Spain: August 1521

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

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'Spain: August 1521', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525, (London, 1866) pp. 360-374. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol2/pp360-374 [accessed 19 April 2024]

August 1521

6 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 21. f. 88.
347. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
Has received his letter of the 21st of July. Was much afraid lest the Pope should hear from any other person than from him, that the Cardinal of England had gone to Calais, and that he (the Emperor) had sent ambassadors to that place. Had the Pope been informed by strangers of the meeting in Calais, he would have suspected that he (the Emperor) was going to reconcile himself with the King of France, as the French had told him he would. Went, therefore, without any loss of time, to the Pope, and informed him, in the best possible manner, of all that concerned the conference to be held at Calais.
The Pope received his communication well. He said it was possible that the Emperor was deceiving him ; but that he had so good an opinion of him (the Emperor) that he would not believe it even if he saw it with his own eyes. The Pope, moreover, offered him a great many compliments.
Told the Pope what the Viceroy of Castile had sent to tell the King of England. The Pope was very much pleased, and repeated it afterwards very cheerfully to some other persons, adding that the French had pretended that he (Juan Manuel) was endeavouring to conclude an alliance between the Holy See, the King of France, and the Emperor. The Pope laughed at it.
The Cardinal of England is such a punctilious person that it is feared in Rome he will much delay the business by his ceremoniousness, especially as he is paid for it by the French. The French would gain by the delay, for they would make him (the Emperor) spend much money unnecessarily, and the Swiss, the Venetians, and all the rest of Italy would think that the French have been right in saying that a truce or peace will be concluded with France. This last inconvenience would be very great.
It is said in Rome that he has ordered the Suabian League to assemble, and to decide upon measures to prevent the Swiss from undertaking any enterprise. If it could be done, it would be of great advantage.
The Imperial galleys which sailed to attack the four distressed French galleys did not encounter them.
Viceroy of Naples. Prospero Colonna. Bishop of Salerno, who has murdered several persons with his own hand.
The French seem to be very much dissatisfied with the King of England, for they have spread a report that the English have revolted against their King, in consequence of the execution of the Duke of Buckingham. They approve of the pretended revolt.
The English ambassador in Rome (fn. 1) is a very insignificant person. He is not a good servant of his (the Emperor), and the Pope knows that he is not.
Cardinal Colonna. The Marquis of Mantua and the Papal army. The Marquis has taken the town of Concordia. Absolution for the affair of Medina. Cruzada, &c. Lautrec.— Rome, the 6th of August 1521.
Addressed : "To the most sacred Cœsar, King of Spain, &c., our sovereign Lord."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 4.
6 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist Salazar. A. 21. f. 32.
348. The Cardinal of Santa Croce (fn. 2) to the Emperor.
As he and his allies (the Pope and the King of England) are going to make war upon the King of France, he should, in imitation of King David and Charlemagne, employ the best men in his service. David conquered his enemies with the assistance of thirty noblemen, and Charlemagne with the aid of twelve peers. Recommends him to employ in his service Luis de Cordova, Duke of Sessa, son of the Duke of Cabra, and husband of the daughter and heiress of the great captain.— Rome, the 6th of August 1521.
Addressed : "To his Sacred and Imperial Majesty."
Spanish. Autograph, pp. 2.
7 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 21. f. 96.
349. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
The Bishop of Liege will be proclaimed cardinal on Friday next.
He (the Emperor) has empowered him and the Pope to decide what is to be done with the Viceroy of Naples. Has not told the Pope that he has given such a power to them. If his Viceroy has deserved punishment, it is he (the Emperor), and no other person, who ought to punish him.
Details concerning the army. All has gone on satisfactorily since the troops left Naples. The Viceroy is ill. Has told him to return to Naples, and to take care of his health.
Genoa. Captain Portundo had not arrived there on the 20th of last month.
What he (the Emperor) told in secret to the English ambassador was soon known by the nuncio of the Pope. Thought it, therefore, best to communicate it also, in a confidential manner, to the Pope.
