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.
This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.
'Venice: February 1526', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526, (London, 1869) pp. 525-530. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp525-530 [accessed 20 April 2024]
February 1526
| Feb. 1. Sanuto Diaries, v. xl. p. 583. | 1213. Important News from England. |
|---|---|
| On this morning the College gave audience to no one; but the letters were read, the oath of secrecy being administered to everybody, as they are in fact important, most especially those from England. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 5. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta). File no. 9. | 1214. The Doge and College to Lorenzo Orio, Ambassador in England. |
| Letters from Lyons, dated the 29th ult., inform them that Mons. de Montmorency had arrived there with the complete ratification of the agreement between the Emperor and the most Christian King. To acquaint the King and Cardinal with this intelligence. | |
| The King will not fail, with the Cardinal, to discuss the matter, and tell him (Orio) what should be done, which he is to communicate with all speed. Are convinced that with the Regent, as also with his most Christian Majesty, when established in his kingdom, the King and Cardinal will use every good office to prevent disturbance in Italy. The Signory is most firmly bent on the closest union with his Majesty, so as to have him for protector of the State; which he (Orio) is to affirm solemnly. | |
| The Prothonotary Casal has been to the Signory, and repeated the assurance of the King's and Cardinal's goodwill towards the State. They reciprocated, and gave assurance of their observance towards the King and Cardinal. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 6. Sanuto Diaries, v. xl. p. 603. | 1215. Casal in Venice. |
| On the morning of the 6th, the English ambassador [Prothonotary Casal] had audience of the College. He is very incapable, and inexperienced in statesmanship (qual è molto inepto e non pratico di stato). | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 8. Mantuan Archives. | 1216. King Henry VIII. to Frederick [Gonzaga], Marquis of Mantua. |
| Returns thanks for his loving letter, and for the present of two (so called) peregrine falcons, one of which died on the way, but the King is no less gratified than if it had arrived alive. Has detained the falconers who brought them, by reason of their skill in falconry, that the birds may be more carefully tended. Requests the Marquis to consent to his admitting these persons into his household. | |
| Greenwich, 8th February 1526. | |
| (Signed) Henricus Rex. | |
| (Countersigned) Petrus Vannes. | |
| [Original, Latin.] | |
| Feb. 8. Navagero Despatches, Cieogna copy. | 1217. Andrea Navagero to the Signory. |
| The Portuguese took the ship “Victory” (fn. 1) to Malacca at the time of its capture. Part of the crew were killed, others left at a desert place, and all means taken so that nothing should ever be known of them; but one man, 80 years old, contrived to get to Portugal in a ship manned by Portuguese. | |
| He immediately wrote the whole account of the ship, and his narrative came to the knowledge of the King of Portugal, who set him free. This man has lately arrived in Spain and reported as above. | |
| The Legate says he is commissioned by the Pope to do his utmost that the Milanese be retained by the present Duke [Francesco Sforza], and the Pope will not allow the duchy to be given to the Duke of Bourbon. Should the Legate be told that at the time of the Duke of Milan's illness the Pope assented to the nomination of Bourbon, he is to reply that so far as the Pope individually is concerned he may have consented, but that the King of England objects, and the Pope, being allied (collegata) with him, cannot dissent from his views. Should the Legate find the Emperor obstinate, and that the refusal would render him the enemy of Italy, the Pope, to avoid bringing destruction on himself, desires the Legate to consent. Friar Nicholas [Schomberg] has also written in the Pope's name to the Legate, authorizing the consent in the last resort, but the Legate, without further instructions from Rome, will not retract what he has said. | |
| Has also been told that the Pope apologises not only to the King of England but also to the Signory. | |
| Toledo, 8th February 1526. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 10. Sanuto Diaries, v. 3d. p. 672. | 1218. Lorenzo Ohio to the Doge and Signory. |
