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17th November.
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71. The Cardinal Of Tortosa to the Emperor Charles.
[Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Comunidades de Castilla.
Legajo 2. ff. 170, 171. Autograph. The passages printed in italics are in
cipher. Contemporary deciphering.]
A su Mt del Cardenal. a xvij de Novienbre.
S. Cesa. C. R. Mt.
A xiij. del presente tengo escrito a V[uest]ra Al. abora postreramente
muy largamente. a xiiij del mesmo ha entrado el
Almirante en esta villa suya y el dia siguiente me hablo y
dixo las diligencias que hizo dende cigales para placar y
assossegar el furor de Valladolit. lo qual diz que todo fue de
balde porque estava ya alli don pedro giron recebido por
aquel pueblo con mucho amor. y que a mas desto havia escrito
al dicho don Pedro que le quisiesse hablar. y el de mucha
civildat le respondio que primero lo havia de comunicar con
Valladolit, del qual como digo fue recebido tan bien y con
tanta benivolencia. y ahun diz que havia escrito a los procuradores
de la Junta de Tordesyllas que tuviessen por bien
de querer comunicar con el sobre los medios que conviniessen
a la paz y buena reformacion deste Reyno. respondieronle que
para esto les hallaria muy aparejados y que luego embiarian
sus procuradores ad algun lugar conveniente al dicho almirante
el qual ha de partir hoy viernes paral dicho lugar y para
comunicarlo con ellos. y cierto viendo el dicho almirante que
todos los grandes y pequeños del Reyno estan tan embebidos
en favorecer las cosas de Cornunidat que no solamente diz que
tiene el Reyno por perdido pero ahun le parece que no se
tiene por seguro en confiar de sus propios vassallos y qe v[uest]ra
magt. ha de negociar lo destos Reynos como si no tuviesse nada
en ellos y que assi qualquiera cosa que acquira v[uest]ra mt. en
ellos ha de hazer cuenta que lo gana de nuevo. la primera vez
que ahora el dicho almirante vino a mi posada se me declaro
en presencia del comendador mayor de Çapata y de Vargas
que en ninguna manera accordava de aceptar el cargo de la
governacion sino con dos condiciones precedentes. la primera
es que haya respuesta de V. Mt. a las cartas que dende Cathaluña
diz que le escrevio sobre la dicha gobernacion y que tiene
cartas de su hazedor que reside en essa corte en que le escrive
como han sydo leydas dos vezes a V[uest]ra Alteza y que por la
celeridat del correo que estonces se despacho que no fue
possible que con el fuesse la respuesta, pero que dentro de
quatro o cinco dias esperava despues de embiarla con otro
correo. la otra condicion es que se le de todo el poder cumplido
sin restriction alguna y qual lo tiene V. Mt. para consentir
y perdonar, castigar, hazer mercedes, y condenar, segun que a el
mas uttil le pareciere y viere cumplir al servicio de V. Mt.
a todos estos de aqua parece que se mueve en ello con justa
razon y que los que aconsejaron a V[uest]ra Alteza en limitar el
poder a sus gobernadores que le han persuadido de cosa inutil
y dañosa al Reyno. en el mesmo dia yo fui despues de comer a
la posada del dicho almirante para visitar a la condessa, y
despues me aparte alli con el y secretamente le hable diziendole
la mucha pena que sentia que no quissiesse sin estas
condiciones aceptar el cargo de la governacion, porque de la
dilacion se podria ofrecer mucho animo a los de la junta, y
que seria en gran daño y mengua de la autoridat de V[uest]ra Mt.
