Venice: June 1610, 16-30 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 11, 1607-1610. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

Citation:

'Venice: June 1610, 16-30', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 11, 1607-1610, ed. Horatio F Brown( London, 1904), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol11/pp507-519 [accessed 27 July 2024].

June 1610, 16–30



June 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	945. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	All this week the Court has been taken up with the ceremonies and the rejoicings for the creation of the Prince of Wales. On Thursday his Highness made his entry into London accompanied by the Duke of Brunswick and various other Lords of the realm. Two miles away he was met by the Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs and Recorder, after whom came the Guilds with their standards and banners. The King would not allow him on this occasion, nor yet on his going to Parliament, to be seen on horseback. The reason is the question of expense or, as some say, because they did not desire to exalt him too high.
	On Sunday twenty-five knights of the Bath were created, all of high birth and quality. On Friday and Saturday they went through the ceremony of the bath, and prayers and other rites almost monastic, a quality displayed in their robes also. The day of their creation they went, morning and evening, on horseback dressed in a very solemn habit of silk which made a fine effect. On Monday morning Parliament met. They sat in order according to their rank, the Archbishop of York, the Marquis of Winchester, all the Earls, seventeen Bishops, and the Barons of the Kingdom who form the Upper House of Parliament. The Earls were robed in cassock and mantle and caps of crimson velvet all lined with ermine with their coronets of gold on their heads. The Bishops and Barons had capes and mantles of scarlet lined with white fur, very majestic. Lower down were all the Members for the constituencies who form the Lower House, with their Speaker, who sat on a raised chair with the Arms of England above him. The Prince entered accompanied by various gentlemen and—arrived before the King, who was seated beneath the baldacchino with all the robes and insignia of royalty upon him—knelt down before his Majesty. The Earl of Salisbury read a long patent in the Latin tongue, by which the Prince was declared Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester. While this was going forward, the Prince was robed by the attendant Earls in a mantle of purple velvet and his Majesty girded him with the sword, placed a crown on his head, a ring on his finger and a long golden wand in his hand. In each of these acts the King displayed great affection, now saying that the Prince must not mind humbling himself to his father, now playfully patting his cheek and giving him other tokens of love. I was invited to this ceremony along with the Ambassadors of Spain and of the United Provinces. (Lunedi mattina si ridusse solennemente il parlamento. Sedevano distintamente per ordine l'arcivescovo di Jore, il Marchese de Wincester, tutti li Conti, 17 Vescovi et li Baroni del Regno quali formano la casa alta del Parlamento. Erano vestiti li Conti con sotana, manto et beretta di veluto cremesino il tutto fodrato d'armelini con le Corone d'oro in testa; si come li Vescovi et Baroni havevano medesimamente cape et manti di scarlato fodrate di pelle bianche con maestà grande. Più a basso vi erano tutti li Nontii delle communità che formano la Casa inferiore, con il loro Prolocutore che stava in una sedia eminente con le armi del Regno sopra.
	Entrò il Principe accompagnato da diversi Signori et arrivato innanti il Rè che sedeva sotto il baldachino con tutti gli habiti et insegnie regie, s'ingienochiò innanti la Maestà sua. Il Signor Conte di Salsberi lessi un lungo privilegio scritta in lingua Latina, per il quale viene ad esser dichiarito principe di Waglia, Duca di Cornovallia et Conte di Cester, nel qual tempo fu dalli Conti che gli assistevano vestito con un manto di veluto pavonazzo, et sua Maestà gli cinse la spada, mise la Corona in testa, gli pose un anello in dito con dargli una longa verga d'ora in mano, mostrando in questi atti segni di molta tencrezza, hora dicendoli che non gli rincrescesse humiliarsi al Padre, hora battendogli destramente la mano sopra la faccia et dando molti altri inditii d'amore.
	Fui invitato a questa ceremonia con li Signori Ambasciatori di Spagna et delle Provincie Unite.)
