|
| Sept. 4. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
773. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
|
His Majesty, with the advice of his Privy Council, has determined to pardon all the persons who were concerned in the conspiracy against him, with the exception of the three chiefs, being satisfied that if he had proceeded in any other mode he would have caused a great stir, and in particular, that the whole of Normandy would have risen against him. The gentleman whom his Majesty sent to England to visit Monsieur returned this morning, and reports that on the 22nd inst. his Highness was in excellent health, and in continual and most secret negotiation with the Queen; and that his Highness, having sent him back without delay, said that he should himself speedily return to France. When he sent the gentleman to England his Majesty had made his brother understand that a wretch, hoping either to save his life, or to defer his death, had given the names of certain servants belonging to his Highness, whom he declared to be accomplices in the conspiracy, but his Majesty, being assured that this man was lying, both with regard to this and other matters, and well knowing Monsieur's excellent disposition towards himself, and that Monsieur would not permit
any such wickedness on the part of his dependants, had commanded that no questions should be put relative to these accusations either to the prisoner or to any other persons, in order that there might be no opportunity given for the utterance of similar falsehoods. |
|
Monsieur answered that he rendered most grateful thanks for the good opinion which his Majesty entertained of him, with regard to which his Majesty would never be deceived, and that he would soon return to justify himself effectually; that he desired that any servant of his, however slight the suspicion against him might be, should also justify his actions ; and that if he merited punishment, his Highness would put him to death with his own hand. |
|
And now Monsieur, having returned this very night, incognito, proceeded to the house of his Chancellor, Mons. de Mande, and this morning early his Majesty, although confined to his bed by illness, saw Monsieur and embraced him cordially and with every mark of affection. |
|
The King's illness commenced two days ago, and has caused him much uneasiness, lest the headache from which he ordinarily suffers should turn into an abscess in the ear similar to that which affected his brother King Francis; and last night he was seized with such grave symptoms that many of his attendants were moved to tears, but to-day, his ear having been cleansed, his Majesty finds himself convalescent, with hopes of further improvement. |
|
Monsieur, on his return, crossed the sea in an armed vessel belonging to the Queen of England, and was accompanied by an English Lord of high rank. He came by night to this city, and, so far as I can ascertain, besides his great satisfaction with the presents which were mutually exchanged, he firmly believes the marriage to be settled; and he says that as soon as arrangements can be made he will set out from France, efficiently accompanied, to bring the whole affair to a conclusion. He has brought letters addressed by the Queen herself to his Majesty, thanking him in most affectionate terms for the permission which he had given to his brother to visit her thus privately, and she has written the following precise words: “that as she was now his most affectionate servant, so henceforth she intended to be his perpetual slave.” |
|
I understand, upon good authority, that the secret negotiations which have passed between the parties, relate to the affairs of Flanders, the Queen promising aid in money, and to use every exertion in order to induce the Prince of Orange and the States to deliver into the hands of his Highness the principal cities of the Province of Flanders proper, the chief of which is Ghent, and that these should be surrendered to Monsieur de La Noue, who is now in arms in those parts, where also Pruneo (sic), who is the agent of Monsieur and who is conducting this negotiation, is now resident. |
|
To add to these troubles a courier arrived last night from Marshal Biron at Bordeaux with news that some Spaniards and a portion of the garrison of Fonterabia, a very strong fortress on the frontiers of the King of Spain, had taken possession of the place during the night, and that in consequence there was a movement in Gascony to take up arms and proceed in that direction. Rumours are current
to the effect that this business is a stratagem of the Queen of England in combination with the King of Navarre, the former being affronted on account of the affairs of Ireland and the latter on account of his claim to his own kingdom, the greater part of which is now held by the Spaniards. |
|
Paris, 4th September 1579. |
|
[Italian.] |
| Sept. 10. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
774. Hieronomo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
|
The abscess which a few days ago gave the King such great inconvenience was cured by being cleansed, but his Majesty on Sunday night was seized with fever, which ceased after three days duration, and he is now in good health. His Majesty is much disquieted by many troublesome questions which are on foot, and the principal and most important of these are three in number. |
|