Church preferment. Navarra, &c. — Rome, the 7th of August 1521.
Addressed : "Cœsar and King of Spain.
... Sicily.
... Lord."

Indorsed : "To the King. Rome. Juan Manuel. The 7th of August 1521."
Spanish. Autograph. pp. 5.
9 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 21. f. 98.
350. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
Ordered the courier to wait some days, because he expected that the creation of the Cardinal of Liege would be published in the next consistory. The Pope has published it.
His Holiness, having a very bad opinion of the Viceroy of Naples, does not wish him to be made commander-in-chief of the army, and Prospero Colonna absolutely refuses to serve under him. The Marquis of Pescara, on the other hand, objects to being subordinate to Prospero. Thinks the best way to reconcile the different captains will be to send Cardinal Colonna as legate to the army, until the Cardinal of Sion arrives there.
There is some hope of winning over to the league the King of Portugal. If that is done, Provence, Genoa, and other countries of the King of France must be invaded.
The Pope has created a Knight of Santiago.
The Prothonotary Enkenvöert sends him a memoir of the wrongs he thinks he has suffered.
The Pope sends a copy of the treaty between the Holy See and him (the Emperor) to the King of England, and begs him to enter the alliance. The reason why the Pope sends a copy of the treaty to the King of England is because the King does not believe that "that is done which in fact is done," and consequently grows "vicious."
The Cardinal of Gran is dead. He has left his great fortune to the King of the Romans.
Bishop of Liege. Count Carpi, &c. — Rome, the 9th of August 1521.
Addressed : "... King of Spain.
... Lord."

Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 7.
11 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 21. ff. 104-108.
351. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
Wrote to him on the 9th, and sent his letter by the courier of the Pope who carries the papers concerning the creation of the Cardinal of Valencia and Liege, (fn. 3) and the treaty of alliance between him (the Emperor) and the Pope. His Holiness sent a copy of this treaty to the King of England. Received his despatch of the 28th of July after the courier had left.
Thinks he is acting very wisely not to remain long with the Cardinal of England. Continued negotiations with the Cardinal would make him suspected by his friends, would encourage his enemies, and, what would be a still greater loss in the present conjuncture, would cost him money and time.
Nine hundred foot are enlisted in Rome. Warlike preparations of the Pope, &c. Swiss, &c.
The King of Portugal has concluded an alliance with Prester John of India.
Massa, &c., &c. The Cardinal de Medicis is designated legate to the army, &c.
The Pope has given orders that the excommunication of the King of France be promulgated, &c., &c.—Rome, the 11th of August 1521.
Addressed : "To the Cœsar and King of Spain, &c., our sovereign Lord."
Indorsed : "To the King. Rome. From Don Juan Manuel, the 11th of August."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 6.
15 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 21. ff. 111-114.
352. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
Has received his letter of the 3rd of August.
He is angry that he has not sent the cardinal's hat. It was not possible for him to do so earlier. The creation of the Cardinal was published on the 9th. Has sent the brief concerning it by the courier of the Pope who goes to England. It is very difficult for the courier to pass through the dominions of the enemy without delay. The last courier from Trent was arrested in the dominions of Venice.
[Written on the margin by the Chancellor Mercurino de Gattinara :] It is necessary to speak with the Venetian ambassador.
Parma, it is said, will soon surrender. Other details concerning the war in Italy.
Bishopric of Utrecht, &c. Hopes that the rebels in Spain will soon be punished. Will inform the authorities of Naples and Sicily, as he is ordered to do, of the intentions of the Turks.
The power of the Pope to conclude the treaty with England has already been sent by the courier of the Pope.
It is believed in Italy that the news concerning the Turks is not true, but that it is a Venetian invention. Has informed himself about the matter, and has learnt that the secretary of the King of England, who wrote it, is a Venetian by birth.
[Written on the margin by Mercurino de Gattinara :] It is necessary not to lose sight of this, although the Venetians may have invented it, in order to divert the attention of the Emperor, and thereby to obtain peace.
