Venice: April 1573 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890.

Citation:

'Venice: April 1573', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580, ed. Rawdon Brown, G Cavendish Bentinck( London, 1890), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol7/pp484-485 [accessed 28 November 2024].

April 1573



1573. April 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	540. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
	It is reported from Flanders that preparations were being made in England for the transport of troops to Holland.
	Monsieur, having been informed that Montgomery had left England with about 35 ships and six thousand infantry, sent to an intimate relation of his, by name Château-Neuf, and held out to him that if Montgomery would return to the King's allegiance he would receive a commission and other advantages. His Highness acted thus because, although he thinks that the investment of La Rochelle is sufficiently effective to prevent relief, still he doubts whether, if Montgomery landed his forces there, he might not cause great difficulties and expense, and his Highness therefore authorised proposals for an agreement; but I have reason to believe that the gentleman who was charged with this mission has returned without any good result, and that Montgomery has undoubtedly refused to come to terms.
	Moret, 6th April 1573.
	[Italian.]
April 26. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	541. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
	Montgomery, with about seventy ships, some laden with victuals and the rest carrying combatants, appeared on the 20th instant before La Rochelle as he had promised, and he laid at anchor the whole of that day at a distance of two cannon shots from the city. Monsieur sent two galleys to reconnoitre, and was under great anxiety until the following day, when forty vessels, which had sighted Montgomery sailing along the coast and had followed him, arrived from the ports of Britany and Normandy. These are the vessels which the King had ordered to be got in readiness, and they were ready to set sail in a moment. After the arrival of this reinforcement Monsieur determined to wait no longer, lest the enemy with the rising of the tide might make an attempt to enter the port, and he therefore sent out twenty vessels of light burthen to make an attack; but Montgomery, after a few shots had been exchanged on both sides, took to flight, returning towards Britany, from which direction he had come. His Highness then ordered his fleet to go in pursuit. The most Christian King has heard this news with infinite satisfaction, both because La Rochelle is now as it were abandoned by the enemy, and also on account of the important results which must follow. His Majesty has therefore thanked God publicly, and has communicated the intelligence both to myself and the other Ambassadors.
	It appears that these enemy's ships had hoisted the English flag with the red cross, and in the pursuit one vessel with defective sails was taken and found full of Englishmen; and therefore his Majesty sent for the late English Ambassador [Sir Francis Walsingham]. who had taken leave and was about to return to England, and desired to speak with him upon this subject, and to ascertain what the disposition of the Queen of England was towards his Majesty and his affairs.
	I hear that a new insurrection of Huguenots in Dauphiny has broken out.
	Advices from Antwerp report a general belief that some new agreement will take place with England, or that there will be a suspension of all difficulties for two or three years, and in the meantime commercial relations between the two countries will continue as before, and that the English who went to Hamburg, a city of Germany, for commercial purposes, will now return to Antwerp; but I cannot speak with certainty, because I suspect that the Queen of England is merely negotiating to gain time, and to see how events will fall out in France and in other places.
	Moret, 26th April 1573.
	[Italian.]