Spain: April 1528, 21-30 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 3 Part 2, 1527-1529. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1877.

'Spain: April 1528, 21-30', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 3 Part 2, 1527-1529, (London, 1877) pp. 664-673. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol3/no2/pp664-673 [accessed 19 April 2024]

April 1528, 21-30



21 April.	405. Alonso Sanchez to the Emperor.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar, A. 43, f. 260.	[Duplicate of his letter of the 16th with the following postscriptum.]
	Lautrec's forces are estimated by some at 60,000 men, 24,000 of whom are stipendiary soldiers, the rest adventurers (aventureros). It is stated that instead of the concerted invasion of Flanders by the King of England, as stipulated in their secret treaty, Lautrec is to be helped with funds, &c.
	Hears that this Signory's fleet at Corfu, consisting of 16 galleys, was to sail on the 6th inst. for Puglia.
	There is a report that Lautrech has lately sent a message to the Pope urging him to declare in favour of the League. Should he refuse, he (Lautrech) will consider and treat him as the enemy of the King, his master. Cannot say whether the report be true or not, or what the Pope's answer has been.
	This Signory, it is said, has written to King Francis, pressing him to send here the army he has ready for the invasion of Flanders. Once victorious in Italy, they tell him he will be successful everywhere.
	At the news of the German reinforcements these Venetians are already on the stir, and making all manner of military preparations in the provinces. Eight gentlemen (gentiles hombres) have been despatched to Verona, each having 20 men under his orders, for the express purpose of guarding the city gates. The Duke of Urbino is actually fortifying Vincentia (Vicenza); a proveditor has been sent to Brescia, and the garrisons of Ravenna and Cervia have been reinforced, as they have their misgivings that the Pope will try to recover them by force of arms.
	Letters have been received here from Constantinople of the 20th ulto., stating that there had been in that city and at Andrinopolis a most terrible earthquake, which had overthrown many houses and destroyed thousands of people. The earthquake had been much more violent at Andrinopolis than at Constantinople. (Cipher:) Has had letters from His Highness of the 31st ulto. He was then at a place in Moravia called ——. He was to leave for Praga in Bohemia in a couple of days, and thence proceed to the diet of Ratisbon. The affairs of Hungary were going on prosperously; the whole of the Vayvod's patrimonial estates had acknowledged the King's rule, as had all the rest of the country. Sepusio was in Poland, eight miles from Cracow, accompanied only by a friar of the Observant brothers of the name of Frangipani. (fn. n1)
	Hears that the Signory have letters of the 6th and 7th inst. from their proveditor (Pesaro) at Lautrec's camp, confirming the retreat of the Imperial Army to Naples and Gaeta; others add to Capua. Four vessels laden with Sicilian wheat had entered the former port, having also 1,000 Spanish infantry on board.—Venice, 21st April 1528.
	Signed: "Alonso Sanchez."
	Spanish. Original. pp. 2.
24 April. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar, A. 43. f. 272.	406. Alonso Sanchez, Imperial Ambassador in Venice, to the Emperor.
	Since the 21st, the date of his last despatch, news of the 11th has come from Lautrech's camp, stating that Capua, Aversa, and Nola have surrendered in consequence of the Imperial army having retreated to Naples. The Marquis del Guasto had some words with the Count of Potença; he had wounded him and killed one of his sons, and then gone to Iscla (Ischia).
	(Cipher:) The Signory is sending a fleet to those seas to blockade Naples and stop the supplies.
	Knows for certain that Lautrech has written to France complaining of his not being sufficiently provided with money, and recommending that the forces destined for the Flanders expedition be sent to his assistance; otherwise, he says, everything that he has gained will be quickly recovered by our troops.
	The last advices from Germany are that the reinforcements were to pass muster on St. George's day. He (Sanchez) thinks, however, that the 6,000 men alluded to in his last despatch have not been levied, and, if so, they will not be of much use, for unless a sufficient force is left in Lombardy with Leyva, and the remainder sent to meet Lautrech at Naples, there is no chance of overpowering the enemy completely.
	(Common writing;) The Bishop of Trent (Clesio) writes from Prague in date of the 11th inst. that the Moravians had offered the King of Hungary 3,000 infantry, paid for six months, and had promised besides, in case of His Highness' patrimonial estates being invaded by the Turks, to march to his assistance. The King was in Bohemia for the purpose of obtaining a subsidy in money, and was shortly to attend the Diet at Ratisbon. (Cipher:) Hears that some letters of the Emperor to the King, his brother, have been intercepted by the Duke of Albany (Stuart).
