| 20th March. |
4. The Knight Commander Of Membrilla to King Ferdinand
The Catholic.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Capitulaciones con Inglaterra.
Legajo 5. Sin folio. Contemporary deciphering by Almazan.]
A su Alteza del Comendador de la Membrilla.
a xx de Março de dviiij.
Despues que escrevi a V. Alteza por la via de Martin Sanchez
de Çamudio son venidos aca embaxadores del Rey de los
Romanos y de madama margarita los quales vinieron a seis
dias del mes de Março y estuvieron ocho dias sin ver al Rey
porque esta malo de la enfermedad de antaño y no se dexa
ver recibio el principe los embaxadores. he entendido de la
venida destos que han movido casamiento para el principe de
Gales con fija del duque Alberto de Baviera y fija de
hermana del Rey de los Romanos y segurandole que si faze
este casamiento que todavia casara con el madama margarita
y que le daran todas las seguridades que querra para el
casamiento fecho con el principe de Castilla y de su fija sera
firme. no lo he sabido esto de tal original que yo lo tenga por
cierto mas como las cosas desta corte todas incontinente que
se platican salgan afuera puede ser que el que me lo dixo lo
haya oido en buen lugar. assimismo soy avisado que dan
mucha priessa los grandes del Reyno al Rey para que case su
fijo mayormente despues que le han visto enfermo y no le
dizen mas con una que con otra salvo dezirle que se determine
en lo que quiere o le estara mejor y que case al principe
porque ya el principe esta muy hombre y el Reyno esta a
peligro con un solo heredero. dizenme ha tomado termino de
dos meses para determinarse y estan todos muy maravillados
como tarda V. Alt. tanto en responder y como tarda tanto el
que V. Al. ha de ynbiar porque juan Astil ha escrito al Rey que
presto verna aqui un perlado y ahun certificadamente que
sera don pedro de Ayala obispo de Canaria y porque V. Al.
sea avisado de todas las cosas acorde de embiar este mensagero
porque me parece que para lo uno o para lo otro seria bien que
V. Alteza determinasse lo que quiere en este negocio porque
estos no dexan de pedricar al pueblo y por todas las partes
que pueden que por no complir V. A. con el Rey de Ynglaterra
se dexa de concluir este casamiento y ahunque de nuestra
parte hoviesse mejores predicadores no les farian creer otra
cosa sino lo que ya tienen concebido.
yo no he visto al Rey de Ynglaterra desde que se desposo
su fija porque muestra tener gran enojo de mi y no dize que
es la causa porque yo no quise estar presente al desposorio
de su fija sino que he fecho relaciones siniestras a V. Alt.
porque donde V. Alt. no ha concedido lo que el pide segun
lo escrevi a V. Md. que el privasello me lo havia embiado a
dezir y que por aquello no queria verme sino tenia negocios
sobre que fablar. y tampoco he visto desde entonces a la
princesa porque a los que consejan a Su Alt. les parece que
no es bien que Su Alt. me vea pues el Rey de Ynglaterra
no esta bien comigo y Su Alteza les da tanto credito que
cree que es bien lo que ellos le dizen y no solamente se
finge estar Su Alteza mal comigo mas muestra estarlo de
verdad. y esto le han aconseiado porque temen que yendo yo
a ver a la princesa no podre estar sin dezirle algo de lo que
no me parece bien de aquellos que esto le consejan y con
este temor no solamente con la princessa han acabado que este
mal comigo y que lo muestre mas han grangeado por todas
las partes que han podido para quitarme que no pueda
comunicar a Su Alteza y passan en su casa muchas cossas
que tienen necessidad de enmienda mas Su Alteza esta tan
obediente a un frayle que tiene por confessor que le faze
fazer hartas cosas que si no se fiziessen no se perderia nada
y ultimamente le fizo fazer una cosa que la sintio el Rey
mucho y fue que estando en una casa sola que esta en un
parque y de alli quisose venir el Rey de Ynglaterra a
Richamonte y mandole dezir a la princesa que otro dia Su
Alteza y madama maria su fija se fuessen a Richamonte porque
el se yria delante dellas o despues. la princesa obedecio
el mandamiento y estando otro dia para partir y que madama
maria la esperava con la compañia que estava diputada
para venir con ellas vino el frayle y dixo a la princesa no vays
oy en nunguna manera. es verdad que la princessa aquella
noche havia tenido un gomito. dixo la princesa buena estoy
no me quiero quedar sola. dixole yo os digo so pena de pecado
mortal que no vays oy. la princesa porfiava que estava buena
y que no queria quedarse alli sola. el frayle porfio tanto
que la princesa por no descontentarle determino de se quedar
y pasaron mas de dos oras que madama maria la estava
esperando. embio a dezir a madama maria que se fuesse que
no se sintia buena. de los ingleses vieron esto y habian
visto a la princesa en la missa y en la mesa cavalgaron con
madama maria y fueronse y quedosse la princesa sola con
sus mugeres y con solo su maestresala y su camarero que
vino acaso que no estava alli y de alli anchamente no havia
sino una legua. el recaudo que quedo a la princesa essa
noche no es menester dezirlo porque como cosa nacida sin
pensallo no se proveyo ni ellos se dieron mucho para proveello.
