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: October 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. 126-141. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/supp/vols1-2/pp126-141 [accessed 25 April 2024]
October 1507
| 4th October. |
22. Katharine, Princess Of Wales, to King Ferdinand
The Catholic. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 5. f. 58. Deciphering by Almazan. The ciphered despatch is not extant.] Muy alto y muy poderoso Señor, a xxiij de Setienbre despache un mensajero para flandes con cartas mias para que por vya de enverss fiziesen un correo con quien las enbiasen a V[uestr]a Alteza porque por no poder ser secreto partiendo de inglaterra me fuera pelegroso o a lo menos pusiera sospecha si se supiera que despachava otro correo haviendo tan poco que partio el otro, y a esta causa me fue necesario enbialle por la via que he dicho con quien fize saber a V[uestr]a Alteza como la causa que con tanta priesa me movio a escrebyr era haber conocydo en el dotor de la puebla atajos de brebedad con que podria revocar a V[uestr]a Alteza de su proposito que me tiene escrito de proveer aqui juntamente con la dote enbaxador sufficiente y para esto fize saber a Va. Alteza mi determinada voluntad bien claramente aun que en todas mis cartas avia dado a entender lo mismo, mas temi como dicho tengo que las falsas promessas del dotor de la puebla y proferir se el a mi costa a mas de lo que hara y no poder Va. Alteza ver lo que pasa bastava fazer venyr a V[uestr]a Alteza antes en lo que el quisiese que en la verdad de lo que le tengo yo suplicado, y por eso abrebye tanto mi escrebir por desengañar a Vra Alteza de lo que cumple a su servicio y a mi remedio, y de lo escrito yo certifico a V[uestr]a Alteza que no me mude yo. el dotor de la puebla me parece que enbia a V[uestr]a Alteza este suyo y dizeme que a dar priesa, mas porque lo cierto dello no se a que es, torno a suplicar a V[uestr]a Alteza que nada que el le pueda dezir ni escribir no de mas credito de quanto fuere conforme a lo que yo digo que lo que fuere en contrario V[uestr]a Alteza tenga por cierto que asi mismo lo es en servicio de V[uestr]a Alteza y ni haya priessa ni inconviniente que el dotor de la puebla a V[uestr]a Alteza pueda poner que le faga salir de lo que le tengo suplicado, que pues he esperado lo mas y en tienpos mas trabajosos no me tengo de ahogar estando V[uestr]a Alteza en acrecentamiento de prosperidad. esto digo por que agora falla el dotor de la puebla mas inconvinientes que nunca para que mi casamiento se concluya como quiera, y para esto hame dicho el y assi mismo el Rey de inglaterra que un enbaxador suyo que tiene en francia le escribio que el rrey de francia le dixo que quando se vio con Va. Alteza le pregunto que si se faria este mi casamiento y que dixo Va. Alteza que no estaba fecho ni creia Va. Alteza que se faria, y el Rey de francia lo dixo al enbaxador del Rey de ynglaterra para que se lo escribiesse. yo al dotor de la puebla escuchele mas no le dixe nada, mas al Rey de ynglaterra quando me lo dixo le respondi que no podia yo sufrir oir tal cosa que fuesse Va. Alteza al contrario en su fabla de lo que en sus cartas muestra, y dile a entender como V[uestr]a Alteza no podia dezir que no se faria lo que ahunque quissiese no se podria dessazer, y que aunque esto no fuesse assi, conocer Va. Alteza mi voluntad que era de no salir del poder del Rey de ynglaterra aunque supiese morir, bastaba para poner a Va. Alteza entero contentamiento, y por aquy dixele otras muchas dulçuras con que le agradase, y todo me lo paso muy bien y me respondio que el bien sabia que V[uestr]a Alteza lo deseaba porque era lo que mas le cunplia, mas que no sabia que era la causa que aquello le avia fecho dezir, y nunca le pude sacar de affirmar que V[uestr]a Alteza lo havia dicho de lo qual me plugo mas de lo que mostre si el assi lo pensase. en fin yo le satisffize bien en muchas maneras que seria largo de decir y sienpre mostrando que esto no se podia desfacer porque por darme a conocer el que no habia nada fecho sino que V[uestr]a Alteza por su parte y el por la suya podian determinar de sus fijos en otra manera, y yo entendiendole dile a entender que no le entendia, o que no lo queria tomar por lo que el me lo dizia. asi mismo en lo de su casamiento me dixo juntamente con esto que avia sabido como el Rey de francia enbiava enbaxadores sobre lo de Mosor de fox y que tenia en este caso mucha largura la qual le es dañosa por que el esperaba presto una enbajada del Rey de Romanos en que le trayan assentado el casamiento de la duquesa de saboya para el y el del principe don Carlos para su fija, y que le era mucha confusion estar indeterminado esperando la respuesta de V[uestr]a Alteza. por esso que me rogaba que escribiesse a V[uestr]a Alteza dandole mucha priessa por que cualquiera que fuesse la respuesta la desseaba para saber lo que habia de fazer, mas yo le temo sino