Rome: January 1578 | 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: January 1578', 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/pp360-376 [accessed 28 November 2024].

January 1578



1578. Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 12.	712. News Letter. … “By letters from Antwerp of 9 [Dec.] it is understood that M. de Havré had got from the Queen of England a promise to lend the Estates 400,000 crowns, and to allow 5,000 foot to be levied in her realm; and that meanwhile she had sent Milord Wileck [sic Mr. Thomas Wilkes (fn. 1) ], one of her Council, to the Catholic King, to negotiate peace in Flanders; and that she was sending to Don John to arrange a truce until she should receive an answer from Spain as to this business. Meanwhile, it is said that his Highness, being unable to enter Flanders with his troops on the side of Namur, was endeavouring to enter on the side of France. (fn. 2) It is also affirmed that the Catholic King ceases not to make mighty preparations for continuing the war in Flanders; and they write from Milan that the Spaniards just come from Naples had been mustered with intent to send them to Flanders, and that on the 20th [Dec.] it was announced that that city [Antwerp] was free from contagion.” 1 Jan., 1578. Venice. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xx. p. 116.	713. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa] Nuncio in Spain. “Everything is now ready for Stucley's expedition: a ship of the largest size has been chartered; and 600 choice soldiers are being put aboard of her with plentiful supply of all things needful for six months; to wit, victuals in great abundance, and money for the pay, and arquebuses, pikes and other arms for 3,000 men; which will cost his Holiness thousands and thousands of crowns. Nor does his Holiness grudge the money, considering that the result cannot but redound to the great service of God and the Catholic religion, and also of his Catholic Majesty, inasmuch as we shall compel that wicked woman of England to turn her attention to her own affairs, and give up doing mischief to others in their own house; which might be of no little advantage to Flanders. “I trust that by God's grace his Catholic Majesty has furnished Geraldine (fn. 3) with the like aid; and assuredly, should he not have done so, it would be well that he should do so as soon as possible. And even if he have done so, it would still be well to think of sending Geraldine some reinforcement of men and arms and munitions, for I make no doubt that some method will be found of doing so secretly in some port of Portugal, if his Majesty shall be minded not to discover himself. “I believe that in the course of five days Stucley will have embarked and departed; let this be for your instruction, whereon to found a communication to his Majesty. And the reason of this slight delay is that the ship would not come to Civitavecchia, as the port was none too convenient for her; so that the soldiers must needs go from Civitavecchia to Port' Hercole to embark.” 3 Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Ibid. vol. xi. f. 108.	714. [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “Don Bernardino de Mendoza will without doubt depart in a few days' time for England, as he himself has told me; nor is it certain that neither the Queen, nor the States, nor the Archduke Matthias are sending ambassadors to Spain. Geraldine (fn. 4) has departed from Lisbon, as you will have learned from my letters: he now reports that after running the hazard of a great tempest he has been compelled to put into Baiona in Galicia, whence on the 3rd of last month he wrote to Dr. Sander, apprising him that he had letters from two potent princes of Ireland, O'Donnell of Ulster and the Earl of Desmond, by whom he is very affectionately invited. He says nothing as to his departure from that port, but we assume that he has gone ahead. “Meanwhile I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Bishop of Killaloe to discover whether his Majesty will verily promise to lend constant support to Geraldine, according to his announced intention; for the said Bishop will have instructions to be mighty urgent with him to that end; and if it prove to be true that Stucley goes thence [from Rome] to those parts to join Geraldine, it may be that his Majesty will find less difficulty in making up his mind. True it is that neither his Majesty, nor the Archbishop of Toledo, nor Perez, nor Escovedo satis bene audiunt de ipso; nor has Dr. Sander told me much to my mind of him [Stucley]: which will be a word of counsel to you: besides which I remember to have written to the same effect divers times both hence and from Flanders.” 5 Jan., 1578. Madrid. Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xii. p. 1.	715. Antonio Maria Salviati, [late] Bishop [of S. Papoul], Nuncio in France to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “The ambassador [de Gastel (fn. 5) ] sent by Don John to the Queen of England, and he [Havré (fn. 6) ] that the Estates sent to her have been most graciously received by her and dismissed with presents and a promise to Don John that she will give no aid to the Estates and likewise a promise to the Estates that she will do for them all that is in her power. In a word there seems to be good reason to infer that the said Queen has no intention of disclosing her mind in any measure; but is rather disposed to afford the Estates all aid underhand, permitting them to raise troops, furnishing them with victuals and everything else except money, seeing how loath she is to disburse it and the inability of the Estates to find security for it save by means of merchants of the country, who, we are assured, are resolved to incur no such burden by reason of the risk they would run of utter ruin in the event of the affairs of the Estates taking an evil turn, and his Catholic Majesty getting the upper hand.” 6 Jan., 1578. Paris. Italian. Enclosure:—
