Rome: February 1578 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1926.

Citation:

'Rome: February 1578', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578, ed. J M Rigg( London, 1926), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/vatican/vol2/pp377-386 [accessed 28 November 2024].

February 1578



1578. Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. lxxxii. p. 563.	746. Protonotary Portia to Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como. … “In the same place [Ambach] there was shown me a copy of a writing sent by a person, they said, of weight, to the effect that on the 29th of Dec. there had appeared in Luxemburg an ambassador from England, who exhorted Duke [sic, i.e. Don] John to withdraw his troops, keep the peace and not molest those countries, adding that if he shall continue the war, the Queen will find it impossible to avoid taking strong measures for their protection: besides which it was alleged that on the 12th of January there had arrived at Brussels ambassadors of the Most Christian King, offering (to quote the very words) mountains of gold if those Provinces would accept the Duke of Alençon for their Lord and Prince: whereby confusion reigned in all matters. They were therefore making ready for war, and already they had received from England 800,000 crowns upon such assurances as will suffice to enable the English to establish a foothold in those parts. “Colonel Schenck was upon the frontier with a thousand mounted reiters; and 2,000 of the Count of Suarzerburg [Schwarzburg], (fn. 1) brother-in-law of the Prince of Orange, were expected shortly: the march of Casimir's forces is deferred, as the 150,000 florins intended for their pay have been put to other uses: it is believed that English moneys will set them going.” 2 Feb., 1578. Sigeberg [Siegburg], near Bonn. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xi. f. 143.	747. [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain to the Same. “Among the other reasons alleged by those that seek to persuade his Majesty to confirm Matthias in the government is this, that it seems that the Pope is of this way of thinking in the interest of the peace of Christendom; and it is alleged that the Catholic ambassador has written to this effect to his Majesty; and some are at pains to represent that the Emperor has had some office done to that end with his Holiness, perchance to engender some distrust here. “To the person that spoke to me thereof I have made answer that I am not able to speak positively, having no special order to that effect; but that I am persuaded that the Pope will always be very circumspect about doing such offices until he know that they are likely to be conducive to the general satisfaction and advantage, because, as common father, he is careful to counsel what is just and of general utility, and nought else. “Here there is such discordance of views between the chief ministers that I wonder how it is that the course of affairs is not worse than it is. I should think that for reducing the affairs of Flanders to some order the most important of all measures would be that the Catholic King should make a league with the King of France for the extirpation of the heretics and rebels in their States, because I seem to gather that affairs in France, even since this peace was made, assume not a peaceful complexion, and if this might be done, the way would be open for the chastisement of the Queen of England.” 2 Feb., 1578. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xi. f. 149.	748. Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa, Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “In the next place they [the courtiers] consider that, if his Majesty lets this affair (fn. 2) pass without resentment, the way is opened to the loss of the rest of his States, because the other peoples, arguing from this precedent, will be emboldened to attempt insurrections in the future, as it will hereby be manifest that they are readily to be accomplished. And since Don John is there with an army well in the making, it would be worth while to complete it, and exert all its strength in chastising the insolence of those who have occasioned these troubles; and, the peace of those countries being by force of arms assured, then to provide them with a Governor to their mind. To which they add that no good is to be expected of Matthias, because among other reasons, he is known to be approved and commended by the Queen of England. “Such is the welter of opinions in which the Court finds itself, and on all hands there is opposition to his Majesty: a matter of much importance, and demanding at one and the same time speedy decision and ripe reflection. May his Majesty be inspired by God to make the best choice! They are expecting here an ambassador of the Emperor, likewise, it is supposed, on this errand. The ambassador of England, (fn. 3) who was here, has taken his departure, and, they say, with a formal answer meet for his message. The despatch of an ambassador resident to the King of Sweden is under discussion….” Postscript.