They considered also how mighty he should be: first, King of Spain with all that pertaineth thereto, which was wont to be v.vi or .vij. kingdoms: then Duke of Burgoyne Earle of Flanders, of Holland / Zealand / and Brabant, with all that pertain thereto: then Emperor, and his brother Duke of Austria / and his sister queen of Hungry. Wherefore thought our prelates, if we take not heed betimes / our kingdom is like to be troubled & we to be brought under the feet. For this man shall be so mighty that he shall with power take out of the french kings hands, out of the hands of the Venetians / and from the Pope also, what soever pertaineth unto the empire / and what soever belongeth unto his other kingdoms and dominions thereto. And then he will come to Rome and be crowned there, and so shall he overlook our holy father and see what he doth. And then shall the old heretics rise up again & say that the Pope is Antichrist, and stir up again, and bring to light that we have hid & brought a sleep with much cost, pain and bloudeshedyng ⟨image 62⟩more then this hundred year long. Considered also that his aunt is queen of England, and his wife the king of Englands sister, considered the old amity between the house of Burgundy, & the old kings of england so that they could never do ought in france with out their help: & last of all considered yt course of merchandise y• england hath in those parties / & also the natural hart that englishmen bear to frenchmen. Wherefore if we shall use our old practise, and set the french king against him: Then he shall lightly obtain the favour of the king of England by the means of his Aunt and his wife, and aid with men and money. Wherefore we must take heed betimes and break this amity Which thing we may by this our old craft / measly bring to pass. Let us take a dispensation & break this marriage, and turn the kings sister unto the French king If the french King,1 get a male of her. then we shall lightly make our kyngepro, tectoure of france / and so shall England and France be coupled together, and as for the queen of England, we shall trim her well enough, and occupy the king with strange love / and keep her that she shall bear no rule. And as the godd•s had ⟨image 62⟩spoken so it came to pass.
They cōsidered olso howe mightye he shuld be: first, Kyng of Spayn wt all that perteyneth therto, wc was wont to be v.vi or .vij. kyngdōs: then Duke of Burgoyne Earle of Flaūders, of Hollande / Zelande / and Braband, wyth all that parteine therto: then Emperour, ād hys brother Duke of Austrych / and hys sister quene of Hungrye. Wherfor thought our prelates, if we take not hede betymes / oure kyngdome is lyke to be troubled & we to be brought vnder the fete. For thys mā shalbe so myghty that he shall wt power take out of ye french kynges handes, out of the hādes of the Uenetians / and frō the Pope also, what soeuer parteyneth vnto the empyre / ād what soeuer belongeth vnto hys other kyngdōs and dommions therto. And then he wyll come to Rome and be crouned there, and so shall he ouerlooke our holye father and see what he doth. And then shall the olde heretykes ryse vp agayne & say that the Pope is Antichryste, and styrre vp agayne, and bryng to lyght that we haue hyd & brogh• a slepe with muche cost, payne and bloudeshedyng ⟨image 62⟩more then thys hundred yere longe. Considred also that hys aunte is quene of England, and hys wyfe the king of Englāds sister, consydred ye old amitie betwene ye house of burgom, & ye old kinges of ēglōd so yt they coulde neuer do ought ī fraūce wt out theyr helpe: & last of all cōsidered yt course of marchaūdise y• īglād hath ī those parties / & also ye naturall hart yt ēglishmē bear to frēchmē. Wherfore if we shall vse oure old practyse, and set the french king agaynst hym: Then he shall lyghtelye obtayne the fauour of the king of Ingland by the meanes of hys Aunte and hys wyfe, and ayde wyth men and money. Wherfore we must take hede betimes and breake thys amytie Whych thinge we maye by thys oure olde craft / •easely bringe to passe. Let vs take a dispensation & breake thys maryage, and turne the kinges sister vnto ye French king Yf the frenche Kynge,1 gette a male of her. then we shall lyghtly make our kyngepro, tectoure of fraunce / and so shall Inglande and Fraunce be coupled together, and as for the quene of Inglande, we shall trymme her well ynough, and occupye the kynge with straunge loue / and kepe her that she shall beare no rule. And as the godd•s had ⟨image 62⟩spoken so it came to passe.
- 1Practise.Practyse.
