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Letters & Papers: 1510 Spanish Calendar
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Spoke with the King about the creation of English cardinals. The King declared himself ready to enter into negotiations with the Pope on the subject, and said that he thought it was a very necessary thing.
Communicated his conversation with the King to the bishops, who begged him to write to him (King Ferdinand), and ask his intercession in their behalf with the King of England, under the form of advice. The King, they said, is young, and does not care to occupy himself with anything but the pleasures of his age. All other affairs he neglects. If, therefore, he (King Ferdinand) would write to him and spur him on, the affair would soon be concluded, with his (the ambassador's) assistance. Begs him to write to the King of England in behalf of the bishops. Nothing but advantage could result from such a letter. The bishops would be more diligent and solicitous to serve him. Is persuaded that had he not excited in the breasts of the bishops the desire of being created cardinals this treaty would not have been concluded until at least a month later, and it would never have been concluded in such a form and in such a courteous manner as it had been. The English commissioners came seven or eight times to his house only in order to speak with him on this subject. Moreover, they begged that he (King Ferdinand) would always advise the King of England what he ought to do. He (King Henry) likes it, and profits much by it. |
Full Text of Spanish Ambassador's Letter
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29 May 1510
44. Luis Caroz De Villaragut, Spanish Ambassador in England, to King Ferdinand The Catholic. The last courier arrived on the 5th of May, at break of day, and delivered to him his letters. As the Privy Council remained in London until Tuesday, the 7th of May, he did not think it convenient to go earlier to the place where the court resided. Could not well begin negotiations with the King before his councillors had arrived. Told the King, according to his instructions, that he (King Ferdinand) perfectly approved the manner in which the English treaty of alliance with France had been concluded. His conversation with the King afforded him an opportunity of telling him how much he (King Ferdinand) was satisfied with his filial obedience, how well he loved him, and how he regarded him as his true son. Does not permit any occasion to pass without making use of it to increase mutual affection between him (King Ferdinand) and the King of England. Said to the King, "Sire, why do not we conclude the closer union and alliance? In your own mind it is already concluded. Let us therefore set to work and reduce the treaty to writing." The King answered that he wished for nothing better, and that he was willing to conclude the treaty of stricter alliance at once. Said, "I am ready to conclude it in whatever manner your Highness may direct." The King replied, "Conclude it without asking for further instructions." Declared that, since he (King Henry) wished it, he would conclude the treaty without delay, adding that he was ordered to assent to and to sign whatever he (the King of England) wished. The King showed great joy, and became visibly excited in his desire to show his great readiness to serve him (King Ferdinand). Told the King to order some of his privy councillors to take the matter in hand at once, and to conclude and sign the treaty. The King called for his secretary, the Bishop of Durham, who was present. As neither the Bishop of Winchester, who is Privy Seal, nor the treasurer, were at court, the King sent for three or four other councillors, and ordered them to attend to the negotiations, in addition to the Bishop of Durham. Heard from them that the matter had already been discussed and decided upon in the council. Asked them without delay to conclude the treaty. The next Saturday the Bishops of Winchester and of Durham came to his house and brought him a draft of the treaty. Looked over the different heads of it only, and asked them to leave him the copy, as he wished to examine it more closely. They did so. Negotiated and concluded the treaty in such a manner as, in his estimation, will best secure his (King Ferdinand's) interests and purposes. Thinks the treaty is in accordance with his first instructions and with the instructions the last courier brought him. Is of opinion that the alliance is very intimate. Protests that at all events he has had the best intentions, and begs him to inform him in what respect he has erred, if he has erred, in order that he may amend his fault. Had he not been persuaded that this treaty is advantageous to him, and had it not been dangerous to delay the conclusion of it, he would certainly not have concluded it without first consulting him. The King of England behaved in this and in all the other affairs on which he spoke with him in his (King Ferdinand's) name as a most obedient son. He does not like to occupy himself much with business. All was, therefore, very soon concluded with the King, who told him to arrange the details with his councillors. The councillors are very different from the King. They are slow in concluding anything. They caused him much disgust, and made him suspect a thousand things. Did not get rid of his suspicions until the treaty was really concluded. All business affairs are in the hands of the Bishop of Durham and the Bishop of Winchester. Endeavoured to gain their good will by stratagem, and told each of them separately that they ought to be made cardinals. They answered at first with great duplicity, but at the end of his communications with them, they each asked him separately to speak with the King about this matter, without, however, mentioning their names. Afterwards they each came to him and begged him not to permit the matter to drop. Managed the business in the following manner They had told him that the Pope was in great fear of the French, and that he had even distrusted the English, in consequence of the last treaty of peace with the King of France. Since, however, his Holiness had seen the treaty, he had been somewhat comforted. Moreover, they said, the Pope was afraid lest after his death a French Pope should be elected, since the cardinals who adhered to the French cause were so very numerous. In order to obviate this danger as much as possible the Pope intended to create, in addition to the English archbishop who is ambassador in Rome, some new Spanish and Italian cardinals, who are hostile to France. Answered that in order to obviate this danger it would be much better to create more English cardinals. They replied that the English did not solicit favours. If they did so, they would, they thought, be oftener made cardinals. Broached the matter in this way with the English prelates, and added that the Church and all the kingdoms of Christendom would be placed in the greatest danger if the French had command over the Pope. On this account, he said, it was necessary to create Spanish and English cardinals. These two nations alone would suffice to counterbalance French influence. Told them moreover that he believed that he (King Ferdinand) had already taken some steps in this affair. The bishops declared to him that they were entirely of his opinion, and begged him to speak with the King about the matter, but not to mention his conversation with them, and not to name the persons who were to be selected, in order that the King might not know that the demand came from them. Spoke with the King about the