Rome: April 1577 | 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: April 1577', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578, (London, 1926) pp. 297-304. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/vatican/vol2/pp297-304 [accessed 25 April 2024]

April 1577



1577. Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Savoia, vol. vi. p. 79.	586. News Letter. … “The Queen of England is said to be arming. She gives some encouragement to the Prince of Orange, to keep in being the fleet which he has in Zealand. “The said Queen is much vexed by the peace of Flanders and that which is being negotiated here.” 1 April, 1577. Sandiè [St. Dié sur Loire]. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. ix. f. 406.	587. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain. “Sir Thomas Stucley has sent of late to that Court [of Spain] his secretary to crave of his Majesty that at last his business be despatched to good purpose. And although he has been furnished by Don John with letters written in the warmest terms to his Majesty and Antonio Perez in his favour, nevertheless his Holiness, being anxious, he too, to aid him so far as he may, as well for the love that he bears him as because he is in the utmost need, and heavily in debt, it being now a long time since he received any of the favours that his Majesty was wont to bestow on him, his Holiness, I say, desires you to do every such endeavour with his Majesty and the rest, as you shall deem expedient, that his Majesty may be pleased to succour him in accordance with his royal liberality; assuring the King that besides that he will be aiding a gentleman that deserves all manner of favour by reason of his honourable qualities and his extreme devotion to his Majesty's service, he will also be doing a thing most gratifying to his Holiness, and which his Holiness will ever bear specially in mind.” 1 April, 1577. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Ibid. vol. xviii. pp. 119–22.	588. The same to Don John of Austria. “By the courier that brought news of the conclusion of peace I received your Highness's cipher apprising me of your good will and purpose in regard to the English business, and of your inability to do otherwise than send the Spaniards away by land. His Holiness rejoices much at the peace, hoping that what little disgust it may be fraught with on account of the two States [Holland and Zealand] and the Prince of Orange will be soon relieved by means of the general Convocation of the Estates and your Highness's prudence, authority and care; but as to the English business his Holiness anticipated that, with the instructions and authority that you had from the King, it should by all means have been possible to find some lawful pretext for embarking the Spaniards, so as not to lose so excellent an opportunity of chastising that wicked woman, and therewithal gaining a realm so noble and important. However, the straits and difficulties must have been such that your Highness had no option. Still, his Holiness was disposed to hope that on the arrival of Mgr. Sega with the instructions that he brought with him, you would have found it possible to change your mind. However, since the arrival here of Thomas Stucley with your letters and messages, we have decided that for the present nothing can be hoped for by way of Flanders. What hope there may be by another way, your Highness knows far better than anyone else by reason of your immense prudence and experience of our affairs, and above all of maritime affairs, and of the great difficulties incident to the embarcation of 6,000 infantry with the vast quantity of munitions and victuals required for them, especially now that there is no manner of pretext of arming against the Turk, so that there would be great risk of arousing the suspicion of the Queen of England, who, there is reason to believe, has her spies, and is regularly advised of what is being done. “But for all that his Holiness is not losing heart, and will abate none of the zeal that he has ever had for this enterprise, purposing to give effect to it provided you deem the time ripe, and in the manner and form that shall be deemed best. For the time being, we shall await what Mgr. Sega shall give us to understand that he has accomplished with your Highness, and shall regulate our forward movement by what you and he shall resolve, apprising also his Majesty in Spain thereof, so as to proceed in complete concert with his Majesty; and I assure your Highness that his Holiness will be confirmed in his good purpose by the great hope which he entertains that it will redound to the advantage of your Highness (fn. 1); and to no