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| July 5. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
720. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The King returned to Paris on the 3rd inst., and proceeded the same day to St. Maur. His Majesty is more convinced than ever of the enmity entertained towards him by Bussy and other favourites of Monsieur; and by the advice of his own intimate friends, though contrary to the opinion of the Queen-Mother, and seeing that he could not rely on the promises of the States of Flanders, he has written with his own hand to his brother to the effect that as the latter had disregarded his Majesty's advice and warnings, he might be sure that he would surely cause any soldiers who entered this war in his name to be cut to pieces. His Majesty despatched Villeroy with these letters, with orders to use the utmost speed in going and returning. |
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The suspicions of his.Majesty have been increased by information which has been brought by a secretary who had quitted Casimir in disgust, and who delivered to his Majesty intercepted letters written by the King of Navarre and the Prince of Condé, requesting Casimir to invade France and join his forces to theirs, and suggesting that by his assistance they might seize many cities and even whole provinces. |
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It is also heard that Condé has put eight hundred infantry into La Rochelle. |
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Paris, 5th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 7. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
721. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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This day his Majesty issued a proclamation that no person is to enter any military service except that of his Majesty under pain of death and contiscation of his property. |
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The English Ambassador [Paulet] has declared to me that the League between his Queen and the Flemings is not yet concluded, although it is being seriously negotiated, but the difficulty consists in the surrender of fortresses as security for a loan of money. |
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It is reported that the Catholic King has doubled the guards on the frontiers of the King of Navarre, and that the Marshal Damville has gone in person to those parts to provide for what is necessary. |
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Paris, 7th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 9. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
722. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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About midnight last night a gentleman arrived with letters addressed by Monsieur to the King, whereby Monsieur informed his Majesty that having given his word as a Prince to the States not to fail them, he had on the morning of the 8th passed the river between Mantes and Yerneuil, and proceeded to Folleville, in the Province of Rosières, four leagues distant only from the frontiers in Picardy, and that he intended from thence, either with the whole or part of his force, to enter into Flanders. |
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His Majesty and the Council are in a state of great doubt and irresolution, not having hitherto decided what it is best to do, because to prevent by force the adherents of his Highness from joining him would be an abandonment of his own brother, and an inducement to him to act with Casimir to the detriment of this Kingdom, as indeed he did on a previous occasion ; on the other hand, to favour and assist him would be to bring about a certain war with Spain. |
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The Spanish Ministers, having regard to the King's proclamations and promises that he would prevent Monsieur's expedition and arrest his captains and soldiers, believed this expedition to be impossible, or at least extremely difficult, but they are now full of wonder and quite stupefied, and hardly believe that to be true which they can feel with their own hands. |
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Paris, 9th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 15. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
723. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The Governor of Dorland, on the frontiers of this kingdom, writes that on the 9th instant Monsieur slept at Castel Usei, two leagues from thence, and that he was about to set out attended by a few horse only to pass into Flanders and enter Mons, where he is awaited by the Count de Lalain, as indeed Monsieur had himself written to the King that he had done on the 11th instant, to the great joy of that city. |
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Monsignor di Nazareth has returned from thence, not having been able to speak with his Highness, who, although he knew of the coming of the Nuncio and that he was to arrive at Verneuil that very day, left at an early hour, saying that he preferred to go away without seeing the Nuncio rather than refuse him any request preferred in the name of his Holiness. At the same time his Highness despatched a gentleman as his Ambassador to England to acquaint the Queen with the resolution which he had taken, and to say that whatever might be his estate and fortune he would always show himself her good friend and neighbour; and this gentleman is also commissioned to do everything that he can to prevent the conclusion of the league which the Queen is negotiating with the Flemings. |
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Paris, 15th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
724. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Monsieur, not being satisfied with the account which he had given to his Majesty concerning his entry into Mons, has since sent by Mons. de la Fusiera, one of his gentlemen, to his Majesty with further communications. |
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Up to the present time the King would appear to be doing all in his power to frustrate the policy of his brother. |
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Mons. de la Fusiera came the day before yesterday to see me in the name of his Highness, and after saying that his Highness chose to be styled “Protector,” and not “Defender,” he informed me that the Ambassadors from England, who are now at Brussels, had given his Highness an almost certain hope that the league would not be concluded without his Highness being included. |
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The day before yesterday the English Ambassador came to see me, and told me that he had had an answer from his mistress, and that she had given orders in all the ports and places within her dominions that the goods taken from the vessel “Mos” (sic) should, as I requested, be detained, and that her principal Secretary should have the care of them. He then added many kindly expressions concerning the great desire which his Queen had to serve your Serenity, and said it was a serious matter that while all other Princes and Kings had accredited Ambassadors in her country, the Signory of Venice alone was not in that position, and thus their mutual friendship and commercial relations were allowed to be impaired. |
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I endeavoured, as I have previously done, to make him understand that your Serenity held his mistress and her noble nation in great esteem, and used other general words to change the conversation; but his Excellency requested me to write to your Excellencies that his Queen would take it as the greatest possible favour to have an Ambassador from Venice, and that you might commence by sending an Ambassador Extraordinary to represent you, a course which he alleged was frequently done in cases of Princes of less importance than herself. |
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Paris, 16th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 20. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
725. Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador Extraordinary in France, to the Signory. |
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Reports that he arrived on the 17th and had his first audience with King Henry III., when he was accompanied by his colleague. |
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Paris, 20th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 27. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
726. Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador Extraordinary in France, to the Signory. |
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Reports that he quitted Paris on the 22nd and arrived at Mons on the 24th, and had audience on the 27th with Monsieur immediately after his Highness had dined. |
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Mons, 27th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 27. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
727. Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador Extraordinary in France, to the Signory. |
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An English gentleman has arrived here, to whom the name of Ambassador is given, although he has been merely sent by the two Ambassadors of the Queen of England who are now resident at Antwerp. |
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He is commissioned to visit his Highness, and probably in the name of the Queen of England. This gentleman will be the first official whom his Highness has received since he has been here, and he is to return in the course of two days. |
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Mons, 27th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 28. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
728. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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A gentleman who arrived in Paris last night, and who had quitted the army in Flanders on the 26th, told me confidentially that even if the French remained perfectly quiet, the affairs in Flanders were in such a state that unless the King of Spain made up his mind to grant a general pardon to the people there and give them their entire liberty, there was no hope of arriving at any successful conclusion. The Ambassadors from England have left the States in order to meet Don John and to treat an agreement with him, and they will come here before they return to England. Their Majesties are greatly displeased on hearing that Monsieur has printed his book, which justifies all his proceedings, both past and present, and which is disrespectful in some particulars to the King and QueenMother, and even more so towards the Spaniards; and indeed Mons. de Bellièvre has done his utmost to prevent the book being published. Three brothers of the Cardinal Rambouillet have been named as Ambassadors to Spain and England, in order to assure their Majesties of Spain and England that no assistance will be given to Monsieur. |
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Paris, 28th July 1578. |
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[Italian.] |
