Venice: July 1554 | 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: July 1554', 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/pp518-526 [accessed 25 November 2024].

July 1554



July 1. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	908. Marc' Antonio Damula, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to Doge Francesco Venier. (fn. 1)
	Congratulates himself and the whole Republic, as do Cardinal Pole, the Cardinal of Burgos, all the Italian ambassadors, and very many others, on his election.
	Brussels, 1st July 1554.
	[Italian.]
July 4. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	909. Marc' Antonio Damula, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Bishop of Arras informed the Nuncio [Muzzarelli] in reply to the demand mentioned in his (Damula's) last, that the Emperor was content with whatever pleased the Pope; that the Legate Pole might remain here at his option; and that before the Emperor's departure, the Bishop would go to visit him, which he had not chosen to do hitherto, because regard should be had, on account of the French. (perchè si die haver rispetto per causa de' Francesi).
	Brussels, 4th July 1554.
	[Italian, in cipher, deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.]
July 5. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	910. Marc Antonio Damula, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to the Doge and Senate.
	By merchants from Spain, who have come from Spain on board a ship which has arrived at Antwerp, it is heard that they saw the Prince's fleet sailing from Spain hitherwards, so that by this time he may be in England; and that he is bringing upwards of seven thousand infantry, and money to an enormous amount (et danari assai assai); both of which will arrive very opportunely.
	Brussels, 5th July 1554.
	[Italian.]
July 5. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta) File no. 20.	911. The Doge and College to Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador in England.
	Send him their letter of credence to the most Serene King [Philip] of England; on his Majesty's arrival there to present it, addressing him in their name, according to the terms of his commission, and should his Highness have already arrived, he is again to perform this office.
	Ayes, 23. Noes, 0. Neutrals, 0.
	[Italian.]
July 5. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta), File no. 20.	912. Doge Francesco Venier to the most Serene [Philip] King of England.
	Sent lately to the Queen of England his noble Zuan Michiel to congratulate her on her marriage to his Majesty, and to reside as the Doge's ambassador in that kingdom, charging him on the King's arrival there to perform the like office of congratulation on this marriage and on his accession to the English crown.
	Ayes, 23. Noes, 0. Neutrals, 0.
	[Italian.]
July 5. Lettere del Collegio (Secreta), File no. 20.	913. The Doge and College to Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador in England.
	Send him a letter of credence to the King [Philip] of England; to present it on his Majesty's arrival.
	Ayes, 23. Noes, 0. Neutrals, 0.
	[Italian.]
July 8. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	914. Marc' Antonio Damula, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to the Doge and Senate.
	From what has been heard, the French make no progress, but had a design on Namur. Some say they did not enter either Flanders or Brabant from fear of getting themselves into a war with England, as by the last convention made in 1542 the English are bound to assist the Emperor should those provinces be invaded; nor is Marienburg included, as being in the province of Liège; so the English ambassador resident at Brussels, who would fain save his country from war, has written to his Queen that Marienburg is not amongst the places which the English Crown is bound to defend, but should the Emperor's son become King of England, and be able to make war, it would be easy to find a pretext for waging it. The Bishop of Arras told Cardinal Bole that the Emperor would willingly have been accompanied by him, but that the urgent need compelled his Majesty to depart on the sudden. When Pole observed that having been unable to effect the peace he could only say that should a spirit come for that purpose, he would try to prevent them from letting it depart, the Bishop replied that a good peace could only be made by a good war; and when the Cardinal rejoined that war was never good, Granvelle continued, that although it was commenced by the French, they will not finish it, either at such time or in such fashion as they shall wish. He then commenced magnifying the Imperial forces and disparaging those of France, saying that the Emperor with so many realms, including Peru, being occasionally pinched for money, he would fain know what to think of the [French] King, who has but one kingdom, and that having already sold the church chalices, he is no longer able to do deeds; whereupon the Cardinal prayed God that no occasion might a rise for their marshalling all their forces one against the other.
