Henry VII: EPISTULAE

Sacra regia majestas, humillimas commendationes. Penultimo die praeteriti mensis Decembris accepi fasciculum litterarum majestatis vestrae v. ipsius mensis datarum, in quibus duae erant directae pontifici, una videlicet super congratulatione pontificatus, altera super negotio dispensationis; duae praeterea communes mihi com domino Wigorniensi, una mihi soli directa. De duabus communiter scriptis una erat super commendatione ad ecclesiam Cassellensem, altera quae nos admonebat quid vestra majestas volebat nos facere de dispensatione praedicta.

Most sacred royal majesty, my most humble commendations. On the penultimate day of the past month of December I received a packet of your majesty’s letters dated on the 5th of that same month, among which two were directed to the Pontiff, one namely concerning congratulation on the pontificate, the other concerning the business of the dispensation; two moreover were common to me with my lord of Worcester, and one was directed to me alone. Of the two written jointly, one was concerning a commendation to the Church of Cashel, the other admonished us as to what your majesty wished us to do about the aforesaid dispensation.

Advocavi illico ipsum dominum Wigorniensem, decrevimusque insimul ad pontificem, quod statim fecimus, suaeque sanctitati redditis ac per me lectis binis litteris suis, ac denuo declarato optimo animo ac mente vestrae majestatis in suam sanctitatem ac sanctam sedem apostolicam, quod persaepe prius feceram, summaque laetitia ac maximis exultationis et gaudii signis per vestram majestatem audita sua creatione, toto regno celebrati, quod etiam abunde litterae ipsae testabantur. Ad quae sua sanctitas perbenigne ac humanissime respondit, agens gratias ingentes vestrae regiae majestati, dicens quod in illa reperiebat quod a me et multis aliis saepenumero intellexerat, multumque vestram majestatem commendavit, offerens se et quicquid posset pro majestate sua, ac status sui dignitate et gloria.

I immediately summoned the lord of Worcester himself, and together we resolved to go to the pontiff, which we straightway did; and, your two letters to his Holiness having been delivered and read by me, and anew your majesty’s most excellent spirit and mind toward his Holiness and the holy Apostolic See having been declared, as I had very often done before, and that with the highest joy and with the greatest signs of exultation and gladness, upon his creation being heard of by your majesty, it was celebrated throughout the whole realm—which the letters themselves abundantly attested. To these things his Holiness responded very benignly and most humanely, giving immense thanks to your royal majesty, saying that in her he found that which he had very often understood from me and from many others; and he highly commended your majesty, offering himself and whatever he could for your majesty and for the dignity and glory of your state.

Devenimus ad negotium dispensationis, quod saepe alias ipse Wigorniensis et ego sicut negotii magnitudo requirebat diligenter sollicitaveramus; instanterque rogavimus vellet sua sanctitas vestris majestatibus hoc matrimonii nexu pro pace, unione et quiete regnorum suorum multisque rationibus in litteris latius explicatis, tanquam bonum pastorem et indifferentem Christianorum patrem decet, satisfacere; multaque circa hoc diximus quae visa sunt in rem nostram facere. Quae benigne quidem sua sanctitas intellexit, responditque se hanc causam gravem et arduam commisisse his diebus duobus cardinalibus, Neapolitano et Portugallensi, de quibus communibus nostris litteris vestrae majestati ipse Wigorniensis et ego scripsimus, et quia uterque ipsorum cardinalium ad praesens est aegrotus et ex catarrho laborat, dixit sua sanctitas sine ipsis quibus rem hanc omnem examinandam commisit nihil posse facere, sed brevi, ut creditur, per ipsos, qui non graviter infirmantur, valetudine recuperata et habita eorum relatione, curaret sua sanctitas omnino satisfacere votis vestrarum majestatum; quod ut cito faceret valde suppliciter rogavimus, adducentes in medium inter alia tempus procurandae dispensationis hujusmodi et obtinendae fere effluxisse, noluimus dicere quod jam expiraverat, ne sua sanctitas ansam aut excusationem caperet dilationis. Dixit se omnino id facturam, ubi saltem cardinalis Portugallensis, qui in palatio apostolico aegrotat, ad suam sanctitatem descendat, cum quo et fecimus et faciemus omnem conatum diligentiae ut cito id fiat.

We came to the business of the dispensation, which the Worcester himself and I had diligently solicited often before, as the magnitude of the matter required; and we earnestly begged that His Holiness would be willing to satisfy Your Majesties in this bond of matrimony for the peace, union, and quiet of your kingdoms, and for the many reasons more fully explained in the letters, as befits a good pastor and impartial father of Christians; and we said many things about this which seemed to make for our case. Which His Holiness indeed kindly understood, and replied that he had entrusted this grave and arduous cause these days to two cardinals, the Neapolitan and the Portuguese, about whom in our joint letters to Your Majesty the Worcester himself and I have written; and because each of those cardinals at present is ill and suffers from catarrh, His Holiness said that without them, to whom he has committed the entire matter to be examined, he could do nothing; but shortly, as is believed, through them, who are not gravely ill, health having been recovered and their report having been received, His Holiness would take care altogether to satisfy the wishes of Your Majesties; which we very humbly begged that he would do quickly, bringing forward among other things that the time for procuring and obtaining a dispensation of this sort had almost elapsed, we did not wish to say that it had already expired, lest His Holiness take an opportunity or excuse for delay. He said that he would altogether do it, as soon as at least the Portuguese cardinal, who is ill in the apostolic palace, goes down to His Holiness, with whom both we have made and will make every exertion of diligence, that it may be done quickly.

