POST AND COURIER SERVICE IN THE DIPLOMACY OF EARLY MODERN EUROPE

Transcription

1 POST AND COURIER SERVICE IN THE DIPLOMACY OF EARLY MODERN EUROPE

2 ARCHIVES INTERNATIONALES D'HISTOIRE DES IDEES INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE HISTORY OF IDEAS Series Minor 3 E. JOHN B. ALLEN POST AND COURIER SERVICE IN THE DIPLOMACY OF EARLY MODERN EUROPE Directors: P. Dibon (Paris) and R. Popkin (Univ. of California, La Jolla) Editorial Board: J. Aubin (Paris); J. Collins (St. Louis Univ.); P. Costabel (paris); A. Crombie (Oxford); I. Dambska (Cracow); H. de la Fontaine Verwey (Amsterdam); H. Gadamer (Heidelberg); H. Gouhier (Paris); T. Gregory (Rome); T. E. Jessop (Hull); P. O. Kristeller (Columbia Univ.); Elisabeth Labrousse (Paris); S. Lindroth (Upsala); A. Lossky (Los Angeles); J. Orcibal (Paris); I. S. Revah (Paris); J. Roger (Paris); H. Rowen (Rutgers Univ., N.Y.); G. Sebba (Emory Univ., Atlanta); R. Shackleton (Oxford); J. Tans (Groningen); G. Tonelli (Binghamton, N.Y.).

3 POST AND COURIER SERVICE IN THE DIPLOMACY OF EARLY MODERN EUROPE by E. JOHN B. ALLEN MAR TINUS NIJHOFF / THE HAG UE / 1972

4 1972 by Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands All rights reserved, including the right to translate or to reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form ISBN-13: e-isbn-13: : /

5 PREFACE Diplomatic negotiation of our day is a curious mix of national endeavor within the bloc concept. The remnants of our nineteenth century nationalism struggles - half willingly - with the power that a larger continental or ideological bloc might bring. In the sixteenth century men knew that the protective bloc of Christendom would not provide peace, yet they were not sure that the new national states would secure it either. We have much to gain from a study of diplomatic procedures and institutions in such a transitional period. This monograph is based upon the great collections of published diplomatic correspondence of England, France, and Spain and, thanks to the generosity of Dr. De Lamar Jensen, I have been fortunate in having at my disposal his hoard of microfilmed letters and dispatches of the leading ambassadors of the sixteenth century. Of course, I have not read all the diplomatic correspondence, but I believe I have culled sufficient information to show and analyze the role played by the post and courier service in the diplomacy of Early Modem Europe. I should like to acknowledge the guidance, enthusiasm, and continuing interest that Dr. De Lamar Jensen has shown in this work. My thanks also go to Brigham Young University for a Fellowship in the summer of Among many people who have helped me, I should like to thank Mr. Robert McDermand and the staff of the Lamson Library of Plymouth State College, and my wife Heidi who, as mother, breadwinner, critic and typist has lived with the project as much as I. Rumney, N. H. 28 September 1971.

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface List of Illustrations Abbreviations used in notes v VUl IX CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION: EARLY MODERN DIPLOMACY AND THE ROYAL POST AND COURIER SERVICE TO France - Spain - England - Conclusion CHAPTER II. THE DIPLOMATIC COURIER: SOME GENERALIZATIONS 22 Aspects of courier travel- Courier qualifications - The courier's load - Regularity of service - Conclusion CHAPTER III. COURIER FINANCES CHAPTER IV. ROUTES AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS England - Continent - Roads - Passport - Health certificate - Posting inns - Horses - Conclusion CHAPTER V. FRENCH DIPLOMATIC COURIERS Couriers to England - Couriers to Spain - Couriers to Rome - Couriers to Venice and Constantinople - Couriers to Low Countries - Conclusion CHAPTER VI. SPANISH DIPLOMATIC COURIERS Madrid-Vienna couriers - Spanish couriers in France - Madrid-Brussels couriers - Madrid-London couriers - Madrid-Rome couriers - Conclusion CHAPTER VII. ENGLISH DIPLOMATIC COURIERS Part I: English Diplomatic Couriers Couriers from Queen and Council - Ambassadorial couriers in France - Ambassadorial couriers in the Low Countries - Ambassadorial couriers to Spain - Conclusion Part II: John Wells

7 VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER VIII. CONCLUSION: POST AND COURIER SERVICE IN EARLY MODERN EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY 136 ApPENDIX I: Diplomatic Couriers ApPENDIX II: Departures of the Venice "Ordinary" as Recorded by French Ambassador Hurault de Maisse 147 ApPENDIX III: Ordonnance du Roi Touchant les Postes 29 Mai ApPENDIX IV: Memoire pour Ie Faict des Couriers Ord.res d'espagne pour l'italie passans par la France 151 ApPENDIX V: Certificat d'andre De Salazar Touchant un Courier Tue pres de Poictiers, et ses Depesches Bibliography Index LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1. Courier routes : England Fig. 2. Courier routes: North-east Spain Fig. 3. Courier routes : France... Fig. 4. Courier routes: Italy.... Fig. 5. Albrecht DUrer: Der grosse Kurier Fig. 6. Albrecht DUrer: Der kleine Kurier opp. 72.opp. 73

8 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN NOTES AddMSS CarewMSS CDI Spain CSPElizDom CSP ElizFor CSP Eliz Scotland CSP Ireland CSPRome CSP Scotland CSP Spanish Dasent, Acts Fondsfr. LandP Henry SimE,K SP SP Henry British Museum, Additional Manuscripts. Calendar at the Carew Manuscripts. Colecci6n de documentos ineditos para la historia de Espana. Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reign of Edward VI, Mary, Elizabeth, Calendar at State Papers, Foreign Series, of the Reign at Elizabeth, Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotland. Calendar of State Papers Relating to Ireland. Calendar of State Papers Relating to English Affairs Preserved Principally at Rome. Calendar of State Papers Relating to Scotland, and Mary, Queen of Scots, Calendar of Letters and State Papers Relating to English Affairs Preserved Principally in the Archives at Simancas. Dasent, Acts of the Privy Council of England. Bibliotheque Nationale, Fonds fran9ais. Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic of the Reign of Henry V1ll. Archivo de Simancas, Secci6n de Estado, Legajos E,K. Public Record Office, State Papers. His Majesty's Commission, State Papers, Henry VIII.