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| March 10. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
573. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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By my letters of the 28th ultimo and the 4th and 5th instant I have informed your Serenity of the success of the insurrection, which has compelled us all to return to this city, and the details of the events which have happened are as follows. Four days before the most Christian King thought of departing from St. Germain
he was informed by the Duchess of Bouillon (Boglion) that large bodies of cavalry were being assembled in several localities. His Majesty did not take much notice of this advice at first, but other persons subsequently having told his Majesty very positively that these people were about to unite in order to come to St Germain, his Majesty caused the guard to be doubled and strict watch to be placed upon the lodgings of the King of Navarre, because his Majesty was warned that Mons. de Durazzo, a great favourite of the King of Navarre, had conveyed to the King's lodgings a quantity of arms. In addition to these reports, on the 27th ultimo, one La Mola, a person very intimate with the Duke de Alençon, revealed to the most Christian King that the Duke of Alençon, his master, as well as the King of Navarre, was an accomplice, and that the forces had been raised at their joint instigation. |
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His Majesty immediately ordered the Swiss to be armed and the gates of the castle to be closed, and then calling the Duke de Alençon into his chamber, where no one else was present but the Queen-Mother, said, with deep emotion, “My brother, what new thing is this that you have done? I understand that in your name forces have been levied to come to this place, and that it is your intention to join them.” The Duke knew not how to deny the charge, and answered that it was true, but that he had not acted thus with disloyalty or to the prejudice of his Majesty. The King then again inquired for what purpose he had done this. The Duke answered, because he had intended to proceed to Flanders, whither he had been summoned to try his fortune there. “What!” said the King, “were you about to undertake affairs of such importance without my consent?” |
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The Duke answered that he perceived that he was not an acceptable person to his Majesty, because while he was before La Rochelle in the camp, affairs of importance were never dismissed in his presence, nor was he given the position which he ought to occupy; and after the departure of the King of Poland, when he hoped in the King's absence to have more insight into public affairs, he had not been admitted, nor was he able to obtain the dignity and functions which had belonged to the King of Poland, although he teas still his Majesty's most humble brother; and that these facts had lowered his reputation in the Court to such an extent that the Guises not only desired to quarrel with him, but were continually labouring to effect that result, and it was no longer possible for him to bear their insolence. |
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After these words the Queen-Mother reprimanded the Duke very sharply, and whenever she referred to the most Christian King she said “the King your lord and master,” and added that the King of Spain for less cause had put his only son to death in prison. Whilst his mother was speaking the Duke seemed quite bewildered, and began to weep with great bitterness, and inquired, whether these facts were known, when the Queen rejoined, “What! do you not wish them to be known?” The Duke then fell upon his knees before the King, and, still weeping, besought his Majesty to put him to death, because he was no longer worthy of life. The most Christian King, like a good prince, showed himself more compassionate than
his mother, for he spoke some encouraging words to the Duke and made him rise, and before the Duke departed from St. Germain he was pardoned by both their Majesties. |
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The above is what the Duke actually confessed, but it is not easy to say whether his statements were in conformity with his intentions, or whether his idea was to obtain supreme power in this country and not to proceed elsewhere; it is however certain that his Highness did not mean to go to Flanders. The King of Navarre has been pardoned, cot the intercession of his wife; but he has always shown a very bold face without any fear of the consequences, while the Duke remains completely disheartened and half silly. |
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The Prince of Condé at this juncture entered the King's presence and said, “Sire, it is possible that I may be suspected, and therefore I have brought my head. If you believe me to have guilty knowledge, cut my head of, but you will learn, if you desire, that 1 shall render you, in truth, good service” It has been ascertained that this Prince was not an accomplice, and his Majesty has therefore shown him much favour, and has restored him with full authority to his government in Picardy. |
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The persons who devised this plot, and through whose hands all the details have passed, are the two younger brothers of the Marshal de Montmorency, namely, Messieurs de Meru (Merce) and de Torcy (Thore), and the same night they both disappeared from St. Germain; but it is asserted positively that the Marshal was not an accomplice, because the whole affair seems to have been rather a youthful folly than an organised undertaking. His Majesty himself says that he has been well served by Montmorency, because the latter had warned his Majesty about many things connected with this business, and had endeavoured to influence his brothers not to join the insurgents, but return to their own home. Nevertheless the most Christian King is very much disheartened, and whilst complaining to one of the gentlemen of his chamber said, amongst other things, that he was under this misfortune, viz., that he himself did not know whom to trust, and there were but few persons in his kingdom who trusted him. The Queen-Mother is also in a state of great depression, because she begins to discover that her mode of government does not satisfy the people, but makes them discontented, and she has intimated to the King that at last she believes that she must retire into private life. |
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Paris, 10th March 1574. |