Ibid.	716. “The Cardinal of Guise and the Scottish ambassador are assured that I bind myself to pay at their request the moneys promised for the business of the Prince of Scotland, as without fail I shall do, and shall also facilitate the business to the best of my ability: but it does not seem to me to be in such a position that I can bring myself to believe that it is likely to make much progress while I remain in France. The cash, I know, could be got on the most handsome terms; but as to the rest I know not what to say. “The Queen of England has of late discovered the secret channel whereby the Scottish ambassador and the other servants of the Queen of Scotland were wont to write to her; and as not all those that were privy to that matter are in England, it is supposed that the Queen of England has dissembled her knowledge, being minded to do a fine stroke at one time. There is at least this of good in it that these people, being apprised of all as it happens, are likely to stand on their guard, and take all possible precautions against the Queen of England. By persons that have some knowledge of the Court of England I am apprised that the said Queen's physicians deem her life in danger. They say that she has hardly ever had the purgations proper to all women, but that instead nature has come to the rescue by establishing an issue in one of her legs, which has never been scant of flow but the Queen has fallen ill, and at present seems to be quite dried up, nor know the physicians how to find a remedy for this mishap. “The Most Christian King has begun to indulge his taste for pleasure beyond his wont to the infinite prejudice of business, and those that handle it, and the no less disgust of the people.” Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. Germ. vol. lxxxii. p. 525.	717. Protonotary Portia, Nuncio in Germany to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “For many a day there has been a bruit of an overture by the Estates to take Casimir into their pay; but now the rumour is that there are 150,000 florins in hand for raising horse; and already one of their agents has passed by here with one that was despatched some weeks since from England to the said Casimir; and they are going together to the Prince of Orange, who is sending whatever money has been given him, or he can otherwise scrape together, to Dillenburg, that he may make use of it in the event of his being driven out of Brabant and attacked again in Holland.” 6 Jan., 1578. Cologne. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xx. p. 125.	718. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain. … “In the judgment of every prudent man it is time to have done with a diet of hopes. And since it is known there [in Spain] what the root is from which this evil fruit springs and draws its sustenance, I would fain hope that the design upon England will not be completely abandoned, particularly if these two gentlemen, Geraldine (fn. 7) and Stucley, should effect some good opening in Ireland, such as to afford them a prospect of afterwards crossing to England: and certainly, unless his Majesty leave them without succour, they will accomplish much more than they promise, and do his Majesty an inestimable service. Already everything is in order here, all the supplies, even to Stucley's valises, having been sent to Civitavecchia. Stucley himself keeps at present in hiding, ready to depart as soon as we tell him the time has come; but by reason of the bad weather the ship has not yet arrived at Port' Hercole; nor would it be well for Stucley to depart hence before the ship has arrived: besides which I think that she cannot tarry much longer, as the tramontana ceased blowing yesterday and was succeeded by the scirocco which is favourable when one has to go from Naples westward. You should remind his Majesty about sending Geraldine some reinforcement of men and arms, because if to these 600 foot of ours, well provided with all that they require for six months, there be added a like aid on his Majesty's part, there will be no difficulty too great for these two gentlemen to surmount. This I make bold to affirm, having conversed many and many a time with both the one and the other.” 10 Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xi. f. 126d.	719. [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. … “There is a diversity of writings and discourses here, which follow the bent of the whims and desires of individuals; but that which touches the quick is the manifesto of the Estates with copies of all the intercepted letters of Don John and Escovedo, a writing which sorely diminishes the reputation of that gentleman because with much prejudice and even misrepresentation they so distort and colour their idea as to depict him as the most disloyal gentleman that wears a sword; which affords many at this Court an opportunity of attacking him violently; and it is generally supposed that the Catholic King is very dissatisfied with him. God grant it be not so, for it is not what the holy purpose of that gentleman deserves; for if his affairs have come to grief, it is not that he was not actuated by holy zeal; and so it is to be hoped that God will not abandon him. I do not send the manifesto or discourse of the Estates because, though I have a copy, it is not mine and as it is a portly volume and in French, I did not see fit to have a copy made, particularly as I presume that it has reached you, and that therefrom you may have seen how apparent it is from the intercepted letters what the policy was in regard to the affairs of England, a matter of much importance as to which I therefore await from you some advice. “Thus far I had written before I had speech of the King. Yesterday I spoke with his Majesty; and when I sounded him as to the affairs of Flanders he replied that he would soon apprise his Hollines of the method that he is adopting to restore affairs there to some sort of good order; and to what I said of the method of negotiating an accord he listened with much attention, and thereupon told me that if anyone should talk to me in his name about the method adopted hitherto, I must not fail to speak my mind to him also. Since then, this morning, Antonio Perez has visited me, and as of his own accord, after touching on some other matters, as I write in the letters, has assured me that it is true that his Majesty has written in the sense that I report, but with this besides, to wit, that Don John must not fail to go ahead in arms with the same purpose and the same manifesto: as to the affair of Matthias nought has come of it. I shall now be expecting a visit either from him [Perez] or another, to speak with me in his Majesty's name.” 10 Jan., 1578. