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| Sept. 7. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
633. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Letters were received yesterday from the Duke de Guise confirming to their Majesties that Roisters of the number of two thousand five hundred had crossed the Rhine, and were accompanied by many French horsemen. Many people maintain that these soldiers will not enter France, but are on their march to Flanders to join the Prince of Orange. |
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Paris, 7th September 1575. |
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[Italian.] |
| Sept. 11. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
634. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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I wrote recently that the English Ambassador resident [Dr. Dale] had told me that these Majesties had instructed Mons. de Mauvissière, who had proceeded to England as their Ambassador in ordinary, to bring before the Queen the question of her marriage
with Monsieur the Duke of Alençon; but the facts are exactly the contrary, because the origin of this negotiation came from England and not from hence. A few days ago, when an English gentleman [Sir Henry Cobham] who has been named Ambassador from the Queen of England to Spain, came to this Court on his way, he and the English Ambassador in ordinary waited upon their Majesties, who together gave them audience. After compliments had been exchanged, the Ambassador resident said that his Queen had been so importuned by the nobles and lords of her kingdom to marry that in order to give them satisfaction she had determined so to do; and although it was not proper that a woman should ask any man to be her husband, yet the first whom she would seek would be Monsieur the Duke of Alençon, and with that intent Lord Robert would be prepared to come; but in the meanwhile she had commanded him (the resident Ambassador) to make this communication to their Majesties in like manner as she had commanded the Ambassador about to proceed to Spain to make a similar communication to the Catholic King, in order that if her wish were not carried into effect, everyone might know that the failure was no fault of hers. |
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The King answered in a few words thanking the Queen for the goodwill which she showed to the crown of France, and to his brother; and said, so far as he was concerned, the connexion would be dear to him, and that upon his part he would do all he could to assist it, and to aggrandize his brother, so that it might be clearly known that he would not fail to marry him to her Majesty. |
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The Queen-Mother then, entering into fuller details, said that this opportunity would be most acceptable to her, because she hoped that if this alliance were accomplished the Queen would no longer render assistance to those who were rebels to this Crown, as she was now doing; and the Queen-Mother took the opportunity of making a gentle remonstrance, asserting to the Ambassador that she knew for certain that fifty thousand crowns had been paid from England to the Huguenots, and that the latter had received bills of exchange for a like sum from the fair of Frankfort. This allegation was neither denied nor admitted by the Ambassador, who replied that he personally knew nothing of such a transaction, but was certain that if their Majesties had commanded their Ambassador resident in England to speak with the Queen upon the subject, their Majesties would receive satisfaction. |
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With reference to the marriage itself, the Queen-Mother said that before they could entertain any negotiation it would be necessary to ascertain the intentions and the will of the Duke, her son, because he was of an age when her authority over him had ceased, and he was perfectly competent to decide for himself; and that their Majesties having taken advice had determined that a person in the confidence of Monsieur should go to him on their part to give him an account of all these proceedings, and to obtain his real opinion. |
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This having been done through the medium of one of Monsieur's gentlemen, a very discreet person, the gentleman brought back an
answer that Monsieur was sure that the communication made to him had been commanded by the King, because he knew that the gentleman would not have dared to speak of a matter so important without the order of the King his brother and the Queen-Mother; nevertheless, Monsieur instructed the gentleman to tell their Majesties that he would always willingly do whatever was agreeable to them, but that if he were to follow his own inclination he desired they should know that, being aware that the Queen of England was advanced in years so that she could scarcely hope to have children, he could not of his free will or to his satisfaction become her husband unless, in the event of her dying childless, he were to succeed to the throne; because otherwise, if she were soon to die, he would have to return to France as a simple Prince, and he therefore preferred to remain as he was, rather than to accept a greater state to return to a less. |