other end than this are all my offices directed, as Signor Escovedo well knows, and as your Highness, please God, shall be convinced by proof positive. “I wrote your Highness that James Geraldine, (fn. 2) one of the chief men of the realm of Ireland, had been here, and that his Holiness had sent him to Portugal with a handsome largesse, there to embark privily, and betake him to Ireland, where he is eagerly expected by many friends, who are already in arms against the Queen of England. This will be a rising of moment, and one that will harass that wicked woman not a little, so that, were but as much trouble given her in England, her affairs would readily be thrown into confusion, and the Catholics of those kingdoms, who are numberless, would be encouraged to take up arms in earnest. If the contemplated enterprise be speedily accomplished, there will be no need to think of another, for that will be remedy enough and to spare; but though your Highness should discover difficulty in the said enterprise, you would see the need of at least thinking of supporting an Orange on the flanks of that wicked woman, to harass her and wear her out, as Orange has worn us out; and such an Orange would be Stucley, who with a few ships and a few troops would be able in this case to do great things; and as we have promised Geraldine that, if he begin harassing the Queen, we will send him for sure some aid in the course of a few months, Stucley's going would be an excellent form for the aid to take. Your Highness with your great prudence will think over what in this matter it may be possible for you to do on your side, and let us have your opinion, and we will do the like on our side. Now if we are to discuss this matter, we must think of some method of removing impediments to correspondence, for I observe that the letters from Flanders are always belated when they arrive here. Perhaps, therefore, it would be well for your Highness to send your letters to Augsburg, whence estaffettes come weekly to Italy, and there would be no harm in sending them by express estaffettes from Augsburg to Rome; and as to risk of losing the letters, the cipher would afford a ready means of making matters quite safe. For cipher.—Your Highness will have seen from the despatch brought by Mgr. Sega, and from that which I have since written, that his Holiness desires above all things that your Highness should have the command of the enterprise, and that he could not find a better commander; and so, if you are of like mind, I entreat you to begin forthwith to regard the enterprise as indeed yours, and to set about directing and arranging matters as you say you desire to do, so that his Holiness, too, may with assurance of success make ready to acquit himself of his part in the business, which we shall not initiate until we learn from your Highness in detail what you purpose to do and at what time, and the numbers and description of troops that you wish to be sent hence, and where we should embark them, and where they are to join your Highness' troops. For this reason it is very necessary, as I have said, that we should find means of corresponding frequently, to apprise one another of what is being done, and to manage the affair upon a plan so well concerted that it may not terminate so badly as heretofore. What I have said as to sending Stucley has reference only to the event of lawful impediments precluding the general enterprise, but if that is feasible, this other enterprise should not be attempted, because we should thereby give the Queen occasion to arm, which would increase the difficulty of the general enterprise.” 2 April, 1577. Rome. Italian. Drafts.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Savoia, vol. vi. p. 79.	589. News Letter. … “It is said, that if M. d'Estre [Estrées], Governor of Boulogne sur Mer, had postponed entering the place for but four hours, the English would have taken it; because sixty ships of war, which made their appearance at the distance of but an arquebus shot from Boulogne, seeing the order given to the said Governor and the troops posted on the walls, turned right about, and contented themselves with a few discharges of cannon.” 4 April, 1577. Sandiè [St. Dié sur Loire]. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. lxxiv. p. 123.	590. John [Delfino], Bishop of Torcello, Nuncio in Germany to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “There arrived here three days since an ambassador sent by the Queen of England to make her condolences on the death of the Emperor Maximilian, and to congratulate his Majesty [Rudolph II] on his accession.” 6 April, 1577. Prague. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. x. p. 339.	