Venice: December 1524

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1869.

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'Venice: December 1524', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526, ed. Rawdon Brown( London, 1869), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp393-397 [accessed 28 November 2024].

'Venice: December 1524', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526. Edited by Rawdon Brown( London, 1869), British History Online, accessed November 28, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp393-397.

"Venice: December 1524". Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 3, 1520-1526. Ed. Rawdon Brown(London, 1869), , British History Online. Web. 28 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol3/pp393-397.

December 1524

Dec. 1. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 307, St. Mark's Library. 899. The Same to the Same.
On the evening of the 29th the Emperor sent for the Archbishop of Capua, who went to the palace accompanied by the Florentine ambassador [Giovanni Corsi].
In reply to the Emperor's inquiries, Schomberg said he was sent by the Pope, and that he came by desire likewise of the King of France.
“What!” said the Emperor, “now that the King of France has got Milan, he wants peace?”
The Archbishop replied, “Sire! he is more desirous of it now than ever.”
From Schomberg himself I heard that, amongst other reasons assigned by him in favour of peace, he represented that both in Italy and Germany there are great embarrassments, and that they had perhaps been contrived by the Emperor's brother, the Archduke Ferdinand. (fn. 1)
Schomberg also proposed to the Emperor a congress at Avignon, to which France might send some such person as Robertet.
With regard to England, Schomberg told me there would be difficulty on account of Wolsey, who chose to do everything himself. He then mentioned Pace, but added, “I don't approve of him, he is too vehement.” (fn. 2) After this, he mentioned the name of Thomas More, with whom I have been acquainted both in Flanders and in England, and who is in fact learned and amiable. (fn. 3)
On behalf of the Emperor, he said he knew not whom to propose.
I remarked that the stipulation of a truce appeared to me as difficult as that of peace, when Schomberg rejoined, “But these delegates might also negotiate the peace.”
On the 30th of November, St. Andrew's Day, I presented myself to the Emperor, and found him looking well, and well disposed; offered congratulations accordingly, and was received graciously. The Emperor appointed me an audience for the 2nd of December, the morrow of his expected ague fit.
Madrid, 1st December 1524.
[Italian, 4 pages.]
Dec. 2. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 308, St. Mark's Library. 900. Gasparo Contarini to the Council of Ten.
On the 6th ultimo acquainted them with all I had been able to elicit concerning the investiture of the duchy of Milan.
After the departure of the post, I was informed by the Milanese secretary that it conveyed the investiture to the Duke on certain conditions, but the Emperor's minister did not choose the matter to be known until after his acceptance of them. The Imperialists demand 800,000 ducats payable by instalments, and they also want the county of Asti for the Duke of Bourbon.
After the arrival of the Court at Madrid the Milanese secretary requested me to speak to the Emperor on the subject, the Chancellor having urged him to do so; and after consideration I deemed it fitting to satisfy him. The Emperor replied in general terms, to avoid the point, but the expression of his countenance and his gestures were gracious, neither adverse nor repulsive, but doubtful and irresolute.
Knowing that this would give great pleasure to the Chancellor, I communicated it to him, and twice he made me repeat the Emperor's rejoinder.
As the Comendador Mayor [of Castile, Don Juan de Padilla,] seemed dissatisfied with the Pope, saying “He could do much if he chose,” I endeavoured to justify the Papal policy.
With regard to the loss of Milan, the Imperialists complain of the Duke, and say that had he made due provision and gone thither, the city would have held out.
The Florentine ambassador [Giovanni Corsi] was informed by Schomberg that the object of Wolsey's negotiations with the French was to compel the Emperor to accept terms of peace with King Francis.
Madrid, 2nd December 1524.
[Italian, 2 pages.]
Dec. 2. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 309, St. Mark's Library. 901. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
Account of his audience of the Emperor on that morning. The Emperor listened to him graciously and attentively, and then said that his suggestions should have his consideration.
Madrid, 2nd December 1524.
[Italian, 2½ pages.]
Dec. 4. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 310, St. Mark's Library. 902. The Same to the Council of Ten.
Yesterday the Archbishop of Capua had his first long conference with the Emperor.
A very great friend of mine [Giovanni Corsi ?], to whom Schomberg unbosoms himself more freely than with any one at the Imperial Court, told me in the strictest confidence that Schomberg had counselled the Emperor first of all to take for wife the sister of the King of Portugal on two accounts; the one, that he might speedily have offspring to inherit so many realms; the other, because he would thus obtain a considerable sum of money as dower.
Schomberg also told the Emperor that the marriage of the daughter of the King of England would never take place either with his Majesty nor yet with France, as although, the King of England might desire it, his subjects choose to have a King of their own, and not an alien, and that in time of war the English make use of their Princess as of an owl, with which to lure birds. The Emperor, not understanding the simile, inquired what he meant by “the owl,” and when Schomberg explained it he laughed heartily, and seemed not to disapprove the hint. (fn. 4)
Schomberg next suggested another marriage to the Emperor, for the adjustment of affairs in Germany, and said it would be well to marry Eleanor, Queen Dowager of Portugal, the promised wife of Bourbon, to the Count Palatine, though I do not believe him to mean the Elector, but the Count Frederick, who was in Spain of yore, and is well known to the late Venetian ambassador there, Francesco Cornaro. (fn. 5) Thirdly, he proposed marrying the daughter of the Queen Dowager of Portugal by her consort the late King, to one of the sons of the King of France.
In the course of the conference Schomberg said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty will consult with your Council, and form such resolve as shall seem fit to you.”
To this the Emperor replied, “Don't suppose that I now communicate everything to the Council; the truth is, that whilst Mons. de Chièvres lived he then ruled me, and would to God that he were now alive, as I know that he was prudent.” (fn. 6)
Schomberg also told my friend that he did not believe that any of his proposals had been communicated by the Emperor either to the Chancellor or to the Council, and that the Governor of Bresse, who visited him, Schomberg, was sent, he supposes, by Gattinara to elicit something, of which the Archbishop said he became aware immediately.
Schomberg had a second audience of the Emperor, which lasted two hours, on that same evening of the 3rd.
The Florentine ambassador told me that Schomberg would go away dissatisfied, perceiving the Imperialists to be in favour of war rather than of peace; adding, “It is impossible to make peace and save the Duke of Milan, and this Chancellor chooses at any rate to save him. The Archbishop says that he has ruined the Emperor, and will do so utterly.”
The Florentine ambassador also said that the Archbishop wants the Imperialists to send Mons. de la Chau to the proposed conference, he in the first place having an interview with Madame, the mother of the King of France, and then proceeding to Rome or wherever the delegates might be convoked, as La Chau was agreeable personally to Madame, and also to the Archbishop of Bari. The ministers, however, seem not to choose to send any fresh envoy soever; and the Chancellor wrote a reply to Schomberg's proposal, purporting that the Emperor could not treat either peace or truce without the consent of the King of England and the Duke of Bourbon. So Schomberg remains ill satisfied, though as yet he has not received a positive answer.
According to report La Chau is a French partisan and venal, so it is undesirable this mission should be confided to him.
Madrid, 4th December 1524.
[Italian, 3½ pages.]
Dec. 6. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 311, St. Mark's Library. 903. Gasparo Contarini to the Council of Ten.
This morning the Florentine ambassador said to me, “The Pope in the end must of necessity remain at enmity with the Imperialists, for they will either conquer in Italy, or be conquered. If victorious, they will hold him in no account, considering that they gained the day without his assistance.”
He then added that Schomberg would go through France to England. I remarked that as no fresh agreement had been stipulated at Madrid, the journey to England appeared to me superfluous. The ambassador replied, “You say true, but you know the English well, and are aware how strange they would think it if the Archbishop came hither without going to them.”
Madrid, 6th December 1524.
[Italian, 2 pages.]
Dec. 6. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 312, St. Mark's Library. 904. The Same to the Signory.
The Archbishop of Capua will take leave of the Emperor this evening, depart tomorrow morning, and go through France to England, unless the French prevent him.
Madrid, 6th December 1524.
[Italian, 1 page.]
Dec. 18. Original Letter Book, Letter no. 313, St. Mark's Library. 905. Gasparo Contarini to the Signory.
The Archbishop of Capua departed early on the morning of the 7th for France, and after conferring there with Madame [Louise] will proceed to England.
Letters were subsequently received at Madrid, dated London the 10th November, informing the ministers that the King had sent the mandate for the truce to Rome, and that in England they were acquainted with the capture of Milan by the French. The Imperialists resent this adhesion to the truce, seeing that before that event the King of England was so adverse to it.
The quartan ague still molests the Emperor.
Madrid, 18th December 1524.
[Italian, 2 pages.]
Dec. 19. Sanuto Diaries, v. xxxvii. p. 256. 906. Antonio Surian, Podestà of Brescia, to —.
Gives an account of the christening on the 18th of his son, who received the names of Angelo Joseph Nicholas. Mentions who the sponsors were; among them the English ambassador, Richard Pace, who stood by proxy. (fn. 7)
Brescia, 19th December. Registered by Sanuto on the 21st
[Italian.]

