Venice: September 1638 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 24, 1636-1639. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1923.

Citation:

'Venice: September 1638', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 24, 1636-1639, ed. Allen B Hinds( London, 1923), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol24/pp445-457 [accessed 25 November 2024].

September 1638



Sept. 3. Senato, Secreta. Deliberazioni. Corti. Venetian Archives.	496. To the Ambassador in England. We have received your letters of the 8th ult. and approve of your conduct over the refusal to appoint an earl to meet you. Seeing that there are so many difficulties in the way you will continue to dissimulate, in order not to cause prejudice by declaring yourself more plainly since up to the present you will have made them believe that it was a private desire of your own and to confirm more fully the excellent disposition of the king. Ayes, 113. Noes, 1. Neutral, 1. [Italian.]
Sept. 3. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Inghilterra. Venetian Archives.	497. Giovanni Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate. I write from my bed, where I am suffering from a severe and continual fever and other pains, such things as have reached me in my deplorable condition. On the arrival of the news of the unexpected departure of the queen mother from Flanders, the king, fearing that she meant to cross to this kingdom, sent some one on purpose to dissuade her, even offering to pay her a sum of money down, to give it up, as his Majesty wishes to escape the further expenditure and trouble which the coming of that princess would involve. Another person has left the Court for Holland, with instructions that if this cannot be managed, she must come here without Fabroni, Monsigot and Cogneus. As these alone control the queen's counsels, it seems likely that she will be obliged to decide on something else if they are forbidden to enter the kingdom. They are waiting for her decision. Meanwhile the queen here is making provision, so that if her mother comes she may be in a position to receive and entertain her properly. In such case, if I recover, I shall follow the example of the other ministers, and the French one in particular, according to the instructions sent me before at the Catholic Court. With the prolongation of the Duchess of Chevreuse's stay here they have cut down their first liberality, although the proofs of the queen's affection have not yet dried up. She has had to form her own household, and the queen lent her 4000l. sterling for the purpose. The French ambassador, who wants her to go back, and works for it, hopes that necessity will drive her there, now she is living by herself. There is increasing talk, on the part of this minister also, that the conclusion of the alliance between this crown and the French one will not bring France the advantage she desires, as clearly indicated by the articles which are full of reserve and irresolute conditions, as usual with this country. They say that his Majesty has sent another 20,000l. sterling to Holland for the Prince Palatine, this last week, by a captain of horse, a servant of the Palatine house. The recent offices of the Ambassador Joachimi have succeeded in obtaining the recall of the ships at sea with letters of reprisals against the Dutch. Meanwhile they have seized another rich ship of that country, arrived from Barbary, and taken it to Plymouth. (fn. 1) All are curious to see where these differences will end. Since the departure of the Marquis of Hamilton for Scotland nothing is known of affairs there. They are most impatient for news of what has happened. News has arrived of the defeat of the Bizerta galleys by your Excellencies' commanders. The mart here applauds the valour of the Venetian arms, the courage of the commanders and that of the galeasses in particular. Your Excellencies' letters of the 30th July and the 13th August reached me together this week. London, the 3rd September, 1638. [Italian.]
Sept. 9. Senato, Secreta. Deliberazioni. Corti. Venetian Archives.	498. To the Ambassador in England. A quantity of powder for war is manufactured in those parts, and this republic has previously obtained a great deal from thence. You will try and arrange a contract for a good supply for this city, sending word of the terms, price, quantity, quality and other particulars, so that we may be able to come to a final decision on the subject and issue our orders. Ayes, 114. Noes, 0. Neutral, 10. The like to the Ambassador at the Hague. [Italian.]