	Brussels, 8th July 1554.
	[Italian, in cipher; deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.]
July 9. Deliberazioni Senato (Secreta), v. lxix. p. 33.	915. The Doge and Senate to the Venetian Bailiffs (Baylis) at Constantinople.
	Informed them by their last letters that the Grisons sent by the most Christian King to succour Sienna were on their march to that city. They subsequently joined the French troops raised at Parma and La Mirandola, and with horse and foot marched out of Sienna, under the command of Pietro Strozzi, into the Florentine territory, whereupon the army of the Duke of Florence pursued the French, and some skirmishes took place. The Duke's army then went to Pistoia, a place belonging to his Excellency, where it was reinforced by troops from the Duchy of Milan; and the French army, having enabled the Siennese to get in their harvest, returned into the Siennese territory, the Duke's army doing the like; and toward Porto Hercules, the Prior of Capua, when taking a Florentine castle, was dangerously wounded by a harquebuse shot.
	Have advices from England that a personage has come to the most Serene Queen, being sent to her with a great present (con grosso presente) of jewels, by the Prince of Spain her husband, who was to embark at Corunna in the course of June, on his voyage, with the fleet, to England.
	Ayes, 154. Noes, 0. Neutrals, 2.
	[Italian.]
July 10. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	916. Giovanni Capello, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Cardinal de Tournon is of opinion that the Emperor has delayed raising other troops, having for some time been expecting the Spanish infantry, which is to come with the Prince his son, of whose passage to England he said they had as yet no news whatever; and that it was heard that the most serene Queen of England having need of money, had sent in quest of it to Antwerp, and to make a bargain with the merchants at the rate of 30 per cent. interest per annum; so, judging from the Queen's scarcity of money, his Right Rev. Lordship inferred that kingdom would remain at peace with this one.
	Rheims, 10th July 1554.
	[Italian.]
July 11. MS. St. Mark's Library, Cod. xxiv. Cl. x. Printed in Vol. 4. “Epistolarum Reginaldi Poli,” etc., with the date 21 st June 1554.	917. Cardinal Pole to King Philip of England.
	In the midst of the congratulations addressed to his Majesty from every quarter on his marriage to Queen Mary, Pole has a double claim to make himself heard, being Legate from the Pope, for the purpose of reconciling England to the Church, and of establishing peace between the Emperor, King Philip's father, and the King of France. The marriage of Philip and Mary encourages him to hope for the best; the Queen, to whom the crown belongs by hereditary right, earnestly desires it, admiring his endowments and prerogatives, especially his inherited title of “Catholic,” confirmed by his education in the bosom of the Church; and having always worshipped that Catholic faith, which has been so harassed in England, the Queen, who bears the title of Defender of the Faith, has called him to be joined to her, for its maintenance, by the most holy bond of matrimony. His Majesty will also comprehend that the interests and wishes of the kingdom call for peace between the Emperor and France. Offers the King his services, and wishes him all prosperity.
	From the monastery of Diligam (sic) [near Brussels], 11th July 1554.
	[Latin, 56 lines.]
July 12. Despatches from England. File 1. Venetian Archives.	918. Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador in England to the Doge and Senate.
	The Queen yesterday received letters from the Prince and from her own Ambassador; the Prince was to embark on the 8th. This intelligence was forwarded last night in the greatest haste to the Emperor, whom it interests so deeply, that he will hear and receive it with no less joy and comfort than it has caused the Queen. His Highness' arrival in England from hour to hour may be considered certain, as from that day to this the wind was quite fair, and continues so. When it takes place, will give immediate notice of the fact, although as the Queen and the Emperor have many couriers on the watch in many places, for the instant conveyance of the news to many quarters, he thinks it may perhaps reach the Signory sooner through some other means than his.
	London, 12th July, 1554.
	[Italian.]
July 14. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	919. Marc' Antonio Damula, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to the Doge and Senate.
