Rome: July 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: July 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/pp463-481 [accessed 28 November 2024].

July 1578



1578. Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. i.	880. Robert Fontana, [Collector Apostolic] to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “On the evening of the 20th of last month the Marquis [of Leinster] came to my house, and told me that he had been with the King to tell him that he means to go no further with him, because his secretary, whom he had ordered to Madrid, had written to him to the effect that, if he should go, the nuncio would denounce him as his Holiness' rebel, and would take from him all that he had; and that, though the King persisted in saying that he ought to go, he would not go, at any rate without the nuncio's leave. “I told him that he would do well so to do, and that if he wanted leave, he ought not to embark the soldiers. The other day his Majesty called me into the galley, and told me that at the beginning he had imparted to me the reasons by which he had been prompted till now to do what he might in this business; and now that that lord, by what he learned from his advisers, refused to go with him, he was minded likewise to tell me that the nuncio was not justified in causing a letter in such terms to be sent to that lord: for had he well understood his Majesty and his mind, he should have approved his reasons alleged in this matter as true and good; and if he had not understood them, he should have tried to understand them; making complaint against him, and clinching the matter by saying that he was minded to take the said lord with him; with such further talk on his part and reply on mine as you will see in the cipher. “The other day we, prime agents, held a consultation as to what might be done; and as after prolonged discussion no adequate expedient or remedy was discovered, that lord said that he would send one of his men post-haste to Madrid with letters from the King to the nuncio craving the said leave, as he had his Majesty's assurance that he would cause him to have it; but the Commissary must go with him, that he too might set forth in detail the principal matters, and receive orders pursuant to their plans; and although I told him that I did not think it necessary, it had my approval, and that for the reasons written to the nuncio, whose answer will, I believe, be to hand after the departure of the fleet and those troops, because his Majesty awaited only a favourable wind, and it was already eleven days since he had embarked, and he hurries everybody, requiring them to stay on board on pain of death…. “The following are the names of the nobles who are now withstanding the English in Ireland: in Ulster, which lies nearest to Scotland, Lord O'Neill and Lord O'Donnell: in Connaught John de Burgh, son of the Earl of Connaught: in Leinster Lord Omorry [sic], formerly a subject of Lord N. in time of war, who is now acting splendidly against the English. The Earl of Desmond is neither for peace nor for war, for he dissembles until the advent of Lord N. I understand from Lord N. that all the aforesaid were in eager expectation of his coming, and would have him make haste before they are dispersed and enervated. Decipher. “As your last letters show how much his Holiness desires the enterprise to go ahead; though I suppose you will have been apprised of everything by the nuncio; yet, that they may be able to make better provision, I inform you, that I have several times told the Commissary to send you the accounts of the moneys and munitions, as they may perhaps be less than they believe: also that at the first the captains and soldiers were very loath to go to Ireland under the Marquis, deeming him no man of war, nor yet fit to govern, nor constant: they are now saying resolutely that they will not go thither save under another captain, by reason of subsequent events; and the Irish priests have all been steadfast until to-day, when three of them say that they desire to go to Madrid. “The King said that he had saved the lives of the soldiers by causing them to disembark, and taking care of them, as it was no longer possible either to continue the voyage or stay in that ship; and that he was keeping them for the Pope's service, so that the enterprise might be made at a better time; and that meanwhile the Pope might approve their going on this enterprise of Africa; which likewise is against infidels. I answered that I knew not what the nuncio might have caused to be written to the Marquis; but that it must have been after good consultation by reason of the very urgent appeal made to him to send this succour forthwith to Ireland in aid of the insurrections there effected against the Queen; because every diversion on that side might be of service to Flanders. The Marquis has sought the good offices of Paulo Alfonso with the King in defence of his honour, as also his aid with the Pope; and he seems much ashamed of having failed to do his duty, since the King is not known to have given him more than 300 ducats on the day before the departure; nor know I why he should have denied to me that he had received them.” 3 July, 1578. Lisbon. Italian and Latin.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Venet. vol. xx.	881. To the Nuncio at Venice. Intimating the Pope's approval of the determination of the Republic to send an ambassador to France to deprecate the Duke of Alençon's going [to Flanders], especially as the Signory plainly show that in so doing they are mainly prompted by the example and persuasion of his Holiness; but that if the nuncio shall perceive that the Signory's idea of sending an ambassador resident to England is in a fair way to be accomplished, he is to tell them frankly that this recognition by a public embassage of so bitter a foe to Catholicism as that pretended Queen would cause the Pope such disgust as greatly to outweigh the satisfaction afforded him by their sending the ambassador to France; so that, if he had to choose, he had rather that no ambassador were sent by the Republic to France than that one should be sent to England. The nuncio is therefore to oppose the project to the utmost of his power. 5 July, 1578. Rome. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. (Greg. xiii. Epp. ad Princ.) vol. 24. f. 47.	882. Pope Gregory XIII to Henry [III], King of France. Intimating that as there seems to be some hope of restoring the Catholic religion in Scotland, he is sending to the King the Bishop of Ross, who will expound to his Majesty matters that seem very pertinent to the project. 5 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. ut supra, f. 48.	883. The Same to [Louis] Cardinal of Guise, to the Duke of Guise, and to [Charles] Cardinal of Bourbon, respectively. To the like effect as above. 5 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copies.
