|
[1557.] Sept. 3.
Venice. |
661. Vincentius Carellius to Sir William Petre. Because the
Ambassador in sending him his letters from Padna, where he is
at present, enjoins him to inform Petre of a matter deserving to be
transmitted, he therefore sends these few lines to say that a person
had arrived from the Pope to communicate to the Senate the
progress made by the Duke of Alva, and to request assistance
might be given to the Holy See; in particular asking a certain
number of men-at-arms and artillery. After three deliberations the
Senate resolved yesterday to send back the Nuncio without any
decision, and to send one of their Secretaries to the Duke to exhort
him in their name (so far as is understood) to lay down arms and
desist from molesting the Pope and his States; because if the Holy
See shall suffer more injury from him, they will be constrained to
give the best aid that may seem expedient for the service and
defence of his Holiness. The Secretary is to set off by post on his
mission this evening. [Italian. Two pages.] |
1557. Sept. 4.
Rome. |
662. Sir Edward Carne to Queen Mary. According to his
promise on the 28th the Pope assembled the Cardinals of the Congregation of the Inquisition, and proponed her Majesty's request
concerning the legation; but some of the Cardinals friendly to the
Queen, perceiving his Holiness to be somewhat moved and in a
choler, thought it advisable to move that the matter should be
deferred until the messenger, whom they understood to be sent by
the Cardinal of England, was heard, as the informations which
he brought might be such as would greatly move his Holiness to
the performance of what her Majesty required. The Pope said
he would glady hear him; whereupon Cardinal Trani warned
Ormanetto, the Cardinal's messenger, to repair to him next morning,
which he did, and was then informed that he should have audience
yesterday at 20 of the clock. He tarried there till night, and
then was directed to return to-day. Would have sent to come
to him if it had not been thought best that Ormanetto should speak
with his Holiness first, as until then he should do no good with him,
seeing it was so determined in the Congregation, whose counsel the
Pope only uses in this matter. Mislikes this, as the most part of the
Cardinals are of his Holiness' own making, and know his pleasure
before what he will have them to do; and in this matter, were he
well minded to satisfy her Majesty, he need not to make so great
difficulty therein. Cardinal Trani, who is great with him, thinks
the Pope will do what she wishes; but others doubt, as his proceedings are such that they satisfy no man, and therefore men have
little hope of any goodness at his hands. His Holiness is in a peck
of troubles for his Majesty's late victory over the French, which has
broken their backs both there and here; and both he and his
adherents take it for such an overthrow that they shall not be able
to recover these many years. There is daily posting to and from the
Duke of Alva relative to the peace, of which there is much speaking
but small hope here, the Pope being so stiff in his own opinion.
He stays the French as long as he can, thinking thereby to bring
the Duke of Alva to other conditions; but on Wednesday last he
received a letter from the Duke of Florence concerning the peace,
which pleased him nothing. To-day a Secretary arrived with the
advice of the Senate of Venice to his Holiness, as supposed. In
three or four days it is said the Duke of Guise, who came here last
Tuesday, will leave with all his gentlemen and the chief of his army
for Civita Vecchia, where the gallies lie to convey them to France
by sea. The Duke of Alva is reported to be at the siege of Paliano.
When the French have left, the Pope has no force; and his Holiness
is said to have observed to the Duke of Guise, who advised him to
make peace, that rather than he would agree to such conditions as
the Duke of Alva required, he would into Castle Angelo and die
there. Hears this evening that the Venetian Secretary has spoken
with the Pope, and to-morrow goes to the Duke of Alva to treat of
this peace, which being so necessary to his Holiness he must needs
come to it. He has set forth a jubilee to pray for peace, a copy of
the bull for which shall be sent to her Majesty herewith. [Four
pages.] |
[1557.] Sept. 12.
Rome. |
663. Captains Marc Antonio and Ronca, who were in Frassinone with four companies of infantry and one of cavalry, have
received orders from Giulio Orsino that should the enemy go off
with the artillery abandoning the place they are to retire into
Anagni. Marc Antonio Colonna, Pompeo Tuttavilla, and Ascanio
Della Cornia having pushed on to reconnoitre the place without
seeing the enemy, abandoned the place very dishonourably, and
since that the Imperialists have taken Veroli, Banco, Alatri, and
Valmontone, and without going further forward went under Anagni.
