|
| 1590. Jan. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
905. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
|
A rumour has been in circulation for some days now, and is receiving confirmation, that in England a great armament has been prepared and that it will very soon put out to sea. This rumour inspired such terror in Lisbon that many are leaving the city, while trade is beginning to suffer, and is steadily declining. Throughout Portugal a report is spread that English arms and English preparations are not really powerful nor proceeding rapidly, but it is thought that this report is spread either with a view to pacifying the minds of the people, or to excuse the insufficiency of the preparations which they are making here, preparations which are destined to defence alone; they are arming the more important sites and manning the ships which are lying in Biscay and Galicia to the number of some sixty perhaps; the troops that are being sent on board are inexperienced in war and useless at sea, and so will be of very little service. There is a great lack of seamen, both because the levy falls short of its full compliment and because those who are pressed complain of the pay and the treatment and refuse to embark. It is said that all the ships require overhauling, though no steps are being taken to carry this out In addition to the ships which are being built in Santander and in Lisbon, other two have been ordered in Gibraltar. In spite of all, however, the power of this Crown is held to be so great that it will probably overcome all difficulties. Artillerymen are wanted, and orders have been sent to Germany to raise them, but it is thought that it will not be so easy for some of that nation and that profession who were brought into Spain some months ago and lodged in Alcantara are extremely ill satisfied with their pay and their treatment. It will be best to keep all this information secret
|
|
The Portuguese cannot endure the Castilian troops, and so German infantry for the garrison of Lisbon are being raised. |
|
An English gentleman came here some days ago. He has spent a long time in Florence. He was forced to leave his native land because he was a Catholic. He is believed to be thoroughly well acquainted with the state of England. Some think that the King
has summoned him here, but it is more likely that he has been sent by the Grand Duke to report upon the movements from or against England. |
|
A man has just gone to Corunna who has offered to his Majesty an instrument for making vessels move even against the wind. Many say that the invention will turn out a farce, and some experts declare that it may possibly succeed in a river, but never in the open sea. Doctor Ferafino, an Italian savant, student of mathematics and science, has offered to teach any one the practice of gunnery in a few months. He is accordingly to go to Seville to prove his powers. It is thought that the practice will not correspond to the theory. |
|
Madrid, 6th January 1589 [m.v.]. |
|
[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| Jan. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
906. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
|
The King is in great need of money. There is still a difficulty about raising the eight millions of gold voted by the Cortes. The Chamber has informed the King that it is considering the means of raising the money, but that he in the meantime should provide against the damage which England is threatening to inflict, if all rumours be true. His Majesty took this ill, and replied that it was the business of the Cortes to pay up the money but not to advise, that he was quite capable of protecting his kingdoms. With a view to satisfying the creditors, at least in part, there is a proposal to coin the silver which has come from the Indies, debasing it by an admixture of copper. |
|
The Council of War has informed me that the ship “Segura,” which was detained in Cadiz, is to be set at liberty without any caution money, but I have not yet seen the order. |
|
Madrid, 6th January 1589 [m.v.]. |
|
[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| Jan. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
907. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
|
That Italian engineer, Cav. Spanocchi, who was sent to Ferrol to fortify the port, has, by his Majesty's orders, left for France where he is to examine the harbours of Brittany, with what object your Serenity will guess. |
|
Madrid, 6th January 1589 [m.v.]. |
|
[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Jan, 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
908. Giovanni Moro, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
|
Ferrari has been suddenly dismissed without any reply to the letter of Marigliani. The Sultan gave orders to say that the Forte was open to all comers. The Captain of the Sea told me that he was the cause of this letter. I learned from an excellent source
that the Sultan's secretary, with a petition from the English Agent was the principal cause of Ferrari's dismissal. Before leaving, Ferrari presented the Captain of the Sea with a string of pearls, so that he might be well disposed should an Ambassador come from Spain. |
|
Dalle Vigne di Pera, 6th January 1589 [m.v.]. |
|
[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Jan. 24 Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
909. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
|
The King has been ill in bed for some days with gout and fever. |
|
Here everything is proceeding so quietly as to arouse surprise when the disturbed state of the whole world is taken into account, for not only is there a rumour at Court that a great Turkish fleet will take the sea in summer, but also from Si. Jean de Luz, where many English ships put in, comes news of large armaments in that country; and yet neither in the Mediterranean, nor yet on the ocean seaboard are any signs of fresh preparations either for offence or defence. I have had an opportunity to speak with the Councillors of State, and more especially with the Marquis of Almazan; they declare that the Queen of England will devote her whole attention and resources this year to the support of Navarre; and accordingly they conclude that she will not inflict any injury on this Crown. I remarked that when the English fleet was on the seas it would be quite easy for it to make an attack at any point which presented the greatest facilities; to which they replied that his Majesty's fleet was fully equipped and ready for any event, and that any attack would be repulsed. But as a matter of fact I have quite different information from Corunna, where, as I told your Serenity, there is a great dearth of men. |
|
Madrid, 24th January 1589 [m.v.]. |
|
[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
| Jan. 28. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
910. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
|
M. de Longlé, who was residing here for the King of France, has not yet taken his departure, though he holds no commission from the King of Navarre, nor yet from the Duke of Maine. He is, however, more inclined to the party of Navarre, and is thoroughly acquainted with designs of that King. He sent to inform me that he desired a conversation with me. I went, and this is the substance of his remarks. He declared that the King of Navarre was truly pious, religious, and Catholic, but circumstances had hitherto prevented him from showing his excellent disposition; and he would prove how ardent was his love for the true faith if only he would find room for forgiveness from the Pope, by whom he earnestly desired to be embraced as an obedient child, and to whom he would give any pledges which his Holiness might demand. But in the
Pope the King of Navarre finds no goodwill towards him, and he is aware that the mind of the Pontiff is influenced by the King of Spain in the interests of Lorraine. |
|
Navarre will never fail in his endeavours to conciliate the Holy See, but no more will he omit any step by which he may establish his own power. He would gladly make peace with the King of Spain. And, in short, the upshot of the whole of M. de Longlé's remarks was that your Serenity, as a common friend, might very well undertake to act as mediator. |
|
Olivarez writes from Rome that his representations have had effect on the mind of the Pontiff, diverting him from his attitude of favour towards Navarre. |
|
From France we hear that the King of Navarre has gone to Brittany to reduce that province to obedience, whereupon the King of Spain has sent letters to the Duke of Mercure encouraging him, and promising support in money and men. |
|
Madrid, 28th January 1589 [m.v.]. |
|
[Italian; deciphered.] |
