Spain: March 1546, 1-10 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 8, 1545-1546. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

Citation:

'Spain: March 1546, 1-10', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 8, 1545-1546, ed. Martin A S Hume (London, 1904), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol8/pp319-320 [accessed 19 April 2025].

March 1546, 1–10



March 2. Vienna Imp. Arch	206. Scepperus to Loys Scors.
	I have informed you of the dispatch I have from the Emperor, with which I am now going to England.
	Recommends to him certain law suits of his own and of his friends. Asks for an appointment for his bailiff at Eick, and a place as Flemish councillor for M. Cornelius Meunicx, advocate of Ghent. Sends the ratification of the King of England and two other documents securely enclosed by the hand of his wife, not daring to entrust them to anyone not absolutely sure. She will arrive at Brussels in the first week in Lent.
	Bruges, 2 March 1546.
March 2. Vienna Imp. Arch.	207. The Queen Dowager to Van der Delft.
	You will learn from the letters taken by M. D'Eick, and from him personally, all that has passed with the Bishop of Winchester since he arrived here, both with regard to the confirmation of the treaty of alliance and to the aid demanded last year by the King of England up to the time of the Emperor's departure from Maestricht on his voyage to Germany. The bishop at the same time took the opportunity of presenting letters to us from the King of England, and of requesting us, in virtue of the same, to allow him to draw from the town of Antwerp the sum of four hundred thousand crowns in gold without hindrance from us, and also that we will permit the subjects of the Emperor here to carry victuals to England, and supply waggons for the King's service. We thought best not to give a decided answer on these points until we had consulted his Majesty upon them, the Emperor being then in this town (Maestricht) and the reply has consequently been delayed until now. The resident ambassador, Carne, has been informed that, having regard to the large sums of money drawn last year by the King of England from Antwerp, we should have had ample reason for refusing his request in this respect; particularly seeing how very strict they are in such matters in England; but in order to please the King we will consent to his drawing a sum not exceeding 200,000 crowns, providing that the money be not of the Emperor's coinage. With regard to the supply of victuals, Carne has been informed that, before we can make any concession in this respect, we wish to know from the King how he proposes that the subjects here should carry victuals to England. A general permit would obviously be tantamount to the abrogation of the prohibition of such traffic now in force, so far as regards England; in which case all other neighbouring countries would feel aggrieved. In addition to this the lack of victuals here is so great that we cannot reasonably do as he requests. If, however, his wish is simply to obtain some victuals for the sustenance of his troops only, we will endeavour to do all we can reasonably to meet his wishes, and so far as the scarcity here will permit: although the subjects here will be sure to complain bitterly of the passage of the infantry the King is raising under Penninck, whose transit through his territory the Emperor has tacitly consented to allow in small bodies only, on the assurance of Penninck, who has not yet been here to confer with us.
	With regard to the waggons, we also ask for information as to how the King proposes to make use of them. For the subjects here to be ordered to undertake to provide them would be extremely difficult, and also unreasonable considering the bad treatment they experienced in the year '44, which the Flemish representatives affirm cost the country of Flanders more than one hundred thousand crowns: whereas for us merely to consent to such of the subjects as pleased voluntarily supplying waggons would produce only a small number and of poor quality. It would also be necessary to watch very closely the passage of horses and mares, in order to prevent the pretext of employing the waggons being made use of to strip the country on this side of serviceable horses and mares, as the English tried to do in '44. Carne left here for Antwerp with this message, the Bishop of Winchester being doubtless still in that town. We have thought advisable to inform you of this, so that you may know how to reply if on the return of the bishop to England you are addressed on the subject. Carne also drew our attention to the mustering of French troops to revictual Ardres; with the intention, as he says, subsequently to invade the English towns on this side. He begs us to prevent their transit through the Emperor's country.
	(Maestricht or Brussels?), 6 March 1546.