es su voluntad porque me ha declarado parte de su grado, porque agora con este cebo como a V[uestr]a Alteza tengo escrito estan enmendadas sus muestras aunque en las obras nunca hay mudança y tambien creo que el dotor de la puebla es causa de que se me fagan agora muchas çalemas assi por lo del Rey como por tenerme contenta, pensando que no hay mas en mi de lo que yo le muestro y que no bastare para entendelle sus mañas y fazer saber a V[uestr]a Alteza la verdad de lo que cumple a su servicio, sino que me contentare con sus promesas como si no lo toviese esperimentado. yo disimulo con el y loole todo lo que faze y assi mismo le digo que soy muy bien tratada del Rey y que estoy muy contenta y todo lo que veo que puede aprovechar para con el Rey pues es de su Consejo y no le osare dezir sino lo que quiero que el Rey sepa. porque en los tienpos pasados se ha probado con el lo contrario, y a me ha sido dañoso y no me ha aprovechado para haber ningun remedio que a todo lo que dezia era la respuesta salvar al Rey y dezir que no despertase materias nuevas assi que yo he tomado por mejor medio dissimular con el y no fazer quenta que es enbaxador pues no faze cosa de las que a tal cargo pertenecen, en especial agora esta tan perdido con su dolencia que no es de ningun provecho ahunque quissiese, porque el esta mas para el otro mundo que para este. y nunca otra cosa me dize sino que escriba a V[uestr]a Alteza del que faze maravillas. yo digole que pierda cuidado que tengo sienpre a cargo de escrebir a Va. Alteza la verdad de lo que en el hay. tanbien me dixo que escribiese a V[uestr]a Alteza suplicandole que quando escribiese al Rey de inglaterra mi Señor asi mismo escriba a su chamarlengo porque es en lo de aqua el que en lo secreto mas puede con el Rey. y esto porque parezca que antes aprovechara que hara daño yo he por bien de suplicallo a V[uestr]a Alteza que le escriba con mucho amor diziendole como yo escribo a V[uestr]a Alteza como en lo posible mira aqua lo que a mi me cumple y quanto V[uestr]a Alteza se lo agradece y con muchos offrecimientos de parte de V[uestr]a Alteza y de la mia, y porque el dotor de la puebla no lo venda por fecho suyo Va. Alteza que lo faze a mi suplicacion. no quiero mas dezir pues basta lo dicho para que V[uestr]a Alteza embie mi remedio y de su servicio con la diligencia que vee que es menester, mas no con la que dize el dotor de la puebla. de las nuevas que aqua se an dicho que V[uestr]a Alteza a sido recebydo en essos Reynos con tanta paz y conformidad de todos estoy tan alegre que con esto no siento trabajos. yo doy infinitas gracias a Nuestro Señor por que ha querido dar a conocer al mundo quien es V[uestr]a Alteza cuya vida y muy Real estado N[uest]ro Señor guarde y acresciente como yo desseo. de yyuelme a iiij de Octubre de '507. humil servidora de V[uestr]a Alteza que sus manos besa. la princesa de gales. |
(Translation.) 22. Most high and mighty Lord, I despatched a messenger on the 23rd of September by way of Flanders, with letters from me, in order that they might be committed to a courier, who would convey them from Antwerp to your Highness. On account of not being sure of the safety of letters sent from England, it would have been dangerous, or at any rate might have been considered suspicious, if it had been known that another courier had been despatched, it being so short a time since the last one set off. Therefore it was necessary for me to send my letters by the above mentioned route. Your Highness will learn by them that the cause which induced me to write to you with so much haste was that I had discovered Doctor de Puebla had been making attempts to prevent your Highness from carrying out your intention of sending a competent ambassador to come hither together with the dowry. For that reason I made known my wishes very plainly to your Highness, although in all my former letters I had given you to understand the same thing. But I feared as abovesaid, that the Doctor would make false promises to do more than he would or could accomplish. Moreover, as your Highness is not able to see what passes here, I also feared that the Doctor might succeed in making your Highness listen to what he wished, rather than to the truth, and to what I have asked you for. On this account I have written so soon again. For I wish to undeceive your Highness respecting what is requisite for your service, and the remedy to be found for me. I assure your Highness that I have not changed from what I wrote. It seems to me that Doctor de Puebla is sending this courier to your Highness, and he has told me to make haste. But as I do not know whether what he writes be true, I beg your Highness that nothing which he may say or write to you may be credited, excepting in so far as it shall agree with what I say. For if what I say be contrary to what he reports, your Highness may be assured that what he writes is also contrary to the interests of your