The first is that the affair of the Marshal de Bellegarde is not proceeding as his Majesty had hoped, for the Marshal shows but little wish for peace, and while he is treating with the King of Navarre to favour him and appoint him lieutenant, he has also sent to the Queen of England to seek assistance in money, so as to keep alive agitation in this kingdom; and at the same time he is continuing his former relations with other princes, while holding communication with the Queen-Mother to gain time. |
|
The second is the marriage of Monsieur, which although considered to be concluded, as the English Ambassador has himself told me this morning in confidence, yet the affair is to be kept secret until the Queen meets her Parliament next October, when, according to her promise, she will use every endeavour to procure that Monsieur shall be crowned King of England; and it is believed that a thorough understanding has been come to between the Queen and Monsieur, to the prejudice of the King of Spain, and perhaps, as is suspected, to that of the tranquillity and repose of this kingdom. But these negotiations, with the consent of the Queen of England, having been conducted by the Queen and Monsieur alone, have passed so secretly that conclusions can only be drawn from what is evident, and not from any expressions which his Highness may have let fall, although in truth his Highness never communicates any of his private affairs either to the King or to anyone else, unless he thinks it worth his while to do so. |
|
The third is the affair of Fonterabia. This fortress has been held by the Spaniards for the last sixty-four years as a store and magazine for ammunition and artillery; it commands a secure pass to enter France from the Pyrenees in the event of hostile operations, and it contained two hundred pieces of cannon. Just as Saluzzo is considered by the French to be a pass into Italy, so Fonterabia is thought to be a most important position, and it was for a long while closely besieged by King Francis, but in vain; and since the persons who have undertaken the present enterprise are the servants of the King, there is some suspicion that his Majesty has had a hand in the matter as a set off to the question of Saluzzo. But so far, as I learn
upon good authority, his Majesty has no personal knowledge of the affair, but has shown great displeasure and has sent a courier express to the Catholic King to assure him of his Majesty's goodwill. |
|
In conversation with Mons. de Marchaumont (Marsciamon), who is the favourite of Monsieur, and also my friend, I said that as I was about to return home, and was daily expecting my successor, I should be gratified, if not displeasing to his Highness, to visit him, to congratulate him on his return to this Court and upon his good state of health. Monsieur subsequently sent to say he would see me on Sunday after midday, and when I presented myself accordingly, I paid the usual compliments and assured him of the esteem in which he was held by your Serenity, without referring to any other matters, thus following the course which has hitherto been adopted by almost all the Ambassadors, except the Nuncio and the Ambassador from Spain, who have not yet asked for any audience. I have ascertained from Marchaumont and from others several particulars concerning their conference of a fortnight's duration in England. Amongst other things, I am told that the Queen and Monsieur were frequently alone together from morning until night, and seemed unable to live without each other. That the Queen said on one occasion that “although his Highness had been represented to her as hideous, humpbacked, and deformed, yet that she found him exactly the reverse, and most handsome in her eyes.” So also it is said that Monsieur is greatly satisfied with the Queen, and had, besides his former gifts, presented her with a jewelled head-gear-band of the value of eight thousand crowns, and that the Queen had given him a most beautiful diamond in the shape of a heart, and had said to him at their parting, “Now the world will see whether I, as was pretended, have made you prisoner, or whether you have not rather made me a prisoner and yours ever most obliged.” The Queen also secured the passage of the sea by eight armed vessels, and Monsieur was saluted in the mid-channel by many rounds of artillery and accompanied by the Admiral nearly to the coast of France. The Ambassador of Monsieur remains in England, and in satisfaction of his services Monsieur has given him all the offices and appointments which were held by De Bussy, named, the post of first gentleman of the chamber, the governorship of Angers, and a company of men-at-arms. The value of these, with other advantages, will produce him a yearly revenue of sixty thousand francs. |
|
The forces of the Queen of England have in a brief space routed and slain the Earl of Desmond, who had raised a rebellion in Ireland, and hence it is believed that the disturbances there will not proceed much further. The Queen has, moreover, discovered a conspiracy by a sect of Huguenots, styled “the Puritans,” who are the enemies of the Calvinists, and who intended to poison the Queen through the agency of one of her principal ladies, namely, the Countess of Derby, who is now in prison together with other persons implicated. |
|
A courier from Spain, who arrived last night, states how the news of the taking of Fonterabia was received at that Court, and that