The Christian princes ought to combine against the Turks. As that, however, is not likely to be the case, no other hope remains but that the Emperor will soon conquer his enemy, and will then undertake a war with the Infidels.
Cardinal of Ancona, &c.—Rome, the 15th of August 1521.
Addressed : "To the most sacred Cœsar, King of Spain, &c., our sovereign Lord."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 4.
20 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 21. f. 126.
353. The Emperor to Juan Manuel, his Ambassador in Rome.
The nuncio of the Pope has spoken with him about the Bishop of Liege being created a cardinal, and has explained to him the reasons why the Pope wishes to postpone the publication of it for a few days. Has also read the explanations contained in his letter of the 11th of the present month. Orders him to ask the Pope to proclaim the Bishop of Liege a cardinal without delay, and to send the notification of the proclamation by this courier, who goes for no other purpose.
Has received his letters of the 31st of August (fn. 4) and of the 2nd of the present month. Defers answering them until the result of his negotiations with the Cardinal of England is known. The Cardinal is staying with him. Hopes to induce the Cardinal to adopt his views. The negotiations (in Calais) have had no result.—Bruges, the 20th of August 1521. (fn. 4)
Indorsed : "The King. From Bruges. 1521. To Don Juan Manuel. The 20th of August 1521."
Spanish. Draft, in the handwriting of the Secretary Alfonso de Soria. p. 1.
Aug.
M. Bib. Nat. MSS. G. 47.
354. Diary of Monsieur D'Herbay, Gentleman in Waiting of the Emperor Charles V.
His Majesty went to Bruges, to which place the Cardinal of York, an Englishman, also came, who soon returned to Calais. It was believed at the Imperial court that the Cardinal had come as a mediator of peace, and had tried to arrange the difficulties which prevailed between the Emperor and the King of France.
French. Contemporary diary of M. d'Herbay, gentleman in waiting of the Emperor Charles V. p. 1.
25 Aug.
S. L. Suelt.
355. Treaty between the Emperor and King Henry VIII.
Margaret, Archduchess of Austria, &c., and
Johannes, Seigneur de Berghes and Walhain, in the name of the Emperor ; and
Thomas, Cardinal of St. Cecilia, Archbishop of York, &c., in the name of the King of England,
conclude a treaty of marriage between Charles, Emperor elect, and the Princess Mary, daughter of the King of England. The articles of this treaty are :—
1. During the time of immaturity of the Princess Mary the Emperor elect binds himself not to contract marriage with any other lady whatever.
2. As soon as the Princess Mary completes the twelfth year of her age, the Emperor elect binds himself to contract with her a marriage per verba de prœsenti by proxy.
3. The King of England binds himself not to promise the Princess Mary in marriage to any other man than the Emperor elect, and as soon as she has completed the twelfth year of her age to marry her to the proxy or proxies whom the Emperor elect will send to England.
4. The Princess Mary will at the same time send her proxy or proxies to the Emperor elect, who binds himself to contract with him or with them marriage per verba de prœsenti.
5. The King of England and the Emperor elect will procure a dispensation of the Pope for this marriage.
6. The King of England binds himself to send the Princess Mary, within four months after her marriage is contracted per verba de prœsenti, to Bruges, if the Emperor is in Belgium, or to Bilbao, if the Emperor is in Spain. The King of England will provide the Princess with all the articles of her wardrobe, jewellery, &c., as becomes her rank, and pay the expenses of her journey. Within four days after the arrival of the Princess in Bruges or in Bilbao, the Emperor elect will solemnize his marriage with her according to the ritual of the Church.