	I was also invited to a Masque given by the King and to a jousting match; and this will prove of great advantage to the prestige of this office, for I had observed that on various occasions neither I nor my predecessors were treated with the same punctuality which was observed towards France and Spain, and that sometimes it was not enough to have endeavoured to secure proper treatment beforehand, for the result turned out quite different from what had been agreed on. On this occasion when I was told that, at the creation of the Prince, the Ambassador of Spain was to have a box and the Ambassador of the States another, I, suspecting some injury, showed surprise that we were not put, all three together, close to the King, or at least in the same box; in a cautious yet firm manner I let it be understood that if I were not treated in the fashion followed by all other Courts and as became the dignity of the Republic which is Sovereign over kingdoms and mighty in every aspect, either I would not be present at all, or if I did come I would leave at once. I touched on certain variations which had been introduced at this Court. In this I found considerable help from private complaints which I had made in the course of conversation with gentlemen intimate with the King, for his Majesty gave orders that I was to be entirely satisfied on this point. The Lords of the Council accordingly sent to me the Master of the Ceremonies and another gentleman, who informed me that the variation had taken place owing to the incompatibility of Spain with the United Provinces. They begged me not to raise difficulties, for they would be compelled either to offend Spain or injure the prestige of the other. They sent me a plan of the place and of the boxes, which are to be equal to and in proportion to the royal baldachino, and they assured me on their honour that they would treat me in such a fashion that I should be completely satisfied. I, knowing the King's difficulties and being unwilling to seem little solicitous for the prestige of the United Provinces, showed that I fully grasped their arrangement and that I had no desire to doubt their prudence and sincerity, upon which I threw myself, in the conviction that all their promises would be faithfully kept. Both the King and Council were highly pleased with my answer, and without any further pressure they have omitted nothing that could conduce to my honour. On the first day the Ambassador of the States arrived before I did and they engaged him in a place apart; after the Spanish Ambassador and I were settled with all our suites in our respective boxes, which were exactly alike in size and decoration, they introduced the Dutch Ambassador into mine, with only two persons in attendance. Yesterday after the Spanish Ambassador and I had been for some time with the King and other gentlemen, we were conducted to our boxes in the ball-room, and these boxes were again exactly alike, while the Dutch Ambassador was accommodated with a box a little lower than mine and beside it. To-day, at the joust, we two had places apart in advance of the royal seats, while the Dutch Ambassador had a place behind them. The Spanish Ambassador declares that the Dutchman is no Ambassador, and to-day when the Queen gave him that title one of the Council said laughingly in English, “That will give the Spanish Ambassador the spleen.” Notwithstanding all this, the Dutch Ambassador is considered to be in high favour. My conduct towards both has been so correct that both have given me great proofs of esteem.
	The Prince will receive an income of sixty thousand ducats a year. The jurisdiction which usually lies with the Princes of Wales is at present retained by the King; his ancestors having violated the terms on which the Welsh were united to the English Crown, fearing that the power of the Prince of Wales might lead to some act of sedition against the father (la giureditione altre volte solita ad esser essercitata dalli medesimi Principi, resta al presente tutta in mano del Rè; havendo li suoi antecessori voluto derogar al patto con che quelli di Waglia si unirono a questa Corona, dubitando che la grandezza de Principi li possi indur ad alcuna seditione contra il Padre).
	Their Majesties are still alarmed for their own safety and that of their children; and especially during these days of rejoicing extra care has been taken. For some nights the larger part of the houses have been searched with greater rigour than usual, with the arrest of numbers of persons, who, however, were for the most part promptly liberated. Certain orders against the Catholics have been issued, and the dismissal of the lady in waiting to the Queen is positively on account of a stiletto which she used to carry in her pocket. All the same the King is determined to leave in a few days for the chase; Council is not altogether pleased at this.
	Owing to the business of the last few days Parliament has not dealt with the royal revenue. A good issue is hoped for, although every day some quarrel springs up, his Majesty exacting the highest regard towards himself and the Members maintaining the authority of Parliament with extraordinary zeal.
	I enclose a translation of a speech delivered by the King to Parliament.
	London, 16th June, 1610.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	946. Discourse of His Majesty of Great Britain to the Lords and Commons of the present English Parliament.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	Whitehall, Wednesday, 21st March, 1609. (fn. 1)
June 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	947. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Court grows daily more confident that the affair of Cleves will be settled by composition. All parties seem so disposed. All the same there is some suspicion of the forces in Flanders, although the Archduke Albert has repeatedly declared that he does not intend to meddle. But the movement of Spinola towards the frontier raises a doubt as to whether he may not claim to place himself at the service of the Archduke Leopold in his capacity as dependent of the Catholic Sovereign without violating Archduke Albert's word. On this account they say the succours from France will abandon the direct Luxembourg route and will be embarked at Dieppe, Boulogne and Calais, and will pass through Holland. With this object the Queen (Regent) the other day asked England and the United Provinces for assistance with ships. She wishes these troops to be commanded by Prince Maurice without sending any one from France with the title of General.
