Rome: August 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: August 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/pp275-281 [accessed 28 November 2024].

August 1576



1576. Vat. Arch. Arm. lii. vol. 31.	531. To the Pope, on behalf of John [Leslie,] Bishop of Ross. “John, Bishop of Ross, a man afflicted with many calamities, loss of his see and all his goods, and banishment from his country, while thus in exile and in the utmost poverty, was commended by his Holiness to Charles, King of the French, by letter of 24 March, 1574, and after the said Charles's death to the Henry that now reigns by letter dated in the month of February, 1575, pursuant to which commendation Henry assigned to the Bishop of Ross a yearly pension of 2,000 livres until occasion should serve to grant him some ecclesiastical benefice; which appears from the patents of the King under date 18 March, 1576. “But from that day to this neither has the pension been paid, nor any benefice given to the Bishop of Ross. Wherefore he craves of his Holiness that he deign to write to the Bishop of Paris, as by reason of his sudden departure he was himself unable to do this office by word of mouth, bidding him to commend this cause to the King and Queen Mother in the Pope's name, and to procure performance of the promise, so that either from some ecclesiastical benefice or from some pension the Bishop of Ross may have the wherewithal to prolong that life which he has ever been ready and will ever be ready to sacrifice for the Catholic faith, or for his lady the Queen, especially if he shall see that he is not deserted by the King of the French, who is united with his, the Bishop's, Queen by such stringent bonds, and has himself received such great and signal boons from the Pontiff by whom the bishop is commended, and by whom the pains at which the Bishop of Paris shall be in promoting this cause will be approved and gratefully acknowledged. “A letter should also be sent to the nuncio to the like effect, that he may confer and co-operate with the Bishop of Paris in promoting this business.” August, 1576. Rome. Latin. Draft, submitted to the Cardinal of Como.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. ix. f. 211.	532. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain. “It is already many days since the galleys arrived at Genoa with the money sent by his Majesty for the requirements of Italy; but as to the 50,000 crowns which they said they would give us for the English business not a word has yet been said, and God knows whether their destination has not been changed. It will therefore be well for you to remind his Majesty that time marches apace; and that, unless we have all the 100,000 crowns by the end of September, it will be impossible to complete the arrangements by February, as so to do must needs take four or five months, and a beginning cannot be made until we have his Majesty's money. I suppose that you will also have done your office in regard of the captain and of the aids that are to come from Flanders in accordance with what I wrote you by the Pope's order; and we are awaiting an answer and satisfactory decision as to all of it. “I would have you to know that not only have we no corroboration from Germany of such good hopes as you speak of in the matter of the League, but the Emperor has lamented many a time with the Legate that as to the affairs of Flanders the Catholic King has not hitherto so much as deigned to give him an answer, though it is more than two years since he sent one of his men express to Spain on this errand; and until the affairs of Flanders are settled he intimates that he cannot so much as think of the League.” “I have by order of his Holiness written to you on divers occasions, instructing you to commend to his Majesty those poor Englishmen (fn. 1) that were pensioned by his Majesty, since he said that he would not discontinue the payment of their pensions, though he banished them from Flanders. Since then these poor wretches have had never a soldo, and many of them are dying of hunger. His Holiness fails not to help them as best he may, but our means are slight; and they will not be able to hold out, if his Majesty afford not some relief. Among them is Baron d'Acres [Edward Dacre], a person of great consequence, and Sir Thomas Stucley, both of whom you may specially commend, though you are to do your office for all in general.” 2 August, 1576. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
Pub. Rec. Off. Arch. Napol. Farnes. Fasc. 186.	533. Guido Lolgi to [Alexander] Cardinal Farnese. … “The Huguenots complain of the Cardinal of Bourbon that now many days ago, being at Rouen, he greatly harassed their sect in that city. They had been warned by him that while he tarried there they must abstain from public preaching; and observing that they paid no heed to this prohibition, he went, preceded by the Cross, to the place where they were congregated for the preachment. The minister fled, the rest cried for mercy and implored his grace. He reassured them and exhorted them to go and hear sermons that would be a means to them not of damnation but of salvation. They were two hundred or about that number, and a good part of them English. They thanked him, but afterwards sent to make their complaint; and the King, to avoid occasion of rupture, has sent fresh orders that they be protected.” 4 August, 1576. Paris. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. vol. 23. f. 192. no. 278.	534. Pope Gregory XIII to [Pierre de Gondi,] Bishop of Paris. Soliciting his influence with the King and Queen Mother to secure for John [Leslie], the exiled Bishop of Ross, punctual payment of the yearly pension of 2,000 livres granted him by the King pending collation to some ecclesiastical benefice. 11 August, 1576. Rome. Latin. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. xcvi. f. 202.	535. [John] Cardinal Moroni, Legate in Germany to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “I discussed with the Duke of Bavaria the business of this abbey of the Scots; and he persists in desiring that the Jesuits be established there; and as this matter needs to be settled once and for all, and I am not at present very well able to negotiate, I have instructed the Nuncio Dolfino to make the final arrangements with his Highness, because the property is for the most part in Bavarian territory, and on the abbot's death the Senate here in Ratisbon took possession of the church and of such few moveables as were there, and we are endeavouring by means of edicts of the Emperor to get release and restitution of everything. I believe we shall succeed, although it is impossible to guage the influence these people have.” 14 August, 1576. Ratisbon. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 252d.	536. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to the Same. … “I will again discuss all matters with his Majesty. And as to the English business I am disposed to believe that the 50,000 crowns will now have made their appearance, and that they will see that the remaining 50,000 are sent. Nor have I failed to be perpetually plying Antonio Perez, nor has he made any difficulty in the matter. God grant that the untoward events in Flanders (fn. 2) disconcert not this further expedition. The 50,000 crowns for the English business were sent, Antonio Perez tells me, by the galleys that went a few days ago; the remaining 50,000 crowns will, he says, be ready in time; and the Nuncio, when next he has an audience, will do his office again with his Majesty in regard to them.” 16 August, 1576. Madrid. Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. xcvi. f. 208d.	537. [John,] Cardinal Moroni, Legate in Germany to the Same. … “The said Duke Albert has, moreover, shown that he is content that this abbey of the Scots be dedicated to the purpose of a College of Jesuits, and he told me that, so far as it rested with him, he would speedily let me have the decision: but that it was certain that the revenues were not such as would suffice for the purpose if part were to be given to the Scots.” 17 August, 1576. Ratisbon. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Savoia, vol. v. f. 499.	538. Jerome [de Federicis,] Bishop of Lodi, Nuncio at the Court of Turin to the Same. … “His Highness told me yesterday morning that he had quite made up his mind to depart for Savoy on the 25th or 26th inst.; and that he had tidings from France that the Prince of Condé and the King of Navarre were ill at ease, and in grave apprehension as to M. d'Alençon's union with his brother the King: and that it was said that the King of Navarre purposed to repudiate his wife, being busy with a negotiation for marriage either with the Queen of England or with the Queen of Scotland.” 20 August, 1576. Turin. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 258.	539. Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “In this last audience I have urged the King to send the remaining 50,000 crowns to Rome in September at the latest, that the preparations necessary for the English enterprise may be begun to be made in October; and his Majesty told me that, though at present he is constrained to be making the like preparations in many quarters, yet he will not fail in this also. As he has promised, I am sure that he will not fail herein. I cannot, however, be positive as to next month, though I believe there will not be much more delay, and care shall be taken to accelerate the arrival of the moneys as much as possible. I suggested more latitude of choice in the matter of the captain general of the enterprise, and at last made bold to indicate pretty plainly that to accord his Holiness freedom of choice would be the simplest and most expeditious method. His Majesty replied by bidding me leave a memorandum on the subject with him, and I have done so. “I have done the office with which you charged me by your letter as to Don John's going to Flanders, approving the main policy and the manner of his going; and his Majesty evinced much pleasure at his Holiness' approval of this policy. “I also besought his Majesty to give Don John all the orders that might be necessary and expedient in aid of the enterprise; and he promised me so to do, and evinced satisfaction that his Holiness has so much regard to his convenience in this enterprise, referring to Don John; and so he kisses his most holy feet. In common with you I have conceived great hope of this enterprise terminating well; albeit, as I see that the course of affairs in Flanders is not as prosperous as was hoped after the surrender of Scerbsea [Zierickzee] by reason of the mutiny of the Spanish soldiers, and that it is now come, as it were, to a civil war between the foreign and the native soldiers of the country, I fear that these troubles may be somewhat prejudicial to our enterprise also, albeit there is time enough yet to elapse during which the affairs of Flanders may change for the better, as it is hoped, through the advent of Don John and the good preparations that are being made, and the money that is being sent. And I believe that Secretary Escovedo will depart next week for Italy with all means of expediting the departure of Don John from Lombardy for Flanders. It was necessary to treat of an accord with the people of Holland and the other rebel States, and hope was entertained of a satisfactory result safeguarding the Catholic religion in all particulars. God grant that that negotiation be not upset by these disturbances. “I afterwards entered with the King upon the subject of the negotiation of the League, and gave him an account of the events of Persia. His Majesty