Hall's Chronicle 1522. 04 Jun 1522. Thursday, they that jousted the other day, appointed themselves to tourney, and as the King was arming him, there came to him one George Luffkin and showed him, that there was one come from his Ambassador in France, the King called for the messenger, and delivered his letters, which the King read, and said to Sir William Compton (age 40), tell the Emperor that I have news, if it pleases him to come hither. Sir William Compton (age 40) went and told this to the Emperor, which without delay came to the King, which showed him the letters from Sir Thomas Cheney (age 37) his Ambassador, wherein was contented the definitive answer made as well to Sir Thomas Cheney (age 37), as to Clarenseaux King of Arms of England, by the French Kinge, to the King’s requests for you shall understand, that the King of England by his Ambassador, had often times demanded, both his tribute and his lawful debt, and also restitution to be made to his subjects grieved, and farther also the league was broken, by making war on the Emperor, so that now by the league the King of England should be enemy, to him that first brake, and did take part with the other, yet he had so much compassion, on shedding of Christen blood, that he would not enter war, but shew himself a mediator and an entreator between them. And upon this Sir Thomas Cheney had often moved the French King, and also moved him to take peace with the Emperor for two years, so that some mediation of peace might be entreated, in the meane season, to all this the French King answered we have well considered your master’s desire, to the which we nothing agree, nor hold us content with his request. Sir said the Ambassador, the King my master shall be advertised of your answer by me, wherefore I beseech your grace of safe-conduct, to return into England. Then said the King, there is an officer of arms come hither out of England, let him come and he shall be heard, and have an answer, to which thing Sir Thomas Cheney answered not, but with reverence departed, and so on the twenty-first day of May, the said officer called Clarenceux King of Armes, came to the French King’s chamber at Lyon, which was accompanied with many noble men and gentlemen, and then Clarenceux put on his coat of arms, and desired license to speak, and liberty according to the law of arms, which was to him granted: then he declared that where the French King was bound by league tripartite, to keep peace with the Emperor, and with the King of England, and whosoever first brake, the other two to be enemies to him, to the which league the French King was sworn, which league he apparently had broken, by making war on the Emperor, by Sir Robert de la Marche, and by himself in person. Wherefore the King by that league must be his enemy, and take part against him.

Also, he declared, that the French King kept away the King’s rents, and debts, due to him. Also, that he detained the dower of the French Queen. Also, that contrary to his promise, he had sent the Duke of Albany into Scotland. Also, that contrary to justice he had imprisoned merchants, having his safe-conduct, where they should have gone in safety seeing there was no war proclaimed, between him and the King his master. All these articles with many more, the King my master is ready to prove. Nay said the French King, I began not the war, nor sent Robert La Marche to make war, but commanded him to the contrary, and or I made war in proper person, his war was open, and he had our town of Tournay strongly besieged, and as touching the Duke of Albany, it hath cost me forty thousand Francs, to keep him out of Scotland, but I could not let him to go into his own country. This the French King excused his untruth. Sir I am farther charged to tell you, said Clarenceux that the King my sovereign lord, holds you for his mortal enemy this day forth, and al your adherents. Well said the French King, I looked for this a great while agone, for sith the Cardinal was at Bridges, I looked for no other, but you have done your message: then the French King rose and departed, and Clarenceux was conveyed to his lodging, and shortly after, Sir Thomas Cheyney and he, by safe-conduct, departed and came to Boulogne, and there Monsieur Fayet captain there, them both stayed until the Ambassador of France, which had lain in England, were clearly delivered out of Calais. The whole circumstance of the demands and defiance, and the French King’s answer, was contained in the letter, which was brought to the King, which showed it to the Emperor (as you have hard) but while the King and the Emperor looked on the letter, a sodden noise rose amongst both their subjects, that it was a letter of defiance, sent to them both by the French King, which was nothing so. Thus, now was the war open of all parties, between England and France, and Spain. When the two princes had of this matter commoned their fill, the Emperor called for a horse, and the King himself was armed, and both the bends that should tourney, mounted on horseback, and the Emperor in rich apparel of tissue and richly trapped brought the King into the field, and took up his horse, that all men had great pleasure to behold him. The men of arms fell to tourney, and broke swords and were severed, and after came together again, and fought very valiantly, and when time was, the heralds cried the disarm, and as one as the King was unarmed the Emperor and he went to supper, and after supper, the King brought the Emperor into the hall where was a cupboard of twelve stages, all set with great mighty plate all of gold, at the upper end hung three clothes of estate, and the hall was full of great lights, set on gilt branches.

Hall's Chronicle 1522. This yere also, was not without pestilence nor dearth of corn, for wheat was sold this year in the City of London, for twenty shillings a quarter, and in other places, for twenty-six shillings eight pence. And in the same year in December, died Leo Bishop of Rome, for whom was chosen, one Adrian born at Utrecht the Emperor’s school master. And in the same month Gawan Douglas Bishop of Dunkeld in Scotland, fled out of Scotland into England because the Duke of Albany was arrived into Scotland, and had taken upon him to be governor of the King and the realm to whom the King assigned an honest pension to live on. But when the King was advertised, that the Duke of Albany was arrived into Scotland, and had taken the rule of the young King, his realm, and he much doubted the sequel of the matter, considering the Duke to be heir apparent to tine Crown of Scotland wherefore he sent Clarenceux King of Arms into Scotland, and with commandment, that he should declare to the Duke of Albany, that his pleasure was, that he should depart the realm of Scotland for two causes, the one, because it was promised by the French King, at the last meeting, that he should not come into Scotland, the second was, that the King of England was uncle to the King of Scots, and by the very bond of nature, ought to defend his nephew. Wherefore his nephew being young, and in the custody of him, to whom, if he should die, the realm of Scotland should descend, he doubted lest he might be brought out of the way, as other Dukes of Albany before had served the heir of Scotland and if he would not avoid [ie leave] Scotland, then Clarenceux was commanded to deny him, which accordingly did defy him, at Holy Rode house in Edinburgh, to whom he answered, that neither the French King, nor the King of England, should let him to come into his natural country, by their agreement: also as touching the young King, he said, that he loved him as his sovereign lord, and him would keep and protect, against all other.

When Clarenseau had reported his answer to the King, then he knew well that all this was the French King’s doing, wherefore he provided in all things accordingly. The Earl of Angus of Scotland that had married lady Margaret, the King our sovereign lords sister, late wife unto King James of Scotland, that was slain at Floddon Field, was by the Duke of Albany, sent by a coloured Ambassade into France, where shortly after his arriving, he was by the French King committed to prison, and his brother likewise, which escaped after as you shall hear.