	Hears also that the Venetian ambassador at the Emperor's court writes in date of the 24th of February, from the castle of Poza, where he is detained with the rest of the ambassadors of the League, that he has no hope of recovering his liberty and taking his departure until he (Sanchez) is allowed to go back to Spain, and yet he knows not how that can be, for he has received no intimation to that effect, and certainly, though closely watched, he has hitherto experienced no restraint. Wonders how it is that no instructions come [from Spain] as to what he is to do, and where he is to go, especially as the kingdom of Naples being almost entirely occupied by the enemy he cannot be of any avail there.
	The Pope is said to have answered Lautrech's message by these words: "Let the League give back the towns and lands which they now withhold from me, and I am ready to declare in favour of Italy."—Venice, 24th April 1528.
	Signed: "Alonso Sanchez."
	Addressed.
	Indorsed.
	Spanish. Original "partly in cipher. Contemporary deciphering on separate sheet. pp. 3.
25 April.	407. Lope de Soria.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar, A.43, f. 279.	The Emperor's letters of the 13th of December and 20th of February have come to hand. The former seems to be a duplicate of the one entrusted to Miçer Julian (Giuliano), the Secretary, who has not yet made his appearance. May he come soon, to enable him (Soria) to enter upon the new charge which the Emperor has been pleased to confer on him. Will not move from where he is until he hears of the arrival of the Germans in Lombardy, for the roads to Milan are intercepted by the enemy, &c.
	(Cipher:) Is glad to hear that a fleet is being fitted out in Spain, that the Imperial army has been provided with money, and that 100,000 cr. more have been remitted to the King of Hungary. All that will be required if Lautrech and his Frenchmen are to be driven out of Italy and the country pacified. As George Fransperch (Fruntsperg) has written to say that he has never been reimbursed of the advances he made to the Germans under his orders, he (Soria) intends, with the Emperor's permission, to pay him out of the 20,000 cr. remaining in his hands. The remainder shall be sent to Leyva. As soon as the bills of exchange which Miçer Giuliano brings are cashed, the amount shall be distributed according to the Emperor's orders.
	(Common writing:) The Pope is still at Orvieto, to all appearance neutral; (cipher:) but the general impression is that secretly he is the Emperor's enemy, and will do him all the harm he can.
	(Common writing:) Melfi was taken by storm on the 24th ulto., and the garrison, as well as all men, women, and children in the town, put to the sword. The Prince himself (Caracciolo) fell a prisoner into the hands of the enemy. (Cipher:) Lautrech was marching on Naples, whither the Imperial army had retreated. Many towns had in consequence surrendered to the French. The whole of Puglia had sent in its allegiance with the exception of Manfredonia and Taranto, which still held for us.
	The Genoese have proclaimed the Union. Has no doubt that immediately upon the arrival of the German reinforcements in Lombardy they will shake off the French yoke. Has received a letter from Sanchez advising the march of the Germans, the probable invasion of Hungary by the Turk, and the sailing of 16 Venetian galleys for the coast of Naples. Leyva was prospering in Lombardy, and had made an agreement with the warder of Mus. The Duke of Urbino was raising troops for the defence of the Venetian territory in case of its being invaded by the Germans.—La Mirandola, 25th April 1528.
	Signed: "Lope de Soria."
	Addressed: "To the most Sacred, Imperial, and Catholic Majesty."
	Indorsed: "To the King. 1528. Soria. 25th April."
	Spanish. Original partly in cipher. Contemporary deciphering on separate sheet. pp. 4.
25 April.	408. Countess Golisano to the Emperor.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar, A. 43 f. 284.	The present war being carried on at the very gates of her patrimonial estates, she has thought fit to take refuge in Sicily for her own security and that of her son. Begs for a letter of introduction and recommendation to the Viceroy (Duke of Monteleone), that he may protect her and her eldest son and heir against the Marquis of Giraco (Chirazzo), who has instituted a most iniquitous lawsuit against her and her family.— Palermo, 23rd April 1528.
	Signed: "La Contessa de Golisano."
	Addressed: "R. C. C. M. del Imperatore, nostro Signore."
	Indorsed: "From the Countess of Golisano. 23rd April. Answered."
	Italian, Holograph. p. 1.
26 April. M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. C. 71, f. 196.	409. Martin de Salinas to the King of Bohemia and Hungary.
	Wrote from Madrid on the 16th inst. advising the speedy remittance of bills of exchange for 50,000 ducats. They are now being sent at all risks (á la ventura) by Mons. de Beurre (Beurren) as the safest way that is possible. A further supply in bills shall be sent from Valencia, and Pedro de Ascoytia take them on his return, and whenever an opportunity occurs, more bills of exchange shall be procured and sent.
	The Emperor left this town (Madrid) for Valencia on the 23rd inst. He is to make his public entrance on the 2nd of May next, and immediately after the ceremony of the oath, &c. is to go to Moncon, for which place the Cortes of Aragon have been convoked, and are to meet on the 1st of June. Letters have come from the Imperial ambassador [in England] announcing that King Henry and Cardinal Wolsey were striving to become the mediators of peace (se quieren entremeter en la paz). The Emperor, however, will not hear of the proposed interference, because the English in the first instance took the part of France.
