Henry VIII: May 1529, 1-10

Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1875.

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'Henry VIII: May 1529, 1-10', in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 4, 1524-1530, (London, 1875) pp. 2437-2448. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol4/pp2437-2448 [accessed 25 April 2024]

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May 1529

R. O. 5511. The PRIOR of COCKESFORD.
Complaint of the prior of Cockesforde against the bishop of Norwich and the prior of Walsingham.
In the week before the Purification of Our Lady, while the Prior was in London about the payment of the King's money, the Bishop took away the convent seal, treasure and plate; after his return put him in prison, and kept him there till the Decollation of St. John, four weeks and six days; disregarded an inhibition procured by the Prior from Wolsey in Chancery; compelled him to swear to certain articles which it was unlawful for any man to swear to, &c. The prior of Walsingham and canon Thos. Rawlyns persuaded two of the brethren to leave the house without permission; rescued one of his canons, whom he had taken for stealing a horse, complained of him to the justices as having committed felony; sent servants to his house, who sealed up his barn doors, and ordered his threshers to leave off working; insisted on searching the chamber of a poor woman, "an ancras," where no man or woman had been for eight years, &c.
Pp. 6.
Le Grand, III. 306. 5512. CAMPEGGIO'S MISSION.
Yesterday there came an Englishman with a safe-conduct from Francis to go to Spain, "Angleterre donné à la Bourdaziere," who, after having entertained him well, told me that he was going to the Emperor, and that he expected news, of which he would be very glad, viz., that there would be no divorce between the king and queen of England, and that the Pope's legate, Campeggio, had served him well,—that all the princes and merchants of England were very glad of it, considering it a thing that touched the Emperor's honor,—that every one saw it proceeded from the cardinal of York, who was not in so much credit as he used to be,—that the king of England had been so enraged against him that he had not presented himself as Chancellor at the Feast of St. George, and that all the English showed great favor to Campeggio. But I have long known the said Campeggio to be a very bad Frenchman, and, seeing that this fool has shown me so much of it, you gentlemen had better look to it. For he told me there was also coming from England another, named Don Diego de Mendoza, with a safe-conduct, and that he is to pass this way in eight or ten days. You will consider if it is time to look to your government, and I think you had better not withhold their pay from the 1,200 men there, as has been done formerly. I sent you by last post the copy of the proposition made by the Emperor and cortez of Barcelona. Yesterday, there embarked at Collievre 500 Frenchmen taken in Roussillon, whom they are bringing in four galleys to Barcelona.
Fr. Headed: "Avertissement de Mr. de Clermont."
Cal. D. XI. 2. B. M. 2. Extract from the preceding.
Mutilated, p. 1. Endd.: [Double] dung article de lettre escripte a Mons. le Grant Maistre.
Cal. D. XI. 79. B. M. 3. Another copy of the same extract.
Mutilated, p. 1. Endd.: Double dung article que lon escript a Mons. le Grant Maistre.
1 May.
R. O.
5513. JOHN DU BELLAY, BISHOP OF BAYONNE, to WOLSEY.
Thanks him for his letters, which were brought by his brother. Wishes he had some opportunity of repaying his kindness. Will go to Italy with all haste, as soon as they hear what John Joachim has done with the Pope. The King and his mother think he should wait for his letters to prepare him for attacking a man against whom all artifices should be used. Will write again when he leaves. Amboise, 1 May.
Hol., Lat., pp. 2. Add.: Ill., &c., card. Ebor. legato ac cancellario, &c.
1 May.
Cal. D. XI. 87. B. M.
