Giuliani, (whom he had despatched to Padua, to learn news respecting
his health) that his illness begins to diminish, and that he hopes
it will soon permit him to commence his journey to the Court, about
the time he agreed on with him. * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[210]
[210] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 35.
MATTHIOLI TO LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH.
Excuses his own delay.
Padua, September 12th, 1678.
SIRE,
The illness, which came upon me while I was getting ready for my
departure, has, (as your Majesty has deigned to be informed by the
Abbé d’Estrades, your Ambassador at Venice,) occasioned, to my
extreme grief, the necessity for me to delay my journey to you. The
eagerness I have is extraordinary, to be able with all possible
celerity to throw myself at your Majesty’s feet. As soon as I
shall have recovered in some degree my strength, I will not fail
to set off. The present emergency of the Genoese seems to me very
opportune for the designs we have in view. I hope to be able, with
all respect, to suggest upon this subject also to your Majesty some
points of importance. I bow myself before you most humbly.
Of your Majesty, &c.
HERCULES A. MATTHIOLI.[211]
[211] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 36.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Venice, September 17th, 1678.
SIR,
* * * * * *
The Sieur Giuliani, having gone one day this week to gain
information of the state of health of the Count Matthioli, brought
back to the Ambassador the letter which the Count had done
himself the honour of writing to you,[212] and which I take the
liberty, Sir, of sending you. He sent word at the same time to his
Excellency, that now, as he has no more fever, he will return to
Mantua, in order to satisfy the impatience of the Duke of Mantua
to see him; and that as soon as he shall have regained a little
strength, he will not fail to set off, in order that he may arrive
at the Court as soon as possible. * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[213]
[212] This letter is not published.
[213] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 37.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
Fontainebleau, October 6, 1678.
I have received, Sir, this week, your letter of the 17th, together
with the two others from M. Matthioli, which were joined to it; but
I cannot reply to them till the next post, not having as yet had an
opportunity of rendering an account of them to the King. We shall
wait for the arrival of the aforesaid Sieur Matthioli, to know what
propositions he intends to make.
I am, &c.
POMPONNE.[214]
[214] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 38.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
Paris, October 14, 1678.
Since the last post, I have found an opportunity to read to the
King your letter of the 17th of September, and he appears to me
to approve of the account, you give in it, of what regards his
interests, in the place where you at present are.
His Majesty has learnt with pleasure, that the Count Matthioli will
soon be in a state to come here, when he will listen to him with
favour.
* * * * * *
POMPONNE.[215]
[215] Ibid.
No. 39.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Intention of Estrades to leave Venice.
Venice, October 15, 1678.
SIR,
* * * * * *
I sent you word, some time back, that the Abbé d’Estrades was gone
into the country, from whence he intended to continue his journey
into France. The uneasiness he felt at the delay of the Count
Matthioli in his departure, (although it only proceeded from his
illness, and from the necessity he had to be near his master,) and
his desire to see him set off before him, or at least at the same
time, are the causes why he has always deferred his own departure;
but having had four days ago a conference with the Count Matthioli,
in which he assured him that he would without doubt set off for
France to-day, and that he had even received the order of the Duke
of Mantua to that effect * * *[216]
DE PINCHESNE.[217]
[216] The sentence is left thus unfinished in the letter, as
published by M. Delort.
[217] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 40.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Continued delay of Matthioli.
Venice, October 22d, 1678.
SIR,
* * * * * *
WHILE I was in the belief that the Count Matthioli had set out
for the Court, according to the promise he had made to the Abbé
d’Estrades in the last conference, which, as I sent you word, Sir,
they had together, I have been surprised by learning at this moment,
by a letter which he has written to the Sieur Giuliani, who has
just brought it me, that some affairs, which he has had to transact
with the Duke of Mantua, have obliged him to delay his departure
till to-day. He has written to the aforesaid Sieur Giuliani to be
to-morrow evening at Verona, in order to continue his journey to
the Court from thence. He has judged it proper, in order to keep
the whole affair as secret as possible, to take him with him rather
than any other, as he is already informed of all the circumstances
of the case, the Abbé d’Estrades having made use of him in all the
journeys that were necessary during the course of this affair. He
is a very good sort of man, who is already entirely French in his
dispositions, and full of affection for the service and interests of
the King. * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[218]
[218] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 41.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Venice, October 29th, 1678.