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[Italian, in cipher.] |
| March 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
574. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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I have been told by a person who knows the facts, that the Queen-Mother has on several occasions endeavoured to extract from the Duke of Alençon who his accomplices were in the plot and projected flight; because her Majesty has evidence that several persons of importance were implicated, and it is known that Montmorency, notwithstanding he was not amongst the number, was still acquainted with all the particulars, and had therefore delayed his coming
to Court; but the Duke of Alençon has never revealed the names of any other persons of importance except those whom I have already mentioned. Indeed it appears that his Highness is still very hot upon this proposal to go to Flanders. I do not know whether it is to justify his former action, or whether as matters have not turned out to his expectation here, he has really set his mind to undertake this expedition; but he complains both to the most Christian King and to his mother that they are throwing difficulties in the way of his intentions, and he makes use of such well reasoned arguments that it is clear the case that he puts forward has been prepared by persons possessing greater experience and knowledge than his capacity can pretend to have. I do not know the exact words which he spoke, but the substance of what he said was as follows: he alleged, in the first place, that being himself the scion of so many kings he would have to remain a poor prince unless by force of arms he could acquire a position whereby he might obtain sufficient reputation to accomplish a marriage with the Queen of England; that in France the authorities and powers enjoyed by his brother the King of Poland are not given to him, and that what little power he has is only in name, which is a great loss to his reputation; while on the other hand, the Prince of Orange had sought his aid by very large offers, and was prepared at once to place all the fortresses and places now occupied by him in the Duke's hand; that many offers and great promises had also been made to him from Germany and England, and that in this kingdom of France many persons had plighted their faith to follow his fortunes everywhere. I am unable to form an opinion how this matter will end, or what will be the result of the conference between Strozzi and La Cormu, but it is quite clear that although the fire has been kindled in many parts of this kingdom, hitherto no orders have been given nor sufficient provision made for war. Their Majesties have not written for a levy of the Swiss, nor sent for cavalry from Germany, nor infantry from Italy, means which have always been taken in the time of former wars, and those French soldiers whom they have decided to enlist are being taken into pay very slowly. |
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Paris, 17th March 1574. |
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[Italian, in cipher.] |
| March 24. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
575. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Signor Filippo Strozzi has brought back a very doubtful answer with regard to the negotiation for the agreement. The two gentlemen who went to Normandy with Guitery (Gitry) have not yet returned, and the cause of their delay is due to the arrival of Montgomery, who has appeared there, accompanied by one hundred and twenty adherents only, but his arrival seems to have rendered the negotiation for disbanding and sending home the insurgent partisans much more difficult, as their prospects appeared more favourable; still the above-named gentlemen did not despair. The proceedings of the Huguenots have greatly embarrassed their Majesties, because while they are unable to see what means the Huguenots possess to
continue and sustain war, their Majesties have proposed an agreement with them which their Majesties are bound in honour to abide by. Moreover, their Majesties are under apprehension lest suddenly, either at home some danger might assail them, or that abroad, by the action of Germany or England, material assistance might be given to the Huguenots to carry their designs into effect; and, pending these doubts, their Majesties are showing every possible favour to the Queen of England. Their Ambassador resident in England has written that warlike preparations are being made there, and that he has spoken on the subject with the Queen, who answered him that her armaments were not intended to menace the most Christian King, nor any one of the other princes, but only for the defence of her own country, and because a most powerful fleet was being got ready in Spain, in which a large number of troops were to be embarked; and although it was said that these forces were only to succour Flanders, yet, as they had to pass through the English waters, she considered it necessary to take measures for her own defence. The reasons which the Queen assigned appear plausible, but greater satisfaction and security would have been felt here if her armaments had not been made. |
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Paris, 24th March 1574. |
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[Italian.] |
| March 26. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
576. Sigismondo di Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Montmorency is still absent, although he promised at St. Germain to return in ten days. A strict guard is secretly kept over the Duke of Alençon, so that he cannot be absent one single day. San Gian (sic), the brother of Montgomery, has been found dead in his own house; he was in league with those persons who had intended to take possession of St. Germain, and he had sworn more strongly than anyone else to kill the Queen-Mother. The abbacy which he held was of the value of five thousand francs, and has been given to the governor of Caen (Can), who put him to death. Yesterday, news came that Montgomery and Guitery, with their forces, had taken possession of Argentan and of Vitré, and that they had begun to construct another fortification at a place called Carentan, situate upon a river not far from the sea and amongst marshes and low ground, and that Montgomery had conveyed thither seven or eight pieces of artillery from the ships. |
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Paris, 26th March 1574. |
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[Italian.] |
