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| June 9. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
936. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Of the five ships which sailed from Lisbon for the West Indies two had to turn back towards that port, one because her mast showed signs of giving, the other because she was quite unfitted for so long a voyage. The Cardinal sent out an escort to bring them in. Everyone is amazed that ships destined for so long and arduous a voyage should have been sent out with so little forethought and care. Of the other three there is no news. It is supposed that they have continued their journey. |
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The crews of these two ships say they fought with the English, against whom they could make but a feeble resistance, as they were quite unprovided for battle. It was owing to the wind that, after a long struggle, they separated and drew away. |
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One hundred and eighty thousand crowns have been sent from Lisbon to Corunna for the fleet; also six carvels laden with provisions. |
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Some hulks have arrived from Hamburg with marine stores. But the fleet which they can put together this year will not be large enough to attempt any great operations. The King, however, is devoting all his power and all his attention to the preparation of an adequate force. Besides all the provisions which are being made here the King has ordered the construction of twenty ships of two hundred tons each in the West Indies. These are required for rapid manoeuvring, not for attack. |
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Madrid, 9th June 1590. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| June 10. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
937. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Ferrante Cavalchino, a Milanese, who has served in Flanders, and came to Portugal when the English attacked that country in which he held the post of Commissary-General of the Cavalry, has now left Madrid. |
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Madrid, 10th June 1590. |
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[Italian.] |
| Enclosed in 2nd Despatch Madrid, June 10. |
938. Terms of a Treaty between the King of Spain and the League. |
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His Catholic Majesty shall by April next send five thousand infantry, drawn from the veterans of the Flanders army, into Piccardy. Not more than two thousand of these shall be Spaniards; also one thousand men-at-arms, Flemish, Burgundians, Albanians, and Italians. |
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He will send into the Lyonnaise five thousand Burgundian infantry and one thousand horse, twelve pieces of siege artillery, and twenty of field artillery. |
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He will send to Narbonne two thousand Spanish infantry and five hundred horse. To Nantes ten great ships, with three thousand infantry and five hundred horse. |
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He will lend to the Holy League five hundred thousand crowns, and two hundred thousand crowns a month as long as the war lasts. |
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On the other hand, the Holy League of France, for itself and allies, pledges itself to return all money borrowed within three years of the closing of the war, in rates of one-third each year. |
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It will at once hand over to the Royal Commissioners, Cambray, Abbeville, and all its forts in Burgundy. |
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It will place in the field forty thousand men, five thousand horse, and fifty pieces of siege and fifty of field artillery. |
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It will make no terms with Henry of Bourbon except at the Court of Spain or of Savoy. |
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All ports belonging to the League shall receive any Spanish ships, and shall exclude all English, Holland, or Zealand shipping. |
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Should the King of Spain wish to make war in Scotland or England during the continuance of the war in France, the League shall not be bound to help him, except in so far as opening their ports is concerned. But if the war in France is finished, the League must supply fifteen thousand infantry and three thousand horse, and six thousand sappers. |
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All members shall swear to these terms. |
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Cambray, Abbeville, and the other fortresses shall be consigned to the King when he has paid down the five hundred thousand crowns, |
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In future when his Catholic Majesty is mentioned he is to be styled Protector and Conservator of the Crown of France. |
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The King promises to remit all previous debts due from the Crown of France and the city of Paris. |
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If the King makes war at his own charges against the patrimony of Navarre, all that he acquires shall be freely and solely his possession. |
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The League may not treat with, nor receive help from, any Prince, except the Pope and the Duke of Savoy, without the consent and approval of the King of Spain. |
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[French.] |
| June 20. Original Despatch Venetian Archives. |
939. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The King has sent to England to raise money from English merchants in order to carry on the war, and to pay his horse (Raitri) and landsknechts. When these Germans arrive about August, as expected, the King hopes to put an end to the disturbances of this kingdom. |
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Tours, 20th June 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| June 23. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
940. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The defence of Portugal is to be naval rather than military, and so orders for the construction of ships are being sent to the Indies, where the quantity of iron, and the abundance and goodness of the wood renders shipbuilding easy. |
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An edict has been issued allowing anyone who likes to go buccaneering, on condition that he receives his orders from the Council of War. |
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The ships as they are got ready are taken to Ferrol. No one knows what plans lie hid in the breast of the King. But sure it is that Tornabuoni, Agent for the Duke of Mercure, still stays at this Court and urges the King to support his master; accordingly it is possible that the fleet may be sent to Brittany to keep the English in check should they endeavour to assist the King of Navarre. |
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Madrid, 23rd June 1590. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| June 23. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
941. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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There is a rumour which comes from the French frontier that Don Antonio of Portugal, and two of his sons, is with the King of Navarre. If this were true it would not be displeasing news to the Spanish, for they feared that Don Antonio had gone to Constantinople, where he could have caused much more trouble. |
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Madrid, 23rd June 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| June 23. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
942. Alberto Badoer, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Pope expressed the highest hopes for the return of England to the Catholic faith. |
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Rome, 23rd June 1590. |
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[Italian.] |
| June 26. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
943. Giovanni Moro and Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassadors in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Audience of Sinan Pasha, Grand Vizir. The Grand Vizir asked how matters were going between the Queen of England and the King of Spain; we replied that there was no talk of expeditions at present, but each was damaging the other at every opportunity. The Pasha said, “ The Queen of England is asking us for two hundred galleys, for which she will pay all the expenses; with these joined to her own fleet she promises to attack the King of Spain. But we have nothing to do in those parts. The Queen should send her fleet here to join ours, and then something might be done.” |
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We then went on to Ferrat Pasha. He, too, asked for news about the affairs of England and Spain, and inquired which side
the Republic would take if it were compelled to help one or the other. I, Lippomano, replied that circumstances had never brought the question before your Serenity. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 26th June 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