Highness. Your Highness must not hasten or inconvenience yourself, whatever Doctor de Puebla may say to your Highness in order to make you go beyond what I have asked. For as I have hoped for the best in the most troubled seasons, I am not going to ruin myself (fn. 1) now that your Highness is in a state of such increased prosperity. This I say, because Doctor de Puebla puts more difficulties than ever in the way of my marriage being concluded. For instance, he has told me, and also the King of England, that an ambassador of his, who is in France, has written to him, saying the King of France told him that when he saw your Highness he asked you if my marriage was to take place, and that your Highness said it had not taken place, nor did you believe it would be concluded. The King of France told this to the ambassador of the King of England, that he might give his master information of it. When Doctor de Puebla said this to me, I answered nothing. But when the King of England told me, I answered that I could not bear to have such a thing said as that your Highness had spoken differently from what you had written in your letters. I also gave him to understand that your Highness could not say that a thing would not be done which was already irrevocable. I also said that, even if this were not so, your Highness knew what my wish was, namely, that I should not be taken out of the power (fn. 2) of the King of England even if I were to die for it, and that that would be sufficient of itself for your Highness. (fn. 3) At the same time I said many flattering things to him, with which I pleased him, and everything went off very well. He replied to me, that he well knew your Highness desired my marriage, because it was a matter that suited you well, and that he could not tell what was the cause which had led to such a thing being said. I could not draw from him the avowal that he really believed that your Highness had said it, which pleased me more than if he had believed so, but I would not show it. Finally, I satisfied him well in many ways, too long to repeat here, always showing him that my marriage was a thing which could not be undone. When he gave me to understand that there was nothing done which need prevent your Highness on your part, and him on his, from disposing of your children in another manner, I told him that I could not comprehend him, and that I did not like to take it in the sense he meant. Also, with regard to his marriage, he told me conjointly with the other story, that he had heard how the King of France had sent ambassadors respecting the marriage of Monsieur De Foix, and that there was much delay in the answer to be given to his proposal. He said this was injurious to him because he was expecting an embassy to come shortly from the King of the Romans, who were bringing him the assent to his marriage with the Duchess of Savoy, and the marriage of Prince Charles with his daughter. It occasioned him great perplexity, he said, to have to remain undecided while he was waiting the answer of your Highness. On this account he begged me to write to your Highness, requesting you to make haste. For that whatever the answer might prove he wished to have it, in order that he might know what to do. But I should be afraid of him if the answer were not to accord with his wishes, for he has partly declared to me his intention. I bait him with this [the marriage with Doña Juana], as I have written to your Highness, and his words and professions have changed for the better, although his acts remain the same. I also believe that Doctor De Puebla is the cause why they humble themselves so much to me, as well on account of the King (fn. 4) as to keep me contented. For they fancy that I have no more in me than what appears outwardly, and that I shall not be able to fathom his designs, or to acquaint your Highness with the truth as respects what is requisite for your interests, but that I shall content myself with his promises as though I had not had experience of them. I dissimulate with him, however, and praise all that he does. I even tell him that I am very well treated by the King, and that I am very well contented ; and I say everything that I think may be useful to me with the King, because, in fact, De Puebla is the adviser of the King, and I would not dare to say anything to him, except what I should wish the King to know. On former occasions I tried the contrary course with him, but it was injurious to me, nor was it of any use in obtaining a remedy for me. For, whatever I said to him, he did nothing but justify the King, and say that no new matters should be stirred up. I therefore considered that the better plan was to dissimulate with him, and to take no notice of his being ambassador, as he does none of the things which belong to such an office ; especially now his illness has laid him so completely aside that he could be of no use even though he were to desire