7. The marriage portion of the Princess Mary is to consist of 400,000 gold scudos or gold crowns, which the King of England is to pay in the following manner, viz., 200,000 gold crowns on the day of the solemnization of the marriage, or within eight days after it, and the remaining 200,000 gold crowns within one year after the solemnization of the marriage. Should, however, the King of England die without an heir male, and the Princess Mary become Queen of England, the Emperor elect is not entitled to any marriage portion, and is bound to repay to the trustees of the King all he has received on account of the marriage portion. All money due by the Emperor elect and his grandfather, the late Emperor Maximilian, to the King of England, is to be deducted from the second instalment of the said marriage portion. If an heir male is born to the King of England, so that the Princess Mary cannot succeed him on the throne, her marriage portion will be increased by 600,000 gold crowns, and thus amount to 1,000,000 gold crowns. These additional 600,000 gold crowns will be paid in yearly instalments of 200,000 gold crowns, beginning when the first 400,000 gold crowns are paid.
8. The Emperor elect binds himself to give the Princess Mary a dower amounting to 50,000 gold crowns a year. This dower is to be secured on all the towns, castles, &c., in Flanders, —Brabant, Hainault, Holland, and Zealand,—which the late Duchess Margaret of England, widow of Duke Charles of Burgundy, possessed, except Mechlin, which forms part of the dower of the Archduchess Margaret, dowager Duchess of Savoy. After the death of the Archduchess, Mechlin is to be given to the Princess Mary. That part of her dower which cannot be secured on the towns formerly held by the Duchess Margaret of England is to be levied, one half on towns, &c., in Castile, and the other half on towns, &c., in Aragon. The title deeds of the dower of the Princess Mary are to be delivered to the commissioners of the King of England on the day of the solemnization of the marriage, before, however, the marriage ceremonies are performed. Drafts of these title deeds must be sent a fortnight before to the King of England, in order that he may examine them minutely, and see whether the interests of the Princess Mary are sufficiently secured by them.
9. The marriage portion of the Princess Mary becomes the full property of the Emperor elect, and the repayment of it can, in no case and under no colour, be asked for, either by the King of England and his heirs, or by the Princess herself, except in case she becomes Queen of England. Her wardrobe, jewels, other ornaments, and the presents she may receive from the Emperor elect, are to remain hers for ever.
10. If the Princess Mary dies without children before the Emperor elect, her wardrobe, jewels, other ornaments, &c., become the property of the Emperor elect. She can, however, leave by will a portion of them to other persons, which portion ought not to exceed in value 20,000 gold crowns.
11. The Emperor elect binds himself to pay the King of England a fine of 400,000 gold crowns if he does not marry the Princess Mary as soon as she has attained a marriageable age, or if he contracts a marriage with any other lady during her minority. The King of England, on his part, is to pay a fine of 400,000 gold crowns if he does not give the Princess Mary in marriage to the Emperor elect at the stipulated time, or if he contracts her, or permits her to be contracted, to any other man.
12. The letters patent concerning the fine of 400,000 crowns are to be delivered to the English commissioners in London, and to the Imperial commissioners in Bruges.
13. All former treaties between England and the Emperor elect and his dominions remain in force in as far as they are not abrogated by this treaty ; but in order to secure a more intimate friendship and a stricter alliance between them, the contracting parties have concluded a "principal" treaty, which abrogates all other treaties, in as far as they contradict it, and which is abrogated by none of them. According to the "principal" treaty, the King of England and the Emperor elect will remain friends and allies for ever, and will act in common in defending their persons, honour, dignities, dominions, and revenues, as well as in vindicating the rights withheld from them by others, without any exception. Not only the dignities, dominions, revenues, &c., which the contracting parties already possess, but those also which they intend to recover, according to this treaty, or of which they shall get possession in any other way, are included in this treaty.
14. If any person, without any exception whatever, directly or indirectly, attacks the Emperor elect, or his dominions, or injures him in his person, honour, revenue, &c., the King of England will resent such attack or injury as though it were directed against him or his dominions, and will repel it with all his power. The Emperor elect will do the same in case the King of England be attacked in a similar manner.
15. In the former treaties between the contracting parties several other princes are included, either as principal parties or in their quality of friends and allies. In this treaty, however, none of them are to be comprised, and only such princes are hereafter to be admitted as both the Emperor elect and the King of England shall unanimously choose. All princes who are enemies of either of the contracting parties, or from whom either of them claims certain rights, are by this very fact excluded from this treaty.
