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Feb. 6.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
339. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The bishop of Angoulême in the assembly of the clergy asked in
the name of the queen of England for a gift of half a million crowns.
If this is granted he promises that the king will give the Catholics
freedom of worship and hand over a church to them. The answer
has not yet matured. Meanwhile Emery has paid the queen
40,000 doubles on account of 800,000 francs which their Majesties
granted to her for her relief.
The scanty news from England is attached.
Paris, the 6th February, 1645. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
340. Advices from London, the 25th January, 1646.
The governor of Plymouth (fn. 1) has been tempted by Sir [John]
Digby to hand over that place to his Majesty, but he refused all
proposals and sent the letters to parliament. The two Houses
commended his fidelity and sent him a present of 500l. sterling.
To give further proof of his constancy he sallied out and captured
the fort of Contoribie and a church which the royalists had turned
into a fort and which harassed the place.
The parliamentarians have been successful in various encounters
in the country, but there has been nothing of consequence except
that the slightest blow is now serious to the king's tottering party.
At Newark the Scots are only waiting for reinforcements from
the troops which took Skippon. When they arrive Newark will
be formally besieged.
The report persists that in spite of the refusal the king will
come to London without a passport, but it is not very likely
that he would risk his life among his bitterest enemies.
[Italian.] |
Feb. 10.
Senato,
Secreta.
Deliberazioni.
Corti.
Venetian
Archives. |
341. To the Ambassador in France.
In the matter of completing the larger number of troops for
our requirements the steps now being taken for new drafts of
soldiers from London falls out very opportunely and we shall
wait to hear of the agreement, with the conditions of the other
and with greater advantage. Not having been able to find
accommodation through England we send you letters of credit
through France for 40,000 ducats so that you may be able to make
use of this sum for the requirements aforesaid.
Ayes, 108. Noes, 0. Neutral, 4.
[Italian.] |
Feb. 13.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
342. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The Secretary Suriano, on reaching London, found that there
was no lack of obstacles in the way of the levy of Atkins, amid the
turmoil and disorder of that unhappy country. Atkins, who went
before him to enlist the men, was thrown into prison the moment
he reached the country, as the knowledge that any one has served
on the other side is enough to render him unsafe for ever. Another
individual who aspired to undertake this levy had a hand in this
arrest, but after a few days Atkins was set at liberty. The
permit of which he not only assured me, but actually produced,
now turns out to be inadequate, either because he fraudulently
misrepresented it, or because a certain Wolter has obtained
another from the Houses, with preference over all those granted
before. He holds out hopes, however, that he will have it very
soon. Meanwhile no money has been paid out, and Suriano writes
me that he will not give any unless he is absolutely certain of
results. I have sent back word that if the affair of Atkins falls
through, and little good can be expected if he was guilty of fraud
over the permit which he showed, he is to treat with Wolter,
because all the others who have made offers have been more free
with their expectations of obtaining prisoners than successful
in obtaining them. If the present state of affairs in the country
does not allow of anything further being done, it will be necessary
to recall him in two or three weeks' time though I will gladly put
up with the inconvenience if any good results are likely to follow.
Encloses advices from London.
Paris, the 13th February, 1645. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
343. Advices from London, the 1st February, 1646.
The Prince of Wales, to resist Fairfax and open a way to join
forces with his father has issued a proclamation calling upon all
subjects capable of bearing arms to unite with him to establish
legitimate authority against usurpers and rebels. (fn. 2) Parliament
has taken offence at this and has discussed issuing a counterblast
declaring the prince incapable of succeeding to the throne ; but
this has not yet obtained general assent. The prince's army has
not increased and he is not in a position to act as vigorously as
was supposed, indeed Fairfax has surprised a quarter of his
cavalry, inflicting loss. He also keeps Chester closely blockaded,
and Exeter too, sending word to Portsmouth that he expects
its surrender soon. The royalists have left Plymouth after the
capture of the fort and church. The men of Newark have
inflicted loss in two furious sorties on the enemy's quarters, but
they were repulsed.
The king has again sent a trumpet to the Lord of Warche,
speaker of the Upper House, repeating his request to come to
London in person. The reply was a curt refusal, that for many
reasons parliament did not think it advisable for his Majesty to
come here.
Montrose after remaining in the mountains and collecting 3,000
men, besieged Ardervesse, but being attacked by the parliamentarians
he had to take to flight, losing his camp, baggage and
arms, his own brother in law being slain.
[Italian.] |
Feb. 13.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
344. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Sir Kenelm Digby has arrived from Rome and brings word to
the queen of England on the part of the pope of slender hopes of
feeble succour. His Holiness has opened out to him on several
occasions upon current events with the crown of France and he
has reported here that there is no hope that the pope will relent
in his determination. He confirms that the Grand Duke encourages
this state of mind and that that prince easily allows himself
to be ruled by the Cardinal, his brother, (fn. 3) and that he lives in
an atmosphere completely Spanish to induce his Holiness to a
rupture. To an intimate of his, who passed it on to me, Digby
remarked that the pope had told him that he knew he was on a
friendly footing with everyone in France except Cardinal Mazarini,
who had always been his enemy and was the only one who
thwarted him at the present time, but as he was determined to
settle accounts with the Barberini, so he would know how to do
the same with Mazarini as well, very quickly. Digby will have
told this to the Cardinal also, with whom he has conferred several
times about the affairs of Rome. Your Excellencies may judge
whether this is calculated to soothe tempers which are already only
too inflammable. It is likely that Digby has at any rate told the
queen of England, and she will have passed it on to his Eminence
undiluted.
