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 1520, 16-31', 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. 267-288. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/supp/vols1-2/pp267-288 [accessed 8 May 2024]
October 1520, 16-31
| 21st October. |
65. The Cardinal Of Tortosa to the Emperor Charles. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Comunidades de Castilla. Legajo 2. f. 163. Autograph.] A su Majestad. del Cardenal. a xxj. Octubre. S. C. C. R. Mat. en estos dias recebi una carta de V. Mt. en que se me escrivia solamente la mucha admiracion que se tenia de no haver escrito yo a V[uest]ra Alteza assi a menudo sobre las cosas destos Reynos y el cuydado que dellas tenian alla, y pues ha recebido Va. Mt. otras cartas mias despues de aquella pienso que me terna por escusado y que vera claramente y por experiencia que en lo que de aqua no me aduermo ni me descuydo de proveher en lo que conviene. ahora postreramente no he escripto a V[uest]ra Mt. porque tanta era la jente que la junta tenia en todos los caminos para tomar y reconocer qualquier persona que pasasse que viendo yo el grandissimo peligro que havia en passar las cartas no solamente dexava de escrevir pero ahun estava con mucho cuydado que no me tomassen alguna posta de las que de alla havian de venir, y ahunque lo de aqua se pudiera remediar y assegurar la cossa escriviendola con cifra, en caso que tomaran la posta que yo despachara, crea V. Mt. que se alteraran y quedaran mas alborotados de mis cartas por la sospecha que continuamente tenian de mi. por lo que cumplia al servicio de V. Mt. mi salida de Valladolit he andado despues que me detuvieron granieandola secretamente y procurandola por muchos medios, y haviendo visto que la cosa se encaminaba mal para poderme yr, y el grande alboroto que fray Alonso de Medina ha movido en la dicha villa ahora nuevamente con unos sermones que hizo a la comunidat de los quales embio con esta a V[uest]ra Alteza sumaria relacion dellos que me dio persona que los oyo, requeri a la dicha villa que me consintiesse y dexasse libremente salir della, otramente que me tuviesse por escusado que yo me daria recaudo y procuraria lo que cumpliesse al servicio de V[uest]ra Alteza y a la honrra mia. respondieronme con palabras generales y de cumplimiento y mas fundadas en detener que en libertarme, y visto esto acorde este lunes passado que eran xv. del presente a las ocho horas de la noche de probar la ventura y encomendandome a dios tome una sola persona y secretamente me salli por el muro con grandissimo peligro sin que lo sintio hombre del mundo. y quando fui a un tiro de ballesta de la villa cavalgue y camine toda aquella noche y amaneci el martes en esta villa de Medina de Rioseco en donde se me ha fecho buen recogimiento por don hernando y por el adelantado hermanos del almirante, y anduve rodeando mas de tres leguas porque nadi atinasse ni huviesse lengua de mi, de modo que anduve mas de diez leguas, y luego en llegando despache hun correo al Condestable haziendole saber mi salida y otro al dicho Almirante para darle prissa en su venida ahunque nunca havemos sabido cosa ninguna del sino ahora postreramente que dizen que era en Çaragoça, y hasta que haya respuesta del dicho almirante entiendo de me detener aqua para ver lo que me respondera de lo qual escrevire a V. Mt. las cosas de Tordesillas van de tal manera y mira la Junta tanto por la salud de la Reyna nuestra Señora que le han quitado todas las mujeres que tenia diputadas para su rreal servicio por forma que parece que quieren del todo acabarla. y como por otra he escrito a V. Mt. ahora esta Su Alteza peor que nunca que es la mayor lastima del mundo, y para induzirla a firmar hazen todos extremos y diligencias en obedecerla, y porque el otro dia estuvo Su Alteza tres dias sin comer le dieron despues todos los manjares que le hubieran de dar en aquellos tres dias. lo que han proveydo en el quitar de las mujeres segun he entendido por el marido de una dellas diz que no ha de ser sino por algunos dias y que los de la junta han dicho que Su Alteza havia ofrecido a ellos que si hechasen las mujeres de su casa que dentro de quatro dias firmaria. y estos dias son passados y iamas han pudido acabar con Su Alt. que firmasse, y no dude V. Mt. que si sola una firma pudiessen haver de Su Alt. pondria grandissima rebuelta y confusion en estos Reynos a mas de la que hay si mayor pudiesse ser. en la junta susodicha hay parcialidat y division, y cierto deve V[uest]ra Al. muchas gracias a dios como de fecho no le han quitado titulo de rrey en estos rreynos y como Pedro de Cartagenia procurador de Burgos dezia que no se hazia cosa ninguna por Burgos en la Junta y que solamente estavan alla por testigos de lo que alli se hazia, los otros le hazian plato y le ponian al delante que a pura instancia de Burgos se trato y passo cosa de mayor importancia que jamas se concerto en esta junta, es a saber que se permitiesse o consintiesse a V[uest]ra Mt. nombre o titulo de Rey. ahora diz que embian a V[uest]ra Mt. una carta la qual han instado se firmase por todos los procuradores, y los de Burgos no han querido firmarla porque en ella se contienen muchas cosas a las quales diz que han contradicho, y replicandoles que han jurado que lo concertado por la mayor parte se deviesse confirmar y aprovar por la otra, dixieron que el tal juramento no comprende que hubiessen de firmar ni signar lo ordenado o acordado sino que abastaria que lo testificassen y firmassen los notarios y escrivanos de la junta. muchos buenos cavalleros se han alegrado de mi salida de Valladolit esperando que mas facilmente se podran assentar las cosas destos rreynos, mas temen y recelan en grandissima manera que recoia o reciba comigo al presidente y al obispo de burgos y a vargas, a los quales tienen en grandissimo odio, creyendo y sospechando que en presencia dellos no se podria hazer cosa buena, de lo qual estoy con mucha perplexidat de mirar si conviene mas al servitio de V. Mt. echarlos, ahunque cierto a mi parecer no lo merecen, o de admetirles en conseio, lo qual tambien traheria grandes escandalos y el pueblo mostraria star muy ofendido dello. el corregidor de Valladolit me ha escripto que despues de mi partida en aquella villa les pesa mucho como no me trataron meior y con mas acatamiento y obediencia de los rreales mandamientos de V. Al. y que parece que se inclinan ya a bien, y porque don joan mendoça hijo del Cardenal Don Pero gonzalez estava alli procurando seditiones y levantamientos en favor de la junta le han echado y desterrado de la villa, y ahun diz que empieçan de tomar informacion contra Sarabia de algunas cosas que don Pero giron le ha dado de aforros de martas y pieças de plata y ahun de algunos centenares de ducados, y diz que han acordado de no acoier ni dexar entrar al don Pedro en aquella villa, y porque V. Mt. sepa el mandamiento que el mesmo don Pedro ha embiado