Venice: November 1517 | British History Online

Pages 425-428

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 2, 1509-1519. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1867.

Citation:

November 1517



Nov. 4. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 125.	985. The Same to the Same.
	On that day the Pope had complained of Cardinal Adrian and of his flight, and said he meant to send him a monition. Borne, 4th November 1517.
	[Extract, Italian.]
Nov. 7. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 126.	986. The Same to the Same.
	The Flanders galleys on the 22nd October were still at Messina. Rome, 7th November 1517.
	[Extract, Italian.]
Nov. 11. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 152.	987. Sebastian Gjustinian to the Signory.
	Had received the Signory's despatches of the 12th and 17th September, with the newsletters from the Levant. Was unable to comply immediately with the orders they contained, owing to the absence of Cardinal Wolsey, but had audience of him on his return, when the conciliatory letters written by the State were received most graciously. After a stay of two days in London, the Cardinal again departed on account of the great progress made by the plague. He would remain absent until after Christmas. Consequent cessation of all business, both public and private.
	Two ambassadors had arrived from the King of France, namely the Bishop of Paris and Mons. de la Guiche. Visited them. Though they bad been unable to obtain audience of the King, owing to his fear of the plague, they said they should be soon despatched. His conversation with them was interrupted by the Bishop of Ely (Dr. Nicholas West), who came to see them on behalf of the Cardinal. It was reported that they were come about reprisals. Did not believe that ambassadors of such consequence would have been sent on so trivial an errand, especially as the Bishop of Ely and the Lord Chamberlain (the Earl of Worcester), who had been appointed as ambassadors to France, would not now go there.
	The King was at a distance, and was moving about from one place to another on account of the plague, which had made great ravages in his household. Some of the pages who slept in his chamber had died. He had therefore dismissed the whole court, both his own and the Queen's. Only three favourite gentlemen and the Reverend Dionysius Memo remained with him and the Queen. Both the King and the Cardinal intended to absent themselves till after the Christmas holidays. Should the plague continue, their absence would be still longer protracted.
	Allusion to his own personal danger, and demand for his recall.
	Very violent storms had taken place. On St. Luke's eve (17th October) four large ships, freighted with merchandise for Flanders, had perished in the Channel; and 84 fishing vessels had also been lost.
	London, 11th November 1517.
	[Italian, 3½ pages, or 84 lines.]
Nov. 12. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxv. p. 64.	988. Embassy to England.
	Motion made in the Senate by all the Sages, for the election at its next sitting of an ambassador to the King of England in the stead of Sebastian Giustinian, who had asked leave to return to Venice,
	Motion carried unanimously.
	[Italian.]
Nov. 13. Misti Consiglio X., v. xli. p. 130.	989. The Council of Ten and Junta to the Ambassador at the [Papal] Court.
	Relative to the negotiations respecting a general expedition of the Christian powers against Sultan Selim.
	Copy to be sent to England and France, but not to be communicated, but to serve solely for information, and to enable the ambassadors to justify the Signory, should any blame be cast on them by King Henry or King Charles, or by the great personages (primoribus).
	Ayes, 24. Noes, 3. Neutrals, 0.
	[Italian, 35 lines.]
Nov. 16. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 153.	990. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory.
	The King and Cardinal and all the ministers having deserted London on account of the plague, the audience of the French ambassadors had been postponed until that day. Had received the Signory's missives of the 9th October and the newsletters from Constantinople. Would proceed forthwith to communicate the contents of the latter to the Cardinal.
	Requests that a successor may be appointed him, as he considers it high time to escape from sedition, sweat, and plague.
	London, 16th November 1517.
	[Italian, 1 page, or 21 lines.]
Nov. 19. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxv. p. 71.	991. Embassy to England.
	Ballot by scrutiny (fn. 1) for an ambassador to England, according to the motion made on the 12th November.
	Elected, Antonio Surian, LL.D. and knight, late ambassador in Hungary. Remark by Sanuto that he gained his election by one single ball, and that he was not a member of the Senate.
	[Italian.]
Nov. 21. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 154.	992. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory.
	On the 20th the French ambassadors returned from the court. Was visited by them on the 21st. Gave them the news from the Levant. Mentioned the coming of two ambassadors from the Pope and Hungary. The Bishop of Paris said he and his colleague had been well received by the King, who had arranged with them the two questions about reprisals and boundaries; that they had urged the surrender of Tournai, on account of the great expense it required, and its neighbourhood to the territory of the Catholic King; that the King seemed willing to consent on. certain conditions, one of which was that the annual tribute received by him from France should be augmented; and that the business might be considered settled, though depending on the pleasure of the King of France. King Henry had shown himself very anxious to prevent the return of the Duke of Albany from France to Scotland; but the Bishop of Paris had represented that the Duke was next in succession if the present King of Scotland should die without heirs, and that the Scots insisted on his being regent; that the Duke had charge of the realm, but not of the King, whose education was confided to certain chiefs elected by the kingdom, and approved by King Henry; and that it was impossible to prevent the Duke's return, as it would be at variance with the confederacy which had existed between France and Scotland ever since the time of Charlemagne. To this King Henry had assented, and would not on that account break his confederacy with France.
	The French ambassadors intended to depart on the morning of the 22nd November.
	London, 21st November 1517.
	[Italian, 3½ pages, or 82 lines.]