Venice: March 1515 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 2, 1509-1519. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1867.

'Venice: March 1515', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 2, 1509-1519, (London, 1867) pp. 231-236. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol2/pp231-236 [accessed 26 April 2024]

March 1515



March 9. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 12.	586. The Same to the Same.
	Had heard from the nephew of Theodore Triulzi that King Francis had signed a treaty of peace with the King of England, but that nothing was concluded with the Archduke of Burgundy. That the Queen widow of King Lewis was expected to marry the Duke of Suffolk, an alliance desirable for France, as it was better for her to wed in England than abroad.
	Moulins, 9th March 1515.
	[Italian, 1½ page.]
March 15. Sanuto Diaries, v. xx. p. 49.	587. Venetian Ambassador in France to the State.
	Dated 21st and 22nd February.
	The jousts had taken place. Mons. d'Aubigni had been wounded with a spear, and likewise the Duke of Bourbon; the King had also received a blow.
	The affairs of England appeared to be arranged, and the two King,? were to meet at Calais. An adjustment had also been made with the Archduke of Burgundy.
	Details his conversations with the (secretary Robertet, and other particulars; nothing would be said about the affairs of Italy until the completion of an adjustment with England, whither the Queen Dowager would perhaps return.
	[Italian.]
March 21. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 14.	588. Sebastian Giustinian and Pietro Pasqualigo to the Signory.
	Informed by the King's Master of the Horse of the signature of a treaty of peace between the King and the Archduke (Charles of Burgundy), which would prove advantageous for France, as thereby King Francis would be enabled to annihilate the King of Arragon; for the Archduke, by a mere letter, without stirring from Flanders, had it in his power to oust the King of Arragon from the government of Castile. Also, by means of this peace the King of England would be disabled from injuring France, although even with him a good arrangement would speedily be made.
	Paris, 21st March 1515.
	[Italian, 1¾ page, or 41 lines.]
March 23. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 15.	589. Sebastian Giustinian, Pietro Pasqualigo, and Marco Dandolo, Ambassadors in France, to the Signory.
	Message received by them from the King through the Bishop of Angoulême, deferring their audience until Sunday the 25th, on account of negotiations with the Flemish ambassadors, with whom, in the name of Archduke Charles, peace and alliance had been concluded by King Francis on that day, the 23rd March.
	The Bishop of Angouleme said he knew nothing more of the adjustment, save that it was reported the Archduke would marry Madame Raynera (Réenée), the second daughter of the late King Lewis; adding that the treaty was no less advantageous for the Signory of Venice than for France, as King Francis, having nothing to apprehend from Flanders and England, would be more at liberty to attend to the affairs of Italy.
	Paris, 23rd March 1515.
	[Italian, 1½ page or 38 lines.]
March 23. Sanuto Diaries, v. xx. pp. 61,62.	590. Dandolo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the State.
	Dated 25th February to 1st March.
	The King had released Peter of Navarre, who was taken at the rout of Ravenna, and given to Mons. de Longueville, for whose ransom whilst a prisoner in England, 20,000 crowns were demanded. The King has paid the price [put on Peter of Navarre], meaning to take him into his service, and to make him captain of Lansquenets against the King of Spain.
	The league with the King of England might be said to be concluded. King Francis had left Tournai to England, rather than renounce the protection of Scotland, and had sent a friar, the Bishop of —, as ambassador to negotiate.
	[Italian.]
March 23. Sanuto Diaries, v. xx. p. 61.	591. Piero Lando, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the State.
	Dated 16th to 20th March.
	Negotiations were on foot for marrying the Queen Dowager of France, the sister of the King of England, to the Emperor, and the sister of the present Queen of France to the Archduke of Burgundy.
	[Italian.]
March 25. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 16.	592. Sebastian Giustinian, Pietro Pasqualigo, and Marco Dandolo, Ambassadors in France, to the Signory.
	Account of their audience of King Francis on that day. The King intended to enter Italy in person. In order to render France secure, he had concluded peace with the Archduke, who, as his vassal for the county of Flanders, had tendered him homage, and as Duke of Brabant, Prince of Spain, &c, had bound himself to France by agreeing to take for wife Madame Rènèe, the sister-in-law of King Francis and daughter of King Lewis. For dower he had given him the duchy of Berri and 100,000 crowns, with as many more as a gift, so that, in case of restitution of the dower, 100,000 crowns would be paid. The Archduke is at liberty within the next three years and a half to ratify the marriage, and should he not consent, the peace was to remain valid, either party giving eight frontier towns as security for its maintenance, and subjecting themselves to ecclesiastical censures.
	King Francis said that the King of England, being without the aid of French Flanders, and suspicious of Scotland, could do but little against France, for if he were to invade France with a small force he would be beaten, and if with a large one he would spend much money in vain, as was the case last time, when, assisted by Flanders, he lost both money and time under Terouenne. That town King Francis said he was rebuilding stronger than before; and that he could now, through his friendship with Flanders, obtain Tournai, it being far inland, whenever he chose, though he was nevertheless, well disposed towards peace with the King of England, who seemed, however, to be raising an unfair difficulty by requiring France to withdraw her protection from Scotland, which he would never consent to do.
