Spain: July 1543, 1-25 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 6 Part 2, 1542-1543. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1895.

'Spain: July 1543, 1-25', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 6 Part 2, 1542-1543, (London, 1895) pp. 426-442. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/spain/vol6/no2/pp426-442 [accessed 20 April 2024]

July 1543, 1-25



4 July.	173. King Henry to the Queen of Hungary.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Rep. P., Fasc. 234.	Informing her that he has recalled Messire Thomas Seymour, one of his ambassadors, leaving the other, Master Nicholas Wotton, dean of Canterbury, to represent him at her Court.—Hampton Court, 4 July 1543.
	French. Original. p. 1.
5 July.	174. Eustace Chapuys to the Queen of Hungary.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 11.	"Madame,"—For the further gratification of these people, and in order to show them that I have their affairs very much at heart, and forward them as efficaciously as I can, I have thought that it was better to send this letter by the present bearer (fn. n1) than entrust it to an ordinary courier.
	I have besides given him commission to apply to Messieurs des Finances for some advance in money on account of my salary and arrears due to me, besides the sums which from time to time I have disbursed and paid to Master Jehan de Honz.—London, 5 July 1543. (fn. n2)
	Signed: "Eustace Chapuys."
	French. Holograph. p. 1.
10 July.	175. Mons. de Chantonnay (fn. n3) to the High Commander.
S. E., L. 806, f. 66. B. M. Add. 28,593, f. 205.	As Your Lordship must already know through the ambassador's despatch what passed with this king the last time we had audience of him, I need not enter into details. The object of this letter, therefore, will be no other than to kiss Your Lordship's hands, and beg you send me your commands, for there is nothing I wish for so much as to be able to do Your Lordship service.—From London, in England, 10 July 1543.
	P.S.—The ambassador (Chapuys), who is Your Lordship's most affectionate servant, cannot fail to write at length what passed here with the King and his ministers. I beg Your Lordship to pardon me if this my letter is full of blunders; I am a bad scholar in the Castillian language; I scarcely can speak, much less write it. (fn. n4) The same excuses I beg Your Lordship to present in my name to His Highness [Prince Philip], to whom I am now writing. (fn. n5)
	Signed: "Perrenot."
	Addressed: "To the most Illustrious, the High Commander of Leon, my lord."
	Spanish. Holograph. p. 1.
10 July.	176. The Same to Prince Philip of Spain.
S. E., L. 806, f. 67. B. M. Add. 28,593. f. 206.	I need not weary Your Highness with the recital of the cause for which His Majesty, the Emperor, sent me to this king and country. Your Highness will see by the letters of the Imperial ambassador [Chapuys] what was the object of my mission, and what we both have done in the affair. As the Emperor besides has given him orders to inform Your Highness in detail of whatever may be negociated in this country, I need not trouble Your Highness any further.—London, 10 July 1543.
	Signed: "Perrenot."
	Addressed: "To His Highness, the Prince [of Spain]."
	Spanish. Original. p. 1.
10 July.	177. King Henry to the Queen Regent in the Low Countries.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Rep. P., Fasc. 234.	Informs her that she can dispose of 40,000 ducats which he has resolved to lend the Emperor towards the expenses of the war against the Turk.—Hampton Court, 10 July 1543.
	Signed: "Henry."
	French. Original. p. 1.