Meanwhile the Duke of Alva remains at Ponte Corvo, where
Torquato Conti is with seven companies of infantry, but no artillery
and little munition. Because news arrived that Pompeo Colonna
intended to come to Tivoli, Aurelio Fregoso was sent forward
with four companies of horse and six of infantry to meet him and
give him battle, but he was found to have retired. Cardinal
Caraffa came in two days from Antibo, bringing six companies of
Gascons and 150,000 crowns with Strozzi, Lansac, Monluc, Guise,
and many French gentlemen, who have brought joy to the city,
which was all in confusion. Negotiations of peace, moved by
Cardinal St. Jacomo, are discussed, but there are no securities;
many hope for it and many do not. His Holiness has sent Mons.
di Pola to Parma to these lords to find out their intention as to
giving him the castle which he wishes. Captain Justino da Faenza
has been sent this night with three companies of infantry and
one of horse to put munitions and troops into Anagni, and the
Germans are to be brought from Milan. [Italian. One page
and a half.] |
1557. Sept. 18.
Rome. |
664. Sir Edward Carne to Queen Mary. Since his letter of the
11th peace has been concluded, and the news thereof was brought to
his Holiness on the 12th about six hours of the night; the conditions, as far as he can learn, her Majesty shall receive herewith.
On the 13th went to offer his congratulations, and secure his
Holiness for letters concerning her suit for the legacy, and had
answer to repair to him at 20 of the clock. On coming to the
Court, finding a full dozen of Cardinals tarrying for audience, the
Pope directed him to come on the following day, there being
so many waiting that he could not dispatch all that day. On
the morrow was there by 20 of the clock, at which time his
Holiness was going to dinner, where he tarried till 22 of the
clock; and in the mean season arrived thither ten Cardinals to
have audience. On coming to his chamber, perceiving Carne among
the Cardinals, the Pope called him, saying he would speak to him
before them; and on his coming, before he could speak, his Holiness
began a solemn oration to tell him of the conclusion of the peace,
imputing to her Majesty's good help next to God, a great part of this,
speaking so much good of her Majesty as Carne is unable to express,
"holding my head in his hands by his cheek almost a quarter of an
hour." At length when allowed to speak, he told his Holiness that
a post from her Majesty had been here for seven weeks waiting
his good resolution in the matter of the legation, and requested
some declaration of his good mind therein, which, with the news of
the peace, should be instantly dispatched to her Majesty; showing
how earnestly she had travailed with the King for peace, although
of his own good inclination his Majesty had shown himself most
desirous thereto. The Pope said that at that time he would not
talk of the matter, but it should stand till another occasion.
Being pressed as to what hope her Majesty might have of his
answer, the Pope said she need have no mistrust of him, but for
divers reasons, which at that time he could not explain, he must
commune with his brethren; and then, on the ground that he
had to give audience to many Cardinals there, "took my head in
both his hands and set his cheek to mine, and then could have
no other of him, so that I perceived he called me to him first to be
the sooner rid of me." That evening Cardinals Caraffa and Sancto
Flore returned with the peace, and next day should have been
bonfires and great triumphing on that account, but that night the
Tiber so increased that next morning, the 15th, half Rome was under
water, "insomuch that many were suddenly drowned and taken
away with the water by night, and amongst other in one house
36 prisoners were drowned and divers others were seen carried
away; and by that day at night all Rome was drowned, and no
street free; being under the hills, no man could come to another
but by boat. Once afore, about 26 years past, I saw it in like
case, and though the hurt then was inestimable, now it was, as
men say, a great deal more. All the provisions that men had in
the lower part of their houses were lost; it was the height of a
morrispike in some of the best streets in Rome. The violence of it
was such that besides many mean houses that were taken clean
away, many great palaces were destroyed upon the river side. All
the mills be so destroyed that men can have no corn grinded.
There is in this city left neither bread neither drink; the waters in
the cisterns clean marred. It was so violent that it made such pits
in the streets here that no horse can pass. It carried away half
the goodliest bridge in all Rome, that Pope July the Third made of
new, with a goodly chapel of our Blessed Lady thereupon, and clean
gone with the stream. All my lodging in the lower parts was drowned,
and is yet, that I can come to no drink but that I took out in pots
and pans with as good diligence as I might when the flood came,
which was, as God would, to my lodging by daytime. Here is
no bread to be had, for that the mills be down and the ovens
drowned and fallen down. I am not able to descrive the misery
that is here and the loss that hath happened here, much more,
as men say, than if it had been sacked. As the Pope was coming
towards Castle Angel to see how the water had ordered the new
bastions and bulwarks of earth there, as his gentleman was going
before to prepare for his coming, a piece of the wall where he
should pass fell down before him." On the night of the 14th the
Cardinal of Compostella [Juan Alvares of Toledo] died here. To
night the Duke of Alva's son comes with his obedience to the Pope,
and Cardinals Caraffa, Sancto Flore, and Vitallosso [Vitelocci Vitelli]
with Signor Antonio Caraffa, have gone to bring him in. Many
things are said to be privily agreed on in this peace which are not
spoken of, but shall be done hereafter; and then much talk of the
Prince's liberality in making of Cardinals, giving of bishoprics and
pensions, and delivering prisoners. Cardinal di Medicis requests
him to beseech her Majesty to write to the King that he may
be preferred to be Protector for Germany here in room of the late
Cardinal of Compostella, and if it be in the gift of the King of the
Romans to have his Majesty's letter to him. Begs this may be
taken in good and gracious part, as the Cardinal shows himself
very glad to further all her Majesty's affairs. [Six pages.] |
Sept. 19.
