Spain: May 1505 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 1, 1485-1509. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1862.

'Spain: May 1505', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 1, 1485-1509, (London, 1862) pp. 350-353. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol1/pp350-353 [accessed 19 April 2024]

May 1505



25 May. S. E. T. c. I. L. 5. f. 85.	428. Henry VII. to King Ferdinand. Don Inigo Manrique, Master of the Horse to the Princess of Wales, is in love with the daughter of an English lord, and wishes to marry her. Thinks that no obstacles to this marriage ought to be raised, and begs him to give his consent. —Richmond, 25th May 1505. Addressed : "To the most serene and mighty Prince Ferdinand, by the grace of God, King of Spain, &c." Latin. pp. 2.
Spring or Summer. S. E. T. c. I. L. 2.	429. Henry VII. These are the articles which Anthony Savage shall communicate to the Reverend Father, Pedro de Ayala, Apostolic Prothonotary, and about which he shall hear his opinion.
	Articles to be communicated by Anthony Savage to Pedro De Ayala. The said Anthony shall first deliver the letters of the King to the said Prothonotary, and then tell him what follows. A long time has already elapsed during which his Royal Majesty has heard nothing from the Prothonotary respecting ... (fn. 1) of that country. As the Prothonotary had written to the King's Majesty a letter, forwarded by Garter King-at-Arms, and asked him to send the said Anthony to him, in case he had any thing to communicate which could not be safely entrusted to writing, his Royal Highness, wishing to inform him of something, and to hear his opinion, sends him the said Anthony.
	King of the Romans. After this preamble, the said Anthony shall tell the said Prothonotary that the most Serene King of the Romans had sent Herman Rimbre, with credentials and instructions, to his Majesty, by virtue of which the said Herman had showed and explained to his Majesty the following matters :— 1. The King of the Romans wishes to refer the differences about the fairs of Calais to the decision and arbitrament of the King of England. 2. He offers the King of England his daughter in marriage.
	His quarrel with the King of Hungary. 3. The same Herman informed the King's Majesty of the quarrel of the King of the Romans with the King of Hungary, and begged his Majesty to send an embassy about this affair to the King of Hungary and his subjects. 4. The said Herman further told the King of England that the King of the Romans intends to go to Rome, in order to be crowned there. From Rome the King of the Romans intends to go to Hungary, to take possession of his rights. He begs, for this purpose, one thousand archers from the King of England, who are to be paid for by the King of the Romans. 5. The said Herman said to the King of England that the King of the Romans had had very great expenses in Germany and in Gueldres, and would be obliged to spend much more money on his expedition to Rome and Hungary. The King of the Romans asked, therefore, the King of England to lend him money, without, however, stating the amount.
	Requests a loan of money from Henry VII. Anthony Savage shall communicate, confer, and treat with the Prothonotary, separately, on each article contained in the credentials of Herman Rimbre, ask his advice, and send his answer in writing to the King of England. He shall also inquire whether the Prothonotary knows anything about these articles. He shall further beg the Prothonotary to make very diligent search, and to communicate the truth, in this matter, through the said Anthony to the King's Majesty, especially with respect to the marriage, that is to say, whether the King of the Romans means it earnestly and sincerely, or is playing the hypocrite, and whether he has other intentions. If the latter be the case, what may his intentions be?
	Dowries of the daughter of the King of the Romans. He shall also inquire to how much the dowries amount, which the daughter of the King of the Romans has in Spain and in Savoy? Do the dowries consist in real estates and other property, or in pensions ; and what is the amount of the property, and how large are the pensions? What security has the Princess for her dowries, and how would she be provided for in case her property should be taken from her, or the payment of her pensions suspended? Is she reputed to be rich, and in what do her riches consist? Would her father and brother, or either of them, give her, in addition to what she now possesses, a dowry for her marriage with the King's Majesty, and what and how much would that be?
	Whether any other Prince be asking her in marriage. He shall inquire whether any other Prince is asking her in marriage, and who the Prince is, and whether she has a liking for him, and wishes to be married to another Prince, and who that Prince is? He shall inquire what sentiments, intentions, dispositions of mind, and affections the King of the Romans entertains towards the King of England, and whether the King of England can confide in him as in a good, true, and constant brother?
	King of Castile ; his intentions. He shall also ask the Prothonotary what is the mind and what are the intentions of the King of Castile towards the King of England. He shall question the Prothonotary whether the King of Castile intends to go to Spain this summer or next winter, and whether by land or by sea, with an army or without an army? He shall endeavour to find out whether the King of the Romans, after the conclusion of the war in Gueldres, will make over a portion of his army to the King of Castile? How great that portion would be, and who would be the captains? Would it be foot or horse, and what purpose would it serve? He shall ask what intentions the Queen of Castile has ; whether she is of the same mind with the King of Castile, and whether she will accompany him to Spain? Are the Kings of Arragon and of Castile friends or foes ; and if they are foes, what is the reason of their enmity?
	Edmund de la Pole. What is likely to become of Edmund de la Pole? Does the King of the Romans favour him by deeds or words? Does the King of the Romans favour the said Edmund? Has the King of Castile concluded a convention with the Duke of Gueldres respecting the said Edmund, and what are the articles of that convention? He shall inquire what the Duke of Gueldres intends to do with the said Edmund ; whether he has a liking for him, or only esteems him a little? How is the said Edmund now watched ; is he kept like a prisoner in strict confinement, or does he enjoy freedom, although not complete freedom? The said Anthony shall very often repeat to himself all these articles, and afterwards frequently confer about them with the Prothonotary. As often as he learns anything worth writing or communicating, he shall send speedy messengers to the King of England, or return in person to England in order to speak to the King. The said Anthony shall tell the Prothonotary that the King of England, intending to give a suitable answer to the King of the Romans on all subjects contained in the instructions of Herman Rimbre, will very soon send some privy counsellors to the King of the Romans. These privy councillors, or ambassadors, shall first confer with the Prothonotary about the answer to be given in the name of the King of England to the King of the Romans. He shall inquire for what reasons the King of Arragon sends ambassadors to the King of France, and whether there is hope that these two Kings will conclude a peace?
	Henry VII. expects that De Ayala will keep his secrets. The King of England communicates all these secret matters to the Prothonotary as though he were one of his most intimate councillors, and expects that the Prothonotary will communicate these secrets of the King of England to no person living. His Majesty has the greatest confidence in the Prothonotary, and is persuaded that he will make all these inquiries by safe and secret ways and means. No date. No signature. Written in cipher. The key of this cipher is contained in the same document, but is written in such a manner that it appears as though it were a paragraph of the letter. A few lines in a different key of cipher are added, containing the directions where the key of the principal letter is to be sought for. The key or rather the two keys of this postscript are not extant. The deciphering is by the editor. Latin. The letter is written on paper, the water-mark of which is the Imperial Eagle with two heads. Such paper was principally used in Germany and Flanders.