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| Aug. 6. Deliberazioni Senato Secreta, v. xlii. p. 33, tergo. |
8. The Doge and Senate to Andrea Badoer, Ambassador in England. |
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The King of France had remained at Milan, incessantly attacking the State and doing his utmost to obtain its entire territory; but he is now understood to be on his way back to France. Have done their utmost to appease the Emperor, and to prove their devotion and respect for him, but he has never received any one of the many envoys accredited by them to that effect, and, instigated by the State's rivals, has never ceased hostilities, so that they have been compelled to defend themselves. Have already recovered their
city of Padua and its territory, and have reinforced the army there. The Emperor having intimated to them to send an ambassador to Colalto, for a conference with his commissioner, they dispatched the nobleman Alvise Mocenigo, whom the commissioners would not receive, but sent back. The King of France, in order to seize all the rest of their territory and make himself Lord of Italy, and then take the crown and become monarch of the world, had joined his troops with those of the Emperor. These allies had plundered the Venetian provinces and committed heinous and unheard of cruelties, sparing neither sex nor age; tracking youths hidden in the maize fields and elsewhere with bloodhounds, and causing them to be mangled,—a thing not to be told without commiseration. |
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He (Badoer) is to confer with the King of England and his chief counsellors. To urge his Majesty not to lose so great an opportunity, nor to permit the ruin of the State, which has undeniably, at the cost of much blood and treasure, done great things for the maintenance and increase of the Christian commonwealth. To represent that Venice has ever been most friendly and devoted to all the King's progenitors, and above all to his late father, and will not show less attachment to him, and that it seems a great anomaly that whereas for so many years the Signory has in vain sought to form a Christian league against the Infidel, now, nevertheless, the princes of Christendom, without any just cause, have formed an alliance for the utter annihilation of Venice. |
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Should he (Badoer) be unable to obtain more advantageous terms, he is to do his utmost to prevail on the King to write to the King of France to abstain from hostilities against the State, as such letters would have great weight; and in like manner to prevail on the King to write to the Emperor to cease from attacking them, and to receive their ambassador, because, if admitted to audience, he (the ambassador) might negotiate a good perpetual alliance and confederation between the Pope, the Emperor and the Signory, and such other powers as might seem fit, to the great benefit of the Christian commonwealth. |
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In reply to an inquiry—contained in his (Badoer's) last letters—made by the King relative to the Flanders galleys, he (Badoer) is to tell the King, should the latter again allude to the subject, that it was the wish of the Signory to send the fleet as usual, and that it would have been already on the voyage but for the present disturbances, which cause the merchants to dread the loss of their property, and decline incurring such manifest risk. The King will thus perceive how much mischief is caused by this war, which they again and again request him to prevent by his power and authority. |
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[Italian, 60 lines.] |
| Aug. 30. Deliberazioni Senato Secreta, v. xlii. p. 44, tergo. |
9. The Doge and Senate to Andrea Badoer, Ambassador in England. |
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Have received his letters of the 10th and 19th July. By the former comprehend his negotiations with the King, and how he prudently suggested that the Lady Margaret (of Austria) should
mediate for the Signory's reconciliation with the Emperor. Approve and praise his conduct, perceiving that the Lord Privy Seal has in formed him that his suggestion had been more than adopted. The King of France, after sending his troops to join those of the Emperor, detached the Marquises of Ferrara and Mantua to harass the Venetian territory; and the Marquis of Mantua having entered the Veronese at a place called “Isola della Scala,” a Venetian detachment from Padua attacked his troops and took him prisoner, with many other prisoners of account, including a Frenchman, quartermaster general (capitano del campo), and some 600 horses, many of which were valuable. Many men at arms were killed and some took flight. The booty made by the troops in money, plate, apparel, horses, and arms was of considerable value, and the Marquis in person was brought prisoner to Venice. The Emperor after effecting his junction with the French forces and those of the Pope, of the Marquis of Mantua, and other Italians, rebels to the State, came with the whole army into the territory of Padua, at no great distance from the city, which was garrisoned by a strong and numerous army. Although they believe the Emperor to be well inclined towards them, he is constantly urged to attack them by the French and other malignants. Hope, nevertheless, that the Emperor will not fail them. The King of France, who has been hitherto in Italy, is now understood to be at Grenoble, doing all he can to make himself Lord of Italy, and then—as frequently stated by them—of the universe. He holds the Emperor in small account, and—as they hear through a sure channel—has concluded, or is about to conclude, a league between the Pope and himself exclusively, abandoning the Florentines and Ferrara, Doubt not but that the King (of England) has already heard of this, or will hear of it. The Pope's treatment of the State is contrary to all equity and justice, and utterly unmerited: for although they have obeyed the papal monition within the appointed term, and restored not only the two towns desired by his Holiness but likewise, to appease him, those others held by the State for many years by permission of many Popes—after evincing every mark of deference for his Holiness, both by respectful letters and by the mission of six chief senators as ambassadors, and after he had raised the censures —yet he has nevertheless shown himself obdurate towards them, under the influence and the threats, as they believe, of the King of France. |
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He (Badoer) is to acquaint the King and his chief counsellors with these circumstances, and to request him to succour them, or at least to write to the King of France to abstain from attacking the Signory. To thank the King for what he has done with the ambassadors of the Archduchess Margaret, and to urge him to act through her, so that the Emperor may make peace with the State. If possible, he is also to induce the King to write to the Pope, as his father did. To thank the King, in conclusion, for his good treatment of the Venetian merchants. |
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[Italian, 78 lines.] |
| Aug. 30. Sanuto Diaries, v. ix. p. 90. |
10. Motion made by the Sages [in the Senate,] and carried, for a letter to Andrea Badoer, the ambassador in England, instructing him to go to the King, acquaint him with the course of events, and request him to attack France. Should the King choose a league with or aid from the Signory, Badoer to offer the same. |
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[Italian.] |