SIR,
* * * * * *
I have received this instant a letter from the Count Matthioli,
written from Berheta, on the 26th of this month; in which he
acquaints me that he will immediately continue his journey to the
Court with the Sieur Giuliani; where, perhaps, they will be arrived
before you receive this letter. * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[219]
[219] Ibid.
No. 42.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
Versailles, November 4th, 1678.
* * * * * *
According to appearances the Abbé d’Estrades will soon arrive here,
and with him the Count Matthioli, through whom we shall be able to
know more distinctly the sentiments of the Duke of Mantua. * * *
POMPONNE.[220]
[220] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 43.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
November 11th, 1678.
I have received your letter of the 22d, the principal point of which
is, the making the King acquainted with the reason, for which the
Count Matthioli did not set off so soon as he had promised the Abbé
d’Estrades. We must wait for his arrival to know what he has to
propose to the King.
POMPONNE.[221]
[221] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 44.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
Versailles, November 18th, 1678.
* * * * * *
Neither the Count Matthioli, nor the Sieur Giuliani are yet arrived
here.
* * * * * *
POMPONNE.[222]
[222] Ibid.
No. 45.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Venice, November 19th, 1678.
SIR,
* * * * * *
I have just received a letter from the Count Matthioli, written
from Zurich on the 5th of this month, in which he informs me, that
the bad roads have been the cause, which has prevented him from
travelling as quick as he could wish in his journey to the Court,
but that he hopes to be there in a few days, and perhaps may be
arrived before you receive this. * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[223]
[223] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 46.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Venice, November 26th, 1678.
SIR,
I have received this week the two letters which you did me the
honour to write to me, on the 4th and on the 7th of this month.
I see by both of them, how much the King is disposed to receive
the Count Matthioli favourably, and to listen willingly to his
propositions, as soon as he shall be arrived at the Court. I think
he must be there at present, as I have again received to-day a
letter from him, from Soleure, dated the 9th of this month, in which
he informs me that he has made as much expedition as possible, in
order to arrive there quickly. * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[224]
[224] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 47.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
December 2d, 1678.
* * * * * *
I send you only a packet belonging to the Count Matthioli, who
arrived here some days ago, and who acquaints the Duke of Mantua
with the circumstance. You must take great care to send the letters
that are in this packet to their destination.
I am, &c.
POMPONNE.[225]
[225] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 48.
Powers granted to Pomponne, to treat with Matthioli.
The Duke of Mantua having testified to his Majesty, through the
medium of the Count Matthioli, the extreme desire he has to make
known his zeal for his interests; and to acquire for himself, by
the most intimate alliances into which he can enter with him, the
same friendship and the same protection, which his predecessors
have received from France on great and important occasions. His
Majesty, therefore, who has always preserved a sincere affection for
the family of the aforesaid Duke and for his person, has received
with pleasure the sentiments that he has manifested to him; and in
order to take the necessary measures with him for an alliance, which
shall be both most intimate and most advantageous to the aforesaid
Duke, he has given full power to the Sieur de Pomponne, counsellor
in ordinary in all his councils, secretary of state and of his
commandments and finances, in order to, with the aforesaid Count
Matthioli, agree, treat, and sign such articles as to him shall
seem good, for this particular alliance with the aforesaid Duke of
Mantua; promising, on the honour and word of a king, to consent to,
and to confirm and establish now and always, all that the aforesaid
Sieur de Pomponne shall, for this effect, conclude and settle,
without contravening, or suffering the contravention of any part of
it, in any manner whatsoever, and to furnish his ratification of
it in proper form, within the time that shall be stipulated by the
treaty. In witness whereof his Majesty has signed the present with
his hand, and has caused to be affixed to it his privy seal.
