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    4 January 1490 – Anne of Brittany announces that all those who would ally with the King of France will be considered guilty of the crime of lèse-majesté.

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    1532- Chapuys to Charles V.

    Dr. Benet, as he was about to leave, sent word to the Queen that he begged she would pardon him for having solicited against her; to which he had been compelled, and still was so, but that in good will she had no better servant, nor any one who prayed God more heartily for the preservation of her royal estate, in which she certainly would remain, notwithstanding all the King and his agents could do; and that now or never was the right season to use every effort with the Emperor in her behalf, seeing the coolness and cowardice of the Pope, for her affairs were never in better condition.

    She has accordingly commanded me to ask your Majesty to write to the Pope and others who have charge of this affair, although she wrote herself to your Majesty with my last letters four days ago.

    On the evening of Monday, the 1st, there arrived a servant of Dr. Benet, who left on 17 Dec. with news that the Pope had ordered the advocates of the King and Queen to discuss the admission of the excusator at the first Consistory after Twelfth Day, and that his Holiness had spoken severely to the ambassadors of the King's treatment of the Queen for the last five or six months. The King was displeased at this, and on Tuesday sent Dr. Faulx (Foxe) to complain to the Nuncio of his having written about his treatment of the Queen, as he had always treated her well and royally, and had not diminished her retinue nor income : neither the Pope nor the Imperialists had any business to meddle with such things : the Imperialists said she was his wife, and, if so, it was as lawful for him as for other husbands to command his wife to live for some time apart, for reasons which could not be published to every one. The Nuncio replied that he did not think he had written anything that he ought not to write, and that he would speak to the King next day.

    Yesterday, when the Nuncio was at Court, the King spoke to him in the same manner, and gave him particulars of the Queen's treatment. The Nuncio denied having written anything except what was notorious; he believed what the King said, but, if he would recall the Queen to Court, it would not prejudice his case, and would shut the mouths of 100,000 persons. At this the King seemed confused, and nearly in tears, and said he had sent her away so as not to injure his cause, and because she used such high words and was always speaking of the Emperor in a half-threatening way. In answer to the Nuncio's enquiries, the King would not say whether Benet had brought a proxy (procure), but he said he had come on private affairs, which is not true, and that he had sent him with a full declaration of his will. He complained of the short delays that were given, though he acquitted the Pope of ill will, and attributed his actions to his fear of the Emperor. The Nuncio said he had heard that the Pope was astonished that he had not informed him of the King's soliciting the French king to declare war upon the Emperor; to which the King replied that these were falsehoods.

    Though the Queen has been forbidden to write or send messages to the King, she sent him the other day by "son novel," or one of his chamber, a gold cup as a present, with honorable and humble words; but the King refused it, and was displeased with the person who presented it. Two or three hours afterwards he looked at it, and praised its fashion; and, fearing that the person who presented it would return it to the Queen's messenger, and that the latter might make a present of it publicly to the other, who could not refuse it, he ordered it not to be returned till the evening; and so it was sent back to the Queen. The King has sent her no present, and has forbidden the Council and others to do so, as is usual. He used to send New Year's presents (mander lc nouvel an) to the ladies of the Queen and Princess, but this has not been done this year. Thus they will lower the state of both, unless there is speedy remedy. He has not been so discourteous to the Lady, who has presented him with certain darts, of Biscayan fashion, richly ornamented. In return, he gave her a room hung with cloth of gold and silver, and crimson satin with rich embroideries. She is lodged where the Queen used to be, and is accompanied by almost as many ladies as if she were Queen.

    The King has at last granted to the Auditor De la Roche, who was sent by the Pope to Scotland, leave to go thither, and to grant dispensations and other faculties in England. He may have done this to cause him and the Nuncio to send a better report of his treatment of the Queen to Rome, for he has despatched a courier thither this morning, and he has come to take the Nuncio's packet, although they assure me that there is no business of importance. London, 4 Jan. 1532.

     

    1581 – Birth of James Ussher, Irish archbishop 

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