Spain: June 1540

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 6 Part 1, 1538-1542. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890.

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'Spain: June 1540', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 6 Part 1, 1538-1542, ed. Pascual de Gayangos( London, 1890), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol6/no1/pp240-243 [accessed 27 November 2024].

'Spain: June 1540', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 6 Part 1, 1538-1542. Edited by Pascual de Gayangos( London, 1890), British History Online, accessed November 27, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol6/no1/pp240-243.

"Spain: June 1540". Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 6 Part 1, 1538-1542. Ed. Pascual de Gayangos(London, 1890), , British History Online. Web. 27 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol6/no1/pp240-243.

June 1540, 1-30

26 June. 109. High Commander Covos to the Emperor.
S. E., L. 49,
f. 94.
B. M. 28,592,
f. 127.		 I have informed the cardinal [archbishop] of Seville (Garcia de Loaysa), and other members of Your Majesty's Privy Council, of the negociations which have been, and are still being, carried on with the king of France respecting a final and lasting peace; and certainly it seems to them, as it does to me, that since king Francis is not satisfied with Your Majesty's most brilliant offers, he will most likely persist in his determination; all of us therefore are exceedingly concerned and sorry at the small chance there seems to be of so great a boon for Christendom being ever secured.
Your Imperial Majesty commands us to give opinion on the proposed marriage of the Prince, your son, to Mme. Margarita, (Marguerite) Francis' daughter. (fn. n1) We can only say that, in our opinion, no good whatever can come of such marriage alliance, either to Your Imperial Majesty personally or to Christendom at large; and that, if king Francis has proposed it, it is only for the purpose of preventing the Prince from contracting other marriages elsewhere. The truth of the matter is that the King's daughter is of an age little suited for the Prince, who is still too young to marry, and that, without evident advantages for Your Majesty and good securities besides for the future, the offer ought not to be accepted. Such is the Council's advice. Your Imperial Majesty, however, knows better than us what had better be done in this affair, and, therefore, we beg you, after weighing and considering the offers made, and obtaining proper and sufficient securities for the future, to decide whether the said proposals may, perhaps, be accepted without forgetting the prospects of a union with the Infanta of Portugal—which, notwithstanding its uncertainty and the tender age of the parties, (fn. n2) might in time become a most advantageous and great marriage—or else that of Mons. de Labrit's daughter, of which we hear there has been some talk....—Madrid, 26 June 1540.
Spanish. Original. pp. 2.
26 June. 110. The Same to the Same.
S. E., L. 49,
f. 77.
B. M. Add. 28,592,
f. 129.		 Inquisition.—Has done all he could in the matter of sentences (condenaciones) passed by the Inquisition of Granada, and spoken to the Cardinal about it. He (the Cardinal) says that he is waiting daily for the report of the inquisitors of Valencia respecting the man who died there professing Judaism. The truth is that the Inquisition is encroaching daily on the civil power as regards death sentences (condenaciones), and that nothing can be decreed until Your Imperial Majesty returns to these realms; then, not before, something must be done to curtail the authority of that office.
Has seen Pizarro, and spoken to him about the service in money to be demanded from Peru. He says that at present no money whatever can be expected from those countries; all settlers there are poor. On a former occasion he himself got what he could out of them; now they have none to give.
He hopes however, to be able to obtain money through a plan of his, which consists in granting licences to search for hidden treasures. Such licences to be granted to any one who applies for them, on condition that should the said applicant come upon a hidden treasure, he is to receive 2,000 castellanos of gold, out of which one-fifth is to go to Your Majesty. Of the remainder the governor was to take what he pleased for Your Majesty (meaning, of course, to take the whole of it). (fn. n3) No sooner was the ordinance published than many applied for licences and began searching for hidden treasures, as with the promise of the 2,000 castellanos, and the hope of getting a share in the remainder, they were stimulated to look out for them, which they would not have done otherwise.
This and other business of Hernando Pizarro is now before the Council of the Indies. When looked into and discussed Your Majesty will hear from us. He (Pizarro) is now sending a messenger.—Madrid, 26 June 1540.
Spanish. Copy. pp. 2.
26 June. 111. The Same to Juan Vazquez de Molina.
S. E., Corona de
Castella, L. 49,
f. 81.
B. M. Add. 28,592,
f. 130.		 Lope Hurtado's affairs at Rome are in so wretched a state, that he well needs all the favor that can be bestowed on him. I have no doubt that by this time you have done all you could do in his behalf. I beg you to continue your kind exertions, so that he may leave Rome soon with honor, which is what he most desires.—Madrid, 26 June 1540.
Spanish. Original, pp. 2.
26 June. 112. The Same to the Same.
S. E., L. 49,f. 83.
B. M. Add. 28,592,
f. 131.		 I have been informed that the papers and deeds (escrituras) which licte. Acuña has under his charge are not kept as they ought to be. Inclosed is a warrant (cédula) with the Emperor's signature, to be filled in with the name of the person to whom the papers and deeds are to be delivered in the meanwhile, and whilst they are taken to Simancas. It is for you to consider whether Mosquera will be the proper person to have the keeping of the papers whilst a proper archivist is appointed.—Madrid, 26 June 1540.
Spanish. Original. p. 1.
29 June. 113. Pope Paul to the Emperor.
S. E., L. 869,
f. 209.
B. M. Add. 28,592,
f. 132.		 Has received by equerry Andelot the Emperor's letter in answer to his own, which Miçer Jo. di Montepulchano (Montepulciano) took months ago. Through both Andalot and his own messenger having arrived nearly at the same time, he (the Pope) has learned the very wise determination which the Emperor has taken in the matter of his daughter, the Duchess, and of her husband the prefect of Rome. (fn. n4) The marquis de Aguilar has made the same statement, and, therefore, it is to be hoped that an affair so important, and which, if neglected, might have most serious consequences for the future, will now be settled as the honor and reputation of both the parties demand.
Sends back with this letter Miçer Jo. di Montepulciano, for whom he begs full credence. Not only has he full knowledge of the whole affair; he is also acquainted with certain papers and affidavits respecting Madame made by a friar, now under arrest, about whom Andalot knows something.
Montepulciano has also charge to solicit and urge the settlement of this chief affair, as well as of other particular ones, respecting the future of his (the Pope's) family, on which he himself expected the Emperor's final resolution, having heard from his grandson, the Legate, that Maldonado was to bring it shortly, whereas the Legate is back from the Imperial Court, and Maldonado has come without a letter. (fn. n5)
Of public affairs in Christendom his Legate, Neocastro, will inform the Emperor fully.—Rome, 29 June 1540.
Signed: "Paolo."
Addressed: "Charissimo in Christo filio nostro Carolo Imperatori semper augusto."
Italian. Holograph, pp. 1½.