Done at Versailles, the 5th day of December, 1678.
LEWIS.[226]
[226] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 49.
LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH TO THE DUKE OF MANTUA.
Promises his protection to the Duke.
MY COUSIN,
The Count Matthioli, will instruct you so particularly, both of the
manner in which he has acquitted himself of the orders with which
you have charged him for me, and of the extreme satisfaction with
which I have received the assurances he has given me of your zeal
for my interests, that I can have nothing further to add upon these
subjects. I am only desirous of testifying to you myself, the entire
confidence which I wish you to place in my friendship. You may
promise yourself, that it will be useful and glorious to you upon
all occasions; and you may always rely with certainty and security
upon my alliance. I hope to be able to give you very evident marks
of this in the sequel; and after having borne testimony to you of
the satisfaction which the conduct of the Count Matthioli, through
the whole of this affair, has given me, I will not lengthen the
present letter any more, except to pray to God that he may have you,
my Cousin, in his holy and worthy keeping.
Written at Versailles, this 8th Dec. 1678.
LEWIS.
(And lower down),
ARNAUD.[227]
[227] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 50.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
December 16th, 1678.
* * * * * *
I SEND you a letter of the King to the Duke of Mantua, which you
will deliver to the Count Matthioli, as soon as he shall arrive at
Venice, taking care always to keep his journey very secret.
I am, &c.
POMPONNE.[228]
[228] Ibid.
No. 51.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Interview of Pinchesne with Don Joseph Varano.
Venice, December 24th, 1678.
SIR,
As soon as I had received, together with the letter that you did
me the favour to write me on the second of this month, that which
the Count Matthioli sent to the Duke of Mantua, under cover to Don
Joseph Varano, who is here with that Prince, and who is one of the
two persons to whom his Highness has confided the design he has
to deliver Casale into the hands of the King, I made known to M.
Varano, by the son of the Sieur Giuliani, that I was very desirous
of being able to deliver to him a letter from a French gentleman,
who was one of his friends, and who had begged me to give it into
his own hands. He understood very well what that meant to say; and
at the same time sent me word, that if I would find myself that
evening in mask at the Opera, he would not fail to be there also;
which was executed according to our resolution. He told me, when I
gave it him, that the Duke of Mantua would be delighted to receive
it; because, for some days, he had shown great impatience to hear
of the arrival of the Count Matthioli at the court, and to know in
what state the affair was, which he was gone there to negociate. He
asked me, at the same time, if I could not give him some news upon
the subject; but as I know nothing about it, I contented myself
with only telling him that I did not doubt but it was in a good
train, and that I was persuaded his Highness would receive, on this
occasion, the marks of that esteem and friendship which His Majesty
has for him. I thought, Sir, I might be permitted to speak to him in
these terms; because what I told him was from my own head, and not
as if I had received any order to that effect. We afterwards agreed
together, that, during the stay of the Duke of Mantua at Venice, we
would make use of the same means to deliver to him the letters which
might come to me from the Count Matthioli. * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[229]
[229] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 52.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
A courier sent to Venice with a new cypher.
St. Germain, December 25th, 1678.
THIS courier, whom I despatch to you, has orders not to come to your
house as a courier, but to enter Venice as a tradesman, or a private
French individual, who comes there on his own business: he brings
for you a cypher, which you will only make use of in what regards
the affairs of the Duke of Mantua, according to the occasions which
you may deem necessary after the return of the Count Matthioli. We
have been afraid that, for so important an affair, the cypher of
the Abbé d’Estrades was too old, and had probably been discovered,
in the many times it has passed through the territories of Milan.
You will make use of it as usual in your ordinary despatches; but
you will only write on the affairs of Mantua in the new one, which
this courier brings to you. Take care to inform us exactly, of the
arrival of the Count Matthioli, and of all that he shall communicate
to you on the subject of his journey.
