Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1926.
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'Rome: September 1576', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578, (London, 1926) pp. 281-284. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/vatican/vol2/pp281-284 [accessed 12 April 2024]
September 1576
| 1576. Vat. Arch. Spagna, vol. x. f. 277. |
545. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “I wrote to you reporting the unexpected arrival here of Don John, and that it was generally supposed that he had come of his own accord, without orders from the King, and this is confirmed by all conjectures. It is believed that his Highness, being apprised of the revolution in Flanders, and finding himself so hampered in the manner alike of his going and of his government, was constrained to take this step; and it is also believed that he will soon return. He posted straight to the Escorial, where he now is. “I have taken this opportunity of refreshing the King's memory as to all the English business, writing thereof again to Antonio Perez, who has been now many days with his Majesty, and is coming to be high in his favour. I grow ever more apprehensive lest, as I wrote you at first, if the affairs of Flanders shall pursue their present disorderly course, and assume no better complexion, the English enterprise must suffer; and God grant there be no slackening on this side, though good reasons may be adduced for supposing that no little relief would be afforded to Flanders by stirring up strife in England. And furthermore I fear that the great dearth of money, the lack of which has occasioned the disorders in Flanders, may now have the effect of diverting thither at any rate the 50,000 crowns balance of the sum intended for the English business, especially as it is understood that one of the main difficulties that Don John makes about his going thither is the little money with which they furnish him, whereas his Highness thinks that he ought to have enough to make good arrears of pay and a balance in hand for future pay; which, demand greatly exceeds the sum which they thought of sending him. Add to this that Muley Menluch (fn. 1) has made himself absolute master of the States of the Xeriff [of Morocco], and gives out that he means to hold them for the Turk, so that it behoves us to make provision for affairs here, for which reason they have sent Doria to survey all those places and ports of Barbary and Cartagena, a matter which will also involve considerable expense. And though it is rumoured that some undertaking is designed here, and as many as 30 galleys are to come from Italy with troops, either for Algiers or to help the Xeriff home again, this King and that of Portugal co-operating in the enterprise; nevertheless, I see not hitherto such preparations as may avail for an offensive enterprise; and for my part I believe that the purpose is to secure ourselves against attack. If timely aid had been given to the Xeriff on the part alike of Spain and of Portugal, we should not now be thus perplexed and harassed by having an enemy so near a neighbour; but after all, I cannot believe but that the promise of the 100,000 crowns will be kept, if we adhere to the purposed enterprise; so that in every way there is enough to do, and there are many demands for which provision has to be made, and God grant it be made in time, seeing that delays, whether occasioned by lack of money or aught else, are fraught with untoward consequences, as was the case in the affairs of Poland; and had the Turkish fleet put to sea in force, God knows what the result would have been.” 14 September, 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian. |
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| Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 303. |
546. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “I am amazed that I have received from the King no answer whatever touching the English business, notwithstanding that I have so earnestly besought it of him, and time presses. If his Majesty has given satisfaction through his ambassador there [at Rome], it matters little to me whether it was with or without my knowledge, because by God's grace I am interested only in results; but I suspect that no decision has been reached, and that both matters, this of England and that of Flanders, are to be determined together in consultation with Don John. And though the enterprise remain in the stage of discussion here, there is no reason why that should hamper the preparations there [at Rome]. I fear that the King may be embarrassed in this business by the troubles of Flanders and Barbary, for it may seem to him more expedient to guard his own from loss than to go about to despoil others, and his need of money may make him loath to spend the 100,000 crowns in this enterprise, though therein he may be mistaken, because this enterprise will be helpful in the last degree to that of Flanders, nor is this sum of 100,000 ducats (sic) large enough to diminish the utility of the residue. I know not what to say, or what to hope, such is the reserve practised towards me, often as I have solicited both the money and the appointment of the captain, and there being now so little time to spare, unless, as I have said, satisfaction has been afforded through the ambassador.” 17 September, 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian. |
| Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 307. |
547. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “I am informed that the King is sending to England Don Guzman de Silva, who is at Venice, and that to Venice goes Idiaquez, late ambassador at Genoa, which I can hardly credit. And although I have not this intelligence from any person on whom I can rely, I thought I would not omit to transmit it. I know not but the King might deem it well to have in England a man versed in those matters, that he might secretly serve the cause.” 19 September, 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian. |
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Ibid. vol. ix. f. 180d. |
548. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Nicholas Ormanetto,] Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain. … “From the most loving answer that I had from you of late as to the matter of Sir Thomas Stucley, I have learned your good will towards him; and therefore it will perhaps be needless for me to say more on the subject. But being charged by the Pope to repeat to you in his name what I wrote in my own, to wit, that you are to promote Stucley's business, I could not but send you this word also.” 19 September, 1576. Rome. Italian. Copy. |
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Ibid. f. 251. |
549. The Same to the Same. “The ambassador told me some days ago that the 50,000 crowns for the English business had arrived; and I believe that they are in his hands, which accords with what Secretary Perez told you. Application must now be made for the other 50,000 crowns, because the time is now so advanced that we can no longer delay making the arrangements, which will occupy not less than three or four months; and his Holiness will not put hand to the work until all the 100,000 crowns are delivered here. Nor are you to use less diligence to induce his Majesty to make up his mind as to who should be the captain, that it may be possible to impart the business to him betimes, and authorize him to make the said arrangements, and consult with him as to all else that may be necessary. And if two are to be chosen, that one may succeed the other in case of misfortune, and of such a sort as not only to enjoy the confidence of his Majesty, but also to be on good terms with one another, as his Majesty desires; his Holiness deems that it would be all the better that they should be brothers. And therefore, if his Majesty disapproves the Colonnas, whom his Holiness would much prefer, he deems that no better choice can be made than of the two brothers Sforza, to wit, Signor Mario and Signor Paolo, under whose leadership, as they are both brave and for their age experienced in warfare, only a happy result is to be expected. We have imparted nothing to them as yet, nor shall we do so, until his Majesty's will is known. This you will therefore be at pains to learn as soon as possible, and apprise us thereof, for when it is known, and the 50,000 crowns that are yet to come have arrived, the preparations will be begun, that they may be completed in February, if so it please his Majesty. In the meanwhile it may be supposed that his Majesty will get to the point of despatching Don John to Flanders, and give him the commissions that are needed for the successful conduct of this holy design, than which, if God in His mercy grant us the honour to accomplish it, no more pious or more honoured or more fruitful an enterprise will, I believe, have been known for many a year.” 19 September, 1576. Rome. Decipher. Italian. |
| Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. ff. 323–24. |
550. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “In the audience that I had yesterday at the Pardo, I did those offices with the King that were meet upon occasion of these bad news from Flanders…. “From Flanders I passed to England, craving a decisive answer as to the captain, the money and all the rest. His Majesty said that this English enterprise depended largely upon the course of affairs in Flanders, and that as matters now stood, he saw not how one could hope for a successful conclusion of the English business. I answered that this enterprise would rather be a help than a hindrance to the settlement of affairs in Flanders, because by harassing the pretended Queen it would divert from the Prince of Orange and other enemies of his Majesty all the aid which this wicked woman could otherwise have afforded them; that we know what support English aid has given to Orange and his cause; and that there could be no better guarantee of perpetual unconditional obedience [in the Netherlands] than the subjugation of England. The King replied that what I said was true, but that there was another point to be considered, to wit, that should the Pope's fleet go to attack that kingdom with so slender a force as is contemplated, i.e. 5,000 foot, the enterprise would be very hazardous unless aid could be had from Flanders, as his Holiness desired it should be. He said, however, that attention should still be given to this business, so bound up as it is with that of Flanders. “I added that to choose the captain, and have the money ready, and attend to the preparations could do no harm, and would certainly be of use. I have always dreaded lest these disturbances in Flanders should confound this enterprise; but still no pains shall be spared in aid of it.” 26 September, 1576. Madrid. Decipher. Italian. |
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Ibid. f. 332. |
551. Antonio Clementino to the Same. Announcing that the nuncio is incapacitated by fever. 29 September, 1576. Madrid. Italian. |