Appendix: Miscellaneous 1528 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 6, 1555-1558. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1877.

Citation:

'Appendix: Miscellaneous 1528', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 6, 1555-1558, ed. Rawdon Brown( London, 1877), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol6/pp1607-1616 [accessed 25 November 2024].

Miscellaneous 1528



Feb. 9. Cancelleria Ducale, Dispacci dall' Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	78. Hironimo Ferrufino to Alfonso I., Duke of Ferrara.
	Owing to the incessant and important occupations of the Lord Cardinal, especially since the arrival at this Court of the Prothonotary de Gambara, and also on account of the law time, which they call terms [Hilary term], I have not been conceded the opportunity of conferring with him to hear what he shall tell me about your Excellency's affairs, after having discussed them with the King, to whom he went again today, when, according to an answer received yesterday from Messer Peter Vannes (who is the very attached servant of your Excellency) as by the enclosed note, I expected to have had notice.
	The aforesaid Prothonotary has been twice to the King, with the Cardinal, and the first time they remained a night at the Court; what I have been able to elicit about his negotiation is, that the Pope insists positively (omninamente) on Ravenna and Cervia, and if unable to get back those cities through the Kings of France and England, he will endeavour to obtain them from the Emperor; about which I hear that the King and Cardinal spoke very warmly to the Venetian Ambassador; and moreover that they themselves are writing particularly to the most illustrious Signory about the restitution of . . . . . (fn. 1)
	Concerning the affairs of Florence, the Pope says that he shall not speak farther about them.
	The Prothonotary is expected to depart tomorrow.
	The news from Spain does not give much hope of peace. The English ambassador at the Imperial court lately recommended the English merchants trading in Spain to remove their goods from that kingdom to places safer for them.
	London, 9th February 1528.
	[Italian, signed.]
Feb. 12. Cancelleria Ducale, Dispacci dall' Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	79. The Same to the Same.
	Last night the King had the Imperial ambassador arrested, because the Emperor had arrested all the ambassadors resident with his Majesty. Then today, the King being in this Lord Legate's house, where he had passed last night, he and the Cardinal sent for all the other ambassadors here, to whom, I believe, they made the same discourse as was made by his Right Reverend Lordship to me before he saw the King, when he told me I was to write to your Excellency that all the offers and many good conditions proposed on behalf of the most Christian and of this most serene King to the Emperor to dispose him towards peace had not sufficed, but that being as it were quite blinded he was determined on war, and had caused the ambassadors accredited to him arrested; wherefore his most noble Majesty has resolved to wage it on him with all his might (totis viribus), both for the benefit and freedom of Italy, as also for the universal benefit of the League, and exhorts your Excellency not to fail on your part to assist and augment the common forces of the confederates to expel the hostile forces, most especially as it concerns the universal interest. Having replied that I would write as commanded by his most illustrious Lordship, I did not omit to repeat briefly the substance and summary of what you wrote me in your letters of the 29th December and 5th January; whereupon the Cardinal said and repeated that I was to write to you that the Holiness of our Lord was content to have the matters between his Holiness and your Excellency referred to the most Christian and to this King, which he persuaded himself you would not disapprove, owing to the great reliance to be placed in their Majesties, and also because this [King] (questo) is bound by the confederation, for which reasons they hope your Excellency will not fail to disburse the contribution, although all that was promised has not been entirely fulfilled, relying on its performance, to demonstrate to these Majesties the great reliance placed by you in them. Whilst I was talking thus with the Cardinal, the King made his appearance, and I having kissed his hand, he said to me that as from his Right Reverend Lordship I must have heard what is required, and what he (the King) wishes your Excellency to do, he would therefore merely tell me to write the whole very warmly to you without dilating farther on the subject; and mounting on horseback immediately, he went to a house of the Cardinal's, distant seven miles from this city.
	London, 12th February 1528.
	[Italian, signed.]
March 13. Cancelleria Ducale, Minute di lettere agli Oratori in Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	80. Alfonso I., Duke of Ferrara, to Hironimo Ferrufino.