Antequam venimus ad pontificem misimus ad oratorem Hispaniae ut et ipse veniret nobiscum ad suam sanctitatem, declaravimusque quatenus vestra majestas miserat nobis proprium cursorem cum litteris ad suam sanctitatem et nos super hac dispensatione quam totiens et per tot suas repetitas litteras petiit. Hoc fecimus ut ipse orator intelligeret per majestatem vestram non stetisse nec stare quin haec dispensatio ex latere suo cum omni diligentia fuisset quaesita et quaereretur, sicuti etiam vestra majestas nobis mandavit et commisit per suas litteras ultimo loco per nos acceptas. Dictus orator remisit nobis verbum se non posse ob adversam valetudinem qua teneretur venire.

Before we came to the pontiff we sent to the orator of Spain that he too should come with us to his Holiness, and we declared to the effect that your Majesty had sent us your own courier with letters to his Holiness and to us concerning this dispensation which he has so often sought by his so many repeated letters. We did this so that the orator might understand that it had not depended, nor does it depend, on your Majesty—that on our side this dispensation has been and is being sought with all diligence—just as also your Majesty commanded and committed to us through your letters last received by us. The said orator sent back word that he could not come on account of the adverse health by which he was held.

Rogavit suppleremus etiam vices suas et solita instantia communi nomine hanc ipsam dispensationem peteremus a sua sanctitate. His peractis ego adivi ipsum oratorem domi suae, ac post prima visitationis verba retuli quae egissemus cum pontifice. Ipse coepit ab ovo rem mihi narrare ac quanta diligentia esset usus in ea sollicitanda materia, dicens se prima die conclavis antequam clauderetur, cum de creando pontifice ageretur et vota essent fere omnium cardinalium in hunc pontificem inclinata, locutum ad longum fuisse cum ipso, sibique eum promisisse se si pontifex esset, omnino dispensationem ipsam illico concessurum; addiditque dictus orator se postera die qua creatus fuit hoc ipsum postulasse atque quasi ex debito propter promissionem factam efflagitasse, sibique pontificem denuo se omnino id concessurum affirmasse.

He asked that we also supply his place and, with our wonted urgency, in the common name request from His Holiness this very dispensation. These things done, I approached the orator himself at his house, and after the first words of visitation I reported what we had transacted with the pontiff. He began to tell me the matter from the very beginning, and with how great diligence he had used himself in soliciting it, saying that on the first day of the conclave, before it was closed, when it was a question of creating a pontiff and the votes of almost all the cardinals were inclined toward this pontiff, he had spoken at length with him, and that he had promised him that, if he should be pontiff, he would altogether grant that very dispensation immediately; and the said orator added that on the next day, on which he was created, he had asked for this very thing and had demanded it as if by debt on account of the promise made, and that the pontiff had again affirmed to him that he would altogether grant it.

Postremo dixit se breve scriptum in membrana quod mihi ostendit pontifici expediendum attulisse, ipsumque pontificem respondisse se contentum esse illud expedire, ac dixisse se ex eo tempore jam ipsam dispensationem concedere, ac verbo et vivae vocis oraculo se ita cum illis dispensare. Postea dixit se iterum ac iterum fuisse cum sua sanctitate, illamque dixisse se commisisse eam rem ipsis Neapolitano et Portugallensi cardinalibus; ipsum oratorem fuisse cum illis ad sollicitandum, Neapolitanum dixisse se libenter facturum quae posset, sed quod cardinalis Rothomagensis miserat illi unum de suis, rogans nollet talem dispensationem pontifici persuadere. Hoc idem etiam domino Wigorniensi et mihi, cum itidem sollicitaremus, affirmavit ipse cardinalis Neapolitanus.

Finally he said that he had brought a brief written on parchment, which he showed me, to be expedited for the pontiff, and that the pontiff himself had replied that he was content to expedite it, and had said that from that time he already granted the dispensation itself, and that by word and by the oracle of a living voice he thus dispensed with them. Afterwards he said that he had been again and again with his sanctity, and that his sanctity said he had committed that matter to the Neapolitan and Portuguese cardinals; that the orator himself had been with them to solicit; that the Neapolitan had said he would gladly do what he could, but that the Cardinal of Rouen had sent to him one of his own, asking that he would not persuade the pontiff to such a dispensation. This same thing the Neapolitan cardinal himself affirmed also to Lord Worcester and to me, when likewise we were soliciting.

Tunc dixit se iterato redivisse ad pontificem, et quod sua sanctitas dixit, "Rogo vos, domine orator, permittatis istum cardinalem Rothomagensem discedere, et nos libenter faciemus;" dixitque dictus orator se jam fere convaluisse, et propediem ad pontificem rediturum, et nihil diligentius hac re curaturum. Ego obtuli cum vellet dominum Wigorniensem et me una cum eo libenter ad pontificem redituros, quod et faciemus brevi ipso oratore restituto, ut conclusionem hujus negotii, quod scimus quanti sit momenti, ad optatum exitum perducamus, et vestrae majestati illico omnia significabimus, quae sibi persuadere dignetur me nihil penitus de diligentia et studio remissurum, sicut exposcit mea servitus et dedicata illi fides.

Then he said that he had gone back again to the pontiff, and that his holiness said, "I beg you, lord Orator, allow this Cardinal of Rouen to depart, and we will gladly do it;" and the said orator said that he had now almost recovered, and would before long return to the pontiff, and would take care of nothing more diligently than this matter. I offered that, whenever he wished, the lord of Worcester and I, together with him, would gladly return to the pontiff, which we will also do shortly, once the orator himself is restored, so that we may lead the conclusion of this business, which we know how great its moment is, to the desired outcome, and we will forthwith signify everything to your majesty, who may deign to be persuaded that I will in no wise remit anything of diligence and zeal, as my service and the faith dedicated to you demand.