Sept. 10. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Inghilterra. Venetian Archives.	499. Giovanni Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate. The fever persists and keeps me weak and useless, to my great annoyance. The Duchess of Savoy has sent fresh complaints against the Ambassador Fildin, charging her minister to try and get him removed. His mother has tried repeatedly to get him the post of ordinary ambassador in France, or failing that, a fresh appointment with your Serenity. The Savoyard Agent speaks as if this were already settled, but my enquiries do not bear this out, as he enjoys scant credit, and his Majesty has not yet decided anything about sending him back to Venice. (fn. 2) They are hastening their preparations for the reception of the queen mother : but they remain uncertain about her coming, having received no advices about the negotiations of the persons sent to those parts. The absence of news from the Marquis of Hamilton makes the Court very anxious, and especially disturbs his Majesty, who always persuaded himself that the adjustment of those most important affairs would prove easy. Amid the upset caused by this uncertainty the Archbishop of Canterbury, the sole author of the new plans, does not just now enjoy the customary abundance of the royal favours, with the fear that if the trouble persists, he may lose them entirely. A further and very dangerous trouble, more dangerous to his Majesty's equanimity, is the suggestion of new powers for the enrichment of the royal patrimony, even at the cost of offending some of the greatest. In years gone by, by means of considerable expenditure and other advantageous circumstances, the king invested certain lords of the realm with the benefit of a quantity of property which was inundated, on condition that they brought it under cultivation within a fixed time, or else the privilege should lapse. The time has now expired, and the royal agents contend that the feofees have not fulfilled their obligations, while they, by witnesses and other evidence prove the contrary. His Majesty, being advised to yield nothing, has declared the property lapsed to the crown. From it they promised him profits which were previously drawn from the Duchy of Normandy, amounting to a sum of great consequence. Those concerned, who are all great and influential lords, raise their complaints to the heavens. This coupled with other grievances gives good grounds for looking for changes detrimental to the royal service. The ministers here seem to be eagerly expecting a fresh ambassador from Spain, who they say, is sent with all speed. This indicates that they continue to delude themselves with hopes that this crown will obtain from the Spaniards by negotiation what it is not disposed to try for with the sword, and that it wishes to shuffle out of major commitments under cover of such negotiations. London, the 10th September, 1638. [Italian ; the part in italics deciphered.]
Sept. 15. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Costantinopoli Venetian Archives.	500. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Bailo at Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. Representations made by the ambassadors of the Christian powers at the Porte on the subject of the pirates captured by the Venetians at Valona. The English ambassador had audience after the others and presented his arz separately. He spoke more strongly than the rest against pirates, and pointed out that some years ago his king had some burned in the port of Algiers, yet not a word was said. (fn. 3) The Vigne of Pera, the 15th September, 1638. [Italian ; the part in italics deciphered.]
Sept. 17. Senato, Secreta. Deliberazioni. Corti. Venetian Archives.	501. To the Ambassador in England. It would be profitable in the interests of our Arsenal to make provision of tallow (scevi) of the West, and it would be very advantageous for ships from those parts to bring it, because they could dispose of it in Crete and in other parts of our dominions in the east as well as in this city. You will try and induce the shipmasters to bring it. Ayes, 152. Noes, 2. Neutral, 1 [Italian.]
Sept. 17. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Inghilterra. Venetian Archives.	502. Giovanni Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate. The news from Scotland grows constantly worse. The Marquis of Hamilton, who returned to Court on Saturday, speaks of fresh difficulties about restoring the royal authority there, the people being most obstinate about yielding a jot and ever more determined in their revolt. All the conditions proposed were rejected. His Majesty has held long councils, discussing the means for quenching this great conflagration. He dissimulates as much as possible his displeasure and tries to circulate reports different from the evidence of the facts, in order to ward off from this kingdom those disturbances which the most discontented do not hesitate to predict as very near. By an adroit representation to his Majesty the queen has contrived that the three servants named of the queen mother shall not be prevented from coming here with their mistress, if she has decided to come. Her decision upon that remains doubtful as before. The king yields to all the caprices of his wife and has gratified her in this particular also. The last offices of the Dutch ambassador have not proved useless. His Majesty has suspended the letters of reprisals granted to English merchants and has recalled his ships. The ship seized in the port of Plymouth remains just as it was while they are contriving means for the mutual satisfaction of those interested, in the hope that this incident will be terminated without further disputes, which might lead to further trouble and give the Hispanophiles courage for improving the interests of the Austrian party at this Court. Some ships of Tunis, which were openly buccaneering in Irish waters, fell in with some English ones, when they were disembarking, enriched with considerable booty, and were well beaten. They have sent a squadron of galleons of the fleet after them to complete their discomfiture. (fn. 4) The news brought by the gentleman sent on purpose to their Majesties by the Most Christian of the birth of the dauphin, (fn. 5) which fills France with joy and Christendom with hopes, has aroused feelings of exultation in the royal breasts and in everyone. The queen is especially delighted and shows her feelings openly by her happy demeanour. Her Majesty had the Te Deum sung in her apartment two days ago in her presence and bonfires were lighted everywhere. The gentleman will be sent back to his master with rich presents, and the king and queen have selected two persons to express their content, who will leave for that kingdom very shortly. (fn. 6) I keep my bed as the fever leaves me no respite. London, the 17th September, 1638. [Italian.]
