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The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
In 1460 Sebastian Giustinian was born.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1515. 31st May 1515. Giust. Desp. f. 224. 1960. Sebastian Giustinian (age 55) to the DOGE.
By his letter of the 21st they will have learnt that he has gone to Putney in consequence of the plague in his house, which excluded him from an audience with the Cardinal. Has heard from the French ambassador that the Scotch business is not settled. The Queen is at liberty to depart, and will return in a few days. The Scotch will not consent to leave the children under the care of their mother. The differences are postponed for six months, during which time the Kings of England, France and Denmark will negotiate for an arrangement with the Scotch. On visiting the Cardinal found he was closeted with the Emperor's ambassador, and had to wait more than two hours. Remonstrated upon his letters being taken away and opened at Canterbury. Afterwards communicated to Wolsey by word of mouth the contents of the said letters, but varying the passages in cipher that the key might not be discovered. Protested against the approach of bloodshed, hearing from Wolsey that immense forces were marshalled against the King of France, first the Emperor, then the Swiss, then the Viceroy. Dwelt on the arrogance of the Emperor, and that his army had been paid with the money of the King of England. Begged him to protect Italy. Will see the King on Monday the 2nd; perhaps a royal and youthful mind will be more easily moved to commiseration. Putney, 31 May 1516.
Four Years at the Court of Henry VIII Volume 1. 24th February 1516. Sebastian Giustinian (age 56). To the Most Excellent Council of Ten.
On the 21st instant, this most serene King had his daughter christened, and the sponsors were the right reverend cardinal and the duchess of Norfolk (age 39)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 distinction, 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 earnestness 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 his; 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 conference 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 27th 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 understood 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 regis that it was my duty, first of all, to announce it to your 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.
Note 1. Agnes Tilney, daughter of Hugh Tilney, the second wife of Thomas Howard, second Duke of Norfolk. This Duchess Agnes became subsequently involved in the disgrace of her granddaughter, Queen Catharine Howard. The birth of the Princess Mary at the moment of her grandfather's death, and the choice of her godmother, appear evil omens.
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Sebastian Giustinian (age 56) wrote on 17th July 1516 that Thomas Lovell had withdrawn himself from public affairs; probably as a consequence of Wolsey's (age 43) rise to power.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1517. 6th August 1517. Giust. Desp. II. 113. 3558. Sebastian Giustinian (age 57) to the DOGE.
The Catholic King is in Zealand, waiting to embark. Great cruelties have been committed by the Duke of Gueldres in the invasion of Friesland. As the King, in consequence of the new malady, had withdrawn himself to a distance, found great difficulty in speaking with him. "This disease makes very quick progress, proving fatal in twenty-four hours at the furthest, and many are carried off in four or five hours. The patients experience nothing but a profuse sweat, which dissolves the frame, and when once the twenty-four hours are passed all danger is at an end." Many of his own household are sick. Few strangers are dead, but an immense number of natives. Presented the King with the letters from the Signory and Hadrian, which last he "extracted from the packet addressed by his lordship to the Cardinal of York;" otherwise Wolsey would never have delivered it to his majesty. The King said he was perfectly acquainted with the business, and had heard from the Pope that he intended to deprive and degrade Hadrian. On Sebastian's endeavoring to excuse the Cardinal's absence from Rome, rather than incur danger, the King said: "I understand this matter better than you Venetians;" and seemed greatly exasperated against him. Thinks this is owing to Wolsey. Would have presented the letter to Wolsey, but he "has been ill of this sweating sickness, and would that the perspiration had carried off his wish for these benefices." Many of his household have died from the sweat.
Sebastian's son has returned from the Bp. of Winchester; his audience was delayed because this prelate likewise had taken the sweat. He had a gracious welcome by Fox, who represented the matter as desperate, saying: "We have to deal with the Cardinal, who is not Cardinal but King, and no one in the realm dares attempt aught in opposition to his interests." He was already in possession of the see, and Fox had resigned the administration of it. He said that one of the pontifical briefs greatly exaggerated Hadrian's crimes, and urged that the see of Bath should be given to Wolsey in commendam. But in the second brief the anger of the Pope was much softened, and he seemed to delay the execution of the former one. The second brief, however, is not to be found, and your highness will comprehend by whose means it has been secreted. The Bp. also wrote a letter to Chieregato, of which Sebastian encloses a copy. London, 6 Aug. 1517.
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Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1517. 27th August 1517. Giust. Desp. II. 126. 3638. Sebastian Giustinian (age 57) to the COUNCIL OF TEN.