Praeterea dixi suae sanctitati, quod etiam alias saepe dixeram, quantopere vestra majestas desideret additionem in illa sua bulla indulgentiae deputandi confessores quod absolvant diebus indulgentiae a reservatis etiam casibus; ostendique quantis sumptibus et expensis, ac quam magnifico opere vestra majestas capellam in ea ecclesia ac sepulturam regiam aedificet, quantaque bona fecerit pro Sede Apostolica, narrans quae ego non solum audivi sed quae vidi et sollicitavi, de liga videlicet facta cum Sede Apostolica et nonnullis aliis Italicis, ac quanta sua jactura vestra majestas periculo ac scandalo id fecerit. Dixi de pecuniis decimae ordini Cisterciensi vestrae majestatis permissione in Anglia impositis et per Alexandum praedecessorem suum per manus meas collectis; non tacui de cruciatis duabus tempore Innocentii et Alexandri a vestra majestate in isto suo regno concessis; nec illud praeterii quod recentissimum est, vestram majestatem ad opus fidei contra Turcos subsidium concessisse. Sua sanctitas dixit reges alios hoc idem fecisse.

Moreover I said to his holiness, as I had also often said before, how greatly your majesty desires an addition in that his bull of indulgence, of appointing confessors to absolve on the days of indulgence even from reserved cases; and I showed with what costs and expenses, and with how magnificent a work, your majesty is building a chapel in that church and a royal sepulture, and what good things she has done for the Apostolic See, recounting the things which I not only heard but which I saw and solicited, namely about the league made with the Apostolic See and certain other Italians, and at how great a loss to herself your majesty did this, with danger and scandal. I spoke about the moneys of the tithe imposed upon the Cistercian Order by your majesty’s permission in England and collected by Alexander, his predecessor, through my hands; I did not keep silence about the two crusade-levies in the time of Innocent and Alexander, granted by your majesty in this your realm; nor did I pass over that which is most recent, that your majesty has granted a subsidy for the work of the faith against the Turks. His holiness said that other kings have done this same thing.

Respondi, venia suae sanctitatis non bene rem eam percepisse. Alios ostendi reges et principes cruciatas ac subsidia admisisse in suis regnis et locis, sed pro se ipsis non pro Sede Apostolica illa voluisse et integre exegisse, multaque ac pulcherrima contra Turcos promisisse se facturos, nullamque exinde particulam vel minimam Sedi Apostolicae concessisse; recitavique et numeravi qui fuissent, nam si quis est qui hoc sciat, sine arrogantia ego sum. Rex Romanorum inprimis, qui cardinalem Gurgensem legatum cum cruciata decimis et subsidio in suis dominiis recepit, sed pontifex ne obolum quidem accepit.

I replied, with his Holiness’s pardon, that he had not well perceived that matter. I showed that other kings and princes had admitted crusades and subsidies in their own kingdoms and places, but had wished those for themselves, not for the Apostolic See, and had exacted them in full, and had promised to do many and most splendid things against the Turks, and had granted not even the least particle thereof to the Apostolic See; and I recited and enumerated who they had been—for if there is anyone who knows this, without arrogance, I am he. The King of the Romans, first of all, who received the Cardinal of Gurk as legate, with the crusade, the tenths, and the subsidy, in his dominions; but the pontiff did not receive so much as an obol.

Rex praeterea Gallorum, qui similiter cruciatas et decimas habuit in suis locis, et pro seipso exegit, nec in uno denario pontifex participavit. Rex Hispaniae hoc ipsum fecit, Rex Portugalliae, Rex Hungariae, Rex Poloniae, dux Sabaudiae, Veneti, Florentini, et fere omnes alii, vel minores potentatus. Dixi ac praedicavi, quod est verum, vestram majestatem solam fuisse inter omnes Catholicos principes qui non solum admisit pro Sede Apostolica dictas cruciatas et subsidia, sed etiam antequam colligerentur, de suis propriis pecuniis XXti milia scutorum auri Sedi Apostolicae solvenda hic Romae commisisse, et oratori apostolico magistro Pon deliberasse, ac praeterea se scripsisse et obtulisse (quod litterae suae regiae testantur penes me adhuc existentes) se in id bellum contra Turcos in defensione fidei non solum auxilia possibilia et praesidia quae haberet, sed se ipsam quoque personaliter venturam; multaque praeterea narravi de factis, operibus et effectibus, non verbis et demonstrationibus solum vestrae majestatis, propter quae sua sanctitas et Sedes Apostolica non solum in his parvis ac frivolis, sed maximis etiam deberet esse gratiosa, et ostendere ac referre pares grati animi vices.

Moreover the King of the Gauls, who likewise had crusades and tithes in his own places and exacted them for himself, nor did the pontiff participate in a single denarius. The King of Spain did this same, the King of Portugal, the King of Hungary, the King of Poland, the Duke of Savoy, the Venetians, the Florentines, and almost all the others, even lesser potentates. I said and I proclaimed, which is true, that your majesty alone was among all the Catholic princes who not only admitted for the Apostolic See the said crusades and subsidies, but also, before they were collected, from her own monies committed here at Rome that 20,000 scudi of gold should be paid to the Apostolic See, and delivered to the apostolic orator Master Pon; and moreover that she had written and offered (which her royal letters attest, still existing with me) that into that war against the Turks in defense of the faith she would bring not only the possible aids and garrisons which she had, but that she herself also would come in person; and many things besides I recounted of the deeds, works, and effects, not words and demonstrations only, of your majesty, on account of which his holiness and the Apostolic See ought to be gracious not only in these small and frivolous matters, but even in the greatest, and to show and render equal reciprocations of a grateful spirit.

