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| Aug. 1. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
952. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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From a letter addressed from Ferrol by the captain of a ship, I learn that the Catholic Armada numbers about thirty vessels, between small and great. The same information, with fuller particulars, has been sent to me by a friend of mine on the spot, and I herewith enclose a copy of his letter. Furthermore, I am in possession of some information about English affairs, and although I am not absolutely certain of their accuracy I think it desirable to communicate them to your Serenity. From these you will see that it is impossible for the Catholic Armada to take the sea in great force this year. It would seem that for the coming year they hope to have great forces ready, as orders have been issued for the construction of ships in various quarters along the Atlantic coast;
many Ragusan ships have been hired, and provisions and stores to furnish them are being collected. For this same purpose his Majesty has raised a loan of five millions of gold from Ambrogio Spinola; three millions are to be paid within a year at the places chosen, and the other two are to lie at his Majesty's disposition. The larger part of this sum is guaranteed upon the eight millions which Spain is to contribute, and the rest upon the Indian fleets and other sources of revenue. |
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A Capuchin friar, in secular garb, is here as agent for the League. |
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Tornabuoni, the Florentine, who was here on behalf of the Duke of Mercure, has left Madrid; he appears to be very well satisfied. |
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Madrid, 1st August 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Enclosed in preceding Despatch. |
953. The information I have gathered on this journey is derived from a M. Giuliano, a merchant living in Morlaix. He was for six months in the port of Plymouth, which he left on the 21st May and embarked at Dartmouth (Sartamua). |
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He says that the English have taken the sailors from the coast of Cornwall to man the ships which are lying in the river of London; most of them were without a single real, and for this reason it will be impossible for more than fifteen or sixteen ships to put out to sea this year. |
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He says that neither in Plymouth nor in Dartmouth (Artamua), nor along the whole coast of Cornwall is there a single Royal ship of war, nor any men. Drake is in Plymouth and is held of no account throughout the kingdom, any more than if he had never been born. The whole population, nobles and commons alike, is in great straits; and all along the coast they are building ships for the Azores and other islands. They intend to take two Frenchmen with them to speak the language and to give out that the whole expedition is French. They offered Giuliano himself two hundred crowns and the value of all the merchandise he carried if he would go one voyage with them. |
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Two large ships put out from Plymouth; one of one hundred and fifty the other of one hundred tons. They are privateers. |
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In S. Paolo de Lion there was news of Pedro Limitez and Alendire, merchants of Rosco; these men were six months in London, which they left on 2nd June, and came by land to Dartmouth, where they took ship. |
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They report that in the river of London are many ships of war, above one hundred and fifty; the crews were drawn from all the ports of the kingdom; but they have been disbanded again as they understand that Spain is not preparing an Armada to attack England this year. |
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During the whole journey from London to Dartmouth, in no place did they see any troops except the sailors who were going and coming. |
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It is certain that fourteen great ships and two small will put out to sea; and each of the great ships has at least six hundred
men on board. Their destination is to be the coast of Brittany, where it is understood that the Spanish Armada will also go. |
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The principal captains who will sail on board the fleet are the Earl of Effingham (?) (Esbernol), John Hawkins (Aquin) and Martin Frobisher (Frobues). |
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Two scouts are off the coast of Spain to gather news. |
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The Queen has sent ten thousand men to Flanders. |
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Neither at Plymouth nor at Dartmouth is there a single ship of war. |
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These merchants declare that while they were in London they saw and spoke to Don Pedro de Valdes and to Martin d'Aranda, whom they had known in Lisbon. |
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In Morlaix the Justiciary General was informed by an English merchant that it was a certain fact that the fourteen ships would come to Belarchesa (?) to prevent the Spaniards from proceeding any further. |
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In Morlaix on Tuesday, July 3rd, Mons. Marco Flor declared that in London many persons had presented demands for payment, both for services rendered and for provisions furnished to the fleet. The Queen sent for the Admiral who informed her as to what moneys were due. She also inquired as to the amount of food, munition, and artillery that there was on board the fleet. The Admiral replied that on board and in the store-houses there was abundance of everything. The Queen determined to verify this statement; and finding that there was not the half of what had been represented to her, she flew into a rage with the Admiral, who retired to his own house. |
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[Spanish.] |
| Enclosed in preceding Despatch. |
954. The difficulty about the post has prevented me from supplying your Lordship, as I desired, with information as to what is taking place here. Everyone is waiting anxiously to learn some resolution as to the destination of the fleet. It is not quite ready yet, as it should be, for only one-third of its compliment of men is on board, the other two-thirds are still in cantonments forty leagues away. |
