Spain: October 1546, 16-31

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 8, 1545-1546. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

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'Spain: October 1546, 16-31', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 8, 1545-1546, (London, 1904) pp. 492-495. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol8/pp492-495 [accessed 19 April 2024]

October 1546, 16–31

14 Oct. Simancas. E. A. 642. 337. The Emperor to Prince Philip.
(In a letter dealing mainly with the circumstances of the war with the Protestants the following passage occurs.)
Our sister the Queen Dowager of Hungary has informed us of what she is negotiating with the Scots, respecting the Spanish and Flemish ships and merchandise which have been captured by them. We enclose you a copy of her letter (fn. 1); to which we have replied on each point, and have ordered that no treaty is to be concluded with the Scots, except it be a general one in which all our dominions and territories without exception be included. Means must be found for preventing the molestation of Spanish vessels whilst these negotiations are progressing.
Camp (at Dunkelspeil?), 14 October, 1546.
16 Oct. Simancas. E. R. 873. 338. Juan de Vega to the Emperor.
(Since his last has continued to press the Pope about the 500,000 ducats; but can get no further reply beyond a profession of desire to satisfy the Emperor, and a promise to decide the question when the expected reply comes from the Legate. They say that this reply has not yet arrived.) I sent to complain of the delay to Cardinal Santa Flor, as I had heard that a long conference with the Pope had taken place on the subject. He replied that his Holiness still insisted upon the elucidation of the point as to whether or no he had fulfilled his treaty obligations. When it had been decided that he had done so—as doubtless it would be—and he was asked to grant the rest as a favour, he would satisfy your Majesty. Notwithstanding all my subsequent efforts, I can get nothing beyond this. I expect he is waiting to see how things will turn out.
On the day of the Creation, the 13th instant, at which festivity the ambassadors of France and Venice, as well as myself, were present, the Pope called me to him whilst he was at table; and, after asking me for news of your Majesty, he summoned the French and Venetian ambassadors. He then made a long speech about peace, and spoke of the Venetians and their friendship with the Turk. Everyone was silent at this, and his Holiness turned to me and asked what I thought of it. I praised his suggestion, and remarked that peace at present existed between your Majesty and the Christian King; and I was quite sure when it was considered desirable to cement it further your Majesty would show the same goodwill as ever and offer no obstacle. The French ambassador spoke more at length, dwelling upon the need for prompt efforts, with the object of pacifying still further the relations between your Majesty and the King of France; and said that by some mutual sacrifice peace might be made. I replied that your Majesty was already pacified towards the King of France, as you had shown on several occasions, and I had no doubt that a similar feeling was entertained by the King of France, etc. The Venetian said not a word, although the Pope pressed him several times to do so. He simply replied that he approved of what I said.
I am told that the Pope has fallen out with the Venetians, and is much dissatisfied with the French, in consequence of what I wrote to your Majesty before about the Council (see letter, Vega to the Emperor, 10 October, p. 489). I am again assured that the King of France spoke as reported, and with much warmth. The man who brings me the news also says that the King of France has sent to the Pope to say that if the latter wishes to transfer the sittings to Avignon the King will cause the Prelates from England and the Lutherans to go thither. My own belief is that this would not at all suit the Pope, even if the King of France could do it. It is reported in two letters from your Majesty's camp that Peter Strozzi had gone to the rebel headquarters. The Pope spoke in disapproval of this, and remarked to me that if the King (of France) had ordered this it was badly and unwisely done. (fn. 2) I replied, agreeing with him. The Pope also explained at length his reasons for recalling the Legate. It was, he said, mainly owing to his (i.e. Farnese's) bad disposition and the belief that he would be rather a hindrance than a help. But as he learnt by the last letters that he was behaving better, and that your Majesty wished him to stay he (the Pope) had rejoiced at it. (fn. 3) He spoke much and with great respect for your Majesty on this point; and I expressed my pleasure that the Legate was to remain. We are here in great anxiety to hear of your Majesty's progress, nothing having been received since the news of the camp having left the neighbourhood of Neuburg on the 2nd instant.
Rome, 16 October, 1546.
17 Oct. Vienna.Imp. Arch. 339. Van der Delft to the Emperor.
Whilst I was in conversation to-day with Paget, on questions of private claims, he told me, in confidence, that, when he reported to the King what their ambassador, the Bishop of Westminster, had recently written, to the effect that M. de Granvelle had assured him of the Emperor's entire trust in the King's friendship; notwithstanding all the attempts made to breed suspicion of him, he (Paget) had not failed to impress upon the King the advisability of giving to the Emperor further reason for continuing to entertain this confidence. With this end the King wrote to his ambassador to expose to your Majesty the intrigues and plots designed against you, and your Majesty will receive the details of these from the said ambassador. Paget afterwards urged me to beg your Majesty to have the embargoes raised in Spain; the release of the property there still being refused, even against security. The King's subjects are constantly complaining of this, and the King could not avoid great annoyance at treatment which he considered altogether unendurable, whilst every effort was being made here to do justice to your subjects. The latter have really been to a large extent favourably dealt with, and those whose cases are still pending would be more hopeful if the embargoes (in Spain) were modified. As I have on several occasions written fully to your Majesty on this subject, I will not dwell upon it further now; but, as this King takes it very much to heart, and is frequently bringing it up in his interviews with me, I crave your Majesty's instructions as to how I am to satisfy him.
Windsor, 17 October, 1546.
25 Oct. Simancas. E. R. 873. 340. Juan de Vega to the Emperor.
(The resolution about the 500,000 ducats still being delayed, on the pretence that they had not received a reply from the Legate, the writer had again urgently pressed the Pope for a decision. His Holiness had only repeated his former reply, insisting that what he had already done was an equivalent to his original promise. After much pressure the Pope had promised to have the matter considered by his councillors. The writer had prayed that the amount granted should not be less than 500,000 ducats, and that the decision should be prompt, whereupon the Pope promised that no time should be lost but would pledge himself no further as to the amount. The decision will certainly depend upon the Emperor's success in the war. The Pope spoke at length on the war, which he hoped would be successful, and referred to the event on St. Francis' day, (fn. 4) an account of which had been sent to Rome, with the inconsiderate suggestion that the enemy might have been engaged with advantage.) I replied that your Majesty was wise and experienced and that the course you had adopted was doubtless the best. People, I said, frequently talked about what they did not understand. His Holiness then referred to the rebuke he had administered to the French ambassador (who had preceded me in an interview with him) about the going of Peter Strozzi to the enemy's headquarters. The ambassador had excused it by saying that Strozzi had gone thither in a private capacity, and that the King of France had not supplied him with money, as had been reported here, but had simply given him a warrant for the amount he owed him. He said also that Strozzi would not go to the Turk, as was rumoured in Rome, etc. The Pope appeared to some extent to accept the French excuses, rather because he understands the character of the people than because he thought the excuses themselves sufficient. He enlarged upon their defectiveness and praised your Majesty highly, continuing his speech by saying that the best remedy for all the evil would be a good peace. In order that he (the Pope) might, at some time or another, be instrumental in bringing this about, he had done his best to banish the distrust which the French had sometimes entertained of him; not because he wavered in his desire to remain closely united to your Majesty, towards whom he had many causes of attachment, which he mentioned, besides the personal contrast between your Majesty and the King (of France). He would, he said, continue in this course, and requested my opinion. I accepted his kindly professions towards your Majesty, and approved to some extent of his procedure with the French; hinting lightly, however, that in the matters touching the enterprise that did not infringe neutrality, his Holiness might, without scruple, go further than he did. The French, I said, were not people to whom so much respect need be paid. I praised his desire for peace; but remarked that your Majesty had never deviated from it, either in acts or words, although the King (of France) had not always reciprocated fittingly, etc. . . . The Pope is very much pleased that your Majesty has given to Duke Octavio the command at Donauwerth. His Holiness is sending anew to the Council (of Trent) some of the confidential Prelates of the Roman Court, and ordering those who are in the neighbourhood of Trent to go thither, his intention being to suspend the sittings. As this is the object they are always aiming at they are constantly planning this or the other scheme to carry it out. Rome, 25 October, 1546.
25 Oct. Simancas. E. 1192. 341. Extract from a Ciphered Document headed Advices From Piedmont, 25 October, 1546.
English affairs are proceeding in a way which gives small hope of a permanent settlement, although negotiations are being bravely pushed forward. It is feared that no success will attend the efforts, because the King of England wishes to have the daughter of Scotland, and the King of France will not consent to this. The King of France greatly fears an agreement between the Emperor and the Lutherans. He has recently sent a Frenchman called M. de Villarand to the Landgrave to disturb any such agreement.

