Note 42 — Chapter II · 1550-1553
Reading edition
In Sir William Cecil’s handwriting.
“Question:—
1552 Windsor. 23d Sep., 6ᵒ Ed. VI.
“1. Whether the K. Mt̅i̅e̅ shall enter into the ayd of the Emperor.
“Answer. He shall.
a pacto
“1. The Kyng is bound by the treaty, and if he will be helped by that treaty he must do the reciproque.
a periculo vitando
“2. If he do not ayde, the Emperor is like to ruyne and consequently the House of Burgundy come to the French possession, which is perilous to England, and herein the greatness of the French King is dreadfull.
Religio Chr̅i̅s̅ana
“3. The F. King bringeth the Turke into Chre̅n̅dome and therefore that exploit be stayed.
periculum violati pacti
“4. If the Emperor for extremitie should agree now with the F. the said perill were dooble grettur. First th’ Emperor’s offence for lacke of ayde. 2. The F. King’s enterprises towards us; and in this peace the bishop of Rome’s devotion towards us.
pro Republica et patria
“5. Merchants be so evill used that both for the losse of goods and honour some remedy must be sought.
pericula consequentia
“6. The F. Kynge’s procedings be suspisiose to the realm by breaking and burning of our shippes, which be the old strength of this isle.
“Answer. He shall not.
difficile quasi impossibile
“1. The ayde is too chargeable for the cost, and almost impossible to be executed.
solitudo in periculis
“2. If the Emperor should dye in this confederacy we should be left alone in the warr.
amicorum suspitio vitanda
“3. It may be the German Protestants might be more offended with this conjunction with the Emperor, doubting their owne cause.
sperandum bene ab amicis
“4. The amytie with France is to be hooped will amende and continue and the commissioner’s coming may perchance restore.
“Corollarium of a meane way.
judicium
“1. So to helpe the Emperor as we maye also joine with other Christian princes and conspyre against the F. King as a common enemy to chr̅e̅dome.
“Reasons for Common Conjunction.
auxilia communa
“1. The cause is common and therefore there will be more parties to it.
sumptus vitandi
“2. It shall avoyd the chargeable entry into ayde with the Emperor accordyng to the treaties.
amicorum copia
“3. If the Emperor should dye or breake off, yet it is most likely some of the princes will remayne so as the K. Mā shall not be alone.
dignitas causæ
“4. This friendship shall much advance the King’s other causes in Chre̅n̅dome.
pro fide et religione
“5. It shal be more honourable to breake with the F. Kyng for this common quarrel of Chre̅n̅dome.
“Reasons against this Conjunction.
inter multos nihil secretum
“1. The treaty must be with so many parties that it can nether be spedely nor secretly concluded.
amiciæ irritatæ
“2. If the matter be revealed and nothing concluded then consider the F. Kyng’s offence, and so may he at his leisure be provoked to practice the like conjunction agaynste England with all the papists.
“The above is in Cecil’s handwriting. To it the young King himself has added in his own boyish hand.
“Conclusion.
1. “The treaty to be made wᵗʰ the Emperor and by the Emperor’s meanes wᵗʰ other princes.
“2. The Emperor’s acceptation to be understood before we treat anything against the F. King.”
After long reasoning it was determined to send to Mr. Morysine willing him to declare to the Emperor that “i haveing pitee as al other Christian princes should have on the envasion of Christendome by the Turkes would willingly joine with the Emperor and other states of the Empire if the Emp. could bring it to passe in some league against the Turke and his confederates but not to be knowen by the F. King … Morysine to say he hath no more commission but if the Emperor will send a man to England he shall know more. This was done on intent to get some friends. The reasonings be in my deske.”