Books, Calendars, Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1533
Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1533 is in Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII.
Books, Calendars, Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic Henry VIII 1533 September
3 Sept [1533]. Vienna Archives. 1069. Chapuys (age 43) to Charles V.
Six days ago I received your letters of 18 July, with those addressed to the Queen, which I immediately sent to her, informing her of the rest of the news, as commanded. She has written to me that she has received more joy and consolation from the said letters than from the news brought to her at the same instant of the sentence given at Rome in her favor. And not without cause ought she to prefer the continuance of your Majesty's good will to the news of the sentence, for your support may help her; but without it, considering the obstinacy of those concerned, the sentence will do little good; in contempt of which (en dessaie en relipende, qu. defiance ou vilipende?) the King has lately taken into his hands the revenues of the bishoprics of cardinal Campeggio and of the auditor of the Chamber,which shows very little inclination to obey the sentence; though some think this a much better sign, because he is so desperate and makes such brags, that after his anger is over he will put water in his wine, and return to the right road, provided that the Pope is resolute, whom he is trying by these grimaces to intimidate. Of this I think the Queen will inform you by the first messenger, if the spies round about give her an opportunity (luy donnant les espiez quella au tourd relaiz de pouvoer escripre), which she has not been able to do yet; and she has begged me to excuse her to your Majesty, and request you on her part if you will be so gracious as to send persons to persuade the King to obey the sentence, to instruct them to remonstrate with him, and, if necessary, with the Parliament, against making any change in the goods she has hitherto had assigned for her support and dower (arrez matrimoniales), of which it is reported they mean to deprive her in the coming Parliament, which will begin about the end of October. At this she is more afflicted than with anything else that has hitherto occurred; for she always thought that so long as she kept this, which is the usual portion of queens, that she was not entirely dispossessed of her estate and dignity; and, moreover, it will deprive some of her domestic servants of the remuneration she had given them out of the said goods. Thinks it superfluous to write about sending men to make these persuasions, but as the Queen has written to him twice about it, could not omit to mention it. Till now no change has been made in her treatment, whatever threats have been used. I am endeavouring to obtain the treaties and documents about the said consignation de biens, which being obtained I will do my best to prevent the said injury.
3 Sept [1533]. In regard to what the duke of Norfolk said to me about the interview of the Pope and king of France, there has been no question about it since.
The authors of those proposals still profess (?) (se tiennent par le bec) never to have put them forward, because their suggestions are turned into ridicule. As to those about Andrea Doria, it has been equally out of the question to revive them, but if there were an opportunity I should not fail to reply according to your command.
The duke of Norfolk arrived at Court the day before yesterday, having come from France in post. Immediately on his arrival it was proposed to send to this meeting at Nice, to the king of France, the bishop of Winchester, who left this morning. There is some report also that the archbishop of Canterbury will follow him; and I have not yet learned whether he is going to the Pope, or to whom. The duke of Richmond is also returning from France to marry the daughter of Norfolk, and it is said the King will send him to Ireland as governor of that country. There has lately been sent to the Tower a Scotch gentleman, taken upon the sea, who was going to Rome to solicit, in the name of the Scotch king, against the archbishop of St. Andrew's, who, as I have written, is attainted of treason. This capture will not promote the peace or truce for which Beauvois is still here awaiting a new commission and letters from the king of France to return to Scotland. Some think the king of Scots will for all this consent to a truce, to give him time to accomplish his marriage and to make some alliance, without which he does not intend to make any enterprise for the invasion of this kingdom; for if money fail him the angelots and practices of those here might make his men stumble, and do him an ill turn, as has happened to several of his predecessors.