I am, &c.
POMPONNE.[230]
[230] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 53.
LOUVOIS TO SAINT-MARS.
Catinat sent to Pignerol.
St. Germain-en-Laye, December 29, 1678.
THESE few words are to let you know, that it is necessary for the
King’s service, that the person who will send you this note, should
enter into the citadel of Pignerol, without any body’s knowing it.
To this effect, cause the Gate of Aid[231] to remain open till
night-fall, and send him one of your servants; or even, if you are
able, go yourself to meet him, at the place to which his valet will
conduct you; in order that he may enter in your suite into the
aforesaid citadel, and into the aforesaid dungeon, without any one’s
perceiving it.
I am truly yours,
DE LOUVOIS.[232]
[231] “Porte du Secours.”
[232] From the Archives of France.
No. 54.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
D’Asfeld sent to Venice.
St. Germain, Dec. 30, 1678.
The King has despatched this day the Sieur d’Asfeld, Colonel of
Dragoons, who is to go to Venice, under pretext of a journey of
curiosity and pleasure. He will not come directly to your house,
but will appear as a stranger, whom curiosity alone leads to the
place where you are. He will afterwards come to see you, as if on
account of the natural obligation which all Frenchmen have to visit
those who are placed in a country for His Majesty’s service. He
will deliver to you, from me, a short letter, as of introduction
for him, in which I request you to contribute to the success of
his particular interests at Venice. He will communicate to you the
orders he has received; and you will take the necessary measures
to make known his arrival to the Count Matthioli, and to arrange a
meeting between them, if necessary.
I am, &c.
POMPONNE.[233]
[233] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 55.
POMPONNE TO PINCHESNE.
St. Germain, Dec. 30, 1678.
SIR,
You will receive this letter by the hands of M. d’Asfeld, who
goes to Venice, for an affair which he will communicate to you
himself, and of which you will have had, before his arrival, a more
particular instruction by my letters. All that I will therefore add
is, that you will put an entire reliance on what he tells you, and
that you will contribute, in every way that depends on you, to the
success of his particular interests at the place where you are.
I am, &c.
POMPONNE.[234]
[234] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 56.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Venice, Dec. 31, 1678.
SIR,
In order to deliver to Don Joseph Varano the letter, which I have
received for him from the Count Matthioli, at the same time with
that which you did me the favour to write on the 9th of this month,
I have made use of the same means which I had the honour to acquaint
you with in my last letter, and which we had agreed upon together,
for the time during which the Duke of Mantua should remain at
Venice. He told me, when he received it, that this prince had
experienced great pleasure by learning from the first, that the
affair was in a good state; and that he was most impatient to hear
of the conclusion of it; to which I answered him in two words, that
that was a hope which his Highness might, with reason, flatter
himself to see realized. * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[235]
[235] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 57.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Venice, Jan. 7, 1679.
SIR,
* * * * * *
As soon as the Count Matthioli shall arrive at Venice, I will
immediately deliver into his hands the letter which the King has
done the Duke of Mantua the honour of writing to him. That prince
left this place the day before yesterday, to return to his own
States; but he is to come back to Venice towards the end of this
month, to pass the rest of the Carnival there. I will keep the
journey of the Count Matthioli secret, as you order me; but I beg
you to believe, Sir, that it was not necessary you should take the
trouble to recommend this to me, since I know very well of what
importance it is to preserve an inviolable secrecy in this affair.
* * * * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[236]
[236] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 58.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Venice, Jan. 15th, 1679.
SIR,
* * * * * *
I shall execute with all the punctuality possible, every order which
it shall please you to give me on this affair; and as soon as the
Count Matthioli shall be returned to this place, I will not fail to
acquaint you with it, and to give you an exact account of all he
shall tell me respecting the business which he has been negociating
at the Court.
* * * * * *
DE PINCHESNE.[237]
[237] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 59.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Arrival of d’Asfeld at Venice.
Venice, Jan. 21st, 1679.
