Calendar of State Papers, Spain: Supplement To Volumes 1 and 2, Queen Katherine; Intended Marriage of King Henry VII To Queen Juana. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1868.
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'Queen Juana: April 1507', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain: Supplement To Volumes 1 and 2, Queen Katherine; Intended Marriage of King Henry VII To Queen Juana, (London, 1868) pp. 90-105. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/supp/vols1-2/pp90-105 [accessed 26 April 2024]
April 1507
| 15th April. |
14. Doctor De Puebla, Spanish Ambassador in England, to
King Ferdinand The Catholic. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 5. f. 31. Autograph in cipher. Deciphered by Almazan. The few words printed in italics had been left undeciphered by Almazan, and are deciphered by the Editor. The key is extant.] Muy alto y muy poderoso principe Rey y Señor, despues de por mi bessados los Reales pies y manos de V[uestr]a Alteza le fago saber que recebi la carta de V[uestr]a Alteza de xv de Março que este correo truxo la qual me embio la Señora princessa de gales martes de la semana sancta xxx de Março, y despues de sacada de la cifra en claro y por mi vista luego otro dia miercoles de las tinieblas me fui al Señor Rey de ynglaterra a Richamonte viij millas de londres donde falle que todavia estava retraido a causa de la dolencia passada que ha tenido bien peligrosa de una esquilencia que vj dias dizen que estovo que cossa del mundo no podia comer ni bever y llego a tal estado que por muchos se dudo de su vida. mas agora a dios gracias Su Alteza esta bueno pero aun no se dexa ver sino de pocos y como supo mi venida luego mando que entrase y estove con el bien dos horas largas comunicandole mostrandole y declarandole por estenso lo que V[uestr]a Alteza me escrebia de lo qual todo mostro mucho plazer y dando inmensas gracias por ello a V[uestr]a Alteza. y al fin dixome que ya yo veya los dias en que estavamos de la semana sancta que oviese paciencia fasta aquellos pasados y assignome el segundo dia de pascua para me oyr y entender y no alçar la mano desto fasta tomar algund buen expidiente en ello. y assi lo fize y me fui a londres y volvi el segundo dia de pascua y dende aquel dia fasta viij. dias continuos no passo dia dellos que al Rey no fablase en secreto y despues a el y a algunos de su secreto Consejo juntamente. y quanto a lo de la prorrogacion del dote crea Va. Alteza que he tenido mucha altercacion en fecho y en derecho pero en fin el Rey de inglaterra se determino de fazerlo como V[uestr]a. Alteza me lo escrebio y lo vera por su carta firmada y sellada que aqui a V[uestr]a. Alteza enbio, y pareceme que sin empacho escrive alli a V[uestr]a. Alteza lo que en aquello con el se tratava lo qual crea V[uestr]a. Alteza ser verdad segun lo escrive y muchas veces de palabra me lo dixo jurandome que por la fe de su corazon aquello era verdad, y vea Va. Alteza si cumple a su servicio mostrar esta carta del Rey de ynglaterra al embaxador del Rey de francia que hay esta. y no me contente con sola una carta que aqui embio mas suplique le que otra tal en sustancia diesse a la Señora princessa y assi me lo prometio de fazer y de justificar las causas escusatorias de no haver pagado la dote. y en quanto a lo del tiempo no pude acabar que fuesse mas largo de fasta San Miguel que son cinco meses y medio de aqui alla y porque Va. Alteza dize que muy presto sera plaziendo a Nuestro Señor en Castilla y que sin dilacion lo mandaria luego proveer y ahun porque a la princessa se le fazia mucha dilacion no me quise mas en ello detener. suplico a Va. Alteza reciba mi voluntad que esta ha seydo y es tal en su servicio que a ninguno del mundo dare ventaja. a V[uestr]a Alteza suplico en este tiempo de la prorrogacion mande complir los c. escudos y en lo del apreciar de las joyas de oro y plata en aquello no habra mucha diferencia porque es como habeis contadas pero en lo de las joyas de piedras preciosas bien soy cierto que no se tomaran aqua sino a mucho menos precio de lo que alla se piensa y esto por algunas causas que aqui dire. la una porque a fama de rico son venidas al Rey de inglaterra muchas piedras preciosas de el Rey Alonso de Napoles y de el Rey Don Fernando su hijo y de otras partes y las ha habido por poco precio. y lo otro que en la postrera capitulacion que fernan duque concluyo no se pudo otra cosa acabar sino que aquellas joyas fuessen tassadas y apreciadas por lapidarios deste Reyno juramentados del valor por que se podrian vender y sufriose esto deste aprecio assi por no poder mas como porque estaban aqua muy metidos y puestos en pensamiento por sus leyes municipales de haver en lugar de c.√. escudos cc.