Four years at the court of Henry VIII : selection of despatches

FOUR YEARS

AT THE

COURT OF HENRY VIII.

SELECTION OF DESPATCHES

WRITTEN BY THE VENETIAN AMBASSADOR,

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN,

AND ADDRESSED TO THE SIGNORY OF VENICE,
JANUARY I2TH 1515, TO JULY 26TH 1519.

TRANSLATED BY RAWDON BROWN.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:
SMITH, ELDER, & CO., 65, CORNHILL.

1854.

237

London :

Printed by STEWART & MURRAY,
Old Bailey.

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS.

VOL, I.

INTRODUCTION.

Concerning the archives of Venice, and the antiquity of Venetian "Reports"
— Earliest MSS. and printed copies of them existing in England— Impartiality
of the Venetian diplomatists — Anglo-Venetian commerce and diplomatic inter-
course — Englishmen of note connected with Venice in the i^th and I5th
centuries — Venetian ambassadors in England from 1497 to 1515 — Disco-
very of the Giustinian correspondence, and mode of editing it . pp. ix — xxviii

PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT OF THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

Notices of the Giustinian family ; of the first patriarch of Venice, and of
the writer of these despatches, Sebastian Giustinian — His account of Hungary,
A.D. 1500-1502, and details of the Corvinian library — His career from
1503 to 1515 — His portrait of Henry VIII. at variance with a more recent
sketch — Offices conferred on him from 1519 until his death in 1543 —
Opinion of his son with regard to the comparative valour of the English
and French ......... pp. 1—30

DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN.

A.D. 1515.
"January 12 to March 30.

Departure from Venice of Sebastian Giustinian — His letters from Ferrara,
Lucca, and Genoa — Account of a supper given at Avignon to his colleague
Pietro Pasqualigo — Instructions from Doge Leonardo Loredano — State of the
roads — Entry into Paris of the Venetian ambassadors — Account of the
French Court ...... . . pp. 31 — 59

A.D.

April 7 to May 3.

Passion Week at Boulogne — Earliest news of the first treaty between Henry VIII.
and Francis I. — Meeting with the French ambassadors at Dover — Entry into
London, vi£ Rochester and Deptford — Retrospective account of Andrea
Badoer's adventures on the road between Venice and London, A.D. 1509 — His

jv CONTENTS.

wardrobe-His comments on English fashions and servants-Favour shown
him by Henry VIII.-His negotiations and complaints-Fees paid by him
to London physicians -His mode of living-His audiences of Henry VIII.-
Statue of Charles VIII. and coffin of Louis XII.-Regalia at St. Denys-
Amiens-Canterbury and St. Thomas a Becket's shnne-St. George s Day
at Richmond, and May Day at Greenwich-Breakfast, mass, and dinner-
Robin Hood and archery — A procession of giants — Music and joust-

pp. 00 — 94
ing

A.D.

June 15 to September 20.

Venetian politics-Sack—Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York-St. James of
Compostella— Sir Thomas Dockwra, Grand Prior of St. John's, and the
English Knights of Rhodes- Opinion entertained by Henry VIII. concerning
Louis XII. and Francis I.— Reported embassy of the Earl of Worcester-
Conversations with the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the Archbishop of
York, and the Bishop of Carlisle— The "doughty" Duke of Albany—
Ferrara and Mantua — A mendacious friar — A French ambassador — Queen
Margaret of Scotland— Louise of Savoy— Knighthood conferred on Andrea
Badoer, and the red hat on Thomas Wolsey . . . pp. 95— 128

A.D. 1515 — I 6.

September 26 to January 2.

Congratulations addressed to Cardinal Wolsey — His complaints of Francis I. and
the Duke of Albany — Greek apothegms — Battle of Marignano — Costly
pledge or present from King Ferdinand the Catholic — Mission to England of
a French King-at-arms — Naval preparations in the Thames — Launch of
"The Great Harry" alias " Henrye Grace de Dieu" at Erith— Meeting of
Parliament — Venetian news imparted by Cardinal Wolsey and the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury — Departure from England of Andrea Badoer — Treaties
between the European powers— Unpopularity of the French ambassador in
England — Purchase by Henry VIII. of bills of exchange — Reasons assigned
for this investment by Cardinal Wolsey, the Duke of Norfolk, and the
Archbishop of Canterbury — Its effects on the rates of exchange — Statements
concerning it at variance with the assurances of Cardinal Wolsey and his
colleagues — Wish of Cardinal Wolsey for the mediation of Venice between
England and France — Demand for the restitution of her jewels to Maria
Tudor, Queen Dowager of France .... pp. 129 — 160

A.D. 1516.

January 5 to March 10.

False report of the capture of Brescia by the Venetians— Conversations with the
Duke of Norfolk, the Bishops of Carlisle and Winchester, and the French
ambassador— The wrongs of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland— Arrival
in England of an ambassador from the Emperor Maximilian— Court paid to
Henry VIII. — Assertions of Cardinal Wolsey concerning the bills of
exchange purchased by him-Their confirmation by the Bishop of Carlisle —

CONTENTS. V

Refusal of Francis I. to stand godfather for the Lady Mary Tudor — Turkish
news communicated to Henry VIII. by Sebastian Giustinian — Disfavour of
the Republic of Venice in England after the battle of Marignano— Remit-
tances to the Emperor, or to the Switzers — Confederation with the Arch-
duke Charles, Prince of Castille— Death of King Ferdinand the Catholic —
Birth of the Lady Mary Tudor — Her sponsors — Reply of Henry VIII. to
congratulations on this event — His insinuations against Francis I. — Their
corroboration by Cardinal Wolsey — Comments of Cardinal Wolsey con-
cerning the bills of exchange, the policy of France and Scotland, and the
health of Francis I. — Royal navy in the Thames — Announcement by
Cardinal Wolsey that he effected the peace between England and France in
1514, and the marriage of Maria Tudor and Louis XII. — News of Italy by
the Bishop of Carlisle — Arrival in London of the first embassy to Henry
VIII. from the Archduke Charles, after his accession to the throne of Spain
— Complaints against the Venetians by a prisoner of war — Conflicting
claims on the Kingdom of Naples — Flattery lavished on Henry VIII. —
Abuse of Venice ....... pp. 161 — 191

A.D.

March n to dpril 26.

Henry VIII. sick and choleric — His own account of his wealth and authority —
Complains of being slighted by the Venetians — His influence over the
Emperor Maximilian and King Charles of Spain — Supposed to be raising
mercenaries against Scotland — Threats of Sultan Selim deplored by Cardinal
Wolsey — Vain attempts to detach Venice from France — Contemptuous
language addressed to Sebastian Giustinian — His rejoinder — Apologies
of Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas Ruthal — Francesco Chieregato and Peter's
pence— Seizure of the letters of the French ambassador, and reprimand
given him for their contents — Mediation of Venice demanded by Cardinal
Wolsey — Ambition of Francis I. — Retreat of Maximilian — Recall of the
President of Rouen ....... pp. 192 — 218

A.D. 1516.

May I to July 6.

Nullity of the marriage of Margaret Tudor to the Earl of Angus, and report of
her betrothal to the Emperor Maximilian — Understanding between the
Empire, Spain, and England— City news by Master Friskiball— Richard
Pace in Switzerland — Arrival in London of the £ueen of Scotland— Conver-
sation with the Duke of Suffolk, and Sir Thomas Dockwra— The plague
in London, and removal of the Venetian embassy to Putney— Remonstrances
of Sebastian Giustinian against the seizure of his letters, and device adopted
by him to prevent their being decyphered— The miseries of Turkish aggres-
sion anticipated— Treaty proposed by Cardinal Wolsey for the^ expulsion
from Italy of Francis I.— Reply of the Venetian ambassador — Tete a tete at
Greenwich with Henry VIII. — Modification by Cardinal Wolsey of
language used by the King— Attempt made to effect the dismissal from the
Court of Sebastian Giustinian — Surrender of Brescia to the Venetians —
Renewal of the trade between Venice and England . pp. 219— 250

vi CONTENTS.

A.D. 1516.

July 17 to August II.

A hitch in the Anti-Gallican league— A split in the English Cabinet— Perpetra-
tion of a pun Festival of St. Mary Magdalen — Betrothal of King Charles of

Spain — Venetian history — Table-talk with Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas
Ruthal — White- Rose— Attention of the King of Denmark to his brother-
in-law — Remittances to the continent made by Henry VIII., and discontent
caused in England by the waste of his treasure — Attempt to intimidate
Venice — Cardinal Wolsey 's abuse of Francis I., and defence of him by Sebastian
Giustinian — Distrust of Francis I. entertained by Leo X., on the authority of
Thomas Ruthal— A quarter of a century of Venetian politics . pp. 251 — 275

A.D. 1516.

August .17 to September 30.

Efforts of Cardinal Wolsey to detach the Republic of Venice from her alliance
with Francis I.— Answers to his arguments by Sebastian Giustinian — The
sack of Vicenza— The contest for Verona— Bribes offered to a Prime
Minister— Henry VIII., Catharine of Aragon, and Margaret Tudor in the
country — The treaty of Noyon — Failure of Cardinal Wolsey's negotiations
for an antagonistic treaty— Hint of the secret treaty effected subsequently-
Mission of English military commanders to Tournai — Succour of Verona by
Marc Antonio Colonna— Understanding between Leo X. and Henry VIII.,
and the Switzers— Court gossip by the Papal Nuncio— Arrival in London of
a French herald— Folly of fishing with golden hooks —The organist of St.
Mark's and his organ— Dinner engagements of Sebastian Giustinian— Music
and dancing at Greenwich pp. 2yg ,01

A.D. 1516.

October 14 to November I.

Disregard of the English Ministry for the conquests of Selim I. -Arrival in

London of the Swiss Cardinal— Politics talked by Richard Pace- A

Cabinet Council— The Bishop of Norwich and the Laureat Skelton -Cardinal

Wolsey demented -Conversation with the Duke of Norfolk -Unscrupulous

mode of ascertaining the veracity of Francesco Chieregato-The novelist

ello and Ippohta Sforza— Contradictory news of Verona -Taxation in

England-Political opponents of Cardinal Wolsey-Proposal to bribe him—

burch ceremonies performed by Henry VIII., for the league with the

Lmfure and Spam-Complaints against Aldus Manutius-Compostella bells

-Cabinet absentees -Peculation and treachery by a Visconti . pp 302-327

ERRATA IN VOL. I.

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INTRODUCTION.

THE archives of Venice, as might be anticipated
from the nature of her ancient institutions, are singu-
larly rich in the materials of history : the machinery
of a republican government, whose executive com-
mittees kept minutes of their proceedings, and whose
legislative assemblies required numerous reports for
their information, had the effect of rapidly multiply-
ing State papers.

The department of foreign affairs possesses un-
usually ample documents. The ambassadors of the
Republic kept up a double correspondence with the
Doge (to whom, by official etiquette, all their com-
munications were addressed) : the ordinary and osten-
sible despatches were intended for the information
of the College and Senate, while the more secret and
confidential were reserved for the Doge and the
Council of Ten.

But besides this minute correspondence, which

x INTRODUCTION.

commenced on the ambassador's departure from
Venice, and was not closed till he again reached the
Lagoons, it had been enacted by the Grand Council
in 1 26 8, and again in 1296, that each ambassador,
on his return, should make to the College and Senate
a general report on the government, condition of the
country, and character of the potentate to whom he
had been accredited. These, together with the in-
structions addressed by the Signory to its diplomatic
agents, and all other papers connected with its foreign
relations, were carefully arranged and consigned to
the ducal chancery. Fortunately, a considerable
portion of the State records thus accumulated in the
course of so many centuries, escaped the patriotic
excesses which followed the French invasion, and the
fall of the old Republic in 1797 ; and, having safely
passed through all subsequent vicissitudes, they are
now under the care of the "Keeper of the Imperial
Archives,"* in the ex-Franciscan monastery at Venice,

* At p 188-189, vol. ii,, it has been stated in a note, written in
1851, that the archives of Venice contain no copies of any missives
sent by the State in the spring of 1518 to the ambassador in Eng-
land. This assertion it is now in the power of the translator to correct.

A fresh arrangement of the Cancellaria Seer eta was completed by the
Signor Cesare Foxicard, underthe guidance of the Imperial Equerry and
Director of the Venice Archives, the Cavaliere Fabio Mutinelli, whose
exertions, coupled with those of his officials, namely, the above-men-
tioned Signor Foucard, and Signor Teodoro Toderini, have rendered
the ex-monastery of the Franciscans one of the most interesting and
impressive sights in the lagoons, from the excellent method adopted by
him in filling its spacious corridors with the records of a thousand
years !

The labours of these gentlemen brought to light a variety of valuable
documents, including the minutes of the despatches, addressed by the
College to the Venetian ambassadors at foreign courts ; and through the

INTRODUCTION. XI

where, under certain restrictions, they are accessible
to the student.

But before transmitting the official documents to
the government, it seems to have been the general
practice to retain a copy for the family library, or
muniment room (the archivio\ of the ambassador
himself; and thence, or perhaps from the notes
of some one who heard them read in the Senate
and committed their substance to paper, these
" reports," not unfrequently even in early times,
and despite the prohibition of the Signory, found
their way to the public. It is surprising that
a government so jealous, whose omniscient activity
and mysterious ubiquity were at once so much
vaunted and dreaded, should have permitted its
orders on so delicate a point to be infringed ; but
these interesting documents early excited public
curiosity, and supply follows demand, even in the
middle ages, and in spite of Inquisitors of State.

It is certain, that as early as the close of the
sixteenth century several of these diplomatic frag-
ments got into print and were sold, even in the
Venetian territory. Orazio Busino, a subject of the
Signory, who visited Oxford in the year 1618,
mentions having seen in the Bodleian library manu-

kindness of Cavaliere Mutinelli, I lately perused the one alluded to by
Sebastian Giustinian in his letter from Lambeth of the 22nd May,
1518.

It is dated Venice, 2oth April 1518, and mentions, among other things,
that the French ambassador in Spain had told the Venetian ambassador
there that Francis I. meant to seize Tournai and Calais.

xji INTRODUCTION.

script copies of many of these State papers, which
had found their way there (he complains) " in the
teeth of the Senate."* And in the year 1668, John
Bulteale published in London a translation of the
Report on the Papal Court, by the noble Correr,
whom, in admiration of his sagacity, he styles a
" Politique Astrologer"

On the fall of the ancient Republic, whatever
restraint had been imposed on the divulgation of
these documents was at once removed. In those
disastrous times, and the subsequent half century,
many noble families were ruined, or became extinct,
and much property changed hands. Many of the
ancient palaces were sold, and their magnificent
contents, including the libraries and MSS., were
scattered. In some instances the family archives
have been transferred, by bequest, to the great public
libraries; in many others they have been dispersed
by sale among the private collections of Europe.

* Some years ago, at the sale of the Tiepolo library, the translator
purchased a MS. which purported to be " The report, by Francesco Con-
tarini, of his misssion to England in 1609." Appended to this docu-
ment is a note by Contarini himself, who states that he bought it at
Rome, where he was ambassador many years later; that it is not a
true copy, but that it contains much of the substance of his report.

It is a proof of the estimation in which these state papers were held, that
apocryphal reports were so often forged. In the year 1 587, the attention
of Europe was anxiously directed to England, to observe her preparations
to resist the Armada ; and forthwith a " report" appeared, professing to
be written by an Envoy sent by the Council of Ten to London on the
occasion. It contains some curious matter, and appears to be written by
an eye-witness ; but there is documentary evidence in the Venetian
archives to prove that it is not what it pretends to be — the work of a
diplomatic agent. A copy of this report existed in the library of the
Count Leonardo Manin, nephew of the last Doge of Venice.

INTRODUCTION. Xlll

To this multiplication of official papers, how-
ever reprehensible it may have appeared to the
Council of Ten, the modern student is indebted,
not merely for increased facilities of access to
original documents, but also for the supply of
many a lacune in the public archives, which must
otherwise have remained unfilled ; for, in consequence
of losses occasioned by fire, and by removals on a
change of offices, the early part of the diplomatic
records is very imperfect. The instructions and
commissions addressed by the Senate to its diplo-
matic agents, have been kept from the earliest times
with considerable regularity ; but the series of Re-
ports and Despatches does not begin till the middle
of the sixteenth century : and although from that
period the despatches, or ambassadorial "registers,"
as they are termed, have been preserved without
interruption, the " reports" have been to a great
extent lost or destroyed, so that, to supply all these
deficiencies, the student must turn his attention to
the copies which have been preserved in the private
archives of the writers.

To trace among the many sources of information
thus laid open to the student, the antiquities of the old
Venetian Republic, and the history of her worthies,
has for many years formed the chief occupation of
the translator of the following pages. But he has
always found himself more especially attracted by
the notices of his own country, which abound, espe-

XIV INTRODUCTION.

cially among the diplomatic papers ; and in this prefe-
rence, he feels little doubt of the sympathy of
the English reader. The national portrait traced
by a foreign pencil, though its traits are not
always flattering, is always interesting. The testi-
mony of the Venetian diplomatist has more than
ordinary claims on our attention ; few witnesses could
be expected to exhibit so much impartiality : he was
beset by no early prejudices, he had none of the
hatred of near neighbourhood to warp his judgment.
The commercial interests of Venice connected her
with England, and she was alienated by no poli-
tical jealousy. As an observer, he was more than
usually qualified to form a sound opinion.

Wicquefort, in his often quoted treatise on Cf The
Ambassador and his Functions" remarks that no diplo-
matists had acquired so high a reputation for sagacity
and ability as the Venetian, and this pre-eminence he
attributes to their education. In no state, he ob-
serves, was so large a portion of the citizens trained up
from early life to the conduct of public business :
he might have added that in none was more care
taken to select men of weight and talent, who were
capable of advancing the interests of the State they re-
presented. The ambassador to England was usually
a veteran who had served his country in various capa-
cities, and possessed all the materials for comparing
and judging which could be afforded by an acquaint-
ance with the principal states of the Continent. The

INTRODUCTION. XV

Venetian diplomatist was not forced to conciliate or
to flatter the prejudices and weaknesses of the sove-
reign or the favorite who gave him his commission.
He served a government which, beyond all that
have ever existed, was unimpeded in its march by
the passions and the intrigues of individuals. In
some of the despatches intended for the Senate, we
may perhaps detect a little anxiety to treasure up all
the compliments and professions of respect which
have been paid to cc Our State " and cc Our Signory,"
but in all substantial matters the ambassador seems to
have no desire but to approve his zeal and sagacity,
by sending as much of the pure ore of truth as he can
collect, and as little as he can help of any baser alloy.

The translator has endeavoured to trace the
earliest indications of intercourse between the great
mercantile power of the middle ages and her destined
successor; but, as might have been anticipated, the
first relations between the countries are commercial
rather than diplomatic.

As early as the beginning of the fourteenth cen-
tury, there is documentary evidence to prove that
the trade with England had assumed a regular and
systematic form. We learn from Marin Sanuto that
in his time there sailed annually from Venice, a little
fleet, known by the name of " the Flanders Galleys."
These used to touch at some of the principal ports
of the Adriatic, Sicily, and Spain, and then pass on
to their destination at Hampton (now Southampton),

xvi INTRODUCTION.

where the flag-galley and the commodore were wont
to remain, whilst the rest of the fleet went on to
Middleburg, Antwerp, or Helvoetsluys, returning
again to Southampton, which was their appointed ren-
dezvous before setting out on their homeward voyage.
Their cargo (the word itself is pure Venetian, a corrup-
tion of the Tuscan word carico) consisted of the produce
of the Levant, and all that as yet reached our shores
from the Indian marts. Moreover, they brought with
them " the fashions of proud Italy," then the centre
of taste and luxury ; wines from Greece and Tyre,
from Candia and the Morea, and from Spain; and
lastly, an article for which, except on the authority
of our own parliamentary records (also corroborated by
the ambassador Giustinian), we could scarcely believe
that we were in any degree indebted to strangers :
namely, bow-staves. In 1472 it was enacted that
four bow-staves should accompany every ton of
Venetian merchandise ; and again, by an act of the
1 2th Edward III., the importation of Venetian mer-
chandise is forbidden, unless they " bryng with every
butte of Malvesy and with every but of Tyre x
bowe staves good and hable stuffe upon peyn of
forfeyture of 135. 4d. for every but of the said
wynz so brought and conveied, and not the said
nombre of bowe staves with the same butt."

It is a further proof of the close commercial con-
nection of the two countries, that the introduction of
the Venetian copper and base coinage was made a

INTRODUCTION. XV11

serious subject of complaint, as will be seen in
date of July 22, 1519; and by an act of Par-
liament of the year 1409, the Legislature prohibited
the circulation of the small Venetian coins, called
" galley half-pence/' specifying by name the cc Suskin
and Dotkin." The former, called by Fynes Mory-
son cc Sussine," is, in Venetian, cc Sisin ;" it was of
very small value, and must not be confounded with
the cc Sequin," a gold coin, which it slightly resembles
in sound. The " Dotkin " is the " Daottin," which
has also ceased to exist ; though the term is still
preserved in the colloquial language of Venice.*

Those who love to connect the history of fiction
with the history of nations, and to observe how the
former will sometimes embalm a fact of which the
latter has scarcely deigned to preserve any trace, will
be interested in hearing that a proof of the close
intimacy once subsisting between Venice and South-
ampton is still to be found at the Marionette, or
puppet-show theatre of Venice, where the history of
Sir Bevis, the legendary hero of cc Hampton," forms to
this day one of the stock pieces of the Lilliputian stage.

But in truth, so intimate in former times was the
connection between Venice and Southampton, that

* The exact value of the " Dotkin," was eight Venetian soldi t in
like manner as the "Sisin" or " Sesin," represented a " Soldo" and
a half. Both the Suskin and Dotkin were of silver, but with much
alloy, and were most probably prohibited, as calculated to debase the
standard. Dr. Johnson derives "doit" from duyt, Dutch, and doyght,
Erse : the reader will perhaps think it possible that the Venetian coin
daottln may also have stood co-sponsor for this word.

a

INTRODUCTION.

the English sea-port shared the paralysis with which
the Queen of the Adriatic was struck on the discovery
of the new passage to India. Amongst the Statutes
of the Realm (22 Hen. VIII., c. 20), a petition is
extant from the corporation (A.D. 1530-31) praying
to be relieved from a yearly tax of 40 marks, on the
plea that since " the Kyng of Portyngale toke the
trate of spicis from the Venyzians at Calacowte,"
their "carreckis and galeis" came less frequently to
the port.

In the mean time, the diplomatic relations of the
two countries were formed gradually and slowly, and
few traces of them can be found till the period which
is emphatically that of modern history.

In the war of Chioggia, in 1379, wnen Vem'ce was
struggling for existence with her rival, Genoa, she
applied for English aid; but it was to individuals,
and not to the Crown, that she addressed herself.
Having failed in a negotiation with Sir John Hawk-
wood (whose tomb under his Italian name of Acuto,
the travelled reader may remember to have seen in
the Duomo at Florence), she applied to another
English trader in war, a condottiero of the name of
Cook, who, with his mercenary soldiers, seems to
have served the Signory with courage and fidelity,
and is said to have turned the fortune of the day in
favour of his employers at Borondolo.

Sixteen years later, we find that Carlo Zeno, the
Commander-in-Chief during this memorable war with

INTRODUCTION. XIX

Genoa, was sent as Ambassador to England, to
persuade Richard II. to assist the Emperor Michael
Palaeologus against Bajazet IV. He is said, by his
biographer the Bishop of Belluno, to have been suc-
cessful in his mission (the business of which, we are
further told, was conducted in Latin) ; but when we
consider the disturbed state of England at the time,
it is difficult to suppose that Richard's promised aid
can have much benefited Christendom. The trans-
lator regrets to say that he has searched in vain for
Zeno's despatches or cc Report."

For many following years, few or no traces of
diplomatic connection, though many of friendly
intercourse, are to be found.

During the wars of the Roses (those who main-
tain the brutal ignorance of the feudal nobility,
will hear with surprise), Tiptoft, Earl of Wor-
cester, filled a professorial chair at the Univer-
sity of Padua; and in 1481, the responsible office
of Rector of that Cf Nursery of Arts," was conferred
on one who is rather vaguely styled "Thomas of
England."

" Banished Norfolk," the readers of Shakspeare —
and who is not a reader of Shakspeare ? — will remem-
ber found an asylum at Venice, A.D. 1399;
there —

" he gave

His body to that pleasant country's earth ;
And his pure soul unto his Captain Christ,
Under whose colours he had fought so long."

xx INTRODUCTION.

A monumental achievement to his memory,* was
placed in the corridor of St. Mark's Church.

After the battle of Bosworth Field, Doge Barba-
rigo was the first potentate to congratulate the vic-
torious Richmond on his accession to the throne;
and to the letter which he wrote on this occasion it is
recorded, as a mark of unusual magnificence and
respect, that there was appended a silver seal.f

In acknowledgment of this compliment, there
was sent as ambassador to Venice the same cc Chris-
topher Urswick, a priest" who appears as one of the
dramatis personae of Shakspeare's Richard III.

No trace, however, of a Venetian embassy to
England is to be found before I497>IJI when Andrea

* It was a flat stone, of the kind called in Italy, " Sigillo sepolcrale,"
and its sculpture is emblematical. This memorial was originally placed
in the year 1400 ; and, on the removal of the body to England, A.D.
1533, it was inserted vertically in the wall of the Ducal Palace, near the
ancient Granary Office, fronting the island of S. Georgio Maggiore. It
was preserved by the mason who had been ordered to deface it at the
time of the French occupation in 1810, and was disinterred by the
translator in 1839. It is now at Corby Castle.

f It would probably be hopeless to search for this curious document.
The carelessness with which our national records have been kept is a
a subject of deep mortification to the antiquarian. In the year 1838,
no less than eight tons' weight of curious documents were sold by the
then Chancellor of the Exchequer to Mr. Jay, a fishmonger, at the price
of 8/. per ton. Many of these have been since purchased at high prices
by the British Museum, and by the Government itself. For some
curious details on this subject, see " Mr. Rodd's Narrative j" 1845.

J In the year 1496, the diplomatic affairs of the Signory with Henry
VII. were transacted by two merchants of Venice, established in
London, by name Piero Contarini and Luca Valaresso. They induced
the King to join the so-called " Holy League j" and on the 1 8th of
July in that year, a "broadside," with a wood-cut of Henry VII.,
appeared in the thoroughfares of Venice ; and as very few documents of
this kind have been preserved, especially of so early a date, the reader

INTRODUCTION. XXI

Trevisan was appointed Ambassador to Henry VII.
The despatches and the cc Report" of this diplomatist
no longer exist. But the notices of England which
were collected to form its materials yet remain,
and have been given to the world in a very
spirited and correct translation by Miss Sneyd, with
some valuable prefatory notices by the late Mr.
Holmes, of the British Museum, respecting the Vene-
tian "Reports" of England now existing in this
country.

Trevisan was succeeded in 1502 by Francesco
Capello, of whose diplomatic papers no remains have
been found, except an insignificant letter (now pre-

may be interested with the following copy and description of it, which
are extracted from the MSS. diaries of Marin Sanuto : —

" Questo e Papa Alexandro che corregie, > p
I error del mondo con divine legie." >

"Viva lo Imperador Cesaro Augusto > Maximil}ano.
Maximilian Ke de Komani justo. )

** Questo e il gran Re di Spagna e la Regina, > «
Che de' infedeli ha fatto gran ruina." \ ^

*' Questo e quel Re il qual dara ancor briga, > . j
A ogni nemico de la fidel liga." 5

" Potente in guerra et arnica de pace, ) Venetia

Venetia el ben' comun sempre le place." 5

" Questo e colui ch' a' 1 sceptro justo in mano, ) ,,.,
Tien el felice Stato di Milano." J

The portraits of the allies figured at the close of their respective
couplets, Doge Barbarigo representing Venice and Henry VII. England.
According to Rymer, this treaty was signed by Henry VII. at Windsor,
in September, 1496, the Venetian and Milanese ambassadors being
present ; but, in reality, Contarini and Valaresso were neither ambassadors
nor special envoys, but are called by Sanuto " our quasi subman-
dataries."

INTRODUCTION.

served in the Correr Museum,* at Venice), which was
addressed to him by the King, from " our Manor of
Woodstock," on the 2Oth of July in that year. The
paper on which it is written, is of the manufac-
ture of Flanders, which at that time supplied all the
paper needed for the correspondence of England.
The water-mark is a hand, whose middle finger is
connected by a straight line or stem with a star.
This water-mark is not without interest, for a reason
which will shortly be apparent.

In 1506, the Archduke Philip, with his consort
Queen Joanna of Castille, when on their voyage from
the Netherlands to Spain, were driven by stress of
weather to Falmouth, and remained in England some
weeks. They were accompanied by the Venetian
Ambassador to their court, Vincenzo Querini, who
employed his leisure on drawing up a cc Report" on
the state of England. Several copies of this state
paper exist in our own libraries, and a version of it
was published at Florence in 1839.

In 1 509, when the League of Cambrai threatened
the existence of Venice, the Signory despatched Andrea
Badoer to prevent the adhesion of England to the con-
federacy, and to obtain her good offices; but no further
memorials of his correspondence are to be found, than
are contained in the summaries of Marin Sanuto.

* I was first made acquainted with this document by the courteous
director of the Museum, Dr. Lazari, who allowed me to have it
lithographed.

INTRODUCTION. XX111

Andrea Badoer was succeeded by Sebastian Giusti-
nian, whose despatches form the subject of the present
work.

When the translator first ventured to entertain the
hope that a selection of the papers which had fur-
nished so much amusement to himself might pos-
sess some interest for the public, he did not hesi-
tate in fixing his choice on the despatches of Giusti-
nian.

It is so much more difficult, in proportion to the
remoteness of the period, to picture to the imagina-
tion its manners, motives, and modes of thinking, that
contemporary letters full of the hopes, the fears, and
the reports of the day, acquire a vast additional
interest by their antiquity. And as they become
more interesting, unfortunately they are also more
scarce : no unbroken series of letters, such as the
Giustinian correspondence from 1515 to 1519, has
hitherto appeared in print, whether written from Lon-
don or any other capital.

It is surprising how few contemporary authors are
quoted by the historians of the period embraced by
these despatches. In the course of these four years,
we find occasional references to Peter Martyr, to
Erasmus, to Messieurs de Bellai and de Fleuranges,
to the mendacious Polydore Virgil, to Sir Thomas
More, and to Edward Hall : the last a mere youth at
the time of Giustinian's sojourn in England ; but in
none of these writers are to be found the minute

INTRODUCTION.

details and graphic touches which give life to the
Venetian Ambassador's correspondence.

The discovery of the Giustinian correspondence is
recent. In the year 1 843, the noble Girolamo Contarini
bequeathed to the library of St. Mark, his family
collection of books and MSS. ; amongst their con-
tents was a bulky folio volume to which my attention
was first drawn by Signer Giovanni Battista Lorenzi,
one of the officers of St. Mark's library, to whose
zeal we owe the catalogue of the Contarini legacy,
and of the museum of the cc Marciana," and to whose
accurate knowledge, the frequenters of that institu-
tion are indebted for so much information. The
paper is of the same manufacture, and bears the
same water-mark as that on which was written the
letter of Henry VII., previously described. The vo-
lume contains 226 letters, copies of those addressed by
Sebastian Giustinian to the Signory during his English
embassy. They are transcribed by his secretary— him-
self a man of some note in Venetian annals. The copy
is dated 1515 to 1519; it is headed according to the
pious form of the day "In nomine Domini," and is
thus attested by the transcriber at the end : —

" Nicolaus Sagudinus fideliter exemplavit."

As the entire collection is too large for publica-
tion, the translator has endeavoured to select such

ters and parts of letters as seem most likely to
interest, by their graphic touches and lively notices

INTRODUCTION. XXV

of the events of the day, or by their bearings on
English history and literature.

The archaic phraseology employed in this trans-
lation has not been adopted merely for the sake of
bringing the style of the work into keeping with its
subject matter : in fact, it was not entirely a matter
of choice. The careless and familiar phrases, the quaint
expressions and frequent redundancies of the old
vernacular Italian, when they are literally translated
into English, fall naturally into periods resembling
the prose of Elizabeth's or James's days. Had the
translator succeeded in recasting the whole into
the flowing paragraphs of a modern newspaper
(and he must candidly own that he frequently
made the attempt in vain), he could not have
effected so great a change without a metamor-
phosis which would have affected more than the
language, and would have seemed to attribute the
ideas as well as the expressions of the nineteenth to
the sixteenth century.

In rendering Venetian titles of office, it has, in many
cases, been found impossible to give any exact equiva-
lent. To quote one instance among the many that
might be cited : the cc captain" of a subject town,
signifies simply the governor, without any reference to
a military charge or character, further than is always
included in the idea of the supreme power. This and
similar peculiarities the translator has thought it right
to preserve, and in such cases he has generally given

xxvi INTRODUCTION.

the most literal translation of the Venetian title, ac-
companied with an explanation of its practical import.

The subject of Italian titles generally is one which
occasions some difficulty to a translator ; especially at
the period to which these despatches refer. It was
not till the close of the sixteenth century, when the
supremacy of Spain had been long established in
Italy, that the code of etiquette was fixed, and the
gradation of titles, which had been multiplied with
boundless prodigality, was determined. In earlier
times, "Signer," when strictly applied, was a very
high title, implying actual sovereignty or feudal supe-
riority. The noblest citizens of Venice or Florence,
forbidden to take feudal titles, were styled cc messer,"
a title which most nearly resembles cc master," but for
which, nevertheless, " master " affords no equivalent.
To the surnames of the Venetian nobles was ap-
plied, in lieu of title, the prefix of " the noble," " the
patrician ;" but the citizens of Florence were compelled
to affect humility. Magnifico seems to have been not
so much a title, as an expression of respect applied to
magistrates, and others to whom honour is due or
adulation is addressed ; nor indeed would it always
be easy, when we classify the various forms of ad-
dress employed at this period, to draw any definite
line between the tribute of voluntary respect and
claims sanctioned by custom and law.

Even the titles of sovereigns were unfixed.
Charles V., as is well known, was the first monarch —

INTRODUCTION. XXV11

it cannot be said who was addressed by the title of
majesty — but the first who adopted it so exclusively,
that he could be addressed by no other. It seems to
have been generally understood, ttat to a certain
class of persons belonged of right a certain species of
titles ; but within a given range, the choice of title was
arbitrary. The author of the following despatches
addresses the Doge indifferently, as cc your High-
ness," " your Sublimity," " your Excellency," cc your
Serenity ; " and all four titles are often introduced so
nearly together as to lead to the inference, that to
vary the title was considered a mark of respect, or
a grace of style,

In all these cases, the writer has thought it best to
keep his translation as close to the original as pos-
sible ; and as the word magnifico has been adopted
by Shakspeare, and can be expressed by no English
equivalent, he has ventured to retain it.

In the orthography of the proper names belonging
to Venice, he has for the most part given the Vene-
tian versions of the name in preference to the Italian,
or, more strictly speaking, the Tuscan. Thus, for
instance, the reader will find Giustinian instead of
Giustiniani, Badoer for Badoaro, Correr for Cor-
rario, &c.

The translator has appended notes to each letter, to
spare the reader the trouble of referring to biogra-
phical dictionaries and histories of the time ; but he
dares not flatter himself that this supplementary in-

XXVlii INTRODUCTION.

formation may not appear to some to be deficient, and
to others redundant.

Since the printing of the despatches was finished,
it has been suggested to the translator that the work
would be rendered more complete by the addition of
the "Report" which Giustinian made to the Senate
on his return. This report was transcribed by the
translator in the year 1838 from a MS. of undoubted
authenticity in the possession of Count Agostino
Sagredo. A short extract from it is quoted at p. 26
of the present work. A translation of the whole is
now given in an appendix.

The translator cannot conclude without recording
his gratitude to the learned head librarian of the "Mar-
ciana," Don Giuseppe Valentinelli, and to the vice-
librarian, Signor Velluto (so distinguished by his Greek
scholarship), for the facilities which they have afforded
him while engaged in translating these despatches, as
well as for all the kindness and attention experienced
from them for a series of years.

DESPATCHES

OF

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN.

PRELIMINARY ACCOUNT OF THE GIUSTINIAN FA-
MILY, AND OF THE EARLY CAREER OF THE
WRITER OF THESE DESPATCHES.

ON the fall of the Heraclian Dynasty (A. D. 711), in the
person of the Emperor Justinian II., the survivors of his
family emigrated first to Istria, where they founded the
city of Justinopoli, now called Capo d'lstria, and in the
course of half a century, we find some of their descendants
established in Venice ; for amongst the tribunes in the year
756, was a Giustinian, whose daughter subsequently married
Doge Angelo Badoer.

In the 1 2th century, three members of the Giustinian
family were Procurators of St. Mark, a dignity inferior only
to that of the Doge, who was almost invariably chosen
from their body.

After the lapse of four centuries and a half the Giustinian!
seem not to have lost the recollection of their wrongs
and of their former greatness, and accordingly, in the year
1170, when in consequence of the seizure by the Emperor
Manuel Comnenus of all the Venetian traders in his domi-
nions, the Republic declared war against the Greeks, they
eagerly availed themselves of so fair an opportunity for

VOL. I. B

2 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

avenging the murder of their ancestor, and after the example
of the Roman Fabii, volunteered the services of their whole
race in the cause of their adopted country, and in her
defence they embarked not less than one hundred com-
batants, all bearing the name of Giustinian, and including
even an aged Procurator of St. Mark's.

Doge Vitale Michiel and the Giustiniani steered their
gallant fleet first to Dalmatia, for the punishment of certain
rebels there, and then made for Negropont, the Governor of
which island apologised for his master the Emperor most
abjectly, and prevailed upon the Doge to avert the calamities
of war by sending an embassy to Constantinople : this artifice,
which concealed the most atrocious treachery, succeeded ;
the Venetian fleet retired to winter at Scio, where the springs
had been poisoned, and of 120 sail, only sixteen returned to
the Adriatic, with the scanty remnant which had escaped
the treachery and pestilence of the Greek islands.

Amongst the survivors of this Venetian expedition, there
was not found one of the Giustiniani ; their resemblance to
the Fabii was complete ; and all Venice, patricians and ple-
beians, mourned the extinction of such a race. They felt that
high name and descent are pledges for honourable exertion,
and as the laymen of the Giustinian family had perished, the
Republic determined, if possible, to preserve the name by
means of a Benedictine monk, the sole survivor* of the
family, who dwelt at the Lido in the monastery of St.
Nicholas. An embassy was forthwith despatched to Pope
Alexander III. ; and Barbone Morosini and Tommaso
Falier obtained from his Holiness a dispensation from the
monastic vows taken by Father Nicholas Giustinian, and to
him Doge Vitale Michiel gave the hand of his daughter
Anna, together with an ample dower, consisting of the three
Venetian parishes of St. Moise, St. Giovanni Bragola, and

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 3

St. Pantaleone. The offspring of this marriage were nume-
rous : of nine sons, one by name Matteo had the satisfaction
of taking part in the conquest of Constantinople, A.D. 1204 ;
another, Marco, established himself in the island of Candia,
and was probably one of the first shippers of sack and malm-
sey, wines with which England was supplied by the Venetians
during several centuries ; and a third, Giacomo, also accom-
panied Doge Dandolo when he entered Constantinople ; of
the daughters, Martha, Margaret, and Bertolotta, one married
into the house of Este ; the second became the wife of one
of the Scaligers of Verona ; and the third took the veil.

Father Nicolas Giustinian, having fully realized the hopes
of the Venetians who drew him from his cloister, returned
once more to his cell at the Lido (that strip of land which
separates the lagoons of Venice from the open Adriatic), and
Anna Michiel withdrew to a nunnery on the island of
Amiano, in which places these two regenerators of the
family of Heraclius died shortly after, in what is termed
" the odour of sanctity."

The Lombard historian of the " Illustrious Families of
Italy," the late Count Litta, speaking of the relics of Father
Nicholas in the church of S. Georgio Maggiore, affirms,
that from him all the Giustiniani of Venice are descended,
and positively denies that the Giustiniani of Genoa are in
any way authorized to claim the same origin j indeed, he
asserts that no family ever existed in Genoa who were
lawfully entitled to the hereditary surname of Giustinian.
In the palmy days of the Venetian Republic, the descendants
of the Benedictine monk numbered fifty distinct families ;
and as many as 200 individuals bearing the name of Gius-
tinian, are said to have sat at one time in the Grand Council
of Venice, a tradition, however, which Count Litta gives
good reason to doubt. At the close of the seventeenth

4 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

century, forty of the Giustinian families were extinct, and
at this present time there remain only four.

The Island of Negropont, as already shown, is intimately
connected with the fate of the Venetian Fabii; for it was the
wily Governor of that place, who induced Doge Michiel to
temporize, instead of proceeding at once in person to visit
the Emperor Manuel in his capital. In the year 1207, a
Veronese adventurer named Rabano dalle Carceri, who had
made himself master of Negropont, sold it to the Venetians,
and the first Governor of the place appointed by the Grand
Council, was Marin Giustinian the son of Nicholas.

Marin Giustinian had a daughter named Anna, who gave
birth to Doge Pietro Gradenigo, the founder of trie hereditary
aristocracy in Venice, for he it was who in the year 1298
effected what is styled the " closing of the Grand Council."

Amongst the lineal descendants, in the seventh generation,
of the first Venetian Bailiff, or Governor, of Negropont, was
Lorenzo Giustinian, who, in the course of time, became the
first patriarch of Venice. This exemplary prelate was born on
the ist of July, 1380, a day then celebrated in Venice with
great rejoicings, as the anniversary of the recovery of Chioggia
from the Genoese, in which his father, Bernardo, had taken
a distinguished part three years previously. Lorenzo, being
the eldest son, had been destined by his family for the married
state, but he preferred a cloister on that picturesque island in
the lagoons, the first that lies between Fusina and Venice,
called St. Giorgio in Alga, where, in October 1404, he was
present at the formal institution of the order of Secular Canons,
to whom the island was assigned, and on that occasion
changed his original Christian name of John to Lorenzo. In
1409, Sept. gth, Lorenzo Giustinian was elected Prior of
St. Giorgio in Alga, and in 1424, became the first Rector-
General of the order. Eugenius IV., before he obtained the

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 5

papal tiara, had likewise been a canon of St. George, and
he was so impressed with the piety and virtue of the Rector-
General, that on the 5th of September, 1433, he appointed
him Bishop of Venice.

Lorenzo Giustinian, modestly diffident of his own fitness for
so responsible an office, declined this promotion ; but when
commanded by the head of the church, he entered on the duties
of his diocese, and discharged them in the most exemplary
manner for the space of nineteen years. One of his first acts
was to convoke a synod for the establishment of certain
regulations of church discipline, which his own example,
and humility, coupled with the firmness indispensable for the
reform of abuses, rendered completely successful, and in his
time, the see of Venice was quoted as a model. His
arrangements for the election of priests by their parishioners ;
for the disposal of ecclesiastical preferments ; for the regulation
of the private property of bishops ; and for the education of
candidates for the priesthood, were beyond all praise. He
compelled all canons to reside at their cathedrals, contrary
to the prevalent custom, and made all his clergy pay their
debts. His own life was one of complete self-denial ;
humble, and frugal, devoted entirely to his flock, to whom
he dedicated his whole time and revenues. In the plague
of 1447, the ministering angel of the lazar-houses of Venice
was the Bishop of the diocese.

Until 1451, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the capital was
divided between the Patriarch of Grado and the Bishop of
Venice, but in October of that year, Pope Nicholas V. deter-
mined to convert the two sees into one Patriarchate, and to
effect this, he decreed that the survivor of the two prelates
who then held them, namely, Michieli and Giustinian, should
assume the single cure, and as Michieli died very shortly
afterwards, Lorenzo Giustinian became the first Patriarch of

6 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

Venice, Primate of Dalmatia, and Administrator of the Church
of Citta Nuova in Istria, as an appendage to that of Grado.

Amongst the twelve children of Nicholas Giustinian, one
bore the name of Stefano; and his lineal descendant, Sebas-
tian, it is who has furnished matter for the present volume.
He was the son of Marino, by the daughter of Piero
Gradenigo, and was born in the year 1460. The first public
post which he held was that of proveditor and captain,
A.D. 1492, at Rimini, where he acquitted himself so well,
that at the commencement of 1498, the Senate appointed him
ambassador to Maximilian, the Emperor-elect. It was sub-
sequently determined to dispense with this embassy; but, as
the appointment was never formally cancelled, Giustinian sat
in the Senate as an envoy supposed to be on the eve of
departure, until January 1500, when he and a colleague, by
name Vetor Soranzo, were accredited by the State as ambas-
sadors to Ladislaus, king of Hungary, for the purpose of
inducing him to attack Sultan Bajazet II. ; and with this
object, on the 5th of April, Giustinian delivered a Latin ora-
tion before the Court of Buda. This harangue may be seen
in a rare broadside printed at the time, and entitled, " Oratio
Magnifici et Clarissimi Domini Sebastiani Giustiniani. Orat.
Venet. habita coram Serenissimo Domino Uladislao, Rege
Panonias Boemiae, &c. Die quinto Aprilis, 1500." An
Italian translation of it exists amongst the orations of illus-
trious men, collected by the son of the architect Sansovino.

Exactly one month after the delivery of this speech, two
French ambassadors arrived at the Hungarian court, with
credentials from Louis XII. They were met at some little
distance from Buda by the Venetians, and four Hungarian
magnates sent by the king, with 500 horse. Giustinian soon
discovered the purport of their mission, which was merely to
declare that France was willing to league with the Empire,

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 7

Hungary and Venice, against the Turk, but would not give
any pecuniary assistance. On the ryth of May, 1500, these
French diplomatists had their public audience, in the pre-
sence of the ambassadors from Spain, Venice, Naples, and
Poland, and one of them made a Latin speech, as Giustinian
had done, in which he styled the Venetian Signory " most
illustrious, opulent, and sagacious ;" but Soranzo declared
that the oration >of his own colleague was incomparably the
more elegant of the two.

In date of July 2, 1501, Giustinian announces the death
of John Albert, king of Poland,* the brother of Ladislaus }
and in December, he mentions an incursion made by the
Hungarians on the Turkish territory, aided by the Ban of
Transylvania.

On the 30th of October 1502, he writes from Alba Reale,
that Anna de Candalles, the youthful bride of King Ladislaus,
had arrived on the 20th, and that the coronation took place
on the 29th — intelligence of some interest at Venice, as she
had been the guest of the republic during several weeks, in
which interval no expense had been spared to secure her
good will. The stay of this princess in the Venetian terri-
tories lasted longer than had been anticipated, because she
had arrived there without her dower, and the Hungarian
ambassadors were forbidden, in that event, to receive her.
The Venetians, naturally enough, rejoiced to hear that all
difficulties had been removed, and that their costly invest-
ment of civility had fallen, as they intended, on a crowned
head, whose influence on her consort, then in his forty-sixth
year, might, if properly exerted, lead him to make frequent
attacks on the territories of Bajazet, and avert his hostilities
from the Signory.

* John Albert, King of Poland, died at Thorn on the iyth of June
1501.

$ THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

From this, his first diplomatic mission, Sebastian Giusti-
nian returned at the commencement of 1503, and on Sunday
the 26th of March, after an absence of three years and one
month, Marin Sanuto minutely details his reappearance in
the college,* wearing a massive gold collar, and an Hungarian
ornament of the same metal fastened under his arm, his robe
being of crimson velvet with a raised pile. At the next
sitting he read his report of Hungary, which has been pre-
served in the manuscript diaries of Marin Sanuto; and as it
contains some curious particulars of an age and country so
remote, I give it at length :— -

"I left Venice on the 22nd February, 1500, with Vetor
Soranzo (peace to his soul !); and on arriving at Buda we had
public audience on the I5th April, at which I made a speech,
and then in private I proposed in the first place a general
league, and in the second, a strict alliance between our-
selves and Hungary exclusively ; the King expressed his
willingness to form a general league, and when on the arrival
of the French ambassadors, we expected they would for-
ward the project, to our disappointment they did nothing,
having other instructions from their King, nor was any
assistance derived from the Cardinal Legate, the repre-
sentative of Pope Alexander. We then urged the second
alliance, the articles of which we drew up, and sent hither.
A muster of the Hungarian forces was made in conse-
quence, at which I and my colleague (who was then
grievously sick and died shortly after) attended. It con-
sisted of 10,000 cavalry, of whom 4,000 were armed, and
the rest not. There were about 700 raw youths, but the
rest, both men and horses, were good ; some of the feuda-
tories did not make their appearance ; on the very morning of

* The College was a select assembly, or deliberative committee, which dis-
charged the functions of what in this country is now called " the Cabinet."

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 9

the muster, 1,000 horse came up under the command of a
certain baron, and 600 marshalled by the Despot of Servia. Of
the seventy-three counties, eighteen failed to attend the mus-
ter, nor would I then sign the clauses, although I had powers
so to do, but sent them to the Signory, to gain time. I had
much trouble in drawing up the treaty, and the Bishop of
Waradino and the other Hungarian commissioners said, ' By
God ! you'll get an answer you won't like.' On the arrival
of my colleague, Georgio Pisani, we concluded the alliance.
There was great difficulty in making the King join the camp
in person, and the affair of the King of Poland proved an ob-
stacle, but everything was at length settled, and the papal
briefs were of use, the Legate likewise favouring the expedi-
tion. Finally, after much ado, in the month of November,
1501, Duke John, the natural son of Matthias Corvinus, the
late king, being on the borders of Bosnia with another corps,
Ladislaus sent Count Josa with 10,000 cavalry across the
Danube, which was then frozen, and he made a vigorous
attack, but did not obtain much booty, his intention being
known beforehand ; though he burnt 50 villages, and ravaged
a greater extent of country than is comprised in the entire
territories of Treviso, Padua, Vicenza, and Verona. My col-
league Pisani having returned to Venice, he was replaced by
Giovanni Badoer, who on his arrival made a fine oration, and
shortly after obtained leave to return home, though the per-
mission was subsequently cancelled, and he received orders to
go into Poland, to congratulate King Alexander on his ac-
cession. King Ladislaus then went into Bohemia, leaving
the Count Palatine, who is since dead, Viceroy at Buda,
where I remained, and in the mean while a Turkish ambas-
sador arrived to negotiate a peace or truce ; the Cardinal,*

* This Cardinal Thomas Erdb'dy, alias Bakacz, alias Bacoczi, studied at Bo-
logna, and whilst in Italy was appointed Secretary to the infant Archbishop of

I0 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

who was at his see of Strigonia, notified this by letter to the
Legate, to whom he also addressed despatches for me ; at
length, one day when we were out hunting, the Legate an-
nounced that he had the letters, and gave them to me, where-
upon I induced him to accompany me to Strigonia for a week,
when we discussed the matter with the Cardinal. Shortly
after this, your Serenity informed me that Andrea Griti was
returned from Constantinople, and that our merchants had
been set at liberty, Bajazet being inclined to peace; so, on
receiving your orders, I announced this to the Cardinal, and
the negotiations commenced ; but as the Count Palatine,
who was then alive, opposed your Signory, as also did the
Bishop of Waradino, I had great difficulty in arranging this
last treaty; though, on the other hand, we were much
favoured by the Cardinal of Strigonia, and although I was
authorized to give them 50,000 ducats, I only gave them
30,000, and this took place before the death of the Count
Palatine. The Legate chose to make certain alterations

Strigonia, alias AGRIA, Hippolytus of Este, the patron of Ariosto, who in his first
satire alludes to the disgrace that befell him, in consequence of his determination —

" Di non volere Agna veder ne.Buda."

Erdody was made Chancellor of Hungary by that literary monarch, Matthias
Corvinus. In 1497 he superseded the Cardinal of Este in the see of Agria, and
in 1500, March i6th, was created Cardinal by Alexander VI. Cardella states
that the Signory was very instrumental in procuring for him the red hat } and the
present Count Gaetan Erdody, his collateral descendant, has lately discovered
much documentary evidence to this effect in the Venice Archives.

This prelate was for a time the Wolsey of Hungary ; and, according to Garim-
berti, he paid for the education of very many students, not only at Strigonia,
but also at Vienna and in Italy. Besides maintaining scholars, he also kept a
numerous army on foot with his own funds, to defend Hungary from the Turks,
against whom he preached a crusade by the authority of Leo X., and Cardella
writes that he went as Legate a latere to Scotland, Denmark, Norway, Russia,
Prussia, and Poland, and besides going all over Hungary and Bohemia, he visited
Constantinople, which, considering the unscrupulous character of Bajazet, Selim,
and Soliman, was rather a hazardous experiment. Cardella does not give the
date of these travels, and although he vouches for the death of this Cardinal at
his birth-place, Erdody, he is not positive whether it took place in 1520, 1521,

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. II

in the articles of this treaty, for which I rebuked him
so sternly that he went to the King, and on that very
evening the treaty was sent to my dwelling, in its original
form. The envoy whom the King sent in consequence to
Constantinople, was three months on his journey, although
the distance is only 900 miles ; the reason was, that during
the interval your Signory continued to pay the subsidy.
Count Josa is very unpopular with the King, and with the
public, for having done so little when he took the field
with such a considerable force. The wish of Bajazet for
peace is notorious, and the Cardinal of Strigonia said to me,
c Tell thy Signory to attend to the affairs of Italy, for the
peace may be considered as concluded,' and he showed me
letters from the Vaivode Rado, and from a certain friar
Alexander, the kinsman of Fascia Marzego, and of the wife of
Marco Loredano, the same who was arrested by the Council
of Ten; and they both assert that the Sultan is not warlike,
but timid, and Marzego is now in great authority.

" King Ladislaus is forty-eight years old, tall and handsome,
and of very illustrious descent both by his father's and mother's
side. He is descended by his father from Ladislaus, King
of Poland, who died in battle against the Turks, in November,
1444, and also from Casimir IV. ; and, by his mother's side,
he claims descent from three emperors. * He has reigned
sixteen years in Bohemia, and thirteen in Hungary ; he is
devout and religious, and it is said that until his marriage he
was never known to have slept with a woman. He is never
angry, nor does he ever speak ill of any one; and on hearing

* Giustinian was evidently fond of genealogies ; in one of his despatches from
London, date loth July, 1517, he, in like manner, mentions the descent of Mon-
sieur de Lombeke from three emperors ; and it may be suspected that both in
Hungary and in England he now and then comforted himself with thoughts of
his own Heraclian lineage, especially when the highly bred lords of Henry VIII. 's
bedchamber likened him and his, as will be seen, to a shoal of fishermen.

I2 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

any one abused in his presence, he is accustomed to say, 'Res
forsan non est vera' (perhaps it is not true). When Duke
Lawrence, who was here at Venice with Queen Anna, re-
belled against him, he deprived him of his possessions, and
when the Duke was brought before him, he said, c Duke
Lawrence, are you the man who wished me so much ill?'
And when the Duke begged pardon, and every one expected
him to fare badly, the King restored his territories, only
enjoining him to ' be more loyal for the future.'

" This King is much given to prayer, hears three masses
daily ; but in other respects resembles a statue, for his words
are few, and although his ordinary conversation is good, he
becomes incoherent when discussing state affairs. He gives
audience to every one, and never puts anybody to death,
but his subjects pay him small obedience ; he is a miser,
and in short displays a limited capacity, being an upright
individual, rather than a respected sovereign. The Cardinal of
Strigonia and the Bishop of Waradino are much more feared
than the King. His Majesty has no money, and in order to
raise the army, besides spending the 180,000 ducats received
from the Signory, he pledged his revenues, so that he was
penniless for two months. He has reduced his expenditure,
and at the last carnival the Queen's court was only allowed
eight fowls per diem, and he also diminished my board and that
of my colleagues. The scanty obedience paid him is exem-
plified by Count Josa, who, though sent for twice, has not
yet made his appearance. The royal revenues in ordinary
amount annually to 50,000 ducats ; 16,000 from the six free
towns, including Buda. Of the three gold and silver mines,
one yields 1 8,000 ducats, another 14,000, and the third
7,ooo ; then there is the extraordinary tax called the tenths,
consisting in a ducat for every hearth, first levied by Matthias
Corvinus, who exacted the whole sum, but Ladislaus on

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 13

coming to the throne promised to reduce it to a quarter of a
ducat ; so, as the hearths may be estimated at 350,000, he
would scarcely get 80,000 were it all paid, which is not
the case, as half the kingdom belongs to the counts, who are
exempt, neither do the nobility pay, and these last enlarge
the circuit of their own dwellings, so as to include those
which would otherwise be liable to this tax. The coun-
ties are seventy-two, and ought to yield 6,000 ducats, but
the King only gets 4,000. Besides the expenses of Bel-
grade, Jayza, and other places, the Queen receives 30,000
ducats ; in short, the expenditure exceeds the revenue, and
the treasurer is pledged in honour for 70,000 ducats. The
King pays a number of pensions, to the Count Palatine and
others, and there are as many as 1,000 Hungarian barons
and noblemen, whose annual income, individually, does not
exceed forty ducats, and they live at court ; so the cost of
the King's table amounts to twenty ducats per diem, ex-
clusively of bread and wine. From the kingdom of Bohemia,
he derives only 5,000 ducats, and when he went there, .he
did not levy them even.

" From the Marquisate of Moravia, he gets nothing at all,
whereas King Matthias made it yield 80,000 ducats.

" There are three classes of men in Hungary — peasants,
soldiers, and priests ; nor are there any artificers amongst the
Hungarians, the mechanics being all foreigners. The natives
are a hardy race, inured to every sort of privation ; and were
there money for their maintenance, Hungary could most
assuredly send 20,000 cavalry into the field. The priests
and barons and the rest of the kingdom are bound to pay
8,000 ducats annually. There are eleven very rich bishop-
rics in Hungary : the Cardinal of Strigonia gets 30,000
ducats from Agria, which did not yield 4,000 to the Cardinal
of Este.

I^ THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

" The inhabitants of Wallachia trade; those of Servia fight.
The complement of every Hungarian man-at-arms Consists
of six horses and a waggon : when they take the field for
action, they confess to each other, and one of the soldiery
preaches, after which they repeat the name of Jesus thrice,
and rush upon their foes most impetuously. The Hungarians
are naturally very hostile to the Turks, and although it may be
argued that Matthias Corvinus never had many of them in his
camp, which consisted for the most part of Bohemians, the
reason was that he used these last to awe the Barons of
Hungary, and having thus by stratagem got them together,
he one day invited the magnates to dinner, and during the
banquet, in the course of conversation, he said ' Ego eram
Puer ; nunc sum Rex Hungarlce :9 but King Matthias was a
man who slept on the ground, and ruled with a rod of iron.
To return, however, to the military, I consider that, paying
for the same, the kingdom of Hungary might furnish 30,000
cavalry.

" His present majesty is, in short, a good man, and so is the
Cardinal of Strigonia : the reverse may be said of the Legate,
and of the Bishop of Waradino. The Treasurer also is a
worthy person ; he says he will at all hazards get Count Josa
to Buda, and then come and reside at Venice.

" Queen Anna is extremely devoted to our Signory, and
chooses to style herself the daughter of the state ; she charged
me to remember her to your Lordships and the Doge, whom
she praised vastly for the honours done her; she also gave me
a like commission for Marco da Molin, late chief of the X,
and Captain at Brescia, who had been very attentive to her,
and moreover for Piero Lando, the master of the Arsenal,
who accompanied her on board the galley to Segna. * And

* Sanuto, from whose diaries this report is translated, was Treasurer at Verona,
m July 1502, when Anna de Candalles passed through that city on her way from

THE GIUST1NIAN FAMILY. 15

she said that were the child then in her womb to prove
false to Venice, she prayed God it might not see the light.
She is extremely popular in Hungary, and in two years' time
will be both King and Queen. At first she inhabited an
apartment beneath that of the King, who is much smitten
with her, and whenever she went to him, he made her pre-
sents of jewels, pearls, &c., so at length she said to him one
day, c Sacred Majesty, I don't come here for your presents,
and in order to dispense with them, I choose to remain where
I am,' so they now sleep together every night, and the King
is in love with her. On the departure of the Hungarian
ambassador for Constantinople, I took leave of his Majesty,
who gave me a robe of cloth of gold in the Hungarian
fashion, a dagger to wear at my side, two silver gilt goblets,
and a horse estimated at 500 ducats, but not really worth
thirty. I was boarded by the King, but never got either
salad or fruit. Besides my ordinary expenses, I spent 1,000
ducats for couriers, 600 for salaries, 150 for physicians, and
400 in sundries," &c., &c.

The student of bibliography will be disappointed to find
that this' report contains no account of the library of Mat-
Piedmont to Venice, accompanied by Margaret, Marchioness of Saluzzo. He
says he exerted himself much to render Verona agreeable to the bride, whom
he describes as seventeen years old, short of stature, handsome, and gentle in
speech • he says she was the cousin of Louis XII. and Anne of Brittany, in whose
court she had resided for seven years, being an orphan, though she had brothers j
and the marriage had been negotiated by Louis XII., who promised Ladislaus a
dower of 40,000 ducats ; but, as the French commissioners who accompanied
her to Venice had apparently forgotten the money, and the Hungarians declined
receiving the bride without the ducats, she remained the guest of Doge Loredano,
in the palace of the Dukes of Ferrara, much longer than was expected, at a cost
to the state of 4,500 ducats in one single week ; but, having commenced thus, a
senator remarked, that it would be bad policy to stop short, and that " he who
drinks the sea may drink a river j" and Sanuto ends his account of the honours
done to Anna de Candalles, by saying that the Queen and her escort at length
embarked for Segna, on the 2ist July, 1502 ; the captain of the galley selected
by the Senate being the youngest of the three Masters of the Arsenal, " the
discreet and handsome Piero Lando."

!6 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

thias Corvinus. There seems, however, reason to think,
that the library in its integrity did not long survive its
royal founder. On the death of that literary monarch in
1490, only ten years before the arrival at Buda of Sebas-
tian Giustinian, the throne of Hungary remained vacant
during upwards of three months, and it seems probable that
the spoliation of the Corvinian library commenced even then.
The competitors for the crown were Maximilian ; John Cor-
vinus, the natural son of Matthias; and Ladislaus, King of
Bohemia, who gained the prize. The new king had no
taste for illuminated books, and consequently one John
Cuspiniano, ambassador from Maximilian to Hungary, had
no difficulty in obtaining loans (which he never returned)
from the Buda library, including precious copies of Philo-
stratus, of Diodorus Siculus, of Procopius, &c. : another
of the ministers of Maximilian, John Lanch, afterwards
well known as Cardinal Bishop of Gurck, also obtained
permanent loans of books collected by Matthias. Whether
Giustinian applied for similar favours, during the course
of his stay in Hungary, can only be surmised, but he would
hardly have met with a refusal ; and the like may be
said of our own countryman, Christopher Urswick, then
only Abbot of Abingdon, who went ambassador from
Henry VII. to Ladislaus in 1502. Perhaps some of the
French attendants of the Queen may have had their share.
None were denied. We know, from a letter still extant,
addressed to the Aulic Councillor Pirckheymer, that in the
year 1514 that statesman was engaged in making his library
(the same which was many years later purchased by the Earl
of Arundel, and from him passed to the British Museum),
and it seems that he undoubtedly had his share of the
spoils ; and in short, although the successor of Matthias did
not put the library up to auction in lots, as might be

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 1 7

supposed from what we frequently hear concerning its fate; yet
so rapid was its dispersion, that the secretary of the Venetian
ambassador Orio, who succeeded Giustinian at Buda, writes to
his friend Rannusioindateof the 2OthMayi52O,as follows: —

" With regard to the library of Buda, I tell you I have
been in it, nor does it contain a single good book, all the
good ones having been stolen. I saw, however, a very ancient
Virgil, written in Lombard characters, and some works of
/Elian translated by Theodore Gaza : I do not know
whether they have been printed ; if not, I would print them.
There is also a fine Cicero, * de Legibus.' I see a number
of Greek books, broken-backed, old, mildewed, tattered, and
spoiled, but I don't understand Greek. There was a very
correct Pliny ; but the Venetian, the Provost Don Jeronimo
Balbo, a very learned man, he got that : I had it in my pos-
session for a few days, and found a multitude of excellent
corrections, but then came these accursed ailments of mine
which prevented my collating the whole work, though had I
done so, I should have discovered upwards of 3,000 emen-
dations. At this period, said Don Jeronimo Balbo is going
ambassador first to Poland, and then to Inspruck ; and I
myself never remain stationary anywhere, so that I cannot,
get his Pliny."

The name of this Venetian secretary was Massario, and the
letter was first printed from the diaries of Sanuto in 1802, by
the late learned librarian of St. Mark's, the Abate Morelli.
This letter is little known, and may serve to correct the mis-
taken opinion that the Corvinian library was bought in 1636 by
Lord Arundel at Nuremberg, the truth being that he merely
got some of the literary goods filched from Buda at the com-
mencement of the sixteenth century. After the siege of
Buda in 1686, the remaining Corvinian MSS., in number
290, were removed to Vienna.

VOL. i. c

jg THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

On his return from Hungary, Giustinian was nominated
bailiff and captain at Capo d'Istria, alias Justinopoli,— a city
founded, as already stated, by his ancestors. Thanking
the Senate for the offered honour, he alluded to his numerous
family, and to the embarrassment of his private affairs,
which had been caused by so long an absence from home,
and thereupon begged for time to reply, but eventually he
accepted the post. In 1505, shortly after the marriage of
Lucrezia Borgia to Don Alfonso, he was appointed vice-lord
at Ferrara,* and in that same year he went ambassador to
Poland. In 1508, he held the post of advocator (one of the
three state officers, whose duties are analagous to those of
the attorney-general) ; and when the armies of the league
of Cambrai attacked the republic in 1509, he held the dan-
gerous post of bailiff, or governor, of Brescia. On the I4th
of May in that year, the French routed the Venetians at the
Ghiarra d'Adda, and on the morrow, whilst the Cabinet was
sitting in the ducal palace, some two hours before sunset, a
packet was brought into the Council chamber in hot haste by
a secretary, bearing external marks of the importance of its
contents, and of the doom that awaited the courier if he
loitered, for the entire cover was rudely illuminated with draw-
ings of the gallows. This ominous despatch was from Sebas-
tian Giustinian, and contained the first news of the capture of
the General Alviano, and other details of the rout. The
panic was so general, that the exertions of the bailiff to hold
Brescia were fruitless; and, four days after the date of his
letter, that city, having no garrison, opened its gates to the
French, at the instigation of the Gambara faction. The
Brescians seized their Venetian governors; but such was
the popularity of Giustinian, that while they detained the

* The Venetian Vice-Lord something resembled the English resident at a
native Indian court. After the league of Cambrai the Dukes of Ferrara got rid
of these troublesome overseers.

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 19

others as prisoners, they stipulated with the French that
their bailiff should have a passport to Venice. It was on
Trinity Sunday, the 3rd of June, that Giustinian appeared
before the College, wearing a black gown, and with a beard
of twelve days' growth (than a symbol of mourning), to make
his report, which stated, that on his departure, men and
women blessed him from their balconies, lamenting their
change of masters, and that the population was devoted to
St. Mark, and would rise on the first favourable opportunity,
although the Gambara faction and Count Alvise Avogrado,
together with the banished Marco Martinengo, had succeeded
for the moment in Gallicising Brescia. To prove that no
blame attached itself to Giustinian for the loss of that city, the
Grand Council forthwith appointed him " sage for the main-
land," at that moment one of the most important posts in
Venice, for the business transacted by these so-called sages
was precisely that of the minister at war, and so ably did he
perform it in those stirring times, when Venice, single-handed,
resisted the united arms of almost all Europe, that, on the
expiration of his term of service, 1130 votes of the Grand
Council elected him " bailiff/' or ambassador, at Constan-
tinople— an office, however, which he never actually dis-
charged. In June 1511, he was appointed commissioner for
the confiscation of the property belonging to rebels against
the State ; and in July, the Senate decreed that he should go
into Illyria with the title of proveditor, a firm hand being
required in that province, to repress the symptoms of insur-
rection which had shown themselves.

Whilst Giustinian was preparing to assume the command
in Dalmatia, the province of Istria was attacked by one
of the most ferocious of the cavalry generals in the service
of the Emperor Maximilian, by name Count Christopher
Frangipane, who, in the year 1513, married the mistress of

* c 2

2Q THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

his sovereign, and sister of Cardinal Lanch, the beautiful
Apollonia, the graces of whose figure are supposed to have
been represented by Albert Durer, in his print of Galatea.
The future husband of the royal favourite having routed
the Venetian forces in Istria, the Senate determined to avail
itself of the experience which Giustinian had of the country,
and consequently desired him to take command of the army
there, before proceeding into Illyria. The new proveditor-
general reached Capo d'Istria on the gth of October, and
at the head of the Albanian light cavalry, he made a most
gallant attack on Frangipane and his Croats, on St. Martin's
eve, the loth of November. On that day Count Christo-
pher was in the neighbourhood of Mugia, and the Alba-
nians, on reaching the bridge, saw him, with his cavalry,
stationed on a hill on the opposite side of the stream. Andrea
Civrano, the proveditor of the Albanians, immediately sounded
a charge, and in the first shock twelve of the Imperialists were
unhorsed. Civrano fought hand-to-hand with Frangipane,
and finally put him to flight; and, it is said, that this was the
first time that Count Christopher fled before the Venetians.
Amongst the prisoners was the captain or governor of Lay-
bach, and Civrano obtained a supply of arms on this occasion
for his lifetime gratis, including " a sword worth twenty or
twenty-five ducats, and a handsome corslet and gauntlets
worthy of a baron." A few days after this, Giustinian made
an attack on the castle of Ospo, in which, however, he did
not succeed immediately, although, on the 22nd of Decem-
ber, he again displayed on that place the banner of St.
Mark, and, in short, he so checked the career of Count
Christopher, that in May 1512, he considered that he had
done the bidding of the State in one province, and conse-
quently embarked on galley-board to put down insurrection
in the other.

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 21

For some time past Illyria had been in a state of the
greatest confusion. Two years previously the nobles of
Lesina (an island on the coast of Illyria, acknowledging the
supremacy of a Venetian proveditor, but enjoying its own
municipal institutions) had, by the licentiousness of their
conduct, excited to insurrection the lower classes, who in
their turn demanded a share in the government. This
tumult had been appeased in 1510 by Girolamo Contarini,
who then appeared with a squadron off Lissa ;* but dis-
turbances broke out again, and to Lesina, as the head-quar-
ters of the insurgents, the proveditor-general directed his
attention.

Some idea of the confusion of the country may be formed
by the variety of the duties imposed on Giustinian. He
landed at Veglia, and instantly put on his trial the local
proveditor Michiel ; but on hearing that Zara was in a state
of great confusion, augmented by disagreements between its
two governors,f Count Lorenzo Corer and Captain Lunardo
Michiel, he hastened to this place, and instantly seized
four of the most guilty, and sent them handcuffed to the
Chiefs of the X. in Venice. He, moreover, banished two
insurgents from the territory of Dalmatia, and having thus
quieted Zara internally, he rode off with the Captain Lunardo
Michiel for a conference with a military stipendiary of the
State's, Count John of Croatia, who received 3,000 ducats
annually for guarding the 'frontier, and who demanded an
increase of pay.

* It was off this island, on the i3th of March, 1811, that Captain William
Hoste engaged the Franco-Venetian squadron, on which occasion the Venetian
ship " La Corona" lost 200 men, killed and wounded, before she surrendered,
having been most gallantly commanded by an ancestor and namesake of Gius-
tinian's colleague Pasqualigo.

•f- We wish it were possible to make a plausible conjecture as to the city of
Jllyria in which Duke Orsino kept his court j but the mention of " the Count" by
Antonio, proves it to have been a Venetian dependency, as " Count'''' was the title
borne by the majority of Venetian governors in Illyria.

22 THE GIUSTiNIAN FAMILY.

From Zara, Giustinian hastened with two galleys, the one
commanded by Hieronimo Lion, and the other by Hieronimo
Capello, to Sebenico, where he arrived at the end of July, and
having seized on fourteen of the rebels, he forthwith hanged
two of them, and reserved the others, as he wrote to the
Senate, to be dealt with as God Almighty should inspire
him. In writing an account of his proceedings to his son,
Marino, and detailing the capture of some of the insurgents
who had fled to sanctuaries, thinking to save themselves, he
says, " Sed decepti sunt, verum est ecclesiam nunquam tueri
qui lesae majestatis rei sint" (But they deceive themselves, the
Church never protects traitors). He marshalled his handful
of troops beneath the walls of Sebenico, and when the inha-
bitants came forth in great numbers, on perceiving one of
the ringleaders amongst them, he instantly seized him, re-
gardless of the chance of a rescue, which must have suc-
ceeded had it been attempted. But it was not merely with
misconduct on shore that Giustinian had to deal, for he
writes to the Senate from Sebenico, complaining of the
commander of one of his own galleys, Hieronimo Capello,
who, contrary to orders, had chosen to set sail for Istria.

