Queen Katharine: March 1509, 16-31 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain: Supplement To Volumes 1 and 2, Queen Katherine; Intended Marriage of King Henry VII To Queen Juana. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1868.

'Queen Katharine: March 1509, 16-31', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain: Supplement To Volumes 1 and 2, Queen Katherine; Intended Marriage of King Henry VII To Queen Juana, (London, 1868) pp. 23-34. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/supp/vols1-2/pp23-34 [accessed 25 April 2024]

March 1509, 16-31



20th March.	4. The Knight Commander Of Membrilla to King Ferdinand The Catholic. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Capitulaciones con Inglaterra. Legajo 5. Sin folio. Contemporary deciphering by Almazan.] A su Alteza del Comendador de la Membrilla. a xx de Março de dviiij. Despues que escrevi a V. Alteza por la via de Martin Sanchez de Çamudio son venidos aca embaxadores del Rey de los Romanos y de madama margarita los quales vinieron a seis dias del mes de Março y estuvieron ocho dias sin ver al Rey porque esta malo de la enfermedad de antaño y no se dexa ver recibio el principe los embaxadores. he entendido de la venida destos que han movido casamiento para el principe de Gales con fija del duque Alberto de Baviera y fija de hermana del Rey de los Romanos y segurandole que si faze este casamiento que todavia casara con el madama margarita y que le daran todas las seguridades que querra para el casamiento fecho con el principe de Castilla y de su fija sera firme. no lo he sabido esto de tal original que yo lo tenga por cierto mas como las cosas desta corte todas incontinente que se platican salgan afuera puede ser que el que me lo dixo lo haya oido en buen lugar. assimismo soy avisado que dan mucha priessa los grandes del Reyno al Rey para que case su fijo mayormente despues que le han visto enfermo y no le dizen mas con una que con otra salvo dezirle que se determine en lo que quiere o le estara mejor y que case al principe porque ya el principe esta muy hombre y el Reyno esta a peligro con un solo heredero. dizenme ha tomado termino de dos meses para determinarse y estan todos muy maravillados como tarda V. Alt. tanto en responder y como tarda tanto el que V. Al. ha de ynbiar porque juan Astil ha escrito al Rey que presto verna aqui un perlado y ahun certificadamente que sera don pedro de Ayala obispo de Canaria y porque V. Al. sea avisado de todas las cosas acorde de embiar este mensagero porque me parece que para lo uno o para lo otro seria bien que V. Alteza determinasse lo que quiere en este negocio porque estos no dexan de pedricar al pueblo y por todas las partes que pueden que por no complir V. A. con el Rey de Ynglaterra se dexa de concluir este casamiento y ahunque de nuestra parte hoviesse mejores predicadores no les farian creer otra cosa sino lo que ya tienen concebido. yo no he visto al Rey de Ynglaterra desde que se desposo su fija porque muestra tener gran enojo de mi y no dize que es la causa porque yo no quise estar presente al desposorio de su fija sino que he fecho relaciones siniestras a V. Alt. porque donde V. Alt. no ha concedido lo que el pide segun lo escrevi a V. Md. que el privasello me lo havia embiado a dezir y que por aquello no queria verme sino tenia negocios sobre que fablar. y tampoco he visto desde entonces a la princesa porque a los que consejan a Su Alt. les parece que no es bien que Su Alt. me vea pues el Rey de Ynglaterra no esta bien comigo y Su Alteza les da tanto credito que cree que es bien lo que ellos le dizen y no solamente se finge estar Su Alteza mal comigo mas muestra estarlo de verdad. y esto le han aconseiado porque temen que yendo yo a ver a la princesa no podre estar sin dezirle algo de lo que no me parece bien de aquellos que esto le consejan y con este temor no solamente con la princessa han acabado que este mal comigo y que lo muestre mas han grangeado por todas las partes que han podido para quitarme que no pueda comunicar a Su Alteza y passan en su casa muchas cossas que tienen necessidad de enmienda mas Su Alteza esta tan obediente a un frayle que tiene por confessor que le faze fazer hartas cosas que si no se fiziessen no se perderia nada y ultimamente le fizo fazer una cosa que la sintio el Rey mucho y fue que estando en una casa sola que esta en un parque y de alli quisose venir el Rey de Ynglaterra a Richamonte y mandole dezir a la princesa que otro dia Su Alteza y madama maria su fija se fuessen a Richamonte porque el se yria delante dellas o despues. la princesa obedecio el mandamiento y estando otro dia para partir y que madama maria la esperava con la compañia que estava diputada para venir con ellas vino el frayle y dixo a la princesa no vays oy en nunguna manera. es verdad que la princessa aquella noche havia tenido un gomito. dixo la princesa buena estoy no me quiero quedar sola. dixole yo os digo so pena de pecado mortal que no