Vat. Arch. ut supra, f. 49.	884. The Same to [Charles] Duke of Mayenne. To the like effect as above. 5 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. ut supra, f. 50.	885. The Same to James, King of Scotland. Conferring upon him the Apostolic blessing, and descanting on the hope which is entertained that he will revive the virtue and piety of his ancestors in defending and supporting the Catholic faith, and reinstating it where it has collapsed: for it is the teaching of history in the holy scriptures that monarchs, who have lived piously and holily, and have preferred the glory of God to aught else, have been, even in this life, amply rewarded by God; while those that have fallen away from God have speedily perished. Accrediting to him for further advice the Bishop of Ross. 5 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. ut supra, f. 50.	886. The Same to Renato, Cardinal Birago. (fn. 1) Announcing the hope that is entertained of restoring the Catholic religion in Scotland, and referring him to the Bishop of Ross for more explicit information. 5 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. (Greg. xiii. Epp. ad Princ.) vol.24. f. 51.	887. Pope Gregory XIII to [Mary] Queen of Scotland. “Dearest Our daughter in Christ, health and Apostolic blessing. Were We not persuaded that Our charitable regard for you is patent to your Majesty, and were We not sure that in all circumstances and conditions your dependence is on the Divine will, and that alike in adversity as in prosperity you give thanks to God for His goodness, We should have been more prolix in intimating Our will to youwards and in exhorting you to do what We doubt not you are doing. But as We are sure that you know the one and do the other, it will suffice to acquaint your Majesty with the occasion of the arrival of your Majesty's most zealous servant, the venerable Bishop of Ross: nor greater occasion or more to be desired can there be. For We understand that there is some apparent hope of the restoration of the Catholic religion in your realm; whereon you know depend alike the glory of God and the safety and grandeur of your realm. It is for this reason that We send the bishop; nor doubt We that your Majesty will repose all trust in him.” 5 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. ut supra, f. 51d.	888. The Same to Don John of Austria. Accrediting to him the Bishop of Ross, and craving for the bishop aid and counsel in the matter of his mission to Scotland. 5 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. ut supra, f. 52.	889. The Same to the Nobles and People of Scotland. Reminding them of the constancy of their forefathers in the Catholic faith; admonishing them that other way to bliss there is none; deploring their lapse into heresy; and exhorting them to avail themselves of the good offices of the Bishop of Ross, whom he is sending to their country, for the restoration of the Catholic faith in the realm. 5 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Venet. vol. xix.	890. News Letter. “There is no fresh news, nor does it appear that the Queen was indisposed.” 5 July, 1578. London. Italian.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 271.	891. News Letter. Reporting the arrival at Bruges of ambassadors (fn. 2) from England, who on the part of their Queen exhorted the Estates to make Casimir their general; and that in their company were some personages who came to assist in the Council of the Estates, and said that the 500 English in the service of the Estates would soon arrive; and it was believed that the Estates would gratify the Queen by making Casimir their Captain General. 5 July, 1578. Augsburg. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 292d.	892. News Letter. “The ambassador from England has arrived here, and gone to Casimir's camp to treat with him. He brings 800,000 crowns in bills in favour of the Estates… “Five leagues from here, in the service of the Estates, are 2,000 Germans, and 1,000 mounted arquebusiers, besides 5,000 foot, partly English, partly Scottish.” 6 July, 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. i.	893. Robert Fontana, [Collector Apostolic] to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “I wrote on the 3rd inst. Since then there was yesterday given me yours of 30 May, in answer to which I say that I should be loath to judge rashly in this or any other business; but that I hope that from the true description given by me of its course from the middle of April until now, to wit, by letters of 14, 18, 21, 27 April, 6, 11, 17, 24 May, 1, 16, 17 June and 3 July, and others perchance, it will have been possible to understand, or at least to conjecture the primary and secondary causes of this evil, and who is most to blame for it, and what had been the way, had there been the will, to avoid it, particularly as Gambarini's Relation supplements mine. You will also have seen all the principal matters which I discussed at the outset with his Majesty, to secure us as far as I could against all loss, in accordance with that of which you now remind me: a copy of the memorandum of which matters made by me at the time, with the consent of the commissary, I send a cautela. “At present, in view of the departure of the King and that lord [Stucley] likewise, with the rest of the troops, the tarriance still of that other gentleman (fn. 3) in Brittany, the correspondence there has been with him in cipher, and the other matters reported by me, and others to boot of which I am certified from Madrid, I see that I can do no more in pursuance of the instructions that I receive than what I have done hitherto, and that it behoves me to await fresh advices, as I am instructed, ay and from Madrid, to do. Those two captains and the secretary of that lord [Stucley], who were to have gone post-haste to Madrid, will now go by stages of a day. As to the ship, I know not when she was put out of commission: but this I know well, that the King has diverted to Africa 500 ducats per month; which I no sooner learned than I took steps to have the artillery placed with the other things, to safeguard it from many risks; and had I known that the duration of the freightage had elapsed, I would have called witnesses when her master and Cliborne first came to tell me that the said ship could go no further, and that it was necessary to provide others. As to the fleet I can say nothing positive; but it is supposed to be already at Tangier, having met with good weather. Here they are raising fresh soldiers to man the ships that guard the coast, and praying and making processions in all the churches. We are now to lack for food and clothing. In future I shall not find it easy to send letters so often.” 