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| July 1. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
809. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Stafford, the gentleman of the Queen of England, has been here for three days, and, after having spoken to these Majesties, has gone on to Monsieur. While Stafford was here the house of the English Ambassador was closely watched, and it was ordered to be ascertained who went in and who came out by night. Hence it is inferred that these negotiations with Monsieur are greatly distrusted, and especially because the promises lately made by the Queen of England not to give aid to the Prince of Condé do not correspond with the facts, for intelligence has been received that the Prince will be assisted with money, and also by some English gentlemen who profess the Puritan religion (religion Puritana). |
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In Flanders, although both parties there have only small forces in the field, still engagements frequently occur. |
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Monsieur has lately sent several gentlemen, one after another, to the King to ask for a suspension of arms, his Highness demanding no longer three months but only twenty days in order to make peace. His Majesty has always been consistent in his desire for war in order to recover his cities and territories which have been taken by the Huguenots; for his Majesty alleges that it is unnecessary to make any new peace, because the Huguenots, by making the restitutions which they are under an obligation to effect, can have the benefit of the last terms of peace, which his Majesty, after having recovered his own, desires to be observed. |
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The gentlemen of Monsieur departed very ill-satisfied, as did likewise a gentleman who has been sent here by the King of
Navarre, and who has deplored that the King of France should insist upon the execution of the last treaty of peace and the restitution of the places, while he still refuses to put the King of Navarre and the Prince of Condé in possession of their respective governments; but his Majesty has answered that they, the King and the Prince, were in fault, because if they had gone with pacific intentions to their respective governments they would have been accepted by him. It is impossible to know what end this business will have, because it affects Princes whose ends and ideas are very conflicting. |
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The King, as I have said, desires war with the object of recovering all his places and enforcing due obedience to his rule. Monsieur desires peace, not caring whether it were brought about by one means or another, so that war be made at a distance from home. The Huguenot Princes wish for both peace and war at one time, namely, that the King should observe peace, and that they, under the name of taking possession of their governments, should proceed to seize to-day one city, and to-morrow another, and thus maintain their people by sacking the cities and country districts. |
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The Queen of England, without whom neither Monsieur nor the Huguenots can effect anything of moment, likewise desires neither peace nor war; she does not desire war in France at present, as she is too much alarmed on account of Spain; but still she does not wish a secure peace for the King of France, and consequently does not favour the restitution of the fortresses which the Huguenots hold as weapons (remi) of war in their hands, desiring that this Huguenot party, which is now dependent on her, should remain strong and be continually on the increase. |
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The King continues to prosecute the war, and principally the siege of La Fère, whence the news that the artillery is in position, is hourly expected. |
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The Prince of Condé has proceeded from England to Germany to procure aid, and a diet of certain Princes and captains has been summoned to meet in Strasburg (Argentina) for this purpose. Hopes are entertained in France that no levy of importance will be made, and the Duke of Guise, who will have to oppose Condé when he comes, is thinking of going to the siege of La Fère with his friends in order not to remain at ease when all others are at work. |
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Paris, 1st July 1580. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 15. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
810. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The agent of Monsieur, who is conducting his affairs in Flanders, together with an individual accredited by the States, passed through Paris two days ago. They went to Monsieur, and it is reported that they have arranged for his going to Flanders, but the particulars cannot possibly be ascertained. Some say that the States will deliver certain places into Monsieur's hands, but others insist
that this King (of France) will himself intervene, and if this be so we shall be remitted to our original difficulties. In England four thousand infantry are being trained, and are said to be destined for Portugal. Stafford, the gentleman of the Queen, is still with Monsieur to procure a fresh interview with his mistress; but if peace be not made in France a similar negotiation cannot possibly be successful. |
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Paris, 15th July 1580. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 29. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
811. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The Portuguese Ambassadors have advices from England that the Queen will receive them with every mark of favour. Stafford, the gentleman of the Queen of England, has arrived here to speak with their Majesties before his own departure. He has announced that Monsieur will go immediately to England, whither he will send before him Mons. de Simier, who is shortly awaited here, and also that the Queen had summoned the Parliament and all the Lords of her kingdom to meet on the 25th August to decide the question of her marriage, and those who write from England consider the matter, at least so far as the Queen is concerned, to be settled. Here very few persons believe that the marriage will take place, but that these negotiations are kept on foot for the reasons which I have already written. Nevertheless everything is possible, having regard to the dissatisfaction of Monsieur with the King, and to the great fear which the Queen has of the Catholic King, for her affairs are by no means in a condition of security, because in Ireland the number of rebels has so greatly increased that she has been compelled to send a new Governor thither with three thousand foot soldiers, and in England, in the north country and in Lancashire, Mass is said publicly and is largely attended by the people; and though forces have been sent thither to provide against any rising which might possibly succeed, the Catholics are being dealt with more diplomatically than usual. There is no news from Flanders, and it is not believed that the negotiations with Monsieur will have any result while there is war in France. |
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Paris, 29th July 1580. |
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[Italian.] |
