Venice: August 1541 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 5, 1534-1554. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1873.

'Venice: August 1541', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 5, 1534-1554, (London, 1873) pp. 108-112. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol5/pp108-112 [accessed 24 April 2024]

August 1541



August 1. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. Without date. Printed in v. iii. pp. 35–37. “Epistolarum Reginaldi Poli.” Dated as above.	272. Cardinal Pole to Juan Alvarez De Toledo, Cardinal Archbishop of Burgos.
	The less consolation can be hoped from nature, the more it may be expected from God. Has experienced this truth on the death of his mother, (fn. 1) who perished, not by the law of nature, but by a violent death, inflicted on her by one from whom it was the last due, as he was her cousin, and by reason of her piety she had been hitherto received by him as a parent. With regard to the form of death, to few it will appear ignominious, and to none of those who even by report were acquainted with the tenour of her life, so that they will attribute all the ignominy to him, who on so virtuous a person inflicted such a death. To suffer as Christ, his Apostles, and so many martyrs and virgins suffered, is not ignominious, though most ignominious to act after the manner of Herod, Nero, and Caligula; but their cruelty is far surpassed by the iniquity of this man, who, with much less semblance of justice, put to death a most innocent woman, who was of his own kin, of advanced age, and who had grown old with a reputation for virtue. Considers this form of death an exceptional honour, as henceforth he will not hesitate to style himself the son of a martyr, which is certainly grander than to be born of any royal race. These reflections comfort him, and they are very strongly confirmed by the letter of the Cardinal of Burgos.
	Capranica, 1st August? 1541.
	[Latin, 35 lines.]
August ? MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. No date. Printed in v. iii. pp. 74–76. “Epistolarum Reginaldi Poli,” Date Capranica.	273. Cardinal Pole to Cardinal Marcello [Cervini]. (fn. 2)
	Is comforted by the Cardinal's great affection demonstrated towards him in his grievous distress. With regard to the Cardinal's advice that he should pray God for the conversion of the doer of such nefarious iniquity; the counsel is worthy of the Grand Penitentiary (the office held by his right reverend lordship), but hopes that this man's sins are not such as to deny their perpetrator the benefit of prayer, according to St. John; they having been accumulated against the Church for so many years, always increasing in iniquity. Does not reject the Penitentiary's admonition, and to complete the measure of this man's iniquity should it merely be necessary to shed his (Pole's) blood, and if he would then be converted, desires nothing more than that the deed be done forthwith, and that God ordain what may be most for the glory of his name.
	A few days ago at Bagnarea saw the Marchioness of Pescara, in whom God has resuscitated the spirit of his departed mother.
	Capranica, August? 1541.
	[Latin, 54 lines.]
Aug. 6. Original Letter Book of Francesco Contarini in St. Mark's Library.	274. Francesco Contarini, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to the Signory.
	I have arrived here at Inspruck.
	The Emperor stayed a day a Munich and two days here, having understood that the 6,000 infantry had not marched forward because they were not ready, and had not got their pikes.
	His Majesty means to depart tomorrow, and at any rate, if possible, purposes being at Milan on the day of the Assumption, though I scarcely think he can get to Trent by that time.
	Inspruck, 6th August.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 11. Original Letter Book of Francesco Contarini in St. Mark's Library.	275. Francesco Contarini, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to the Signory.
	The Emperor arrived here last evening having been met, first by his son-in-law, the Signor Ottaviano, (fn. 3) and then by the Bishop of this city, both one and the other being accompanied by very handsome retinues.
	The Emperor will depart tomorrow, and persists in saying that he will at any rate embark in the course of the present month, being firmly resolved to command the attack on Algiers in person. Should he see the Pope, it will be at Spezia or Lerici, but on no account will he lose time, and had the infantry been ready sooner, he likewise would have been farther on his way.
	Trent, 11th August 1541.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 12. Original Letter Book of Francesco Contarini in St. Mark's Library.	276. The Same to the Same.
	The Emperor will not move today as he intended, because all the foot soldiers have not yet arrived, and the pikes and some ammunition waggons are yet farther off; nor will he depart even tomorrow.
	Trent, 12th August 1541.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 13. Original Letter Book of Francesco Contarini in St. Mark's Library.	276. The Same to the Same.
	Although the infantry has not arrived here, the Emperor determined to depart to day and will be at Roveredo this evening, and then go to Dolce and Peschiera, and the infantry will follow him. His Majesty comes as tranquilly through your Serenity's territory, as if it were his own, and is sending Don Diego to acquaint you with his good will towards the Republic. (fn. 4)
	Trent, 13th August 1541.
	[Italian.]