Footnotes

  • 1. See letter No. 327, page 476
  • 2. Peter Strozzi was one of the two brothers, famous Italian galley commanders in the service of France.
  • 3. The young Cardinal's recall by his grandfather was probably mainly in consequence of his and the Pope's disappointment when they found that the Emperor's war was less of a crusade than had been represented to them when the Papal subsidy was requested. Farnese had expected to lead the host with elevated crucifix, like another Saint Dominic, but, as these letters show, the Emperor treated him and the Pope as mere instruments of his Imperial policy, and the granting of the dukedom of Milan to Prince Philip must have proved to the Farneses, that, whatever happened, the Emperor did not intend to reward them as bountifully as they had hoped. The murder of Pier Luigi a few months later, by the Emperor's close friend and Viceroy Gonzaga, finally completed the breach, of which the commencement may be traced in Juan de Vega's letters.
  • 4. i.e.4th October. Vandenesse says“ On the 4th October the army was in the village of Dettingen near Bestertrey. During the whole of this night the Protestants were marching away from Donauwerth through the mountains to Nordlingen, in sight of the Imperial army, which on the 5th encamped just opposite to them.” Juan de Vega was quite correct in his comment. The Emperor's tactics were able and successful. He temporarily raised the siege of Nordlingen and drew off on the approach of the Landgrave from Donauwerth. As soon as the Protestant army arrived at Nordlingen the Emperor placed himself between it and Donauwerth, detaching a strong force under Octavio Farnese to seize the latter place, which the Landgrave was powerless now to aid.
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