Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 5, 1534-1554. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1873.
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'Venice: August 1550', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 5, 1534-1554, (London, 1873) pp. 326-329. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol5/pp326-329 [accessed 19 April 2024]
August 1550
| Aug. 3. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. | 678. Cardinal Pole to the Cardinal of Urbino. (fn. 1) |
|---|---|
| The very courteous invitation given him orally by the Cardinal of Urbino before his departure from Rome, and which was repeated twice by letter, to pass the summer heats in those cool and pleasant places, was enhanced in such wise by the Father Abbot, the bearer of this second letter, and by his description of the virtues of the person who invited him, that great must be the impediment when so near at hand to prevent him from proceeding farther (before he leaves Bagnarea) to delight in the virtues of the person so much eulogized, although the season for enjoying cool air be past. Compliments the young Cardinal on the virtuous life led by him; assures him that the only sure way to acquire and receive true virtue is to acknowledge with all due respect its author; this is the first virtue, and the guardian of them all, for which reason solely the Romans represented virtue with face and hands raised towards heaven, to indicate on what its origin and maintenance depend; and by so much the more should this be observed by us, as we are enabled more distinctly to know the fountain of all grace and of every virtue. Assures him that he knows none from whose noble disposition, developing itself to the praise of every virtue, he can promise himself more than he does from his. (fn. 2) | |
| Bagnarea, 3rd August 1550. | |
| [Italian and Latin.] | |
| Aug. 9. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta), File no. 18. | 679. The Doge and College to Daniel Barbaro, Venetian Ambassador in England. |
| The Rev. D. Peter [Vannes] arrived lately at Venice, having been appointed by the King of England to reside with them as his ambassador. Caused him to be met, honoured, and welcomed on his arrival. | |
| Yesterday his Lordship had audience of the College, (fn. 3) accompanied by a great number of senators. After presenting his credentials, he stated his commission with great gravity and prudence, bearing ample testimony to the King's goodwill towards them. | |
| To inform the King and the Lords of his Council that the mission and statement of the aforesaid Reverend Ambassador were most agreeable to them. He is personally dear to them by reason of his learning and eminent qualities and parts. | |
| Ayes, 21. Noes, 0. Neutrals, 0. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 15. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. | 680. Cardinal Pole to the Cardinal of Urbino. |
| I sent your Right Reverend Lordship the “imagine” of Socrates, for the end designed occasionally in Scripture, by recounting and proposing to us examples of the heathens who have had some shadow of virtue; not that we should take example from their life, but to incite us, we who are called to be partakers of the light and splendour of life eternal, not to allow ourselves to be surpassed in any respect by those who have not had so great a grace; as by doing otherwise, we greatly shame ourselves, besides the wrong we do our Heavenly Father, who has given us and proposed for our example and sole master, virtue itself, namely, His Son, who, to reprove the negligence and offence of those who, having the wisdom of God in the midst of them, do not care to give ear to it, came upon earth to teach man the true path of happiness; whereas Queen Sabba [Queen of Shebah or Sebah] came from the uttermost parts of the world to hear the wisdom of Solomon, who was a mere man (puro homo). And thus our master teaches us that we must strive to excel the heathens in every virtue, and for this reason he sometimes lays before us their virtues, as when exhorting us to love, not only our friends and benefactors, but also our enemies, saying, “Si enim diligitis qui vos diligunt, quam mercedem habebitis? nonne etiam publicani hoc faciunt? Et si salutaveritis fratres vestros tantum, quid amplius facietis? non et Ethnici hoc faciunt?” (fn. 4) giving us to understand by these words that we must endeavour to excel the heathens in every sort of virtue which they have seemed to possess; always taking God as sole example, and following the light of the Son given us by Him; and he therefore says in conclusion, “Estote perfecti sicut et Pater vester cœlestis est.” (fn. 5) | |