3 Sept [1533]. The ships of Lubeck wishing to fight the 15 hulks which had arrived at Rye, as I wrote in my last, caused one of their chief captains to land, to obtain the favor of the inhabitants of the said port, and ask them to allow them to land some artillery, the better to injure the said hulks. But those of the said port having received the King's command, granted at my solicitation, to assist your Majesty's subjects, not only refused his request, but apprehended him; on which the said ships, astonished, drew down their flags, and hoisted sail for their own country, leaving their captain prisoner, who gives assurance (se fait fort) that everything that has been taken will be restored to the English and Spaniards, provided they will let him go to Lubeck on parole. But the King and Council, who have taken the affair much to heart, will not accept his assurance, but require him to get the Easterlings to pay or give security on his behalf. As for the seven ships which I wrote were in the fleet of Lubeck, two were Spaniards, of which they gave cong to one and to all the men, giving them letters to the factor of Portugal at Antwerp, for recompence of their damages in an action which one of the company raised against the said factor.
The King holding it certain by the report of his physicians and astrologers that the Lady would bear a son, has determined to hold rejoicings and solemn jousts to make up for (pour regor de) the shortcomings of the last, which were shameful and beggarly, and already some of the Lady's favorites have sent to Flanders to buy horses. The King has taken from his treasures one of the richest and most triumphant beds (lictz) which was given for the ransom of a duke of Alenon. It was well for the Lady that it was delivered to her two months ago, for she would not have had it now; because, being full of jealousy, and not without cause, she used some words to the King at which he was displeased, and told her that she must shut her eyes, and endure as well as more worthy persons (aussy bien que vailloient mieulx quelle), and that she ought to know that it was in his power to humble her again in a moment more than he had exalted her. By reason of which words there has been some grudge, and faon de faire, so that the King has been two or three days without speaking to her. No doubt these things are lovers' quarrels, to which we must not attach too great importance, yet many who know the King's disposition consider them a very favorable commencement for the recall of the Queen.
3 Sept [1533]. On Sunday next the duke of Suffolk (age 49) will be married to the daughter [Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 14)] of a Spanish lady [Maria de Salinas Baroness Willoughby (age 43)] named lady Willoughby. She was promised to his son, but he is only ten years old; and although it is not worth writing to your Majesty the novelty of the case made me mention it.
The Duke will have done a service to the ladies who can point to his example when they are reproached, as is usual, with marrying again immediately after the death of their husbands.
The King has given him, in compensation, I think, for the expence he had in the burial of his late wife [Mary Tudor, younger sister of King Henry VIII], the fruits of a vacant bishopric1, which will amount to more than 12,000 ducats. Thanks the Emperor for promising to remember him in the distribution of benefices. London, 3 Sept. 1533.
Fr., hol., pp. 5, from a modern copy.
Note 1. This must be Ely.
10 Sept [1533]. Vienna Archives. 1112. Chapuys (age 43) to Charles V.
Will not write at length, having only been informed of this courier at the moment of his departure; besides there is nothing important since his last. Has only to mention that on Sunday last, the eve of Our Lady (7 Sept.), about 3 p.m., the King's mistress (amie) [Queen Anne Boleyn of England (age 32)] was delivered of a daughter, to the great regret both of him and the lady, and to the great reproach of the physicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and sorceresses, who affirmed that it would be a male child. But the people are doubly glad that it is a daughter rather than a son, and delight to mock those who put faith in such divinations, and to see them so full of shame. The mayor, aldermen, masters of trades, and others of the city, are called to be present this afternoon at the christening. The French ambassadors are also summoned. The christening is to be at Greenwich. The godmothers are to be the mother-in-law of the duke of Norfolk and the marchioness of Exeter. The archbishop of Canterbury is to be godfather. The bishop of London is to officiate. She is to be called Mary, like the Princess; which title, I hear in many quarters, will be taken from the true princess and given to her. If it be so. Misfortune manages well; and God has forgotten him entirely, hardening him in his obstinacy to punish and ruin him; of which there is the greatest probability in the world, seeing the indignation of the people, both small and great, which grows every day, and nothing could better augment it than defrauding the said Princess of her title; for she is, as she ought to be, adored by everybody. But the said indignation, like other things, may grow cool in time, so that it should be used in season; yet I think it so rooted and so just that the people will not forget it, or change, at least the most part of them.
It is appointed for me to be at Court tomorrow morning with the King's Council to take resolution about the restitution of the goods seized by the Lubeckers from the Spaniards. London, 10 Sept. 1533.
Fr., from a modern copy, pp. 4.