finalmente que otro dia el Rey de Ynglaterra no fizo
mas proveymiento para embiar por la princesa que si ella
tuviera compañia la que le convenia y dizenme que el Rey
se enojo mucho de su quedada y otro dia la princessa con
tres mugeres cavalgando y el maestresala y el camarero y
el frayle sin otra viva criatura se vinieron anchamente y
destas cosas le faze fazer este frayle y otras de peor qualidad
mil. el Rey ha mas de xx. dias que no ha visto a la princesa
ni nunca ha embiado desde aquella quedada a saber
como esta ahunque ha estado mala, y assi dios me ayude que
agora que he conocido bien las cosas de casa de la princesa
quito mucha y mucha parte de la culpa que fasta qui dava
al Rey de Ynglaterra y no me maravillo de lo que ha fecho
sino de lo que no faze mayormente siendo de condicion que
quiere que en su casa y en su Reyno sin contradicion se
faga lo que el quiere y ordena y sufrir el Rey las cosas
deste frayle que tan mal le parecen y que tanto le tienen
sobre los ojos los que lo conocen no lo tienen por buena
señal y porque he escrito con un criado de la princesa que
se llama juan de Azcotia el qual fue despachado a escuso
de mi no quiero estenderme mas en esta materia porque
V. Alteza sabra de aquel la verdad de todas las cosas si
saberlas quisiere porque el es leal servidor de V. Alteza
y como hombre que le parecian mal muchas cosas no pudiendo
sufrirlas ha dicho algo deste frayle por donde no le ha
venido ningun bien mas V. Alteza sepa que es tanto menester
remediar esto deste frayle y quitalle de aqui como a persona
pestifera que assi lo es cierto.
El camarero Juan de Cuero como buen servidor no puede
estar que no diga la verdad laqual no se quiere oyr. esta la
princessa con el como si le hoviesse fecho la mayor traycion
del mundo y todo por que va a la mano que no vendan
cada dia una pieça de plata para complir las locuras del
frayle. suplico a V. Alteza le faga merced de una cedula
para quien V. Alteza mandare que le tome la cuenta del
cargo que ha tenido porque es muy viejo y no querria que
le tomasse la muerte sin haberse quitado del cargo que esta
sobre el. V. Alteza lo deve fazer y ponerse ha freno al
vender que en xv. dias han vendido oro en dozientos
ducados y dellos no ha fecho la princesa cosa que luza ni
se sabe en que lo gasta sino en libros y gastos del frayle.
Temiendo que si este Rey sintiesse que V. Alteza mandava
que se demandasse la princessa sino quisiesse facer el casamiento
como lo ha sentido y sabido por el poco secreto que
ay en la camara de la princessa yo dixe a francisco de
grimaldo que poco a poco sacasse el mas dinero que pudiesse
y assy lo ha fecho que bien ay fuera de Ynglaterra mas de
xxxm. coronas y todo estotro se sacara poco a poco y se
pondra en lugar que si menester fuere para fazer el pago
al Rey de Ynglaterra pueda bolver aqui sin inconviniente
ninguno. esto he fecho por assegurar mi coraçon que segun
lo que aqua sentia y siento me parecia que se devia assi
fazer. si otra cosa V. Alteza mandare mandeme avisar con
correo bolante porque yo no yerre. mi desseo no errara desto
estoy cierto. fecha a xx de Março de dviiij. Comendador
de la Menbrilla. |
(Translation.)
4. To his Highness from the Knight
Commander of Membrilla, the 20th
of March '509.
Since I wrote to your Highness by Martin Sanchez de
Zamudio, ambassadors from the King of the Romans and
Madame Margaret have come here. They arrived on the
sixth day of March, and were eight days without seeing the
King, because he was ill of the sickness of last year, and does
not allow himself to be seen. The Prince received the ambassadors.