	Parliament published its edict the day before yesterday. I enclose a translation. English Catholics are forbidden to approach the Court or to dwell within ten miles of London. They are deprived of all arms except those necessary for their persons. All Priests and Seminarists are banished from the Kingdom within twenty-one days. These include the prisoners, but it is thought that some of these who are suspected of machinations against the King will be retained. All the Judges are exhorted to administer the oath to those who do not attend the Protestant Churches. This last point alone causes anxiety to the Catholics, for they will either be ruined if they refuse to take it or they will violate their consciences if they do. Although the number of Catholics is very great, especially among the nobility, still the proclamation has vigour only against those convicted by the law, who are very few. (Nondimeno il proclama non ha vigore se non contra li convinti dalla giustitia che sono pochissimi.) By these steps the King desires to remove the priests from the Kingdom and to compel the laics to abandon their religion, but the former fear not death and the latter are so fervent and firm that it is a great marvel and often an edification to the very heretics, a large part of whom are sustained in their views more by interest in worldly wealth than by zeal for religion.
	All these are old statutes, though they have been renewed several times. The King did not think it desirable to frame new ones at present, although they were submitted to him by Parliament. Nay, in order to remove from himself as far as possible the hatred of the Catholics, he has insisted that in the Proclamation it shall be explicitly stated that these acts were passed in other times, allowed to fall into disuse by his Majesty's clemency and only renewed at the general request of the nation. Lord Salisbury is of this way of thinking. (Vorebbe pure il Rè con queste vie levar li preti dal Regno, et metter in necessità li laici di cambiar Religione, ma ne quelli stimano in modo alcuno la morte et questi sono così ferventi et fermi che è cosa di meraviglia grande, et riesce spesso di edificatione alli medesemi heretici gran parte de' quali viene sostentata nella sua opinione più da interessi delle fortune del mondo che da zelo di Religione. Queste son tutte leggi antiche ancorche rinovate più volte, non havendo stimato bene il Rè, che ne siano al presente formate di nuove, tutto che propostegli del Parlamento, anzi per rimover quanto più può da se l'odio de' Cattolici ha voluto che sii specificato nel medesimo editto che sono fatte in altri tempi, andate in disuso per la gran clementia della Maestà sua, et rinovate ad instanza del tutto il Regno. Et del medesimo pensiero si è anco mostrato il Signor Conte di Salsberi.)
	London, 16th June, 1610.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	948. A Proclamation for the due execution of all the laws against Recusants.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	[Italian.]
June 16. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni Principi. Venetian Archives.	949. The English Ambassador came to the Cabinet and spoke as follows:—
	I returned yesterday from my villa, where I had been for some days contemplating the beauty of the country, which promises to be very rich this year. While I was there one of my household brought me a packet of letters. He had a sad countenance, and when I asked him what was the news, he replied that rumour in Venice said that the King of Great Britain had been killed by a harquebus shot in the shoulder fired in his private chamber by a carpenter who was working on some furniture. My man told me that this news had come in letters to merchants, that every one in Venice was discussing it freely, and that as he came through Malghera and Mestre everybody came to meet him and asked him the same question. This news, I admit, disturbed me at the first moment, but after reading the letters and considering that neither from the Court nor from other quarters had I myself received letters conveying a hint of this report, I came to the conclusion that this was a rumour put about by an interested person for his own ends. I recalled the maxim of the Cardinal of Lorraine the Elder, that a lie of three days works for three months. I also recollected that God in His mercy had sheltered and protected his Majesty even in his mother's womb when that great conspiracy was discovered in Scotland, and that He would shelter him from all other perils. I also thought that no one, however wicked, would plot against his person after the failure of the Gunpowder Plot. What, however, confirmed me was the fact that after two days I received from a secretary whom I am in the habit of leaving in Venice, a letter telling me of the great benignity of your Serenity in summoning him to your presence and communicating the despatches of your Ambassador in England and also the date of the despatches from the States. My secretary dwelt on the great gentleness displayed by your Serenity and their Most Excellent Lordships, all of which I reported home by last week's courier. The Ambassador went on to recall the fact that some years ago on a similar rumour spreading abroad, London was all upside down, everybody at his door with his sword drawn and the Council sent to beg the King to show himself by returning as soon as possible to London and to his own Palace, and the King, who is wont to enter by a secret way in order to avoid the crowd and the plaudits, on that occasion came in through the middle of the City, and a good hundred thousand persons came up. And, as on that occasion he assured himself of the affection of his subjects, so now he can assure himself of the love of the Serene Republic, and this will be the advantage accruing from this rumour.