5514. WILLIAM DU BELLAY, LORD OF LANGEAIS, to WOLSEY.
* * * "summam ac ... vero regi meo et Chr ma [tri suæ] ... vestro semper uti, expectandum mihi ... tutis ac firmatis consiliis eandem D. V. sub ... tum vel statutum, et quæ consecuta existimavero et q ... aretur, sed cum longior hominis expectatio diu solicitum ... habuisset, statuit adventum ejus aliqua ser. Regis vestri saluta ... simul D. V. Rmam de rerum communium statu toto admonere, cujus n ... mihi quum demandasset, nolui officio in ea re meo deesse, tametsi sat[is scio] nihil aut hic actum per eum esse, aut aliunde allatum, quod non orato[ribus] vestris plenissime esset communicatum. Igitur sic habeat Rma D. V. post ... meum de omnibus rebus quas vel literis significandas regi meo vel dece ... istinc a vobis coram illi exponendas mandaverat, quum relatum qui ... haud semel fuerit, multa etiam in præsentem necessitudinem præpar ... habitus militum delectus, et nostratium et sociorum, et auxiliarium ... Germanorum: tum successor mihi ad vos designatus: adornata fratris [mei ad] pontificem profectio; tamen omnia in adventum Rossellii esse rejecta, et ... hos fines verti, ut ita demum executioni demandetur, si consilium vob[is] non displicuerit, utque nisi vos Chr. Rex et serenissima mater, (ubi ratio[nem] suam explicuerint) in sententiam adduxerint suam, parendum omnino statu ... fidelissimis atque amantissimis consiliis vestris, quorum in authoritate sua o ... consilia, curam, cogitationem, mentem denique omnem fixerint atque locaverint, ... totos illis commendarint atque tradiderint. Ac proinde illam partem literarum mearum quibus ex Britannia significaram regi meo, nonnihil apud vos inje[ctum] esse suspicionis ex ista Gulielmi Barrensis in Hispaniam profectione, in ... partem accepta hic fuerit, non possum in D. V. R sinum non exponer[e]. Postquam huc applicui statim ex fratre meo intellexi Regem meum et s[erenissimam matrem ejus] * * * eum se debere profitent ... carunt, vel infidi vel certe ing[rati] ... ur. Feci igitur omnia ut illis probarem ... [ani]mo ejus depulsam esse, opera maxime ac veluti f ... quæ quidem fidem suam ac existimationem velut obside[m] ... obligasset, perpetuæ ac sinceræ hujus regis mei erga ipsum a[micitia] ... quæ nulla unquam occasione, aut adversariorum astutia, everti aut lab[efieri] possit. Recreavit ea confirmatio non parum illorum animos et sunt ... illum candorem D. V. R indefessumque animi robur in horum reg[um] amore alendo mirifice exosculati. Et nunc in eo sunt in quo adhuc ... constituta per vos amicitia assidue fuerunt, ut tum demum se feli[ces] ac beatos factum iri existiment, quum aliquid acciderit quo eam anim[i] propensionem vel devotionem potius, quam tum erga serenissimum istu[m] ac candidissimum regem, tum erga D. V. illustrissimam et reverendissi[mam] gerunt, insigni aliquo exemplo reddere possint testatissimam; id quod conse[cuturos] eos spero, si quacumque ope vel consilio adjuvare negotium possint, in quod ... ipsum totum mente et animo incumbere intelligunt, quod si ad vos deince[ps] rumores quidam hujusmodi, sicut varii ita vanissimi deferantur, nihil ... dubie sibi persuadeat serenissimus idemque candidissimus rex vester translat ... eos esse et hostium commenta quibus velint hanc sinceram amicitiam improbæ ... illorum cupiditati velut firmum propugnaculum oppositam (quum vi aperta neq[ueant] evertere) cuniculis istis suffodere ac labefactare. Sed hæc satis, fortassis etia[m] ... ambitiosius quam necesse fuit. Venio ad reliqua. E Germania nuntiavit cadu[ceator] qui literas regis mei pertulerat ad eos principes qui Spiram ad publicum con[ventum] coierant, frendentem ac frementem Ferdinandum in eo conventu repulsam ... esse passum, in quem tamen qua spe et opinione descenderat probe no ... * * * is tum p ... atores certi ac fidi clam a r ... Ferdinando omnia illic infestissima redd ... um confido, facile ut illis probetur quid ex ... pturi: id vero cujusmodi futurum sit, et quid Rex ... [mo]liatur (quod omnino est maximum, et momenti ad res Ces[aris] gravissimi ac certissimi) plane ex eo intelliget D. V. Rma quæ ist ... vos orator destinabitur: nam id literis committere periculo non vac[at. Quod] ad Cæsaris in Italiam trajectum attinet, incertum mihi videtur q[uomodo res] tandem evasura sit, tamen totus in eo apparatu versatur; de te[mpore] trajectionis nihil certi puto constitutum. Utcumque auxilia Germano[rum] quæ Rex meus conscribi curavit tuto huc ad militum duodecim mili[a] ... transierunt; et jam in Campania Belgica instructissimi conspiciuntur ... si semel, (uti V. D. R e re fore visum est,) vires quas cum exerci[tu] Italico conjunxerint, iis additis cataphrattis, qui recens in supplementum ... non erit, Deo duce, quare vel Pontifex vel universa Italia sibi putet ... Cæsare timendum: maxime quum nulla sit illi spes relicta Germano[rum] in Italiam portandorum: sed hæc malo vel ab oratoribus vestris, vel a ... regio qui (ut dixi) ad vos brevi dimittendus est, quam litteris meis ad v[os] perferri, quæ sic spero vestros animos delectaturæ sunt, ut sitis dilige[ntes] ... Regis mei in iis providendis rebus quæ consiliis atque opibus vestris nitunt[ur] ... mirum in modum probaturi. Reliquum est ut me eidem Ill et R dominati[oni] vestræ humillime commendem, quam Optimus Maximus diu nobis et reipublicæ Christianæ servet ... incolumem. Ex Ambasia, 1 Maii.
