Venice: November 1570

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890.

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'Venice: November 1570', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580, (London, 1890) pp. 460-461. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol7/pp460-461 [accessed 18 March 2024]

November 1570

Nov. 2. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 493. Giacomo Soranzo and Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassadors with the Emperor, to the Signory.
The marriage of the Archduke Charles with the daughter of the Duke of Bavaria is believed to be arranged, with a dowry estimated at 200,000 l., and jewels and clothes of the value of another 100,000 l.; and the Emperor has offered to obtain the dispensation from the Pope, notwithstanding that the Duke of Bavaria had secretly received the promise of his Holiness to grant it, because this marriage is in the same degree with the marriage between the King of Spain and the daughter of his Imperial Majesty. After the Queen of France has departed, the gentleman from England will be dismissed, and many people think that his Imperial Majesty will throw out some hints in order to ascertain whether the Queen of England would be satisfied with his second son, who has entered his eighteenth year, and who will shortly return from Spain; but after this failure with the Archduke, it is doubted whether the Queen will not turn all her attention to Monsieur d'Anjou, the brother of the King of France.
Spires, 2nd November 1570.
[Italian.]
Nov. 7. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 494. Giacomo Soranzo and Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassadors with the Emperor, to the Signory.
The gentleman sent hither by the Queen of England was this day dismissed by the Emperor, who excused himself by saying that the Queen had so long delayed to communicate her resolution concerning the marriage with the Archduke, that his Highness, not being able to wait longer, had promised himself to the daughter of the Duke of Bavaria. Consequently the gentleman departed in great grief, which he says will be shared by all the nobility of England, and that the Queen will hold a Parliament and open another negotiation, which is understood to refer to Monsieur d'Anjou, the brother of the King of France. The same gentleman says that he perceives the Emperor, although he conceals his feelings, to be greatly displeased with the decision of the Archduke, in having declined the offer from England with the dowry of such a kingdom.
Spires, 7th November 1570.
[Italian.]
Nov. 29. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 495. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
The Ambassador from England declined to attend the marriage of his Majesty, and said to the gentlemen who had invited him in the name of the King, that he could not be present because he knew he should meet there the Nuncio of the Pope, who was the open enemy of his Queen, and also the Ambassador of the King of Spain, whom he did not rightly know whether to treat as friend or foe, and who also pretended to have precedence over him; and that he would be prepared to give his reasons to their Majesties, should he be called upon to do so.
Paris, 29th November 1570.
[Italian.]