Early in August, the proveditor-general found himself at
Lesina, and at once perceived the impossibility of reconciling
the two factions ; the peasantry and fishermen, especially the
inhabitants of Citta Vecchia, Verbosca, and Gelsa, persist-
ing in those lawless habits which they had formed during
a revolt of more than two years. The first step taken by
Giustinian was to verify the acts of aggression committed
against the aristocracy; but as the natives of the three towns
above mentioned threatened death to all who should bear
witness against them, and swore they would storm the capital
and cut the gentry to pieces even under the robe of the pro-
veditor, whose promise of protection had encouraged them to

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 2£

return to their homes, it was impossible to institute any judi-
cial proceeding. A proclamation was then issued, charging
forty of the ringleaders to appear before the proveditor, and
forbidding any of their fellows to enter Lesina, either with or
without arms, under pain of death. The proclamations were
subjected to the most contemptuous treatment both at Citta
Vecchia, Verbosca, and Gelsa ; but at length, on the 24th of
August, the individuals cited made their appearance at the usual
place of audience, in the suburb of Lesina, the town itself being
strictly guarded by the soldiery and gentry. The proclamation
pledged the proveditor not to seize the insurgents on this occa-
sion, promising, moreover, that their persons should be re-
spected if they would go to Venice. Giustinian took his seat,
and the populace, relying on their numbers, admitted unani-
mously that they had perpetrated all the acts of bloodshed and
devastation laid to their charge, palliating them by the provoca-
tions of the gentry. Giustinian confuted these arguments,
sometimes with gentle words, and sometimes with vehemence,
until he was hoarse; but his efforts were vain, and at the vesper
hour he rose from the judgment seat, and on re-entering Lesina
there was an uproar at the gate ; the gentry and the garrison
gave the alarm, the insurgents flew to their weapons, which
they had deposited at a little distance from the suburb, and it
became more manifest than ever that the island of Lesina was
in the hands of a redoubted demagogue, Father Juan Zovinich,
and his comrades, one ofwhom, bynameMathew Ivanich, was
in the habit of saying, that the Ottoman dynasty took root from
a lowlier origin than his own. The well-known courage and
determination of the Illyrians convinced Giustinian that the
insurrection could only be quelled by force, and as he had but
one galley and a few foot-soldiers, he determined on raising
troops amongst the warlike inhabitants of Poglissa, Brazza,
£ara, Sebenico, and Trau. For this purpose he sent to the

"C4

24 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

Count (or Venetian Governor) of Spalatro for boats, and hence
arose fresh confusion, for the populace of Spalatro had an
understanding with Zovinich, and attempted to stop the trans-
ports destined for the conveyance of the Poglissa recruits. At
Spalatro, as at Lesina, the war-cry was " death to the gentry,"
so before attacking Verbosca, Giustinian went to Spalatro and
seized the insurgents there, and in one of his despatches, dated
Lesina, 2;th August 1512, he expresses himself thus: —
" Matters are come to such a pass that this island may be con-
sidered as belonging to three or four chiefs, and not to our
Signory, nor is any obedience paid us in the disputes between
the gentry and the populace, so I shall leave to-night with the
one galley I have remaining, and muster my forces at Bol, on
the island of Brazza, immediately opposite Citta Vecchia, Ver-
bosca, and Gelsa, and either capture the insurgents, or make
such a demonstration as will prove to the State the nature of
this conspiracy in Dalmatia. I hope to finish my business here
to-morrow, and shall then go and seize the rioters at Spalatro,
returning hither immediately to indemnify the gentry for their
losses, as hitherto the terror of the insurgents has been so
great, that no one has dared to give his evidence; and in con-
clusion, the Signory may rely upon it, that unless the rebels
make their escape, they will be in my hands alive or dead, for at
the peril of my life I am resolved to relieve this afflicted pro-
vince from such a load of misery, and to restore it to its
pristine obedience, as I have done by Zara and Sebenico."

The attack on Verbosca, though it was only on property
(the insurgents, as anticipated, having decamped), subjected
Giustinian to some personal danger ; for when his wild allies
from Poglissa disobeyed the strict prohibition he had given
against plundering, he dealt his blows amongst them,
and drove them back to the boats in a fashion utterly new to
men who, when provoked, were " opposites skilful, bloody,

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 25

and fatal," as any that could have been found in any part of
Illyria. (See " Twelfth Night," sc. 4, act 3.)

After this, the proveditor went with only thirty foot sol-
diers to Gelsa, and fell into an ambush of 200 of the insur-
gents, by whom six of his band were killed ; but he wounded
the ambitious Ivanich, and was the very last of the party to
retreat.

These acts of vigour do not seem to have been accom-
panied with unnecessary severity ; for even after this repulse,
Gelsa, when taken, was not subjected to sack or plunder,
whilst at Zara, the proveditor reminds us of the ties of
scholarship which connected him subsequently with Sir
Thomas More and Dr. Pace, by quoting Aristotle and Cicero
to the inhabitants. But the uncompromising character of
Giustinian, which spared neither tys own fellow-nobles nor
the insurgents of Illyria, excited a momentary cabal against
him at Venice; he did not receive from the Government
the safe-conduct which he had promised to some of the chiefs
of Lesina ; and although he seized several of the vessels
armed by Ivanich, the squadron of that ambitious insur-
gent rendered his homeward voyage rather perilous, though
it was effected in safety, and on the 23rd November 1512,
Sebastinian Giustinian made his report to the Senate of the
measures adopted by him for the restoration of order in
Illyria.

From the autumn of 1512, until the winter of 1514,
Giustinian was incessantly occupied at Venice with the trials
of criminals whom he considered directly or indirectly account-
able for the disturbed state of Dalmatia, and his appointment
as ambassador to England was quite unexpected, being in fact
occasioned by the apoplectic fit which, on the night of the i6th
of December 1514, seized the Cavalier Francesco Donate,
whilst at supper. This nobleman having been elected ambas-

26 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

sador to Henry VIII., was to have set out for England on
the following morning, with a colleague named Piero Pas-
qualigo ; and when the Senate assembled on the 2;th Decem-
ber for the purpose of replacing him, the election fell on
Sebastian Giustinian. He requested time to consider until
the morrow, and then accepted the post, demanding,
however, an increase of salary, as he understood it would
behove him to evince greater hospitality, and to make more
display, in England than elsewhere, He also expressed a
wish, ere departing, to finish the trial of the ex-Count of
Sebenico, whom he had accused of improper intimacy with
a nun and another lady of Illyria, and also of having mur-
dered a barber. How he disposed of this strange delinquent
is not said.

The instructions undent which Sebastian Giustinian acted
in his English embassage, will be found in the " Commission'*
inserted hereafter, and his Despatches from the English Court
form the principal contents of this work. It is sufficient
to add, that he reached Venice on his return from England,
October 6th, 1519, and after shaking, or rather " touching"
hands— as was the original custom in Italy — with Doge
koredano, took his seat in the College as " Councillor
Superior," to which rank he had been elevated during
his absence. On the loth of October he made his report
of England to the Senate, and although the honour of our
country is not materially affected by the corpulence of the
Sovereign, the following passage is worth extracting from
this State paper, for the sake of comparing it with Monsieur
Capefigue's fancy portrait of Henry VIII. in the very same
year, as quoted below. Giustinian says,—

;c His Majesty is twenty-nine years old, and extremely
handsome ; nature could not have done more for him j he
is much handsomer than any other sovereign in Christendom,

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 2J

a great deal handsomer than the king of France ; very fair,
and his whole frame admirably proportioned. On hearing
that Francis I. wore a beard, he allowed his own to grow,
and as it is reddish, he has now got a beard which looks like
gold. He is very accomplished ; a good musician ; com-
poses well ; is a most capital horseman ; a fine jouster ;
speaks good French, Latin, arid Spanish ; is very religious ;
hears three masses daily when he hunts, and sometimes five
on other days : he hears the office every day in the Queen's
chamber, that is to say vespers and compline. He is very
fond indeed of hunting, and never takes this diversion with-
out tiring eight or ten horses, which he causes to be sta-
tioned beforehand along the line of country he may mean to
take, and when one is tired, he mounts another, and before
he gets home they are all exhausted. He is extremely fond
of tennis, at which game it is the prettiest thing in the
world to see him play, his fair skin glowing through a shirt
of the finest texture."*

In the loth chapter ofMons. Capefigue's "Francois I.
et La Renaissance" (Edition, Brussels 1845), which is
headed "La Couronne Imperiale A.D. 1518, 1519," there
is the following passage, p. 70 : — " Quel droit avoit Henri
VIII. a la couronne imperiale ? Quelle relation pouvait il
former en Allemagne ? Etait il assez actif, assez ingambe
pour remuer a temps ? Son ventre proeminent, sa face large
et vineuse n'etaient certes pas de trop en Allemagne, il pouvait
se montrer a Francfort bon et jovial compagnon, visiter
Heidelberg, Mayence et Worms, les pays aux larges foudres

* The shirts worn by persons of condition at this period were bordered with
lace, and curiously adorned with needlework. One which had belonged to Arthur
Prince of Wales, made of long lawn, and beautifully embroidered with blue silk
round the collar and wrists, was in the possession of the late John Gage, Esq.,
Director of the Society of Antiquaries. (See note by Miss Charlotte Augusta
Sneyd, at p. 72 of the Venetian Report of England printed for the Camden Club,
London, 1847.)

28 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

de vin du Rhin. Mais dans un temps de guerre quand il
fallait repousser le Turc au cimeterre etincelant, Henri
d'Angleterre etait il assez fort et brave chevalier pour cela ?
" Le Prince qui avait besoin d'etre porte a cheval par son
Ecuyer, quand le cornet de chasse retentissait aux cris de la
meute dans les forets de Windsor, ne pouvait aspirer a une
dictature militaire dont la pensee premiere etait de sauver la
Chretiente menacee."

The two portraits are much at variance with each other,
and the discrepancy warrants an inference that the personal
observation of the diplomatists of Venice may serve occa-
sionally to correct philosophical historians, nor will it appear
unreasonable to conclude that far more impartial details of our
country may be gathered from the contemporary writers of
Venice, than from the vague surmises of modern essayists.
The satisfaction which Sebastian Giustinian gave in the fulfil-
ment of his mission to England was such, that in 1526, the
senate appointed him ambassador to Francis I. On the road
to the French court, he was made prisoner by the Switzers,
but after a short detention was released.

In the year 1529, he returned to the French court,
and being at Blois, in November 1530, he remonstrated
in a manner both chivalrous and disinterested, with Sir
Francis Bryan, the ambassador of Henry VIII., against
the treatment to which Queen Catherine was then sub-
jected ; this fact is handed down to us by Bryan himself,
who in a despatch dated Blois, 2ist November 1530, plumes
himself on « the smart reply he made to the Venetian
ambassador who solicited him to write to his Majestic and
dehort him from proceeding any farther in that matter of
Queen Katherine."*

From 1532, when Sebastian Giustinian returned to Venice,

* See Harleian Catalogue, vol. i., p. ,74.

THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY. 2Q

until 1540, he was constantly employed in the service of the
State. In the last-named year, the Signory rewarded him
with the dignity of Procurator of St. Mark; his death took
place on the I3th of March 1543, at the advanced age of
eighty-three.

Sebastian Giustinian was twice married, first to a daughter
of Doge Foscari, and secondly to a lady of the Agustine
family, a namesake and kinswoman of the physician of Car-
dinal Wolsey. It is known that he had three sons, one of
whom, Marino, accompanied his father to England, and is
mentioned in the following despatches, as having visited Fox,
Bishop of Winchester, in August, 1517, at the time of the
sweating sickness, for the sake of preventing the spoliation
of Castellesi, Bishop of Bath and Wells, by Cardinal Wolsey.

The career of Marino was almost as active as that of his
father; in 1519 he took his seat in the cabinet, as " Sage for the
Orders ;" in 1526 he was Advocator Extraordinary; and in
1528, Advocator in Ordinary. In 1531 he was ambassador to
Francis the First, and in the year following accompanied the
French court to Marseilles, on occasion of the marriage of
the Duke of Orleans to Catharine de' Medici. In 1537 he
was accredited to Ferdinand, King of the Romans, and in
1541 fulfilled a mission to the Emperor Charles the Fifth,
whom he accompanied through Italy and Germany, and also
to Algiers ; but was shipwrecked on the coast of Spain,
where he died of suffering and exhaustion.

The only two compositions by Sebastian Giustinian, which
have been published, are his oration to King Ladislaus of
Hungary, and a letter to Erasmus from London,* during his
residence there as ambassador.

* The latter may be read at p. 1611 of the Leyden edition of the correspond-
ence of Erasmus ; it is dated London, 29th June, 15171 commencing with an allusion
to Sir Thomas More, thus, " Ex literis tuis ad Morum nostrum," and ends, " vale
litteratorum reipublicae presidium, meum decus, atque animae dimidium meae."

30 THE GIUSTINIAN FAMILY.

Marin Giustinian first appeared in print at Paris, in
1838, and at Florence in 1839 ; in both of which capitals
his Report of France from 1532 to 1535 was published ;
and, as his acquaintance with our lively neighbours and our-
selves was derived from personal experience, the following
may be considered worthy of preservation : —

" This most Christian King is compelled on several accounts
to maintain a close friendship with the King of England. In
the first place, because unless at peace with the English, any
military expedition he might undertake would be thwarted
by them, they being much dreaded by the French ; and, in
fact, ten Englishmen are a match for twenty Frenchmen."*

It remains but to add, that the family of Sebastian and
Marin Giustinian became extinct in the year 1612.

* "Questo Christianissimo Re e necessitate tenere amicizia stretta col Re
d'Inghilterra per piu ragioni. ^Prima, perche egli non potria pigliar alcuna im.
presa di guerra che, gli Inglesi, se non fossero suoi amici, non gli la disturbassero
perch& quella gente e fortemente temuta da Frances!, ed in effetto dieci Inglesi,
vagliono per venti Frances!." — Edition Firenze, 1839, Serie ima-> Vo1- *> P- l68-

DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN.

IN the 1 6th century, an ambassador on his journey to the
court where he was accredited, travelled slowly, and was
entertained sumptuously. In every intermediate state,
courtiers and men-at-arms rode out to meet the stranger, and
bid him welcome " in the king's name." He was admitted
to an audience of the sovereign authorities, and the mission
he thus parenthetically executed was often far more important
than one of mere ceremony. Sebastian Giustinian commences
his correspondence with the Signory at the very first stage
of his journey, and carefully notes his progress from city to
city, across the snows of the Alps, through the vineyards of
France, to the white cliffs of England.

He had left Venice to go by way of Ferrara to his
legation in England on the morning of the roth of
January 1515 ; his colleague, Pietro Pasqualigo, had departed
a few days previously, and was to wait for him at Lyons.

His first letter introduces us to one of those gentlemen
" such as the fury of ungoverned youth thrust from the com-
pany of lawful men," and who play so important a part in
the history of the middle ages.

32 DESPATCHES OF

[In Nomine Domini.]

CAioggia, January 12, 1515.

To the Most Excellent Council of Ten.

MOST SERENE PRINCE,1

I received letters from your Serenity last night concerning
the affair of Coppo,2 and having thoroughly understood them, and
pondered their importance, will endeavour on joining the magnifico,
my colleague, to comply with their contents, without any sort of
scruple soever.

Gratiae Serenitatis vestrae me humillime commendo.

SEBASTIAN JUSTINIAN, Eques Orator.

1 The letters are addressed to the reigning Doge, Leonardo Loredano, and to the
Senate ; but when secrecy is needed, to the Doge and Council of Ten.

2 Augustin Coppo was of an ancient family, the name of which had been inscribed
on " the Golden Book " at the time of the Reformation of the Grand Council,
1315. In the year 1510, he had held military command in the service
of the State; but between August 1510 and May^n, he was outlawed, probably
for some act of violence, for at the moment when the young Duke of Urbino mur-
dered the Cardinal of Pavia, at Ravenna in 1511, Augustin Coppo had just given
nine wounds to a fellow noble, an outlaw like himself, named Piero Querini,
who died in consequence. It seems that at the time, Coppo was in the service of
Pope Julius II., and in 1515 he yet enjoyed the protection of Rome ; for in the
month of February in that year, Leo the Tenth requested the Signory to grant
his pardon, though it is probable that the culprit was then at the court of France,
and that the instructions concerning him given to the ambassador Giustinian in
January related to his expulsion thence ; which, however, was certainly not
effected, for, after the battle of Marignano, he was at Milan with Francis the
First, to whom he seems to have rendered himself very useful in his gallant
adventures, supplying him with disguises, and helping to dress him with his
own hands, much to the scandal of the Venetian ambassadors; and in a letter
from one of the nephews of the Queen of Cyprus, dated Milan z8th November
1516, it is stated that the king had given Augustin Coppo a few ducats for his
good services, and that the ambassadors sought to frighten the king into dismissal
of this bandit by saying he had been in Turkey, where poisons were employed, not
merely in food, but in a secret manner, which he explained, and this so alarmed
the king that he promised to discard him. The death of Augustin Coppo is
recorded by Giustinian in date of April 3, A.D. 1517.

The next letter is written in all haste at 8 P. M., from
Goro, in consequence of the unexpected news of the death
of Louis XII., who expired at Paris, January I, 1515.

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 33J

To THE DOGE AND SENATE.

Goroj January 13, 1515.

We reached Chioggia on the loth instant, and remained there
waiting for horses, and making the necessary arrangements for our jour-
ney, until to-day, when we departed summo mane, arriving here this
evening. About the third hour of the night, the courier Benedict
arrived, having been despatched from Rome by the Magnifico Lando,
and he told me by word of mouth that the King of France had most
assuredly departed this life, on the ist instant; which news, as it
appears to me important, I have thought it advisable to communicate,
so that, should your Sublimity deem it expedient on that account to
make any change in this embassy, you may command us. I will
await the reply at Ferrara, for which place we shall set out to-morrow
morning.

The next letters introduce us to a very " bland and
gracious lady" Lucrezia Borgia, and are curious, as indi-
cating the equality which seems to have existed between her
and the duke her husband in the management of political
matters.

Ferrara, January 15, 1515.

We arrived here on the I4th instant. Yesterday I went to visit this
most illustrious lord,1 to whom, after the presentation of my creden-
tials, I announced the love and good-will borne by your Excellency to-
wards his lordship, and the wish entertained by you for the welfare
of his Duchy, deeming his interests and your own one and the same,
with many other expressions suited to the occasion. His lordship made
answer that he was your Excellency's good servant, and desired not
merely your state's preservation, but moreover its increase, and inquired
of me whether I had heard aught of the most Christian King's
decease. I answered that I knew nothing, he said he understood that
he had departed this life on the ist of January, yet did he not believe it,
quoting dates to prove that the report could not reasonably be credited,
VOL. I. D

34

DESPATCHES OF

and after much had been said hereon, I took my leave and returned to
my quarters, where I am honourably boarded by his lordship, out of
respect for your Excellency. I have also visited her excellency the
Duchess,2 to whom having presented the letter of credence, I paid
my respects, as was fitting, and after receiving a very bland and
gracious reply, with abundance of other words on both sides, I took
leave. To-day, two letters from your Excellency have been presented
to me, with a despatch for transmission to the Magnifico, my
colleague; the first informs me what I am to do in France and
England, and the whole shall be executed with all diligence. The
second missive confirms to us the death of the most Christian King,
enjoining me to continue my journey, and to follow the instructions
contained in your mandates : the despatch I shall forward with
all diligence by way of Lyons, in compliance with the commands of
your Excellency, to whose favour I humbly commend myself.

1 Alfonso of Este, Duke of Ferrara.

2 Lucrezia Borgia, who had been married to Don Alfonso of Este in the month
of February 1502.

Ferrara) January 16, 1515-

It having behoved me to remain here until to-day on account of many
things required for our journey, I went to take leave of these most illus-
trious Lords (Signori), the Duke and Duchess, from whom, in like man-
ner as at the first, I received kind greeting, and until the very last did
they treat me excellently, with every demonstration of honour. They
appear deeply to feel this demise of the King; hoping, nevertheless t
through the capacity and power of his successor, and his readiness to
interfere in the affairs of Italy, not to find themselves in a worse
plight than they were during the reign of his deceased majesty, and
that their enemies, namely the Spaniards, may not rejoice for long :
both the duke and duchess affirmed that it was ever their intention to
follow the same fortune as your Excellency. To this I answered as I
deemed becoming, assuring them of your Sublimity's holding in very
great account the friendship of their excellencies, for whom you enter-
tained a paternal affection, and with this I took leave of them, they
giving me the strictest injunctions to recommend them to your
Serenity.

SEBASTIAN GJUSTINIAN. 35

To-day we are setting out for Cento, and have sent one of my
couriers to Lyons with the despatch, and my own letters to the Magnifico,
my colleague.

The letters immediately following illustrate the unhappy
state of Italy, and the uneasiness and alarm in which the
minor States were kept by the aggressive policy of the Papacy
and the house of Medici.

Flew Pelago, January, 20, 1515.

My last was dated the i6th instant, from Ferrara, whence we de-
parted on that day, and by rugged and difficult roads, we, to-day,
reached Pieve,1 a place belonging to the Duke of Ferrara, situated at the
root of the Appenines, having been accompanied thus far by a courier
of said Duke's, which was a great convenience to us. To-morrow,
Providence favouring us, we shall cross the mountain, and on the day
after we go to Lucca, from which place I shall write to your Sub-
limity, and will do the like as I proceed. We hear nothing in this
place worthy the notice of your Highness, save that the Lord Ales-
sandro de' Pij — one of whose fiefs called Sassuolo, an important castle, had
been occupied by his Holiness — having recruited a considerable number
of mountaineers from the Modenese and Bolognese territories, took the
place and put the commander to death. I have been told that this was
done by connivance of the Count Guido Rangone, who is the Pope's
Governor in Modena, which surprised me vastly, that Count Guido,
a stipendiary of the Pope's, should favour an attack upon a place held
by his Holiness. Should I hear anything more, I will inform your
Sublimity.

1 In the Duchy of Modena.

Lucca, January 25, 1515.

On the a^rd instant we arrived here, after many difficulties in crossing
the Appenines, owing to the very deep snow and the badness of the roads,
and the magnificoes, magistrates, and gentlemen here have received me,

36 , DESPATCHES OF

and given me their company most politely, and on my going to the inn,
some ten of the chief gentry came and took me thence, conducting me
to the house of a gentleman named Messer Michiel da Poggio, where I
have been boarded most honourably, with every demonstration of love
and respect towards your most illustrious Signory. I went to visit these
magnificoes, the gonfalonier, and the magistrates, and in general terms
explained to them your Excellency's love and good will to their State,
and the wish entertained by you for their utmost prosperity, adding
many other expressions of goodwill, whereto the said gonfalonier made
answer, thanking your Highness infinitely for the compliment, and
saying that this city had ever deemed your Excellency the protector
and conservator of their cherished liberty, and that there was no Italian
potentate in whom they placed greater reliance and hope than in your
Highness, wherefore your distresses had not pained and grieved them less
than their own, and thus did they now rejoice at your prosperity, and
hoped your Excellency's affairs would turn out well, as you had borne
up against so much adversity, and such a universal conspiracy as had
been formed against the Signory by all the potentates of Christen-
dom.1 Adding, that they, the Lucchese themselves, were in great
trouble, for they well knew who it was that had designs upon their city
and their liberties, alluding to the Florentines and to the Pope,2 where-
upon, seeing that many persons were present at this conversation, I
professed incredulity that His Holiness (a Pontiff of great sanctity and
moderation, and who mainly for his good life was raised to the tiara)
should plot at this juncture to overthrow their ancient freedom, together
with many expressions full of praise of his Holiness, so that they ap-
peared much comforted, and said my language tallied with certain
replies of our lord the Pope himself, made to those who were urging
his Holiness to have this city occupied by the magnifico Juliano,3
and wMch were couched in these terms, " Let nothing more be uttered
about infringing the liberties of the Lucchese, as we choose to be the
conservator of that city and its franchises." With this, I took leave,
and was reconducted to my quarters.

I am waiting for the safe conduct from Genoa, which I expect
hourly, having written thither from Ferrara by the courier Zanon,
desiring it might be sent to me here. I fancy it can only be delayed for
a few hours, but by way of precaution, I wrote immediately on my
arrival here that if not already despatched it should forthwith be for-
warded.

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 37

The news here is that, on the a 3rd, the Magnifico Julian arrived
from Florence at Pisa, where four galleys having been prepared for him ;
he purposes to embark on his way to Savoy, where he is to meet his
bride.4 He has about fifty Florentine gentlemen with him, in very
gallant trim, and it is said that he is also accompanied by the Lord of
Piombino :5 they number in all, from 200 to 250 horse. It is also said
here that the most Christian King has appointed the Duke of Bourbon6
Grand Constable of the Kingdom, which is nothing less than commander
of the entire French forces j this dignity has not been conferred on any
one from the days of King Louis XI., the father of King Charles, until
now, and hence one may reasonably infer that by giving this appoint-
ment to the said Duke, to whom the Italian expedition had been entrusted
by King Louis XII., it is his intention to persevere therein. Your High-
ness will receive better information than mine on this subject, through
the letters of the magnificoes, your ambassadors.

Item, throughout their territories the Florentines have been reform-
ing the regulations respecting their troops, which, I have been assured
by a very experienced and discreet gentleman here, will exceed 24,000
strong. They have had a great quantity of corslets brought from the
Brescian territory, and other places in Italy, and the commander of
these forces is one Jacobo, a Corsican, who had the command of 3,000
French infantry in the time of King Louis. There is, however, no other
stir. This is as much as has come to my knowledge worthy of your
Highness's notice. Should I hear anything else, on the various stages
of my journey, it shall be communicated with all speed to your Ex-
cellency.

1 This alludes to the league of Cambray.

2 Leo X. who had been elected Pope on the nth March 1513.

3 Julian de' Medici, brother of Leo X. j he died at Florence on the lyth
of March, 1516. This project of giving Lucca to him is not recorded by Roscoe.
Ranke informs us that Lorenzo de' Medici, sketching the characters of his three
sons, Julian, Peter, and John, said that the first was good, the second a fool,
but that for the third, John, he was prudent. This third was Pope Leo X.

4 Filiberta, daughter of Philip, Duke of Savoy, and sister of Luigia, the
mother of Francis I. (See Roscoe's Life of Leo X., vol. 4, p. 56, Italian Trani-
lation). We may add to Giustinian's hint of the grand doings at this wedding, a
passage from the historian of the Popes, "There was high jubilee when it wa«
known that Giuliano de' Medici meant to settle with his young wife in Rome.
' God be praised,' writes Cardinal Bibbiena to him, * for here we lack nothing
but a court with ladies.' "

5 Giacomo IV. Appiano.

38 , DESPATCHES OF

6 Charles Duke de Bourbon, who rebelled against his kinsman and sovereign,
and was killed at the siege of Rome, A.D. 1527, by a shot from the arquebus
of Benvenuto Cellini, if credit can be given to the memoirs of that boasthi
Florentine.

The next despatch is dated from Genoa. The reigning
Doge was Octavian Fregoso, who was proclaimed by some
four hundred citizens on the i;th of June 1514, after he
had quelled the Adorno faction. The wound from which
Giustinian found him suffering, may have been received
at the siege of the French garrison in the fortress called
" the Lantern," which he had compelled to surrender on the
26th of August.

Genoa, February 3, 1515.

My last were from Lucca in date of the a 5th ulto., whereby your
Excellency will have heard what had happened. You must now know
that on the ist inst., I arrived here at Genoa, receiving good and kind
greeting from many of the nobles here, and being honoured by the whole
city, out of respect for your Highness. On the morrow I went to visit the
illustrious Doge of this city, who is lying in bed by reason of the musket
wound he received in his hand in the recent engagement. I fancy the
malady will be of long duration, for 'tis an ugly hurt. I addressed him in
your Serenity's name, in very loving and affectionate terms, but of a
general tenor, not going into details, which might receive a sinister in-
terpretation, but condoling with him on his indisposition, and congra-
tulating him on the advantage he really derived from it j for, although
detrimental and mischievous, yet, on the other hand, had it procured
extreme glory for him, both through the valour he had displayed, and
the honourable position of his wounds, and I said that the shield which
was shot through, at the same time with his hand, bore testimony to
his prowess, so that he was renowned all over Italy. He appeared ex-
tremely pleased at this, mentioning how he had been wounded, and that
the result of the affair had done him honour, affording him greater com-
fort than the annoyance caused him by the said hurt, and that he should
therefore soon recover, vowing that he was anxious, if the opportunity
should be afforded him, to effect greater things for your Highness with

SEBASTIAN GIUSTIKIAN. 39

the wounded member, and also with his right hand, and whilst uttering
these words he raised each arm aloft j we next commenced speaking
about this new King of France, and he inquired of me whether I
thought he would come into Italy this year. I told him I could form
no opinion hereon, as when I left Venice, his predecessor's death had not
taken place, nor yet the new king's accession, and that consequently being
ignorant of his acts, proceedings, and language, I was unable to pass any
judgment thereon, but that his lordship was better able thus to do, by
reason of the daily letters he received both from France and Italy. He
made answer that opinions varied very much, some thinking he would
come, both because he had been one of the instigators of the expedition
in the time of King Louis, and also because the costs thereof had been
in good part defrayed by his predecessor. Others, indeed, say he
will not come this year, but stay to arrange his affairs with the
most serene King of England,1 and also desiring to obtain possession
quietly, and under happier auspices than by force of arms, and that this
was indubitably his own opinion ; but that those who say he will
come are the Emperor, the Spaniards now in Italy, and the Duke
of Milan,2 and this they say with a view to accelerate the league
now being negotiated between the Pontiff and themselves, with the con-
currence, moreover, of this state of Genoa, for should they assert that his
most Christian Majesty will neither come nor send an army this year into
Italy, it would furnish reason for delaying this confederation, which,
though not yet concluded, is in course of arrangement, under pretext
of preventing his aforesaid Majesty's coming, yet in reality was it (said
he) against other ancient possessors of Italy, meaning your Serenity, and
on this subject he was very diffuse, his language evincing the greatest
good-will towards your Excellency. I do not report this as though I
thought myself bound to build on his expressions ; as any man easily says
what he chooses, though there is no doubt but that in the event of the
coming of his most Christian Majesty (who naturally will wish to
recover what he has lost), it will behove this state to change its govern-
ment, or take a decided part.

Moreover the Magnifico Julian, who went to Savona on his way into
Savoy, having heard that the country is in arms, and that both the peasants
as well as certain Spanish and Swiss soldiers, have taken to the road,
under the command of one Hieronimo Casola (who, from what this
Doge's excellency tells me, is a man of the Emperor's), has determined
on going by sea to Nice from fear of snares being laid for him in many

40 DESPATCHES OF

quarters : he has very few attendants, and came into this town, moreover,
in very ordinary array, to the great surprise of every body ; true is it that
he gave out he had sent many of the horsemen of his company by way
of Lombardy, which must be better known to your highness than to
me : nothing else is known here. To-morrow, with the grace of God,
I shall embark for Savona, and from thence to Nice, both to escape
the very bad roads, and also to avoid such perils as might befall me from
these troops which have taken to the road : the like was done by my most
honoured colleague, Master (Messier) Pietro Pasqualigo, and with much
greater reason should I do so, having the example before my eyes of
the Magnifico Julian. I shall subsequently make for Lyons by the way
of Avignon, which is the best and safest, and with the Magnifico my
colleague will there await your Serenity's instructions, as enjoined us.
We have tarried these two days here in Genoa, both to rest ourselves,
being in truth extremely tired, owing to the long and laborious journey,
and also on account of the horses, which were chafed by the jou»ney j
nor will I add aught by this, but merely recommend myself humbly
to your Serenity's favour.

1 Maria Tudor, the sister of Henry VIIL, had been married to Louis XII. in
the preceding month of August, the bride being only sixteen years old, whereas
the bridegroom was fifty- three. The affairs for arrangement related to the queen
widow, who married the Duke of Suffolk at the end of March, Francis I.
acting as pacificator with Henry VIIL j perhaps from the dread of any post-
humous child of the queen widow's interfering with his own claims to the
crown of France.

2 Maximilian Sforza, son of Ludovic the Moor.

We omit a letter from Genoa containing nothing but an
account of the refusal by the Genoese to entertain an offer
made by the Switzers of a contingent of 6,000 or 7,000
men, to aid them against France, for a monthly stipend
of 7,000 ducats. The reader who has traversed the
beautiful pass of the Corniche, between Genoa and Nice, or
followed the windings of the Rhone by the principal mail-
road of France, from Avignon to Lyons, will be interested
m hearing how the same journey was accomplished 300
vears ago.

SEBASTIAN G1USTINIAN. 4!

Nice, in Provence, February 9, 1515.

By my letters of the 3rd instant, from Genoa, your Sublimity will
have learnt that I was to depart thence for this city on the 4-th. Yes-
terday, by God's grace, I arrived here, where I was greeted by the
whole town very lovingly, and beyond all comparison received much
more honour than in Italy : the cause of our being so long on the
way from Genoa hither, a distance of 140 miles, was the difficulty of
the navigation, caused by the bad weather, and also the report that
certain brigantines had been scouring these seas, wherefore, on reaching
Monaco, I proceeded hither by land over difficult roads, and remained
here to-day, for the purpose of resting the horses, which are half dead.
To-morrow, please God, I shall depart. I am told that ten days of
ordinary travel are required for the journey from hence to Lyons ; I hope
to* accomplish it in eight — being indeed exceedingly anxious to join
the Magnifico, my colleague, to execute the orders of your Serenity, and
also to learn the situation of our affairs, whereof, since leaving Venice,
I have heard nothing. We hear nothing in this place worth reporting j
should anything of importance come to my knowledge, I will notify it
in another letter to your Excellency. — To whose favour, &c.

To complete the particulars of the journey from Nice to
Lyons, we give the following passages from the voluminous
diaries of Marin Saniito, who quotes letters from Giustinian's
colleague Pasqualigo, showing —

" How he had been through Provence, where he found quartered
4,000 lansquenets, who had been sojourning there, on their march to
Italy, as it would have proved, had not the King died. He then pro-
ceeded to Avignon, where he found the legate, the Right Rev. Car-
dinal of Auch, who paid him great honour, and he supped with his
Right Rev. Lordship, in the company of upwards of 100 of the chief
ladies of Avignon. The banquet was so sumptuous, so varied, and of
such long duration, that nothing could surpass it. After supper, many
dances and mummeries, and so many representations were performed,
that they did not come to an end until daybreak. This cardinal was the
son of a brother of the Cardinal of Rouen (George d'Amboise). He
was likewise visited by Dom. Mario Sobirat, brother-in-law of the late
Philosopher1 Dom. Pietro Contarini, whose sister was dead, and the

42 DESPATCHES OF

daughter is married to a respectable nobleman of that town, and owing
to the relationship with Mario Contarini, son of Carlo, the ambassador's
brother-in-law, who has accompanied him, they greeted each other as
" cousins." He was also visited by Dom. Accursio, formerly ambassador
from the King of France to the Signory,who is very anxious to return
in that capacity. He writes how he left Avignon on the 2 3rd, and
came to Valence, which is the town that gave his title to the Duke of
Valentinois, the son of the late Pope Alexander, and of which he was
subsequently deprived by the King. He next reached St. Antoine de
Vienne, which is a fine town in Dauphiny, whose archbishop is the Car-
dinal San Severino ; and then he arrived at Lyons on the morning of the
z/th. The only news talked of relate to this new King, his beauty,
his unheard of liberality, the offices bestowed by him, and the pomps
and entertainments now being prepared in Paris. His Majesty is, at
Rheims, for his consecration, and is to be crowned on next Thursday,
which will be the and of February. He then goes to San Marcolpho,
in Champagne (Sainte Menehould, called in Latin, Sancta Manchildis),
to test the miracle of the scrofula, and will then return to Paris, where
he will remain during the whole carnival for his diversion.

1 Filosofo is the word used by all Venetian writers of this date to denote a man
of literary or scientific pursuits.

The two ambassadors reached Lyons in safety, when the
following commission was received by them from Venice : —

Leonardus Lauredanus, etc., Nobilibus et Sapientibus <viris Sebas-
tiano Justiniano Equiti, et Petro Pasqualico Doctori et Equiti Orato-
ribus nostris : Fidelibus dilectis, salutem et dilectionis affectum. — On
hearing of the death of the most Christian King Louis, we wrote to
you, that, on arriving at Lyons, you were there to await fresh instruc-
tions from us. Since then, the most serene and most Christian King
Francis, the son-in-law of his deceased Majesty, having succeeded to that
kingdom and been crowned as you will have heard, and having, by his
most gracious letters, announced his accession to our Signory, we, with
our Senate, have deemed it fit to write you these present, and charge
you to continue with all diligence your journey unto his most Christian
Majesty, in whatever place he may be staying ; and on the authority
of our credentials, and in company with our ambassador there, your pre-

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 43

decessor, you will, in the first place, in grave and forcible language,
condole with him on the death of his most Christian father-in-law ;
after which, you will congratulate him on his own most auspicious
accession to that crown, — an event which has greatly mitigated our
grief; the love and affection ever borne by us towards his Majesty, whose
prosperity and exaltation of every sort afford us as much comfort and joy
as anything that we could possibly desire, both for the love we have spoken
of and because of the very excellent endowments, both of mind and per-
son, which adorn his most Christian highness ; and by so much the more
earnest you may show yourself in expressing this, by so much the more
will you fulfil our intention towards his Majesty, telling him, in con-
clusion, that although we have already performed this office of respect by
letters, yet, not satisfied herewith, it has seemed fit to us to intimate to
him by word of mouth our friendly disposition with regard to his
Majesty. Subsequently, at another private audience, likewise in com-
pany of your predecessor, you will tell his Majesty of the satisfaction with
which we perused his letters ; to which, although we have already made
fitting reply in our missives to his Majesty, and through our am-
bassador, yet have we also deputed you to repeat to him our firm inten-
tion of persevering in the alliance and confederation with his most
Christian Majesty, nor will we further dilate hereon, as here enclosed you
will find the letters aforesaid ; wherein, also, our desire is notified, that
the Italian expedition be speedily undertaken, and that with vigour, for
the reasons therein set forth in full ; wherefore you also will repeat them
to him, urging and encouraging him to take this necessary step, not so
much for our benefit as for the immortal glory of his crown, since
having everything already prepared and arrayed, he may easily realize the
general wish, to the confusion of the enemy.

The like office you will perform, should opportunity present itself,
with the most serene Queen, his consort, presenting the credentials
which we send you ; and in like manner, with the most illustrious the
mother of the most Christian King,1 to whom you will address all such
loving and affectionate language as your ability shall supply you with.
She being, not merely the King's mother, but, as we understand, a
person of great authority and power at the court.

After this, on the opportunity presenting itself, you will visit the
most serene queen widow, condoling with her on the death of her most
Christian consort, in the usual terms of respect.

In virtue of our letters of credence, you will likewise visit all the

44 DESPATCHES OF

lords in authority and power at the court, according to such information
as may be given you by your predecessor ; and especially the most illus-
trious Monseigneur de Bourbon, by reason of the dignity freshly con-
ferred on him by his most Christian Majesty,2 employing towards each
such nattering and friendly form of language as you may consider suitable,
proving to them the good will of our Signory on their behalf, so as to
secure their favourable regard to our policy.

The presents now in your hands, you will keep thus until further
orders from us ; and, on your departure for England, you will leave them
with your predecessor until the return from thence of you, Piero Pas-
qualigo, not giving it to be understood to any one that you have any
presents with you j moreover, we enjoin you especially to inform us who
are in repute and credit with his Majesty.

Having complied with the aforesaid, you two ambassadors will inform
his most Christian Majesty that, in like manner as on your departure
from Venice you had orders to go to the most serene King of England,
with congratulations on his sister's marriage, so are you now charged
to perform the office of condolence $ and, moreover, endeavour, to the
best of your ability, to keep the English King in love and at peace
with his most Christian highness, acquainting him that you, Piero, will
return to the French court. You will then betake yourselves to England,
where, on arriving, you will, in company with our ambassador, now
resident there,3 enter the presence of that most serene King, acquainting
him that, whereas you had been originally destined to congratulate
him on the marriage in his family, and to thank him for having
included the Signory in the confederation with the late King Louis,
it having thus pleased God to take the said King, his brother-in-law,
you now condole with him on the demise, employing loving words
indicative of our affection and respect for his Majesty, as heretofore for
his most serene progenitors, whose affairs and those of his subjects
have been ever looked upon by us in the same light as our own, ac-
cording to the spirit and ancient custom of our republic, handed down
as a mission by our forefathers, dilating hereon as much as you shall
deem fit j and, above all, you will thank his Majesty in the most grateful
language, for that, in the confederation formed between him and the late
most Christian King Louis, he deigned to name us as his special friends
and confederates. After this, at a future audience, you will (in that
prudent and dexterous mode which is familiar to you) assure his Majesty
that, should it be his pleasure, your efforts will be directed to this end,

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 45

exhort him to be united with the King of France, and to confirm with
him that peace which he maintained with the deceased King, as the union
of two such great sovereigns will be of great benefit and advantage to al[
Christendom, expatiating hereon with such arguments as shall seem fit to
you, and of which your own judgment will furnish you abundance ; and to
this end all your efforts will tend, regulating yourselves with prudence
and according to existing circumstances, and as you shall perceive to be
the wish of his most Christian Majesty. You will also visit the most serene
Queen,4 condoling with her, in the first place, on the death of the most
Christian King Louis her brother-in-law ; and then congratulating
her on the well-being of the most serene King her consort, and of her-
self, in terms calculated to impress her with the love and reverence
borne by our Signory to their majesties.

Subsequently you will visit all the principal lords, according to such
information as you may receive from your predecessor, in order to keep
them well disposed towards our Signory. These things done, you,
Sebastian, will remain there, so that your predecessor may return home ;
and you, Piero Pasqualigo, will return to France, there to reside, so that
your predecessor at that Court may, in like manner, come back, you
being both most assiduous in frequently notifying to us the news of events
there, as we are confident you will be. Your present commissions you
will communicate to your predecessors, as becoming. — Datae in nostro
Ducali Palatio Die Prime, Februarii 1514. A Tergo: Nobilibus et
Sapientibus viris Sebastiani Justiniano Equiti et Petro Pasqualico
Doctori et Equiti Oratoribus nostris in Franciam et Angliam pro-
ficiscitentibus.

1 Louise of Savoy, daughter of Philip, Count of Bresse (afterwards Duke of
Savoy), married Charles D'Orleans, Count of Angouleme, A.D. 1488, and gave
birth to Francis, who, on the death of Louis XII., became King of France. The
career of the King's mother as regent, when her son undertook the expedition to
which he is here urged by the Venetians ; her government of France during the
King's imprisonment in Spain j her quarrel with the Constable in particular, and
her amours in general, are too well known to need recapitulation here ; but the
instructions given by the Signory to Giustinian and his colleagues prove that the
Venetian politicians anticipated thus early the important part the queen mother
was destined to play in the history of France.

2 The office of" constable. See the despatch from Lucca of the 25th January,
page 35.

3 Namely, Andrea Badoer, of whom we shall hear further presently.

4 Catharine of Aragon.

46 DESPATCHES OF

The main object of the Senate in permitting the invasion
of Italy by the French king, was the recovery of Verona and
Brescia, at present held by the Emperor Maximilian. For
the accomplishment of this design, it was of course important
to secure the neutrality, if not the friendship of Henry.
The presents alluded to, as we shall see further on, were at
first intended for Maria Tudor, the sister of Henry, and
now queen-dowager of France, but no longer a person of
any influence.

In the following letter we have a hint of the first idea
entertained by Francis and Henry of the " Field of the Cloth
of Gold." It is well known that the interview actually
took place in 1520, five years after the despatch of the
messenger " post haste" for the fineries here alluded to.

Lyons , February zjtA.

Since the last forwarded by me, Sebastian, from Nice gn the gth instant,
I have not written to your Sublimity, having been always on the road,
until my arrival here, which took place on the 25th, and was delayed
beyond my expectation, owing to the severe weather and bad roads
which I encountered. On my arrival here, I found my most noble col-
league anxiously expecting me, and as I and my companions are
much fatigued by the extreme roughness of the roads, our horses being in
like manner well nigh exhausted, it behoves me to remain here a
while, and perhaps in the mean time my baggage will arrive, which for
greater convenience we both of us sent by the merchants, by way of
Lombardy, and great need have we thereof, as we none of us possess any-
thing but our riding dresses ; though, should the delay be prolonged, we
shall not fail to continue our journey for your Serenity's service, provid-
ing ourselves with new apparel, though not without great detriment to
ourselves.

I, Sebastian, have, moreover, perused the commission and letters of
credence which your Serenity forwarded by the courier Vincenzo, they
having been communicated to me by the aforesaid, my most noble col-
league, with which we shall endeavour to comply with all diligence,
according to the intentions of your Serenity. We do not write any other

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 47

news of the Court, referring ourselves to what the most noble Dandolo
notified to your Sublimity through Fioravanti. Certain merchants here
have received letters from London, from one D. Leonardo Frescobaldi, l
a merchant of great credit, and from what we hear very rich, in date of"
the i2th and i5th instant. By those of the izth, he says that the most
Serene King would, to the utmost of his power, maintain a good and
perfect understanding with his most Christian Majesty, who was nego-
tiating for a conference with him, and within three days, the conclusion
of these negotiations was expected from the Duke of Suffolk, who is at
the French Court. By those of the 1 5th, he says it is settled that the
aforesaid most Serene Kings should meet at Calais, and that his Majesty
of England had despatched a messenger post haste to Florence for a
great quantity of cloths of gold, and of silk, so as to meet this most
Christian King with honour, and although we doubt not but that if this
be true, your Sublimity will be already acquainted therewith by letters
from the most noble your ambassador Dandolo, nevertheless, it has not
appeared to us unfitting that we likewise should announce to you the
intelligence in the form it has reached us.

With regard to his most Christian Majesty's coming this year into
Italy, or the reported movements amongst the Switzers, nothing is as yet
said here by any one, beyond what was notified by me, Piero, in former
letters to your Highness.

1 The Frescobaldi of the text is evidently the Florentine merchant who, in
the tragedy entitled " The Life and Death of Thomas Lord Cromwell " (and
which is one of the seven plays attributed falsely to Shakspeare), is made to
play a humane part, is subsequently reduced to poverty, and finally obtains grateful
aid from the hero of the piece.

" Bannister. — O heavens ! It is kind Master Friskiball ! "

Giustinian wrote a second time from Lyons, on the 3rd of
March, the colleagues having waited there in vain for the
arrival of their baggage. At last, they departed for Paris,
having bought themselves fresh apparel, with which they
" will try to make shift in court until their effects arrive, and
pray God to send them quickly !"

In another week we hear of them at Moulins, in the
midst of the pleasant Bourbonnais. On the road thither, it

48 DESPATCHES OF

appears, they met the ambassador of Mantua, on his way
homewards, after a long residence at the French Court ; and
after him, the Signor Theodore Triulzi,in company with the
far-famed Bayard, then " a captain of one hundred lances."
The first of these gentlemen assured the Venetian Envoy of
the intention of Francis I. to make an early descent into
Italy, and in six days more we find Giustinian dating his
letters from Paris . . .

Paris , zoth March, 1515.

On the 1 5th instant, having overcome the difficulties of a long and
very bad muddy road of 100 leagues between Lyons and this place, we
reached a spot two short leagues distant hence, where it behoved us
remain until the lyth, as his Majesty was then absent on a hunting expe-
dition. But the same day, having come a league nearer, there arrived
the Count Gian Giacomo Triulzi, who, on getting off his horse, proceeded
to visit us at the hotel. He had a long conversation with us, saying,
amongst other things, that from fear of the Swiss entering Dauphiny, his
most Christian Majesty was sending him to Lyons, and that should the
Switzers come, or the apprehension of their coming continue, his
Majesty would add 8,000 other lansquenets to the 4,000 now in Pro-
vence. These forces, he said, are well nigh all mustered, at the
suit of his Majesty, in Guelders, and that so many men at arms, &c.,
would be equipped, that in the event of said Swiss dispersing, or
of this apprehension being dispelled, beyond all doubt, the King
would descend into Italy, for which expedition, he said, he had often
strenuously laboured at the royal council board, in order to persuade
his Majesty to undertake it without delay ; and thus, by diverting the
attention of the Swiss to another quarter, to prevent their making an
inroad into France. He added, he had ever found his Majesty well dis-
posed towards this undertaking, but with respect to its execution, he
ux.nd the following impediment, namely, the assurance which the King
received from every body, that he must first establish himself in his
kingdom before engaging in such an enterprise, and to this matter he
was now attending with his whole soul 5 it being considered certain that
the peace with England and Flanders would be concluded, but that the
truce with Spain would encounter greater difficulty, as the Spanish king l

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 49

wanted to include the Duchy of Milan therein, to which King Francis
would on no account consent. He also said that the Doge of Genoa
had lately sent a secret envoy of his hither, to arrange his affairs, the
conclusion of which was delayed by his most Christian Majesty's demand
of 150,000 crowns from Genoa, for the destruction of the Lantern,
whereas the Doge required that, without disbursing more money, this
claim should be dropped. He said that this negotiation was still on foot.

His Lordship next spoke of the most Christian King personally, and
said that his extreme liberality to every one would drain the very blood
from his veins ; amongst the rest, his mother applied all her energies to
the accumulation of money, and also laid claim to managing every thing,
not allowing his Majesty to act without her concurrence. He added, that
amongst those who have great power with his Majesty was Monsieur
de Boissi, the Lord Steward, who, before the accession of the King, was
his Governor,2 and even now his Majesty defers so greatly to him, that
in the words of Count Gian Giacomo Triulzi, he is still as it were under
his rod. Next to him, he said, there came the Bastard of Savoy, then
the Constable de Bourbon, and then Monsieur de Lautrec, but those who
manage everything are his Majesty's mother, together with Madame de
Bourbon, and Monsieur de Boissi. His Lordship evinced great regret
at his Majesty's being under petticoat government, condemning, more-
over, his mode of life since he became King, which is in this wise — he
gets out of bed a little before noon ; then, after dressing and hearing
mass, he forthwith dines, and immediately afterwards withdraws to his
mother, and after remaining a short while at the Council Board, occupies
himself with incessant amusement until supper time, so that with diffi-
culty can one find an opportune moment for transacting business with
him. With this information, after making many offers of service to
your Serenity, his Lordship mounted his horse, and having taken leave,
departed for Lyons.

We, having had an intimation made to us to this effect, came on
the same day towards this city, and on the way were met by the most
noble Dandolo, and by the brothers and relations of the Reverend Bishop
of Asti,3 the ambassador resident with your Highness. In their com-
pany we came on well nigh to the gates, where we were met in his most
Christian Majesty's name by Monsieur de St. Valier, well attended, and
he told us that the King had ordered a number of bishops and grandees
to meet us in honour of your Serenity, and that we must therefore await
their coming, as we did for the space of an hour j but seeing that they

VOL. I. E

^0 DESPATCHES OF

did not make their appearance, his Lordship requested us to enter, and
accompanied us as far as our dwelling. Since then we have continually
applied for public audience, but it has been put off from day to day, on
account of the indisposition of the Lord Chancellor, whose office it is to
reply on similar occasions ; we, however, hope to have it to-morrow, and
our letters will inform your Serenity of the result. In the mean while
we will not omit mentioning that the brothers and relations of the Re-
verend Bishop of Asti abovementioned, not only came a good way to
meet us, but have also visited us here daily, making infinite offers of
service, with the greatest possible professions of attachment to your
Serenity.

1 Ferdinand the Catholic, who died January ifth, 1516 ; he was the father of
Queen Catharine.

* Pere Daniel in his history of France mentions (vol. ix. p. 6) that, on the
accession of Francis I., Monsieur de la Palice received the baton of marshal, and
ceded his charge of Lord Steward to Gouffier de Boissi, who had been the king's
governor; and the historian adds, " Ce Seigneur, avec Florimond Robertet, Secre-
taire d'Etat, sous le precedent regne fut mis dans le ministere. Anne de Mont-
morency et Philippe Chabot, deux jeunes seigneurs, qui avoient etc eleves avec le
roi, eurent des lors grande part a la faveur.1'

3 Namely, Triulzi, whose name is given thus by Sanuto, in his diaries ; also
according to Ughelli (Italia Sacra, vol. iv. 395, 6) the see of Asti was held at
this period by Antonio Triulzi, whose nephew, Caesar Triulzi, became his co-
adjutor in the bishopric, September loth, 1516.

The indolent habits of the King, and the sickness of the
Chancellor, were not the only causes of the delay. The am-
bassadors of the Archduke Charles (afterwards the Emperor
Charles V.) were at the court of France, negotiating a
"peace and confederacy" with Francis I., which was really
concluded in the course of the next day or two. After
this there was no difficulty in fixing the hour of audience ;
and the following despatch relates how it took place on the
evening of Sunday, the 25th of March 1515.

Paris, l$th March 1515.

According to the order given us on the day before yesterday, to-day,
at about the vesper hour, his most Christian Majesty sent the Rev.

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 5!

Bishops of Angoul^me and of Constance, and the Seneschal of Tou-
louse, to bring us from our dwellings and accompany us into his
presence j and having gone with them, we found him seated in a hall,
under a canopy, very richly dressed all in white baukin;1 and on one
side were seated, according to their degree, all the princes of the blood ;
and on the other, the Lord Chancellor,2 with many prelates. Behind
his chair there stood the illustrious the Infant of Aragon ;3 the Bastard
of Savoy j Monsieur de Boissi, the Lord Steward ; the Marquis of
Rothelin, the Grand Equerry } and Dom. Robertetj4 with very many
others. Immediately on his Majesty perceiving us, as he did the
moment we entered the door-way, he rose from his seat, as did all the
others, cap in hand ; we made the due obeisance, and notwithstanding
all our efforts, he would not allow us to kiss his hand, but embraced us,
evincing the greatest good will and esteem for your Serenity, positively
commanding, after we had presented our credentials, that we should sit
on either side of him. Whereupon, all having resumed their seats, I,
Sebastian, read an address in Latin, wherein, with grave and fitting
language, I endeavoured to comply with the desire of your Highness,
both by condoling in your name on the death of the late most Christian
King Louis, and by congratulating him on his own most happy acces-
sion, making such allusions to either circumstance as appeared to me
proper. His Majesty listened to me very attentively, and caused us to be
answered by the Lord Chancellor, also in Latin, thanking your most
illustrious Signory for such friendly professions, and offering his services
to the State. This done, the King rose, and calling us to him, said that
if we had any other communication to make to him in private, he would
graciously hear usj and thus, having withdrawn with us to a window
remote from the company, I, Piero, stated to him, clause by clause, all
that was enjoined us by your Serenity's missives, dated the first of last
month, both with regard to maintaining the alliance, and also
urging him to undertake the Italian expedition, alleging all such
reasons and grounds as my ability suggested. His Majesty answered
us with his own lips as follows, or in words to this effect : — " The
ambassador here present " (pointing to me, Marco) " is a good witness
to the love and devotion borne by me, before I was King, to the
most illustrious Signory ; and it now having pleased God to grant
me the honour of a Crown, I have fully determined on aiding and
backing Venice, and on rendering her greater than she has ever been }
and very shortly will I come with a powerful army in person into Italy,

52 DESPATCHES OF

for being so young, it would be a reproach to me to send others in my
stead j and assuredly not merely I, but all France is much obliged to the
most illustrious Signory ; for the other sovereigns, who leagued themselves
with us, were true to their engagements until their ends were obtained,
and then deserted us without the slightest scruple ; but the most illus-
trious Republic has been ever constant, nor for cost that she has incurred,
nor for perils and losses she has endured, did she ever choose to abandon
us, and this we must heartily acknowledge, so I shall be the best friend
to her that any King of France or other Christian sovereign ever was j
and I shall ever maintain a good alliance with her, with faith inviolable."
His Majesty then said, " that in order to secure this kingdom, and to
be enabled more speedily and effectually to attend to the affairs of Italy,
he had concluded a treaty with the' most illustrious Archduke,5 who had
tendered him due homage as his subject for the county of Flanders, but
had allied himself with him as Duke of Brabant and Prince of Spain,
agreeing to espouse Madame Renee, his Majesty's sister-in-law, 'the
daughter of the late King Louis, for whose dower he was about to give
the Duchy of Berri and 100,000 crowns, with as many more as a gift, so
that should the dowry be hereafter returned, 100,000 crowns remain to
him as a gift, the archduke being at liberty to ratify the nuptials afore-
said within the next three years and a half; and should he not be pleased
to do so within that term, the amity and perpetual peace is to continue
and not be interrupted, for the maintenance of which, eight frontier
towns are to be given up by each party, they subjecting themselves in the
event of contravention to censures ecclesiastic. His Majesty added, that
this peace would greatly add to the security of this kingdom, as thereby,
and through the friendship of the Duke of Guelders, of the Bishop of
Liege, Count of Hainault, Duke of Lorraine, the Palatine, and some
other Princes of the Empire, the King of the Romans would be unable
to do him the slightest hurt. As to the King of Spain, whom he styled
tyrant and deceiver, and who, under pretext of governing, had taken
possession of the kingdom of Castille, he, he said, by reason of this
friendship with the archduke, would act with greater reserve in plotting
any mischief against this realm from fear of being deprived of the said
government. In the next place, the King of England, without the aid
of French Flanders, and uncertain of the friendship of Scotland, will
have small power against France ; should he come with a scanty host he
would be beaten, whilst a numerous one would cost him much money,
and produce, perhaps, little effect after all, as was the case the last time,

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 53

even though he had the aid of Flanders, when he lost time and
treasure under Terouane,6 which place, his Majesty added, he was now
having rebuilt with the greatest speed, so that ere long it will be quite
restored and stronger than before. Respecting Tournai, he said that,
by reason of its being far inland, and now remote from all possible
succour owing to this alliance with Flanders, he could get it whenever
he chose ; but that he was, nevertheless, well disposed towards peace
with the King of England, who seemed, however, to be raising a diffi-
culty, by requiring his Majesty to withdraw his protection and amity
from Scotland, which he would never do. The King intimated through-
out this discourse, with sufficient plainness, that the cause of his not
coming into Italy at this present time, was the difficulty of making
treaties, which would enable him to unite his troops for the undertaking,
instead of keeping them dispersed, from suspicion of his neighbours, a
precaution which was neglected by the late King Louis, his father-in-
law, who, his Majesty declared, when the King of England came into
France, maintained at an immense cost for the defence of the various
frontiers not less than 4,000 lances, and 24,000 infantry. We thanked
his most Christian Majesty respectfully for the great good will and
affection which he manifested towards the most excellent Signory, and
for the friendly offers and communications made by him to us ; and as in
the public audience and the private one, we had been a long while
with his Majesty, who, moreover, we knew meant, notwithstanding the
lateness of the hour, to hear vespers, we did not deem it advisable for
the present to make any further rejoinder, or trouble him longer.
Referring ourselves to a future audience, we merely added that we had
been commissioned by your Serenity to go to England to condole on the
demise of the late most Christian King Louis, and to endeavour with
our whole power to keep the King of England in love and peace with
his highness, should it thus please his Majesty. The King answered,
that this would be very agreeable to him, as he is really anxious for a
good understanding with that most serene King, and would write to his
ambassadors resident there, desiring them to communicate everything to
us, in order to bring about the desired result in concert, saying, — " And
I am certain that you will do more for me than for that King j " and
with this, he dismissed us.

MARCO DANDOLO, Eques.,

SEE AST. GIUSTINIAN, Eques., \0ratores.

PETRUS PASQUALICUS, Doct. Eques.,

54 DESPATCHES OF

1 The word baukln was in use in England in the year 1501, to signify a sort of
brocade with a raised pile, such being the material styled sopra rizo to this day in
Venice.

2 Antoine Duprat, who had been appointed first president of the Parliament of
Paris, in 1507, was said to have secured his favour with Louise of Savoy and
Francis I., through their recollection, amongst other services rendered by him, of his
having by main force prevented a nocturnal meeting between Maria Tudor and
Francis, in the lifetime of Louis XII., the consequences of which might have
interfered with his claims as heir presumptive to the French crown.

3 When Louis XII. despoiled Frederick III., King of Naples, of his crown, his
second son, Alfonso, came to France, where he was known as the Infant of
Aragon. He died at Grenoble in this very year 1515.

4 Florimond Robertet was the Finance Minister of Francis I. Notices of the
Bastard of Savoy and of the Marquis of Rothelin will be found in Brantome j the
Marquis figures as one of the characters in the " Occorenza Quintadecima," of
Niccolo Liburnio, so it may be supposed that he was a patron of letters, as well
as a courtier and a soldier.

5 Charles of Burgundy had succeeded to his father, the Archduke Philip ;
but his grandfather, Maximilian, was still alive, and his maternal grandfather,
Ferdinand, had taken possession of the Government of Castille, which, on
Isabella's demise, belonged to Joanna, the widowed mother of Charles.

6 Whatever their losses may have been, the English eventually took Terouane,
and gained the battle of Spurs, alias Guinegate, on the i6th of August, 1513.
The Terouane fortifications were demolished by the English : and it is to their
reconstruction that Francis I. here alludes.

The next letter of Giustinian relates his complimentary
interview with the Queen of Francis I., on the day following,
to which Pasqualigo adds a paragraph, which proves his
obedience to the instructions he had received to withhold the
present intended for the Queen, now a dowager, and no
longer a person of influence.

" I, Piero, was visited a few days ago by the Magnifico D.
Hieronimo Triulzi, the brother of the Reverend Bishop of Asti, the
French Ambassador in Venice, and he told me the most Serene Queen
knew that I was bringing her a handsome present from your Highness,
and that on this account she would give us very good reception, and
he said that this had been heard through letters from the aforesaid Right
Reverend, his brother. I answered him that I had no present with me,
and knew not this, turning the conversation immediately."

Giustinian wrote two other letters from Paris, both on the

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 55

30th of March, on which day he set forward again on his
journey to England. We give the first of these, and the two
following, dated respectively from Boulogne and Canterbury,
for the light they throw on the political allusions contained
in the subsequent despatches.

Paris, ^oth March, 1515.

Since visiting the most Christian Queen on the a 6th instant, as we
notified to your Serenity in our letters of that day, we have been
extremely occupied until now, in doing the like by all these other Lords
in authority now at the Court, to whom, according to their degree, and
to the tenor of our credentials, we adapted our discourse, as we knew
became the present need of your most excellent Signory. We were most
kindly received by all of them, and they made us the warmest professions,
but leaving aside what is superfluous and of small import, we will merely
inform your Sublimity, in succession, what each of them said to us of
apparent consequence.

The most Christian King's most illustrious mother said to us, then,
that his Majesty had resolved to adhere to what he had promised every
one, so that he might never be accused of bad faith, and above all
towards your Serenity, whose friendship and alliance he held in greater
account than that of any other Christian Prince soever j so that on
arranging his affairs here, he would by deeds prove himself to you the
greatest and most faithful friend the State ever had ; and that hereof
you might remain most perfectly assured, saying, " Had the deceased
King not failed the Signory, his affairs would not have come to so
disastrous an end as befell them in Italy and in this kingdom ; and my
son, who was always about his person and understood all that was
done, has profited by experience, nor will he ever prove false to the
Signory." Madame de Bourbon likewise expressed herself in similar
terms, adding that she considered it certain that peace would be made
with England, though even should this not prove the case, it could not
injure this kingdom, both because the first peace made with the deceased
king was to last one year after his death ; and also because if the King
of England chose to undertake an expedition against France, he must
begin to collect his forces two years beforehand ; and then again by
reason of the agreement freshly concluded with the most illustrious the
Archduke, he would obtain no supplies, and for these reasons he will

56 DESPATCHES OF

the more readily accede to fair terms. She also said that the Swiss
were at present holding a Diet, at which some agreement with this
Crown was to be negotiated j and she ended by asserting, that as his
present Majesty's claims upon the duchy of Milan were not inferior
to those of the late king, and that as he was young and powerful,
much beloved by the entire realm, and certain of the cordial support of
your Highness, no doubt could be entertained of his coming into
Italy immediately on the termination of the matters now on hand. The
illustrious the Grand Constable showed himself most eager for the
Milan expedition, which he protested his most Christian Majesty would
undertake in person, as speedily as possible, with a countless body of
troops, saying, that the agreement with Genoa was expected in a
couple of days ; and that after Easter he was going to Lyons, and into
Dauphiny and Provence, to make some good provision for the men-at-
arms there, together with the illustrious Count Gian Giacomo Triulzi ;
and that his Majesty had despatched Friar Bernardin and Prejean1
to Marseilles, where he had ordered twelve galleys to be fitted out
(having already sent funds thither for the purpose), besides the other
twelve now in those waters, the which Prejean, on our quitting his
Lordship, we met going to mount his horse to proceed on his way ;
having, as he told us, been supplied with everything, and he humbly
recommended himself, offering his services to your Serenity.

The Lord Steward, Monsieur de Boissi, addressed us in few words,
but of favourable import, swearing by that God whom he adored, that his
most Christian Majesty loved your Serenity above any other Sovereign,
and that he would maintain an inviolable alliance with you, being well
aware of your good faith ; for that when this kingdom was abandoned by
all, your Serenity alone, and not without great peril, kept your engage-
ments. He likewise asserted that his Majesty would undertake the ex-
pedition with great force, and in good earnest, immediately on affairs
here being settled j wherefore, he added, your Sublimity might be of
good cheer, and boldly maintain your present attitude.2

Monsieur de Vendome, who is assuredly a prudent youth, made us
a sage discourse, saying, that owing to the death of the late King,
and his present Majesty's accession, all previous treaties were at an
end, and that it was therefore necessary for his Majesty, before un-
dertaking any expedition, to see how he stands with his neighbours $ so
that should he choose to wage war abroad, he may not be attacked at
home. He greatly praised the agreement made with Flanders, saying

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 57

that the like would also be effected with England, a promise to this
effect having been made by the Duke of Suffolk, who is yet here. He
also said that an arrangement was being negotiated with the Swiss,
through an ambassador of the Duke of Savoy, and that the ambassador
of the King of the Romans, who is the Provost of Louvain, had come
here, first to prevent the agreement with Flanders, and, if unable to suc-
ceed in this, to contrive that it be made with the co-operation and
authority of his said Majesty ; but having found that it was already con-
cluded, he was much dissatisfied ; and had proposed to his most Christian
Majesty a good peace and alliance with the Emperor, forgetting all the
injuries and ancient animosities excited by divers transactions between
him and the old King, in whose death they were all extinguished.
With regard to the Italian expedition, his Lordship affirmed that it
would, beyond all doubt, be undertaken immediately on the conclusion
of these negotiations. We did not fail at these conversations with said
lords to rejoin and allege whatever we knew was the wish of your
Highness, and in conformity with what your present most urgent need
requires.

We next visited the Pope's ambassador, and those from England,
and the most Serene Queen, the widow of the late king Louis.3
The English ambassadors assured us that the agreement with their King's
Majesty will be certainly effected, and that in a few days, the afore-
said most Serene Queen, having had her affairs here settled, will, with
the most Christian King's good favour, return to England j and pro-
perty here in France has been already made over to her as jointure
(contra-dote) , to yield her an annuity of 80,000 francs.

Yesterday, we had another private audience of his Majesty, when
we endeavoured to the utmost of our ability to obtain some declaration
from him about his undertaking the Italian expedition, omitting no
argument that we deemed fitting to encourage him and hasten said
enterprise. In reply, his Majesty made us a very long and most pru-
dent discourse, showing the great expense he had been forced to incur
since his accession to the crown, chiefly in paying the debts left by the
late most Christian King Louis, which amounted to a very considerable
sum, and also in doing the like by his Majesty's own debts, contracted
before he was King, and which exceeded 200,000 ducats ; adding, that
the enterprises undertaken by great princes, if conducted with fore-
sight and prudence, turn out for the most part well j wherefore, he
was endeavouring to remove every obstacle which might impede the

58 DESPATCHES OF

Italian expedition ; that he had already made an agreement with Flan-
ders, and hoped to come to terms with England, whither, to aid the
matter, he wished us to go on speedily. He said that the King of
Spain (whom he called crafty, and a vessel of manifold deceit) had,
through his envoy Gabrieleto, styled by him a profligate and sycophant,4
requested of him a truce for three years ; but that, being unable to
obtain this, he now asked it of him but for one year, on this side
of the Alps 5 whereto his Majesty said he would consent, provided
he promised during this period not to give pecuniary or other aid
to any enemy of his crown, and especially to the Switzers ; and he said,
" Should the King of Spain consent, I shall forthwith send the treaty to
said Switzers, that they likewise may see that he cheats them. " The
conclusion he finally came to, after much more to this effect, was that
he most indubitably intended undertaking the Italian expedition in
person with so great a number of horse and foot, and such a quantity of
artillery, and such ample provision for all other necessaries on either side
the Alps, that he should prove victorious without difficulty, to the great
advantage of his friends and especially your Highness, and to the con-
fusion of his enemies ; and he besought you not to deem it irksome,
having to wait and to maintain your position awhile unaided, as it was
much better for you that the enterprise should be effected as above men-
tioned, rather than that he should send a smaller army under another
leader than himself, as must be the case at this present, considering the
state of his kingdom, at the risk of peril and shame, as chanced in the
time of the late most Christian King Louis ; and this his Majesty repeated
two distinct times, saying, in fine, and placing his hand on his breast,
" Assure the Republic on my behalf, that, on the word of a gentleman, a
year from this day, or thirteen months at the utmost, shall not elapse ere
she entirely recover her whole territory; and, during this interval,
should she find herself in peril, be perfectly convinced that even at the
risk of losing my crown, I would not abandon her." Although we
made a long rejoinder hereto, proving both the peril and necessity
wherein the right noble Republic would be placed should his Majesty not
undertake his expedition speedily, or not furnish aid of some sort, we
were never able to obtain aught else from him ; so after thanking him
properly for his most ample profession, we took leave, to go to
England, and in the act of departure, his Majesty asked us how the
most noble Lord Andrea Grid5 fared, expressing himself precisely in
the following terms, " I never knew amongst men a more honourable

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN.

59

and accomplished person ; and should he ever have need of me, he would
see the love I bear him, and the good account wherein I hold him j"
and assuredly, most serene prince, his magnificence is in such great
repute with every one at this court, and so much esteemed, that it is
incredible.

We, Sebastian and Piero, having executed your Serenity's commis-
sions, shall to-day, after dinner, depart and betake ourselves, God willing,
to England, with all diligence, from whence our letters shall inform you
what we may effect with his Majesty there in all matters, and especially
about concluding the peace with the most Christian King, the which we
are aware is of incomparable importance for the affairs of Italy.

1 Namely, Prejeant de Bidoux, who, in the year 1513, was attacked in Con-
quet Bay by the Admiral Sir Edward Howard, Lord Ferrars, Sir Thomas Cheney,
and other officers of distinction. Sir Edward Howard immediately fastened on
Prejeant's ship, and leaped on board of her, attended by one Carroz, a Spanish
cavalier, and seventeen Englishmen. The cable, meanwhile, which fastened his
ship to that of the enemy being cut, the admiral was thus left in the hands of the
French j and as he still continued the combat with great gallantry, he was pushed
overboard by their pikes j subsequently, the French navy came out of harbour,
and even ventured to invade the coast of Sussex. They were repulsed, and Pre-
jeant, their commander, lost an eye by the shot of an arrow.

2 Meaning that the Venetians were to continue keeping the Spaniards and
Imperialists at bay.

3 Her marriage to Charles Brandon was privately solemnized in Paris the day
after this letter was written ; at least, in Dr. Lingard's history of England, it is
stated that the Duke of Suffolk determined to marry her on the last day of
March.

4 In the original, " Quale chiamo' PAGLIARDO i MOZO DE SPUDAS."

5 Andrea Griti had been taken prisoner by Gaston de Foix, at Brescia, 1512,
and whilst confined in France was empowered by the State to treat for peace. He
became Doge of Venice, 1523, and died in 1538. His portrait may yet be seen
in the College Hall at Venice, and on one side of the picture, fetters and the
crescent are represented to pair with lilies and gyves, on the other, as a memorial
of his having been a prisoner at Constantinople as well as in France. On both
occasions, he made peace between his captors and the State,

Boulogne, April ijth, 1515.

By our last, in date of the ^oth ultimo, your Highness will have
heard of our departure from Paris, on that day ; and on the 4th instant,
having used all diligence, we arrived here, from whence we should
have crossed over to England immediately had the weather been
favourable} but as the wind was foul we have delayed thus long,

60 DESPATCHES OF

meaning to make the passage either from hence or from Calais as soon
as possible.

To-day, finding ourselves with the Governor, M. de la Feuillade, a
man both of prudence and authority, he gave us a piece of news, which
will, we fancy, prove very agreeable to your Serenity — namely, that a
treaty of peace had been concluded and signed between the most serene
King of England and his most Christian Majesty, to last during their
lives, and that it was to be sworn to by that most serene King and the
French ambassadors, at Richmond, on the Monday after Easter ; and to
this effect he showed us the identical letters of Monseigneur de la Giesa,1
one of the ambassadors of the most Christian King, who framed the
treaty : all that is above mentioned he has written with his own hand,
and says he means to depart thence on the following Wednesday for
Paris, and sent hither to arrange for his passage and for a barque. This
important news we have thought fit immediately to notify to your
Highness by these present, forwarding them by post to the most noble
your Ambassador Dandolo, so that in like manner he may transmit
them with diligence to your Serenity. Concerning the particulars of
said peace, immediately on our reaching the court of England, whither
we shall betake ourselves with all speed, we will give full information
to your Serenity.

1 The name is written thus, and the person meant is Pierre de la Guiche. See
Rymer, vol. xiii. p. 476 : Tractatus Pacis et Amicitiae inter Franciscum I. et
Henricum VIII. Regem Angliae conclusus, dat. apud Westmonasterium die 5
Aprilis, Anno 1515. The colleague of Pierre de la Guiche signed his name
Johannes de Selva ; if not of Spanish origin, it is probable that he may have been
commonly called Jean Dubois.

