Spain: January 1539 | British History Online

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

Citation:

'Spain: January 1539', 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/pp97-108 [accessed 27 November 2024].

January 1539, 1-31



2 Jan.	33. The Pope to the Emperor.
S. Sec. de Ga., Mar y Tierra. L. 13.	1. S. Carissime in Christo fili salutem et apostolicas benedictiones. Having at heart the cause of England, and being stimulated by zeal for the duties of Our office in Christendom, as well as urged by the nefarious deeds of that most cruel and most abominable tyrant [the king of England], having most strongly urged both Your Majesty and the king of France, to find a remedy for this great scandal and offence against God, We have considered it Our duty to proceed against him with Our spiritual weapons and excommunication, which by Our own and proper messenger is to be affixed in the towns of Flanders and France nearest to England. And inasmuch as Our said spiritual weapons, though most necessary and justifiable, have need of and require your execution, so far, at least, as by forbidding the intercourse of trade between your kingdoms and dominions and those of the English King, and recalling your ambassadors from the court of that impious and heretical tyrant, persecutor of the Holy and true Faith, We, therefore, pray and exhort Your Imperial Majesty, to whom Christendom owes so much, and who is the acknowledged and professed advocate of the Holy Apostolic See—now suffering this horrible persecution for no other cause than its having done justice, and preserved, as it was its duty to do, its honor—to help in the execution of Our sentence.
	The better to provide for it and at the same time inform Your Imperial Majesty of Our views in this affair, We send to you cardinal Pole in due haste, (fn. n1) to whose words Your Majesty may attach the same faith as if they were Our own, and have him recommended as his very great virtues and piety require.—Rome, 2 January 1539.
	Italian. Holograph. pp. 2.
2 Jan.	34. The Marquis de Aguilar to the Same.
S. E., L. 867, f. 140. B. M. Add. 28,591, f. 1.	No answer has yet come from Lope de Soria respecting the business Your Majesty ordered him to transact with the Signory in reference to the enterprize of next year.
	I have worked strenuously, and with the assistance of the Venetian ambassador, to stop all proceedings against the duke of Urbino, having at last obtained from the Pope the following declaration:—"If Camarino be delivered to me, with all else that belongs to the Church in that duchy, you (the ambassadors) can assure the Duke that as regards the dowers of the two Duchesses, the old and young one, (fn. n2) I will act with justice, equity, honesty and clemency, and that the Duke shall remain in pacific possession of his paternal estates."
	After communicating with the Duke's agent at this court, the ambassador of Venice and I have sent him a paper signed by us both, and we have reason to believe that the affair is already settled. Now we are both working at fixing the sum to be paid by the Pope for the Duchess' dower. The Duke himself asks 100,000 crs., whilst the Pope offers one half. Since then the Duke's claims have been reduced to 80,000, and we believe that the affair will be soon compounded for 70,000, of which sum, however, we do not intend to abate one single farthing. We are daily expecting the Duke's acceptance, which he cannot fail to give, considering he has neither money nor men to carry on war. It is to be hoped that in this manner the affair will be definitively settled.
	With regard to the complaints which His Holiness made of duke Cosmo and cardinal Cibo, I have written to them to inquire, and both have answered me that there is no ground whatever for His Holiness' accusation, and I do believe them. I think it very probable that the disagreement, if any, is grounded upon His Holiness having got scent of yow Majesty's determination in the affair of Cosmo's marriage with the daughter of the viceroy of Naples, whom, as generally reported here, he wanted for his own granddaughter.
	The viceroy of Naples and the duchess of Castro's dower.—His Holiness has sent cardinal Pole to Your Majesty to treat about the affairs of England. He is to go afterwards to the Most Christian King on the same errand. As Your Majesty will hear from him, he took post and departed secretly, owing to the great diligence with which the king of England is trying to compass his death. With regard to these English matters, the French ambassador tells me that the Most Christian is determined to follow in Your Majesty's footsteps, and act as you do, and that he has declared this much to His Holiness.