Footnotes

  • n1. Marguerite was the last born of Francis and Claude de France, his first queen (from Eleanor, the Emperor's sister, he had no children). Marguerite was born on the 5th of June 1523, and therefore her age was seventeen years at this time, whereas Philip, born on the 21st of May 1527, was not yet fourteen. Marguerite was ultimately married in 1559 to Emmanuele Philiberto, Duke of Savoy, and died on the 14th of September 1572.
  • n2. Doña Maria, Infanta of Portugal, daughter of king Joaõ III. and Catharine (Catalina), the Emperor's sister, then about thirteen years old, since she was born at Coimbra on the 15th of October 1527. She became in 1543 the first of the four wives of Philip II., then prince of Spain, since his father, the Emperor, had not yet abdicated.
  • n3. "Que es que ninguno pudiese buscar los thesoros sin especia licencia del gobernador, y que las licencias se davan con condicion que el que lo hallase gozase de basta 2,000 castellanos pagando dellos á V. Md su quinto y de lo demas que se hallase pudiese el governador tomar lo que quisiere para V. Md y que esto era con presupuesto de tomarlo todo."
  • n4. "Et essendo arrivati loro quatri in uno tempo medesimo ne hanno referito la multo sabia et sancta intentione de quella sopra le cose della duchessa sua figlia et del prefecto (sic) suo marito, et mio nepote."
  • n5. "Et le altri particulari tutti importanti al stato de nostra posterita, de la quali expectauamo perfecta resolutione al ritorno del legato nostro nepote, et hui e ritornato vacuo, diuendo che col primo corriero che e stato il Maldonato, meneria lexpedition delle tutte, et no ha portato cosa alguna."
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