it. He is nearer to the other world than to this. Whenever I speak to him, he does nothing but beg me to write and assure your Highness that he is performing wonders. I tell him to have no anxiety, for I always take upon myself the office of writing to your Highness the truth respecting what he does. He has likewise told me I ought to write to your Highness, begging you that when you write to the King of England, my lord, you should also write to the Lord Chamberlain, because he is the person who can do most in private with the King. As it seems to me that to do this will be of use rather than an injury, I think it well to entreat your Highness to write to him with much love. Tell him that I have written to your Highness to ask him to see what he can do here for me, and how much your Highness will be pleased if he does so. Make him, moreover, many offers on your Highness' part and on mine, so that Doctor De Puebla may not give it out for his own doing. May your Highness do according to my request, and I will not say more now. For what I have written is enough, in order that your Highness may provide a remedy for me and for your service, with the diligence that you will see to be requisite, but not by the means which Doctor De Puebla suggests. The news which have arrived here, that your Highness has been received in your realms with so much peace and harmony by every one, has made me so glad, that I am not conscious of my own troubles. I give infinite thanks to our Lord, who has thought good to make the world know what sort of person your Highness is ;— whose life and royal state may our Lord guard and increase as I desire.—[ ?], 4th of October 1507. The humble servant of your Highness, who kisses your hands, The Princess of Wales. |
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| 25th October. |
23. Katharine, Princess Of Wales, to Juana, Queen Of
Castile. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 5. f. 43. Holograph.] Muy alta y muy poderosa pryncesa Reyna y Señora, Besadas por mi las Reales manos de Va. Alteza a ella humillmente me encomyendo y le fago saber el muy gran plazer que recevy quando la vy en este Reyno y dentro de pocas oras la turbacyon que a mi alma llego con la supyta y presurosa partyda que daqui fyzo, y el Rey de ynglaterra my Señor se tuvo por muy afrentado de la dicha partyda y sy uvyera de fazer lo que supytamente deseava en todas maneras la estorvara, pero como es Rey muy rabioso juzgose a los de su Consejo que le dixeron que no se debia entremeter entre marido y muger a cuya causa y por otros mysterios que yo bien supe dysymulo la partyda de V[uestr]a Alteza aunque cyerto le peso de corazon, y dende entonces fasta oy e conocydo gran afycyon que a V[uestr]a Alteza ha tenydo y tyene pues decyr ell alegrya que el Rey mi Señor y yo avemos avido de saber como el Rey Nuestro Señor y padre era venido a Castilla a estar juntamente con V[uestr]a Alteza y ser por todo el Reyno obedecydos (fn. 5) en toda paz y concordya no lo podrya en mucho papel escryvyr. verdad sea que alguna alteracyon y turbacyon e recebydo y recybo de pocos dyas aca por aver sabydo que los franceses an tomado un grande lugar y gentyl del pryncype my sobryno que se llama Tilmote (fn. 5) y que todos sus sudytos y toda la tiera estava en gran temor de los franceses y por esto y por el remedyo de todo ello y no menos para ser destruydo y castigado el duque de geldres su rebelde pense de escrivyr esta a V[uestr]a Alteza suplycandole recyba mi voluntad en ella la qual no puedo ser myjor, y es que yo escryvo al Rey my Señor Nuestro padre un negocyo de muy gran vyen y autorydad de V[uestr]a Alteza y acrecentamyento de su estado y gran sosyego y byen de todos vuestros sudytos y del dycho pryncipe mi sobryno tocante asy bien al Rey de ynglaterra mi Señor, el qual crea que esta oy temydo y estymado en toda la Christiandad por muy sabydo y lleno de grandysimos tesoros y tener mucho poderio de gentes de guerra muy buena y sobre todo dotado de muy grandes vyrtudes segun todo esto avra V[uestr]a Alteza oydo, y cyerto si a V[uestr]a Alteza le agradare como pyenso le agradara lo que el Rey mi Señor ñro padre dixere no dudo sera V[uestr]a Alteza la mas alta y mas poderosa Reyna del mundo y ninguna (fn. 6) pueda venyr mas a su plazer y contentamyento y segurydad de su estado de V[uestr]a Alteza, y demas desto doblara el amor entre el Rey N[uestr]o Señor y padre y el Rey de ynglaterra mi Señor de do se causaria en pocos dyas ser toda la Afryca conquista en manos de Crystyanos sudytos de V[uestr]a Alteza y del Rey Nuestro padre y Señor. a vuestra alteza suplyco me perdone por le escrybyr y meterme en tan grande negocyo y tan alto que dyos conosce my voluntad como ya e dicho y no he podido por nynguna manera resestyr my voluntad de no se lo aver escrybyr que me parecya sy esto no yciese que farya gran yerro contra dios y el Rey Nuestro Señor y padre y contra V[uestr]a Alteza cuya vyda y muy Real estado Nuestro Señor guarde y acrecyente. de Ryxamonte a xxv de Ottubre. la pryncesa de gales. [Sobre :] A la muy alta y muy ... sa Señora ... de Castilla y p ... Aragon my Señora. |
