Spain: May 1502

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

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'Spain: May 1502', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 1, 1485-1509, (London, 1862) pp. 267-269. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol1/pp267-269 [accessed 21 April 2024]

May 1502

10 May.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 4. f. 19.
116. Ferdinand and Isabella to De Puebla.
Send Ferdinand Duke de Estrada as ambassador to the King and Queen of England and to the Princess of Wales. He must obey him in all he may order, as though such orders were given directly by themselves.—Toledo, 10th of May 1502.
Addressed : "By the King and the Queen. To Doctor De Puebla, of their Council, and their ambassador in England."
Spanish. p. 1.
10 May.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 3. f. 17.
Instructions given to the Duke de Etrads.
317. Ferdinand and Isabella.
Empower Ferdinand Duke de Estrada, in their name, and in the name of the Princess of Wales,—.
1. To reclaim from the King of England the 100,000 scudos which have been paid as the first instalment of the marriage portion of the said Princess of Wales.
2. To demand that the King of England should deliver to the Princess of Wales those towns, manors, lands, &c. which have been assigned to her as her dowry, which is to amount to one third of the revenues of Wales, Cornwall, and Chester.
3. To beg the King of England to send the Princess Katharine to Spain in the best manner, and in the shortest time possible, and, if necessary, to superintend himself the arrangements for her departure.
Toledo, 10th of May 1502.
Indorsed : "Power for the Duke de Estrada."
Latin, on parchment, pp. 4.
10 May.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 4. f. 88.
318. Ferdinand and Isabella.
Empower Ferdinand Duke de Estrada,—
1. To conclude with Henry, in their names, and as their ambassador, a marriage between their daughter Katharine and his son Henry, Prince of Wales.
2. To settle the amount, and other terms of the marriage portion, and of the dowry.
Toledo, 10th of May 1502.
This power is inserted in the treaty of the 23rd of June 1503.
Latin. pp. 7.
12 May.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 4. f. 24
Death of Prince Arthur.
319. Ferdinand and Isabella to De Puebla.
Have read with profound sorrow the news of the death of Prince Arthur. The affliction caused by all their former losses has been revived by it. But the will of God must be obeyed.
Have heard that the Princess of Wales is suffering. She must be removed, without loss of time, from the unhealthy place where she now is.
He must write and send the fastest messengers by land and by sea.—Toledo, 12th May 1502.
Addressed : "By the King and the Queen. To Doctor De Puebla, of their Council, and their ambassador in England."
Spanish. p. 1.
21 May.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 4. f. 18.
320. Ferdinand and Isabella to De Puebla.
Is a duplicate of the letter of the 12th of May.
29 May.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 4. f. 21.
321. Ferdinand and Isabella to De Puebla.
After having answered his first letter which brought the lamentable news of the death of their son, Prince Arthur, have received his second letter of the 17th of April. Have nothing to say in answer to it, because they have sent an officer of their court to England to conduct the business.
Conduct expected from the King of England.
Expect, confidently, that the King of England will lose no time in fulfilling all his obligations towards the Princess of Wales. It is not to be believed that King Henry is capable of exposing the Princess, in this her time of grief, to want and privation. If it be not already done, he must take care that the Princess of Wales should now receive all the revenues of her dowry in order to be able to pay her personal expenses and her household.
The Princess of Wales must not borrow money.
Have been told that some persons in England have advised the Princess of Wales to borrow money, because the King of England would never fulfil his obligations to her. If she really were to do so it would reflect great dishonour on Henry. He must tell the Princess and her advisers not to borrow money. Such a thing is unheard of. When the Queen of Portugal, their daughter, became a widow, she received all she wanted from the new King of Portugal. Have never sent her a single farthing. When the Princess Margaret became a widow, they provided for all her wants in Spain, as though she had been their own daughter. Neither the King of the Romans, nor the Archduke Philip, had sent her the smallest sum of money ; and if they had done so, they would have regarded it as an insult, and not accepted it. The Infanta Juana is married to the Archduke. It is true that the Flemings sent away her Spanish servants at first, and refused to give anything towards the expenses of her household. Notwithstanding this refusal, had not paid the expenses of the household of their daughter ; and the Flemings, seeing the injustice of their behaviour, had soon provided liberally for her wants and the wants of her servants.
Obligations of King Henry to Princess of Wales.
The obligation of Henry towards the Princess of Wales is much greater than that of other Princes, who have been placed in similar circumstances. He has solemnly bound himself by a formal treaty to give her a dowry ; and towns, manors, lands, &c. have been actually assigned to her as her property for life. It is not to be supposed that such a Prince as the King of England would break his word at any time, and much less at present whilst the Princess is overwhelmed with grief.
Doña Elvira.
He must write directly to Doña Elvira, and tell her that Juan de Cuero must keep all the gold, silver, jewels, &c. of the Princess with the greatest care. Not the smallest portion of them ought to be sold.
No new servants are to be engaged in the household of the Princess. All must remain in the state it is now until the new ambassador shall have arrived.—Toledo, 29th May 1502.
Addressed : "By the King and Queen. To Doctor De Puebla, of our Council, and our ambassador in England."
Spanish. pp. 3½.