	Miçer Latino has also started for Scotland with a cardinal's hat for the bishop of that country lately raised to the purple. He is to go first to the Most Christian, and talk to him on English affairs, which are every day getting worse; for, as far as I can judge from the letters received this very day from ambassador Eustachio de Chapuys, it appears that the king of England is every day growing more inhuman and cruel.
	On the 19th ult. the marriage of the duke of Castro (Ottavio Farnese) was consummated, at which His Holiness was exceedingly pleased and in good spirits, and last night the newly-married couple supped with His Holiness, who presented the Duchess with a jewel worth 3,000 ducats.—Rome, 11 Jan. 1539.
	Postcriptum.—Don Francisco de Aste (Este) (fn. n3) has arrived here with a view to closing the agreement of his brother, the Duke, respecting Modena. No objection is made on either side to the clauses and securities of the contract provided His Holiness grant him the investiture of the duchy. As to the 40,000 of Modena, D. Francisco says that his brother; the Duke, is willing to give 24,000, provided the Pope grant him the patronage of certain abbeys, which the latter is not inclined to do. Without these abbeys the Duke offers only 18,000 ducats. The Pope says that a year ago he was offered 30,000, and I really believe he will not take less now.
	The Mantuan affair relating to the abbey of Luceria is already settled, and the deeds are being drawn out.
	Signed: "El marques de Aguilar."
	Spanish. Original. pp. 3.
11 Jan.	35. Scepper to the Emperor.
P. Neg. Pap. de Simancas. L. 1484. B. M. 28,591, f. 5.	The King being absent [from Paris] when Your Majesty's letter came to hand, I could not on the 26th ult. answer it. Since then the King and Constable have returned. I have taken the very first opportunity of speaking to the latter about the contents of those letters, and especially of that of the 20th of November, where there is a paragraph relating to the Genoese, and another to the French privateers in the West Indies. I said nothing to him concerning the duke of Savoy, because I have not yet received from him instructions as to what he wishes me to do, particularly in this negociation though I am bound to do my best according to Your Majesty's commands.
	With regard to the first point, I suggested to the Constable that in case of any ships or vessels from Genoa being by stress of weather obliged to take refuge in the ports of France, there should be introduced into the treaty some declaration to the effect that no measure prejudicial to the persons and goods of the Genoese should take place, provided they did not enter into relations and trade with France. I then called his attention to the fact that at the end of the treaty of truce there was an article stating that in consideration of the friendship between Your Majesty and the king of France, something might be done to the advantage of the Genoese. The Constable's answer was that the King intends the Genoese to enjoy the liberties and privileges of the truce, according to its strict form and tenor, without impediment of any sort. For the better observance of which truce it will be again promulgated in all the ports and towns close to the sea. Indeed, the Constable tells me that he will write to his brother in-law, the count of Tenda, (fn. n4) to attend to it according to Your Majesty's intentions, and that he himself will send similar orders to his governor of Languedoch. There is, however, no hope at present, as far as I can see, of the said Genoese obtaining greater advantages than other merchants in France; for as the Constable assured me, whilst discussing other affairs, all safe-conducts and trade licences granted to the Genoese nation had been newly revoked owing to the excessive price of silk.
	With respect to the letters for the French privateers, who might still be in the West Indies, they were granted at once; but as the names of the privateers themselves are not known, and, therefore, if any of them were inclined to do harm, they might easily conceal or change their names, and then allege that they had not been informed of the truce, general warrants have been drawn out and issued, which is better by far than closed letters.
	Your Majesty's letter of the 22nd ulto. enclosing the ratification and approbation, signed and sealed, of the answer you made to Messieurs de Tarbes and Brissach respecting a peace to last during your mutual lives, and the matrimonial alliances of your children, has come to hand. I first communicated it to the Constable, explaining the reasons why Your Majesty had made no substantial alteration in the text of your answer, and I said this much in order that the King might accept it at once. The Grand Master himself made no objection. This happened on the 5th. Next day I myself presented the aforesaid ratification to the King, who received it with a most pleasing countenance. True is it that he did not read it; no more had the Constable the day before, but he sent for me, when we read it together carefully, word by word. He entirely approved of it, and although in the memorandum sent to Mr. de Tarbes, after the return of Brissach, the King seemed to insist on the marriage of the duke of Orleans to the princess of Spain, yet the alternative contained in the project of ratification, or proposed marriage of the daughter of the king of the Romans, was not objected to.
