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| March 3. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 169. |
1011. Marco Minio to the Signory. |
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In the consistory held on that day, the Pope complained that Cardinal Adrian had not obeyed the monition. The term assigned him having elapsed, the Pope had summonsed him to Rome. |
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Rome, 3rd March 1518. |
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[Extract, Italian.] |
| March 5. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 170. |
1012. Marco Minio to the Signory. |
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The agents of Cardinal Adrian were sending one of his servants to Venice, to give the Cardinal hopes that his affairs would be adjusted. The Cardinal's followers in Rome were sanguine. |
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Rome, 5th March 1518. |
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[Extract, Italian.] |
| March 10. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 164. |
1013. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory. |
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Had at length been received by the reverend Spanish ambassador (the Bishop of Elna), who had previously refused to admit him. The Spaniard stated that the ambassador Francesco Cornaro enjoyed great authority with the Catholic King, who was well disposed towards Venice, and had used his best endeavours to reconcile the Signory to the Emperor, although at present the negotiation for a fresh peace was in the hands of the King of France. That an excellent understanding existed between France and Spain, although England had endeavoured to prevent it. That the conclusion of the agreement between the Emperor and Venice depended upon the Signory, or, in other words, upon the Signory's acceptance of the Emperor's terms. That it was expedient there should be peace between the Christian powers, to which England was much inclined, and especially Cardinal Wolsey, who, when there was a question of hostilities, opposed them strenuously. |
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Requests the Signory to despatch his successor. |
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London, 10th March 1518. |
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[Italian, 2 pages, or 42 lines.] |
| March 13. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library. Letter no. 165. |
1014. The Same to the Same. |
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Proceeded to Wolsey, and announced the receipt of very important news on the 11th. Although indisposed, the Cardinal received him graciously, and having read the Turkish newsletter and the French news, evinced satisfaction at the friendly disposition of King Francis, saying, “Should such be the opinion of the King of France, his Majesty here will reciprocate it, for he is very desirous of peace with the Christian powers;” adding, however, “but if this desire be true, why does he not send letters of his own, confirming by the royal word that which you say was certified by him to your colleague in France?” |
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Replied that the English herald would doubtless bring a royal missive to that effect; but that his (Giustinian's) colleague wished to anticipate the herald. Thereupon Cardinal Wolsey expressed great satisfaction, saying this was the way to defend Christendom and make a Christian expedition against the Turks, provided it was not a feint on the part of France; and that if King Francis did nothing to raise a suspicion that his words differed from his deeds, all would go well. Did not demand farther explanation, knowing the bent of the English ministers and the impossibility of rendering them satisfied with the King of France. The Cardinal then returned many thanks for his (Giustinian's) past and present good offices in this matter, saying they would much please the King, and adding, “Besides many other negotiations transacted
by you during your stay here, this one has proved most agreeable, and had you done nothing else, this alone would endear you extremely to the whole kingdom.” |
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Alluded subsequently to the repeal of the wine duties. The Cardinal replied, “You see that I am indisposed: I pray you delay for four or five days.” He promised at any rate to despatch the business before his (Giustinian's) departure. |
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London, 13th March 1518. |
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[Italian, 3 pages or 90 lines.] |
| March 15. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 166. |
1015. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory. |
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Rode to Richmond on that day (loth March) to the King, who was in some trouble, as three of his pages and another attendant had died of plague. Communicated to him the letters of the ambassador [Antonio] Giustinian, and the Turkish newsletters. The King replied that, according to advices received from Rhodes, nothing was to be feared from the Turk that year. Alluded to the speed with which the armada was being fitted out, the supplies of biscuit being baked for its consumption, and the order given to levy 40,000 Christians alone to man it. The King rejoined, laughing, that Venice was so linked with the Turk that she had nothing to fear. Replied that the Signory had signed a peace with Sultan Selim, as with his father Sultan Bajazet, not of free will, but of necessity. |
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Upon this the King said, “Write to your Signory to be more apprehensive of a certain other person than of the Great Turk;—of one who devises worse things against Christendom than Sultan Selim,” meaning the King of France. The King went on to say, i: Do you not perceive what feints these are on the part of the Kino-of France, who denies having engaged lansquenets, as appears by the letters of your ambassador; and yet I know that he has given them two crowns each man, as earnest money for their services in the course of April?” He further stated that the forces which King Francis pretended to be marshalling against the Turk were in reality intended for the invasion of Italy. |
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Defended King Francis. King Henry said he was not inclined to war, but was quite prepared to resist any attack. He complained that justice had not been done to his subjects by the King of France, and of the proposed mission of the Duke of Albany into Scotland. King Henry styled himself King of England and Scotland. |
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All these complaints were made with a view to prevent France from sending Albany into Scotland. |
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London, 15th March 1518. |
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[Italian, 7¼ pages, or 164 lines.] |
| March 15. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 174. |
1016. Marco Minio to the Signory. |