Sua sanctitas humanissime respondit se cupere vestrae majestati in omnibus gratificari, sed quod deputare confessores qui absolverent in casibus reservatis erat inauditum. Dixi vestram majestatem habere consilia advocatorum qui dicunt posse id fieri ex tenore bullae, tamen vestram majestatem cupere ad majorem cautelam ut in bulla exprimatur; et cum difficultatem sua sanctitas etiam afferret, diceretque non consuevisse fieri, rogavi ut sua sanctitas concederet bullam deputandi confessores qui absolverent ab aliis casibus, exceptis reservatis in bulla Omnes Sanctae excipi consuetis, recitavique litteras vestrae majestatis quas mihi anno superiore scripsit super ea re, quas mecum de industria detuleram, quae haec verba inter caetera ponit; "Quod si forte aliqua difficultas suboriatur in obtinenda generali potestate confessoribus danda de absolvendo ab omnibus peccatis etiam Sedi Apostolicae reservatis, excipientur ab illa generali concessione illi dumtaxat tales casus reservati qui in hujusmodi plenariis indulgentiis et gratiis concedendis solent excipi, et nominatim exprimantur in bulla. Itidem de commutatione votorum etiam ultramarium in alia pia opera, si opus omnino fuerit, in ipsa generali concessione aliqua vota excipere, utpote ad visitandum beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum limina, necnon et Jacobi in Compostella, ac castitatis et religionis vota emissa, fiat hujusmodi exceptio in bulla expressa."

His Holiness most humanely replied that he desires to gratify Your Majesty in all things, but that to depute confessors who would absolve in reserved cases was unheard-of. I said that Your Majesty has the counsel of advocates who say that it can be done from the tenor of the bull; nevertheless Your Majesty desires, for greater caution, that it be expressed in the bull; and since His Holiness also advanced difficulty and said that it was not accustomed to be done, I asked that His Holiness grant a bull for deputing confessors who would absolve from other cases, with the reserved cases excepted which are wont to be excepted in the bull Omnes Sanctae, and I read out the letters of Your Majesty which you wrote to me the year before on that matter, which I had purposely brought with me, which set these words among others: "But if by chance some difficulty should arise in obtaining the general power to be given to confessors for absolving from all sins, even those reserved to the Apostolic See, there shall be excepted from that general concession only those such reserved cases which, in granting plenary indulgences and graces of this kind, are wont to be excepted, and let them be expressed by name in the bull. Likewise concerning the commutation of vows, even ultramarine, into other pious works, if it shall be altogether necessary, let some vows be excepted in the very general concession, as, for example, those for visiting the thresholds of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, and likewise of James at Compostela, and vows of chastity and of religion that have been professed; let such an exception be made expressed in the bull."

Haec verba sunt in litteris majestatis vestrae, quae litterae sunt datae in castro de Richemonte, die vj. Junii m.ccccc.iij. Sua sanctitas his auditis laudavit modestiam vestrae majestatis, dixitque se consultaturam cum cardinali Alexandrino, qui habet utramque signaturam, gratiae et justitiae, et libenter se etiam in hoc vestrae majestati facturam scitis. Ad quae ego, ne sua sanctitas putaret rem ita grandem, attuli me impetrasse pro bonae memoriae domino Bray fere consimilem bullam cum deputatione confessoris, exceptis reservatis, et illum dixi unum de militibus et familiaribus vestrae majestatis fuisse, nec majestati vestrae denegandum esse quod suis subditis et servitoribus sit concessum.

These words are in your majesty’s letters, which letters were given in the castle of Richmond, on the 6th day of June 1503. His Holiness, on hearing these things, praised the modesty of your majesty, and said that he would consult with the Alexandrine Cardinal, who holds both signatures, of grace and of justice, and that, as you know, he would gladly also in this oblige your majesty. To which I, lest His Holiness should think the matter so weighty, brought forward that I had obtained for the lord Bray of blessed memory a nearly similar bull with the deputation of a confessor, with the reserved cases excepted, and I said that he had been one of your majesty’s knights and familiars, nor ought that to be denied to your majesty which has been granted to his subjects and servants.

Respondit se libenter visuram minutam bullae ipsius magistri Bray, et omnino vestrae majestati complacituram. Curabo ego, cujus est totum hoc opus et mea interest, ut sua sanctitas rem perficiat, et ad hunc effectum hodie fui cum ipso cardinali Alexandrino, qui cubiculo meo in palatio vicinus est et mihi amicissimus, remque omnem retuli et abunde suam dominationem informavi, et nisi etiam ipse esset aegrotus, aliquid certioris rei per hunc cursorem perscribere potuissem. Papa est novus, et in hac novitate omnia parva videntur magna.

He replied that he would gladly look at the minute of the bull of that same Master Bray, and would altogether oblige your majesty. I will take care, since this whole business is mine and concerns my interest, that His Holiness bring the matter to completion; and to this effect today I was with that same Alexandrine cardinal, who is neighbor to my chamber in the palace and most friendly to me, and I reported the whole affair and abundantly informed his lordship; and unless he too were sick, I could have written something more certain by this courier. The Pope is new, and in this newness all small things seem great.

Recordetur vestra majestas de principio pontificatus Alexandri, qui dominum Christophorum Wrswic eleemosinarium vestrae majestatis et alios suos oratores fere sine aliqua expeditione domum remisit. Certe principia omnia sunt difficiliora; sed spero sua sanctitas erit vestrae majestati, ut dixi, non minus gratiosa quam fuerit Alexander; quod ut succedat ego pro viribus non deero vestrae majestatis fidelissimus servus.