	The expedition to the Levant and the Venetians.—Duke of Savoy.
	With regard to the king of England, I must say that the very same offers of closer friendship that his ambassador is making in Spain, are every day repeated here in France. The same answer, however, is returned to him here as there. It is evident that his only aim is to introduce discord and division between you two; but he finds no sympathy here. Indeed, as Your Majesty will perceive by the Powers sent three weeks ago to Mr. de Tarbes, it is clear that on this side of the Channel no treaty injurious to Your Majesty will be made with England, and if Your Majesty chooses, and your affairs should require it, with no other prince of Christendom. The King will never forget that Your Majesty did him, as he owns, such an honor as no gentleman ever received from another, by coming to him at Aigues Mortes upon the security of his word, and I can certify to Your Majesty, under pain of being reproached as the lowest wretch in the world, that any promise made here will be completely fulfilled.
	The Most Christian has again spoken to me, as he is in the habit of doing, of the king of England and of his acts, which he detests. He has told me that the Pope is on the point of fulminating censures against him, and having them publicly declared. The same thing have I heard from the lips of the Papal Nuncio here; but neither this one nor the other (fn. n5) has said a word to me about undertaking a movement against the tyrant. True is it that the Constable told me last week that the French ambassador in London had written home that considering the King's tyrannical rule and his acts against the Church, there would be, he thought, no difficulty in contenting and satisfying His Holiness, Your Majesty, the Most Christian King, the Flemish and Low Countries, and the King of Scotland (fn. n6) pointing out the particular interest that each of those powers would have in his chastizement; beyond that the Constable saidno more, but the Nuncio repeated the statement to me the other day in the very presence of the Constable, after saying something in his ear which I did not hear. As I had no particular instructions from Your Majesty on that point, I got off as well as I could, answering in general terms, without saying a direct "yes" or "no," hinting, however, that if the five above-mentioned powers would make an effort, the partition and distribution of England would not be a difficult task. Should there be again a conversation on this matter, I will conform entirely with Your Majesty's instructions respecting that point.
	I cannot, however, pass in silence my conversation with the Nuncio. Talking to him of the intended expedition to the Levant, I gathered from his answer that His Holiness still persists in the enterprize against the Turk, notwithstanding the great expense of the army he is still keeping up against the duke of Urbino (Guidobaldo) for the recovery of Camarino, which consideration no doubt caused this King and the Constable to say to me that it would be difficult for the Pope to provide money and men for two different enterprises. I have delivered Your Majesty's letter to the Most Christian queen of France, who is satisfied with the answer, trusting, as she says, that when the time comes, you will bear in mind her petition. With respect to the doubts here entertained by some courtiers concerning the delivery of Milan, and consummation of the marriages proposed, she (the Queen) seems to have changed her opinion. Indeed, I meet no one really interested in that affair who does not implicitly believe in it, though it must also be said that in lower circles much difference of opinion still prevails.
	I trust that either Monsignor the cardinal de Tornon (Tournon) or the bishop of Soissons will willingly accept the charge of going to Germany to persuade the Separatists to return to the Roman Church; especially the former ecclesiastic, who is very heartily inclined to the welfare of Christendom, and who not long ago used to say to the Queen, "I wish the King would order me to accompany the Emperor in his expedition to the Levant." I will, however, say nothing about this journey to Germany until I hear from the archbishop of Lunden. Then, it seems to rue, the work of persuading the Separatists may begin; at least, so do this King, the cardinal of Lorraine, and the Constable think and have always given me full hope of success.
