Henry VII: EPISTULAE

Accepimus nuper, ea qua decuit reverentia, bullam vestrae Sanctitatis sub plumbo, necnon et breve ejusdem, unius ac consimilis formae et tenoris, quibus intelleximus litteras nostras quas paulo antea ad illam dederamus super expeditione adversus Turcos et alios Christiani nominis hostes suscipienda eidem vestrae sanctitati fuisse redditas, pergratasque et perjucundas extitisse, dignasque visas quae in suo sacro consistorio recitarentur, non solum quia ad communem Christianam rempublicam pertinerent, sed etiam ut nostrae laudi esset magis consultum. Nec minus etiam cognovimus ex ejusdem vestrae sanctitatis relatione, qua nulla major aut dignior in terris haberetur, qualiter, ubi litterae nostrae hujusmodi in ipso consistorio essent recitatae, reverendissimi patres, sacrae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinales, omnes certatim in nostras laudes converterunt, et hoc nostrum tam sanctum propositum summis praeconiis extulerunt. Quae sane omnia supra quam dici possit incredibili gaudia nos affecerunt.

We recently received, with the reverence due, the bull of your Sanctity sealed with lead, and likewise the brief of the same, of one and the same form and tenor, by which we understood that our letters, which a little earlier we had delivered to her concerning the expedition to be undertaken against the Turks and other enemies of the Christian name, had been returned to that same your Sanctity, and had proved most pleasing and delightful and thought worthy to be read in her sacred consistory, not only because they pertained to the common Christian republic, but also as being more fitting to our praise. Nor less did we learn from the report of that same your Sanctity, by which no one on earth is held greater or more dignified, how, when our letters of this kind were read in that very consistory, the most reverend fathers, cardinals of the holy Roman Church, all eagerly turned to our praises, and raised this, our so holy purpose, with the highest encomiums. All of which things indeed affected us with joys beyond what can be spoken.

Unde pro tanta laude, tantoque honore et commendatione, quam vestrae sanctitati et sacro Romanorum patrum collegio placuit nobis attribuere, quod non mediocri parte nostrae felicitatis sumus perpetuo ascripturi, quas majores possumus gratias vestrae sanctitati et ipsis reverendissimis patribus habemus, et post hac semper sumus habituri.

Wherefore for so great a praise, and so great an honour and commendation, as it pleased your holiness and the sacred college of the Roman fathers to attribute to us, which we shall forever ascribe as not a small part of our felicity, we have the greatest possible thanks to your holiness and to the very reverend fathers themselves, and hereafter shall always retain.

Gaudemus equidem, mirum in modum, pater sancte, quod sicuti hoc nostrum desiderium expeditionis sumendae ex mera nostra mente et animo est profectum, ita quoque tam benigne, tamque gratanter a vestra sanctitate et suo sacro senatu sit approbatum et acceptum. Potest autem constanter sibi polliceri vestra sanctitas quod nos, licet antea ad hoc sanctissimum bellum sumendum accensi plurimum fuerimus, nunc tamen, perspecto ac cognito quod in tam bonam partem vestra sanctitas et reverendissimi patres litteras nostras acceptarint, longe magis ac magis ad rem ipsam ferventiores ardentioresque reddimur, nec ullo unquam tempore ab hoc nostro proposito, vita comite, sumus recessuri; neque ullo pacto per nos stabit quin ad laudem Omnipotentis Dei et Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae istud sanctissimum bellum quantocitius fieri possit assumatur. Qua in re nostram curam, studium ac diligentiam sumus proculdubio adhibituri, quo istud nostrum conceptum desiderium, Deo annuente, sub cujus vexillo et vestrae sanctitatis felici ductu atque auspicio sumus militaturi, ad optatum finem deducatur.

