Treaty of London (1604)

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The Treaty of London (Template:Langx), signed on 18 August O.S. (28 August N.S.) 1604,<ref>see Old Style and New Style dates: the date in brackets the Gregorian Calendar used in Spain but not in England or Scotland at that time</ref><ref>Ratified by the King of Spain on and ratified on 5/15 June 1605 and by King James I on 19/29 August 1604</ref><ref>Davenport, pp. 246– 257</ref> concluded the nineteen-year Anglo-Spanish War. The treaty restored the status quo between the two nations. The negotiations probably took place at Somerset House in Westminster and are sometimes known as the Somerset House Conference.

Background

The Anglo-Spanish War had been a complex and fluctuating conflict that also had connections with the Dutch Revolt, the French Wars of Religion, and the Nine Years' War in Ireland. The war by 1600 had been going on for nearly fifteen years with neither side gaining an overall benefit or a decisive advantage. The exhaustion of Spain, the rebellious opposition to the King's request for money, the mutinies of the troops in the Netherlands, and the fear of a renewal of a new war with France over the Duchy of Saluzzo all combined to emphasise the hopelessness of inflicting a vital blow on England.<ref name="Corbett">Template:Cite book</ref>

Early peace proposals

In April 1600, Archduke Albert, the governor of the Spanish Netherlands, opened secret negotiations with England for a settlement but did not inform Madrid.<ref name="Maltby">Maltby p. 120</ref> The following month, negotiations culminated in a meeting of a conference at Boulogne between representatives of Spain, England and Burgundy. Spain demanded the cession of the Cautionary Towns. England demanded free trade with Spain and her empire, freedom of English subjects from the inquisition and the exclusive right of having warships in the channel. The talks got nowhere, Spain contended that it was absurd to expect the sovereign of a worldwide empire to give the pas to a queen of a few islands.<ref name="Corbett"/> By August the talks were off – mutual distrust<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and United Provinces pressure made any agreement impossible. Despite this however diplomatic routes were open between England, Albert, and his wife, Isabella Clara Eugenia (Philip's sister). Letters from representatives showed that Albert, Isabella Clara Eugenia, and Philip were still anxious for peace despite their difference in policies.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Philip wanted to preserve the hegemony of the Spanish empire, whilst the Archduke and Isabella sought peace and friendly relations.<ref name="McCoog">McCoog pp. 222–23</ref>

The concern of the government in Madrid was to improve their dire military situation in the Netherlands by reducing or stopping English help to the Dutch rebels.<ref name="Brown, Elliott, Museo del Prado">Brown, Elliott, Museo del Prado p. 14</ref> Meanwhile, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, heading the delegation of the States of Holland, tried to attract the complicity of the new English monarch in the conflict in Flanders, of which the focus was the Siege of Ostend.<ref name="Fissel">Fissel pp. 186–87</ref> The siege had become a struggle of bloody attrition after just over two years.<ref name="Rowse">Rowse p. 413</ref> Spain had also sent a 4th Spanish Armada in 1601, the town of Kinsale was held, and besieged by English forces led by the Earl of Mountjoy. This ended in defeat when Kinsale surrendered in 1602. The defeat thus weakened Spanish resolve in the war against England.Template:Sfn

After the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, her successor, James I, quickly sought to end the long and draining conflict. By this time Spanish hopes of a decisive military victory in the Netherlands, or a successful invasion of England, were relatively remote.<ref name="Reed">Template:Cite book</ref> James was an idealistic practitioner of Christian peace and unity and also the son and successor to Mary, Queen of Scots, whose execution had been a proximate cause of the conflict. Philip III of Spain had also inherited the war from his predecessor, Philip II, and his treasuries had also been drained and so he warmly welcomed the offer and ordered the commencement of the difficult negotiations that followed.

The first moves towards peace were taken in June 1603, when Juan de Tassis headed a Spanish–Flemish Commission which visited London, seeking truces and mutual good faith. Tassis was despatched to England by Philip III of Spain to explore the possibilities for a settlement following Elizabeth's death.<ref>van Nimwegen p. 187</ref>

Archduke Albert had already sent his envoy Charles de Ligne, prince-count of Arenberg, to London and was joined by Juan de Tassis, in September 1603. Although De Tassis lacked full negotiating powers he was active behind the scene the following month in preparation for a settlement.<ref name="Brown, Elliott, Museo del Prado"/>

Treaty

At the end of 1603, the constable of Castile arrived in Brussels with the authorisation to conclude the treaty if one could be negotiated. On 19 May 1604, with the constable still waiting in the wings, the rest of the Habsburg delegation arrived in London and the English negotiating team was appointed.<ref name="Brown, Elliott, Museo del Prado"/> The meetings took place in Somerset House, probably in the hall used by the Queen's council.<ref>Susan Doran, From Tudor to Stuart: The Regime Change from Elizabeth I to James I (Oxford, 2024), p. 440.</ref>

English delegation

Spanish delegations

The Spanish negotiated with two delegations, one representing the King of Spain, the other the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, rulers of the Spanish Netherlands.<ref>Susan Doran, From Tudor to Stewart: the regime change from Elizabeth I to James I (Oxford, 2024), p. 440.</ref>

Spanish delegation:

Delegation of the Spanish Netherlands:

Terms

  • Spain recognizes the Protestant monarchy of England and renounces intentions to restore the Church of Rome in the country.
  • An end to Spanish military intervention in Ireland.<ref name="OConnor63">O'Connor p. 63</ref><ref name=":1" />
  • An end to English disruption to Spanish trans-Atlantic shipping and colonial expansion (article 6).<ref>"The first item of James' agenda was to bring to a close the long standing war with Spain. This was done by the Treaty of London in August 1604. Its terms were flagantry generous to the Spanish, the first black mark against the new king. Moreover James, unlike Elizabeth, had every intention of honoring them." Burgess, Douglas: The Pirates' Pact: The Secret Alliances Between History's Most Notorious Buccaneers and Colonial America. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2008, page 29. Template:ISBN</ref><ref>Channing, Edward: A history of the United States. Octagon Books, 1977, v. 1, page 158. Template:ISBN</ref>
  • The English Channel opened to Spanish shipping.
  • An end to English intervention in the Dutch Revolt (articles 4,5,7); England withdraws military and financial support to the Dutch rebels.
  • Ships of both countries, merchants or warships, could use the mainland seaports of the other party for refit, shelter or buy provisions (article 10). Fleets of less than eight ships did not even have to ask for permission, which provided an extensive network of naval bases for the Spaniards in England to help their war against the Protestant Dutch.

The treaty was signed on 28 August (New Style), at Whitehall Palace, by the Constable of Castile who was lodged at Somerset House.<ref>Janette Dillon, The Language of Space in Court Performance, 1400–1625 (Cambridge, 2010), pp. 83–89.</ref><ref>Thomas Rymer, Foedera, 16, p. 629</ref> The treaty restored the status quo ante bellum.<ref name="Morgan">Hiram Morgan, 'Teaching the Armada: An Introduction to the Anglo-Spanish War, 1585-1604', History Ireland, Vol. 14, No. 5 (Sep. - Oct., 2006), p. 43.</ref><ref name=":1">Paul Allen, Philip III and the Pax Hispanica, 1598-1621 (New Haven, 2000).</ref> It amounted to an acknowledgement by Spain that its hopes of restoring Roman Catholicism in England were at an end and it had to recognise the Protestant monarchy in England. In return, England ended its financial and military support for the Dutch rebellion, ongoing since the Treaty of Nonsuch (1585), and had to end its wartime disruption of Spanish trans-Atlantic shipping and colonial expansion.

Aftermath

With England out of the way, the Spanish hoped for a knock-out blow that would force the Dutch into a peace by launching a huge campaign led by Ambrogio Spinola in 1606.<ref name="Allen142">Allen pp. 142-43</ref> James still allowed the Dutch army to recruit English volunteer soldiers in their service – 8,000 having served in the Netherlands in 1605.<ref name="Dunthorne">Dunthorne p. 65</ref> In addition, English corsairs were now finding their needs in the service of the Dutch, who preyed on Spanish shipping.<ref name="Allen142" /> Conversely, Spanish warships and privateers were allowed to use English ports as naval bases to attack Dutch shipping<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> or to transport reinforcements to Flanders.<ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Dead link</ref> In November 1607, the costs of the recent wars with France, the Protestant Dutch as well as England resulted in Spain's bankruptcy. The Twelve Years' Truce was thus signed, which formally recognized the independence of the Dutch Republic.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

File:1604 medal James I England peace with Spain.jpg
Gold medal minted in England in 1604 to commemorate the peace signed with Spain.

To the English public, the treaty was highly unpopular, viewing it as a "humiliating peace".<ref name=":0" /> They felt that the King had deserted their ally the Netherlands in order to appease the Spanish, and it made James I "monumentally unpopular". Noel Caron, ambassador of the United Provinces to London, wrote that "no promulgation was ever received in London with more coolness, yes—with more sadness."<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> As such no public celebrations were held in England after the conclusion of the agreement.Template:Sfn The rift between James I's foreign policy and public opinion would widen some years later as a result of the "Spanish match", when the Protestant House of Commons would confront the King over his marriage arrangement between Maria Anna of Spain (the daughter of Philip III of Spain) and James's son, Charles, the Prince of Wales.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The English delegation, however, considered the treaty with Spain a diplomatic victory which gave the English "peace with honour".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After the signing lavish celebrations organised by the 3rd Earl of Southampton including a grand feast and ball were laid on at the Palace of Whitehall.Template:Sf Gold and silver medals designed by Nicholas Hilliard were also struck to commemorate the peace.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The peace agreement was well received in Spain.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> There were big public celebrations in the Spanish capital Valladolid from April to June 1605 in honour of the treaty and of the birth of Philip's son Philip IV of Spain.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Also present were the English ambassadorial delegation (which numbered 500) led by Lord Admiral Charles Howard. He had been sent by James I in return for Don Juan de Velasco having been sent to England to negotiate the peace the previous year.<ref name="Hillgarth">Hillgarth p. 23</ref> The English delegation were welcomed with a warm reception and honours on 26 May which included Howard being received at the English college.<ref name="Hillgarth" /> The treaty was then ratified in the Royal Palace of Valladolid in the presence of Howard the following month.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> Some voices from the Catholic Church, however, expressed its concern to Philip III over his settlement with a "heretical power", especially Juan de Ribera, then bishop of Valencia who protested.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Once the agreement was concluded, Philip III appointed Don Pedro de Zuñiga as first Spanish resident ambassador to England.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

For the Spanish crown, there was hope after the peace treaty that England would eventually secure tolerance for Catholics. The Gunpowder Plot in 1605, however, destroyed any possibility of this.<ref name="Allen155">Allen p 155</ref> Protestant fears that a peace with Spain would ultimately mean an invasion by Jesuits and Catholic sympathisers over the coming years also failed to materialise as the Elizabethan Recusancy laws were rigidly enforced by Parliament.Template:Sf

Following the signing of the treaty, England and Spain remained at peace until 1625.

See also

References

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Sources

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