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| Feb. 13. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
252. Marco Venier and Matheo Zane, Venetian Ambassadors at Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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In the time of me, Zane, the English Ambassador instituted proceedings against a certain Charles Elman, who is subject to the jurisdiction of my court. As I could not compel the Ambassador to accept the findings of my court, I suggested arbitration. This suggestion was accepted. But new quarrels broke up the arrangement and now, with the help of Ibraim Pasha, the Sultan's son-in-law, the English Ambassador cites Elman before the Turkish courts. Ibraim Pasha has sent a cavass to me, Venier, to explain this point; and I sent Borisi to the Pasha to uphold the jurisdiction of this court. The Pasha was readily convinced; but seeing that the English Ambassador is a party, I would gladly refer the matter to arbitration. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 13th February 1593 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 15. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
253. Francesco Vendramin, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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A special messenger from Seville has reached his Majesty with news that a large force of English had landed from twenty ships on Ile Marguerite, which is unfortified, and lies forty leagues distant from Peru. They sacked the island, made the Governor prisoner, and seized a certain quantity of pearls, as the pearl fisheries are situated off that island. |
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Madrid, 15th February 1593 [m.v.] |
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[Italian.] |
| Feb. 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
254. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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An Ambassador from the Queen of England has come to this city to conclude his negotiations with the King. In her Majesty's name he has asked the King to grant her a small rock off the coast of Picardy. The King has ceded the island, which is quite barren and uninhabited. It seems that the English intend to build a fort in order to facilitate the transport of troops into those provinces which are seriously threatened by the understanding which the Spanish maintain there. |
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I waited on the Ambassador and, in the course of his remarks, I easily discovered that the Queen is not very well pleased that the King has changed his religion, not because she belonged to the religion he has left, but because she does not think that he has done himself any good by the change. Apropos to that, the other day I was talking to M. de Bellièure and he told me that his Majesy
knowing quite well what the Ambassador would say, resolved to see him in the presence of his Council. The Ambassador declared that he was ordered by her Majesty to ask the King what city he had won by his conversion; and the King replied that the sole motive which had induced him to take that step was to be found in his own conscience, for long his conscience had urged him to this resolve, and was the one most powerful cause of his conversion. |
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Chartres, 17th February 1593 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Feb. 27. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
255. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Huguenots having failed in their demand to be admitted to the Magistracy and to offices under the Grown as are the Catholics, have appealed to the Queen of England to intercede on their behalf The English Ambassador has made strong representations on the subject. The King does not like this request, and has replied very curtly that he would speak to his Council on the matter, and would give such an answer as might seem best for his subjects. His Majesty disliked the request only because it showed the solidarity of the Huguenot party in the kingdom; which might on occasion upset the King's designs. |
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The Queen of England further excused herself from supplying any more money to France, on the plea that she had spent so much that for the future she must look for some return on the outlay. |
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The King replied by thanking her Majesty for all she had done in the past; and proposed a league between them. England to maintain four thousand infantry in Brittany, pay for those troops to be charged upon the salt of Bordeaux; with obligation on France to furnish a like number of men should the Queen require them. The King added that in these last few days God had so favoured him that he was now able to be of service to his friends. |
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It is clear that the English are jealous of the King's prosperity; and it is more from that reason than from any other that they now refuse further succours; and further the Lord Treasurer has always urged her Majesty not to be lavish of her money; these reasons, and the dislike to the aggrandisement of France, will induce the English to act as spectators of the King's operations, and to come to his aid only if he is in urgent need of it. |
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Chartres, 27th February 1593 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
