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Oct. 6.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
190. Michiel Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to
the Doge and Senate.
M. de la Valette has been to see me in order to offer 4,000
Scottish prisoners now in the hands of the parliament of London
whom in ten days he promises to have on board and despatched
with the agreement last concluded. I said I was glad to hear
it as this would enable him to fulfil his original contract. He
replied that if the whole of the 4,000 were not taken at one
gulp the thing would fall through of itself, because the English,
who are the masters, are not disposed to make a grant of 2,000.
As I am short of money and in the dark about your Serenity's
intentions I have thought it best to gain time.
Encloses the usual sheet of London.
Paris, the 6th October, 1648.
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
191. Advices from London.
Sir Peter Killigrew has returned from the Isle of Wight with a
letter from the king expressing a great desire to forward the
personal treaty for which the parliamentary commissioners left
on the 17th ult. Several Scottish lords have arrived in London
to return to their country by sea as many are afraid of falling in
with the troops of Gen. Cronuell. A great number of citizens
have presented a petition to the Commons, representing among
other things that there is no other means for remedying current
disorders than a treaty. We hear that Gen. Fairfax has taken
Jarmut and has left some troops in garrison there until parliament
has provided for the safety of the place which is one of the most
important. (fn. 1)
[Italian.] |
Oct. 9.
Senato,
Secreta.
Deliberazioni.
Corti.
Venetian
Archives. |
192. To the Ambassador Morosini.
Commend his reply to the proposal of the Palatine's agents
about a new regiment of 2,000 Scottish prisoners, since it is not
desirable to treat about making a new regiment before the
completion of the first.
Ayes, 84. Noes, 0. Neutral, 1.
[Italian.] |
Oct. 9.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Munster.
Venetian
Archives. |
193. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in the Congress
of Munster, to the Doge and Senate.
The earl of Warwick with the parliament ships has gone to
cast anchor at the very place where those of the Prince of Wales
are. (fn. 2) He has sent an express to the Hague to assure the States
of the respect which he bears for their jurisdiction, but with the
hope, at the same time, that he may be permitted to provision
his ships, for which he will pay, with those necessaries which have
not been denied to the ships of the Prince of Wales. The
proximity of so many ships with no friendly feeling for each
other is perilous, but the Dutch have time to get their ships
together to prevent a tussle.
Munster, the 9th October, 1648.
[Italian.] |
Oct. 13.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Costantinopoli.
Venetian
Archives. |
194. Giovanni Soranzo, Venetian Bailo at Constantinople,
to the Doge and Senate.
It becomes clearer every day that the ship Buonaventura took the
chiaus to Smyrna with money in spite of the positive assurances
given me by the English ambassador, who now adopts a policy of
profound silence. I have received a copy of Salvetti's letter about the
ships coming in and going out. I have always urged the ships to
leave and have represented to the ambassador and merchants the
danger of violence and the advisability of refraining from entering ;
but since it is upon this alone that their credit rests, now reduced to
extremity, they do everything in their power to have free access. Since
this affair of the Buonaventura I have recommended the commander
of the fleet at least to suspend allowing English ships to come in.
The Vigne di Pera, the 13th October, 1648.
[Italian ; deciphered.] |
Oct. 13.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
195. Michiel Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to
the Doge and Senate.
Encloses the usual sheet of London.
Paris, the 13th October, 1648.
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
196. Advices from London.
Gen. Fairfax after making admirable dispositions at Colchester,
has left for Malden in Essex. Guernsey castle, which the parliament
blockaded by land and sea, has been relieved by Gen.
Vach, the governor. He obtained 7 ships of the Prince of Wales
when he left the Downs, and introduced into the castle all that it
needed to hold out, the more easily because the parliament ships
had to retire, knowing that they could not resist.
Lords Biron and Buklei are holding their own in Anglesea in spite
of the efforts of the Major General (fn. 3) and other parliamentarians
who are trying to break up this party, but being constantly
augmented from the neighbouring counties, it has retired to that
island until it is strong enough to take the field.
