Spain: September 1532, 16-30 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 4 Part 2, 1531-1533. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1882.

'Spain: September 1532, 16-30', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 4 Part 2, 1531-1533, (London, 1882) pp. 514-523. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol4/no2/pp514-523 [accessed 26 April 2024]

September 1532, 16-30



17 Sept.	996. Dr. Ortiz to the High Commander.
S. E. L. 858, f. 164. B. M. Add. 28,585, f. 114.	The letter which I am now writing to the Emperor will inform Your Lordship of recent incidents in the Queen's cause. I gave the Imperial ambassador (Miçer Mai) notice, and begged him to have the last sentence pronounced by Consistory [in the affair of the English excusator] put down in writing and registered. His Worship did always maintain to me that it had been put in writing, I was positively sure of the contrary, for having myself applied to His Holiness I was distinctly told that political considerations had prevented this being done. (fn. n1)
	Instead of cardinal Cesarino, now absent from Rome, and to whom the charge of drawing out the act was first entrusted, cardinal Cesis has been appointed by His Holiness. I, therefore, called yesterday and asked that Cardinal for a copy. He promised it for next day, but up to the present hour has not sent it in, on the plea that he had not by him the register book where the decisions of the Consistory are entered. He, however, promised to send it as soon as possible, and has since kept his word, for at the moment I write it has been delivered into my hands. I enclose it. Your Lordship will perceive from its tenour that the time allowed for the production of the Royal mandate is prorogued until the month of October, or rather until God grant Your Majesty a complete victory over your enemies.—Rome, 17th September 1532.
	Signed: "El Doctor Ortiz."
	Spanish. Holograph. pp. 2.
18 Sept.	997. The Same to the Emperor.
S. E. L. 858, f. 167. B. M. Add. 28,585, f. 115.	By my last I wrote to Your Majesty that His Holiness was purposely delaying till after the holidays the expedition of the brief for which I have applied, on the plea that he wishes to allow time for the King's mandate, which he expects from England, to be sent. I am sure that he will delay it still longer, for his own secretary (Sanga) told me yesterday that there are many considerations (respetos) to be attended to in this business, and that His Holiness is naturally desirous of knowing what resolution the kings of France and England are likely to take at this their approaching interview. Chevalier Casal, one of the English ambassadors here, is about to depart for England, and is to take a message from the Pope to the effect that the King must without fail send his mandate here, separate himself at once from his concubine, and restore the Queen to her matrimonial rights, and that should he not comply with this injunction he must not expect any favour from him, as he (the Pope) will be obliged to let justice have its course.
	My impression is that the Pope will wait not only for the return of the messenger, who is, as I say, about to leave for England, but also for the news of the very signal victory which our gracious God will most undoubtedly give Your Majesty, and with which all this disputing and pleading will come to an end.
	Nevertheless, no time in my opinion should be lost, and, therefore, as soon as these present holidays are over, there being no plausible excuse to allege, Your Majesty might send fresh orders to the ambassador (Mai) to demand and solicit the expedition of the aforesaid brief. Time is favourable and the opportunity at hand. Even if the king of England send his mandate here, which I fancy he is not disposed to do, if he does not at once separate from his concubine and restore the Queen to the possession of her matrimonial rights, the cause will not be over so soon, whereas if the Papal brief is now expedited it will tend as much as the sentence itself to bring about the King's confusion and to cause his kingdom to rise against his contumacious disobedience, so likely to produce a schism in the Church. (fn. n2)
	His Holiness has heard from his Nuncio in England that the brief, which he addressed to the King by two different ways enjoining him to remit as soon as possible his mandate, and full powers for some one to represent him at the suit, has actually reached its destination, although up to the present no answer from him has been received.
	The sentence which the other day the cardinals in Consistory gave had not been written down until now. Thank God it is already on paper in due form and I have seen it with my own eyes.—Rome, 18th September 1532.
	Signed: "El Doctor Ortiz."
	Addressed: "To the Sacred, Imperial, Catholic Majesty of the Emperor and King, our Lord."