We indeed rejoice, most holy Father, in a wonderful way, that just as this our desire to take up the expedition has proceeded from our mere mind and heart, so also it has been so kindly and so gratefully approved and accepted by your Holiness and by your sacred senate. Moreover your Holiness can confidently promise to yourself that we, although earlier we were very inflamed to take up this most holy war, now however, having perceived and learned how, to so good a purpose, your Holiness and the most reverend fathers have received our letters, are made far more and more zealous and ardent for the thing itself; nor at any time shall we withdraw from this our purpose, life being our companion; nor in any wise will it be prevented by us that, to the praise of Almighty God and of the Holy Mother Church, this most holy war be undertaken as soon as may be done. In this matter we shall without doubt apply our care, study, and diligence, so that this conceived desire of ours, God granting, under whose banner and under your Holiness’s happy leadership and auspices we shall serve as soldiers, may be brought to the desired end.

Quod vero penes vestram serenitatem litteris nostris intercesserimus pro reconciliandis Christianorum principum animis inter se dissidentibus, persuadeat sibi et pro comperto habeat vestra sanctitas, nos non idcirco id scripisse ob aliquam privatam alicujus principis causam, neque etiam quia de vestra sanctitate ulla in parte (quod absit) diffideremus, quominus suam sanctissimam ac propensissimam mentem ad pacandos Christianorum principum status sua sponte semper habuerint, quia scilicet abunde nobis constet, ut luce clarius pateat summa virtus, bonitas ac pervigil cura vestrae sanctitatis, quam post suam ad apostolatum assumptionem in sedandis regum ac principum litibus et controversiis continue exercuerit atque indies exerceat. Sed ea dumtaxat de causa id scripsimus ut nobis ad ipsam expeditionem tantopere aspirantibus, quae non, nisi pacatis prius Christianorum principum rebus, bene aut satis utiliter sumi potest, vestra sanctitas suis sanctissimis monitis et adhortationibus hoc esse nostrum justum desiderium posset superaddere et ipsis principibus ostendere.

But concerning what we have interceded in our letters to your serenity for reconciling the minds of Christian princes who are at odds with one another, let your holiness be persuaded and hold it as proved that we did not therefore write this on account of any private cause of any prince, nor because we in any part (far be it) distrusted your holiness, so that you would not always of your own accord have your most holy and most inclined mind to pacify the states of Christian princes — for it is abundantly clear to us, and shines forth more plainly than light, the supreme virtue, goodness, and wakeful care of your holiness, which since your assumption to the apostolate you have continually exercised and daily exercise in calming the quarrels and controversies of kings and princes. But we wrote this only for the reason that, to those of us who so ardently aspire to that expedition which cannot be taken up well or sufficiently usefully unless the affairs of the Christian princes are first pacified, your holiness, by your most holy admonitions and exhortations, might add that this is our just desire and might show it also to the princes themselves.

Quantum autem ad difficultates hujus expeditionis sumendae pertinet, quas vestra sanctitas commemorat, certe nostra summa in tanto et tam sancto opere, ubi de communi utilitate ac dignitate fidei nostrae Catholicae, simul et animarum Christi fidelium salute agitur, si voluntas Christianorum principum, vel saltem majoris eorum partis, firma et stabilis sit et determinata, nullus sane labor, nullave difficultas absterrere aut retrahere omnino nos deberet. Quamquam, enim, infidelium vires, praesertim Turcorum, magnae sint et formidabiles, Christianorum tamen robur et potentia in tam justa causa longe praestantior ac validior est futura. Accedit etiam quod de Salvatoris nostri Jesu causa agitur, a quo victoria omnis manat, cujus opem et auxilium nobis affuturum merito sperare debemus.

As for the difficulties attendant upon undertaking this expedition, which your holiness recounts, certainly our resolve in so great and so holy a work—where the common utility and the dignity of our Catholic faith, and likewise the salvation of the souls of Christ’s faithful, are at stake—if the will of the Christian princes, or at least of the greater part of them, is firm and settled and determined, no toil certainly, nor any difficulty, ought wholly to frighten or withdraw us. Although indeed the strength of the infidels, especially of the Turks, is great and formidable, nevertheless the strength and potency of the Christians in so just a cause will be far superior and mightier. Added to this is that the cause of our Savior Jesus is in question, from whom every victory flows, whose help and aid we ought justly to hope will be furnished to us.

