Henry VIII,the Reign
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Went with all diligence to the King. Found him, on Tuesday, in his new great ship of 1,500 tons, which was that day dedicated with great triumph. Met the Queen, the Princess Mary, the Pope's ambassadors, several bishops, and a large number of nobles. Were most honorably received, and conducted by the King through the ship, which has no equal in bulk, and has an incredible array of guns. In the scuttle on the top of the mainmast are 80 serpentines and hackbuts. The ship contains seven tiers, one above another. On the ambassadors leaving the ship, a salute was fired from all the guns. Came on Corpus Christi Day (die Sacramenti) to Eltham, a castle situated between two parks, where the King gave them audience, and read the Emperor's letters. Find by various evidences that he was not pleased with their contents. When they told him that the Swiss were intriguing against the Emperor and the Catholic King, and demanded money from France, in accordance with an agreement made before Dijon, offering to league with France, and that there were practices by the Pope, he replied that the Emperor had no such grounds for making a truce, because the Swiss were in league with England against the French, and that the Pope had no other object except a defensive league, for fear of the Spaniards, and that he does not favor the French but gives all possible support to the Duke of Milan. Whenever he needs peace he will not have to send out of his kingdom for it. Finally, he referred them to his Council.
On Friday, accordingly, at Baynard's Castle, met the Duke of Norfolk, the Bishops of Winchester, Durham, and Lincoln, the Prior of St. John's, the Lord Chamberlain and the master of the Rolls. The Council expressed much surprise at the King of Aragon making this truce without giving notice to Henry, who, after the slaughter of Ravenna, had entered into war on his account and thus enabled him both to preserve Naples and subdue Navarre, and said they would not have believed that the Emperor would have made answer to Quintana without giving notice to England. They thought their Sovereign should not have been treated like a boy, and can never expect him to accept a truce, the articles of which have not been transmitted to him either by the Emperor or Aragon. Beg him therefore to send the articles to Lady Margaret or hither. This was one of the difficulties of which De Pleine wrote to the Emperor, from Louvain. The English ambassador in Spain has written that he was present when the truce was proclaimed at the court of the King Catholic between the King Catholic, the Emperor, who undertook for the King of England's adherence, the Prince of Castile, Archduchess of Austria, &c. The General of Normandy is still here. They told the Council he was well known to the Emperor as one accustomed to handle more difficult matters than the ransom of the Duke of Longueville. On their saying they hoped the King would not make peace without consulting the Emperor, were assured the General had not spoken on that subject. Have made special visits to the Bishop of Winchester, Duke of Norfolk and the Bishop of Lincoln, to counteract the designs of the General and Count Louis de Canosse, who has been sent through France by the Pope. Found them all much alarmed, and very distrustful of the Emperor, though the writers have somewhat appeased them. Have learned more from the Bishop of Lincoln than the others. He says plainly, that the King might, if he would, make peace with France, but it would be ruinous to the Emperor and the Prince's countries; he hopes, however, the King will do nothing to their prejudice. Thinks the General of Normandy has declared all that the Emperor and the Catholic King have endeavoured to bring about with France. Doing this with the view of separating the King of England from them; and, that done, France will make the agreement which involves least loss. Wolsey spoke about the marriage of Lady Eleanor, the duchy of Burgundy, Gueldres, the marriage of Renée, the sending of Bontemps with letters of ratification, &c. He said, besides, the King would cross the sea in 24 days to besiege Boulogne, which he could do more easily without horses and provisions from the Low Countries, as the transport from England was shorter, and the Swiss were more bound to the King than they ever were to the Emperor; that they were willing to enter France; but the King and his Council thought better the King and the Swiss should do so simultaneously; that the King will never make peace. He is very angry that the Emperor had not declared his intentions before they had gone to expence for solemnizing the marriage at Calais. The King, however, will have regard to the burthens borne by the Emperor, provided he acts friendly, and lets the King know his intentions decidedly by sending the articles of truce and declaring whether he accepted them or not, in all events, and what was his intention with regard to ships and horsemen of the Low Countries. Were told by the chief councillors they would not take it so amiss if the Emperor would say at once what he does not wish to do. That he lets the time slip without declaring his resolution, they cannot understand; because he seems to refuse to England the services of his subjects, and yet allow the French to make use of them against England. Some are of opinion that the Catholic King does not wish the termination of the war with Venice, and that the depression of France would be more useful to the Emperor. London, 19 June 1514. |
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