Canterbury, 12th April 1515.

We wrote to your Serenity from Boulogne, of the agreement effected
between the most Christian Majesty and this most serene King, ad
vitam utriusque, and we sent our letters forthwith to the most noble
your Ambassador Dandolo.

Subsequently on the zoth we left that place, and yesterday, with the
aid of our Lord God, reached Dover, having been at sea during twenty-
four hours, owing to the foul weather, which buffeted us mercilessly.

To-day, early, we arrived here ; and shortly after, the French am-
bassadors also did the like on their return to the most Christian

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 6f

King. We visited them immediately, using towards their lordships
such friendly expressions as we deemed becoming 5 and we learned
from them how the peace aforesaid was sworn to and proclaimed
last Tuesday, the loth instant} and that your most illustrious Signory
has been expressly named and included in said agreement on the part
of both ; and that this most serene King of England is bound by
an especial clause, whensoever the most Christian King shall require
it of him, for the defence of his kingdom or for the recovery of territory
to him belonging, to give him 10,000 archers, at the cost of the
King demanding them. Item, that the King of Spain has not been
mentioned by either party ; indeed, that his Majesty holds him in great
aversion ; moreover, that the difference with Scotland has been adjusted
thus — namely, that should the Scotch make any incursion into this
kingdom, or perpetrate any hostile act with a force exceeding 300 horse,
and by consent of him who governs in Scotland, said aggressors are to
be deemed the enemies of both parties, and not comprised in this peace ;
but should said incursion take place, contrary to the wish and consent of
the governor aforesaid,1 he is to be compelled, if required, to make
compensation, restoring the plunder, &c. With regard to Tournai,
they told us that it had been necessary to leave it to this most serene
King. Item, that another clause had been added about the navigation
and commerce of the Venetian, Florentine, and Genoese nations —
namely, that all galleys, ships, and other vessels of said nations may freely
go, stay, and return, conveying their merchandize through all the realms
and places of France and England. The other articles of the aforesaid
peace, relate merely to the commerce of the French and English.

We have thought fit to give immediate notice of the whole as of a
thing true and certain, and very important to your Serenity, and likewise
through the same channel — namely, that of your most noble Ambassador
Dandolo— being aware that such is our duty. On reaching the court,
as we shall do very speedily, we will not fail to thank his most serene
Majesty for the mention made of your Highness in this peace, giving
you especial notice of all we shall effect.

1 John Duke of Albany. See Lingard's History of England, from which it
would appear that, contrary to the treaty between Henry VIII. and Louis XII.,
the Duke of Albany was in Scotland on the i8th March, 1515.

62 DESPATCHES OF

On the 2ist of April, 1516, the Venetian ambassadors
made their entry into London, and gratified the appren-
tices with one of these " Ridings," which Chaucer alludes
to in the following lines, quoted from the " Coke's
Tale" :—

" A prentis dwelled whilom in our citee, —
At every bridale would he sing and hoppe ;
He loved bet the taverne than the shoppe ;
For whan ther eny Riding was in Chepe,
Out of the shoppe thider would he lepe ;
And til that he had all the sight ysein,
And danced wel, he wold not come agen."

London, zist April 1515.

From Canterbury, on the i2th instant, we wrote to your Serenity of
our having crossed over to this side of the channel, and of what we had
heard from the French ambassadors, who were on their way back to
France, about the agreement concluded by them with this most serene
King. Subsequently, in order to await his Majesty's instructions re-
specting our entry into this city, we came as far as H ochester, twenty-four
miles hence, where we found the Consul, the Magnifico Dom Hieronimo
da Molin, son of the late Marin, with some of our countrymen, who, to
honour your Serenity, had come thus far, and with them we betook our-
selves to Deptford, a place distant twelve Venetian miles from this j and
from thence, on the i8th, there came to escort us, in the name of the
King's majesty, a doctor of the Parliament and another cavalier, with an
honourable company of about fifty horsemen all in one livery, who, after
addressing us in the friendly terms customary in like circumstances, accom-
panied us from the said place as far as our dwelling in this town. On
the road we were met, first, by the rest of our countrymen, and then by
the most noble the Ambassador Badoer and others, so that on entering
London, we numbered upwards of two hundred horse ; and as his
aforesaid Majesty is at Richmond, seven miles off, where he means
to celebrate the approaching festival of St. George, the patron of his
Order of the Garter, he has given us to understand that he will in that
same place, and on that very day, give us our first audience, for the sake
of doing greater honour to your Serenity j and thus do we hold our-
selves prepared and in readiness, and after having been with his Majesty,

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 63

we will give a detailed account to your Serenity of what we have
effected.

The peace with France was again solemnly proclaimed here yesterday.
Item, news is expected here hourly of the most serene Queen Maria's
having left Paris on her way back, to these parts, and from what we
understand (although this had been also publicly reported in France),
she is married to the Duke of Suffolk.

We have presented his letters of recall to the Magnifico the Am-
bassador Badoer, who answered us, that he is unable to depart hence
without a good sum of money j and he inquired of me, Sebastian,
whether I had brought him any supply, but I answered him in the nega-
tive 5 for although in the commission given me on leaving Venice, it was
stated, amongst other things, that a bill for 1,000 ducats had been con-
signed to me for this purpose by the Magnifico Almoro Pisani of the
bank, tanten re <vera, I never received either the bill or anything else.
We have chosen to notify this to your Serenity, that you may be ac-
quainted with the whole, and take such steps as you shall think fit.

Andrew Badoer, the ambassador mentioned in the fore-
going despatch, had been accredited by the Signory to Henry
VII., shortly after the news of the League of Cambrai had
reached Venice. The following extracts are from a letter
written by him to his brother, in date of London, 24th of
July, 1512, and copied by Sanuto in his valuable diaries.
It is introduced here for the information it contains on the
intercourse maintained between Venice and England, pre-
viously to Giustinian's arrival, and for the insight it affords
into the everyday life of England at that period.

FROM THE AMBASSADOR IN ENGLAND, ANDREW BADOER.
(Describing his journey and arrival there.)

London, July 24, 1512.

HONOURED AND NOBLE BROTHER, — During the many years that
we have loved each other fraternally, and with great tenderness and cor-

64 DESPATCHES OF

diality, I have known you to be ever just and loyally affectionat
towards your friends through numberless proofs afforded in your
person, which I shall ever remember; and in corroboration hereof,
on my return, which will take place speedily, you shall, please God, find
that my deeds correspond most perfectly with my words. For the
extreme devotion I bear you therefore, prithee, if required, bestir your-
self to favour me in justice, extreme wrong having been done me, the
recital of which, out of the honour paid by me in the quarter from
whence it proceeds, pains me, and grief so penetrates my heart's core,
that I know not how to bear it, my case being as follows : —

In the month of January in the year 1508-9, when the hostilities of
France against the most Illustrious Signory began to manifest themselves,
remedies being sought against the Gallic toils, the most sage counsellors
appointed to govern us determined to send hither privily an ambassador
to induce this most serene King to attack France (on whose crown he
has claims, it in justice appertaining to him), and to arouse him to
make a diversion over there in our favour j the need being extremely
urgent, and to despatch some one forthwith, and speedily ; though, as the
roads were intercepted everywhere, it was impossible to effect the journey
save at the most manifest peril of one's life. Inquiries were made over
Venice for one who had the heart to venture through such a hurricane,
the fire raging most fiercely in every quarter ; and at length, after many
consultations, no one else being found to their taste, I was elected to this
mission, without my knowledge, by the High Council of Ten and the
Junta, according to a motion carried therein, and assuredly by the will
of God and for the most excellent Signory 's weal, with one hundred
ducats per month for my expenses, whereof I was not required to give
account to any one.

This took place on the last day of January, 1508-9, when his
Serenity the Doge (to whom may God grant long life) sent for me, and
as I knew nothing of the matter, I stared at him in surprise ; whereupon,
he told me I had been appointed Ambassador here, exhorting me
to serve the State in his so sage manner, binding me in such wise, that I
could only reply fiat <voluntas tua; and pardon my presumption, brother,
Master Luke, but by God no one save myself was capable of executing
this mission. In the first place, laying aside the perils aforesaid, it
was easy for me to go in safety by any road, being well acquainted with
the French and German tongues, and with that of this country, which
is as little known at Venice as modern Greek or Sclavonic in London ;

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 65

ask those who know me, and you will hear, and for so great an
accomplishment I thank Almighty God. I thus in fine resolved to
come and serve the most illustrious State, especially being sent by the
Council of Ten, having always understood that whosoever obtains
their esteem, may be deemed fortunate. I therefore looked forward and
not behind me, inflamed by the most ardent love for my country,
and left my affairs in confusion, starting with a trifle of money
that might have sufficed, had I merely been going to Mestre or
Treviso, and not to travel through fire and water, as I may say, to the
end of the world, and in peril of my life. This, however, was my folly j
induced by the hope of obtaining, besides the certain promise of 100
ducats per month, great credit with the Government, as has been the
case, to my knowledge, with many more fortunate than myself, though
their deserts are far inferior to mine. With these aspirations, then, I set
out, and so much the more willingly, being persuaded by his sublimity
the Doge, who loves me, and urged my undertaking the service.
" Knowest thou not/' said he, " how those whom the Council of Ten
sends on similar errands of need are rewarded ? " In short, I allowed
myself to be persuaded, and in six days got ready j and departed in so
auspicious an hour, that after riding twenty-six days I reached London,
where I am now ; nor do I know what more could have been ex-
pected of a man at my age, which was then sixty-two years, and en-
countering on the road such disasters as the following : — First, I rode
incessantly day and night in disguise, crippling and laming myself so,
that I shall never again be as sound as I was previously j for when on
the Mount St. Gothard, my horse fell under me, whilst riding over ice
and in the dark, I received such a wound on my right leg, that it was
bared to the bone two inches deep, and by good fortune he fell to the
right ; for had he slipped on the other side, I should have gone down a
precipice, and no further news of me would ever have been heard, except
from the two cantonniers, who were at my horse's head to guide
my way. At length, by God's grace, I got to the inn, and it was the
night of the Carnival, and being late, I could get nothing but bread and
wine for my supper, and dressed my leg myself. On the following
morning, which was Ash Wednesday, I got to Basle (sic) at about
nine, and there embarked, to proceed by water, the Rhine being,
moreover, very much swollen ; and having gone thus some way down
the stream, we got into a large vessel loaded with merchandise, on
board of which were my horses likewise j and the bottom of this
VOL. I. F

66 DESPATCHES OF

boat struck upon some sedges under water, in the middle of the^
stream, near a shoal, past which the water rushed with great violence :
the boat went over on its side, and there we were, between the
sedges and the shoal, when, from the shock, the planks of the boat
separated, and she was carried to the shoal, on which we all jumped
immediately, landing the horses also, and the boat filled with water,
for it was neither pitched nor caulked, but merely nailed together like
the little barges which bring eggs to Venice. We passed the night
counting the hours ; and I, with my wounded leg, and all the rest of us
likewise, well drenched. Finally, praised be God, the boat was repaired,
and took us safe to Strasburg. This part of my adventures I have chosen
to tell you in detail j and for the rest, it will suffice to say that, as sus-
picion was everywhere alive, it behoved me to give account to every-
body of what I was doing, and not change colour whilst telling my tale :
so sometimes I passed for an Englishman, and sometimes for a Scotch-
man, whilst at others I thought it safer to make myself out a Croat, and
subject of the Emperor's, saying I was on my way to the court, whither
I had been sent, for a good secret reason, to his Caesarian Majesty, who
was then on the borders of Flanders ; with this pretence, I went on for
some days, having made my face very black according to a device of
my own j and when I had passed the territory where he was, I replied to
all inquiries that I was a messenger of the King of England's, returning
from court, and I came on thus, in another suitable disguise, until I got
near Calais, which is a fortified town in Picardy, on the main land, belong-
ing to the King of England. I experienced greater difficulty in getting
into this place, than had befallen me throughout the rest of my journey, the
country being open on every side with numerous fortified towns belong-
ing to the French on the borders, which are very strictly guarded from
fear of the English, so that, on one and the same morning, I was thrice
stopped by three French companies, who inquired my errand j and find-
ing myself at one time distant two miles from Calais, and at the other
one mile, I answered haughtily, that I was an Englishman coming from
Flanders, having been sent by my master for the presents, and then on
my way home, so that they let me pass, but rode after me to within a
bow-shot's distance from the walls of Calais, where I found an English
armed bark bound to London, on which I took passage with my horses,
and in one day and night reached London in safety, praised be God.
I like to give you all these details that you may know what a pleasant
journey I had on my way to this country.

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 67

Having reached London, picture to yourself, noble brother, what a
stately mission mine was ! for, on leaving Venice, to avoid suspicion, I
took nothing with me but what was on my back — namely, two shirts,
one over the other, and a certain doublet in the English fashion, all
patched and moth eaten, without purse or pocket, or anything in this
world : in short, on arriving here, I had to clothe myself anew from
head to foot, as a Venetian ambassador, just as if I had only then come
into the world, and purchasing each of my penn'orths for twopence.
Here they manufacture no cloths of silk, receiving all such from Genoa,
Florence, and Lucca — a most grievous and lamentable fact, for it behoved
me to take what I could get, and shut my eyes. Think what a figure I
shall make in Venice, my neighbours' gowns being of silk, and my own
of frieze. I bought everything new, at its weight in gold, at the
greatest inconvenience, and worse ; for, when at Venice, I shall be un-
able to use my apparel, as it is all made more according to the English
fashion than that of Italy. In the next place, I had to hire servants
who were common thieves, not knowing whom to trust ; and to give you
an idea of what they were, you must know that one glutton robbed me
of a silver gilt ewer, for which I paid twenty-eight ducats.

I found that the King, his present Majesty's father, to whom my
credentials had been made out, was sick, nor could he give me audience,
and a few days afterwards he died, and was succeeded by his son, about
the time of the rout of the Ghiara d' Adda.1 I wrote to Venice, that
the letter of credence was no longer valid, and that another must be
sent me, the which did not arrive until the following month of No-
vember, so you see how I should have served the state had I waited for
that ! It is well, that through the English noblemen whom I had
received of yore in my house at Venice (giving them good welcome, not
indeed that I ever thought at the time of going to England, but for my
own satisfaction), I was introduced to this magnanimous prince, not ten
days after his coronation, they having heed of my need, and exerting
themselves so, that their intercession and arguments caused the King
to receive my old letter, although addressed to his father. By God's
grace he was silent on this score, and heard me so graciously, that, by the
favour of the Almighty, he took a liking to me immediately, owing to
the good account of me given to his Majesty by my friends, and I was
enabled so to influence him, that I got him to write to the Pope in
favour of our most illustrious Signory, requesting him to receive the
State into favour and take off the censures : his Majesty promising for

68 DESPATCHES OK

us that we would prove most obedient sons of the Church in future. He
made such efforts as succeeded j and, in addition, sent his ambassador2
to Rome, who constantly took part with the Venetians, and against
France. After this, I prevailed on him to write some letters to the King
of Spain, praying his Catholic Majesty to consider the most illustrious
Signory as his ally ; and he also wrote endless letters to the Emperor,
sending him an ambassador to this effect. I also caused the King of
France to be written to, to desist from the league against the Venetians,
having obtained what belonged to him in the Duchy of Milan, whereas
he had no claim upon the other possessions ; and to assure him, that if
he chose to continue in amity with his Majesty here, he was to cease
molesting the Venetians his good friends and good Christians, defenders
of the Christian faith, who had proved themselves' the bulwark of
Christendom, by a most immense outlay, both of blood and treasure.
Upon this the King of France took offence, and answered sharply,
I fanning the flame from time to time, and by letters from said Majesty
quieting the Pope and the Catholic King his father-in-law ; and thus,
when these powers saw the King of England well disposed towards
the Venetians, they likewised commenced siding with the Pope, but
the chief impediment lay with the Emperor, but I so plied the King,
that he wrote to him offering to mediate and arrange every difficulty
between the Signory and his Caesarian Majesty. After so much exertion,
toil, and trouble, which never left me a single hour's happiness, nor even
repose, I was seized with a malignant fever, which never left me for
thirty-seven days. Thou mayst imagine how I was waited on, and by
whom, and with how much kindness, during this my malady, and who
came to comfort me. I had two physicians, each of whom chose to
receive a noble per diem, which is equal to a ducat and a half, and their
coming was as beneficial to me as if they had stayed away, and when I
had completed my thirty-seven days' fever in bed, the King received
a reply from the Emperor, and not knowing that I was so very ill, sent
to tell me to come and speak with him ; so, regardless of the fever, I rose
from my bed, on St. Catharine's eve, the z^th of November, and went
to the Court at Greenwich, six miles distant hence, by water, though all
dissuaded me from doing so, thinking it would be my death. When the
King saw me, he wept for very pity at my having come, it seeming to
him that I had been taken out of my grave, and he then told me he had
received a reply from the Emperor, and from his daughter my Lady
Margaret, who was also doing her best to aid us, having been exhorted

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 69

to this office by his Majesty, who asked me if I had full powers. I
told him I would not lie j that I would write speedily, and that the
most illustrious Signory, should it approve the agreement, would send
me a commission 5 so I despatched two messengers on this errand, and,
after a while, received the powers. Before these letters of mine went
to Venice, however, a sapient nobleman there, ignorant of my exer-
tions, and still less aware that my credentials had been accepted (it
seeming to him that my coming here was futile and vain), thought
fit one day to propose in the Senate, as grand sage, that I should return
home, without having even heard what I had done, but anticipating that
I should do nothing. Whereupon, another nobleman, Master Lorenzo
Orio, LL. D.,3 who was sage for the orders, inspired by God for the
State's weal to speak in my defence (for I had never exchanged a word
with him), and thinking I was wronged, proposed an amendment to the
grand sage's motion, purporting that I was to remain, but that my
monthly stipend should be reduced from 100 to 70 ducats, and this was
carried. Not a word, however, was written to me on the subject, and I
continued, according to my wont, to spend rather more than less,
especially seeing our affairs prosper ; and wishing to prove to the whole
world our joy and gladness, I did not mind spending freely for the
honour of the State, imagining that my salary remained fixed at 100
ducats per month, until about three months ago, the news aforesaid was
communicated to me by my son-in-law. I then wrote to entreat the most
illustrious Signory not to do me this wrong, whilst the salaries of others*
were being increased, as was the case with the late Messer Hieronimo
Donate, about whom my said son-in-law also wrote to me when men-
tioning this reduction. Donato's pay was greater than mine, although
he endured no hardships, whereas I was made to leave Venice under this
promise, and came hither without money, or without insisting on bank
security, as Lorenzo Capello did, who kept his eyes wide open to his own
interest, whilst I departed in the old fashion, hoping for great reward and
spending my poor substance on the faith of the most excellent Council
of Ten, which never fails to remunerate the good services of every one,
besides keeping its positive promises, and yet these last, as made to me,
are broken ! What reward can I hope for now ? you ought all to take
pity on me. But, indeed, I have not yet related the worst. I have been
nineteen months without ever receiving a single ducat, and ten months
without so much as a letter, but I was patient the whole while, receiving
the greatest encouragement from my poor son-in-law4 (who in like

70 DESPATCHES OF

manner, never enjoys a moment's repose), bearing all with patience, in
order to attend to my business for the welfare of my most dear city and
country, continuing my importunate suit to the King here. Seeing that
no money was sent me, I lived plainly and on credit, just as if I had been
at an hostel, paying three for what was worth one, and taking up money
on bills and at usury, so that I am in debt for life. From time to
time I wrote to the State what I had done, and what I was doing,
and with sincerity, but at Venice I was not believed, and often did they
say to my poor son-in-law, " Thy father-in-law writes fables : write to
him that it would be more to his credit to hold his tongue, than to write
what he does," not crediting my words, the truth of which was known
but to me, the person who had told me to write them binding me to
silence, and saying " Keep it secret; and let the effect suffice you." I
wrote, therefore, because I knew what I was saying, but none of these
merchants here believed this, and all notified the contrary, saying, that I
was pounding water in a mortar, and that it would have been better I
had not been sent hither, and that although I gave them hopes, I did so
for my own private advantage, and so forth ; in such wise, that they did
not choose to believe me, and when I wrote about the league, although
I did not ever mention either the name of the Pope or of others, they
answered that they did not believe it, whereas I, dear brother Luke, main-
tained it, and almost by force and against their will, assured them that it
was perfectly true, and that all I have written took place through my
good offices. Nevertheless, is the promise which was made me broken,
and no recollection preserved of the perils encountered by me in coming
here, nor of my illness brought on by my exertion, nor of the risk to my
life, when I rose from my sick bed and went down to Greenwich in the
depth of winter. Nor is any consideration vouchsafed for my pecuniary
interests, which have suffered through my coming ; nor yet for the
costs I incurred in forwarding despatches to France, to Spain, to Rome,
and to the Emperor ; of these matters no heed soever is taken in Venice,
it seeming to them that I have been at no expense, and that all the
money received by me here, at the rate of 70 ducats per month, was
disbursed for my ordinary expenditure. Oh God ! I know not where
this would be credited, or to whom I should tell it. I will, moreover,
say this to you, that from ambassador they degraded me to secretary, and
now choose to requite me thus ungratefully, although I am convinced
that never did ambassador leave Venice in sorrier plight than mine, and
do as much as I have done. By means of my exertions here, war

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. JI

was subsequently declared against France. Italy being thus wrested
from the hands of the barbarians, by this movevent of the English
King, although some attribute this result to Ferdinand of Spain, yet
would he never have moved, had he not been acquainted, in the first
place, with the wish of King Henry. It was the same with the
Pope and others, and much good was done in sundry matters effected, as
will be seen, through my intervention, whilst I am so treated by my
country, that from grief and melancholy I dread being unable to bear it,
and I must die outright, or make my escape, and not pay those who
have served me ; or else be put in prison and die, leaving my bones in
pawn, should money not be sent me, for otherwise it will behove me
to remain here until the day of judgment, in the event of my not
paying, for escape is impossible, being in an island ; neither should
I choose to have recourse to so base an alternative, but would prefer
death, after which it will at least be said that I died for Venice : and
then I am comforted by the proverb, that he who dies a noble death is
respected by the whole country. And it is also some consolation to me
to think, that should no good be done to me, it will be done to my
representatives. I have contrived to get on for forty-three months ; and
before I receive a reply to this, and can reach home, four years will have
elapsed, during which long period I have received in all 3,249 ducats !
See whether they have given me what they promised, having thus altered
the original arrangement. Should you aid me, as I am sure of your special
grace you will, I ask you for my arrears, without my extraordinary
expenditure, whereof I only demand 600 ducats on account, although I
spent many more. See if a sum can be sent me all at once, for payment
of my debts, and to defray the cost of my journey. I only ask for 1,500
ducats, and this much would enable me to leave this country in comfort.
Dear Messer Luke ! Magnifico ! my honoured brother ! aid me heartily,
as you have ever done in my need, for this is the occasion whereon you
will bind me to you for ever : again I beseech it of you as a special
favour, on my knees, aid me ! and I recommend myself to your mag-
nificence per infinita sxcula saculorum.

1 Henry VII. died at Richmond on the zand of April, 1509, and the
Venetian forces were routed at the Ghiarra d'Adda on the following I4th of
May.

2 Christopher Urswick, alias Bambridge, or Bainbridge, Archbishop of York.

3 This Dr. Lorenzo Orio went subsequently himself ambassador to England,
and, being a fine scholar, found much favour with Cardinal Wolsey ; but died of
plague in London on the evening of the xyth May, 1526.

72 DESPATCHES OF

4 The name of Badoer's son-in-law was Francesco Gradenigo. See Diaries, date
22nd December, 1510.

The magnificence of Giustinian's reception in London
was not limited to the gay cavalcade that accompanied him
from Deptford. The Easter festivities were approaching,
and St. George's Day, as we have seen, was fixed upon for
the presentation of his credentials to the king. Besides two
despatches, in which the manner of his reception and the
succeeding revels of May Day are related by the ambassador,
a more circumstantial account of these events was addressed
by Nicolo Sagudino, Giustinian's secretary, to a nobleman of
the Foscari family, and has been preserved by Sanuto in his
diaries. It is subjoined, because it supplies the details which
are needed to complete the picture of the manners of the day.

London, 7.6th April 1515.

By our letters of the 2ist of April, your Highness will have been in-
formed of many occurrences, and especially that on St. George's Day we
were to have public audience of his Majesty. By these present we
acquaint you that, on that appointed day, his Majesty aforesaid sent a
prelate and a knight, and an honourable train, to escort us from our
dwelling ; and they conducted us by the Thames to a palace of his,
called Richmond, ten miles hence, where we found the whole court, and
well nigh all the lords and prelates of the kingdom, assembled. We
were ushered into a stately hall, where all the aforesaid were congre-
gated : at one extremity was his Majesty standing near a gilt chair,1 sur-
mounted by many regal insignia, and his Majesty was under a canopy,
with a gold ground and a raised pile, arrayed in the robes of
the garter, as were eight other Knights of the Order. Having been
introduced to his Majesty, and after kissing his hand, and presenting to
him your Serenity's letters of credence, I, Sebastian, delivered a Latin
oration, in which we congratulated ourselves, in the first place, on his
Majesty's good health ; secondly, we condoled with him on the death
of the late King Louis, his brother-in-law ; thirdly, we thanked his
Majesty for that, in the league formed with the aforesaid Christian
King, he had named your Sublimity as his friend and ally, and on this

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 73

point we dwelt at length, and in the warmest terms ; fourthly, we
expressed our joy at the new confederation made by his Majesty with
the most Christian King Francis ; finally, we launched out in praise of
his Majesty, whom we extolled with all the eloquence we could com-
mand, drawing such conclusions as suited our purpose, which oration was
most attentively listened to by his Majesty and by all the prelates and
lords there present.

We were answered in his Majesty's name by a Doctor of the Par-
liament, who thanked your Highness, in the first place, for having sent
us as his ambassadors so great a distance and in such difficult times ;
and, in reply to our congratulation on the king's good health, he said,
that it well became your Serenity to rejoice thereat, as his Majesty bore
the greatest good will to your Highness, and that whenever able to assist
you, he would do so most readily. He thanked us for our condolence
on the death of the late most Christian King Louis, repeating and con-
firming many things contained in our oration ; adding, moreover, that
the nomination made by his Majesty of your Highness, as his friend and
ally, proceeded from the good will and friendship entertained by him
towards your Highness, vowing that he had ever been faithful to you, and
especially in your adversities, and that he had therefore done the like in
this fresh confederation with this new King of France, so that where-
soever possible he means to favour you j and that it is, above all things,
his wish to make peace for you, and place you in repose after so many
labours and afflictions. In the last place, he thanked us in ample for the
praise bestowed on him, and for our good wishes for his welfare and
felicity, so that little was said by us that was not benignly and graciously
answered in his Majesty's name. This ended, his Majesty went to
hear high mass, and we accompanied him ; after which he went
to dinner, escorted by all the prelates and lords there present, and
he chose us to dine there likewise, giving us for our companions,
the Rev. Archbishop of York, who is called " Eboracensis," and
the Bishop of Durham.2 Having dined, we remained a good while
with his Majesty very familiarly, who at length said he would send for
us another day to hear what communications we had to make from your
Serenity, which he was unable to do that moment, being occupied j
and thus having taken leave, we departed.

ANDREAS BADUARIUS,

SEBAST. GIUSTINIANUS, Eques., [• Oratores.

PET. PASC^UALICUS, D. Eques.,

74 DESPATCHES OF

1 Covered with golden brocade. See the letter of Sagudino, p. 78.

2 Hume, in giving the list of the ministry of Henry VIII., A.D. 1509, men-
tions " Thomas Ruthal, Doctor of Laws." Thomas Ruthal was appointed
Bishop of Durham by Henry VII., in 1508, and remained in the see till 1523. It
is said that Ruthal, at the close of his career, committed the error attributed to
Wolsey, in delivering a list of his moveables instead of a state paper. Wolsey, to
whom the list was given, saw the error, but carried the paper to the King ; and
the bishop died of vexation. Ruthal, when Bishop of Durham, was said to be
the richest man in England ; the words of Wharton in his " Anglia sacra," being
" ditissimus habebatur subditus per totam Angliam." — See vol. i. p. 780.

London, yd May 1515.

By the accompanying letters your Sublimity will have learned what took
place down to their date. We now inform you that we have been every
day visiting these lords, both lay and ecclesiastical, declaring to them the
regard and esteem wherein your Serenity .holds their persons, thanking
them for what they had done in favour of your Excellency's affairs, suit-
ing our language to their condition, and more or less lovingly, according
to their deserts, disposing them to persevere in their good offices for the
welfare and quiet of your Excellency's dominions, as it cannot but prove
to the advantage and honour of this most serene kingdom, to favour
those who are basely oppressed, notwithstanding the good faith and good
will they bear his Majesty. They all answered us most graciously,
offering to do in time to come whatever may conduce to your Sublimity's
profit and honour,— this they did in language the most ample, and with
the most marked demonstration of regard. After a few days occupied
with these compliments, his Majesty, on the ist instant, sent a prelate
and a knight for us, with a goodly retinue, to take us to a palace of his,
called Greenwich, five miles distant hence ; on reaching which, together
with all the other lords, we accompanied the most serene Queen out on
horseback into the country, where we found the King, who had preceded
us, and we passed that morning in divers solemnities and triumphs, imme-
diately on the conclusion of which, his Majesty gave us private audience ;
whereat I, Piero, told him that your Serenity, having heard by letters from
your ambassador, the Magnifico Badoer, of the treaty made with the late
most Christian King Louis, on occasion of his alliance by marriage, you
had derived the greatest satisfaction thence, and forthwith resolved, that

: should come hither as your ambassadors to congratulate him thereon,
thanking him likewise for including your Excellency in the treaty, all
which we declared by word of mouth, and by the official letters, which I

SEBASTIAN G1USTINIAN. 75

presented to him as a proper recognition of the engagement ; and, not-
withstanding the demise of King Louis since our departure, your High-
ness had directed us to proceed on our way to his Majesty, to condole
on the said occasion, and respectfully exhort him to continue the alliance
with King Francis, which, on arriving here, we understood had been con-
cluded with a fresh clause in favour of the most excellent Signory ; whereat
we congratulated ourselves extremely, and, in the name of your Serenity,
returned thanks to his Majesty, assuring him that it would prove equally
agreeable to the State, and would be ratified as was the foregoing ; beseech-
ing his Majesty, in conclusion, that, being so united as he is with his most
Christian Majesty, he would be pleased, with his own influence, and with
the aid of his said Majesty, to endeavour that the most illustrious State
might recover her territory, and enjoy quiet j nor did we here fail to
employ such language as we deemed suited to the occasion. His
Majesty caused us to be answered by the Rev. Archbishop of York,1
who returned most ample thanks to your Serenity, for having been
pleased to pay him so high a compliment as was implied by sending two
ambassadors in times like the present, and promising for the future not
to cease doing his utmost to obtain peacefor the most noble republic. He
added, also, that he meant by his letters to intimate to your Serenity the
clause inserted in your favour in this new treaty, so that, by your official
letters, you might again reply if it pleased you, — for which purpose, you
had the term of twelve months from the day on which the said treaty
was concluded, as his Majesty would also inform the King of France,
acting in such wise that every one should know how great was the union
between these three states — namely, England, France, and the Venetians.
After this, I, Piero, added to his Majesty that your Highness had
directed that after having despatched the business now transacted with
him, both at the public audience and at this private one, I, Sebastian,
should remain resident here, and I, Piero, return to the French court,
each of us respectively to transact such business as might from day to day
be necessary. Wherefore, I requested his Majesty's gracious permission
to depart, offering him by best efforts and intervention with the most
Christian King for the preservation and maintenance of the good peace
and alliance lately contracted, although I was aware that it would
be inviolably adhered to without any extraneous aid. To all this his
Majesty signified his consent, and then went to dinner, making us like-
wise dine there in company with his Council.

After dinner, a stately joust took place, at which his Majesty jousted

76 DESPATCHES OF

with many others, strenuously and valorously 5 and assuredly, most serene
Prince, from what we have seen of him, and in conformity, moreover, with
the report made to us by others, this most serene King is not only very
expert in arms, and of great valour, and most excellent in his personal
endowments, but is likewise so gifted and adorned with mental accom-
plishments of every sort that we believe him to have few equals in the
world. He speaks English, French, and Latin 5 understands Italian
well } plays almost on every instrument ; sings and composes fairly
(delegnamente) $ is prudent and sage, and free from every vice j and,
besides is so good and affectionate a friend to the most serene State, that
we consider it certain no ultramontane sovereign ever surpassed him in
this respect. On account of your Highness, he paid us such great honours,
both in public and private, that were we to attempt narrating them
in detail, we should not know how to do it in becoming terms ; so with
all due respect, we exhort and remind your Highness to write him a
letter of thanks, in such form as to your wisdom shall seem fit ; for it
would prove not a little to your advantage, and be inexpressibly agreeable
to his Majesty.

We visited the most serene Queen, and, knowing that it would please
her, I, Piero, addressed myself to her in Spanish, presenting your
Serenity's credentials, ever keeping to general topics, and offering our
services. Her Majesty answered me in Spanish also, with her own lips,
and then entered into a familiar conversation on the affairs of Spain,
when I took respectful leave of her likewise $ and being thus dis-
missed by both their Majesties, and having executed our commission to
a hair, I, Piero, to-morrow morning, if it please God, shall infallibly
depart hence on my way back with all speed to the French court ; and
I, Sebastian, will remain here to do what from time to time I may deem
becomes the honour and benefit of the State. I, Andrea, indeed, being
unable to do otherwise, shall await a supply of money from your High-
ness, in order to extricate me from my embarrassments ; and on receiving
such, will depart forthwith on my return to your feet.

1 Thomas Wolsey, who succeeded to this dignity in 1514, and of course makes a
considerable figure in the subsequent despatches.

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 77

" Copy of a letter from Nicolo Sagudino, the Secretary of
Sebastian Giustinan, Knight Ambassador in England, dated
London, the 3rd day of May, A.D. 1515, and addressed to
Alvise Foscari, son of the late Nicolo, and which was received
at Venice in June of the same year." — Sanuto's Diaries^
A.D. 1515, June $thyvol. xx. folio 243.

MY LORD MAGNIFICO, — I wrote copiously to your Magnificence
from Paris, whence we departed on the 3oth of March, and on the ^.th of
April reached a town belonging to the King of France, situated on the
sea, called Boulogne, where we remained during the holidays, attend-
ing to the salvation of our souls. On Easter Tuesday, at daybreak,
we embarked, thinking to cross in six hours, the distance being forty
miles ; but it chanced otherwise, for we remained at sea during twenty-
three hours, to our infinite suffering and inconvenience, owing to these
seas, which are both rough and dangerous.

On Wednesday, however, we arrived at Dover, exhausted and'half dead,
both from the tossing of the waves, as also from having passed two
nights and a day without eating or drinking, though praised be our Lord
God for everything.

On the following Wednesday, we entered this city, having been met at
a distance of twelve miles by a knight and a doctor of laws, both
Englishmen, and sent by his most Serene Majesty to the most noble
ambassadors j they came with fifty horse and were all clad alike, and
were afterwards joined by the merchants and the rest of the Venetians
now here, as also by the Magnifico the ambassador, Andrea Badoer ;
so that, on coming into the town, we numbered more than two hundred
horse, and it certainly was a stately entry, and effected in good
order j we were accompanied thus to our dwelling by all the before-
mentioned.

On our arrival, we received the Signory's letters of the i8th of March,
and the ambassadors forthwith sought audience of this most Serene King,
which was appointed for St. George's Day ; when, early in the morning,
the same two lords who met us on our arrival came with a numerous
retinue, and escorted the three ambassadors in a large barge, followed by
many others containing the merchants and the rest of the Venetians, to

78 DESPATCHES OF

a palace on the Thames, belonging to this most Serene King, called
Richmond, distant ten miles hence. Having landed with about two
hundred persons, we went into this palace, and on entering a very hand-
some and lofty hall, a collation was served us of nothing but bread and
wine, according to the custom here, and this being ended, we passed
through some other chambers, where we saw part of his Majesty's guard,
consisting of three hundred English, all very handsome men, and in
excellent array, with their halberts, and, by my faith, I never saw finer
fellows. At length, we entered a room where his Majesty was leaning
against a chair, which was covered with cloth of gold brocade, with a
cushion of the same material, and a large gilt sword, under a canopy of
cloth of gold, with a raised pile. His Majesty was dressed as a Knight
of the Garter, of which order he is the superior, and wore a very costly
doublet, over which was a mantle of violet-coloured velvet, with an
extremely long train, lined with white satin ; on his head was a richly
jewelled cap of crimson velvet, of immense value, and round his neck he
wore a collar, studded with many precious stones, of which I never saw
the like.

Immediately on perceiving the ambassadors, his Majesty moved
towards them, and after allowing his hand to be kissed, embraced them
with the greatest possible demonstration of love and good will toward the
most illustrious Signory.

After these ceremonies, and when silence had been proclaimed, the
Magnifico Giustinian pronounced a Latin oration, as elegant and well
delivered as possible, and which was listened to in silent attention by every
one, especially by this most Serene King, who understands Latin very
well ; in such wise, that we could not have desired more favourable
attention.

On the conclusion of this address, which lasted a full hour, his
Majesty caused the reply to be made by a Doctor of Laws, thanking
the most illustrious Signory infinitely, affirming, that his Majesty had
ever been the States' friend and protector, and that he would remain
such so long as life may be vouchsafed him, returning his acknow-
ledgments to the Magnifico the ambassador for his oration, and
lauding him much, whereby, in truth, the King has acquired immortal
fame.

This ceremonial being ended, his Majesty invited the ambassadors and
all their retinue to hear mass, and dine with him j so we went to church,
and after a very grand procession had been made, high mass was

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 79

chaunted, attended, moreover, by the most Serene Queen, and it was sung
by his Majesty's choristers, whose voices are really rather divine than
human ; they did not chaunt, but sang like angels (non canta^uano ma
jubila<va»o), and as for the counter-bass voices, I don't think they have
their equals in the world. I could add many details, but have not
time.

After mass, the King and the rest of the nobles, with the ambassadors
and their followers, returned to the palace, into a hall, where one table
had been prepared for his Majesty, and another for the Knights of the
Garter, and the ambassadors, and the merchants with us, and after wit-
nessing a display of gold plate, of most immense value, as well as a great
quantity of silver, we sat down to table, and dined very well.

The repast being ended, his Majesty sent for the ambassadors, and
addressed their magnificences, partly in French and partly in Latin,
as also in Italian, much gracious and pleasant talk, showing him-
self, by my troth, most affable 5 and then, having taken leave, we de-
parted.

Tire personal beauty of his Majesty will be well known to your magni-
ficence, through your brother, the Lord Frederick,1 and I have heard
that besides his beauty, which is indeed very great, he has, moreover,
many other most excellent qualities ; for instance, he is courageous, an
excellent musician, plays the harpsichord well, is learned for his age and
station, and has many other endowments, and good parts ; and the like of
two such courts, and two such kings as those of France and of England,
have, I fancy, not been witnessed by any ambassadors who have gone
out of Venice for these fifty years, witness whereof is the Magnifico
Pietro Pasqualigo, who affirms the like, and extols everything here
usque ad astray so I am very glad to have come on this mission.

On the first day of May, his Majesty sent two English lords to
the ambassadors, who were taken by them to a place called Greenwich,
five miles hence, where the king was, for the purpose of celebrating
May Day. On the ambassadors arriving there, they mounted on horse-
back, with many of the chief nobles of the kingdom, and accompanied
the most Serene Queen into the country, to meet the King. Her
Majesty was most excellently attired, and very richly, and with her were
twenty-five damsels, mounted on white palfreys, with housings of the
same fashion, most beautifully embroidered in gold, and these damsels
had all dresses slashed with gold lama in very costly trim, with a
number of footmen in most excellent order. The Queen went thus

80 DESPATCHES OF

with her retinue a distance of two miles out of Greenwich, into a wood,
where they found the King with his guard, all clad in a livery of
green, with bows in their hands, and about a hundred noblemen on
r horseback, all gorgeously arrayed. In this wood were certain bowers
filled purposely with singing birds, which carolled most sweetly, and in
one of these bastions or bowers, were some triumphal cars, on which
were singers and musicians, who played on an organ and lute and flutes
for a good while, during a banquet which was served in this place ; then
proceeding homewards, certain tall paste-board giants2 being placed on
cars, and surrounded by his Majesty's guard, were conducted with
the greatest order to Greenwich, the musicians singing the whole way,
and sounding the trumpets and other instruments, so that, by my faith, it
was an extremely fine triumph, and very pompous, and the King in
person brought up the rear in as great state as possible, being followed by
the Queen, with such a crowd on foot, as to exceed, I think, 25,000
persons. On arriving at Greenwich, his Majesty went to mass, after
which the ambassadors had private audience, the details of which your
magnificence will learn through .... [The name is left blank in the
original.]

The King then went to dinner, and, by his Majesty's order, the
ambassadors, and we likewise, dined in his palace, with the chief nobility
of this land. After dinner the ambassadors were taken into certain
chambers containing a number of organs and harpsichords3 and flutes,
and other instruments, and where the prelates and chief nobles were
assembled to see the joust which was then in preparation ; and in the
mean while the ambassadors told some of these grandees that I was a
proficient on some of these instruments j so they asked me to play, and
knowing that I could not refuse, I did so for a long while, both on the
harpsichords and organs, and really bore myself bravely, and was lis-
tened to with great attention. Among the listeners was a Brescian, to
whom this King gives 300 ducats annually for playing the lute, and this
man took up his instrument and played a few things with me ; and
afterwards two musicians, who are also in his Majesty's service, played
the organ, but very ill forsooth : they kept bad time, and their touch
was feeble, neither was their execution good,4 so that my performance
was deemed not much worse than theirs. The prelates who were present
told me that the King would certainly choose to hear me, as his Majesty
practises on these instruments day and night, and that he will very much
like my playing. So I shall prepare, and hope not to disgrace myself if

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 8l

called upon, and will give you notice of the result ; and pray send me
some compositions of Zuane Maria's, as I vaunt him to every one for
what he is, and thus they have requested me to send for some of his
music, promising me some of theirs in return j and I should also wish to
receive a few new ballads.5

The preparations for the joust being at length accomplished, this most
serene King made his appearance in very great pomp : on his side were
ten of these noblemen on most capital horses, all with housings of one
sort, namely, with cloth of gold with a raised pile, his Majesty's war
horse being likewise caparisoned in the same manner ; and in truth he
looked like St. George in person on its back.

The opposing party consisted of ten other noblemen, also in rich
array, and very well mounted, so that really I never saw such a sight j
and then they began to joust, and continued this sport for three hours,
to the constant sound of the trumpets and drums, the King excelling all
the others, shivering many lances, and unhorsing one of his opponents ;
so that the show was most beautiful, and I only regret not having time
to describe it in full. I never should have expected to find such pomp ;
and, on this occasion, his Majesty exerted himself to the utmost, for the
sake of the ambassadors, and more particularly on account of Pasqualigo
(who is returning to France to-day), that he may be able to tell King
Francis what he has seen in England, and especially with regard to his
Majesty's own prowess.

The joust being ended, the ambassadors went to visit the Queen,
whom Pasqualigo addressed in Spanish, in which tongue her Majesty, in
like manner, replied. She is rather ugly than otherwise, and supposed
to be pregnant ;6 but the damsels of her court are handsome, and make
a sumptuous appearance.

The ambassadors then took leave and departed, and we returned to
this City of London ; nor, from lack of time, have I anything else to
add, save that the courier, Jack Madcap, the bearer of this, and who is
now on the start, has behaved excellently throughout the journey, and
kept us in constant laughter, so that I never saw a better boon compan-
ion. I recommend myself, &c. In London, third day of May, 1515.
Raptissime.

1 Federigo Foscari had resided in England as a merchant. See Sanuto's diaries
in date of 2znd December, 1510.

3 It is worthy of remark that Hall, whose account of this festival we quote on
a subsequent page, makes no mention of the giants, which possibly were meant to

VOL. I. G

82 DESPATCHES OF

represent Gog and Magog. In the tragedy of "Locrine," once attributed to
Shakspeare, Brutus, King of Britain, when narrating his landing in England,
says-

" Upon the stronds of Albion

To Corus' haven happily we came,

And quelled the giants, come of Albion's race,

With Gogmagog, son to Samotheus,

The cursed captain of that damned crew."

It is not improbable that the pasteboard giants which figured at Shooter's Hill on
May-day, 1515, were meant to represent this national legend, and the livery of
" Lincoln Green " will have been worn out of compliment to the memory of
Robin Hood. The bowers are yet perambulated on the 1st of May, by " Jack-
in-the-Green," and these three symbols of the " merry month " are exclusively
English ; but the gathering of May-dew, which was doubtless included in the
morning occupations of Catharine of Aragon and her twenty-five damsels, on the
ist of May, 1515, seems to have been a practice observed in the Queen's own
country, and was probably European. She, poor soul, was doomed to so much
care that it behoved her neglect no possible antidote for its furrows ; and nearly
a century after her death, we find her kinswoman, the Infanta Maria, gathering
May-dew at the time when Prince Charles was paying his addresses to her, in the
year 1613 ; at least, Howell tells the story thus : —

" Not long since, the Prince, understanding that the Infanta was used to
go some mornings to the Casa de Campo, a summer-house the King hath tother
side the river, to gather May-dew, he did rise betimes, and went thither, taking
your brother with him. They were let into the house, and into the garden, but the
Infanta was in the orchard j and there being a high partition-wall between them,
and the door doubly bolted, the Prince got on the top of the wall, and sprang
down a great height, and so made towards her ; but she spying him first of all
the rest, gave a shriek and ran back. The old marquis, that was then her guardian,
came towards the Prince, and fel on his knees, conjuring his Highnesse to retire,
in regard he hazarded his head, if he admitted any to her company j so the doore
was opened, and he came out under that wall over which he had got in." See
Howell's " Familiar Letters," sect. 3, page 76. London, 1645.

The belief in the efficacy of May-dew prevailed in England long after Queen
Catharine's morning amusements in Greenwich Park, as recorded by the Venetian
secretary, Sagudino ; for in Pepys' Diary, there are the following entries —

" A.D. 1667, April 28th. — My wife away down with Jane and Mr. Hewer
to Woolwich, in order to a little ayre, and to lie there to-night, and so to gather
May -dew to-morrow morning, which Mrs. Turner hath taught her is the only
thing in the world to wash her face with ; and I am contented with it."

"A.D. 1669, May nth.— My wife up by four o'clock, to go to gather May-
dew."

It would be curious to trace why May-day customs, observed of yore by a king
and queen— at Greenwich and in Spain— by the Infanta Maria and by Mrs. Pepys
— should owe the mere remnant of preservation they can yet boast to the chimney-
sweepers, whose care for cosmetics appears so utterly disinterested, and who can
hardly have heard about the bowers of Henry VIII., or, hearing, care.

3 Clavicimbam , literally key-cymbals j perhaps spinet would be the more
correct translation.

4 The phrase in the original runs thus : " Hanno cattiva mesura et debil mano
et non troppo bono ajere."

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 83

5 The original word is " Frottola," which is used by the novellist Sacchettij
who wrote in the I4th century, and applied to certain compositions of his in
verse, some comic and some moral. In Pasini's Italian dictionary, the word is
now merely employed to signify a comic song, and possibly this was the sense in
which it was used by Sagudino, in the year 1515.

6 In a despatch dated London, 9th of June, 1510, the ambassador, Badoer, men-
tions Queen Catharine's having had a miscarriage } and in the month of Decem-
ber, 1514, he writes that the Queen had been then delivered (in the 8th month of
her pregnancy) of a still-born male child, to the very great grief of the whole
court. Sagudino's notion of her pregnancy in May, 1515, was perhaps premature j
but he only erred by a month at any rate, as the Princess Mary was born on the
1 8th February, 1516.

To the details given in the preceding letters, we are
enabled to add the following from the colleague of Sebastian
Giustinian, for which, however, we are not indebted to St.
Mark's Library, but to the British Museum. For their pre-
servation, our thanks are due to Mr. Panizzi, whose zealous
care to accumulate whatever literary curiosities may throw
light on the history of England was displayed in 1851 by the
purchase of a rare broadside, printed at Venice three centu-
ries and a half ago, from which we cite them.

Translation of two letters dated London, 3Oth April, and
3rd May, 1515, written by the Venetian Ambassador Extra-
ordinary, the Magnifico Piero Pasqualigo, LL.D., and
Knight.1

LETTER No. I.

London, April 30, 1515.

We left Paris on the goth ult., after dinner, accompanied by all the
Triulzi partisans, and other Italian refugees, and remained during that
day at St. Denys, where we adored the relics of the Areopagite, and of
the martyrs Rusticus, Eleuctherius,2 and Eustachius. We saw the tomb
of Charles VIII., with his graven image the size of life, wrought by the

84 . DESPATCHES OF

same artificer that did the statues of St. Anthony's Church in Venice.3
Also the tomb of the late King, Louis XII., with a black velvet pall,
across which was a large white damask cross, and on the sides the arms
of France, embroidered all in gold. We also saw a massive gold cruci-
fix, and they then showed us the royal treasure. In the first place all
the regalia with which this present King Francis was crowned and con-
secrated, namely, his crown most highly ornamented with large unpo-
lished rubies and sapphires : the massive gold sceptre ; the staff,4 sword,
spurs, and robes. Also the crown and sceptre of the Queen, and then
such a quantity of jewelled crucifixes, golden pixes, and other regal
offerings, as made, in truth, a veiy fine and costly show.

Our next halt was at Amiens, containing the handsomest cathedral in
France, where we adored the head of the blessed John the Baptist.

We then proceeded on our way, passing near Terrouenne, and by all
the places where the English encamped the year before last ; and on
Holy Wednesday reached Boulogne, where we remained until Easter
Tuesday following, partly on account of the contrary winds, and partly
because of the holidays, great honours being paid us there by the
Governor, Monsieur de la Fayette, who visited us several times at our
own dwelling.

Having hired a vessel at Boulogne for Dover, we set sail at day-break
on Easter Tuesday, and remained at sea during four-and-twenty hours,
half dead and undone, I promise you, for we passed the whole time
without eating or drinking.

On Wednesday morning we landed at Dover, and remained there the
whole of that day to recruit ourselves.

On Thursday we came to Canterbury, where we stayed all Friday,
and inspected the church of St. Thomas, a truly fine structure, and his
coffin of inestimable price, all of pure gold most thickly studded with
beautiful jewels and pearls, besides so many other rare and singular
things, that to enumerate them all would take a long time.5 The
Archbishop of Canterbury is the Primate of England, as also abbot of
this church, and moreover Lord High Chancellor ;6 and, with one thing
and the other, his rental amounts to 30,000 ducats.

On Saturday we got to Rochester, where we found the Consul,
Hieronymo da Molin who had accompanied me as far as Lyons, and
my brother Lorenzo,7 and we remained with them all Sunday.

On Monday the i6th we proceeded to Deptford, twelve miles distant,
where on Tuesday we were greeted, on behalf of the King, by Dom.

SEBASTIAN GIUST1NIAN. 85

John Russell, Knight (sic)8 and Dom. Dr. Taylor, a Member of Parlia-
ment, with about fifty horsemen, all in one livery, who had been sent to
do us honour and escort us hither into London.

On the 1 8th we got on horseback together, and on the road were met
first of all by the whole body of our countrymen mounted, and well
attended j and a short distance beyond there was the ambassador Badoer,
also in goodly array, so that on entering London in pairs we numbered
upwards of 200 horse, which made a fine show and a very stately entry.

And as the most serene King was at Richmond, a palace of his twelve
miles hence, and as on St. George's Day he celebrates the anniversary
of the institution of the Garter, our audience was delayed until then to
render it more pompous ; and on that day, at about half-past nine, the
two aforesaid came in the King's name to escort us from our dwelling,
and, accompanied by them and all our countrymen, we went down to
the Thames, where a large barge had been prepared, precisely like a
bucintor,9 covered with the royal colours in cloth, the cabin being hung
with arras. This vessel conveyed us to said palace of Richmond, where
they led us into a sort of hall, and though it was before mass, they made
us breakfast, for fear we should faint j after which we were conducted
to the presence, through sundry chambers all hung with most beautiful
tapestry, figured in gold and silver and in silk, passing down the ranks
of the body-guard, which consists of three hundred halberdiers in silver
breast-plates and pikes in their hands ; and, by God, they were all as
big as giants, so that the display was very grand.

We at length reached the King, who was under a canopy of cloth of
gold, embroidered at Florence, the most costly thing I ever witnessed :
he was leaning against his gilt throne, on which was a large gold bro-
cade cushion, where the long gold sword of state lay ; he wore a cap of
crimson velvet, in the French fashion, and the brim was looped up all
round with lacets, which had gold enamelled tags. His doublet was in
the Swiss fashion, striped alternately with white and crimson satin, and
his hose were scarlet, and all slashed from the knee upwards. Very
close round his neck he had a gold collar, from which there hung a
round cut diamond, the size of the largest walnut I ever saw, and to this
was suspended a most beautiful and very large round pearl. His mantle
was of purple velvet, lined with white satin, the sleeves being open, and
with a train verily more than four Venetian yards in length. This
mantle was girt in front like a gown, with a thick gold cord, from
which there hung large glands entirely of gold, like those suspended

86 DESPATCHES OF

from the cardinals' hats ; over this mantle was a very handsome gold
collar, with a pendent St. George, entirely of diamonds. On his left
shoulder10 was the garter, which is a cincture buckled circular-wise, and
bearing in its centre a cross gules on a field argent $ and on his right
shoulder was a hood, with a border entirely of crimson velvet.

Beneath the mantle he had a pouch11 of cloth of gold, which covered
a dagger ; and his fingers were one mass of jewelled rings.

To the right of his Majesty were eight noblemen, dressed like him-
self, they being his fellow knights. To the left were a number of
prelates in their rochets. Then there were six men with six gold
sceptres, besides ten heralds with their tabards of cloth of gold, wrought
with the arms of England, and moreover a crowd of nobility, all arrayed
in cloth of gold and silk.

After Giustinian had addressed his Majesty for the space of half an
hour, and been answered by Dr. Taylor aforesaid,12 the King made a
move, and we being immediately in advance of him, went with all this
pomp to church, returning also in procession. Subsequently we attended
high mass, which was chaunted by the Bishop of Durham, with a superb
and noble descant choir}13 and afterwards we accompanied the King
to table, where he chose us to see the service of the courses, contained in
sixteen dishes of massive gold with sixteen covers. As soon as he had
commenced eating, he sent us with the Archbishop of York and the
Bishop of Durham into his chamber, where a very sumptuous and plen-
tiful dinner had been prepared for us ; and, by the King's order, a repast
was served in like manner for all our countrymen and attendants.

After dinner, we were taken to the King, who embraced us, without
ceremony, and conversed for a long while very familiarly, on various
topics, in good Latin and in French, which he speaks very well indeed,
and he then dismissed us, and we were brought back here to London in
the same bucintor, by Mr. Russell and Dr. Taylor.

His Majesty is the handsomest potentate I ever set eyes on ; above the
usual height, with an extremely fine calf to his leg, his complexion very
fair and bright, with auburn hair combed straight and short, in the
French fashion, and a round face so very beautiful, that it would become
a pretty woman, his throat being rather long and thick. He was born on
the z8th of June, 1491, 14 so he will enter his twenty-fifth year the month
after next. He speaks French, English, and Latin, and a little Italian,
plays well on the lute and harpsichord, sings from book at sight, draws the
bow with greater strength than any man in England,15 and jousts mar-

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 87

vellously. Believe me, he is in every respect a most accomplished
Prince j and I, who have now seen all the sovereigns in Christendom,
and last of all these two of France and England in such great state,
might well rest content, and with sufficient reason have it said to me,

" abi viator, sat tuis oculis debes ;"

nor will I omit telling you how much I am comforted to see, that now
after the loss of so much territory, and such exhaustion incurred by^ the
most illustrious Signory, she is held in as great account as of yore by
these two kings, who are the first in the world, so her ambassadors must
bear patiently the cost of their outfit and that of their attendants, and of
so many preparatives, for it all redounds most immensely to your glory
and repute, and indeed both in France and here, everybody vows that
although you have lost territory, you have, nevertheless, gained so much
honour by maintaining yourselves, and prevailing during so many
years against so many enemies and such a tide of adverse fortune, that
the like never befell any Sovereign in the world ; and, therefore, I
prophecy that the State will speedily resume her position, and even
expand, in such wise that she will no longer have to fear any one, and
this I trust to see very soon.

The King has come hither, to a place of his called Baynard's Castle, 16
and is going to Greenwich, where we are to have our private audience,
and shall, moreover, visit the most serene Queen, I taking leave simul-
taneously, on my way back to France.

We have been to see the Tower here, where besides the lions and
leopards,17 they showed us the king's bronze artillery, mounted on four
hundred carriages, very fine and remarkable ; also bows and arrows, and
pikes for 40,000 infantry. They say they have an equal store of am-
munition both at Calais, and in another place towards Scotland.18

You must know that on St. Mark's Day, we gave a dinner to all our
countrymen, in the English fashion, not one of them excepted.

By my previous letters, you will have heard of the treaty made
between France and this kingdom,19 ad vitam istorum principum.
Tournai remaining in possession of the King of England, who has named
us as his confederates, to the exclusion of the King of Spain.

His Majesty's sister, the Queen Dowager of France, has reached
Calais, and is expected here daily. A report circulates, and it is said
publicly, that she is married again to the English Duke of Suffolk ,
which, if true, is important, and very surprising.

88 DESPATCHES OF .

1 In the account of Venice by Francesco Sansovino (p. 30), it is stated that
Pasqualigo had written several treatises on metaphysics and theology, and that he
died of poison at Milan, where he was ambassador in ordinary to Francis I.,
about seven months after the date of this letter. His corpse was removed to
Venice, and buried in the Church of St. Anthony.

2 Eleuctherius became Pope, A.D. 1705 and it was in his reign that Lucius,
King of Britain, sent an embassy to Rome to request of his Holiness that mis-
sionaries might be sent to England for the promulgation there of the Christian
religion.

3 Sansovino informs us, that the architect who erected the front of the Church
of St. Anthony in Venice, was Jacopo Lanfrani ; so it may be inferred that he
wrought the statue of Charles VIII. at St. Deny's. It appears an odd coincidence
that Pasqualigo, writing of tombs, should thus allude to the very church in
which his own bones were doomed to rest within a very few months after the
date of this letter.

4 Probably in the form of St. Edward's staff of beaten gold, four feet seven
inches in length, surmounted by an orb and cross, and shod with an iron spike, the
orb being said to contain a fragment of the true cross.

5 Erasmus, the friend and correspondent of Giustinian, Pasqualigo's colleague,
describes the coffin of Thomas a Becket, as follows : —

" A coffin of wood covering a coffin of gold, which being drawn up by ropes
and pullies, an invaluable treasure was discovered. Gold was the meanest thing
to be seen there. All shone and glittered with the rarest and most precious jewels
of an extraordinary bigness ; some were larger than the egg of a goose. When
this sight was shown, the prior, with a white wand, touched every jewel, one by
one, telling the name, the value, and the donor of it."

6 William Warham.

7 A merchant established in London since 1496.

8 In the original, " Domino Joan Ose, Cavalier," but in the letter of a former
ambassador named Trevisan, in date of August, 1497, this individual is styled
" Maistro Rosel." There can be no doubt of the person meant — namely, John
Russell, first Earl of Bedford, but who, in 1497 and in 1515, appears to have
been employed about the Court as a sort of Gentleman Usher, or Master of the
Ceremonies. This may serve to correct Collins (vol. i. p. 265), who imagined
that Mr. John Russel's first appearance in that character dated in 1506, when he
waited on the Archduke Philip of Austria. Mr. John Russel was not knighted
until the year 1522, when the Earl of Surrey dubbed him for his service at the
taking of Morlaix, in Brittany ; so the title given to this Master of the Ceremonies
by Pasqualigo is one of mere courtesy.

9 The word "bucintor" signified a state barge of any size ; it is not to be
inferred, therefore, that the tonnage of the vessel in question equalled that of
the bucintor in which the Doges of Venice espoused the Adriatic. Frizzi tells of
a bucintor, in which Hercules of Este, Duke of Ferrara, used to make excursions
on the Po.

10 Elias Ashmole, in his chapter on the " Habits and Ensigns of the Order of
the Garter," writes as follows :— " Of what materials this principal ensign was at
first made we have not yet found, nor is it described by any before Polydore
Virgile, and he but in general, as to the ornamental part of it, to wit, that it was
adorned with gold and precious stones, and had a buckle of gold at the end, where-

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 89

'with to fasten it about the leg. But, doubtless, it was also wrought with rich
embroidery, and therein the symbolical word or motto was raised with gold, pearl,
and sundry sorts of silks ; as may be guessed from the garters anciently placed on
the left shoulder of the knights-companions* mantles, and these other little em-
broidered garters, wherewith their surcoats and hoods were heretofore adorned,
which we shall describe by and by.

" This noble ensign (the Garter) was at the foundation of the order appointed to
be worn on the left leg, a little beneath the knee, and so hath the usage in all
time since continued. And it is apparent that the manner of placing this garter
on the left leg of the knights'-companions' sepulchral portraitures was very early
brought into use ; seeing in that alabaster figure of Sir William Fitz Warren (who
died a knight-companion of this noble order, in the five-and-thirtieth year of the
founder's reign) lying with his lady on a raised monument, in the north side of
the chancel of Wantage Church in Berkshire (and yet to be seen), with his surcoat
of arms upon the breast, the resemblance of his garter (but without any motto)
is carved upon its left leg." — The Institution, Laws, and Ceremonies of the Most
Ncble Order of the Garter, &c. By Elias Ashmole. London, 1693.

11 These pouches are often represented in the engravings of Albert Durer.

12 Amongst the Cotton MSS. in the British Museum, Nero, b. vii. fo. 12, the
oration of Giustinian to Henry VIII. exists, together with Taylor's answer, but
dated 8 Kal. May, 15155 information for which we are indebted to the late John
Holmes, Esq., of the British Museum.

13 The words in the original are, " Capella de discanto." Descant, according to
Johnson, signifies " a song or tune composed in parts." Ashe, in his history of
music, says that, before the Reformation, there was but one kind of music in
Europe worth notice — namely, the sacred chant, and the DESCANT built upon it.
As Pasqualigo expatiates on the English choristers of the Chapel Royal singing in
parts, it may be supposed that church music in other countries was performed less
scientifically than in England, A.D. 1515 ; and it should be borne in mind that,
as Pasqualigo had been ambassador at the courts of the Emperor, of Spain, Por-
tugal, Hungary, and France, he was enabled to form comparisons between the
state of any science in those kingdoms and our own ; and, indeed, it- is the
universal experience of the Venetian ambassadors, and their peculiar freedom from
prejudice or partiality (no jealousy or rivalry existing between them and England),
that makes their comments on our country so valuable.

14 According to " L'Art de Verifier les Dates," he was born in June,
1492.

15 In " Hall's Chronicle," moreover, it is written that " he shotte as strong and
as great a lengthe as any of his garde."

16 Baynard's Castle on the banks of the Thames, immediately below St. Paul's.
See Cunningham's Hand-book, p. 39.

17 " The Menagerie in the Tower was one of the sights of London, from the
time of Henry III. to the reign of William IV. Stow mentions a present of
three leopards, sent by the Emperor Frederick to Henry III., A.D. 1235 ; and in
the sixteenth year of the reign of Edward III., the Tower contained one lion,
one lioness, one leopard, and two cat lions." Extract from Cunningham, p.
505.

18 Query Berwick, concerning which place, Fynes Moryson writes (Part in.
p. 145) — " Barwicke is the last and best fortified towne of all Britany, in which

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a garrison of souldiers was maintained against the incursions of the Scots till the
happy raigne of James, King of England and Scotland."

19 This treaty, dated Westminster, 5th April, 1515, was signed by Wolsey, the
Duke of Norfolk j Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester ; and by John Young,
Vice Chancellor. See Rymer, vol xiii. p. 4765 and the Corps Universel Diplo-
matique, vol. iv. p. 204 and following.

LETTER No. II.

London, May 3, 1515.

On the first instant, Lord Magnifico, his Majesty, who had gone to
Greenwich, five miles hence, sent to fetch us from our dwelling, at
a very early hour indeed. Immediately on arriving there, we accom-
panied the most serene Queen, who was richly dressed in the Spanish
fashion, mounted on a white hackney, with sixteen other ladies, into the
country. After riding about a mile, we were met by a triumphal car,1
full of singers and musicians, drawn by griffins with human faces j then
a little farther on, we found the King's guard, all dressed in green, in
the German fashion, with certain slashed hoods on their heads, and bows
and arrows in their hands, and having divided into two bands, they being
in number three hundred, each man shot an arrow. We next met his
Majesty the King on a bay Frieslander, which had been sent him as a
present by the Marquis of Mantua 5 2 he was dressed entirely in green
velvet, cap, doublet, hose, shoes, and everything, and directly we came
in sight, he commenced making his horse curvet, and performed such
feats, that I fancied myself looking at Mars. He was accompanied by
a number of noblemen, most capitally mounted, and richly clad, with all
of whom we entered a wood, where a sort of labyrinth had been pre-
pared beforehand with boughs, within which were some places sur-
rounded by ditches, like bastions, destined for the company, according
to their grade, and inside these bowers tables were laid, where we ate,
and made what they call here, a proper good breakfast.3

His Majesty came into our arbour, and, addressing me in French, said :
" Talk with me awhile ! The King of France, is he as tall as I am ?"
I told him there was but little difference. He continued, " Is he as

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 9!

stout ?" I said he was not ; and he then inquired, " What sort of legs
has he ?" I replied, " Spare." Whereupon he opened the front of his
doublet, and placing his hand on his thigh, said, " Look here ! and I
have also a good calf to my leg." He then told me that he was very
fond of this King of France, and that for the sake of seeing him, he
went over there in person, and that on more than three occasions he was
very near him with his army, but that he never would allow himself to
be seen, and always retreated, which his Majesty attributed to deference
for King Louis, who did not choose an engagement to take place ; and
he here commenced discussing in detail all the events of that war, and
then took his departure.

After this we mounted our horses, and marched in great state in
pairs, with big drums, and to the sound of trumpets, returning thus to
Greenwich, where we attended high mass with his Majesty, who
changed his dress, covering his doublet with a handsome gown of
green velvet, and wearing a collar of cut diamonds of immense value ;
and then, having withdrawn into a sort of hall, he gave us our private
audience, when I stated what was necessary, and obtained a reply so
favourable for us in every respect, that we could not have wished for a
better. He then, for the second time, gave us a dinner, which was
served with incredible pomp ; and at our table there was an Arch-
bishop,4 the Duke of Norfolk, the Treasurer, the Admiral,5 the Viceroy
of Ireland,6 the Grand Prior of St. John's,7 and others, who all wore
very superb chains.

After dinner, his Majesty and many others armed themselves cap-a-
pie, and he chose us to see him joust, running upwards of thirty courses,
in one of which he capsized his opponent (who is the finest jouster in
the whole kingdom), horse and all. He then took off his helmet, and
came under the windows where we were, and talked and laughed with
us to our very great honour, and to the surprise of all beholders. After
this he went to disarm, and in the mean while we visited the Queen, and
there, in public, I addressed her in good Spanish, which pleased her
more than I can tell you ; and she commenced talking with me about
Spanish affairs, and about her mother, making me all possible civil
speeches.

Meanwhile the King returned, and after becoming thanks, I took
leave of all of them to return to France, and we came back to
London.

Yesterday, also, his Majesty caused us and all our countrymen to be

92 DESPATCHES OF

invited by the Lord Mayor of London, who gave us a very sumptuous
dinner.

Infer, now, that I am of opinion, no Embassy that ever went out of
Venice, was more honoured or appreciated than this one of ours here,
and in France, for which God be praised.

1 Sir Walter Scott, in his note to a passage in canto v. of " The Lady of the
Lake," explains what must have appeared a very extraordinary sight to the Vene-
tian ambassadors —

" The exhibition of this renowned outlaw (Robin Hood) and his band was a
favourite frolic at such festivals as we are describing. This sporting, in which
kings did not disdain to be actors, was prohibited in Scotland upon the Reforma-
tion, by a statute of the sixth Parliament of Queen Mary, c. 61, A.D. 1555,
which ordered, under heavy penalties, that, ' Na manner of person be chosen Robert
Hude, nor Little John, Abbot of Unreason, Queen of May, nor otherwise.' But in
1561, ' the rascal multitude, says John Knox, * were stirred up to make a Robin
Hude, whilk enormity was of mony years left and damned by statute and act of
Parliament } yet would they not be forbidden. Accordingly they raised a very
serious tumult, and at length made prisoners the magistrates who attempted to
suppress it ; and it appears that these profane festivities were continued in Scot-
land down to 1592.'

" Bold Robin was, to say the least, equally successful in maintaining his ground
against the reformed clergy of England ; for the simple and evangelical Latimer
complains of coming to a country church, where the people refused to hear him,
because it was Robin Hood's Day ,- and his mitre and rochet were fain to give way
to the village pastime. Much curious information on this subject may be found
in the preliminary dissertation to the late Mr. Ritson's edition of the songs re-
specting this memorable outlaw. The game of Robin Hood was usually acted in
May ; and he was associated with the morrice dancers, on whom so much illus-
tration has been bestowed by the commentators on Shakspeare. A very lively
picture of these festivities, containing a great deal of curious information on the
subject of the private life and amusements of our ancestors, was thrown by the
late ingenious Mr. Strutt into his romance entitled * Queen-Hoo-Hall,' published
after his death, in 1808."

For an account of the celebration of May games in the year 1836, with par-
ticulars of a "Green,'' and "My Lord," and "My Lady," see "Sketches by
Boz," chapter xx.

2 Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, then in his forty-ninth year, was
renowned for his stud of horses, and Stefano Gionta records one Mantuan barb
for which he had been offered its weight in silver, an exchange that was not
accepted ; and he gave this racer, together with some very fine brood mares, to
Henry VIII., and probably the bay Frieslander was comprised in this present,
which (we learn from the Diaries of Sanuto) reached London in the month of
September, 1514.

3 In the original, " Un Brecafas a la Polita." Hall describes this May game at
Shooter's Hill in the following words : - " The Kynge and the Quene," he says,
" accompanyed with many lordes and ladyes, roade to the high ground of Shoter's
Hil to take the open ayre ; and as thei passed by the waye, thei espied a com-
pany of tall yomen, clothed all in grene, with grene whodes, and bowes and
arrowes, to the number of u. c. (A MAIYNGE). Then one of them, which called

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN. 93

him selfe Robyn Hood, came to the Kyng, desyring him to se his men shoote,
and the Kynge was content. Then he whisteled, and al the ii.-c. archers shot and
losed at once ; and then he whisteled agayne, and they likewise shot agayne j
their arrowes whisteled by crafte of the head, so that the noyes was straunge and
great, and much pleased the Kynge, the Quene, and all the company. All these
archers were of the Kynge's garde, and had thus appareled them selves to make
solace to the Kynge.

" Then Robyn Hood desyred the Kynge and Quene to come into the grene
wood, and to se how the outlawes lyve. The Kynge demanded of the Quene and
her ladyes, if they durst adventure to go into the wood with so many outlawes.
Then the Quene sayde that, if it pleased him, she was content ; then the homes
blewe tyl they came to the wood under Shoter's Hil ; and there was an arber
made of bowes, with a hal, and a great chamber and an inner chamber, very well
made, and covered with floures and swete herbes, whiche the Kynge much praysed.
Then sayde Robyn Hood, * Sir, Outlawe's brekefastes is venyson, and therefore you
must be contente with such fare as we use.' Then the Kynge and Quene sate
doune, and were served with venyson and wyne by Robyn Hood and hys men, too
theyr great contentacion Then the Kynge departed and hys company, and Robyn
Hood and hys men them conducted ; and as they were returnynge, there met with
them n. ladyes in a ryche chariot, drawen with v. horses, and every horse had hys
name on hys head, and on every horse sate a ladye with her name writen. On
the first courser, called Lawde, sate Humidite, or Humide ; on the n. courser,
called Memeon, roade Lady Vert ; on the in., called Pheton, sate Lady Vegetave ;
on the iv., called Rimphon, sate Lady Pleasaunce ; on the v., called Lampace,
sate Swete Odour ; and in the chayre sate the Lady May, accompanyed with Lady
Flora, rychely appareled j and they saluted the Kynge with diverse goodly songes,
and so brought him to Grenewyche. At this Maiying was a great numbre of
people to beholde to their great solace and comfort.

"The same afternone, the Kynge, the Duke of Suffblke, the Marques Dorset,
and the Erie of Essex, their bardes and bases of grene velvet and cloth of golde,
came into the felde on great coursers, on whome wayted diverse gentlemen, al
appareyled richly after their devises, and so valiauntly they rane their courses
appointed 5 and after the (sic) they rane volant, one as fast as he might overtake
another, which was a goodly sight to se ; and when al was done, they departed,
and went to a goodly banquet."

