Venice: January 1606 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 10, 1603-1607. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1900.

Citation:

'Venice: January 1606', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 10, 1603-1607, ed. Horatio F Brown( London, 1900), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol10/pp307-317 [accessed 25 November 2024].

January 1606



1606 Jan. 3. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	462. Piero Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Baron de Tour, who has been appointed Ambassador-Extraordinary in England, left for his destination eight days ago. His mission is to congratulate the King on his escape from peril.
	The English Ambassador, (fn. 1) who comes to take the place of the Resident Ambassador, arrived a few days ago. I have not failed to show him every attention.
	Paris, 3rd January, 1606.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	463. Nicolo Molin, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	The King was in the country all last week, and came back to London on Saturday. It is thought that he will not leave again till after Epiphany, which they keep here, according to the old style, on the 16th of this month. By the custom of the country these days will be passed in fêtes and banquets, more especially as the marriage of a daughter of the Chamberlain to the Earl of Essex is to be celebrated on New Year's Day; and his Majesty intends to be present. Six months later another daughter of the Chamberlain is to marry a son of Lord Salisbury. The object is to reconcile the young Earl of Essex to Lord Salisbury if possible. Essex is but little the friend of Salisbury, who was the sole and governing cause of the late Earl's execution. Nothing is more earnestly desired by Salisbury than not to leave this legacy of hatred to his son, for though Essex is not rich nor in enjoyment of the power Lord Salisbury wields, yet if the latter were to die his son would not succeed to the influence and authority which his father possesses, whereas Essex has an infinite number of friends all devoted to the memory of his father, all of whom are ready to attempt anything to avenge the death of so noble a gentleman ; and there is no doubt but that, when the Earl of Essex is a little older, suggestions and persuasions to revenge will not be wanting. Lord Salisbury hopes by creating ties of relationship to cancel the memory of these ancient enmities; many, however, are of opinion that this is too feeble a medicine for so great an ill.
	His Majesty on Sunday last, while at chapel and afterwards at dinner, appeared very subdued and melancholy; he did not speak at all, though those in attendance gave him occasion. This is unlike his usual manner. After dinner, however, he broke out with great violence, “I have despatches from Rome informing me that the Pope intends to excommunicate me; the Catholics threaten to dethrone me and, to take my life unless I grant them liberty of conscience. I shall, most certainly, be obliged to stain my hands with their blood, though sorely against my will. But they shall not think they can frighten me, for they shall taste of the agony first. Christ, when on earth, if he called his apostles and disciples to him, did it always sweetly and with or eat gentleness; he never used an angry word save to those who would not follow him and listen to him. I do not know (fn. 2) upon what they found this perfidious and cursed doctrine of Rome that they are permitted to plot against the lives of Princes and to deprive them of their crown and sceptre. Sometimes, on thinking over this. I am amazed when I see that the Princes of Christendom are so blinded that they do not perceive the or eat injury inflicted on them by so false a doctrine, a doctrine invented certainly not for the benefit of souls, as they pretend, but to augment the temporal power and authority of the Popes, and to furnish them with opportunity to satisfy that cupidity and ambition of theirs to be held the lords of the whole world, and authorised to enrich and aggrandise their own relations.” He continued for a whole hour to talk in a similar strain, and those in attendance praised and approved; they unanimously declared that, in order to preserve his life and for the safety of the kingdom, his Majesty ought to adopt severe measures against the Catholics. Nothing is occupying more attention than the arrest of priests; and though most of them are in hiding they cannot feel safe against the wiles adopted by the officials. Many are already prisoners, and it is thought they will be put to death, while in the coming Parliament severe measures will be enacted against the Catholics.
	The Baron de Tour, Ambassador of France, arrived here on Friday evening; on Sunday he had audience, and was very well received, being an old acquaintance of his Majesty when he was French Ambassador at the Scottish Court. I cannot discover that he has any other mission than to congratulate his Majesty on his escape. I am told, however, that he has also laid before the King an account of this latest affair of Marseilles, owing to which the secretary of the Spanish Ambassador in Paris has been arrested. The details of this your Serenity will have from a more certain source. The Ambassador dwelt upon the indirect methods of the Spanish, and the small reliance to be placed on them. Yesterday, St. Stephen's Day, the Ambassador was at a banquet given by the King, and to-morrow he will take his leave. He was lodged and fed at the King's charges, though it was given out that a gentleman of the Court bore them, for his Majesty does not wish to bind himself to do the same for other Ambassadors. He showed this favour to M. de Tour as an old friend.