√. como Va. Alteza terna bien dello memoria. digo todo esto porque Va. Alteza mande proveer de tal manera que no aya falta en el cumplimiento de esta prorrogacion y he pensado que quando el aprecio destas piedras preciosas fuesse tan baxo que las hubiessen aqua de tomar en prendas de lo que las tasasen o apreciassen y dar espacio de un año para se las poder quitar o dexar y durante el dicho año pensaria Va. Alteza en lo que de (fn. 3) debiesse fazer sobre ello. suplico a Va. Alteza no se sepa que yo escribo cosa desto porque me pornian en mucha confusion y mala voluntad del Rey de inglaterra y mucho mas de la Señora princessa si supiessen que esto tal escrebia a Va. Alteza. ytem en lo del casamiento de la Serenisima Reyna de Castilla Va. Alteza lo escribio tan excellente y prudentisimamente que al Rey y aquellos pocos de su secreto Consejo parecio muy bien y ciertamente a lo que puedo comprehender no hay rrey que sea mas al proposito de Va. Alteza que el Rey de ynglaterra si la Señora Reyna hubiesse de casar, agora estuviesse sana o enferma que se me figura que teniendo tal marido como al Rey de inglaterra podria cobrar la sanidad mejor que otro alguno, y Va. Alteza ternia la gobernacion cierta y segura, y si su enfermedad fuesse incurable no seria inconviniente estar aqua y no me parece que estiman en mucho su enfermedad porque supieron de mi que para haber generacion no no (fn. 4) tiene enfermedad alguna. en este negocio el rrey de inglaterra dice quanto a lo primero dar infinitas gracias a Va. Alteza por todo lo que en este caso con tan intimo amor y buena voluntad escrive. lo otro que porque Va. Alteza escrivio a la Señora princessa que despues de llegado en Castilla seria bien quel Rey de ynglaterra enbiase embaxada a tratar este casamiento parecio al Rey y a su Consejo que despues que Va. Alteza con la gracia de dios sea en Castilla y aya comunicado sobre este caso con la Señora Reyna y que si Su Alteza estuviere inclinada a querer oyr su enbaxador en este matrimonio o cosa que le parezca que en tal caso escriviendo aqua Va. Alteza que a la ora enbiara su embaxador a Castilla con poder bastante no solo para capitular y tratar con Va. Alteza en este casamiento y en todo lo mas que se ofreciere mas ahun para concluyr con la Señora Reyna por palabras de presente. dixome el Rey que mas onesto seria desta manera enbiar su embaxador que no si hubiesse de yr y fuesse no gratamente recebido ni bien oydo ni por ventura aceptado de la Señora Reyna. pues como Va. Alteza dize no sabe su voluntad suplico a Va. Alteza muy humilmente que despues que aya fablado con la Señora Reina le plega escrevir su voluntad de lo que por mas servido se tuviere y si mandare que vaya embaxador sin dilacion yra, y yo trabajare que sean los embaxadores personas muy aceptas al servicio de Va. Alteza. y por questa resolucion que Va. Alteza escrivio era para se alla capitular no me quise aqua mucho entremeter en las condiciones sino solamente oyr lo que me dezian de do conocia y veya ellos estar desseosos e inclinados a que si a V[uestr]a. Alteza pluguiese y pudiesse acabar que la Señora Reyna quisiesse venir a permanecer a ynglaterra que en todas las otras condiciones estaria mucho al proposito de Va. Alteza. y sobre todo desean que Va. Alteza libremente tenga toda la gobernacion y administracion de los Reynos de Castilla, que era lo que parecia a Va. Alteza como se havian de repartir por que dize que lo primero era razon que se sacasse lo que era menester para los gastos de Va. Alteza y de los Reynos de Castilla y para el y para la Reyna una cierta suma que a V[uestr]a. Alteza justa le pareciesse. yo bien creo que si en estas dos cosas V[uestr]a. Alteza se puede determinar que en todo lo al no habra dificultad y caso que V[uestr]a. Alteza no pudiesse acabar lo de la estada de la Señora Reyna en este Reyno podriase responder que en los principios seria raçon quel Rey de inglaterra primero (fn. 6) a Castilla y con esto bien creo no se deternan de fazer la voluntad de V[uestr]a. Alteza. ytem estas cartas que V[uestr]a. Alteza con este correo aca embio han aprovechado a dos cosas. lo uno que gratamente se ha tomado buen expidiente en lo de la prorrogacion que no en poco lo he estimado segund las tramas que han andado. lo otro que estaban diputados embaxadores del Rey de ynglaterra para partir presto al Rey de francia y vistas las cartas que V[uestr]a. Alteza me escrivio fueron revocados y tardaran fasta saber lo que Va. Alteza en este negocio determina. otro si muy poderoso Señor sepa Va. Alteza que desde el dia que supe que era de Castilla partido V[uestr]a. Alteza fasta oy he estado muy doliente y cercano a la muerte a do he gastado mucho que por Nuestro Señor en esta embaxada de mas de haberseme anegado el primer fijo que tove he vendido quanto en este mundo gane y herede que solo un palmo de tierra no me quedo, y en tanto que tenia que vender no me daba mucha pena de estar sin proveymiento de V[uestr]a. Alteza que dios guarde y de la Reyna que santa gloria aya agora pues yo no tengo de salario la meytad que qualquier otro embaxador de Va. Alteza y teniendo tanta costa como el que mas y estando Va. Alteza fuera de españa no le tengo de supplicar por salario syno solamente me faga merced al presente de algund poco de socorro lo qual recibere en tanta merced como en otro tiempo cient tanto. N[uest]ro Señor la vida y Real estado de Va. Alteza acreciente y prospere con muy mas Reynos y Señorios y complimiento de sus deseos en todo amen. De londres a xv de Abril de Dvii. Muy humill siervo de V. Alta. que sus Reales pies y manos beso dottor de puebla. [Rubricado.] |