	The bearer of this letter is my falconer Ludovico, surnamed Bighetto, whom I am sending to bring hither those hobby-mares. See to despatch him well, and send him back as quickly as possible; and it will be well for you to see him and present him in your company to that most potent King, so that as a person come fresh from me, he may make my humble recommendation to his Majesty.
	13th March 1528. [No local date.]
	[Draft, Italian.]
May 3. Cancelleria Ducale, Dispacci dall' Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	81. Hironimo Ferrufino to Alfonso I., Duke of Ferrara.
	The day before yesterday, the 1st of May, there arrived here your Excellency's falconer Ludovico, and the stable servant Bagnolo, they from lack of any passport from the most Christian King having been under arrest during 15 days at Abbeville by the Lord Lieutenant of Picardy, who sent all Ludovico's letters to the Court, which were all returned with orders to let him proceed on his journey; so he came safe and sound, and from him I received three of your Excellency's letters dated 7th March, one of the 10th, and one of the 13th, together with letters for the Right Reverend Legate, for the Duke of Suffolk, for the Master of the Horse, and for Messer Peter Vannes. I shall be unable to see the Cardinal before the 4th of this month, according to an answer received yesterday, and today his Right Reverend Lordship is going to the King, who has again returned to Greenwich. After delivering your Excellency's messages to the Cardinal, I will do the like by the King, to whom I will endeavour simultaneously to present Ludovico, so that having recently arrived he may according to your intimation, announce your humble remembrances. Since my arrival in this kingdom the Duke of Suffolk has not been to the Court until two days ago. If possible I will see his most illustrious Lordship, and also the Master of the Horse, as soon as may be. I am very sorry the hobby-mares have not yet arrived, concerning which I did everything possible as in duty bound, and inform your Excellency that when his Majesty spoke to him (the Duke) about them his Lordship desired me to write to you to send your servant (homo) hither in six weeks, and I thought it well to extend the period; he is not now at the Court, but will be there in two days. Ludovico and I will then be with his Lordship immediately, and not fail to use all diligence, so that he (Ludovico) may be enabled to return with all speed to your Excellency's satisfaction.
	If, in my letter of the 12th February, I did not explain myself clearly and expressly, that the Lord Cardinal told me to write to your Excellency that the Pope was content to refer the affairs to the judgment and arbitration of this most potent King and of the most Christian (King), I regret this not a little, as in the reply given me in one of your said letters of the 7th, your Excellency has very well answered me (mi ha risoluto molto bene). The letter of the 10th February, which you say you sent, has never arrived, but I got one of the 8th of that month, whereby your Excellency gave me the same order, that then, in the name of the Lord Don Hercule and by commission from his Lordship, I was to perform the office with Cardinal Wolsey, whose Right Reverend Lordship evinced so much satisfaction at the marriage, and at the good state in which your Excellency's affairs stand, and at having heard from Dr. Stephen [Gardiner] of your good bodily health, that nihil supra.
	The reason of my not going to the King is that the Cardinal told me that his Majesty still remains in retirement, and will not admit any public person, having determined thus to continue during the whole of this month. In the meanwhile, as I have said, Ludovico will go thither alone, and do what is requisite with his Majesty for the present, as about him there will, I imagine, be no scruple. (fn. 2)
	London, 3rd May 1528.
	[Italian, signed.]
May 20. Cancellaria Ducale, Dispacci dall' Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	82. Hironimo Ferrufino to Alfonso I., Duke of Ferrara.
