Venice: January 1614 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 13, 1613-1615. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1907.

Citation:

'Venice: January 1614', in Calendar of State Papers Relating To English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 13, 1613-1615, ed. Allen B Hinds( London, 1907), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/venice/vol13/pp79-87 [accessed 29 November 2024].

January 1614



1614. Jan. 2. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Costant. Venetian Archives.	161. Cristoforo Valier, Venetian Ambassador at Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
	As the Cadi of Pera would not abandon his pretensions to levy the carazo from all the Frankish merchants, dragomans, and others, I sent for Alil Pasha, captain of the sea, who has always been very friendly to me, and who has supported our arguments in this matter, to ask him to try and restrain the Cadi from his violent and unreasonable measures. He had a long interview with the Cadi, and so far succeeded in persuading him that the Cadi sent for the dragomans and told them that he would be content at this time to receive the carazo only from those who had married, bought houses or were otherwise established in the country. But he did not remain long in this mind, for two days later he sent for the dragomans and told them to appear before him with all the merchants, and exacted the carazo of a Venetian merchant, forgetting his promise to Alil Pasha, and on his refusal to pay threw him into prison. I made representations with the other ambassadors, and the merchant was released. We succeeded in causing letters to be sent to Adrianople to inform the king and Grand Vizier of these matters and to procure a remedy.
	Dalle Vigne di Pera, 2 January, 1613 [m.v.].
	[Italian; deciphered.]
Jan. 2. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Costant. Venetian Archives.	162. Cristoforo Valier, Venetian Ambassador at Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
	At a meeting between the sea captains lately, in discussing the numbers of the fleet for the coming year, they decided that it could not exceed 90 galleys, including a good number of Galeots. They had no other purpose than to ravage the coasts of Apulia und Calabria.
	Dalle Vigne di Pera, the 2 January, 1613 [m.v.].
	[Italian; deciphered.]
Jan. 2. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni Principi. Venetian Archives.	163. The ambassador of the king of Great Britain came into the Cabinet and after expressing his regret that for well-known reasons he could not take that part in public ceremonies which he would have desired, he offered his best wishes for the new year, and asked leave to follow an English custom and present the Doge with a printed book by his father-in-law, containing all the works of St. John Chrysostome, (fn. 1) for which he has collated the texts in the Vatican with those in the library of St. Mark.
	The work, in eight volumes in folio, was then brought in by the Secretary and presented with the name of the Doge on the title, as the Doge had been governor of Padua when the editor was a student there.
	After the Doge had returned thanks, the ambassador congratulated him on his good health in the cold weather, and so took his leave.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 4. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci. Francia. Venetian Archives.	164. Piero Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	The disturbances which have arisen between Sig. della Forza (fn. 2) and the Bearnese are arousing attention here, because the Huguenots are interested, and it is feared that they may give rise to further trouble.
	From Paris, the 4 January, 1614.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 4. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Roma. Venetian Archives.	165. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate.
	Reports are renewed that the marriages between France and Spain may not take place, because the king of France may marry the daughter of the duke of Lorraine, it being of the first importance to that crown to incorporate the duchy with the kingdom.
	The pope has expressed his regret to the ambassador of France about the negotiations which are reported for the marriage of the second princess to the prince of England. The ambassador would not admit it to me, but I have heard that he represented to His Holiness that if such a marriage took place it would be greatly for the advantage of Catholics and of liberty of conscience. Nevertheless the Spaniards on their side do everything to put obstacles in the way.
	From Rome, the 4 January, 1614.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 4. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Inghilterra. Venetian Archives.	166. Antonio Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	The prince has formed his court, which is a very small one. He lodges in the palace of St. James, the usual residence of the Princes of Wales.
	The count of Schomberg has arrived here, sent by the Elector Palatine. He brings news of the affairs of Germany and that the princess is enceinte. He went at once to the king.
	The duke of Neuburgh writes to the king that he has taken to wife a princess of Bavaria.
	On Monday the king arrived in this city. The deputies have also returned from Ireland and the king wishes to see them before they speak to anyone. They bring particular instructions of the state of that realm, to some extent touching the disturbances of which I have already written, in the Parliament, and afterwards, and they have made diligent enquiry as to whether the Spaniards have had some hand in them or have any intelligence there.
