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Feb. 4.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Munster.
Venetian
Archives. |
474. Domenico Condulmier, Secretary at the Hague, to
Alvise Contarini, Ventian Ambassador at the Congress of
Munster.
Forwarded in the despatch from Munster dated the 8th
February, 1647.
The last letters from London bring word that the Scots have
abandoned the king. Further that the French are in some apprehension
that these States may have an understanding with the
parliament of England now the latter are free from the necessity
of keeping an army against the king and that it may send forces
to prevent the French making fresh conquests in Flanders, and
possibly even for the recovery of Dunkirk, if they are able, since
it is by no means to the interest of England that the French
should become masters of the sea fortresses of Flanders.
The Hague, the 4th February, 1647.
[Italian.] |
Feb. 5.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
475. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The consequences of the disbanding of the forces of the States
are already beginning to appear, and the troops are hastening
to enrol under the flag of Spain. Goring has entered their service
with an entire regiment.
Advices of England enclosed.
Paris, the 5th February, 1646. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
476. Advices from London, the 24th January, 1647.
The money to be paid to the Scots for evacuation has reached
York, and hostages will be exchanged for the complete fulfilment
of the bargain, everything being done in perfect harmony. They
have begun the demolition of Varuich and Carlisle, two places
which the Scots are under obligation to give up. As both
kingdoms are tranquil parliament has ordered the rasing of some
other towns and castles, to save the cost of garrisons and to prevent
divisions and risings in the country.
From fear lest he should try to escape, the king's guards have
been doubled, and eight officers never let him out of their sight.
The Scottish parliament has sent a deputation of eight persons to
inform his Majesty of the resolutions reported a week ago and to
tell him that if he will not accept the covenant and the proposals
they cannot do other than hand him over to the English. The
king has not yet replied, and he is hemmed in on every side.
The nine persons charged to bring his Majesty to Humby have
left London. Now that England and Scotland are working
together for quiet they are making great preparations against
Ireland. General Lesle is preparing to set out with strong
reinforcements. He will have some councillors to assist him
and decide what the common service and circumstances may
require.
[Italian.] |
Feb. 12.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
477. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The queen of England with bitter tears has lamented to the
Regent the condition of herself and her husband, and that the
long delayed hopes which have been held out of peace have
reduced them to the utmost extremity, in which they are languishing
at present. The English are busy preparing a powerful fleet
to prevent anything that might be attempted against them from
this quarter, and their estrangement from France becomes more
and more deeply rooted.
The Ambassador Bellievre in London has had a strange welcome.
The Upper House wished that a palace should be prepared for
him in the usual way, (fn. 1) but the Lower House cancelled the order
for this and so the ambassador found himself under the necessity
of lodging in the house of a baker, where a brother of his, whom he
had left in London to forward the news to him, had rented an
apartment. In addition to this the Lower House passed a
resolution to intimate to him that immediately on his arrival he
must set forth the business on which he has come, so that an
answer may be given him on the same day and he shall then leave
the kingdom. But the Upper House intervened to prevent this
and by connivance he is allowed to spend some days at his place
of abode, though it is considered absolutely certain that he will
decide to leave without doing any more business in order not to
expose his dignity and his person to any further risks. Your
Excellencies will have the rest of the news in the enclosed sheet.
Paris, the 12th February, 1646. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
478. Advices from London, of the 31st January, 1647.
His Majesty has replied to the Scottish deputies' request that
he will sign the covenant by asking whether he is a prisoner or
no. They said No, realising that to admit him to be a prisoner
would deprive his Majesty's assent to any act of all value. The
king retorted that if he was not a prisoner they ought to allow him
to go away to any part of the kingdom he pleased, and he would
sign anything there. The Scots are somewhat at a loss to find
an answer to such reasoning.
When the king heard the decision about his going to Humby
he sent back to London Sir [Peter] Cilegre with letters to the
Upper House stating that he will give the deputies sent to him
fuller particulars about his intentions. Meanwhile the Houses
have intercepted letters from his Majesty to various persons in
Wales by which they say he is trying to form a new party and to
enlist troops. They use this as a pretext for a stricter guard
and for watching him more closely. They have made a law that
all those of the king's and prince's households who followed the
parliament shall be restored to their appointments, excluding
those of the royal party who are now in possession.