	Yesterday the King sent me word to take patience until today, when, after having dined with his Majesty (poi desinato con soa Maestà), I petitioned him according to your Excellency's command, though not quite so diffusely as in my conversation with the Cardinal, it not being the custom here to negotiate with his Majesty, who, although he may be spoken to about important matters. refers himself concerning them to the Lord Cardinal. I nevertheless hinted to him what seemed to me of the greatest consequence, but all I could elicit in reply was, that with regard to the affairs between the Pope and your Excellency, provided there be a little moderation, means would be found for adjusting them; to which I rejoined that the true moderation would be for his Holiness to ratify what was promised in his name to your Excellency, and that it costs the Pope nothing, as he does not give what belongs to him, the places having been in your most illustrious family for centuries; wherefore your Excellency beseeches his Majesty's most noble Grace that as under his guarantee (sotto la fede di essa) the said promises were made, so should he also deign to interfere for their fulfilment and observance; but his Majesty almost with a smile answered in conformity with his first reply, that he will find some mode of adjustment (che trovarà qualche modo di accordare).
	Then with regard to his Majesty's ratification and protection, he referred me to the reply of these Right Reverend Cardinal.
	Having discussed the aforesaid matters with his Majesty, he told me he had written to the King of France about preventing the coming of the Germans, as I had heard from the Cardinal; and he then deigned to have read to me the copy of a letter dated Gaeta, the 2nd instant, from Cardinal Colonna to Cardinal Campeggio, announcing the victory over the Imperial Neapolitan fleet.
	After despatching the aforesaid business I sent for the Falconer Ludovico, and having told the King the object of his mission introduced him, when he kissed his Majesty's hands in your Excellency's name for the favour he granted you to export the hobby-mares and stallions, presenting your humble recommendations; thereupon the King asked him how you were when he left you, and then laughing his Majesty said, “Master Louis, you are come into this country and have not brought me a falcon;” to which Louis replied that he had brought one for his Majesty's household (per li soy), but not for the King, who, at any rate for the present, could dispense with it, this being the moulting season (hora essendo il tempo de la muda).
	London, 20th May 1528.
	[Italian, signed.]
June 4. Cancelleria Ducale, Dispacci dall' Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	83. Hironimo Ferrufino to Alfonso I., Duke of Ferrara.
	The accompanying packet will be taken as far as Paris by M. de Morrette, nor concerning the statement made by me about the contribution can I add anything to what I said before, save that from what I can elicit his Majesty here will be content to make it, although he has not yet formed his final resolve, owing to certain difficulties about the negotiation of the truce, which hitherto for this cause, or for others, be it as it may, remains imperfect.
	By my foregoing letters I wrote to your Excellency about the arrangement made by me with the Master of the Horse to send the Falconer Ludovico to Ireland with one of his Lordship's men, should these blessed and tedious mares (benedette et longhe giumente) not make their appearance within a few days; and now, as they have not yet arrived, it seeming well to me that Ludovico should no longer delay going thither, his Lordship sent me word that it would be hazardous, as either on the passage or on the journey he might miss the mares, which must have been already purchased and shipped, but that as both the passage and the journey are not very good it is not to be wondered at if they are slow to arrive. This delay is the more vexatious to me, by reason of the brief period in which the Master of the Horse made me write to your Excellency that they would be here; so that I shall not be at ease until I see them, or such provision as necessary be made in case of their non-appearance.
	London, 4th June 1528.
	[Italian.]
June 13. Cancelleria Ducale. Dispacci dall' Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	84. The Same to the Same.
	Two ambassadors have arrived from Madame Margaret to negotiate the truce between England, France, and Flanders, for the conclusion of which, since the departure of M. de Morette, they are awaiting the consent of the most Christian King, which I hear has been received, but it is understood that there are some other difficulties, requiring a fresh reply from his Majesty. (fn. 3)
	Two days ago I received news that the mares had crossed the sea, and are now 180 miles hence, where the person in charge of them was to rest for four or five days, and then come on gently, having also with him some hobbies for the King, who is sending them to his most Christian Majesty.
	London, 13th June 1528.
	[Italian, signed.]
June Cancellaria Ducale. Dispacci dall' Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	85. The Same to the Same.
	After many difficulties the truce has been concluded between the Kings of England and France, and the Flemings, on the 15th instant, place being reserved in it for the Duke of Guelders, but under certain conditions, the nature of which I cannot yet particularize farther. The most Christian King wished to comprise him in the said truce at once, but the agents of Madame Margaret would merely consent to leave the aforesaid place for him, and conditionally.
