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| July 3. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
394. Giovanni Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Their Majesties are under some apprehension because the Queen of England and the Emperor have exchanged Ambassadors, and although it is given out that the English Ambassador was only charged to convey the Order of the Garter, and the Imperial Ambassador to seek aid against the Turks, still some secret understanding is suspected to exist, to the effect that simultaneously England should proceed to the recovery of Calais, and the Emperor, secure from Hungary, should attempt the seizure of Metz, Toul, and Verdun, which are now free territories, but which are occupied by his most Christian Majesty. Under these circumstances two thousand men have been added to the ordinary force of French infantry. |
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News have arrived from Scotland that the Queen is still a prisoner, and that the nation continued intent on seeing due justice done, at any rate, against those who put the late King to death; and for the better and clearer expression of their wish they have raised a banner, which on one side displays a woman, and on the other a withered tree, under which lies a dead man and a male infant, with its hands clasped; and the banner is encircled by a motto saying, in the Scottish tongue, “I hope to see vengeance done for my father.” |
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These Majesties desire to give some assistance to the Queen of Scotland, and at the same time to maintain that kingdom devoted to their interests; so knowing that the Queen's bastard brother, having returned from Lyons, was at Orleans, and judging him to be a good instrument, because the insurgents of his faction had summoned him to them, and to their privy council, the King sent for the Bastard, and said that he greatly regretted the disturbances, and would willingly intervene for the safety of the Queen and for the quiet of her subjects, but that he wished to have, first of all, the Bastard's advice, and then his assistance, the King implying that the Bastard was to go to Scotland to effect some arrangement. The Bastard offered to do whatever might please his most Christian Majesty, but said that he could not answer precisely for the party opposed to the Queen, for since he left Scotland his own friends and adherents had been joined by many of his open enemies, and he thought it would be well to temporise for some days, to bear better what progress was being made. This proposal was agreed to by his Majesty. Monsieur de Chapella (sic) has been sent to Scotland to make inquiries. |
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During this interval the Lords de Guise will arrive at the Court, and the Queen of Scotland being their niece, these Majesties wish to hear their opinion. |
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Paris, 3rd July 1567. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 12. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
395. Giovanni Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Monsieur de Chiapella (sic), designated for a mission to Scotland, has excused himself, and his excuse has been accepted. The bastard
brother of the Queen of Scotland will soon proceed to Scotland. The Queen is still a prisoner; the insurgents increase in number, and seek to get Bothwell into their hands. They took eight pieces of cannon from Edinburgh with the intention of battering Dunbar, believing Bothwell to be there; but on hearing subsequently of his escape, they took the cannon back. The Earls of Arran, Argyle, and Huntley are raising forces in favour of the Queen, and to join with those of the Earl of Bothwell, and as both parties are on the increase a battle may be expected. |
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The Earl of Lennox, father of the deceased King, had retired to England, but he has now joined the insurgents, having been, as it is reported, urged to do so by Queen Elizabeth, who has also sent thither one of her gentlemen, who is a person of quality, and who is believed to have money; thus she secretly promotes disturbances in Scotland in order to revenge the death of the late King her relative, or perhaps, as some think, with an ulterior object; and already many think she desires to obtain possession of the youthful Prince, who is in the power of the party which she favours and assists. |
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Villeroy has returned from Scotland, and says that it is difficult even to hope that any agreement can be come to. With regard to what reply or hope he had from Queen Elizabeth concerning her marriage with Monsieur the brother of his most Christian Majesty, not one word has as yet been uttered. |
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L'Aubespine has returned from Spain. He reports that the King will proceed to Flanders next month or in September, and that his Majesty has approved the reply given to the English to their demand for Calais. After the arrival of the above-named the Queen (of France) showed signs of the most intense satisfaction, but no one knows the cause. |
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An edict has at last been published in this city, extending to the whole province, whereby under the severest penalties of life and property the exercise of the new religion is prohibited, except in such places (and this clause was inserted by the Chancellor) as shall be licensed by his Majesty. |