[Italian.] |
Oct. 16.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Munster.
Venetian
Acrhives. |
197. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador to the
Congress of Munster, to Michiel Morosini, his colleague in
France.
The parliament ships commanded by the earl of Warwick have
arrived at Goree in Holland to engage the fleet of the Prince of
Wales within that river, or it may be port. At the first news of
this enterprise the prince with the Palatines, his cousins, and a
great number of the nobility, left the Hague to go and reinforce
this same fleet. At the same time he sent the information to the
Assembly because of the inviolability of their ports. The States
at once despatched commissioners and sent orders to their
admirals to put to sea with all the ships of war that happen to
be in the neighbouring ports, and to prevent any conflict. The
incident is a very strange one and the issue is awaited with
curiosity.
Munster, the 16th October, 1648.
[Italian ; copy.] |
Oct. 20.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
198. Michiel Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to
the Doge and Senate.
Castelli writes from Bristol that the second ship has sailed with
170 men and the third with 250, all ready. Colonel Felton
promised to have the fourth ready in two days with 170 more
men. With this the levy in that country will be completed unless
further orders are given, and that is what M. de la Valette himself
desires.
Encloses the usual sheet of advices of London.
Paris, the 20th October, 1648.
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
199. Advices from London.
The fleet of the Prince of Wales, consisting of 12 vessels, is at
Goire. The Earl of Warwick is close at hand with 18. The States
of Holland have sent him their compliments asking him not to
enter their ports to attack the prince, or they would come to his
assistance, because the body of their fleet was between the fleets
of the prince and parliament.
The king of England has accepted practically all the proposals
made to him and this seems favourable for the conclusion of the
treaty. Cromuell has entered Scotland with the definite intention
of waging war on them.
[Italian.] |
Oct. 23.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Munster.
Venetian
Archives. |
200. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador to the Congress
of Munster, to the Doge and Senate.
The parliament of England claims that the States shall deliver
into their power the fleet of the Prince of Wales, as being composed
of rebels and that they shall allow the earl of Warwick to fight
it, but it will not obtain either demand.
Munster, the 23rd October, 1648.
[Italian.] |
Oct. 27.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
201. Michiel Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to
the Doge and Senate.
Encloses the usual sheet of London.
Paris, the 27th October, 1648.
[Italian.] |
| Enclosure. |
202. Advices from London.
The negotiations with the king are proceeding in the Isle of
Wight, the ease with which he gives way to the determination of
parliament who force him to accept practically all the conditions
without modification, giving hope of a speedy conclusion.
The fleet of the Prince of Wales is languishing for lack of everything
and particularly of money, many fearing that it may soon
be necessary to look for another master.
From the behaviour of the Scots it is clear that they not only
desire an accommodation with parliament but are absolutely
in favour of an adjustment, many exerting themselves in every
possible way to facilitate the treaty and see it through.
[Italian.] |
Oct. 31.
Senato,
Secreta.
Deliberazioni.
Corti.
Venetian
Archives. |
203. To the Ambassador in France.
We do not incline to the proposal about the Scots as we know
it to be replete with difficulties. You will therefore urge M. de
la Valette to fulfil his original contract especially with the advantage
of having all the men ready, and you will refuse to listen to
any other proposals until that affair is completed.
Ayes, 76. Noes, 0. Neutral, 1.
[Italian.] |
Oct. 31.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Costantinopoli.
Venetian
Archives. |
204. Giovanni Soranzo, Venetian Bailo at Constantinople,
to the Doge and Senate.
I find that the English ships did not sail after all because the
ambassador would not give a pledge for the safe transport of the chiaus
and the money to Barbary, to which he had practically consented.
The knowledge of this got abroad and the ambassador then said that
since the information must be known to the fleet of your Excellencies
he refused the security and so the Vizier decided to stop the ships.
It is now stated that they will be allowed to go and I feel sure that they
will take the money.
The Vigne di Pera, the 31st October, 1648.
[Italian ; deciphered.] |