Spain: March 1514 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1866.

'Spain: March 1514', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 1509-1525, (London, 1866) pp. 201-214. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol2/pp201-214 [accessed 9 May 2024]

March 1514



March (?) P. Mon. Hist. K. 1482. No. 38.	162. King Ferdinand The Catholic to Pedro De Quintana, his Secretary and Ambassador. Wrote to him on the 16th February, and sent him the despatch by Martin de Vi. (fn. 1) Gave him detailed instructions in that despatch as to the manner in which he was to conduct the negotiations which have been confided to him. Sent him by the same courier his power to sign the treaty of truce between the King of France on the one part, and the Emperor, the Queen of Castile, the King of England, himself, and Prince Charles, on the other part. Ordered him, however, before he signed the treaty, to see the King of France swear that, if the Emperor accepted the treaty, he would likewise accept it without any modification of its clauses. The King of France was further to bind himself to abstain from any undertaking that could prejudice the Duke of Milan. Finally, explained to him his opinion how, notwithstanding the clause of the public treaty in favour of Milan, the King of France might obtain possession of that duchy. After these despatches had left, he received his letter, on the 24th of February, with a copy of the projected treaty. Is glad to learn that the King of France wishes to marry his (King Ferdinand's) grand-daughter, Madame Eleanor, and to give his second daughter, Madame Renée, to the Infante Don Ferdinand in marriage. In other respects, however, the result of his (Quintana's) negotiations is less satisfactory. The King of France has raised difficulties about assisting the Emperor in his enterprise against Venice, and the affairs of Gueldres and Navarra remain in an unsettled state. The old truce finishes at the end of the current month, and it is impossible definitely to conclude so important a matter in such a short time. On the other hand, it is most desirable to prevent the Emperor and the King of England from renewing the war with France. The best expedient seems to be to conclude a new truce, and to negotiate meanwhile the definitive peace. He is, therefore, to conclude a new truce, according to the commission given him by the Emperor, and to continue his negotiations respecting the peace. Wishes the truce to be concluded very soon, in order to show the King of France his goodwill and to spare him the trouble which the renewal of the war by the Emperor and the King of England might cause him. As soon as the treaty of truce is concluded he is to send it to Don Pedro (de Urea), who is to see that the Emperor ratifies it, and that he persuades the King of England to do the same. He is to send him (King Ferdinand) the ratification of the King of France. Promises to send at the same time his ratification to the King of France. He is to tell the King of France that he is perfectly satisfied with the clauses of the projected treaty of peace, and that he will henceforth honour him as a father and elder brother, and at the same time love him as a son. His granddaughter (Madame Eleanor) will have no small dower ; for if the Prince (Charles) and the Infante (Ferdinand) should die, she would succeed to all the realms of Castile and Aragon. Moreover, he will persuade the Emperor to give Madame Eleanor a large dower. Is ready, on his part, to give her 100,000 scudos, and, if that is thought insufficient, 150,000 scudos, or even 200,000 scudos. Has done all that was possible to persuade the Emperor not to insist on the destruction of Venice. As, however, the Emperor obstinately insisted on carrying out his plans, it was necessary to do his will ; for by gaining the Emperor over to his views he prevents the King of England from renewing the war with France. Besides, the Venetians are the perpetual disturbers of peace in Christendom, and have shown their ill will towards the King of France by choosing the Pope as umpire, and binding themselves to do whatever the Pope may order. Thus, as the Venetians have first forsaken the King of France, he is no longer in honour bound to assist them. It is also to be remembered that the Emperor is willing to give all the territories of the Venetians which he has already conquered, and which he may conquer in future, to the Infante Ferdinand and Madame Renée, in consideration of their marriage. The duchy of Milan and Venice united would form a powerful kingdom. Gueldres offers no real difficulty. If the Duke of Gueldres does not conclude peace with the Emperor during the time of the truce, all the allies, the King of France included, are bound to assist the Emperor against the Duke. With respect to Naples, he wishes that the renunciation of the King of France should be clear and without reservation. Does not want the King of France to assist him against King Jean of Navarra, and will be satisfied if the King of France will bind himself not to aid King Jean and Queen Katharine against him. Could ask more of the King of