	He went on to mention the subject of the “Corsaletta” still pending. This is the only point at issue between the Republic and England. He is aware that the matter is a grave one on account of the money involved. The Ambassador opened a paper he held in his hand and said, “The value of ship and cargo is £8,994 sterling; the goods conveyed to England are valued at £3,331 sterling; the capital lost is £5,615 sterling, which reduced to Venetian ducats amount to Ducats 22,462 s. 16.”
	The Doge replied that at the first report he was disturbed; it came from three sources, but he was unable to believe that, if the news were true, it would not have been notified by the Venetian Ambassador in England, who must have heard it. They also had quite recent letters from Contarini at the Hague, dated the 30th, in which he says nothing. Hopes that this rumour may bring to his Majesty the long life and prosperity which they desire him. But even if he should die, which God forbid, there is the Prince to succeed him, and he, though still young, is quite able to rule his own Kingdoms and others besides, so highly does report from all quarters represent his qualities. The Doge promises, should any news arrive, to communicate it to the Ambassador. As to the “Corsaletta,” he had imagined that the declarations of Sagredo had pacified the merchants. The cause of the mischief was clearly shown to be the failure to produce the orders at the right time, and the refusal to accept good advice for the preservation of the property. However, the question would be gone into again. Contarini was taken so ill when speaking on the subject that he had to go home. He is better now. When he comes to the Palace they will hear what he has to say.
	The Ambassador then repeated his plea on behalf of Cumano. He pointed out that such a grace would come well from the Council of Ten which, as he read in the histories of Venice, was established that day three hundred years ago, (fn. 1) and they might begin the fourth century of their life by an act of grace. Cumano would go to England, far away from Venice.
	The Doge replied that the question had been raised in the Council of Ten, but could not be settled owing to a difference in the interpretation of certain laws. The Council was established three hundred years ago, and had proved most beneficial to the State by the maintenance of its special forms of procedure (riti); if it continued to regulate its conduct upon the same lines of prudence and mature deliberation it would produce like effects for the future. The Doge assured the Ambassador of the universal good will towards him. The Ambassador returned thanks, rose and took his departure; leaving in the hands of the Secretary the note of the goods shipped in 1607 at Chios and Smyrna on board the “Corsaletta,” and in 1608 at Canea on board the “Tiger,” with other documents proving value, cost of ship, and of goods.
	[Italian.]
Covered by preceding document, but in filza not in registro.	950. 1608. Invoice of goods shipped on board the “Tiger,” Master Hugh Benett, received in the City of London and sold and valued as under.
	30 butts (botte) and 23 barrels of currants in very bad condition. Nett weight, as per customs house books, 732 cantari. (fn. 1) Not worth twenty shillings sterling the cantaro; would be glad to sell at that price.				£	s.	d.
	Valued at twenty shillings=				732	0	0
	128 sacks of cotton; in bad condition, sold at 13 pence the pound. Weight 33,965 pounds=				1,848	2	1
	9 sacks of twill (fillato). Weight 2,055 pounds, in bad condition. Sold at 2s. 4d. the pound=				243	12	0
	2,606 Cordovans (Marocco) and 79 calf-skins, sold at Messina, in very bad condition, fetched 750 onza 4 tarri, which reduced to sterling at the rate of 12s. 6d. to the onza=				487	12	1
	7 butts of Muscat; taken to Messina, and, being in bad condition, sold there at 4 onze 20 tari the butt; reduced to sterling =				20	8	4
					3,331	14	6
	There were left at Canea as not worth the freight, 17 butts and 6 barrels of currants, 43 butts of Muscat and the ship “Costleta” with all her rigging, furnishing and artillery.
	1607. Invoice of goods on board the English ship “Costleta,” master, Richard Harris; laded at Chios and Smyrna in the dominions of the Grand Turk, in the months of April and May.
					£	s.	d.
