Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1866.
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'Spain: July 1513', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525, (London, 1866) pp. 142-147. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol2/pp142-147 [accessed 3 May 2024]
July 1513
| July (beg. of) (?) S. E. R. L. 847. f. 137. |
121. King Ferdinand The Catholic to Hieronymo De Vich,
his Ambassador in Rome. Was very glad when the present Pope was elected. Hoped from his goodness that he would bring about the general pacification of Christendom. Hitherto, however, just the contrary has taken place. Nevertheless, does not lose all his confidence in the character of the Pope. [This paragraph is crossed.] He is to see that the Pope at once carries out all the contents of the despatch which is enclosed. The Italians must not forget what they did last summer. When he and the King of England made war upon France on the frontier of Spain and occupied all the forces that were at her disposal, the Italians quarrelled with one another, and omitted to form a league for the defence of their country. The King of England is now entering France with a powerful army, and is placing the King of France in the greatest difficulties. But what are the Italians doing? They are making the King of France master of the whole of Italy. If they continue this line of policy, the King of England will conclude a perpetual peace with France. If, on the contrary, the Italians will help themselves, he and the King of England will assist them. The Italians must not complain afterwards that they are forsaken. Wishes very soon to be informed what the Pope and the Venetians intend to do. The Pope ought to bring about a general Italian league. It is impossible to make use of the bull by which the Pope has deprived the King and Queen of Navarra of their states, because a most essential word is wanting in it. The transcript which was sent, together with the bull, contains the words : "eosque ex tunc de cetero in Reges vel dominos minime recognoscant nec appellent ;" but in the original bull the word minime is left out. In another place of the original bull the letter r is omitted, which omission entirely alters the meaning of the sentence, changing the word reos into eos. Begs he will send him another bull.—No date. No signature. Indorsed : "Don Jeronimo de Vich." Spanish. Draft. pp. 3. |
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| July (?) S. E. Pat. Re. T. c. I. L. 5. f. 139. |
122. King Ferdinand The Catholic to Diego De Quiros,
his Envoy to England. Don Luis Caroz, Spanish ambassador in England, has tried to justify his conduct. He (Diego de Quiros) must tell him, however, that, at any rate, he acted without having received orders, and that what he did was at least inconvenient. Is, nevertheless, willing to forgive him, since he is persuaded that Don Luis did not err from want of zeal, but because he thought that what he did was advantageous to Spain. Don Luis must in future never go beyond the instructions he receives ; but as he, being on the spot, may sometimes be better enabled to judge whether the orders which are sent to him can be executed in the prescribed manner, and as circumstances may sometimes change, he is, in such cases, to put off the negotiations, and to ask for new instructions. On no condition is he to conclude treaties before the draft of them, which he is to send to Spain, has received his (King Ferdinand's) sanction. Don Luis has asked whether he is to continue his practice of sending to Spain news which does not relate to the business entrusted to him. Wishes to be always very particularly informed of all that happens in England. With respect to the confessor of the Queen of England, he is to inform Don Luis of the reasons why the Provincial of Aragon, who was destined for that post, did not go to England. Doubted afterwards whether the Queen, his daughter, was still in want of a confessor, and whether she would accept as such a Spaniard sent to her. Promises to send a confessor for the Queen during the course of the summer. Don Luis must meanwhile do all in his power, in order that neither the honour of the Queen suffer, nor that she be put to inconvenience. Is ready to send her a physician, and wishes that he should be a good one. But good Spanish physicians do not like to go abroad. Besides, it is necessary to know first how a Spanish physician to the Queen would be received in England. As soon as he is informed of this he will send the best physician who can be persuaded to go to England. Thinks it would be to no purpose to send one who would dislike to live in England. Approves of Francisca de Caceres entering the service of his daughter the Princess Maria. Has written on her behalf to Madame Margaret and to his ambassador, Juan de Lanuza. He is to tell Don Luis Caroz that the merchant in Burgos to whom his letters are to be directed is to send them at once by a courier to the Secretary of State whose name is affixed to this despatch. Spanish vessels have been sold to the King of England. Don Luis is to tell him that, according to the laws of the country, Spanish subjects are forbidden to sell ships to foreigners without special licence of the Government. The persons, therefore, who have sold the vessels to the King of England have incurred grave penalties. Has, however, pardoned them, in order to show the King of England his paternal love. This pardon has been considered in Spain to be ill judged. The Spaniards say he ought to treat the King of England in the same manner as the King of England treats him. Since he observes the laws of England in his dealings with English subjects, the King of England, they say, ought to observe the laws of Spain in his dealings with Spaniards. Spain cannot permit her good ships to be sold to foreigners. Begs the King of England not to buy Spanish ships, and even to forbid English subjects to buy such ships, except when the seller can show a royal licence by which he is authorized to sell her to a foreigner. Indorsed : "Instructions to Diego de Quiros in England, respecting divers matters ordered by the Catholic King, and what he is to tell the ambassador, Don Luis Caroz." Draft. Spanish. pp. 5. |
