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May 1.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
372. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Encloses advices of England.
Paris, the 1st May, 1646.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
373. Advices from London, of the 19th April, 1646.
General Fairfax has demanded the surrender of Exeter, and
the garrison, seeing no hope of succour after such a long time, has
begun to parley. If this occurs, and the news is expected
momentarily, all the rest of the royalist forces will have to gather
at Oxford about the king. Foreseeing the straits he is likely to
be in, the king is getting all the provisions he can into Oxford.
When it is supplied he intends to leave, after garrisoning it
suitably, so that too large numbers may not consume the provisions
too soon. His Majesty thought of going to Farenton, about
a league away, but the parliament troops began to block the way
and defeated 300 horse on the road. It is generally thought that
if the king leaves Oxford it will be immediately invested on all
sides and will surrender without a long resistance, and it is equally
dangerous for the king to stay there or to go away. Parliament
suspects that he may try to steal away to Scotland, but he cannot
take his army, the ways being already closed and the country
occupied, while he will not find safety travelling with a few, as
his party is declining in that country also. The king sent to
induce the governor of Vousborch, who commands 600 horse
of the other side, to escort him to London. He excused himself
and sent word to parliament.
The Mayor of London (fn. 1) has become suspect to the Houses of
encouraging his Majesty's design to come to London in person,
and of forming a secret party, to declare itself in the light of the
royal presence. They have accordingly deputed commissioners
to question him, but he admits nothing. In spite of the severity
of the decrees but few of those who previously followed his
Majesty have left London, preferring to take the risks rather
than incur the certainty of perishing from hardship and hunger
in the country.
[Italian.]
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May 8.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
374. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The Prince of Wales, being blockaded in the Island of Cil by
parliament ships, has succeeded in getting away safely, a high
wind having driven the ships away, so that he proceeded to
Granze, an island opposite Normandy, (fn. 2) and it is thought he may
have crossed from there, and he is expected at Court this week.
Letters of the king, his father, permit him to go to the queen,
charging him to obey his mother in everything, except in changing
his religion. This has greatly offended the Queen regent, who
was full of zeal and hoped to instruct him in the Catholic faith.
She has remarked to the queen of England in confidence, that
while no one will influence her son in the faith which he drank
with his mother's milk, it is advisable for him to abstain from
appearing publicly at the place outside Paris where the Huguenots
meet for their public worship, (fn. 3) not only to avoid scandal, but not
to encourage the Protestants by seeing a prince at their head.
Parliament in London has informed the French Resident that
the welcome given to their king's son in Paris cannot fail to cause
them suspicion and offence. But they will not refuse him access
for this reason, in the hope that when one day a general peace
comes, to have this pledge in their hands will give them a great
advantage in dealing with that kingdom.
Other news of London is contained in the enclosed sheet.
Paris, the 8th May, 1646.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
375. Advices from London, the 26th April, 1646.
Exeter has surrendered to Fairfax on good terms and the
garrison and commander have come out. (fn. 4) It was the only
place of any importance left to the king ; and the small district
which recognises him is surrounded and blocked in. Fairfax at
once sent 3,000 men to begin the investment of Oxford. The
king has made several efforts to leave it, but his cavalry has
been repulsed. He is now surrounded without succour or
escape.
The more satisfied the English are with his Majesty's difficulties,
the more the Scots, who are less averse to him, begin to feel for
him. They are not without suspicion of parliament, being unable
to agree about a common religion, and realising that the English
are seeking their own and not the Scots' advantage. This is
the only way to restore the king's interests, but hope is faint
because the king cannot proceed to that kingdom and his friends
are in no state to form an army which could cut its way through.
The Scottish forces are still besieging Newark. They demanded
its surrender, but the commander replied that he would hold it
to the uttermost.
The city and council of London are offended at the mayor being
subject to examination on empty suspicions and they have chosen
deputies to make bitter complaints to the Houses.
[Italian.]
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May 12.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
376. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Reports an offer of service from Giovanni Francesco Rubati, a
Piedmontese, who has spent his life in the wars of Italy, Spain and
Flanders, and in the last with the king of England. He is obliged
to leave since the agreement made between the parliament and
General Hopton.
Paris, the 12th May, 1646.
[Italian.]
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May 15.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
377. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Encloses advices of England.
