Addenda.: Miscellaneous, 1544

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 8, 1545-1546. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

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'Addenda.: Miscellaneous, 1544', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 8, 1545-1546, (London, 1904) pp. 610-613. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol8/pp610-613 [accessed 26 March 2024]

Miscellaneous, 1544

1544. 14 Feb. Simancas. F. A.640. 478. The Emperor to Prince Philip.
Has had no letter from him for the last four months, and would be in great uneasiness in consequence had he not been informed that the Prince had gone from Salamanca to Valladolid to pass the winter with his young wife. The affairs of Italy, and especially those of Piedmont, are in a very critical state, the French having a large army collected there. The Prince must procure money in Spain by any means. The security of our dominions depends upon the success of the invasion which the Emperor intends to make of France during the present year, and he hopes thereby to compel the King of France, at last, to accept reasonable conditions of peace. The King of England has promised to join the Emperor with an army of 37,000 foot and 7,000 horse with the necessary artillery and munitions of war, whilst the Emperor is bound by the treaty to supplement the English force by sending to it 2,000 horse and 2,000 Germans: the Emperor and King Henry agreeing to help each other in all ways and in all places. In order to do so great sums of money will be needed, as well as a large number of soldiers. Every effort must be made to raise money in Spain and to send it promptly. (fn. 1)
Spires, 14 February, 1544.
Postscript in the handwriting of the Emperor:—
“My boy. I have written to you by Juan Zapata about these affairs. The way by which this letter is sent is not very safe, and it is not advisable to write much except in cipher. I will therefore say nothing beyond these words: try to be a good son, and get for me as much money as I have asked for and more if possible. My, and your, fortune is at stake. Help me promptly; for delay would be almost as detrimental as failure. If I should break down now it would be hard in future to remedy our misfortune. Employ all the means at which I have hinted, and others if you think they would be more feasible.”
14 May. Simancas. C. de C. 69. 479. Prince Philip to the Emperor.
Is glad to hear that Martin Alonso has arrived in England with his despatches. Hopes the Emperor has ere this received the letters the Prince sent by him. Wishes to know what the German Princes will do at the Diet. The conditions of peace proposed by the French are not acceptable. The Prince is convinced that the instructions taken by Fernando de Gonzaga to England have been very maturely considered and could not be improved. Is rejoiced to hear that the answer given by the King of England is so satisfactory. If both the Emperor and the King jointly attack the King of France vigorously the latter will be forced to make peace on reasonable conditions; or at least he will be paralysed in his attempts against Spain and Italy. News reaches the writer from all sides that the King of France intends to fortify strongly the frontier places on the borders of Picardy and Champagne, and to make his principal move on Italy, as he has already attacked Catalonia, with the help of the Turkish fleet. The Prince notes the Emperor's intentions to invade France on one side whilst the King of England makes a vigorous attack on the other. It is impossible for the Prince, who is distant from the scene of action, to express an opinion upon the plans, but the Emperor being upon the spot, is with his great wisdom the best judge as to the most desirable course to be adopted.
Andrea Doria and Figueroa are both of opinion that it would be a good thing to gain over Barbarossa to the Emperor's side, but the terms asked by the former are out of the question.
Valladolid, 14 May 1544.
6 July. Simancas. E.F.500. 480. The Emperor to Cobos.
Juan Zapata has come to him with a message from Count Cifuentes (fn. 2) to the effect that the Infanta Maria is now so grown that it is time to think of a husband for her. The Emperor, being her father, would naturally be delighted to see her well married, but no good match seems at present available for her. The Prince of England is still a child; the Prince of Portugal is already betrothed to the Princess Juana (fn. 3); the Dauphin is married and has children; whilst as to the Duke of Orleans, Cobos knows well the turn that negotiations have taken in that direction. The King of France and his sons, moreover, have not deserved that any of the latter should be married to the Infanta Maria. There only remain therefore the sons of the King of the Romans to whom the Infanta could be married; but, in any case, it will be necessary to postpone the decision as to the person until children have been born to the Prince (Philip).
Metz, 6 July 1544.
6 July. Simancas. E.F. 500. 481. The Emperor to Prince Philip.
Is glad to be able to say that the States of the Empire have voted aid for him in his war with France. This assistance came most opportunely. There is not much fresh to say about the English. Their vanguard and rearguard have already left Calais and are entering French territory; the King of England himself with the main attacking force being expected at Calais on the 8th instant. The Emperor thinks that the English will do all they can to injure the French; at least, so they say; though he doubts whether they will advance far into France, as they are encumbered with a great number of heavy baggage-wagons. Still they will help the Emperor to bring about a favourable peace with France, since if the latter is attacked at different points she will have to divide her forces.
Metz, 6 July 1544.
14 Aug. Simancas. E.F. 500. 482. The Emperor to Prince Philip.
Monsieur de Longueville, who is with the Duke of Orleans, and who possesses the confidence of Mme. d'Etampes, approached M. de Granvelle through a physician when they were at Spires and offered terms of peace. The Emperor at the time took no notice of these offers, as he thought that the only result would be to arouse the distrust of the English towards him. The Cardinal of Lorraine afterwards sent the Bailif of Dijon, who stayed for a day in M. de Granvelle's house. (fn. 4) He asked for the Infanta Maria in marriage for the Duke of Orleans with Flanders and Milan as a dowry. The Emperor replied that he had already disposed of the hand of his daughter otherwise; but that he would be pleased that the Duke of Orleans should marry the second daughter of the King of the Romans, to whom he would give a good dower.
Camp before Landrecy, 14 and 18 August 1544.
18 Aug. Simanoas. E.F. 500. 483. Idiaquez to Cobos.
The Emperor is writing more fully about the negotiations for peace. The Admiral of France is expected in three or four days.
The King of England is raising no difficulties with regard to these proposed negotiations, mainly because the French have also entered into negotiations with him. The King of England would like to mediate between the Emperor and France. The writer wishes him success. Peace is most desirable for many reasons, and especially because the war is being conducted so badly; the accounts received by the Emperor being very unfavourable. (fn. 5) The King of England is besieging Boulogne and Montreuil, two places not far from Calais. The possession of Boulogne would be of great advantage to the English.
Before Landrecy, 18 August 1544.

Footnotes

  • 1. The letter from Cobos to the Emperor, 14 May, in Spanish Calendar, Vol. VII. p. 154, is an answer to the above. In it Cobos says that after the money then sent be spent, there will be no means of getting one “real” more out of the Spanish people.
  • 2. Count Cifuentes, formerly ambassador in Rome, had now become governor of the young Princesses. The Infanta Maria subsequently married her cousin Maximilian, afterwards Emperor, the eldest son of Ferdinand.
  • 3. The Princess Juana, eldest daughter of Charles, married soon afterwards Don John of Portugal, heir to the crown. He died in 1554.
  • 4. The details of these peace negotiations are fully discussed in the Introduction to Vol. VII. of the Spanish Calendar.
  • 5. A description of the military position of the Emperor and his forces at this time will be found on page 308, Vol. VII. Spanish Calendar.