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| Oct. 7. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1096. Marin Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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Spinola's galleys on their way to Flanders have touched at the ports of Brittany; they captured an English ship. The Queen begs that these galleys shall be forbidden to enter French harbours. Spinola has pledged himself, with his own and other six galleys that were in Ireland, to burn the shipping in the Thames. The Queen has been warned, and has fortified the mouth of the river; while English and Dutch will endeavour to prevent these galleys from pushing up the Channel. The Queen and the States are both building ships. |
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Paris, 7th October 1602. |
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[Italian.] |
| Oct. 21. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1097. Marin Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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I have already informed your Serenity of the various steps taken by Archduke Albert to induce the Queen of England to come to terms. The King of Spain and the Archduke are both anxious for peace. Count Maurice is making great strides; and the army of the Archduke is in disorder. The Archduke has accordingly informed the Queen that certain terms will be proposed in his name, by which the States of Holland will receive some satisfaction; for
a truce would be concluded for a certain time, during which, means for a complete pacification may be discovered. |
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The President Richardot is to have a conference with the first secretary, Robert Cecil. The Queen's inducement to peace is not so much to free herself from the expenses of the war, which are partially covered by the prizes she makes, but in order to secure a free commerce, and to allow her subjects to increase their capital. It was these considerations which always induced the Lord Treasurer, father of Cecil, to favour a peace policy; and it seems that his son will follow in his footsteps. Some say, however, that he has a certain affection for Spain. This is put about to rouse the Queen's suspicions against him. The Spanish will not grant a long truce, and the States insist that it shall last for years. The Ministers of both England and the States are seeking to alarm the King of France, for they cannot endure that he should be at peace, while they are in such travail. They want him to join them in a league and thus to finish up the Flanders war completely. |
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Paris, 21st October 1602. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Oct. 21. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
1098. Marin Cavalli, Venetian Ambassador in France, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The capture of Spinola's galleys by the fleets of the Queen of England and the Dutch is confirmed. It happened thus: Spinola's six galleys left Dieppe, and pushed on past Calais; they fell in with two Englishmen and attacked them. The English fired signals, and up came ten others. Spinola then tried to make Dunquerque, but fell in with other ships on the watch. Seeing no other way of escape they parted company, and took different routes. Two went ashore, one at Calais, and one at Dunquerque with Spinola himself on board; two others went to Nieuport, and nothing is known for certain of the other two, but it is feared that they have sunk at sea. The galley that went on shore at Calais was rendered useless by the liberation of the galley-slaves; for the laws of France do not permit slavery, and any slaves that reach France are at once set free. The Governor of Calais puts in some sort of claim to her fittings. Some money, mostly on board Spinola's galley, is said to have been found, and one thousand two hundred infantry, besides galley slaves to refit the seven galleys lying at Sluys. |
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Paris, 21st October 1602. |
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[Italian.] |