y de los que tenemos su parte, y que por esto no devia estar
ni parar. que yo tengo creydo que v[uest]ra Mt. le ha respondido
y que las cartas quiça se le han perdido en el camino o le han
sydo tomadas, y ofreciendole que procuraria que V[uest]ra Alt. le
diesse libre y suelta la dicha governacion sin restricciones
algunas, las quales cierto en este tiempo no convendrian. y
al ende de todo esto le dixe como el condestable ha aceptado,
como vehe, el cargo sin restrictiones, y que yo tambien fui
forçado de hazer lo mismo. respondiome que el condestable
ha fecho lo que le cumple, porque toda su tierra se le levantava
y que no tenia otro remedio para allanar y remediar aquello,
sino aceptando la dicho governacion cobrando con ella la
auctoridad que havia perdido en Burgos y sus tierras. pero
que este almirante es mas vezino al fuego y dize que no tiene
cosa ninguna fuerte sino este lugar, y en fin me dixo que no
tiene nada seguro en su tierra y que facilmente lo perderia
todo si se pussiesse contra estas comunidades, si ya de parte de
V. Mt. no se diesse grande y rezio poder assi de dinero como
de gente, de lo qual diz que no tiene esperança. a esto le
respondi que tenemos facultad de V[uest]ra Al. para vender y
empeñar y de procurar todo lo necessario, mas por escusar
larga escriptura digo que me resuelvo en esto, que a lo que
pude alcançar de su manera y habla todo esto crehia que
abastaria poco, ca en esta tempesta el que compra algo de la
corona Real en el mesmo punto es enemigo de todo el Reyno,
y mucho mas el que lo vende. dinero emprestado no podemos
haver tanto que abaste para nuestras necessidades.
algunos me dizen que el Reyno se podria algo apaciguar si
yo me quisiesse juntar con los procuradores de la dicha junta
y con ellos tratar los negocios del Reyno como ahora con los
consejeros por ellos deputados, en lo qual muestran tener fin a
dos cosas, es a saber, a echar los grandes de la govemacion, a
los quales sobresto tienen por sespechosos diziendo que todo
lo procurarian para en uttilidad y provecho dellos y en daño
del Reino, lo otro es que los dichos procuradores continuen
en la governacion y que juntamente con ello puedan hechar
a los del consejo, a los quales dizen ladrones y robadores. yo he
respondido ad algunos que no desseo cosa mas que la pacificacion
del dicho Reyno y que para procurarla no recuso ningun
travajo, ahunque no dessee cosa mas que ser libre deste cargo,
y que cada dia solicite dello y lo suplique a V[uest]ra Alt., mas que
no embargante esto seria contento hazer con los procuradores
todo lo que piden, pero con condition que se hiziesse aquello
sin ofensa e indignation de V[uest]ra Mt. Lo que en grande
manera me mueve en çufrir estos trabajos es que desta
manera pueda sacar estos procuradores de tordesyllas para
que no insten mas en que la reyna nuestra Señora firme que
este es un solo punto con el qual se perderia todo el Reyno
mas de lo que ya lo esta como por otra lo he escrito a
V. Mt.
mandeme V[uest]ra Alt. escrevir sobresto su parecer y voluntad
con toda presteza porque en ninguna cosa puede ser mayor
peligro para V[uest]ra Mt. que en la perdition deste Reyno al qual
sinduda perderia V. Mt. si Su Alteza firmase lo qual muchas
vezes les promete y si pocos buenos no la desviassen del frmar
mucho ha que firmara. oy me ban dicho que Su Alteza se
empieza de vestir buenas ropas de atavio e hizo ataviar a la
Señora Infanta para que salliesse con Su Alt. hasta el monasterio
de Santa Clara, todas estas cosas solicitan para que con
ellas puedan espargir fama por el Reyno como Su Alteza esta
en si y con toda salud y que se han de obedecer sus Reales
mandamientos los quales dizen que ha de signar o dezirlos de
palabra, pues los escrivanos luego hazen fe dellos y lo testifican.