23. Most noble and most mighty Princess, Queen and Lady, after having kissed the royal hands of your Highness and humbly commended myself to you, I have to express the very great pleasure it gave me to see you in this kingdom, and the distress which filled my heart, a few hours afterwards, on account of your sudden and hasty departure. My lord the King was also much disappointed in consequence of it, and if he had acted as he secretly wished, he would, by every possible means, have prevented your journey. But as he is a very passionate King, it was thought advisable by his Council that they should tell him he ought not to interfere between husband and wife. On which account, and for other secret causes with which I was very well acquainted, he concealed the feelings occasioned by the departure of your Highness, although it is very certain that it weighed much upon his heart. The great affection he has felt, and still feels, towards your Royal Highness from that time until now, is well known. I could not in truth express, even though I were to use much paper, the pleasure which my lord the King and I felt on hearing that the King, our lord and father, had returned to Castile, and was abiding there with your Highness, and that he was obeyed throughout all the kingdom, peace and concord prevailing everywhere. It is true that I have experienced, and am still experiencing, some sorrow and depression of mind on account of having heard, a few days ago, that the French have taken a large and beautiful city called Tilmote,(?) belonging to my nephew, and that all his subjects and the whole land are in great fear of the French. Wherefore, as a remedy for everything, and not less for the destruction and chastisement of the Duke of Gueldres, his rebel, I have ventured to write these lines to your Highness, entreating you to hearken to my wishes respecting this matter. I have, moreover, written to my lord the King, our father, about this business, which is of great advantage and importance to your Highness, to the increase of your state, the tranquillity and welfare of your subjects, and those of the said Prince, my nephew, and which also affects my lord the King of England. He is a Prince who is feared and esteemed at the present day by all Christendom, as being very wise, and possessed of immense treasures, and having at his command powerful bodies of excellent troops. Above all, he is endowed with the greatest virtues, according to all that your Highness will have heard respecting him. If what my lord the King, our father, shall say to you should please, as I think it will please, your Highness, I do not doubt but that your Highness will become the most illustrious and the most powerful Queen in the world. Moreover, nothing will more conduce to your pleasure and satisfaction, and the security of the kingdom of your Highness. In addition to all this, it will double the affection subsisting between my lord the King, our father, and my lord the King of England. It will also lead to the whole of Africa being conquered within a very short time, and in the hands of the Christian subjects of your Highness, and of my lord the King, our father. I entreat your Highness to pardon me for having written to you, and for having meddled in so great and high a matter. God knows what my wishes are, as I have already said ; and I have not found it possible to resist the desire I felt to write to you, as it appears to me that if I had not done so, I should have committed a great sin against God, against the King, our lord and father, and against your Highness, whose life and royal estate may our Lord guard and increase.—Richmond, 25th of October. The Princess of Wales. [Addressed :] "To the most high and most ... Lady of Castile and P ... Aragon my Lady." |
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| 1507 [end of], or 1508 [beginning of]. |
fiat. |
24. King Ferdinand The Catholic to Doctor De Puebla,
his Ambassador in England. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Tratados con Inglaterra. Legajo 5. f. 106. Draft written by Almazan.] El Rey. doctor de la puebla mi enbaxador y del mi Consejo. vi vuestras letras de iij de Setienbre y de cinco de Octubre y las del Serenisimo Rey de ynglaterra mi hermano que con ellas con dos mensajeros me enbiastes y huve mucho placer de saber las muy buenas nuevas que me escrebistes de su salud y prosperidad por que ciertamente yo le tengo amor de verdadero hermano y assi fuelgo y descanso con su bien y prosperidad como con la propia mia. y tanbien ove mucho placer de saber las buenas nuevas que me escrebistes de los Yllustrisimos principe y princesa de gales mis fijos. N[uest]ro Señor los guarde a todos y me dexe oir siempre muy buenas