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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'Appendix: Miscellaneous 1546', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 6, 1555-1558, (London, 1877) pp. 1635-1637. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol6/pp1635-1637 [accessed 25 April 2024]
Miscellaneous 1546
| Jan. 3. Venetian Archives. | 120. Secretary Zambon to the Chiefs of the Ten. |
|---|---|
| Four nights ago I received the letters of your Lordships of the Ten, dated 10th December, with those addressed to this King, about the safe conduct made by you for Lodovico Dalle Armi for five years. On the morrow I went to Hampton Court, where the King is, and having given him to understand that I had letters from your Lordships to present to him, his Majesty appointed me audience for today; so I presented myself this evening, and as enjoined me by your Lordships, I stated their contents to him with every demonstration of that observance and goodwill which is borne by your Lordships to his Majesty. At the commencement the King evinced such wish to hear this reply as is usually seen in things much desired and expected. He listened to the letters and to all that I said to him attentively, admitting the apology for the delay of your reply as a true and valid excuse. According as it occurred to me in my conversation to make mention and often to repeat the good will of your Lordships, your ancient friendship, and vast observance for this most serene King, and on the other hand the good will and disposition of his Majesty and his extreme benevolence towards the Republic, so did the King, by his countenance, with the head, and by every other external sign, accompany my words, admitting and confirming what I said to him. Without doubt I clearly comprehended that what I said to him was very agreeable, but more than anything else, beyond comparison, that your Lordships had chosen to make the aforesaid safe conduct, that his Majesty and the whole world may know the esteem in which your Lordships hold him; his Majesty adding, “Those Lords have conceded safe conduct to Lodovico for five years and no longer;” and I telling his Serenity that by law your Lordships could not make similar safe conducts for a longer time, in the manner your Lordships charge me to do, the King said to me laughing, “On the expiration of these five years, those Lords may prolong them;” but, without making farther rejoinder, I took occasion to tell the King that the disturbances caused by the outrages of said Lodovico were insufficient to alter in any way your Lordships' good mind towards his Majesty, knowing for certain that they were contrary to his Majesty's intention. | |
| His Majesty, interrupting me, then said, “Yes, in truth, those outrages greatly displeased me, and I assure you that Lodovico also, so far as I can comprehend, repents much of them. He certainly suspected that those of the guard were Frenchmen; nor will Lodovico henceforth give the Signory farther cause for resentment.” The King then asked me whether the safe conduct included Lodovico Dalle Armi and his followers? I replied that the letters did not contain more than I had read to him. | |
| “What then (said his Majesty) can Lodovico do, without his followers (senza i sui)? My ambassador (fn. 1) spoke to the Signory for the said Lodovico and for his followers (et per li sui).” | |
| His Majesty, after thinking some time about this, and having let me finish my discourse, in which I again rejoined about the Signory's good will for his Majesty, said and repeated to me several times, most especially when I took leave, “I pray you thank the Signory in my name heartily for this pleasure they have done me.” | |
| As your Lordships desire me, I then communicated what I had done to the Chancellor, who returned many thanks to your Lordships for the account in which you hold him, and offered me his favour very readily for whatever you may need. | |
| London, 3rd January 1546. | |
| P.S.—Lodovico Dalle Armi came to see me, and announced the receipt of a message from the Court, how much your Lordships (at the suit of his Majesty) have conceded him; adding that he expects the King to send him to Venice in a few days, and requesting me, with infinite reverence and submission towards your Lordships, to thank you most humbly in his name, assuring you that he has never lived arrogantly here, but as becomes a voluntary servant who always wishes to be loyal to your Lordships. | |
| [Italian, signed and addressed.] | |