Paris, the 15th May, 1646.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
378. Advices from London, the 3rd May, 1646.
The Scots in published papers have made divers complaints
against parliament, accusing it of seeking its own profit and abandoning
their interests, not paying the money promised, not
introducing conformity in religion and in making proposals to
his Majesty subversive of the fundamental laws of the realm,
aiming not at limiting the royal authority, which was the common
object, but at abolishing it altogether. Parliament has published
its answer, enumerating the sums paid to the Scots on several
occasions, and the places they hold in England, to justify their
procedure, and that the proposed conditions of peace are the only
ones likely to ensure quiet.
The king hopes to profit from these dissensions, but it does not
look as if they were such as to promise him much advantage,
since both kingdoms are agreed to abase his Majesty's power if
not his name.
Fairfax is advancing on Oxford, and as the king cannot escape,
it is thought that he may surrender to this general, but they will
not allow him to come to London unless he first accepts the peace
proposals and carries them out. His Majesty and the princes
Palatine tried to relieve Vodstak, but found all the ways guarded
and had to turn back.
The important places of Pendenis and Mont (fn. 5) have surrendered
to parliament, the commanders preferring to preserve their
property rather than to hold out loyally. It is whispered in
London that if the Prince of Wales leaves the kingdom he will be
declared incapable of succeeding his father, a fundamental law
providing that the princes must not leave the state.
[Italian.]
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May 16.
Senato,
Secreta.
Deliberazioni.
Corti.
Venetian
Archives. |
379. To the Ambassador in France.
The Senate feels the necessity of facilitating overtures for peace.
Seeing that there is a resident of England at Constantinople it is
desirable to send a secretary to England in succession to Agostini,
in order to induce the king there to instruct his resident to assist
the Bailo, whenever he is requested to do so, and to persuade
peace. This is sent so that the ambassador may touch on the
question when he sees the queen of England, when he will express
the republic's regard for the king.
That a secretary be chosen with the usual forms to go as
resident with the king of Great Britain, with the usual donation,
salary and other appointments.
The Savii ai Ordini : Ayes, 6.
[Italian.]
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May 22.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
380. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The Prince of Wales has not yet arrived in spite of the constant
entreaties of his mother. Some Englishmen who are with him,
thinking of their own goods and interests, advise him to put off
as long as possible going to a country where he will be only a
private individual. We hear indeed that at their suggestion he
has sent some one to treat with the parliament and to make a
last effort to see if any terms can be obtained.
From the enclosed sheet from London your Excellencies will
see that the penultimate act of the tragedy is played with the
flight of the king, and nothing is left except to see them shed his
blood. This may be at hand if we may believe the announcement
of Oger, the parliament agent, that his Majesty has fallen in with
a trumpet on the way, and being recognised is a prisoner ; but
this needs confirmation.
Paris, the 22nd May, 1646.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
381. Advices from London, the 10th May, 1646.
With the advance of Fairfax's army to besiege Oxford the king
perceived there would be no way of escape, and so he got away on
the 6th inst. He concealed his intention by profound silence
even from those about him in whom he could trust less than
others, so that they might not tell enemies. He ordered the gates
of Oxford to be shut for two days, allowing no one to come in or
out, while he himself in disguise with only two companions
escaped by a secret door. The associates in this unlucky decision
are Digby, Secretary of State, and a valet. (fn. 6) The king disguised
himself as the servant of these and followed them with the valises
on his back. It is not certain what way they have taken. Some
think he has gone to Ireland, guided by secret ways known to
Digby's secretary, but the long journey with no port to embark
from would leave him exposed to wind and wave, so that he might
easily fall into the hands of the other side. Others think he is
going to Scotland to find the remains of his party and see if
there is less aversion for him there. But it is a very long way and
as he must pass so many towns and through the very jaws of the
hostile army, so that it will be almost impossible to avoid mishap.
There are some who believe that he is hidden in London, ready to
disclose himself, through favour of the mayor and Council, who
are offended with parliament for the reasons reported, but this
would be so venturesome that it is very unlikely.
The king has left in Oxford his second son, the Duke of York,
his nephews, the two Palatine Princes, the duke of Richmond and
all the other leading men who have hitherto followed his fortunes.
Of these Richmond and some others went immediately to parliament
to surrender, protesting loudly that none of them had
suggested this plan to his Majesty and they did not even know of
it. The two Houses have directed that they shall be kept in
Warwick castle, to do afterwards what may seem fit. The
others left in Oxford will have to do the same, one by one, or to
surrender all together, the moment the army appears.
