Cotton MS Vespasian C II

ff. 1r–382r: Correspondence (originals and transcripts) concerning England and Spain, April 1522–October 1524, principally of King Henry VIII of England (1509–1547) and Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey (d. 1530), some in the hand of Charles V, king of Spain (1516–1556) and Holy Roman emperor (1519–1556; d. 1558). See Rymer xiii. 776, 794.

f. 1r: Engraved title-page inserted by Cotton.

ff. 2r–v: Original letter in Spanish from ? to Henry VIII; the writer expresses his satisfaction at the union between the Emperor and Henry, predicting that Spain will assist effectually towards Henry's successes in France, etc., 27 April 1522, Victoria (St. Andero).

ff. 4r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V to Henry VIII, requesting that the Sr Buleux may have free passage through his dominions. 26 July 1522, St Andero.

ff. 4*r–v: Original letter in Latin from Fr. Alvarus Osorio to Wolsey, notifying his arrival at Anthona (Southampton), and desiring to know when he may have an audience with the king, being sent by the Pope to bring about a peace between the Emperor and France. 1 July 1522, Winchester.

ff. 5r–6v: Original letter in Latin from Gerard de Plenie, Lord of la Roche to Wolsey, reporting the death of Sir Thomas Spinelli, 31 August 1522, Valladolid.

ff. 7r–12v: Letter in French from Charles V to his ambassadors in England; instructions of what they are to communicate concerning the negotiations between France and the Pope, etc., 8 September 1522, Valladolid.

ff. 12*r–v: Original letter in Latin from the Bishop of Elna and Louis de Praet to Wolsey, about some ships sent out to cruise. 13 September 1522, London.

ff. 14r–22v: A draft of Henry VIII’s instructions to Sir Thomas Boleyn and Sampson, ambassadors to the Emperor, with some additions by Wolsey [Aug. 1522.]

ff. 23r–24v: A rough draft of part of these instructions, in Wolsey's hand [25 September 1522.]

ff. 25r–31v, 33r–34v: Three original dispatches from Boleyn and Sampson to Wolsey, on their journey to, and reception at the court of the Emperor, 2 October 1522, Plymouth; 16 October 1522, Laredo; 2 November 1522, Valladolid.

ff. 35r–v, 32r–v: Original dispatch from Boleyn and Sampson to Henry VIII, on the same subject, 2 November 1522, Valladolid.

ff. 36r–39v: Original dispatch from Boleyn and Sampson to Wolsey, on the same subject as above, 11 November 1522, Valladolid.

ff. 39*r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V to Wolsey, thanking him for a letter by the ambassadors, and expressing much regard and confidence, 11 November 1522, Valladolid.

ff. 40r–42*v: A rough draft of instructions to Boleyn and Sampson; also a fairer copy of part of the same, sent by Rouge-croix [25 September 1522].

ff. 54r–57v: Original dispatch from Boleyn and Sampson to Wolsey, 3 December 1522, Valladolid.

ff. 58r–65v: Instructions given to Dr William Knight, the king's ambassador with Lady Margaret, concerning certain matters to be negotiated with the Duc de Bourbon [22 June] 1523.

ff. 66r–69r: Instructions of the things Sir John Russell has to be said and done with the Duc de Bourbon, on the king's behalf [23 August] 1523.

ff. 70r–77v: Copy of a long letter with instructions and intelligence from Wolsey to Boleyn and Sampson, [10 January] 1523.

ff. 78r–81v: Two original dispatches from Boleyn and Sampson to Wolsey, 14 January and 6 February 1523, Valladolid. The first contains some cipher.

ff. 82r–92r: Two original dispatches from Boleyn and Sampson to Henry VIII, 14 January and 6 February 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 92*r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V to Henry VIII, thanking him for the kind messages he sent, 9 February 1523, Valladolid.

f. 93v: Address leaf, from Sampson and Boleyn to Henry VIII.

