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| Nov. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
637. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Signory. |
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A few days ago an Ambassador [Sir Henry Cobham] from the Queen of England arrived at this Court. It is not possible to discover with any certainty the object of his mission, but it is believed that it is to confirm more positively the arrangement which has been made with the Comendador Mayor concerning commerce. Some persons say that it is to treat the marriage between one of the Infantas and the future King of England, who is now the King of Scotland, a boy of nine years of age, and whom the Queen of
England intends shortly to bring to her Court, to educate as her son and successor; and this report obtains greater credence than that of a marriage between the Queen and Don John [of Austria], which other persons talk about. Princes are wont to avail themselves of matrimonial negotiations in many ways, but the Queen of England, who is accustomed to befool the world with negotiations for her own marriage, will have to treat here with a master thoroughly versed in the same art if she designs to do the same thing with respect to the King of Scotland, her successor. |
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Madrid, 6th November 1575. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 14. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
638. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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On Saturday last the illustrious Ambassador Michiel departed hence, and previously, according to custom, his Majesty presented him with certain pieces of wrought silver, and also presented the two secretaries, Surian and Franceschi, each with a chain of gold. His Excellency will make his voyage in this inclement season with some inconvenience, having regard to the numerous retinue which will accompany him, amongst whom are the two gentlemen, Pietro Grimani and Pietro Duodo, both of whom have been indisposed. I also believe that within a few days four of these gentlemen, namely, Zuanne Falier, Marc' Antonio Mocenigo, Zuanne Mocenigo, and Alvise Foscari, who have been to visit England and to see that country, will return thence, and will join the Ambassador before he arrives at Lyons. |
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Paris, 14th November 1575. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 22. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
639. Giovanni Francesco Morosint, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The hope which was entertained of converting the truce into peace has failed, for I have heard that when the Queen Mother made a proposal to this effect to his Majesty he immediately left the chamber, and when he was called back by the Queen and besought by her to aid the conclusion of this peace, answered that he could not think of doing so since Monsieur had become bound to the Queen of England and the Count Palatine, without whose consent the peace could not be made; and thus the negotiation is at an end. |
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Paris, 22nd November 1575. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 30. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
640. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Signory. |
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The Ambassador from England has departed from hence. His speedy dismissal imports that his negotiations were not of great importance. He was well received by the King and greatly honoured, being presented with a chain of the value of a thousand crowns, so that it is believed his mission is simply one of compliment. |
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Although the Nuncio, in the interests of religion, has promoted the Ambassador's dismissal by exhorting the King to send him away speedily, and by procuring the act of his Majesty to that effect, the Ambassador would nevertheless appear to have mentioned the project of a marriage between the King of Scotland and one of the Infantas, but only in the course of conversation with the King's ministers. |
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The Nuncio has also told me that he had suggested to the King to endeavour with the aid of the Pope to get the King of Scotland into his hands, both for the advantage of the Queen of Scotland herself and for the benefit of those kingdoms, and so that the boy, who has to inherit so great a State, should be brought up in the Catholic faith; and thus, through his means, there might be hope, after the death of the Queen of England, to bring back once more those kingdoms to the true religion, a result which would not be difficult, because the Lords of Scotland, who are now the King's Governors, would surrender him in consideration of a sufficient sum of money, which is the mode whereby the Queen of England expects to obtain possession of the King's person. |
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If the plan suggested by the Nuncio could be carried out, it would not only serve the good purpose which is anticipated, but would also set free the King of Scotland from the peril of his life, because, from what has been stated here by persons of authority, the Queen of England is believed to have a secret intention as soon as she gets the King into her hands to put him to death together with his mother, in order to assure the succession of that Crown to a natural daughter of her own, and to unite the kingdom of Scotland to that of England. |
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This evil intention of the Queen's is promoted by the interested advice of Cecil (Ciciglia), her Secretary and principal favourite, he having allied himself to a personage of the kingdom, who pretends to have an interest in the succession, and who hopes by means of the marriage of the Queen's daughter, or in some other way, to advance his pretension; all which things appear very probable. |
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It will be well to keep secret what the Nuncio told me as above concerning the King of Scotland, the matter being of such importance. |
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Madrid, 30th November 1575. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 30. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
641. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The Huguenots have rejected the truce, which is especially distasteful to them, on account of the Queen of England, who endeavours as much as she can to disturb the peace and quiet of this kingdom, hoping to remain in peace herself so long as disorders here are continuous and protracted. |
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Paris, 30th November 1575. |
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Encloses copy of the truce agreed upon between the Queen Mother and Monsieur. |
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[Italian.] |