Camp Hansur-Somme. |
665. Instructions given to Christopher D'Assonleville on his mission to England and Scotland [by King Philip]. He is to go as
speedily as possible to England and to deliver to Mons. John de
Figueroa, his Majesty's Ambassador, the letters written to him in
order to put in train his audience with Queen Mary, to whom he is to
deliver his letters of credence, and to state that in consequence of
his Majesty having heard that since his departure from her the Scots
had made hostile incursions along the English coast about Berwick
contrary to the treaty between England and Scotland, and having
received her requisition that, in pursuance of the confederations
between the Emperor and King Henry VIII., he would, as King of
Spain and Prince of Flanders, declare against the Scots, and give
the aid promised by the said alliance, he has sent D'Assonleville
to the Queen Dowager of Scotland, the Duke of Chatelherault, Earl
of Hamilton, Governor, and the inhabitants of Edinburgh, to declare
to them that his chief object since his accession to power has been
to keep perfect peace and friendship between Christian Princes, and
especially with the kingdom of Scotland, on account of its proximity
to Flanders, the intercourse between the two, and more particularly their ancient alliances, discord having once only by the
practice of the French divided them. To better perpetuate this
friendship and not to allow any occasion which could alter it, and
in consideration of the position he holds as King of Spain, Prince
of the Low Countries, and King of England by marriage, he could
have wished the realm of Scotland had remained at peace with
England, as it was when he departed. Does not know the cause of
the outburst, the more so as he understands the Queen is not answerable for it, and he cannot believe the Queen Dowager of Scotland,
her Council, Governor, and the States of the same have caused it, but
rather the intrigues of foreigners; has therefore sent D'Assonleville
to persuade her to desist from hostilities and to assure her that his
Majesty desires only friendship with Scotland, and to make her declare
her intentions with respect to the maintenance of the treaties with
England. He is then to proceed to Scotland to the Queen Dowager
after procuring safe conduct, and to present his credentials to her,
declaring his charge and commission in manner already specified,
He is to deliver other letters also to the Earl of Hamilton, Governor,
giving him to understand that the King is astonished at the changes
(not believing him, however, to be the author of them but attributing
them to the agents of the King of France), and trying to persuade him to prevent the falling out of the Scots and the subjects
of the Flanders. He is to say the same to the Provost, Sheriffs
and Chief Magistrates of Edinburgh, with suitable remonstrances.
He is not to forget before going for Scotland to hear from Queen
Mary herself the cause of the troubles and the actual form of the
invasion. Also in the same way he is to find out the sentiments of
the Queen Dowager towards the King, his subjects, his Queen, and
her states. He is to make secret inquiry as to the feelings of the
Governors, chief towns, and common people, their inclination to
peace or its rupture, their means of war, their [secret] designs,
practices, factions, and other matters important to be known.
[French. Four pages and a half.] |
Sept. 22.
Rome. |
666. Sir Edward Carne to Queen Mary. On the night of the 18th
the Duke of Alva's son arrived, brought in with no man but his own
train. The next evening the Duke himself came by the persuasion
of Cardinal Caraffa, who left the son and went to the father, and he
with the Duke of Paliano received him at the gate of the city and
brought him to the palace by torch light very honourably. On his
passing the bridge at Castle Angelo there was a great shot of
ordnance from the castle. They rode straight to the palace, and on
his dismounting he went direct to the Pope, who received him with
such gladness as if he had been his own natural son, with as cheerful
countenance as might be. Hence he was conducted to his lodgings
in the palace, where all things were prepared for him upon his
Holiness' cost and charges in the best and most sumptuous sort.
On the following morning went to the Duke, who in course of conversation inquired how Cardinal Pole's matter went forward. Being
informed of what had passed on the 13th, the Duke said he would
speak to his Holiness thereon, and Carne said it might do good and
he should inform her Majesty of his gentle offer. On the same
day a Consistory was held, where the peace was published and two
Cardinals appointed to go to treat of peace between his Majesty and
the French King. Cardinal Caraffa goes to the former out of hand,
and Cardinal Trivulci, the Legate at Venice, is to go to the latter.
Sign. Garcilasso and all other prisoners of war have been liberated,
but Cardinal Morone is still in confinement. Hears that the Duke
of Alva will go with his army to Lombardy as soon as he can. The
camp of the Duke of Guise retires homeward by land; himself has
gone by sea, having left Civita Vecchia on the night of the 17th.
