Appendix: Miscellaneous 1491 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1871.

'Appendix: Miscellaneous 1491', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533, (London, 1871) pp. 477-482. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol4/pp477-482 [accessed 26 April 2024]

Miscellaneous 1491



1491. Jan. 5. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1027. The Same to the Same.
	The announcements concerning the marriage of the Duchess of Britanny are kept very secret here, but as yet the first report prevails, namely, that it has been contracted (confraetum) with the King of the Romans, and not with the Lord Philip Archduke of Austria; so more serious war is expected in Britanny, and on this account the chief military commanders have been summoned to meet at Orleans on the 15th instant.
	The congress of the French and English at Boulogne or Calais is already dissolved, and, according to report, without any conclusion.
	The envoys sent from Britanny to the most Christian King by Monsr. d'Albret, negotiated his return in safety to France, and the restoration to him of his territories there. He went to Britanny for that marriage (potiundi illius matrimonij) and on account of the duchy, as notorious; and now seeing the lot fall to another, he does not deem it decorous to remain any longer there. It is said the King will grant his demand.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Moulins, 5th January 1491.
	[Original. Latin, 6 pages 6 lines, paper.]
Jan. 9. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1028. The Same to the Same.
	Request the Pope to make it known in France that he wishes for the peace between the French and English, and that he is negotiating himself with the ambassadors of the parties at Rome.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Moulins, 9th January 1491.
	[Original. Latin, 4 pages, paper.]
Feb. 14. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1029. The Same to the Same.
	Notified to the King and Council (his Dominis Regijs) what the Pope answered them about English affairs, concerning which discoursed at full length. The French say that the copy was sent to them of a letter presented to the Pope by the English ambassadors, containing many things against the most Christian King; that he is a tyrant, and occupies much territory of neighbouring princes which does not belong to him; adding, that through Dom. de Falcone, and subsequently by Dom. John Candida, the French Government requested the Pope to desire the English clergy (according to law) (fn. 1) not to contribute anything to their King for a war against Christians without the Pope's permission;—and that his Holiness gave no answer. They therefore wish the Pope to apply a remedy for this, but that he should not do so as at the request of their King, but by virtue of his pastoral office. The French do not dissemble their intention—should the English clergy continue their contribution—of imposing a similar tax in France, which would yield much more than is obtained from the ecclesiastics in England. The mischief will thus be increased. Write to the Pope, that he may act according to the dictates of his prudence.
	With regard to the peace between the French and English, by means of the Pope's mediation at Rome with the ambassadors of the parties, this would greatly please the French provided it did not seem to proceed from them, but solely from the Pope, as an office whereby to avert the perils and bloodshed of war, and lest it prevent the expedition against the Turks. His Holiness might therefore invite the two Kings to send ambassadors to Rome with full instructions to treat this matter, or dispatch commissions to those now at Rome to that effect.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Tours, 14th February 1491.
	[Original. Latin, 9½ pages, paper.]
March 4. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1030. Lionel, Bishop of Concordia, and Antonio Flores, to Pope Innocent VIII.
	From Britanny the French are expecting an honourable embassy, which according to some persons will urge the King to keep the day appointed by both sides for meeting at Tournai to settle the disputes.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Amboise, 4th March 1491.
	[Original. Latin, 3½ pages, paper.]
March 15. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1031. The Same to the Same.
	Yesterday the Chancellor, in the presence of the Cardinal, assembled all the prelates now here in the royal palace, and announced to them that his most Christian Majesty was threatened with a serious war by the three most powerful Kings—of the Romans, of Castile, and of England. The expenditure of France exceeds her revenue, and therefore the King demands a subsidy (aliquam subventionem) from the clergy.
	The contribution of the English prelates, about which they have frequently written to the Pope, induces the French ministry to moot this matter.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores
	Amboise, 15th March 1491.
	[Original. Latin, 1¼ page, paper.]
