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| Feb. 2. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1008. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Capudan and the Agà of the Janizaries are in frequent consultation at the house of the Grand Vizir, Sinan, and David Passi, the Jew, is always present. They discuss the preparations for the fleet, the question of the fortresses, the expenditure of the Sultan, the King of Spain, and the King of France, the political situation in Christendom, the destination of the proposed expedition, upon which point I am unable to discover what may be the Sultan's real intention. All the Ministers in complete accord declare that the destination is Spain. And at this very moment David Passi is on the point of despatching Guglielmo di Savoy, with all secrecy, to King Philip to give him warning, and to persuade him to attempt to divert the expedition by means of money. If the attack on Spain is abandoned Malta or Fez will be selected for attack.
At the last consultation the question of an attack on Venice was broached, and the Capudan Pasha said that he knew he was born a Venetian subject, but if, he thought that one drop of Venetian blood was in his veins, he would bleed himself to death in order to be rid of it; the Agà of the Janizaries is hostile, but the Grand Vizir stands firm in refusing to molest the Republic. All this I know, not from David Passi only but from the Grand Vizir's secretary as well. |
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In fact, as far as the Grand Vizir is concerned, he is determined to sail next year to attack Spain, being assured by England that he can have the port of Toulon. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 2nd February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 2. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1009. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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A chavass has been sent to the King of Fez with letters from the Sultan couched in most pressing terms, to beg the King to surrender without delay the son of Don Antonio, whom he holds as hostage for promises to be fulfilled on Don Antonio's restoration to Portugal. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 2nd February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 2. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1010. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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By letter from Lisbon I am informed that in England they are preparing a large fleet to put out soon. It is rumoured that it is to sail to the West Indies, to Havana; but they suspect that it may possibly turn aside to offer some offence to this kingdom, as it has done on other occasions; and so couriers have been despatched to put all the seaports on their guard, and to provide for the manning of such a fleet as time and circumstances will permit. |
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The ten galleons that were being constructed in Biscay are not ready yet, and when they are finished their fittings are to be brought from the Mediterranean coast. The English corsairs, however, do not quit Gape St. Vincent, and as that is near the Straits of Gibraltar they will be able to prevent the transport. There is grave doubt whether the Indian fleets will be able either to sail or to arrive this year. Orders have been sent out that the King's gold and silver is to be taken to Lisbon, as being safer. When the merchants of Seville, who are deeply interested in this cargo, heard of the order they implored his Majesty to take steps to secure the safety of the fleet by sending out twelve extra galleons. His Majesty, however, has answered that he has so much to provide for, and so much to spend just now, that he can go to no further expenses for the safety of that route. The result will be that no fleet can sail, and this will cause heavy loss to all creditors who depend for payment upon the Indian fleets. |
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Two ships, one bound from the West Indies to Spain, the other from Portugal to the East Indies, both very rich, have been captured by the English. |
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The King of Fez, having discovered a plot to deprive him of the port of El Arisch, has given orders that no Christian ships are to be admitted to that port; this will cause the greatest inconvenience to the whole Atlantic navigation. |
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Madrid, 2nd February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 2. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1011. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Finding that there was no hope of securing any corn for Venice in this kingdom, and knowing that the ships “Stella” and “Barozza,” which were lying at Cadiz, could not obtain a cargo either, I begged some merchants of Lisbon to write to England to secure corn for your Serenity either there or elsewhere. The answer came back that in that island the most accurate pains were taken to prevent even the smallest quantity from being exported (è stato risposto che in quell' isola s'usava esquisitissima cura, acciò non ne fusse cavata quantità alcuna); but that ships would be sent to Northern Europe, as, in fact, three, of five hundred tons each, had already sailed for Hamburg to lade with grain for Venice. |
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Some days ago, on the frontiers of Aragon, a Portuguese friar, a Trinitarian, was arrested while on his way into France to confer with Navarre in the interests of Don Antonio. He has been imprisoned here in Madrid. |
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There is news from Lisbon that the ship “Salvagna,” which was captured by the English, has, by the Queen's orders, been carefully guarded in that island, and the crew and cargo well treated. |
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Madrid, 2nd February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| Feb. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1012. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The preparations for the fleet go on. The Grand Vizir has sent for lead, and has ordered the construction of his own galleys on large lines, whereas the Capudan has ordered a very small one for his personal use; this causes the other commanders to grumble, as they say he wishes to be ready to fly. The Sultan has announced that he wishes the opinion of the Grand Vizir, the Agà, and the Capudan as to the destination of the armament expressed in writing. The Grand Vizir wishes to attack Spain, the Capudan Fez or Crete, and the Agà at present leans to the views of the Capudan; and accordingly I hold it of extreme importance that your Excellencies should more than ever consider the means for securing the Grand Vizir in his proposals, as ultimately everything depends on him. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 6th February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 15. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1013. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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An armament is being prepared in England, and there is every probability that Navarre has entered, or is about to enter, Paris; and so the Councils of State, of War, of Finance, and of the Indies, which usually hold their deliberations apart, have been all united by his Majesty's orders to consider the most opportune and expedient steps to be taken in these circumstances. |
