Spain: February 1522 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1866.

'Spain: February 1522', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525, (London, 1866) pp. 401-405. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol2/pp401-405 [accessed 7 May 2024]

February 1522



4 Feb. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 22. f. 109.	384. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor. Wrote to him yesterday, and sent him the despatches from Naples. The cardinals of the French party grow worse every day, and show more openly their hatred of him (the Emperor) and the Pope. They hope to frighten the Pope by throwing the affairs of the Church into utter confusion, and thereby to deter him from coming to Rome. The Cardinal Colonna went so far as to propose, the day before this, in the consistory of cardinals to conclude peace with the King of France, and to abandon the claims of the Papal See on Parma and Piacenza. Marquis of Mantua. Florence, &c. Francesco Maria (Duke of Urbino). His enemies would be most formidable but for their lack of money. The Cardinal of Ancona, the Cardinal of Santa Croce, the Cardinal Minerva, the Cardinal of Volterra, and others are the principal leaders of the hostile party. Every one of them plunders the palace of the Pope, carrying away tapestry, jewels, and other things of great value. (fn. 1) The Cardinal Colonna has married one of his nieces to a nephew of Francesco Maria, and robbed the duchy of Camarino and given the plunder to the young couple, &c. Has ordered troops from Naples to maintain order in Rome. The Pope cannot go to Flanders and England, but must come as soon as possible to Rome. The Pope ought at once to assume the government.—Rome, the 4th of February 1522. News has arrived from Provence and Genoa that the King of France has assembled a fleet, in order to intercept the Pope on his voyage from Spain to Rome. Addressed : "Cœsar, King of Spain, &c." Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 3.
7 Feb. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 22. f. 119.	385. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor. Sends him letters from Naples. Has never expected anything good from the parliament of Naples ; and hears that they have added to their grants dishonest conditions. Is of opinion that he ought not to accept the grants. Has sent to Lombardy two months' pay for the men-at-arms and one month's pay for the infantry. Has no more money. Prospero Colonna writes that 16,000 Swiss are marching against Milan. Hopes the German troops will arrive before them. Does not know where to find money with which to pay the Germans. The Marquis of Mantua intends to abandon Parma and Piacenza, and to go to Mantua. The College of Cardinals are doing exactly the contrary of what ought to be done. Is afraid they will not pay the Papal army, and the French will take Parma and Piacenza. The new ambassador, or secretary, of the King of England is said to have brought great sums of money intended to be employed in the election of the Pope. Augustin Folleta is a friend of the English ambassador. Has told him, therefore, to speak with the ambassador, and to ask from him a loan of 50,000 ducats on good security, repayable within six months. The English ambassador, however, said that even if he had the money, he would not dare to lend it without an order from his king. Galleys. Sends letters to Spain through the ambassador of Portugal. The Pope must come as soon as possible to Rome. The cardinals are plundering his palace. Some cardinals have sworn to him that they and their friends have appropriated to themselves out of the rooms of the Pope things that are worth 300,000 ducats. (fn. 2) —Rome, the 7th of February 1522. Addressed : "... King of Spain and ... our ..." Indorsed : "To the King. 1522. Rome. From Don Juan Manuel, the 7th of February." Spanish. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 4.
11 Feb. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 22. f. 158.	386. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor. Has received his letter of the 26th of January. Will speak with the cardinals, but knows that it will be to no purpose. They were "inspired by the Holy Ghost" when they elected so good a man as Pope, but "the devil has, since the election, taken possession of them." They regret the election, love the enemies of the Church, and hate her friends. It is not likely that they will give the smallest sum of money for the maintenance of the army. They are ready to give up Parma and Piacenza, to abandon Urbino to Francesco Maria, (fn. 3) and they do not care to preserve Perosa and other towns of the Church. The cardinals are beginning to speak of electing a new Pope, saying sometimes that the Pope is dead, and on other occasions that he refuses to come (to Rome). It is, therefore, necessary that the Pope should come as soon as possible to Rome, and if practicable by way of Flanders, where he (the Emperor) could see him. At all events, he (the Emperor) must send some trustworthy persons to stay with the Pope. Naples. The army. The Cardinal de Medicis and Florence. Francesco Maria has burnt and destroyed Siena. Genoa is in the interest of the King of France, &c. Begs he will, at least, pay him some money.—Rome, the 11th of February 1522. Addressed : "Cœsar, King of Spain, &c., our sovereign Lord." Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 5.
15 Feb. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 22. f. 175.	387. Lope Hurtado De Mendoza to the Emperor. Has just arrived and spoken with the Pope, who is exceedingly thankful to him, and promises to do all he can to make him (the Emperor) a most mighty prince. The Pope talks exactly as he talked when he was still Dean of Louvain. The King of France has sent to tell the Pope that he is willing to conclude peace (with the Pope, the Emperor, and the King of England).—Vitoria, the 15th of February 1522. Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 2½.