6 July, 1578. Lisbon. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xii.	894. [Protonotary Dandino,] Nuncio in France to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “It is the opinion of some that the Queen of Navarre has been the cause of all this evil, and that in accompanying the Queen Mother on her visit to M. d'Alençon she practised double-dealing; for that, having promised her Majesty to dissuade him from his purpose, and unite him with the Most Christian King, she has done the very opposite. This is just because they are minded to send her to the King of Navarre: and should she indeed go thither, as I would on no account have her do, she would contrive all manner of evil; but could one ensure that she was not to go, she would —it is deemed certain—arrange all matters peaceably. “I have heard that it is bruited in writing that to-day two Englishmen have had private audience, one of them being the nephew of the Prior of England, who is in Rome; and that they have said to his Majesty that, if M. d'Alençon addresses himself to the enterprise of England, he will easily succeed in it, and that the Catholic King will make much of him. I will lose no time in certifying you of the matter.” 7 July, 1578. [Paris.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 305.	895. News Letter. … “M. de Volone, (fn. 4) who has recovered Campen, has laid siege to Deventer, having first been declared Governor of the States in Friesland; for the service of which States there have appeared in Holland and at Amsterdam ships and other vessels to the number of 160 hulls, laden with grain and munitions, besides many hundreds of Walloons and English … nevertheless no doubt is entertained of the Queen of England, who is sick, renewing her protests to the said States against the introduction of Frenchmen, and threatening in default to declare herself in favour of the King of Spain.” 12 July, 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xi.	896. [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain to Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como. “As regards Stucley's affairs I have seen what you write: but the matter is not in a position to enable me to adopt any of the solutions that you mention, as the troops are already embarked for Africa, and have arrived at Cadiz; whence we are now in hourly expectation of news that the King has set sail upon this enterprise, for the halt was but to await the arrival of the residue of the forces, which did not embark with his Majesty. As to Geraldine we have nothing more certain than what I wrote in my former letters; so that I am persuaded that he is still in Brittany. And in the event of our impending departure for Monzone, which by order of his Majesty has this morning been notified to all the ministers of the Princes as fixed for the end of this month, I know not how it will be possible to establish a good understanding for concerted action with him in case he should come to Madrid; but, should he come before the departure, I will endeavour to make such an arrangement with him as the Lord shall inspire me withal; and should he not come in time, I shall leave with the Collector direction as to what he is to discuss with him. As to Stucley, besides that by many channels we are already certified of the degree of reliance that may be reposed in him, I could not forbear to send you the two enclosed letters written by two of his captains to Signor Paolo Sforza, from which you will be able plainly to see on which leg he walks. (fn. 5) 12 July, 1578. Madrid. Italian.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 246.	897. News Letter. “Although it has been said more than once that the preparations made by the King of Portugal, though ostensibly against Africa, were in truth designed against the Queen of England, little credence is given thereto, since it is well known how many fleets have without combat been undone by the exceeding great natural strength of that island, aided by the rapid fall of the tides; nevertheless there is now a resurgence of the rumour that the preparations are to this end, and that the confederates are the Pope, the Catholic King, the King of Portugal and the Grand Duke of Tuscany.” 12 July, 1578. Rome. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Venet. vol. xix.	898. News Letter. … To the effect that the English ambassadors were not neglecting the negotiation of an accord between her Majesty and the Estates, but that there were so many apparent difficulties that there was little hope thereof. 12 July, 1578. Antwerp. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xii. p. 260.	899. [Fabio Mirto Frangipani,] Archbishop of Nazareth, Legate in France (fn. 6) to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “Yesterday I was at the audience of their Majesties the King and Queen Mother, who heard me jointly; and when I had reported to them what I had done, or rather not done, in approaching Monsieur, and likewise had commended and thanked them in the name of the Pope for the offices which by words they had till now done to hold that lord back, I exhorted and besought them, now that they saw that words were unavailing, to bring action to bear by precluding him from getting either troops or money from the realm, choosing rather to put this slight constraint upon this youth at this beginning of his madness than by procrastinating to be compelled afterwards to do as much and more, perchance, to him and others, when it will be more difficult for them, and not so opportune; doing my best to bring home to them, for the honour of God and the public interest of all Christendom, and their own private interest, regal and personal, the great evils which it was evident must be