France, who has requested his aid in a war with England. He is to tell the King of France that, without adding any special clause to the treaty, the Emperor and he (King Ferdinand) are bound to succour France if the King of England attacks him ; for the obligation to assist him in a defensive war is general. In case, however, the King of France should not be satisfied with this general obligation of his allies, a separate treaty, written on another paper, might be signed, according to which the Emperor and he (King Ferdinand) would bind themselves to do all they can to bring about an equitable and durable peace between England and France and between England and Scotland. If the King of England refuses to accept such a peace, and attacks the King of France in his realms, the Emperor, he (King Ferdinand), and the Prince (Charles) are to succour the King of France in the defence of his states. Tournay, however, is not to be mentioned in this treaty, because the King of France will obtain possession of it by peaceful means. Besides, as the Emperor assisted the King of England in conquering it, it would be against his honour if he assisted France to deprive the King of England of it. As for him (King Ferdinand), since he does not ask the aid of France in his enterprise on Bearn and Foix, so the King of France ought not to demand his assistance if he wants to reconquer Tournay. About the clause respecting the Swiss nothing is to be said. Must insist on Count Pedro Navaro being set at liberty The excuse of the King of France that he has given him to the wife of the Duke of Longueville is futile. He was right to ask the Emperor to send him his power, without communicating to him the draft of the treaty ; for if the Emperor had seen it all would have been lost. Sends him two powers, one to be used in case the Emperor consents to become a party to the treaty of peace, the other to be made use of in case the Emperor rejects the proposed peace. If he (King Ferdinand) is to conclude the peace with France by himself, the negotiations must be carried on with the greatest secrecy. Wishes, in such a case, that the King of France should give up Madame Renée into his hands, as security, until the peace is concluded.—No date. No signature. Indorsed : "The Catholic King to the Secretary Quintana." Spanish. Draft. pp. 8.
9th March (?) S. E. Fl. L. 496. f. 41.	163. King Ferdinand The Catholic to the Knight Commander Juan De Lanuza, his Ambassador in Flanders. Has received his letters of the 13th and 21st of February. Madame Margaret does not approve of the mission on which Quintana was sent to the Emperor. Empowers him to answer her as follows. Sent Quintana to the Emperor in order to hear what his desires were, and with instructions to do what he wished. The Emperor ordered and empowered Quintana immediately to conclude a truce with France for one year, in the name of the Emperor, the King of England, him (King Ferdinand), and the Prince (Charles), saying that he would take it upon himself to persuade the King of England to ratify the truce. That was done by the Emperor quite of his own free will. Had not written to him about the truce, or proposed it to him. The Emperor thought the truce was necessary, in order to arrange affairs touching peace with France and the marriages, during the time of its duration. He (the Emperor) wrote him a letter, from which it is clear that his intentions are uniform with the instructions which he (King Ferdinand) gave to Quintana. Thinks Quintana has already concluded the truce with France in the name of the Emperor, the King of England, him (King Ferdinand), and the Prince (Charles). Had he believed that Madame Margaret entertained a different opinion from that of the Emperor, he would have consulted her before he sent Quintana to the Emperor. Not knowing that Madame Margaret would disapprove of the treaty, and considering that delay in negotiations of such great importance is dangerous, he sent Quintana, without loss of time, to the Emperor, and ordered that as soon as he should have arrived, Luis de Gilaberte should go to Madame Margaret, and inform her of what was going on. As the truce is signed, according to the orders of the Emperor, it must be observed, and nothing can be altered respecting it. The King of France has bound himself not to attack the Duke of Milan. In addition to the commission to conclude a truce with France in the name of the Emperor, the King of England, him, and the Prince (Charles), the Emperor ordered Quintana to propose in his name to the King of France a marriage with Madame Eleanor. He instructed Quintana to tell the King of France that, if he married her, his offers of peace would be accepted, and even the King of England would be more favourably inclined towards him. Is astonished to hear that Madame Margaret opposes his plans, as he is doing nothing except following the counsel of the Emperor, her father. Thinks she is imperfectly informed of the true nature of this affair, the advantages of which are so clear and so great. Although he wrote that the Prince (Charles) might marry Madame Glanda, (fn. 2) and in consequence