Venice: August 1589

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 8, 1581-1591. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1894.

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'Venice: August 1589', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 8, 1581-1591, (London, 1894) pp. 466-467. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol8/pp466-467 [accessed 26 April 2024]

August 1589

Aug. 1, Copy of Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 870. Vincenzo Gradenigo, Venetian Ambassador in Germany, to the Doge and Senate.
News from Flanders that the Duke of Parma continues to develop the dropsy, and is in very great danger of his life.
Pragne, 1st August 1589.
[Italian.]
Aug. 8. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 871. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
I took my leave of the King and turned to talk to Don Juan d'Idiaquez who, though very reserved in his conversation and sparing of his words, so as to keep as near as possible to the habit and the wishes of the King, yet on this occasion, considering his custom, discussed at length upon matters before the Council; the sum total of his remarks was that no Armada would undertake operations this year as the season was too far advanced to allow it to achieve anything of moment The Councils of State, of War, and of Finance are now at the Escurial and continually transact business. The Council of State has discussed the question of support to be given to the Luke of Maine; the Council of War has dealt with these preparations for the Armada, so that it may sail from Santander as soon as possible; and the Council of Finance is studying how to raise the necessary money for all these expenses, and to discover some method by which the eight millions which have been voted may not only be exacted at once, but also may be converted into a permanent tax. This operation meets with violent opposition.
Madrid, 8th August 1589.
[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Aug. 8. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 872. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
The news that Drake with all his fleet, has retired to England is confirmed.
Madrid, 8th August 1589.
[Italian.]
Aug. 19. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 873. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
By letters from Santander we have news that the Catholic Armada left that port on the 6th inst; it numbers forty great and twenty smaller ships, and although some difficulty was experienced in supplying men, and the full complement required for its safety was not forthcoming, nevertheless it set out on its voyage; it will pass first to Corunna to take in munitions, and more troops to the number of six thousand men, and will then sail to the Azores to protect the Indian fleets, of which five ships are already there, as well as one very rich vessel from the Malacca, which had lost her consort on the journey, Seventy sail were sighted not far from the coast of Portugal; it is true that there is certainty that they are English or French. But all the same the Cardinal of Austria sent out some boats to reconnoitre, and they have not come bach yet. At the Escurial there is an Agent from Hamburg, who has instructions from Danzig to inform the King that many ships from those parts have been seized by the Queen of England, and to complain of her action. This Agent is about to return home by way of Italy; he is the bearer of a despatch whose contents I cannot discover owing to the secresy in which the whole matter is kept.
Madrid, 19th August 1589.
[italian; deciphered.]
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