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| Nov. 4. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
111. Giovanni Mocenigo, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The English announce the return of their fleet from the Indies, and declare that it brings a vast booty taken from the Spanish fleet. For this reason there have been public rejoicings in London. |
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Chartres, 4th November 1592. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Nov, 7. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
112. Tomaso Contarini and Francesco Vendramin, Venetian Ambassadors in Spain, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Spanish fleet for the West Indies has arrived there safely with the loss of one small ship. The West India fleet, which should have sailed thence, did not put to sea owing to fear of the English, who are cruising in those seas, pillaging cities and burning ships even in harbour. It is thought unlikely that the fleet will be able to reach Spain this year, and so in order to secure the arrival of the money they are going to despatch light vessels which are to carry nothing else, and to take an unusual route. |
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Logrogno, 7th November 1592. |
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[Italian.] |
| Nov. 14. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
113. Matheo Zane, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople to the Doge and Senate. |
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M. de Lancome, late Ambassador of France, who was imprisoned in the Tower with two of his nephews and others, has been removed to a less severe 'prison, and his elder nephew has been set at liberty in order that he may recover the property which was appropriated by the mob. As the Turks set great store on the presence of an Ambassador of France, and seeing that the King of Navarre delays to send one, I think that they wish to set de Lancome at liberty. The English A mbassador and de Breves oppose this step by all possible means and especially through the Secretary of the Sultan — a person of great weight. Their machinations are very hurtful to Christendom, and in a high degree to the Republic. Their object is to secure that de Lancome should be consigned to the Captain of a Marseilles ship, to be landed at Toulon and handed over to the Government of the King of Navarre. But they have not succeeded as yet. It is the opinion of many that the Jews and de Lancome are keeping the question of the truce with Spain still alive. |
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The Grand Vizir has lately written to the city of Marseilles threatening to cut off its commerce and to make its citizens slaves if they abandon the King of Navarre. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 14th November 1592. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Nov. 29. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
114. Matheo Zane, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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M. de Breves has lately written to M. de Maisse, Ambassador of France at Venice, informing him that the Grand Duke of Tuscany is endeavouring to reopen relations with the Porte and to establish an Agency. The result of this would be to remove the Florentines from the protection of the French flag. Be Maisse has replied that the question is one which affects your Serenity chiefly, and has ordered de Breves to act under my instructions. |
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Letters from the King of Navarre to the Sultan and the Grand Vizir have recently arrived, but have not been presented. The purport of these letters is to thank the Sultan for having dismissed Marigliani, who only came to the Porte not to honour the Sultan but to spread snares for others. Thanks are also rendered for the imprisonment of de Lancome, who was acting here in favour of the League and of Spain. The King of Navarre begs the Sultan to complete his benefits by consigning de Lancome to the English Ambassador and to de Breves, who will send him to some port which adheres to the King's party. The King adds that he intends to send an Ambassador to reside here. From what I am told they expect the arrival of a certain Secretary Lambert. De Breves will be named Ambassador. |
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This same post brought despatches for the English Ambassador, confirming him in his title, and announcing the speedy arrival of a ship with presents for the Sultan and his Ministers. I imagine that the Queen of England and the King of Navarre may be acting in concert so that the presents of both should arrive at the same
time in order to secure the assistance of the Turkish fleet with a view to upsetting his Catholic Majesty's designs on Provençe and England. And to give a proof of the existence of these designs they have spread the report that at Ragusa, Marigliani has endeavoured to come to terms for hiring Venetian vessels for the service of his master. |
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The Florentine negotiation proceeds, and Antonio Vecchietti, a Florentine, who was acting here and fell ill of the plague, has recovered miraculously. I think I can perceive that the Levantine Jews, who are desirous of a favourable issue to the negotiations, because many of them wish to settle in Pisa, have gained over the English Ambassador and his follower Paulo Mariani, both of them so hard pressed that they would do anything for money. I must inform your Serenity that this Ambassador, who is openly hostile to us on religious and other grounds, is spreading a report that in Zante, where the English have a factory, burial is refused to his fellow countrymen, and they are obliged to send their corpses to Turkish territory. |
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Some Frenchmen having spoken ill of the King of Navarre, de Breves seized the occasion to avenge a private injury. He complained to the Grand Vizir and the Frenchmen were sent to the galleys as slaves and compelled to carry stones for the Royal buildings. This division among the French causes them to be held in small account and scandalizes every one. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 29th November 1592. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