	The Spanish Ambassador is preparing for next Wednesday, which is New Year's Day here, six beautiful horses, with all their trappings worked in gold and pearls, as a present to the King from his Catholic Majesty.
	London, 6th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	464. Nicolo Molin, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	There is an agent here from the Duke of Brunswick to ask his Majesty to help his brother-in-law in the siege of Brunswick. The King has given him two hundred thousand dollars, and offers some troops if he desires them.
	His Majesty is little pleased at the long delay which the Archduke makes in consigning to him Owen, now a prisoner in Brussels, and chief conspirator in the late plot. The King has, in consequence, stopped the passage of eight companies of Scottish troops, raised by his Majesty's permission for service with the Archduke. But two companies had already left, and a third was in course of embarking when the orders arrived. Its commanding officer ordered his men to go on embarking, and came to London to beg for leave to cross over, having left injunctions with the sailors that if the weather were favourable they should start. He thought he could very easily obtain leave, but he found more difficulty than he expected, and meantime the weather turned fine and the sailors crossed the water; whereupon the Captain was put in prison, and it is thought he will fare ill. The remaining five companies have been disbanded, and so the Archduke will be deprived of this succour.
	I am also informed that his Majesty has renewed his orders to his Ambassador to secure the return of the English in the Archduke's service as soon as possible; and everyone imagines that the peace between the King and the Archduke will not last long. The King openly lets it be understood that unless that man (Hugh Owen) is consigned to him he will consider his treaty with the Archduke is violated in its clauses.
	The King has informed the Earl of Home (Conte di Hun), in command of the Scottish levies, that he is not to go over to Flanders, but to come to Court. One of the Earl's most intimate friends, who held a high command under the Earl, has been arrested. The reason is not known yet, but people say that possibly the Earl may have had some knowledge of the plot, which his friend shared. Time will show if this is true; but at present all professing Catholics live in fear of molestation, however innocent they may be. For the Council becomes daily more and more convinced that the plot was hatched by the Catholics.
	I am assured that the journey of the Scottish Lords was undertaken as I reported, in order to arrange for the residence of the Prince of Wales in that country, as the King is more and more set on the plan, being persuaded that this is the best means of ensuring his safety.
	Orders for the commissioning of eight or ten ships have been issued. This gives rise to endless comments; some say they are intended for Ireland, where the disturbances are not yet quieted, the Irish showing a most determined resolve not to obey the King's orders, which are that they shall embrace the Protestant religion. Others think they are destined for Scotland, where the discussions between Bishops and Puritan ministers are not yet accommodated, both parties displaying great firmness. Others, and this is the most likely conjecture, believe that the only duty of these ships would be to hold the Catholics in check, and to rob them of any hopes they might entertain of succour from abroad. Time will show which is the true meaning.
	A day or so again a man called Tresham (Tressan) died in the Tower. He was one of the chief conspirators. There are not wanting suspicions that he was assisted to his death by his relations, in order to obviate the confiscation of his property. He leaves property to the value of upwards of ten thousand crowns of annual income. This event induces the Parliamentary leaders to seize the first opportunity to pass a law preventing such abuses.
	London, 6th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	465. Nicolo Molin and Zorzi Giustinian, Venetian Ambassadors in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	After waiting at Dieppe more than a month for the royal ship which was to convey me across the Channel, I finally embarked on the 30th of last month, being very honourably received by the Captain. I voyaged all that day and night, and put into Portsmouth on account of contrary winds. I came on to London, and reached it yesterday about two p.m. Ambassador Molin came to meet me four or five miles out of the City. He had five or six carriages, and was accompanied by many Italian merchants here resident and by Sir [Lewis] Lewkenor, receiver of Ambassadors. He had a royal carriage for my use, and made a suitable welcome.
