Venice: September 1574

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: September 1574', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580, (London, 1890) pp. 519-520. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol7/pp519-520 [accessed 24 April 2024]

September 1574

Sept. 3. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 605. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
The Queen-Mother is showing marked and unwonted kindness to the Duke of Alençon, and leaves him almost his entire liberty, and daily the Duke and the King go about the city without any guard and at their pleasure, so that with the convenience of these two rivers and of the many boats which are upon them, they might easily have escaped, and without difficulty, because there is a very strong castle upon the Rhone, eight leagues distant from hence, which is held by the Huguenots, and they might have fled thither; but perhaps considering that the King is fully armed, and that they themselves are without money and without hope of obtaining any, they have deemed it more prudent to remain quiet.
Lyons, 3rd September 1574.
[Italian.]
Sept. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 606. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
On this day the most Christian King entered this city accompanied by the Queen-Mother, the Duke of Alençon, and the King of Navarre, who had met him at the Pont de Beauvoisin.
Lyons, 6th September 1574.
[Italian.]
Sept. 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. 607. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
It seems that his Majesty, by the advice of the Queen-Mother alone, and against the advice of the Chancellor, has given the Duke of Alençon and the King of Navarre entire liberty. The King of Navarre goes out hunting every day accompanied by his usual attendants; but on the other hand it is observed that a watch is kept over the Duke, and that his attendants have been changed, which shows they are not too sure of him; and I have also heard that the Queen-Mother is in great fear of her life, and keeps daily about her person some brave knights in whom she has entire confidence.
A few days since a gentlemen, accredited by the Queen of England, arrived here, and he has asserted openly that the ministers of King Philip in Flanders are daily expected to come to terms; and from what I have heard this gentleman is endeavouring to prove to these Majesties the evil consequences which must ensue to their kingdom if such an agreement should be carried out, because then all the Huguenots who are now occupied in the wars in foreign parts, having no longer any employment, would certainly return and act against France; and he also endeavoured to persuade these Majesties to combine with his Queen to defeat the negotiations, and rather keep up the fire in the house of others, than to see it in their own. All these ideas of the Queen of England are the result of the great jealousy which has possessed her on account of the armaments which are being prepared in Spain to proceed to Flanders; but nevertheless she contrives to the utmost that the Catholic King should be harassed by others so that he should have no time to think of her, because she well knows that she has given him such grave cause of offence, that, whenever he is not hindered by other considerations, he would have good reason to turn his thoughts towards her.
Lyons, 17th September 1574;
[Italian.]
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