Venice: September 1609, 1-10 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 11, 1607-1610. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

Citation:

'Venice: September 1609, 1-10', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 11, 1607-1610, ed. Horatio F Brown( London, 1904), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol11/pp325-337 [accessed 25 November 2024].

September 1609, 1–10



Sept. 1. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni Principi. Venetian Archives.	596. A Cha'usch arrived from the Porte with letters from the Sultan. He was given a lodging and three sequins a day for his three servants. The letters bespoke the kind offices of the Republic, not only for the Turks trading in Venice but for the fugitive Mussulman Moors flying from Spain and Granada and on their way to Turkey. The bearer is Hadgi Ibrahim, Mutaferika of Cairo.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 2. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni Principi. Venetian Archives.	597. Ibrahim was introduced into the Cabinet and informed of the answer given by the Senate. He was presented with one hundred sequins, returned thanks and took his leave. He received also two robes, one of satin the other of damask, and a scarlet coat for one of his servants. He asked whether he had better go on to France by sea or by land and was told that the sea at present was far from safe.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 2. Senato, Secreta. Despatches from Milan. Venetian Archives.	598. Francesco Marchesini, Venetian Resident in Milan, to the Doge and Senate.
	Acknowledges receipt of instructions in favour of Angelo Gradenigo, left in prison in Milan by Sherley, Persian Ambassador.
	Milan, 2nd September, 1689.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 3. Original Despatch Venetian Archives.	599. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	On Monday the Lords of Council return to this city. The King will arrive at Windsor on Saturday and thence he will go to Hampton Court along with the Queen. There and at Royston he will occupy himself with the usual sport until the bad season be past.
	The reason why the King has cut short his Progress is a rumour that Tyrone is going back to Ireland, and that in view of this a son of his, an excellent soldier, at present serving the Archduke with a regiment of infantry, is to move from Flanders. All the same the news is not confirmed. They are very rightly suspicious about Ireland, which is by nature deeply devoted to the Apostolic See, and very ill content at the plan for bridling it by building a fortress, which is already begun, and by the plantation scheme, which hitherto has been suspended owing to the numerous obligations, imposed upon the colonists, to build Protestant churches, schools and block-houses. The Irish would be very glad to hear the name of Spain in Ireland, where the opinion is held that the Spanish are the only nation that truly defends the Catholic Faith.
	The eldest son of the Count of Oldenburg (fn. 1), a relation of the Queen, has arrived in London. He is very rich. He is getting ready his liveries. Meantime he has found himself unable to remain incognito, as he desired, until the return of the Court, because the Custom-house officers, most imprudently, seized his effects.
	The Ambassador of Florence, who is coming to announce the succession of the Grand Duke, is also expected daily. The Master of the Ceremonies (Lewkenor) has had no orders to meet him or compliment him. This is a proof that the displeasure with his Highness is still alive.
	The Scotch Bishops will, for the future, wear pontifical robes, to which the Scotch have shown opposition. It only remains for the King to determine the form of them. (Li Vescovi di Scotia useranno per l'avvenire in Chiesa que' habiti Pontificali, a che Scocesi si erano mostrati renitenti. Resta solo che dal Rè sii dichiarita la forma di essi.) The weather has been so bad lately that it has been impossible to gather the crop. The corn is suffering and rotting in the fields, just as the drought in the early season caused a poor hay-crop, which is of great importance in this country, because of the number of animals fed on it. All this, joined to the looseness of the money market (alla larghezza delle valute) and the great concourse of people at Court, causes a dearth of everything.
	To-day St. Bartholomew's Fair was opened, to our considerable surprise, for the plague, fostered by the unripe fruit the poor eat, has been more deadly than at any time in the last three years.
	London, 3rd September, 1609.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 3. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	600. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	In a few days ten ships which the King of Spain has been building in Dunquerque during the last two years, will be ready. They are to sail to Spain. The biggest are of six hundred tons burden, which is all that the port can hold.
