Spain: April 1534, 1-10 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 5 Part 1, 1534-1535. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1886.

'Spain: April 1534, 1-10', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 5 Part 1, 1534-1535, (London, 1886) pp. 100-110. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol5/no1/pp100-110 [accessed 25 April 2024]

April 1534, 1-10



2 April.	35. Count Cifuentes to the Same.
S. Roma, L. 861, f. 6. B. M. Add. 28,586, f. 205.	An answer has already been sent.	Wrote on the 25th enclosing copy of the Papal sentence. The bearer was Rodrigo Davalos himself, (fn. n1) who had express orders to call on the duke of Urbino (La Rovere), and get his opinion on the political affairs of Italy, which he had offered to do.
		Was in such haste to communicate with the queen of Hungary and with the Imperial ambassador in England concerning the Papal sentence, that he (Sylva), had really no time then to answer the Emperor's despatch of the 4th ulto., as he would otherwise have done. Will do it now in full, as well as the despatch brought by Captain Luys Perez.
		Five days after the sentence was given he happened to meet the bishop of Paris (Jean du Bellay) at the house of a cardinal whom he (Sylva) was going to visit. The Bishop began at once to excuse himself by saying that he had not come to Rome for the purpose of opposing queen Katherine, or acting as the King's proctor and advocate; nor had he come with a mandate from the Most Christian King to that effect, but merely to tell His. Holiness of the state of things in England, and the danger there was of that kingdom being lost to the Holy See if some means were not found of obviating the present difficulty. Would have made him a fitting answer, but contented himself with relating what he (Sylva) had heard from the mouth of the Pope and cardinals, namely, that the king of France, his master, had always found fault with the conduct of the king of England. He (Sylva) fully acknowledged the good intentions of the Most Christian King; he believed him so great a prince that he had no doubt he would try and bring back the English king to the obedience of the Church. As to him (the Bishop), no doubt could be entertained that his mission to England, and his subsequent arrival in Home, had been for that express purpose, and for no other. The Bishop then observed that it was a pity the sentence had been so hastened, because (he said) not four hours after a courier arrived from England with a letter from the King to him, in credence of the French ambassador in London, and another from this latter, the substance of which was that king Henry offered to renounce his attempt (deponer lo atentado) and return to the obedience of the Church, provided the cause were examined at Cambray. (fn. n2) This the Bishop related, extolling all the time the services he himself had rendered to His Holiness, and lamenting the harm that might ensue from having too hastily pronounced sentence.
		His (Sylva's) answer was: "All that may be perfectly true, but I still think that all those are stratagems to delay the sentence; the king of England has done nothing else for many years. Had he really chosen to return to the obedience of the Holy See he would have had plenty of opportunities to do so, especially during the conferences of Marseilles, as he was then and there admonished by the Most Christian to do." "I wonder, (said Sylva), that what the king of France himself and you whilst in England, could not bring about, should now be made the subject of a letter from the French ambassador to you!" "It is (replied the Bishop) that now the Holy Spirit has illumined the King's senses, and he sees matters differently from what he did at first." "If so (said Sylva), the King will have a better opportunity after the sentence to acknowledge his error."
	He did right. A sum of money will be remitted to be distributed among cardinals and others. The memorandum has been received, and is now returned; but the whole thing must be kept secret, because when time comes it will be seen what is the best course to pursue.	All these are French tricks, and nothing else. Cardinal Santo Croce said the other day to two of his colleagues: "You may be sure that the moment the sentence is pronounced the French will say that they had previously sent to their ambassadors a mandate to that effect. For fear, however, of this being a new invention of theirs, with a view to delay the publication of the sentence, he (Sylva) intends to have it published in the usual form. Knowing, moreover, that unless the customary gratuities are distributed the sentence will not be published, he has already borrowed 2,500 ducats to begin with. Has also consulted the Imperial lawyers respecting the "executoriales" and invocation of the secular arm, if needed; all think that it is proper and convenient to do so, though not in too great haste. Encloses memorandum to that effect. Recommends cardinals Mantua and Naples, as well as Campeggio, La Valle, and Gaetano. Santa Croce is poor, and has many obligations to attend to. Frenesis (Farnese) ought to receive a letter of thanks, more explicit perhaps and gracious than those to other cardinals. If the petition contained in the enclosed memorandum could be attended to, the Emperor might thus repay him the services he has rendered on this occasion, which have been both important and many. As to Dr. Ortiz, Juan Luis Aragonia, and Anguiano, he (Sylva) needs not mention them again, having done it many a time.