16. As the contracting parties not only intend to defend their dominions against any aggressor, but also to recover what is unjustly withheld from them by others, the Emperor elect will go to Spain early in the spring, in order to prepare for war against the French. One month before he undertakes his voyage he will notify the time of it to the King of England, who will send his fleet to sea, with about 3,000 armed men on board, and drive away all enemies and pirates from the Channel and the English seas, so that the Emperor elect, without impediment or molestation, can come over to Dover or Sandwich. The Emperor elect and his servants who accompany him will be received in England with the greatest honour, and the King of England will accompany the Emperor in person to Falmouth, the last harbour in England, whilst the English navy will accompany the fleet of the Emperor from Zealand to Falmouth. The English fleet will, together with the fleet of the Emperor, remain in that port until the Emperor embarks, and will accompany him to Spain. Among the English ships there will be one of great size fitted out for the Emperor, and some other vessels in which his noblemen and councillors can embark, in case the Emperor should decide that he and his court shall make the voyage on board English ships. The King of England will pay all the expenses of his fleet. The Emperor, on the other hand, binds himself to send the King of England his ships, and to assist him in transporting his army from England to Calais, or to any other port of France, paying the expense of it until he has spent as much as the King of England will spend on the occasion of his (the Emperor's) voyage to Spain.
17. When the month of March 1523 arrives, each of the contracting parties is bound openly to declare war against France, in order to reconquer those towns, castles, dominions, &c., which the King of France unjustly withholds from them. Before the 15th of May 1523 the Emperor is bound to invade France on the frontiers of Spain, in person, with an army of at least 10,000 horse, 30,000 foot, and the necessary artillery, &c. At the same time Brabant, Luxemburg, Flanders, Picardy, Artois, Hainault, Holland, Zealand, and Burgundy will, with their ordinary troops, make war upon the French. The King of England binds himself, on or before the 15th of May 1523, to invade France in person, with an army of 10,000 horse, 30,000 foot, and the necessary artillery, &c. Each of the contracting parties will pay his own expenses. As, however, it would be difficult for the King of England to find in his own dominions as great a number of cavalry as he will require, the Emperor elect will provide him with as much German and other cavalry as he may want ; he, however, paying the expenses. The Emperor will permit him to enlist infantry in his dominions. Should the King of England wish to be succoured by the common soldiers of Flanders, &c., in his battles with the French, the lieutenants of the Emperor will send him as many of them as can be spared.
18. The contracting parties will carry on the war against France not only by land, but also by sea. The Emperor elect and the King of England will, therefore, send their fleets to sea, which are to be manned severally by at least 3,000 armed men. These fleets will sail from one part of the coasts of France to another, and will do as much harm to the French as is in their power. Neither of the contracting princes is at liberty to recall his fleet, nor to diminish the number of his ships or of their equipage, without the express consent of the other contracting party. In case of losses sustained by one or by both of these fleets, they are to be repaired and reinforced within one month.
Neither of the contracting parties is at liberty to conclude peace, truce, abstinence from hostilities &c., with the enemy without the express consent of the other contracting party, and if the enemy makes overtures to one of them, he to whom the overtures are made is bound to communicate them directly to his ally.
19. As soon as the war has begun, each contracting party has a right to march his troops through the dominions of the other contracting party, and all kinds of assistance— as, for instance, vessels, carts, provisions, &c.—will be given them, on their paying the usual prices for them, and abstaining from all molestation of, and violence against, the inhabitants.