Let Your Majesty remember the beginning of the pontificate of Alexander, who sent Lord Christopher Wrswic, Your Majesty’s almoner, and his other orators home almost without any expedition. Surely all beginnings are more difficult; but I hope His Holiness will be, as I said, no less gracious to Your Majesty than Alexander was; and that this may come to pass, I, to the best of my powers, will not be lacking—Your Majesty’s most faithful servant.

Sua sanctitas egit magnas gratias vestrae majestati de oratoribus quos designavit. Narravi ego qui et quales essent, dixique pro meo honore et favore quod ego illos invitabo per hunc cursorem et per meas litteras, velint venire sub tectum meum, quos excipere studebo quo potero honore et laetissima certe fronte; et ita supplico majestati etiam vestrae sit de hoc contenta, quia ab illis ego per meas litteras hoc de gratia singulari exposco, ut curia tota, quae me creaturam et opus manuum vestrarum me esse novit, intelligat etiam ex hac legatorum susceptione me ab illa diligi, et me ex toto Anglicum esse, quod sum et ero semper usque ad mortem, nec quoad potero unquam reperiar immemor aut ingratus tot ac tantis beneficiis quae vestra majestas in me servum suum conferre dignatus est; et spero dicet cum veritate quod non invenit me in ullo unquam opinioni atque expectationi suae deesse. Confidat supplico vestra majestas, nec suis literis ad alios vacillet, quia sibi et rebus suis propriis detraheret quicquid mihi auctoritatis aut fidei derogaret, quamquam spero augebit potius et incrementis cumulabit sperantem in se et operi manuum suarum semper porriget dextram.

His Holiness gave great thanks to Your Majesty for the orators whom you designated. I related who and of what sort they were, and I said, for my honor and favor, that I will invite them by this courier and by my letters to be willing to come under my roof, whom I will strive to receive with whatever honor I can and assuredly with a most joyous countenance; and thus I supplicate that even Your Majesty be content with this, because from them I by my letters request this as a singular grace, that the whole Curia, which knows me to be a creature and the work of your hands, may also understand from this reception of the legates that I am loved by it, and that I am in every respect an Englishman, which I am and shall be always even unto death, nor, so far as I am able, shall I ever be found unmindful or ungrateful for so many and so great benefactions which Your Majesty has deigned to confer upon me, your servant; and I hope it will say with truth that it has never found me in anything to have fallen short of its opinion and expectation. Let Your Majesty, I beseech you, be confident, nor waver in your letters to others, because anything of authority or credit that might be derogated from me would be detracted from herself and from her own affairs; although I hope she will rather augment and heap up with increments the one hoping in her, and will always stretch forth the right hand to the work of her hands.

Sed jam ad alia.

But now to other things.

Expedivi tres illas ecclesias, Cantuariensem, Cicestrensem et Assavensem, juxta litteras commendatitias vestrae majestatis, bullasque ipsarum ecclesiarum curavi deferri istuc per Johanninum Galoppa, quem miseram ad vestram majestatem cum creatione Pii II. felicis recordationis, qui est vir expertus et exercitatus. Expedivi et aliam ecclesiam pro illo fratre Cordigero Pinson, Tuamensen in Ibernia, qui personaliter huc propterea venerat; et ego visis litteris vestrae majestatis, et quia suffraganeus meus fuerat, biduo postquam advenit expedivi, et deinde triduo post ex pestilentia obiit hic Romae. Tenebo quoad potero, nec patiar alium quempiam ecclesiam ipsam impetrare, licet in curia Romana et apud Sedem Apostolicam vacaverit, quousque vestra majestas aliter provideat, cui supplico cito id faciat, ne detur nobis aliquis qui hoc ipsum quaerat.

I expedited those three churches, the Canterbury, the Chichester, and the St Asaph, according to your majesty’s commendatory letters, and I took care that the bulls of those churches be carried thither by Johanninus Galoppa, whom I had sent to your majesty at the creation of Pius 2, of happy memory, who is a man experienced and exercised. I expedited another church as well for that brother Cordiger Pinson, the Tuam church in Hibernia, who had come here personally for that very reason; and I, upon seeing your majesty’s letters, and because he had been my suffragan, expedited it within two days after he arrived, and then three days later, from the pestilence, he died here at Rome. I will hold it as far as I am able, nor will I allow anyone else to impetrate that church, although it has stood vacant in the Roman Curia and at the Apostolic See, until your majesty provides otherwise, whom I beg to do this quickly, lest there be given to us someone who seeks this very thing.

Hoc ipsum erit etiam per vestram majestatem providendum, ut sit hic aliquis doctor in sacra pagina Anglicus qui sit unus de poenitentiariis in basilica Sancti Petri de Urbe; nam postquam obiit hac aestate alter qui erat optimus plures lites substinui, et coram Alexandro et coram Pio, et nunc coram Julio, praesertim cum pluribus Scotis qui talem locum impetraverant a pontificibus praedictis, et ego eorum supplicationes detineri feci, et comparui, ac bullam ostendi Eugenii per quam cavetur expresse ut unus Anglicus poenitentiarius in dicta basilica, qui audiat etiam confessiones Scotorum et Ibernicorum, portavique dictam bullam ad ipsos pontifices singulatim, obstantibus cardinalibus Sanctae Praxedis, protectore Scotorum, Caputaquensi et Grimanno fautoribus eorum, et supplicationes signatas allegantibus. Astitit nobis veritas et justitia, et ipsi etiam pontifices, ac novissime his diebus sanctissimus dominus noster, qui mandavit datario detineri omnes eorum supplicationes. Sed necesse est ut loco vacuo provideatur ne sit semper pugnandum.