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Account of the ceremonies performed by the Pope on the preceding day (Lætare Sunday), when he proclaimed the quinquennial truces between the Christian powers, and their intended expedition
against the Infidels. Remarks that all the ambassadors were present, except the English ambassador, who absented himself on account of ill health. |
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Rome, 15th March 1518. |
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[Extract, Italian.] |
| March 15. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 175. |
1017. Marco Minio to the Signory. |
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Having met the English ambassador at the palace, asked him why he had not attended the procession on Lætare Sunday. Received for answer, “See what a state I am in.” He spoke the truth, as he was in very bad plight. He announced the receipt of letters from his King, promising, should the Christian expedition be effected, not to fail giving it all assistance, to the full amount furnished by any other sovereign. |
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Rome, 15th March 1518. |
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[Extract, Italian.] |
| March 26. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxv. p. 255. |
1018. Antonio Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Amboise, 11th and 13th March. |
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Apparent intention of the King of England to offer his daughter as a wife for the Dauphin. |
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The King (of France) was sending the Bishop of Paris to try and arrange the disputes about Tournai, but did not wish him to cross the Channel. |
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Ambassadors from the King of Denmark had arrived to tell King Francis that should he choose to make war on England, King Christian offered him ships and assistance, for which King Francis thanked the ambassadors, and showed them great kindness. |
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[Italian.] |
| March 29. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 167. |
1019. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory. |
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The English herald who had been sent to France was returned, accompanied by a French herald, who had apparently confirmed the pacific assurances given by the ambassador [Antonio] Giustinian, and had notified that the Most Christian Queen had given birth to a son. Could not speak with the herald, owing to his sudden departure, but had learned his errand both from Cardinal Wolsey and the Bishop of Durham. |
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Had visited the reverend Spanish ambassador (the Bishop of Elna). Friendly disposition of the Catholic King towards France and Venice. Negotiation on foot for an interview between him and King Francis, with a view to arranging the Christian expedition. He had ready ten heavy ships and 16,000 infantry, besides two fine brigades of men at arms in Naples and Sicily. The Bishop was of opinion that a general peace would take place. |
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Subsequently proceeded to Cardinal Wolsey. The Spanish ambassador also made his appearance. The Cardinal spoke of the Papal legates appointed to the four sovereigns, and the ambitious designs of France. He said that Spain dreaded the French seizure of Naples and Sicily, and that King Henry suspected France of an
intention to invade England, as they harboured Richard de la Pole, favoured the Duke of Albany, and encouraged disturbance in Scotland, whilst France on her part placed no reliance on England; so that it was impossible to organize a crusade. The Cardinal used much other scandalous language, to which he (Giustinian) made no reply. This joint audience was given for the purpose of making one ambassador evidence of the words of the other. In reply to the Cardinal the Spanish ambassador said that necessity would cause these princes to unite. The Cardinal rejoined that provision could not be made in time, because the Turk was on the point of putting to sea with his powerful armada. He also warned Venice to beware of the Christian Turk (meaning King Francis), who was more to be dreaded than the real Turk. The Cardinal then departed, and they accompanied him to hear a sermon. |
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After the sermon, had an interview with the Cardinal alone, when he no longer abused the King of France, but said he hoped the legates would be able to arrange all disputes. He promised to favour the general alliance, if King Francis showed himself well disposed towards England, and administered justice to English subjects; adding, “The King of France has now got a son, and his Majesty here has a daughter. I will unite them by these means.” Commended the intentions of the Cardinal, and told him that he would thus prove himself to be that lapis angularis which joined the two detached walls of the Temple. |
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Again demanded the repeal of the wine duties, which the Cardinal promised after Easter, adding that he (Giustinian), on returning to Venice, would be able to convince the Signory that he (the Cardinal) was neither a liar nor a talker. |
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London, 29th March 1518. |
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[Italian, 6½ pages, or 140 lines.] |
| March 29. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxv. p. 258. |
1020. Francesco Cornaro, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Signory. |
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Valladolid, 9th March. |
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Conversations with Mons. de Chièvres, who “est alter Rex.” Was told by him that the King of France would make war on England, on account of Tournai; and that the Catholic King was the confederate of the King of England, and his kinsman. The Catholic King could not remain at peace. The war would be commenced by the King of France. |
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[Italian.] |
| March 29. Minio's Original Letter Book, MS. penes me. Letter no. 179. |
1021. Marco Minio to the Signory. |
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On the preceding Saturday, the Pope said to him, that the Turk being occupied with the Sophy, the moment would be favourable for an attack, but that the Christian powers were apparently busy with other matters. Inquired whether there was any stir in Germany. The Pope said no, but that in England the King seemed ill-disposed towards France. Rejoined, he had heard of an English envoy who was sent to France, but that he found all peaceable there, and King Francis well-disposed towards King Henry. |
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Thereupon the Pope replied, there were letters from some merchants purporting that the King of England had raised from five to six thousand infantry; but the King of France was disposed towards peace and the Christian expedition. |
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Rome, 26th March 1518. |
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[Extract, Italian] |