(Translation.) 14. Very high and very mighty Prince, King and Lord, After having kissed the royal feet and hands of your Highness, I have to inform you that I received the letter of your Highness of the 15th of March, sent by this courier. The Señora Princess of Wales sent it me on Tuesday of the Holy Week, the 30th of March. After having deciphered and read it, I went on Wednesday to the King of England to Richmond, which is eight miles distant from London. I found him still keeping his room in consequence of his last illness, which has been a very dangerous quinsy. During six days, it is said, he could neither eat nor drink, and he was in such a state that his life was despaired of by many. Now, thanks to God, his Highness is well, but he sees only a few persons. As soon as he knew that I had arrived he ordered that I should be introduced to his room, and I remained with him rather more than two hours, communicating, showing, and explaining to him in detail what your Highness had written to me. He rejoiced much at everything, and gave infinite thanks to your Highness. At last he said that, as I was aware, we were in the Holy Week, and that I must have patience until it was over. He appointed the second day of Easter to hear and negotiate with me, and [he said] he would not take off his hands from this business until a good arrangement had been come to. I did as I was bidden, went to London, returned the second day of Easter, and during the eight following days not one passed on which I did not speak in secret first with the King alone, and then with him and a few of his privy councillors together. As for the prorogation of the [payment] of the dower, your Highness may believe that I had great disputes about matters of fact as well as of law, but at last the King of England made up his mind to consent to what your Highness wrote to me. Your Highness will see his letter, signed and sealed, which I send enclosed in this. I think he writes to your Highness frankly respecting the negotiations which have been carried on ; and your Highness may believe that what he writes is the truth, as he has often told me by word of mouth, swearing by the faith of his heart (fn. 1) that it is true. Your Highness will judge for yourself whether it is convenient to show this letter of the King of England to the ambassador of the King of France who is staying there. I did not content myself with the letter which is enclosed in this, but asked him to give another similar one to the Señora Princess, and he promised to do so, and to declare that your excuses for not having paid the dower were sufficient. With respect to the time, I could not obtain a longer adjournment than until St. Michael's Day, which is five months and a half distant. As your Highness says that, with the help of God, you will be very soon in Castile, and then immediately provide for this case, and as the Señora Princess became somewhat impatient, I did not like to occupy myself any longer in these negotiations. I entreat your Highness to acknowledge my goodwill, which has been, and is in all things which regard your service, such that in this respect no one has an advantage over me. I entreat your Highness during the time of the prorogation to pay the one hundred thousand ducats. With respect to the valuation of the jewels of gold and of silver, there will be no great difference, for they are valued as you have put them down in the account ; but the ornaments of precious stones I feel sure, will be accepted at much less than is there (fn. 2) supposed. The reasons thereof I shall state here. As the King of England has the reputation of being very rich, a great quantity of precious stones have been sent to him by the King Alonso of Naples and his son the King Don Ferdinand and other persons, and he has bought them at a very cheap, rate. Besides, in the last treaty which Fernanduque concluded it was impossible to obtain more than what the value of these jewels was ascertained to be on the oath of dealers in precious stones and gems in this country, according to the price at which they could be sold. It was impossible to obtain better conditions, because the people here had made up their mind, owing to their municipal laws, to get two hundred thousand scudos instead of one hundred thousand, as your Highness will remember. I state all this that your Highness may give such orders that there may be no default in the payment within the time of the prorogation. I am of opinion that, if the said precious stones should be valued at a very low rate, it would be best to pledge them here for the price at which they will be valued and appraised, on condition, however, that they may be redeemed within the space of one year. During that year your Highness can see what is best to do in this matter. I beg your Highness not to say that I write anything of this kind, because if the King of England, and much more the Señora Princess, were to know what I write to your Highness, I should be placed in a disagreeable position towards them, and have to bear their ill-will. Item.