Cotton MS Vespasian C III

ff. 1r–156r: Correspondence (originals and transcripts) concerning England and Spain, February 1525–December 1526, principally of King Henry VIII of England (1509–1547) and Thomas, Cardinal Wolsey (d. 1530).

Primarily English and Latin, partly in cipher, with occasional items in Spanish and French.

1525–1526 (original documents); 1st half of the 17th century (transcripts).

f. 1r: Engraved title-page inserted by Cotton, from Richard Hooker, Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Politie (London, 1611, 1617, 1622; title-page used in all subsequent editions until 1723).

ff. 3r–15v: Original letter from Cardinal Wolsey to Dr Sampson; a long dispatch concerning Bourbon, de Praet, who is suspected of disaffection, the war in Italy, etc., 13 February 1525.

ff. 19r–22*v: Two original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, on the news of the victory of Pavia reaching Madrid. 15 and 22 March 1525, Madrid. With some cipher. Printed in I Ellis, i. 260.

f. 23r: Henry VIII’s commission in Latin to Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of London, Sir Richard Wingfield, and Sampson, to treat with the Pope, the Emperor, and other princes, about the invasion of France. 26 March 1525, London.

ff. 23r–24v: Henry VIII’s commission to deliver Princess Mary to Emperor Charles V, same date.

ff. 24v–26v: Henry VIII’s commission to treat for a peace or truce with the Emperor and the French King, same date.

ff. 26v–28v: Henry VIII’s commission to transact money matters with the Emperor, same date.

The Planta catalogue notes that these four articles have been inaccurately copied.

ff. 29r–48v: Henry VIII’s instructions to the Bishop of London and Sir Richard Wingfield, ambassadors to the Emperor. 30 March 1525.

ff. 49r–53r: Two dispatches from Wolsey to Tunstall and Wingfield, 3 and 7 April 1525, Westminster.

ff. 55r–57r: Original letter from Tunstall, Wingfield and Sampson, ambassadors in Spain to Wolsey, reporting their first audience from the Emperor, who declares himself somewhat dissatisfied with Wolsey, etc., 2 June 1525, Toledo.

ff. 58r–59v: Original letter from Wingfield to Wolsey, on the Emperor's complaints against Wolsey. 2 June 1525, Toledo. With some cipher.

ff. 60r–61v: Original letter from Tunstall to Wolsey, on the Emperor's dissatisfaction, etc., 2 June 1525, Toledo.

ff. 62r–65r: Charles V’s declaration in French to the Portuguese [English] ambassadors, upon the deferring of the answer touching his marriage with a daughter of the King of Portugal [11 June] 1525.

ff. 66r–70r: Henry VIII’s commission in Latin to Tunstall, Wingfield and Sampson, authorizing them to revoke the treaty of marriage between Charles V and Princess Mary, 6 July 1525, London.

ff. 72r–77r: Two original dispatches from Tunstall, Wingfield and Sampson to Henry VIII, 9 and 10 July 1525, Toledo. With some cipher.

ff. 78r–81v: Original letter from Tunstall and Sampson to Henry VIII, reporting Wingfield’s death; offers made for the release of the French king, etc., 28 July 1525, Toledo.

ff. 81*r–85r: Two original dispatches from Tunstall to Wolsey, 10 and 11 August 1525, Toledo.

ff. 86r–99v: Original, lengthy dispatch from Tunstall and Sampson to Henry VIII, 11 August 1525, Toledo.

ff. 100r–v: Original dispatch from Tunstall and Sampson to Henry VIII, desiring a speedy answer for the Emperor, 14 August 1525, Toledo.

ff. 101r–104v: Original letter from Tunstall to Wolsey, apologizing for certain words he had written to Brian Tuke, which had displeased the king; on his negotiations, etc., 2 December 1525, Toledo.

ff. 105r–106r: Tunstall to Henry VIII, apologizing as above: a copy enclosed in the preceding letter. 2 December 1525, Toledo.

ff. 107r–127v: Original, very lengthy dispatch from Tunstall and Sampson to Henry VIII, 2 December 1525, Toledo.

ff. 128r–v: The treaty of peace between the French king and his mother (Louise of Savoy), and Henry VIII. In French; published at Lyons, 22 September 1525.

ff. 129r–132v, 134r–v: Two original dispatches from Sampson to Wolsey, 1 April 1525, Madrid.

ff. 135r–145v: Two original dispatches from Tunstall, Wingfield and Sampson to Henry VIII and Wolsey, 16 and 20 June 1525, Toledo.

ff. 146r–149v: Two original dispatches from Tunstall and Wingfield to Wolsey and Henry VIII, written on their way to Spain, 10 April 1525, Hampton, and 30 April 1525, Ribadio.

ff. 150r–152r: Henry VIII’s commission to Tunstall, Wingfield and Sampson, to treat with Charles V about the invasion of France, 26 March 1525, London.

ff. 152r–153r: Henry VIII’s commission to treat with the Pope, etc. for the restoration of peace, same date.

ff. 154v–156r: Henry VIII’s commission to treat with Charles V about the recovery of the crown of France, same date.

f. 157r: Original letter from Tunstall, Wingfield and Sampson to Wolsey, acknowledging the receipt of a box, with commissions, instructions, etc., 7 April 1525, Hampton.

ff. 158r–182r: Two long original dispatches from Tunstall, Wingfield and Sampson to Henry VIII, the first not signed, 2 June and 8 July 1525, Toledo.