SIR,
Before I received the letter, which you did me the honour to write
to me on the 30th of last month, and by which you informed me that
the King intended to send here the Count d’Asfeld, Colonel of a
regiment of Dragoons, he was already arrived, and had been to
see me, to communicate to me the orders he had received from his
Majesty; but as he was not charged with any letter from you, for
me, I should have had some difficulty in opening my plans to him,
in an affair of this consequence, if M. Giuliani, who happened to
be with me just then, and who was come to see me for the first time
since his return, had not told me, a few moments before, that there
would shortly arrive here a gentleman from the King; and if I had
not found him himself so well-informed of the whole of this affair,
that I could have no doubt of the truth of what he told me; since
it appeared to me impossible that he could know so much upon the
subject without having learnt it from you, or from those who are
alone acquainted with it. He told me that M. de Louvois had obliged
him, before his departure, to burn the letter which you had given
him to deliver to me, from fear lest, if he was stopped in the
Milanese, it might give some ground of suspicion to the Spaniards.
He even detailed to me so precisely all that it contained, that I
could have no farther cause for fear, after I had seen that what he
told me, tallied so well with all that you have done me the favour
to write to me upon his subject. We have not been able to agree
upon any thing together since he has been here, because the Count
Matthioli is not yet arrived; but as he has written to me and to
M. Giuliani, from whom he separated himself near Turin, in order
to excite less observation, that he will be here in a few days, I
hope to be able, by the next post, to give you an account of all
we shall have settled with him. I will not fail, Sir, to represent
strongly to him, according to the order which M. d’Asfeld has given
me, on the part of the King, to that effect, that it is absolutely
necessary for the Duke of Mantua to be at Casale by the 20th of next
month, to make the exchange of the treaties; and I will make him so
clearly understand that diligence is most necessary in an affair of
this importance, lest, from delay, it should be discovered, that I
am almost bold enough to promise, that he will persuade his master
to go there at that time. However, Sir, if this prince, who is
accustomed to pass the last days of the Carnival here every year,
wished also to do so this year, in order not to make his conduct
appear extraordinary; and that he should think that from the 15th
of February, which is the first day of Lent, to the 20th, there
will be too little time for his journey to Casale, without showing
an anxiety which might occasion suspicions; and that, therefore, he
might wish to defer for some days the exchange of the treaties, I
think you will approve of my sending you an extraordinary courier to
inform you of it; it being impossible for me to do so sufficiently
quickly by the post.
DE PINCHESNE.[238]
[238] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 60.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Delays of Matthioli, and of the Duke of Mantua.
Venice, Jan. 28th, 1679.
SIR,
* * * * * *
According to the letters which M. Giuliani and I received last week
from the Count Matthioli, we thought he would, without doubt, be
this week at Venice, with the Duke of Mantua. However, neither one
nor the other are yet arrived, on account of a slight illness which
the Duchess dowager of Mantua has had, which has obliged that prince
to remain with her; but the Sieur Giuliani has received to-day a
letter from Don Joseph Varano, in which he informs him, that the
Count Matthioli is at present at Padua, where he is waiting for
the Duke of Mantua, in order that they may come here together, on
Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. This has obliged M. d’Asfeld
and myself to send Giuliani this evening to Padua, to the Count
Matthioli, to give him intelligence of the arrival of M. d’Asfeld at
Venice, and to represent to him that it is of the last importance,
on account of the shortness of the time, for us to have, as soon as
possible, a conference together, in order to take all the measures
that shall be necessary to induce the Duke of Mantua to be at Casale
the 20th or 25th of next month, according to the wish of the King.
I think I can say to-day more securely than I did last week, that I
shall inform you by the next post of all we shall have arranged with
the Count Matthioli, since certainly the next week will not pass
away without our meeting.
DE PINCHESNE.[239]
[239] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at
Paris.
No. 61.
PINCHESNE TO POMPONNE.
Further Delays of Matthioli.
Venice, February 4th, 1679.
SIR,
* * * * * *