The Duke of Alva showed to him that he spoke with his Holiness
concerning the legacy on Tuesday evening, "and had a great combat with him thereabouts," but could get nothing of him, beyond
that her Majesty should be advertised of his mind. Divers Cardinals had also moved the Duke to speak on the same subject. As
the Duke had offered, could not refuse him, but thought if the
Pope would not do it at her Majesty's request, his Grace could little
move. The Duke, who was very honourably entertained here,
departed towards his camp this evening. [Two pages and a
quarter.] |
Sept. 25.
Rome. |
667. "Avisos di Roma." Intelligence from Rome. Containing
somewhat more minute details of the ceremonies attendant on the
arrival and reception of the Duke of Alva than those given by
Carne in his letter of the 22d September antea. [Spanish. One
page and a half.] |
Sept. 25.
Piacenza. |
668. Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Parma, to Queen Mary.
Congratulates her Majesty on the victories gained by King Philip.
[Italian. One page.] |
[1557.] Sept. 26.
Rome. |
669. Intelligence from Rome. Cardinal Carpi was the one who
by order of the Congregation wrote to the Duke of Alva the resolution touching the conference to be held at a suitable place, to which
answer being received on Wednesday evening from the Duke of
Alva that next morning he would be at Grotta Ferrata, and that at
night he would send the safe-conduct, the two Cardinals prepared
to set out; but Caraffa, on his return from the Pope's chambers
to his own, forbade the journey, Grotta Ferrata not appearing
to his Holinesss to be a convenient place, but that the conference
should take place in a plain field and by agreement. It is not
known that the Duke was advertised of this veto at the time,
wherefore he wrote to Carpi to be at Grotta Ferrata at the hour
which he had mentioned, viz., 15 o'clock, and waited up to 22 o'clock,
when he returned to the camp to order its removal to wherever the
service of the King required. The Cardinal replied according to the
order given to him, excusing the matter as above, and adding that
the Pope having the same good feeling was prepared to accept a
good and secure peace, and up to the present time things are in this
position. It is said that the safe-conduct of the Duke was not
presented until the time he had appointed for their being at Grotta
Ferrata. Cardinal Caraffa for three days has lodged at St. Mark's
and attends to the preparation for the defence, and all the friars are
ordered to work at the bastions; they are all under the care and
command of the Archbishop of Cosenza for this purpose. Yesterday
evening the Germans of Montalcino entered; they are little more
than 1,000, but a very fine set of men. The horses of more companies are expected, and young Count Petigliano is General of the
cavalry. The Romans have dispatched four colonels to raise 4,000
infantry to be paid out of their own purses, and in return it is said
that the Pope has given them the mills which at present produce
two crowns for every robbia of corn. Eighteen gallies are reported
to have arrived at Civita Vecchia with four ensigns of Gascons
and eight pieces of artillery given to the King by Caraffa. To-day
the Marquis of Montebello arrived in Rome by post. It is said
that the demands of the Duke of Alva having been presented to
the Pope he would neither see them nor hear them read, but said
that having to treat of peace he desired the Duke would first
restore all the lands taken, and withdraw the whole army within
the kingdom, otherwise he would not allow a single word to be
uttered. [Italian. Two pages and a half.] |
| [Sept?] |
670. Copy of demands made of the Pope by the Duke of Alva in
the name of his Majesty. |
|
1. That his Holiness shall recognize the King as his obedient son,
and show himself as affectionate a father to him as he does to
other Princes, and allow to his Majesty and his subjects the same
favours as he grants to other Kings and nations. |
|
2. That he shall at no time incite war nor offend his Majesty or
his states, nor favour nor aid any Prince or other persons who desire
so to make war, as his Majesty will reciprocally do to the Pope. |
|
3. That he shall order all prisoners to be released and relieve
all the servants of his Majesty, both Prelates and others, from
the securities binding them, granting them a general pardon,
commencing the day of the capitulation, restoring them to their
offices and benefices, so as to remove every occasion of disturbance
which might arise, notwithstanding the (blank in original) have
been ill-treated by the servants of his Majesty, who offers to his
Holiness his whole power and will to chastise those who in future
shall offend him. |
|
4. That he shall receive into his favour Sig. Marc Antonio Colonna
and Sig. Ascanio as good vassals, and restore to the said Marc all his
estate as it is at present, because without this he cannot have peace
or quiet, for reasons so evident that it is unnecessary to explain
them, and because it cannot be agreeable to the Pope or his
authority that he should be deprived of it for being his servant. |
|
5. That he shall restore the revenues and plunder that he has
taken from Sig. Ascanio della Cornia. |
|
6. That he shall not cause any fortifications to be made on the
confines of the kingdom, but that they shall remain as they are. |
|
7. That he shall give sufficient security to the satisfaction of his
Majesty, that he will thoroughly follow out and observe these conditions. [Italian. Two pages.] |