consequently war was talked of. But, nevertheless, the courier says that he passed the fortress on the 2nd instant, and that it was then certainly in the hands of the Spaniards; and although the French had some information from within, and had consequently approached with a view to seize the place, yet their design had failed because the garrison had resisted until the inhabitants of the country came to their assistance and had reinforced them with six hundred soldiers. This news has cheered the Spaniards, who were very sorrowful and dejected. |
|
Paris, 10th September 1579. |
|
[Italian.] |
| Sept. 18. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
775. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
|
Monsieur, desiring more than ever to conclude his marriage with the Queen of England, and actuated by an ardent impulse to become a king, has during the last few days pressed his Majesty to surrender to him the fortresses of Calais and Boulogne, on the plea that he requires those places for the passage of his gentlemen who will daily be going to and fro; but his Majesty's answer being irresolute and doubtful, and to the effect that he must await the return of the Queen-Mother, his Highness, three days ago, as I hear on good authority, took an opportunity of speaking himself to his brother, and besought his Majesty in the strongest terms to grant this favour; saying in short, that with those places he could give the King another kingdom, because if he had them in his power, the Queen of England had promised that he should be crowned King. |
|
The King in most gentle terms entreated Monsieur to listen kindly to what he desired to say, and to believe that from the great affection which he bore to Monsieur all his actions would be for Monsieur's welfare and advantage; and his Majesty then spoke at length and demonstrated that the Queen of England was holding out the hope of making him (Monsieur) her heir, and of giving him money and assistance against the King of Spain, in order to make the latter declare war against himself (his Majesty of France). But in that case, as the Queen was most artful in all her proceedings, she would abandon Monsieur at the critical point, because while she does not desire the Spaniards to be masters of Flanders she would still less wish to see the French in that position, and even if the marriage were solemnized and Monsieur crowned, circumstances which were not credible, then Monsieur would not inherit the kingdom; and therefore his Majesty could only perceive a great evil not only for himself but for the crown of France, in which Monsieur had so great an interest and which some day he might possess, an event which his Majesty desired and was indeed lately imminent by reason of his Majesty's illness; and if this should come to pass whilst Monsieur was absent in England, the troubles which would ensue were self-evident. Besides, Monsieur ought to turn his thoughts to posterity, and marry a lady from whom he might hope to have children, and if a Spaniard were not acceptable to him from inability to bring any province as a dower, he might turn to
Germany, Italy, or to France itself, or wherever he might obtain the greatest personal advantages or satisfaction. |
|
His Majesty gave other similar reasons, and concluded by stating that to surrender fortresses to be handed over to the Queen of England would be an indecent proceeding, and one which the Estates of France would never tolerate, but that if the places were to be held only by Monsieur himself, then his Majesty assured him that they would always be his without the trouble or expense of his occupying them; and finally his Majesty said that he would rather present him with a whole province than two places to which the English asserted pretensions, and which were so important to the kingdom. At the same time his Majesty did not give an absolute refusal, but said he would await to see his mother, whose return could not long be delayed, and without whose presence questions of such great moment ought not to be determined. |
|
Monsieur did not fail to answer that he was fully assured of the good faith of the Queen of England, and that his union with her would greatly lead to the profit and advantage of France, with many similar expressions ; and he repeated his entreaty to the King at least to give him one of these places, but at last he was obliged to desist and await the return of the Queen. |
|
His Highness, however, does not cease to confer with the English Ambassador, and with a gentleman sent by the King of Denmark who has come here secretly from England, and who dwells incognito in a suburb outside the city, whither Monsieur went forth the day before yesterday and also to-day in a coach to visit him. I am informed that they are discussing the affairs of Flanders, because the Prince of Orange, through an emissary who has come hither secretly, is offering to carry into effect the articles which were agreed to last year, and to deliver Cambray and other cities to La Noue or whoever else may be chosen for the purpose. |
|
The King pretends not to be aware of these negotiations in order that he may not offend his brother, who declares that he is now past his boyhood and requires neither advice nor any guardian, but on the other hand, his Majesty is assiduously pressing the Queen-Mother to return as soon as possible in order to baffle and break off all these intrigues. I further hear that the Portuguese Ambassador has requested Monsieur to use his best endeavours to prevent Portugal being occupied by any Power by force of arms, and that his Highness answered that he would not fail to do so even at his own personal risk. |