nuevas de todos ellos como yo ge las deseo. assi mismo huve placer de la prorrogacion del tiempo de la paga de la dote que el Serenisimo Rey mi hermano me embio y del amor con que lo fizo conociendo las muy justas causas que para ello havia y no esperaba yo menos de Su Serenidad. dezidle de mi parte el mucho plazer que yo he habido dello y que ge lo agradezco mucho y que tenga por cierto que antes que se cumpla el tiempo desta postrera porrogacion yo enbiare el cumplimiento de la dote y lo proveere todo de manera que el sea contento, y vos fecistes muy bien en avisarme particularmente de los mercaderes por cuyos bancos se puede embiar este dinero por cambios por que desta manera podre escojer la via que mejor me pareciere, pero en fin por una via o por otra yo lo cumplire como he dicho muy enteramente dentro del dicho tiempo, y quando yo embiare el dicho recaudo yo vos escrebire la manera que me parecera que se devra tener en las velaciones de los dichos Ylustrisimos principe y princesa mis fijos. y lo que dezis que escribio el embaxador de ynglaterra questa en francia que el Rey de francia le comunico secretamente que yo le havia certificado que el casamiento de los dichos principe y princesa de Gales mis fijos no estava concertado ni menos podia creer que se hoviesse de concluyr es cosa que nunca tal paso ni se ensoño ni palabra ni memoria dello, antes el dicho Rey de francia tenia y tiene por cierto que el dicho casamiento es fecho y se yo que en perjuicio del dicho casamiento el no faria cosa ninguna. tanbien es falso lo que escribio el enbaxador de ynglaterra que esta en francia que el Rey de francia me embiaba embaxador sobre casamiento de la Reyna de Castilla mi fija con Mossr. de Fox. y yo me corro en gran manera que en tal cosa se fable alla no se habiendo pensado ni ensoñado aqua y siendo cosa que por muchos respectos yo por ser señor del mundo no la faria y se yo bien que el Rey de francia por ninguna cosa me la tentaria assi que si las cosas que el embaxador de ynglaterra que esta en francia escribe no son mas verdaderas que esta alla (fn. 7) no es razon que le den ninguna fe. y el embaxador que el Rey de francia me ha embiado es solamente para que resida en mi corte para me comunicar las cosas que ocurrieren por la amistad que entre nosotros es. y esto es evangelio y desto puede tener bien perdido el cuydado el Rey de inglaterra mi hermano. cuanto a lo del casamiento del Rey de inglaterra mi hermano con la Reyna de Castilla mi fija como por otras he escrito si la dicha Reyna mi fija se ha de casar yo no sere jamas en que case con otro sino con el Rey de inglaterra mi hermano y para ello yo porne toda diligencia e industria con mucho amor y voluntad. y habeis de saber que la dicha Reyna mi fija trae de contino consigo el cuerpo del Rey don felipe su marido que dios haya y antes de mi venida nunca pudieran acabar con ella que lo sepultase y despues de yo venido ha mostrado que desea que el dicho cuerpo no se entierre y yo por lo que toca a su salud y contentamiento ninguna cosa le contradigo ni quiero que se faga cosa de que ella reciba alteracion, mas poco a poco yo trabajare que ella aya por bien que el dicho cuerpo se sepulte. y luego que yo vine ella estaba puesta en que se fiziesen las honras del cabo daño al dicho Rey su marido y fasta que se fizo el dicho cabo daño yo no lo quise fablar en cosa que tocase a su casamiento, pero fechas las honrras yo le toque en ello sin nombrar con quien sino solamente por saber si esta en intincion de casarse. ella me respondio que en ninguna cosa habia de salir de mi consejo y mandado, mas que me suplicaba que no le mandasse que me respondiesse a aquello fasta que el cuerpo del Rey su marido fuesse sepultado y que entonces ella me responderia. y viendo yo esto no la he apretado fasta que el dicho cuerpo sea sepultado porque creo que antes no aprovecharia, y yo he embiado por un brebe a Roma por ver si aprovechara para que mas presto le quiera sepultar, y en habiendole sepultado yo le tornare a fablar para saber su voluntad en lo del casamiento. y si la fallare inclinada a ello yo no dare lugar que sea con ningun otro sino con el dicho Rey de ynglaterra mi hermano y entonces escrebire lo que me parecera cerca de las condiciones en que he mucho plazer de saber que el dicho Rey mi hermano este tan determinado en mirar mucho lo que cunpliere a mi y a mi honrra y tanto mas me obliga para ello. quanto a la guerra que hay entre los de flandes y el duque de gueldres ya vos sabeis que despues de la Reina mi fija el principe Don Carlos mi nieto es mi heredero, y por esto y porque yo le tengo por fijo desseo todo su bien y lo he de procurar como el propio mio, yo he escrito sobre la dicha guerra al Rey de francia rogandole y procurando con el que sus gentes no fagan daño ni offenssion en las tierras del principe mi nieto, y el me ha respondido que por mi respeto el querria facer por el dicho principe mi nieto como