Rome: August 1574 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1926.

'Rome: August 1574', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578, (London, 1926) pp. 181-184. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/vatican/vol2/pp181-184 [accessed 23 April 2024]

August 1574



1574. Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1044. f. 231.	334. News Letter. … “There has to-night returned from England Don Bernardino de Mendoza, who was sent there to give the Queen all satisfaction that could be desired in the King's name. But as he has spent most of the night with the Comendador Mayor [Requesens], we know not what news he brings, save that he has been much caressed by the said Queen, and has dined with her at her own table, and received from her a gold chain worth 1,000 crowns.” 2 August, 1574. Brussels. Italian. Copy.
Ibid. f. 235.	335. News Letter. … “It is understood that at Flushing they have equipped with all speed 50 ships besides the 45 that have gone to encounter the fleet that is coming from Spain, and engage it. “In Delft they have arrested an Englishman who was minded to poison the Prince of Orange.” 2 August, 1574. Brussels. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. lxxx. p. 207d.	336. Protonotary Portia, Nuncio in Germany to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “By letters from Antwerp of the to we understand that the siege of Leidem [Leyden] was being pressed, and that Gorcon [Gorinchem] was not wholly neglected; also that Schoonhoven, a small town in Holland, had surrendered, and that thither would go as Governor the Sieur de Rassenghem [Rassenghien], heretofore Governor of Lille and Douai. “The negotiation by the States has resulted in nothing, but for all that in that city [Antwerp] they expected the Comendador Mayor to stay there for some days. “They further announce that Don Bernardino de Mendoza had arrived in England, not without much travail, having been pursued for a long distance by the rebels who dominate and harass perpetually the shores of the narrow seas between Flanders and England with plenty of well armed ships. “The Earl of Oxford, an Englishman, having come to Flanders without the Queen's licence, was bidden to return under very heavy penalties. “The much desired Spanish fleet, it was hoped, had sailed for those parts on the 20th of last month, because it was reported that it was in good condition on the 6th, and since then there might have been a very favouring breeze.” 2 August, 1574. Augsburg. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Savoia, vol. iv. f. 406.	337. News Letter. … “It is understood that the Queen of England, having armed many ships to oppose and harass the Catholic fleet that is to come from Biscay, now causes them to be disarmed. On the last of this month there will be solemnized in Edemburgh [Nuremberg] the nuptials of [Philip Louis] Duke of Zweibrücken with the daughter of Cleves.” 3 August, 1574. Vienna. Italian. “From the Grand Chancellor.” Copy.
Ibid. f. 425d.	338. [Jerome de Federicis, late Bishop of Martirano,] Nuncio in Savoy to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “About the coming of his Most Christian Majesty I will say no more because you must be very well informed thereof. I may tell you, however, that Scaramuccia has told me that it is rumoured that the Queen of England has caused the Queen of Scotland to be beheaded, this for resentment of the death of Montgomery, whose life she had craved of the Queen Regent of France, offering the said Queen of Scotland in exchange. This, however, does not seem to me to be credible.” 3 August, 1574. Turin. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. lxxx. p. 211.	339. Protonotary Portia, Nuncio in Germany to the Same. … “By an extraordinary courier from Flanders, who yesterday passed through this place in haste for Vienna, it is understood that the fleet had sailed from the coasts of Spain on the 23rd with intent to reach England on the last day of the month; and that [the Prince of] Orange on receipt of the intelligence had put himself in motion in that direction.” 7 August, 1574. Augsburg. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. lxxi. p. 385.	340. John [Delfino,] Bishop of Torcello, Nuncio in Germany to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “There was here of late a Scottish gentleman, who gives himself out as agent of the Queen of Scotland; and, as he is going to Rome, he has asked me for a recommendation to his Holiness, with whom, he says, he has to treat on behalf of the Queen, touching some monasteries in Ratisbon and other places founded in time past by the Scottish nation. He has not shown me the instructions that he has from the Queen, saying that he had not them with him, but that they will certainly be sent to him at Rome, and he will show them to his Holiness; and as he will explain his business in detail to you himself, I need not enter further into it.” 7 August, 1574. Vienna. Italian.
Ibid. vol. lxxx. p. 213.	341. Protonotary PORTIA, Nuncio in Germany to the Same. … “The Estates after extremely prolonged deliberations have, to the astonishment of every one, reached no conclusion; and for all that the Comendador [Requesens] was for going to Antwerp; where they had intelligence that Don Bernardino de Mendoza was about to depart from England, well sped by the Queen, who, besides having shown him much favour and given him handsome presents, had ratified the assurance already given that the Spanish fleet might safely put into harbour in her realm.” 9 August, 1574. Augsburg. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. vii. p. 573.	342. [Fabius Mirto Frangipani,] Archbishop of Nazareth to the Same. “Before I quitted Rome I told the Pope that I did not believe that the Prince of Condé would or could raise foreigners for the invasion of this realm, as he is a boy without authority, valour, experience in governing, or money, all which qualifications were in time past united in the person of the Admiral, though he had the art to make it appear as if he were using them in the service of these Princes of the Blood; and accordingly it has so happened that, despite all that this youth did in Germany to gain some of the Protestant Princes, making use of the names of the Duke of Alençon and the King of Navarre, he has not been able to move them; and this is true, albeit he attributes his failure to good will towards the King. “However, by putting forward the names of Alençon and Navarre he has induced, first, that woman of England, and then the Prince of Orange to send persons under colour of visits of condolence on the death of the King, who have privily done offices with the young men, urging them to take up arms, and making many offers of all manner of aid.” 11 August, 1574. Paris. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Arm. lxiv. vol. 28. f. 72.	343. To the Pope. Petition by four priests of the English College at Louvain for a special annual grant of money in aid of the training of preachers for eventual missionary work in England. 23 August [1574]. Louvain. Latin. Draft unsigned and unendorsed.
Ibid. f. 77.	344. William Fowler, Thomas Hide, Thomas Metham (sic) and John Fenn to [John] Cardinal Moroni. Craving his interest with the Pope in support of the foregoing petition. 23 August [1574]. Louvain. Latin.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1044. f. 257. Ibid. f. 257d.	345. News Letter. “There had been arrested a Scotsman who played the fool in the Queen's chamber with a little wheellock arquebus and a dagger in his socks. … “The Queen of England had granted the passport for the fleet that is coming from Spain to recover the Isle of Zealand.” 24 August, 1574. Lyon. Italian. Copy.
Ibid. f. 255d.	346. News Letter. … “We understand from England that the Queen had entered Birol [Bristol] near London in state; and that the commissary of the Catholic King had quitted London to join the Queen, being in hope of an accord as to the restitutions.” (fn. 1) 28 August, 1574. Vienna. Italian. Copy.