Rome: January 1576 | 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: January 1576', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578, (London, 1926) pp. 244-251. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/vatican/vol2/pp244-251 [accessed 25 April 2024]

January 1576



1576. Vat. Arch. Arm. lii. vol. 31 b. (fn. 1)	469. To Francis, Cardinal Alciati. “Ralph Smith of London and John Collin of Essex, Englishmen, captured by Turks at sea off Ai[a]monte on the Spanish coast, after seven years spent in miserable servitude to their captors, at length by God's grace made their escape in Natolia on 13 Oct. last from a Turkish trireme, aboard which were 203 Christian captives, who all conspired and made their escape by force, slaying with three swords given them by an apostate Christian almost all the 150 Turks that were in that trireme, and brought the trireme away to Coitron [Cotrone] in Calabria, where it perished in a tempest; but all the Christians got safe to land, as is well known in those parts; and in the last month of the Holy year they came to Rome, where, after confessing their sins, they visited the prescribed churches, and obtained the spiritual indulgences of the Holy Jubilee. They crave public attestation of these matters and the Pope's commendation, that they may serve at sea against the heretics in Belgium or elsewhere; and, being helped on the journey by the charity and alms of the pious, may travel the more safely without let towards Flanders; and they will ever pray for the weal of his Holiness and your Lordship.” Endorsed Jan., 1576. [Rome.] Latin. Note by Cardinal Alciati that the Pope allows only letters commendatory.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. iii. p. 10.	470. [Francis Alciati, Cardinal Protector of Ireland] to [John Andrew] Caligari, Nuncio in Portugal. … “You have done very well in being courteous to the Bishop of Cork, and have afforded his Holiness much gratification; nor, as often as the like opportunities present themselves, must you fail to do the like offices of kindness, which, while they are the common privilege of all Christians, are yet peculiarly appropriate in the case of those that immediately depend upon this Holy See.” 3 Jan., 1576. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1045. f. 8.	471. News Letter. … “In England they were expecting the return from the Catholic King of the ambassador sent to him by that Queen, who will be approached by fresh deputies from the rebel states for the negotiation of an accord; but it is thought she will not give ear to them for dread of France.” 7 Jan., 1576. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. vol. 28. f. 59d. no. 109.	472. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Gerard a Groesbeck,] Bishop of Liège. Commending to him for preferment to a benefice or other emolument Cuthbert Naus, an Englishman both pious and learned, long a voluntary exile for religion's sake in the Theological College at Louvain, where he has been an assiduous student of holy writings. He has been at Rome on occasion of the Jubilee, and has been kindly received and liberally treated by the Pope, at whose instance this letter is written on the eve of his departure. 12 Jan., 1576. Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1045. f. 14.	473. News Letter. “There is talk in this Court of many strange things, and especially of a desire on the part of the Hollanders and Zealanders for a change of patrons, evinced by their sending deputies to England, as also the Prince of Orange has sent two deputies on his part; and they say that in both those provinces orders are being issued on the part of the Prince and the Estates, and not as was ever the former practice on the part of the Catholic King and the said Prince as Governor. Moreover, it is said that in their prayers they make no more mention of his Majesty as they did aforetime, and that they have thrown his ensign down, and that their ambassador, that was in Spain, is on his way back; and for this reason the Comendador despatched two days ago M. de Champagny, Governor of this city, brother of Cardinal Granvelle, to England, whitherward he will depart to-day with 16 horse, to treat with that Queen.” 14 Jan., 1576. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1045. f. 17.	474. News Letter. To the same effect as the foregoing with this addition, that “the Queen of England has given the Governor [Orange] to understand that, since he is unable by reason of poverty to take decisive action, she is minded to do so, in order that those islands may not lapse into other hands. “In Holland towards Amsterdam the enemy are besieging a fort, the capture of which will enable them to distress the city with hunger. “On the 9th inst. the enemy after a furious cannonade succoured Sirichse [Zierickzee] for the third time with 12 vessels. “From England we learn that the Venetian ships Delfina and Barbara are wrecked not far from London.” 15 Jan., 1576. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. ff. 9–13.	475. Nicholas [Ormanetto], Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “As to the business of England and Ireland his Majesty told me that when the consideration which he was giving to all the matters which I had communicated to him both through Perez and by my letter was mature, as it will soon be, he will give his answer. And when I adverted to the satisfaction that it will be to the Pope to learn that the English ambassador had so speedily been dismissed, he announced that he had been compelled to send him back as speedily as possible; and when I observed that it was said that that wicked woman was sending another, and that this must also be remedied, he added that he had not been notified thereof, and that, should it prove to be the fact, he would remedy it in the same manner. “I am persuaded that Engilfid [Englefield] and the rest that were summoned to Rome are by this time there, and that the business is making way. I am surprised that [Fitz] Maurice (fn. 2) should have changed his mind as to going to Rome, and determined to return to Ireland, as we are informed here by a letter from Father David [Wolf], who, by what I understand, has already arrived there, and will report to us. Dr. Sander here has received from one that is with Stugli [Stucley] a letter urging that he too go to Rome, and has asked my advice as to what he should do. My opinion is that this is a matter to be pondered, as it would also be well, in view of what is in negotiation, that there should be here a good man acquainted with the affairs, by converse with whom one could get information about the business. This is my opinion with all due deference to whoso may know better. I know that some Irishmen, and perchance among them Father David, are instant that all the charge of the forces in Ireland be given to [Fitz] Maurice. On the other hand I am advised that this would not be to the advantage of the enterprise, as there are gentlemen there of greater capacity who would take it amiss. To satisfy all, and avoid offending any of these people, it would be best that there should be, as I have written, an Italian commander-in-chief, and that use should be made of the people of the country according to their several conditions. “Nor did I in this audience fail to quicken yet further the zeal of his Majesty for this holy enterprise, albeit he has ever shown himself well disposed thereto, as indeed he should be alike in the public and in his own private interest, since this lady is the source of all the mischief in his patrimonial Low Countries, albeit in words she affects the very contrary. “I must not omit to say that one of the Royal Council said privily to Sander, touching this business of England, that he should work no more for it here because all the negotiation had been transferred to Rome, adding, moreover, that the Pope scanned it very coldly. What this man meant I know not, for I know the anxious care with which his Holiness has attended to this business since first it was discussed in his pontificate, unless, perchance, it is the Pope's disinclination to bear all the expense, which would be beyond his means, that is called coldness. And that this is so I am the more inclined to infer by what I have learned from the said Sander, to wit, that if ever he speak about the business with any of the Council, they tell him that the King is so poor, destitute alike of soldiers and of money, and so forth. I also believe that not every man in the Council knows of this negotiation between his Holiness and his Majesty, and that some stand on these generalities, and that there also are some that look no further than Spain. This is said merely by way of information; not that I think it behoves his Holiness to show himself more ardent than he does.”… “I have done my office several times with his Majesty and the Inquisitor Major, that a special inquisitor may be deputed to reside at Perpignan, and another to reside on the confines of Navarre and France, to take diligent note of those with whom the heretics in those countries consort and have dealings, and likewise to practise the utmost diligence of observation in those parts of the coast where folk land and discharge cargoes from the parts of England, Scotland and other infected countries, by which Spain is surrounded; and I have now done my office with his Majesty in this matter to more purpose than ever, particularly in regard to the provision of good inquisitors in the districts bordering on France by reason of the great hazard that is run of infection. His Majesty has promised me to give careful attention to this very important business in concert with the Inquisitor Major.” 18 Jan., 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Savoia, vol. v. f. 421.	