	Spanish. Holograph. pp. 3.
22 Sept.	998. Jean Hannart to the Same.
S. E. L. 1. B. M. Add. 28,585, f 117.	I wrote from this town (Amboise) on the 11th by way of Flanders, and again on the 13th; besides Carasa, of the Chamber of the Most Christian queen of France, was the bearer of another in answer to Your Majesty's letter of the 19th of August from Tordesillas. I had also written from Nantes advising late events, and as I consider that part, if not all my letters, must have reached Your Imperial hands I will not record here past events but simply refer to my correspondence.
	My last despatch (fn. n3) announced that on the 13th inst. the Most Christian king and queen of France had made their entrance into this town, and that the grand master of France (Anne de Montmorency) had started for Calais. After that on Sunday, the 15th, in the chapel of the Palace, before the mass was over, the king of France, in the presence of certain prelates dressed in pontificals, and of the English ambassador, swore on the sacred Gospels to fulfil the new treaties of alliance and friendship lately stipulated with England; after which a secretary read to him certain clauses which he (the King) was to swear to, and which were not published because the ceremony took place so close to the altar that nobody could hear what passed. It is said that the king of England is to do as much on his side, and that it was thought that for the greater security of the two kings it was desirable that the ceremony should be public.
	Yesterday, the 21st, I spoke with the Most Christian king of France, and told him that I had received letters from the Emperor. We conversed about various matters, and he told me that he had for many days been thinking of speaking to me about this interview with the king of England, that I might learn the exact purpose for which it had been devised, and that Your Majesty should be informed thereof beforehand. "For upwards of one year," he said, "the king of England has been importuning me to hold a conference with him. (fn. n4) I did not then comply with his wishes, but put him off because I myself was thinking at the time of holding an interview with the Emperor. Now lately he has solicited me again, and laid so much stress upon it that I have not been able to refuse. We are to see each other soon, the interview having been fixed for the 20th of October in a town of my kingdom called Boulogne [sur mur], and afterwards in another town possessed by the king of England, the name of which is Calais. Each of us to take with him 600 horsemen and no more; the first day I shall receive my guest in a small village of France on the confines of the country of Boulogne, shall invite him to dinner, and thence proceed to the town itself where we shall spend three days together. Next day the king of England will give me a dinner in a village close to Calais, and thence we shall both march to that town, and I shall stay three days with him."
	As to the cause and reasons of the interview the King said it was the great strait and necessity in which the Christian Republic had been placed by the Turk, that both kings together might concert what measures to take in the present emergency, in accordance with their dignity, titles, and estates, for the defence of threatened Christendom in case the Infidel should prosecute his undertaking next year, and try to carry out his wicked purposes. The oath which he (the King) took in the church of this town [Amboise] the other day was for the purpose of renewing and confirming the old treaties of friendship and alliance existing between them, and some additional articles still more binding which the king of England had lately caused to be introduced therein for the mutual defence and preservation of their respective kingdoms and dominions. That nothing shall be treated of or discussed at the interview likely to affect or invalidate the treaties of friendship and confederation with the Emperor, and that he is sure the King will give assistance against the Turk though he may not perhaps be able to march personally against him. In the event, however, of his not helping with troops —though, the King remarked, I know he will do his utmost to assist personally in the defence of the Christian religion wherever his services are wanted—the King offers to contribute a proportionate sum of money wherewith to help the undertaking. He (king Francis) would not fail to inform me of whatever was resolved at the conferences on this particular point that I may at once communicate with Your Majesty. He himself would dispatch a confidential person to you to declare the same on his part.
	Whilst on this topic the King said many gracious things to me and shewed much affection for Your Majesty, as well as admiration of your warlike preparations against the Turk, which, he said, were so immense and so ably conducted that they could not fail to ensure the victory of the Christians over the Turks. He went on praising Your Majesty's resources and the spirited courage with which you had personally marched against the Turk, and finished by saying that he had promulgated a general jubilee throughout his dominions, and ordered prayers and processions. I failed not to praise his holy purpose as well as the good affection and interest he shewed for the preservation of the treaties. I assured him that the Emperor had always lived in the same confidence, without for a moment doubting or believing the contrary, and that he would always find him ready to respond.
