Venice: August 1591

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 8, 1581-1591. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1894.

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'Venice: August 1591', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 8, 1581-1591, (London, 1894) pp. 551-554. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol8/pp551-554 [accessed 23 April 2024]

August 1591

Aug. 1. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1079. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France to the Doge and Senate.
A gentleman has arrived from the Queen of England to assure the King that within six days four thousand infantry and six hundred horse will reach Dieppe. The King will then have a very large force, and he is so vigilant and active a Prince that everyone expects some important results.
Mantes, 1st August 1591.
[Italian; deciphered.]
Aug. 2. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1080. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
At the siege of Noyon the garrison have made several sorties against the English and against the German horse.
Mantes, 2nd August 1591.
[Italian; deciphered.]
Aug. 8. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1081. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
I hear that the Queen of England has published an edict by which the vessels of all Christian Princes except your Serenity and the Grand Duke of Tuscany are to be treated as foes.
Madrid, 8th August 1591.
[Italian; deciphered.]
Aug. 10. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1082. Lorenzo Bernardo, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
Sinan Pasha, speaking of his removal from the post of Grand Vizir, said to the English dragoman these very words, that he knew that he had not fallen through any demerit on his part, but only because the Sovereign had allowed himself to be influenced by a whore, and this was a consolation to him; very bold words, quite in keeping with his bestial nature. All Christendom has cause to be thankful for this fall, as well as for the exile and probable death of the Jew, David Passi, though of this it is impossible to have any certain information just now.
Dalle Vigne di Pera, 10th August 1591.
[Italian; deciphered.]
Aug. 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1083. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
To help them to meet their many requirements, the Ministers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the West India fleet. It is so much behind its time that they fear that it must have received some injury from the English. They are lying in wait for it It is true that the Catholic Armada, left Ferrol, thirty sail in all, and was to go to the Azores; but as the English have pushed on beyond those islands, it is doubtful whether the Spanish will arrive in time at the point of danger.
Madrid, 10th August 1591.
[Italian; deciphered.]
Aug. 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1084. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
I am informed from Lisbon by Augustin Lombardini, who is acting as consul in the place of his brother, who is here at Court on business, that owing to the mischief wrought by English pirates in Portuguese waters it is proposed to lay an extra tax on all merchandise in order to arm and maintain certain guard ships.
Madrid, 17th August 1591.
[Italian.]
Aug. 17. Original Letter Book, Marcian Library. 1085. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Chiefs of the Council of Ten.
After having had an audience of the King at the Escurial, I entered into conversation with a person who is very intimate with his Majesty and also frequents my house. He asked if I knew the reasons for the recall of Lippomano from Constantinople. I said that I only knew that your Serenity had sent a senator to represent you at the Porte.
After my return to Madrid, I received a letter from this same person. It contained a note saying that now he knew the cause of Lippomano's recall, which was that the Venetian Government was supporting the Ambassadors of England and Vendome (the King of Navarre) at the Porte, whereas Lippomano had done his duty by God and the King of Spain. I think I am bound to inform your Serenity of this, for the said person is not in the habit of talking about such matters unless he is repeating what the King has said or has told him to repeat. I have also been told by some of my friends that I would be shown certain letters and notes upon this subject written by Lippomano which, I am led to believe, will confirm all I wrote last year to the inquisitors.
Madrid, 17th August 1591.
[Italian; deciphered.]
Aug. 24. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1086. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
The Lisbon galleys captured a galleon and two ships belonging to the English, with cargoes to the value of one hundred thousand crowns and forty persons of importance aboard. This will counterbalance in part the loss of a ship with three hundred thousand crowns' worth of silver which the English captured.
Madrid, 24th August 1591.
[Italian; deciphered.]
Aug. 24. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1087. Lorenzo Bernardo, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
These last few days a rumour has been spread that by means of the English Agent the Grand Signor has promised to confer the Principality of Bogdonia on one who professes to have the blood of the ancient princely family in his veins. This person will pass through Venice on his way from England.
Dalle Vigne di Pera, 24th August 1591.
[Italian; deciphered.]
Aug. 28. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 1088. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
After fall of Noyon and the retreat of the Spanish into Flanders, which have clearly shown the weakness of the League and all its partizans, it is hoped that his Majesty will now besiege Paris or Rouen; Marshal Biron has returned with his troops for this purpose, and assistance from England is not wanting.
Chartres, 28th August 1591.
[Italian; decihered.]
Aug. 31. Minutes of the Senate, Venetian Archives. 1089. To the Queen of England.
Motion made to write as follows:—
We are well aware of your Majesty's benevolent feelings towards us, We write to beg you to issue an edict commanding that in all parts of your dominions no let nor hindrance shall be offered to our ships, neither in Portugal nor elsewhere; but that every assistance shall be given them. We promise the same to your subjects in all parts of our dominions.
Further, motion made to summon the Secretary to the Spanish Ambassador to the College and to inform him that in order to oblige his master we have written to the Queen of England for safe conduct for our flag.
—36 —65 —76 —82.
—9.
—41 —38 —28 —23.
[Italian.]