	As to the contribution of the King of England it will certainly take place, and will amount to 30,000 or 33,000 crowns per month.
	In my foregoing letters I wrote that the blessed and tedious hobby-mares (le benedette et longhe giumente ubine) had arrived on this side of the sea, which I now confirm, although subsequently I have heard nothing. The Falconer and I will wait for 10 or 12 days, on whose expiration should we neither see nor hear anything certain about them, we will have recourse to such expedient as shall seem fitting to us. We have bought a bay hobby, from six to seven year old, lately arrived from Ireland, and of very good and handsome presence, his paces also being soft and agreeable, though his forelegs are swollen (tuttavia davanti sente digalla), but he does not suffer from it (non già ch'el si doglia).
	We thought it well not to omit making the purchase, by so much the more as good and suitable hobbies are difficult to find, and the cost being only 23 . . . . ., (fn. 4) (crowns?). We had also some idea of buying another from a Florentine dealer, but renounced it, because his price was 60 crowns ; so Ludovico and I are near getting something to the purpose, and which will satisfy your Excellency, who may rest assured that Ludovico and Messer Hannibal, the King's farrier, and who is your Excellency's subject, do not fail to use in this matter all possible assiduity.
	London, . June 1528.
	[Italian, signed.]
June 30. Cancelleria Ducale. Dispacci dall' Inghilterra. Archives of Modena.	86. Hironimo Ferrufino to Alfonso I., Duke of Ferrara.
	The truce was subsequently proclaimed and published, and from what I hear it comprises also Spain, amongst “the parts of these seas contiguous to England,” which is supposed to have ensued on account of the merchants. With the Flemings it is understood to take effect both by sea and land. The Duke of Guelders has been utterly excluded from it by reason of certain towns held by him belonging to some German bishop.
	The contribution of the King of England for six months amounts to 200,000 crowns; for the two first months he releases to the most Christian King the pension due from France to England, and the residue will be disbursed by his Majesty in monthly instalments.
	In my last letters I omitted to tell your Excellency of a new malady then rife in this kingdom called the sweating sickness, said to have commenced A.D. 1480, in the lifetime of the late King (sic). A sound man is seized with it in one moment, and in 24 hours is despatched, as it either leaves him free as if nothing whatever had ailed him, or else he dies of it, as many do, in one, two, or three hours, more or less, according to their excesses; and as neither Avicenna nor Hippocrates make any mention of it there are still wanting any medicinal remedies, and example alone indicates its cure, which is to go to bed immediately on the attack, and to remain covered without ever stirring for 24 hours, and those who either cannot or have not the patience to remain so long immovable expire, provided they have the true sweating sickness, for many perspire from fear and imagination. The King goes moving frequently from place to place, as does also the Lord Cardinal, who came hither lately for the law terms, but departed very speedily. Two of the King's gentlemen of the chamber (gentilbomini di la camera) have died, one by name Master Cary, the other Master Poynes, the which Poynes was the person who conducted me to my first audience of his Majesty, and was considered as polite (gentile) a person as any of his colleagues in this kingdom.
	It is reported that the Queen likewise has had this disease, but this I do not know for certain. I understand that at the commencement of this distemper 10,000 persons fell sick of it in this city in one day and night. It is impossible to ascertain the number of deaths, but I am told that they never exceeded 300 [per diem?] (che non ne sono morti mai più di trecento). The Master of the Horse has had it recently, as also many others of the King's gentlemen, so that only two of his privy chamber escaped it. His Majesty remains, therefore, as secluded as possible.
	So soon as we can betake ourselves where the Master of the Horse is, Ludovico and I will go to him to arrange about the mares, and in one way or another come to an end of the business, which has caused me much regret, though it was really impossible for me to do more than I have done.
	London, 30th June 1528.
	[Italian, signed.]
Aug. 6. Cancellaria Ducale, Archives of Modena.	87. The Same to the Same.