	The question of transit for Antwerp is not settled yet, with the result that many French, Spanish, English and Dutch ships touch at Dunquerque. This will hasten the conclusion of the agreement.
	The Archduke keeps all the fortresses on the frontier well guarded with Spanish infantry,—especially Ostend, Bramberg, Nieuport and Dunquerque—as the States have fourteen companies of infantry in Sluys.
	His Highness is very anxious lest the question of Cleves should kindle war again in those parts. Some days ago he sent the President Richardot to the King of France. The Spanish Ambassador has received orders by courier express from his master to make strong representations to his Majesty. He at once sent Dr. Taylor (Teler) to the King at Salisbury and will himself have audience as soon as his Majesty returns to Hampton Court. All the same such is the desire of these Princes to support Brandenburg and Neuburg, either on the ground of blood-relationship and religion, or to augment their own importance and to take Cleves from the House of Austria, that it is generally considered that every effort will prove fruitless. A cousin of Neuburg is expected at Court, they say, to treat about this very matter. Archduke Leopold in Juliers, has not only received from Flanders the necessaries of which he was in need, but also the luxuries. I enclose some papers on the subject.
	Lord Salisbury has been informed that I was taking a note of the persons who have served in the Flanders wars (about whom I await further instructions). His Excellency caused me to be asked whether your Serenity intended to engage any officers of this nation, and the rank and terms, for if so he could make a selection of the most experience and perhaps among those closely related to himself. I returned thanks for this courtesy, and said that I had considered it my duty at the moment of the truce to obtain some information for your Excellencies who were wont to keep a certain number of experienced officers in your pay and that I was sure you would be gratified by this offer.
	London, 3rd September, 1609.
	[Italian.]
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	601. Copy of a letter from the Emperor addressed to Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg, and to the Count Palatine of the Rhine Wolfgang Wilhelm, Duke of Neuburg.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	Prague, 11th July, 1609.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	602. Copy of the Imperial Mandate to the State of Juliers and Cleves.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	Prague, 11th July, 1609.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	603. Copy of the accord between the two Princes Brandenburg and Neuburg and some of the States of Cleves and the Mark.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	Duysburg, 14th July, 1609.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	604. Copy of the Letter of the Archduke Leopold to the States General.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	The chief fortress of Juliers, 30th July, 1609.
Sept. 3. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	605. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	As soon as it suits the King's convenience I will go to Hampton Court to present your Serenity's letters of the fifth ult. I will express to his Majesty my regret that that Flemish Priest should have abused the asylum granted by this Embassy and introduced the books I have spoken about. I am persusded I shall find no difficulty in convincing his Majesty. Owing to the absence of the Court nothing has been said about this matter for some time past. I trust I shall soon be relieved of this thorn in my eye by obtaining leave to rid myself of both priest and porter whom I still keep in custody. The Spanish Ambassador is not pleased at the current rumour that this book was issued by the Jesuit College of St. Omer in Flanders and he told me yesterday that he had letters from the Papal Nuncio in that province assuring him that this was not so, and that from the liberty taken in abusing the Holy Writ he felt convinced that the book was the work of a non-Catholic, who was endeavouring by this means to inflame the King's sentiments against our religion, it would appear that here they have some indications that the book was written in England and they greatly desire to discover the author.
	They continue an active enquiry to find out some particulars of that other book written in French and entitled “Responce au liure de Maistre Jacquet,” which has not yet come into the hands of the Lords of Council.
	London, 3rd September, 1609.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 4. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni Roma. Venetian Archives.	606. The procedure adopted by the office of the Inquisition, in prohibiting the King of England's book.