	The Queen (Eleanor) had a miscarriage a few days ago, owing to which she is to remain at Amboise three weeks more or so until she is able to travel. The King, who had started the day before, came back in haste and has remained in her company until to-day the 22nd, when he has again retaken the route of Paris, where he is expected at the end of this month.—Ambuesa (Amboise), 22nd September 1532.
	Signed: "Jean Hannart."
	Spanish. Original. pp. 5.
25 Sept.	999. Rodrigo Niño to the Same.
S. E. L. 1,301, ff. 187–9. B M. Add. 28,585 f. 120.	After my despatch of the 14th a light vessel (esguiraço) coming from Candia anchored in this port yesterday, the 24th. No sooner did I hear of its arrival than I sent for the master and inquired what tidings he had of the Imperial fleet in those parts. He said that being at anchor in the island of Zante on the 5th inst. the prince Andrea Doria had arrived there with 39 galleys and some brigantines and fustees, and that the rest of the fleet were cruising (fn. n5) in those seas. On the arrival of the Prince he heard that two days before the Turkish fleet had been at Coron but had sailed with so favourable a wind that he did not doubt that they would reach that night the port of Prodrono, which is 36 miles from Coron. If so he (Doria) was sure to overtake them before they passed cape Malio (sic).
	Having asked the Doge and Signory what intelligence they had received from their captain general in the island [of Zante] they told me that they knew nothing beyond what the master of the vessel (fn. n6) had related to me. A few days later they heard from their ambassador at the Imperial Court that the Turk had commenced his retreat. At this news the Doge and Signory shewed much satisfaction and came to offer their congratulations. These I declined, observing that I was really sorry at the Turk thus slipping through our hands, for this was the occasion to destroy and annihilate him, whereas if he again invaded Europe they (the Venetians) would be the first attacked. But, as I have written many a time, this Signory would much prefer to let matters stand as they are.
	Since then they have received letters dated the 16th from their ambassador, advising that the Turk had laid siege to Grez (Gratz) which he says is a town in Styria, and sent a considerable force of cavalry to waste that province and those of Austria and Coruacia (Croacia), and that they were making great havoc and inflicting most terrible injury on the inhabitants. The Signory has decidedly been much annoyed at these news, fancying that Your Majesty may possibly be tempted to give the Turk battle if he remain behind; although others say that this could not be attempted owing to the difficulty of procuring provisions, should the Imperial camp advance far beyond the banks of the Danube. I am also told that both the French ambassador and Rincon, who is with him, have circulated the rumour that the march of the Turks upon Grez (Gratz), is a fact, and that Solyman is actually besieging it for the purpose of getting possession and remaining there this next winter, whilst his army is encamped between the two rivers, Saua and La Draua, in a territory which is said to be very fertile. By these rivers Solyman will bring to his court at Gratz the provisions that are stored at Belgrade, and those that he may bring from his own dominions and from the river of La Mura. He will not return to Constantinople without paying Italy a visit in the spring, &c. I told the person who related this extraordinary piece of news to me, to ask the French ambassador and captain Rincon what would Solyman do if he were to be treated before Gratz as he had been not very long ago at a miserable little village which he was besieging. (fn. n7) Most likely he would fare much worse since the forces which Your Majesty had to bring against him this time were more considerable. But the fact is that Frenchmen cannot hide their disappointment at the Turk being beaten by Your Majesty, thus shewing plainly what are the means they have used to make him come down upon Christendom.
	The day before yesterday the Doge said to me that advices had been received from Lubiana stating that the Turks were doing great execution both in Styria and Coruacia (Croatia), slaying the inhabitants, wasting and burning every village they came to. My answer was: "That ought to have moved your Signory and the rest of the Christian princes to join the Emperor in this war, that the Infidel Turk might at once be annihilated." Some senators present said I was right. Why then not do it? It is not yet time said the Doge.