591. Antonio Maria Salviati, [late] Bishop of S. Papoul, Nuncio in France to the Same. … “There has passed through from Flanders a courier for Spain; and it is understood that discovery has been made of a design of the Prince of Orange, which the Captain of the Scots in the service of the States was suborned to execute, against the persons of Don John and the Duke of Ariscot [Aerschot]; which had occasioned the arrest in Brussels of certain persons, and among them a Frenchman, M. Barconville [Berangeville (fn. 3) ], who was sent thither hence at the outbreak of the disturbances in the States, and had there remained ever since, dwelling now in the house of the agent of France, and now at an inn, whereby suspicion fell upon him.” 8 April, 1577. Blois. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. ix. f. 410.	592. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain. “The Pope still adheres to the good resolution which has ever been his of initiating in earnest the English business, to which end he has been assiduous in causing every good office to be done with Don John to induce him to make his mind up, and the more so since he learned that the King had given orders for the employment of the Spaniards in that business upon their departure from Flanders; which was in truth the reason why Mgr. Sega was sent to Flanders. But now that peace has been made with the stipulation that the Spaniards evacuate the country by land and not by sea, and Don John has written me that thereby the way is foreclosed to the said business, and that it is necessary to revert to the original plan, to wit, of sending troops from here, and that then with the forces and means that he shall have there he will not fail to co-operate, I have replied by order of the Pope in such manner as you will see from the copy of the cipher enclosed herewith (fn. 4); that, having possessed yourself of its contents, you may apprise his Majesty thereof in detail; and as this business cannot be set going until the captain is appointed and the 100,000 crowns are paid here, therefore you are to be instant with his Majesty that he cause payment of the moneys to be made to us, and authorize his Holiness to choose at his own discretion such captain as shall seem to him most suitable; and in a word that he tell us definitively and decisively what in the management of this affair is to be Don John's part and what ours; for as soon as we understand the King's will, there will be no lack of diligence to ensure that on our part everything shall be ready at the proper time. And assuredly, since, as I wrote his Highness, James Geraldine (fn. 5) has gone, and should be able with his followers to embroil the Queen's affairs in the realm of Ireland, if there were sent hence in time some 6,000 foot, and his Highness simultaneously on that side were to do his endeavour, we might be pretty sure that the affair would terminate successfully. You should be as pressing as possible with his Majesty, in order that, after so long a delay in handling the business, a successful conclusion may at last be reached, as his Holiness is inclined to hope may be the case, seeing that the Flanders' peace has done away with the causes that have hitherto held his Majesty back.” 12 April [1577], endorsed erroneously 1576. Rome. Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1045, f. 295.	593. News Letter. “On Tuesday the Queen of England's ambassador had audience of his Majesty, who received him very graciously, and on the following day caused such arrangements to be made as that he should be at no expense; and it is said that he will soon be taking his departure. “The departure of the Court for Lusatia is fixed for the 25th inst.; the chariots are already ordered to be in readiness.” 13 April, 1577. Prague. Italian. Copy.
Ibid. f. 295d.	594. News Letter. “His Imperial Majesty will depart hence on the 25th inst. for Lower Lusatia, and will take with him all the Court, leaving here the mother and the sisters…. “The English ambassador is making ready to return home; and it is believed that the Emperor will make him some beautiful present, after the very gracious reception which he has accorded him.” 20 April, 1577. Prague. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. lxxiv. p. 131.	595. John [Delfino], Bishop of Torcello, Nuncio in Germany to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “The English ambassador, after being feasted by his Majesty, has departed to-day, taking with him most honorific gifts, as did the day before yesterday he of Genoa for Graz to do offices of condolence with the Archduke Charles.” 20 April, 1577. Prague. Italian.