ff. 93*r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V to Wolsey, thanking him for his friendship, and lamenting his indisposition. 10 February 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 94r–v: Original letter from Sampson to Wolsey, about a pension granted Wolsey on the archbishopric of Toledo, and concerning Sampson’s preferment, 7 March 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 95r–96v: Original letter from Boleyn and Sampson to Henry VIII, with intelligence, 8 March 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 97r–103v: Copy of a letter from Charles V to the Bishop of Elna, 8 March 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 106r–116v: Three original dispatches from Boleyn and Sampson to Wolsey, 8, 9 and 18 March 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 117r–121v: Two original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, on Boleyn’s return to England, 23 March and 4 May 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 125r–130v: Four commissions in Latin from Henry VIII to Sampson and Jerningham. The first concerns bringing over the Duc de Bourbon, and the other three concerns negotiating with the Emperor about the invasion of France. The first three are dated 17 May 1523; the final commission is undated, and a note at the end states that it was neither sealed nor sent.

ff. 131r–132*v: Two original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, 17 May 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 133r–v: Original letter in Latin from Caesar Feramosci to Henry VIII, informing him about a present the Emperor sent him, of horses, mules, etc., 18 May 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 134r–135v: Original dispatch from Sampson to Wolsey, 19 May 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 136r–137r: Henry VIII’s commission in Latin to Sampson, Jerningham, and others, enjoining them not to recede, in their truce with the Emperor, from the annual payment of 133, 305 crowns, stipulated by a former treaty. 19 May 1523, London.

ff. 138r–139v: Charles V’s instructions to Monsieur de Beauraine, concerning matters which are to be treated with Monsieur de Bourbon, and also of such things he has to do in England. 28 May 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 140r–142v: Two original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, 10 and 22 June 1523, Valladolid. The first letter contains some cipher.

ff. 143r–145r: Original dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Henry VIII, reporting Jerningham's arrival, his first audiences, etc., 3 July 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 149r–154v: Original dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, reporting Jerningham's arrival, his first audiences, etc., 3 July 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 156r–163r: Letter from Wolsey to Sampson and Jerningham, with his instructions and copies of Beauraine's instructions, 3 July 1523, Westminster.

ff. 164r–v: Original dispatch from Sampson to Wolsey, 26 July 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 165r–v: Copy of a letter in French from Jacques du Chastel to Louis de Praet, imperial ambassador in England, reporting what he had done in the charge given him by Madame (Margaret) to meet the Duc de Bourbon; also intelligence about the French king's army, etc., 19 August 1523, Bourg-en-Bresse.

ff. 166r–v: Letter in French from J. l'Allemand, chancellor in Spain to Lady Margaret, with intelligence about the Emperor; the French repulsed in Catalonia, etc., 12 August 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 167r–168r: Copy of a letter from Wolsey to Sampson and Jerningham, complaining of not having received any letters from them, which causes great confusion considering the negotiations going on with Bourbon, 10 August 1523, Westminster.

ff. 169r–172v: Two original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, about Wolsey’s pension, the Emperor's motions, etc., 15 and 16 August 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 173r–175r: Original dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Henry VIII, concerning the Emperor's satisfaction at the King of Denmark's reception in England, the Emperor's actions, etc., 17 August 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 176r–176*r: Original dispatch from Sampson to Wolsey, partly in cipher, 17 August 1523, Valladolid.

f. 176*v: Copy of part of a letter to Wolsey, about the negotiation with Bourbon, 1523.

ff. 177r–184v: Original, lengthy dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, 17 August 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 186r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V, in his own hand, to Henry VIII, concerning Beauraine's negotiation, etc., 18 August 1523, Valladolid.

ff. 187r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V, in his own hand, to Wolsey, concerning Beauraine's negotiation, etc., 18 August 1523, Valladolid.

f. 188r: Original dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, enclosing the Emperor's two letters (the two previous items) and giving intelligence, 22 August 1523, Burgos.

ff. 189r–192v: Copy of a letter from Wolsey to Sampson and Jerningham, with intelligence about the negotiation with Bourbon, the formidable army sent into France, etc., 30 August 1523, Hampton Court.

ff. 193r–v: Original dispatch from Sampson to Wolsey, about the Cardinal's pension upon Palencia, 5 October 1523, Corunna.

f. 194v: Part of an address leaf, addressed to Henry VIII.

ff. 195r–198v: Original dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, with various intelligence, 5 October 1523, Corunna.

ff. 199r–v: Original letter from Jerningham to the Earl of Surrey with intelligence, chiefly about the Duc de Bourbon, whose negotiations had been discovered by the French king, etc., 2 October 1523, Corunna.

ff. 200r–201v: Original letter from Sampson to Wolsey; about his pension, 2 December 1523, Toledo.

