24 Feb 1516. Sebastian Giustinian. 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 (age 39), 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.