|
Paris, 18th September 1579. |
|
[Italian.] |
| Sept. 23. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
776. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
|
The gentleman from the King of Denmark departed for England three days ago, but the emissary from the States of Flanders remains here, and confers frequently and alone with Monsieur, who has declined to go to meet the King, but is following these negotiations with activity and secrecy ; and as I hear upon good
authority that money is being advanced by the Queen of England to his Highness, it is almost certain that mischief will ensue as usual. It appears that Mons. de Fayvault (Favalt), who is also in the service of Monsieur, has engaged five or six captains each with a company, to proceed as it is said to Flanders, to assist the States, but as there is no sign of any levy of troops nor of any movement of importance, some think that this force may be intended to occupy the territories which the Prince of Orange desires to give Monsieur, or for some expedition to Franche Comté, although Monsieur is not likely to leave France this winter for such a purpose. His Highness went last night to St. Germain, and thence it is said he will proceed to meet the Queen Mother, who is now at Lyons. |
|
Letters from England, dated the 13th, relate how the Queen of England had caused the Queen of Scotland to be more strictly confined and guarded than usual, and that the governor who had held her in custody, had been put in prison on account of an understanding which existed with the rebels in Ireland, who, in fact, after the death of their chief, have been all either dispersed or destroyed; and some of those who remained alive have confessed that the King of Spain had given them his assistance, which will greatly anger the English against his Catholic Majesty. |
|
Paris, 23rd September 1579. |
|
[Italian.] |
| Sept. 28. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
777. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
|
Monsieur, after having left St. Germain, went to his estates extremely dissatisfied with the King, because after his return from England he had failed to obtain many things for which he had asked his Majesty; and his Majesty has now sent orders from Dolenville to the governors of the provinces, especially of those which are adjacent to Flanders and Germany, not to allow any movements either of officers or soldiers within their jurisdiction, and if any one should disobey this order, whether for the sake of Monsieur or any one else, the offender is to be hanged and cut to pieces without reprieve. But it has since been heard that La Roche Guyon with a strong following has fortified himself in a castle situate in a free state on the German frontiers of Champagne, called Commercy, which he formerly bought for 400,000 francs, and which he has promised to deliver over to Casimir, who is said to be advancing with six thousand Roisters; and as it is also known that the Huguenot chiefs are doing all they can to assist La Roche Guyon, though he professes to follow Monsieur, his Majesty, under these circumstances, and not to be unprovided, has resolved to send as large a force as he can into Champagne. |
|
Monsieur has sent to acquaint his Majesty that he was then residing at Alençon the better to attend to his affairs, and that he intended shortly to wait upon the Queen Mother. His Majesty replied that Monsieur was free to do what he pleased, but that for
his own advantage should remember his promise to live peaceably. The King gives out in public that there is no dissatisfaction existing between himself and his brother, but nevertheless the reverse is the fact, and well informed persons believe that some new movement is at hand. I have been assured by a person employed in these negotiations, that the Queen of England has promised Monsieur a large sum of money if he will deliver any fortresses to her, and also to lend him one hundred thousand crowns at his pleasure, if he should decide to go to Flanders, or to take up arms in any quarter; and as I have obtained the copy of a letter which the Queen herself wrote to his Highness upon the return of Mons. Aloto [Eloy Montmorency ?] I send the same herewith to your Serenity. |
|
Paris, 28th September 1579. |
|
[Italian.] |
|
778. Letter by Elizabeth, Queen of England, to the Duke of Alençon, in French, and with her own hand; translation, enclosed in the preceding. |
|
I feel bound to thank your Highness for the loving communication which Mons. Eloy Montmorency has been charged to deliver to me, in order to learn my state of health subsequent to your departure. I thank the Divine Majesty that I can give you the report which you desire to receive, namely, that although I see myself deprived of the presence of your Highness, which is what has given me and now gives me both health and every happiness, nevertheless I accept this visit as a most favourable omen that our affairs will have the happy issue which we desire. |
|
Nevertheless for my own complete satisfaction nothing is wanting but the person of your Highness, which may it please our Lord God to reconduct as speedily as possible hither, where I would remind you to persevere in the same course, because the result which I so earnestly desire for your welfare must then come to pass. Choose therefore the most convenient opportunity for your coming, which will ever be longed for by myself. May God grant you his protection. |
|
[Italian; no date.] |
