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| Aug. 8. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
398. Giovanni Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The partisans of the Queen of Scotland have by letter implored these Majesties to render her aid, and not permit the kingdom to fail into the hands of those who could not govern without greatly prejudicing the power of the Crown. His Majesty wrote forthwith to those personages, requesting and requiring them to set the Queen at liberty, and if they failed to do so, his Majesty protested that he was prepared to assist her. The Queen of England has made a similar communication, adding that if the Queen [of Scotland] when at liberty thought fit to proceed against her opponents, in such case she the Queen of England would not fail to assist her. This announcement would appear on the face of it to be both loving and friendly, but they write that it is dishonest, because the Queen of England is all the while supplying the Scotch insurgents with money. |
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Paris, 8th August 1567. |
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[Italian.] |
| Aug. 22. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
399. Giovanni Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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A report is current that in Scotland the Prince has been crowned, and a government appointed consisting of six persons, three of whom, by name the Earls Arran (Aram), Huntly (Anteli), and Argyle (Argil), are of the Queen's party, and the other three, namely, the Earls of Glencairn, Athol (Altol), and Murray (Moré), who is the Bastard, are of the opposite faction. The Queen will be set at liberty, but without having any share in the government. She has agreed to these conditions, being constrained to do so from necessity and for her own immediate advantage. The Earl of Bothwell (Boduel) gave out that he had to make a sea voyage, and
the Queen of England having heard this intelligence despatched an armed vessel to endeavour to seize him. We hear from England that six large vessels have been fitted out and loaded with provisions as a present for his Catholic Majesty. The Queen of England has lately liberated the eight bishops who have been so long in prison; this news is probably correct, as the Queen (of France) has congratulated the Nuncio upon it, and told him that she had received it from her Ambassador in England. |
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Compiegne, 22nd August 1567. |
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[Italian.] |
| Aug. 28. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
400. Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Four days ago the English Ambassador had letters from his Queen, and in consequence thereof he remained that day with the Emperor for a long time; and it appears that the negotiation for the marriage is being pressed forward. Since this last interview good hopes are entertained of the conclusion of the marriage, owing to the manifestations of joyfulness made both by the English and by the ministers of his Majesty, who have been deputed to the service of the Ambassador and to keep him company, as they do, being with him at all hours. The Ambassador greatly desires to see the Archduke, but his Highness, being wholly intent on hunting, was about to remove still further from these parts, after meeting with the Archbishop of Salzburg; but his Majesty having despatched a courier [ordering him] to return, it is said that he will come, and already many of his attendants have arrived. |
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By these letters from England the Ambassador is informed that on the 23rd of the preceding month the Queen of Scotland had renounced to her son the succession, the administration, and all other right which she has in the Crown; and on the 24th this son, who has not yet reached the age of one year, was publicly crowned in the city of Edinburgh, the metropolis of that kingdom; the Queen remaining constantly guarded and as it were besieged in a house where she resides, and which is situate in the middle of a lake (stagno). The Earl of Bothwell was going about the kingdom, hiding now in one part, now in another. |
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The Emperor has had news from Germany of a memorable event which has happened in Sweden. Less than a month since some troops of the King of Denmark fought a battle with those of the King of Sweden, and about 1,500 of the Swedes were killed After the battle, when the victors went to spoil the dead bodies and to bury them, they found more than 500 of the dead to be women, and not men. These women had their hair knotted under their helmets, and were clothed and armed like men; and they had fought valorously. Such a thing was never perhaps heard of by our grandfathers or great grandfathers. |
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Vienna, 28th August 1567. |
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[Italian.] |
