Venice: February 1523

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1869.

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'Venice: February 1523', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526, (London, 1869) pp. 300-303. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp300-303 [accessed 25 April 2024]

February 1523

Feb. 2. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxiii. p. 561. 623. Antonio Surian to the Signory.
Had hoped to obtain the release of the Signory's galleys, but the King is fitting them out in order to send them against the French fleet.
London, the 27th January and 2nd of February. Registered by Sanuto, 25th February.
[Italian.]
Feb. 4. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxiii. p. 543. 624. Pace's Negotiations.
This morning the three Commissioners went to the house of Adorno, where the English ambassador was, for the reply, which they obtained.
[Italian.]
Feb. 4. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxiii. p. 543. 625. Pace's Negotiations.
Reading in the Senate of the reply made by the Imperial and English ambassadors to the six articles of agreement. With regard to the estates of the rebels, they are content with the 6,000 ducats per annum, which the Signory will give, in lieu of 5,000. Touching the investiture, they demand 250,000 ducats, of which 75,000 in ready money, and the rest in eight years. For the defence of the kingdom of Naples against France they are not satisfied with 10 galleys, but insist on having 15 light galleys armed. Also for the defence of the Milanese, they demand the same succour as the Signory gave the King of France when he held it. Concerning the other points there is no difficulty.
[Italian.]
Feb. 9. Senato Terra, v. xxii. p. 49, tergo. 626. Import Permit for Richard Pace.
Announcement made to the Signory by the reverend English ambassador, that during his seven months' residence at Venice he has had licence from the Senate to import 12 kilderkins (amphore) of wine, duty free, for his own use and that of his household. The supply not sufficing for his numerous retinue, he has obtained and consumed eight additional kilderkins, giving a bond for payment of the duties unless the Signory remit them. He therefore now requests that the bond may be cancelled, and permission given him to import seven more kilderkins.
As owing to the quality of the present times it is expedient to gratify his Lordship,—Put to the ballot, that our officials for the wine duty do cancel the securities given by the reverend ambassador for the aforesaid eight kilderkins, placing the amount to account of the Signory, and allow him to import seven other kilderkins, debiting the Signory for the duty.
Ayes, 157. Noes, 29. Neutrals, 0.
Mandate made out on the 10th in conformity with the above-written motion.
[Italian, 18 lines.]
Feb. 13. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxiii. p. 550 627. Bull-baiting.
In the afternoon bulls were baited as usual on St. Mark's Square. The Doge was there to see the sight, dressed in gold brocade and a cap of the same material, for the marriage of his grandson. The Papal Legate, [Tommaso] Campeggio, Bishop of Feltre, Adorno, the Imperial ambassadors, and the ambassadors of France, Ferrara, and Mantua were present. The Imperial ambassador [Sanchez] did not come, because the French ambassador will not give way to him; and the English ambassador did not attend, because he does not choose to take place below France. Some Genoese and Bolognese and other foreigners were also present.
[Italian.]
Feb. 16. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxiii. pp. 570, 571. 628. Martin Luther.
Letter from—to the Cardinal St. Praxed, called de Monte, dated Ingolstadt, 16th February 1523.
From his letters addressed to the Sacred College [of Cardinals], and from the copy of the letter enclosed, the Cardinal will comprehend the proceedings of the Lutherans (quomodo cum Luterinis jam agatur).
A book has been brought here today, sent from Nuremberg, edited by Luther, and printed at Wittemberg, about the abolition of private mass. He thereby declares the priesthood, the missal, the cardinals, and bishops to be mummeries (larvie). He says the monasteries are anti-scriptural, foes of God, and most mischievous. Every one wonders that Frederick Duke of Saxony suffers such things in his towns and in his university; and that the Apostolic See has not withdrawn the faculties (privilegia) from a university so infected with every disease.
Wishes the Pope to see to this. In Lent there is to be a meeting of the Princes at Nuremberg. Prays God that they may consult to some good purpose.
II. Letter from Folchinaria to—, dated at the University of Ingolstadt, St. Blaise's Day [3rd February], and enclosed in the foregoing.