| July (?) S. E. Var. L. 1554. f. 69-71. |
123. King Ferdinand The Catholic to Ramon De Cardona,
His Viceroy Of Naples. By letters from Rome of the 13th of June has been informed of the victory of the Swiss over the army of Monsieur de la Tremouille. (fn. 1) He is to follow up the victory and to expel the French from Savoy. The passes of Savoy may be given to the Swiss, who will guard them well. Genoa ought to be more hostile to France. The castles of Milan and Cremona must be conquered. The Emperor must make peace with Venice, and come and fulfil his obligations towards the King of England, to whom he is under obligations to invade Burgundy. If the Emperor attacks the French in Burgundy, he is ready to attack them in Bearn. Is ready to conclude the general league with the Pope, or any particular alliance which he may desire. The Duke of Milan ought to marry one of his (King Ferdinand's) grand-daughters. Begs the Pope to thank the Swiss for their good services in the cause of Italy. Writes to the Pope about the schismatical cardinals. The Pope and the Emperor ought to send ambassadors to the King of England, and to promise that the Emperor will soon march an army to Burgundy. If it be possible, the Emperor should in fact do so, as the enterprise will be much easier this year than it will be in future. Fabricio Colonna, &c. Spanish. Draft. pp. 5. |
| 8 July (?) S. E. I. L. 806. f. 15. |
124. King Ferdinand The Catholic to Luis Caroz De
Villaragut, his Ambassador in England. Has written to him by Pedro de Lanuza that he wishes always to remain a friend and an ally of the King of England, his son. If the King of England should accept the articles of the treaty in the form in which Pedro de Lanuza has taken them to England, his truce with France would not be an obstacle to the immediate beginning of the war. Never breaks treaties which he has concluded and sworn to. But Bearn is not included in the truce with France. If he attacks Bearn, the French must defend it ; it is impossible for them to leave it unassisted. Can, therefore, always force the French to break the truce. As soon as that is done he will be at liberty to attack them in Guienne or wherever he chooses. Whilst writing this despatch has received letters from his ambassador in Rome, dated the 13th of June, which inform him that the French army led by La Tremouille to Italy has been utterly defeated by the Swiss. The King of France, in one day, has lost his army and the duchy of Milan. God has been his enemy because he has always been the enemy of God. All Christian princes ought to take advantage of the defeat of the French. The King of England must persuade the Emperor to make peace with the Venetians, and to undertake the conquest of Burgundy, whilst the French are occupied in other quarters. The Swiss must also be induced to invade Burgundy. Promises to attack France on the Spanish frontiers. The King of France has sent to him Monsieur de Lautrec, the President of Toulouse, and Maitre Etienne Petit, as ambassadors, and has offered to conclude a general peace with him and his allies on favourable conditions. Did not receive the French ambassadors. But as the Queen of France had sent to tell him that she had important communications to make to him and to his allies, he sent Pedro de Quintana to her, in order to know what the Queen of France had to say. Ordered Pedro de Quintana, in case the offers of the King of France were advantageous to England, to proceed from Paris to Madame Margaret and to the King of England, and to communicate to them the French proposals. Pedro de Quintana wrote, however, from Paris that the King of France wished to make peace with Spain alone. Has recalled his ambassador. Would not make a separate peace with France, even if the King of France were to give him "all he possesses." Begs the King of England to see that the English do not entertain too mean an opinion of the French after their great defeat. That would be dangerous, as in consequence of such an opinion the preparations for war would be neglected.—No date. (fn. 2) No signature. Indorsed : "Don Luis Caroz." Spanish. Draft. pp. 4. |
| 22 July. S. E. Pat. Re. T. c. I. L. 5. f. 87. |
125. King Henry VIII. to King Ferdinand The Catholic. The ambassadors whom he (King Ferdinand) has sent to him have delivered all their letters, and more fully explained to him by word of mouth the subject of their mission. Has read his letters and has heard the ambassadors with the greatest attention. Notwithstanding that he has already given his answer to the ambassadors by word of mouth, he thinks it advisable to repeat it once more in this letter. The Spanish ambassadors have spoken much of the war which he (King Ferdinand) intends to undertake in Bearn, and that he will easily find a pretext for breaking the truce with France. Is unable to see how the intended war in Bearn can be profitable to himself, since the French will certainly not take part in it, and will not send any troops to that country. Nor does he believe that the war in Bearn will cause a rupture between him (King Ferdinand) and France, if there are no other means found by which such an effect may be produced. Is of opinion that an attack on the frontiers of France would be much better than a war in Bearn, because it would oblige the King of France to send his troops to the south, instead of marching them all against the English. An attack of the Spaniards on the frontiers of France was expressly promised when he (King Henry) was induced to undertake the common war with the French. Begs him, as a good father, not entirely to forsake him. Whatever he may decide upon must be carried out without loss of time, as a battle of the English with the French is imminent. From the camp near [one word illegible (fn. 3) ] the 22nd of July 1513. (Signed) Vester bonne frater et filius Henry Rex. Addressed : "To the most serene and most mighty Lord Ferdinand, by the grace of God, King of Aragon, Naples, &c., our most beloved father." Latin. Autograph. pp. 3. |