Hall (in his Life of Henry VIII. fol. 6 ) also mentions that one morning, in the
first year of his reign, Henry VIII., by way of pastime, came suddenly into the
chamber where the Queen and her ladies were sitting. He was attended by twelve
noblemen, all apparelled in short coats of Kentish Kendal, with hoods and hosen
of the same ; each of them had his bows with arrows, and a sword and buckler,
*' like outlawes, or Robyn Hode's men." The Queen, it seems, at first was
somewhat affrighted by their appearance, of which she was not the least apprised.
This gay troop performed several dances, and then departed.

4 Probably the Archbishop of Armagh, who accompanied Lord Berners (the
translator of Froissart) to Spain, A.D. 1518. Had the Archbishop been Warham
or Wolsey, Pasqualigo would have mentioned them by name.

5 Earl of Surrey.

6 Gerald Fitzgerald, ninth Earl of Kildare. He came to England in 1514, the
post being filled during his absence by William Preston Viscount Gormanstown.
See Collins, vol. vi. p. 138.

7 Sir Thomas Dockwra, who was the successor of Sir John Kendal, and com-

94 DESPATCHES OF

pleted St. John's Gate at Clerkenwell, in 1504. Dr. Lingard mentions him by
the title of " Lord St. John," as having been sent ambassador to the Emperor,
with Sir Thomas Boleyn, in November, 1521, when Cardinal Wolsey was at
Calais. Dockwra, however, was not a peer of the kingdom, but was called " lord "
by courtesy, and sate in the House of Peers as Prior of St. John's.

DESPATCHES

OF

SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII.

AFTER the departure of Pietro Pasqualigo, Giustinian and
his colleague Badoer address themselves to the real business
of the embassy, and proceed to acquaint the Signory with the
bias of the court and councils of Henry VIII. At this time,
the reciprocal relations of the various European powers were
in a very unsettled and anomalous state, arising from the
inextricable confusion which had been created by the un-
principled alliance commonly known as " the League of
Cambray."

On the loth of December, 1508, a treaty had been
stipulated in that city, between Pope Julius II., the Emperor
Maximilian, his infant grandson and successor Charles, Fer-
dinand of Aragon, and Louis XII. of France, for the express
purpose of partitioning the territories of the Republic of
Venice, whose spoils were to be divided thus : — The Pope
was to be put in possession of Faenza, Rimini, Cervia, and
Ravenna,; the Emperor was to obtain the march of Treviso,
Istria, the Friuli, the territories of the Patriarchate of
Aquilea, of Padua, of Vicenza, of Verona, and of Roveredo ;
Ferdinand of Arragon claimed the five ports of Trani,

96 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Brindisi, Otranto, Pulignano, and Gallipoli ; and Louis
XII. took for his share, Bergamo, Brescia, Crema, Cremona,
and all the country between the Adda, the Oglio, and the
Po.

In execution of this iniquitous compact, the Venetians
were simultaneously attacked by an overpowering force, and
their rout at Agnadello in the Ghiarra d'Adda, on the
I4th May, 1509, was followed by the loss of all their terri-
tories on the continent.

The firmness and dexterity with which the Republic
repaired her losses and disunited her enemies, has been the
constant theme of historians. Early in 1510, Julius II.
made peace with Doge Loredano ; and Rome, Venice, and
Ferdinand the Catholic, leagued against France. Again, in
1511, the Pope formed "the Holy League," by which the
Church, England, Spain, Venice, and the Swiss Cantons,
bound themselves to declare war on Louis XII. In 1513,
the Venetians renounced their former allies, and made a sepa-
rate peace with France ; and in the following year, their
example was imitated by Henry VIII.

The damage occasioned to the Republic was not re-
paired when, in 1515, Giustinian arrived in London. Maxi-
milian still held Verona, Brescia, and Bergamo, and in
order to oblige him to relinquish his conquest, the Venetians
courted the friendship of France, on which account they had
some reason to apprehend that their policy might prove
obnoxious to Henry VIII., whose jealousy and dislike of
Francis was rather masked than modified by the treaty
signed at Westminster, on the 5th of April, 1515.

Such was the state of things when Giustinian commences
the present correspondence, which contains many details
hitherto unmentioned in the history of England, and throws
much light on the politics and manners of the period.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 97

London, June 15, 1515.

MOST SERENE PRINCE, — Our last were in date of the
29th ultimo, and thereby your Excellency was informed of
what had occurred, which was little, for little does one hear,
in this kingdom, of passing events.

We now inform you that on the loth instant, we received
five of your missives, which were read by us with our
wonted respect. Two of them were in date of the 20th
April, addressed to me Sebastian alone, about thanking his
Majesty for having named your Highness as his ally in the
confederation, lately formed between him and the present
most Christian French King. This compliment, although
performed most amply by us on our arrival here, especially
at the second audience, we will not fail to repeat, though it
has proved impossible to do so hitherto, by reason of the
King's absence, who, for the last few days, has been hunt-
ing, twenty-five or thirty miles hence, and will remain
abroad, as usual, for a short while.

We received three other letters on the same day as the
preceding, dated 26th April, concerning the duty of two
crowns per butt,1 addressed to the Magnifico Piero Pasqua-
ligo and me, with the purport of which we were also unable
to comply, for the reason already mentioned ; this, indeed,
might have been attended to previously, had your Excellency's
letters come quicker, whereas, the fact of their having been
a month and a half on their way, has in truth proved
extremely inconvenient ; we know not with whom the
blame rests. Both these commissions shall be executed
forthwith, and I have obtained information from the Mag-
nifico my colleague, and from the Magnifico the Consul, and
other well informed merchants of ours, and learned many
things connected with this matter, besides those notified to us

VOL. I. H

98 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

in your Excellency's missives. We should have already
commenced negotiating this business, had it not seemed more
expedient to await in the first place the receipt of his
Majesty's missive to your Sublimity, announcing your being
named in the confederation aforesaid, and also the Signory's
reply. For as this impost may be considered recent, and
contrary to the institutions of this kingdom, seeing that your
Excellency has taken off four ducats per butt,2 and as you
are now his Majesty's ally, and more closely linked with
him than formerly, the demand for its repeal would come
with greater justice, and its refusal by his Majesty be more
unfair. For this reason we have deemed it advisable to delay
bringing forward this matter until the receipt of the State's
reply to his Majesty's letter, which last we have endeavoured
to obtain with all assiduity ; but owing to the absence afore-
said, and also because it seems that this matter appertains
especially to the Archbishop of York, who, from what we
are able to conjecture, is not very prone towards your
Excellency's interests, the business may not be unattended
with difficulty. We, however, will not fail to court his
favour, and, moreover, employ the aid of others of these
noblemen, who appear well inclined towards your Excel-
lency's affairs, so that we doubt not but that within two or
three days, at the farthest, said letter will be obtained ; and
we are, indeed, convinced that had the King been here, we
should have already received it.

Much news circulates here, and especially about the
most Christian King's march towards Italy, followed, it
is said, by all France ; though, as we have no advice to this
effect from your Serenity's right noble ambassadors, nor yet
from others, we do not vouch for the fact, but make sure
that your Excellency is better informed by the aforesaid
Magnificoes, than we are. We beseech you, at any rate, to

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 99

deign and give us summaries of passing events, both in the
Levant and in Italy, such as may be deemed fit for communica-
tion to the King, whom we should thus have an opportunity
for visiting frequently, it not being the custom of this king-
dom to present oneself before him otherwise ; nor can your
Excellency do any thing more agreeable to his Majesty and
these noblemen, than to give them copious accounts of pas-
sing events. Your Excellency is most sage, and will do as
to your wisdom shall seem fit.

I, Andrea, most serene Prince, am verily most anxious
for the receipt of your letters, with the means enabling
me at length to depart hence, and I shall then forthwith com-
mence my journey, intending by all means to go and fulfil my
vow, made to the blessed St. James of Compostella, the
which vow I made when five of my servants died of plague,
whereas, by the grace of our Lord God, I myself escaped it.
Should your Serenity not allow me to go at the public
cost, in the Lord's name be it so ; and I will even go at my
own, provided my laborious and faithful service rendered
during the last seven years, and for which everybody can
vouch, be not consigned to oblivion, a thing I can assuredly
by no means credit, having served you both well and fre-
quently ; it being known universally that I had no precise
instructions, and yet my negotiations were more approved
than if they had been in accordance with the written instruc-
tions of the State. I have, moreover, received private infor-
mation to the effect that my Lord of St. Johns,3 and those
other knights of Rhodes,4 have said that, at any rate, before
I quit this kingdom, they mean to have the money they so
courteously lent me, or otherwise will proceed against me in
my own person, which I pledged to them individually ; so I
pray and beseech your Sublimity, by the love of God, to
provide for my need, should you as yet have taken no steps,

100 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUST1NIAN

my protracted stay here grieving me inexpressibly, both from
my anxiety to ease the State of such an expense, and also for
my own sake, the winter season coming on, as evident.

1 The first importation of Malmsey into England appears to have
taken place early in the thirteenth centuiy, the Venetians having obtained
possession of Malvasia about the year 1208 ; and to them our forefathers
are mainly indebted for the " humane principle " of forswearing thin
potations and addicting themselves to sack. The name of " sack,"
written sakke, occurs for the first time in an act of Parliament, A.D.
1531-33, 23 Henry VIII., and being coupled there with Malmsies,
and the wines of the Morea, it may be supposed to have alluded then
exclusively to the vintages of Candia, Cyprus, the Morea, and Spain,
though it became eventually, in the days of Shakspeare, synonymous with
sweet and dry wines of any growth, in contradistinction to French and
Rhenish wines, called small wines. Thus, Sir Launcelot Sparcock, in
the " London Prodigal" —

" Drawer, let me have sack) for us old men ;
For these girls and knaves, small ivines are the best."

2 Concerning this diminution of duty, see also Samite's Diaries, vol.
ii. fo. 612, date A.D. 1499, July i. P.S.— The "infringement" is rightly
termed so, because Parliament had agreed to take off the duty, as shown
on a subsequent page.

3 Sir Thomas Dockwra, Prior of the Order in England, see ante
P- 93-

4 Amongst the English Knights who had been at Venice in this
period was the Turcopolier (a title peculiar to the English tongue), Sir
Thomas Newport; his presence there, in the month of September, 1513,
being recorded by Sanuto.

To THE COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, July 3, 1515.

On our acquainting his Majesty with the warlike pre-
parations of the most Christian King, and that he was
shortly about to leave Lyons, and proceed beyond, without
specifying whither, and this because it appeared to us that
neither his Majesty nor any of the grandees of this kingdom

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 101

approve of the Italian expedition, the King answered us
very suitably in Latin, thus : " I verily believe that your
Signory does not know whither the King of France will
proceed, but I myself will tell you : know, then, that said
King will not go into Italy this year, though he circulates
reports to this effect, and avails himself of the fame and
advantage it brings him;" adding an inquiry at the same time
whether we considered said King our friend, and that his
coming into Italy was for our good. We answered him, also
in Latin, that your Sublimity deemed him your friend, both
because, even in things of less moment, he had ever evinced
regard for your interests, and deplored the wrongs done us
of yore ; and also because at this present we have cause to
consider him a very sure friend, by reason of the recent
alliance, seeing that the royal faith being kept, there could
be no farther grounds for fear or suspicion. In reply to the
second inquiry, we told him we were of opinion that his
Majesty was coming into Italy, mainly to recover his
Duchy of Milan, and consequently our territory, unduly
occupied by our enemies. Upon this, the King made an-
swer, " If your hope is based on the French King's
favours, you will be deceived ; for when he shall have
recovered the Milanese, he will choose to have the rest
likewise. He is fresh to the war, and young, and has
money to spend, whereas you have consumed and expended
much : on getting into Italy, he will be master there to do as
he shall please ; and I would that you had not agreed
together, as it would be better for you to sacrifice one town,
rather than lose the whole. I am aware that King Louis,
although my brother-in-law, was a bad man ; I know not
what this youth may be : he is, however, a Frenchman,
nor can I say how far you should trust him : it is true, he
enjoys great popularity, much more than King Louis."

102 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

On our confirming this, and saying, that in point of fact he
was not only loved, but adored by his subjects, his Majesty
rejoined, — " By God ! he gives them poor reason to love
him, running thus, at the very commencement of his reign,
into the toils and charges of war ! " going on to say that he
was your Sublimity's friend, and lamented your peril. We
answered him, that if your Signory had not made terms,1 it
proceeded from the maintenance of your faith, as you were
the confederate of the King of France, who had promised to
effect the restitution of your territory, and that it was im-
possible to form any agreement against his Majesty, and
preserve our faith intact ; especially as at this present, the
alliance between his Majesty himself, and the most Christian
King and your Excellency, was to be inviolate ; and that the
terms proposed by our adversaries did not consist in merely
retaining one of our cities, for by the occupation of Verona,
the seizure of the rest of your Signory's territory in Lom-
bardy would be effected, as you would thus be deprived
of the means of succouring the other towns.

His Majesty then asked us, if the King of Spain was the
foe or friend of your Serenity : we replied, that we could
answer for your Serenity's bias as having ever been most
friendly towards his Catholic Highness, of whose ten-
dency, however, we could only judge by facts which
proved him very hostile, his army having ever been
opposed to us in the Vicentine and Paduan territories,
and in the Polesine, doing the greatest possible harm.
Considering that said Catholic Majesty is at any rate this
King's father-in-law, we deemed it well to add, that we
were of opinion that what he was doing, and had done, was
rather at the instigation of Maximilian than of his own
natural disposition ; whereupon the King rejoined, u For
certain special reasons, we cannot very well enter upon this

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 103

subject," but asked us, how we stood with the Pope. We
made answer, that we considered his Holiness our good
father, because we were his most obsequious children. He
then inquired to which side his Holiness adhered : we said,
we knew not, but that if he chose to favour the cause of
justice, as became a true pastor, he would assist our affairs
in unison with those of France. His* Majesty rejoined, " I
could not credit your being otherwise than friends with the
Pope ; for I, likewise, am his good son, and shall ever be
with his Holiness and with the Church, from which I never
mean to depart ; and I think I have sufficient power with
his Holiness to warrant hopes of my making him adhere
to whichever side I choose." The Archbishop of York ex-
pressed himself in this same manner a few days ago.

With regard to this inquiry concerning the Pope, we
thought fit to answer in so cautious a manner that our
expressions might rather soothe than exasperate, and most
especially because at this present we are not aware whether
his Holiness continues in the same mind he was when I,
Sebastian, left Venice, or that his opinion be changed ; in
which case it would have been impolitic to evince distrust
of the Pontiff, particularly as his Majesty here inclines
vastly towards his Holiness. The King, however, returned
to the topic of the King of France, saying, that he would
deceive us, and that he knew for certain, through language
uttered by the King in person, and communicated to him
through certain friends and servants of his there at the court,
that he would not cross the Alps this year ; adding, " and
should this be the case, how will you do ? You will remain
single-handed against so many potentates and against the
Switzers." Whereupon, we inquired of his Majesty, if he
knew the reason of the French King's not crossing, after
having made so much military preparation. He affected un-

104 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

willingness to tell us, from suspicion of our repeating his
words, so we dexterously besought him to speak freely with
us, since we deemed his Majesty and your Sublimity one
and the same thing, and of the same mind, both by reason of
the ancient friendship maintained with his most serene fore-
fathers, but above all with his late august father, and in
virtue of the confederation recently promulgated, which we
hoped would be perpetual. At length he said to us, " I
will confess the truth : I believe that his dread of me, lest I
should invade his kingdom, will prevent him crossing the
Alps." This, appearing to us a matter of extreme impor-
tance, we said to him, that if it was so, the King of France
was deterred by what had never entered his Majesty's head,
by reason of the alliance existing both with King Francis and
with us. He rejoined, that by the articles of the agreement,
he was at liberty to succour the enemies of the King of
France should she be the aggressor ; and were France to be
attacked, he might, in like manner, lend her favour : " so
that," said he, " my belief is, that if I choose, he will not
cross the Alps, and if I choose, he will cross ;" and to
the like effect were the words uttered a few days ago
by the Right Rev. of York. To this we replied, in the
most bland and loving form of exhortation, that his Majesty
should bear in mind not merely the King of France, but
your Sublimity, whose territory had been so iniquitously
seized and occupied, and your ruin meditated, despite your de-
serts with Christendom, both for treasure expended and for
the blood of our citizens shed in its defence, and that all we
had endured proceeded from envy of our State, and that at this
present, no nearer hope presented itself for its recovery, than
the coming of the King of France into Italy ; and that im-
mediately on regaining our territory, it would be held most
readily at the entire will of his Majesty, and for his con-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 105

venience and honour ; wherefore your Sublimity had ever felt
convinced that his Majesty would by his authority, and of
his goodness, and by means of this holy and inviolable con-
federacy, favour our affairs : we besought him therefore, in your
Sublimity's name, to deign through his well-deserved autho-
rity to further our interests with his Holiness, and, more-
over, assist this undertaking by all possible means.

His Majesty answered in conformable terms, saying, that
he loved your Excellency extremely, and that his regrets were
solely induced by regard for you yourself, who, thinking to
be succoured, will be deceived ; and expressions of this dis-
trust of the most Christian King, he moreover repeated to
me, Andrea, in English. We rejoined, that we placed our
chief hope in God, who would support our pious and
righteous cause ; and that we, moreover, expected from such
a King, that which every one should and may promise them-
selves from royal faith, and with this we took leave.

Thus, most serene Prince, we are confirmed in the opinion
conceived by me, Sebastian, on my first arrival here — namely,
that his Majesty and all these lords take it extremely amiss that
the most Christian King should descend into Italy, dreading
the increase of his power, and I became immediately aware of
the existence between these two young Kings of so great a
rivalry of glory, that it would be a very easy matter for this
metal to become rusted, which for the moment, until the
most Christian King shall have proceeded in the acquisition
of his territory, and your Serenity in yours, would prove in-
convenient, though subsequently one might, perhaps, think
otherwise. For the love of God, we beseech your Ex-
cellency not to fail, so far as you can, in keeping this
King well advised, and giving us opportunities for visiting
and converting him from his opinions, it being impossible
for us to do so without some document from your Excel-

106 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN G1USTINIAN

lency, as it is contrary to the custom of the country to go to
the King without any cause : do your Excellency therefore
send us frequent summaries of news both of France, Italy,
and of the Levant, as your Excellency will thus play the
part of a true confederate ; and, at the same time, afford us
the means of going to his Majesty and negotiating, and learn-
ing that which has hitherto been beyond our ken.

As the statement made to us by his Majesty, given
above, seems of extreme importance, we will endeavour to
obtain confirmation of it from some of these lords, although
we deem it well nigh impossible, because, in similar mat-
ters, these people appear to proceed with the greatest
caution. We shall not fail in our duty towards your Sub-
limity, cujus gratiae, &c.

ANDR. BADUARIUS, 1 ~

e T t? \Oratores.

SEBAST. JUSTIN., Eques., J

i Leo X. had endeavoured, in the year 1514., to detach the Venetians
from their alliance with Louis XII., to which effect Pietro Bembo was
accredited to the senate by the Pope (see Paruta, p. 86), and these are
the terms here alluded to.

To THE COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, July 3, 1515.

After having written the accompanying, a gentleman of
this kingdom, a great friend to me, Andrea, and from whom,
on former occasions,. I have received secret intelligence,
came and told me, that on the day before yesterday his
Majesty determined on sending the Lord Chamberlain1 to
France, with a commission to tell King Francis to beware
of infringing his agreements.

He affirms, moreover, that in his Majesty's chamber he

FRQM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. IQf

heard it said, " that the King of France is a powerful mo-
narch, lord of France and of Brittany ; and that by going
into Italy he would become yet more powerful, seizing the
Milanese and other territories ; nor would it suit us to have
so great a neighbour." He added that Lord Worcester was
to leave on that evening for France, though he thought he
would go leisurely. Should this be true, it would be of
extreme importance ; we notify it to your Serenity in the
manner it reached us, nor do we vouch for it farther j and
we trust at any rate, if this report be well founded, that his
most Christian Majesty will have realized his intention before
the arrival of the Chamberlain aforesaid. No hostile pre-
parations are visible here, nor does one hear a single word of
war, nor of news, so I, Sebastian, am of opinion that this is
the work of the Pope, with whom (as your Excellency will
perceive by what we enclose) his Majesty here seems very
closely linked.

1 " Charles Somerset, having been Lord Chamberlain to Henry VII.,
was also in the same office to Henry VIII., at his first coming to the
Crown. In 1513, in the expedition into France he followed the King
thither with 6,000 foot, and was present at the taking of Terouane and
Tournay ; where, meriting highly for his heroic actions, he had the
office ot Lord Chamberlain bestowed upon him for life, and, on the
festival of the Virgin Mary, in 1514, was advanced to the dignity of
Earl of Worcester ; and on October 9th of that year, he attended Lady
Mary, the King's sister, at her coronation at St. Dennis, in France.
He was afterwards employed by the King for confirming articles of
peace between England and France." (Extract from Collins, vol. i. pp.
225, 226 ; see also pp. 391 and 541.) This Lord Worcester is the
Chamberlain introduced by Shakspeare in " King Henry VIII."

To THE COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, July 6, 1515.

After our conferences held with his Majesty, anxious as
it were to know whether any step had been taken, either

108 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

through ambassadors or letters, protesting against or prohibit-
ing the descent into Italy of the most Christian King, and
to learn whether there was any clause in the confederation
authorizing his Majesty to offer such impediment, we went
to certain lords, under pretence of paying them visits ; and
first of all, on the morning of the 5th inst., betook ourselves
to the illustrious Duke of Norfolk,1 Lord High Treasurer,
and on our asking him the news, he said, " The most serene
King of France will not cross the Alps this year, nor do I
know how you will manage with so many enemies who have
conspired against you, without any aid : it would have been
well to make some agreement, for the avoidance of utter
annihilation." We endeavoured to learn the cause of said
King's not coming into Italy, and, after some little hesitation,
he replied, that the whole of France is reduced to great
distress and misery, owing to the past wars ; wherefore, the
present King, at the suggestion of his councillors, will not
descend into Italy, especially being certain that the Switzers
would oppose him in considerable force. We, perceiving
that he pushed this topic no further, did not choose to press
him ; nor would we mention what the King had said to us,
lest he should repeat it, and render his Majesty more reserved
with us for the future; and it seeming to us that he re-
proached your Sublimity for not having made terms with
your enemies, we told him that we could not accept any
agreement without breaking our faith, pledged by treaty to
the most Christian King, past and present, and which we
are bound to observe towards his Majesty here, in virtue of
this same confederation ; and that an agreement had been
proposed to your Excellency, whereby, under pretence
of ceding Verona to the Emperor, you lost the whole of
your possessions in Lombardy, Verona being situated between
that province and the march of Treviso ; whereupon he re-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. IOQ

joined, " Those towns, however, are not your patrimony,
but taken from other lords." We answered him that re-
publics had no patrimony, so that no State was derived from
forefathers and ancestors, but that legitimate and just acqui-
sitions, and long possession, constituted the equitable titles
of republics ; and that of this nature were those of our towns
in Lombardy, which, in the wars waged about a century ago
with the Dukes of Milan, were obtained both by battle and
by treaties, and by ratifications of peace, by which last means
we acquired Crema and Bergamo, Brescia by surrender and
long siege, and Verona likewise by surrender, all which towns
we had now held for many years past, during the lifetime
of the Duke Philip, of Duke Francesco, of Duke Galeazo,
of Duke John Galeazo, and of Duke Ludovic, as a thing
known and consented to : that Verona had belonged to the
Scaligers, of whom there are no heirs, and that the Emperor
who now holds it has no more right so to do than the Soldan
of Egypt ; so that his lordship might comprehend whether
we had been wronged or not. We endeavoured to get a
sight of all the clauses of the agreement between his Majesty
and the most Christian King, in order to learn whether there
was any article whereby the King of England could prohibit
King Francis from undertaking the Italian expedition, or
authorize him to succour the enemies of France : he said
that it was not in his power to gratify us, but that he was
willing we should see them, and that we must speak to some
other lords of the council ; adding, however, that the only
clause relating to said confederation, purported that either
party demanding mutual aid, the obligation existed for ren-
dering such at the suitor's cost. We also inquired the
reason for sending the Lord Chamberlain ambassador to
France, and he answered that he was not going ; and then,
when we were in the act of taking leave, he desired us to

IIO DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

confer with him again, after we should have spoken with the
Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Winchester,2 as he
wished to have a long conversation with us.

After dinner we, in fact, did go to the Right Reverend
of York, who really seems to have the management of the
whole of this kingdom, and having asked him for news, he
repeated to us, " Regem Gallorum nullo pacto esse transiturum
monies hoc anno ; " assigning the same reasons as those above
mentioned, adding, that he knew not how to qualify the
prudence of the French King and his councillors, who, despite
the distress under which his subjects are labouring, and the
hostility of the Switzers, chooses to descend into Italy : that
he had never cared, not only to ask the aid of England, but
had even omitted to make the slightest communication con-
cerning this his undertaking; showing that he held his
Majesty here in small account, although he had it in his
power to concede or withhold from him the means of going
into Italy ; and he assured us that on this King depends the
stay of the most Christian on this side the Alps, or his
march beyond them. This appearing to us of great moment,
we endeavoured to learn how it was possible, but he did not
choose to enter into further details, again repeating the asser-
tion aforesaid yet more positively, and going on to complain
with the utmost bitterness in the name of the whole king-
dom, saying, " He never writes hither ; he does not com-
municate any of his secrets ; he treats all Englishmen as
enemies, allowing his own subjects to capture the ships and
vessels of this kingdom, and does not enforce any compensa-
tion soever. He has sent the Duke of Albany into Scot-
land, who styles himself Governor, and will not desist until
he has compassed the death of the Queen,3 and of the infant
King,4 in order to render himself master of that realm. We
first offered our services to King Louis, to make terms

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. Ill

between him and the Switzers, and the like we did with this
present King, because we have great authority with them :
King Francis has never deigned even to thank his Majesty !
Think, sir ambassadors, whether this is to be borne ! and
say if these are the fashions of confederates ! Per Deumy
Rex noster decrevit servare honor em et existimationem mam.
(By God ! it behoves our King preserve his own honour and
credit.) This, indeed, I tell you, that should he alter his
style, this King will change his mind ; let King Francis
evince regard and esteem and trust in him, communicating
his affairs, treating his Majesty's subjects well, and not
attacking our ships ; in that case this King will keep the
covenant agreed on, and not swerve thence unless goaded
by legitimate causes. I was the author of the peace,5 con-
trary to the opinion of many of these lords : and I will,
moreover, maintain it, should said King choose to do his
duty ; though if it be his intention to persevere as he has
commenced, I will destroy my fabric. And I assure you
that all these thrusts have been directed at me by those
members of the council who were averse to this peace : "
adding much other very warm language, similar to that
uttered by the King when we had audience of him.

We, most serene Prince, deemed it advisable to palliate
somewhat the most Christian King's proceedings, but with-
out increasing the just indignation of the right reverend of
York; and, in the first place, touching the maltreatment
which he said had been exercised against English subjects,
we told him that officials frequently act contrary to the will
of their sovereigns, who should not be blamed on this
account : that with regard to the seizure of property and
vessels, we knew not what to reply, but that possibly the
like had been done in this matter also, although the King
had ordered their release ; and that before complaining of

112 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

him, his Majesty would do well to see whether it were the
fault of the King, or that of his agents. With reference to
the non-communication, we said that perhaps the most
Christian King had marshalled this army with the sole in-
tention of attacking the Switzers, who were doubtless com-
ing to invade his kingdom ; and not having decided upon
undertaking the Italian expedition, did, therefore, make no
communication to this effect; added to which, even if deter-
mined thereon, and he yet anticipated having to delay, by
reason of hostilities from the Switzers, or from others, he
might possibly have not thought fit to announce his resolve,
lest it should seem that he was afraid of the Switzers ;
and that, in point of fact, it would be a degradation for him
to abstain from going into Italy, after his intention had been
so publicly announced. We said we believed this was his
opinion, because we knew that the Pope had made similar
complaints, and that his Majesty had excused himself on the
plea of not having decided on crossing the Alps, wherefore
he had made no announcement. Upon this, the right reve-
rend of York rejoined, " By God, sir ambassadors, this was
my own reply to these lords of the council, to exonerate the
King of France, for in truth there is no better way ; but I
perceive that this apology likewise does not avail, for he
might easily have announced his intention of going into Italy,
should circumstances permit his doing so, without bloodshed,
and that he would not march otherwise. Such a course,
instead of disgracing him, would have been that of a most
clement prince. Still," he again repeated, " let the King of
France act by this King as a friend and confederate, showing
that he holds him in account, and his Majesty will abide by
the confederation as due ; if not, he will prove himself a
powerful monarch, both in troops and treasure."

We inquired of him to which side the Pope seemed to

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 113

lean : he smiled, and said, " You know as well as I do, and
would fain know less ; but be assured that this King's
example will be followed by his Holiness, so our fortunes are
the same. Should our King espouse the French interests, the
Pope will do the like." And with this we took leave.

We, most serene Prince, having considered the influence
which these persons say they possess with his Holiness and
with the Switzers, are of opinion that the King of England
and his privy council persuade themselves, that through the
authority of the Pope, and the impediment offered by the
Switzers, they have it in their power to prohibit the most
Christian King from crossing into Italy ; and this is the
cause of such positive assertions made by them, purporting
that, should they choose, the King of France will pass into
Italy this year, and that, should they not choose, he will not
do so. Your Serenity, however, will give it such weight as
to your wisdom shall seem fit.

1 Thomas Howard, second Duke of Norfolk, was made Lord Trea-
surer of England when only Earl of Surrey, A.D. 1501, June 25. After
the battle of Flodden (A.D. 1513, September 9), Henry VIII. made him
Duke of Norfolk} the Duke resigned his Treasurer's staff A.D. 1522,
December 4. (when the King immediately bestowed it on his son the
Earl of Surrey), and died A.D. 1524., May 21. See Collins, vol. i. pp.
80, 81.

2 In date of the year 1509, Hume writes of the Duke of Norfolk
(then Earl of Surrey;, and of the Bishop of Winchester, as follows: —

" But the chief competitors to favour and authority under the new
King, were the Earl of Surrey, Treasurer ; and Fox, Bishop of Win-
chester, Secretary and Privy Seal. This prelate, who enjoyed great
credit during all the former reign, had acquired such habits of caution
and frugality as he could not easily lay aside j and he still opposed, by
his remonstrances, those schemes of dissipation and expense which the
youth and passions of Henry rendered agreeable to him. But Surrey was
a more dexterous courtier ; and though few had borne a greater share in
the frugal politics of the last King, he knew how to conform himself to
the humours of his new master j and no one was so forward in promoting
that liberality, pleasure, and magnificence which began to prevail under
the young monarch. By this policy he ingratiated himself with Henry ;
he made profit, as well as the other courtiers, of the lavish disposition of

VOL. I. I

114 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

lis master ; and he engaged him in such a course of play and idleness,
s rendered him negligent of affairs, and willing to entrust the affairs of

his

as

the State entirely into the hands of his ministers.1

3 Margaret Tudor, widow of James IV.

4 James V., then about four years old, and who became the father of
Mary Stuart.

5 Alluding to the peace with Louis XII., signed A.D. 1514, August 7,
and according to one of whose articles, the French Monarch married the
Princess Maria Tudor. This peace, as shown at page 60, was confirmed
in favour of Francis I., on the 5th of April, 1515.

To THE COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, July 7, 1515.

Being anxious to elicit the real truth concerning the
matters contained in our previous despatches, we went, under
pretence of a visit, to the Reverend Bishop of Durham,1 a
man of great authority, and very much our friend ; and having
adroitly commenced discussing the expedition of France, he
said his opinion was, that the most Christian King would
not pass into Italy this year, by reason of this great league
between the Emperor, Spain, Milan, the Switzers, and the
Florentines, and to which the Pope, likewise, would perhaps
become a party, but that he did not yet know for certain.
We then asked him if he himself, or any one else in this
kingdom, had any certain knowledge of the King's not
meaning to cross the Alps this year : he affirmed to there
being no certainty soever, and that what circulates is opinion.
On our asking him if his Majesty had interfered in the
matter, either to speed or prohibit the undertaking, he said
no j and that not the slightest sign concerning this business
had ever been made, although, by reason of the French
King's misconduct, his Sovereign would be entitled to thwart

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 115

it ; notwithstanding which, nothing has been done hitherto,
nor is there any fear of his Majesty's swerving from the con-
federation, unless provoked by the aforesaid King ; he pro-
mised also, should any change take place in this matter, to
let us know.

Whilst speaking about the affairs of the Catholic King, the
Bishop informed us that he was reconciled to his Sovereign,
adding, " and will in everything do as our King shall please ;
whilst with regard to the Pope, he is at present so linked
with King Henry, that words cannot exaggerate their mutual
good will; so that, in the affairs of France, the policy of
England will be that of Rome ; the Pope well knowing that
his Majesty is most obsequious towards him, whilst from his
Holiness, the King can reciprocally promise himself every-
thing." On our asking him about this ambassador, the
Lord High Chamberlain, of whose appointment to France
we wrote, he said he really had not left, nor would he ; but
that one of the Governors of Calais had been named in his
stead, and that the commission would be sent to him shortly.
He declares that it does not relate to the French expedi-
tion, but to indemnity for certain damages done to British
subjects.

1 Thomas Ruthal, see ante p. 74.

London, July 16, 1515.

* * * On the receipt of news from our colleagues in
Paris, thinking to do what would be very agreeable to the
Right Reverend Archbishop of York, who seems to have
been the author of the peace between his Majesty and the

Il6 DEPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN, GJUSTINIAN

most Christian King, we went to his Lordship, and stated to
him how sorry King Francis was that this most serene King
should doubt his love and goodwill, in demonstration where-
of he was about to send one of his gentlemen, adding many
expressions calculated to generate affection and concord
between the two crowns, knowing that such was the wish
of your Serenity. His Lordship appeared much pleased
with this communication, saying, " Be assured, should the
King of France show signs of valuing the friendship of this
our King, he will never violate the confederation and his
faith ; and in like manner, as I was the author of the peace,
so will I exert myself to confirm and maintain it. Should
said King choose, on the other hand, to maltreat English
subjects, and appear not to hold his Majesty in account, his
power is such, that he will know how to avenge himself;
for I tell you, Sir Ambassadors, that we have ships here in
readiness, and in eight days could place 60,000 men on the
soil of France ; so we are able to thwart any of his projects
at our pleasure." To this we answered him, that coun-
cillors ever deserved great praise for preserving friendship
between sovereigns to their utmost, as finally they remain
the friends of both parties ; whilst those who act otherwise
run great risk (in the event of their Sovereign's affairs not
proceeding according to his wish), of the blame's being cast
on those who caused the disappointment; wherefore we
praised his lordship for maintaining the friendship between
these princes, and by so much the more, as he was aware
that the most Christian King was well disposed towards his
Majesty here. He told us he had heard, through a sure
channel, that the Switzers were divided amongst themselves,
wherefore it might be hoped, that the affairs of France, and
of your Signory, would turn out well. Concerning the
Pope, he said that he really had not yet decided, but would

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. ll'J

doubtless follow the example of this kingdom ; and that
Genoa, apparently, had decided for France. With regard to
the truth of these matters, your Serenity is better informed
than we are.

Since this interview, through letters from Paris of the
3rd inst., written by the Magnifico Piero Pasqualigo to his
brother Lorenzo, we have heard of the great preparations
of King Francis, and that he was to confer with the Swiss
ambassadors, to conclude a certain agreement negotiated
by his Holiness, who seemed to declare himself for France :
these letters also mention the strength of the French
army, and their contents were beyond measure agreeable to
us, as one may hence fairly anticipate the restoration of your
Excellency's territories. We, however, did not choose to
make any communication hereon to his Majesty, nor to any
of these lords, in order that, should the French ambassador
arrive, the announcement of these facts by him may prove
more agreeable to his Majesty, and more likely to promote
the friendship of the two crowns ; whereas, had the intelli-
gence reached him from us, it would have appeared to him
that the most Christian King was acquainting him through
his ambassador with things already known, and public to
every one. We, most serene Prince, who are here for
the purpose of keeping alive the friendship of these two
sovereigns, are intent thereon, and beseech your Sublimity,
that either directly from yourself, or through your ambassa-
dors, we may be kept informed of passing events, since,
when acquainted with the facts, we shall know how to adapt
them as necessary.

Il8 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

London, August 5, 1515.

We have now to inform your Serenity how, on the
29th ultimo, we went to see the King at Greenwich, rather
with a view to paying him a visit than for the purpose of
transacting any business with his Majesty, as we had
nothing to negotiate, nor yet to communicate, for we have
received no letters from your Excellency the last two months,
and only one from the Magnifico Dandolo, in France, with
regard to which we made the requisite communication
at the time. This visit seemed to us taken in very good
part by his Majesty, and many things passed about the
French expedition, with small foundation, because neither
the King, nor yet we ourselves, are informed of any thing,
wherefore we make no mention of such conversations.
With regard to the affair of the two ducats per butt,1 we
said nothing, for the reason written of yore to your Excel-
lency; but what we can say is, that we have been, and ever
are, treated with great courtesy, both by his Majesty and
these lords. Whilst we were in the hall, with other noble-
men, there came a certain Reverend Dom. Baldassar
Thoardi, a prothonotary, who heretofore was secretary to
Pope Julius, and is returned from Scotland, having been sent
thither by the Pope, to settle the terms of peace which are
now agreed upon, and only remain to be drawn up in writing.
We asked him about the Duke of Albany, who had been
sent by King Francis into Scotland, and is reputed a noble-
man of great power and influence there ;2 what he was
doing, how popular he was, and on what terms he found
himself with the most serene Queen. He answered us,
that he was a courteous lord (un gentll signior] ; that his
party and authority were great; that latterly he and the most
serene Queen found themselves linked in close good will,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. I IQ

and that he was assiduous in his visits to her, so that it seems
that affairs in that quarter will take a good turn, nor are we
aware of the existence of any more potent cause for creating
discord between the most Christian King and his Majesty,
than the presence of said Duke in that kingdom, should he
be at strife with that most serene Queen, or with the Earl3
her consort, which not being the case, a good issue is to be
hoped. This Thoardi had made several attempts to obtain
audience of his Majesty, and on the day in question had it of
sufficient length ; and according to what he told us after-
wards, he informed the King that the aforesaid Duke of
Albany enjoyed very great authority in Scotland, and that
well nigh all have sworn fidelity and obedience to him as
Governor, an assertion which is at variance with his first
statement, and incompatible with the possibility of concord
between him and the Queen ; we will, however, endeavour
through some other channel to learn the whole truth,
whereof your Sublimity shall be informed by our future
despatches.

After this, perceiving that the Duke of Suffolk (the
husband of the Queen Dowager of France), who was there
present, associated with his Majesty tanquam intelllgentiam
assistentem orbi* which governs, commands, and acts with
authority scarcely inferior to that of the King himself, and
not having paid him an especial visit since he came here,
although he received this kind of compliment in France, we
deemed it advisable, for the sake of being favoured by him in
such matters as may chance, to call upon him in the name of
your Highness. Having presented your letters of credence,
therefore, we asked him to appoint a day for our performance
of this duty, and presenting ourselves accordingly, he received
us with extreme politeness and affability. We offered our
compliments in the most ample form that could be desired,

120 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

and in Latin, a detail of which is unnecessary ; but it was
all expressive of your Highness's good will and intention
towards his lordship, and of the great esteem wherein you
held his rare acquirements, and most amply set forth in
our letters, wherefore you had enjoined us to pay our
respects by a personal visit and offers of service, together
with congratulations on his most felicitous and auspicious
marriage to the most serene Maria, Dowager of France, and
alliance with this most serene King ; an event which in like
manner as it proved extremely glorious for his lordship, so
was it a source of singular gladness to your Sublimity.5 To all
these points, his lordship answered us in English, very
lovingly, and discussing the affairs of France, he said he was
extremely fond of your Sublimity, by reason of the affection
which he knew to exist between you and the most serene
King, wherefore, he chose to beseech, and respectfully remind
you of two things : first, that in the event of the King of
France crossing the Alps, your Sublimity might be the first,
and quick, to obtain your territory, lest on his being firmly
established in the Milanese, he prove adverse to the recovery
of your Signory's rights ; secondly, that when reinstated, you
do diminish your military expenditure, and endeavour to accu-
mulate as much treasure as possible, as he suspects it
will behove you disburse money against the King of France,
by reason of his being a spirited youth, in greater favour
with his subjects than any other King, and anxious for glory.
He repeated these comments to us twice or thrice, very
earnestly, and then told us that his Majesty here had intended
saying a few things to us on the day we went to Greenwich,
and from forgetfulness omitted doing so, and charged him to
make the communication in his name. He says, that one of
his Majesty's gentlemen had arrived here from Ferrara and
Mantua, whither he had been despatched on account of cer-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 121

tain presents exchanged between the parties,6 and on behalf
of each of these lords, he had besought this most serene
King to persuade your Serenity to live on good terms and
pacifically with them, as friendly neighbours, and conceding
good treatment to their subjects, acting in every respect as
becomes fair friendship, they being of this same mind with
regard to living united with your Sublimity, under all circum-
stances, and, that if there was any cause of dissension
between your Excellency and them, you should be content
to have such arranged and adjusted by his Majesty here, by
whose arbitration they professed themselves content to abide.
To this effect, the Duke of Suffolk urged us extremely, in
the King's name j and we answered him — I, Sebastian, in
particular — saying, that having come lately from Venice, and
being acquainted with whatsoever might have passed between
said lords and your most illustrious Signory, I was not aware
of the existence of any difference between them and your
Excellency, who viewed said lords less in the light of near
neighbours, than of your own children, ever evincing towards
them such affection as became a parent, though it was perfectly
true they had not reciprocated this tenderness, for when
through the conspiracy devised by well nigh all the Sovereigns
of Christendom,7 the fiercest possible war was waged against
the territories of your Sublimity, these two lords, without
any cause given, as known to every one, and like the
other Sovereigns, moreover, declared themselves with their
whole soul and strength the most rancorous enemies of our
State, which from the two lords aforesaid has suffered as
much injury as from any other members of the above men-
tioned conspiracy, and in revenge for the outrages received,
your Excellency merely acted thus : that, when the Marquis
of Mantua was captured by our forces, and brought a prisoner
to your Sublimity,8 on whose will his life depended, you after

122 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

a few months released him, whole, and utterly unscathed ; in
reward for which release, said Marquis has exercised many an
act of hostility against our State in the guise of a wrathful
enemy, notwithstanding which, no thirst for vengeance
exists on the part of your Excellency (who desires not the
death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn and live).
With regard to the Duke of Ferrara forsooth, after waging
the most open war against us, together with the others, he
appeared to soften, and evinced good will towards your
Highness, and when I left Venice, and long before, he
enjoyed (I said) his original favour, nor was there any cause
of dissension, a resident ambassador from said Duke being
accredited to the Signory, and receiving good countenance
and treatment as becoming the clemency of your Excellency.
We did not deem it advisable to pursue the matter farther,
as perhaps this request might relate to the Polesine, not
choosing to show that there was any difficulty in that matter ;
neither would we speak of the rights exercised by your
Signory in Ferrara, 9 lest this appeal should have been
induced thereby, it not seeming fit to us in these times to
promote discussion thereon, unless provoked and empowered
by your Serenity to reply in this matter, by reason of its
extreme importance.

I, verily, Andrea, most serene Prince, finding myself with
his Majesty, he thought fit to honour me with the order of
knighthood, and although such was neither sought or desired
by me, nevertheless, to avoid showing dissent from his
Majesty's will, it behoved me obey him, and thus has he
decorated me with this gift, in honour, moreover, of your
Sublimity.

1 See note on a subsequent page.
3 See ante, p. 61.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 123

3 Douglas Earl of Angus.

4 Apparently by the " orb," Wolsey is meant ; and the ambassadors
consider Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, his satellite ; the Duke being
the king's brother-in-law, and Wolsey not having yet got his Cardinal's
hat.

5 In letters of the 5th and i5th of May, which lacked sufficient
interest to quote, Giustinian had informed the Signory of the arrival of
Mary Tudor, with the Duke of Suffolk, at the English court j and that
he had abstained from congratulating the King on their marriage,
because he perceived that no rejoicings were made, and that it was not
pleasing to Henry. We read in Hall, in his " Triumphant Reigne of
Kyng Henry VIII.," folio 56 :—

"THE vn. YERE OF KYNG HENRY VIII.— After that the Duke of
Suffolke had receaved the Frenche Quene, with her dower appoynted,
and all her apparell, iuels and householde stuffe delivered, he with the
Quene toke their leave of the French Kyng, leaving Doctor West,
nominate Bishop of Ely, for the conclusion of the newe league to be
made between the Kyng of England and the newe Frenche Kyng
called Francis I., and so passed thorough Fraunce to Caleys, where she
was honorably enterteined, and after, with great honour, maried to Lord
Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolke, openly : howbeit, some sayd he
was maryed prively before at Parys, in the house of Cluigny. Against
this mariage many men grudged, and sayd that it was a great losse to the
realme that she was not maryed to the Prynce of Castell j but the wisest
sort was content, considerying that, if she had been maryed agayn out of
the realme, she should have caried much riches with her, and now she
brought every yere into the realme ix. or x. M. markes j but whatsoever
the rude people sayd, the duke behaved him selfe so, that he had both
the favour of the Kyng and of the people, hys wytte and demeanour
was suche."

6 Frizzi, in his history of Ferrara, mentions the fact of Duke
Alfonso's having sent one of his courtiers, named Girolamo Sestola, to
Henry VIII., with a present of a most superb horse with gold trappings,
and three trained falcons and a leopard, which last kind of prey was
used in Italy in those times to course hares. Sanuto mentions having
seen a leopard take a hare at Vigevano in 14.96 ; and in an Adoration of
the Magi, attributed to Titian, in the Manfrino Gallery, two leopards
are seen in a leash like dogs. Frizzi says, the mission and present had
for object to induce Henry VIII. to persuade Leo X. to restore Modena
and Reggio to the Duke of Ferrara.

7 The ambassadors are here alluding to the Leaguers of Cambrai, whose
hostilities against Venice commenced in the year 1509,

8 On the loth of August, 1509, on which day he was escorted from
Padua to Paluello by Shakspeare's Othello, alias Christopher Moro.

9 Alluding to the jurisdiction of the Venetian Vice-Lord at Ferrara,
an office which ceased with the League of Cambrai,

124 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

London, August 24, 1515.

We have not written again, since the 5th instant, until
now, because I, Sebastian, have been suffering from a severe
gastric fever, from which, by God's grace, I am now free,
remaining but with mere intermittent ague, of which I hope
to be soon rid ; whilst writing my last despatches, and with
the fever upon me, I received missives from your Sublimity,
together with the letters addressed to his Majesty here,
returning thanks, as their contents run, and giving news of
Hungary. To-day, we got other letters from your Excel-
lency, dated the 23rd June, mentioning that your army had
retreated in safety to the Brentelle,1 and they in truth arrived
very opportunely, for a report had been circulated (so it
is reported) by the friar who represents Spain here, pur-
porting that said army had been put to flight, and suffered
defeat, which caused us incredible anxiety, and the only
thing that made us suspend our belief, was the vain and
boastful custom of these Spaniards, who are wont to exist by
such stratagems, notwithstanding which the intelligence
seemed to be credited by these Lords, who will now be con-
vinced of the truth, and said Spaniard remain utterly deluded,
and with the reputation of an idle liar. It has not been pos-
sible hitherto to execute the orders contained in the aforesaid
two sets of letters, on account of the severe illness of me,
Sebastian, and also by reason of the absence of the King,
and the whole of the Council, who are taking their pleasure
in the country, at a very great distance hence.

On the yth instant, an ambassador arrived here from his
most Christian Majesty, an ecclesiastic, the President of
Rouen ; he appears a worthy person, and on his arrival, I,
Andrea, visited him ; subsequently, on hearing of the indis-
position of me, Sebastian, he came to visit me, I having,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 125

however, already anticipated him in this office, through my
secretary. The coming of said ambassador has proved very
opportune, he having complied with what I wrote to your
Sublimity, and to your ambassadors in France, for he told his
Majesty, in the name of the most Christian King, that he
meant for ever to maintain and preserve the good friendship
and peace contracted between them, and he has announced
to him that King Francis has decided on crossing the Alps,
with very considerable forces, for the recovery of his
Milanese territories, communicating other matters, moreover,
relating to their two crowns. He received a reply which
touched on all the points already notified to your Excellency :
he was told, in the first place, that his Majesty marvelled
greatly at the communication not having been made to him
previously ; secondly, that the Duke of Albany, who had
been sent to Scotland by the most Christian King, was
creating great disturbance, and acting most insolently against
the Queen and her children. Moreover, mention was made
of the mal-treatment of the English by his subjects ; and
finally, it behoved him listen to complaints of the piratical
manner in which English ships had been plundered. With
regard to the first complaint, the ambassador aforesaid made
ample apology, by showing the date of his credentials, and
declined giving any answer to the other three, merely request-
ing letters from his Majesty to the most Christian King,
stating these grievances, saying, that his Majesty would
reply ; and thus the whole will be peaceably settled.

It seems that the Scotch have risen lately and attacked
these people and their border towns, and that the Queen of
Scotland has betaken herself into a certain fortress ;2 we do
not know what steps have been taken by this side, as the
King and his Council are at a distance from hence, but it is
thought nothing further will take place. Immediately on his

126 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Majesty's approaching London, your Excellency's injunctions
shall be complied with, for I, Sebastian, hope at any rate to
recover my usual health, which I much desire, in order to
attend to the affairs of your Highness.

1 The Venetian Commander Alviano, whose head-quarters were at
Padua, had marched towards Vicenza, which was threatened by the
Spanish General Cardona, the Viceroy of Naples. Alviano succeeded
in keeping the Spaniards at bay, whilst the Vicentines were superintend-
ing the spinning of their silkworms, and gave them the opportunity of
removing their produce out of the grasp of Cardona, who had hoped to
pay his troops with the cocoons of the Vicentine territory. Having
effected this, Alviano retreated to the village of Brentelle, two miles
from Padua ; and the republic's letters to the ambassadors in London
gave news to this effect.

2 Stirling.

London, September 15, 1515.

The reason why your Serenity has not been written to
from the 24th ultimo (the date of our last) until now, was
the illness of me, Sebastian, which, when I was expecting it
to decline, became more violent, for I was seized with flux,
accompanied by constant fever, which harassed me so, that
I only commenced going out of doors yesterday, and hope to
improve daily ; but really, even had I not been ill, there was
nothing worthy your Serenity's knowledge, owing to the ab-
sence of the King and his whole Council, which being the case
omnla silent. During this interval, however, there have taken
place those prosperous events in favour of the French King,
wherewith your Serenity is well acquainted,1 and which were
notified to his ambassador here by the most illustrious
" Madame," his Majesty's mother, who, as they chance,
communicates the events by posts, for the announcement to
the King, a proceeding which leaves nothing to desire ; nor
can anything conduce more to the maintenance of friendship

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 127

between the two sovereigns. We, forsooth, have no in-
formation soever, either about these events, or anything
else relating to your Serenity, any more than if we did
not exist ; and we are dependent for our news, as also for
the time of receiving it, on the aforesaid French am-
bassador ; and yet it would be opportune for us to hear the
events with the necessary details, they being notified very
succinctly to said ambassador ; so do your Highness deign to
charge the magnificoes your ambassadors, resident with his
most Christian Majesty, when the royal posts are despatched
to the most illustrious " Madame," to give us intelligence ; as,
by means of the posts which she sends on hither, we should
learn everything, free of cost to your Serenity, and this
would ratify our statements concerning his most Christian
Majesty's successes. Up to the present time, the Spanish
ambassador here has filled the air and the ears of the malig-
nants with vain news to his own liking; he now remains
confused. But, in point of fact, these French victories seem
slightly relished by the people here, owing to the natural
feeling existing between the two nations.

Concerning the affairs of Scotland, which seemed in some
confusion, nothing more is said ; and it is supposed they are
arranged.

The court is intent on making good cheer, and on its
pleasures ; nor will it assemble here until Michaelmas,
when the requisite visits shall be paid to all; and we
will, with the utmost diligence, pay the compliments en-
joined us by your Sublimity, and endeavour to make
amends by earnestness, for the omissions caused by irre-
sistible sickness.

1 Alluding to the capture, at Villafranca, by Bayard, of Prospero
Colonna, and to the King's descent into Italy by the valley of Barcelo-
netta.

128 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

London, September 20, 1515.

* * * A King's courier has arrived here from Rome,
having been despatched in haste with the news that the
Right Rev. of York has been created Cardinal at the suit of
this most serene King, who, with might and main, is intent
on aggrandizing him ; perceiving which, we do our utmost,
supra vires nostras^ to keep him on the most friendly terms,
both by reason of his extreme influence with the King, and
also because he is of a very active and assiduous mind in
matters of business : he is now far away at a palace of his,
whither we have been unable to betake ourselves, but he is
expected here daily ; and immediately on his arrival, we will
offer him our ample congratulations.1

Moreover, we understand, from a good source, that the
disturbances in Scotland, which seemed to have been quieted,
are raging more than ever, owing to the Duke of Albany,
who aimed at getting possession of the Scottish princes, then
with the most serene Queen their mother, who had with-
drawn into a fortress on the borders of this kingdom, called
Stirling, whither said Duke sent a number of troops, to cut
off her supplies ; and finally, going himself, with some
10,000 men, sat down before it, and even pointed his cannon,
in order to batter said castle. Upon this, the Queen, from
fear, surrendered, placing in his hands the royal infants ; she
herself, as we hear, fleeing towards this kingdom with the
royal wardrobe ; but the Duke overtook her, and seized
the goods, leaving her the mere garments on her person, and
two female attendants. This intelligence is extremely im-
portant, for the whole blame of such cruelty will be laid to
the most Christian King, who seems to have sent said Duke
to Scotland, and it may prove a source of discord.

1 According to Lingard (vol. vi. p. 4.9), Wolsey was created Cardinal
on the nth of September.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 12Q

London, September z6, 1515.

We have now to inform your Serenity that the right
rev. Cardinal of York arrived here yesterday : we betook
ourselves to him immediately, it being the first visit made by
me, Sebastian, since my illness. On being introduced
to his lordship, we paid our compliments in a loving
and copious Latin discourse, on behalf of your Sublimity,
embracing all the points that seemed necessary to us, men-
tioning the love borne towards him by your Highness, and
the vast esteem wherein you hold his person. We observed
that we had placed ourselves entirely in the hands of his
right rev. lordship, by reason of his marvellous endow-
ments, and of the supreme authority enjoyed by him with
his Majesty and the whole kingdom, evincing joy incredible
at this his well-deserved promotion, and adding whatsoever
else seemed expedient to us in demonstration of the affec-
tion of your Sublimity, and of ourselves individually.

His lordship replied in elegant terms, thanking your Sub-
limity infinitely, and especially ourselves, for so honourable
(to use his own words) and loving a demonstration made
towards him, promising at all times and places to be the
supporter and defender of your Excellency's interests, both
in this kingdom and wheresoever else he may find himself,
by reason of the singular good will which he knows is borne
you by his most serene King, together with many other
words and gests, replete with graciousness and gratitude.
After this, we requested his right rev. lordship, if there was
any news, to deign and communicate it to us : he said he had
letters from Brussels, a place in Burgundy, dated the i8th
instant, quoting advices from Verona likewise, in date of the
1 2th instant, purporting that all Italy is in arms ; and, not to
weary your Serenity with all the details1 given us by the

VOL. I. K

130 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Cardinal, we will merely mention that his right rev. lord-
ship described the affairs of the most Christian King, and
of your Sublimity, as being in extreme peril, lamenting the
piteous slaughter and bloodshed which he foresaw would
ensue, unless the Almighty stretched forth his arm ; and
he evinced greater regret at the imminent peril of your
Highness than for that of others, somewhat blaming your
not having made terms with the Pope. We, who had
neither letters or advices of so recent a date, and being unable
from what your Serenity writes us, to contradict this news,
did not think fit to insist, and merely declared that we should
never have failed conforming ourselves to the will of our
lord, had we been offered fair terms, and provided we could,
at the same time, have kept our faith with the most Christian
King ; but that we were, on the one hand, deterred by the
maintenance of the promise, whilst on the other, the con-
ditions were manifestly most iniquitous, and such as one
neither could or ought to accept j wherefore the only re-
proach that could be cast on us was, that we had adhered to
our plighted faith.

We then inquired whether there was any news from Scot-
land ; and he told us there were great disturbances, acquaint-
ing us word for word with all that your Excellency will have
heard by the accompanying despatches, adding two particu-
lars : first, that the Duke of Albany had made the Queen
write letters to the Pope, to the most Christian King, and to
his Majesty here, — whereby it would appear that her surren-
der of the children and the fortress was not effected either
by force of arms or constraint, but freely, which proved that
manifest violence had been offered to the poor Queen ;
secondly, that she had arrived in this kingdom destitute, and
deprived of her children and property. He mentioned these
facts with extreme vehemence and mental excitement, say-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 131

ing, that such a thing had never been done, as to proceed to
violence against a Queen and her children, who would,
doubtless, come to a sad end ; and that this is a bad return
made by the most Christian King to his Majesty for having
chosen to maintain inviolate the oath of the covenant made
between them ; losing so great an opportunity for invading
France, whilst the King is in Italy with the princes and
military, there remaining in his own realms but women
and property ; whereas, ships being in readiness, in eight
days he could have sent an infinite number of troops across,
to conquer and lay waste as far as their march might extend ;
and he said, " Believe me, sir ambassadors ! this most serene
King, and the kingdom, will not brook such an outrage."
In delivering himself thus, he evinced incredible excitement,
which we believe to be shared by the other lords of the
kingdom ; so we, bearing in mind the order of your Sub-
limity, which enjoins us to take for our polar star the main-
tenance of the peace and league between these two most
serene Kings, thought fit to reply, that over a temple of
Apollo in Greece, the following words were inscribed, for
observance by the wise — PATIARE ET ABSTINE (BEAR
AND FORBEAR); added to which, the Greeks had an ancient
proverb, which may be rendered in Latin thus — FESTINA
LENTE (SLOW AND SURE) ; and that, in accordance with
these two precepts, his right rev. lordship should discoun-
tenance any rash resolve, until after mature judgment, and a
thorough investigation of the cause of this outrage ; where-
upon we doubted not but that this kingdom would find, not
only that his most Christian Majesty was unconscious of
this innovation, but moreover, that when aware thereof, it
would prove extremely irksome to him as becoming his
extreme justice, faith, and piety, and we pledged our lives to
his never having even thought of doing such a thing : in

132 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUST1NIAN

which case, this realm would have no cause for complaint,
or to devise aught against his Majesty and his kingdom. Of
this, we added, we felt sure, that, should King Henry choose to
investigate the matter, he would find the truth to correspond
with our assertion, we being convinced thereof by the fol-
lowing reasons : — first, that it would ill become a new
King, a youth professing great good faith and justice, to
commence his reign by such beginnings and under such
auspices, especially it being at this present inopportune for
his interests, engaged as he is in the Milanese expedition j to
which effect, as observed by his right rev. lordship, his
Majesty in person, and a great part of the French forces,
had crossed the Alps ; wherefore, in this state of things, no
one could imagine that that most serene King, at whose
council-board so many most grave men are seated, would
do what might now stir up England against him, and espe-
cially as there is no want of those who are daily exhorting
his Majesty here to infringe the confederation made between
them. Then, again, the letter which the Duke of Albany
made the Queen of Scotland write, whereby she seems to
admit that she had not acted as she did on compulsion, but
spontaneously, clearly proves that the most Christian King
was not privy to this outrage, since had it proceeded from
him, the letter would have been fruitless, and could not
obtain the result desired by said Duke. We therefore be-
sought his right reverend lordship to investigate the
matter thoroughly, and endeavour that the errors com-
mitted might obtain a remedy from the Christian King,
in which case, this kingdom would dismiss such groundless
suspicions.

The Cardinal replied to some of our arguments in con-
firmation of his charges j but, with regard to its not being
for the interest of the most Christian King to act thus at the

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 133

present time, and to what we said about the letters, he made
no rejoinder, it appearing to him, possibly, that our state-
ments were conclusive, for he said he would make himself
fully acquainted with the matter, and examine it ; adding,
that although he had acquainted the rev. French ambassador
with a great part of this news, yet would he request us like-
wise to announce it to him again, and act so as to avoid his
incurring penalty ;2 repeating, that unless the most Christian
King put a stop to the proceedings of this Duke of Albany,
his Majesty will not bear it, and hereon much more was
said, which we omit, to avoid fatiguing your Highness. On
taking leave, owing to the lateness of the hour, and by
reason of a heavy rain, we were unable to visit the said
French ambassador, but will go to his house early to-morrow
morning ; and of all that we may transact with him, account
shall be transmitted to your Serenity.

1 In the year 1515, a courier could have performed the journey from
Verona to Brussels in six days : the words in the despatch are — " De
12 pur del instante, date a Verona." The battle of Marignano was
fought on the i3th and i^th of September, so these letters could not
have contained notice of that event : they probably gave assurances of
the result of the expedition proving unfavourable to France.

2 " Et simul operassemo talmente, ch'el non se precipitasse in penis."
This seems to imply a threat of holding the French ambassador ac-
countable for such hostilities as the Duke of Albany might wage against
England.

London, October n, 1515.

Since our last, in date of the 2;th ult., some of these lords
who had been a long while absent, returned hither ; where-
upon we visited them as becoming. On discussing the
news of Italy, and the conflict between the most Christian
King and the Switzers,1 they asked us whether we had

134 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

received letters concerning it from your Highness : we an-
swered them that we had nothing from your Excellency,
but that there were letters from the most noble Piero Pas-
qualigo to his brother here, and from his secretary to the
merchant, Hieronymo da Molin, stating all that had chanced
circumstantially, and we, moreover, narrated the whole to
them in detail. They inquired if the ambassadors had
acquainted us with this news ; and on our answering in the
negative, they appeared to doubt it, as from other sources
they have received intelligence differing very widely from
that contained in the letters aforesaid, and also from those of
the French ambassador, which coincide with the particulars
given by the most noble Pasqualigo ; and they said that
hitherto they had no certain tidings of the victory's having
been gained by the most Christian King. Through advices
received from others, forsooth, they at this present hour
know that the aforesaid King did obtain the victory, but a
most bloody one, and attended with immense slaughter, in
such wise that it was difficult to collect which side had
suffered the greatest loss. With regard, indeed, to the
peace which was reported to have been arranged between
his Holiness and the most Christian King, they say they
have nothing certain, and almost seem not to believe it.
The Reverend Bishop of Durham, a lord of great authority
and talent, added to the foregoing these words : " We have
news of the engagement from a Frenchman in the camp,
with this, moreover, that it would have been all over with
the French, had not the illustrious Lord Bartholomew
Alviano come up with his men-at-arms, who afforded such
proof of their prowess and valour, that they gave the victory
to the already flagging French;" saying to us, "Your
friendship has been very profitable to the King of France."2
This pleased us greatly, especially as it redounds to the profit

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 135

and renown of your Excellency, for in truth it would be
impossible to desire the recovery of your Excellency's state
with greater glory and advantage, and of hope for the future,
than here displayed ; wherefore we congratulate your Sere-
nity and the most excellent Senate most heartily on its so
great exaltation. Respexit tandem orlens ex alto; the day-
spring from on high hath visited us, and looked down upon
the pious cause of your Excellency, putting an end, as we
hope, to your long and well-nigh insupportable toils and
afflictions ; and it will now be proved that, by God's grace,
those who ever trusted and relied on the State's resuming
her possessions, spake by divine inspiration.

On taking leave of said lords, we promised them that on
receiving letters from your Excellency concerning this event,
which we expected daily, we would come and announce
their contents to them : this they urged us to do, saying,
" Your advices to this effect will be credited, for we are
aware that from the Signory there proceed neither falsehoods
nor fictions." Then, as we were informed that the Catholic
King3 had sent a princely gift to his Majesty here, consisting
of a very valuable jewelled collar, with two capital horses,
caparisoned regio ornatu^ and an extremely rich sword, with
a view to obtain military succour for the invasion of France
(which aid, however, the King had refused), we plied the right
reverend Cardinal, in order to learn what this present was,
and its value. Having described it, he said it was worth up-
wards of 100,000 ducats: adding, that the King had formerly
incurred such vast expenditure, and done so much for his
Catholic Highness, that he was able in reason to make some
such acknowledgment. The Cardinal was silent concern-
ing any demand accompanying the gift, so we said it was
reported that King Ferdinand had endeavoured to obtain a
subsidy of troops to serve in France : this he denied, as his

136 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Majesty would never choose to act contrary to his sworn
league : but from another quarter we receive confirmation of
our suspicions, nor are there wanting those who say that
his aforesaid Catholic Majesty sent to pawn the collar, and
obtain money thereon from this most serene King; but
whether he has succeeded herein or not, we have been
unable to learn, despite all our diligence.4

ANDREAS BADUARIUS, Eqs. 1 _

0 , ' n > Or a tores.

SEBAST. JUSTINIANUS, Eqs. J

1 The battle of Marignano (as stated in the note, p. 133) was fought
on the 1 3th and i^thof September j and by this despatch, it would seem
that the news of that event did not reach London until the first week in
October.

2 " It was on the morning of the i4th of September, at about 9 A.M.,
that the Venetian general, Alviano, having ridden all night, came into
the field with about 200 picked horsemen ; and charging a column of
Swiss, impressed their comrades with a belief that the entire Venetian
army had arrived." — See Sketches of Venetian History, vol. ii. p. 223.
Murray, 1838.

3 Ferdinand the Catholic was at this period almost out of his mind,
having never recovered the effects of the aphrodisiac dish which his
Queen Germaine de Fois set before him in the month of March, 1513,
as recorded in one of the letters of Peter Martyr, who, in date of August,
1515, writes that the King, being then at Burgos, nearly expired in a
fit j subsequently, on the 28th of October, he expresses himself thus, —
" Rex nescit qua tendat, aut quid velit ex ingravescente morbo ; " and
finally, in November, 1515, he says, speaking of the King's loss of
reason, " Ex Scylla in Charybdim Rex labitur." In short, Ferdinand
the Catholic expired of hunting and matrimony, either of which, as
Peter Martyr wrote on the i4th of November, 1514, are fatal to most
men at the age of sixty-three; and the only way in which one can
account even for a rumour of a free gift made by Ferdinand of Aragon
to his son-in-law is, that the donor was supposed to be out of his mind
at the time.

4 At the commencement of his reign, Henry VIII. seems to have
transacted considerable business in the pawn-broking line, and got some
very nice articles for his money, amongst which, this very ambassador,
Badoer, mentions, in date of i4th February to 4th March, 1510, that
he then possessed the armour of Charles the Bold, on which he had lent
money to its original owner's granddaughter, the Lady Margaret, whom
he refused to accommodate a second time. Then, in September, 1510, in
reply to a letter from the Signory concerning the possibility of obtaining

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 137

a loan from Henry VIII. on jewels, the ambassador writes that, pro-
vided the security were good, the King would oblige the State with as
much as 150,000 ducats. (See Diaries, vol. x. fo. 61 and 421). The
Republic did not, however, follow the advice, on this occasion, of
Badoer, who suggested that his wife should be sent to England, on
board the Flanders galleys, with such of the jewels of St. Mark's or
others as it was wished to pledge, so the King did not deal with Venice ;
but these anecdotes prove that, at this period, Henry VIII. had as many
customers as the Medici some years previously.

London, October 29, 1515.

By ours of the i6th inst. your Sublimity will have learnt
all the events here : at this present, forsooth, we inform you
that the non-notification of the events of Italy by your Sub-
limity, nor yet by your ambassadors at the French court,
either to his Majesty here, or to ourselves, has caused
extreme surprise to all these lords ; insomuch, that several
letters having been received from the most illustrious the
mother of the most Christian King, and two from his
Majesty himself, signed by his own hand, they were not
credited, on these grounds, namely, that if the victory which
the most Christian King arrogates to himself had been true
and great as he describes it, your Excellency, or your afore-
said ambassadors, would have already forwarded notice of it
hither, and by so much the more as all the letters received
by them by way of Flanders, and through other channels, are
of a contrary tenor. Owing to this, the French ambassador,
resenting the small credit given to his King's letters, wrote to
his Majesty in such form that he sent hither a king-at-arms to
corroborate by word of mouth, and vouch for all the letters
signed by his most Christian Majesty, and likewise for those
in the name of his most illustrious mother, setting forth his
•victory as most signal ; and according to what we have been
told by the ambassador aforesaid, he eulogizes extremely the

138 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIANT

feats of the late illustrious Lord Bartholomew Alviano and
his army, said herald having announced his demise,1 which
was moreover mentioned in the letters which his Majesty
here received from Flanders.

Moreover, having been to visit the illustrious Duke of
Norfolk, the Treasurer, who is a person of extreme authority,
discussing various topics, he told us the affairs of Scotland
were in a bad way, owing to the great dissensions amongst
the people and the lords of the kingdom, some siding with
the Queen, and others with the Duke of Albany, who,
having sent for two of the chief lords, the Queen's adhe-
rents,2 under safe-conduct and oath guaranteeing their safety,
caused them to be arrested, with the intention of harming
them, though they contrived to make their escape hither.
We perceive that the grandees here are very wrathful
against this Duke, and anxious both to get rid of him, and to
reinstate the most serene Queen ; it being evident, that unless
the most Christian King make provision, this side will
proceed to war : on our endeavouring to ascertain this fact
through the Duke of Norfolk aforesaid, he confirmed it ;
adding, that forces will be raised by sea and land, which may
be credited, as certain ships here in the Thames are being
armed the last few days, artillery and other military stores
being put on board them. Finally, a galeas, of unusual
magnitude, has been launched with such a number of heavy
guns, that we doubt whether any fortress, however strong,
could resist their fire.3 This most serene King and the
Queen chose to attend the launch, together with well nigh
all the prelates and lords of the kingdom, we also being
present, by invitation from his Majesty ; and all dined on
board at the King's charge. It really seemed to us a fine
and excellent engine, provided it can be worked. Neither •
the French ambassador nor yet the Spaniard were invited to

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 139

this ceremony ; and from what we can conjecture, said
French ambassador does not seem in great favour with these
lords, whilst he, on his part, is dissatisfied to the utmost
with them, it seeming to him that he is not held in such
account as becoming. We fail not to sow the best seed we
can, both with said ambassador to prevent his exasperating
the mind of the most Christian King, and also with these
lords, in order that they may make some greater demonstra-
tion towards him, being of opinion that this policy corre-
sponds with the mission hither of me, Sebastian, whose in-
structions are such as known to your Sublimity.

We also went to-day to visit the right reverend Cardinal,
in whom the whole power of the State is really lodged, that
he might execute the ratification announced by your Sub-
limity with regard to your joining the league, and write to
the most Christian King about said ratification, so that his
Majesty may confirm this inclusion according to the sugges-
tion offered to us heretofore by his right reverend lordship,
who made answer that he had seen the letters of thanks and
ratification, causing them to be brought to him at the
moment, and showing them to us. He said he would so
act that the King should write to your Excellency confirming
this inclusion, which would serve as security for your
Sublimity, whose ratification, in like manner, would be his
Majesty's bond ; and that he would also write to the most
Christian King, intimating to him the ratification of your
Highness, that he in like manner might confirm it. We
shall hasten the despatch of both these letters, so as to close
the negotiation.

We will not omit telling your Serenity, that in our con-
versation with the aforesaid Duke of Norfolk, who assured
us that matters here tended towards war with Scotland, and
speedily, we put the question, appearing to speak on our

140 DEPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

own behalf, and for information's sake, whether such a war
could be entered upon, considering the confederation with
the most Christian King, which appears to forbid this king-
dom's waging hostilities against Scotland ? He answered
us, that the conditions of the league are, that the most
Christian King should favour the Queen and her children,
so that the kingdom might rest entire in their hands, and
that this side did not mean to compass aught save this very
end, which tallied with the conditions existing between
England and France. The French ambassador, however,
denies these terms ; and as we have never been able to
obtain the articles of that league, because the lords here say
they do not relate to our affairs, we urged this French
ambassador to get and communicate them to us, so that, in
case of need, we may be enabled to do what may seem
expedient to us for the confirmation of said peace, and this
we did knowing that such is the will of your Sublimity.

1 Alviano had died on the yth of the month.

2 Her husband, Douglas Earl of Angus, and Lord Hume.

3 This launch took place at Erith, nor until now has it ever been pos-
sible to ascertain the precise date of the event, which relates to the Henrye
Grace de Dieu.

In John Charnock's " History of Marine Architecture " (London,
1801), there are the following notices concerning this vessel : —

" The King" (Grafton says), " hearing of the losse of the Regent,
caused a great ship to be made, suche another as was never scene before
in England, and called it Henrye Grace de Dieu.''''

" We now come in reality to the ship which has occasioned so much
mighty controversy. It is truly said to have been built in consequence of
the destruction of the Regent j and we may naturally suppose was
launched in the sixth year of Henry VIII., as we find the following entry
concerning it in a curious MS. now preserved in the Augmentation
Office :—

" ' Here after ensuythe the costs don and made by the comaundmet. of
the King owre Soven. Lorde Henry VIII., on hys ryall schippe called
the Henry Gee. a Deiv, for the brynginge of here into Barkyn crekke
from Eyrethe, and payde by the honds of John Hopton, the vm. day of
Decembre, in the vi. yere of the reyne of owre seyd Soven. Lord, as
here folowyethe' * * *

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 14!

