Venice: June 1571 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890.

Citation:

'Venice: June 1571', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 7, 1558-1580, ed. Rawdon Brown, G Cavendish Bentinck( London, 1890), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol7/pp468-470 [accessed 25 November 2024].

June 1571



June 7. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	508. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
	The negotiation for the marriage between the Queen of England and Monseigneur d'Anjou still continues. The Court is at Gaillon, and the English Ambassador has been granted a long and most gracious audience in the matter of the marriage by the Queen Mother, who, for the great love which she bears to her son, is doing her best to bring the affair to a conclusion; and although there are many reasons to the contrary, and amongst others the disparity of age and the difference of religion, it is nevertheless the opinion of many that the negotiation will be successful. The English Ambassador speaks frequently and at length on the subject, and the Bishop of Paris [Pierre de Gondy], the brother of the Comte de Retz (Res), and a great favourite at Court, has said lately to the Nuncio that he believed the marriage would take place; but nevertheless many persons of influence are of a different opinion, and particularly because, amongst other conditions demanded by the representatives of England, Calais is required to be given to Monsieur d'Anjou as part of his inheritance in the event of his having children by the Queen of England, and no one believes for a moment that the French would ever consent to this demand, because, when the last peace was concluded between them and the King of Spain, it was manifest that the French would rather have abandoned all their possessions in Savoy, Italy, and the Low Countries, than restore Calais; and further, it is not likely that the Huguenot party would approve this marriage, seeing that in any subsequent hostile operation which they might undertake, they could not expect the assistance from England which they have received during the late wars, and by which they have principally been supported. Furthermore an opinion is prevalent both in France and in England that this negotiation for a marriage has been put forward by the Queen in order to neutralize the assistance which the French might give, and are disposed to give, to the Queen of Scotland, whom they pretend to be the legitimate heir to the kingdom of England, and who is favoured by all the Catholic party in England. Consequently, and as the Queen of Scotland has received assistance from France, both in England and in Scotland the Queen of England has good cause to fear disturbance in her own kingdom, and would therefore by this negotiation for a marriage not only secure herself at home, but daily increase more and more her power in the kingdom of Scotland. However, time will disclose the real truth. Meanwhile a doctor, who was a great favourite with the Queen of England, is daily expected here, and if the negotiation goes forward the Marshal Montmorency will proceed to England.
	Paris, 7th June 1571.
	[Italian.]
June 7. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	509. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
	Ser Chiappin Vitelli passed through this city a few days ago on his way from Flanders to Spain. It is supposed that he is about to tender his resignation to the Catholic King, and to enter the service of the Duke of Florence in Italy.
	During the absence of the most Christian King at Forea di Leon (sic), where he is gone to lay the first stone of a new palace which he is about to build, and which will be the finest in France, the Queen-Mother and Monsieur d'Anjou have been residing for four days in this city to endeavour to obtain the payment of a donation of 300,000 francs which the city has made to his most Christian Majesty, and which is destined to pay the Roisters what is due to them on next Saint John's day.
	Paris, 7th June 1571.
	[Italian.]
June 19. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	510. Alvise Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory.
	The negotiation for the marriage of Monsieur [d'Anjou], the King's brother, with the Queen of England still proceeds, as appears from the long and private audiences with which the Ambassador of the Queen is frequently favoured.
	Their Majesties have determined to send Monsieur L'Archant, a captain of Monsieur's guard, to England. He departed this morning, and although he is not a man of much experience, he is, nevertheless, a great favourite with Monsieur, and it is believed that he has gone to expedite the preparation of the safe conducts necessary for the personages who will subsequently have to visit England on behalf of their Majesties, and also that Marshal Montmorency, accompanied by Mons. de Foix, who was formerly Ambassador with your Serenity, and subsequently Ambassador in England, will be nominated for the mission. Mons. Guido Cavalcanti, a Florentine, is also employed in this negotiation. He is a man of good and sound judgment, and in years gone by he treated and concluded the last peace between this kingdom (France) and England, after the war of Havre de Grace, for which service he still receives a pension from both parties.
	Cavalcanti was speaking to me yesterday about this business, and, neither confirming nor denying any facts, said to me that he thought if this negotiation were concluded it would be satisfactory to many Princes, because it would thus create a weight, as he expressed himself, to balance the great power of the King of Spain, by uniting together these two kingdoms of England and France. The opinion that this negotiation is really advancing is confirmed by a commission which the King has lately issued that his six galleys, now in the Channel seas, should proceed to Havre de Grace, the ordinary port of communication between this kingdom and England, and also by the preparations which are being made for the journey of the King and the Court to that neighbourhood, and the arrival of his Majesty in Paris for providing money. However, nothing is absolutely certain.
	Louviers, 19th June 1571.
	[Italian.]
June 24. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	511. Leonardo Donado, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Signory.
	The Ambassador from England (fn. 1) who was lately sent hither to the King has returned home, and in taking leave of me he said that, as he was passing through France, he should probably attend the Court. I am not acquainted with the particulars of his mission, which have not been made public, but I know from good authority that he, though a great general, has departed greatly dissatisfied and very ill-disposed towards the King, and indeed to such an extent that those persons who have been in communication with him believe that he intends to do all the mischief he can everywhere; and a person of quality, having been asked in what manner the Ambassador had been dismissed, answered, “Like a poltroon as he is. and according to his deserts;” and with regard to this race of Huguenots, as I perceive they are always weaving some evil web, I have reason to believe that they have formed some project prejudicial to the current epoch, and particularly if the proposil for the marriage of the Queen with Monsieur d'Anjou upon his own conditions should be successfully accomplished.
	The exiles from England and the Catholic party in England have frequently represented to his Majesty that he should undertake some expedition against England, and revenge himself for the property and goods which were taken from the merchants of Flanders, they promising the King, with the assistance of five or six thousand infantry, to effect great results, and the Pope had already been moved to induce his Majesty to consent. His Majesty had commenced preparations, but because such an expedition was difficult in itself, and might perhaps provoke the Germans, and possibly even the French, to defend the Queen, it appeared to his Majesty, who by nature is cautious, and who has to look a great many ways, expedient that the project should be deferred to some other season.
	Madrid, 24th June 1571.
	[Italian.]