Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 6, 1555-1558. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1877.
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'Venice: February 1558, 1-15', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 6, 1555-1558, (London, 1877) pp. 1441-1450. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol6/pp1441-1450 [accessed 26 April 2024]
February 1558, 1–15
| Feb. 2. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. XXIV., el. X., p. 193. | 1157. Cardinal Pole to King Philip. |
|---|---|
| The Count de Feria has delivered to Pole the King's letters in reply to his former ones, and communicated to him the cause of his coming, which greatly comforted the Queen; the members of the Council likewise being much satisfied with what 'the Count communicated to them by commission from his Majesty. It may be hoped that our Lord God will, after these adverse events, console their Majesties with greater prosperity. The Queen's health, both of mind and body, continues good, notwithstanding the toil and trouble undergone by her for the public need, together with her constant solicitude about the King's affairs, in which she perceives the great and especial care taken of him by the divine goodness. | |
| London, 2nd February 1558. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 2. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. lXXIV., el. X., p. 193, recto e verso. | 1158. Cardinal Pole to Cardinal Carlo Caraffa. |
| Has received from Count de Feria the letter written by Caraffa in reply to the one Pole sent him by his auditor. Feria also saluted him in Caraffa's name, and for both these offices Pole thanks him much. Is greatly pleased to hear that Caraffa is so well satisfied with the King, as Pole always hoped would be the case, and that a yet greater and firmer union will take place between the Pope and King Philip, which he prays God to grant Christendom. With regard to the affair of the peace, in like manner as Pole would willingly suggest anything that could effect the common weal which he heartily desires, so is he certain that Caraffa will have found the King, and will continue to find him, most ready and well disposed, notwithstanding the disturbances which the enemy of the human race has never ceased nor ever will cease raising, to prevent so necessary a benefit; but the Pope may always enjoy the satisfaction of having tried every way, and performed every paternal office to attain this end. Humbly kissing Caraffa's hands, Pole recommends himself to his good favour (buona grazia), praying him to salute in his name the “Marchese,” Caraffa's brother, whose coming he greatly regrets has been prevented owing to the evil nature of the present times. | |
| London, 2nd February 1558. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 4. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 1159. Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
| The King returned from Calais to-day, M. de Guise remaining there for the distribution of the army in garrison. The custody of the place is intrusted to M. de Termes, with 3,000 infantry, one part Germans, and the rest Gascons, with a number of sappers (guastatori) who are now fortifying the tower called “Ris Banck,” at the entrance of the harbour, the circuit of which tower they intend to double, to secure the harbour towards the sea, and on the mainland towards Guisnes, from which point it was cannonaded. For the present they will do nothing else round the town, but repair the castle where it was stormed. Guisnes and Hammes are being razed completely. | |
| Of the army, one half of the Switzers will be disbanded, as well as some companies of Grisons, with whom they are less well pleased; in their stead, 6,000 fresh troops will come. The Germans will be retained, and increased by a re-inforcement of 20,000 more, orders having been already given for 12,000; and the “Blacksmiths” (ferraruoli), now in number 1,000, are to be increased to 5,000, each man is to receive 10 crowns and a quarter monthly. | |
| During the King's stay at Calais, he rewarded many of those who in these engagements had rendered him the greatest service, and above all the others Marshal Strozzi, whom he has made a member of the privy council, a grade highly esteemed, as it is the first after that of councillor in the “council affairs,” and he has promised him that from the first vacant church benefices his brother [Lorenzo] the Cardinal shall be provided with an annual rental of 25,000 francs, the Cardinal of Lorraine having offered to charge himself especially with this matter. Besides this the King gave him certain confiscated estates lapsed to the Crown, to the amount of 15,000 crowns, this having been effected by the Queen, who has also married his daughter to the eldest son of the Count of Tenda, Governor of Provence, and brother-in-law of the Constable. The Duke of Guise made him a present (le è stato fatto un presente) of the Governor of Guisnes, (fn. 1) for whose ransom certain French gentlemen have already promised Strozzi from 12,000 to 15,000 crowns, provided they can exchange him for their brother M. de la Rochefoucault, who was captured at the time of the rout of the Constable. By universal attestation, he is in truth deemed very worthy of all these gifts, for to him is attributed the management of this undertaking from first to last, in which he has comported himself with much prudence and judgment, and with daring when needed, regardless at all times either of danger or fatigue. To M. d'Aumale, brother of the Duke de Guise, the King has firmly promised the generalship in Piedmont, in lieu of the Marshal de Brissac, who is to come hither, and will serve with another grade. The Duke de Nemours (fn. 2) has been given the generalship of the light cavalry, which the Duke d'Aumale will resign when he goes to his government; and to the Marquis d'Elbœuf, the third brother of the Duke de Guise, and to the Prince de Condé, the brother of the King of Navarre, his Majesty has promised other principal grades which are not yet published. | |