	London, 6th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[Italian.]
Jan. 6. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	466. Ottaviano Bon, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Sultan and his ministers are seriously alarmed at the damage they have sustained from the pirates, who infest the waters between this and Alexandria. The Sultan is advised to cease his friendly relations with England who is the chief cause of these piracies, her vessels robbing more goods than they bring as merchandise. I know the intentions of the Republic in this respect, and will not fail to do my duty. The issue should be easy of accomplishment, for everyone is convinced that every English ship is a privateer, in the guise of a merchantman. The English Ambassador hopes to recover the ship that was captured. This week, by a special grace, he has obtained the liberation from slavery of Thomas Sherley, brother of Anthony, who was given (fn. 3) to him by the Sultan, in compliance with an earnest request preferred by the King of England. This Thomas Sherley is a man of high spirit, as I gathered from his conversation. (fn. 4) He has great schemes in his head, to induce his Sovereign to abandon the Turkish alliance. He will start immediately for England, viâ Venice.
	Dalle Vigne di Pera, 6th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan. 14. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	467. Francesco Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
	The readiness with which the Archduke Albert arrested two Englishmen on the request of the King of England is taken here as an indication that the peace will last a long time.
	Valladolid, 14th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[Italian.]
Jan. 14. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	468. Francesco Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Marquis de San Germano now announces quite openly that he is to be sent to England. He is taking leave of the Ambassadors. But I suspect that the announcement is made more to alarm the King of France than because there is much to do with the King of England. The Spanish Ambassador in England writes that the English people frankly declare that the country will always be in revolution as long as peace is preserved with Spain. To induce the King to break the peace the English and the Dutch both offer his Majesty to maintain two fleets on the sea without costing him a penny, and to give him half the booty. The English Ambassador here confirms the warlike spirit and the offer of the English, but solemnly declares that as long as the terms of the peace are loyally observed no rupture will take place. It is true that his object is by these assertions to advance his efforts on behalf of English subjects here, though as yet he has achieved but little. All the cases are taken before auditors, especially appointed by the King. Talking with Franquezza the other day he said that the good will towards the Republic was evidenced by this, that whereas all French and English cases were heard by the regular courts Venetian cases were to be dealt with summarily.
	Valladolid, 14th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[Italian.]
Enclosed in Despatch from Rome, 14 January.	469. Sum total of cost of repairs in the Palazzo San Marco, Rome:—Scudi 1,503. 8. 2, that is in Venetian ducats of 7 lire each, ducats 150, L2, s di. 4, pic 6.
Jan. 15. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	470. Ottaviano Bon, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
	A few nights ago that English ship, which was brought in here as a pirate, was lying in port with only a watchman on board. She was set on fire and burned with all her cargo of cotton, gall-nuts and indigo to the value of twenty thousand ducats. The fire was the work of two unknown incendiaries, who got on board at the third hour of night and set her on fire in various places.
	The Ambassador has loudly complained to the Grand Vizir, on the suspicion that this was secretly done by the Sultan's orders or by some other Turks. The Pasha declared he knew nothing about it, and that he suspected the English themselves had done it, in order to cover their misdeeds. This accident may have the result of hastening the breach of alliance between England and the Turks. The English Ambassador is very dissatisfied, and little regard is shown for him. Besides the galleon captured by privateers, another galleon of the same build and as beautiful, lost her rudder and was wrecked near Salonica on her way back from Alexandria. Nothing was saved but the lives of the crew. Other three galleons and a Savoyard tartana fell in with an English berton in the Arcipelago. She had a cargo of kerseys, tin, gunpowder, etc., and had touched at Barbary and Tunis, taking on board many Turks and Jews. She was searched, and they wanted to carry off the Turks, the Jews, and the powder. The English Captain resisted, and they fought in the waters of Melos; the Englishman was captured after considerable slaughter on both sides. All the English were landed on a rock, and given money to return to England. Their ship was carried off. The English are accustomed to bring into Constantinople at least five hundred barrels of powder every year; one of their ships did this successfully last year.
	Dalle Vigne di Pera, 15th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[Italian; deciphered.]