20. If the war between the Emperor elect and the King of France is not concluded until the month of November next, or if it has been concluded, but is resumed by the King of France, the King of England is bound to declare war against the King of France within one month after the arrival of the Emperor elect in England, on his way to Spain, even if that arrival should take place earlier than was expected. The King of England is likewise bound to declare war against France before the stipulated time, if after the arrival of the Emperor elect in Spain hostilities between him and the King of France begin without his (the Emperor's) fault. As soon as the King of England has declared war against France, and the Emperor elect has landed in Spain, both the Imperial and the English fleet, each of them with 3,000 armed men on board, will cruise near the coasts of France, and do as much harm to the French as they can. These fleets are not to enter any harbour, except they enter those of the enemy in order to injure him, or except they are forced by stress of weather to take refuge, or once every three months to take provisions on board. Besides this, each contracting party is bound to send succour to the other contracting party who is attacked by the enemy, without distinction as to whether the attack takes place before or after the declaration of war.
21. As it is known to both contracting parties that the Empire cannot be called upon to contribute anything towards the execution of this treaty, both contracting parties will concert means to persuade the German princes to invade France, or, at least, not to permit German soldiers to take service in the French army.
22. If either of the contracting parties, during the war, conquers towns, castles, fortresses, &c., which by right belong to the other contracting party, he is bound to restore them to the righful proprietor within one month after he has been requested to do so.
23. In order to avoid all disputes, each contracting party will, before the declaration of war and the commencement of hostilities, state what portions of French territory he claims as his own, or intends to conquer. The expenses of the war will be divided between the Emperor elect and the King of England, according to the extent and revenues of the territories which each of them claims.
24. If either of the contracting parties wishes to make other conquests, or to reduce other rebels and disturbers of the peace to obedience—as, for instance, if the King of England should wish to conquer the kingdom of Scotland, or to subject Ireland, or if the Emperor should wish to conquer Guelderland or Friesland, and to punish the rebels, or if the Scots should attack the King of England, or the inhabitants of Guelderland should make war upon the Emperor—in all these and similar cases the contracting parties are bound to succour each other. As soon as war has begun in one of the afore-mentioned cases, the King of England will exclude the inhabitants of Guelderland and of Friesland, and respectively the Emperor, the Scots and Irish, from all commerce in his dominions.
25. Neither of the contracting parties will enter into negotiations concerning treaties of peace or alliance with the King of France, or any other prince, without the express consent of the other contracting party.
If either of the contracting parties, or both of them, have already concluded treaties with other princes which are in contradiction with this treaty, the treaties with other princes are, in as far as they contradict this treaty, abrogated and rendered null and void.
26. If the King of France, in consequence of this treaty, should cease to pay the King of England the pension which he at present pays him, both contracting parties will declare war against him, the Emperor binding himself to pay the King of England yearly 133,305 gold crowns. These payments will cease when the King of England shall have conquered such a sufficient number of towns, provinces, &c., in France that the clear revenues of them will amount to 133,305 gold crowns, or more, or if the King of England, with the consent of the Emperor elect, should make peace with France, and the King of France should bind himself to resume the payment of the pension.
27. In case the King of England conquers some portions of the territory of France, the clear revenues of which do not amount to the sum of 133,305 gold crowns, the amount of these revenues must be deducted from the pension which the Emperor elect is to pay to him.
28. The Emperor elect will, within four months from the date of this treaty, declare before a competent judge, and in presence of the commissioner or commissioners of the King of England, two notaries and witnesses, that he ratifies the treaty of marriage between him and the Princess Mary, and ask the judge to excommunicate him, and to lay an interdict on his dominions, if he does not strictly fulfil all the stipulations of it. The Emperor elect will request the notaries to draw up a public instrument, or public instruments, in due form, containing his declaration. The King of England will make the same declaration, in the same form. The instruments containing these declarations will be exchanged between the commissioners of the Emperor elect and the King of England.
29. Should the Princess Mary die before the marriage can be consummated, and should the Emperor hereafter have a son by another wife, and the King of England another daughter, or vice versâ, the children of the contracting parties are to be married to one another.
30. Both contracting parties will swear to this treaty.
31. This treaty is to be ratified by both contracting parties within one month after its date, and the ratifications are to be exchanged.
32. This treaty is to be kept strictly secret, until it be published with the consent of the Emperor elect and the King of England.