of that marriage gain the duchy of Brittany, he did so, not because he liked the marriage, but because the Emperor had formerly told him that he desired it. It was not his intention to break off the marriage between the Prince and the sister of the King of England. If the Emperor and Madame Margaret had thought it advantageous for the Prince to marry Madame Glanda, he would have favoured that plan from love towards them ; but as he learns that Madame Margaret does not regard the marriage with a favourable eye, and is persuaded that the Prince ought to remain faithful to his engagement to the sister of the King of England, he will do what she thinks right. Madame Margaret seems to consider that the renunciation by the King of France of his rights on Naples is of little moment. If she thinks so, she is mistaken. The renunciation would secure to the Prince (Charles) the undisputed inheritance of that kingdom, which could be obtained in no other way. The affairs of Milan are in such a state that the King of France might conquer that duchy in two days, whilst the Emperor and he remained quiet, looking on. The Milanese dislike their Duke. The other Italians and the Swiss would do nothing to defend him. Speaks from certain knowledge, and Madame Margaret ought to believe him. It would be a great advantage to the Emperor, and to him, to Naples, and to their other Italian states, if France, of her own free will, ceded to them Milan and Genoa. The King of France would thereby lose for ever his influence over Italy, which would become entirely dependent on the Emperor and on him. They would be her absolute masters. Another advantage of this plan, which Madame Margaret does not seem sufficiently to value, is that the Infante (Ferdinand) could renounce his rights on the German inheritance in favour of the Prince (Charles). The conquest of Venice would, in consequence of the peace with France, become such an easy task that, with little or no aid from the Emperor, he could conquer it in the course of next summer. Could there be any doubt about the success of the enterprise if the Emperor, the King of France, and he attacked Venice with united forces? The dominions of Venice on the mainland are very rich, pay a great revenue, and border on the Austrian dominions, and on the county of the Tyrol. The possession of Venice would be of incalculable advantage to the Emperor. It is true that the King of France has not fulfilled his former promises concerning the affairs of Gueldres. The reason, however, is that he had concluded the treaty with the Prince (Charles) alone. As, this time, the King of France is to conclude the treaty with the Emperor, him (King Ferdinand), and the Prince, he will not dare to break it. Moreover, the marriage of the King of France with Madame Eleanor, the delivery of the castle of the Laterna (in Genoa), and the oaths of all the barons and cities in France would be additional security for the good faith of the King of France. Madame Margaret dwells on the great difference of age between the King of France and Madame Eleanor. He is to tell her that in marriages of great kings difference of age is never taken into account. The King of France has no son and no heir. A son of Madame Eleanor would therefore be the heir to the throne of France. It would be an incalculable advantage to the Prince (Charles) if the son of his sister were King of France. Madame Margaret is mistaken if she thinks it a disadvantage that Madame Eleanor is so thin. Thin women generally become sooner pregnant, and bear more children than stout ones. If the King of France were to marry Madame Eleanor, the Emperor, the King of France, the King of England, he, and the Prince (Charles) would form but one family, of which the Emperor would be the head. He would be the father of the King of France as soon as the King of France had married his [grand] daughter. The King of England and the Prince (Charles) would become brothers as soon as the Prince was married to the sister of the King of England. He is to tell Madame Margaret that the King of England wishes the King of France to bind himself in this treaty to pay him the yearly pension he used to pay him formerly, as well as to help him in settling the government of Scotland, and in concluding peace with the King of Scotland according to his wishes. The reason why war was begun with France no longer exists. The Church is not now in danger, and the schism is suppressed. It would, therefore, be unchristian to make war with so great and powerful a country as France, which is quite strong enough to defend itself against any enemy. France and Castile made a common war upon his father, and Aragon alone sufficed to repel the enemies from her frontiers. How much more would France be able to do so! The only result would be that the whole of Christendom would be disturbed, and a successful war with the Infidels become an impossibility. Begs her to be a good daughter, and not to oppose the conclusion of the peace. As the truce with France, for one year, has been concluded at the command of the Emperor, she ought not to dissuade the Emperor and the King of England