Spain: June 1523

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

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'Spain: June 1523', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525, (London, 1866) pp. 550-555. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol2/pp550-555 [accessed 18 March 2024]

June 1523

5 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 28. f. 157.
554. Alonso Sanchez, Imperial Ambassador in Venice, to the Emperor.
Has at last received letters from the Infante, who makes some difficulties about ratifying the treaty with the Venetians. The Duke of Sessa has sent a courier to the Infante with letters from the Pope.—Venice, the 5th of June.
Addressed : "To his Sacred, Imperial, and Catholic Majesty the Emperor and King, &c."
Indorsed : "To the King. 1523. Alonso Sanchez. Venice, The 5th of June. Answered."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 7.
11 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 28. ff. 200-213.
555. The Duke Of Sessa, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
Has written to him on the 6th and 27th of May.
The question whether peace or a truce (of the Emperor and the King of England) with the King of France will be concluded is still undecided. The Cardinal of Auch has written to the King of France telling him that the Pope does not approve of the short space of time for which he has proposed the truce, and the Pope is now waiting for the answer of the King of France, although the Archbishop of Bari writes that the French are preparing industriously for an invasion of Italy. Has written to the Viceroy of Naples and to Prospero Colonna, and begged them to be on their guard. Expects hourly the decision of the Pope.
The Pope has not yet made up his mind whether he will enter the league (with the Emperor, the King of England, and the Italian states) or not. He has written to the Archbishop of Bari ordering him to return to Rome if the King of France does not make more acceptable offers, and he waits for the arrival of the Archbishop to confer with him.
The Bishop of Veruli has written from Switzerland that the French are almost ready to invade Italy. Although the Bishop is much given to exaggeration, it must be borne in mind that his information is this time in perfect harmony with the news which comes from all sides.
The negotiations with Venice have come to a standstill, as the Infante Ferdinand has written that he will become a party to the treaty of alliance (between the Emperor, the King of England, and Venice) only on condition that the Venetians pay him one half of the 200,000 ducats which they are bound to pay to him (the Emperor). Besides this, the Infante brings forward other claims against the Republic. Thinks it would be very undignified and very bad policy to break off the negotiations with Venice on account of so small a sum of money as 100,000 ducats, to be paid in ten yearly instalments. The King of France would thereby gain a most valuable ally, and a war with Venice would cost incomparably more money, especially as the Venetians have fortified their places well, and would probably lose nothing more than Bergamo. Has offered his person as security to the Venetians that the Infante will ratify the treaty, and has begged the Viceroy of Naples and Prospero Colonna to do the same.
Andrea Gritti has been elected Doge of Venice.
Renzo da Ceri. Prospero Colonna wants 10,000 ducats immediately. Genoa. Milan. Siena. Galleys. Florence. Cardinal de Medicis.
The Cardinal of Auch, who is personally very amiable, returns to Avignon. Duke of Urbino. The Pope does not pay the Marquis of Mantua the expenses of his army, and the King of France makes great offers to the Marquis. The claims of the Pope on Modena and Reggio render the conclusion of an alliance with him very difficult.
The King of England has sent another ambassador to Rome, who has already been English ambassador at the court of Pope Leo X. He seems to be an honest person, and a faithful servant of his (the Emperor). It is said that he has a power of his master to conclude a treaty of peace or truce. Has paid him a visit, but has not yet spoken with him about business.
Merchants in London write that the King of England occupies himself exclusively with the affairs of Scotland. He has assembled a large army, provided with numerous artillery, to be made use of against the Scots. The war with France seems to be entirely neglected.
Begs him to believe that if he and the King of England do not make war with France in the north, or at least a demonstration of war, the affairs of Italy will be in a very dangerous state. Even if the French do not come to Italy, the Italians themselves are much disposed to create new troubles.
Hungary. Turks. The Hungarians do not seem to be disinclined to recognise the "Grand Turk" as their master.
The Grand Master of Rhodes is at Messina. The knights are dying away. Sicily.
The proceedings against the Cardinal of Volterra continue. His secretary has confessed. Begs him to write to the Pope, and to ask for the execution of the Cardinal, adding that it strict justice is not done, he must take the case into his own hands. If he (the Emperor) destroys the Cardinal of Volterra, he will destroy his most dangerous enemy. The person who betrayed the Cardinal is Cesare de Grassis. Begs he will give him 1,000 ducats.
The Pope is in better health.
Now that the Cardinal of Volterra is arrested, it is to be hoped that the Pope will do what he (the Emperor) asks him, if it costs him no money.
Army. Church preferments for the servants of the Pope.
The Bishop of Tortosa (Enkenvöert), &c.
Some persons who have spoken with the English ambassador tell him (the Duke of Sessa) that the King of England is by no means satisfied that the war between Spain and France has not yet begun. The English ambassador is the "soul" of the Cardinal of England, and the person with whom he (the Duke of Sessa) has spoken is the most intimate friend of the English ambassador. Begs him not to disoblige the King of England, and to make preparations in Spain for war. It would also be well to create Francisco a Knight of Santiago.
The pestilence increases in Rome.
Military orders in Spain. Bishopric of Pamplona, &c.— Rome, the 11th of June 1523.
The Count Palatine and other princes of the Empire attacked the castle in which Francis Sickingen was besieged. They took the castle after six hours. Sickingen was killed. The Pope rejoices much at this news.
The King of Denmark has arrived at Antwerp. Portugal, Milan, &c.—The 11th of June 1523.
Addressed : "To the most sacred and most mighty Cœsar, King of Spain, &c."
Spanish. Autograph, partly in cipher and partly in common writing. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 17.
11 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 28. f. 176.
556. The Duke Of Sessa, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
Has presented the General (of the Dominican Friars) Laoysa, the Archbishop of Bari, and Don Pedro Manuel to the archbishopric of Granada and to the bishoprics of Jaen and Leon. The bishoprics of Jaen and Leon offer no difficulties, but the archbishopric of Granada has not yet been disposed of. It is necessary first of all that Bernardino de Velasco should consent that his pension of 1,000 ducats on the see of Palencia shall be transferred to Granada, and that the Cardinal of England should send a similar authorization with respect to the pension he receives out of the revenues of Palencia. The reason why this authorization is required is that both sees, viz., of Palencia and of Jaen, are to be disposed of in the same instrument.
Church preferment.—Rome, the 11th of June 1523.
Addressed : "... Cœsar ... our Lord."
Indorsed : "To the King. 1523. Rome. Duke of Sessa.
The 11th of June. Answered."

