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| Nov. 3. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
53. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Last week, the unexpected news arrived that Monsieur had gone to Calais, on his way to England. He has taken with him the Prince Dufin, Mons. della Valle, and four other gentlemen. Secretary Pinard whom their Majesties sent to Monsieur to disuade him from going into Flanders, found the Prince with his spurs on. Monsieur begged the Secretary to say to their Majesties that his resolves about Flanders depended upon the issue of his negotiations with the Queen of England. |
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News from England announce great preparations which the Queen is making to receive Monsieur, and that before his departure he received here in France one hundred thousand crowns from the Queen (et innanci al suo partire quella maestà li ha fatto contare in questo Regno 100m sdi). The Queen-Mother assured me that neither she nor the King had any inkling of this journey, which caused them great surprise. That they know nothing about what will result from it. |
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Last week Don Antonio arrived here and lodged for four days in the Queen-Mother's palace, where he was treated with royal honours. On the evening of his arrival he was visited by the King and the Queens, who went there without an escort of any kind; the Queen-Mother visits him daily. He has asked leave to raise troops and munitions in France, a request which was easily granted. Many French gentlemen have entered his service as Colonels, and he has raised eight thousand French infantry, and they say two thousand Germans from Flanders. He has been visited by all these princes and princesses and by the English Ambassador. The principal gentlemen who have entered his service are Mons. de Lansac the younger, the Conte de Brisac, son of the late Marshal, Mons. de la Rochepot, Mons. de la Rochfocauld, and his Lieutenant-General is Strozzi. |
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Paris, 3rd November 1581. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 13. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
54. Matheo Zane, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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There is great joy at the news from Flanders that, on September 30th, the Frisian rebels with their Scotch and English allies under a nephew of the Prince of Orange, were defeated. |
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The fleet for the Straits of Magellan is refitted and ready to sail, under the command of Don Diego Flor de Valdes and Don Alonso de Sottomayor, who is going as Governor of Chili. |
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Madrid, 13th November 1581. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 26. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
55. Lorenzo Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Monsieur, who, as I wrote in my last despatch, went over to England, was met at the shore by the Queen and received with all sorts of rejoicings. He sent Mons. de Sciaubon to give an account to the King; and Mons. de Sciaubon was immediately sent back again in company with the Secretary Pinard. |
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Court gossip says that the marriage is concluded, but more serious heads do not believe it. It is more likely that Monsieur sent this gentleman out of compliment to the King as they had parted in anger, Monsieur refusing twenty-five thousand crowns which the King had offered him, saying it was not enough. |
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Paris, 26th November 1581. |
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[Italian.] |
