Venice: January 1518 | British History Online

Pages 429-431

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:

January 1518


A.D. 1518.

1518. Jan. 1. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxv. p. 140.	998. Antonio Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
	Dated Tours,—.
	The Bishop of Paris and the other ambassadors who went to England had departed, being authorized to conclude the surrender of Tournai on payment of a certain sum.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 12. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 149.	999. Marco Minio to the Council of Ten.
	Was informed by Michiel de Abbatis that the agent of the Cardinal of Sion at Rome had received letters from him, announcing the arrival in Switzerland of Dom. Richard Pace with 15,000 ducats for distribution amongst the pensioners of England in the cantons, to keep them well disposed, and also with money for a levy of 10,000 Switzers, whenever demanded by the Emperor.
	Rome, 12th January 1518.
	[Extract, Italian.]
Jan. 16. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 158.	1000. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory.
	The courts were still absent. The King would not return until the plague had entirely ceased. The Cardinal intended to return on the 22nd January.
	Had been visited by Master Richard Pace, who had been recalled from Switzerland, having left affairs there in a state of peace. He had been made a privy councillor. He was formerly the secretary of a great friend of Venice, the late Cardinal of York (Bainbridge), whose opinions he had adopted. He said that he had received from the State greater honours than were due to him as a private individual; for he was admitted into the Bucintor on Ascension Day, and invited to the Doge's banquet, simply because he was an Englishman; on which account he had spoken in favour of the State to the King and the Cardinal, stating that in seven years Venice would become the mistress of Italy. He declared that the King of France had been negotiating with the Emperor to detach him from England, offering to seize the Venetian possessions on the main land, and to deliver them to the Emperor.
	Pace further stated that the affairs of the Turk were in a perilous condition, because the rest of the Mamelukes had effected a fresh junction with the Sophy, and Aleppo had been recovered. Did not credit this news.
	Had heard of the appointment of his successor, the Magnifico Antonio Surian, LL.D.
	London, 16th January 1518.
	[Italian, 4½ pages, or 99 lines.]
Jan. 17. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 151.	1001. Marco Minio to the Signory.
	According to report the King of England was trying to make the Switzers accede to his wishes; and for the negotiation of this matter, a diet was to be held on the day of the Epiphany.
	Rome, 17th January 1518.
	[Extract, Italian.]
Jan. 24. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 159.	1002. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory.
	Had sent his secretary to the Cardinal, who arrived on the 21st in London. Whilst the secretary was with the Cardinal, the King made his appearance. The King had departed for Windsor, where he would remain until Easter.
	Visited the Cardinal on the 23rd. Informed him that the Turkish armada had moved towards the strait; that the Great Turk was inclined to return to Constantinople; and that great cruelties had been exercised upon those Mamelukes who had taken pay under Selim. As to Italian affairs, stated that since the arrangement between the Pope and Francesco Maria della Rovere, everything had remained quiet.
	The Cardinal replied that the Pope had written to him that the vanquished Mamelukes had elected a new Soldan, and were to join the Sophy; and that Sultan Selim had withdrawn into Damascus for greater safety, and had sent ambassadors to Rhodes demanding peace, which he had signed for two years.
	The Cardinal also said that King Henry was inclined to a general peace, but the King of France was fitting out an armada in Britanny and along that coast, the object of which was not known. Suggested that these preparations were occasioned by certain Moorish corsairs, who infested those seas, and by its being known that the King of Tunis and the Princes of Barbary were hesitating about subjecting themselves to the Turk or to others. (fn. 1)
	The Pope had forwarded certain articles for the Christian expedition, which the Cardinal promised to send him (Giustinian).
	Had also conferred with Pace, the secretary, who informed him that the Switzers had determined to remain neutral, and refused to bind themselves by fresh articles to the King of France, as he desired them to do; and that, when the Pope's ambassador exhorted them to the Christian expedition, they replied that first of all it would be requisite to unite the Christian powers. Elicited from Pace that the Switzers were the good friends of Venice, but he said the danger lay in their being stirred up against the Signory by France. Replied that no such peril existed, but did not tell him of the renewal of the alliance. Said that the Cardinal of Sion had caused the enmity which a few of the Switzers bore to Venice. The secretary admitted the truth of this, but said that neither he nor the Emperor had any influence over them. He believed the Emperor would remain at peace now that the breeze from England failed him. This was corroborated by the recall of Pace from his embassy to the Imperial Court. Believed that the English government was not inclined towards war, or to spend any more money, but to accumulate; and that those who had caused the past expenditure enjoyed no favour with the country.
	London, 24th January 1518.
	[Italian, 4½ pages, or 100 lines.]
Jan. 26. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 160.	1003. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory:
	Had received the Signory's missives dated the 4th and 20th December, with the newsletters concerning Turkish affairs. Would impart the intelligence to the Cardinal and the King, suppressing all mention of the renewal of the peace between Venice and the Porte, as the English ministry detested all who maintained peace and friendship with infidels. Had never mentioned the despatch of Venetian ambassadors [to Sultan Selim], nor was the court aware of it; but he would shortly announce the missions both to Damascus and Constantinople, as the fact could no longer remain secret.
	London, 26th January 1518.
	[Italian, 1½ page, or 28 lines.]
Jan. 26. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 153.	1004. Marco Minio to the Same.
	The Catholic King did not bear the most Christian King ill will, but sought to beguile the King of England. With that object in view he purposed giving a bishopric to Cardinal Wolsey, and a pension to the Duke of Suffolk.
	Rome, 26th January 1518.
	[Extract, Italian.]