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| Aug. 7. Deliberazioni Senato (Secreta), v. 56, p. 122. |
68. The Doge and Senate to Antonio Surian, Venetian Ambassador at Rome. |
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Have seen by his letters of the 2nd instant, that amongst the measures carried in consistory for proceeding against the most Serene King of England, by reason of his having put to death the Cardinal of Rochester, a bull is being drawn up against the aforesaid King—reproving, reproaching, and excommunicating him, &c., (ch el aggrava regrava excommunica, etc.,); and that to this bull there is also added a clause interdicting him and his kingdom from trading with any Christian nation, which clause seeming important to Venetian merchants trafficking in England, he (Surian) had recourse to Cardinal Pisani, and requests further orders from the Signory. Charge him, should he see that his Holiness purposes persevering in these acts against said King, continuing and proceeding so far as to issue the bull, at any rate with the clause concerning the interdict, to confer with the Pope, and pray him in the Signory's name, respecting the interdict of commerce, to grant the Venetian merchants sufficient time to remove their merchandise from that kingdom, according to his Holiness's intention, that all Christians may abstain from trading there; assuring the Pope that solely on account of the extensive business transacted by the Venetians in England, have they been moved to make this demand of his Holiness for time, and not from any other cause. |
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This he is to do, as aforesaid, in case the above-mentioned acts against the King of England be carried into effect; but otherwise not to say another word on the subject. |
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Ayes, 150. Noes, 9. Neutrals, 2. |
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[Italian.] |
| Aug. 7. Original Letter Book of Francesco Contarini in St. Mark's Library. |
69. Francesco Contarini, Venetian Ambassador with the King of the Romans, to the Signory. |
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The Duke of Wurtemberg has arrived by water to avoid passing through the territory of the Dukes of Bavaria, as they are on bad terms on account of his wife. His attendants came by land, being in number some 120 horsemen, and they will prepare for the ceremony of the investiture. |
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Vienna, 7th August. |
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[Italian.] |
| Aug. 11. Original Letter Book of Francesco Contarini in St. Mark's Library. |
70. The Same to the Same. |
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Congratulated the King on the capture of Goletta. |
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The last letters from the Emperor state that a galley's boat (una regata) was captured with an envoy from the King of France on his way to Barbarossa with letters, which the Emperor read and sent them back by the envoy to the King, nor can he digest these evil offices. |
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On the day before, the King of the Romans, habited as an Archduke of Austria, gave investiture to the Duke of Wurtemberg. When the Turkish ambassador was here lately, the gentleman appointed by the King to keep him company, inquired what plan could be devised to unite his faith with ours, and he replied, “It would be a very easy matter—you must send away all your priests and friars, and we will do the like by ours, whereupon all would believe in one and the same God; but your priesthood bewilder your brains, and we are in the like predicament.” This was told me by the Bishop of Laybach, to whom I said, laughing, that I did not think it became him to circulate this project in Germany, as he knew how easily it might be realized. The Turk's words reached the ears of the Duke, who was delighted with them, because it seemed to him that he himself was a wise man, for he had already carried them admirably into effect by rendering what used to be a poor county a very rich duchy, he having, it is supposed, derived upwards of 80,000 florins revenue from the property of priests and friars; so whether the Council be held or not, he has no idea of giving back one farthing. |
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Vienna, 11th August 1535. |
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[Italian.] |