—“I have since learned that Francisco de Eras, (fn. 4) nephew of the late Secretary Eras, (fn. 5) is to be sent to Sweden; and that if he have not yet departed, he is on the point of so doing; and that the substance of his commission is this: to report the business of Flanders in his Majesty's name to that King, and in particular to apprise him of the late appointment of M. de Selles, (fn. 6) to endeavour to establish close relations with him in order to secure his aid for diverting the forces of Denmark and England from offensive operations against his Majesty. I have also heard that Ramirez Guzman, son of Don Martino de Guzman, late of the Chamber of the Emperor Ferdinand, is being sent to the Princes of Germany to apprise them of the same resolution, and that this point in particular is also included in the commission of Don Bernardino de Mendoza, who is going to England.” 2 Feb., 1578. Madrid. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xi. f. 153.	749. [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain to Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como. “I received your letter from Edward Dacre, an English baron, and did not fail to present him, and commend his case, to his Majesty, who gave him a gracious hearing, and received his memorial, as to which he expects soon to have his Majesty's decision; nor shall I fail to do such further offices as he shall crave of me, that he may either accomplish his purpose, or have no ground to complain of lack of diligence on our part. “I have also spoken on behalf of the Bishop of Killaloe, but for the present his Majesty for a good reason will not give him audience; I am trying to get him the ear of Antonio Perez; nor shall I give up his business until I see it accomplished.” 2 Feb., 1578. Madrid. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d'Inghilt. vol. i. f. 73.	750. [Sir Thomas Stucley, Styled] Marquis of Leinster to [the Same]. “Yesterday evening his Excellency Paolo Giordano [degli Orsini] transferred the command of the 600 foot; and the business being thus completed, I made more of the parting than I ever thought I should, and also of his Excellency, from whom I had rather you should learn it all than from myself. You will hear his report, and I am content to abide by it. He has certainly given me the force in excellent condition, and at such a cost and personal effort that, were I to attempt to set it all forth in this letter, I should be too prolix: and I trust to his Holiness and your most Illustrious Lordship to make such acknowledgment thereof that the good Prince will have reason to serve his Holiness and you on another occasion. Be assured that, to live or to die, I am and shall ever be at the service of his Holiness and your most Illustrious Lordship, and that, so help me God, I will give proof positive of my spirit and affection. And not to be tedious, and for lack of time, I refer you as to all other matters to the report of the Archdeacon of Cambrai (fn. 7); and so, being just about to depart, I commend myself and after my death my son to his Holiness and your most Illustrious Lordship, whom our Lord protect and prosper, as I your servant desire.” 3 Feb., 1578. Porto Ercole. Italian.
Ibid. f. 74.	751. Bastiano [San] Joseppi to the Same. Announcing the arrival of the last boat with loss of part of her cargo left behind by the negligence of Giovanni Antonio da Castro. The soldiers have gone aboard the ship, which, however, is hardly capacious enough for so large a force and their victuals, though every effort has been made to reduce the inconvenience as much as possible. 3 Feb., 1578. Porto Ercole, aboard the St. John. Italian.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 66.	