Footnotes

  • 1. “Et forsi per un suo fratcllo carnale erano sta manegiati.”
  • 2. “Poy disse, 'il Paceo,' ma subgiunse, 'è tropo vehemente, non mi piace.”'
  • 3. “Et è in vero docto et gentile.”
  • 4. In Italy, and at Dunstable in Bedfordshire, to this day, owls are used for the purpose of luring larks and other small birds, but apparently the sport was unknown in Spain or Flanders, and Schomberg had to describe it to Charles V.
  • 5. Count Frederick was the younger brother of the reigning Count Palatine, whom he succeeded. He it was who in 1519 went to Spain as chief of the deputation appointed by the Princes of the Empire to congratulate Charles V. on his election. The reigning Count Palatine, Louis IV., had a son, who seems to have died in childhood.
  • 6. “Al che Cesare li respose. 'Non pensate che lo comunichi hora ogni cosa al Conseglio; vero è che quando Mons. di Chièvres viveva, che all'hora me governava, et Dio volesse che hora fusse vivo, perchè cognoscho l'era prudente.”
  • 7. “Il commesso dil Orator Pazeo Anglico.” In “State Papers,” Vol. i. p. 156, it is stated that Pace was at Trent on the 26th of January. He seems to have quitted Brescia at the close of November.
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