Venice: July 1568

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890.

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'Venice: July 1568', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580, (London, 1890) pp. 417-418. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol7/pp417-418 [accessed 19 April 2024]

July 1568

July 20. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 428. Giovanni Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
The Scottish royalists intercepted a packet of letters on their way from England to the Regent Murray; one of them was addressed to him by his own secretary then resident with Queen Elizabeth; and five of the other letters were from members of her Privy Council, including Secretary Cecil.
The writers unanimously urged Murray to be of good cheer, as Queen Elizabeth would most assuredly not aid Queen Mary in the least against him; adding that he was not to credit whatever he might hear to the contrary.
The packet also contained some letters from certain Scotch archers of the guard of Charles IX., who in like manner assured the Regent that he had nothing to fear from France.
This intercepted correspondence was immediately consigned to Queen Mary, who forwarded the letters of the archers to her mother-in-law at Paris, and the rest to Queen Elizabeth, requesting her, if she disapproved of their contents, to give some manifest proof of resentment. Some little stir was therefore made to save appearances; all the Privy Councillors stoutly denied their own handwriting; Murray's secretary alone confessing that he had written thus in order to “comfort” his master; and so it becomes daily more and more evident that Queen Mary has nothing to hope from England.
It was also said in Paris that the Earl of Leicester ranked amongst the bitterest of Queen Mary's enemies; and that when told of her demand for leave to go to France, Queen Elizabeth exclaimed, “My prudence would weigh but lightly were I to permit the departure of her who lays claim to be mistress of this realm, and who of yore assumed its arms and title.”
Paris, 20th July 1568.
[Italian.]
July 28. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 429. Giovanni Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
News has been received in Paris of Queen Mary's removal from Carlisle to Bolton Castle.
It was expected that an interview would take place there between the two Queens, and that as Queen Elizabeth had commenced her usual progress, she would hold it on the way.
Queen Mary was also reported to have denied ever having consented to the murder of Darnley, adding that if permitted to confer with Queen Elizabeth, she promised to give a detailed account of all the circumstances, and to prove her innocence.
Paris, 28th July 1568.
[Italian.]
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