al lugar del villar de frades que en dias passados fue quitado por el conseio rreal al conde su padre, embio traslado del con esta a V. Al. tambien me escrive el corregidor que Valladolit esta puesta en no obedecer a la junta sino en lo que tocare y cumpliere justamente al remedio de los agravios. plega a dios de lo guiar de manera que facilmente vengan a perfecta y cumplida obediencia de V[uest]ra Mt. como se le deve que con aquello esperaria que luego las otras universidades se reduzirian y tornarian a lo mesmo, ahunque los prudentes no tienen esperança dello sin que se haga a fuerça darmas sobre lo qual tambien quiero prevenir y certificar a V. Al. que en caso que lo destos Reynos tomasse algun sossiego no se habria de tener firmeza ni confianza en ello que siempre estarian en todo peligro de perdicion, y si pensassen que V. Mt. huviesse de alargar algo su venida luego tornarian a lo passado, y estonces la recruada seria peor que la dolencia primera y quiça sin esperança de remedio que por lo passado facilmente se podria juzgar lo porvenir. despues de escripto lo de arriba he recebido dos cartas de V. Mt. la una para todos los Gobernadores, la otra para mi solo, y ambas de siete del presente, y por ellas he visto la mucha prissa que alla se da en lo de su coronacion para se bolver presto a estos sus rreynos. beso las rreales manos de V. Al. por la merced que me ha fecho en mandarme escrevir assi particularmente su determinacion. plazera a nuestro Señor que le guiara en todo de manera que lo de alla se hara y cumplira muy bien y que lo de aqua con su rreal presencia y presta venida tornara a su devido lugar, ahunque para ello havra menester manya y poder y crea V. Mt. que por presta que sea su venida que es y sera muy mucha mas la extrema necessidat que hay en estos rreynos de su Real presencia, y ahunque ahora con mi salida de Valladolit tomassen las cossas algun camino de sossiego y obediencia, menos fiaria dello, y tengalo V[uest]ra Al. assi por cierto y no dude en ello ni crea otra cosa y piense que en escrevirle esto cumplo acerca dello con lo que debo a dios y a V[uest]ra Mt. y al descargo de mi consciencia. la suspension que V. Al. manda acerca el poder que nos dio para perdonar, no me parece que conviene en esta sazon, y creo que los que ie la han aconseiado no querrian ser participantes del trabaio grandissimo que tengo. de los del conseio estan conmigo Çapata, el licenciado de Santyago, el doctor Cabrero, Cualla, Beltran y Tello. con el Condestable estan Polanco, don alonso de Castilla y Aguirre. el Presidente esta cerca del Condestable, y Vargas en Benavente algo indispuesto. guarde ñtro Señor la vida y Real estado de V[uest]ra Mt. luengamente y con toda prosperidat. en medina de rrioseco a xxj. de Octubre de mil quinientos y veinte años. v[ost]re tres hunble serviteur el Carl. dertusen. [Sobre :] S. C. R. C. Mti. |
(Translation.) 65. To his Majesty. From the Cardinal. 21st October. Sacred, imperial, catholic, and royal Majesty, These days I received a letter from your Majesty, by which I was only informed of the anxiety which there (fn. 1) prevailed, and of the great astonishment of your Highness that I had not written to you in detail of the affairs of these kingdoms. As your Majesty has since received other letters from me, I believe you will excuse me, and clearly see by the facts that in the affairs of this place (Spain) I have not slept, nor neglected to provide what is necessary. Now quite of late I have not written, because the Junta had such a number of soldiers on the roads to arrest and search every person who passed, that, considering the great danger of sending letters, I not only desisted from writing, but was also very much afraid that they might intercept some courier coming from there. (fn. 2) And although, in as far as my letters are concerned, I could protect and secure myself against bad consequences by writing in cipher, nevertheless your Majesty may believe that if in such a case they had intercepted a courier they would have been more excited, and the excitement would have lasted longer owing to the great suspicion they would have had of me. Because my departure from Valladolid is desirable for the service of your Majesty, I have always secretly sought to procure it in many ways since I have been detained. Seeing that this affair took a bad turn, and considering the great troubles which Fray Alonso de Medina had lately produced in this town with his sermons (of which I send your Highness a summary that I received from a person who heard them), which were delivered before the townspeople, I requested the said town to consent and to let me go without hindrance, and if not, to excuse me if I should take my measures and do what the service of your Highness and my honour required. They answered in general terms and with compliments, but were more inclined towards detaining than towards letting me go. Such being the state of things I determined on Monday last, the 15th of the present month, at eight o'clock in the evening to try my fortune, and recommending myself to God and accompanied by only one person I left the town secretly, climbing over the wall with great danger. No one in the world knew it. When I was at a great distance from the town I mounted and rode the whole night through. On Tuesday at sunrise I was in this town of Medina de Rioseco, where I have been well received by Don Hernando and by the Adelantado, brothers of the Admiral. I went more than three leagues out of the direct way in order to avoid meeting any one, so that none might betray me. Thus I travelled more than ten leagues. As soon as I had arrived I sent a messenger to the Constable informing him of my escape, and another to the said Admiral asking him to make haste to come. We have not heard anything of him except that it has been said of late that he is in Zaragoza. I intend to remain here until I receive an answer from the Admiral, in order to see what he will say. I shall write it directly to your Majesty. The affairs in Tordesillas take such a turn, and the Junta desires so much the health of the Queen our lady, that they have taken from her all the women who had been appointed for her royal service. Thus it seems they wish entirely to finish her. And, as I have already written in another letter to your Majesty, her Highness is now worse than ever before. It is the greatest pity in the world! In order to induce her to sign they go to the last extremes and show the greatest diligence in obeying her. Because lately her Highness remained three days without eating, they gave her afterwards all the food which they ought to have given her during the three days. Concerning the order dismissing the women of her household, I have heard from the husband of one of them that it is to be in force only a few days, and that members of the Junta have said that her Highness has promised to sign within four