Chapter XXXIV: Appendix: I

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CORRESPONDENCE OF CLEMENT VII. WITH DUKE FRANCESCO MARIA BEFORE THE SACK OF ROME, 1527

There are several brieves preserved in the Archivio Diplomatico at Florence, affording evidence of the Pope's feeble and inconsistent policy. His missive, announcing to the Duke the truce with Lannoy, was dated the 16th of March, and was followed by one of the 20th of April, which we shall here translate:--

To our beloved Son, the noble Francesco Maria, Duke of
Urbino, Captain-general of the Venetians.

Beloved Son, health and apostolic benediction!

We have written but once to your nobility since coming to
this armistice with the enemy, for, matters not being yet
fully settled, we had nothing certain to apprise you of.
But we understood that, by the letters of our dear son
and lieutenant, Francesco Guicciardini, you were already
made aware of all we could have asked of you, and had by
your own good conduct anticipated it, which is to us most
pleasing and acceptable, and daily more realises our hopes
of you. As to this suspension of arms, we stooped to it
more readily from being destitute of means or assistance,
and from measuring the inclinations of others by our own
pacific dispositions. But now that our enemies' conduct
seems rather to abuse our clemency and moderation than to
approach any equitable course, we do not well see how we
can safely come to any terms with them. Thus, induced by
necessity, and by your worth and good will, as well as
cheered by the entire justice of our cause, we desire to
make your nobility aware that we have utterly dismissed
from our mind all truce with adversaries so perfidious, and
are willing and ready rather to hazard any peril of war
than submit to such unworthy and iniquitous conditions;
yet, believing victory much more imminent than danger, we
trust that their obstinacy and insolence will be easily put
down, provided your forces can timeously coalesce with our
own, and you exercise all zeal and caution in effecting
this. We therefore not only exhort your nobility to this,
but we fully rely on your doing it, as matter at once of
duty and propriety, and from your disposition in favour
of the Italian liberties and the dignity of ourselves and
this Holy See. We, on our part, shall maintain towards
our beloved sons, the Venetian government, that firm
attitude which shall satisfy all of our constancy, things
being now come to such a pitch that we must either sink
dishonoured on failure of your aid and support, or by your
help shall emerge with credit. As regards our paternal
and affectionate concern for your personal dignity and
interests, we can add nothing to the promises already made
you by letters and envoys, which we shall amply carry
out. Let your nobility, therefore, go on as you have so
well begun, nor relax until we and you and all Italy be
rid of all these barbarian excesses. After perusing these
brieves, your nobility will forward them to the Doge and
Signory of Venice, for, news of the enemy's obstinacy and
faithlessness reaching us by express at midnight, we had to
write to your nobility before we could communicate anything
to their ambassador.

Given at St. Peter's, Rome, under the fisher's signet, the
20th April, 1527, in the fourth year of our pontificate.

BLOSIUS.

On the 22nd and 30th the Pope wrote again, but in general terms, and referring for details to the accredited bearer and to former despatches. He exhorted the Duke, in formal and measured phrase, to do his utmost towards fulfilling the expectations reposed on him and the Venetians, upon whom were based all the Pontiff's hopes; but neither in letter nor spirit do these brieves indicate any perception of the extreme hazards of his position.