—Concerning the marriage of the most Serene Queen of Castile, your Highness wrote so admirably and so prudently that it seemed very good to the King of England and to those few privy councillors [who are initiated in the matter], and certainly, as far as I am able to judge, there is no King who would be so convenient for your Highness as the King of England. If the Queen were to marry him, whether she be sane or not, I think that, having such a husband as the King of England, she would sooner recover than with any other, and your Highness would have the regency sure and undisputed. And if her infirmity should prove incurable, it would be no inconvenience if she were to live here. For it seems to me they do not much mind her infirmity, since I told them that it does not prevent her from bearing children. The answer of the King of England is, firstly, to thank your Highness very much for all you have written on this subject with so much love and goodwill ; secondly, as your Highness wrote to the Señora Princess that after your arrival in Castile the King of England should send an embassy to enter into negotiations about this marriage, it seems to the King and to his council that when your Highness, with the help of God, has returned to Castile and consulted the Queen about this subject, and her Highness should be inclined to hear his ambassador about this marriage, or something similar, your Highness must write to him, and he would immediately send an ambassador to Castile with full power not only to conclude with your Highness this marriage and whatever else might occur to you, but also to contract marriage per verba de prœsenti with the Queen. The King told me that this manner of sending his ambassador would be more honourable than if he were to go and then not be well received, or not heard, or even not received at all by the Queen. As your Highness writes that you do not know the wishes of her Highness, I most humbly beseech you that after having spoken with the Queen you would be pleased to write what your will is, and if you should say that an ambassador may be sent, he will go without delay. I shall see that the ambassadors be persons very much disposed to the service of your Highness. As your Highness wrote that the treaty should be concluded there (fn. 5), I did not think it proper to say much on its conditions and have listened only to what they said to me. I conclude from it, and it is clear that, if your Highness could persuade the Queen to come and live in England, they would in every other respect propose conditions very favourable to your Highness. And above all, they wish that your Highness should retain the government and administration of the kingdoms of Castile entirely in your hands, and that [the revenues] should be divided as might seem best to you. Firstly, he thought it was reasonable to deduct from them as much as was necessary to cover the expenses of your Highness and of the kingdoms of Castile, and to pay to the Queen such an annuity as you should think just. I feel sure that, if your Highness would concede these two points, there would be no other difficulty. If your Highness should not be able to persuade the Queen to live in this kingdom, it would be well to answer that at first the King of England should stay at Castile. If that is done, I think they will make no difficulty about doing what your Highness wishes. Item.—The letters which your Highness has sent by this courier have produced a favourable impression in two respects. In the first place, a good and gracious settlement has been come to with respect to the prorogation, which I do not a little esteem, considering in what state things were here. Secondly, ambassadors of the King of England had been appointed to go to the King of France, but in consequence of the letters which your Highness wrote to me they were recalled, and are to wait until it is known what your Highness decides about this affair. One thing more, Señor. Your Highness must know that since the day I was informed of the departure of your Highness from Castile until this day I have been very ill and near death. I have spent much money. During the time I have held this embassy it has been the will of God that not only my eldest son should be drowned, but also that I should be obliged to sell whatever I have acquired or inherited in this world. Not an inch of land has remained to me. As long as I had property to sell, I did not much mind being left without any provision from your Highness, whom God preserve, and from the Queen, who now enjoys holy glory ; but although at present my salary is only one half of that of any other ambassador of your Highness, and my expenses as great as those of any one of them, yet as your Highness is absent from Spain, I do not ask you to pay me my salary, but beseech you only to do me a favour, and to order that a small part be given to me, which I should esteem as high a favour as a hundred times more on another occasion. May our Lord preserve the life and royal estate of your Highness, and prosper and augment it with many more kingdoms and dominions and the accomplishment of all your wishes. Amen. From London on the 15th of April '507. Your Highness' very humble servant kisses your royal feet and hands. Doctor de Puebla. [Sign manual.] |
|---|---|---|
| 15th April. |
15. Doctor De Puebla, Spanish Ambassador in England, to