"Scriptis jam literis venerunt a San Paulo quibus jubet regem Christ[ianissimum] in optima spe rerum Italicarum esse, se cum florenti exercitu Padum tra ... hostium copias quæ levioribus aliquot præliis nostris lacessendo tent ..." * * * Signed.
Mutilated.
1 May.
R. O.
5515. FRANCIS I.
"Sums of money paid to the French king."
At Amyas, 25 August 19 Hen. VIII. (1527), 146,666 cr. of the sun, at 4s. 6d. the crown=32,999l. 17s. 0d., as appears by two acquittances signed and sealed by Francis. By the hands of the Great Master, 11 Nov. 19 Hen. VIII., 64,444 cr.=14,499l. 18s. 0d. By the bp. of Bayonne, 17 Nov. 20 Hen. VIII. (1528), 196,800 cr.=44,280l. "Paid to him in the King's pension," due 1 May 21 Hen. VIII., 47,368 cr.=10,657l. 16s. 0d. "Paid to him more in a jewel," 50,000 cr. of gold at 4s. = 10,000l. Total, 112,437l. 11s.; whereof paid out of the King's coffers, 49,148l. 11s. 0d., and in the King's pensions, with 50,000 cr. in a jewel, 63,289l. 0s. 0d.
P. 1. Endd.
S. B. 2. Acknowledgment of the receipt of 47,368 crowns of the sun, and 16s. of Tours, from the king of France at Calais. Westminster, 1 May 1529.
R. O. 5516. MONEY.
"A declaration of 2,000l. sterling in angels."
Received as before, 2,000l.—Paid to one Babington for bringing it, 10l. To Norres, for the King's use, 30 April 20 Hen. VIII. (1528), 500l. For jewels bought by the King, 419l. 13s. 10d. To my lord Sands, by way of prest, 3 May, 200l. To Sir Edw. Nevell, in prest, 31 May, 40l. To Thos. Warde, harbinger, for repairs at Windsor, 6 June, 120l. To _, jeweller, 9 June, for two pair of blue beads like Turkeseys, "with gaudies and small bedestones of gold," 22l. 10s. To Thos. Warde, 18 Aug., for the finishing of the new works at Windsor, 100l. Taken out of the same bag, 100 angels = 37l. 10s. To John Rolte, 28 Aug., for the buildings at Eltham, 200l. To Peter Romaynes, 17 Dec., for jewels, 198l. To Chr. Harrault, jeweller, the same day, 140l. 5s. Balance, 12l. 1s. 2d.
Pp. 3. Endd.
R. O. 2. A declaration of 1,000l. or 4,615 cr., "with the which my master was charged."
Paid to Basing, by the King's command, 3,555 cr. 2s. 6d. To Guill'm Otene, for jewels, 641 cr. To Anthony de Bulleyn, for cages, birds, &c., 140 cr. To Alart Plymmer, for jewels bought at Richmond, 201 cr. "And so my master rests in the King's debt," 77cr. 2s.
P. 1. Endd.
R. O. 3. "A declaration for Master Henry Norrys," of the receipt of 5,234 cr. and 4d. in silver, from the King, and of 4,555 cr. received of Thos. Alford, (=1,062l. 16s. 8d.) Total, at 4s. 8d. the crown, 2,284l. 2s. 4d.; of which he has paid Brian Tuke 1,743l. 8s. 0d.
P. 1. Endd.
2 May.
R. O.
5517. _ to _.
As to the Emperor's coming to Italy, letters have arrived from Andrea Doria, dated in March, stating that he had been commissioned by the Emperor to convey to him 10 great ships and some captains of galleys, which is considered a proof of his intention. Nevertheless letters from Spain of the 7 April state that affairs are not in a condition to admit of his crossing,—that he had only provided 500 cantara of biscuit, which is nothing for an armada. Some think his coming will have to be deferred in consequence of the dearness of corn; others expect him in June. The master of the household leaves in four days. Messer Andrea has sent him a bergantino, which arrived the other day at Civita Vecchia. Messer Andrea spoke of leaving Genoa on the 10 May; the abbot de Negri, who has come from him, says on the 15th. The Pope (nostro Signore) is very ill, cannot get back his color, eats nothing, and only drinks il pesto, and takes a little potage. He has been troubled for three days with pains in the body. Rome, 2 May 1529.
