Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890.
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'Venice: February 1571', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580, (London, 1890) pp. 462-465. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol7/pp462-465 [accessed 26 April 2024]
February 1571
| 1571. Feb. 1. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 497. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador at the Court of France, to the Signory. |
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| Advices have been received from Spain that Julian Romer is about to leave Spain with some armed vessels to proceed to Ireland, to assist the people of that country, who are for the most part Catholics, and who have demanded aid from the King of Spain in order to expel all persons of another religion, and together with them the Governors who represent the Queen of England. This news has given great anxiety at this Court, and particularly because they know that lately the Catholic King has sought to obtain from the Pope, and perhaps has obtained from him, the investiture of the kingdom of Ireland, which is a feud of the Apostolic See. The advice of the departure of these ships from Spain has been received here through M. de Malicorne, one of the King's gentlemen who went to Spain to congratulate the Catholic King upon his marriage, and the news was forthwith made known by M. de Lansac to the Ambassadors of England who are resident here at present. (fn. 1) But this news, so far as I can understand on good authority, has been exaggerated, in order that the Queen of England, seeing herself menaced by the King of Spain, may consent more readily to the marriage with the Duke of Anjou, the brother of the King, which marriage has been negotiated in England by the Cardinal Châtillon, who for this purpose, and by order, has remained in that kingdom, although he would otherwise have embarked to return to La Rochelle. It is said that on the first occasion when the Cardinal proposed this marriage to the Queen, her Majesty answered him that she thanked their Majesties for their regard for her, but that she did not desire to take for a husband any man whom she had not seen, but that if Monsieur would visit England he would be well received; nevertheless her Majesty would not guarantee his personal safety, nor give him any safe conduct whatever. The above has been reported to me by a person who has seen the original letter of Châtillon, in which it was also stated that an Ambassador from Saxony was then at the Court, negotiating in the name of many of the Protestant Princes of Germany for a strict alliance and good understanding with the Queen in favour of the maintenance of their religion, and for aid to the Huguenots of France, and because they feared lest these new connexions made lately by the Emperor might be the cause of some new departure against them. | |
| Paris, 1st February 1571. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 498. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Signory. |
| A few days ago Cavaliere Scura, (fn. 2) a gentleman highly qualified, proceeded from hence to the Court of the Emperor, and although it is reported that he had gone thither to give an account of the illness of the Queen, it is nevertheless disbelieved that a man of his high position could be sent for such a purpose only; and it is considered more probable that he has some secret mission, and possibly to negotiate a marriage for Monsieur d'Alençon, who is brother to the King, with the daughter of the Duke of Saxony. This marriage is greatly desired at this Court, because this King having no fear from any power, except Germany, which is allied with and of the same religion as these Huguenots, and has also been accustomed to the rich spoils of this kingdom, their Majesties believe that they might strengthen themselves in this manner, because they would not only be in close relationship with Saxony, which is probably more powerful in force and authority than any other principality of Germany, but they would also make sure of Casimir, who has married another daughter of the same Duke of Saxony. The Ambassador Extraordinary of the Queen of England is expected to arrive shortly, for there are advices that he has crossed the sea, and it is expected that he will be here for the entry of the King, which is to take place on the first Monday of Lent, though the entry of the Queen will be deferred. Nothing more is known about the affairs of Ireland. | |
| Paris, 16th February 1571. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 19. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 499. Leonardo Donado, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Signory. |
| The last messenger who came from Flanders brought news that the places which had been occupied by the exiles had been recovered, and that there did not appear to be in Germany so great a disposition to make preparations as had been reported; but nevertheless the complaints which the Flemish exiles had preferred at the meeting of the Diet, and the negotiations of the Queen of England with the Germans, foreshadow an understanding between them, which will not cease to continue, for the Queen, knowing that she has deeply offended his Majesty (King Philip) by the detention of so much property which belongs to his vassals, and which has been already disposed of by her, and seeing that the King has received and well treated the exiles from her country, both in Spain and in Flanders, seems resolved soon to act openly and to have recourse to arms. Therefore she continues her understanding with the Germans, believing that in case of an open rupture she could induce some German Princes to attack Flanders, and if there is not an absolute declaration of war, the feelings of both parties are nevertheless bitter and angry. | |
| A certain Thomas Stukeley (Stuclé) has been residing in this country for some months past. He is an Irishman, a person of quality, and exiled by the Queen. He has been all this time splendidly entertained at the expense of the King, and now it is understood that his Majesty is about to furnish him with four ships for an expedition in the English waters, but he leaves here nevertheless his only son in the care of the Duke de Feria, to be retained as a voluntary hostage, as it were. The shadows and secret intelligences which are prevalent in the world bode no good to the design of the league, but the French, as is well known, have lately reinforced their garrisons in Picardy, and on the frontiers of Flanders; and this proceeding exciting the King of Spain's suspicions, the Ambassador of France resident here has informed his Majesty that the reason why these troops were sent to the frontiers was to give them employment, because if the King [of France] had disbanded them all at once, they might have mutinied for lack of pay, and thus done great injury in the kingdom; but the King's intention has been, as it was always, to remain a good brother to his Catholic Majesty, and preserve the friendship which exists between them. The proclamation which was published in Paris and throughout France some months ago for free trade between the French and the Turks during the negotiation for the league, has afforded such matter for occupation to people here, that they never cease discussing it. | |
| The French Ambassador has told me that the Nuncio in France having endeavoured to induce the King [of France] to enter into the league, the King replied that he did not believe the proposal real, because during a whole year he had obtained nothing but words, but when he saw that there was a desire to act vigorously, irrespective of private interests, he would be the very first to support the undertaking; but so long as he was treated coldly he did not think it worth while to lose uselessly the friendship of so great a Prince. | |
| Madrid, 19th February 1571. | |
| [Italian.] | |
| Feb. 23. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. | 500. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
| The Ambassador Extraordinary from the Queen of England has arrived in this city. His name is Lord Buckhurst, and he is lodged and entertained most nobly at the expense of the King. He went to his first audience this day, but I cannot hear that he has any other mission except one of ceremony. He has presented six palfreys, richly caparisoned, in the name of his Queen, to the King, and two palfreys, in the name of Lord “Robert, to the King, and two to Monsieur, his brother. | |
| Paris, 23rd February 1571. | |
| [Italian.] | |