days if they would dismiss the women of her household. These four days have elapsed, and they have not been able to persuade her Highness to sign. Your Majesty may believe me, if they could obtain only one signature from her Highness the revolt and confusion of these kingdoms would become much greater than they are, if that is possible. The said Junta is divided and disunited, and certainly your Highness ought many times to thank God that they have not completely deprived you of the title of King of these kingdoms. As Pedro de Cartagena, Procurator of Burgos, said that Burgos did not participate in the decrees of the Junta, and that they (fn. 3) were present only in the quality of witnesses to see what the others did, the others have made a buckler of him and pushed him forward, so that it is due to the influence of Burgos alone that the most important thing which ever was debated in the Junta was decided [and settled in your favour], that is to say, that your Majesty was permitted to make use of the title of King which was bestowed on you. Now it is said that they send a letter to your Majesty. They insisted that it should be signed by all the Procurators, but those of Burgos have refused to sign it because it contains many things which they say they have opposed. When they were told that they had sworn that the decisions of the majority should be accepted and approved by the minority, they said that the oath did not oblige them to sign and to affix their names to the decrees and orders, as it was sufficient if the notaries and Escrivanos of the Junta testified and signed them. A great many of the well intentioned cavaliers have been very glad that I left Valladolid, hoping that the affairs of the kingdom will now be more easily settled ; but they apprehend and are in the highest degree afraid lest I take back and retain with me the President, the Bishop of Burgos, and Vargas, whom they hate very much. They believe and suspect that where these persons are nothing good can be done. I am very perplexed, and do not know whether the service of your Majesty require that they be dismissed, although in my opinion they do not deserve it ; or whether they are to be admittted to the sittings of the Council, although it would produce a great scandal and much offend the feelings of the people. The Corregidor of Valladolid has written to me that since my departure from that town they are very sorry that they have not treated me better and respected and obeyed the royal commands of your Highness. It seems they are inclined to improve. They have driven away and banished from the town Don Juan de Mendoza, son of the Cardinal Don Pedro Gonzalez, (fn. 4) who stayed there in order to foment seditions and risings in favour of the Junta. They are also, it is said, to take proceedings against Saravia, (fn. 5) t o whom Pero Giron has given some linings of marten skins, pieces of plate, and even some hundred ducats. It is not believed that they will receive Don Pedro or let him enter the town. In order that your Majesty may know what the said Don Pedro has written to the town of Villar de Frades, of which the royal council had some time ago deprived the Count, his father, I send a copy of his letter to your Highness. The Corregidor writes me also that Valladolid is not willing to obey the Junta except in what is just and relates to and concerns the reformation of grievances. Would God the thing were so arranged as to induce them without difficulty to return to that state of perfect and complete obedience which they owe to your Majesty. With such an example the other Commons would soon be reduced or voluntarily submit. The prudent, however, do not entertain hopes of it unless by force of arms. I wish also to inform and certify to your Highness, that in case these kingdoms should become more quiet, no trust or confidence could be placed in such a state of things. There would be always danger of losing them. If they thought that the absence of your Majesty is to last long, they would soon repeat what they have done, and the relapse would be worse than the first illness, perhaps without hope of recovery. It is easy to judge the future by the past. After I had written all that precedes I received two letters from your Majesty, one for all the governors, the other for me alone. Both were dated on the 7th of the present month. I have learnt from them that the preparations for your coronation are being made with great haste in order that you may soon return to these kingdoms. I kiss the royal hands of your Highness, thanking you for the favour of writing me so particularly of your determination. May it please God to guide you in such a manner that there all be well arranged, and that with your presence and speedy arrival here things may return to their normal state. But skill and might will be necessary for that. Your Majesty may believe that however soon you may arrive here, the necessities of these kingdoms are so extreme that you never can come early enough. And although now, since I have left Valladolid, affairs should take a better turn towards a state of tranquillity and obedience, I should not trust it at all. Your Highness may be sure of this, and ought not to doubt it or to believe anything else. Believe me, in writing this I fulfil my duty towards God and your Majesty and satisfy my conscience. The revocation of the power to pardon does not seem to me seasonable, and I think that those who advised it would not like to join me in my difficult labours. Of the councillors there are staying with me Zapata, the Licentiate of Santiago, Doctor Cabrero, Cualla, Beltran, and Telo. With the Constable are Polanco, Don Alonso de Castilla, and Aguirre. The President is not far from the Constable, and Vargas is in Benavente, somewhat unwell. May our Lord guard the life and royal estate of your Majesty for long and in all prosperity. Medina de Rioseco, 21st October 1520. Your very humble servant, The Cardinal of Tortosa. [Addressed :] To his sacred, imperial, royal, and catholic Majesty. |
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| 29th October. |
66. Iñigo Fernandez De Velasco, Constable of Castile, to