	Let him work in that sense as much as he can.	Has great hope that the differences between Pirro de Xipiciano (Cippizano) (fn. n3) and the Sienese will be shortly adjusted.
	That we already knew of it, and that the Emperor was much displeased at it.	The viceroy of Sicily advises the arrival at Coron of the vessels with provisions for its garrison. The death here of captain Machicao and of Don Diego de Tovar is confirmed.
		The breves for the king of the Romans have been sent.
		Prior of Besançon and affairs of Switzerland.
		The duke of Urbino's contract with the Signory has been ratified.
	Very well answered; let the ambassador refer to his instructions on this point, and to what has been written since. He cannot be wrong in so doing.	The bishop of Paris (fn. n4) said to the Pope the other day that since Antonio de Leyva had decided against count della Concordia, and was enlisting, or wished to enlist troops to take away La Mirandola from him, he (the Bishop) was afraid that the King, his master, might thereby take umbrage, and arm, for fear of some enterprise against him. When he (Sylva) heard of it, he went to the Pope and told him: "Should Leyva have with him, in Lombardy, 7,000 or 8,000 Spaniards, as in former times, the king of France might take umbrage; but he has at present only 4,000 with him to enforce the restitution of Novi and La Mirandola." The Pope assented, but said afterwards to one of his chamberlains, who repeated it to him (Sylva): "If the Emperor wishes to keep the peace in Italy he must not give occasion for jealousies of this kind."—It is precisely on that account and in order to preserve peace (said Sylva), that the Emperor wishes that every one should have his own, and that all usurpations should be restored. This looks very much like the affair Maraveglia, which was only a pretence of Francis to set his foot in Italy.
		His Holiness also said that the diet of Augusta (Augsburgh) was about to terminate its labours, and would end soon; that the Suabian league would not be renewed; and that the duke of Würtenberg was trying to recover his estate. The kings of England and France were giving money in Germany to raise soldiers there, which piece of intelligence, from what Andrea Doria and Suarez de Figueroa write from Genoa, must have some appearance of truth.
	Should the Pope again mention his fears of the king of France, the ambassador will tell him that precisely on that account the affairs of Italy must be looked into carefully, so as not give him cause to disturb the present peace. There is not a word of truth in all that. The ambassador sent to Denmark went thither for the purpose of treating certain business in connexion with the Empire.	Another piece of news received by the Pope from Flanders is that a marriage between the daughter of the queen of Denmark and the son of the one who has usurped that kingdom is again talked of, and that in order to negotiate it and its conditions, Don Jorge de Austria had left Flanders. "At the same time," said the Pope, "the king of France is about to give his eldest daughter to the king of Scotland; but they say that no sooner did king Henry hear of this than he came forward and proposed to give him princess Mary with a large dower, besides some land which he has taken from the Scots, on condition, however, that the Princess should renounce her rights to the crown of England." He (Sylva) answered that there was no appearance of truth in the report, inasmuch as king Henry would never dare give his daughter in marriage to the king of Scotland, for fear the latter, or she, might claim the inheritance to the crown of England, notwithstanding the said renunciation. There was no probability at all of that, only that the English perhaps gave it out for their own purposes.
		Bishop of Alexandria (Octaviano Guasco) removed from Piacenza, according to the Emperor's wishes.—Duchess of Camarino.
	He was right in letting us know all this. One of the things which the Most Christian King intends, as he says, to be a sort of help and assistance against us, is the faculty which His Holiness granted him, especially at Marseilles. Should His Holiness return to the charge, the ambassador can tell him as much.	Prothonotary Carniseca, the man most in favour with the Pope just now, says that the king of France is trying as much as he can to stir up Germany against the Emperor. He did not intend molesting Italy for the present, as he had not yet collected the two millions of gold which he deemed requisite for the undertaking. He had already one million in his treasury, and hoped to collect soon a second out of certain taxes he had imposed on his subjects. He purposed casting, in Paris, 100 pieces of ordnance, and had already seventy. Thus spoke Carniseca, but he (Sylva) believes that should king Francis come to Italy, he is sure to appear at a most inconvenient time for the whole of Christendom, since his purpose and object, as is well known, are by no means good. That is why he cannot find allies here in Italy, all princes and republics, and especially Venice, wishing to preserve peace.—Rome, 3rd April, 1534.
