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.
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'Venice: August 1524', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526, (London, 1869) pp. 374-378. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp374-378 [accessed 19 April 2024]
August 1524
| Aug. 7. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 283, St. Mark's Library. | 852. Gasparo Contarini to the Council of Ten. |
|---|---|
| In my letter of the 30th of June I mentioned what had been said by the Chancellor concerning the Emperor's dissatisfaction at the proceedings of the King of England, or rather of Cardinal Wolsey. | |
| I have ridden the whole way from Burgos to Valladolid always in company with the Chancellor, some of whose remarks made in the course of the journey appear to indicate his present policy. | |
| When I remarked that it would be desirable for the Emperor to marry, and inquired the age of the Princess of England, the Chancellor replied that she was but eight years old. I then alluded to the sister of the King of Portugal, as having declared that she would never marry anybody but the Emperor. (fn. 1) | |
| The Chancellor rejoined, “She might possibly have him, although according to the prophecies (fn. 2) the Emperor is to become King of England by marriage; it might, however, befall him to espouse this Portuguese Princess in the first place, and then on her death to take the daughter of the King of England for his second wife.” | |
| I then exclaimed, “How can you at this moment abandon the Princess of England?” | |
| The Chancellor continued, “The King of England might perhaps not keep his engagements, in which case we should be released from our obligations; moreover, in these negotiations for peace I know not how we shall manage with him, for he demands of the King of France as much territory as has been conquered by the Emperor, though I do not believe that France will grant it.” | |
| I cautiously hinted that although it would be desirable for the Christian commonwealth that some adjustment should be effected, yet everything ought to be done to retain England. | |
| The Chancellor rejoined that it was requisite to make some agreement, which was requisite both for France and for the Emperor, and also by reason of the danger to be apprehended from Sultan Solyman. The Chancellor has talked constantly for many months of taking the Emperor to Italy, and then retiring to his own home in quiet. | |
| Valladolid, 7th August 1524. | |
| [Italian, 2½ pages.] | |
| Aug. 9. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 371. | 853. Marc' Antonio Venier, Venetian Ambassador to the Duke of Milan, to the Signory. |
| Advices have apparently been received of the passage into Flanders of from three to four thousand English, to join the Flemings in an attack on France. | |
| Romano, 9th August. Registered by Sanuto, 12th August | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 11. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 369. | 854. Advices from Ferrara. |
| Letters addressed to the Duke of Ferrara were exhibited to the College by the Ferrarese ambassador. They state that the Duke of Bourbon was prospering, and had received 100,000 ducats from the King of England. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 11. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. pp. 377, 378. | 855. Invasion of France. |
| Extract from a letter dated Finale, 11th August. According to letters from Flanders of 16th July the English had not crossed. Registered by Sanuto, 18th August. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 12. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 284, St. Mark's Library. | 856. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory. |
| Has conversed about the war with the English ambassador [Sampson]; finds him much more inclined towards peace than formerly. Perceives the like to be the case with the Chancellor and all the other personages of the Spanish Court, so that possibly, when writing to Rome, they will now give Mons. de la Roche fuller powers for the negotiation of peace. | |
| Valladolid, 12th August 1524. | |
| [Italian, 2 pages.] | |
| Aug. 13. Misti Consiglio X., v. xlvii. p. 59. | 857. The Council of Ten and Junta to Marco Foscari, Ambassador in Rome. |
| In reply to his letter of the 4tb, understand what the Pope told him concerning the mission by the King of England of the Rev. Richard Pace to the Switzers. Commend his Holiness for not sending his Nuncio with Pace, for the sage reason assigned by the Pope, but should have liked the Swiss negotiation to have been effected by means of his Holiness, for the causes mentioned in their last of the 6th July, and also for the establishment of the Duke of Milan, on whose stability they believe that the security of Italy greatly depends. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 15. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 285, St. Mark's Library. | 858. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory. |
| On the evening before last the Duke of Bourbon's gentleman, Mons. de Ursi [Lurcy], arrived at Valladolid, having quitted the coast of Provence on the 3rd instant. He states that the whole of that province, with the exception of Aries and Marseilles, has submitted to the Duke. | |
| Imagines that the ministers at Valladolid are much elated by this intelligence, and doubts whether they will be so ready to stipulate peace or truces as they were apparently during the last few days. | |