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The gentleman then rejoined that to ask what was not in the power of the Queen of England to grant, was practically to put an end to the negotiation for the marriage, and that his Highness ought to rest content with being crowned King, and to put himself into the best position attainable, because then he might obtain the rest by his sword. His Highness answered that he could not accept this suggestion because, when justice was wanting, God never favoured the sword, and that he adhered to what he had fully resolved; and then, without waiting for the gentleman to make any report, he went himself to speak with their Majesties, and expressed himself to the same effect, so that the negotiation is now considered to be at an end, to the great satisfaction of the King, who is assured by the answer of Monsieur that no stratagem was hidden underneath these proposals, for it was believed to be the intention of the English to remove the King's brother from the King's side, in order to make use of him to trouble this kingdom. |
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I have not hesitated to give all the above particulars to your Serenity, because they have been communicated to me by an individual who was privy to all that took place, and thus the real intentions and objects of all parties interested can be surmised. |
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Last night three individuals were arrested in the court of the Louvre, where his Majesty resides. One by name Mons. de Remy is a principal person in the service of the Duke of Alençon, and the other two are his followers. The cause of this arrest is said to be a report which was made to his Majesty, and which was to the effect that De Remy was about to leave the Court to take possession of two landed properties in Normandy, and when he went in person to ask leave from his Majesty, his Majesty granted it, but sent a Captain of the Guard to arrest him before he left the courtyard. Last night an active search was made to find some persons whose names are not known, and in consequence the gates have been closed until two hours before noon, and again at the third or fourth hour of the night (about 10 p.m.). Moreover, the Duke of Alençon not being visible in his apartments, it was believed that he had taken to flight on account of the arrest of his servants and for other reasons which were
apparent, and a report to this effect having been made to the Queen-Mother who was in bed, she immediately arose and proceeded in person to seek her son, and found him in the chamber of the Queen of Navarre; and this affair has led to the conclusion that the arrest of Mons. de Remy was made upon the ground that he had an understanding with Monsieur to effect his Highness's escape. |
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This evening the King has intimated to the Ambassadors from England and Florence, who are lodged in the Faubourg of St. Germain, that they are to find lodgings within the city for their greater security. I have already removed thither on account of the rumours which were current, and thus your Serenity will realise the dangers which beset this unfortunate country. The cause of this order is clearly understood to be on account of the English Ambassador, who their Majesties are assured is endeavouring to effect the escape of the Duke of Alençon, and therefore, to put an end to the facility which the Ambassador possesses for this purpose by residing in an open district where he can receive in his own house by night anyone he pleases without hindrance, their Majesties, under the pretext of insuring his greater safety, have decided to make him reside within the city, where it would be more easy to ascertain who enter his house by day, and by reason of the guards who are constantly on patrol, it would be impossible that any persons should visit him by night without being seen and recognised. The King is assured on all sides that the sole object of his brother is to escape, and his Majesty cannot be diverted from this idea; and further it is known by letters which have been intercepted that the coming of the Roisters who are expected is solely to aid the Duke's flight. It is believed for certain that Mons. de Remy, who is detained as prisoner, was about to seize a place called Mantes and a bridge over the Seine, in order to keep a passage free for the arrival of these troops. Moreover it is necessary for his Majesty, unless he desire to live in unceasing disquiet, to assure himself of the person of his brother, for otherwise his kingdom would be thrown into greater confusion than now afflicts it, and his own life placed in manifest peril. |
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Paris, 11th September 1575. |
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[Italian.] |
| Sept. 15. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
635. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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His Majesty has ascertained upon indisputable evidence that it is the positive intention of the Duke of Alençon to escape from the Court, and that his plans are so well laid, that even if they be not discovered, it is considered certain that his object will be attained. This matter has been fully discussed by the King, the Queen-Mother the Chancellor, and Mons. de Morvilliers. The Queen-Mother has remonstrated in very gentle terms with the Duke, but he has answered her that although he is apparently in the enjoyment of his liberty, yet that his virtual imprisonment is intolerable to him; subsequently, however, the Duke made a confession of his fault,
and a reconciliation was brought about. The King of Navarre has consented to take back Mademoiselle de Turigni, one of his wife's maids, whose dismissal had so irritated his wife that she would no longer sleep with him. |