Ibid. p. 139.	596. The Same to the Same. … “In the course of three days there will depart for England John Prainer, the Emperor's cupbearer, to return to that Queen the Order of the Garter which belonged to the Emperor's late father of glorious memory.” 24 April, 1577. Prague. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 553.	597. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “Notwithstanding the advices that have of late come to hand here from divers parts to the effect that the Turkish fleet will not come out this year in such strength as to be able to take the offensive, nevertheless his Majesty wavers not in his determination to omit none of the ordinary preparations for defence, being resolved to be on the safe side; and he is the more fixed in this purpose that, on the other hand, there come also advices that the Turk has 300 sail ready to order out whenever he shall be so minded. “Albeit the design against England has failed of execution in the manner that was hoped, by reason of the Spaniards' departure [from Flanders] by land, which, we may well believe, has been managed by the pretended Queen [of England], who keeps a bright look-out on all sides; nevertheless, I am persuaded that the business now initiated will not be abandoned, but the former design of a naval expedition by way of Italy and these seas will be resumed; and when I converse with his Majesty of this matter, I find him ever firmly resolved upon the enterprise, provided means be found of attempting it with reasonable hope of success. This depends mainly on whether the Catholics of England would move on the arrival of our fleet, even though it should not bring as many troops as would ordinarily be deemed necessary for such an enterprise; and if the King of Portugal, with his Catholic Majesty's aid, should attempt something in these parts of Africa, as there is talk of his doing, such a move would serve by way of pretext for our expedition, as I have already written. I fear that ardour for this other enterprise may be cooled by disquietude in regard to the Turk and lack of such a settlement of the affairs of Flanders as may relieve us of anxiety. “His Majesty is delighted that Mgr. Sega has gone to Flanders, and hopes that he will be of service in the settlement of affairs there. He derives much gratification and satisfaction from the adroitness which the Pope has shown in the secret instructions which the said Mgr. carries for the consummation of the English business; and with his own mouth his Majesty has confirmed what he caused me to be told by Antonio Perez, to wit, that it had also been his purpose to avail himself of the occasion of the departure of the Spaniards. In reply, I did not fail to warn his Majesty of the need which there is of leaving no means untried to prevent any prejudice, direct or indirect, being done to the affairs of the Catholic religion in Flanders, keeping a sharp eye on this junta of Estates; and I even entered into particulars, such as commerce with heretics and the Prince of Orange's government, that might be prejudicial. In reply whereto his Majesty said that he has not neglected, and will never neglect all due diligence and precaution in this regard; and he dropped a hint of some scheme that is afoot to counteract the Prince of Orange's government. “As to the Turkish fleet, his Majesty showed that he knows very well how necessary it is to unite the forces of the Christian Princes in a good and stable league so as to have done with the method of simply standing on the defensive against the forces of the Turk, who merely by keeping us year by year in dread of an expedition will wear us out, and cause us to die of hectic fever; and that the sole true method is to take the offensive. God grant we may see these holy counsels bear fruit. From this audience I went away consoled in the last degree to find his Majesty in so good a frame in regard to all matters that concern the service of God and the public weal, as I may also say I have found him in the past. Provision is also being made in the most important places on these coasts of Spain for defence against the Turks and Moors in case they should be minded to make some attempt in these parts; nor yet, I understand, is Sardinia neglected.” 26 April, 1577. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d'Inghilt. vol. i. f. 340.	598. [Philip Sega,] Bishop of Ripa, Nuncio in Flanders to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “Yesterday I received your letter of the 2nd inst., which came in one of Don John's packets, and I saw the instructions that it contains. As to which you will have seen from my letters that hitherto I have made no default in so far as my knowledge and power extended; nor shall I make default in the future in any of those offices that I shall perceive to be timely. His Highness apprises me from Louvain that he has the letter which he is to discuss with me, whereof you advise me in yours; and he writes that on his arrival at Brussels he will converse with me of all matters that he shall deem meet. He is to be in this town on 1 May; so it is arranged, provided the Spanish soldiers shall have completed the passage of the Meuse by the end of to-morrow, as it is deemed certain they will do, because all the difficulties arising out of their claims in the matter of pay are already surmounted. Still, there are other obstacles to the complete establishment of peace, which with God's help and time will be gradually overcome by the great prudence and patience of his Highness, whose method of composing these disorders is the very best that could be desired. And as there will be bones that will take some time to pick, I have resolved, when his Highness shall be installed in office, and I have had a couple of conversations with him, to compile a small compendium of the historical antecedents of the present condition, and of the hopes that may be entertained for the future of these countries. Meanwhile, I am busy collecting as much information as I can. And, to close this letter, I have but this to tell you, that, though peace is stipulated, and being gradually established, yet humours fraught with extreme peril of a renewal of the evil are still active; and there is therefore need of much address in adjusting the pretensions of the temporal and spiritual powers. However, I hope that God will daily lend more potent support to his Highness' good intentions, so that he may surmount all difficulties in His most holy name.” 29 April, 1577. Brussels. Italian.