	The ambassador of Muscovy continues here, always surrounded by merchants.
	Eight large ships are being prepared to send to the East Indies in the spring. They will all set out together and not separately as they have done at other times. All those interested in them share equally.
	Letters have come from a certain Captain Bestici, despatched a year and a half ago, saying that he has taken possession of a port in the Red Sea, and had worsted four Portugese galleys. (fn. 3)
	The king has given to the queen the palace of Greenwich, which is on this river, three miles from London.
	Nothing more has transpired with regard to the negotiations for the prince's marriage.
	London, the 4 January, 1613.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 6. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Germania. Venetian Archives.	167. Girolamo Soranzo, Venetian Ambassador in Germany, to the Doge and Senate.
	New humours arise every day and the emperor will evidently have his hands full. It is known that Gabor has the most complete understanding, not only with the Palatine, but with many of the principal Hungarian nobles, who openly say that they do not desire war.
	From Veltz, the 6 January, 1613 [m.v.]. Copy.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 9. Senato, Secreta. Deliberazioni. Venetian Archives.	168. The ambassador of Great Britain having presented in the College eight volumes of all the works of St. John Chrisostome, in Greek, a work demanding much time, it is resolved that a chain worth 400 ducats be presented to Sir Henry Saville, who has presented the volumes by means of the ambassador, as a sign of the public gratitude, and as a testimony of his lengthy and virtuous labours.
	Ayes	153.	Second vote,	Ayes	110.
	Noes	4.		Noes	10.
	Neutral	40.		Neutral	67.
	On 9 January, 1613, in the College.
	Ayes	16.	Second vote,	Ayes	17.
	Noes	1.		Noes	1.
	Neutral	4.		Neutral	3.
	On the vote that it be referred to the 500, in the College.
	Ayes	19.
	Noes	1.
	Neutral	1.
	In the Senate.
	Ayes	167.
	Noes	8.
	Neutral	10.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 13. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Spagna. Venetian Archives.	169. Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
	The Nuncio has presented to the king a letter from the pope in reply to a request from His Majesty to His Holiness to assist the emperor in the affairs of Germany. The pope has briefly promised not to fail, adding that the king must also do his share, and that he is in a better position to help, being a monarch of great power.
	From Madrid, the 13 January, 1613 [m.v.]
	[Italian.]
Jan. 14. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Corfu. Venetian Archives.	170. Vincenzo Grimani, Proveditore and Captain of Corfu, to the Doge and Senate.
	With regard to the preparations for the Turkish fleet, I have received some particulars from an instruction sent by the Governor of Parga, a copy of which I enclose. This shows that the Pasha, Captain General of the Sea, has been dismissed, and replaced by one who held the office five years ago. That all the principal councillors have been condemned to arm fifty galleys at their own expense, which are to be ready by St. George's day next.
	From Corfu, the 12 January, 1613 [m.v.].
	[Italian.]
Enclosed in the preceding Despatch.	171. Copy of instructions in letters of the Governor of Parga, of 25 December, 1613.
Enclosed in the preceding Despatch.	[Italian.]
Jan. 14. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Costant. Venetian Archives.	172. Cristoforo Valier, Venetian Ambassador at Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
	The representations of the ambassadors here to the Grand Vizier by means of the lieutenant Pasha upon the matter of the corazo have taken effect, and all the questions seem likely to be terminated in a satisfactory manner. The chief difficulty has been with regard to those married in the country. The Chief Vizier and all the ministers are firm on this point, in which our capitulations are clear against us. Those of France and of England contain express declarations in their favour. However we are all acting together, and await the reply of the Grand Vizier, which is expected shortly.
	Dalle Vigne di Pera, the 14 January, 1613 [m.v.].
	[Italian; deciphered.]
Jan. 15. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Costant. Venetian Archives.	173. Cristoforo Valier, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate.
	At the Arsenal they continue to work on the galleys already begun, but up to the present they have not put any new ones on the stocks. The Captain of the sea, perceiving that the number of 90 galleys cannot be exceeded, proposes to add some of the Alexandrian galleys to his fleet, so that he expects to have thirty galleys ready by April to defend the Archipelago and cruise further afield, if need be.
