14 July.
H. H. u. St. A.
Belgien, P. A. 2. |
The Ambassadors in England to Margaret of Savoy.
We suppose that you have learned of the departure of the
emperor. He embarked on Sunday, July 6th, about two hours
after dinner, and lay at anchor until six o'clock the following
morning. Although the wind was not strong, his ships were in
the open sea early in the afternoon, and since that time the
weather has been so favourable it is to be hoped he reached Spain
yesterday at the latest. As soon as his sails were out of sight
we returned to Windsor, and reported his last messages and his
fortunate departure to Henry.
The king said he had received word that on July 1st the admiral,
with all his fleet, had arrived in Brittany near a town called
Morlaix. He had at once landed the infantry and taken the
town by storm, without previous bombardment, in spite of a
stout resistance. At the end of three hours the town had been
sacked and burned. The English reckon their booty at about
2,000 angels, but the damage done the French at 500,000 crowns,
for they burnt fourteen ships, some of a hundred and fifty tons
and some larger, besides a great number of small ones. The
following day the admiral remained in camp near Morlaix because
of a rumour that M. de Laval was coming to fight him. The
following day he re-embarked his troops, without seeing the
French, but as soon as they were aboard some two hundred
French men-at-arms came down as far as the seashore. This is
their customary bragging fashion. The admiral set sail to see if
he could perform a similar exploit at Brest or some other port.
Since we wrote the above we have seen Wolsey who told us
he has already given you this good news and has heard since that
the admiral has burned two other Breton villages, St. Pol and
Couquet. The cardinal has been busy in the last three days
preparing the enterprise which is to commence August first.
He asks us to tell you that there will be no default in the artillery,
munitions, and troops which his master is supposed to send, or in
the money for their payment. He begs you therefore, to have
draft horses ready for the artillery, and wagons for the munitions,
and provisions, and to have ready money enough to pay for
half the horses and wagons. Two hundred and fifty men-at-arms
and a thousand horse should also be ready to join the English
and our German infantry according to the treaty. He also asks
you to have ready a large number of peasant infantry to reinforce
the army if the need arises, for he is advised that Francis has
abandoned Italy for this year, and intends to concentrate his
whole power, 30,000 infantry and all his gens d'armes on the
frontier of Flanders near Calais between Ardres and Guines, to
guard his frontier, especially Boulogne, Montreuil and the other
Channel towns and, if possible, to attack lower Flanders or the
Calais pale. To check the French, Wolsey is getting ready
30,000 English infantry, who will be held here in readiness to
cross to Calais and give battle to the king of France, if need arises.
We beg you, Madame, to see at once to these matters which
touch the honour of the emperor and the safety of the Netherlands
so nearly, and to keep us informed of any developments. We hold
ourselves ready to obey all your commands.
London, July 14, 1522.
Signed, Bishop of Badajoz and Louis de Praet. French. pp. 4. |
18 July.
H. H. u. St. A.
Belgien D. D.
Abt. B. f. 4. |
Charles V to Henry VIII.
After I left your town of Southampton, God sent so prosperous
a wind that I arrived to-day in this port with all my company
without any inconvenience. We are now advised that great
demonstrations of loyalty are taking place all over our kingdoms
of Spain at our arrival, on the part both of the nobles and the
commons, and large numbers of people are coming in constantly
to display their love and obedience. Since we knew this news
would rejoice you, we are sending this special courier, and we
are writing more at length of this matter to our ambassadors and
also of the victory won by our people near Fuenterrabia, as
reported to us by our Constable of Castile, the duke de Frias.
Santander, 18 July.
Copy. French. pp. 2. |
18 July.
H. H. u. St. A.
Belgien D. D.
Abt. B. f. 4. |
Charles V to Wolsey.
After I left Southampton on the 6th, God sent so prosperous a
wind that I arrived to-day with all my company in this port, as
you will learn from my letters to the king, my father and uncle.
Since I was sure you would be rejoiced by this good news, I have
written to you as soon as I set foot on shore.
[Santander, 18 July, 1522.]
Contemporary copy. French. |
