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| Jan. 5. Original Minute, Venetian Archives. Deliberations of the Senate. Constantinople, Filza 5. |
186. The Doge and Senate to the Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople. |
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The reasons which induced us to instruct your predecessor and yourself to use every effort to disturb the commercial relations which the English are trying to establish in those parts by means of an Ambassador sent by the Queen, were the grave and serious dangers which our country would receive therefrom. |
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Although we are satisfied with the condition in which the question is at present, owing to the representations of the French Ambassador and the operations of Benveniste, yet if on the receipt of this the negotiation is not concluded, as we trust it will be, you are to continue your present course of action, and to take all steps you may think necessary; and you are to support with all energy the Ambassador of France in his efforts to expel the English Ambassador. You are empowered to promise to the Pasha any sum up to five thousand sequins, and to anyone else who assists you may promise up to five hundred sequins, only to be paid however on the removal of the English Ambassador (vi damo libertà di poter far prometter
al Meo Bassà fin cecchini cinque mille di Donativo, et cinque cento a quelle persone che potessero coadiuvar la detta trattatione, ogni volta però che col mezo del favor della Meia sua et di quelle persone, sia effettualmente licenziato il Bailo over Amabasciatore della predetta Regina). You are forbidden to spend any money until the deed is accomplished: should you require the money draw it on bills of exchange. We have come to this decision the more readily as we know that it will be acceptable to the King of France. |
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You will tell the French Ambassador in Constantinople that you have received orders to help him; but you will say nothing about the bribes. |
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[Italian.] |
| Jan. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
187. Giovanni Mono. Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Queen of England so vigorously pursued the last leader of the rising in Ireland, that she had him in her hands, but dead; for he, believing that he was going to be tortured, fought to the last. His head has been exposed to public view as a great trophy, on a higher stake than usual, upon London Bridge; and Ireland is now obedient to the Queen. She has condemned to death the noble who was in prison and mad, along with other three, including a priest and a woman. |
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Paris, 6th January 1583 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian.] |
| Jan. 7. Original Minute, Venetian Archives. Royal Communications, College. Filza 6. |
188. The Ambassador of France in the College. |
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The Ambassador was summoned to the Chamber of the Doge who was attended by the Councillors, and the Secretary read to him the deliberation of the Senate as regards English commerce in Constantinople. The Ambassador replied, that he had frequently raised the question without obtaining an answer; but he had always informed his master that he was sure the Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople would receive instructions in this sense, because the reception of an English Ambassador at Constantinople is a matter of serious consequence to the Republic. |
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That his master had recently sent through him to the Ambassador in Constantinople, despatches with orders to take vigorous steps for the expulsion of the English Ambassador, as he was sure that not commerce but some far deeper design was at the root of the Queen's action. He then went on to say that he supposed the Doge knew about the disturbances in England; and on his Serenity replying that the particulars were unknown to him, the Ambassador said that the brother of the Duke of Norfolk, who about ten years ago was put to death for desiring, with the help of the Catholics, to free the Queen of Scotland and to take her to wife, had again roused the Catholics, but had been taken prisoner by the Queen of England. |
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[Italian.] |
| Jan. Memmorie Publiche MS. at the Mareian Library. Cl. vi. Cod. DCCCXI. |
189. News from Constantinople that the French Ambassador cannot support the presence of the English agent, and will leave if he is not dismissed. |
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Motion made to allow the Bailo to spend 5,000 sequins on the Pasha, and 500 on the intermediary. |
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Zuan Dolton, Savio agli ordini opposed. Alvise Foscarini, Savio agli ordini, replied. |
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Ayes |
146 |
Motion passed. |
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Noes |
25 |
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Neutrals |
32 |
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[Italian.] |
| Jan. 7. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
190. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate. |
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News from England that the Queen has imprisoned several Catholic gentlemen of position on suspicion of rebellion, and is practising great cruelties. All of which causes great displeasure: and they complain that his Catholic Majesty does not embrace the occasion to support the King of Scotland, which would cause a diversion in the Flanders campaign. |
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Rome, 7th January 1583 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian.] |
| Jan. 10. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
191. Giovanni Francesco Moresini, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Yesterday the English ship of which I wrote sailed into this port, as it entered it saluted the Serraglio with many guns. A little later, as the Sultan was in his caique on his way to his gardens, it saluted again, first with guns and then with trumpets. But it seems that his Majesty was not much pleased with the artillery. He does not like, this kind of honour as he is afraid of some fatal salute. (Poco dipoi essendo il Serenissimo Signor nel suo Caichio per andare al sudetto giardino, tornò di nuovo la sudetta nave a salutare S. Maestà prima con le artelarie et poi con una musica di trombette, ma non par che si contentasse molto S. Maestà delle artellarie, non le piacendo questa sorte di honore, per tema che non le fosse fatto qualche saluto mortale.) |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 10th January 1584 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Jan. 24. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
192. Giovanni Francesco Moresini, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Nothing more has been done in the matter of the French against the English Ambassador. The Sultan has not given an answer to the note presented to him. The Aga. who had undertaken to manage the affair, told, the Ambassador that he had presented the note, that the Sultan had taken it and all the papers, but gave no answer The Ambassador tried to persuade the Aga to open the question once more with the Sultan, but the Aga excused himself saying he did not know how it could be done, as the first time he had
used every argument that he could on the subject, and as the Sultan had given no reply it was a sign that he did not intend to do so. |
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From another quarter I have heard that the English Ambassador, having surmised the action of the French representative against him, went to the Pasha, to counteract the movement. He showed that nothing could be more advantageous to the Turkish empire than the friendship of his Queen, for it was she alone who held in check both the King of France and the King of Spain, and he begged that, should the Sultan make a fresh truce with Spain, the Queen of England might be named on his side. To which request, Marigliani's man, Giovanni Steffano, tells me. that the Pasha would not listen. (Perchè lei sola era quella che teneva in freno cosi il Re di Francia, come quella di Spagna, et che li Principi Christiani per altro non le vogliono male, se non perchè alla non è idolatra, come loro, ricercando anco il Mco Bussà, che facendosi nuova sospensione di arme con il Re di Spagna, voglia questo signor nominar della parte sua essa regina.) |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 24th January 1583 [m.v.]. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
