1513.
26 May.
H. H. u. St. A.
Belgien D. D.
Abt. B. f. l.
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Louis XII to Margaret Of Savoy.
My Cousin : I have received your letters by the Sieur de
Genly [Jacques de Hangest, Sieur de Genlis], my chamberlain,
and learned from him the reception you accorded him. It appears
by that, and by what I have since heard, that your people intend
to assist and favour the English, ancient enemies of the crown of
France, both with men-at-arms of Hainaut and Brabant and with
ships for their passage to Holland and Zeeland. This is an open
contravention of the peace which has always existed between
me and the house of Flanders. Therefore, if the prince of Castile
were of age, I would summon him to serve me against the English,
since he is a peer of France and my vassal, as you know. But
since he is a minor I shall content myself for the present with
writing once more to you who have complete charge of him and
his affairs, to beg you for his good and that of his subjects, to live
at peace with me and mine. For the time compels us to distinguish
friends from enemies, and I shall take measures according
to your response.
I am writing likewise to the towns of Flanders and Artois,
which are also subject to the French crown, to learn their intentions.
Etampes, 26 May, 1513.
Signed, Louis ; countersigned, Robertet. French.
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7 June.
H. H. u. St. A.
Belgien D. D.
Abt. B. f. l.
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Margaret Of Savoy to Louis XII.
Your letter replying to mine by the Sieur de Genlis asking me
to signify my intention as to the aid given here to the English,
your enemies, has been received. I have also seen your letter
to my nephew and those which you have written to Ghent and
several other cities.
In this matter, monseigneur, I beg you to believe that although
certain private persons have entered the service of the king of
England at their own risk, and others have sold or hired him
ships, they did this for their own personal profit and without my
orders, just as others have, I am informed, taken service with you,
which I have not wished to forbid. Nevertheless, I know that it
is the intention of the emperor, my father, as guardian of my
nephew and administrator of his realms, that, notwithstanding
any alliance that he may have with any king or prince whatever,
the towns, lands and subjects of my nephew shall continue to
observe scrupulously the treaty of Senlis and their subsequent
engagements. And for my part I have never done anything to
infringe these treaties, as I have already advised you by my
maître d'hôtel, Philippe Dale, and by the Sieur de Genlis. I have
provided that there shall be no injury of your subjects by the
garrisons of the towns and fortresses of the frontier, and, as an
evidence of this care, an example was made several days ago when
the bailiff and council of Hainaut executed several persons who
had been pillaging your subjects of Tournai.
I beg you, in return, to see that the treaties are equally observed,
and that my nephew's subjects may safely visit your realm for
commerce and other peaceful purposes, and that they may be
better treated there than they have been for some time past.
I am sending an envoy to you shortly to treat of this matter.
As to the towns and territories of my nephew to which you
have written, I shall see that they observe the peace, and I have
no doubt that they will conduct themselves as good and obedient
servants of their natural prince. If there is anything further that
I can do here to be agreeable to you, I shall undertake it with a
good heart.
Brussels, 7 June, 1513.
Signed, Your cousin Margaret. French. pp. 2.
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