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| 1583. May 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1. Giovanni Francesco Moresini, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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On my arrival here I found, among the others in the service of your Serenity, a certain Giacomo de Merzé, a Perotte, your Consul in Palermo. I heard an excellent account of this man on all sides, and also that in case of need he would act as dragoman, being master of Turkish, Greek, and Italian. He is very poor, drawing a salary of not more than twenty ducats a year, because commerce is so reduced that the fees on the shipping in Palermo do not amount to more than that sum. When the English Ambassador arrived, this man, without saying a word to me, went and offered his services as dragoman, and made his bargain without renouncing his post as Consul, or even informing me of his action. |
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As I held a high opinion of his value I endeavoured to persuade him not to abandon the service of your Serenity, and added that he would soon receive a more important post than the one he now occupied, as both Mateca and Pasquale were so ill that they could not continue much longer in service. He absolutely denied having pledged himself to the Ambassador, but he said that he had been offered fifteen thousand aspers and four suits a year. He declared that he had declined this offer, and certainly would not accept it now that he was assured of my good offices. With this he left me. All the same I have learned that he went straight to the English Ambassador's house where the suits were cut for him. |
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The following day, deeming it advisable to make a visit of ceremony to the said Ambassador, who has kissed hands, I left my house with all my suite. I sent Pasquale, the dragoman, who was on horseback, ahead of me to announce my coming. The Ambassador replied that his house was in such disorder that he could not receive me, and he bade Pasquale beg me to do him the favour not to arrive. Pasquale returned with this message, and found me about half way. I, thinking this answer might be dictated by modesty, sent Pasquale back to say that it mattered nothing that his house was not yet in order, for I knew well that when one is just arrived one cannot instantly have all one wishes, and that being so far on my road I desired to visit him in discharge of my duty. The Ambassador, however, persisted in his request that I would turn back. I did so, but scarcely had I got home, when he, recognising his mistake, sent three of his suite, and the said Giacomo de Merzé to act as dragoman, to offer me apologies, and to beg me not to take his conduct amiss, for both he and his house would always be at my service. I thanked his Lordship for this message, and assured him that I had desired to visit him merely to show the good-will which existed between your Serenity and the Queen. |
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With that the English left, and the Consul of Palermo remained behind. I asked him how his affair was going on, and whether he
was settled yet. He began to vacillate; said he was poor; if he lost this opportunity he would be ruined; begged my leave to accept. I endeavoured once more to induce him to remain in your service, and promised that his needs would be considered at least in part, or that your permission would be granted to him to accept this offer, otherwise he might rest assured that he would never be employed again by your Serenity. He replied that he was not so far committed that he could not draw back, but he repeated his request that I would give him leave. |
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I said I would write, as I did not wish to give him permission on my own authority. He, though acting falsely, for he had already made his bargain, received the money and the suits, — pretended to be persuaded, and duly begged me to speak to the English Ambassador so that he might not take it amiss that he had to await a reply from Venice. |
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I believed his lies; and knowing that Rabi Salamon was an intimate of the Ambassador I begged him to do whatever seemed best fitted to preserve this fellow for your Serenity's service. He went to the Ambassador, and, as if of himself, he said that here it had never been the custom for one Ambassador to take away another Ambassador's servants; nay, if one dismissed a servant none of the rest would take him in unless begged to do so by his former master. The Ambassador replied that he had need of de Merzé, who had told him that he already had my permission. Eabi Salamon said that could not be the case; whereupon the Ambassador called de Merzé, who shamelessly denied having ever said anything except that he wished to leave your Serenity's service, and declared that he was at liberty to serve whom he pleased. After a long conversation the Ambassador sent his servant to beg me to write to your Serenity a request that you would grant him this man, whom he will not make use of till your answer arrives. I am sure, however, that they are already agreed among themselves; and a clear proof is that two days later the Consul came to the Chancery to renounce his office. |
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I have not thought fit to take any steps against him. I await your Serenity's orders. As a warning to others it would be advisable to deprive him in perpetuity of all offices in these parts. Pray you instruct me as to the answer I shall return to the English Ambassador. |
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He has been here this morning to apologise for what happened on the day I went to visit him; he throws all the blame on Pasquale, whom, he says, he did not understand. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 17th May 1583. |
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[Italian.] |
