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Jan. 1.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Inghilterra.
Venetian
Archives. |
234. Vicenzo Gussoni, Venetian Ambassador in England,
to the Doge and Senate.
The election of his successor will bring him home shortly,
after a service of six years. Hopes the Senate will consider his
heavy expenses and the loss occasioned to his house by death
and his absence.
London, the 1st January, 1633 [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
Jan. 4.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Inghilterra.
Venetian
Archives. |
235. Vicenzo Gussoni, Venetian Ambassador in England,
to the Doge and Senate.
The Ambassador Joachimi continues the offices he began with
the ministers here shortly after his arrival to obtain something
definite out of the good intentions they express with regard
to some effective assistance for Germany. His strongest representations
are based on what the Agent of the Princess Palatine
states about the need, which is more urgent than ever, for some
armed force in the Palatinate, since that country, according to the
advices which arrived here from the Duke Administrator, is
defenceless and exposed to attack from the troops coming out
of Luxemburg to join Feria, or any others who wish to go there.
According to the whispers from several quarters, if ever it
falls again into the hands of the Spaniards or Imperialists it
will be vain to hope ever to have it again, a view which all
the ministers here agree in recognising as correct ; it also
seems to awaken them to the need for making provision, which
does not admit of further delay. In spite of this, owing to
the expedients taken by England in this affair, Joachimi's hopes
seem very slender. In confiding to me the course of the
negotiations he told me frankly that if the king here will not
allow himself to be influenced by the interests of his sister and
nephews, it will, as a consequence, relieve his masters of the
occasion for doing more for Germany, while they claim, as he
asserts, to have hitherto done their share and a great deal more.
He further intimated that their replies there to the offices of
the Ambassador Camerarius for the same affair would be guided
according to their ability to get a favourable and definite resolution
here.
Letters have come from the Ambassador Anstruther, and we
hear that his negotiations with Denmark upon the matters indicated
are proceeding very slowly. His last are from Hamburg
and speak of numerous levies being made in the neighbourhood
for the service of the princes of the party, with the tacit connivance
of that city, because of its interests with the emperor.
They hear from several quarters that those princes are in a
position to use their forces to considerable advantage and to
prosecute their resolutions with a stronger union.
At the palace they are interested to see what will happen
in Bavaria, since the successes of Weimar draw together a
powerful concourse of the imperial forces.
Many and various opinions are expressed at Court about the
transactions of the Cardinal of Lorraine, who recently left
France. In the mean time opinions are spread here on behalf
of the queen mother and Monsieur as to their determination
over the marriage, with the Princess of Lorraine, which is
according to them, irretractible. The English Agent reports
from Brussels that they continue their friendly demonstrations
towards the queen mother, while Monsieur seems anxious to
remove any mistrust of himself. The Spanish Agent here has
not chosen to respond to the condolences offered on the death
of the Infanta, before Tellieur, the Agent of Flanders, who
is still here, has received the advice of it and puts on mourning
with the Court. Although the Resident has excused his long
delay on the pretext of letters which ought to come from the
Marquis of Aytona, it would seem, none the less, that his excuses
and behaviour have been interpreted in a sinister manner.
In conformity with what your Excellencies wrote to me about
the affair of the two French ambassadors at Constantinople, the
Dutch ministers here, by casual conversation, have shown that
they possess full particulars ; but the Lords of the Council
as yet have not said anything whatever on the subject either to
me or to them. The information which I receive will serve
for all that I shall require in discussion with them, as will
the other advices which come with the last state despatches
of the 9th ult.
Four bodies (universita) of students have joined together
to collect a large sum of money to meet the heavy expense of
masques and representations to be made a few days hence in
a rare display, for the entertainment of the king and queen. (fn. 1)
London, the 6th January, 1633 [M.V.]
[Italian ; the part in italics deciphered.] |
Jan. 9.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Signori
Stati.
Venetian
Archives. |
236. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in the Netherlands,
to the Doge and Senate.
The French are very anxious to have the fortress of Udenem,
as pertaining to the Elector of Treves, which is said to be
in dire straits, but the Princess Palatine declares she would
rather it remained in the hands of the Imperialists, and all
the Germans are not a little jealous of French ambition.
The Hague, the 9th January, 1633 [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
Jan. 12.
Senato,
Secreta.
Deliberazioni.
Costantinopoli.
Venetian
Archives. |
237. To the Bailo at Constantinople.
Herewith you will receive some patents entrusted to us by
the English resident here in the king's name, to be delivered
to his Majesty's ambassador in good condition. You will see
that this is done because at the English Court they have selected
a person of distinction to come to us as ambassador
in ordinary.