King Ferdinand The Catholic. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 5. f. 32. Autograph. The words printed in italics are in cipher and deciphered by the editor. The key is extant.] Muy alto y muy poderoso Catholico principe Rey y Señor, despues de por mi besados los Reales pies y manos de b~ra Alteza le fago saber que oy de la fecha me embio a pedir la Señora princesa todo el despacho que para vuestra Alteza tenia escripto diziendo que pues V[uestr]a Alteza le havia embiado el correo perote y en su emboltorio las cartas para mi que asi hera razon en su emboltorio oviese de yr todo el despacho que yo a V[uestr]a Alteza embiase. y asi lo hize. despues pense de escrebir esta en emboltorio de un mercader luques por algunos respetos que aqui dire. lo uno porque V[uestr]a Alteza sepa toda la substancia de lo que escribo en el emboltorio de la Señora princesa. lo otro para que sepa la causa por que alli embie el dicho despacho y lo otro y mas principal por la que dios no quiera si el dicho correo fuese ympedido por la gente de guerra del Rey de francia que tan tendida anda por italia que a lo menos V[uestr]a Alteza pudiesse saber en substancia todo lo que aca se ha fecho y ocurre. quanto a lo de la porrogacion de la paga del docte fizose como V[uestr]a Alteza me enbio a mandar abiendo el Rey por justificadas las causas de no aver cunplido fasta agora la dicha dote lo qual el Rey embia a V. Alteza dos cartas sobre ello firmadas y selladas que soy cierto bien se contentaran dellas. verdad sea que en el termino de esta paga no pude mas termino alcanzar de fasta Sant Miguel que son cinco meses y medio por lo que largamente V[uestr]a Alteza vera por las otras mis cartas. yten en lo del casamiento de la Reyna de Castilla con el Rey de inglaterra desea saber la llegada de V[uestr]a. Alteza en Castilla y luego sin tardanza enbiara embajada y porque espero en dios el correo perote no habra impedimento y alli vera muy por estenso Va. Alteza todos los negocios no me quiero en esta mas detener sino que la Santisima Trenidad conserve y prospere la vida y Real estado de V[uestr]a Alteza con muy mas Reynos y Señorios y cumplimiento de sus deseos en todo Amen. De londres a xv. de Abril de dvij. de puebla. doctor. [Rubricado.] [Sobre :] Al muy noble Senor el Señor Miguel Perez de Almaçan Secretario y del Consejo del Rey ñro Señor. (1) |
15. Very high and very mighty Prince, King and Lord, After having kissed the royal feet and hands of your Highness I have to inform you that to-day the Señora Princess sent for me and asked for the whole despatch which I had written to your Highness, saying that, as your Highness had sent the courier Perote to her, and that the letters for me were in his bag, it was natural that my despatch to your Highness should also go in his bag. I did as I was commanded. Afterwards I thought it right to send this letter in the bag of a merchant from Lucca. The reasons which induce me to do so I shall state here, viz., in the first place, I wish to inform your Highness of the whole substance of my letter which I send in the bag of the Señora Princess ; secondly, I wish to state the reason why I send the said despatch ; and, thirdly and principally, I wish that, as war is raging in Italy, and this courier might be arrested by French soldiers (which God forbid), your Highness should know in substance all that is done and occurs here. As for the prorogation of the payment of the dower, I did what your Highness ordered me, and the King, considering the reasons for its not having been paid up to this time to be sufficient, sends your Highness two letters, signed and sealed, which I am sure will be found satisfactory. It is true I could not obtain a longer postponement of the payment than until St. Michael's day, which is five months and a half distant. Your Highness will find the details in the other letter. Item.—Concerning the marriage of the Queen of Castile with the King of England he wishes to be informed of the arrival of your Highness in Castile, and he will then without delay send an embassy. Hoping in God that the courier Perote will have no difficulty, and that your Highness will see all the details of this negotiation, I shall no longer detain you, and wish only that the most Holy Trinity may guard and prosper the life and royal estate of your Highness, and grant you many more kingdoms and dominions and the fulfilment of all your wishes. Amen. From London on the 15th of April, '507. De Puebla, Doctor. [Sign manual.] [Addressed :] To the very noble Lord Miguel Perez de Almazan, Secretary and Counsellor of the King our lord. (fn. 7) |
| 15th April. |
16. Katharine, Princess Of Wales, to King Ferdinand
The Catholic. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 5. f. 50. Holograph.] Muy alto y muy poderoso Señor, las cartas de V[uestr]a Alteza receby con el coreo que estas lleva y vynyeron tan frescas que me fue doblado la merced y plazer que con ellas uve las manos de V[uestr]a Alteza beso por el cuydado que de my muestra que todo mes byen necesaryo para amansar las furyas daca que an sydo artas para venyr a este prolongamyento del dote asta el tyempo que va asynado que por la carta del Rey V[uestr]a Alteza vera. plega a dios que baste este termino que ha dado para poder se cumplyr por que sy asy no fuese byen se podrya dezyr que serya peor lo postrero que lo prymero y aun lo que yo querya es que sy posyble fuese no se aprovechase V[uestr]a Alteza de todo el espacyo que se lo da porque fuese enmienda de la falta pasada ell anticipar de agora. yo aunque dygo esto byen se que no puedo dar a V[uestr]a. Alteza mas pryesa de la que se tyene por dycho de darse. mas digolo porque querya que tuvyese V[uestr]a. Alteza manera que no me agan aca entender que me an echo de no nada por que es muy malo de sufryr tanto menosprecyo syendo yja de V[uestr]a. Alteza aunque no lo merezca ser, y por esto querya que la persona que aquy vynyese fuese tal que supyese hablar lo que