Spain: October 1520 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1866.

Citation:

'Spain: October 1520', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525, (London, 1866) pp. 320-324. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol2/pp320-324 [accessed 13 May 2024].

October 1520



2 Oct. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 19. f. 255.	299. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor. Sends him a duplicate of his letter of the 26th of September. After that letter had left, the Pope ordered great festivities to be celebrated in honour of his family on the day of St. Cosmo. Went to the festivities, but could not find any opportunity of speaking with the Pope on business. Went next day to see the Pope, and communicated to him what he (the Emperor) had written to him in his despatch of the 13th of September. The Pope was much vexed by these communications. After a long conversation, in which the Pope showed that he was an experienced statesman, his Holiness declared that he would not permit himself to be deceived by the French ambassador who was expected, and promised to hide a confidential servant of his (Juan Manuel) under the bed of the room in which he would give audience to the French ambassador. He must keep this very secret. By letters from England the Pope is informed that he (the Emperor) did not tell the English anything of the plan to attack the French. His Holiness greatly approves of his discretion. The French ask the Pope to declare that he (the Emperor) cannot wear both crowns, that of the Empire and that of Naples. The Pope told him that Marcantonio Colonna is negotiating with the French, but his Holiness does not know the secret of those negotiations. Count of Aquila. Concerns of Spain. The Pope is not satisfied with the additions and omissions in the treaty of alliance (between the Pope, the Emperor, and the King of England) which he has sent to Rome. He especially objects to the limitation of the assistance to be given him against the Duke of Ferrara, whilst the aid he is to lend in the war with Venice is to be unlimited. Parma and Piacenza. Aid to be given by the Pope to the Emperor if he is attacked in his possessions which do not belong to Italy. Genoa. Is of opinion that a war with France cannot be avoided, and that an alliance with the Pope ought to be concluded, at any rate, in order to prevent him from concluding an alliance with his enemies. The fleet and army must be paid. The Pope sends to his nuncio and to Raphael de Medicis a draft of the treaty of alliance (between the Pope, the Emperor, and the King of England) drawn up in the form in which he wishes it to be concluded. Is afraid the alterations of the treaty will be endless. As for the briefs of the Pope to him (the Emperor) and to the King of England, the cruzada, the tithes, the Quarta, and the new investiture, as well as the creation of a legate for England and the cardinal's hat for the Bishop of Liege, no great difficulties will be made as soon as the alliance is concluded. The Pope may also be persuaded not to grant the favours which the French ask. Recommends to him Raphael de Medicis. The Admiral of France has declared to the nuncio that France and Rome cannot continue to be friends, as it is known that the Pope has created a partisan of the "Cæsar" a cardinal, namely the Cardinal of Liege, who, the Admiral said, is the mortal enemy of the King of France. French preparations for war. Promised the Pope to defend him if the French should attack him ; but the Pope knows in what a bad state of discipline the army of Naples is. Viceroy of Naples. Couriers. Inquisition. Count Pedro Navaro.—The 2nd of October 1520. Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 6.
2 Oct. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 19. ff. 251-253.	300. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor Charles V. Has received his letters dated the 19th of September, which have been more than twelve days (fn. 1) in reaching him. Is very sorry that so much delay has taken place in such important negotiations. If he (the Emperor) has no money to pay couriers, he ought to send his despatches by post. If it were possible to pay the navy and the army of Naples, the overbearing behaviour of the French would soon be put down. Is extremely sorry to hear that the answer from England has not yet arrived. The consequences of the delay will be very bad. He ought to do what he can to bring the negotiations with England to a final conclusion. Inquisition in Catalonia and Aragon, and ecclesiastical preferments.—Rome, the 2nd (fn. 1) of October. Addressed : "To the Cœsar and King of Spain, &c." Indorsed : "Rome. To the King, from Don Juan Manuel, the 12th of October." (fn. 1) Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 4.
4 Oct. M. B. N. MSS. E. 59. f. 90.	301. The Emperor to Cardinal Wolsey. His ambassadors in England, namely, the Bishop of Elna and Gérard de Plaine, have informed him that he (Wolsey) renounces his rights on the bishopric of Badajoz, in order that it may be given to the Bishop of Elna, on condition, however, that he (Wolsey) receives instead of the bishopric an annual pension of 2,500 ducats. Approves of his renunciation, and promises that the pension shall be paid.—Louvain, the 4th of October 1520. Addressed : "The King to the Archbishop of York." Latin. Original register, p. 1.