Caeterum, quia vestra sanctitas super electione ducis belli sive expeditione ipsa sumenda maximam olim difficultatem fuisse factam ostendit, cum incertum esset quinam regum aut principum in tam sancta expeditione in propria persona esset iturus, divisionemque etiam et attributionem locorum quae a nostris reciperentur et a Turcis subraherentur disputationem non mediocrem attulisse; equidem, pater sancte, ut aperte dicamus quid in hac causa sentimus, videtur nobis ut in tanta re non unus, sed plures belli duces Christiani principes constituantur, e quibus tres, si tot reperiri possint, vel ad minus duo reges e potentioribus personaliter cum suis copiis et classibus proficiscantur. Quanto namque plures reges belli hujus duces adinveniantur qui hoc sanctum onus in sese et personis suis suscipiant, tanto nempe major auctoritas ac dignitas reipublicae Christianae et fidei nostrae Catholicae accrescat, majorque proinde hostibus infidelibus metus ac terror incutietur. Sicuti namque nato Domino nostro Jesu Christo tres reges ab Oriente venerunt ut suam deitatem adorarent, ita quoque honorificentissimum esset, et sempiterna laude dignum, si trinitas regum ab Occidente veniens, post expugnatum Turcorum tyrannum, sanctissimum Christi sepulchrum de manu infidelium forti manu eriperet, suamque praesentiam corporaliter exhiberet.

Moreover, since your holiness shows that formerly the greatest difficulty was made over the election of a leader for the war or over taking up the expedition itself, because it was uncertain who of the kings or princes would go in person on so holy an expedition, and because the division and assignment of places which would be received by our men and seized by the Turks would also have caused no small dispute; truly, holy father, to speak openly what we think in this matter, it seems to us that in so great an affair not one but several war-leaders, Christian princes, should be appointed, of whom three, if so many can be found, or at least two kings of the more powerful, should set out personally with their own forces and fleets. For the more kings shall be found to undertake the leaderships of this war who take this holy burden upon themselves and their personae, the greater indeed will the authority and dignity of the Christian commonwealth and of our Catholic faith increase, and therefore the greater dread and terror will be cast into the unbelieving enemies. Just as, when our Lord Jesus was born, three kings came from the East to adore his divinity, so likewise it would be most honorable, and worthy of eternal praise, if a trinity of kings coming from the West, after having expelled the Turkish tyrant, should with strong hand snatch the most holy tomb of Christ from the hand of the infidels and corporally exhibit their presence there.

Quod, si forsan plures reges non inveniantur qui hoc sanctissimum bellum personaliter velint suscipere, si Omnipotens Deus, in cujus manu sunt omnia posita, tanquam diem ultionis adversus suos hostes sumendae praesentem adesse suis fidelibus nunciaret, tantam nobis et universae Christi fidelium reipublicae gratiam his nostris diebus concederet ut vestra sanctitas (quod non arroganter sit dictum), quandoquidem nullo pacto praesumeremus illam ad tantum onus subeundum in hac sua praesertim aetate desiderare, hanc expeditionem in propria persona suscipere possit, nulla profecto esset difficultas quin unus saltem rex adinveniretur qui in sua propria persona esset iturus; quoniam nos, etsi nullus alius princeps personaliter ire vellet, hanc militiam sub vestra sanctitate perlibenti animo in nostra persona susciperemus; nec haberetur ullum prorsus obstaculum quominus haec tam sancta expeditio quanto citius assumeretur, dummodo reliqui Christiani principes personaliter non euntes, vel saltem major eorum pars, condigne et rationabiliter contribuerint.