occasioned by this disorder. “They expressed to me the great displeasure which the evil purpose of the said youth caused them, and promised on their part to make use of every sort of opportune expedient to prohibit and thwart it to the best of their power; and that such, indeed, is their purpose they have made clear hitherto by the commands which they have published in orders. “As yet they knew not for certain where that youth had fixed his quarters, although it was dubiously affirmed that he had already entered Flanders, and in particular Arras; but this has not been confirmed, and since then it is reported that he was for certain in Mons with those few adherents whom he withdrew from Vernogli [Verneuil (fn. 7) ], so that I know not what to think of it. “Their Majesties are of opinion that as soon as it shall be known more precisely where the said lord has halted, I ought to go and find him, and put all possible pressure upon him on behalf of the Pope to dissuade him from his obstinacy; and they also believe that there, perchance, some opportunity might occur for me to arrange some good composition, with the intervention and by the authority of those Catholics. I, as likewise Cardinal Birago, should deem it meet, in order to avoid dangers and indignities, to send in the first instance one of my men to the said lord, so privily that neither he nor his evil counsellors might know of it, and hinder it before he arrive there, and to notify him by a letter from me of my mission from the Pope to him; praying him to let me know where I should go to find him; and also to send me a passport to enable me so to do; for, as he would thus be prepossessed before he is apprised of my departure hence, the evil counsellors whom he has about him would be deprived of the opportunity of machinating aught to the contrary, and he would be constrained to commit himself to bidding me come or not come. “I cannot believe that he will bid me not come; for if so, he would have no sense, as he may now be beginning to apprehend the difficulties in the way of his vain design, difficulties which he is likely to find greater every day, not only on the part of the Estates and the Prince of Orange and the Queen of England, who, by what we understand, disapprove it, save certainly that Count della lena, (fn. 8) who, they say, is not of such authority as to be able to contribute much to the furtherance of this his design; but also on the part of Monsieur himself, inasmuch as he has neither money nor men, because the few troops that in this first furore will follow him, being without pay, and unable in those countries to live on the inhabitants, and pillage, as they do in France, will be as prompt to disperse as they have been to assemble; the like whereof I have seen repeated hundreds of times in France (sic (fn. 9) ) in all the armies that have ever been assembled; so that they cannot hold together for long, and are as easily unmade as made. This lord should choose so good an opportunity of withdrawing with credit and honour at the instance and request of a Prince so eminent as the Pope, and before he be constrained to do so with shame. “I shall wait in hope of further certitude: I shall converse again with their Majesties, and with Cardinal Birago, who very stoutly supports this negotiation in due compliance with the Pope's desire, and I shall pray God to guide me in this His service. Tidings have arrived here to-day by letters of the Duke of Lorraine of a rout by Don John of more than 800 horse under Casimir, whom he had put to flight; which, if true, should set these Frenchmen thinking that they will find in Flanders more soldiers to combat than villages to plunder. “Of all this negotiation, so far as it may concern the interest of the Catholic King, and as it seems to me necessary that his ministers should be acquainted with it, I have given account to Señor Vargas, his Catholic Majesty's agent here, suggesting to him, as I think the business requires, that he should let Don John bear himself valiantly with the sword in Flanders, while he bears himself prudently here; ceasing not to solicit of their Majesties the observance of their promises, and, until he must needs do otherwise, believing, or at least making a show of believing in the good intentions professed by their Majesties, and awaiting patiently the aid that time shall contribute against the impetuosity of this youth; who, besides that he lacks experience and prowess in arms, to make him personally much to be feared, has neither counsel nor money, and consequently it may be said that he will not have troops; for those that will lightly flock to him at the beginning will also lightly disperse in a few days of their own accord. He will be in the good graces neither of the Estates nor of the Prince of Orange—the French insolence will not be tolerated by those people —he will be attacked by Don John, and constrained to make a retreat as ignominious as his advance was foolhardy. “To this I subjoined that impatience and a rupture made here by Señor Vargas would exactly serve Monsieur's turn, procuring for him open aids and succours, greater and fraught with greater peril, saddling his King with a new war and fresh expenditure, which would be a solace indeed and an occasion of rejoicing to all the rebels of Flanders and France. Nor will he thus be deprived of the power to make a rupture when ever he chooses, though this in my opinion is the last thing to be done. Such is the advice which, informed as I am of these humours, I have deemed it my duty to give him; and as my opinion met with his concurrence, I have seen fit to give the Pope and yourself this brief account thereof. “I have received from the Bonvisi in Lyons a letter for 1,000 crowns payable here in Paris to James Geraldine; and though I found here the Bishop of Mayo, to whom I gave their letter, and an agent of the said Geraldine, who would gladly have received the money, I deemed it better to remit it for payment to Geraldine himself at Nantes; and so by correspondents of the Bonvisi here I caused it to be remitted to merchants in Nantes for him, and gave the letters to the Bishop and agent aforesaid, who told me they would send or carry them themselves; which is all I have to tell you at present; and so I most humbly kiss your hand.” 14 July, 1578. Paris. Italian. Autograph.