752. News Letter. “Meanwhile his Highness is making himself master of the open country. There is no more efficacy in the promises of pecuniary aids and troops for the Estates, who, however, have mustered 80 ensigns of terriers amounting to a confused and cowardly rabble of 13,000 inexperienced men. It is said, however, that the Queen of England has in being 1,500 horse and 4,000 English foot, to come by and by, while Casimir is expected with 3,000 horse, if want of money hinder him not. Of money, indeed, they have very great, nay, extreme lack; and it is also matter of no little importance that M. de Laine [Lalaing (fn. 8) ], captain of Flemish troops, has gone to Malines, crying viva Spagna and Don John of Austria, that the city of Nymegen has made an accord with the Hollanders, and that the Germans have refused Archduke Matthias a loan of 200,000 dollars which he had craved of them in the name of the Estates, so that the end is likely to be but a most gruesome tragedy.” 8 Feb., 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. iii. f. 172.	753. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to Mgr. Fontana, Collector in Portugal. … “You are to know that his Holiness despatched some days ago an English gentleman, Sir Thomas Stucley, with 600 foot and some munitions of war to succour Geraldine (fn. 9) and protect the poor Catholics of Ireland; and as stress of weather, or other mischance might cause him to touch at the coasts of that kingdom [of Portugal], the Pope would have you in case of need speak to his Majesty thereof, that, knowing whence and whither they are bound, he may not only not conceive suspicion of them, but cause all courtesy to be used towards them. Besides which, if the master of the ship that carries the said Stucley shall ask you to accommodate him with 500 crowns, it is his Holiness' command that you on no account fail to give them to him, though you should have to borrow at interest in case you should not have enough of his Holiness' moneys in hand. Whereof I have seen every good reason to apprise you, notwithstanding that I have written you a special letter in regard to the matter, which will be presented to you by the said master, if he shall have need to provide himself with the money.” 14 Feb., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d'Inghilt. vol. i. f. 78.	754. [Sir Thomas Stucley, styled] Marquis of Leinster to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “On the 12th inst. I wrote a letter to you, and another, to avoid troubling you, to the Archdeacon of Cambrai, (fn. 10) relying upon him to acquaint you with its contents. But as this is the hour of my departure I cannot but inform you that, quite contrary to what I reasonably expected and desired, there have deserted the five undermentioned soldiers, men of Santo Gregorio, vassals of his Excellency Paolo Giordano [degli Orsini], on whose loyalty I would have staked my very life, as they were commended and given to me as trusty by his said Excellency Paolo; and certainly they have nought to complain of, nay rather, they should acknowledge that in so doing they have behaved as infamous and ill-conditioned men: and other two are of Thiuoli [Tivoli], men that eat at the table of the ensign, and were far better treated than they deserved. As to their food, none of them has any occasion to complain, for some of them fare better on the ship than at home. And as the ship is very ill furnished with gear, and the timbers are weak and ill caulked, I shall be compelled, as soon as I find a safe port, which will perhaps be Lisbon, to land the soldiers and refit the ship with timbers, ropes and gear and sails, and have her well caulked, as otherwise she runs a risk of going all to pieces in the sea. And it will be the worse for me that, though I am close to the shore, I am loath to land the soldiers, because by what some have done I am disposed to believe that I should not find it to my advantage, inasmuch as they would desert. Wherefore I purpose to run the risk of going ahead; and as Captain Sebastian will be spending the money that he has in hand upon the said ship, and the necessary gear, for the captain of the ship has come without money, having put it out at usury there [at Rome], it will be well for you to direct that at Lisbon pecuniary aid be afforded the said Captain Sebastian, who is so competent and dutiful that, whatever he undertakes, nothing but good is to be expected therefrom. And as I believe that he is writing to you, to him I refer you; and as to all that you shall receive from him in writing, in order to weary you no further, I am writing to the Archdeacon of Cambrai, to whom I refer you for information. And to his Holiness and yourself I with all humility commend myself, and after my death my son; and so I end, praying our Lord to protect and prosper you, as I, your most humble and obliged servant, desire.” 14 Feb., 1578. Porto Palamos. Italian. Postscript.—“17 o'clock: there are certain galleys here bound for Genoa, by which I send the present packet to the Archbishop of Genoa, that it may reach your hands safely.” For the list of the deserters see the following letter ad fin.