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| June 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
760. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Monsieur has heard from his Ambassador, de Simier, that the Queen of England and her Council, seeing that the coming of Monsieur to her kingdom was deferred on account of the absence of the Queen-Mother, had prorogued until August next the assembling of the Parliament of their States-General, for considering the question of the coronation of Monsieur, which has to be decided by the general Parliament; and Monsieur has written to the Queen, and has despatched Mons. de Mauvissière to assure her, so far as I can understand, of his good intentions. The English Ambassador [Paulet] has confirmed to me that although owing to the absence of the Queen-Mother and to some other trifling impediments, the voyage of Monsieur has been deferred, nevertheless, I might be certain that his Highness had no greater desire than to be with the Queen as soon as possible, and immediately after the arrival of the Queen-Mother, without whose advice he could not and ought not to act, he would carry his intention into effect; and the Ambassador added the friendly words which are usual on such occasions. |
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Monsieur has also for this purpose obtained from the King one-fourth part of the money which had been assigned for the men-at-arms and which amounts to 100,000 crowns, and this sum is to be paid in addition to the other advances which have been made to him. |
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Nevertheless opinions vary concerning this negotiation on account of the many difficulties which must arise eventually, as your Serenity will perceive by the enclosed reasons for and against the marriage which have been compiled by persons of influence and which have been read and most carefully considered in the Privy Council of the King; and I am of opinion that this document should be held as strictly confidential. |
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Paris, 6th June 1579. |
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[Italian.] |
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761. Paper relating to the Proposed Marriage between Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Alençon, enclosed in the foregoing Despatch. |
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Whether a marriage between Monsieur, the brother of the most Catholic King, and the Queen of England is advantageous and honourable for his Highness, or not. |
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A. 1. It is always advantageous and honourable to be a king, and especially when the event is brought about by means of a marriage and the will of the people, and not by force of arms. |
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B. 1. No one can be styled a king when he is not yet crowned, and the Queen of England is the party who desires to rule, as appears by the articles agreed upon. |
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A. 2. If King Philip, son of Charles V., considered it advisable to marry the sister of the Queen, is it not now desirable that the brother of the King of France should marry the Queen herself? |
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B. 2. The example of the King of Spain aptly proved the evil counsels which directed his marriage, since he not only failed to acquire the kingdom, as he was led to believe he would do, but seeing that he could effect no good, and could not gain the hearts of the English, who are most hostile by their nature to foreigners, he departed before the death of his wife, who was at the time younger in years than the present Queen, of the Catholic religion, and fondly attached to her husband. |
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A. 3. The present Queen is not of such an age but that she might hope to have children, and if this happened Monsieur would surely acquire a kingdom, but if this hope failed, honourable means would be found whereby he might confirm himself King or release himself altogether. |
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B. 3. It is impossible to hope for posterity from a woman of the Queen's age, and of so poor and shattered a constitution as hers, and everyone can clearly perceive what the position of the Kingdom of France would be should the Royal House of Valois become extinct. |
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A. 4. Seeing that many are of opinion that the Queen will be short lived, Monsieur, by setting at liberty the Queen of Scotland who has legitimate pretensions to England, might confirm himself King with a certain hope of posterity. |
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B. 4. At the death of the present Queen, Monsieur would find himself in great difficulties, and in manifest danger of being made prisoner by a nation which would demand Calais, Boulogne, and other more important places, which they pretend France ought to surrender, a demand which has hitherto not been made. |
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A. 5. Monsieur will take with him to England persons of prudence and peace, who will, together with his Highness, gain the good opinion of the great men and of those who govern the realm. |
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B. 5. It is impossible that the French can ever be acceptable to the English, who habitually consider them their natural enemies; and it is certain that shortly his Majesty will nave to dismiss from the kingdom all his most dear and true friends, after the example of the King of Spain, who was never able to appoint any one of his own people to the Council. |
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A. 6. The Queen of England ought greatly to desire the marriage, because she will thereby assure herself against the evil designs which the King of Spain meditates against her; she will satisfy her people if she unites with France and forgets past injuries, and England and France who are suspicious of the great power of the King of Spain, especially if he should become King of Portugal, can take measures to weaken it and easily effect their object. |
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B. 6. The tranquil disposition of the King of Spain and his inclination for peace do not give any cause for suspicion against him, and as his power is on the wane it will doubtless become weakened and divided of its own accord. |
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A. 7. The Queen possesses large treasure whereby she can easily assist her husband, and thus he could most effectually accomplish his most desired and secret designs to their fullest extent. |
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B. 7. The Queen has never given money either to the Flemings or to the Huguenots of France without taking security from them, and has always advanced smaller sums than was supposed, for she is by nature very covetous. It is not, therefore, credible that she will give her substance to a spirited youth who is desirous of glory and who might spend it with small profit to her, when she has sufficiently secured herself from her enemies by means of a marriage with his Highness and without making any further stir in Christendom. |
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A. 8. Although the parties each profess a different religion the Duke of Alençon with his household will live Catholically, and may also possibly obtain grace from God to win over by prudence and address many others in the kingdom, and also strengthen the great number of Catholics living there. |
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B. 8. Under the circumstances which are apparent it does not seem proper that a Prince so Catholic and Christian should take for wife a woman of another religion, and of mental and corporeal qualifications very contrary to those of her consort and his dignity, and the hope of gaining these souls is a project not less impossible than perilous. |
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A. 9. Although this marriage might displease the Pope, yet political considerations frequently permit things to be done which, although at first prohibited and esteemed injurious, have ultimately proved useful and laudable, and this affair, for the reasons above mentioned, might also prove of advantage to the service of the Apostolic See. |
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B. 9. It will greatly offend the Pope, who will not grant a dispensation nor consent in any way to this marriage, considering that the Queen of England is excommunicated and cut off from the Roman Catholic Church. |
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A. 10. With the consent of the Queen, the sister of the reigning Queen of France, the daughter of Lorraine, might easily be married to the King of Scotland, who is now thirteen years of age, and thus the old relationships and alliances with that country would be confirmed. |
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B. 10. The Queen of England wishes to have Scotland in her own power, so it is improbable that either she or her Council would consent
to this alliance, the forces of Scotland heretofore, when united with those of France, having been but too injurious to her. |
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Now, passing over other and more secret considerations, the conclusion is that Monsieur would be King without a kingdom and without power; married, it may be said, without a wife or hope of posterity; a prisoner at liberty, and in the hand of enemies of the House of France, and with the impending danger that as it will be easy for him to go to an island, so it might be very difficult for him to return thence. Nevertheless as many things are hidden in the breasts of Princes which do not appear externally, and as their hearts are in the hand of God, even should the marriage take place, it may be for the service of Christendom, and for holy purposes which we as yet do not perceive. |
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[Italian.] |
| June 13. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
762. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Letters from the Queen-Mother, dated the 2nd inst., have arrived from Tarascon, stating that she had determined to go to Marseilles in order to arrange more effectually the affairs of Provence, and that the Marshal Damville was there with her. It is therefore thought that her Majesty will not return to the Court for two months to come. |
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Paris, 13th June 1579. |
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[Italian.] |