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Venet. vol. xix.	900. News Letter. “Of late there has arrived [here] a ship from Lisbon bound for Zealand; and from the mariners aboard her we learn that the King of Portugal departed with his fleet on the 20th of June (fn. 10) for the enterprise of Barbary; but some there are who believe that he will invade England in the interest of the King of Spain by reason of the many troops which that Queen has sent to the Estates of Flanders to invade his realm.” 16 July, 1578. Antwerp. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. i.	901. Robert Fontana, [Collector Apostolic] to [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como]. “As the Bishop of Killala, who came in the ship, has taken leave of me in order to go, as he says, in quest of Geraldine to Brittany, and as thence he might go to Rome; you are to know that he and the other priests have ever said much evil of the Marquis [of Leinster], and in this business, in particular, that he has beguiled the Pope and betrayed them; and that he was leading the troops to certain death, and was not competent for that enterprise, and had neither funds nor friends in Ireland, nay, was hated as an Englishman, and would now be hated the more as a Marquis, as that title could not but offend everybody; insomuch that I doubt whether at that juncture they would have continued the voyage hence, though since then, admonished by me, they have evinced more readiness, and have awaited the departure of the Marquis, though entertainment by us they had none, often as they asked for it, and I would gladly have given it for pity's sake, had I been able to do so. “And the Marquis and the Bishop of Killaloe deemed all the rest save the rector (fn. 11) and Cornelius [Neachten] unfit for this enterprise. “Miguel de Moura told me this morning that the King had letters from the ambassador [at Rome] dated 30 May as to the troops, in which he said that the Pope was writing to the King; and he craved those letters of me. I replied that I had not had them; but I had indeed had orders to pray his Majesty to provide these troops with ships and let them go; which I had not been able to do because they were already gone: and he asked me how the Pope had come to know of this matter before the arrival of their courier. I answered that there were then couriers in plenty departing for Madrid, and many folk that might have written, not acknowledging that it was I that had done so. He then besought me on his Majesty's part to oblige by writing again, and I promised to do so; and we had some discussion about the business. To cut it short his arguments were about the same as already reported, and the conclusion was that, as an obedient son of the Pope, his Majesty ought not to let those troops go to meet disaster at sea or at the hand of the enemy at that time, and that he could not succour them by reason of the truce which he has with the Queen of England, who, I verily think, has not supplied the King with aught for this war.” 17 July, 1578. Lisbon. Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. i.	902. Robert Fontana, [Collector Apostolic] to [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como]. “Geraldine has written to the Bishop of Killaloe here, that at the beginning of this month he would depart for Biscay and thence for Madrid to treat with the nuncio. The said Geraldine has sent the said Bishop the underwritten Latin memorandum”[a duplicate of the list of rebel Irish nobles included in the letter of 3 July, p. 464, supra]. 17 July, 1578. Lisbon. Italian. Decipher.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Polon. vol. xiv.	903. John Andrew Caligari, [Nuncio in Poland (fn. 12) ] to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “Possevino (fn. 13) departed from this place for Olmötz on his way to Prague on the 14th inst. I believe he will be somewhat ahead: he carries some letters from me for you. The Coadjutor of Vilna, by what I am informed for truth, has been here, but was unwilling that it should be known, or that he should be seen by Mgr. of Mondovi or by me: he is bound on his peregrination of France, Spain and England. News there is none of the King's coming hither; and though his Majesty keeps everybody in expectation thereof, it is generally believed that he purposes to go far into Lithuania for the war against the Muscovite.” 18 July, 1578. Cracow. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xii.	904. [Protonotary Dandino,] Nuncio in France to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “I have heard that the Queen of England is lending the Estates 6,000 marks of silver, and that there was some talk of peace in circulation; but that they would have none of it except on the terms of the last peace made in France.” 19 July, 1578. [Paris.] Italian.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 286.	905. News Letter. … “It is said here that the fleet of the King of Portugal will go to England against that Queen, whereof I will give you more sure and definite information.” 19 July, 1578. Rome. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 321d.	906. News Letter. … “Yesterday there arrived here an ambassador of the Duke of Saxony to offer soldiers and horses to the Estates, and to Archduke Matthias, against Spain. “It is said that the Queen of England has revoked all the aids that were to have been given to the Estates for that Frenchmen, her chief enemies, have been introduced here.” 22 July, 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. Greg. xiii. Epp. ad Princ. vol. 24. f. 40.	907. Pope Gregory XIII to Rodolph, King of Hungary and Bohemia, Emperor Elect of the Romans. Commending to him the Bishop of Ross, who is unsparing of thought and toil for the restoration of the Catholic religion in Scotland; including therein also by mandate of the Queen herself the business of the monasteries of that realm. 23 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy. Briefs to the like effect were sent at the same time to the Duke of Bavaria and the Archbishop of Mainz: also to the Bishop of Würzburg with the addition of the following words:— “We are also informed that in your diocese there is a monastery of the Scots long since bereft of its abbot: it is reasonable that you should do that nation the favour of restoring it and conserving its rights. This we doubt not you will do, and fully satisfy so just a request.” (fn. 14)