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d'Inghilt. vol. i. f. 76.	755. Bastiano San Joseppi to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “Though I have already written to you, to wit, on the 12th inst., I deem it meet, now that I am ready to depart, to remind you that the Marquis of Leinster, our general, is taking proceedings via juris against an Englishman, Thomas Meyners, (fn. 11) who will certainly be condemned to death as a rebel to the Pope, and, by what may be learned there [at Rome] from the Prior of England, as a spy upon the business which is being negotiated on the Pope's behalf, as may be seen from the process in regard to him. “I have further to apprise you that there were given us by Signor Pagolo [Paolo] Giordano [degli Orsini] some men from Santo Gregorio, his subjects, to whom, on the strength of his said Excellency Pagolo's recommendation to the said Marquis and Captain Ercole da Pisa, the said Captain gave leave to go ashore, to wit, at the port of Palamos, and of these men the undermentioned vassals of his said Excellency Pagolo deserted; which certainly was not due to default on the part of the Marquis, who had made a proclamation that no one aboard the ship was to go ashore without the captain's leave; and it has, of course, caused the said Marquis much annoyance that the said Captain, being one of the vassals of his said Excellency Pagolo, whom he had recommended, should have given the said leave. “He afterwards gave [us] one Lorenzo Cerchi, a Sienese, to whom, pursuant to the ordinance of which you are cognizant, there are to be paid 12 crowns per month as deputy sergeant major. “I mark unmistakable contrariety in the said Lorenzo, for it has not been, and is not, for lack of will on his part that he has not raised a mutiny among the soldiers; and he disparages the victuals and arrangements provided by the Pope, and has also fraternized with the said Thomas Meyners for many days, so that assuredly, if the Marquis had not kept a sharp look out, the said Thomas would have deserted some night; and so he was put in the sink: and for sure the said Marquis is so cautious and wise and prudent that, for one good thing, there is nought that he does without first taking counsel with me, and he does indeed much more than I thought he would. The anxiety occasioned by the hastiness of our intended departure is such that he sleeps neither by day nor by night; and as to the ship, I think I wrote not explicitly in my former letter that I know of no man that ever exposed himself to such a risk as the said Marquis has done and does upon a vessel which lacks most of the equipments of a ship; which has caused and will cause our voyage to be slow, to the great prejudice of the Pope; and the said lord will do all that he can to continue the voyage in the said ship. Had she been a good ship, she would have all but ended the voyage, which to the good lord's great disgust cannot be accomplished but with great labour and difficulty; and we all are so ill accommodated that it were too pitiful a tale to write; and I assure you that she lacks gear, and that of such a sort that it is impossible to navigate her, and this I cannot but see and acknowledge for the great affection that I bear to his Holiness. “As to the behaviour of the said Lorenzo Cerchi I will write you the truth more at large, for the Marquis will be constrained to correct his misconduct; and it will be no wonder if it be looked to, for I know not how it is that the good lord is so slow to bestow upon him the chastisement that he merits, for he treats him with great consideration and much beyond his deserts; and for my part I purpose not to pay such a rebel against the Pope, for it was not for want of will that he failed to raise all the soldiers in mutiny. Wherefore you will give no credence to the words of Signor Pagolo [Paolo] Giordano [degli Orsini] in regard to the said Lorenzo Cerchi; for what I write is the pure and mere truth, and would to God it were not so! … And so I end kissing your most illustrious and holy hands, and praying God to grant you all contentment and felicity.” 14 Feb., 1578. Palamos. Italian. Postscript.—“The following are the names of the deserters:— Giovanni di Giovanni Ma. Lombardo, Giuseppe Ascolano, Monico Antonio di Ascanio—all of Santo Gregorio [da Sassola], vassals of Signor Pagolo [Paolo] Giordano [degli Orsini]; Pietro da Vicovaro, Angelo da Vicovaro, vassals of Signor Pagolo [Paolo] Giordano [degli Orsini]; Giulio di M. Santo, Giovanni di Petrarcha, both of Tegoli [Tivoli].”
