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| Feb. 2. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
450. Giovanni Corker, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The differences between the Queen of England and the Duke of Alva with regard to the detention of the money are not yet arranged, and it is reported that the Queen has laid an embargo upon all ships in her ports, amongst which the Spanish Ambassador informs me three are Venetian. |
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The Duke of Alva was about to go to Luxemburg, and had issued several orders to the army, which it was intended to assemble there at the end of next month. |
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Paris, 2nd February 1569. |
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[Italian.] |
| Feb. 8. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
451. Giovanni Corker, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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News has arrived from London that an Ambassador, sent by the Duke of Alva, having arrived at Dover, was immediately
arrested and conducted under a guard to London. Upon his arrival he immediately sent to demand an audience of the Queen, who was residing at a distance of ten leagues from the city, and she ordered some principal members of her Council to proceed to London to hear the Ambassador, and they, having arrived, summoned the Ambassador; but he refused to attend them, and replied that he had nothing to do with the Council, but only with the Queen herself. Subsequently the Ambassador having heard that the Councillors were greatly offended at his answer, he, to appease them, sent to say that he would attend them if they so wished, and would answer any questions which they might put to him; but he refused to disclose any particulars concerning his commission. When he met the Commissioners he made a reply in the same terms as at first, adding that they were not to be surprised, because he should decline to treat with the Queen herself, unless he first could speak with the Ambassador of his Catholic Majesty resident in England, for such were the orders which he had received. After this declaration the Councillors, without taking further steps, returned to the Court, and the Ambassador returned to his lodging, where he is under guard, as indeed is also the case with the Spanish Ambassador in ordinary, though letters from Flanders state that all differences will be arranged. The Queen of Scotland at the request of the Bastard has been brought nearer London, in order that she may find it more difficult to escape, in case she should attempt to do so. The Bastard has returned to Scotland with all his friends, and the partisans of the Queen are detained under the pretext of an inquiry as to whether the Queen and they themselves are consenting parties to a proclamation which has been published in Scotland by the Earl of Argyle and other adherents of the Queen, and which, if its contents be not absolutely known, are manifestly prejudicial to the Bastard. |
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Paris, 8th February 1569. |
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[Italian.] |
| Feb. 20. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
452. Giovanni Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The Duke of Deux-Ponts has crossed the Rhine with fifteen hundred horse only. Casimir will not be ready for some time, and the army of Orange is almost entirely disorganised, and, to complete the satisfaction of the Court, who are now in high spirits, it is believed for certain that Genlis has died a natural death. Montgomery has been defeated by the Count de Brissac. He was wounded, and his brother taken prisoner. The Queen has dismissed several of her Huguenot maids of honour, because they had written to the wife of Cardinal Châtillon in England, asking what was going on in that Court, and in their letters they referred to the Queen as “La grossa Gaterina,” and to the Cardinal of Lorraine as “Il gran cappello.” |
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Tours, 20th February 1569. |
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[Italian.] |