| The personages who returned with the King from Calais inform me that the attack on Gravelines, St. Omer, and New Hesdin was abandoned, because they being provided with strong garrisons sent thither lately, there would have been great risk of defeat; and Lord Grey de Wilton told them, that before the appearance of the army under Calais, he and Lord Wentworth despatched five messengers to King Philip, and never received any reply whatever, which totally disheartened them (che li levò totalmente l'animo), seeing that from that quarter not only had they no assistance, but not even the promise of it, in contradiction of what was said, that they had not chosen to accept the garrisons (presidij) offered to them. | |
| Orders have been sent into Britanny and Normandy for the preparation of as many ships as possible, and to keep good guard in the towns and places on the sea, in case of any sudden attack by the English, it being published here that many vessels have been embargoed in their ports, a proof of their intention to put to sea. | |
| Paris, 4th February 1558. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 5. Original Letter Book, Venetian Archives. | 1160. Bernardo Navagero, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate. |
| It is said here, on the authority of advices from Flanders dated the 16th ult., that King Philip was making great preparation against the French, and had sent the Count de Feria to England, Don Ruy Gomez to Spain, Don Juan Manrique to Germany, and the Marquis of Pescara to Italy. It is also reported that the King of Bohemia has declared himself a Lutheran. Letters from Cardinal Caraffa, dated the 8th December, purport that the news from Calais had greatly disturbed the affair of the peace, and that the King was solely intent on providing for the war. | |
| Letters of the 19th and 21st, from the French Court, state that Guisnes was parleying, the Duke de Guise having stormed a bulwark, and by a letter of the 23rd it was heard that the place had been taken by assault. The Duke of Paliano says that his son and nephew have taken leave of the King, and that they were to depart in two days for the site of embarkation. The French Ambassador here has made constant rejoicings with bonfires and artillery for the taking of Calais. | |
| The Pope appointed the audience of Cardinal Puteo and the Polish ambassador for Tuesday afternoon, but his Holiness went to sleep so late that he could not give it them, wherefore the ambassador complains of having been two months without obtaining audience, at which he wished to take leave to return to his King. The ambassador from Portugal makes no less a complaint, saying that since last September he has had in his house two couriers who came from that kingdom, nor can he send them back, as he is not able to speak to the Pope. The ambassador from Florence is surprised that having to speak to the Pope, besides many other affairs of importance, about two Ragusean ships with grain, loaded at Scio, and containing both together some 40,000 bushels on which his Duke, at the Pope's request, laid an embargo at Leghorn, he (the ambassador) cannot have audience; so having lately had an express from the Duke charging him to settle this affair, as he can no longer detain the ships, he spoke about it to the Duke of Paliano, and at length had for answer that the Pope wanted the grain to supply the great need which this city and the whole of the Papal territory has of it; and so yesterday they sent on purpose to establish a corn market; which corn by the time it gets here will cost, the Florentine ambassador says, nearly nine crowns the “rubbio,” and here in the meanwhile they are discussing the means whereby to find money to pay for it. | |
| Yesterday, Consistory assembled, the Pope entering it at 2 p.m., having made the Cardinals wait six hours. Cardinal Saracino, who is a member of the Inquisition, proposed the deprivation of the Bishop of Limasol (fn. 3) for heresy, which will be effected at the next consistory. | |
| Rome, 5th February 1558. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. (2nd letter.) | 1161. Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
| When talking to the King about his journey, he said that having seen the site and condition of Calais and Guisnes, he was the more surprised at the acquisition of those fortresses, in one of which, meaning Calais, he said that had there been the number of soldiers required for the size of the place, which has need of not less than 4,000 men (the amount now there under M. de Termes), [they could not have been dislodged]; or had they been commanded by a person of experience and skilled in war (et intendente de guerra), even those few, who were not 400 fighting men (huomini da fatione), would in spite of their commander (malgrado lui) have given the enemy so much to do that they might have held out until the arrival of succour either from Flanders or England, nor could M. de Guise have intercepted it; his Majesty adding that had the capture of the place been delayed for another day, they must perforce have retreated and raised the siege, not only on account of the succour which had already made its appearance from England, but because on the morrow so terrible a storm arose that had the troops been outside the town instead of within it, great part of them would doubtless have been drowned, the retreat, with the loss of most of the artillery, being inevitable. The King then discussed all the mistakes committed by Lord Wentworth, of which, to avoid wearying your Serenity, who will have heard of part of them through my former letters, I will merely mention the following one, that he did not flood the fields as he could have done, because he did not choose to deprive himself of next summer's crops by swamping the sowed possessioni et campi to his own detriment, and that of the principal inhabitants of the town, through loss of the harvest. | |