Concerning this embassy, I have understood that
they have moved a marriage for the Prince of Wales with the
daughter of the Duke Albert of Bavaria, a daughter of the
sister of the King of the Romans, assuring him (the King)
that if he concludes this marriage he shall still wed with
Madame Margaret, and they will give all the securities that
he may desire that the match between the Prince of Castile
and his daughter shall be confirmed. I have not learned this
from such a source that I can hold it for certain, but as all
the affairs of this court directly that they are negotiated
become public, it may be that he who told it me may have
heard it in a good quarter. Also I am informed that the
nobles of the kingdom press the King much that he may
marry his son, above all since they have seen him ill, and
they do not speak for one more than for the other, but
tell him that he should decide on that which he wishes, or
is more profitable for him, and that he should marry the
Prince, because he is already very manly, and the kingdom
is in danger with only one heir. They tell me he has taken
a period of two months to decide, and they are all much
astonished at your Highness's great delay in answering, and
at the slowness of him whom your Highness is to send. (fn. 1) For
John Stile has written to the King that a prelate would come
quickly here, and even certified that it would be Don Pedro
de Ayala, Bishop of Canaria. In order that your Highness
may be informed of everything, I decided to send this messenger.
For it appears to me that one way or the other it
would be well that your Highness should determine that
which you wish in this affair. They do not cease to preach
to the people, wherever they can, that because your Highness
does not fulfil your obligations towards the King of England
this marriage is not concluded ; and although on our side we
might have better preachers, they would not make them
believe anything except that which they have already
imagined.
I have not seen the King of England since he betrothed
his daughter, because he appears to be very angry with me,
and he does not say that the cause is because I did not choose
to be present at the espousals of his daughter, but because I
had made sinister reports to your Highness, in consequence
of which your Highness has not conceded that which he asks,
according as I wrote to your Majesty, and the Lord Privy
Seal had sent to tell me ; and on that account he did not
wish to see me unless I had business on which to talk. And
neither have I seen the Princess from that time, for to those
who advise her Highness it does not appear good that her
Highness should see me, as the King of England is not very
friendly to me, and her Highness has such faith in them, that
she believes what they tell her is good. And not only does her
Highness feign to be angry with me, but shows herself to be
so in reality. And this they have advised because they fear
that, if I go to see the Princess, I shall not be able to refrain
from telling her something which does not appear to me good
in those who advise her this, and with this fear not only have
they prevailed with the Princess that she is angry with me,
and that she shows it, but they have managed on all sides,
where they have been able to do so, in such a manner as to
remove me so that I may not communicate with her Highness.
Many things happen in her house which have need of amendment,
but her Highness is so submissive to a friar whom she
has as confessor, that he makes her do a great many things
which it would be better not to do. Lately he made her
do a thing which much grieved the King. It was this,
that whilst staying in a lonely house which is in a park,
the King of England wished to go to Richmond, and sent to
say to the Princess that next day her Highness and Madame
Mary his daughter should be at Richmond, where he would
go before or after them. The Princess obeyed the order, but
next day when she was about to start, and Madame Mary
was waiting for her with the company deputed to go with
them, the friar came and said to the Princess, "You shall not go
to-day." It is true that the princess had vomited that night.
The princess said, "I am well ; I do not wish to stay here
alone." He said, "I tell you that upon pain of mortal sin
you do not go to-day." The Princess contended that she
was well, and that she did not wish to stay there alone.
The friar, however, persevered so much that the Princess,
not to displease him, determined to remain. When
Madame Mary had been waiting for more than two hours she
sent to tell Madame Mary to go, but that she did not feel well.
The English who witnessed this, and had seen the Princess
at mass and at table, rode off with Madame Mary and went
away, whilst the Princess remained alone with her women
and only the Maestre Sala and her chamberlain, who had
been absent and came by chance. The distance was at the
utmost less than one league. There is no need to speak of
the provisions the Princess had that night, for as the contingency
was not expected it was not provided for, nor did they
give themselves much trouble to provide for it. Next day
the King of England did not again give an order to send
for the Princess, as though she had been staying in such
company as suited her, and they tell me that the King was
very much vexed at her remaining there. The following day
the Princess went [to Richmond] accompanied by no other
living creature than three women on horseback, the Maestre
Sala, the chamberlain, and the friar, a numerous [company]!