	After the Nuncio had been twice to the Cabinet to state that, on orders from Rome, he had visited the office of the Inquisition to request that the King of England's book should be prohibited as containing many dogmas totally contrary to the Catholic faith, and observing that though a heretic the King of England was a great Sovreign to whom respect was due, and that accordingly it might be possible to treat this book as the other book had been treated, that is to say by naming the title only not the author, and the Signori Assessors having replied that the Nuncio had better see the Cabinet on this point—the Assessors were summoned to the Cabinet and after reporting what had taken place at the office of the Inquisition on this subject, they were instructed that should the Nuncio return they were, as of their own accord, to grant the request that the prohibition should be passed in as cautious and courteous a manner as possible, not permitting any note to be entered in the office, as happens in ordinary cases of prohibition, nor that orders in writing be issued to the booksellers, but that all should take place vivâ-voce by verbal orders given to the Prior of the Guild to instruct the members neither to receive nor to circulate the book entitled “Apologia super juramento fidelitatis.” This in conformity with the resolution of the Cabinet, July 25th, which runs thus: “July 25th, 1609, to the Ambassador in Rome. You will tell his Beatitude that in accordance with our wonted piety, we will not allow this book to be seen, circulated or published in our State.” This order was punctually carried out by the Illustrious Francesco Bernardo, the only Assessor on duty (Sig. Girolamo Capello being at his villa and the Procuratore Bembo ill) without further recourse either to the Cabinet or Senate, although at first great difficulties were raised by the Nuncio and the Inquisitor, who desired to register the usual note of the prohibition. The Prior of the Guild also endeavoured to obtain an order in writing, pleading his short memory; but Sig. Bernardo replied that they would give him no order in writing at all, and that if he could not remember the name of the book he had better write it down for himself, which he did. He was warned not to let this note pass out of his hands into those of the booksellers, but to make them take it down in their own handwriting. Bernardo also warned the Chancellor of the Inquisition that he was not, as he valued the favour of the Government, to put in writing any report of these proceedings without consulting himself and his colleagues and obtaining their assent. The Chancellor replied that he knew well what his duty was and would discharge it. Bernardo reported all to the Cabinet, who entered this minute.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 5. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	607. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Pope said that the Persian Ambassador appeared to be a person of prudence. As far as he could make out the object of his mission was merely to pay a visit.
	Rome, 5th September, 1609.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 5. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	608. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate.
	On Sunday last the Persian Ambassador had audience. He was brought from his lodging by several gentlemen of the Palace and some carriages. The Pope merely enquired about his country, his journey, and what he thought of Rome. To this the Ambassador made no reply, but sitting on his legs in Turkish fashion he, from time to time, kissed his Holiness' feet.
	Rome, 5th September, 1609.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 5. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	609. Simon Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
	Two Moldavian gentlemen have been set free. They belong to the party of the pretender who at present is the guest and the protege of the English Ambassador. When set free they were ordered by the Grand Vizir on no account to enter the English Ambassador's house. They went, however, and the Vizir, informed by their enemies, demanded them from the Ambassador, who denied that they were in the Embassy. Words ran so high that the Vizir said the Grand Signor would send the Ambassador in chains to England to have his head taken off, and added a heap of insults so that the Ambassador returned to his house quite upset and melancholy; and in truth I fear that, as the Porte is tired of this affair, something worse than words may befall the Ambassador, who persists, all the same, in his designs.
	Dalle Vigne di Pera, 5th September, 1609.
	[Italian; deciphered.]
Sept. 5. Senato Secreta. Despatches from Florence. Venetian Archives.	610. Giacomo Vendramin, Venetian Resident in Florence, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Persian Ambassador (Sherley) has not left yet, although he has news that his companion is already in Rome. He has put his household in silk of various colours. He gets the stuff but does not pay. He has asked the Grand Duke for four thousand crowns for his needs. It is thought that he will get it in place of a present.
	Florence, 5th September, 1609.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 9. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	611. Antonio Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	On Thursday the English Ambassador had audience and informed the King that his Master would follow his Majesty's counsel in the affair of Cleves. The King of England has written to the Emperor. His Most Christian Majesty is not altogether satisfied; he thinks the King of England wishes to compel him to move first.
	The Princes in Düsseldorf have appealed from the Imperial Commissioners to an Emperor “better informed.”
