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| 1572. Jan. 9. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
533. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Signory. |
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The new Ambassador from the Queen of England has arrived at this Court. His name is Sir Thomas Smith, and he holds the office of Grand Secretary in England. He has already had two audiences of the most Christian King. In the first, as I hear, he gave a detailed account of the late conspiracy against his Queen, and censured in very strong terms the Queen of Scotland, charging her with having shown in her actions the greatest ingratitude towards his Queen; and the Ambassador stated that the Queen of England would have, for the future, to compel the Queen of Scotland to live in stricter confinement in order to prevent her advising and promoting similar proceedings, and that her Majesty had exercised great clemency in sparing the Queen of Scotland's life. The Ambassador also said that he was prepared to justify all that he had alleged by authentic documents. The Ambassador's statement, even if it be true, was made with great astuteness, in order to prevent the King from interfering on behalf of the Queen of Scotland, and to absolve his Queen, on account
of these events, from her promises to set the Queen of Scotland at liberty; for the Queen of England has frequently said to their Majesties that she felt her honour was concerned, and that she could not endure that one who had been the wife of his Majesty's brother, and Queen of France, should be kept thus miserably a prisoner. |
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At the second audience the Ambassador reminded the King of the great danger in which the kingdom of England was placed, and how important it was that no part of it should fall into the hands or under the influence of the King of Spain, and that it was evident to his Queen that union and friendship was for the manifest advantage of both England and France, because it was time now to open their eyes to the vast power of other Princes, and to provide in time for the safety of their respective States. He said that whenever his Majesty might think fit to enter into a secret federation, the Queen of England offered to be the means of obtaining assistance of other powerful Princes; and this expression was intended to refer to the King of Denmark and other Protestant Princes, and to the free States of Germany. Hitherto, I have not heard what answer his Majesty has given, except that he has sent the Bishop of Limoges and Mons. de Foix to the house of the English Ambassador, to see and examine many written documents in the Ambassador's possession. Not long since the Queen-Mother, speaking with the Nuncio, said, “The Pope for the advantage of Christianity greatly desires the friendship of Spain with this Crown to be preserved, and we are of the same mind, but to unite and establish that result some new relationship is necessary. Since, therefore, it has pleased God to call to himself the Catholic Queen our daughter, and now that the King of Spain has sons, and perhaps may have others, so that there is no fear of there being only females to succeed him, I much wish his Holiness, moved by zeal for the public good, would induce the Catholic King to give one of his daughters to the Duke of Anjou; and though there might be a disparity of age between them, I will guarantee that my son will wait until the King's daughter becomes marriageable, in order not to lose so excellent an opportunity”; and the Queen requested the Nuncio to communicate her ideas to the Pope, which, as your Serenity knows, has already been done. |
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Amboise, 9th January 1572. |
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[Italian.] |
| Jan. 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
534. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The new Ambassador from England upon his arrival sent a letter written by his Queen to the Secretary of Spain, requesting that he would forward it to the Catholic King, to whom it was addressed. The Secretary became suspicious, on account of the powers given to the English Ambassador, and from the complaints which he had made against his Catholic Majesty, lest the letter might contain matter which, if forwarded, might be to the prejudice of his master; he therefore resolved to read the letter, and without
professing to know the contents, to speak again with the Ambassador and ascertain all he could; and thus the Secretary learned that the Queen wrote that she had on many occasions informed the King of the evil proceedings of his Ambassador, and begged him to recall him and send another in his place, to which demand she had never received any answer; and seeing that the said Ambassador more than ever incited sedition in her kingdom, and insurrection among her people, she could suffer his conduct no longer, and had therefore ordered that within the space of a given number of days he was to depart from her country; but whenever the Catholic King should think fit to send another Ambassador, who might be well conducted and of a peaceable disposition, her Majesty would willingly receive him and do him the utmost honour; and in order to show her disposition upon this point she would send an Ambassador of her own to Spain, so as better to preserve that friendship which for more than 400 years the Kings her predecessors had maintained with the House of Burgundy and the Counts of Flanders. The Secretary answered that he would forward the letter, and he endeavoured to excuse Don Gerao, for this is the name of the Ambassador. The English Ambassador answered that the reply asto forwarding the letter would greatly please the Queen, because she