	His Majesty has paid 30,000 crowns through the most Christian King on account of his contribution; and an ambassador has arrived here from the Vaivod, King of Hungary, who has accredited him to the King of France, and he is accompanied by the French ambassador returning from the King of Poland. I visited both of them. All I have been able to elicit about what he is going to negotiate with the most Christian King is that it relates to the Vaivod's flourishing position, and to the conspiracy formed by the Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave, and other Lords of Germany, against Ferdinand, King of Bohemia; or else he is to make suggestions and propose terms to the King of France, whereby to establish the affairs of Hungary in favour of the Vaivod, and to impair and annihilate those of the King of the Romans.
	The mares from Ireland have not yet made their appearance, so I have despatched your Excellency's falconer Ludovico with Master Hannibal, the Modenese, the King's farrier, who have gone into the county of Stafford (Stanford), 150 miles hence, to purchase some, it being heard for certain that better ones are to be found there than in any other part of this island. On their return hither no more time shall be lost in sending Ludovico.
	London, 6th August 1528.
	[Italian.]
Aug. 17. Cancellaria Ducale, Archives of Modena.	88. The Same to the Same.
	Ludovico, the falconer, and Hannibal, the King's farrier, went lately to purchase mares in Yorkshire, which I misnamed Stanford. I expect Ludovico back in five or six days, and I hope well provided with cattle of this country, those from Ireland having never appeared, nor can it be wondered at, as the population there is topsy turvy, and in arms one against the other, like wild and irrational beings as they are (come persone salvatiche et irrationabili che sono).
	The Master of the Horse has done everything possible to procure horses from Ireland, although his Lordship declares that the mares of England surpass them, and really his Lordship evinces great earnestness about your Excellency's affairs, as you well know.
	The King is still in the country with few attendants, as your Excellency will comprehend from the fact that the French ambassador on his return from Poland, and the Hungarian ambassador accredited to France, are departing thither today without having spoken to his Majesty, who for some days has not admitted any public personage, although the sweating sickness is at an end, but there are still some few cases of plague, which keep the King and Cardinal thus secluded; so I have no opportunity for taking your Excellency's letters to them, though they will have had the Italian news from the Bishop of Bayonne (fn. 5); but before Ludovico's departure I will take him to the King and Cardinal to receive their commands.
	The Secretary Vali [Peter Vannes?] agrees with opinion that the delay in the matter of the “ratification” and “protection,” practised (usata) by the King and Cardinal with such regard for the Pope, is on account of the new marriage, rather than any other cause, which marriage is expected eventually to take place, when the King, having obtained what he wants from the Pope, will do by your Excellency what is due to you.
	London, 17th August 1528.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 3 (?) Cancellaria Ducale, Archives of Modena.	89. Hironimo Ferrufino to Alfonso I., Duke of Ferrara.
	I am now able to announce the return of the falconer Ludovico, though not that he has yet departed. A week ago he came from Yorkshire with Master Hannibal, the Modenese, the King's farrier, with the mares, which I have seen; they are good goers, and will, I hope, give your Excellency satisfaction. Could dappled ones have been found of handsomer shape I should have preferred them, and amongst the eight I am assured that three are Irish. Yesterday the Master of the Horse sent on behalf of his King to make your Excellency a present of the said mares, together with a handsome dark brown (morello) Irish hobby, which is a good goer, and besides the good offices performed by his Lordship in this matter, he made many apologies to me for the time lost, and also for not having been able to provide your Excellency with the mares from Ireland as ordered by his King, but that he could do nothing more, nor was it to be wondered at that they could not be got, as the wild Irish on that island had seized the King's governor. I replied as becoming, and wrote subsequently to thank him both for the gift made in his Majesty's name, and for the good demonstrations made by himself, and for the trouble he had taken for your Excellency.
	Ludovico will now go to the Court to kiss the King's hand, and obtain a passport from the Master of the Horse. He will depart in six days, and Bagnolo will take good care of the hobby stallions and the mares which are with foal (le quale hanno li . . . credi con loro).