Ayes, 136. Noes, 0. Neutral, 3.
[Italian.] |
Jan. 12.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Svizzeri.
Venetian
Archives. |
238. Andrea Rosso, Venetian Secretary with the Swiss, to
the Doge and Senate.
It seems that the Zurichers and Bernese are committing
themselves more and more to the Swedish party, into which
the English Resident and Colonel Peblitz are trying hard to
draw them, in the hope of inducing Basel and Sciaffusa also to
come, to strengthen their factions in this manner, and detach
the Protestant Cantons from the Catholic ones altogether. The
preachers second their offices.
Zurich, the 12th January, 1633 [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
Jan. 13.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Inghilterra.
Venetian
Archives. |
239. Vicenzo Gussoni, Venetian Ambassador in England,
to the Doge and Senate.
In accordance with the custom of the Court, followed by
the other ministers I went to audience of the king the day
before yesterday, the first of the year in the English style. I
performed the usual office and took the opportunity to express
the affection of the republic. I spoke of the orders which had
reached me from your Excellencies after the arrival of the
news of the birth of the Duke of York. The king seemed very
pleased and expressed his thanks to the republic. He detained
me for a while, as he generally does with me, and spoke
of occurrences in Germany. He told me an extraordinary
courier had arrived a few hours before to individuals, from
France, with the report that the Duke of Feria had been attacked
and defeated. He asked if I had heard anything of this. I
said I had heard nothing about it from France, and there was
not time to hear from Italy, but the news was desirable and
seemed credible owing to other advices that his force was
greatly weakened by the sufferings and desertion of his soldiers.
The king remarked that if those troops were really defeated,
it would put a stop to the plan of the Cardinal Infant of
going to Flanders. With the information from the state despatches
of the 9th ult. I told him that in Milan the leading
ministers and the Cardinal himself were murmuring at Feria
for not making progress, hinting that he was to march towards
the Palatinate. I observed that the king was struck by this
point of the Spanish designs against the Palatinate, and he
remarked that many things might happen for the greater security
of that country. I replied, Certainly, Sire, they will all
be desirable, not only for the maintenance and defence of that
state but for the advantage of the public cause in Germany.
From this his Majesty passed suddenly of his own accord to
other considerations about the state of the Cardinal's health in
France and about Monsieur's marriage. In coming away from
the audience I had an opportunity to pay my respects to the
Earl of Pembroke, and soon afterwards I was able to do the
same with the Lord Treasurer and Sir [Francis] Cottington.
What the English secretaries at Paris write about the new
inspection and fortification of the strongholds in Picardy, gives
rise to much comment at this Court and some of the ministry
seem inclined to believe that matters between France and Spain
are on the way towards an open rupture.
This week also no couriers have arrived from Antwerp or
Germany, owing to the continued bad weather. The kingdom
is also without letters from Italy.
The royal commissioners and the Dutch ones have held frequent
meetings but with little or no result towards any desirable
settlement, upon the differences between the India
Companies at London and Amsterdam. With those differences
undecided and unappeased, involving as they do commercial
interests as well as those of navigation, there will always remain
material for fresh disputes and dissensions. To this the Ambassador
Joachimi and the Deputy Brasser add their remonstrances
about the permission freely accorded to the Dunkirkers,
to sell the ships and property plundered from the Dutch, the
Treasurer having stated that the king cannot issue a prohibition
against this because of the benefit which the king and his
subjects derive therefrom. Both ministers conclude, for which
they really have considerable evidence to justify them, that some
of them here, including even some of the leading men of the
royal Council are tainted with partiality and a very strong leaning
to support the Spanish side.
The queen is better of a painful catarrhal affection of the
cheek and eyes which has troubled her of late, though she
has not yet left her room ; yet she has the assurance of a speedy
and complete recovery of her health.
London, the 13th January, 1633 [M.V.]
[Italian ; the part in italics deciphered.] |
Jan. 20.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Inghilterra.
Venetian
Archives. |
240. Vicenzo Gussoni, Venetian Ambassador in England,
to the Doge and Senate.