es raçon en el tyempo que ay necesydad de ablar. en esto ya V[uestr]a. Alteza me dize lo ara como se lo suplyco yo por la causa que pedy a Don pedro es porque me parece que tyene abylidad para lo que quysyere azer y tan byen porque tyene espyryencya de lo daca y quyen lo daca conoce tyene la mytad del camyno andado asy que a el u al Comendador de la Menbrilla olgarya que v[uest]ra Alteza enbyase mas no a hernan duque aunque a estado aqua. lo que yo en este caso a V[uestr]a. Alteza torno a suplycar es que la persona que aquy uvyere de venyr cualquier que sea tenga espyryencya y mucho saber y estado. esto autoryze porque crea V[uestr]a. Alteza que no ay cosa que mas aga u desaga en los estados Reales que los enbaxadores especyal para este Reyno que es apartado de todos los ostros y quyere mas cyrcunstancyas en todas las cosas que otra nacyon nynguna. a lo que V[uestr]a Alteza me dize que este que vynyere verna de todo tan byen ynformado que no aya aca revuelta nynguna yo asi lo creo mas sy byen V[uestr]a Alteza a leydo mys cartas en todas le echo saber lo que avra en esta y es que con mys muchas necesydades y el largo tyempo que an durado me asy (fn. 10) necesaryo socorrerme a la plata y que falta parte della a esta causa y faltara en tanto que V[uestr]a Alteza no me proveyere, porque aunque a los myos yo los dexo echos pedaços y con tan sobradas myseryas que es verguença pensallo lo de mi persona no lo puedo asy desymular y pues no tengo de do avello es me forçado de lo cumplyr de lo que tengo, asy que sabyendo V[uestr]a Alteza esto de my tan a la larga como se lo tengo escryto no se como me manda que se conserven enteramente el oro y la plata porque ara falta en el dote y aun porque esto V[uestr]a Alteza remedyese lo se (fn. 11) yo echo saber en todas mys cartas asy que no hay duda syno que a my pensar que con lo daca no avra entero cunplymyento del dote sy V[uestr]a Alteza no provee en acrecentar en lo que se a de traer. todo esto digo a V[uestr]a Alteza porque estando de todo ynformado venga este dote de manera que no se gaste mas tienpo en concertalle que se ha gastado esperandole. tan bien suplyco a V[uestr]a Alteza que enbye algun socorro a estos myos y les aga algunas mercedes porque todos y todas ya no saben que hazer ny yo se que les dyga porque en verdad sy en servirme a my Vuestra Alteza recybe servycyo no creo puede aver personas a quyen en mas obligacyon Vuestra Alteza sea pues despues que en este Reyno entre como a V[uestr]a Alteza tengo escrito syenpre me han servydo con esperança de remedyo y este nunca le a avido asta el dya de oy y todavya me sirven con tanta voluntad como si cada dia les yciese mercedes. espero yo y asy lo tengo por cyerto pues V[uestr]a Alteza vyene a Castilla se las ara y les dara junto lo que merecen. de la venyda de V[uestr]a Alteza uelgo tanto que no me deja sentyr el trabajo que se le ofrece por seguyrse del tanto byen pues dexado el descanso y consolacyon de la Señora Reyna que es causa tan pryncypal uelgo de ver aquel Reyno en quyen fue sucesora la Reyna my Señora en poder de V[uestr]a Alteza porque no dexe destar en la prosperydad y segurydad que le dexo. asy mysmo por my espero desde ay remedyara V[uestr]a Alteza myjor todo lo que me toca. en lo que yo a V[uestr]a Alteza enbye a suplycar sobre lo del Confesor yo ya estoy desto muy byen proveyda mas suplyco a V[uestr]a Alteza que porque yo e scrito al general de San francysco de oservancya la necesydad que aquy ay de un par de frayles letrados españoles los aga V[uestr]a Alteza venyr para que esten aquy. en lo que V[uestr]a Alteza me enbyo a mandar de su parte dixose al Rey. en respuesta de lo de la Reyna quysyera tanbyen saber escrybyr en cyfras como supe sacallas mas tengo por myjor escrybillo yo en claro que no fyarme en nadye. lo que se me respondyo es que a V[uestr]a Alteza se le tyene en mucho la voluntad que desto muestra mas que en lo del enbyar del enbaxador que el no se determyna syno tuvyese alguna certynydad prymero de venyr a efecto lo que quyere y da para esto tal razon que sy el enbyase sobre ello y no se ycyese que le serya gran deshonor, puesto que a my asy no me lo parece, mas el quyere enbyar segun me dixo sobre algun concyerto echo y dyce que sy V[uestr]a Alteza lescrive azyendole saber la voluntad que alla ay para esto que sy muestra ser la que el quyere que luego enbyara enbaxador que lo lleve a V[uestr]a Alteza todo asentado y capytulado lo que el a dicho, y asy mysmo que lleve a V[uestr]a Alteza su poder para que aga por el todo como lo ordenare V[uestr]a Alteza. tanbyen me dixo que la determynacyon de lo que en este se puede azer que querya que V[uestr]a Alteza se lo yzyese saber lo mas presto que ser pueda porque la duquesa de Saboya es ya venyda a flandes y que espera ally y que sy esto otro se aze que dexara aquello aunques bueno por lo myjor mas que sy no que no querya perder estotro por que le vyene byen. esto fue lo que me respondyo. en lo de tener secreto y asy lo dixe todo al pye de la letra como V[uestr]a Alteza me escribyo. de my yo lo certyfyco a V[uestr]a Alteza que lo este que por que mas lo estuvyese me puse yo mysma a sacar las cyfras syn nynguna ayuda aunque syendo nueva en el ofycyo. en lo que dyce V[uestr]a Alteza de my que muestre que solo dyos puede desazer lo que esta echo en verdad yo syenpre he tenydo ese cuydado destar sobre avyso en