	Spanish. Original, pp. 5.
2 April.	36. The Same to the High Commander.
S. E. Roma, L. 861, f. 6. B. M. Add. 28,586, f. 211.	All this is very well. His Imperial Majesty ordered Poggio to be received at once, and has since treated him as Papal nuncio. (In the hand of Cobos).	Besides the despatch for the Emperor, our master, that goes along with this, wherein I relate the events of last month, I have to add that yesterday, the 2nd, at Carniseca's request, I spoke to His Holiness about the Poggio (fn. n5) affair and said that the Emperor had no objection to the person appointed to the office being of a lower rank and authority than was thought necessary at first. His Holiness replied that he had intended to appoint either the Cypontino (fn. n6) or the son of baron del Burgio (fn. n7), the one who was once his nuncio in England; but after mature deliberation, and considering the qualities of both, he had found that neither of them was lit for the office. Carniseca having since come to me and complained that I had not sufficiently recommended Poggio, adding that His Holiness would be pleased to make the appointment, provided it was agreeable to the Emperor, I answered him that in obedience to orders I had done exactly as I was told, and nothing more. Then Carniseca insisted and begged me to say that our master, the Emperor, would be glad of the appointment. The Pope afterwards told me that he fully intended appointing Poggio his nuncio there, in Spain, provided His Imperial Majesty agreed to it. I replied that the appointment appertained entirely to him (the Pope), and that in all similar matters the Emperor had nothing to say, but referred entirely to him. If the person named was one with whom he could communicate freely, the Emperor had no choice.
	His Imperial Majesty intends to favour Capua, and recommend his promotion, but let it not be a pretence for His Highness to create other cardinals. The ambassador may tell the Pope so when he has an opportunity.	I failed not on this occasion to remind Carniseca of the responsibility I incurred by recommending the said Poggio, and having him appointed, as it were, to the post of Papal nuncio in Spain. He assured me over and over again that I should never have cause to repent. Poggio (he said) was an excellent man, and no one was more devoted than he was to the Imperial service.
		I failed not on this occasion to ask a cardinal's hat for Capua (Schomberg). The Pope said that he had him in mind, for he (Carniseca) had once been his servant.
	Let him refer entirely to his instructions on this point.	I have likewise called his (the Pope's) attention more than once to Novi and La Mirandola. With regard to the former place I have been unable to obtain anything. His Holiness adduces many excuses, which, in my opinion, are anything but plausible. As to La Mirandola, he says he has written to the abbé del Nero to see Antonio de Leyva again, and decide what had better be done therein. Seeing His Holiness's determination about Novi (for in this matter he will not change so soon), my opinion is that Leyva ought to be instructed at once to attack both places, for the fall of one will naturally bring on the surrender of the other. True, this might give occasion, some imagine, for the king of France to detach troops for the relief of La Mirandola; especially if it be true that count Glaudio (Claudio) Rangone is inside, having, as they say, sold his patrimonial estate to help the count della Concordia—but the chance is very remote. I have, however, informed Leyva of all this.
	Let the ambassador see that his is done.	His Holiness assures me that the money for the galleys [of Genoa] will be ready before Easter.
		Even before the arrival of captain Luys Perez I had been told that the Emperor had ordered the evacuation [and dismantlement] of Coron, and that five transports were getting ready to bring the Spanish garrison back. Knowing that the Emperor wished this to be kept a secret, and that your lordship would be disgusted, I made inquiries as to whence the intelligence proceeded, and I learnt that it came direct from Naples and Sicily.
	The viceroy writes that he is taking his measures to arrest him, and it is His Majesty's wish to have the treaties observed.	Juliano Cesarino, the nephew of the Cardinal, went some days ago with a band of men to assassinate the governor of this city. They wounded him, cut off one of his hands, and left him for dead on the spot. I hear, however, that he has since got better of his wounds. His Holiness has felt it extremely, and has written to the viceroy of Naples [Don Pedro de Toledo] to have him arrested, according to the treaties. The viceroy has taken steps for the apprehension of Cesarino; not such, however, as the Pope wished, who, I am told, is going to write to the Emperor complaining about it.
