Appendix: Miscellaneous 1516

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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'Appendix: Miscellaneous 1516', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526, (London, 1869) pp. 641-643. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp641-643 [accessed 25 April 2024]

Miscellaneous 1516

1516. Oct. 3. Library, Venetian Archives. 1487. Sebastian Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Council of Ten.
In my foregoing letter (fn. 1) I mentioned having fully stated the contents of your Serenity's missives concerning the recovery of Verona, demonstrating how much its recovery, by securing peace, would facilitate hostilities against the Infidels, to the eternal glory of his Majesty.
Cardinal Wolsey replied, (fn. 2) “Lord Ambassador, you urge and stimulate us to make this general peace so as subsequently to make an expedition against the Infidels, which his Majesty is very ready to undertake; but you are the cause of preventing it, on account of this city of Verona; nor do you perceive that it will cause you to lose the rest of your state; for I certify this to you, that the Emperor and the King of France are now negotiating and treating very closely to arrange that Verona be deposited in the hands of the Kino; Catholic, who is to consign it to the King of France, on condition of its not getting into the hands of your Signory, and you will see that thus will it be; and on getting Verona rest assured that he aspires to the kingdom of Naples, for although he has agreed with the King Catholic to give it him as dower, (fn. 3) it is a castle in the air, for never would the King Catholic delay contracting marriage until he could obtain offspring through the puberty of the French Princess, and in case of his marrying elsewhere the kingdom of Naples is to return to the aforesaid King of France. You now comprehend what your plight will be, he possessing the Milanese, Verona, and the kingdom of Naples; for this I affirm to you, that were you not at present to his purpose and useful friends, (fn. 4) he would be more openly your enemy, whereas now he is a covert foe, for he is certainly bent on your destruction, through the Turk and himself.” He also repeated several times, “But another thing will befal you which, to my surprise, has not been seen or pondered by your Senate, namely, that all the Christian Princes, knowing for certain that you have rendered this King of France so great and powerful that he thinks he can command all the others, when they find you complaining of the wound inflicted by yourselves, not only will not assist you but will rejoice at your misfortune.”
The Cardinal added many other words to this effect, which I do not write, to save your Serenity weariness. I answered him that for the present your Excellency will do and provide for your affairs as you best may, according to the nature of the times; yet were the crisis mentioned by his right reverend Lordship to take place, I stated my opinion that all the Christian powers will do what is for the good and security of their affairs, and not allow a member of this body (politic?) to perish, but that truly until now it does not appear that the most Christian King exceeds the limits of a good confederate.
The Cardinal chose to hear throughout the summaries of news from Constantinople, and remained in great suspense on learning the amount of the galleys there. I therefore exaggerated the affair to him, declaring that the peril to that entire Christian commonwealth was manifest, as an armada of that sort was sufficiently powerful to subjugate the whole world, not merely the realms of Christendom. Thus did I, that he might think it possible for this tempest to reach England; and he, thinking accordingly, said, “What does the Turk intend to do with so powerful an armada?” I told him that for my part I suspected he would invade the territories of the Christian powers, but could not certify whose, as the secret rests with the Turk alone.
Thereupon his right reverend Lordship said, “Domine orator! let us first free ourselves from this greater peril from the King of France; and do not allow this body politic, both yours and that of other Princes, to be weakened, lest subsequently, when it has to provide against the Infidels, it be unable so to do; and scruple not for the sake of a town, which you are at liberty to get in a better way without cost to yourselves, and without lavishing the money of others.” I, who have often said what is fitting on this subject, told him that your Serenity would provide for your need as you might think fit, according to the nature of the present times; but I earnestly besought his right reverend Lordship to persuade the King here not to send any more succour for the defence of the city of Verona, as he thus caused this fire to be fed and kept up; nor would it be possible to provide against still greater future misfortunes. To this he made me no reply at all, and when I then proposed taking leave his right reverend Lordship chose me by all means to stay and dine with him, and thus did I. After dinner he drew me aside and again repeated what is aforesaid, demonstrating the imminent peril of your Serenity. I in like manner proceeded with general replies, and then took leave of his right reverend Lordship.
This is what took place. My letters shall speedily acquaint your Serenity with the sequel.
London, 3 October 1516.
Signed: “Sebastianus Justinianus, Eques Orator.”
Received at Venice, 27th October.
[Original, paper. Italian, 1¾ page.]
Oct. 30. Library, Venetian Archives. 1488. Sebastian Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in England, to Doge Leonardo Loredano.
Serenissime princeps et excellme. Dne. Dne. colme.
The Reverend Dom Pietro Carmeliano, heretofore secretary of the late most serene father of this King, and who is well known to your Highness, has most earnestly besought me to recommend to you a nephew of his, by name Cyprian, who will present this letter of mine to your Excellency. Knowing Dom Pietro to be most excellently disposed towards your Sublimity and your affairs, I could not refuse to do so. He wishes him to be provided by your Sublimity with some small employment (officieto) in his native city of Brescia, or in its territory, so that through this assistance he may support himself and his family, as he has suffered, and continues to suffer, owing to the late most turbulent times.
London, 30th October 1516.
Signed: “Sebastianus Justinianus, Eques Orator.”
[Original, paper. Italian, ½ page.]
Nov. 1. Library, Venetian Archives. 1489. Pietro Carmeliano, of Brescia, Archdeacon of Gloucester, Latin Secretary of Henry VIII., to Doge Loredano.
I was distressed by the impious conspiracy formed by so many great princes to deprive Venice of her territories. Now, however, after many disastrous accidents, your Serenity has at length conquered Brescia, (fn. 5) which noble city was my birthplace; so that I now begin to breathe a little, and to divest myself of so much sorrow. I congratulate your Sublimity to the utmost on such great success, as although a very lowly and insignificant individual, my faith, observance, devotion, and service towards your Highness and the most illustrious Signory are, and always have been, inferior to none. God is my witness that in the time of my late king Henry VII., who most dearly loved the Venetian Republic, I spontaneously took very great pains, especially to mitigate and appease the wrath of the reigning Pope Julius II., against your Highness and your State.
There is a certain nephew of mine at Venice, one Cipriano Majolo, a poor subject of your Serenity's, who will present this letter of mine to your Sublimity, to whom I recommend him warmly, beseeching you to have him provided with some subaltern office for his maintenance. (fn. 6)
From Westminster in England, 1st November 1516.
Your Serenity's most humble and devoted servant and familiar, Peter Carmeliano of Brescia, Archdeacon of Gloucester, Latin Secretary of his Majesty of England.
[Latin.]

Footnotes

  • 1. See Venetian Calendar, vol. ii. pp. 325, 326, entry no. 781. This present missive, addressed to the Council of Ten, does not exist in the Giustinian copy-book, now preserved in St. Mark's Library.
  • 2. In the margin of the original there is a sign representing a cardinal's hat, signifying that the text of the letter related to Wolsey.
  • 3. The conference of Noyon, at which this agreement was made, lasted from the 1st to the 13th August 1516. (See L'Art de Vérifier les Dates.)
  • 4. “Se vui non li justi al proposito et amici utili.”
  • 5. The proveditor Gritti entered Brescia on the 26th May 1516. (See Romanin, vol. v. p. 314.)
  • 6. By the Venetian Calendar, Vol. II. p. 419, no. 963, it is seen that the office given to Cyprian Maiolo, by the Council of Ten, was the captaincy of the “Devedo,”
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