| His Majesty said, that if in the other place, Guisnes, in lieu of 800 Walloons and Flemings, there had been that amount of Spaniards or Englishmen, it never would have been lost, as the Flemings very soon retired into the citadel, and compelled Lord Grey to surrender, to obtain leave, as they did, to march out armed, but without colours or drums, and without any of their captains or officers; whilst all the English let themselves all be cut to pieces on the battery (sulla batteria), having for two consecutive days not only stood two assaults given them by the French, whom they repulsed bravely, killing many of them; so that, at the end, the whole praise rested with the Germans, who gave the third assault, and gained the town (onde fu poi la laude tutta delli Thedeschi, che diedero il terzo assalto, et guadagnarono la terra). To this his Majesty added, that to exculpate himself the Governor of Calais showed certain letters whereby he advised the Queen of England that, as he heard that the camp with M. de Guise was coming under the town, her Majesty should provide him with succour and assistance; and that she wrote back to him, he that being in such a place, she marvelled at his standing in fear of his own shadow, reproaching him openly with cowardice and want of spirit. | |
| With this opportunity afforded by mention of the Queen of England, I asked the King what was heard about the movements there, and he said that a trumpet sent thither by M. de Termes, under pretence of accompanying certain Englishwomen, but in fact to obtain news, brought back word that at Dover he found the whole Privy Council, they having come from London; that much provision was being made, and that the Queen had created General, the Earl of Rutland, who must be very well known to me, I having been in England; that he was a young man from 33 to 34 years of age, with no other experience than that of having been general on the frontier of Scotland. The King added that the said Earl had sent a herald to M. de Guise to let him know that he should soon be at Dunkirk, on this side the Channel, so that they might see each other; and in the meanwhile he prayed him to give the herald an opportunity for speaking with Lord Grey, the Governor of Guisnes, to comfort and assure him on behalf of the Queen, that she considered herself no less well served by him, than she had been ill-served by Lord Wentworth, the Governor of Calais, and that she exhorted him to be of good cheer (a star di buona voglia). [His Majesty continued with a laugh, “Look-ye what a proceeding this is! When was a crowned head ever known to send to proclaim to the enemy the esteem in which his captive subjects are held?—so that the persons in whose possession they are, may increase their ransom, as was done immediately by Marshal Strozzi, whose prisoner the said Governor is; for he at first demanded of him 7,000 crowns, and Grey offered 4,000 and a trifle more, which would have been accepted by Strozzi; but on hearing the herald's words, he said he added 10,000 crowns to Grey's ransom, because Grey being held in such account by the Queen, Strozzi was sure she would not look to 10,000 crowns more or less, to get him back.” | |
| With great zest did his Majesty tell me this and many other things already known, and would have told me more stories had we not been interrupted by the Legate, who came in like manner to congratulate him on his return. | |
| Paris, 6th February, 1558. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 8. Original Letter Book, Venetian Archives. | 1162. Bernardo Navagero, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate. |
| His Holiness said to me, “We are in daily expectation of advices from the Legates in France [Cardinal Triulzi] and Flanders [Cardinal Caraffa]. We believe that these lads of ours (fn. 4) are on their homeward journey, which we desire for the consolation of their father and mother, but yet more that we may be able to assume that perfect neutrality which becomes us, as we have had told, besides other things, to the most Christian King, who evinced displeasure at their leaving him, saying that it would look as if we meant to abandon him. We replied that even were we not to ask this of him, he ought to send us our great nephews in order to remove all suspicion from the King Catholic, and so that we might place ourselves in such a state of neutrality as becomes him who sits in this place where we are seated, in which case we might render service to him and to others. And we shall use the utmost diligence so as not to give reasonable cause to either of them to doubt us; we say reasonable, because we cannot prevent their suspicions, and are indeed certain that it will be impossible for us to act with such reserve as not to make it appear to both one and the other that we do something more for his enemy. | |