	The Marshal of Poland stays on. I gather that in his visit to England he had complained that the English Ambassador in Constantinople was urging the Grand Vizir to attack the King of Poland.
	Has seen M. de la Boderie, lately Ambassador in England, who told him that the King of England is very well affected towards the King of France.
	When visiting the English Ambassador he said he heard from Italy that they were saying there that when he presented the King's book to the King of France his Majesty threw it down on a table and showed small regard for it. He asked if I had heard the rumour. I replied “No,” but such a report was obviously false for neither in the Gardens nor in the Gallery of the Tuilleries, where audience was usually granted, was there a table to be found.
	Paris, 9th September, 1609.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 9. Minutes of the Senate. Rome. Venetian Archives.	612. That the English Ambassador be summoned to the Cabinet and that the following be read to him:
	My Lord Ambassador, your Lordship may rest assured of the great regret with which the Senate has heard that that Flemish priest was instrumental in circulating the defamatory book from the house of our Ambassador Correr. The statement you have made corresponds with the report of our Ambassador. It has been some consolation to us to learn that his Majesty has at the same time been assured of the perfect rectitude of our Ambassador, and that the Ambassador has had not the smallest share in the matter. We return thanks to the King for his friendly attitude towards us. We have instructed our Ambassador to place the priest and the porter at the King's disposal, as it is not our intention to shelter such scoundrels. We have also given orders that the book be neither received, circulated, read or seen in any way soever in our State, but that, as far as in us lies, it be suppressed and extinguished.
	As to the complaint made by your Lordship, about the “Apologia” of his Majesty, we must say in reply that we cannot see that there is any cause for annoyance at what has been done by the Holy Office, if you will recall what you yourself said in the Cabinet when presenting the King's book, which his profound and remarkable intelligence showed him clearly to be unfit for universal study by the people, on account of the passages in it which are contrary to the Dogmas of the religion we profess, although those passages are introduced with other intent and for other ends. In his letter he expresses the idea that he did not pretend to catechize anyone on their dogmas and that shows us the object he had in view in presenting us with the book. The orders were issued by the Inquisition in the most discreet and courteous terms it was possible to employ. No note of the prohibition was entered at the Holy Office though that is the ordinary and invariable course in such cases, nor was an order issued in writing to the booksellers, but the Prior of the Guild was informed by word of mouth only (fn. 2) as we have taken pains to assure ourselves. This unusual course has been adopted solely out of regard for his Majesty's name, and we are convinced that when he is fully informed of the circumspection which has been employed and of the great care which must be taken in matters referring to religion he will not feel offended, nay, he will approve all that has been done and will be content and satisfied therewith. All this we beg your Lordship to signify to his Majesty with your wonted kindness and to assure him of the continued affection and respect of the Republic for him.
	Further that the Rifformatori of the University of Padua order the booksellers that they are neither to receive nor circulate the libel on the King of England called “Pruritanus.'
	Ayes	78.	Second vote	71.
	Noes	7.		3.
	Neutrals	81.		92.
			No resolution taken.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 9. Minutes of the Senate, Rome. Venetian Archives.	613. To the Ambassador in England.
	You will see from the enclosed copy the serious complaint made by the English Ambassador on account of the order given by the Holy Office to the Prior of the Booksellers in this city forbidding the trade to receive or circulate the “Apologia,” also the account of what has happened at your house and to yourself about the libellous book attacking his Majesty, written by an unknown author and circulated by the Flemish priest. This report agrees with the report you yourself have sent us in your despatch of August 6th.
	To both these representations we, along with the Senate, have replied in terms which you will gather from the enclosed copy. As regards the complaint about the “Apologia,” you are not to say anything unless it is first mooted to you, in that case you will reply in the sense of our answer. As regards the other book you will on receipt of this proceed immediately to his Majesty and in our names you will make representations to him in the sense of our answer, and you will declare that it is not our intention that such kind of persons should be sheltered. Let his Majesty dispose of the priest and porter as seems best to him. You will take care they don't escape. We note that in addition to your chaplain-in-ordinary you have introduced this Flemish priest and we recommend great caution for the future in such matters.
