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June (?).
M. B. N. MSS. E. 59.
f. 101. |
280. The Emperor to the Pope.
Wrote to him when he was about to take shipping and
to leave Spain. Had a favourable wind, but, as on the
preceding days, a strong contrary gale had blown, the sea was
very rough. Arrived on the sixth day off the Cape of Kent,
not far from the mouth of the Thames. It had been settled
with the King of England that he should meet him there ;
but the King of England, being unable to come and see him
on board his ship, sent an ambassador, and asked him to
disembark.
As soon as he had come on shore, the legate arrived. The
King and the Queen of England were not far off, and hastened
to see him. Renewed his old friendship with them. Went
after the interview to Belgium, whilst the King of England
proceeded to France.
In this interview nothing was transacted, except such things
as are advantageous to him (the Pope), and the Holy Church,
and which are conducive to a general peace of Christendom.
His ambassador will communicate to him the details of his
interview.—No date. No signature.
Indorsed : "Rex Pontificis."
Latin. Register. pp. 1½. |
13 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist.
Salazar A. 19. f. 93. |
281. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to
the Emperor.
The Venetians intend to rob him of one of his strongholds
in Friuli, a town and castle near the sea.
[Written in the margin by the Chancellor Mercurino de
Gattinara :] Letters are to be written to the governors. |
The Duke of Camarino offers his services.
[Written in the margin by the Chancellor Mercurino de
Gattinara :] Gracious letters are to be written to him. |
Discontented Spanish prelates ought no longer to be permitted
to live in Rome,
[Written in the margin by the Chancellor Mercurino de
Gattinara :] His Majesty thanks him for his advice, and
will act upon it. |
Friar Nicolo, who is secretary of the Cardinal de Medicis,
Micer Johan Matheo, secretary of the Pope, and Micer
Augustin Folleta, with whom the Pope confers on secret
and important affairs, wish to be useful to him.
[Written in the margin by the Chancellor Mercurino de
Gattinara :] Gracious letters are to be written to them. |
Has already told him that the Auditor de la Camera has gone
to England, and that he arrived there one day before him (the
Emperor). The substance of what the Auditor writes to the
Pope is that the Cardinal of England said to him he could do or
undo whatever he liked, and conclude or not conclude an alliance
between the King of England, him (the Emperor), and
the King of France. He boasted that it was in his power to
bring about an interview of all three of them. Thinks the
Cardinal would do well to be more careful in the words he uses,
when he speaks of what he can do. Supposes the Cardinal
of England believes the Pope to be secretly a partisan of the
King of France, and that this was the reason why he spoke
of the interview of the three sovereigns. The statesmen in
Rome, however, are persuaded that the Cardinal will do what
is most lucrative for himself as, for his own private interests,
he has already, on a former occasion, induced his master to
undertake a war, which was by no means profitable to the
King. Begs him to keep this communication strictly secret,
since, if it were divulged, the persons by whom he has been
informed would be exposed to great trouble, and could not
inform him in future of anything that is going on.
[Written in the margin by the Chancellor Mercurino de
Gattinara :] The secret shall be kept. As for his
estimation of the character of the Cardinal of England,
it must be confessed that it is only too true. Within
a few days the last trial will be made, and the man
will be known. |
Speaking with the Pope about the King of England,
said to his Holiness that the King of England could not be
expected to forsake him (the Emperor). The Pope observed
that he knew better than any one else that that was true.
Asked the Pope how he came to know it, and his Holiness
told him that, in order to try what the real intentions of the
King of England were, he had proposed to him, some time ago,
to undertake something against him (the Emperor), but found,
to his surprise, that the King resisted all temptations. Was
very glad to hear such intelligence, and thinks it is necessary
to keep it secret.
The Pope said further to him, that the "Cardinal, who is
the governor of the King of England," is a very strange person,
and makes the King go hither and thither just as he
likes. Is persuaded that he (the Emperor) knows the Cardinal
well by this time. It is said the Cardinal thinks of nothing
but what is advantageous to himself.
Another letter of the said Auditor, written after his (the
Emperor's) arrival in England, has been received. It does not
contain any matter of importance. Thinks, even, that there
are many shallow observations in it, such, for instance, as
the Auditor saying that he is greatly astonished to see that he
(the Emperor) trusts the King of England so much, and adding
that he holds the Cardinal in higher esteem than the King.
[Written in the margin by the Chancellor Mercurino de
Gattinara :] No other answer is to be given but that
he must continue to act in accordance with his former
instructions. We are about to conclude a new treaty
with the King of England, and will soon write more
clearly to him.
The finances of the King of France are perfectly well
known, and it is generally admitted that he is poor, and
wastes his money on unnecessary things. He is governed
by his mother and her brother, (fn. 1) who understand very little
about affairs of state. The Pope is fully resolved to carry
out what he has promised him (the Emperor).
The Venetians are much afraid of him. They are trying to
borrow money, but cannot succeed.
The French partisans are making all kinds of arrangements
in order to elect a French Pope on the next vacancy of the
Papal throne. Begs him to write encouraging letters to his
partisans, and to order the Viceroy of Naples to send the fleet
and the army wherever he (Juan Manuel) may judge necessary.
The Pope is still in good health. Knows, however, that the
Cardinal of Santa Maria in Porticu hopes to be made Pope
with the aid of the King of France. Was told that the King
of France has said he will come with post horses in order to be
present at the election. Answered that if he (the Emperor)
does not like the presence of the King of France in Rome,
the King of France will return as he had come.—Rome, the
13th of June 1520.
Addressed : "To the most sacred Cœsar, King of Spain,
&c., our sovereign Lord."
Indorsed : "To the King. Rome, the 13th of June."
Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering.
pp. 4. |
26 June.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist.
Salazar A. 19. f. 121. |
282. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the
Emperor.
Has received his letters dated the 15th of June. The
Pope has promised him to give the cardinal's hat to the
Bishop of Liege. As he will by that act incur the enmity of
the French, the Holy Father wishes to enter into secret
negotiations with him (the Emperor) on the subjects which
are pending between them.
Church of St. Michael in Antwerp.
Rome, the 26th of June 1520.
P.S.—The French say he (the Emperor) went to England
in order to prevent the interview between the King of
France and the King of England, and to contract a marriage
with the daughter of the King of England. They pretend
that he has failed in both respects. The French ambassador,
who was in Spain, writes that tumults have broken out in
Spain, and adds a great number of foolish stories.—Rome,
the 26th of June 1520.
Addressed : "To the Cœsar and King of Spain, &c."
Indorsed : "To the King, from Don Juan Manuel, the
26th of June. Answered the 29th of July."
Spanish. Written in cipher. Contemporary deciphering.
pp. 4½. |