Sources:
Recueil des historiens des Gaules et de la France, volume 16, page 144, Dom Martin Bouquet, 1813
Letters of royal and illustrious ladies of Great Britain, from the commencement of the twelfth century to the close of the reign of Queen Mary, volume 1, edited by Mary Anne Everett Wood, H. Colburn, London, 1846
Marie I (born 1136, died July 25, 1182) was the suo jure Countess of Boulogne from 1159 to 1170. She also held the post of Abbess of Romsey for five years until her abduction by Matthew of Alsace, who forced her to marry him.
The letter:
REVERENDO domino suo Ludovico, Regi Francorum M. Comitissa Boloniæ, salutem et servitium. PRÆSENTIÆ vostræ innotescat, Henricum Regem Angliæ ad Imperatorem suos nuncios legasse. Certum enim est illum communiter impetrasse quod voluit. Imperator autem se adeò Regi exhibuit benivolum, ut cum nunciis suis redeuntibus suos ad eum mittere non pigritatus sit: quod ferisse duxit optimum, ne prædictus Rex illum adversùs vos in subsidio esse devotum dubitaret. Nuncii equidem redeuntes per meam terram transierunt; et ego eis locuta fui, et bene ex verbis eorum attendi quòd Rex Angliæ malum vestrum perquirere nocte dieque non cessat. Quare dilectioni vestræ mandare duxi congruum, et vos præmunire attendi necessarium, ut consilium cum vestris sapientibus ineatis, et quod aptius invenietur faciatis, ne fraudulenti Regis impetuosa præsumptio vobis molestiam violenter conferat. Valete.
English translation (from source 2):
To her reverend lord Louis, king of the French, Mary, countess of Bologne, sends health and service.
Let it be known to your highness that Henry, king of England, has sent his ambassadors to the emperor. It is certain that he has, for the most part, succeeded in obtaining what he wished; for the emperor shews himself kindly disposed to the king, and his (the king's) ambassadors being on their return, he has not hesitated to send his own with them to him, which he thought the best course, lest the aforesaid king should doubt whether he was sincere in his assistance against you. The returning ambassadors passed through my territories, and I spoke with them, and well I perceived from their words that the English king ceases not, day nor night, to devise mischief against you. Wherefore I thought it fitting to send to your grace, and to give you the necessary forewarning, that you may take counsel with your wise men, and act as is most fitting, lest the impetuous presumption of the fraudulent king should inflict violent injury upon you. Fare you well.
No comments:
Post a Comment