Sept. 18. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni, Principi. Venetian Archives.	503. The Secretary of Great Britain came into the Collegio and presented the following memorials. When they were read he went away : Memorial I. Your Serenity very justly directed the Proveditore of Zante to draw up a process upon the tyranny of Pietro Aquila, Marc Antonio Boldu and their dependants in those islands against Henry Hyde and other Englishmen. This has not produced the results intended, because Aquila and the others have such authority that no one ventures to give evidence, and the English merchants deprived of support and beaten down by persecution and craft are too weak to undertake a process against such powerful opponents. As a proof of this, although your Serenity's orders have arrived for the process, no one has ventured to make himself responsible for it, and the English merchants, in fear of these tyrants may be forced, like Sig. Henry, to withdraw to other countries, to the destruction of the trade at those marts, carried on with so much profit to the state. It is hoped that your Serenity will provide against this by directing the process to be drawn up, after the style and with the secrecy of the Senate, so that the English merchants and witnesses may hope, to escape the assassins, owing to the secrecy of their depositions. I impart this in support of the earnest petitions made by the nation. I also beg you to hear the petition laid before you on the 30th August last, asking in the name of this Henry and others for a delegation to the government of Zante, so that he may have security against the outlawry unexpectedly issued against him by Aquila and Boldu and appear to prove his innocence and the malignity of the persecution. With the same objects the same Henry has been represented to the Inquisitor Capello as a debtor in the chambers of Zante and Cephalonia for a very great sum, for exporting currants, and by his Excellency's order entered in the public books as a debtor, without his being notified, cited or heard, and without allowing him to appear or produce his accounts as he has begged. I ask your Serenity to appoint a sincere and disinterested judge in the Levant to hear what he has to say and examine his accounts, as that is sure to show that he is not a debtor to the state, the interests of which he has always put before his own, as is well known to your representatives in those parts. If he is shown to be a debtor he promises to pay promptly all that is due.
	Memorial II. I am to receive some books and other papers from my king's ambassador by way of Zurich. I ask your Serenity to order the official of the customs, or others, wherever they may come, to allow these books, about thirty, and papers to pass freely without opening the packets or looking for anything inside.
	Most Serene Prince : In the missives of the 7th I find a memorial presented by the secretary of England for the English merchants here, with orders to draw up a process upon all the points therein, and if there was no contumacy, to try and get back Hider from Turkey for the advantage of the public interests and the increase of trade, both of which I have supported with all my power, with every expression of regard for that nation. Of the facts in the memorial two have come to my knowledge, the wounding of the captain of the ship Tomasina and the serious outrage on the English consul. On the first I drew up a vigorous process against a single culprit, Zuanne, son of Pietro Aquila, fiscal advocate of this chamber, who gave himself up and was let out on a good bail. The wounding of the consul being a more serious matter because of his character and the circumstances of treachery and assassination I reported to your Serenity and also to the Inquisitor Capello, to hear the state's intentions. Four persons are involved in this, besides one Maria, who gave herself up, as two of the others have since done. The other two are to be proclaimed and I am making every effort to arrest them, although I fear I shall not succeed, owing to weakness of force and of Court. This leads me to state that an armed barque is much needed for such matters, as I have represented before. Similar steps would have been taken about the