the Emperor Charles. [Archivo General de Simancas. Patronato Real. Comunidades de Castilla. Legajo 2. f. 136. Autograph.] A Su magt. del Condestable de Castilla. xxix de Otubre. S. C. R. Mt. el despacho que V Mt. me mando enviar con la Buxecta de xv. del presente Rescebi y con el las cartas para mi de V. A. y las Reales manos de V. Mt. beso por estimar en algo mi servicio. lo que yo Señor puedo y tengo es poco y la vida no mucha y lo uno y lo otro tengo empleado en vuestro servicio y quanto mas tuviera assy lo hiziera por cumplir con lo que soy obligado. Razon tiene V. Mt. de penalle lo que aca ha sucedido especialmente por lo que toca a la Reyna mi Señora vuestra madre, que siendo quien es su persona Real este entre gente soldada y Barbaros que nunca conoscio ni vio y que con espingardas la asonbran cada dia por hazelle que firme. quitaronle como escrebi a V. Mt. todas las mugeres de su servicio y dexaronla solamente con una. Agora el Cardenal me ha escripto desde Medina de Ruyseco (fn. 6) una carta cuyo traslado enbio a V. Mt. haziendome saber que los de la Juncta hazen mucha gente de pie y de cavallo para sacar a Su Alt. de alli y llevalla a Toledo, o a Segovia. y que el havia proveydo a los grandes y pueblos de la comarca. haziendogelo saber para que saliesen con sus gentes a estorballo. lo que yo sienpre he creydo es que si Su Alteza se quiere yr de Tordesillas no ay quien la detenga. y si no se quiere yr no ay quien la lleve. de manera que ha muchos dias que este peligro tenemos en la mano. yo provey luego de escrevir a Burgos y a Valladolid y a Palencia y demas de aquello enbio cc. lanças de aquel cavo de Burgos hazia Medina de Ruyseco (2) y yo me doy priesa para salir de aqui con toda la gente de armas y ynfanteria y de los grandes y cavalleros desta comarca y creo que yre a Burgos. y de alli camino derecho plaziendo a nuestro Señor para Tordesillas donde espero con su ayuda, pues la demanda es tan sancta y justa, poner en libertad a la Reyna nuestra Señora y a la Señora ynfante y hechar de alli a aquellos traydores que con tanto atrevimiento y osadia han estado y estan contra vuestro servicio. el poder para la governacion Biene Bueno y hera menester porque con estar el cardenal en medina de Ruyseco y el almirante en Catelunia no tenia poder como quiera que siempre he usado de la governacion despues que estan aqui conmigo el presidente y los del consejo que he escripto a V. Mt. el cardenal me avia enbiado la ynstrucion general que V. Mt. mando enbiar para la forma que se avia de tener. y agora con esta posta rescebi el despacho duplicado de lo que toca a la ynstrucion. se usara como mas convenga a servicio de V. Mt. y pacificacion y sosiego destos Reynos. en la venida de los alemanes deve V. Mt. mandar que se de priesa a lo menos questen prestos para venir con V. Mt. tanbien mande V. Mt. dar horden en prover los dineros porque aca todo lo que se puede hazer para Buscallos se haze. a V. Mt. escrevi haziendole saber como avia escripto al Rey de portugal suplicandole que para esta necesidad me prestase l :[symbol] ducados el qual me ha respondido que lo hara como V. Mt. mandara veer por los treslados de sus cartas que aqui enbio. enbiome a pedir que haga ciercta obligacion la qual hare conforme a la que de alla me enbia ordenada que tanbien enbio a V. Mt. conviene que luego V. al. mande hazer la seguridad que pide y demas de aquello que se le escriva muy graciosamente y enbiarme el despacho para que yo lo enbie. a cierctos mercaderes que tienen trato en portugal he enbiado a llamar para tomar dellos todo el dinero que pudiere para que se lo den alla y enbiar por la resta. destos y de todos los demas se pagara la gente de las guardas y los gastos que mas necesarios fueren para esta jornada. en lo que V. Mt. me ha escripcto y agora me escrive de lo que toca al perdon lo que ay que dezir es que ya V. Mt. avra visto lo que con la posta pasadale escrevi y como la negociacion de burgos traya en los terminos que V. al. veria por un plito omenaje que hize. despues de aquello los de Burgos me enbiaron sus mensajeros para que otorgase los capitulos los quales otorgue, porque me parescio que aquello convenia mas a v[uest]ro servicio. si ecedi de lo que V. Mt. me enbio a mandar fue por desconcertar a Burgos de los de la junta y apartallos della que por solo aquello se les avia de otorgar y conceder quanto quisieran. quanto mas que de Burgos cuelgan todas las montañas y vizcaya y guipuzcoa y alava y encartaciones y otras ciudades y villas de su provincia y fuera de alla que estan en su opinion, que sino se hiziera, fuera acabar de perder el Reyno y Andaluzia porque ya, como V. A. avra visto, se yva dañando, y si entrara en el Reyno de granada fuera muy peor, y con aver fecho esto se sosegara o a lo menos se atajara que los males no vayan en crescimiento. crea V. Mt. que estos V[uest]ros Reynos estan tales que han menester perdon y livertades y grueso exercito para que la boz de vuestro servicio permanezca en ellos. y si algunas ciudades de las alteradas no quisieren pasar por lo que Burgos ha fecho, lo qual yo creo que avra artos, ay se terna V. Mt. su tienpo para poder castigar o perdonar o hazer lo que fuere servido. harto es que con tinta y papel que agora les damos esten reduzidos a v[uest]ro servicio y pues v[uest]ra bienaventurada venida ha de seer (fn. 7) tan presto muy mejor es que todos os resciban en paz y en sosiego que no de otra manera, pues al cabo son vuestros vassallos. y estando V. Mt. en vuestros reynos pacificamente podreis hazer de lo uno y de lo otro lo que V. A. fuere servido. lo que no se podria hazer estando de otra manera sino con muchas muertes y alteraciones. suplico a V. A. quan afetuosamente puedo aunque algunos de los dichos capitulos os parescan graves como en la verdad lo son que V. Mt. mande confirmar y aprovar la escriptura que asi hize, y me la mande enbiar porque haziendo V. A. esto como he dicho si algunos pueblos no quisieren pasar por ello, lo qual yo creo, entonces avra ocasion mas justa para el castigo. y mientras mas rezias cosas os pidieren y les concedieredes, mas razon terna V. Mt. venido a V[uest]ros Reynos de hazer todo lo que pareciere que mas convenga a V[uest]ro servicio y bien y pacificacion dellos. si alla paresciere otra cosa de lo que digo no pienso ni nadie deve pensar, sino que dios premite per el pecado del pueblo que todo se destruya. y avrase como veemos que se haze. V. Mt. es tan catholico y xp[ist]ianisimo y justo que conoscera que lo que he fecho ha seydo en v[uest]ro servicio y que no convenia que de otra manera se hiziese. yo di en Rehenes a mis hijos don juan de tovar y don Bernaldino de Velasco y las fortalezas de vilalpando y vilhorado y asi les diera a la duquesa mi muger y a los otros mis hijos y todo lo que me queda, por ser cosa que tanto imporcta porque en la verdad apartada Burgos de la junta su partido rescibe arta quiebra. la carta que con esta posta vino para Burgos vino a tienpo que estavan aqui sus procuradores esperando que yo otorgase la dicha escriptura, luego la enbie con don alvaro de ayala a la ciudad. lo que don alvaro vido alli y lo que paso en la ciudad, despues que fueron mis hijos, el creo que lo escrive a V. Mt. porque no quiso la ciudad responder a la carta de V. A. hasta que sus procuradores fuesen llegados y asi Responden lo que V. Mt. vera por su carta. bien proveydo fue lo de la suspension del poder del Cardenal y de los del Consejo questan con el como quiera que ya estava fuera de valladold. estase en medina de Ruyseco y de alli me escrive y avisa de lo que por aquella comarca pasa aunque seria mejor que estuviesemos juntos porque terniamos mas