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May 4.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Contantinopoli.
Venetian
Archives. |
506. Giovanni Soranzo, Venetian Bailo at Constantinople,
to the Doge and Senate.
Your Excellencies' letters of the 22nd ult. reached me by an
English ship, although the impertinence of the merchants delayed
them for three days. The letters were directed to the English
ambassador, with a note that they were private for me. The deputy
of the merchants began to rage against their ambassador and told me
I ought not to help him and that I should prevent the merchants
from supplying him with goods and money. Their strongest
feeling is against the dragoman Grillo and they declare that they will
spend 50,000 reals to have him impaled and to get me shut up in the
Towers, pretending that I keep up correspondence with the ambassador
in order to get ships to sail to Venice for service in the fleet. I have
never met with the like in any part of the world. In my relations
with the ambassador, following the example of France, I have always
confined myself to the terms of courtesy and compliment, without
slighting his position, since all the proprieties require that he should
be recognised and honoured as ambassador until another arrives in
his place.
The Vigne di Pera, the 4th May, 1647.
[Italian ; deciphered.]
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May 4.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Spagna.
Venetian
Archives. |
507. Gerolamo Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in Spain,
to the Doge and Senate.
Castel Rodrigo writes that in view of the peace with Holland
he contemplates sending here to Spain 3,000 Irish who were
destined for Flanders, for the levying of whom 100,000 crowns
were remitted from here. This succour will come most
opportunely if it arrives soon, because the Prince of Condé is
preparing to attack.
Madrid, the 4th May, 1647.
[Italian.]
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May 7.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
508. Giovanni Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in
France, to the Doge and Senate.
Encloses advices of London.
Paris, the 7th May, 1647.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
509. Advices from London, the 25th April, 1647.
The army of Fairfax shows great discontent at the attempt to
prevent them from presenting their just complaints to the
Houses, and they claim at least the right to make known the great
wrong which they consider they have received.
Gen. Middleton has occupied the chief stronghold of the Gordons
in Scotland (fn. 1) and the royal party is being destroyed, Lesle having
captured 3 or 4 of the strongest castles which still held for the
king. In Ireland Dublin has at last fallen into the hands of the
parliamentarians, being handed over by the marquis of Ormond to
Col. Jones, who has orders from the Houses to hold it with great
vigilance.
The commissioners with his Majesty at Homby have written
that in spite of all their diligence he has received a packet of letters
from the queen, brought by Col. Bosuil, disguised as a fisherman.
He has been arrested and parliament wants him brought to
London. When asked if he knew the contents of the packet
he replied that he knew nothing except that a lady of the queen,
when handing it to him, told him that it contained letters of the
Prince of Wales to his father, to ask his leave to follow the duke
of Orleans to the army in Flanders, which the queen regent and
his mother would not allow. Parliament is not satisfied with this
and is trying to learn more by torture (et con tormenti procura di
cavare piu oltre). The Houses have held several conferences to
decide how to make the final peace proposals to the king. They
have decided to present to him at Homby the same as were
produced at Newcastle, and they are still divided about the
instructions to be given to those who are to speak on the subject.
[Italian.]
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May 14.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
510. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Encloses advices of London.
Paris, the 14th May, 1647.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
511. Advices from London, the 2nd May, 1647.
Parliament has decided that the council of London shall elect
31 persons to direct its troops for a year. They have also sent
commissioners to Fairfax's army to learn from the malcontents
the cause of their grievances and to induce the others to go to
Ireland. Almost all the officers in a body have asked whom they
are to obey there. They were told, those whom parliament
appointed, Major General Scippon being selected at present.
They replied that they were ready to go with Fairfax and with
Cromuel but not with anyone else. The commissioners at once
retorted that they would not be dictated to by them, and those
who did not want to cross to Ireland had leave to go home. They
are trying to win over a number separately, promising them double
pay before embarking and another as soon as they have landed.
Among the securities asked by the city of London for the loan of
200,000l. parliament would not grant them the forfeited goods of
the Catholics. This gives rise to the hope that now the country is
enjoying complete internal tranquillity some respite may be
allowed to the Catholics and the right to practise their religion
upon payment of a certain amount. But others fear that it is
a trap to induce the Catholics to discover themselves and to get
possession of their goods and persons simultaneously.