Jan. 16. Collegio Secreta. Esposizioni Principi. Venetian Archives.	471. The English Ambassador came to the Cabinet and said, “Most Serene Prince, uno avulso non deficit alter aureus,” so must I begin, for I hold it sure that among all the tomes, ancient and modern, you will not find in so small a compass a truer picture of Venice. She is governed now for some thousand two hundred years in the same fashion, with an unfailing display of the highest qualities. True, from time to time she has been shaken, as the storms lash up the lagoons, but she has always recovered in the end, renewed her youth, regained her lost serenity (raserenata). (fn. 5) Each time I think on her orderly government, her sound institutions, her exaltation of the worthy, her punishment of the evil, the reverence paid to her magistrates, the encouragement of her youth in the paths of virtue and the service of their country, I am forced to believe that come what may she will survive until the final dissolution of the elements themselves. But this consideration, I see, is taking me away from my topic. I will begin again. Most Serene Prince, I have announced to my master your accession to the throne.” He then pays his compliments and declares his expectations for the English trading in Venice. Rejoices at the good prospect offered for the success of the newly-established alliance. Quotes the surgeons' aphorism, “ut coalescat vulnus tollendum est omme alienum,' for if a hair remain in the wound it will not join and heal. Your Serenity and your Excellencies, in your desire to consolidate this friendship, will surely remove, I will not say a mere hair, but a matter of grave moment, which affects the very honour of the King, the details of which heaven forbid that I should touch upon on such a day as this dedicated to congratulations.”
	The Doge returned thanks.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	472. Piero Priuli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	The English Ambassador (Sir George Carew), who has come to reside here, paid me a visit a few days ago. Touching on events in England he said that the Nuncio had asked him whether there were any suspicions that some of the conspirators were in the Papal States, for if the Ambassador would indicate them the Nuncio would see that they were arrested. The Ambassador replied that he held no orders on this subject, but he begged the Nuncio to commit his offer to paper, and it would be forwarded to the King, who would then issue what instructions seemed to him fit. It seems to me that the Ambassador was rather suspicious of this unwonted and unsolicited attention. (Mi disse che era stato fatto ricercare da questo Nontio, che se egli havesse sospetto di qualcheduno, che fosse nello stato del Pontefice, che havesse havuta parte in quella trattatione che glielo facesse sapere che haverebbe procurato di farlo metter prigione. L'Ambasciatore gli ha risposto che nelle sue commissioni non haveva alcun ordine in questo particolare, ma che mettesse in scrittura questa sua offerta che l' haverebbe mandata al suo Rè, dal quale gli sarebbe stato risposto quello che gli fosse parso in questo particolare; essendo restato l' Ambasciator, per quanto ho potuto scoprire, con qualche sospetto per questa dimostratione di amorevolezza insolita et non ricercata).
	Paris, 17th January, 1606.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan. 25. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	473. Nicolo Molin and Zorzi Giustinian, Venetian Ambassadors in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	Last Friday afternoon was appointed for our audience. The King, in order to honour your Serenity's representatives, sent, besides Sir Lewis Lewkenor, Lord Willoughby (Baron Volebi) with the royal carriages and a large suite to accompany us to his presence. We were escorted by almost all the Italians resident in London, and these added to the suites of the two Ambassadors made a great and honourable company, worthy of your Serenity's Envoys.
	His Majesty received us in a great hall full of people. He was on a dais along with the Prince. We made the usual obeisance, and his Majesty rose and came a few paces forward to meet us, receiving us with every mark of affection and esteem for your Serenity, and of affability towards us your ministers.
	I, Molin, explained that your Serenity had sent the illustrious Giustinian to represent you, not merely because his Majesty was so great a sovereign, but also because of “his heroic virtues,” which were well known to all the world.
	I, Giustinian, presented my letters of credence.
	The Queen was not present, being somewhat indisposed. She appointed last Sunday for audience.
	We have also visited the Duke of Lennox.
	London, 25th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[ltalian.]
