as he shal disclose to the Duke and Senate of Venyce, or to other having principal auctoritie in the governance of the bien publique of that dominion.

Furste, after the Kings cordial recommendations and deliveraunce of his letters credentials, the Kings said Secretary shal say, that the Kings Highnes, calling to his remembraunce thauncient amities and perfite intelligence, that hath bene established, and perseverauntly contynued, as wel betwixt the Kings most noble progenitours, and that dominion of Venice, as also betwixt his Highnes and theym for the tyme of his noble reigne, not oonely tendering and advauncyng al their causes and matiers, redounding to their honours and suerties, as his awne propers; and entertaignyng al and singler their oratours, merchaunts, and subgietts, reasorting to his realme with honour, favour, and al courtaisie; but also for the singler zele and benevolent affection, that his Grace hath borne and berithe to the said dominion, willing theim as his right dere frendes to be participaunt of al commodities and benefits that mought ensue unto theym of and by the treaties, confederations, and conventions of peax, amitie, and intelligence heretofore passed and concluded, betwixt his Grace and any other outward prince or princess, hath alwayes expressely comprehended theym in al and singler such treaties. Which comprehension they, as right noble and provident personages, have not oonely accepted thankfully, shewing unto the Kings subgietts, reasorting to their dominions, al humanitie and gentilnes, but also sundry tymes sent their autentique letters under their seal of lede, contaygnyng thacceptation of the said comprehension: and specially now of late upon the treaties concluded at London, betwixt the Kings Highness, themperour, and the French King, as Princes contrahents. Which amitie his Grace trusted shuld have bene permanent and perdurable, remembring the corroboration therof by treaties of aliaunce, and also mutuel entervieu with profite, acqueyntaunce, and familier communication betwixt theym, over 27 and aboue the corporal oothes, seals, and subscriptions, made and passed on boothe parties.

But how dishonorably the said Frenshe King hath or dered and demeaned hymself, aswel to the Kings Highnes his reame, countreis, dominions, and subgietts; to themperour, being oon of the principal contrahents in the said treatie, and to diverse others comprehended therin, in violating the same, the King thought right expedient to intimate and notifie unto the said Venicians, as to his right dere frendes; to the intent, that his inconstant, disloyal, and dishonourable demeanure, being to theym perfitely knowen, they may ordre theym self unto hym, as wel according to tharticle of thair comprehension, conteygned in the said treatie of London, and by thair letters patents accepted, as to take special regard how they joyne theym selffs with that Prince, which not being contented with his awne limits, contynually deviseth and studieth how to disturb the peax of Christendome: for his private proffit encroching upon the dominions of the moste part of al Christen princes, wherin their parte lyeth depely, if the said Frenshe King mought establishe his dominions, auctoritie, and puyissaunce in Italie.

And furste, Whereas, amonges other articles conteigned in the said treatie, it is provided, that in caas any of the principal contrahents shuld be invaded or disturbed by thoder, the Prince not making invasion being required by the partie invaded, was and is bound to declare hymselff -enemye, and to geve an assistence ayenist the invasour: wherupon themperour, pretending hymselff not oonly to be invaded by the Frenshe Kings capitains and armye in his reame of Naverre, but also disturbed in his possessions, dominions, and countreis, by Robert de la Merche and others, by the said Frenshe Kings procuring, ayding, and assisting, with men and money, hath diverse and many tymes required the Kings Highnes to declare hymself enemye unto the said Frenshe King, and to give ayde and assistence to hym ayenist the said Frenshe King: howbeit the Kings Highnes bering singler zele, as wel to the establishing of good peax in Christendome, as to the continuance of mutuel amitie and amicable intelligence betwixt hym and the said

Frenshe King, rather practised the wayes and meanes to reduce themperour and hym to concorde and unitie, then by his declaration, or geving assistence, to norishe and continue werre and hostilitie. Wherupon his Grace sent the mooste reverend Fader in God, the legate Cardinal of Yorke, as his lieutenante to Calais, not oonely to here the contraversies and questions with other grieffs and differences, depending in variaunce betwixt themperour and the said Frenshe King, but also amicably to compounde the same by summe covenable peax, treatie, or abstinence of werre.