autoridad para proveer y despachar lo que se huviese de hazer. en lo que toca a la gente de los gelves, ya he escripto a V. A. lo que se hizo y el trabajo que se tuvo en pasar a estas partes la que paso. las otras capitanias de guardas que V. Mt. dize que estavan con fonseca heran de Navarra. de alli me enbia el duque de najera quatro dellas para que vayan comigo. en lo que V. Mt. dize de fonseca, despues que se fue de arevalo no he sabido del mas de quanto me dizen que se fue a portugal y con el el alcalde Ronquillo y que alli se enbarcaron para V Mt. esto es lo mas que he sabido. si estoviera en estos Reynos no le aconsejara yo que viniera a juntarse comigo porque fuera dar causa que el Reyno se acabara de destruyr y el no estuviera seguro porque estan tan yndinados contra el los pueblos y mas que contra el turco. el esta muy bien alla sy es ydo porque verna con V. Mt. y pues el hizo lo que devia a v[uest]ro servicio y tiene su hazienda y vida en aventura mucha razon es que V. Mt. le recoja y haga muy buen tratamiento y trabaje de ponelle bien con el Reyno que es lo que mas ha menester el. dexo muy bien proveyda a coca y alaejos. en coca quedo su hijo mayor. a alaejos convaten los de medina con el artilleria de V. Al. hasta agora diz que no le hazen mucho mal. el Alcayde que tienen dentro lo haze tan bien que no puede ser mejor. ha muerto mas de xx o xxx onbres y herido muchos. el mayor trabajo que tiene es que diz que los minan. en coca tanbien esperan cada dia otro tancto pero dizenme que no tienen ningund temor porque estan muy bien proveydos y la fortaleza es muy buena. de las cedulas en blanco que V. Mt. me mando enbiar se hara lo que V. A. manda. las carctas para las provincias y para todo lo demas vinieron muy buenas. asi las llenas como las otras. luego despache con ellas como v. mt. lo mando. en lo que toca a Burgos ya escrivo antes desto lo que esta fecho. en lo de mi yda a tordesillas ya tengo dicho a V. Mt. lo que en aquello se ha de hazer. si el negocio fuese mio ya podiera ser que las cartas de V. Mt. me tomaran cerca de la junta, mas pues es vuestro tengo de buscar los medios posibles para poner la cosa en la menos aventura que pudiere. el oste de correos esta aqui comigo algunos dias ha y por ciercto el es persona Bien Bastante para el oficio que tiene y muy diligente y verdadero servidor de V. A. dizeme que se le deven muchos dineros. razon es que V. Mt. mande dar orden como le sean pagados. las cartas de apercebimientos para los grandes y perlados aun no he despachado. luego començare a despachallas, porque estos negocios de Burgos y poner en horden esta gente de guerra me ha enbarçado y tanbien por no tener sello de V.A. que le he fecho hazer porque las cartas vayan con mas autoridad. en lo uno y en lo otro se dara toda la priesa posible. luego enbie las carctas (fn. 11) de V. mt. a los del consejo de las hordenes, y por no estar aqui comigo mas del presidente y polanco y don alonso de Castilla y aguirre y acuña que paso por aqui de camino para la provincia de guipuzcoa, no he comunicado lo de la gente que V. Al. deve traer demas de la de los grandes y guardas. en juntandonos que sera presto se entendera en ello. y luego hare posta con diligencia a V. mt. de lo que nos paresciere. las cartas de V. A. se dieron a pedro de cartagena y antonio Sarmiento y juan de Rojas. pedro de cartagena ha servido tanto y tan bien a V. A. en esta jornada de tordesillas que meresce y es razon que se le hagan muchas mercedes porque el ha seydo el que ha sostenido el nonbre de V. Mt. en aquella juncta y el que ha contradicho todo quanto han fecho y agora que se vino de tordesillas su venida han (fn. 12) provechado mucho en Burgos. porque les ha pregonado las maldades y trayciones que aquellos intentan y ha seydo de ponelles en la division que tienen. de manera que por muchas causas es razon de tener sus servicios en mucha estima. las cartas para Sevilla y Cordova y otras partes que V. A. me enbio duplicadas partiran presto como V. Al. lo manda con otras provisiones que aca avemos acordado los del consejo y yo sobre las cosas de la juncta. el despacho de Sevilla sobre el alboroto que alli huvo no es ydo ni tanpoco la provision del asistentado para el conde de luna. las carctas yran luego y la provision no le enbiare porque en lcon puede servir mucho a V. mt. y si de alli le sacamos podria ser que todo fuese con mal. Sancho martinez es ydo a Sevilla como fuere recivido asi se proveera lo del conde de luna. si a V. Mt. paresciere que es bien que todavia vaya el conde de luna mandemelo escrevir porque asi se proveera. y de Sancho martinez se terna memoria pues es persona que en todas cosas podra muy bien servir. el despacho para el marques de mondejar se enbiara y de aquel reyno y de todo lo demas se terna el cuydado que V. A. manda. pues es cosa que tancto imporcta. mande V. mt. dar priesa en lo del artilleria porque de ella tenemos mucha necesidad. luego a la ora despache al capictan lescano con la carta de V. Mt. y con carcta mia para que haga la cala de las naos y me enbie relacion dellas como V. Mt. lo manda. y que se parta el para esas partes en enbiandome la relacion. luego que me la enbie despachare con ella buxeta como V. A. lo escrive. mucho olgue de saber que lope hurctado fuese llegado porque del sabra V. Mt. el estado de lo de aca que lo vido por vista de ojos. cada ora espero respuesta de lo que con el escrevi y de las otras carctas que despues he escripcto a V. A. yo he sabido que los de la juncta han enbiado a V. Mt. un mensajero suyo que diz que se llama anton Bazquez vecino de avila persona de mal bivir. no se cree que ellos pueden enbiar otros pues todos son desta manera. si a estos oye V. Mt. no se que me diga sino que no se deve hazer y no solamente no oylle a el ni a otros que de la Juncta vayan. pero mandalles echar de la corte. y acuerdese V. Mt. que el cardenal en v[uest]ro nonbre enbio a avila al comendador hinestrosa para que ablase a los procuradores y no quisieron oylle ni que entrase en la ciudad. y asi le enbiaron. y lo mismo hizieron a los obispos de lugo y oviedo que enbio a tordesillas y no los quiso oyr ni dexar entrar dentro. de manera que claramente dan a entender las malas volunctades que tienen a vuestro servicio. yo he sabido que como V. Mt. abrio puerta en la coruña en dar la capictania general del Reyno a fonseca. que agora otros la pediran, agora este oficio es mio como V. Mt. sabe. quando yo no le serviere bien entonces la podra mandar proveer a otro. el conde de oñate mi hijo esta todavia con el cardenal. sirve alli en todo lo que se ofresce muy bien y en su salida de Valladolid travajo todo lo que pudo y nunca le ha dexado y asi ge lo he escripcto yo. es onbre cuerdo y tiene dispusicion de servir de servir (fn. 14) a V. mt. en toda manera de cargos. V. A. se acuerde del quando oviere dispusicion. el dean de Burgos mi sobrino y el doctor Çumel estan en Burgos