Venice: March 1550 | 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.

Citation:

'Venice: March 1550', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 5, 1534-1554, ed. Rawdon Brown( London, 1873), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol5/pp312-315 [accessed 28 November 2024].

March 1550



March 1. Deliberazioni Senato (Secreta), v. lxvii. p. 2, tergo.	649. The Doge and Senate to the Bailo at Constantinople.
	Are informed by letters from France and England, that both sides have sent commissioners to Boulogne to arrange the disputes between the two crowns, and it is said that an adjustment will take place.
	The Duke of Mantua died lately. He was a young man 17 years of age, who last summer married a daughter of the King of the Romans, and took her to Mantua.
	Ayes, 181. No, 1. Neutral, 1.
	[Italian.]
March 8. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta), File no. 18.	650. The Doge and College to Daniel Barbaro, Venetian Ambassador in England.
	Have received his letters of the 18th ultimo, giving very full account of what is passing in England, for which they praise him greatly, [but as they contain certain matters of importance which are not written in cipher, and might therefore occasionally cause inconvenience and give him trouble, they desire him for the future, when writing anything which he may consider important, to make his secretary put it into cipher, both in the original letters and in the duplicates, as the process cannot but secure their interests and his own honour] (fn. 1)
	Ayes, 19. Noes, 0. Neutral, 1.
	[Italian.]
March 9. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta), Fle no. 18.	651. The Same to the Same.
	To communicate the enclosed summary as usual.
	[Italian.]
March 15. Original Letter Book, Venetian Archives.	652. Matteo Dandolo, Venetian Ambassador at Rome, to the Signory.
	On Monday in Consistory, his Holiness made a very fine discourse, in the first place thanking the Cardinals who had conferred on him the pontificate, and saying that he hoped in God through their assistance (without which he did not purpose doing anything of importance) so to direct it, that they will not repent of what they have done. After mentioning that he had sent for the Reverend Pighino (fn. 2) about the Council, he advocated reform, promising to commence with his own household and personal expenditure; and first of all he would reform the “Datario” and the “Penitentiaria,” for which purpose he appointed six Cardinals, naming the senior Cardinal and Chieti [Gianpietro Caraffa], Bishops; Sfondrato and Burgos [Juan Alvarez de Toledo], Priests; and Cibo and England [Reginald Pole], Deacons.
	Rome, 15th March 1550.
	[Italian.]
March 17. Deliberazioni Senato (Secreta), v. lxvii. p. 9.	653. The Doge and Senate to the Bailo at Constantinople.
	In addition to the advices contained in the accompanying letters, inform him that the Pope [Julius III.] having been elected [on the 8th February 1550] was crowned with great honour, all Rome applauding his election.
	By the last advices from France and England, understand that the Scots and the French troops have taken by storm an important fortress in those parts called Portogir (?), which was held by an English garrison, who were all put to the sword.
	The Protector of England, whose arrest they notified to him in a former letter, after remaining many days in prison, has been released, but does not interfere in the government of the kingdom.
	Ayes, 202. No, 1. Neutrals, 3.
	[Italian.]
March 20. Original Letter Book, Venetian Archives.	654. Matteo Dandolo, Venetian Ambassador at Rome, to the Signory.
	It is reported from France that the agreement with England is far advanced; that his most Christian Majesty gives 400,000 crowns immediately, and will have back Boulogne, with all the forts, ports, and places taken in that neighbourhood since Boulogne was captured; and the English are also to give back all the fortresses and places taken from Scotland, against which subsequent advices state that war has been proclaimed in Flanders, the Flemings purposing apparently thereby to obtain compensation for many losses incurred in those seas through the Scots; and God grant that the war be not instigated by others, as your Serenity will hear more authentically from your three ambassadors.
	Rome, 20th March 1550.
	[Italian.]
March 29. Original Letter Book, Venetian Archives.	655. Matteo Dandolo, Venetian Ambassador at Rome, to the Signory.
	Today I went to visit the Duke of Urbino to know if I could have this palace of his for your Highness's ambassadors [extraordinary]; and as the Duke of Ferrara [Hercules II.] is lodged on the floor above him, both under the same roof, I thought it well not to omit visiting his Excellency likewise. He came most graciously to meet me, accompanying me through all his rooms, keeping me always on his right hand for the honour of your Highness. When the complimentary phrases were ended, he said, “Lord ambassador, let us leave them aside, and begin to talk of the affairs of the world,” which he certainly discussed at great length, like a very sage and experienced statesman; and then passing to the good news received this morning of the peace concluded between France and England, he gave me the letter which he held in his hand, dated Valery [en Caux?], a place on the ocean in the centre of that island (per mezo quell' Isola), where the peace was concluded. Although it contains the articles as in my penultimate letter, yet being addressed to the Duke, and dated the 19th instant, I think it well to send it, giving a gratuity to the courier, and also that that you will have further details through the enclosed packet to the Duke's ambassador (containing, I suspect, a letter from the Duke to the French ambassador at Venice), and that its contents will prove more veracious than those of the Signory's resident in France. But all the French partisans here are making very great bonfires and rejoicings and discharges of artillery at all their dwellings. Little else passed between us, owing to the number of Cardinals who were visiting him, but he showed that my visit to him was most acceptable, and thanked your Highness for it, making many professions of being your good son and servant, and above all a good Italian, and thanking the Lord God infinitely for preserving the most excellent Signory for the protection and assistance of such part of Italy as she holds (di quel tanto che de Italia si tiene).
	Rome, 29th March 1550.
	[Italian.]
March 31. Original Letter Book, Venetian Archives.	656. The Same to the Same.
	I sent my last on Saturday night by the ordinary courier, giving him such a gratuity as seemed to me suited to the news of the peace between France and England; and on Sunday morning I went for the palms as I said I would. Being in the place assigned to us ambassadors near the state bed (letto del paramento), I perceived on his Holiness's arrival that he did not give me the usual good greeting (buona ciera), and after looking at me twice or thrice with somewhat of a frown he said, “Call Monsignor Crescentio,” and when he went to him, his Holiness, turning towards me, “Lord Ambassador, come hither, for I choose you to be witness;” and then turning to Cardinal Crescentio he said, “Make a clause in the bull in Cena Domini, the strongest and most explicit (espresso) ever made against laymen and republics who allow themselves to lay taxes on the clergy and put out their hands where they ought not (et slongar le mani ove non deveno)” Becoming very red in the face he quoted to him the passages of the decree and of the canons according to which he was to draw it up properly, and express it well under [the penalty of] all possible censures. To me he added, “We choose you to be witness, and principally for your Republic and others who choose to stretch out their hands” (che vogliono slongar le mani), muttering a few other words which were perhaps more intelligible than his Holiness meant them to be, complaining of your Highness, but he did not wish to speak out, and possibly regretted the display of such violent anger, which was so great that for the moment I did not think fit to say anything further, most especially as all the Cardinals were there, a great part of them being very near, and many ambassadors; so I withdrew to my place, making the usual obeisance; but shortly afterwards, having been called by the master of the ceremonies to carry his train, the Pope looked at me again with his usual gladsome countenance (lieta ciera), and perhaps more joyfully than usual.
	Rome, 31st March 1550.
	[Italian.]