	This and other news are sedulously propagated by the French, with what intention there is no need for me to declare. In the present case there is a decided contradiction in the reports, for if the Turk intend, as these Frenchmen say, to winter in Gratz, why waste Styria and Croatia, which are said to be very fertile, and from whence he might draw provisions? Besides, even if Your Majesty were to leave the banks of the Danube in order to offer the enemy battle, there is complete security that provision will not be wanting for your army. My own impression is that the Turk will retreat as far as Belgrade, and that if he winters at all in Christian land it will be in Hungary, keeping his army in Servia. However, those more versed in Turkish affairs consider all this a hoax invented by the French, and believe that the Turk will retreat as far as Constantinople, unless the Most Christian King and the king of England persuade him to the contrary. As to Your Majesty's faithful servants in this place all wish you the most complete success, and calculate that Your Majesty will go to Buda and recover it, then to Belgrade, keeping always the Danube in sight and thus ensuring provisions, and that the Turk then will be obliged to fight.
	(Cipher:) Letters have also been received from Rome of the 20th inst., saying that the kings of France and England were about to hold an interview, and that the French gave out that the subject of the conference would be the welfare of Christendom. Most people, however, thought that there would be question of the divorce, and of fresh proposals of marriage between the Dauphin and the princess of Wales, and the King and a daughter of France. I told the Doge, who was the first to communicate the intelligence received, that the whole thing seemed to me incompatible, for in order that the king of England might marry he had first to obtain his divorce— which would at once incapacitate the Princess for the succession—and in that case the dauphin of France would certainly not take her for his wife. If there was no divorce king Francis was not likely to give his daughter to the English king. My impression was that the conferences, if any, would end like the former ones, that is, in banquetting, jousting, and smoke.
	(Common writing:) Yesterday this Signory received a letter from the governor of Spalatro, saying that the count Pedro Crusique (sic) had taken the castle of Salona, which the Turks built last year not far from Clisa, and slain the whole of its garrison. Enclosed is a paragraph of the Count's letter describing the whole business.
	About two days back it was rumoured here that Luigi Gonzaga had, by the commands of the Pope, taken Ancona. The intelligence is conveyed in a letter from the duke of Urbino to his ambassador in this city, as will be seen by the enclosed copy (fn. n8) of a paragraph relating to this subject. All I can say (cipher:) is that the Signory seems not to like it at all, for they do not wish the Pope to possess any port in the Gulf, or indeed anywhere else.
	The duke of Urbino has retired to his estates very much hurt at His Holiness having imposed certain taxes on his subjects and vassals without his having come to report what he thought about the site of the fortress which this Signory intends to erect in the Frioul. (fn. n9)
	I have told the ambassador that since the Duke, his master, is so very desirous of serving Your Majesty, and the inconveniences existing until now, such as his estate being situated in the territory of this Republic, and others, had been removed, I had no objection to enter into negotiation with him.
	The duke of Ferrara returned last week from Ystria (Istria) where he has been fishing, and neither called on the Signory nor would let anyone call on him, and in this way he went back to Ferrara.
	For the last five or six days agents of Renzo da Ceri have been, they say, looking out for a house for him. They say that he is disgusted with the king of France, and that he intends settling here. Mai writes to me on the 20th, saying that this is a fact, that he knows it from Renzo's son (Gian Paolo), and that I ought to be keeping him on with promises of engagement.—Venice, 25th September 1532.
	A brigantine from Cephalonia has just arrived in port with despatches from the Signory's captain-general of the 9th inst. There was the enclosed letter for me from Andrea Doria, which will shew where the Imperial fleet now is, and what it has accomplished lately.
	Signed: "Rodrigo Niño."
	Spanish. Original. pp. 5.
—	1000. Dr. Ortiz to the high commander of Leon.