Repeats his request to be at length released from his Saxon captivity and exile. The riots at Ingolstadt are proceeding; the altars of the saints are being destroyed, and the images of Christ crucified are being removed from the parish [churches ?] and both monasteries. Laymen give communion to one another under both species; all private masses are abolished; all confraternities destroyed; the bequests of the dead are infringed; no priest that dies is replaced, but they reserve the revenues for the use of the poor. Nobody dares celebrate more than one mass. Having done so in the language of the country, [the priest] then administers the communion to those who ask it, under both species, whether priests or laymen, placing the chalice on the corner of the altar, from which, having first delivered an exhortation, he then invites them to take the sacrament (quod se comunicent). Sometimes he communicates along with them; sometimes he gives communion to the others and abstains from it himself. They deny that it can be proved from scripture that the saints are already in heaven, but [admit] that they will go thither at the day of judgment (in extremo die); wherefore, as they do not pray for us, we worship them in vain. At Ingolstadt nobody fasts, nobody keeps any feast day except Sunday. The priests wed publicly. Nobody confesses, saying that confession is neither of divine ordinance nor necessary before communion, as the sacrament of the Eucharist suffices for the remission of sins; ergo previous confession is useless. Candles, holy water, and other ceremonies are quite abolished. They say that God himself has no need of light, but that he is himself the holy light of Christians (sed ipse sit lux alma Cristianorum); that it is not right to be burdened with laws, but to be free. Churchmen no longer shave the tonsure; they change their habit; professed monks abandon their monasteries. In short, all vows are dissolving. Therefore, as he (the writer) disapproves of all this, he is persecuted malignantly, and has determined to withdraw whithersoever the Lord may call him.
Signed: Folchinaria [Falckener ?].
Registered by Sanuto, 28th February.
[Latin.]
Feb. 20. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxiv. p. 24. 629. Antonio Surian to the Signory.
The Archbishop of . . . . . has died. He is said to have left 200,000 ducats, of which the King will avail himself.
Cardinal Wolsey has sent to tell him (Surian) to see him on Sunday, when he should hear good news.
Dated 20th February. Registered by Sanuto, 20th March.
[Italian.]
Feb. 20. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 199, St. Mark's Library. 630. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
Has received the Signory's order to obtain a passport from the Emperor for Lorenzo de' Priuli, ambassador to England. The passport is already made out, and merely awaits the Emperor's signature.
Having obtained duplicates, will send one through the ambassador in England, the other by way of Rome.
Dined the day before yesterday with the Chancellor [Gattinara], who announced the receipt of a letter from Hieronimo Adorno, dated Venice, 17th December. Concerning the agreement, the Signory had made three demands of Adorno: (1.) They required him to be provided with a power from Archduke Ferdinand. (2.) That the Pope and the King of England should promise to be conservators of the peace, the State not placing entire reliance on the Emperor, (3.) That the places taken by both parties during the war should be mutually restored.
With regard to the Pope and the King of England, the Chancellor said that the Emperor consented to the Signory's demand. He added that the Emperor understood by way of France that the State was urging the French King to come into Italy, but such preparations were being made both in Spain and England that they should easily draw him back by the tail.
Said that the guarantee of the Pope and of the King of England for the peace was demanded by the State, not from any distrust of the Emperor, but merely to gratify the Pope and the King, who had perhaps volunteered their good offices for this adjustment between the Emperor and the Republic.
Concerning the war with France, the Chancellor said that the King of England would make a vigorous attack on Picardy and Normandy, having already mustered 100,000 combatants; that he would leave 30,000 to act against Scotland; 20,000 for the defence of the island; embark 10,000 on board the fleet, and cross over in person to Calais with the remaining 40,000.
Has been told that the Captain Gabiniglio was sent to Rome for a dispensation for the marriage of the widow of the late King of Portugal to his son, the reigning King, her step-son.
Valladolid, 20th February 1523.
[Italian, 3¾ pages.]
Feb. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxiv. p. 17. 631. Zuan Badoer to the Signory.
King Francis is going into Picardy, and has just spoken angrily against the Signory. Zuan Clemente Stanga, who (lately) resided in Venice (stava in questa terra), went post to the King to tell him that the agreement with the Emperor was proceeding, and it merely remained to sign the articles. The King is therefore writing a letter to the Signory. He is sending troops to Scotland to favour the Duke of Albany and the Earl of Suffolk [Richard de la Pole, White Rose] and act against England. He has sent 30,000 (sic) Switzers; he will have 12,000 (sic). Concerning the affairs of Provence, as Prospero Colonna threatened to march thither, the King is sending troops in that direction, and will send for the Switzers.
Poissy, — February. Registered by Sanuto, 15th March.
[Italian.]