sufriendo mas peligro de sus personas de lo que aqui se puede dezir. para el doctor cada dia ay dispusicion para hazelle merced. el otro que es de otra calidad hazersela a quando caso se ofresciere. otras vezes he escripto a V. Mt. haciendole saver lo que juan de Rojas sirve y la volunctad y deseo que tiene a v[uest]ro servicio. nunca se quita de comigo. razon es que V. Mt. se acuerde del. don juan de luna capictan de los continos de V. Mt. vino aqui con algunos de los continos de su capictania. ha servido y sirve muy bien en todas las cosas que se han ofrescido y venir el con la gente de su capitania aqui primero que nadie fue mucha causa que la gente de los gelves viniese. de manera que por muchos respectos V. A. es obligado hazelle mercedes. lo que agora yo suplico a V. A. es que le haga merced del avito de Santiago, pues concurren en el todas las calidades que se requieren, en lo qual V. Mt. me hara mucha merced. el conde de fuensalida esta en galizia y tiene aquel Reyno en mucha paz y justicia. mandele V. A. escrevir y encomendar que lo haga asi continuamente. los dias que don Alvaro de Ayala ha estado aqui ha hecho lo que siempre. que es servir a V. Mt. y tiene deseo de serviros en esta jornada, bien sabe pedricar lo que conviene. aya V. A. memoria del en lo que se ofresciere. el comendador Aguilera me ha escripto que el conde de Benavente le ha despedido. V. mt, escriva al conde sobre ello pues el comendador vino aca sobre cosas de vuestro servicio. para dar cuencta a V. Mt. de todo lo de aca me parescio que hera bien que fuese don pero velez de guevara el qual va. suplico a V. Mt. le mande oyr y dar entera fee y le mande brevemente despachar porque aca podra servir en todo lo que fuere menester. pues es tan cuerdo y servidor de V. Mt. cuya muy Real persona y estado guarde y prospere nuestro Señor como V. Mt. desea. De Briviesca xxix de Otubre. de v[uest]ra majestad mayor servidor que sus muy Reales manos besa. el condestable. [Rubrica.] [Sobre :] Sacra Regis Cathca. Magt. |
66. To his Majesty. From the Constable of
Castile. 29th of October. Sacred, imperial, and royal Majesty. I received the despatch which your Majesty had ordered to be sent to me in the mail box of the 15th of the present month, and at the same time the letters of your Highness directed to me. I kiss the royal hands of your Majesty for the esteem in which my services are held. Señor, all I can do and possess is little, and my life has not much [longer to last], but both are employed in your service, and if I possessed more I would act in the same way in order to fulfil my duty. Well may your Majesty be sorry for what has occurred here, and especially with respect to the Queen, my lady and your mother ; for, without regard for her station, her royal person lives amongst barbarous soldiers, whom she never before knew or saw, and who frighten her every day with hand guns to make her sign. They dismissed, as I have already written to your Majesty, all her women from her service, leaving her only one. The cardinal has now written a letter to me from Medina de Rioseco—a copy of which I send to your Majesty,—letting me know that the Junta enlists a great army of foot and horse, in order to carry off her Highness from there, and to take her to Toledo or Segovia, and that he had warned the grandees and the towns of that province, informing them of this design, in order that they should march with their troops and prevent it. What I always have believed is this : if her Highness wishes to leave Tordesillas, no one can keep her there, and if she does not wish no one can carry her off. This danger has threatened us already a long time. I wrote without delay to Burgos, Valladolid, and Palencia, and moreover I sent 200 lances from Burgos to Medina de Rioseco. I do what I can to march as soon as possible from here with all the men-at-arms, the infantry, and the grandees and cavaliers of this province. I think I shall go first to Burgos, and thence, with the help of our Lord, direct to Tordesillas, where I hope with His help, as the enterprise is so sacred and holy, to set at liberty the Queen our lady and the señora Infanta, and to drive away the traitors, who with so much daring and boldness have risen and still rise against your service. The power for the government comes in good time, and was necessary ; because the cardinal, being in Medina de Rioseco, and the admiral in Catalonia, I did not hold the power, although I have always acted as governor since the president and members of the council are here with me, as I have written to your Majesty. The cardinal had sent me the general instruction, which your Majesty desired to be sent, in the correct form in which I was to have it. Now by this post I received the duplicate despatch of that which relates to the instruction. It shall be used as is most suitable for the service of your Majesty and for the pacification and quiet of these kingdoms. Concerning the coming of the Germans, your Majesty should command that haste be made, or at least that they should be ready to come with your Majesty. Your Majesty should also send orders to provide money, because all that can be had here by seeking has been procured. I wrote to your Majesty, letting you know how I had written to the King of Portugal, entreating that he would lend me in this necessity fifty thousand ducats. He has answered that he will do so, as your Majesty will see by the copies of his letters which I send with this. He begged that I would enter into certain bonds, which I will do. He sent them drawn up in proper form, and I enclose them for your Majesty. It is right that your Highness should command immediately that the security which he asks be given, and besides that you should write very graciously to him, and send me the warrant, that I may give it to certain merchants who have dealings with Portugal, asking them to pay me at once as much money as can be had, and to send there [to Portugal] for the remainder. With this, and what else we have, the guardsmen and those expenses which were most necessary for this expedition shall be paid. With respect to what your majesty has written and now writes again concerning the pardon, what I have to say is that which I wrote by the former post which your Majesty will already have seen. The negotiation with Burgos is now in such terms as your Highness will learn from my oath of homage which I swore to them. After that the people of Burgos sent me their messengers that I might agree to the articles, which I did agree to, because it appeared to me to be more expedient for your service. If I exceeded what your Majesty ordered me to do, it was in order to set at variance the people of Burgos with those of the Junta, and to separate them from them. For that reason alone I should have granted and conceded whatever ever they desired, especially as upon Burgos depend the mountain country and Biscay, and