Paris, the 13th February, 1645. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
Feb. 20.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
345. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
It is thought that the levies for the queen of England will be
stopped by the capture of Plymouth, the parliamentarians having
occupied that place, which is the only landing place she can use,
as your Serenity will see from the enclosed sheet of advices.
Paris, the 20th February, 1645. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
346. Advices from London, the 8th February, 1646.
In spite of incessant rebuffs about his coming to London the
king has made the utmost efforts to gain his intent and in his
letter for a pass has made various suggestions for peace : that
religion be established as ordained by Queen Elizabeth and
continued under King James ; that those who wish to profess
other beliefs shall have liberty of conscience ; if his proposal about
the armies is not approved, he will consent to any other that may
be suggested, to avoid suspicion ; that a means be found to
pay the debts of the city of London and to satisfy what is owed
to the Scots. That for Ireland he will not refuse what the other
two kingdoms deem advisable. He asks for a prompt reply.
The Houses sent it in these terms : they had already informed him
why his coming to the parliament at Westminster was inopportune
and now repeat the same. He had caused the war, shed the blood
of his subjects, introduced foreigners into the country, fomented
the rebels in Ireland, and still remains armed in the face of
London, while the prince his son is at the head of an army in the
West, with many places held in his name and withdrawn from the
common body of the state. So they could not believe that his
object in coming to London was peace. This suspicion was
increased because he did not speak of entering his parliament to
live and die united with his good and loyal subjects, but intended
to depart after a brief space. The Houses were slighted by his
asking for a pass from the Council of London and the generals,
as well as themselves, because these others are entirely dependent
on parliament. They would soon be sending his Majesty a form
for peace containing the conditions which alone could give the
country security and quiet and by accepting this his Majesty
will be able effectively to show his desire for peace. (fn. 4)
This haughty reply is accompanied by further successes for the
parliament's arms. General Fairfax has gone to Dartmouth and
taken it by assault. (fn. 5) Two forts guarding the mouth of the river
have also been taken without prolonged resistance. 100 guns
remained in the hands of the parliamentarians with a quantity of
food and arms. Two ships of war, laden with various provisions,
many other craft and 600 persons of quality were taken. The
blow is the more sensible because this was the only port left to
his Majesty facing France, through which he looked for succour
in ships and men.
The Scots reviewing their troops under Newark found 7,000
effectives. A deputation of commissioners of London which
was travelling through the neighbouring counties holding meetings
for filling vacancies in parliament, has been surprised and
captured by 200 horse who sallied from Oxford.
[Italian.] |
Feb. 27.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
347. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Atkins has again been imprisoned in London on an old charge
that while he was serving on the royal side he tried to corrupt
some of the commanders of fortresses for the parliament. He was
condemned to death at the time and it is thought that he may
easily be sent to the district where he committed the offence, for
the punishment to be carried out.
The Secretary Suriano, who is most punctilious in everything
that is likely to help the business, is conducting negotiations with
Wolter and others, but here also there is no lack of obstacles,
and he sends me many particulars which I will keep back until
next week, when I expect to know definitely whether the affair
is broken off or arranged. At any rate the money is safe, as
nothing has been supplied to Atkins and nothing will be paid to
the others without the best safeguards that can be expected amid
the disorders of that troubled country.
The king of England is reduced to the unhappy straits that your
Excellencies may see from the enclosed sheet. Adequate succour
can no longer reach him from here, and it is suggested that he
may do well to withdraw to the Highlands of Scotland and with
what little is left to him lie hidden in the safest and most inaccessible
parts of one kingdom while waiting to see what fortune may
bring him in the other, in the course of time.
Paris, the 27th February, 1645. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
348. Advices from London, the 15th February, 1646.
Chester has been obliged to surrender at last, (fn. 6) being hemmed
in by Fairfax's quarters and reduced to great distress. The king
has thus lost the finest place he held, and has now no means of
subsistence left, as he holds neither country nor town. There are
left, Exeter, blockaded by the parliamentarians, Newark, invested
by the Scots, Oxford and a few small places of no importance in
the heart of the country, unable to receive succour or to supply
him with men or money to resist the powerful fortune of the other
side. In London the news of the capture was celebrated with
great rejoicings, and they have ordered solemn prayers and a
fast for this series of great successes. Under these circumstances
the Houses are more disinclined for peace than ever, and hope
that in a short time they will by arms rid the country of the
royalists and remain absolute masters.
A deputation of commissioners to reside in Scotland has been
sent from London.
After the capture of Dartmouth the parliament left the royal
standard flying for some time to deceive any ships bringing
provisions and levies to the king from France. Only one fell
into the trap, and the others being warned, there can be no further
loss.
The Prince of Wales has had one of the leading men arrested, (fn. 7)
and suspicion in the camp has become so rife that the royalist
forces themselves are in constant alarm and shadow.
Parliament has intercepted letters from the queen to her husband
and learns from these that he contemplated sending his son to
Denmark. She dissuades him and urges him rather to send the
prince to some port of France.
[Italian.] |