19 Oct. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 19. ff. 288-293.	302. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor. Is quite ashamed to inform him that, in spite of what he had written to him on the 12th, the business is not yet despatched. Went to the Pope and told him that, although he. thought him reliable in political affairs, he was sorry to say that in ecclesiastical matters, and especially where church preferment is concerned, he is fickle and subject to the bad influence of his familiar servants. The Pope blushed deeply, and asked him of what he was speaking. Replied that he did not like to explain himself more clearly on this occasion, as he had come to transact political business with him. The Pope excused himself by saying that some things which he wishes to do are found to be impossible when the time for executing them arrives. Asked the Pope what he had concluded with Moreta before he left Rome. His Holiness assured him that he had settled nothing with Moreta ; but, as he had been much importuned by him about a cardinal's hat for a French prelate, he dissimulated with him. The Pope gave Moreta a sealed bundle of papers, with an injunction to deliver it to the nuncio in France, saying to him that it contained the elevation of a Frenchman to the dignity of a cardinal. This bundle, however, did not contain any paper of the kind, and in order to carry on the deception longer, he ordered his nuncio not to open the bundle without his special permission. The King of England has told the Pope, through his ambassador and in several letters, that it would be very agreeable to him if a general peace of Christendom were concluded. The King begged the Holy Father to occupy himself in bringing about such a peace, and especially in reconciling him (the Emperor) with the King of France. The Pope at first replied to some letters of the King of England, saying that he approved of a general pacification of Christendom. Of late, however, the Pope has informed the King of England that a general peace is impossible, as the King of France, according to the well-known French custom, wishes only to appropriate to himself what belongs to others, and thereby to prevent the conclusion of peace. The Holy Father explained to the King of England that there is no other choice left him (the King of England) but to conclude an alliance with him (the Emperor), and promised to become a party to the alliance as soon as it should be concluded. The object of that league the Pope said, was that the allies should help one another to weaken the King of France, and prevent him from imitating the bad example of his predecessors. Said, some time ago, exactly the same words to the Pope, who tells him that he has written to his nuncio that he is tired of his dissimulation, and has made up his mind to unmask himself. If what the Pope told him is true, things are going on very prosperously. Thinks the Pope has spoken the truth to him. The Holy Father told him, besides, some "terrible" stories, and communicated to him plans for carrying on the war with France with a good prospect of success and at little expense. If he (the Emperor) would follow, the Pope said, the counsel of the Pope, he would make him a greater prince than has ever before lived on earth. The Pope greatly approves of the enterprise on Genoa, and asked him also to do something to further the undertaking. Excused himself, saying that he was not authorized to do so. The Pope has promised to do something unexpected, when the galleys from Rhodes have arrived. Such communications as these the Pope makes to no one except to the Cardinal de Medicis and to him. His Holiness would never again confide to him anything if these secrets were betrayed. The Marquis of Pescara is on his way to Rome. Marcantonio Colonna is a French partisan, &c. Advises him to conclude the alliance (between the Pope, the Emperor, and the King of England) at once, though the war with France might be postponed, lest the Pope should be persuaded to change his mind. Octavio Ursino. Begs him to order all his liegemen in Italy to come and see him in Germany as soon as he has arrived there. He would decide thereby the question whether they owe obedience to him or to the King of France. Marriage of the Infanta of Portugal with the Duke of Savoy. French navy. Pedro Navaro, &c. St. Marsan, the gentleman of the bedchamber of the King of France, has arrived, and has had a secret audience of the Pope. The Pope told him (Juan Manuel) that the King of France had begged him to sign the alliance with him, tempting him with Naples and other things. The King of France wishes to come to Italy, and have an interview with the Pope, who said he had given a negative answer. The Seigneur de Carpi is coming to Rome, in order to speak to the Pope in the presence of the new French ambassador. His Holiness has promised to send him a copy of the draft of the projected treaty of alliance which has been sent by the King of France, and offers to place a servant of his (Juan Manuel's) under the bed in the room in which he will receive the French ambassador and the Seigneur de Carpi. Fears that the servants of the palace, who are all Frenchmen at heart, will betray him. Ecclesiastical affairs. Palermo, &c.—Rome, the 19th of October 1520. Addressed : "To the Cœsar and King of Spain, &c, our sovereign Lord." Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 9.
26 Oct. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 19. ff. 315-319.	303. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor. The Pope is hunting in the country, but will be back in Rome on the eve of All Saints' Day. He fears greatly for his life, and is always accompanied by numerous guards. Before leaving, the Pope promised to send him a paper in which he would bind himself not to conclude any alliance or other treaty with the King of France without the knowledge of the Emperor. He has, however, changed his mind, and, accordingly, has not sent the promised paper. The nuncio in Spain writes very unfavourable news. The French exaggerate the troubles in Spain, and propose the conquest of Naples. Count Carpi, &c.—Rome, the 26th of October 1520. Addressed : "To the Cœsar and King of Spain, our Lord." Indorsed : "To the King. Rome. From Don Juan Manuel, the 26th of October. Answered the 16th of November." Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 6.
28 Oct. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 19. f. 328.	304. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor. The Pope returned the day before from his hunting excursion. Went to see him. Although the Pope continues his negotiations with the King of France, he much prefers the alliance (with the Emperor and the King of England) to a treaty of amity with France. Begs him soon to conclude the alliance. The Bishop of Bayeux, commonly called Tricarico. Barbarossa, &c.—Rome, the 28th of October 1520. Addressed : "Cœsar and King of Spain, &c, our sovereign Lord." Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering, pp. 4.