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 1462', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 6, 1555-1558, (London, 1877) pp. 1588-1591. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol6/pp1588-1591 [accessed 25 April 2024]
Miscellaneous 1462
| Jan. 22. Officiali alle Rason Vecchie Notatorio 2o, c. 90. Venetian Archives. | 36. Affidavit of Piero Gritti, concerning the arrest in London of Piero Diedo and Francesco Foscari. |
|---|---|
| Being requested by the Magnificos the Lords of the Office of the Raxon Vechie, to state what he knows about a certain charge (garbuglio) made against Ser Piero Diedo, the son of Miser Alvise, and Ser Francesco Foscari, son of Miser Felipo, he says the said noblemen were arrested by a marshal (per uno scudier), which arrest it behoved them to terminate by paying the said marshal 40l. sterling, besides other expenses, viz., for messengers to the King, and for lawyers to defend their case in court and [against the ?] serjeant (serzente), and for their arrest. He is of opinion that they spent from 10l. to 12l. sterling. | |
| Venice, 22nd January 1462. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Jan. 22. Officiali alle Rason Vecchie Notatorio 2o, c. 90. Venetian Archives. | 37. Affidavit of Lunardo Bondumier concerning the same arrest. |
| Being requested as above to say what he knows about the moneys spent in London on account of the charge against Ser Francesco Foscari, son of Miser Felipo, he says that he was there at the time of this charse, which Foscari settled with that gentleman through his Bondumier's means for 40l. sterling; and with regard to the cost incurred deponent affirmed that in his opinion it amounted to about 10l. sterling, and perhaps more, as in England the slightest difficulties required much money, especially for the lawyer, who whenever he is spoken to, be it where it may, must have one or two nobles each time; to which must be added the cost of the exculpation (la scritura), and of the messengers despatched repeatedly to the King and the Ministers. | |
| Venice, 22nd January 1462. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Jan. 26. Officiali alle Rason Vecchie. Notatorio 2, c. 91. Venetian Archives. | 38. Award made by the Commissioners of the Office of the Raxion Vechie concerning costs of a process in London for defamation. |
| Before Misiers Carlo Donado, Piero Contarini, and Marco Capello, honourable lords at the office “dele Raxion Vechie,” there appeared Miser Felipo Foscari and Miser Alvise Diedo, the Signory having charged the aforesaid lords to hear them about the case which occurred in London to Ser Francesco Foscari, son of the aforesaid Miser Felipo, and to Ser Pietro Duodo, son of Miser Alvise aforesaid; which case they stated to the aforesaid lords, how in the month of June 1461 they were fraudulently and unjustly accused of having committed sodomy with one Tomaxio Chastel, who was induced spontaneously to confess his crime, and to retract what he had said in accusation of the aforesaid Ser Pietro and Sir Francesco, which accusation he owned to having made, because he was suborned for money by one Dicilioto Vanber, he (Tomaxio) receiving his board from the [Venetian ?] merchants; as appears by a public instrument (fn. 1) drawn up by John Hyde, clerk and public notary of the Empire, in the year of our Lord 1461, on the 7th July (sic) [June] in London, and undersigned on the 20th August 1461 by the Venetian Consul in London, Jacomo Duodo; by the which instrument their innocence is clearly proved. It is also manifested by a letter from our most illustrious Signory to Ser Jacomo Duodo, Vice (sic) Consul in London, dated 27th June, desiring him as speedily as possible to provide there, with the Mayor and Aldermen and such other persons as may seem fit to him, to have it declared for the honour of the Venetian nation that the charge is false (che tal vania (sic) sia dechiarita). | |
| * From the date of the foregoing affidavits it may be inferred that immediately after the recantation made by Chastel in the garden of Sir John Fry on the 7th June, Gritti and Bondumier rode post to Venice, and were the first to announce the news there. | |
| Misiers Felipo Foscari and Alvise Diedo also demand that besides the sum of 40l. already expended to mitigate this case (per metichar dita chaxion) all other costs incurred for this matter be in like manner paid proportionately by the London factory; and as before the arrival of the said teller, the said Tomaxio had recanted his falsehood by the throat, as seen by the aforesaid instrument, furthur expenses to the amount of 24l. 12s. 10d. were incurred; the aforesaid lords at the office “dele Raxion Vecchie” having heard the aforesaid Miser Felipo and Miser Alvise, and having seen the mandate at p. 89 “Notatorio,” the instrument of recantation and the falsity of the accusation, the Signory's letter to Jacomo Duodo, Consul in London, the evidence which was produced about the matter, and the invocation of the name of God from whom all integrity proceeds, they, all three of the judges, decree unanimously that the said 40l. first expended, and all other costs likewise incurred for the said cause, be placed to the debit of the Factory in conformity with justice and equity, and that the aforesaid Ser Piero Diedo and Ser Francesco Foscari be registered as creditors and the Factory as debtor for the sum total expended by either of them down to the present day, amounting to l. s. d. sterling money, of which 20l. s. d. belongs to Ser Francesco Foscari, and the rest to Ser Piero Duodo; for which sums, by our command, and in virtue of our letter, the Consul in London will be written to, to make them creditors and the Factory debtor. | |