Jan. 25. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives.	474. Nicolo Molin and Zorzi Giustinian, Venetian Ambassadors in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	Ten days ago Sir Edward Conway (il Cavaliere Conue), Lieutenant Governor of Brill, and Sir Horatio Vere (Oratio Vera), the Lieutenant for the States of Holland, arrived here. They have been sent by the States to endeavour to procure assistance in men and money for the coming year, although they give out that they have come about their own private business. They have had an audience, and as regards levies they easily obtained their object, more especially as they urged that these troops were required to complete the garrison of Brill, which is one of the cautionary fortresses; but as regards money the King excused himself on the plea that he had none, and he let it be clearly understood that he wished to remain neutral in this war.
	Recently a Dutch ship, on board of which were many Englishmen, captured a carvel laden with sugar off the coast of Spain. As they were taking their prize into Holland they met an English ship, and having exchanged friendly signals they drew together, in order to furnish some water. The English Captain went on board the Dutchman, seized it and brought it into an English harbour. The Spanish Ambassador now claims restitution in agreement with the terms of the treaty of peace, by which it is expressly stipulated that all prizes brought into English ports shall be restored to their lawful owners, and begged for an order in that sense, which was immediately issued. But while they were transshipping the sugar and were half-way through, M. de Caron secured the sequestration of the sugar, claiming that it was fair prize of the Dutch, and in no way subject to English action, indeed he demanded the severe punishment of the English Captain. Opinions are divided.
	The secretary of the Ambassador Cornwallis has arrived from Spain. There are many rumours as to his mission, but I learn from a sure source that he has come to beg his Majesty to allow the Ambassador to retire, and that a successor should be named. The Ambassador prefers this request because, while the Lord High Admiral was in Spain as Ambassador-Extraordinary, Cornwallis noted many things which did not redound to the honour of England. This has rendered his position so difficult that he cannot discharge his office with the honour and repute which the King's service requires.
	The two remaining chief conspirators have been captured. They made for the Welsh coast, intending to cross over to Holland, but finding the ports closed they retired to the house of a private gentleman, and after a few days they were discovered and captured. They are expected here day by day. All the conspirators are now prisoners, and when Parliament meets they will proceed to make an example of them, as their demerits deserve.
	The Earl of Northumberland is still in the Tower; but he is steadily proving his innocence. They hope that, in spite of Lord Salisbury's hostility, he will be set at liberty, though the fact that he is a great noble is against him, for if a great noble is once in the Tower he usually ends his days there.
	The Marquis de S. Germano, who is being sent as Ambassador Extraordinary from the King of France to congratulate his Majesty on his escape, is expected daily. They say the Emperor will send an Ambassador on a similar mission.
	London, 25th January, 1605 [m.v.].
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan. 30. Collegio Secreta. Esposizioni Principi. Venetian Archives.	475. The English Ambassador reports the discovery of Gunpowder Plot. Explains why he is so late in communicating the information; first, because the dispatch, in order to gain time, was sent viâ Lyons, not by the ordinary route, viâ Antwerp, and the precisely opposite was the result; secondly, the dispatch arrived at the time of the Doge Grimani's death.
	The whole story is so horrible that were it not for the express comands of my master, “I for my part would wish to cloak our shame in silence, rather than let it be known that English breasts had harboured so foul and diabolical a plan.” He then in a long and ordered discourse set forth the events.
	The object was to destroy at a blow the Court, the nobles, the Council, Bishops, Judges, country gentlemen (i principali gentilhuomini delle Provincie), and all the youth that was drawn there out of curiosity.
	The Ambassadors of foreign states would have been victims.
	His Majesty, when considering this vast gathering of people, had publicly said, “Had God, for my sins, permitted the execution of the plot I should have had the satisfaction of dying not in a tavern (osteria) nor among the rabble, but on a mighty stage and in honourable company, engaged, as becomes a King, in framing laws and sound institutions.”
	They intended, when their infernal plot was accomplished, to sieze the person of the King's eldest daughter, and upon her claim to build up a new monarchy to suit the taste of the five youths who were the earliest members of the conspiracy.
	The thoughtful could not understand how five young men alone should have embraced so vast a design with any hopes of success, unless they relied on support from outside, but seeing that the devil is the source not only of all evil but of all blindness, he must have perverted the minds as well as ruined the judgment of these men.