Spanish. Autograph. pp. 2.
11 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 28. f. 220.
557. The Duke Of Sessa, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor.
The Infante asks not only one half of the 200,000 ducats which the Venetians are bound to pay, but insists also that 25,000 ducats shall be paid to him directly. The Infante renders thereby the negotiation concerning peace or a truce with France almost impossible.
Has paid the servants of the Pope their pensions.
The persons who have conducted negotiations with the republic of Venice since the death of Hieronymo Adorno (Alonso Sanchez and Richard Pace) are faithful servants of his (the Emperor), but they have neither the authority nor the mental qualities necessary for so difficult a task.—Rome, the 11th of June 1523.
Addressed : "To ... Cœsar and King ... our sovereign Lord."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 2.
13 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 28. ff. 224-228.
558. Alonso Sanchez, Imperial Ambassador in Venice, to the Emperor.
The demands of the Infante place him in great difficulties. The Venetians refuse to continue the negotiations, although he (Alonso Sanchez), the nuncio, and the ambassador of the King of England have done all that is possible to persuade them to make peace with him (the Emperor). The Signory have sent to tell him that they still wish to conclude a league (with the Emperor and the King of England), but that the Infante must send his power and be a party to the treaty. They say they will entirely justify their behaviour to the Pope, to him (the Emperor), and to the King of England. Hopes the Prothonotary (Caracciolo) will soon arrive.
Does not insist that the peace with Venice shall be expressly declared to be an eternal peace.
It is said that the French will soon be in Italy, as neither he (the Emperor) nor the King of England occupy them much in the north—Venice, the 13th of June 1523.
Indorsed : "To the King. 1523. Venice. Alonso Sanchez. The 13th of June. Answered."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 3.
16 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 28. f. 265.
559. The Abbot Of Najera to the Emperor.
Affairs of the navy and army.
Venice.
The French speak much less of their enterprise on Italy than they did, and it seems that the Dukes of Albany and Suffolk are not going to Scotland, as the French are afraid of the great navy which the King of England has assembled. Great armaments are going on at Marseilles.
Spanish workmen, who have been set at liberty in France, are going to Rome, &c.—Milan, the 16th of June 1523.
Addressed : "To his most Sacred, Imperial, and Catholic Majesty."
Indorsed "To the King. 1523. Milan. Abbot of Najera. The 16th of June. Answered."
Spanish. Autograph. pp. 8.
17 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 28. f. 270.
560. The Prothonotary Caracciolo to the Emperor.
Has conferred with Alonso Sanchez, Richard Pace, and the Signory. Alonso Sanchez has done all an ambassador can do, but the Venetians cannot be induced to continue the negotiations until the power of the Infante arrives.
Renzo (da Ceri) and the French ambassador are very active.—Venice, the 17th of June 1523.
Addressed : "To his most Sacred and Victorious Imperial and Catholic Majesty."
Indorsed : "To the King. 1523. Venice. The Prothonotary Caracciolo. The 17th of June. Answered."
Italian. Autograph. pp. 2.