vays oy. la princesa porfiava que estava buena y que no queria quedarse alli sola. el frayle porfio tanto que la princesa por no descontentarle determino de se quedar y pasaron mas de dos oras que madama maria la estava esperando. embio a dezir a madama maria que se fuesse que no se sintia buena. de los ingleses vieron esto y habian visto a la princesa en la missa y en la mesa cavalgaron con madama maria y fueronse y quedosse la princesa sola con sus mugeres y con solo su maestresala y su camarero que vino acaso que no estava alli y de alli anchamente no havia sino una legua. el recaudo que quedo a la princesa essa noche no es menester dezirlo porque como cosa nacida sin pensallo no se proveyo ni ellos se dieron mucho para proveello. finalmente que otro dia el Rey de Ynglaterra no fizo mas proveymiento para embiar por la princesa que si ella tuviera compañia la que le convenia y dizenme que el Rey se enojo mucho de su quedada y otro dia la princessa con tres mugeres cavalgando y el maestresala y el camarero y el frayle sin otra viva criatura se vinieron anchamente y destas cosas le faze fazer este frayle y otras de peor qualidad mil. el Rey ha mas de xx. dias que no ha visto a la princesa ni nunca ha embiado desde aquella quedada a saber como esta ahunque ha estado mala, y assi dios me ayude que agora que he conocido bien las cosas de casa de la princesa quito mucha y mucha parte de la culpa que fasta qui dava al Rey de Ynglaterra y no me maravillo de lo que ha fecho sino de lo que no faze mayormente siendo de condicion que quiere que en su casa y en su Reyno sin contradicion se faga lo que el quiere y ordena y sufrir el Rey las cosas deste frayle que tan mal le parecen y que tanto le tienen sobre los ojos los que lo conocen no lo tienen por buena señal y porque he escrito con un criado de la princesa que se llama juan de Azcotia el qual fue despachado a escuso de mi no quiero estenderme mas en esta materia porque V. Alteza sabra de aquel la verdad de todas las cosas si saberlas quisiere porque el es leal servidor de V. Alteza y como hombre que le parecian mal muchas cosas no pudiendo sufrirlas ha dicho algo deste frayle por donde no le ha venido ningun bien mas V. Alteza sepa que es tanto menester remediar esto deste frayle y quitalle de aqui como a persona pestifera que assi lo es cierto. El camarero Juan de Cuero como buen servidor no puede estar que no diga la verdad laqual no se quiere oyr. esta la princessa con el como si le hoviesse fecho la mayor traycion del mundo y todo por que va a la mano que no vendan cada dia una pieça de plata para complir las locuras del frayle. suplico a V. Alteza le faga merced de una cedula para quien V. Alteza mandare que le tome la cuenta del cargo que ha tenido porque es muy viejo y no querria que le tomasse la muerte sin haberse quitado del cargo que esta sobre el. V. Alteza lo deve fazer y ponerse ha freno al vender que en xv. dias han vendido oro en dozientos ducados y dellos no ha fecho la princesa cosa que luza ni se sabe en que lo gasta sino en libros y gastos del frayle. Temiendo que si este Rey sintiesse que V. Alteza mandava que se demandasse la princessa sino quisiesse facer el casamiento como lo ha sentido y sabido por el poco secreto que ay en la camara de la princessa yo dixe a francisco de grimaldo que poco a poco sacasse el mas dinero que pudiesse y assy lo ha fecho que bien ay fuera de Ynglaterra mas de xxxm. coronas y todo estotro se sacara poco a poco y se pondra en lugar que si menester fuere para fazer el pago al Rey de Ynglaterra pueda bolver aqui sin inconviniente ninguno. esto he fecho por assegurar mi coraçon que segun lo que aqua sentia y siento me parecia que se devia assi fazer. si otra cosa V. Alteza mandare mandeme avisar con correo bolante porque yo no yerre. mi desseo no errara desto estoy cierto. fecha a xx de Março de dviiij. Comendador de la Menbrilla.	(Translation.) 4. To his Highness from the Knight Commander of Membrilla, the 20th of March '509. Since I wrote to your Highness by Martin Sanchez de Zamudio, ambassadors from the King of the Romans and Madame Margaret have come here. They arrived on the sixth day of March, and were eight days without seeing the King, because he was ill of the sickness of last year, and does not allow himself to be seen. The Prince received the ambassadors. Concerning this embassy, I have understood that they have moved a marriage for the Prince of Wales with the daughter of the Duke Albert of Bavaria, a daughter of the sister of the King of the Romans, assuring him (the King) that if he concludes this marriage he shall still wed with Madame Margaret, and they will give all the securities that he may desire that the match between the Prince of Castile and his daughter shall be confirmed. I have not learned this from such a source that I can hold it for certain, but as all the affairs of this court directly that they are negotiated become public, it may be that he who told it me may have heard it