Venice: November 1530 | British History Online

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.

'Venice: November 1530', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533, (London, 1871) pp. 262-265. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol4/pp262-265 [accessed 24 April 2024]

November 1530



Nov. 7. Parti Comuni, Consiglio X., v. vi. (53) p. 96.	630. Ambassador in England.
	Motion made in the Council of Ten and Junta.
	Put to the ballot, that by authority of this Council there be paid to the agents of Lodovico Falier, ambassador in England, from the fund set apart for this purpose, 182 ducats and 21 soldi for the cost of couriers from the 12th of March until the 3rd September last. Also 75 crowns of the Sun, which make 81 ducats and 16 soldi, disbursed by said ambassador's brothers at Venice, for the despatch of letters, forming a total of 264 ducats and 14 soldi, as balloted in the College on the 23rd ultimo.
	Ayes, 21. No, 1. Neutrals, 0. Factum mandatum.
	[Italian.]
Nov. 15. Sanuto Diaries, v. liv. p. 204.	631. Lodovico Falier to the Signory.
	Cardinal Wolsey and his physician . . . . Augustini, a Venetian, have been arrested.
	London, 15th November. Registered by Sanuto 27th December.
	[Italian.]
Nov. 17. Sforza Archives, Milan.	632. Augustino Scarpinello to Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan.
	On the 20th ultimo, I announced in detail, by duplicate letters, that the promise made by the Earl of Wiltshire had been negatived on account of the present unfitting state of his Majesty's affairs, and by reason of other business and expenditure; and I also wrote that I had adapted myself to the reply in such wise as to prevent them from supposing that it had in any way estranged the Duke from the King.
	After Cardinal Wolsey's departure, by the King's order, to visit his church of York, which he had not done previously by reason of his public occupations connected with the government of this realm and other arduous affairs, he made his entry into that city (fn. 1) with upwards of 800 horse, and other usual ceremonies; but by the doom to which fortune, had destined him, (fn. 2) a few days later he was made prisoner by the King, at the hands of the Earl of Northumberland, the chief baron of the north, and then taken and given in custody to Lord Talbot, Lord Steward, Earl of Shrewsbury, (fn. 3) by whom he will be brought to the Tower or Castle of this city today or tomorrow.
	Of the result of this arrest and of its causes I have been unable to hear any authentic account; on obtaining certain intelligence I will not fail to transmit it. In the meanwhile, however, I will not omit to notify the opinions and reports of the vulgar. Some say that the Cardinal purposed making his escape; some that he wished and advised the Pope to make some necessary provision in his own favour, and in that of all the English clergy, contrary to the statutes of the realm, and to the will of the King. Others, more friendly (ut puto) to his right reverend lordship, attribute everything to the envy and fear of his rivals, who had now repented of having made him fall on a feather-bed, from which being afraid he might look back and rise again (ne respiceret et resurgeret) they determined to make an end of him. These, however, as aforesaid, are the trivial opinions of the vulgar (opinioni di vulgo et in acre). Since my above-mentioned letters, no other novelty has occurred. Down to this time the Cardinal's physician, a Venetian, by name Messer Augustino, and a chaplain, have been arrested. The latter was already on his way to cross the Channel with certain letters, which are understood not to have been of much importance. As yet no harshness has been used in the examination and interrogation of the two individuals aforesaid.
	And I recommend myself as humbly as I can to your Excellency, and beseech you to deign at length have mercy on my plight and provide for it.
	London, 17th November 1530.
	Signed: Augustino Scarpinello.
	Addressed: To the Lord Duke of Milan,
	[Original, Italian.]
Nov. 18. Sanuto Diaries, v. liv. p. 188.	633. Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory.
	The Emperor insists on the Council, so his most Christian Majesty has written to the Pope exhorting him to summon it.
	It is heard from England that the King has put Cardinal Wolsey in the Tower (in una torre) owing to the discovery of certain letters, whereby it seems that he received a pension from the most Christian King, which matter the French ambassadors in England vindicated; and, secondly, because the English King wishing to hold a certain conference (parlamenta) of prelates about the divorce, Wolsey prevented the assembly; so it is supposed the King will have him put to death.
	Blois, 18th November. Registered by Sanuto 15th December.
	[Italian.]
Nov. 22. Sanuto Diaries, v. liv. p. 169.	634. Sigismondo della Torre, Mantuan Ambassador, to the Marquis of Mantua.
	The day before yesterday the Emperor closed the Diet. The summary of the business transacted during its session is, that the heretics having been admonished and requested to live according to the universal rite, until the celebration of the Council; but, persisting in their obstinacy, his Majesty has inflicted penalties on them, should they not observe the forms of the Church. It is thought that many will transgress and but few be punished; yet will the opportunity be awaited.
	Has seen a letter from England stating a prohibition in that kingdom for any one to hold more than one church benefice (beneficio curato). Three bishops, namely, Rochester [John Fisher], Bath [John Clerk], and Ely [Nicholas West], disputed this order, and appealed to the Apostolic See. The King, enraged at this, issued an edict imposing heavy penalties on such as henceforth appeal to Rome on this account; and as authors and chief cause of this disobedience, he had the three bishops arrested. In like manner, he has imprisoned certain native noblemen and learned men (dotti) in whose possession works of the Lutheran sect were found.
	Augsburg, 22nd November. Registered by Sanuto 4th December.
	[Italian.]
Nov. 24. Mantuan Archives.	635. Henry VIII. to the College of Cardinals.
	Believes it superfluous to remind them in detail how earnestly—from the beginning of his reign until the present time—he has always sought to render service to the Apostolic See; having likewise always had at heart the dignity and conservation of their Senate; and, on the other hand, confesses candidty, that he has often remarked on the part of their right reverend lordships a singular anxiety to do him pleasure. From those manifest indications of mutual goodwill, the King readily conjectures that their grace, favour and suffrages with the Pope will not fail him, especially in a question which doubtless concerns the decorum of their College, and also his own honour; the Pope having often assured his Majesty's ambassadors that he would comply with his demands. By frequent letters the King has repeatedly treated with the Pope, and now strenuously requests him as an extreme favour to nominate as cardinals his two ambassadors, who on many accounts are dear to him, namely, the Bishop of Winchester [Stephen Gardiner] and the Prothonotary Casal; and by reason of the Pope's graciousness and promise, the King firmly hopes his desire will be gratified, and trusts to obtain it the more easily, if this cause is validly urged and advocated with his Holiness by the suffrages of their right reverend lordships. For although he recommends two personages adorned with many virtues and well deserving of the Apostolic See, yet does the question concern the King's honour, as the Pope has frequently named many cardinals out of regard for other princes, whereas he, the King, whose faith and love are not inferior to those of any one (and the Cardinals can estimate the services rendered by him), has never hitherto asked the Pope for any such nomination. If, contrary to his expectation, his Holiness should give him a refusal, or any longer delay the grant of his just desire, he shall take it very much amiss, and consider his honour deeply offended, having written about the matter so frequently and with such warmth. Should the prayers and intercession of the Cardinals fail to induce his Holiness to concede the King more than one cardinal (although in many letters he has clearly expressed himself on this point), in that case the King demands the public election—out of regard for him—of a cardinal, and that the Pope remit freely to his arbitrament and will the nomination and proclamation of the individual thus elected.
	In this manner the College of Cardinals will do a thing so agreeable to the King, that the recollection of the service rendered him will remain always impressed on his mind.
	From Hampton Court, 24th November 1530.
	Your Good Friend. [No signature.]
	[Latin, contemporary copy.]