March 17. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1032. Lionel, Bishop of Concordia., and Antonio Flores, to Pope Innocent VIII.
	Yesterday his most Christian Majesty gave audience to the Great Master of the Household of Britanny and to the Proctor of Rennes, ambassadors from the Duchess of Britanny, styled by them Queen of the Romans. They apologized for having brought no credentials or other letters from her, because she had written to her husband the King of the Romans to consult with him about the form of the letters to be addressed to the King of France, and had not yet received an answer when the ambassadors departed; so she therefore wrote nothing.
	They then said that his Majesty not having as yet perhaps sufficient certainty that the Duchess would really marry the King of the Romans (an eadem Domina vere nupserit eidem Regi Romanorum), they therefore came to assure his Majesty that the marriage was already contracted (contracto); the Duchess and the peers and states of Britanny assenting to it by sc much the more readily as they knew it would be most agreeable to his most Christian Majesty, by reason of his very close connexion with his father-in-law, the King of the Romans. (fn. 2)
	Signed: Humillimi Servali, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Amboise, 17th March 1491.
	[Original. Latin, 2 pages, paper.]
April 12. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1033. The Same to the Same.
	Have complained of the manner in which the tenth is levied on the ecclesiastics in France, contrary to the promise given, but were answered that on account of the expenses incurred by his Majesty for the war against Britanny, England, Germany, and Spain, he is compelled to exact the entire tenth. Rejoined that the Pope had written to them that he was quite ready to negotiate in person for the peace between France and England, and, to express themselves in the French fashion (ut Galileo more loquamur), made all possible remonstrances, speaking boldly (intrepide) to the ministers, and omitting nothing which might tend to the good result of the ecclesiastical matters.
	On the 7th instant Dom. de Falcone gave them the apostolic brief, together with the others addressed to England concerning the subsidy of the English prelates; which by his most Christian Majesty's order, and through the Chancellor's medium, they sent to England to the Collector Dom. Adrian [Castellesi of Corneto] with letters of their own, much to the King's satisfaction, though some of the ministers regretted that the briefs—as they were written many months ago—should not have been sent hither instantly by Dom. de Falcone, as they would have produced a more seasonable effect.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Nantes, 12th April, 1491.
	[Original. Latin, 6½ pages, paper.]
May 10. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1034. Lionel, Bishop of Concordia, and Antonio Floees, to Pope Innocent VIII.
	The French are sending ambassadors to England and Spain, and a herald to the King of Scotland, with money, because the King of England is seeking his alliance, promising to give him his sister in marriage.
	The ambassadors from the Emperor and the King of the Romans are expected daily; and by messengers and letters from the Archdeacon of Saintonges the French are informed that the King of the Romans, on hearing of the capture of Nantes, did not much care about it, and wishes for peace with his son-in-law, and to return to Hungary. On the arrival of the ambassadors, his thoughts will he ascertained, and whether he wishes for the Duchess without the duchy; as the French lately took the town of Redon (oppidum Rhodonum) (fn. 3) a place sufficiently well fortified, with a garrison of Spanish soldiers, whose commander is said to have been vanquished with golden artillery (tormentis aureis).
	The only city in Britanny which can resist the French is Rennes. Some years ago the English garrisoned “Concam” and will perhaps not so speedily surrender it.
	Notwithstanding what is said about Maximilian, the Governor of Burgundy is going today into Burgundy, and Mods, de Cortes into Picardy; Mons. Vindocino will proceed thither likewise, to prevent any disturbances which might arise; and the Admiral, of whom the English are afraid (ex Anglis formidatum), is also gone to his province of Normandy.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Tours, 10th May 1491.
	[Original. Latin, 8 pages, paper.]
June 6. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1035. The Same to the Same.
