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| Dec. 5. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
738. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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With the return of Roche Brun, who was sent by Monsieur to the Queen-Mother, we hear that her Majesty will consent to the marriage of Monsieur, her son, provided it be concluded upon liberal
terms; so she prays the King to assist his brother with money, and all things necessary for his need; but no signs are visible of the hoped for satisfactory conclusion, although on the day after to-morrow Simier is to depart for England. Monsieur was still at Bossut on account of the plague which continued at Mons and at other places, but he does not fail to pursue the negotiation of the desired end of his thoughts and designs, as will be evident by the enclosed document, approved by the States of Flanders and submitted to his Ambassador Pruneo. |
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Paris, 5th December 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
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739. Reply made by the Deputies of the States General to the mission of Mons. de Pruneo, Councillor and Grand Chamberlain to Monsieur the Duke of Alençon; copy, enclosed in the preceding Despatch. |
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First, that if his Highness shall act with the States to quell the disputes between the people of Ghent and the Walloons, withdrawing the French troops, and maintaining those of one and the other religion by a bond of union for the public repose, the said Deputies bind themselves, within a month after his Highness shall have declared his intention, that they will advise the States General to the following effect, namely: |
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That if before the first of next March, the said treaty of peace can be well and truly stipulated with the King of Spain, they will solemnly proclaim his Highness the author and primary cause, through God, of this peace and consequently of the welfare and public repose. |
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And, as such, they will solemnly and perpetually acknowledge him and his heirs male by legitimate marriage, so that the glory of this heroic benefit may be immortalised through his posterity, and will erect a bronze statue in the most conspicuous places of Antwerp and Brussels, and send yearly on a certain day to be proclaimed at Antwerp, or in any other place where his Highness may be, a solemn embassy of two ecclesiastics, two noblemen, and two deputies from the towns, to demonstrate the obligation which all this territory owes to him; in testimony of which they will offer his Highness a gold crown (sic) made of olive branches, adorned, and accompanied by some presents, worth one hundred thousand livres of Artois, for him and his male successors as aforesaid. |
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Dated 23rd November 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| Dec. 12. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
740. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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De Simier has lately departed for England accompanied by sixty gentlemen, and has taken with him many jewels as gifts to the Queen and the chief Lords and Ladies of the Court. |
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The result of his negotiation is now being awaited. |
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Paris, 12th December 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| Dec. 19. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
741. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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When Monsieur heard of the offers made in writing by the States, of “crowns” and “statues,” in lieu of giving him cities as security for his expenses, as had been promised, and that the States only proposed to pay him with vain empty illusions, and as he is only bound by his own words, he sent word back immediately to make them understand that he was greatly dissatisfied with their decision, and would not accept it, and that they should take good heed of the mode in which they treated a son and brother of the King of France; so it seems that they are now considering what other compensation they can make his Highness, who is still in the neighbourhood of Mons. |
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An English gentleman arrived here yesterday from Antwerp. He reports that although the Prince of Orange had come to Ghent to quell the disturbances there, he had not yet been able to effect any good, because, while the States and the principal persons of the town demanded that the destroyed churches should be rebuilt, and all the sermons of the Huguenots and other sects should be silenced, the Prince, with the assent of the majority of the people of Ghent, maintained the contrary, so that the situation still remained in its original confusion. |
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Paris, 19th December 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
