Venice: April 1668 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 35, 1666-1668. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1935.

Citation:

'Venice: April 1668', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 35, 1666-1668, ed. Allen B Hinds( London, 1935), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol35/pp216-218 [accessed 29 November 2024].

April 1668



April 7. Collegio Secreta. Esposizioni, Principi. Venetian Archives.	283. Presented by the Spanish ambassador (fn. 1) in the Collegio Collegio on the 7th April. On the 13th February peace was concluded between Spain and Portugal. The terms differ little from those which Don Richard Fancavu and Don Robert Soutavell drew up at Salvatiera two years ago. There are thirteen articles, to the following effect: [Articles follow, including these]: That Portugal is at liberty to enter any league made by England, and by virtue of this treaty all the articles of any similar league shall be valid and have the same effect as if expressed in the present treaty. That the Catholic king as well as the king of Portugal each promises to observe the treaty, and to do the same with the king of Great Britain as mediator of this peace. That if the peace proves acceptable, they shall meet to ratify the articles by his Britannic Majesty within four months. [Italian.]
April 11. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Spagna. Venetian Archives.	284. Catterin Belegno, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. The ambassador of England, having accomplished the chief part of his embassy, has obtained leave from his king to return home. Accordingly he is getting ready for his departure, which will take place within a few weeks. It is believed that an ambassador in ordinary of that king will come to reside at this Court, indeed there have been whispers that this charge will be entrusted to the ambassador's secretary, who went off to London some months ago. (fn. 2) But now this talk is dying down, and as the secretary is a man of ability and a friend of the king he is reserved for employments of greater consequence. Madrid, the 11th April, 1668. [Italian.]
April 17. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.	285. Marc Antonio Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. I am informed on good authority that the number of the royal troops in France is not so abundant as the ministers here cry them up to be. By such announcements they desire to overawe the world and from this they have always derived advantage. The alliance of Sweden, England and Holland, which is seen to be well knit and strong, causes them some apprehension, although they dissimulate it with all their might. Paris, the 17th April, 1668. [Italian.]
April 18. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Spagna. Venetian Archives.	286. Tomaso Rudio, Venetian Secretary in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. The English ambassador recently had his first audience of her Majesty since his return from Portugal. After receiving congratulations on the success of his mediation he presented a letter from his king which contained the strongest recommendations from his king to the queen to make peace with France. The queen expressed her gratitude to the king and her strong inclination towards an accommodation. The ambassador is preparing for his departure and until the arrival of a new ambassador he is leaving the person who remained at Madrid when he went to Lisbon to attend to the affairs of that crown. (fn. 3) Madrid, the 18th April, 1668. [Italian.]
April 26. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Haia. Venetian Archives.	287. Giovanni Francesco Marchesini, Venetian Secretary at the Hague, to the Doge and Senate. I find that the chief opposition to the idea of affording assistance to the most serene republic is that England may avail herself of it to steal a march on them for her own advantage in the Levant trade. As there is great rivalry over this because of the profit, the merchants attach importance to the question. They go about saying that this trade is equal to that of the Indies, since the voyage is easier and that it is free from the heavy costs to which that of the Indies is subject. Accordingly I am becoming increasingly fearful that they will not take any steps here unless some assistance is afforded by England also for so just a cause of Christendom. Should your Excellencies decide upon the prompt despatch to his Britannic Majesty of a person to represent the urgent needs of the state I humbly beg that you will excuse me from this service on the ground of my indifferent health and lack of the necessary ability. The Hague, the 26th April, 1668. [Italian.]
April 30. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci Spagna. Venetian Archives.	288. Catterin Belegno, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. All the way through the kingdom to the frontier of Castile the Ambassador Sandovich has received unspeakable honours, acclamations of the people, universal blessings and applause. From England he has the ratification of the treaty and is making ready for his departure. He is puffed up with vanity at having brought three important negotiations to a successful conclusion, to wit: the ratification of the peace and of commerce; the affair of Portugal and this last, the most important of all, the peace between the crowns, of the conclusion of which he is confident. Madrid, the last of April, 1668. [Italian.]