" In the ancient picture preserved at Windsor Castle of the embarka-
tion of King Henry VIII. at Dover, May 31, 1520, the ship called the
Harry Grace de Dieu, or the Great Harry, is represented as just sailing
out of the harbour of Dover, having her sails set. She has four masts,
with two round tops on each mast, except the mizen mast j her sails and
pendants are of cloth of gold damasked. The royal standard of Eng-
land is flying on each of the four quarters of the forecastle, and the
staff of each standard is surrounded by a fleur de lis or. Pendants are
flying on the mast-heads j and at each quarter of the deck is a standard
of St. George's cross. Her quarters and sides, as also the tops, are for-
tified and decorated with heater shields or targets, charged differently
with the cross of St. George azure, a fleur de lis or, party per pale
argent and vert a union rose, and party per pale argent and vert a port-
cullis or, alternately and repeatedly.

" On the main-deck the King is standing, richly dressed in a garment
of cloth of gold, edged with ermine, the sleeves crimson, and the jacket
and breeches the same ; his round bonnet is covered with a white feather,
laid on the upper side of the brim. On his left hand stands a person in
a dark violet cloak, slashed with black, with red stockings ; and on his
right hand are three others, one dressed in black, another in bluish gray,
guarded with black j and the third in red, guarded with black, and a
black jacket slashed. These are evidently persons of distinction ;
behind them are yeomen of the guard with halberts. Two trumpeters
are sitting on the edge of the quarter-deck, and the same number on the
forecastle, sounding their trumpets. Many yeomen of the guard are on
both decks. On the front of the forecastle are depicted, party per pale
argent and vert within a circle of the garter, the arms of France and
England, quarterly crowned, the supporters a lion and a dragon, being
the arms and supporters then used by King Hemy VIII. The same
arms are repeated on the stern. On each side the rudder is a port-hole,
with a brass cannon $ and on the side of the main-deck are two port-
holes, with cannon, and the same number under the forecastle. The
figure on the ship's head seems to be meant to represent a lion, but is
extremely ill carved. Under her stern is a boat, having at her head two
standards of St. George's cross, and the same at her stern, with yeomen
of the guard and other persons in her."

From the documents printed by Mr. Charnock, it is seen that four
entire days and 400 men were required to work the Henri Grace de Dieu
from Erith to Barking ; and then, after giving a list of the ships belong-
ing to Henry VIII., A.D. 1514, the first of which are, the Henry Impe-
rial, the Trinity, the Gabriel Royal, the Catharine Fortileza, the Mary
Rose, and the Peter, he says — " The Henry Imperial, as the first vessel
in the preceding list is called, is not mentioned by that name on any
other occasion ; and yet, being of the greatest force, it was the admiral
ship, according to the term then used. This, however, was not always
the case, a curious circumstance being developed by the last and the
preceding documents j for Sir Edward Howard, the Lord High Admiral
of England, seems to have hoisted his flag on board the Mary Rose, a

142 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

ship of far inferior rate. The Lord Ferrars, who always acted under
him, was captain first of the Sovereign, and secondly of the Henry Im-
perial ; and it is not improbable the ship in question was the same that
is much better known in the present day as the Henry Grace a Dieu.
The only difficulty which occurs in the *way of this supposition is, that the
Henry Grace a Dieu is not thought to have been launched till the ensuing
year (i $15") ; and all historians agree, thac the Lord Ferrars actually
served under Sir Edward Howard, at the time that noble person was
drowned, which was immediately after the foregoing return was made
out. Frequent inaccuracies and disagreements, however, both in the
names and tonnage of ships, have rendered the development of this
branch of naval history, at that remote period, a task of no small
difficulty. In a subsequent list, the Henry Grace a Dieu, most com-
monly rated at 1,000 tons burthen, is stated at 1,500 $ and the Sovereign,
which in the last account is said to have been of the same dimensions
which are usually given to the Henry, will be hereafter found diminished
to 800."

London, November 15, 1515.

We have not written again, since our last of the 2Qth
ultimo, because nothing has chanced, either previously or at
this present, worthy of your Serenity's knowledge, though
not to fail in our duty we deem it well to write little rather
than nothing. By the foregoing, we mention that it seemed
to be the intention of this kingdom to attack Scotland, in con-
sequence of the innovations made by the Duke of Albany ;
it does not seem, however, that any farther steps have been
taken, though we perceive that a general Parliament of
all the Lords1 and Prelates of the kingdom, as usually held at
this season, has been convened, and was to have assembled
to-day, but did not meet. I, Sebastian, am of opinion that
it is meant to discuss this affair of the Scotch war ; a report
circulates that the sittings will commence this week, and your
Highness shall be informed with all diligence of what may
reach our notice.

Having visited the Cardinal, he told us he had just then
received letters from his ambassador with the Emperor, and

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 143

from others likewise in those parts, purporting that your
Sublimity's army had suffered no slight reverse, for that being
under Brescia, battering the town, towards the "Garzeta,"
and having destroyed certain walls, the besieged made a sally
by night, and rinding our troops off" their guard and unpre-
pared, captured fourteen great guns, and killed about 1,000
men, and would doubtless have annihilated the whole army,
had not your Excellency's illustrious Captain2 retreated to a
distance of three miles from the town ; and he added that
your Excellency's troops had refused to continue the attack,
after they perceived the Imperial Eagles floating from the
towers of Brescia, and the like was, moreover, confirmed to
us, by the Right Reverend the Archbishop of Canterbury. 3
This news circulates all over England, and is credited,
though we cannot persuade ourselves of its truth, and even
should it be in part correct, we, for many reasons, which it
is unnecessary to specify, imagine the matter is a trifle and of
small importance ; nevertheless, should the intelligence be
untrue, it is at any rate disadvantageous our having no means
to speak or declare the real state of the case, since success
gives great repute to governments, whilst reverses have the
contrary effect.

We know not how to continue urging your Excellency to
what is for your own interest, seeing that the battle gained
by France was fought two months ago, and that nothing has
yet been written hither for the gratification of this King, and
in proof of your holding him in that account which I suppose
he enjoys with your Signory, and with reason, although this
long silence causes their lordships here to think otherwise.
Let not your Excellency imagine that we prefer this suit
to you for the sake of maintaining our own repute with this
most serene King and these lords, our only object being to
preserve their favour for your Excellency.

144 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

1 This session of Parliament, according to the printed Statutes of the
Realm, vol. iii. p. 176, commenced by prorogation at Westminster, on
Monday, the nth of November, and continued sitting until the zznd of
December. By this despatch it seems that, although summoned for the
1 2th, the session had not commenced on the i^-th. Parliament did not sit
again, after the zand of December, 1515, until Wednesday the i5th of
April, 1523.

2 Gian Giacomo Triulzi, the successor of Alviano ; see Paruta (p.
1 1 8) who mentions the position of the Venetian batteries on the banks
of the stream Garzeta, and gives details of this sally, in conformity, in
some respects, with these here announced to the Venetian ambassadors
by Cardinal Wolsey.

3 The Primate Warham.

London, December 6, 1515,

Our last were in date of the I4th ultimo, whereby you
were informed of every event down to that time.

I now announce to your Serenity that on the iQth of said
month, there departed hence the Magnifico the Knight
Andrea Badoer, with the sincere good wishes of his Majesty
and of all these lords, by whom he was considered quite in
the light of a native Englishman, by reason of his excellent
parts, worthy of all honour and commendation. After his
departure, I received the letters of your Highness and the
most Excellent Council of Ten, addressed to his Magnifi-
cence alone, enjoining him to leave, and enclosing a bill of
exchange drawn by the Magnifico Alvise Pisani, for 600
ducats, the which bill being drawn with the proviso of non-
payment, in the event of his having departed, I did not choose
to present it to Nicolo Duodo, to whom it was addressed,
nor yet to the agent of the Magnifico Andrea, with whom
orders had been left, to receive both the letters and the
money. I shall keep said bill by me, until the receipt of
further instructions from your Excellency, or otherwise will
return it.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 145

In accordance with your Excellency's letters, dated the
25th ultimo, I went to Greenwich to communicate to his
Majesty the news written to me by your Excellency in date
of the 26th of October, all which he listened to attentively
and graciously, asking of me the confirmation of many things
which had been reported here, but were not credited ; and
to these inquiries I replied in conformity with the advices
received from my own correspondents. Your Serenity may
rely upon it, that it is impossible to make a greater demon-
stration of love towards his Majesty and these lords, than
by giving them early notice of events ; for, verily, the tidings
received by them through the Emperor, are often devoid of
truth.

I also went to impart the news, in your Excellency's
name, to the right reverend Cardinal, presenting your letter,
both which acts seemed highly agreeable to him, and he
thanked your Sublimity exuberantly, with intense expression
of good-will and respect. Whilst visiting these lords, I was
informed, through a trustworthy channel, that peace between
this most serene King and his Catholic Majesty had been
made and confirmed, which through many indications might
have been conjectured some days previously, though as the
thing lacked foundation, I did not think fit to notify it to your
Excellency. At length, having heard it from one of the
chief lords here, it seems to me only proper to communicate
the fact to your Highness ; at the same time I do not
imagine it will disturb either the peace with the most Chris-
tian King, or that with your Serenity, as the character of
his Catholic Highness is very well known to his Majesty
here, and to all these lords, though I do, indeed, believe that
the successes of King Francis have caused this effect. I
likewise understand from a good source, that the most illus-
trious the Archduke is negotiating peace and agreement

VOL. I. L

146 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

between the Emperor and the most Christian King, through
the medium of a certain ambassador of his who has been
more than two months at the court of the most illustrious the
Queen Regent.1 I doubt not but that the whole is known
to your Highness by letters from your ambassadors at the
French court. I have, moreover, seen missives addressed to
the reverend French ambassador resident here, both from
the most Christian King, and from his most illustrious
mother, containing the copy of a despatch from their ambas-
sador accredited to his Holiness, mentioning the honour and
good greeting received by him from his Holiness to a degree
unusual with other ambassadors, and that he was proceeding
with his Holiness as far as Bologna.

The letters of the most Christian King addressed to
his Majesty here, announce the agreement ratified with the
Switzers, though the conditions are omitted, and that he
holds the Milanese in peace, without any apprehension. He
purposes betaking himself to Bologna, for the appointed con-
ference with his Holiness aforesaid, whereat he states that
peace and union will be negotiated between the Princes of
Christendom, so as subsequently to unite their forces against
the Turks ; to which effect said Majesty writes, that imme-
diately on disengaging himself there, he should return to
France to carry into effect the Christian expedition against
the infidel, and exhorting this King to a similar course.

The most illustrious the Queen Regent writes of the
arrival of your Serenity's four most noble ambassadors,
mentioning their names and grades, and lauding beyond
measure the very elegant and grave oration of the most noble
Domenico. Trevisano, extolling and magnifying the very
sumptuous pomp of this embassy, and the number of
persons attached thereto, the like having never previously
been heard of or witnessed ; whence I gather that the mission

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 147

has proved equally honourable to your Excellency, and
agreeable to his most Christian Majesty.2

While conversing with one of these lords, he began
complaining that letters had been written to the most Chris-
tian King, announcing the preparations here for hostilities
against France, and he said he thought the French ambas-
sador was their author, and that he had taken his authority
from common report, giving me to understand that the thing
was disagreeable to this kingdom, without either contradict-
ing or admitting it. We then continued talking about the
aforesaid ambassador, who seems little to the taste of these
lords ; nevertheless, having asked pardon for speaking freely,
I stated to him, as on my own behalf, that the ambassador
abovementioned complained much of the small account in
which he was held here, which could not fail proving
extremely irksome to his most Christian Majesty; where-
fore, with becoming diffidence, I exhorted his lordship to
make some greater demonstration towards this envoy, for the
avoidance of a stumbling block, which suggestion was taken
most kindly by said lord, who thanked me with every mark
of honour and good will, vowing he would labour to make
amends for the omission. I deemed it proper to drop this
hint, knowing that I could not do amiss to remove all cause
of dissension between these two most serene Kings, as is, I
am aware, the wish of your Highness.

1 Louise of Savoy, the mother of Francis I., and Regent in his
absence.

2 The historian Paruta (p. 112) records this embassy, which went to
Milan to congratulate Francis I. on his entry into that city, and was
lodged at a castle in the neighbourhood, at the cost of the King ; this
being done, Paruta writes, to render the demonstration more conspicuous.
Trevisano, as the junior member of the mission, delivered the address ;
his colleagues being Antonio Grimani, and Andrea Griti (who became
successively Doges of Venice, on the demise of Leonardo Loredano),
and Georgio Cornaro, the brother of the Queen of Cyprus : each

148 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

of these four patricians were already Procurators of St. Mark. As,
until this period, the State had never appointed so many as four of that
order to compliment any sovereign soever, it is no marvel that Louise of
Savoy should expatiate thereon.

London, December 17, 1515.

Since my letters of the 6th instant, nothing has chanced
worthy of your Serenity's knowledge, but I write this,
because I have latterly been given to understand by a
person worthy of all trust, that two Florentine merchants, l
who do a great deal of business, and were in the habit of sel-
ling bills of exchange to others, at this present give money
in large quantities to whoever will take it for bills on Bruges
and Antwerp, which has caused many judicious merchants
to suspect that these moneys are being remitted by his
Majesty here to Flanders, for consignment to the Emperor,
and this is the general opinion of the mercantile men of
judgment. Having chosen to convince myself of this
through two or three channels, I find it to be true and un-
doubted that moneys have been remitted ; but that they
belong to the King, or that they are destined for the
Emperor, is an opinion, and not a certainty.

It appeared to me, that this matter was of extreme mo-
ment, and that opportune measures should not be delayed,
so I went forthwith to this right reverend Cardinal, under
pretence of other public business, and at length told him of
the remittance of these moneys, and that they were reported
to belong to his Majesty, who intended them for the Em-
peror; in which case — a thing I do not believe — it would be
tantamount to giving the sword to our enemy to destroy us,
especially as the league of our mortal enemies had, by the

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 149

grace of God, been dissolved, the Emperor alone persevering
in his hostilities, with the intention of retaining our towns,
lawfully acquired, and held for about a century j nor has his
Majesty the means of defending them, both because he has
no right, and also from lack of money ; the supplying him
with which would prove our destruction and ruin, by sub-
jecting us for a yet longer period to insupportable expense,
and protracting the dissensions of the sovereigns of Christen-
dom ; and as such a proceeding was very foreign from our
expectation and from your Serenity's observance towards this
most serene King, I neither would or could credit it ; but
should his Majesty, forsooth, have been deceived into giving
these moneys, under pretence of their being employed other-
wise than to our detriment, I requested with all earnestness,
ardour, and submission, that he would stay the remittance of
these funds, and that those already transferred to Bruges or
Antwerp might, before they were diverted to other purposes,
be recalled through the medium of his right reverend
lordship, whom I also besought not to permit additional
sums to be remitted hereafter ; and, at least, should he not
be able to do any thing else, that the consignment of these
moneys be delayed until after your Highness shall have
obtained Brescia and Verona, which nothing else can retard ;
adding, that this office would prove as acceptable to your
Excellency as any other that could ever be performed.

His right reverend lordship answered me, that it was
false that these bills of exchange were destined by his
Majesty for the Emperor, neither were they to so large an
amount as mentioned by me ; and that those who gave me
this intelligence lied ; adding, " Were it thus, I should have
no hesitation in confessing it, for our confederation is not of
such a nature as to prohibit his Majesty's giving his money
to whom he pleases -, but know, th^t the information is

I5O DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

untrue, and although the remittances belong to his Majesty,

they are made for the purpose of purchasing a quantity of

choice armour and ornaments required for his own use, and

that of his court ; neither is the money any great sum."

He then assured me that his King bore your Serenity such

love, that he would not choose to injure you with his money,

and that so long as his lordship himself may live, he will

never counsel him in favour of any act hostile to your

Excellency, nor to break the peace and confederation existing

between him and the most Christian King, concluding thus,

" and hereof, my lord Ambassador, be assured." I thanked

his lordship as becoming, and on the morrow, in order not

to leave the ship with a single cable in this hurricane, I

went to the illustrious the Duke of Norfolk, Lord High

Treasurer, and narrated the circumstance to him, with all

loving expressions, in reply to which, he said it was not true ;

and at length, before my departure, informed me, as a great

secret, that the King had determined, so soon as his most

Christian Majesty returned to France, to confer with him at

some place agreed on between them, and being young and

fond of display, is determined on going with great pomp and

sumptuously adorned, both he and his whole court, to which

effect he has already disbursed 15,000 nobles, and this he

declared was the plain truth, for that one would never think

of giving money to the Emperor, both as it would be all

thrown away, and also because the friendship between the

two crowns is not such, that for its sake England would

choose to injure your Excellency. Not content with this,

I went the next day to this right reverend Archbishop of

Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, to whom I mentioned

the whole fact ; he assured me on oath, that these moneys

had not been drawn to your Excellency's detriment, nor for

remittance to the Emperor, but for other uses of his Majesty,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 15!

not choosing to descend to particulars, because, he said, it
did not concern me to know their especial destination, and
that his affection for your Highness was such, that he should
never know how to counsel his Majesty to injure your Ex-
cellency, especially being aware, as he was, of the extreme
good will he bore you. I thanked his lordship heartily for
his friendly disposition, and besought him, should the thing
not be true, to deign and prevent this my suit from reaching
his Majesty ; but, should the facts prove such as represented
by me, I urged him, for the especial gratification of your
Highness, at least to delay the remittance of these moneys,
until we should have obtained Brescia and Verona.

Having preferred this suit to these three lords, and ob-
tained their replies, I did not deem it advisable to go to others,
who I know have also great authority, in order that if the
thing was untrue, my appeal might not reach the ears of his
Majesty, and cause him to resent my distrusting him thus ;
whereas, if I was in the right, these three lords all together
would do what they could. Such is the state of the case :
should anything else occur, I shall most speedily inform your
Excellency, and will be extremely vigilant about whatever
may take place.

Moreover, these lords told me that the most serene Queen
of Scotland, who is on the confines of this kingdom, has been
delivered of a daughter, and had been in such extreme peril
of her life, that it was well nigh despaired of. She is better,
however, and on her recovery will, by his Majesty's orders,
come here to the court.

1 One of whom was " Master Friskibal," alias Frescobaldi. See
ante p. 47.

152 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

To THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, December 20, 1515.

By my last of the lyth instant, your Highness was in-
formed about the bills of exchange, and of what I had done
with these lords to prevent this matter's being carried into
effect, it appearing to me of great moment ; I also notified
the replies of the aforesaid, who denied both the amount of
the moneys and their being destined for the Emperor. You
must now know, that, not ceasing to inquire through every
channel, and to make myself sure of the business both with
regard to the sum and its destination likewise, I have heard
from several sources, that upwards of 50,000 ducats are
already disbursed, and from day to day, a yet greater amount
is to be distributed through bills on Flanders, from whence
the funds will be remitted to several places into the hands of
the Emperor. This I believe, both on the faith of those
who made the announcement to me, and also on account of
the quantity of cash invested here in bills on Flanders, causing
a variation in the exchanges so very great that it amounts
to 7 or 8 per cent ; and, in like manner, as the exchange
has risen here, so has it fallen in Flanders, in such wise that
those who want bills thence for other places, obtain 12
and 14 per cent, more than they would have done a month
ago ; and this because the ready money has been withdrawn
thence for transmission to the Emperor. This matter ap-
pears to me of such importance, as not to admit of my
delaying its announcement, though I have said nothing
more about it, either to his Majesty, or to the lords of the
Council, because the King has betaken himself with a very
few of them to an unusual residence a great way off, and
does not choose to endure farther disturbance of any sort — a

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 153

proceeding very extraordinary. From what I understand,
however, he will very soon return to Greenwich ; where-
upon I shall go to him immediately, and will speak to his
Majesty in person about this business, which, however
odious, I shall endeavour to discuss in moderate language.

SEBAST. JUSTINIANUS, Eques., Orator.

To THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, December 24., 1515.

By my letters of the 20th, I acquainted your Sublimity
with what I had heard about the moneys destined for the
Emperor. Subsequently, besides other sources, I had re-
course to a most faithful citizen of yours (whose name I,
for good reasons, do not give at this present, but will men-
tion it in due time and place),1 who, having made most
diligent inquiries to ascertain the 'truth, has, through several
channels, learned all the following facts : — First, that these
people had determined on remitting to the Emperor at
once 100,000 ducats, and I have heard from others a
greater amount, part of which sum has been forwarded to
Flanders through bills of exchange, and part by special
messengers ; and all these moneys are to be delivered at
a certain German town, the name of which they are unable
to give me correctly, and from thence they will reach the
hands of the Emperor aforesaid. Speaking about this with
the French ambassador here, he told me that he likewise had
heard the same, and had given notice thereof to his most
Christian King. Moreover, I have seen a letter addressed
from Flanders to a merchant, a person of account, to the
effect that " these bills of exchange, to the amount of

154 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

100,000 ducats, belonging to the King of England, and
destined for the Emperor, have raised the value of money
here upwards of 12 per cent., and there is such a scarcity
of gold, that it is no longer to be got." The like I have
heard from one who frequents the Spanish embassy, who
affirms to the sum being 120,000 ducats, with this in addi-
tion, that they are being sent to the Emperor to enable him
to raise troops for the succour of Brescia and Verona,
so that I know not how one can any longer doubt this
matter, and especially as a variety of circumstances had pre-
viously occurred, indicating this result : first of all, there was
the peace made between his Majesty and the King of
Spain ; and then came the present bestowed by said King
on his Majesty — namely, that collar, with a very valuable
balass-ruby, and other things, as notified by me to your
Highness in my former despatches, though I do not believe
that the articles were sent as a present, but as security for
the moneys to be disbursed. Also the fact of his Majesty
having two ambassadors with the Emperor, to whom, more-
over, the right rev. Cardinal's secretary2 has been sent quite
recently, added to which, couriers are constantly being for-
warded to and fro by either party. Your Serenity may rely
upon it, that the causes of so great a change have been the
successes of the most Christian King, which this side ap-
pears to have felt bitterly, as previously stated by me ; and
they are acting thus on two accounts : first, with a view to
thwart him in Lombardy, through Brescia and Verona, for
fear of his proceeding to the kingdom of Naples, and this at
the suit of the King of Spain j secondly, so far as one can
judge, this side purposes attacking the Scotch next year, and
is of opinion that his most Christian Majesty will protect
the Duke of Albany, who seems to have acquired great
power in that kingdom, expelling the Queen, and keeping

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 155

possession of the princes her two sons ; and in order that
said Christian Majesty may not impede this project, they
seek to occupy him in Lombardy. As the matter appears
to me, so do I announce it to your Highness, and will ascer-
tain further on speaking again to these lords and to his
Majesty, giving your Excellency speedy notice of what J
may hear, and as from what I have been assured, these
moneys cannot reach the Emperor until the end of January,
should your Highness think fit, you might hasten the affairs
of Brescia and Verona, so as not to encounter greater diffi-
culty subsequently from said Emperor, after his receipt of
this aid.

SEBAST. JUSTINIANUS, Eques., Oratore.

1 From a paragraph in the report of England made by Sebastian
Giustinian to the Venetian senate, on the loth of October, 1519, it
appears that the person here alluded to was a Venetian citizen named
Alberto Bavarino, of whom the ambassador speaks in terms of the
highest praise, saying that, despite his failure, he was also looked up to
on the mart of London as a referee in disputes, his honour and integrity
being unimpeachable.

2 Richard Pace, of whom more hereafter.

To THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, January z, 1516.

Since my last of the 24th, his Majesty returned to Green-
wich ; and I immediately went to visit the right rev. Car-
dinal, who, for authority, may in point of fact be styled ipse
rex ; and having paid him the usual compliments, I com-
menced discussing the affair of the moneys, concerning
which I wrote copiously in my foregoing; and, in the
most moderate and gentle terms, laid before him all the

156 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN G1USTINIAN

details notified to your Excellency in my last aforesaid,
avoiding, however, everything that might irritate him.

His lordship listened to me most attentively and patiently
for the space of a quarter of an hour, and then replied, that
what he had told me at our last conference was perfectly
true — namely, that the moneys remitted are not destined for
the Emperor, and will not reach his hands ; neither was the
sum by any means so considerable as that which I men-
tioned, that is to say, 120,000 ducats, but much less ; adding
the following words : — " I will speak to you with all sin-
cerity and truth, and will tell you what becomes a Cardinal
on the honour of the Cardinalate" — to use his own form of
speech — saying, " It is true that this most serene King
has remitted moneys to Flanders which will reach Ger-
many, and perhaps Italy, for two purposes : in the first
place, for the purchase of inlaid armour and other costly
furniture ; then, again, we are aware that a number of
princes, whom I will not particularize to you, either in
France, in Germany, or in Italy, have pledged a quantity of
very fine jewels, and of great value, which we hope to
obtain at no great cost, and therefore thought fit to avail
ourselves of this opportunity for purchasing similar things,
which in other times could not be obtained at a much
greater outlay. This comes of the want of money ex-
perienced by these princes ; and although the money may
reach the hands of our ambassador, yet it will not be in the
power of the Emperor; nor need you, or the most illustrious
Signory, believe that his Majesty would expend his treasure
against the State, to aid the undertaking of Brescia and
Verona. No man in this kingdom has so much as thought
of such a thing j nor yet of waging war on the King of
France, or of opposing any of his undertakings ; for, had his
Majesty chosen to act thus, he would have done so at a

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 157

moment when he could more easily have injured him. By
the honour of the Cardinalate, what we tell you is the truth ;
nor are we of such a nature as to choose that our word
prove vain and false ; and we should prefer not being deco-
rated with this dignity, rather than do what is unworthy of it;
and to the obloquy of those who told and notified these things
to you, they lied in their teeth (mentierunt in caput suum)."
And as I had told him, amongst other things, that it was
reported the affairs of Scotland had caused these remittances,
with a view to detaining the most Christian King in Italy
about other undertakings, and preventing any aid being sent
to the Duke of Albany, he made answer, " We cannot but
admit that his Majesty has the affairs of Scotland much at
heart ; for were he to hold them in small account, he would
be a brute, seeing that, owing to that Duke of Albany, the
most serene Queen his sister is yet most grievously ill,
having been prematurely delivered of a daughter, who subse-
quently died ; she being expelled her kingdom, deprived of
all her friends, part of whom are in dungeons, whilst others
have been put to death. He, moreover, took the entire ad-
ministration of the kingdom out of her hands, and what
matters more, and additionally exasperates his Majesty, is,
that he took the two princes away from her maternal
guardianship, and placed them under his own charge ; since
when, one of them has died, and there remains an only
child, in the event of whose death, the kingdom would fall
to said Duke. Think what reasons, human or divine, can
palliate so great cruelty, and whether it be such that his
Majesty, remembering that he is a King, should tolerate ;
for I promise, and tell you plainly and intelligibly, he will
not put up with it : if, however, the most Christian King
remedies this grievance, you may believe that his Majesty
here will cultivate his friendship, though assuredly King

158 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Francis exhibits little gratitude for the faith preserved
towards him by his Majesty, who had everything in his
power."

All this, most serene Prince, he uttered very passionately,
saying especially, that as he was the author of the peace, and
now sought to maintain it, he should be in extreme peril, unless
the most Christian King took steps against these unheard-of
cruelties. I answered each allegation as I thought became
the matter, apologizing for the most Christian King, on the
score of his perhaps not knowing the circumstances, or of
his not being acquainted with them in detail, and possibly
that he did not believe them to be such as they had been
written ; since, if he knew the facts, or credited them, he
never would brook the like, his profession of faith and justice
being so intense, that he prefers being loved for those two
qualities, rather than to be feared for his power ; and that
his lordship can easily imagine that his most Christian
Majesty must be acquainted with this most serene King's
forbearance, which would ill become so great a Sovereign
to hold in slight esteem, adding many other expressions on
this subject ; after which, I returned to the fact of the
moneys, it appearing to me important, under present cir-
cumstances, that even should his Majesty have for object to
obtain jewels belonging to the Emperor, he would, out of
consideration for your Signory, and not to keep you any
longer despoiled of your territory and subject to such ex-
cessive cost, delay and keep back the moneys, so that they
may not reach the Emperor's hands, until after the recovery
by your Signory of Brescia and Verona, as should these
jewels be sold from necessity, the opportunity will often
enough recur, as the Emperor only gets out of one expense
to enter upon another j l hereon, I expatiated in the most
earnest language at my command.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 159

In reply to this, after certain long discourses of his,
the Cardinal said, " Domine Orator, be not uneasy or
dispirited about this matter, for I swear, and tell you the
truth ; this money is never to be in the Emperor's power :
so I promise you that hence the Signory will experience
neither detriment nor difficulty with regard to the recovery
of her towns ; " and on my repeating the many reasons for
good-will between this most serene King and your Sublimity,
alluding to the ancient union which had existed between the
most serene King his father, and ancestors, the Cardinal em-
ployed in rejoinder a phrase worthy of notice, thus : " You
say many things, and show few effects;" to which, when
I replied by inquiring how the most illustrious Signory had
failed in her observance towards his Majesty, he said, " I do
not indeed accuse her of any fault, at variance with the
friendship and confederation entertained by her with this
most serene King," and finished the sentence in such a way,
that I could understand the inference intended by his lord-
ship to be, that your Sublimity ought to mediate between the
most Christian King and his Majesty here concerning the
affairs of Scotland ; and to enlighten myself hereon, I told
him I purposed writing to your Highness about the com-
plaints made by his lordship against the most Christian King
with regard to these difficulties of Scotland, and he im-
mediately said, " Remember that our King complains of
three things : first, that his sister has been expelled the
kingdom, and deprived of its government which belonged to
her by right, and moreover by the desire of her late most
serene husband, as proven by his will ; and his Majesty
chooses her to be restored in prlstinum^ and that she be
given the guardianship of this remaining son ; further,
that the Duke of Albany be removed from that kingdom,
as his Majesty will never tolerate his stay there ; thirdly,

l6o DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

that the Queen Blanche (Maria Tudor)2 do receive back
the jewels which King Louis gave her as personal orna-
ments." From the specification of these three proposals,
I think I may infer that his lordship meant me to understand
that your Excellency should further this end. Much time
was spent in these colloquies ; and on account of his nume-
rous occupations, I then took leave, having first chosen to
hear from his lordship whether he was of opinion that what
I had said to him about the moneys remitted to Germany,
should be mentioned by me in any way to the King : to this
he did not give a decided negative, but made a demonstration
that the thing would not prove agreeable to his Majesty,
with whom I shall therefore perhaps not discuss it, since
any good that could result thence, may be expected from
my conversations with his lordship, he being rex et autor
omnium.

1 Machiavelli said that, if the leaves on all the trees of Italy had been
converted into ducats for the use of Maximilian, they would not have
sufficed for his need.

2 In the correspondence of the Caesars, published at Leipzig, A.D.
1 844, by Mr. Lanch, there is a letter from the ambassadors of the Arch-
duke Charles, dated Paris, in the spring of 1515, in which the Queen
Dowager of France is also called Blanche or Bianca, and the like is
observed in other contemporary documents.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London , January 5, 1516.

By my last, in date of the 2nd inst., your Sublimity will
have heard of my interview with this right reverend Cardinal ;
and whilst I was awaiting an excuse for going to his Ma-
jesty, news arrived by way of Lyons from the firm of
Salviati, who are persons of account, addressed to the Fres-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. l6l

cobaldi here in London, announcing that your Highness had
recovered Brescia,1 which news was believed well nigh
universally ; and I thence took occasion to visit his Majesty,
to whom, as I have before said, it is not customary to go
without some reason. First, however, I had a conference
with the right reverend Cardinal, who said this intelligence
could not be true, by reason of letters he had received that
morning from his ambassador, resident with the Emperor.
On going to his Majesty, he also instantly said the news
was untrue, and finally all these lords came to the same con-
clusion. I did not think fit to mention the remittance to
the Emperor, as I had been assured by all these lords, and
again on that very day by the right reverend Cardinal, that
the money had not been sent to him j neither was it destined
to prove in any way detrimental to your Excellency, so to
have broached the topic with his Majesty would have been
a needless provocation. For this reserve, I was extremely
praised by the right reverend Cardinal and other lords
here.

Subsequently, in a long conference that I had with
the Cardinal, he complained most bitterly of the outrages
committed by the Duke of Albany against his Majesty,
which he said could only be with the consent of the most
Christian King, expressing himself with the greatest warmth
and excitement possible, and saying that by no means would
his Majesty put up with it. I endeavoured to mitigate the
matter as much as possible, urging the delay of all perilous
resolves, alleging the many inconveniences and mischances
of war, and exhorting him to try every other course ; or to
ascertain whether what had taken place was really with the
consent of France, which I could not bring myself to believe;
but that if it had been so, his right reverend Lordship should
seek to appease his Majesty, and bring the business to

VOL. i. M

1 62 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

an amicable conclusion. I spoke to the same effect with
the illustrious Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Treasurer, who is
of opinion that faith no longer exists between the sovereigns
of the world, since the most Christian King tolerates such a
thing ; and that, in like manner as one of the royal princes
has been put to death,2 so also will he rid himself of the only
one remaining, in order that the Duke of Albany may inherit
the kingdom — a thing which he seems to think can scarcely
be tolerated.

This matter, most serene Prince, is of an extremely awk-
ward nature ; and perceiving, as I do, that it is not much
extenuated by the reverend French ambassador, who does
not show that his King is at all intent on applying a remedy,
I deem it unbecoming to place such a burden on my own
shoulders, or palliate a proceeding which they themselves are
either unwilling or unable to defend. Such aid as may be in
my power, I shall not withhold, however, and will deprecate
war whenever I hear it mentioned.

On the following day I went to the right reverend Bishop
of Durham, and we discussed this topic, together with that
of the remittances, which he assured me positively had not
been sent to injure or inconvenience your Excellency in any
way. He made the amplest protestations to this effect,
declaring that in a few days 1 should have some proof of this
kingdom's seeking the welfare and advantage of your Excel-
lency, and not your detriment by any means ; but despite all
my endeavours to elicit from him what this result was, he
would not give me any further explanation, but laughed, and
with a merry countenance continued talking in the same strain.
All the English lords speak in similar terms, and tell me, in
addition, that your Sublimity will be deceived by the King of
France, saying, " What should you think if, in the treaty of
peace with the Emperor, the King of France had offered to

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 163

abide by the clauses of the League of Cambrai ? " and on
my endeavouring to learn whether there is any certainty of
this, I perceive them to mumble and dissemble it, either
from not choosing to quote their authority, or because, as I
suspect, the thing is devoid of foundation. In short, I may
say that I perceive all these lords bent on persuading your
Excellency to distrust France, and this for the sake of de-
taching your Signory from his most Christian Majesty ; and
this I see most clearly every day. I also comprehend, that
should England and France go to war, it will be difficult for
this side not to entertain suspicion, or a sort of enmity
towards your Excellency, as everybody here considers that
the two States are agreed in policy.

I subsequently saw the reverend Bishop of Winchester, a
lord, as I have said, of extreme authority and goodness, who
also stoutly denied the transmission of the money to the
detriment or inconvenience in any way of your Sublimity,
expressing himself to me in these words : " To you I answer
thus ; but were I speaking with the French ambassador, I
should not address him in such terms," whence it may be
clearly inferred that the remittances are destined for some
stir in Italy, against the most Christian King, and this being
the case, they can only have been sent to the Switzers,3 as
written by me heretofore. The French ambassador here
assures me that the sums forwarded into Switzerland greatly
exceeded the amount I specified j and, added to this, I un-
derstand that a few days ago an envoy from the Cardinal of
Sion4 was here incognito, and has already departed, so that
one can prognosticate nothing but strife between these two
Sovereigns, unless some expedient be devised for the affairs
of Scotland, which I foretold in my former letters would
prove a stumbling-block. Chance what may, I beseech
your Excellency to make such demonstration that your

164 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

friendship with England at least may prove favourable ;
for really all these noblemen seem much inclined towards
you, and little else is required to preserve their amity beyond
the frequent transmission of letters, notifying such events as
your Excellency may think fit, whether chanced in Italy
or abroad. On the other hand, your Excellency's silence
causes great surprise to everybody, it seeming as if the King
of England were held in small account by you, and all
reliance reserved for France, which will prove so much the
more irksome to this side, when on the eve of war with that
power.

1 Master Friskiball's correspondent is anticipating ; Brescia was not
recovered until some months after this announcement made by Salviati,
the Venetians not entering that city until the 24th of May, 1516.

2 " Et cussi come e'sta morto uno de li figlioli Regii," &c.

3 In date of the year 1515, Hume mentions that Pace proceeded from
the court of Maximilian into Switzerland, and engaged some of the
cantons to furnish troops to the Emperor.

4 The Swiss Cardinal, Matthew Schemer, a staunch Antigallican.
See his Life by Giovio.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, January ai, 1516.

* * * The French ambassador here having sent me
word that he had received despatches from the most illus-
trious the mother of the most Christian King, with letters
from him addressed to the most serene King here, I deemed
it well to go to his lordship after their delivery, and when
he had made the announcement contained in his instructions,
for the sake of learning the contents of said letters, and also
to hear what his commission purported. To-day, therefore,
I had a long colloquy with his lordship, who told me, these

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 165

letters to his Majesty merely gave account of the conferences
and resolves held and formed with his Holiness1 — namely,
to make a general peace between all the sovereigns of Chris-
tendom against the Turks, and a strong exhortation to his
Majesty to marshal his forces and march them against the
infidel, which King Francis likewise would do, immediately
on his arrival in France. Moreover, he told me that these
lords commenced speaking about the affairs of Scotland,
complaining of what had been perpetrated by the Duke of
Albany, and that he the ambassador replied, that they com-
plained without reason of his King, who is not the cause of
this business ; adding, that neither did he know how he could
with reason recall the Duke from that kingdom, seeing that
he is next in succession, should the heirs of the late King
fail, wherefore his most Christian Majesty could not compel
him contrary to right ; nor yet was he of opinion that his
Majesty aforesaid could reasonably command the Duke to
concede the administration of the kingdom to the Queen, or
even reinstate her in the guardianship of her remaining child,
she not being competent thereto ; and that it did not become
her, she having taken a second husband : this, he argued, was
a legal arrangement. The lords of the English court seem
to have resented this extremely, saying to him, with great
warmth, " Unless the King of France see to removing the
Duke of Albany thence, and reinstate the Queen, both in the
administration of the kingdom and in the guardianship of her
son, we shall not brook it, and will wage war on your King
in every possible way," with many other words to this
effect. I asked his lordship if he had been commissioned by
his most Christian King to defend the proceedings of said
Duke of Albany — namely, his taking to himself the ad-
ministration of the kingdom, and depriving the mother of the
guardianship of her son. He answered me that he had no

l66 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

such commission, but had spoken thus under provocation,
to prove that right was not on their side ; so I thought
it well to tell him, as gently as I could, that having received
no commission from the King to investigate the merits of
this case, or to defend what the Duke has done, had I been
in his lordship's place, I should not have entered into these
details, but would indeed have endeavoured to prove that the
proceedings were contrary to the will of his Majesty ; since
as the case in itself appeared somewhat inhuman, I should
have been averse to justifying it, to avoid showing that my
King was of that mind. I ventured this interference, most
serene Prince, for the sake of placing my shoulders as much
as I can under these impending ruins of the concord between
France and England, which, I think, I perceive, unless
the Almighty stretch forth his hand. As it also appeared
that some of these noblemen are averse to war, and ponder
the benefit of peace between the two Princes, and yet this
ambassador had never spoken to said lords, nor visited them,
so that they had no opportunity or arguments whereby to
confute those who advocated hostilities, I next exhorted his
lordship to pay them court, acquainting them with his
arguments, and apologizing for his King on the score of
his ignorance and disapproval of the outrages laid to the
charge of Albany : he answered me that he would assuredly
not visit them, as they were men who did not choose either
to listen to reason or be guided by it. I then asked him if
he had mentioned to them his suspicions about the remittance
sent by his Majesty to the Switzers for the purpose of
waging war on his most Christian King, concerning which,
said ambassador had told me that he was certain, and that he
had notified as much to his King. He answered me that he
had not imparted them either to his Majesty here, nor yet to
these lords, as he is aware it would have been of no use ;

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. l6r

added to which, they might have entertained suspicion of
enmity from his King on this account, wherefore he omitted
all allusion to the matter. I told him that in my opinion,
since he entertained this suspicion well nigh with certainty,
it was his duty to have communicated it for the sake of
coming at the truth ; hearing the reason, if they admitted it,
and changing his opinion in the event of a denial, enabling
himself thus to give his most Christian Majesty better in-
formation, using such other arguments as occurred to me.
To this he likewise replied that he had not forwarded any
such communication ; and, moreover, that were he to press
the matter home, it might induce immediate hostilities ; the
onus of which he would fain leave to his successor, as he
is averse to its appearing that he has been instrumental in
such a quarrel. Perceiving these to be his opinions, I did
not deem it expedient to press him more than I had done,
for fear of stirring him up, perhaps, to great indignation
against me ; and lest, in lieu of the extreme friendship which
he now bears me, he should become my enemy, which
would prove inopportune for the common cause, and thus I
closed the conversation j and perceiving that he does not act
as I think he should, I deem it unfit to assume a greater
burden than has been already assigned me by your Sublimity.
I shall endeavour to preserve for your Highness the grace of
this most serene King ; and on the opportunity's offering,
with all possible gentleness and address, take the part of the
most Christian King, without offending his Majesty or these
lords 5 though I am aware that the matter is of such
a nature, that if it be the will of the most Christian King
for the affairs of Scotland to proceed thus, it will prove
impossible to preserve peace. It is important, on the
other hand, should King Francis not meditate hostilities,
for his ambassador here so to act as to prove his non-

1 68 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

complicity with the Duke of Albany, and not render
him suspected ; endeavouring that the guardianship of the
infant Scottish prince, and the administration of the king-
dom, be acknowledged de jure, acccrding to the will of the
deceased King of Scotland.

1 Alluding to the conference at Bologna, where Leo X. arrived on
the 8th of December, and was followed by Francis I. on the roth.

London, February 6, 1516.

* * * There has arrived here an imperial ambassador,
who, according to report, is a native of Aste, and a creature
of the Emperor's.1 The object of his mission is only known
to the ministry here, though every one affirms to his being
come for two ends : first, to confirm the confederation made
between the Emperor and the Catholic King, and his Majesty
here, which is neither denied me, nor expressly confessed,
by these lords ; whilst others say he is also come to ask
for money to fit out an expedition from that quarter against
the most Christain King and your Signory, and of this I
have been assured by the French ambassador, who says he
had it from France through a great personage. On hearing
this, I determined to take such steps as seemed to me expe-
dient, and went to the King at Greenwich, together with his
most Christian Majesty's ambassador ; and there we found
the envoys from the Emperor and from Spain, who had been
closeted with his Majesty, having also had two previous
audiences. Subsequently, the French ambassador, who on
that morning had received letters from his King, entered the
presence of his Majesty, and presented him with missives,
which the King read first, drawing aside, together with the
Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk : he then joined the ambas-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 169

sador aforesaid, and held a long parley with him ; what they
discussed I know not, for all were at some distance. The
ambassadors told me that the letters purported how his most
Christian Majesty meant to preserve the peace with this most
serene King, and to live as brothers ; and that, with regard
to the differences existing between them concerning the
affairs of Scotland, he was willing to adjust them as follows,
videlicet : that the Queen return into the kingdom ; that all
her jewels, and every thing else that may appear to have
been taken from her, shall be restored ; that she shall receive
security for her dower ; and that the royal infants (he not
knowing that one of them was already dead) should be con-
signed to the guardianship of the nobles, ut moris est^it not being
becoming for them to remain the wards of their mother, now
married again, nor yet of the Duke of Albany, who on their
death would succeed to the Crown ; and if his Majesty had
any objection to this, the most Christian King professed him-
self willing to refer the matter to judges to be elected by
the parties themselves, announcing his having come to
France,2 in order to give him more frequent tidings of his
affairs, for which he hoped a corresponding return. To this
his Majesty made answer that he much rejoiced in the dispo-
sition of the most Christian King, which tallied, moreover,
with his own, but that it would behove King Francis to
exert himself, lest the affairs of Scotland interrupt this friend-
ship ; and with regard to what had been said about referring
the disputes to arbitrators, to be elected by the parties, he
replied that it was not the custom amongst sovereigns, nor
for their dignity, to place their controversies in the hands of
judges ; and that he himself meant to be judge in the affairs
of Scotland, without, however, swerving from the friendship
and alliance which existed between them, as he was of
opinion that, according to the articles, the Scotch business

I/O DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

did not necessarily amount to a breach of their alliance.
This in substance is as much as the ambassador told me.

On my presenting myself to his Majesty to pay him my
respects, he asked me if I had any letter from your Sublimity.
I told him I had not received letters, though I wished to
speak with his Majesty about matters of moment ; but, as I
perceived the Imperial and Spanish ambassadors, and other
persons, at hand, I said I had determined to delay until
another day ; whereupon he rejoined, " You shall have
audience when you please ; but we greatly marvel at your
not receiving letters from the Signory, so many events
having chanced and chancing daily." I apologized for your
Excellency as I best might, though I fancy that they credit
what they please, and we two ambassadors then took leave.

With regard to this matter, I will not omit giving my
opinion ; and your Sublimity must know that, at this present,
it is more necessary than ever to cultivate the friendship of
King Henry, who is so well able to supply your enemies with
money, and thus support the war against you, without openly
declaring himself. You also perceive that here in London
there are embassies from all the greatest princes in Christen-
dom, and all hammer at this anvil — some for money and
some for favour; nor does a week ever elapse without
all these ambassadors receiving missives addressed to his
Majesty, indicative of great mutual confidence and good-
will, whereas your Signory, which has, perhaps, greater
need of his Majesty than any of the others, does not ever
write ; and I am thus deficient in the means of negotiating
and exerting myself so fitly as 1 could wish, and as current
events so imperiously demand.

Whether anything else was negotiated with the ambas-
sadors aforesaid, I have as yet not had time to ascertain ; I
will, however, do my best to learn something. One predic-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. I'Jl

tion I think I can make, that war will infallibly be waged
between England and Scotland ; and should the most
Christian King declare himself for the latter, the English, I
imagine, will make a demonstration against his Majesty ; not
indeed that I fancy they will invade the French territory, as
in the time of King Louis, and this for many reasons, which
it would be long to write. At any rate, could we arrange
these Scotch difficulties to the satisfaction of the two
Crowns, my belief is it would be a work of extreme praise,
commendation, and of profit to us whose State is in peril.

1 As stated in a subsequent despatch, the name of this ambassador
was Count Bartholomew Tationo.

2 Guicciardini (vol. iii. p. 180) mentions that, after the conference at
Bologna, Francis I. returned to Milan j and, having dismissed his army,
went back to France at the commencement of the year 1516, leaving
Charles Duke of Bourbon as his lieutenant.

London, February 7, 1516.

On my return from Greenwich, the day before yesterday,
I found letters from your Excellency, dated the 28th of
December, containing news of Italy, and others of the i6th
of January, with some duplicates addressed to the Magnifico
Andrea Badoer.

On the receipt of these missives, I went to the right
reverend Cardinal, and first communicated their contents to
him by word of mouth, after which, as they contained many
bland expressions well suited to the present times, I had the
letters read to him translated into Latin. His lordship
listened to them most attentively, and then thanked your
Sublimity for the compliment, although all the news had been
heard here previously. After this, I told him that the
coming of the imperial ambassador had rendered me some-

iy2 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

what anxious, both to learn the Emperor's bias towards
your Sublimity, and also by reason of what was reported in
trustworthy quarters, namely, that he was come for the
purpose of sealing, together with the Spanish ambassador
here, the confederation contracted with this Majesty ; also, to
demand moneys for the Italian expedition both against the
most Christian King, and for the defence of Brescia and
Verona, which, I said, I could not bring myself to believe ;
since, if at the time when all the Princes of Christendom
conspired against your Excellency, the late most serene King
Henry and his present Majesty persevered in the closest good
will with your Excellency, it did not now appear to me either
reasonable or credible that his Majesty should consent to
furnish subsidy against your Excellency, most especially
being aware that right was on your side, and that the wrongs
were those the Princes of Christendom had subjected you to
so many years past ; neither did I doubt but that his Majesty
aforesaid, and his right rev. lordship, well knew who the
Emperor was, and what his faith, as also the constancy of
your Highness, whose friendship was perpetual by reason of
our republican form of government, whereas, that of the
Emperor was of small durability, both owing to his character
and age. I therefore besought his lordship to ponder well,
and, moreover, to acquaint his Majesty, that the injur-
ing your Excellency by means of money and support, is
neither more or less than a mutilation and amputation of his
own members, as your Excellency may well be one of his
limbs, owing both to long established friendship, and the
recent confederation, whereas I perceived that the Emperor,
at this first congress of friendship, sought to deprive the
King both of his money and of his friends, which I could
not imagine would succeed, or be counselled by his right
reverend lordship and the rest of the ministry. With regard

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 173

to the affairs of France, I told him I would not say much
thereon, because of the residence here of his most Christian
Majesty's ambassador, to whom this matter properly apper-
tained, though I thought I might respectfully suggest, as a
person well nigh neutral between two confederates, that since
it has been so resolved, his Majesty was at liberty, indeed, to
contract friendship and confederation with these Sovereigns,
but that to take up arms against the most Christian King
was a thing of greater moment, as France never yet had a
more beloved and favourite monarch than King Francis, for
which I could vouch, as, when there, many lords and great
personages told me that they were disposed to demonstrate
their loyalty to his Majesty in such a manner, that he should
either have proof of their valour by great feats, or see them
perish before his eyes ; but, I said, I would not expatiate
hereon, it being my opinion that his lordship would counsel
what may be for the benefit and security of this realm, so as
not to place it in peril, by disturbing the quiet and tranquillity
now enjoyed by England, in such wise, that with her sword
sheathed, she makes all the princes of Christendom tremble,
with many other words to this effect, whereto his lordship
replied in the language of the prophet David, trepldaverunt
ubl non erat tlmor ; that I evinced fear of a thing from which
his Majesty is very remote ; since, as he assured me hereto-
fore, the Emperor was not going to receive the smallest frac-
tion of coin from his Majesty, wherewith to injure your
Excellency ; and of this I might rest assured, that nothing
would be done to disturb or diminish the friendship and con-
federation existing between his Majesty and your Excellency,
and were it otherwise, he would say so, as the confederation
was not such as to prohibit the King from giving his money
to whom he pleased. To this I made answer that his lord-
ship, in his great wisdom, knew that the King was at liberty

174 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUST1NIAN

to give his money to whomsoever he pleased, though he
ought not to give it to the detriment of his confederates ; it
appearing to me, that to love and to harm were incompatible,
wherefore I could easily credit that the money would not be
given to the Emperor for the purpose of injuring your
Excellency, and only feared lest the Emperor, after promising
to expend the King's money for other purposes, might employ
it, unknown to his Majesty, against us, and thus your
Excellency would be injured by the weapons of his Majesty,
and by the will of the Emperor; and concerning this, I
exhorted, implored, and besought his right reverend lordship
to have regard to the disbursement of these moneys, since
whether the King be willing or unwilling, they would be
employed against your Signory, which is precisely against
England, who, in consideration of many and various possible
events, ought to seek and preserve your Excellency's state
in power and authority, as oftentimes it might greatly benefit
her interests.

At this moment, his lordship being sent for, I took leave,
and went immediately to the rev. Bishop of Durham, to
whom I made a like communication, and he assured me that
nothing was being negotiated against your Excellency, neither
did any one in this kingdom think of giving money to the
Emperor, and that what was being done and negotiated at
this present was all for the benefit of Venice, laughing and
saying, <c Per Deum^ we mean to effect your welfare despite
yourselves," as his lordship has said to me many other times,
without explaining himself further ; but, most serene Prince,
from what I comprehend, the English court bears the worst
possible will towards the most Christian King, and thinks he
means to deceive your Excellency, and when once established
in Italy, deprive you of your territory, and I perceive that
their thoughts here all tend to one object, namely, either

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 175

openly or secretly, to drive King Francis out of Italy, and it
is in this way they think to benefit your Sublimity, so I, who
well knew his drift, told him that on the contrary your
Excellency's sole supporter in Italy is his most Christian
Majesty, whereas the other sovereigns aim at your ruin, as
seen by experience, for that being allied with the Catholic
King he occupied Brescia, and instead of consigning it, as
due, to your Excellency, made it over to the Emperor,1 and
hence, I said, his lordship might conjecture in whose hands
your Excellency's territory on the main-land would rest, were
the King of France expelled Italy. At length, still laughing,
his lordship said, " You will see a few days hence, that what
this kingdom is doing, is all for the benefit of your State,"
and with this, I took leave of his lordship.

Concerning this matter, I do not purpose saying the least
word to the King, but shall merely recommend your Sub-
limity's interests to him, and request that he will persevere in
his good friendship and confederation with your Highness,
for the right reverend Cardinal told me in very plain terms
not to say a single word of such suspicion to his Majesty, as
it would most assuredly be very disagreeable to him ; and
having spoken with these lords, without whom no money will
be disbursed, nor any innovation be effected to the detriment
of your Excellency, I prefer being accused by you of omis-
sion for not speaking hereon to the King, rather than by
speaking to exasperate him against your Signory, and render
myself the author of anything so disadvantageous.

SEBAST. JUSTINIANUS, Eques. Or.

1 This is the ambassador's version of what took place with regard to
Brescia, in the years 1512 and 1513. See Paruta.

176 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

London, February 8, 1516.

By my letters of the 6th instant, tied up herewith, your
Excellency will have heard what was told me by the French
ambassador, who consented that the Scotch differences, con-
cerning the guardianship of the Scottish princes, should be
decided by mutual judges, and to abide by their award, to
which his Majesty here made answer, that he chose to be
judge himself; notwithstanding which three auditors were
assigned to said ambassador, who was introduced to-day
to the Privy Council, where he proposed this matter, and
this evening informed me, through his Secretary, that the
Council had determined that this dispute concerning Scot-
land should be decided by arbitration.

Moreover, the ambassador aforesaid told me yesterday that
the most Christian King did not intend sending any gentle-
men of his to stand godfather for this most serene Queen's
offspring,1 as he does not chose to stir for this purpose on
the mere verbal invitation of the Duke of Suffolk, but
means this most serene King to write to him. As I am
aware that, should the aforesaid most Christian King not
send any one to perform this ceremony, it would prove ex-
tremely vexatious to his Majesty, I have determined one of
these days on going to the right reverend Cardinal, to say a
word to him thereon, as from myself, lest this slight cause
produce disquietude in the breast of his Majesty here, and of
the whole kingdom ; and my acting thus, will I trust have
the approval of your Highness.

1 The child anticipated proved to be Mary Tudor. The report of the
Queen's pregnancy has been already mentioned, in date of May, 1515.

- FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 177

London^ February 12, 1516.

Since my last, in date of the 6th, 7th, and 8th instant,
whereby you will have learnt the negotiations transacted, I
did nothing more until the loth instant, on which day I
went to Greenwich to this most serene King, to whom I
communicated the letters of your Highness with the news of
Italy, and other tidings from Constantinople, notified to me
by my own correspondents. The King expressed his plea-
sure at this compliment, saying it was very agreeable to him
to have frequent news of the Turk, especially when he expe-
riences any reverse : with regard to the affairs of Italy, he
said he knew them already, but that the siege of Brescia
was raised.

After this, considering it inadvisable to mention the
moneys sent to Germany, in order to avoid exasperating his
Majesty, I besought him, should these ambassadors from the
Emperor and from Spain make any demand prejudicial to
your Highness, that he would deign to hold you in considera-
tion, and ponder the antiquity and solidity of the friendship
existing between your Highness and this most serene king-
dom, from which your Excellency could never anticipate the
possibility of receiving any offence, either open or covert :
nay, that I thought I could promise myself that his Majesty
would show this ambassador from the Emperor that he
regretted his occupying Brescia and Verona, and might drop
a word, indicating that he should approve of your Excel-
lency's recovering your territory ; with other expressions
suited to this subject. His Majesty replied, briefly, " 'Tis
well : but know that the Emperor, on his part, complains of
your besieging his towns :" and with this he departed, with-
out awaiting farther rejoinder.

It is my duty to write what I see and what I hear, that

VOL. i. N

1/8 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

your Excellency may be guided in your decisions by actual
facts. It seems to me that since the most Christian King's
victory over the Switzers, which all admit took place through
the support of your Highness and your army, the bias of
everybody here, from the highest to the lowest, has much
changed, this result having proved most distasteful to them ;
nor is there any doubt but that the Emperor's successes at
Brescia seem to have given universally the greatest pleasure.
Moreover, some of these lords told me, and others said the
same to the French ambassador, that Brescia and Verona did
not belong to your Highness, but to the Emperor; so a few
days ago, having watched my opportunity, I discussed this
matter with the person who had broached it to me, proving
to him the ancient possession, the acquisition made by your
Sublimity in just war against the Dukes of Milan, and finally,
the confirmation made by the late most Christian King Louis
and by his present Majesty, to whom, beyond a doubt, Bres-
cia would belong, did it not appertain to your Excellency, as
it does by every right : hereon I dilated at great length. I
have to inform you also, that these lords endeavour with all
their might to detach your Highness from the most Christian
King, assuring me that immediately on his obtaining peace-
able possession of the Milanese, he will choose to occupy
the whole of your Highness's territory on the main land, a
report which circulates so universally throughout this kingdom
that everybody repeats it freely; and this (that your Highness
may know everything) I deemed it expedient to mention to
the French ambassador, for him to acquaint his most Chris-
tian King, in order that he may know that your Sublimity is
held in account by others also, as well as by himself, render-
ing him thus more prompt (should such a thing be possible)
for the recovery of your Excellency's state, with a view to
confirming and consolidating your alliance with him.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 179

London , February 18, 1516.

After having written the letters tied up herewith, this
most serene King's post from Rome brought me a missive
from your Highness, dated the I4th of January, and which
I received on the I4th instant, whereupon, with my wonted
respect, I endeavoured to acquaint myself better de re
pecuniaria^ if to do better were possible ; for on the receipt
of these present, your Highness will have received ten of my
letters concerning this matter, whereby you will have learnt
all that one can learn. In point of fact, money has been
remitted by his Majesty here, but the doubt is, whether to the
Emperor against your Excellency, or to the Switzers, or to
both one and the other, — for there is no doubt but that
moneys have been sent to the Switzers as hire against the
most Christian King; whether the Emperor likewise has
had any, I find it impossible to ascertain, but all these
lords affirm upon oath that the Emperor neither has had, nor
will have a single ducat. Others, indeed, say the contrary ;
and amongst the rest, an excellent servant of your Serenity's1
has assured me that twenty thousand pounds sterling,
which form 90,000 ducats, have reached Nuremberg ; and
these, he presumes, can be destined for none other than the
Emperor, — which opinion is shared by the greater part of
the merchants capable of having information hereon, and
seems to be confirmed by the succour which the Emperor
sent to Brescia, as from no other source could he have
obtained money to effect this, though I confess that I yet
doubt the fact. My reasons are, in the first place, the asse-
veration of all these lords (some of whom, at least, would
scruple to affirm upon oath to an untruth), and they declare
hat the Emperor neither has had, nor will have a ducat :
secondly, the new Imperial ambassador would not have

l8o DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

V . '

come to ask for money had his Sovereign received such
a considerable sum so recently : a third reason, which ap-
pears to me strongly grounded, is, that these lords made
answer to the said ambassador, that until the Emperor per-*
forms his promise of coming into Italy with a large army to
expel the most Christian King, his Majesty here will not
give him a ducat. From these circumstances, I deem this
matter difficult to be ascertained ; for should the Emperor
have received these moneys, I am not persuaded that the
lords of the Council would say so : on the other hand, had he
received them, he would not be now asking for them, neither
would he be told (as I said) that they choose him first of all
to come into Italy. Finally, I have heard through two
authentic channels that his Majesty has revoked the order
for the moneys remitted by bills of exchange, so that they
be not consigned according to their original destination. I
know not whether God has chosen that so many nego-
tiations, and prayers, and exhortations of mine, put forth
since about the last two months without intermission, may
have induced this proceeding ; or whether these lords have,
in fact, perceived their error.

I have, besides, to inform you how this kingdom has
concluded perpetual peace with the most illustrious the
Archduke Prince of Castille, which was proclaimed to-day;
and from what I understood, the proclamation purports that
this peace includes all the confederates of either side, but I
do not vouch for it. I will ascertain this with more pre-
cision, and your Signory shall be acquainted therewith.

1 Alberto Bavarino. See ante p. 155.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. l8l

London , February 20, 1516.

We have this moment received news of the death of the
most serene Ferdinand, King of Aragon;1 and it is supposed
this was known some days ago to his Majesty, but kept
secret, because of the most serene Queen's being on the eve
of her delivery. The King has appointed two ambassadors
to the most illustrious Archduke to condole with him on
this event, making him all possible offers of aid both in
troops and treasure. It is also stated that the Archduke
aforesaid has sent two ambassadors hither, having already
acquainted his Majesty with the death, intimating to him
that, by the will of the aforesaid late King deceased, he has
been appointed the heir of all his realms, without any excep-
tion ; owing to which, I am apprehensive of many inno-
vations taking place in Christendom, though at the same
time, I trust everybody will be so occupied with the affairs
of Spain, as to forget those of Brescia and Verona.

To-day, also, her Majesty Queen Catherine brought
forth a daughter. I shall go to pay the due congratulations
in the name of your Highness j and had it been a son, I
should have already done so, as in that case, it would not
have been fit to delay the compliment. I have thought
fit to announce the event to your Highness imme-
diately, that you may be enabled to write your congratu-
latory missives opportunely, and with them you will also
deign to send summaries of news.

1 Ferdinand the Catholic died dn the 23rd of January, 1516, in the
sixty-fourth year of his age and the forty-second of his reign as King of
Castille, and thirty-seventh (complete) as King of Aragon. See L' Art
de Verifier les Dates j also the Letters of Peter Martyr.

l82 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, February 24, 1516.

* * * On the 2ist instant, this most serene King had
his daughter christened, and the sponsors were the right
reverend cardinal and the duchess of Norfolk,1 the consort of
the Lord High Treasurer ; and thus was it done, I think, by
reason of the Imperial, and French, and Spanish ambassadors,
and of myself; the King not choosing to make any distinc-
tion, and I am of opinion that the consideration was prudent.
To-day, I went to his Majesty and congratulated him in the
name of your Highness on the birth of his daughter, and on
the well-being of her most serene mother, adding that your
Serenity would have experienced greater satisfaction had it
been a son, for the contentment moreover of his Majesty,
who should resign himself to the will of the Lord God, who
distributes his favours as he pleases ; with other words suited
to the subject. His Majesty then made me draw nearer,
having, however, in the first place returned many thanks to
your Highness for this compliment, saying, " We are both
young : if it was a daughter this time, by the grace of God
the sons will follow," and he then continued, " Domine
Orator, I will tell you a very great secret, the which I
charge you under the closest confidence not to write to any
one, except to your Doge, lest it become known ; nor even
to your Doge do I choose you to write that I in person told
it you, but say that you have heard it from a good source :
know that the King of France is negotiating with all earnest-
ness to obtain peace with the Emperor, and to leave you,
single-handed, at the mercy of your enemies ; I always loved
the Venetians, and it grieves me to the heart, the seeing you
deceived from too great credulity : I have chosen to tell you

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 183

this ; make such provision as you may think fit." I thanked
his Majesty exceedingly for so affectionate a demonstration,
and said I should forthwith communicate it to your Highness,
who would keep what I might write you most secret. I did
not think it advisable to probe the matter farther, for to
evince belief in these words, would have been perilous ;
whilst on the other hand, to let fall an expression implying
that I doubted them, must have proved odious, so I let them
pass without farther comment.

His Majesty having departed, I remained with Cardinal
Wolsey, who (after I had spoken to him, and appointed a con-
ference with his right reverend lordship about the affair of the
wines of Candia, according to the injunctions contained in the
letters of your Highness dated the 2yth of December) said
to me, " Domine Orator, I have always loved you, and
desired the weal and exaltation of your state ; beware in
whom you trust, and take care, lest in a moment, through
too great confidence, you lose that which you have preserved
with so great labour and expense." I showed that I under-
stood his meaning, to avoid the appearance of imagining that
what the King had told me was unknown to his lordship,
but said to him, that if the faith of your Highness doomed
you to destruction, you .could only have recourse to the
Almighty, who would avenge it ; but, that let this perfidy
proceed from whence it may, it is undeserved by your
Excellency, as by your confederates you have played the part
of a most Christian Republic, and as such, I trusted, would in
no case be abandoned. I avoided in every word the possibility
of being thought to lean to one side rather than the other,
as seems to me expedient in this matter, which I have not
chosen to communicate to the French ambassador, deeming
it really of so great moment, proceeding as it does ex ore
is^ that it was my duty, first of all, to announce it to your

184 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Highness, who, being acquainted with facts concerning the
most Christian King unknown to me, will form such
resolves about your affairs as may be thought fit. I see this
business getting very embroiled, and perceive that what I
prognosticated to your Sublimity in my former letters is
coming to pass, namely, that this side is solely intent on
detaching your Highness from the most Christian King, and
from these negotiations.

1 Agnes Tilney, daughter of Hugh Tilney, the second wife of Thomas
Howard, second Duke of Norfolk. This Duchess Agnes became sub-
sequently involved in the disgrace of her granddaughter, Queen Catha-
rine Howard. The birth of the Princess Mary at the moment of her
grandfather's death, and the choice of her godmother, appear evil

London, March 8, 1516.

I now inform you of my having been to the right reverend
Cardinal, under pretence of discussing the affair of the wines
of Candia, but really to say and hear something about the
present negotiations. After settling to hear me in Council
concerning the Candian business,1 a fortnight hence, he com-
menced discussing the affairs of France, making a great show
of wishing to adjust them, whereto I exhorted and persuaded
him, as much as I possibly could. He next entered on the
subject of the money said to have been sent to the Emperor
and to the Switzers, openly denying that moneys had been
given either to the one or the other, testifying thereto by his
consecration, and by the honour of the cardinalate, neverthe-
less, your Excellency is aware of the truth through the result,
and I hear and understand the contrary daily ; would it were
otherwise ! Continuing to discuss the affairs of France, he
said there was yet time to arrange this dispute, provided the
most Christian King removed the Duke of Albany from

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 185

Scotland ; whereupon I replied that I considered them
arranged, it having heen settled that they were to be decided
by mutual ambassadors, from which decision I imagined
neither sovereign would swerve, whereto he made no farther
answer, and I then took leave.

Subsequently, I was presented with your Excellency's
missives dated the 2nd ultimo, containing many summaries,
and two letters from the most noble Griti, besides one from
the secretary Rosso at Milan, acquainting me with every
event, both concerning the affairs of Brescia, and also with
regard to the agreement between the ten Swiss cantons and
his most Christian Majesty. Having seen and read all this
information, I went to communicate it to the right reverend
Cardinal, who appeared to hear it very willingly, but not in
the fashion wherewith the successes of one's friends are
generally listened to j and he asked me where the Emperor
was, where the most Christian King found himself, and
where the Switzers were. I told him that I knew nothing
soever either of the Emperor or yet of the Switzers, but that
with regard to the most Christian King, I understood through
letters and statements received by his reverend ambassador,
that his Majesty was in Provence and was expected at Lyons.
Perceiving him then to mutter somewhat, saying (but pre-
tending all the while that he did not choose to say) that it
was reported his aforesaid Majesty had died ; that he himself
did not believe it; though it might be that he was diseased;
which would greatly prejudice his interests : — I told him that
of death there was no fear, since that was not a thing which
could be kept secret ; and as for sickness it did not seem
by the last letters, that any thing sinister had befallen his
Majesty.2 He likewise discussed what has by this time
become so very trite a topic, namely, the injuries inflicted by
King Francis on his Majesty here, saying, that there was yet

l86 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

time to allay all disturbance by removing the Duke of
Albany; and as I heard through the French ambassador that
King Henry had armed some fifty or sixty ships (of which
there neither was nor is so much as the slightest rumour in
the town, I having made close inquiries on the subject), I
said to him, "My right reverend lord ! many reports circulate,
both about the remittances, that they have really reached
Inspruck, destined for the Emperor and for the Switzers ;
and also that a great armada is being fitted out here, and so
considerable as to make it appear that it is for no trifling pur-
pose." His right reverend lordship solemnly denied both
facts, but said that some ten or twelve royal ships here in the
Thames, which needed repairs, had undergone them ; and
that these were matters of such a nature as could not be put
in execution, without a general understanding. I exhorted
his lordship to be, as he ever had been, the author of peace
between these two most serene Princes. He then made me
a discourse purporting that he had effected the peace with
King Louis, and that to preserve it he had caused the Princess
Maria to be given to that infirm and decrepid monarch, dis-
daining the alliance with the most illustrious the Archduke,3
and many other things of extreme moment, with which he
was now reproached, it being told him that he displayed
greater anxiety for peace with France, than for the honour of
his King; notwithstanding which, he should exert himself
more than ever to avoid the destruction of his fabric, provided
the most Christian King would conform to reason, especially
by removing the Duke of Albany. In short, he made a long
speech, which I answered briefly, telling him that I hoped his
lordship and the respective ambassadors who were expected
both from France and Scotland, would arrange everything,
exhorting him to this effect, because if a decision was to be
arrived at through hostilities, and that it should prove

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 187

favourable for this kingdom, yet could not his lordship be
greater than he is; whereas, should the result be disastrous,
those at the helm always encounter strong opposition, and
every reverse is attributed to them ; by so much the more as
for the support of war, taxes and burdens are laid upon the
people, who do not complain of kings, but of their ministers,
wherefore, out of the respect borne by me towards his lord-
ship, I besought him to be intent on deciding well for the
kingdom's interests and for his own, as the result of war is
doubtful: for this demonstration of friendship, his lordship
thanked me, and I then took leave.

From the Cardinal, I proceeded immediately to the Reve-
rend Bishop of Durham, to whom I also communicated the
summaries, having listened to which, he said, smiling, —
"Where are the Swiss and the Emperor?" I told him
that I imagined they were at home : he answered me, —
" Rely upon it that they are in Italy, and in number 36,000,
including horse and foot ; and I lament your being in so
great trouble, for I doubt there ever having been a state or
kingdom capable of enduring so great and constant a war as
you have done, and I certainly marvel at your ever having
linked yourself to France, with whom it is impossible for
you to advance ; for should she lose, you will be worsted
with her : should she be victorious, she will deceive you," an
assurance which I hear, from divers persons, a hundred times
in the course of the day. All this is for the sake of detaching
your Excellency from his most Christian and to us most
faithful Majesty, so that really, considering the ill will borne
your Excellency by all the princes of Christendom, you
needed no more suitable companion.4

I answered him, that the peace and confederation existing
between your Sublimity and France was offered us by the
late most Christian King Louis, and at the time when the

1 88 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Emperor and the King of Spain (who was our confederate)
were deceiving us, and acting by your Signory like utter
enemies ; wherefore your Excellency had been compelled to
accept the peace with France, which the present most serene
King had hitherto preserved inviolate.

We then commenced discussing the fact of the money
sent to Inspruck : he vowed that if moneys had been sent to
the Emperor, he was willing to be called a traitor ; whereto
I replied that I believed his lordship entirely, though it really
seemed very wonderful to me that the Emperor, who was
not worth a ducat, should have come into Italy with 36,000
men, without having even received subsidy from the Pope,
who is on the best possible terms with France ; nor from
the King of Spain, who is dead ; nor from the Archduke,
who has now need to amass treasure for the affairs of Spain ;
nor from this most serene King, according to the assertion
of his lordship, who repeated that his Majesty had not given
money against your Excellency, but to the Switzers against
the King of France, adding (to use his own words), " This
much is not impossible." I told him that it was not
possible to give favour to the Switzers against the most
Christian King, without its being against us, as our fortunes
were united ; whereto his lordship rejoined, " The Switzers
are not your enemies, nor do they want what is yours,
though they, indeed, are the enemies of the King of France,
and choose to have the territory held by him in Italy."
This and much more being said on either side, I took leave,
recommending to him the interests of your Highness.

1 See note on sack, p. 100.

2 The meaning of Wolsey may be inferred from the note concerning
Coppo at p. 32.

3 The Archduke Charles of Burgundy, Prince of Castille, had been
affianced to the Princess Maria Tudor in the spring of 1509, and re-
mained her betrothed husband for five years, that is to say, until she
married Louis XII. in 1514.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 189

4 " Non li bisognava altra compagna." It may mean that, with so
much enmity to bear on her own account, Venice could not have chosen
a more unpopular ally, or one who consequently so became her ; but
more probably the ambassador means to compliment Francis I., and to
assert that his alliance was the very one, of all others, which the State
most needed, as best suited to her.

London, Marc h 10, 1516.

By the accompanying, your Serenity will have received
information of all that has passed ; and I now inform you of
the arrival here of two ambassadors from the most illustrious
Prince of Castille, personages of great consequence ; one of
whom is my Lord da la Rosa,1 of yore a prisoner to your
Sublimity ; the other is a prelate, also a person of account,
and very learned. On Sunday the Qth they had their public
audience, the King and all his court being in very sumptuous
array ; the prelate delivered a Latin oration, and they then
went to church, and, in the King's presence, swore to the
peace and friendship signed between his Majesty and their
prince, to last for ever. Neither the French ambassador nor
myself were present on this occasion, as similar ceremonies
are not attended by ambassadors unless they are invited.

