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  1. Calendar of State Papers, Spain
  2. Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 1, 1485-1509
  3. Spain: 1489

Spain: 1489

Pages 20-26

Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 1, 1485-1509. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1862.

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Citation:

1489

1489.
15 Feb. S. E. T. c. I. L. 2.		 32. Ferdinand and Isabella to De Puebla.
Have received various letters from De Puebla, the last of the 21st December ult.
Have not written for a long time, because they were told that he was on his way to Spain with the English ambassadors.
Duchess of Brittany.
Ambassadors and gentlemen from the Duchess of Brittany have arrived, demanding assistance against France, and the sooner the better. Ferdinand will go directly to Andalusia, and provide for the frontier war against the Moors. He will then return, and get the expedition to Brittany ready. The inundations of the rivers delay his departure. Meanwhile ambassadors have been sent to Brittany to pacify those who are living at the Court of the Duchess, and who are said to be quarrelling with one another. It is rumoured that Henry has already sent troops to Brittany. De Puebla is ordered to procure speedy and effectual assistance from him. Henry has the best opportunity for it, considering the dispositions of his troops and the close vicinity.
As to the marriage of the Duchess of Brittany, the ambassadors told her that Henry wished her to marry the Duke of Buckingham, and to have certain fortresses delivered to him, as security for the pay of his troops. The fortresses are given as security, but the answer respecting the marriage is evasive. Want to know in what state the affair is now. It may be that the Duchess wishes to make another marriage. Would Henry resent it, provided the husband to be chosen were a friend of his own? On all these points De Puebla must inform himself very minutely, but without letting Henry know anything that might induce him not to assist Brittany, or to put off the conclusion of the treaties with Spain.
In the other negotiations with England De Puebla has done perfectly well. The ambassadors ought to come as soon as possible that Ferdinand may see them before his departure for Andalusia.
King of the Romans.
Ambassadors from the King of the Romans have arrived and returned in company with ambassadors from Ferdinand and Isabella to the said King. If Henry and the King of the Romans are not yet reconciled, De Puebla is to procure their reconciliation.
Draft. Spanish. pp. 4.
Indorsed : "A copy of this in cipher is sent from Medina by a courier to Diego de Soria in Burgos, the 15th of February 1489, in order to be forwarded to De Puebla."
The despatch went in cipher, but the ciphered copy of it is no longer extant.
Arundel Coll. Coll. of Arms. 33. Roger Machados' relation of the English Embassy to Spain and Portugal.
The King of England sent Dr. Thomas Salvage and Richard Nanfan, accompanied by Roger Machado, Richmond King-at-arms, on an embassy to Spain and Portugal. After relating the occurrences of their voyage, and their journey from Laredo to Medina del Campo, they give an account of their first audience of the King and Queen, which took place on the 14th March. On delivering their letters Doctor Salvage made a long oration in Latin, to which the Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo replied, but "le bon evesque estoit si viel, et avoyt perd tous ses dens, que a grant payne on peult entendre ce qu'il dissoit." The second audience took place the next day, when they conferred with the King and Queen about the matters respecting which they had come, and afterwards were introduced to the Prince and Infanta. On the 22nd and 25th jousts and bull fights were held in their honour. Machado adds, "On parle de l'onner que en fait es enbassadeurs en "Angleterre ; certes ce n'est pas à comparer à l'onner que on fait aulx enbassadeurs au royaulme de Castille." On the 27th they concluded all their negotiations, the King and Queen swearing to do and keep all that had been agreed upon between them and the King of England ; after which the ambassadors took leave, and, laden with rich presents, pursued their journey towards Portugal.
French, 42 pages of print.
Printed in Gairdner's Memorials of Henry VII.
27-28 Mar.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 1.		 34. Treaty between England and Spain, ratified by Ferdinand and Isabella.
Proem.
Commission of Ferdinand and Isabella to Didacus de Guevara, Doctor de Puebla, and Sepulveda, dated Medina del Campo, 26th of March 1489 :
Commission of Henry VII. to Richard Nanfan and Thomas Salvage, dated Westminster, 11th of December, 4th year of his reign (1488) :
Treaty between England and Spain.
1. A true friendship and alliance shall be observed henceforth between Ferdinand and Isabella, their heirs and subjects, on the one part, and Henry, his heirs and subjects, on the other part. They promise to assist one another in defending their present and future dominions against any enemy whatsoever.
The subjects of one of the contracting parties are allowed to travel, stay and carry on commerce in the dominions of the other contracting party, without general or special passport, and will be treated on the same footing as the citizens of the country in which they temporarily reside.
The customs are to be reduced to what they were in time of peace thirty years ago.
2. Neither party shall in any way favour the rebels of the other party, nor permit them to be favoured or stay in his dominions.