476. News Letter. “The enemy relieved Siriscea [Ziericksee] on the 9th with 17 vessels in our men's despite. It will prove to be a bootless enterprise. “The Comendador has sent M. de Champigny to England, but to what purpose cannot be discovered: nevertheless it is said to be because those of Holland and Zealand have sent deputies to him craving his protection and offering to that end to place four towns in his hands, to wit, Delft and Brid [Breda] in Holland and Flushing and Canfer [or Ter Veere] in Zealand. Others say that M. de Champigny goes with a scheme of peace, in which that Queen is to co-operate. The Prince of Orange, who hitherto has styled himself Lieutenant of the Catholic King, now takes the title of Count of Holland.” 20 Jan., 1576. Antwerp. Italian. Forwarded by the Nuncio at Turin to the Cardinal of Como.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1045. f. 25.	477. News Letter. “The latest letters from Antwerp say that the accord would come to nought in France, that Casimir and Condé had not accepted the terms offered by the King, nor the pay that his Majesty sent; that Alençon was in custody at La Rochelle, and in fine that we may apprehend the total subversion of that realm, albeit the King has sent to raise a good number of cavalry in Germany besides 5,000 Swiss; that the Queen of England was endeavouring through her ambassadors and the gentlemen of the States to compass by all means an accord with Orange, to whom at the same time she had caused to be remitted 300,000 crowns payable in three Dutch towns, and that he was coining money with the motto Si Deus pro nobis &c.” 21 Jan., 1576. Rome. Italian.
Ibid. f. 27.	478. News Letter. “On the 19th inst. the Queen of England was to give audience to the ambassadors of the Princes, to wit, the King of France, the Duke of Alençon, the King of Denmark, the King of Sweden, and divers Princes of Germany, besides two of the Prince of Orange, and the deputies of Zealand and Holland, who have some doctors with them. “We commonly see here coins bearing the effigy of the King of Scotland, which is deemed of very bad omen, as it is well known that it is all prompted by the Queen of England who governs that King, which Queen, they say, has sent a great sum of money to the Princes of Orange and Condé. “Here they are still busy forming a new army, for which two regiments of Walloons will be raised.” 22 Jan., 1576. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Ibid. f. 28.	479. News Letter. … “It is said that of a truth poison had been administered to the Duke of Alençon and two of his favourites and M. de Torres [Thoré], brother of Damville, but that, remedies being applied forthwith, they vomited the poison, so that only fever remained; and that many Frenchmen of the first quality were shutting themselves up in their houses, not being minded to involve themselves in these wars between brothers, surmising that, as soon as Alençon should be in the ascendant, he would mete out punishment in accordance with his published protests. “The Comendador Mayor was to have gone for some days to Brussels, but he has tarried by reason of the arrival of a courier from Spain, who, they say, brings an intimation of his Majesty's dissatisfaction with him, because, despite the commission that he has had since last October to pacify this country as best he might, saving intact the Catholic faith and obedience to his Majesty, yet, notwithstanding the subsequent occupation of the island of Zealand, not only has he not treated of peace but he has made no secret of his intention speedily to settle everything by force of arms, wherein he has not succeeded, while he has rendered the accord more difficult.” 22 Jan., 1576. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1045. f. 11d.	480. News Letter. … “The enemy having learned that M. de Champagny, Granvelle's brother, was to cross the sea to England, put themselves on the alert to take him prisoner; but he, being warned thereof, turned back towards Dunkirk, where he will have embarked. “It is possible that there may come to the governance of these States either Don John of Austria or the Comendador of Malta, a natural son of the Duke of Alva or the Marquis of Vallé [Los Velez]. “The result of the negotiations of so many ambassadors at the Court of the Queen of England will soon be known.” 24 Jan., 1576. Brussels. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 26d.	481. Nicholas [Ormanetto,] Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “I understand that it is already decided that Opero [Joachim Hopper], the President here of Flanders and the Marquis of Aure [Havré] brother of the Duke of Arescot [Aerschot], who is here, are to go to Flanders; and it is hoped that their going and the good errand with which they will be charged will be very helpful towards the adjustment of affairs with those peoples, and make them devoted to the King. And as one of their demands is that his Majesty should grant them this privilege, that the Governor of those countries be of the Blood, the common talk here is that this burden can fall on none other than Don John; but that in that case his Highness is not to go until winter by reason of the need there is of him this summer in the fleet. And I further consider that, if it should be decided that Don John assume this government, it might also subserve the English enterprise, especially if the Queen of Scotland should fall to him in marriage; and as to this English business I have just now urged his Majesty to give me an answer as to the matters of which I have spoken to him, and he has promised to do so soon.” 26 Jan., 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Ibid. f. 30.	