Eustace Chapuys to Emperor Charles V., September 15, 1533.

These are two excerpts from quite a long letter from the Ambassador to England, Eustace Chapuys, to his master the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.  Extensive references to Turkish and related affairs have been left off.

The material included here relates to the birth of the Princess (later Queen) Elizabeth.  This is the second letter in which Chapuys states that Princess Mary’s very name was to be transferred to the new baby. I know nothing more on the matter, at present, than that he has repeated this claim, first saying that the child would be named “Mary,” and then, here, that the idea had been dropped and the child named “Elizabeth”.

As always with Chapuys, any reference to “the queen” refers to Catherine of Aragon.  Here the ambassador is pleading with the councilors to the King to persuade him not to take the title of Princess from Mary. In the process he leaves us a colorful picture of Court diplomacy, courtiers’ fear of angering Henry VIII and the uniform changes attendant upon a princess being demoted.

The daughter of the lady has been named Elizabeth, and not Mary. The christening has been, like her mother's coronation, very cold and disagreeable both to the Court and to the city, and there has been no thought of having the bonfires and rejoicings usual in such cases. After the child was baptised, a herald in front of the church door proclaimed her princess of England. Previously, i.e., from her birth, it was ordered that the true princess should not be so called, and her lackeys were deprived of their gold embroidered coats, which they wore with her device, in place of which the arms of the King alone have been put on them. There is a report that they will diminish her establishment. God grant that they may do no worse to her. Like a wise and virtuous princess as she is, she takes matters patiently, trusting in the mercy of God, and has written a comforting letter to the Queen her mother, which is wonderfully good. I shall not fail, after ascertaining the Queen's will, to remonstrate against this monstrous injury and injustice, although I am sure it will be all in vain; for sin, misfortune, and obstinacy have closed the King's ears, and something more than words will be necessary to move him....

At my departure from Court I begged Norfolk would allow me to speak with him apart, which he showed no inclination to do for the reasons already mentioned. He therefore sent the brother of the Lady, as I understand from a man who heard him, on a message to the King's chamber, who returned immediately in haste to break off our conversation. I accordingly called thither Cromwell, and told him that I had been informed the new-born child had been proclaimed as princess, but I could not believe that the King on that account would bastardize the first one, or deprive her of the succession, which rightly belonged to her. And, to color their error, and open a road for them to excuse themselves without prejudice to the Princess, I told them that there was no harm in having proclaimed the child a princess, for all children of a King ought to be so called, but I thought they did not intend as above said to do prejudice to the first. On these words they remained looking at each other without knowing what to say; and I entered further in remonstrance, reminding the Duke of what he had formerly said to me of it, and that I wished to know what to write to your Majesty. They both told me that it was a matter too high and important for them, and that they must consult about it maturely with the King; and as to what I should write to your Majesty they left that to my discretion. On this the Lady's brother arrived with his commission to call them to the King, and thus I came away without seeking to speak to the King of this matter until I had learned the wish and opinion of the Queen; and I think, if I had then demanded audience to speak upon the said subject, I should not have had it. Since my return from Court the marchioness of Exeter, who is the sole consolation of the Queen and Princess, has informed me that they have sent letters through the kingdom by which the King informs his subjects that they ought to thank God for giving them a lawful heir….She also informs me that the councils, which they hold day and night at Court, are only to reform the establishments of the Queen and Princess, and that they can come to no resolution. London, 15 Sept. 1533.

 

Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 6. (1882). 471-2.

Also at Virtual Grub Street:

A Model for Lady Macbeth.  July 12, 2020.  “In Macbeth, the Lady of the castle would also seem to be her Lord’s indomitable will.  She will see the deeds done that need be done in order for him to pass the daunting tests and wear the crown.”

A Most Curious Account of the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth I: April 28, 1603.  April 28, 2019.  “Once it was clear that James I would face no serious challenges, Cecil and the others could begin to give attention to the matter of the Queen’s funeral.”

Queen Elizabeth I’s Heart and the French Ambassador.  April 3, 2019.  “…the Queen of England, with the permission of her physicians, has been able to come out of her private chamber, she has permitted me… to see her…”

Gossip as History: The Murder of Amy Robsart. February 17, 2020. "The first sudden death Leicester was rumored to have caused was that of his wife, Amy Robsart, in 1560. In that year, it was still not clear whether the Queen would marry. But certainly not her beloved Leicester if he were married."

Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.

Check out the English Renaissance Letter Index for many letters from this fascinating time, some related to the Shakespeare Authorship Question.