other excesses mentioned in the memorial if any complaint or other indication had been given to justice. In any case I have called the English before me and assured them of the protection of the state, urging them to inform me of all offences against them, so that rigorous steps may be taken to right them and punish the guilty. This will certainly be done in the cases which have come to light, and steps have already been taken in that direction. They expressed their satisfaction, but as Henry Hider was away, being banished by the sentence of the Proveditore of Cephalonia on the complaint of Marc Antonio Boldu, son in law of that Pietro Aquila, and as he is the one most injured and interested and the most able to give information, they needed time to send some one to confer with him in the Morea, where he now is trading, to obtain the necessary information, although they did not think it would be of much use, if they did not have better support, as they had to deal with violence, which was used very secretly, so they assert. This contumacy of Hider prevents me for the moment from getting him back here from Turkey, as is desired for the increase of trade, which is actually declining, through the merchants betaking themselves to the Morea and Patras, in particular, where Hider is staying, and where we hear two English ships recently arrived, which touched at this port. If he has a safe conduct from the Inquisitor Capello and is restored to the favour of justice, as may easily happen, as Aquila asks for it, I will do my utmost to get him back to live here, and I will try and encourage his former devotion. Moreover he is entered in the books of this chamber as owing 9000 ducats. I will try to secure your Serenity's interests, although the English here assert that Hider is ready to prove that this is a mistake and that he owes nothing whatever. The Inquisitor has now summoned Pietro Aquila to Cephalonia on affairs of state. I am taking the opportunity, especially as a brawl has recently occurred between Aquila's son and his followers in a dispute with others of this city, upon which I have taken information for a process and issued a proclamation against some, others being summoned to appear, and I have told him not to leave there or let his son in law Boldu or his son Zuanne leave until further order from me, so that the English may bring further particulars about the matters in the memorial, which remain to be cleared up for the formation of the process, and further steps can be taken when your Excellencies have decided about Hider's contumacy, as while that lasts I do not see what I can do. As regards Aquila's interest in the new impost, he has been approved in the magistracy of the Five Savii for Trade for three carati, and I am informed that he has in various ways made himself master of ten other carati. I have not been able to find out more owing to Hider's absence. Zante, the 31st July, 1638, old style. Francesco Marcello, Proveditore.
	Copy from a paper entitled, Account of currants laded of a greater sum of the deposits made in the Chamber of Zante, existing therein. Henry Hyde, English merchant deposited in the chamber of Zante for the following quantity of currants to be laded for the West in the ships indicated.
	1634	27 March	the ship	Sanson	migliara	60
	"	9 May	"	Freeman	"	62
	"	"	"	"	"	70
	"	11 May	"	"	"	175,500
	1634 9 April he paid 12008 ducats of 6 lire 4 soldi the ducat to lade the following ships in advance by licence : the Mayflower, 300 migl., the Sanson, 400 migl., the Royal Exchange, 300 migl., the Hercules 200 migl., the ssettia St. Margaret, 8 migl., total, 1208 migl.
	1634	6 July	the ship	Parangon	migliara	25
	"	20 Sept.	"	Scipio	"	2
	"	4 Dec.	"	"	"	100
	1635	6 March	"	Jeremiah	"	100
	"	11 to 30 March	"	"	"	238,650
	"	28 July	"	Seguranza	"	200
	"	"	"	"	"	83
	"	25 July	"	George Bonavenrura	"	80
	"	26 Feb.	"	Report	"	165
	1636	4 March	"	Carlo Salutatione	"	156
	"	15 March	"	" "	"	190
	"	29 March	"	" "	"	157
	"	9 Jan.	"	Delight	"	100
	"	8 Feb.	"	Peter Andrew	"	20
	1637	17 April	"	William	"	100
	"	23 Nov.	"	Employment	"	412
	Total					3708,150 (Sic)
	Ser Henry has laded currants in the ships below, as appears by the books of the administrators and directors of the new impost.