Since the king received his packet he is more closely guarded
than ever and when they gave a pass to the Dutch ambassador
to go and inform him of the death of the Prince of Orange, he was
only allowed audience in the presence of the parliament commissioners
so that he might not talk of other affairs.
Parliament is inclined to settle the form of the Anglican church
before it presents its peace proposals to the king lest he fortify
his arguments for the bishops by saying that he does not know
what creed he is asked to adopt.
[Italian.]
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May 21.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
512. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The negotiations for a levy of 1,000 English have fallen through,
because there is no money to effect it and also because the
securities offered are not satisfactory, without considering the
risk of advancing such large sums so late in the season.
[Advices of England enclosed.]
Paris, the 21st May, 1647.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
513. Advices from London, the 9th May, 1647.
The commissioners sent by parliament to the army have
reported the number of officers and men willing to go to Ireland,
which is greatly below what was expected. There has been a
prolonged dispute between the two Houses over this, as to whether
it is expedient to disband the army or to keep it in being, or else
to find some way of sending it in a body to Ireland. After long
disputes they decided to disband the army except those willing
to go to Ireland ; that a muster should be held before disbanding ;
that 3 officers accused of having prevented others from going
be brought to London for examination. (fn. 2) Scippon has accepted
the command in Ireland, after being pressed for some time by
both Houses.
In Scotland the parliament forces have defeated the remains
of the royalists in several encounters, and have occupied the
strongest places, so that the party is practically extinct. The
earl of Kilketto, who has betaken himself to the depths of the
mountains, cannot hold out any longer. He has asked to be
allowed to leave the country with his men, but they refuse to
grant him any terms.
The earl of Laderdaigne has arrived in London on behalf of
the Scots and is consulting about sending the final peace proposals
to the king and finding some compromise for the establishment
of religion and the church. It seems that they think of giving
the king six days to decide about signing, but his Majesty seems
determined to refuse.
[Italian.]
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May 28.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
514. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The eight large Swedish ships, bought at immense cost, which
were to constitute the nucleus of the fleet, have suffered a mishap
which annoys the Court greatly. An English squadron found
them near Dunkirk, and attacked them furiously. After a long
fight in which many were slain, some were sunk and the rest
captured and taken into the Downs. (fn. 3) The motive for this act is
not quite clear. It may have been to assert the dominion
claimed by the English over these waters surrounding England,
the Swedish ships having refused to lower their flag when the
others appeared, or some more recondite object, to prevent
France arming at sea and help the Spaniards to recover Dunkirk,
as the ministers here suspect an understanding between the two
nations, and that an English squadron, ostensibly purchased by
Spain, is to cut off succour by sea while the archduke attacks
the place by land.
A courier of the Ambassador Bellievre has passed this way to
the Court but there has not been time to find out what he brings.
The usual sheet is attached.
Paris, the 28th May, 1647.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
515. Advices from London, the 16th May, 1647.
The army has at last presented the Houses with a paper containing
many grievances, because they are not allowed to petition,
contrary to previous practice, and to the duty of parliament
itself, which is assembled for nothing but to hear the grievances
of all and to redress the evils which oppress the kingdom. Parliament
is somewhat apprehensive, fearing some disturbances, as
they foresee that the troops will not disband if they are not
satisfied. They sent at once to the army four officers who are
most popular with the men and best affected to the government,
to tell them that everyone shall receive the pay due to him and
they must prepare for the disbanding, which the interests of the
country require.
The four officers accused of having stopped many from going
to Ireland have presented themselves and at once asked if they
were there as culprits and if there would be a trial. The Houses
considered it advisable not to press the matter and sent them
back clear. At the same time an act was published pardoning
all acts committed by the soldiers during the war.
They have decided to occupy the island of Gerze, where the
Prince of Wales left a garrison at his withdrawal, and which still
holds for the king. They have entrusted the task to a colonel,
paying him 8,000l. (fn. 4)
The Catholics of Ireland are besieging Caterlogh, a place of the
utmost importance, and if they take it they will secure a great
advantage. (fn. 5) The parliamentarians are not strong enough yet
to take the field. 800 infantry have crossed over to there from
England this week.
In Scotland the Gordons have been completely defeated and the
earl of Kilketto, their leader, has left the country, retiring to a
small island opposite, (fn. 6) to which they are pursuing him.
[Italian.]
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