10 July.	178. The Queen of Hungary to Eustace Chapuys.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 9.	"Monsieur l'ambassadeur,"—Our letter of the 19th June (fn. n6) must have sufficiently acquainted you of what passed with the ambassadors of the king of England respecting the exemption from duty upon goods proceeding from England, which the merchants of that nation claim, and which is so strongly advocated by the King, and how for the latter's sake, and principally to avoid all disputes and debates, as well as causes for dissent on matters of much greater importance, We had consented, for the sake of form and by way of accommodation, to the English merchants exporting goods from these countries without paying duty upon them as long as the present ordinance remains in vigor; and that in compliance with that provision We had issued a warrant commanding the collectors of the said duty to forbear in future from levying the same on the English, in the hope that the King's ambassadors would be satisfied with that, and the merchants themselves make some offer in money as indemnity for Our losses. The ambassadors, however, have not yet made any sign of their readiness to comply with what they once promised. On the contrary, after perusing Our ordinance in this matter, they made certain marginal notes (apostilles) to the ordinance itself, of which a copy is enclosed, pretending that the said ordinance of Ours ought to be modified and amended according to their own wish. Now as the amendments proposed by the English merchants are, in Our opinion, most important, and might prove in future highly detrimental to these Low Countries under Our government, We have replied to the ambassadors, as you will see by the enclosed paper of observations, to which, however, Master Nicholas Wotton has refused to agree, demanding absolutely that the English merchants be exempted from the said duty of 1%, whether they lade for England or for any other country; that they will not be liable to declare what sort of merchandize they carry in their vessels, nor to whom those vessels belong, and that the collectors of the customs' duties are to let the goods pass, provided they are laden in English bottoms, without asking the masters of vessels if the goods are English and belong to Englishmen, and what their destination is, thus showing clearly that they will not try to prevent the frauds that are daily committed in matters of that sort. As the aforesaid Master Nicholas Wotton insists expressly in his demands, as specified in the marginal notes to Our recent ordinance, threatening that unless We agree to them he will inform the king. We urgently request you to represent to those privy councillors that the demands of their merchants are exorbitant in the extreme, and that all the good obtained by Our concessions respecting their exemption from duty might all of a sudden be lost through their obstinate refusal. Yet should they persist in them—though We consider Ourselves perfectly justified in asking for the duty for the reasons alleged at other times—to please the King, and for the sake of the treaty of closer friendship and alliance, We will consent to the exemption in full on the express terms specified in the ordinance, which seems to Us reasonable and equally satisfactory for those among the English merchants who do not wish to commit frauds. You must try to persuade and convince them by such arguments and allegations as will no doubt occur to you, that Our ordinance is both reasonable and favorable to the merchants of that nation; otherwise, if attention were paid to the English ambassadors' marginal notes, it would come to this, that all manner of frauds would be committed with perfect impunity, and without Our custom-house officers being able to prevent them. We sincerely hope that the King will not do Us that harm; nor can We believe that such is his intention.
	That you may know something of the incidents and progress of the present war, We will tell you that the king of France is still encamped at Marolles, and fortifying in great haste Landrechies and Aymeries, (fn. n7) and that We do not know at present what he intends doing next. The duke of Clèves,on the other hand, perceiving that We had withdrawn Our army from Hainsberge (Hainsburg), the better to resist the French invasion, has again assembled his men, among whom he has distributed pieces of four "gulden" each, made out of the silver taken from his own subjects. His intention, as it would appear, is to invade Brabant, for he has sent thither some infantry, which, We hear, was defeated at the very onset by the country people. Then all of a sudden he made part of his force cross the Rhine and take the direction of Utrecht. He has laid siege to a town named Ameffort (Amersfoort), but as he has no artillery with him he cannot achieve anything of importance. Meanwhile We have despatched against him the prince of Orange with a good number of men, horse and foot.
	We have heard with pleasure by your letter of the 5th inst. (fn. n8) that the King has approved of the arrival of Mons. de Chantonnay in England, and that there is every reason to expect that his diplomatic mission will be well carried out. Already, as you tell Us, the King has given orders for the auxiliary force which he destines for this country to begin crossing the Channel. You will thank the King in Our name, and say that We have written to count du Rœulx to hold at once a meeting with the captain of Guisnes (Wallop), and devise together what means had better be employed for the better service of the two Majesties (Imperial and Royal), and at the same time see that the captain be provided by the 16th inst. with the number of waggons and draft horses (fn. n9) that the English may want for the carriage of ammunition and provisions, at the same time commanding the Count to be particularly careful as to that.
	Addressed: "To the ambassador in England, 10th July 1543."
	French. Original draft, partly ciphered. pp. 2.