Ital., p. 1. Headed: Copia.
4 May.
R. O.
5518. STEVEN GARDINER to HENRY VIII.
Though they have done the best they could to obtain from the Pope the accomplishment of the King's desires, they have not prevailed, but now see it called in question whether the authority given to the Legates shall be revoked. What has been done will be found in their common letters to Wolsey. Thinks that was moved only as a stop to their other suits, and is not earnestly meant. Although the Queen is mentioned in that matter as though she had a proctor, the Pope, two days before, said that the Emperor had informed him that the Queen would do nothing in suing or speaking for the delay of this matter but as the King commanded her, and that the Emperor would therefore look more earnestly to the cause himself. Was much surprised, and thought he spake it as though he wished them to inform the King of it. Noted it the more as the King had told him to inquire who was the Queen's proctor. Does not know whether the Pope heard this from Spain or England. It seemed strange to read in Campeggio's letters that neither he nor Campanus had made any promise to the King on the Pope's behalf, except in general terms, considering that Gardiner was sent on these special terms, de plenitudine potestatis, in the hope that the Pope would use that power in the King's cause; which failing, the King will remember that Wolman, Bel and Gardiner showed his Highness that such things as were to be demanded were not impetrable.
Hopes the King will accept his good will in good part. Is sorry to see his Highness's cause so handled. The King has not been handled according to his merits by the Pope or some other; it becomes not Gardiner to arrect the blame certainly to any man, and the Pope shows Campeggio's letters for his discharge. The King can judge of this better than he can write. Wishes to know what to do further.
The Pope is content to grant the bulls, saving in that matter, de animadversione in clericos, about which he would consult with card. SS. Quatuor. He wishes he could grant as easily the other petitions, which he knows the King has more at heart, "adding, by and by, that he would, for the wealth of Christendom, the Queen were in her grave; and, as he thought, the Emperor would be thereof most glad of all; saying also that he thought, like as the Emperor hath destroyed the temporalties of the Church, so shall she be the cause of the destruction of the spiritualties; making exclamation of his misfortune in whose person these two adversities should chance, and upon the occasion of that family."
When they speak with him, think they will have all things, but in the end his Council deny all, because card. SS. Quatuor has been sick, and is every other day sickly. Usually when the Cardinal is whole the Pope is sick. Rome, 4 May.
Hol., pp. 3. Add.
5 May.
R. O. St. P. VII. 169.
5519. FRANCIS BRIAN to HENRY VIII.
Since my last of the 21st, we have, according to your commandment by Alysaunder, opened all to the Pope, first by fair means and then by foul; but neither fair nor foul will serve, as you will see by our letter to the Cardinal. You will see by our common letters, a copy of which we send, in what situation we are. Master Stevens, in the presence of the Pope, so answered for your Grace that he made the Pope ashamed of his own deeds, who would have excused the cause as best he could. As for what you write to us, that Campeggio is your servant, and will do what he can for you, these are fair words only because he wishes to have the bishopric of Durham. He has written here to the Pope to say that neither he nor Francis Campanys ever made any special promise to your Grace, but in general words, and he bids the Pope trust to it, as the Pope might be sure of him. What- ever they tell you the Pope will do for you is "the glose and not the text." This is true, for the Pope showed the letter to Master Stevens and Master Peter (Vannes). If the Cardinal feels aggrieved, or any other, let him kick; for I do it not of malice, but according to my duty. I could tell you more of my mind in an hour's talking than I could write in a week, and shall be glad to come home, as I can do you here no service. "I dare not write unto my cousin Anne the truth of this matter, because I do not know your Grace's pleasure whether I shall so do or no; wherefore, if she be angry with me, I most humbly desire your Grace to make mine excuse. I have referred to her in her letter all the news to your Grace, so your Grace may use her in this as ye shall think best." Rome, 5 May. Signed.
Add. Endd.
5 May. 5520. The PRIOR and CONVENT OF NOTTLEY, Linc. dioc.
Congé d'élire upon the death of Robert Brice, abbot. Westm., 5 May. Pat. 21 Hen. VIII. p. 2, m. 1.
P. S. 2. Petition for the above, presented by Thos. Caversham and William Aylesbury, canons. 28 April 1529.
6 May.
Cal. E. I. 22. B. M.
5521. LOUISA OF SAVOY to WOLSEY.
Credence for her servant the sieur de Savonnieres. Romorentin, 6 May. Signed.
Fr., mutilated, p. 1. Add.: "A mons. le [Car]dinal mon filz et bon amy."