Ibid. f. 41.	908. The Same to the Duke of Lorraine. Accrediting to him the Bishop of Ross on business relating to the state of Scotland. 23 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna vol. xi.	909. [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “Stucley set sail with the King and the troops for Africa. The Bishop of Killaloe writes me from Lisbon that Geraldine will soon join me here. I shall not fail to converse with him, and discover what hope of benefit thereof there may be. Meanwhile I have been joined here by Captain Bastiano, and have spoken at large with him about all Stucley's proceedings, which have made me verily astounded at the man's perversity. The Irish priests have come hither, they too, and crave my help to enable them to subsist, being, as they say, without funds for tarrying, going forward or going back. Captain Cleiborne has come, he too, in the hope of exculpating Stucley alike in the King's judgment and my own; but having failed to get access, he has begun to chant his palinode, speaking evil of Stucley in order to save himself. But for my part I hold them all to be smeared with the same pitch; and I have all but lost the art of fencing with these folk. However, I shall see what service can be gotten out of Geraldine, since there is no need to hazard more than the arms and munitions; and I firmly believe that his Majesty will not fail to leave the 20,000 crowns at my disposal, as, when occasion shall better serve, I will write more at large.” 24 July, 1578. Madrid. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Inghilt. vol. i.	910. Bastian San Joseppi to the Same. “Besides the displeasure which I felt at our putting into Lisbon, I deemed it no fight matter that the Marquis [of Leinster (fn. 15) ] should so readily place himself at the service of the King of Portugal, regardless of his promises to the Pope; nevertheless I continued steadfast in hope that he would not have to go upon such a service, until his Majesty's final embarcation, when he began to be very urgent with me that I should embark the arms and the few munitions that remained; but seeing that we had no instruction from you, I told him that I did not purpose to embark either arms or munitions for Africa save on sight of further order. He made answer that the arms were his own, given to him by his Holiness, and that he meant to do with them as he would; and numberless attempts he made to gain me over, bidding me to embark them, and I refusing so to do. “At last, seeing that the fleet was ready to sail, he told me resolutely that he was determined by all means to embark the arms, or else to fire them; to which I replied that with all the King's forces he would never get the arms embarked for Africa, unless I saw such an express order as aforesaid, and that I had rather lose my life than obey him in this matter, unless it were in the service of his Holiness, in which case I would have cleaned his shoes and served him as estafette. “After all manner of altercation I convinced him that I would not embark them, particularly as I learned from one of the King's chief ministers, Pedro d'Alcazzova [Alcaçova (fn. 16) ] by name, that his Majesty purposed first to make use of them and afterwards to pay for them, or give as many others in lieu of them; and as I was also informed by a treasurer of the said Dom Pedro that the Marquis had let it be understood that he had 4,000 arquebuses with as many morions, pikes, and corslets, in all twice as many as there are in the service of the King, which he would give his Majesty, should he so desire, because the PP. (fn. 17) had given them to him. Forecasting this, and considering how serious a matter it would be for the Pope if I should let the arms slip out of my hands, I resolved rather to lose a thousand lives. Nor has the said Dom Pedro failed already to send for me; and he has exhorted me to put all aboard, and to serve the King faithfully, in which case he would have me treated with much kindness; whereto I replied that, though I were but a feeble vassal to serve his Majesty, it had ever been my intention not to serve him save by order of his Holiness; and that he should have done with that idea, for I was not minded to embark the arms or serve the King. Marking my determination that lord was ill satisfied, and renewed his exhortation, saying that if so he might content me, I should be remunerated. Whereto I replied that, though the King should give me his crown, I would not abandon his Holiness' service. And so I left him, deeming that it was better, instead of going to Africa, to stay and take care of the arms and munitions, and to have many that were damaged repaired, so as afterwards to be able to put in train and accomplish whatever the Pope should command. I assure you that they are well guarded; and this and every other employment of greater importance shall ever be trustily superintended by me. And I assure you that, if the Pope had given me authority to make accord in these late affairs, the soldiers would not have gone to Africa, nor the King have got so good a bargain: but as I lacked the authority I could not do otherwise. Enough that I have been more than once menaced with death; and I have borne it all, affecting neither to see nor to feel, lest the business should be mismanaged. It was all due to the lack of authority; for had I possessed that, I would have chastised and compelled to hold their peace (fn. 18) those that merited it, and the business would have fared better than it has done. Patience! I ever wrote well of the Marquis while I saw that he was bent on the right course; but since his arrival at Lisbon, having seen him so readily desert the Pope's service to addict himself to that of the King, I cannot but, as his Holiness' most faithful servant, write the truth about all the past; for well indeed do I remember the promise that I made on his Holiness' most holy