in a good quarter. Also I am informed that the nobles of the kingdom press the King much that he may marry his son, above all since they have seen him ill, and they do not speak for one more than for the other, but tell him that he should decide on that which he wishes, or is more profitable for him, and that he should marry the Prince, because he is already very manly, and the kingdom is in danger with only one heir. They tell me he has taken a period of two months to decide, and they are all much astonished at your Highness's great delay in answering, and at the slowness of him whom your Highness is to send. (fn. 1) For John Stile has written to the King that a prelate would come quickly here, and even certified that it would be Don Pedro de Ayala, Bishop of Canaria. In order that your Highness may be informed of everything, I decided to send this messenger. For it appears to me that one way or the other it would be well that your Highness should determine that which you wish in this affair. They do not cease to preach to the people, wherever they can, that because your Highness does not fulfil your obligations towards the King of England this marriage is not concluded ; and although on our side we might have better preachers, they would not make them believe anything except that which they have already imagined. I have not seen the King of England since he betrothed his daughter, because he appears to be very angry with me, and he does not say that the cause is because I did not choose to be present at the espousals of his daughter, but because I had made sinister reports to your Highness, in consequence of which your Highness has not conceded that which he asks, according as I wrote to your Majesty, and the Lord Privy Seal had sent to tell me ; and on that account he did not wish to see me unless I had business on which to talk. And neither have I seen the Princess from that time, for to those who advise her Highness it does not appear good that her Highness should see me, as the King of England is not very friendly to me, and her Highness has such faith in them, that she believes what they tell her is good. And not only does her Highness feign to be angry with me, but shows herself to be so in reality. And this they have advised because they fear that, if I go to see the Princess, I shall not be able to refrain from telling her something which does not appear to me good in those who advise her this, and with this fear not only have they prevailed with the Princess that she is angry with me, and that she shows it, but they have managed on all sides, where they have been able to do so, in such a manner as to remove me so that I may not communicate with her Highness. Many things happen in her house which have need of amendment, but her Highness is so submissive to a friar whom she has as confessor, that he makes her do a great many things which it would be better not to do. Lately he made her do a thing which much grieved the King. It was this, that whilst staying in a lonely house which is in a park, the King of England wished to go to Richmond, and sent to say to the Princess that next day her Highness and Madame Mary his daughter should be at Richmond, where he would go before or after them. The Princess obeyed the order, but next day when she was about to start, and Madame Mary was waiting for her with the company deputed to go with them, the friar came and said to the Princess, "You shall not go to-day." It is true that the princess had vomited that night. The princess said, "I am well ; I do not wish to stay here alone." He said, "I tell you that upon pain of mortal sin you do not go to-day." The Princess contended that she was well, and that she did not wish to stay there alone. The friar, however, persevered so much that the Princess, not to displease him, determined to remain. When Madame Mary had been waiting for more than two hours she sent to tell Madame Mary to go, but that she did not feel well. The English who witnessed this, and had seen the Princess at mass and at table, rode off with Madame Mary and went away, whilst the Princess remained alone with her women and only the Maestre Sala and her chamberlain, who had been absent and came by chance. The distance was at the utmost less than one league. There is no need to speak of the provisions the Princess had that night, for as the contingency was not expected it was not provided for, nor did they give themselves much trouble to provide for it. Next day the King of England did not again give an order to send for the Princess, as though she had been staying in such company as suited her, and they tell me that the King was very much vexed at her remaining there. The following day the Princess went [to Richmond] accompanied by no other living creature than three women on horseback, the Maestre Sala, the chamberlain, and the friar, a numerous [company]! These and other things of a thousand times worse kind the friar makes her do. It is