eso y asy lo e siempre mostrado y aun para mas confirmallo byen pocos dyas ha dixe al dotor de puebla entre otras cosas sobre el estar de la manera que estava para que el lo dixese al Rey como lo sentya aunque lo dysymulaba y que sobre todo lo que mas grave se me azia era ver al pryncype tan de tarde en tarde que me parecya gran crueldad estando todos en una casa pasarse cuatro meses syn velle. dyxome el dotor que sobre esto le respondyo el Rey que antes lo azia el por mas byen myo porque sabyendo V[uestr]a Alteza esto se dyese mas pryesa a enbyar el dote asy que en nada no ay mejorya por agora, en lo que V[uestr]a Alteza manda que entretanto tenga la manera que vyere ser necesarya yo lo echo asta quy con el myjor tyento que a my a sydo posyble y por azello he sufrydo ser martyr y asy lo sere todo quanto V[uestr]a Alteza mandase pues byen puedo jurar que yo lo ago mas por servycyo de V[uestr]a Alteza que por lo que a my mysma me toca. a çavallos espero como V[uestr]a Alteza me lo escrive con quyen entyendo olgar por saber mas por menudo nuevas de V[uestr]a Alteza y al dotor e dicho y avysado escryba a V[uestr]a Alteza lo cyerto de lo daca syn echalle nyngun açucar con que se encubra. a me dicho que asy lo ara. yo por lo que querya que lo yzyese es porque no de a V[uestr]a Alteza esperança a my costa de lo que no tyene syno que dyga la verdad porque se remedye en lo porvenyr lo pasado. Nuestro Señor la vyda y muy Real estado de V[uestr]a Alteza guarde y acrecyente como yo deseo. de Rixamonte a xv de Abryl. muy servydora de V[uestr]a Alteza que sus manos besa. la pryncesa de gales. [Sobre :] Al muy alto y muy poderoso Señor el Rey mi Señor. |
16. Very high and very mighty Lord, The letters of your Highness I received by the courier who is the bearer of these. They were of so recent a date that your favour and my pleasure were doubled. I kiss the hands of your Highness, thanking you for the care you take of me. All this has been very necessary to appease the fury which was raging here before the payment of the dower had been prorogued. The date of the prorogation your Highness will learn from the letter of the King of England. God grant that this period may be long enough, and that before it is over the payment may be made, for, if that should not be the case, it might well be said "the last is worse than the first." What I wish is, that, if possible, your Highness should not wait for the end of the term which has been granted, as an anticipation of the payment would atone for the last default. Although I beg this, I know very well that I cannot urge your Highness more than you urge yourself, but I speak of it because I wish your Highness to take some means to prevent these people from telling me that they have reduced me to nothingness. It is very difficult to endure such humiliations, being the daughter, although an unworthy one, of your Highness. I therefore wish that the ambassador who is to come hither should be a man who dares to speak an honest word at the right time. Your Highness has already informed me that you will do what I have asked, and the reason why I wish that Don Pedro (fn. 8) should be sent is, because I think that if he wishes to do anything, he has all the ability to do it. Besides, he knows this country. Whoever knows this country has overcome one half the difficulties. (fn. 9) Thus, I should be glad if your Highness would send either him or the Knight Commander of Membrilla, and not Fernanduque, although he has already been here. I once more beg your Highness that the person who is to come, whoever he be, may be a man of great experience, knowledge, and high station. All this would give him authority. Your Highness may believe that nothing contributes more towards the prosperity or adverse fortune of kingdoms than the choice of ambassadors, especially in this kingdom, which is so isolated from all others, and requires in every respect more circumspection than any other nation. Your Highness tells me that the new ambassador will be so well instructed about everything that no difficulty can arise here. I believe it, but if your Highness has read attentively my former letters you will remember that I informed you in them of the same thing as I write in this, viz., that my necessities have been so great, and have lasted so long a time, that I have been forced to sell my plate. A portion of it is therefore deficient, and will be as long as your Highness does not provide me [with money]. Although I let my servants walk about in rags, and they live in such misery that it is shameful to think of it, I cannot so much neglect my own person ; and as there are no other resources left me, I am forced to live upon what I have. (fn. 12) Your Highness knowing all this, as I have written all the details to you, I do not understand how you can command me to preserve intact my gold and plate because it is to form part of my dower. I have informed your Highness of this circumstance in all my former letters, that you may remedy it, and may know that there is not any doubt that with what is here the whole dower cannot be paid unless your Highness increases the amount which you are to send hither. I tell your Highness all this in order that you may be well informed, and make such arrangements for the payment of the dower that no more time may be lost than has been already in waiting