Venice: January 1652 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 28, 1647-1652. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1927.

Citation:

'Venice: January 1652', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 28, 1647-1652, ed. Allen B Hinds( London, 1927), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol28/pp209-212 [accessed 25 November 2024].

January 1652



1652. Jan. 1. Senato, Mar. Venetian Archives.	546. In the Pregadi on the 5th January. Joseph Chent, Consul of the English nation, petitions for the restitution of 30 braccia of velvet which was taken from him by the ministers of the Provedetori di Comun because it had green and white stripes, the peculiar mark of cloth dyed in the Cremese, although he ordered it solely for his own personal use. That the Provedetori di Comun be instructed to return this velvet, as an act of favour, for this turn, the more so because owing to the small quantity of the same there can be no object in infringing the rules and regulations of that magistracy, or those of the Five Savii alla Mercanzia. Ayes, 133. Noes, 11. Neutral, 8. On the 22nd December, 1652, in the Collegio : Ayes, 24. Noes, 0. Neutral, 0. [Italian.]
Jan. 9. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.	547. Michiel Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. Enclose advices of London. Paris, the 9th January, 1652. [Italian.]
Enclosure.	548. Advices from London, the 19th December, 1651. They report from Jersey that owing to the constant bombardment the wives of the governor and other officials have been sent away by night and have crossed to France. The commissioners report from Ireland the death of Lord Deputy Ireton, from a contagious fever, on the 6th, and that the parliamentarians are intent on establishing the affairs of Scotland. The deputies and military commanders of parliament have been welcomed with the utmost satisfaction in Edinburgh by the English and even by the Scots. The parliament troops are being distributed in winter quarters, and everywhere officers, men and entire towns are submitting. They report from Chester that Lieut. Gen. Ludlow has been chosen commander in chief of the forces in Ireland after the death of Ireton. He has taken on terms Clare castle in county Thomond, (fn. 1) Carich Colta at the mouth of the Shannon and Neil in county Mayo, into which he has introduced garrisons. The Irish have fortified the island of Mutton in the direction of Erconagath so that their ships have not dared to approach it, but they have left the way free for the inhabitants to introduce succour. [Italian.]
Jan. 16. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.	549. Michiel Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. Encloses advices of London. Paris, the 16th January, 1652. [Italian.]
Enclosure.	550. Advices from London, of the 28th December, 1651. The ambassadors of the United Provinces arrived in this city and were met by three leading members of parliament and publicly defrayed until the day of their audience. Sig. Spiering, ambassador of Sweden to the republic, has also arrived with Sig. Canterstrene, secretary to that embassy, and they are preparing to receive him and give him audience with the ceremonies customary with royal ambassadors. They report from Scotland that only four castles of note are holding out, and the governor of Dunnotir, (fn. 2) one of them, is on the point of coming to terms with Gen. Monk, to whom he has sent an express for the purpose. Some skirmishes have occurred in Ireland. Major Meredith with 60 horse was attacked by the Irish Colonel Rely with 120 and in the engagement the Colonel was slain, some of his men captured and the rest put to flight. Sir Charles Coote has recovered Melick castle on terms, the besieged surrendering after having stood three assaults and lost 140 men. After this Sir Charles put a garrison in Ballymire, took Tredan castle with others which blocked the communications of the parliamentarians, and then returned to Limerick. The troops were so well distributed in their winter quarters that in 24 hours they could assemble again for emergencies. The natives of Galloway decided to wait for the succour of the Duke of Lorraine, promised them through the Marquis of Clanricard, who has convoked an assembly general of those of his party at Jamestown. Colonels Axtel, Coote and Pretti with 200 foot and 600 horse engaged the Irish Colonels Dungan and Scutlok, who were retiring from Ross with 2,000 men and put them to flight but these having gathered again, to the number of 3,000 have advanced to within 12 miles of Dublin, and so the parliamentarians have taken steps to make sure of the majority of the gentlemen of county Tipperary. [Italian.]
Jan. 23. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.	551. Michiel Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. Encloses advices of London. Paris, the 23rd January, 1652. [Italian.]