A despatch sent express from France reached the French secretary
here two days ago upon his negotiations. It gives him
permission to make his proposals here in writing, and to receive
the reply, also in writing, such being the idea which the ministers
here have intimated to be their intention. He told me that
after the audience which he would ask for to-day, for the
purpose of winning the king and impressing him better, he
would immediately back up by an office in conformity in the
royal Council to-morrow, when he would hand in his proposals
accompanying these with the strongest representations. It so
happened that the despatch arrived unexpectedly at dinner time
when he chanced to be at my house. This led him to speak
more confidentially, and he told me that he had thought it
necessary to proceed in a dilatory way with his proposals until
the arrival of the royal commissions. Now they had arrived his
reputation was clear even if nothing was arranged, and if
putting the matter in writing served for nothing else than to
give them a chance here of showing it to the Spaniards afterwards
and driving a bargain with them. Owing to the principles
and opinions which he said he had quite clearly discerned in
the ministry here he showed me that his hopes were very
feeble of being able to induce England to pledge herself to
any effective resolution, which would serve the public cause
in Germany. For that purpose he remarked that while on the
one side they seem anxious here for a closer union with France,
on the other hand they do not wish for an alliance which excludes
or rather which does not include an open declaration of
the Most Christian against Bavaria. The more he has pointed out
that this does not suit the interests of France and does not concern
the essence of what they are treating of now, the less he has
been able to remove their insistence in which they persist more than
ever. Accordingly he argues that the aims of the English are mysterious
when they become sticklish and difficult so far as to upset a
satisfactory conclusion of what they desire as he says, in appearance
at least, they seem to do. He added that by this same
despatch from France to authorise his negotiations here they
sent royal letters, which he showed me, directed to the King
of Great Britain, which he said were merely credentials, sent
expressly for this particular affair. With the same confidence
he read me another part of the same letter written to him
by the Secretary Bottiglier, containing an order to him to
intimate, if the subject happened to be raised, that they have
not sent and will not send any person or letters here with congratulations
upon the birth of the Duke of York beyond the
office which he has performed by word of mouth since the
English secretaries performed the duty there by word of mouth
by order from here.
A further incident, giving rise to much comment, has occurred
to Nedersolt the Agent of the Princess Palatine, who has been
arrested again by the king's order. He escaped from the guards
who were set over him, strict orders being issued for his
recapture, and they sent the two secretaries, Cuch and Windebank
to take the papers from his house. They say he betook himself
to the Dutch ambassadors, who refused him an asylum in their
house, but when he heard of this he elected, as the lesser evil,
to return to prison of his own accord, saying that he could
not be accused of any crime except by a malicious interpretation
of some letters written by him.
At the palace they hardly know what opinion to form about
what Bottard maintains with respect to the dissolution of Monsieur's
marriage, and the revision of it which he asserts the
Parliament of Paris is to make.
Owing to the continued bad weather we are still without
the letters which ought to arrive from Germany and Italy,
both last week and this. The last from your Excellencies are
of the 9th ult.
The queen has recovered from her catarrh and gone to her
apartments at Somerset House. There she chose to entertain
the king at a banquet in her own private apartment, with a
representation of a comedy and dancing, lasting a whole day.
The partisans of Savoy are reviving the report of an embassy
from that duke to this Court, but we hear no confirmation from
other quarters, and no one has come yet.
London, the 20th January, 1633 [M.V.]
[Italian ; the part in italics deciphered.] |
Jan. 20.
Collegio,
Secreta.
Esposizioni,
Principi.
Venetian
Archives. |
241. The Resident of the King of Great Britain came into
the Collegio and spoke as follows :—
I have always understood the excellent intentions of your
Serenity that all foreign merchants and the English in particular
should be well treated in your dominions. I have had
the best proof of this and I obtained the letters for Zante for
which I asked. Now that deeds seem contrary to the intentions
and instructions of your Excellencies it seems likely that this
is not due to the fault of your Representatives but to some
ministers for their private ends.
The Resident then had a memorial presented by a merchant
introduced with him to the audience, and went on :
I cannot do less than recommend these merchants, his
Majesty's subjects, when they are ill treated, though not when
they are guilty of smuggling or anything else. This Mr. John
Obson here was sentenced at Cephalonia to pay 6000 ryals, as
set forth in a paper laid before your Serenity some days ago.
The sentence was afterwards compromised by a payment of 2000,
with a promise not to appeal, if the sentence was just. Why
this hurt to your Serenity in presenting him with 4000 ryals?
If it was not just, why condemn him to pay 2000 ryals on
condition that he should not appeal? I ask for justice and the
customary favour from your Serenity so that the English may
receive their usual good treatment and continue their trade,
which is of some moment. For some time past things have
been unfortunate for them, as divers of them have experienced
similar treatment. May your Excellencies be pleased to delegate
this cause to one of your Councils which will render
prompt and speedy justice.
The doge replied, We could not be more disposed to treat
merchants well and especially English ones. The necessary
orders are always issued, and if these are not carried out,
through neglect, there is recourse to our own magistrates to
institute enquiries and make provision for the merchants. However,
these lords will consider your request and decide what
seems proper. The Resident asked for a delegation, to avoid
delay in the despatch of the matter, and prevent inconvenience
to the merchants, who suffered greatly from their voyages and
goods being stayed and the destruction of their credit. He
then took leave and departed.
