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| Oct. 4. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
819. Lorenzo Priuli Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Monsieur has departed from Cognac to confer with the King of Navarre, and the present moment, when the Huguenots are not in favour with either Germany or England, is truly most opportune for putting the affairs of the kingdom into a sound condition. |
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Moret, 4th October 1580. |
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[Italian.] |
| Oct. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
820. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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We hear from England of the persecution of many Catholics, who have been sent to prison, not as Catholics but as disturbers of the public peace, and that the Queen is sending a large force of soldiers and also munitions of war to endeavour to subdue the rebels in Ireland. |
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Moret, 6th October 1580. |
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[Italian.] |
| Oct. 20. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
821. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Letters have lately arrived from England with news that a great battle has been fought in Ireland, where Lord Grey and the forces of the Queen were defeated, and six thousand of them either killed or taken prisoners; also that the Italian and Spanish soldiers, who were expected, had arrived on the island, and were about a thousand strong, though some said they were far more numerous. Since the arrival of this reinforcement and the above-mentioned defeat, many inhabitants of the country had declared themselves to be Catholics, and had taken up arms to join the insurgents. The Queen, under these circumstances, is in great difficulty, and has been enlisting soldiers to send to Ireland to hold the insurgents in check, so that they may not make further progress during the winter, and with the intention of obtaining a successful result in the spring with all her forces. The Queen has recently arrested several Lords, and has ordered a number of gentlemen, who are under suspicion of being Catholics, to come and reside at a place four miles distant from London, and not depart from thence without her permission. |
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These letters further state that the councillors of the Queen who are opposed to Monsieur, and who were disposed to favour the cause of the Huguenots in this country, had begun to change their opinions and to advise that a thorough union should be established with these Majesties, provided that they would give every possible satisfaction to the Huguenots in order to quell the prevalent disturbances, and thus be able to attend to other matters ; and may God grant that from these apprehensions (timori) a great benefit may ultimately result to this kingdom. |
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The Secretary Villeroy and Mons. de Bellievre have gone to see Monsieur, but the result of their mission is not known. |
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News has arrived from Spain that Don Antonio had retired to the mountains with twelve thousand men. He is supported by the clergy, and also by two principal maritime cities, namely Oporto and Viana, so that even if he should have abandoned his designs upon Portugal, Strozzi, at the instigation of Monsieur and the Ambassador of the Queen of England who has offered sixty thousand crowns for soldiers' pay, has nevertheless sent an individual to Portugal to learn the state of things there, because Strozzi is of opinion that if he could unite with Bon Antonio, he might be able to take thither a large force of Frenchmen; but this project is not likely to succeed, because Don Antonio cannot resist the King of Spain, as he has only a small portion of the kingdom in his favour. |
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Moret, 20th October 1580. |
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[Italian; the portion in italics is in cipher.] |