| The merchants have received news from Flanders of the agreement made between the Emperor and the most Christian King. Went to the Cardinal, who does not believe it, and, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Norfolk, said there were no letters from Madame Margaret; and yet Zuam Alemano writes from Lyons that this agreement was concluded on the 14th. It seems strange to the Cardinal not to have advices from his ambassadors in Spain, so he does not believe the news. He says it would be well to conclude the Italian league with France; that his King does not choose to be mentioned as principal, though he will be its conservator and promise for France; and subsequently it will be seen what his Majesty will do. Cardinal Wolsey has written to the Prothonotary Casal, his ambassador at Venice. The Captain de Guiles (sic) has arrived from Lyons; he went to the Cardinal, who is firm in saying that he will promise, &c. | |
| It is reported from Boulogne that the most Christian King and the Duke of Bourbon, have taken flight for France. The Cardinal desired him (Orio) to assure the Signory that the King of France (quel Be) will not brook the aggrandizement of the Emperor so that he gain glory. Death of the Queen of Denmark, the Emperor's sister; she resided in Brabant, having been expelled from Denmark with the King her husband. Letters received from Mons. Du Prat, at Lyons, about the agreement, which Cardinal Wolsey does not credit, because he has letters stating that since the 19th of December none have been received from Spain by the Regent. The King will not join the league at the commencement, but place must be reserved for him. | |
| London, 10th February. Registered by Sanuto on the 26th. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 12. Sanuto Diaries, v. xli. p. 33. | 1219. The Same to the Same. |
| Letters having arrived from Lyons, dated the 29th January, sent to the French ambassador [Brinon], who told him that the letters announced the conclusion of the agreement, and the arrival of Montmorency at Lyons from Spain; and Giovanni Gioachino [di Passano] was about to return to England with the articles of agreement. | |
| Went to Cardinal Wolsey, who does not believe that the King of France will observe the articles, and said the Signory need not be alarmed on this account, as the King and he (the Cardinal) would be the protectors and defenders of the Signory and State of Venice even at the cost of treasure, and of their own lives; and that on the French King's arrival in France, the Signory must attend to forming the Italian league with his Majesty. | |
| Whilst talking thus together, the French ambassador came by chance to the Cardinal, who told him that the most Christian King was bound to wish well to the Signory for having done all that was possible to obtain his release, and that England has the State of Venice under her protection and will not permit any wrong to be done the Signory. | |
| The French ambassador replied that the Cardinal's words would be commands for his King, who regarded the King of England as his father, and moreover loved the Signory; and that he would write the whole to his Majesty. | |
| Acquainted Cardinal Wolsey with the contents of the Signory's letters about the books of the late Nicene Cardinal [Bessarione, Archbishop of Nicæa]. Cardinal Wolsey returned many thanks, saying it was impossible to do him a greater favour, and that he would give a list of the books. | |
| London, 12th February. Registered by Sanuto, 6th March. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 19. Sanuto Diaries, v. xli. p. 49. | 1220. Lorenzo Orio to the Doge and Signory. |
| Yesterday, according to an appointment made with Cardinal Wolsey, went to the King at Greenwich, where his Right Rev. Lordship also was. Communicated to him the letter of the 10th January; whereupon the Cardinal besought the King to act, &c. His Majesty spoke most kindly of the Signory, saying he never had failed, and never would fail. Discussing this agreement between the Emperor and the King of France, he said that from the letters of his ambassadors in Spain he knew of nothing but what related to England, and that the other articles would be communicated to his Majesty by the Imperial ambassador in London. The King then said he would write to the King of France, and send an ambassador to urge him to have at heart the welfare of Italy, especially the State of Venice; adding, “Write to the Signory not to be apprehensive; they will suffer no harm on this account.” | |
| In the midst of this conversation the Spanish ambassador [Penalosa?] arrived and announced the aforesaid agreement, merely mentioning the two particulars ut supra. Thereupon his Majesty told him that he had received letters from the King of France, from whom the truth comes, purporting that he is his very dear brother, with whom he has discussed all his affairs, and he acquaints him with the summary of all the articles, in accordance with the information transmitted by the English ambassadors [in Spain and France?]