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| Dec. 13. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
115. Matheo Zane, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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I informed your Serenity in my last despatches that letters have arrived from the King of Navarre and I gave same of their contents. Having now had an opportunity of running through them secretly I can add the rest
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The King declares that the Austrians have resolved to recover the fortresses they have lost and to prosecute the war with all their might; that the King of Spain is rendering every assistance to the League in France, not only with men and money but also with ships as he has lately hired twelve galleons at Ragusa; and that he himself is most in need of horses and grain. |
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The Grand Vizir at once submitted a translation to his Majesty, though he suspected that the letters were drafted by the King's Ministers, not by the King himself. The Sultan ordered a suitable reply to be made, in general terms, touching again on the question of this Ambassador whom the King promised to send to reside at the Porte, and deferred until his arrival, all answer to the points raised in the letters. The Sultan also wished to know if the rumour about the Ragusan ships hired by the King of Spain was correct. The Ragusan Ambassadors offered to lose their heads if there was a word of truth in the report. |
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The English Ambassador and de Breves have insisted upon a categorical answer about horses and corn, and about the support
of the Turkish fleet They tell me that they were requested to wait the return of the Capudan Pasha. On the other hand I am informed that no reply at all was given upon that subject, and that they will hardly get one without money from England or from France, Such, however, is the confidence which these two Ministers repose in the Sultan's secretary — a man of most avaricious temper — that they lay their count to obtain all they desire. |
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On the question of grain I learn that there is some talk of allowing a limited export from Barbary. But the English Ambassador and de Breves desire free export, and to obtain this they must wait the arrival of presents from their respective Princes, when they will kiss the Sultan's hand and be received by him as Ambassadors. |
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The Secretary has obtained the surrender of de Lancome and all his suite to the English Ambassador and de Breves. De Lancome will be sent to Toulon and handed to Navarre. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 13th December 1592. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Dec. 26. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
116. Matheo Zane, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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The Capudan Pasha has refused to the English Ambassador and to de Breves the free export of grain from the Archipelago and granted it only in Tunis and Barbary. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 26th December 1592. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
| Dee. 27. Original Despatch, Venetian Archives. |
117. Matheo Zane, Venetian Ambassador in Constantinople, to the Doge and Senate. |
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M. de Breves and the English Ambassador together have drawn up in Turkish a summary of letters found, as they say, in the Archives of de Lancome, and have taken it to the Grand Vizir in order to prove to him that de Lancome was in the service of the League and the King of Spain, and therefore that he ought to be consigned a prisoner to them in order that he may be sent to Toulon. |
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They also hope to stimulate the Sultan to despatch a fleet in support of Navarre. The whole composition is artful and calculated to injure de Lancome. |
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Dalle Vigne di Pera, 27th December 1592. |
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[Italian; deciphered.] |
