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1 Sept.
S. E. T. c. I.
L. 4. f. 55. |
King of France,
his proceedings.
347. King Ferdinand Of Spain to Ferdinand, Duke De
Estrada.
We have already written to you in detail by our other
letters respecting what passed between us and the King of
France. By them you will have learnt how entirely he has
broken all that was stipulated between ourselves and him,
and which was sworn to and confirmed by the Pope under pain
of censure. He has done this, moreover, without any just
cause or reason, except a mere covetous desire for what is
not his.
Likewise we showed you that he had not even attempted
to justify himself, or sought for any means of peace and concord,
but that he wished only for war. We, meanwhile, were
at ease, and were utterly unprepared for war, especially
in the provinces of Calabria and Apulia. For, we had confidence
that peace would be maintained, believing that the
King of France would keep that which had been stipulated
and sworn to between ourselves and him. |
Intentions.
Since then, we have learned that the King of France continues
to prepare his enterprise at Milan and Florence, which
is near to [Naples?], and has gathered together large bodies of
troops at Genoa, with the intention to send them to Naples,
and that he has already made war upon us there, publicly
and openly, seizing upon and destroying the ... of Asti,
where we had no troops. He has, moreover, collected his
army together there, with the intention to prosecute his
enterprise, and to make an effort not only to obtain possession
of our duchies of Apulia and Calabria, but of our kingdom
of Sicily. And the French themselves have openly said so. |
Preparations for
war by Spain.
As for us, we had not made any preparations for war in
those parts, on account of the confidence we had that peace
would be maintained. For, we could not believe that the King
of France would make war upon us so impudently, without
just cause or reason. Therefore, we think that before the provision
we have made, and which has to be sent by sea, can
arrive, there is great danger of a large portion of that kingdom
being lost, especially as the ration is of such a temperament
that it always declares itself for whoever may be master
of the field, which the French now are. |
Prospects.
Should the King of France, therefore, gain that kingdom,
which God forbid, he would be sole monarch of all Italy ; and
if Italy were to be joined to France, it is easy to see the peril
in which all other Princes would be placed, over and above
the injury that would accrue to us from it. |
Aid to be sought
of Henry VII.
Now this enterprise of the King of France cannot be
hindered except by putting him under the necessity of
defending his kingdom of France. This, to be of any
use, cannot, as you know, be done by means of one King
only. But if we and the King of England were to join
together to make a descent upon France, each one with all
his forces, we might then attack Guienne and Normandy ;
or we might descend upon Languedoc and the parts about
Fuentarabia while the King of England attacked the
duchies, in the hope, with God's assistance, that, our army
might then effect a junction there with the army of the King
of England. For, if we and the King of England could meet
in France, he might recover, by God's help, the said duchies
of Guienne and Normandy, or a large portion of them. By
these means the King of France would be obliged to quit
Italy, in order to come to the defence of his own kingdom.
As soon as he had left Italy, having within his kingdom
two such Princes as his adversaries, it is very certain that all
the people of Italy would join together to take from the King
of France and his people that which he holds in Italy, so
that he would lose it all. Moreover, it is probable that
in order to deliver his kingdom he would, in such a case, consent
to all that we and the King of England might require. On
the other hand, no great forces being sent against the King of
France, the people of Italy would dare to do nothing except
what he might command. Therefore, what above all things
we now desire is, that the King of England should be induced
to take part in the matter in the way we have pointed out. |
Message to be given
to Henry VII.
Having regard to what we have said, you will on this
account give this business precedence of all others, for you
must see how much it imports our royal state and service.
And you will tell the King of England, immediately, from us,
how the King of France, without any just cause or reason,
and without wishing to find any means of maintaining peace
and concord, has broken all that he had capitulated and
sworn to with us, we having kept our faith very entirely
with him. You will also say that, after having seized upon
our country of Sicily by means of his fleet and army, we being
quite at ease the while, confident as we were of peace and
unprepared for war, he made war upon us there, saying that
he desired to have our duchies of Apulia and Calabria and
our kingdom of Sicily, and has already proceeded from words
to deeds. Moreover, show him how little security he, or
any one, can have that the King of France will keep that
which he has confirmed and sworn, after breaking with us in
the way he has done. For even if there had been no treaty
of amity agreed to and sworn between us and the King of
England, by which he would have been bound to take part
in this matter, there would still be sufficient reason for him to
join with us in remedying the evil. How much the more need
then is there for him, being, as he is, obliged thereto on
account of the treaty of amity settled between us, to aid us
in the defence of our kingdom of Sicily and of those our other
realms. |
Proposed confederation
against
the King of France.
We therefore pray him that he will be willing to do this,
because, as we said before, the matter requires strong and
speedy measures to be speedily taken. For, we are quite
determined to aid him, with all our power, God willing,
to recover his duchies of Guienne and Normandy, if he will
aid us to recover our possessions. You will also tell the King
of England that suitable security must be given on the one
side and the other, that, God willing, we should not dissolve
our confederation against the King of France, or make peace
or truce with him without the King of England, or the King
of England without us. Above all, give this business precedence
of all others, and use your best endeavours in it, making
the strongest representations to the King of England respecting
it, and endeavouring in all possible ways to get him to
take part in it.
Moreover, it is reasonable to suppose that it will tend
to make him more in earnest in the matter, if you assure
the King of England that henceforth, God willing, we will
be confederate together in this business, and that we will give
him all the security respecting it which he may desire, he also
giving the same to us. But that which you ought to
endeavour after very much is, that whatever the King of
England resolve to do, it may be done immediately. Make
use of the Doctor in this business, and tell him that he may
do us the most signal service by carrying it through. Also
let the King of England see that never will he find a more
convenient season, or opportunity in which to recover his
possessions, God willing, and to put the King of France to
such a strait.