yo, pero que los flamencos rompieron la guerra al duque de gueldres y le tomaron dos villas y le sitiaron otra y que el le tiene por confederado y era obligado a no dexarle destruir y que le socorrio y que la gente que fue al dicho socorro tomo dos villas en el condado de henante y que todo es culpa de los flamencos que no quisieron venir en ningun buen apuntamiento de paz ni de tregua con el dicho duque de gueldres, pero que el ha proveydo que su gente no faga mas daño en las tierras del dicho principe mi nieto y que si quieren los que tienen cargo de la gobernacion de flandes que aquellas cosas se podran bien apuntar de manera que esten en paz o en tregua y que en tanto se vea cuya es la justicia y que por el no quedara esto. y agora de nuevo torno a embiar y escribir sobre ello al dicho Rey de francia mi hermano para procurar que en todo caso se de en aquello asiento por que al principe mi nieto no le cunple en tan tierna edad tener guerra sino estar en paz y que se conserve y desempeñe su patrimonio. assi mismo he habido mucho placer de saber que el dicho Serenisimo Rey de ynglaterra mi hermano este tan inclinado como decis a emplearse en la guerra contra los infieles enemigos de N[uest]ra fe porque es la cossa que yo mas en este mundo desseo y si pluguiere a Dios N[uest]ro Señor que en las otras cossas se toma buena conclusion yo espero que en esta le podremos facer mucho servicio. de vuestra dolencia me desplaze mucho y me place que estabades ya mejor y placera a N[uest]ro Señor de daros entera salud como desseays. mas tened por cierto que en todo tiempo havre yo vuestras cosas mucho recomendadas y con el vuestro se vos embiara despacho de lo que vos toca. por una carta de xxvij de Agosto nos escribio el dicho Serenisimo Rey de ynglaterra ñro hermano que por letras de algunos amigos suyos supo un secreto tocante al Rey de navarra el qual la princesa mi fija y vos me escribiriades y en v[uest]ras letras no fezistes mencion de ello. procurad de saber que es y escrebidmelo. De — |
fiat. |
24. By the King. Doctor de la Puebla, my Ambassador, and of my Council, I have seen your letters of the 3rd of September and 5th of October, and the letters of the most serene King of England, my brother, which you sent me by two messengers. I had great pleasure in learning the good news respecting his health and prosperity which you write me. For, certainly, I bear him the love of a true brother, and rejoice and am pleased to hear of his prosperity and good success as much as of my own. I am also glad to know the good news which you write me about the most illustrious Prince and Princess of Wales, my children. Our Lord guard all of them, and may I hear always as good news of all of them as I desire. I was also pleased with the prorogation of the payment of the dower, which the most serene King of England, my brother, sent me, and with the gracious manner in which he granted it. Well knowing the good reasons which he had for doing so, I did not expect anything else from his Serenity. Tell him in my name the great pleasure I have received from this, and that I thank him much. I hold it for certain that before the time of this last prorogation is over I shall send him the payment of the dower, and provide for everything to his satisfaction. You did very well to inform me of the names of the merchants through whose banks the money can be sent by bills of exchange. Thus, I can choose the manner which seems best to me, but in one way or other I certainly shall, as I have said, fulfil my obligations within the time mentioned. When I send the said payment I shall write to you how I think that the marriage between the illustrious Prince and Princess, my children, is to be performed. You say that the ambassador of the King of England in France wrote that the King of France told him in secret that I had said that the marriage of the said most illustrious Prince and Princess of Wales, my children, was not concluded, and that I did not even think that it would be concluded. Such a thing has never been said or dreamt of, nor can a single word [to that effect] be remembered. On the contrary, the King of France held and holds this marriage for concluded, and I know that he would not do anything to its prejudice. The English ambassador in France wrote that the King of France has sent me an embassy about a marriage of the Queen of Castile, my daughter, with Monsieur de Foix. That is also a falsehood. I am very angry that such things are said there as never have been thought or dreamt of here. These are things which I would not do for the empire of the world, and I know well that the King of France would not tempt me in this matter on any account. As the things which the English ambassador in France writes are untrue, it is unreasonable to believe them. The ambassador whom the King of France has sent to me has only come to reside at my court, and, as we are friends, to inform me of his good