Venice: June 1524 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1869.

'Venice: June 1524', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526, (London, 1869) pp. 367-372. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp367-372 [accessed 26 April 2024]

June 1524



June 1. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 273, St Mark's Library.	832. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	A courier from France announces the departure from the French court of the Archbishop of Capua for England on the 12th of May.
	The Pope has written to the Emperor from Rome, in date of the 10th May, urging him to ponder the great preparations making by Sultan Solyman, and announcing that the Lutherans have summoned a council in a certain town in Germany, for the purpose of confuting the arguments adduced against Luther's tenets. This distresses the Pope greatly, and he earnestly requests the Emperor to apply a remedy, as such a demonstration is at variance with the edict issued by him at Worms [April 1521].
	The Emperor replied that he would take such steps as due, expressing himself in general terms without descending to any particulars.
	Burgos, 1st June 1524.
	[Italian, 2¼ pages.]
June 6. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 274.	833. Invasion of France.
	The secretary of the Imperial ambassador came into the College and showed a letter, dated Stochar [Stutgard?], 24th May, addressed to the ambassador, announcing the passage through that place of Richard Pace, late English ambassador in Venice, who is coming well provided with the “authentic “document to accelerate the march of Bourbon into France; that is to say, he is bringing with him the pecuniary supply. He also said that the “Most Christian King” would invade France in person, meaning the King of England, who gives himself the title of “Most Christian,” because Pope Leo styled him “Defender of the Faith” for having composed a work against Luther.
	[Italian.]
June 7. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 280.	834. Marco Foscari to the Signory.
	Has had conversations with the Pope about the Duke of Bourbon, who means to invade France, and to send the fleet from Genoa into Provence to capture Marseilles. The Duke of Bourbon will not depart until the English cross. The Emperor is raising troops for the attack on France, and this he does in order that the King of England may send an army.
	Rome, 7th June. Registered by Sanuto, 11th June.
	[Italian.]
June 10. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 282.	835. Antonio Surian and Francesco Foscari, Governors of Brescia, to the Signory.
	Dom. Richard Pace, ambassador from the King of England, arrived post at Brescia from England on his way to Rome, where he expects to meet the Emperor's Lord Chancellor, Gattinara. Pace dined at Brescia, and previously Surian went to visit him at the inn. Pace told Surian that his King would not give another ducat to the Emperor, having already given him 200,000 crowns. Pace is moreover of opinion that for this year his King will send neither troops nor anything else against France.
	Brescia, 10th June. Registered by Sanuto, 13th June.
	[Italian.]
June 13. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 274, St. Mark's Library.	836. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	On the 10th instant the Florentine ambassador received letters from the Archbishop of Capua, dated the 3rd, from Tours, where the King of France then was.
	The letters were in cipher, and purport that after his departure from Burgos, on the 25th of April, Schomberg arrived at the French Court on the 2nd of May. He remained there until the 12th, and then proceeded towards England, where he landed on the 16th.
	On the 25th of May he was again at the Court of France and purposed departing thence for Rome on the 4th of June.
	The Archbishop announces that the King of England has assented to the truce; and therefore Schomberg desires the Florentine ambassadors to urge the Emperor to do the like with all despatch.
	The Imperial postmaster at Burgos has received letters from Lisbon dated the 8th instant. They purport that at the end of May some French vessels off Faro, in Portugal, near Cadiz, attacked the ship under the command of Beneto Zane, master, on board of which were said to be 4,000 pieces of kerseys; and the ship under the command of Zuane Francesco Giustinian, master, freighted with 3,000 pieces of kerseys. They captured the vessel commanded by Beneto Zane, and the Giustiniana ran ashore, but saved both crew and cargo, though the ship is lost. Some merchants of Seville have received similar intelligence by way of Seville. Prays God to comfort those who have encountered so great a disaster.
	Burgos, 13th June 1524.
	[Italian, 3½ pages.]
June [13?]. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 288.	837. Marco Foscari to the Signory.
	It is reported by letters from the Emperor's Court at Burgos that the Chancellor Gattinara had declined coming to Rome because he demanded very full powers, which were denied him; and if he went to Rome without ample authority, the ministers remaining in Spain would do many things against him; but he is sending Mons. de la Rochia. (fn. 1)
	He also intends to send 3,000 lansquenets to Perpignan, that the King of England likewise may attack France; and he wrote to the Duke of Bourbon that after accomplishing the Italian expedition he was to go with the troops into France. The Chancellor also said that Pace, the English ambassador, was bringing 200,000 crowns into Italy. The Archbishop of Capua wrote in praise of the Emperor's liberality. He, the Archbishop, was going to England. The King of France consented to the truce, and told the Archbishop it would be well to arrange the affairs of the Milanese by marrying a relation of his [King Francis] to the Duke of Milan, giving him the duchy for dower. The Archbishop replied that first of all the truce should be stipulated. It seems that the King of France said that the Archbishop was a German poltroon. The Pope remarked to him (Foscari), “This King of France is proud, and in great want of money, for the term of payment of the money borrowed by him has arrived, so that should the Duke of Bourbon (with the party he has) invade France, the King of England and the Emperor making an attack in the other direction, he would doubtless be in a bad way.”
	Rome, —. Registered by Sanuto, 18th June.
	[Italian.]
June 14. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 282.	838. Receipt of Letters from Florence by Mafio Bernardo the Banker.