from ratifying it. Expects from her, on the contrary, that she will do what she can to persuade the Emperor and the King of England to ratify the truce without delay. The Emperor has already taken upon himself to procure the ratification from the King of England. Wishes that the treaty of peace and the marriages should be concluded in her presence and under her guidance. Madame Margaret is a very pious and virtuous lady. Expects that she will act like a good Christian, and prefer peace rather than war and bloodshed among Christians. Should it be necessary, he must speak with the confessor of Madame Margaret in secret, and ask him to use his influence with her. Monsieur de Bergues and the Governor of Bresse might also render him good service. The whole affair must, however, be kept strictly secret, and especially no Italian must hear anything of it. Artieta and Martin de Lanuza, his brother, have not yet returned, nor has he received the letters which contain the particulars of the arrest of Juan Manuel. On the 8th of December, wrote to Don Luis Caroz, his ambassador in England, to Don Pedro de Urea, and to him about the treaty concerning the war with France which was concluded when the King of England was in Flanders. Sent back to them the treaty signed by him. Made only one alteration in the treaty, concerning the pay of the 6,000 German troops. Ordered them, however, not to deliver the treaty, either to the King of England or to the Emperor, until he should send them an authorization to do so. As the courier went by sea, it is not to be wondered at that he arrived late. He is to tell Madame Margaret the exact day when the courier sailed from Spain, and she will see that he did not intentionally cause any delay when the war with France was decided upon. Postponed all other considerations to his desire to do the will of the Emperor, of the King of England, and of her. But as the King of France has since given satisfaction to the Church, as the Queen of France has died, and as the King of France has made the Emperor and him such advantageous overtures, he has again done the will of the Emperor, and is willing to bring the negotiations of peace with France to a satisfactory and speedy conclusion. Hopes Madame Margaret will help him to secure incalculably great advantages to the Emperor, to him, and to the Prince (Charles). Indorsed : "Despatch to the Knight Commander Lanuza." Spanish. Draft. pp. 11.
13 March. P. A. d. E. Mon. Hist. K. 1639. No. 25.	164. Treaty between Maximilian, Emperor Elect, Henry VIII., King Of England, King Ferdinand The Catholic, and Prince Charles, on the one part ; and Louis, King Of France, and James, King Of Scotland, on the other part. Animated by the desire to stay the effusion of blood, to secure the general peace of Christendom, and to direct the efforts of Christian princes towards the conquest of the Holy Sepulchre, now in the possession of the Infidels, François, Duke of Valois and Count of Angoulême, in the name of the King of France and the King of Scotland ; and Pedro de Quintana, Ambassador of King Ferdinand of Aragon, &c. (who has empowered, him in his own name and in the name of the Emperor elect), Prince Charles (according to letters patent given by the Emperor on his behalf), King Henry of England (whose consent the Emperor has promised to procure), and Queen Juana (according to the public instrument dated Mayorete, the 16th of February 1514), conclude a treaty of truce and abstinence from hostilities, which is to last during one year after the date of this treaty. The conditions are the following :— 1. The contracting parties bind themselves not only to abstain from all hostilities towards each other, but also not to assist directly or indirectly the enemies of any one of them. 2. None of the contracting parties is to molest the Duke Maximilian Sforza, who is a subject of the Emperor, or the duchy of Milan. 3. The subjects of each of the contracting princes are at liberty to carry on commerce in the dominions of all the other contracting parties. 4. No subject of any of the contracting parties is to be oppressed or injured in the dominions of any of the other contracting princes. 5. The couriers and messengers of any of the contracting parties are at liberty to travel through the dominions of all the other contracting parties. 6. This treaty is to be published in all the cities, towns, and seaports of the contracting parties. 7. The contracting princes promise to ratify this treaty and to swear to it without delay. Power of the King of France, dated Orléans, the 12th of March 1513. (Signed) Loys. Robertet. Power of King Ferdinand, dated Mayorete, the 16th of February 1514. (Signed) Yo el Rey. Miguel Perez Almazan. This treaty is dated Orléans, 13th March 1513, and signed— Françoys. (Seal.) Pedro de Quintana. (Seal.) Indorsed by Almazan : "The truce." In a modern hand : "Por esta scritura parece que los Franceses cuentan un año menos que los Españoles el nacimiento de Jesu Cristo." (fn. 3) Latin, with the exception of the power of the King of France, which is written in French. Autograph. pp. 12. On paper. Printed in Rymer.