This very matter will also have to be provided through your majesty, namely that there be here some English doctor in the sacred page who shall be one of the penitentiaries in the basilica of Saint Peter of the City; for after the other, who was the best, died this summer, I have sustained many lawsuits, both before Alexander and before Pius, and now before Julius, especially with several Scots who had obtained such a place from the aforesaid pontiffs, and I had their supplications detained, and I appeared, and I showed the bull of Eugenius by which it is expressly provided that there be one English penitentiary in the said basilica, who shall also hear the confessions of the Scots and the Hibernians, and I carried the said bull to those pontiffs individually, with the cardinals of Saint Praxedes opposing, the Protector of the Scots, the Capuan, and Grimani, their favorers, alleging signed supplications. Truth and Justice stood by us, and the pontiffs themselves also, and most recently in these days our most holy lord, who ordered the Datary that all their supplications be detained. But it is necessary that provision be made for the vacant place, lest there be perpetual fighting.

Dignetur itaque vestra majestas providere ut cito aliquis veniat et meo judicio posset cum dictis oratoribus commode nunc venire; fiat tamen voluntas vestrae majestatis.

May your majesty, therefore, deign to provide that someone come quickly, and, in my judgment, he could conveniently come now with the said envoys; nevertheless, let the will of your majesty be done.

Nunc restat ut vestrae majestati de novis et successu rerum nostrarum curialium et Italicarum, ut soleo, aliquid perscribam.

Now it remains that to Your Majesty I write in detail something, as I am accustomed, about the new developments and the success of our Curial and Italian affairs.

Primo aliqua de electione pontificis, qui certe, ut alias dixi, summa et incredibili omnium cardinalium et aliorum concordia electus est, et ita creatus ut priusquam intraremus conclave, quod pene inauditum est cunctis saeculis, factus esset. Cardinales Hispani primi aditum patefecerunt, multis eorum ac privatis pactionibus aut factionibus, ut dicunt, alii cardinales plerique idem fecerunt, paucis exceptis qui manus ac mentes mundas ac integras servaverunt; inter quos fui, quod sine arrogantia sit dictum, non postremus; nam neque pacta neque unam festucam volui habere neque audire, tam in Pio quam in Julio. Omnes hoc sciunt; nam nihil fuit secretum: ita Deus et eorum opera voluerunt.

First, something about the election of the pontiff, who certainly, as I have said elsewhere, was elected with the highest and incredible concord of all the cardinals and of others, and was so created that, before we had entered the conclave—which is almost unheard-of in all ages—he had already been made. The Spanish cardinals were the first to open the entrance, with many public and private pactions or, as they say, factions; the other cardinals for the most part did the same, a few excepted who kept their hands and minds clean and integral; among whom I was, said without arrogance, not the last; for I wished neither to have nor to hear any pacts, not even a single straw, as much under Pius as under Julius. All know this; for nothing was secret: so God and their works willed.

Neminem accuso, neminem excuso; veritatem scribo vestrae majestati, quam habeo loco numinis. Omnes discordantes concordaverunt, et facti sunt in hoc amici omnes inimicissimi, sicut Galli et Hispani, Ursini et Columnenses, rex Romanorum et Veneti. Dux Valentinensis, qui in castro Sancti Angeli Romae erat, descendit de castro et ivit obviam cardinali Sancti Petri ad Vincula, qui nunc Julius est; et in horto palatii convenerunt in unum cardinales Hispani omnes, cardinalis Rothomagensis, cardinalis de Columna, cardinalis Ascanius, vicecancellarius, omnes idem petentes ut fieret hic pontifex, qui ita factus fuit.

I accuse no one, I excuse no one; I write the truth to your Majesty, whom I hold in the place of a divinity. All the discordant came to concord, and in this the most inimical all became friends, like the Gauls and the Spaniards, the Orsini and the Colonna, the King of the Romans and the Venetians. The Duke of Valentinois, who was in the Castel Sant’Angelo at Rome, came down from the castle and went to meet the Cardinal of Saint Peter in Chains, who is now Julius; and in the garden of the palace there convened into one all the Spanish cardinals, the Cardinal of Rouen, the Cardinal of Colonna, Cardinal Ascanio, the Vice-Chancellor, all requesting the same thing, that this man be made pontiff, which thus was done.

Paulo post dux ipse Valentinensis voluit ire per mare, aliqui dicebant Pisas, aliqui Genuam, aliqui in Romandiolam, ubi fuit in Ostia cum triremibus duabus et onerariis navibus tribus armatis et multis stipendiariis onustis, per x. dies post rediit ad urbem per armigeros pontificis reductus, in palatio custoditus. Gentes suae quas per terram in provinciam suam Romandiolae praemiserat retentae et profligatae fuerunt, paulo post cum una nocte diceretur quod dictus dux ducebatur ad castrum Sancti Angeli ut melius ibi custodiretur.

A little after the duke himself of Valentinois wished to go by sea, some were saying to Pisa, some to Genoa, some into Romandiola, where he was in Ostia with two triremes and three cargo ships armed and laden with many stipendiaries; after 10 days he returned to the city, led back by the pontiff’s men-at-arms, kept under guard in the palace. His forces which he had sent ahead by land into his province of Romandiola were detained and routed, a little afterward, when in one night it was said that the said duke was being led to the Castle of Saint Angelo so that he might be better guarded there.

Duo cardinales Hispani illa hora clam ab urbe profugerunt et in regnum Neapolitanum profecti sunt, videlicet, cardinalis Borgia et cardinalis Surrentinus. His varia impinguntur, praesertim illi Surrentino qui fuerat gubernator urbis; caeteri cardinales Hispani valde tremefacti fuerunt. Aliqui dicunt quod opera Gallorum ut minuantur vires tot cardinalium Hispanorum ne possint facere quae volunt in collegio, vacante praesertim sede.