	Will write at greater length from Valencia, for at the present moment the Emperor is quitting this village and setting out on his journey.—Villar de Cañas, 28th April 1528.
	Addressed: "To the King."
	Spanish. Original draft. .,. 1.
28 April	410. The Same to Secretary Castillejo. (fn. n2)
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. C. 71, f. 196.	Wrote in his own hand from Valencia on the 12th inst., enclosing bills of exchange. Kept no copy of his letter because there was no time for it, as an Imperial courier was leaving for Portugal. His Highness' ambassador in Lisbon will take care that the despatch be sent to its destination, as there can be no safer conveyance at present.—[Camino de] Valencia, 28th April 1528.
	Addressed: "To Secretary Castillejo"
	Spanish. Original draft. 1.
28 April.	411. The Emperor to [his Ambassadors at Rome]. (fn. n3)
K. u. K. Haus-Hof- u. Staats Arch. Rep. C. 234.	We have frequently written to you concerning the affair of Her most Serene Highness the Queen of England, our dearest and most beloved aunt. We now hear that the King, her husband, has sent two lawyers to Rome to acquaint His Holiness with his reasons for considering his marriage with our aunt as null and void, and also that all the bishops of his kingdom share his opinion. The King wants the Pope to commit the inquiry to the Cardinal of England and Archbishop of Canterbury, with whom and for the greater justification of his case, as he says, he wishes the Bishop of London to be joined, on condition that what the majority decide shall be held as good and valid, knowing, as he does, that if the latter takes the part of the Queen, the other two are sure to pronounce against her and in his favour.
	You shall do everything in your power to prevent this case being committed for judgment to any ecclesiastical judge in England, because, should it be so, We should consider the case as lost. You will try, on the contrary, the matter being so arduous, and of so great importance, to have it reserved for the Pope's inspection and that of the College of Cardinals.
	It is quite false that all the bishops of England are against the marriage, and counsel the King's divorce. You may assure His Holiness that with one or two exceptions, at the most, all the English bishops stand for the Queen, and would willingly, if they dared, subscribe their names to a public declaration in. her favour. You shall, therefore, beg His Holiness to reserve to himself the cognizance of this case and have it tried and decided in consistory, since the original briefs of dispensation, of which We have already sent you copies, and now send duplicates, are so explicit that they cannot be invalidated without detriment to the authority of the Holy Apostolic See, as the contradiction would necessarily imply that the Pope had no power to dispense in similar cases.
	Of your progress in the negotiation you will apprise us as soon as possible, as well as the Lady Margaret [of the Low Countries], that We may forthwith acquaint the Queen, our aunt.—Madrid, 24th April 1528,
	Signed: "Yo el Rey."
	Countersigned: "Jo. Alemanus, Sec."
	Addressed: "Reverendo ac Illustrissimo, Reverendo Patri ac magnificis fidelibus delectissimis, &c."
	Indorsed: "Cerrada en el Campillo, camyno de Valencia, á 28 del dicho Avril."
	Spanish. Original draft. pp. 1½.
30 April.	412. Count Burrello to the Emperor.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar, A. 43, f. 286.	His Imperial Majesty must already have heard the disastrous news of the loss of four out of the six Imperial galleys the death of Don Ugo, Ferramosca, and others. Since then, on the 21st inst., Mons. de Vere (Veyre) was killed in a skirmish outside this city. Vaury was on board Don Ugo's galley, and we do not know whether he was slain or only taken prisoner.—Naples, Thursday, the last day of April 1528.
	Addressed: "Sacratissimæ, Cesareæ, et Catholicæ Mati"
	Italian. Original, pp. 1½.
30 April to 1 May.	413. Secretary Perez to the Emperor.
M. Re. Ac. d. Hist. Salazar, A. 43, f. 300.	Encloses duplicates of his letters of the 19th and 26th March and 6th inst. by the bearer, (fn. n2) Monsieur de Balançon. The despatches here alluded to may be found under Nos. 377 and 390. who also takes the Prince's despatches.
	Since his last the enemy has approached close to Naples, and skirmishes take place daily, in all of which our solders come out victorious. In one of these, however, on the 21st ulto., Mons. de Vere (Veyre (fn. n4) ) was unfortunately killed.