news. That is true as gospel, and the King of England may be easy in this respect. Concerning the marriage of the King of England, my brother, with the Queen of Castile, my daughter, as I have written in former letters, if the Queen, my daughter, is to marry, I shall never consent that she weds with any one else than the King of England, my brother, and shall employ with the greatest love and goodwill all my industry and energy [to promote] that. But you must know that the said Queen, my daughter, still carries about with her the corpse of King Philip, her late husband. Before I arrived they could never persuade her to bury him, and since my arrival she has declared that she does not wish the said corpse to be buried. On account of her health, and in order to content her, I do not contradict her in anything, nor wish that anything be done that could excite her ; but I shall endeavour to persuade her by degrees to permit the corpse to be buried. When I arrived she had made up her mind that, on the anniversary of his death (fn. 8), the usual honours should be paid to the King her husband, and until the ceremonies of the "end of the year" were performed I did not like to mention the marriage to her. When the ceremonies were over I touched on this matter, in order to know whether she was inclined to marry, without, however, mentioning any person. She answered that in everything she would do what I advised or commanded, but that she begged me not to command her to give an answer to my question until the corpse of her husband should be buried. That done [she said], she would answer me. Considering these circumstances, I do not urge her until the said corpse shall be buried, because I think it would rather produce an unfavourable impression. I have sent to Rome for a brief, in order to try whether she could thereby be persuaded to bury the corpse sooner. When it is buried I shall again speak with her, in order to know her intentions with respect to a marriage ; and if I find her inclined [to marry], I shall not permit that it be with any one except with the King of England, my brother. I shall then also write what I think of the conditions, with respect to which I have great pleasure in knowing that the said King, my brother, is so ready to consult my interests and my honour. I am the more obliged to him for this. As for the war between Flanders and the Duke of Gueldres, you know that after the Queen my daughter, the Prince Don Carlos my grandson, is my heir. For this reason, and because I consider him as my son, I wish him well, and have to take care of his interests as much as of my own. I have written about this war to the King of France, begging him and insisting that his troops may not injure or attack the dominions of the Prince, my grandson. He has answered me that out of respect for me he would like to behave towards the said Prince, my grandson, as I do ; but that the Flemings began the war, took from the Duke of Gueldres two towns, and besieged a third. Being his ally, he was obliged to see that he was not destroyed. He succoured him, therefore, and the troops which were sent in aid took two towns in the county of Hainaut. It was all the fault of the Flemings, who refused any treaty of peace or truce with the said Duke of Gueldres. He has, however, ordered that his troops shall not do any more harm to the dominions of the said Prince, my grandson. If the persons who have the government of Flanders in their hands should wish it, all these difficulties could easily be arranged, and they might have a peace or truce until it was decided which party was right. It was not his fault if that was not done. I send now again to the King of France, my brother, and write him that he should bring about such a treaty, because it is not suitable for the tender age of the Prince, my grandson, to have war, but only to live in peace, and to preserve and keep his dominions free from troubles. I have also been much pleased to hear that the most serene King of England, my brother, is so much inclined as you say to make war upon the infidel enemies of our holy religion ; for that is the thing I most desire in this world. If God our Lord should be pleased that we arrange the other affairs well, I hope that in this (fn. 9) we shall render Him great services. I am very sorry that you have been ill, and am glad that you are already better. May our Lord be pleased to give you good health, and you may be sure that at all times I shall consider your affairs as much recommended to me. Your servant will bring you my orders concerning your private affairs. The most serene King of England, our brother, wrote to us in his letter of the 27th of August, that from letters of some friends of his he learnt a secret concerning the King of Navarra, which the Princess my daughter, and you would write to me, but in your letters you do not mention it. Try to learn what it is, and write it to me. From —. |