Two Spanish cardinals at that hour secretly fled from the city and set out into the Neapolitan kingdom, namely, Cardinal Borgia and the Sorrentine Cardinal. Various things are imputed to them, especially to that Sorrentine who had been governor of the city; the other Spanish cardinals were greatly tremble-struck. Some say that by the efforts of the Gauls the strength of so many Spanish cardinals is being diminished, lest they be able to do what they wish in the College, especially with the See vacant.

Alii dicunt odio quo prosequitur eos pontifex ob injurias acceptas tempore Alexandri, suggestionibus etiam aliquorum cardinalium offensorum. Ad haec addunt quendam esse captum ex familia cardinalis Sancti Angeli quem dicunt confiteri dedisse eidem cardinali venenum ex mandato Alexandri papae de conscientia ducis et cardinalis Surrentini. His et aliis multis onerant metu et suspicionibus reliquos cardinales Hispanos.

Others say it is out of the hatred with which the pontiff prosecutes them for injuries received in the time of Alexander, also by the suggestions of certain offended cardinals. To these they add that a certain man has been seized from the household of the Cardinal of Saint Angel, whom they say confesses that he gave poison to that same cardinal by the mandate of Pope Alexander, with the knowledge of the duke and of the Surrentine cardinal. With these things and many others they load the remaining Spanish cardinals with fear and suspicions.

Quid sequetur nescitur. Ego fideliter quae audio et audiam referam vestrae majestati; cui supplico servet secreta quae nocere possent, prodesse non possent.

What will follow is unknown. I will faithfully report to Your Majesty what I hear and shall hear; I beseech you to keep secret those things which could harm and could not profit.

Cardinalis Rothomagensis discessit. In consistorio antequam discederet quatuor cardinales creati sunt; unus nepos suus, archiepiscopus Narbonensis, qui hic cum eo erat; alter Hispanus, archiepiscopus Ispalensis; duo nepotes papae, episcopus Mimatensis, et alter episcopus Lucensis. Ipse Rothomagensis creatus est legatus Avinionensis, et habuit confirmationem legationis Galliae pro tempore quod sibi restabat concesso per Alexandrum, quod est fere biennium.

The Cardinal of Rouen departed. In consistory, before he left, four cardinals were created; one, his nephew, the Archbishop of Narbonne, who was here with him; another, a Spaniard, the Archbishop of Seville; two nephews of the pope, the Bishop of Mende, and another, the Bishop of Lucca. The Cardinal of Rouen himself was made Legate of Avignon, and he received confirmation of the legation of Gaul for the time which remained to him, granted by Alexander, which is nearly two years.

Habuit etiam archiepiscopatum Avinionensem pro domino Antonio Flores familiari suo. His omnibus consecutis discessit.

He also held the archbishopric of Avignon on behalf of Lord Antonio Flores, his familiar. With all these things having been achieved, he departed.

Hic est dux Urbini prope pontificem, vir valde doctus Graece et Latine, et affinis papae, in magno favore et gratia, et erit capitaneus ecclesiae. Ipse his diebus venit ad me visitandum, sicut ivit etiam ad alios cardinales, et inter caetera dixit se teneri summo desiderio ut sit notus vestrae majestati et familiaris, offerens se et sua magna cum ostentatione benevolentiae, rogavitque me multum ut vestrae majestati scriberem et illius gratiae eum insinuarem; dixitque se a patre suo duce Urbini intellexisse quod alias a clarae memoriae rege Hedwardo garacteriam accepisset; dixitque se loco maximi muneris accepturum si et ipse hanc gratiam a vestra majestate posset obtinere. Et sic super ea re vestrae majestati nunc scribit.

Here is the Duke of Urbino near the pontiff, a man very learned in Greek and Latin, and an affine of the pope, in great favor and grace, and he will be Captain of the Church. He himself in these days came to visit me, just as he also went to the other cardinals, and among other things he said that he is held by the highest desire to be known to Your Majesty and to be familiar, offering himself and his goods with a great ostentation of benevolence, and he much begged me to write to Your Majesty and insinuate him into your grace; and he said that he had understood from his father, the Duke of Urbino, that at another time he had received the Garter from the king Edward of blessed memory; and he said that he would take it in the place of the greatest favor if he too could obtain this grace from Your Majesty. And so on that matter he now writes to Your Majesty.

Significavi quod est, rem esse grandem, et quam audivi et vidi quaeri a magnis principibus, et nonnunquam etiam maximis negatam: Dixi de rege Alfonso qui dux erat Calabriae; dixi etiam de rege Federico. Promisi tamen me scripturum et quae possem vestrae majestati supplicaturum pro eo. Vestra nunc majestas videat quod sibi videatur; certe mihi talis dominus et in tali nunc fastigio positus non spernendus videtur: sapientia sua vestra majestas rem hanc curabit ut melius sibi videbitur, et aliquid dignabitur super hac re rescribere. Est etiam prope suam sanctitatem quidam qui est thesaurarius suae sanctitatis, nomine Franciscus de Castro Rio, maxima gratia et auctoritate; est et item dominus Antonius de Savona, quae civitas est patria papae, magister domus suae sanctitatis, qui plurimum potest.

I signified what it is, that the matter is a grand one, and one which I have heard and seen sought by great princes, and sometimes even denied to the greatest: I spoke of King Alfonso who was Duke of Calabria; I also spoke of King Frederick. I nevertheless promised that I would write and that, as I could, I would supplicate Your Majesty for him. Let Your Majesty now see what may seem to yourself; certainly to me such a lord, and now placed on such a pinnacle, does not seem to be scorned: by your wisdom Your Majesty will take care of this matter as shall seem best to you, and will deign to write something back concerning this matter. There is also near His Holiness someone who is the Treasurer of His Holiness, by the name Francesco of Castro Rio, of the greatest favor and authority; and likewise there is Lord Antonio of Savona, which city is the native place of the pope, Master of the Household of His Holiness, who can do very much.