Guipuzcoa and Alava, and the Encartaciones, and other cities and towns of this province and out of it which follow her example. Unless that was done this kingdom would have been lost, and Andalusia, which, as your Majesty will already have learnt, is also infected, and if the rebellion had spread into the kingdom of Granada it would be much worse. What I have done will appease the evils, or, at the least, prevent them from increasing. Your Majesty may believe that these your kingdoms are such that pardon, immunities, and a large army are required to secure to you a permanent command of them. If some of the disturbed cities, and I hope there will be many of them, are prevented by the example of Burgos from going further, your Majesty can take your time to chastise or pardon, or to do whatever you please. It is not a small thing that with ink and paper which we now give them they may be brought back to your service. Since your happy arrival is to be so soon, it is much better that all receive you in peace and tranquillity than in any other way. After all they are your vassals, and your Majesty, being peaceably received in your kingdoms, will be able to do with the one or the other (fn. 8) whichever your Highness may choose,— the which could not be effected in any other way except with a great loss of life and many disturbances. Although some of the conditions may appear hard to you, as in truth they are, I supplicate your Highness as affectionately as I can that your Majesty will confirm and approve the treaty which I have concluded, and order it to be sent to me. If your Highness does this, and, as I have said, some of the towns can be prevented thereby from going further, which I believe, then you will have a better occasion for chastisement. In the meantime, the ruder the things they have demanded of you, and you have conceded, the more reason has your Majesty, when you have arrived in your kingdoms, to put in execution that which should appear most advantageous to your service and the welfare and peace of the kingdoms. If there (fn. 9) a different opinion from what I say should prevail, I could not, nor ought any one else to, think but that God, on account of the sins of the people, permits that all shall be destroyed, and that that will be done, which, as we have seen, has been done. Your Majesty is so catholic and christian and just that you will perceive that what I have performed has been in your service, and that in no other way could it have been done. I gave in hostage my sons Don Juan de Tovar and Don Bernaldino de Velasco, and the fortresses of Villalpando and Vilhorado, and I would have given them the duchess my wife, and my other children, and all which remains to me, because this is a matter of so much importance. There is no doubt Burgos being separated from the Junta its party receives a great loss. The letter which came by this post for Burgos arrived at the same time that their Procurators were here, hoping that I should agree to the said deed. I sent it immediately by Don Alvaro de Ayala to the city. That which Don Alvaro saw there, and what passed in the city after my sons had arrived, he will, I think, write to your Majesty. The city would not reply to the letter of your highness until their Procurators had arrived. They answer what your Majesty will learn from their letter. The suspension of the power of the cardinal and of those of the council who were with him was perfectly right. Although he has already left Valladolid and is in Medina de Rioseco, whence he writes to me, informing me of what happens in that neighbourhood, it would be better if we were together, that we might have more authority to order and decide on what is to be done. As for the troops from the Gelves, I have already written to your Highness how difficult it was to bring those of them over to these parts who were brought over. The other companies of the guards which your Majesty mentions were with Fonseca, and are from Navarra. The Duke of Najera sent four of them from there to accompany me. As to what your Majesty says of Fonseca I know nothing more of him, after he left Arevalo, but that they told me that he and the Alcalde Ronquillo with him had gone to Portugal. and from thence embarked to go to your Majesty. This is all I know. If he should be in these kingdoms, I would not advise him to come and join himself with me, because it might cause the complete loss of the kingdom ; and he would not be safe, because the commons hate him more than the Turk. He is very well there (fn. 10), if he has gone, and can return with your Majesty. As he has done what he ought to do in your service, and ventured his possessions and life, there is much reason that your Majesty should receive him well, and let him have good treatment, and endeavour to put him right with the kingdom, which is the most important thing for him. He left Coca and Alaejos very well provided. His eldest son remained at Coca. At Alaejos the people of Medina fought with the artillery of your highness. Hitherto it is said they have not done much harm. The alcalde, whom they have within, behaves so well that nothing could be better. More than 20 or 30 men have been killed and many are wounded. The greatest trouble they give him is, that it is said they are undermining [the place]. In Coca likewise, they expect every day the same thing ; but they tell me that they have no fear, because they are well provided, and the fortress is very strong. With the orders which your Majesty caused to be sent to me in blank I shall do as your Highness commands. The letters for the provinces and all the other places arrived seasonably ; those which are addressed, as well as the others. I immediately despatched them as your Majesty commanded. On that which relates to Burgos I already wrote before of what has been done. As to the expedition against Tordesillas, I have already told your Majesty what I think must be done. If the affair were mine, it might be that the letters of your Majesty would have reached me not far from the Junta ; but as it is your business I must seek all possible means to place the affair in the least possible risk. The postmaster has been here with me for some days ; and certainly he is a very competent person for the office which he holds ; very diligent and a true servant of your Majesty. He tells me that much money is owing him. Your Majesty ought to give orders how he is to be paid. The summons for the grandees and prelates I have not yet sent. I will begin to despatch them immediately. These affairs of Burgos, and the ordering of the soldiery, have obstructed me. As I had no seal of your Majesty I have caused one to be made, in order that the letters might carry greater authority. The utmost possible haste shall be made. I immediately sent your Majesty's summons to the council of the orders, and as there was no one here with me except the