Venice: September 1524

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1869.

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'Venice: September 1524', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526, (London, 1869) pp. 378-382. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp378-382 [accessed 19 March 2024]

September 1524

Sept. 1. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 289, St. Mark's Library. 865. Gasparo Contarini to the Council of Ten.
Receipt of letters from England, dated the 17th ult., to the effect that the King of Scotland had emancipated himself from the guardianship of the Duke of Albany and exacted the oaths of allegiance as King; that certain clansmen and adherents of the Duke of Albany had been arrested, and that the King of Scotland had taken the King of England for his protector.
On the morning of the 1st of September the Chancellor, having mentioned these circumstances to me, said,—
“Now think for yourself whether this was done with the connivance of France or not. The brother-in-law of the King of England arrives in Scotland pretending to have escaped from France! The whole thing was a fiction devised by the Cardinal.”
I am therefore of opinion that the Imperialists are well nigh utterly alienated from England.
I have also been told by the Milanese secretary that his Duke has received advices from England, Venice, and elsewhere announcing the intention of the Emperor to deprive him of his duchy.
Owing to the death of the Queen of France, (fn. 1) a report circulates at the Emperor's court that peace might be made by the marriage of the Queen widow of Portugal to the King of France. The Chancellor Gattinara, discussing this topic with my secretary, said that never by his advice would the Emperor form such an alliance, for if it were effected the King of France, by means familiar to him (per mezi familiarj) , would instantly seek to compass the death not only of the Emperor, but also of the Archduke, his brother, this sister being the next heir to all their realms. (fn. 2)
Valladolid, 1st September 1524.
[Italian. 2 pages.]
Sept. 1. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 290, St. Mark's Library. 866. The Same to the Signory.
On the 22nd of August the Emperor was seized with fever, which immediately assumed the form of quartan ague, and down to this time he has had four paroxysms. The three first lasted 20 hours and upwards; the last was of rather shorter duration.
Had audience this morning of the Emperor, who, considering the duration of his paroxysms, is not much debilitated. I condoled with him tenderly but briefly, as the English ambassador had already been speaking with him at great length, whilst the physicians not only hinted, but said, that it was time for his Majesty to go to dinner.
I said I would not annoy him with business, and was answered graciously. In reply to my remark that the malady required patience, I having had it in the same fashion, viz., a quartan ague which declared itself at once, the Emperor said, “It is true, one must perforce have patience.”
With regard to business, the Emperor referred me to the Chancellor.
Valladolid, 1st September, 1524.
[Italian, 2½ pages.]
Sept. 8. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 292 St. Mark's Library. 867. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
The quartan ague still clings to the Emperor, but the fits are of shorter duration than they were at first.
Valladolid, 8th September 1524.
[Italian, 1 page.]
Sept. 9. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. pp. 440, 444. 868. Giovanni Francesco Valier to the Rev. Santo Querini.
Had not the King of France been deceived by the King of England and Cardinal Wolsey, who crossed the Channel under pretence of making peace, the French forces would have routed the Emperor. No one acquainted with the nature of the people and princes of France, can suppose that they would choose to have for their masters the Emperor or the King of England, on whom Bourbon depends; and should their legitimate King be defeated, it would always be easy for them to delude Bourbon.
Rome, 9th September. Registered by Sanuto on the 30th.
[Italian.]
Sept. 12. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. pp. 419, 420. 869. Marc' Antonio Venier, Ambassador with the Duke of Milan, to the Signory.
The advices from England, dated London, the 24th of August, were unimportant, save the following, that that “Most Christian” King had entirely arranged the affairs of Scotland, and expelled the adherents of the Duke of Albany and of France.
Pizzighettone, 12th Sept. Registered by Sanuto on the 16th.
[Italian.]
Sept. 14. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. pp. 424, 425. 870. Marco Foscari to the Signory.