	1633		the ship	Mayflower	migliara	618,866
	"		"	Confidence	"	19,397
	1633		the tartana	St. Margaret	migliara	7,907
	"		the ship	Hercules	"	304,35
	"		"	Fame	"	156,881
	"		"	Merchant Bonaventura	"	173,869
	1634		"	Sanson	"	460,53
	"		"	Royal Exchange	"	235,823
	"		"	Freeman	"	292,513
	"		"	Parangon	"	17,81
	"		"	Scipio	"	106,234
	"		"	Seguranza	"	242,136
	"		"	Jeremiah	"	391,946
	"		"	Henry Bonaventura	"	311,510
	1636		"	Abram	"	94,258
	"		"	Charles	"	99,929
	"		"	Report	"	152,208
	"		"	Salutation	"	362,458
	"		"	Peter Andrew	"	32,163
	1637		"	Let	"	81,186
	"		"	William	"	121,172
	"		"	Abram	"	117,313
	"		"	Charles Salutation	"	473,977
	"		"	Golden Sun	"	234,779
	"		"	Report	"	152,508
	Total					5260,202
	Deduct the deposit					3708,150
	Cargo of					1552,52
	Laus Deo, 1637, the 16th February, new style, Zante. Account drawn up by me, Orlando Calichiopulo, deputy of the Governor Capello, Inquisitor, syndic and Avogadore in the Levant for all currants laded in ships for the West from the 30th September, 1633 until the 24th November, 1637, showing the deposits entered in the books of the new impost, and that cargo was laded by the merchants for which they had not made deposit, the undermentioned ships not having brought an attestation from the Five Savii for trade that they took their cargo to Venice, so that they owe 5 ducats of 6 lire 4 soldi each for every migliaro and 3 soldi per lira, as well as 3 soldi per lira of the 10 ducats pertaining to the customers and of the tenth of a ducat one zantiot per migliaro and 3 soldi per lira of the said tenth.
	Ser Henry Hyde made deposit of migliara					3708,150
	and he laded "					5260,202
	An excess of					1552,52
	Due from the said Hyde—
				migliara.	lire.	soldi.
	1635 on the ship
	Jeremiah from Venice			53,296	336	8
	Henry Bonaventura from the West			231,510	11736	19
Peter Andrew " "			13,163	667	3
Let from the West			81,186	3117	14
William " "			21,172	1074	5
Charles Salutation from Venice			70,906	407	14
Report from the West			152,508	7731	16
Golden Sun "			234,779	11902	19
Abram "			117,313	5947	8
Total			975,833	42922	6
for the quantity loaded before the 1st April, 1634 for the tenths and the 3 soldi per lira			576,219	3313	3
Total			1552,52	46235	9
Zuanne Pecchis, Fiscal Controller.
Henry Hyde owes : for currants that Orlandino Calichiopulo asserts he took on divers ships from 1633-7 inclusive, under two customers, to wit, Niccolo di Lazzari and the second of the same Hyde, in all 5260,202 migliara. Hyde remains creditor on the balance for 3,682 migliara, without prejudice to other sums which legitimately rank as good. Total, 5263,884 migliara.
Henry Hyde ought to have : 156,881 migliara of currants laded on the ship Fame, 173,869 migliara of currants laded on the ship Merchant Bonaventura, in all 330,750 migliara, the duty pertaining to Todero Voltera, predecessor of Lazzari and Hyde, when Voltera had the deposits and so Hyde remains creditor for 6000 migliara of currants,
				migliara	330,750
The 117,313 m. of the ship Abram are withdrawn, because he notified them at another time, as appears by the account of 94,258m.				"	117,313
The 473,977 m. of the ships Charles and Salutation are withdrawn for a like reason, as by the account of 99,929 m. in the name of the ship Charles and by the other of 362,458 m. in the name of the ship Salutation				"	473,977
The 152,508 m. of the ship Report are withdrawn because notified another time, as by the account of 152,208 m.				"	152,508
The 81,186 m. of the ship Let are withdrawn, as a manifest error, as such a ship has never been at Zante or Cephalonia				"	81,186
300,000 m. should be withdrawn because the currants were soaked and shooting, and laded free of all duty by licence of the government of Zante and the customers, on the ship Golden Sun, only 234,779 m. being noted as the cargo of that ship				"	300,000
For deposit of 100,000 m. made by the ship Abram which is not entered to credit				migliara	100,000
Grand total to be placed to Hyde's credit from manifest errors to his hurt				"	1555,734
He should further have credit for the deposits which he made as for Calchiopulo's account				"	3708,150
Grand total of Hyde's credit				"	5263,884
[Italian.]