	Ayes	78.	Second vote	71.
	Noes	9.		3.
	Neutrals	81.		92.
			No resolution taken.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 10. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni Roma. Venetian Archives.	614. The Ambassador of England came to the Cabinet and in substance spoke as follows:—
	“The last time I had the honour of an audience I made two representations: one was about an order issued by the friar Inquisitor, forbidding all booksellers to circulate, sell or keep the book written by his Majesty; the second was an account of what had happened in England about the libel.
	On the first point I said that I was amazed that under the very eyes of your Lordships and in your own capital a friar had dared to prohibit a book which had been so graciously received such a short time back by your Serenity and presented by me with due moderation as a pledge and witness of affection. I pointed out that it was a graver injury to my Master to prohibit his book after it had been accepted than it had been a favour to receive it, because turpius ejicitur quam non admittitur hospes. Acceptance was an act of ceremonious affection, whereas prohibition was an overt offence, and I finally begged your Excellencies to heal the injury to his Majesty's honour by a rapid, friendly and just demonstration. On the second point I gave a taste of the substance of the libel which is full of lies and obscenity; among which I am astonished at one manifest lie. At every second line we are called “innovators,” whereas it is obvious that so far from being innovators we protest in all our writings that we appeal to the antiquity of those ancient holy Fathers who lived from 600 upwards to the Christian era, and to Christ himself, the most ancient of them all. I then, by order of his Majesty, bore witness to the integrity of the Ambassador, whose whole conduct has been limpid and also active both in the attempt to discover the author of the mischief when it was proved the books came from his house and in recovering a large part of them. I explained to your Excellencies the tenderness and regard with which his Majesty has acted throughout so as to arrive at the truth without causing affront.
	These were the two subjects I dealt with; but I fear your Excellencies have taken the accessory for the principal, I say again the accessory for the principal, when I see your lukewarmness of irresolution and that you pay more attention to what happened at our Court than to the prohibition of the book here. It is a serious matter, of course, the dissemination of a libel on his Majesty, but never mind that; if things continue as they are going just now the affair goes on and will go on for a bit. The Ambassador is not to blame; he has acted with great prudence and has shown himself a gentleman of the highest integrity; it is an accident that might befall anyone. An Ambassador is not privileged to know the inner thoughts of those in his household. But that an Inquisitor friar should prohibit the book written by the King of Great Britain, this is indeed a matter of the gravest, and a mortal wound to his Majesty's honour. Now twelve days have elapsed since I made my representations, and yet I see no steps. I begin to think that this lukewarmness must spring from my defect in not having expressed myself well rather than from any lack of will on your Excellencies' part to meet my just request. I have therefore come back this morning to renew my appeal. I will speak out freely, for such is my duty. I am aware that the Serene Republic has Envoys at every Court, I know that if they failed to speak out clear and loud where honour of the State is at stake they would merit the gallows; so too I. I confess that I am no statesman, nor am I versed in affairs of State. His Majesty took me from school and sent me to reside here as a pledge of the affection he entertains for the Republic. I will speak as a philosopher, for I have some knowledge of that science. I affirm then, that, when the King, my Master, promised, as he did, to love the Republic and to assist her at all times and on all just occasions, this is not an absolute but a hypothetical and conditional proposition. If he love the Republic he means it to tacitly imply that he is loved back again. This due affection tacitly claimed, is not only necessary between Princes but also between individuals for the conservation of amity. I cannot believe that this lukewarmness, which I now perceive, is due to any other cause than myself; therefore I will speak out clearly. I demand the punishment of the friar who has injured the honour of the King, my Master, and if that cannot be done in person, I demand some equivalent to restore the reputation of his Majesty which by this prohibition has been outraged and stained, so that all the world may know the account in which the Republic holds this friendship. Certain it is that if the Republic loved not his Majesty we should both be cheated, he in the reasonable belief he entertains that his love is returned, I in the assertion so frequently made to me in this place that the Republic entertained good will and affection towards me, without reckoning that I too have done my part towards ingratiating myself with this nobility. The ambassadors of the Republic too would be deceived, for they have constantly assured his Majesty that they desire to be closely bound in bonds of love to him. Therefore I implore your Excellencies not to allow the King's name to be lacerated as it is on the public squares, for I carefully watch what other Envoys are saying and what passes from mouth to mouth about the King of England. I demand the punishment of the friar for his temerity and presumption, if not in person at least in some way equivalent thereto, in order that his Majesty's reputation may be restored. If there exists anyone who wishes to destroy or cool down this friendship he might have chosen a more courteous means and a fitter moment than this; there are other ways of closing this friendship; pray do not do so by a dishonour to the King. I have spoken of the frair only, for I am sure the government had no hand in this prohibition. I know that there are two Senators Assessors, but I am convinced that they never gave their assent or else that they were deceived.”