	With regard to what Your Majesty writes concerning the bad offices of the gentleman sent to Hungary on a mission to King John, and other German princes, ordering me to speak confidentially to the Constable, I have done so in obedience to Your Majesty's commands. But, considering his affection for us, and his strenuous efforts for the confirmation of the existing friendship, seeing that silence could in no wise be profitable, but, on the contrary, would encourage him and his to continue [in the wrong], I preferred to be quite candid with him. This, however, I did in a manner which has not wounded his feelings in the least, for he has thanked me for the information bestowed, and begged that I would advise him in future of any bad practices of this King's agents abroad, affirming under solemn oaths that whatever the said gentleman may have said or done in Hungary and other countries has been contrary to the King's intention and his; and that he wishes particularly to know what the man has done there that he may have him severely punished. He has, moreover, requested me to write to Your Majesty on this matter, saying that the gentleman's charge was to call first on the king of the Romans and take his orders, go thence to king John, and do what he was told. He had letters for no one else; no orders, no commission for any living creature. True, the Constable owns that when the agent, after his embassy to king John of Hungary, came to report to him, he said that when he expounded his commission to his Royal Majesty [king Ferdinand], the latter seemed to care little for king John, and treated him with contempt; yet he (the agent) had found him to be a wise Prince, well advised in his affairs, and fairly powerful, (fn. n7) since he could raise 40,000 horse—the best troops in the world—to make war on the Turk. The Constable further told me that the gentleman in question bad earnestly requested him, in case of another embassy to king John being needed, to choose him for it; but that since he has made himself suspicious to the Emperor he shall not return thither. The Constable has also declared to me what the queen of France had said about the affair, and how she had decided to send a resident ambassador to the king of the Romans, on the terms and conditions of which I wrote to Your Majesty on the 21st ult. (fn. n8) In fact, I hear that it has been resolved to send thither a person of such quality and parts as the court of the king of the Romans requires.
	Your Imperial Majesty has done excellent work with the solicitor and agent of Mr. and Mme. de Labrit. About ten days ago the latter spoke at length to me about the affair of Navarre, saying that she has always been a partisan of peace, and had such confidence in Your Majesty's words respecting that kingdom that never, at any time, had she or her husband—though hardly pressed and solicited—thought of stirring in those parts; giving me to understand that owing to their having acted thus, they had encountered suspicion from certain people. The Queen further says that she is aware of what importance the said kingdom of Navarre and its fortresses are to Spain, and yet her only aim and wish is (as she says) that Your Majesty, after maturely considering her husband's rights, make him and her adequate compensation for their loss. She is in no hurry at all for that, and will readily wait until an opportunity occurs of doing the thing conveniently for both parties. She prays Your Majesty to think of her.
	These are, in my opinion, most moderate words. It might after all be the Queen's wish that the Most Christian should make a direct application, but the fact is, that when I presented to him the ratification of the truce to sign, he spoke to me on the matter of Navarre, though not, as I think, so warmly as Mme. de Labrit would wish, for he only said he wished Your Majesty to think of the Queen and her husband in time, and content them with a pension, of which he himself would willingly pay a portion. He further said: "I cannot but pray the Emperor, at the solicitation of my sister, to attend to this business, for although I am not bound by her marriage contract to Mr. de Labrit (Albret) to help in, or procure, the recovery of any portion of the territory which once belonged to the family, and there is, besides, no reason for their applying to me, yet I cannot forget that she is my sister," thus clearly showing by his language that if he made an application (instancias) it was in consequence of their importunities. It would not be amiss that Your Majesty wrote to me what I am to answer should the subject be discussed again, and, if need be, a letter which I may show to the King, as well as to Mr. and Mme. de Labrit. This will help to keep the principal affair in good train. Such is Queen Leonor's advice; since then Mme. herself has spoken to me, and after her the King; before I had not said a word about it.
	The Queen has not spoken again about Cardinal de Lorraine (Jean de Guise) and his appointment. Should his name be mentioned to me, I will make excuses according to Your Majesty's instructions. (fn. n9)
	Postcriptum.—The King is willing to make an arrangement by which the Emperor's letters will be conveyed through his dominions as far as Bayonne, Peronne, and Piedmont, whilst the Emperor, on his side, will command his postmasters in Spain, Italy, and Flanders to do the same with French letters and despatches.
	The Most Christian has charged me to write that some Italians are trying to persuade him to mistrust Your Majesty, saying that you are at the present moment dissembling and suspending the delivery of Milan until your expedition to the Levant be ended, and your power increased thereby. The same people have since tried to rouse his suspicion by saying that Mr. de Praët is actually in Milan. The King's answer has been that he trusts implicitly in Your Majesty's words, and that as regards Milan, it is too small a concern to be compared with the mighty things that may be expected from you. As to Mr. de Praët, he (the King) is very glad to hear that he is at Milan, for since his arrival in that city he has, to his great contentment, succeeded in putting down some differences between Your Majesty's servants and his own.
