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.
This free content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.
'Venice: June 1574', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580, (London, 1890) pp. 513-515. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol7/pp513-515 [accessed 19 April 2024]
June 1574
| June 1. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 592. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
|---|---|
| The King on his deathbed appointed the Queen-Mother to the regency of the kingdom, and the Duke of Alençon and the King of Navarre have made no stir. The Queen-Mother and the Court have returned to the city to-day. I have heard from a person of consequence, that it is not improbable that the new King may marry the widow of his brother, and precedents are cited when on several occasions the Popes had given dispensations for such a purpose, the last dispensation being in the case of King Henry the Eighth of England, when he married the cousin of the Emperor Charles the Fifth, she having previously been the wife of his brother, though subsequently, owing to the King's desire to have male children, he endeavoured to induce Pope Clement to declare this dispensation incestuous; and when the Pope refused his consent, the alienation of the kingdom (England) from the Apostolical See followed. | |
| Paris, 1st June 1574. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| June 9. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 593. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
| A few nights ago the bolt and fastenings of the door of a small postern gate of the palace which leads out of the city were broken, and if the Swiss guard had not heard the noise of the drawbridge falling, it is certain that some escape of consequence would have been effected; but the guard having been roused, the attempt failed, and the persons who were without took to flight. Subsequently the chamberlain of Monsieur (as the Duke of Alençon is now styled), by name Buonacorsi, (fn. 1) whose father was a Florentine, though he was himself born in France, was charged with being privy to the breaking of the door, and to the escape which was to follow; he was also charged with having written to England, and with having had several interviews with the English gentleman who last came hither. Two other persons have also been arrested who are charged with having had care of horses which were in readiness in the suburbs. On account of these apprehensions the guards have been increased in most parts of Paris, and iron gratings have been placed outside the windows of the lodging where the King of Navarre resides, and the same would have been done to the apartments of Monsieur had they not been situate in a much more lofty position in the palace. It is therefore believed that the Queen-Mother will return to Vincennes, where she thinks that she can watch over Monsieur and the King of Navarre more safely, because until the coming of the most Christian King there is a great uncertainty what will happen, and much delay is feared; therefore, considering that the promises of these two princes are by no means reliable, it has become necessary to provide for the tranquillity of the kingdom by keeping them in custody until the arrival of the most Christian King. Montgomery will not be brought to this city for fear of disturbance on the road, but he will be taken to Caen, where he will be tried by three persons commissioned from hence for that purpose, and he will be executed there. | |
| Paris, 9th June 1574. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| June 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 594. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
| Although the Huguenots are without any chiefs of importance, and are in want of many necessary things, nevertheless this kingdom is full of malcontents who desire above all things to set free persons who are now deprived of their liberty, and particularly to assist Monsieur and the King of Navarre in the attempts which they are continually making to escape. Quite lately Monsieur and the King devised a plan to get out of the palace in female attire, because as ladies are accustomed to go about with their faces concealed by masks they thought they could easily do likewise, but their intentions were discovered, and the Queen-Mother became very angry, and used strong language to Monsieur, who, being unable to deny the charge, endeavoured to meet it by saying that he had only intended to dress up a page as a joke, to take in the King of Navarre. The King of Navarre has, as I have written, gratings placed before his windows, but the windows of Monsieur have not been interfered with because, as they are in a very lofty situation, there is no necessity to do so. What there may be to fear or to hope from Germany or England we shall hear very shortly. | |
| Paris, 16th June 1574. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| June 19. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 595. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
| Though it is fortunate for the Queen of England that these two countries of France and Flanders should continue to be disturbed, yet other considerations openly prevent her taking any active part, and the report of the great Armada which is expected to come from Spain is the cause why, for her own security, she has no desire to deprive herself of her forces by sending them elsewhere. All that she can do is secretly to furnish money to the Germans in order to induce them the more speedily to invade France, where it is more to her advantage to maintain war than in Flanders. | |
| Paris, 19th June 1574. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| June 27. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 596. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
| Letters from Antwerp state that Signor Chiappin [Vitelli] has failed to effect any good result. All hope now lies in the Armada which is expected from Spain, and its delay is the cause of great difficulty and even of danger, because, besides all the exertions which are being made by the party of the Prince of Orange, the Queen of England is arming powerfully and with extraordinary vigour, and has laid an embargo on all foreign ships. Moreover it is known that the governor of Middle burg has gone to England to treat with the Queen for the junction of their respective fleets, and this event, if it takes place, will be of great importance. | |
| Paris, 27th June 1574. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| June 27. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 597. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
| Yesterday Montgomery was beheaded, and then quartered, in the presence of a vast concourse of people, but had it not been for the greatest pressure by the Parliament, the Queen would not have taken this step, on account of the strength and alliances of the Huguenots, and also because written notices had been distributed in her apartments to the effect that her Majesty should beware of putting Montgomery to death, lest she should displease the Queen of England and certainly give rise to many other disorders and difficulties. Thus her Majesty had been in a state of great doubt, and it was certainly more to please the Parisians, from whom she hoped to have efficient aid, than for any other reason, that she had put Montgomery to death, | |
| Paris, 27th June 1574. | |
| [Italian.] | |