	After obtaining the city of Vannes (urbem Veneteñ) (fn. 4) the French army marched upon “Concam,” which had been long held by the English, who after making a sally, and some lives having been lost, surrendered the place to the French, who then proceeded to another port, held by the Bretons, and having taken it, went on towards Rennes (urbs Rhedonen.) (fn. 3) which is said to be admirably fortified and provisioned for many months, and all poor persons such as are not able-bodied (pauperes et imbelles) have been sent out of the town; but the Duchess has to fear some attack in the territory of Nantes. (fn. 5)
	It is said that the Scots, to whose King the French sent money, have been routed in battle by the English, who, being occupied with that war, will perhaps be unable to succour their countrymen in Britanny.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Tours, 6th June 1491.
	[Original. Latin 3½ pages, paper.]
June 16. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcvm.	1036. Lionel, Bishop of Concordia, and Antonio Flores, to Pope Innocent VIII.
	The French fleet, when endeavouring lately to prevent Britanny from being succoured, attacked the English fleet, and a battle was fought, in which the English were victorious.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Tours, 16th June 1491.
	[Original. Latin 3 pages, paper.]
June 21. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1037. The Same to the Same.
	It is said here that Mons. de Nassau is gone over to England to exhort and urge the King, in the name of the King of the Romans, and of Duke Philip his son [to form an alliance with them ?].
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Tours, 21st June 1491.
	[Original. 2 pages, paper.]
July 16. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1038. The Same to the Same.
	Have spoken to his most Christian Majesty about the loan [from the clergy], concerning which the Pope wrote to them, and the French ministers said in self-defence that he had comported himself in this matter differently to the King of England, as according to report the English ecclesiastics are compelled by force to give the subsidy, whilst in France the loan is voluntary, and received with a guarantee for restitution, nor is anyone forced to disburse it.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Tours, 16th July 1491.
	[Original. Latin, ¼ page, paper.]
July 18. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1039. The Same to the Same.
	It is said that the English fleet has landed some 4,000 soldiers in Normandy towards Britanny, and that the [French] Admiral is therefore going into Normandy, as he has charge of that province (cum ejus cura ad ipsum pertineat).
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Tours, 18th July 1491.
	[Original. Latin 1 page, paper.]
Sept. 12. St. Marks' Library, CI. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1040. Lionel, Bishop of Concordia, and Antonio Flores, to Pope Innocent VIII.
	Before they quitted Tours (fn. 6) the embassy from the King of Scotland in very fair array (satis honorifica) landed in Normandy, to escort the daughter of Don Frederick for the marriage, about which they wrote to the Pope heretofore. Whilst they were at Lyons a royal courier passed through, with the utmost speed, to urge Ferdinand's ambassadors to come for the same purpose.
	The English, whose landing in Britanny and Normandy was already announced, “dimissis Rhedoni quingentis pugilibus ad illius urbis custodiam,” are said to have returned to their ships and then to have set sail, after having ravaged the territory.
	Omitted to transmit this intelligence in their last letters from Tours, being intent solely on their own departure.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A. Flores.
	Lyons, 12th September 1491.
	[Original. Latin 6 pages, papier.]
Sept. 19. St. Mark's Library, Cl. xiv. Cod. xcviii.	1041. The Same to the Same.
	After their mission, which has lasted four years, being ordered by the Pope to leave some fitting person at the French Court, have made choice for that purpose, of Oliver Yuan (Yuanum) Dean of St. Martin's of Angers, who has been in their service during the whole of this legation.
	Yuan is 40 years of age, part of which he passed in the university of Perugia, where he studied law, and part at the Court of Rome, or with Apostolic Legates. Took him to England, then sent him back to the King of France, and afterwards appointed him to Britanny, so that he cannot but be well skilled in business. He is thoroughly conversant with the French tongue, and with the style of the Court of Rome, whether of the “Rota” or the Chancery.
	Signed: Humillimi Servuli, L. Concordien., A Flores.
	Lyons, 19th September 1491.
	[Original. Latin 3 pages, paper.]