11 July.	179. The Emperor to Eustace Chapuys.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 9.	"Venerable, chier et feal,"—Your letters of the 23rd and 24th of June, (fn. n10) together with the copy of the one written by you to the dowager queen of Hungary, Madame Our sister, have duly been received, through which We have been informed of the intimation of war made to the ambassador of France, and what you yourself, in Our name, did say on the occasion. We have also heard of the military preparations which that king is making to assist the Low Countries. As since that date Mr. de Chantonnay must have landed in England, Our letter of the 29th of June (fn. n11) must have reached you, and therefore you must have learned what Our wishes and intentions are in the matter. We have no more to say for the present save add that We have duly received your despatches, and shall be glad to hear as soon as possible of the arrival in England of Mr. de Chantonnay, and what sort of reception he has had; also that We have arrived at this place [Ysborg (fn. n12) ], and intend being at Spire on the 22nd inst., where We are to meet the bulk of Our army, infantry and cavalry, artillery, ammunition, and so forth, ready to march against the enemy wherever he may be, and according as We may find the most convenient place for attacking and destroying him, trusting that in the meantime Mr. de Chantonnay will return to Us, and bring that king's final resolution as to what he intends doing this year.—Ysborg (Innspruck), 11 July 1543.
	Headed: "The Emperor and King."
	French. Original draft. p. 1.
11 July.	180. Eustace Chapuys to the Queen of Hungary.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 11.	"Madame,"—As Mr. de Chantonnay, bearer of this, will soon verbally inform Your Imperial Majesty of the state of affairs in this country, I beg leave to refer to him entirely. I will only add that I have so managed the affair of the 1% that the merchants of this city are about to remit to Your Majesty, to-day or to-morrow, a sum of money of about 3,000 crs. as a gift, in consideration for their having been exempted from that tax. (fn. n13)
	Begs for payment of his "salary, &c."—London, 11 July 1543.
	P.S.—After writing the above, I have received one from the privy councillors, which Mr. de Chantonnay will show to Your Majesty, as well as the deciphering of another from the French ambassador which has been intercepted. (fn. n14)
	Signed: "Eustace Chapuys."
	French. Holograph. p. 1.
n. d.	181. The Queen of Hungary's Council to the Emperor.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 9.	"Monsieur l'ambassadeur,"—Mons. de Chantonnay, gentleman of the Emperor's Privy Chamber, lately sent on a mission to the king of England, after explaining his charge, has by the advice of the Imperial ambassador resident in that country, addressed various remonstrances to the King. After formally declaring to him the Emperor's intention and resolution to make war on France, that ambassador, in conformity with his Instructions, requested and begged the king of England, in case of king Francis invading the Low Countries before his arrival there, to be pleased to succour and help Us according to the terms of their last treaty of closer friendship and alliance. A similar prayer and request has been addressed by Us to Our Royal ally the king of England, who, We have no doubt, will immediately attend to it.
	At his passage through the Low Countries Mons. de Chantonnay called upon queen Mary of Hungary, the Regent, who gave him letters of credence for the king of England, charging him, after presenting to the King her most affectionate commendations and gracious compliments, to inform him that king Francis, accompanied by his two sons, (fn. n15) and at the head of all his forces, had invaded the Haynnault and already taken some small fortresses and wasted the lands, with the intention, as it is rumoured, of pushing further into the country and, if possible, joining the duke of Clèves, who was then before Haynsberge (Heinsberg). This, the Queen hopes, has been efficiently prevented owing to that duke's defeat in front of that town, and yet king Francis will no doubt persevere in his invasion of Haynnault, and will most likely push on forwards unless the Emperor's ally sends Us soon efficient help and assistance so as to resist the common enemy.
