Addenda.: Miscellaneous, 1536 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 8, 1545-1546. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

'Addenda.: Miscellaneous, 1536', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 8, 1545-1546, (London, 1904) pp. 600-604. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol8/pp600-604 [accessed 24 April 2024]

Miscellaneous, 1536



1536. 6 Jan. Simancas. E. V. 1564.	460. The Emperor to Count Cifuentes. (Extract form two letters of same date.)
	Will follow his advice and enter Rome unarmed. His Court and household will also come without arms, although the men-at-arms, the light-horse and infantry, which form his escort, will of course carry their arms as usual. The Emperor is astonished to hear that Pier Luigi (fn. 1) is not satisfied with him. When he was in Naples he expressed himself as perfectly satisfied, and ready to do all that was contained in the instructions given to him. He is to be told that the best way for him to obtain fresh favours will be to fulfil his promises. (fn. 2)
	The Legates proposed to the Emperor to come to terms with the King of France about the Duchy of Milan, the measures necessary for the preservation of religion, an offensive and defensive league against the Turk, and the affairs of the King of England. This, they said, would ensure the general peace of Christendom. The Pope proposed to act as mediator. As the French ambassador has likewise informed the Emperor that the King is desirous of entering into negotiations with him on the subjects mentioned, the Emperor could not well reject the approaches, and declared that he would consent to reasonable conditions of peace with the King of France. The General of the Franciscan Order also approached him in a similar way.
	The Emperor notes Cifuentes' information that, through the negligence of the Portuguese ambassador, the brief (granting the Pope's pardon and absolution to the converted Portuguese Jews) was conceded on the petition of the newly converted. Pier Luigi writes to the same effect. Cifuentes is to press the Pope most urgently to grant to Portugal the same form of Inquisition as that in Spain, and to revoke his brief granting pardon to these reconciled converts, in order that our Holy Faith may be exalted and God's cause served. If men who had been converted for years, and had been baptised and openly professed Christianity, whilst secretly remaining Jews, and had perhaps already been condemned and burned in effigy in Spain, were to be thus pardoned in Portugal, heresy would be encouraged and God and his Holy Faith prejudiced. Cifuentes is not to leave this affair in the hands of the Portuguese ambassadors, but himself carry on the negotiations about it.
	Naples, 6 January, 1536.
14 Jan. Simancas. E. V. 1564.	461. The Emperor to Count Cifuentes.
	Glad to hear from Giovanni Pietro Cafarello and Pier Luigi that the Pope is so favourably disposed.
	The Imperial ambassador in France writes that the King says the Emperor's declarations concerning the Duchy of Milan and the peace are extremely vague and general. Cifuentes is to use every effort to learn what is going on between the Kings of France and England. The Emperor is quite convinced that the former has not only no intention of aiding in the execution of the papal sentence to be launched against the King of England, but has made up his mind to oppose any attempt to execute the same. His reasons are, in the first place, his close friendship with the King of England, and in the second place his apprehension that the authority of the Pope might become greater than would suit him if the sentence were carried with effect. Cifuentes is to tell the Pope this.
	Naples, 14 January, 1536.
16 Jan. Simancas. E. V. 1564.	462. The Emperor to Count Cifuentes.
	Learns from Cifuentes' letters that in spite of all the opposition of the Cardinal of Paris, the Pope had until recently persisted in his determination to grant and despatch the Bulls depriving the King of England of his realm; but that his Holiness had now changed his mind, and had suspended the despatch of the Bulls. It is possible that the reason for this change of front may be found in the negotiations which the Pope is carrying on with France concerning the arrangement of a general peace. The Emperor would like the forfeiture of the King of England to be declared before he (the Emperor) came to Rome, and Cifuentes is to use every means with his Holiness to have this business concluded before his Majesty meets his Holiness. Notes that Cifuentes says that the executorial decrees of the judgment given in favour of the Queen and Princess of England can be despatched secretly and with the knowledge of very few persons. Cifuentes is to desire that the decree be thus despatched with the utmost secrecy; but it must be kept distinct from the Bull depriving the King of England of his crown, in order that it may be employed as circumstances may render desirable.
	Naples, 16 January, 1536.
29 Jan. Simancas. E. V. 1564.	463. The Emperor to Count Cifuentes. (Extract.)
	The executorial decrees against the King of England to be asked for.
	The Imperial Ambassador in France writes news of the death of the Queen of England; but as the ambassador in England has said nothing about it, the Emperor hopes the report is false. (fn. 3) The Emperor cannot consent to the French demand that his rights in the Duchy of Milan should be settled on the Duke of Orleans. The Nuncio has received news that the French will first try to get Milan by peaceful means, but that if they fail they are determined to conquer it by force of arms, for which purpose a numerous army is being raised. Thinks this is only a French move to get better terms, but the Emperor has thought well to levy German and Italian troops.
	Naples, 29 January, 1536.
29 Feb. Simancas. C. de C., 33.	464. The Empress to the Emperor. (Extract.)