August 15. MS. St. Mark's Library. Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. No date. Printed in v. ii. pp. 181–188. “Epistolarum Reginaldi Poli.” Dated 15th August, 1539.	278. Cardinal Pole to Vittoria Colonna, Marchioness of Pescara.
	Amongst the few consolations received by him at present was the Marchioness's letter, not because elegantly written, but because dictated throughout by the consoling Spirit. If he labours to the utmost in the cause of Christ, the difficulties which he encounters on the part of man require him to take comfort in Christ, who has more care of the souls, for whom he (Pole) exerts himself, than man has for himself. Of this he is reminded by the Marchioness's letter, and is grateful for her promised prayers and those of the nuns, her companions. If any hope remains to him of avoiding the plots laid against him by Pharaoh, it is assuredly placed in those sacred cohorts, whose prayers in many places constitute his defence against the enemies of God. In conclusion, therefore, it merely remains for him to beseech her Excellency and her nuns to watch over his safety, as it becomes her to do so, he having always revered her ever since he knew that she was endowed with those virtues which are God's choicest gifts; and then recently, when the rage of Pharaoh (Pharaonis furor) severed him from his mother, he adopted the Marchioness in her stead, not after the manner of Moses, who subsequently denied being her son because she was Pharaoh's daughter. Trusts she will now undertake his protection, for without her, he would be no less destitute than Moses in infancy, exposed not only to the dangers of the river as he was, but to those of land and sea, and more than all, of false brethren; and therefore he is not less worthy to be adopted by the daughter of a great King, and of that King who overthrew Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the midst of the sea, especially as he suffers on account of Pharaoh's wrath, and for the cause of that same great King.
	—1541.
	[Latin, 77 lines.]
1541. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. No date of time. Printed in v. iii. pp. 80–84, “Epistolarum Reginaldi Poli.” With the mere date of Rome.	279. Cardinal Pole to the Bishop of [Lavaur ?] (Episcopo Vaurensi).
	Is acquainted with the Bishop's wish to relinquish the political business intrusted to him, and to return to his diocese for the performance of his pastoral duties. Is much gratified by the proof of his affection, and also by the ardour of his piety towards God and the Church. His diocesans wish for him, and Pole's prayers are in unison with theirs, provided the Bishop be not charged with some more important commission, which may benefit the Mother Church.
	With regard to the projects for the release of his mother, as also concerning that friend of theirs who laboured to effect this and was subsequently imprisoned, owing to the outrageously impudent letters of the enemy making this demand—although the Bishop says he was subsequently set at liberty—he re-opens deep wounds, which he (Pole) would were merely his, rather than those of the commonwealth, or to speak more plainly, of the Church; which, so far as he knows, can suffer nothing more grievous than that such heinous impiety should not only remain so long unpunished but reign so authoritatively, that from those whom it ought to fear as avengers, it dares demand opportunity for the exercise of its impiety and cruelty. The Bishop perceives the object of that demand, which implies that the scarcity of victims at home made him seek whom he might exterminate abroad. The times are iniquitous, but the Church recovered from greater tribulations, which finally redounded to her honour, and with this recollection consoles himself for public and private sorrows. Although nature cannot but grieve for so violent a separation from parents, brothers, and friends, yet he rejoices in their death as God considered them worthy—in imitation of his Son—to inscribe with their blood the divine will for the preservation of the unity of his Church. This is written in the books of their adversaries vituperating them, as their difference of opinion in religious matters was the first cause of hatred given to the spoilers of the Church for their extermination. They are therefore not subject to the dominion of death, but having tasted death (sed post mortem gustatam) have life eternal, and reign with Him who destroyed death; being now more joined in love with him (Pole), and less separated from him than when they lived with him in the flesh. This is his firm belief. What greater comfort can there be with regard to those so ardently loved by him, than to know that by death they have been transported to a better life, and added to the company of that kingdom where there is no more toil nor sorrow. They now advocate his cause more than ever with the King of Kings, in whose favour they live in security, and by vows and prayers strive to render him the partaker of their bliss; this being his firm conviction, what sorrow would it not allay? Has also the consolation of loving those whom he loved in the flesh, parents, brothers, and friends, gained through Christ (because for the cause of Christ they were torn from him), with a greater love than he felt for them through the mere ties of nature. What cause has nature to com-plain of this? (Quid hie natura queri potest ?).
	As Pole places the Bishop amongst his chief friends he has perhaps prolonged his letter unbecomingly, but knows he will be readily pardoned.
	Rome, 1541 ?
	[Latin, 135 lines.]