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Venet. vol. xix. pp. 21–2.	720. News Letter. … “There is strife among the people of Amsterdam, some being for the King, others for the Prince of Orange; but as victuals are growing scarce and the passes are closed, they will be compelled to come to an accord. “It is understood that in the neighbourhood of Cambrai some letters from the Catholic King to Don John have been intercepted by the Estates. “M. d'Havré had returned from England to Brussels. The Queen had given him a chain worth 1,000 crowns; and he brought the Estates a letter of attorney for 400,000 florins. “The said Queen has sent Signor di Leicher [sic Thomas Leighton] to Don John, and Signor di Vorlichs [sic Thomas Wilkes] to the King in Spain, commending to both peace lest the exigencies of war should lead to foreign troops being again brought into the Low Countries.” (fn. 8) 10 Jan., 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy. Forwarded from Venice, 1 Feb., by Annibale di Capua, afterwards Archbishop of Naples, to the Cardinal of Como.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 10.	721. News Letter. … “M. d'Havré has returned from England to Brussels, having received from the Queen a chain worth 1,000 crowns. He brings with him authority for the Estates General to raise the sum of 400,000 crowns in the Queen's name in Antwerp and from English merchants. The said Queen has sent Mr. [Thomas] Leycher [Leighton] to Don John and Mr. [Thomas] Winlchs [Wilkes] to the King in Spain to exhort him to be pacific, lest foreigners be again brought into the Netherlands to wage war; which in course of time might occasion great peril and loss to him: in case of refusal she herself would be constrained to lend aid to the Estates to the best of her power. “We have letters from Spain of the 15th ult. in which no mention is made of any preparation for war or otherwise.” 10 Jan., 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 39.	722. News Letter. “The Marquis of Havré has returned from England and gone forthwith to Brussels. He brings from that Queen honours and caresses and a collar worth 1,000 crowns, and for the Estates, besides 4,000 English and 2,000 Scots, 400,000 crowns in cash and 300,000 in bills of exchange: and with him has come an ambassador named Leicher [Leighton] charged with more liberal offers to the Estates, and also with a commission to do what he may with Don John for the maintenance of the peace made at Ghent; for which same purpose the Queen has despatched Vinchelt [Wilkes] to the Catholic King in Spain, as likewise the Emperor has sent hither the Count of Swartzemburg [Schwarzenberg (fn. 9) ] with letters from his Imperial Majesty to the Estates, to his brother the Archduke, to the Bishop of Liège, and to the Duke of Cleve. God grant that such offices may bear good fruit.” 10 Jan., 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. i. f. 41.	723. Mgr. Fontana, [Collector in Portugal] to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “By what we have gathered from two men that have come from Brittany and whose reports tally, the one with the other, very well, it is deemed certain that Geraldine (fn. 10) in the English ship captured by him, dismantled though she was, chased the master of the other ship that fled, and arrived at the city of Vannes, near to the place where, they say, the said master had gone ashore, and had placed the goods in the custody of the law, so that Geraldine has recovered them; and therefore it is believed that the said master took to flight rather by reason of some contention which there had been between them than with intent to rob Geraldine.” 10 Jan., 1578. Lisbon. Italian. Decipher.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d' Inghilt. vol. i. f. 67.	724. By Sir Thomas Stucley Assignment of Money. I Thomas Stucley, English gentleman, certify receipt by me in Rome at the intercession and by the favour of our Lord Pope Gregory XIII, from Signor Bernardo Olgiati, Depositary General of his Holiness, of 1,800 crowns of money of Rome for the amount of 2,000 ducats of Naples, for which I am creditor of the Royal Court of that kingdom by assignments made to me by his Catholic Majesty; which 2,000 ducats are by me assigned to the satisfaction and payment of the said 1,800 crowns of money; and therefore I am content and willing that Mgr. Campeggi, nuncio of his Holiness in Naples, who has ample authority from me to exact payment of the said 2,000 ducats, discharge therewith the said debt; and so I declare and affirm by the present writing subscribed with my hand this 11th day of January, 1578. Rome. Signed, Thomas Stucley. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xii. p. 22.	725. News Letter. … “An English ambassador [Leighton] has passed through to Don John. The Queen holds out great hopes to the Estates: it is said that she will send 5,000 foot under the command of the Earl of Leest [Leicester].” 13 Jan., 1578. Antwerp. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Portog. vol. iii. f. 167.	726. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to Mgr. Fontana, Collector in Portugal. “Sir Thomas Stucley, an English gentleman, has been despatched by his Holiness with 600 soldiers and some munitions of war on a voyage to Ireland for the defence of the poor Catholics of that island against oppression by the heretics, a duty most pleasing to God and very appropriate to the charge which his Holiness has of Vicar of Christ on earth. And as the voyage is a long one, and the risks of the sea are many, his Holiness has bidden me by this letter to commend him to you, that, if need be, you may speak to the King and procure his protection—I mean in case Stucley should touch at any of his Majesty's coasts—that his Majesty may cause him to be treated kindly and with all courtesy, as is meet, considering by whom, and the errand upon which, he is sent. “And moreover, if, while he is in Ireland, he should address to you letters or aught else, you will not fail to receive them and forward them hither, and reply to him, and in fine maintain a good understanding and correspondence with him: all which will redound to the service of God and his Holiness.” 14 Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xi. f. 120.	727. [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy] Galli, Cardinal of Como. “The day before yesterday, at evening, there arrived here the Bishop of Killaloe, (fn. 11) who has returned from Portugal to lend his Majesty aid in the service of Geraldine. (fn. 12) As soon as he found me he presented Geraldine's letters, and gave me account of the business that he was to negotiate. I bade him return to his lodging, and keep there as close as possible, and leave his negotiation in my hands, because it could not be furthered by his discovery while the Queen's ambassador is here. “This morning I have spoken with Antonio Perez as to his business, and laid before him the manner in which it would seem that his Majesty might be of aid to Geraldine without discovering himself, or apprehending discovery by the Queen through some person that had a hand in this business. To-morrow I expect his answer. Meanwhile we have no certain information of Geraldine's safe arrival in Ireland, nor yet of his departure from Bayonne, whither his Majesty despatched a courier with directions proper for aiding his departure; which courier has not yet returned.” 15 Jan., 1578. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Ibid. f. 132.	728. The Same to the Same. … “I am still embarrassed in this business by the arrival of this ambassador of England, whose negotiation it has been to the present moment impossible to penetrate, though it is three days since he had audience of his Majesty, who bade Count de Fossalica [Fuensalida (fn. 13) ], one of his major-domos, accompanied by a great troop of gentlemen of the Household, attend him from his lodging, although, it is publicly said, he comes not with the title of ambassador but of agent upon one sole errand, and is of very low rank, being but under-secretary of the Royal Council of England, and is, by what we understand, a most corrupt heretic. “He gives out that he is to treat of a business that is of a kind to afford his Majesty much consolation, and talks of despatching it in a fortnight. His first audience was of the briefest, and in the subsequent presentation of letters and paying of compliments there can have been little negotiation done. Here there is much diversity of discourse: some will have it that the Queen has sent him to clear herself of all complicity in aught that passes in Flanders: an office on divers occasions done by her for no other purpose than to delude the King: others say that he is sent by her to complain of what has been discovered from the intercepted letters of Don John, others again that he is sent to negotiate with his Majesty an exchange of some English imprisoned at Seville for some Spaniards detained in England; others again that he has come to treat of the marriage of one Margaret, her niece, who, she pretends, will be her successor on the throne, failing the Queen of Scotland's son, with the Archduke Matthias subject to certain conditions relating to the affairs of Flanders. “These are all matters of discourse which I have thought fit to mention, that you may know what is being bruited about. Meanwhile I shall not fail by all the means in my power to endeavour to discover the truth with as much address as I am capable of.” 15 Jan., 1578. Madrid. Italian.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 18.	729. News Letter. “There is hitherto no evidence of any result corresponding to what has been written of the liberal promises made by the Queen of England to the Marquis d'Havré and the English ambassador; and God knows what the course of events will be, because the Council of Spain is loath that the Catholic King should attend to the business of the peace. “On occasion of a banquet given by the Prince of Orange to the Archduke Matthias a portrait of the Queen of England's niece was shown to his Highness, and he was mightily pleased therewith. “The people of Brussels are altogether bent on conferring the title of Captain General of the States on the Prince of Orange, who is at Ghent with his brother, Count John of Nassau, but they are prevented by apprehension of some undesirable result. “The person sent by Don John to England returns dissatisfied with a collar worth 500 crowns presented to him by the Queen.” 15 Jan., 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d'Inghilt. vol. i. f. 15.	730. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to Sir Thomas Stucley. “As I am answering your letters of the 15th this evening immediately upon their receipt, I can say no more as to the matters which the Archdeacon of Cambrai (fn. 14) has discussed with me in your name except that to-morrow morning I shall speak with the Irish bishop [of Mayo], and discover his mind, and what we can expect from him; and if it be possible, you shall be satisfied in this respect also. As to the impediment to the anchorage at the mouth of the river, I hope that we shall be relieved of all difficulty by the implements that I have sent thither from here. And so I pledge myself to you from my heart, praying God to grant you felicity and prosperity.” [17 ?] Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xx. pp. 128–32.	731. The Same to [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain. “The instruction you received to urge his Majesty no further as to the general enterprise against England was written at the instance of the Catholic ambassador, who in his King's name besought his Holiness to put no more pressure upon his Majesty as to this matter. His Holiness thereby perceiving how loath his Majesty was to take action in the said business, inasmuch as it irked him even to hear it mentioned, resolved that that instruction should be sent; but if the Archbishop of Toledo is of another mind, you may adroitly, as of your own accord, hazard a word thereon with his Majesty, which will indeed come to about the same thing as if you were to speak in the name and by order of his Holiness. But the worst of it is that we see that his Catholic Majesty has totally abandoned Geraldine, (fn. 15) as he apprises me by his last letter sent me by you, wherein he gives a detailed account of his departure from Lisbon, but to use his own words sine armis, sine classe et sine hominibus, after spending a long time in vainly awaiting the succour which had been promised him: a thing which verily might dishearten any giant, seeing his Majesty so careless about a business of such importance and on which depends in great measure the prosperous course of the affairs of Flanders, to say nothing of what is due to the Catholic religion: whereas, albeit his Majesty might with some apparent reason deem it inexpedient just now to attempt the general enterprise, there is no longer any doubt that to harass that lady in that way would redound very greatly to his Majesty's service, especially as Stucley would act in concert with Geraldine, (fn. 15) by the diversion of a great part at least, and perhaps of all the forces which she employs against his Majesty. The Pope on his part has done all that he could, and has sent Stucley, who has already quitted Rome, with all necessary supplies, as I have written more than once, for some months, at a cost to his Holiness of about 40,000 crowns; and though he has done so chiefly for the glory of God and the defence of His holy faith, he has also been actuated by the fatherly affection that he bears his Majesty, seeing that it was all to the advantage of his States; and therefore doubting not that his Majesty would do the like by Geraldine, for otherwise his Holiness would not have incurred this expense, there being no likelihood that Stucley alone would be able to make any considerable headway. And now that his Holiness understands that Geraldine has gone totally unequipped, he would have you with befitting modesty make plaint thereof on his part to his Majesty; and afterwards beseech and exhort him with all earnestness not to be false to himself in an emergency of such importance, and which affords sure hope of immense gain at little cost, there being yet time to make good the shortcoming of the past, if his Majesty will act with the promptitude that is necessary in this case, giving directions as soon as possible for the actual despatch of some substantial succour to the said Geraldine. And if his Majesty should be loath to send soldiers for fear of discovery, he can succour Geraldine in arms defensive and offensive, in powder, balls, and other sorts of munitions, and in money, for supplies of this sort can be sent very secretly by way of Portugal. “In fine, everything depends on the succour being to hand while Stucley is in those parts, so that the twain may make the better progress together. Meanwhile I hope that Geraldine will not fail to do something with the help of the Catholics of the island; and will for a time live upon the hope with which he departed of receiving succour from here, and likewise from his Majesty. But after his hope and courage have sustained him for a while, it must needs at last prove true that vana est sine viribus ira; and therefore you must press for the succour with all the importunity that the need and the sluggishness characteristic of the country [Spain] requires. “Stucley, as I have said, has already gone to Civitavecchia, and I hope that they will go on shipboard to-morrow, and will set sail with the first fair weather. God guide them.” 18 Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d'Inghilt. vol. i. f. 68.	732. Sir Thomas Stucley, Styled] Marquis of Leinster (fn. 16) to [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como]. “The master of the ship has arrived and gives me a good account of the vessel. Very good she is, but ill furnished with artillery, considering the people that will be aboard her. And so, having learned that in this place, Civitavecchia, there are some pieces of artillery that are lying idle, I beg that order be given to place four pieces at my service, which shall return with the said vessel. However, I place myself entirely at your discretion, humbly kissing your hands, and praying God to guard and prosper you, as I, your humble and obliged servant, desire.” 19 Jan., 1578. Civitavecchia. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d'Inghilt. vol. i. f. 18	733. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to Captain Bastiano San Joseppi. “Being requested to allow four small pieces of field artillery to be brought from Civitavecchia for the better equipment of the ship, which on her return will restore them, his Holiness is content that it be so done, and therefore has given me the order which I send herewith, which, as regards the choice of the four pieces, is left to you to execute, his Holiness feeling sure that you will be careful to take only pieces that are not at present in use, and the loss of which, should it happen, would be but a trifling matter: which is all I have to say, and so I end with best wishes.” 20 Jan., 1578. [Rome.] Italian. Draft.