	At the close of his argument, which was very vigorous and elaborate, the ambassador renewed his application for a rapid decision that would prove to the world that his Majesty's love for the Republic was returned.
	The Councillor Renier, the senior present, replied that every one esteemed the Ambassador and suitably valued his representations. That the Republic loves and honours his Majesty and sets great store by the conservation of his reputation and desires to give him every satisfaction possible. If no answer had been returned as yet this was to be ascribed to governmental forms of procedure, for everything was discussed in the Senate, to which it belonged to debate all that was brought before it by the Savii. The Ambassador was informed that this matter would promptly be concluded.
	The Ambassador replied that he knew the forms of the Government very well, that he only desired a decision in accordance with those forms; that he would put off writing to the King till he had further information, and begged for it at once in order that he might catch the ordinary post of to-morrow. The Savii assured him he would have an answer.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 10. Minutes of the Senate, Rome. Venetian Archives.	615. That the English Ambassador be summoned to the Cabinet and the following be read to him:—
	My Lord Ambassador, In reply to the complaint which your Lordship lodged last week, and renewed more recently, on the subject of his Majesty's “Apologia,” we must say that we see no reason for annoyance at what has been done if you would remember the great regard which is due to Religion and our duty to preserve that faith which we profess, and if you would recall to your memory what you yourself said in the Cabinet when presenting the “Apologia” and his Majesty's most cordial letters. His Majesty's profound intelligence perceived clearly that this book was not to be universally read by the people on account of the passages which are contrary to the dogmas of our Religion, although these passages were introduced for other reasons and with a different intention; he had no wish, he said, to catechize other Princes nor to sow new doctrine in their States; he was moved to write the book by considerations which affect temporal power and temporal jurisdiction, and that was why he presented it to us and as such we received it as a further pledge of affection and benevolence towards our Republic.
	“The Inquisition was originally admitted and accepted in this city and in our dominion and is conducted by a Congregation of Prelates and deals solely with matters that affect the preservation of our faith, and among others, with the special duty of preventing the dissemination of books which might contaminate it with strange dogmas. Three of our leading Senators sit as Assessors, and without their presence and assent nothing is discussed nor resolved. The sole object of this arrangement is to secure that the Inquisition shall not interfere in anything but in the matter of religion. Now it was the Inquisition not the Inquisitor that issued the orders about this book on the grounds of religion, and in the most discreet and cautious manner imaginable; for, departing from the usual procedure, no note was registered at the Holy Office nor was any written order issued to the booksellers, but the Prior of the Guild alone was warned by word of mouth and the title of the book was simply given without making mention of his Majesty. And of this we have assured ourselves. From this unwonted procedure your Lordship may gather the respect we bear to the King's name, and how far it was from our intention to prejudice his Majesty's reputation. We are sure that when he is fully informed and considers the necessity which compels Sovereigns to remove the dangers which threaten their States, he will not feel any annoyance but will approve of what has been done.
	“As regards the second point of your complaint,” . . . . the motion then follows in nearly identical terms with that of Sept. 9th.
	Ayes	102.