	On the evening of the 8th the Emperor entered Namur, (fn. 2) and on the 9th his army encamped near the town on a hill, where they subsequently raised trenches, a proof of their intending to remain there for some days. On the 10th the Emperor entered the castle, and would allow no one to accompany him, save Don Ferrante [Gonzaga] and the Signori Gastaldo and Doria; and on the morrow he chose to inspect the army, which has been lately increased by one thousand cavalry under the Prince of Orange, and by some Belgian bands (alcune bande di questi paesi), which are very sorry (assai triste); as also by 10 companies of High Germans under the Count of Nassau, fine troops, and by 10 other companies of Low Germans under Monsr. de Bederode; so that the Imperial camp may number from about 16 to 17,000 infantry, and about 5,000 horse, encamped as aforesaid, with Namur in their rear (con le spalle a Namur) in a very strong position, and secure from the enemy, as between the two camps there is a large wood and a strong and difficult road, which the French are not expected to take, and which is still being re-enforced, 1,000 Saxon cavalry under Count Schwartzenburg having already crossed the Rhine; and from the towns of Belgium (queste terre) they have ordered as many as 8,000 infantry, very sorry troops (ben tristi), and perhaps useless; and at Brussels a census has been made of all men able to carry arms, of whom a thousand have been selected, and will depart in two days. From other towns in like manner, troops paid for three months are being sent for his Majesty's service; and at Antwerp they are raising 2,000. On this account, and by reason of a certain tax laid upon beer, etc., the people of that place rebelled three days ago in a serious manner (di mala maniera), making much noise, and raising new questions (et molta novità), complaining that they were sent into the camp, and that it was intended to quarter the Spaniards in the town; so they seized the gates, and went to the burgomasters and governors, who barricaded themselves (si rinchiusero), to let the first ebullition subside, and then apologized to the people, asking their pardon, and also repealing their [new] taxes. There has also been some danger of a sack; and the people are still in possession of the gates, though it is hoped they will be pacified; and the Queen of Hungary, who is in a castle between Brussels and Louvain, has sent one of her attendants to allay the tumult.
	In the meanwhile on the 9th the French took by storm a place on the Meuse, called Bouvines, a mile from Dinant. It had a garrison of 50 Spaniards, and some soldiers of the country, all of whom were cut to pieces; and then, with part of their army, the French crossed the river, and took the town of Dinant; after which, with a number of cannon, they battered the fortress, situated on the summit of a rock of no great height, but considered strong by reason of the difficulty of the ascent; and as neither the Germans nor the Switzers would make the assault, the Gascons attempted it on the evening of the 10th, but were repulsed with great loss, many of them having been killed by the artificial fire placed in the fosse. But on the 11th the French returned to the attack, and the defenders having first sent to the Emperor for a succour of 300 infantry, who did not make their appearance, commenced capitulating, and at length surrendered, their lives and body arms being spared them (salve le persone con le arme di dosso). Some say that the native soldiery who are from Liège, coerced their commanders, which others deny; but the result is that the French have possession of Dinant; and within was the Spanish captain Julian, with his company (fn. 3) The Signor Giovanni Battista Gastaldo was sent in one direction and Don Hernardo (sic) dalla Noia in another, with strong companies of foot and horse to succour the place or damage the enemy, but the fortress was surrounded, and they could do neither one thing nor the other. The capture of Dinant is not of great importance, save on account of the Meuse; but yet it was taken in sight of the Emperor, and those who were averse to his Majesty quitting Brussels now show how much his reputation is affected by this feat, he being at Namur, distant about four leagues from Dinant.
	Mons. de Vendôme has lately invaded the county of Artois from Picardy with 6000 foot and 2000 horse, plundering and burning as far as the gates of Arras, to the great detriment of the province, making his way even into Flanders, well nigh to Lisle.
