Venice: April 1575

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: April 1575', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580, (London, 1890) pp. 528-530. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol7/pp528-530 [accessed 24 April 2024]

April 1575

April 8. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 623. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
Their Majesties have thanked me for a representation which by chance I was able to make to the Ambassador of the Queen of England resident here. He came to visit me about six days ago, and said he was greatly grieved to hear that these Majesties blamed his Queen for lending money and shewing favour to the Huguenots, he asserting that the report to this effect was untrue, though it was quite possible her Majesty might ultimately act thus. I answered that it was not right to believe everything that was said, because it might easily turn out that neither the King nor the Queen entertained these views, nor had ever spoken thus, but that some malicious person was going about reporting words he had invented in order to create hatred and ill-will between all their Majesties. I further said that I believed it to be certain, as he had asserted, that his Queen would take no part in the dissensions in France, and I also thought, according to my feeble judgment, that she had decided rightly, seeing it was greatly displeasing to all kings and princes that the populace should rise and take up arms against their lords and natural rulers, such examples having, indeed, most evil consequences; and besides, as he alleged, since the Queen had, to her great honour and glory, always professed to keep her word, it was desirable that her practices should be in conformity with her professions, and that he (the Ambassador), who was a most able man, should rather put forward that which was good than seek to alienate the minds of these potentates from one another. The Ambassador appeared to me to take what I had said to him in good part, and thanked me cordially. It seems that the Ambassador subsequently went to their Majesties, and desired to explain and apologise for some misrepresentation which he was believed to have made to his Queen; and this result has so pleased the Queen-Mother, she believing that through my intervention a rupture which they feared had been avoided, that their Majesties have deigned to thank me in most ample terms, saying that this was the fruit of the love and goodwill which your Serenity bore to this crown. I answered to the effect that all my action with the English Ambassador proceeded from my desire to execute the commands of your Serenity.
Paris, 8th April 1575.
[Italian.]
April 21. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 624. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
Mons. de La Châtre, who was sent to England by these Majesties, returned two days ago, as I have heard, without bringing back any decision upon the points which he had to negotiate, because with regard to the renewal of the confederation it seems that the Queen of England had taken great offence that this King (of France), when he succeeded to his kingdom, did not accept and swear to the articles agreed to by the late King, but delayed doing so; and the Queen of England would appear to infer that this delay had proceeded from a hostile disposition towards herself, and that the King, being subsequently in difficulties, had resolved to procure her friendship. And because she cannot reasonably refuse to entertain the King's proposals, seeing that the articles for peace agreed to during the life of King Charles provided that in the event of the death of one of the contracting parties, that party's successor should be allowed the space of one year to accept or refuse the conditions of peace, the other party being bound by the articles to continue in friendship in the event of the former accepting these articles; the Queen has now insisted that when these articles were first agreed to, the King of France was at peace with all his vassals, and had by the edict of January conceded to the Huguenots the free exercise of their religion and solemnly sworn to the articles accepted by their confederation, and therefore at the present time he is bound to observe all that had been promised. As Mons. de La Châtre, notwithstanding his many representations and arguments, was not able to obtain any other reply, it is manifest that the mind of the Queen is entirely in favour of giving assistance to the rebels, and consequently these Majesties the more greatly desire the conclusion of the peace which is now being negotiated. I have also heard that Mons. de La Châtre having, according to his instructions, informed the Queen of the marriage of the King, she laughingly answered that she knew this to be the first paragraph in the last will and testament which the Cardinal of Lorraine left behind him; and with regard to the marriage of the Duke of Alençon it would appear that the Queen spoke very saucily (salsamente). Nevertheless their Majesties will do all they can to appease her, because a good understanding with her is of great importance to them.
Paris, 21st April 1575.
[Italian.]
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