Early edition of the correspondence between Emperor Charles V and King Francis I, illustrating the strained political situation in Europe during the years 1526-1527. Francis was captured by Charles' army in February 1525, and held captive until he signed the Treaty of Madrid in January 1526, in which he surrendered Italy, Artois, Flanders, and Burgundy to Charles. However, he broke the treaty upon his return to France. The present work contains nine documents. Together these were issued as political propaganda intended to counteract the indignation aroused in many parts of Europe when the imperial army invaded Italy and ransacked Rome (May 6, 1527). Included are inter alia the text of the "Foedus Clementinum", Francis I's refusal to approve the Treaty of Madrid, and the imperial letter to the Roman cardinals of October 6, 1526, demanding that they summon a general council even against the will of the Pope. Several editions of the work appeared in 1527, including translations into Dutch and French. The present copy comes from the library of Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1655-1716).
Ad 2 contains two letters, one from Pope Clement VII to Emperor Charles V, written on the 23rd of June 1526, and the response of the latter, written on the 17th of September of the same year. The pope had just entered into an alliance with Francis I against Charles, and started the War of the League of Cognac (1526-1530) to drive him away from the Italian Peninsula. Together with ad 1, the present work provides an understanding of the complex political and religious tensions in Europe during the period.
With a 17th-century ownership annotation on the title page of ads 1 and 2 ("Fletcher"). A brown stain on the front board. The work is somewhat browned throughout. Otherwise in good condition. Ad 1: Knuttel 32; Nijhoff & Kronenberg 1263; USTC 403777; not in the STCV; Ad 2: Adams C 2135; USTC 651301; VD 16 K339.