	47 butts, 29 barrels and two sacks of currants, weighing 135,305 gross of Venice, which in English weight at nine cantari for every miara of Venice = 121,774. These currants if they had not been seized by the great galleys but had been brought to London straight would have been worth 50s. the cantaro at least =				3,042	10	0
	128 sacks of cotton. Turkish weight R 30,806 K 308 reduced to English weight at 120 lbs. the cantaro makes 36,960 lbs. Valued at 15s. the pound =				2,310	0	0
	9 sacks of twill. Turkish weight R 2880 K 21 4/5 in English weight 2,576. Valued at 2s. 6d.=				322	0	0
	2,606 Cordovans and 79 calf skins which cost all paid 122,564 Aspers. Estimated value in Messina, if in good condition, 4 onza the dozen for the Cordovans and the calf skins 30 tari a piece, in all 868 onze 20 tari, which in sterling =				542	18	4
	50 butts of muscat; London price 15l. the butt =				750	0	0
	The value of the ship and her fittings at least =				1,500	0	0
					8,467	8	4
	To be added; the expenses of Arthur Shirs and others for two journeys from Chios to Candia, and expenses; also expenses of another man sent to Venice to solicit the liberation of the ship and goods, also for his return journey; also expenses of Libbio Chapman from Zante to Canea, on board the English ship “Tiger”; also hire of said ship. . . . 1,200 at 15s. each =				480	0	0
					8,947	8	4
	Cost for keep and passage home of the crew =
	Value of cargo	8,947	8	4
	Value of goods sold	3,331	14	6
	Loss	£5,615	13	10
	Which, taking the Venetian ducat at four for a pound sterling =	Ducats 22,462.			Soldi 16.
June 17. Collegio, Lettere Venetian Archives.	951. To the Podesta of Malamocco.
	Although the Cinque Savii alle Mercantie have, by their letter of the 12th inst., ordered you to sell by public auction the ship “Stella,” Master Simon Cuttè, a Frenchman, at the instance of the crew on the ground of withholding of pay, we give you orders to take no steps against the ship, but to allow it to be freely brought into Venice.
	Ayes				20.
	Noes				2.
	Neutral				0.
	[Italian.]
Covered by preceding document.	952. To the Podesta of Malamocco.
	Orders to sell the ship “Stella” because the sentence of March 22nd and order of June 8th in favour of the crew, who are creditors, have not been carried out.
	Venice, 12th June, 1600.
	[Italian.]
Covered by preceding document. (fn. 1)	Captain Simon Cuttè, a Frenchman, arrived in this port with his ship the “Stella,” and a cargo of salt, the property of Signor Ruberto Chino, an English merchant, has suffered severely from stress of weather, has lost his rudder and other fittings and has to refit and also to satisfy seventeen mariners in his service. He has not been supplied by the said Chino with money to pay the crew and to take in the necessary supplies and so has not paid. He is endeavouring to obtain from the Courts an order compelling Signor Lazzaro Dione, the supercargo, to give him money, but the process is a long one and the crew have applied to the Cinque Savii sopra la Mercantia to order the sale of the ship and the satisfaction of their credit. The Savii, after giving some orders to the Podesta of Malamocco, before reaching any resolution informed the French Ambassador that they did not intend to take any ulterior steps as to the sale without his assent and approval. To this the Ambassador replied that he did not hold that either his or the Consul's jurisdiction was infringed, but that they wished to bring the ship into Venice, where the sale could take place more advantageously for the master and without the charge of twenty or twenty-five per cent, which the Podestà claimed. It almost seems that the Savii issued their order of the 12th to please the Podestà, for in spite of the assurance that they would act only in accordance with the wishes of the Ambassador, they sent an order to the Podestà to sell the ship, and he at once put it up for sale in his Court and Market; should such sale take place your Serenity can understand how ruinous it would be. The Ambassador begs your Serenity to forbid this and to order the ship into Venice. If this be not done his Excellency will not be able to conceal from your Serenity his sense of injury, and he begs your Serenity to exercise your authority to obviate what has been indicated, for which he will be especially obliged, and he kisses your Serenity's hand.
June 21. Despatches from Zante. Venetian Archives.	953. Michiel Priuli, Governor in Zante, to the Doge and Senate.
	The report of the Captain of an English ship which reached Zante from Constantinople in fifteen days.
	Zante, 21st June, 1610.
	[Italian.]