In London the paper dispute between the English and Scots is
still going on, and when they no longer have the king to fear, which
still keeps some sort of accord between them, discord and confusion
between the two countries will break out more furiously.
[Italian.]
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May 22.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
382. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
Encloses a memorial from the owner of the frigates, giving his
terms and an abstract of the agreement with the king of England
and the queen. He has four ready and can supply the rest in a
short time.
Paris, the 22nd May, 1646.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
383. Memorandum of Sig. Haesdoneg, Admiral of the
Frigates which serve the King of Great Britain.
By the treaty made with the king his Majesty undertook to
give four armed frigates, supplied with men, food, munitions and
all other necessaries 5l. sterling a month per ton. The queen of
England, owing to the lack of money, has made a reduction,
and having sent the frigates to the Prince of Wales, has granted
them four pistoles a month per ton, paid in advance on the 1st
of each month. The Admiral would give his services to the
republic of Venice on the following conditions.
10 Articles.
[Italian.]
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May 29.
Senato,
Secreta.
Dispacci,
Francia.
Venetian
Archives. |
384. Gio. Battista Nani, Venetian Ambassador in France,
to the Doge and Senate.
The English parliament is very angry and suspicious that
France has had a hand in the king's flight, as there was clearly
an understanding with the French resident sent to Scotland.
So there is ill feeling and some threats have been made of sending
troops to Flanders to help Spain. But if France can succeed in
reuniting the king and the Scots it will have matters exactly
to its mind, as there will be neither an end to dissensions nor
peace, but parties will remain balanced so that she will have
nothing to fear from either side. The enclosed sheet shows what
else is happening.
Paris the 29th May, 1646.
[Italian.]
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| Enclosure. |
385. Advices from London, of the 17th May, 1646.
Reports of the king's arrest have ceased and it is now confirmed
that he went to the Scottish camp before Newark and proceeding
to the quarters of the French Resident Montreuil, placed himself
in his hands. The Resident immediately informed the general
as well as the commissioners for Scotland, who were also in the
camp, who were much surprised at the news. They have sent
word to London and with some words of respect for the royal
person, they protest that they wish to maintain the agreement
between the two countries. In London the Houses immediately
assembled, and considering very justly that the affair is the most
important thing that could happen, they have sent back in great
haste to the army earnestly praying the Scots, for the common
good, not to dispose of the king's person except by decision of the
Houses themselves. They have also sent their decree which is
that his Majesty be taken to Warwick castle and kept there until
tranquillity is thoroughly secured and established, and that the
servant (cameriere) who had the chief hand in the flight be sent to
London to render account of it, as one of those who was long
ago declared to be excluded from pardon for ever.
The issue is awaited with anxiety because parliament fears
that the Scots will not go to extremes against the king because
they have never detested his name so much, indeed when they
learned the designs of the English to uproot the royal power,
they have always expressed the wish to moderate but not to
abolish it. It is believed that with the king in their hands the
Scots will want to make themselves the arbiters and authors of
peace, proposing conditions less hard for his Majesty, and will
either induce parliament to give way or war will break out between
the two countries.
Newark was on the point of treating for surrender, but the
king's arrival may change the aspect of affairs, because it is
thought that the place will surrender to his Majesty, who will
hand it over to the Scots, to bind them more strongly to himself
and render them with it masters of the whole of the north of
England, and so much, the more powerful against the other side.
Since the king left Oxford ten or twelve strong and important
places in various counties have submitted to parliament. They
have directed Sir [William] Waller to attack the islands of Jerze
and Grense where the Prince of Wales is, to reduce them to
obedience and get the prince into their hands.
[Italian.]
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May 30.
Senato,
Mar.
Venetian
Archives. |
386. The Proveditore all' Armar has reported in the Collegio
the mutiny of some English sailors at Malamocco, against the
captain of a ship. Colonel Morati was sent there with his company
and the sailors, who had landed, were reduced to submission. The
Podesta of Malamocco drew up a process on the subject which has
been read. That this process be consigned to the Avogadori di
Comun with instructions to report to this Council, so that proper
steps may be taken.
Ayes, 132. Noes, 1. Neutral, 4.
[Italian.]
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