Iis meo judicio aliquid esset humane per vestram majestatem scribendum; cum quibus ego valde amice et grato commercio utor, et me ipsi et reliqui aulici pontificis valde amant.

In my judgment, something ought to be written to them humanely by Your Majesty; with whom I use very friendly and agreeable dealings, and they themselves and the rest of the pontifical courtiers love me greatly.

Superest ut de novis Italiae, ut dixi, aliquid significem. In regno Neapolitano proculdubio Hispani primas et meliores partes obtinent; Galli nondum fluvium illum qui Liris Latine, vulgo Gariglanus dicitur, transire potuerunt. Sunt ad ripas ejus fere omnibus rebus oppressi, ac magnis difficultatibus commeatuum macerati, ita ut plerique ex illo exercitu redierint, reliqui quotidie in hanc urbem turmatim fracti bello fatisque repulsi commigrent.

It remains that, as I said, I signify something of the news of Italy. In the Neapolitan kingdom, without doubt the Spaniards hold the first and better parts; the Gauls have not yet been able to cross that river which in Latin is Liris, commonly called the Garigliano. They are at its banks oppressed in nearly all things, and worn down by great difficulties of supplies, so that many from that army have returned, and the rest each day migrate into this city in troops, broken by war and driven back by the fates.

Exierat heri rumor omnes ad unum Gallos esse caesos ac profligatos. Hodie non ita percrebuit fama, sed quasi quodam vento reflante contrarium obtinuit, adhuc esse Gallos in stationibus suis, et loco non moveri. Multi his rumoribus varia affingunt; sed hoc inter omnes constat, inferiores esse Gallos.

Yesterday there went out a rumor that the French, to a man, had been slain and routed. Today the report has not so spread, but, as if with a certain wind blowing back, the contrary has prevailed: that the French are still at their stations and are not moved from their place. Many append various things to these rumors; but this is agreed among all, that the French are the inferior party.

Florentini cum Gallis adhuc sunt, partes eorum sequuti. Veneti neutros se praestant. De Romandiola tamen aliquas civitates ut Este, Faventia et Ariminium occupare non sunt veriti, pontifice clamante et iras colligente.

Florentines are still with the Gauls, having followed their side. The Venetians show themselves neutral. Of Romandiola, however, they have not been afraid to occupy some cities, such as Este, Faventia, and Ariminium, with the pontiff crying out and gathering wrath.

Quae sequentur diligenter vestrae majestati significare curabo.

I will diligently take care to signify to your majesty what will follow.

Scriptis et fere obsignatis his litteris, supervenit nuncius ad oratorem Hispaniae, qui attulit litteras a Gonsalvo Fernandes regio capitaneo in expeditione Neapolitano; quibus litteris significat dictus capitaneus se XXXma Decembris transivisse Lirim praedictum fluvium cum toto exercitu, atque conseruisse manus cum Gallis qui erant cis ejus fluminis ripas, ac interfectos esse trecentos armigeros equites et ad mille pedites; reliquos fugatos ac profligatos, captis machinis bellicis. Paulo post, hac ipsa die supervenit et alius nuncius ad eundem oratorem Hispanum a dicto Gondisalvo cum litteris quibus significat se die xxxj. Decembris, hoc est sequenti die, cum suo exercitu cepisse Montem Cajetae, ubi erant Galli quamplurimi, et montem ipsum tenebant custoditum; qui mons est prope muros Cajetae, et est quasi vallum et antemurale ipsius.

With these letters written and almost sealed, a messenger arrived to the orator of Spain, who brought letters from Gonsalvo Fernandes, the royal captain in the Neapolitan expedition; in which letters the said captain signifies that on 30 December he had crossed the aforesaid river Liris with the whole army, and had joined battle with the French who were on this side of that river’s banks, and that three hundred men-at-arms on horseback and about a thousand foot-soldiers were slain; the rest were put to flight and routed, the war machines being captured. A little after, on this very day, there also arrived another messenger to the same Spanish orator from the said Gondisalvo with letters by which he signifies that on 31 December, that is, the following day, with his army he seized the Mount of Gaeta, where there were very many French, and they held the mount guarded; which mount is near the walls of Gaeta, and is as it were its rampart and antemural.

Dicit etiam homines dictae civitatis Cajetae, hoc viso, petiisse pacta quibus se dederent Hispanis; quare hic fere omnes existimant Cajetam esse jam in potestate Hispanorum. Quod si est, certe Galli totum regnum Neapolitanum amiserunt. Quae supervenient curabo diligenter significare vestrae majestati, cui tanquam Deo servire studeo, et cui me ex toto corde humillime commendo.

He also says that the men of the said city of Cajeta, this having been seen, sought pacts by which they might surrender themselves to the Spaniards; wherefore here nearly all think that Cajeta is now in the power of the Spaniards. If this is so, certainly the French have lost the whole Neapolitan kingdom. What shall supervene I will take care diligently to signify to your majesty, whom I strive to serve as if God, and to whom from my whole heart I most humbly commend myself.

Romae, iiij. Januarii, m.ccccc.iiij.

Rome, 4 January, 1504.

E. V. Majestatis
Humillimus Servitor,
Hadrianus
Cardinalis Sancti Chrysogoni

Your Majesty's
Most Humble Servant,
Hadrian
Cardinal of Saint Chrysogonus