Sept. 21. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.	504. Anzolo Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. I hear from Hamburg that the English ambassador has pressed the Ambassador Salvius hard, on behalf of his king, to take part in the congress at Lubeck, offering to give active assistance in forwarding the peace. But they believe that the object of the King of Great Britain is to obtain an opening in this way, without taking any more open interest in the negotiations to support the interests of the Palatine, his nephew. Salvius has written about it to Sweden and they expect the answer at any moment. Poissy, the 21st September, 1638. [Italian.]
	505. Anzolo Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. They say that the Queen Mother is treating for a reconciliation through the Prince of Orange. From what they announce she offers to go to England, to remain in Holland or to come here, provided the king approves and will let her have her assignments. They would apparently like to see her established in England but no formal declaration has been made as yet. Poissy, the 21st September, 1638. [Italian.]
Sept. 24. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Inghilterra. Venetian Archives.	506. Giovanni Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate. After frequent discussions in the royal Council, his Majesty's decisions have taken shape and he has sent the Marquis of Hamilton to Scotland for the third time, his Majesty's chief pre-occupation rightly being to see that kingdom restored to quiet. On the other hand, while he is trying to secure his intent by negotiation, he does not relinquish his efforts to compel that people to obedience by force, if necessary. He keeps many captains and officers here, to whom he has paid some money for staying, even though idle, with the object of using them for levies in this country if the hopes of a settlement break down and further temporising becomes impossible. Stimulated by the offices of the Ambassador Joachimi they are making a very searching enquiry about the Dutch ship that was burned. His Majesty has caused the ship last seized to be guarded, without doing anything more. Although these things offer some hope of indemnification to the parties concerned, yet unprejudiced observers and those who know most remain sceptical until they see some result from the very reasonable instances of those who have suffered such great losses without any fault of their own. His Majesty's joy at the dauphin's birth is ever receiving fresh confirmation from outward demonstrations. To celebrate the event he has given the queen power to restore to liberty many prisoners under capital sentence. The Sieurs of San Ravi and Germas left yesterday for the French Court, to offer congratulations. Two days ago a report circulated in the city and was believed at Court that the queen mother had landed at Dover. Although this proved false, yet at the first breath the king selected some one to meet her Majesty. This promptness makes speculative persons believe that the king feels sure that that princess means to come here. Monsigot, her familiar, is momentarily expected at Court, and he will supply more authentic information about the movements of his mistress. Your Excellencies' letters of the 21st August and the 3rd inst. arrived together yesterday. I will inform his Majesty as instructed of the glorious success of the Venetian fleet in capturing sixteen Barbary ships. The Secretary Zonca shall start for Venice so soon as I have seen the king. The serious illness, which has endangered my life, and now the troublesome convalescence, together with his Majesty's absence forty leagues away, (fn. 7) have not permitted me to do more hitherto. I will present Zonca to his Majesty, a thing he deserves the more for the zeal and ability he has shown. I beg your Excellencies for the speedy despatch of the one who is to take his place. London, the 24th September, 1638. [Italian.]
Sept. 25. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Haya. Venetian Archives.	507. Gieronimo Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador at the Hague, to the Doge and Senate. The Prince Palatine is in Westphalia together with Chin, where he is most eager to provide himself with quarters for this winter. A number of Scottish gentlemen, who express their readiness to serve under him, might join him there. The Prince expects another regiment of English and possibly one of Scots, according to the turn which his affairs may take. The king continues to feed him with hopes of some covert encouragement, whereas he contents himself with adopting the most even and prudent circumspection as his rule. The Hague, the 25th September, 1638. [Italian.]
Sept. 28. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.	508. Anzolo Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. To avoid receiving the Queen Mother the King of England has recently made fresh overtures to Bellievre for her reconciliation, which the king here has taken very badly. He has accordingly directed Bellievre to reply that domestic affairs ought to be dealt with domestically and they cannot listen to the proposals of foreign sovereigns, which may always be mixed with interest. It is thought unlikely, even if the King of Great Britain decides to receive her, that he will entertain her long to her satisfaction. They tell her that if she will retire to Florence she shall have all the revenues she enjoyed in France, otherwise they will leave the care of providing for her to those who offer her quarters. This shows that those who feel sure she will return to this kingdom have no grounds for their confidence. But any change may happen in a matter of so much delicacy. Paris, the 28th September, 1638. [Italian.]