The English have entered Scotland and assumed the government, expelling the Duke of Albany and other Frenchmen, the regents for the King of Scotland.
Rome, 14th September. Registered by Sanuto on the 18th.
[Italian.]
Sept. 18. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 428. 871. Marc' Antonio Venier to the Signory.
The Viceroy [Charles de Lannoy] has received letters from Madame Margaret, and from [Praet] the Imperial ambassador in England. The King of England was using all diligence for the despatch of the army to France; there was no doubt of its crossing. For this undertaking the Emperor supplied him with 2,000 Flemish horse and 2,000 Germans, free of cost. The King of England has demanded of Madame Margaret 2,000 horse and 5,000 Germans, according to the agreement with the Emperor.
Pizzighettone, 18th Sept. Registered by Sanuto on the 21st.
[Italian.]
Sept. 18. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvii. p. 6. 872. Carlo Contarini to Anzolo Gabriel.
Yesterday at the-hour, when there were not 30 persons in the market place (in plaza), the Lutheran merchant was at length burnt, whereupon 4,000 persons came instantly to rescue him, but he was already consumed; so it is thought his Majesty (quella Maestà) [qu. the Emperor or the Archduke] will thus render himself very odious to the people, and that one clay or other there will be some great tumult.
Vienna, 18th September. Registered by Sanuto, 5th October.
[Italian.]
Sept. 20. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 293, St. Mark's Library. 873. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
At the foot of my last letter, of the 8th, I mentioned that down to the 22nd hour the Emperor had experienced no return of ague; (fn. 3) that was the truth, but shortly afterwards the fit came on, though it was not very severe. The subsequent paroxysms continued at the same hour, until the last, which anticipated the usual period by two hours, and was much more severe than the others. It is feared that throughout the winter, or at least during the whole of the present moon, the Emperor will continue subject to this quartan ague.
The Florentine ambassadors have received letters from the Archbishop of Capua [Schomberg] dated Rome, the 31st of August. He announces, first, the death of the Emperor's ambassador, Mons. de la Roche; secondly, that he himself was coming to the Emperor's court, but would first of all confer with the King of France; thirdly, that all the ambassadors [at Rome], namely, the Imperialist, the Frenchman, and the Englishman, had written for the free transit of the couriers, in order that the replies concerning the negotiations for truce might be received more speedily.
I have been told by the Chancellor that in lieu of Mons. de la Roche the Emperor has appointed as his ambassador Dom. Gio. Bartolomeo [Gattinario], the Chancellor's cousin (consobvino), who is at Rome. (fn. 4)
On Thursday next, the 22nd, the Emperor is to go to a Carthusian monastery distant three leagues from Valladolid for change of air. He says he will thence go to Madrid, a warm town, and suited to his Majesty's quartan ague.
Valladolid, 20th September 1524.
[Italian, 3 pages.]
1524. Sept. 22. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 431. 874. Marc' Antonio Venier to the Signory.
News in letters from England, dated London, 25th August.
The ambassadors from the Emperor and from the Duke of Milan have arrived and had audience of Cardinal Wolsey, who has decided in the King's name that should his Majesty not cross the Channel, he will send an efficient army, so that with the troops of Madame Margaret they may draw off the French army, according to the treaty. Wolsey said his army would be mustered by the 24th, and on that day, the 25th, he sent letters to Madame Margaret in Flanders to provide the necessary victuals in the direction of Picardy, where it is believed there will be a certain number of French men-at-arms, devoted to the Duke of Bourbon. Cardinal Wolsey also desired the Imperial ambassador to write to the Emperor that he on his part likewise must act; reminding him. above all to provide pecuniary supply, as the King of England is not bound to any further contribution when he invades France.
Other advices from England were also received from the Duke of Bourbon's secretary there, dated the 31st of August. On that day the King of England sent to the Duke of Bourbon a person by name Master Gregory da Casalle, (fn. 5) assuring him that he (the King) had determined to send the army across the Channel, and to this effect had commissioned Madame Margaret, in addition to the promised 3,000 horse and 3,000 foot, to procure from Germany 2,000 cavalry and 5,000 lansquenets. Indeed so long back as last May he gave orders to the Duke of Suffolk and other captains to muster with all speed 14,000 English, and to commence their embarkation as soon as possible. The Duke of Bourbon's secretary does not think the King of England will cross save in the event of certain victory.