| “It was our wish to be thus neutral at the commencement of our pontificate, to seek, as we are now seeking, the peace between them, and then to do some service to God concerning the Reformation, carrying out the conceits which we have had in our mind since a long while, nor can this be effected without a good peace; but the evil ministers of King Philip disturbed us at the very commencement by waging war against us without any cause, and at the time when peace was offered us by Pirro dell' Offredo, whom we imprisoned, as you know, in the Castle, which brought such ruin on the Papal States, with risk of losing the kingdom of Naples, that in truth certain evil ministers and councillors of that King would deserve to be beheaded by him (che quel Principe li facesse tagliar la testa). | |
| “By the grace of God we are now once more the common Father, and should our sins, and those of the people, not be such that His Divine Majesty, as we suspect, will choose to reform them with fire and sword, but make use of His infinite pity and mercy, which exceeds every iniquity, we hope, in a Council summoned here in Rome about the matter of the Reformation, to do a thing that will be accepted universally with much applause; as we also have been bishop-resident, and we know that the avidity with which everything is drawn to Rome has deprived the ordinary [spiritual authorities] of their privilege (ha levata la libertà alli ordenarij), by making many exemptions in favour of hospitals, confraternities, and companies, rendering them independent of the bishops; so if there is an incontinent priest (un prete concubinario) or a rascally chaplain, the bishop cannot lay hands on them, being told to abstain, the one being privileged under the patronage of St. Antonio, the other of Sto. Spirito, so that everything goes to ruin; nor could these provisions be made without the peace.” | |
| Rome, 8th February 1558. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 12. Original Letter Book, Venetian Archives. | 1163. Bernardo Navagero, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate. |
| Being of opinion that in addition to what was divulged by the Duke of Paliano, this last courier despatched from Brussels by Cardinal Caraffa must have brought something more, I sent my secretary this morning to those places where events are communicated to me very confidentially, and they may be considered certain, coming as they do from those who know them. Letters have been shown from the most serene King Catholic, giving account of the loss of Calais, (fn. 5) and of the provisions which are being made by him for its recovery, the thing being of great importance to him, but much more so to the kingdom of England. | |
| My secretary was told by his intelligencer (fn. 6) that the Duke of Alva gave him notice of his arrival at that Court on the 22nd; that he hoped the King would send Cardinal Caraffa hither satisfied. That Marc' Antonio Colonna had written him a long autograph letter, telling him in conclusion, and this tée intelligencer thought important, that matters were proceeding so well that the Legate Caraffa would return satisfied with King Philip, and that he (Colonna) hoped to be able to come soon and serve his Majesty in Rome, which is a sign that he had hope of getting back his State. The intelligencer added, with regard to this matter, that the Bishop of Terracina is taking back to the Legate Caraffa the Pope's command to do everything for the State of Paliano to remain in the Caraffa family, but that should the King not choose to listen to this, Cardinal Caraffa is to comply with his Majesty's wishes, (faccia quello che vorrà Sua Maestà); and, in conclusion, the Legate was to do in all matters whatever seemed to him in accordance with the Papal dignity and the advantage of his family. | |
| My secretary also heard from the same intelligencer (fn. 7) that his friends write to him [from Brussels], that on the 25th Cardinal Caraffa had been with the King, and came away very cheerful, saying, that he never speaks to his Majesty without remaining fully satisfied, and without the King's saying many things to him in praise of the individual who communicated what I am now writing, the Legate saying that his (Cardinal Sforza's) letters greatly benefited his business, and that he was therefore obliged to him for them. The Ambassadors of Portugal and Florence, although for the last three weeks they have been daily to the palace, could never obtain audience; and the Florentine says the Pope is longing to draw the war into Italy, which, were he sage, would remain in Flanders; that this his wish might be realised to his detriment, and that he might get more of it than he wants, as no one will be found napping, although, so far as he can comprehend, his Holiness is expecting the Turkish fleet as anxiously as the Jews do the Messiah. It seems to me superfluous to remind your Serenity to keep secret certain things that I write you by reason of the prudence of the Senate, and for their country's sake, so I will say no more on the subject. | |
| Rome, 12th February 1558. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 12. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 1164. Michiel Surian, Venetian Ambassador with King Philip, to the Doge and Senate. |