On the morrow, the aforesaid French ambassador and I
went to visit these envoys, who gave us courteous greet-
ing, save that my Lord de Roeux complained of having
been harshly treated at Venice ;2 the other ambassador doing
the like, on the authority of said lord, and adding a brief
sentence or two of biting import : I endeavoured to appease
him, saying, that if there had been any maltreatment it did
not proceed from your Highness, but from some of your
ministers, who possibly did not execute the behests of your
Excellency ; whereupon he immediately replied that it was not

DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

the fault of the ministers, for that Bartholamio Contarini and
Zuan Antonio Dandolo, were the persons charged with his
custody, and he said, " They behaved most excellently, and
with them I was very well satisfied, for they are very worthy
noblemen : and besides them, I have great cause to congra-
tulate myself on the treament I received from Francesco
Contarini, son of the late Zacharia,3 who did me more
service than I could possibly desire, and I shall ever feel
obliged to him;" and he charged my secretary to write to
him and salute him on his behalf, with great demonstration
of goodwill. I sought to soothe him to the utmost, and we
then commenced discussing other topics, in the course of
which he told me that his prince meant to go into Castille,
and would settle that business ; nor did he anticipate any
opposition soever, as his brother and all the grandees of
Castille had tendered him obedience ; but that he did not yet
choose to be styled king until his arrival out there. Subse-
quently, in the course of conversation, when specifying his
realms, he mentioned the kingdom of Naples, evincing that
the prince deemed it not less his own than Castille ; and he
showed a letter to the French ambassador here, which was
the copy of one written by the deceased Catholic king to his
prince, wherein he particularized all the states which he
bequeathed him, including the kingdom of Naples, exhorting
him to preserve and defend said realms, recommending to
him the most serene Queen, his consort,4 with regard to her
receiving what was due on account of dower, since it was
her intention to remain in Castille. These things did not
please the reverend French ambassador, who has told me so
repeatedly, because the most Christian King maintains that
the kingdom of Naples was the dowry of the queen aforesaid,
and that in the event of her dying without heirs, it was to
revert to the crown of France ; he made no answer, how-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 19!

ever, either to the letter or to the language of said ambassa-
dors, who extol this most serene King of England to the
utmost pitch that a sovereign can be celebrated, both for
power and treasure, and every other merit : by this I per-
ceive how strong the union that exists between these two
princes, which God grant may not prove to our hurt.

They then asked me about the condition of your Excel-
lency's army, concerning the commanders and proveditors,
and the number of spears and infantry, whereto I answered
as deemed by me expedient for the interests of your High-
ness. They commended the most noble Andrea Griti, his
special valour and experience, and, in course of conversation,
greatly lauded the ability, force, and government of your
Highness, to which no other state soever can offer a com-
parison, as visible through the imposing operations of this
endless war ; reproaching you, however, with having
acquired your territory by the spoliation of other states,
wherefore should your power now decline, it was no wonder,
since it had lasted much longer than other republics, and
that it was natural for whatever had once enjoyed increase,
at length to fail. I replied calmly to all these comments,
avoiding whatever I thought might produce strife, for in
truth, most serene Prince, your Excellency has no need of
more hostile potentates than those already opposed to you,
as indeed I should be at a loss to say who is on your side, it
behoving me listen daily to what I hear unwillingly. I
laboured to impress them favourably with regard to your
Highness, reminding them of the ancient friendships main-
tained with all the most illustrious Dukes of Burgundy in the
olden time ; and that your Excellency considered yourself
on the like terms with the present most illustrious prince,
whose person is singularly considered and revered by
the entire most illustrious Senate ; and as said ambassadors

IQ2 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

mentioned that they were departing hence in two or three
days, we took leave of each other.

1 Thus called in Italy, his real name being Roeux or Reus. My Lord
de Roeux commanded a corps of Burgundian cavalry in the service of the
Emperor Maximilian, and Cardinal Bembo mentions his having been
captured by the Venetian light horse, A.D. 1511.

2 Monsieur de Roeux arrived a prisoner of war at Venice, on the evening
of the 5th of November, 1511, accompanied by a Secretary of the Council
of Ten, Nicolo Aurelio. On the morrow he went into the college, and
was seated near the Doge, who spoke him fair. He requested leave to
have the camp-barber from Padua, who had accompanied him, and
dressed his wound hitherto, as, under his care, he expected to recover
speedily, and he promised to write to the Emperor, &c. Monsieur de
Roeux in 1511 was in the service of the Lady Margaret. See Sanuto, vol.
xiii. fb. 157.

3 Zacharia Contarini was taken prisoner by the French at Cremona in
1509, and died in France in 1513. He was one of the ablest diplo-
matists of Venice, .and his despatches, written from the court of Maxi-
milian, in the years 1495 and 1496, contain some curious details of
English politics in those times, and mention his having become ac-
quainted, on this mission, with a great-grandson of Hotspur, called
Lord Egremont, and also with Priest Christopher Urswick, who subse-
quently became Archbishop of York, under the name of Bambridge,
and is introduced by Shakspeare in the tragedy of King Richard III.

4 Germaine de Fois, the second wife of Ferdinand the Catholic, who
married her A.D. 1506, March 18.

London , March 1 1 , 1516.

I went to-day to communicate to the King the letters of
your Highness and the summaries of news. I found him
somewhat indisposed, as he has been the last three days.
He received me alone, in a private chamber, when I com-
municated to him both the letters and the summaries, of
which last I made a very brief Latin compendium, that they
might prove less tedious to him. Having read them, he told
me the agreement between the Switzers and the King of
France had not taken effect, nay, that they were all agreed
with the Emperor, and had taken the French King's money,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 193

in part payment of their claims upon him, and that by this
time, the Emperor, together with said Switzers, are
in Italy, between Verona and Milan, and have barred
the passage in such a manner, that our army in the
Brescian territory is prevented succouring that of the
most Christian King ; that the French who were with
the Duke of Bourbon l had fled, the Duke himself, with
certain personages of account, having withdrawn into Milan
Castle ; " so that," said his Majesty, laughing, " you see
how you stand ! " He evinced extreme surprise at your
Excellency's having adhered to the King of France and for-
saken your friends, since you will become aware of having
made a bad choice, as should France conquer, she will de-
spoil your Excellency of everything ; " If she loses," he re-
peated, " you know how you stand ! " Whilst uttering these
words, the King seemed to exult, and, moreover, to wax
somewhat warm j so it seemed necessary to me to apologize
for your Highness, stating to him that some years ago,2 your
Excellency, together with the Spaniards, undertook to expel
the French from Italy ; when, besides the army of 1,600
spears, 2,000 light cavalry, and 8,000 Italian infantry, you
moreover subsidized 15,000 Swiss, who were paid with your
own money, owing to which army, the French were com-
pelled to abandon Italy, your agreement with the Catholic
King purporting, that the towns which had been ours
were to be restored to us ; according to which, when
Brescia and Bergamo surrendered to the Spanish commander,
said cities ought to have been made over immediately to our
proveditors in your Excellency's name -, whereas they were
consigned to the agents of the Emperor, so that your Ex-
cellency suffered greater injuries from your allies than from
open enemies. In consequence of this, I said, the most
Christian King Louis sent the Magnifico Antonio Giustinian,

VOL. I. O

194 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUST1NIAN

who was then a prisoner in France, to offer us peace,
restoring to us the whole of our territory; and he was
followed by the most noble Andrea Griti, likewise a prisoner
to his Majesty ; and through these means (in order not to
remain in the power of our enemies under pretence of con-
federation), it behoved your Excellency to accept the peace
with the aforesaid King. His Majesty interrupted me here,
saying, " It was not necessary to abandon your friends, some
of whom, at least, could and would have aided you" (allud-
ing to his Majesty himself) ; and he continued, " There
could be no necessity soever for making you have recourse
to such perfidy," and this he uttered with some indigna-
tion, becoming rather pale in the face.3 Perceiving him
more irritated than I could ever have imagined, and more
openly hostile to France, I thought it time to appease him,
and said, that if your Excellency then made terms with
France from necessity, yet did we never swerve or detach
ourselves from our friendship and observance towards his
Majesty, which, on the contrary, ever continued and pre-
vailed until now ; as we recollected, that when all the princes
of Christendom conspired and plotted against us, his Majesty
was that sole beacon which remained to us in so great dark-
ness, ever favouring your Excellency's interests in word and
deed. At this point again, his Majesty interrupted me, say-
ing, " You speak the truth, for I have done more for you than
my father ever did, or any other prince who may have been
your friend ;" whereupon, after modestly assenting as it be-
hoved me, I continued my discourse, vowing that your
Excellency would never depart from your friendship and
confederation with his Majesty, being aware both of the
ancient and recent good-will subsisting with your Excel-
lency, who perfectly understood his extreme goodness,
justice, strength, and authority ; to this, the King rejoined,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 195

u Be assured, Domtne Orator, that I have now more money
and greater force and authority than I myself or my ancestors
ever had ; so that what I will of other princes, that I can
obtain," and, moreover, when saying this, he seemed to
wax wrath ; so I told him that I, who was on the spot,
knew this, as I perceived the kingdom to be most powerful ;
the great plenty of its money; the endowments of his
Majesty; and his extreme authority with all the princes
of Christendom, whom I see all prostrate themselves before
him tanquam ad justissimum refuglum ; but yet greater than
either his power or wealth, did I deem his justice, benignity,
and clemency, which I was sure would never fail such a
friend as your Excellency. I besought him, therefore, to per-
severe in his amicable intentions, and to hold the Signory as
his most devoted ally ; in uttering which expressions, I bowed
myself with all submission down to the very ground. After
this, continuing the conversation, he commenced praising the
Cardinal of Sion,4 saying he was a most worthy man, and added
that he did not choose to omit mentioning this — namely, that
the enemies of your Sublimity, to wit, the Emperor and the
late Catholic King, were such because you willed it so, as
had the Signory been so inclined, his Majesty could have
easily reconciled you to them ; " but," said he, " I wrote to
your Senate to this effect, but received no answer, my
authority being held in small account." To this, I an-
swered him, that your Excellency wrote to his Majesty that
you would have been content for him to arrange and settle
in some way these disputes between yourself and the poten-
tates aforesaid, but that as his Holiness had already under-
taken to mediate between your Excellency and the Emperor,
the negotiation was not pursued, to avoid exasperating the
Pope, who might have considered himself slighted, after
being the first to offer his interposition ; though of this I

196 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

could assure his Majesty, that our whole Senate was much
more inclined towards having these matters adjusted by him
than by the Pope ; nor should the reason assigned by me
alienate his Majesty from us, since under all circumstances,
and every change of fortune, we have tendered him incom-
parable good will and observance, and shall continue doing so,
requesting him, with every demonstration of respect, to hold
your Excellency his friend and confederate, and to consider
your whole territory as recommended to his protection. He
made answer, " I shall ever love the Signory ; I could not
do otherwise; yet is it true that I will not offend those
who are my friends, and who have placed trust in me, and
do so at this present, by deeds, and not by words." I
again repeated to him what I deemed expedient for the in-
terests of your Excellency, so that, at length, on my taking
leave, he said, " I shall ever regard you as friends, nor is it
my intention to injure you, either by troops or money ;"
adding, that he greatly marvelled at not having any but
stale news from your Excellency : so, most serene Prince,
as this seems to me more than ever the moment for culti-
vating this King's friendship, I beseech your Highness to
be pleased to pay him the compliment (which costs you
nothing) of keeping him opportunely advised of such matters
as you may consider fitted for his knowledge. I perceive,
indeed, that if the Emperor and the Switzers give battle to
the most Christian King, and lose it, it will be more than
ever expedient for your Excellency to be on terms with his
Majesty ; and if, on the contrary, which God forbid, the
most Christian King be worsted, there is no sovereign in the
world who could better arrange the affairs of your Ex-
cellency with your enemies than this King, whom your
Excellency may be convinced enjoys much greater authority
with the Emperor (and it seems to me with the most illus-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII.

trious Archduke likewise) than he himself admits ; so that
you will do as to your wisdom shall seem expedient.

1 When Francis I. returned to France, at the commencement of 1 516,
he left the Duke de Bourbon as his lieutenant. See Guicciardini, vol.
iii. p. 1 80.

2 A.D. 1511. See Guicciardini, vol. ii. p. 403.

3 Guicciardini mentions a place having been reserved for Henry VIII.
in the league formed between Julius II. and Spain and the Venetians,
A.D. 1511 (see vol. ii. p. 403) ; and apparently, upon this account, the
King resents the Signory's change or policy as an act of disrespect to
himself personally, but it may be suspected that his wrath, as displayed
to the Venetian ambassador in March, 1516, proceeded less from resent-
ment at the past, than from apprehension lest the Venetian alliance
might thwart the expedition, which, when this conversation took place,
was being undertaken by Maximilian against the French in the Milanese j
and in point of fact, the subsequent retreat of the Emperor from the
gates of Milan, was due to the Venetian proveditor, Andrea Griti, more
than to any any other circumstance.

4 Mathew Scheiner, Cardinal of Sion, was a staunch Antigallican,
on which account it may be doubted whether the ambassador shared the
King's opinion of his merits; and the Venetians, moreover, on their own
account, had some causes of complaint against this prelate, amongst
which may be mentioned that, when professedly their ally, in July,
1512, he kidnapped the two proveditors of the state at Alexandria —
namely, Christopher Moro (alias Othello) and Paolo Capello, his
brother-in-law and colleague.

London, March 12, 1516.

On returning from the interview related in my last, I
went to the French ambassador, and acquainted him with all
that had passed between his Majesty and myself, considering
such to be the will of your Highness ; and I have hitherto
communicated everything to him, save the King's assertion,
that his Majesty of France was negotiating peace with the
Emperor, meaning to leave your Highness in the hands of
your enemies ; and this I did not think fit to confide to him,
as King Henry had bound me to the closest silence thereon ;
and had it subsequently by any means reached his ears that I

198 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

revealed the fact, it would have entailed upon me the utter
loss of his confidence and good will. Your Sublimity will
form your most sage opinion hereon, and make the an-
nouncement to the most Christian King, or pass it over in
silence, as you may deem expedient ; though my opinion is,
that the report was devised here for the sake of estranging
your Highness from France ; nor do I see that these lords
are more intent on anything than this, and hence proceed
the complaints and somewhat biting language of his Majesty,
who seeks to induce your Highness, either from love or fear,
to accede to his wishes, With all deference, therefore, I
really am of opinion that it would be inexpedient to evince
any distrust of the French ambassador, but to communicate
with him unreservedly, as I think I comprehend that he has
some suspicion lest this side over-persuade your Highness,
and induce you to abandon his most Christian Majesty :
on this account I treat him much more confidentially than
I otherwise should.

After I had acquainted him, therefore, with the preceding,
he said, that two days before, he had received letters from a
trustworthy person in Flanders, purporting that 15,000
nobles, which form about 70,000 ducats, had been de-
spatched thence, destined for the Emperor to keep his army
on foot. Moreover, that his Majesty had levied, or was in
the act of levying, in Germany and the neighbouring places,
as many as 10,000 men, whom he had ordered to come to
Calais, there to await his orders. Also, that there had been
great tumults and disturbances in the kingdom of Naples,
between the partisans of France and those of Spain, which I
do not detail, as they are things better known to your High-
ness than to me and others here. I have not heard these
facts through any other channel, and therefore do not vouch
for them, as I am aware, indeed, that occasionally the news

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 199

uttered and written by this reverend ambassador lack foun-
dation ; nevertheless, I have thought proper to notify it to
your Excellency, that you may form such opinion thereon as
shall be deemed fit. Should the news of the 10,000 infantry
be true, there is no doubt of its being a preparation against
Scotland, they being destined to cross the border in the
spring; nor do I imagine that it can be with a view to
waging war on France, as in that case his Majesty would
rather use his own Englishmen than other troops, by reason
of the natural enmity prevailing between them and Frenchmen.

London, March 19, 1516.

On the 26th instant, I received two letters from your
Sublimity, with summaries of Turkish news, and other
tidings of Italy ; for the purpose of communicating which
to his Majesty, I went to court, and the right reverend
Cardinal being there, told me I could not then have audience
of his Majesty, who was otherwise occupied ; but that his
right reverend lordship had been delegated by the King to
give audience both to me and the French ambassador.
After, therefore, I had communicated my news, his right
reverend lordship said to me, " Sir ambassador, I lament
much, seeing that Christian blood is on the eve of being
unprofitably spilt ; and your Signory, who has so earnestly
exhorted the princes of Christendom not to spare either
blood or treasure against the infidel, is the cause of its being
poured forth amongst Christians themselves, through your
thirst for empire." To this I made answer, that the real
authors of these troubles are those who disturb the quiet and
tranquillity of Italy, and seek to deprive the ancient pos-
sessors of their territories, alluding to the Emperor j and

2OO DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

that your Sublimity neither seeks or wishes to obtain what
belongs to others, but to recover your own. He then said,
" Verily, you are men of worth, and sage, and upright, but
remember that you are seeking your own destruction and
ruin ; and this, unless you apply a speedy remedy, you will
soon experience ; for I, who am your friend, assure you for
certain that the King of France is intent on making terms,
and arranging his affairs with others, and will ruin you out-
right, so open your eyes ; this I tell you, out of the love I
bear your State." I thanked his right reverend lordship for
this loving demonstration, and said to him that our good
faith merited a better return, and that we were between two
perils — the one certain, and the other doubtful ; the certainty
being the Emperor and the Spaniards, whose faith your
Excellency had already tested, for that when allied with us,
they deceived you ; and that now being capital enemies, and
in possession of your Signory's territory, their hostility must
be yet greater. From the most Christian King, on the
other hand, we have as yet received no wrong, nay, he
shows us every mark of good will, and the greatest ardour in
favour of our restoration ; but even should we be deceived,
greater will our excuse be for having credited words and
deeds, and greater his fault ; to avenge which, I believe, we
should have on our side both God and man ; and with this I
took leave, telling him I would see his right reverend lord-
ship again, to discuss the matter more fully, as I perceived
him to be much occupied. I conclude, however, that these
lords do whatever is in their knowledge and power, to lure
your Sublimity from your faith and alienate you from France,
and hence it comes that the King and many others of these
lords show me a countenance the reverse of friendly ; and
perceiving that it is not possible to detach your Excellency
from the most Christian King voluntarily, they fancy that it

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 201

may be effected by terrifying you ; hence come the display
of wrath and the unusual bravadoes of this most serene
King, of which I have informed you. Your Excellency
knows what is expedient for you, and is aware that what is
sure should ever be preferred to the uncertain, and expe-
rience to opinion.

By the letters of your Excellency, dated the I2th ultimo, I
see that you have been a long while without receiving any of
mine, the last being those of the 6th December. This dis-
turbs me more than I can express ; for I perceive that all my
operations, effected with so much diligence and study, are
fated to be of no avail. Since the 6th of December, I have
written repeatedly : first of all, on the iyth, 2Oth, and 24th
of December ; then on the 2nd, 5th and nth January; 6th,
yth, 8th, 1 2th, 1 8th, 20th, and 24th February; and 8th, loth,
nth, and I2th March, whereby I gave you the most minute
details of everything, so that your Excellency would have
known, not merely of the occurrences here, but also the pre-
valent feeling of this court. All these letters I consigned to
the French ambassador, thinking they would go safer — for on
quitting this island, they always travel through France to
Italy; nor would it have been safe for me to write through the
merchants, because the couriers take the road by Flanders
and Germany, and there would have been danger of their
being intercepted, as was the case, I feel sure, with one set
of my letters which I forwarded that way ; your Excellency,
therefore, must not ascribe it to negligence or carelessness on
my part, but either to the French ambassador, who might
have a reason for not always forwarding my despatches, or,
which I deem the more likely, that my letters, with those of
the ambassador aforesaid, did reach the most illustrious
mother of the Christian King, and that possibly some negli-
gence then prevented their being forwarded. It may everi

202 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

have happened that they were sent on to Provence to King
Francis, when there was no ambassador of your Excellency's
resident with him, and the neglect may have proceeded
thence; but be the fault where it may, your Serenity may be
assured that no private matter of mine ever takes precedence
of public business, nor do I hold in account either my life, or
my property, nor yet my children, where I see the honour
and profit of your Excellency at stake ; and would I had been
as good a father to my family as I think I have been a good
citizen to my country.1

1 It would appear by this closing paragraph, that the Senate had
reproached the ambassador with having done, or omitted something or
other, from private or personal motives. Possibly this may aflude to his
not having sent his despatches through the merchants by way of
Flanders and Germany, and that the preference conceded by him to the
French ambassador's bag was attributed to some jealousy of the merchant
Lorenzo Pasqualigo, who, as stated in despatches of July 1 6th and Octo-
ber nth, received advices from his brother, the ambassador Piero, whilst
Giustinian remained without news of any sort j and again, at the close of
the despatch of Nov. i4th, there is a sentence disclaiming any anxiety for
first news, save on account of the State, which rather confirms the sus-
picion, that the Venetian embassy naturally enough did not like to know
less than the "merchant of Venice," and that Giustinian, on his part,
was averse to giving an official character to advices from the counting-
house. On this account he had chosen to keep his correspondence as
separate as possibk from that of Pasqualigo.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.1

London, April i, 1516.

By my last, in date of the 30th ultimo, I informed you
that the countenances of some of these lords evinced neither
friendship nor good will, and that much language had been
used to me, of a nature bordering rather on outrage than
on arrogance; and not having specified this in the foregoing
letters, I think fit now to mention it in detail. Finding

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 203

myself at the court, and talking familiarly about other matters,
two lay lords, great personages in this kingdom, inquired of
me whence it came that your Excellency was of such slippery
faith, now favouring one party and then the other ? Although
these words might reasonably have provoked me, I answered
them with all discretion, that you did keep, and ever had
kept your faith, the maintenance of which has placed you in
great trouble, and subjected you to wars of longer duration
than you would otherwise have experienced ; descending to
particulars in justification of your Sublimity ; whereupon, one
of them replied, " Isti Veneti sunt piscatores ! " Marvellous
was the command I then had over myself in not giving vent
to expressions which might have proved injurious to your
Signory, and with extreme moderation, I rejoined that had
he been at Venice and seen our senate and the Venetian
nobility, he perhaps would not speak thus ; and, moreover,
were he well read in our history, both concerning the origin
of our city and the grandeur of your Excellency's feats,
neither the one nor the other would seem to. him those of
fishermen ; yet, said I, did fishermen found the Christian faith,
and we have been those fishermen who defended it against
the forces of the infidel, our fishing-boats being galleys and
ships, our hooks the treasure of St. Mark, and our bait the
life-blood of our citizens who died for the Christian faith, as
proven not by ancient chronicles, but by the recent testimony
of contemporary historians,2 and that the standing witnesses
of this truth, and of our wars against the Turk, were the
towns and territory lost by us in defence of the rest of Chris-
tendom ; namely, Negropont, Lepanto, Modon, Coron,
Durazo, and a great part of Albania. They made answer
again that we were fishermen, expert in taking what
belonged to others, as we had plucked something from all
the potentates in the world, adding, " The island of Cyprus,

204 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

which ought to belong to our King, by what right do you
hold that ?" I, without ever overstepping the limits of
decorum3 (as the nature of the times requires this),
thoroughly vindicated the actions of your Excellency, and
proved to them with regard to Cyprus, that already half a
century back, it would have fallen into the power of the
Turk, like many other possessions besides, which heretofore
formed part of Christendom, had it not been for the armadas
of your Signory, on which you had expended thrice as much
gold as the island was worth, and at length, on the death of
King James and his son, the Turk threatening its occupa-
tion, and having already prepared a fleet to this effect, the
Queen, who was a gentlewoman of ours, the sister of the
most noble Georgio Cornaro, made a voluntary surrender
thereof to our Signory, and herself caused the banner of St.
Mark to be hoisted, resigning the Government to some of
our noblemen who were there, and coming to Venice :
which was the sheer truth.

The right reverend Cardinal then commenced his usual
complaints of the most Christian King, blaming him vastly,
for that, contrary to the confederation formed with the late
King Louis, he kept the Duke of Albany in Scotland ; and so
continued in the strain so often repeated to your Excellency in
my former letters. Not choosing pertinaciously to contradict
these assertions, to avoid provocation, I said I hoped these
Scotch affairs would be arranged, as I had seen the copy of
the letters from the most Christian King to his Majesty, and
that he seemed very desirous of settling this controversy
through the ambassadors appointed, and that there would
no longer be any cause for dissension, but that whatever turn
fortune might take, your Signory would never fail in your
faith and observance towards his most serene Majesty.
I then made an appointment with his lordship, not specifying

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 205

any object, but with the intention of clearing your Excellency
not merely from the imputations urged by the two
personages aforesaid, but also from many others ; and with
this I took leave of his lordship and returned hither. To-
morrow, please God, I shall go and visit his lordship for the
above-mentioned purpose, in order not to fail in what I con-
sider expedient for the interests of your Signory.

1 The commencement of this letter has already been published by
Mr. Ruskin, in his eloquent work on the architecture of Venice. His
remarks on the value of original documents are so forcible and just, that
I cannot deny myself the pleasure of subjoining the passage to the
despatch which suggested it : —

" I cannot close these volumes without expressing a conviction, which
has long been forcing itself upon my mind, that restored history is of little
more value than restored painting or architecture j that the only history
worth reading is that written at the time of which it treats, the history
of what was done and seen, heard out of the mouths of men who did
and saw. One fresh draught of such history is worth more than a
thousand volumes of abstracts, and reasonings, and suppositions, and
theories ; and I believe that, as we get wiser, we shall take little trouble
about the history of nations who have left no distinct records of them-
selves, but spend our time only in the examination of the faithful docu-
ments which, in any period of the world, have been left, either in the
form of art or literature, portraying the scenes, or recording the events,
which in those days were actually passing before the eyes of men."

2 Concerning the wars of the Venetians in Asia, some notices were
published at Venice, A.D. 1477, by one Coriolano Cippico, who took a
part in them, and died in 1493. Sabellico, who quotes that writer,
died in 1507.

3 In Litta's Sketch of the Career of Sebastian Giustinian, it is stated
that, in the year 1511, when he commanded the Albanians against the
Croats, he showed rather a hot temper, so the moderation displayed by
him in this instance is the more praiseworthy.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London , April ^y 1516.

On meeting the right reverend Cardinal according to
appointment, he told me the Emperor was in the Veronese

206 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

with a large army, and then commenced as usual complain-
ing of the most Christian King, and abusing very roundly
the reverend French ambassador 5 his lordship at length
coming to this conclusion, that his Majesty here and himself
wished for nothing but peace with France, and that he
should be glad if your Excellency would assure Francis of
the good will of his Majesty, and also of his own ; dilating
much and warmly hereon, and justifying himself against any
sinister imputation that may attach itself to him. On the
close of this discourse I commenced apologizing for your
Excellency, and exculpating you from the charges brought
against us ; and with regard to what was said about our
being fishermen, rapacious for the territory of others, I
answered him in conformity with the contents of my fore-
going, which detail the reply I gave to those two : with
regard, forsooth, to the imputation of treachery, which
appears to me of more importance, I said to him (having
first offered every hint and demonstration of not meaning to
urge a complaint, but merely to acquit your Excellency),
that a few days ago, when with the King, his Majesty
expressing surprise at your Excellency's favouring the
French, from whom you had received all possible harm and
injury, remarked, that your Excellency had been guilty of
great "perfidy," an expression which I had considered
rather a slip of the tongue than prepense j but perceiving
and hearing this term repeated by many others, I said I
considered the charge worthy of being cleared up with his
Lordship, who, being convinced that your Signory was not
at all to blame, I considered that the King likewise would
exonerate us and relinquish the suspicion. I then com-
menced by saying, that I imagined those who taunted your
Signory with mutability of faith, alluded to the change made
with the most Christian King ; and were they to bear in

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 207

mind the period when King Francis came to the throne,
there is no doubt but that any charge soever against your
Excellency would vanish ; for the peace and confederation
existing between you and the late King Louis was then
confirmed with his present Majesty, in virtue of the mutual
confederation existing between this most serene King, the
aforesaid King Francis, and your Signory ; according to
which confederation, the most Christian King wishing to
recover his duchy of Milan, your Excellency gave him
succour as to your ally, and as the ally of England; for
which extreme praise was due to your Excellency, not
merely from the French, but from his Majesty here and the
entire country, for having defended the mutual confedera-
tion ; and what was effected by your Excellency in favour
of the most Christian King against the common enemy, you
would also do in favour of his Majesty here. If, indeed,
these persons meant that your Excellency was changeable in
your faith, because you first allied yourself with his Holiness,
with the deceased King of Spain and his Majesty, and sub-
sequently with the late King Louis, I would reply to this
charge, that it was not your Excellency who had failed in
faith to your confederates, but verily the King of Spain who
had broken and trampled on the faith of said confederation ;
for that the French, finding themselves then in Italy, King
Ferdinand and your Excellency sent your armies to expel
them, and it seeming that these forces were insufficient for
the purpose, some 18,000 Switzers were subsidized at the
expense of the Spanish King and your Excellency, neverthe-
less no one paid them save your Signory. The French then
having retreated upon Pavia, caused it to be intimated to
your Excellency, or to your agents in the camp, that if you
would desist from your project of expelling them Italy, they
would restore all the territory which had been taken from

208 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

you and occupied by their king ; a proposal to which, in
maintenance of your faith to your confederates, your Excel-
lency would not give ear, but chose to continue the under-
taking, so that, in fine, with your forces the French were driven
out of Italy. After this, on their march back, the Spanish and
Venetian armies, with the Switzers, came to recover Brescia
and Bergamo, that they might be consigned to the agents of
your Excellency, according to the conditions and articles of
the league. The French who were in Brescia made a
voluntary surrender of the place, whereupon the Spaniards,
forsooth, refused to consign that town to the agents of your
Excellency, giving it, on the contrary, to the Emperor,
which was precisely contrary to the articles of the league,
and hence his lordship could judge which side had broken
faith. Whilst your Serenity was in this trouble, in a worse
plight than if you had been single-handed, seeing that you
had allied yourself with your enemies, God willed that
through the most noble Andrea Griti, King Louis informed
your Signory that he would be your good friend, and wished
for your alliance, on which condition he would restore all he
had taken from you. In consequence of this, the peace and
league were concluded, and thus his lordship might be con-
vinced that your Excellency had not broken faith with your
confederates, although they had failed in theirs, and infringed
the articles of their confederation ; but that you merely with-
drew from a union with those who had deceived you, and
formed an alliance with King Louis, for the sake of recover-
ing your territorities. To prove that your Excellency had
only separated from those who had deceived you, and con-
signed your state to the Emperor, I said, that when King
Louis waged war with this crown, your Signory ever pre-
served inviolable friendship with this most serene King ; nor
had you ever given succour either of men or money to the

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 20Q

aforesaid King Louis against his Majesty ; the fact being,
that when I came ambassador to this court, I was com-
missioned by your Excellency, amongst other things, to
congratulate his Majesty in your name, as I did, on his
prosperity and victories.

His lordship listened to me affably, and said that all I had
narrated to him was true, and well known to all the ministry ;
and that if any one, even were he a great personage, had
accused your Excellency of perfidy, he spoke like one who
knew not what he said ; but that, with regard to his Majesty,
if he had made use of that term, I must have deceived my-
self and misunderstood its application, as his Majesty did not
vituperate the perfidy of your Excellency, but the perfidy of
the King of France, " who," continued he, " means to de-
ceive you, though you deserve far otherwise for your faith-
fulness towards him. He is endeavouring," he said, u to
make terms with the Emperor to your ruin; and my King is
greatly moved that you, who are good and faithful, should of
your too great faith be deceived," adding, " I certify to you,
Domine Orator, that, unless you make provision for your
interests, you provoke your own destruction and ruin, and
this you will witness at the farthest by next St. John's day,
unless a remedy be applied," with many other words, making
it appear that the poison was medicine for me, and that the
language employed in reproach of your Excellency had been
meant for the King of France, which I pretended to believe,
and that I had made a mistake. I said that it certainly
did seem very strange to me, that from the mouth of a king
so friendly and well inclined to Venice such words should
have issued, pretending to be convinced, and letting it appear
that I was satisfied. The nature of the times, most serene
Prince, requires this, in observance of an old proverb, which
enjoins our kissing the hand we are unable to cut off.

VOL. i. p

2IO DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

This conversation being ended, I besought his right rever-
end lordship, with all possible earnestness and suavity, to exert
himself ever to keep your Excellency as the friend and con-
federate of his most serene King, as you were firmly resolved
to maintain the confederation, and persevere in perpetual
peace and friendship, ever sharing all his fortunes, let what
will chance amongst others, with many other fair words,
which his lordship reciprocated, by saying, " Domine
Orator, we will ever maintain the confederation ; nor shall
we in any case swerve thence ; " on which topic he dilated
amply. In the act of taking leave, I again adroitly re-
peated my suit for the good offices to be employed by his
right reverend lordship, who, embracing me and making a
very loving demonstration, said, "Nil timeatis ; for we are
by no means going to quarrel with you." Whereupon, I
thanked his right reverend lordship with all submission, and
departed. I expressed myself at this interview, most serene
Prince, more warmly than usual, perceiving that there is
some chance of an engagement,1 in order that, in the event
of accidents, your Excellency may have a resting-place.

1 Between the forces of the Imperialists and those of the French and
Venetians.

London, April 14, 1516.

I wrote to your Sublimity on the 2nd instant all that had
occurred. At this present, nothing chances worthy of your
knowledge, for that which is of great moment is better known
to your Sublimity than to me, such news I mean as lately
reached his Majesty in letters by way of Flanders, purporting
that the Emperor with a very powerful army had come as far
as the suburbs of Milan, and that the army of the most

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 211

Christian King and that of your Excellency had retreated*
I cannot express to your Highness how much pain this in-
telligence caused me and all your other servants, but subse-
quently letters arrived from the most Christian King dated
the 2nd instant, and signed by his Majesty, announcing that
the Emperor had proceeded as far as the neighbourhood of
Milan, when perceiving the determination of the townspeople
and of the whole duchy to maintain their allegiance to the
most Christian King, he withdrew, and to his great shame
crossed the Adda, so that his Majesty says he is secure and
quiet in the Milanese, which has comforted us here ex-
tremely, although these lords consider the thing a fiction. I
do not write this for the purpose of notifying what your
Excellency knows with greater certainty than I do, but to
inform you that none of these adverse tidings seem to induce
any stir here, or to occasion the remittance of moneys beyond
that destined for the payment of the Imperial army ; and from
what I am assured through an excellent channel, as much as
150,000 crowns, supplied by the King of England, actually
was distributed * * * I have been to visit the right
reverend Cardinal, and the Bishop of Durham, who without
my saying any thing farther about the matters detailed in my
foregoing, made ample apologies, urging me to put a good
interpretation on the expressions used by his Majesty, and to
consider those employed by others of as light weight as the
brains of those who uttered them, offering, if such were my
will, to resent them by a sharp demonstration. For this I
thanked their lordships, and told them that with regard to the
language of the King, I took it in good part, and as it had
been interpreted by their lordships, but as to what others said,
that I valued not, being aware that neither by his Majesty
nor his ministers was your Excellency deemed perfidious, or
we ourselves fishermen, robbers, or traders, but senators,

212 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

such as the world has known us for many centuries ; neither
did I wish any farther demonstration to be made against the
aforesaid, being satisfied with the good will borne us by their
lordships, of whom I then took leave.

To-day, the reverend Papal nuncio, who arrived here yes-
terday, namely, the apostolic prothonotary, Domino Francesco
Chieregato,1 came to me. I gave him the best possible greet-
ing, reminding him of the favours received by his uncle the
Bishop of Concordia, and by all his family, from your Excel-
lency, failing in nothing that I deemed expedient for your in-
terests ; in return for which he made every demonstrations of
good will, and of especial observance towards your Sublimity,
promising to do as much as if he were the ambassador of your
Highness. He assured me that he should have extreme power
with his Majesty and the right reverend Cardinal, as he was
the bearer of very strong letters from his Holiness, who, from
what I can comprehend, perceiving that this kingdom had
somewhat alienated itself from him, owing to this new friend-
ship with France, is endeavouring to regain it: let us hope,
however, that this may not weaken the alliance with France.
He assures me that he is not here, according to the common
belief, as collector of Peter's pence, but to negotiate public
affairs, and especially a general peace between the princes of
Christendom, or, at the least, a four years' truce, and he has
promised to acquaint me with his progress in this business,
provided I inform your Excellency, and that he lose not the
credit of these good offices as he did many others effected by
him with the King of Spain, and the Swiss Cardinal of Sion,
for the benefit of your Highness, whose agents, he says,
never made any announcement soever to you to this effect^
so that he is scarcely known to your Sublimity. I thanked
him in the first place for the offer of his services, promising
faithfully to acquaint you with his merits, who, I said, would

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 213

not lose a single step taken for the advantage of your Signory ;
and thus shall I do, and will write account of his proceedings.
He told me that he would not appear outwardly to be
very intimate with me, neither was I to demonstrate famili-
arity with him, and this for the better execution of his
promise, which accordingly must be attended to.

I know not, most serene Prince, whether so many and
frequent letters of mine, addressed to the most excellent
Council of Ten, have reached their destination, as possibly
in going through Germany, or in France, through the negli-
gence of the French secretaries, they may have miscarried,
and by so much the more, as some of the despatches,
namely, those of the 3Oth ultimo and 2nd instant, were
detained during some days at Calais, by command of his
Majesty, to see what had been written by the French ambas-
sador here, who was strongly suspected by these lords of
writing to the worst of his knowledge and ability ; this, in
fact, he had done, and the right reverend Cardinal reprimanded
him severely. I do not apprehend that my letters can have
given any annoyance, for they were all written in cypher, so
that what I wrote will have been unintelligible to them. I
understand, however, that they were licensed for the French
Court ; but in the event of the arrival of my letters being
delayed, do your Excellency not ascribe it to any neglect of
mine, for the interval between my despatches rarely exceeds
eight days, and I very often write more frequently, in order
to notify everything to your Excellency.

1 Francesco Chieregato, like Sebastian Giustinian, corresponded with
Erasmus (see epistle No. 170, vol. ii. folio 1627), and has also been
handed down to posterity by Bandello, in his 34-th tale (Part I.), dedi-
cated to Lodovica Sanseverina, Countess of Pandino.

As will be seen in the course of this correspondence, Chieregato was
recalled from England in disgrace, after having been subjected to personal
violence from Cardinal Wolsey (as will be seen in the despatch dated
December 7th, 1516), but subsequently recovered the favour of Leo X.,

214 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

who in 1518 sent him to Spain and Portugal; and the Italian novelist
says that, in a certain month of July, having returned to Italy from his
mission to Emanuel the Fortunate, Bishop Chieregato passed through
P-indino for the sake of visiting Alexander Bentivoglio and Ippolita
Sforza ; whereupon Countess Sanseverina insisted upon his staying dinner
with her, after which he commenced telling the company about his
travels, and giving details of the Portuguese voyages : he displayed
specimens of gold dust, pearls, precious stones, and other oriental
valuables, exhibiting also certain idols curiously wrought in mosaic.
Chieregato, moreover, alluded to the dispensation from raiment practised
in Milton's " fair Taprobana," and other islands of the Indian Ocean j
to the beauty of the population, despite their dark skin ; to their extreme
hospitality j and, above all, to the utter absence of any marital jealousy
in those favoured regions, which last peculiarity induces Bandello to tell
the tale of Zanini Gandino.

Of the manners and customs of England, Chieregato does not seem to
have said anything, when the guest of Countess Sanseverina, at Pan-
dino. Nor do any details of the mission of this diplomatist to the court
of Henry VIII. exist elsewhere than in the despatches of Sebastian
Giustinian.

London, April 20, 1516.

Since my last of the I4th inst., nothing has taken place
worthy of your Sublimity's knowledge, except it be worth men-
tioning that his Majesty and the nobles here, receiving nothing
but false news, consider it certain that the Emperor is power-
ful in the Milanese, and that the army of the most Christian
King and that of your Signory have retreated, notwithstand-
ing the letters received here of a contrary tenor. The
French ambassador, however, and myself, together with
your other servants, are satisfied that our information is
true ; that the Emperor has retreated, and that Milan and
the other towns of Lombardy persevere in their allegiance to
France. On going to the King here, indeed, or visiting
these lords, I make no show of persisting in any opinion,
but refer myself to more certain intelligence, since to dispute
.with them would be odious, whilst confirming what they say

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 215

would be adulation, and an office of assent such as on their
subsequent acquaintance with the truth must appear repre-
hensible : thus it behoves me sail with a side wind.

I went, very recently, to visit the right reverend
Cardinal, of whose influence I avail myself in everything,
as all really depends upon him. After we had discussed
general topics together, he said he extremely regretted the
great effusion of Christian blood which was threatened by a
conflict between these two armies, and that the cause of this
is the most Christian King, as had he chosen to maintain a
good understanding with England, all the affairs of Christen-
dom would have been arranged, both those of the Duchy of
Milan with the Emperor, and also the matters in dispute
concerning your Sublimity's territory. His Lordship then
repeated how anxious he was, above all things, to preserve
the fabric he had reared, but that, in like manner as he per-
ceived his own King to be anxious for the maintenance of
peace and a good understanding, so was he aware that the
efforts of the most Christian King tended to the contrary,
seeing that he chose to support the Duke of Albany in
tyrannising over the kingdom of Scotland, in putting the
royal princes to death, expelling the Queen the kingdom,
and depriving her of all her effects ; proceedings which it was
impossible for his Majesty to tolerate. Should the ambas-
sadors, he said, who are expected for the purpose of decid-
ing hereon arrive, everything might be arranged ; yet was
his Lordship of opinion that they would only act according to
the will of the most Christian King, who shows no sign of
friendship ; and he added, that your Sublimity ought to try and
exert yourself to the utmost with his most Christian Majesty,
to the end that he might assent to what was fair and just,
and thus obliterate the suspicions entertained by the King:
" Believe me, sir ambassador," he added, "that we well know

2l6 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

the effects produced on kingdoms, both by war and by peace,
and how much it is for the interest of ministers to counsel
this last, yet should I not dare to speak against the honour
of his Majesty ;" adding, " Do you not perceive that the
world is not sufficient for the ambition of this King of
France ? he now lays claim to having the kingdom of
Naples, and is endeavouring to obtain the consent of the
most illustrious Archduke, wherein, should he succeed, he
entertains no doubt of being the undisputed sovereign of all
Italy : he will turn against you, and take all your territory,
and having succeeded in this, there will no longer be any
means of opposing him, so ponder what your position will
be ; and hereat our King is very greatly troubled, from see-
ing you ruined through your good faith." I made answer
that nothing could be more agreeable to your Sublimity than
to witness the union of these two sovereigns, as you were
aware that hence proceeded the entire concord and weal of
Christendom, which body, now harassed and exhausted by
incessant wars, could thus alone recover itself; and princi-
pally to this effect was I sent to England, as manifest
through so many letters and commissions addressed to me
by your Sublimity, great part of which had been perused by
his Lordship. With regard to the most Christian King, I
said it was not my opinion that he tended towards strife, but
that possibly the Duke of Albany acted somewhat against
his will, and that perhaps his Majesty did not find himself
just now at liberty to expel him ; it appearing to me unde-
sirable for his Majesty aforesaid to provoke this most serene
King to enmity, wishing to consolidate himself in his king-
dom with the good favour of his subjects, and being anxious
to obtain his duchy of Milan without opposition -, and by so
much the more as the French say the war they are now
experiencing is waged against them with the money of this

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 21 7

most serene King, a fact which I neither denied nor affirmed.
It is certain, I argued, that the most Christian King knows he
can have no greater obstacle to his projects than the King of
England, wherefore I could not bring myself to believe that
his most Christian Majesty would fail concurring in any
mutual, fair, and just wish and act of assent on behalf of the
King here, or that the ambassadors now on their way would
be impeded by his Majesty ; and by so much the more as
his Lordship assures me said most Christian King aspires to
the sovereignty of Italy, does it seem reasonable to conclude
that he must wish for peace and a good understanding with
his Majesty, who can offer greater obstacles, and, moreover,
greater facility to all his projects, than any prince in Christen-
dom : still I referred myself to better judgment than my own,
earnestly exhorting and beseeching his lordship thoroughly
to sound this ford, and then to navigate according as he finds
it. His right reverend lordship appeared to think ill of the
most Christian King's intentions, but to be anxious for the
arrangement of matters, hinting that he should very much
approve of your Sublimity's interfering to this effect, though
he does not say so expressly. Your most sage Excellency,
who is now acquainted with the whole, will form such
opinion as you may think fit, it not seeming to me that I can
do anything more here, beyond continuing as I commenced,
not appearing very warm either for one side or the other,
counselling this union, and keeping your Sublimity on good
terms with England ; and endeavouring that no more money
be sent to the Emperor, to which effect I have made all
possible provision. Do, your Excellency, deign to co-ope-
rate in this matter, keeping me well advised of everything, so
as to gratify these lords, and instructing me in such wise
that I may be enabled to discuss matters with certain know-
ledge of your wishes.

2l8 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

London , April 2,6, 1516.

My last of the 20th instant will have informed your
Serenity of every event; since when, nothing of moment
has taken place, save that on the 24th, the Scotch ambassa-
dors arrived here ; and, moreover, the one from the most
Christian King, who had been residing in Scotland, to
whom I paid a complimentary visit. They are commis-
sioned, both by his most Christian Majesty and by the king-
dom of Scotland, to decide the disputes with his Majesty
here, and may God give them the grace to quell these
dissensions : possibly the differences may be adjusted by
them for the present, but I doubt their ever producing a
cordial understanding. Yesterday, letters arrived from his
most Christian Majesty, dated the lyth instant, informing
the King of the Emperor's flight, and that of his army, and
that he was already out of Italy, which has greatly sur-
prised these lords, who never appeared to credit such a
result, considering it certain that Maximilian would be victo-
rious, as might easily have proved the case. Indeed
everybody expected this side to declare itself, whereas now
the success of France will, perhaps, induce a change of
policy; and although there were no open signs of war, yet
were ships seen under repair, and ammunition in course of
forwardness, which preparatives were construed by some as
being destined for Scotland, whilst others thought they were
directed against France, though the truth was only known to
the King, and four members of the Privy Council, who
keep everything most secret. I am certain that letters will have
been written to France, announcing that great preparations
are being made here ; but I really cannot vouch for the fact,
nor ought I to hazard assertions. The French ambassador,
hitherto resident in London, has been recalled by the most

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII.

Christian King, and will take leave of his Majesty here
to-morrow. I shall accompany him towards the coast, in
order to conform with the will of your Highness ; nor
indeed have I failed showing him every courtesy, which he
seems thoroughly to have appreciated ; so I hope he will
make an excellent report to his Sovereign. Now, that I
imagine the road to Italy through France is open again, I
beseech you not to fail writing, and showing every attention
to his Majesty, so that under all circumstances, he may
remain our friend ; to which effect I have kept on the
alert, and continue thus to do for the benefit of your
Sublimity.

London, May i, 1516.

I now inform your Excellency that the most serene
Queen of Scotland is expected, and will, it is said, make
her entry on the 3rd instant, when I shall go to meet her, in
accordance with what I deem the will of your Serenity, and
as a compliment to the King. A circumstance is reported
here, which were it not uttered by persons of account and
generally credited, I could not believe. As known, I be-
lieve, to your Excellency, this Queen of Scotland, many
months ago, married a Scotch earl,1 an extremely handsome
youth, of the best blood in the kingdom, by whom she had a
daughter, as notified by me in my former despatches. At
this present it has come to pass that those in authority here,
under pretext of all Scotland having been under excom-
munication for a certain act perpetrated against a papal bull,
at the period of this marriage, maintain that, by reason of
such excommunication, the aforesaid Earl, the husband of
said Queen, was then unable to contract matrimony j and

22O DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

owing to this inability, it is reported that said marriage has
been dissolved, and the aforesaid Queen betrothed to the
Emperor;2 which, should it prove true, I will forthwith an-
nounce to your Excellency.

There is an ambassador here from the new King of
Spain, the same who heretofore served the late King Ferdi-
nand in the like capacity at this court. I perceive that
he is very intimate with the Emperor's ambassador, and has
very frequent audiences of the right reverend Cardinal, and
from every coincidence, it seems to me that there is a great
union between the Emperor, this kingdom, and the aforesaid
Catholic King, — a triumvirate to be held in great account.
A person here, who does the State good service, has
assured me that the King of Spain is quite hand in glove
with his Majesty here, and averse to France, which is con-
firmed to me by reason ; since, were it otherwise, he would
not have permitted the moneys of this kingdom, destined as
subsidy for the Emperor against the most Christian King, to
pass through his territories ; but this person, moreover, in-
forms me that a few days ago said Catholic King received
200,000 crowns from the kingdom of Naples and from
Sicily, and that he immediately sent them to the Emperor
for the Italian expedition.3 I do not vouch either for the
truth or falsity of this ; but my informant, who is of account,
and has been at the court of the Catholic King, and of my
Lady Margaret,4 assured me of the fact, to which your
Sublimity will concede such credit as you shall think fit.

1 Douglas Earl of Angus.

2 In a despatch to the Council of Ten, from the ambassador Minio
in Rome, dated iyth March, 1517, it is stated that it was then re-
ported that Maximilian was to marry Louise of Savoy, the mother of
Francis I. ; upon which Leo X. remarked that he hardly thought so
clever a woman would do so foolish a thing, albeit women were ever of
one bent, and always chose the most good for nothing.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 221

s There is no note, either in Giannone or in Fazello, of these benevo-
lences conceded by the Neapolitans and Sicilians to Charles V., on his
accession ; and as that event was, on the contrary, celebrated at Palermo
by open rebellion, the fact of money being sent thence at that moment
may be doubted ; and here, for the better comprehension of matters con-
nected with the career of Charles V., it should be borne in mind that he
was then only in his sixteenth year, and that his prime minister was
William de Croi, Lord of Chievres.

4 Namely, Margaret of Burgundy, widow of the Infant of Spain, and
of Philibert, Duke of Savoy, governess of the Low Countries, and aunt
of Charles V.

London, May 8, 1516.

In my last despatch I acquainted your Sublimity with the
remittance made by his Majesty to the Emperor, and on what
terms ; as, also, with the steps taken by me with the right
reverend Cardinal. You will now learn that I have
thoroughly investigated this matter ; that the amount sent
was 120,000 crowns, conveyed in cash and bills by Dom.
Leonardo Frescobaldi, who has already reached his destina-
tion; With regard to the disbursement, nothing farther is
known ; and I fancy that will depend on what may befall the
Emperor, and that these funds will be distributed or withheld
according to the hopes entertained by this side of the success
of the Imperial arms.

The King of England has two agents in the Swiss camp,
one of whom is Dom. Visconte de Visconti,1 a personage of
great account, to whom his Majesty pays an annual salary of
5,000 ducats ; his son, Dom. Anchises Visconti, resides here
in London, enjoying great favour with the King and the
nobles here, from whom he receives considerable presents, as
ambassador from the individual who is now styled Duke of
Milan.2 The other agent is one Master Girardo,3 hereto-
fore secretary to the deceased Cardinal of York, and now

222 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN G1USTINIAN

in the establishment of the present right reverend Car-
dinal. There is also an ambassador from the Switzers here,
who confers daily with those from the Emperor, from Spain,
and from Milan, enjoying great favour both in the King's
court and in that of the Cardinal.

Affairs here, most serene Prince, tend so much in favour
of the Emperor, and are so opposed to the most Christian
King, that they could not be more so ; yet are these lords
not ashamed of denying what is more than manifest. Since
the news of the Emperor's flight, intelligence has arrived of
an utterly opposite tenor, which distressed me extremely,
though, hitherto, it has not received farther confirmation,
and a report rather prevails to the contrary. This I write to
your Sublimity, not for the sake of announcing tidings which
are known to you, but in explanation of the extreme fre-
quency of the anxieties and vexations endured by me daily,
owing to my not receiving any advices from your Sublimity,
or from any one else in your name ; wherefore, I pray and
beseech your Highness to give me the means to do you good
service j because, when furnished with certain intelligence, I
shall be better able to shape a course, than when deprived of
any ground for my actions ; and should your missives be for-
warded with those addressed to the French ambassador here,
they might come hither from France free of cost.

The most serene Queen of Scotland made a very stately
entry into London on the 3rd,4 and I went to meet her, being
the only ambassador present. I paid my respects to her in
your Sublimity's name ; and whilst waiting, together with
the illustrious the Duke of Suffolk and other lords, said
Duke told me that the Switzers had entered Milan in th~
Emperor's name, and that all that duchy was subject to his
Imperial Majesty, the French having fled beyond the Alps,
and your Sublimity's army being in retreat towards Padua,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 223

after encountering some loss ; and this, he thrice repeated to
me, was perfectly true. I, however, do not believe it, as
there is fresher news to the contrary. In course of conver-
sation, he caused me to be told, by the Grand Prior of St.
John's,5 who acted as interpreter between us, that he greatly
marvelled, and not only he himself, but the whole of this
kingdom, that your Excellency should persist in favouring
the King of France, and most especially now, when you
had the means of separating yourself with reasonable cause,
and making terms here ; whereto I made answer as on
former occasions to similar propositions, urging, especially,
that to break pledged faith was a serious affair, contrary both
to human and divine law, and a proceeding to which your
Excellency was unused ; and admitting that, at the com-
mencement, owing to circumstances, your union with the
most Christian King had been induced by necessity, yet was
it at this present voluntary, and because your faith was
pledged. He rejoined, that your Excellency was not bound
to keep faith with those who had invariably broken it
with you, and that there is yet very good time for making
this agreement, provided your Excellency choose ; to which I
had no need to reply, save by dexterously turning the con-
versation, so as not to render myself unpopular with this
side, and partly to avoid making this matter, which must in
reason be difficult, appear easy.

1 His real name seems to have been Galeazo, as will appear in a sub-
sequent despatch.

2 After the battle of Marignano, in September, 1515, the reigning
Duke of Milan, Maximilian Sforza, accepted an annual pension from
France of 30,000 ducats, and died A.D. 1530. His brother, Francesco
Maria, the second son of Ludovic, was then put forward by the Impe-
rialists as the rightful heir of the duchy, and is the "individual" here
alluded to by the Venetian ambassador.

3 The person meant is Richard Pace, who was secretary to Cardinal
Bambridge at the moment of his death, in July, 1514.. (See Ellis' s Letters

224 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

on English History, vol. i. pp. 100 and 113.) Hume, quoting a letter
written by Petrus de Angleria, alias Peter Martyr, mentioning this
mission of Pace to the Switzers, styles him " Secretary of State ; " but
in this despatch, as also in those of the previous December a^th, it is dis-
tinctly stated that this English envoy to the Switzers, in 1515 and 1516,
was in Cardinal Wolsey's cabinet, but not yet in that of Hemy VIII.

4 Her residence was in Scotland Yard. See Stow, p. 168.

6 Thomas Dockwra. See ante page 93.

Putney, May 31, 1516.

By mine of the 21st,1 your Excellency will have learnt
that I had betaken myself to this village of Putney, owing to
the case of plague that occurred in my house, in consequence
of which, I was not admitted to the right reverend Cardinal,
for the purpose of communicating your Excellency's letters
of the 1 8th March, until yesterday the 3<Dth instant, and
although by letters from my family I had been informed of
my son's death, I did not think fit to fail in the appointment
made with his lordship, and especially as I knew the French
ambassador was to depart to-morrow, and I had determined
also on going to take leave of him. So, first of all, yesterday,
I went to pay this compliment to the aforesaid ambassador,
from whom I heard that the Scotch business was not entirely
settled, but that they had come to the following terms,
namely, that the most serene Queen is at liberty to return
to Scotland, where she is to receive royal honour, but not to
interfere with the administration of the kingdom ; and that all
her jewels and effects, which she left behind, and were taken
from her, are to be restored. I understand that she will
depart in a few days and go thither. The dispute, concern-
ing the education of her children, has not been decided,
because on this side it was demanded that they should be
placed under the care of their mother, to which the Scotch

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 225

will by no means consent. These differences, together with
the main one about the removal of the Duke of Albany, not
merely from the government, but moreover from the coun-
try, are postponed for six months ; during which interval,
the Kings of France, of England, and of Denmark,2 together
with the Scotch, will negotiate and decide, although I am of
opinion that nothing more will be said about these difficuties ;
but that the wound will still fester here, as the Duke of
Albany will continue paramount in Scotland. I have done
what I could in this business, and would have exerted myself
more, had the French and Scotch ambassadors here com-
municated with me more freely. After paying every com-
pliment' to the French ambassador, in your Serenity's name,
I went to the right reverend Cardinal, and found that the
Emperor's ambassador was already with him, so I waited for
admission, and after he had remained upwards of two hours,
in conclavi) with the aforesaid Cardinal, I was called, and in
the first place made some gentle remonstrance with his right
reverend lordship, complaining that the letters received by me
from your Sublimity had been taken out of the hands of the
courier at Canterbury by the royal officials, and opened and
read, the like being done, moreover, by private letters from
the most noble the ambassador Badoer in France and others.3
I was careful, however, to avoid exasperating his lordship,
and consequently the King, by any intemperate expressions ;
and after this preamble, I communicated to him by word of
mouth,4 the contents of the aforesaid letters, but varying the
passages written in cypher, lest (as I believe they have kept
a copy of the opened letters) my words might serve them as
a key to the interpretation. At the same time, I expressed
myself most warmly, in accordance with the vehement feeling
evinced in the despatches of your Excellency, concerning the
mischief this strife must produce ; which came appositely, as

VOL. I. Q

226 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

the right reverend Cardinal had previously told me that
immense forces were being marshalled in three quarters
against the most Christian King ; first, the Emperor with the
lansquenets and his other subjects j then a considerable body
of Switzers from elsewhere ; and thirdly, the viceroy of the
kingdom of Naples,5 with an efficient army ; add to which,
the army of your Excellency, he said, was dissatisfied with the
French, from whom it had been withdrawn, because they had
refused compliance with its wish to resume the siege of
Brescia. I took occasion hence, to expatiate on the
slaughter, bloodshed, and ruin, thus destined for this wretched
and lacerated Italy, a member by no means despicable of
the Christian commonwealth, saying, it was much to be
wondered at that all the princes of Christendom should be
so blinded and misled by their passions as to choose to
weaken themselves amongst each other, wounding them-
selves reciprocally, and spilling the blood of Christians
whom they ought to defend at the peril of their lives against
the infidel, on his devising such cruelties as will come to pass,
unless the Almighty stretch forth his arm to dispel the infatua-
tion of these princes. I urged upon him, that the slaughter
would not only affect the common people, but would neces-
sarily entail the woeful destruction of many princes and lords ;
the desolation of countries and kingdoms ; the desecration of
churches j the violation of women and maidens ; and the piteous
butchery both of the aged and of youthful innocents, whose
blood would draw down vengeance upon the aforesaid through
the Turk, a most potent lord, and of vast ambition, thirsting
for Christian blood, as his lordship might gather from the sum-
maries he had read, amplifying this matter in such wise as
seemed to me expedient, and which, by reason of its impor-
tance, defied exaggeration. I then told him of the arrogance
of the Emperor, and of the certainty of the news received by

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 227

your Excellency from his own army, that it had been paid
with the moneys of the king of England, which were thus, at
this present, all turned to the detriment and injury of your
Excellency ; beseeching his lordship, per deos et homines, and
by the religion he professes, since the will of this most
serene King rests in his hands, to have regard for the de-
struction of poor Italy ; for so much cruelty as will ensue ;
for our ancient friendship and observance towards this king-
dom ; and lastly, for the apostolic chair, which the Emperor
aspires to deprive of all its temporal dominion, declaring that
such appertains to the Empire. Of the which apostolic chair,
I said, his right reverend lordship was now the foundation
and hinge, being a prince of the holy Church, the increase
and majesty of which it behoved him defend, even with his
life-blood, as exemplified by the red hat, the ornament of said
dignity, all which, and much more besides, which I here con-
dense to avoid prolixity, was uttered by me with such
warmth and earnestness as the subject required.

His lordship, in answer, admitted what I had said in
every respect, and acknowledged as certain, that, on
whichever side victory might declare herself, the results
I had announced were inevitable. True, indeed, to my
mention of the moneys he made no reply, either in
admission or denial, whereas, until now, he always denied
the fact, ore rotunda ; at the same time, he told me that all
these disorders had their remedy. This is as much as was
negotiated in this matter, and on my asking him for audience
of the King, his lordship told me that on Sunday it was requi-
site to despatch these Scotch ambassadors, and order their
letters and other necessary things, but that I could go
next Monday, which will be the 2nd proximo. This, God
willing, I shall do, and hope then to perform my errand tho-
roughly, and more efficaciously, as perhaps a royal and youth-

228 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

ful mind may be more easily moved to the commiseration of
past miseries, and to the avoidance of those on the horizon,
so that your Sublimity may at length be enabled to draw
breath.

1 This letter is followed by a blank page ; and apparently owing to
the confusion caused in the ambassador's household by the catastrophe
alluded to, the secretary, Nicolo Sagudino, omitted to copy such letters
as may have been written by Sebastian Giustinian to the State be-
tween the 8th and the 3ist of May, 1516. On coming to the blank
page, I felt sure there was something very wrong ; and on reading what
followed, I closed the MSS. with a shudder, from fear of contagion,
three centuries and a half after date.

2 King Christian II., who was expelled his own kingdom A.D. 1523.

3 From this paragraph, it may be supposed that the missing letters in
the Giustinian portfolio, besides details of what happened at the Vene-
tian embassy in London when the plague showed itself there, gave notice
of the seizure of the ambassador's bag at Canterbury 5 at any rate,
Giustinian got off better than his French colleague, who, as stated in
date of April 14, 1516, besides having his despatches opened and read,
was severely reprimanded for their contents ! It may be doubted whether
any prime minister ever treated an ambassador more contemptuously than
Wolsey did this President of the Parliament of Rouen.

4 On former occasions, the ambassador used to put into Wolsey's
hands written extracts from his despatches ; but he now suspected that the
letters which were seized at Canterbury, although in cypher, and perhaps
on that very account, might have been copied, ere being delivered to their
rightful owner; and that a written summary of even part of their
contents might have sufficed a clever secretary to form a skeleton key to
said cypher. The " dodge " of travestying in his communication all
that had reached him in cypher, so as to foul the scent, is also worthy of
note for young diplomatists liable to use cypher in troublous times,
and contains a lesson of caution which they will do well to remember,
though it be only fetched from Putney.

5 Don Raimondo di Cardona.

To THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

Putney, May 31, 1516.

I have already mentioned that the right reverend Cardinal
told me there was a sure remedy for the troubles of Italy ;

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII.

and knowing what he meant, I did not ask him for the pre-
scription ; but he of his own accord said, " Domine Orator,
should you choose, you may put an end both to your own
losses and to those of others, and avoid the devastation of
Italy; for, if the King of France succeed, having already
most ambitiously reared his crest to the skies, what may we
not expect should he obtain complete victory. At the least
he will subjugate all Italy : and rest assured that you will not
be the last to suffer, nor will there then be any remedy
either against him, or the Turk. The Emperor is by this
time aged ; on every account there is little to fear from him :
should you choose, you may get your own, and become so
powerful that you will give the law to all Italy, for in com-
parison with your most prudent Signory, there is no one who
can do anything, or who is worth anything ; for the Pope
himself can effect little without you. It seems to me that,
being most sage senators, you are shortsighted in choosing
rather to live in fear of obeying the King of France than
with the hope of being yourselves masters of Italy ; and
what I shall tell you is from myself as a friend. Your
remedy is, to endeavour to make terms with the Emperor,
which I imagine might be done, and to form a league
between the Pope, the Emperor, the Catholic King, hii
Majesty here, yourselves, and the Switzers, against the King
of France, to expel him Italy, and defend the allied territory ;
this is an immediate remedy for your disease, and provision for
your need both against the King of France and against the
Turk ; and I would fain hear your opinion hereon, whether
this fashion pleases you or not, for I would find means to
effect this, mediating with those who are your enemies."
On this topic, he expatiated more than I can write, holding
out to your Excellency great hopes, and making it appear
that this business rested entirely in his hands.

230 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

I, most serene Prince, considering it right to exonerate your
Excellency from one leading charge brought against you —
namely, the thirst for dominion — replied that your Highness
was desirous of quiet and tranquillity, after so much turmoil,
and to recover your territory, allowing all to enjoy what
belonged to them in peace j nor had your Serenity ever
entertained, and still less did you at present cherish, a wish
to benefit yourself by foreign aggression. With regard to
my giving my opinion, and saying what I thought on the
subject, his lordship knew that I was but the instrument
dependent on your Excellency ; and that it was not fitting
quod vas loquatur pro figulo aut contra figulum, to whom it
appertains to form or to destroy his vessel ; this matter, I
said, being of extreme importance, and worthy, above all
others, of being canvassed by your Excellency, who was
aware of all that had taken place, and especially of the dis-
satisfaction of your army, as alleged by him, on the score of
the French forces having refused to attack Brescia, which
things, if true, must greatly affect any decision.

I added to this, that your Excellency knew what was ex-
pedient and fair under the circumstances ; wherefore, as his
right reverend lordship had spoken to me in his private
capacity, I also would answer him individually. It seemed
to me there were two points for consideration in this pro-
posal of his : first, that I could not imagine how your
Excellency, contrary to your faith, would be able to entertain
such a design, unless the French gave you cause, so that the
perfidy might be attributed to those who first broke faith ;
secondly, that I knew not how this union could be effected,
seeing, at this present, according to the advices received,
all the cantons have made an agreement with the most
Christian King j and that I could not tell what difficulty
might be found in obtaining their assistance. Moreover, so .

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 23!

far as one can comprehend, the Pope seems very closely
knit with the King of France ; neither did I perceive how
his Holiness, without cause, could relinquish the alliance.
Then, again, the Catholic King is linked by such ties of
kindred1 with his most Christian Majesty as would certainly
be difficult to loosen. All things considered, therefore, I
was at a loss to comprehend how such a project could
succeed ; and I thought fit, most serene Prince, to suggest
this doubt, in order to induce his right reverend lordship to
say what he did — namely, that he was sure of the co-
operation of the Pope, who is solely intent on uniting these
potentates ; and that the Switzers have no contract with the
most Christian King, nay, that they will shortly all conspire
against him ; adding, " Touching the Catholic King, did I
not know upon what grounds I base my opinion, I should
not manifest it to you, so I exhort you, give notice to the
Signory, and speedily ; despatch a man on purpose, for in a
case of such importance, money should not be spared." I
promised his lordship to write immediately, but that really
I thought he might provide for these matters without farther
stir ; for example, by ceasing to furnish the Emperor with
money, at least, until we had obtained Brescia and Verona,
which towns once in our possession, his lordship might rely
upon the wish of your Excellency to preserve them, together
with the rest of your territory, and to guard against whatever
might endanger it. To this his lordship said, laughing,
u Domine Orator, you are like the man who had a dispute
about a mill ; and when there was a question of compromising
the matter, he said, c I consent to the compromise, but
choose, at any rate, to have the mill.' This is precisely your
case : you choose to have Brescia and Verona, and yet they
alone are contested ! " To which I rejoined, also laughing,
that there was no difficulty in giving judgment about Brescia

232 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

and Verona, as they had been occupied by force : and first
of all, spoliatus debet restitui (stolen goods ought to be re-
stored). However, I said, the present difficulty did not
consist in this alone ; and really the Milanese seemed to be
the chief point. Upon this his lordship continued, that the
object in view was to prevent the King of France from
giving law to the universe should he prove victorious, his
ambition being what it is ; and therefore Brescia and Verona
are the least items under consideration. Still his right reve-
rend lordship urged me to acquaint your Serenity with his
proposition, that he might have a speedy reply. Your
Excellency will do, quod fidel, honestati^ et institute suo
convenit.

1 Alluding to the engagement contracted in the year 1515, by the
Archduke Charles of Burgundy, to espouse the Princess Renee of
France, the second daughter of Louis XII., and consequently the sister-
in-law of King Francis I. Subsequently, by the treaty of Noyon, in the
month of August in this year 1516, it was stipulated that, instead of
the Princess Renee, the young King of Spain was to marry the infant
daughter of Francis I. See Guicciardini, vol. iii. p. 138 and 199.

To THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

Putney , June 3, 1516.

