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| May 5. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
655. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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A few days ago the Queen Mother sent here from Sens to seek Mr. Randolph (Signor Randolfo) who has come here in the name of the Queen of England, to induce their Majesties to make peace. Mr. Randolph departed on Wednesday last, and I am assured that he is charged to renew the project marriage of his Queen with Monsieur, because he has spoken to this effect to his Majesty, and has urged his Majesty to send him for this purpose to Monsieur; but nevertheless it is believed that this request is only an artifice, and that the object of his mission, although apparently to induce all parties to make a peace, has no other end in view except to disturb it, and I do not doubt that this is so from what he has said to me personally, because in conversing with me he said that the Huguenots were madmen to make this peace, as they had no security that any promise given to them would be kept. If peace be made, the Guises are determined to leave the Court. |
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Paris, 5th May 1576. |
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[Italian.] |
| May 8. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
656. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The gentleman from the Queen of England, who went to see Monsieur, has returned to-day, and reports that at the camp they only awaited the money promised by her Majesty for the departure of Casimir thence, but that it was quite true that the King of Navarre had on his own account raised some difficulties which had not yet been arranged, and it was said that the Queen-Mother thought of going to visit him in order to settle the important points which remained still to be adjusted. |
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Paris, 8th May 1576. |
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[Italian.] |
| May 30. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
657. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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It being my duty to advise your Lordships of all things which come to my notice, if they affect the service or interest of the Republic, I now wish to report that two or three days ago there returned from England to this Court a Piacentine gentleman named Geronimo Scotto, who was formerly at Venice, and must be well-known to many of your Lordships, who have seen him do many games with cards, supposed to be marvellous, and by reason of which he finds the way open to treat familiarly with Kings and
all great personages, as I understand he has also done very privately with the Queen of England during the time he has been at that Court. |
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This person has told me that while he was conversing with the Queen about Venetian matters, she said to him these “precise cords:
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“I do not know what offence I have done to that Republic that they have never chosen to send, an Ambassador to me alone of all those who have had the government of this kingdom, nor have they chosen to move in spite of the words which I have spoken on this subject; indeed, when they had finally decided to send one, they soon after repented; nor do I know the reason; but I shall hold them in the same account as they hold me, and I shall treat them in the same manner.” |
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Although these words come through a person who may have added or omitted something, nevertheless, as he repeated them to me more than once, because I told him I did not believe that the Queen, who is esteemed to be judicious and prudent, would have said such words, she well knowing how much she was respected by the Republic, and as he affirmed that the words were uttered angrily, I would not fail to inform your Lordships, judging them to be worthy of great consideration. |
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Paris, 30th May 1576 |
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[Italian; partly in cipher.] |