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It was resolved to send orders to the Duke of Parma to move into France in the spring. But before these orders could be despatched letters from the Duke arrived with information as to the bad condition of his forces, which are consumed by sickness and death. |
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Matters of minor moment are going better in Brittany, where Don Juan d'Aquila, with his own troops and those of the Duke of Mercure, after besieging and bombarding Hennebont for forty days succeeded in capturing it. He gave the garrison twenty crowns apiece and let them go free. |
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Madrid, 15th February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 15. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1014. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Council, of which I made mention in my last despatch, when deliberating on English affairs, resolved that in the kingdom of Portugal a sufficient supply of ammunition and provisions must be collected, and four thousand infantry raised partly in Portugal, partly in Castïlle. |
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It is thought that the English fleet will sail to the Indies, and especially to Havana; but there is a suspicion that it may make a demonstration against these kingdoms, especially against Portugal. But as one of these attacks would call for a land defence while the other requires a naval defence, the problem which to choose remains unsolved, for it appears to be beyond their powers to provide both. |
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Meantime, while these consultations are proceeding, the English, to the number of twenty sail, who are off Cape St. Vincent, have captured four merchantmen making for Seville, and fears are entertained for three others. |
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As regards the capture of the carvel from the West Indies, which I notified to your Serenity, there is an episode which has somewhat alleviated the distress; for when her commander saw that he was lost he threw the gold and the more important letters into the sea. But everything was against him, for when the English found this out they killed him and his sailors who had given him a hand. |
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Madrid, 15th February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| Feb. 16. Original Despatch, Venetian, Archives. |
1015. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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As the preparations for the fleet continue here daily with better order and more certainty of execution, and as I see clearly what damage may be wrought to Christendom by this armament, I do my best to discover what is the true object for which it is being prepared. |
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The Pasha's secretary the other day invited me, as it were, to meet him in his garden, where we usually hold our conversations. |
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He assured me that the Capudan and the Agà, both of them Venetians, were always most hostile to the Republic; so was everyone else; he declared that of friends to the Republic he could name none save himself, and through him the Grand Vizir. In a recent conference between the Vizir, the Agà, and the Capudan he heard that the Sultan had ordered models of the islands and fortifications of Crete and Malta. The Capudan stormed against Venice, the Agà against Christendom in general; the Vizir sought to calm both, and with much prudence urged that assistance should be given to England and Navarre against Spain. The Secretary advised me to secure the support of the Grand Vizir, for if he gave way ever so little Crete and Corfu would certainly be the first objects of attack; and, he continued, that if your Serenity desired to secure the favour of the Vizir as long as he remained in office, it would be necessary for you to open your hand still wider; for the presents which my predecessor and I had given to the Grand Vizir in your Serenity's name, “were,” to use the Secretary's very words, “more like beef and carrots than like gifts from a great Republic to a Pasha.” |
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The Secretary further told me that I must know that David Passi is very closely allied with the Agà and the Capudan, and that all three had recently agreed in urging the Grand Vizir to send a chavass to Venice with letters demanding the island of Crete; for now that Spain is occupied in attending to her own defences, and cannot assist Venice, the Sultan will either get that island or half a million of gold to spare it. This David, for one truth tells a hundred lies; he would betray us if he could; he is agent for Don Antonio of Portugal and in the confidence of the King of Spain; he is the warm supporter of Venice, and the trusty spy of the Sultan. |
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The spy I keep in the house of the Capudan Pasha tells me that in a secret chamber they are preparing the models of Crete and Malta, which the Sultan desired to possess; this is a confirmation of what the Secretary to the Grand Vizir told me. The spy also told me that all the Capudan's private conversation is inspired by hatred of Venice. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 16th February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1016. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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From. Tripoli in Barbary, help is urgently sought, for they say that the Moors, encouraged by the King of Spain, are on the point of rising. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 16th February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1017. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The King is about to encounter great expenses, and the lack of money is growing always greater, owing to the difficulties in the way of the India fleets; accordingly the General Council has been listening to various proposals as to the method of raising money. Among others, it is suggested that in order to extinguish the heavy debt, which at present consumes the income, it would be advisable to sell the revenues of the Indies for a certain number of years. |
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They are also endeavouring to compel all those who are not Hidalgos, either ex-officio or by privilege, but only through long usage, to pay a certain sum of money; and the Chevaliers de Contia, who rank below the Hidalgos, are to be forced either to maintain one horse, or to pay a certain sum. This would bring in a large amount to the Crown, but would raise great discontent. |
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Madrid, 16th February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1018. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Viscount of Turenne writes from Germany that he has found an excellent disposition in all German Princes to favour the King of France; a large levy is promised, in spite of the opposition of Casimir and the Spanish Ministers. |
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Tours, 17th February 1590 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