	The King has likewise told me that he has been solicited openly to take under his protection, or at least to help secretly, the duke of Clèves, who has occupied the duchy of Gueldres (Ghelders), giving him to understand that the Duke had means at his disposal to carry on war for two years, not longer. He (the King) had answered resolutely that he would do nothing of the sort, nor would he listen to such proposals. "In short (says the King), this same language I am determined to hold to all those who may come to me with similar requests, and I shall not fail from time to time to inform you that you may report to the Emperor."
	Besides the above, he has told me that news had reached him that Your Majesty bad upon one occasion boasted in public that if you chose he (king Francis) would make with the Turk a truce to last ten years. His (the King's) answer had been that if Your Majesty had really said so, he was ready to ratify and approve it, and would do all he could to accomplish that truce. I cannot guess what the King's object was in thus coupling together these two affairs (Gueldres and the Turk), all I can say is that he spoke to me in those terms, and that on this, as well as on previous occasions, he always showed great confidence in Your Majesty, and a marvellous desire of your friendship.
	I will not omit to mention that he has this very day sent me a message by the Constable to say that he is very much pleased with all Your Majesty's ambassadors, and especially with the marquis de Augilar [at Rome] who, he says, is working admirably for the common cause, as his own ambassador writes. The bishop of Montpelier is to go soon to Venice in the place of Mr. de Rhodez, who is returning.—Paris, 10 Jan. 1539.
	After writing the above, intelligence reached me that the Pope has at last proceeded against the king of England, and decreed his deprivation. I cannot believe the truth of the report, but, if true, Your Majesty will hear of it through the marquis de Aguilar.
	Spanish. Original. pp. 18.
13 Jan.	36. Philip, Landgrave of Hessen, to the Queen of Hungary.
Wien. Imp. Arch. Rep. P. Fasc. 232, f. 1.	Letter of credence in favor of Dr. G. Sifriden-Louenburg. Wirhaven (Cassel), 13 Jan. 1539.
	German. Original.
19 Jan.	37. The Marquis de Aguilar to the Same.
S. E., Se. d Ga. Mary Ta., L. 5. B. M. Add. 28,591, f. 14.	Since my despatch of the 9th ult., no letter has come from Your Majesty. Prince Doria entered this city on the 16th inst., and called on His Holiness, to whom he gave an account of the operations of the confederated fleet, from the day of its setting sail to his (Doria's) departure from Castilnovo. The plan for the future campaign was then discussed, His Holiness inquiring, firstly: whether the Emperor had or had not decided to command the expedition in person, and, secondly: whether the preparations were sufficiently advanced to insure the departure of the expedition in the spring. It was likewise most important to know (said the Pope) if the Emperor's shoulders were guarded, inasmuch as the breaking off of the truce with France, the stir the Lutherans might make, as well as the king of England, who, owing to his many sins, manifold errors, and great cruelties, could well be considered a fiercer enemy than the Turk, were points well worthy of consideration under the circumstances, and especially on the eve of an attack upon the Infidel. The king of England (said the Pope), perceiving that all his arts and double dealings are powerless to introduce jealousy between Your Majesty and the king of France, and that his game is understood; fearing, moreover, the stress in which he will be placed should the intercourse of trade between England and the other countries be interdicted, has now decided to ally himself with the German Lutherans, and try to unite one sect with another. Already, in England, the Sacrament has been done away with, whilst other errors of the Lutheran sect are fully admitted. Nothing could be more true than the apprehensions of His Holiness on this particular point, for they write from England that the King intends to help and assist the Lutherans with the very money he has robbed from the monasteries and churches of his kingdom, which money is to be employed in promoting troubles and revolutions, which have already begun in Germany, as Your Majesty must know. Indeed, a courier of the duke of Bavaria, who came in six days from Monico (Munich), has apprised His Holiness of the fact, and, for that reason, it was worth considering (he said) what might happen if the German Lutherans were to undertake anything to the detriment of Christendom whilst Your Majesty was absent, and employed in the said undertaking. This the Lutherans might the sooner attempt, if they thought that the Christian cause, for one reason or other, should be less prosperous than was anticipated and desired.
