Spain: December 1505

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

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'Spain: December 1505', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 1, 1485-1509, (London, 1862) pp. 376-379. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol1/pp376-379 [accessed 26 March 2024]

December 1505

2 Dec.
B. M. Cott. MSS. Vesp. C. XII. f. 207.
Destitution of the Princess of Wales.
448. Princess Of Wales to King Ferdinand of Spain.
Had not hitherto let him know the state of affairs in England, lest they should have given him annoyance. Had, moreover, hoped they would improve ; but each day her troubles increase. Blames Doctor de Puebla as the cause of them all. Since her arrival in England has not had a single maravedi, excepting for food ; and her servants have nothing wherewith to buy clothes. Had asked De Puebla to speak to the King of England to allow her to have an old English lady as companion while Doña Elvira Manuel was absent in Flanders, but it had nothing advantaged her, for he had only negotiated with the King that she should reside at court, and her household be dismissed. Begs he will send some other ambassador, or some one who may ascertain whether she speaks truly or not. Has lost her health, owing to the annoyances she has had. Is certain the King of England will not receive as part of her marriage portion any of the plate and jewels brought by her, lest people should say he had taken her ornaments. Neither is it to be expected he will take them on account. Besides, as he prefers money to jewels, he would not in any case have given more than half their value for them.—Richmond, 2nd December.
Addressed : "To the very high and very powerful Lord."
No endorsement.
Spanish. Holograph. pp. 3.
Printed in Wood's Letters of Royal Ladies.
15 Dec.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 5. f. 46.
449. Katharine, Princess Of Wales, to King Ferdinand Of Spain.
Hopes his marriage (fn. 1) will soon be concluded, and that it will secure the peace of Christendom.
Princess of Wales complains of De Puebla.
The letter of De Puebla is full of calumny and lies. He must not believe them. It is highly desirable that another ambassador, who is an honest and a truthful servant, should be sent to England. De Puebla made her suffer formerly, but now he makes her suffer twice as much. Will be lost, if she is not assisted from Spain.—Richmond, 15th December.
Addressed : "To the very high and powerful King, my Lord."
Spanish. Holograph. p. 1.
S. T. c. I. L. 2. 450. King Ferdinand Of Spain to De Puebla.
By my other letters I informed you of all that had passed between me and the King Archduke, my son, in order that you might acquaint the King of England, my brother, with it. Since then the said King Archduke, my son, has not accepted the explanation which I sent him, and has made demonstrations of desiring to come to Spain with an army and a fleet.
Treaty made by King Ferdinand of Spain with King of France.
I, therefore, seeing that he had made a league with the King of France so greatly to my prejudice, and in order that no inconvenience might ensue to me from the said league, also that I might the better provide for the preservation of these kingdoms, and of my honour and my rights, have agreed to a treaty of peace and amity and brotherhood with the King of France for the preservation of our realms. I was, moreover, led to do this, because I know how great is the peace and amity which the King of England, my brother, maintains with the King of France, and how much reason he has to be on such good terms with France, and to be always friendly to that kingdom, on account of what the French did for him at the beginning of his reign. Therefore, if we were united and joined together, that is to say, I and the King of England my brother and the King of France, all three of us, would do, with God's help, what was befitting to us, and there could be no one who would do us any injury. Moreover, if I marry Madame de Foix, the niece of the King of France, the kingdom of Naples will remain in my possession, he on his part renouncing in her favour, and in that of the children who shall be born of her, all the title and right that he has and pretends to have to the kingdom of Naples and Jerusalem. And I will give him certain monies in compensation for what he has expended, while he binds himself to aid me in the defence of all the kingdoms and seignories of the crowns of Castile, Arragon, and Naples. (fn. 2)
King of England constituted guardian of the treaty.
Moreover, besides having made this treaty without prejudice to the King of England my brother, and in addition to having named him in it as our principal ally, we have constituted him guardian of the said peace and amity, so that in this way all three of us will be united firmly together.
Suffolk.
Tell all this to the King of England my brother, and say I am glad of it, and inform him of all my affairs, as if he were even more than my real brother, but especially of this matter, which is so important. Say that I pray him very affectionately to be pleased to accept this office of guardian of the treaty of peace and friendship between me and the King of France. Pray him likewise to let the King of France know in what terms I have written to him, and inform him that he will be pleased to accept the said office of guardian of our treaty of peace and amity. Tell him also that I am writing to the King of France to entreat him to endeavour, seeing that Suffolk is in the hands of the Duke of Gueldres, to have him delivered up to the King of England.
Requirements made by King Ferdinand of the King Archduke.
You shall, moreover, say to the said King, my brother, that in order there may be no neglect on my part to make all possible explanations to the King Archduke, I have now sent to beg and require the said King and Archduke my son, before coming here, to have it seen and determined to whom of right belongs the government of these kingdoms, in order that peace may not be disturbed. For though the government of them belongs to me, and they have sworn fealty and obedience to me, and are at peace, yet he pretends that the said government belongs to him. If it should be decided that the government belongs to me, I have begged and required him not to show any wish to oppose me, or throw hindrances in my way. I shall be content to leave this negotiation in the hands of the King of England my brother, and in the hands of the King of France, that they may decide upon it. But if he be not willing to take this course, I have told him we will name other persons to arbitrate upon it.
I have the fullest confidence in the King of England, my brother ; and as for the Queen, my niece, I am quite content with her contemplated marriage, as I have already written to you. You can negotiate and bring this matter to a conclusion.
Signed by the King.
To Doctor De Puebla.
Spanish. Written in two keys of cipher, which are not extant.
Deciphered by the editor.

Footnotes

  • 1. With Germaine de Foix. The marriage treaty was concluded in the year 1505, and the wedding took place on the 18th of March 1506.
  • 2. The treaty between Ferdinand and Lewis XII. was signed at Blois the 12th of October 1505.