told me that he will not fail to do what he can for this cause, and that he had written with much earnestness to the Emperor, as he had already informed me through Perez. “It is now many days since I was informed that copies of the letters written to the Emperor and the Legate had been sent to the Ambassador Zuñiga (fn. 3) to be shown to the Pope. “In this regard I adverted to the affairs of Venice, the retention of those galleys, and the damage done by his Majesty's galleys in those seas, pointing out all the untoward results of these procedures, and how necessary it was to keep the Signory in good humour, especially since we contemplate a league. His Majesty answered that he had been much displeased by these occurrences, and would take care that the like should never be known again; and that he will speedily grant the Venetian ambassador here his demands, and will ever do his best to afford the Signory all satisfaction and contentment.” 23 August, 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. ix. f. 226.	540. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain. “That Don John of Austria should thus unexpectedly and perhaps unseasonably repair to the Court has afforded matter enough for discussion; but his Holiness, refraining from all other criticism, reflects but on the risk that is run by the abandonment, so to say, of the affairs of Flanders, which, if it be true, as all the world says, that his Highness has to go thither, required him to go thither without any delay. And, what is worse, we anticipate thereby a postponement of the design upon England. As to which matter his Holiness expects from you an assurance in accord with the result of your negotiation with his Majesty, so that in September at the latest we may, if possible, know how to make ready in time.” 24 August, 1576. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
Ibid. vol. x. f. 269.	541. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “I cannot believe that the 50,000 crowns have been diverted to another quarter than that which was appointed, and as to which I received the plainest possible assurances. As I have already written, I have done my office with his Majesty in regard alike of the remaining 50,000 crowns and the aids by way of Flanders, and delivered a memorandum in writing in regard thereto, and conversed with Perez, Escovedo and the Inquisitor Major, besides whom none know these matters, and I have brought all possible pressure to bear upon them. “Touching the good hopes of the league that I have held out, of which the Legate has not found so good a counterpart, I wrote in accordance with what I found here: maybe the Emperor spoke presupposing the settlement of the affairs of Flanders. As to the league his Majesty in this last audience told me over and above what he had communicated to me by Secretary Perez, that he had written to the Emperor with much earnestness in accordance with what I in the Pope's name had said to him. “If the King had had a good captain of galleys at his command, as was proposed when the question was discussed whether the Turk would come out or no, and in what strength, al Ucchiali (fn. 4) would not have been so rash as to act as he did with so small a number of galleys, or would have abandoned them; but, as the sea was free and open, he ran this hazard. “The King is sending Giovanni Andrea Doria to Cartagena, and further, it is believed, to get a view of the ports and places of Barbary, but I have not as yet been able to learn exactly what he is to do.” 25 August, 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 268d.	542. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “I have not neglected to recommend on several occasions that provision be made for the poor Englishmen; but I think that the grave exigencies of public affairs thrust this private matter into the background. I will not, however, fail to go on repeating my appeal.” (fn. 5) 25 August, 1576. [Madrid.] Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. xcvi. f. 93d.	543. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [John,] Cardinal Moroni, Legate in Germany. “Touching the monastery of the Scots you wrote that you had made an appointment with the Bishop of Ratisbon to see the writings, and ascertain to whom belongs the right of collation; to which the answer from here was that nothing should be done until further advice from you, and an arrangement was proposed to satisfy in part the claim of the Scottish nation and accommodate the Jesuits, as you will since have learned from my letters. “So on the arrival of the Duke of Bavaria you will be able to settle this business, and also treat with him of that of Halberstadt.” 25 August, 1576. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 269d.	544. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “When I was told that a courier was to be sent to Italy to Don John with orders for him to hasten to Flanders, and that Escovedo was to depart with his despatches, lo! there arrived a courier from Barcelona bringing tidings that his Highness had come to Spain on two galleys of the Republic of Genoa. This sudden arrival has greatly astonished all the Court, and most of all myself, who see further into the business than anyone else. Folk are now discussing whether he has come with or without orders. The said Don John is expected here in the course of two days, and we are in daily expectation of learning what is afoot. Giovanni Andrea Doria was in his coach for his journey to Cartagena, but stopped to learn the news, expecting fresh instructions from his Majesty. “By a courier just arrived from Flanders we learn that there they were busy making terms with the mutineers, and that already the Spaniards were recovering from their alarm.” 26 August, 1576. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.