| Venice, 26th January 1462. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| April 5. Officiali alle Rason Vecchie. Notatorio 2o, c. 95. Venetian Archives. | 39. Award of the Commissioners of the Office “de le Raxion Vechie” for a payment to be made by the London Factory to Piero Diedo. |
| Miser Alvise Diedo appeared before Ser Carlo Donado and Ser Marco Capello, demanding that in the credit assigned to his son, Ser Piero, for the costs of the proceedings to which he was subjected in London, there be included the expenses of one messenger from Bruges to Venice, and two from Bruges to London, besides other sums paid in Venice. | |
| In virtue of the evidence adduced the Commissioners, ordered that the London Factory pass 57 ducats to the credit of Ser Piero Diedo. | |
| Venice, 5th April 1462. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| June 21. Officiali alle Rason Vecchie. Notatorio 2o, cte. 99. Venetian Archives. | 40. The Same Commissioners to Miser Francesco Barbo, Master of one of the Flanders Galleys, Captain Miser Anzolo da Cha de Pexaro, and Vice-Captain in London. |
| Inform him that in his galley, and in the galley of his comrade (compagno), Miser Marcho da Leze, they have loaded eight butts malmsey, and two painted chests, in one of which are 40 earthen pots of syruped confections, and in the other 20 gilt-glass gourd-shaped flasks full of rosolio, both confections and rosolio being stowed in cotton. Request the Vice-Captain on arriving in England to have them consigned as speedily as possible to the Venetian Vice-Consul in London; the which things are to be presented to the most illustrious Majesty of the King of England, and to other personages, in the name of the most illustrious Signory, as written by them in their letter to the said Vice-Consul, which they request the Vice-Captain to deliver to him; and may God conduct them safely. | |
| Four of the eight butts are in the Vice-Captain's galley and four in the galley of Miser Marcho da Leze. | |
| The chest of rosolio is in his (Barbo's) galley, and the chest of confections in the galley of Marcho da Leze. | |
| Venice, 21st June 1462. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| June 21. Officiali alle Rason Vecchie, Notatorio 2o, cte 99. Venetian Archives. | 41. The Same to Lunardo Chapelo, Vice-Consul in London. |
| On board the galley, Miser Francesco Barbo, master, have loaded four butts malmsey, and one painted chest wrapped in mat, containing 20 gilt-glass gourd-shaped flasks, filled with rosolio, stowed in cotton; Item, on board the galley, Miser Marcho da Cha da Lege, master, 4 butts malmsey, and one painted chest wrapped in mat, containing 40 earthen pots confections in syrup, stowed in cotton; viz., 20 pots green ginger, 10 pots melon, 10 pots quince. The said two chests of confections and rose water and four butts malmsey to be presented to his Majesty the King of England in the name of the most illustrious Signory; and four butts malmsey are to be given to the Chancellor [George Neville, Bishop of Exeter] and Treasurer [John, Earl of Worcester] as usual. Is to deliver them as soon as possible, and to give the office of the Raxon Vecchie notice of their receipt. | |
| Venice, 21st June 1462. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| June 21. Officiali alle Rason Vecchie Notatorio 2o. cte 99. Venetian Archives. | 42. Shipment of Presents from the Signory of Venice for Philip The Good, Duke of Burgundy, and for Edward IV. King of England. |
| Marcho Chapelo, Josafat Barbaro, and Andrea Diedo, officials of the Rason Vecchie to Miser Anzolo da Cha da Pexaro, Captain of the present Flanders galleys. | |
| Have loaded on board his galley two kilderkins of malmsey, and one painted chest wrapped in mat, containing 16 earthen pots (pignate) confections of syrup, viz., 8 pots green ginger, 3 pots quince, and 3 pots melon, and 2 pots candied myra-bolan plums (mirabolini condidi), and 4 gourd-shaped gilt glass flasks of rose water, all stowed in cotton, both kilderkins and chest being labelled in front with an order for their presentation on arriving in Flanders to the most illustrious Lord Duke of Burgundy, in the most illustrious Signory's name, as usual; wherefore they pray the captain to make the said present immediately on his arrival there. | |
| Inform him also, that the London galleys have not yet been able to receive eight butts malmsey and two painted chests, because they have to stow their goods. The said butts and chests are labelled with directions for their delivery to the Venetian Consul in London, and on the captain's arrival at such place as he shall think fit, the officials of the Rason Vecchie pray him to order their immediate consignment, in fulfilment of the most illustrious Signory's intention. They will write to the Consul what he is to do with the aforesaid things, and pray God to grant the captain a safe passage. | |
| Venice, 21st June 1462. | |
| [Italian.] | |