	A letter has come from the Court of the Queen of England, dated the 10th instant, with news that on the 22nd ult. the Prince of Spain arrived at St. James of Galicia, where he gave a gracious reception to the English Ambassadors, and signed the marriage articles, and went thence to the port of Coruña, where all were to embark with the first fair weather.
	Last night the cavalry of the two camps had a skirmish, the French having come within a league of Namur. They lost eight or ten men, and upwards of a hundred of the Imperialists are missing; so says a courier just arrived on his way to England, and all the inhabitants of the territory of Namur are escaping towards Brussels as fast as they can.
	Another courier has arrived from England, having left on the 12th, with intelligence that the Spanish fleet had been sailing with a fair wind, and it was considered certain that on the 14th or 15th his Highness would be in Southampton harbour.
	From Brussels, 14th July 1554.
	[Italian, partly in cipher; the portions in italics deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.]
July 20. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	920. Marc' Antonio Damula to the Doge and Senate.
	Gives an account (in cipher) of the invasion of Flanders by the French.
	The Prince's departure from Coruña has been appointed for the 8th instant, but as yet it is not heard to have taken place; and of late there has been very stormy weather in the British Channel. A fortnight ago, twenty armed French ships sailed from Dieppe to join some others of the same nation off the Scilly Isles (drieto alcune isole ditte Sille, al Capo di Anglia verso ponente).
	Brussels, 20th July 1554.
	[Italian, partly in cipher; the portions in italics deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.]
July 21. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	921. The Same to the Same.
	Gives an account of the war in Flanders (in cipher).
	To-day a gentleman arrived who says he comes from the fleet which is bringing the Prince of Spain, and that on the evening of the 19th instant he left his Highness on ship-board with his fleet off the Isle of Wight at the mouth of Southampton harbour, having sailed from Spain on the 15th, and with fair weather during the whole voyage, which has greatly rejoiced the Queen and all the others. The gentleman went straight to the Emperor, and it may be supposed that the Prince disembarked to-day.
	Brussels, 21st July 1554.
	[Italian.]
July 22. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	922. Marc' Antonio Damula to the Doge and Senate.
	Last night a gentleman sent by the Queen, and another person also, both reported alike, that they have seen the most Serene Prince of Spain; that on the 19th he passed from his own ship into a frigate prepared for this purpose by the Admiral [Lord Howard of Effingham], who received his Highness and gave him a banquet on board the said frigate—so called by the English, although it is as large as a good-sized galliot—and on board of which, as by reason of the wind the ships could not conveniently get into port, he was taken to the landing place; (fn. 4) and then on disembarking he received and treated everybody with great graciousness and affability without any pomp or regal ceremony, mixing with them as a comrade, making many presents to several persons; and in Spain, to one of the Ambassadors of the Queen, he gave a gold cup worth 6000 crowns, and to the other a jewelled sword valued at 4000 crowns. (fn. 5) He is supposed to have entered Winchester to-day, and to have seen the Queen, and his coming is said to have been delayed on account of the money he brings, and which is said to be 3,000,000 of ducats: thus, 300,000 for the Queen of England, 1,000,000 for the merchants, and the rest for the Emperor. The infantry are in number about 4,500; the other particulars will be transmitted to the Signory from London, (fn. 6) and here we have not heard much more, as is usually the case with the first news (come suol avvenire delle prime nove).
	Brussels, 22nd July 1554.
	[Italian.]
July 28. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	923. The Same to the Same.