S. E. Rom. L. 858, ff. 105-6. B. M. Add. 28,585, f. 125.	By my two last despatches to His Imperial Majesty Your Lordship must have seen what passed between His Holiness and myself when, with Miçer Mai's permission, I applied to him for the second brief. The truth is that the gravity and importance of the case required that after acquainting that ambassador with my resolution, and asking for his approval he himself should have gone to the Pope and officially made the demand, but he did nothing of the sort, and it was only 30 days after that he spoke to His Holiness about it, and therefore was obliged to mention it to the viceroy (fn. n10) of Naples that he might endorse my petition in the Emperor's name.
	I received about the same time from England a summons to obtain as soon as possible a brief authorising Thomas Abel to preach the Evangelical doctrine in England. The said Abel had been imprisoned, and forbidden to preach because he had maintained in a sermon the right and justice of the Queen's cause, and the authority of the Holy Apostolic See in this and other matters, when perverse and impudent preachers had maintained the contrary from the pulpit. Also for this I asked the ambassador's permission, and, when obtained, went to the Pope and applied for it. His Holiness had already consented, and given orders that it should be made out. I myself had furnished the materials, as it were, and the name of the individual, &c., but when I called upon the Pope's secretary (Sanga) he told me that His Holiness and the Imperial ambassador were both of opinion that the brief should not be sent. "How can that be," said I to Sanga, "when the ambassador approved of this step, and His Holiness also said that there was no objection to it?"
	I beg Your Lordship prudently to take these facts into consideration, and without informing His Imperial Majesty or causing Miçer Mai annoyance try and prevent the recurrence of such things in future, for besides the shame and disrepute that fall upon one, I do not know really what excuse to give to the ambassador in England, who will no doubt wonder why the brief, which I felt sure of getting, is not forthcoming.
	The letter is unfinished and undated.
	Spanish. Holograph. pp. 4.
30 Sept.	1001. Divorce,
S. E. Rom. L. 858, f. 166. B.M. Add. 28,585, f. 126.	In causa Anglicana Sanctissimus D.N. una cum Consilio Reverendissimorum D.S.R.C. Cardinalium discussis mature omnibus exceptionibus et allegationibus hinc inde datis, tandem conclusit expectandum esse Illustrissimum Regem Angliæ usque et per totum mensem Octobris proxime sequentem ad hoc ut producat mandatum in causa principali, alioqui lapso dicto termino procedatur prout justitia suadebit.
	Latin. Copy in the handwriting of Dr. Ortiz. p. 1.
30 Sept.	1002. Dr. Ortiz to the Empress.
S. E. L. 857, ff. 1-2. B. M. Add. 28,585, f. 127.	Has written many letters and wishes to know whether they have reached or not. Said in his last that His Holiness put off issuing until after the vacations the brief for which he (Ortiz) had applied, on the plea that he did not wish to prevent the King from sending his mandate. Is afraid, however, that even after that the Pope will devise some new delay, for his secretary (Sanga) tells him that they wait to see what the kings of France and England will do at this interview of which there is now a talk. Besides, Cavaliere Casale, one of the ambassadors the king of England has here, and who is to depart soon for that country, will be the bearer of a message from His Holiness, exhorting him to send his mandate as soon as possible, as otherwise it will be impossible for him to delay the sentence any more. Thinks, therefore, that the Pope will not only wait for the answer this English ambassador is to bring him, but also for the news of the complete victory which God cannot fail soon to grant to the Emperor over the Turk. Then will be the time for these law-suits and litigations to be put an end to, for though the King may send his mandate, still if he do not cast away from him this concubine of his, and restore the Queen to the full possession of her rights, he (Ortiz) intends to persevere in the demand for the brief of excommunication, that the whole of England may rise against him for his contumacious and schismatic disobedience.
	The Pope says he has not yet heard from his Nuncio in that country whether the King received the brief that was sent to him by two different ways. If he has, no answer has been made, nor has the sentence given in Consistory the other day been written down and published until to-day. Enclosed is a copy of the decision, (fn. n11) which, as Your Majesty will observe, grants the King a respite until the end of October. —Rome, 30th September 1532.
	Signed: "El Dr. Ortiz."
	Addressed "To the Imperial and Catholic Majesty of the Empress and Queen, our Lady."