for your [arrival in Spain]. I also beseech your Highness to succour my servants, and to grant them some favours. For all of them, men and women, no longer know what to do, and I am at a loss what to say to them. If it is true that your Highness considers services which I receive as services rendered to yourself, I think there are no persons to whom your Highness is more indebted than to my servants. From the day that I arrived in this kingdom, as I have written to your Highness, they have always served me in the hope that things would be mended, and although nothing has been remedied up to this day, they serve me still with the same good will as though I granted them every day new favours. As your Highness is returning to Castile, I hope and take it for certain that you will give them at once all that is due to them. I am so glad your Highness is returning to Castile that I forget to think of your fatigues. The advantages are very great. Not to speak of the comfort and consolation of the Queen (fn. 13), although that is also of great importance, I rejoice to think that the kingdom to which the Queen my lady (fn. 14) succeeded is to remain in the hands of your Highness, and will lose nothing of the prosperity and security in which she left it. Besides, I hope that, by staying in that kingdom, your Highness will be in a better position to remedy all that concerns me. With respect to the confessor whom I begged your Highness to send me, I must inform you that I have already a very good one. I have written to the General of the Franciscan Observant Friars that some learned Spanish friars are wanted here. I now beg your Highness to send them. Concerning what your Highness ordered me to tell the King in your name in answer to [his proposals] with respect to the Queen, I wish I could write in cipher as well as decipher ; but I think it better to write in common writing than to trust to any one else. His answer is, that he values very highly the good intentions of your Highness, but as for the sending of an embassy, he would not like to do it before he had some certainty of obtaining what he desired. The reason which he gives is, that it would reflect dishonour on him if he were to send [an embassy] and nevertheless it [the marriage] could not be concluded. I do not think so. He, however, told me that he is ready to send [an ambassador] about some treaty which has been concluded, and says that if your Highness will write and inform him of the intentions which prevail there, and if they should be such as he wishes them to be, he will immediately send an ambassador to your Highness, with a treaty already drawn up and containing all he has promised, and also with full powers to do all your Highness may command. Moreover, he told me that he desires your Highness to send him without loss of time a determinate answer, and to let him know what can be done in this affair ; for the Duchess of Savoy is already arrived in Flanders, and is waiting there for him. If this (fn. 15) can be concluded, he will give up the other. (fn. 16) Although it is also a good one, the first is still better. But if that cannot be done, he would in such a case not like to lose the other, which suits him perfectly well. Such was his answer. Concerning the necessity to keep it secret, I told him word for word what your Highness writes to me. As for myself, I can assure your Highness that I shall keep it, and in order to be more sure I have myself deciphered your ciphering without any assistance, although I am not used to such a thing. With respect to what your Highness orders me, viz., that I should always conduct myself as though God alone could undo what has been done, I have, in fact, always behaved in this respect with great circumspection and watchfulness. In order the more to confirm it, speaking with Doctor de Puebla only a few days ago about the present state of things, I asked him to tell the King that I resented it much, although I concealed my feelings, and that the most difficult thing for me to bear was to see the Prince so seldom. As we all lived in the same house, it seemed to me a great cruelty that four months should have passed without my seeing him. The Doctor told me the King had assured him that he did it for my good ; for if your Highness knew this, you would make more haste in sending the dower. Thus, nothing has improved. Your Highness commands me meanwhile to do what I may think necessary. I have done so up to this time as well as I could, and although I have suffered martyrdom, I shall continue to do all your Highness desires, more to serve your Highness, than out of regard for my own interests In consequence of what your Highness writes me, I expect Zavallos. I shall be glad to learn good news of your Highness more fully. I have told and ordered the Doctor to write to your Highness the truth, and not to sugar it over or to conceal it. He has promised to do so. The reason why I wish it is that he may not give your Highness false hopes at my expense, but that he may tell the truth, so that what has been bad hitherto may be remedied in future. Our Lord preserve the life and royal estate of your Highness, and prosper it as I wish. From Richmond 15th of April. Your Highness' servant kisses your hands. The Princess of Wales. [Addressed :] To the very high and very mighty Lord, the King my lord. |