1542.
Oct. 22.
Uni. of
Gottingen |
The Ambassadors in England to Mary Of Hungary.
Early yesterday the English commissioners came to see us for
the fifth time, excusing their delay for the reasons which they had
given us in daily messages. As far as we could understand, they
felt that they had justified the delay by persuading Henry to an
agreement which would settle the difficulties over the two chief
articles still in question. About the first of these, that concerning
rebels, Henry has been very obstinate. He is now satisfied to
accept it in the form in which it stands in the treaty of Cambrai,
provided the time laid down there is somewhat shortened. The
other difficulty was over the phrase "states, potentates, and
spiritual persons or princes" ; Henry will agree to it, provided the
word "spiritual" is omitted and the phrase reads "potentates,
persons, or princes, of whatever degree, dignity, condition or
quality whatsoever." The ambassadors gave us to understand
that M. de Granvelle had told the English ambassadors that they
could amplify the articles as much as they liked in general terms.
We said that it was certainly not the emperor's intention to
include the pope expressly or tacitly, directly or indirectly, as
they wished to do by this cse,lau and after considerable debate
on this point they said they could not go any farther without
consulting Henry again, and asked us to give them in writing a
copy of the section of our instructions concerning this article,
which they could show Henry. This we were unwilling to do, and
said we would not like to impugn either their memory or the king's
confidence in them, and they seemed to take our refusal in good
part.
The deputies now think that the drafting of these two articles
can go forward, and that we will let them put in the restrictions on
commerce and the confirmation of the treaty of 1520, but we do
not think they will insist on these points to the end. Nor does it
seem likely that they will make difficulties about the equalization
of the succours promised, on account of the greater expense which
must be undergone in the Low Countries, or about moderating the
penalties to be exacted in case of a breach of the treaty. They
will still insist that the requirement for defensive aid continue in
case of an offensive campaign, and also that the dukes of Cleves
and Holstein not be named expressly but be simply included in
the general phase "friends of friends and enemies of enemies."
They say that aid against the Turk is a question separate from
the treaty, and should be given out of friendship and not by obligation,
and that once the treaty is concluded they will do their
best to induce Henry to accord it. So far we have not spoken of
the time for the summons or for the joint invasion, and we suppose
that they intend that all this shall stand as it is now. Therefore
we beg your majesty to let us know at once your pleasure on this
and other points, so that we may take advantage of the present
favourable disposition of the English.
London, 22 October, 1542.
Signed, de Montmorency, Eustache Chapuys. French. pp. 2. |