	She and her Council are persuaded that the Emperor ought to make peace with France if acceptable conditions can be obtained. Even if no other reasons for this existed it would avoid a ruinous war. It is true that the King of France cannot be trusted much, but if good securities could be devised, the policy would be worth trying. (fn. 4)
	The Empress is greatly grieved to hear of the death of the Queen of England, both on account of what is current with regard to the circumstances of her death, and on account of the grief of the Princess. Does not consider it necessary to perform funeral obsequies in Spain for her, as the Emperor has ordered such to be solemnised in his own Court. But if the Emperor wishes the funeral service to take place in Spain as well, she will order it at once.
	Madrid, 29 February, 1536.
15 July. Simancas. C. de C., 70.	465. The Empress to the Emperor.
	The surprises of England are the work of the Almighty, who has thus avenged the injustice done to our aunt, the Queen. (fn. 5)
	With regard to the Emperor's project to marry the King of England with her sister, the Infanta, and the Infante Don Luis with the Princess of England, supposes the plan is now to be abandoned, as the King of England is already married again. (fn. 6) Before this latter marriage was known in Spain, she had written to her brother the King (of Portugal) in conformity with what the Emperor had written to her on the subject, but she has now written again to her brother saying that the King of England was already married.
	Valladolid, 15 July, 1536.
31 Aug. Simancas. E. V. 1564.	466. The Emperor to Count Cifuentes. (Extract.)
	With regard to your report of what our ambassador in England writes to you touching the Princess (of England) our niece, the ambassador has also conveyed the same information to us. (fn. 7) We have maturely considered it and have written to the ambassador in reply that if the death of the Princess can by no other means be avoided she should submit to her father with regard to the statutes and the succession, since any such submission extorted from her by extreme peril of death could not prejudice her in any way. As regards the dispensation or absolution which the ambassador thinks should be obtained from the Pope, if you think that his Holiness would not look favourably upon such a request, or that if it were asked of him in this form it might become publicly known, we are of opinion that no harm will be done, either to the question of conscience or to the succession, by leaving the matter pending for the present, until we see what may happen in England. The affair is of such a nature that, if it were to become known, the life of the Princess would obviously be placed in great danger; and our ambassador has been instructed to make the necessary protests in England. In the meantime you may keep the letter he has written to you on the matter, in order to be able to show it to his Holiness if he should happen to mention the matter to you, or exhibit any displeasure at the course the Princess has taken; so that in any case she may be justified. We note in your letter that Sir (Gregory) Casale is still urging you to speak to the Pope in our name asking his Holiness to send a Nuncio to the King of England for the purpose of persuading the latter to abandon his present opinions. You have done quite right in refraining from all action to this effect until you obtained our instructions. We are of opinion that it will be undesirable to speak to the Pope on the matter until we know what will become of the Princess. To judge by the manner in which she is being treated at present not much good can be expected from them (i.e. the English).
	Aix, 31 August, 1536.
21 Sept. R.A. of History Madrid. Salazar A. 42.	467. Juan Martinez de Recalde to Juan Vasquez de Molina.
	A vessel belonging to Antibes has arrived in Bilbao from England in nine days. The passengers in her report that the Duke of Wales, commonly called the Great Talbot, and three other English nobles, have risen against the King of England, and have killed eight or ten of his servants. The King has retired to the Tower of London, where he is besieged by the populace, the greater part of the common people having declared themselves against him. The passengers in the ship say that when they sailed from England the bells were being rung all day and night in the town, and the people took seven prisoners. The vessel also brings news that the King of England intended to crown his present wife, but that the nobles did not like it. God grant them peace.
	Bilbao, 21 September, 1536.
	Note.—In a report on affairs in England written to the Emperor from Brussels on the 15 October, 1536 (Simancas Guerra, Mar y Tierra, 9) it is mentioned that Chapuys' nephew had just arrived from England bringing the news that the people there were in great commotion against the King, who not content with devastating all the monasteries, had now committed fresh spoliation. It is said (continues the report) that 50,000 men are in arms, though what they intend to do is not known. They are in want of a leader to command them and sustain the courage of “my people of Israel.”
26 Sept. Simancas. C de C., 33.	468. The Empress to the Emperor. (Extract.)
	Is extremely glad to hear that the negotiations with England are so promising, both with regard to the marriage of the Princess with the writer's brother (the Portuguese Infante Luis), as with regard to other subjects. Prays God not to forsake the Emperor.
	Madrid, 26 September, 1536.
28 Oct. Simancas. E. V. 1564.	469. The Emperor to Count Cifuentes.
	(Negotiations with France through the Pope. Duke of Orleans, Duke of Angouleme, Duchy of Milan, the Infante Luis, the Pope's grandsons, etc.)
	As the affair of the Princess of England is no longer a secret, the Pope is to be asked to take any steps in her favour which may appear advisable. As the circumstances which obliged her to act as she has done were so imperative, it cannot be believed that the Pope will raise any difficulties (i.e.in granting to the Princess Mary an absolution from her promise of submission to her father).
	Genoa, 28 October, 1536.