Series 3 > Letters of James the Fourth, 1505-1513

LETTERS OF JAMES IV
9
1505]
13. James IV to Anne of Brittany, Queen of France,
Edinburgh, June, 1, [? 1505]. n.l. 178 ; G. 185.
The Queen’s letters dated at Blois on January 20, were
delivered to James in Edinburgh by her servant Bertaigne
on May 24, and stated the complaint of her subject, Guy
Foulcart. He came to Scotland some years ago (superiores
annos) and was, according to his account, compelled to
take the Duke of York to England, was imprisoned, and
got away with the loss of his goods—indeed if he had been
without possessions he would scarcely himself have escaped.
Returning home, he was condemned to pay 1800 ecus to
his partner, Guillaume Pomptome in terms of his contract
and caution, besides principal, interest, and legal expenses.
Foulcart affirms that he repeatedly and vainly raised with
James the question of recovery. So the Queen desires
cognition of his case and speedy justice.
Desiring to give general satisfaction, and particularly to
the Queen in view of kinship and alliance, James has had
careful enquiry made. Foulcart transported from Scotland
the erstwhile Duke of York, and his ship was hired for
cash at the King’s order merely to land the Duke on the
English coast. He expressed his willingness, though he
obtained royal letters enabling him at need to plead com¬
pulsion, save himself from injury and represent that his
trading operations were interrupted for the time (intermisse
mercature occasionem pretenderet). The letters on a strict
verbal interpretation contain nothing inequitable: old
practice between the house of France and Brittany and
the Scottish crown has been till now so well established
that each party hired the other’s sailors and ships at con¬
venience. Besides, James takes it to be a rule of law
everywhere that princes may, at need, hire the ships which
reach their shores. However that is, the suggestion that
Foulcart sought justice repeatedly and in vain is false : it
was open to him to have immediate judgment and any
due compensation,1 and her envoy Bertaigne was offered
1 On June 12, 1503, the royal secretary took instrument that the
chancellor and lords of council were prepared to do justice to a Breton