| Your most illustrious Lordship is now acquainted with the cause which induced me to send you the corporeal bust (il volto corporate) of Socrates, so that when seeing the portrait of his mind, as depicted by Xenophon, whose works you are (I am told) now reading, it may serve as a memento, stimulating you not to allow yourself to be surpassed by him in any particular having any shadow of virtue, or its similitude. Of such in that course of reading you will find many, and some very beautiful ones, most especially if you read that book which is, I remember, entitled by Xenophon Apomnemoneumata, and translated by Cicero, thus, “De dictis et factis Socratis?” where you will see an excellent opinion “de rebus humanis,” from a very well regulated mind; following the light of nature, and the time, it seemed so grand and beautiful, that the two greatest and most eloquent philosophers who ever lived—Plato and Xenophon—emulating as it were each other which should best express the meaning (animo) and conceits of. Socrates—made it their whole study, and used the power of their abilities and language to represent . . . . . . (fn. 6) [by their?] writings, the veracity of that man, who never wrote anything. (fn. 7) But neither are these men, nor this virtue, so great, as to exempt your most illustrious Lordship (as already mentioned by me) from considering it a shame, not to surpass them in every particular, both in the knowledge of the true and blessed life, as also by producing such fruit as follows that knowledge; having besides the natural, the heavenly light, given us by God, in his Son, who is the splendour and the symbol (carattere) of his Divine substance, and given us for our light, our guide, and our example, with the promise to give us moreover strength to follow it, whenever we ask it in our aid with our whole heart, as I am convinced your most illustrious Lordship frequently does; this my opinion being caused by the Divine virtues which I see thus early germinating in you; and with this I end, kissing your hand, and recommending myself always to your good favour. | |
| Bagnarea, 15th August 1550. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug.? MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. No date of time or place. | 681. Cardinal Pole to the Emperor Charles V. |
| The favour which your Majesty has been pleased graciously to confer on me, of a pension of 2,000 ducats on the See of Burgos,‡ is the more acceptable to me as it proceeded from your mere courtesy, without my having sought it in any way, so that my obligation to you is the greater; not indeed that from this, or from any other similar gift which might be anticipated by me from your goodness and magnanimity, could I become a more affectionate servant of your Majesty than I ever have been, nor more anxious to serve you, I as am bound by much greater causes and respects, though I must not fail thanking you, as I do from my heart; with all due respect kissing your hands, and praying our Lord God long to preserve and prosper you for the benefit of Christendom. | |
| [Bagnarea? August? 1550.] | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 23. Parti Secrete, Consiglio X., File no. 7. | 682. The Chiefs of the Ten to the Venetian Ambassador at Rome. |
| By his letter of the 2nd are acquainted with the office performed by him with the Pope, about the renunciation of [the Patriarchate of] Aquileia [in favour of the ambassador Barbaro]; and how his Holiness replied graciously, evincing the wish to do what was agreeable to them. (fn. 8) Did not answer sooner, as they were expecting a fresh mandate from England. | |
| In his letter of the 9th, the ambassador writes about a certain imputation alleged by the rivals and adversaries of the Patriarch, to his adherents, concerning his religion, impugning in like manner that of the Signory's ambassador in England. Are assured on good authority in Venice, that this charge was made by the nephews of the Patriarch, of the Qnerini family, and by their agents, and although the Chiefs believe that it will prove vain, and without foundation, and that nothing will be said to the ambassador about it, they nevertherless desire him, in case the Pope or others mention the subject to him, to reply stoutly, evincing surprise, and assuring them that both the Patriarch and the ambassador are Catholic and religious men, and lead good lives, making it intelligible that these calumnies have been circulated by the Patriarch's nephews, who wished their uncle to renounce the patriarchate to them, they being the children of one of his sisters; but his Lordship has chosen to prefer the ability and integrity and sound tenets (bona dottrina) of Barbaro, to relationship and consanguinity. | |
| To notify the name of the agent of the said nephews at Rome, and who those rivals and adversaries of the Patriarch are. | |
| Ayes, 23. Noes, 0. Neutral, 1. | |
| Members of the Council of Ten and Junta, not entitled to ballot on this motion, to withdraw. | |
| [Italian.] | |