	A courier from England arrived this morning, having left Winchester the night of the 25th. The Prince of Spain on landing was presented with the Order of the Garter, and received by a number of lords and others. On the morrow the Chancellor and many other Lords of the Council went to visit him on behalf of the Queen. On the 23rd he left Hampton for Winchester, accompanied by many marquises, dukes, earls, and other lords and gentlemen, besides those from Spain, having with him upwards of a thousand horse. He dismounted at the cathedral, where he was received by six bishops; and next day he went to visit the Queen, who came to meet him at the large hall. On the 25th the espousal was celebrated with great pomp and rejoicing in the said church, with marvellous signs of great joy and satisfaction on the part of all the spectators; and during this ceremony the marriage articles (le conventioni) were confirmed and sworn to by the Prince, and the marriage was to be consummated that night. There were present at the espousal, the ambassadors from the Emperor, from the Kings of the Romans and Bohemia, from your Serenity, from Savoy, Florence, and Ferrara, and many agents of Sovereign Princes (Signori). The proclamation was entitled thus: Philip and Mary, by the grace of God, King and Queen of England, France, Naples, Jerusalem, Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Prince of Spain, Archduke of Austria, &c. On the 28th instant, they were to leave Winchester for Windsor, where the festival (la festa) of the Garter will be held, and the entire population had evinced great satisfaction. In ten days the King and Queen will be in London. It was not said when the coronation would take place.
	Some of the Spaniards commenced disembarking either because they were ordered to do so, or because they were tired of being on ship-board, but the English government (quelli Signori Inglesi) made them go back, and hastened the despatch of victuals to the seaside for the return of the fleet as soon as possible, and to send the Spaniards hitherwards (a quelle bande) immediately, it being said that they do not exceed 4,000, and that they are being supplied with clothes and arms of every sort, as they are nearly all destitute. They are expected to land at Dunkirk, and march through Flanders to join the army. It is understood that the Prince's coming was delayed owing, in great measure, to the difficulty he experienced in bringing this infantry out of Spain, as besides the dislike of “questi Signori” [the Spanish Government?] to the removal from their territory of so many men, few of whom return, there must be added the evil report taken to Spain last winter by the Spaniards who were disbanded here for the sake of economy, and proclaimed that their nation was very ill treated in these parts, both by the Imperial ministers and by the people likewise.
	The title of King of Naples, assumed by the Prince of Spain, seeming new to me, I therefore spoke about it to many persons likely to know when the investiture was conferred, and amongst the rest I sent to the Regent of Naples, who is more surprised at it than anybody, nor, like the others, does he know anything about it, but a lady in office at the palace (una dama di palazzo) told a friend of mine, whom I sent to ask her the question, that this investiture was given at Augsburg when the Prince went thither from Italy.
	The above written advices from England were extracted by me from a letter addressed by the Lords of the Council to Sir John Masone; and when I expressed my surprise to him that the French Ambassador should not have been present at the espousal (sponsalitio), he was unable to assign any cause, nor has he any other advices than what I saw.
	Brussels, 28th July 1554.
	[Italian, partly in cipher, the portion in italics deciphered by Signor Luigi Pasini.]
July 31. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	924. Giovanni Capello, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	Further account of the war in Flanders (in cipher).
	The English Ambassador at this Court has sent to tell me that last night he received a courier with news of the arrival on that island of the Prince of Spain on the 20th ult.; that on the 25th, the espousals (le nozze) took place, and that he had consummated the marriage (il matrimonio). Wotton says that none but his guard of halberdiers, and the princes and lords who accompanied his Highness, disembarked with him, and that the rest of the troops remained on board the fleet, which numbers about 120 sail, now at anchor in one of those ports to take in victuals and refreshments (vettovaglie et rinfrescamenti), and they are then to steer towards Flanders, with a good sum of money, and the Spanish infantry, the amount of whom he was unable to tell me. He added that on the day of the marriage aforesaid, a courier arrived with letters from the Emperor to the Prince, renouncing in his favour the crowns of the kingdoms of Naples, Sicily, and Jerusalem (che gli renuntiava le corone delli regni di Napoli, di Sicilia, et di Hierusalem); and the Ambassador believed that by this time his Highness will also have been crowned King of England, and that in a few days a general Parliament of the realm will be held for the affairs of the religion, the Eight Rev. Cardinal Pole to be present there, as your Serenity will be informed more in detail by your ambassador at that Court.
	Compiegne, 31st July 1554.
	[Italian.]