June 23. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	954. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	Their Majesties have retired to Greenwich. The King will not go far during the whole coming month, as he is occupied with Parliament. The Prince, too, will go to Greenwich in a couple of days. On July the 30th they will set out on their Progress, which this year is to be in Northamptonshire. The day before yesterday, I went to wait on his Highness in his lodging at St. James' and congratulated him on his entry on the possession of the Principality. The Prince was pleased at this compliment, which no one else has paid him as yet. He has not yet received his revenues; that is being put off till October next, and possibly further; nor has the King been pleased to allow him to increase his household as he desired. It seems that the King has some reasonable jealousy of the rising sun; and indeed the vivacity of this Prince grows apace, and every day he gives proof of wisdom and lofty thoughts far in advance of his years.
	The Prince has acquired a great reputation by the recent creation of Knights of the Bath. He succeeded in rendering futile all the efforts of those who attempted to push ahead by the usual method of a good round sum. Indeed, when one of these had, by the ordinary means, secured the entry of his name on the list, the Prince complained that his blood was inferior to that of the others and caused the note to be cancelled.
	Parliament has petitioned to be summoned after the Progress. The King has consented gladly, as he hopes to remove, in the meantime, some who are hostile to him or to win them over.
	Meantime it is thought that they will grant one or two subsidies for which Salisbury made pressing demands in the King's name. He urged that by the death of the King of France everything was thrown into confusion. The new ambassador to France, he said, was not well received. It was necessary to send an Embassy Extraordinary with great splendour and at great expense. England was obliged to keep well with France and must be armed against others. This request was to have been presented some days ago, but was put off. The Lower House expressed an opinion that it should be introduced by one of its Members, holding that, as representative of the constituencies, they were superior to the peers, who only represent themselves. This greatly annoys the King. Such struggles are of daily occurrence and they keep Parliament in such conceit of its own authority that the Members permit themselves the greatest licence of speech both inside and outside the House, and in every way they show the smallest regard for His Majesty. He complained that one of of them, profiting by this freedom of speech, had offended his dignity by imputing to himlack of good faith and styled him a traitor, and when he sent down a request to the House in a sealed cover this man appealed to the House and carried a motion that the note should not be opened nor should any communication from the King be admitted until it had been determined whether the Member had really committed the error charged against him. Accordingly the Member justified his conduct, and the King admitted him to his good graces before the note was opened.
	The London market suffers severely from pirates. Many persons seek leave to take out letters of marque against the Spanish; but the King has never consented. His Majesty is now urgently petitioned by a merchant whose goods have been seized in Seville on a fictitious misunderstanding and in an arbitrary fashion. This man offers security that he will not seize goods beyond the value of the goods taken from him and the amount of his expenses. As yet they have not lent an ear, but he still hopes to obtain leave coniventibus occulis.
	There is little going on in Juliers.
	London, 23rd June, 1610.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
June 23. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	955. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	As the Queen (Regent) of France has not found in the King of England nor yet in the United Provinces that alacrity she hoped for in assisting her to send her troops by sea towards Cleves, the Ambassador Edmondes writes that she now withdraws entirely from that design. This King shows little readiness to engage his troops, partly owing to his natural inclination to peace, partly because he now lacks the stimulus and the emulation of France. He is also afraid that the defence of Cleves may cost him more than he intended when he promised to undertake it. All the same the Dutch, to whom the support of the “possessioners” is more important than to anyone else, owing to their being conterminous with Cleves, do not omit any representations which might stiffen the mind of the King. They have also sent to France to offer to take the troops from Piccardy into Holland at their own charges. But it is not thought that this will change the Queen's intention.
	The Archduke Leopold before going to Prague left Juliers very well victualled and garrisoned with troops and artillery; so I am informed by Signor Francesco Tensino of Crema, who is the lieutenant of artillery. He assures me that there is not lacking courage and hopes of resisting any assault. His Highness has not omitted anything to satisfy and assure the minds of the besieged; he has melted down his plate and has declared that he left Juliers for no other reason than to concert measures with the Archduke Albert and the Emperor. I am informed that had His Highness not been helped with money in Flanders he would not have been able to go to Prague. The French Ambassador is negotiating about the debt due from his master to the Crown of England. This point has hitherto hampered him. Edmondes has been ordered to press the point, as the moment is considered favourable for its solution; but it seems that there they are attending to their home affairs and give little attention to anything else.