Enclosure.	552. Advices from London, the 4th January, 1652. Parliament is making every possible effort for the maintenance of the armies and to provide that the people shall not be incommoded by winter quarters. The ambassadors of the United Provinces have had their first audience, and the Swedish ambassador having made known his arrival, they have issued orders for his reception. Commissioners have been chosen for the government of Scotland and will be despatched directly, while they have given Lord St. John charge of the great seal there. It is reported that the people of Johnstons and neighbourhood, after a long resistance, have submitted to the parliament forces, as have many of the Highlanders of those parts, who are beginning to pay contributions of their own accord, not excepting those who never paid anything in the past to the king himself. Further Lord Belcarri, hearing of the approach of three parliament colonels to Inverness, has surrendered to them. The siege of Elizabeth castle continues, with loss to the beseiged from the bombardment, but the resistance is stiff and it is not likely to be taken soon. [Italian.]
Jan. 31. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.	553. Michiel Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. I enclose a letter from Salvetti. He assures me that the Levant Company will stand to its agreement and is amazed at what is reported to the discredit of the nation in this particular. In a postscript he says the merchants interested in the ships which serve your Serenity are disposed to appeal to parliament. I will write him on Saturday to continue his efforts to prevent mischief until fresh instructions can be sent. Sciartres, the 31st January, 1651. [M.V.] [Italian.]
Enclosure.	554. A. Salvetti to the Ambassador Morosini. News having reached Venice that the Pasha of Tunis had said that the English ambassador at Constantinople had offered the Divan 30 English warships to use against the most serene republic, and the ministers accepted the offer if he would make the number 60, promising in such case that the English should be exempt from tolls and other impositions throughout the Ottoman Empire, and as the republic had no minister to inform them upon the facts, they asked the Grand Duke, my master, to direct me to make enquiry and to make every effort to prevent any such idea. I went at once to the Levant Company and found them much astonished, as this was the first they had heard of it, expressing their detestation of such a notion and knowing full well that it was not in the power of the ambassador to make such an offer, firstly, because there were very few of their ships in those parts, and secondly, even if there were, the ambassador would not venture to offer them for fear of losing his head when he came home, where it seems he has been recalled. (fn. 3) They could not believe that the ambassador had made such an offer and considered it an invention of those barbarians. They asked me to assure the most serene republic and my master that they would observe their engagements with the republic. I may add that the merchants who claim that the republic is indebted to them are always declaring that they will complain to parliament, but I hope they will not, at least until they hear the reply of your Excellency. London, the 12th January, 1652. [Italian.]
Enclosure.	555. Advices from London, the 11th January, 1652. Mr. Spering, minister of the queen of Sweden, has at last presented his letters of credence to the Commons, but as these were not signed in the way that parliament desired, that minster experiences great difficulty in obtaining audience and he is doing his utmost to rid himself of this and to return to his post as resident at the Hague. It was stated with some assurance that the king of Poland would also send an ambassador to recognise the new republic. They have provided for the despatch of law suits of every kind by setting up a tribunal called "Committee," which is to appoint the deputies for this charge, so important for public and private interests.* Major Generals Lambert and Deane have gone to the west of Scotland to visit the whole country and re-establish the general tax for the support of the army quartered there. At the same time the Earls of Weemer and Angus, and Lord Carnagy, eldest son of the Earl of Suthesk, submitted to parliament. Yet extreme dissension reigns in Scotland, as many cannot endure the abolition of monarchy and absolutely refuse to submit to the new government. It is reported from Chester that the Irish are submitting steadily to Lord Broghill, who is at Blarney castle, and it is stated that Galloway is disposed to parley with Sir Charles Coote. There were great ceremonies over the body of Lord Deputy Ireton at Bristol. Placed on a car of black velvet it was followed by the governor and his officers, the mayor, council and other deputies to the castle, the guns firing the while. The same functionaries, dressed in mourning, followed it out of the city. The governor, with a part of his suite and some of the inhabitants of the deceased's friends, followed as far as the first stage. On the following day it was taken to London, accompanied and met by two regiments, one of infantry and one of cavalry, and received in state at that city, where a most sumptuous funeral is being prepared. [Italian.]