Rome: December 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: December 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/pp288-289 [accessed 28 November 2024].

December 1576



1576. Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. ix. p. 832.	563. [Antonio Maria] Salviati [late] Bishop [of S. Papoul,] Nuncio in France to the Same. “It was said of late that the Count Palatine was dead, and now we know it for certain; and, moreover, it is said that the son that succeeds him has banished all the ministers of the sect of Calvin, and chiefly as sedition-mongers by reason of the novelties that they introduced. And he is minded to live according to the Confession of Augsburg, in conformity with the rest of the heretics of Germany. “By the last advices from Flanders, Don John was still at Luxemburg. He had sought to go on to Liège, but the bishop would not be answerable for his safety; saying that he himself was not safe, but at the mercy of the people, who had made common cause with the Estates, and taken some prisoners; who had been brought to Brussels, among whom they say is Secretary Aquilone [Aguilon (fn. 1) ] who but lately departed thence, where he had been for many years in his Catholic Majesty's service. “The sack of Antwerp assumes daily more importance: the light horse had gone thence, with 1,500 foot, and were marching towards Maestricht; and it is thought they purposed to encounter Don John. “The Prince of Orange has so flooded the island of Serixee [Ziericksee] that only the town remained above water, this to compel the Spaniards to abandon it.” 1 Dec., 1576. San Dier [St. Dié sur Loire]. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 399–99d.	564. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to the Same. “Touching the English business, his Majesty has just told me through Secretary Antonio Perez that while Flemish affairs remain in statu quo, this enterprise cannot be handled successfully; nor yet does he think the time is ripe for choosing a captain, but we must await the result of affairs in Flanders, and the plight in which Don John will find himself, because it might then happen that one person would be deemed more suitable than another, and those moneys that are in Italy for the purpose of the enterprise will remain where they are for the time…. “Upon occasion of the Emperor's death, I have not failed to do my office with the King that the negotiation of the league may be continued with his son, the present Emperor, with whom—as also with the Empress—his Majesty is likely to have more authority than with his father, having bred him here with such love and fatherly affection…. “We have since learned here that the Grand Prior of England, the envoy designate to the Persian, is dead; so that I see that there is now a new face on all matters.” 17 Dec., 1576. Madrid. Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. f. 422.	565. [Nicholas Ormanetto, Bishop of Padua,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “From Flanders we have tidings of negotiations, but not that aught has been concluded; all the States were still united, and were ever more busily arming; and though by all that is apparent hitherto it may be believed that the Flemings receive no open aid from France, nevertheless it is feared that troops go there man by man; and God grant that these troubles breed not some distrust between these two Princes, as to which it behoves us to be wide awake. I apprised you on the instant of the departure of Don John for Flanders, and of how he travelled; but letters go slowly and by no means safely. “We are in hourly expectation of a man from England, and some would have it that he had gone to Guadalupe (fn. 2) to see the King; but of this there is no certitude, nor is it believed. There has also come a gentleman from France, but nothing is known at present of the policy of either the one or the other.” 30 Dec., 1576. Madrid. Decipher. Italian.
Ibid. vol. xiv. f. 306.	566. William [Walsh] Bishop of Meath to the Same. Thanking him for his kindness, and in particular for the Papal bounty (fn. 3) of late received through his interest. Adverting to the presence at Rome of James Fitzmaurice [Fitzgerald] and Thomas Stucley, and craving the Cardinal's zealous support for their scheme for the expulsion of the heretics and schismatics from Ireland, and the restoration of the Catholic faith and religion in that country; craving also the Cardinal's interest to procure for him means of subsistence in “Lesser Britain” (Brittany), as he can no longer endure the intense heats of Spain, and the proximity of Lesser Britain to Ireland would enable him to exhort his flock by letters, if not otherwise. Moreover, it is extremely irksome to him, a foreigner and an aged man, to be compelled to extort the stipend allowed him by the Catholic King month by month from the hands of laymen. [1576. Alcalá de Henares.] Latin.