Rome: March 1577 | 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: March 1577', 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/pp294-297 [accessed 28 November 2024].

March 1577



1577. Vat. Arch. Nunt. d' Inghilt. vol. i. f. 304.	578. Sir Thomas Stucley to Pope Gregory XIII. “I cannot fail to have recourse as a suppliant to your Holiness at all times of need, and now most humbly to beseech you to write a letter in recommendation of me to Don John of Austria, thanking him for the favour and courtesy with which he has ever treated me, and praying him to continue the same at your Holiness' instance. [I also beseech your Holiness to bid the Cardinal of Como, who has the redaction of your Holiness' letters, to write to other personages whom I will propose on the part of your Holiness;] (fn. 1) and herewith I end, praying for your Holiness' well-being, that God preserve you for many happy years in the service of His Holy Catholic Church.” [March, 1577.] Italian. Note in Como's hand:—The Pope is well pleased that a brief to Don John of Austria be made in recommendation of Sir Thomas aforesaid.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. ii. f. 208d.	579. John Andrew Caligari, Collector and Commissary to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “I am informed by certain Irishmen who have recently arrived at this port, that the Bishop of Cork has been released from prison by the heretics, and that, though he may not enter his city, he goes without molestation about his diocese, teaching and preaching the Gospel of our holy Catholic faith with no little result. “I have written congratulating him thereon, and praying him to furnish me with a report as to all that, as I shall deem true just as much as I shall learn from his own letters and nothing more.” 1 March, 1577. Lisbon. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. ff. 508d–9.	580. Nicholas [Ormanetto,] Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain to the Same. … “Last night there arrived a courier from Flanders with tidings of the conclusion of the accord between Don John and the Estates of the Low Countries, of which they are glad here, although it has fallen to the Estates to dictate terms to us. They say that the Catholic religion and obedience to his Majesty are secured, the Spaniards and the foreigners are quitting the country, and the privileges and the ancient mode of government are restored; that there will be a parliament of the States, in which peace and matters of religion will be discussed with the Prince of Orange. This is as much as we have learned as yet. “I shall now revive the English business, that it may not grow stale: not that I have any hope that it will be entered upon until it is seen what the effect of this accord will be. One thing causes me much disgust, to wit, that the States are hand in glove with the pretended Queen, so that little help is to be expected on that side, particularly as all the Spanish and foreign troops are to quit the country; and there are many reasons why in these anxious times the States should be loath to see that realm at his Majesty's devotion.” 8 March, 1577. Madrid. Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. ix. f. 386.	581. Sir Thomas Stucley to His Catholic Majesty. “Passing through this city, I, by way of Don Pedro de Mendoça, your Majesty's ambassador resident here, apprised you of my journey to Flanders, whence, by order of Don John, I am returning to Rome in the service of your Majesty, to whom I send hence my servant, Agustin del Rio, who will present this to your Majesty, to entreat you on my part to do me the favour that my good intentions and services have merited, for thereby it is that I suffer as I do; and as I hope that your Majesty will do me this favour as becomes a King so Christian and grateful, I will not weary you further, but will leave my case in the hands of my said servant, Agustin del Rio, whom I entreat your Majesty to send back with the celerity that my great need demands, and not with hands tied, as on the former occasion, for many a time have I assured your Majesty that there is nought that I am not ready to endure in your service save dishonour and hunger. God preserve your royal person and state, and add thereto such realms and states and lordships as the interests of Christendom require, and we your servants desire.” 13 March, 1577. Genoa. Spanish. Copy.
Ibid. vol. xii. p. 4.	582. John Francis Cannobio, Collector Apostolic to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … Postscript.—“I forgot to inform you that Sir Thomas Stocheo [Stucley], an Englishman, that came from Flanders, tarried here two days and departed hence two days ago thitherward [for Rome]. The Irishman, James [Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald] is well; it irks him much to be so delayed in travelling, but it must needs be so if risk is to be avoided.” 15 March, 1577. Genoa. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d'Inghilt. vol. i. f. 338.	583. [Philip Sega,] Bishop of Ripa, Nuncio in Flanders (fn. 2) to the Same. “The Bishop of Liège, one of the Imperial ambassadors, has been and is at such pains to promote the peace between his Catholic Majesty and these States; and such are the facilities that his lordship ever affords me in the discharge of my office, as by other letters I have apprised you, that I find myself obliged to give him all possible satisfaction.” 23 March, 1577. Brussels. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. x. ff. 537–8.	584. Nicholas [Ormanetto], Bishop of Padua, Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “The King is very well satisfied with the Pope's decision to send Mgr. Sega to Flanders to promote the pacification.… “His Majesty approves the other secret commission which the said Mgr. Sega carries with him, and has praised the great foresight and promptitude of decision which his Holiness has displayed in this undertaking, in all matters subservient to the good end in view. The matter has been set forth in such a fashion that his Majesty will, as was meet, have recognized the Pope's good frame of mind; and it will not prejudice the friends that despatched the courier and wrote with this end in view, that silence has been observed for reasons in every respect proper. Good counsel has governed the management of the business. “His Majesty has seen fit that I should know one of his secrets, which he has never imparted to any other; to wit, that tête à tête he bade Don John let no good opportunity slip of bringing so important a business to a satisfactory conclusion, and there was talk of employing the troops whose departure was still being discussed; and though I have never doubted the King's good intention in this enterprise, nevertheless this which he has now deigned to impart to me, has made me yet more sure thereof. That which annoys me is that the event has not accorded with the general desire, since the troops, as I have written, are to depart by land; and though it has been rumoured here that they refused to depart unless by sea; nevertheless the fact is that, if they have not already departed, as it is believed they have, they cannot delay their departure; so that some other method must be devised if it is intended to carry this business through. His Majesty has sent me word that I am to kiss, in his name, the Pope's most holy feet, and give him infinite thanks for both the missions of Mgr. Sega, as hereby I do. “I hope soon to be able to announce the coming of the man to Rome, being, I may say, assured thereof from many quarters where there are means of knowing it. “As to the Catholic fleet, I have on other occasions written that it will not be reduced in any respect; nay that they are thinking of increasing it; whereof I am now assured.” 25 March, 1577. Madrid. Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Arm. xliv. vol. 28. f. 74. no. 140.	585. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of Faculties of the Academy of Douai. … Commending to them at the instance of the Pope the many pious Irishmen, who, his Holiness knows, are wont to have recourse to the University of Douai to study letters and the good arts, that by the favour, tutelage and aid of the said authorities they may with less anxiety and more zeal devote themselves to their studies, and enjoy the privileges of scholars. 28 March, 1577. Rome. Latin. Copy.