19 Feb. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 22. f. 212.	388. Lope Hurtado De Mendoza to the Emperor. It is scarcely possible to believe how much the Pope loves him. It is "an article of faith" with the Pope that he must further his interests. Some of the persons who are near the Pope entertain, however, very different feelings towards him. It is impossible to persuade the Pope that Juan Manuel is not his enemy. The Cardinal of Santa Croce and the Cardinal Vich have told him so. The Pope formerly liked the Cardinal of Santa Croce very much, and likes him now much more, as he thinks he owes his election to him. The Doctor de Agreda has much influence with the Pope. The Cardinal of Santa Croce has even told the Pope that it was the French who made him Pope, and that he ought to be thankful to them, &c. &c.—Vitoria, the 19th of February 1522. Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 3.
20 Feb. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 22. ff. 218-222.	389. Alonso Sanchez, Imperial Ambassador in Venice, to the Emperor. Has received his letter dated the 5th instant, by which he is ordered to persuade the Venetians to conclude an alliance (with the Emperor and the King of England) or, at least, to prevent them from declaring themselves his (the Emperor's) enemies. Promises to do so if possible. The Venetians do not any longer doubt the news which has come from England. The Swiss, however, try to lead them astray. Has not told the Venetians what the King of England promises them, because it does not seem to him to be time yet to do so. Waits till he (the Emperor) gives his answer to the proposals of the peace offered by Venice. When this answer arrives, that will be the right moment to inform the Venetians of what the King of England promises them. Negotiations respecting the passage of Imperial troops through Venetian territories. The Venetians promise to be good neighbours to the Infante. Told the secretary whom the Signory has sent to speak with him about the alliance (with the Emperor and the King of England) that if he (the Emperor) had wished to make peace with the King of France, he could have done it long ago. The Venetians would be mistaken if they believed that the King of France would trouble himself greatly to defend them, especially as the Emperor, who is a close ally of the King of England, has it always in his power to attack France in those parts where the friendship of Venice would be of no value to her. Local news respecting Italy.—Venice, the 20th of February 1522. Addressed : "To his Sacred, Imperial, and Catholic Majesty, the Emperor and King, our Lord." Indorsed : "Alonso Sanchez. From Venice, the 20th of February 1522." Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 7.
23 Feb. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar. A. 22. f. 273.	390. Juan Manuel, Imperial Ambassador in Rome, to the Emperor. Has procured, through Cardinal Petrucci, the arrest in Siena of Secretary Grangis, ambassador of the King of France, and he will be sent to Gaeta. Grangis confesses that he has negotiated with the Cardinals of Como, Fiesco, and Grimani, and has told them that the King of France will soon be in Italy with a great army. The Venetians pay money to the French. The Cardinal of Volterra, who is ill in bed, commands the Cardinal Colonna, and Colonna commands the Cardinals of Ancona and Jacobacius. He must deprive the cardinals who are his enemies of their church preferment in his dominions, as the King of France does. The Bishop of Syracuse and Cardinal Valle. Grangis has not yet been put to the rack. Robberies in Gaeta. Swiss. German troops. News from the army in Lombardy. Money is wanted. Disorder in the administration of Naples. Begs him to write to the Abbot of Najera ordering him to see that the "poor" French be soon driven out of Italy. Prospero Colonna showed the Abbot of Najera a letter from him (the Emperor), in which it is said that he (the Emperor) wishes much to win over the Duke of Ferrara and Francesco Maria, (fn. 4) to his party. Does not trust the Duke of Ferrara and Francesco Maria. The English ambassador has had a long conversation with him about Ferrara. Told him that if he could persuade the Duke to be a good servant of his (the Emperor) he would give him full power to settle the disputes about Ferrara in any way he liked. Does not believe that the English ambassador will succeed in persuading the Duke to abstain from plundering the states of the Church. The Duke of Ferrara and the Venetians are in their hearts partisans of the French. Siena. Borghese in Siena. Couriers are intercepted by the French. Cardinal de Medicis. Swiss, &c.—Rome, the 23rd of February 1522. Addressed : "... sar, King of Spain ... Lord." Indorsed : "To the King. From Rome. Juan Manuel, the 23rd of February 1522." Spanish. Autograph in cipher. Contemporary deciphering. pp. 10.
28 Feb. M. D. Pasc. d. G. Pa. rel. a. 1. Hist. d. Es.	391. The Abbot Of Najera to the Emperor. News concerning the army. Fuentarabia. Bishop of Veruli. It is said that the King of England has obtained from his kingdom a grant of 4,000,000 of gold (ducats?), and is forming a larger army than is necessary. Begs him to persuade the King of England to send about 200,000 ducats to Italy of the money which has been granted to him for the maintenance of the army. If the King of England would attack France from the north, and send 200,000 ducats to Italy, the Italian army could invade France from the south, and obtain a great success. The victory would be sure and decisive.—Milan, last day of February 1522. Addressed "To his Sacred, Imperial, and Catholic Majesty." Indorsed : "To the King. 1522. Milan. Abbot of Najera. Last day of February. Answered. Duplicate." Spanish. Holograph. pp. 5.