	To that end We have ordered that the 3,000 horse and 10,000 foot, formerly in the district of Haynsberge (Hainsberg), do march straight to the Haynnault. With such a force and the men We have now in that province and in the Arthois, the 3,000 Spaniards lately arrived from Biscaye [Biscay], and the help that the king of England has already consented to give, We hope to give such employment to the enemy as to prevent him from penetrating farther into the country, (fn. n16) and completely marring his warlike intentions. Nothing more will be required (with God's help) to attain that end than the promised assistance which the King will be pleased to send. The Imperial ambassador has been requested to solicit that as hastily as he conveniently can, to prevent the king of France's army from doing more mischief in this country, and to look out also for an opportunity to attack him in his own, or undertake some other military movement that may seem desirable.
	French. Original draft. pp. 2.
11 July.	182. Eustace Chapuys to the Emperor.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 11.	"Sire,"—On the 2nd of this month Mr. de Chantonnay arrived and brought me Your Imperial Majesty's letter of the 28th ult., (fn. n17) and communicated the Instructions he had received, in pursuance of which both of us together repaired to Court on the next day. We were received as courteously and graciously as could be, the King showing great pleasure and content at Mr. de Chantonnay's arrival, and making most particular demonstrations of joy the moment he heard from my colleague's lips the substance of the commission entrusted to him. Of this duty Mr. de Chantonnay acquitted himself so wisely and with such discretion that nothing could be better. But as Mr. de Chantonnay will shortly give Your Imperial Majesty a fuller account than I myself can, both of his own address in explanation of his commission and the King's answer to it, I shall refrain from writing too long a letter, and will only summarily state that with regard to the assistance to the Low Countries and help against the Turk, these two points have been satisfactorily settled, provision having been made for both at once. As to the general undertaking against France, nothing has yet been decided upon, owing, as the King says, to the delay experienced in the transmission of Your Imperial Majesty's plans and intentions on that score.
	With regard to any particular invasion of the French frontier, this king will readily join in it, provided there be a good prospect of success. He will, nevertheless, molest the enemy by sea as much as he can, though, on the other hand, he seems to wish that in case of his wanting the assistance of the Imperial fleet for some maritime undertaking or other, which he is now meditating, it may be kept in readiness. All this Your Imperial Majesty will hear from Mr. Chantonnay's lips, he himself having conducted the negociation almost exclusively, owing to my illness, which has kept me indoors all the time.
	The day before yesterday Your Imperial Majesty's letter of the 29th ult. came to hand, together with the copy of that addressed to the dowager queen of Hungary, and yesterday, as the said Mr. de Chantonnay and I were thinking of calling on the bishop of Winchester and the [Lord] Chamberlain—the only two councillors who after the King's departure remained behind—they themselves unexpectedly called at our lodgings, and we communicated to them the greater part of Your Majesty's letter to the dowager queen, that they might report its contents to their Royal master. I must say that the two above-mentioned privy councillors were most wonderfully pleased with the news contained in the letter, and promised to inform the King of it as soon as possible.
	The King has ordered those among his own subjects who trade with, or reside in Flanders, to make the queen dowager a present of 1,000 marks, equivalent to about 3,000 ducats, as indemnity for the exemption they have obtained from the duty of 1%, and the money shall be remitted to her in a couple of days.
	One of the conditions of the treaty between England and Scotland is the marriage of the prince of Wales (Edward) to the queen of the former country [Mary Stuart]. The Scotch are to serve this king envers tons et contre tons, and when the queen has reached her tenth year she is to be sent to England and placed in the hands of the King or of the prince, his son. As security for these and other conditions of the treaty, the Scotch have promised to give six hostages, three of whom are to be earls or eldest sons of earls, and the other three barons are to be changed every six years. The earl of Lynnz (Lennox), assisted by the Cardinal, opposes the measure, and is trying to prevent the signature and ratification of the treaty; but it is expected that he will have to change his opinion in the matter, or else that he will be made to rue it. It is here thought that the 16 French ships that sailed the other day for Scotland are intended to assist the earl of Lynnz (Lennox) in his plans, he, the earl, being a pensioner of France, and that on board the said ships are 50 lances, (fn. n18) and I hear that some of this king's war ships are gone in pursuit of them.