	On the 27th Don Ugo, the Marquis del Guasto, Ascanio Colonna, Cesaro Ferramosca, and others went out in six galleys to attack Philippino Doria's eight that were cruising along this coast. Besides the galleys Don Ugo took with him two light vessels (fustas), three brigantines, and seven or eight large boats (barcas) armed, on board of which he placed 600 picked men. On the 28th they met the enemy in the Gulf of Salerno, where our six galleys grappled with Philippino's six with so such fury that when, after the death of Don Ugo, they wished to retreat they could not. Four out of the six Imperial galleys were captured by the enemy; the other two, the "Perpiñana" and "Calabresa," managed to escape. A sailor who swam on shore states that one half hour before the arrival of our galleys, the enemy having heard from Naples that they were to be attacked, took 6,000 men on board as a reinforcement. It is supposed that the Marquis, Colonna, and Ferramosca are prisoners of war, though the first news received in this city reported them dead. Garci Manrique was on board one of the galleys that escaped. Of Bauberi, (fn. n5) who went also with Don Ugo, nothing is known.
	The Marquis [of Guasto] with about 2,000 Spaniards had formerly charge of La Montagna de San Martino and the castle of Santelmo. Thinks the defence of that part of the city will now be entrusted to the Duke of Malfi (Amalfi) an excellent soldier. Juan de Urbina commands in another quarter; the rest is in the hands of the Germans. Gironimo (Girolamo) Moron is here at the head of the provision department. A wise and experienced official he is, and most useful to the Emperor. Both he and Urbina well deserve that the Emperor should think of them when the estates of some of these barons, who are one day with us and even attend Council, and the next with the enemy, come to be confiscated. The Marquis of Monte Charcho (Monte Sarchio) is a good instance of this, for though as much trust was placed in him as though he were a grandee of Spain, he fled the other day to the French camp.
	One of the Pope's chamberlains came some days ago with briefs addressed to the Prince and to Don Ugo. Cannot say for certain what the contents are, but has heard that the Pope sends word that Civittá Vecchia is very closely invested by the French, or by Andrea Doria, and in danger of being lost, and that it is much better to return it to him than let the French have it. Knows not what the answer may have been, but has been assured that the place is in no danger at all, as it is provisioned for more than a year, and the governor, Don Alonso de Cordoba, is a very resolute man, though he is now very ill in bed, as the report goes. Ostia is likewise well provisioned.
	The Genoese are on bad terms with the King of France owing to his having refused them Savona. It is reported that they intend constituting themselves into a sort of republic (comunidad) like Florence or Venice, and that Andrea Doria whom they intend electing for their chief (mayor), though without the title of Dux or governor, is the principal instigator of the movement.
	The son of Count Potencia (Potença) has died of his wounds. His father is at Gaeta. Vespasiano's daughter is still at Pliano (Pagliano). What he (Perez) stated in his despatch of the 19th of March respecting her father having on his death-bed ordered her marriage with a son of Giovanni dé Medici was a mistake; it was to Ypolito (Hippolit), the Pope's nephew, who possesses estates in this kingdom, that she was promised.
	Don Juan Pimental is still here, but intends sailing in company with many Spaniards in the same vessel that took the Marquis of Astorga home (en la nao que llevó al Marques de Astorga).
	The Viceroy of Sicily (Duke of Monteleone) is about to send the Spanish infantry in the island, and 4,000 more to Calabria to co-operate with the Imperial forces at Manfredonia, and cut off the enemy's supplies. These are commanded by Count de Miñano (Mignano), a brother of Cesaro Ferramosca, and by Colonel Aldana. Count Burrello is now being despatched [to his father, the Viceroy,] to hasten the expedition.
	Advices from Orbieto state that the Pope is on the point of granting to the King of England a dispensation to get his divorce and marry whom he pleases. The report is not generally believed here; it would be a monstrous affair.
	Leyva goes on prosperously. The other day he took 18 pieces of ordnance from the Venetians. He is daily expecting the Germans in Lombardy to come this way.
	Of the victory obtained by the King of Hungary against the Vayvod the Emperor must already have been apprised. It is reported that 40,000 Germans, all Lutherans, have arrived at Frigoli (Friuli), and are actually attacking the Venetians. The news requires confirmation. The Pope's chamberlain, who came here lately, says that his master perseveres in his neutrality notwithstanding the great offers that are made to him.—Naples, the last day of April 1528.
	P.S.—After the above was written the two galleys saved from the late disaster have entered this port. About 300 infantry, Garci Manrique, Mosen Puch, and several Spaniards who managed to escape from captivity, are on board; but there seems to be no doubt of the death of Don Ugo, Ferramosca, and Secretary Seron.
	Believes that Giuliano de la Speça (Spezzia) and his companion will start this day on their mission.
	Two Neapolitan gentlemen are also about to go to Spain. One of them is Colantonio Caracholo (Caracciolo).—Naples, 1st of May 1528.
	Signed: "Perez."
	Addressed: "Sacræ, Catliocæ. Mati."
	Indorsed: "To the King. 1528. 1st May. Duplicate. (fn. n6) Answered."
	Spanish. Original, pp. 4½.