These and other things of a thousand times worse kind the
friar makes her do. It is more than 20 days since the
King last saw the Princess, nor has he, since her staying
away, sent to know how she is, although she had been
ill. May God forgive me, but now that I know so well the
affairs of the Princess's household, I acquit the King of England
of a great and very great portion of the blame which
I hitherto gave to him, and I do not wonder at what he has
done, but at that which he does not do, especially as he is of
such a temperament as to wish that in house and kingdom
that be done without contradiction which he desires and
orders. That the King allows these things of the friar,
which appear so bad to him and which are so much brought
before his eyes, to go on is not considered as a good sign by
those who know him. As I have written by a servant of
the Princess, whose name is Juan Azcotia, and who was
despatched behind my back, I shall not dilate here on this
subject, because your Highness can hear from him the truth
of all these things if you desire to know them. He is a loyal
servant of your Highness, and, as a man, being unable to
endure many things which appeared bad to him, he has said
something of this to the friar, for which no good has come to
him. Your Highness must know that there is very great
need to remedy these things of this friar, and to remove him
from here as a pestiferous person, for that he certainly is.
The Chamberlain, Juan de Cuero, being a good servant,
cannot do otherwise than speak the truth, which they do not
desire to hear. The Princess behaves towards him as though
he had committed the greatest treason in the world, and all
because he hinders them from selling every day a piece of
plate to satisfy the follies of the friar. I entreat your Highness
to grant him the favour of an order that he whom your
Highness should send may settle with him the accounts of the
office which he has held, because he is very old and would not
wish that death should overtake him before having accounted
for all that for which he is responsible. Your Highness
ought to do it, and to place a restraint on the selling, for in
fifteen days they have sold gold for two hundred ducats, with
which the Princess has done nothing that can be seen, nor is
it known in what she spends it, except in books and the
expenses of the friar. Fearing that this King should resent
that your Highness commanded that the Princess should be
claimed, unless he should consent to her marriage, as he has
resented and known it in consequence of the little secrecy
that there is in the chamber of the Princess, I told Francisco
de Grimaldo that by degrees he should send out of the
country as much money as he could ; and so he has done, for
happily there are out of England more than thirty thousand
crowns. The remainder shall be sent away by degrees,
and preserved at a place whence, if it should be necessary to
make the payment to the King of England, it could be remitted
without any inconvenience. This I have done to
satisfy my conscience, for, according to what I have perceived
and do perceive, it seems to me that thus it ought to be done.
If your Highness should command anything else, inform me
by the flying courier that I may not be in error. I desire
not to err in this I am sure. Dated the 20th of March '509.
Comendador de la Membrilla. |
| 20th March. |
5. The Knight Commander of Membrilla to Miguel Perez
De Almazan, First Secretary of State to King Ferdinand
the Catholic.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Capitulaciones y Tratados con
Inglaterra. Legajo 5 (sin folio). Holograph.]
A mi del Comendador de la Membrilla,
xx de Marzo de Dviiij.
Manyfyco señor.
De muchas maneras tengo congoxa por la dilacion que en
este negocio se da porque cada dia perdemos tierra y como
escrivo a Su Alteza de cada mata sale una liebre y visto el
tyenpo que ha pasado despues que de Alcala del Reyno me
escrevistes no se que piense de tanta tardança mayormente
quel rrey dinglaterra tenya ya nueva de la venida del que
ha de venyr antes que yo recibiese las cartas de Su Alteza y
como ven su tardada hazen muchos juyzyos y proviense para
qualquier cosa que verna y no podran errar en las respuestas
pues que saben lo que queremos que como en dias pasados
escrevi a Su Alteza el poco secreto que ay en la camara de
la princesa nos a echo daño por que no ay cosa que aya yo
escrito encomendada a secreto que no la sepa el Rey dinglaterra
como yo lo se y aun con algunas adiciones de los reportadores
y por esta congoxa que tengo y por avisar a Su Alteza
de lo que lescrivo acorde de enbiar este mensajero y suplico
a v[uest]ra merced que sy este negocio se ha de dilatar que Su
Alteza me saque de aqui porque ni a dios ni a Su Alteza no
podre servir segun yo estoy rebuelto con todos.