21 March. S. E. Pat. Re. T. c. I. L. 5. f. 18.	165. John Stile, English Ambassador in Spain, to King Henry VIII. (fn. 4) [I ask] the pardon of your Grace for my playn and unkuneying wryteyng, as wel at thys present as at al other tymys. For of answer to your hyy Lord, &c. as [half a line unintelligible], (fn. 5) for as much as that of a long tyme and seson I have nor had any maner of knowlych from your Hynys of your gracyous plesure, nor of your yntendyd purpose of warre or peas with your ennemy of France and syn[ce] the [one word illegible] parteying from hens of your chapellan, the Doctor Wyllyam Knyte I have wrytyn and sent unto your Hynys systen or sevyntynte Mars begun, and messenyers and advys certefyeyng unto your Grace that al [some words illegible] and thereof tys be here and myte for thayr and your [one word illegible] fader as ys ther for any natural love or kyndnys to thayr fryndes, and wyth subtyl secrete and desvys [one word illegible] and sendeying of letters and messengers that yt pasyth my pore understanding also, and yt plese your Grace, many other beter learnyd men. Soverayn Lord, kynd natu [paper gone] reson ynfor [paper gone] that the Kyng your fader of Aragon [paper gone] wold not yn anny waye conclude anni thyng wyth your ennemy that may stand contrary to the plesure and honore of your Hynys, as that he dod the last yere wyth makeyng of trucn wy[t]h your ennemy of France, the whych has sayd thenne exscuseyd by [two words illegible] re [paper gone] of hys grete desyse and no wayes [ink entirely gone], and it it plese your Grace [two words illegible] payeyth (fn. 6) for hys exscuse that the [paper gone] forceyd for [here two lines run into one another, so that the cipher which belongs to one of them cannot be distinguished from the cipher belonging to the other] that the Pope and the Ytalyans wo [paper gone] and [ink entirely effaced] the Frenche Kyng and wyth the Suyseners ayenyst (fn. 7) Themperour and your say[d] fader : so yt ys, and yt plese your Grace that thys one and twentyth of Marche, the Kyng your sayd fader sant (fn. 8) for me for to com to hys presence, and then the sayeyng of hys Mayesty to me was so at [one word illegible] welly he had laboryd to the Popys Hynys and to Themperour that a peas shuld be made by Themperour and the Venyschyans, for that the sayd peas is now determynyd and made by the Popys Holynys, how (?) be that and it plese your Grace the sayeyeng of your sayd fader was that under the colore of the treaty of the sayd peas bytwyxt Themperour and the Venyschyans the Pope, and the Ytalyans wold have made certayn tyrants and treatys wyth the tyrants [one word illegible], and with the Sysseners as aforesayd ayenyst Themperour and your sayd fader of Aragon to whryng (?) the rear of Napalys and other thyngys yn that partys of Ytaly. Of the whych yntendyd The[mpe]rour by the sayeyng of your sa[y]d fader Themperour had more playner knowlyche than he had the whych Hys Maesty sayeyth that yt was no lytyl dysplesure to Themperour and yn lykewise unto Hys Grace. Hys sayeyng also, yt plese your Grace, your sayd fader's sayeyng to me was that he had sent Kyntana, (fn. 9) hys secretary clerke to Themperour for the mater of the Venyscheans, as before I certyfyed unto your Hynys, and when that Themperour had the knowlyche of thentent of the Pope and of the Ytalyans Themperour wylyd and commandyd the sayd Kyntana for to retorne to the Frensche Kyngy's corte, and by colore move to the Frensche Kyng of maryage to be betwyen him and the Lady Elyyor, (fn. 10) syster to your good brother the Prynce of Castyl, and then further for the move of a peas or truys for to be betwyxt your Hyyhnys, Themperour, the Kyng your fader of Aragon, the Prince of Castyl, and the Duke of Myllan, and the sayd Frensche Kyng, to the whych and yt plese your Grace as that the Kyng your sayd fader hath sayeyd the Frensche Kyng made stronye for to agre fyneally ; at the last the sayd Kyng was agreabyl and consentyd there unto for a trues to be for the space of one hole yere complete betwyxt your Hyhnys, Themperour, the Kyng your fader of Aragon, the Prynce of Castyl, the Duke of Myllan, and the sa[y]d Frensche Kyng. Then, and yt plese your Grace, I demandyd of the Kyng your sayd fader yf had he