nmchas villas y casi todas piden socorro de gente contra los
sediciosos para que les puedan constreñir y ahun apretar. el
alcayde de Vcles ha sido requerido de parte de Toledo que
les entregue aquella fortaleza. habemos proveydo en ello de
capitan y de alguna gente, mas dizesse que Joan de padilla
haze gran exercito para tomarlo. por todas partes nos corren
muchos peligros y la confiança que podemos haver de nuestra
gente es tan poca que me parece que del todo havemos de
temer de qualquier pelea o batalla y que assi sera bien procurarnos
solamente la defension. los malos son tantos que mas
fruto hazen las mentiras dellos que nuestras verdades, y si V[uest]ra
Magt. no viene con toda celeridat y presteza temo que hallara
pehor el Reyno de lo que el Rey don Alonso quando bolvio a
estos Reynos despues de la elecion que estonces se hizo del
paral Imperio.
el Condestable se esta en Burgos y no osa salir de alli por
el peligro que havria de la mudança en que aquella ciudat no
hiziesse lo mesmo que Yalladolit. los del consejo que estan con
el temen que no les tomen como hizieron en Valladolid a los
que conmigo quedaron. es cosa de grandissima piedat ver el
trebajo en que estan los que bien clessean servir a V[uest]ra Mt.
ahunque son pocos.
a los grancles que sirven es menester pagar de parte de V[uest]ra
Mt. el suelde de la gente que han traydo. muchos dellos son
fieles, los quales sienten mucho esta perdicion, mas sin la presta
y rreal presencia de V[uest]ra Mt. crea que en cosa ninguna hay
remedio.
bien seria que V[uest]ra Alteza mandasse escrevir al Rey y Reyna
de Portugal dandoles especiales gracias, porque con favor dellos
y por algun temor que ha sabido V. Mt. que en estos Reynos
les tienen, se abstienen y refrenan estos procuradores de otras
pehores cosas, y a mas destos parece ahun a los del consejo que
comigo residen que V[uest]ra Mt. deve mandar escrevir al dicho Rey
y Reyna que a las muchas mentiras que los de la junta les
han escrito con propio mensajero en prejuizio de V[uest]ra Mt. que
les responda sobrellas muy agramente y con grande reprehension
informandoles de la verdat. y tambien dizen los del
dicho consejo que no solamente sera util mas ahun es casi
necessario que regraciandoles Vra Mt. la grande venivolencia
que le amuesbran y el socorro que le ofrecen, que juntamente
con esto procure V. Mt. con sus cartas que el Rey escriva a
V. Mt. y a nosotros de quanta gente, tanto de pie como de
cavallo, y de quanto dinero podremos hazer qnenta si por
ventura fuere necessario. y porque la voz comun de todo el
Reyno es dessear que V. Mt. se cassasse con la Señora Infanta
de Portugal la qual diz que es muy prudente y de grandes
virtudes y de muy buenas partes y a mas desto tiene muy
hermoso gesto y gentil dispusicion, cierto este casamiento
aprovecharia mucho paral buen despacho y assiento de los
negocios de V. Mt., o a lo menos ponerle en esperança del dicho
matrimonio. Guarde nuestro Señor la vida y Real estado de
V[uest]ra Magt. luengamente y con toda prosperidat. en Medina
de Rioseco a xvij de Noviembre de mil quinientos y veynte.
V[ost]re tres humble serviteur el Carl, dertusen.
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(Translation.)
71. To his Majesty. From the Cardinal.
17th November.
Sacred, imperial, catholic, royal Majesty,
Now quite of late, on the 13th of the present month, I
wrote to your Highness a very long letter. On the 14th of
the same month the Admiral entered this his town, and spoke
with me on the following day, telling me what he had done
when staying in Zigales to calm and pacify the furor of Valladolid.
All that he said was in vain, because Don Pedro
Giron was already there, received by the people with great
love. Moreover he said he had written to Don Pedro, telling
him that he wished to speak with him. He (Don Pedro) had
answered very courteously that he must first communicate on
this subject with Valladolid, by which town, as I have already
stated, he had been received very well and with great goodwill.