	Your Imperial Majesty will hear from Mr. de Chantonnay the rest of the news of this country, and especially the King's marriage to the sister of Milord Pare (Parr).—London, 11 July 1543.
	Signed: "Eustace Chapuys."
	Indorsed: "From the ambassador in England, 11 July. Received at Ulm, the 19th of the same month."
	French. Holograph. pp. 2.
12 July.	183. Eustace Chapuys to the Crown Prince of Spain.
S. E., L. 806, f. 78. B. M. Add. 2,859. f. 207.	"Serenissimo y potentissimo Señor,"—Since His Imperial Majesty has deigned to grant me the favor of communicating with Your Highness in writing, it will not be attributed to temerity on my part if, with my imperfect knowledge of Spanish, I undertake from time to time to report the news of this country.
	Your Highness must already have been informed of the treaty many days ago concluded between His Imperial Majesty and the king of England, which treaty was duly ratified and most solemnly sworn to, as Your Highness will see by the copy of the act herein enclosed. (fn. n19)
	Immediately after its ratification His Imperial Majesty's herald and that of this king were sent to Calais to go from thence into France, in order to make to king Francis the customary requisition and defiance. The heralds, however, could not for a time obtain a proper safe conduct, as the French, for the sake of prolonging the affair and gaining time, offered various excuses, until I myself suggested that instead of making the intimation to the King in France, it should be made to his ambassador, who is still here. This was done. The period of twenty days assigned for this answer has already expired, and the French ambassador has only returned a very vague one, saying that king Francis, his master, cannot believe that the intimation made to his ambassador can really proceed from this king, whom he still considers his friend and regards as such, and that even then if the King granted a safe conduct he would send to England a noble personage (un cavallero muy principal) to comply with all reasonable demands, and discuss others which seemed to him not to be sufficiently well founded, and, moreover, that with regard to his own differences with His Imperial Majesty, he would be glad that he (the King) should become the arbiter of them. This king, however, refused to grant the safe conduct applied for, or prorogue the term for twenty days more, declaring, among other things, that he could do nothing without the Emperor's consent, nor could he either accept the proposed arbitration, for acting as he was on the present occasion conjointly with him, in virtue of the treaty just concluded, their interests were identical and could not be separated.
	Whilst the above answer from king Francis was being expected, this king has not been idle, for he has ordered a good number of his best war ships to be armed, and has also sent to Flanders to the help and assistance of the Queen Regent, as stipulated in the treaty, the number of men he is bound to furnish; besides reinforcing, as he is now doing, his own garrisons across the Channel, in case they should be wanted one of these days for the invasion of French territory. He much regrets, as he says, that His Imperial Majesty's resolution of going to Italy was not communicated to him sooner, and that he knew not before what Your Majesty's plans were, for (says he) he would otherwise have made greater military preparations. Notwithstanding the great expenses he has lately incurred, he has now remitted to the king of the Romans 40,000 ducats.
	The affairs of Scotland between king James and this king have at last been definitively settled to the latter's satisfaction, and to the consequent annoyance and damage of the French, who some time ago sent to the coast of that country about 20 of their armed vessels. It appears, however, that the French did not meet there with the reception they expected, for I hear that four or five of their vessels have actually been captured by the English, and that the Flemings have taken two more.
	Of the two chief points in the treaty with Scotland, one is the marriage of this prince of Wales (Edward) with the daughter of the last king (chiquita), now queen of Scotland, who, upon reaching the age of ten, is to be placed in the hands of this king or of the prince of Wales, his son; the second is that the Scotch bind themselves to serve this king against the French or any other nation: for the security of which engagements and others the Scotch are to give as hostages two earls, or eldest sons of earls, and four barons or lords, the hostages to be renewed or exchanged for others every six months.
	The Cardinal [of St. Andrew's] has been released from his prison; he is now living in his bishopric, (fn. n20) without, however, daring to appear at Court, owing to the count of Aren (earl of Arran), nephew of the last king, and now supreme ruler in all Scotland, forbidding it.
