Spain: 1542 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain: Further Supplement To Volumes 1 and 2, Documents From Archives in Vienna. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1947.

'Spain: 1542', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain: Further Supplement To Volumes 1 and 2, Documents From Archives in Vienna, (London, 1947) pp. 457-458. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/further-supp/vols1-2/pp457-458 [accessed 18 April 2024]

1542



1542. Oct. 22. Uni. of Gottingen	The Ambassadors in England to Mary Of Hungary. Early yesterday the English commissioners came to see us for the fifth time, excusing their delay for the reasons which they had given us in daily messages. As far as we could understand, they felt that they had justified the delay by persuading Henry to an agreement which would settle the difficulties over the two chief articles still in question. About the first of these, that concerning rebels, Henry has been very obstinate. He is now satisfied to accept it in the form in which it stands in the treaty of Cambrai, provided the time laid down there is somewhat shortened. The other difficulty was over the phrase "states, potentates, and spiritual persons or princes" ; Henry will agree to it, provided the word "spiritual" is omitted and the phrase reads "potentates, persons, or princes, of whatever degree, dignity, condition or quality whatsoever." The ambassadors gave us to understand that M. de Granvelle had told the English ambassadors that they could amplify the articles as much as they liked in general terms. We said that it was certainly not the emperor's intention to include the pope expressly or tacitly, directly or indirectly, as they wished to do by this cse,lau and after considerable debate on this point they said they could not go any farther without consulting Henry again, and asked us to give them in writing a copy of the section of our instructions concerning this article, which they could show Henry. This we were unwilling to do, and said we would not like to impugn either their memory or the king's confidence in them, and they seemed to take our refusal in good part. The deputies now think that the drafting of these two articles can go forward, and that we will let them put in the restrictions on commerce and the confirmation of the treaty of 1520, but we do not think they will insist on these points to the end. Nor does it seem likely that they will make difficulties about the equalization of the succours promised, on account of the greater expense which must be undergone in the Low Countries, or about moderating the penalties to be exacted in case of a breach of the treaty. They will still insist that the requirement for defensive aid continue in case of an offensive campaign, and also that the dukes of Cleves and Holstein not be named expressly but be simply included in the general phase "friends of friends and enemies of enemies." They say that aid against the Turk is a question separate from the treaty, and should be given out of friendship and not by obligation, and that once the treaty is concluded they will do their best to induce Henry to accord it. So far we have not spoken of the time for the summons or for the joint invasion, and we suppose that they intend that all this shall stand as it is now. Therefore we beg your majesty to let us know at once your pleasure on this and other points, so that we may take advantage of the present favourable disposition of the English. London, 22 October, 1542. Signed, de Montmorency, Eustache Chapuys. French. pp. 2.