Furthermore, he said he had written to the Procurators
of the Junta in Tordesillas, asking them to be so good as to
enter into communication with him on the means best calculated
to secure peace and a reformation of the kingdom. They
answered him that he would find them very ready to do so,
and that they would directly send some commissioners to any
place which was convenient to him, the Admiral, who will
start today, Friday, for the said place, and enter into communications
with them. And certainly the said Admiral
knows that all the grandees and the lower classes of these
kingdoms are much inclined to favour the affairs of the Commons.
He, therefore, not only thinks that the kingdom is
lost, but also he is not sure whether he can trust his own
vassals, and says that your Majesty must treat the affairs of
these kingdoms as though nothing in them belonged to you.
Everything that your Majesty acquires in them must be
reckoned as a new acquisition. The first time that the
Admiral came to my house he declared to me, in presence of
the Comendador Mayor, of Zapata and of Vargas, that under
no circumstances would he accept the office of governor, except
on these two conditions previously granted : in the first
place he must first have an answer from your Majesty
to the letters which he says he has written to you from
Catalonia about the form of government, and which, as his
agent at that court (fn. 1) has written to him, were twice read
to your Majesty, but, owing to the haste with which the
courier was despatched, it was not possible to send the
answer with him, and it was said that within four or five
days it would be conveyed by another courier. The other
condition is that full power, without any restriction, in
fact as your Majesty yourself possesses it, be given to
him to settle terms, to pardon, to punish, and to grant and
revoke favours, according to what should seem to him
best, and what he should think useful for the service of
your Majesty. To all here it seems that his demands are
reasonable and just, and that those who persuaded your Highness
to limit the power of your governors have advised you
something unprofitable and injurious to the kingdom. I went
the same day to dine with the Admiral in order to visit the
Countess. (fn. 2) Afterwards I spoke with him in private and
told him how sorry I was that he refused to accept the office
of governor without these conditions, because the delay would
much encourage the members of the Junta and much injure
and lower the authority of your Majesty and of us who are
your servants. For these considerations he should not hold
back nor stop short. I said I believed that your Majesty had
answered him, but that the letters, perhaps, have been lost or
intercepted on their way, promising him to procure that your
Highness should give him the office of governor free and unfettered
by any restrictions, which certainly at this time
would be inconvenient. Moreover, I told him that the Constable
had accepted the office without condition, and that I
was also obliged to submit to the same. He answered that the
Constable has done what is profitable to him, as all his estates
have risen in rebellion, and he had no other means to arrange
and remedy this, except by accepting the place of governor,
regaining thereby the authority which he has lost in Burgos
and over his estates. But he (the Admiral) was nearer the fire,
and had no other strong place than this. At last he said that
he could trust no one on his estates, and would lose all if he
took part against these Commons, unless your Majesty would
give great and strong assistance of men as well as of money,
which seemed by no means likely. I answered to this that
we have authority from your Highness to sell and pledge all
in order to procure what is necessary. Wishing to avoid
writing too long a letter, I shall briefly state that, judging
from what I understood from his behaviour and words, he
thinks that all this would be of no advantage ; for in these
tempestuous times whoever buys anything from the crown
becomes at the same moment an enemy of the whole kingdom,
and he who sells much more so. In the form of a loan we
cannot obtain as much as is necessary for our own wants.
Some say that the kingdom would be pacified to some
extent if I united with the Procurators of the said Junta,
and despatched the business of the kingdom with them, in
the same manner as I despatch it now with the councillors
chosen for that purpose. By this they aim at two things ;
that is to say, to turn the grandees out of the government,
whom, they say, they suspect would do all that is
profitable to themselves and detrimental to the kingdom ;
and the other thing at which they aim is to preserve the
Procurators in the Government, and thus to enable them to
dismiss the councillors, who they say are thieves and robbers.