	Noes	9.
	Neutrals	43.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 10. Minutes of the Senate, Rome. Venetian Archives.	616. To the Ambassador in England.
	The same as the motion of September 9th.
	Ayes	102.
	Noes	9.
	Neutrals	43.
	[Italian.]
Sept. 10. Original Despatch. Venetian Archives.	617. Marc' Antonio Correr, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	The King has had news, recently, that one of the ships bound for Virginia has fallen into the hands of the Spanish. She had on board thirty-two thousand crowns out of the total of one hundred and twenty thousand that were being sent out there stamped as Spanish coin, which alone is current in those parts (stampati del cugno di Spagna che solo corre in quella parte). All the crew have been put in irons.
	His Majesty arrived two days ago at Windsor and the day after to-morrow he will go to Hampton Court to join the Queen, who has been there since Monday. At Hampton Court he will receive not only the Spanish Ambassador and myself, but the Florentine Envoy, the cousin of Neuburg and the son of the Count of Oldenburg as well. After passing a few days with the Duke of York and the Princess, who are lodged hard by, he will go to his other hunting lodges.
	The Ambassador of Florence, who arrived in this city on Monday, was met some few miles away by the Master of the Ceremonies, and they endeavour to satisfy him, as he has a commission to deal with that disagreeable subject of the captured ships.
	Yesterday I went to Richmond to visit the Duke of York and to Kew (Cheu) to kiss the Princess' hand, as I know his Majesty likes such attentions. I found both their Highnesses in excellent health and with increased beauty and stature. The Duke in particular, who is, in manner, far in advance of his age, replied by saying that he hoped to visit me some day in Venice when he came to present himself in person to the Doge.
	On account of the Plague the Lords of the Council have not returned to London. Lord Salisbury is at a place about four miles away, where he discharges all business. The bad weather continues and this not only increases the sickness but has ruined the country.
	The Audientiary Verreiken has left the Hague with a specific answer in writing upon many points which remained undecided about the pacific commerce of the Low Countries. I enclose a copy.
	On the 8th of this month three or four deputies of the Archdukes and five or six of the Provinces were to meet at the Hague to settle the points in dispute, especially the transit for Antwerp and the Rhine.
	They will immediately despatch two ships to the East Indies, one from each party; each of these ships shall have on board four of the equippage of the other. They are to take different courses and to notify the truce to all shipping in those parts, nor do they omit anything that can contribute to the pacific establishment of the truce.
	They are, however, very anxious as to what may happen about Cleves, for the States are absolutely resolved to assist Brandenburg and Neuburg, in the certainty that the Kings of France, England and Denmark will do the same. They have sent a reply to the Archduke Leopold. I enclose a copy of this and of the replies to Brandenburg, Neuburg and to the Landgrave of Hesse.
	His Majesty has sent a gentleman (fn. 3) with the title of Ambassador to the United Provinces. He is the same person who was there last year under the title of Agent. I hear from a good quarter that he is to go to Juliers to meet the Agent of the King of France and to negotiate with the Archduke Leopold.
	I am informed that in Holland they have fitted out six men-of-war for the Straits and the Mediterranean to pursue the pirates, whose depredations have been seriously felt.
Expulsis Papalistis	Sir Julius Cæsar, who has the charge of the enquiry about these books attacking the King, has informed me that the book was written in England and that he hopes to have the author in his hands. Speaking of the prohibition of the King's book by the Pope he asked why his Holiness, if he is just, has not prohibited this one.
	London, 10th September, 1609.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
	I am this very minute told that President Richardot, who has returned from France, is in a desperate state of health, either because of the failure of his negotiations or because of the fatigues of his journey. His Highness will lose a Minister of such value that it will be difficult to replace him.
Enclosed in preceding Despatch.	616. Copy of the Reply of the States General to the Audientiary Verreiken.
	“The High and Puissant Lords, the States General of the Low Countries,” after compliments, assent to the appointment of a committee to discuss disputed points, and state their own position.
	[Italian.]