gentleman in the service of Francesco, Marquis of Saluzzo, arrived from France, and in two days will be followed by the Marquis himself, who is sent by the most Christian King to speak to his Majesty, and will then proceed to take the command of the attack on Genoa.
	On the 24th instant the Queen, by the King's order, changed her residence of the More, for a place belonging to the King's confessor, the Bishop of Lincoln, pupil of Cardinal Wolsey, abettor of the divorce. (fn. 3)
	On that same day, in the Thames, two fishes were caught, each measuring 30 feet in length, 10 feet high, and 11 feet broad, (fn. 4) the one was a male, the other a female, which was with young, and had two cubs in its belly. The one was taken at Greenwich, the other at the Tower of London. The people here in general consider this a prodigy foreboding future evil, which they likewise anticipate from the fact, that within the last few days 14 individuals, including men and women, have committed suicide by hanging, or drowned themselves in the Thames.
	The person appointed High Chancellor [Sir Thomas Audley ?] has merely had the great seal in keeping, being vicar as it were. It is supposed that for the present the King will not appoint any other chancellor.
	Four days ago the galleys were at the “burnt village” (alla villa brusata) 25 miles from Hampton, off a headland on this island called “La Guelica,” and they were awaiting a fair wind.
	London, 31st May. Registered by Sanuto 21st June.
	[Italian.]