I have answered to some of them that there is nothing in the
world I desire more than the pacification of the said kingdom,
and that to bring it about I should not refuse to do any
amount of labour, although I wish more than anything else
to be relieved from this office, and solicit and supplicate your
Highness every day to do so. Notwithstanding this I should
be ready to transact with the Procurators all the business
they desire, but only on condition that that were done without
injury or affront to your Majesty. The principal reason
which induces me to undergo these labours is that in that
manner I could get the Procurators away from Tordesillas,
and thus prevent them from insisting any more that the
Queen our lady should sign ; for this one thing (fn. 3)
suffice to raise the whole kingdom still more than it is already,
as I have written to your Majesty.
I beg your Highness to write to me your opinion and
commands as quickly as possible, for in no other thing is
there so much danger to your Majesty of losing this kingdom,
which no doubt your Majesty would lose if her Highness
should sign. She has often promised to do it, and if a few
good men had not dissuaded her from signing she would have
done so long ago. They have told me to-day that her Highness
begins to dress in good robes and finery, and ordered
the Señora Infanta to be adorned to accompany her to the
convent of Santa Clara. They beg her to do all these things
in order to be able to spread the rumour throughout the kingdom
that her Highness is sane and in good health, and that
all ought to obey her royal mandates, which they say she
may either sign or give by word of mouth, as the escrivanos
draw up an instrument and testify to her words. Many towns,
in fact almost all, ask succour against the rebels, who are in a
position to constrain and even compel them. The Alcalde of
Ucles has been requested by Toledo to deliver to them that
fortress. We have sent a captain and some troops, but it is
said that Juan de Padilla assembles a great army to conquer
it. We are surrounded on all sides by many dangers, and
the confidence we can have in our men is so small that I
think that above all things we ought to be afraid of fighting
or of a battle, and remain on the defensive only. Bad people
are so numerous that their lies produce more effect than our
speaking the truth. If your Highness does not come with
all speed, I am afraid you will find the kingdom worse than
King Alonso found it when he returned to these kingdoms
after his election for the empire which then took place.
The Constable is in Burgos, and does not dare to leave it
for fear of a revolt, in which that city might follow the
example of Valladolid. The councillors who are staying with
him are afraid they might be arrested, as those were who
remained with me in Valladolid. It is a pitiful thing to see
the troubles of those who desire to serve your Majesty, of
whom there are not many.
It is necessary for your Majesty to pay the troops which
the grandees who serve you have brought with them. Many
of them are loyal, and are very sorry for this ruinous state
of affairs ; but without the speedy and royal presence of your
Majesty I think nothing can avail.
Your Highness would do well to write to the King and
Queen of Portugal, thanking them very warmly ; for in
consequence of the favour shown by them, and owing to a
certain fear of them, which, as your Majesty knows, these
kingdoms have, these Procurators abstain and refrain from
doing other worse things ; and, besides, it seems to the councillors
who are staying with me that your Majesty should
write to the said King and Queen, asking them to answer and
to reprimand the Junta severely for all the lies which they
have written by a special messenger in prejudice of your
Majesty, and to inform them of the truth. The same councillors
say also that it would not only be useful, but that it
is almost indispensable for your Majesty, whilst thanking
them for the great goodwill which they show, and for the
succour which they offer, to ask the King, by a letter, to write
to your Majesty and to us as to how many troops, foot as
well as horse, and how much money we could count on if
perhaps we should want them. And as the whole kingdom
desires your Majesty should marry the Señora Infanta of
Portugal, who it is said is very prudent, possesses great
virtues and good qualities, and, besides, is of a very beautiful
appearance and of a gentle disposition, this marriage, or at
least the hope of it, would certainly contribute much towards
a good despatch and arrangement of the affairs of your
Majesty. Our Lord preserve the life and royal state of your
Majesty a long time in all prosperity.
Medina de Rioseco, 17th of November 1520.
Votre très humble serviteur, The Cardinal of Tortosa.
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