a v[uest]ra merced escrevi de un frayle que aqui esta por confesor
de la princesa que pluguiera a dios quel se estuviera en su
monasterio y no aqui por que no trae ny a traydo ningun provecho
y si mucho esta trayra mayor daño a Su Alteza escrivo
algo y no tan abierto como querrya porque va a Su Alteza un
criado de la princesa que se llama juan de ascuetia el qual
fue despachado a escuso de mi y porque de aquel puede Su
Alteza ser ynformado de lo que yo le dygo deste frayle en
parabolas por eso no escrivo su proceso muy a la larga pues
aquel como onbre que lo a visto y lo sabe todo y como cryado
de la casa lo podra bien dezir y es el muy leal servidor del
rrey nuestro Señor y de la princesa aunque los tales no son
tenidos aqui en tal precio como valen los buenos servidores
solamente aqui quiero dezir que cunple que esto se remedie
quitando este frayle a la princesa por quel esta contra voluntad
de todos los yngleses con Su Alteza y mas contra
la voluntad del Rey y Su Alteza, y quiere myrar lo que se
devria myrar en el caso y dyos me destruya sy yo veo en
el frayle cosa porque tanta afection se le tenga que ni
ciencya ni parecer ny cryança ni suficyencya ny autorydad
no tyene y sy quyere pedricar nueva ley creersela an.
una cedula de quinientos ducados que e tomado a canbio
enbie alla a vuestra merced los quales tome de un pedro
centurion ginoves suplico a v[uest]ra merced que syno es pagada
que la mande pagar porque en la ora que se supiere que no
es aceptada recanbiaran sobre my y ya v[uest]ra merced ve que se
podra seguir de alli y tanbien os suplico que me mandes
proveer que juro por mi fe que esta tierra es tan costosa que
no basta lo de alla y lo de aca y a nuestro Señor juro que
trezientos y noventa ducados que menbiaron de Napoles
con todo lo recebido de alla y de aca es gastado y sino me
proveyedes y no pagades esto que he tomado no hallare quien
me de un ducado ni quien salga my fiador por el ni yo
podre salir de aqui ni estar sino vendo lo que no es razon de
vender.
Este gallego a de aver por el viaje para yr y venir veinte
y cinco ducados yo le e dado aca dies ducados ansele de dar
alla quince ducados. Nuestro Señor la vida y estado de
vuestra mr~d acreciente como dessea. de londres xx. de
Março de dix. Es muy cierto servydor de V Md. gutierre
gomez de fuensalida. [Rubrica.]
Señor este gallego tyene no se que pendencia y temese
de la justicia suplico a v[uest]ra merced sele gane una cedula para
mientra fuere y viniere a Su Alteza con cartas que no sea
detenido pues que no es el negocio crimen de muerte ni de
hurto.
[Sobre :] Al manyfico Señor el Señor miguel perez de
Almaçan secretario del Rey Nuestro Señor etc. |
5. [Written on the cover by Miguel Perez de
Almazan, First Secretary of State of
King Ferdinand the Catholic :] To me,
from the Comendador de la Membrilla,
20th of March 1509.
Magnificent Lord,
In many ways I am afflicted at the delay which there
has been in this affair, for every day we lose ground, and as
I write to his Highness, out of every bush springs a hare, and
considering, the time that has passed since you wrote to me
from Alcala del Reyno, I know not what to think of such
delay, above all as the King of England had already news of
the coming of him, who has to come, before I received the
letters of his Highness. As they see that he delays [his
coming] they make many conjectures, and prepare themselves
for whatever may happen. They will not err in the
answers, as they know that which we desire. For, as some
days ago I wrote to his Highness, the little secresy which
there is in the chamber of the Princess has done us injury,
because there is nothing which I have written recommended
to secresy which the King of England does not know as I
know it, and even with some additions of the reporters.
For this anxiety which I have, and in order to inform his
Highness of that about which I am writing, I determine to
send this messenger, and I entreat of your Honour that, if this
business is to be prolonged, his Highness will withdraw me
hence, because I shall not be able to serve either God or his
Highness, as I am at variance with every one.
I wrote to your Lordship about a friar who is here as
confessor to the Princess, who would to God he were in his
monastery, and not here, because he neither brings nor has
brought any good, and if he is here much longer he will bring
greater injury on her Highness. I write something, and not
so openly as I should desire, because there goes to his Highness
a servant of the Princess who is called Juan de Ascuetia, who
was despatched behind my back ; and because his Highness
may be informed by him of what I say to him, concerning
this friar, in parables. For this reason I do not write more at
length on the affair since he, as a man who has seen and knows
it all, and as servant of the house, will be able well to tell, and
he is a very loyal servant of the King and of the Princess,
although such are not here held in so much esteem as good
servants are worth.