The Memorial presented by the English Resident :
The authors of the calumny against me, John Obson, English
Merchant, before the Proveditore of Cephalonia, seeing the success
of their manœuvres in extorting 2000 ryals from me, as
I have previously represented, forthwith took up another diabolical
imposture, and only four days after I embarked at Zante
for this city a proclamation was issued summoning me to
prison on a charge of smuggling a great quantity of currants.
As a consequence I am advised that I have been banished
from that island in my absence, that all my goods and credits
have been sequestrated, and they are releasing my debtors
from their obligations if they only pay the half of what they
owe. Their obvious greed tries to fatten on the blood of poor
innocents. I come again to the feet of your Serenity, and beg
you to intervene to prevent my unjust ruin by delegating both
of my trials to one of the Councils or Colleges, so that I may
be able to set forth my wrongs and obtain relief ; and in case
I am banished from this city also I beg you to grant me a
safe conduct against such a ban.
[Italian.] |
Jan. 22.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Ceffalonia.
Venetian
Archives. |
242. Gasparo Querini, Proveditore of Cephalonia, to the
Doge and Senate.
By decree of the 26th August 1626 foreign ships were forbidden
to lade currants here or at Zante unless they took their
entire cargoes to Venice or paid an additional 5 ducats per
thousand for the new impost. Mr. Henry Hider, an English
merchant, being more acute than others, realising that this
decree had expired, asked me on the arrival of the Abigail here
to permit it to be laded upon the mere deposit of the new
impost, although it had not taken its cargo to Venice. I pretended
to consider this, the period having really expired, but
I made him give a proper security until your Serenity should
give definite expression of your intentions. I enclose his paper
and my act, and if I may express my opinion I think the decree
should be confirmed because it has been tried and does not seem
to burden the merchants or inconvenience the ships, while your
Excellencies derive great profit therefrom.
Ceffalonia, the 12th January, 1634, old style.
[Italian.] |
Jan. 27.
Senato,
Mar.
Venetian
Archives. |
243. That on the first day this Council meets, an ambassador
be chosen to the King of Great Britain, in place of Vicenzo
Gussoni, under the penalties prescribed for those who refuse
embassies to crowned heads. He shall have 300 gold ducats a
month for his expenses, for which he is not bound to render
account. For horses, trappings and chests he shall have 300
ducats at 6 lire 2 grossi each and 1000 gold ducats as a
gift. For all expenses, except couriers and the carriage of letters,
40 crowns a month shall be assigned to him. To his secretary
100 ducats for his preparations, and 20 ducats each for two
secretaries who go with him. The chaplain and interpreter
for salary and table expenses shall have 126 and 100 ducats
respectively and the interpreter shall also have an additional
100 ducats a year.
Ayes, 115. Noes, 15. Neutral, 50.
[Italian.] |
Jan. 27.
Senato,
Secreta.
Deliberazioni.
Corti.
Venetian
Archives. |
244. To the Ambassador in England.
Your letters of the 16th ult. show us your good service and
afford us complete satisfaction. With respect to your just and
reasonable request that a successor may be chosen for you,
we may say that the Senate has decided to gratify you, so
that you may return home speedily.
Ayes, 135. Noes, 11. Neutral, 59.
[Italian.] |
Jan 27.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Inghilterra.
Venetian
Archives. |
245. Vicenzo Gussoni, Venetian Ambassador in England,
to the Doge and Senate.
The Agents of the Duke of Symeren and the Princess Palatine,
the Dutch ministers and the French secretary do not relax
their offices, although they act separately, to obtain some suitable
resolution here for the assistance of Germany, and I also
tactfully put in considerations proper for the public welfare.
To the first and most interested, namely those of the Administrator
and the Princess, they offer hopes and fair words. They
tell the Dutch that for what they so zealously propose to his
Majesty's great satisfaction it would be necessary to have a
general alliance, in which the Swedes and the Elector of Saxony
were also included. They announce to the French in clear and
resolute terms that England is quite disposed to the closest
union provided France in any such treaty does not require reservations
which prevent her from declaring herself against Bavaria.
I gather from the confidences which these ministers make to
me daily, that without cutting the thread of the negotiations,
the ministers here wish to proceed in such a manner as to
ensure delays and gain time, by raising first one difficulty and
then another. They all with one accord agree in this opinion
and tell me that they have all informed their princes fully to that
effect. The Agent Carius intimates that if they will not come
to some adequate resolution here the Palatinate Administrator
will be forced to contemplate some arrangement under the
protection of the Most Christian, since the French aim at getting
a footing in the Palatinate, as they recently attempted to arrange
with the Swedes in the business of Udenein, (fn. 2) when it was
captured, a place in the region of Treves, under the Bishop
of Spires and in a position of importance to the Palatinate.