	Having been to the Cardinal at Hampton Court to know whether he had any commands for Ludovico, he said he wished he had hopes that the Pope would adhere to England and France.
	M. de Morette was to have been sent back six days ago with a reply about the King's contribution, but is delayed by certain difficulties, which I believe to have been raised by these agents of the most Christian King.
	London, 3rd September 1528 (?).
	[Italian.]
Sept. 28. Cancelleria Ducale, Archives of Modens.	90. The Same to the Same.
	This day received the Duke's letter of the 19th August, and sent to the Cardinal at Hampton Court for audience, which was appointed him for tomorrow, when he will proceed to the King to notify to his Majesty the conspiracy against the Duke, which by God's mercy was detected. Putting aside regret that a nobleman [Giberto Pio] in whom trust was placed should have been guilty of so enormous a crime, congratulates himself on the good guard kept, as it will prevent malignant traitors from making similar attempts for the future. (fn. 6)
	London, 28th September 1528.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 28 ? Cancellaria Ducale, Archives of Modena.	91. The Same to the Same.
	Lodovico and Bagnolo, with the mares and hobby stallions, were shipped on the 15th without injury. When hunting lately, having killed a stag, the King sent me half of it, a demonstration not made by him to all my colleagues at his court.
	Letters have been received from Spain, from Messer Dario, a Lucchese, he having been sent by the King of England to the Emperor, who so far as can be ascertained had referred him to the . . . . . of Saragosa at Madrid.
	Your Excellency will have understood what a loyal subject you have in the King's farrier, Master Hannibal; so it seemed well to the falconer Ludovico and to me, for his trouble, especially by going into the country with him for the purchase of the mares, to recompense him by a pecuniary present, and a silk doublet (giuppone di seta), but he would not accept them, and had their value been greater he would have persisted in his refusal. I comprehend that he merely desires your Excellency's good grace; which it is my duty to notify to you.
	London, 28th (?) September 1528.
	[Italian.]
Oct. 15. Cancelleria Ducale, Dispacci dall' Inghilterra, Archives of Modena.	92. Rodolpho [Conegiam], in the service of Cardinal Campeggio' to his most revered master, Don Hercules of Este, at Ferrara. (fn. 7)
	On the 7th, arrived in London, the delay being caused by the indisposition of the right reverend Cardinal, who has been seriously ill of the gout.
	Cardinal Wolsey wished Cardinal Campeggio to make his entry here into London publicly, but being unable to sit his horse, he came in privily, though, as everybody knew immediately that we had arrived, I sent to your Lordship's ambassador, (fn. 8) to come to me that evening, when I gave him your letter. He answered me that it was requisite to commence with Cardinal Wolsey, so we settled to go and do what was due on the morrow, the 8th, but we were compelled to wait until the 9th, because Cardinal Wolsey came to visit Cardinal Campeggio privately (secretamente) with some 50 gentlemen, and they remained together in conversation almost the whole of that day. When about to return home, Cardinal Wolsey chose to know all Cardinal Campeggio's household, and he sent for me, but I had him told that I was not at home; and then next day I went with the ambassador [Hieronimo Ferrufino] to pay my respects to him, and telling him what you had commissioned me. His right reverend Lordship answered he knew that the affairs of Italy, and those of the Lord your father, had prevented your coming, and that he does not believe the Pope to know anything of the sort (ch'el Papa ne sapesse niente), but felt quite sure that they were Albertine inventions; (fn. 9) and that the ambassador [Hieronimo Ferrufino] had often spoken to him on the subject; and so he gave me the same answer which he had given to him over and over again. Thirdly, Cardinal Wolsey thanked your Lordship for the love you bear him, and for the trust you place in him. Last of all, I told him that I was likewise commissioned to make a demand for audience of his Majesty, and I requested his right reverend Lordship to present me; he answered me that I could not pay my respects to the King until after my Cardinal had spoken to him.
	London, 15th October 1528.
	[Italian.]