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| July 3. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
944. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Four thousand English have passed into Flanders, and are intended to join the German levies raised by the Queen of England. They hope to infest Flanders and prevent the Duke of Parma from sending any of his troops into France. |
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Tours, 3rd July 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| July 4. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
945. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Duke of Parma writes that he has had an interview with the Agent of the Duke of Maine, and has offered a thousand horse and three thousand foot for the service of the League; excusing himself for being unable to do more on account of the needs of the Netherlands. On the other hand, the Duke of Maine never ceases to write saying that the enemy is in such force that larger reinforcements are positively required. But it seems that the Spaniards are not prepared to denude the Low Countries of men and thus to leave them at the mercy of the enemy; and so the friends of Maine in this Court declare that Spain is administering its support as a doctor administers food to a patient, not in sufficient quantities to make him stronger nor little enough to let him die. |
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Madrid, 4th July 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| July 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
946. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The affairs of Poland have been settled by the intercession of England and at the request of Sig. Bartolomeo Brutti in the name of the Prince of Bogdonia. Enclosed are the letters to the Queen of England from the Sultan. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 6th July 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Enclosed in preceding Despatch. |
947. Letter to the Queen of England. |
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After compliments, states that owing to the Persian war the Cosacks have seized the opportunity to ravage Turkish territory. The Persian war is now over and the Sultan, to punish the Cosacks in Poland, has sent the Bey of Greece who has punished them, as they deserved. The King of Poland has sent two Ambassadors
to promise that he will find out the evil-doers, and to make larger presents than usual. The Sultan, however, resolved to send his army to overthrow the kingdom of Poland; but the Queen's Ambassador at the Porte intervened and stated that England drew from Poland, corn, powder, masts, artillery, and other munitions of war, and begged for peace with Poland that it might not be disturbed by the Turks. |
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The Sultan accepts the intercession of the Queen on condition that the Cosacks are punished. The Sultan declares that he would never have made peace with Poland had it not been for the intercession of the Queen; and he wishes the King of Poland to know this. He promises help against Spain. |
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22nd June 1590. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
948. Tomaso Contariní, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Genoese, named Paulo Porta, went many months ago to England, under a pretext of recovering a ship which was captured when the Armada was lost; but as a matter of fact he was commissioned by the King to study closely the defences of that kingdom, and to sound the inclination of the English people, to see whether they were disposed to war or to peace with Spain. The negotiations for a treaty of peace are already on foot in Holland where the Duke of Parma is conducting the affair, as I have previously informed your Serenity; but they are not progressing as well as was hoped for at first; and so his Majesty has adopted this other method of procedure. This Genoese has now come back from England and reports that no new fortresses have been built, that there are many places suitable for a landing, that the people is not warlike, that their large numbers and little discipline would cause confusion, that there are many Catholics ready for a change, that twenty-five thousand men landed in the island and fully equipped, would expose the whole kingdom to the greatest risk. Speaking of the English fleet he says that the Queen has very few ships of her own; but if those which have been equipped this year and are already at sea, the larger part belong to private merchants or to buccaneers. As regards the Government, he declares that the people who manage everything and have most influence with the Queen are the Admiral, the Captain of the Fleet, and the Secretary of State. That Drake, who was Captain of the Fleet, has fallen from his high repute after the failure of his expedition to Lisbon. He considers that the English people in general and those who are at the head of affairs in particular, are desirous of peace, which, in his opinion, might be concluded upon honourable terms. The Captain showed himself especially inclined to peace, and had declared to Parlo Porta that should negotiations be opened, he was ready to come in person to Spain, under the King's safe conduct, to manage the affair. There is no doubt but that the King would resume the negotiations if his honour were saved by the first step
being taken by the other side. And in order to bring about this result, Paulo Porta is to return again to England upon some excuse or other. |
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All this I have from a friend of mine who is very familiar with the said Genoese, and has even promised to procure for me an interview with him. If that takes place I will, as in duty bound, give your Serenity a full report. |
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The navy of Spain, to the number, they say, of one hundred ships, with ten thousand men, is lying in Ferrol. Rumour says it is to go to Brittany, there to land troops to support the Duke of Mercure; but it has not sailed yet nor does anyone know when it will sail. |
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There are two pieces of news from Rome which cause annoyance to his Majesty; one that the Pope will do nothing to assist the League in France, the other that his Holiness is in some sort of relations, I do not know what with the Swiss and the Grisons. From the first of these facts it results that his Majesty is also growing less disposed to assist the League in France, and is moving with a slowness that is little suited to the nature of the case; from the second result orders to the Governor of Milan and the Agent in Switzerland to do all that lies in their power, by money and by any other means, to interrupt the relations with the Pope. |