Which, if perhaps more kings be not found who would personally undertake this most holy war, if Almighty God, in whose hand all things are placed, were to announce to his faithful that the very present day of vengeance against his enemies is at hand, and were to grant so great a grace to us and to the commonwealth of all Christ’s faithful in these our days that your holiness (which is not said arrogantly) — since in no wise should we presume to desire to undergo so great a burden in this, your especially advanced age — could personally undertake this expedition, there would certainly be no difficulty that at least one king could not be found who would go in his own person; for we, although no other prince would wish to go personally, would gladly undertake this soldiery under your holiness in our own person; nor would there be any obstacle at all that this so holy expedition should not be set about the sooner, provided that the remaining Christian princes not going personally, or at least the greater part of them, contribute suitably and reasonably.

In summa, pater sancte, ut libere loquamur, quicquid in hac sanctissima causa nos pro parte nostra sumus acturi, id in propria nostra persona, proprioque nostro exercitu et classe sumus facturi, et non aliter nec alio modo, quandoquidem ex his quae in persona nostra cum nostris militibus et navalibus copiis simus acturi, magis ac magis de divina clementia ac benignitate, ut certo putamus, simus promerituri. Postremo, quod attinet ad divisionem locorum ab infidelibus recipiendorum, non esset res ipsa tanti ut non facile inter personaliter euntes posset concordari. Restat igitur ut vestra sanctitas, sicuti pie ac sancte est pollicita, suis litteris, nunciis et legatis, principes Christianos ad hanc expeditionem excitare non desinat; quod et nos quoque pro parte nostra quotidie curamus et sumus indies curaturi.

In sum, holy father, to speak freely, whatever in this most holy cause we on our part are to do, that we shall do in our own person, with our own army and fleet, and not otherwise nor in any other manner; since from those things which we shall accomplish in our person with our soldiers and naval forces we shall more and more, by divine clemency and benignity, as we certainly suppose, deserve reward. Finally, as to the division of places to be recovered from the infidels, the thing itself would not be of so great moment that it could not be easily agreed among those going in person. It remains therefore that your holiness, as you piously and saintly have promised, do not cease by your letters, nuntiatures and legates to rouse the Christian princes to this expedition; which we likewise for our part attend to daily and shall continue to attend to day by day.

Cumque de oratoribus convocandis fuerit constitutum, nos certiores reddat ut oratores nostros superinde instruere et plena ac sufficienti auctoritate fulcire atque ad diem per vestram sanctitatem limitandum mittere valeamus. Inveniet siquidem vestra sanctitas in hoc tam egregio tamque divino opere sumendo pro Christianae fidei defensione, simul et Christiani nominis ac status ampliatione, proque istius sanctae Sedis Apostolicae dignitate, necnon et Christi fidelium qui tam diuturnae et miserandae servitutis jugo ab infidelibus premuntur liberatione, nos pro parte nostra usque adeo promptos et ferventes, ut nemini Christiano principi (quod bona omnium venia sit dictum) in aliquo sumus cessuri; nec quovis pacto per nos manebit quin tam nobilis et sancta expeditio, sicuti prioribus nostris litteris sumus testati, ad Omnipotentis Dei et Christianae fidei laudem et gloriam, quantocitius fieri queat, assumatur.

And when it shall have been decided concerning the summoning of envoys, let him make us more certain so that we may be able to instruct our envoys therein, and to support them with full and sufficient authority, and to send them to a day to be limited by your holiness. For your holiness will find, if indeed in taking up this so excellent and so divine work for the defence of the Christian faith, and at the same time for the amplification of the Christian name and state, and for the dignity of this holy Apostolic See, and likewise for the liberation of Christ’s faithful who are pressed under the yoke of so long and miserable servitude by the infidels, we for our part are so ready and fervent that to no Christian prince (which may it be said with the goodwill of all) shall we yield in anything; nor will it in any way remain with us that so noble and holy an expedition, as we have testified in our former letters, be delayed, but rather be undertaken to the praise and glory of Almighty God and of the Christian faith, as soon as it can be done.

Ex manerio nostro de Woodstoke, die octava Septembris, anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo vii, et regni nostri vicesimo tertio.

From our manor of Woodstock, the eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord 1507, and of our reign the 23rd.