Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1871.
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'Appendix: Miscellaneous 1495', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 4, 1527-1533, (London, 1871) pp. 482-483. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol4/pp482-483 [accessed 26 April 2024]
Miscellaneous 1495
| Sept. 22. Venetian Archives, Busta xxiii. | 1042. Maximilian, King of the Romans, to Pope Alexander VI. |
|---|---|
| Most Holy Father, most Reverend Lord,— | |
| Whereas of late years, after the invasion and slaughter of Richard King of England, Henry of Richmond occupied that kingdom, and having espoused the daughter of Edward, the late King, brother of said Richard, causing it to be believed that said Edward had left no male progeny, obtained from your Holiness's predecessor, Innocent VIII., of pious memory, letters confirming him in the possession of his kingdom, and purporting that all persons disputing said Henry's right to his kingdom, or waging war on him, were to be excommunicated; the most illustrious Lady Margaret, our very dear mother-in-law, sister of the aforesaid Edward and Richard, and wife of the late most illustrious Charles Duke of Burgundy, our father-in-law (perceiving that she as well as Richard, her brother Edward's son,—who, lest he should be put to death by the occupiers of the kingdom, has hitherto often hidden himself, wandering over the world as an unknown exile,—were without cause violently injured and aggrieved, being excluded from their right,) appealed forthwith against those confirmatory letters, as well in her own name as in that of her nephew, the aforesaid Richard Duke of York, and of all others whom it might concern. | |
| Similar confirmatory letters denouncing excommunication having been lately obtained from your Holiness, in the same manner—the truth being suppressed—said most illustrious Margaret and her nephew appealed, and committed the prosecution of the appeal to our ambassador, Philiberto Naturelli, requesting our recommendation and assistance with your Holiness, | |
| We, perceiving the aforesaid confirmations and excommunications to be surreptitious and frivolous, as they could not exclude others from their right without hearing them; and as said Richard Duke of York is the born son of Edward, the legitimate and true deceased King, and it is evident he has excellent right (optimum jus) to that kingdom; which things had they been known both to the pious memory of Innocent VIII., as also to your Holiness, similar letters would doubtless not have been conceded; we have thought fit to write to your Holiness, that this said matter, which is of such great moment, may be more carefully examined, and that what was ill conceded be revoked, or that you will clemently hear such other things as our said ambassador, Philibert, will more fully declare by word of mouth, providing and administering justice, so that said most illustrious Lady Margaret, and others whom it concerns, may, both from sense of justice and through our recommendation, obtain from your Holiness their right, and that for conscience sake (ex serupulo conscientiæ) we may see them freed from both sentences of excommunication. And your Holiness, whom may God preserve, will perform an act just and holy, and most agreeable to us. | |
| From our city of Worms, 22nd September 1405. Maximilian, by divine clemency, King of the Romans, ever august King of Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia, etc., Archduke of Austria, etc. | |
| On the external comer.—Letter of Maximilian, presented by his ambassador, Philibert, the 18th of October 1405. | |
| [Latin. Original, on parchment] (fn. 1) | |