was convinced that of the many letters which she had sent by the Duke of Alva only those which seemed good to the Duke had reached the hands of his Catholic Majesty; but that, as regards the Ambassador, it was not possible to excuse him, because his actions had been so clear and manifest, that they could not be defended. I have to add that at the end of the letter the Queen congratulated the King greatly upon the victory which God had given him against the common enemy of Christianity. I should much regret that this incident of opening the letters should become known, for the Secretary's sake, who believed that it was part of his duty to confide the fact to me, and I therefore beg you to keep the matter secret. From what I have written it will be seen that although the English seek a closer union with the French, they are, nevertheless, prepared apparently to treat with the Spaniards, nor would they willingly be considered open enemies of the King of Spain, because they do not believe that the friendship of the French is too sure, but they are endeavouring to obtain information by every means in their power. |
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Amboise, 16th January 1572. |
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[Italian; partly in cipher.] |
| Jan. 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
536. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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I understand that the proposal which has been made by the English to the King to strengthen the friendship of the two nations has been favourably received, and in consequence articles have been prepared, which the English Ambassador has sent by express to his Queen, and his Excellency will not depart until her answer has been received. From what I have been able to learn, the difference
between the parties is that the English ask that the alliance should be offensive and defensive, while the French desire that it should be defensive only, in order not to make too many concessions at once; moreover the parties are not agreed concerning the affairs of the Queen of Scotland, because the English are determined to put her to death, while these Majesties, if it be possible, desire that she should not die, but I much doubt whether honour will not have to yield to utility, if the main result should turn out satisfactory. Although it seems strange to the French to have to abandon the friendship which for so long a period they have maintained with the kingdom of Scotland, and to suffer that kingdom to be governed according to the will of the English, yet they have agreed that two personages, one chosen by each party, should be sent thither, who are to endeavour to reconcile the two factions under the government of the infant King, with whom the French will renew their ancient alliance. I do not know whether it is contemplated to include other powers in the alliance between England and France, but to facilitate the negotiation, the Queen of England has again put forward her marriage with Monsieur d'Anjou, and she would appear to have offered much more reasonable conditions than on the former occasion, but I can give no information with any certainty. A report is current here, upon the authority of the Queen-Mother and by advices from Dieppe, that the fleet proceeding from Flanders to Spain had been completely destroyed, some ships having sunk, others been wrecked, and the remainder driven into English ports. It is said that Don Francisco d'Alva, who lately left the embassy of this Court, had perished; but the Secretary for Spain, who has letters of the 4th instant from Antwerp, declares that there is no truth in the story. |
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Amboise, 17th January 1572. |
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[Italian.] |
| Jan. 25. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
537. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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I am able to confirm the information I wrote on the 17th instant, with this additional circumstance that the marriage of the Queen of England with Mons. d'Anjou is now at an end, but the cause which has been assigned is that the conditions with regard to religion were displeasing to Monsieur and not the person of the Queen. It has been suggested that the Duke of Alençon, third brother of the King, would not be so scrupulous in this respect, and if the Queen be willing, the negotiation might be renewed with him; but from what I hear from the Ambassador, it appears certain that the Queen will not listen to this proposal, because such a proceeding appears to her to be derogatory to her reputation. I have heard from well informed friends that the negotiation between the two Crowns of England and France is limited to the questions of boundaries, commerce, and certain other differences, with a view to a better understanding in the future, and without reference to any other Power, and that the French have acted willingly, but more to keep the Queen
of England fully occupied than from any need they have of her assistance. With regard to the affairs of Scotland, the same friends told me that the most Christian King, for honour and pity's sake, is doing all he can to save the life of the unfortunate Queen. Nevertheless he doubts whether he will suceeed, believing, even if she escaped public condemnation, that her life would be taken secretly. |
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The trials were to come to an end on the 14th instant, after which date the persons convicted, commencing with the Duke of Norfolk, were to be executed. |
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Amboise, 25th January 1572. |
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[Italian.] |