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xx. pp. 148–50.	756. Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como to [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain. “I wrote you of late that Stucley had departed from Civitavecchia; and now I inform you that on the 3rd inst. he departed in the best of weather from Port' Hercole. Since then we have received advices from divers places that he was continuing his voyage with a most favouring breeze; so that we hope that before this reaches you he may well have arrived at his destination. God guide him thither in safety with all his company! “It now remains for you to solicit, and, if need be, importune his Majesty to send Geraldine (fn. 12) some encouraging message, ceasing not to set forth the great benefit that at little cost will certainly result to the affairs of Flanders, since there is no doubt that that wicked woman, finding herself taken in flank by two enemies so bold and of such rank in those realms, will be constrained to turn her attention to extinguishing the fire that will be kindled in her own house, to say nothing of its possible fomentation by the Catholics with a breeze so propitious that she and all her adherents would be burned outright together. “And should his Majesty thereafter resolve on essaying the specific enterprise against England, which might be accomplished with six or seven thousand foot at the most, his Holiness makes the same offer as heretofore; i.e. he offers his name, his authority, and all else save money, which would have to be disbursed, as he has always said, by his Majesty; and still we believe that 100,000 crowns, or little more, would suffice to carry the business through. But as to this a word will suffice, his Majesty being then left to judge for himself whether it be or be not expedient for his affairs in Flanders to essay the said enterprise.” 14 Feb., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xii. p. 62.	757. [Antonio Maria] Salviati, [late Bishop of S. Papoul,] Nuncio in France to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “Before I received these your last letters there was talk enough at Court of the galleon that the English Count is arming there [i.e. at Civitavecchia]; so that occasion has served me excellently well for doing the office that you bid me with his Majesty; nor has it been very difficult to persuade him that such an armada conceals no great mystery, as, in fine, it is not thinkable that he that equips but a galleon can have any other design than to scour the seas, or the like. The rest, however, differ in opinion about it; most of them will have it that something is being undertaken in England in favour of the Catholics, while a few, who profess to have some knowledge of those States, are rather disposed to think that the galleon is going in aid of the Catholics, who, it seems, are dissatisfied with their government. “The ambassador of Scotland has taken occasion of these rumours about the galleon of the Englishman to speak to me again about the journey of his Prince, ending by saying that there would be need of moneys; and I, who must not exceed my commission, have given him the same answer as on other occasions, intimating that I am more ready than ever to do what is incumbent on me, but that I have no instruction to go further; which is what the nature of the business, so remote as it is from any certain knowledge that his Holiness can have of it, requires.” 17 Feb., 1578. [Paris.] Italian. Decipher.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 91.	758. News Letter. “Since in the conduct of the affairs of the war there hourly arose among these great folk controversies and contentions, as a short time ago it so befell on the question of the command of the cavalry that the Churchmen who intervened ran a risk of being killed by the people of Brussels, now reduced to 20,000 combatants, the women, children and other useless persons having been sent out of the city; it seemed good to the Council of the Estates to concede, as they have done, ample power to the Prince of Orange to decide of his own accord, as he shall deem opportune, questions relating to the exigencies of the war, lest the public interest should suffer by the procrastination that is bred of discord; which authority being unanimously approved, it seems that the people of Brussels are in good heart, and reck little of the siege with which Don John of Austria threatens them. And indeed, though he is master of the open country, having of late occupied a castle of the Duke of Aerschot near Louvain, and despatched a force to reduce Vilvorde, still the Catholic army is not as yet adequate to the siege of a place so great and strong as Brussels, especially as it must expect to encounter 8,000 horse commanded partly by Casimir, partly by the Count of Suarzemburg [Schwarzburg] and partly by Schenck and other colonels, brisk men, and in the neighbourhood, though it will not be until the middle of April that the forces of Suarzemburg and Casimir will make their appearance concurrently with the Queen of England's succours. (fn. 13) To avoid offending the Catholic King, and also to spare herself the cost of the war, the Queen, through a new ambassador [Leighton (fn. 14) ], has done her office with his Highness [Don John] in the interest of peace.” 17 Feb., 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Venet. vol. xix. p. 50.	