His majesty is at Windsor with his physician, Dionysius Memo, and three favorite gentlemen. No one is admitted, on account of the disease, which is now making great progress. The Cardinal has been ill until now, which is the fourth time. The Scotch affairs are settled. The Catholic King is in Zealand. Saw a letter from the King's ambassador with the Swiss, by which it appears the understanding between the Emperor, the King and the Swiss is not so good as before. Thinks it arises from their craving for money, which is not agreeable to those in authority here, as they now think it prudent to husband their resources, contrary to their previous custom. London, 27 Aug. 1517.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1517. 12th September 1517. Giust. Desp. II. 129. 3675. Sebastian Giustinian (age 57) to the DOGE.
A French ambassador has arrived from the Emperor, a man of no account, apparently only to borrow money. He has not yet had an audience, either of the King, who keeps aloof at Windsor to avoid the sickness, or of Wolsey, who has gone to Walsingham. London, 12 Sept. 1517.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1517. 26th September 1517. Giust. Desp. II. 130. 3697. Sebastian Giustinian (age 57) to the COUNCIL OF TEN.
Has left London to avoid the plague. Has heard of another conspiracy of the mob to murder the strangers and sack their houses. Thinks it was suggested by the absence of the King, Cardinal and other lords, who have gone in the country. The city is prepared: 3,000 householders are under arms. Three of the ringleaders have been arrested. Desires to return home. The present session will last all October, after which there will be no reason for him to stay. Westminster, 26 Sept. 1517.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1517. 11th November 1517. Giust. Desp. II. 135. 3788. Sebastian Giustinian (age 57) to the DOGE.
Has received their letters, which he communicated to the Cardinal, who is now gone to a place of his in consequence of the sickness. The Bp. of Paris and De la Guiche have arrived as ambassadors from France. They could not obtain admission to the King through fear of the plague. "I endeavoured to learn the cause of their coming, but the Reverend Bishop of Ely having made his appearance, I had no opportunity. It is said that they have come about certain reprisals, but I do not believe that envoys of such dignity would have been sent on so trivial an errand, especially as the aforesaid Bishop of Ely and the Lord Chamberlain, who had been appointed as envoys to France, will now not go there." The King is abroad, and moves from place to place on account of the plague, which makes great ravages in the royal Household. Some of the pages who slept in his chamber have died. None remain with him except three favorite gentlemen and Memo. Violent storms have destroyed the shipping. London, 11 Nov. 1517.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1518. 15th March 1518. Giust. Desp. II. 166. 4009. Sebastian Giustinian (age 58) to the Doge.
Rode to the King at Richmond, who is in some trouble, as three of his pages have died of the plague. Was graciously received: told him the news of the Turks, from whom, his majesty said, there was nothing to fear this year, as he had received intelligence from Rhodes. Sebastian pointed out the threatening nature of their preparations. The King laughed, and said Venice was on such good terms with the Turk, she had nothing to fear. Sebastian replied, they had made terms with Selim out of necessity, and from dread of the formidable power of the Sultan. "Tell your Signory," said the King, "there is a person more formidable than the Turk, who denies he has engaged any lansknechts, and yet I know he has hired them at two crowns per man." Sebastian replied, he thought it very unlikely such a thing should have escaped the knowledge of so wise a man as the Venetian ambassador in the French court. "Upon this the King drew me nearer to him, and also took my secretary by the hand,—a gesture he repeated several times in the course of the conference,—saying, 'Shall I give you manifest proof of the deceit of this King of France?'" and then went on to insist that the forces which Francis pretended to marshal against the Turks were really intended against Italy. Sebastian combated this notion without appearing to contradict him. The King urged, "He wishes me worse than he does the devil himself; yet you see what kind of friendly language he employs towards me, in order that I may trust such deceit: but I am so prepared that, should the King of France attempt to attack me, he will find himself deceived." He then insisted on the refusal of France to do justice to his subjects; the sending of Albany into Scotland; "where he will perhaps put the King to death in like manner as his brother died, which I never intend to suffer; nor will I tolerate his presence there; and should he send him, I shall hold the said King my enemy." He then enlarged upon the love of interference on the part of Francis. Sebastian turned the conversation, endeavoring to avoid his resentment, urging that the Signory acted towards both crowns impartially. The King expressed himself satisfied, and told Sebastian he was not to detail these conversations to the ambassador in France; which, however, he intends to do. London, 15 March 1518.
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The Chronicle of Abbot Ralph of Coggeshall describes the reigns of Kings Henry II, Richard I, John and Henry III, providing a wealth of information about their lives and the events of the time. Ralph's work is detailed, comprehensive and objective. We have augmented Ralph's text with extracts from other contemporary chroniclers to enrich the reader's experience. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1518. 10th November 1518. 4568. Sebastian Giustinian (age 58) to the Doge. This night [9th-10th November 1518] the Queen was delivered of a daughter, to the vexation of as many as know it;—the entire nation looked for a prince. "Had the event taken place before the conclusion of the betrothal that event might not have come to pass; the sole fear of this kingdom being that it may pass into the power of the French through this marriage." Lambeth, 10 Nov. 1518.
In 1543 Sebastian Giustinian (age 83) died.