Venice: January 1528

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1871.

This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Venice: January 1528', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533, (London, 1871) pp. 115-118. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol4/pp115-118 [accessed 26 April 2024]

January 1528

1528. Jan. 2. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlvi. p. 428. 224. Marco Antonio Venier, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Signory.
They are awaiting the result of Lelu Bayard's negotiations with the Emperor. A few days ago Stafileo, Bishop of Sebenico, arrived as Nuncio from the Pope to the King. His Majesty is now sending him back to his Holiness together with Sir John Russell. (fn. 1) A gentleman has also arrived from the [most Christian?] King, and is gone to Greenwich for audience; an ambassador from the Duke of Ferrara having likewise arrived in England.
London, 2nd January. Registered by Sanuto, 2nd February,
[Italian.]
Jan. 8. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlvi. p. 465. 225. Gasparo Spinelli, Secretary of the Venetian Ambassador in London, to—.
Latino Juvenale arrived in London on the 3rd inst. He brought papal briefs from Orvieto announcing the release of Ms Holiness. On account of this news, Cardinal Wolsey, who is entirely ecclesiastic, and a pillar of the Roman Church, assembled three days ago a number of bishops and abbots, and all the ambassadors, and made a procession; and after the celebration of mass, caused one of his domestics [domestic chaplains?] (fn. 2) to deliver an elegant oration, returning thanks to God; after which the Cardinal, richly apparelled, went to the steps of St. Paul's, and to the immense crowd there assembled announced that the Pope was released, requesting them to thank the Divine goodness.
Yesterday the Cardinal invited all the ambassadors to dine with him, and included him (Spinelli). The dinner was most sumptuous, and afterwards the scholars of St. Paul's, all children, recited the “Phormio” of Terence, with so much spirit (galantaria) and good acting (bona attione) that he (Spinelli) was astounded. (fn. 3) The hall in which they dined, and where the comedy was performed, had a large garland of box in front, in the centre of which was inscribed in gilt letters, “Terentii Phormio.” Then on one side were inscribed on paper, in Gothic letters, “Cedant arma togœ” and on the other, “Fœ dus pacis non movebitur.” Beneath the garland was written, “Honori et laudi Pacifici;” with reference to the Cardinal, who is styled Cardinalis Pacificus. Other mottoes relating to peace were scattered over the other sides of the hall, such, as, “Pax cum homine et bellum cum vitiis.”
After the comedy three girls richly clad appeared. The first was Religion, the second Peace, the third Justice. They complained of having been expelled well nigh from all Europe, by heresy, war, and ambition; detailing the iniquities perpetrated by the enemy, saying they had no other refuge than in their most generous (amplissimo) Father, whom they besought to assume their protection and defence, each of them concluding their harangue with the following lines:—
”Ast tibi pro meritis meritos tribuemus honores, Et laudes cecinit nostra Thalia tuos.”
When the girls had finished, a little boy, who had already recited with great applause the prologue of the comedy, delivered a Latin oration, celebrating the day as one of great thanksgiving on account of the release of the Pope, who had escaped from the hands of the most iniquitous men in the world, worse than Turks; vituperating greatly their cruelty, and also that of the Emperor, omisso nomine, in a paragraph to the effect that these calamities proceeded “ah unius libidine, qui cuneta sibi subjicere cupide admodum conabatur.”
The grace with which this little fellow (questo figliolino) delivered the oration could not be imagined.
London, 8th January. Registered by Sanuto, 15th February.
[Italian.]
Jan. 8. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlvi. p. 387. 226. Letter from—to—.
News that the intention of his most Christian Majesty, and of the English King, is that Mons. de Lautrec march forward to attack the enemy, as speedily as possible; complying with the Pope's wishes throughout. Mons. de Lautrec will therefore depart on Friday the 10th, and shape his course by way of the Tronto, to the kingdom of Naples, although the King wishes him to go by way of Rome; on which account four Venetian galleys which were at Leghorn and three French ones are detained, and stationed off Siena (sic) [Sassetta?], so that should he take that road, he may avail himself of them.
The English King has paid his contribution for November and December, and wishes Lautrec to act and advance; Cardinal Wolsey having written strongly to this effect.
The most Christian King also sends payment for two months to Lautrec.
Bologna, 8th January. Registered by Sanuto, 16th January.
[Italian.]
Jan. 9–10. Sanuto Diaries, v.xlvi.p. 428. 227. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory.
The King has sent 40,000 crowns to Italy, and will despatch one of his gentlemen express to the Pope. Stafileo, Bishop of Sebenico, has arrived as ambassador from his Holiness, who has written to the King to obtain the restitution of Ravenna and Cervia. His Majesty answered the Pope that this was not the moment, but that they should drive the Spaniards out of Italy; and he wrote to the King of England to reply to his Holiness about those two towns in this sense.
Paris, 9 th and 10th January. Registered by Sanuto, 2nd February.
[Italian.]
Jan. 10. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlvi. p. 481. 228. Marc' Antonio Venier to the Signory.
Cardinal Wolsey has written to the Pope to ratify the agreement with the Duke of Ferrara.
London, 10th January. Registered by Sanuto, 21st February.
[Italian.]
Jan. —. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlvi. p. 485. 229. The Same to the Same.
When Cardinal Wolsey heard of the Pope's release and his arrival at Orvieto, he gave entertainments and comedies.
London, — January. Registered by Sanuto, 21st February.
[Italian.]
Jan. 14. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlvi. p. 377. 230. Missive to Marco Antonio Venier.
Motion made and carried in the Senate for a letter to the ambassador in England, acquainting him with the proposal made by the Archbishop of Manfredonia (l'arziepiscopo Sypontino), as also with the Senate's reply, and appointment of ambassadors to the Pope.
[Italian.]
Jan. 23. Navagero Despatches, Cicogna Copy, in the Correr Museum. 231. Andrea Navagero to the Signory.
After much negotiation, having been unable to come to any arrangement, the French and English ambassadors asked the Emperor's leave to depart; so he did the like, all making the demand together. The permission was given in such wise, that yesterday the Emperor commanded them to quit the Court, but not to go beyond Pozza, a place eight leagues thence, where they are to remain until the Imperial ambassadors now in France, England, and at Venice arrive within his Majesty's dominions. The Emperor would only allow them to write this one open letter. (fn. 4) A number of infantry and cavalry had been appointed for their custody, and to keep them company, Don Lopes Urtado, who on their departure will go with them to the confines of France. Requests the Signory, on the departure of the Imperial ambassador from Venice, to give him (Navagero) notice by way of France, that his confinement at Villa Verde may not be long.
The day after the ambassadors took leave, the French and English heralds declared war on the Emperor, who gave them public audience and replied in due form.
Villa Verde (between Burgos and Pozza), 23rd January 1528.
[Italian.]
Jan. 30. Sanuto Diaries, v. xlvi. p. 511. 232. Marc' Antonio Venier to the Signory.
Went to visit Mons. de la Barcha [Brosse], the most Christian King's ambassador, accompanied by all the Knights of the Garter in London, some 10 in number, with 100 horse.
In a church there [at Windsor?] (fn. 5) Garter King-at-Arms (fn. 6) assigned a certain place (fn. 7) in which they deported a shield (fn. 8) with its emblems, and a helmet and crest, with silver ornaments; and they also inscribe the title of the personage whose device is placed, as a memorial of this dignity. (fn. 9) Here in England, by all ways and means, they certainly pay great honour to the agents of the most Christian King. They returned [from Windsor?] yesterday. Today the French ambassador will depart, having received a handsome present from the King of England.
It is also said that his Majesty will send an envoy to the Diet about to be held in Germany for the new election of the King of the Romans, either to postpone the election, or to canvass it for one of the Electors. The Prothonotary Gambara has arrived in London.
Mons. De la Brocha [Brosse], the most Christian King's groom of the bedchamber (camarier serreto), returns well satisfied with the King and Cardinal.
London, 30th January. Registered by Sanuto, 29th February.
[Italian.]