	This king has taken for wife the daughter of a baron named Parr, who had been previously married to another baron of the name of Latimer, by whom she had no children. She may be about thirty-two years of age. May God be pleased that this marriage turn out well, and that the King's favor and affection for the princess, his daughter, continue to increase. The latter has just sent me a message desiring me to salute Your Highness in her name.
	Some days ago this king's ministers intercepted a letter of the French ambassador to his master. As the letter was written in cipher, it was sent to me to decipher. Enclosed is a copy of it. (fn. n21)
	Though I have no doubt that Your Highness has heard from various quarters of the movements of the French, yet as in troublesome times like these letters may be lost, I consider it my duty to state that king Francis seemed at one time to have made up his mind to join his forces to those of the duke of Clèves, who was then laying siege to Hensuerge, a fortified place in the duchy of Juliers which the rebels took last year, though the prince of Orange was shortly after fortunate enough to make the Clevese raise the siege of it, with considerable loss in dead and wounded, besides the whole of their artillery. That was the principal reason of Francis' discomfiture, and he has been ever since hesitating as to what to do next, and going from one place to another without a fixed plan. Indeed, ever since his discomfiture before the walls of Perpignan he has been with his two sons, the officers of his household, and almost all the nobility of France, hovering about (en la campania), without laying siege to any town of importance, except perhaps the castle of Bapoma (Bapaume), which, after all, he could not reduce, for though the castle is small and by no means strong, yet the inhabitants of the town made so stout a defence against the duke of Vendôme, with his 15,000 foot, 3,000 horse, and 16 pieces of ordnance, that he was actually obliged to raise the siege of it, after losing 700 men. After that the king of France, with the above-mentioned company and army of upwards of 30,000 foot, 8,000 horse, and 48 pieces of ordnance, pitched his tents near a town called Marolles, not very far from Valenciennes, where he has remained upwards of a fortnight, sometimes threatening Valenciennes itself and at others Vannes (?), though he has not yet attacked either the one or the other. True is it that his men have made raids in the vicinity, burning and wasting everything on their passage with unheard of cruelty to the country people, but, as I say, he has not taken any place of importance.
	King Francis has had it announced and circulated that he has actually gone there (to Marolles) and pitched his tents in that locality for no other purpose than to wait for His Imperial Majesty and give him battle if he will accept it; but he is now beginning to publish that the Emperor is so long in coming that he fears he will not be able to wait any longer for him, but will be obliged to raise his camp and retire into his own kingdom. I really believe that he would have done so already had he found an honorable excuse; that is why he has offered to this king to withdraw his armies and retreat, if he will only accept the arbitration proposed to him.
	Nor has the king of France been remiss in soliciting the Gheldrese (Gueldresses) to join him again, to which end some of them, at his persuasion, passed the other day to the other side of the river Mosa (Meuse) and penetrated into Brabant. It happened, however, that the country people (villanos) of that duchy defeated them completely. On the other hand, a more considerable body of Gheldrese crossed the Rhine and laid siege to a town of the bishopric of Utreque (Utrecht) named Amesffoort, from which they will, I have no doubt, go back with as good a reception as the others had in Brabant. Of whatever may happen in those parts, as well as of any remarkable event in this country, I shall not fail to apprize Your Highness whenever there is an opportunity.—London, 12 July 1543.
	Signed: "Eustace Chapuys."
	Addressed: "To the Prince."
	Spanish. Holograph. pp. 3.
12 July.	184. The Same to the High Commander (Cobos).
S. E., L., 806, f. 76.	My servant (fn. n22) brought me Your Lordship's letter of the 15th of April, for which I thank you most warmly, &c.
	By order of His Imperial Majesty I am now writing to His Highness the Prince, and as my knowledge of Spanish (lengua Castellana) is rather poor, I beg your most Illustrious Lordship to excuse my inability in that respect wherever it may show itself. As Your Lordship will see by my letter to His Highness the news of this country, I need say no more.—London, 12 July 1543.
	Signed: "Eustace Chapuys."