7 May.
Rym. XIV. 296.
5522. The PRIOR and CONVENT OF ST. PETER, CHERTSEY, Winc. dioc.
Congé d'élire upon the resignation of John Parker, abbot. Westm., 7 May. (fn. 1)
Pat. 21 Hen. VIII. p. 2, m. 1.
P. S. 2. Petition for the above. 5 May 1529.
Vit. B. XI. 126. B. M. Burnet, IV. Col. 23. 5523. [WOLSEY] to GARDINER, BRIAN, CASALE and VANNES.
The King has received your letters by Thadeus, and I have received yours of the 28th and 29th March, and of the 8th, 19th, 20th and 21st of April, to myself, concerning your conferences, and thank you for your service and dexterity. The King, although your desires have not taken effect, receives your services with thankfulness, and does not attribute to you any blame. He perceives that whatever solicitations have been made to the Pope for the furtherance of his cause depend entirely upon the Emperor's will, whom the Pope dare not oppose. The Emperor, as appears by sundry letters, has interposed his power unfavorably to the King. The King, finding the Pope's ingratitude, is resolved to dissemble with him, and to proceed here on his cause by virtue of the commission granted to me and Campeggio. He is resolved to revoke all his ambassadors except Sir Gregory. Therefore Gardiner and Bryan are to return; and had it not been for Gardiner's absence, whose services are so much required, he would have commenced his process before this Whitsuntide. You are to obtain, as best you can, the amplification of the commission, using all possible dexterity, advertising the Pope how sorry the King is that whereas he expected to find in him a fast and loving friend, he studies more to please the Emperor, who is the common enemy of Christendom, than the King; which is not the way to preserve friendship. Still, as the King is willing to trust him to the utmost, he hopes that the Pope will prove the love he has always professed for him, and declare by his acts the uttermost of his intent and dispositions that you, Gardiner and Brian, may not return empty-handed. You shall also urge the grief of myself and Campeggio in being thus disappointed, entreating the Pope as from myself to weigh well the great exigencies of the case. Leaving everything else, your whole efforts are to return to the security and amplification of the process to take place here. I send you a copy of the pollicitation which you have transmitted, with notes in the margin showing where it is ineffectual, desiring you to get it devised anew and regranted with additions; telling the Pope that it was so much defaced and injured by wet and carriage as that it is detained by him to whom you directed it, and you are likely to be blamed unless you get another; and you, Mr. Stephen, shall promise to write it out afresh, according to the best of your remembrance, inserting "other pregnant, fat and available words as is possible."
I advertise you that the King has received fresh letters out of Spain in answer to those sent by Curzon for exhibition of the original breve. The letters are of sundry dates, the last of the 21st of April, when the Emperor was at Saragossa. He wishes to make a demonstration of his coming to Italy, but we hear that he is wholly unprepared. He is endeavoring to sow dissension between this Court and France; but you may tell the Pope he will not succeed, and that the French king is resolved on war with the Emperor, and he will be assisted by a body of men under the duke of Suffolk, who is now sent to France. This may possibly shake his confidence in the Emperor. The Emperor refuses to send the brief to England, but makes show of sending it to Rome, as he would have the cause decided there. I send you a copy of it, with some remarks indicating the manifest proof of forgery, especially in reference to the dates. This matter will require secresy. (fn. 2)
f. 135. The King hears that the Emperor's ambassador has an authentic copy of the brief, and that on the proof of any falsity the original might be altered and a new one forged; he desires them therefore to dissemble their knowledge of the error in the date, and to endeavour, either by the Pope, or some other secret means, to get a sight of the copy, and to get an authentic copy made, which Gardiner and Brian shall bring over with them. This would prevent the alteration of the original, or a new forgery. Gardiner and Brian are to bring with them everything they have obtained. Vannes will remain till their arrival in England, that he also may have a color to desire the Pope not to let him return vacuis manibus.
Meantime Vannes and Casale must take special care to prevent the advocation of the cause, the revocation of the commission, inhibition, recusation, or any other act that may delay proceedings here. They must consult the lawyers they have retained about the invalidation of the brief, putting the proofs thereof in an authentic form. The Emperor, knowing that the King is trying to prove the falsity of the brief, will probably, relying upon the Pope's friendship, send it to Rome, to have the matter decided there, by having a transumpt made by the Pope or other person by his command, and thus prevent the legates from giving sentence. They must look out for this, and tell the Pope that although he has refused to decree the brief false, the English ambassadors will not consent to such a transumpt, but will protest accordingly, by means of an authentic instrument.