feet to serve him faithfully; and so he may be assured that I shall not fail. “The Marquis has gotten from my hands some moneys in excess of what I was bound to pay him; wherein I allowed myself to be overborne in order that the business might be well started, showing myself always complaisant towards him, in order that he might abide firmly and consistently by the promises made to the Pope and yourself; but I see that herein he has deceived me, and gotten the moneys from my hands by stratagems, telling me a world of lies about moneys that he would get from this, that or the other source. I know not if you remember that, as we were going into the palace of the PP., I told you that the Marquis was insatiable and hardly to be contented. However, I have always deemed that 200 crowns more or less mattered little, if the business succeeded; and in this I have been deluded. But I trust in the nuncio and Mgr. Fontana: they will give you account of all the past, and of the load of care that we have borne, that affairs might go well. And I without their aid and influence, and any authority whatever, was not able to gainsay the Marquis, who thought he held the world in his fist, and recked nought of the servants of the PP. “I have no more to tell you but that the King embarked on the 10th of June, and our soldiers, by order of the Marquis, against my will, on the 21st of the said month. I did not embark for the reasons aforesaid; but I appointed and sent an agent with authority from me to recover the residue of the loans made to the captains, difficult though it is likely to be, the captains being hardly reasonable men. However I have spared no assiduity with the ministers of the King, and the captains themselves, to induce them to be not unreasonable, as their honour requires. “The King with all the fleet departed from the port of Lisbon on the 26th of the said month, sailing in the direction of Cape St. Vincent and Tangier; and I, having terminated my service, resolved to betake me to the Court of Spain, and have recourse to the nuncio, to learn his decision as to how I should comport myself in this business. He has told me to await the decision of Rome, and that it would be well for me to return to Lisbon to take care of the arms and munitions that remain there, and that on receipt of advice from Rome he will direct me what to do. “By your last letter you write me that you supposed that I should have munitions and victuals enough for the voyage in the event of having to go ahead. I remind you that in Port' Hercole there remained in the hands of Marc' Antonio Rami [sic Zani (fn. 19) ], by order of Paolo Giordano [degli Orsini (fn. 20) ], about 400 tons of biscuits, abandoned because, after they had been embarked, it was necessary to disembark them, the ship not being commodious; besides which there remained about 15 tons of cheese and 10 tons of salt meat, with 9 barrels of tunny and 60 barrels of pilchard; which munitions were included in the account of the seven pays, as you know. They were a short allowance for three months; and we have been voyaging from the 23rd of January to the 18th of April, the date of our arrival at Lisbon, dispensing them from the very day of our departure from Civitavecchia to the 25th of April, when the soldiers were disembarked at Overes [Oéiras], and to the Marquis and all his household ashore until the 25th of June, as he had no means of living. And, what is more, they were dispensed to all those English sent from Rome, a bishop, priests and others; which may give occasion to ponder what munitions I may have, seeing that the supply was for three months, and has served for four months; and the few that I have, I have economized as much as possible in the interest of the Reverend Chamber; and to our great disadvantage it has been necessary to purchase on the coast of Spain wine, salt meat and cheese, besides many other things, the cost of which when added to that of the water, which is a matter of some crowns, amounts to a great sum; and on the other hand the Marquis has compelled me to squander much money in ostentation; for finding myself associated with captains of little judgment and self-control, I have been constrained, in order to manage the business to good purpose, to do as he would have me do; which has occasioned much extraordinary expenditure; and I could not but incur great personal peril in dispensing the rations, because every man, captain and private alike, not content with what was reasonable, always expected to have everything to his mind. But for all that, by dint of great patience the most economical terms possible were made with them.” 24 July, 1578. Madrid. Italian. Autograph. Postscript.—”As regards the four pieces of artillery that were taken from Civitavecchia, seeing that the King was making use of our ship, which I kept waiting till the end of May, because I thought that we should be making use of her to the end of the voyage, I have had them disembarked and placed in good custody with the rest of the arms, being very apprehensive lest, if they were left as they were, the King should do as he pleased with them, and they should be lost. The victuals that I have in hand are about 100 tons of biscuits, 7 sacks of meal, a cask of vinegar, a cask of Greek wine that has turned sour, two sacks of beans and six chests of white biscuits: as to the money that I have in hand I can say nothing precise, because the account remains at Lisbon. The captains have yet to pay me 1,000 crowns on account of loans; and the Marquis owes me 520 crowns.” Italian.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xlii. vol. 35. f. 185. No. 343.	911. Pope Gregory XIII to John [Leslie], Bishop of Ross. Appointing him administrator of the church of Moray until it be provided with a pastor. 24 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Minute. Certified for despatch by Flavio Cardinal Orsini.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xi. p. 347.	912. To the Nuncio Dandino. Soliciting on the part of the Pope the nuncio's good offices for the Bishop of Ross during his journey through France for Scotland, or, failing that, during his sojourn in France, and especially to procure for him the favour of the King in all possible ways, because, besides that he is in exile, there is no boon that he does not merit by reason of his doctrine and goodness. 