3. Mutual assistance to be given against all aggressors within three months after the assistance has been requested. The assisted party to pay the expenses, which are to be fixed by four knights, two from each side.
4. Henry is not permitted to assist Charles, King of France, or any other prince at war with Spain. Ferdinand and Isabella promise the same to Henry.
5. Henry is not to conclude peace, alliance, or treaties with France without the sanction of Ferdinand and Isabella, who, on their side, bind themselves to the same effect with respect to Henry.
6. As often as and whenever Ferdinand and Isabella make war with France, Henry shall do the same, and conversely.
France.
7. As Henry, however, has concluded a truce with France till the 17th of January next, he is not to call upon Spain, during this truce, to undertake a war with France. For the term of one year after the expiration of the said truce either party shall be at liberty to conclude a new truce with the King of France, but the other contracting party must be included in it. Should actual war, however, break out "this very day" between England and France, neither Henry nor Ferdinand and Isabella shall conclude a truce without the express sanction of all parties to this treaty, except,—
8. In case the King of France voluntarily restore Normandy and Aquitaine to England, Henry shall be at liberty to conclude peace with him without the consent of Spain ; or in case the King of France restore Roussillon and Cerdaña to Spain, then Ferdinand and Isabella shall be at liberty to make peace with him without the consent of England, all other clauses of this treaty remaining in full force.
9. Either of the contracting parties shall include the other in all leagues, treaties, &c., with other princes or republics.
10. The Pope and the Kings of Naples and Portugal are excepted from this treaty. The King of the Romans shall be excepted as soon as he shall conclude an alliance with both contracting parties.
12. The Duchess of Brittany and her future husband are likewise excepted.
Letters of marque.
13. All letters of marque and reprisal are revoked. Any Spanish or English vessel sailing from a Spanish or English port is to give security for good behaviour at sea, to the amount of double the value of the vessel, its equipment, and provisions. If during the voyage it causes damage to Spanish or English vessels, the injured party shall be indemnified from the said security. Should justice be denied, the King of the injured party must twice demand redress from the sovereign of the party which has done the damage before he deliver letters of marque and reprisal.
14. Infractions by the subjects of either of the contracting parties are not to dissolve the treaty.
15. In case a subject of one of the countries in question is injured by a subject of the other country, and redress cannot be obtained, after it has been demanded by the government of the injured party, letters of marque and reprisal may be issued.
16. The treaty is to be proclaimed within six months after its signature in all towns and seaports of Spain and England.
Marriage of the Princess Katharine.
17. In order to strengthen this alliance the Princess Katbarine is to marry Prince Arthur. The marriage is to be contracted per verba de futuro as soon as Katharine and Arthur attain the necessary age.
18. The marriage shall be contracted per verba de prœsenti and consummated as soon as the Prince and the Princess attain the necessary age for it. Henry and Ferdinand and Isabella shall swear to employ all their influence with their children that the marriage be contracted as stipulated.
Marriage portion.
19. The marriage portion is to be 200,000 scudos, each scudo in value 4s. 2d. sterling. One half to be paid when the Princess comes to England, and the other half within two years after.
Dowry.
20. De Puebla states that it has been agreed between him, the Bishop of Exeter, and the Lord Privy Seal that one fourth of the marriage portion shall be payable in ornaments, jewels, &c. belonging to the Princess. The English ambassadors, on the contrary, deny that such an arrangement has been made. The word of honour, and the oath, of the Bishop of Exeter and the Lord Privy Seal are to be given on this question.
20. The dowry is to consist of a third part of the revenues of the duchies of Wales, Cornwall, and Chester, which is warranted to amount to no less than 25,000 or at least 23,000 crowns. In case the Princess become Queen of England, she is to enjoy a greater dowry, in the same way as other Queens have done before her.
21. Ferdinand and Isabella pledge all their goods and revenues, and all the goods and revenues of their subjects, for payment of the marriage portion.
22. Henry pledges all his and his subjects' goods and revenues for the dowry.
23. The right of succession to the crown of Castile and Arragon is reserved to the Princess Katharine.
24. Ferdinand and Isabella promise to send the Princess to England decently apparelled and provided with ornaments and jewels becoming her rank. Her marriage must take place within one month after her arrival in England.
25. The time when the Princess is to go to England shall be fixed hereafter.
Medina del Campo, 27th of March 1489.
Signatures of the Spanish, commissioners and English ambassadors.
Ratification of Ferdinand and Isabella, Medina del Campo, 28th of March 1489. (fn. 1)
Latin. On parchment. pp. 43.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 4. f. 91. 35. Memorial of the Clauses contained in the Treaty with the King of England, and not contained in the Treaty with the King of The Romans.