gy[ve]n a rytye or commysyon yn the name of your Hygnys to the sayd Kyntana for to make or take any peas or truys wyth the Frensche Kyng, and the answer of the Kyng your fader of Aragon was that Themperour had gyvyn to the sayd Kyntana an [one word illegible] and atoryte so for to do, Soverayn [Lo]rd, in case that yt be and can stand so wyth the onore and plesure of your Grace, and for the suerty (fn. 11) of your royal asstade was the truys hutyl, and faytheful su[ink blot] and servant to your Hyuhnys I wyl ther [an ink blot and one word illegible] and what I wyth the contrary by most the [paper gone] harte and mynd t [ink blot] your fader the Kyng of Aragon scygld (fn. 12) ofte [paper gone] Itey [ink partly effaced and paper partly rotten]s and not oonly make no faulte yn hymself, but also for to persuade and move Themperour unto to the same in lyke wyse, whych schalt be a much greavyor (fn. 13) dede and favor for to be reputeyd yn al the warld whych God [one word illegible] that he schuld do so, and mani a mani yereys [one word illegible] of the makeyng of the [paper gone]d truys, and be yt [one word illegible] yn thayr myndys consyderyng to at your Hyghys hath al [one word illegible] so royal and grete preparatyon for the warys, and so grete advantagys on your ennemys. And, yt plese your Grace, the Kyng your fader of Aragon hath answeryd and commandyd me for to certify unto your Hyunys by this my wryteyng that thys grete deseys that yt do plese your Hyunys for to be contentyd for to kepe thys truys now of late taken wyth the Frensch Kyng for the space of one hole yere, on the whych he sayeyth that your Hyhnys Themperour may make an alyage with the Frensche Kyng, the Pope, and Ytalyans, and yt shal be trouse that may stand most to the onorys and suertyes of your royal astatadys (sic) of the [ink blot] mater I doute not but that the Kyng your sa[y]d fader at thys tyme by hys letters and unto your Hynys and to hys ambassador by thys messenger makeyth ryhte a amply relacyon of the same, and of a [some letters illegible]. Soverayn Lord, I cannot saye for what polycy that yt was sayed, but yt ys not syx days that here yt was openly spoken that the Kyng your fader of Aragon wold thys yere make war to the Frensche Kyng, and also no longer tyme pasyd then yeysterday yt was cryed here yn thys town by a comone cryer that everry Fransch [ink blot] are of thayr pasyng into France, for that the truys bytwyxt Spayn and France schal be esteryd (sic) on the fyrst day of Apryel next comeyng, and on the nyntyth day of February that last past, my servant, Rychard Prous, departeyd from hens wyth my letters towardys your Grace, and cyth I send other my letters to your Hynys tochyeyng the ambassadors of Scotland and Hob a Barton, whych were bound ynto France, and by force of wetheryng aryvyd at the parte of the Groyny wyth the cyrcomstancys of the sayd mater and copys of letters that the sayd Scot ys sent to the Kyng your fader of Aragon ; and in the most sutyl wise that I can or maye I beseche your Hynys that I may have some knowlych of your gracioust plesure, for the wych knowlych I do and schal thynke long, for I do lyychere with a hevy harte and mynd, seyng the unkyndnys of thys pepyl here, and thayr dyssemulacyons as yt knowyth. Almyghty God perserve your royalyst asstade long for to endure ; wreytyn yn the town af Madryl and corte of your fader the Kyng of Aragon on the one and twenty day of Marche yn the fyveyth yere of your nobylyst reyne, by the most humyl and faythful servant of your Grace, John Stile. [In common writing] J. Stile. Addressed : "To the Kyng's most nobille Grace of England and France, our soverayn Lord." English. Holograph in cipher. Deciphered by the editor.
March (?) S. E. Cord. ast. L. 1. 2^c f. 242.	166. King Ferdinand The Catholic to the Princess, his Beloved Daughter (Margaret Of Austria). Thanks her for all the great services she has rendered, as well to himself as to his brothers, the Emperor and the King of England, and to his son, the Prince (Charles). She is the most important person in Christendom, since she acts as mediator in almost all the negotiations between the princes of Christendom.—No date. No signature. Indorsed : "Drafts of the Catholic King. 1514." Spanish. Draft. pp. 2.