	Addressed: "To the most illustrious lord, the High Commander of Leon." (fn. n23)
	Spanish. Holograph. p. 1.
13 July.	185. Eustace Chapuys to the Queen of Hungary.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 11.	"Madame,"—The English merchants residing in or resorting to the Low Countries for the purpose of trade (fn. n24) have applied to this king for redress of the wrongs which, as they say, are still done to them at Antwerp concerning the duty of the 1%. This King and his Privy Council wonder much at that, especially after Your Majesty's having assured the English ambassadors residing at Your court that the said merchants would no longer be subjected to any molestation with regard to the said tax. (fn. n25) I have, this very morning, received a message from them requesting me to write home on the subject, which I cannot fail to do owing to the great affection and regard which the whole of this nation are just now showing for the Emperor, most humbly begging Your Majesty to issue proper orders for the English merchants not to be molested in any way, but be allowed freely and openly to take away the goods actually shipped, or that may be shipped in future, as well as to be relieved from the cautionary pledges and securities, which they have been compelled to give. (fn. n26) —London, 13 July 1543.
	Signed: "Eustace Chapuys."
	French. Original. pp. 2.
16 July.	185a. The Same to the Queen of Hungary.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 11.	"Madame,"—Three days ago this king's Majesty sent me his admiral (fn. n27) with a coloured chart and map of Holland and its coast that I might see with my own eyes, and bear in mind what danger there would be, and what loss would be sustained were the duke d'Olsten (of Holstein) to get possession by surprise of the islands at the mouth of the canal leading to Amsterdam—one called Flelande (Flieland) and the other Texel (fn. n28) —at the same time requesting me to write to Your Majesty on the subject, and recommending that great care should be taken to provide means for their defence, and that bastions for artillery should be erected there. (fn. n29) I do really believe that for a long time back the King himself has thought of that, and conversed on the subject with the ministers and agents of the duke of Clèves, at a time, too, when there was a talk of an alliance and confederacy with him [against the Emperor]. He is now afraid that the duke d'Olsten's (of Holstein) fleet may one of these days effect a landing on some important place of that coast, and has ordered his subjects to lade hastily as much merchandize as they can on their vessels, and if these are not sufficient, to freight those of the Low Countries and return home as quickly as they can.
	I am just at this moment in receipt of a letter from the Admiral telling me that I must to-morrow, without fail, wait on the King, who is staying 20 miles from this city, for him to communicate certain news he has received concerning the above-mentioned warlike plans of the duke of Olsten (Holstein) and other important matters, and that I am to dissemble and spread the rumour that particular business connected with the merchants, or some other pretence that I may think of, is the cause of my going to him. I shall not fail, God willing (au plaisir de Dieu), to be there at the appointed hour, and advise Your Majesty immediately of this king's communication, if important. I shall at any rate learn from the King's own lips part of what the French ambassador negodated yesterday when he went to Court, though I dare say his ministers, in order to improve their case, as they generally do, will tell me that for the purpose of detaching their master from our alliance, the French are offering to pay the arrears of pension, and grant other conditions equally advantageous. Indeed, most probably that will be their answer to my questions respecting the object of the French ambassadors visit.
	I suppose that Your Majesty has by this time received my letter concerning the particulars of the navigation laws of this country, and also that about the pikes (picquez) that this king has caused to be bought in Flanders for the use of his infantry, and therefore will abstain from further mentioning those two points.—London, 27 July 1543.
	Signed: "Eustace Chapuys."
	French. Holograph. pp. 1½.
20 July.	186. The Privy Council to Eustace Chapuys.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Rep. C., Fasc. 234.	Acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the king of the Romans (Ferdinand).—Grafton, 20 July 1543.