The Lords here do not like to hear of such transactions on the
part of France before some reasonable and safe arrangement
has been made on the part of the king here with that monarch
without which they are afraid here that it may prove very
difficult afterwards to induce the French to give up possession.
News has reached some of the ministry from Frankfort that
there is a proposal at the diet there to send a special embassy
to this crown. The Lords here consider this only right and
indeed necessary, since they say that three embassies have been
sent from here to Germany without one of the princes there
responding as yet. The Landgrave of Hesse also sends offers
to pledge himself for the security of the Palatinate provided
England will contribute to the increase of his army. The insistence
and persuasions of the Princess Palatine seem to incline
to this proposal more than to any other, and she proposes to
send her eldest son together with the Landgrave but the king
has announced with his own lips that the idea of sending the
young prince armed into Germany requires much greater reflection,
since up to the present he has done nothing to offend
the emperor.
Bottard has received a remarkable slight and offence. The
queen, displeased with him because he spoke too warmly in
defence of the Ambassador Fontane who went away without ever
having recovered the queen's favour, spoke strongly and almost
contemptuously against him in the king's presence. The secretary
spoke with modest zeal and defended himself very reasonably,
in order to excuse himself to some extent, but the queen
would have nothing of it, indeed she persists in her indignation
and has chosen by special letters to make complaint to the king,
her brother. Bottard has no doubt but that they will approve
in France of the way in which he has behaved in this thorny
incident. However, things had reached such a pass that he
thought it best to take leave of their Majesties, as he did at
once, to return to France, but as fresh royal commissions
reached him thence soon afterwards, he has been obliged to
stay and go about attending to them.
They write from Spain to Brussels that the Cardinal Infant
wishes to leave Milan as soon as possible, and he himself
writes to precisely the same effect to Flanders, promising to
employ all those who served the late Infanta.
They do not like here the permission granted by the emperor
to Denmark to levy tolls on the Elbe for a certain time. The
Ambassador Anstruther is working hard to find some compromise
over this for the English and Hamburgers as well.
After a very long delay three despatches from Italy have
arrived in the present week, and with them those of the Senate
of the 16th, 23rd and 30th ult. The new ambassador Carr is
getting ready with the better will because the physicians make
him believe that a change of climate and that of Venice in
particular will be very beneficial for some complaint from which
he suffers. I will not forget in due time to perform the offices
proper to preserve a friendly union between the king here and
the United Provinces of Holland.
London, the 27th January, 1633. M.V.
[Italian ; the part in italics deciphered.] |
Jan. 30.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci.
Signori
Stati.
Venetian
Archives. |
246. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in the Netherlands,
to the Doge and Senate.
The news from England that the king had forbidden other
ships than his own to take goods to these Provinces has not
been verified, although the order has been renewed that none
but English may bring cloth. Here they say that the more
they try to preserve friendship with that crown the more difficulties
they encounter, because when they have yielded and
given satisfaction in one thing, another demand is made,
and so it is necessary for them to show their teeth sometimes
in order that they may not be trodden upon. I tried to persuade
my informant that it was necessary to treat with mildness, to
avoid a rupture with neighbouring and friendly princes, which
would only be helping the Spaniards, who desire nothing better
than to see them at blows.
The Hague, the 30th January, 1633 [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
Jan 31.
Senato,
Secreta.
Deliberazioni.
Rettori.
Venetian
Archives. |
247. To the Inquisitor Basadonna in the Fleet.
Upon the two enclosed petitions of John Hobson, English
merchant, as we propose to accept his offer to give a proper
security for the sum in question we direct you to receive and
keep him secure on his arrival without subjecting him to the
ban, to make enquiry about his allegations and do all that
justice requires. You will punish the guilty or caluminators in
a proper manner.
That the Presidents for the raising of public money, in conformity
with the representations of John Hobson, shall receive
pledges from him for 4400 reals, which with 2000 reals already
paid for his sentence make up the 6400 reals offered as a
pledge in his petition. That Hobson be informed of this decision
so that he may present the pledges within ten days,
and within twenty days submit himself to the Inquisitor Basadonna,
and that his process be restored to him to use as he sees fit.
Ayes, 95. Noes, 1. Neutral, 6.
On the 3rd February.
The said papers were consigned to Hobson.
[Italian.] |