759. News Letter. “Colonel Charles Fugger, M. de Turlon [Treslong], two Englishmen, Secretary Prats and Antonio del Rio were brought by water from Brussels to Antwerp, and thence straight to Zealand, where they will be imprisoned and well guarded in a castle called Ramech [Rammekens] (fn. 15) … “On the 14th inst. there returned from England the ambassador [Leighton] whom the Queen had sent to Don John (fn. 16); and as soon as his arrival was known, the Prince went to visit him at his lodging, where they remained a good while together; and, by what is said, the ambassador will presently seek a conference with Don John, to give him to understand in his Queen's name, that she is determined to aid the Estates with all her might … “It is understood that after all the said ambassador of England has not gone to visit Don John, but has returned; and it is apprehended that the Queen will not move until she is sure that the Estates and the Prince will remain united, lest in case of their disunion she should incur the hostility of France and Spain.” 18 Feb., 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Forwarded from Venice, 8 March, by Annibale di Capua, afterwards Archbishop of Naples, to the Cardinal of Como.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 58.	760. News Letter. … “Distribution has been made in the Pope's name to all the bakers of Rome of two rubbia of wheat apiece amounting in all to 6,000 rubbia, thereby to supply with biscuits the galleys which the Venetian Signory are shortly to equip; and it is common talk in the Palace that secret negotiations are on foot for a league to be concluded against the Queen of England, and another, against the Turk, as it is reported from Constantinople, Ragusa and Malta, by Christian spies worthy of all credit, that 200 galleys are to put out. “The confederates against England will be the Pope, the Most Christian King, the Venetian Signory, and the Grand Duke of Tuscany, with several aids from Spain. Those against the Turk will be the Pope, the Catholic King, and the Venetians, with hope of bringing in the Emperor, supported by the Electors Ecclesiastical, while the Pope has resolved to preclude export of merchandise, as well in order to maintain abundance in the Ecclesiastical State as to enable him to be faithful to his promise of keeping the galleys of the Republic supplied with biscuits.” 22 Feb., 1578. Rome. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xx. p. 162.	761. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to [Philip Sega,] Bishop of Ripa, Nuncio in Spain. “Since that woman of England daily suspects and discovers more of the design of the enterprise, and will soon have better grounds for her suspicion when it is learned that Geraldine (fn. 17) and Stucley are off the coasts, it could not but be well that his Majesty should resolve to give her cause enough for suspicion by authorizing the general enterprise, which might be accomplished at very little cost in comparison of the advantage that would result to his Majesty; indeed the seed would be sown in a soil so fertile that without doubt little labour and little time would suffice to reap a hundredfold harvest. The Pope adheres to his offer to lend his name and authority and all else, money alone excepted. He has also designated the Captain General of the enterprise, who will certainly be acceptable to his Majesty, and such as none could suspect of dependence upon him; he is in fact Paolo Giordano Orsino. So it is for you to take a convenient opportunity of eliciting another word on the subject from his Majesty, and then to be guided by what you gather of his mind, whether he be content, or by chance loath, to hear it mentioned. But blind indeed will these councillors be if they cannot discern the great utility of availing themselves of this offer of his Holiness, because at slight expense, and without disclosing the name of his Catholic Majesty, we may hope to achieve most important results; with, in any case, nothing to lose but the trifling sum of money that will be spent, which, all told, will be far from as much as is spent in Flanders in a single month. “Of Stucley we have no news since he was seen far from here sailing with a favouring breeze, as I wrote of late to you. Stucley was accompanied by William Cliburn, also an Englishman, and a stout soldier. And as he has a pension from his Majesty of 25 crowns of gold per month in the State of Milan, the Pope would have you do your office with his Majesty, that he instruct the Governor of Milan to cause the said pension during Cliburn's absence to be paid to his wife, Angelica Cliburn, who resides in Asti with her two sons: as to which matter the Pope is persuaded that his Majesty will make no difficulty whatever, the said Cliburn having gone by the Pope's orders no less for the service of his Majesty than of all Christendom besides.” 23 Feb., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
Ibid. p. 157.	762. To the Cardinal of Como: on behalf of Angelica, wife of William Cliburn [Cleyburne]. Craving the Cardinal's good offices in the name of the Pope with the Governor of Milan and the nuncio in Spain, to procure of the King of Spain an order to the said Governor of Milan, for payment to Angelica, wife of William Cliburn, in Asti, of her husband's monthly stipend of 25 crowns of gold, the said William being attendant upon the person of the said Governor, but lawfully excused from such attendance by reason that he is engaged in the service of God and the Church. [Feb., 1578.] Latin.