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| Nov. 30. Cancelleria Ducale, Archives of Modena. |
76. Instructions given by Alfonso I., Duke of Ferrara, to Hironimo Ferrofino, accredited by him to King Henry VIII, and Cardinal Wolsey. |
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To go postwise with all possible speed to England, and on arrival to ascertain where the King and the Right Reverend the Cardinal of York the Legate are, the which Lord Cardinal usually resides in London. To apply to his Right Reverend Lordship, endeavouring to be introduced to him by one of those two friends for whom you take letters. On entering the Cardinal's presence, to kiss his hand in my name and deliver my letter of credence to him. To tell him that although Messer Gregory Cassalis, the King's ambassador, will by letter have acquainted him that I willingly join the Holy League, yet I have thought fit to send you to England to kiss his hands and thank him for the paternal love and gracious patronage always granted by him to me, and so I beseech him to persevere in keeping me always under that protection which has been promised me by all the confederates of the most Holy League, assuring his Right Reverend Lordship that he may dispose of me as of a most obsequious son and servant. |
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You will then pray him to have you introduced to the King, so that you may also do as commissioned by me with his Majesty, and you will say that I desired you to remain at that Court as a mark of the devoted service rendered by me to the King and to his Right Reverend Lordship. |
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Having presented yourself as soon as possible to the King, after delivering my letter of credence, you will tell his Majesty that I recommend myself very humbly to his Grace, and that I have sent you on purpose to thank him in my name for having deigned, together with the other allied princes and lords, to give me place, and receive me into the most Holy Union and League. |
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After this you will say that you are commissioned to reside at his Majesty's Court in token of the very obsequious service I bear him (che io le porto). |
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You have also to pay my respects to the Queen his Consort, and to make her my humble recommendations; doing the like by the Queen of France, now the Consort of the Duke of Suffolk, should she be at the Court; and to visit the said Duke if you see him, making him offers and recommendations in my name. |
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As by the articles and convention made with the confederate Princes and Lords, I was promised protection from all of them, in the form of the article of which I gave you a copy, you will tell the Right Reverend Lord Legate, that besides the ratification of the instrument stipulated at Ferrara, I desire that his Right Reverend
Lordship should deign to obtain for me an especial protection, in writing from that most potent King, and also from his said Right Reverend Lordship, according to the rescript (lo rescripto) which I have given you, which is in conformity with the said article; and for this you will say that I shall feel eternally obliged to him. |
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You will also visit in our name, the Magnifico the Venetian Ambassador, and commune with him courteously. |
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You have also, in the name of my sons, to kiss the hands of the aforesaid most potent King and of the Right Reverend Legate; and in virtue of their letters of credence return due thanks for the commissions made to me for their benefit and favour, as they ordered you by word of mouth, recommending them to his Majesty, and to his Right Reverend Lordship as their most devoted servants. |
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Ferrara ? 30th November 1527. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 30. Cancelleria Ducale, Istruzioni agli Oratori, &c. Archives of Modena. |
77. Second Instruction from Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara, to Hieronimo Ferrofino, his Ambassador in England. |
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Turn the plural into the first person singular, where necessary. (Voltate in singolare quel che bisogna). |
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After you have executed the commissions in the instruction received by you, you will present yourself to the King, and tell his Majesty that we wish him to grant us permission to purchase in Ireland, and export thence for transmission, as many as eight hobby-mares (cavalle-ubine) and two hobby-stallions (et dui ubini) to breed from; and that we may be better served, be his Majesty pleased to commission his Master of the Horse to give you for this purpose such direction (indirizzo) and favour as necessary, as I shall consider it a very great kindness. Should his Majesty grant it me, as I trust he will, you will then betake yourself to the aforesaid Master of the Horse, presenting him with my letter of credence in your name, and praying his Lordship of his courtesy to assist and favour me, for the immediate attainment of this my wish, offering to do yet more for his Lordship, should it be in our power to gratify him in any way. On obtaining leave to purchase and export them, let us know at what time you think we may send for the conveyance hither of the said hobby-mares and stallion, which should be of the following descriptions, viz.:— |
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The mares to be young, from four to five years old, and in foal (pregne), and to be procured by a man who understands about them; so that they may be purchased of fine shape (de bella fattezza) and of the best sort to be got; but their coats may be of any colour, except white. The two hobby-stallions need not be so young, though care must be taken that they be not too old, and above all that they may be handsome and of easy pace (et habbino andar suave); and their coats to be pied, but without any white (di mantello lodaro (sic) purchè non sia bianco); but there will be time to get those two hobby-stallions when the mares are sent for. |
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Ferrara ? 30th November 1527. |
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[Italian.] |