A person accused of urging his Majesty to escape is summoned
to London to explain. (fn. 2) A Dutch ship which was off Newcastle
some days ago has caused some suspicion that it was to help
the king's flight and so parliament sent four of its own vessels
to watch the other and make it leave that part.
[Italian.] |
Feb. 19.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
479. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Encloses advices of London.
Paris, the 19th February, 1647. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
480. Advices from London, the 7th February, 1647.
The following are the proposals made by the Scottish parliament
to the English one, with the replies :
(1) That the two kingdoms appoint commissioners to urge the
king to sign the peace proposals. If he will not do so, that he be
detained at Humby or at some other royal house approved by
parliament, with security but not with liberty, and that all this
be without prejudice to the heirs to the crown.
Reply : saving the rights of parliament England is content that,
after the Scots have evacuated the country and the king has
reached Humby, the commissioners shall be appointed, but with
limited authority.
(2) That the Scots with appointments about his Majesty shall
have free access to him, but only those who have not borne arms
against parliament and those who were deprived shall be restored
to their posts.
Reply : agreed, but those who wish to have access to his Majesty
must have a pass either from the Houses in London or from the
Scottish commissioners and no pass may be granted to anyone
who is excluded in the peace proposals.
(3) That if Scotland has war by reason of handing over the king
to the English, they shall give assistance from here.
Reply : agreed.
(4) That Scotland being at present incommoded by the Irish
desires help from the English.
Reply : this will be given after the Scots have left England and
the king is at Humby.
His Majesty has raised many difficulties about leaving Newcastle
and he has frequently tested the Scots to see if they will allow him
to go to their country, but without success. News has come that
he has at last set out and that he has arrived at Humby.
The Ambassador Bellievre has asked for quarters during the
time of his stay in London. They have given him fair words,
but nothing has been done so far.
[Italian.] |
Feb. 23.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Roma.
Venetian
Archives. |
481. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador at Rome,
to the Doge and Senate.
They are much put out here because the Congregation de
Propaganda Fide, with money received from the pope and others,
wished to remit to Ireland 65,000 crowns for Monseigneur Rannucci
for the benefit of the Catholics there ; but in France they would
not allow the letters to be accepted. No one knows the reason.
It now appears that the pope desires to economise that money
because he is afraid that now everything is lost by the agreement
which is announced between the English and the Scots, with the
handing over of the king to the former, whereas the Resident
Digby here had led them to believe great things and that all
three kingdoms would be brought back to the Catholic faith.
Rome, the 23rd February, 1647. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
Feb. 26.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
482. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Encloses advices of London.
Paris, the 26th February, 1647. [M.V.]
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
483. Advices from London, the 14th February, 1647.
The king has at last been placed in the hands of the English,
or rather consigned to them as a prisoner, The Scottish garrison
left Newcastle as arranged and another entered for the parliament.
The Scottish commissioners then went to the king and told him,
that as he refused to sign the proposals and treaties they were
obliged to hand him over to the English. Some of them had
tears in their eyes, but the king made a sharp reply and showed
great firmness. He said it mattered little that they refused
to admit him to Scotland as even if he had been at liberty he
would rather have gone to those who bought than to those who
sold him. The English deputies thereupon entered and at once
set their guards and started to take the king to Humby. He
asked various questions which they forwarded to the two Houses
with their replies. (1) He asked if they had power to change his
servants and what servants he would have. They told him parliament
had arranged for his service on the way to Humby and they
would give him the names. (2) He asked if those who serve him
now might accompany him even if they did not serve him on the
journey. They told him that if he would give them the names of
those who wished to go with him they would tell him, if according
to their instructions they might go or not. (3) If he might speak
with each one apart. They said this was a matter of importance
which they must report to the committee. (4) If he himself
was to fix the day of his departure. They said they would like
him to fix the time, but if it was not soon it would not accord with
their orders, which were to take him to Humby with all proper
speed. After this talk the king suffered himself to be put on the
road to Humby.
[Italian.] |