Pizzighettone, 22nd September. Registered by Sanuto on the 25th.
[Italian.]
Sept. 22. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 434. 875. Marco Foscari to the Signory.
The Duchess of Sessa, daughter of the “Great Captain ” [Gonsalvo of Cordova], and wife of the Duke, the Emperor's ambassador, has died. An English bishop [Edmund Audley, Bishop of Salisbury,] is also dead; the Pope has given his see to Cardinal Campeggio, legate in Germany for the affairs of Luther.
Rome, 22nd September. Registered by Sanuto on the 26th.
[Italian.]
Sept. 28. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 294, St. Mark's Library. 876. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
The Emperor went to the Carthusian monastery on the 22nd as arranged, but is dissuaded by his counsellors from proceeding to Madrid. They tell him it is not expedient, considering the actual state of the war, that he should absent himself from the neighbourhood of Valladolid; so the move to Madrid is considered doubtful.
Some persons recommend his Majesty to go into Aragon. In the meanwhile he will go to Tordesillas to arrange the giving away of his sister, the Infanta, to her consort the King of Portugal, and then come to Valladolid to settle the business of the Archbishop of Capua, whose negotiations about the truce will perhaps be more fortunate than they were last time.
Valladolid, 28th September 1524.
[Italian, 2 pages.]
Sept. 29. Senato Mar, v. xx. p. 134, tergo. 877. Embargo on the Flanders Galleys in England.
Motion made in the Senate concerning the embargo laid recently on the Flanders galleys in England, as also on the Venetian merchants and their property. The loss incurred by them was very great; a similar circumstance had never occurred, nor was it just to blend State affairs with those of private individuals, and thus subject them to loss. Provision must be made therefore to guarantee the galleys sent on the voyage to England, and the merchants and their effects, against the repetition of any similar embarrassment and loss, so that all may make this voyage or send their goods without any suspicion or fear.
Put to the ballot—That the Venetian consul in London be desired to inform the King that the State would be glad to continue the usual Venetian trade with England by means of galleys, but the recent embargo laid by his Majesty's order thereon, and on Venetian property and subjects, causing them much loss, renders the merchants of Venice apprehensive; but if certain of being secure, and not subject to any impediment, they would go to England and send their goods thither, to the benefit of his Majesty, and also to the satisfaction of the State. Request him, therefore, to make such permanent and inviolable provision that the Venetian galleys may go to, remain in, and depart from England in safety and unharmed, together with all Venetian subjects, merchandise, and effects, in such form as shall seem most fitting to his Majesty; he giving a safeconduct and public promise to that effect in ample terms for the voyages out and home, and for as long a period as possible, so that on receiving it the measure may be carried into effect according to what they believe to be his Majesty's intention, and that the usual trade of the Republic's subjects, carried on in England since a very long while, may not be interrupted.
The consul to announce what he has done by letter to the Signory; and in order that the galleys may be ready for the voyage when decreed, be the masters of the Arsenal charged speedily to fit out three of the new galleys now there.
Moreover, as it is requisite to provide against the scarcity of wool already commencing, the importation of wool into Venice to be allowed both by land and sea by any ship, as practised as heretofore—half freight being paid to the Arsenal—until the departure of the galleys destined for this voyage.
Ayes, 126. Noes, 4. Neutrals, 7.
Mem.—Letters were sent to the consul in London on 10th Oct.
[Italian, 38 lines.]

Footnotes

  • 1. Queen Claude died at Blois on the 25th of July 1524.
  • 2. Concerning the suspicion that Leo X. was poisoned by desire of Francis I see Guicciardini, vol. 3. p. 337, edition Friburgo 1775.
  • 3. This postscript has been omitted in the Contarini copy-book.
  • 4. Contarini gives the name Gattinario in a letter dated Madrid, 8th February 1525.
  • 5. See “State Papers,” vol. vi. part v. p. 333, letter dated The More, 31st August 1524.