ff. 184r–187v: Original declaration in Spanish to the states of Spain (Cortes), concerning the proposed marriage of Charles V with Princess Mary. 3 June 1525, Toledo.

ff. 188r–190r: Original dispatch from Tunstall, Wingfield and Sampson to Wolsey, 8 July 1525, Toledo.

ff. 191r–v: The preamble and concluding clause of a truce between Charles V, Henry VIII, and Francis I. In French. 11 August 1525, Toledo.

ff. 192r–193r: The French counterpart of the truce with England and Spain. In French. 11 August 1525, Toledo.

ff. 194r–195r: Another form of a truce between Charles V, Henry VIII, and Francis I, and Madame the regent (Louise of Savoy). In French. 11 August 1525.

ff. 196r–199r: Copy of Charles V’s letter to his ambassador in England, relating to his treaties with England, his marriage, etc., 11 August 1525. In French.

ff. 201r–209v: Copy of a letter from Henry VIII to [Tunstall?], about the negotiations for a peace with France. 8 September 1525, Stony Stratford.

ff. 210r–v: Original letter from Dr Edward Lee, almoner (sent to replace Wingfield, Dr Sampson having also been recalled) to Wolsey, 2 December 1525, Bordeaux.

ff. 211r–212v: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 2 December 1525, Bordeaux

ff. 212*r–213v: Two original letters from Lee to Wolsey, 26 January 1526, Toledo.

ff. 214r–221v: Original lengthy dispatch from Tunstall, Sampson and Lee to Henry VIII; the marriage between Charles V and Princess Mary broken off, peace with France, etc., 26 January 1526, Toledo.

ff. 222r–v: Original letter from Tunstall and Sampson to Henry VIII, reporting an audience with Francis I about negotiating a peace, 28 January 1526, Madrid.

ff. 223r–v: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 12 March 1526, Seville.

ff. 224r–225v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 12 March 1526, Seville.

ff. 227r–231r: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 21 March 1526, Seville. With some cipher.

ff. 232r–237v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 15 April 1526, Seville. With some cipher.

ff. 238r–v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 15 April 1526, Seville. With some cipher.

ff. 239r–240v: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 15 April 1526, Seville. With some cipher.

ff. 241r–241*v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 20 April 1526, Seville. In cipher, with a deciphered copy of the letter.

ff. 242r–243v: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 1 May 1526, Seville. With some cipher.

ff. 244r–245v, 245*v: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 13 May 1526, Seville. With some cipher. These sections have been deciphered on f. 245*v.

ff. 246r–247v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 13 May 1526, Seville. With some cipher.

ff. 248r–249v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 21 May 1526, Seville. With some cipher. These sections have been deciphered on f. 245*v.

ff. 250r–254r: Henry VIII’s commission in Latin to Tunstall, Wingfield, and Sampson, empowering them to annul the marriage contract between Charles V and Princess Mary. 6 July [1525; the dates 1527 and 1526 are both errors], London.

ff. 255r–256*r: Two original dispatches from Lee to Wolsey, 4 September 1526, Granada.

ff. 257r–266r: Original dispatch from Lee to Henry VIII, 7 September, Granada.

ff. 266*r–v: Original dispatch from Lee to Wolsey, 7 September 1526, Granada.

ff. 267r–v, 272r–v: Original dispatch from Lee to Henry VIII, 9 September, Granada.

ff. 268r–270v: An answer in French from the Spanish ministry to a protestation of the English ambassadors, 10 September 1526.

ff. 271r–v: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 14 September 1526, Granada.

ff. 271*r–v: Original letter from Jehan L'Allemand (Chancellor of Spain) to Wolsey, about his pensions on Palencia and Toledo, etc., sent by Don Inigo de Mendoza, the Spanish Ambassador, 17 September 1526, Granada.

ff. 272*r–v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 8 September 1526, Granada.

ff. 273r–v: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 30 September 1526, Granada.

ff. 274r–275*v: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 30 September 1526, Granada.

ff. 276r–277v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 30 September 1526, Granada.

ff. 277*r–v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 24 October 1526, Granada.

f. 278r: Original letter from Lee to Henry VIII, 24 October 1526, Granada.

ff. 280r–282v: Original letter from Lee to Wolsey, 1 November 1526, Granada.

ff. 2828r–v: Original dispatch from Sir Robert Wingfield to Wolsey, about the treatment Don Inigo de Mendoza received from the French. 14 November 1526, Calais.

ff. 284r–286v: Original dispatch from Lee to Henry VIII, 1 November 1526, Granada.

ff. 286*r–v: Original letter from Charles V to Wolsey, with compliments, in answer to a letter from Wolsey by Lee, 30 November 1526, Granada.

ff. 287r–v, 290r–v: Original dispatch from Lee to Henry VIII, 2 December 1526, Granada.

ff. 288r–289v: An answer in French from the Spanish ministry to Lee’s protestation, 29 November 1526.

ff. 291r–294v: Original dispatch from Lee to Wolsey, 2 December 1526, Granada.

ff. 295r–v: Original dispatch from Lee to Wolsey, 2 December 1526, Granada.

ff. 296r–297v: Original dispatch from Lee to Henry VIII, 4 December 1526, Granada.

ff. 298r–300v: Original dispatch from Lee to Wolsey, 4 December 1526, Granada.

ff. 301r–302v: Original dispatch from Lee to Wolsey, 12 December 1526, Granada.

ff. 303r–306v: Two original letters in Latin and cipher from Girolamo Ghinucci to Wolsey, 24 December 1526, Poissy.