Ibid. f. 17.	734. [The Same] to Marcantonio Zani, General of the Pope's Galleys and Theofrasto Amasei, Castellan of Ostia. “His Holiness bids you for his service give Captain Bastiano San Joseppi four small pieces of field artillery, or two small culverins with their gear and a number of balls, and two mirane (fn. 17) [sic moyens] or other pieces at your option, of those that are in the possession of either of you, taking from him a distinct and particular receipt for your safeguard, which God grant you, in making the delivery.” [20] Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Ibid. f. 16.	735. [The Same] to Sir Thomas Stucley. “Deeming that by being allowed the use of the four pieces of artillery for which you write to me for arming the ship, on your promise to return them with her, you should be completely satisfied with what is done to meet your demands for the service, his Holiness is pleased to grant you them, and directs me to instruct Captain Marc' Antonio Zani and the Castellan to let you have them. I pray God to accord the business a result corresponding to the ready and zealous good will which his Holiness bears to it, and to grant you all the prosperity and felicity that you desire.” 20 Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xi. f. 138.	736. [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “The ambassador of England has in a word no other commission but to make a complaint on the part of the Queen about the intercepted letters, as she is aggrieved at what she regards as an unfriendly act derogatory to peace and good neighbourliness. She offers to mediate the establishment of peace with the Estates, and urges his Majesty to be content with Matthias as governor of those countries. “To-day I am informed that the said ambassador is dismissed, but with what answer I have not been able to discover. I feel sure that it will be pro verbis verba, because it is evident that she sends but to spy upon the King and make a mock of him. The day before yesterday there came a courier from Flanders: his news I have not yet learned for certain save that it is bruited about the Court, that, when Don John purposed to succour Roermond, there occurred a great skirmish in which many of his Highness' soldiers fell. God grant it be not so: I mention it but as hearsay.” 21 Jan., 1578. [Madrid.] Decipher. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xii. p. 32.	737. News Letter. “Fifteen companies of Scotsmen have disembarked in Zealand; the captains are Scotsmen, but most of the men are English; and their Queen without a doubt will aid the Estates.” 22 Jan., 1578. Brussels. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d' Inghilt. vol. i. f. 69.	738. Bastiano San Joseppi to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “I have received your letters with the order for the four pieces of small artillery addressed to Captain M. Antonio and the Castellan of Rocca Nuova. At sight of yours now to hand I failed not to do all that you bade me. I went forthwith to Rocca Nuova with Sir Thomas Stucley; and thence have been taken four small pieces of the sort that could best be spared: to wit, first an old and small mogliana [moyen] without arms thereon, and an old pitriera (fn. 18) with the arms of Malta thereon, which Sir Thomas besought them to be pleased to allow me because it has the Cross upon it, and an old square morana [moyen] with the arms of Pope Paul III thereon; and also a Turkish saker; which said pieces are all mounted on iron wheels for horse traction: there have also been taken 300 balls with the implements for charging and other gear of the said pieces. “I have no more to report to you save that we are expecting Pietro Grosso with your decision about the moneys, which Signor Paolo Giordano [degl' Orsini] says that he has spent: besides which they would have two instalments of pay granted them; and I should now be glad if you would let me know if you approve thereof. The boats, to the number of 19, have been sent towards Port' Ercole; but they have been unable to make headway because the wind has been contrary, and they have come to a stop off Corneto. “There is no lack of diligence and assiduity. The captain of the ship has arrived here. I have heard nothing from him as yet; and I have no more to tell you but that I am here ready to serve in any emergency: and so I end, humbly kissing your most illustrious and holy hands.” 22 Jan., 1578. Civitavecchia. Italian.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. d' Inghilt. vol. i. ff. 70, 72.	