(The powers of the Emperor elect and of the King of England follow.)—Bruges, the 25th of August 1521.
(Signed)
Margaret.
J. de Berghes.
Latin. Contemporary copy. pp. 24.
Printed in Lanz. Actenstuecke und Briefe zur Geschichts Kaiser Karl V
27 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 21. ff. 128-138.
356. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
Has received two despatches from him since he wrote his last letter to him on the 19th of August, namely, those of the 7th and of the 14th of August. Spoke, in consequence of them, with the Pope, and placed before his Holiness, in the most favourable light possible, the money business, as well as the delay caused by his (the Emperor's) wish to await the Cardinal of England. Thinks the Cardinal puts off his decision in order to see whether the Imperial armies are successful in the field, or not, that he may act accordingly. Does not think he stands in need of (the assistance of) the King of England. It seems to him to be enough that he should not offend the English and make them his enemies.
[Written on the margin by Gattinara :] It is not necessary to answer anything more about England than what has already been written to him.
Cannot understand why so rich a king as the King of England is said to be, and a prince who hates the French so much, and has been so badly treated by them, does not avail himself with more readiness of the opportunity to reconquer the provinces of which the French have robbed England, and to humiliate his enemies. The King of England asks security from him for the payments he has hitherto received from France. Is of opinion that, if the King of England quickly resolves to do all he can in a war with France, he (the Emperor) and the Pope ought not to make difficulties, but to promise the security demanded.
[Written on the margin in the handwriting of Gattinara :] Very true.
The 7,000 German troops have already joined the army, the Venetians not offering any resistance to their marching through their dominions.
The Marquis of Pescara asks to be made captain-general of the infantry.
Marquis of Pescara. Prospero Colonna. Ascanio Colonna, &c. The legate has not yet gone to the army. No news from Switzerland and the Cardinal of Sion. Finance, &c. Doubts whether the safe-conducts of the Emperor are to be respected when given to enemies' galleys. Church preferment, &c.
The ambassadors from Hungary have spoken to him about a peace or truce which is said to be concluded between him and the King of France. Answered that they would do well not to wait for the conclusion of peace, but to ask the Pope, the Emperor, and the King of France to send succour to Hungary without delay.
[Written on the margin by Gattinara :] He has answered well.
The Pope is well satisfied with the alliance with him (the Emperor), but the French are using every means to induce his Holiness to conclude peace with the King of France. The King of France has sent to tell the Pope that he will come to Rome and absolve himself there. Thinks it would be advisable if he (the Emperor) would write to the Pope, and tell him not to be afraid of the French threats, promising at the same time to send the King of France to Rome, to kiss the foot of the Holy Father and to beg his pardon.
[Written on the margin by Gattinara :] It would be preferable that his Majesty should write in a somewhat more moderate tone.
The Duke of Savoy has secretly promised his aid in a war with France.
It would not be difficult to take Piacenza by surprise.— Rome, the 27th of August 1521.
Addressed : "To the Cœsar and King of Spain, &c., our sovereign Lord."
Indorsed : "To the King, from Don Juan Manuel, 27th August."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering.
The notes of Gattinara are partly in French, partly in Spanish. pp. 16.
31 Aug.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 21. ff. 1451-49.
357. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
No news from the Cardinal of Sion and from Switzerland. Hopes the money which has been sent to Zurich is not lost.
[Written on the margin by Mercurino Gattinara :] It is all right.
The siege of Parma has begun.
[Written on the margin by Gattinara :] There is later news.
The Venetians have sent 300 men-at-arms and 3,000 foot to Milan, under the command of Andrea Gritti. The French, who are on the other side of the Po, do not show any disposition to succour Parma.
[Written on the margin in the hand of Gattinara :] If the Venetians do not send more troops, no more is to be said on this subject; but the Emperor is very much dissatisfied that they did not earlier send the money. (fn. 5) There is varying news from the army concerning the French troops and the intentions of Monsieur de Lautrec.