	Dalle Vigne di Pera, the 15 January, 1613 [m.v.].
	[Italian; deciphered.]
Jan. 18. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Inghilterra. Venetian Archives.	174. Antonio Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	I have received your letters of the 20th, that of the king, the reply of your Serenity, the speech of the ambassador and the reply. I will execute your commands at the audience arranged for me for to-morrow morning, at Theobalds, whither I shall set out so soon as I have despatched these presents. I will present the letter of your Serenity to His Majesty, and will assure him of your regard and that you considered as a favour the interest exhibited by him in all the affairs of the republic. I will also assure him that, with respect to the princes mentioned, His Majesty has done everything proper in order to preserve a good understanding; and further with regard to the negotiations of Sig. Barbarigo, and to ask him to use the means which are in his power in order to remove difficulties and gain that nation absolutely, as he told me he would do. I will send you the particulars afterwards.
	The negotiations for the French marriage remain as I advised. They do not please the Spaniards, and, perhaps in order to introduce confusion, the ambassador has made very advantageous proposals to the queen concerning the second infanta. She afterwards spoke to the king about it, but there have been no results, and perhaps the proposals were not made with that intent.
	I hear in letters of the 7th that they are expecting the duke of Neuburgh at Dusseldorf, and the duchess of Bavaria will follow him. For her residence they are preparing the court in a district of the Elector of Cologne, her uncle, only two leagues distant, with great provision of men of war and munitions.
	The king of Denmark is negotiating and drawing closer to Saxony and Brandenburg. The archduke Albert is in poor health.
	The ambassador of Muscovy has been successful in his negotiations by using his master's money, and in the matter of commerce he has given the greatest satisfaction.
	London, the 18 January, 1613.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan. 18. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci. Inghilterra. Venetian Archives.	175. Antonio Foscarini, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate.
	The count of Schomberg has told me that when he was passing through the country of the States he ascertained that if the Palatine is in any sudden need they will immediately send 4,000 infantry of the forces which they always maintain on foot, and that his Majesty here would send 4,000 more of those who are in the Low Countries. That they are now endeavouring to bring the five great Cantons of Switzerland into their union. That they all have agreed except the city of Zurich, whither the ambassador of France has betaken himself, expressly to prevent it. He stated this with great confidence in the assurance that everything would be settled by Easter.
	He afterwards spoke of the negotiations of the Ambassador Barbarigo in the Grisons. That the elector of Saxony had sent to those parts to enquire about the negotiations, to which the French offer opposition. He offered me the services of the elector with those of Berne to obtain success with the Grisons, and I thanked him, saying that this would gratify your Serenity. He added that the union of your Serenity with the Grisons is most necessary for the pass, and that of the Swiss no less so, to obtain soldiers. That after the union has been established between the princes and the five Cantons, he will work to give effect to that between the Grisons and your Serenity, if it has not taken place before.
	I thought proper to say something of the disposition of your Serenity towards the princes, and he answered that the ambassador wrote the same thing to the king, who commanded him to tell the elector. The other princes will also be informed by him. He added that the negotiations of the Ill^mo. Barbarigo would be assisted by His Highness, by means of the Bernese, and the confederation with the Swiss would be confirmed by all the others together and with the five great Cantons.
	He went on to say that the Emperor having had contributions from ecclesiastics demands them also from the princes. They will only consent upon three conditions, that the assistance shall be well employed, and only in case of necessity, it not being reasonable to enter capriciously into a serious war with the Turks of which the beginning might be seen but not the end; that if the Turks, not content with the boundaries acquired by them, really propose to make a strong attack on the empire, the princes will do their duty, as they will not allow any part of Germany to be occupied by the Turks, but they will not move otherwise. He has come here to bring the king news of the princess, and has brought letters from her. They relate to the state of her health in her pregnancy, ask for the establishment of her Highness's court and proceed to give an account of the state of affairs in Germany. That the united princes will soon meet in a diet to discuss various points, to be dealt with in the Imperial Diet, and their fixed resolution not to contribute to Cæsar except upon conditions, as I have already said. Finally she has asked the king to assist the united princes and especially her elector.