739. Bastiano San Joseppi to [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como. “The extraordinary expenditure which the present occasion demands compels me to trouble your most Illustrious and Reverend Lordship. I mean that much expenditure has been incurred in excess of what was anticipated: and moreover that I have sent to inspect the ship, and have found that she lacks all the things that are requisite, nay necessary, for our victuals, and that 400 planks and other things must be provided to prepare the storehouse for the biscuits, or else all the victuals will be lost. I send the list of the things needed for the said ship. The captain of the ship has just been here; and in converse with me he has said that he has provisions for the voyage as far as Marseilles, such being the terms on which the ship is hired. I have assented to all that he has said; but I have found out for myself that from Marseilles onward it will be necessary for me to bear this cost with that of the Pope's munitions, and also to give aid for the return voyage, so that they are all extraordinary charges. “There has since arrived here the Bishop [of Mayo ?] with certain English gentlemen; and Signor Paolo Giordano [degli Orsini] tells me I must entertain them, and make all provision for their needs. And then the said Signor Paolo tells me that he has spent more than 1,000 crowns on clothing and arms for the soldiers, besides the advance of pay which they have had, and that he would have me reimburse him the moneys aforesaid, as I have already written to your most Illustrious and Reverend Lordship. I must also provide for all the wants of the 600 men stowed in the ship—to use their mode of speech, like pipkins and pipes,—for the ship lacks everything, so that you see the plight in which I am, knowing that, save the money assigned, I have nought to rely on to meet the extraordinary expenditure which I foresee; which, it seems, will mean a quantity of crowns, so that I am constrained to have recourse to you as my lord and patron, that it may please you to make known to the Pope the straits in which I stand, and the exigencies of this enterprise for the service of his Holiness, intimating to him that it is necessary that he direct that there be granted 1,000 crowns of gold in gold, of which good account shall be given to the Chamber; and great care shall be taken of them, and no part of them shall be spent save on things necessary. And I humbly beseech his Holiness to have consideration for so devoted and loving a servant; for I apprehend that if I should find myself short of money in such a country, I should be as it were lost. And so I entreat you to be my patron, and I place myself entirely at your disposal to do with me as you may see fit. I send you one of my men, trusting that you may deign to expedite his business; and you may give him the 1,000 crowns aforesaid, and send him back with some trusty man whom Signor Aurelio [Savignani] may select. And so without more ado I make an end, kissing your most illustrious and holy hands.” 23 Jan., 1578. Civitavecchia. Italian. Postscript.—“And as I made some little difficulty about the extraordinary expenditure which I saw impending, Signor Aurelio Sauigⁿⁱ [Savignani] has been here; and as he is best informed as to the amount of money that I have had, I am now satisfied that I can bear any extraordinary expense that may be necessary for this service, so that I am sure that I shall be equal to any emergency, and with God's grace and aid may go and return more cheerfully, and by His grace kiss the most holy feet of the Pope, whom God preserve in all felicity and dignity and prosperity; and so I kiss your most illustrious and reverend hands.” 24 Jan., 1578. Italian.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 51d.	740. News Letter. … “The ambassador of England [Leighton (fn. 19) ], after making his report in the Council of the Estates at Brussels, repaired, it is said, to Don John to urge his Highness in his Queen's name to lay down arms and lean to peace; and in case his Highness should be uncompliant, then to warn him that the might of England would join with the forces of the Estates of Flanders against the Crown of Spain. Certain circumstances, however, in the opinion of many, render it doubtful whether this threat will actually take effect.” 24 Jan., 1578. Antwerp. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Spagna, vol. xx. p. 139.	741. Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como to [Philip Sega, Bishop of Ripa,] Nuncio in Spain. “I am now by God's grace able to inform you that Stucley with his 600 foot has departed, to wit, from Civitavecchia, where he got aboard our galleys, and that the day before yesterday he went to Port' Hercole to go aboard the ship and set sail, as I trust by this time they will have done, the weather being most favourable for such a vessel. God guide and protect him in this holy enterprise, and put it in his Majesty's heart either speedily to make the general enterprise of England, though perhaps he would not acquaint us with his purpose, or at least to send a substantial aid to Geraldine, as to which I have so often written, and as you should continue to urge him with due modesty to do. “Escovedo writes me that his Majesty will have at his disposal for this war some 5 millions of gold, and he suggests, though he does not expressly say, that the enterprise of England is also to be made. On the other hand I learn that that wicked lady was not expected to live long, because a fistula which she has in one of her legs has run quite dry, and she has usually been ill when the fistula has not discharged freely. We shall see what will betide; but the Princes should be ashamed to suffer her to reign until her death, though she had not more than a month to live.” 25 Jan., 1578. Rome. Draft for cipher.