	News there that the ship of 1,000 butts belonging to Zuan Zane and brothers, when on its homeward voyage from England, loaded with wool and tin for a great amount, was fallen in with off Cape St. Vincent's . . . . by Frenchmen or . . . . and they captured it. They also gave chase to the galleon of Nicolò Semitecolo and Co., returning in like manner from England, and it ran aground and foundered in the direction of Portugal. By the loss of these two ships Venice has suffered great damage.
	[Italian.]
June 14. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 290.	839. Marco Foscari to the Signory.
	The Pope told him he had letters from the Court in Spain dated the 24th of April. The King of England was going to send a certain amount of troops against France. The Pope had also received letters from the Archbishop of Capua, dated Montpellier the 11th, announcing his having been in England.
	Rome, 13th and 14th June. Registered by Sanuto, 19th June.
	[Italian.]
June 17. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 285.	840. Lutherans at Stutgard.
	Advices sent by the Marquis of Mantua to his ambassador at Venice, and read in the Senate.
	The Archduke [Ferdinand] is there at Stutgard, and as the Lutheran sect is making greater progress than ever, he has caused two Lutherans to be burnt, one of whom was a preacher who preached that there is no longer a Christ (che non era più Cristo) , as a new prophet was to come every 1,500 years, which period having now elapsed, another has appeared, namely, Martin Luther.
	Note by Sanuto, that the “report” will perhaps be copied by him hereafter.
	[Italian.]
June 19. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. pp. 289, 290.	841. Report of France made by Giovanni Badoer in the College.
	Had been assured by the Archbishop of Capua, the Pope's ambassador, who had been in France, Spain and England, and was returning to Rome, that all three of the powers consented to the truce.
	[Italian.]
June 19. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 302.	842. Marco Foscari to the Signory.
	Announces the arrival of the Archbishop of Capua. He has ridden post to France, Spain, and England about the truce, and reports that the sovereigns are inclined to stipulate it and will send the commissions.
	Rome, 19th June 1524. Registered by Sanuto, 23rd June.
	[Italian.]
June 20. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 275, St. Mark's Library.	843. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
	Announces the receipt of letters from England, dated the 3rd instant, enclosing a minute of the conditions offered by the King to the Duke of Bourbon, in conformity with which he will assist him to return to France.
	Transmits a copy of the articles, (fn. 2) which was given to him by the Duke of Milan's secretary, who said he had been commissioned by his master to communicate everything to him (Contarini), adding, that he had received the minute from the Milanese ambassador in London, and shown it to the Chancellor Gattinara, who corrected it in certain parts where there were mistakes.
	The individuals sent by the Emperor to Badajos to confer with the Portuguese delegates about the dispute concerning the Spice Islands, have returned re infectâ. According to report the King of Portugal has sent a fleet to those parts, and it is likewise said that the Emperor is fitting out another for the same purpose. It is, therefore, feared they may come to a rupture, unless the King of Portugal marry the Emperor's sister [Katharine], concerning which marriage nothing has yet been settled.
	Burgos, 20th June 1524.
	[Italian, 3 pages.]
June 29. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 315.	844. Lutheranism in Venice.
	Today at St. Peter's in the Castle (the Cathedral), after vespers, the Partriarch being present, a priest delivered a Latin sermon against Martin Luther, some of whose works were afterwards burnt.
	[Italian.]
June 30. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 276, St. Mark's Library.	845. Gasparo Contarini to the Council of Ten.
	On becoming acquainted with the terms proposed by the King of England to the Duke of Bourbon, went to the Chancellor to ascertain the policy of the Imperial ministers in opposition to that of England. (fn. 3)
	The Chancellor in reply to his enquiries respecting the preparations against France, and the probable proceedings of the English in that matter, said, “I indeed believe that on learning the Emperor's intentions, as announced to them by one of his gentlemen who has been sent over there, they likewise will invade France.”
	Knowing that the Chancellor dislikes Cardinal Wolsey, as he has often said so very plainly, to render him more communicative, rejoined, “The affair depends on the Cardinal's brain, which is constituted somewhat after a fashion of his own.”
	Gattinara then continued, “I tell you that, besides the brain, I believe his intention to be evil; (fn. 4) and it appears to me that he would ruin the universe to contrive that the Emperor may not seem superior to his King; and he is jealous because the English have done nothing, whereas the Emperor, both in Italy and Spain and previously in Flanders, has obtained many advantages over the French. Were this envy but legitimate, he would endeavour to surpass us by his own performance of greater feats; but to me it appears of an evil nature.”
	The Chancellor did not commit himself further. Thinks he meant to infer that for the sake of checking the progress of the Imperial army Wolsey proposed to the Duke of Bourbon such overbearing and iniquitous terms. (fn. 5)
	The Chancellor informed him that Sampson complained because after the capture of Fonterabia, the Imperialists did not march to Bayonne, and moreover disbanded their army; although the English had returned from France some months previously.
	The Chancellor also said, “I do not believe the thing can last, though the Emperor will never fail to keep faith in all that he has promised them.”
	After this, the Chancellor expatiated on the Emperor's firm resolve invariably to keep faith; saying that he would prefer losing all he possessed rather than fail one atom in his promises, either to the King of England or to the Duke of Bourbon; and that but for this his affairs with France would have been settled with a single word. This maxim of the Emperor's was in accordance, the Chancellor said, with the counsel he had always given him, and should continue to give, videlicet, never to break his word.
	Greatly commended the sentiments thus professed by the Emperor and the counsel given by the Chancellor.
	Burgos, 30th June 1524.
	[Italian, 2 pages.]