Spain: 1494

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

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'Spain: 1494', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 1, 1485-1509, (London, 1862) pp. 51-53. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol1/pp51-53 [accessed 19 April 2024]

1494

1494. 8 Aug.
Fr. R. 9 & 10 Hen. VII. m. 12. (6.)		 88. Henry VII. to All Persons.
Letters of protection to Peter de Miranda, merchant, of Spain, in the service of the King, in the company of William Rosse, Esq., victualler, of the town and castle of Calais. —Westminster, 8th August.
Latin. p. ½.
18 Aug.
B. R. V. 3573. ff. 55, 56.		 Conduct of certain Jews.
89. Ferdinand and Isabella to Henry VII. (fn. 1)
Certain Jews who have left the dominions of Spain have seized the sum of 428,000 maravedis, (fn. 2) belonging to Diego de Soria, and in the keeping of Fernan Lorenzo, alleging that Diego de Soria owes them certain sums on bills of exchange which were given to them when they were expelled from Spain. These Jews have forfeited their rights, for they had carried away prohibited goods ; and Diego de Soria has been ordered to pay the said bills of exchange into the royal exchequer. Request Henry to annul the arrest, for by so doing he will not only act justly, but also render them a "special service." —Segovia, 18th August 1494.
Spanish. pp. 2.
3 Nov.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 2.		 90. Ferdinand and Isabella to their Ambassador in England. (fn. 3)
Henry VII. had sent an ambassador to Ferdinand and Isabella when they were at Barcelona, and they have promised to send ambassadors to England.
The King of France, their "much beloved and very dear "brother and ally," restored to them their counties of Roussillon and Cerdaña soon after the departure of the English ambassador on his way to the King of France.
They had ordered Sasiola to go as ambassador to England ; but Sasiola fell ill, and is still unable to undertake the journey. This is the reason why the embassy has been delayed.
King of France.
In the treaty between Spain and England there is a clause by which they are at full liberty to receive from their "beloved brother," the King of France, their counties of Roussillon and Cerdaña, and to conclude with him alliances, fraternity, brotherhood, and confederation, such as have always existed between their predecessors and the predecessors of their "beloved brother, the King of France." Roussillon and Cerdaña having been restored to them, they have concluded their alliances, &c. with France, which they were the more entitled to do as Henry has neither signed nor sworn to nor delivered the treaties.
They intend strictly to fulfil their treaty with France ; nevertheless, they are not disinclined to form a new alliance with England if Henry wish it.
The Pope.
The Colonna and Savelli (fn. 4) have rebelled against the Holy Father, and have taken Ostia and other places belonging to the Church. Rome is almost without provisions. The Pope has asked them to assist the Church, and to invite other princes to do the same. They have sent the guard ships of the ports, and 1,000 lances taken from their guards, and intend to continue sending him troops till he has recovered what has been taken from him. They hope that Henry, like a Christian King, will not leave the Pope unassisted. —Madrid, 3rd November 1494.
Indorsed : "To Do ..."
Spanish. pp. 6.
3 Nov.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 2.		 91. Ferdinand and Isabella to the Bachelor Sasiola.
Wish that Henry should remove the burdens lately imposed on the commerce of Spanish merchants in England under pretext of the treaty. That treaty, though signed by them, has never been signed, sworn to, or published by Henry. It is, therefore, null and void.
Complaint by Spanish merchants.
The prohibition imposed on Spanish merchants importing woad from Toulouse (fn. 5), unless it be in English ships, is recent and an infringement of the existing treaties. Meanwhile, English merchants in Spain are treated like Spanish subjects.
Their subjects ask retaliation, but they are no friends to such measures, and hope that Henry will be persuaded to do justice.—Madrid, 3rd November 1494.
Spanish. pp. 3½.

Footnotes

  • 1. The letter is directed only to the "Serenissimo Rey," without stating what king is meant. But there can be little doubt that it was written to Henry VII. According to the then prevalent style in Spain, only the kings of Naples and of England enjoyed the title of "Serenissimo ;" the King of the Romans being addressed "Sacratissimo," and the King of France, "Muy Poderoso." As Ferdinand had already written to the King of Naples in an imperious tone to put the Jews into prison, and to force them, under pain of death, to give back the goods they had taken with them, this letter, if directed to Naples, would have been more than useless. Moreover, Diego de Soria was a Spanish merchant established in Burgos, Bristol, and London, as is apparent from other papers in the same collection.
  • 2. About 1,230 crowns.
  • 3. On the superscription of the instruction, Jufre Sasiola was designated as the ambassador. But Sasiola fell ill on his way to England, and De Puebla was sent in his stead. The name of Sasiola is therefore expunged, but that of the new ambassador is not placed in its stead.
  • 4. "Algunos Colunses ysabellos naturales de Roma."
  • 5. Pastel de Tolosa. Pastel signifies "pastry" as well as "woad ;" and Tolosa may be Toulouse in France as well as Tolosa in Spain.
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