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1572.
Vat. Arch.
Nunt. Germ.
vol. lxv. f. 229. |
23. John [Delfino,] Bishop of Torcello to [John Francis] Commendone, Cardinal Legate in Poland.
… “There are persistent rumours from Flanders that the Gueux have taken a place in Zealand, and that the Duke of Alva has sent a force to recover it. From France it is understood that the league between that country and England is concluded, but the particulars are not known; and that likewise the match between the King's sister and Navarre is arranged, and that in a little while the fortresses held by the Huguenots will be restored to the King, and that those who are to command them are already appointed.”
5 May, 1572. Vienna. Italian.
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Ibid. f. 231d.
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24. The Same to the Same.
… “In France they say that the match is arranged, and that they ask no dispensation because they hold that that is not needed among princes, and that the wedding will be done hard by the church door by the Cardinal of Bourbon, who will then enter the church with the bride, and after the Mass will return to give her to the husband, who will wait without. All this I have heard from his Majesty's own lips, who has also told me that the King of France was making a great ocean fleet, and said that he did so for the defence of his country against the corsairs.”
11 May, 1572. Vienna. Italian.
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Vat. Lib.
Urb. Lat.
1043. f. 60. |
25. News Letter.
… “They write from Paris that M. de Montmorenci had arrived there from Court bound for England with M. de Foix, and the common talk was that they were to discuss the league and the marriage of the Duke of Alencon with the Queen's niece…. At the Court, which had quitted Bles [Blois], they were expecting the Prince of Navarre for the solemn celebration of the marriage at Paris. The King gives 300,000 crowns by way of dowry, and will make entry on the last payment. The Queen Mother gives 100,000 crowns, and the brothers 50,000.
… “At Court they were expecting a great English personage sent by the Queen of England to his Majesty. He was met at Calais by M. Bottaglie (sic) who also is to accompany Marshal Montmorenci to England.”
16 May, 1572. Lyon. Italian.
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Ibid. f. 64. |
26. News Letter.
Tidings “that the marriage of the sister of the King of France with the Prince of Navarre was quite arranged, and that the Prince was ill; also that the Duke of Medina Celi had reached Flanders.
“No news whatever of the Queen of England's arming.
“All English ships and merchants in Fonte Rabia [Fuenterrabia] were being arrested by order of his Catholic Majesty.”
25 May, 1572. Fonte Rabia. Italian.
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Vat. Arch.
Nunt. di
Spagna,
vol. ii. f. 328. |
27. [Ptolemy Galli,] Cardinal of Como to John Baptista Castagna, Archbishop of Rossano, Nuncio in Spain.
“It is with the utmost sorrow that his Holiness has heard of the confederacy made between the Most Christian King and England, considering the hurt and hindrance that may result therefrom to the Holy League and all Christendom, and especially to the States of the Catholic King. As to which the French ambassador in conversation with his Holiness has in some measure comforted him, averring on the part of his King, and assuring his Holiness, that he has not made this confederacy with intent to do harm, or any prejudice whatever, to his Catholic Majesty, or his States, nay rather, that his purpose is to keep the peace, and the good understanding that is between them, and that he will never consent to aught that may be displeasing to his Holiness. Accordingly his Holiness, besides the office done here with the ambassador, has, for his better assurance, seen fit to write a brief to his Most Christian Majesty, thanking him for his good will and promise, and on many grounds exhorting and imploring him to keep his promise in deed; which brief he has sent to the nuncio, bidding him to present it, and in his Holiness' name do his most zealous and diligent office with his Most Christian Majesty and the Queen Mother, to ensure their steadfast adhesion to this purpose; and that he may endeavour to get a definite promise and pledge from the lips of their Majesties. And this, by order of the Pope, you are to communicate to his Catholic Majesty, adding that his Holiness will not neglect from time to time to do all those offices that he shall perceive to be opportune for the maintenance of good peace and amity between their Majesties, bounden as he is thereto by the place that he holds, and also by reason of the particular and paternal care and zeal that he has for the preservation of the States of his Catholic Majesty, to whom the world knows how much the Catholic faith and this Holy See are beholden. And furthermore the Nuncio of France has instructions to apprise you forthwith of what he shall have elicited in regard to this matter, that you may be able to give account thereof to his Catholic Majesty.
“This office done, his Holiness would have you pray his Majesty to commission his ambassador at the Imperial court to endeavour with all instance in the name of his Catholic Majesty to draw the Emperor into the league, proceeding in this matter in concert with the Legate Commendone, whom, for this sole purpose, his Holiness has bidden to tarry in Vienna, striving with all diligence to draw his Imperial Majesty into this holy company. You perceive the importance of the business; wherefore see to it that the commission go in the very best form.”
30 May, 1572. Rome. Italian.
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Vat. Lib.
Urb. Lat.
1043. f. 69. |
28. News Letter.
… “From England under date the 26th inst. we have tidings that 2,000 English, very well armed, were about to embark, ready to cross the sea in aid of those of Zealand; but the Queen stopped them, prohibiting the passage, for that, though she was content that foreigners should do as they pleased, she would not allow it on the part of her own subjects; which is as much as to say that she is not disposed to welcome a war with the Catholic King.”
31 May, 1572. Antwerp. Italian.
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