	French. Original. p 1.
n. d.	186a. The English Ambassador's Note respecting the ships to be furnished by the Low Countries.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 4.	The 21st article of the treaty of closer friendship and alliance between the Emperor and the king England is thus worded: Item quoniam utriusque principis referre videtur ut maria tuta ab hostibus, &c. The article above referred to—as the English ambassadors to His Imperial Majesty, and to the dowager queen of Hungary, regent in Flanders and the Low Countries, have frequently observed—having been designed, drawn, approved and ratified for the sole and express purpose of securing the seas from the common enemy, it is really wonderful with how much negligence and procrastination that affair has been treated by the ministers of His Imperial Majesty, and those of his sister, the Queen Regent; for whilst the king of England, my master, has done his utmost to comply with and observe the said article, nothing has yet been done on the part of his allies to secure the supremacy of the seas. Indeed, had not the king of England, my master, by strictly observing the letter of the said article XXI. of the treaty, sending his own fleet to sea at his own and considerable expense, and preventing that of the French from infesting the coast of the Low Countries, so as to enable the Antwerp merchants and others to convey safely their merchandize, and last, not least, cutting off the French from their fisheries, certainly the Emperor's army in Flanders might have been in serious danger. (fn. n30)
	His Imperial Majesty and the Queen Regent are, therefore, earnestly requested to order their respective ministers to comply as soon as possible with the prescriptions of the said article, &c.
	Indorsed: "The note (memorial of the English ambassador) touching the war ships according to article XXI. of the treaty."
	Latin. Copy. p. 1.
20 July.	187. The Emperor to Eustace Chapuys.
Wien, Imp. Arch. Corresp. Engl., 9.	"Venerable, chier et feal,"—These few words are for the express purpose of informing you that the sieur de Chantonnay arrived here [at Ulm] this very evening with your letter of the 15th inst. (fn. n31) The only thing We can tell you now respecting its contents and the business therein mentioned, and of which the said sieur de Chantonnay has made Us a verbal report, is that you and your colleague have acted wisely and discreetly in the matter, and that We entirely approve of everything that has been said and done by you. We shall not enter into details now, but will wait for the answer to a letter which We wrote to Our sister, the Queen, of which Mons. de Phallaix was the bearer, and hear of the landing of the force, both infantry and cavalry, which the king of England, according to promise, destines for the Low Countries, which answer We confidently hope to receive at Spires, towards which place We are at present marching, and which we expect to reach in four or five days at the latest. Meanwhile We do not cease one moment from making such provision as We deem necessary, and will march with all possible speed against the common enemy, wherever he may be.—Ulme (Ulm), 20 July 1543.
	French. Original draft. p. 1.
25 July.	187a. Luis Sarmiento (fn. n32) to the High Commander.
S. E., Port L., 373, f. 13.	As to what Your Lordship tells me of the report current at the Spanish court of the Infanta, (fn. n33) daughter of the princess, getting so very fat that it may prove in future an obstacle in child-birth, I must say that the reporter of such news must be "muy grand partero," and very fond of thin women. As the Infanta has been seen and visited by all the Castilian personages who frequent this court, and no one that I know of has found in her the defect mentioned in Your Lordship's letter, I have purposely avoided writing about her until now that I am asked. The following is the true description of her person. She is as tall, perhaps taller, than her mother, very well made, plump rather than thin, but not so fat as to be disfigured by it. When a child she was certainly fatter than she is now. In the Royal Palace, where there are several pretty ladies, not one is prettier than she is. All agree that her disposition is that of an angel, most generous and amiable, and very fond of dress; she dances well, and knows more of music than a chapel-master. She also knows Latin, and, above all, is a good Christian. I have always tried to inquire from D^a Maria de Velasco, who was once in her service and that of the Queen, her mother, as well as from certain maids-in-waiting, whom the latter left behind when she went away, particulars of the said Infanta; (fn. n34) all agree in saying that she is healthy, &c. I will make Don Juan look at her very closely with his spectacles on. I should like many people to come from that town to look at her, and confirm the description I am now making of her person to His Majesty the Emperor and to Your Lordship. All that I have hitherto known of her corresponds with what I have written. I must add that her father and mother love her most passionately.—Lisbon, 25 July 1543.
	Signed: "Luis Sarmiento de Mendoza."
	Spanish. Holograph. pp. 2.