Venice: September 1532 | British History Online

Pages 350-355

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:

September 1532



Sept. 1. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvi. (Originals.)	801. John Scott, the Glasgow Faster.
	Attestation of his abstinence by the Bolognese Vianesio Albergati.
	Vianesio Albergati to his candid readers, greeting.
	The Rev. Father in Christ the Lucchese Silvestro Dario, auditor of the “Rota” of our Holy Lord Pope Clement VII., and Nuncio to the King of Scotland, notified to me that John Scott, a man of probity, and of noble Scottish lineage, moved by piety towards God, abstained from food and drink during three consecutive months. Lest this should appear incredible I interrogated the said Scott, by an interpreter, whether he had remained for so long a while without eating or drinking. As he maintained that it was perfectly true, I asked him whether he would abstain for some days from eating and drinking, which, with God's help, he promised to do, Having stripped him of all his apparel, lest he should secrete anything whereby to recruit his strength and deceive me, and having clad him in other raiment, I kept him for 11 consecutive days and nights in my house, in a bedchamber (cubiculo) most carefully closed and sealed (clauso et obsignate). I kept the strictest watch, lest anything should enter that could serve for food and drink, for I always kept the keys of said bedchamber (ipsius cubiculi) in my own possession, in order that I might convince myself whether anyone could live so long without eating and drinking, On the expiration of 11 days, the said John having most constantly endured so long an abstinence, and having always preserved the same complexion (colorem) vigour, and pulse, which seemed singularly marvellous to the learned physicians who came very frequently to visit him; and as he had now exceeded the number of days during which a man can live without food and drink, I let him out of the bedchamber (cubiculo) he neither requesting nor expecting his discharge; and I enabled him to depart (ac ei abeundi facultatem feci).
	During the whole time that I watched him under close custody he prayed God and the saints continually, save when he talked or slept; of which thing I call to witness God Almighty, whose Majesty may not be deceived; and if I lie, I do not deprecate His eternal wrath. Farewell, excellent readers, and as no advantage can accrue to me from so impudent a lie, in case I do lie, believe the thing itself to be most true and most certain, as it is.
	Rome, 1st September 1532.
	Vianesio Albergati, Bolognese.
	So it is with my own hand.
	Registered by Sanuto 30th, September 1532.
	[Latin.]
Sept. 7. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. p. 17.	802. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	On the 30th August received letters of the 28th July and 7th August, with advices of the Turkish armament (armata). Sent the secretary to Windsor, where he communicated them to the Duke of Suffolk; and they spoke together about the King's crossing the Channel, the secretary telling him that he (Capello) would accompany his Majesty as a mark of honour. Thereupon the Duke went into the King's chamber, and came back returning thanks to the ambassador in his Majesty's name; but adding that he did not wish him to take the trouble, and that no ambassador was going with him save the Frenchman.
	On that morning, (fn. 1) solemnly and in public, Madam Anne being there at Windsor “con li capelli sparsi,” (fn. 2) completely covered with the most costly jewels, was created by the King Countess of Pembroke, with an annual revenue of one thousand pounds sterling.
	After this ceremony, the mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Winchester, and an oath administered to the French ambassador as his King's proxy. Then the Almoner made a Latin oration, expatiating on the greatness of the Turk, and the extreme ill-will he bore Christendom, without ever styling him “Turk,” but merely “the perpetual enemy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He said that no one was to marvel at the oath taken, as it did not imply the nonexistence of perpetual and inviolable confederacy between France and England, but that it was for the purpose of uniting the two crowns more closely, if it were possible, for their defence, and that of Christendom, to which effect the two Kings will employ their money, troops, their persons, and all their forces; and for this purpose they will have an interview, to take counsel together, and arrange what is necessary to be done.
	Madam Anne will cross the Channel with the King, accompanied by 30 of the chief ladies of this island, amongst whom will be the Duchess of Norfolk and the King's sister, widow of King Lewis of France, who, it is said, stoutly refused to go; and many persons are of opinion that on the other side of the Channel, his Majesty will marry said Madam Anne, or take for wife the daughter of the most Christian King.
	The Bishop of Langres arrived here last night, and went on to the Court.
	London, 7th September, Registered by Sanuto 5th October.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 7. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. p. 17.	803. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	The King has put off crossing the Channel until the 12th October, and it is thought the term will be prolonged. The affairs of the Turk and the Emperor keep his Majesty in great uncertainty.
	It is said more and more daily that the King will marry Madam Anne, and make her a duchess before his passage to Calais.
	The Bishop of Langres was at Windsor the day before yesterday, and yesterday. Has been unable as yet to learn the object of his mission. It is said he came about the interview. He is still at Windsor, together with the other French ambassador [Mons. de Pomeraye?].
	London, 7th (sic) September. Registered by Sanuto 5th October.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 15. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. p. 24.	804. Zuan Antonio Venier, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
	This morning his Majesty had the ceremony of the oath performed here, because in the past night a post arrived from England. None of the ambassadors, save the Englishman, attended the ceremony. Mass was said at noon, the King being present with his attendants, and it was sung by the Bishop of Macon; after which, the King took the oath, and a very brief oration was made, purporting that this act was a confirmation of the perpetual peace between his most Christian Majesty and the English King, made for the King's security when crossing the Channel; and that on this same day he is to proclaim it in England. Others say he will do so on the day of Our Lady (il dì della Madonna qu. 24 Sept. ?).
	The interview will take place on the 25th October next.
	Amboise, 15th September. Registered, by Sanuto 5th October.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 15. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. p. 16.	805. Zuan Antonio Venier to the Signory.