482. The Same to the Same. … “It has been reaffirmed to me that at Rome there is languor on your part in the English business. I have answered my informant in a manner consonant with my feelings: indeed in this and every other important matter it is necessary to manifest heat. To increase the heat here as much as may be. it is necessary to make, both there [at Rome] with the King's servants and here with his Majesty and myself, a great display of zeal in all matters. I know well that this office is by no means necessary, but yet I could not refrain from saying these few words, knowing, as I do, how excellent the result may be here.” 27 Jan., 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt.di Spagna, vol. ix. f. 81.	483. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Nicholas Ormanetto,] Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain. “Your discourse and judgment as to the affairs of England and France has gratified the Pope, because, besides the light which you have shed on the humours and government of that island, and the pretensions which the Apostolic See has there, he has marked your great prudence in recommending alike the project in regard to the said island and the succour of the realm of France by means of a legate. To this matter his Holiness, as I have on other occasions written, has ever given the unremitting care which the burden that he bears of universal pastor requires of him: and he had already thought of sending a legate, but afterwards for many reasons he determined to make use for the time of Mgr. of Nazareth, late Bishop of Gaiazzo, a worthy prelate and in the good graces of that Crown; and so, until we know what the said Mgr. shall accomplish, his Holiness neither can nor should change his policy. And in like manner in the business of England it is also necessary, though for a different reason, to procrastinate until the arrival of those two English personages, to whom there has already been sent a written invitation to come to Rome, where we hope they will be within a fortnight, and then we shall have a more solid basis on which to determine what is to be done, whereof you shall receive detailed information, that you may be able to negotiate with his Majesty the initiation of the enterprise as soon as possible. “As the Queen of Scotland is a prisoner, his Holiness sees not how it will be possible to treat with her as to providing her with a husband without running manifest risk of revealing what should be kept so secret. Were it true that the pretended Queen had that daughter, (fn. 3) his Holiness deems that it would enable his Majesty to dispense with war, which of its own nature is so hazardous, and think of some accord by way of a marriage, which in the end might bring the realm back to the Catholic faith. I will write to Galerio bidding him send that book (fn. 4) of yours, because his Holiness would like to see it. “The Pope is much gratified by the departure of the English ambassador, of whom no good was to be anticipated.” 29 Jan., 1576. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. ix. p. 87.	484. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain. “Edward Baron Dacre and Christopher Neville, uncle of the Earl of Westmorland, Englishmen, who have now for about six years been exiles from their country with loss of all their means of subsistence, for having ever been constant in the defence of the Catholic faith, have apprised the Pope that his Majesty had assigned them for their subsistence certain pensions, to wit, to Lord Edward 50 crowns of gold per month and to Lord Christopher thirty the like crowns per month, whereof they have received nothing for the last ten months; and therefore they have besought his Holiness to bid you do your office on his Holiness' part with his Majesty, that they be paid the arrears, and that for the future they be paid at the due seasons, because, living here far from Flanders, whence they have been constrained to migrate, they are in great embarrassment, having no other means to depend on than this his Majesty's generosity. Wherefore his Holiness desires you to exert yourself zealously with his Majesty that these lords, who are among the chief men of that realm, may obtain that which they so justly crave.” 30 Jan., 1576. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Ibid. vol. xxiv. f. 341.	485. Petition to the Pope. Setting forth the facts on which the foregoing appeal to his Catholic Majesty is based. Jan., 1576. Latin.