	Inferred that the King would not come into Italy at present, because he wished to unite all his forces for the Italian expedition, and not to scatter them as King Lewis did; the King saying that when the King of England invaded France, no fewer than 4,000 spears and 24,000 infantry were maintained for the defence of her frontiers.
	Told the King they were commissioned to endeavour to keep the King of England on good terms with him. He said that was very agreeable to him, adding, “ I am certain you will do more for me than for that King.”
	Paris, 25th March 1515.
	[Italian, 4 pages, or 108 lines.]
March 26. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 17.	593. Sebastian Giustinian, Pietro Pasqualigo, and Marco Dandolo, Ambassadors in France, to the Signory.
	On the afternoon of that day had visited the Queen, and on the following morning were to have audience of the King's mother. Would subsequently endeavour with all speed to pay a similar compliment to the English Queen widow.
	Mention of a visit received by Pietro Pasqualigo from Hieronimo Triulzi, who told him the English Queen (Mary Tudor) knew he was bringing her a beautiful present from the Signory, and that she would therefore give the ambassadors very good greeting. Triulzi said the fact transpired through letters from his brother, the French ambassador in Venice. Pasqualigo replied that he had no present whatever with him, and knew nothing about the matter, turning the conversation.
	Paris, 26th March 1515.
	[Italian, 1 page, or 22 lines.]
March 29. Sanuto Diaries, v. xx. p. 68.	594. Andrea Badoer, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the State.
	London, 6th March.
	Details his conversations with the King. His Majesty remarked that “this King of France was indeed a worthy and honest sovereign, but nevertheless a Frenchman, and not to be trusted; that it would have been better for the Signory to have accepted the offers made by the Pope, and that he was writing in this sense to the State.”
	The King was negotiating the marriage of his sister, the Queen widow of France, to the Archduke of Burgundy, the sole obstacle being her actual sojourn in France, and it only remained to get her over to England.
	Another Spanish ambassador, a Dominican bishop (the Bishop of Helna), had arrived in England to replace the former one, who was not very popular at the Court, and this Dominican was contriving a league between the Emperor, Spain, and the Archduke.
	The King of Denmark would aid Scotland.
	The King had told him (Badoer) that he had heard of the league made against Venice, and was sorry for it, and had written to the Pope on the subject in good form, and would send duplicates of the letters.
	The King inquired of him (Badoer) who his successor was to be, and his name, and whether he knew the English tongue.
	Answered becomingly, and the King expressed regret for his departure.
	[Italian.]
March 30. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 18.	595. Giustinian, Pasqualigo, and Dandolo to the Signory.
	When visiting Madame de Bourbon (fn. 1) were told by her that peace would be made with England, though its hindrance could not injure France, first, because the peace made with the late King was to last one year after his death; secondly, because, should the King of England attack France, he must commence his preparations two years beforehand; and thirdly, because the King of England could not obtain provisions, owing to the recent treaty with the Archduke, and would therefore more easily agree to fair terms. She said an agreement was being negotiated with the Swiss at the present diet.
	The Grand Constable was eager for the Milanese expedition. The King had despatched Friar Bernardin and Prejean to Marseilles, where he had ordered 12 galleys to be fitted out, besides the other 12 galleys already there. The Lord Steward, Mons. de Boissi, assured them that France would maintain inviolate her alliance with Venice. Mons. de Vendome told them that, owing to the death of King Lewis, all treaties were at an end, and praised the agreement with Flanders, saying that a similar one would be made with England, according to a promise made by the Duke of Suffolk, who was still in France. He also said that the Provost of Louvain was come as an ambassador from the King of the Romans to prevent the agreement with Flanders, but, not succeeding, had proposed an alliance between the Emperor and France.
	Had visited the ambassadors from England, and the English Queen widow. The ambassadors assured them that the agreement between their King and France would take place; and that in a few days the Queen widow, having arranged her French affairs, would return to England with the consent of King Francis, who had already made over to her for her jointure property in France, yielding an annual sum of 80,000 francs.
	On the 29th March had another private audience of the King, who said he was endeavouring to remove all obstacles to the Italian expedition, and that he had already made an agreement with Flanders, and hoped in like manner to effect an adjustment with England, for the furtherance of which he wished the Venetian ambassadors to go thither speedily.
	Paris, 30th March 1515.
	[Italian, 5¾ pages, or 145 lines.]
March 30. Original Letter Book, St. Mark's Library, Letter no. 19.	596. The Same to the Same.
	The French secretary, Robertet, said that, on the conclusion of the peace with England, and after Easter, the King would go to Blois, where he could more conveniently make arrangements for the Italian expedition; and that although King Francis entertained no doubt of his alliance with the Signory of Venice, yet Pasqualigo would do well to obtain from the State a mandate and power, in virtue of which, on his return from England, he might either ratify the league made with the late King Lewis, or conclude a fresh treaty with King Francis.
	Paris, 30th March 1515.
	[Italian, 1½ page, or 38 lines.]