creation of English cardinals. The King declared himself ready to enter into negotiations with the Pope on the subject, and said that he thought it was a very necessary thing. Communicated his conversation with the King to the bishops, who begged him to write to him (King Ferdinand), and ask his intercession in their behalf with the King of England, under the form of advice. The King, they said, is young, and does not care to occupy himself with anything but the pleasures of his age. All other affairs he neglects. If, therefore, he (King Ferdinand) would write to him and spur him on, the affair would soon be concluded, with his (the ambassador's) assistance. Begs him to write to the King of England in behalf of the bishops. Nothing but advantage could result from such a letter. The bishops would be more diligent and solicitous to serve him. Is persuaded that had he not excited in the breasts of the bishops the desire of being created cardinals this treaty would not have been concluded until at least a month later, and it would never have been concluded in such a form and in such a courteous manner as it had been. The English commissioners came seven or eight times to his house only in order to speak with him on this subject. Moreover, they begged that he (King Ferdinand) would always advise the King of England what he ought to do. He (King Henry) likes it, and profits much by it. Spoke with the King about the Emperor, the King of France, and the Venetians. The King of England says that the Emperor does not like to make peace with the Venetians, and that in his opinion the fault lies with the council of the Emperor, most of the Imperial councillors being in the interest of France. The King of England has sent a gentleman to the Emperor, who is to negotiate with him respecting the affairs of Venice, and the general treaty of alliance and confederacy between the Emperor, Prince Charles, Spain, and England. They (the English) wish that the general treaty of alliance should be kept separate from the more intimate treaty between Spain and England. The English have, furthermore, begged him to write to the Spanish ambassador in Germany, and to ask him to act in conformity with the English ambassador. Has promised and is about to do so. Whilst having a conversation with the King about the councillors of the Emperor who are bribed by France, said to the King, "In affairs which concern the French one scarcely knows to whom to speak, for they get to know it directly ; and then they countermine all one's designs. I beg, therefore, your Highness to tell me which of them (the English councillors) are the most trustworthy, because suspicions are rife in all quarters." The King answered, "Do not speak with any one except with the Bishop of Winchester about French affairs." Asked him, "Do you confide in him?" The King replied, "Yes, at my risk. Here in England they think he is a fox, and such is his name." Writes this in order that he (King Ferdinand) may tell the King of England that many of his privy councillors are believed to be Frenchmen at heart, and that he may tell him with which of them it will be safe to negotiate on matters which concern the King of France. Thinks the manner in which he spoke with the King of England was the mildest form in which he could treat the subject. Did not like to push the matter further, as in his opinion what he said was sufficient. The councillors of the King of England told him that Madame Margaret already knew of the way in which the treaty with France was concluded. Writes this to him, as he (Luiz Caroz) was ordered, in the last despatch he received from him, to show the treaty to Madame Margaret, and to urge on her to act with more energy in all that concerns the general alliance. When the English learnt by letters from France and from Rome how arrogantly the French had behaved themselves, and how they had threatened and boasted on account of the treaty they had concluded with England, they were somewhat offended, and said that he (King Ferdinand) had been right in his predictions. They declared, however, that no other choice had been left them than to conclude the treaty of peace with France, because the King being young and not having a son, it would have been dangerous to engage in a war with France. Besides, they said, he (King Henry) had not yet concluded any alliances with his friends and relations. As soon as he had concluded such alliances and God had given him a son, he would be more at liberty to do what he wished. Approved greatly of what they told him, and did not like to be more explicit on the bad manner in which the treaty (with France) had been concluded. The English admit that the manner was bad in which the alliance (with France) was concluded, although the treaty itself, they say, is good. Told them that he (King Ferdinand) had approved greatly of the treaty, and considered it to be good, holy, and well considered. Asked, in the most courteous manner possible, for a copy of the treaty with France. They gave him one, and at the same time showed him the original, signed by the English and French commissioners. Read the original treaty. When they brought him the copy which is enclosed in this letter, it was already late, and the Bishop of Durham asked him whether he wished to collate it with the original. To have done so would have seemed to him to be very impolite. Asked the Bishop, therefore, whether he had collated it. The Bishop said yes. Told him that that was sufficient. The Bishop of Winchester is Privy Seal. On speaking the first time to the King about the affairs of the King of France, and asking him what his intentions were in case the King of France should entirely destroy the Venetians, the King told him to confer on that subject with the Bishop (of Winchester). The Bishop, on his part, declared that the affair was a difficult one, and that he would give his answer after the Feast of Easter. Easter has passed away, but the Bishop has not given his answer, nor has he spoken a single word more to him about Venice. In the last despatch he has received has been instructed not to mention this affair if the English do not speak first about it. Promises he will not. He writes him that, according to letters from France, the treaty between the King of France and the King of England was concluded on the 14th of March. The fact is that the treaty was concluded the beginning of March, and that then a courier was sent to the King of France, in order to obtain his signature. When the courier returned, the treaty was signed by all the parties interested in it on the 23rd of March. Has been told so by the privy councillors themselves. They told him, moreover, that the King of England did not wish to conclude the treaty with France, but that some of his most intimate councillors insisted so much on it that he at last gave way. The Duke of Buckingham and many others are mortal enemies of the French. It is due to their influence that the treaty was not concerted in a more offensive manner. Thinks that the conclusion of the treaty may be excused. Expects new powers authorizing him to witness the King of England swear to the treaty (with King Ferdinand), and to receive a copy of it. Asked the King whether John Stile was to see him (King Ferdinand) swear to the treaty, and was told that another person would be sent expressly for that purpose. The English wish this treaty to remain secret until the treaty with the Emperor is concluded. Tells them to induce the Emperor, through Prince Charles, to enter the alliance.—London, the 29th of May 1510. 
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