	As a matter of fact the plan does not seem to have been communicated to any foreign Prince, as is borne out by two arguments, the one plausible, the other irrefragable; first, that all the Ambassadors of foreign Sovereigns had intended to be present, though it is possible to urge that some might have excused themselves at the last moment on account of illness; the second, that Thomas Winter made a confession, which was printed during his lifetime, had it been printed after his death it might not perhaps have carried such weight, in which he admits that there was talk, but very late in the day, of foreign help. Spain was too far off, France not to be trusted, the German Princes slow and phlegmatic, the Archduke occupied by his own wars, and they resolved that it was wiser to appeal for help after the blow had been struck, when the help would come more vigorously. It is to be believed, however, that Winter, having voluntarily betrayed some of his dearest friends, might also have betrayed foreign Princes.
	When all the plans had been laid, thirty-two barrels and two half-tuns of gunpowder were placed under the Parliament Chamber, and covered with wood and other stuff. A resolute young man was found who was ready to set fire to the powder, and horses were ready at various taverns, so that the conspirators might gallop wherever they required.
	Twenty thousand ducats were held by Percy, one of the conspirators, relation to the Earl of Northumberland, ready for use after the deed.
	As the country was at peace at home and abroad, the people content, the Court happy, it was not to be supposed that the plot should have been discovered; and yet it was discovered twelve days before the meeting of Parliament, and in this way: A short man met one evening an Irish servant of Lord Monteagle and gave him a letter, begging him to hand it at once and safely to his master.
	This was done and Lord Monteagle, seeing that the letter was anonymous, was filled with curiosity, and after reading he showed it next day to the Earl of Salisbury, the Chief Secretary. The Earl at first took it for the work of a madman or for a practical joke, but wishing in a matter of such importance to err on the safe side, he showed it to the King four days before Parliament met.
	The Ambassador then caused a literal translation of the letter to be read, and then proceeded to say that his Majesty by a miracle interpreted the letter at the first glance. The last words of the letter run, “The danger is passed as soon as you have burned the letter.” “I see no sense in this,” said the King. Let us suppose that Lord Monteagle had burned the letter without showing it to anyone, how can the danger be said to be past when the very letter itself says that the danger lies in the Parliament? No, it is more likely that the writer intended to allude to the nature of the danger, and to say that it would be over in as short a time as it took to burn a sheet of paper.” His Majesty concluded by saying, “they can do it no other way than by a mine.” and he laughed at his own idea, and seemed almost ashamed of having displayed such a horrible and inhuman imagination, as the wise man hath it, adeo pessimus est provisor mali bona conscientia.
	Due search, however, was made in the chambers below the Parliament, and there was discovered the young man who was to fire the powder: he was booted and spurred and ready for flight, and had a “false lantern.” That was about six hours before Parliament was to meet.
	As this man has become so famous I must add that he is about thirty years of age, of honourable family, bred in the wars in the Low Countries, and brought thence by the said Thomas, who went there on purpose to find a man who had experience in mines. He is poor, and therefore ready for any change. In the plot he bore two names, calling himself first Johnson, though his real name is Guido. He gave himself out as servant to Percy, who had hired the cellar where the powder was; and thus passed the time unrecognised, partly in London, partly in the country with Percy.
	He was taken and brought before the King, and asked if he repented of his crime, to which he replied that he only regretted his failure to carry it out. But when he was taken to the Tower he confessed all at the mere sight of the instrument of torture, showing himself of a base courage and more resolute in the execution of evil than in the keeping of it hid.
	The other conspirators fled and tried to raise the country: they collected about fifty or sixty men and intended to fortify themselves in the house of one of their number. They set to drying powder for use against the Sheriff: it blew up accidentally and blinded one or two of them, and threw the rest into confusion, so that soon after they were some slain and some captured. The Ambassador remarked that it was by a divine dispensation that they who had plotted with powder were punished with powder. The prisoners have revealed the names of many, and there are in prison an Earl, a Viscount and two Barons.
	The Doge replied.
	The Ambassador again raised two questions, the suit about the corn at Zante and the anchorage tax.
	[Italian.]