Wishes Gardiner and Brian to bring back with them the bulls and expeditions for the King's colleges and his, unless obtaining them would cause much delay.
Draft, pp. 23.
7 May.
R. O.
5524. JOHN CASALE to WOLSEY.
Has received his letters and the King's, and has shown them to the Signory. Does not write of what he has done here, as the courier is not going straight to France, but only to the count of St. Pôl. Will write at length when he finds a sure messenger. The castle of Mortaria, 24 miles from Milan, has surrendered to St. Pôl, so that the road into France is now safe. The Signory wishes their army to be led across the Adda to besiege Milan, which has been reinforced by 1,500 foot. The duke of Urbino left yesterday for the army. Things are going on well in Apulia. The enemy are besieging Monopolis without success, as Wolsey will see from his brother's letters. The Signory has increased his pay for a levy of infantry, besides the 100 horse whom he has had for some time. This news came by the galley which brought the sons of the prince of Melphia, whom he is sending to pledge his faith to the French king. The duke of Ferrara is expected, having been detained by the illness of his son. Encloses copies of the letters of his brother the knight, from Rome, and of the ambassador of the marquis of Mantua from Spain. The ambassador himself came to Mantua three days ago, having come from Barcelona in seven days. Will hear everything from him, as he is a friend. Letters have just arrived from Constantinople, dated a fortnight before, mentioning the intended invasion of Hungary by the Turk. Venice, 7 May 1529. Signed.
Lat., pp. 2, mutilated. Add. Endd.
7 May.
R. O.
5525. JOHN CASALE, the Prothonotary, to the COUNT GUIDO RANGONE.
Writes on behalf of Alphonso Galante, a Neapolitan who was detained in the kingdom, and tortured on account of suspicions which have not been proved. He was sent hither in custody. Letters in his behalf to the Signory, obtained from his Excellency by the count of St. Pôl, were intercepted; and Mons. d'Avaranges, the ambassador here, would not act on them.
Sends certain information which he wishes forwarded to the ambassador of the King in France. Venice, 7 May 1529. Signed and sealed.
Ital., p. 1. Add. Endd.
7 May.
R. O.
5526. WILLIAM CAPON to CROMWELL.
He and Brabason have kept courts at Faltynham, Wormyngford, Horkysley, Wyks, Dodneshe and Chattisham. Brabason has been very diligent in keeping them, and in measuring the lands belonging to the College. On their way home by Hyntilsham, viewed the ruin of the houses on the farm, and the waste of the woods, done by Thos. Veysy, the farmer. Has taken them for the use of the college, and told him to meddle with them no more; but he refused to obey.
Wishes for an injunction against him. Asks him to reckon with the priest who holds the chantorship of Southampton, and owes for half a year. Gipswiche, 7 May. Signed.
P. 1. Add.: To the right worshipful Mr. Crumwell. Endd.: W. Capon, priest.
8 May.
S. B. Rym. XIV. 291.
5527. For HUGH WODEHOUS.
To be marshal of the King's minstrels, with 4½d. a day, and 10 marks a year, vice John Gylmyn. Del. Westm., 8 May 21 Hen. VIII.
Pat. 21 Hen. VIII. p. 2, m. 9.
8 May.
Lettere di Principi, II. 161 b.
5528. [SANGA] to CARDINAL SALVIATI.
Three days ago I sent you duplicates of my letters of the 1st by a messenger who was despatched hence by the English ambassadors. Italian news. Rome, 8 May 1529.
Ital.
9 May.
Add. MS. 28,578, f. 215. B. M.
5529. MAI to CHARLES V.
The English ambassadors press the Pope hard to declare the brief a forgery, and his Holiness has signified to me his desire that the protest should be made. Is informed, both by the archbishop of Capua, Salviati, cardinals Tortosa, S. Crucis, and Cæsarinus, that the Pope had said to them that the English were incessantly coming upon the subject (andaban remolinando), and that it was needful to stand with averted eyes.
I have drawn up the protest, and communicated it to Andrea del Burgo, but I have omitted something of what was put in it, in order not to irritate the king of England to the prejudice of the Queen. Nevertheless, I have taken care not to annoy the Pope more. I desired the Pope to give me a notary of the chamber. He said if I would let him choose one, he would comply, but he was afraid of what others would say. Afterwards he sent to me to say he thought better not to give me one, but that I should apply to the Chamberlain. The same day he sent to me by Sanga to say that it was better the protest should not be made to him, except when he should be in signatura, and the party present.