Footnotes

  • 1. This was the last appearance in England of Giovanni Stafileo; he died at Rome on the 22nd August 1528 (See Glubich, “Dizionario Biografico degli uomini illustri della Dalmazia”) Pope Clement VII. resented Stafileo's conduct with regard to Henry VIII.'s divorce, but the vacant see of Sebenico was, nevertheless, bestowed on Stafileo's nephew, Giovanni Lucio.
  • 2. In the original “uno delli suoi domestici.” The domestic was Doctor Capon, according to Hall (p. 738), who dates the oration “Sonday the V. day of January.”
  • 3. Gasparo Spinelli was one of the most accomplished secretaries in the service of Venice, as seen by his biography (vol. iv., pp. 19 and following, Cicogna Inscriptions), and therefore this compliment, the first ever paid by any foreigner, to the scholars of St. Paul's, is worth recording.
  • 4. “Ne a consentito che seriviamo altro che questa lettera aperta.”
  • 5. St. George's Chapel, Windsor?
  • 6. “Il maistro de ditti Cavalieri.”
  • 7. A stall?
  • 8. Query, the shield of Francis I., King of France, who had received the Garter in France, on Sunday 10th November 1527. (See Hall. p. 734, ed. London, 1809.) Hall does not record the installation at Winder in January 1528.
  • 9. “Et ancor poneno il titolo a quel mete la insegna. et si fa questo, in memoria di tal dignita.”
PreviousTable of contentsNext