. Thereby the King of France is to restore Burgundy to the Emperor, with the exception of three of its best towns, viz., Auxerre, Beaune, and Châlons, which arc retained by his most Christian Majesty as the dower of the Emperor's sister. The King then said, “He will not observe the articles: and first of all, with regard to ceding Burgundy, he cannot do so without the consent of the parliaments; and so also he is prevented from renouncing the superiority (superioritâ) of Flanders. In the next place, our assent is needed for the renunciation of the dominion of Tournai: and the interests of his son, the Dauphin, are concerned in the cession of the duchy of Milan: so that he will find many reasons for not keeping his promises. In conclusion, write to the Signory that we will not fail doing everything for them, and that they need fear nothing, as the Emperor will not come into Italy this year, because he has no money; and what he will now get for the dower will be spent by him in celebration of his marriage, and Flanders cannot give him any money. The Signory would do well to delay the agreement with the Emperor.” | |
| London, 19th February. | |
| “An excellent letter.” Registered by Sanuto, 12th March. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 23. Sanuto Diaries, v. xl. p. 668. | 1221. Marco Foscari to the Doge and Signory. |
| The Pope is sending D. Paolo Vitorio to France, and the Prothonotary Gambara to England; and an envoy from the Emperor is expected at Home. | |
| Rome, 21st and 23rd February. Registered by Sanuto on the 26th. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 25. Sanuto Diaries, v. xl. p. 667. | 1222. English Ambassador in Venice. |
| On Sunday the 25th, in the morning, the English ambassador, Prothonotary Casal, came into the College. He said he had letters from Rome from his brother [Sir Gregory Casal], his King's ambassador, enclosing a summary of the articles of agreement between the Emperor and the most Christian King. On comparing them with those received from Rome by the Signory, they were found to be identical. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 25. Sanuto Diaries, v. xli. p. 85. | 1223. Lorenzo Orio to the Doge and Signory. |
| Nothing further heard about the articles of agreement or the release of the most Christian King. | |
| Yesterday Cardinal Wolsey, in pontificial array, sang mass at St. Paul's in great state, and published the peace made between the Emperor and the most Christian King. In the evening there were entertainments and bonfires at the houses of the ambassadors, including his own, and also in some houses of French residents in London. | |
| The English and Flemings are dissatisfied with this peace, saying the King [of France] will not observe the articles. Cardinal Wolsey is anxious to hear of the King's release, and, when acquainted with his arrival, will send an ambassador to exhort him to league with Italy and his Majesty. | |
| London, 25th February. Registered by Sanuto, 26th March. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 28. Sanuto Diaries, v. xii. p. 85. | 1224. The Same to the Same. |
| Letters having arrived from Rome and France, went to Cardina Wolsey, who said he heard from Rome that the Pope had not concluded the agreement with the Emperor, and is dissatisfied with him for having made terms without his knowledge; nor is he (the Pope) even mentioned in it. The King [of England] wrote to the Regent mother to conclude the league with Italy. Cardinal Wolsey therefore says the King will be its conservator and protector. The Cardinal then added, “The Pope would fain form a secret understanding with our King, and gives him notice of the Turkish preparations against Hungary, saying he has held consistories, and will give assistance so far as his forces and those of the Cardinals admit. His Holiness wishes the King to aid him with money, and has sent him the letters received from his (the Pope's) ambassador in Hungary, Baron—.” | |
| The Cardinal said he wrote to the Pope in reply, that his King and himself would not fail to give Hungary all possible assistance. | |
| By the letters from France, the Regent had arrived at Blois, and taken the King's two sons as hostages to Bayonne; and it seems that the Emperor insists on detaining the Dauphin until the cession of Burgundy. | |
| Cardinal Wolsey has not yet received the particulars of the articles, but the English ambassadors in France write that Giovanni Gioachino, who is returning as ambassador to England, was to bring them, and would depart for this purpose in two days. | |
| The Cardinal said he was of opinion the most Christian King would not observe the articles, and desired him (Orio) to write to the Signory to be under no apprehension, and that the French Parliaments would not comply with the agreement; so the Cardinal thinks the affairs with the Emperor will be compromised for a sum of money. | |
| The Cardinal also told him (Orio) that the Signory should by no means make an agreement with the Emperor, but procrastinate, and send ambassadors to France to the King; and he believes that the Emperor will humbly come to terms (vegnira molto humile). | |
| London, last day of February. Registered by Sanuto, 26th March. | |
| [Italian.] | |