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| Nov. 4. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
822. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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It is heard from England that the Queen had already despatched many supplies to Ireland, and her Ambassador minimizes greatly the disturbances there, nevertheless on the contrary I hear from another quarter that the insurrection is carried on in the name of his Holiness, and the title of “Papal Nuncio” has been given to the commander of the troops which have been conducted to that island from Spain. |
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Moret, 4th November 1580. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
823. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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I forward copy of the articles and conditions concluded and drawn up between the Duke of Anjou and the Deputies of the States General of the Low Countries. (28 articles, dated from Plessis, 19th September 1580, signed “François,” and also signed by Philippe de Marnix and six others.) |
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The insurrections in Ireland continue, and more troops are being prepared in Biscay for the succour of the insurgents |
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Moret, 17th November 1580. |
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P.S.—18th November. Advices have been received that some ships which were on their way from Biscay to Ireland to succour the insurgents had been taken by the English ships. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 20. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
824. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Signory. |
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The Secretary of Spain has told me that the Ambassador from Don Antonio had been received by their Majesties at Dolenville with so much honour that more could not have been shewn to an Ambassador from the Catholic King, and that when he (the Secretary) complained to their Majesties on this subject, and also concerning certain preparations at Nantes, the Queen-Mother answered him, with a cheerful countenance, that she had herself to complain of the Catholic King, who with regard to her pretensions to that kingdom had clearly shown that he had paid but little attention to the reasons by which her claim was supported, and therefore that she, not so much to assist Don Antonio, as to keep alive her own claim, had desired that Strozzi should go with his forces to Portugal. The King also told the Secretary that he desired to maintain a solid friendship with the Catholic King, his good brother, but that he could not prevent his mother from doing what she thought fit for the maintenance of her claims; so all these things are being done openly and without dissimulation. I believe that if Don Antonio could manage to hold out until these reinforcements arrived, war in those parts would be openly declared, and that the French will avail themselves of this pretext, should they have a mind to assist Monsieur in the matter of Flanders. Thus we see all things verging by degrees towards war, but everything depends upon the conclusion of universal peace within this kingdom. |
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The report of the capture by the English of the ships which were on their way to succour Ireland has proved untrue, and in fact there are advices that the Spaniards and Italians had fortified a place near the sea, where a portion of them have remained as a garrison, and the residue have joined the Irish and are occupying places throughout the island; and the Pope, as I hear, does not fail to assist them greatly by means of Spain. |
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This city, I hear, is in a very fair sanitary condition, notwithstanding that as I entered a city gate, which is close to where I reside, I met a man and a woman bearing the white plague wands in their hands, and asking alms; but some believe that this was merely an artifice on their part to gain money. |
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Moret, 20th November 1580. |
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[Italian.] |
