Henry VIII: May 1521, 1-7 | British History Online

Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 3, 1519-1523. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1867.

'Henry VIII: May 1521, 1-7', in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 3, 1519-1523, (London, 1867) pp. 481-484. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol3/pp481-484 [accessed 19 April 2024]

May 1521



1 May. P. S.	1263. For ANTHONY CHABO, the King's surgeon.
	Annuity of 40l., for life. Greenwich, 24 April 13 Hen. VIII. Del. Westm., 1 May.
3 May. Vit. B. IV. 110*. B. M.	1264. CAMPEGGIO to [HENRY VIII.]
	Had written to him in his last of the death of Worcester, and received his letters from Clerk requesting Campeggio to assist him in all possible ways. Rome, 3 May 1521. Signed.
	Lat., p. 1, mutilated.
3 May. R. O.	1265. CAMPEGGIO to WOLSEY.
	Has mentioned in former letters the illness and death of the bishop of Worcester, and the arrival of Clerk with Wolsey's commendatory letters describing him as a most learned man. Will do what he can for Clerk, as he comes by the King's authority. Is anxious to hear the King's decision about the bishopric of Worcester. Rome, 3 May 1521. Signed.
	Lat., p. 1. Add. Endd.
4 May. R. O.	1266. The EARL OF ARUNDEL to WOLSEY.
	On Wednesday last, May 1, one Thos. Jones desired the mayor of Chichester to lay watch for one Sir Wm. Pounder, saying that the day before he had been with the abbot of Waverley, and wished to pledge his chain; which Jones thought was suspicious. Jones did not let the Earl know, or Pounder should not have escaped. Two of his servants have been captured, but Pounder got away with his mail, being better horsed. On Holy Rood Day "came Jasper Owen and one Butler, which Butler had him by the hand, and might a taken him in the city if he had would; so the said Butler went fro him, and took an honest man's horse out of an inn, and rode after him, crying 'Keep the thief,' which made the said Sir Wm. Pounder to make the more haste in his way." Owen and Butler brought a letter to the Mayor from the lord Chamberlain, Sir Hen. Marney, Sir Ric. Weston and Sir Robt. Wingfield, ordering him to deliver the servants and goods taken. They were taken within Arundel's franchise, and if Pounder be "feetyffe," belong to him by inheritance, which he hopes Wolsey will not put him from. There has been great familiarity between Owen and Pounder, as all the country knows. Douneley, 4 May. Signed.
	P. 1. Add.: To my lord Cardinal's good grace.
7 May. Longolii Epist. 213b.	1267. CHRIST. LONGOLIUS to THO. LINACRE.
	Thanks him for his present, which as a token of friendship he received this day from Reginald Pole. Would rather have had a letter from him than gold rings or bracelets (viriolis). Refers to Linacre's generosity when Longolius was in England last year.
	Padua, non. Maii.
7 May. Calig. D. VIII. 33. B. M.	1268. FITZWILLIAM to WOLSEY.
	The French king and the Admiral tell me that the lords Bergevenny and Montague are taken, the earl of Wiltshire fled, and Northumberland sent for. After telling me this, Francis said, "I know the King my brother hath so just title to his realm, and is so wise and well beloved with his servants and subjects, that he shall have no need of my help for this matter; and I pray you think not that I speak this that I will say [to] you now to the intent the King my brother should think I would say it to flatter him. I promise you, as I am a true prince, that an I heard [the] King my brother had need I would not tarry till he sent for me, but he should find me with him or he looked for me, and such a company with [me] that I should be meet to do his enemy displeasure." He also said again eftsoons, "I pray you think not that I speak this for any other intent, but only for the true love I bear unto the King my brother I would not only do this, but also, an it were his mind to speak with [me], and he sent for me to come to him, into what place soever it pleased hy[m] to appoint, look in what place soever I were, so I were not so ny[gh] mine enemies that I could not depart with mine honor, I promise you, as I am a true prince, I would come to him in post, and so [would] I not do to no prince living but to him, for I know there is hono[r and] truth in him." He told me Floranges, son of Robt. de la March, was come, and desired aid of him; that he had shown him how he had made war with the Emperor against his mind, and had raised his subjects contrary to his command; but he neither said he would aid him, nor that he would not. He told Fitzwilliam that the captain of Loyne, the place that Nassau laid siege to, was sick, and they are likely to be in want of victuals. The place besieged by count Felix is in no danger yet. He said further that he that [brought] the Almains together under count Felix is come to h... and will have as many as he pleases. He has had no word from his ambassador in Germany these three weeks, and is sure they have caused his posts to be taken, for which he will stop theirs coming out of Spain. Floranges had told him that, if he would give him 400 men-[at-arms] and 2,000 foot, he would raise the siege. "The King bade him [hold] his peace till he had assembled his men, and that he was st[ronger] than they; and then he said he would speak with them; and as ... that word scaped him. And then I said to him, to feel whe[ther they] were about any treaty, because Robert Tete is not y[et come] from Dijon nor the Chancellor, Sir, will not the king Catho[lic send] to you to have some good appointment made between you and [him]?" Francis said he received an overture from him at Dijon to speak with him; but, as he told the Admiral, he would never speak with him, except at Henry's mediation.
