Rome: May 1576 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1926.

Citation:

'Rome: May 1576', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Vatican Archives, Volume 2, 1572-1578, ed. J M Rigg( London, 1926), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/vatican/vol2/pp269-271 [accessed 28 November 2024].

May 1576



1576. Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 141.	515. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como. … “As to English affairs I have besought the King to consider whether the fleet might sail for England after mid-August or at the beginning of September, as I find that that season is wont to be propitious, and I am also informed that the voyage will not take as long a time as assumed by his Majesty; adding that the postponement of the enterprise until the summer of next year would be too great a delay, which might ruin it. He has promised to consider the matter, and let me have his answer.” 4 May, 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. ix. p. 339.	516. [Fabius Mirto Frangipani,] Archbishop of Nazareth to the Same. … “That ambassador extraordinary from England has at last gone to visit Monsieur, and albeit he says that his object is to be of service to the peace, it is believed that he means to do it a mischief by fostering discord: however, the Queen Mother is there, who should keep a sharp eye on his negotiations and intrigues. “These protracted negotiations are fraught with such ruin to the kingdom and the King that they cannot last much longer, particularly as the country now lacks food.” 6 May, 1576. Paris. Italian.
Ibid. p. 348.	517. Antonio Maria Salviati, [late] Bishop of S. Papoul, Nuncio in France to the Same. … “There was here an ambassador from England, who came under the pretext of contributing by his counsel to the peace-making; and when he had done with the King, he craved leave to go to see Monsieur. The Queen on the eve of his departure gave him her view of the matter, and has since sent a man after him to recall him, not, however, it is thought, to treat of great affairs, for it is known that the negotiations between the Queen and Monsieur pass through other and much more secret channels.” 7 May, 1576. Paris. Italian.
Ibid. vol. xi. f. 66.	518. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Antonio Maria Salviati,] Nuncio in France. “Some months since there arrived here the bearer, Robert O[w]en, an Englishman, with letters of recommendation from you to me attesting his good qualities; in consequence whereof the Pope has been charitable to him. He is now returning thither [to France], where he hopes to find better opportunity than here of practising his profession, which is that of a soldier. I therefore recommend him to you, that, as you know his qualities, he may have your favour and recommendation as there may be occasion for the same.” 10 May, 1576. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 146d.	519. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “It is no laughing matter that the pretended [Queen] of England has undertaken to mediate between the Prince of Orange and this King; and has sent thither a man to treat, &c. I have told his Majesty that he will aim not at composing but at aggravating discord, because that wicked woman has no hope of being at peace save when all the rest of the world are at war; and this his Majesty understands; and thus I have contrived to make the matter an argument for expediting our English business.” 11 May, 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Ibid. vol. ix. f. 164.	520. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain. “We have met and discoursed at large as to the business of England; and it is decided not to make the enterprise before the beginning of spring in accordance with the mind of the Catholic King. And so we shall send hence Mr. Inglifid [Englefield] and Dr. Allen, partly because their prolonged stay here might excite suspicion in that woman [the Queen], partly because from the Low Countries, where they ordinarily reside, they will be able conveniently and secretly to send to England some persons that must be sent as precursors to do certain offices with some of the principal Catholics in aid of the enterprise, which offices may be of much service, and can do no harm, because the terms used will be so vague as to convey no information, either as to the manner, or the time, or the persons who will be charged with the conduct, of the enterprise. In the meantime we here shall be occupied in determining who is to be the captain, a matter which is certainly more troublesome than aught else, as the ambassador has declared that he is resolved to have none of the Colonnas, and his Holiness was of opinion that none other would be competent for such an enterprise. However, I hope in God that we shall agree upon some other, as the ambassador intimates that he will accept any other, provided he have the confidence of his Majesty. And in September or October we shall begin to make preparations in order to have everything ready by the middle of February. The ambassador says that he expects from hour to hour the 50,000 crowns; but you will be urgent to secure that during September the remaining 50,000 crowns also come.” 17 May, 1576. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. vol. 28. f. 68. no. 126.	521. The Same to [Gerard a Groesbeck,] Bishop of Liège. Acquainting the bishop that the Pope, moved to compassion by the great indigence to which two English nobles, Thomas Markynfild and Christopher Danby, (fn. 1) are reduced by their expulsion from the Catholic King's dominions, and the consequent loss of the allowances on which they there subsisted, commends them to his Amplitude's signal piety and charity, that they may be afforded subsistence in some wealthy monastery, either in Liège or elsewhere in his diocese, until either by reinstatement in their former position or in some other manner provision may be made for them. 26 May, 1576. Rome. Latin. Copy.