I was afraid they would delay the signatura, as they had already delayed it three or four months, and said I could not wait, for two causes, viz., because a messenger was about to leave, and I required to inform the Emperor; and, moreover, Andrea del Burgo's concurrence was required, who had not recovered from his gout; and as to the notary, if his Holiness did not think it right to give me one, as he had promised, I would find one for myself, as I only desired that he should be a notary of the Chamber, out of respect to his Holiness. Another day Sanga returned, and said the Pope was content that I should do it whenever I pleased, and wished to know what the protest contained. I accordingly read it to him, word for word, and he quite approved of it. That same day Andrea del Burgo was at the palace, and arranged to be with the Pope in the morning. At last we went there together, along with many Spaniards, when the Pope told us he was obliged to give us rather a harsh answer, but that need not trouble us until we had published the protest. Seeing what he was driving at, I said to him, "Holy Father, we will do so; help us with justice that we may be able to help ourselves." And thereupon entered Alonzo de Cuevas as notary, and Marradas and Jacobo Salviati as witnesses, and the act was made as your Majesty will see.
The same day I found two spies in the palace after dinner, and I learned that the ambassadors of England had come, and held an interview with the Pope, from which they came away very angry and bullying.
The other day the Pope told me that they used a threatening tone, saying that if the Queen did not consider England a safe place, as little did they hold Rome and the Pope to be safe, on account of your army. I said their wisdom was apparent, when on one side they threatened, and on the other said that we were not secure; and as for what touched his Holiness, they had told him sufficiently often that they wanted him to remove to Avignon, and that but for the Pope's wisdom they would have made him commit every day a thousand errors. The Pope said to me he would have a signatura another day, and he sent to me to say that I should intimate the signatura and the commission to the English ambassadors, and give them a copy of the commission. I answered that I did not want anything with the English ambas- sadors or with the King, but that his Holiness should revoke his cause, and that he might, if he pleased, order the dean of the referendaries to intimate it to them and to me. They afterwards told me that it was customary to intimate the signatura and commission; and I did so, not to raise needless obstacles.
Relates communications with the referendaries, and of Andrea del Burgo with the cardinal of Ancona. Mentions having discovered that the English ambassadors had given a very rich fur to the cardinal of Ravenna, who is the nephew of Ancona, and had sent a messenger to the latter before he came to Rome. In the morning, fearing that the English ambassadors would come to the signatura, went to mass at St. Peter's, and sent to see if they were coming. Having learnt that they had come, and the ambassador of France along with them, and that they had sent from the palace for the ambassador of Venice, complained to Sanga that the politics of the League were allowed a place in matters of justice. Sanga said they too had accused the Pope of partiality, and it was no wonder they were jealous. At last they would not come, either having received some admonition from Sanga, or being disappointed that I was there.
Some time afterwards Simonetta came to me, and said the English wanted to speak to the Pope in full consistory, and in my presence, if I wished to be there. I said I had nothing to do with them, but that the servants of your Majesty refused nothing of this kind, and we entered and saluted with sufficient courtesy. The Pope then desired us to say what it was we wanted. I said we had been told that the English wished to speak in my presence, and that I had come to hear them. Their lawyer ambassador then said in Latin, that late yesterday one who said he represented the Pope had very improperly cited them with so little warning that they had not consulted upon the matter, and had no power as regards this article; that they had received a copy of the commission, in which were passages that touched the honour of the King their master, because they say that he wished to have a divorce from the Queen, although his Holiness knew well that this did not proceed from the King's own desire, but from the scruples of his conscience; that the Pope knew very well he, the speaker, was the first that came hither to his Holiness, and had asked him for counsel in this matter on the King's behalf, in the presence of St. Quatuor and Monte, and that if the Pope had thought right he might have undeceived them, and said that there was no reason to pursue it further, but that he never would give them any advice, and this he protested another time before the same persons; all that he obtained from the Pope was the commission, and, since he had given it, he could not revoke it without injury to the King. At this the Pope was much disturbed, all the more because the English ambassador said two or three times, "This I say, that the Imperial ambassador may know it, and may not suppose that my King is such a one as would seek a divorce."
To this I replied simply, "It is well that everything should be known,"—adding no more, not to disturb his argument. Moreover, he said, "que havia otra palabra, que el no la entendia bien de afection marital, y que el Rey comia y cenaba y dormia con su muger, y le dava el debito, y muchas veces lo pidia que no sabe que le falta para no tener la afection marital."
Moreover, he said he did not know why we Spaniards should be more interested in Henry's kingdom and his daughter than they were, that his daughter was very dear to the King and to all the people, and that she takes care que nadie la havia de tomar, and that the brief which was produced was false, though he did not know who had forged it, only all the lawyers held it false, and his Holiness ought so to judge it.