25 July, 1578. [Rome.] Italian. Original.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. Greg. xiii. Epp. ad Princ. vol. 24. f. 56.	913. Pope Gregory XIII to Don John of Austria. Commending to him Richard Norton, Englishman, formerly of rank and influence, but now, solely by reason of his constancy in the Catholic faith and most zealous endeavour for its restitution in Yorkshire, reduced to extreme poverty. Accompanied by his daughter, the sole solace of his old age, he is now setting forth to seek Don John, hoping by his influence to ensure, as the Pope entreats, prompt payment of a monthly pension granted him by King Philip, with arrears, and regular payment of the same in future. Also commending to him the Carthusian monks, i.e. the remnant of those slaughtered by King Henry VIII, who of late at the demand of “that fury of England” were ejected from Bruges, where they had been maintained by the munificence of the Catholic King, and now live most miserably at S. Quentin, having lost everything save hope in Don John's humanity and the Catholic King's benignity. The Pope, therefore, at their request craves that a place may be assigned them where they can live together and offer their wonted prayers to God for the weal of the King, of Don John and all the realm, and the might and majesty of the Catholic Church. Finally, commending to him the English nuns of the order of S. Bridget, who live in their convent at Mechlin in the utmost poverty and peril on the part of heretics; while the pension which the Catholic King ordered to be paid them is now four years in arrear. 26 July, 1578. St. Peter's, Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xii.	914. [Protonotary Dandino,] Nuncio in France to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “Their Majesties are about to send to Germany, to Spain, and to England three brothers of Cardinal Rambouillet to give account of Monsieur's going to Flanders, of the offices that have been and are being done, and of their mind: and as Mgr. Birago is to return to Rome, he will be charged to do the same office with the Pope; and perhaps, as he journeys, with the Signory of Venice. “It is held for certain that the seals are to be transferred from Cardinal Birago to M. de Ciavergni [Cheverny (fn. 21) ]. 27 July, 1578. [Paris.] Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xi.	915. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to [James Beaton,] Archbishop of Glasgow, Ambassador. “Having heard from the Bishop of Ross in much detail of your goodness, zeal and vigilance in applying yourself to the restitution of the Catholic religion in Scotland, his Holiness, discerning, as he does, the same good will in that Mgr., hopes that by your and his joint handling, this business may bear excellent fruit; and so, now that the said Mgr. of Ross is departing hence, his Holiness is minded that I exhort you in his name to be at one with that Mgr. in so handling what shall be needful for the service of God and the holy religion that his Holiness shall be gratified, and lend all possible aid to your joint operations. May God so show you the way, and accord you all satisfaction!” 28 July, 1578. Rome. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Inghilt. vol. i.	916. Bastian San Joseppi to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “In my former letter, of 24 July, I omitted to tell you of a Breton ship sighted off Alicante making for us, which I and the captains perceived to be piratical, having observed her while yet a great way off shape her course to fall upon us, expecting to find our ship laden otherwise than with soldiers; and—what was most remarkable—her mariners erred in speaking us, saying that they came from the Levant, whereas the contrary was the fact and indeed was apparent. Having noted it all, I deemed, as did likewise the captains, that her capture would have prospered our voyage, our ship being small and incommodious for our service; and so thinking I called Captain Hercole da Pisa into my cabin, and told him that it was ill done to let her go. He concurred with what I said, but knew not what to do; and I replied that as it was a piratical ship, he should pursue her all night long; because early in the morning, if she was discovered to be still with us, he, without more ado, might put thirty arquebusiers into our ship's boat, and make for her, and board her—for we with our ship would forthwith come to his support—and having boarded her, he might, without giving any offence, crave of the master to see the bills of lading, and not being shown them, might easily make him prisoner, and we should be suited to our liking without having need of the King of Portugal. The ship was next morning sighted astern of ours; and that which we had already resolved to do might have been done; but anticipating it the Marquis would not have it done, and caused one of his Englishmen to speak to the master of that ship in his own tongue; which done, he went in company with us as far as the straits of Gibraltar: and thence, having the wind in his poop, he sailed towards Cape St. Vincent, on which course he fell in with a little Biscayan craft which he plundered; and afterwards he encountered a Genoese ship of 1,500 salme, (fn. 22) came to Cadiz, and reported all the affair with the Breton ship to the astonishment of everyone; but it was more than the soldiers could brook, that, though the Marquis knew her to be a piratical ship, he had forbidden them to take her. All this happened: and yet more amazed was I that on arriving at Cadiz he gave two of those Englishmen that had been sent from Rome to Civitavecchia leave to go to England, knowing as I did the great secrecy with which this business had been despatched.” 29 July, 1578. Madrid. Italian. Autograph.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 299.	917. News Letter. … “The captains and soldiers complain to the Pope of the English duke, who withholds their pay; and it is thought they may so flout him as that he shall never forget his ill treatment of Italians.” 30 July, 1578. Rome. Italian. Copy.