	"The above observations (said the Pope to Doria) are intended solely for the Emperor's consideration, not in any wise to raise difficulties against the enterprize, as far as I am concerned, for I am ready to fulfil my engagements, &c."
	Prince Doria, after praising the good intentions and wishes of His Holiness, assured him that it would be no fault of the Emperor's if the land and sea forces were not ready for the future campaign in the spring. The Turk was now much weakened by his losses in Moldavia, amounting to upwards of 40,000 men, and by the wreck of part of his fleet, whilst Your Majesty had on the enemy's frontier no less than 10,000 Spanish infantry, which, with the levies now being made in Italy, and the men Your Majesty has for your own personal escort, will make a total of 15,000.
	With regard to England and the Lutherans (said Doria), it was natural to believe that if they make any stir, it will be for the purpose of preventing, if possible, the enterprise. Once executed, as Your Majesty is all-powerful, they will most likely keep quiet. Were it not so, Your Majesty will be strong enough to remedy the evil. In short, his opinion was that the undertaking could not be abandoned.
	His Holiness, at the end of his conference with Doria, attempted to excuse and explain the absence of his fleet in the last affair; he himself had no experience at all of maritime affairs, but promised not to be in fault next spring. The patriarch of Aquileia, general of the Papal galleys, who was there present, then declared openly that His Holiness had neither the means nor the power of arming the galleys and ships (naos) which he was bound to fit up. It would be much better and more expedient if the Signory of Venice and prince Andrea Doria would arm them, and then call on His Holiness for the expenses. The plan seemed to the Prince acceptable; the Signory is to be consulted thereupon.
	The Prince has stayed here five days; he leaves to-morrow for Genoa, and hopes to meet on the road thither Captain Juan Doria. (fn. n10) His opinion is that until he hears what news that captain brings [from Spain?], I ought not to write to Flanders respecting Your Majesty's late orders to me.
	On the 16th inst. Camarino was formally delivered to the Papal commissioner.
	To terminate the Ferrara agreement it was deemed necessary to consult the Duke concerning an article therein inserted, namely, that His Holiness shall not in any way, nor under any pretence whatever, impose [on the people of Modena] more taxes than those payable at present. His Holiness' answer has been: "I should be much pleased to be able to grant that were the circumstances the same as when the preliminaries of the agreement were settled; but now times have changed, and I can no longer acquiesce in it."
	Such were the Pope's words to the Ferrarese agent, and I (Aguilar) cannot help thinking that reason is on the Pope's side, because the article in question implies no help or assistance at all against the Turk, whereas His Holiness expects such help from all his subjects and vassals.
	Very desirous to hear that the Sicilian mutineers (fn. n11) have returned to their duty. The Prince told me that the captains of the force were in a great measure the cause of it, owing to their ill-treatment of the soldiers during the last expedition. It is, therefore, important for Your Majesty to know well those who are to command the Spanish infantry in the spring.
	After my letter to Your Majesty, His Holiness, perceiving that I took no notice of the various hints thrown out to me respecting the proposed marriage of Octavio's sister to the duke Cosmo, has at last spoken clearly, and said to me that being now free from Bandome (Vendôme), he thought he was bound to communicate his plans respecting his grand daughter. She was Octavio's only sister, and consequently sister-in-law of the illustrious Madame Margaret. He loved her tenderly, and would very much like to have her near his person. He had, therefore, thought of marrying her in Italy, and as the duke Cosmo ruled over Tuscany, where Octavio and Madame had a good portion of their fortune, he had fixed upon him as the fittest husband for his grand daughter. Not having been officially informed of the reported marriage of the Duke with one of the daughters of the viceroy of Naples, I have answered in general terms, telling the Pope how pleased your Majesty will be in forwarding this or any other of his wishes.—Rome, 19 Jan. 1538.
	Signed: "El Marques de Aguilar."
	Spanish. Original draft. pp. 10.