Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis (England and France)

The Commissioners of Henry King of France, and Elizabeth Queen of England, having met at Cateau Cambresis, have concluded a peace between their respective realms in the following terms.

Article 1

There shall be peace between Henry and Elizabeth and their subjects.

Article 2

That neither shall invade the realm of the other.

Article 3

That neither shall assist any prince or people who invade the realms of the other.

Article 4

That the present treaty shall continue in force even if the previous articles be violated by the subjects of either realm, in which case the offenders shall be punished, and none others.

Article 5

That the inhabitants of each kingdom shall have liberty to trade with the other.

Article 6

That, during this peace, no armed vessel shall leave any of the ports of either France or England without giving previous security to the Admiral of France or England, respectively, that the above provisions of the peace shall not be violated.

Article 7

That the King of France shall have peaceable possession for the space of eight years, of Calais, Ruysbank, Nyhuse, Merk, Oye, Hammes, Sandgate, and Guisnes, with their appurtenances, acquired by the King of France during the late war with Queen Mary. At the end of eight years the premises shall be restored to England.

Article 8

That along with the town of Calais should also be restored to England 16 brass pieces of artillery; viz., 3 cannons, 3 demy cannons, 3 bastards, and 7 smaller pieces, called mayennes.

Article 9

That the King of France shall cause seven or eight, (and not more) substantial merchants, not subjects of France, to become bound to the Queen of England, in the sum of 500,000 crowns of gold of the sun, for the restitution of the premises at the end of the period specified.

Article 10

That it shall be lawful for the King of France from year to year to change the securities mentioned in the last article, and to substitute others, whom the Queen of England shall be bound to accept.

Article 11

That the King of France shall surrender to the Queen as hostages for the ratification of the treaty, the following personages, (for whose sufficiency he vouches) viz., Frederick de Foix, Count de Candale, and Chaptal de Buch, Louis de Saint Maure, Marquis de Nesle and Count de Laval, Gaste de Foix, Marquis de Trani, and [Antoine] du Prat, Prevost of Paris, and Sieur de Nantoillet, who shall become bond for the said sum of 500,000 crowns until the merchants mentioned in § 9 shall be produced.

Article 12

That these hostages shall not be detained in custody in England, but shall make oath that they will not depart from England without the Queen's licence.

Article 13

That it shall be lawful for the King to change these hostages every two months.

Article 14

That during this period of eight years it shall not be lawful either for the King of France, or the King and Queen of Scotland, or the Queen of England, to make any hostile attempt upon the realm or subjects of the other. If this be done by the King of France, then he and the King Dauphin shall be bound to surrender Calais and the places aforesaid, and if this be not done the merchants or hostages, (as the case may be,) shall be bound to forfeit the sum of 500,000 crowns aforesaid. If on the other hand, the subjects of the Queen of England violate the treaty, the King of France, the King Dauphin, and the merchants or hostages, shall be free from their promises and bonds respectively. Private individuals violating this treaty shall be punished by their own Sovereigns.

Article 15

The port of Aymouth, in the realm of Scotland, and all buildings erected either by the French, the Scotch, or the English, in violation of the treaty of Boulogne, of March 1549, shall be demolished within three months from the date of this treaty.

Article 16

All suits and claims between the King of France and the King and Queen of Scotland on the one hand, and the Queen of England on the other, shall mutually remain whole and entire. These, it is hoped, will speedily be terminated.

Article 17

Neither of the contracting parties shall harbour the rebels or traitors of the other, but shall give them up within twenty days after being required thereto.

Article 18

That letters of reprisal or marque shall be given only against the chief delinquents, their goods and factors; and this only after the denial of justice.

Article 19

That in this treaty shall be comprehended, on the part of France, the King of Spain, and the King, Queen, and realm of Scotland; and on the part of the Queen of England Philip King of Spain.

Article 20

That each of the contracting parties shall cause the truce to be proclaimed at Paris and London within ten days of the date of the present treaty, and within the ports and chief towns of France and England as speedily as possible.

Article 21

That the King of France and the Queen of England shall respectively swear to observe the articles of this treaty.

Appendices

Appended are:

1. The commission from Henry II., appointing deputies for the execution of the above treaty. (See 22 Jan. 1559.)

2. The commission of Elizabeth to the like effect. (See 20 Jan. 1559.)

The treaty is dated at Cateau Cambresis, 2 April 1559,
— Signed, (on the part of France) Carolus Cardinalis de Lotaringia; F. de Montmorency; Jacques d'Albon; De Morvillier; E. d'Orleans; De Laubespine:
(on the part of England) W. Howard, Thomas Ely, N. Wotton.
With the seals of the five French Commissioners.