After conferring with the right reverend Cardinal, I
arranged for an audience with the King, and went, accord-
ingly, to Greenwich, where, on my first visit, I had not an
opportunity of speaking to his Majesty, because he was gone
hunting; but on returning to-day I was admitted to an
audience. I narrated to his Majesty all that I had already
communicated to the right reverend Cardinal, but more
copiously. As your Sublimity's missives presuppose that
great slaughter and effusion of Christian blood would have

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 233

ensued on the Emperor's taking the field, whereas he de-
parted without giving battle, I deemed it vain to argue
from such premises : on the other hand, as a report is in
general circulation here that the Emperor is preparing a
fresh army in one quarter, and the Switzers in another, and
that the forces of the Catholic King are now in Lombardy,
under the command of the viceroy, I took occasion to make
this the theme of my discourse, saying, your Serenity had
been informed through many channels that the Emperor
boasted that his troops were paid with the moneys of his
Majesty, and this report was known to circulate in' his
camp ; but considering, I said, the very ancient and intimate
friendship existing between you and his Majesty's most
serene predecessors, with his most serene father, and, finally,
with his Majesty himself, your Excellency could not per-
suade yourself, nor ever had believed, that his Majesty
furnished moneys to your enemies for the sole purpose of
enabling the Emperor to occupy Verona and Brescia * * *
Should the Emperor, the Switzers, and others, prove victo-
rious, the King knew, I added, qu<z sit Maestas Ctzsarea ;
what he thinks, what he affects, and what his aspirations
are ; nor is there any doubt but that, in like manner as he
excels all other sovereigns in title and majesty, so will he
choose to be their superior in force and power. I added,
that I was also aware of his Majesty's being acquainted with
the inhumanity of the Germans, who do not content them-
selves with plundering, but burn and fell, filling every place
with death and slaughter, to which your Excellency can bear
witness. That with regard to the cruelty exercised against
your subjects by the Switzers, it was really needless to say
aught, their ferocity being perfectly notorious, for that in like
manner as others take pleasure in irrigating their meadows
with rivulets of water, so do they boast of irrigating and

234 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

inundating the earth with human gore, whence his Majesty
might comprehend what would be the fate of this poor and
lacerated Italy, and whether any description of persons, either
aged or infants, virgins or matrons, could be exempt from
the inhumanity of such wild beasts : that all the cruelties
committed would be registered by the Almighty, from whose
eyes nothing is hidden, and who will demand account, not
only of the doers of such deeds, but likewise of those who
counselled and assented to them. When Italy, also, shall
be thoroughly desolated and exhausted, whose ruin will be
shared by Germany and France, then the Turk, already
panting for the ruin of Christendom, and prepared even now
with a terrible and formidable armada, and who is acquaint-
ing himself with the state of the kingdom of Naples, of
Sicily, and of the Romagna, will come and take the supper
prepared for him, gleaning the remains of the Germans and
Switzers, and proceeding beyond, under the guidance, not
of reason, but of appetite ; his valour and prosperity render-
ing him not content with mere imitation of Alexander the
Great, but prompting him to surpass that hero through the
opportunities afforded by the princes of Christendom. I
therefore besought his Majesty to take heed for the safety of
the Christian commonwealth, and not be the cause of an
engagement between these two armies, which would produce
all the evils aforesaid. I am aware, most serene Prince,
that in this statement I shall have appeared prolix, yet is it
necessary, in order that your Excellency may know how
this matter was treated, and comprehend the grounds of the
replies given me by his Majesty, who interrupted me several
times. As to the moneys furnished to the Emperor, he
admitted, without any reserve, that it was true, saying that
he had furnished him with pecuniary supplies, and purposed
continuing to do so, not for the sake of injuring the King

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 235

of France his confederate, but in order that his imperial
confederate and intimate friend might not be injured ; and
that it was very fitting that he should not allow those to be
wronged who had ever been his friends, and never failed him
under any circumstance, for the sake of others from whom
he had never received benefit, and who, on the contrary,
sought to injure him, and adhered to his enemies ; inquiring
of me, " Why, would you have me allow wrong to be done
the Emperor, from whom I have received nothing but kind-
ness, for the sake of your Signory, who deserted me to
follow King Louis, and this present King of France ? " I
answered him, that your Sublimity had never deserted his
Majesty, whom you not only honour, but venerate and
adore ; though it is true that to keep your faith you defend
the King of France, your confederate, against the Emperor,
our common foe, who unduly occupies your territory ; and
that it was not choice but necessity which made your
Excellency form such a resolve, repeating what I had said
on former .occasions. To this he rejoined : " Yours was
not necessity, but," to use his very own words, u stultitiam
(stupidity), your choosing to favour those who have ruined
you, against your friends who have ever endeavoured to do
you good." And on my telling him that the Emperor was
not our friend, as proved in many instances, but especially
by his occupying the territory of your Excellency, he re-
joined, " On the contrary, you seek to take what is his, for
both Brescia and Verona belong to him ; and the whole is
understood to appertain to the empire until the investiture be
conferred, which you have never obtained, nor yet any
legitimate title." To this I said that I knew nothing about
investiture, but was well aware that the most serene Empe-
ror Frederick, the father of Maximilian, had, as a consenting
party, maintained an intimate friendship and goodwill with

236 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

your Excellency, and never remonstrated ; and that from
him, had it been required, your Highness could have ob-
tained a thousand investitures, but that it did not appear
necessary, as possession of those towns had been confirmed
by the Dukes of Milan, the predecessors of the Lord Ludo-
vick,1 by the late most Christian King Louis, who, more-
over, gave you Cremona and the Ghiara d'Adda, which you
do not now possess, to the which King Louis the jurisdic-
tion of the whole of the Milanese appertained, as head of the
house of Orleans ; but even had there been nothing soever
of this sort, the long tenure of one hundred years would, at
any rate, cause your Excellency to be acknowledged as the
mistress of said towns, because the period of fifty years is
prescribed against (sic) the Church, which is likened to
wards, its rights exceeding theirs.2 His Majesty continued
to insist that the Emperor had been aggrieved by your
Excellency, and was not the aggressor, adding, " But know
that the princes of Christendom will not permit any one to
become omnipotent and monarch of the world ; and remem-
ber, that should the King of France prove the victor, you
will be the first to suffer. The princes of Christendom will
unite together and make provision against the onslaught of
the Turk and of others ; but this I will tell you, that if you
like, I will include you in the league with his Holiness and
the Emperor, to whom> should you choose to appoint me
mediator, I will reconcile you, for a mere word of mine will
suffice with Maximilian : this league will also be joined by
my nephew the Catholic King, and by the Switzers, and
place will be reserved for such as may wish to be included."
I told him I did not see how this league was possible,
knowing that his Holiness was closely united with France,
with whom all the Swiss cantons likewise were agreed, and
in the King's pay 5 whilst the Catholic King was also linked

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 237

with him in friendship and consanguinity, to which his
Majesty made answer, " And I tell you that all the Swiss
cantons are mine, let talk who will." And he repeated,
" They are all mine : the Pontiff is anxious for this league ;
and know that at this very time he is firmly united with the
Emperor, the Catholic King, myself, and the Switzers ; and,
with regard to the King of Spain, believe me there is no
closer friendship than that which he maintains with me."
To this I rejoined that I was certain that his Majesty pos-
sessed all authority with the Emperor and other princes ; the
greatness of his power, his political sagacity, and his incom-
parable wealth, all conspiring to give him the command of
the world. He answered me : " I content myself with my
own ; I only wish to command my own subjects ; but, on
the other hand, I do not choose any one to have it in his
power to command me, nor will I ever suffer it." I then
inquired about the nature of this league, whether it was
against the King of France, or others. He said, " Not
against any one, because the King of France is my confede-
rate, and, although he possesses France, of which I bear the
title, he pays me my tribute annually, so that I have no cause
of war against him ; there are indeed some differences,
though not worthy of being despatched by an appeal to
arms ; but we shall form this league for the defence of the
allied territories, nor do I want anything, but shall spend my
money in aid of my friends against their enemies." I put
this question, most serene Prince, to see whether his object
was to expel the King of France from Italy ; and said that
this league would be very powerful indeed, should it follow
the dictates of reason and justice; nor did I imagine it would
deprive any potentates of their rights, my opinion, moreover,
being that the King of France would join it, as I fancied he
did not want anything besides the Milanese. His Majesty

238 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

rejoined, that it would be in his power, provided he did not
aspire to being the despot of the world. I then expected
the King would desire me to write about this to your Excel-
lency, as the right reverend Cardinal had done j but not a
word did his Majesty say to me to this effect, though he did,
indeed, address me thus : " I have frequently told you that
the King of France is intent on your ruin, and you answer
0 ; neither do you inquire of me the course to be pursued
in your affairs, so as to pacify you with the Emperor, and
put an end to hostilities, though I perceive you are ex-
hausted ; and there is no one in the world who could more
easily and speedily make terms for you than I." I an-
swered, that I believed it, and was sorry this difference had
not been decided by his Majesty at the time when the Pope
mediated for us,3 as in that case your Excellency would now
have your own, nor would war have been waged from that
time to this. Whereupon he immediately replied, " It is
your own fault : should you yet choose me to adjust these
differences I will do so ; and do you so inform the Signory
distinctly, without, however, saying that I exhort or per-
suade you hereto, but make it appear that you write as of
your own accord, in consequence of communications held
with me." I promised thus to do, and then took leave of
his Majesty, to whom, in the act of departing, I said, that
although he would not desist from contributing money to
our enemies, yet did I beseech him to show us good will and
friendship in every other respect ; telling him, at the same
time, to remember that he is not spending his money to
avert mischief from the Emperor, as neither does your
Signory seek to deprive him of his own (he, on the con-
trary, occupying what belongs to your Sublimity) ; nor yet
is the King of France come into Italy to take what of yore
appertained to the empire, but to recover his Duchy of

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 239

Milan, to which he is intitled by hereditary right, and also to
get back our territory for us. He answered me, that he
would hold your Excellency as his friend, but that he also
chose the Emperor to be such, and that he should do every-
thing for him, as he, in like manner, had done much for his
Majesty ; and that the territory which I had said was occu-
pied by the Emperor, belonged to the Emperor ; and that
thus was it with the Milanese. Your Excellency has heard
the whole. This colloquy lasted for more than an hour and
a half, solus cum solo^ a thing very unusual with his Majesty,
not only in my case, but in that of any other ambassador ;
so, with your extreme wisdom, you will do as you may deem
expedient for your interests.4

1 Ludovick Sforza the Moor.

2 Perche el spatio di anni 50 e prescripto contra la chiesia la qual e
equiperata, et ha maggior rason che non hanno i pupili.

3 A.D. 1514.

4 This despatch shows how egregiously Henry VIII. and Cardinal
Wolsey were duped by Monsieur de Chievres, the Prime Minister of
Charles of Burgundy j for, whilst the King was boasting of his friend-
ship with the ruture Emperor, arrangements were being made for the
treaty between Spain and France, stipulated at Noyon, in the month of
August in this year.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

Putney , June 5, 1516.

Notwithstanding my late conference with his Majesty, it
appeared to me that your Excellency would not have suf-
ficient grounds for deliberating upon his proposition, even
should you entertain any intention of this nature.1 I, in
order to sound this ford well, returned to-day to the right
reverend Cardinal, under pretence of acquainting him with
all that the King had communicated to me, and having done

240 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

this fully, his lordship exhorted me warmly for that your
Excellency should join this league and not leave yourself at
the mercy of the French. Upon this, it seeming to me that he
had come to the pass where I wanted to lead him, I inquired,
speaking as of myself, how your Sublimity could give ear to
such proposals, considering that the King, with his own
lips, had told me that your Excellency had no right soever to
Brescia and Verona, as they belonged to the Emperor, who
was lord of all temporalities; and that although they had
been acquired through war and long possession, yet was the
chief tenure wanting, namely, the investiture, so that I knew
not how your Excellency could desert the most Christian
King, who has promised to recover for you the whole of
your state, and link yourself with one who says that your
territories belong to your enemies. Moreover, I said, I did
not know what the intention of his Majesty was, whether he
meant to deprive the King of France of the Milanese, or
not ; in the latter case, I was at a loss to perceive how,
without a display of bad faith, your Excellency could
swerve from the French alliance ; if, on the other hand, his
Majesty, and these others, meant to allow the King of
France to retain the Milanese, and merely to prevent his
proceeding beyond, this was a different matter, and suf-
ficiently important for consideration. To this his right rever-
end lordship replied, " Domine Orator, take no heed of the
words uttered by his Majesty thus on the sudden and
unadvisedly, for I assure you that were he the mediator
between your Signory and the Emperor, his bias would be
incomparably more in your favour than in his, and do not
entertain any distrust on account of this language," without,
however, promising that the King would award these towns "
to your Excellency, but merely doing away with an impedi-
ment which seemed to render the case desperate. Touching

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 24!

the fact of allowing the most Christian King to retain posses-
sion of the Milanese, he made it appear that the intention of
all the princes who are to form this alliance was, that said
Majesty should not have footing in Italy, because, should he
be possessed of sufficient treasure, and the contemplated
alliance be in any way dissolved, he would then proceed ad
ulteriora, and possibly become sole master in Italy and else-
where. To this he urged and encouraged me to the utmost,
suggesting that the dominion of Italy would rest with your
Excellency, adding, " If you choose, I will contrive that to-
morrow the King shall write to the Emperor to desist from
hostilities with your Signory, between whom and you, it is
his wish to mediate ;" and he asked me whether I consented.
I, most serene Prince, who am aware that this is a matter
which might produce great disturbance were it to come to
the knowledge of the King of France, told him that I by
no means approved of his Majesty's writing hereon, as the
matter was worthy the consideration of your Excellency,
whom I would acquaint therewith, and I then took leave.

I held a similar conversation with the right reverend
Bishop of Durham, who said, " Domine Orator, this is
not a time for speaking either about Verona or Brescia, nor
yet of Milan ; but, should your Signory choose these matters
to be arranged, they will be discussed after the articles of the
league shall have been drawn up, and you will then perceive
how much you are befriended by our King, who, in every
negotiation transacted with these princes his friends, has
always forbidden the doing of any injury against the Signory
or your State, declaring that he would not consent to it."

This, most serene Prince, is all I have to announce in
this matter, and it seems to me that there are some grounds
for leaning towards both one side and the other. Your
Serenity, in your wisdom and goodness, knowing the state of

VOL. I. R

242 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

your affairs, and what becomes your love of justice and the
interests of the State, will do as you shall think fit, and may
the Almighty deign to inspire you with good resolves.

1 The ambassador seems to be now lending a less inattentive ear to
the anti-Gallican proposals of Cardinal Wolsey than formerly, and this
may be accounted for by the fact of the complaints urged by the Vene-
tians against the French general Lautrec, who withdrew from under
Verona to Peschiera, under pretence of wanting money, artillery, and
ammunition, but in reality to await the result of the Diet of Noyon j
and owing to this unfair treatment, part of the Emperor's garrison of
Verona was enabled to go and sack Vicenza, on the night of Saturday
the 28th of July. (See Guicciardini, vol. Hi. pp. 197-198.)

2 At the moment when this conversation took place at York House,
one of the two towns in question was already in the hands of the Vene-
tians, who re-entered Brescia on the 24th of May, 15165 nor is it quite
impossible that Wolsey should have been aware of the fact on the 5th of
June.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

Putney , June 12, 1516.

By my foregoing in date of the 3rd and fth instant, of
which I sent duplicates, your Excellency will have heard all
the negotiations transacted with the King and the right
reverend Cardinal here j and you will now understand, that
information having been received by me through a good
channel, that a considerable sum of money, said to amount
to 150,000 ducats, was on the point of being remitted to the
Emperor, I thought proper not to omit doing what lay in
my power to prevent these moneys being sent, although
without any hope of succeeding in the business, knowing
that these lords are earnestly bent upon this undertaking.
I went, therefore, to the right reverend Cardinal, and told
him what information I had received, adding that the des-
tined remittance would not take effect against the King of

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 243

France, as he was in possession of his territory, and by
merely keeping a good garrison in two or three towns of the
Milanese, would preserve it as long as he chose without
giving battle. It was not likely, I said, should the present
subsidy even induce the Emperor to return into Italy, that he
would choose to undertake any protracted siege, from lack of
provisions ; neither could I suppose that the King of Eng-
land would sink so much money as must be required for
a series of military operations. To this I added, that his
lordship might be certain that the French would not risk an
engagement, unless it could be fought to their very great
advantage ; wherefore these present remittances would merely
have the effect of retarding our recovery of Verona and
Brescia, adding many other arguments against this mission,
but which, for the sake of brevity, I do not repeat.

As to the remittances, his lordship made me no reply,
which I take for an express and tacit admission, though he
told me, indeed, that, notwithstanding my announcement to
your Excellency of the last negotiations, I was not to omit
reporting what he would now tell me, namely, that the
Signory ought to ponder well the advantages they might
derive from the contemplated league, compared with the
mischief threatened by adhesion to the French alliance.
Were, he said, the French King expelled the Milanese, you
would give law to all Italy ; since, considering the age of the
Emperor, and the condition of all the other Italian poten-
tates, you might hope to be mistress of the game, especially
having the Kings of England and of Spain for your con-
federates, and that it was full time to economize your
expenditure. On the other hand, should you persevere in
the French alliance, the whole of this league will be opposed
to you ; insomuch that, instead of being, as you supposed,
at the end of this undertaking, you would find yourself at

244 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

its commencement, as his Majesty here will spare no pecu-
niary outlay, or leave anything untried, to prevent France
from proceeding further : a prohibition which is impossible
so long as he holds the Milanese, in which case the ruin of
your Excellency was at hand, he declared, since, should the
King of France be victorious, he will deprive you of the
rest of your territory, as also because his Majesty here will
subsidize all the princes and potentates of Christendom
against your Sublimity, should he see that you choose
to persist in maintaining the King of France in Italy ; and
this be repeatedly urged upon me. I, whom it behoves,
from the nature of the times, tolerate what it is insup-
portable to hear, answered him with all discretion, that I
knew not what your Highness was going to do ; but, should
you determine to keep your faith, and abide by your obliga-
tions, yet would not your Signory, on this account, deserve
the enmity of his Majesty, nor yet this fresh conspiracy of
all the princes in Christendom ; since, as the King of Eng-
land is now of this mind, it may be said that your Excellency
has been a mark for the shafts of every Christian potentate j1
nor did I know whether what your Excellency has done
during so many consecutive years for the Christian religion,
and your good faith, deserved such a return, of which God,
in His clemency, be the judge ; but I, at any rate, besought
his lordship, as the rudder of this ship, to shape its course
towards a fairer and more laudable end than the ruin of the
defenders of Jesus Christ, adding much other language of
the same sort, which I uttered with all moderation and
gentleness, so that if the matter seemed tart to him, it might
not be additionally soured by my expressions. He repeated
to me all that had been already said, evincing a firm resolve
in this matter, and declaring that a most powerful army was
on the eve of being marshalled, under the command of the

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 245

Emperor, to give the finishing stroke to the business.
Wherefore I perceive that little can be done with words,
unless they find that the undertaking of itself prove ex-
tremely difficult — the which difficulty might be created by
speedily despatching the affairs of Brescia and Verona — as,
were all to hold their own, and the towns were well gar-
risoned, they would comprehend the futility of their efforts :
and as news arrived here lately, although they are not
believed by any one, of the French having taken Brescia, it
would have been very opportune had I received certain intel-
ligence to this effect ; because, were it thus, and these lords
imagined your Excellency would obtain Verona before their
money reached the Emperor, they might, perchance, act
with more reserve, and I might hope to delay the remit-
tances by such arguments as the mere taking of Brescia
would have afforded me. Unfortunately, I have no intelli-
gence soever, either from your Excellency, or your ambassa-
dors, so that the news only serves me for conjectures of my
own. Even had you not thought fit that such tidings of your
successes should be communicated to his Majesty and
these lords (an opinion which I also share), yet might they
have been of use to me in the piesent negotiations. Do,
your Excellency, then consult your interests, and make such
provision as expedient.

It has recently come to my knowledge, that the ambas-
sadors here from the Emperor and the King of Spain are
doing their utmost to make his Majesty dismiss me ; for in
point of fact, said ambassadors very much disapprove of my
being here, and it is supposed that they act by order of their
Sovereigns. I cannot, however, bring myself to believe that
this will come to pass until one sees the end of these negotia-
tions. I have heard also from a sure source that, during the
last few days, the right reverend Cardinal and the Bishop of

246 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Durham have been in conclave together with the ambassa-
dors from the Emperor and Spain, the Pope's nuncio, and
the agent of the Switzers, whence you may conjecture the
disposition of all parties.

1 The ambassador is here alluding to the fact that England had
hitherto taken no part in the league of Cambray ; but explains, that by
her present threats she ranks herself amongst the enemies of Venice.

London, July 6, 1516.

I went lately to visit the right reverend Cardinal, not to
transact any business — as your Excellency, by withholding
all intelligence from me, renders this impossible — but for the
purpose of cultivating his friendship, saying that I was merely
come to pay my respects to him, which he took in very
good part, it seeming to him an earnest of the love which I
often said I bore him, as exemplified by my frequent visits
even when I had no business to transact. Accordingly, he
appeared very glad to see me, giving me the news of
Brescia,1 concerning which, by the grace of God, nothing
has been notified to me, either by your Excellency, nor by
any of the magnificoes your ambassadors ; a fact which,
although productive of small repute to myself individually,
is yet more injurious to your Signory than to me. His
lordship, however, announced this intelligence to me with
a supplement, namely, that the surrender had been made
to the King of France, whose agents hesitated about con-
signing the city to your Excellency, whom it behoved to
give up Crema in exchange.2 I answered him that I
believed in the surrender of Brescia, but not in this exchange,
on several accounts which occurred to me ; and he rejoined,
that neither to him did the thing appear reasonable. I

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 247

hereon congratulate your Highness extremely; the event
having caused me such extreme joy as becomes all devoted
patriots, especially under the belief that ere long the like will
befall Verona, which may the Almighty of His clemency
grant ; so that, once for all, a calm may succeed to the
fierce tempest which this poor ship, buffeted by every wind,
has hitherto undergone.

While discussing various topics with his lordship — espe-
cially that of the trade which we of yore carried on with this
kingdom, to the extreme profit of either party — he said to
me, that it would be very opportune for the galleys of your
Excellency to come hither as usual.3 I told him, I thought
your Excellency would be content, provided they could touch
in safety at Spanish ports, though I considered that peace
prevailed between you and the Catholic King, with whom
the King of England likewise had a good understanding;
yet, on the other hand, as the Emperor was connected by
blood with his Spanish Highness, the matter was somewhat
perilous. His lordship told me, if I chose, he would write
to his Highness aforesaid, and procure a safe-conduct, and
proposed doing so immediately, had I not induced him to
delay until I heard the intention of your Sublimity, who
will be pleased to let me know such, and notify every
particular which you may deem necessary for insertion in
this safe-conduct ; so that, should they make the voyage,
the said galleys may be safe : and we thus await your
Excellency's reply.

To-day, I went to Greenwich to pay my respects to the
King, without transacting any business, or having even any
letters from your Signory or from your ambassadors to
communicate, which really causes not merely surprise but
murmurs from everybody. I beseech your Excellency,
if this is to continue, rather to recall than keep me here with

248 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

shame, rendering his Majesty, moreover, and these lords
at the same time, utterly our enemies, for they assert that
your silence proceeds from holding their country in small
account. Moreover, your Excellency may comprehend,
that were I to be acquainted with the course of your
affairs, it would enable me to make many proposals and
rejoinders in reply to their suggestions, which I now omit ;
and especially in the matter which has been negotiated
hitherto, and to which a reply is expected, for had I known
how matters stand between his most Christian Majesty and
your Serenity, I should have framed my speech accordingly j
but, in ignorance thereof, and as reports here vary, I am
much embarrassed for words which may tell either way.
Should your Excellency, from any particular motives, choose
to persevere thus, let me at least be kept advised by your
ambassadors of what passes. If, perchance, reluctance was
felt to give me the news of Brescia in detail, under the
belief of its not proving agreeable to the King here, yet
am I of opinion that it should have been communicated
to me, as I think I have negotiated long enough to enable
me to be silent concerning such matters as might prove
injurious to your Excellency, and merely to announce those
which may be beneficial. It is easy to perceive how any
information I receive serves to light me on my way.

To-day, when at Greenwich with the reverend Spanish
ambassador, I apologized to his lordship for not having
hitherto greeted and visited him as usual, by reason of the
state of the war, and of what had chanced between the
late Catholic King Ferdinand and your Excellency; but that
now, indeed, that his lordship represented a king most
friendly to your Highness, who wished his Majesty all
honour and increase, I had determined on performing every
office of courtesy with his lordship, knowing such to be

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 249

the wish of your Excellency, and should come and visit
him. His lordship thanked me most lovingly, saying that
he likewise believed in the existence of peace and friendship
between his Catholic King and your Highness, inquiring
of me whether you had any ambassador resident with his
Majesty. I answered him in the negative ; adding, that I
attributed this to the present disturbances in Italy, now
occupied by hostile armies, so that it would have been
impossible to send an ambassador had it been wished, though
I doubted not but that you meant to do so, according to
the tenor of your observance towards his said Majesty, the
which you had also entertained towards his most serene
ancestors. Continuing this conversation, he told me to
defer my visit for some days, in order not to create
any sinister suspicion in the mind of the imperial ambas-
sador ; and this scruple he expressed in the most measured
terms, in mitigation of any bad effect it might produce.
It seemed fit to me, most serene Prince, to pay him this
compliment ; because, had I persevered in my original
bearing, I should have made it appear that the same dissen-
sion subsisted between your Excellency and his present
Majesty as with the late King ; whereas, at this present,
he cannot accuse me of lack of courtesy, since I have done
what I ought.

It is reported here that the negotiation of the league
between the Emperor, the Kings of Spain and England, and
the Switzers, is being treated and brought to a close, which
I think credible, for I perceive the ambassadors of said
potentates always to act in concert, holding very long confe-
rences both with the right reverend Cardinal and with the
King;4 it is also said that the Pope will join said league,
though the reverend nuncio here (Chieregato) declares that
his Holiness will remain neutral as a good father-general.

250 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

What the result may be, eventus docebit. I fancy that your
Excellency knows more about this than I do ; I implore you
to keep me, or to cause me to be kept, fully informed about
all events, so that I may thereby regulate my actions, which
may prove much to the profit of your Highness.

1 Brescia was recovered by the Venetians on the 24th of May.

2 What Wolsey says of the hesitation of France to surrender Brescia
was without foundation. (See Guicciardini and Paruta.)

3 Amongst the documents published by the Record Commission are
several "permits" relating to the Venetian galleys in England, from the
year 1330 downwards. On the breaking out of the League of Cambray
in 1509, the galleys of Venice, which traded with England and Flanders,
and were styled " the Flanders galleys" found themselves in Hampton
harbour, under the command of the Commodore Agustin da Mulla ;
and from that period until the moment of this conversation between the
ambassador and Cardinal Wolsey, the Venetians had discontinued their
voyages to England, in consequence of the ports of Spain being closed
to them, and also from fear of French and other buccaneers in " the
narrow seas" alias the British Channel.

4 As stated in note of page 240, the treaty of Noyon, which stipulated
perpetual peace between France and Spain, was signed on the 1 5th of
August, 1516, and on the 6th of July the English Cabinet seems to
have imagined itself on the eve of forming a league with Spain against
France !

London, July 17, 1516.

There is little doing here at present, both by reason of the
absence of the King, who is abroad taking his usual diver-
sions, and will remain many days ; and also, because your
Excellency does not give me the opportunity for negotiating
as would be necessary, since having letters from your
Excellency, not only should I make use of their contents
opportunely, but moreover in the act of imparting them,
others matters would transpire, whereas without them I can
effect little worthy the knowledge of your Highness, for
whose information I may state that your last missives were

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII.

dated the i8th of March. I have, however, been several
times to the right reverend Cardinal, though I could do little
with him, both because of his being much occupied, owing to
the nature of the times, all the affairs of the kingdom being
in his hands, and also by reason of the absence of the King.
The ambassadors from the Emperor and from Spain never
cease pressing for money, whilst I, on the contrary, exert
myself to thwart their object, though really one can place no
reliance on their words, or on those of these lords with regard
to remittances being made or not, for on entering on this
topic, they turn the conversation, and for their own good
reasons, it is impossible to obtain from them either an affir-
mative or a negative ; but your Excellency may believe that
I have left nothing untried to prevent these remittances, or
at least to ascertain the fact of their having been sent. I
can affirm nothing positively, but it is reported that the King
and all the other lords are very dissatisfied with the Em-
peror,1 and thus no more money will be sent.

As I wrote in my last, the league already mentioned was
expected to be concluded here speedily, notwithstanding
which, from what has reached me through a sure source,
matters are being procrastinated ; the Catholic King having
answered these lords, that he must first write to Spain, so as
not to act without consulting the grandees there, in such
wise, that these lords seem to have cooled extremely with
regard to the conclusion of this league. Moreover, I learn
from good authority, that the Pope will not ally himself with
this side, apologizing on the plea of wishing to act as a good
father-general. I also understand that on the 2nd instant, some
twenty ships left Spain for Flanders, to convey home the
Catholic King, who has also fitted out a number of vessels,
report varying as to their amount, for the purpose of going to
take possession of his kingdom, and this being the case, I do

252 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

not imagine that the league between these sovereigns will be
concluded, until after his arrival in Spain. I will not omit
adding this, that for many days and months past the Bishop
of Winchester and the Archbishop of Canterbury,2 who
were principal members of this government, have withdrawn
themselves, on account, it is said, of the succour given to
the Emperor against the King of France and your Excel-
lency. Canterbury was Lord Chancellor, and Winchester
held the privy seal, both which offices are of extreme import-
ance, and have been resigned by them. The office of Lord
Chancellor has been conferred on the right reverend Cardinal,
and the Privy Seal on the right reverend Bishop of Durham.3
The illustrious Duke of Suffolk, who married the Queen
widow of France, has also absented himself; it is said, he is
not in so much favour with this King as heretofore.4
Another likewise, by name Sir Thomas Lovel,5 who was an
old servant to the late King, and also to his present Majesty,
and exercised extreme authority, seems moreover to have
withdrawn himself, and interferes but little in the govern-
ment, so that the whole direction of affairs rests (to the dis-
satisfaction of everybody) with the right reverend Cardinal,
the Bishop of Durham, and the illustrious the Lord
Treasurer ; 6 your Excellency will comprehend that this is of
extreme importance.

If your Excellency keeps me here to negotiate your
affairs, I pray you to acquaint me occasionally with the
line you choose me to take in these matters, touching the
succour given to the enemies of the State by this court, so
as to prevent your recovering Verona, that most ancient
member of your territory. This somewhat distasteful busi-
ness, I treat with all moderation and gentleness, and think
that no complaint can be brought against me on this score,
though I am of opinion that it ought to be discussed rather

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 253

more bluntly, as becoming so deep an injury, the like of
which I deem unparalleled, that England should be your con-
federate, and that she alone should wage war against you.
However, it is our fate that the justice and gravity of our
complaints avail nothing. I shall not swerve from the dis-
creet course hitherto adopted; but, should your Sublimity
choose me in any respect to change my style, without
insulting them, you will be pleased to let me know, as I shall
not scruple doing my duty.

1 It would appear from this that, at length^ between the i6th and
i yth of July, news reached England of the treaty of Noyon, which was
followed by the congress of Brussels, when the Emperor consented to
make peace with the Venetians, and to give up Verona, on receiving
200,000 ducats, the first instalment of which was paid on the 23rd of
January, 1617. The effrontery of the two ambassadors in continuing
to demand money of Henry VIII., after having betrayed him, is worthy
of note.

2 Richard Fox and William Warham.

3 This Bishop of Durham, who has been mentioned in several preced-
ing Despatches, was a very leading member of the English Cabinet at
this period $ and it is important for the thorough comprehension of the
state of the Privy Council that his name, which was THOMAS RUTHAL,
should be remembered. See page 74.

4 Concerning the departure from the court of the Duke of Suffolk,
Hume writes, in date of the year 1515, that he was offended because the
King, by the Cardinal's persuasion, had refused to pay a debt which he
had contracted during his abode in France ; and he thenceforth affected
to live in privacy.

5 Sir Thomas Lovel is mentioned by Hume, in date of the year 1 509,
as being Master of the Wards and Constable of the Tower, and one of
the members of the Council of Henry VIII. In King Richard III,,
act 4, this old servant of the crown is introduced thus :

" Sir Thomas Lovel and Lord Marquis Dorset
'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms."

Also in act i, sc. 4, of King Henry VIII., Sir Thomas Lovel appears
as one of the attendants of the King ; and amongst the charges brought
by the surveyor against the Duke of Buckingham is this of his having
said —

" That had the King in his last sickness failed,
The Cardinal's and Sir Thomas Level's heads
Should have gone off."

254 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

6 Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, (see page 113). From a sub-
sequent despatch, however, it seems that he also ceased to interfere in
State affairs from about this time until October.

To THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, July 23, 1516.

Since my last of the lyth instant, whilst anxiously expect-
ing advices from your Highness, I, on the 2Oth of this same
month, received two of your letters ; the one dated the 28th
of April, with very copious extracts of news about the
Turks having entered the territories of the Emperor ; whilst
the other of the 2yth May, gives the good tidings of Brescia,
and summaries from Constantinople ; the whole to be com-
municated to this most serene King and right reverend Car-
dinal, to whom (having been unable to obtain audience of
him previously) I went yesterday and communicated the
news ; the King, all this time, being distant some 150 miles
hence. I first communicated to him the contents of the
missive dated 28th April, which is passing grave and pru
dent, as becomes the wisdom of those who ordered it ; and
moreover of its author, whom I will not call Alberto^ but
Albergo^ (abode or shrine), of all elegance and gravity of
diction ; and I, on my part, solemnly and earnestly en-
deavoured to impart it to him, dwelling on every particular, in
such wise as the matter appeared to me to merit. I next
communicated to him the letters with the news of Brescia,
giving his lordship notice that they had been despatched im-
mediately after the intelligence reached your Excellency, as
you were of opinion that whatever tended to your glory and
increase, would be considered by his Majesty in the light of
an accession to his own kingdom and resources. All the

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 255

extracts concerning the Turks, and their coming into Croatia
and Carinthia, also the news from Constantinople, was read ;
and I touched on all the necessary points, putting before him
the peril which threatened the Christian religion, as also the
existing detriment and ruin, entirely attributable to the dis-
sensions of the princes of Christendom and to ill-will in a
quarter which ought to oppose the attack of the infidel, and
not seek the ruin of those who have been the bulwark of the
Christian commonwealth. After I had spoken at very great
length to this effect, it seemed to me time to discuss the
affairs of Verona, although your Excellency does not say a
word to me thereon ; and as it was the festival of St. Mary
Magdalen, I took occasion thence to commence by saying,
that on that day Mary Magdalen entreated remission from
Jesus Christ of the errors committed by her ; and with
much more reason could I petition his lordship for what was
just, fair, and due — namely, that as there no longer existed
any doubt soever, but that every difficulty and vexation
endured by your Excellency in the recovery of Brescia, and
at this present time in the siege of Verona, was owing to
the pecuniary and other aid given by the King of England to
the Emperor, his lordship should grant your Sublimity the
grace no longer to persevere in contributing subsidies to him
for the defence of that city, as it was really impossible for
these moneys to be expended more ingloriously for his
Majesty, or with less profit. * * * His right reverend
lordship listened to me graciously, and with patience, an-
swering, " Domine Orator ! St. Mary Magdalen did entreat
remission of Christ ; but, ere doing so, she repented her of
her errors, and departed from her wickedness. Do you do
the like; abjure your errors, and depart from the ambition
of choosing to take and occupy what belongs to others, and
then his Majesty will grant you grace, even more than you

256 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

desire." Adding the following words, which appeared to
me to be worthy of note, " You defend the enemy of all the
princes of Christendom, whom you are provoking against
yourselves ; and be assured that, unless you abstain from
this, all will be opposed to you ; and he in person, whom
you defend, will be the first to deceive you ; and I assure
you that at this present negotiations are on foot between the
King of France and the Catholic King, and they are treating
to conclude espousals, not to confirm the first, that is to say,
those of Madame Renee, the Queen's sister,2 but with the
daughter of said King of France. Fancy how advantageous
this must prove for the Catholic King, having to wait fifteen
years for a wife ! In these negotiations, also, the following
clause has been inserted and agreed to by both sovereigns,
that the King of France is to abandon you, being especially
prohibited from giving you succour for the recovery of
Verona, and this we affirm to you by the dignity of our hat,
and you will see by the result:" in conclusion, after much
verbiage, he said that this kingdom was disposed by all modes
and means to subsidize the Emperor, and especially for the
defence of Verona.

My answer purported, in reply to the first part of his lord-
ship's observations, that your Excellency had no penance to
perform for any of your errors, especially in the present
matters ; but that his lordship construed into sin and error,
the upright, loyal, and due observance of faith, an interpre-
tation which is not usually adopted even by enemies, to
whom the observance of faith is due. I now ceased to
marvel, I said, at your Excellency's suffering for your
faith, as for the last sixty years you had endured incredible
hurt and ruin for the maintenance of your faith to God
against the infidel, and to the temporal potentates in ob-
servance of the treaties and confederations contracted with

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 257

them, and which you had never chosen to violate ; and, that
to abjure what his lordship termed the errors of your Excel-
lency, would be neither more or less than to break faith with
him to whom you had solemnly pledged it. Here the Car-
dinal interrupted me, saying, " How do you defend your
faith when you choose to defend Verona, which does not
belong to you, but to the Emperor?" I rejoined, that
Verona had belonged to your Excellency, and been held
pacifically for a hundred years, and that no former Emperor
had ever remonstrated hereon, being well aware that it
belonged neither to the .Emperor, nor to the house of
Austria ; and on his lordship's inquiring how your Excel-
lency had obtained Verona, I told him, that since, in our
case, it was chosen to investigate the tenure of possessions
justly held for a century, whilst no inquiries are made con-
cerning the recent and violent seizures effected by others,3
his lordship must know that the lords of La Scala having
become extinct, so that no heir remained, the Duke of
Milan and the Marquis of Mantua wanted to occupy
Verona ; whereupon the Veronese informed your Highness,
that should you choose to accept them, they would consign
the city and all its jurisdictions to you, so your Excellency
sent your whole army thither ; and before it entered Verona,
the forces of the Marquis of Mantua and of the Duke of
Milan had entered the town, expecting to be welcomed by
the Veronese, none of whom declared themselves in their
favour, nor did any shout, or " Duke," or " Marquis."
Shortly after this, the army of your Excellency defiled by the
mountains, and immediately all the Veronese, male and
female of every age, came into the streets and market-places,
shouting " Mark /" "Mark!" on perceiving which, the
agents of the Duke and Marquis departed by the other gate,
and Verona remained in the power of your Excellency ;
VOL. I. s

258 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

since which time, you had held it in peace and quiet without
complaint from any potentate, acting towards the Veronese
with such justice and integrity as observed by parents to-
wards their children. These, I said, were the outrages
committed by us against the princes of Christendom ; this
the perfidy of which we are accused ; and these the ini-
quities from which his lordship exhorts your Excellency to
depart. I then told him that your Excellency was net
attacking any Christian Prince, but that you defended your
confederate, who acted by you reciprocally both in the
matter of faith and opportune subsidies. On the other
hand, you found yourself exposed to the rage of the Em-
peror, who breathes but your destruction ; and on his lord-
ship's saying that the King of England likewise was a party
to this enterprise, so that hostilities cannot be waged against
the Emperor without affecting him, I made answer, that his
lordship always mentioned the most Christian King as the
confederate of his Majesty, and that I was at a loss to com-
prehend how this tallied with the fact of England's uniting
with the Emperor to expel France from the duchy of
Milan, being at the same time her confederate ! This war,
I added, was carried on in the name of the Emperor, and
not in that of the King of England : and again, that ever
since the Swiss camp was routed by the most Christian
King,4 his Majesty here and his lordship had assured me
they were not acting in concert with the Emperor against
France, in virtue of the confederation, denying, moreover,
the grant of pecuniary succour, or of troops ; and that it was
only within the last six weeks that his Majesty confessed to
me that he had given subsidy to the Emperor, his lordship
likewise making a similar admission ; so that your Excel-
lency had aided your confederate against the Emperor, and
not against his Majesty, who has ever made profession of

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 259

friendship with France ; and that with regard to his sub-
sidizing the Emperor, my letters will hardly yet have an-
nounced to your Excellency this fact, although it had been
publicly reported. Finally, I drew the two following con-
clusions : first, that at the present time the occupation of
Verona appears to be the cause of all these disturbances,
which might perhaps cease, and all be satisfied with their
own, were it not thus fomented, fire and flame being main-
tained between Christians, whose common enemy, the Turk,
is thus enabled to prey upon their vitals. I then repre-
sented that the moneys destined by his Majesty for the
defence of Verona, might be paid to the Emperor's forces,
indeed, but for the defence of Carinthia and the other pro-
vinces threatened by the Turk ; though, doubtless, whatever
his Majesty's intention might be, the money would be very
differently applied by Maximilian.5 * * * * Turning
the conversation, the Cardinal replied, " On obtaining
Verona, you would immediately choose to advance into the
Tyrol and occupy the territory of the Emperor, a thing to
which neither we, nor the Catholic King, who is to inherit
the duchy of Austria, would ever consent. I rejoined,
that this was not the intention of your Excellency, nor was
it credible that, on recovering Verona, you should choose to
act against the empire or the House of Austria — a course
you have never adopted since Verona has belonged to you, a
period embracing so many years ; and I said, that to this,
not only would I pledge my faith, but stake my head, and
remain as hostage here, against any plan being ever devised
by your Excellency to obtain aught save Verona and its de-
pendencies, and that which the Emperor has taken from you
during this unjust war ; and that his lordship might rest
assured that your Excellency merely aims at preserving your
own, and that, were you ambitious of territory, you would

260 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

seek to recover that of which you have been deprived by the
Turk, and moreover to wrest other provinces from him — an
undertaking which you doubt not would be seconded by
other Christian potentates ; adding that the strife waged now
for a span of earth in Italy, would regain whole kingdoms
and districts possessed at this present by the Turk, but
which of yore acknowledged a Christian yoke. In con-
clusion, I urged his lordship, by every means in his power,
to vouch for these two facts : first, that the most Christian
King merely laid claim to retain his duchy of Milan ; and
secondly, that your Highness only sought to recover your
own, and that you have no intention of occupying what
belongs to the Emperor.

After these conferences, his lordship went to dinner, and
urged me to stay, as I did, more from the wish to make
him change his mind than to dine, for I was really so tired
with this long and laborious negotiation, at which the right
reverend Bishop of Durham assisted likewise, singing treble
to the Cardinal's bass, that I had no appetite for dinner.
Throughout the repast, however, and for a long while after
its conclusion, they never discussed any other topic than that
of detaching your Excellency from the French alliance,
and of inducing you to join this fresh league now under
negotiation, whilst I employed all my efforts to withdraw
his Majesty from the defence of Verona ; and from all these
conversations I infer, that should your Excellency choose to
swerve from your faith and confederation with the most
Christian King, you would doubtless obtain Verona, and of
this I have been assured more openly, by a chief secretary
in the service of his Majesty.6 The other circumstances I
must now briefly notice — namely, that when both the right
reverend Cardinal and also the Bishop of Durham were
exhorting me warmly to urge your Excellency to withdraw

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 26 1

yourself from the league with France, and join the Emperor
and these other princes who are to form this confederacy, I
told them that I had already written to your Excellency,
though I doubted my letters having yet reached Venice, but
that really, on mature consideration, and speaking in my
private capacity, I did not see how your Signory could
desert the* most Christian King, without having any cause
soever of complaint — nay, when his Majesty was doing the
very thing that the confederation promises ; whereupon
they said to me, " But should you have reason, and were he
to fail herein, or deceive and abandon you, what will you
do ?" I said, in that case, I doubted not but that your Ex-
cellency would tender your inviolable faith to those who
might keep such with you, and not persist in defending your
betrayer. The second circumstance is, that amongst the
other complaints urged by the aforesaid right reverend
Cardinal against the most Christian King, he alleges the
maintenance and support by France of an English rebel,
named Richard de la Pole,7 it seeming to them that the
defence of this person, and of the Duke of Albany in Scot
land, are indications of a wish to attack this most serene
King, should the opportunity present itself.

1 The ambassador is here paying a compliment to the secretary of the
Senate, Alberto or Albert!, and is guilty of a pun upon his name, thus :
" Che non diro esser Alberto ma Albergo di ogni elegantia et gravita di
dir." This crime was not peculiar to Giustinian in that age, for, in the
first part of King Henry VI., act i. sc. 7, Cardinal Beaufort is made by
Shakspeare to say to the Duke of Gloucester, the Protector —

" I do, thou most usurping Proditor,
And not Protector, of the King or realm."

2 This first marriage was stipulated in the year 1515,866 Guicciardini,
vol. iii. p. 138 : and at p. 199 the same historian gives the clauses drawn
up at Noyon in August 1516, and to which Cardinal Wolsey is here
alluding, one of them stipulating that Charles of Spain was to marry the
infant daughter, then one year old, of Francis I.

262 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

3 The ambassador, had he been called upon to explain, would proba-
bly have quoted the Spanish occupation of Naples, and that of the Vene-
tian towns in the Romagna seized by Pope Julius j but it is also possible
that he meant to allude to the English occupation of Tournay.

4 At Marignano, see ante, p. 133.

5 Meaning, probably, that the Emperor would employ the funds,
whether intended for Verona or Carinthia, on his personal pleasures,
which were of rather an expensive character.

6 It is probable that the secretary here alluded to was the Lucchese
Ammonius, Latin Secretary to Henry VIII., and who wished well to
Venice, as shown by a letter from him now before me, dated London,
A.D. 1513, June 3, addressed to a merchant in Venice named Nicolo
Chafiri. Andreas Ammonius, like Giustinian and Chieregato, was the
friend of Erasmus, to whom said Chieregato announces his death in a
letter dated Antwerp, 28th August, 151 7, making mention also of Gius-
tinian and of the secretary Sagudino. Chieregato, after mentioning his
own escape from the " sudor Britannicus" says : " Orator Venetus
pariter cum suo Saguttdino, qui nuper sudarunt, te maxime salvum
cupiunt ; hoc idem Ammonius noster faciebat $ sed proh dolor ! spatio
octo horarum sudario morbo absumtus est tanto animi mei moerore, tanta
tristitia, ut nullo remedio solari queam." Ex Antuerpia, 28th Augusto,
anno 1517. The fact of the sweating sickness having seized Sagudino
and Giustinian, is confirmed in subsequent despatches.

7 Edmond de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, alias " White Rose," had been
beheaded by order of Henry VIII. before his invasion of France in the
summer of 1513. The younger brother of Edmond, namely, Richard, here
alluded to, held a command at the time in the French service, and, on
the Duke's death, became the head of the York faction, and remained a
thorn in the side of Henry VIII. until the 24th of February, 1525, when
he fell fighting for France against Spain, in the battle of Pavia. Hume
(vol. iii. p. 95) mentions, that on the peace with France, made in
August, 1514, it was stipulated that Richard de la Pole should be
banished to Metz, there to live on a pension assigned him by Louis XII. ;
but doubtless " White Rose" distinguished himself at Marignano, at
the battle of Pavia, and his valour would have been ill requited by con-
finement at Metz.

London , July 29, 1516.

The right reverend Cardinal and the Bishop of Durham
are gone to his Majesty in the country, where he now is at a
distance of sixty miles hence, whither likewise an individual
has proceeded, said to be an ambassador from the Emperor,
and who arrived lately, in addition to the one already here,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 263

although some say that he is come in the name of the
Catholic King, as he is the lord steward of my lady Mar-
garet ; I have no doubt but that the Cardinal and the Bishop
are gone to learn his errand, and to decide as they shall think
fit. It is supposed that he is come either to demand money
to recruit the army of the Emperor destined for Italy; or
for funds required by the Catholic King for his voyage,
which is to be undertaken shortly, as some Spanish ships
have arrived at a little distance from this place on their way to
embark him. The King of Denmark has also sent him a ship
of 1,300 tons for his own person.1 The aforesaid Catholic
King has chartered as many as forty sail, which for the last
ten days have been awaiting his orders ; and it is reported
that on the day of the Assumption (August I5th), after attend-
ing a solemn mass, he will leave for Spain.

Within the last fortnight, his Majesty here has made
considerable remittances, some placing the amount at
200,000 crowns, and others at less. No one can certify at
whose request these moneys have been sent, although I have
employed all diligence and address to ascertain the fact; the
management of the affair is in the hands of only three
persons, who keep it secret ; but some say these funds have
been sent for the Imperial army, whilst others maintain that
they are for the voyage of his Catholic Majesty. Added to
this, a report circulates that the new ambassador is come to
get some more, nor is there any doubt but that he will need
considerable treasure, judging by the preparations, and from
the expense he is incurring ; and for my own part, all things
considered, my opinion is that the moneys already remitted,
and those now demanded, are for this purpose, and not on
account of the Emperor ; for I perceive the actual need of
the Catholic King, and do not see such immediate necessity
for recruiting the Imperial army ; it is possible, however,

264 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN G1USTINIAN

that the funds may be destined for both one and the other
purpose. I may also state, that (as your Signory will
learn by the accompanying), although the right reverend
Cardinal declared positively that he meant to defend Verona,
and subsidize the Emperor, yet is it possible that the
result may prove the contrary, not that I imagine these lords
better disposed than they were, but because they see that
their treasure is being spent in vain, and that consequently
loud murmurs and discontent prevail throughout this island ;
and possibly the words were uttered, to frighten your Excel-
lency into joining them against France. It is likely enough
they are building castles in the air, for they profess to have
the Pope on their side, whereas, by reason of his ambitious
projects in Italy,2 it is my belief, confirmed by the positive
assertions of the reverend nuncio of his Holiness here, that
he does not mean to declare himself against the most Chris-
tian King. They also boast of having the Catholic King
with them, which appears to me still less reasonable, for he
has not yet entered his kingdom, nor established himself,
whilst Burgundy and Flanders are very exposed to the aggres-
sions of France, so that he would scarcely show himself
hostile to his Majesty. Besides this, they assert that all the
cantons await their orders, which is most utterly false, the
Switzers having made terms with France, nor do I doubt
but that these are chimeras and fictions, all for the purpose
of detaching your Highness from the French alliance.

1 King Christian II. had married the Princess Isabella, the sister of King
Charles of Spain; in the year 1515; and apparently, the Danish monarch,
wishing to be civil to his brother-in-law on his accession, sent this vessel
for his passage to Spain.

2 Alluding to the seizure by the Pope of the duchy of Urbino, which
might have been impeded by France $ but, in contradiction of the belief
here expressed by the Venetian ambassador, Guicciardini (vol. iii. p. 196)
tells us that at the moment of the treaty of Noyon, Leo X. <was in bad
odour with Francis I.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 265

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, August 10, 1516.

I now inform your Excellency, that having sent my
secretary yesterday to the right reverend Cardinal for au-
dience, and to pay my respects to his lordship, he made
an appointment for to-day, inviting me to dine with him.
As his lordship was greatly occupied before dinner, it was
impossible to speak about anything ; but afterwards he took
me into a private room (whither the right reverend Bishop
of Durham likewise came) and asked whether I had received
a reply to the proposals made me by the King and by
his lordship, concerning the new league. I answered him
that I had not received any reply, as really there was not
yet time for the letters to have arrived at Venice and to be
acknowledged ; whereupon he rejoined, " Domine Orator,
this business must not be delayed : were you negligent or
careless in this matter, you would deserve great reproof,"
adding, that he doubted not, should I have written what he
proposed to me, but that your Signory would embrace this
offer, and not cherish this dragon to your own ruin, both the
Cardinal and the Bishop abusing the King of France without
reserve. After much had been said to this effect, no instruc-
tions soever from your Serenity in this matter having reached
me, and it seeming to me at the same time necessary so to
handle the business that, should your Excellency not think
fit to abandon the most Christian King, my words might
anticipate your reply ; whilst, on the other hand, in the
event of your acceding to the wishes of these lords, they
might remain satisfied, I thought fit to observe that I saw
three obstacles to this project : first, your plighted faith and
the close confederacy existing between your Signory and the

266 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

most Christian King ; secondly, the title of his Majesty to
the Milanese, which belongs to him indisputably by here-
ditary right; thirdly, the interest of your Signory with
reference to Verona, and to the mutual agreement whereby
you are bound to defend and maintain the King of France in
the Milanese, he on his part recovering your territory and
supporting you therein ; so that I did not perceive how
your Excellency could embrace this project without the
indelible stigma of treachery (which you had ever shunned,
as the ship does the rock), unless his most Christian Majesty
betray your Signory : add to which the right exercised by
the King of France over the Milanese, so that I knew not
what cause could induce your Excellency to fail in your
engagements and act unjustly, by depriving his Majesty of
what by right appertains to him. I also laid before him
the debt of gratitude we owe to France, whereas the
Emperor had left nothing undone to deprive us of our
State ; nor has it sufficed him to employ his force and
authority where available, but he has moreover induced his
Majesty here to disburse much treasure, to the detriment of
those who are more his friends than the Emperor himself;
nor was his lordship ignorant, I continued, that the greatest
possible cause of friendship, whether between two states
or two individuals, consists in their mutual good offices.
Still, I said, these were not the expressions of your Excel-
lency, but my own private opinion, and that I was expect-
ing letters to acquaint me with your decision hereon ;
assuring his right reverend lordship that in either case, and
under every resolve, your Signory would always be most
obsequious towards his Majesty, and ever anxious to pro-
mote his glory and increase, so far as compatible with your
own honour.

His lordship interrupted me several times in reply to what

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 267

I was saying ; and the substance of the expressions uttered
by him at various intervals purported, that your Excellency
could not but be praised for the observance of your faith,
though you should also bear in mind that this observance
was undue to one who does not acknowledge such, or keep
it, and this to the destruction of the Christian common-
wealth ; neither ought you, for a trifling national advantage, to
offend all the princes in Christendom ; and that should your
Excellency persevere in this system, they would unite to
deprive you not merely of Verona, but also of all the rest
of your territory ; adding, that the maintenance of faith
should not deter your Excellency from accepting this great
invitation, for that the King of France is ever plotting and
negotiating for peace with the Emperor, offering, said he,
" to abandon you, and this is as true as the gospel j and
the negotiation about which I spoke to you the other day,1
between him and the Catholic King, concerning the marriage
of his daughter, stipulating for the desertion of your Signory
and non-intervention in the affairs of Verona, is confirmed."
This, he said, he knew with as much certainty as the
fact of his being a Cardinal ; nay, that so long back as
when King Francis was at Bologna, with the Pope,2 this
matter had been negotiated, and that he then promised
his Holiness to abandon your Excellency should the Em-
peror come to terms with him ; and here he exclaimed,
" See, now, whether you have good cause to desert the
King of France." Upon this I interrupted him, saying,
that should your Excellency ascertain this, I considered
the business would be easy, as you would choose to take
counsel and provide for your interests : if, indeed, you
lacked this certainty, I did not know how you could form
such a resolve. His right reverend lordship then rejoined,
"Possibly his Majesty the King, and I, who am at least

268 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

a Cardinal, do not deserve an ' //*, indeed.9 ' I said that
his Majesty and his lordship deserved all credit, though it
might indeed chance that both one and the other had been
deceived by false reporters, anxious for that very result.
Much was said hereon, with all discretion, on both sides ;
but the truth is, in brief, that the Cardinal would fain have
his mere assertions credited by the Signory without further
proof. His lordship continued, that even if the duchy of
Milan did appertain to the King of France, yet was it not
fitting that he should therefore occupy all Italy, to the ruin
of your Excellency and others, as would necessarily take
place should he remain in the Milanese ; and he continued,
" Inform your Signory, that if it chooses to adhere to this
new league, his Majesty will find means to make your
peace with the Emperor, and that it shall forthwith have
the city of Verona on fair terms ; and if the State chooses,
we will make interest with the Pope to absolve you from
your oath of confederacy with the King of France. You
perceive that you are in bad odour with all the potentates
of the world, for you never benefited any but yourselves,
which everybody knows ; and so do not stir up the whole
universe against you, for the King of France likewise will
prove your enemy." I told him, that if your Excellency
defended the King of France, you did so, not for the sake
of injuring any one, whether prince or subject, but in
maintenance of that faith which ought to be kept even
with an enemy, still more with friends ; and, under all cir-
cumstances, however well versed his lordship might be in
ancient and modern history, he would never find that those
who kept faith had been otherwise than praised and esteemed
by their very enemies ; and should your Excellency not
have many friendly powers, this proceeded from your having
defended yourself on provocation against those who sought

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 269

to harm you. Should the Christian religion, I continued, be
asked whether your Excellency has ever done aught for the
preservation of any sovereign, and that it were able to reply,
it would say, that your Excellency had spent more money
and shed more blood for the faith of Christ, and for the
preservation of His name on earth, than all the other princes
of Christendom ; to which witness is borne, not by anti-
quated legends, but by sanguinary battles fought from the
middle of the last century down to the present day against
the Turks, and especially with the grandfather and father
of the reigning Sultan ;3 in the accounts of which battles
may be read the slaughter effected and endured ; how many
armadas were destroyed on either side ; what towns and
places, now in the hands of the Turk, were lost : all which
facts show whether your Excellency acted for yourself, or
pro fide et pro omnibus Christianis. To the offer of Verona,
indeed, I said I could make no reply ; and that also what
I had stated hitherto was merely my own opinion, and not
the resolve of your Excellency. To this he made answer,
charging me to despatch my letters speedily and with dili-
gence, and to notify the whole to your Excellency accu-
rately. I promised him to perform this office as I would
a personal affair affecting my own life. He then rejoined,
" Should you do so, I think your Signory will determine
on being with us ; for, were I in your senate, I would stake
my life on persuading it to what I have told you ;" and
with this I took leave, his lordship saying to me, " Send
an express, for there is no time to lose." In the course
of these colloquies, when his lordship was speaking of the
Pope, I asked him if he thought his Holiness wished the
most Christian King to go out of Italy ; whereupon, both
the Cardinal and the Bishop of Durham made answer,
" Would that you were equally anxious ! for, so long as

2/0 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

the King of France is in Italy, the Pope considers himself
his chaplain/'

Most serene Prince, this matter is brought to such a
pass that I can no longer sustain it on my own shoulders,
appearing to speak in my private capacity, and perhaps I
ought not to have said so much ; but, considering myself
sure of the intention of your Excellency, I chose to deliver
these proems. Because, should your Excellency write in
conformity, I shall have already made the due excuse ;
in such wise, that if they do not approve of the reply, your
Signory will at least not be blamed or accused ; whereas,
in case you accede to their wishes, the resolve will so delight
them that they will forget what was unpalatable in my
replies. So I pray and beseech you to write, should you
think it expedient thus to do ; as I do not doubt but that
the reply will be of such wisdom as to guarantee the State,
and heal the wounds of England.

1 The treaty of Noyon, see ante p. 239.

2 In the month of December, 1515.

3 Selim I. reigned from 1512 to 15205 his father, Bajazet II., from
1481 to 1512; his grandfather, Mahomet II., the conqueror of Con-
stantinople, from 1451 to 14.81.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London , August 1 1 , 1516.

After writing the accompanying, having heard that the
right reverend Cardinal was going to take his pleasure for a
few days, I went to his lordship to see if I could learn any-
thing else before his return, and being introduced to him, he
said to me, " Domine Orator, do as I advised you yesterday

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 2JI

warmly, for your own weal, and that of the Christian re-
ligion, and explain thoroughly to the Signory, that the inten-
tion of all these future confederates is chiefly to expel the King
of France from Italy, and to this end, Verona will be surren-
dered to you, which would not be done otherwise, and you
will be masters of Italy, all the other Christian potentates
being thus secured against the immoderate ambition of the
King of France, who will not be so scrupulous about
breaking faith as you have been. In order that your Sig-
nory may know the whole, write to it with regard to the
affair of Verona, that, on consenting to join the league, it
must immediately send you a power to draw up the clauses,
and we will do the like with the Emperor, who we see
disposed to be reconciled to your Signory ; and we will
discuss how this surrender should be made, whether before
or after the expulsion from Italy of the King of" France,
giving hostages or security for not failing in the stipula-
tions." To this I merely replied that I would carefully
notify the whole to your Highness ; but I will not omit
mentioning this other circumstance, that his lordship having
repeated the conceits of yesterday, respecting the selfish-
ness of the policy adopted by your Highness, who was
solely intent on your own aggrandisement, regardless of the
welfare of any other Christian state, I determined to expunge
this taint, and told him that his lordship derived his informa-
tion from certain outlaws and malcontents,1 who are both
unable and unwilling to comprehend what is well done, but
that I could give him information concerning the events
of the last five-and-twenty years, wherein I either took an
active part, or assisted at their negotiation in the Senate, and
thereby he might comprehend that all the acts of your
Excellency had been honourably conceived and executed,
more indeed to the advantage of other potentates than to

272 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

your own. I then commenced, by reminding him that your
Excellency was the potentate who, at your very great cost,
placed Duke Hercules, of Este, on the throne of Ferrara,2
despite the wish and efforts of the then reigning Duke of
Milan. The gratitude we obtained, consisted in that very
fierce war which took place at the suggestion of Pope
Sixtus, owing to the insolencies and unbearable proceedings
of its Duke. On the other hand, when Pope Alexander
wanted to give the investiture of Ferrara to the Duke of
Valentinois (Caesar Borgia), on his inquiring if our Signory
would consent to this, your Excellency openly declared to
him that you would never allow of the expulsion of Hercules
of Este, so it behoved him turn his thoughts elsewhere.
Then, again, the first sovereign to acknowledge Ludovic
the Moor Duke of Milan,3 and to support him after he
obtained that duchy, was your Excellency. Subsequently,
owing to the dissensions in Italy, he called King Charles
across the Alps,4 giving him to understand that we would
not consent to this, in order that he might come as the
enemy of your Excellency, who, aware hereof, did consent
to his coming; and when said King had subjugated the
kingdom of Naples, he came on his return to seize the
Milanese, when the Duke sent once more as a suppliant, to
implore aid of your Excellency, who, to revenge the in-
juries received, sent him an army twice as numerous as the
one you have now in the field, both in men-at-arms (cavalry)
and infantry, in aid of his own forces, which were not
powerful. An engagement took place at Jerold,5 said King
being routed and despoiled of all his baggage,6 and his army
would have been utterly destroyed, and himself captured,
had not the Duke changed sides and given him succour and
the means to escape. Also, after the expulsion from the
kingdom of Naples, and death of King Alfonso,7 King

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII.

Ferdinand wanting to recover his kingdom out of the hands'
of the French, begged subsidies of all the princes in Christen-
dom, but obtained succour from none other than your Signory,
who sent him the Marquis of Mantua, and your proveditor,
Contarini, with the whole army, and in a few months the
French were expelled that kingdom : it was then restored
to said Ferdinand, and for the moneys disbursed by your
Signory to said King, you received as security those places
in Puglia,8 which the late Catholic King afterwards chose to
seize without ransom. Concerning the Marquis of Mantua,
forsooth, all Italy and the world can bear witness to how
much benefit, and money, and honour, he has received from
your Excellency ; yet did he not scruple to take up arms
against you,9 and at length being made Captain-General and
set at liberty, and restored to his former grade of Com-
mander-in-Chief, he showed himself more hostile towards
your Signory than ever. For the house of Medici, again,
when in exile, your Excellency expended a world of gold
for its restoration, and routed an army of Florentines ;10 so
that, had not the sovereigns of Christendom roused the
Turk against you, that family would have been restored to
Florence even then. Item, in my time all the petty princes
of Italy have not only been benefited by your Signory, but
have been in receipt of your pay, and that to a considerable
amount ; and I say <?//, with the exception of the Lord of
Piombino, who wanted 40,000 ducats per annum, whereas
your Signory would not give him more than 25,000, and
thus his services alone were not retained.

To what you have done for the holy Apostolic Chair, the
whole universe bears witness ; and as I told him yesterday,
the treasure and blood of your citizens, poured forth so
much to the detriment of your State, proves this clearly.
With regard to the Emperor, who doubts but that the war

VOL. i. T

274 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

waged by your Excellency with King Louis of France, in
which you lost all your territory on the main land, was
induced by your having chosen to be the friend of his
Imperial Majesty, and to sign the truce with him,11 without
the consent of said King ? owing to which, he and the rest
of the potentates of Christendom, with the exception of this
King of England, formed that universal conspiracy at the
congress of Cambray. I told his lordship that much more
might be said on this subject, but that these were the facts
which occurred to me at the moment ; these the acts of
aggression perpetrated by you against the Christian common-
wealth; these the injuries and frauds committed for your
own advantage ; and these, moreover, the fruits received by
you for so much toil and treasure lavished by the State, and
so many perils undergone by your Signory ; wherefore, I
besought his lordship, when such libellers gave him informa-
tion of the kind narrated, to bear in mind the facts stated by
me, and that all these things took place since my own entry
into public life. One thing I forgot to mention in my letter
of yesterday, namely, that on my alleging that your Sub-
limity could not reasonably ally yourself to the Emperor,
who by all ways and means is injuring you, and desert the
most Christian King from whom you receive benefit, both
these reverend prelates rejoined that this proposal was more
for the benefit of your Highness than of others ; and that the
moneys they are spending to expel the King of France from
Italy, and to defend Verona, have for object to prevent your
Excellency's losing all the rest of your territory, which the
King of France would doubtless occupy, were it not for the
resistance he experiences ; to which I made answer that this
benefit was accidental, and not intended for our advantage,
nor could I deem it beneficial for your Excellency, the
occupying your territory and making you spend so much

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 275

treasure for its recovery, which is, however, all to the detri-
ment of his Majesty here, as your forces, your moneys, and
your State, whatever its extent, will be held for the mere
convenience and increase of England. In conclusion, his
right reverend lordship said to me, " Domine orator, let us
arrange this holy confederation for the benefit of the Christian
powers, making you the lords in authority over Italy, and
sending this Gaul,12 back into his kingdom of France." I
said I would write the whole with all diligence, and so took
leave.

1 From a passage in despatch of May 8th, it may be inferred that
the outlaws or emigrants here alluded to were the Milanese Visconte de
Visconti, and his son Anchises.

2 Borso of Este, Duke of Ferrara, died on the igth of August, 1471 j
and his nephew, Nicolo, was supported in his claims to the sovereignty
of Ferrara by Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, and by Louis
Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, whilst Venice favoured Hercules of Este,
with whom and the Republic war commenced in May, 1482, at the
close of which year Pope Sixtus IV. took part for Duke Hercules.
Peace ensued in August, 1484 ; and the protection conceded by Venice
to Ferrara against Caesar Borgia, dates from the year 1500, when Pope
Alexander VI. being unable to get Ferrara for his son, obtained it for
Lucrezia, by marrying her to Don Alfonso, the son and heir of Duke
Hercules.

3 Ludovic Sforza, the Moor, commenced his reign A.D. 1494, but was
virtually sovereign from the year 1480.

4 Charles VIII. entered Italy in the autumn of 1494.

6 A.D. 1495, July 6 ; commonly called the battle of Fornovo, or of
the Taro.

6 One item of this baggage may yet be seen in St. Mark's treasury,
namely, a square coffer covered with blue velvet, and powdered with
lilies, which, at the moment of the rout, contained two massive gold
seals, one being the King's own, whilst the other had belonged to his
father, Louis XI., and the coffer also enclosed a miniature portrait of
the Dauphin, then three years old.

7 King Alfonso died in November, 1495 ; his son, Ferdinand II.
received succour from the Venetians, A.D. 1495 and 1496 ; and the Car-
dinal Bembo (vol. i. p. 126) mentions that the Proveditor Bernardo
Contarini had the command, on this occasion, of 500 light horse, the
Marquis of Mantua being commander-in-chief of the Venetian forces.
The ambassador omits mentioning another claim which the Signory had
on the gratitude of Ludovic Sforza, namely, his life, which the Provedi-
tor Bernardo Contarini, who was a tall and powerful man, offered to

276 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

take in the council chamber, to revenge the treachery displayed after the
battle of Fornovo by the Duke, who impeded the homeward march of
the Venetians, who, however, did not think fit to avail themselves of
Contarini's kind offer. (See Bembo, vol. i. p. 100.)

8 The cautionary towns here alluded to were Trani, Brindisi, and
Otranto. (See Bembo, vol. i. p. 117.)

9 At the time of the league of Cambray, A.D. 1509, when he was
made prisoner, and escorted from Padua towards Venice by the Provedi-
tor Christopher Moro, alias Othello.

10 At Vico Pisano, A.D. 14.96. (See Bembo, vol. i. p. 136.)

11 A.D. 1508. (See Bembo, vol. i. p. 36.)

12 Et che questo Gallo vadi a goder el suo Regno di Franza.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, August 17, 1516.

Having heard that Cardinal Wolsey was going to the
King, to stay with his Majesty till Michaelmas, I went to
pay my respects to him, when he told me that he should
not leave London, solely on account of the present negotia-
tions, and in the expectation of letters from your Highness.
In the course of conversation he said to me, u Domine
orator, it is my belief that you have written what I told you,
which is for your benefit and that of the Christian common-
wealth, and knowing you to be a lover of your country,
I imagine you are anxious that this holy confederation should
take effect. I told you lately, that should you choose to
detach yourselves from the King of France, we would
endeavour to get Verona for you, on obtaining which, and
the King of France being expelled Italy, you would be para-
mount there ; but as time is requisite to carry out these
negotiations, I have thought of proposing to you, as from
myself, a truce until the spring, and in the mean while,
some resolution might be formed by your Signory, and also

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 277

by the Emperor, who we perceive to be well inclined
towards a reconciliation, on condition of your expelling the
King of France from Italy, and so I have chosen to confide
this secret to you, and to hear your opinion. Tell me,
therefore, what you deem expedient in this matter, for
on the one hand I see you exalted to greater power than
ever, through the favour of so many Christian potentates,
whilst on the other should you persist in this opinion of not
abandoning the aforesaid King, I perceive your ruin, both
because the King of France being powerful in Italy, will
have you under command, and besides that you will have
all the Christian princes leagued against you. It will be our
duty indeed to encourage this, and even to stimulate the
King of France himself against you, which will be an easy
matter, as he is anxious for a reconciliation with the other
powers, so that it does not appear to me that there is any
difficulty in this :" — saying which, his lordship summoned
me to tell him my opinion well nigh on every point.

I, most serene Prince, refused to say what I thought, either
about the truce, or the main object, being well aware that my
salt was not equal to seasoning this dish, for by agreeing with
him, I should have prejudiced the affairs of your Excellency,
whilst contradiction would have rendered him hostile
and inimical, so that I adroitly avoided any sign of consent
or repugnance, but told him invariably that I would write
with all diligence to your Sublimity. When his lordship
said that should your Excellency desert France, you would
be the mistress of Italy, and on his urging me strongly to say
what I thought, and what I imagined your Excellency would
do, I never would answer more than this, that your Signory
would do what was fair, since, when it lay between equity
and profit, you rejected the latter, and abided by the former,
as becoming every State, and especially republics. His

278 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

lordship hereupon inquired of me, " Would it not be fair
for you to quit the King of France, should he have failed in
his bounden duty to you ?" I answered in the affirmative ;
and that this might prove a very powerful cause : he then
said,, " Would it not seem to you fair to desert the King of
France, for the good of the Christian commonwealth, even
had he not failed you ; perceiving him to be of such ambi-
tion, that he aspires to the sovereignty of Christendom ?"
To this, I said, that hereon it was neither in my power
or my duty to form an opinion, it appertaining to your
Highness to prefer good faith to the common peril, should
peril exist ; or, on the other hand, to take more heed, for
such perils> than for the observance of your faith. With
regard to the truce, although indeed perfectly convinced that
this had been introduced for the sole purpose of detaching
your Excellency from the most Christian King, and suspend-
ing you in the air without the support of any one, and that I
therefore did not choose to say what I thought about it,
nevertheless, in order to obtain a reply through his rejoinder,
I inquired of him whether this proposed truce was to
include the most Christian King, or to be made for
your Serenity alone, and he answered as it were in surprise,
that it related solely to your Excellency, and that there
was no question of the King of France, either in war,
or peace, or truce. I did not choose to make any farther
reply, it being easy for him to comprehend my conviction
that this amounted to nothing else than leaving your Excel-
lency single-handed ; as, on the French King's learning that
you had made truce without him, he would know that he was
deserted by you, and consequently his Majesty would abandon
your Excellency ; and because I had already told him, that
the cause of the war waged by your Excellency with King
Louis, who subsequently formed the league of Cambray,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 279

was the truce made by you with the Emperor, without his
consent. His lordship, therefore, without the aid of a direct
reply to his proposal, will have comprehended both by my
silence and by that precedent, not merely my opinion but its
justification likewise ; and, should your Signory perchance
consider that I ought to have asserted more openly the
unfitness of such a truce, I would submit that in this manner
I had done so already ; nor do I think a stronger expression
of opinion food adapted for my stomach, such a reply rather
requiring to be first of all digested by your Highness. More-
over, had I openly expressed disapproval of this truce, I
should have thereby encouraged this side to give all possible
succour to Verona, and to use every endeavour towards
effecting the greatest mischief; whereas my silence will
perhaps give them hope of the truce, and prevent their
sending more money, either for the defence of Verona, or
to recruit a fresh army. I have some idea that for this
winter they will not do anything more ; and on this account
they would fain effect the truce, lest your Excellency recover
Verona without their consent.1

1 By the treaty signed atNoyon on the ijth of August, 1516, between
France and Spain, after provisions affecting the chief contracting parties,
" arrangements were made for the pacification of Italy, without which
Francis saw little hope of establishment in the Milanese, and Charles
despaired of extricating his Neapolitan territories from the rival claims
which were extended over them. The King of France acted for Venice j
and the King of Spain declared, that unless his grandfather Maximilian
should assent within two months to the terms, he would cease to assist
him with either men or money. Verona, by this treaty, was to be
restored to Venice ; but in order to save the Emperor's honour, it was
to be surrendered first to Charles, to be transferred by him, after six
weeks' occupation, to Francis, and not to be delivered to its ultimate
master till after the payment of one hundred thousand ducats. Maxi-
milian at first expressed anger and astonishment at this unheard-of dicta-
tion by an almost beardless youth, and indignantly applied to England
for assistance, offering to Henry VIII., as the price of his friendship, if
he would defray the charge of such an expedition, to open a passage to
Rome at the head of fifty thousand men, there to celebrate his own

23o DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

coronation, and to declare his ally King of the Romans and his succes-
sor. Henry, undeluded by these magnificent but empty promises, coldly
declined, replying, that he was contented with his hereditary dominions;
and Maximilian, perceiving his inability to resist single-handed, accepted
the terms, and ratified a long truce with Venice. Thus, after eight
years' uninterrupted struggle, in the course of which at one time all had
been lost except her insular dominions, Venice emerged from her mighty
dangers ; shorn, indeed, of some of her more recent conquests, but still
outwardly powerful and largely increased in glory. Her firmness and
her prudence had saved her while tottering almost on the verge of ruin ;
and never did she exhibit herself in a prouder attitude than that which
she calmly maintained under the heaviest pressure of her late complicated
disasters. Over these she had at length triumphed; her immediate losses
were Cremona, the borders of the Adda and the Romagna ; her future
dangers arose from the neighbourhood of powers superior to herself, and
from the burden of a national debt, incurred for the support of the past
exhausting war, and amounting to five millions of ducats, a sum near
equalling eight millions sterling of our present money." — Extract from
Sketches from Venetian History, (vol. ii. pp. 228-229. Ed. London,
Murray, 1838.)

The efforts of Henry VIII., or rather of Wolsey, Ruthal, and the
Duke of Norfolk, to prevent the treaty of Noyon, are not mentioned,
either by Hume or Lingard ; but from the foregoing despatches it may
be inferred that the close negotiations carried on between the English
Cabinet and the ambassadors of the Emperor and of Spain had this in
view. The subsequent letters of Sebastian Giustinian especially show
what the ambassador thought of the sorry figure which the English
Cabinet made when the French herald came to announce the treaty of
Noyon, disproving so utterly the assertion made by Cardinal Wolsey,
that Spain was closely linked with England.

The fact of the offer of Maximilian to appoint Henry VIII. his suc-
cessor, is mentioned by Lingard (vol. vi. p. 50), who quotes Fiddes (p.
114) as his authority 5 and the date of this curious proposal, which was
moreover to procure for our sovereign the investiture of the Duchy of
Milan, bears date A.D. 1516, May 17. It is not stated upon what docu-
mentary evidence Fiddes based his assertion (though it may be the
despatches of Wyngfield), certainly no mention of this matter exists in
the portfolio of Giustinian, who, on the other hand, by recording the
intended visit of Maximilian to London in the letter mentioned, Sept.
1516, gives news which is not noted by our historians.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 28 1

London, August 24, 1516.