more than 20 days since the King last saw the Princess, nor has he, since her staying away, sent to know how she is, although she had been ill. May God forgive me, but now that I know so well the affairs of the Princess's household, I acquit the King of England of a great and very great portion of the blame which I hitherto gave to him, and I do not wonder at what he has done, but at that which he does not do, especially as he is of such a temperament as to wish that in house and kingdom that be done without contradiction which he desires and orders. That the King allows these things of the friar, which appear so bad to him and which are so much brought before his eyes, to go on is not considered as a good sign by those who know him. As I have written by a servant of the Princess, whose name is Juan Azcotia, and who was despatched behind my back, I shall not dilate here on this subject, because your Highness can hear from him the truth of all these things if you desire to know them. He is a loyal servant of your Highness, and, as a man, being unable to endure many things which appeared bad to him, he has said something of this to the friar, for which no good has come to him. Your Highness must know that there is very great need to remedy these things of this friar, and to remove him from here as a pestiferous person, for that he certainly is. The Chamberlain, Juan de Cuero, being a good servant, cannot do otherwise than speak the truth, which they do not desire to hear. The Princess behaves towards him as though he had committed the greatest treason in the world, and all because he hinders them from selling every day a piece of plate to satisfy the follies of the friar. I entreat your Highness to grant him the favour of an order that he whom your Highness should send may settle with him the accounts of the office which he has held, because he is very old and would not wish that death should overtake him before having accounted for all that for which he is responsible. Your Highness ought to do it, and to place a restraint on the selling, for in fifteen days they have sold gold for two hundred ducats, with which the Princess has done nothing that can be seen, nor is it known in what she spends it, except in books and the expenses of the friar. Fearing that this King should resent that your Highness commanded that the Princess should be claimed, unless he should consent to her marriage, as he has resented and known it in consequence of the little secrecy that there is in the chamber of the Princess, I told Francisco de Grimaldo that by degrees he should send out of the country as much money as he could ; and so he has done, for happily there are out of England more than thirty thousand crowns. The remainder shall be sent away by degrees, and preserved at a place whence, if it should be necessary to make the payment to the King of England, it could be remitted without any inconvenience. This I have done to satisfy my conscience, for, according to what I have perceived and do perceive, it seems to me that thus it ought to be done. If your Highness should command anything else, inform me by the flying courier that I may not be in error. I desire not to err in this I am sure. Dated the 20th of March '509. Comendador de la Membrilla.
20th March.	5. The Knight Commander of Membrilla to Miguel Perez De Almazan, First Secretary of State to King Ferdinand the Catholic. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Capitulaciones y Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 5 (sin folio). Holograph.] A mi del Comendador de la Membrilla, xx de Marzo de Dviiij. Manyfyco señor. De muchas maneras tengo congoxa por la dilacion que en este negocio se da porque cada dia perdemos tierra y como escrivo a Su Alteza de cada mata sale una liebre y visto el tyenpo que ha pasado despues que de Alcala del Reyno me escrevistes no se que piense de tanta tardança mayormente quel rrey dinglaterra tenya ya nueva de la venida del que ha de venyr antes que yo recibiese las cartas de Su Alteza y como ven su tardada hazen muchos juyzyos y proviense para qualquier cosa que verna y no podran errar en las respuestas pues que saben lo que queremos que como en dias pasados escrevi a Su Alteza el poco secreto que ay en la camara de la princesa nos a echo daño por que no ay cosa que aya yo escrito encomendada a secreto que no la sepa el Rey dinglaterra como yo lo se y aun con algunas adiciones de los reportadores y por esta congoxa que tengo y por avisar a Su Alteza de lo que lescrivo acorde de enbiar este mensajero y suplico a v[uest]ra merced que sy este negocio se ha de dilatar que Su Alteza me saque de aqui porque ni a dios ni a Su Alteza no podre servir segun yo estoy rebuelto con todos. a v[uest]ra merced escrevi de un frayle que aqui esta por confesor de la princesa que pluguiera a dios quel se estuviera en su monasterio y no aqui por que no trae ny a traydo ningun provecho y si mucho esta trayra mayor daño a Su Alteza