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| 1 May. |
682. Agostino Grimaldo, Bishop of Grassa, to the Emperor. |
S. E. L. 1,553,
f. 317.
B. M. Add. 28 578,
f. 213. |
The news of the Emperor's journey has caused great agitation among the confederates, and therefore it cannot but be beneficial to all those who are sincerely attached to the Empire. Once in Italy, the Emperor will soon put down all his enemies, reform the Church, convoke a general council, extinguish the flames of the Lutheran heresy, defeat the intrigues and plots that might be devised against such measures, and unite the forces of Christendom to fight the Turk, who, but for the Emperor's coming, would certainly invade Italy at the instigation of some of the confederates. Indeed, it is a known fact that one of Soliman's ambassadors has lately passed through on his way to France, conducted by a Venetian nobleman. |
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With regard to Italy itself, the Emperor's faithful subjects and servants, among whose number he (Grimaldo) counts himself, are so impoverished by war and famine, that were the journey to be put off for one year more, His Imperial Majesty would find nothing but desolation and ruin everywhere. |
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It is to be presumed that the first thing to be done after the Emperor's landing in Italy will be to assemble the Spaniards in his suite, the lansquenets coming from Germany, and the forces from Lombardy and Naples, which junction of troops could not, in his (the bishop's) opinion, be effected without great difficulty if the landing takes place, as seems probable, at Genoa; for, considering that all the towns and fortresses on this side of the Pò are in the hands of the enemy, the confederates are sure to make the greatest efforts to prevent the descent of the Germans. Besides which, the King of France is daily boasting that he will come down himself with a powerful army, and, if so, the enemy might before the arrival of the said Germans so destroy and waste the land about the Pò that the auxiliary forces could find no provisions on their way, which would be a thing of the utmost consequence for the success of the future campaign. |
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Does not presume to tender his advice on such matters, but in his opinion the Germans, immediately after their descent into Italy, ought to be directed towards Piedmont, where they will find abundance of provisions and anything else they may want. The Emperor himself should land here [at Monaco] whence, through well-known mountain passes, one half-day's march will be sufficient to effect a junction with Leyva. If this plan be followed the King of France will not venture to come, as he will thus find the Imperialists masters of the mountain passes. The latter might pick up in their march from four to five thousand excellent hackbutiers, who would be delighted to serve under the Emperor; and as the country is very fertile, ample provision might be made for the road, after laying waste what remained lest the enemy should get hold of it.—Monagues (Monaco), 1st May 1529. |
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Signed: "Aug[ustinus] E[piscopus] de Grassis." |
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Addressed: "A l'Empereur." |
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Indorsed: "Monigo. 1529." |
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French. Original. pp. 4. |
| 6 May. |
683. Martin de Salinas to Ferdinand, King of Bohemia. |
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist.
C. 171, 211 v.. |
Don Pedro de Cordoba, on his return from his Portuguese mission, showed him in writing the answer given by King João to His Highness' message. As this has since gone by Doctor Gabriel Sanchez, who sailed with Monforte, he (Salinas) needs not allude to it further than to say that Cordoba has remained at Toledo for the purpose of passing the Easter festivities (la Pascua) with his wife, but he writes that he will come soon to Saragossa, and do anything necessary for His Highness' best service. |
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A letter is wanted for the confessor (Loaysa), who has been very friendly in this and other matters. |
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In consequence of the indisposition of Miçer Andrea del Burgo at Rome, the Emperor has ordered Miçer Mai to take charge of his affairs in that capital.—Çaragoça, 13th April 1529. |
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Spanish. Original draft. 1. |
| 6 May. |
684. The Same to Secretary Castillejo. |
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist.
C. 171, f. 212. |
Wrote from Saragossa on the 13th ulto. by Mercado, the groom of the Chamber. Has nothing new to report except that the Emperor left on the 19th, and was full eleven days on the road. Before parting he left orders for the High Chancellor (Gattinara), the Bishop of Osma, his confessor, Don Garcia de Padilla, and Cobos to resume the negotiations, so many times broken off, respecting the Spice Islands, as it was suspected that it was a stratagem of the Portuguese ambassador and the rest of the commissioners of that nation to wait for the departure of the [Imperial] fleet for the South Seas. The agreement was signed at last, on what terms and conditions he (Salinas) cannot say, but certain it is that the Emperor has thereby been enabled to recall part of his Indian fleet to take to Italy with him. |
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The Emperor arrived in this city on the 30th ulto., and found that the fitting out of the 24 galleys had been completed. To-morrow, the 7th, some of them will be launched, and as everything is quite ready, the whole fleet, consisting of 30 large galleys, and numerous transports and smaller vessels, will soon put to sea. Ten thousand infantry, who were to be here at the end of April, are now marching towards Cartagena, there to embark, so that by the end of this month, or beginning of the next, it is confidently expected that the Emperor will set sail. True, many people think that the expedition may still be postponed or countermanded, as the report is that pestilence and famine prevail in Italy, and therefore that it would be very imprudent for the Emperor to cross over at such a time Many of the grandees have been summoned, and some have come already, the Duke [of Alba] and the High Admiral [Enriquez] among the rest; with what intention it is not known, but apparently to oppose rather than to encourage the Emperor's journey under such unfavourable circumstances.—Barcelona, 6th May 1529. |
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Spanish. Original draft. pp. 2. |