	The most Christian King is in the neighbourhood of Tours, not having chosen to enter the town, by reason of his very numerous attendants, who occupied every place. The ambassadors had to lodge themselves within the city, where the plague is raging, people dying in the streets. On the 11th, arrived at Amboise. On the 13th the King sent the Lord Steward to Calais; he came through Amboise. Went to meet him. He (the Lord Steward) said that he was going for four or five days to his house at Chantilly, and would then proceed to Calais, to make the necessary arrangements, and the King of England will cross the Channel and have a meeting with his most Christian Majesty as friends. They purpose taking into consideration the present important state of affairs, as the Turk is near Vienna, much to the peril of Christendom.
	Adds in cipher, that they much fear the Emperor may be victorious, instead of being worsted, as against the Turk they might find a remedy; but these two Kings do not approve of the Emperor's greatness, and have a defensive league between them, and this interview is for the purpose of arming; but the most Christian King will not make an attack, either in Italy or elsewhere, on the Emperor, so long as he is occupied with the Turk.
	Amboise, 15th September. Registered by Sanuto 5th October.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 18. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. p. 160.	806. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	On the 11th, the Bishop of Langres returned to France; he remained but one night in London. Was unable to speak with him. Sir Francis Bryan will also depart in a few days, on his way to the most Christian King; it is not known with what commission, but according to report, it relates to the interview, though he (Capello) is assured that the marriage is being negotiated, and that on the 12th instant the King, who had not seen the Princess for more than a year, spoke with her alone for three hours, and they then went together to a very grand hunt (una bellissima caza) at which 100 bucks were killed.
	Here preparations are made daily by those who are going to the interview, on which the most Christian King is much bent; and noblemen and others are constantly crossing over to Calais.
	It is also reported that the King of Scotland is preparing for war against King Henry, and has sent to tell him to remain at home, as he (the King of Scotland) is coming to visit London with 60,000 men, and to recover the body of his father King James. King Henry replied, telling him to come, as he will be as welcome and as well received as his father was.
	Has seen letters from Scotland from a friend, in conformity with the foregoing news; and that the King is intent on arming and on having a very large quantity of bows, and a great number of bowyers, as he has neither the supply required by him, nor staves with which to make them. He has sent some captains to the borders of Scotland. King Henry will not allow the nobility of the Border to cross the Channel with him.
	The Dantzikers (quelli di Dans) lately plundered and cruelly murdered the crews of certain English ships, having taken all the men, who as usual every year went to buy fish in those parts; and it is supposed that the Dantzikers are allied with the King of Scotland.
	Tomorrow his Majesty is to come to inspect the ships and the building at the Tower; and on Tuesday he will go to Greenwich and subsequently to Gravesend and Dover by water, as there is much plague in those parts, and there is no lack of it in London. Yesterday, at the King's Court, the master of the kitchen (il maestro delta cusina) died of it, having waited on his Majesty the day before.
	London, 18th September. Registered by Sanuto 31st October.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 21. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. p. 124.	807. Zuan Antonio Venier to the Signory.
	The Bishop of Langres has returned from England, whither he went about the conclusion of the peace between these two Kings and the future interview. The English ambassador, late resident here, has departed on his way to Chantilly, to accompany the Lord Steward to Calais and do him honour, as he (the ambassador) is Captain of that fortress.
	Blois, 21st September. Registered by Sanuto 24th October.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 24. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. p. 160.	808. Carlo Capello to the Signory.
	Has heard through two channels that his Majesty will cross to Calais to terminate the divorce, and certain doctors and friars who advised in favour of his Majesty, are also going beforehand to Calais to consult about the affair of the divorce with those of the university of France. Here they prepare daily for his Majesty's passage, which will take place on the 16th October.
	Today the Marchioness gives a banquet to the King and the French ambassador.
	His Majesty has reduced the number of attendants who were to accompany him across by one half, from fear of the plague, and for greater despatch. The plague increases daily in London, and well nigh throughout the country. The King also does this to leave more men of account, by reason of the Scottish affairs, which cause him anxiety.
	London, 24th September. Registered by Sanuto 31st October.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 27. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. pp. 19–21.	809. Marco Antonio Venier, Venetian Ambassador at Rome, to the Signory.
	There are three ambassadors from the King of England in this city [Ghinucci, Bishop of Worcester, Dr. Benet, and Sir Gregory Casal], and as his Majesty is going across the Channel, they have determined that one of them shall go to acquaint him with the state of his affairs; so Sir Gregory Casal (il monte Casal) (sic) is going. The Pope approves of this, and has written a brief to the King, praying him to send the mandate for the cause, and that such good consideration as due will be had at Rome. Casal will depart in three days.
	Rome, 27th September. Registered by Sanuto 5th October.
	[Italian ]
Sept. 30. Sanuto Diaries, v. lvii. p. 25.	810. The Same to the Same.
	John Scott, who came from Scotland, his country, on his way to the Holy Sepulchre, is here; he offered the Pope to remain many days without any food, and his Holiness gave him in custody to trustworthy persons, who kept him securely locked up for 13 days without having eaten. He remained there the whole time, always in prayer, and would have staid longer had not the Pope desired him to be set at liberty, and that food should be given him. This proceeds from divine grace rather than from deceit “o atto alcuno” On his aforesaid voyage he will visit Venice. Has been requested both by him and by the chief personages here to recommend him. Beseeches the Signory to concede him favour.
	Rome, 30th September. Registered by Sanuto 5th October.
	[Italian.]