Send letters to us immediately by sea and land, informing
us of the decision which the King of England has arrived at,
and what assured hope we may have respecting the success
of the negotiation. |
Importance of the
business.
As this is a most important business, and one in which
we have much at stake, and as the remedy for it consists
in the King of England uniting himself with us and we
with him, you must, for the sake of our service, be very
vigilant in endeavouring to bring this matter to pass with
the King of England. By obtaining it you will relieve us of
much anxiety, and do us so signal a service, that you will
see by our acts what we think of you, and the remembrance
that we will have of this service.—Zaragoza, 1st September
1502.
Signed : I, the King.
Signed by Almazan.
Addressed : "By the King. To Ferdinand, Duke de Estrada,
his maestre sala, privy counsellor, and ambassador
in England."
Indorsed in the hand of the Duke de Estrada : "I
received this letter at Durham House, near London,
on Sunday, the 14th of May 1503. It was brought
by the courier Pedro de Avila."
Written in two different keys of cipher, mixed up the one
with the other. Only a fragment of one of the keys
is extant. The deciphering is by the editor.
Spanish
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1 Sept.
S. E. T. c. I.
L. 4. f. 56. |
348. King Ferdinand Of Spain to Ferdinand, Duke De
Estrada.
The same letter, written in the same cipher.
Indorsed in the hand of the Duke de Estrada : "I
received it at Durham House, near London, on the
14th of February 1503. Navaro, courier, brought it."
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1 Sept.
S. E. T. c. I.
L. 4. f. 53. |
Betrothal of the
Princess of Wales.
349. King Ferdinand Of Spain to Ferdinand, Duke De
Estrada.
After having finished our other letter, the contents of which
you are acquainted with, the Doctor wrote to tell us that if
we desired that the betrothal of the Princess of Wales with
the present Prince of Wales should be settled, it would be
done. Also, that nothing will be left doubtful as regards the
treaty, but, on the contrary, it will be much improved and
made much clearer.
He likewise entreats that we should send for Don Pedro to
come hither. We had, however, already sent commandment
to Don Pedro to come. But if he do not make haste, conduct
yourself in such a way towards him as to oblige him to
come immediately. |
Conduct to be pursued
respecting it.
Tell the Doctor that we have read what he has written to
us respecting the matter of the betrothal. He says that it
will be attended with much improvement upon the past, and
concluded in the way in which he said it would be. He also
informs us he is conferring with you, and will act in the
manner he spoke of, and that you are following his advice. If
what he says be true, agree at once about the said betrothal,
obtaining all the advantages that you may be able. But
should you not succeed in procuring improved conditions,
settle it in the manner you were commanded ; and if the
terms be what the Doctor says they are, let it be settled at
once, because nothing useful can be done in the other business
if this should be delayed. |
Guienne and Normandy.
Let this matter, therefore, take precedence of all the affairs
we wrote to you about in our other letter, and endeavour
to get the King of England to act in concert with us, so that
we may speedily make a descent upon France, for the purpose
of recovering, if God will, his duchies of Guienne and
Normandy. Let this be the principal object of your, and the
Doctor's negotiation, as being a matter in which you can serve
us more than in all the rest.
At the same time see that what the King of England decides
to give the Princess of Wales for her expenses be given in the
manner in which it was formerly understood it should be.
Namely, that she is to have what was promised as camera or
donatio propter nuptias, or that which was assigned her in place
of it. But see that it be not stated in such a manner as that
they may be able to diminish the payment of it afterwards,
in case of the restitution of the marriage portion. For that
would be unjust, and such a thing as was never seen, and
against the treaty. Act in such a way that they may not
fancy we suspect anything of the kind, and send us answers in
duplicate of what is done.—Zaragoza, 1st September 1502.
Signed : I, the King.
Addressed : "By the King. To Ferdinand, Duke de Estrada
his maestre sala, privy counsellor, and ambassador
in England."
Indorsed in the hand of the Duke : "Received at Durham
House, near London, on Sunday, 14th of May 1503.
Pedro de Avila, who brought it, came by sea."
Written in two keys of cipher. Only a fragment of
one of the keys is extant. The deciphering is by the
editor.
Spanish. |
1 Sept.
S. E. T. c. I.
L. 4. f. 54. |
350. King Ferdinand Of Spain to Ferdinand, Duke De
Estrada.
The same despatch, written in the same cipher.
Indorsed in the hand of the Duke de Estrada : "Received
at Durham House, near London, on the 14th of
February 1503. Navaro, who brought it, came by sea."
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24 Sept.
B. M.
Cott. Vesp. C. XII.
f. 218. |
351. Henry VII.
Draft of the treaty of marriage between Henry, Prince of
Wales, and the Princess Katharine, of the 23rd of June 1503.
[The paper on which this draft is written was most
probably a portion of the Privy Council books. It is
in form and character similar to those which are preserved
in the Public Record Office. This draft contains,
therefore, the treaty in the state in which it issued
from the Privy Council.] |
30 Sept.
S. E. T. c. I.
L. 4. f. 25. |
352. Queen Isabella to De Puebla.
Has ordered Gutier Gomez de Fuensalida, Knight Commander
of Haro, to speak to him about certain affairs. He
is to give him credence.—Madrid, 30th September 1502.
Addressed : "By the Queen. To Doctor De Puebla, of her
council, and her ambassador in England."
Spanish. 7 lines. |
