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

LETTERS OF JAMES IV
1510]
177
whether it is a matter for complaint or not, should not be
submitted to His Holiness.
What is more, His Holiness has recently exerted himself
to break the alliance between Louis and the Swiss, that he
may unite them to himself and the Venetians, and similarly
to disturb and destroy the alliance and friendship between
France and her other allies. He is also making war on the
Duke of Ferrara on the subject of certain saltworks, which
he claims to be his, and which the Duke maintains, belong
to him, and are within the Empire.
With regard to ecclesiastical affairs, His Holiness wishes
to dispose of the cathedrals, abbeys and the most important
benefices in the kingdom, the patronage of which belongs
to Louis according to the privileges of his kingdom and
of the Gallican Church, without taking notice of several
letters that Louis had written to him, wishing by these
means to weaken the King’s temporal and spiritual
authority, which are things of great importance to all the
kings and princes of Christendom, who would not wish
His Holiness to act as he has done to Louis, which Louis
thinks James for his part would not permit.
Louis has determined to take every good and reasonable
measure possible to resist the activities of His Holiness.
He proposes, for the protection of their liberties, to
assemble the princes, lords, and notables of his kingdom,
and has decided to invite James as his brother and ally,
informing him at the same time of what will be discussed
at the assembly. Will inform him also of the policy to be
followed in such enterprises, letting it be known that the
princes of Christendom maintain better justice, order, and
policy in their kingdoms and territories than the Pope does
in his temporal possessions and in the Church.
It seems to Louis that to counteract this fomenting of
discords one should encourage peace and unity, as indeed
one ought and can, and not those activities which com¬
pletely pass the bounds of reason {qui sont si deraisonaible
que plus ne peult).
Signed ‘ Loys.’
French.
M