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This proceeding has given great offence, because henceforth it is established that what has hitherto been done clandestinely and by overweening presumption may now be done by his Majesty's permission. |
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Paris, 12th July 1567. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 26. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
396. Giovanni Correr, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The disturbances in Scotland have caused their most Christian Majesties some anxiety as well as dissatisfaction, because their Majesties have become aware that the insurgents are determined to keep the Queen prisoner, and to punish the Earl of Bothwell (Boduel); and a few days since a servant of his was put to death who was accused of having been present at the assassination of the late King. |
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Their Majesties also perceive that the Queen of England does not fail to provide the insurgents, although secretly, with every species of aid both in money and with troops, for the purpose, as it is said, of obtaining possession of the young Prince, and thus to have in hand a sure and certain pledge that the kingdom must become dependent upon her ; and if this plan does not succeed, she hopes by means of her adherents to detach Scotland from the Crown of France, to which, by an ancient confederacy which has endured for more than two hundred successive years, it has been continuously allied, to the no small advantage both of one country and the other. Therefore their Majesties, in order to counteract and defeat these designs, have most strongly urged the Bastard of Scotland [the Earl of Murray] to exert himself to obtain the tranquillity of the kingdom, and the safety of his sister. He made profuse promises, and departed in great haste. |
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If he so desired, there is no doubt, according to general opinion, that all difficulties might be settled in a very few days, because amongst the principal chiefs of the insurgents who have in their power the Prince and the Queen, one is her uncle by the mother's side, another is her uterine brother, and a third is her brother-in-law, as the husband of a sister of her's likewise uterine, so that the great authority of these personages united to their relationship might enable them to do what they pleased; but as the Bastard is known to be of a restless disposition and full of ill will, it is much doubted whether the special hostility which exists between himself and the Earl of Bothwell, and his anger against the Queen, which lately arose when he left the kingdom, may have not more influence with him than the obligations of nature and the promises which he made to their most Christian Majesties, who, in order that he might depart well satisfied, had presented him with two thousand silver crowns, and had offered him a yearly pension of two thousand francs. He however declined to accept these favours, and was known to have said, that if their Majesties desired to give him a pension, they should treat him as King Henry had treated the Earls of Argyle (Arghil) and Huntly (Ontle), who besides having been created Knights of the Order [of St. Michael], had each received a provision of five thousand francs. |
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The same day that this Bastard departed hence the Earl of Arran arrived here, having been summoned by his Majesty, who indeed had him sought for in many parts of the kingdom; for although he was known to have been in these parts since more than a year ago, it was not however known where he was. |
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This Earl is nearer related to the Crown of Scotland than anyone else; he ruled that kingdom till the Queen married her first husband; and his father, James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault, during these disturbances has shown himself favourable to the Queen. |
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His Majesty has persuaded the Earl of Arran likewise to proceed to Scotland, and he consented willingly to do so. He is now gone to Dieppe, where he will await the particular order of his most Christian Majesty, being ready to do whatever his Majesty may please. |
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[Mons.] Lignerolles has also been sent to Scotland with all speed, to watch the proceedings of both sides, and he will remain there until succeeded by Mons. de Croc, Ambassador in ordinary, who departed thence when the Queen was made prisoner. |
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Paris, 26th July 1567. |
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[Italian.] |
| July 30. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
397. Giovanni Michiel, Venetian Ambassador with the Emperor, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The English Ambassador [Thomas Ratcliffe, Earl of Sussex] has already arrived in Bavaria, where he has been feasted and entertained by that Prince with every kind of honour. It cannot be long before he will arrive at Vienna, wherefore his Majesty [the Emperor Maximilian II.] attends as much as possible to the despatch of the particular negotiations of these Hungarians, so that he may return to Vienna, whither the Court is journeying. |
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Posen (Possonio), 30th July 1567. |
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[Italian.] |