In reply, Mai said that if the messenger (cursor) had done his duty badly, he hoped his Holiness would have him punished; that it was true he had sent him to comply with the custom of this Court, which was better than they did at Orvieto, when they cited the ministers of the Emperor; that their allegation that they had no powers was incredible, they being such honoured ambassadors of so wise a king; that at the time they left England they knew that Musetula had made application for this, which we now petition for, and that now they came into this cause requesting his Holiness to declare the brief false without hearing the party or seeing the brief, which is in Spain, and that they cannot be procurators for one article in the cause, and not for another; and if this were the state of matters there would be no necessity for a procurator at all, for as the commission had been given to Campeggio without our knowledge, it might be revoked without theirs. I disclaimed having uttered any injurious words of the King, whom I had always spoken of with great honor. To be divorced was to be separated, and I could not understand it otherwise; and whether it was of his own motion or by the counsel of others, I did not know. I only knew the meaning of the word. We were very glad to hear the King treated his daughter well, whom I called Princess, and hoped they would every day treat her better. As to the treatment of the Queen, his Holiness knew it; and that if Campeggio were on our side, "no se consintio," as appears by the protest made by Musetula, which I produced anew, and that besides this there were innumerable new causes for revoking it.
The English ambassador replied again, and I rejoined.
I knew that the Pope was very much provoked by the English, and that he has said a certain word in our favour, although he has ordered, under pain of excommunication, that no one repeat it.
He has put the matter off to another signatura. I will continue to do my best with these referendaries, and I think it a good sign that these English ambassadors have spoken at such length, as it is evident they wish to lay the blame upon the Pope, and discharge themselves before us and the world, fearing that they will not succeed. As to the suggestion about poison, I did not think it proper to reply, as the words were general, and might be interpreted otherwise. Moreover, it was not desirable to irritate them against the Queen.
The archbishop of Capua is afraid that the cardinal of Ravenna may be drawn over to the English side by English money.
Information about the cardinal of Ancona, &c.
Has heard that the Pope has given the English ambassadors a brief that the Emperor should send hither within a certain time the brief in question, to ascertain its genuineness, or that he should send it into England, otherwise they would proceed in the cause; yet I understand the English are not satisfied with it. Since the above took place, the Pope has been ill, and has given Andrea del Burgo and myself to understand that the English are very much provoked at us, and have written a thousand follies into England, especially that the King should marry whom he pleased without waiting for more declarations, and suggesting that they should turn away the Queen from there; and with this his Holiness begs that we should not press the revocation of the cause at present, but I have insisted upon it on the ground of justice, and I do not intend to desist.
I have just received an allegation of what the English ambassadors have objected to this revocation. Has not time to send a copy.
I fear the weakness of the Pope more than anything. Rome, 9 May 1529. Spanish, pp. 21. Modern copy.
9 May.
R. O.
5530. GARDINER and VANNES to WOLSEY.
Sent Alexander, the courier, with letters to the King and Wolsey on the 5th. Writes now, as the secretary to the French chamberlain is going hence in post. The Pope is sick, but not dangerously, and gives no audience. Can therefore do nothing either in the King's matter or Wolsey's. Although they could obtain the bulls for the bishopric of Winchester, which are of the ordinary course, the other matter is different, and they are remitted to the time when the Pope can be spoken with, and when the cardinal of S. Quatuor is here. Rome, 9 May. Signed.
P. 1. Add.: To my lord Legate's good grace. Endd.: Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Vannes to the Kinges majestie, from Rome.
10 May.
Cal. B. VII. 133. B. M.
5531. JAMES V. to ALBANY.
Thanks him for his affection. He is pressed by his Estates to marry. They two remain of their house childless, and natural children have created heretofore great troubles in the kingdom. The Emperor has proposed that he should marry a sister or niece of the queen of Hungary with a large income. May, if he think it expedient, impart it to the king of France and desire his good offices. Edinburgh, 10 May.
Pp. 2. Copy. Endd.: "Double des lettres que le roy d'Ecosse a escriptes a Monseigneur du xme de May."
10 May.
Lettere di Principi, II. 162 b.
5532. [SANGA] to the GOVERNOR OF BOLOGNA.
By the enclosed petition and memorial you will see what is the favor which the cavalier [Gregory] Casale desires of the Pope. His merits are such that the Pope is inclined to grant his request, but will make no promise until he receives information as to the value of the favor which he is to grant. Rome, 10 May 1529.
Ital.

Footnotes

  • 1. Rymer inaccurately appends the date of Westminster, 2 June, which is that of the royal assent immediately following upon the roll.
  • 2. Thus far the document is printed by Burae