"Among the clauses omitted in the treaty with the King of the Romans are the following :—Neither of the contracting parties to be allowed to receive the enemies or rebels of the other party in his dominions, or to give them advice and assistance.
2. The clause respecting the army to be sent in assistance.
King of France.
3. Neither of the contracting parties to be allowed to assist the King of France.
4. Either of the contracting parties not to be at liberty to conclude peace with the King of France without the express sanction of the other party.
5. If one party make war upon France, the other party is bound to do the same. [This clause in the other treaty is limited to the case in which each of the parties consent to recover what has been taken from him.] As soon as either of them obtain his rights, he is no longer bound to continue the war."
[Then follows an abstract of the seventh clause of the treaty of the 27th of March, containing the modalities of the war against France.]
"Neither of the contracting parties is at liberty to conclude peace and alliance with any other prince or republic without including the other party. [This clause is not in the treaty with the King of the Romans.]
It is necessary to bear in mind the manner in which the King of the Romans, the Duchess of Brittany and her future husband are excepted.
There is no clause in the treaty with the King of the Romans which binds him, in case he make peace with France, to ask Charles to give back to Ferdinand the counties of Rousillon and Cerdaña."—No date. (fn. 2)
Spanish. pp. 3.
22 July.
S. E. T. c. I. L. 3. f. 1.		 Treaty between the King of France and the King of the Romans.
Duchess of Brittany.
36. Treaty between the King of France and the King of The Romans, the substance of which is as follows :—
1. They have made perpetual peace, which has been publicly proclaimed.
2. As for the other business of the Duchess, who is not called Duchess but Madame Anne, "as she was styled in "the treaty which the King of England (fn. 3) gave me to read with his own hand," it is agreed that, of the four places which the King of France has conquered, two are to be given to Monsieur de Bourbon, and two to the Prince of Orange. The King of the Romans promises that the Duchess shall turn the English out of her dominions.
3. With regard to the duchy of Burgundy and the two seignories (señorios) which the King of France has taken, it is said that, at the meeting of the Kings, Charles will act liberally to the King of the Romans, and has promised to do the same with respect to St. Omer.
4. Both parties have included their friends in this treaty without naming them. They intend to give the names of their friends at their intended interview, neither the time nor the place of which is as yet agreed upon.
The treaty of 1482 is to be revived. It is agreed that they shall give back their lands to Monsieur D'Albret, to Monsieur Philip, and to the old Duchess.—No date. (fn. 4)
Spanish, of which the preceding is a literal translation. p. 1.
27 May.
B. R. V. 3653. f. 135.		 Duties on Spanish goods.
37. Ferdinand to Henry VII.
Juan Albanel and Miguel Casaldaguila, Spanish merchants, residing in England, have complained that they are forced to pay higher duties on goods imported into England than they have hitherto paid. The Custom House officers protest that they are not subjects of the Crown of Castile. According to the treaty of peace between Spain and England, all Spanish subjects, without distinction, are to be on the same footing as Englishmen. Hopes Henry will do them justice.—Jaen, 27th of May 1489.
Spanish. pp. 2.
18 Oct.
Fr. R. 5 & 6 Hen. VII. m. 38. (7).		 38. Henry VII. to All Persons.
Letters of safe conduct and protection to John Lopes and Gomes de Soria, merchants of Spain, and residents of Bruges in Flanders, to come into England, &c—Westminster, the 18th of October.
Latin. p. ¼
29 Nov.
P. R. O. Fr. R. 5 & 6 Hen. VII. m. 8. (27.)		 39. Henry VII.
Licence to Sanchio de Vilbao, John de Bassesavall, John de Mondake, John de Arechega, John Ochoa de Arresticita, Myngot de Fawtys, John de Arbiet, Martin de Geldo, Stephen de Argundegi, Ocheo de Gronde, Spanish Merchants, to trade with their ships in England.—Windsor, the 29th of November.
Latin. p. ½.
4 Dec.
B. R. V. 3565. f. 241.		 40. Ferdinand to Elizabeth, Queen of England.
Ferdinand has conquered the town of Baca, in the kingdom of Granada, and has made great progress in the war against the Moors. As his victory must interest all the Christian world, he thinks it his duty to inform the Queen of England of it. —Baca, 4th of December 1489.
Latin. pp. 2.
There are several letters to the same effect to different princes, but not one to Henry VII.

Footnotes

  • 1. The signatures of Ferdinand and Isabella are cut out, apparently with a pair of scissors. So much of the letters, however, forming their names remain, that it cannot be doubted but that the ratification of the treaty had been signed by them.
  • 2. There are several other papers at Simancas written in the same hand, but not signed. When Francis I. became a prisoner of Charles V., the writer of this memoir was asked to give his opinion on the best policy to be followed. In the paper containing his answer, he calls himself an old counsellor of Ferdinand, who had retired from active business a long time ago.
  • 3. In the original document it is written "El Rey de Inglaterra," which is scratched out, and a cipher put in its stead.
  • 4. This is an extract, made by De Puebla, from the treaty concluded at Frankfort on the 22nd July 1489.