| After despatching my letter of the 6th, (fn. 8) several concurrent advices were received, to the effect that the French on those frontiers were retiring to their fortresses and wished to rest the troops until May, they having suffered much from this weather; so the Duke of Savoy sent a courier to St. Omer to recall his attendants, as he does not expect to return any more into those parts for the present, although it seems that yesterday he changed his mind and gave it to be understood that he should come back in two or three days. Although towards Calais the French have put their troops into garrison, they nevertheless have not ceased to ravage this other quarter, and took a castle called Ruremonde (Rermonti), in the Duchy of Luxemburg, not a strong place. The French had also plotted at Han, but were detected, and four Spanish soldiers, two light horse, and two grooms have been seized; some Canons of Cambrai have also been arrested on suspicion, and the guards at Valenciennes have been changed. M. de Lalain has gone thither with some “Blacksmith” cavalry (Feraroli), of whom, however, they make little use, as they are insubordinate according to their custom. It is reported that M. de Vendôme [Antoine de Bourbon] has sent some foot and horse towards Bapaume on the Artois frontier. Provisioning is very slow, from the natural tardiness of the Spanish ministers, and from lack of money. It is heard from England that it having been proposed in Parliament to provide for the recovery of Calais, many members said that the times were so bad, that before undertaking a war which might be the ruin of the kingdom, the matter should be well considered; and that if the French have taken Calais, they thus took nothing from the English, but recovered what was their own; so should this opinion be that of the majority, but little assistance can be hoped for from those people. I have also heard that the King of Denmark threatens to make war on England, reviving certain old quarrels, but the truth is, that he is stimulated by the French, who sent an ambassador to King Christian to that effect; so what Don Ruy Gomez told me lately may be true, that France is moving the whole world. | |
| Brussels, 12th February 1558. | |
| [Italian, in cipher, deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.] | |
| Feb. 13. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 1165. Michiel Surian, Venetian Ambassador with King Philip, to the Doge and Senate. |
| The Legate Caraffa has been with the King, who spoke to him so kindly that he remained content and satisfied. I have heard it was settled not to give them Bari, nor any fortress. | |
| Brussels, 13th February 1558. | |
| [Italian, in cipher, deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.] | |
| Feb. 13. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. (2nd letter.) | 1166. Michiel Surian, Venetian Ambassador with King Philip, to the Doge and Senate. |
| The Prince of Orange departed yesterday to the Diet at Frankfort, by order of King Philip, as Prince of the Empire (fn. 9) (principal (sic) di imperio). Many persons of the court are of opinion that he went to make the renunciation of the Imperial title to the King of the Romans, according to the order of the Emperor. (fn. 10) | |
| Brussels, 13th February 1558. | |
| [Italian, in cipher, deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.] | |
| Feb. 13. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. (3rd letter.) | 1167. Michiel Surian, Venetian Ambassador with King Philip, to the Doge and Senate. |
| Since the King's recovery he has attended incessantly to negotiations for peace with France. | |
| The Constable has several times, and lastly through the Count de Feria, who visited him when going towards England, offered to conclude peace between his Majesty and the King of France. This proposal, although made frequently heretofore, was not taken into consideration until lately, as the Legate Caraffa is suspected, nor does it seem to these Lords that your Serenity shows such warmth as they could wish; so they have determined to treat the peace in this manner, knowing that in the whole council of the most Christian King there is no other member inclined to make peace, except the Constable; whereas the Duke de Guise and his dependants profess the contrary opinion. This resolution having been formed, the mode of carrying it out was discussed, and they talked of releasing the Constable, he giving security for two or three hundred thousand crowns, under promise that should peace not be made, he would return to prison; but this does not please, because should he fail to bring it about, he would pay the money rather than return to prison; so that they would have set at liberty a personage of such renown, whom they do not intend to release, unless the peace be made. They then thought of freeing him on “parole,” thinking that this act of courtesy might profit more than the promise of money, though this likewise seems perilous. The third way is, to give him leave to send his son, who, being instructed by his father, might negotiate this business in France; but neither is this approved of, because the office performed by the Constable might be expected to prove of another sort than that of his son. As yet, therefore, I am unable to know what decision has been adopted, but am told they will make a forty days' truce, and in the meanwhile such ultimatum will be formed as most to the purpose. This having come to the knowledge of Cardinal Caraffa, it has made him very melancholy, it seeming to him that by taking the negotiation out of his hands, his honour suffers; and the courier whom he sent to France having been turned back a second time, he is now despatching thither the Bishop of Terracina, who arrived here from Rome yesterday evening, and he means to send him by way of Burgundy, that he may not be stopped as the courier was on these frontiers. His right reverend Lordship would wish thus to make believe that he has not been excluded from the negotiation, and that if anything is done, his authority will have assisted. | |
| It is possible that regard for Sultan Soliman will render the French more difficult to condescend to a treaty of agreement. | |
| Brussels, 13th February 1558. | |
| [Italian, in cipher, deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.] | |