ff. 202r–205v: Original, lengthy dispatch from Wolsey to Sampson and Jerningham, concerning Bourbon, the army in France, etc., 6 November 1523, Westminster.

ff. 206r–217v: Original, lengthy dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, 12 November 1523, Pamplona.

ff. 218r–225r: Copy of a long dispatch from Wolsey to Sampson and Jerningham, 4 December 1523, Westminster.

ff. 226r–v, 235v: Original letter in French from Charles V, in his own hand, to Wolsey, assuring him that he has written to Rome in favour of his election to the papacy, 16 December 1523, Pamplona.

ff. 228r–234v: Original, lengthy dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, concerning the election to the papacy, the war in Italy, etc., 18 December 1523, Pamplona.

ff. 236r–239r: Two original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, concerning some overtures of peace between the Emperor and the French king, etc., 19 and 20 December 1523, Pamplona.

ff. 240r–246v: Imperfect copy of Henry VIII’s secret instructions to his ambassadors in Spain, for certain intelligence to be obtained, and matters to be communicated by them, 1523. [25 Sept. 1522.]

ff. 247r–251v: Copy of a lengthy dispatch from Wolsey to Sampson and Jerningham, concerning the prosecution of the war, etc., 14 January 1524, Hampton Court.

ff. 254r–259v: Original letter from Jerningham to Wolsey, with intelligence from the Spanish army, 14 January 1524, Victoria.

ff. 260r–267v: Original dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey concerning their negotiations, 15 January 1524.

ff. 268r–269v: A summary of the previous dispatch, addressed to Henry VIII.

ff. 270r–272r: Another summary of the same letter, addressed to Wolsey, 18 January 1524, Pamplona.

ff. 274r–283v: Copy of a lengthy dispatch from Wolsey to the ambassadors in Spain, 24 January 1524, Greenwich.

ff. 284r–285v: Two original dispatches from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, both dated 26 January 1524, Victoria.

ff. 286r–287v: Original dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, 26 February 1524, Victoria.

ff. 288r–288*v: Original dispatch from Sampson and Jerningham to Wolsey, 4 March 1524, Victoria.

ff. 289r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V, in his own hand, to Henry VIII, exhorting him to persist in his exertions against the French king (Francis I). Sent by Jerningham. 23 March 1524, Burgos.

ff. 290r–302v: Copy of a lengthy dispatch from Wolsey to Sampson and Jerningham, 25 March 1524, Westminster.

ff. 303r–304r: Charles V’s answer to the English ambassadors about Bourbon's appointment in Italy, and the conduct of the war. In French. March 1524.

ff. 305r–307v: Instructions in French from Charles V to Louis de Praet, 26 March 1524, Burgos.

ff. 308r–318v: Two original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, 10 and 19 April 1524, Burgos.

ff. 319r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V, in his own hand, to Henry VIII, in favour of [Mr de Coieweres?], 21 May 1524, Burgos.

ff. 320r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V, in his own hand, to Wolsey, in favour of [Mr de Coieweres?], 21 May 1524, Burgos.

ff. 321r–331r: Original, lengthy dispatch from Sampson to Wolsey, 22 May 1524, Burgos.

ff. 332r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V, in his own hand, to Wolsey, recommending perseverance in their common cause. 24 March 1524.

ff. 333r–v: Original dispatch from Sampson to Wolsey, with intelligence from Italy, 23 May 1524, Burgos.

ff. 340r–345r: Copy of a lengthy dispatch from Wolsey to Sampson, 4 June 1524, Westminster.

ff. 346r–356r: Two lengthy original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, 30 June and 18 September 1524, Burgos. The second contains cipher.

ff. 357r–367v: Copy of two dispatches from Wolsey to Sampson, 26 September and October 1524, the More.

ff. 369r, 370r–378v: Original, lengthy dispatch from Sampson to Wolsey, 30 October 1524, Valladolid.

ff. 379r–v: Original letter in French from Charles V, in his own hand, to Wolsey; complimentary. 8 March 1524, Valladolid.

ff. 380r–382r: Deciphered letter in French from Charles V to Lady Margaret of Savoy, on various matters relating to the defence of the Low Countries, 28 March [1528], Madrid.

Dated: 1522–1524 (original documents); 1st half of the 17th century (transcripts).