	I have news from the man I sent to Dijon, but cannot learn that the Chancellor and Robert Tet were left there to treat for peace. The Admiral tells me Jerningham [is to] come hither, and Wingfield is to go to the Emperor. Perhaps Jerningham's coming may promote peace. I cannot tell what is to come of the merchants' matter till we reach Dijon, which, they say, will be at seven or ten days at furthest. Francis says he will not go to Italy this year; for the Emperor came into the Low Countries, and could get nothing in Almain. Begs to be recalled, if it were but for a month or six weeks. My letter to the King will show my need. Mychean Levake, 7 May. Signed.
	Mutilated, pp. 3. Add.: To my lord Cardinal's grace.
Calig. E. I. 85. B. M.	1269. OLIVIER DE LA VERNADE, [SIEUR DE LA BATIE,] to WOLSEY.
	Immediately on his return to England [received] a post from the King his master in reply to the despatch sent to "[Fitz]willaume" (?), the English ambassador. Begs urgently to have an audience tomorrow, before Wingfield is sent off, or ... into France. Signed.
	Fr., mutilated, p. 1. Add.: A mons. le Legat.
R. O.	1270. INSTRUCTIONS to SIR RICHARD WINGFIELD, ambassador to the Emperor.
	After delivering his credentials, he shall say that the King considers the Emperor as his dear brother and nephew, esteeming his amity above all other princes', and has sent his ambassador by post to tell him the King's news, and assure him of his affection, congratulating him on the honor shown him by the Electors and Princes at this diet. The King hopes that, at the close of it, Charles will descend into the Low Countries, where they will be able to hear of each other oftener.
	Henry has heard from the French king that don Proyost had showed him, on the Emperor's behalf, that if Robt. de la Marche begun war against the Emperor he would take it as a rupture, and act as a prince should do when provoked; and he perceives from the answer of Francis to the Provost, a copy of which Wingfield will take with him, that he considers the Provost's declaration as a defiance and provocation to war, and intends forthwith to commence hostilities. If this happen, Henry will be forced to assist one side or the other, which he is very unwilling to do; and he has sent one of his secret councillors to desire Francis to abstain from war, as Robert de la Marche has recalled his army, and as the Emperor has given no cause of war, except "a word spoken conditionally;" and to say that Henry will not grudge any trouble if he can act as mediator in their variances. The causes which move the King to propose this are, his desire for the peace of Christendom, his disinclination to take either side in a war, both being friends, and his knowledge of the many evils which must follow a contest between two such great princes. He would rather spend all his substance than see war commenced. Considering the dangers of a war suddenly begun, the uncertainty of its end, and its intolerable cost, he thinks it better to follow the ways of peace, and desires the Emperor to do the same, offering to be a mediator for the pacifying the said variances. On these grounds Wingfield is to urge the Emperor to forbear entering on a war, regarding the state of his affairs in Almayne, Flanders, Spain, Navarre and his other countries, and induce him to remit these variances to the King's hands. If he say he cannot honorably incline to mediation, matters being so far advanced, Wingfield must reply that the King is their common friend and confederate, and that the desire for peace comes from him, and not from the French king; so his honor will be saved.