End of March (?) P. Mon. Hist. K. 1482, No. 33 bis.	167. King Ferdinand The Catholic to Pedro De Quintana, his Secretary and Ambassador to the King Of France and the Emperor. He is to speak to the King of France as follows :— Is determined to carry on the present negotiations until peace be concluded between the Emperor, the King of France, the King of England, and himself. The sooner that can be done the better it will be. Deals openly with the King of France, and begs the King of France, likewise, to deal openly with him. What they are now negotiating must be kept strictly secret till the treaty of peace is definitely concluded. If the King of France were to make the present negotiations public, he would expose himself to the suspicion that he does not wish for peace, and had other ends in view ; for those who might think themselves aggrieved by the peace would certainly do all in their power to prevent its conclusion. They would certainly not prevail with him, but they might be successful with the Emperor and the King of England. He is further to tell the King of France that the Cardinal of Gurk is secretly won over, and has promised to persuade the Emperor to do whatever they wish. Knows that Gurk has great credit with the Emperor. Has asked the Cardinal to leave Rome and to go to the Emperor. Reminds the King of France of what was settled between them at their interview in Savona, namely, that immediately after the conclusion of the peace a reformation of the Church should be carried out by them, and a common war with the Infidels undertaken. Hopes the King of France will not forget his obligations towards God as soon as he gets out of his present troubles. Promises to act in this respect like a brother towards the King of France, and is persuaded that God has permitted Christendom to be so much troubled with war only because His Church has not yet been reformed. If they subordinate their private interests to those of God, God will amply reward them. Has been informed by letters from Rome that the Pope and Cardinals intend to close the Lateran Council in their next sitting. Begs the King of France to tell the Pope not do so, as many reforms of the Church are very necessary. Has written in the same sense to his ambassador in Rome, not caring whether the Pope be offended by his remonstrances or not. The Emperor and the Venetians chose the Pope as umpire, and he pronounced his award on the 4th of March. The Emperor is to have Verona, Brescia, and Bergamo ; the Venetians Padua and Treviso ; Vicenza and Crema are to remain for the space of one year in the hands of the Pope, who is entitled to postpone judgment on the reserved points for twelve months and longer, if he thinks it expedient to do so. The Emperor is not to assist the enemies of the Venetians, nor are the Venetians to help the enemies of the Emperor. None of them is to make war upon the Duke of Milan. The Venetians, moreover, are to pay the Emperor 50,000 ducats in two instalments, and 10,000 ducats more in case the Pope should think it right for them to do so. Tells him in secret that the Pope has bound himself not to pronounce (on the reserved points) without his (King Ferdinand's) express consent. Thus the peace between the Emperor and the Venetians is, in fact, only a truce for one year. Has written to Don Pedro, (fn. 14) and ordered him to ask the Emperor to sign the peace with the Venetians, although a truce with France is concluded. Peace with the Venetians would make it more easy to keep the negotiations with France secret, and, as already mentioned, it would be really nothing more than a truce of one year. Has further ordered Don Pedro to see that the Emperor ratifies without delay the truce concluded with France, and induces the King of England to do the same. The King of England may be told that one of the reasons why it is necessary to conclude a truce with France is that he (King Ferdinand,) and the Emperor have discovered a treacherous conspiracy of the Italians to turn them out of Italy. To prevent this, it was necessary to make peace with France. Has, moreover, prevailed on the King of France to use his influence with the Scots to settle the government of Scotland in the way the King of England desires, and to have peace between England and the Scots arranged entirely to the satisfaction of King Henry. Besides, the King of France has promised to pay the King of England the same sums of money as he has been in the habit of paying him. Has informed Don Pedro that the Cardinal of Gurk is coming (to the Emperor), and has told the Emperor that it would be folly to perpetuate war only in order to defend the Duke of Milan, especially as the title to the duchy does not even belong to the Duke, but to the King of France, who was formally invested with it. To continue the war for the defence of the Duke of Milan would deprive the Emperor of the opportunity of conquering the Venetian territories. Has recommended to the Emperor the greatest secrecy on all these matters. He is not to return before the pending negotiations are brought to a definite conclusion. He was right in not showing the papers which are deposited with him, and is to take care that they are not stolen. Should it be expedient, he may himself go to see the Emperor, in order to obtain from him a definite answer —No date. No signature. Indorsed : "To the Secretary Quintana, ambassador in France." Spanish. Draft. pp. 5.