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Notwithstanding these circumstances, the King continues to use every effort to discover the intentions and ideas of his brother, and shows great indignation against all persons who had given the Duke bad advice; and the other night the King caused to be seized, in the very chamber of the Duke, a Captain Cecoto, who has been put in prison with the others, and an indictment is being formulated against them all, in order to ascertain the truth, and to punish them if they be found guilty. |
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The English Ambassador would appear to be implicat ed in this business, and he, as a public official residing in the Faubourg St. Germain, opposite the palace of their Majesties, and only separated therefrom by the river (which, on account of the late drought, is now very low), was conveniently at hand to take charge of the person of Monsieur the Duke, who therefore meditated crossing the river on a good horse, and entering the house of the above-mentioned Ambassador, with whom he had already arranged to have ready a provision of horses and attendants, so as to give him the opportunity to escape to a place where he might join the band who had assembled to bring him away. His Majesty, therefore, in order to obviate any similar disorders which might happen, ordered all the Ambassadors to return and reside within the city for their greater safety; and although his Majesty's sole object was to remove the English Ambassador from the above place, he was obliged, in order to give colour to his proceedings, to make the order general. The Ambassador from Florence, who was the only Ambassador, except the Ambassador from England, who resided without the city, to show his readiness and a good example, came within the walls the day after he received the order; but the English Ambassador delays as much as he can, and it is not known whether he will ultimately obey his Majesty's order, though everybody says that he must do so now that this design of the Duke's has been discovered. |
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Paris, 15th September 1575. |
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[Italian.] |
| Sept. 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
636. Giovanni Feancesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Yesterday the event took place, which has constantly been dreaded, and which may be considered to be the total ruin of this unfortunate and ill-starred kingdom, namely, that Monsieur the Duke of Alençon escaped from the Court in the following manner. |
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On the 15th September at 3 p.m. Monsieur went to ask leave of the Queen to go for two or three hours into the city for his pleasure, and having easily obtained this permission, he entered his coach, and proceeded to the house of a President or Councillor of Paris, where he was accustomed to go for his private amusements; and having alighted there, he left his coach at the door in the public street, so
that it might be seen by everyone, and understood that he was in that house, but he quitted the house on the other side accompanied by only one gentleman, and entered another coach belonging to the wife of Vomini, the musician, who is in his service, and who is now in prison at Vincennes. He then, together with the above-named gentleman, went out of Paris by the gate of St. Jacques, without anyone having looked into the coach; and he drove until he met fifteen horse, which were waiting for him, and having mounted, took flight with all speed in the direction of Conflans, where he baited the horses, and would appear to have remained for the rest of the night. On the road he was met by two archers of the King's guard, by whom he was recognised, so lest they should give intelligence of his flight, he ordered two harquebuse shots to be fired at them, whereby one of them was killed on the spot, but the other suffered no injury except the loss of his horse, which was wounded; however he was able, although somewhat late, to arrive here to give the news to their Majesties. |
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A greater misfortune than this affair could not have happened to the King at the present time, and it is the more serious because his Majesty was warned three or four days previously from many quarters that the escape of Monsieur had been arranged and provided for on the 15th September, exactly as it took place, so the same result has now happened as in the case of the prophecies of Cassandra before the capture of Troy, who although she predicted the truth was never believed by any one. It is said that Monsieur left on the table of his cabinet a letter addressed to the King, entreating his Majesty not to fear his departure, because he would always be his Majesty's affectionate brother and servant, and most ready to give whatever he had, and even his own life, for his Majesty's service, but that his object was, through an understanding which he had with the Prince of Orange, to teach the King of Spain that he was a man capable of playing his own part in this world; but whether this report be true or not, I am unable to say. It is reported that the Queen of Navarre had intended to have departed with Monsieur, and that she was not only acquainted with all his ideas, but was the authoress of the whole proceeding, on account of her anger for having been unable to retain Mlle, di Torigni about her person. |
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Paris, 16th September 1575. |
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[Italian.] |