Vat. Lib. Urb. Lat. 1046. f. 24.	742. News Letter. “On Monday morning the Pope departed for Civitavecchia, and after riding some miles got into a new carriage lined with crimson velvet, in which were Cardinals Austria, Sermoneta and Farnese. After a splendid reception by Farnese at Palo with all the Court his Holiness departed for that city [Civitavecchia] to confer his blessing on the soldiers that are going on the galleon of the English Duke (fn. 20); but having learned that an uproar and mutiny had broken out among them, as they must needs have two instalments of pay before they would embark, the Pope resolved to hold aloof and not expose his person to such risks; and to-day by God's grace with a glad countenance he has returned in a carriage after giving such orders as were necessary to pacify the soldiers, who, it is affirmed, will go to the island of Ireland, where there are many Catholics in conspiracy against the Queen of England, who has instigated a discharge of arquebuses upon the said Duke, but to no purpose, certain persons charged with the said offence having been imprisoned.” 25 Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Copy.
Ibid. f. 28.	743. News Letter. … “The ambassador of the Queen of England [Leighton (fn. 21) ] departs this morning. His Highness has had from him abundance of words, and the proffer of his Queen's good offices in negotiating the peace. He returns with the like verbiage, and a chain worth 500 crowns, which he has earned very ill. There is nothing more to write at present.” 25 Jan., 1578. Marche[en Famenne]. Italian. Copy.
Vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xi. f. 297.	744. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to [Antonio Maria Salviati, late Bishop of S. Papoul,] Nuncio in France. “As others may well have written that some few soldiers have been raised here, and everyone will put his own interpretation on the matter, I would have you to know the truth from me, and also to apprise their Majesties thereof in the Pope's name. “In all times the Apostolic See has been wont as a loving mother to receive and succour all who by the chapter of accidents, and for no fault of theirs, find themselves exiles from their countries and without means of subsistence, particularly when faith and religion are the occasion; and therefore you may remember having ever seen in Rome a great number of Germans, English, Scots, Irish and the like, supported there by the liberality and charity of the Popes. Hence it comes that his Holiness, for the compassion that he has towards such people, has built and endowed the German College here in Rome, on which more than 15,000 crowns are spent by the year, for the instruction of the youths in good letters and manners, while for the men of mature age, who are not fit to enter the College, his Holiness has established monthly pensions, on which they live in peace and security in these parts exempt from persecution by the heretics. Many and many a score of such men there are in Rome, as every one may know; and among them is an English gentleman, Sir Thomas Stucley by name, who came here four years ago, and has ever since lived on the support and aid furnished by his Holiness. Now of late Stucley, either that he felt ashamed, being by profession a soldier, thus indolently to devour the substance of priests, or that what his Holiness gave him did not suffice for his wants, craved the favour of some aid on account of his ordinary allowances; with which and some other aids which were offered him by divers persons, and in particular by Paolo Giordano Orsino, with whom he is on terms of familiarity and most intimate friendship, he purposed to equip a galleon, and scour the seas to try his fortune either against the Infidels or against the heretics as God should best inspire him. The idea struck his Holiness as so honest and honourable that he could not but afford him some measure of aid; and so he has gone to Civitavecchia with Signor Paolo Giordano, and thither they have brought two companies of soldiers, and placed them aboard a ship, with which the said Stucley is minded, as I have said, to go to try his fortune. Whither he is bound I cannot say, because it may well be that his own mind is not as yet made up, whether to go to the Levant against the Turks or to the west against the heretics, his object being in my judgment rather to procure for himself the means of living more handsomely in accordance with his character, which is that of a great spendthrift, than to do other sort of service to Christendom; nor do I as yet know whether he has departed, for since he went to Civitavecchia with Signor Paolo I have given no more thought to his doings; but it may well be that he has not yet departed. This is the story of the affair, which will enable you to obviate any sinister information that might be given by others to their Majesties, and to tell them that they can readily understand that two companies of soldiers cannot be deemed capable of doing anything of consequence anywhere, and moreover that what little they may do should altogether and on all accounts be agreeable, and perchance advantageous and serviceable, to their Majesties, whether they go against the Turks or against the heretics.” 27 Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.
vat. Arch. Nunt. di Francia, vol. xi. f. 298.	745. [Ptolemy Galli, Cardinal of Como] to [Antonio Maria] Salviati, [late Bishop of S. Papoul,] Nuncio in France. “The Pope is satisfied with the assurance given by you to the Cardinal of Guise and the ambassador of Scotland that you are ready to make good the undertaking given to them, provided they so crave. (fn. 22) We will therefore now leave them to act, knowing well that it would be madness to give the money until we see that the work is done.” 27 Jan., 1578. Rome. Italian. Draft for cipher.