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Of the artillery the supply is poor; for out of forty pieces, only fifteen are mounted. |
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The ships number forty; some of eight hundred or a thousand, some of two thousand; some of four thousand, and up to five thousand. |
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Two galleasses, and two more expected from Lisbon. |
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There are twenty-five felizotti and dispatch boats. Each ship and each galleass has a pinnace of eight benches to tow it. |
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The troops will amount to eight thousand men; the sailors to six thousand. |
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There is said to be provision on board for six months; biscuits, wine, and buttery goods. |
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Ferrol, 6th July 1590. |
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[Italian.] |
| Aug. 2. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
955. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The question of assisting the Marabout, who is in revolt against the Turk, is under discussion. His Majesty, who is engaged in treating for peace with England, and is desirous of peace everywhere, so that he may be able to direct all his forces to the affairs of France, is hardly likely to grant the assistance demanded. |
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The Venetian who came here from the Indies is urging on his business with the Ministers, as he wishes to set out as soon as possible on his return journey. I do all I can to assist him. |
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He tells me that the people of those parts will petition his Majesty not to send Castillians there as governors; but to leave those provinces to Portuguese as originally took place. He tells me that he has already mentioned the subject to his Majesty, whom he found well disposed to consent. |
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Madrid, 2nd August 1590. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| Aug. 4 Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
956. Hieronimo Lippomano, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Mons. de Maise has sent a letter from the King of Navarre to the Sultan, in which he says thai not he, but the Queen of England, asked for the Turkish fleet, The English Ambassador has every facility in treating with the Grand Vizir. I enclose a most important paper, which the English Ambassador laid before the Vizir; it came into my hands in a most secret way. |
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The English Ambassador has done all he can to cause the expulsion of Mons. de Lancome, French Ambassador at the Porte; he even wished that de Lancome should be sent a prisoner to the King of Navarre. The Pasha wished to wait till the new Ambassador from Navarre should arrive; but after persistent solicitations he has consented to dismiss the Ambassador at once. Accordingly, six days ago, a Chavass went to give the Ambassador his dismissal. The Ambassador went to the Grand Vizir, who received him, made him be seated, and said “Neither your King nor mine desires that you should be Ambassador any more,” and thereupon he repeated the dismissal. French affairs here are in the hands of the English Ambassador. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 4th August 1590. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| Aug. 18. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
957. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Tornabuoni, Agent to the Duke of Mercure, on leaving Court, went to Corunna, to hasten the preparations of the fleet, and to endeavour to send it to Brittany, which province had been offered to his Majesty by the said Duke. |
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Madrid, 18th August 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Aug. 18. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
958. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain to the Doge and Senate. |
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Letters from Lisbon announcing that some days ago several English vessels were sighted off the coast of Portugal. They were scouring the seas from Cape Finisterre to Cape St. Vincent, on the look out for the India fleet, which arrives about this time. This keeps all the merchants of Lisbon in terror, for if the India fleet were captured every one of them would be ruined. There would be good hopes that the fleet might escape if it could keep the higher route; but on account of the need for provisions and water, which are supplied at the Azores, it is very doubtful whether it will be able to deviate from the ordinary route. To counteract this danger it is said that some ships have sailed from Ferrol; they will be able to protect the fleet, if they do not arrive too late. |
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The same letters from Lisbon inform me that nine galleots in two squadrons, which have sailed from El'Arisch, are scouring those waters as far as Gibraltar; they are doing serious mischief; and some galleys sent from Cadiz to Lisbon were unable to fall in with them. In Lisbon they are at work on two galleasses, which, when finished, are to join the fleet in Ferrol. But so many are the difficulties in the way of the work, that it will be impossible to complete it as soon as it should be. |
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Madrid, 18th August 1590. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| Aug. 21. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
959. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Spanish fleet, which to the number of fifty sail, has been for so long off the cost of Biscay, arousing suspicion of a descent on Brittany, passed into English waters, either to support the party favourable to Spain in England and Scotland, or to prevent the Queen of England from sending troops into Flanders. Drake went to meet this fleet; and on several occasions he worsted the Spaniards and took some of their best ships; the rest returned to Spain, in disorder. But the King writing here, speaks of these operations as a set battle, in which the greater part of the Spanish fleet was routed and captured. |
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Tours, 21st August 1590. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