President, Polanco, and Don Alonso de Castilla, Aguirre, and Acuña, who is on his way to the province of Guipuzcoa, I have not told that your Highness will bring troops from there, in addition to those of the grandees and the guards. As soon as we (fn. 13) are together, which will be soon, we shall come to an understanding about it, and immediately send a courier with all diligence to your Majesty with our opinion on it. The letters of your Highness will be given to Pedro de Cartagena, Antonio Sarmiento, and Juan de Rojas. Pedro de Cartagena has served your Highness so much and so well in Tordesillas that he deserves, and it is just that he should receive, many favours. It has been he who maintained the name of your Majesty in that Junta, and who has opposed all that they have done. And now that he has come from Tordesillas, his presence in Burgos has profited much. He has proclaimed the wickedness and treason which those [of the Junta] intended, and has been the one to make the discord between them which exists there. Thus on many accounts it is just to hold his services in much esteem. The letters which your Highness sent me in duplicate for Sevilla, Cordova, and other places shall go soon, as your Highness commands, and other decrees which the council here and I have agreed upon touching the affairs of the Junta. The warrant concerning the disturbance at Sevilla is not gone, nor yet the order nominating the Count de Luna chief justice of that place. The letters shall go immediately ; but the order I will not send, because he [Count de Luna] may be of much service to your Majesty in Leon. If we withdraw him from there it might be that every thing would go ill. Sancho Martinez is gone to Sevilla. If he is received, the affair of the Count de Luna will be arranged. Should it appear good to your Majesty that, notwithstanding, the Count de Luna shall go, write it to me, and it shall be done. Remember Sancho Martinez, for he is a person who can be useful in all things. The despatch for the Marquis de Mondejar shall be sent, and the business of that kingdom, and of everything else which your Highness commands, shall be looked after. It is a thing of much importance. Your Majesty should hasten in the matter of the artillery, for we stand in much need of it. I immediately sent the Captain Lescano with your Majesty's letter and one of mine, that he might enquire about the ships and give me an account of them, as your Majesty commands. He is to embark for Flanders, and to send me the report. Directly he does so, I will despatch it by the mail box, as your Highness has written. I rejoice much that Lope Hurtado had arrived, because your Majesty will know from him the condition of affairs here, which he saw with his own eyes. Every hour I expect an answer to what I wrote by him, and to the other letters which I have written to your Highness. I have known that the members of the Junta have sent to your Majesty a messenger, who it is said is call Anton Vasquez, native of Avila, a person of bad reputation. I do not believe they could send any other for they are all of this class. If your Majesty listens to these [the Junta], I do not know what to say, except that you ought not to it, and not only not hear him nor any others whom the Junta may send, but command them to be driven from court. May it please your Majesty to remember that the cardinal sent in your name to Avila the knight commander Hinestrosa, in order that he might speak to the Procurators, and they did not choose to hear him, nor permit him to enter the city, and so sent him away. They did the same to the Bishops of Lugo and Oviedo, whom he sent to Tordesillas, and did not desire to hear them or permit them to enter within, so that they give one clearly to understand the bad will which they have towards your service. I am informed that, as your Majesty constituted a precedent in Coruña, by giving the captain generalship of the kingdom to Fonseca, others will now ask for it. Now this office is mine, as your Majesty knows. When I shall cease to exercise it, then you can order it to be conferred upon another. The Count of Oñate, my son, is still with the cardinal. He serves there very well in every thing that occurs. And on his departure from Valladolid he did all that he could and has never abandoned him, as I had ordered him. He is a prudent man, and inclined to serve your Majesty in any kind of employment. Your Highness will remember him when you are so disposed. The Dean of Burgos, my nephew, and the Doctor Zumel, are in Burgos, suffering more personal danger there than can be stated here. With regard to the doctor he is of such a disposition that favours must be shown him every day. The other, who is of a different quality, might have them when an occasion offers. I have written at other times to your Majesty to let you know of what use Juan de Rojas is, and the goodwill and desire he has for your service. He never leaves me. It is right that your Majesty should remember him. Don Juan de Luna, captain of the continos of your Majesty, came here with some men of his company. He has served and continues to serve very well in all things which fall in his way. His coming here with the men of his company, before anybody else, was a principal cause why the troops from the Gelves came. On this account, your Highness ought to show him favour in every respect. That which I now beg of your Highness is, that you will grant him the favour of the knighthood of Santiago, since in him are found all the qualities which are requisite. Your Majesty will favour me much in doing this. The Count of Fuensalida is in Galicia, and maintains much peace and justice in that kingdom. Your Highness ought to order that he be written to, and commanded to continue to do the same. The days that Don Alvaro de Ayala was here, he has done as he always does, that is, to serve your Majesty. He has a desire to serve you in this enterprise. He knows well how to preach that which is suitable. Your Highness will keep him in remembrance when any thing offers. The knight commander Aguilera has written to me that the Count of Benavente has dismissed him. Do your Majesty write to the count about it, as the knight commander came here on matters concerning your service. In order to give an account to your Majesty of all that has happened here, it appeared to me that it would be well that Don Pero Velez de Guevara should be sent to you. I beg your Majesty to hear and to give him entire credit, and send him quickly back again, because here he may be of use in all necessary things, as he is so discreet and a servant of your Majesty, whose very royal person and state may our Lord guard and prosper as your Majesty desires. From Briviesca, 29th of October. From your Majesty's most obedient servant, who kisses your very royal hands. The Constable. [Sign manual.] [Addressed :] Sacred and catholic Majesty, our King. |