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| Feb. 3. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
667. Alberto Badoer, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Signory. |
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The English Ambassador who lately arrived at this Court, after having testified in general terms to the good-will borne by his Queen to his Majesty, said in particular that her Majesty had intimated to the States of Flanders that if they called foreign princes to their assistance and violated their allegiance to his Majesty, she would be the first to take up arms against them, and treat them as disturbers of the commonwealth, and in such case would place all her forces at his Majesty's disposal; but as his Majesty's good friend and sister she desired to give him freely her advice as to quelling this insurrection, and this was to make open war against the French, who, if compelled to attend to the defence of their own affairs (cose sue), would have less power to perturb the affairs of other people. Her Majesty insisted that all the disturbance in Flanders was originally created and has since been fomented by the Duke of Alençon, whose object is to become master of that province, and her Majesty undertakes that she will ally herself with his Majesty as soon as he promises to declare this war, and thus rescue Flanders from the evil circumstances into which it has fallen. |
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His Majesty has received this Ambassador most honourably, and has assigned him excellent lodgings, and on his first audience his Majesty sent his majordomo with many principal knights and a number of halberdiers of the guard to accompany him from his residence; but, nevertheless, the substance of the negotiations is said to result in thanks being returned to the Queen for this demonstration of her affection towards his Majesty, and a promise to her of. full communication on every opportunity ; and as for the rest, his Majesty would take no new action without first informing the Queen, from whom he desired to have a like undertaking. |
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I have been to visit the Ambassador, and have found him to be a personage of great discretion, and he lives, to his great praise, most catholically. He has imparted to me, at some length, the great esteem in which her Majesty holds your Serenity, and her desire to see an Ambassador of yours at her Court, and she has shown her great satisfaction that I should have been the first of the Ambassadors here resident to visit hers, and receive him in my own house. The English Ambassador hopes soon to be dismissed, and he professes to be well satisfied with his reception; and he says that on his return he is under an obligation to render an account to the Queen, his mistress, of the affection of your Serenity towards her, which is evidently desired by her Ministers. |
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The obsequies of the Emperor have been performed with great pomp in the presence of the Ambassadors of all the crowned heads, including the representative of your Serenity. But the English Ambassador, although a Catholic, and invited, did not attend, and his discretion was commended. |
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Madrid, 3rd February 1577. |
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[Italian.] |
| Feb. 7. Original Despatch, Venetiau Archives. |
668. Giovanni Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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Again, last Sunday, the English Ambassador [Paulet] went to make a serious complaint to these Majesties, saying that his Queen marvelled at the decision which had been taken to extirpate the unfortunate professors of the reformed religion; and after many representations which had almost the form of threats, he said that his Queen, having always been their protectress, could not fail to assist them in such a way as was open to her without infringing the league which she had contracted with this Crown and which she desired, by all means, on her side, to maintain for the period prescribed. Notwithstanding all this, the King remained firm and constant in his purpose, and answered the Ambassador with very great magnanimity, saying that he was determined to die the least of the Kings in the world rather than to do anything against his conscience, with other words to the same effect, and confuting the Queen's arguments which were quoted by her Ambassador; so it is considered certain that his Majesty will take the field speedily, as he is very determined to join the army in person. Yesterday the English Ambassador told me that he had received news that an agreement had been made in Brussels without the States giving the hostages which Don John had demanded, and that his Highness had gone to Louvain to swear to the articles, but the Spanish Ambassador here resident has no intelligence upon the subject. |
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Blois, 7th February 1576–7. |
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[Italian.] |