escrivo algo y no tan abierto como querrya porque va a Su Alteza un criado de la princesa que se llama juan de ascuetia el qual fue despachado a escuso de mi y porque de aquel puede Su Alteza ser ynformado de lo que yo le dygo deste frayle en parabolas por eso no escrivo su proceso muy a la larga pues aquel como onbre que lo a visto y lo sabe todo y como cryado de la casa lo podra bien dezir y es el muy leal servidor del rrey nuestro Señor y de la princesa aunque los tales no son tenidos aqui en tal precio como valen los buenos servidores solamente aqui quiero dezir que cunple que esto se remedie quitando este frayle a la princesa por quel esta contra voluntad de todos los yngleses con Su Alteza y mas contra la voluntad del Rey y Su Alteza, y quiere myrar lo que se devria myrar en el caso y dyos me destruya sy yo veo en el frayle cosa porque tanta afection se le tenga que ni ciencya ni parecer ny cryança ni suficyencya ny autorydad no tyene y sy quyere pedricar nueva ley creersela an. una cedula de quinientos ducados que e tomado a canbio enbie alla a vuestra merced los quales tome de un pedro centurion ginoves suplico a v[uest]ra merced que syno es pagada que la mande pagar porque en la ora que se supiere que no es aceptada recanbiaran sobre my y ya v[uest]ra merced ve que se podra seguir de alli y tanbien os suplico que me mandes proveer que juro por mi fe que esta tierra es tan costosa que no basta lo de alla y lo de aca y a nuestro Señor juro que trezientos y noventa ducados que menbiaron de Napoles con todo lo recebido de alla y de aca es gastado y sino me proveyedes y no pagades esto que he tomado no hallare quien me de un ducado ni quien salga my fiador por el ni yo podre salir de aqui ni estar sino vendo lo que no es razon de vender. Este gallego a de aver por el viaje para yr y venir veinte y cinco ducados yo le e dado aca dies ducados ansele de dar alla quince ducados. Nuestro Señor la vida y estado de vuestra mr~d acreciente como dessea. de londres xx. de Março de dix. Es muy cierto servydor de V Md. gutierre gomez de fuensalida. [Rubrica.] Señor este gallego tyene no se que pendencia y temese de la justicia suplico a v[uest]ra merced sele gane una cedula para mientra fuere y viniere a Su Alteza con cartas que no sea detenido pues que no es el negocio crimen de muerte ni de hurto. [Sobre :] Al manyfico Señor el Señor miguel perez de Almaçan secretario del Rey Nuestro Señor etc.	5. [Written on the cover by Miguel Perez de Almazan, First Secretary of State of King Ferdinand the Catholic :] To me, from the Comendador de la Membrilla, 20th of March 1509. Magnificent Lord, In many ways I am afflicted at the delay which there has been in this affair, for every day we lose ground, and as I write to his Highness, out of every bush springs a hare, and considering, the time that has passed since you wrote to me from Alcala del Reyno, I know not what to think of such delay, above all as the King of England had already news of the coming of him, who has to come, before I received the letters of his Highness. As they see that he delays [his coming] they make many conjectures, and prepare themselves for whatever may happen. They will not err in the answers, as they know that which we desire. For, as some days ago I wrote to his Highness, the little secresy which there is in the chamber of the Princess has done us injury, because there is nothing which I have written recommended to secresy which the King of England does not know as I know it, and even with some additions of the reporters. For this anxiety which I have, and in order to inform his Highness of that about which I am writing, I determine to send this messenger, and I entreat of your Honour that, if this business is to be prolonged, his Highness will withdraw me hence, because I shall not be able to serve either God or his Highness, as I am at variance with every one. I wrote to your Lordship about a friar who is here as confessor to the Princess, who would to God he were in his monastery, and not here, because he neither brings nor has brought any good, and if he is here much longer he will bring greater injury on her Highness. I write something, and not so openly as I should desire, because there goes to his Highness a servant of the Princess who is called Juan de Ascuetia, who was despatched behind my back ; and because his Highness may be informed by him of what I say to him, concerning this friar, in parables. For this reason I do not write more at length on the affair since he, as a man who has seen and knows it all, and as servant of the house, will be able well to tell, and he is a very loyal servant of the King and of the Princess, although such are not here held in so much esteem as good servants are worth. I wish only to say here that this ought to be remedied by withdrawing this friar from the Princess, for he is with her Highness against the will of all the English, and especially against the will of the King and his Highness. (fn. 