I wish only to say here that this ought to be remedied by
withdrawing this friar from the Princess, for he is with her
Highness against the will of all the English, and especially
against the will of the King and his Highness. (fn. 2) You ought to
consider that which ought to be considered in this case, and may
God destroy me if I see in the friar anything for which she
should have so much affection, for he has neither learning, nor
appearance, nor manners, nor competency, nor credit, and yet
if he wishes to preach a new law they have to believe it.
A bill for five hundred ducats, which I have taken in
exchange, I sent to your Lordship, the which I took from
one Pedro Centurion, a Genoese. I supplicate your lordship
that if it is not paid you will give orders to pay it, because
directly it is known that it is not accepted they will
draw upon me, and your Lordship knows what might follow
from that. I also entreat you to send orders to provide for
me ; for I swear by my faith that this country is so expensive
that what I possess there and here does not suffice, and I
swear by our Lord that three hundred and ninety ducats,
which they sent me from Naples, with all that I received
from there and here, is spent, and if you do not supply me,
and do not pay that which I have taken, I shall not find any
one who will give me a ducat, or who will stand security for
me, nor shall I be able to go from here nor to remain, unless
I sell that which it is not reasonable to sell.
This Gallician is to have for the journey, going and coming,
twenty-five ducats ; I have given him here ten, thus you
ought to give him there fifteen ducats. May our Lord add
to the life and estate of your Lordship as you desire.
From London, 20th of March, 1509. The very sincere
servant of your Lordship.
Gutierre Gomez de Fuensalida. [His sign manual.]
Sir, this Gallician has I know not what quarrel, and fears
the law. I entreat your Lordship that you will obtain for
him a warrant of protection for the time that he goes and
comes to his Highness with letters, that he may not be
detained, his affair not being a crime of murder or of theft.
[Addressed :] To the magnificent lord the Lord Miguel Perez
de Almazan, secretary of the King our Lord. |
| 20th March. |
6. Katharine, Princess Of Wales, to King Ferdinand The
Catholic.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra.
Legajo No. 5. fo. 60. Original deciphering made by Almazan, First
Secretary of State.]
El embaxador me embio a decir como tenia mucha necessidad
de embiar a V[uestr]a Alteza muy de priessa este mensajero
porque se le havian revelado muchas cosas y porque he miedo
que algunas dellas no sean verdaderas no quise que fuesse sin
carta mia para suplicar a V[uestr]a Alteza si de mi casa algo
escribiere en especial de mi confesor V[uestr]a Alteza no le de
credito que assi dios me salve y por vida de V[uestr]a Alteza que
no dira verdad sino dice quan bien y lealmente me sirve y
por que ha pocos dias escribi a V[uestr]a Alteza con un criado mio
aunque no tan largo como quisiera por que las cosas que este
embaxador contra mi estado y honrra de mi casa con su
lengua desconcertadamente ha cometido por afficion de una
que fue mia francisca de caceres no se sufre fiallas de papel
sino que querria mas morir que no ver lo que he passado y passo
cada dia deste embaxador y de todos los mios y no creere V[uestr]a
Alteza me tiene por fija sino lo castiga y al embaxador le
mande que no entienda en mas de lo que toca a su
embaxada y dexe las cosas de mi casa, y a mi me quiera V[uestr]a
Alteza remediar antes que aqua se acabe mi vida por que temo
sera corta segun los descansos tengo. N[uestr]o Señor la vida y
muy Real estado de V[uestr]a Alteza guarde y acreciente como desseo.
De rixamonte a xx de Março de dviiij.
la princesa de gales. |
6. The ambassador sends to tell me that it is very necessary
for him to despatch this messenger in all haste to your Highness,
because many things have been discovered to him,
and as I fear that some of them may not be true, I do not
like to let him go without a letter from me, beseeching your
Highness that if he writes anything about my household and
especially about my confessor, your Highness will not credit
it. For, by my salvation, and by the life of your Highness,
he does not tell the truth if he states anything except that
[the confessor] serves me well and loyally. A few days ago
I wrote to your Highness, by a servant of mine, although
not so much in detail as I could wish ; for all that the
ambassador, with his disorderly tongue, has said against my
person and the honour of my house, from affection for a
certain Francisca de Cáceres, a former servant of mine, can
not be put upon paper, and I would rather die than see
what I have suffered and suffer every day from this ambassador
and all my servants. I shall not believe that your
Highness looks upon me as your daughter if you do not
punish it, and order the ambassador to confine himself to the
affairs of his embassy, and to abstain from meddling in the
affairs of my household. May your Highness give me satisfaction
before I die, for I fear my life will be short, owing to
my troubles.
From Richmond, 20th of March '509.
The Princess of Wales. |