And albeit many things were alledged on themperours partie at the dyet at Calais, proving the invasion to procede of the Frenshe King, being justified and approved by sundry instructions and letters signed with his awne hand; which his Chauncellor and Counsail there assembled coude not avoyde by any probable grounds; yet the Kings Grace, folowing continually the waies of peax, willed his said lieutenant not oonly to forbere his declaration, but also to continue the said dyet, to thintent that by ferther labour, means, and mediation, summe goode conclusion mought be taken in pacifying the said variaunce. Wherupon the said Legate sundry tymes, after his return to the Kings presence, sent his messingers with letters and instructions to the Frenshe 28 Kings moder, for bringing the differences to summe goode treux by her charitabe meanes and mediacions. Howbeit though faire and pleasaunt wordes were geven for the tyme, yet by delaies the matier was alwaies tracked, and put over without any fruteful determination. And in the meane season the Frenshe King, contrarye to his oothe and promyse, not oonely sent the Duke of Albanye into Scotlande in contempt of the King, being supreme lorde of that lande; which Duke pretendithe hymselff heire apparaunt to the crowne there; whereby the yong King, nepheu to the Kings Grace, was and is in extreme daungier of deethe or deposition; but also to invade the Kings reame, and dishonour the Kings suster by separation of her from her lieful houseband, and dampnably to contracte matrimonye with her, wherin there is now vehement presumpcion by sending

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therle of Anguishe her said houseband into Fraunce, there to be deteigned prisoner. And yet with this not contented, the same Frenshe King hath not oonely restrayned the payment of the Kings money, to the contentation wherof he is bound by his oothe under the censures of the Church, though the same hath bene often demaunded on the Kings behalf; but also continually entertaineth the Kings rebellious subgiet, Richard de la Pole. And over this, albeit the Frenshe King graunted his letters of save conduyte under his signe and grete seal, to al and singler the Kings subgiets reasorting to Burdeux, or any other part of his dominions, frely and surely to come, remaigne, and retorne, with their goods, shippes, and merchaundises, without arrest, disturbaunce, inquietation, or impechement, yet he not regarding his promise ne save conduyte, subdainly without declaration or monicion arrested the persons, goods, shipps, and merchaundises of the Kings said subgiets at Burdeux and eliswhere; the like wherof hath not bee harde doon of any Christien prince, and skaunte of an infidele. And over this, his subgietts, by his permission and sufferaunce, have cruelly and dispitefully spoyled and robbed the Kings lieges on the see, under colour of peax and amitie: refusing to make any due restitution, reformation, or redresse for the same.

Upon which causes, groundes, and considerations, the Kings Highnes hath not oonely declared hymself enemye to the Frenshe King, but also notified unto hym, that from hensfurthe he woll take part with themperour ayenist hym with al his force and power: declaring also al maner treaties and convencions heretofore passed betwixt his Grace and the said Frenshe King void, frustrate, and of noon effecte in his defaulte.

By the premisses it is open and manifest, how disloially the said Frenshe King hath violated his oothe, treaties, conventions, safe conduytes, and promises to the Kings Highnes: by reason whereof his Grace was and is enforced not oonely to declare hymselff enemye unto hym as aboue; but also in joynyng with themperour, to do unto the same Frenshe King, his landes, dominions, and subgietts, al the

annoysaunce, dammage, and prejudice with his strength and puissaunce, that he can. Inasmoche therfore as the said Venecians have hitherto taken parte with the said Frenshe King, in geving to hym aide and assistance ayenist themperours armye in Italie, the Kings Grace thought right expedient, as a faithful frende, to geve advertisement unto theym, that enmitie standing betwixt the Kings Highnes and the same Frenshe King, they shuld and owe, not oonely forbere to geve ayde and assistance unto the same Frenshe King; but also upon requisition to theym made, on the King and 29 themperours parties, to declare theym selffs enemies unto hym, according to tharticle of the treatie by theym accepted and approved. Which letters of requisition the Kings Highnes now sendithe to his said Secretary, to be delivered unto the Duke and Senate, or thoder governours; advertiseing the same his Secretary, that themperour at this tyme sendith also his semblable letters of requisition to be delivered by his ambassador, thinking right expedient that they boothe. togeders shulde jointely deliver the said letters of requisicion to the same Venicians, not oonely declaring unto theym the hoole circumstance of al the said Frenshe Kings variaunte demeanure, according to the premisses, with theffecte of such matiers as be comprised in the Kings letters of requisicion; but also requiring theym to absteigne and forbere to ayde, favour, and assist the said Frenshe King; and according to the said article to declare theymselffs enemyes unto hym. Which thing of good congruence they cannot refuse to doo, if they intende and purpose to lyve in peax and amitie with the King and themperour. For remembring the Frenshe King to be enemye, and in hostilitie to and with theym boothe, if the Venicians shulde incline to his partie by geving ayde and assistence unto hym, they expressely by thair acts shulde declare theymselffs ayenist the said King and Emperour. And if they shal say, that they woll remaigne neutrall without geving assistence or making declaration to the oon partie or thoder, than it may be answered, that they observe not the purporte of tharticle, which is to declare theymselff enemie to the in