2) You ought to consider that which ought to be considered in this case, and may God destroy me if I see in the friar anything for which she should have so much affection, for he has neither learning, nor appearance, nor manners, nor competency, nor credit, and yet if he wishes to preach a new law they have to believe it. A bill for five hundred ducats, which I have taken in exchange, I sent to your Lordship, the which I took from one Pedro Centurion, a Genoese. I supplicate your lordship that if it is not paid you will give orders to pay it, because directly it is known that it is not accepted they will draw upon me, and your Lordship knows what might follow from that. I also entreat you to send orders to provide for me ; for I swear by my faith that this country is so expensive that what I possess there and here does not suffice, and I swear by our Lord that three hundred and ninety ducats, which they sent me from Naples, with all that I received from there and here, is spent, and if you do not supply me, and do not pay that which I have taken, I shall not find any one who will give me a ducat, or who will stand security for me, nor shall I be able to go from here nor to remain, unless I sell that which it is not reasonable to sell. This Gallician is to have for the journey, going and coming, twenty-five ducats ; I have given him here ten, thus you ought to give him there fifteen ducats. May our Lord add to the life and estate of your Lordship as you desire. From London, 20th of March, 1509. The very sincere servant of your Lordship. Gutierre Gomez de Fuensalida. [His sign manual.] Sir, this Gallician has I know not what quarrel, and fears the law. I entreat your Lordship that you will obtain for him a warrant of protection for the time that he goes and comes to his Highness with letters, that he may not be detained, his affair not being a crime of murder or of theft. [Addressed :] To the magnificent lord the Lord Miguel Perez de Almazan, secretary of the King our Lord.
20th March.	6. Katharine, Princess Of Wales, to King Ferdinand The Catholic. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo No. 5. fo. 60. Original deciphering made by Almazan, First Secretary of State.] El embaxador me embio a decir como tenia mucha necessidad de embiar a V[uestr]a Alteza muy de priessa este mensajero porque se le havian revelado muchas cosas y porque he miedo que algunas dellas no sean verdaderas no quise que fuesse sin carta mia para suplicar a V[uestr]a Alteza si de mi casa algo escribiere en especial de mi confesor V[uestr]a Alteza no le de credito que assi dios me salve y por vida de V[uestr]a Alteza que no dira verdad sino dice quan bien y lealmente me sirve y por que ha pocos dias escribi a V[uestr]a Alteza con un criado mio aunque no tan largo como quisiera por que las cosas que este embaxador contra mi estado y honrra de mi casa con su lengua desconcertadamente ha cometido por afficion de una que fue mia francisca de caceres no se sufre fiallas de papel sino que querria mas morir que no ver lo que he passado y passo cada dia deste embaxador y de todos los mios y no creere V[uestr]a Alteza me tiene por fija sino lo castiga y al embaxador le mande que no entienda en mas de lo que toca a su embaxada y dexe las cosas de mi casa, y a mi me quiera V[uestr]a Alteza remediar antes que aqua se acabe mi vida por que temo sera corta segun los descansos tengo. N[uestr]o Señor la vida y muy Real estado de V[uestr]a Alteza guarde y acreciente como desseo. De rixamonte a xx de Março de dviiij. la princesa de gales.	6. The ambassador sends to tell me that it is very necessary for him to despatch this messenger in all haste to your Highness, because many things have been discovered to him, and as I fear that some of them may not be true, I do not like to let him go without a letter from me, beseeching your Highness that if he writes anything about my household and especially about my confessor, your Highness will not credit it. For, by my salvation, and by the life of your Highness, he does not tell the truth if he states anything except that [the confessor] serves me well and loyally. A few days ago I wrote to your Highness, by a servant of mine, although not so much in detail as I could wish ; for all that the ambassador, with his disorderly tongue, has said against my person and the honour of my house, from affection for a certain Francisca de Cáceres, a former servant of mine, can not be put upon paper, and I would rather die than see what I have suffered and suffer every day from this ambassador and all my servants. I shall not believe that your Highness looks upon me as your daughter if you do not punish it, and order the ambassador to confine himself to the affairs of his embassy, and to abstain from meddling in the affairs of my household. May your Highness give me satisfaction before I die, for I fear my life will be short, owing to my troubles. From Richmond, 20th of March '509. The Princess of Wales.