	His Majesty has been delighted to hear of the good health and of the pregnancy of the Princess from the count. He agreed to establish the state of her Court, and after hearing the wishes of the princes, and the present state of the affairs of Germany, he praised the resolution of the princes, promising assistance if necessary, giving orders at once, as regards the Palatine, that the 4,000 infantry, his subjects, now in the Low Countries, should be ready.
	Well satisfied with these events, the count departed the day before yesterday. He brought many particulars about the union to be observed by the princes, the agreement between Saxony and Brandenburg, the entrance of the Swiss into the confederation, and other heads.
	London, the 18 January, 1613.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan. 18. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Roma. Venetian Archives.	176. Tomaso Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in Rome, to the Doge and Senate.
	They fear greatly here that the Turks have an understanding with the Dutch, and great preparations of ships are also reported from those parts.
	From Rome, the 18 January, 1614.
	[Italian.]
Jan. 20. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Corfu. Venetian Archives.	177. Hieronimo Corner, captain of the fleet, to the Doge and Senate.
	I have been compelled to come here for repairs. I arrived to-day and found the letters of your Serenity of the 12 September and 26 November, advising me of the presence of four bertons of the English pirate in the port of Villafranca, and that two more were expected.
	On my return from Candia I endeavoured to obtain information of these pirates, but have not yet succeeded in getting any news. In the future I will spare no pains to secure the shipping here.
	From Corfu, the 20 January, 1613 [m.v.].
	[Italian.]
Jan. 21. Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.	178. Pietro Contarini, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate.
	The princes continue to publish their discontent. The prince of Condé, the duke of Nevers, Longueville and Bouillon have left, Umena (fn. 4) and Vendome are ready to go any day. The Guises alone remain, and they with the Ministers have the affairs of the court entirely in their hands. Condé claims the regency, saying that the government ought not to be left in the hands of Ministers who are so devoted to Spain, and that the Estates ought to be assembled. Those of the religion are showing a disposition to resist the union between the two crowns by force, saying that when the king comes out to begin the journey, he will find them all in the field, well armed, assisted by powerful allies. This gives no small assistance to the princes, who have always opposed this alliance.
	There has been a consultation here, and a proposal to secure the journey by levying 6,000 Swiss, 4,000 French and 2,000 horse. But it is thought that such steps would only provoke the Huguenots still more and might easily lead to civil war.
	A courier has arrived from Spain saying that the princess destined to be queen of France has been seriously ill with the small pox, and in great danger, but she is now better.
	From Paris, the 21 January, 1614.
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan. 30. Senato, Secreta. Dispacoi. Spagna. Venetian Archives.	179. Francesco Morosini, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate.
	In accordance with my instructions I have informed the king of the advices from Constantinople, and subsequently I also informed Don Juan Idiaquez. He said he thought the Turks, having neglected the sea for so long, would not be able to prepare so many galleys, and would have a difficulty in finding materials and men. I said that the republic would keep his Majesty informed.
	I also told Don Pietro di Toledo, general of the galleys of this state, who has commanded at sea for many years. He told me that they were preparing a fleet of ninety galleys, adding that the Turks might collect 150 galleys for this year, but being forewarned he hoped they would suffer no harm. He said he was sorry that the Turks were thus turning their attention to the sea; next year they would do more, and the third year more still. It is clear that these two ministers are much impressed by the Turkish preparations.
	From Madrid, the 30 January, 1613 [m.v.].
	[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.]
Jan. 31. Collegio, Secreta. Esposizioni Principi. Venetian Archives.	180. The ambassador of the king of Great Britain came into the Cabinet and announced the birth of a son to the Countess Palatine, which took place on an auspicious day, namely the first day of the year according to the reckoning of the country. He added, as this increases the stability of His Majesty's house, it will doubtless be very gratifying to your Serenity. I can promise that he will be brought up in the same friendly disposition which the king bears towards the republic, and he will be a means of fostering the good understanding which is desired in the kingdoms of His Majesty and those of the Count Palatine.
	After the senior councillor Minotto had offered his congratulations, the ambassador departed.
	[Italian.]