	The Catholics of this kingdom find themselves in great confusion after the publication of the renewed laws against them. The King would like to extirpate them on account of his dread that they are always plotting against the State and against his life, but the same dread makes him proceed cautiously so as not to irritate them and drive them to despair. The King has administered the oath to the Council, and both Houses have taken it. It will be administered to all the Court and then gradually to the whole kingdom. It is a matter of amazement that no one has refused to take it as yet. The Earl of Northampton, who on former occasions has made public profession as a Catholic, and who, after Lord Salisbury, is employed in the most important offices in the State, has just been through a slight storm on account of some Catholic servants he had in his household. The King recently asked him whether he had any, and he replied that he only knew of one called Penny (Penino), which in English means a denier; at that the King replied, joking: “Well, you have had so much from me that you can surely spare me a Penny.” Lord Northampton promised to do so, and has dismissed this man and three or four more.
	The continuation of Parliament will cause great trouble and oppression to the Catholics; the Puritans will look to that.
	London, 23rd June, 1610.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
June 23. Despatches from Corpi. Venetian Archives.	956. Nadal Donado and Zaccharia Gabriel, Bailey and Captain in Corfu, to the Doge and Senate.
	Report of an action between three Barbary galleys and an English bertoncin. It was taken and burned.
	Corfu, 23rd June, 1610.
	[Italian.]
June 24. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	957. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	When Lord Salisbury was informed by the French Ambassador that the Queen (Regent) intended to help the “possessioners” after all, orders were sent to Holland that the English troops were to march along with the Dutch towards Cleves, and that the English Ambassador at the Hague was to move to Düsseldorf. I am, however, informed that none of these Princes desire war and that they will temporise.
	London, 24th June, 1610.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
June 25. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	958. Antonio Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Prince of Condé, who came through Lorraine, reached Marimont five days ago. He at once waited on the Archduke. He sent a message to Paris and then went to Brussels. The Princess of Condé yesterday sent letters of safe-conduct and some money from the Queen.
	Paris, 25th June, 1610.
	[Italian.]
June 25. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	959. Antonio Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	To-day, in the afternoon, the Marshal of Chatres left Paris. Yesterday the English Ambassador went to visit and encourage him; he found him in excellent spirits.
	Paris, 25th June, 1610.
	[Italian.]
June 26. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni, Roma. Venetian Archives.	960. The Abbe della Manta, (fn. 1) ambassador of the Duke of Savoy, in audience informs the Cabinet that the Prince of Condé has left Milan for France.
June 26. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	961. Simon Contarini, Venetian Ambassador at Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
	Reports the rumour that the King of France was killed by a servant of the Prince of Condé. The news was brought by the Ragusan Ambassador, who was coming with the tribute.
	Dalle Vigne di Pera, 26th June, 1610.
	[Italian; deciphered.]
June 29. Minutes of the Senate, Mar. Venetian Archives.	962. The answer to the petition of Marc' Antonio Correr that a successor may be elected; be it ordered that such election shall take place at the next meeting of the Senate. He shall only start from Venice when Correr has completed his two years' full service and entered on the benefit of the law of 1561, June 2, and the law of the Maggior Consiglio July 10, 1561.
	Ayes				150.
	Noes				13.
	Neutrals				8.
	[Italian.]
June 29. Senato Secreta. Despatches from Savoy. Venetian Archives. Expulsis Papalistis.	963. Gregorio Barbarigo, Venetian Ambassador in Savoy, to the Doge and Senate.
	Mariana's book publicly burned before Notre Dame on the 8th of June. The king's heart, by his own desire, was taken to be buried in the Jesuits' Church. It was received by Father Cotton and about forty others and was kissed by him. At Montpellier two persons have been arrested carrying letters to certain Jesuits. The tenour of the letters was that “We are twelve apostles of one faith and one will; one of us struck the blow.” If this be true something will come to light. In Prague they say that a Scotch Jesuit, to their no small scandal, goes about publicly declaring that the murder of the King was a good, a meritorious and a praiseworthy act.
	Turin, 29th June, 1610.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
June 30. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	964. Antonio Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Curès of Paris continue to press various demands against the Jesuits. They have good hopes of success. The authority of Cotton is waning. Parliament proceeds with the condemnation of books like Mariana's. Some urge that it is sufficient to have condemned the doctrine generally without attacking individuals.
	Paris, 30th June, 1610.
	[Italian.]