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As yet neither Cambray nor the other places mentioned in the treaty between Spain and the League in France have as yet been handed over to the King. |
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In London, it is said that they are expecting the King of Scotland on his way from Denmark, and that they have prepared for him a most sumptuous palace, and that the Queen intends to receive him with every mark of affection, and every sign of pomp and splendour. |
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Madrid, 6th July 1590. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| July 20. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
949. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Catholic Armada is still lying at Ferrol; but as far as I can gather it is not very powerful either in numbers or in outfit. They say the troops from Germany are to man the ships. |
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A few days ago a Venetian, a certain Giacomo dalla Torre, arrived here. He had been sent from the East Indies by the Viceroy with a despatch announcing a victory over the King of Bombay (Bombace) in a naval campaign. Everything was put to the sack, and so rich was the booty that the officers and private soldiers even amassed no small wealth. The Viceroy had also seized four Turkish galleys which were taking part in that engagement. He said in a conversation I have had with him, that he came through Turkish dominions; having embarked at Goa for Ormuz, and from Ormuz passing through Bokhara (Balsam) and Bagdad, and finally reaching Tripoli. He says he has made this journey
three times on his Majesty's service. He has assured me that when he returns to those parts he will do his best to place Venetian merchants on the same footing as the Portuguese; the Venetians at present are treated like the blacks; that is to say, that they are liable to service in war and to the garrisoning of cities, and whereas the Portuguese pay only eleven per cent. on their goods, the Venetians pay fifteen. |
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Madrid 20th July 1590. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| July 21. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
950. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Mons. de Metz (Maise), French Ambassador in Venice, has sent letters from the King of Navarre to the Sultan begging him to dismiss the Ambassador of the late King of France, withdrawing the letters of credit, and promising to send another Ambassador soon to represent France at the Porte. These letters from Navarre have been presented by the English Ambassador. The English Ambassador requests the Turkish fleet against Spain, and promises to seize Portugal. The Queen has hitherto always offered to pay the fleet, and the Pasha now replies that if she will lend the money she shall have the ships. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 21st July 1590. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| July 21. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
951. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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I have spoken with Paulo Porta, the Genoese who was in England, as I told your Serenity that I hoped to do. He has confirmed all the information about the fleet, the army, and the kingdom of England, which I recently sent in my despatch. He added that the Admiral, the Captain, who is called Forius, and the Treasurer, a person of great experience and prudence, with all of whom he held interviews, each desire and praise the peace if they could only be convinced that the negotiations were in earnest and the issue certain. For the said Treasurer, in the course of conversation, showed that he suspected these negotiations to be a mere cloak for concealing some great and serious danger. He added that negotiations were going on in Flanders between the Duke of Parma and the Queen's Commissioners, and just when he thought they were about to reach an issue which was reasonable for one party as well as for the other, suddenly he heard of the preparations of ships and men, and saw the Catholic fleet taking the sea against England, with the result that the English at last learned, and at last feared, the insincerity of the other party to the negotiations. Porta added, that in spite of all this hesitation he thought that the above named were really favourably inclined towards a peace, but that there were not wanting those who openly and vigorously opposed it; declaring that Spain cannot be trusted, that she is opening negotiations merely as a cover for amassing arms, that there is no
cause to be afraid of her for her great Armada had been quite easily overcome and, scattered by the English fleet. Porta declares that there are many in England who hold these views, and will not hear of an accord between these two Crowns, being moved chiefly by the profits which they derive from the war, owing to the facilities which it affords for buccaneering; and the booty is shared by certain high placed personages who take presents from the corsairs. All the same he believes that peace is resolved on, and he says that he has instructions from England to ask for a safe conduct for the Captain Forius and another to come to Spain to treat upon the subject Porta says he has been to the Escurial, and has had a long talk with Don Juan d'Idiaquez on the matter, but, as usual, he has had no answer, only hopes and delays. He has come back to Madrid, as far as I can see, not at all satisfied with this method of procedure. He will await orders. He told that me he holds a patent from the Queen of England with which he can safely return there; all English ships are ordered to receive him on board, and to treat him well. This shows a great desire on the part of England to open negotiations. The desire is no less on this side; but the more eager the English appear to be, and the more they cease from arming themselves, the further aloof will the Spanish show themselves. |
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I am told by one who knows England and Flanders very well that the King will not break off negotiations there, but will delay, prolong, differ, so as to send the Queen to sleep. He will propose to continue the affair through Mons. de Champagny, brother of the late Cardinal de Granvelle, who is now in England; he is a person of weight and knowledge of England, and has relations with the English nobility; he has also been at times in correspondence with the Queen. |
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It is necessary to keep all this very secret, otherwise it might injure, or even ruin, the person who supplied me with the information. |
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Madrid, 21st July 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
