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| Nov. 15. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
116. Matheo Zane, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Don Antonio has left the Azores with 29 ships, well found. He is going to attack Madeira. Before he sailed, he executed Duarte de Castro and four other Portuguese, whom he suspected of plotting against his life. The warning came from England. |
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Lisbon, 15th November 1582. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 16. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
117. Giovanni Moro, Venetian Ambassador to France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Two days ago the gentlemen appointed by his Majesty left for Scotland. His commission is to induce the Scotch to restore their King to his original authority, and also to persuade the King to put no faith in the words or the promises of the Queen of England; for if she once had him in her hands she would take his life and that of his mother (quanto per persuadere quello (=il Rè) a non prestar alcuna fede alle parole o promesse che le potesse esser fatte dalla Regina d'Inghilterra la quale si tiene in qwesta corte, che se lo potesse havere nelle mani levarebbe la vita a lui et alla Regina sux rnadre). The English Ambassador, however, told me that the King of Scotland had written to his Queen to thank her for her interference on his behalf with his subjects; as your Serenity will see
from the enclosed, furnished by the English Ambassador himself. But very likely these letters and all else that issues from Scotland under the King's name, are acts of those at present in power. |
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Paris, 16th November 1582. |
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[Italian; part in italics deciphered.] |
| Enclosed in preceding Despatch. |
118. Letter of the King of Scotland to the Queen of England. |
Most Serene Queen,
From your letters of August 30th, and from the testimony of Sir George Carey, Knight and Marshall of your Majesty's household, now returned to you, and of Robert Boosey, Treasurer of Berwick, at present your Ambassador at our Court, we have learned your very friendly and most loving offer, and your ready goodwill, for the safety of our person and for the quiet and repose of our State; all of which has been amply set forth in the special report of the above-named gentlemen, who have fully discharged their duty in this respect to our complete satisfaction, and we recognise your affection and friendliness in this visit at so opportune a moment. For this we tender you our most cordial thanks; and we assure you as our dearest sister, that, all reports to the contrary notwithstanding, the inner attitude of our mind has always been one of gratitude towards you (la intrinsica volontà, dell' animo nostro è sempre stato grato verso di Lei) nor has it ever suffered any change. We should have been well pleased had it been possible for us to employ an emissary of such repute and standing as Sir George Carey, who might have explained, as Sir George will explain, our views on those special subjects which he has touched upon by your orders; on all of which we doubt not he will make faithfully report. We are firmly resolved to give you all satisfaction that we in honour can, as we have hitherto done; and we trnst to find not less favour and goodwill from you, both on the strength of our blood relationship, and on the ground of mutual advantage and common safety of ourselves and our kingdoms. |
And so I kiss your Majesty's hand,
Di Striucling (Stirling), 1582. |
| Nov. 30. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
119. Giovanni Moro, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Letters from the Prince of Parma to the Catholic King were intercepted; they set forth the sufferings of the army from want of provisions, want of money, and disease. |
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Paris, 30th November 1582. |
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[Italian.] |
