Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 1, 1558-1571. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1916.
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'Rome: 1564, April-June', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 1, 1558-1571, (London, 1916) pp. 162-166. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/vatican/vol1/pp162-166 [accessed 5 May 2024]
1564, April–June
| 1563. Vat. Arch. Pio, vol. cciv. f. 22d. |
301. [Prospero Publicola] Santacroce, [Bishop of Chissamos, Nuncio in France] to [Charles] Borromeo, Cardinal [Archbishop of Milan]. … “Since the receipt of your letters and all the ciphers I have not been able to get speech of his Majesty because they are now at the crucial point in the negotiation for peace with the English; and two ambassadors of the Queen of England keep his Majesty occupied all day long about this affair, which he would fain settle before resuming his journey. I think the treaty is for a pecuniary compensation for the retention of Calais in the hand of the Most Christian King, and that his Most Christian Majesty is ready to give 130,000 crowns, the English demanding more than 500,000 crowns. But it may be that there is some other difficulty, of which I know nothing, to judge by the many and prolonged conferences that they have had. So far no conclusion has been reached; and his Majesty attends to the business without intermission, being resolved, as I have said, to depart the day after to-morrow.” 4 April, 1564. Troia [Troyes]. Italian. Copy. |
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Ibid. f. 32d. |
302. The Same to the Same. “This morning the Most Christian King sent a gentleman to me to tell me that the peace with the English was quite settled and concluded, and at the same time his Majesty went to the Cathedral with the English ambassador to swear the peace, and the Te Deum was chanted. “The conditions, so far as I understand, are that there shall be paid within six months 120,000 crowns reckoned to yield in that money 100,000 crowns, and therewith a jewel is given worth 40,000 crowns. (fn. 1) They restore all the captured ships that are in esse, the artillery taken in Havre de Grace in like manner, so far as it can be found, and they release the French hostages. The claims upon Calais remain in suspense on both sides, the English alleging that by virtue of the last peace made with the Catholic King Calais is to be restored at the close of eight years from that date, the French on the other hand saying that in the said treaty there was a clause to the effect that in the event of the English making war they should forfeit their claims, and as by taking Havre de Grace they did make war, there is no more obligation upon the French to restore Calais. This question will therefore then arise, but in the meantime his Most Christian Majesty and the Queen Mother are very well content to pass these years in the enjoyment of rest and peace. “The English have said that they are only bound to restore the hostages.” 14 April, 1564. Troia [Troyes]. Italian. Copy. |
| 1564. Vat. Arch. Arm. lxiv. f. 203. |
303. Policy of Pope Pius IV towards England as disclosed to Thomas Sackfild, [i.e., Sackville, afterwards Lord Buckhurst], in two audiences. “His Holiness was at a loss to understand the motives which prompted the Queen and her Council to deny free access to England to the Nuncios whom he twice sent as far as Flanders for no other purpose than that he might discharge his duty to her Majesty as befitted a good and pious father in matters concerning the public peace and tranquillity of the realm, from which he had never desired aught save the salvation of those souls whom Jesus Christ redeemed with His precious blood. “As for the causes of the separation of the realm from the obedience of the Apostolic See and the unity of the Church of God, he understood they might be as follows, viz. the judgment or declaration delivered by Pope Clement VII as to the second marriage of the Queen's father Henry VIII, and the alienation of Church property made by the said King, of which restitution could not be made without great jeopardy and distraction of the commonwealth. Upon which his Holiness observed that he was by no means disposed that such regard and care should be had for temporal and worldly things as should stand in the way of the salvation of souls. And so, if at any time the Queen shall be minded to return to the unity of the Church and the obedience of the Holy See, he promises her that he will receive her with fatherly affection and all the love that could be desired, and he will apply to the solution of the difficulties aforesaid such remedies as shall be approved by the Queen, the Parliament, and the general consent of the realm as best adapted to strengthen the Crown and establish the peace and quietness of the people at large; and he will in all matters whatever confirm all lawful and pious decrees. “All this the said Thomas can affirm as not only spoken in his hearing by the Pontiff himself, but also twice confirmed by Cardinals Morone and Borromeo, who are deep in his Holiness' counsels, and of the highest authority in the administration of affairs. “He will also, at the Pontiff's instance, apprise the Queen that his Holiness implores her to deal gently and tenderly with the bishops, and the other Catholics, who are steadfast in the true religion for no other reason than solicitude for the weal of their souls and the due discharge of their duty towards God and the Church. “But should the Queen crave a fuller exposition of the pious intentions of the Pontiff and of all his policy towards her and her state, she has but to send someone, either publicly or privately, to make known to the Pope her desire, and he will not only be courteously received and gladly heard by his Holiness, but will also in all pious and honourable demands be accorded all possible satisfaction. “And whereas I, Vincent Parpaglia, Abbot of St. Solutor (sic), at Turin, was present at all the conferences aforesaid, as well those which his Holiness as those which Cardinals Morone and Borromeo had with the said Mr. Thomas, I have seen fit to subscribe my testimony with my own hand.” 3 May, 1564. Rome. Latin. (fn. 2) |
| Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. lxvi. f. 215d. |
304. [Zacharias] Delfino, Bishop [of Lesina], Nuncio [in Germany] to [Charles] Borromeo, Cardinal [Archbishop of Milan]. “The good people in France write that their Queen has in many ways fostered the suspicion which the Queen of England had conceived of the King of Spain, and in particular by leading her to suspect that the Queen of Scotland might marry the Prince of Spain, the object being to induce the Queen to consent to the peace which she has at last made: accordingly, as soon as the King has departed from Lyon, it is expected that either the Cardinal of Lorraine or some other prelate will come hither, and that the arrangement of the marriage of [the Queen of] Scotland with the Archduke Charles, and the completion of the business of the marriage of the Most Christian King with one of the daughters of the King of the Romans will be the matters in hand.” 1 June, 1564. Vienna. Italian. (fn. 3) Enclosure. “The Cardinal of Lorraine has written to the King of the Romans that the Most Christian King desires to marry his eldest daughter, and that as soon as may be. The Cardinal adds that he hopes soon to be able to write word of the Most Christian King's wishes concerning the Queen of Scotland, and in short that he the Cardinal will come to the Imperial Diet; and he manifests a belief that it will soon assemble, and will then have to come to a decision in regard to the alliances. He also writes that the Queen is thoroughly Catholic, and that the Most Christian King is being brought up excellently and increases in all virtue and piety. A courier from Spain is daily expected by the King of the Romans, who manifests a belief that the Prince of Spain is to marry the aunt [Joanna], and dissemble as he may, he betrays no little chagrin thereat, and the Queen of the Romans yet more. Granvelle has written that the Catholic King must needs go to Flanders; and here it is believed that he will leave the Prince wedded to the aunt, who will not suffer him to be disorderly, and will know how to make experiments based on most exact lunar observations in all the methods of bringing procreation about. The Duke of Ferrara will have succeeded in getting Princess Barbara [of Austria] promised him on condition that some months elapse before he go to claim her. The months. I believe, will not exceed six. This I know is in treaty, but whether it is also decided I know not.” Note.—“Deciphered 6 July, 1564.” |
| Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. vol. 20. no. 141. Burgh. IV. vol. 214. f. 18. Vat. Lib. Barb. Lat. 2125 (xxxi. 10). f. 151d. |
305. Pope Pius IV to john [Hamilton], Archbishop of St. Andrews. Exhorting him to spare no pains to secure the acceptance and observance of the Tridentine Decrees throughout Scotland. 13 June, 1564. St. Mark's, Rome. Latin. Copies. (fn. 4) |
| Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. vol. 20. no. 197 |
306. The Same to [James Beaton,] Archbishop of Glasgow. Exhorting him to observe and enforce the Tridentine Decrees. 13 June, 1564. St. Mark's, Rome. Latin. Copy. (fn. 5) |
| Vat. Lib. Barb. Lat. 2125 (xxxi. 10.) f. 152 |
307. The Same to [Patrick Hepburn,] Bishop of Moray. Exhorting him to observe the Tridentine Decrees. 13 June, 1564. St. Mark's, Rome. Latin. Copy. |
| Ibid. f. 152d. |
308. The Same to [William Gordon,] Bishop of Aberdeen. To the same effect. 13 June, 1564. St. Mark's, Rome. Latin. Copy. Similar briefs were sent to the Bishops of Orkney, Dunkeld, Ross, Dunblane, the Elect of Brechin, and Archibald Craffert [Crawford], Elect of Galloway. |
| Ibid. f. 153. |
309. The Same to John [Stewart], Earl of Athol. Commending his steadfastness in the Catholic faith and the obedience of the Holy See, and exhorting him to persevere therein. He may rest assured that the Pope will comply with his wishes so far as the law of God will allow. 13 June, 1564. St. Mark's, Rome. Latin. Copy. Similar letters were sent to the Earls of Montrose, Eglintoun, and Caithness. |
| Ibid. f. 153. |
310. The Same to George [Durie], Abbot of St. Margaret's, Dunfermline. Commending his good works, and exhorting him to persevere therein. He may rest assured that he shall not lack such consolation as the Pope may be able to afford him. 13 June, 1564. St. Mark's, Rome. Latin. Copy. A similar letter was sent to a certain Abbot [Quintin Kennedy] of Costragall [Crossraguel], the address being, however, omitted, that it might be more accurately written in Scotland. |
| Vat. Lib. Barb. Lat. 2125 (xxxi 10). f. 151. Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. vol. Burgh. IV. vol. 214. f. 22. |
311. Pope Pius IV to Mary, Queen of Scotland. Exhorting her to do her utmost to secure the acceptance and observance of the Tridentine Decrees, and the appointment of none but sound Catholics to benefices and secular offices throughout Scotland. 15 June, 1564. St. Mark's, Rome. Latin. Copy. |