Whilst expecting letters from your Sublimity, I on the
23rd instant received two, one dated the I5th and the other
the 1 6th ultimo, and shortly afterwards the duplicates reached
me by way of Rome. Of these two missives from your
Serenity, the one announced the incursion made by the
enemy, and the plundering of Vicenza,1 and was well
drawn up, and expatiated on the deed as becoming its
atrocity ; the other was from the high Council of Ten,
concerning the negotiations transacted with the most serene
King here and the right reverend Cardinal, in reply to
mine of the 3rd and 5th of June. On the receipt of these
letters I went to his lordship, and fairly communicated to
him the whole of their contents; of the one, indeed, alluding
to the negotiations I did not omit a syllable, it seeming to
me a well-considered letter, composed with all skill and
caution, in conformity with the wisdom of your Highness.
His lordship listened to it most attentively ; and then,
having, I suspect, attended more to the words instead of
weighing the meaning of the writer, said, " I perceive that
the most illustrious Signory desires to be reconciled to the
Emperor, who will also be disposed that way. But I see
that you want Verona, and you shall have it ; and if you
will do as I advise, and as I told you, for I imagine you
subsequently wrote the whole, you will give law to Italy."
I, indeed, did not choose to proceed further, acting re-
servedly, as I perceive your Excellency with such admirable
skill and reserve to do in this matter. His lordship added,
that he should remain in expectation of the reply to the
letters which treat of the surrender of Verona, that some
satisfactory arrangement might be made; plausibly urging
the policy of the union between your Excellency and the

282 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

proposed confederates, since " you ought," said his lordship,
" to guard against your imminent ruin, at which I see this
King of France is aiming, in order to establish himself in the
Milanese; and I inform you, besides the other facts pre-
viously mentioned, that I to-day received a letter from Rome,
from the Pope, telling me that the King of France promises
the Emperor not only to restore Brescia to him, and to aid
his defence of Verona, but to sacrifice your Signory to
Maximilian, giving him 200,000 crowns for the investiture
of the Milanese, and for reconciliation to his Majesty. The
mediator in this matter seems to be one Monseigneur de
Chievres, chief councillor and ambassador of the Catholic
King, to whom great gifts and presents have been promised
by the King of France, should he conclude this matter with
the Emperor;2 and that you may see I am not deceiving
you, I will show you proof." Here he made one of his
attendants bring him an extract of a letter from Rome, dated
the 4th inst., the writer's name not being given, yet he said
it was intelligence from his Holiness ; and these letters con-
tained many other particulars, including, moreover, notice of
the pontiff's illness ; and almost at the foot of the page was
precisely what his lordship had told me by word of mouth,
as I wrote above, concerning which your Excellency will
form such opinion as you may think fit. I deemed it improper
to pass the matter over in silence, because, should the most
Christian King act loyally and faithfully by your Highness,
you will treat this announcement as it merits ; whilst, on the
other hand, should you perceive his Majesty aforesaid to
waver, or show signs ill suited to the deserts of your High-
ness, this notice will help you to a decision. Much was
said hereon by his lordship, concerning the bad faith and
ambition of the most Christian King, and he declared that
your Excellency had no greater or more inveterate enemies

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 283

in the world than the French. The pontiff he pronounced
to be excellently disposed towards favouring your Sublimity,
and reconciling you to the Emperor and his adherents,
urging strongly the acceptance of the offer made by his lord-
ship heretofore, and which I wrote to your Highness. I,
indeed, not choosing to quit the path pointed out to me by
your Excellency, referred myself to such replies as I may
receive to my former letters written hereon, especially as his
lordship said so too, and was of the same opinion.

Jt being my wish to go and see the King, who is some
hundred miles away, taking his pleasure with the most serene
Queens of England and Scotland,3 for the purpose of com-
municating these letters to him, and also in proof of similar
announcements having been made to his Majesty, I imparted
my intention to the Cardinal, who dissuaded me from doing
so, as he said the King was gone for his amusement, and did
not choose to be troubled by anybody, or to be saddled with
any business, and that he had left his lordship to negotiate and
despatch state affairs. He promised, however, that he would
thoroughly acquaint him with the whole : so, perceiving this
to be his opinion, and as he would have had me denied, or
withheld from me the light of his own countenance had I
gone without his consent, I determined to delay, and content
myself with the discussion of these affairs with his lordship.
This conference, indeed, extended far beyond the details of
this letter, for I confirmed all that your Serenity had said, both
about the position of Verona, how it is situated between
Lombardy and the march of Treviso, and how the borders
of the Veronese territory are linked and joined in one direc-
tion with those of the Vicentine, and in the other with those
of the Brescian province ; and in like manner did I comment
on whatever else needed explanation, so that I do not think
I could have conferred more fully with his Majesty than I

284 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

did with his lordship. With regard to the letter con-
cerning the sack of Vicenza, his lordship said he much
lamented the cruelty of the thing, and would fain put an end
to such casualties by reconciling the sovereigns of Christen-
dom. All, however, he said, depended upon your Excel-
lency ; and although aware that I might fairly have rejoined
by proving that the King here and his lordship are the cause
of everything, yet did I deem it expedient to be silent, to
avoid irritating him, and in order not to alienate his Majesty
from your Excellency, who, in this negotiation, will act
according to your integrity and wisdom. I implore the
Father Eternal to enlighten your mind that it may decide
well, and to reconduct you ad vtam pads et prosper itatis.

1 The sack of Vicenza is dated in Guicciardini on the night of Satur-
day, July 2 8th, which date is confirmed by the diaries of Sanuto, about
a fortnight before the despatch of the letter alluded to, which arrived
'via Rome.

2 By this it would seem that Cardinal Wolsey received his news of
the conferences of Noyon in Picardy, *vid Rome ! and it is also strange
that he should style Mons. de Chievres, who ruled the young King of
Spain and his realms, one Mons. de Chifevres, as if he were an obscure
underling : nor is it very intelligible why he gives him the title of
ambassador (orator) and not that of plenipotentiary, seeing that his mis-
sion was not to the King, and that he went to Noyon to meet the French
negotiators, and not their sovereign.

3 We thus see that Queen Margaret had not yet availed herself of the
permission to return to Scotland which was conceded her in May, as
stated in a former despatch.

London, September 7, 1516.

* * * Since the receipt of news, announcing the
agreement between his most Christian Majesty and the
marriage, etc.,1 I understand from one who is very deep in
these secrets, though I know not how he may be inclined
towards the King of France and your Highness, that eight

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 285

or ten days hence .an event will transpire utterly at variance
with this agreement. And when he was asked in reply how
it was possible and reasonable, whilst the agreement was so
fresh, to abrogate it thus, which would prove either fraud or
great inconstancy on the part of one of the contracting parties,
which I could not bring myself to believe of either of them,
as it was reasonable to suppose that the matter had been well
pondered by the ministers of the respective Sovereigns, my
informant made answer, " I will not unfold this matter farther ;
but remember that you will see the result tally with my as-
sertion/'2 Also, from another good source I have heard that
the negotiations for the league, which the right reverend
» Cardinal told me was to be formed, had been already agreed
to, and its articles signed by the Pope, the Emperor, and the
Catholic King ; but, when these clauses were presented to
the Cardinal, he said he chose the Catholic King to bind
himself to supply the King of England with provisions for
his money, and not oppose him, in case his Majesty should
think fit to invade France, which being notified to his
aforesaid Catholic Highness, he determined on making the
agreement with the most Christian King as effected ; on
which account many of these lords cast great blame on
the right reverend Cardinal, who is the master of this game.
I respectfully announce these things, such as they are, to
your Sublimity, without vouching for them, as " Deus verax
et omnls homo mendax" but the condition of the persons
from whom I hear this intelligence, induces me to write it.
Your Highness, who is most sage, will draw such inference
as you may think fit; and as what I have written above
concerning the remittances, does not coincide with my
former letters, in which I mention that the right reverend
Cardinal had constantly declared to me that he meant to
defend Verona for the Emperor, not merely with money,

DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

but, should need be, with his life. I consequently was per-
plexed by this contradiction, but at length am convinced
that these words may have been uttered by him for the sake
of more easily inducing your Highness to adhere to what
you well know ; nor can I otherwise reconcile this with the
universal assurance of those who manage the affairs of this
kingdom.

Item^ certain military commanders, some of the first in
this kingdom, have lately been sent to TournaL,3 in conse-
sequence, some say, of three hundred French spears having
lately taken up their quarters at a short distance from that
city, which makes this side apprehend some attack on that
quarter, wherefore they sent these commanders to make
opportune provision. Others, on the contrary, assert that
this King having ordered the construction of a very strong
fortress in Tournai, the people apparently rebelled, not
choosing to endure this curb ; which stir is attributed by
these lords to the most Christian King, and is said to be the
cause of their errand. I know not which of these stories be
the true one : your Highness will perhaps receive more
certain intelligence through the most noble Badoer.4

1 Namely, the marriage of the infant daughter of Francis I. to the
King of Spain, as Stipulated by the treaty of Noyon.

" This was probably a hint concerning the secret treaty between
Henry VIII. and the Emperor and the King of Spain, which was signed
on the zgth of October, 1516, and was published by Rymer xin. 566.

3 In date of the year 1 51 5, Hume alludes to the repairing the fortifi-
cations of Terroiienne by France, having been considered as a breach of
treaty ; but of what had taken place in the immediate neighbourhood of
Tournai, in the summer of 1516, to arouse the jealousy of England, no
note is made by that historian. Lingard, quoting Fiddes, writes that in
the month of May, 1516, the Emperor had proposed to the English
agent, Wyngfield, that Henry VIII. should march with an army by
way of 'Tournai to Treves, cross the Alps at Coir, and receive the
investiture of the Duchy of Milan ; the Emperor promising, moreover,
to resign the imperial crown in his favour ! Nor is any other mention
made in this year of Tournai, in whose preservation, however^ Wolsey

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 287

was much interested, as he administered its bishopric } and, indeed, the
refusal of King Francis to oust Louis Gaillart, to whom the see lawfully
belonged, but who refused to tender allegiance to " the foreign invader"
is supposed to have been the chief cause of the Cardinal's violent ani-
mosity against France, of which these despatches contain so many in-
stances.

4 Giovanni Badoer, Doctor and Knight, the Venetian ambassador in
France. (See Sanuto's Diaries, and also the despatches of the ambassa-
dor Marco Minio, from the Court of Leo X.)

London, September 22, 1516.

Much news has arrived within the last few days by way
of France and Flanders, purporting that your Excellency
had obtained Verona on fair terms. At the same time let-
ters were received from the Emperor, dated the loth inst.,
and enclosing others from the Lord Marc Antonio Colonna,
to the effect that the French army and that of your Sublimity
had effected a junction under Verona, and that he and the
garrison made a sally and repulsed the besiegers, and that the
powder had been burnt,1 so that he considered the affairs of
Verona safe for the Emperor. These conflicting statements
keep not only me, but all the servants of your Highness in
great distress, for we await the news of this acquisition as
anxiously as the Jews did the Messiah, being of opinion that
so great a gain would prove the salvation of the republic ;
besides which, I cannot shape my course as I should do
were I sure of the result, since in one case it would be-
hove me steer to larboard, and in the other to starboard ; so
I beseech your Highness to deign and acquaint me with these
matters, either through your own medium, or that of your
ambassadors.

The Papal nuncio, moreover, having paid me a visit
yesterday, gave me all the following intelligence, which

288 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

he said came from a good source : first, that the Lord Marc
Antonio Colonna had repulsed certain lansquenets who
were with the French army and that of your Highness, and
had brought succour into Vienna. Item, that the King of
England had brought over to his side nine of the Swiss
cantons, which were previously agreed with his most Chris-
tian Majesty.2 Item, that his Holiness was agreed with his
Majesty here ; and this he told me apologizing for having
constantly assured me (when I mentioned to him a short
while ago that the Cardinal declared the Pope would side
with England) that I must attach no weight to such a state-
ment, as possibly his Holiness gave fair promises to all,
though in fact he would be neutral, as the common father
of Christendom. The Nuncio, I say, now asked my par-
don for having spoken so confidently of the Pope's neu-
trality, as his Holiness now meant to side with his Majesty ;
and that to this effect he was in daily expectation of a Papal
nuncio, by name Julio Latino,3 who would come to con-
clude this business, remaining a fortnight in London and
then go back, and that he, Chieregato, should remain to
transact the public business.

Item, he told me that the King's secretary4 had assured
him that two months hence his Majesty will cross the
Channel to Calais ; and when I replied that it was not
reasonable that he should choose to cross in the depth of
winter, both because of the weather and by reason of the
scarcity of provisions, he vowed that it had thus been
affirmed by the secretary aforesaid. In course of con-
versation he told me, that these ambassadors from the
Emperor and the Switzers were not importunate for money
from his Majesty, who had determined on sending a certain
small quantity : and through another channel I have heard
that it is true these lords are going to send 10,000 ducats to

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 289

the Emperor, who has determined on very shortly coming
into this kingdom, these moneys being sent to him for
his travelling expenses, and that 5,000 ducats per month
have been appointed for his board. This appears to me
important news but scarcely credible ; what I really believe,
and what appears to me certain, is that the things told me by
the nuncio were communicated designedly, and that he was
sent to me by those at the helm, and this I imagine,
because they always assured me that the Pontiff, the
Catholic King, and the Switzers, would be on their side ;
whereas perceiving at this present that the Catholic King
has failed them, and knowing also that the Switzers are
agreed with France, whilst the Pope preserves neutrality, it
seems to them that they must be accounted frivolous per-
sons, and that their words consequently would move your
Highness but slowly towards their wishes. On this account,
I believe they caused me to be told these things, in order to
render your Signory suspicious, since you would be more
prone to move, seeing the matter doubtful, than if you deemed
it utterly the reverse of what they represented it : or else,
since it turns out that these potentates are not all united
with his Majesty ; that it may at least appear that there had
been close negotiations, and that they were not entirely
mendacious. With regard, indeed, to the announcement
that his Majesty here means to cross the channel, I believe
it a fiction induced by prevailing suspicion, that the most
Christian King means to attempt the recovery of Tournai,
and many say of Calais likewise : so being aware that I
should write this news to your Hfghness, and that you
would impart it to his most Christian Majesty, this fable
was, I fancy, devised for the sake of deterring him, and to let
him know that should he be meditating those enterprises, he
will find this side prepared not merely for defence, but
VOL. i. u

290 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

for attack. This is my opinion, though I may be mistaken ;
and I have written the whole to your Highness that you may
be guided by your own incomparable wisdom.

Yesterday, you must know, there arrived here an herald
from the most Christian King, who this evening came
to visit me. In the course of conversation he said he
was come with letters from the most Christian King to
his Majesty of the following tenor ; that having made a
treaty with the Catholic King, specifying the terms of the
marriage, with dowry of the kingdom of Naples, and the
pension, &c.,5 as well known to your Highness, in said
treaty place had been reserved for his Majesty should he
choose to join it; so the aforesaid most Christian King
charges him by letter, in the event of his wishing to be
comprised in this peace and confederation, to reply; as it
had been reported here that the King of France had sent
this herald to demand the surrender of Tournai, from which
one could only have inferred a commencement of war, his
statement has ridded me and others of such suspicion. He
also told me that your Excellency is included in this treaty ;
one clause stipulating that, should any of the confederates,
or others, choose to molest or attack your Highness, the
most Christian King is understood to be at liberty to defend
your Excellency, without infringement of said peace and
treaty, which is very favourable for my past and future
negotiations, and had I known it sooner, it would have
proved very apposite, and helped me to some reply which I
omitted making ; so I beseech your Highness to keep me
well acquainted with *passing events, for when aware of
circumstances, I shall know how to adjust them to the
advantage of your Highness, and although you are not
convinced of the necessity for certain communications, yet
does it often happen that such prove very opportune for

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 29 1

ambassadors. Your Excellency will do as to your wisdom
shall seem fit ; but I am desirous that in like manner, as the
will and disposition to do good service fail me not, so may I
moreover not lack the means and instruments for effecting
such. Should I have occasion to speak with the right
reverend Cardinal about the threatened invasion of France by
his Majesty, I shall endeavour with all discretion to dissuade
him thence, setting before him all possible consequences —
that wise men are not easily wont to peril great strokes ; and
that his Majesty may be convinced that in going to the
other side of the channel, he is doing that which the Roman
Emperor reprobated when he condemned those who chose
to fish with golden hooks ; adding such other arguments as
may occur to me.

1 The explosion of this powder is recorded by Guicciardini, who says
that 800 barrels, when on their way to the camp, were ignited by sparks
struck by the iron of the wheels of the carts which bore them j he adds,
that these carts were drawn by oxen, whose drivers occasioned the acci-
dent by racing, to the destruction of themselves, the ammunition, and
the cattle. Guicciardini, moreover, praises the valour displayed by
Marc Antonio Colonna in his defence of Verona, and mentions his
having received a musket-shot in the shoulder on that occasion.

2 In a private letter from the Venetian Governor of Bergamo, Vettor
Michiel, addressed to his son, and dated the 3oth of July, 1516, it is
stated that a banker in the service of Henry VIII. had then convened a
Diet of the Switzers at Zurich, offering them 20,000 nobles in the
King's name, provided they would league with him, and three months'
pay to such as were inclined to attack the Milanese, guaranteeing the
continuation of the stipend so long as it might be necessary to keep the
field: their reply was to be announced on the i2th of August, and
immediately after these proposals had been made, Anchises Visconti
(who has been mentioned in the despatch of May 8th) left Zurich post
for London. It was also said that there was an agent at this diet on
behalf of Leo X., with 60,000 ducats, and another (of course with empty
hands) from Maximilian. This news was written from Switzerland on
the 27th of July, 1516, and moreover purported that Henry VIII.
offered 18,000 men for the desired attack on the Milanese, but was
deterred from marching them in consequence of being unable to procure
wine for such a host. (See Sanuto's MS. Diaries, copy in St. Mark's
Library, vol. xxii. fo. 350.)

292 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

3 The person meant is one of the secretaries of Leo X., commonly
called Latino Giovenale, and who was frequently employed by the Pope
on foreign missions. The despatches of Marco Minio allude to this
diplomatist repeatedly. According to Benvenuto Cellini (pp. 187-193)
the real name of Latino Giovenale was Manetti ; and when in the ser-
vice of Pope Paul III., A.D. 1537, he caused Cellini to lose the favour
of his Holiness.

4 Query Ammonius (see page 262).

5 '*By the treaty of Noyon, Charles of Burgundy engaged to marry
Francis's daughter, though only an infant of a year old ; to receive as
her dowry all her father's pretensions on the kingdom of Naples ; to pay
him 100,000 crowns a year till the consummation of the marriage ; and
to give the King of Navarre satisfaction with regard to his dominions."
— (Extract from Hume, vol. iii. p. 105.)

London, September 23, 1516.

By my foregoing, I announced my intention of paying
my respects to the right reverend Cardinal ; and to-day, on
being introduced to him, he received me most graciously.
I made it appear that I was merely come to pay him my
respects. He asked me whether there was any news ; and
I, who had just then received letters from the most noble
Badoer, imparted such portion of their contents as seemed
fit to me. I then communicated to him the copy of the
letter from Constantinople, concerning the Turkish affairs,
which had been forwarded to me by the said ambassador.
After this, he inquired whether I had as yet received any
reply from your Excellency to my last communication. I
told him I had not, as the time had been insufficient ; and
though, indeed, time might have allowed of an answer
to the despatch which preceded it, yet it must be remem-
bered that the circumstances were such as to require mature
deliberation, especially as the French forces were now occu-
pied, with the troops of your Excellency, in besieging
Verona ; and it would prove somewhat perilous, should
it be known that matters of this import were under dis-
cussion. His lordship told me to warn your Excellency

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 293

to be cautious, lest the King of France take Verona for
himself, and that there was reason for his saying so
to me, though on my inquiring what it was, he would
not give further explanation. But the inference I draw
from this advice is, that these lords have no hope that
Verona can be defended, either through their own efforts
or those of the Emperor ; and as his right reverend lord-
ship continued exhorting your Excellency to proceed cau-
tiously with the most Christian King, who, he said, was
plotting something against you, I thought fit to answer,
that your Excellency had hitherto perceived no sign of
treachery; on the contrary, that you were aware of his
most Christian Majesty being extremely anxious for the
welfare and advantage of our Signory, though I thanked
his lordship for his caution, of which I trusted your Excel-
lency would avail yourself. With regard to the arrange-
ment made between the Kings of France and Spain con-
cerning the kingdom of Naples, which remains to his
Catholic Highness on payment of an annual pension, as
your Excellency well knows, I told him, that owing to this
compromise it would be more easy to unite the princes of
Christendom against the infidel, and to stanch the effusion
of Christian blood, which was, indeed, very requisite, consi-
dering the preparations now making by the Great Turk,
as appears by letters from the Bailiff.1 His right reverend
lordship, who was much exhausted with other business,
said, that on a future occasion we could discuss this matter
more at length, and with this I took leave. In my fore-
going, I mentioned the remittance hence of 10,000 ducats —
I have heard since, that the sum was 15,000; also, that
the appointment of D. Latino, as papal Nuncio to his
Majesty, seems to have been revoked.

1 The Venetian resident minister at the Porte bore the title of bailiff.

DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

London, September 30, 1516.

Having received despatches from your Excellency, and
the most serene King being at Greenwich, I went to pay
my respects to him, congratulating myself in the name of
your Highness on his own safe return, and that of his most
serene consort and sister. I found there two ambassadors
from the Emperor and two from the Catholic King, who
had a long audience ; after which, I communicated to him
the news respecting our galleys,1 and all the other topics,
as alluded to both sagely and skilfully. His Majesty listened
to the announcement with attention, and graciously ; but on
my coming to the paragraph about Verona, he said to me,
" It really is time for you to cease any longer molesting the
Emperor about Verona ; you will not be easy till you pro-
voke the whole world against you." To this, I replied
that your Highness neither sought nor attempted to take
what belonged to others, but to recover your own which
others occupied, and that it would be more reasonable for
the world to be provoked against these last for retaining
what was yours, than against you for seeking to regain your
own ; and I added, that his Majesty should place himself in
the position of others, and consider whether if the appurte-
nances of his kingdom, and that which his most serene
father and his other predecessors had possessed, were so
occupied, he would use every endeavour to recover them,
and whether on this account all the other potentates ought
to rise against him. Upon this, his Majesty said, " Should
you choose to persist in this opinion, you will spend thrice
as much as Verona is worth :" I rejoined, that the question
of time in this undertaking depended on his Majesty, and
on no other $ since, were he not to send money to the
occupants of Verona, your Excellency would speedily obtain

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 2Q5

your intent, when an end might be put to hostilities, and
thought be had for quiet, or for an undertaking more glorious
and necessary ; and I prayed God to grant that all Christian
princes be not speedily provoked of necessity to take up
arms against the infidel, and besought his Majesty to have
regard for the protracted toil and expenditure of your Excel-
lency, and to reserve you for other enterprises to the glory
and increase of his Majesty, as it was impossible for him
with his money to injure any state in Christendom, whose
hurt would be so detrimental to himself, as that inflicted
on your Highness, who had ever been most obsequious
towards him : this I expressed with all gentleness and
suavity, so that it might not irritate his Majesty, who,
however, said that he could not do less than aid the
Emperor, who was both his friend and political confederate.
Concerning the affair of the galleys, he said the safe-conduct
should be obtained, and that good means should be devised
for their safety ; and on my wanting to arrange for being
with his Majesty to make a minute of the form in which
the document required should be couched, he called the
right reverend Cardinal, and told me to confer with him
to this effect ; and so I took leave, and subsequently arranged
with the Cardinal for a conference.

I returned to London with the Bishop of Durham, who
told me that on that day (the 28th) they had received letters
from the court of the Emperor, dated the I7th instant,
stating that Verona was safe, and no longer in fear of siege ;
nay, that in three days a considerable imperial army would
be there to raise the blockade entirely;2 owing to which
these lords seem to be in great spirits, especially as during
the last few days they were afraid, nay, almost certain, that
Verona was already under the dominion of your Highness.
On the morrow I went to the Cardinal as appointed, but

296 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

could not see him, as he was indisposed ; I will return on
knowing when I can have audience, and of the result my
despatches shall give your Highness copious intelligence.

Friar Dionisius Memo, the organist of St. Mark's, arrived
here a few days ago with a most excellent instrument of his,
which he has brought hither with much pains and cost. I
presented him in the first place to the Cardinal, telling him
that when your Highness heard of his wanting to quit
Venice for the purpose of coming to his Majesty, you gave
him gracious leave, which you would not have done, had he
intended going to any one else.3 His lordship chose to hear
him in the presence of many lords and virtuosi, who were as
pleased as possible with him ; after which, his right reverend
lordship told him to go the King, who would see him very
willingly, employing many words of flattering commendation.
He afterwards went to his Majesty, who, knowing he was
there, sent for him immediately after dinner, and made
him play before a great number of lords and all his
virtuosi. He played not merely to the satisfaction, but to
the incredible admiration and pleasure of everybody, and
especially of his Majesty, who is extremely skilled in music,
and of the two Queens.4 My secretary was also pre-
sent, who highly extolled the performance, and told the
King many things in his praise as it went on, mentioning
how much favour he enjoyed with your Highness and all
Venice, which had been content to deprive itself for the
satisfaction of his Majesty, with many other very suitable
words, so that said Majesty has included him among his
instrumental musicians, nay, has appointed him their chief,
and says he will write to Rome to have him unfrocked out
of his monastic weeds, so that he may merely retain holy
orders, and that he will make him his chaplain. In this
case a piece of fine fortune will have befallen him, for to be

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 297

a royal chaplain is an honourable appointment and very
profitable ; nor do I doubt but that he will obtain everything
he can desire, enjoying so great repute and esteem with the
King, and all others, as to defy exaggeration ; and he humbly
recommends himself to your Sublimity.

1 Namely, the Flanders' galleys, so called.

2 Guicciardini mentions that 9,000 infantry were sent at this time by
Maximilian to succour Verona, and the French commander, Lautrec,
consequently retreated with his forces to Villafranca, against the wish of
the Venetians, who were of course compelled to follow his example j and
despairing of obtaining Verona by force, sent their battering train to
Brescia, and resigned themselves to await the Emperor's decision about
becoming a party to the treaty of Noyon, and giving up the city for a
pecuniary consideration.

3 The passion of Henry VIII. for music has been recorded at p. 80,
in the letter written by the secretary Sagudino, detailing the amusements
of May-day at Greenwich, in the year 1515. Sir John Hawkins, in his
History of Music (vol. ii. p. 533), says it is somewhat remarkable that
Moseley, in his " Introduction to Harmony," has taken no notice of
Henry VIII. as a composer of music. Erasmus relates that he composed
offices for the Church j Bishop Burnet has vouched his authority for the
same, and there is an anthem of his for four voices, " O Lord, the maker
of all things.'*

The Harleian MS. 1419 A., fol. 200, containing the list of Henry
VIII. 's musical instruments remaining at Westminster, " in the charge
of Philipp van Wilder," in an inventory of goods taken at the different
palaces immediately after the King's death, mentions : —

Five pairs of Double Regalles

Thirteen ,, Single „

Numerous pairs of Virginalles, both single and double

Two pairs of Clavicordes

Nineteen Vialles, great and small

Four Gitterons, alias Spanish Vialles

Gitteron Pipes, alias Cornettes

Lutes, Flutes, Pilgrim-staves, Crumhornes, Recorders, Shalmes, Vir-
ginals harp-fashion, Pipes, Dulcimers, and a Venice Flute, which last
instrument seems to be unknown to all the writers on music.

Sir Henry Ellis made these observations in a note in the second series
of his letters on English History, (vol. i. p. 271. Edition 1827) at the
foot of a missive from William IV., Duke of Bavaria, to Henry VIIL,
dated Munich, January 1516, and recommending to his Majesty Wolf-
gang Richart, who had perfected a certain " opus musicale."

In the third series of Sir Henry Ellis's letters (vol. i. p. 199. Ed.
1840) there is one from Pace to Wolsey, written probably in 1519 (as
it alludes to a French hostage who was certainly in England in that

298 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

year), and we thus perceive, that besides the Venetian organist Memo,
and the other Italians, the King had both French and German musi-
cians in his pay.

Pace announces to Wolsey in this letter that " The Kynge haith
nowe goode passe tyme bi the newe player uppon the clavicordes that
M. Rochpotte haith broght wyth hym (whoo playith excellently), and
bi the gentilman off Almayne who was wyth hys Grace at Wudstoke,
and haith nowe broght hydre a newe goodde and goodly instrument,
and playith ryght well uppon the same. Finem faciam in instruments
musicis, quia aliud nihil scribendum in presentia habeo : and thus Jesu
preserve your Grace in longe helth and continuall prosperitie. Wretyn
at Wyndesore thys iiij off Octo. By your Grace's most humble and
faythfull servant, Ri : PACE;

" To my Lord Legatees Grace."

Who the " gentilman off Almayne" may have been is not known,
and possibly Pace may even be alluding to Memo himself, who will have
brought his organ through Germany, on which account the secretary
perhaps inferred that he was a German, rather than a Venetian.

The Venetian Dionysius Memo was celebrated in print as an organist
and singer, by one of his contemporaries named Pier Contarini, in a
work entitled " Argo Vulgar." (See Cicogna Inscriptions, vol. iv.
p. 511.)

4 Namely, Queen Catharine of Aragon and Margaret Queen of Scot-
land. The following extract from the Diaries of Sanuto, shows that the
Tudors were addicted to music, even in the days of Henry VII. The
letter preserved by Sanuto being from the commodore of the Venetian
galleys, Vincenzo Capello, who in date of London, July 27, 1506, men-
tions having been " to dine with the King at a certain palace of his;
his Majesty greeted him with a gladsome countenance, saying he was a
great friend to the Signory, &c., &c. And after dinner he showed him
his daughter-in-law and his daughter, who was playing music." Catha-
rine of Aragon was then a widow, Prince Arthur having died in April,
1502, and her marriage to Henry V JII not being celebrated untii i 509.
Margaret was then out of England, so the daughter alluded to by Capello
will have been Maria, in her eighth year.

London , October 3, 1516.

I went to the Cardinal to-day, according to the appoint-
ment, and acquainted him with the contents of your
Serenity's letters in date of the yth ult. He listened' to
me attentively, especially about everything relating to the

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 299

galleys, and chose me to repeat thoroughly the conditions
for insertion in the safe-conduct, that he might write them
to the Catholic King. On comprehending them fully, he
seemed to approve of everything ; true is it that he made
some little difficulty about that last clause, purporting that
the King here is to pledge himself to the observance of this
safe-conduct on the part of his Catholic Highness. How-
ever, he said, tc At any rate, this article is not to be put in
the safe-conduct ; we will first have that drawn up, and
then conclude this last part." We next passed to the other
contents of the letters. * * * His lordship listened
most attentively to the summaries from Constantinople, and
was much astounded at the account of the 22O galleys, for I
laid great stress on the matter, and told him it was fraught
with manifest peril to all Christendom, as such an armada
would suffice to subdue the whole world, and not merely
the Christian states ; and this I did that he might deem
it possible for the storm to reach as far as England,
which thought having entered his mind, he said to me,
" What does the Turk mean to do with so powerful an
armada?" I replied that I doubted not but that he would
invade the states of Christendom, though I could not assure
which, as that secret rested with the Turk alone. His
right reverend lordship then said, " Domine Orator, for the
love of God, let us first free ourselves from the peril which
threatens us from the King of France, and not allow the
body politic, both yours and that of other potentates, to be
enfeebled, lest, when provision against the infidel shall
become necessary, it prove impossible; and don't look to
a single city, which you have the means of obtaining in
a much better way, without cost to yourselves, or an outlay
of money to others." Having several times replied be-
comingly to similar proposals, I told him that your Excel-

300 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

lency would provide for your need as you may deem expe-
dient, considering the nature of the present times ; but I
besought his right reverend lordship with all earnestness, in
the name of your Highness, to contrive that the most Serene
King should not send any more succour for the defence of
Verona, as this was the cause which fed the present con-
flagration and kept it alive, preventing, moreover, provision
being made against future perils. To this he made no reply
soever ; and on my then wishing to take leave, his right
reverend lordship insisted on my staying dinner with him,
after which he drew me aside, and again resumed the old
topic, demonstrating the imminent peril of your Highness ;
and I, making general replies, took leave of his right reve-
rend lordship.

London, October 8, 1516.

On the 5th instant I went to make my obeisance to his
Majesty, but did not transact any business, having received
no fresh letters from your Highness, and consequently I had
no inducement to negotiate, neither did the King on his part
suggest any ; but I found the Imperial and Spanish ambassa-
dors there, who held a long colloquy with his Majesty. On
this occasion all we ambassadors stayed dinner, together with
the right reverend Cardinal and other lords ; and after the
repast, said ambassadors had moreover a close conference
with the Cardinal, and on its termination I urged his right
reverend lordship to despatch the letters to the Catholic
King for the safe-conduct, which he promised me he would
do, and I again reminded him of the conditions to be speci-
fied, giving them to him in writing, with which he promised
compliance. Shortly after this we were sent for by the

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 30!

King, whom we found with the two most Serene Queens,
and a number of ladies, with whom he was dancing, and
he chose us to be present. His Majesty danced many
dances, and then made said ambassadors hear Master Friar
Dionisius Memo play, as he did marvellously, being lauded
by everybody : the King himself is so enamoured of him
and pleased with his talent, that one could not wish foi
more, and after having waited there a good while, we took
leave of his Majesty.

Wishing to know whether the letters for the Catholic
King had been forwarded, I went yesterday to the right
reverend Cardinal, but was unable to speak with him, as he
was slightly indisposed. I have this morning received letters
from your Sublimity, dated the 2yth August, with the copy
of the missive from the great Turk, which I will go and
communicate one of these days to the King and Cardinal,
and of the result my despatches shall give speedy advice to
your Sublimity.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, October 14, 1516.

By mine of the 8th and Qth instant, your Highness
will have learned what had taken place down to that time, and
you will now hear that I accurately imparted the contents of
your letters of the 2yth August both to the most serene
King, and also to the right reverend Cardinal and to the
Bishop of Durham, and read to them the letter from the
great Turk. Not one of them seem to fear this confla-
gration, as it is remote from their own home, and still less
are they moved by zeal for the Christian religion, their pas-

302 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

sions being more easily roused by the aggrandisement of their
hostile neighbours, than by that of those at a distance. I see,
moreover, that they are in high spirits, from hearing that the
siege of Verona has been raised, and that the armies of
the most Christian King and your Signory have retreated
thirteen or fourteen miles, having suffered two great defeats,
and that an imperial army 16,000 strong had come up ; so
they consider their affairs safe, and that they can dispose of
Verona as freely as they do of London ; what the truth may
be, I know not, having no intelligence from any quarter,
but were I acquainted with it, I should be better able to
adapt myself to the circumstances than I can when in doubt.
I also hear from a good source, that the Cardinal of Sion,1 is
coming post, to weave some other web with his Majesty ;
nor may your Excellency deem this doubtful, as I know it
for certain j what his especial business may be, I shall
endeavour to learn 5 sure is it that it can but be something of
great importance, so I have chosen to despatch this post as
far as Paris ; at any rate, I imagine that come when he may,
I am neither to go and meet, nor visit him, both as I know
that he is the capital enemy of your Highness, and that he
would perhaps not receive me, and also because he is under-
stood to be most utterly hostile to the most Christian King,
and that it would not be becoming to honour his capital
enemy with any mark from your Highness. It is also
reported here, that the league has been concluded between the
Emperor, and the Catholic King, and the King of England,
and that it is already signed,2 the Pope being included
therein, though he has not yet affixed his signature, the adhe-
sion of his Holiness being expected here, which your Excel-
lency will doubtless have heard from elsewhere.

1 The Cardinal of Sion had already been in England in 1514, and
Ammonius, writing to Erasmus, in date of Westminster, November i,

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 303

in that year, says of him, " Advenit hue Cardinalis Sedunensis ille Hel-
vetius, quern sum allocutus et videtur mihi homo ingeniosus, Jmpiger,
acer, facundus, strenuus, et admodum Theologus." Concerning his
present mission to England in connection with Frescobald, we find the
i< flowing in Hall: "In the moneth of October came into England
F/ athew, Bishop of Sedonon and Cardinal, called commonly the Car-
el nal of Swshes, from the Emperour Maximilian. This cardinal was a
v ise man of great boldenes, and was wel entreteyned in the court of the
King ; and at his contemplacion, and for olde love, the King lent to the
7<'mperour Maximilian a great sume of money, whereof the company of
Friscobald and Antony CavelerGenevoy undertoke th' exchange, but thei
payed not the Emperour at his day, notwithstanding thei had receaved
the money of the King. This Friscobald and Antony Caveler, by
meanes of rewardes geven to great lordes of the counsaill, borrowed of
the King 3,ooo/., and had long dayes for the payment: but Friscobald
was shortly consumed, and Anthony Caveler coulde not be sene, and so
the King was not payd at his dayes, and many English merchauntes
were by these menes undone, for they spent liberally of every man's
goodes."

2 The ambassador is here five days in advance ; the treaty bears date
in Rymer, October j 9 — 20. The English commissioners for the signa-
ture of this State paper were Cardinal Wolsey, the Duke of Norfolk,
and the Bishop of Durham ; and the secretary was one Porter : the
document ending thus, " Dat. in civitate nostra Londoniae vicesimo die
Octobris, &c. Per ipsum Regem,

" PORTER."

To THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London , October 16, 1516.

By my foregoing in date of the I4th instant, your Highness
was informed in the first place of the expected arrival of the
C ardinal of Sion, who came last night, some say with three,
a .d some with five horses ; a stately dwelling had been pre-
[ red for him, and he dined to-day with the right reverend
Cardinal. God grant that this coming be not the cause of
yet greater disturbance than has taken place hitherto, and
I have already told one of these lords with whom I can speak
familiarly, that said Cardinal is on the worst possible terms

304 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN G1USTINIAN

with the Switzers, and that he will endeavour to draw a
sufficient sum of money from his Majesty, to make his peace
with them, promising the King to raise a host of said
Switzers, though he will perform nothing ; as should
they receive money for a fresh expedition, they will take it in
settlement of other claims, urged by them against the
Cardinal aforesaid ; thus, the King of England will have lost
his money for the sake of injuring those who are most
observant and obsequious towards him. Said lord answered
me, " We shall be like the deaf adder that stoppeth its ears,"
vowing that they are by this time glutted with words, and
weary of them ; I fear, however, lest the magnitude of the
promises which this Cardinal will make them, and the force
of his eloquence, which, as your Highness knows, is great,
may decoy them. Then again the league mentioned in my
last, is confirmed daily, nor is it a matter of small import-
ance ; though should Verona be in the possession of your
Highness, I do not think it would prove of so much conse-
quence.

I was to-day in the house of one who is secretary to his
Majesty and to the right reverend Cardinal.1 Having drawn
me aside from everybody, so as not to be heard, this
individual said to me that these lords were extremely
surprised that your Excellency should so pertinaciously
refuse to detach yourself from France, who they say has
been the ruin of your Signory, and now aims at your final
destruction, and at that of all Christendom, whose welfare
you are willing to sacrifice to the observance of your mere
faith, as plighted to the King of France : " I told the right
reverend Cardinal," he said, " that it would not surprise me,
should the Signory not determine to renounce the French
alliance for this new union, as it is not reasonable that she
should abandon those who now actually defend her, and

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 305

assist her to recover Verona, in order to adhere to those
from whom its surrender is doubtful, and that it was at
least necessary for his lordship to devise some expedient
which should insure you possession of that city :" to the
same effect was much more that he said, exhorting me to write
in express manner to your Excellency, and to persuade you to
hold the liberty of Italy, and the benefit of all the other
Christian princes, in greater account than the King of France
alone. I, who was aware of this language being addressed
to me for the mere purpose of discovering whether I thought
that with the certainty of obtaining Verona, your Excellency
would desert the King of France, answered him that I
did not know what might be the resolve of your Highness in
this matter, but assured him, as from myself, that in my eyes
the surrender of Verona constituted the least difficult part of
the business, and that we would suppose that overcome ;
but that the faith pledged by your Excellency to the most
Christian King, and reciprocally observed towards you by
his Majesty aforesaid, constituted the greatest difficulty
which can possibly occur in this matter, especially as your
Excellency had already obtained whatever aid you could
desire of his Majesty j though I, in execution of my duty,
had written very strong letters hereon, setting forth all the
arguments alleged by the right reverend Cardinal, so that it
does not proceed from any omission of mine. The secre-
tary then expressed surprise that at least an answer of some
sort, either affirmative or negative, should not have been
received from your Excellency, as sometimes to omit a reply
is more offensive than to give a denial. I told him that this
was a matter of incredible importance, both for the reason
aforesaid, namely, the breach of faith, as also because the
armies being now together, should it transpire that such a
business was under consultation, the French army might
VOL. i. x

306 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

inflict such injury and detriment on ours, and on the rest of
the territory belonging to your Excellency on the main land,
as could not be guarded against in time. He appeared to
admit that this was reasonable, provide^ the delay did not
last too long. I said that your Excellency would do what
in justice and fairness became a well instituted republic.

On this same day, I also visited the right reverend Car-
dinal to urge him to despatch the letters to the Catholic
King for the safe-conduct : his lordship greeted me warmly,
and said he had not yet sent the letters, requesting me to let
him manage the business in his own way, as it was necessary
to treat it with great address, by reason of the bias of the
Catholic King towards the Emperor, who is the enemy of
your Highness. I rejoined that his lordship was most sage,
and would negotiate the matter as reasonable, though I
respectfully reminded him that the galleys of your Ex-
cellency, by performing this voyage, would prove a source of
great profit and convenience both to Spain and Flanders,
states belonging to the Catholic King, so that I imagined
he would not raise any difficulty in this business, especially
when his Majesty here showed that he made the demand for
the benefit of England, and thus did I take leave ; but my
belief is that, until the negotiations with this right reverend
Cardinal of Sion be terminated, nothing more will be done :
at the same time, I suspect said negotiations will be brief.

1 Richard Pace, see Note p. 223.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 307

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, October 20, 1516.

By mine of the I4th and i6th, the duplicates of which
accompany these, your Excellency was informed of the
arrival of the Cardinal of Sion.

Subsequently, on the i8th instant, he went to Greenwich,
where the King was, et remotls arbitris he had a very long
secret colloquy with his Majesty, the only other person
present being the Cardinal of York. After dinner, both
these cardinals returned to their respective dwellings. I
cannot yet well learn what was proposed, though some
declare that said Sion offered to give his Majesty from six to
seven thousand Switzers for Italy, and as many as 16,000
lansquenets. For France, indeed, which he talks of in-
vading, he offered 20,000 Switzers, on being supplied with
funds by his Majesty. Others assert that, besides the
aforesaid, he wants the King to enter the French territory
in great force, which things I do not affirm, though they
were told me by rather intelligent persons ; and should thes*
proposals be listened to, it would create great commotion in
France and Italy. I cannot say what decision has been
formed ; but the Council sat in consultation afterwards, and
was attended by the right reverend Cardinal, the reverend
Bishop of Durham, the Bishop of Norwich,1 the illustrious
Treasurer, the Magnifico Lovel,2 and another councillor
called Master Marney.3 I have not spared, nor shall I
spare, either any labour or expense to learn what was pro-
posed, and what decided} nor will I, moreover, omit any
sort of research, so as to come at the truth, being aware
how momentous it is ; and my letters shall acquaint your
Sublimity forthwith, though I may mention now, that this

308 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Council was not attended by the right reverends of Win-
chester and Canterbury, who absented themselves at the
commencement of the business.4

Yesterday, I sent my secretary to appoint an audience
with the right reverend Cardinal, with the hope of learning
something from him, though he is difficult to draw (trazer} ;
and he brought me back word that, directly the Cardinal
returned from the Council, he went to him of Sion, with
whom he dined, and remained a long while ; and when he
came home, the secretary saw him so wrath and excited,
that he did not seem to be in his right mind ;5 and 'twas
said that, since he has been at the helm here, he has never
been seen in such a state of perturbation, so that he declared
he could not give me audience for three or four days ; and he
sent forthwith for the Imperial ambassador, although it was
already night and the hour inconvenient ; nor can the cause
of this be attributed to aught save a dispute between the
cardinals, which might have arisen considering the insolence
of the Cardinal of Sion, or to the receipt of some fresh in-
telligence at variance with the assertions of the Imperial
ambassador, who is in the habit of making them sixteen to
the dozen ;6 it is impossible to form any positive opinion. I
go to-day to the illustrious Treasurer, and will endeavour to
learn something from him, doing the like, moreover, by
the others ; and in order to leave nothing untried, I have,
moreover, employed certain other means, making many pro-
mises, to be performed in the event of my learning the truth
through them, so that your affairs may be known to your
Highness, whom I beseech to keep me acquainted with the
true events of Italy and matters connected therewith, with-
out sifting that which is fit to be imparted from the rest ; as
I shall know how to distinguish what is expedient for com-
munication, from intelligence better suited to silence.

•
FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 309

1 Richard Nix, consecrated A.D. 1 501, April 17 (See Wharton's Anglia
Sacra vol. i p. 4i9). Nix seems to have been rather a profligate pre-
late, but debauchery agreed with him, for he lived until the iAth of
January, 1536. Nevill, in his history of Norwich, styles Nix infamis
et effrxm pr<?cipue libidine exxstuans. In the Harleian Collection (Num.
604-21, vol. i. p. 365 Catalogue) there exists a letter signed by Richard
Nix, Bishop of Norwich, to Cardinal Wolsey, concerning the election
of a prior of Butley, where the Cardinal had inhabited } and desiring
him to consent to the election of Sir Thomas Sudbourne cellarer of that
monastery. Skelton, the laureate, tells of Nix in his sixth and seventh
" Merry Tales," the eighth of which narrates how Skelton handled the
fryer, &c. There was probably a meaning in the order of the tales.

2 See note, ante p. 253.

3 Sir Hemy Marney, who was made Lord Marney, April 9, 1523.
(See Hume, vol. iii. p. 70, and Collins, vol. ix. p. 471.)

4 See retro, p. 253.

5 Ch'el non parea in la sua natural dispositione.

6 Giustinian expresses himself thus : " eke i solito passarlo dl now
huse" a phrase now obsolete, and alluding, perhaps, to some game like
that of billiards, and which required a board or table containing nine
holes t or pockets.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, October 21, 1516.

I now inform you that I have been to visit the illustrious
Treasurer,1 who has been absent during many months, and as
he is one of those who manages these present matters, I
adroitly commenced discussing the presence here of this
Cardinal of Sion, saying that I could not bring myself to
believe that he was come for any other purpose than to
excite fresh tumult amongst the Christian powers, his cha-
racter convincing me of this, and his aversion to the most
Christian King, as also to your Highness ; my opinion being
that, were he listened to, he would obtain considerable sums
from the King for the purpose of making a great stir, and
would repay him with vain promises ; and I lamented that
all these negotiations aimed at preventing our recovery of

3IO DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Verona, it being perhaps imagined that that city might
either concede or withhold ingress into Italy, which I consi-
dered a mistake, as no small force is sent into Italy, either by
the way of Verona or by the other, whilst a large army forces
its passage in any direction, so that I could not but feel
much distress at so great an opposition as was offered to
your Highness without any cause. Yet, I added, I did not
imagine that their lordships would choose lightly to disburse
their moneys for idle promises, injuring those who ever had
been, and would continue, the greatest friends of this kingdom,
which ought to hold your Excellency as a resource against
many possible contingencies, and not seek your destruction,
as has been the case hitherto — since by this time you would
have recovered your territory, had it not been for the pecu-
niary aid of his Majesty, coupled with the ill-will of others.
These remarks were uttered by me interruptedly, and
received various replies, as your Highness will perceive,
the Lord Treasurer answering me that the Cardinal of
Sion was not come to do any harm, nay, with the inten-
tion of seeking a general peace, so that he was of opinion
that nothing but great benefit would result from his coming ;
and that in these conferences there has never been any
question of injuring your Highness, who was greatly loved
by the King and all these lords, going on to say, that
it was impossible for them to do otherwise than aid the
Emperor against his enemies according to the terms of the
confederacy ; to which I rejoined that this kingdom is per-
fectly at liberty to aid its friends against its enemies, but not
against confederates and friends, whose very ancient amity
had never been interrupted by any discord or war, but
constantly cherished and cultivated by mutual good offices ;
whilst with others, on the contrary, peace and war, and
various vicissitudes, had intervened. To this he replied, that

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 311

the confederacy between this kingdom and the Emperor and
other allies was very close, adding certain words not clearly
expressed, but muttered from between his teeth, implying
that the confederacy with your Excellency was not equally
close ; yet he swore, per Deum^ that nothing is being nego-
tiated but what will produce great good, repeating again
that he hoped a general peace would now ensue ; so per-
ceiving that he merely spoke in general terms, I did not
choose to descend to any details, but requested his lordship
to consider well, and give his counsel for the common weal,
and for the quiet and tranquillity of this kingdom, and not
permit so much slaughter and Christian bloodshed to be any
longer perpetrated ; laying before him the disposition of the
Turk, his power and prosperity, the ill-will he bears towards
Christians, and the formidable forces already prepared by
him, which ought to open the eyes of all the Christian
powers, as the matter concerned the universal ruin of the
Christian religion, and not a mere difference of opinion
between one Christian potentate and another ; and that this
was the field in which one prince might excel another, by so
much the more as he should more speedily provide against
the imminent peril from the infidels — making himself great
by depressing them, and not by weakening Christian powers.
He confirmed what I said, declaring that he wished for
nothing but universal quiet, or for an expedition against the
Turks, and that he should ever lend all favour to the
interests of your Excellency. I should augur well of his
words, most serene Prince, did I not remember that many
months ago both he2 and others of these lords assured me, and
swore, that nothing was being treated against your Excel-
lency, nay that all matters were directed towards your great
advantage, though the result proved hostile both to the most
Christian King and to your Excellency, these lords arguing

312 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

that it was for the advantage of your Signory to expel the
King of France Italy ; and this I take to be the case now.
However, I will not cease urging and watching, and attend-
ing with every effort to learn both the proposals and deci-
sions, present and future, using every argument to prevent
their any longer molesting poor Italy, as I am aware that at
this present everything depends on England.

1 The Duke of Norfolk, see ante pp. 113, 454..

3 In the month of December, 1515, see ante pp. 148 — 151.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, October 22, 1516.

To-day I have had a conversation with the Papal nuncio,
on whom I had previously made the strongest possible
attempt to obtain news of these negotiations ; but not
receiving a very gracious reply, I had ceased to hope for
intelligence from that quarter. To-day, however, having
well weighed his interests, he changed his mind, and notified
to me all that follows, which might well have come to his
knowledge considering his extreme intimacy with the
Cardinal of Sion, whom he served as secretary for a long
while (as well known to your Excellency), at the period
when the most noble Polo Capello was proveditor with the
Switzers.1

He says, in the first place, that the Cardinal aforesaid
proposes that the King of England should cross the Channel
in the spring, and that he will contrive for the Switzers to
attack Burgundy in considerable force, under the command
of the illustrious Duke of Suffolk, his Majesty's brother-in-

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 313

law: that the Emperor, at the same time, is to be at
Verona, with the Cardinal of Sion and another duke, and
upwards of 20,000 men ; and that all are to make the attack
simultaneously, namely the Emperor and his forces, together
with the Cardinal, in the Milanese; the Duke of Suffolk in
Burgundy; and his Majesty here in Picardy : all these pro-
mises being made with the understanding that the King of
England is to defray the expenses. The nuncio says he does
not know whether the decision has been finally made, though
he considers it certain from the symptoms observed by him
in the Cardinal of Sion, who is very cheerful and busy with
despatches, and never ceased writing from two o'clock in
the morning until four P.M., sending off a great number of
letters : he also transmitted a schedule of clauses to the
right reverend Cardinal of York, who was at the council
board ; and should no positive resolve have been come to,
the nuncio considers that such will be formed ad vota ; nor
will the Cardinal of Sion depart hence, until it has been
decided in what place, when, and how, he is to receive the
money for this undertaking, which will, however, cause a delay
of seven or eight days. Moreover, he is to take a good sum
with him for the defence of Verona ; and Chieregato adds,
that the Pontiff will certainly join this confederacy, and that
a certain ambassador of his, a bishop, is expected daily ; he
adds, moreover, that he, Chieregato, anticipates being ordered
to join the camp. These things, most serene Prince, as they
were told me, so do I write them ; true is it that I do not
yield them entire credit, from knowing the nuncio to have
sometimes given information on slight grounds ; at the same
time, should he now have chosen to tell the truth, he has
assuredly had the means for doing so. Your Excellency,
who is most sage, will form such opinion as you may think
fit ; but this I deem it well to mention, namely, that the

314 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

Cardinal of Sion was accompanied hither by one of the
King's attendants, whom I saw here at court not more (I
think) than two months ago, and he gives me to understand
that he was sent to fetch the Cardinal, which, if true, con-
firms what Chieregato has reported to me about the alliance.
I have also found some other means for hearing these results
through the Spanish ambassador, and will give immediate
notice to your Highness of what I may discover, it seeming
to me that the present events require this ; and I intend to
exert myself in the matter not less than I would do for the
salvation of my soul.

P.S. — Suspecting that what was told me by the Papal
nuncio might perchance have been notified to me designedly,
at the instigation of some of these lords, and as certain letters
of his had fallen into my hands, one of which was addressed
to his mother at Mantua, and the other to my Lady Ipolita
Sforza Bentivola,2 who is at Milan, I thought fit to open
them, knowing this matter to be of extreme moment, and
that by these letters I might probably ascertain the real
foundation of what said nuncio had imparted to me, and
having opened them, I find hereon as follows : —

Papal nuncio writes to his mother, the Lady Mathia de
Coradis de Austria, relict of the late Bortolomeo Chieregato,
and says, " This is merely to tell you not to seek to leave
Mantua so speedily, should you fare well there ; wait a little
to see the result of this new league which has been formed ;
for my right reverend Cardinal of Sion, who is here, will
soon take his departure, and is the bearer of strong resolu-
tions, from which much mischief in those parts may result ;
so do not change your residence unless I write you further,
for I do not say this without great cause."

The other letter is addressed by him cc To the illustrious
my lady, the Lady Ipolita Sforza Bentivola," and he says—

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 315

" By this letter of mine I announce to your ladyship the
new league contracted between the Emperor, the Catholic
King, and his Majesty, place being reserved therein for the
Pope and the Switzers. Since this was concluded, there
came hither my right reverend Cardinal of Sion,3 who had
previously held a long conference in Brabant with the most
serene Catholic King, and with the most illustrious my lady
Margaret. Here he is not only well looked on and caressed,
but adored, both by the King and the whole country, and in
a few hours he will have obtained his intent, especially as he
proposes things which please his Majesty and all this nation ;
so that your ladyship understands me. I think that we shall
have more tribulation than ever in poor Italy, so I write to
my friends and patrons to betake themselves to places out of
trouble, as the present league will have a larger tail, and your
ladyship understands me. Here they are preparing for war
with all diligence, and we enjoy ourselves. By the present
league the Catholic King does not mean to swerve from the
treaty made with France, &c. Do your ladyship, for reason
good, not show this letter to any one, above all in my name."4

1 After the battle of Ravenna in April, 1512, the Venetian forces
intrusted to the Proveditor Capello joined the Swiss, under the Cardinal
of Sion, for the purpose of driving the French out of Italy. It was at
this time that Chieregato acted as the secretary of the Cardinal of Sion,
who, in the month of June, 1512, was with the Venetians under Pavia.
Now it so happened that the Senate was not satisfied with the proceed-
ings of Capello, and determined on giving him a colleague in the person
of his brother-in-law, an individual by name Christopher Moro, and
who, there are many reasons to believe, was the real Othello of whom
Shakspeare was thinking when he wrote his tragedy ; but, be this as it
may, in July 1512, when Chieregato was with the Cardinal of Sion at
Alexandria, in Piedmont, the Venetian proveditors, Moro and Capello,
were kept there in pawn for a few hours, and made to give security for
the payment of certain moneys to this Swiss Cardinal. The allusion
made by the Venetian ambassador in London, to any fact connected
with the real life of one of the most famous characters of Shakspeare,
may justly be considered, to adopt a phrase of Pope's, " stranger than
seven antiquaries" studies"

DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

2 As stated ante p. 214, it was for the sake of seeing this Countess
Ippolita Sforza that Chieregato went to Pandino, when the novelist Ban-
dello took occasion to tell the tale of Zanina Gandino.

3 The Cardinal of Sion reached London on the 1 5th of October, and,
according to Rymer, the treaty here alluded to by Chieregato is dated
the zoth of October, 1516.

4 The mode adopted by the Venetian ambassador for ascertaining the
veracity of the nuncio, however unscrupulous, is not accompanied with
such aggravating circumstances as those to which the French ambassa-
dor was subjected by Cardinal Wolsey, as detailed at page 213. Gius-
tinian satisfied himself with merely reading what his colleague wrote,
and was too humane to rate him into the bargain.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, October 24., 1516.

I have learnt from a good source that the Cardinal of Sion
has obtained all that he wanted from his Majesty ; and the
two cardinals and the imperial ambassadors sit in conclave
daily, to arrange, I imagine, the execution of their projects.
The Cardinal of Sion is treated here with as much honour
as if he were the Pope in person, and he has been promised
the first great bishopric which may become vacant. Money,
likewise, is being remitted, the amount I cannot state with
certainty, though I do know that it does not exceed 25,000
crowns, which are supposed to be destined for Verona, the
siege of which place they declare has been raised, and
succour introduced ; and this news they have received by
way of Rome in letters dated the 6th inst., in contradiction
of what reached me yesterday, also from Rome, in date of
the 30th ult., and which revived me, as for many days I
dreaded the confirmation of what this side had announced, on
the authority of letters dated Verona the 24th ult., namely,
that the siege had been raised, that considerable succour had

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 317

entered the city, that an imperial army 15,000 strong had
come up, that our forces suffered great slaughter, and that
Chiusa had been taken.1 Now, again, with this news of
the 6th inst., my anxiety returns as before: may the Al-
mighty at length guide the vessel of the State into a peaceful
haven ! I yesterday received two of your lettersj one dated
the I2th and the other the 23rd ult., which gave me inestim-
able satisfaction, it now appearing to me that I have some
light from your Excellency for my guidance, whereas hitherto
I could only act on my own responsibility, though of this I
can indeed assure your Highness, that all the negotiations
transacted by me thus far have been effected with so much
submission and gentleness, that I doubt whether greater
respect could have been employed had I been speaking with
the Father Eternal, this seeming expedient to me for the
interests of your Highness, and to avoid irritating the right
reverend Cardinal to some act of indignation ; and he, as it
were conscious of my proceedings, has assured me several
times that he discusses State affairs more willingly with me
than he ever has done with any one else ; and I would that
the fair demonstrations he makes me were confirmed by
equally good effects.

Concerning the two matters, namely, the joining this new
league, and also that of the truces, I shall not say a word
unless challenged, though for many days he has not
broached this topic ; and should the league be mentioned to
me, I have my cue from your Excellency, who assigns both
duty and necessity as the reasons for your present policy,
and which were the very excuses made by me in other
terms, that is to say, our plighted faith, and the position of
the combined armies under Verona, which two apologies I
shall not, however, allege so expressly, to avoid irritating
them through despair of attaining their intent, but will

318 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTJNIAN

merely speak doubtingly, and as of myself, so that I hope,
should I be unable by my actions to compass the good I
have desired, at least not to be the cause of mischief.

1 Guicciardini mentions the capture of Chiusa, but does not give any
date ; by this despatch it would seem to have taken place in the middle
of September.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London, October 29, 1516.

The decision already announced by me is confirmed, as
likewise the transmission of moneys amounting in all to
100,000 crowns ; nor can there be any doubt but that a
part is destined for Verona : concerning the whole I do not
know. The Cardinal of Sion has filled the heads of these
lords with vain hopes, promising greater things than can be
imagined, all tending to the extermination of the most
Christian King and of your Excellency, a result from which
may the Lord shield us ! An ambassador from his Holiness,
namely, a bishop, is expected here in two or three days : I
cannot learn for certain the object of his mission, but many
say that he will ratify the league and confederacy made
between these potentates, and to which his Holiness is a
party ; for this I do not vouch, not having heard it from an
authentic source, and especially after what your Highness
writes me. Great pecuniary exactions are being made here,
all over the kingdom, both from the clergy and laity, qua
sunt slgna dolorum. An envoy from the most Christian King
has been here on his way to the Duke of Albany in Scot-
land ; he came to me, and I welcomed him as becoming : it
seems that this Duke of Albany wished to go and see the

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 319

most Christian King, and these lords were anxious that he
should pass through England, which the above-mentioned
envoy told them he would do, provided they placed some
great personage in his power as sufficient security ; where-
upon they promised to give him the Duke of Suffolk, but he
was rejected by the envoy, who quitted the right reverend
Cardinal in dudgeon ; he is to return to him, nor do I know
whether they will come to terms, but hitherto he has refused
a safe-conduct even to this envoy, who, however, says he
shall go without it.

On my asking him how the most Christian King stood
with the Switzers, seeing that the Cardinal of Sion offers a
levy of upwards of 40,000 of them on receiving the neces-
sary funds from his Majesty here, he answered me that the
most Christian King has nine cantons with him as friends
and confederates, they having already signed and sealed :
with the others he is negotiating, and the difficulty merely
consists in said Switzers wanting to be the friends and
soldiers of his most Christian Majesty, but not his confede-
rates, and about this there is a difficulty : but should nine
cantons be with the most Christian King for certain, I am
unable to bring myself to believe that this Sion1 could keep
such great promises as he has made, and your Highness will
forgive me for volunteering my opinion, considering that I
am on the spot ; for I perceive that the right reverend Car-
dinal of York, who leads the dance, and the King here, bear
the worst possible will towards his most Christian Majesty,
in such wise that no one could believe it, unless they saw
and heard ; all they want is the power to realize their evil
designs. There are two expedients which I should deem
most efficacious in this matter ; the one being for the most
Christian King to make a last endeavour to obtain the
greatest number of cantons possible, so that this side might be

320 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

deprived of the weapons for doing mischief; or else use means
through a great offer, or gift (that it may be more certain
than promises), to the right reverend Cardinal of York, who,
being quieted, the whole turmoil would cease ; nor would
this, perhaps, be very difficult, as he perceives well nigh all
the grandees of this kingdom to be opposed to his present
policy, the people likewise complaining extremely of the new
imposts to which they are subjected, so that he may with
reason apprehend some commotion. I trust your Highness
will not ascribe this to presumption on my part, but to the
love I bear my country.

I have not seen the Cardinal of York, having sent twice
to demand audience in vain ; nor would I make any farther
attempt, being convinced that he of Sion is the cause of this,
and that his presence and opposition would prevent any good
effect resulting from an interview. Even were I admitted,
it is certain I should have a great battle about your Highness
joining this confederation, which I perceive you advisedly
wish me to decline ; so I deem it better not to visit him,
whereby I avoid rejecting his demands, rather than to seek
an audience and tell him what is disagreeable.

I have also heard, through a good source, that the afore-
said Sion is endeavouring that his Majesty should dismiss
me ; and considering his own business here, and the alliance
of your Highness with the King of France, he has reason
enough to advocate such a measure, though from what I can
judge, I do not think he will succeed in it.

As to the safe-conduct for the galleys, so long as the
Cardinal of Sion remains here I shall not press for it, for
he might either frustrate the negotiation, or devise some
treachery ; but immediately on his departure I will use due
diligence. Perhaps as your Serenity perceives affairs to be
in confusion and very threatening, you may change your

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 321

decision, but until the order given me be cancelled, I shall
abide thereby.

I wrote in my foregoing what the Papal nuncio had told
me about the expedition proposed by this Cardinal of Sion ;
and that he had informed me that the illustrious Duke of
Suffolk was to command the army of Switzers destined for
the attack on Burgundy : subsequently said nuncio told me
that the Lord Marc Antonio Colonna will be the captain of
the army to be marshalled against Burgundy, and that the
Duke of Suffolk will command the army which the King of
England is to send into France. He also announced to me
that the Catholic King meant to march an army into Italy
against your Excellency.

1 The aversion entertained by Sebastian Giustinian for Mathew
Scheiner, Cardinal of Sion, displays itself repeatedly by his withholding
from him his title ; the ambassador returned the hatred which Sion bore
the Venetians, and perhaps especially resented the seizure of the provedi-
tors Moro and Capello, as mentioned at p. 3155 whether he anticipated
or not the treatment which he himself was destined in the course or time
to receive from the Switzers, I am unable to state, but the fact is, that
ten years after the date of this letter, viz., A.D. 1526, having been
appointed by the Senate ambassador to congratulate Francis I. on his
release from Madrid, Giustinian, when on his way to the French court,
was seized on the Lake of Como by the Switzers, under pretence of their
being creditors of the Republic of Venice for stipend due on account of
military service. Litta does not say how long the ambassador remained
a prisoner, but it seems that he eventually owed his liberty to the inter-
vention of Pope Clement VII., and reached the French court in 1517.

London , November i, 1516.

By mine of the 3ist ult. I notified to your Sublimity that
on the morrow his Majesty and the Imperial and Spanish
ambassadors were to swear to the league. To-day, accord-
ingly, at the hour of high mass, the aforesaid assembled,

VOL. i. Y

322 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

together with the right reverend Cardinals and a few others,
members of the Privy Council, in a small chapel where the
King is in the habit of hearing mass ; and there each of
those who had to swear, read with their own lips the formula
of the league, with the clauses, nine in number. After this
reading, the King, first of all having placed the articles on the
altar, swore on the Holy Gospel that he would observe the
contents of said clauses, and the like was done by the others ;
the articles not being published, but only read amongst the
parties themselves and a few privy councillors. The con-
tents, however, purport that the league is contracted between
the Emperor and the Catholic King and his Majesty for the
defence and recovery of their respective states : the Empe-
ror is to descend into Italy with the Cardinal of Sion and
6,000 Switzers, besides other Germans, amounting in all to
22,000 men, who are to attack the Milanese : the Catholic
King, on his part, is bound to send 800 spears, 800 light
cavalry, and 6,000 infantry, into the Vicentine and Veronese
territory and that neighbourhood, to prevent the army of
your Excellency from succouring that of France in the
Duchy of Milan : 22,000 Switzers are to make an attack in
the direction of Burgundy, as stated in my former letters,
whilst the King of England is to cross over from hence in
great force ; and place is reserved in this league for the Pope
and the Switzers. I have been unable to learn other details,
although I plied my friend, well known to your Excellency,
to the utmost; he, Chieregato, saying that he is under
solemn oath not to reveal the articles. These lords say
they shall have eight of the Swiss cantons, which does not
seem to agree with what was told me by the French envoy
on his way to the Duke of Albany in Scotland, for he
declared that nine of the cantons were the confederates of
his most Christian Majesty, and that the other five would

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 323

be his friends and soldiers, but not his confederates, so this
side, at the most, could only have five cantons; though my
opinion is that they cannot reckon upon any, as had they
grounds for doing so, they would have found means that
some one should have come to swear in the name of these
cantons; and I maintain that it is the same with his Holiness,
whose ambassador is expected from day to day, but had he
intended signing they would have waited for him. Money
is being remitted in all shapes, both through bills of exchange
and in cash, and it is said that some mules loaded with coin
are being sent off. Though no one rates the sum beyond
the 100,000 ducats mentioned in my former letters, there is
no doubt but that they will remit sufficient funds by the
spring to defray the undertaking, for it is stated that the
King of England will pay for all. This Sion will depart
hence in two or three days.

Some German lords, men of great account, have arrived
here on their way to the shrine of St. James of Gallizia,1
after visiting which they will go about to see the world.
These noblemen, in the course of conversation, said, in
rather a resentful tone, that Germany had always been the
friend of your Excellency, and that now, when the Emperor
is waging war upon you, they consider that greater blame
rests with him than with your Signory ; but they complain
extremely, saying that at Venice a certain work has been
printed, most ignominious for the aforesaid Emperor and for
all Germany ; and that it is impossible to utter or imagine
grosser abuse than is contained in said work compiled at
Venice, and that your Excellency had allowed it to be
composed, printed, and published, a thing very offensive to
all the princes and communities of Germany ; on hearing
which I contrived that an English cavalier, a great friend of
mine, should make them ample apology in my name, saying,

324 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

that in the first place I did not believe such a work had
been either compiled or printed at Venice, and still less
published,2 as it would not have been permitted by your
Highness, who is ever accustomed to speak of great princes,
and to cause them to be spoken of, with honour, even
though at war with them; and to this I bore witness,
having seen strong measures adopted in other similar matters,
and that much stronger would have been employed in this
case, as your Highness has never endeavoured to irritate the
Emperor, but, on the contrary, to appease him by all possible
means. Should you not have succeeded herein, I said, it is
not owing to yourself, but to his imperial Majesty, who is
more implacable than perhaps becomes the magnanimity of a
glorious Emperor such as he is : nor would you have made
less demonstration on account of the princes and communi-
ties of Germany, owing to the close good will which had
ever subsisted between your Excellency and those most
illustrious lords, princes, and honourable communities, not
merely by reason of the mutual commerce, but in considera-
tion of innumerable good offices exchanged with them at all
times. They apologized for the complaints they had made,
not owing to ill-will, but from the surprise felt by them at
such a thing, and because they wished to ascertain if it was
such as had been represented ; but that knowing the wisdom
of your Highness, they considered the explanation I had
offered to be satisfactory. I would have met them in some
place to make this apology in person, but was apprehensive
lest an interview might have created suspicion, and caused
his most Christian Majesty to receive some sinister informa-
tion, so I thought fit to omit it.

1 Pilgrimages to Compostella were very much the fashion at this
period, and it has* already been seen, at p. 99, that the ambassador
Andrea Badoer entertained thoughts of paying his devotions at this

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 325

shrine of the apostle James the Minor, the tutelar saint of all Spain. I
have now before me the journal of a young Venetian who visited Com-
postella in the month of August, 1581, and died Doge of Venice, A.D.
1624., having between those two epochs been ambassador in England
like Andrea Badoer : his name was Francesco Contarini, and he tells a
story of Ferdinand the Catholic and the shrine of St. James of Gallizia,
which places that crafty monarch in a less odious light than that in
which he generally appears. Louis XII. had sent a present of two
monster bells (which Contarini saw in fragments, A.D. 1581), with tre-
mendous clappers, for St. James's Church, about which Gallizia and the
pilgrims wagged their tongues prodigiously, and the noise reaching the
ears of King Ferdinand, he said he would found other bells whose
clappers should be heard at a greater distance than those of Louis XII.,
and accordingly endowed an hospital, adjoining the church of Compos-
tella, for the reception of infirm pilgrims, whose tongues, on returning
to their native land, would tell of suffering relieved at Compostella, and
speak with gratitude of Ferdinand the Catholic, in countries far beyond
the sound of Compostella's bells, the gift of Louis XII.

2 From the allusion made at p. 223 to the Knight of Rhodes, Sir
Thomas Dockwra, Grand Prior of St. John's, it seems probable that he
was the English Cavalier who bore the excuses of the Venetian ambassa-
dor to these German noblemen, who, perhaps, were misled like myself
by a chapter in a folio volume printed by Aldus in this very year 1516,
the author being one Celio Rodigino, and the title " Lectionum Antiqua-
rum" the third book of which gives an account of the events of the
league of Cambray, said Celio heading the chapter " Historia>c«»d*
belli in Venetos gesti," though anything less jocund I never read, and
my disappointment was the greater, as I confess to having opened the
pages of this beautifully printed book, seduced by the mere heading of
the third chapter, in which I expected to find some pleasant abuse of
Maximilian and his allies, whereas it contains nothing of the sort. ^ It is
possible, that in consequence of these remonstrances, the "jocund" part
of Celio's work was suppressed.

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT COUNCIL OF TEN.

London , November i , 1516.

I have heard that these lords have promised, and made
arrangements accordingly, to give for the Italian and Bur-
gundian expedition 500,000 crowns, though the Papal nuncio
says that no fixed sum has been specified, it being merely

326 DESPATCHES OF SEBASTIAN GIUSTINIAN

stipulated that England is to furnish funds for the whole
campaign. Neither the right reverend Canterbury nor
Winchester, nor the illustrious Duke of Suffolk, nor many-
other lords who are accustomed to discuss State affairs here,
were present at this conclusion, a fact which has caused
incredible surprise and universal dissatisfaction, the general
inference being that the right reverend Cardinal of York is
the beginning, middle, and end of this result. This Sion has
assured the King that Galeazo Visconte,1 who is with the
Switzers on behalf of his Majesty, has unduly appropriated
to himself upwards of 100,000 crowns of the royal moneys
destined for said Switzers ; and that he has shown vouchers
from the captains of the Switzers, proving this, to his son-
in-law, who is here in London ; owing to which his afore-
said son-in-law will be dismissed hence, the like being done
by Galeazo himself, who, according to report, is all-power-
ful with the Switzers, so should this circumstance reach the
knowledge of the King of France, this Visconte might now
be an excellent agent for reconciling all the other cantons
to him, and confirming those he has ; and should it be
objected that, owing to his having taken their moneys, the
Switzers will have become his enemies, and that he will
have lost his former influence with them, I would rejoin,
that they are aware of the mortal enmity which prevails
between him of Sion and said Galeazo, wherefore it will be
easy for the latter to attribute all these calumnies to the
Cardinal's hatred.

The nuncio assures me that the moneys hitherto sent to the
Switzers, and to the Emperor, amount to 600,000 crowns,
besides these last remittances, which, as I said, are put by
some at 100,000, whilst others estimate them at 80,000,
and they were forwarded at two separate times, both for the
succour of Verona, and also to be given to the Emperor.

FROM THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. 327

1 This is evidently the person who in a former despatch (p. 221) is
styled Visconte de' Visconti, and the father of Anchises, whereas here
he is represented as father-in-law. As stated in that despatch, Anchises
Visconte resided in London as the ambassador of Francesco Sforza, Duke
of Bari, and titular Duke of Milan. Litta says that Anchises was the
son of Alberto by Fioramondo Visconti, and that he quitted Milan after
the battle of Marignano in 1515, from which period till 1522, he says,
nothing is known of him ; his sojourn in England, therefore, may be
considered news. Litta gives Anchises Visconti two wives, neither of
whom bore the name of Visconti j he could not, therefore, have been
Galeazo's son-in-law. From all this it may be inferred that the wife of
Anchises, and not his mother, bore the name of Fioramondo, and that
she was the daughter of Galeazo. As to this last, who is mentioned in
the above letter, Guicciardini witnesses that he made his peace with
Francis I. by negotiating in his favour with the cantons, but does not
allude to his having defrauded Henry VIII. on that occasion. In all
probability the Galeazo of Guicciardini, and the Ermes Costanzo of
Litta, are one and the same person.

END OF VOL. I.

London :

Printed by STEWART and MURRAY,
Old Bailey.

December 1854.

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Giustiniani, Sebastiano
331 Four years at the court of
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