	Considering also "such division and business as be raised in his realms of Spain," that his state imperial is not perfectly established, that although there is amity and confederation between the Emperor and the King, the "bands of intelligence" lately spoken of have not yet been firmly concluded, though it is hoped they will be upon his descent into the Low Countries;--for all these reasons the King advises him to accept mediation until further deliberation may be taken for war at some convenient time.
	He also asks the Emperor to command lord Nassawte to desist from his raids in Artois and Picardy, of which the French king has complained to Henry, until the said King's mind concerning mediation be known. Henry has sent an ambassador to the French king, with orders to send word of his success to Sir Richard Wingfield. The Emperor may be assured that the King as mediator will look as stedfastly to his honor and causes as he would regard his own.
	At time convenient Wingfield shall say, that Francis had told the English ambassador he had certain knowledge from the Emperor's court, that Henry would take the Emperor's part against him, and that a new meeting was fixed between the King and Emperor, to be held at Calais or in England; that by a letter of April 4, from his ambassador at Rome, he had heard that the Pope told him that Don John Manuell had asked for a dispensation for the Emperor to marry the daughter of Portugal; to which the Pope had objected, as they were too near akin; that Manuell then said the Emperor might have my lady Princess, but the Portuguese princess was more suitable in age, and that Henry would not give so much money as the king of Portugal. The King is surprised at these reports, as no conclusion has yet been taken in any of these matters, and they have not been disclosed by him or any of his. Advises the Emperor to look to the close keeping of his secrets, lest inconveniences arise from the loose handling of such weighty matters. (This paragraph is crossed out.)
	Wingfield is to write from time to time to Jerningham, resident at the French court, how the Emperor is disposed towards mediation.
	Pp. 16, corrected by Ruthal.
R. O.	2. A copy of the latter half, with further corrections by Ruthal.
	Pp. 2.
Vit. B. xx. 236*b. B. M.	3. First draft of the first part of the above, in Ruthal's hand.
	Mutilated, pp. 2.
R. O.	2. Mr. Wingfield. (fn. 1) In case the Emperor or his council object that the King's desire to mediate between him and France till the said straiter conjunction be made between Henry and the Emperor is unreasonable, because the delay in making this straiter conjunction proceeded from the King, and there is nothing of importance between the French king and the Emperor, except the marriage of the latter to the daughter of France, which being accomplished, the French king offers to be reasonable in other things; in case also it be said that he has forborne only for the King's sake, preferring to be allied with him rather than with any other; you shall reply that the delay about the band of alliance has proceeded from the Emperor, because, if, as was proposed to his ambassadors, it had been passed before the treaty with the Pope, the entertainment of the Swiss and the reduction of Spain, then the King might have declared himself more frankly, without sustaining any loss with France, and would have complied with all his reasonable desires. "And as to the further assurance of the marriage with France, the King by taking up of this matter neither mindeth ne intendeth to put the Emperor in more necessity nor further bands with France for that purpose, but rather by all politic means to put him at liberty," if the French king may be persuaded thereto. He thinks it best for the Emperor that peace be entertained until his affairs are better established on all sides, and he is more apt for war, "foreseeing always that he enter in no straiter bands with France than he is now."
	P. 1, draft in Ruthal's hand.
Galba, B. VII. 367. B. M.	1271. FRANCIS I.
	Memorial of Sir Richard Jerningham, [addressed to Francis I.]
	The King has seen the articles lately sent by your Majesty on behalf of the king of the Romans, and your answer. In the King's opinion, your answer is founded in reason, but is rather harsh as regards the latter article about the rupture between you and the king of the Romans; for if the king of the Romans goes too far in attributing that rupture to the attempts of Robt. de la Marche and others, made without your cognizance, as that article was conditional and Robt. de la Marche has at your request withdrawn his army, no cause for rupture remains. The King therefore prays that you will abstain from making war on this account, the other matters not being so important but that they may be arranged. The causes which induce the King to undertake the office of mediator are--(1) The peace of Christendom: (2) The necessity he would be under to give assistance to one or other. He would rather lose a great part of his wealth than see such a war commence, and begs you to accept his services as mediator; for which purpose he has sent his ambassador, Sir Ric. Wingfield, to the king of the Romans. Signed by Jerningham.
	Fr., pp. 5, mutilated.