		After the sentence on the matrimonial suit I took good care to tell the imperial lawyers that the "executoriales" had come, but that they would not be made public for some time, for fear the sentence on the principal cause should he delayed.
	In this matter His Majesty will do what is just and right.	Although the archbishop of Toledo (Fonseca) was entitled to make a will and bequeath his property to whomsoever he pleased, His Holiness says that, owing to certain Chancery rules, which he quotes, his property belongs to him. I believe he has written to Poggio to claim the same at Court.
	Let a list of the benefices come as well as of the pensions.	The cardinal Camarlengo wishes to transfer to two nephews of his 2,000 or 3,000 ducats he has on benefices and bishoprics there [in Spain]. As he is well-inclined, and serves us in many things, I should say that his petition should be granted.—Rome, April, 1534.
	Signed: "Conde de Cifuentes."
	Spanish. Original. pp. 4.
4 April.	37. Eustace Chapuys to the Emperor.
Wien. Rep. P.C., Fascs. 229.	Since my last this King has suspended Parliament until the 1st of November next, on which day its members are again to meet in order to complete the ruin and destruction of the churches, monasteries, and clergy of this kingdom in general, as I hear from an authentic source. As a finish to the last session, the King has particularly desired all those who have intervened in it to subscribe their names to the statutes and ordinances against the Queen and Princess, as well as to those which have been made in favour of his mistress and her issue. Which solemn declaration and signature, hitherto unused in England, is a further proof of the invalidity and iniquity of the said ordinances [against the Queen and Princess], of the observance and durability of which the King justly doubts, and is therefore naturally afraid of the consequences.
	With regard to the measures which the King has had passed in this his Parliament and Estates, against the Pope and the authority of the Holy Apostolic See, he has not yet fully sanctioned them, but only approved conditionally, reserving to himself the faculty of having the bills altered or modified, as it may be, should he, between this and St. John's day next, find himself in a position and at liberty to do so, which, in my opinion, is only a stratagem to make His Holiness come to terms and grant his wishes, a thing which he hopes to get ultimately, owing to the French king's intercession and his own bravadoes.
	The day before yesterday, being Good Friday, the sieur de Morette (fn. n8) arrived here to reside for some time as French ambassador, This week being set aside for devotion, he has not yet gone to Court, unlike Mr. De la Pomeraye (fn. n9), who coming yesterday from the Court of France, in the greatest haste and with all possible diligence, before speaking with his colleague (Morette), or to the other French ambassador (fn. n10), went straight to Court, and remained there three or four hours. It is supposed that the latter (La Pommeraye), has come for the purpose of telling this King what instructions the bishop of Paris has taken to Rome. I will do my best to learn what they are, and immediately apprise Your Majesty thereof, as well as of the doings of the Scottish ambassador, who, since my last despatch (fn. n11), has not been summoned to the Privy Council.—London, 4th April 1534.
	Signed: "Eustace Chapuys."
	Addressed: "To the Emperor."
	French. Original, partly in cipher. 2 pp.
7 Apr.	38. Ferdinand, king of the Romans, to Antonio de Leyva.
S. E. Aleman., L. 637, ff. 5, 6. B. M. Add. 28,586, f. 219.	It was known a long time ago that the Emperor's personal enemies and competitors for the Empire intended to replace by force of arms the former duke of Würtenberg in possession of his dukedom, and that done attempt other more dangerous enterprises. Proofs, however, were then wanting, but now no doubt can be entertained about it. A vast number of important personages and experienced captains are now collecting an army, apparently to fight and put down the Anabaptists in Munster, but in point of fact to carry out their plans respecting that dukedom. The kings of France and England are assisting them, and the latter is sending them money. In fact both are doing all they can to create disturbances in Germany.—7th April 1534
	Signed: "Yo el Rey."
	Countersigned: Juan (sic) de Castillejo.
	Indorsed: "From the king of the Romans to Antonio de Leyva, 1534."
	Spanish. Entirely in cipher. Deciphering by Leyva himself. pp. 3.