| Yesterday letters were received from England, dated the 17th and 18th of July. The King would do but little, unless the Provence expedition succeeded. Does not know what decision he will now form. | |
| Valladolid, 15th August 1524. | |
| [Italian, 1½ page.] | |
| Aug. 15. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 286, St. Mark's Library. | 859. Gasparo Contarini to the Council of Ten. |
| Is informed by the Florentine ambassadors that they have received letters from England, dated the 17th ult., written by the Papal Nuncio [Ghinucci?], announcing the arrival there, on a mission from France, of a certain Genoese [Giovanni Gioachino Passano]. The King has since talked of raising 30,000 infantry to send against Scotland, which is in a poor state of defence, and the Duke of Albany absent. The Nuncio is therefore apprehensive lest this expedition against Scotland should render the war with France in that quarter yet slacker. | |
| Valladolid, 15th August 1524. | |
| [Italian, ½ page.] | |
| Aug. 16. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 288, St. Mark's Library. | 860. The Same to the Same. |
| Today when with the Chancellor I endeavoured to acquaint myself farther with the news from England, and was told by him that their letters thence purported that the Earl of Angus has fled from France, and promises to consign to the King of England his [the King's] sister and [her son] the King of Scotland; in consequence of which the King of England was making preparation against Scotland. | |
| Concerning the Genoese [Passano] despatched by the mother of the King of France to England, the Chancellor said he had been in hiding there for some days, and Wolsey writes that he will not give any account of his negotiations by the present post, as letters travel insecurely owing to the corsairs, but purposes narrating the whole by the next courier. | |
| The opportunity appearing fair, I urged the Chancellor strongly to maintain the friendship with England, and employed many arguments, which the Chancellor admitted; so I believe him now to be better disposed than he was formerly. | |
| It is requisite first of all to sustain the fancies of the Chancellor, and then adroitly to dispel them, because he is a man of very small brains, (fn. 3) and when he once takes an impression, he then becomes obstinate. The path on which he was entering seemed very perilous. He would have commenced by estranging himself from the King of England, and then in conclusion, had the Emperor succeeded, he would have brought the Emperor into Italy. I therefore deemed it necessary to pursue the above-mentioned course, which has not proved fruitless. (fn. 4) | |
| Valladolid, 16th August 1524. | |
| [Italian, 1 page.] | |
| Aug. 17. Misti Consiglio X., v. xlvii. p. 59, tergo. | 861. The Council of Ten and Junta to Marco Foscari, Ambassador in Rome. |
| Have received his letter of the 10th detailing his conferences, first with the English ambassador [Clerk], and subsequently with the Pope. Perceive what he said to the ambassador concerning the Switzers. Commend him for the prudence of his language; he did well to assure the ambassador of the sincerity with which the Pope was acting by the Switzers. Approve of what he said about contributing money for them, explaining that the excessive expenditure incurred by the State renders any disbursement impossible. Commend his having acquainted the Pope with the ambassador's proposal, as nothing could give them greater satisfaction than to prove to his Holiness their filial devotion. To persevere in similar offices. | |
| Ayes, 24. Noes, 1. Neutrals, 0. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 20. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi. p. 417. | 862. Letter from Antwerp. |
| The English have assumed the government of Scotland with the consent of the King of France, a proof that they are agreed. The King of England is the sovereign who with his money maintains the war waged by the Duke of Bourbon, for which undertaking he has supplied him with 200,000 crowns already. | |
| Antwerp, 20th August. Registered by Sanuto, 13th September. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 25. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi., p. 402. | 863. Carlo Contarini, Venetian Ambassador to Archduke Ferdinand, to the State. |
| Martin Luther's sect is on the ascendant (in culmine) more than ever, and on the arrival of the Emperor's letter the people would not obey it; and it is thought that they will cut each other to pieces. A second diet is to be held at Spires by the free towns. | |
| Vienna, 25th August. Registered by Sanuto, 5th September. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Aug. 27. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvi., pp. 402, 403. | 864. Carlo Contarini to Anzolo Gabriel. |
| I visit Cardinal [Lorenzo] Campeggio occasionally; he is a most amiable person. He seems partial to me, for he invited me several times to dinner; there were many learned men amongst the guests, and thus the time passed discussing interesting topics. The Cardinal said yesterday he thought the Diet appointed for Martinmas at Spires would not take place, because the free towns, having received certain Imperial mandates about Martin Luther, have postponed their reply, and are now holding a diet amongst themselves at Spires. The Cardinal is of opinion they will not obey, to avoid subjecting themselves to the empire, according to their ancient system. I infer therefore that in lieu of the Diet, some disturbance will take place. | |
| Vienna, 27th August. Registered by Sanuto, 4th September. | |
| [Italian.] | |