The nuncio of the Pope in Venice writes that the Signory has informed him that, according to what the French say, the Cardinal of England will, without doubt, conclude a peace between him (the Emperor) and the King of France. The Venetian ambassador, who went with the Cardinal of England to Bruges, writes the same news. It is generally believed that this news was the reason why the Venetians sent the troops of which he has already spoken. The Venetian ambassador writes also that Navarra will soon be lost. The Venetians would be glad if the peace were concluded, as it would bind his (the Emperor's) hands. Is fully persuaded that he will never make a real peace with France until he has humbled her.
[Written on the margin in the handwriting of Gattinara :] The French know how to profit by the rumours of peace, but they will in the end find that they have deceived themselves.
The nuncio who is in Venice writes, as a positive fact, that the Hungarians have defeated the Turks.
[Written on the margin in the handwriting of Gattinara :] This would be good news, if it were confirmed. Would God it were true.
Begged the Pope to send the Cardinal de Medicis as legate to the army in Lombardy, where the Marquis of Pescara and Prospero Colonna are quarrelling with one another. After a long conversation on this subject, the Pope told him he would inform him of his decision in four days. The Pope evidently temporises, and wishes to know first what result his (the Emperor's) interview with the Cardinal of England has had. This meeting with the Cardinal has been very prejudicial to him in many respects. Prays to God that it may be attended with advantages in the most important affair.
[Written on the margin in the handwriting of Gattinara :] He is now to know the whole truth. Hopes he will be satisfied with the policy of his Majesty.
If the Pope were not waiting to see the result of the meeting, he would already have published the excommunication of the King of France. The Pope said to him that, in case he (the Emperor) would conclude peace some way or other, he (the Pope) would not only be lost if he published the excommunication, but all the world would think him a fool.
[Written on the margin by Gattinara :] He must urge the Pope, without delay, to publish the excommunication, as it would prevent the Swiss, the Venetians, and others from making common cause with the King of France.
Asked his Holiness whether he really believed that he (the Emperor) would act in such a way. His Holiness answered that he did not believe it, and that he would never forsake him (the Emperor), even if he should have just cause to do so. But although he had no suspicion, he said, he was obliged to justify his acts before the world, and must, therefore, postpone the excommunication. Proposed to the Pope to send it to his nuncio at the Imperial court, with orders to publish it as soon as he saw that the meeting with the Cardinal of England was attended with no result. At last the Pope promised to do so.
Count Carpi is leaving Rome. No one knows where he is going.
[Written on the margin by Gattinara :] It would be well to inquire where he is going, and what he is doing.
The Venetians have written a humble letter to the Pope.
The Bishop of Zaragoza is a lost man. Valencia. Miserable state of affairs in Naples. Sale of state property, &c.— Rome, 31st of August 1521.
Addressed : "... King of Spain ... ... Sicily, our ..."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher.
Contemporary deciphering. pp. 7.

Footnotes

  • 1. John Clerk (?)
  • 2. Bernard de Carbajal.
  • 3. Evrard de la Mark, Bishop of Liege and of Chartres, and Archbishop of Valencia, a declared enemy of the King of France.
  • 4. The date of this despatch is in open contradiction with the dates of the letters mentioned in the text. It is self-evident that the Emperor could not have received on the 20th of August a despatch written on the 31st of August. I am inclined to think that the date of this despatch is the right one, and that two of the dates mentioned in the text, namely, those of the 11th and 31st of August, are mistakes. My principal reason is that this letter mentions the fact that Cardinal Wolsey was staying with the Emperor at Bruges, and that the treaty of the 25th August was near its conclusion. The circumstance that Juan Manuel really wrote a despatch to the Emperor on the 31st of August seems to me not a sufficient reason to doubt the accuracy of the date of this despatch. The identity of the date erroneously mentioned in this document with the real date of a later letter is a casual incident.
  • 5. It appears that the Venetians had sent troops in aid of the French, and paid money in aid of the Emperor.