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| Nov. 4. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
379. Piero Duodo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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A thousand Scottish, who are paid by his Majesty, have arrived. He is doing his best to employ French infantry as little as possible. He is unwilling to disgust his subjects by the violent conduct of his troops. |
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There is news from England from a trustworthy source that the Queen is thinking about naming her successor. It seems that that successor will be one of her nieces, my informant could not name her, who will be married to some great English nobleman, whom popular affection should indicate. In this way the King of Scotland would be absolutely excluded, This has caused great excitement, though the Queen has not yet made any open declaration on the subject; but only discussed it with some of her principal Ministers. |
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Paris, 4th November 1595. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Nov. 9. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
380. Piero Duodo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Negotiations are on foot with the States of Holland and with England for ten thousand infantry. The Queen wishes to attack Dunquerque with these troops, and that, if it is captured, it should be given to her. The King will hardly consent, for that place belongs to his family property, although it always acknowledged the superiority of the Counts of Flanders, and also because he does not wish to see the English in possession of ports so near his kingdom. |
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Antonio Perez has joined the King and has been made a member of the Council of State, with one thousand francs a month as salary. |
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Paris, 9th November 1595. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Nov. 17. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
381. Agustino Nani, Venetian Ambassador in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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In all the shipyards of the kingdom, in Biscay, in Portugal, and in Andalusia, they are proceeding diligently with the construction of new ships besides those already laid down. It is certain that his Majesty intends to have on the ocean next year a larger fleet than any previous fleet, except the one which attacked England. He probably intends to carry out the plans which I have already indicated to your Serenity. And even if it did nothing else, this preparation, by keeping the Queen of England in alarm, will
compel her to think of her defences rather than of spending her money and her forces in molesting or assisting others. |
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In Lisbon and in Seville they are arming thirty galleons and other transport ships. These will be sent immediately to New Spain to hold Drake in check. But there is great fear that they will reach the Indies too late. It seems that Drake has met with opposition in the places where he has appeared, thanks to the timely warnings sent out. |
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At Cezimbra, a place seven leagues from Lisbon, an English ship has been driven on shore by the storm and the crew made prisoners. At Porto Ricco, where a landing by Drake is most dreaded, fresh veins of gold have been discovered. Samples have been sent here, and a friend of mine who has seen them tells me that, on testing, it was found that 91 peso of earth yield 81 peso of the purest and finest gold. He assures me that the vein runs for forty leagues. |
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Madrid, 17th November 1595. |
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[Italian; the part in italics deciphered.] |
